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Slow-Motion Disaster in Mississippi Valley; Osama bin Laden's Killing Angers Sons; Tracking in Schools

Aired May 11, 2011 - 13:57   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: I want to bring you the latest on that slow-motion disaster in the Mississippi Valley now. Unlike tornadoes and earthquakes, huge and catastrophic floods can usually be seen coming. That also means they are a long time going.

This is Tunica, Mississippi, just south of Memphis, where hundreds or people are out of their homes and some of the town's most important businesses, I'm talking casinos, are closed.

Far down river, they are scrambling to try to save Vicksburg, where the worst is still apparently days away. This is one of many towns bracing for a record crest.

Farter still, the people in charge of the Morganza Spillway are facing a tough decision. Opening flood gates just north of Baton Rouge could minimize the dangerous downstream while swamping other populated areas. A separate spillway north of New Orleans was opened Monday.

So take look at this, we want to show you the big picture now. OK? The river is expected to crest in Vicksburg, if you take look at our dates here, Vicksburg, May 19th, that is the key date there, 14.5 feet above flood stage.

If you look at and Natchez over here, we got 16 feet above flood stage May 21st. And over here, Baton Rouge, more than 12 feet above flood stage expected to crest May 22nd, that's if the Morganza gates stay closed. Of course, the crest should reach New Orleans May 23rd.

Now, back in Tunica, the mayor says the still-rising is painful to watch. Our Rob Marciano is there. And Rob, can you tell us what folks are doing to protect themselves from this?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, at this point it's kind of a wait and shore up what protection you have. The folks who live just outside of Tunica, between the lake and the river -- and that's not a good spot to be when this kind of event happens -- those are the homes that you have seen pictures of throughout the day today and part of last night, where over 200 of the homes are flooded. In some cases, completely submerged, 10, 20, 30 feet of water on top of some of these residences.

Those people, obviously, out of those homes, evacuated. And no telling when they'll be allowed to come back in. Now, the casinos in this area, that's where they make their money, a huge contributor to the economy. And that's where we are right now, along the river.

In Mississippi, you have to be on the river to gamble, or on some sort of waterway, the Gulf of Mexico. So the barges where they gamble are floating, but the resort areas where people sleep, that's not floating.

And what they are doing here is they're using these portable bladders, these aqua barriers where they actually fill them up with water from the river and use that as pretty much their sandbags. It creates almost a watertight seal and has done a good job of protecting the Gold Strike Casino here.

The best part about this type of technology, environmentally friendly, and you just flush out the water when you're done and pack them up on trucks and get them out of here. Sandbags, obviously a little bit more work and a little bit dirtier.

And it's cresting now, Randi, but just like in Memphis and just like in Cairo, this is going to take excruciatingly a long time for it to get on out of here, and then the cleanup effort begins. And that's going to be the headache in the next several months -- Randi.

KAYE: Well, it's good to see at least they are making great use of all that river water considering that they're using it to fill those things up.

MARCIANO: Right, exactly. Taking some off the river.

KAYE: Yes. And Rob, we know in Memphis, as bad as the flooding is, most of the city is actually dry. What is it looking like in terms of Tunica?

MARCIANO: Well, at the cutoff where those 200 homes, I mean, that's awful, that's a catastrophic event. But in the business area of Tunica, there is some flooding there. And it's not quite as safe as downtown Memphis, and it's not quite as big, obviously.

And in some cases, Tunica is kind of a feeder city to the Memphis market. And some folks who live here will actually work in Memphis. Not as badly affected as per capita goes, but the ones that got hit got hit very hard, and the majority of the people that are in shelters now between Tunica and Memphis are from this area because their homes are completely flooded.

KAYE: All right. Rob Marciano, with his feet deep in the water, there in Tunica for us.

Thanks, Rob.

When the river is this big, the problems aren't only on land. The vitally important barge traffic actually gets pretty messed up, too.

Our Patrick Oppmann is on the MV Merrick Jones, which is pushing nine barges downstream at a rapid clip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're just south of Vicksburg on about a 12-hour trip to Baton Rouge. And this towboat that we're on his pushing about nine barges carrying things like ethanol, that will go to gas stations throughout the region, and then grain, which will go to farms in the U.S. and even overseas.

