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CNN Saturday Morning News
Southwest Airlines Emergency Landing in Arizona; Florida Koran Burning Sparks Protests in Afghanistan; Radioactive Water Flowing Into Ocean; Anarchists Plan Attack on Royal Wedding
Aired April 02, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Can you believe this? Passengers were actually able to look from their plane seat and see the sky. Yes, a 3-foot hole in the roof forces the Southwest Airlines plane to make an emergency landing. We will be talking to one of the passengers who is onboard that flight.
Also, anti-American anger growing in Afghanistan. We are seeing deadly protest there for a second straight day. Why? Afghans upset over a Florida pastor's burning of a book.
Also, radioactive water pouring into the ocean. We have a startling new development in a Japanese nuclear disaster.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING on this April 2nd. Glad you could spend some of your weekend here this with us. I'm T.J. Holmes.
We do want to start with that Southwest Airline plane, a three- foot hole in the plane's fuselage. Take a look here. This is just one of the pictures we are getting from inside that plane. Now, federal investigators, they want to get a better look at it themselves. And they are looking into this.
Passengers -- can you imagine being on this plane and you can look up and see the sky? There were 118 passengers on board. They were pretty much all OK after the emergency landing they had to make. The plane was supposed to go from Phoenix to Sacramento, ended up having to make an emergency landing in Yuma.
Debbie Downey was on that flight and she is on the line with me now from Scottsdale, Arizona.
Ma'am, we appreciate you. I know it was an interesting, if you will, night for you and it's very early where you are. So, we appreciate you giving us some time.
But you tell me, what was the first indication that something wasn't quite right on this flight?
DEBBIE DOWNEY, PASSENGER ABOARD SOUTHWEST FLIGHT 812 (via telephone): Oh, immediately after take-off, my husband, Larry Downey, and I were sitting right next to each other. My husband was just about to ready about to give the flight attendant a drink order and as soon as I looked up, we immediately heard a loud explosion -- I mean, a loud explosion.
So, we looked up, couldn't believe it. We were in shock. There was about a five-foot to six-foot -- ripped open five to six-foot of the fuselage of the ceiling of the roof.
HOLMES: Now, ma'am, were you sitting, wherever your seat was -- were you close enough to this hole that we got a report that people could look up and see the sky? Were you one of them that could look up through this and see an actual hole and see blue sky?
D. DOWNEY: Yes, we were. We were in row 16. My husband and I looked up. You could see blue sky. You could see the wiring, the cabling -- everything. It was actually terrifying.
HOLMES: Well, ma'am, what do you do from that point on? I'm sure things go through your mind. You're thinking the worst and the possible, I mean, God forbid, a crash of this plane. But how did the flight attendants and the pilot react?
D. DOWNEY: My husband said when he looked up, it's immediately, oh, my gosh, it's blue sky. We looked up at each other and thought, oh, my gosh, this is not a good sign. Immediately put our head down and looked up. The air masks fell down immediately within seconds. So, we grabbed our masks, started to kind of look out the window. And as soon as I tried to look out the window and put the screen (ph), the aircraft went into a complete nose dive.
HOLMES: Wow.
D. DOWNEY: Fast.
HOLMES: Ma'am, how were the rest of the passengers reacting during all this time?
D. DOWNEY: A lot of people were crying. There were women next to me crying. People were holding hands. I mean, everybody was terrified. It was very, very scary.
HOLMES: Now, ma'am, how much time was there between this incident when that explosion and the hole opened up until you actually get on the ground? How much -- how long did you have to go through all this?
D. DOWNEY: I'd say we were flying maybe 15 minutes. It seems like a lifetime but it was quite a long time.
HOLMES: Did the pilot walk you all through it? Was he making announcements? Were you all able to hear him?
D. DOWNEY: number Unfortunately, we couldn't hear anything because there was too much noise in the sky. Maybe after, I don't know, 10 minutes, we tried to look around to see what was going on and who we could talk to and gather information. My husband, I think, talked to a flight attendant or neighbor.
LARRY DOWNEY, PASSENGER (via telephone): I talked to the flight attendant. The crew was fantastic. They were calm. They settled everybody down.
A number of the passengers were having trouble getting their oxygen line, making sure everyone got oxygen because some of the passengers were having trouble getting that. We were at such a high altitude at the time, that they were -- some of them were passing out. So, it was scary.
HOLMES: Forgive me, sir. I didn't realize you were on the line with me here as well. But thank you for being here as well.
