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CNN Sunday Morning
Senator Kennedy Suffers Seizure; U.S. Aid Arrives in China
Aired May 18, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CO-HOST: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is May 18th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CO-HOST: Good morning to you and good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho, Betty has the weekend off. Thanks so much for starting your day with us.
HOLMES: The Kennedy clan rallying to the bedside of Senator Ted Kennedy after he reportedly suffers a seizure. We're live today in Boston.
CHO: Also: U.S. aid arrives in China as the government there struggles to cope with the crisis and get ready for the Olympics. Will they be ready? And this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll probably have to cut back on the numbers of persons (ph) that we serve or even cut back on how often they receive meals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Meals on wheels, may be meals at risk, as the perfect storm of economic problems threaten the volunteer service.
But we are going to begin this morning with President Bush in Egypt. He's scheduled to speak at the World Economic Forum just about an hour from now. We will bring you that speech live.
CHO: Yes. And that speech is coming after an important round of meetings with Arab leaders today.
CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us live now from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. And, Aneesh, we've gotten an advanced copy of the president's speech. What do we expect to hear him say today?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Alina. Good morning.
It will be an urgent call for change in the Middle East. President Bush will lay out sweeping reforms necessary in this part of the world, from an opening up of democracies to an opening up of economies, to a broadening of women's rights. President Bush will also call on Arab countries to rally against the sustained threat he sees from Iran.
Now, still the top priority this trip is to renew momentum for President Bush's hope to see a Mideast peace deal by the end of his term, to see a defined Palestinian state. Towards that end, he had a number of meetings over the weekend to push for that renewed momentum.
White House officials say they are hopeful that intense negotiations are still taking place between the Israelis and the Palestinians but, Alina, they provided no specifics, saying that they needed to keep all that confidential.
A lot of people on the ground say the hopes for that sort of peace, at times, can be unrealistic, given the huge hurdles that exist, not just the fact that President Bush is in the dwindling days of his presidency but the Israeli prime minister is facing calls for his resignation amid the bribery scandal and the Palestinian president is dealing with the divided people of his own.
So, still, President Bush trying to make some sort of headway towards peace and he will, we understand, Alina, could be making a trip perhaps this fall to once again try and reach that deal.
CHO: Right. He has eight months left in his presidency and he will say in his speech today, "Some tell you change is impossible but history has a way of surprising us." So, he does hold out hope. I know as I read this speech that he does address oil production, specifically he says, "as the price of oil has brought great wealth to Arab states, America is looking at alternatives to oil." And so, Arab nations are going to have to look for alternatives to strengthen their economy.
What are they looking at as possibilities, and is it possible?
RAMAN: Well, that's part of the argument President Bush made personally to the Saudis as well before he came here to Egypt -- that the Saudis needed to boost oil production, to deflate costs back home so that Americans could see less -- you know, the high cost go down a bit at the pump.
The Saudis essentially told President Bush, "No," though they announced that 300,000 barrel increase in oil production.
But President Bush was making the point yesterday and today that Americans really need to start looking at how to develop alternative energies, how to perhaps drill within the U.S. for oil, to basically go around the need for foreign oil. Again, though, in terms of the immediate pressure that Americans face, what he achieved on this trip won't do much to bring those prices down, Alina.
CHO: Aneesh Raman at the beautiful Red Sea resort of Sharm el- Sheikh in Egypt. And the president, we should mention, will be talking in about an hour's time at the World Economic Forum, CNN will carry it live. T.J.?
HOLMES: Well, medical experts this morning, trying to figure out why Senator Ted Kennedy had an apparent seizure. Doctors have ruled out a stroke and say the senator is not in any immediate danger.
CHO: It caused quite a scare; it broke on our watch yesterday morning. A seizure is scary and not taken lightly. This photo from the "Cape Cod Times" shows the senator about to be rushed by helicopter from Cape Cod to Mass General in Boston yesterday morning.
HOLMES: And CNN's Deb Feyerick is monitoring his situation for us this morning from Massachusetts General in Boston. Good morning to you, Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J. Hi, Alina.
Well, the senator's condition is called serious but not life threatening. He has been under observation since yesterday. He's going to undergo more tests today so that his doctors can figure out exactly what caused that seizure.
The senator was actually here at this very same hospital about seven months ago, when he underwent surgery to remove a blockage from a neck artery -- that was in order to prevent a stroke. But his doctors, of course, now saying that this was not a stroke but a it was a seizure and they're trying to figure out exactly what triggered that.
The senator did receive visitors yesterday, of course, his wife was with him, one of his daughters was here as was his niece Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. A couple of nephews also came in order to be with him during this time. His doctor says he was awake, he was watching the Red Sox game, he appeared to be joking with members of the family.
So while serious obviously, and while there's overwhelming concern to figure out why this happened, he did seem apparently what we're being told, to be in good spirits -- Alina, T.J.
HOLMES: Well, you say in good spirits there, he's joking around and watching the Red Sox game. That sounds pretty good. Also, we saw that he did receive Senator John Kerry who also visited him, the junior senator there from Massachusetts. Also, we got a lot of statements yesterday, heard a lot from the campaign trail, a lot of well wishes yesterday.
FEYERICK: Absolutely. And the concern was immediate and it was overwhelming. You have to keep in mind that the three people running for president right now are colleagues of his in the Senate, he's had a lot of dealings with them, and that they each issued a statement and they spoke about him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D-NY) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know that we all join together in wishing him well.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We think he's going to be OK but I'd just want everybody to -- I want everybody keep Ted Kennedy and his family, his wonderful wife Vicki, in our thoughts and our prayers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: And of course, Senator John McCain with whom Senator Kennedy has co-sponsored legislation, also said his prayers and his concerns. A lot of the Kennedys were in town yesterday for a bike race that they were organizing for an organization called Best Buddies, for people with mental disabilities. That bike race did go through as planned -- Alina, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Deb Feyerick for us there in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital, thank you so much.
And I want to give our viewers some insight now into the senator's health from our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Gupta. He talked with CNN's Rick Sanchez by phone about seizures, strokes, and the procedure the senator underwent last fall on that blocked artery.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (through phone): People kept saying was this a seizure -- was this a stroke. What people probably don't realize is that sometimes the first presentation of someone's having a stroke or an inadequate blood supply to the brain more specifically, could be a seizure.
The operation you talked Rick, basically, think of it as sort of roto-rotoring (ph) the artery. It's become a little - and based on our analysis of this, we say -- look, if it gets this much blockage, a certain percentage, we know that the person is at a higher risk of a stroke.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The White House also keeping up with Senator Kennedy's condition. President Bush has not been able to speak directly with the senator but a White House spokesman said the president quote, "wishes Senator Kennedy a return to good health. His thoughts are with the senator and his family."
CHO: This morning, China's earthquake victims are getting some much needed help from the United States. The first American military planes filled with blankets, water, and other relief supply, touched down in Chengdu, that's near the epicenter overnight.
