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Mississippi River Cresting in Memphis; Border Protection in Arizona; Floods Close Tunica Casinos; Integration Still Causing Dilemmas For Some Schools; Affording College Tuition

Aired May 10, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: The epic flooding in the Midwest is heading south, with Mississippi and Louisiana the next states in the path. All along the river, cities are stocked and stacked with sandbags, trying desperately to head off the historic flow of water.

National Guard troops have been mobilized to help wherever needed, of course. At least 21 parishes in Louisiana are under emergency declarations. This could be the worst flooding along the lower Mississippi, if you're keeping track, since 1927.

It was after that disaster that an intricate levee system was designed. Those levees are certainly being tested now. And even if they all hold, flooding is expected in low-lying areas, but the levee system could seriously limit the impact.

There are also plans in Louisiana to divert some of the water. One spillway was opened yesterday. Now the Army Corps of Engineers is looking at the Morganza Spillway. Opening that could lessen the flow headed for places like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. But it will most definitely flood populated areas west of the Mississippi.

Right now Memphis, Tennessee, is the center of attention. The Mississippi River is cresting there today.

Our Rob Marciano is keeping an eye on that high-water mark for us.

Rob, how bad is it looking there in Memphis?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I can tell you this -- you know, we're cresting right now. And typically when we talk about a river cresting, we say, OK, it either is going to crest or it has crested, and it's pretty much over like that and then the waters begin to recede thereafter. But this is such a big event, Randi, that even though we're cresting right now, the river hasn't really moved much from our vantage point here.

We are on actually not the river. We're on Riverside Drive, which is a road that is now in the river which backs up to Beale Street there. You know that, you recognize that if you heard anything about Memphis. That's where the blues institutions are. Graceland is fine, by the way, and most of the downtown blocks are OK, with the exception of this one. But the river itself is three miles wide now. That is unbelievably huge, and the water is at a near-record crest here along parts of Memphis.

The outskirts continue to be inundated with water. That's where most of the home damage has been. Over 900 homes have been affected by this flood, and we have got 400 people that are without a home right now and in shelters, and maybe for quite some time, because the forecast, Randi, with all this water being fed in by these tributaries, which, for the most part, there is a big traffic jam of water going on, those tributaries can't drain because the Mississippi is so full, and also being squeezed by some of these levees.

The river is not going to recede for really several weeks. I mean, we are going to be -- it will take five days for this point in the river to drop one foot, just to give you an idea. And that keeps us in record stage right through the weekend.

So, you know, the good news is, from what we have talked to, the Army Corps of Engineers, most of the levees are holding up pretty well. So they seem fairly confident at this stage of the game that we won't have a catastrophic event, at least in the bigger cities like Memphis -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes. So, cresting, just so I understand you correctly, doesn't really mean then the worst of the flooding is over, because it's going to stick around for a while.

MARCIANO: No. And on top of that, just because it's cresting, doesn't mean that the water goes away quickly, like I mentioned. So you have this water that's still here at near-record levels pushing and putting pressure on this levee system, and just like any other structure, the longer you put force on it, the more you pound it for an extended period of time, the more you begin to weaken things, the more you begin to structurally compromise things.

And that is what they are worried about. And up and down this levee, there's miles of levee system. The Army Corps of Engineers continually checks to look for those weaknesses and shore them up where they can. And so far they have got a handle on things, but they are definitely not resting on their laurels just yet. We've got several weeks for all this water to get down the system and into the Gulf of Mexico.

KAYE: Yes. They certainly don't want a small trickle to turn into a big trickle in those levees.

All right. Rob Marciano for us there in Memphis.

Rob, thank you.

So, in about 90 minutes, President Obama will try to elevate the debate, as one official put it, on one of those issues that everybody agrees certainly needs attention -- immigration. The trouble is, no one agrees on the details of reform. And while Washington does nothing, the states are moving in many directions all at once. You will see the president's speech live from El Paso, Texas, at 3:30 Eastern, right here on CNN.

But in the meantime, I want to show you one aspect of a multi- layered problem.

Earlier this year, CNN's Rafael Romo spent time with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona, and here's what he found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We've got two approaching the ravine again. Make that three.

RAFAEL ROMO, SR. LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice-over): The call comes in and we rush to the scene. It's dark and the agents know they only have minutes to find the suspect.