One other thing, you talked about some people possibly passing out. But as far as injuries, we got a report that maybe one person had minor injuries and maybe a flight attendant as well got bumped around. But did you see people getting riled around, if you will, and see people getting a few injuries, if you will?
L. DOWNEY: Yes, we descended so quickly that it was, you know -- and it was so noisy, the plane actually decompressed pretty quickly. So, if you didn't get your mask on, it was a scary situation. Like I said, the crew did a great job.
HOLMES: Well, I know you all ended up hopping a flight and getting your way back home and you continue on to your journey. But, really, thank you so much. I know it's early out there and it's been a rough night for you. But we appreciate you sharing this story, one that a lot of passengers, a lot of people are going to be interested in.
But, Debbie and Larry, thank you both this morning.
L. DOWNEY: Thank you.
D. DOWNEY: Thank you very much. Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. And on their Web site, Southwest is now saying that they have taken 80 similar 757s out of service this morning. They say they will undergo an aggressive inspection. So, much more to come on that, to see exactly what happened in the skies above Arizona.
Well, we want to turn to Afghanistan now where new anti-American protests are happening. This is the second day of demonstrations there. In Kandahar today, provincial officials say at least six people were killed during protest. A school was set on fire.
This violence comes a day after protesters attack a United Nations compound in northern Afghanistan.
Our CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence has more on that attack and exactly why Afghans are upset.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: U.N. officials tell us that these attackers used guns and even knives to attack these U.N. workers. And when it was all over, at least 12 people were dead, more than two dozen were wounded
And let's take you back and show you exactly why this happened. Last September, a Florida pastor, Terry Jones, threatened to burn a Koran. But that burning was initially canceled after the Pope, President Obama and the defense secretary all urged him not to do it.
Well, about two weeks ago, on this small Florida church's Web site, it threatened to put the Koran on trial. And then a subsequent post said the Koran had been found guilty of causing rape, murder and terrorism and a copy had been burned inside the building.
Well, Pentagon sources say this news initially hit very quickly in Pakistan and they saw several demonstrations there -- nothing to this level of violence. And then, just a few days ago, the Taliban put out a statement basically saying, look, this is proof that the U.S. is against Islam. That set off massive protest across Afghanistan.
The one in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghan police tried to fire into the air to hold off the protesters, but they were no match. They stormed the wall and that's when they got inside and attacked those U.N. workers.
Now, an e-mail in reaction to what happened today, the Florida pastor and his church said they're not really backing down. The e- mail says, quote, "We must hold these countries and people accountable for what they have done as well as for any excuses they use to promote their terrorist activities."
On the other side, President Obama condemned this attack. The secretary of general of the United Nations called it cowardly. And Afghan President Hamid Karzai said it goes against both Afghan and Islamic values.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And let's turn to Libya now where opposition forces are battling government troops in a number of cities, among them Misrata. What we are seeing here is kind of a back and forth between city's changing hands between the pro-Gadhafi forces and the rebel forces. Opposition leaders have also offered a cease-fire plan, but the Libyan government has called their conditions silly. They said they had no intention of pulling the military out of the city.
Also, talk out there of possible political solution to this conflict. A British newspaper reports that secret negotiations are underway in Britain. But sources close to Gadhafi tells CNN that any deal to get the longtime leader out of power would have to include a transition to his son, Saif Gadhafi.
Now, turn to the story of the four "New York Times" journalists -- you remember them -- who were held by the government forces in Libya. They were released nearly two weeks ago. And last night, our own Anderson Cooper asked them about what they went through. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no point. If you panic, you die.
LYNSEY ADDARIO, THE NEW YORK TIMES: I think it helped that we were together. I mean, you know, there were moments I was -- I couldn't stop crying and I felt so weak and I tried to sort of muscle it and I was trying not to cry. And, you know, inevitably, one of them was sitting next to me and would say, like, there are people who love you. We're going to going to get out of this, you just have to get, you know? And so, it's very helpful to have colleagues with you. I mean, we were so lucky that we were together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Turn now to Syria where troops attack anti-government demonstrators there.
Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: The scene and the sounds in Damascus. These are protesters gathering just after Friday prayers. In the suburb nearby, witnesses say seven people were killed when government forces opened fire on the crowd. Protests weren't confined just to Damascus. Thousands gathered in other cities as well.
At the bottom of the hour, we're talking to one of the witnesses there who has seen the brutality on the streets. He will share his story. Again, that's coming up in about 20 minutes from now.
