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CNN Live Today

Kennedy Car Crash; Home in New Orleans; Katrina: The True Story?

Aired May 05, 2006 - 11:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about new details this morning about a car crash involving a Kennedy and lingering questions about preferential treatment. CNN has just obtained a copy of the police report from Congressman Patrick Kennedy's accident. There's more on that report in just a minute.
Kennedy says he was disoriented from prescription medication when he crashed into a security barricade on Capitol Hill. Police say the congressman appeared intoxicated, that officers were told to drive him home.

Kennedy denies that he was drinking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PATRICK KENNEDY (D), RHODE ISLAND: I never asked for any preferential treatment.

QUESTION: Did you receive any?

KENNEDY: That's up for the police to decide, and I'm going to cooperate fully with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And now on to that police report. Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash joins me live from Capitol Hill.

Dana, have you had a chance to look at the report? .

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I have, and this is the report obtained for CNN by our Brian Todd, and it's a traffic accident report, as you just mentioned. And the first and most important thing to tell you about is what it says on the issue of sobriety.

There are two boxes that could have been checked, one, "not been drinking," and the other, "had been drinking." And "had been drinking" was checked. Now, under that, there were a number of degrees that could have been checked, and what was checked was "ability impaired."

So this report on the scene says that the officers thought he was drinking and his ability was impaired. So this is the first time we really have on-the-scene evidence, if you will, of what we have been reporting since yesterday, which is that the law enforcement officers there thought that he appeared intoxicated.

Now, that is very different from, as you know, what we're hearing from Congressman Kennedy. He says he had not been drinking at all, and part of the problem is that we do not have a sobriety test.

We are told that no sobriety test was taken on the scene. So that is something that is going to take a little while to clear up.

Now, on other issues on this traffic report, contributing circumstances to the accident, it says "speed, alcohol influence, wrong side of the street, and driver inattention." Those were all of the contributing circumstances to the congressman's accident in the middle of the night.

Now, the police report also shows Kennedy was cited for three infractions. It says "failure to keep a proper lane, unreasonable speed, and failure to give full-time and attention to the operation of a vehicle."

Now, Daryn, the responding officer also observed that the congressman's eyes were red and watery, his speech was slightly slurred, and upon exiting his vehicle, his balance was unsure. Now, it also says that at the time, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed in a construction zone, swerving, and in the wrong lane.

So these are all bits of information from the scene from this traffic accident report.

Two important notes here. One, is we have not gotten a response from the congressman's office on any of this, specifically how this differs from what his statement is on whether or not he was drinking. And also, we haven't gotten an official comment from the Capitol Police since this has happened, aside from simply acknowledging that there are two investigations going on, one into how this incident was handled from the perspective of the police, and also an investigation still into the traffic accident itself -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Dana Bash live on Capitol Hill.

Dana, thank you.

We are talking here a single car accident. No one was hurt. Is it worth all the attention?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": You hear about this? Ted Kennedy's son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, crashed his car into a barricade on Capitol Hill 3:00 in the morning last night. The head of Kennedy's office said no alcohol was involved.

Well, that's why it's a huge story. A Kennedy in a car accident with no alcohol? That has never happened! That has never happened!

(LAUGHTER)

LENO: This is huge! This is a big story!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Well, you know the talk show hosts are going to have a fun time with this, but how big is it?

Radio talk show host Bill Press hears all the buzz in Washington.

Bill, good morning. Good to see you.

BILL PRESS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Hey, I've missed you. I haven't seen you in a while.

KAGAN: I know. What are -- what are your listeners saying about this today?

PRESS: Well, I tell you, this is like Christmas in May, you know? I mean, when you have America's royal family, and particularly a Kennedy involved in an accident, it gives us all an excuse to get away from the big stories of the day. Don't have to talk about Iraq, don't have to talk about Scooter Libby or Karl Rove. We can talk about Patrick Kennedy.

You know, I think this story could go on for a week. We could get a week's worth of mileage out of this story.

KAGAN: Right. Well, I mean, let's talk about some of the things you see going through here. If you step away from the idea that it's just a single car accident, I mean, you have the son of Ted Kennedy, you have a traffic accident, you have potential cover-up, because you have these two investigations going on with Capitol Hill Police, and you have, according to the police report, allegation that alcohol was involved, even though the congressman says -- says no.

