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Expedition Team Stuck In Thick Ice; Suicide Bomber Hits Russian Train Station; Over A Million Now Signed Up For Obamacare; "New York Times" Report Shows Stunning New Picture Of Benghazi Attack
Aired December 29, 2013 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The stories are topping our news this hour. Help is on the way for ship stuck in the ice in Antarctica, but the rescue ships are running into the same problem, too much ice. How people on board are doing next.
An explosion rocks a train station in Russia. More than a dozen people are dead and officials believe it was the work of a female suicide bomber.
Plus, a puzzling problem in Seattle, an enormous drill with tons of power runs into something that it can't get through. What could it be? That is coming up.
WHITFIELD: New developments from Antarctica today. And Australian ice breaker is just 28 nautical miles from the ship stranded in frozen waters and the crew onboard is trying to figure out how to rescue the 74 people on that research ship. It has been stuck in ice for almost a week now. And although a Chinese ship got within inside of it earlier, it was not close enough to rescue the people on the research ship.
Our Rosie Tomkins get the story for us from London.
So Rosie, the trapped ship is surrounded by miles of ice. So, how soon might the Australian ice breaker be able to actually get to it?
ROSIE TOMKINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the big question, Fredricka. This has really been a waiting game. And the waiting continues because have been so far, the ships were (INAUDIBLE), once again, snow is hampering their efforts to rescue this ship. So, the Australian vessel, as you say, 28 nautical mile as way and he got this close and it couldn't proceed because the visibility isn't good enough.
So, once they can see clearly enough, it would to sight how to proceed. But again, at then, nothing is guaranteed because this ice breaker can only break through a certain amount of ice. And what we are hearing is that the ice in the area may just be too thick for it.
There are still several question mark. They will get them out one way or the other but when and how, we are yet to see, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So Rosie, I spoke with someone with the Australian maritime group not long ago and she said her big problem was visibility with snow showers kind of moving in and out. And the forecast -- in the forecast, it appears that weather is only going to deteriorate.
So, for how long will this ice breaker be able to stay in the area and wait for conditions to improve.
TOMKINS: Well, Fred, the ice breaker can stay put for several weeks actually. In terms of resources on the ship, they have plenty of food to keep them going. They he have dry food once they run are out of fresh food. So, there is no danger in that. The only danger they could face is if an iceberg start to approaches. But they will have several of days of warning to that.
So, from that point of view, no urgency. But they do want to act today. So, if they can't get to the ship, they will resort to plan B which is a helicopter. They will lift people out by helicopter. But they are hoping they can get to them though the ice, that would be much (INAUDIBLE).
WHITFIELD: Right. And they are hoping that the weather cooperates in order to even get a chopper in the air.
All right, Rosie, thanks so much. Keep us posted.
All right, so anyone who might be going to the winter Olympic Games has plenty of reasons to be anxious now. At least 16 people were killed in a bombing at a train station in Volgograd, that is less than a day's drive from where the winter games begin about seven weeks from now. It is roughly 400 miles. And it is the second terror attack in that city in two months.
Diana Magnay is joining me now from Moscow.
So Diana, who do authorities believe behind this attack?
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are hearing that it was the work of a female suicide bomber. Now, there are a few conflicting reports running in the local media that maybe there was a man in involved. But as far as the sort of the official source so far they are working on DNA evidence and this was the work of a female suicide bomber.
And you mentioned that there has been another attack in the city two months ago. That, again, was also the work of a female suicide bomber who climbed onto a bus and killed six people when she detonate a very explosive. This happened in the main railway station. It was a Sunday, mid day. It is just two days before the busiest holiday of the year which is New Year. Designed really to cause maximum damage and what happened was the suicide bomber came up towards a metal detector apparent and this contains water where upon she detonated her explosive device, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: My goodness.
And so, now, what about security at the Sochi games? How might this incident, in any way, dictate or encourage authorities to alter their security plans to keep the winter games safe.
MAGNAY: Well, the authorities are very aware this very real threat that exists. It is fairly close to Sochi in the north (INAUDIBLE). There has been an Islamist insurgency being put there for decades now. And these female suicide bomber is called black widows or a kind of hallmark signature of that fighting. So, authorities know that they have to protect the region very, very carefully. Therefore Sochi itself is probably not going to experience much security there is so high.