Another flash point happening in Africa right now. Ivory Coast and the bloody battle where government control could be nearing an end, with forces loyal to the new president taking over the state-run television station. They've also attacked the resident of the former president, Laurent Gbagbo. He has refused to step down after losing the election last year. He hasn't been seen publicly for days now.
But a U.N. spokesman says they've been in contact with both sides trying to negotiate a peaceful end to the violence. A closer look at this conflict coming up, the reasons behind it and why you and the rest of the world should be paying attention. It's coming up a little later in our show.
Also, the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan has taken a bit of a turn. A new explanation for the rising levels of radiation detected in seawater near that crippled power plant. Utility officials say they've discovered an eight-inch crack in a concrete base outside the number two reactor at that Fukushima facility and that it is now leaking what is believe to be highly radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. They are uncertain where, exactly, though, that water is coming from.
Workers are trying to install a camera to try and figure all this out. Also, this discovery comes as Japan's prime minister makes a visit to the area. Earlier today, he consoled evacuees who live near that power plant.
And it could be much longer before they are allowed to return to their homes, three weeks after that earthquake and tsunami that triggered the nuclear disaster. Take a look here.
One story here of a dog being rescued from the rooftop of a demolished home was found floating off Japan's Pacific coast.
Updated casualties, though, from Japan's national policy agent put the number dead at 11,828. Some 15,000 are still missing.
Well, coming up, you know that it's the start of the baseball season. Opening day was this week in this country. But it wasn't the best weather necessarily for opening day. Take a look here. We'll tell you exactly where this was and what you can expect throughout the rest of the weekend as snow is blanketing some places. But we have fire danger in other places.
It's 12 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's 13 minutes past the hour in this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Look who we have.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hello.
HOLMES: Bonnie Schneider, always good to have you here with us. Reynolds Wolf is off doing what Reynolds Wolf does.
But you sent a note. You guys always -- they sent a note to the rest of the staff and they say what's going on in there. I saw snow and fire danger. You're going to bring this all together at some point this morning?
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely, T.J. We're going to start off with this snow.
HOLMES: With the snow, all right.
SCHNEIDER: Let's take you to the Northeast where we are tracking April snow. You know, it happened sometimes in New England. We saw wet snow in Massachusetts yesterday. And now, it's lingering all the way to extreme northeastern New England; a little snow right to the corner of Maine there.
We're also going to see some snow showers kind of sliding through Upstate New York and down through parts of western Pennsylvania and west Virginia today. Nothing really heavy. You're not going to have to shovel out, but it's really a nuisance, I think. But it's first weekend in April. You have to deal with snow.
Let's talk about what else is happening across the country. We are looking at the threat of fire danger and that's in the Plains States, really into the high plains as well as the southern planes and the desert southwest. Very warm conditions through much of this part of the country. It said they were going to monitor because not only is it warm but it's also very dry. We have gusty winds. So, that fire set up with red flag advisories posted will continue throughout the day today.
As this storm pushes off, we have some scattered showers across the mid-South and across the Southeast.
Temperatures today will be warming up quite a bit. Look at the highs in Texas: 92 for El Paso. It's going to be a hot one. So, be prepared and just ready to dress for the weather for hot temperatures.
Here's a heads up, T.J. We are tracking some very strong storms that will develop on Sunday, particularly Monday. It looks like a big tornado day, and even on Tuesday. So, the start of this week will come in with a bang with that threat of severe weather. It is April now. And this is, when we start getting into tornado season, April and May.
HOLMES: All right. We got a lot going on.
Bonnie, it's always good to have you here with us. We'll be checking in with Bonnie plenty throughout the morning.
Well, of course, I just mentioned a moment ago, it was opening day of baseball season just a couple of days ago this week. And, you know, traditionally, they invite politicians out and other celebrities to throw out the first pitch of the new year.
Well, take a look what happened when the governor of Florida was invited to throw out the toast out the first pitch.
(VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, that's no good. Governor Scott there, he was booed, a barrage of boos. Some light applause in there for Governor Rick Scott.
Protesters turned up the volume when he was introduced to throw out that pitch. He was there for the Tampa Bay Rays. The governor's plan to reduce teacher pay and funding for adult mental health and substance abuse program made him unpopular in parts of that state.
The reception was actually organized on Facebook, though. More than 1,000 people signed up to a, quote, "Boo Rick Scott on Opening Day."
