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John Mark Karr to Make Initial Court Appearance in Boulder Monday; Two Flights Diverted; Gerald Ford Undergoes Angioplasty; Preventing Sexual Assault at the Citadel; Emmy Preview

Aired August 25, 2006 - 13:59   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, they finally got him in Boulder, but have they got him for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey? Prosecutors haven't laid out their cards yet, at least not on the table, about John Mark Karr, but we could get our first clue about their case on Monday, when Karr makes an initial court appearance to hear the charges against him.
Ed Lavandera has the latest from Boulder.

Ed, is the prosecution going to actually have to make some kind of a case on Monday in court as to why they're holding him?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They could, but I don't think that's going to be very likely, actually. I think that Monday appearance is going to be very brief and just long enough to advise John Mark Karr of his rights.

By Tuesday, when charges get filed in this case, if that's what happens, that there's a deadline there on Tuesday -- if they don't file the charges by then, the prosecutors have to ask for more time and we'll have to follow it from there. But right now there's kind of this Tuesday deadline looming out there. But a couple of interesting things going on in the courts here this morning that we're just getting information within here -- within the last few minutes.

As we mentioned, this court appearance, the first one, 4:30 Mountain Time Monday afternoon. That's 6:30 Eastern.

Also, a couple of interesting things.

John Mark Karr, according to these court documents filed just now -- and I'm being passed along this information from my colleague, Susan Candiotti, who is down at the courthouse getting this information -- is that John Mark Karr has requested to be represented by members of the Colorado Public Defenders Office. Two attorneys from that office assigned to this case.

To make that request, John Mark Karr put that request into writing. Of course, the handwriting sample is of dire consequence here in this case.

Those attorneys now requesting that that handwriting, that that note written by John Mark Karr be sealed so that couldn't jeopardize their client in this case -- their client being John Mark Karr -- at this moment. So kind of an interesting twist here, as the attorneys being very aware of what authorities want to see and want to get a hold of, Carol.

LIN: Yes, and John Mark Karr proved -- I mean, he's shown himself to be a clever man. So, writing that note, you would think that he would also know that. It's almost as if, you know, his public remarks and then writing this note, it's almost like baiting the prosecution.

LAVANDERA: Right. You know, I think there's been a lot of -- a lot of talk in that realm, that people kind of see John Mark Karr as someone who almost gives off that public appearance as if he wants to get convicted of this crime, despite his family, members who have come out vehemently in the last few days and in the last week defending him.

LIN: All right.

Ed Lavandera, we'll see the man in court, 6:30 Eastern Time, 4:30 your time, local time there.

All right. In the meantime, we're going to go straight to the newsroom.

Fredricka Whitfield working on a couple of developing stories.

Which one is this one, Fred?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we'll begin with Bangor, Maine, where we've been reporting an American Airlines flight, 55, which was originating out of Manchester, England, and heading to Chicago was diverted to Bangor, Maine, because of a problem on board. And now we're being told by officials that 167 passengers are on board, 12 crew members, and the reason why this plane was diverted, was because of security concerns. People reportedly will be interviewed on that plane, and there are a number of emergency and federal agents there on the scene trying to investigate this flight.

The second flight that we're looking at, this being a domestic flight, U.S. Air, Flight 146, flying from Phoenix to Charlotte, well, not quite making it to Charlotte because it was diverted to Oklahoma City, to Will Rogers Airport, because of "an unruly passenger." And still, you're seeing the plane there at the gateway.

No one has been deplaned from that aircraft as of yet. But all we're being told right now is that it was diverted because of an unruly passenger. We don't have any more specific details than that -- Carol.

LIN: Fred, the flight in Bangor, Maine, so no more details on whether they found a note or whether it was also an unruly passenger? I mean, usually they're pretty quick to say it was one of the passengers and there was some kind of a conflict on board.

WHITFIELD: Right. Well, none of that. Instead, what we were getting was a flood, a torrent of lots of different information from various sources, one canceling out the other. Everything from it being diverted because of disorderly persons, then because of unspecified threats, and then later we were hearing not because of unruly passengers but because of security issues.

So, for now it sounds like just trying to get the right information is the greatest challenge, let alone getting any more detail than that. But the latest coming from the Federal Aviation Administration that for security concerns they felt it was best...

LIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... to divert this plane where it is making it first entry point into the U.S. from European flights, Bangor, Maine, and that's why we're seeing the kind of activity we are right now.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Fred.

We're going to have updates throughout the afternoon on these two developing stories here. We've got resources devoted to this and we've reporters working this story, so, we're going to bring it to you as soon as we get it.

In the meantime, we've got another developing story out of Minnesota. Former president Gerald Ford has undergone an angioplasty procedure to reduce blockages to his coronary arteries. Now, Ford is 93 years old and he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

That's where our Keith Oppenheim is standing by there.

Keith, any new developments there?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically, we're being told that the former president is resting comfortably after a procedure that took place yesterday. Stents were put into two coronary arteries that lead to his heart, and the idea of angioplasty is to increase the blood flow for those arteries.

According to hospital officials, he is doing well. But keep in mind he has been here for a week and a half now. And on Monday, the former president received a pacemaker.

He's been hospitalized four times since December and, again, as you say, Carol, he's 93 years old. So, the question is, is this pretty much just a standard procedure after which he'll do just fine, or is he in a weakening state, pretty frail, and does this spell more trouble ahead?

Usually people do fairly well after angioplasty procedures. The question is, how well will the former president do? And, of course, we're wishing him well.

LIN: You bet. All right, Keith.

Well, let's ask the doctor in the house. Dr. Sanjay Gupta standing by here.

Mayo being very protective of the former president's privacy.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. LIN: But what do you think his prognosis is at the age of 93?

GUPTA: Well, you know, it's -- the age of 93 in and of itself doesn't mean a lot to me. In fact, you know, people talk about a physiological age as opposed to an age in years, for example.

I mean, you know, he has been in pretty good health up until this last December. He's been hospitalized four times over the last eight months, so that's obviously of concern. Been in the hospital for some time now. Most likely, he obviously had some heart abnormalities, maybe on an EKG that showed an abnormal rhythm, leading to that pacemaker, and maybe some blockages, as you mentioned, Carol, showing maybe there's not enough blood flow getting to the heart.

I just want to show you -- Keith was just talking about this, but what exactly happens during an angioplasty. This is basically the procedure. It's a common procedure.

Basically, a catheter is thread in through the groin, through a vessel in the groin, actually into the heart, and it basically opens up that plaque, those sort of blocked arteries, opens it up just from a little balloon device, and then a stent is placed, as well. That stays in, Carol, basically to try and keep those vessels opened over the long term.

You know, again, as Keith mentioned, it's -- people do pretty well after this procedure. He is a -- from all accounts, a physiologically pretty young guy, you know. I talked to some of the folks at Mayo Clinic and his wife, Betty Ford, has been controlling a lot of the PR, they're telling me, as well, around...

LIN: As well a good wife should.

GUPTA: As a good wife should. But he is resting comfortably.

One thing I will mention is, after this procedure you do need to be on blood thinners for some time, and blood thinners are always a bit of a concern in someone who is elderly if they should fall later on, or if they should have some bleeding somewhere else. So that's going to be something they're thinking about.

LIN: All right. What are you going to be looking for over the weekend?

GUPTA: You know, because he's had this pacemaker and the angioplasty, both of these procedures are things that are typically done under local anesthesia, but, you know, a lot of times patients will go home immediately after the operation or the procedure, as well. I'd like to see him actually leaving the hospital within the next week or so.

LIN: OK.

GUPTA: If he's not leaving the hospital within the next several days, that may raise some red flags that there might be other things going on here. Has he developed pneumonia? Has he developed an infection? Did the angioplasty not serve its purpose?

You know, these sort of things. So I think basically getting out of the hospital is what I'm looking for.

LIN: All right. Us, too.

Thanks, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Thank you.

LIN: In the meantime, it has been a busy day at the CNN weather center, and news in the last hour that a name we all rely on in the hurricane season, Max Mayfield is retiring.

Reynolds Wolf at the CNN weather center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: A day after one terrifying Thursday, picking up the pieces in tornado-ravaged southern Minnesota. Emergency crews and the governor have rushed to help.

Reporter Boyd Huppert from affiliate KARE with the damage report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOYD HUPPERT, REPORTER, KARE (voice over): No one should have to deal with this once in a lifetime.

So what do you even say to Doug Lukes (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We moved here from St. Peter after a tornado blew us out of there.