What's different right now than you'd usually see is there are about half as many barges. That is because flood waters are actually pushing this boat down river, about three miles, quicker than it usually would. That has got this captain of the boat somewhat nervous.

They're traveling much faster than they usually would, so they are carrying a lot less. This is going to have an impact on the economy in the region and beyond, and consumers, just because they're able to take much, much less.

They wanted to leave earlier. They actually wanted to leave late last night, but they were told by Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that they didn't want them traveling at night under some of the area bridges because they were traveling so fast and because there's less clearance. We're riding much, much higher today on these flood waters, these historic flood waters that are impacting the entire region, than you usually would.

And just over here, this is really amazing. Usually the Mississippi River would go to the banks of that treeline there, but it goes well beyond the treeline. It's actually going several miles in certain spots into the surrounding states, past the treelines, flooding these lowland areas.

The captain of this boat, the Merrick Jones, said that he actually doesn't recognize this river. He has navigated on this river for over 30 years, and today, as we were setting out, he said it doesn't look like the same river to him. He actually described it as more of a lake than a river.

We're heading south on the Merrick Jones.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And since he fed us that report, Patrick found out his journey will take a little longer than he thought. He now expects to be on that boat overnight.

When you think of Osama bin Laden, "family man" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind. But the world's most wanted terrorist did have a large family. And some of his blood relatives are outraged at his bloody end.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick is following that story for us from New York.

Deborah, is bin Laden's family questioning the fact that he is dead?

DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are questioning the fact that he is dead. He had a number of sons, a number of wives, and a number of children of all ages. But the ones who are questioning whether in fact he's dead, they are grown men who knew that their father was one of the most wanted men in America, if not the world.

In a statement that they released just today, they describe themselves as the lawful children and heirs of Osama bin Laden, and they want conclusive evidence that the man who was killed in that mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan, about 10 days ago is indeed their father. They want to see the pictures. They want video evidence. They said they need that absent a body, which we all know was buried at sea.

What's interesting, also, Randi, is that in this statement, in this letter, they describe the operation and underscore that the operation, the killing, and then the confirmation came from the president of the United States, but they very clearly state, "President of the United States Barack Hussein Obama" -- they even refer to the operation by its code name, "Geronimo."

So it's clear that they've been watching this, they've been thinking about how this was going to play out, but it's that sort of calling out of the president that is particularly interesting -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes, I'm sure. And I'm sure that the White House and the administration certainly has something to say about the family's claims.

FEYERICK: Well, they absolutely do. And what is really kind of sparking outrage amongst U.S. officials and the White House is that bin Laden's sons are claiming that the United States violated international law, and they want to know whether in fact this was the right thing to do, or whether in fact he should have been brought to trial.

In the letter, they released a statement demanding an inquiry, they say, "into the fundamental question as to why our father was not arrested and tried but summarily executed without a court of law."

The White House spokesperson, Jay Carney, had this to say earlier --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I have addressed the legal foundation for the actions the president ordered. We feel very strongly that the successful mission against a mass murderer of Americans and people around the world was entirely justified.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And Randi, another U.S. official points to the right of self-defense as listed in the U.N. charter Article 51, so there is foundation for this, clearly. When the vice president heard that bin Laden's sons were questioning this, he said, "You're kidding?"

Randi.

KAYE: Yes. And it seems that Omar bin Laden is sort of leading the charge here. What do we know about him and his relationship with Osama bin Laden?

FEYERICK: He's been very interesting. He has been very public condemning his father for the violent actions used by Osama bin Laden. He publicly went up against his dad, but he is the one who is really saying that, you know, his father should have gotten a trial just like Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, just like Slobodan Milosevic, also, the Serbian president there.

We know that Saddam Hussein was hanged. We know that Milosevic died while he was standing trial for crimes against humanity. But they really just want -- again, this is their father, better or worse, and so I guess in their own way they want some closure -- Randi.

KAYE: I'm sure. It's certainly an interesting discussion to have.

Deb Feyerick, appreciate it. Thank you.

And we are also learning more people will now have access to the graphic photos of Osama bin Laden's body taken after last week's raid, specifically the members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Senator Dianne Feinstein confirms Armed Services and Intelligence Committee members will view the photos at CIA headquarters in Virginia.

