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Jason Collins Signed To Brooklyn Nets For 10-Day Deal; "El Chapo" In Police Custody; Ukraine Faces Uncertain Future; 2014 Olympics Closing Ceremony; What is the Polar Vortex?; Nebraska Ruling Jeopardizes Keystone Pipeline; Daytona 500 In Rain Delay; Gay Player In Spotlight At NFL Showcase; The Science Behind Turbulence; Touring Cool Places In Atlanta; Lobbying A Family Business In Washington

Aired February 23, 2014 - 13:59   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. These stories are topping our news this hour.

It was a huge reveal on the cover of "Sports Illustrated." Basketball player Jason Collins announcing he is gay. We have breaking news about his career next.

And a country mourning. A week of deadly violence now wonders what comes next. The president is nowhere to be found. What happens now in the Ukraine?

Plus, after two weeks, the Olympic Games is over with no major attacks or incidents. We'll look at how the security plans worked.

Nothing will ever be the same in pro sports after today. It looks like the NBA's Brooklyn Nets are about to sign the NBA's first openly gay player. Jason Collins came out last April but hasn't played in the league since. Now he's about to become a pioneer as the first gay player in one of the major sports leagues. CNN's Lara Baldesarra joins me now with more. What do we know about this possibility?

LARA BALDESARRA, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Right. What we know right now is that it's possible that Jason Collins is about to sign a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. So, if he does that, he would become the first openly gay athlete to play on an NBA team, which is obviously quite historic.

Now, as you said, he did come out and reveal that he was gay in April of last year, 10 months ago. And he hasn't signed with another team since. Now, he is an older player, he's 35 years old. He's been around the league a lot, and he had a very good career. But now we are waiting to see if history is made and if he does in fact sign with the Nets.

WHITFIELD: And so we're talking about a 10-day deal. Is that typical?

BALDESARRA: They're not -- they are typical. It's not abnormal. You can almost think of this as almost an audition-type process for Jason Collins. The Brooklyn Nets need a player right now to fill this role, so they have turned to him. They are actually playing in Los Angeles, and Jason Collins has a home in Los Angeles, so if he does sign this deal, he could be in uniform and on the court tonight. And then the Nets can turn around and say, hey, you did a great job and we want to sign you more. Or hey, you know, you're not what we're looking for, and 10-day deal expires.

WHITFIELD: And we know most recently an NFL prospect, Michael Sam, came out we know during this whole combine during the weekend. He took center stage. Apparently he may have commented about this potential?

BALDESARRA: He has, yes. He sent out a tweet, you know, the most common method to say anything nowadays. And Michael Sam has taken to Twitter and he tweeted his congrats to Jason Collins. "Congratulations to my friend, Jason Collins. Excited to see you do your work out there. Ground breaking, encourage is what he hash tagged. Which is what it would be. This would be obviously a very, very historic moment if Jason Collins takes to the court in a Brooklyn Nets uniform.

WHITFIELD: Right. Really it is fascinating news. All right, thanks so much, Lara, for bringing that to us. Appreciate it.

Now to a new development in that deadly carbon monoxide leak. Last night at a popular mall on Long Island, a legal seafood restaurant manager died and 27 others were exposed to the odorless gas, and they also taken to the hospital. A short time ago, an official said there was no carbon monoxide detector in the restaurant inside Huntington Station, but restaurants also are not required to have them under state fire code. Investigators found a leak in the flue pipe on the water heater.

Well, this is posted on the door of Legal (ph) Seafoods now. It says the restaurant is condemned. It will remain closed until they repair the leak and pass inspection.

And new details are emerging from the arrest of a powerful Mexican drug lord. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the alleged leader of a Sinaloa cartel, was captured in a Mexican resort town yesterday. He was arrested with a woman in a condominium complex without any shots being fired. Guzman had apparently been moving around the town of Mazatlan through a series of tunnels, some of which were connected to the city's sewer system.

CNN's Nick Parker is in Mexico City for us. Nick, tell us more about how they were able to track him.

NICK PARKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, what we know at this stage is that the operation and the investigation have been going on for several months, according to Mexican authorities. And it comprised of a series of raids in and around the state of Sinaloa, where the cartel is based, both in the state capital as well as well as in that coastal resort of Mazatlan.