I mean, did the word "Chappaquiddick" come up, even though, of course, let's be clear on this, nobody's life ended today?

PRESS: Yes. I know -- I've heard a lot of right-wing talk show hosts immediately go to the comparison of Chappaquiddick. I think that's irresponsible and unfair. But, we've got a potentially serious problem here.

I mean, if Congressman Kennedy got preferential treatment, that's wrong. He should be treated like any of the rest of us.

If he were, in fact, drinking while he was driving, Daryn, that's wrong, and they ought to throw the book at him. We don't -- we don't know a lot. Of course it doesn't stop of from speculating on it.

On the way over here today, I talked to a very, very close friend of Congressman Kennedy's, who said he really believes that the problem was probably this medication that he was taking. According to this friend of mine and friend of Congressman Kennedy's, the congressman is into a lot of medication, takes an awful lot of medication. He's got all kinds of problems, asthma, depression, all kinds of stuff. And the key may be for all of us to find out, did he really see that House physician yesterday, as he claimed? Did he get that prescription yesterday? Was he under the influence of that medication?

That may be why it looked like he was drinking. And that's why they're having an investigation.

KAGAN: Any concern about how Capitol Hill Police might have carried this out?

PRESS: I think their concern is that there may have been a difference, Daryn, between the guys on the street who were first on the scene of the accident, and the officer who came along. And if the -- if the cops on the street are correct that the officers said, "Get out of here, we'll take care of this," they knew he had been drinking and they drove him home, that is wrong.

Again, I think we all agree any member of Congress ought to get, if he's drinking and driving, the same treatment that anybody else would again. Again, we don't know, but it could be serious.

And let me also add, this is a congressman who has had some trouble before. He was in an accident three weeks ago up in Rhode Island, where he was driving, ran into another car. And he had substance problems, was treated for substance abuse when he was a much younger man.

So there is a history here. There are some real questions, potentially a very serious problem.

KAGAN: And like you, we will be looking to those answers -- for those answers.

PRESS: A lot to talk about.

KAGAN: Yes. It keeps you in business.

PRESS: Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you, Bill.

Bill Press from Washington, D.C.

Well, the congressman does say that he was disoriented after taking prescription drugs. One he mentioned is Ambien. The popular sleep aid has been -- has been making news before.

Our senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man in this police video looks drunk, but he may actually be asleep. He says he was sleep driving the night he was arrested after taking two Ambien tablets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went to bed. I was reading. The next thing I know there is a policeman at my car door.

GUPTA: He doesn't want us to use his name or show his face. According to him, he doesn't even remember getting into the car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At some point I got up, I got dressed, I came downstairs, got my car keys, I drove to a grocery store that is probably three minutes away from home. I went in the store, I bought three packages of cookies. As I was leaving the grocery store, that's where the police report says the policeman first saw me.

GUPTA: His case is on appeal after being convicted with driving under the influence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the first time I really kind of came to was when they put me in the first cell and I saw a telephone and I called a friend of mine who's an attorney.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He took it for the first time and the next thing he knows he's in handcuffs.

GUPTA: All of this may sound bizarre, but Judy Evans knows what these people are talking about. Six years ago, the 59-year-old grandmother started taking Ambien for insomnia.

JUDY EVANS, SLEEPWALKING AFTER TAKING AMBIEN: I would go to sleep and sleep all night long. At least I thought I was sleeping all night long.

GUPTA: A few weeks later, her son caught her turning on the oven and stove and taking food from the refrigerator in her sleep.

EVANS: I had the burners on. And I could have started a fire and put so many people at risk.

GUPTA: Strangest of all...

EVANS: I don't remember a thing about it.

GUPTA: Evans says she stopped taking the Ambien and the sleepwalking stopped as well.

DR. CARLOS SCHENCK, PHYSICIAN: These people remember nothing.

GUPTA: Dr. Carlos Schenck says he has documented 32 cases of people with no previous history of sleepwalking what began sleepwalking including walking, eating, even driving while sleeping under the influence of Ambien.

SCHENCK: Because Ambien does increase the percent of slow wave sleep which is the stage of sleep that promotes sleepwalking.