Also, Jay-Z, the rapper, is under investigation for what seemed to be a harmless gesture. Now, he's being investigated by the NBA. Why? He stopped by the University of Kentucky's Wildcats basketball locker room after they beat North Carolina to make it to the Final Four. The problem here is that Jay-Z is part owner of the New Jersey Nets. The NBA prohibits contact with players not yet eligible to be drafted. Also, a nice story and a nice gesture by a 19-year-old pro- golfer. Ryo Ishikawa is his name. He has pledged now to donate all of his winnings to help his country, Japan, recover from the national disasters. He made about $1.8 million last year. And he's just getting better. So, you can expect more. He's also pledged about $1,200 for each birdie.
He actually says that he believes doing this will help him become a better golfer because he'll have that extra motivation to do well.
Well, also coming up, some of you folks out there who own a particular vehicle. You need to drive quite carefully because if you happen to break that car, it might take a whole lot time to get that thing fixed. We will explain why.
It's 17 minutes past the hour. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's 19 minutes past the hour now on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Food and energy prices soaring, and a lot of people now will be watching the Federal Reserve this week as they consider raising interest rates to try to fight inflation.
Our Poppy Harlow has more on that. But, first, our Alison Kosik has more on the great jobs reports, some are calling at least. Some say just good. But it shows unemployment at its lowest level, though, in two years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J.
The job market took a big step forward last month -- 216,000 jobs were added in March. And the unemployment dropped to 8.8 percent. And let's it's a sign that the labor market is gaining momentum and that's expected to continue.
It could take awhile to get your car fixed. Toyota is rationing 200 types of parts that come from a Japanese supplier affected by the disaster. Toyota and Lexus dealers will only be able to order a part if a specific vehicle needs it. No stockpiling allowed.
Poppy Harlow has a look at what's coming up in business news -- Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Thanks a lot, Alison.
Well, this coming week, we're going to hear from the Federal Reserve when it releases minutes from its last meeting. And analysts will, of course, be looking for any talk of inflation. Food and energy prices are soaring. And one Fed official tells "The Wall Street Journal" that an interest rate hike is coming this year. Meantime, on Monday, Google gets a new CEO. Co-founder Larry Page reclaims that title Monday. Page handed the reins to Eric Schmidt in 2001. But now, Schmidt is stepping down to focus on role of chairman. We'll follow it all for you all week, of course, on CNN Money.
T.J., back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Poppy and Alison there.
To married couples, listen up. If you get married, you get one, right? A wedding ring. It's a symbol of the marriage. It's right there, right? Well, Prince William says he is not going to wear a wedding ring once he gets married. Would you let your man get away with that?
It's 21 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 24 minutes past the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING now.
You know, the royal wedding is coming up. You may have heard a little something about it, less than a month away. It's a grand affair, of course. They got dignitaries, world leaders, people coming from all over to see this thing.
But as CNN's Dan Rivers report, it's also a prime target for protesters who are hoping to get some prime time attention.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the nightmare scenario for those planning the royal wedding, anarchists attacking a car carrying the royal family. In this occasion, it was Prince Charles and Camilla. But this is the same car that will be used to take Kate Middleton to the wedding. And anarchists are vowing to do their best to interfere with the best.
CHARLIE VEITCH, ANARCHIST: For the royal wedding, we'll see what we call a disruption spectacular.
RIVERS: Charlie Veitch is an ex-city banker who was laid off and is now a committed anarchist protester. He was among this student protest against austerity cuts lasts year and is warning there will be more of the same on April the 29th, which he describes as --
VEITCH: A shock and awe campaign. It will involve a lot of fireworks. It will involve a lot of people dressed in black. It will involve a lot of very, very loud music.
RIVERS: Security expert Roy Ramm shows me the aftermath of the latest protest. ROY RAMM, SECURITY EXPERT: You see them here doing this kind of damage, which is just completely --
RIVERS (on camera): This is just one window of hundreds --
RAMM: Oh, absolutely.
RIVERS (voice-over): He says the royal wedding presents an incredibly difficult challenge.
RAMM: The police have got a job to get the public in, close up to the wedding, but they've got to keep the people who want to cause disorder and damage like we're seeing here away from the royal wedding. It could be immensely disruptive. And, you know, it's a very unenviable position that the police are in.
RIVERS (on camera): The big problem for the police is getting enough evidence to stop the anarchists doing something before they get to the wedding route. There is talk of using stop and search powers. The problem is: who do they stop and search?
Experts say intelligence before the big day will be crucial.
