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Unthinkable Disaster; U.S. in Winter Olympics; Texas Program on Jobs

Aired February 28, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. It is Sunday, February 28th and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The death toll in Chile's earthquake has jumped above the 700 mark now. President Michelle Bachelet says at least 708 people are now confirmed dead. She calls yesterday's 8.8 earthquake an unthinkable disaster. This hotel video shows panicked guests rushing out and even one man was seen coming out in his underwear.

CNN's Brooke Baldwin is at our Chile desk. Brooke, you see some of the images there, has just recently been revealed. He didn't know what to do. They were shaken out of their beds in the middle of the night when this huge earthquake hit.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And Fredricka, you know the pictures tell this story. Just think about that number for a moment. 708 people in terms of the death toll. We were hearing somewhere in the 400 mark, two or three hours ago. That has doubled. So that's one number we are keeping our eye on as you mentioned President Michelle Bachelet. Also a lot of people are still missing.

Two million people have been displaced by this 8.8 magnitude earthquake. What are we doing here in the international desk area? Take a look. We are keeping a very close eye on CNN Chile because that's where we are getting a lot of our information. One of our partner networks and we're hearing and we're keeping our eye specifically on Concepcion, which is 70 miles from the epicenter of that quake you mentioned.

And Fred, one of the big stories today, 36 or so hours after this quake hit, is sadly the looting angle. You have the people who are so desperate just for water, for food, for blankets. And then you have the other part of the population who is simply taking advantage of the situation. They're stealing for the sake of stealing.

And we see some of the police just out trying to quell the crowds. They got now tear gas, some water cannons. But it is evident - when you hear these people - the desperation is palpable. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): It is going to keep happening because it has been two fly of this and people are desperate. They're desperate. And the only way to survive is to come and get what you need.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We don't have anything. We don't have water. We don't have food. We have money to buy. But we can't buy because stores are closed. We left our homes early yesterday because they told us the tsunami was coming. We left with nothing.

JACQUELINE VAN RYSSELNERGHE (through translator): We all know this is a depressing situation. We are all victims in this earthquake. We all know what it is like to live through this disaster. But that does not justify the looting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A couple of other news items that I want to point out. We heard from the Chilean president, outgoing president, I should also add, Michelle Bachelet within the last hour or so, she mentioned the Chilean government has now partnered up with some of these supermarkets just to help get and distribute some of the much-needed food, the water, the supplies, to people, the victims of this earthquake.

Another point she made, a major, major challenge for the Chilean people, electricity. Yesterday, they have it. But the issue is distributing that electricity. Also, what about the airports, the Santiago airport. This is a major airport, a lot of people, keep in mind, this is summertime, a lot of people coming and coming and going.

So far it has been shut down. They are hoping to open it up within the next couple of hours. And Fred, final note, still no word to if or when the Chilean government will be taking any of the millions of dollars in international aid that's already been offered up. If and when they will actually accept that.

WHITFIELD: Yes, because according to the Chilean ambassador I spoke with yesterday, he said that country is pretty self-contained.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: They are used to handling earthquakes and the after- effects and they are not that certain when they are going the need anyone else's help.

BALDWIN: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: So it would be interesting to see over the next course of hours or even days that they came on that. Brooke Baldwin, thanks so much. I will be checking again with you momentarily.

All right. In spite of everyone's worst fears, the tsunami from yesterday's earthquake didn't amount to much. There are no reports of serious damage. Four-foot waves flooded some piers in Japan but that was about it. And the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center actually ended up canceling its alerts earlier.

Even though people are breathing a sigh of relief around the Pacific rim, Chile is still facing a threat of aftershocks. Let's go to meteorologist Karen Maginnis in the CNN weather center. I remember hearing that there were over 700 aftershocks at some point. Has it grown from even that number?

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We have had about 90 aftershocks. Just since the initial 8.8 magnitude earthquake. But over the next few weeks we will see hundreds and hundreds of aftershocks. This is old earth. Let's kind of zoom in across this region.

Each one of these dots represents an aftershock. So from Santiago to Concepcion, we can see even some of these aftershocks extending southward. Some of them you can see out over the open waters of the Pacific. And some edging towards the Andes. Now this is very old ground.

