text:
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN)  -- Any woman who's ever watched "Sex and the City" has at some point tried to guess which of the characters she's most like. The overly confident Samantha? The slightly prudish Charlotte? The pessimistic Miranda? The overanalytical Carrie?

Candace Bushnell attends a fashion show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in September.

But an honest viewer probably would have to admit that she's similar to all of the characters in some way. As a writer, that is Candace Bushnell's gift.

In her books, including "Sex and the City," "4 Blondes" and "Lipstick Jungle," Bushnell has given the pop culture world feminine role models with which it can identify. And the best-selling author's newest book, "One Fifth Avenue," provides a few more -- including attorney Annalisa Rice, gossip columnist Enid Merle and gold digger Lola Fabrikant.

Although all of her characters are fictional, Bushnell said each one is based on a common type of person.

"I've always been interested in people. It's part of being a novelist, really, part of the job," she said. "As a writer you can never know a real person as well as you know your characters."  Watch Bushnell talk about her new book Â»

Bushnell said a minor character or two often will appear in several of her books. Other characters she develops in her head for years before releasing them on the literary scene.

For instance, she kept one fictional character, Schiffer Diamond, under wraps for 20 years, never seeing a place where she fit in -- until "One Fifth Avenue."

The story of a vicious scramble for a penthouse apartment once owned by a high-society queen shows the life of New York City women through the lens of where they live. One Fifth Avenue -- an actual building near Washington Square Park -- is an address that each character thinks will be her ticket to fortune. Bushnell contrasts old and new money -- and old and new media -- in the course of her tale.

A New York lover herself, Bushnell looks like she belongs on a fashion walkway. Arriving at CNN in a blue dress, bright green jacket and what look like 6-inch heels, it's obvious the author isn't just a bystander of the fashion capital. But those expecting a who's who of the designer world should take another look at Bushnell's subject matter.

"My books are social satire. They have a sense of the absurd," Bushnell said. "They have to say something about contemporary life."

"One Fifth Avenue" touches on art and antiquities theft, crosses back into the world of blogging and zips over to the stock market in less than 400 pages.

Though the book is just out in stores, it was written months ago. So how did the author -- who's been celebrated in the past for her ahead-of-the-curve approach to trends -- know the economy would be such a central focus of her readers' current lives?

"I keep my eyes open," she said with a smile.

text: ATLANTA

text: Georgia

text: CNN

text: Any

text: woman

text: who

text: 's

text: ever

text: watched

text: Sex

text: and

text: the

text: City

text: has

text: at

text: some

text: point

text: tried

text: to

text: guess

text: which

text: of

text: the

text: characters

text: she

text: 's

text: most

text: like

text: The

text: overly

text: confident

text: Samantha

text: The

text: slightly

text: prudish

text: Charlotte

text: The

text: pessimistic

text: Miranda

text: The

text: overanalytical

text: Carrie

text: Candace

text: Bushnell

text: attends

text: a

text: fashion

text: show

text: during

text: the

text: Mercedes

text: Benz

text: Fashion

text: Week

text: in

text: September

text: But

text: an

text: honest

text: viewer

text: probably

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: admit

text: that

text: she

text: 's

text: similar

text: to

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: characters

text: in

text: some

text: way

text: As

text: a

text: writer

text: that

text: is

text: Candace

text: Bushnell

text: 's

text: gift

text: In

text: her

text: books

text: including

text: Sex

text: and

text: the

text: City

text: Blondes

text: and

text: Lipstick

text: Jungle

text: Bushnell

text: has

text: given

text: the

text: pop

text: culture

text: world

text: feminine

text: role

text: models

text: with

text: which

text: it

text: can

text: identify

text: And

text: the

text: best

text: selling

text: author

text: 's

text: newest

text: book

text: One

text: Fifth

text: Avenue

text: provides

text: a

text: few

text: more

text: including

text: attorney

text: Annalisa

text: Rice

text: gossip

text: columnist

text: Enid

text: Merle

text: and

text: gold

text: digger

text: Lola

text: Fabrikant

text: Although

text: all

text: of

text: her

text: characters

text: are

text: fictional

text: Bushnell

text: said

text: each

text: one

text: is

text: based

text: on

text: a

text: common

text: type

text: of

text: person

text: I

text: 've

text: always

text: been

text: interested

text: in

text: people

text: It

text: 's

text: part

text: of

text: being

text: a

text: novelist

text: really

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: job

text: she

text: said

text: As

text: a

text: writer

text: you

text: can

text: never

text: know

text: a

text: real

text: person

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: you

text: know

text: your

text: characters

text: Watch

text: Bushnell

text: talk

text: about

text: her

text: new

text: book

text: Â

text: Bushnell

text: said

text: a

text: minor

text: character

text: or

text: two

text: often

text: will

text: appear

text: in

text: several

text: of

text: her

text: books

text: Other

text: characters

text: she

text: develops

text: in

text: her

text: head

text: for

text: years

text: before

text: releasing

text: them

text: on

text: the

text: literary

text: scene

text: For

text: instance

text: she

text: kept

text: one

text: fictional

text: character

text: Schiffer

text: Diamond

text: under

text: wraps

text: for

text: years

text: never

text: seeing

text: a

text: place

text: where

text: she

text: fit

text: in

text: until

text: One

text: Fifth

text: Avenue

text: The

text: story

text: of

text: a

text: vicious

text: scramble

text: for

text: a

text: penthouse

text: apartment

text: once

text: owned

text: by

text: a

text: high

text: society

text: queen

text: shows

text: the

text: life

text: of

text: New

text: York

text: City

text: women

text: through

text: the

text: lens

text: of

text: where

text: they

text: live

text: One

text: Fifth

text: Avenue

text: an

text: actual

text: building

text: near

text: Washington

text: Square

text: Park

text: is

text: an

text: address

text: that

text: each

text: character

text: thinks

text: will

text: be

text: her

text: ticket

text: to

text: fortune

text: Bushnell

text: contrasts

text: old

text: and

text: new

text: money

text: and

text: old

text: and

text: new

text: media

text: in

text: the

text: course

text: of

text: her

text: tale

text: A

text: New

text: York

text: lover

text: herself

text: Bushnell

text: looks

text: like

text: she

text: belongs

text: on

text: a

text: fashion

text: walkway

text: Arriving

text: at

text: CNN

text: in

text: a

text: blue

text: dress

text: bright

text: green

text: jacket

text: and

text: what

text: look

text: like

text: heels

text: it

text: 's

text: obvious

text: the

text: author

text: is

text: n't

text: just

text: a

text: bystander

text: of

text: the

text: fashion

text: capital

text: But

text: those

text: expecting

text: a

text: who

text: 's

text: who

text: of

text: the

text: designer

text: world

text: should

text: take

text: another

text: look

text: at

text: Bushnell

text: 's

text: subject

text: matter

text: My

text: books

text: are

text: social

text: satire

text: They

text: have

text: a

text: sense

text: of

text: the

text: absurd

text: Bushnell

text: said

text: They

text: have

text: to

text: say

text: something

text: about

text: contemporary

text: life

text: One

text: Fifth

text: Avenue

text: touches

text: on

text: art

text: and

text: antiquities

text: theft

text: crosses

text: back

text: into

text: the

text: world

text: of

text: blogging

text: and

text: zips

text: over

text: to

text: the

text: stock

text: market

text: in

text: less

text: than

text: pages

text: Though

text: the

text: book

text: is

text: just

text: out

text: in

text: stores

text: it

text: was

text: written

text: months

text: ago

text: So

text: how

text: did

text: the

text: author

text: who

text: 's

text: been

text: celebrated

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: for

text: her

text: ahead

text: of

text: the

text: curve

text: approach

text: to

text: trends

text: know

text: the

text: economy

text: would

text: be

text: such

text: a

text: central

text: focus

text: of

text: her

text: readers

text: current

text: lives

text: I

text: keep

text: my

text: eyes

text: open

text: she

text: said

text: with

text: a

text: smile

question: What is the name of the new book?

answer: "One Fifth Avenue,"

text: "One Fifth Avenue,"

question: what is the subject of the book by a high society queen

answer: the life of New York City women through the lens of where they live.

text: the life of New York City women through the lens of where they live.

question: what is the story about?

answer: "Sex and the City"

text: "Sex and the City"

question: what person says they have a new book coming out

answer: Candace Bushnell

text: Candace Bushnell

question: what person says she knows her characters better than any other person

answer: Candace Bushnell

text: Candace Bushnell

question: what did bushnell say about her characters?

answer: said each one is based on a common type of person.

text: said each one is based on a common type of person.

question: what is candace bushnell's new book?

answer: "One Fifth Avenue,"

text: "One Fifth Avenue,"


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN)  -- The Watergate Hotel, part of a complex that became synonymous with President Richard Nixon's downfall, attracted no bids at an auction Tuesday.