Monday's violent quake killed up to 50,000 people. The official death toll in China keeps rising.
Let's get to our Eunice Yoon for the latest. She joins now by phone in Chengdu, near the epicenter of the quake.
I understand, Eunice, that the official death toll is a bit lower just after -- just above 32,000. What is the very latest?
EUNICE YOON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (through phone): Well, Alina, people are very concerned that the death toll will continue to rise. We just heard that the earthquake had been upgraded to 8.0 on the Richter scale. China has also announced three days of mourning because so many people have died.
We have been hearing some miraculous stories though of survival despite the fact that this is six days after the earthquake had hit. The state media has been reporting that a 53-year-old man was pulled out today after spending 147 hours under the rubble. There was also a little girl in the same town who was found alive on Saturday. And this is after 123 hours buried under the remains of a hotel.
However, the rescuers now are starting to shift their attention now to recovery efforts. So, we are hearing, and seeing more people being pulled out in body bags. These are badly decomposed bodies being pulled out from shattered buildings.
The efforts now are also being transferred to prevent disease -- people are more concerned now about the survivors, many of whom are living in cramped quarters, sometimes in very filthy conditions. Volunteers have been regularly spraying disinfectant at these massive refugee camps and the World Health Organization now is calling for quick action to try to keep the water supply here clean as well as the facilities, Alina.
CHO: Obviously, disease being the next potential wave in this disaster. And if I heard you correctly, Eunice, you talked about the rescue effort shifting to a recovery effort, which would mark significant change since Monday's quake.
But I do want to ask you about the U.S. military planes, two of them, that arrived overnight, loaded with blankets, water and relief supplies -- are you seeing that the people who need this relief are getting it at this point?
YOON: Well, that U.S. aid is going towards the effort to take care of those millions of refugees who have been looking for shelter -- those American military transport planes arrived here in Chengdu and coming in from Hawaii as well as Alaska. And as you have mentioned, they're carrying all of the basic necessities that people need in these camps -- Blankets, tents, water, lanterns, thousands of meals, for the survivors.
The officials at the U.S. embassy had said that the United States remains ready to assist in the aftermath of this quake in any way possible. And this is what significant because the Chinese are now much more accepting of international aid than they have been in the past.
CHO: Yes, for the first time and it marks as diplomatic departure. Let's hope that those people get the food that they need. I know that yesterday you were talking about food rations, so, we'll be watching that closely. Eunice, near the epicenter of the quake in central China, Eunice, thank you.
HOLMES: Up next: We will turn to Iraq and Iraqis are angry over a U.S. soldier's treatment of the Quran.
Find out what the soldier did that led to protests and an apology from the U.S. military.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. Look for record heat out in California -- not just there but Washington and Oregon and Nevada. The same in Las Vegas, we'll see a high temperature of 106. And notice temperatures 20 degrees above normal in the mountain west. This will cause some - possibly flooding due to snow melt. I'll have more on that, plus, a look at the forecast in the entire nation.
CHO: All right, Bonnie. Summer is upon us.
All right, we're watching politics, too. Just ahead, primary showdown, the Democratic candidates get ready to do battle in Kentucky and Oregon. A live report from the CNN Election Express next.
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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN: The news channel trusted by more Americans. Now: Back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
CHO: Fifteen minute after the hour on this Sunday morning. Splitting the primary states, voters in Kentucky and Oregon go to the polls in just two days.
HOLMES: Both the Democratic candidates campaigning today, spending time in the state they already expect to win.
CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser is with the CNN Election Express in Frankfort, Kentucky this morning.
Paul, good morning to you. A lot of people around the country haven't seen a lot of news, a lot of coverage about what's happening on primary day in two days because we've had so many stir-ups on the campaign trail. Are people there in Kentucky, at least, paying attention and seem to be excited about voting on Tuesday?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Oh, they definitely are. Kentucky really has played a big role in the primaries over the last couple of years, so people are energized here. They're going to campaign events. You see the commercials on TV, behind me the Election Express. We're at the state capitol.
Hillary Clinton is here today; Barack Obama is in Oregon. Both states vote on Tuesday; 103 delegates at stake. You hear the candidates this weekend talking about the economy. They're talking about the war in Iraq. One thing they're talking about is each other.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLINTON: If you don't quit on people and you don't quit until you finish what you started. And you don't quit on America.
STEINHAUSER (voice-over): If the Democratic nomination is supposedly over, somebody forgot to tell Hillary Clinton. She's touting her electability and pushing one of her arguments for victory.
CLINTON: Right now, I am leading in the popular vote. More Americans have voted for me.
STEINHAUSER: Clinton's campaign comes up with those numbers by excluding the popular vote in the caucus states and including the votes cast in Florida and Michigan. Those states broke party rules that are being penalized by the Democratic Party.
Beyond her electability, Clinton's message to Kentucky voters is one of economic populism.
CLINTON: Instead of providing $100 billion in corporate tax cuts, I proposed $100 billion in tax cuts for the middle class. And...
STEINHAUSER: One name you rarely hear her mention is Barack Obama. Instead, she links John McCain to George Bush.
CLINTON: Senator McCain's economic policy boils down to this -- don't just continue driving our nation in the wrong direction, put your foot on the accelerator and gun it. That's exactly what he is proposing.
STEINHAUSER: Barack Obama appears to be in the driver seat for the nomination but he remains cautious.
OBAMA: Senator Clinton is a formidable opponent.
STEINHAUSER: And like Clinton, he rarely mentions his party rival now and instead ties McCain to President Bush.
OBAMA: You've got John McCain who essentially is offering Bush's health care plan. You've got me offering a universal health care plan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STEINHAUSER: Hillary Clinton is expected to win here if you believe the polls -- she's up by about 25 points. Barack Obama is up in the polls in Oregon. So, we may have a split decision.
One other thing we learned, Hillary Clinton will be here Tuesday night. Barack Obama will be in Iowa. That state voted already right off the bat. So, maybe Iowa, since it's a battleground state, maybe Obama is looking ahead to the general election, guys.
HOLMES: Oh, you think? Paul Steinhauser for us there in Kentucky -- we appreciate you as always, Paul. We'll see you again here soon.
CHO: Well, John McCain is taking swipes at the Democrats, but this time, in a not-so serious way. You were asleep when this happened.
HOLMES: Yes. We should have been.
Making fun during an appearance last night on "Saturday Night Live." Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, NBC/BROADWAY)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R-AZ) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to give you this piece of advice. Democrats, I have to urge you, do not under any circumstances pick a candidate too soon.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, so, you don't think Hillary should drop out?
MCCAIN: Absolutely not.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I told you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cool it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You cool it.
MCCAIN: That's right. Fight amongst yourselves.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And he had a lot more to say in another skit on the show. Of course, this is standard fare these days it seems on the campaign trail. You got to go on "Saturday Night Live" but the other skit we have we're going to show a little later.
CHO: Yes, and he pulls (ph) and plays as good Hillary Clinton, too.
HOLMES: Yes, he does.