RUDY GARCIA (ph), U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENT: He jumped the fence and, you know, he didn't stop. He just kept running.

ROMO: Agent Rudy Garcia (ph) finds the men hiding underneath a platform in a back yard.

GARCIA: And you have to search every little crevice and every crack, because you know, they can hide anywhere.

ROMO: The migrant says he comes from southern Mexico.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translated): My family and poverty in Mexico -- I want better. I just want a job to support my family.

ROMO: Not far from there, seven more would-be immigrants had been arrested, including this 32-year- old man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translated): Back to Mexico with my family and never come back. That's what I want.

ROMO: Before the night is over, agents say they will detain more than 300 people. This is Nogales, Arizona, a battlefront in the fight against smuggling organizations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They like to try and operate under the cover of darkness, because they think that they're not going to be seen.

ROMO: From a nearby control room, infrared technology gives agents eyes in the dark. Daylight reveals other resources like surveillance towers, vehicles, and an agent force that has more than doubled in the last 10 years to more than 3,400 for just over 250 miles along the Arizona border.

Agents say they're fighting a new enemy.

DAVID JIMAREZ, U.S. BORDER PATROL: The whole smuggling organization has changed. It's not your mom-and-pop shop anymore. Now everything is organized crime. ROMO (on camera): One of the things that you notice when you come near the fence here at the border is that you find rocks everywhere. Agents say that they are victims of attacks every day and some rocks like this one can cause some real harm.

(voice-over): SUVs show the signs of damage, and agents riding bicycles are especially at risk.

ARIEL MIDELES, U.S. BORDER PATROL: You can see, you know, those medium-sized rocks to brick-sized rocks. They're pretty big. They're not your average sized rocks.

ROMO: Many times, rock throwing is a diversion.

Agents recently confiscated 1,100 rounds of ammunition going south into Mexico, presumably to be used by a drug cartel. This manhole had to be welded shut because it was being used to smuggle marijuana.

MICHAEL DAMRON, U.S. BORDER PATROL: For a long time, they couldn't see them with the cameras because we're in a low ravine here. So it took a long time to figure out what they were doing.

ROMO: As night falls again in Nogales, there's a new arrest. She's an 18-year-old girl from the Mexican state of Veracruz. For her, it's the end of a 1,200-mile trip in search of a dream. For the agents, one of more than 300 arrests that they will make before the night is over.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And Rafael joins us now in studio.

I mean, you've highlighted what some say is certainly the top priority here, which is securing the border. But do the agents that you have spoken with -- I mean, do they believe that we are making any progress in that and succeeding?

ROMO: Well, their challenge has dramatically changed in the last 10 years or so. It used to be that their main problem would be people trying to cross illegally to find a job in the United States. Now they're having to deal with criminal organizations, drug smuggling, organizations that smuggle people across the border who are heavily armed and can do some damage. And you saw what happened with the rocks there as well. So they face all kinds of dangers.

KAYE: And with 11 million illegal immigrants or so already here, where do we stand with a path to citizenship for them?

ROMO: Well, the problem is what to do with people who are already here. You know? Eleven million people, what is going to happen to them?

They are already here and they're part of the economy, and that is what the immigrant organizations are pointing to. Apparently, the problem of people crossing is being reduced, although not eliminated, but the real focus, they say it should be what to do with the people who are already here.

KAYE: All right. Rafael Romo, thank you.

ROMO: Thank you.

KAYE: Just ahead, more in-depth coverage of the flooding on the Mississippi. We'll visit a casino town that's taking a big financial hit from all that water.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Now more in-depth coverage of the flooding along the Mississippi River. Among the communities especially hard hit, Tunica, Mississippi.

Ted Rowlands reports that rising waters have closed the casinos that normally pump millions into the community.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that's the main entrance into the lobby area for the casino hotel.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Harrah's Casino in Tunica, Mississippi, is surrounded by almost eight feet of water. What used to be the valet drop-off now looks like a street in Venice. Harrah's and the other eight casinos in Tunica are expected to be closed for a month.

VALERIE MORRIS, HARRAH'S REGIONAL V.P.: Tunica County has $84 million of gross gaming revenue that's lost for the month of May, and what that equates to is about $10 million in taxes to the Tunica County and to the local taxes organizations here. So, it's a big hit.