The Watergate Hotel will most likely have to be sold privately after not attracting bids at auction.

According to Paul Cooper, vice president of Alex Cooper Auctioneers, some 10 bidders ready to provide a $1 million deposit were registered for the auction.

But the hotel fell back into the hands of its lender, PB Capital, after no one advanced the $25 million opening bid, the auction company said.

The auction was sponsored by PB Capital, which holds a $40 million note on the hotel after the previous owner, Monument Reality, defaulted on its loan. Monument's 30-day foreclosure note expired Thursday.

Cooper said PB Capital will most likely sell the hotel privately after it takes over the title and will not try to operate the hotel itself.

On the night of June 17, 1972, the hotel served as a base for an illegal break-in by operatives of the Nixon re-election campaign at the offices of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate office building next door.

Some of the burglars and their handlers, whose arrests began the investigation that led, two years later, to Nixon's resignation, actually stayed at the Watergate hotel prior to the break-in. Among the hotel guests were former FBI agent G. Gordon Liddy, and former CIA operative Howard Hunt, both of whom later served prison time as a result of the Watergate break-in.

Developers estimate the hotel could need up to $100 million in renovations. The Watergate complex was built in the late 1960s and consists of the hotel, two office buildings, and three apartment buildings.

Only the hotel building was up for auction Tuesday. It closed two years ago for renovations, and possible conversions into co-op apartments.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: The

text: Watergate

text: Hotel

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: complex

text: that

text: became

text: synonymous

text: with

text: President

text: Richard

text: Nixon

text: 's

text: downfall

text: attracted

text: no

text: bids

text: at

text: an

text: auction

text: Tuesday

text: The

text: Watergate

text: Hotel

text: will

text: most

text: likely

text: have

text: to

text: be

text: sold

text: privately

text: after

text: not

text: attracting

text: bids

text: at

text: auction

text: According

text: to

text: Paul

text: Cooper

text: vice

text: president

text: of

text: Alex

text: Cooper

text: Auctioneers

text: some

text: bidders

text: ready

text: to

text: provide

text: a

text: million

text: deposit

text: were

text: registered

text: for

text: the

text: auction

text: But

text: the

text: hotel

text: fell

text: back

text: into

text: the

text: hands

text: of

text: its

text: lender

text: PB

text: Capital

text: after

text: no

text: one

text: advanced

text: the

text: million

text: opening

text: bid

text: the

text: auction

text: company

text: said

text: The

text: auction

text: was

text: sponsored

text: by

text: PB

text: Capital

text: which

text: holds

text: a

text: million

text: note

text: on

text: the

text: hotel

text: after

text: the

text: previous

text: owner

text: Monument

text: Reality

text: defaulted

text: on

text: its

text: loan

text: Monument

text: 's

text: foreclosure

text: note

text: expired

text: Thursday

text: Cooper

text: said

text: PB

text: Capital

text: will

text: most

text: likely

text: sell

text: the

text: hotel

text: privately

text: after

text: it

text: takes

text: over

text: the

text: title

text: and

text: will

text: not

text: try

text: to

text: operate

text: the

text: hotel

text: itself

text: On

text: the

text: night

text: of

text: June

text: the

text: hotel

text: served

text: as

text: a

text: base

text: for

text: an

text: illegal

text: break

text: in

text: by

text: operatives

text: of

text: the

text: Nixon

text: re

text: election

text: campaign

text: at

text: the

text: offices

text: of

text: the

text: Democratic

text: National

text: Committee

text: located

text: in

text: the

text: Watergate

text: office

text: building

text: next

text: door

text: Some

text: of

text: the

text: burglars

text: and

text: their

text: handlers

text: whose

text: arrests

text: began

text: the

text: investigation

text: that

text: led

text: two

text: years

text: later

text: to

text: Nixon

text: 's

text: resignation

text: actually

text: stayed

text: at

text: the

text: Watergate

text: hotel

text: prior

text: to

text: the

text: break

text: in

text: Among

text: the

text: hotel

text: guests

text: were

text: former

text: FBI

text: agent

text: G.

text: Gordon

text: Liddy

text: and

text: former

text: CIA

text: operative

text: Howard

text: Hunt

text: both

text: of

text: whom

text: later

text: served

text: prison

text: time

text: as

text: a

text: result

text: of

text: the

text: Watergate

text: break

text: in

text: Developers

text: estimate

text: the

text: hotel

text: could

text: need

text: up

text: to

text: million

text: in

text: renovations

text: The

text: Watergate

text: complex

text: was

text: built

text: in

text: the

text: late

text: and

text: consists

text: of

text: the

text: hotel

text: two

text: office

text: buildings

text: and

text: three

text: apartment

text: buildings

text: Only

text: the

text: hotel

text: building

text: was

text: up

text: for

text: auction

text: Tuesday

text: It

text: closed

text: two

text: years

text: ago

text: for

text: renovations

text: and

text: possible

text: conversions

text: into

text: co

text: op

text: apartments

question: When will PB Capital likely sell the hotel?

answer: after it takes over the title

text: after it takes over the title

question: What will PB Capital do after it takes over the title?

answer: sell the hotel privately

text: sell the hotel privately

question: What did Nixons operatives do?

answer: break-in

text: break-in

question: What was the hotel a base for?

answer: an illegal

text: an illegal

question: Who is the lender?

answer: PB Capital,

text: PB Capital,

question: Name the lender?

answer: PB Capital,

text: PB Capital,

question: What did the hotel fall back to?

answer: PB Capital,

text: PB Capital,

question: The operatives were part of whose campaign?

answer: Nixon re-election

text: Nixon re-election

question: What will PB Capital do with the hotel?

answer: sell the

text: sell the


text:
(CNN) -- An Orthodox Jewish man apparently preparing to pray prompted authorities to divert a Louisville, Kentucky-bound US Airways Express plane Thursday.

FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver said there appeared to be no threat from the man, who was described as wearing something on his head that included leather pieces. The description appeared to match that of tefillin, or phylacteries, which Orthodox Jewish men wear during prayer.

The flight had taken off from New York's LaGuardia Airport, the FBI said, and was diverted to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Transportation Security Administration said it was notified of what it called a disruptive passenger on Flight 3079, operated by Chautauqua Airlines, around 8:30 a.m. ET, and the plane landed without incident at Philadelphia International Airport about 20 minutes later.

US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant said the diversion was a "security precaution" for the 50-seat ERJ 145.

It was not immediately clear how many passengers were on board. Earlier, Durrant said the flight had been evacuated, but the TSA did not offer any details on whether that had occurred.

TSA and law enforcement officials met the flight, interviewed the passenger and did a security sweep of the plane without finding anything of concern, the agency said.

CNN's Evan Buxbaum contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: An

text: Orthodox

text: Jewish

text: man

text: apparently

text: preparing

text: to

text: pray

text: prompted

text: authorities

text: to

text: divert

text: a

text: Louisville

text: Kentucky

text: bound

text: US

text: Airways

text: Express

text: plane

text: Thursday

text: FBI

text: spokesman

text: J.J.

text: Klaver

text: said

text: there

text: appeared

text: to

text: be

text: no

text: threat

text: from

text: the

text: man

text: who

text: was

text: described

text: as

text: wearing

text: something

text: on

text: his

text: head

text: that

text: included

text: leather

text: pieces

text: The

text: description

text: appeared

text: to

text: match

text: that

text: of

text: tefillin

text: or

text: phylacteries

text: which

text: Orthodox

text: Jewish

text: men

text: wear

text: during

text: prayer

text: The

text: flight

text: had

text: taken

text: off

text: from

text: New

text: York

text: 's

text: LaGuardia

text: Airport

text: the

text: FBI

text: said

text: and

text: was

text: diverted

text: to

text: Philadelphia

text: Pennsylvania

text: The

text: Transportation

text: Security

text: Administration

text: said

text: it

text: was

text: notified

text: of

text: what

text: it

text: called

text: a

text: disruptive

text: passenger

text: on

text: Flight

text: operated

text: by

text: Chautauqua

text: Airlines

text: around

text: a.m.

