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CNN Saturday Morning News
Flooding Moves South; Honoring True Heroes; Conversation with Hank Aaron; GOP Presidential Field Taking Shape; Least "Evil" Banks; 60-Second Start-Up; Understanding Multiple Marriage Relationships
Aired May 14, 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.
It's something that hasn't happened in almost 40 years, but it could happen today. A spillway along the Mississippi River could open up. It's expected to and could impact nearly 25,000 people down river. This is all in an effort to save other places like New Orleans and Baton Rouge from major flooding.
Also, President Bush, do you remember? He was the one that who vowed to take down Osama Bin Laden some 10 years ago. So what does the former president have to say now that the terrorist is dead? He is breaking his silence.
Also, a rare interview to share with you this morning with that guy, "Hammerin" Hank Aaron, talking to me about a number of things, the low light of his career, which many people think would be the highlight of his career. But he's also talking about President Obama, Barry Bonds, A-Rod and who the real home run king should be.
Hello to you all. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. It's Saturday, May the 14th. It's 6:00 A.M. here in Atlanta, 5:00 A.M. in Morgan City, Louisiana.
And Morgan City is a place that is on edge right now. We're talking about these efforts to try to protect against historic flooding along the Mississippi River. The flooding that hit the Ohio River Valley and the upper Mississippi now threatens cities on its path to the Gulf of Mexico.
Later today, the Army Corps of Engineers could open that huge Morganza spillway in Louisiana. The last time it was opened was back in 1973. Governor Bobby Jindal is urging Southeastern Louisiana residents to get out of there.
Opening the spillway would divert potential flood waters from other areas, in particular, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, but then other communities would get all of that water. Of course, it has to go somewhere. The spillway which took 16 years to construct is just north of Baton Rouge.
Our CNN affiliate reporter, I want you to listen to him now flying over Northern Louisiana giving us a look at what cities could face down river.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): We're flying over Lake Providence, Louisiana. This is the old levee, not the new one, where water is flowing out of the Mississippi over the top of the levee. This is the kind of things you would have seen in 1927 had you been here, because this is what happened. A matter of fact, this levee was probably the levee that was here in 1927.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And Louisiana National Guard members have been working around the clock putting sandbags to shore up levees in Morgan City. Also in the town of Helena, Arkansas, the river crested at more than 12 feet above flood stage.
The Coast Guard says flooding could close the river to shipping at the New Orleans Port as early as Monday. That could cause all kinds of economic consequences. Also, Louisiana's governor says flooding problems could be around for a long time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: This isn't going to be over this weekend. We're going to be facing weeks of elevated water. Some parts of our state the waters will be higher than normal through July and even August.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, be around for a while. We are feeling this awesome power of the Mississippi, the mighty Mississippi.
I do believe Reynolds Wolf, I'll bring you in. Good morning to you.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.
HOLMES: Where do we even start here this morning? Are they going to open the spillway?
WOLF: They are. But they're only going to do it a bit of a time. But what's amazing, T.J., is about the time we get to say the next day or so, we could see parts of the area under 20 feet of water, which is really amazing to see.
But you have to look at the choice here. OK? Here's one example. You've got the idea of seeing massive flooding in places like Baton Rouge, perhaps even to other communities downstream, maybe even New Orleans.
But there's an option and the option is to open up that spillway. But by doing that, what you're going to do is you're going to keep the water off the part of the Mississippi in this area and then right back in the area that you see that is surrounded by this blue, which happens to be the area that will be flooded once they open the floodgates at Morganza.
So we're going to see that water channel all the way down here. You're going to see some small - some small communities that may be under the gun and may be threatened. One of those possibly, Morgan City, maybe even into Patterson, Louisiana. So those are two areas of great concern.
One advantage that we have in a spot like Morgan City is that we happen to have a levee system. And the reason why that's important is - well, pretty simple. Take a look at this graphic. This is what the scenario would be if you didn't happen to have, say, a levee. What happens? The water level begins to rise. And you'll notice it escapes the boundaries of the river, moves out and then floods good parts of the community.
Now, when you have a levee system which again parts of Southern Louisiana happen to have, you're going to be protected. The rising water is going to go up, but if it doesn't over top the levee, conditions are picture perfect.
This also, of course, depends on the idea that the levees indeed hold. So these levees have been around for a very long time. They're certainly going to be tested over the next several hours, days and weeks. So it's going to be very interesting to see what happens in places like Morgan City, Louisiana.
Very quickly, T.J., one thing to share with you, we are going to be seeing some rainfall in parts of southeast, thankfully not in the Mississippi River Valley. Much moving now to parts of the northeast. And it's the Ohio Valley, some severe thunderstorms may be expected and back out to the west, basically the same situation. This area of low pressure moving into the Pacific Northwest is going to bring the rain there.
