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CNN Live Saturday

Ricin Possibly Found At University Of Texas; Mardi Gras Celebrations In Biloxi And New Orleans; Discussion about Ricin; Cold And Flu Report; Ongoing Shiite and Sunnis Conflict; Ports Deal Delay; Shift In Energy Policy All Talk?; Trent Lott Sues State Farm; Ralph Stanley Still Performing After Decades; Olympic Updates

Aired February 25, 2006 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Early tests show ricin a deadly toxin is found in a dorm at the University of Texas, Austin; that story straight ahead.
And Kathleen in Bay City, St. Louis, Mississippi. What's going on there?

All right, well, we will check in with her momentarily.

And one of the original mountain music artists, Ralph Stanley, turns 79 today and he's still making music. His story straight ahead. Welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield; let's get straight to the headlines.

The FBI has joined in an investigation involving the discovery of what appears to be ricin at the University of Texas all residents of dorm have been moved into another dormitory; a full report straight ahead.

On this Mardi Gras weekend, the parades and parties along the central gulf coast are moving right along, in New Orleans. You're looking at a live shot right now of Bourbon Street. Several big parades are taking place in parts of the city today, they include the Crew of Iris Parade. Iris is the only carnival organization exclusively for women.

In Britain, two more arrests in connection to what's believed to be the biggest cash robbery in the country's history. Police earlier arrested three other suspects in Wednesday's robbery at a security depot, southeast of London. Thieves made off with the equivalent of at least $44 million in cash.

The European Union is urging its trading partners not to overreact to the E.U.'s first reported case of bird flu in domestic farm birds after tests confirmed an outbreak of the virus on a farm in eastern France. Japan suspended all poultry imports from France.

And doctors treating singer Sheryl Crow for breast cancer say her prognosis is excellent. Crow's publicist say the Grammy Award winner underwent surgery three days ago for minimally invasive breast cancer and she will undergo radiation treatments as a precaution.

Well, let's get right to the ricin story out the University of Texas, Austin. School officials say a student found a substance Thursday in a powder form in a roll of coins. The FBI is investigating. University health officials say so far no one has exhibiting any symptoms of exposure.

Joining us a little bit later is Dr. Robert Geller, a toxicology at Emory University here in Atlanta to help explain what ricin is and what effects it has on the body. As always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

All along the central Gulf Coast Mardi Gras celebrations are moving into high gear. It's weekend before Fat Tuesday and as the parades and parties roll on there's no escaping the shadows still cast by Hurricane Katrina. CNN's Kathleen Koch is in Biloxi, Mississippi, and our Gulf Coast correspondent, Susan Roesgen is in New Orleans.

And right now, Susan, let's check this with you. What is happening?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka, you can see what's happening here behind me, the first parade of three parades is starting to roll up St. Charles Avenue, then it will make the turn and go on down into the city.

We've got the past king and queen of the queen of the Crew of Iris, this is, as you mentioned a moment ago, a lady's carnival crew, but they do have men for kings. It's the biggest ladies' carnival crew in New Orleans. See if I "Throw me something, mister," Fredricka, they'll throw you something here on the parade.

I got to clear up a misconception; a lot of people think Bourbon Street is Mardi Gras. Bourbon Street is not Mardi Gras, it's not all booze on Bourbon Street. This is Mardi Gras. These are families who come out here, who wait all day to see the big parades. You can take a look at them, here, they're lined up, they've modified ladders for children and adults.

They're here asking for beads. This is their Mardi Gras. And the people that you see on the floats, they're from here, too, this is their Mardi Gras, they have worked for it all year long. It's like community theater, look at it as a big play to put on every year in New Orleans. Throw me something, mister.

WHITFIELD: And so, Susan, the folks who are lined up there, how much do they say that the Mardi Gras of the past that they've had for 150 years, for it to be taking place in this form, post-Katrina is something that they really did need some sort of sense of normalcy.

ROESGEN: Well, you know, Fredricka it's something that they need, it's something that we need in the city and it's something that we expect to do. You don't just ignore Mardi Gras, it's here. People have waited for it all year long. You know, Mardi Gras, the parades have been canceled 13 times, but not this year. What we've got over here...

