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CNN Saturday Morning News
Fireworks and Tragedy; Essence Music Festival in New Orleans; 15 Hostages Rescued From Colombia
Aired July 05, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm T.J. Holmes and this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I'm Veronica de la Cruz. Betty is on assignment. It is nice to see you. I hope you're enjoying your July 5th. A good July 4th. Right?
HOLMES: A good July 4th to a lot of people and unfortunate one for others.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes.
HOLMES: Fireworks, fire crews not a good mix. Unfortunately, you can see these pictures. We're going to show you a lot more. But unfortunately all the stories with fireworks involved where families lost everything. We'll tell you what happened. Details of this is just horrible and really unnecessary.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Also, patriotism, freedom, Iraq, children at camp while their parents fight a war. We're going to give you details on that.
HOLMES: Also, we'll be in New Orleans again. The Essence Music Festival has made its way back to New Orleans.
DE LA CRUZ: Something that you've been a part of right?
HOLMES: A part of last year, the first year it was back since Katrina. It had to leave and go elsewhere for a year but it's back. Second year back since Katrina but a big celebration down there. We'll be checking in with our Fredricka Whitfield.
DE LA CRUZ: Good time. Looking forward to that.
But first, we begin with this. You've heard how 15 hostages were rescued from the Colombian jungle in a daring operation. Well, now you can see it.
HOLMES: Take a look at this video. That is Ingrid Betancourt. That is the former presidential candidate who was kidnapped by Colombian rebels more than six years ago. She and 14 other hostages had no idea they had been rescued until that moment that you were just seeing on tape.
DE LA CRUZ: The rebels unwittingly turned them over to Colombian agents who were pretending to be humanitarian workers who would move the captives to another rebel camp. Now, once the helicopter lifted off, the hostages found out that they had been freed.
HOLMES: Three of those freed hostages are American contractors who were kidnapped more than five years ago. This picture here was taken after they had arrived back in the U.S. at an army base in San Antonio, Texas. Marc Gonzalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell are at the base to undergo medical evaluations. They said in a statement that they feel just fine and are thrilled to be back home with their families.
DE LA CRUZ: Ingrid Betancourt is the subject of an HBO documentary about her kidnapping and her family's long struggle to free her. This is video of her arriving yesterday in France. The HBO special airs tonight on CNN at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Victoria Bruce is the producer, and she joins us now by phone from Delaware to talk about the stunning turn of events. Good morning to you, Victoria.
VICTORIA BRUCE, PRODUCER: Good morning, Veronica. Hi, how are you?
DE LA CRUZ: I'm doing well. So tell us, how did you get involved in this project and how long had you been working on this documentary before that stunning turn of events?
BRUCE: Well, Ingrid was kidnapped in February 2003. And the last time I spoke to her by phone, I had met her in January. She was running for president of Colombia. I thought this would make a stunning documentary because she had death threats against her. And she is very, very brave.
With my co-producer, Karin Hayes were in the planning stages of going down there when we -- Karen was watching CNN and we heard Ingrid was kidnapped. We were stunned. And what we did was we moved forward and made the film about her kidnapping and actually how her husband and family tried to rescue her, tried to get the government to help her and what happened over the next five years.
DE LA CRUZ: And you know, I was reading that kidnapping is actually so common in Colombia that presidential candidates are actually allowed to campaign in absentia. And even after she had been kidnapped her husband continued her campaign for her.
BRUCE: It's one of the most sort of heartbreaking scenes that you see in the film. He was advertising agent. His name is Juan Carlos and he had a big cutout of Ingrid. So, instead of Ingrid being at her campaign event, he would carry around this cardboard cut-out of his wife and it's not just presidential candidate. Any politician can run for office when they're kidnapped because kidnappings as you said is so prevalent. However, they're on the decline and the Colombia government has made a lot of inroads in helping the situation.
DE LA CRUZ: And I know in making this documentary you obviously have spent a lot of time talking to her family. What have they had to say? I mean, we're talking about a very charismatic individual, Ingrid being very progressive. She's a very progressive woman, campaigning for president. Were they ever scared that something like this would happen?
BRUCE: According to even Ingrid herself in her autobiography and her husband, Juan Carlos, she was much more worried about the paramilitary or the right wing militias, people aligned with the drug cartels that would put a hit out on her. And she had many death threats because of that.
