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Barbara Bush Hospitalized; Justice Sotomayor Blocks Part of Health Care Law; New Year's Day Bowl Games; Pot Sales Now Legal In Colorado; Pope Turns to Hopes, Challenges of 2014

Aired January 01, 2014 - 09:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Right there from Michigan Avenue. We'll have details on where this storm is heading and how it might affect holiday travelers.

And playoff problems. Why the Green Bay Packers wild card game could be blacked out meaning you won't be able to watch it on TV.

You're live in CNN NEWSROOM.

Good morning and happy New Year. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Carol Costello has the day off.

We begin this hour with two stories that we're watching very closely. First, a new health scare facing former first lady Barbara Bush. She awakens this morning in a Houston hospital.

Also new this morning, as the first Obamacare reform kicks in, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor steps in and exempts two charities over concerns that a mandate could trample their beliefs.

Let's get the latest from Washington and senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

So, Jim, first up, give us the latest on Barbara Bush. How is she doing?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, the latest is that she appears to be doing fine. A spokesman for the former president George H.W. Bush issued a statement late last night, even sent out a couple of tweets about the 88-year-old former first lady's condition.

She was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston on Monday for what this spokesman described as a respiratory related issue. But he also released a statement saying that she is, quote, "in great spirits, has already received visits from her husband and family, and is receiving fantastic care," and that issues -- excuse me, updates will be issued when they are warranted.

So it appears at this point just judging by what Jim McGrath is saying, spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush, that Mrs. Bush is doing OK after this health related scare.

WHITFIELD: All right. And now let's talk about the president's health care plan and we'll talk about the 11th hour ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court justice, the same justice that President Obama selected.

ACOSTA: Right.

WHITFIELD: What took place last night and why?

ACOSTA: Well, it's sort of fascinating because we thought, you know, all of the Obamacare news was sort of out of the way for 2013. And then late last night we got this news and it came from none other than Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

As you mentioned, Fred, President Obama put her on the high court. The first Latina on the high court. And she was down in Times Square for the ball drop but just before doing that she had to take care of some court related business and that is to issue this basically and order a brief on Tuesday, late Tuesday, exempting religious affiliated organizations, two in particular, that brought one of these cases forward from providing contraceptive care as part of their insurance coverage for their employees.

There are dozens of groups out there like this one out in Denver that was actually a part of this order that Sotomayor issued yesterday and basically what it does is that it blocks that part of Obamacare for the next few days until the federal government has a chance to respond to what Justice Sotomayor issued.

Now we should point out this does not threaten the entire law which, by the way, got some good news yesterday, Fredricka, as you heard, 2.1 million Americans have now signed up for Obamacare, either through federal or state insurance exchanges. That's on top of the 3.9 million Americans who've signed up for Medicaid as part of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

And so the White House is touting that good news this morning. But it'll be interesting to find out what their response is to this order from Justice Sotomayor late last night right before the ball dropped -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so Sotomayor giving the administration, what, until 10:00 a.m. on Friday to respond and we'll see in what fashion that happens.

Jim Acosta, thanks so much, from Washington.

ACOSTA: You bet.

WHITFIELD: Happy New Year.

ACOSTA: Happy New Year.

WHITFIELD: And in New York, it's got a new mayor now. Bill de Blasio took his oath of office at two minutes past midnight Eastern Time outside his home in Brooklyn. He's the first Democrat to be elected mayor in two decades. And as required by the city, de Blasio paid a $9 filing fee in cash to register his new office. His public inauguration starts in about three hours from now.

All right. It's a very cold, chilly start to the new year. You're looking at live pictures right now. Michigan Avenue in Chicago where there's snow, as you see right there, a little dusting and temperatures below freezing, with a high in the low 20s. Half a foot of snow is expected by the end of the day there.

And speaking of freezing, temperatures were so cold in Minnesota, a waterfall turned into ice right there, solid ice. The Midwest and northeast could see the first major snowstorm of 2014 this week.

CNN meteorologist Alexandra Steele joining us with more.