Georgia Tech seismologist was describing this earth as very old earth. And you can feel the shaking that moves through this earth very easily. So much so that the initial quake, the 8.8 magnitude could be felt all the way over to Buenos Aires. But just to give you some an idea with these aftershocks, back in the 1800s when Charleston, South Carolina, had their great quake, the quake actually rang church bells up the eastern seaboard. That's how much or that's how easily these shock waves can ripple through the earth just this dense earth.

Well let's zoom in a little more closely. This is the initial quake. That 8.8 earthquake. And we will continue to see as we did today 6-point plus magnitude quakes. Early this morning, there was a 6.1. We will start to see those taper off. 5-point plus magnitudes. And then multiples of four-point plus magnitudes over the coming weeks. So Fred, we will see hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands of these aftershocks.

WHITFIELD: Wow, that's pretty extraordinary and very frightening for the people there who had been through that 8.8. All right. Karen Maginnis, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

And to find out the latest on the relief efforts and what you can do to actually help, just go online to our impact your world page. That's cnn.com/impact.

All right. One of our CNN international reporters Brian Byrnes, is actually traveling from Santiago to Concepcion. Concepcion was about 70 miles away from the epicenter of the earthquake in Chile. He is joining us now on the phone. So Brian, give me an idea what you have been able to see as you have been traveling.

VOICE OF BRIAN BYRNES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka. I can tell you it has been a long and difficult journey for us today. We left Santiago earlier this morning and we have been traveling on route 5, the Pan-American Highway. I can tell you this highway is completely ripped off. Obviously the earthquake caused a lot of damage on the highway. Major deep and very, very deep dips in the road. The asphalt has been ripped up and essentially fault lines are running along the lines of the highway. Obviously, that makes the journey very difficult for ourselves and many other people are heading south of Santiago. Let me give you a snapshot of some of the other things that we have seen over the last couple of hours that we've made this journey.

I've seen two different bridges. Bridges that stood as high as four or five stories that had collapsed completely into the ground. One of them had collapsed into the Rio Clado (ph), large river that runs through the area. And another one had collapsed on top of a train track. Obviously, these are huge - enormous bridges, completely wiped out by the earthquake.

And I can also tell you that we have seen some downed power lines in many different areas and we just saw a passenger bus that was turned over in a ditch right next to the highway. So really, this is an ongoing situation. Just a few minutes you were speaking with Kara. She was talking about the aftershocks. Well, I can tell you just about an hour and a half ago we felt one ourselves. We stopped very quickly for a break, to fuel up and we felt an aftershock as we were standing around. We saw no make are damage at the time. But of course, we felt it. I think those aftershocks are going to continue to happen. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Brian Byrnes, thanks so much. Appreciate that. We'll continue to check in with you.

All right. let's talk automobiles and how its impacted this country, Toyota in particular. The president of Toyota is actually continuing his damage control tour. Just days after his testimony in Washington, Akio Toyoda will speak now in China tomorrow. He will try to convince the Chinese that despite recent recalls, his company has a commitment to quality.

Toyota sold 709,000 vehicles in China last year and it hoped to sell 800,000 this year at least until the recent bad publicity.

And American hockey fans are hoping for another miracle on ice in Vancouver. Will they get their wish? We will take you live to the winter games.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK. All eyes are on Vancouver today as the Winter Olympic games wind down. But not before one last major contest. Right now the U.S. and Canada are battling for gold in the men's final in hockey. Earlier our Mark McKay spoke with an Olympian from the summer games, Michael Phelps.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL PHELPS, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: Being able to have the opportunity to come up here and cheer these guys on and really be back in the Olympic movement. That's something that's absolutely amazing for me. You know, being able to, you know, be even more excited, I am. We are halfway between, you know, Beijing and London. And, you know, just being here and just feeling everything brings back some of the memories I had over the last three Olympics. And these next years are really going to fly by.

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do you find yourself thinking about being back in the Olympics?

PHELPS: I've actually been thinking about, you know, when you see the people on the medal podium and you know, you see them listening to national anthem and tears coming down their eyes, down their face. That's something that - that just - brings back so many memories. It brings back exciting memories and proud memories. And you know, I'm hoping to have the opportunity to go back in fall.