The Volgograd, as you said, it is 400 miles away. There are other many cities in the southern region that terrorists could attack where they know that security won't be as high as elsewhere but they can still spread a message of fear and panic ahead of the games which could prevent people from traveling there.
WHITFIELD: All right, Diana Magnay, Thanks so much from Moscow.
Retired formula one legend Michael Schumacher has suffered a serious head injury after his skiing accident in the French Alps. The director of the resort where the 44-year-old was skiing says Schumacher was on a trail, fell and hit his head on a rock. French television says he is suffering from severe head trauma. First aid workers rescued Schumacher before air lifting him to the hospital.
And the minimum wage in 13 states will rise beginning January 1st. Most of the increases amount to less than 15 cents an hour, but it will be higher than the federal level than $7.25 an hour. Workers in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island will see a bigger bump and they will get paid between $8 and $8.70 an hour.
Earlier this month, President Obama said it is well past the time to raise the minimum wage. He says it is below where it was when Harry Truman was in office.
A supreme New Yorker will do the honors at Times Square on New Year's Eve. U.S. Supreme court justice Sonya Sotomayor will push the ceremonial button lowering the Time Square ball Tuesday night. She will also lead the crowd in the final 60 seconds countdown. Sotomayor was the third woman and first Hispanic to become a Supreme Court justice. Organizers called her an inspiration to anyone who is determined to achieve their dreams in 2014 and she hails from the Bronx.
All right, new enrollment numbers show a major rebound in Obamacare enrollments. But the White House says it is still a long way to go before it hit its target of signing up seven million people by the end of March.
Sunlen Serfaty is in Washington D.C. with the latest on the numbers.
So, a little encouragement for the White House, right?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is a little encouraging, Fred. But the White House sure does have a long way to go. They point specifically though to the December enrollment numbers. Nearly one million people signed up on the federal exchanges this month alone. The administration calls, not surprisingly , called this a welcome surge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SERFATY (voice-over): A White house toast in 2010 when its health care bill passed in the House. But at the stroke of midnight this New Year's Eve, when that legislation becomes reality will the president again, pop the champagne?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We might have people who are going to have health care on January 1st and that is a big deal.
SERFATY: Come Wednesday, the program gets its first full test. Those who could sign up on the new insurance marketplaces will now be able to use their coverage although they now have until January 10th to make their first payment.
OBAMA: We screwed it up.
SERFATY: A Web site plagued by glitches improved but shifting deadline and cancelled policies have created more confusion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you try to do it by yourself and you sit down at the Web site and works through it, it can be a little bit difficult.
SERFATY: This past week the Web site has seen a surge in traffic nearly 900,000 visitors Christmas Eve a long. On Sunday, the administration announced more than a million people have now signed up, almost in December. Still unclear though, whether insurance companies are getting reliable information.
After the botched Web site roll out on October 1st, the president took heat for not paying close enough attention. Now, long on vacation, the president was briefed by this health care team. The White House letting it be known, he is not dropping the ball this time.
One of the president's chief critics told us the new enrollment numbers are not nothing you should write home about.
REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CHAIRMAN, HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: I don't think there is anything to celebrate.
SERFATY: And hinted at the Republican's New Year's resolution.
ISSA: This has been a failed launch, a flawed law and need real change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SERFATY: Now, it is important to note that these new enrollment numbers from the White House, they don't account for the 14 state run exchanges. We are still waiting for the figures from the administration there for more complete picture -- Fred. WHITFIELD: All right, Sunlen, thanks so much in Washington.
New report says you can forget about the idea that al-Qaeda had anything to do with that attack on Benghazi last year. It also says U.S. operatives made a huge mistake in that city after the fall of Moammar Gaddafi. More next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Al-Qaeda may had nothing to do with the attack in Benghazi after all. That is if you accept the conclusion have a meticulous "New York Times" report on last year's attack on the U.S. consulate. The report dismisses the idea that al-Qaeda planned the attack and instead blames independent militias that thrived in Benghazi after the fall of Moammar Gaddafi. It also alleges some serious mistakes by U.S. operatives in the city such as relying on their allies for advanced warning of any attack on the consulate.
And finally, it points the finger at one militia leader and said Libya is unwilling or unable to bring him to justice.