Not clear exactly when. The photos reportedly show bin Laden with a gaping gunshot wound to his head.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: This just in to CNN. A pretty strong earthquake has struck in southeastern Spain.

We are told by the U.S. Geological Survey it is measuring 5.3 and was centered about 218 miles southeast of Madrid. The Spanish Interior Ministry has told one of our affiliates that four people have been killed.

We will of course bring you any information as soon as we get it into the CNN NEWSROOM.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, an organization founded by President John F. Kennedy to promote world peace and friendships. But this anniversary is marred by accusations of rape and murder.

Over the years, the Peace Corps has sent more than 200,000 volunteers to 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to environmental preservation. The organization was established in 1961 with three simple goals in mind: to help needy countries get trained people within their borders, to promote a better understanding of Americans within those countries, and promote understanding of other people by Americans.

But now accusations of sexual assault are emerging among former Peace Corps volunteers. The Peace Corps says on average, 22 female volunteers have been reported being victims of rape or attempted rape each year. Over the past 10 years, the group says 1,000 volunteers reported sexual assaults, including 221 rapes or attempted rapes.

And today, some of those victims and their family members spoke out in a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee demanding change.

Lois Puzey was among those at today's hearing. Her daughter Kate was murdered in 2009 while working for the Peace Corps.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOIS PUZEY, MOTHER OF MURDERED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER: She built close ties to her village and she was considered a model volunteer. So how did a competent, model volunteer become the victim of murder?

From the beginning, Kate was warned about the man who is now accused of killing her, Constant Bio, a local who taught in Kate's school, and he also worked part time for the Peace Corps. Kate was told that Mr. Bio pressured students for sex and had fathered children with them.

Over time, her concern escalated. And then in February of 2009, students and fellow teachers told Kate that Mr. Bio had actually raped two of his students and begged her to help. Despite the potential danger, Kate tried to do the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Puzey says her daughter's reporting of the rapes led to her murder.

Also testifying, Karestan Koenen, who says she was a victim of rape while working for the Peace Corps as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARESTAN CHASE KOENEN, FMR. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER: My understanding of and the passion of the topic are the result both of my education and, unfortunately, my own experience with the Peace Corps.

I joined the Peace Corps in 1991. It was clear from the beginning that my country, Niger, was dangerous. Also clear was the Peace Corps staff inadequacy of dealing with the effects of danger on volunteers.

For example, one week during our in-country training period, several men broke into our site, assaulted two male volunteers and raped a female volunteer. I recall telling my site director that I felt unsafe, but I was told that I was making too much of what had happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The director of the Peace Corps, Aaron Williams, says he is committed to revamping the agency's practices and says the Peace Corps has already implemented programs to help keep volunteers safe.

Next, your kid is smart as a whip, right, and highly successful, in honor courses? So what would you do if a new policy put your child in a class of students with mixed academic ability? The controversy of tracking, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Tracking, it's a controversial school policy that is the source of heated debate. Supporters say it makes sense to put so- called gifted students, those with high academic ability, in a separate classroom from those judged unable to handle more demanding courses. Critics argue tracking is just another word for discrimination and denies equal opportunity to all students.

Deborah Feyerick looks at how one New York school is handling the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK (voice-over): When Audrey Goropeuschek took over as principal of Long Beach Middle School three years ago, she was stunned by what she saw.

AUDREY GOROPEUSCHEK, PRINCIPAL, LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL: We did have classes that seemed to be somewhat segregated.

FEYERICK: That's because students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade honors classes were primarily white while in regular classes students were primarily Latino and African-American, among them Jennifer Smith's daughter.

(on camera): If she was getting honors, why wasn't she put in an honors program?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was in the high 90s in every class. I couldn't understand it. And no one was pushing her, you know, to go into honors.

FEYERICK (voice-over): It's called tracking, separating children based on academic abilities. But in Long Beach, the racial disparity in grade six became hard for educators to ignore.

(on camera): What is the danger in tracking somebody in sixth grade.

GOROPEUSCHEK: In my opinion, it's developmentally inappropriate.

FEYERICK (voice-over): As one of Long Island's oldest communities, it is also one of its most economically diverse.

