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Blackout Looming for Packers Playoff Game; Pot Sales Now Legal in Colorado; Ringing in 2014 in an Ice-locked Ship; Antarctic Rescue Attempt Delayed; Full-time Worker's Emotional Struggle; Why 2014 Could Bring Lower Gas Prices
Aired January 01, 2014 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: So it's been 30 years since the last playoff blackout in Green Bay. About 11,000 tickets remain for Sunday's wild card game between the Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. And if it doesn't sell out, that means no television broadcast in the Packer's home TV market. Andy Scholes is here to explain why.
ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes, and for NFL they have a rule, you've got to sell your game 72 hours before kickoff for it to be on TV. Now, they've actually extend the deadline to tomorrow at 4:30 Eastern because today is a holiday which is nice of them right? But this is still really surprising especially in Green Bay.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
SCHOLES: They've sold out 319 straight games. You know they have pretty much -- close to 100,000 people on the season ticket waiting list. So tons of people want to go to these games but the kicker in this deal is the weather. The weather for Sunday night in Green Bay --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: It's miserable.
SCHOLES: -- the low is negative 15 degrees.
WHITFIELD: Forget it. I'm not sitting on some cold bleacher in that kind of temperature.
SCHOLES: That's really, really cold even if you live in Green Bay, that's really, really cold. Now but the problem is --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
SCHOLES: -- it's negative 15 degrees. So I'm going to stay home and watch on my couch. If people don't go to the game, the game is going to end up being blacked out. So it's a dilemma for Packers. What's going to happen? Who knows?
WHITFIELD: Or they can't be as die hard.
SCHOLES: Well if they actually think --
WHITFIELD: They can only imagine what's taking place.
SCHOLES: I think they're going to end up selling this thing out.
WHITFIELD: You do?
SCHOLES: I think by tomorrow afternoon they're going to end up selling all of these tickets where someone goes in there and buys a bunch of them.
WHITFIELD: Folks are suddenly going to get you know more parkas and more blankets, something, some heating pads to sit on. Battery operated.
SCHOLES: I can't imagine a playoff game at Lambeau Field not being sold out, not being on TV.
WHITFIELD: I know, oh well this might make history because it's so doggone cold.
SCHOLES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: It's miserable. All right Andy thanks so much. We're hoping best for them.
SCHOLES: Me too.
WHITFIELD: OK, but you're not going to be out there.
SCHOLES: Definitely not.
WHITFIELD: No, you'll be reporting from far away.
SCHOLES: You won't catch me anywhere near Lambeau Field. It's cold as ever.
WHITFIELD: I got you. Me neither. All right thanks so much.
All right. Still to come, Colorado making history this morning in a very different way as the first state in the nation to sell recreational pot. We'll take you live to Denver where sales are already underway.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. It's New Year and first for the nation as recreational pot goes on sale legally today in Colorado. There are some ground rules. I mean you must be at least 21 or older. You can't smoke it in public. Shops take cash only no credit or bank cards. And you can't take pot to the airport or out of state.
CNN's Casey Wian joins us live from Denver where the doors are just open to a lot of the pot shops and Casey earlier you had long lines outside. How is it going so far?
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's very busy, Fredricka. We're at Evergreen Apothecary where they are just absolutely jammed. You can see customers here lined up. Some of them are actually smelling the product or examples of the product before they buy. They're discussing with the consultants the different effects of the different types of marijuana strains that they may be interested in purchasing.
It's going for $50 an eighth of an ounce. A lot of people have coupons they're getting it for $25 an eighth of an ounce. The most you can buy under Colorado law if you're an instate resident is one ounce. But this store is actually limiting sales to a half an ounce per resident because they're very concerned about supply. There's so much demand.
And you can look outside. We're going to walk out here and show you that some of these people have been waiting here since 2:00 in the morning. And you can see that it's actually snowing outside and there is a long line of perhaps 100 people down there waiting to get in and be among the very first to buy recreational pot in the state of Colorado.
Now back inside the store, we're going to talk with the owner -- one of the owners of Evergreen Apothecary, Tim Cohen. Tim, how is it going so far?
TIM COHEN, EVERGREEN APOTHECARY: This has far exceeded my expectations. What an exciting day it's great to see all of these faces. It's snowing right now but it's going to pass through. And it's just incredible.
WIAN: Tell me about the work that has gone into this. This isn't something where you've just been able to open the doors today and magically start selling marijuana to people?