CNN's Athena Jones is in Honolulu, not far from where the president is on vacation.
So Athena, the report is fairly damning about how the state department and CIA handled security. Will the GOP jump all over that angle and report and what is the White House saying about it?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.
Well, Republicans have already been jumping all over that angle. The angle that there was not enough security at the mission in Benghazi on this night when the night of September 11th when the attack occurred. And the White house has acknowledged that. The administration has acknowledged that especially given what happened that there was not adequate security. So, this does give more fuel to Republicans.
But of course as you mentioned, this report has something for everyone in it. On the White House side, while the White House is not responding officially and they are also not disputing any significant details of the story. And many former Obama aide, Obama administration aide, are clearly very pleased with this report coming out.
David Axelrod who was the senior advisor for the president tweeting, for anyone interested in the truth and not the politics about Benghazi this exhausted piece by David Kirkpatrick in the "New York Times." It is a must read.
And Tommy Vitter who was the president's spokesman, national security spokesman until recently also tweeted, if Republicans spent 150th as much time as David Kirkpatrick learning what really happened in Benghazi, we could have avoided month of discussing demagoguery. And he is, of course, referring to numerous hearings Republicans held to try to get the administration to admit some of the mistakes that they have admitted over Benghazi. So, a really interesting report here. We are seeing a lot of mix reaction coming out from it -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Athena Jones, thanks so much from Honolulu. Appreciate that.
So al-Qaeda may not have been involved in Libya according to that article but the situation described in that "New York Times" article is very frightening and still kind of underscores the vulnerability of U.S. interest overseas.
Brian Williams is a professor of Islamic history at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and a contributor to the "Huffington Post." He is joining me now via Skype from Dartmouth.
All right, good to see you. So, what is your initial reaction to that article removing responsibility from al-Qaeda?
BRIAN GLYN WILLIAMS, CONTRIBUTOR, THE HUFFINGTON POST: Well, it sort of proofs that this has happened before. For the last ten years, there has been a widening of the definition of al-Qaeda. Over and over again this word has been over used. And certainly, we see this "New York Times" piece seem very, very well-researched, seems indicate that it wasn't al-Qaeda at all. It was a local Libyan Jihadi named Abut Katala (ph) who had nothing to do with al-Qaeda.
WHITFIELD: But instead, according to the article, took advantage that the fact that the American preacher did insult demean and insult Islam and that perhaps this was the result of that video that made air.
WILLIAMS: Absolutely. It shows that in many ways Susan Rice was correct. It sort of vindicates in some ways her statements five days after the attack that the catalyst for the protest was actually this inflammatory video called "the innocence of Islam." This was actually capitalized this sort of tenuous attack, not some premeditated al- Qaeda attack.
WHITFIELD: So, what does this tell you about the vulnerabilities of U.S. interest overseas and how much prevention can really be expected? How much protection can really be put in place?
WILLIAMS: It highlights it (INAUDIBLE) of this Arab Spring. You know, I think the ambassador, Christopher Evans, will he seems to have trusted the local Libyans that with helped against Gaddafi and as these very Libyans, we helped the bombing campaign that has turned against us. So, it sort of highlights just how volatile the Middle East has become since the Arab Spring.
WHITFIELD: And now turning to Russia. Let's talk about this suicide bombing attack taking place just 400 miles or so away from the place of the winter Olympic Games in February. What does this tell you about, I guess, how tenuous security is in the country of Russia given that this attack takes place just two months after a very similar attack involving a suicide bomber?
WILLIAMS: It sort of shows you how determined the Islamic Emirates or the caucus is to remind the western world and, of course, Russia that there is an insurgency going on in the caucuses as very close to the site of the Sochi Olympics.
So I think the Russians have a hard time on their hands trying to tamper down this insurgency and of course and trust terrorism in the whole region. It was very unstable.
WHITFIELD: Does this essentially say that there can't be security strong enough to be put in place in Russia particularly to protect the thousands of people who will be descending on Sochi for the games?
WILLIAMS: No, I don't say for sure. But certainly in the wider region, the whole world caucus is a very unstable region. That many bombings, thousands of deaths and the most ironic thing is that the site of the Olympics, Sochi, was actually an ancient center for the people called (INAUDIBLE) who were exterminated by the Russians in the 19th century.
I think that was the real objective of a terrorist to remind the world of its hidden genocide in the 1860s.