(voice-over): Anarchist Web sites are already humming with references to the wedding.
VEITCH: There are plans which are being passed around online in encrypted forums and through encrypted e-mail, which the government cannot hack, to basically disrupt the procession route as well.
RIVERS: But knowing exactly where to deploy riot police is tough. The protestors could strike at almost any location in central London.
COMMANDER BOB BROADHURST, LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE: There's a lot of chatter out there, no real intelligence. But we must bear in mind that people have a right to come and protest.
RIVERS: The anarchists will have to blend in with a crowd like this, and these staunch royalists could be the best defense the police have.
ANDY HAYMAN, FORMERLY WITH LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE: I don't think it will be very easy for the anarchists to infiltrate. The great majority would stop that happening. On the other hand, if there was a pot of paint that was thrown at any of the royal VIPs, that would be a worldwide embarrassment.
RIVERS: An embarrassment that the police are desperate to avoid, one that the anarchists would consider a huge victory.
Dan Rivers, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, also on the royal wedding front, the wedding rings. Well, there won't be two. Kate Middleton is going to wear one that's made of a Welsh gold taken from the royal vault.
Prince William is going for something a little more simple, he's going for nothing. Prince William is not going to be wearing a wedding ring. He's going to keep that finger free.
For what? I don't know. But at least in the public, that's what he's going to do. And Kate is saying, publicly as well that she is just fine with that.
So, we want to have a little fun with you this morning. We want to know what you think about the idea of Prince William not wearing a ring.
Also, do you mind if your spouse doesn't wear a wedding ring? Just want to flash it, OK?
You can hit us up on Facebook or my blog, CNN.com/TJ. Also on Twitter @TJHolmes. We will be reading some of your, what I'm sure, will be interesting comments a little later in the show.
And CNN's coverage starts bright and early, 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time Friday April 29th. You could do more than just watch this thing with us. You could win a trip to London to cover the royal wedding. Yes, you. You think you are the ideal royal wedding reporter, submit your report at iReport.com/royalwedding. The contest lasts until April the 10th.
Well, a neighborhood in Florida is going to have something missing that most other neighborhoods have outside: kids playing. And if the parents don't obey the rules, they are going to be fined.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, we are at the bottom of the hour on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. So glad you could spend part of your weekend with us. I'm T.J. Holmes.
Deadly violence in Afghanistan today. This was in protest of a Quran burning that took place in Florida, here in this country, by a controversial pastor. The demonstrators yesterday, in Mazar-e Sharif, proceeded an attack on a U.N. compound that left 12 people dead. Six more killed and another 46 injured in a similar protest this morning in Kandahar Province.
In Japan, another rumble this morning in the quake zone as workers at that crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant installed a camera. They are hoping to learn the source of a radioactive water that is leaking from the plant's number two reactor. An eight-inch long crack has been found in the reactor pit allowing water to seep into the Pacific Ocean.
That comes amid a surprising discovery. More than a mile of the Japanese coastline. Take a look here. A dog floating on a damaged rooftop more than three weeks after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Rescuers from Japan's Coast Guard plucked the scared dog from the roof. The dog was, in fact, wearing a collar and that suggests he was not a stray. The little guy, as you can imagine, quite hungry.
Also this morning, out in Yuma Arizona, a routine flight, supposed to be, at least, turned into a nightmare last night, when a three to four-foot long section of the plane's fuselage ruptured. Investigators from the National Transportation and Safety Board, are expected today in Yuma.
The Southwest Airlines plane had to make an emergency landing at a military base; 118 people on the plane, they are all safe but as you can imagine a bit surprised to look up and see the sky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDA REESE, FLIGHT 812 PASSENGER: All of a sudden there's a loud bang and the masks drop. And really, really windy and your ears hurt. You never pay attention during the safety thing, so I wasn't sure how to put on the safety mask. I'm holding the hand of the guy next o me and trying not to bawl my eyes out.
Nobody freaked out on the flight. There was one woman who got upset, but everybody stayed calm. The flight attendants were amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Here is something you certainly don't hear every day. The FBI is stumped. They admit it. And now they are actually hoping that you can help them out and help them solve a 12-year-old cold case. Take a look at what we are talking about here.
Show you one note. This is one of two encrypted notes found the pocket of 41-year-old Ricky McCormick. Ricky McCormick's body was discovered in Missouri, in a cornfield back in 1999. Here look at the other note now.