MCKAY: Swimming is your job at the summer games. What do enjoy in the winter games?

PHELPS: Just watching everybody, you know, just really being able to be part of the Olympics and be able to be back. And like I said, you know, be a part of the Olympic environment and - watching them on TV and listening to the theme song and it is amazing. You know, like I said, these next two years are going to go by so fast and it's going to be an exciting two years. That's for sure.

MCKAY: If I can say, Michael, you can compete in any winter Olympic sport, what would it be?

PHELPS: It wouldn't be pretty. I would not be pretty. Me on ice or snow. It will not be good. It would not end well.

MCKAY: You mentioned London 2012. Are you a allowing yourself to think that now?

PHELPS: I have been thinking about it since end of Beijing. It takes four years to really prepare mentally and physically for an Olympics. So, we have two years left. And I'm ready. I'm ready to compete. And it is - like I said, it will be here before you know it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKAY: It is appropriate that we did run into Michael Phelps at these games because the Olympics flame tonight, Fred, will be put in the capable hands of London organizers. They will host the next games in 2012.

WHITFIELD: OK. And of course, we all look forward to that. let's talk about you know, the U.S., Canada, showdown on the ice in the form of hockey. A little bird tells me that Canada is up 1-0. But what's the vibe in this town? Are people collectively rooting for Canada, because it's in Vancouver or collectively rooting for the U.S.?

MCKAY: Well, I think we can just take by the sea wall. It's a Sunday afternoon, there's very few people walking behind us enjoying the scenery of Pearl Harbor. It's an indication Fred that they are behind closed doors.

Canadians pulling for their team. As you mentioned, Team Canada has the lead of the United States. Jonathan Chase with his first Olympic gold. He scored it in the first period. So Canada leads 1-0. After that goal, you heard chants of go, Canada, go. This is going to be quite an achievement if the Canadian hockey team who are beaten by the United States in the preliminary rounds to pull off their much sought after gold. Fred.

WHITFIELD: That will be huge. But the U.S. overall have done very well in these winter Olympic games.

MCKAY: Yes, that's putting it mildly, Fred. Well, if the United States is guaranteed either a gold or a silver after this game is played. No more medals will be awarded. That means it would be the 37th medal for the United States. U.S. needs these games with the most medals by any country at any winter games and I guess a real good consolation prize for Canada is that their 13 golds as we stand today. It's the best showing by Canada for a host nation of a winter Olympics. So both of the North American teams can really point to this as a success, Fred.

WHITFIELD: That's fantastic. Because we know Canadians are very nervous. There was a lot of pressure, I should say, on the Canadian athletes to win gold while their country was hosting the Olympic Games. So glad that they were there were that many a dozen.

All right. Mark McKay -

MCKAY: Yes and it was put on there because of the own the podium program. A lot of that pressure, Fred, as you know was instituted before these games began. Own the podium. They may not have owned the entire podium, Fred, but they certainly owned the top of it.

WHITFIELD: Yes. I think it was Apolo Ohno who said, you know, you may own the podium but we just want to borrow it for a little bit. And he did borrow it quite a bit, didn't he? At least eight times. All right. Thanks so much, Mark McKay appreciate that.

Well, empowering women worldwide. Let's talk about that coming up. A Grammy award winning singer gets ready to unveil a new song and a very special event. We will talk to India Arie coming up.

But first, building up America. CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look at a job training program that's making a huge difference in Texas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Out on the east edge of Austin, rebuilding America starts with rebuilding lives. Meet the latest class of the Skilled Point Alliance Construction Gateway. Funded by city and county tax dollars, this is an innovative five- week training program to turn the unemployable into the employed.

(on camera): This is a big deal to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, very big deal. This is the beginning of the rest of my life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm excited even though it is -- really intense.

FOREMAN (voice-over): The target is individuals over the age of 18 who ought to be entering the work force but who have little hope of doing so because they dropped out of school or wound up in jail or had some other problem. Sean Gamez, for example, had been in and out of prison for robbery by the time he was 25.

