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Katrina Kids

Aired February 28, 2006 - 13:36   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Six months after Katrina, hundreds of schools across the Gulf Coast are still closed. But in Mississippi, two Catholic schools, once divided, have combined and the benefits have multiplied.
CNN's Randi Kaye reports from Pascagoula.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If there was ever a bright spot in the darkness delivered Katrina, this may be it.

KERED GRAVES, 9 YEARS OLD: Hey. I love you (INAUDIBLE)

(LAUGHTER)

KAYE: Anna, Kered, and Christina, 9-year-olds from Pascagoula, Mississippi, this is their story.

(on camera): But do you think there is a chance that, if Katrina hadn't happened, any of you would have become friends with Kered?

ANNA DOMBROWSKI, 9 YEARS OLD: No, not really.

KAYE: Never would have met.

DOMBROWSKI: No.

KAYE (voice-over): Not if Katrina hadn't so boldly introduced them. You see, six months ago, when the storm hit, Anna and Christina were third-graders at Resurrection School, a Roman Catholic school. Nearly all its students were white.

DOMBROWSKI: I didn't think it was very fair, because that's why Martin Luther King was here. But I kept hoping that other -- other colored kids were going to come here.

KAYE: Kered was a third-grader, too, a few miles away at Saint Peter the Apostle, an all-black school.

GRAVES: I didn't have much white -- white friends there at all. And I only had a white principal. That's all I had. There was a couple of white teachers. But there were, like, all white teachers and principals. There were a couple of black teachers, but that's all. And there was a whole black school. And I was like, that can't be right. I mean, I loved Saint Peters with my whole heart. It's just that, I want white friends. I couldn't take it.

KAYE: Katrina destroyed her school. Saint Peter the Apostle crumbled and, along with it, a century of racial separation.

(on camera): This pile of debris, including some old textbook pages, it's all that's left of Saint Peter the Apostle. The school stood on this ground for 100 years. It was designed initially to educate the children and grandchildren of freed slaves. That was back when blacks weren't welcome in most Mississippi schools. But, even when public schools and most Catholic schools desegregated, Saint Peter chose to remain all black to preserve the students' culture.

(voice-over): But, after Katrina, with nowhere for its students to turn, Saint Peter looked to Resurrection School.

Even though the massive tidal surge broke windows and blew down doors at Resurrection, two months later, it managed to reopen. So, the decision was made. The children would all go to school together.

And now, today, with two Catholic schools and two races in one place, some are thinking, this part of Katrina, anyway, is worth celebrating.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN (singing): Hey, Kered, are you ready?

GRAVES (singing): For what?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN (singing): To jig.

GRAVES (singing): Jig what?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN (singing): To jigalo.

GRAVES (singing): I got my hands up high, my feet down low, and this the way I jigalo.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN (singing): Our hands up high, our feet down low, and this the way she jigalo.

KAYE: In the classroom, the lesson plan is the same.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Forty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fives times three equals?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Fifteen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Five times seven equals?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Thirty-five.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Five...

KAYE: But the faces have changed. Of the more than 300 students now at Resurrection, 55 are black.

CHRISTINA CARDENAS, 9 YEARS OLD: I have new friends. Like, when only white people were here, I only had like five friends. And now I have more friends.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12.

KAYE (on camera): There's so much talk about how much people lost in this storm. What would you say your students have gained?

ELIZABETH BENEFIELD, PRINCIPAL, RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Saint Peter's children were not any different than we were. They have a different skin color, but they share the same faith tradition, and their families have the same values. And the children have learned that -- that it doesn't make a difference, that we're all children of God.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good heart.

(LAUGHTER)

KAYE: Did the storm teach you anything about each other?

DOMBROWSKI: Like, taught us how to come together and just deal with what color you are. It doesn't matter. Just be friends.

CARDENAS: Because I used to think black people were with really mean, and it taught me that they were really nice and kind.

KAYE (voice-over): When it was decided Saint Peter would not reopen again, it brought sister Bernadette McNamara to tear.

(on camera): What will you miss about your students?

SISTER BERNADETTE MCNAMARA, PRINCIPAL, SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: I miss them. I just love them. And I'm sorry about the tears. I just can't help it.

KAYE: It's OK.

(voice-over): At Resurrection, Sister McNamara prays, her students will rise up again after this terrible storm.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Live from Bourbon Street, our Mardi Gras coverage continues here at CNN. The music, the beads, everything you can imagine.

