Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Myanmar Aid difficulties; Candidates Soldier On; Tornadoes in Alabama; Men and Women Spending Differently
Aired May 10, 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, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's May 10th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
We do have a crisis to tell you about this morning in Myanmar. Election boxes, believe it or not, are out, voters are going to the polls in Myanmar as cyclone victims still wait for boxes of food and water.
HOLMES: And take a close look at this video. Do you see that car flying around as a tornado rips through a parking lot? And there is potential for more tornadoes today. Our Reynolds Wolf is here. He has our forecast.
NGUYEN: Listen to this. Women in the work place - it is our issue number one this morning, because more women than men are getting jobs. So, why is that? We have a reality check.
HOLMES: But we will turn to Iraq. Just in to us this morning, word of a ceasefire there. This, again, is coming to us just minutes ago. We've learned that militia fighters and the government have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in Baghdad and Sadr City. That development new in to us according to the movement of the anti- American cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. A ceasefire would end weeks of fighting there in the capital in this heavily Shiite neighborhood.
Also, just overnight, more than a dozen people were killed in Sadr City. We are following that story. We'll bring you more developments as they surely will be coming in to us.
NGUYEN: Let's take you now to the growing desperation in Myanmar. The world is focusing on the humanitarian crisis.
HOLMES: However, Myanmar's military government is instead focusing on possibly strengthening its own power. A referendum vote on a new Constitution ended about 90 minutes ago. Voting has been postponed for two weeks in some of the hardest hit areas of that cyclone.
NGUYEN: Several countries are already sending aid into the area, and finally, the U.S. has been cleared to join those efforts, but are only being allowed to send a single plane load. That's expected to arrive Monday. The U.N.'s World Food Program says it is sending trucks and planes into the area today. Well, CNN's Dan Rivers has more on the relief efforts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there has been some progress in this affected (ph) standoff between the U.N. World Food Program and the military rulers of Myanmar. A compromise, it appears, has been brokered. Some flights will now go in from the World Food Program via Cambodia.
There had been real anger here from the WFP. Their supplies were impounded at the airport in Yangon by military officials who refused to allow WFP staff distribute the food and medicine as is normally the case. Now, though, some supplies are going in its aid effort begins to ratcheting up. The U.S. is also being granted permission to fly one C-130 transport plane in on Monday.
But there's much more that could go in if permission was granted from this region. There are warships in the area with helicopters. There are a lot of supplies waiting here to go in, lot of charity workers and NGOs, still are waiting for their visas. So, a frustrating time for everyone who wants to go in and help, and this all now a week after cyclone Nargis brought that devastation in Southern Myanmar.
Dan River, CNN, Bangkok.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, we know that you may want to help. And at CNN.com we have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar, complete with links to aid agencies that are organizing help for the region. It's a chance for you to impact your world. So, let us be your guide.
HOLMES: We will turn back to the U.S. now. On much of the south bracing for severe weather today - not what storm victims in some of those areas want to hear. North Carolina is still reeling from the Thursday tornado through the Greensboro area. This video you're seeing here shows some of the power of these storms. One person, at least one died. The governor does plan a tour of the damaged area today.
NGUYEN: Well, as you know, it's already been a rough week. This dramatic video shows the severe damage caused by a tornado last weekend in Earle, Arkansas. High winds, heavy rain, and hail are blamed to tearing 75 to 100 homes in Northern Virginia. The storms blew through late Thursday and check out this. That is a huge sink hole near Houston, Texas. It's at least 260 feet deep and 900 feet across. Officials say the hole is still growing but not as fast as it was. Thank goodness, half of Texas may in that hole as it keeps as much as it was.
HOLMES: All right. In several states, as we were saying, may get hit with severe weather again today. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is live in our weather center for us.
Good morning to you, busy man.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, gosh, what is it about this weekend, when things always seem to get ramped up. This is going to be really no different from what we've seen the last couple of weekends. This morning we've had some strong storms, nothing severe at this point though, in places south of Buffalo and just to the west of New York, now in the east of Pittsburgh. Another spot that we're seeing, south of the Great Lakes and into parts of the Midwest, south of Sioux Falls and just to the west of Omaha, some thunderstorms there, too.
And what we're going to be seeing later today is going to be the potential of some very strong storms and we've got plenty of moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. With that, the chance of severe storms, the day hitting this parallel (ph) boundary drifting from the west to the east, we could see the possibility of some very strong thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds and perhaps, even some tornados. Some tornados very similar to the ones we saw in Leighton, Alabama.
Take a look at this surveillance video that we have for you. I want you to watch, you're going to see something here in this parking lot. Right then it's not too impressive but wow, you see the gate shot. That sign (ph) of things begin to pick up and there are the cars, speaking of picking up, getting tossed around like toys.
We have another vantage point of this -- I think another angle that shows the camera looking in the other direction. The results are the same. We've got some strong winds coming through, and as soon as that wind, some of that air gets underneath those cars, it just can simply pick them up and move them off.
Hence, it's one of the reasons why we always tell you that during times of severe weather, especially tornados, you're actually better off getting outside of your car and laying flat in a ditch than staying in a vehicle. Those cars, of course, can be death traps, no question about it.
Again, another scenario is shaping up today for that possibility of severe storms. We're going to keep a very sharp eye on that for you. And it's coming mainly into parts of the mid-Mississippi valley, southward to places like Arkansas, perhaps even Tennessee, Mississippi, parts of Alabama, Louisiana and even to East Texas. Nothing big now, but I would say between the hours of say, 6:00 o'clock tonight and about 9:00 o'clock is when things should begin to get ramped up. Some of that will continue into tomorrow.
We're going to show you who'll be affected on Sunday, coming up in one of our next updates. Let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: Oh, not on Mother's Day, Reynolds.
WOLF: Hey, you know, we don't plan this.
NGUYEN: I know, you're just the messenger, I get it. But we have to blame somebody. So, there you are. Thanks, Reynolds. WOLF: Exactly. Bring it on.
NGUYEN: Well, her superdelegate lead, it's dwindling and many now say time is running out for her presidential bid. But Hillary Clinton vows to keep fighting.
HOLMES: Yes, she is attending a Mother's Day event on New York today, while Barack Obama is campaigning in Oregon.
We do want to turn and get the latest from our CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, who has rolled in to Charleston, West Virginia, along with the Election Express. West Virginia, what does that mean for Hillary Clinton?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: West Virginia means 28 delegates and they vote here on Tuesday, we're just three days away. This really is a great state for Hillary Clinton. And while the dynamics - the dynamics of this battle between Clinton and Obama definitely changed, this race is not over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People say to me all the time, "Well, are you going to keep going?" Well yes, of course, I'm going to keep going.
STEINHAUSER (voice-over): Those don't sound the words of someone who's giving up. Hillary Clinton campaigning in Oregon and Kentucky, two states that hold primary in 10 days.
With the primary clock running out, Clinton trails Barack Obama in just about every category. But she continues on, touting her electability and separating herself from her rival.
CLINTON: You have to have a seamless health care system which covers every single person. My plan does, my opponent's plan doesn't.