HUPPERT: One house destroyed nine years ago in St. Peter. Now a second in Nicolett.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is about a 20 by 15 foot family room, carpeted, all refinished.

HUPPERT: Perhaps the cruelest of several swipes taken tonight by the storm.

SONJA SHAY, WITNESSED TORNADO: The pressure was very high. Very high. Instant headache, and our ears popped. Just that fast, it was gone.

HUPPERT: Sonja Shay stood in front of the pickup she drove to work this morning but won't be driving home. The daycare provider had just two kids left in her care when the storm bore down.

(on camera): Were the kids scared?

SHAY: No. The kids weren't. The adults were.

HUPPERT (voice over): A few miles outside of Nicolett, the Ashawa town hall is destroyed, as were a garage, a barn, and two machine sheds on Hazel Bach's (ph) farm. As she headed to the basement, windows blew in, in her home.

I went down in the basement and I heard glass. So I didn't dare come up until it was over with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There ain't much left here.

HUPPERT: What do you say, except you're sorry it happened, again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There ain't nothing you can say. It happens. The good lord wanted it, he took it. You can't do nothing about that. The only thing you can do is pick up the pieces.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Wow, the power of Mother Nature.

Well, the levees in New Orleans built to protect the city from flooding, and they did, until Hurricane Katrina hit last year. Since then, the Corps of Engineers has been working to patch the levees. Engineers and scientists who have been analyzing what went wrong and why believe a lot more needs to be done, and they emphasize there is no quick fix.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID DANIEL, CHAIRMAN, ASCE REVIEW PANEL: There are serious deficiencies in the southeast Louisiana hurricane protection system that must be corrected if the New Orleans area is to avoid a similar catastrophe when the next major hurricane strikes. There are flaws in the way the hurricane protection system was conceived, budgeted, funded, designed, constructed, managed and operated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: The panel recommends one person be in charge of managing the flood protection system, that Congress fund a program to ensure the safety of levees across the country, and that independent experts be included on every levee project.

All right. We're going to go back to Fredricka Whitfield with a developing story here -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right.

This, Carol, about that American Airline's Flight 55, the one that was headed from Manchester, England, to Chicago, but was diverted to Bangor, Maine. Well, now we're hearing, at the request of the pilot aboard this flight, the plane that you're now seeing in these live pictures at the Bangor International Airport, it was the pilot's request to have this plane come down before making it to its final destination of Chicago, instead making it to the first destination in the U.S. after this transatlantic flight into Bangor International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration reporting moments ago that it was brought down because of security concerns. And so, you put the two and two together, if perhaps the pilot found that it was best because of these alleged security concerns to have the plane diverted, then that's what we may be seeing here. But we still don't know the details of exactly what raised suspicion here, just that this plane is still sitting at the tarmac there at Bangor International Airport, where they continue to investigate it -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thanks, Fred, for that update.

Now we're going to explain to people why they were looking at video of New Orleans' mayor Ray Nagin. Did you hear what he said? He made headlines again. This time it's about the World Trade Center site.

His excuse for not having New Orleans rebuilding a lot faster right now, that story straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, you may have gotten wind of a big stink over "Forbes" magazine. A couple of days ago, executive editor Michael Noer wrote an article advising men to avoid marrying women who have careers. He says studies show that professional women are more likely to remain childless, to cheat, and to get divorced. To top it off, their houses are dirtier.

Noer also writes -- and I'm quoting here -- "To be clear, we're not talking about a high school dropout minding a cash register. For our purposes, a career girl has a university level or higher education, works more than 35 hours a week outside the home and makes more than $30,000 a year."

Amid the ensuing uproar, "Forbes" Web site posted a rebuttal from Elizabeth Corcoran, another writer at "Forbes" who is still married after 18 years, two kids. She writes, "Rather than rush to blame the women, let's not overlook the other key variable, what's the guy doing?"

Touche.

This story got a lot of us talking in the newsroom today, and we figured you probably have an opinion, too. So, what do you think? Careers and marriage, do they mix?

Send us your thought. And address -- the address is LiveFrom@CNN.com. We're going to read your responses throughout the afternoon, and I can't wait to see them.

We're also working several developing stories this hour. Two flights diverted, one domestic, one transatlantic. Live pictures of both planes on the ground right now.