GUPTA: Doctors wrote nor than 26 million prescriptions for Ambien last year, making it far and away the most used sleeping pill. In a statement, Ambien's manufacturers, Sanofi Aventis, says it could not comment on specific cases. Adding this, "It is important to emphasize, although sleepwalking may occur during treatment with Ambien, it may not necessarily by caused by it. It is difficult to determine with certainty whether a particular instance of sleepwalking is drug induced, spontaneous in origin, or a result of an underlying disorder."

There is no large study to gauge the risk, but for the vast majority of Ambien users, Dr. Schenck says don't worry. And to follow the warning labels provided with prescriptions.

SCHENCK: Even a sip of alcohol with Ambien could be dangerous, so I would discourage any use, even a sip.

GUPTA: And if you ever do sleepwalk after taking the drug, you should stop taking it. This man wishes he had.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had no intention of driving. And I would just like people to know that, in particular the judge that hears my appeal.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Would you describe a nationally known historian this way...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR RAY NAGIN (D), NEW ORLEANS: I think he's a tabloid political hit man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: A new book about Hurricane Katrina irks New Orleans' mayor. The feud and the facts when LIVE TODAY continues.

And speaking of New Orleans, look who invited us over to his home, musician Art Neville. We're visiting with him and listening to some of his tunes and talking jazz fest in New Orleans.

Art, take us to break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The best invitation we've had all day. Musician Art Neville inviting us into his home in New Orleans and doing some entertaining and some chatting with us today.

Art, good to see you again.

ART NEVILLE, MUSICIAN: Can I hear you?

KAGAN: Yes, I think so, if you're not playing.

NEVILLE: Hello.

KAGAN: Hello. Hey, talk to us about playing jazz fest. How was it? What did it feel like to have the crowds back there?

NEVILLE: Oh, that's - that's kind of special. The jazz fest has always been a special moment for the Neville Brothers. You know, anyone I perform with at the jazz fest is great.

This year, unfortunately, my brothers couldn't come down for this one, so I did it with The Meters, which is one of my groups. And it was good. I felt great.

KAGAN: And how are your brothers doing?

NEVILLE: I talked to my brother yesterday, and he's doing pretty good. His doctor told him just take some rest. He's tired, and he's got asthma, so that's why he's not coming back to New Orleans. He can't come by here.

KAGAN: But will we once again see the Neville Brothers play New Orleans and jazz fest, do you think?

NEVILLE: The Neville Brothers are still going to be performing. We're just not coming to New Orleans.

KAGAN: OK.

NEVILLE: We're going -- we are going to go out with Dr. John around the last part of this month and to do some things as far as rebuilding New Orleans, trying to help get the wetlands back and help people come back to New Orleans. I'm a pioneer. Me and my wife are pioneers, so that's what we're doing.

KAGAN: That's why you came back, to help the city turn around.

NEVILLE: Yes.

KAGAN: We wish you well with those efforts and getting the brothers back on the road. Would it be too much to ask for another song to play for us?

NEVILLE: No, it wouldn't be too much.

KAGAN: OK. We'd appreciate it.

NEVILLE: It wouldn't be too much.

KAGAN: Art Neville.

Thank you, Art.

(MUSIC)

NEVILLE: I'm playing the blues, because New Orleans got the blues.

KAGAN: Art Neville.

Art, thank you for sharing a little bit of the blues and your story and your music. You might have the blues, but you make it sound so sweet when you bring it to us here on CNN.

NEVILLE: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you, Art. And the best to your brothers as well.

Art Neville.

NEVILLE: Thank you very much. I'll make sure to tell them.

KAGAN: And we appreciate the invitation inside your home.

We're keeping it on New Orleans -- thank you, Art.

And we are talking about -- it's something -- a true story or a political smear. There is a new book out about Hurricane Katrina, and it's stirring a new deluge in New Orleans.

Our Mary Snow investigated for "THE SITUATION ROOM."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR RAY NAGIN (D), NEW ORLEANS: I think it is a tabloid political hit man.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Mayor Ray Nagin is blasting the new account of his handling of Hurricane Katrina appearing in a new book titled "The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast." "Vanity Fair" has published an excerpt sparking a feud between Nagin and author Douglas Brinkley, an historian at Tulane University.

