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Obama Defends Mideast Stance; Pakistani Military Base Attacked; Obama Going to Ireland
Aired May 22, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: He spoke to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee or AIPAC. It describes itself as America's leading pro-Israel lobby group.
Three days after Mr. Obama declared that peace negotiations should be based on pre-1967 borders, he insisted his stance is no threat to Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: By definition, it means that the parties themselves, Israelis and Palestinians, will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4th, 1967. That's what mutually agreed upon swaps means. It is a well- known formula to have who have worked on this issue for a generation. It allows the parties themselves to account for the changes that have taken place over the last 44 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to AIPAC tomorrow.
Earlier, I spoke with CNN's senior U.S. State Department producer Elise Labott. And I asked her if Mr. Obama's speech today may ease some of Netanyahu's concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISE LABOTT, CNN SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT: I think President Obama went a long way to making the prime minister feel better. He was really looking for a strong statement on Hamas and the president did say that the Israelis shouldn't be expected to negotiate if Hamas does not accept Israel's right to exist. He's saying any country can't be expected to negotiate with someone that won't even accept its right to exist.
And so, I think as the prime minister looks to make his speech tomorrow night at AIPAC and also a speech before Congress on Tuesday, I think President Obama definitely encouraged him, made him feel a little bit better since what he heard on Thursday during that speech.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: President Obama is getting ready to put some more miles on Air Force One. He heads to Ireland in a few hours to examine his Irish roots. In about 10 minutes, we'll have a live report from Dublin about what we can expect on the president's European tour.
Three explosions rattled a military pace in Pakistan's largest city a short time ago. It happened in Karachi. Witnesses say at least one airplane is on fire after an apparent gun and grenade attack on the base by militants.
Let's get details now on the phone from Karachi is journalist Amjad Bashir. He lives here the base and is on the scene.
Amjad, tell us what you can see right now?
AMJAD BASHIR, JOURNALIST (via telephone): The fighting is still going on between the naval commandos and these militants. They have been able to blow up a P-3C Orion aircraft, which is a naval plane surveillance aircraft. That they have done. And according to reports, two of the naval commandos, they have died and two are injured. There were unconfirmed reports of six militants also being killed in the attacks.
Earlier, these militants entered the naval base firing rockets and grenades and, obviously, using automatic gunfire at the guards. They have at least six to seven explosions so far.
WHITFIELD: So, what do we know about those --
BASHIR: The firefight is still going on.
WHITFIELD: What do we know about those killed or injured?
BASHIR: Two of the naval officers died and militants so far unidentified.
WHITFIELD: All right. Amjad Bashir --
BASHIR: -- kind of unconfirmed about them. There is no official confirmation about the militant deaths.
WHITFIELD: All right. Amjad Bashir, thanks so much for that update coming out of Karachi and those explosions taking place.
In other news from overseas now, the U.S. ambassador to Yemen is safe after a frightening moment just a couple of hours ago. An armed group of supporters of the embattled Yemeni president surrounded an embassy where the ambassador was meeting with other diplomats. Yemeni security forces got the diplomats out safely.
And back in this country, one man is under arrest and police are questioning other suspects in the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants' fan. Two men attacked Brian Stow outside Dodgers Stadium in March. Witnesses say he was hit from behind and knocked to the ground. Stow sustained a brain injury after that attack.
All right. Let's check out the weather scene now. Some dramatic video of a funnel cloud forming over northeastern Kansas. One person was killed when a tornado hit the town of Reading last night. Four others were injured.
Survivors are trying to clean up the mess right now, but it could take a while. More than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed. Nearly every building in the town of Reading sustained some sort of damage.
More violent weather is taking place right now in the midsection of the country. Jacqui Jeras has more on that.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Fredricka, yes. We've had a number of tornado touchdowns producing damage. And that threat remains out there. And this is going to be ongoing throughout most of your night. The purple boxes that you see here, these are all tornado warnings which are in effect. That means a tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar. There's also one right there just to the southwest of Green Bay.
The red boxes are tornado watches. That means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. We've had a number of reports of touchdowns with damage in the Twin Cities metro area, including in Minneapolis itself, up towards Fridley and to Brookdale (ph) into the shopping center there. And that storm continues to track on up to the north and to the east.
We're also looking at a very nasty thunderstorm near Cedar Rapids, just to the north and east of there, just passed over Iowa City. And it did produce a little bit of damage from what I'm understanding with that one as well.