(INAUDIBLE) low cruising into the eastern half of the U.S. will bring more showers, possibly some severe storms in the Carolinas, but drier weather, thankfully, moving into parts of Louisiana and Mississippi - T.J.
HOLMES: Reynolds, appreciate you buddy. We're going to be checking in with Reynolds plenty throughout this morning. A lot of talk about weather and those things and good to have you back in the studio.
WOLF: Good to be in here (ph).
HOLMES: It's been a while. It's been a while. Thanks.
We're going to turn to some other news now. Still making headlines including the materials. Some new materials found in that Osama Bin Laden compound. Not new to - to them, necessarily, but new to us. We're just finding out about some of this stuff. Among those thumb drives, DVDs, other stuff there, an unreleased audio message on the Arab uprising. The U.S. official is saying that it was recorded sometime in April. The message mentions the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, but does not mention similar scenes in Libya or Yemen.
Meanwhile, the Navy SEALS also found a stash of pornography when they raided the Bin Laden compound. But officials aren't being overly specific with the details of it. They're also saying - not saying if they think it belongs to Bin Laden or to others living in the compound, maybe his couriers or even his son.
And a great victory in the war on terror, that is what former President George W. Bush said in his first public comments about the death of Osama Bin Laden. He said he got a call from President Obama telling him about the successful raid and Bin Laden's death. President Bush says he responded by saying, "Good call."
And Pakistan second guessing now its relationship with the United States in the wake of that Bin Laden compound raid. The Parliament condemned the action today and demanded an investigation. They're also demanding an end to U.S. Military drone attacks. Pakistani Parliament is threatening it cut off access to a key transit facility that serves as a gateway for moving troops into Afghanistan.
Well, we're just getting started here on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Just seven minutes past the hour.
Hank Aaron, you know him as Hammerin Hank. You know him as the home run king. Well, he is celebrating along with Major League Baseball this weekend breakthrough accomplishments. It's the annual Civil Rights Game.
As part of that, I went over, got a chance to sit down with Hank Aaron, asked him about all kinds of things including what he thinks baseball can be doing better. He wasn't shy about that answer. And also, he talked Barry Bonds. You'll hear from him in my interview coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Eight minutes past the hour now.
This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of Major League Baseball's Civil Rights Game. Happening here in Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday afternoon, the Braves playing the Phillies. But the game is just a small part of the story here. It's a weekend devoted to remembering and honoring those who played a big part in breaking down walls. Jackie Robinson, it's about heroes like Willie Mays, Ernie Banks and, yes, Hank Aaron.
I got a chance to sit down with that legend, asked him about his march toward the home run record and regrets he now has and when he passed Babe Ruth to become the home run king.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANK AARON, 755 CAREER HOME RUNS IN 23 SEASONS: That was probably the hardest point because I was - I was not able to really enjoy my teammates. I wasn't really able to enjoy my kids who were in school because they had to be escorted back and forth from high school, from school to come home. I had to be escorted from ballparks to the hotel. And I was not able to stay with my teammates.
So all of these things, you know, I think about and I say, you know, that was a part of my life that really didn't exist as far as I was concerned, you know?
HOLMES (on camera): After the fact, do you ever look back and hearing that answer a little bit there, do you ever look back and think, you know what, I - I could have done without - without the record?
AARON: No. I never did. No. I felt like it was my responsibility. God had given me the ability to - to play baseball.
HOLMES: Is it only a matter of time before we see A-Rod's name and then Albert Pujols name at the top of that home run list?
AARON: Yes. And I would say legitimately, I think that Albert Pujols name deserves to be there.
HOLMES: Are you saying A-Rod's does not deserve to be there?
AARON: I'm just saying, no, I am just saying.
HOLMES: You said it now.
AARON: I did - I just - I said Albert Pujols name will be there. I didn't say anything about A-Rod.
HOLMES: Last thing here. What would you say to those fans who say Hank Aaron is the home run king? He will always be my home run king. And they refuse to acknowledge anybody at this point that's above your name. Would you say to them, say, hey, let it go, folks. The guy above me has more home runs. He's your home run king or would you say -
AARON: I'd say - I would say thank you. I would thank them first of all. I would thank them if they think that way.
But here, you know, again, you know we're talking about Barry Bonds. And, you know, if Barry Bonds hit more home runs than I did and he should be justifiably should be the home run king. That's the way I look at it.
I look at it and said that he done everything he wanted to do, everything he was supposed to do in baseball. People say, well, you know, he was on this. He was on that. I don't know what he was on, you know? I - I have no idea. I'm not God. I don't have any idea.
