Two Teens Convicted of Assault, Not Murder, in PA Murder
NGUYEN: OK, so we know criticism comes with the job of being president, but one group who is watching President Obama closely believes he deserves a reprieve at least for his first 100 days.</s>HOLMES: Yeah, this is a community activist group. I sat down with members of 100 Black Men of America. Don't have a lot to criticize now. But they say, hey, it's still early.</s>HOLMES: If John McCain would have won, then U.S. vets from wars past would have looked at John McCain and thought, we've got one of ours in the White House. We got a friend in the White House. He's going to be looking out for us and our issues. We have a black man in the White House in the Oval Office now. In that similar vein, is it OK for black people to look at him and say we got one of ours in the Oval Office. And he is going to be looking out for us and looking out for your issues? Is that fair?</s>JOHN B. HAMMOND, CEO: I think it is fair. I think it's absolutely right and good that black people are able to look at the highest position in the country and say that one of our own is there.</s>HOLMES: During his presidency, I know it's still young, but where have you seen or have you seen race play a role in the way he's covered by the press, in the way he's criticized by the pundits, the way he's criticized by his political opponents, the way they take him on, have we seen race yet play a role in the presidency?</s>HAMMOND: I don't feel that we've seen race really come to the forefront during his presidency. Most of the things that are being dealt with the president is basically on policy, what he's doing, the content of what he's doing, and how he's addressing the economy and the other issues.</s>HOLMES: We talked earlier about he said, yes, it's OK for black people to look at him and say, yes, we got one of our own in the White House and expect him to look out for this community. How much time -- you all talk about it's been -- it's early now. How much time, how patient will the black community be with him until they're waiting to see something from him that's different from other presidents in that they feel like they do have one of their own in the White House and he is, in fact, looking and speaking to the black community?</s>HAMMOND: I speak a little bit. You know, I think we are -- we waited for nearly 400 years to get in there. I think we can wait another eight to see what he does. We could wait eight. I think that we, you know, we have all have expectations. We all think that he is going to and hope that he continues to keep the priority of our country first and all of its citizenry first. So I don't think that black people want to have any exclusive domain over the largesse of his presidency.</s>JOHN THOMAS GRANT, CEO: I think history is always the measure. You know, this president has been in office as of this -- less than 100 days. You know, the country is more than 200 years old. And I think it's unfair to expect something immediate. I think what we are seeing, though, is his willingness to attack issues boldly even in the face of resistance and criticism, even in the face of, you know, opposition. This country is going to require something different. That is what he campaigned upon and that's what he promised. I think that we are seeing his attempt to deliver upon that promise.</s>NGUYEN: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is 9:00 a.m. here in Atlanta. 8:00 a.m. in Chicago. 6:00 a.m. for people waking up on the West Coast. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.</s>HOLMES: And good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes for this Saturday, May 2nd. Glad you could start your day right here with us.</s>NGUYEN: All right. Let's get right to it. Now the latest on the swine flu. Health officials have confirmed more than 140 cases in the U.S.. More than 400 schools have been closed in 17 states. The government recommends schools stay closed for two weeks because children can be contagious for up to 10 days. Now, some schools want students with any flu-like symptoms to stay home. Northeastern University's commencement ceremonies Friday, well, they were held without the traditional handshake between the dean and students. Kind of odd. Well, as an extra precaution, though, small bottles of hand sanitizers were placed near faculty chairs, just in case. So obviously, people are taking all precautions. And in response to the outbreak, the president changed the topic of his weekly radio and internet address to the nation. Instead of discussing education reform as originally planned, the president spoke about swine flu.</s>OBAMA: This H1N1 flu has had its biggest impact in Mexico where it's claimed a number of lives and infected hundreds more. Thus far the strain in this country that has infected people in at least 19 states has not been as potent or as deadly. We can't know for certain why that is, which is why we are taking all necessary precautions in the event the virus does turn into something worse.</s>NGUYEN: The president also asked Congress for $1.5 billion if it is needed to purchase additional anti-virals, emergency equipment and the development of a vaccine. And at 9:15 this morning, Eastern, we're going to be checking up on how small towns are responding to the swine flu outbreak. The mayor of Cibolo, which is a Texas town just a few hours from Mexico joins us live. There are three confirmed cases there and officials have shut down schools. We have that interview right here on</s>CNN. HOLMES: It was a sudden move that shocked the senate. Long time republican Senator Arlen Specter leaves the GOP and becomes a democrat.</s>SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D), PENNSYLVANIA: As the Repubican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.</s>HOLMES: Specter, of course, not the first to jump ship, not the first high profile one either. In 2006 former Republican congressman Bob Barr shook up the GOP when he left to become a member of the Libertarian Party. And Bob Barr joins us now here in studio. Sir, thank you for being here. And when you saw that, did you think to yourself, OK, I know where he's coming from?