(CHEERS) WHITFIELD: Something tells me those are college students. All right, Susan Roesgen, thanks so much and certainly all of the barricades filled with lots of people there throughout New Orleans and we'll be checking in with Susan...

ROESGEN: These are Tulane Fraternity student, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, that's what I figured. Collage students. All right, well that's good. Tulane. All right, thanks so much. Susan Roesgen in New Orleans. We'll be checking back in with Susan and others throughout the day on Mardi Gras celebrations.

And later this hour, we'll talk about what kind of impact Mardi Gras has on New Orleans. We'll be talking with Stephen Perry, he's the head of New Orleans convention and visitors bureau and you'll want to stick around for that.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is also celebrating Mardi Gras. Like New Orleans, the region was devastated by Katrina. CNN's Kathleen Koch is with us now from the storm-battered city of Biloxi -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: And Fredricka, as you can see behind me, much the destruction, the debris from Katrina does still remain here in Biloxi, but everyone's in agreement that it's just as important to go forth with the Mardi Gras celebrations to try to bring a little bit of normalcy into people's lives and particularly -- and particular it's important for the children.

About an hour ago, a children's parade rolled down this street and it was just a fabulous sight. People were lining both sides of the street saying this is their favorite parade that they came out for every year, rain or shine. The children were in costume, they were throwing beads.

And the celebrations are important to everyone, including grownups. We met up with a woman, Cindy Meyer from the Waveland Crew of Nearies, another all-female crew. She talked to us about how it was so important for them to have their parade. They just had that parade a few days ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CINDY MEYERS, WAVELAND CREW OF NEARIES: This was one of the best parades I have ever been in.

KOCH: Why?

MEYERS: Normally when you're on a float, you know, and you're seeing your friends and things and it's a great feeling to be up there, but this year instead of people running into our floats wanting a bead or wanting a stuffed animal, they were thanking us for being here and that meant a lot to all of us. We all kind of got together after the parade was over and so many people were in tears talking about how people were running it our float, and I thought it was just me. And it was... KOCH: So people were coming up and saying thank you for having Mardi Gras?

MEYERS: Yes. You know, they -- well, every day we shovel and we build and we see this mess every day, debris everywhere, our streets are filthy and for one day, there was no work, no nothing, just beads and floats. And I think we all needed that. It was great, great day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Obviously one thing that is different from a lot of the Mardi Gras parades, all along the Gulf Coast and certainly in New Orleans, is this year is the parade routes have had to change even with the children's parade. The grownups told us the biggest children were finding streets that clear of debris that the children could walk down safely that weren't blocked by houses, by trees, by cars, things like that. And they managed to have a really great parade. And parades will continue throughout the weekend and we'll be bringing those to you live.

WHITFIELD: All right, we look forward to that. Still you can't overlook what a contrast, you know, people having a good time and throwing the beads and then still in the backdrop, you know, the destruction of what Katrina left behind. Kathleen Koch, thanks so much from Biloxi.

And now back to our top story. Possible ricin found at the University of Texas in a dormitory. Dr. Robert Geller joins us now to explain what ricin is. He's a toxicologist at Emory University here in Atlanta. Good to see you, Dr. Geller.

DR. ROBERT GELLER, EMORY UNIV. TOXICOLOGIST: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: Well, let break it down to the basics. What is ricin?

GELLER: Ricin is a chemical toxin that interferes with the body's ability to make protein. So anything in your body, and that's almost anything that relies on protein being made to execute its functions, it's going to be hurt by ricin...

WHITFIELD: Well, it sounds dangerous when you put it that way, but this is a toxin. This is something that really, ultimately, can shut down your body, right?

GELLER: Well, everything in your body depends on protein executing ordering if your brain, executing orders from your metabolic system, from your immune system and everything. So, everything depends on protein. So, that's to say, if it actually gets in and does its toxic effect, it actually could actually kill people.

WHITFIELD: And where does it come from?

GELLER: It's made from castor beans. Castor beans are grown in warm climates and used for a lot of purposes, mainly to manufacturer of castor oil. Castor oil does not contain ricin, but the leftover of the castor beans can be used to make ricin.