Now, coming up, his dad may be president of Xavier University, but his son is president of everything else in that city. Tim Francis with us live right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Well, he's put his hands, his heart, his whole family into rebuilding a shattered city. And on this post-Katrina Mardi Gras, you can call him the Renaissance man of New Orleans. How far has this city come and how far does it have to go?

No better person to ask than attorney, developer and all around community leader Tim Francis. And for him, rebuilding New Orleans definitely a family affair. He joins from the Royal Sonesta Hotel, overlooking Bourbon Street.

Good to see you, Tim.

TIM FRANCIS, NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY LEADER: Thank you. How are you Kyra?

PHILLIPS: I'm doing great. Are you enjoying Mardi Gras?

FRANCIS: It's a great time to be in New Orleans. The weather is absolutely perfect.

PHILLIPS: It's amazing to be able to watch this, just considering everything that happened in the last six months. Look, I want to talk about a number of things with you. Ever since I've known you, you've been on the board of everything there in New Orleans.

Let's talk about art, one of your passions. There was a lot of concern about the museums there and they would be affected. Tell us about, first of all, NOMA, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and how it's faring.

FRANCIS: Well, the New Orleans Museum of Art did incur some damage. The sculpture garden took a hit. The trees and shrubs were damaged. A few of the sculptures were impacted as well. We have about a $3 million deficit there.

And the museum overall really is focused on -- it has a Katrina recovery plan of about $15 million, which is necessary to fund operations over the next three years. Its donor base is down, its 10,000 members are sort of dispersed, and its volunteers are scattered around the country.

But first let me just say that the museum director and staff have done an incredible job, and all art lovers around the country should be just thrilled about how they've conducted themselves and how dedicated they've been at the same time as having personal losses.

PHILLIPS: Well, and this museum, it's famous. I mean, I know that there's even fundraising going on internationally to try to get NOMA up and running to perfection. And also the Ogden Museum. Let's talk a little about the Ogden Museum and just...

FRANCIS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: The art there, it takes us back centuries with regard to the African-American culture and the culture of the South. FRANICS: Yes, the Ogden Museum, which is really dedicated to the preservation of Southern art and culture, is truly a treasure and it's the only institution of the like in the South. And also has the Smithsonian affiliation and celebrates our history. Fortunately, the Ogden Museum did not suffer as major damage as the New Orleans Museum of Art did.

But the Ogden has been in full swing. It has the Benny Andrews' migrant series going on now. The Ogden is fulfilling its educational mission by working with Tulane University and doing an architectural series on how to redevelop New Orleans and the look of it. Rick Grube (ph) is doing a phenomenal job and we're really proud we have such great talent in the city.

The cultural heartbeat of New Orleans is strong. We do need help. We do need money. And today's a good respite from all of that.

PHILLIPS: Isn't that the truth? The D-Day Museum, also, Tim, tremendous museum. Tell us a little bit about how that museum is faring. And for those that haven't been there, give them a taste of what's inside.

FRANCIS: Well, the D-Day Museum takes you back in history from watercraft, to aircraft, to bombers, to medals and to everything you could imagine that was related to the World War. So the D-Day Museum is truly a national treasure, and fortunately did not sustain a lot of damage.

And it, too, has a major, I think $382 million, campaign going on right now to expand the museum and to really help show what has happened to the world and how it's a better place because of what America did for it.

PHILLIPS: Tim, you're also on the board of the Audubon Zoo. What an incredible zoo. And I know there's a great fundraiser going on right now where you can actually adopt an animal. I was looking at the list. Everything from a cotton-topped tamarin to a honey bee to a Bengal tiger. Tell us about this program.

FRANCIS: Well, they all asked for you, Kyra. And we're going to count on you and all your colleagues at CNN who have been working here and helping to show New Orleans in a favorable light, to adopt a fish, a pony, and to give that as Mardi Gras presents or birthday presents and so forth. It's a great program.

The Audubon Zoo was hit. The aquarium suffered some tremendous losses. And again, I mean, you know, New Orleans has a heartbeat and we need your help, we need some recussitation. So please adopt an animal.

PHILLIPS: Well, I've already picked the cotton-topped tamarind, what do you think? Does that fit my personality?

PHILLIPS: Well, I've already picked the cotton-top tamarin. What do you think? Does that fit my personality?

FRANCIS: I'm not sure how to comment on that.

PHILLIPS: I know you're thinking more the Bengal tiger. I know, all right.

FRANCIS: There you go.

PHILLIPS: Let's get into the hotel industry. You own a hotel in that city. You know so many of the business owners in the hotel industry. How is it doing? There was so much talk about, well, the hotels are filled with workers and members of the media. Is that helping and does more need to be done?