COHEN: No. We've been a retail marijuana store for four years now so Evergreen Apothecary is -- has serviced a lot of folks over the years. Selling retail cannabis is not new to us. But handling crowds out the door is.
WIAN: Good luck to you on the first day. Thanks very much for talking to me.
OK that's it Fredricka. It's a very busy day and it looks like business is booming so far.
WHITFIELD: All right it is indeed. I will refrain from any puns because it almost left my mouth. OK Casey Wian, thank you so much. We're going to talk more about this.
Let's go back to Denver and check in with Jack Finlaw chief counsel to Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper so good morning to you.
JACK FINLAW, COLORADO, GOVERNOR'S CHIEF COUNSEL: Hi good morning.
WHITFIELD: OK, so we mentioned earlier some of the rules connected to the new law, like not taking pot to the airport or out of state. Will the enforcement of state laws versus federal laws be a challenge?
FINLAW: You know we've fortunately been working very closely with our local U.S. attorney with the Justice Department and we're very satisfied with the guidance we received from them in August. The famous core memo and those priorities that they have are similar to what we have in the state, to make sure that people under 21 don't have access to marijuana, that we regulate what is grown, we track what is grown and make sure that the marijuana that's produced here doesn't flow out to other states.
WHITFIELD: And so what are your concerns as it pertains to driving under the influence of pot? That some people may not act responsibly even though you have, you know, restrictions on how much can be purchased. But that doesn't necessarily mean there are restrictions on how much one can consume or even the issue of its ending up in the hands of teens or people who are under 21. What do you do to try to curb, address, any of those concerns?
FINLAW: Well, you know, impaired driving, whether it's alcohol or marijuana, is a challenge. And it's a challenge for law enforcement. We did pass a new law in Colorado last year that allows law enforcement to have the tool that if the blood of the drive has five nanograms or more THC, there's a presumption that they're driving impaired. It's a rebuttal presumption so if some is a long time medical marijuana patient, they can introduce evidence in court to show that that level of THC is historic in their blood.
But we will be vigilant as we are with drivers who are drinking too much. And it really is an observation challenge for law enforcement and I think the anecdotes are that you know if someone is drinking and driving, they're driving too fast or aggressively. If you're under the influence of marijuana, you're likely to be slow to react and drive more slowly.
So law enforcement is going through training to observe that. But frankly, we have had medical marijuana in Colorado for about 13 years. So we're -- we're used to dealing with people who are driving and consuming marijuana.
WHITFIELD: OK, and so you said there is an observation challenge but do you feel with -- while you have the medicinal marijuana that's been available, now you have recreational. Do you feel like law enforcement can keep up with the greater number of people in which to watch or behaviors in which to watch decipher whether something is on the up and up or whether something is wrong?
FINLAW: Right well fortunately the voters of Colorado also approved special taxes on the retail marijuana. There's a special sales tax and excise tax. And that will provide both the state and local government with some additional funding to boost law enforcement both training and personnel.
WHITFIELD: Jack Finlaw, thanks so much. All the best. Happy New Year.
FINLAW: Thank you. Thanks. You too.
WHITFIELD: All right still to come, they are stranded off Antarctica. But they're not letting it keep them down. In fact, they seem kind of happy about it all. We'll give you the latest on the rescue efforts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. More on this developing story out of Minneapolis -- at least 13 people have been hurt; some of them critically. Live images right now, extraordinary images of how they're trying to battle this blaze.
An apartment is on fire there and it was preceded by an explosion according to many eyewitness reports and authorities there. The biggest challenge for emergency workers is the subzero temperatures there meaning that their firefighting efforts are running into real obstacles. As well as their own personnel and as well as many of the residents of that apartment who are to be rescued or are being rescued.
An EMS official was just joining us last hour saying it was unclear how many people have been transported. But our reporting is indicating at least 13 people have been transported to local hospitals. And we don't have any real specifics on the types of injuries that many people have suffered. But the explosion meant that a number of windows were blown out. And we understand that many people were injured while trying to get out of the building as well as a result of the fire.
You're seeing the aerial shots there of the fighters trying to tackle this blaze as best they can from all angles there in Minneapolis. We'll keep you posted.
Meantime, they are stranded in ice at the bottom of the world. But that didn't stop some 74 passengers and crew aboard a Russian research ship from ringing in 2014 in style.