STEINHAUSER: Obama is on the driver seat now, but on the trail, he's a modest man.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We do not have this nomination locked up. So, we're still competing and she's going to do very well in West Virginia and Kentucky. She will win those states like -- in all likelihood by significant margins.
STEINHAUSER: But about the only time he talks about Clinton is when he's asked. Otherwise, the person in his sights is John McCain.
OBAMA: John McCain has served this country with honor and I respect that service. But when I heard him say that he had surveyed the Bush economic record over the last 7 1/2 years and concluded that we had made great progress, I was curious about who did it was that he was talking to, because I think he's dead wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE) STEINHAUSER: Now, neither candidate is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination by the time this race is over, by the time the primaries are over in June 3rd, so there is another fight going on and that is for superdelegates. Those are Democratically-elected governors, members of Congress, big party officials; and both candidates are trying to make their move and trying to grab as many as possible.
Hillary Clinton used to have a huge lead when it comes to superdelegates, but in the last couple of days, and actually in the last couple of months, there has been a steady flow towards Barack Obama and now her lead is only about four or five delegates, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Yes, we saw a little swapping, some jumping ship from Hillary Clinton going over to Barack Obama. Also, he picked up a few more yesterday. Tell us though, all eyes, of course, on the more interesting race right now, of course, among the Democrats, but John McCain doesn't have much of an opponent right now, but still, let's find what he's up to right now. What is he doing?
STEINHAUSER: You know what - he's taken -- mostly taken the weekend off which is nice because you and I are definitely not doing that. But he was out this past week campaigning. He had fundraisers in Texas and he's heading back to Phoenix for the weekend. But we'll see him back on the campaign trail again next week. He starts his week in Oregon on the campaign trail, T.J.
HOLMES: That is a pretty good schedule to be a presidential candidate. You get the weekends off, who knew?
Paul Steinhauser...
STEINHAUSER: For now.
HOLMES: For now, yes. Paul, I know you haven't had a weekend off in quite some time. We appreciate you. It's always good to see you.
I want to take a look now at where things stand in that all- important delegate count. Barack Obama still leads in the overall delegate count. He trails Hillary Clinton by four superdelegates right now. According to CNN's most recent figures, Obama has 1,860 delegates, that includes 268 superdelegates. Clinton has 1,696 overall delegates and 272 superdelegates. A candidate needs, as you heard Paul say, 2,025 to get the nomination.
Up next with the Democrats: West Virginia. Join the best political team on television for complete coverage Tuesday, starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, only right here on CNN: Your home for politics.
Also: Tune in today for CNN's BALLOT BOWL. It's your chance to learn about the candidates' plans from the candidates themselves. BALLOT BOWL, today at 3:00 Eastern, noon Pacific.
NGUYEN: All right. So, you're not sure what to give your mother this Mother's Day? T.J., how are doing in that category? HOLMES: I'm not doing well. Let's talk it about it later.
NGUYEN: OK. But here's an idea -- why not a gift that benefits mothers around the world.
HOLMES: Yes. Coming up: I want to introduce you to a unique group that matches your charitable gift with the people who need it most.
HOLMES: And a little bit later, the male economy and the female economy. Believe it or not, they do exist and one is doing much better than the other.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN: The news channel trusted by more Americans. Now: Back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
HOLMES: After months of gloomy economic news, hinting at a recession, it's a glimmer of hope. The U.S. trade deficit actually declined and significantly in March. The Commerce Department reports it fell 5.7 percent from February to $58.2 billion.
NGUYEN: Well, the change was driven by a 2.9 percent decline in imports for the month of March and that is the biggest drop since 2001. So, what this means is that Americans are spending much less than before especially on imported goods.
HOLMES: Many people having forced to cut back on spending because they've lost their jobs.
NGUYEN: Yes, but that's just part of the story, what you got to spend depends on whether you're a man or a woman -- believe it or not. Josh Levs is here to explain that. So, who has more?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's not what people are expecting. It's not what people are expecting. Yes, I mean, this is really interesting. It turns out there is a thing called a male economy and a female economy. That's according to something I read this week. I'm going to show the numbers now as well.
Take a look this. First of all, credit where it's due. I saw this in "Business Week" this week. It's the article that said, "The slump, it's a guy thing." You can see the headline right there. Let's look what they're talking about. I spoke with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and what I found is that that the numbers they have in this article are actually perfectly accurate.
Between that November and April, the number of men working, look at this year, dropped from 75.8 million to 75.1 million. For women it went up -- from 65.0 to 65.3. So, what's happening? In those months, that five-month period, guys lost 700,000 jobs; women gained 300,000 jobs. So, why are guys losing so many jobs while women are gaining so many?
The sectors, largely, because of the sectors. This is what's going on. Construction and manufacturing, those sectors are losing a lot of jobs. Each day, we keeping hearing about how this is a big part of recession -- construction and manufacturing all over the place. Meanwhile, some female-driven sectors like education and health care are actually gaining jobs.
For example, there's been a nursing shortage for quite a while. But now, they're actually hiring a lot of numbers, they start to make up some of that shortage. By and large, women lead in that profession, so there you go. That is part of the reason why. But I don't want to create too rosy a picture for women.
Well, here's a quote from this article here. It specifically says, "This situation is hardly good news for women. Their pay is stagnant and, in this sense (ph), a female economy cannot stay strong for long if the male economy weakens too much. There you go. But it's interesting with all these reports about job losses, it's really the guys. Women are doing well these days, they're gaining jobs.
HOLMES: We are lucky to be here.
NGUYEN: Exactly.
LEVS: Yes. We got something good. Hold on.
NGUYEN: Be nice to me. It has nothing to do with maintaining your job though. So, when it comes to money-wise, I mean, how much more?
LEVS: Money-wise - well, yes. Actually, this is the thing -- so, women are doing pretty well in terms of job, but in terms of what they're actually paid is not good news. That's what's unfortunate. Let's take a look at this. I'll show you one more thing here from "Business Week." It's not a piece of good news.
Women, in general, have been catching up to men in terms of salaries, but over the last year, bad news. "Although the pay gap between men and women has been gradually narrowing, it actually widened over the last year."
And you can see the figures there. So, what happened is -- over the last year, the difference grew to 4.6 percent. Before that, it was 3.1 percent, which means that difference went up by about 50 percent for women falling farther behind to how much money they'll make.
NGUYEN: OK. So, we're gaining in jobs but we're not making as much.
LEVS: You're making money compare to men than you were.
NGUYEN: Why?
LEVS: Well, a lot of it has to do with which jobs people are willing to take, also, whether they're full-time jobs. I was looking at some of these numbers, people are working.
NGUYEN: OK, that matters. Because a lot of people, you know, are parents and moms stay at home can only take a part-time job.
LEVS: That's right. And in general, the economy, you know, has been struggling for a lot of people. So, it's not like, in general, people will make a lot more money. When you look at the sectors in which a lot of women are entering into, they're not paying that great these days by comparison. So, that's difference is getting worse.
NGUYEN: So, we all have complaints then.
LEVS: We all have complaints but we've got a little more to complain about today, I think.