CHO: But you know, McCain is really courting that young vote. He's been on John Stewart 13 times. Heidi Montag of "The Hills" apparently has endorsed him. Oh, yes, how about that one? It's the McCain trivia this morning.
HOLMES: Wow. But there's more to show, stick around for that.
Also, tune in Tuesday, back to the serious stuff, the best political team on TV is bringing you the primary results. Live coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern from the CNN Election Center.
Also, our special political coverage today, CNN's BALLOT BOWL: A chance for you to hear from the candidates in their own words and uncut. That comes your way this afternoon at 4:00 o'clock Eastern.
CHO: Next: He was at the top of this game and suffered a setback.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TODD DEMSEY, PGA TOUR PLAYER: It didn't even seem real, you know, after 11 years of struggles, you know, still able to play golf for a living but not at this level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: An inspirational swing. Our Larry Smith introduces you to a pro golfer completing his amazing comeback.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back.
One gallop closer: Big Brown blew away the field in the Preakness Stakes yesterday. The Kentucky Derby winner has now captured the first two legs of the Triple Crown and has a chance to take the crown in three weeks at the Belmont. That's June 7th.
Affirmed, by the way, is the last horse to finish the feat. That was exactly 30 years ago.
That's exciting for horseracing.
HOLMES: It is, it's - that's what everybody wants and everybody wants to watch to see some horse with a chance at the Belmont. Who knows about the field because everybody was complaining or you saw a lot in the press release about how a week, the Preakness Stake not to take anything away from Big Brown. It's certainly is Big Brown.
CHO: Well, and also, sort of the black mark with Eight Belles, what happened at the Kentucky Derby but this is a nice sort of shot in the arm, right?
HOLMES: Yes, to get people excited about horseracing again. But there is another great sports story to tell you about. It's unfolding today -- a story of perseverance for one pro golfer taking a major step forward this weekend.
CHO: That's right. CNN Sport's Larry Smith is here to tell us more about that. But first, you surprised about what happened yesterday, probably not, right?
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS: No, I wasn't at all. Kent Desormeaux, the jockey, speaking of Big Brown, this is the best horse he's ever ridden and he rode real quite, wins in the derby in the Belmont 10 years ago. So, he knows what he's talking about as far as (INAUDIBLE).
CHO: Exciting times for horseracing.
SMITH: Exciting, yes. New York, a good place to be (ph) in three weeks.
But you know, the story we're talking about -- you're right -- that there is one thing that is certain about life is that life is never certain. No one would have blamed Todd Demsey if he'd just hung up his golf spikes but instead, he's taking his incredible story into the final round of the PGA Tour's AT&T Classic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH (voice-over): You could say Todd Demsey has seen his share of hazards on and off the golf course. Fifteen years ago, Dempsey was on top of golf's amateur world. An NCAA champion and two-time All American, the college teammate of Phil Mickelson seemed destined to play among the game's elite.
TODD DEMSEY, PGA TOUR PLAYER: It has been quite a trip. I got on the tour pretty quick, my second try. And just through health problems, just not playing well I lost my card, and spent most of the last 10 years on the nationwide tour.
SMITH (on camera): Demsey's back injuries slowed what had once been a promising career, but the worst was yet to come. In 2002, a golf ball-size tumor was discovered in his brain and just like that, hitting a golf ball was the last thing on his mind.
DEMSEY: You know, I was more just hoping to survive, you know, obviously my head was swollen. I had pretty severe pain from that.
Ever since I was about 12, golf was my focus and I worked very hard through my teen years and high school, college. You know, it was everything and all of a sudden, something that I spent my life doing, you know -- what do I do with myself.
SMITH: He got married, started a family, and together with his wife, Melanie, vowed to keep pursuing his dream. Demsey's perseverance paid off last fall when he finished eighth at qualifying school and regained his PGA Tour status.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next on the tee from Scottsdale, Arizona -- Mr. Todd Demsey.
(APPLAUSE)
DEMSEY: It didn't seem real, you know, after 11 years of struggles and, you know, still able to play golf for a living but not at this level. So, it was -- it's hard to describe but it was pretty emotional day.
SMITH: Demsey is in good health but he isn't out of the woods, because doctors couldn't remove all of the tumor, he has to have regular checkups -- a constant reminder of his past which has given him a new outlook on his future.
DEMSEY: I really have no complaints. I feel I have a lot of good years in me and I can still accomplish those things that I assumed I would have done by now, but -- I'm not picky about the timing as long as it happens I'm happy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Well, it's a good weekend for Todd Demsey. He made the cut for the first time this year at a PGA Tour event and playing here in about an hour and a half, he'll tee off and try to earn a little bit of money.
And he says he still keeps in touch with Phil Mickelson. In fact, he spent some time with Phil recently. He went over some things (ph) in his game and he's beginning to kind of incorporate into his game and thinks that it's really going to begin to help him out.
HOLMES: Wish him well. Wish him success of course, but just a blessing to have him back out there on the tour (ph).
SMITH: Absolutely.
CHO: Phil Mickelson a good teacher.
SMITH: Sure. Yes, absolutely.
CHO: Larry, thanks.
HOLMES: Well, it's good to have you. Thanks.
SMITH: Good to see you.
CHO: All right. Just ahead: A story that you just must see. We're going to go live to our man in Baghdad, Michael Ware.
HOLMES: We'll be talking about this anger that's erupted in an Iraqi town over a U.S. soldier's desecration of the Islamic holy book. We'll tell you what he did and what American officials are doing about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Hello again. Welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Good morning. I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the weekend off. And we're watching breaking news at this hour. President Bush pushing democracy in the Middle East this morning. You are looking live at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt. Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president at the podium right now and the President will be there soon.
HOLMES: In about 30 minutes expecting President Bush to speak there at the World Economic Forum in Egypt. The President, of course, has been on this Middle East trip in which he is trying to build momentum for his agenda at least for the Middle East, a plan for Middle East peace, hoping to get that squared away by the end of his presidency. So, we will be listening to that speech, we'll take it live when the President does begin speak. You'll see it in its entirety.
CHO: 31 minutes after the hour and we begin this half hour with a delicate situation in Iraq. This morning, the U.S. is apologizing for an American soldier who apparently used the Koran, Islam's holy book, for target practice. Our Michael Ware is following the developments from Baghdad. He joins us now live.
Hey Michael, good morning to you. CNN has obtained copies of the pictures of the Koran as you well know it shows bullet wounds, an expletive scrawled on one of the pages. In fact, so bad that CNN has elected not to show it. What has the reaction been there and exactly what happened?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alina that's right. We actually had CNN presence at a ceremony yesterday where this situation had become so inflammatory over the past week here in Baghdad that the U.S. commander of all forces in the capital had to publicly apologize, virtually prostrating himself before the local community. Now, we first heard of this through the insurgency and then through the local people of this district of Baghdad. What happened is about a week or so ago, at a small arms firing range near an Iraqi police station, some American soldiers went and did some target practice.