SEAN GAMEZ, GATEWAY CONSTRUCTION: There was no work. It was not existing. I mean, to me, for me people like myself.

You have to follow the basics and always do the basics right and everything else falls in place.

FOREMAN: But then he ran into Sylvester Villareal who recruits students for the construction gateway program. Scouring homeless shelters, unemployment lines.

SYLVESTRE VILLAREAL, SKILLPOINT ALLIANCE: I look for two things. Students that will benefit from this. And the second one, which is just as important, an individual that's going to be a good employee.

FOREMAN: Once in, they are taught the boot camp basics of construction work. Showing up on time, doing what you are told, the language of tools and rules of building. All with the goal of helping not just them but the broader community, too.

TOM SERAFIN, SKILLPOINT ALLIANCE: We need new people coming in the pipeline. And one of the things that Construction Gateway does is that. It fills the pipeline with entry level construction work.

FOREMAN (on camera): People who absolutely need to economically and physically rebuild America.

SERAFIN: Absolutely. Absolutely.

FOREMAN (voice-over): The result, close to 90 percent of Construction Gateway graduates who had little hope of a job before entering the program are employed within days of graduation. And they stay that way.

(on camera): How competent are you that you will get employment once you leave here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 100 percent.

FOREMAN (voice-over): It certainly worked for Sean. He has been on the job for seven years and is now a foreman on an electrical crew.

GAMEZ: This right here is the sole reason I'm working.

FOREMAN: The program takes only 100 students a year. But that's 100 doing good work. Good for them. Good for their communities, too.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Austin.

(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. Today could be the start of an even rougher time for many of the nation's jobless. Their unemployment benefits actually run out tomorrow. The Senate has yet to pass an extension for many who are waiting for this kind of financial lifeline. That could change this week. If not, more than a million people may not be getting checks in March.

And Los Angeles Police today classified the death of Marie Osmond's 18-year-old son a suicide. Michael Blosil died Friday night. The L.A. County coroner's office is expected to carry out an autopsy.

And funeral services are scheduled tomorrow in Chicago for the animal trainer killed at Florida's Sea World. Dawn Brancheau died Wednesday after a killer whale grabbed her and pulled her under the water. The 40-year-old trainer's co-workers wept during a video tribute. That took place at the Sea World yesterday when the Orca show also resumed.

The country's main counter terrorism law is still on the books, at least for another year. President Obama signed a one-year extension of several provisions of the Patriot Act yesterday. Without his signature they would have expired today. The Act authorizes court approved wiretaps and phone surveillance of Americans suspected of terrorist activities.

So according to an ancient Chinese saying women hold up half the sky. Well, this week the international relief organization, C.A.R.E., is holding its second annual women's day event called "Half the Sky." And the event is part concert, part talk show and part film unveiled on theater screens in 500 cities this Thursday.

Grammy award winning artist India Arie is just one of the celebrities taking part. She's with us now. Good to see.

INDIA ARIE, GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTIST: Thank you. Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: What an honor this must be to be part of this global outreach effort to try to lift women up from poverty.

ARIE: Yes. Honor is the word. Because my mission is very similar to C.A.R.E.'s mission, which is to empower women. And I do that through song and through my lyrics and stuff. My mission is to empower people in general. But I feel like on a spiritual level the empowerment of women is one of the most important things that are going to need to happen for us as humanity to uplift ourselves. You know what I mean.

So, I - I just add my voice to that mission through music. And it always feels really good to be involved in something that is exactly laser point accurate to why I make music.

WHITFIELD: Perfect.

ARIE: To be there with Angelique Kidjo.

WHITFIELD: I love her.

ARIE: She is (INAUDIBLE) to me.

WHITFIELD: She is amazing.

ARIE: And Diane Birch who I met that night.

WHITFIELD: (INAUDIBLE) who also was there.

ARIE: She walked in the room and I was like -

WHITFIELD: I know you.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: You were one of them. There, you know. Invited guest there. The event actually happened in February.

ARIE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: But the rest of the world is seeing it this Thursday. Unveiled in 500 theaters across the, you know, the country. So when they go to the theater and they watch this program what are they going the see? What do they expect?