The only thing I know is that Barry Bonds was a terrific ballplayer. I hit 755 home runs and no matter how you look at it, I'm not going to hit another home run. Not in this year. I may do it somewhere else, but not here. And he hit more home runs than I did and this is on earth. So he should be classified as the home run king.
HOLMES: So you don't believe he was on anything? AARON: No, I'll just say I believe (INAUDIBLE). I'll just say that no matter what it is, I don't know. I don't know what he was on.
HOLMES: All right.
AARON: I have no idea. As I said before, I'm not god. I don't make those kinds of rules.
HOLMES: You're just saying God - once we get up to 50, 60 home runs, something is funny. Was that 73?
AARON: Yes, yes. I said if we get up to - I said I think it's something funny. I think. And there's a difference when you say you think. You can't say I know. You say I think something is different.
HOLMES: Man, you are - you are scholar and a gentleman. I love it. I love it. I love it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: OK. Reynolds, that was - he rarely talks about - he has been, I mean, really, I said at the end of there, I said, sir you're a scholar and gentleman. Because after the whole Barry Bonds broke his record -
WOLF: Absolutely.
HOLMES: -- and the scandal surrounding him, he still refused to say anything negative. Congratulated Barry Bonds and that was the end of it. So I was kind of surprised to hear him talk about it in that interview.
But you brought up something while we were standing here what he went through during his chase for (INAUDIBLE) -
WOLF: Oh, '72, '73, '74, he had death threats every single day. You know, that's one thing Bonds ever had to deal with. But the very idea that he's the Hammer. He could have brought the hammer and he didn't bring the hammer is pretty amazing with himself.
But the things that amazing about - about Aaron is that he's one of those guys who's known for 755. He's not known for any career average, but he had a wonderful average, great (INAUDIBLE). He played on a terrible line-up. No offense, Atlanta Braves, but, really, in '74 they had a (INAUDIBLE) year. He was the man on the team.
Also an incredible fielder. Gold Glove Winner of the year in and year out. He'd never even (ph) given credit for that. Amazing guy from Alabama.
HOLMES: But the home runs, we talk about that home run chase. He said that was the low light of his career, what he had to go through. He never got to enjoy it at all. It's something that he -
WOLF: What a shame. HOLMES: Reynolds, we're going be taking in with you plenty. Like, Reynolds, as always, you have to chime in when it's an Alabama guy. Of course -
WOLF: Yes.
HOLMES: -- and talking about sports as well. We're going to have more from Hank Aaron - Hank Aaron next hour. He's going to tell me how baseball is - how it's doing in reaching out to the African- American community because the numbers of African-Americans in Major League Baseball has gone down in recent years. And what exactly can be done to try to grow the game in inner cities?
Also, it's no surprise here that the president, you wonder who maybe he is pulling for in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls? Of course, the president saying it's his hometown Bulls. And he's wagered one of Chicago's world famous hotdogs to back it up. The president making a bet there with a Miami reporter. He's also got a box of Cuban Fritas if Miami loses. The president met with the reporter as part of his push to reenergize the debate over immigration reform.
Well, it's about time that some of these guys got on the record. A couple of GOP candidates say they're running for the White House. Who's who and what are their chances? Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Sixteen minutes past the hour now in the CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
The GOP field for the 2012 presidential election is starting to take shape. This week, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul both announced - both announced their intentions to run. Tonight, we see a third, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says he will announce on his television show whether he will explore a presidential bid.
Our Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser has it all in today's "Political Ticker."
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, T.J.
Newt Gingrich, you know what, he is headed to Iowa Monday when he kicks off a six-day tour through 17 cities and towns. Iowa is a smart place to visit if you're running for the White House. Its caucuses kick off the presidential primary in caucus calendar. Gingrich, he threw his hat into the ring on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: I'm announcing my candidacy for president of the United States because I believe we can return America to hope and opportunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Gingrich has a lot going for him, name recognition, experience. He's donned as an ideas man. But what can help can also hurt. That long resume means he is anything but a fresh face. And people know him but they may not love him.
Check this out. Republicans aren't so crazy about him running for president. And his three marriages and those affairs, well, that may not place him well amongst social conservatives, who are very influential in picking the next Republican presidential nominee.
Gingrich isn't the only person who jumped into the race for the White House this week. Yesterday, Congressman Ron Paul in Texas announced his third bid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RON PAUL (R), TEXAS: There are many who would like to belittle this effort. But let me tell you, there is an old saying, three's a charm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Paul has devoted an enthusiastic followers especially among the Tea Party crowd and he can raise big bucks online. But many of his views on foreign policy affairs and economic issues are out of line with many Republicans - T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser.
Listen up here. This is some bad news for thousands of immigrants, potential immigrants thought they won the chance to legally live and work in the United States. The first drawing didn't count.