WHITFIELD: So when you hear about a possible substance that may be that of ricin found in a dormitory, and it sounds as though from the details that we're getting out, a student came across it in a roll of coins. They are different ways that you can, what, ingest it, inhale, it or perhaps even get on your skin? All of those different forms might make it dangerous if it gets into your system?

GELLER: Good question. Ricin doesn't cross the skin, so if it just got on skin, didn't become airborne and wasn't injected into a person, there's no risk. It's zero. The problem is does it become airborne or did they somehow get some into their body other ways? The worse scenario, obviously, is having it injected into you somehow. But in a story like this, with only on the skin, that's generally thought to be a good-news story.

WHITFIELD: Well, that is good. And so far we're hearing that neither of the two students that may have located or come into contact with this substance have shown any kind symptoms. So let's talk about what are the symptoms that someone might exhibit, and what's the time lapse from when you're exposed to something from when you first start seeing symptoms?

GELLER: Well, the symptoms that are thought to be earliest symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. That's usually associated with the place that makes proteins and turns over cells fastest which is their digestive tract. You can later have both liver and kidney symptoms and respiratory symptom, trouble breathing.

WHITFIELD: In a matter of minutes or are we talking about hours?

GELLER: No this is hours to days. So, usually there's at least an eight-hour delay in symptoms. It's been described as long as 36 hours. So if the last possible exposure is when the students last on Friday, after they went to clean up the dorm, after the diagnoses was confirmed, then the last day I would worry would probably be Sunday at the latest.

WHITFIELD: And so say you have been exposed to it, you show some of these symptoms, what kind of antidote if there is one, what kind of treatment would follow.

GELLER: Well, there's no special specific antidote, but treatment for the various symptoms that have been observed can be very effective and so the idea is being ahead of bad problems and being ready to treat them if they happen.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Robert Geller of Emory University, thanks so much.

GELLER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Nice to meet you.

GELLER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate, thanks for coming in.

Well, stay tuned right here to CNN, we're following the story all day long and we'll bring you all of the developments as they warrant.

Meantime, a violent day already in Iraq. Straight ahead, a look at conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Iraq. What's behind their centuries' old animosities?

And later, it's Mardi Gras in New Orleans and in other places along the Gulf, but in New Orleans in particular, is the city ready to party? We will speak with Stephen Perry of the New Orleans Convention and Visitor's Bureau straight ahead this hour.

But first, here's Bonnie Schneider your "Cold and Flu Report" for this Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider with a look at your "Cold and Flu Report" for Saturday. As we take a look at the map across the country, we'll show you outbreaks of the flu so far this season.

Widespread activity across Texas, Florida, much of the southeast with regional outbreaks from Louisiana all way north toward Minnesota. Some local activity out West including California, Arizona, and New Mexico. That's a look at your "Cold and Flu Report" for Saturday. I'm meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. Have a great weekend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Baghdad's normally congested street, mostly empty right here, its sidewalk stalls quiet. Authorities have extended a daylight curfew banning nearly all vehicular traffic in the capital and its suburbs until Monday morning. It's the latest effort to curb sectarian violence that has claimed scores of lives in the past few days.

The violence erupted after a revered Shiite mosque was bombed. In one the latest incident, gunmen attacked a funeral procession in Baghdad killing two police officers and wounding five other people. The funeral was for an Al-Arabia correspondent who was killed earlier this week while covering that attack on the Shiite shrine.

South of Baghdad, an explosion in Karbala killed five people and wounded 31 others. Police say a bomb planted inside of a parked car went off along a busy road. A suspect has been detained.

So why are Iraqi Shiite and Sunnis fighting and killing each other? The bombing of the major Shiite mosque earlier this week may have been the latest spark, but the conflict is anything but new. Here's CNN's Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANDERSON COOPER, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The differences go back centuries, all the way back to the death of Islam's founder the Prophet Mohammed in the year 632. At that time, Muslims could not agree over who should lead the faith. The Shia faction believe Mohammed's successors believe should be from his family, for the majority of Muslims, the Sunni felt leadership could come from outside of Mohammed's lineage and that's where the divide began.