WHITFIELD: With a lot of song to boot. And for now, blizzard conditions have put helicopter rescue plans on hold. Anna Coren is following developments from Hong Kong -- Anna.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, finally some encouraging news for the 74 passengers and crew aboard the research vessel stuck in ice in Antarctica since Christmas. We've just gone off the phone with Captain Murray Doyle of the Australian icebreaker that has come to assist. And he believes the rescue operation could begin as early as Thursday morning.
At the moment, they're 12 nautical miles away from the vessel but only two nautical miles from the Chinese icebreaker that's also come to help. The Chinese ship is in a holding position because the ice surrounding it is just so deep. But once the Australian vessel arrives it's hoped that the two ships can together reach open water.
Well, if that happens, a helicopter on the Chinese ship will fly to the research vessel and evacuate scientists and journalist in groups of 12 to 15. They'll then be transported by barge to the Australian icebreaker where they will stop at Casey, an Australian base in Antarctica before heading back to Australia.
The 22 crew will remain on the stranded vessel until the ice loosens up. They have ample supplies and will also be restocked.
Despite the situation, everyone on board is in remarkable spirits. Their plight has of course attracted the attention of the world's media including our very own Anderson Cooper who spoke to the team on New Year's Eve.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: You guys are really keeping up morale?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's hard to keep everyone going and everyone is being fantastic with a great team spirit. and just looking forward to getting home, really.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Now bad weather has been the biggest obstacle in reaching the ship but according to the Australian captain who is in en route to their aid, the skies have now cleared. Of course, it's a promising sign for the rescue team and those on board the stranded vessel -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much -- Anna.
All right. Still to come -- a woman working full-time but barely makes ends meet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like, what's the point? Like what's the point of trying? I'm not going to make it anyway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: How the political battle over the minimum wage is affecting her emotional struggle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Today, the minimum wage will increase in 13 states. Most of the increases amount to less than 15 cents per hour. New Jersey, California, New York and Rhode Island will see even bigger bumps. And now many Democrats including President Obama are calling to raise the federal minimum wage.
More than 20 million full-time working Americans made less than $20,000 last year. And people are protesting on streets across America with workers saying they're simply not making enough to get by. Here is CNN's Poppy Harlow.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. Well, over the past year, there had been a flurry of protests from retail and fast food workers demanding what they call a living wage, saying they can't get by on what they're making.
So here is a look at what life is like for two workers who say they simply need to make more to make it on their own.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOANNA CRUZ, MAKES MINIMUM WAGE: You have no money on your lunch account?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
CRUZ: Not a dollar.
HARLOW (voice-over): At 29 years old, Joanna Cruz is stuck -- stuck in a job that pays $7.30 an hour. She works overnights at a deli, 40 hours a week. Her weekly paycheck -- $244.70.
(on camera): What do you need to make to be able to get by on your own?
CRUZ: I would have to make at least $14, $15 to be able to live, comfortably.
HARLOW: Do you add it up as you go?
CRUZ: Yes.
HARLOW: You do.
CRUZ: I have to.
HARLOW (voice-over): She is a single mom fighting to get by. Don't be mistaken, she blames herself for not finishing high school and not going to college. But she tells me there has to be more she can achieve.
CRUZ: There is no moving up. I mean, I might get a raise if I'm there long enough. But that's about it.
HARLOW: Joanna's life mirrors her mother's. Augusta Cruz worked 30 years in a mattress factory and said she never made more than $9 an hour.
AUGUSTA CRUZ, MOTHER OF JOANNA CRUZ: It's a vicious cycle for everybody.
HARLOW: Her mother provides the home that Joanna can't afford.
(on camera): If it weren't for you having them here under your roof, where would Joanna be?
AUGUSTA CRUZ: In the shelter, in the street.
HARLOW (voice-over): Years of low-wage work has left Joanna with little hope.
CRUZ: I'm already 29. By the time I finish school, I'll probably be like 40, and then who is going to hire a 40-year-old just starting off with no experience. It's probably not going to happen. Some days I don't want to try.
HARLOW (on camera): Tell me what you mean?
CRUZ: I feel like, what's the point? What's the point of trying? I'm not going to make it anyway.
HARLOW: Do you think from the outside looking in people have any idea what you go through?
CRUZ: No. None.
HARLOW: Americans have long believed in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. But we can't agree on what that wage is today.