Now, an Iraqi policeman, according to the military, but an Iraqi militia commander or militia member according to the Iraqis themselves went to that range and found what the soldiers had been shooting at. He was absolutely dismayed to find it was a holy Koran riddled with bullets. And inside was scrawled some expletive graffiti, a reference to the film "Team America." Now, the locals then were obviously enraged but they approached the American commanders. The American commanders knew how incendiary this act was and they immediately launched an investigation.
And on Saturday, they announced the details of that investigation including the removal of the staff sergeant, a sniper, from Iraq as punishment. And Major General Jeffrey Hammond, the commander of Baghdad, had to say this to the local sheikhs and militia members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. JEFFREY HAMMOND, COMMANDER OF BAGHDAD: I come before you today seeking your forgiveness. In a most humble manner I look in your eyes today. I say please forgive me and my soldiers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: Now, that shows you how much General Hammond realized this was an explosive issue. And then he went on to say the sniper who had done this had lost his honor and didn't deserve serving the Army or the Iraqis here in Baghdad anymore and then we see the American brigade commander for that area presenting the sheikhs with a new Koran and he kisses it and touches it to his forehead before he hands it over. Alina.
CHO: Michael, you have been in the region for several years, you know this Iraq story better than most. As you well know, for an American audience the most glaring example of abuse by U.S. military would be Abu Ghraib. I'm just wondering how you think this incident compares to that?
WARE: Well, clearly this is not quite an Abu Ghraib. I mean, Abu Ghraib really is in a dimension of its own. However, let's look at other cases around the world where we see that the Islamic world feels that its religion has been slighted. There was a report from Afghanistan that American forces had flushed a Koran down the toilet. Now, the protests and demonstrations that sparked saw many, many people killed and it set American relations backwards there in that country and in Pakistan.
We also had an example of the cartoons by the Danish satirist in that newspaper. That inflamed tensions across the Islamic world.
CHO: Yes.
WARE: Now, to desecrate a holy Koran filling it full of bullets and then writing an expletive in there, really had the potential to just destroy this fragile alliance that the Americans had worked so hard to forge --
CHO: It most certainly -
WARE: ... with the Sunni insurgency. Alina.
CHO: Most certainly did and a rare mea culpa from the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. Michael Ware, our man in Baghdad. Michael, thank you. T.J..
HOLMES: Alina, I'm over here again at the international desk. So, the spot where many of our editors and producers are keeping an eye on those international stories like what's happening in Iraq, also the major story happening in China with the quake, also Myanmar with the cyclone there. But I have some news in to us, just into us from china and what is happening is that the torch - the Olympic torch relay will be stopped, suspended for the next three days for the three days of mourning taking place there in China. The Olympic torch which has been on the move for the past several weeks, we've seen in several other countries and protests associated with it because of the Beijing Olympics but it has made its way to China, expected to move or was expected scheduled to move in the next three days around certain parts of that country including Shanghai but right now, it has been suspended for the three days of mourning because of the China quake.
Now, also help for those victims of the China earthquake starting to come in, help coming in from the U.S.. The U.S. military plane carrying blanket, water and other supplies landed at Chengdu Airport a short time ago. We just learned that a second plane has now arrived. Also this morning, state-run media reports that the confirmed death toll from the earthquake has now risen to more than 32,000.
Meanwhile, while China is, of course, trying to deal with the crisis there having to do with this quake, also China having to deal with trying to get ready for the Olympics. Yes, that's just a few short months away. And a lot of questions about whether or not China can be ready given what they have to deal with with this quake. Certainly another question about whether any of the venues were damaged in the quake.
We want to join now on the phone to talk about how China is coping with all of these challenges right now, "Wall Street Journal" reporter Gordon Fairclough is in the quake zone, Sichuan province right now. Gordon, we appreciate you giving us some time today. Tell us how much talk is there right now about the Olympics, they're trying to deal with the crisis with the quake. But still, you have to have the Olympics on the mind. It's right around the corner.
VOICE OF GORDON FAIRCLOUGH, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Yes. Good morning, T.J.. I think that you know, I think actually the Olympics is less on the mind of people here certainly in the quake zone who are really scrambling and fighting against pretty harsh geography and very bad weather after the quake to try to get rescue operations and relief operations through to the places that need them. China has declared three days of national mourning which will delay the torch relay. But most of the Olympic venues are far, far away from this part of China, and are undamaged. And I know the government will make every effort to make sure that the Olympics come off without a hitch despite this tragedy.
HOLMES: And Gordon, how, I guess, do they go about doing that? And so much attention, resources even, time dedicated now to the quake and its recovery, can China handle both situations right now? They are of course trying to get ready and deal with the Olympics but also you have a major crisis on their hands with a lot of time, energy, effort, from the government needs to be directed towards the people there right now.
FAIRCLOUGH: Well that certainly is true. I think generally, though, you know, it's pretty distinct agencies that are of the government that are dealing with the games and with the earthquake, and China certainly has a lot of manpower resources - the Army here is more than two million strong, and something like 100,000 are now involved in quake relief so there are a lot of hands to go around.
HOLMES: A lot of hands to go around right now. Like you said, some of the venues are a long way away from the quake zone, so that is I guess some good news and welcome news there for the folks in China. We're trying to put the games together. Again, Gordon Fairclough with "The Wall Street Journal," reporter there for us in Sichuan province in the quake zone. Gordon, we appreciate your time today. Alina, I will hand it over to you for now.
CHO: All right. A lot ahead, T.J., paying students to study. Josh Levs asks you what you thought about that idea and boy, did you tell us.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no kidding. You did not pull any punches. And coming up, we're going to have some of your e-mails right here at CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Hey, that's catchy. Welcome back everybody.
HOLMES: That's what you got on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
CHO: Most certainly do. 43 minutes after the hour. Welcome back. And keeping financial secrets from your spouse or partner can threaten your checkbook and guess what it can also threaten your relationship.
HOLMES: Yes, it's infidelity of the financial sort. And the solution to the problem is "Right on your money."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARMEN WONG ULRICH, AUTHOR, "GENERATION DEBT": A quarter of both men and women are shopping online, mostly at work, to hide purchases from their partners.
CHRISINTE ROMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): The internet makes it easy to cheat.
ULRICH: And it's especially a problem if it gets in the way of paying off debts or your finances or you get some credit card bill problems.
ROMAN: Don't ignore signs that you or your partner has a problem if keeping a secret bank account, stashing money or hiding purchases and bills.
ULRICH: You're going to be upset. You're going to be angry. They use it as an opportunity to figure out why this is happening, what may have triggered it and how to prevent it.
ROMAN: Agreeing on a plan is the best way to stay financially faithful.
ULRICH: Whether it's an annual vacation or saving for your child's college education. If you keep those things in mind you feel that you're going towards a goal with your partner. You are more personally responsible for your money and how it's spent.
ROMAN: Christine Roman, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: try to keep an open book.