Wow, what a way to bring in the New Year. Brr.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, this is not just like average arctic cold. This is really extreme. Look at right now in Duluth, the current windchill walking out the doors, 31 degrees below zero. December in Duluth will go down as their eighth coldest and as a place about 160 miles northwest called International Falls, it's called like the ice box of the nation. Second coldest December on record so this is some arctic cold and certainly not the average variety.

All right. So all that cold air dropping south, dropping east, heading into the northeast, it will moderate some but Boston will have temperatures they haven't seen in three years like other areas as well.

So right now the windchill in Albany is 16, it's 3 in Binghamton. The cold air is in place but this is what's interesting. High temperatures Friday will be your coldest day, only 12 in Boston, 16 in New York City, well below average, but this is more the interesting note, how low they'll go, below freezing on Friday, 3 below.

It was January of 2011 the last time Boston went below freezing so incredibly cold air. So the cold air is in place. This moisture is coming together. We're going to see two phases of moisture and we're going to see accumulating snow but it will be in phases around the northeast so a little easier to deal with.

We'll see in Thursday morning through the day and then Friday morning as well. Winding up on Friday afternoon and this is what we're going to end up with. Boston we could see maybe eight to 12 inches, up to six. Twelve plus in Albany. It's going to be this New York state thru-way that just get hammered.

But again we're going to see it in phases Thursday and then into Friday. New York, Florida, eight inches of snow. South of that is actually going to be even rain, and we saw negligible amounts and accumulation. Pittsburgh two to four and Buffalo six to eight, so the big cities in the northeast this will be, this nor'easter will deliver snow, Fred, no question about it Thursday, Friday.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. We're going (INAUDIBLE). Thanks so much, Alexandra, appreciate that. Well, snow, no snow, cold nonetheless. Lots of bowl games today. The Texas A&M Aggies in fact made a thrilling comeback in last night's Chick-fil-A bowl against the Duke Blue Devils. Quarterback John Manziel threw for four touchdowns and ran for another leading his team to victory after falling behind 21 points at halftime right there.

There are six bowl games, in fact, on tap for today. Plenty of gridiron action, as you enjoy this first day of 2014.

Andy Scholes with us here.

Oh boy, this is a very exciting day. So whether it's old outside, it doesn't matter, you can be inside and toasty and watch all this action.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes. You know where it's not going to be cold? Pasadena, California. That's where the Roll 'n Bowl is going to be played tonight. Yes.

And this game on (INAUDIBLE) is probably best game of the day. You've got fourth ranked Michigan State taking on fifth ranked Stanford. And this is 100th edition of the grand daddy of them all, as they call this game.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

SCHOLES: Now Stanford is actually looking for their second straight Rose Bowl win. They're the favorites in this game but I wouldn't be surprised to see Michigan State win this, when they're coming off that big upset over number two Ohio State. It cost them a trip to the national title game.

This game is at 5:00 p.m. Eastern tonight. It's going to be followed by another BCS game, the Fiesta Bowl. This is going to feature 15th rank Central Florida taking on sixth ranked Baylor. Now both of these teams are coming off their best year in school history. So they're both excited about playing in their first bowl game.

And this is going to be probably the best QB matchup we get to watch this bowl season. You've got Bryce Petty for the Baylor Bears and you've got Blake Bortels for Central Florida. You see him right there. He's probably the best kept secret in college football. This guy is expected to be a top 10 pick in next May's NFL draft.

Not many people know about Blake Bortels. Tonight is a good chance.

WHITFIELD: Now they do.

SCHOLES: To watch them in action. And this afternoon you've got some good ball games as well. You've got the Capital One Bowl at 1:00 Eastern. Now this is probably your last chance to see Jadeveon Clowney, the great defensive end for South Carolina, played at college football game. He's expected to go to the NFL after this game and he's supposed to be a top three pick in May's NFL draft. And of course remember last year Clowney, he absolutely destroyed Michigan's running back on a play that's iconic in college football now. So again today 1:00 Eastern is probably your last chance to watch him play. South Carolina is going to take on 19th ranked Wisconsin.

Some other games today you're going to have Iowa and LSU. That's the Outback Bowl and then all the action is going to get started at noon Eastern today. You've got the Taxslayer Gator Bowl -- taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, excuse me. That game is at noon Eastern. You've got Nebraska taking on Georgia. So again just a great afternoon for football. I'm definitely looking forward to watching it.