Brinkley writes that in the chaos after Katrina slammed into New Orleans, Nagin cloistered himself in the Hyatt hotel, got his news from a hand-cranked radio and was in his words, comparatively sedentary. It claims that two city officials urged Nagin to leave the hotel three days after the storm hit, a day when Nagin phoned WWL Radio's Garland Robinette.

NAGIN: Now get off your asses and let's do something. And let's fix the biggest god damn crisis in the history of this country.

SNOW: The book claims when Nagin hung up the phone he broke down crying. He sequestered himself in the bathroom. That's an account attributed to City Councilwoman Jacqueline Clarkson.

On the phone, Clarkson told CNN that Nagin got emotional, but she didn't go so far as to say he cried. She denied urging him to leave the hotel and get out on to the streets.

A day later, an incident aboard Air Force One was accounted as leaders met with the president. Frustrated by the lack of action, the book says Nagin slammed his hand down on the table and insisted that a chain of command needed to be established.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, present at the meeting, is quoted as saying, "When we met on Air Force One, Nagin was falling apart." In New Orleans, Nagin dismissed the book, saying he has no respect for Brinkley.

NAGIN: Any legitimate historian would not release their book right in the middle of a re-election campaign.

SNOW: Nagin faces a runoff May 20th with Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, who is quoted in the book.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: You can join Mary Snow and Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM" this afternoon at 4:00 Eastern. The live prime-time edition comes your way at 7:00 Eastern.

If your computer is on the fritz and tech support does not solve the problem, well, we share your frustration. You are not alone.

Susan Lisovicz, live from the New York Stock Exchange with a look at which computer companies score best when it comes to troubleshooting.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

KAGAN: Tom Cruise looking for blockbuster headlines, not more wacky write-ups. We'll tell you if this is truly a "Mission Impossible" for the actor.

Mr. Moviefone is ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

And the desperate search for a kidnapping victim as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A quarter mile up the street, it looks like he's standing in front of that store. I don't know if -- it's a little dark. There he is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: It's just incredible. Pillsbury's famous Poppin' Fresh snatched from his pastry perch. The letters, the pictures, and surprisingly, no demand for dough.

Details ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In today's "Daily Dose," a popular sleep aid back in the headlines. Congressman Patrick Kennedy says he took Ambien before crashing his car near the Capitol. He says Ambien and another drug left him disoriented. Other Ambien users tell similar stories. The drug makes them sleep-drive, sleepwalk, and even sleep-eat. Here's CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice-over): It happens under the cover of darkness, during sleep. The mysterious use urge to eat.

For years doctors wondered how sleeping and eating could happen at the same time. Now two unpublished studies suggest that a possible cause may be the popular sleep drug, Ambien.

DR. CARLOS H. SCHENCK, MINNESOTA REGIONAL SLEEP DISORDER CENTER: Ever since Ambien came on the market, there was sporadic reports of sleepwalking being induced by the Ambien. And then there were some reports coming out about eating with the sleepwalking induced by the Ambien.

GUPTA: Six years ago Judie Evans began taking Ambien for insomnia. Soon after, curious side effects set in. She said that night after night, she would leave her bed and trudge like a zombie to the kitchen.

JUDIE EVANS, AMBIEN CAUSED TO SLEEP-EAT: I had gotten out of bed and I was cooking. I don't even like eggs, and I was cooking eggs and bacon.

GUPTA: Each night brought another trip to the kitchen, to make a sandwich, cook an elaborate meal and one time turning the oven up to 500 degrees.

Suspecting something was wrong, her son stayed awake. He was startled by what he saw.

EVANS: He told me what I had done. And I said, no way. I did not do that.

SCHENCK: In all cases, there is complete amnesia the next day. There is no recall whatsoever of what that person engaged in.

GUPTA: And Ambien may account for more than just sleep-eating. There have even been cases of sleep driving, says Dr. Carlos Schenck, who led the studies linking Ambien with abnormal sleep behaviors. Dr. Schenck said that in sleepwalking, sleep-eating and sleep driving, Ambien may confuse the brain. You can perform complex behaviors while the mind is partially asleep.