We're going to update you on those two situations.

The news keeps coming. We're going to bring it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Straight to the newsroom now. Fredricka Whitfield working a developing story there -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, this being a follow-up yesterday after a man allegedly went on a shooting rampage, shooting four people, two of whom were killed.

Well, you're looking at pictures right now. Just a little bit earlier today, really less than an hour ago, this man, 26-year-old Christopher Williams, was wheeled in because he shot himself, according to authorities, after allegedly going on this shooting rampage. He is in court today there in Vermont for the judge to determine whether he would continue to be held without bail or not. The judge did decide that he was going to be held without bail and that he would be held in a mental hospital, at least temporarily for further mental evaluation.

There was a woman who was at a human services organization who testified during this hearing, saying that she did her minor evaluations of him and said that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and she, by her recommendation, says that he should continue to stay in a mental hospital, but the judge was expressing concerns about security. So, still are unclear what's being resolved about the security while he stays at that mental hospital.

Again, he faces two charges of murder and two charges of attempted murder. Among those murdered, his ex-girlfriend's mother, as well as a teacher at an elementary school where he allegedly opened fire -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Fred.

Now, all this week CNN continues its yearlong look into the future, your future. Amazing developments just around the corner that will change the way we live and the way we work and even play.

With the start of NFL season around the corner, millions will be flocking to stadiums to catch a game.

CNN's Miles O'Brien shows us what we can expect from venues of the future.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I definitely think stadiums are getting better. Everything is becoming so much more fan friendly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the future stadiums will be much more environmentally friendly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Moving sidewalks to get to the stadium. That would be great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There should be, like, some hovercraft form where you could like get closer to the players.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The invention of retinal and fingerprint scanners instead of actual paper tickets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as they stay true to the roots, and it will still be fun.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Peanuts, Cracker Jack and some cheap seats in the bleachers. Used to be so simple going to the game, didn't it? But these days, for many kids, it's all a bore. So what could be done to keep the video game generation in the stands?

(voice-over): David Manica, project designer for the architecture firm HOK Sport, creates venues of the future from environmentally-friendly building materials to stadiums that change color on the outside depending on who's winning inside. Manica says the future game-day experience will be one that's affordable, comfortable and interactive.

DAVID MANICA, HOK SPORT: One of the things that we're looking at are what we're calling smart seats. And it might be a PDA that slides into a slot in a pre-wired smart seat. It would feedback stats and replays. And also with the microphone, allow you to actually interact with others people in the stadium.

O'BRIEN: Some other possibilities, floating stadiums, clear field with fans seated below the action or a stadium where athletes' attendance is no longer required.

MANICA: In the future, crowds could get together in a stadium and actually watch a holographic version of a game that's being played on the other side of the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Still working a big story about diverted flights in the United States.

Fredricka Whitfield has more details on those -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: We're going to focus right now on the American Airlines Flight 55, which was on the way from Manchester to Chicago but diverted to Bangor, Maine.

Well, now we are learning from the Transportation Security Administration that because of a reported threat to the aircraft while it was en route, a decision was made to make that plane land at the first U.S. airport following a transatlantic flight from Europe. And that would be Bangor International Airport.

The plane has landed safely, as you see there, on the tarmac. And the passengers are being deplaned, while apparently the TSA canines are searching the plane. Among the other responders on the plane -- on the scene, the FBI, police and fire, and a number of these passengers and crew will be interviewed. We're being told by the FBI that 188 passengers were on board this plane, all of whom will be interviewed by those federal authorities -- Carol.

LIN: So the threat came from somewhere, not necessarily from someone onboard that plane?

WHITFIELD: Well, the threat comes from some sort of incident or someone while the plane was en route. And reportedly, a pilot communicated that there was some concern and that, for that reason, it was smart, it was prudent to make that kind of diversion to Bangor, Maine. We don't exactly, though, what happened, just that it was just a security issue.

LIN: I wonder why they're being so, you know, uninformative about this, why they're so reluctant to give more details.

WHITFIELD: Well, you know, it sounds like there are still a number of layers in this investigation process that has to be taken, and they want to get a complete picture by interviewing all the people. With 188 passengers onboard, and that doesn't even include the crew members, I'm sure they want to get as detailed and accurate account as possible before disseminating that information publicly.