The State Department is blaming a computer glitch for forcing them to redraw the Diversity Visa Lottery. Out of around 15 million applicants, 50,000 people would get visas. The results were originally posted at the beginning of this month giving people lots of time to start making plans for coming to the U.S. But now they have to wait for the new lottery results due in July.
Do you think you could convince someone to back your business idea in 60 seconds or less? These women did.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TONI HALL, BUSINESS PITCH WINNER: I feel so honored.
NATALIE PRATHER, BUSINESS PITCH WINNER: Extremely blessed. HALL: Blessed.
PRATHER: Honored.
HALL: Grateful. This is amazing. Yes.
PRATHER: This is an amazing opportunity just the fact that they have this program. It's awesome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Also this morning, if you're tired of paying high fees to your bank every time you turn around, CNNMoney.com has come up with a list of what they call the eight least evil banks out there. These banks have zero ATM fees, free checking, high yielding accounts.
The first four for you here, Ally Bank, an Internet bank that doesn't charge monthly maintenance fees or make you keep a minimum balance. Also ING Direct, another Internet bank offers free checking account and no ATM fees as long as you stay in their network. Also USAA, used to be just for military families. Now this Internet bank serves just about anybody.
They're also non-Internet banks on the list including Capital One offers free checking accounts for now. Beware though in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., the rules change after a year. You don't see your bank on the list. Well maybe it is on the list and that I'll complete for you in two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-two minutes past the hour in the CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
CNNMoney.com has come up with a list of what they call the eight least evil banks out there. These banks have zero ATM fees, free checking, high yielding accounts. We showed you four before the break. Four more for you. Here is one.
Alliant Credit Union, one of the largest in the country. Just join no matter where you live, offers high rate checking and monthly fees. Also PNC (INAUDIBLE) if you live in the east or the northeast, branches in D.C. and 15 states. Also the Incredible Bank, that's the name of it. It's an online bank that offers a high yield checking account that pays more than five times what many banks offer and charges no monthly fees. And then there's Charles Schwab (INAUDIBLE) free checking. You have to open a brokerage account but you don't have to make any trades, no minimum balance.
Don't see your bank? Well, maybe one of these should be your new bank.
Well, you have dreams out there. You still have dreams. Of course we all did at one point or another. But do you think you could - you could express your dream in one just minute. Somebody gives you 60 seconds to do it. That was exactly the challenge some people faced when given a special chance to influence investors.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES (voice-over): These young entrepreneurs are 60 seconds away from winning $10,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole (INAUDIBLE) plan is pretty much -
HOLMES: That is if they can come up with a perfect business pitch. The upstarts recently attended the 100 Urban Entrepreneurs Event at Howard University. They had 60 seconds to pitch their dream business idea to a panel of four judges. Grammy Award Winning songwriter and producer Brian Michael Cox was among them.
BRYAN MICHAEL COX, ADVISER, 100 URBAN ENTREPRENEURS: I'm looking forward to a business if it makes sense. If it - if it can be effective, if it can be profitable and I'm looking for the charisma.
HOLMES: The pitches range from an interchangeable jewelry design business to ways of bringing organic food into the inner cities.
PRATHER: Finally, someone came up with this idea.
HOLMES: The team of Toni Hall and Natalie Prater was one of the five winners. Their pitch - Size 12, a shoe boutique catering to women who wear sizes 10 to 14.
HALL: (INAUDIBLE). I figured I was so frustrated at finding fashionable shoes, so a lot of other women were frustrated, too.
HOLMES: Wanting to turn agony of shoe shopping into something positive, Toni researched starting a business and conducted surveys of other women shoppers.
PRATHER: There is one woman who came here last week. She actually wore size 13. She picked out a two pair of flats and she was like these are a little tight. Do you have a 14? And I went in the back and I came out with 14 in three different styles. And she looked at me like -
HOLMES: The duo heard about the competition from a previous winner who encouraged them to enter.
HALL: I feel - I feel so honored.
PRATHER: Extremely blessed.
HALL: Blessed.
PRATHER: Honored.
HALL: We're very grateful. This is amazing. Yes.
PRATHER: It's an amazing opportunity just the fact that they had this program. It's awesome. HOLMES: Organized just over a year ago and with a $100,000 backing from one of the most famous entrepreneurs, P. Diddy, 100 Urban Entrepreneurs chairman, Dan Carriere, says its mission it to give young minority business people a hand up.
DAN CARRIERE, CHAIRMAN, 100 URBAN ENTREPRENEURS: I can tell you that being an entrepreneur is attainable for many. We just need to level the playing field and give the tools and inspiration to what I see in urban America as a tremendous hustle, a desire to get forward.
HOLMES: So what happened to Toni and Natalie? Well, their 60- second pitch landed them to go on to win $10,000 and participate in an eight-week mentorship.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And we're going to check in with Toni and Natalie in the next eight weeks.