</s>BOB BARR, FMR. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN: Not exactly because where I came from there really was a philosophical basis for leaving the Republican Party that I'd been in and active in for over 30 years to join the Libertarian Party, a third party, for constitutional reasons. On the other hand Arlen Specter, I mean, I have to give him credit for one thing and that is to make the statement that he did about the great philosophical difference between the parties with a straight face because there is no real philosophical difference between the two major parties. That's the irony of this whole thing. It's all about politics. It's not about principle.</s>HOLMES: So if you say it's about politics and you mention no real philosophical or constitutional difference, you might be talking about this. And let me let you listen to some of the announcement he made and this might go to the politics argument. Let's take a quick listen.</s>SPECTER: I think I can be of assistance to you, Mr. President, and my views on centrist government. There are a lot of big issues which we're tackling now that I've been deeply involved in, issues which go beyond my own personal interests, and I do want to serve in a sixth term. I make no bones about that.</s>HOLMES: OK. Do you think that is the point -- would you say that is strictly and solely the reason? He looked up and saw he was not going to win in that Republican primary and he decided to jump ship?</s>BARR: Absolutely. That's the bottom line here. And he may even have very serious problems winning the election anyway back in Pennsylvania. I don't think that the people in Pennsylvania will really appreciate what he did. We have to see how much the administration extracted from him in terms of promised votes on certain issues in return for the president and the Democratic Party's support in his race.</s>HOLMES: For someone who may not be paying attention as much to what's happening inside the beltway, and the back story, maybe the politics involve just to hear this high-profile Republican just left the party to go to the Democratic Party, how much more does that hurt the Republican Party and what it's trying to do to rebuild and find leadership?</s>BARR: It's hard to -- it's hard to overestimate the damage that has been inflicted not just by Arlen Specter's leaving from a political standpoint but the lack of any coherent philosophy, vision or leadership in the Republican Party. I mean this is just another sign that the Republican Party nationally lacks any semblance of leadership or notion of where it's going.</s>HOLMES: Well, did you ever consider going back to it?</s>BARR: Certainly that would make no sense at all either from a philosophical standpoint or from the standpoint of wanting to join a party that knows what it's all about. The Republican Party is in very deep trouble right now.</s>HOLMES: Last thing, does the Republican Party, rather the Democratic Party right now, is it about them having a better message than the Republican Party or a better messenger right now?</s>BARR: They have leadership. They don't really have a coherent agenda, per se, but they have something that the Republicans absolutely lack. They have a charismatic leader and they have party discipline. The Republican Party has none of that.</s>HOLMES: All right. Bob Barr, libertarian now. I want to make sure we get there. No intention of going to either -- back to either of those two major parties. It's really good to have you in studio. Appreciate you coming in ...</s>BARR: Always a pleasure.</s>HOLMES: And get your perspective on politics as always. Betty, I hand it over to you.</s>NGUYEN: All right. Well, long after disaster strikes, you often wonder what happened to those affected by the storm. Take Greensburg, Kansas, for example. Two years ago an F-5 tornado demolished 90 percent of the city. So how does a small town rebuild from scratch and just as important how do you keep storm victims from starting over somewhere else? To find out I took a trip back to Greensburg. As you're about to see the progress is pretty impressive.</s>NGUYEN (voice-over): May 4th, 2007, this is all that's left of Greensburg, Kansas. An F-5 tornado tore through town killing 11 people.</s>STEVE HEWITT, CITY ADMINISTRATOR: I walk upstairs and there's nothing but sky. There's no top of the house. It's all gone.</s>NGUYEN: That was city administrator Steve Hewitt showing me where his home once stood two years ago. This is him today. Nice. A lot better than just an empty piece of property which I saw last time.</s>HEWITT: Yes, you know we've come a long way since then.</s>NGUYEN: And so has the town. Take a look at what was left in 2007, little more than empty slabs and stacks of debris. But look at it now. Hewitt says 50 percent of the town is rebuilt and not just to code. The town has gone green. The goal -- become one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the nation and in doing so create jobs. So that young families will want to stay. Like the Tethers who have been living in a FEMA trailer for nearly a year and a half.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Six of us and a dog. It's kind of small.</s>NGUYEN: It is a little cramp in here. I see there's laundry on the side -- I mean there's no place to put it.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. And there's a microwave on the dresser that has silverware in it.</s>NGUYEN: They're one of the last families still living in what's referred to as FEMA-ville. Some 300 trailers used to line these lots. Today there are only about two dozen. Soon to be one less. The Tethers are packing up and moving into a brand-new house built in the middle of town. So when you get into your new home, your room is not going to look anything like this, right?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it will be twice the size and I'll have more room to put stuff.