ARIE: Like you said, part talk show, a documentary, co-directed by Marissa Tomei, and live music. I haven't seen a documentary or the talk show part. I'm looking forward to seeing it with everybody else on March 4.

WHITFIELD: And you are actually unveiling your new song "Lion and the Butterfly."

ARIE: Yes. It's called "Lion and the Butterfly."

WHITFIELD: And I think we have a little clip of it. Can we listen?

ARIE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. Here we go.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

I am a lion and a butterfly show me that I can be it all. I am a lion and a butterfly show me that I can be it all.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's so beautiful. What was the inspiration? You were into it.

ARIE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: You were like performing it again. I sit here listening. I love that. What was the inspiration? ARIE: I really wrote that song for my grandmother. Who - she passed last year. But she was - the most strong and also the most vulnerable woman I knew. She was the inspiration for me to understand that we could be both of those things, like strong and vulnerable and a leader and a lady. And there is a line in the song where I say I can be gracious and tenacious. And when C.A.R.E. invited me to do this, I prayed for everything and prayed what is the perfect song for this and that song came to mind.

And I couldn't have asked for anything better. That's why I said it was an honor to debut that song and in this moment that is so special, like you call, the global effort. Just so perfect for that song. And it fed my heart to be able to just be involved in something like that. All I did is get this stuff in and sing.

And you know, they are doing all this great work on the ground. I love adding my musical voice, you know, to - to that work.

WHITFIELD: People love to hear your musical voice and your words. I mean, you're a beautiful songwriter.

ARIE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: So much so that Stevie Wonder calls you up on stage. I was at a concert a couple of years ago, a Stevie Wonder concert. And out of nowhere, India Arie, join me on stage. What a beautiful moment that was. What was it like to be tapped by him for that moment? And to just improvise with him on stage?

ARIE: Literally, a dream come true. Before my first album came out in 2001, I had a dream that I was sitting on the piano with Stevie Wonder. All these other singers were coming through and I was saying this is a singer. I don't remember who the people are. Like this is a singer, her name is Fredricka. I was - you know.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: How did you know that I can't sing? Where did you know about that?

ARIE: So I had this dream. (INAUDIBLE) who were singers and that night was literally like - happening. I just drove in have from Savannah. I was on this white skirt and white shirt I had slept in that night. So he called me. I was fixing myself on the way to the stage and like fixing my wrap and ==

WHITFIELD: And there was no rehearsal, completely spontaneous.

ARIE: That is one thing about Stevie Wonder.

WHITFIELD: You know, playing on one another's voices. It was beautiful.

ARIE: It was a dream come true. Yes.

WHITFIELD: Well, this is wonderful, too. An incredible effort that you have involved yourself with C.A.R.E., global effort to try to uplift women out of poverty around the world.

ARIE: I know I've said this already. I want to say it again. It's an honor that C.A.R.E. allowed me to be involved.

WHITFIELD: Well, I'm sure they feel the same way that you said yes.

ARIE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: So the unveiling "Half the Sky" this Thursday. Movie theaters and other theaters across the country. You want to check it out and check out Indian Arie and that beautiful song "Lion and the Butterfly," too. That means an album is coming out or is about to be released as well.

ARIE: Working on it. I just won a Grammy for the last one.

WHITFIELD: Congratulations.

ARIE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Good to see you. India Arie.

ARIE: Thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, health care, let's talk about that.

Health care reform seem stuck between a rock and a hard place. President Obama says that he will offer a way forward and we have details in a live report from Washington.

But first, what's topping the movie charts besides India Arie. Here is a look at the Billboard's Top Ten.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Back to our top story. The rising death toll from that earthquake in Chile. We understand now 708 people have died from that 8.8 magnitude quake and still they are trying to assess the damage. Still trying to get to anyone that may be trapped in any of these buildings.

However, officials are saying they believe that they can handle this kind of calamity because they have an infrastructure in place to deal with earthquakes of this magnitude. Brooke Baldwin is here at the Chile desk what have you been learning?