And, then, Chicago, you guys are under the watch. Severe thunderstorms to your south. And they've been rumbling kind of spotty throughout the area. Nothing rotating at this time.
We've got a ground stop in effect at Chicago O'Hare, meaning people can't take off to get into that airport. And they're stopping those planes because of those storms. So, be aware of that. Another round could be developing later on today.
Check out the watch area. We're talking about more than 800 miles of broken line of severe thunderstorms. So, this is covering a lot of real estate today. It's what we call a moderate risk day where we get these tornadoes that stay on the ground and cause that kind of damage.
The other thing, too, of concern, Fredricka, is that they're putting in a lot of rainfall and our weather pattern is setting up that things are going to stay active in the middle Mississippi River Valley and into the Ohio River Valley over the next couple of days. So, we're going to rally have to watch that flood situation. A lot of the smaller tributaries and streams coming off the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers may be going back up.
WHITFIELD: That's the last thing anybody needs in that region right now.
All right. Jacqui, appreciate it.
JERAS: Sure. WHITFIELD: Two major announcements in the race for the White House. One happens tomorrow in Iowa -- Tim Pawlenty will declare his presidential candidacy at a town hall event in Des Moines. The former Minnesota governor will then kick off a multistate campaign swing.
And a much different announcement from Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. In an e-mail sent out to supporters early today, Daniels says he will not run for president. He was considered a potential GOP front-runner and top Republicans urged him to run. But Daniels says he decided a bid would not be in the best interest of his family.
President Barack Obama is getting ready to check out his family roots. Why some folks hope that involves a pint of Guinness.
And, later, tennis champ Venus Williams talks about the injury that sidelined her and she tells me face to face what she's thinking when she competes against her sister, Serena.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Floodwaters long the Mississippi aren't going anywhere any time soon. Some places expect to be under water until at least mid- June. Check out this cemetery in Yazoo City. You can barely see the headstones. The coroner says several caskets have actually floated to the top. They are now in a refrigerated truck until water goes down.
Inmates at the country's largest maximum security prison known as Angola are piling up sandbags trying to save it from the floodwaters. Louisiana State Penitentiary is bordered on three sides by the Mississippi. Hence its nickname, Alcatraz of the South.
For others who live and work right on the river, it is tough going. Take Vidalia Dock and Storage, which is run by three generations of women. As CNN Jeanne Meserve learned, no flood is stopping them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Along the Mississippi, even those who work on the water are underwater.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you like me to come past you on there?
MESERVE: But Vidalia Dock and Storage isn't out of business. One of the tugs is headed down the river, though the river has never been like this before.
CARLA JENKINS, VIDALIA DOCK AND STORAGE: Mindboggling. It's really hard to comprehend how much water is coming through here right now. I'm in awe of it. I have tremendous respect for it and have a lot fear.
MESERVE: The Betty M. Jenkins is headed south to meet up with another towboat and help it maneuver this stretch of the Mississippi.
MICHAEL MELTON, VIDALIA DOCK AND STORAGE: It's usually the easiest part of the river to navigate. MESERVE (on camera): But not right now.
MELTON: Not right now.
MESERVE: Because of all this water?
MELTON: Exactly.
MESERVE: And all this current.
MELTON: Exactly.
MESERVE (voice-over): They tie up to a barge full of chemicals, and along with its tow boat, push against the current. Together, their engines put out more than 3,600 horsepower. But at points, they fight to go one mile an hour.
JENKINS: The water will go out and come in like an ocean tide and we have never seen that before. I've never seen the current white capping off the piers like it is on the bridge right now. I've never seen that in my life.
MESERVE: Only speed can keep the current from smashing the boats and barge into the bridge between Vidalia and Natchez.
JENKINS: Whoo! Very nervous. Very.
MESERVE: They are closer to the bridges than they like and can feel the river fighting for control.
JENKINS: Can you feel it sliding? We're breaking into a slide right now.
MESERVE: But they make it. And a little further up river, the boats untie, the towboat jock heading up north alone with its cargo.
(on camera): Right now, the river is flexing its muscles. It is so big and so strong there is little doubt the tow boat will need other assists before it reaches its final destination.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Vidalia, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Talk about role reversal, see what happens when students become the teachers.