ROWLANDS: State law required that when the casinos here were built, they had to be off shore. That means that the casinos themselves are actually floating on large barges, so they're dry, but they're dark and empty, which is bad for everyone living in Tunica.

GEORGE GOLDHOFF, GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT: We're not buying food. We're not buying beer. We're not sending our linen out to be laundered. And so, the effect is far more than just what we're experiencing here at the casino.

ROWLANDS: Ousmane Samba says business at his Exxon gas station and convenient store just down the street from Harrah's is way down. Normally, he says, the station makes more than $4,000 a day. Now, it's a few hundred. He says after more than 10 years, it's no longer open 24 hours a day.

OUSMANE SAMBA, GAS STATION MANAGER: We open now 6:00 to close at 10:00. And we're still dead.

ROWLANDS (on camera): The Mississippi is expected to crest Tuesday or Wednesday. After that, the water levels will slowly go down. Some casino owners are hoping to open by the Memorial Day Weekend. For others, like Harrah's here, that have a parking lot full of water, it may take longer.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Tunica, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: One of the best public high schools in the nation has a very big problem -- not enough white students. The trouble dilemma of integration nearly 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education -- that story is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Nearly 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education, the quest for the best integration formula remains an elusive and troubling dilemma. One case in point is a remarkably successful public high school in Connecticut. Its big problem and center of controversy, not enough white students.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. This side is tighter than this side, right?

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pusha Persad (ph) is in 10th grade at Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. Her 12-year-old sister Nicole (ph) can't get in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's back on a waiting list.

O'BRIEN: At a school with 75 seats for 1,500 kids who apply, a state-run lottery picks who gets in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to pull it together.

O'BRIEN: The school, run by CNN education contributor Steve Perry, is recognized as one of the best schools in the nation.

STEVE PERRY, PRINCIPAL, CAPITAL PREPARATORY MAGNET SCHOOL: We don't just have education. We have got a pretty damn good school.

O'BRIEN: It's more than just competition. State law dictates that urban magnet schools like Capital Prep are at least 25 percent white, the result of a 1996 state Supreme Court ruling to desegregate schools.

TOM MURPHY, CONNECTICUT DEPT. OF EDUCATION: The purpose of the magnet schools is to provide an integrated setting that brings suburban students into Hartford classrooms. The state is, in fact, building the building for free and providing state dollars to subsidize the operation of these schools in order to meet the state Supreme Court mandate of free and public education in a diverse setting. O'BRIEN: Ninety-six percent of school kids in Hartford are a minority, in a community where people are desperate for good education. But Principal Perry says, in reality, the diversity mandate just takes away slots in a successful school from those who need it the most.

PERRY: The majority of the students of color who don't have access to quality schools, they lose.

O'BRIEN: The Connecticut Board of Education warned Capital Prep it could lose its funding.

PERRY: The letter said, we're going to shut you down if you don't get enough white people.

O'BRIEN: Principal Perry hired a recruiter to target suburban white communities in places like Avon, where the local public schools outperform others across the state.

(on camera): Isn't it great to have diversity? Isn't it great to have 25 percent of the school white kids, since you have 75 percent of the school black kids?

PERRY: Yes, I think that there's a lot to it. I don't think it's an issue of being right or wrong. It's more nuanced than that, which wouldn't mean anything if they had other options.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): The Connecticut Board of Education concedes there's irony in threatening to pull funding for a top performing scoop.

MURPHY: Yes, there is a lot wrong with it, which is why we're working with the school to help them meet the numbers. And they really need to do that in order to keep their funding.

O'BRIEN: Pusha Persad (ph) is on a path to higher education. One hundred percent of Capital Prep graduate go on to a four-year college. Her mother is concerned her sister Nicole (ph) may not have the same chance.

Reporting for "In America," Soledad O'Brien, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: CNN's Soledad O'Brien reports "don't fail me: Education in America." This CNN documentary examines the crisis in our public education system and why America's financial future is at risk if our students can't excel in math and science.

"don't fail me: Education in America" premiers Sunday night at 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

Well, last hour we continued our special look at top innovations from coast to coast. The list is from "Fast Company" magazine.