BALDWIN: We learned in addition to the 708 in terms of the death toll, Michelle Bachelet, the nation's president came out and spoke saying look, we also don't know in terms of the number of people who are missing and that's such an important part of the story because families - they are searching for these people within the rubble especially around Concepcion, which was something like 70 miles from the quake's epicenter. A lot of people are still missing, a lot of families. But we do have one nice moment to share. This comes from Constitucon a tiny coastal town that was hit by the tsunami. Take a look with me and just listen. Bring up the sound. This is a father being reunited with his family. Lot of tears, lot of hugs. Here at CNN we help -- if you don't speak Spanish we helped translate one of the sound bites from the father who -- it is really raw reaction to finding his family. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. JORGE CONCHA, CHILEAN ARMY (via translator): There is believed to be many people missing under the rubble in this area where we are now. As a result of the wave that hit this area about 25 minutes after the earthquake, according to soldiers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So that was the army colonel. This reuniting story is more the exception and not the rule right now. Two million people were displaced by this earthquake.

WHITFIELD: Part of the big problem is trying to get to people who are in need with so many roads that have been buckled and that bridges collapsed. You are familiar with a good part of this country after having traveled there.

BALDWIN: Oddly enough I was there on vacation literally this month one year ago. I was on -- we keep talking about the main if you will north/south corridor within Chile. I remember going there and being there just a year ago and thinking wow, the highways are amazing, these toll roads. I was thinking some of the roads are more sophisticated than I have seen in the states. It is amazing when you see some of the pictures and -- just the destruction. It speaks volumes to how powerful this earthquake was.

WHITFIELD: Brooke Baldwin thanks so much here at the Chile desk. Keep us posted throughout the afternoon and evening.

Of course you may want to help the people in Chile or perhaps facilitate in any way. Any expertise that you have, you can go to CNN.com/impact. There you can also find out what other organizations might be reaching out to help people in Chile. We will have much more straight ahead right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. President Barack Obama, like millions of Americans, has a little trouble with his cholesterol level. But overall, he's in excellent health. Today he had his first checkup since taking office. A navy doctor says the president is fit for duty. But he wants him to modify his diet to lowering his LDL or bad cholesterol.

In Europe at least 53 people have been killed in violent storms. Most of the victims were in western France. At least a million people are without power and the country's prime minister is calling it a national catastrophe. Several deaths have also been reported in Spain, U.K., Portugal, and Germany.

Beginning tomorrow, construction project at New York's JFK Airport will slow down travel for millions of passengers throughout the U.S. The airport's main runway will shut down for repairs for four months. It is supposed to eventually ease congestion and because there will be fewer flights to meet demand, ticket prices are already on the rise there.

Coming off of a week in which stark differences emerge during a White House Summit on health care reform, the big question on everyone's mind, what's next? Let's check with CNN's Kate Bolduan who is at the White House. Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Fredricka. Well White House officials say that this week President Obama will lay out what he sees as the way forward in getting sweeping health care legislation passed. Today speaking to CNN's Candy Crowley, speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, she seems resolute that Democrats will try to move forward to pass legislation with or without Republican support. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) HOUSE SPEAKER: They have had plenty of opportunity to make their voices heard and if they wanted to truly have -- bipartisanship is a two-way street. Let me say this. If a bill can be bipartisan even though the votes may not be bipartisan because they have made their imprint on this. As I say, we were all for public option. We are now going to the Republican idea and exchange. That's a very big --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So on the big question of what's next, it is looking more and more likely that Democrats will use a controversial parliamentary shortcut known as reconciliation to get a health care bill to the president's desk. Now reconciliation may allow Democrats to make changes to the health care bill with only a - with only 51 votes.

A single majority rather than the 60 vote's supermajority they would need otherwise because of Republican opposition. And Republicans remain unanimously opposed to the Democrats' bill really saying today that the use of this device reconciliation on such a big and expensive piece of legislation is an outrage, they say. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM COBURN, (R) OKLANHOMA: If you use reconciliation on this health care bill as we see today what you are going have is a thumbing of the nose at the American people. They don't agree with it. We need to change it. We are willing to work to get it changed to where we don't have a massive increase in the government influence of health care.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BOLDUAN: And while Democratic lawmakers today seem confident - they seemed optimistic at least that they will have the votes to pass this massive health care bill. Today they didn't seem confident that they have those votes right now.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So any idea on the timing whether, you know, the timing on passing the bill, starting over, moving on, what?