Meanwhile, Urban Entrepreneurs will be hosting more of those 60- second pitch events throughout the year in cities across the country. To find out more, you can submit your pitch as well. You can find out how to do that. Go to their website at 100urbanentrepreneurs.com.
The Mississippi River keeps rising. People living along its banks getting more worried by the hour. And I'm about to talk to the mayor of one of those cities along the Mississippi, ask what this historic city - his historic city is doing to cope with this record flooding.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're at the bottom of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Welcome back. I'm T.J. Holmes. Glad you could spend part of your weekend here with us.
Give you a look at some of the stories making headlines. The Corps of Engineers could open a major spillway along the Mississippi River in Louisiana later today. Doing that would help reduce the pressure on levees protecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans. But it would flood at least seven Louisiana parishes. The spillway has not been opened in almost 40 years.
And in Iran, a man found guilty of throwing a bucket of acid on a woman who scorned him was set to face a similar fate. A court ordered he have five drops of acid put in each eye. The picture of the victim you're about to see may be disturbing to some, but remind you the story we are talking about here. She decided against accepting so- called blood money for retribution. Instead opting for the punishment of an eye for an eye in accordance with Islamic law. Amnesty International is urging Iranian authorities not to go through with this.
Back to the U.S. now. An autopsy being conducted and hopefully determining what killed New York Ranger player Derek Boogard; the hockey player's body discovered yesterday in his Minneapolis apartment. Few details known about his death. He was a native of Saskatchewan. He was just 28 years old. He joined the rangers in July of last year.
Well, Natchez, Mississippi, sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. People there are seeing something they have never seen before. The Mississippi River has already exceeded its all-time record. Still not expected to crest until a week from now. Flood stage is 48 feet in Natchez.
Joining me on the line right now is the mayor of Natchez, Jake Middleton.
Mayor Middleton, we are giving the numbers here already at records. You're expecting another week before it actually crests. Where are you expecting it to crest?
MAYOR JAKE MIDDLETON, NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI: We're going to have hopefully, T.J., it will be cresting next Saturday at 64 feet. We're hoping it doesn't go any higher than that.
HOLMES: How much higher above flood stage would that be?
MIDDLETON: That would be -- 48 feet is flood stage. So about 16 feet over flood stage.
HOLMES: Sir, how you are making out so far? And how could you possibly make out if the river gets that high and then you don't know how long it's going to stay there?
MIDDLETON: Well, we're doing well. We've got great bunch of department heads that have been taking care of business on this side of the river. We sit high up on the bluffs here, the southern part of the county and northern part of the county unfortunately are not protected by the bluffs. So they're going to get a little bit of water.
We're concerned about our neighbors across the river in Vidalia and Fairdy (ph), Louisiana. We've been working with them, helping them as much as we can. We're moving equipment over into our city from their city, setting up sheriff substations over here, and working with the two mayors offering them any type of office space they may need, should-hopefully nothing happens-but should the levee breech. We'll be willing to do what we can to help them.
HOLMES: Sir, some of the lower levels you talk of, you said you sit for the most part up on the bluff, but how many -- give me an idea of -- I guess how many people, how many homes, how many businesses could be affected or is that you're most worried about?
MIDDLETON: Well, we have the older part of the city, which we call Natchez Under The Hill, which it is a very historic part of our city. And we have these Hesco barriers put up down there as high as 12 feet. So our restaurants and bars Under The Hill are still operating as usual.
Natchez is open for business. I want everyone to know that. We still welcome our visitors to Natchez. So we're in good shape. We had some problems with our waste water treatment plant in some low areas. We got that corrected. And then we have our industrial park protected. So we're in pretty good shape over here.
HOLMES: I assume, sir, nobody living there has ever seen anything like this before.
MIDDLETON: No, sir. It was 57 feet in 1937, I believe, was the highest anyone's ever seen it. So we're seeing something that I hope I won't ever see again in my lifetime.
HOLMES: All right. Mayor Middleton, we appreciate you. Sounds like you are making out OK. Again, Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton, I do appreciate you spending time with us this morning. Good luck. We'll check back in. Thanks so much.
We've been telling you about this river here. It's a heck of a choice they're having to make. What do you do? Do you flood out this area to try to save this other area? That's exactly what they're dealing with right now.
It is 34 minutes past the hour. I'm right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. All right, 36 minutes past the hour now.
I want to bring in our buddy Reynolds Wolf here to talk about the levees and what's happening along the Mississippi this morning.
And Reynolds, as we get this camera cued up here, we have been talking about the spillway and these levees holding up. There are a lot of levees. People don't -- unless you live next to a river, you don't understand this levee system and how complicated it is quite frankly, but--
WOLF: Since the very existence of man, we've been trying to control water all over the world, and especially along the Mississippi River and parts of Louisiana. They've been trying to harness this river since the 1840s. After a while, you have a little bit of success here and there. The river is going to have its own way.