WHITFIELD: And what do you know about this label that is being associated with some female suicide bombers, so-called Black Widows in Russia? What more do you know about that and does that apply here?
WILLIAMS: I think it certainly does. And certainly the Black Widows have been used over and over again by the terrorist in Dagestan and (INAUDIBLE). Recall if you will that in 2002 Black Widows were in gauged in the theater hostage crisis. Black Widows and they have set up bombs in concerts in Moscow and in metro in Moscow and brought down two airplanes. They certainly be Black Widows are a strong terrorist wing of Islamic and recently the caucuses.
WHITFIELD: Dartmouth professor, Brian Glyn Williams, thanks so much for your time.
WILLIAMS: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: Seventy-four people stuck on that Russian ship in Antarctica are now waiting to be rescued but it is not an easy task. And now, it looks like they are going to have to wait even longer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: New details on that stranded ship stuck in Antarctica. An Australian ice breaker is on its way to rescue the 74 people onboard. But it is being hampered by the frozen waters and now bad weather. The ice breaker still can't get close enough to get the researchers off the ship.
Our Rosie Tomkins has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOMKINS (voice-over): So close and yet so far. This was the happy scene on Saturday when the stranded passengers saw help on the horizon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fancy ice breaker coming to rescue us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brilliant.
TOMKINS: Hopes were quickly dashed though. China's snow dragon soon became the second ice breaker the give up before reaching its target.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was about six nautical miles away when the decision was made that the ice was too thick. It was beyond the vessel's capacity. And he turned around and went back through the channel that he'd created to open the water.
TOMKINS: While the Chinese vessel remains on standby, a third ship, an Australian vessel has now arrived at the edge of the packed ice. It has been making its way there for some time and is now waiting for visibility to improve before it proceed.
The question is what happens when it gets there with no guarantee it will succeed where the others have failed. The Australian vessel is bigger and more powerful with an ice rating of 1.35 meters. But with the ice as thick as three meters in part, there is no guarantee it will be powerful enough to break through.
In which case, enter plan B. Those onboard will be lifted to safety by the helicopter on board to Chinese vessel. While they wait, the team are well equipped with enough fresh food to last two weeks and dry food to last longer if need.
But expedition leader, Chris Turney, expressed concerns that the blizzards may continue to work against them.
CHRIS TURNEY, EXPEDITION LEADER: We have some snow falling but it is not too windy. Unfortunately, the weather conditions to continue for the next few days.
TOMKINS: In the meantime, spirits onboard are remarkably high with the team sending frequent updates to family via You Tube.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is my birthday today. It couldn't be a better day than to have my birthday with my something new friends.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to have singing on the ice which should be fantastic as well. But it is absolutely spectacular here. It is like a magical winter wonderland.
TOMKINS: A very cheerful scene. The intrepid passengers enjoying the magic of their surroundings and continuing with their research. With the Chinese vessel in view and even some visitors in the form of penguins, stranded as they maybe, they certainly don't feel alone.
Rosie Tomkins, CNN London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And my colleague Bill Weir spoke to three people onboard that ship.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE TOPHAN, ABOARD STRANDED VESSEL: I was with them, expedition leader, Greg (INAUDIBLE), when he first cited the Chinese ice breaker on the horizon and he said to me that psychologically that was really an important moment because as soon as the Chinese captain visibly saw us, the incentive to get to us was that much great event, certainly, we will suddenly then a real thing rather than just a blip on the radar. So he said that that was a really crucial moments in this rescue operations.
ALOK JHA, ABOARD STRANDED VESSEL: And it is a crucial moment, actually, for all the people who seem to be following us. We are in a bit of a bubble here. But Chris and I, we have been using social media to share what we have been doing. But it is very hard to see the reaction outside.
And yesterday, Laurence tweeted a tiny picture of the ship that is coming to rescue us. And within five minutes it has been sent around the world 200 or 300 times. I mean, this is level that where it used to, maybe Justin Beiber, but we are not. We've been doing a series of well-produced fine videos describing the edge and they have come viral too. Don't you think?
TURNEY: They have. They would be fantastic. It is wonderful beside the technology we can use today. It is just superb. In the old days, you know, we would be stuck up here to the mountains. But now, they know where we are, this time we can chat to you (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Expedition leader Chris Turney also says that everyone onboard is doing well.