text: ET

text: and

text: the

text: plane

text: landed

text: without

text: incident

text: at

text: Philadelphia

text: International

text: Airport

text: about

text: minutes

text: later

text: US

text: Airways

text: spokesman

text: Morgan

text: Durrant

text: said

text: the

text: diversion

text: was

text: a

text: security

text: precaution

text: for

text: the

text: ERJ

text: It

text: was

text: not

text: immediately

text: clear

text: how

text: many

text: passengers

text: were

text: on

text: board

text: Earlier

text: Durrant

text: said

text: the

text: flight

text: had

text: been

text: evacuated

text: but

text: the

text: TSA

text: did

text: not

text: offer

text: any

text: details

text: on

text: whether

text: that

text: had

text: occurred

text: TSA

text: and

text: law

text: enforcement

text: officials

text: met

text: the

text: flight

text: interviewed

text: the

text: passenger

text: and

text: did

text: a

text: security

text: sweep

text: of

text: the

text: plane

text: without

text: finding

text: anything

text: of

text: concern

text: the

text: agency

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Evan

text: Buxbaum

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Where was the flight originally heading?

answer: Kentucky-bound

text: Kentucky-bound

question: Where was the US Airways Express plane diverted to?

answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

text: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

question: What religion did the man who started to pray belong to?

answer: Orthodox Jewish

text: Orthodox Jewish

question: Where was the plane bound?

answer: Kentucky-bound

text: Kentucky-bound

question: Who prompted the diverted flight?

answer: Orthodox Jewish man apparently preparing to pray

text: Orthodox Jewish man apparently preparing to pray

question: Where was the plane diverted to?

answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

text: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


text:
(CNN) -- Cuba is more than a thousand miles from my home in New York, but it's a place close to my heart.

Steve Kastenbaum talks with Salomon Leyderman outside the Adath Israel synagogue in Havana, Cuba.

I went to Cuba to report on a country that appears to be on the cusp of a new era.

My focus was the future of U.S.-Cuban relations and the reforms under Cuban leader RaÃºl Castro. But a vague notion of exploring my family history in Cuba resulted in the most memorable story of the entire journey.

More than 15,000 Jews were living in Cuba in the 1940s and '50s. Today, there are about 1,500.

My grandmother, the daughter of Russian immigrants, was born in Havana, and my grandfather came to Cuba when he was just 3 years old. His family left Germany in the 1920s. To me, they were as much Cuban as they were Jewish.  Watch how everyday life has changed for Cubans Â»

My grandparents left Cuba in the late '40s so that their children would be born in the United States. The last members of my family to leave Cuba did so post-revolution, in the 1960s. I was eager to see what had become of the places they left behind.  Slideshow: Learn more about the Jewish population in Cuba Â»

When Castro lifted restrictions on religion in the mid-'90s, the once-dilapidated building that houses congregation El Patronato came back to life. Today, it's a thriving center for the local Jewish community.

When I arrived, the children's summer program was in full swing. A few dozen boys and girls were laughing and playing as they waited for lunch to be served. I wasn't prepared for the wave of emotions that overcame me. Had things been different, I could have been just like them.  Slideshow: Experience more of Kastenbaum's explorations of Cuba Â»

My next stop took me to Habana Viejo. Jewish life in Cuba has its roots in Old Havana, where my great-grandparents settled. I walked the streets where they lived and stopped in at the only remaining kosher butcher in town. I passed the building that once housed the local synagogue where my grandparents were wed.  Watch efforts to restore parts of Havana Â»

The current home of Adath Israel is a few blocks away. At the front door, Salomon Leyderman introduced himself to me as the oldest Jew in Cuba. He's 86. I took out some old family photos, and Salomon immediately recognized my great-grandfather, Salomon Sher. He shouted out in Spanish, "they were tailors!"

I couldn't believe my ears. This 86-year-old man told me how my great-grandfather was highly regarded in the community, how he belonged to many social organizations and how after the revolution, he made it possible for many Cuban Jews to leave the island and join him in Miami, Florida.

As he looked at a family portrait, Salomon began to cry. He recognized Luis Sher, my grandmother's brother. He said Luis gave him as a gift a suit to wear at his bar mitzvah, the Jewish ceremony marking a boy's transition into manhood. It took place more than 70 years ago, but he recalled the details as if it happened yesterday. Tears were flowing down my cheeks, too.

The following day, I called my father in New York and handed the cell phone to the oldest Jew in Cuba. This time there were no tears, just laughter.

After the call, Salomon looked at my sneakers and said they're good shoes. He told me he's a European size 42, and I should bring him a pair when I return. He then asked me to send him a card on Hanukkah and smiled.

Steve Kastenbaum is a New York correspondent for CNN Radio.