HOLMES: Well, we are -- our e-mail inbox. We knew that this is going to happen after the story yesterday. But our inbox is full of messages this morning about the story yesterday about students being paid to study.
CHO: Yes. The response was overwhelmingly negative with a couple of exceptions. Josh Levs from the dot com desk has read them all. He is here with us to share.
LEVS: Yes. You're not shocked, are you? You guys aren't shocked?
CHO: Not really. I mean listen, if you're getting paid just to show up.
LEVS: Right. Exactly. Because it's not for performance. It's just to show up at all. And you know, we knew that it is a hot button issue. And it will be all over. But I'm saying outrage is not too strong a word. Just to give you a basic. There's a private foundation paying the students $8 an hour just to show up for tutoring. And the pay was not based on grades. So, here are some of your thoughts. Let's start off with this one. "What are they thinking? To pay students for a privilege that millions of children all over the world would give anything to have - that's horrifying. Free tutoring, great. But to pay them to show up is disgusting and speaks volumes about the society we're creating in the U.S.." That's Jan in Las Cruces.
Next, "this idea is wrong on so many levels. What about the kids from all demographics who work hard and get good grades because it's good for their futures, because it's the right thing to do, because they have integrity and pride in themselves? That's Dee in San Antonio.
Now, "That program is perhaps the worst of all possible scenarios. One of the purposed for high school is for the student to prove his or her merit, and allow a college to feel confident that this student will succeed at higher education." All right. Here's a positive one. "I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm a student myself. I think paying students to get tutored gives them a push to make them want to learn more, because they're getting rewarded for learning. I think they should have more programs like that around the country."
And here's one that's kind of in between. "Perhaps the child who feels he cannot make good grades is offered payment as an incentive to attend the session only to prove to him he can learn; once the grades improve, the payment should cease. It would be up to the individual whether to continue. Some children may benefit from the boost of confidence."
Finally this, back to the real kind of thing we're getting. The last one I'll read to you. "Why in the world would anybody start compensating for failure? The fact that the kids were able to drastically improve their grades tells us that the system already works. It all boils down to the kids and parents taking responsibility.
So, there you go. I mean, real passionate responses. People are very upset over this whole idea. And really concerned that other schools may start to copy.
CHO: Oh, there is a question about what kind of values we're teaching our kid if we're paying them just to show up. But you know, that's just my humble opinion.
LEVS: No, you're right. That's a valid question.
CHO: All right. Josh, thank you.
HOLMES: Josh, thank you. Ahead we'll be talking about meals on wheels. What happens when they put on the brakes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just to eat a lot of beans.
HOLMES: Rising prices hit home for charities and the people who depend on it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: In today's "faces of faith," rising food and gas prices are taking a toll on most of our budgets but elderly and homebound Americans could be hit especially hard. That's because the charities they depend on for food may be forced to cut back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir. Hey, Mr. Stansell. How you doing?
HOLMES: For thousands of vulnerable Americans meals on wheels are a life line.
RUFUS STANSELL, MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENT: I have lung cancer, you know. I can't get anywhere without being tied to oxygen.
HOLMES: Atlanta resident Rufus Stansell like about a million homebound seniors across the country depends on Meals on Wheels. But rising food and gas prices are squeezing senior citizen services. That's the nonprofit group that helps Rufus remain at home.
JEFFREY M. SMYTHE, EXEC. DIR. SENIOR CITIZENS SERVICES: It's causing a lot of organizations like ours to hemorrhage. I mean, we're not having the ability to serve seniors like we used to.
HOLMES: It's the perfect storm for these charities. Gas and commodity prices hit one record after another. A tougher economic times affects grants and donations just as demand grows.
SMYTHE: We'll probably have to cut back in the number of seniors that we serve or even cut back on how often they receive meals so seniors that receive meals seven days a week now may have to go on five meals per week. And we hate to do that. That's - I mean, what's the use of meals on wheels if you can't get the nutrition you really need.
HOLMES: According to the agriculture department, food prices are likely to rise 4 percent to 5 percent this year, more than the overall rate of inflation and that hits the poorest hardest.
JOSEPH GLAUBER, CHIEF ECONOMIST, USDA: You have to consider the distributional impact, certainly lower income families see a very high proportion of their income go towards food.
HOLMES: Across America the elderly poor are facing tough choices. Pat Williams worries her husband will lose his meals on wheels.
PAT WILLIAMS, CAREGIVER: Well, I just have to spend a little bit more money. I believe in him having what he wants to eat.
HOLMES: Small nonprofits like STS in Atlanta operate on tight budgets but the people they serve like Rufus live on even tighter budgets and face a bleak future without their meals on wheels.
STANSELL: I just have to eat a lot of beans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, providing social services, arranging transportation to churches and synagogues. Those are just some of the challenges faced as congregations across the country grow older. Rabbi Dayle Freedman, the author of "Jewish Visions for Aging," a professional guide for fostering wholeness. He joins us now from Philadelphia for today's faces of faith. Ma'am, tank you so much for being here. We're talking about how much older the congregations are getting. Just how old are we talking about here?
RABBI DAYLE FRIEDMAN, THE CENTER FOR AGING & JUDAISM: We're talking very old. We have the age wave has hit as you know, T.J., and in the Jewish community about 25 percent of us are over 60 and I understand in the mainline churches maybe 35 percent of parishioners might be 60 and older.
HOLMES: Well, I guess we shouldn't be surprised at this. Since s much we know, so many Americans are living older these days, so many decades even past retirement. Which is a good thing but it does cause some issues. What are the issues in the church? It's not just a matter of like we said trying to get people to and from church, and things like that but you also have to guess, that - talk to these people in a different way, to guide them spiritually in a different way that you would have to guide a younger person.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely, T.J.. We're talking about a whole swath of experience that we haven't had before. Decades of opportunity post-retirement to find meaning and purpose and need to find meaning and purpose, plus potentially long periods of time when we may be frail and dependent and churches and synagogues are the places where we should be finding the meaning for that but I think the challenges that our congregations and our clergy are not prepared for this.
HOLMES: They are not prepared or they just not as they are coming through and being trained to be clergy, are they not being trained adequately? Does there need to be a change in their education coming up to deal with these older parishioners?
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely, T.J.. At the Reconstructive Rabbinical College where our center is located, we learned that most clergy are really not being prepared, not in the Jewish community, not in the Christian community, for serving and engaging elders in these unprecedented realities so we have set about to develop a training that will allow each and every clergy person within our seminary to be trained with the skills and the knowledge and the excitement and enthusiasm for creatively engaging elders.
HOLMES: And lastly and quickly here, you can't help but ignore this issue as you get older parishioners, a lot of those older people, are on fixed incomes so in a way does this hurt the churches across the country, synagogues and other places of worship financially, because those older parishioners can't give as much? FRIEDMAN: I'm sure that's the case in terms of the contributions that are financial. I would like to suggest, T.J., that the contributions that are in terms of wisdom and talent and guidance that elders can provide are not diminished by the limits on their income.