WHITFIELD: Oh my -- the remote control is going to be very busy today.

SCHOLES: Yes. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.

WHITFIELD: And folks will be very busy from the kitchen to the couch. Kids on the couches refilling on all the treats.

SCHOLES: I'll be on the couch all the time.

WHITFIELD: All the junky munchies.

All right, thanks so much, Andy. Appreciate that.

All right. Also this morning that annual Rose Bowl Parade taking place in Pasadena, California, not just football but the parade, too. Today is the 125th edition of the parade. It starts in a couple of hours.

CNN iReporter Lloyd Brown sent in these pictures of parade floats being decorated this week. This year's grand marshal is the voice of the L.A. Dodgers, Vin Sculley. Very exciting stuff.

All right. From the famous crystal ball drop in New York City to year-end countdowns, celebrated icons of local culture, like the beloved moon pie in Mobile, Alabama.

You're looking at how they rang in 2014 from coast to coast. And you were there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Five, four, three, two, happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one. Happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Three, two, one, happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Five, four, three, two, one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy new year, everyone. That's right, 2014 is going to be your best year yet, I can feel it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Checking our top stories:

Investigators today are due to visit the site of that fiery train derailment in North Dakota and residents are heading back home after fleeing that potentially dangerous smoke. Data collected from on board recorders show the train carrying crude oil slammed into a car from another train that had derailed. Officials are looking for derailment marks on the tracks.

And the leader of North Korea used a New Year's Day speech to warn that if war broke out on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. would not be safe from a deadly nuclear catastrophe. Kim Jong-un also made his first public comments about his uncle, whom he had had executed for trying to overthrow the government. Kim said his death brought greater unity to Pyongyang.

And Michael Schumacher remains in critical and stable condition and medically induced coma. The former world champion racing driver suffered severe head injuries while skiing in France. Meantime, his manager says a journalist tried to sneak into Schumacher's room disguised as a priest. Outside the hospital fans have gathered to show their support.

And for the first time ever in the U.S., people in the state of Colorado can legally purchase pot beginning this morning. But there are some rules attached. You must be at least 21 years old. You can't smoke in public and shops take cash only, no credit or bank cards, you can't take it to the airport or out of state.

CNN's Casey Wian joins us now live from Denver where pot shops are expecting a huge turnout today and the flames are already burning behind you?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, from flames to keep people warm some of the folks behind me have been here since 2:00 in the morning. We've got about two dozen or so people out here waiting for when recreational sales begin in about 45 minutes.

One of the people that's waiting, Michelle Wold.

You heard on the news local lines were starting to form. Why did you think it was important to get out here early?

MICHELLE WOLD: Because this is history. This is our right to freedom.

WIAN: How do you think the new law is going the way it's being implemented? Are you happy with this new law in Colorado?

WOLD: Yes, I am.

WIAN: What about it?

WOLD: What I like about it is that like I say this is history. I mean, this is the forefront, and to be a part of history and to, prohibition has ended.

WIAN: We can show you a shot we have on another camera inside the store where sales are beginning and you can see that the shelves are already stocked. Colorado residents will be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana if you're coming in from out of state you can buy a quarter of an ounce but you can't take it home with you.

I want to show you one other thing, Fredricka. Over here next door at this business, we've got the parents of the owner of this marijuana business who we're actual going to be handing out coffee and cookies to the people who are waiting in line.

The only issue that the business has had so far with law enforcement was they couldn't hand out these cookies which are not laced with marijuana inside the store because they are selling edible products, law enforcement very concerned about that. So, it was just kind of a funny situation where the opener of this business says I'm going to be selling a lot of pot today but my parents can't hand out cookies in the same place.

Back to you.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. OK. Well, it looks like folks are lining up and very happy about what they're lining up about. Casey Wian, thanks so much. Keep us posted throughout the day, first day of those legal sales.

All right. Still to come, the pope delivers his end of the year message as his faithful look ahead to a New Year of change.