ROBERT GREENBERG, SUPERINTENDENT OF LONG BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT: We were not providing equal opportunities and equal access to all youngsters and that needed to -- that needed to change.

FEYERICK: In a controversial move two years ago, Superintendent Robert Greenberg did away with tracking, mixing sixth graders of all different academic abilities and creating more challenging curriculum.

GREENBERG: When we begin to prepare youngsters in this way in middle school, they are far more successful at high school.

FEYERICK: But some parents like Tom Sewfield argue smart kids like his daughter are being unfairly penalized.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If someone is intelligent enough that they belong in an honors program, they should be in an honors program. If someone doesn't belong in that program, they should be in a program that teaches to their level.

FEYERICK: Martha initially skeptical has embraced the system for her younger daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What they're afraid of is opportunity for their children, opportunity to get scholarships to colleges.

FEYERICK (on camera): What is the message your trying to give children who traditionally were not put in an honors class?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The message is you can do it. You're bright and you can perform well and we expect you to.

FEYERICK (voice-over): As proof it's working, school officials say a greater number of kids are enrolling in advanced classes. However, test scores are still out. This week, the school board decided not to de-track the seventh grade in the fall.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Long Beach, New York.

(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 right here on CNN.

Well, last hour, we continued our special look at top innovations from coast to coast. The list is from a "Fast Company" magazine article, and we are going alphabetically and breaking down five an our all week. So we hope that you're keeping track with us.

We've made it up to Missouri, where the St. Louis microbrewer Schiafly Bottleworks has grown into a hub for hosting lectures, foodie gatherings, and even Washington University classes. Yes, you heard me right, a college course inside a brewery.

The Urban Fringe Development Area Project was created in Missoula, Montana, to allocate where the city should grow, both helping the community and balancing the needs of the state's fragile ecosystem.

StarTran, well, that was created in Lincoln, Nebraska, to provide citizens with convenient and affordable public transportation. Services include a monthly bus pass to low-income residents for under $8.

There is a lot of talk these days, of course, on which green energy is best, so Reno, Nevada, the biggest little city in the world, had the smart idea to -- get this -- to test the efficiency of nine different wind turbines side by side.

Inspired by the show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," t he nonprofit Building on Hope was created in New Hampshire to partner local builders with those who need building help.

Some pretty cool ideas.

And if you want to learn more about what's going on in your state, or for more about the "United States of Innovation," well, you can visit our blog at CNN.com/Ali. And, of course, be sure to tune in tomorrow. As we like to say here, same "Big i" time, same "Big i" channel.

Danger flowing downstream. This is how it looks in parts of Mississippi, and it could get even worse.

Meteorologist Chad Myers, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: Well, tell me this -- do these names sound familiar: Andy, Barney, Opie and Aunt Bee? Many of us grew up watching them on "The Andy Griffith Show." Now the fictional town of Mayberry is driving the economy of the real town that it's based on.

Here's Tom Foreman with this "Building Up America" report.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Randi.

I was so excited to come to this town. I've never been here before, and yet on the way in everything seemed familiar -- place names, people's names, shops' names. And I'm not the first tourist to feel that way. And that is the whole point.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN (voice-over): Every day, tourists pour through Mount Airy, stopping in shops, taking pictures, remembering the magic of a fictional town whose theme song still plays on Main Street.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's just great down here.

FOREMAN: Andy Griffith grew up here and based much of his hit TV show on this town.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW")

RON HOWARD, ACTOR: I'm going to put my name and the date on here, and years from now, when we're all dead and gone and Mayberry is a big city, people will know that I burned my name into a piece of wood on this here day.

(END VIDEO CLIP, "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW")

FOREMAN: The show's 50-year history is well-documented at this popular new museum where a lifelong friend of Griffith, Emmett Forrest, is the chief collector.

EMMETT FORREST, THE ANDY GRIFFITH MUSEUM: My very favorite item for the whole collection, of course, are the signs from the door of the courthouse.

FOREMAN: The museum drew more than 50,000 people in its first year. Add in the annual Mayberry Festival and landmarks like Griffith's childhood home, and it's all driving $85 million in annual tourism for the county.