All right, straight ahead, parts of the Dakotas hit by blizzard conditions. Storm chasers captured it all on camera.
And coming up a candid conversation with Shirley MacLaine. Hear what she says about her ties to the rat pack or friendship with JFK.
And what Hollywood and Washington actually have in common.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest, what it because of guys out for a walk one night they decided they go kill some Americans, what difference at this point does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: A stunning "New York Times" report shows a new picture of the deadly attack on the U.S. compound ion Benghazi Libya. It seems to contradict a lot of what republicans have said that it was a terrorist attack and a White House cover up. The report says the attack was not so straight forward but the result of a few things.
Host of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" candy Crowley joining me now from Washington.
So candy, you know, the killing of Americans in Benghazi haunted this administration with criticism that it didn't do enough to protect our Americans there against terrorist. Now, this "New York Times" report the message is that the incident was enflamed by, in large part, by that video of an American preacher denigrating Islam.
So, how does this administration say, I told you so without saying I told you so? Or does it not sees upon this report at all?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't think they seize on it. They may point it out at some point. The thing is this kind of mixed because the administration said that this was caused by a crowd that gathered. And indeed, there was some question about whether they had gone there for the tape. In fact, the Republicans said that they didn't go there for a tape. This was a planned terrorist attack.
OK. So now, we have this report from the "New York Times," a long time investigated report that says well, there were some people there because they were inflamed by the tape and some these were militias, not terrorists groups that attacked the embassy. There some signs that they were getting ready to attack the embassy. That they had planned on it. But maybe they didn't plan for this moment.
And so, there seems to be that there was a lot going on that sort of became this completely imperfect and awful storm. So, I think there is a little something for everyone. But I'm also not sure that Benghazi will not go on and on and on as an unanswered question. It is simply because it depends on who you talk to. And while the "New York Times" investigation seems incredibly thorough, they do not expect Republicans and critics to give up on it right away. But they certainly won't give up on the fact that they believe that compound was left unprotected for a U.S. ambassador to be there.
WHITFIELD: All right, on to Obamacare now. 2014, the government announcing today 975,000 Americans enrolled in December alone, 1.1 million since October 1st. So, does this indicate that the White House is banking on benefiting from these many pushed back deadlines after that rocky web site starts?
CROWLEY: They always thought that the closer a deadline came the more people would sign up because we are sort, you know, basically, a nation of progress. So, that is kind of, you know, something that you would believe in no matter what folks were doing. (INAUDIBLE). As they saw the problems that the Web site had, they wanted to be sure that they could get as many as possible, so for this year-end report, they would have a number that appears respectable. Now, that 1.1 million enrolled in Obamacare, they thought they have 3.3 million. So, they have a third of what they thought. March, which is sort of the next deadline, they want to have seven million. So, have got a long way to go. But they also believe, as March comes in, and sort of the end of March, that there will be sort a surge of people who will sign. We'll see the question is it is a surge. Certainly, 1.1 million is better than anything they got in October and November. But it is still not enough.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much and Happy New Year.
CROWLEY: Happy New Year to you, too, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Candy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: It is the last Sunday of 2013. Much of the country is just not getting a break from nasty winter weather.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
WHITFIELD: Oh boy, folks in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota your best bet is just to simply stay indoors. They have been dealing with blinding snow and brutally cold temperatures this weekend and the wind is making it feel even worse.
Driver in North Dakota and Minnesota are facing blizzard condition that are making road conditions quite terrible there. So that frigid blast of air is heading to the east coast.
CNN's meteorologist, Alexandra Steele has your New Year's Eve forecast.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Freed.
Well, we are talking about some incredibly low temperatures. But more importantly dangerously cold wind chills about around the northern plains and upper Midwest. But as we head from today until to tomorrow, we are going to watch to as a temperatures begin to rebound.
So, on Sunday, temperatures was one degree in Minneapolis, about 24 degrees below average. Well, watch what happens, the coldest of that air drops south. So tomorrow, Chicago begins to cool-off. And then Tuesday, that colder air modifying still, but still colder than it has been, only in a teens to Northern New England and only in the low 30s in New York City.