Also ahead, sometimes people at bars can say things that maybe they shouldn't. But now, at one bar, curse words are going to cost you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Time for a little "Chatroom" right now. Jacqui Jeras and I looking at the lighter side of things. We need light -- everyone needs light about now.
OK. Well, this one kind of really melts the heart of a lot of folks.
JERAS: I know. I love these stories.
WHITFIELD: You know, when you have these tragic weather stories, oftentimes people get separated from their pets -- as was the case in Alabama. And somehow this dog, broken legs and all, found its way.
JERAS: Can you believe it?
WHITFIELD: To its owner.
JERAS: Two weeks after the storm, notice how it was walking there. It broke -- both the front legs were broken. The owner's home was severely damaged. And two weeks later, they had come back and they found their dog sitting there waiting for them. It's like Lassie, come home. But this is Mason instead.
WHITFIELD: I guess it's just that instinct in a lot of canines that they're able to kind of make their way. Because this isn't the first time you've heard of a story like this.
JERAS: You haven't. In fact, I heard another one this week about a cat that came back just this past week, which, you know, it's almost been a month since the storms, since April 27th when those tornadoes rolled through.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Isn't that incredible?
JERAS: Yes, it is. And so many animals need homes, too, by the way. A lot of those people can't keep their animals right now because they don't have anywhere to --
WHITFIELD: And in a lot of cases, they are not able to reunite the animals with their rightful owners because they're still trying to figure out where people are and where their stuff is.
JERAS: If you want to adopt an animal, tornado animal, go to the Humane Society.
WHITFIELD: OK. Good. All right. Well, this is a very unusual kind of thing, because oftentimes people, you know, are in the bars, et cetera, and they kind of say whatever it is they want to say.
JERAS: That's right. Dirty mouths.
WHITFIELD: Alcohol or not. Well, apparently, there's a penalty now if you say a little too much, if you've gone a little too far.
JERAS: Yes, this is a bar in Baltimore called the Mount Royal Tavern. They have what's called a cuss bucket. So, apparently, they don't want to tolerate that kind of language. So, you have to pay a fee if you get caught cussing.
And then they're going to use that money to help animals. It's actually another animal story.
WHITFIELD: So, one more time on that one. Twenty-five cents if you say a bad word.
JERAS: Is it 25? I thought it said 75. Up to a $1 if it's what?
WHITFIELD: I don't know. I saw the numbers there, 25 cents to $1.
JERAS: Yes, certain words might be more offensive than others.
WHITFIELD: All righty. Now you've got to pay to have a potty mouth. Very funny, inventive thing.
JERAS: Yes, we need that in our newsroom.
WHITFIELD: Yes, speaking of bars -- no comment on that one. Speaking of bars, you know, Budweiser happens to be something that's oftentimes served. And so, now, Budweiser with a really inventive idea trying to help save the environment, too.
JERAS: That's right. So, they're suggesting now, in order to help the environment, that guys shouldn't shave for a week.
WHITFIELD: Save 1 million gallons of water, apparently.
JERAS: Three to ten gallons of water is used by the average man to shave. Obviously, if they're not using an electric razor. But they say, last year, more than 1,000 employees participated in this. They didn't shave for a week. They say 42,000 gallons of water.
So, if you're 21 or older, you like to shave with water, go to Budweiser's Facebook page and join their hairy, scratchy revolution.
WHITFIELD: I think that's very funny. I like facial hair.
JERAS: Do you? You like the mustache, beard?
WHITFIELD: I do. I like all that. It's cool. As long as it's trim and, you know, clean and pulled together and it looks intentional.
JERAS: I like the hairless look.
WHITFIELD: It seems like more men are moving toward the hairless thing. You kind of forget what facial hair looks like, a mustache, beard. So, now, this campaign just might inspire.
JERAS: It might. Save Mother Earth, don't shave, guys. Good excuse.
WHITFIELD: I like it. It's all right.
All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui. Not quite anything, but you know what I mean.
All right. Back on track now, leaving the "Chatroom," entering back into the NEWSROOM.
So, all across the country, educators are trying to find new ways to teach students reading, writing and arithmetic. I want to say, you know, the 3 R's. So, in this week's "Perry's Principles," Steve Perry shows us how some children are teaching the teachers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: The synapses in my brain connect, then I learn.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you guys stand up and do it with us?
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: The students are teaching class today at the Beardsley School. The pupils? Their teachers.
This role reversal is part of a revolutionary program developed by the National Urban Alliance or NUA.