In the last week or so, they were able to arrest a number of key figures within the Sinaloa cartel, including the head of Chapo Guzman's hit squad. And they say from these arrests, they were able to yield some vital information, including cell phone data which ultimately led them to that raid yesterday morning. WHITFIELD: And so now what happens?

PARKER: What happens now I think is going to be very much an open question because what we're understanding just today is that Michael McCall, of the House Homeland Security Commission, has called for the extradition of Chapo Guzman to the United States. And that's certainly a very, very thorny issue here in Mexico.

We contacted the foreign ministry here, and at this stage, they do not want to give any comment on the viability and plausibility of such an extradition. But when you talk to analysts, they will tell you if this was the same president as last time, Felipe Calderon, he would almost certainly agree to the extradition request. But the current president, Enrique Pena Nieto, is much more sensitive to issues surrounding Mexico's sovereignty. And last year, he sort of oversaw the arrest of the leader of another cartel called Los Zetas. He also had a warrant out for his arrest in the United States, but he is still here in Mexico awaiting trial.

WHITFIELD: And so tell me about the armor that apparently was located along with him from grenades to, you know, machine guns. I understand even armored vehicles?

PARKER: Yes, that's correct. It was quite an extraordinary haul that they found in this luxury condo. Basically they found something like 133 guns, firearms. They found 43 cars, including 19 armored cars. And they also found some 13 other people that were arrested alongside Chapo Guzman. So, certainly within this compound it seemed like he was operating some kind of small personal army, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And is it believed that he has been in Mazatlan for a period of time? That this is kind of like another one of his residences? Or was it believed that this was just a place where he was in transit?

PARKER: I mean certainly judging by what he was bringing to this development, you know, he had been here for a few days for sure. What we do know is that he'd been moving around the city quite frequently and, as you mentioned, they had discovered a series of tunnels connected to the city's sewage system. And steel reinforced doors in a number of these places. Perhaps the fact that he did not escape may lead you to think there were no tunnels in this particular condo development and perhaps he hadn't been there that long. But certainly that's open to speculation.

WHITFIELD: Remarkable story. All right, Nick Parker in Mexico City, thank you so much.

Moving now to Ukraine where the country looks to an uncertain future with no clear leader right now. Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a hero for the opposition, announced that that she does not want to be the next prime minister. She rallied the crowd in Kiev last night hours after being released from jail. It ended a stunning day of events that included parliament voting out President Victor Yanukovych. He apparently tried to leave Ukraine last night, but was stopped. Phil Black is live for us now in Kiev. Phil, now what happens in that country?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this country is trying to put together an interim government taking place in the nation's parliament while the whereabouts of Victor Yanukovych remains unknown as do his intentions. Meanwhile here on the square, Independence Square which has been the center, the focus of the ongoing protest movement. It has been a day of mourning, despite the fact that they are so close to achieving their goals of driving Yanukovych from power, the mood is incredibly somber as people remember those who died on the streets just a few days ago.

It is a very different mood to what happened here last night when the former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, made an emotional return to the square. She is a woman that the United States, among other countries, has been demanding should be freed from prison for some years now. And she is a woman who very much sounds like she wants to be front and center of the political future of this country. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLACK (voice-over): No one in independence day started their day thinking this was possible.

By evening, news had spread and thousands had come to see Yulia Tymoshenko. In a wheelchair because of severe back pain, she declared this is now a different Ukraine. In a long, emotional speech she told the crowd not to leave Independence Square until they build the country they want.

(on camera): Not everyone in this crowd supports Yulia Tymoshenko, but they have come here tonight because they know together they have all played a role in securing her freedom. Because together, they are changing their country.

(voice-over): Tymoshenko has experienced rallying a crowd in this square. In 2004, she was a leader in what became known as the Orange Revolution, overturning a corrupt election result. She became prime minister, later a presidential candidate, but lost to Victor Yanukovych. She was then jailed for abusing power while in office. America and Europe demanded her release, accusing President Yanukovych of taking revenge on a political enemy.

Now Ukraine is again in the throes of revolution. Yanukovych weakened; the opposition now controls parliament. They voted to free her just hours earlier.

I think that Ukraine will do well now, she tells me. It will be in Europe, it will be free and it will be democratic. Her daughter had lobbied world leaders to help her mother.