FRANCIS: Well, the hotel industry -- I mean, this may sound self-serving, but when the city of New Orleans was really on its back right after the storm, hotel employees, managers and owners stepped up and provided a place -- a safe place -- for many people to live.

A lot of the hotels were damaged, and we used personal resources and money to make sure that the media, workers and others had a place to live, and are continuing to do that.

And I hope that the rest of the world community will continue to come down and support our cultural events and the hotel business, because in order for us to continue to grow, tourism is at the heart of our tax base. And we need the tax revenue which will support the arts and will support, you know, the city services that are necessary to keep us pumping.

PHILLIPS: Well, and I know you've got your hands full as an attorney with those insurance cases. Best of luck, Tim. And I'm curious, before I let you go, did your mama make her famous beans and rice yesterday?

FRANCIS: She had some crawfish etouffee but I will make a beeline from here to grab my wife and daughters to go eat some red beans and rice, I hope.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be calling Blanche for all the leftovers. Tim Francis, thank you so much.

FRANCIS: Thank you very much, Kyra, have a good day.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Tim.

Well, Mrs. Smith goes to Washington -- Anna Nicole that is. Is Washington ready for her? LIVE FROM is on the case, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Marshall, the Marshall? Doesn't sound like a case that would draw paparazzi to a courthouse, but take former stripper turned reality TV star, a nasty family feud and huge -- I say huge -- amounts of money and you can see why shutters clicked and bystanders gawked at the Supreme Court today. Anna Nicole Smith looking for one more chance to inherit her late husband's fortune. CNN's Brian Todd is at the high court. What a scene, Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was, Kyra. You know, we knew we were coming here to cover a Supreme Court hearing. We also had a feeling we'd be coming to the circus and that's just what we got. Anna Nicole Smith looked a little bit overwhelmed when she came out of court.

Everybody mobbed her, the Washington version of the paparazzi, at least, mobbed her. She could only say I'm sorry when asked if she would speak to reporters. She was quickly shuttled into her car.

Now, how did she get here? That's the real question. As incongruous as the video looks there, how did she get here? It's essentially a dispute between Anna Nicole Smith and the son of her late husband over her late husband's estate. That estate, of the late oil tycoon from Texas, J. Howard Marshall, is valued at about $1.6 billion.

Boiled down, the court was looking at this question. Do federal courts have the jurisdiction over wills and trust? Now, a Texas court has already ruled -- a state court already ruled that Anna Nicole Smith is not entitled to any of her late husband's money. But a federal bankruptcy court reversed that decision and awarded the actress more than $450 million.

And that's the ruling by that federal bankruptcy judge. That's the ruling that Anna Nicole Smith's lawyers are clinging to, because they think that the federal bankruptcy judge has the jurisdiction to make it.

And, also, they contend, that the son of her late husband -- the son's name is E. Pierce Marshall -- her lawyers contend that he committed wrongdoing in trying to keep her from getting to her late husband's money. Here is what Anna Nicole Smith's lawyers had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here was a man who was 90 years old who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had already had a heart attack. He was essentially on his death bed and assets were being passed to the son for things that would obviously never be paid, notes and annuities.

So all of that was wrongdoing that interfered with J. Howard Marshall's effort to complete this gift that he wanted to give to his wife.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Now, the lawyers for E. Pierce Marshall, E. Pierce Marshall being the son of J. Howard Marshall, his attorneys deny any wrongdoing, say there was no forgery going on, no documents were altered.

And they are saying that there were arrangements made years earlier that would have made Pierce Marshall, the son, the only heir. Here is what Pierce Marshall's attorney said about that and Anna Nicole Smith's claims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC BRUNSTAD, COUNSEL OF PIERCE MARSHALL: The problem is that the claim that she's trying to pursue requires for its determination whether or not J. Howard intended to give her assets, but his estate plan demonstrates conclusively that he intended the assets to go somewhere else. She says she just wants the money. The problem is that the money, again, under the estate plan was designated to go to persons other than her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Now, it's important to note here that the Supreme Court's not going to rule in and of itself whether Anna Nicole Smith should get any money or how much money she should get. They're only going to rule whether the federal courts have any jurisdiction over the case and whether she has another chance to claim that money in another court -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Brian Todd, thanks so much.

Well, he can make you sway to the music. He can also sway a jury. But no matter what he's doing, he'll always be a New Orleans legend. Coming up on LIVE FROM, we'll talk to Harry Connick, Sr. Yes, you know his famous son, but believe me, dad's got a set of pipes himself. Much more Mardi Gras to come, but first, a quick check of the markets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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