So, she wasn't so much concerned about the FARC, which is the terrorist organization that kidnapped her. She basically thought that, you know, probably we all thought in two, three weeks she'd be out. And then you know the American contractors were also kidnapped and they were in for five years. We made a film about them as well, called "Held Hostage in Colombia."
DE LA CRUZ: And you know, Victoria, moments ago we saw this video of Ingrid stepping off this plane, she immediately spoke with the media. Were you surprised at how good she looked. When she got in front of the mike she was extremely strong and she was poised. Were you surprised at all?
BRUCE: Only because in November there was a video of Ingrid where she looked absolutely just debilitated. She looked very ill. And she wrote a letter to her mother talking about how her hair was falling out and she couldn't gain weight. So I was so pleased to see how she looked. As far as her, you know, sort of emotional strength, that's something that Ingrid always had.
And I think just now we're learning about her in the U.S that in France she's very, very well known. I mean this is a person who has gone on hunger strikes. And done everything for her country, taking on, you know, the corrupt system. And you'll watch in the video tonight this unbelievably brave woman. And so she came out like that I don't think was a surprise to anyone who knew her.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Of course we're going to learn much more about Ingrid Betancourt and exactly what she went through in these days. Victoria Bruce is the producer of tonight's special. Victoria, thank you so much for joining us.
BRUCE: Thank you, Veronica.
And the HBO documentary on Ingrid Betancourt's kidnapping, her entire ordeal, plus her family's six-year struggle to free her. That airs tonight right here only on CNN at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
HOLMES: We are just learning this morning about a massive apartment fire in Toledo, Ohio. Officials say it may have been started by fireworks. Melissa Andrews of our affiliate WTVG is joining us now live.
Melissa, unfortunately we hear stories like this year in and year out on the Fourth of July, somebody setting off fireworks and sometimes it leads to this.
MELISSA ANDREWS, WTVG REPORTER: A very tragic situation. As you said, firefighters are telling us that people were setting off fireworks. Those fireworks landed on the roofs of some of these apartments and started a fire. In fact, some eyewitness told us people were actually setting fireworks off in some of the hallways of this building. What you're looking at now is a live picture of some residents actually seeing the destruction that's left behind this morning. Just a huge fire.
One of my colleagues over 20 years in the business has never seen a fire this big either. We're talking about 11 buildings, 120 apartments just destroyed. Over 100 people are without their homes this morning. And when I came here this morning about 4:00, there were blazes and blazes in several different spots that firefighters couldn't even attack because they were attacking much larger fires.
And the only bit of good news, if you can even call it that coming out of this, is that we only have a report of a minor injury. That person was taken to a local hospital, treated and already released. But as you can imagine a lot of people here have lost everything. And they do tell us they credit the Toledo Police Department and firefighters with actually coming to the door, kicking in some of those doors and pulling those people to safety.
So, remarkably with how huge this fire is, there's only one minor injury and that person as we said has gone home. But you can imagine that the investigation into who set off these fireworks will continue long after today.
Reporting live in Toledo, Melissa Andrews for CNN news.
HOLMES: And Melissa, I have to ask have they identified who set off those fireworks and possibly are they looking at charges?
ANDREWS: This is just so early. If you can imagine, this apartment complex, I compare it somewhat to a college campus, if you can imagine that. And we're talking about a cluster of buildings. So at 1:30 in the morning on the Fourth of July, there were a lot of people outside. A lot of fireworks were just being illegally put off. It's illegal in Ohio. Illegally put off. But it's a common thing to hear fireworks on the Fourth of July.
So, in terms of where this investigation is going to go, it's just in the very beginning stages. They're just going to have to talk to all of these witnesses who were outside.
HOLMES: All right. Melissa Andrews on the scene for us. We appreciate that update. Thank you so much.
DE LA CRUZ: Really, really unfortunate to see, you know.
HOLMES: But we see it year in and year out, unfortunately.