EVGENIA TYMOSHENKO, YULIA TYMOSHENKO'S DAUGHTER: When the parliament voted, I first started crying, and I was trying to see her. And I just feel so proud to be her daughter. I feel so proud to be Ukrainian.

BLACK: This woman as an army of loyal supporters, but this isn't a Mandela moment. People here have good reasons for disliking politicians. Yulia Tymoshenko's earlier time as a dominant figure was tarnished by infighting, scandal and disappointment. She's now expected to fight for the presidency. She must convince a divided nation she can lead them again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACK: Along the barricades in independence square, there are now candles, memorials as people grieve for those who fell. Ukrainian TV networks will not be broadcasting the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Phil Black, thank you so much in Kiev. Appreciate that.

All right, after twin bombings in Russia late last year, there was growing concern about safety at the Olympics. It's been a safe Games. What security measures worked? We'll talk to experts next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. The Winter Olympic Games are over. Some of us are very sad. Closing ceremonies have already been held in Sochi following two big events today.

Here's our spoiler alert. If you don't want the final medal count, mute your television just for about 30 seconds. All right. Russia ends the games with not only the most medals, 33, but also with the most gold medals than any other country, 13. The USA came in second with 28, nine of them gold.

Our Ian Lee is in Sochi with a wrap-up of the day's events and closing ceremonies -- Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, I think the Americans may have wanted more golds than that. There were some events that were a bit disappointing. The men's hockey team would have liked to have gone on to that gold medal round, but the Canadians did and today they defeated the Swedes to win a gold medal in hockey. A clean sweep for the Canadians.

We also had the closing ceremonies tonight. And I have to tell you it's quite the spectacle so people might want to tune in later for that. It was a lot of fireworks, a lot of pageantry and a little bit of joking around. If you remember in the opening ceremonies there was that ring that failed to open. Well, in the closing tonight a ring failed to open but it seemed more planned than a mistake this time. Looked like the organizer having a little bit of fun there -- Fredricka.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: OK, well, a little sense of humor there. I mean, overall are people feeling like this was a very satisfying Winter Olympic Games? I mean, clearly those who -- those countries, you know, who were able to hail having the most medals are very ecstatic, overall Olympians and those who have been visiting the games, have they been happy with this Olympic Games?

LEE: Well, Fredricka, as far as the sporting events go, I think a lot of people are happy. Of course you have your controversy, but you have that in almost every games. And then you have the incidents with the hotels, but that seemed to be ironed out. So by and large I think you could say that these were a successful games in terms of sports, but you also had the political environment at the same time with activists being silenced both human rights and environmental.

And I think that will be a cloud that will hang over these games as well -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. And Ian, as you know, the Olympics began with very real concerns about any potential terrorist activity and the threats.

Let's bring in CNN national security analyst Bob Baer.

I mean, Bob, everyone is of course very happy that no incidents as far as we know actually took place. What does it say to you about Russia's plan on security and this so-called, you know, ring of steel?

ROBERT BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, Fredricka, I think the problem is we always underestimate the KGB. They have enormous power in Russia. They brought in the army in the North Caucasus area. They did a bunch of raids, they locked down villages, they went to organized crime groups, Chechen in particular, convinced them with money to close these people down. And the Russians, they want to do a lockdown, they know how to do it.

WHITFIELD: And so does this set an example for the next games to come? I mean what can be learned about this technique, say, you know, South Korea might be able to adopt in the next Winter Games?

BAER: Well, it's pretty much, you know, specific to Russia and China where you have a security state where they can monitor every phone and keep people in their houses and do mass arrests, which you isn't -- you can't do that in Korea and other places. So I guess there's something to be learned. And you know, great for the Russians, there were no attacks. They're good, as I said.

WHITFIELD: Great for everyone. All right, Bob Baer, thanks so much. And Ian Lee, appreciate it.

All right. It's the big phrase we've been using all winter long, polar vortex. For some of us, all we know is that it's been freezing cold.

Our meteorologist takes us to weather school next with polar vortex 101.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right, we know you've been part of the conversation. We've been talking a lot about the polar vortex lately. It's a high- tech name for what most of us know as just -- it's freezing gold outside.

Jennifer Gray is here to explain what it all means.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: : OK, friends, let's talk.