We're going alphabetically, breaking down five an hour all week. We've made it to Iowa, where Smarter Sustainable Dubuque seeks to make the community meet the environmental and economic needs of its residents. It's a unique public/private partnership between the city of Dubuque and IBM.

The Olathe Works Well Clinic in Kansas is a center that focuses on preventive health, doesn't charge co-pays, and is cutting millions from the health care budget.

Lexenommics is a nonprofit group that holds networking events in Lexington, Kentucky. It was built by business leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators to bring new ideas and growth to the city.

So, how do you train architecture students to rebuild a city? Well, a Tulane University professor found a way through his collaborative program Urbanbuild, which teams students with rebuilding projects in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward.

And finally, The Telling Room is a nonprofit writing center in Portland, Maine, that uses storytelling to help boost literacy and self-confidence in children. They have reported working with more than 3,500 students with the help of more than 300 volunteer writers and artists in just the last five years.

Want to learn more about what is going on in your states? For more about "The United States of Innovation," visit our blog at CNN.com/Ali. Make sure to tune in tomorrow, as always, same "Big I" time, same "Big I" channel.

The Mississippi River begins cresting at Memphis and making its way south. Meteorologist Chad Myers, tracking the threat, and he'll have the details up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: It is a core issue, really, for almost every parent in today's economy, and that is saving money. And that includes the cost of college tuition.

One college in North Carolina is offering a formula that's adding up the savings by 25 percent.

Tom Foreman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A bachelor's degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro is a bargain, just over $11,000 a year for in-state students. But a handful here are now getting an even bigger break -- working toward a degree in three years, not the usual four.

And Elyssa Tucker, who wants to be a psychiatrist, is one of them.

(on camera): Were you more interested in the economic benefit or the shorter time in school?

ELYSSA TUCKER, UNCG STUDENT: For me, personally, it was more of the shorter time in school, because I do want to go to med school, so, really, time is of the essence. I would rather get it done faster than trying to take my time and drag it out forever. My parents -- economically, they're like, yes, this is a gold mine, do it. You are in this.

FOREMAN (voice-over): A small but growing number of schools are tackling soaring tuitions by offering a three-year option. And while some educators worry that it short-circuits the college experience, proponents like Steve Roberson say hundreds of students here come from well below the poverty line.

STEVE ROBERSON, DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES, UNCG: And the notion of a college degree, that -- it's affordability is just extraordinarily frightening for most families.

FOREMAN: To join the plan, students must arrive with 12 hours of college level courses completed in high school or elsewhere. They must know their major and they must take on a heavy course load. But the savings --

ROBERSON: We estimate this will save students around $8,000.

FOREMAN: $8,000.

ROBERSON: Almost $8,000, which is about a fourth of a typical collegiate experience here.

FOREMAN: It's tough work.

TUCKER: If you are not driven, this is not going to work for you.

FOREMAN: But for those who are, it can mean a fast-track to even higher degrees, good jobs, and less debt along the way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Tom Foreman joins us live now from Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Tom, how many universities are doing this sort of thing?

FOREMAN: You know, Randi, we can't get an exact count. It looks like about a dozen are experimenting with this idea, but a lot of others seem to be considering it, because they know in these tough economic times, even if some educators are not that fond of it, they believe in the long run, it might be able to save people money and get more kids in the higher education game who otherwise might be blocked out financially even though they clearly have the talent to be there -- Randi.

KAYE: So I guess in a case like this, the five-year or eight- year college plan is out? FOREMAN: Yes. Well, one of the things is a lot of kids are taking five years, six years to go. This is also stepping up the schedule for those who have the skill for it, including a lot of adults who are going back to school, ex-military people who are coming out, who really want to move on with their degree. This is tailor- made for them, so I think we're going to see a lot more of it.

And by the way, Randi, I want to point out we're in Mount Airy. Tomorrow, we're in the birthplace of Andy Griffith. Tomorrow, we're going to talk about an amazing "Building Up" story here based on the nation's love of all things Mayberry.

It's quite a story. You'll want to see it.

KAYE: Oh, I can't wait. We'll have to bring you back on for that one.

All right, Tom.

FOREMAN: All right. We'll see you then.

KAYE: You can get back on the bus now. Get back on that bus. We'll talk to you tomorrow.

FOREMAN: Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: Thanks.