FORREST: It has saved Mount Airy. We have lost about 4,000 jobs due to the textile plants and the furniture factories going off shore, so tourism is about what we have left.

FOREMAN: Many visitors come back time and again. Some, like Betty Lynn, from Los Angeles moved here.

BETTY LYNN, ACTRESS: I go to the grocery store and people walk up and hug me and kiss me.

FOREMAN: of course, she is a special case. She played Barney's girlfriend, Thelma Lou.

LYNN: We knew it was a wonderful show and we loved doing it but we didn't really know that across America, how much it would mean to people all through these years, 50 years.

Can you believe it?

FOREMAN: Almost no one can. Five decades after the make-believe Mayberry captured America's hearts, it has become the life's blood of this very real town.

(END VIDEOTAPE) FOREMAN: Andy Griffith still lives here in North Carolina quite some distance away, but he supports the local effort in large part, because it supports the local arts council and the work they try to do here. The simple truth is, though, that his character of Andy Taylor walks these streets everyday, and it looks like he will for a long time. Randi.

KAYE: Thanks, Tom.

Well, we have been reporting on a powerful earthquake in Spain. Damage reports are starting to come in. We will have details for you just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Updating you on the headlines and other news that you may have missed.

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake has struck about 218 miles south of Madrid, Spain. The state-run news agency reports at least one person was killed when a building collapsed. But one of our affiliates says that the Spanish interior ministry repots four deaths. We are working to get more information and we'll bring to you once it becomes available to us.

This story just in. Former NBA player Robert Traylor, nicknamed Tractor Traylor, reportedly has been found dead in Puerto Rico. According to the Web site of the Viamon (ph) Vicaros basketball team, Traylor was found dead in his apartment. Traylor had not been seen in a few days, and teammates went to his apartment to check on him where they found him dead. He was called The Tractor because of his size and strength. Traylor had undergone a heart operation in 2005. He is presumed to have died because of a massive heart attack. Traylor was just 34 years old.

Communities along the Delta brace for more catastrophic flooding from the swelling Mississippi River. This is the scene in Tunica, Mississippi, where the river forced hundreds of evacuations from homes and businesses. Earlier today, the river surpassed its record, topping 58 feet in Natchez, Mississippi.

In Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal says three millions acres could be affected by the flooding. Sandbags are stocked and stacked along the river in low lying areas. This could be the worst flooding along the lower Mississippi since 1927.

We have learned that more people will have access to the graphic photos of Osama bin Laden's body taken after last week's raid. Specifically, members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees. Senator Dianne Finestein confirms that Armed Services and Intelligence committee members will view the photos at CIA headquarters in Virginia. Not clear exactly when they will look at those. Photos reportedly show Bin Laden's forehead with a gaping gunshot wound to his head.

An Afghan imam and his strident teachings of anti-American sentiment and its possible impact on the Afghan war. That is coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: In Iran, another setback for the two Americans held on spying charges. Joining us with his take on this is Michael Holmes. And Michael, if you would, just remind our viewers a little bit about how these Americans landed themselves in trouble.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is a tale, isn't it? It is hard to imagine what these two young men are going through. You talk about Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal. They are both 28. They've been in custody nearly two years now after being picked up by Iranian authorities during a hiking trek that was along the Iran/Iraq border. They say they were on the Iraqi side. The Iranians say they were on the wrong side. You can always ask, what the heck were they thinking being there anyways?

But the fact is, they are in the infamous Ivin (ph) prison for being - well, they say, the wrong place at the wrong time. Neither man even brought to the courtroom today. It was meant to be the scheduled hearing in their ongoing trial on security charges. The Iranians claim they are spies and the like. They weren't brought to the courts. It was delayed again.

KAYE: Yes, and the families, of course, find this very troubling, especially (ph) both their moms. What about the woman that was with them?

HOLMES: That's right. There was a young woman there. She was the third person. She was there when they were picked up. Bauer's now fiance. Her name is Sarah Shourd. She was released on half a million dollars bails, left Iran. Back in the U.S. now, and that happened in September. She had considered to go back for the trial, actually, now suffers from post-traumatic stress, decided against it.

There are so many things that are just wrong here in a way. The guys' defense lawyer still has not been allowed to meet with his clients private in all of this time, 21 months. Swiss officials who represent U.S. interests in Iran, they've never been able to go in and observe any of the court sessions on the case.