Over the time, the Shia minority, about a fifth of the worldwide Muslim population came to identify themselves as the permanent opposition the Sunni majority and today, throughout the Middle East, the relationship between the two sects has been strained at best.

Other factors have made Iraq different from the rest the Muslim world. It's one of only four countries with the Shia majority. Shia Muslims who live mostly in the south make up about 60 percent of the population. About 30 percent of Iraq is Sunni. But they were the country's rulers under Saddam Hussein and their oppression of the Shia majority just added to the hatred.

Today with Saddam Hussein on jail and on trial and with the oppressed Shia now in power, some members of the Sunni minority have resorted to violence leading the insurgency against U.S. forces and other Iraqis.

Trying to keep these factions from dividing Iraq in the post- Hussein era hasn't been easy. And now in the aftermath of the shrine bombings, many are wondering whether a unified Iraq can ever be a reality.

Anderson Cooper, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Bitter controversy over the management of six U.S. ports and the White House is caught right in the middle. Still ahead this hour, the politics of protecting America's ports from terrorists.

And you're looking at live pictures right now of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Big Easy is celebrating a smaller version of Mardi Gras this year, but is it what the doctor ordered? We'll take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Save on your energy bills with a home energy audit. Contact your local utility company for a free or a low-cost audit. You can hire an independent energy auditor listed in your local yellow pages or even do it yourself. You can learn how on the Energy Department's Web site, eere.energy.gov/consumer and click on energy audits.

The audit should cover everything from insulation to heating and cooling systems, to appliances. Don't forget some those unexpected areas of heat loss like fireplaces and electrical outlets.

(on camera): And remember you may also be wasting energy on lighting. Look for areas where you can replace 100-watt bulbs with 60 or 75 watts or even fluorescent lamps. I'm Gerri Willis with your "Energy Tip."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Returning now to one of our top stories, it's Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans and still reeling from Hurricane Katrina, the city is hoping to for a boost from this year's rather unusual carnival season. But is that happening? With us now from the Crescent City, Stephen Perry, president of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Good it see you. Happy Mardi Gras, as they say.

STEPHEN PERRY, NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: Fredricka, good morning. You caught the wrong duty this weekend. You are should be on the balcony here at the

(CROSSTALK)

PERRY: In the heart of the French Quarter.

WHITFIELD: You're right, I should be doing this on location, dog gone it.

PERRY: You should be on location with us, that's right.

WHITFIELD: So, tell me about it. Is it meeting all of your expectations?

PERRY: I tell you, it really is. You know, this is the Mardi Gras that we're not judging on the basis of pure size. Because it'll be about half the number of people that a normal Mardi Gras would be, but that still means 300 or 400,000 people.

It means an economic impact equal to or greater than a Super Bowl, and it means the people of New Orleans get to show the world that we're resilient and that we're bouncing back. And maybe more importantly than anything else, that this city and its tourism industry is open for business and we're in a great mood this weekend.

WHITFIELD: So did the tourists, are they indicating they've got and that message? I know when we talked a couple weeks ago, you and I talked about how your expectations were that a lot of out of towners would come to help boost the economy, but in a live shot that we saw a moment ago was mostly locals who turned out, at least for today's Mardi Gras parade, are you finding that a lot of out of towners are there?

PERRY: We had a huge amount of out of towners. And in fact, virtually every flight was filled into this city over the last two or three days. You really couldn't hardly get an airline seat in.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

PERRY: Right now we've got in over 25,000 rooms open here in the heart of downtown, and of those, only about 8,000 of the rooms are occupied by FEMA and construction and insurance companies.

The rest of filled by tourists who come in, and the fun thing for us is that all of those workers that are here helping with the recovery, instead of leaving for this week, they've invite their friends and family to come down and participate in Mardi Gras, so it's got an emotional resonance here for us that's really hard to describe.

WHITFIELD: So, if ordinarily this 150 year tradition brings in something like $300 million for you as a city and your expectations had been to meet about half that, do you think that's going to happen?