text: CNN

text: Cuba

text: is

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: thousand

text: miles

text: from

text: my

text: home

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: but

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: place

text: close

text: to

text: my

text: heart

text: Steve

text: Kastenbaum

text: talks

text: with

text: Salomon

text: Leyderman

text: outside

text: the

text: Adath

text: Israel

text: synagogue

text: in

text: Havana

text: Cuba

text: I

text: went

text: to

text: Cuba

text: to

text: report

text: on

text: a

text: country

text: that

text: appears

text: to

text: be

text: on

text: the

text: cusp

text: of

text: a

text: new

text: era

text: My

text: focus

text: was

text: the

text: future

text: of

text: U.S

text: Cuban

text: relations

text: and

text: the

text: reforms

text: under

text: Cuban

text: leader

text: RaÃºl

text: Castro

text: But

text: a

text: vague

text: notion

text: of

text: exploring

text: my

text: family

text: history

text: in

text: Cuba

text: resulted

text: in

text: the

text: most

text: memorable

text: story

text: of

text: the

text: entire

text: journey

text: More

text: than

text: Jews

text: were

text: living

text: in

text: Cuba

text: in

text: the

text: and

text: Today

text: there

text: are

text: about

text: My

text: grandmother

text: the

text: daughter

text: of

text: Russian

text: immigrants

text: was

text: born

text: in

text: Havana

text: and

text: my

text: grandfather

text: came

text: to

text: Cuba

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: just

text: years

text: old

text: His

text: family

text: left

text: Germany

text: in

text: the

text: To

text: me

text: they

text: were

text: as

text: much

text: Cuban

text: as

text: they

text: were

text: Jewish

text: Watch

text: how

text: everyday

text: life

text: has

text: changed

text: for

text: Cubans

text: Â

text: My

text: grandparents

text: left

text: Cuba

text: in

text: the

text: late

text: so

text: that

text: their

text: children

text: would

text: be

text: born

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: The

text: last

text: members

text: of

text: my

text: family

text: to

text: leave

text: Cuba

text: did

text: so

text: post

text: revolution

text: in

text: the

text: I

text: was

text: eager

text: to

text: see

text: what

text: had

text: become

text: of

text: the

text: places

text: they

text: left

text: behind

text: Slideshow

text: Learn

text: more

text: about

text: the

text: Jewish

text: population

text: in

text: Cuba

text: Â

text: When

text: Castro

text: lifted

text: restrictions

text: on

text: religion

text: in

text: the

text: the

text: once

text: dilapidated

text: building

text: that

text: houses

text: congregation

text: El

text: Patronato

text: came

text: back

text: to

text: life

text: Today

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: thriving

text: center

text: for

text: the

text: local

text: Jewish

text: community

text: When

text: I

text: arrived

text: the

text: children

text: 's

text: summer

text: program

text: was

text: in

text: full

text: swing

text: A

text: few

text: dozen

text: boys

text: and

text: girls

text: were

text: laughing

text: and

text: playing

text: as

text: they

text: waited

text: for

text: lunch

text: to

text: be

text: served

text: I

text: was

text: n't

text: prepared

text: for

text: the

text: wave

text: of

text: emotions

text: that

text: overcame

text: me

text: Had

text: things

text: been

text: different

text: I

text: could

text: have

text: been

text: just

text: like

text: them

text: Slideshow

text: Experience

text: more

text: of

text: Kastenbaum

text: 's

text: explorations

text: of

text: Cuba

text: Â

text: My

text: next

text: stop

text: took

text: me

text: to

text: Habana

text: Viejo

text: Jewish

text: life

text: in

text: Cuba

text: has

text: its

text: roots

text: in

text: Old

text: Havana

text: where

text: my

text: great

text: grandparents

text: settled

text: I

text: walked

text: the

text: streets

text: where

text: they

text: lived

text: and

text: stopped

text: in

text: at

text: the

text: only

text: remaining

text: kosher

text: butcher

text: in

text: town

text: I

text: passed

text: the

text: building

text: that

text: once

text: housed

text: the

text: local

text: synagogue

text: where

text: my

text: grandparents

text: were

text: we

text: d

text: Watch

text: efforts

text: to

text: restore

text: parts

text: of

text: Havana

text: Â

text: The

text: current

text: home

text: of

text: Adath

text: Israel

text: is

text: a

text: few

text: blocks

text: away

text: At

text: the

text: front

text: door

text: Salomon

text: Leyderman

text: introduced

text: himself

text: to

text: me

text: as

text: the

text: oldest

text: Jew

text: in

text: Cuba

text: He

text: 's

text: I

text: took

text: out

text: some

text: old

text: family

text: photos

text: and

text: Salomon

text: immediately

text: recognized

text: my

text: great

text: grandfather

text: Salomon

text: Sher

text: He

text: shouted

text: out

text: in

text: Spanish

text: they

text: were

text: tailors

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: believe

text: my

text: ears

text: This

text: old

text: man

text: told

text: me

text: how

text: my

text: great

text: grandfather

text: was

text: highly

text: regarded

text: in

text: the

text: community

text: how

text: he

text: belonged

text: to

text: many

text: social

text: organizations

text: and

text: how

text: after

text: the

text: revolution

text: he

text: made

text: it

text: possible

text: for

text: many

text: Cuban

text: Jews

text: to

text: leave

text: the

text: island

text: and

text: join

text: him

text: in

text: Miami

text: Florida

text: As

text: he

text: looked

text: at

text: a

text: family

text: portrait

text: Salomon

text: began

text: to

text: cry

text: He

text: recognized

text: Luis

text: Sher

text: my

text: grandmother

text: 's

text: brother

text: He

text: said

text: Luis

text: gave

text: him

text: as

text: a

text: gift

text: a

text: suit

text: to

text: wear

text: at

text: his

text: bar

text: mitzvah

text: the

text: Jewish

text: ceremony

text: marking

text: a

text: boy

text: 's

text: transition

text: into

text: manhood

text: It

text: took

text: place

text: more

text: than

text: years

text: ago

text: but

text: he

text: recalled

text: the

text: details

text: as

text: if

text: it

text: happened

text: yesterday

text: Tears

text: were

text: flowing

text: down

text: my

text: cheeks

text: too

text: The

text: following

text: day

text: I

text: called

text: my

text: father

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: and

text: handed

text: the

text: cell

text: phone

text: to

text: the

text: oldest

text: Jew

text: in

text: Cuba

text: This

text: time

text: there

text: were

text: no

text: tears

text: just

text: laughter

text: After

text: the

text: call

text: Salomon

text: looked

text: at

text: my

text: sneakers

text: and

text: said

text: they

text: 're

text: good

text: shoes

text: He

text: told

text: me

text: he

text: 's

text: a

text: European

text: size

text: and

text: I

text: should

text: bring

text: him

text: a

text: pair

text: when

text: I

text: return

text: He

text: then

text: asked

text: me

text: to

text: send

text: him

text: a

text: card

text: on

text: Hanukkah

text: and

text: smiled

text: Steve

text: Kastenbaum

text: is

text: a

text: New

text: York

text: correspondent

text: for

text: CNN

text: Radio

question: what heritage did the correspondent explore?

answer: Cuba

text: Cuba

question: A CNN Radio correspondent explores what?

answer: Cuba

text: Cuba

question: What is the gender of the 86-year-old?

answer: -old

text: -old

question: what was the age of old jewish man?

answer: This 86-year

text: This 86-year

question: When did his grandparents leave Cuba?

answer: e late '40

text: e late '40


text:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Holly Williams is one of the only artists in country music male or female who doesn't have a stylist. But then again, she might be the only entertainer in Nashville who owns a clothing boutique.

Holly Williams is daughter of musician Hank Williams Jr. and granddaughter of musician Hank Williams Sr.

The chic women's store is named H. Audrey after her maternal grandmother, who was the first wife of the late country music icon Hank Williams. Holly's father is Bocephus -- the legendary hellraiser and three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year otherwise known as Hank Williams Jr.

She got her height from him. With heels on, she's about 6-foot-3 -- all tanned legs and long, blonde hair. She looks like a star. And at 28, she wants to earn the right to be one.

Williams just released her sophomore album, "Here With Me" (Mercury Nashville). Most of the 11 tracks are self-penned, and she sings them with emotional honesty in a smoky, soulful voice. The characters in her lyrics are friends, family and lovers from the past. She also has a man in her present: On July 24, she became engaged to Chris Coleman, the drummer in her band.  Watch Williams show off her talents Â»

Williams spoke with CNN about her new album and her family's legacy. The following is an edited version of the interview.

CNN: Your new album was released the same day as your dad's new album. Was that planned?

Holly Williams: It wasn't planned at all. About three weeks before my release, I was looking over to see who else was coming out that day, and it said, "Hank Jr." -- and I'm going, "Is this something my manager planned?" And it's just so random, because out of the 52 weeks of the year, it just happened.

CNN: What did he think about the album?

Williams: Well, this is embarrassing, but I haven't sent him a copy yet! I need to. He's heard two of the singles. He's always been a huge supporter of the songwriting, and just been a great encourager with me.

CNN: What was it like when you were growing up?

Williams: Well, my mom raised my sister and me. [My parents] split when we were 3 and 5, and he was touring 300 nights a year. We'd see him every few months when he was off the road, and we'd go up there and hunt and fish and be on the farm. But my mom did all the rules and curfews and all that.

CNN: Your mother doesn't seem jaded by the music industry at all.

Williams: Oh, she doesn't at all. They split in '83, so when they first got married in '77, he was still a struggling artist and doing small theater shows. My single out right now is called "Mama" that I wrote ... is kind of a thank-you song, because she was always the most positive influence -- had so much light. My dad always talks about what a great mom she was, and they're still close friends.

CNN: What was it like for you going into the music industry? Was there a lot of pressure?

Williams: The songwriting hit me at a very young age. Eight, 9, 10 is when I started writing. Went away from it for a few years, and at 17 picked up a guitar and it was just on from there. I'm 28 now, and I've been doing it for 10 years nonstop. I put out an EP myself when I was 20, and paid 200 bucks for my Web site, and traveled over in the U.K. alone with a backpack.

And in the U.S., I just took my mom's Suburban and followed everyone from Train, John Mellencamp, Billy Bob Thornton -- everyone's bus -- and just did any show I could, whether they paid or not. Just played, played, played.

CNN: Do you remember the first song you wrote when you were 8?

Williams: I do. The first song I wrote was called "Who Am I," and it's funny because it was very serious. I had a very happy childhood, but it was very introspective about this broken marriage, and I wanted Tiffany or Debbie Gibson to cut it. I remember just telling my mom, "Just please call the publishing company. ... "I was so ambitious. I remember making cassette tapes and mailing them to Music Row.

CNN: What was the reaction from those tapes?

Williams: I'm sure there was never any response. I'm sure people just laughed. I was not as talented as Taylor Swift when I was 15, 16. I could write a decent song, but I couldn't sing that well at that age.

CNN: You have a love for rock 'n' roll. Why did you go into country with this album?

Williams: Growing up in my house, you would assume I was growing up around country music with my dad being Hank Williams Jr. But he did not bring music home. He always said, "I'm not Bocephus to you. I'm Daddy." So I was really left to my own devices to find music on my own.

And I really fell in love with the singer-songwriters of the '70s -- Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King -- that whole era really struck me. And when I heard Hank Williams Sr.'s name mentioned from those people -- from Leonard Cohen to Bruce Springsteen -- that's what really brought me back around to learning more about my grandfather.

My music is still based in that singer-songwriter tradition. Adding a fiddle and steel guitar makes it more country, and adding blazing electric guitars makes it more rock. I'm on a country label now.

CNN: You also own a clothing boutique in Nashville called H. Audrey.

Williams: Everything I have on, except my shoes, is from there. ... It's a struggle in this economy, but we make enough to pay our payroll and buy the clothes. And it's nice to fold jeans every now and again, and get my mind out of myself.

CNN: When you're writing down your goals on your wish list, what is it you really want?