Taking the president's health care law to court. It is happening again. We will tell you where in case you missed it right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It is half past the hour, and here is a check of some of the stories that you might have missed.

President Obama has just arrived in El Paso, Texas. He is scheduled to speak about immigration reform. Hispanic groups have been pushing for reforms that would give some illegal immigrants legal status, but Republicans saying they won't address immigration until the border is secure.

In the meantime, inaction by the federal government has various states tackling the immigration issue. The latest is Maryland, where illegal immigrants will now be able to pay the in-state rate for college tuition. Governor O'Malley signed that controversial measure into law this morning. It takes effect July 1st.

The Mississippi River began cresting in Memphis this morning at the highest level in 74 years. The river has flooded low parts of the city's historic areas and forced about 400 people from their homes. But the most heavy-duty flooding is in areas outside of the city, and the river crest is working south toward Mississippi and Louisiana.

A federal court in Virginia began hearing arguments today on whether President Obama's health care law is constitutional. The hearing is the first appellate review of the law that requires most Americans to have insurance. A panel of three judges is examining the case. Until now, the constitutionality of the health care overhaul was only tested by district court judges.

A new national cell phone alert system was announced today. Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined federal officials at the news conference in New York City. In case of a disaster, the system will send text messages to cell phones. It will launch in New York and Washington, D.C. by the end of the year and could be nationwide next year.

Bin Laden's wives. Just what do they really know about the man who was the world's most wanted terrorist? U.S. officials may soon get some answers. The latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: There's a stunning new twist to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. U.S. officials say that the SEAL team that carried out the mission was larger than first reported and prepared to fight their way out of Pakistan if the Pakistanis had interfered.

Joining me now with his take on all of this is Michael Holmes. So, what do you think of the development?

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is incredible, isn't it? Apparently shooting their way out was an option if the Pakistani security forces had challenged the SEALs during the raid, a willingness that really underscores the mistrust between the U.S. and the Pakistani officials. Not only did the U.S. not tell the Pakistanis they were coming to begin with, while they did not want a shootout, it was an option.

KAYE: Yes. From what I understand, what I've read, from our CNN reporting is that everything was on the table. So, what would have been the ramifications here if that had happened?

HOLMES: You know, if a shootout had occurred, you can you imagine the fallout, you know? You've got two so-called allies in the war on terror shooting at each other. Fortunately, it seems the Pakistanis did not catch on to the raid until the it was too late, which was embarrassing in and of itself.

One bit of irony here, after conducting the raid without permission, the U.S. later called up the Pakistanis to ask permission to fly into their airspace with Bin Laden's body when they were taking it out to the Karl Vincent. Now, you imagine that the Pakistanis would not have enjoyed getting that phone call and agreeing to it.

KAYE: Yes. It is also fascinating too in some of the reporting that they had lawyers on standby in case they had actually taken Bin Laden alive.

HOLMES: Yes, whether it was a death or alive thing.

KAYE: Right. And they knew where they were going to get him out of the country. On a related issue, Pakistan is now saying, after many requests, that the U.S. can now interview the three widows of Bin Laden.

HOLMES: Yes, exactly.

KAYE: What are they looking for?

HOLMES: Well, of course, the SEALs left behind three of bin Laden's wives and a bunch of kids. But it is the wives the U.S. wants to talk just to the glean whatever clues they can about al Qaeda, how it been operating. And of course, they knew the leader pretty well, and they would like to hear what they know about him as well and his plans. The feeling is that Pakistan will grant permission for those women to be interviewed, and that might help alleviate some of the tensions that we've been talking about between the two countries as well.

KAYE: Yes, because you would think that if they had lived in his home, they would have seen the comings and the goings of people and maybe even known some of the possible plots. But what do we know about the women?

HOLMES: Well, interesting. Two of the wives are from Saudi Arabia. One of them, the youngest is actually from Yemen. Her name is Amal al Assad (ph). She married Bin Laden back in 2000. She was 18, he was 43. Romantic stuff.

Now, she was his fifth wife in all. She was the one that, you remember, was wounded in the leg during the raid, rushing at one of the SEALs allegedly. Oh, by the way, the Pakistan officials are saying that the women and the kids at this stage are likely to be sent back to the country of their birth, so Saudi Arabia or Yemen.