NGUYEN: What we have are fewer jobs and we're not making as much money-- what are you complaining about? Get out of here.
LEVS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Thanks, Josh.
HOLMES: Josh, thanks.
NGUYEN: Speaking of your money, your house, your savings, how about your debt, too? Learn how the number one issue in this country is facing, folks, and that, of course, is the economy. How are you dealing with it? Well, it's "Issue #1" and it's all this week at noon Eastern, right here on CNN.
HOLMES: Well, there is a way you can give to mothers around the world on this Mother's Day. We'll explain how right after this.
NGUYEN: Oh, have you heard? There's a big wedding going on tonight in a little town in Texas? Yes, Jenna Bush is walking down the aisle and Crawford, Texas is all geared up and dressed for its parts (ph).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Clearance for U.S. aid to Myanmar but it's only a drop in a bucket. The U.S. effort has been stalled in Myanmar by its military government and it's now only approving a single plane load of U.S. aid to enter the country which is expected to arrive on Monday. Meanwhile, though, some aid is already being distributed in the country also known as Burma. That aid coming from neighboring countries.
HOLMES: Well, of course, many of you like to give to major charitable organizations, but sometimes you don't specifically where that money is going, but you give to help out. Well, how would you like to get more specific? Maybe you could help computer literacy in Afghanistan or possibly help out in schools in Honduras?
Well, you can target your giving just like that with a group called Global Giving. It's a unique charitable organization. It provides many ways you can help, including in Myanmar right now and also other places. And Mari Kuraishi is co-founder and president of Global Giving and she joins us now from Washington to explain how this works. This is an interesting, a unique idea, have you found, that people are really receptive to being able to really target where their money is going?
MARI KURAISHI, PRES., GLOBAL GIVING FOUNDATION: Absolutely. You know, people love to know that they're doing good and the best way for knowing that they're doing good is hearing exactly what their money did. So, for Mother's Day, we've got wonderful maternal health and young women projects that people can give to, whether it's in Kenya or India, and make a difference and honor their mothers at the same time.
HOLMES: So, on this Web site, when you do give, you, and again - going through there, and you can either go by and find a region that you'd like to give to and then get more specific about the cause or find a cause and then the region. But once people find an area they want to give, then they get updates about that money was for, is that right?
KURAISHI: Exactly. Once you give the money, a couple of months later, you may or even sooner, you might hear back from the organization or the project leader that's doing all these great work in the field and hear that your mother actually helped teen mothers get access to education and training; and that women in Afghanistan got education. You'll even get pictures.
HOLMES: Tell us now what the efforts are in Myanmar. There are several things listed now and, of course, there is a great need there. Tell us about those particular projects that are happening now.
KURAISHI: Well, we're really fortunate to have direct relationships with the organizations that are working in Burma already. You've heard how hard it is to get aid in there. I think we're really fortunate to be able to direct funds to provide shelter, provide water, and Urwadi (ph), and all of the other cyclone devastated areas, and you will hear back as to exactly what your money is doing.
HOLMES: And tell me, given the tough economic times right now, a lot of charitable groups are reporting that donations are down, food banks talking about donations are down. But giving the way that you are set up, that people can really target how they're money is used, have you seen a drop off as well or things pretty or staying steady or do you fall victim to the same things that those other charitable groups have been this time?
KURAISHI: We actually haven't seen any downturn so far, fingers crossed. Maybe, it's because, you know, of as little as $10, you can make a difference. And you know, in the developing world, $1 goes a long way still. And so, we haven't seen any downturn and things like disasters, of course, you know, really prompt people to be generous.
HOLMES: And again, I want to make sure there are some, I think, 400-plus groups on here, all well-vetted by you all, so people can be assured that their money is going specifically to this and they will get updates.
KURAISHI: Absolutely. We have vetted them, we know them intimately. We can insure that you'll hear back and if you don't hear back, we'll give you a guarantee that you can redirect your money elsewhere.
HOLMES: All right. Mari Kuraishi, really, Global Giving is the name of it. GlobalGiving.com, is that right? I believe it is.
KURAISHI: GlobalGiving.org or GlobalGiving.com, whichever one you like.
HOLMES: But it's there and really, you can go through there and find a specific organization and find a specific cause, a specific region you like your money to go to. So, it's an interesting idea. And you can donate on behalf of your mother and give a Mother's Day gift.
Mari Kuraishi, the co-founder and president of Global Giving, thank you so much for your time this morning.
KURAISHI: Thank you so much.
HOLMES: All right. And again, that Web site there: GlobalGiving.com or GlobalGiving.org, she said. But no problem, you're not going to have a problem finding it.
NGUYEN: And speaking of these developing countries, especially those in need of help right now, let's talk about the devastation in Myanmar. We're going to be dealing with that after this.
Plus: The U.S. government is trying to get some help to those who are being restricted from the needs that they're really trying to get that, that being the food and the water and all of that. And we're going to take you to a nerve center of U.S. relief operation.
HOLMES: Also: The economy impacting the sports world, leaving many stadiums and racetracks not as full. We'll take a look at attempts to lure those fans back in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have the capability to fly equipment in. We have a capability to airdrop some equipment. But, again, we were waiting on the request from the government of Burma.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: The U.S. military and dozens of aid agencies are ready and willing to help thousands of cyclone victims in Myanmar.
Welcome back, everybody on a Saturday morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CO-HOST: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
And we are bringing you the latest on the relief efforts from around the globe. And that country certainly needs them, Myanmar right now, also known to many of you as Burma. Well, the things in some of this relief improving just a bit, getting a little better, and now, the government there, approving some of that aid from the U.S.
NGUYEN: Yes, it's just a little bit and that's a problem, especially considering the growing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, as many as 1 million people are left homeless and CNN State Department correspondent, Zain Verjee, has much more on this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: This is the nerve center for USAID relief operations for Myanmar. People here are working around the clock and they are poised to launch a massive relief effort. They're in touch with people both here in Washington as well as in the region. For the United States and the people of Myanmar, a little bit of good news.
(voice over): Finally, a green light.
GORDON JOHNDROE, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY PRESS SECY.: We have received approval from the Burmese government for a U.S. military C- 130 cargo plane with emergency relief supplies to land in Burma on Monday.
VERJEE: USAID workers are still shut out from the country and the U.S. is negotiating who will distribute the aid to victims. Other U.S. military assets are on stand by, ready to go in if given permission.
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think there are three or four ships is -- either has or is offloading some helicopters to be available in Thailand because they could reach Myanmar in very short -- in a matter of hours from Thailand with relief supplies.
VERJEE: The danger of diseases like malaria and cholera is looming. And senior USAID officials say they must get clean water in as soon as possible. A U.S. disaster team is still waiting for visas to Myanmar. They can judge what's needed on the ground which will open up the floodgates to more U.S. money. The U.S. is ruling out high altitude drops from planes but may consider low level helicopter drops, insisting ground coordination is key for delivering aid.
TONY BANBURY, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: We'll organize distribution so they're orderly and they aren't food riots and the young men don't appear and start carting off the food and the old ladies and little kids are left with nothing.