Williams: I would love to sell a million records. I would love to play in arenas -- but what I really want to build is a core fanbase, and just hopefully build a place in the Williams family.

text: LOS

text: ANGELES

text: California

text: CNN

text: Holly

text: Williams

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: only

text: artists

text: in

text: country

text: music

text: male

text: or

text: female

text: who

text: does

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: stylist

text: But

text: then

text: again

text: she

text: might

text: be

text: the

text: only

text: entertainer

text: in

text: Nashville

text: who

text: owns

text: a

text: clothing

text: boutique

text: Holly

text: Williams

text: is

text: daughter

text: of

text: musician

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Jr.

text: and

text: granddaughter

text: of

text: musician

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Sr

text: The

text: chic

text: women

text: 's

text: store

text: is

text: named

text: H.

text: Audrey

text: after

text: her

text: maternal

text: grandmother

text: who

text: was

text: the

text: first

text: wife

text: of

text: the

text: late

text: country

text: music

text: icon

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Holly

text: 's

text: father

text: is

text: Bocephus

text: the

text: legendary

text: hellraiser

text: and

text: three

text: time

text: CMA

text: Entertainer

text: of

text: the

text: Year

text: otherwise

text: known

text: as

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Jr.

text: She

text: got

text: her

text: height

text: from

text: him

text: With

text: heels

text: on

text: she

text: 's

text: about

text: all

text: tanned

text: legs

text: and

text: long

text: blonde

text: hair

text: She

text: looks

text: like

text: a

text: star

text: And

text: at

text: she

text: wants

text: to

text: earn

text: the

text: right

text: to

text: be

text: one

text: Williams

text: just

text: released

text: her

text: sophomore

text: album

text: Here

text: With

text: Me

text: Mercury

text: Nashville

text: Most

text: of

text: the

text: tracks

text: are

text: self

text: penned

text: and

text: she

text: sings

text: them

text: with

text: emotional

text: honesty

text: in

text: a

text: smoky

text: soulful

text: voice

text: The

text: characters

text: in

text: her

text: lyrics

text: are

text: friends

text: family

text: and

text: lovers

text: from

text: the

text: past

text: She

text: also

text: has

text: a

text: man

text: in

text: her

text: present

text: On

text: July

text: she

text: became

text: engaged

text: to

text: Chris

text: Coleman

text: the

text: drummer

text: in

text: her

text: band

text: Watch

text: Williams

text: show

text: off

text: her

text: talents

text: Â

text: Williams

text: spoke

text: with

text: CNN

text: about

text: her

text: new

text: album

text: and

text: her

text: family

text: 's

text: legacy

text: The

text: following

text: is

text: an

text: edited

text: version

text: of

text: the

text: interview

text: CNN

text: Your

text: new

text: album

text: was

text: released

text: the

text: same

text: day

text: as

text: your

text: dad

text: 's

text: new

text: album

text: Was

text: that

text: planned

text: Holly

text: Williams

text: It

text: was

text: n't

text: planned

text: at

text: all

text: About

text: three

text: weeks

text: before

text: my

text: release

text: I

text: was

text: looking

text: over

text: to

text: see

text: who

text: else

text: was

text: coming

text: out

text: that

text: day

text: and

text: it

text: said

text: Hank

text: Jr.

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: going

text: Is

text: this

text: something

text: my

text: manager

text: planned

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: just

text: so

text: random

text: because

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: weeks

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: it

text: just

text: happened

text: CNN

text: What

text: did

text: he

text: think

text: about

text: the

text: album

text: Williams

text: Well

text: this

text: is

text: embarrassing

text: but

text: I

text: have

text: n't

text: sent

text: him

text: a

text: copy

text: yet

text: I

text: need

text: to

text: He

text: 's

text: heard

text: two

text: of

text: the

text: singles

text: He

text: 's

text: always

text: been

text: a

text: huge

text: supporter

text: of

text: the

text: songwriting

text: and

text: just

text: been

text: a

text: great

text: encourager

text: with

text: me

text: CNN

text: What

text: was

text: it

text: like

text: when

text: you

text: were

text: growing

text: up

text: Williams

text: Well

text: my

text: mom

text: raised

text: my

text: sister

text: and

text: me

text: My

text: parents

text: split

text: when

text: we

text: were

text: and

text: and

text: he

text: was

text: touring

text: nights

text: a

text: year

text: We

text: 'd

text: see

text: him

text: every

text: few

text: months

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: off

text: the

text: road

text: and

text: we

text: 'd

text: go

text: up

text: there

text: and

text: hunt

text: and

text: fish

text: and

text: be

text: on

text: the

text: farm

text: But

text: my

text: mom

text: did

text: all

text: the

text: rules

text: and

text: curfews

text: and

text: all

text: that

text: CNN

text: Your

text: mother

text: does

text: n't

text: seem

text: jaded

text: by

text: the

text: music

text: industry

text: at

text: all

text: Williams

text: Oh

text: she

text: does

text: n't

text: at

text: all

text: They

text: split

text: in

text: so

text: when

text: they

text: first

text: got

text: married

text: in

text: he

text: was

text: still

text: a

text: struggling

text: artist

text: and

text: doing

text: small

text: theater

text: shows

text: My

text: single

text: out

text: right

text: now

text: is

text: called

text: Mama

text: that

text: I

text: wrote

text: is

text: kind

text: of

text: a

text: thank

text: you

text: song

text: because

text: she

text: was

text: always

text: the

text: most

text: positive

text: influence

text: had

text: so

text: much

text: light

text: My

text: dad

text: always

text: talks

text: about

text: what

text: a

text: great

text: mom

text: she

text: was

text: and

text: they

text: 're

text: still

text: close

text: friends

text: CNN

text: What

text: was

text: it

text: like

text: for

text: you

text: going

text: into

text: the

text: music

text: industry

text: Was

text: there

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: pressure

text: Williams

text: The

text: songwriting

text: hit

text: me

text: at

text: a

text: very

text: young

text: age

text: Eight

text: is

text: when

text: I

text: started

text: writing

text: Went

text: away

text: from

text: it

text: for

text: a

text: few

text: years

text: and

text: at

text: picked

text: up

text: a

text: guitar

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: just

text: on

text: from

text: there

text: I

text: 'm

text: now

text: and

text: I

text: 've

text: been

text: doing

text: it

text: for

text: years

text: nonstop

text: I

text: put

text: out

text: an

text: EP

text: myself

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: and

text: paid

text: bucks

text: for

text: my

text: Web

text: site

text: and

text: traveled

text: over

text: in

text: the

text: U.K.

text: alone

text: with

text: a

text: backpack

text: And

text: in

text: the

text: U.S.

text: I

text: just

text: took

text: my

text: mom

text: 's

text: Suburban

text: and

text: followed

text: everyone

text: from

text: Train

text: John

text: Mellencamp

text: Billy

text: Bob

text: Thornton

text: everyone

text: 's

text: bus

text: and

text: just

text: did

text: any

text: show

text: I

text: could

text: whether

text: they

text: paid

text: or

text: not

text: Just

text: played

text: played

text: played

text: CNN

text: Do

text: you

text: remember

text: the

text: first

text: song

text: you

text: wrote

text: when

text: you

text: were

text: Williams

text: I

text: do

text: The

text: first

text: song

text: I

text: wrote

text: was

text: called

text: Who

text: Am

text: I

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: funny

text: because

text: it

text: was

text: very

text: serious

text: I

text: had

text: a

text: very

text: happy

text: childhood

text: but

text: it

text: was

text: very

text: introspective

text: about

text: this

text: broken

text: marriage

text: and

text: I

text: wanted

text: Tiffany

text: or

text: Debbie

text: Gibson

text: to

text: cut

text: it

text: I

text: remember

text: just

text: telling

text: my

text: mom

text: Just

text: please

text: call

text: the

text: publishing

text: company

text: I

text: was

text: so

text: ambitious

text: I

text: remember

text: making

text: cassette

text: tapes

text: and

text: mailing

text: them

text: to

text: Music

text: Row

text: CNN

text: What

text: was

text: the

text: reaction

text: from

text: those

text: tapes

text: Williams

text: I

text: 'm

text: sure

text: there

text: was

text: never

text: any

text: response

text: I

text: 'm

text: sure

text: people

text: just

text: laughed

text: I

text: was

text: not

text: as

text: talented

text: as

text: Taylor

text: Swift

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: I

text: could

text: write

text: a

text: decent

text: song

text: but

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: sing

text: that

text: well

text: at

text: that

text: age

text: CNN

text: You

text: have

text: a

text: love

text: for

text: rock

text: n

text: roll

text: Why

text: did

text: you

text: go

text: into

text: country

text: with

text: this

text: album

text: Williams

text: Growing

text: up

text: in

text: my

text: house

text: you

text: would

text: assume

text: I

text: was

text: growing

text: up

text: around

text: country

text: music

text: with

text: my

text: dad

text: being

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Jr.