KAYE: Let's turn to Syria. A lot to discuss there as well. The European Union today imposing sanctions on top officials there. We also saw the New York Times reporter that was actually allowed inside to interview the top adviser to Assad there. I just want to quote this. He says, "The government forces have gained the upper hand, that it's just a matter of time before the uprising is crushed"?

HOLMES: Yes, that's right. Well, that is what they are saying at the moment, despite the outside pressure from the EU, the U.N. as well and other countries. The brutal crackdowns go on. So too, though, the protests, though. We've seen a lot more video coming out that they're continuing. Although they are yet to touch the two biggest cities in Syria, which is significant as well.

Syrian officials as you say, they say they are getting the upper hand here, but the protests still out on the streets in several places. The ruling elite here, they are not going to give up, that's for sure. Because, why? They are fighting for thane own survival, and they can't lose. There's no other option for them.

KAYE: Can we go to the favorite story for me of the day?

HOLMES: If you must. (LAUGHTER)

KAYE: It is not yours? They have finally - yes! The royal couple, they have finally gone on the honeymoon --

HOLMES: Well, not yet. No, no, they haven't.

KAYE: Oh, no? Oh.

HOLMES: No, no, no. There is a report that they have decided where they are going to go. Oh, yes, you are jumping ahead.

KAYE: I saw all of this video of them supposedly going to somewhere --

HOLMES: Oh, no, no. Sorry, that was a getaway. That was a two- day getaway. It's not the honeymoon. Now, they are going on it - and that was secret, too. Nobody knows where they went, but it was in England, and they flew out from Buckingham Palace on the chopper. And they had a little weekend getaway.

But the truth is, Buckingham Palace had done a great job on keeping the honeymoon - the official honeymoon locale secret. One English newspaper, though -- you know those papers over there. "The Daily Mail," they are claiming that the newlyweds are going to what they are calling a secret hideaway in the Indian Ocean for a ten-day holiday about - later this month, in a week or so.

Now, the paper says the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are going to be staying in an exclusive villa, six-and-a-half thousand bucks a night, located in what the paper says is one of the most beautiful and romantic islands in the world. Now, truth is no one knows for sure. The newspaper says it knows the place, but it's not going to say.

KAYE: Yes, some papers are even saying they are already there. It is royal gossip!

HOLMES: Well, it is gossip, and they did have a two-day getaway, but that's not the official -- And I will tell you that the duchess is in for a bummer coming out, because in a couple of months, William has to go back to the Falkland Islands and you know, the Malvines, as the Argentineans like to call it -- for ten weeks of training to get ahead in his search and rescue helicopter --

KAYE: So she is saying, hey bud, you better take me on that honeymoon now.

HOLMES: Yes, because it is bye-bye for ten weeks. He has to do this to graduate from co-pilot the pilot. And that's something he really wants to do.

KAYE: All right. Well, see, that wasn't so bad.

HOLMES: I'll see if I can find out. I am betting Maldese, because it is good. It's easy. Just a lot of little islands.

KAYE: OK. All right. You do your research. You come back to us with it.

HOLMES: I'll book your tickets for you. Because I know you want to go.

KAYE: Get the scoop. Yes! There you go. Well, thank you, Michael. Good to see you.

HOLMES: Good to see you.

KAYE: If you have ever dreamed of living in another country, you just might change your mind, depending on your age. What is it like to be 65 and overseas is next.

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

KAYE: The first of the baby boomers born in 1946 are turning the big 65. But with the boomer generation redefining retirement and aging, 65 is hardly looking old. And what does 65 look like outside the U.S.? Well, there are distinct cultural differences that may surprise you. Our team of reporters across the globe have an international perspective on what it means to be 65. First stop is Hong Kong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANJALI RAO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Anjali Rao in Hong Kong. Being aged 65 and over here. It's for many a pretty good deal. Baby boomers are lauded for huge economic contributions that their parents could only have dreamt about. Also the Chinese culture of (INAUDIBLE) piety means they are socially revered. According to the latest figures, about 25 percent of the people over 65 are living with their adult children. About nine percent are living in residential care facilities.

But Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. So the main concern now for those reaching retirement age, will their nest egg be big enough to support them? And if not, will employers be willing to hire those deemed to be professionally past their prime?