HOLMES: Well, you are right there. But you got to keep the lights on, too.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely.
HOLMES: OK. Rabbi Dayle Friedman, but again, some fascinating stuff, and something we probably need to be pay more and more attention to. Joining us live here from Philadelphia. Thank you for your time this morning, ma'am. You enjoy the rest of the day.
FRIEDMAN: It's an honor. Thank you, T.J..
HOLMES: All right. Alina.
CHO: All right. T.J., thanks. As you all know I'm here because Betty Nguyen isn't today. Well she has a good reason. Coming up next, we'll tell you why. And we are waiting for President Bush right now. He is scheduled to speak in Egypt in just a couple of minutes. You're looking live there at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.
CNN has gotten an advance copy of the President's speech. We'll tell you what it says and we will take you here live when the President speaks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: OK. Betty, my regular co-anchor. Well, she's always looking out for me over my shoulder but that's a little creepy this morning. That's the only picture you could find?
CHO: Hey, it's a publicity shot.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: But she looks good.
HOLMES: She looks great but just a little larger than life there this morning. We would like to send our congratulations. We're certainly proud of our little Betty Nguyen. There she is.
CHO: Oh, wow.
HOLMES: Yes. look at that. She was honored this weekend by her alma matter -
CHO: Turning it out as I'd like to say. She looks great.
HOLMES: Yes. University of Texas. She was being honored there.
CHO: That's right. Betty received the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award. Now the award was founded in 1885, way back then to praise and promote the university by honoring it's outstanding alumni. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: I wake up at 4 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to do the newscast. So, I don't have much of a life. And so, when I look back I look back with fond memories. But, you know, when I got to U.T., speaking of 4 a.m. That's when I was just pretty much coming home from studying of course mom. Hi, mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Oh, please, Betty. Oh my goodness. She has quite a life going.
CHO: She has quite a life.
HOLMES: Quite a life going here in Atlanta. She's got he Jane of the jungle thing going on with that dress there.
CHO: She looks great.
HOLMES: She looks great.
CHO: Yes, she does. There she is a better shot behind yesterday.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: By the way, we should mention that Betty graduated magna cum laude. How about that for you?
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: And she's in great company. You know, other Texas exes, Matthew McConaughey...
HOLMES: That's the one she loves to throw in there.
CHO: Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. Yes, it's a great crowd.
HOLMES: So, congratulations to Betty.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, it's CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's May 18th. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Good morning, T.J. Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho in this morning for Betty Nguyen. Thanks for starting your day with us.
HOLMES: The Kennedy clan rallying to the bed side of Senator Ted Kennedy after he reportedly suffered a seizure. We are live from Boston with the latest this morning, keeping an eye on that story. CHO: And right now, we are waiting to hear from President Bush. You're looking live there at Sharm el-Sheikh. He's scheduled to speak at the World Economic Forum at the Red Sea resort. He's at the podium right now. We're going to dip in in just a moment.
HOLMES: Economic issues they'll be talking about but not the only topic on the president's agenda. Again, we will take you there live to Egypt. That live picture you're looking right now. Several things on his plate. So, he's going to be talking about Mideast peace, also about diversifying economies, also political reforms and democracy in that region. So, again, we will dip in and listen to the president here shortly.
You can also see the entire speech right now on your computer. You can go to CNN.com/Live to see the speech from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Again, that's CNN.com/Live.
CHO: Yes, stay tuned because we're going to be watching for the portion about the economy and we'll get to the president in just a moment. So, stay with us.
But we also have this just in to CNN: China announcing just minutes ago that it will suspend the Olympic torch relay because of last week's earthquake. Now, the torch relay will be suspended from Monday until Wednesday, to observe a three-day mourning period for quake victims, that's according to state-run TV.
HOLMES: Also this morning: China's earthquake victims are getting some much needed help from the U.S. The first American military planes filled with blankets, water and other relief supplies touched down in Chengdu. That's right near the epicenter of last Monday's violent earthquake.
Meanwhile, the death toll in China continues to rise. At least 32,400 people killed. That is the latest official estimate.
Also: today, another amazing story of survival. A man found alive after being trapped under the rubble for six days. ITV's John Ray has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN RAY, ITV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nothing had among along this railway for a week, but today, running towards, something worth the wait.
They had carried him five miles - dehydrated, dirty, but alive against overwhelming odds. In a town called Hongbai (ph), a place of ruins and rubble. The mile after devastated mile, 90 percent of buildings were destroyed here.
Jung Jur (ph) survived as his workmates died because when their factory fell, he was trapped in the space under a door frame. On details like that life or death is decided.
(on camera): Miracles are few and far between here, but this is an amazing story of survival. The man found alive in the rubble six days after the earthquake.
(voice-over): Today, they welcomed him back to the land of the living from what has become a place of the dead.
Here, they pick piece by piece through the debris, delicate work, and heavy machinery. They search for signs of life almost always in vain.
Today, the official death toll approached 30,000. It will continue to rise. At least, Jung Jur (ph) will not be amongst them.
John Ray, ITV News, Hongbai, China.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Right now, we want to take you to a live event straight to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Red Sea resort where President Bush is talking the economy in the Middle East. Let's take a listen.
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES: Taking your place as a center of progress and achievement requires economic reform. This is a time of strength for many of your nation's economies.
Since 2004, economic growth in the region has averaged more than 5 percent. Trade has expanded significantly. Technology has advanced rapidly. Foreign investment has increased dramatically. And unemployment rates have decreased in many nations.
Egypt, for example, has posted strong economic growth, developed some of the world's fastest growing telecommunications companies and made major investment that is will boost tourism and trade. In order for the economic progress to result in permanent prosperity and an Egypt that reaches its full potential however, economic reform must be accompanied by political reform. And I continue to hope that Egypt can lead the region in political reform.
This is also a time to prepare for the economic changes ahead. Rising price of oil has brought great wealth to some in this region, but the supply of oil is limited. And nations like mine are aggressively developing alternatives to oil. Over time, as the world becomes less dependent on oil, nations in the Middle East will have to build more diverse and more dynamic economies.
Your greatest asset in this quest is the entrepreneurial spirit of your people. The best way to take advantage of that spirit is to make reforms that unleash individual creativity and innovation.
Your economies will be more vibrant when citizens whose dream of starting their own companies can do so quickly, but without high regulatory and registration costs. Your economies will be more dynamic when property rights are protected and risk taking is encouraged not punished by law. Your economies will be more resilient when you adopt modern agricultural techniques that make farmers more productive and the food supply more secure. And your economies will have greater long-term prosperity when taxes are low and all your citizens know that their innovation and hard work will be rewarded. One of the most powerful drivers of economic growth is free trade. So, nations in this region would benefit greatly from breaking down barriers to trade with each other. And America will continue working to open up trade at every level.