text: But

text: he

text: did

text: not

text: bring

text: music

text: home

text: He

text: always

text: said

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: Bocephus

text: to

text: you

text: I

text: 'm

text: Daddy

text: So

text: I

text: was

text: really

text: left

text: to

text: my

text: own

text: devices

text: to

text: find

text: music

text: on

text: my

text: own

text: And

text: I

text: really

text: fell

text: in

text: love

text: with

text: the

text: singer

text: songwriters

text: of

text: the

text: Tom

text: Waits

text: Neil

text: Young

text: Jackson

text: Browne

text: Bob

text: Dylan

text: Joni

text: Mitchell

text: Carole

text: King

text: that

text: whole

text: era

text: really

text: struck

text: me

text: And

text: when

text: I

text: heard

text: Hank

text: Williams

text: Sr

text: 's

text: name

text: mentioned

text: from

text: those

text: people

text: from

text: Leonard

text: Cohen

text: to

text: Bruce

text: Springsteen

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: really

text: brought

text: me

text: back

text: around

text: to

text: learning

text: more

text: about

text: my

text: grandfather

text: My

text: music

text: is

text: still

text: based

text: in

text: that

text: singer

text: songwriter

text: tradition

text: Adding

text: a

text: fiddle

text: and

text: steel

text: guitar

text: makes

text: it

text: more

text: country

text: and

text: adding

text: blazing

text: electric

text: guitars

text: makes

text: it

text: more

text: rock

text: I

text: 'm

text: on

text: a

text: country

text: label

text: now

text: CNN

text: You

text: also

text: own

text: a

text: clothing

text: boutique

text: in

text: Nashville

text: called

text: H.

text: Audrey

text: Williams

text: Everything

text: I

text: have

text: on

text: except

text: my

text: shoes

text: is

text: from

text: there

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: struggle

text: in

text: this

text: economy

text: but

text: we

text: make

text: enough

text: to

text: pay

text: our

text: payroll

text: and

text: buy

text: the

text: clothes

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: nice

text: to

text: fold

text: jeans

text: every

text: now

text: and

text: again

text: and

text: get

text: my

text: mind

text: out

text: of

text: myself

text: CNN

text: When

text: you

text: 're

text: writing

text: down

text: your

text: goals

text: on

text: your

text: wish

text: list

text: what

text: is

text: it

text: you

text: really

text: want

text: Williams

text: I

text: would

text: love

text: to

text: sell

text: a

text: million

text: records

text: I

text: would

text: love

text: to

text: play

text: in

text: arenas

text: but

text: what

text: I

text: really

text: want

text: to

text: build

text: is

text: a

text: core

text: fanbase

text: and

text: just

text: hopefully

text: build

text: a

text: place

text: in

text: the

text: Williams

text: family

question: What influenced Williams' music ?

answer: Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King

text: Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King

question: What were William's musical influences?

answer: Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King

text: Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King

question: What's the name of Holly Williams new album ?

answer: "Here With Me"

text: "Here With Me"

question: Which influence's are William's music based off of?

answer: singer-songwriters of the '70s -- Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King --

text: singer-songwriters of the '70s -- Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Carole King --

question: What is the name of Holly William's new album?

answer: "Here With Me"

text: "Here With Me"

question: What is his daughters middle name?

answer: Audrey

text: Audrey


text:
(CNN) -- Kansas leaders Wednesday ended a standoff that had delayed tax refunds and state paychecks by agreeing to borrow $225 million from various state accounts, a spokeswoman for the governor's office said.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius approved $300 million in budget cuts Wednesday.

Republican lawmakers approved moving money into the state's main account to pay the bills after budget cuts agreed to by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, spokeswoman Brittany Stiffler said.

The state resumed processing income tax refunds on Wednesday -- they had been suspended last week because of low funds -- and state employees' paychecks will be paid on time Friday, Department of Administration spokesman Gavin Young said.

Republicans earlier this week denied the Democratic governor's request to move the money, saying they could not approve the certificate of indebtedness, also known as internal borrowing, until they knew the state could repay the money by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

However, Republicans said they would be likely to approve the internal borrowing if Sebelius agreed to the Legislature's proposed budget cuts for the 2009 fiscal year. On Wednesday, she approved about $300 million in budget cuts.

"She blinked, and that's helpful," Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said Wednesday.

"I'm just sorry we had to have high drama and worry a lot of Kansans about our ability to pay our obligations," Sebelius said Wednesday.

Kansas was one of several states to meet this week to address budget concerns in a time when 43 states are starting the year short on funds, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"This is an equal-opportunity recession. States in virtually every part of the country are suffering... even the energy states are starting to report problems," Corina Eckl of the National Conference of State Legislatures said. iReport.com: What you'd fix first

"For most, it has only gone downhill. They have tried to make up the difference with expanded gambling, with delays of construction projects, with hiring freezes, with fee and tax increases. But almost all of this has failed to regain lost ground, merely serving as a firebreak against worse troubles," she said.

California faces a $42 billion deficit that prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a fiscal emergency in December. California lawmakers worked into early Wednesday but couldn't pass a budget.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued 10,000 layoff notices Tuesday, affecting a wide spectrum of state agencies and employees, in an effort to deal with the budget crisis, a spokesman said.

Another 10,000 layoff notices might be sent Wednesday, the spokesman said. All the layoffs would take effect July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

The Republican governor has butted heads for months with the Democratic majority over easing the $11.2 billion revenue shortfall this fiscal year alone. Cuts would save California $750 million for the year. The $42 billion deficit is for the current and next fiscal years. Interactive: See projected state budget gaps Â»

Last month, the state began delaying $3.5 billion in payments to taxpayers, contractors, counties and social service agencies so the state could continue funding schools and making debt payments.  Watch more on California's budget woes Â»

Also today, New Jersey's governor announced that all state employees will be forced to take two unpaid furlough days, a move that will save $35 million, part of the nearly $4 billion in budget cuts that state is making.

In Maryland, tax collections in nearly every category are falling short of expectations, with dismal revenue projects putting more pressure on state legislators to balance the budget without relying on the federal stimulus package, CNN affiliate WBAL reported.

State workers in Colorado may face unpaid time off in an effort to spare the state's colleges and universities millions of dollars in budget cuts, KUSA-TV in Denver reported Tuesday. Interactive: Estimated job growth across the country

Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, announced plans recently to furlough some state workers to balance the budget. Roughly $600 million in budget cuts need to be made by the end of this fiscal year, according to KUSA.

State lawmakers will debate a bill in the House this week that would require furloughs for state workers depending on how much money they make.

"It's drastic, but we're in a drastic situation," Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, told KUSA.

In Washington state, proposed budget cuts have led to protests in the capital, Olympia, KOMO-TV in Seattle reported.

State officials are looking at some $300 million in cuts as part of a package the governor is expected to sign this week. Lawmakers also are aiming to cut nearly $6 billion over the next two years.

But about 100 union members, state employees, school supporters and health care providers rallied on the lawn of the Capitol, telling lawmakers to stop the health care and education cuts and prevent tuition hikes. State employees said they want fair pay, better benefits and pensions and no layoffs.

Hawaii faces a nearly $2 billion budget shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year. That figure has led legislators to seek alternative ways of balancing the budget, including possible reductions in health and retirement benefits for government workers, KHNL-TV in Honolulu reported Tuesday.

One bill being debated in the Legislature aims to cut off insurance benefits for all employees retiring after July 1 regardless of how many years they had worked.

Back East, states such as New York and Florida, which have high unemployment rates and huge budget shortfalls, also are looking to cut programs.

In New York, the expected budget shortfall is around $1.7 billion, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

President Obama took his economic stimulus message to Florida last week to hard-hit Fort Myers. The jobless rate in the area is 10 percent, up from 2.3 percent this time in 2006, and the area's foreclosure rate of 12 percent is the highest in the nation.  Interactive: See where the stimulus money is going Â»

And Michigan's Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, whose state has been hit especially hard by the recession and the auto industry's near collapse, said job creation is paramount to turning the economy around.

"We see the impact of this every day, and I'm speaking not just for Michigan, but for governors across the country. We need help. We need it now. And it's not about budgets; it's about creating jobs in our states," she said recently on CNN's "State of the Union With John King."