ERROL BARNETT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Errol Barnett in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates nestled here in the Persian Gulf.

Now, what makes this country unique is its workforce. Eighty- five percent of people working here are from other countries. And they are attracted here by the tax-free goods and Americans' wages aren't taxed up to $93,000 a year.

But here is the catch. It is hard to stay here after retirement. The retirement age is 65, but the government doesn't offer a standard pension or retirement plan for foreigners. You have to be from here to get that. Now, if you are an ex-pat wanting to keep working after retirement, as many in the U.S. do, they make it hard. You have to get special approval by the ministry of labor, which would only renew your your work visa for one year at a time. But hey, if you want to just want to enjoy your golden years, that's much easier. They've got plenty of toys parked docked right here for you to play with.

JIM BITTERMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Bittermann in France, where to be 65 or older means to be retired. In fact, until recently, people were forced here to retire when they hit age 65. It was only in January of 2010 that the mandatory retirement age was raised to 70.

If you look at statistics gathered by the LECD from the richest countries, you will quickly discover that the length of retirement in France also lasts the longest. That's because people exit the workforce on average at 59 years old and live on average into their 80s.

There might be some here who would say they miss their jobs after retirement, but most won't. They find it a moment to develop new skills or catch up on things they have always wanted to do. According to one recent poll, five out of six 5 seniors have no worries at all about ever getting bored in France.

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KAYE: And back here in the U.S., many of the baby boomers are delaying retirement for a number of reasons. Some simply can't afford it these days. Experts say nearly one in five Americans tapped into the retirement accounts just this past year. Then there is the fear of outliving what savings they have left. Others say they are just not ready to have so much leisure time. More boomers are choosing to start an encore career or a second career after retirement.

A new documentary movie is raising a storm of protests. It includes a photo of Princess Diana after the car wreck that killed her. Our "Stream Team" will talk about this next.

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KAYE: The famous Cannes Film Festival starts later this week, and one film is already generating a whole lot of controversy. It's called "Unlawful Killing," a documentary about the death of Princess Diana. It will be showing in Cannes later this week And here is a little bit of the trailer.

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KAYE: The controversy surrounding the film has to do with one picture, a black-and-white photo of the dying princess taken by the paparazzi. It is so graphic that Diana's face was blurred when the photo was used as evidence in the official inquest.

The two men behind the film are Keith Allen and Mohammed Al Fayed. Al Fayed is the father of Dodi Fayed, who also died in that crash. Allen, meanwhile, is a British TV regular and father of pop star Lily Allen. He calls this "the inquest of the inquest." So, we wanted to take this up with our "Stream Team" today. Should the photo of a dying Princess Diana bee seen in public and used in this documentary? Joining the discussion today, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. And on the phone, royal biographer Mark Saunders from London.

Jeffrey, we'll get to the legal angle of this in just a second. But what is your gut reaction to this?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, my gut reaction is that you can't legislate good taste. This strikes me as something that is better not included in any sort of documentary. It's hard for me to imagine what journalistic purpose using a photograph like this shows.

But the American solution to this is let the public decide. Let the free market of ideas decide. Don't get the law involved in a decision that the journalists or filmmakers make and let people discuss it openly, but keep the courts out of it.

KAYE: So, Jeffrey, maybe in bad taste, but should it be illegal is the question?

TOOBIN: I don't think so.

KAYE: No, okay. Mark, you wrote a book about Diana and the paparazzi. We know that the film isn't going to be shown in the UK, but is that enough? I mean, do you think it should it be seen anywhere?

MARK SAUNDERS, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER (on the phone): No, I don't. I mean, I don't think that there is any justification whatsoever for using this photograph. This is merely a cheap publicity for a documentary that, let's be honest, we have all seen it 100 times before. And it is just the reiteration of repeating all of the Fayeds' nonsense, and all they have to sell it is this photograph. And it is a despicable act.

KAYE: And Mohammed al Fayed, Dodi's father, has said that he does not think the photo should actually be a part of the film, even though he is backing the film. But Jeffrey, is there any legal recourse here for the family?