</s>NGUYEN: But staying here wasn't always a given. Did you ever think about not rebuilding and moving out of Greensburg?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually we did but Greensburg has a great -- they have a wonderful school system, so we made the decision to stay.</s>NGUYEN: Just what Hewitt wants to hear as he works to bring Greensburg back in a big way.</s>HEWITT: There is a tremendous opportunity that won't be without a lot of tough sweat and equity and tough investment from each and every citizen but I thought let's at least give it a shot.</s>NGUYEN: And that's what they're doing. One family at a time.</s>NGUYEN: And even before the storm, city leaders said young people were their biggest export. Many would leave Greensburg to find job or go to college and then never return. Well, now that about two- thirds of the residents have decided to rebuild, the biggest challenge is once again creating jobs. So as the city works becomes the most environmentally friendly communities in the nation, the hope is that young people will want to be a part of Greensburg's exciting future. And we will keep watching that for you.</s>HOLMES: And coming up next hour, how Greensburg is redefining what it means to be environmentally friendly from a house that can withstand a car.</s>NGUYEN: You have to watch it. You have to see it to believe it. They drop a Ford Escort on the roof of a house and we're told there is zero damage. So you know the key is not only rebuilding green but rebuilding strong as well so they can withstand the force of 200-mile- per-hour winds like, you know, you'll find in an F-5 tornado.</s>HOLMES: And that's the point, you know, it sounds crazy. Nobody is going to drop a car on a house.</s>NGUYEN: Don't try this at home. Yes, folks, don't try it at home, right.</s>HOLMES: In an F-5 cars get thrown around.</s>NGUYEN: Everything gets thrown around. Also, not only that but how you can actually light your home or business without electricity. It is amazing. It's just as bright as a light bulb but it's not going to cause you what it will to plug in a light bulb.</s>HOLMES: Only in Greensburg.</s>NGUYEN: Yes.</s>HOLMES: Let's turn now to Bonnie Schneider who is keeping an eye on the weather across the country, sitting in today for our Reynolds Wolf. And I see you're looking at Kentucky there again, maybe?</s>SCHNEIDER: Yes.</s>HOLMES: Any reason?</s>SCHNEIDER: Well, there's a big race happening later on at Churchill Downs as the Kentucky derby may face some rain. So far so good. We've just seen overcast skies. The heaviest rain has managed to stay off further off to the south and west but we're still tracking some of the heavy rain across a good portion of the region. So the forecast today will call for 64 degrees, scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast and that will bring about the chance for rain and even flooding rain across portions of the southern plains, the midwest, and even down through parts of Texas today. Severe storms in the forecast. We've already seen that throughout the overnight hours. We even have reports of a tornado as well in northern Texas. We've had reports of some golf ball and even baseball-sized hail with the storm system. Let's talk about the temperatures. They are really going to heat up today, 84 degrees in Houston. 89 in Tampa. 82 in Miami. Southwest Florida, watch out once again. You are under fire danger. We have fire danger in terms of strong, gusty winds, hot temperatures and low relative humidity as well in two parts of Texas, New Mexico. And as we slide across, we'll see that it in the south Texas and finally in southwest Florida. That's where we've seen some of the hot temperatures and the driest conditions so far. So watch out for fire danger across a good portion of southwest Texas as we go through the day today, tonight, and tomorrow. T.J., Betty.</s>NGUYEN: OK. Thank you, Bonnie.</s>HOLMES: And a story we got this morning, a big story on a big day in racing. The biggest day in horse racing. The favorite in the Kentucky Derby, we are getting word is intending to be scratched by its owners. The owners of "I want Revenge," the favorite in today's Kentucky Derby is going to be scratched. That's according to the "Associated Press." We are expecting a press conference that was supposed to start at the top of the hour. I don't think it's under way yet but we are monitoring it expecting to get the reason from the owners. Again, a lot of people who don't watch horse racing, or not into horse racing at all on a day-to-day basis will at least watch the Kentucky Derby and a lot of people know that "I Want Revenge" has been what a lot of the hubbub has been about and has been an early favorite after its runnings in the past month or so have been impressive. And it came to his. As always, people thinking about a triple crown. A little early for that still, but still thinking this horse had that potential. "I Want Revenge," again, is the name of this horse being scratched today. We're expecting to get the reason and get the reason here soon. As you see there in some of those pictures, Churchill Downs, the People gathering for that race, expected to be a rainy one. Actually might get some bad weather there. But never been canceled, the Kentucky derby. So we expect it to go on but it will go on without the favorite.</s>NGUYEN: Yes. There are about 20 horses in the field and obviously one less. And the question is why ...</s>HOLMES: Why?</s>NGUYEN: Why was it scratched especially when you have a favorite, I mean, one that everyone was looking to, to see how it was going to do today. And we will see exactly what the answer is to that. Hopefully we'll find it in the news conference coming up ahead. In the meantime though, the U.S. swine flu has indeed caused schools to close and students are actually graduating without handshakes. You know you get your diploma ...</s>HOLMES: Yes.</s>NGUYEN: You shake the hand. We'll we're going to talk to a mayor in Texas on how her town is dealing with it all.