CNN's Taylor Gandossy, Ed Hornick and Stan Wilson contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Kansas

text: leaders

text: Wednesday

text: ended

text: a

text: standoff

text: that

text: had

text: delayed

text: tax

text: refunds

text: and

text: state

text: paychecks

text: by

text: agreeing

text: to

text: borrow

text: million

text: from

text: various

text: state

text: accounts

text: a

text: spokeswoman

text: for

text: the

text: governor

text: 's

text: office

text: said

text: Kansas

text: Gov.

text: Kathleen

text: Sebelius

text: approved

text: million

text: in

text: budget

text: cuts

text: Wednesday

text: Republican

text: lawmakers

text: approved

text: moving

text: money

text: into

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: main

text: account

text: to

text: pay

text: the

text: bills

text: after

text: budget

text: cuts

text: agreed

text: to

text: by

text: Gov.

text: Kathleen

text: Sebelius

text: spokeswoman

text: Brittany

text: Stiffler

text: said

text: The

text: state

text: resumed

text: processing

text: income

text: tax

text: refunds

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: they

text: had

text: been

text: suspended

text: last

text: week

text: because

text: of

text: low

text: funds

text: and

text: state

text: employees

text: paychecks

text: will

text: be

text: paid

text: on

text: time

text: Friday

text: Department

text: of

text: Administration

text: spokesman

text: Gavin

text: Young

text: said

text: Republicans

text: earlier

text: this

text: week

text: denied

text: the

text: Democratic

text: governor

text: 's

text: request

text: to

text: move

text: the

text: money

text: saying

text: they

text: could

text: not

text: approve

text: the

text: certificate

text: of

text: indebtedness

text: also

text: known

text: as

text: internal

text: borrowing

text: until

text: they

text: knew

text: the

text: state

text: could

text: repay

text: the

text: money

text: by

text: June

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: fiscal

text: year

text: However

text: Republicans

text: said

text: they

text: would

text: be

text: likely

text: to

text: approve

text: the

text: internal

text: borrowing

text: if

text: Sebelius

text: agreed

text: to

text: the

text: Legislature

text: 's

text: proposed

text: budget

text: cuts

text: for

text: the

text: fiscal

text: year

text: On

text: Wednesday

text: she

text: approved

text: about

text: million

text: in

text: budget

text: cuts

text: She

text: blinked

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: helpful

text: Senate

text: Majority

text: Leader

text: Derek

text: Schmidt

text: a

text: Republican

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: I

text: 'm

text: just

text: sorry

text: we

text: had

text: to

text: have

text: high

text: drama

text: and

text: worry

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: Kansans

text: about

text: our

text: ability

text: to

text: pay

text: our

text: obligations

text: Sebelius

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: Kansas

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: several

text: states

text: to

text: meet

text: this

text: week

text: to

text: address

text: budget

text: concerns

text: in

text: a

text: time

text: when

text: states

text: are

text: starting

text: the

text: year

text: short

text: on

text: funds

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: National

text: Conference

text: of

text: State

text: Legislatures

text: This

text: is

text: an

text: equal

text: opportunity

text: recession

text: States

text: in

text: virtually

text: every

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: country

text: are

text: suffering

text: even

text: the

text: energy

text: states

text: are

text: starting

text: to

text: report

text: problems

text: Corina

text: Eckl

text: of

text: the

text: National

text: Conference

text: of

text: State

text: Legislatures

text: said

text: iReport.com

text: What

text: you

text: 'd

text: fix

text: first

text: For

text: most

text: it

text: has

text: only

text: gone

text: downhill

text: They

text: have

text: tried

text: to

text: make

text: up

text: the

text: difference

text: with

text: expanded

text: gambling

text: with

text: delays

text: of

text: construction

text: projects

text: with

text: hiring

text: freezes

text: with

text: fee

text: and

text: tax

text: increases

text: But

text: almost

text: all

text: of

text: this

text: has

text: failed

text: to

text: regain

text: lost

text: ground

text: merely

text: serving

text: as

text: a

text: firebreak

text: against

text: worse

text: troubles

text: she

text: said

text: California

text: faces

text: a

text: billion

text: deficit

text: that

text: prompted

text: Gov.

text: Arnold

text: Schwarzenegger

text: to

text: declare

text: a

text: fiscal

text: emergency

text: in

text: December

text: California

text: lawmakers

text: worked

text: into

text: early

text: Wednesday

text: but

text: could

text: n't

text: pass

text: a

text: budget

text: Gov.

text: Arnold

text: Schwarzenegger

text: issued

text: layoff

text: notices

text: Tuesday

text: affecting

text: a

text: wide

text: spectrum

text: of

text: state

text: agencies

text: and

text: employees

text: in

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: deal

text: with

text: the

text: budget

text: crisis

text: a

text: spokesman

text: said

text: Another

text: layoff

text: notices

text: might

text: be

text: sent

text: Wednesday

text: the

text: spokesman

text: said

text: All

text: the

text: layoffs

text: would

text: take

text: effect

text: July

text: the

text: start

text: of

text: the

text: new

text: fiscal

text: year

text: The

text: Republican

text: governor

text: has

text: butted

text: heads

text: for

text: months

text: with

text: the

text: Democratic

text: majority

text: over

text: easing

text: the

text: billion

text: revenue

text: shortfall

text: this

text: fiscal

text: year

text: alone

text: Cuts

text: would

text: save

text: California

text: million

text: for

text: the

text: year

text: The

text: billion

text: deficit

text: is

text: for

text: the

text: current

text: and

text: next

text: fiscal

text: years

text: Interactive

text: See

text: projected

text: state

text: budget

text: gaps

text: Â

text: Last

text: month

text: the

text: state

text: began

text: delaying

text: billion

text: in

text: payments

text: to

text: taxpayers

text: contractors

text: counties

text: and

text: social

text: service

text: agencies

text: so

text: the

text: state

text: could

text: continue

text: funding

text: schools

text: and

text: making

text: debt

text: payments

text: Watch

text: more

text: on

text: California

text: 's

text: budget

text: woes

text: Â

text: Also

text: today

text: New

text: Jersey

text: 's

text: governor

text: announced

text: that

text: all

text: state

text: employees

text: will

text: be

text: forced

text: to

text: take

text: two

text: unpaid

text: furlough

text: days

text: a

text: move

text: that

text: will

text: save

text: million

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: nearly

text: billion

text: in

text: budget

text: cuts

text: that

text: state

text: is

text: making

text: In

text: Maryland

text: tax

text: collections

text: in

text: nearly

text: every

text: category

text: are

text: falling

text: short

text: of

text: expectations

text: with

text: dismal

text: revenue

text: projects

text: putting

text: more

text: pressure

text: on

text: state

text: legislators

text: to

text: balance

text: the

text: budget

text: without

text: relying

text: on

text: the

text: federal

text: stimulus

text: package

text: CNN

text: affiliate

text: WBAL

text: reported

text: State

text: workers

text: in

text: Colorado

text: may

text: face

text: unpaid

text: time

text: off

text: in

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: spare

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: colleges

text: and

text: universities

text: millions

text: of

text: dollars

text: in

text: budget

text: cuts

text: KUSA

text: TV

text: in

text: Denver

text: reported

text: Tuesday

text: Interactive

text: Estimated

text: job

text: growth

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: Gov.

text: Bill

text: Ritter

text: a

text: Democrat

text: announced

text: plans

text: recently

text: to

text: furlough

text: some

text: state

text: workers

text: to

text: balance

text: the

text: budget

text: Roughly

text: million

text: in

text: budget

text: cuts

text: need

text: to

text: be

text: made

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: this

text: fiscal

text: year

text: according

text: to

text: KUSA

text: State

text: lawmakers

text: will

text: debate

text: a

text: bill

text: in

text: the

text: House

text: this

text: week

text: that

text: would

text: require

text: furloughs

text: for

text: state

text: workers

text: depending

text: on

text: how

text: much

text: money

text: they

text: make

text: It

text: 's

text: drastic

text: but

text: we

text: 're

text: in

text: a

text: drastic

text: situation

text: Rep.