LIN: Yes, of course you want to keep the passengers safe, but you also want to avoid, you know, crank calls stopping flight midstream.

WHITFIELD: Right.

LIN: All right, we'll see what happens, thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK.

LIN: A rough week continues for Northwest Airlines. First the terror scare on Wednesday that grounded a Northwest flight in Amsterdam and led to 12 arrests. Well, it turned out that was a false alarm, but today new worries about strike threats from Northwest flight attendants who are upset over wage and benefit cuts.

A U.S. district judge hears arguments today on whether the flight attendants have the right to launch a planned series of ministrikes. Lawyers for the nation's fifth-largest carrier say the strikes could disrupt Northwest's entire schedule, and potentially force it into liquidation.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: A quick update on a story we're following this afternoon. CNN has learned that former President Gerald Ford underwent an angioplasty procedure yesterday at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Now an angioplasty if designed to reduce or eliminate blockages in the coronary arteries. Ford's office described the procedure as successful. The former president, who is 93 years old, is said to be resting comfortably.

A black eye for a proud institution. Almost 20 percent of the female cadets at the Citadel say they have endured some form of sexual assault.

CNN's David Mattingly is in Charleston, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ten years after the first female cadet appeared on campus, the Citadel is calling sexual assault front and center as a problem to be dealt with. And here's why.

The results of a student survey show that over a four-year period, one out of five female cadets say they were sexually assaulted. That's a rate five times greater than the men who say they were sexually assaulted.

Sixty-eight percent of the women said they were sexually harassed, compared to 17 percent of the men. Citadel president Lieutenant General John Rosa says he is disappointed, and cadets here will be seeing much more intense training on how to act appropriately and how to respond when someone doesn't.

LT. GEN. JOHN W. ROSA JR., U.S. AIR FORCE: What we found from that survey, which is just one data point out of many, was disturbing.

MATTINGLY: The survey showed just a little over a third of the female cadets who were sexually assaulted ever reported their crime. And of all of those cases, almost all of them occurred right here on campus involving another cadet.

Campus officials say they will be cutting into time traditionally used for a military drill to spend more time with the cadets instructing them on issues of character and sexual behavior.

David Mattingly, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: After the bloodshed, after the manhunt, the mourning. Hundreds, including the governor of Virginia, paid their respects yesterday to a sheriff's deputy and a hospital security guard killed near the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech. The two allegedly were shot by a robbery suspect, William Morva, who overpowered a deputy at a hospital early Sunday and gunned down the guard as he fled. Police say Morva shot and killed another deputy the next day before he was captured just a few hours later.

Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, no one would argue that one, but would you compare the recovery effort in New Orleans to rebuilding at Ground Zero in New York City. Hear why Mayor Ray Nagin is catching some heat again for what he said.

More LIVE FROM, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Fredricka Whitfield tracking those diverted flights -- what is the latest on this, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Out of Bangor, Maine, those 188 people on board that American Airlines Flight 55 are being taken off the plane, many of them are being interviewed by federal authorities. This after the Transportation Security Administration learned of a reported threat to the aircraft while it was en route from Manchester, England, on the way to Chicago, but a decision was made to divert it to Bangor, Maine, the first U.S. entry point for transatlantic flights from Europe.

You're looking at live pictures right now of that American Airlines jet that is now on the tarmac. Apparently canines are being used to sniff through the plane. A number of authorities, from federal agents including the FBI, and even local authorities -- police and fire rescue teams -- are also on the ground all investigating this flight, Carol.

And of course, coming up, we're going to check in with Americas Bureau, Jeanne Meserve, who is doing some reporting on her end to find out exactly how this investigation is being carried out.

LIN: Thanks, Fred.

Well, believe it or not, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina just days away, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin finds himself back in the spotlight and on the heat seat. This time it's for words uttered during a "60 Minutes" interview. CNN's Sean Callebs shows us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once again, officials working with the New Orleans mayor are in damage control. During an interview with "60 Minutes," Ray Nagin was asked why flooded-out cars and other debris still litter areas like the Lower Ninth Ward nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina.

MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: It's all right. You guys in New York City can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later, so let's be fair.

CALLEBS: Nagin is talking about Ground Zero in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

The mayor's spokeswoman says it's disappointing that "60 Minutes" would release a statement she says is taken out of context.