In recent years, the United States has completed free trade agreements with Jordan, Oman, Morocco, and Bahrain. America will continue to negotiate bilateral free trade agreements in the region. We strongly supported Saudi Arabia's secession to the World Trade Organization and we will continue to support nations making the reforms necessary to join the institutions of a global economy. And to break down trade barriers and ignite economic growth around the world, we will work tirelessly for a successful outcome to the Doha round this year.
As we seek to open up new markets abroad, America will keep our markets open at home. There are voices in my country that urge America to adopt measures that would isolate us from the global economy. I firmly reject these calls for protectionism. We will continue to welcome foreign investment and trade, and the United States of America will stay open for business.
CHO: President Bush addressing the World Economic Forum at the famous Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The president is touching on a number of issues in the advanced copy of the speech that we received -- really, the finishing touch on a five-day trip to the Middle East which also took him to Israel and Saudi Arabia, the president really, the centerpiece of this speech, talking about how the rising price of oil has brought great wealth to Arab nations. But that as the U.S. looks to alternatives to oil, Arab nations are going to have to look to alternatives to grow their economy.
HOLMES: And certainly a sticking point there with, of course, this is an economic forum he is speaking at and certainly the economies and opening up those markets, you just heard him touch on. But also another centerpiece of this entire trip and also part of the speech will be about Middle East peace and trying to get a Palestinian state in place by the end of his presidency -- that's something that he has pushed hard for and something he is pushing once again, trying to gain some momentum for on this particular trip. So, that's a part of it.
Also, talking about opening up for women's rights and young people's rights in some of these countries. So, a lot really on the president's plate.
CHO: That's right. And one that Middle East peace agreement, one thing that the president will say, which I found striking, is that he said, "The changes I have discussed will not come easily. Change never does." But they have one powerful engine in the Middle East, and that is demographics. The president will say that 60 percent of the population in the Middle East is under 30 years old. And he said that that bodes well for a peace agreement.
Certainly, an ambitious goal in the last eight months of the presidency, but certainly a goal of the president, we shall see what happens. He also touches on free trade and equality for women. And we are watching that speech very closely. We'll have a full wrap later on in the show.
HOLMES: And you can continue to watch it if you'd like to at CNN.com. You can see it streaming live in its entirety. Again, live at CNN.com/Live. You can see that speech happening right now, streaming live from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
CHO: That's right. But stick with us because just ahead on this CNN SUNDAY, Senator Ted Kennedy in the hospital.
HOLMES: Yes, a live report from outside that hospital in Boston.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back.
A U.N. envoy is heading to Myanmar right now. He is hoping to persuade the country's strict military rulers to accept more international help for cyclone survivors. Several world leaders have expressed outrage and aid workers are frustrated by the response.
The government in Myanmar says about 78,000 people are confirmed dead from the cyclone. Aid agencies say 2.5 million survivors are in desperate need of help.
And we know you want to help. At CNN.com, we have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar, complete with links to aid agencies offering help for the region. It is a chance for you to Impact Your World, and, of course, let us be your guide.
HOLMES: Well, what caused Senator Ted Kennedy to have an apparent seizure? Doctors have ruled out a stroke and say the senator is not in any immediate danger. Certainly, a good news to hear that.
CHO: That's right. Still, a seizure is scary, not taken lightly at all.
CNN's Deb Feyerick is monitoring the situation for us from Massachusetts General in Boston, one of the best hospitals in the country.
Hey, Deb, good morning.
FEYERICK: Good morning, Alina. Good morning, T.J.
Well, the senator is expected to undergo a lot of tests this morning, his condition is described as serious but as you say, it's not - he's not in any imminent danger. He is under observation for the seizure which happened about 24 hours ago when he was at his home in Hyannisport. He was taken to a local hospital there on Cape Cod after somebody called 911 and then he was helicoptered here to Massachusetts General.
He was here about seven months ago to undergo surgery to remove a blockage from a neck artery. That was in order to prevent stroke. His doctor yesterday issued a statement saying that preliminary tests indicate that this was not a stroke.
The senator did receive visitors. His wife was here, his niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, and his nephews, one of his own children was here. The night before the seizure, he actually had attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony. He appeared to be in good health. He is now at this hospital under the care of his primary physicians as they run a battery of tests today.
We've been told that it's unlikely we would know anything definitive until Monday. There's been no update to his medical condition or how he spent the night last night. But we do believe that he is rested well and the doctors will now try to figure out what triggered this. Alina, T.J.?
CHO: Well, Senator Kennedy, a liberal lion of the Senate, the second longest serving member of the U.S. Senate and just a familiar name to everyone in America.
Deb, encouraging that his family released a statement saying he was resting comfortably, watching the Red Sox game with his family members -- do we expect to hear anything more from the family or from the hospital today? If so, are you getting any sense of what might be said?
FEYERICK: Well, yesterday the hospital was actually supposed to issue some sort of a statement and have a press conference. They cancelled that press conference. Most of the information is coming out of Senator Ted Kennedy's folks.
We were told today that there would likely be no updates. But if that changes, of course, they'll alert us. It all depends on what happens with the tests. It all depends on whether there is any new information.
So, we're just sort of standing by, seeing what news there is. Of course, we'll keep an eye to see who comes to the hospital to visit today. Just to monitor, perhaps, how he's doing. Obviously, as people come here, there's a sense that they're upbeat and optimistic certainly. So, it's something we are checking on -- Alina.
CHO: Encouraging to see that and just such a scary news when we first heard it yesterday, Deb.
Incredible, T.J., that he was just at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. And according to some accounts, he looked better than he had in a long time. Some people had said he lost weight, feeling fit. So, we wish him the very best.
HOLMES: Oh, it sounds like it's going to be all right. Hopefully it will.
Now, we need to turn to some weather. Our Reynolds Wolf is off this weekend. Our Bonnie Schneider, it's always good to have you with us. And we are talking about -- it's supposed to be hot out west sometimes. It's California, it gets hot out there. But - SCHNEIDER: But this is unseasonably hot. We're talking about 106 in Las Vegas. That's the type of weather you see in August not in May. And even Sacramento right now this morning 64, yesterday, 101 degrees. So, the heat is definitely upon us.
What's happening is we have this really strong ridge of high pressure, and on the back side of that high, we're getting lots of warm air. So, temperatures up into Idaho, and Montana, well, they're going to be 20 degrees above normal today.
With that said -- remember, in the Cascades we still have snow on top of the mountains. So, flood watches are posted. And once you start heading back towards Montana, including Great Falls, those flood watches will extend all the way until tomorrow evening, more snowmelt due to warm temperatures. So, you have to very careful if you're driving on those mountain roads.
Well, there's 106 in Vegas for today, very hot there. Not just there but now it's the first heat wave of the season. In Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday you hit 108 degrees, the record high is 105.
Looking across areas to the east, just the opposite. We've got wet, kind of rainy conditions across Cleveland, into Pittsburgh, and we'll be seeing wet and cool weather in this region that may cause an airport delay or two later on this afternoon. But right now, things are looking OK for travel across the U.S.
Back to you.