VERJEE: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reaching out to allies like China and India, urging them to pressure Myanmar to let the aid flow.
SEAN MCCORMACK, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: And use whatever leverage they have with that top decision-making where in the Burmese regime.
VERJEE (on-camera): USAID chief, Henrietta Fore says that she's hopeful that this is just the beginning of the aid. She says the U.S. has a lot of resources and a genuine desire to help the people of Myanmar.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: You know, seeing all of this, we know that you may want to help. And at CNN.com, we do have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar, complete with links to aid agencies that are organizing help for that region. It is a chance for you to impact your world, so, let us about your guide.
HOLMES: Well, I want to a quick look at some other stories that are making headlines this morning.
NGUYEN: Yes. A shocking discovery, authorities in Wisconsin find the decaying body of a 90-year-old woman in the bathroom of a home which she shared with a woman and two children. Now, police say the body has been there for two months. Two adults face charges including causing mental harm to children and police say the pair believed if they've prayed hard enough, the dead woman would come alive. An autopsy will be performed to determine her cause of death.
HOLMES: Well, I'm not sure what your grandmother is up to, but authorities say this one was dealing crack. This is a 93-year-old woman in North Carolina who has now pleaded guilty to crack and cocaine charges. Helen Taylor, however, avoided jail when a Pitt County judge sentenced her to three years probation.
The woman's grandson says someone may have dropped the drugs on her back porch. But police say they caught her right-handed kicking the drugs out of her backdoor.
NGUYEN: Well, "I thought I was going to die." Those exact words from a woman caught in a sweep current of an Oklahoma City dam. Over the years, look at this, a number of people have drowned in this particular spill (ph), a 22-year-old woman barely escaped from coming the latest victim. Fire crews rushed to rein swallowing waters and pulled her from the vicious undertow.
HOLMES: Well, as we have been talking a bit this morning, more severe weather is on the way. Reynolds Wolf is keeping an eye on that for us. Hello again to you, sir.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, guys. This looked like a pretty rough scenario for many people, but not just across the U.S., but specifically in parts of the southeast. In fact, take a look at this map right behind me. It's going to be in parts of Arkansas, Texas, into Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and even Tennessee, a very rough in store of us. We're going to talk about that severe weather, I'm afraid, coming up in a few moments right here on CNN SATURDAY. NGUYEN: Right, Reynolds.
Plus: The same old sad story -- gas prices going up yet again. We have the grim details ahead along with the affect the rising prices are having on the sports world. That's ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. So, we're going to give you a look at the Washington National Cathedral like you have never seen it before.
HOLMES: Yes, colorful lights and images being projected on the side of the cathedral each night this weekend. Some pretty cool looking stuff here. A couple of different designs, something that look like stained glass, if you will, even images of stars.
NGUYEN: Well, let me tell you about this because it's the work of a Swiss lighting artist, I know you kind of scratch your heads, and it's part of a project called, "Lighting to Unite," celebrating the cathedrals centennial and highlighting its call for global unity.
You know, Mother's Day is tomorrow. And it will be a really special day for an Arkansas woman.
HOLMES: Well, I love this story. Because I remember this guy from my days in Arkansas but this lady and her husband are expecting their 18th child.
NGUYEN: It just hurts to hear.
HOLMES: Eighteenth child, Michelle Duggar and her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, have 17 kids as you see there. They have seven girls and 10 boys. The ages are from nine months to 20 years old. All of them are home schooled. Well, mom and dad say they'll keep having kids as long as God wills it.
NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness.
HOLMES: The new baby due in January. But Jim Bob, he ran for - he was a state legislator there in Arkansas and he also ran for the U.S. Senate. So, he was on a lot of campaign signs with his whole family.
NGUYEN: Well, he's, obviously, a people person. He's got 18 of his own kids.
HOLMES: He has to be.
NGUYEN: Here's what I read about what the mother did that she has been pregnant for the last 11 years. You know, I can't even imagine. Yes, happy Mother's Day to you. Boy, if anyone deserved it and earned it, you better be getting a lot come tomorrow to you, having pregnant for the past 11 years on your 18th child.
Already, I'm worn out just thinking about that. OK. So, let's get to this, a man who lost two homes to hurricane Katrina hit the jackpot.
HOLMES: That's Carl Hunter there. A 73-year-old gentleman who'd just picked up his $97 million powerball prize this week. He actually won it back in January. What are you waiting on?
NGUYEN: Well, Hunter, who owns a construction company, said he wanted to wrap up some building projects before getting the money. So, he opted for a lump payment of almost $34 million after taxes.
HOLMES: He wants to retire now and rebuild a camp that was lost to Katrina. I still, however, Betty, do not understand waiting until, if you have a ticket in January, until May to cash in $34 million lump. I don't understand that part.
NGUYEN: Yes. I mean, you'd think that you want to get your right away. I don't know, maybe he was in shock and that's a lot of money to win all of a sudden after you've lost so much in hurricane Katrina.
HOLMES: I don't care. I would call and wake up the powerball chairman at his home in the middle of the night to get my money.
NGUYEN: Well, here's a deal. He should really thank his wife, and Reynolds, I think you can relate. You know, when your wife sends you to the store, she wants some milk or something like that, in this case it was milk, and it was at that point when he bought the lottery ticket, the winning lottery ticket. So, I think his wife should get about 99 percent of it.
WOLF: That's what I'm talking about.
HOLMES: She's going to get it anyway.
NGUYEN: Yes, exactly. We know how this works, right?
WOLF: Yes, because in my house, it's not even a question. I mean, it's done. There's no discussion. It's boom.
NGUYEN: Sign that check over.
WOLF: Absolutely, but yes, what a great thing to them - what a great way to see the fortunes change for them.
Hey, our fortunes in terms of weather are going to go from pretty interesting this morning to pretty bad by the afternoon. Right now, some scattered showers are popping up in places like just west of New York at this time and also, just to the east of Pittsburgh, nothing severe but some heavier downpours. Also, when you're in Aberdeen and southward to Sioux Falls, and just to the Omaha area, you're also going to see some raindrops there, too.
But we're really keeping a sharp eye on what is going to happen this afternoon in parts of Arkansas, into Louisiana, Tennessee, back in Alabama, perhaps even in to places like Texas for a chance of some very strong storms -- because all of the components are there. We've got plenty moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. We're expecting a lot of heat to build up today, a very unstable atmosphere. And then, as we get to the late day hours, I would say we're going to see some really rough stuff, mainly into the late afternoons for much of Texas, and as we make our way into the evening hours, overnight moving into Mississippi, Alabama and into Tennessee.
And speaking of Tennessee, let's look at our friends in Memphis. We've got it right, a great shot for you. This is from WMC in Memphis. Now, T.J.'s mom and dad, live over here, on the other side of that river, which, T.J., again, that is not in Tennessee, that is in -- Arkansas. That's right from the other side.
HOLMES: Thank you for explaining that to the people. Let's see that shot again.
NGUYEN: Let's see that again. Was that actually in Memphis or was that in West Tennessee?