Nagin's off-the-cuff remarks have landed him in trouble before. He apologized and spent weeks trying to distance himself from this.

NAGIN: This city will be chocolate at the end of the day.

CALLEBS: Right now, New Orleans is trying to lure tourists, industry and investment back to the city.

Business leader Rob Couhig ran for mayor against Nagin. Now they're on the same team. Couhig is heading up a committee Nagin appointed to rejuvenate New Orleans during the mayor's second term. He labels this a media-created story.

ROB COUHIG, NAGIN APPOINTEE: You guys, wait, you're so desperate to say, Look at what Ray said now. Go with that story if you want. But if you ask me my opinion, I'm going to tell you that that story is inconsequential in the building of the city.

CALLEBS: Sean Callebs, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Back to Fredricka Whitfield with more on that diverted flight in Bangor, Maine, right now. Fred?

WHITFIELD: We're trying to learn more information about the American Airlines Flight 55 and why it was diverted to Bangor, Maine, after taking off from Manchester, England. You're looking at the live picture right now.

And on the phone with us is Bangor International Airport Director Rebecca Hupp. So, Ms. Hupp, what's your understanding as to why this plane was diverted to Bangor?

REBECCA HUPP, DIR., BANGOR AIRPORT DIRECTOR (via telephone): Good afternoon, Fredricka. Unfortunately, it's not really for me to speculate as to why the flight was diverted to Bangor. I can tell you that we have a number of federal agencies here working cooperatively, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Transportation Security Administration and ICE and also Customs and Border Protection. So they are all working together, conducting an investigation.

All the passengers have been deplaned from the aircraft and they are in our security hold room, which is basically the area that passengers would be in after they pass through security screening.

WHITFIELD: And reportedly a number of those passengers are being interviewed. Would that take place in that holding room you speak of?

HUPP: They are probably being interviewed. I know that the -- as I mentioned, the federal agencies are conducting investigations at this time and, now, what that final outcome will be, I don't know.

WHITFIELD: Now the Transportation Security Administration has told us that, because of a reported threat to the aircraft, that was the decision that helped precipitate bringing that plane to Bangor, Maine. So, knowing that or having a general view that this plane was going to be coming in after this transatlantic flight, what did you on the ground have to do to prepare for this incoming flight?

HUPP: We actually had a significant amount of notice on the flight, which is somewhat unusual. We had about 45 minutes advance notice. Sometimes we have more notice, sometimes we have less notice. But, certainly, we worked with the local agencies and also the federal agencies to ensure location for the passengers, bus transportation for them and secure, obviously, an area for them to be contained, where they could be comfortable, where they could have access to food and beverages, perhaps, amusing gifts (ph), if they're interested in picking up a magazine if they're going to be here for some time.

WHITFIELD: So, Ms. Hupp, what does this do for the traffic in and out of Bangor International Airport right now?

HUPP: Actually, it has very little impact on our scheduled flights. All of our flights are still operating normally. We have not experienced any delays and we have sufficient capacity here at the airport that we can accommodate these additional passengers.

WHITFIELD: All right. Bangor International Airport Director Rebecca Hupp -- thanks so much for your time.

HUPP: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: In Washington, in our Americas Bureau is our Jeanne Meserve. She is working her sources on her end to learn a little bit more about what the security concerns were about this American Airlines Flight 55 -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, you know what the official statement from the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI says. It says that they learned of a reported threat to the aircraft, hence the decision to divert it to Bangor, Maine.

But we're also hearing from some sources here in Washington that there may be an individual on this plane, an individual of unknown nationality, who authorities wanted to talk to. Someone we do not believe was on the no-fly list, but someone who they wanted to talk with. So, the decision was made to divert this plane to Bangor.

Of course, everyone on their tip toes because of the alleged plot uncovered in Britain that involved purportedly blowing up planes after mixing explosives from liquids and gels. For a while all flights from Britain on Threat Level Red -- that was dialed back to Threat Level Orange. But there's a lot of concern. There have been a number of diversions in the past week or so. This just another in a series. We're still trying to get to the bottom, exactly, of what the threat or reported threat might have been on this aircraft.

One word about Bangor and why they use that particular airport. It is, of course, the eastern-most airport in the United States and it is a former Air Force base. It has very long runways, so they can bring big jets in there. Frequently, when they have had problems of this sort, that's the airport they've used to touch down at -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jeanne Meserve, thank so much for that update.