So, I mean, there's just a lot wrong when you are looking at it from the outside. A lot of the human rights groups are very concerned.

KAYE: Yes, and we do want to tell the folks at home just a programming note, that CNN's Brooke Baldwin will speak with the mothers of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, coming up in the next hour of the NEWSROOM.

But for now, Michael, let's turn to Afghanistan. A lot of people a lot of talk still - I mean, this talk just won't go away about the strategy there now.

HOLMES: Yes, well, with Osama Bin Laden dead now, there is a lot of talk on Capitol Hill about reassessing the war in Afghanistan and among many of the lawmakers. A lot of them are very senior ones as well. You know, the thinking is if the invasion post-9/11 was to clear out al Qaeda in Afghanistan, well, there is not many al Qaeda there now. The leader is dead. Well, maybe the drawdown that is being planned anyway should be accelerated a little bit. Yes, some people say, well, let's get out of there now. What's the point in being there?

KAYE: Yes, and if that in fact happened, then what is the answer?

HOLMES: Well, the problem is that, you know, you are going to end up with a potentially unstable Afghanistan politically, because the Taliban will probably walk back in to power if not on their own, then in some coalition which would not last because the Taliban would not want to sit next to a secular group and rule moderately.

The other problem is that, of course, it would embolden radical groups in Pakistan who already want a Taliban-style government in Pakistan. Nobody in the West wants that when you've got nuclear weapons, of course, in Pakistan. Pakistan is increasing their nuclear weapon stockpile as well.

KAYE: CNN's Stan Grant - we were talking about this, you and I, just a couple of minutes go. He had this disturbing report about this imam in Kabul who is really basically spreading anti-Americanism to young boys.

HOLMES: Well, it is extraordinary story, and I know that you have run it in previous hours and you will see it again.

But this imam - the problem here is that this guy is one of many. And they have got these kids in these madrasses here, and the religious indoctrination is something to hear. And it's not just religious indoctrination, it's indoctrination in an anti-West, and in particular in an anti-United States way. Teaching the kids things like -- and you hear the kids say that they know that Americans are taking mullahs away, spiriting them out of the country never to be seen again. One kid says he actually saw on television, Americans putting the needles into the hearts of religious people and pulling them out --

KAYE: They don't know any better. They're going to believe this.

HOMLES: Exactly. And Mohammed Jamjoom was reporting today on a couple of kids that were picked up in Pakistan - in Afghanistan -- who had come across the a similar style of school in Pakistan to blow themselves up in Afghanistan. And they had been told by the imam there that you can blow yourself up among the infidels and you will be fine. You will be alive and you come back, and everyone will be happy.

Some disturbing stuff going on in those schools. That's where this all ferments.

KAYE: Just very quickly, in Japan, the victims are starting these very painful steps, obviously, trying to put their lives back together.

HOLMES: You know, that's right. Yes, you are talking about two months later, and you still have an awful lot of people in these evacuation centers. In fact, 115,000 people are still in the places. Meanwhile, you've got the Japanese government saying it is going to rethink its whole nuclear strategy now. "From scratch" was the quote from the prime minister.

KAYE: Which might be what they need to do.

HOLMES: That's right. And what they're going to do, interesting, is have a look at a whole bunch of different, new forms of energy. They're talking about things like biomass, wind power. solar power that should be regarded, as the prime minister said, as pillars of the new strategy. So, you could see a little less nuclear power in Japan and a lot more investment in alternatives.

KAYE: It is just amazing how over the last two months how it's all changed from we're going to be fine, don't worry about it, very small radius of evacuation zones -- and to now we're rethinking everything from scratch. They realized major problem.

HOLMES: Indeed.

KAYE: All right, Michael.

HOLMES: Good to see you, Randi.

KAYE: As always, good to see you too. Thank you.

Well, we know what aging looks like. You think wrinkles and age spots, right? But how does it kill? It's the key for older baby boomers. We'll step into their aging shoes, literally, to explain next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: So, here is a reality check. The fastest growing segment of the population in the industrialized world is people 50 and older. And aging baby boomers are scrambling to find ways to stay young. Who isn't?