Time for us now to turn to our Reynolds Wolf. He is keeping an eye on weather all over the place. Let's talk about beach weather.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Beach weather. I mean, I know yesterday was the Fourth of July. Obviously today is the 5th, tomorrow is going to be the 6th. The day after that, believe it or not, the 7th. And today people will still be going out with their families enjoying the beach. And conditions on some places along the eastern seaboard will be pretty nice. Some of those places will be Long Island. You may have a few splashes of showers for the time being but by afternoon, you may have a few breaks in sunshine.
Atlantic City, pretty nice day for you, still some rain drops just south of Long Branch this time just east of Philadelphia. As you make you way down towards Florida, we have seen much of the rainfall now beginning to move offshore. But later on today when you have that converging sea breeze, places like Orlando, right along the I-4 corridor and even along 95, you may be dealing with some heavier thunder showers. Same deal with alligator alley.
But speaking of Florida, take a look at this shot we have for you from Miami. Wow. Looks great. Looking out to the west, you see the sun. Actually, out to the east, the sun beginning to come out. Actually out to the east, you see a few clouds. Thankfully no rain showers there. Later on today, certainly a possibility.
OK, let's send it back to you guys.
DE LA CRUZ: Beautiful Miami.
HOLMES: You got to love it.
DE LA CRUZ: I say we take a trip. How about it?
WOLF: Bring it on.
HOLMES: All right. Appreciate that. We'll see you shortly.
We'll talk now about kids whose parents are half a world away but they get to enjoy a world all their own.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTON: My name is Patton. I'm eight-years-old and my daddy is in Iraq.
EMILY: My name is Emily. I'm 13-years-old. And my dad has been deployed to Iraq, twice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: It's a camp for kids of war.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Kids just having a chance to be kids, even though their worries could sink an adult.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez visits Operation Purple Camp.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): High in the mountains above Fresno, California, is a camp for kids of war.
PATTON: My name is Patton. I'm eight-years-old. My daddy is in Iraq.
EMILY: My name is Emily. I'm 13-years-old. My dad has been deployed to Iraq, twice.
JADEN: My name is Jaden and I'm seven-years-old and my dad has been deployed three times.
GUTIERREZ: They are a generation of children whose lives have been consumed with Iraq and Afghanistan.
EMILY: The lake is so cold, like Fort Bragg.
GUTIERREZ: Kids who spend too much time missing parents overseas.
EMILY: I miss you.
GUTIERREZ: Too little time by their side.
JORDAN: When you have to move, you have to find new friends and new surroundings and learn.
GUTIERREZ: And you've done it, what, 10 times in how long?
JORDAN: The last three years.
GUTIERREZ: Ten times in three years you've moved.
JORDAN: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: It has to be tough.
JORDAN: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: Fifteen-year-old Jordan said Camp Operation Purple makes him feel normal.
JORDAN: Time to hang out and get to know other people and forget about your worries.
GUTIERREZ: Jordan's father is about to be sent to Iraq. Does it make you nervous?
JORDAN: Yes, it just saddens me sometimes because I think that could happen to him at any time.
GUTIERREZ: It is the thing kids here don't like to talk about, but it's never far from their thoughts.
JORDAN: Sometimes I just go to be alone and just be by myself and think about stuff. Other times I can snap on people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just get anything touch with those emotions that they have stuffed inside of them in really, really important because it gives them an outlet.
GUTIERREZ: An outlet just to be kids. For one week, they'll experience the outdoors and each other. All expenses are covered by the Sierra Club and the Dell Foundation. They believe military children like Caitlyn and Cameron and Jaden serve and sacrifice as much as their parents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: This year, more than 10,000 military children will have a chance to go to Operation Purple Camp. It's held in 62 spots throughout the country. As you heard in that report, the war in Iraq weighs heavily on the minds of a lot of people this Fourth of July weekend.
DE LA CRUZ: We've been asking for your i-reports about Iraq and you have been responding. So Josh Levs, he joins us now with a couple of those. Hey, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there.
This just in with what you guys were just talking about. As we open up something in i-report.com in recent days. This is it right here. I-report.com/iraq. We're asking military families and members of the military to write us and let us know what you think the next president needs to know.
And I want to start off with something we've gotten her from Wendy Raymond. This is what she wrote us. She said this issue doesn't get a lot of attention. "Too many servicemen and women come home to empty homes. It's a sad truth but nonetheless it is the truth. This next election I want to hear and see ideas on how we can keep soldiers and their families together, not just how we can keep them in Iraq."