BOLDUAN: All of that. It is a very big question, a very important question because what we are hearing is that Democratic lawmakers are really warning privately that they are up against an Easter break deadline. This is a Congressional break that begins in late March and they are saying privately that if this deal isn't struck or something is done with this health care bill by then, they are going to have to move on to other legislative priorities like jobs. They are working under a deadline. The clock is ticking, they are saying now.

WHITFIELD: OK. Kate Bolduan at the White House. Thanks so much.

A little bit more on this practice of budget reconciliation. It was established in 1974. It has been used 22 times. Off and on non budget issues by every president since Jimmy Carter. Recent examples include Medicare overhaul for physician payments. Back in 1989, welfare overhaul, 1996 and in 2001 and 2003, for President George W. Bush, tax cuts.

So what was your favorite moment from the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver? We will hear from an expert Olympian, Elvis Stojko.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: For those of you who are Olympic ice hockey fans, well, Canada is up over the U.S. 2-1 right now. One more note on today's men's Olympic hockey game. It has triggered a brewing bet across the border. President Obama and Canada's prime minister have a friendly wager on who will get the gold. If the U.S. wins, Canadian Prime Minister Harper promises to give Mr. Obama a case of Yeungling beer. That is actually made in Pennsylvania. But if Canada wins the gold Mr. Obama will give Mr. Harper a case of Molson Canadian beer.

All right. So now that the winter games are drawing to a close we wanted to get some perspective on all the action in Vancouver over the last couple of weeks. Two-time silver medalist Olympic figure skater Elvis Stojko is here with us. So Elvis, you have been with us for now -- this is now the third week, the last one. So sorry to see it come to an end. This has been a wonderful relationship that we have had. Give me an idea, your favorite Olympic moment over the past two weeks.

ELVIS STOJKO, FMR. OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER: There's been great moments the whole time. But I think one of the things that I really, really stuck out for me was Rochette. The loss of her mom and the way she came back and in the short program and really stepped out there, she had the support of everybody, every athlete, every fan across the globe. Our heart went out to her. She just had to exemplify the true champion. It was so great to see her do well and make the podium. I think that sticks in my mind the most.

WHITFIELD: Yes. I think she definitely is the one that conveyed, I guess, the biggest heart. Maybe in a strange way, has kind of defined these Olympic Games, you think that might be the case as well?

STOJKO: Yes. I would think so. Because everyone can get caught up with the medal count and, you know about the whole bragging rights and the ego and all that sort of stuff. But really the Olympic Games is bringing the world together in peace and in athletic prowess.

Everyone come together to reach for their personal best. Sometimes a personal best doesn't always get you on the podium. But when Joannie through adversity and at a time of, I guess, a time of learning through this, it is a journey for her and she went out there as that Olympic spirit and she did it for that purpose and that was the major thing about her.

WHITFIELD: And you as a Canadian, I know you are feeling very proud of your fellow Canadians because -- did I hear our own Mark McKay correctly, 12 gold medals for Canada on home turf.

STOJKO: Yes. 12 gold medals, it is awesome. I think that's the highest I think we have had in the gold medals as well. It has been great. We had a lot of criticism with the whole on the podium program and stuff like that. I mean even if you look back and top three, and top four and top five, we have done really, really well. You can't base it just on results because a lot of times anything can happen.

We have seen things in the past. You know, you have four years to prepare. The pressure is intense and it just doesn't happen. You can't put that type of pressure on an athlete. I think we have all done well. Canada has done well; of course the U.S. has done fantastic again, very strong that way. It has been a great game.

WHITFIELD: At least in the U.S. in terms of viewer ship this has been the most watched winter Olympic Games. I'm sure in Canada, the Canadian broadcast stations; this has been the biggest watched games, too. Why do you suppose what was the big draw for this Olympic Games? Why are people seemingly catching on and really falling in love with winter sports?

STOJKO: Well, I think a lot of it has to do with one thing, I mean; being able to what's tough is the tape delay and all that sort of stuff. What makes it nice is when people can see it almost live, they can catch it live and feel it live and be around it in that regard. Which makes them part of it instead of getting it late.