So, what we are seeing this area of low pressure moving up the coast Sunday into Monday bringing rain with it only for Boston. But then north of that Sunday night, we will see some snow showers in northern New England, maybe a few inches of that. And it all moves through on Monday.
And that set the stage for Tuesday. Times Square, it is going to be cold, really, across the board. Most people will see cold as an average temperatures.
In New York City, you can see temperatures for New Year's Eve will be in the low 30s. Chicago even colder than that with some wind in 15 degrees and some snow showers around. And to Atlanta Georgia, below average still. We are going to see dry skies for the most part of temperatures there only in the 30s, by the time the ball drops. And in Los Angeles, we are going to see pretty nice conditions with temperatures in the 60s.
Have a happy new year. As we look ahead, lot of cold air heading towards the east -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Alexandra Steele. Thanks so much.
All right, Happy New Year.
All right, this weekend and many of you will head to the stores to perhaps return some Christmas gifts. But also, guess what, it is a good time to take advantage of more big sales in a very big way.
Christine Romans shows us what bargains are actually out there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It is the most selfish time of year. After Christmas, when the discounts are deep and you are shopping for everyone else is already done.
The best after Christmas sales are clothing. Expect huge mark downs from Banana Republic, Club Monico, GAP, French Connections. This is according to deal news. Last year GAP and French Connection shocked retail expert with extra discount of 30 to 50 percent off on top of sales, about to 75 percent off.
New Year's Day is the best time to buy furniture. That was (INAUDIBLE) says. He is America's research group. It has become a tradition for people to shop for furniture on that day. New furniture lines come out in February so there are all old products to move. It is also the second or third biggest day of the year from mattress sale. Mattress companies have caught on to this furniture trend and they have now successfully piggy backed with those major furniture sale.
OK, if you want a big screen TV think super bowl weekend. Beamers says that is the perfect storm. The consumer electronics show in January. The Super Bowl is in early February. Retailers are looking forward and they are moving out the old stuff.
And how about a new car? Did you know that December 31st is the best day? Dealers and automakers want to meet their year-end goal, experts say. Kelly blue book says consumers are going to get their best possible deal on a new car on the last day of the year, maybe until January 2nd, if it is included in the dealership sales calendar. Hunt for zero percent financing. That's for people who qualify and hefty cash rebates. Christine Romans, CNN New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, good stuff big bargains.
Thanks so much, Christine.
Rocky mountain high will have a new meaning this week. Colorado law legalizing recreational marijuana is about to go into effect. And businesses across that state are getting ready to meet the demand.
Here is CNN's Ana Cabrera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The countdown is on.
Marijuana becomes legal to sell for recreational use here in Colorado in less than a week. The state hoping to generate tens of millions of dollars of new tax revenue. Businesses are seeing green as well as certain pop shops already operating as medical marijuana dispensaries, open their doors to a whole new client house.
The green rush here in Colorado is about to get even bigger. This week, state licenses just went out to local businesses giving them the green light to start selling recreational marijuana.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And money does grow on trees and it is called the cannabis plant.
CABRERA: January 1st, recreational pot sales will be legal and heavily regulated by both state in local authorities.
Anyone over the age of 21 will soon be able to buy marijuana, 136 medical marijuana dispensaries now have state licenses to sell it and 178 businesses can now grow it for recreational use.
MORGAN IWERSEN, OWNER, CANYON CULTIVATION: And that kind of stay, we are sort of like the United States to Amsterdam.
WHITFIELD: Morgan Iwersen can run canyon cultivation. They make marijuana edible, strap, and candies. She expect business to at least double in the New Year.
IWERSEN: I really hope that people are responsible with it and they don't mess it up for the rest of us.
CABRERA: BUT Canyon Cultivation like most companies here won't be ready just yet on January 1st. Retail outlets had major hurdles to get state approval. Finger print based background checks, financial check and fees up to $15,000.
Tony FOX said that she has more than $1 million invested in her medical marijuana facility #D cannabis center. Her store is one of only a handful expected to be ready for business on that first day. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A year ago I would have said I wish I hadn't done it. And I'm very excited that I have done it and I'm looking forward to the future.
CABRERA: A future she and the state hope will pay off that massive investment.
It was medical marijuana that paved the way for this new retail surge. So, a lot of this is being rolled out on the existing infrastructure surrounding or supporting medical marijuana including how the state plans to regulates or safeguard this product. And there are even stricter rules when it comes to recreational sale of marijuana. But keep in mind, the federal government still considers all this criminal.