WOLF: This is parts of Memphis. Kind of a muggy morning there, a little bit of haste (ph) there, very, very humid. So that with a lot of heating today is going to make the atmosphere pretty juicy and pretty ripe for some strong storms. So, T.J., give your parents a call later on today.
NGUYEN: That's what I said.
HOLMES: That's what we called the new bridge there in Memphis. There's an old bridge to get you from West Memphis over to Memphis, Tennessee, that's the new bridge there and yes, some severe weather coming through and everybody has been telling me to check on my people, so I will do that.
WOLF: Dial the digits, man.
HOLMES: Yes, I will. We'll have a beeper with him here.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Yes, call mom. See how she's doing.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds. Thanks, buddy.
HOLMES: We are just about 13 hours from President Bush walking his daughter down the aisle.
NGUYEN: What a day, so what will she, the lady be wearing on this big day? We will have some of the designer details.
HOLMES: Yes, I know I can't win. Also: Bringing the spectators back -- gas prices impact on sporting events. There is our sports business analyst, Rick Horrow, he's crunching the numbers.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Gas credit cards.
HOLMES: And he has credit cards, a bottle of water.
NGUYEN: Is that a black American Express I see?
HORROW: Yes, it is.
NGUYEN: No, it's not. Get out of here.
HORROW: It's not yours apparently. OK, we'll talk to you shortly.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Stay here, folks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. So, you're probably not going to be shocked to hear this one. But gasoline, it is more expensive this morning than it was last night. AAA reports a gallon of regular unleaded now averages $3.69. That is two cents higher than yesterday. In a month ago, it was 35 cents cheaper. So, it's been going up about a penny a day. And so, to put it all into perspective, listen to this -- a year ago, the average was just over $3 a gallon.
HOLMES: You always ask me to get on to be kind of (ph) about it. But I do fill up yesterday; it wasn't even on empty really, $75.
NGUYEN: I knew it's going to be close to that, my goodness.
OK. So, soaring gas prices are also slowing down NASCAR of all things. Ticket sales are down and racing costs, they are up.
HOLMES: Now, our sports business analyst, Rick Horrow is with us this morning from West Palm Beach, Florida. NASCAR is feeling the pinch. Is it just NASCAR?
And good morning to you. You got a water there; you got all kind of props. So, let's get started.
HORROW: Hey, thank you. I appreciate the late salutation. Good morning to you. So, if you're not in a Mohave Desert, OK? And here's the issue if you're in Atlanta, you have a life time supply of this, or a life time supply of free gas, which do you choose these days?
NGUYEN: Wait a second. The question is: If you're in the Mojave Desert?
HORROW: Well, that's the question, not on the Mojave Desert, OK? If you're right where you are.
NGUYEN: You need the gas. I want the gas.
HORROW: Yes, exactly. That's what's happening to everybody. And this late '70s when we had all the embargo issues, we have some of the same stuff that's going on today, but nowhere nearly as severe as it is now. So, that's the point.
HOLMES: Well, the point there. I mean, what do you do to get people back in? I mean, people don't have money. They can't buy their tickets, so, what options does NASCAR have and any other professional league out there whose ticket prices or ticket sales rather might be down?
HORROW: Ironically, the interesting thing about NASCAR is that more people are watching the races on TV, 2 percent to 10 percent in ratings. And it does impact the bottom line. Fifty-three percent of NASCAR fans make under $50,000 a year. Listen, it affects all of us. But it affects NASCAR pretty acutely.
They're doing a few things, for example, all-you-can-eat sections in the Sonoma race track. That cuts the cost for the fans, free parking in Charlotte in the couple of weeks, that also cuts the cost. But the biggest issue is giving away gas or discounting it. NASCAR has a free promotion, Texas Motor Speedway.
By the way, San Francisco Giants were doing it as well. , Callaway Golf is announcing sales of a driver that if you buy the club, you get gas credit. And of course, they're doing it in Philadelphia, 76 cents a gallon as you pointed out when they had that promotion two weeks ago.
HOLMES: Well, are people buying fewer of those t-shirts, and caps, and souvenirs and even concessions (ph)? Are we seeing a drop in revenue there?
HORROW: Yes, attendance is fairly stable. The per caps (ph) are going down a little bit, what they're spending to buy. And there has to be a ceiling in the sports industry and all the executives so far that I've talked to are saying, it's stable, it's holding on.
But you pay $75, a trip to the gas station and it's going to happen somewhere and by the way, there are studies that say, you go to movies, you go out to eat, you take your kids to a game, something's got to give, and if it doesn't give in one place, it gives in another.
HOLMES: You know, how about this, Rick, put in perspective really, would NASCAR, with the NBA, with all these leagues, would they prefer to have ticket sales, at the events, be down a little bit if the ratings are up a little bit on television?
NGUYEN: And does it balance out like that?
HORROW: Well, it balances out in a cosmic economy. But it doesn't balance out specifically because the teams get more of the ticket revenue, the television networks love the idea of the ratings, but it doesn't affect them until they negotiate their next TV cycle, three or four years down the road. So, the bottom line is: They want the tickets and they want the people there because they spend their money on the tickets but also the parking and the concessions and the souvenirs and the novelties and the like.
HOLMES: All right. Rick, we got one more here about the Olympics, is this going to make any difference one way or another as far as the economy go, the gas prices go? Are there going to be any impact on the Olympics at all? Or the Olympics are going to be well- attended and we're going to be talking something or Olympic related with Tibet and everything else?
NGUYEN: Yes, the more political.
HORROW: All right. Hey, listen, we're going to be talking about Tibet and the torch, and all of that no matter what. And some say if you get there you can't breathe and you can't eat, so, it may not matter away. But, we'll see what happens in August, as far as travel.
Most of the tickets have been sold on projections so far. But, again, the gas prices, it's a world-wide issue, it's affecting high schools, it's affecting colleges and it may go all the way to the Olympic, by the way.
HOLMES: That's a good point. We're talking about professional leagues here. But colleges and high schools, they have to deal with these prices as well and getting these kids around. So, yes.
Rick Horrow, kind sir. It's good to see you this week.
HORROW: You're particularly nice to me. Next week, by the way, Big Brown, the Preakness Stake, what happens in the second leg of the Triple Crown? We'll talk about that, too.
HOLMES: Yes, people just kind of asking what happened at the Kentucky Derby.
NGUYEN: It's kind of hard still. OK.
HORROW: You guys want one of these? Which one do you want?
NGUYEN: Yes, can you throw one our way? Especially the black card, I'll take that one. Thanks. Too bad it's not the Am-Ex black card. All right, thanks, Rick.
So, next week, new prices when you mail that letter or package or money - I mean, everything is going up. The U.S. Postal Service is adjusting its prices but it's not all bad news, while the cost of mailing a first-class letter will go up a penny, prices for express packages that are closer to home, they are actually going down. They're also could be savings for those who use online services.
HOLMES: I don't care what you say, it's still a good deal -- 40 or whatever cents.
NGUYEN: What - 51 cents?
HOLMES: And somebody will take your letter across the country for you. That's a good deal.