PERRY: I think at least that. Fredricka, over the course of a year, Mardi Gras has almost a billion dollars of economic impact. And that's because you have a lot of manufacturing and cottage industries that support it, everything from manufacturing of beads and the floats themselves to the costume makers, the functions that go on year-round.

But for us this year, during that 10-day period, we're looking at around $300 million of impact just concentrated then normally, we'll have at least 60 percent or more of that. And the forecast for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday is gorgeous, blue skies and 68 degrees, so it could even surpass expectations.

WHITFIELD: And how do you suppose that economic boost, before I let you go, is going to help, you know, restore a lot of what was lost? Help people get jobs again? Help people find homes? You know, all of those who have been displaced, will they reap the benefits of an economic boost from a Mardi Gras?

PERRY: Fredricka, that's a critically important question, because New Orleans doesn't put on Mardi Gras, private citizens put on Mardi Gras. It's paid for by social organizations and club across every economic, racial, social neighborhood of this city.

One of the most important things about this Mardi Gras is not only does it have tremendous impact on the city's economy, restoring police and fire and hospital and other public services, but this pays the way for our citizens to come home from all over the united states.

So, this is a particularly important weekend as we send the signal to the world that New Orleans is rebuilding, we're recovering. We've got a lot of challenges particularly in housing, but the tourism industry is back and we're just glad to have -- we wish that you were here with us this weekend.

WHITFIELD: Well, great. Well, best wishes to you and all the other New Orleaneans out there. Steve Perry, thanks for being with us, this Saturday. And again, happy Mardi Gras.

PERRY: Thanks Fredricka. You too. WHITFIELD: Well, CNN will have complete coverage of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Tune in Monday beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern for "American Morning." Then in primetime, CNN's Anderson Cooper will look at inside that Tuesday parade preparations. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at the headlines right now. Two students at the University of Texas, Austin, are being treated for possible exposure to ricin. Although no one has shown any symptoms from the deadly poison, school officials say the substance surfaced on Thursday at a dormitory. Ricin is used as a biological weapon. The FBI has joined in this investigation.

Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility for yesterday's attempted car bombing of an oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia. The claim is being made on an Arab Web site. The attack was thwarted by Sunni guards who killed the suicide bombers.

In Bangladesh, searchers are looking for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building that housed a garment factory. At least 18 deaths are reported. Several hundred other people, most of them women, are believed to be trapped in the rubble.

President Bush is getting ready for his trip to South Asia next week. He may be glad to leave Washington behind. But let's check in with White House correspondent Elaine Quijano to find out about what thoughts are from the White House on this controversial ports deal for starters -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka. That's right. In fact, there could still be a showdown looming between President Bush and lawmakers on Capitol Hill over this very issue that you mentioned, the controversial ports deal.

As you know, the company involved, Dubai Ports World has, for now, decided to put this deal on hold. That after enormous pressure here in Washington, not just from Democrats but from members of the president's own party.

Now the deal is controversial in part because DP World is a state-run company based in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to two of the 9/11 hijackers. Now while the White House maintains that the deal has been thoroughly vetted, officials here are also saying that they welcome the delay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The president supports that deal and believes that it should go forward but, obviously, questions have been raised in the public and in the Congress. And the president believes that additional time, which would allow the company and the administration to explain this and provide more information to Congress is a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now despite the delay, some lawmakers still say there's a lot that they don't know about this transaction and they are pushing for a review of the deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: A cooling-off period simply doesn't do the job. We need a full, comprehensive, 45-day investigation to answer the many questions about this deal before the deal can move forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: So this is where the potential showdown could happen. In lawmakers decide to move ahead with legislation to block the deal and want this 45-day review, well, that is something that President Bush has said that he will veto.

Mr. Bush says to back out of the deal would sent wrong message, a mixed message he says, to Arab allies. And, of course, as you know, Fredricka, the Bush administration is really counting on those allies in its fight against terrorism.

WHITFIELD: And, Elaine, something else that's gotten the White House's attention and that is the wave of violence in Iraq. I understand the president made an important phone call today.