CNN's Erin McLaughlin is in Rome.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This morning, St. Peter's Square was absolutely packed for this pope's very first New Year's message and once again, Francis went off script. I'll have what he said after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In Utah, state officials are making their case to the U.S. Supreme Court and they want a decision fast. The state has filed an emergency appeal calling for the court to immediately block a federal ruling that allow same-sex couples to be legally married in the state. Hundreds have already done so since the judge struck down the ban less than two weeks ago, supporters of gay marriage have until Friday to respond to the state's appeal.

And it has been a year of reflection and refocus for the world's Catholics as a new pope delivers a message of simplicity. And fittingly it was a theme that echoed through his New Year's Day mass at the Vatican.

Listen to his message of the faithful as he steers the church into a New Year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) POPE FRANCIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): There is no more meaningful time than the beginning of the New Year to hear these words of blessing, they will accompany our journey through the year opening up before us, they are words of strength, courage and hope, not based on frail human promises or a naive hope which presumes the future will be better simply because it is the future. Rather, it is a hope that has its foundations precisely in God's blessings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Erin McLaughlin is in Rome.

So, Erin, based on what we've seen the last nine months of his dynamic leadership, is it safe to assume that we'll be seeing more change this year?

MCLAUGHLIN: I think it is, Fredricka.

This morning, we saw tens of thousands of people stream in to St. Peter's Square for this pope's very first New Year's message. He talked about the importance of global fraternity and acceptance of diversity.

And then he went off script talking about a letter a man wrote to him, the man writing of his own personal tragedy, really just one more example of how this pope is in contact with normal people. Today is World Peace Day, the Catholic Church making that. He talked about how peace really begins within our own household.

So a real continuation of some of the themes we saw throughout 2013, but he has a lot on his agenda for the New Year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCLAUGHLIN (voice-over): Nine months into his papacy, Pope Francis has transformed the Roman Catholic Church.

There were symbolic gestures and some reforms inside the Vatican.

2014 promises more change.

FRANCIS X. ROCCA, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE: It's largely been a matter of style and words and gestures which electrified people and excited everybody and drawn a lot of attention. But now, we're going to start to see some concrete changes.

MCLAUGHLIN: Many hope the first pope from Latin America will bring greater diversity to the body responsible for selecting the next pope.

In February, Francis is expected to appoint at least 14 new cardinal electors, and then new saints. Two popes are to be canonized on the same day in April, John the XXIII, seen by many as a liberal reformer, and John Paul II, seen as more conservative.

ROCCA: There's a lot of tension amongst some Catholics over the two figures. We can infer he's saying, look, there is a continuity here. There isn't really a conflict. There isn't really a tension. This is all part of the same tradition.

MCLAUGHLIN: Then, Francis will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. In May, he's expected to travel to the holy land, with stops in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories.

And possibly big news in October, at the Senate of Bishops, they're expected to discuss whether it should e easier for divorced and remarried Catholics to take communion.

ROCCA: And the pope himself said last summer that this is a time of mercy. We need to be merciful to people in that situation, which is what a lot of people took to mean he's considering making it easier for them to receive that sacrament.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCLAUGHLIN: So, Pope Francis has a lot going on in 2014, one of the big challenges ahead, continuing Vatican reforms, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Erin McLaughlin, thank you so much, from Rome.

All right. Also, starting today, the Boy Scouts of America will allow openly gay members. The group voted to change its longstanding ban in May, the new policy went into effect this morning. The group still bans openly gay adult leaders, some church groups ended their partnerships with the Scout in retaliation of the new policy but a Scout spokesman says fewer than 2 percent of troops were dropped by their up sponsors.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, from Edward Snowden to Obamacare, 2013 was full of hurdles for the president.

Coming up, we'll look ahead to 2014 and whether the New Year could mean smoother sailing for the White House?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Good morning, again, everyone. Thanks for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Carol Costello this morning.

President Obama is still on vacation in Hawaii and while he may be soaking up the sun now the past year had its share of storm clouds for the president's political agenda.

So, will 2014 be any brighter?

Athena Jones is traveling with the president -- Athena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred.

Almost everyone agrees that 2013 was not a good year for President Obama. Now, that 2014 is here, the question is will this year be any better?

(voice-over): Golf, basketball, trips to the beach and crowd-pleasing dinners out.