Investigators believe the two notes could solve the mystery behind McCormick's death. But after a dozen years, they still can't quite figure this out and crack the code.
They are releasing them to the public, hoping somebody, maybe you, might be able to help them out and crack this code.
Bestselling author Brad Meltzer has cracked a few codes in his day. Here is his take on these notes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD MELTZER, HOST, "BRAD MELTZER'S DECODED": The FBI is-they are not a dumb group here. They are among the best decoders out there. Their cryptography division is incredible. I know it. I've spoken to people. And when they are asking for help, it means there is a real problem.
When you look at these codes, sometimes you can see things that repeat. In English, the letter E is the most used. So, when you have the letter E you can decode normal works by looking for where that E, what repeats over and over. What is happening here is there is no- it's all random. There are parenthesis and ampersand, things like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, there is no reward being offered, just the challenge and the satisfaction you might help bring a killer to justice.
We have been focusing so much on what's been happening in Libya, the talk of civil war there. Would you believe civil war also happening in the Ivory Coast? And whether or not it possibly continues depends on one man. That man, Laurent Gbagbo, who is quote/unquote country's "president". Right now, he is nowhere to be found.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It is 38 minutes past the hour. We'll turn to politics now. It is another full week for some of those possible Republican presidential candidates. CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser checking their schedule.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, T.J.
It's a busy week in the race for the White House. With some probably presidential candidates in crucial states. You know most of it makes sense.
How about Mitt Romney? He's in Nevada. The former Massachusetts governor ran for the White House last time around and he'll probably do it again, and Nevada holds an early contest in the race for the White House.
Tim Pawlenty, he's in Iowa. Yes, that also makes sense. The former Minnesota governor is probably going to toss his hat in the ring. Iowa's caucuses, heck they go first in the primary caucus calendar.
Rand Paul is also in Iowa. Wait a minute, Rand Paul, who just elected to the Senate from Kentucky last November? He's the son of Congressman Ron Paul, who ran for the White House last time around. And he just may do so again. Rand Paul says he won't run if his dad does. But if his dad doesn't, then the younger Paul, who is a darling of the Tea Party Movement last year, he says he just might make a bid.
Stay tuned, T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser.
We have been talking a lot about what's been happening in Syria this morning. We have been keeping a close eye on protests happening there over the past several weeks. It's often difficult to take stock of exactly what's happening because of the violence happening, some restrictions in movement that reporters can and cannot do.
Some of the reports say-witnesses telling us that at least seven people died yesterday when Syrian security forces opened fire on demonstrators after Friday's prayer. Take a quick look here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD SHOUTING, CHEERS, WHISTLES)
HOLMES: This video, coming to us from Abu Adnan. He took this video in a Damascus suburb. He says undercover Syrian police were hitting people with sticks and shooting them.
Abu Adnan is not his real name. We are hiding his identity to protect his own safety. But he joins us now, this morning.
Thank you for being with us. Tell me what we are seeing in this video.
ABU ADNAN, WITNESS, SYRIA: Thanks.
Well, in this video, where the shooting of one of the guys who was standing 20 meters far from the protest, taking video of what is going on. That was after the snipers opened fire from roofs on the protestors. As long-with support from ground secret agents, with Kalashnikovs, after protestors burned the photo of Assad.
HOLMES: Now, Sir, we know that some people might have to-or you tell me, actually. The demonstrators there, have they gotten to a point they tried to defend themselves? Have they taken up any kinds of weapons to try to defend themselves at all? Or what you are witnessing is simply unarmed protesters being shot at?
ADNAN: Yes, exactly. It was totally unarmed. The first half hour of the protest, secret service used thick sticks-before they opened fire. At that point, clashes where protesters steal (AUDIO GAP) some stakes from the secret service and defend themselves. After secrete service opened fire, people just started (UNINTELLIGIBLE, AUDIO GAP)--
HOLMES: Let me jump in here. Our apologies. We are having some audio issues there, with Abu Adnan. We are going to try to get that worked out. We'll try to get back with him. He's been doing some reporting for us and also getting us some of these pictures.
But again, the protests continue despite, as you heard him describe there, unarmed protesters and demonstrators literally being shot and killed on the streets. This is outside of Damascus, in a suburb. But we will keep a close eye here on Syria. Other flash points in the Middle East and North Africa, as this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Meanwhile, another story back here in the United States. One Florida neighborhood wants to fine parent ifs their kids go outside and play.