Carol?

LIN: All right, thanks very much, Fred. We're going to continue to gather more information on these diverted flights, the international flight that was redirected to Bangor, Maine, and the domestic flight that was forced to land in Oklahoma City.

Also ahead, recovering and rebuilding. How is it going almost a year after Katrina? Well, I'm going to talk with Washington's man in charge, live from the Gulf Coast. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Just maybe not love and a career. We want to hear from you.

In the meantime, glitz and glamour will be front and center this Sunday at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Our Brooke Anderson is in Hollywood with a preview -- Brooke.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Carol.

Television's brightest stars will hit the red carpet Sunday for this year's Emmys, but there's criticism of a new voting procedure which yielded surprise nominees and excluded perennial favorites. Who will take home Emmy gold and will viewers watch this very early Emmy telecast?

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MARY MURPHY, SENIOR WRITER, "TV GUIDE": They will never do it this way again. This doesn't work.

ANDERSON (voice-over): On the eve of the Emmys the talk is usually about who is going to win. But this year, the focus is on something else, how a change in the voting procedure turned the awards into a case of missing persons, worthy series and performers left out of the running. Critics, including "TV Guide's" Mary Murphy, say it's all the fault of new rules that put a committee in charge of whittling down the contenders.

MURPHY: I think it backfired on the TV Academy. There is no reason that some of the most talented people and the best shows on television shouldn't have been nominated for an Emmy this year. And "Lost" is the number one example.

ANDERSON: Last year's Emmy-winning drama "Lost" didn't even get a nomination. Neither did "Desperate Housewives" for best comedy, a top contender last year. The show's main stars were snubbed, too. And while "House" earned a best drama nomination, star Hugh Laurie was left out. Call it a medical mystery.

MURPHY: Without Hugh Laurie, there would be no "House," was not nominated. Go figure. ANDERSON: Perhaps most surprising of all, "The Sopranos" James Gandolfini and Edie Falco won't be competing Sunday. In the absence of those mainstays, who stands to take home the gold?

MURPHY: I would go with "24," I think it's the year for "24."

ANDERSON: She's also picking "24's" Kiefer Sutherland to win best actor in a drama.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What if Pam was a lesbian?

ANDERSON: On the comedy side, the odds on favorite is "The Office."

MURPHY: It just consistently got better week after week after week.

ANDERSON: Star Steve Carell is the heavy favorite to win best actor in a comedy. Comedy actress is a toss up, but some critics give Julia Louis-Dreyfus the edge for "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Without Edie Falco in the drama race, that award could go to Kyra Sedgwick for the TNT series, "The Closer."

MURPHY: This is the role of a lifetime from Kyra Sedgwick.

ANDERSON: Another lingering question, will anyone be watching the Emmys? It's been moved up this year to a time when audiences may be busy vacationing.

MURPHY: My forecast for the ratings, cloudy.

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ANDERSON: And we will find out on Sunday who will be taking home Emmy trophies and the IRS will be watching to see who takes home the gift bag. Listen to this: The Internal Revenue Service is cracking down on this star swag. This year the value on the Emmy bounty is about $30,000 and includes such items as Sprint's newest phone, Dove chocolates, wines, cultured pearls, a Dooney & Bourke bag, plus a 1099 tax form. So, if you take it, you have got to pay those taxes.

OK, coming up "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," there's a lot of outrage, Carol, over an online article that advises men not to marry the working girl, career woman under any circumstance, that the devil wears Prada, that it leads to divorce, cheating, complaining. Find out how women across America are roaring on TV's most provocative entertaining news program, that is "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 Eastern, CNN Headline Prime.

LIN: Yes, Brooke, we have got a whole newsroom full of people who disagree with that "Forbes" magazine article.

ANDERSON: Yes, we do. I disagree, as well.

LIN: Yes, you bet. All right, thanks very much, Brooke.

ANDERSON: Thanks. LIN: We're going to continue to bring you information on two developing air travel stories, a couple of diverted flights this afternoon: an international flight that was redirected to Bangor, Maine, and the domestic flight that was forced to land in Oklahoma City. The news keeps coming. We're going to bring it to you. The next hour of LIVE FROM, next.

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