The term polar vortex has taken the country by storm this winter season. It's turned into a national frenzy. But the truth of the matter is that it's not an alien coming to get you, it's not this big monster that's going to invade the globe, it's always there. And it's nothing new. In fact if you search the term polar vortex on Twitter, there are countless tweets about it. Even former president of the American Meteorologist Logical Society, Dr. Marshall Shepherd, got in on the action tweeting out the actual definition of the term polar vortex and adding, quote, "It doesn't come and go, visit Florida or bake cookies."

Classic. So here's the deal. It stays around the pole and actually the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere so it's not even on the ground. It stays there all the time, 365 days a year. And when it weakens, it actually causes very cold air to plunge to the south, so it's actually the effects of the polar vortex you're feeling, not the polar vortex itself.

In fact, the arctic blast this week that some are referring to as the polar vortex isn't going to be as cold as the last. You have to keep in mind that as we approach spring, temps will gradually increase. In Atlanta, for example, our high should be around 60 degrees this time of year, so even with temps expected to get 20 degrees below normal, a high in the 40s is hardly scary.

We're tough now. We survived snowpocalypse. So remember, the next time you're out with friends at a party and a Cubs fan walks up to you wearing this T-shirt, hit the pause button and give everyone a little meteorological dose of reality. It could go a long way.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jennifer.

All right. Can a small public commission in Nebraska stop a multibillion dollar project that environmentalists have spent years trying to kill?

The Keystone Pipeline hits another roadblock, pitting the oil industry against some fierce opposition. We'll talk to people on both sides of the battle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A ruling in Nebraska this week could have drastic consequences for the future of the Keystone Pipeline. That's the project that would connect Canada's oil sands to Texas refineries.

A judge said a Nebraska committee will have final say over the Keystone Pipeline in that state. It could say no to a route cutting through that state, jeopardizing the future of the entire project. Environmentalists who want to stop the pipeline are in favor of anything that will delay or kill it.

Let's talk now with two men on opposing sides of the pipeline issue. John Hofmeister is the founder and CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy and a former president of Shell Oil. Good to see you.

And Joshua Saks is legislative director for the National Wildlife Federation. Good to see you as well.

All right, John, you first. How much does Nebraska set back this project potentially, and are you worried that other heartland states might follow suit?

JOHN HOFMEISTER, FOUNDER AND CEO, CITIZENS FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY: No, not really worried at all. This is a legal scurfuffle. They happen all the time in the energy industry. And so what you do is you work your way through the process, understand what's at stake, what are the issues and figure out how to resolve the issues so you can move forward.

I think that will take maybe a few months, maybe a little longer, but after five and a half years of waiting, it's a very short period of time.

WHITFIELD: And so, Joshua, why should one state's concerns be able to potentially jeopardize a project that promises to cut the nation's fuel costs by reducing reliance on imports and potentially create thousands of jobs?

JOSHUA SAKS, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: Well, these aren't just states' concerns, these are the concerns of citizens who live in these states. These are real people, real property and real concerns. And what the state of Nebraska said is that the people who live there have a right to have input into the process about what happens on their lands.

WHITFIELD: And what are those expressed concerns? What's your understanding?

SAKS: Well, there's several. This pipeline will run across some important environmental habitat. If there are spills there could be tremendous impacts not on wildlife but the people who live on these lands. Frankly, some people don't want a pipeline crossing their field.

WHITFIELD: So John, simple as that, don't Nebraskans, landowners, you know, have the right to say I don't see the benefits outweigh the risks?

JOHN HOFMEISTER, FOUNDER AND CEO, CITIZENS FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY: They do certainly have the individual right to protest what could be happening, but we need to change the paradigm for a moment. This is not the good guys versus the bad guys, meaning the oil industry versus the environmentalists. You can take it either way. This is about future national energy security and economic resilience. The world is going to be oil short within the next three to four years, and do we lay in the infrastructure to bring nearly 800,000 barrels a day of Canadian oil to the U.S., which economy is predicated for now and decades into the future on resilient oil resources to make sure we can do what we need to do as a nation.

WHITFIELD: So that's long term. Joshua, what's the argument? What are you seeing in the short term in order to get to that long-term picture?

SAKS: Well, John talked about this pipeline as a pipeline to the United States. We see more as a pipeline through the United States. This is an export pipeline. This isn't about United States energy prices and this isn't about energy security in the U.S., this is about getting Canadian tar sands to the international market.