QUIJANO: He did, actually made several phone calls, the president reaching out to several Iraqi leaders in the wake of that sectarian violence in Iraq, which has left more than 100 people dead.

The president spent about an hour, we're told, making these phone calls to, among other leaders, the Iraqi prime minister and Iraq's president. And what the president was basically doing here was condemning the violence but also showing his support for those leaders.

In a statement, the national security spokesman, Frederick Jones, said that the president, not only did he condemn the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque, but he also congratulated the Iraqi leaders for their strong leadership and efforts to calm the situations and for their statements against violence and for restraint -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you very much.

Well, during his State of the Union Address, President Bush accused Americans of being addicted to oil. Some claim, on the surface, it might seem the Bush administration is changing its tune on energy. But a fact check of the president's budget paints a slightly different picture.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUESTION: Does the president believe we need to correct our lifestyles to address the energy problem.

ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: That's a big no. The president believes that's the American way of life and that it should be the goal of policy makers to protect the American way of life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): That was 2001. But hear what President Bush has to say now.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know it comes a shock to some, to hear a Texan stand up there in front of the country and say, we got a real problem. America is addicted to oil.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what's the administration doing to wean America from oil? Here's a look at the numbers. The president has been talking a lot about increasing the commitment to new energy sources. In the president's budget, he's calling for $150 million for research into biofuels.

That is a $59 million increase over the current budget. But it's $50 million less than was designated for biofuels research annually in the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The president's 2007 budget request for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is $1.2 billion. That's .2 percent more than last year.

But also in the president's budget, an allowance for oil companies to drill on federal property without paying royalties, royalties that would total about $7 billion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So here to help us find the reality in the rhetoric is CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein. He joins us from Washington.

Good to see you, Ron.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, so talk of alternative fuels and renewable energy. Is this an about-face for the Bush White House?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, it's certainly a shift in emphasis. The administration is putting some money into a -- or proposing to put money into a variety of alternative technologies -- solar, wind, clean coal, so-called cellulosic ethanol, which is ethanol made from plant waste. So in that sense, there is a shift in emphasis.

Where there isn't a shift in emphasis and where he faces the most criticism from environmentalists and other energy efficiency advocates, is that there really aren't steps in the plan to move these ideas from the lab to the marketplace, where the president is still very reluctant to impose any kind of mandates or requirements on business, for example, on automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars or on utilities to generate more electricity from solar energy.

So the criticism he faces is that he has laid out some long-term research programs, but not really a bridge from getting from here to there.

WHITFIELD: So what's the White House response to that? I mean, is there a plan in the works to try and get it from research to actual mainstream?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think the president's sort of view on this has been, if you build it, they will come. I mean, he sees the federal role as funding basic research in a variety of areas, and believes the market will move toward it.

Now the criticism on the other side is that we can get from here to there much more quickly and, in fact, more profoundly if we impose some mandates. One good example, in the energy bill when Congress was considering it, the Senate passed a requirement that utilities generate 10 percent of all their power from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Over 20 states, Fredricka, have passed similar requirements, the goal being not just exhortation but a little nudge on the utility industry to move toward alternative energy. The administration opposed that.

It was left out of the final bill and the question will be, will they move at the speed and the direction that he wants without that kind of requirement? It's an open question.

WHITFIELD: So if, like the example that you gave, the 20 states have made some efforts, does it mean that as a whole -- Americans as a whole are ready for these kinds of changes, real lifestyle changes, especially if are there modifications or mandates when it comes down to transportation changes?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, transportation really is the ball game when you are talking about oil. When we're talking about the broader issue of greenhouse gases and so forth, electricity generation is important there. But if we're talking about reducing our independence on oil and especially foreign oil, we're talking about getting more miles per gallon out of the car.