Ana Cabrera, CNN, Denver.
(END VIDEOTAPE)\
WHITFIELD: And coming up, she is an Oscar winning actress with a 60 year career in Hollywood. Now, Shirley MacLaine is getting another honor. Witness our candid interview with her.
And next, mystery under Seattle, a powerful drill comes to a stop while digging a highway tunnel, what could be blocking it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Florida's population could zoom past New York's in the New Yes. New census estimates come out tomorrow. And while California will likely stay at number one Texas at number two, the number three spot is up in the air. Right now, New York has the third highest population in the U.S. but it is neck and neck with Florida and the sunshine state has been growing very fast. At last count, both states had just under 20 million people.
And a big mystery under downtown Seattle. A giant drill is stuck and no one knows why. It was digging a path for a highway tunnel when it hit something.
Stephanie Elam, rather, has more.
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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No doubt Bertha is Bahamas (ph). At five stories tall she, is billed as the largest diameter tunneling machine in the world. And she was put to work running a tunnel under Seattle for plant highway. But Bertha was only a tenth of the way on her nearly two mile journey when she suddenly encountered something large enough and strong enough to stop her in her tracks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are being really cautious. We want to make sure that we don't damage this $80 million machine.
ELAM: but, what is it? The mystery is killing lots of speculations. Geologists point to how Seattle's watery edges were filled in with just about anything by the city's pioneers.
DAVID WILLIAMS, GEOLOGIST: We find old shoes, newspapers, there is a boat buried downtown Seattle. So you name it, it could be down there.
ELAM: Another theory is it is a massive boulder left during the ice age. Residents have their own guesses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some kind of barriers maybe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is taking a Christmas break, you know I'm saying, Merry Christmas big bro.
ELAM: If that is the case, Bertha's Christmas break started two weeks ago. Since then the $3 billion tunnel project has been on hold as workers drill wells to alleviate water pressure in front of Bertha and hopes of sending workers in front of the drill to see what she is up against.
CHRIS DIXON, SEATTLE TUNNEL PARTNERS: You can back the machine up (INAUDIBLE). So, all you can really do is proceed forward.
ELAM: But the transportation department says she won't be moving forward until early next year, after the mystery is solved.
Stephanie Elam, CNN Los Angeles.
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WHITFIELD: And an engagement ring missing for more than six years is found just in time for the holidays. Adam Tiller said his fiance lost the ring just before his wedding in 2007. And then about two weeks ago, one of Tiller's friend, Jacob (INAUDIBLE), took his car to the auto shop. When he went back to pick up his car, an auto technician told him they found the diamond ring behind the backseat. Well, that is when Hickman realized is the long, long lost ring that belonged to Taylor's wife. So Hickman returned the ring to Tiller who then surprised his wife with the ring Christmas morning. So, another explanation is due on that one.
All right, she rubbed shoulders with Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. So what's Shirley MacLaine doing for an encore? She tells us next.
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WHITFIELD: All right, new movies that hit theaters this weekend almost didn't stand a chance to a pair of film already showing on the big screen, "The Hobbit." Well, it holds the number one spot at the box office this weekend for a third straight week as the movie brought it more than $29 million.
Right behind it, at number two, well this means "The Frozen." It brought in more than $28 million. It is now Disney's animation highest-grossing movie ever, except for "The Lion King" but fallen short at number five this weekend, the new release, "The Wolf Of Wall Street" starting Leonardo Decaprio. The movie brought in $18 million. All right, now to a huge honor for a legendary actress, Shirley MacLaine is turning 80 years young next year. But age has not float her career down. MacLaine plays Ben Stealer's mother in the just release film, "the secret life of Walther many." And she is into other movies set for release next year. She is very busy. And now, MacLaine receives the prestigious Kennedy honors for her contributions to American culture. She sat down with CNN's chief political analyst Gloria Borger and shared moments from her award-winning career.
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SHIRLEY MACLAINE, ACTRESS: I just remember sitting in the car with John Kennedy on top of Mulholland drive talking about film and power and entertainment. And that's all we did was talk.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Oh, OK.
You were backstage when Marilyn Monroe sung happy birthday at the garden to Kennedy? What was that about?