WHITFIELD: So on Friday, the editor in chief of "Science" magazine did a 180 really on the pipeline. She opposed it at first, but then now supports the project and in this op-ed she writes this saying, quote, "Unfortunately, blocking Keystone XL will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions nor will it increase investment in renewable forms of energy, but allowing Keystone XL to move forward could advance both goals. Joshua, what do you say about that latest op-ed?

SAKS: Well, if we add 800,000 barrels a day of the dirtiest type of petroleum product, how can we assume that won't have any climate impact? If I go eat and pick out at a buffet, I can't lie and say it's not going to impact my belly.

WHITFIELD: John, how do you respond to that?

HOFMEISTER: Well, the 800,000 barrels are going to be produced regardless of what the U.S. does. Canadians are fully capable of building a pipeline to the east or the west to export their oil to the other parts of the world. The reality is the oil is going to be produced based upon the sovereign nation of Canada's long-term export strategy.

I want to dispute the myth that this oil is to be exported through the U.S. That is not the case. I personally signed contracts when I was president of Shell to use Canadian oil sands oil in refineries in Texas. And so for people to perpetrate that myth is just an untruth.

WHITFIELD: But perhaps, John, the biggest, you know, concern is something that was underscored in this study that was released in Canada just recently saying that Canada found toxins are likely seeping into groundwater from oil sands so how can we trust that the oil industry will keep it clean while doing business?

HOFMEISTER: There are always risks with hydro carbons, but we have 200,000 miles of oil products pipelines in the country today, 25,000 of which reside on top of the Owgala aquifer. And we don't see massive protests from people across the Midwest saying get rid of these pipelines. They work. They can break, they can be fixed, but they work. They create the economic prosperity and the transportation system that's the envy of the world in these United States and I think we need to provide that for future generations as well, 20, 30, 40 years into the future.

WHITFIELD: Josh, what do you see as taking place next?

SAKS: Well, I think first the state of Nebraska has to make a decision, but ultimately this is going to come back to the president and the secretary of state who need to decide if this is in the national interest. I was in the audience when the president said if this pipeline is going to exacerbate climate change, he won't approve it, and we're going to hold him to that.

WHITFIELD: Joshua Saks, James Hofmeister, thanks so much, gentlemen, appreciate it.

SAKS: Thank you.

HOFMEISTER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, drivers, start your engines. Today's Daytona 500 race will be like no other. It all has to do with whose behind the wheel of the legendary number 3 car.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The premiere NASCAR event, the Daytona 500, kicks off the stock car racing season today, except right now the race is in rain delay and there is a tornado warning in fact in the area. We'll keep you posted on this great American race.

And for the first time in 13 years, the number 3 is emblazoned on a stock car. That was the late Dale Earnhardt's number. He died in a 2001 crash at Daytona and today Austin Dillon will be driving that number 3 car if indeed the rain allows that race to get under way. And by the way, the feud between NASCAR legend Richard Petty and Danica Patrick is adding extra buzz to the race. Petty apparently questioned her winning ability recently.

And six months after announcing he's gay, college defensive end, Michael Sam showed poise and confidence in Indianapolis where NFL teams and scouts are scrutinizing candidates. At a press conference, Sam tackled questions about his sexuality, his mental toughness, and his pro ball ambitions. Michael Sam, in his own words.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL SAM, NFL PROSPECT: Good afternoon. My name is Michael Sam. I played football for the University of Missouri. Heck yes, I wish you guys would just say Michael Sam, how's football going, how's training going. I would love for you to ask me that question, but it is what it is. I wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player, instead of Michael Sam, the gay football player.

I just want to do what I love to do, that's play football. If the Miami Dolphins draft me, I would be excited to be part of that organization, but I'm not afraid about going into that environment. I know how to handle myself. I know how to communicate with my teammates. I know how to communicate with the coaches. And the other staff, whoever I need to communicate with.

I've been in locker rooms where all kinds of slurs have been said and I don't think anyone means it. I think the little naive and uneducated, but as time goes on, everyone will adapt. If someone wants to call me a name, I will have a conversation with that guy and hopefully it won't lead to nothing else.

Since I'm not on an NFL active roster right now, that is my only thought is to be on that roster and so that's my 100 percent focus on this. I'm not focusing on anything else, but to earn my spot on an NFL team. I love my -- I love my fans, I love Mizzou.