Now the president talks about two long-term research projects. He's interested in hydrogen-powered vehicles. He's also interested, as I said, in ethanol vehicles but he has opposed consistently what environmentalists argue is the most effective way of increasing -- squeezing more oil -- squeezing more miles per gallon out of the barrel of oil, which is increasing the requirements for fuel efficiency from cars. We haven't done that in 20 years and that really is where this places the most criticism.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, Ron Brownstein, thanks so much. Always good to see you.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, this lawmaker we're about to show you is fuming mad. In fact, Trent Lott is suing his insurance company. The issue? Paying for damage after Hurricane Katrina. His story told many times over, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In Mississippi, insurance companies have paid nearly $5 billion in Katrina claims, but many people haven't gotten a single dime, among them a powerful politician. Here's CNN's Sean Callebs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Of all of the Katrina victims, he has the highest profile. This was early September, the first time Senator Trent Lott saw his property after the devastating storm.

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: You can't help but shed a few tears. This is where our home was.

CALLEBS: His $750,000 beachfront home in Pascagoula, Mississippi, simply wiped out.

LOTT: The first floor was probably about 12 or 14 feet above sea level, but when you get hit with a 20-foot wall of water, not many places can with withstand that kind of a erosion.

CALLEBS: Like so many in this region, Lott lost everything here. Like so many, he is frustrated with his insurance company. In this case, State Farm. Unlike so many, Lott is a power broker and is suing.

Lott hired his brother-in-law, Dickey Scruggs. Scruggs made his name and a fortune winning legal battles against big tobacco and the asbestos industry. Pascagoula city manager Kay Kell has known Lott 15 years and says, go get them.

KAY KELL, PASCAGOULA CITY MANAGER: That's Trent. That's how he got where he is. He's very strong. If he thinks it's the right thing to do, he'll fight it all the way. So we're proud of him. We're glad to have him.

CALLEBS: Lott is fed up because State Farm said the storm surge floodwaters destroyed 150-year old home that stood here, not Katrina's punishing winds. Homeowner's insurance doesn't cover damage from floods, only from wind. Lott had federal flood insurance. It pays a maximum $250,000, not enough to rebuild.

(on camera): Lott has said this is home, and says he plans on rebuilding. He's powerful and he's influential. And State Farm says it can empathize with the Mississippi senator.

(voice-over): But State Farm wants the lawsuit dismissed saying, we handle each claim on its own merits and we pay what we owe based our contract with the policyholder. It's been the same story all over the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, homeowners unable to rebuild because their insurance doesn't cover flooding and the argument over whether wind caused any of the damage. Pete Floyd has lived a block from Lott for about 20 years. Floyd says he had flood insurance and got about $130,000. But got only $5,500 from his homeowner's policy. So he understands insurance rage.

PETE FLOYD, LOTT'S NEIGHBOR: I mean Trent got on the news and said, I think it's going to be hell to pay if you all don't do something.

CALLEBS: That's exactly what he said.

LOTT: The people of the area that have been damage by Hurricane Katrina cannot wait any longer. And I expect this to be done momentarily. And if is not, there is going to be hell to pay this day.

CALLEBS: Lott says the insurance company is trying to dodge its responsibilities. And while its unclear whether there will be hell to pay, State Farm says, it doesn't have to pay Lott.

Sean Callebs, CNN, Pascagoula, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And another reminder, despite the damage, Mardi Gras goes on all along the Gulf Coast, and CNN will have complete coverage of the celebrations. Tune in Monday beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern for "AMERICAN MORNING," then in prime time for CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER."

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's hard to peg Ralph Stanley. Country, gospel, bluegrass, mountain music. He does it all. Critics call him one of the most influential musicians of this day. Well, today, Ralph Stanley turns 79. Our Jim Clancy talked with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): With grace and heart, Ralph Stanley's haunting tenor echoes from the high ground of an earlier era. It's a voice he doesn't even claim is his own.

RALPH STANLEY, MUSICIAN: It's just -- it's just my own -- the way the good Lord gave it to me is the way I do it.

(MUSIC)

CLANCY: By decree of the U.S. Library of Congress, Ralph Stanley is a living legend of American music.

(on camera): Some people could say, you know, this man really claimed fame at about age 65. STANLEY: Well, I guess maybe a little later than that.

(MUSIC)

CLANCY (voice-over): At age 73, Stanley's voice was featured on the soundtrack of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" with the a capella rendition of "O' Death." He's won three Grammys in his 70s.

(MUSIC)

STANLEY: I've done well. I've made a good living but that just sort of put the icing on the cake.