President Obama supports raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to about $10 an hour. But critics argue that won't help. It will hurt, costing jobs and increasing prices.
DAVID NEUMARK, CENTER FOR ECONOMICS & PUBLIC POLICY, U.C. IRVINE: The general prices go up and people buy a little less and, therefore, firms use less labor. You are better off if you earn a higher wage, clearly. But weigh that against the likelihood your employer is going to make do with somewhat fewer workers, and you might be one of those workers.
HARLOW: At the center of the debate, fast-food chains and big-box retailers. In 2012, the average pay for a fast-food worker was $9; for a retailer worker, it was $12.17 -- both higher than minimum wage.
Still, Tiffany Beroid, a part-time Wal-Mart, worker is among those demanding higher pay. She is a member of Our Wal-Mart, a union-backed group that does not represent Wal-Mart workers, but protests for higher wages.
TIFFANY BEROID, WAL-MART EMPLOYEE & OUR WAL-MART MEMBER: It isn't enough money for me to get by. It's very hard. We're at a standstill right now with my family.
HARLOW: Wal-Mart's U.S. CEO said they pay a fair wage and are unfairly criticized.
BILL SIMON, PRESIDENT & CEO, WAL-MART U.S.: We pay above average wages for the retail industry. And we provide incredible opportunity. The discussion around the starting wage, minimum wage is one that the country needs to have. The debate needs to be had. But that's not the issue. The issue isn't where you start, it where you go to once you've started.
BEROID: Oh, you got two spelling --
HARLOW: Tiffany wants more opportunity, but at $10.70 an hour, she says she can't afford to work full time, given the child care costs she would need to cover. So, why doesn't she look for another job?
BEROID: I am actually not unhappy with my job. I really like my job and I like being with the customers. It's not -- it's pointless for me to find a job. I would rather stay and fight.
HARLOW: As for Joanna, her pay will go up in January when minimum wage in New Jersey increases to $8.25 an hour. She will still struggle but hopes her children's lives will be better.
CRUZ: It's not going to happen to my kids. It's not. I promise you that. It's not going to happen to my kids. It's just not. I won't allow it to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW (on-camera): Now consider this number. More than 12 million full-time working Americans made less than $20,000 in 2012. And keep in mind -- that is more than minimum wage. If you adjust for inflation, today's federal minimum wage is below where it was in the late 1960s -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. A very sobering -- Poppy Harlow.
Still to come, gas prices in 2013, the lowest they've actually been in years. And now we're hearing about what you could be paying in 2014 and guess what? It's good news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Here is a little something to make you feel a little bit better about your commute back to work after a long holiday vacation. Those gas prices -- they were down on average last year and forecasters are saying it's a pretty good year in this New Year. Here is CNN's Alison Kosik.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Filling up was a little less painful in 2013 than in other recent years. On average, drivers saw the lowest prices at the pump since 2010. And AAA says prices expected to slide even more this year. The national average for regular gas in 2013 was $3.49 a gallon, down about 12 cents from the record price set in 2012. But a dozen states saw the average price actually dip below $3 dollars a gallon at some point.
So what will drive prices lower in 2014? The ongoing oil boom in North America and an increase in refinery capacity here. According to Tom (inaudible) chief oil analyst for the oil price information service, this increase in production has given the continent the lowest prices in the world for crude oil.
Now, gas prices did rise in the last four months of 2013. But according to AAA, greater production will mean lower prices in the New Year. That should put smiles on the faces of many commuters as they head back to work in the next few days. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Excellent. Thanks so much Alison. And thanks so much for joining us today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, see you again here tomorrow. Happy New Year to you.
"LEGAL VIEW" starts right now. ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Welcome to New York City. It is the morning after the night before. I know you all saw it. Times Square was rocking last night. And some of these people might just be waking up this morning.
And there's a lot to get caught up on. Happy New Year - it's officially 2014, and it's January 1st, in case you missed it. There's a lot going on all around the country and right here in New York City, where it is a balmy 26 degrees.
That's not bad considering where we're going. There's a lot of cold weather on the way for people all up and down. Not only the Eastern Seaboard but also in the Midwest. I'm going to tell you all about what's on the way and how much snow you could get and how the deep freeze is hitting -- hello, Canada. Thanks fort he gift.
Also want to get you up to speed on a brand new mayor sworn in, in the Big Apple and why it means something to you even if you're in --