One of the best -- one of the best schools out in the nation and then after what they did this past weekend, was just amazing. I wanted to cry but I'm like, I'm a man. So I didn't -- so I just -- I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially Mizzou, the students, my coaches, the whole organization and every Missouri fan. I'm a Tiger forever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael Sam in his own words.

Up next, planes plummeting sending passengers flying. We're looking into the science behind turbulence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a number one American.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got a height advantage a little bit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John's great asset is his height. He's got great technique on his serve, but that height gets him an opportunity to get angles normal players don't get. Where are we in tennis in the U.S.?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think, you know, in the '70s, '80s and '90s, I think American tennis fans were a bit spoiled. I think you've also got to look at the era that our guys are playing in right now. You know, you're playing against Roger every grand slam, Rafa, Djokovic, Murray. Ten years is a long time, but I don't think American tennis is as bad as people portray it to be. I just think as I said we were a bit spoiled in the past.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Time now for the science behind where we look at the why behind the what. Well, today we're looking into turbulence. Earlier this month, United Flight 1676 plummeted when it hit severe air turbulence over the Rocky Mountains. The plane landed safely in Montana, but five people had to be hospitalized after the incident. Our Jennifer Gray looks deeper into the science behind turbulence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Nothing could have prepared the passengers on United Flight 1676, a nightmare at 34,000 feet high above the Rocky Mountains.

KERRI MULLINS, UNITED PASSENGER: There was a lady behind me that was yelling my baby, my baby. So I can just assume that she had an infant in her arms and let go of it.

GRAY: The plane carrying 114 passengers and five crew members encountered severe turbulence, so strong it plunged.

MULLINS: It was just instantaneous. Everything that everybody had in their hands were flying through the air. People were screaming.

GRAY: According to the latest numbers from the FAA, 329 people were injured due to turbulence between 2002 and 2011. So what's the science behind turbulence, and is there anything anyone can do to avoid it?

DAN HARGROVE, AVIATION EXPERT (via telephone): Air flows just like water does, and it can flow smoothly or it can have interruptions in that flow caused by mountains, caused by thunderstorms, passage of fronts or just be a small localized area of what is typically called clear air turbulence.

GRAY: The United flight was flying over the Rocky Mountains, a common spot for what's called mountain wave turbulence.

HARGROVE: The turbulence caused by those mountains can reach well above the height of the mountains themselves and cause the air to tumble and roll and create turbulence.

GRAY: Turbulence can also be triggered by thunderstorms, even when the skies are clear.

HARGROVE: Convective turbulence is caused by rising hot air, typical everywhere, especially in the summertime when the ground is warm and hot air is rising.

BOB SHARMAN, NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH: Turbulence is very erratic, very spotty. So it could be that if they were at this very same location even 10 minutes later, it may not have been a severe event.

GRAY: But that doesn't change things for the passengers of United Flight 1676 who had a flight they will never forget. Jennifer Gray, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: All right, when you think about Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, you might think of the world of Coca-Cola, the King Center, and perhaps even CNN. But there's a lot more to consider if you're planning a trip here. Travel writer, Trey Butler, tours some of the coolest spots in the ATL in this week's "Travel Insider."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TREY BUTLER, TRAVEL WRITER, AUTHOR: Hi, I'm Trey Butler. I'm a travel writer and author and Atlanta is my city. Here we are on the Atlanta belt line's new east side trail. Atlanta has never been known as much of a pedestrian city, but I think that's changing rapidly. Tell me a little about the history of the belt line.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Atlanta belt line is really four great rail corridors. They were built around the time that the city was starting to come into being, it's sort of a unifying force that the city has never had.

BUTLER: You have a little bit of everything, places to jog, ride bikes, even a skate park. And some delicious brunch spots like Urban Licks. Let's check it out. Atlanta is a town that loves a long leisurely brunch. I love this patio for soaking up the sun and people watching. It's also a great place for getting a new twist on some southern classics. It's so good, but here at the living room and ping pong emporium, one of my favorite spots in town. The walls are covered in artwork by Grant Harvey, who is a local artist. The art is a little bit on the edgy side.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's probably 250 pieces in here. I sell it. It's for sale.

BUTLER: So I can admire these and leave with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can do that or I will trade you for something at some point in life. Everything is from thrift shops and antique stores.