This is tremendous situation we have. All this water that is continuing to comb its way down the Mississippi River. The only option they have to avoid flooding in places like Baton Rouge and possibly into New Orleans is to divert the water and make it go down the spillway you see up here, the Morganza flood gates.
But when you look at this area that is shaded in blue, this is the area that's going to be flooded, it's kind of two dimensional. It doesn't have a lot of meat to it. It doesn't have a lot of meat until you add something like this. 25,000, that's the number of people that happen to live in here.
Another number for you, about 11,000, that's the number of structures including homes that you happen to have in this particular area. And this could be under 25 feet of water by the time we get into next week. Some places, other places could be anywhere from a few inches to a few feet. But this entire area will be basically flooded to avoid disaster in other parts of the Mississippi River. That is something we're going to be seeing.
When we get to the levee system itself and how they work, it is a fascinating idea. They're using this in other parts of the world, on the Nile, other places along the Amazon. Essentially the way the levees work is without a levee, when you have a flooding situation and water comes up away from the banks and spreads out and some cases it can spread out for miles.
But when you have the levees that changes the whole dynamic. What do you have is a raised wall, if you will, on either side of the river way. And what that does, that hopefully prevents the flooding moving inland. So it saves homes, houses, many communities. And that is hopefully going to be the situation in places like Morgan City, Louisiana. You're going to find that at the very bottom of the potential flooded area.
Morgan City, home to some 12,000 people, with all that water coming down at a fairly quick rate, even though they are going to open one spillway at a time, it's going to be an area of big concern. Something we're going to have to watch very carefully over the next several days and weeks, T.J.
HOLMES: Reynolds, we do appreciate you as always. We'll check in with you plenty throughout the morning. A lot happening along that river weather-wise and certainly we'll be talking to him.
Four wives, one husband. The most women in this country, well, that's just unacceptable. But it's actually common practice in some countries around the world. So exactly what drives their willingness to share? We'll visit that in our "Morning Passport."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, 40 minutes past the hour now.
Three of Osama bin Laden's widows were interviewed Thursday by U.S. intelligence officials. They were found living with him in the compound. But why would the most-hunted man in the world bring his wives into hiding with him. Also, some are asking why so many wives?
Nadia Bilchik joining me this morning for our "Morning Passport".
Good morning to you. Multiple wives, not something that would fly necessarily in this country?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN PRODUCER: No, not fly in this country, certainly. But it is known as polygamy.
There are two forms of polygamy. There is politany (ph), where a man has more than one wife. And there is actually polyandry, where a woman has more than one husband. We'll get to that later. But certainly in Islam, the idea of this form of polygamy, a man has more than one wife is allowed. But there are certain constraints. That is a man can only have up to four wives and he has to treat them justly. The Koran says this, marry of the women that please you, two, three, or four. So only up to four. But if you fear you will not be able to deal justly with them then only one. So if you cannot treat them all equally, then only one.
HOLMES: Do we know why the women -- why four?
BILCHIK: Well, it's an interesting number of four because it was probably the amount that a man could actually cope with and deal justly with. But historically, the fascination comes from why a man was allowed to have more than one wife dates back to the time of the Prophet Mohammed in around the year 1625. During the battle of Ahood (ph), where the Muslims fought the Mechans (ph), many, many men died. So women were left without husbands and children were left without fathers. So the men need to marry the wives who were husbandless. So, it came out of a sociological and humanitarian need. It was never intended for sexual gratification.
HOLMES: I think a lot of people would hear that and first jump to that. But it actually came out of necessity. That is an interesting part of the story.
BILCHIK: It came out of necessity.
Now only a small percentage of Muslims around the world actually practice this form of polygamy. Now we do know that Osama bin Laden had four wives. One was estranged. He had three with him, the youngest being 29. But this isn't the only culture where this form of polygamy is practiced. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma has five wives.
HOLMES: That's right.
BILCHIK: Remember? And he says he justifies it by saying I'm a Zulu, this is part of the culture. But there is a faith healer in Nigeria, an 87 year old man, who has 86 wives. He has 86 wives. At some point he says because he is being prolific. He is being fruitful and multiplying. He is not adored by the Nigerian authorities, or Muslims in Nigeria.
HOLMES: That is him, we're looking at?
BILCHIK: There he is. That is Mr. Bello Mesaba. And we'll talk more about him in the 8:00 a.m. hour and how he lives with all of these wives. There were 107 at some point.
HOLMES: He lives with all of them?
BILCHIK: He lives with all of them. He did divorce 12 for disobedience and a couple have died.