TOOBIN: Well, I think what's interesting is that Allan, the filmmaker has said that he will not show this documentary in Great Britain, but he will show it in France and the United States, which I think illustrates the differences in laws. In England, there are rights to privacy. There are libel laws that are much stricter than they are in the United States. So, he is being much more careful in Great Britain. Frankly, I doubt that the royal family wants to give Allan the publicity of filing a lawsuit. He probably -- they are smart enough to recognize that silence will send this documentary to obscurity faster than a lawsuit.

But in the United States we have a very strong First Amendment. We say, as a country, that when it comes to newsworthy matters, we almost always allow journalists to go forward, and even if it means violating good taste. So, I prefer the American system to the British system where we get to have the public decide what to look at rather than the courts.

KAYE: And Mark, I know that you have covered the royals for years, so I am curious how you think that the royal family might be reacting to this, especially Diana's sons.

SAUNDERS: Well, I think that, I mean, especially after we just had the wedding and we are also moving forward, and this happened 14 years ago. We have had 14 years of inquests and conspiracies and the nonsense of the right-wing death squads and assassination. I mean, we're not achieving anything with this photograph.

I completely agree with what Jeffrey said, by the way. The American way is the better way. But this isn't going to go to the courts. This is not going to go anywhere. Nobody in this country is particularly interested in a film that proves (INAUDIBLE) AND simply shows the photograph for the sake of selling the documentary.

And anyway, as Jeffrey points out, there is no recourse to law in this country, really. But we are not going to go down that avenue. This will be forgotten in a week.

KAYE: Mark Saunders, Jeffrey Toobin, thank you both for weighing in on this. And it will be interesting certainly to see how this all plays in Cannes when it does premiere. Thank you both.

President Obama is in El Paso, Texas, today to talk about the need for immigration reform. That speech is coming up in just about 30 minutes from now. Of course, we'll bring it to you live when it starts.

But that is not the only event the president has in Texas today. Let's bring in the CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser. He's in Washington Paul, what else is on the president's agenda?

PAUL STEINHASUER, CNN DEPUTY POLTICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Randi, I guess you could say the president starts his visit to Texas with policy but then he moves to pure politics. That's how he ends it because after the speech in El Paso, he moves to Austin, Texas, the capital. And he's going to be headlining two fundraisers for his reelection campaign and for the National Democratic Committee.

So, people say Texas? Fundraising for the Democrats? What? What's going on here? Because Texas, as you know, pretty much a red state. But there is a lot of money in Texas, some of it on the Democratic side. The president since he announced his re-election campaign on April 4, he has done fundraisers in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and now Austin, Texas, Randi.

KAYE: And while we're talking about 2012, I know you have some new numbers on how votors are leaning in the congressional races.

STEINHAUSER: Yes, you know, the race for the White House gets all the attention. But let's give Congress a little bit of love. Of course, we remember, last November, you know, the Republicans stormed back and took control of the House.

Take a look at this. This is our new poll for next year. If the election were held today, would you vote for the Democrat or the Republican in your congressional district? And the Democrats have a four-point advantage, according to our poll. That is within the sampling error, but last year, just before the election, the Republicans had a six-point advantage, so maybe things are swinging back a little bit.

But Randi, it's a year and a half away. It's still pretty early. Times can change.

KAYE: Yes. It is early, but it is fun talk about.

STEINHAUSER: It sure is.

KAYE: All right. Paul, thank you.

There is a new move to create a 51st state. I will tell you where and why more importantly in my XYZ.

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KAYE: Time now for my XYZ.

We have been talking a whole lot about immigration today. Well, it turns out that some folks in Arizona are so heated over Governor Jan Brewer's push to move through SB-1070 the immigration law there, they are look looking to start their own state. A petition is in the works in Arizona that would declare Baja, Arizona, the 51st state. And this too is political.

Democratic supporters of a 51st state say Arizona's Republican governor is hurting the reputation and business climate with laws like this SB-1070. Organizers need 48,000 signatures to get it on the local ballot in Pima County. Then if it passes, statehood will be have to be approved by the Arizona legislature and the governor and then Congress. Yes. Good luck with that. We can't get immigration reform passed.

But if it doesn't pass, supporters say it will still send a message to the state legislature that quote "not everyone in Arizona is crazy." Republicans say the move to split the state is just Democrats' sour grapes. Well, hopefully, the immigration issue will get worked out at the federal level before we start redrawing the map of the United States.

That will do it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin. Hi, Brooke.