NGUYEN: Hey, how about just paying that bill online and it costs you zero.
HOLMES: OK. That's a point as well.
NGUYEN: That's an even better deal. Free is always a good deal.
HOLMES: All right. Well, no White House wedding for this particularly bride-to-be.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNY BUSH, FIRST DAUGHTER: Henry and I are very excited about doing it somewhere where we feel at home. And, of course, the White House is a magnificent building, historical building and you know, I experienced so many amazing things there, but it doesn't really feel like home and natural to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And the president's daughter getting married at a family's ranch in Texas tonight. And we have a preview of Jenna Bush's wedding right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Today is my daughter Jenna's wedding day. This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband, Henry. It's also a special time for Laura, who this Mother's Day weekend, we'll be watching a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Oh, that's got to be hard for a dad, don't you think? Look at this picture right there, President Bush waving to well wishers as he headed to last night's wedding rehearsal dinner.
HOLMES: Well, tonight, commander-in-chief becomes father of the bride. His daughter, Jenna, will be saying "I do" to her longtime boyfriend, Henry Hager.
NGUYEN: And the first daughter and her fiance decided to exchange vows deep in the heart of Texas rather than at the White House, which has a lot of people scratching their heads over that one.
HOLMES: Yes, we will be debate about that just a second ago.
Well, CNN's Erica Hill has a preview of tonight's ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BUSH: I've got a lot on my mind by the way, getting ready to march down the aisle.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A first daughter's wedding could easily rival a royal's but Jenna Bush wants none of that. Instead, she'll exchange vows with Henry Hager in a private ceremony on her parent's Texas ranch.
JENNA BUSH, U.S. FIRST DAUGHTER: The White House is a historical beautiful building, of course, and place. But I wanted to have something more private and something that fit my personality.
HILL: The celebration will include about 200 guests, mostly family and close friends.
LAURA BUSH, U.S. FIRST LADY: Neither one of us are nervous. I'm very excited. It's a very interesting passage of life when you get to -- that time in your life when your first child is getting married and we're getting for us, our first son.
HILL: Fences, surveillance cameras, and Secret Service will keep the press and the paparazzi out, though, that's not stopping the locals from getting caught up in the excitement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just wait (ph), we've have been preparing, well, for than just wait the past month. Last month, we've been preparing for the wedding, ordering souvenirs.
HILL: Commemorative mugs, mouse pads, Christmas ornaments, even the town's angel statue is suited up for the occasion. But what everyone really wants to know, what will the bride be wearing? Well, we can tell you it's an organza Oscar de la Renta gown but the missus- to-be isn't revealing much more. She doesn't want to risk her fiance sneaking a peak.
We do have some sketches of what her bride maids - ops, make that attendant, will be wearing. Fourteen young ladies outfitted in colors of Texas wildflowers. The outdoor ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 followed by a sit-down dinner and dancing.
BETSEY GLEICK, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Jenna and Henry are traditional. He proposed in a very traditional way. He asked the president for Jenna's hand.
HILL: But imagine the intimidation factor of asking the president of the United States for his daughter's hand. Lucky for the 30-year-old Hager, he's known his future father-in-law for a while. Hager is from solid Republican stock, a one-time White House aide to Karl Rove. It is a match made in political heaven.
As he departed for Crawford, the president practiced he'll use as he walks down the aisle. Of course, even for the leader of the free world, seeing your little girl get married isn't east.
So, Mrs. Bush reportedly left him a copy of "Father of the Bride" to help him prepare.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "FATHER OF THE BRIDE"/TOUCHSTONE PICTURES)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can call him George.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or dad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: George will be fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Erica Hill, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TJ HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR, SATURDAY MORNING: Well, hello from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm TJ Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR, SATURDAY MORNING: Yes, good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. Let's get you updated on news from around the world. We do want to start with desperation in Myanmar. Thousands, tens of thousands still waiting for help now a week after the area was devastated by a cyclone.
HOLMES: Here are the numbers now and they are staggering. The UN says the death toll is between 63,000 and 100,000. And as many as a million people could be homeless, many of those including orphans ended up in churches and monasteries throughout the battered southern delta region. This report now from a British reporter on the ground in Myanmar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: We arrived at the school to try to learn about the fate of the refugees. A teacher introduced us to some of the displaced from the villages around (INAUDIBLE). It is not easy to document their fate and those of the loved ones, such is the chaos and uncertainty still enveloping this disaster. It turned out there were 87 children here, many of whom had lost both parents. No father? No mother? The blackboard carried details about thousands of refugees who have been brought to this town from their destroyed villages, details the regime is reluctant to divulge. All the while we were being watched by a military man. The insidious presence of the army is everywhere here. No wonder they appear afraid to talk.
This is a place where fear compounds fear and now they have plenty more to worry about. Off camera we were told by the teacher that our presence would be reported. It was time to go. There is certainly a heavy army presence here. We saw many trucks, but all appeared empty, transporting aid into the region apparently not their priority. The military junta's paranoia is hamstringing aid. Prevented from going south, we headed west where we found more pockets of misery and many more orphans. At this Baptist community at (INAUDIBLE) we were taken to the church packed full with refugees. At least they have a roof over their heads here.
A group of children were brought out to meet us. They are from villages around (INAUDIBLE) and all lost their parents in the devastating cyclone. This young boy explained, having lost both parents and all six brothers and sisters when their house was swept away and their village destroyed. He survived by clinging to a tree branch for hours in the torrential rain. Clearly, numbed by the loss, he said he simply didn't know what to do now. The 12-year-old (INAUDIBLE), the loss was written in her eyes, staring somewhere into the distance. Her parents and siblings are also gone. The teacher explained that she didn't know how to express her feelings. She just hopes her grandmother will take her in, but she's not sure. For the young boy at the end of the row, such hope has already gone. It is still hard to take in that so many thousands have lost their homes and their loved ones. This is just one little girl facing an uncertain future alone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: It is just so hard to comprehend. Let's talk about the efforts though to help the people of Myanmar. The U.S. military is using Thailand as a staging area right now standing by with planes, helicopters and disaster relief teams, but they have been stalled for the most part, only now getting clearance to send a single plane load of aid into that country, which is also known as Burma.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORDON JOHNDROE, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY PRESS SECY: The United States welcomes the announcement that we have received approval from the Burmese government for a U.S. military C-130 cargo plane with emergency relief supplies to land in Burma on Monday. We hope this is the beginning of major U.S. assistance to the Burmese people. We'll continue to work with the government of Burma on additional access for U.S.A. AID, non-governmental organizations, as well as our other international partners to provide assistance to help the Burmese people during their time of need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The U.S. is also hoping to be able to use helicopters for more direct aid drops.
HOLMES: New this morning, a cease-fire in Iraq. Just over an hour ago, we learned that militia fighters and the government have reportedly agreed to a cease-fire in Baghdad to Sadr City. That is according to a spokesman for anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. A cease-fire would end weeks of fighting in the capital. Just overnight, more than a dozen people were killed in fighting in Sadr City. CNN's Michael Ware is in Baghdad. He's working his story, just gathering more on this cease fire. He'll join us live a little later this morning.