So it is kind of nice to have it in North America. It is nice to have it here; I know it has been a few years since then. There are some good rivalries that are going on. You got some big names that have continued through, you know, Apolo Ohno has been in it. Of course, the hockey which has been great, the Russian comeback. It really brings the viewer ship up. There have been good names in the figure skating as well, that has really brought that new energy to it. And there has been good names in all the sports that people are getting more interested in seeing what's out there with the winter Olympics.

WHITFIELD: Are you kind of sad it is all over now? Party is over.

STOJKO: Well, I know. I know. You know, working here with Yahoo has been amazing; they have been a great team. I really enjoyed it. My girlfriend and I are ready to head back. It has been really good. We have been running sort of the whole gamut of everything and taking all the energy in. For us it is like -- it is time to go home. It has been really great. We had some ups and downs along the way. It has been awesome.

WHITFIELD: Yes. You don't want to stay at the party too long. I get it.

STOJKO: Yes, yes. You need a vacation from the party, too.

WHITFIELD: Elvis Stojko. Thanks so much. I'm kind of sad the games are over. It has been so great to watch. Now we are -- on to the next games. Right? Looking forward to London. We will talk about the summer games coming up.

STOJKO: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Elvis Stojko thanks so much from Vancouver. Thanks for being with us over the past few weeks.

STOJKO: Thanks so much.

WHITFIELD: In closing the unemployment gap, some jobs training programs, are targeting inner city neighborhoods and getting promising results.

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WHITFIELD: Jobs or lack thereof, another big concern in Washington. Lawmakers disagree on the best ways to created new jobs. But the most recent unemployment figures show the urgency is real. Especially for certain minority groups. CNN's Sarah Lee shows us how some programs are actually closing the unemployment gap.

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SARAH LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Lab technician Laquonda Waters says she wears her white lab coat with pride. Not too long ago her outlook was not quite as bright.

LAQUONDA WATERS, LAB TECHNICIAN: I served customers that sat at the bar and drink all day at 6:00 in the morning, we were opening the doors for people to get their wine.

LEE: Her paycheck, $6 an hour. It wasn't the future Waters' wanted. But with just a high school education to compete in a tough economy, her options were limited until a program supported by federal stimulus dollars convinced her to leave her job at the bar and go back to the books.

WATERS: I saw the ad in the paper.

LEE: As Congress considers legislation to create more jobs. Nationwide unemployment rates for African-Americans and Latinos are considerably higher than that of whites. In the shadow on Capitol Hill, a report issued by D.C. area governments chose minority joblessness here it is even higher.

KWAME BROWN, DC METRO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS: You look at the question around minorities here, unemployment numbers are extremely high. I think the key becomes education.

We are also going to -- transfer the material.

LEE: Career training programs like this one in Baltimore's Biotechnical Institute of Maryland are working to offer that education. Here tuition-free classes trained lower income and predominantly minority workers to as the program director puts it in the skills to pay the bills. As lab technicians and in Maryland's growing biotech industry.

KATHLEEN WEISS, BIOTECHNICAL INSTITUTE: There is a shortage of trained workers. And the jobs of today, jobs of tomorrow, have -- are proving themselves to require more than a high school diploma.

LEE: The institute operates on private funding and donations are drying up. This year the program is depending on nearly a quarter million dollars in stimulus money to help more students like Laquonda Waters who said it has made the difference between standing behind the bar and setting it higher.

WATERS: I went from being indecisive and not knowing what I wanted to do to having a stable job that I love.

LEE: The Biotechnical Institute of Maryland boasts an 80 percent placement rate for graduates. Some of whom Laquonda Waters the woman in our story continue to study for more advanced degrees.

Sarah Lee, CNN, Washington.

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WHITFIELD: Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Don Lemon will have the latest on the Chile earthquake during the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour of the NEWSROOM. He will devote most of the hour to a special look at broken government through the eyes of six retiring Congressmen as well who don't have to worry about getting re-elected anymore. Find out why they think voters are part of the problem.

And in just a few minutes an exclusive one-on-one interview with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

But first one last look at some memorable images from the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.