CHO: Hey, Bonnie, I'm flying back to New York today. Am I going to be OK?
SCHNEIDER: Well, you may have a delay, you have some raining heading in that direction as well, but not as bad as it was, I think, on your inbound flight.
CHO: I just going to say, I may have to hang out today. Get you coming to the airport with me.
HOLMES: All right, Bonnie, thank you so much.
CHO: Coming up: Picture this, a high school yearbook filled with altered photos. Ouch.
HOLMES: It sounds like a nightmare. That is the case at one Texas school where the students are wondering how this could have happened. That story ahead on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And we want to take a quick look at some other stories that are making headlines this morning.
CHO: That's right. A health alert tops our headline. An Illinois company is recalling beef products distributed in almost a dozen states, 11 states affected. It could be contaminated with e. coli bacteria. Now, the beef was originally sold under the name "Morreale Meat" and it can be used in ground products as well. Officials say there are no reports, thankfully, that anyone has gotten sick from eating the meat.
Custody hearings resume tomorrow for the more than 400 children taken from that polygamist ranch in Texas. Parents are expected to hear the steps they must take in order to get their children back. Those kids have been in state custody for six weeks now, scattered in foster care facilities around the state.
HOLMES: Well, yearbook pictures are a big, big deal for high school students. And this is not how a lot of them wanted to be remembered. We're talking McKinney High School students in Texas got a bit of a surprise in their yearbook. About 600 of the pictures were altered. Clothes were digitally changed or removed in some cases. In other cases, the girls' heads were apparently put on the bodies of some boys.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, KTXA)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It hurts having spent an entire year, numerous hours after school, before school doing this book. And then we finally get it out, we're expecting great things from it, and all we get are complaints.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The company that printed the yearbook says that this was an honest mistake that was made by one employee and that employee now is going to have to eat the cost of reprinting those yearbooks.
CHO: I might be dating myself, but, you know, when I was in high school, digitally altering the photos was not an option.
HOLMES: Well, that's a good thing. That couldn't happen to you there at your high school.
CHO: You don't want to see my photo.
HOLMES: OK. I was about to ask you that.
CHO: Yes, right.
HOLMES: Well, high fuel costs have many people staying closer to home or taking shorter vacations.
CHO: That's right. For places that depend on summer tourists, the challenge is to squeeze more dollars out of fewer visitors.
CNN's John Zarrella reports on a roadside attraction in Orlando, Florida that's coming up with, shall we say, creative ways to stay open.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ah, it's spring. The time of year when alligators get all worked up -- the males grunting and puffing themselves up for the ladies. Most tourists come to Gatorland in Orlando because - well, gators are just different, unique.
And there aren't many places in the world where a crazy human will wrestle one.
While the novelty brings in guests, the folks at Gatorland are not naive. In this difficult economy, Gatorland's success is tied more than ever to how well the big three theme parks do.
TIM WILLIAMS, GATORLAND DEAN OF GATOR WRESTLING: As long as the larger parks, Disney, SeaWorld, Universal, keep things going real well, people will filter over and see us.
ZARRELLA: Visitors like the Bartolo's (ph) from California say they've stream lined their summer plans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Instead of multiple trips, we put it all into one and getting it all out in a week, and then, we'll be done for the rest of the year.
ZARRELLA: At Gatorland, they are already looking at ways to get smaller crowds to stay longer and spend more. Like $10 for a picture of your kid riding a gator. Mouth taped shut, of course.
Hey, it goes well with that picture of Mickey.
John Zarrella, CNN, Orlando, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: I am not putting my chin on the top of a gator's mouth. Creative ways, right.
Well, for a daily dose of economic news that can directly affect your finances tune in weekdays at noon Eastern to ISSUE #1 with Ali Velshi and Gerry Willis. What is John Stewart likes to call Ali, the hairless prophet of doom.
HOLMES: That's right on, I believe.
CHO: Yes, it is. Bad news every day unfortunately.
HOLMES: Well, just ahead here: A crash course in constitutional law. Could you argue affirmative action before the U.S. Supreme Court?
CHO: Well, you're about to meet a group of high school students who are learning to do exactly that. We'll show them to you.
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HOLMES: Well, if you are like most Americans, you probably know relatively little about the U.S. Constitution. Few could name the constitutional amendments and the Bill of Rights. CHO: It's kind of sad, you know. But a group of high school students is learning firsthand just how vital the Constitution is to our daily lives. Here's CNN's Kathleen Koch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The setting is intimidating, a real hearing room where senators recently quizzed the top U.S. general in Iraq.
This team's drill sergeant and coach, Denver Attorney Susan McHugh.
SUSAN MCHUGH, ATTORNEY: Everything my student is saying, they will have to use evidence, being case law, statistical evidence, whatever it is that furthers their opinion on the question posed. They will have to use that to persuade the judges that their ideas, their concepts have relevance.
KOCH: Students from Denver's East High School spent thousands of hours over the last year learning the constitutional principles in a thick manual and how to debate their merits, nerves are raw.
The judges are real judge, a political science professor, and a lawyer. The topic: affirmative action.
JOSEPH STEWART, JR., COMPETITION JUDGE: In order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion, why?
TAYLOR WANT, EAST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Race is necessary in dealing with racism. A good example of this is in Justice Breyer's dissenting opinion.
MAYA BURCHETTE, EAST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: They'd shown (ph) that economic factors would be a good way to balance schools, just because wealth is not a suspect class under the 14th Amendment.
BRENDAN LAMARRE, EAST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Race should always be a factor when we look at diversity in schools.
KOCH: Brendan Lamarre says that we, the people (ph) competition has changed his plans for the future.
LAMARRE: It's really opened my mind. You know, I had never really thought about being a lawyer. I've always liked math and science, but I find this connection with reading case law, even though it may sound boring.
KOCH: Finally, the announcement that of the 1,200 students competing from around the country, East High won for the second year in a row.
REBECCA NATHANSON, EAST HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: You know, win or lose, I can't even verbalize how much I've learned from it and I will take this knowledge with me the rest of my life. KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Congratulations to them. Obviously excited.
CHO: Yes, I think we're looking at some future politicians there.
HOLMES: Yes, and what are we looking at here now in this video? Let's see. Another congratulations to go around.
CHO: Check her out, man.
HOLMES: Who is that?
CHO: Oh, my gosh.
HOLMES: That is our own Betty Nguyen we need to congratulate. And...
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: ... for the past month, every day that we get off the set here, she said, "got to go shopping, I've got to find the dress."
CHO: Yes, well, she found one.
HOLMES: She found the dress.
CHO: Yes, she did.
HOLMES: She looks like Jane of the jungle there in that little (inaudible) orange there. Very nice. But that's our Betty, it's her alma mater, the University of Texas, getting an award.
CHO: She looks great. She's in good company with Matthew McConaughey and former White House press secretary Scott McClellan. Congratulations, Betty.
HOLMES: Outstanding Texas Ex. So congratulations, Betty. Well, "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta starts right now.