Now, we also got this from Misty Copeland. Let's go to the next quote here. Misty Copeland wrote us, she said the man that she knew before her husband has PTSD was full of self confidence. He was intelligent and articulate and extroverted and a social individual.
And she talked about the fact that now the man she's married to feels very different. Now he wouldn't get out of bed each day if he were not required to do. The reason I'm pointing this to you is that I-report.com/iraq we're having a real dialogue about anything involving the war. If you're a military family, join us. Ireport.com/iraq, guys.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Josh, it sounds good. Ireport.com/iraq.
LEVS: Thanks.
HOLMES: Right now, people are thinking about taking a trip.
DE LA CRUZ: Taking a trip. I feel like I'm always taking a trip these days.
HOLMES: Yes. You made a trip to Atlanta.
DE LA CRUZ: I did.
HOLMES: Glad to have you.
DE LA CRUZ: Let them go back.
HOLMES: All right.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, listen, we're going to tell you how you can pack your bags to avoid those new airline luggage fees.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: All right. So check this out. If you're looking to lighten your load when you travel, then you might want to start with your carry-on luggage.
HOLMES: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: The carry-on.
HOLMES: The carry-on, And here's a tip. Ditch the wheels. Our personal finance editor Gerri Willis explains why.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hi, T.J.
With many airlines charging for checked luggage, making the most out of your carry-on is essential. First, check the size restriction on your carry-on bag. Most airlines will give you 45 linear inches and 40 pounds. So if possible, consider skipping the bag with wheels. They will only make your bag heavier.
Instead, pack a bag with soft sides. They're easier to squeeze into overhead compartments and may accommodate more of your stuff. But if you don't have room for everything in your bag, don't hesitate to layer up. Bulky items like coats or boots can be worn on the plane to save room on your carry-on and you can always take items off on the flight if you're uncomfortable.
Pack smart if you know ahead of time that a carry on is not going to cut it, consider sending overweight luggage via UPS or FedEx in order to save on overweight fees.
Coming up on "OPEN HOUSE," stating your retirement planning off on the right foot. Do-it-yourself home improvement, best grills for your summer barbecue. That's "OPEN HOUSE" 9:30 a.m. Eastern -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Gerri Willis, always good tips of course. And your job, your money, your retirement, what you need to know about all that stuff and more it's on "ISSUE #1," weekdays noon Eastern and that's only right here on CNN.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Rebirth, it is a fitting name for a New Orleans band. They're playing together for the hometown crowd again after being scattered by the winds of a hurricane. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: A symbol of hate replaced by an act of kindness. Within a month of moving into their new home in New Orleans, an African-American family was hit twice by racist vandals. After the second attack, the family left the racist KKK symbol etched in the grass. That left neighbors to spring into action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was literally sick to my stomach. I was down for a week, you know, just traumatized.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Fourth of July is a day that celebrates independence and freedom and this act was just so contrary to that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Neighbors spent part of their Fourth of July holiday putting in a new lawn for the family.
HOLMES: The Essence Music Festival still had to move out of New Orleans, its home after Hurricane Katrina. But it's back and so is a band whose story matches the hometown.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Back home as regulars at the Maple Leaf Bar, blowing their signature punk rhythm, Rebirth brass band. After Hurricane Katrina nearly silenced this nine-piece ensemble, by forcing them to scatter to different cities and states. Together again, their message rings loud.
VOICE OF PHILIP FRAZIER, REBIRTH BAND MEMBER: The message we're trying to get across is we're alive, we're still here, still going strong.
And that's a true song. Rebirth's true state.
WHITFIELD: That's Phillip Frazier on tuba. He started the group 25 years ago. The name Rebirth never before more fitting. Now symbolic of the road ahead of each of these members and their beloved city. Before show time --
How are you doing?
WHITFIELD: Hi. Fredricka. Nice to meet you.
PHILANE FRAZIER, FRAZIER'S DAUGHTER: Nice to meet you.