BUTLER: Even though it is an art bar and a bar killed with art, it's not a pretentious crowd. It's always a good time. There's no comparison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow, those look like fun places.

OK, Washington, politics can sometimes be a family business. Next, a CNN investigation into how some members of Congress have family members working as lobbyists too.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Winter Olympic Games in Sochi may be over, but Russia's big export is still going strong. Vodka coming up in the next hour, how to drink it. And all year long, we are keeping them honest about money, influence and power in Washington. CNN is working with a non-profit group called The Government Accountability Institute. CNN's Drew Griffin takes a look at members of Congress whose family members are also working as lobbyists.

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DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For some of the most powerful people in Washington, people you vote into office, power and influence are a family affair.

PETER SCHWEIZER, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE: If you take somebody like Harry Reid, for example, the majority leader in the Senate. He has three sons and a son-in-law all of whom have been registered lobbyists. Same thing in Missouri with Republican Roy Blunt whose wife and several of his children are registered lobbyists.

GRIFFIN: Reid and Blunt's family lobbying ties are legendary, but neither has a monopoly. According to a Legistorm, a congressional watchdog tracking service, since 2001, 100 federally registered lobbyists related to 78 members of Congress have worked on lobbying contracts worth nearly $2 billion. That's 100 Congressional family members related to these 78 members of Congress. And transparency campaigner, Peter Schweizer says every one of those family lobbyists got paid.

SCHWEIZER: It's not just about staying in office because you like the power. It's about staying in office because it generates huge amounts of cash for your family.

GRIFFIN: But official registered lobbying by family members is only one part of this family business, and one of the only parts you can track. Nick Nyhart heads Public Campaign, a group trying to get special interest money out of politics. Campaign donations, lobbying, schmoozing, that's easy to track, he says. There is something much more subtle yet larger going on in D.C. Big government contractors seem to have a lot of congressional relatives on their staffs. It's just not talked about.

(on camera): It just seems like it's one big inside game.

NICK NYHART, PUBLIC CAMPAIGN: Well, I think that's right. This town is built on that kind of inside game.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Want an example? Take Kristi Clemens Rogers. Four years ago, she married the powerful chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers. Up until 2012, she was also the CEO of the American branch of Aegis, a defense and security contracting firm.

Where according to her new employer, the law firm, Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, Kristi Rogers successfully developed and led a two-year pursuit and capture strategy to win a five-year, $10 billion contract under the Department of State's Worldwide Protective Services program." And yes, it's an area her husband's committee has Congressional oversight, making sure diplomats and their staffs are properly protected. You would think Congressman Mike Rogers would at least disclose that family connection, or that in appearing before Congress, Kristi Rogers would disclose her marital ties.

But on his web site, Congressman Rogers only states he's in fact married, no name, and Kristi Rogers in an appearance before a presidential commission back in 2010 didn't mention the name of the man she just married, even though she missed her first appearance due to her honeymoon.

KRISTI ROGERS: It was an unfortunate perfect storm. I had just come off my honeymoon. That was not the perfect storm --

GRIFFIN: The congressman declined our interview request, and his press secretary set us straight in this e-mail, telling us this is all old news. Kristi Rogers is not a lobbyist, she writes, and is not engaging in those activities. She has also never met with any member of Congressman Rogers' staff or staff members of the intelligence committee in any professional capacity on any issue."

Kristi Rogers is now the managing director of Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy from Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. She is not a registered lobbyist. She just happens to work for a firm that does extensive lobbying. On its web site, touts its strong relationships in Congress with a solid record of success in securing legislation and federal funding on behalf of clients.

NYHART: It's this kind of conflict of interest that leads to this deep distrust.

GRIFFIN (on camera): What we are told constantly by the members is, I never talk to my spouse about this issue. I never talk to her on this business. There's a firewall between me and my sons who are lobbyists. Do you buy that?

NYHART: Well, whether you buy it or not, here's the question of the appearance. I'm sure there's some reality. I can't quite believe that members of Congress don't care about the fortunes of their family members.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): And the fortunes go both ways. Mike Rogers' wife, Kristi becomes CEO of defense contractor then is hired by a lobbying firm. Rogers becomes chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and according to the Federal Election Commission, political donations from the defense industry quadruple, all legal, all within the rules, all routine in the family business of Washington. Drew Griffin, CNN, Washington.

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