HOLMES: Oh, 86. Now a lot of people will hear this. And certainly in this country and think I'm having a tough time dealing with my one wife. A lot of people watched, what is the show on HBO? "Big Love."
BILCHIK: Oh, yes, "Big Love." Remember, that this is women. Now a man having several wives, but in polyandry, where you have a woman that has several husbands that, is also come out of a need. Because during-there is so much female infanticide in certain countries, like India, so there is now such a shortage of women. So a brother might have to marry his brother's wife because no other women are available. So from polygamy to poligeny (ph) to polyandry, is certainly fascinating.
HOLMES: All right. We only deal with monogamy here in this country. All right. Nadia Bilchik, looking forward to what you have at 8:00. Nadia Bilchik, as always, we appreciate you.
We're getting close to a quarter of the top of the hour.
An Alabama woman, she just wants to help other folks out. How? By returning family treasures lost in those powerful storms. And what else? She is using social media to make it happen.
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HOLMES: All right. It's about 12 minutes until the top of the hour now.
Foreclosed homes for storm victims, that's one plan being discussed by the federal government to help people who lost their homes in tornadoes that swept across the south last month. Estimates of the number of homeless reach as high as 10,000. The Red Cross is still running several shelters. Right now 66,000 people from Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama have registered for federal aid.
After those storms, one Alabama woman found several photographs blown into her yard. She had overwhelming urge to track down the owners and get that stuff back to them. So she started, what else, a Facebook page that connects lost items from the storms with the owners. So far, more than 100,000 people have signed on, over 4,000 lost items have been posted to the site.
Patty Bullion is creator of that page. She joins me now.
Patty, good morning to you, dear lady. We appreciate you being here.
PATTY BULLION, CREATOR, FACEBOOK LOST & FOUND: Thank you.
HOLMES: And you didn't just have this idea. What kind of inspired you to do it in the first place? It was a one item you found.
BULLION: Well, actually, right after the storms went through we were very fortunate in our home, it went over. We didn't have any damage. But when I went outside, there was an ultrasound picture laying in the yard. And my children and my husband and I got out and we found six or seven pictures laying in our yard. And we just couldn't imagine holding on to that precious ultrasound picture and not funding a way to get it back to its owner.
HOLMES: Were you able to get that one back to its owner?
BULLION: We have possibly made an identification on it. Of course, right now a lot of the storm survivors don't have permanent homes. They're spotty getting on the Internet. So I have had a lady contact me to say it is hers. She hasn't written back yet to make complete contact there.
HOLMES: We'll see if it ends up being the right person and you get that back to her. We would love to follow up about that.
But also, what else stands out to you? I know you found a lot of items. I guess one of the ones or one or two you could tell me about that really jumped out at you.
BULLION: Well, actually one that really jumped out at me belonged to a church in Smithville, Mississippi, which is a little over 150 miles away from us. It was a deacon's slip where it had all of the current serving deacons listed on it and a place to write in who you wanted to nominate. And we posted that on the Facebook page. Within just minutes we started getting comments that it was from Smithville Baptist Church. I actually spoke with the preacher down there and it's going back to their church. It's just a little bit of history that they didn't have.
HOLMES: And I know there's another, I think you were able to return one. It was a prom picture. Do I have that right?
BULLION: Yes. There was a prom picture. Actually, a friend of mine returned that one. The first one posted on the Facebook page that I didn't personally post. But she is a friend of mine that lives down the road from us. And that one has a strange twist. My uncle actually found a child's workbook page that was a writing about a hat. And that actually ended up belonging to the same little girl. She is a sophomore in college now. But had done this page when she was in third grade.
HOLMES: How many items? Do you have an estimate of how many you've been able to return?
BULLION: We are estimating right around 1,000. A couple days ago a little over 500. It's is amazing how fast these items are being claimed. I posted a picture the other night and it was claimed within 60 seconds. People are on there looking. They are wanting just a little piece of their history back. These are memories that can't be replaced. And whether they find out about it, they're just searching it. I've had people tell me they're on there two or three times a day looking for new pictures that might be theirs.
HOLMES: OK, what is the name of the site? We're looking at it. I'm sure people want to check it out. What is the actual name of it? How can they find it?
BULLION: It is just simply named Pictures and Documents Found After the April 27, 2011 Tornadoes. I wanted to name it exactly what it was, so it wasn't hard to find.
HOLMES: How many items-I guess, how far away? You describe one from a church that was a little ways away. But how many items are you finding that were not just from up the street or around the block or even across town but from way away somewhere?
BULLION: The majority of the items that are being claimed are from over 100 miles away. I actually had one lady to post the other day that she claimed a picture from a little over 300 miles away. That's just amazing to think about.