(on camera): How do teachers respond to having kids tell them how to teach?
ERIC COOPER, PRES., NATIONAL URBAN ALLIANCE: They love it, primarily because it really gives them an understanding of the strengths that the students have, as well as where the gaps are that need to be filled in.
PERRY (voice-over): The training is broken up into two parts. First, an NUA representative leads a session on creative teaching methods for both students and teachers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ready? Set? Go.
STUDENTS: Neurons are the brain cells, the brain cells, the brain cells.
PERRY: Then the kids take over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll only give you about two minutes. So, go.
PERRY (on camera): You're working in some of the lowest performing school districts in the country. What is it that you hope to gain?
YVETTE JACKSON, NATIONAL URBAN ALLIANCE: It's not just so that the students feel empowered. It's so that the teachers see what unbelievable wealth of potential these students have.
PERRY: Today, you guys were teaching. Was that cool?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
PERRY: What makes you think you'd be a good teacher?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They always teach us. So, it's good to teach them for a change.
PERRY (voice-over): Cost of the program is split between the NUA and participating school districts. More than 250 students and 15 schools around the country have participated so far. The NUA says students' performance has improved in the classroom, and they're currently sponsoring formal research to confirm that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think teachers need to know they should keep on trying and keep on teaching the kids no matter what.
PERRY: Steve Perry, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: It's been four months since tennis great Venus Williams played in a tournament. Is she ready to make a comeback?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Would you have your druthers, whether you would be more anxious to be on the clay court of the French or grass of Wimbledon?
VENUS WILLIAMS, TENNIS CHAMPION: I would say that I would be more anxious to say I'm on the clay court and grass.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, now, we know she's not on the clay of the French, because that's under way. But, perhaps, maybe Wimbledon in the grass. Face to face with Venus Williams, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Tennis star Venus Williams turns 31 next month. Returning to a grand slam tournament would be the perfect birthday present. Perhaps that's why she signed up for the East Point International in the U.K. The early June event is considered a warm-up for Wimbledon. Venus tells me face to face that she's nursing a muscle injury carefully and knocking down any rumors that she's considering retirement any time soon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Four months ago, Venus Williams was at the Australian Open, doubled over in pain, making an early exit.
Now, back at home, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, all 6'2" inches of her standing tall, relaxed, seemingly taking it all in stride. I met up with Williams at her favorite practice courts at (INAUDIBLE). She tells me face to face she's up beat.
(on camera): What is this injury specifically?
WILLIAMS: I tore about three inches in my muscle.
WHITFIELD: This is a groin injury?
WILLIAMS: Yes. It's a muscle that runs from the groin straight through the stomach. So a pretty severe tear.
WHITFIELD: Where do you feel that you are?
WILLIAMS: I think right now -- WHITFIELD: Fifty, 60, 70, 80?
WILLIAMS: I think 70 percent, 80 percent.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Not quite ready to do this again. Not yet.
WILLIAMS: I just go lightly. And try to pay attention to my doctor's advice. And just keep re-evaluating week by week, because I do get better week by week.
WHITFIELD: She admits it's frustrating being sidelined.
(on camera): You like to win.
WILLIAMS: I love to win. Not just like. It's addictive.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): But as much as she misses competing --
(on camera): So, do you dare go to any of these tournaments when you're not playing?
WILLIAMS: I've been playing 17 years. I've been to a good amount of tournaments. I don't necessarily at least be a spectator. I've kind of drawn the line. I can't watch any more on TV, because I deserve to be out there.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Will she be ready in time for this month's French Open or June's Wimbledon?
(on camera): Would you have your druthers, whether you would be more anxious to be on the clay court of French or the grass of Wimbledon?
WILLIAMS: I would say I would be more anxious to be on the clay court and the grass.
(LAUGHTER)
WILLIAMS: I hope that answers your question.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Professional tennis hasn't been the same without her. Absent, her more than 100 mile per hour serves, her show stopping personally designed outfits, the hits and the misses.
WILLIAMS: This is the famous French Open dress. Exposed.
WHITFIELD: Talk about exposed, what about those flesh toned bloomers that caused such a stir?
WILLIAMS: The nude bloomers. I think they've officially been retired.
WHITFIELD (on camera): They have?
WILLIAMS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You're very much a girly girl, too, right? WILLIAMS: I am a girly girl. I'm a tough girly girl.
WHITFIELD: Of course.