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HOLMES: Well, 43 minutes past the hour now on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
The budget battle in Washington is a key issue on the campaign trail. As we move closer to a possible government shutdown next week, how much do you really know about what's in the budget? CNN National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin fills in some of the holes in the public's perception.
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JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): One Capitol Hill they are on the verge of a government shutdown because Congress wants to slash federal spending, but Republicans and Democrats can't agree on how much to cut. The biggest fights are over just a handful of programs, including --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Foreign aid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: NPR.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Food stamps.
YELLIN: If trimming those programs will rein in spending, they must make up a huge part of the federal budget, right? That's what most Americans think.
(On camera): What percent of the federal budget do you think we spend on foreign aid?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 40 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 20 percent.
YELLIN (voice-over): A new CNN Opinion Research poll found most Americans think foreign aid makes up 10 percent of this year's federal budget. Reality check? It is not even close; foreign aid, 0.6 percent of the 2010 budget.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really? Wow! Yes, I thought it was like a big thing.
YELLIN: So we asked about a few more.
(On camera): Government pensions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Government pensions? That would probably be 10 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's probably 10 percent.
YELLIN (voice-over): According to the poll, that is what most Americans think, but the reality? Just 3.5 percent.
(On camera): For public broadcasting, NPR? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Zero now, right?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe 15?
YELLIN (voice-over): Most folks think public broadcasting gets 5 percent of the federal budget. Reality, less than 0.01 of 1 percent. Overall, Americans believe foreign aid, government pensions, education, food and housing assistance, and public broadcasting account for 52 percent of the federal budget. Reality, it's 11.3 percent of the budget. The bulk of our spending goes to Defense, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a very skewed perceptive.
YELLIN (On camera): Why do you think that is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably the media.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: We in the media, can take some of the blame, but it's also the politicians who are making a small part of the budget a huge part of the budget fight. They are not talking about or touching the biggest challenges -- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.
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HOLMES: A Connecticut man has been arrested and charged with harassing a state legislator. The suspect, a 67-year old, John Matika. He says the legislator took his call the wrong way. That state rep is Linda Gentile. She says he called her about a proposed gun bill. She says he made a direct threat against her life and made specific references to the attempted murder of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Police did search the suspects home, confiscated several firearms, including automatic weapons and an assault rifle.
Ivory Coast is on the brink of war. And intense presidential rivalry has forced a bloody four-month standoff. Now as opposition fighters close in on the incumbent Presidential Laurent Gbagbo, the U.N. has sent him a clear message to decide his own fate wisely, or let opposition fighters decide it for him.
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HOLMES: Well, 49 minutes past the hour.
Could they possibly be, finally, approaching an end game in the Ivory Coast? Four months since the incumbent president there, Lauren Gbagbo, reportedly lost the presidential elections. At least that is what people around the international community say.
But since then he's flat out refused to step down and hand over power. Do you hear what I'm saying here? He lost the election, but he didn't step down. His decision has thrown the country into a bitter and bloody political and humanitarian crisis.
Our CNN Producer Nadia Bilchik joining me here now.
This was fascinating from the beginning. He literally held his own inauguration ceremony, for himself, after he lost the election.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN PRODUCER: T.J., he really believes he won.
In order to really put this into context one must go back to 2000. In 2000, when he becomes president and it's not a free and fair election that wins him the presidency. There is General Gee, at the time, who says, I'm going to have an election. He has a rigged election. There are such violent protests that Gbagbo really winds by default.
Now, so that's 2000. In 2004, there's supposed to be an election in the Ivory Coast. And what does Gbagbo do? He postpones it.
HOLMES: Postpones, postpones and he postpones.
BILCHIK He postpones six times. Finally, there's so much pressure in 2010, he's forced to have an election. There's three players in this. There is him, there is Ouattara, his opposition, and there is Beddiar (ph).
HOLMES: Ouattara, who everyone, the international community says won the election.
BILCHIK: Exactly. But what happens in the first round, is none of them win by over 50 percent. So there is a re-election, Beddiar (ph) pledges his support for Ouattara, then that makes him win by 54 percent.
So what happens is at that point Gbagbo says he only won by 54 percent and he tells the world it was rigged. He says there was so much pressure by the rebel forces in the north to make Ouattara's supporters vote for him. So, he is absolutely convinced that he won.
HOLMES: Now, two things here that a lot of Americans, people around the world, will relate to in the Ivory Coast. This is the number one producer of cocoa in the world?
BILCHIK: Yes.
HOLMES: First of all.