So, as we continue the special coverage on the boomer generation, CNN's Deborah Feyerick shows us what it literally feels like to age and share some high-tech solutions to help the boomers age gracefully.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to the Age Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.

(on camera): Getting older.

(voice-over): If you want to know what it's like to grow old, this is the place to come.

(on camera): So this is what it feels like to be 75 on a good day.

(voice-over): Joe Coughlin runs the lab, a valuable outpost for designers and businesses to figure out ways to cater to aging Baby Boomers.

JOE COUGHLIN, DIRECTOR, MIT AGE LAB: What we have found is that product placement for the things that you most want and the most healthy are quite often those that are the hardest to reach.

FEYERICK: Researchers here are figuring out everything from easier shopping --

(on camera): Can I do a little exercise program here?

(voice-over): -- to fun ways to stay active.

(on camera): Even for 10 minutes, it makes you very fatigued.

COUGHLIN: If Baby Boomers are going to leave a legacy, it's about expecting more and they're going to try their best to age cool.

FEYERICK: Or age less.

COUGHLIN: Or age less.

FEYERICK (voice-over): That includes the kind of homes Baby Boomers will choose to live n. Reconfiguring spaces --

COUGHLIN: Here at the counter, cutting vegetables now is going to make you far more fatigued than if you had a counter that you could sit at. And so really designing the house to live in for a lifetime.

FEYERICK: And using electronics strips to keep track of medicine and help others keep track of you.

COUGHLIN: And it says you put your pills back without taking them.

FEYERICK (on camera): I did. I'm just like I'm standing.

COUGHLIN: We're using that type of technology that was used for the astronauts for your mom in your kitchen. Because if you think about it, space is an extreme environment, but your kitchen is an extreme environment as you age.

FEYERICK (voice-over): In America alone, there are some 77 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964. Seventy percent live in rural areas where cars are a lifeline.

COUGHLIN: Are there things we can do with a car to compensate maybe for reduced flexibility in the neck? Blind spot detection? Warning systems?

FEYERICK (on camera): So are you, on some levels, trying to turn back time? COUGHLIN: In some levels, no, we are trying to make the best use of the time we have. Do we work longer? Do we come up with new forms of play? How do we stay in our homes not just independent, but connected as well.

FEYERICK (voice-over): Even if the connection is a robot. The same, weight and feel as a baby and oddly soothing.

As for me, I'm not ready to get old --

(on camera): I feel 17 again.

(voice-over): -- refusing to age without a fight.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Boston, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Wow. That was cool.

If your alma mater was offered millions of dollars but in return the donor had the right to choose which professors to hire, would you want your school to take that money? Today's "Stream Team" takes on that very topic next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: A foundation bankrolled by conservative billionaire businessman Charles Koch has pledged money to Florida State University. The pledge is for $1.5 million and goes for positions in the economics department. Charles Kock and his brother, David, are libertarians and strong proponents of the theory that government taxes and regulations intrude on wealth.

And as part of their donation deal, representatives of Koch will get to sign off on any hires for a new program promoting what they are calling political economy and free enterprise.

So the question for today's "Stream Team" is this: How much influence should a big money donor have? Joining us now is CNN political analyst Roland Martin as well as Cheryl K. She is the president of Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Roland, I see you're wearing the colors proudly for the school, but let me read you both something first --

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: (INAUDIBLE) talk about the academics of schools. Might as well.

KAYE: Yes, yes. Okay. We will get to that. I see Texas A&M loud and clear.

But let me read you this from David Rasmussen. He's the dean of the college of social sciences defending the Florida State deal. He writes, "I am sure that some faculty will say this is not exactly consistent with their view of the academic freedom, but it seems to me that it would have been irresponsible not to do it."

So, Cheryl, I want to start with you. Would it have been irresponsible not to do this deal?

DR. CHERYL KING, PRESIDENT KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE: No, I think that the responsible thing to do is to make sure that contributions to the university or the institution are compatible with that university's mission and policies and procedures and hiring practices.

KAYE: And Roland, what is your take?

MARTIN: First of all, I agree 100 percent. This reminds me of that billionaire who gave $3 million to the Connecticut athletic program. He got angry that the university did not have him involved in the process, and asked for his $3 million back.