(voice-over): She keeps a sense of humor. Williams is recovering. But the winner of 21 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic medals is far from retiring.
WILLIAMS: No. I'm definitely at the top of my game and had a couple injuries lately that have been some bad luck.
WHITFIELD: Among the opponents she can't wait to take on again, her 29-year-old sister, Serena, recovering from her own medical scare, a pulmonary embolism just two months ago.
WILLIAMS: When, thankfully, Serena was able to get treatment so that way she can go on and lead a healthy, happy life.
WHITFIELD: And to anyone who ever doubted their genuine competitiveness in eight Grand Slam finals, it's complicated, but very real, she says.
WILLIAMS: There was one year, maybe '08, where I was playing. We had to play each other in the Wimbledon Final. We had to play the semifinal the day before. And I had sprained my thumb so bad that I really couldn't hit a back hand. But I couldn't tell her that in the doubles because she'd know in the finals. I had to suck it up.
WHITFIELD (on camera): You didn't share it with her.
WILLIAMS: It was like nothing was wrong.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): This time, on her return, Venus Williams wants everything to be right.
(on camera): We can't wait until you're back on the court.
WILLIAMS: Me neither.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, check out more of my face to face with Venus Williams by going to my blog. Just go to CNN.com/Fredricka.
A look again at our top stories right now.
Los Angeles police have arrested a suspect in connection with the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants' baseball fan at Dodgers Stadium in March. Other suspects are being detained. Brian Stow was leaving the game wearing Giants gear when police say two men wearing Dodgers apparent attacked him.
Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is staying in this New York apartment building, but maybe not for long. In an e-mail to residents, the building's management said it was not consulted before Strauss-Kahn moved in. And it said Strauss-Kahn will only be staying for a few days.
Strauss-Kahn is awaiting trial on charges he tried to rape a hotel maid. He moved into the building after posting bail on Friday.
Opening statements are set for Tuesday in the Casey Anthony murder trial. A jury of seven women and five men sworn in late Friday along with five alternates. They are all from the Clearwater, Florida area. That's about 110 miles from Orlando where the trial will be held. It's also where police say Anthony killed her 2-year-old daughter in 2008 and dumped her body in some nearby woods. Anthony has pleaded not guilty.
Two space shuttle Endeavour astronauts spent eight hours performing maintenance work on the International Space Station today. It was the sixth longest spacewalk ever. It lasted a little longer than intended because of trouble containing loose bolts.
All right. Back here on earth, it's a race against the Mississippi River.
CNN's Brian Todd is at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, which is also known as Angola.
Brian, inmates there are being called on to actually help, hold back that river, in what way?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, they're hoisting sandbags to shore up one of the key levees, the levee that I'm standing on right now. This is the last line of defense against the floods for this massive prison complex. And this is floodwater that's coming right up against it. An outer lying levee has already been breached. And the floods have already come up several miles to this levee. This protects kind of the inner core of the prison.
The prisoners are hoisting sandbags, they're patching up what they call sand boils which is kind of seepage that comes underneath this levee. And they're frantically working to try to just kind of shore up this area from being flooded.
I asked the warden about an escape plan for the rest of the inmates. They've already evacuated about 2,000 out of the 5,000 inmates. I asked the warden a short time ago how they're going to get the rest of them out if this area becomes flooded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: How tough is it to evacuate and get people displaced in a place like this?
WARDEN BURL CAIN, LA. STATE PENITENTIARY-ANGOLA: Our plan is to run up on the levee. This is 18,000 acres. This is as larges Manhattan. Think about evacuating Manhattan, boom. You know, we're not as many people. But, still, we have to get them on the levees. We don't know where the breach is if it were at night. We just know we're filling up with water.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: So, they're working to shore this up. And we're told by one prison official, Fredricka, that if this levee breaches, that 18,000 acres that you heard the warden talked about that make up this prison, they could be flooded in about four to six hours -- very low lying area. And they're kind of up against it right now because the river that's surrounding them on three sides is now cresting.
WHITFIELD: And so, Brian, you know, the neighboring communities there to Angola, are most people relatively happy that the inmates there are being able -- being released temporarily to help?
TODD: Well, they -- they are -- they had their peace with it. I mean, they lived in this area for a long time. The nearest major community is about 20 miles away from here. This is an incredibly remote area and it makes it very hard to escape here.