NGUYEN: Bloodshed in Beirut. There's a new death toll in the Beirut gunfights that you saw unfold live right here on CNN this week. Take a listen.
HOLMES: Lebanese officials now say 23 people have been killed and more than 90 wounded over the last few days. Today, things a bit calmer. Hezbollah militias have forced pro-government forces from Beirut to Sunni Muslim neighborhoods. It's the worst sectarian violence since the country's civil war ended in 1991.
You have been hearing a lot about Hezbollah lately. Some details now on this group. The name literally translates into party of God. The Shiite group was created in response to Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon in 1982. It's dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic regime in Lebanon. Hezbollah has both ties to both Iran and Syria and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. However, the group also provides much-needed charity to poor Shiites in southern Lebanon, food, education, hospital care, also health insurance. Hezbollah is well organized and has an estimated force of 5,000 to 6,000 fighters.
NGUYEN: There is a showdown in Zimbabwe, more drama in the presidential elections. Opposition leader (INAUDIBLE) who you see there on the right says he will return to his African homeland to take part in a presidential runoff. He will face Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe in a vote that has not yet been scheduled. Critics say Mugabe rigged the first round of elections and used violence to intimidate his opposition.
HOLMES: We turn to presidential politics here in the U.S. now. Hillary Clinton vows to keep her campaign going, but Barack Obama is closing in on Clinton's super delegate lead. According to the most recent CNN calculations, Obama has 268 super delegates. He has a total of 1860 delegates overall. Clinton has 272 of those super delegates and a total of 1696 delegates overall. It takes 2025 to win the nomination. We get now the latest on the race from CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser who has made his way to Charleston, West Virginia along with the election express, West Virginia. The way this thing has kind of been shaping up and has been talking about lately, I guess this aura of inevitability now for Obama. West Virginia, if she wins it, big deal.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Twenty eight delegates at stake here in West Virginia. And it maybe gives her a little bit of momentum, maybe it helps her fund raise. It's not going to help her catch up in the delegate race; he's too far ahead, but TJ, neither candidate's going to come out of this when the primaries end on June 3rd with the 2,025 you mentioned. So it's going to come down to those super delegates and that's why you were mentioning the super delegate totals there. They are important. The super delegates could be the ones to probably put somebody over the top. We have seen a real shift over the last couple of months. Hillary Clinton used to have a large lead in super delegates. Now her lead is almost three or four; that's it and he's really been catching up with Clinton's super delegates TJ.
HOLMES: And like I said at the beginning, kind of the big deal there, but even Obama himself had an interview, was talking about, you know what, she's going to win in West Virginia. He was kind of just writing it off. I mean do we really expect, even if she wins it big, what kind of boost? Is there any momentum, people out there really saying she can get back at this point?
STEINHAUSER: I don't know how people really feel that she can get back. Yes, she is going to win here. It's pretty obviously. She's off by 30 or 40 points in the polls. This is a state that really suits her well. The demographics here are very favorable to her. As Barack Obama mentioned in that interview with Wolf Blitzer, Kentucky as well. Kentucky votes one week after West Virginia; she'll probably do very well there. Oregon is the other state that votes that day. That's a state where he may do better and maybe he pulls out a win. But as you said, even if she wins most of these states, she's maybe winning by 90 percent, 95 percent to really catch up with the delegates and that doesn't seem like it is going to happen.
HOLMES: How are things there on the ground? Even as people there are watching this race and again how the tide seemingly has turned towards Obama here lately. Are people there on the ground still excited about being in the process and being in the spotlight?
STEINHAUSER: Oh, yeah. The state really hasn't had a big say in presidential politics or at least in the primary process in about, over 40 years. And both candidates are -- Hillary Clinton has been here. She's coming back here tomorrow and Monday. Even Barack Obama will be here on Monday in advance of the primary. You are seeing the advertisements on TV. People are excited about this. They're getting their moment in the spotlight here in West Virginia.
HOLMES: And also it seems strange to turn to Senator John McCain here for a second, but a presidential candidate, a nominee now, to have pretty much a 9:00 to 5:00 job with weekends off, but that's kind of the schedule he's been keeping lately and I guess you can do that when you are the inevitable Republican nominee, but what's he up to?
STEINHAUSER: He's had that luxury. He pretty much wrapped up his nomination battle about two months ago. He's been campaigning during the week. He's got one fund raiser today in Texas before going back down to Phoenix where he's got his home. He'll be back on the campaign trail though next week starting Monday up in Oregon. It will be a full week of campaigning for him. Remember though, the real fight for John McCain now is going to be, is just the (INAUDIBLE). Once the Democrats lock this up, you'll expect to see a real Democratic Republican fight going at it and that starts, very very soon, TJ.
HOLMES: We are kind of surprised to see you there in West Virginia. We assumed you had an invitation to Jenna Bush's wedding this evening in Crawford, Texas, but I'm sure your invitation got lost in the mail, Paul, Paul Steinhauser for us.
STEINHAUSER: Yours as well, right?
HOLMES: I was never on that invitation list. Paul Steinhauser for us there in West Virginia. We'll see you again here soon. And of course West Virginia coming up on Tuesday. You can join the best political team on television for complete coverage, again that's Tuesday starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern only right here on CNN, your home for politics. And also today, tune in for CNN's ballot bowl. You can hear from the candidates in their own words. That's today at 3:00 Eastern, noon Pacific.
Well, much of the south bracing for more severe weather. Today is not what storm victims want to hear. People in North Carolina still searching through the wreckage caused by a tornado Thursday night. One person killed, several others injured and in Arkansas, a more dramatic storm aftermath. This is severe damage caused by a tornado last weekend in the city of (INAUDIBLE) . NGUYEN: That damage, take look, amazing picture. You see that right there, surveillance camera caught footage of a tornado tossing cars around like toys, late in Alabama, two of them nearly 40 feet. The National Weather Service confirmed tornado touch downs in the north and western part of the state. Here's the latest. Several states may get hit with severe weather today. This is not over, folks. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is live here in the severe weather center to talk about a lot of states really kind of in that red zone today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Let's talk about this, the gown, the guests, the groom. There's a big wedding taking place.
HOLMES: There's a huge wedding, the president's daughter ready to tie the knot tonight. We've got all the details for you.
NGUYEN: And for your health, "House Call" with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, going to give you a preview right now.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks guys. We got a huge show this morning for helping your memory and your wallet, not bad. Tune in for tips on boosting your memory power, plus new news about a common drug's ability to possibility prevent Alzheimer's. Plus, learn how you can save money at the grocery store this weekend while still eating healthy, very important. All that and this week's medical headlines, "House Call" at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: I wanted to let the music -- what is that? Is it Sinatra?
NGUYEN: Sounds like Sinatra to me.
HOLMES: What song (INAUDIBLE) "My Love is Here to Stay." I'll have to go pick up this up today. We are talking about a private affair but it is still the talk of Texas today and really much of the country.