text: Steve

text: King

text: R

text: Grand

text: Junction

text: told

text: KUSA

text: In

text: Washington

text: state

text: proposed

text: budget

text: cuts

text: have

text: led

text: to

text: protests

text: in

text: the

text: capital

text: Olympia

text: KOMO

text: TV

text: in

text: Seattle

text: reported

text: State

text: officials

text: are

text: looking

text: at

text: some

text: million

text: in

text: cuts

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: package

text: the

text: governor

text: is

text: expected

text: to

text: sign

text: this

text: week

text: Lawmakers

text: also

text: are

text: aiming

text: to

text: cut

text: nearly

text: billion

text: over

text: the

text: next

text: two

text: years

text: But

text: about

text: union

text: members

text: state

text: employees

text: school

text: supporters

text: and

text: health

text: care

text: providers

text: rallied

text: on

text: the

text: lawn

text: of

text: the

text: Capitol

text: telling

text: lawmakers

text: to

text: stop

text: the

text: health

text: care

text: and

text: education

text: cuts

text: and

text: prevent

text: tuition

text: hikes

text: State

text: employees

text: said

text: they

text: want

text: fair

text: pay

text: better

text: benefits

text: and

text: pensions

text: and

text: no

text: layoffs

text: Hawaii

text: faces

text: a

text: nearly

text: billion

text: budget

text: shortfall

text: in

text: the

text: upcoming

text: fiscal

text: year

text: That

text: figure

text: has

text: led

text: legislators

text: to

text: seek

text: alternative

text: ways

text: of

text: balancing

text: the

text: budget

text: including

text: possible

text: reductions

text: in

text: health

text: and

text: retirement

text: benefits

text: for

text: government

text: workers

text: KHNL

text: TV

text: in

text: Honolulu

text: reported

text: Tuesday

text: One

text: bill

text: being

text: debated

text: in

text: the

text: Legislature

text: aims

text: to

text: cut

text: off

text: insurance

text: benefits

text: for

text: all

text: employees

text: retiring

text: after

text: July

text: regardless

text: of

text: how

text: many

text: years

text: they

text: had

text: worked

text: Back

text: East

text: states

text: such

text: as

text: New

text: York

text: and

text: Florida

text: which

text: have

text: high

text: unemployment

text: rates

text: and

text: huge

text: budget

text: shortfalls

text: also

text: are

text: looking

text: to

text: cut

text: programs

text: In

text: New

text: York

text: the

text: expected

text: budget

text: shortfall

text: is

text: around

text: billion

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: National

text: Conference

text: of

text: State

text: Legislatures

text: President

text: Obama

text: took

text: his

text: economic

text: stimulus

text: message

text: to

text: Florida

text: last

text: week

text: to

text: hard

text: hit

text: Fort

text: Myers

text: The

text: jobless

text: rate

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: is

text: percent

text: up

text: from

text: percent

text: this

text: time

text: in

text: and

text: the

text: area

text: 's

text: foreclosure

text: rate

text: of

text: percent

text: is

text: the

text: highest

text: in

text: the

text: nation

text: Interactive

text: See

text: where

text: the

text: stimulus

text: money

text: is

text: going

text: Â

text: And

text: Michigan

text: 's

text: Democratic

text: Gov.

text: Jennifer

text: Granholm

text: whose

text: state

text: has

text: been

text: hit

text: especially

text: hard

text: by

text: the

text: recession

text: and

text: the

text: auto

text: industry

text: 's

text: near

text: collapse

text: said

text: job

text: creation

text: is

text: paramount

text: to

text: turning

text: the

text: economy

text: around

text: We

text: see

text: the

text: impact

text: of

text: this

text: every

text: day

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: speaking

text: not

text: just

text: for

text: Michigan

text: but

text: for

text: governors

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: We

text: need

text: help

text: We

text: need

text: it

text: now

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: about

text: budgets

text: it

text: 's

text: about

text: creating

text: jobs

text: in

text: our

text: states

text: she

text: said

text: recently

text: on

text: CNN

text: 's

text: State

text: of

text: the

text: Union

text: With

text: John

text: King

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Taylor

text: Gandossy

text: Ed

text: Hornick

text: and

text: Stan

text: Wilson

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: How much money was borrowed

answer: $225 million

text: $225 million

question: who apporved the cuts

answer: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

text: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

question: What is the number of furlough days given?

answer: e tw

text: e tw

question: What budget year are the cuts approved for?

answer: 2009

question: from who did they borrow the money

answer: various state accounts,

text: various state accounts,

question: What cuts did Sebelius approve?

answer: budget

text: budget


text:
Leogane, Haiti (CNN)  -- More than three weeks after Haiti's devastating earthquake, many of the makeshift camps housing thousands are starting to function as mini cities.

Small markets have blossomed. Some camps have even designated mayors and security personnel.

But in others, life still looks as it did days after the January 12 quake. People have only what they dug out of the rubble with their bare hands or acquired somehow else for survival.

Recently seen along a row of tents in a camp in Leogane was this hodgepodge of life before and after:

Turquoise hand-crocheted lace

Mazola oil

Ceramic jar that says: "Fresh Cookies"

Propane stove

Barbie doll

A black rhinestone Bebe T-shirt

Boxes of "Gourmet" spaghetti

Bicycle chain

John McCain bumper sticker

NFL towel

Teddy bear

Set of disposable stacked plastic bowls

Amplifiers and scavenging pigs

Box of dog biscuits

Aluminum cooking utensil set

32-ounce cans of tomato sauce

Cotton squares

Peppermint green

Clarins makeup bag

Plastic baby bottle

Jeans turned inside out to dry

Yellow flip flops

Pen and ink drawing of a woman

USAID bag of rice

Evaporated milk

Red roll-aboard luggage

Blanket

Wood-framed photograph

Bausch and Lomb soft contact lens case

Compaq computer monitor

Frayed Haitian flag

Crayolas

Travel-size SPF 30 sunblock

Pillows

One dust-laden Converse hightop -- hard to tell what color

text: Leogane

text: Haiti

text: CNN

text: More

text: than

text: three

text: weeks

text: after

text: Haiti

text: 's

text: devastating

text: earthquake

text: many

text: of

text: the

text: makeshift

text: camps

text: housing

text: thousands

text: are

text: starting

text: to

text: function

text: as

text: mini

text: cities

text: Small

text: markets

text: have

text: blossomed

text: Some

text: camps

text: have

text: even

text: designated

text: mayors

text: and

text: security

text: personnel

text: But

text: in

text: others

text: life

text: still

text: looks

text: as

text: it

text: did

text: days

text: after

text: the

text: January

text: quake

text: People

text: have

text: only

text: what

text: they

text: dug

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: rubble

text: with

text: their

text: bare

text: hands

text: or

text: acquired

text: somehow

text: else

text: for

text: survival

text: Recently

text: seen

text: along

text: a

text: row

text: of

text: tents

text: in

text: a

text: camp

text: in

text: Leogane

text: was

text: this

text: hodgepodge

text: of

text: life

text: before

text: and

text: after

text: Turquoise

text: hand

text: crocheted

text: lace

text: Mazola

text: oil

text: Ceramic

text: jar

text: that

text: says

text: Fresh

text: Cookies

text: Propane

text: stove

text: Barbie

text: doll

text: A

text: black

text: rhinestone

text: Bebe

text: T

text: shirt

text: Boxes

text: of

text: Gourmet

text: spaghetti

text: Bicycle

text: chain

text: John

text: McCain

text: bumper

text: sticker

text: NFL

text: towel

text: Teddy

text: bear

text: Set

text: of

text: disposable

text: stacked

text: plastic

text: bowls

text: Amplifiers

text: and

text: scavenging

text: pigs

text: Box

text: of

text: dog

text: biscuits

text: Aluminum

text: cooking

text: utensil

text: set

text: cans

text: of

text: tomato

text: sauce

text: Cotton

text: squares

text: Peppermint

text: green

text: Clarins

text: makeup

text: bag

text: Plastic

text: baby

text: bottle

text: Jeans

text: turned

text: inside

text: out

text: to

text: dry

text: Yellow

text: flip

text: flops

text: Pen

text: and

text: ink

text: drawing

text: of

text: a

text: woman

text: USAID

text: bag

text: of

text: rice

text: Evaporated

text: milk

text: Red

text: roll

text: aboard

text: luggage

text: Blanket

text: Wood

text: framed

text: photograph

text: Bausch

text: and

text: Lomb

text: soft

text: contact

text: lens

text: case

text: Compaq

text: computer

text: monitor

text: Frayed

text: Haitian

text: flag

text: Crayolas

text: Travel

text: size

text: SPF

text: sunblock

text: Pillows

text: One

text: dust

text: laden

text: Converse

text: hightop

text: hard

text: to

text: tell

text: what

text: color

question: What are starting to function like mini cities?

answer: makeshift

text: makeshift

question: What kind of oil was seen recently at camp?

answer: Mazola

text: Mazola

question: where is this camp

answer: Leogane

text: Leogane

question: where are located the makeshift camps?

answer: Leogane, Haiti

text: Leogane, Haiti