SCHENCK: You're acting like a zombie and you're rolling the dice. And whenever you roll the dice, it is very dangerous.

GUPTA: In a statement, Ambien's manufacturer, Sanofi Aventis, says it could not comment on specific cases, adding that "...it is difficult to determine with certainty whether a particular instance of sleepwalking is drug induced, spontaneous in origin, or a result of an underlying disorder."

Now, this is no large study to gauge the risk. And even Dr. Schenck says the vast majority of Ambien users should not worry, and to follow the warning labels provided with prescriptions.

SCHENCK: For people who are carefully diagnosed with insomnia or trouble falling asleep, Ambien is an excellent medication. And for most people, it is very safe and well tolerated.

GUPTA: The manufactures says if you find yourself sleepwalking after taking Ambien, see your doctor.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.

Mama's got a brand new bag of pot. A 13-year-old Pennsylvania boy says it was routine, his mother made him do his homework first thing after school, then he says she smoked marijuana with him as a reward. Oh boy. The 30-year-old woman is due in court today to face charges of drug possession and corruption of minors.

It is a shocking crime. An American icon has been kidnapped. The victim, a 40-year-old white male. Last seen donning a baker's hat and a giggle.

Jean Mackin has the story from New Hampshire and the affiliate WMUR.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN MACKIN, WMUR REPORTER (voice-over): The managers at Marketbasket in Plaistow ripped over the latest ransom letter. Inside, no demands for dough, just Doughboy posing for another picture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's our store up the street, a quarter-mile mile up the street. Looks like he's standing in front of that store. I don't know -- it's a little dark. There he is.

MACKIN: All the letters and photos began arriving after someone made off with the grocery store's mascot nearly three weeks ago. Managers don't know how the flaky dough-nappers managed to sneak Doughboy from his pastry perch above the dairy section.

MARIA CHESTER, STORE MANAGER: Someone noticed, who took the doughboy? You know, so no one knows how it got out of here.

MACKIN: But since the gigly pile of goo got away, he's been rolling down the highway. Pictures arrive every few days, showing Doughboy grabbing a burger, or ice cream in Massachusetts, then going for a ride at Cannaby (ph) Lake Park in Salem, or turning up the temperature at Hampton Beach. Ooh, that could be dangerous.

Employees suspect he's looking for a new home, since his marketbasket on Route 125 in Plaistow is closing after 20 years. Developers plan to turn it into a Shaws. One of the first letters read, if you close the store, the Pillsbury Doughboy will be baked.

Managers are asking people to be on the lookout for their puffy pal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's four-foot tall, made of styrofoam with a little friendly smile.

MACKIN: But, they admit, all the adventures he's cooked up have lifted spirits in the days up to the store closing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Its' looks he's having fun, living it up a little bit.

MACKIN: In Plaistow, Jean Mackin, WMUR, News 9.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And I got to tell you, Jean did not mention this, but it's true. Doughboy was also photographed at a strip club. It's true. Supermarket desperately hopes the mascot is released by Saturday. That's when the store closes for good. Now if you have Poppinfresh out there, please, please, just do the right thing and walk away from the oven. Return Doughboy.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: We are talking U2, and to the man you know as the guitarist for U2.

But it's what The Edge is doing for other musicians that's making news, a story you'll see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Developing story out of Maryland. Let's go to Carol Lin with the latest on that -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Daryn.

Yes, we're going to take you to Bethesda, Maryland right now, where at the National Navy Medical Center, two people were hurt in this scaffolding collapse. That scaffolding standing about four or five stories high.

Now, we do know that two people were injured. They were taken to the hospital. No one trapped under that debris, but a serious situation there as rescue crews are still on the ground -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Carol. We will check back with you. Thank you.

LIN: You bet.

KAGAN: He made his mark with one of the biggest bands in the world, the Edge from U2. Now the Irish rocker is giving back to a musical community far from home, but close to his heart. CNN's Sean Callebs has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THE EDGE, U2 GUITARIST: No. I thought I was watching shots from Sierra Leone or Rwanda. It was just...

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like millions of others, U2's guitarist, The Edge, watched the drama unfold after Katrina. He was in Toronto, getting ready for the second leg of the group's tour.