NGUYEN: First daughter Jenna Bush gets married tonight at the family's ranch in Crawford, Texas. And White House correspondent Elaine Quijano has been digging into the details of this wedding. She joins us from Crawford. I know you guys are down ready for tonight's big ceremony for sure.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No way in heck that I was invited. I can assure you Betty and TJ. Yesterday was the official start of the big wedding weekend. There was a bridal lunch. There was a rehearsal dinner and then a big party afterwards in the town of Solado (ph), about a 90-min drive from where we are here in Crawford., all of it, of course, a prelude to the big event just hours away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO (voice-over): She is the daughter of the president. He, the son of a well-connected Virginia Republican. After meeting in 2004 while working on her father's re-election bid, Jenna Bush and Henry Hager say "I do" in Crawford this weekend on the president's 1600-acre ranch.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I had to face a very difficult spending decisions and I've had to conduct sensitive diplomacy. That's called planning for a wedding, la boda (ph).
QUIJANO: The plans are largely under wraps, but they call for gathering by a lake in front of an altar and a four-foot high cross hewn from Texas limestone.
LAURA BUSH: This is the time when wild flowers are all blooming and I think it will be a very, very lovely wedding and it'll be very like Jenna and Henry.
QUIJANO: More than 200 guests are expected.
JENNA BUSH, BRIDE-TO-BE: All relatives, our families are really kind of big. Half family and then half very close friends.
QUIJANO: Not all of Jenna Bush's friends will be on hand, though.
DOUG WEAD, AUTHOR, "ALL THE PRESIDENT'S CHILDREN": Because, according to them, she would be afraid of their behavior.
QUIJANO: Doug Wead is a former aid to George H.W. Bush and author of "All the President's Children." He says unlike the pageantry of White House weddings past, like that of Tricia Nixon's in 1971, the Texas ceremony will take place away from the glare of the media spotlight.
WEAD: The Bushes are very private. It's a time of war. It's a time of economic struggle. This president has high negatives right now. It's much more of a low-key event.
QUIJANO: And for the couple, another consideration.
WEAD: They know that they don't own the White House, that they can't go back, but Crawford, Jenna and Henry can walk through the moonlight and hold hands and say this is where we were married and it will always be theirs.
QUIJANO: The first lady's office is keeping a tight lid on specifics, but the bride did reveal dress details to "Vogue" magazine, describing her gown as an Oscar de la Renta creation made of organza with embroidery and map (ph) beading.
L. BUSH: It is a very interesting passage of life when you get to that time in your life when your first child is getting married and we're getting for us, our first son.
QUIJANO: And already the first lady is joking about names for possible grandchildren down the road.
L. BUSH: George, Georgia, Georgina, Georgette. (END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: Now the ceremony will get underway in the evening hours in order to spare guests from the searing Texas heat, but get this Betty and TJ. The forecast at wedding time is calling for a temperature of 92 degrees and a slight chance of rain.
NGUYEN: Hey, it is May in Texas. That is the way they heat up down there. Boy, what a beautiful wedding, though, with the limestone by the lake and all of that. I guess you'll get a chance to see that up close by any means. Isn't there a no fly zone over the area?
QUIJANO: Yeah, there always is, especially of course when the president is there, but you can bet the security is very, very tight. What we are hoping for is at some point, perhaps tomorrow morning, we are keeping our fingers crossed, keeping our hopes high that maybe it will be tonight, at least a photo, but of course this is such a private family, a private affair. This is, of course, Jenna's wedding. The decision was hers to keep this wedding as low key as possible. We'll wait to see what kind of reaction we get. I wouldn't count on getting a lot in the way of video or pictures.
NGUYEN: We'll see if Jenna hops on the computer tonight and e- mails you a photo. Thank you Elaine.
HOLMES: I just want to see what you look like after 92-degrees in an Oscar de la Renta dress. I would like to see that picture.
NGUYEN: You know how you can have those fans and all of that. I'll be fun. I mean it's the president's daughter. I'm sure they got it all taken care of.
HOLMES: You have probably seen airplanes trailing banners along the beach or sporting events . You've seen these.
NGUYEN: You've probably seen the sky writing, but you have probably never seen what our Josh Levs has.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a new form of floating advertising. It's not a blimp; it is more like a cloud. I'll explain, coming up right here, CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. So, they say the sky is the limit when it comes to corporate advertising.
HOLMES: Quite literally is what we are talking about here. Josh Levs joining us now, something called flogos.
LEVS: There are so few places left in the environment where we're not being struck by advertising and this is something that you hear a lot and now we are going to have it in the clouds, literally. I want to show you this new video. It's taking off, people are starting to look at it online. It's flogos. This is a demonstration that flogos has made. These are floating foam logos that can go as high as 20,000 feet and travel for miles. They are starting to use these. Major parades are signing up for this, major sporting events (INAUDIBLE) and you can see some other things. Disney World is planning on launching them, I think it is next month, already. They are talking about a Nike --
NGUYEN: How do they keep that together - bubbles or something, bubble bath bubbles?
LEVS: It is a special type of foam that they say is bio degradable and lasts while it travels, so it's not going to hurt anything. (INAUDIBLE) soap and water and a special little air machine so in the end, they say it's not going to have any kind of negative impact on anything. So many companies are starting to sign up for this. It is a lot cheaper than a blimp. It's a lot cheaper than paying an airplane to tag along one of those huge signs. It does cost them thousands. They can put in so many - they can shoot off a new one every 15 seconds for even hour.
HOLMES: How long do they last?
LEVS: It is not a matter of time, it is a matter of distance, so it can travel for several miles and up to 20,000 feet which means you're at a huge event, people start looking up. Obviously, you don't want (INAUDIBLE) where people are driving.
NGUYEN: Like Nascar or something.
LEVS: The top things I get, flogos, aerial assault, corporate mind control weapons, flogos, the sky trash logo (ph). So the dispute has always started and the controversy is already starting. That could be very futuristic when you see futuristic movies, floating ads; there you go.
HOLMES: And nothing falls back to the earth.
NGUYEN: Biodegradable, huh? So like if a bird or something starts eating at it --
LEVS: I think if a bird starts to peck at it, since it is just soap and water, my guess is that it will burst.
NGUYEN: The flogo will, not the bird.
LEVS: (INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: We got a question.
LEVS: Call these people. I'm just telling you all I know.
NGUYEN: You have to come with your information.
LEVS: I didn't want know you would ask about a bird. I'll be back.
HOLMES: Corporate sponsor, I didn't mean to have my water up there. Sorry. (INAUDIBLE) it is apparently a long way down. NGUYEN: A few days ago, it was solid ground, but look at that. That is not a lake. Everyone thought so at first, but it's a whole lot of nothing. We are going to explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Take a look at this. Imagine a huge sinkhole suddenly opening up where you live. This one showed up on Wednesday 60 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. It soon swallowed up oil tanks, even some vehicles.
HOLMES: Officials believe it is a collapsing salt dome. It quickly grew to 260 feet deep, 900 feet across. It is still getting bigger. It is still eating up everything around it.
NGUYEN: That's frightening. The town may be gone before you know it. We'll keep a watch on that.
HOLMES: But first, "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta starts right now.