WHITFIELD: So what do you think? Is this your first time back?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm shocked to see it go. WHITFIELD: Frazier's 19-year-old daughter Philane and 16-year- old son Dezel can't believe this was the house they shared with their mother. Here to visit dad for the holiday, home is now Arkansas. Has it been hard, though, that you're no longer a few blocks away from dad but now -
PHILANE FRAZIER: Yes. Just like everybody, this feels like some people live down here. The others live in Texas. It's a ten-hour drive. It's really different now. It used to be blocks and blocks, 15 minutes drive and now it's like 12 hours, five hours drive. So, that's different.
PHILIP FRAZIER: It's tough on everybody. The band together performing. Nine different families. So many families are here. So many families are away. But it's hard. You know, everybody knows somebody here tonight. And my mom used to go to a hairdresser around this corner, on the side street. A long time ago, this club right here, we used to perform at this club, Club Desire.
WHITFIELD: You are encouraged when you see these gentleman over here who are working. Right down the street there, tearing down or demolishing what's left of the school. Did that make you feel like all those things that have been scattered about just really might be coming back?
PHILIP FRAZIER: Seeing it tearing it down, it's like they're tearing it down. You have to tear it down to build it up. That's the thing that hurts sometimes.
WHITFIELD: So, will New Orleans ever be home? I mean truly home for you again, like it was before?
PHILIP FRAZIER: Well, it will always be home as home is where the heart is. Like my kids visit me for the holiday and stuff. When they go back, I'm going to feel sad again. They'll be back in Arkansas and I'm back in New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: Lonely?
PHILIP FRAZIER: It's really lonely. It's an empty feeling inside your heart. Really.
WHITFIELD: So what makes it feel less empty again?
PHILIP FRAZIER: Playing music. And at least I'll get a chance to see them put smiles on other people's face every time we're performing. Just to watch them, yes, rebirth, rebirth. Thank you, Phil. Thank you, Rebirth for coming. Sometimes the feeling goes away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And, again, that's our Fredricka Whitfield reporting. And Fredricka has made her way of course to New Orleans where the Essence Music Festival is taking place. Of course, I had the assignment last year. But they know it's a big party. And me and partying and working doesn't really go together.
WHITFIELD: Oh, come on. That's not it. It's about sharing the wealth, T.J. and you've shared the wealth with me and I so appreciate it. New Orleans is a fantastic city, one of my favorites. This is my first time at the Essence Music Festival.
But in that piece that you just saw as we featured the Rebirth brass band, let me just remind folks that it is nine-piece band but eight of the nine members are back here in New Orleans, their home front. The one band member who happens to be the brother of Phillip Frazier, who we focused on in the piece. His brother Keith plays the bass drum, shorty. Well, he still lives in Dallas. Why? Because, he says he's got school-aged kids and it's just too difficult to relocate them one more time even three years after Katrina even though everybody wants to make their way back to New Orleans.
And here's the second reason, T.J. and Veronica, he's a big Dallas Cowboys' fan. I say that because I'm a Washington Redskins fan. You know the Washington Redskins and Cowboys, they don't get along. But anyways, the he's a big Cowboys fan and so he says you know what, he wants to stay in Dallas until the kids are out of school. Then, one day, they'll make their way back to New Orleans.
Meantime, all the activity you're seeing behind me, not as much activity as you'd see once things really get underway. But right now, a lot of the folks who are running the booths here in the convention center are getting set up, ready for the doors to open about an hour- and-a-half or so from now for the general public to come in.
This is a free portion of the Essence Music Festival. Anyone can come here, take in the arts that are here on display. They can also take advantage of the seminars and the panels, the discussions that are taking place. Cosby -- Bill Cosby will be here along with Dr. Alvin Poussaint. You know, they have authored together a book, "Come On, People." And they have a seminar taking place.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux will be joining us in the 4:30 p.m. Eastern hour for a special that we'll have here on CNN. And a whole host of other things will taking place throughout the day -- T.J. and Veronica.
HOLMES: All right, Fredricka, and we will be seeing you throughout the day as well. Enjoy New Orleans, that city that we all love so much. So, we'll see --
WHITFIELD: You're going to be sick of me by the end of the day.
DE LA CRUZ: No.
HOLMES: No, never that, come on.
DE LA CRUZ: Never.
HOLMES: All right, we'll see you soon, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: You'll be like, way too much, Fred ... DE LA CRUZ: And "OPEN HOUSE" with Gerri Willis starts right now.