THE EDGE: It was just unbelievable to think that this was continental American United States. So that was the first real shock for me. Quickly, my thoughts turned to my world, the music world.

CALLEBS: Celebrity has its rewards, and The Edge has thrown his considerable clout behind a charitable effort called Music Rising, to help musicians in the Gulf area.

THE EDGE: I really feel strongly that anyone who earns their living from rock n' roll ultimately has a stake in this city and this region, because this is where it all started.

CALLEBS: Jazz, blues, and the roots of rock n' roll can be traced to here, New Orleans. The Edge says that music has not only been missing since the storm, but is endangered. This is what happened to many instruments. Guitars, basses, violins, harps -- all but ruined. So far, Music Rising has helped 1,400 musicians with equipment, money for rent, food and medicine.

THE EDGE: We're now taking in a wider vision, which is to include the churches, the community centers.

CALLEBS: And that, he says, is because music permeates every corner of the culture here. The Edge reminds me that Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino and Pete Fountain were all from here, and others could follow.

THE EDGE: There's this young horn player, Trombone Shorty, Troy Andrews. He is one of the most talented musicians I've ever seen.

CALLEBS: Andrews is a skinny kid with a load of talent. He says music is vital to New Orleans' recovery.

TROY ANDREWS, NEW ORLEANS MUSICIAN: The music of New Orleans is one of the heartbeats of the city that makes it what it is, and I think it's very important that the musicians come back and try to keep it alive.

CALLEBS: Bob Ezrin is a music producer whose resumes includes bands like Kiss and Pink Floyd. He's collaborating with The Edge on music rising.

BOB EZRIN, MUSIC PRODUCER: He has a tremendous profile and, with that, an ability to move mountains. CALLEBS: But in this case, the Edge just wants to help rebuild a city.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And Sean Callebs joins from us from New Orleans after his great day of following around The Edge.

Sean, any other members of U2 involved in this charity as well?

CALLEBS: Well, not directly, but if you notice the shirt that The Edge was wearing, "Music Rising," that's actually made by a clothing line that is from Bono's wife. So there is that certain degree of symmetry at that point.

KAGAN: And how is Jazz Fest doing as it gets ready to wrap up this weekend, the first Jazz Fest after Katrina?

CALLEBS: It's a great question. It is doing really well, really well. We talked to some locals last week. Because just moving here about five months ago, we're trying to get a handle on what's a good crowd, what's a normal crowd. The people we talked to said the crowds last week were as big as ever. And, of course, they were thrilled when at that brief moment, The Edge walked on stage with Dave Matthews.

But a big weekend this weekend. Of course, Paul Simon, among the artists. And Fats Domino from the Lower Ninth is going to bring the house down, and he's going to close out the festival.

KAGAN: Well, tell us a little bit about where you're standing, this venue.

CALLEBS: House of Blues. How about this? And the significance of that -- you heard The Edge talk about Trombone Shorty. He is a legend. He's only 20. He has been performing on the streets and in clubs since he was about three. But he's really -- his career is taking off. He toured with Lenny Kravitz. Now he's a good friend of The Edge. He's going to be performing here tonight, and then Los Lobos will be taking the stage as well.

So music is coming back. And if you talk to people, everything revolves around music and having a good time. The tourism industry, it just makes the city feel alive again. So if, indeed, it can continue to take off and this area can get through a hurricane season without any trouble, it's going to be a great sign.

KAGAN: Fingers crossed. That would truly be music to the people's ears down there in New Orleans. Sean Callebs, live from the big easy, thank you.

Mission accomplished, or was it "Mission: Impossible"? Tom Cruise sticks to the script with his latest antics as he launches the summer movie season. It's ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Sugary sodas get expelled from school. A former president is leading the charge to make the U.S. a fit nation.

CNN's Christy Feig reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If the Clinton Foundation and the beverage industry have their way, this will be something that you no longer see in schools. President Clinton is teaming up with the leaders of the soft drink industry to try to take sugar-laden soft drinks out of school vending machines.

BILL CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and the American Beverage Association have agreed to new guidelines limiting the portion sizes and reducing the number of calories available to children through their products during the school day.