And also, you know, just makes it more conducive to keeping the inmate population busy here. They've got a lot to do here under normal circumstances. So, yes, the surrounding areas are comfortable with this. The warden told us that they really have no problem with the inmates being here and doing what they're doing because they have such a secure facility and such a good record for keeping people in. And the very few times that people have escaped, they've caught them pretty quickly.
WHITFIELD: Brian Todd, thanks so much, from Angola, Louisiana. Appreciate that.
All right. Let's look at the other severe weather conditions across the country. Jacqui Jeras in the weather center.
And we're talking about tornadic activity, more rain for people along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as well. Gosh, it's never ending.
JERAS: I know and it's going to be a rough couple days. You know, it's not just today. We're talking about a series of days where we're going to be dealing with this.
Take a look. This is just raw video that's coming in right now from our affiliate KARE out of Minneapolis/St. Paul where a tornado touched down about two hours ago. And you can see quite a bit of damage.
This is uncut. So bear with us. Some of the pictures are really incredible. Lots of trees down all over the place, lots of power lines down. There you can see some roof damage.
Let's go to some of the aerials that we have as well as those continue to come on in. This is -- there you can see, this is north Minneapolis over towards the Fridley area. Brookdale Mall had some damage in it as well. And there you can see some of those roofs and trees just snapped off here. Ooh, quite a bit of damage in that backyard as well.
I'm getting reports that some of the second stories of some of these homes did sustain quite a bit of damage. So, we'll have to wait and see as the weather service gets out and had a better analysis of these storms. But, you know, we could certainly be talking well over 100 mile per hour winds with these tornadoes as they blew on through.
Let's show you the big picture now and where the watches are in effect. And we're talking about 1,000 miles-ish of severe weather threatening now. For Minnesota, stretching all the way down into Texas -- this is a broken line. The most rotation that we've been seeing in the last couple of hours has been here into eastern parts of Minnesota into western Wisconsin, eastern Iowa, now pushing into western parts of Illinois.
Look at all the lightning associated with this as well. Lightning a threat. You want to be indoors as these storms roll on through. Very little in terms of tornado warnings right now. We're seeing more wind damage with some of these storms as well.
They're also putting down some incredible amounts of rainfall. This is one tornado warning I did want to tell you about, though, for La Crosse, Wisconsin. Doppler radar showing strong rotation and a few reports of funnel. So, you want to be seeking shelter if you live in Winona or into Minnesota, as well as into the La Crosse area.
The other thing I want to show is the rainfall that's going to be coming up in the upcoming days, our weather pattern has changed. So, we're going to see a series of storms roll through the middle of Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys over the next four days or so. And this is a forecast of rainfall through the next four or five days. That's showing three to six inches of rain.
Now, we don't think this is going to do a lot at this point. If this is all it is, you know, it won't do much for the Mississippi River. Maybe not even the Ohio River. But a lot of the smaller tributaries and rivers and streams that all feed into those will certainly be impacted and could be rising.
One last thing that I want to mention here are the travel delays, Fredricka. We've got a ground stop in effect for Chicago. A lot of severe thunderstorms rumbled through there the last 20 to 30 minutes. So, looking at delays into the Northeast. Mostly clouds here. Even out west we've got delays because of the clouds.
So, we got a lot of travel issues, lots of severe weather breaking out. And this will be ongoing through the night. And, of course, I'll be here all night long to help you get through it.
WHITFIELD: Keep us posted on all that. All right. Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: Sure.
WHITFIELD: All right. Scientists are watching a volcano erupting in Iceland right now. You can see the plume of ash there. Extraordinary pictures.
It has forced the closure of the air space over Iceland's four international airports. No flights into or out of the country right now. So far, no European or transatlantic flights, however, have been disrupted by all that ash.
President Barack Obama is getting ready to check out his family roots. We'll take you live to Dublin, Ireland, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama's bags are packed and he's heading overseas in a few hours. The first stop of his European tour is Ireland where he hopes to actually celebrate his Irish roots. And one rural village is pretty excited about his visit.
Our Brianna Keilar is in Dublin awaiting the president's arrival.
Do tell. Give up the details on this trip.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fred.
Well, as you know, because the president is the first African-American president, we paid so much attention to his Kenyan heritage. But he can actually trace his roots right back here to Ireland. And even though he's only 1/32 Irish, one of the big reasons he's coming here is to reconnect with his ancestral homeland.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR (voice-over): Genealogists first shed light on Barack Obama's Irish ancestry as he campaigned for the presidency.