BILCHIK: A third of all the world's cocoa comes from here.
HOLMES: But the other thing here, they just got over a civil war not too long ago. Now, we were hoping this country would be moving in the right direction. They are once again on the brink.
BILCHIK: It has actually got so bad they are 4 million people in Abidjan. They say 1 million have been displaced. It's so bad, the fighting is so bad there that a U.N. worker steps out on her balcony to see what happens and a stray shot kills her.
There are 100,000 people who have fled the Ivory Coast into Liberia. I mean, the refugee crisis, the humanitarian crisis and atrocities, T.J., on both sides. As you say, one really feels for these people. The U.N. and the EU are really urging Gbagbo to say, let Ouattara take over.
HOLMES: Where are we now? They are thinking that possibly we are reaching an end game?
BILCHIK: Well, only because 80 percent of the country is now held by so-called rebel forces. They became the rebel forces during the civil war. We now call them the opposition forces. They were known as the Nevell (ph) forces. But just huge bloodshed, major atrocities being committed. Gbagbo is nowhere to be found.
Now, Gbagbo is a highly educated man. He was educated in an American ivy league school. Ouattara is very educated. He worked for the International Monetary Fund. You are talking about two men who are very educated, who, as you said, power corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
HOLMES: I read a quote, I can't remember, I wish I could attribute it to the gentleman, but I read, he was talking about Africans. Oftentimes you see things like this. When you have power, when you are president in Africa, you have everything. When you don't, you have nothing. It is a problem that has plagued so many countries around Africa for years.
We appreciate you, Nadia. Always good to get our viewers caught up on something that maybe is not getting the attention really it deserves right now. Thank you so much.
We are getting close to the top of the hour. We are more than 40 years after the whole civil rights movement. Certainly, a lot has changed. But a lot, apparently, has not. We have new Census data that shows America remains pretty segregated. And most of the segregated cities are in Northern states.
Want you to take a look at this. The folks at CCensuscope.org and the University of Michigan Social Science Data Analysis Network, they came up with this list. You can find it on Salon.com.
The five most segregated cities in this country. At number 5, Cleveland, Ohio; at number 4, Detroit, Michigan; at number 3, Chicago, Illinois.
Could you be living in the most segregated cities in the U.S.? The top two, in a moment.
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HOLMES: Getting close to the top of the hour.
I was telling you about the most segregated cities in the country. Essentially places where the neighborhoods are not integrated. We gave the first three, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago.
Now, number two on the list of most segregated cities. Number two, New York City.
The most segregated city in the country, according to Census information, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
We have been telling you this morning -- we don't have to tell you, you know, the royal wedding is just a few weeks away. Earlier, we asked you about Prince Williams decision not to wear a wedding ring. His bride-to-be will have a nice gold band. You have seen the ring she's wearing now, the engagement ring that belonged to William's mother. But he is going to wear nothing.
We asked you: Do you think he should wear a ring? Also tried to ask you, what do you think about your spouse wearing a wedding ring?
This is from our blog, folks. And Beth says, "He will have a huge crown to wear. Maybe he thinks wearing a ring is overrated." That's one way to put it.
This, also, from Lisa, says, "I don't think it's a big deal at all. Not all men like wearing jewelry."
Huh? Keep the comments coming. This is just a couple. Give me a sample here. We are going to share a lot more.
But the theme I'm getting from a lot of people, I'll bring you stuff on Facebook and my Twitter pages. You think it's not a big deal because everybody is going to know Prince William is going to be married. What's he going to do, go to a club, not have a ring on, people think he's not married? number Everybody is going to watch his wedding. We'll have a lot more on that later in the show.
Take you "Across Country" now for some the stories our affiliates are following for us.
This is in Edgewater, Florida. They are preparing for an unusual vote, banning children from playing outside. Yes, you heard me correctly. The homeowners association says it's a safety measure because children constantly play unsupervised in the neighborhood. Each violation would carry a $100 fine.
Also, to my old stomping ground to Little Rock, Arkansas, where a Southwest Airline jet carrying 49 passengers and crew members forced to make an emergency landing. That, as you could guess, is why. But what happened there? The plane struck a flock of birds, gaping hole in the nose of the plane. Besides giving the folks a scare, nobody injured.
Also, the most expensive single family house in America has been sold to a Russian. The business tycoon shelled out a cool $100 million for a 25,000 square foot Silicon Valley home. The new owner is an investor in Facebook and Groupon. And I am trying to get where he is.