FEIG: Under the voluntary program, elementary schools would only sell water, eight-ounce juices, and reduced-fat milk. Middle schools would sell larger sizes of the same products, and high schools could add diet sodas and some sports drinks.

DAWN HUDSON, PRES. & CEO, PEPSI-COLA N. AMERICA: We're doing our part to offer healthier products in schools. No calorie or low calorie beverages and nutritious and functional beverages. It's important to remember that this is about where we sell our products, not about the products themselves.

FEIG: Vending machine profits are an additional source of revenue for many schools, and soft drinks are an easy money maker with kids. But a government study found when schools got rid of sweet sodas, 12 of 17 school districts reported increased revenue. Four reported no change.

The industry hopes to have 75 percent of schools volunteering for the program by the 2008-2009 school year, and 100 percent the following year.

I'm Christy Feig reporting from Washington.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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VING RHAMES, ACTOR: Get out of the truck!

Move!

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KAGAN: Wow, that looked like that hurt. You might want to buckle up. Time for the first popcorn flick of the summer movie season. After months of unflattering headlines, Tom Cruise takes on an impossible mission. Let's welcome in Russ Leatherman, a regular here on CNN LIVE TODAY, the voice of Mr. Moviefone.

Hi, Russ.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Daryn, it's been a long time.

KAGAN: It has.

LEATHERMAN: As you know, I've been out with a serious case of crabby movie-itis, but I'm feeling much better now, actually.

KAGAN: You are? And is it "mission: Impossible 3" that has led to your recovery?

LEATHERMAN: Well, it was started with "United 93." We didn't get a chance to talk about that last week, but I just thought it was fantastic, a powerful movie. I think people, if they're ready for it, should go see it.

But now we're moving onto "Mission: Impossible 3." As you said, it's the beginning of summertime. And you know, here's what you got. You got Tom Cruise, he's returning one more time. This is the third installment. He's back in action, and really trying to rescue his former trainee, played by the lovely Keri Russell, when she's captured by the very evil, very villainous Philip Seymour Hoffman. He's unbelievable in this movie. He will really scare you to death.

Now here's the deal, Daryn, I don't mean to be glib, but I have done the research, OK? And here's what I can tell you. It sort of pains me to say it, but the movie is pretty good.

KAGAN: Really?

LEATHERMAN: It really is pretty good. What you've got is you've got J.J. Abrams, who did "Lost" and "Alias," both big successes. He's brought a lot of sensibility to the big screen.

And what you've got, is you've got Tom Cruise in an action movie, and the fact is, he is a big movie star. And here's the odd thing, Daryn, he's actually much more believable on the big screen as a moviestar than he is a human being.

KAGAN: OK, see, that's my question. Can you look up there and suspend the memories of the last few months and all the wacky stuff that he's come out and saying and not kind of giggle when you're supposed to be thinking of him as a stud?

LEATHERMAN: Well, it's amazing. I couldn't, but then again, I've sort of got a problem with his antics over the last several months, as does the rest of womankind, I think.

KAGAN: Right.

LEATHERMAN: But the fact is, you do watch him, and you say, you know what, this guy is a good actor. He's good at action. The movie itself is pretty good. They've gone out of their way to create a love story here, to make him likable, to really try to recover some of what has happened over the last several months. So I would say, for me, no, I still saw Tom Cruise being the same wacky guy that he is, but the core demographic for this movie are guys 18 to 24, really, and they're...

KAGAN: And you're just outside of that, right?

LEATHERMAN: You know, six months or so, that's what I'm saying.

But the fact is, it's a pretty good movie, and it's going to make a bazillion dollars.

KAGAN: OK, the first big blockbuster of the summer. We'll be looking for it. Russ, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: Daryn, it's always my pleasure, and I can't wait to talk about "Poseidon" next week. Summer's here!

KAGAN: "Poseidon Adventure," from one blockbuster to another. It's a date.

LEATHERMAN: Daryn, have a great weekend. I'll see you at the movies.

KAGAN: At the movies. Thank you, Russ Leatherman, Mr. Moviefone. Thank you, Russ.

And that is going to wrap up our couple of hours together. I'm Daryn Kagan. International news is up next. Stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY," and then I'll be back with you with the latest headlines from here in the U.S. in just about 20 minutes.

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