HOLMES: Ma'am, that is great work. You just decided to take it upon yourself to do this. I'm sure people really, really appreciate it. Again, Patty Bullion, again, the creator of that web page. I'm going to post it here and send it to our folks who are on Twitter and on Facebook and we're going to continue to get the message out.
Congratulations on the work you're doing. Good to see you this morning.
BULLION: Thank you very much.
HOLMES: Here we are, eight minutes until the top of the hour.
Nobody wants to get old. But I'm going to show you how to get old, at least temporarily. One of our young reporters puts on an aging suit to see what it feels like. You need to see this.
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HOLMES: All right. Getting close to the top of the hour here.
Nobody-nobody wants to get older. We try to fight it off day in, day out, but the inevitable is going to happen. A lot of baby boomers are getting older and old. I know a lot of people in their 60s and 70s now, they're trying to get help in aging at least a little more gracefully. As part of our special focus on the baby boom generation, CNN's Deborah Feyerick, a very young Deborah Feyerick, went to the MIT Age Lab. And that's where she found out how it feels to get older.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to the Age Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.
(On camera): Getting older.
(voice-over): If you want to know what it's like to grow old, this is the place to come.
(On camera): So this is what it feels like to be 75 on a good day. Here we are at the store.
(voice-over): Joe Coughlin runs the lab, a valuable outpost for designers and businesses figuring out ways to cater to aging baby boomers. JOE COUGHLIN, DIRECTOR, MIT AGE LAB: We found product placement for the things that you most want and are most healthy are quite often those are the hardest to reach.
FEYERICK: Researchers are figuring out everything from easier shopping.
(On camera): Can I do a little exercise program here.
(voice-over): To fun ways to stay active.
(On camera): Even for 10 minutes it makes you very fatigued.
COUGHLIN: The baby boomers are going to leave a legacy, it's about expecting more and they are going to try their best to age cool.
FEYERICK (On camera): OK, or age less.
COUGHLIN: Or age less.
FEYERICK: That includes the kind of homes baby boomer will choose to live in, reconfiguring spaces.
COUGHLIN: Here at the counter, cutting vegetables now is going to make you far more fatigued than if you had a counter that you can sit at.
FEYERICK: Right.
COUGHLIN: So redesigning the house to live in for a lifetime.
FEYERICK (voice-over): And using electronic strips to keep track of medicine and help others keep track of you.
COUGHLIN: It says you put your pills back without taking them.
FEYERICK: I did. I'm just looking.
COUGHLIN: We're using that type of technology that was used for the astronauts for mom in your kitchen. Because if you think about it, space is an extreme environment, but your kitchen is an extreme environment, as you age.
FEYERICK: In America alone, there are some 77 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964. And 70 percent live in rural areas where cars are a life line.
COUGHLIN: Are there things we can do with a car to compensate for maybe reduced flexibility in the neck? Blind detection? Warning systems?
FEYERICK: So are you, on some levels, trying to turn back time?
COUGHLIN: In some levels, no, we're trying to make the best use of the time we have. Do we work longer? Do we come up with new forms of play? How do we stay if our homes, not just independent, but connected as well?
FEYERICK: Even if that connection is a robot, the same weight and feel as a baby and audibly soothing.
As for me, I'm not ready to get old.
(On camera): I feel 17 again. Refusing to age without a fight. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Boston, Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: In some states the jobless can't escape bank fees even on their unemployment benefits.
According to the National Consumer Law Center, 40 states now use those prepay cards instead of paper checks to play unemployment benefits. And 24 of those cards charge fees or denied transactions or ATM balance inquiries. All five-or another five of the cards charge overdraft fees.
The NCLC study does point out that for people without bank accounts, the card fees are usually cheaper than check cashing services.
Take a look at the stories making news across the country.
The mug shot of a 51-year-old South Carolina man arrested last week for assault and battery is getting a lot of attention. The reason being, what's on his forehead. There is a tattoo there on his forehead. The name is Robert Norton Kennedy. That is his name.
This is what it reads, if you can't see it there. It says, and I quote here, "With God all things are possible. God loves you. Please forgive me if I say or do anything stupid. Thank you." That is a direct quote from the man's forehead.
Let me just move on to Phoenix, now.
Check this out. One pooch had to be rescued. A dog had to be rescued yesterday because of suspected heat exhaustion. The dog's owners say they went on a hike and the Rottweiler was soon in distress. Firefighter saved the dogs, just like people, sometimes can't take the heat.
Well, it is that time of year, it is prom season. And in Greensboro, North Carolina, Justin Myers, he took it to new heights. He asked his date by way of a plane flyover. You see that?
He is a licensed pilot. He took his girlfriend up in a two- seater and asked her to look down at the coliseum parking lot and it said prom with a question mark. He could just ask. I guess that's another way to do it.