Look, if I give money to my university, I'm entrusting they are going to make the right decisions. I'm giving it for the right decisions. I just simply don't believe you should have a hand in the hiring process, because basically if they disagree, according to this agreement -- if they disagree with one of the choices, they could pull the money. So basically, they are dangling it over the head of the university, saying look, we don't like them, we are yanking the money. Of course, the university is going to give into them every time.

KAYE: So are you saying, Roland, this is not different from say boosters?

ROLAND: Yes. That is exactly what this is! This is just like a booster saying, hey, I give of athletics program a quarter of a million dollars or half a million dollars. If I don't like the job that the coach is doing, if you don't fire the coach, I'm taking my money back.

And so, if the issue is about academics, you should be trusting the university to make the right decisions. This is not a situation where they have their own organization paying for themselves through their foundation. They are frankly using the credibility of the university to drive their agenda.

KAYE: And just to be clear, just as Roland said, the foundation can withdraw its funding if it is not happy with the faculty's choice or if the hires don't meet objectives that the Koch foundation has put out there.

So, Cheryl, tell me this. Would you have had maybe not as big a problem with this deal if it had been at a private school, not a state school?

KING: No, I think the same policies, same things apply here. You know, the question that we should be asking is are the individuals in our classrooms and what we teach, are those things for sale? Are they up for sale to someone in order for us to espouse a particular ideology, some type of ethical dilemma or whatever it may be? We have to make sure our responsibility to our students is to help them understand the broad picture. To analyze, to ask questions to, learn to solve problems, to think critically. Those are the things. And then for students to draw their own conclusion, and it is very concerning when funding drives a philosophy in a classroom of which within we cannot be sure that the students are hearing all points of view and making, again, making their own decisions.

KAYE: So Roland, getting back to sports. I mean, in college football, has big money donor interference hindered the hiring of minority coaches?

MARTIN: Look, I certainly believe that. We have heard that off of the record without attribution from presidents, from alumni who say it is difficult in the case of -- we have seen the cases when Charlie Strom was being interviewed for some jobs. He, of course, took the Louisville job, but he was a coordinator at the University of Florida and many believed he did not get certain jobs in the SEC because he is black and his wife is white.

But - look. The bottom line is this here. You cannot have individuals who are dangling money over the heads of the universities. Like it or not, the universities are businesses. And they are going to sit here and say, wait, if a guy is giving me $1.5 billion or $3.5 million for athletics like in Connecticut athletics, they are going to follow the money. This is a dangerous thing whether you are liberal or conservative or libertarian. Geared toward your university because you want to, and you believe they are going to do the right thing. But don't say, we don't agree with the choice. We're taking our money back. That to me is irresponsible. And I would never do anything like that to my university. I think it is grossly unfair to the university as well.

KAYE: Dr. King, I want to ask you. You know how far this money can go. $1.5 million certainly can go a long way. Would you have taken this deal at your school?

KING: No, not with the restrictions that I understand apply here. I think again, it is up to the institution to be very clear about its mission and values, what we are about and what we want for our students. And those should follow what we value. What's important to the institution.

And our goal, certainly, resources are limited. We are always looking to ways to help support our programs and certainly our students. But it has to be compatible with the mission. If we don't have that compatibility, it means that that institution loses all sense of who they are and what they are about.

We have to be clear to the public. And I think when we are clear about what we are about, we will get the support we need.

KAYE: Dr. Cheryl King, well said. Roland Martin, as always, loved the outfit and great discussion, both of you. We will talk soon.

MARTIN: Gig 'em, Randi!

(LAUGHTER)

KAYE: Oh, boy! You never know what he's going to come on wearing.

Reports of death and damage coming in from Spain, where a powerful earthquake just hit. We will have more details for you right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We are now getting video of the quake damage in southeastern Spain. We want to show you some of the 5.3 magnitude quake struck about 218 miles south of Madrid, near the Mediterranean coast. You can see the urgency there just in this video and some of the damage.

It is in the town of Lorka. That's what you're looking at. And that is where state-run news agency reports at one person was killed when a building collapsed. You can count on CNN, of course, to bring you the latest as we keep on this developing story.

That will do it for me. Now I hand it over to CNN's Brooke Baldwin. Brooke.