MACLAINE: No. There's a back story to that. Marilyn wouldn't come out of her little dressing place because she, I don't know, didn't like the dress. I don't know what was or wasn't happening and they asked me if I would sing. There I was, an understudy again and they asked me if I would sing happy birthday to the president if, indeed, Ms. Monroe didn't come out. Well, at the very last moment, she came out. But I was right back there thinking I wonder if she'll finish the song. And she finished him off, star-wise.
BORGER: MacLaine found her natural habitat with the rat pack, the notorious bad boys of Hollywood.
I have to show you this picture we found of you with two of your favorite memories of the rat pack, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra.
MACLAINE: Oh, is that Jack Carter?
BORGER: Yes, I think it is. What was it like being the girl in the rat pack?
MACLAINE: I was the one who picked up the crackers and the jelly beans and answered the door. And I always told them the truth. I really did. And that is why they, I think, they liked me.
BORGER: Did it ever get romantic?
MACLAINE: Never. No, no, no. I had a crush on Dean for about 15 minutes.
BORGER: She liked Sinatra, too, and discovered how helpful he could with.
MACLAINE: A couple times when I went on the road with my show and there was some union problems with whatever theater we were playing. And you don't mess with the union when they got they bumps. So I would call Frank. He'd say yes, I've got people. The next thing I knew, there was no problems.
BORGER: MacLaine looks back on her rat pack days as the time when Hollywood stars were not so perfect.
MACLAINE: They were human beings some so primitively talented on all levels. And they loved the mistakes of the moment. Well, they didn't like perfection. They didn't like to rehearse. They didn't like to be aware of what was happening so that they wouldn't look ridiculous. They love to looking ridiculous. Because they knew they were icons. They knew they this so specially talented that the audience could relate to them because numerous talent and so, when something happened on a stage or even in the movie and it was knocking them off the pedestal, they love them. They were very aware of how smart they were.
BORGER: Does that happen in Hollywood now?
MACLAINE: In my opinion, no. Everybody wants perfection, even if they're playing disheveled, you know, they want to know exactly what was going to happen.
BORGER: Do Washington and Hollywood have anything in common?
MACLAINE: They both want to be understood. They both want to entertain. They both want to learn to the secrets of how to win an audience with the comedy. They both want to look good. They both want high ratings. They both want the right wardrobe mistress. They both want to learn the secrets of exercising power without seeming dictatorial.
BORGER: So, you just written a book, "What if." What if Shirley MacLaine had gone into politics instead of showbiz.
MACLAINE: I don't think I was ever that nuts.
They asked me. How old was I? I guess I was in my 50s. A bunch of people with money asked me if I would run for the Senate from California. I'm not interested. I think I said sure, I'll do it, but if I win, I want at least eight weeks a year to play Vegas.
(LAUGHTER)
BORGER: She needed a larger stage and her signature moment came in a movie.
You have to go back to the Oscar, "terms of endearment," the famous scene you're the mother, frantic to get your dying daughter a pain killer and you screamed.
MACLAINE: Give her the shot.
My daughter is in pain. Give her the shot. Do you understand? Give my daughter the shot!
Thank you very much.
One take.
BORGER: One take?
MACLAINE: One take.
BORGER: MacLaine is convinced that real life isn't done in one take. She's a believer in incarnation and other worlds.
And some people say you are cookie (ph), are they right?
MACLAINE: Yes.
BORGER: They are?
MACLAINE: Aren't they saying, also, no, I want to hear about the uncooky part that they say. Have I earned the right to have that uncooky part, too. I'm really interested in that.
OBAMA: Shirley has been fearless and she has been honest and she has tackled complicated characters and she has revealed a greater, deeper truth.
BORGER: And she's still doing it as the visiting and formidable American mother on "Doubting Abbey."
MACLAINE: Oh, you think the British have a lock on Van Dam's list? Let's see the other side of the pot.
BORGER: They are having fun of you?
MACLAINE: Yes.
BORGER: For the first time, the Kennedy Center honor is a family affair. Warren Beatty got his in 2004.
Your younger brother got it before you. So what's that like?
MACLAINE: Well, we have a lot to talk about. He called me and said OK, well, what's next. I said you have to get it first. Maybe the Nobel peace prize for understanding there are other realities. And that's when he hung up.
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