CLANCY: By his own reckoning, the number of Ralph Stanley fans doubled. What he describes as hillbilly music won recognition right alongside him.

(MUSIC)

CLANCY: There's now a Ralph Stanley Museum near his home in Clintwood, Virginia. It documents more than 200 recordings over 60 years, Brother Carter Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. His success today, a reflection of a simple desire to play the music of his Appalachian home and somehow make a living out of it.

STANLEY: I remember we had went to places back near that time and played the show and then filled our a car with gas and ate supper. We hadn't had not no crowd. With nothing to eat, I don't know.

CLANCY (on camera): That tough?

STANLEY: Now, that's sticking with it, isn't it?

CLANCY (voice-over): Sticking with it, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys still perform regularly. Although Stanley concentrates most of his performances on vocals, he still thrills fans frailing his own Stanleyfone (ph) banjo.

(MUSIC)

CLANCY: Looking back as he turns 79, Ralph Stanley is not only convinced of who he is, but why he's here.

STANLEY: I think, and I firmly believe, that I was sent to spread this old time stuff through the world. And I believe that's why I'm kept here still doing it.

CLANCY: Like pilgrims, fans flock from around the world. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys are both tutors and disciples.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then you can slide it in, right?

STANLEY: You can slide it in or out.

(CROSSTALK)

STANLEY: Nobody perfect.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

CLANCY: But make no mistake, the real proselytizing for old time music happens the moment they take to the stage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grand Ole Opry mega-star, Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys.

STANLEY: OK, we're on, boys!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey!

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, boys.

STANLEY: Well, I'm proud. I've done well. I done good for an old country boy that walked about three mile each way to school, barefooted everyday, you know, going to school. And I feel like I've come a long ways.

CLANCY: You have, Ralph Stanley. And thanks for taking us with you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Final chances at gold today, or any other color, medal, at the Torino Olympics for Americans Bode Miller and Apolo Ohno. Sports correspondent Mark McKay is in Italy to get us up to speed on the competition, and how well did they bode?

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well -- very nice, Fredricka. I got it all the way over here in Europe. Yet, well, Bode miller didn't bode well, Fredricka. He competed in all five of the Alpine events here at the Winter Games.

Who would have thought before the games began that Miller would be coming home empty-handed? But that is indeed going to be the case and Saturday's slalom hasn't award a gold medal yet and that's because Miller hit a gate and skied off of the course on his opening run putting him out the running if a medal.

His U.S. teammate Ted Ligety, the combined gold medallist, was disqualified for the opening run after straddling a gate. So the best hope for the United States out the men's slalom.

Will the planet align tonight in Torino for Apolo Ohno to take home a gold? We're just hours away from knowing the answer to that question as well. Ohno with a bronze in his pocket from the 1,000 meter short track race has the chance to win two more medals in the coming hours.

He takes the ice in the 500 meter and the 5000 meter team relay. South Korea, with four gold medals already matched his best showing ever in Olympic short track speed skating. Ohno can't seem to shake talented skaters from that Asian nation but he's certainly going to try his best.

The big news coming from here, Alpine skiers from the United States would take home only two medals, fortunately both, Fredricka, are going to be gold.

WHITFIELD: Wow that's good. You talk about Ohno and not being able to shake very talented skiers. But the Koreans, it seems as though they have been in training, just to make sure they knock him off track. They still can't forget Salt Lake.

MCKAY: He was once known as the most hated athlete in South Korea. And I think they want to get at him, that's for sure high is think so.

WHITFIELD: We'll all be watching. Can't wait it watch those races later on. Thanks so much, Mark.

Still much more ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. "IN THE MONEY" is next, here now is a preview.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN HOST: Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," shipping blues. We'll talk to a Washington insider who says the Dubai Port deal is good for America, really. But the Bush administration has failed to tell me and a lot of us exactly why.

Plus, Intel inside and out. Chairman Craig Verett on where his company is headed.

And checking up on the Medicare Drug Benefit. Amid reports of rising costs, we'll look at weather the plan is paying off for seniors. All that and more right after a quick check of the headlines.

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