OBAMA: Never hurts to be a little Irish when you're running for the presidency of the United States of America. It never hurts.
KEILAR: Irish-American supporters embraced the revolution. Some more enthusiastically than others.
HELEN GELLER, OBAMA SUPPORTER: I'm voting for Obama because he's Irish.
MEGAN SMOLENYAK, GENEALOGIST: It's safe to say at least half of the American presidents have had some Irish ancestry.
KEILAR: Megan Smolenyak is the author of the book, "Who Do You Think You Are," and former chief family historian for Ancestry.com.
SMOLENYAK: His heritage has got shades from many different countries. There's towns in Germany, in England, in Ireland. Everybody wants to claim a piece of Barack Obama's past.
He's like many of us, an American mutt.
KEILAR (on camera): Ancestry.com traced the lineage of President Obama back to Ireland through his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. Her father, the president's grandfather, and the president's great- grandfather, were born here in the U.S. -- and so was the president's great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Kearney. She was the first generation Irish-American in this bloodline. It was her father, the president's great-great-great-grandfather, his name was Fulmoth Kearney, who moved from Moneygall, Ireland, to Ohio in 1850.
(voice-over): Moneygall is the tiniest of places, a village between Limerick and Dublin, home to just 300 people, who, judging by the patriotic paint job on this house, are eagerly awaiting the president's visit.
HENRY HEALY, MONEYGALL RESIDENT: We knew the president had interest in his Irish roots. He expressed while seeking the Democratic nomination that he did want to visit the little village in Ireland and have a pint.
KEILAR: Henry Healy is one of several Moneygall residents claiming to be a distant relative of Obama, which would mean he'd be related to this man, Ralph Dunham of Virginia, President's great uncle who's known of the family's Irish roots for some time.
RALPH DUNHAM, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GREAT UNCLE: I knew my grandmother was Irish. And she still had a brogue.
KEILAR: Dunham's brother is Obama's grandfather, who helped raised the president in Hawaii. He insists one trademark Obama feature does not come from their Irish side.
DUNHAM: Big ears did not come from my side of the family. I mean, even at an age when your ears are supposed to be the biggest ever in your life, my ears still aren't that big.
KEILAR: Back in Moneygall, that's of no concern to the residents. They'll take the president, ears and all. They're cleaning up the town, getting the souvenirs ready, and breaking out the American flags here at the Oillie Hayes pub.
HEALY: We delighted that he became president and is now coming here as the leader of the free world. I'd love to have a pint with the president.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: And Healy may really get his chance, Fred, because there are only two pubs in that little hamlet of Moneygall.
WHITFIELD: But will there be room for everyone? Including the president, who will turn out? Of course, not.
OK. So, then, from Moneygall, from Ireland, then where does the president go on this six-day European venture?
KEILAR: The next stop will be the U.K. He'll be in London. Then he's going to go to Deauville, France, for the G-8 economic summit. He'll finish off the week in Warsaw, Poland.
And a lot of this trip, Fred, really has to do with just keeping up relations with European allies. He'll be meeting with the heads of government. Of course, here in Ireland, in the U.K, in Poland, where he'll actually be meeting with dozens of central European leaders, but the real work on the trip is going to be at the G-8 summit. Of course, he'll be talking with other world leaders about global economic challenges. But, also expect the "Arab Spring" uprisings to become an issue. He said he's going to be looking for support from some of his allies on his economic proposals that he announced last week for Egypt and Tunisia, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Brianna Keilar, thanks so much, from Dublin.
All right. Back in this country, they are known as the Freedom Riders. The brave men and women who got on a bus 50 years ago to ride for change throughout the segregated South.
Ahead, I'll talk to Myrlie Evers Williams about the celebration for them and other civil rights pioneers in Mississippi this week.
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WHITFIELD: Mississippi is kicking off a week-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, that courageous group of civil rights activists challenged segregation in the American South in the summer of 1961. Part of the celebration this week also includes an interactive exhibit that showcases 20 women and their contributions to civil rights.
Joining me right now is one of those women showcased in that exhibit, Myrlie Evers Williams.
Good to see you.
MYRLIE EVERS WILLIAMS, FREEOM'S SISTER HONOREE: Hello. How are you?
WHITFIELD: I'm doing great. So, I understand that you helped convince Ford M Company, the sponsor of the Traveling Freedom Sisters Exhibit, to extend it so as to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders. Why was it so important for you to do that?
WILLIAMS: Well, it was important to get Ford Motor Company's foundation to extend the program because it has been so very, very successful over this last three years of which it has been presented to the public.
It's critically important that this project come to Mississippi as well. It's my home. And we're very pleased to be a part of the commemoration of Freedom's Sisters.
But there are so many women here. I'm told it's almost impossible to say three, four, or five, because most of the women in Mississippi are freedom fighters in one way or the other.
The important thing to me about the Freedom Sisters is that for the first time, I believe, 20 women over the years who have given to their race and to this country are being honored. It not only means that they are being honored, but it means that they are role models for the next generation and generations to come.
The program is broad. It reaches out into the schools where children can learn about these people as well. You know, we're at a point now where so many of a younger generation think that things have always been this way.
They have not. I had a very moving experience within the last hour or so when I stepped foot in a hotel where I will be spending the night. And I was never allowed in before.
So, we look at the 50 years of the Freedom Riders coming through. So much has taken place in terms of positiveness. But I ask the question: how much knowledge have we really acquired from Freedom Sisters and from other sources about how we really got there.
And I think it is a real awakening of America to prejudice and racism that existed. And some of it still exists in today.
So, I'm just so proud and pleased to be a part of this wonderful program. And I'm delighted that Freedom Sisters will have this wonderful exhibit here in Jackson, Mississippi.
WHITFIELD: And just as you have just had some remarkable experiences in your return home there to Jackson, Mississippi, as people take in these activities all week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders and as they take in the exhibit of the Freedom Sisters there, what are you hoping will most impact people of those experiences of hearing your stories, your experiences and being reminded when they go to the exhibit of the many experiences of so many women and others who are soldiers in the civil rights movement?
WILLIAMS: I hope they will realize that it was not easy. And that most of the people who were involved in the Freedom Riders as well as the women included in Freedom Sisters, that we did not do this for notoriety. We did it because we believed in a cause. We did in knowing that our lives would be put on the line. And everyone has played a major role regardless of whether they got publicity for it or not.
And I think it is a time to celebrate that and to renew our spirit, renew our intellect to true in new and different ways, not only to pass on the history, but to encourage young people particularly to take leadership roles in changes in America.
You know, we so often think things are so much better than they are today, and this exhibit, for one, will reach out to the schools and the communities. We'll say these are women who over the years have committed themselves to making this a better country for all of us.
Be inspired. Learn from them. And give of yourself to your community.
It doesn't matter, really, whether you get recognition or not, at least I hope not. Most of us, I think, it's because we believed in it.
And it's interesting, though, now that you hear, I hear, people discussing this. Well, he did this and she did that and they did that, and no, they didn't. You know, it's time to let the claiming of success belong to each and everyone. And there are people that are still forgotten that hopefully will be mentioned. And I am just so pleased to be a part of it. I have lived a long time. And I have seen many positive changes. And when I get a chance to interact with young women who have seen this exhibit and who are moved by it --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WILLIAMS: -- I can say, job well done.
WHITFIELD: Myrlie Evers Williams, thank you so much for all the time, and the reminder of the work done and the work still ahead. Appreciate that -- from Jackson, Mississippi.
WILLIAMS: It has been my pleasure. Thank you so much.
WHITFIELD: We'll be right back with more of the NEWSROOM right after this.
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WHITFIELD: We are just minutes away from more of the NEWSROOM with my colleague Don Lemon in Los Angeles.
Hey, Don.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred. How are you? I really missed you.
But, listen, I just happened to be in Los Angeles at the right time. You remember 42-year-old Brian Stow. I'm sure you've been reporting on it. He was the Giants' fan beaten at Dodger Stadium really almost within an inch of his life.
In just a short time from now, the LAPD, the mayor of Los Angeles, and many other high-ranking members of the police department, will hold a press conference and say to the public that they have made an arrest in this case. And they are also questioning some other suspects right now. They are keeping the details, Fred, close to the vest.
But we are expecting to find out important information in this case. And I just happen to be in Los Angeles as it is happening. And we're going to report it to you in just a few minutes here.
WHITFIELD: All right. We'll look forward to that. Thanks so much, Don. See you in just seconds now.
That's going to do it for me. I'm Fredericka Whitfield. Thanks so much for being with me this afternoon. Much more of the NEWSROOM right after this.
