>> in the mississippi delta, they grow to over 700 pounds.the gator hunters get to take population control into their own hands. we join them in their death te fieing mission. >> 53 hours in the water. how did she do it? or did she? diana's non-stop swim from cuba to florida now being questioned. >> from new york city, this is "night line" with dan abram. >> good evening and thanks for joining us. tonight the verbal war between president obama and syria's president reached a fever pitch. assad in his first interview with an american journalist since the incident denied he was responsible and suggested there would be repu purepercussions i americans take action. >> in washington, a president in the political fight of his life. >> we will be stronger if we take action together as one nation. >> in damascus, another president in the fight of his life. >> he did not present any evidence. they didn't present anything. >> nearly three weeks, 20 days after the chemical attack in syria, a war of words for the hearts and minds of the world. >> the ass

gio benitez, abc news, the mississippi delta. >> you can see the full story later on "nightline."hing tonight. we're always there at abcnews.com and from washington d.c. i'm diane sawyer. we'll see you right back here again tomorrow night. >> we have team coverage on the fire tonight. and we've heard from people who have had to evacuate their homes. >> and where we've learned no criminal charges will be filed. a neighborhood rebuilding after three years. >> sacramento democrats end their feud over how to make more room in prisons but now putting inmates back out on the streets. >> a dramatic shot from sky 7. smoke and flames from the so called morgan fire approached historic stone lookout tower at the summit of mount diablo. officials say they're confident they can get this fire contained in the next few days. good evening, everyone, i'm carolyn johnson. >> the morlg -- morgan fire has grown too large for local agencies to handle so cal fire has stepped in and taken over management of the efforts. here is what it looked like from our east bay hills camera. we've had reports ash ha

abc news, the mississippi delta. >> this is comforting. ate of mississippi requires hunters attend a mandatory alligator hunting safety course before they are allowed which is a good idea. because if you just decide let's go get some gators. could be dangerous. you have to know what you are doing. >> hunting season is ten days. i'm sure they're out every day. you have only a ten-day window. so if you don't get the big gator -- >> when you get it what do you do with it, sell it? do people want the skin? i'm imagining skin the poor thing. >> must be some kind of commercial use, right? >> i hope so. >> i should know the answer because i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all. so. >> i should know the answer because i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all. in this corner, the reigning lasagna dish, the big cheese. and in this corner, the best generation of dawn power, platinum! [ bell dings ] here we go! [ female announcer ] dawn platinum power clean's micro-scrubbing enzymes give you the power of

tavis: the bb king was born into in the mississippi delta in 1925.e was working at the fields at seven and found solace in music and the church. memphis with to less than three dollars in his pocket. he honed his guitar style in the streets of that city. his first break on the radio had him performing as beale street blues boy, later shortened to blues boy king. let's look at a clip of him performing with his guitar, lucille. >> every day, every day, i have the blues lose ♪ hate to ♪ tavis: the king of the blues is in the house tonight. i have been looking forward to this -- i have been in the broadcast business, this is my 21st year. we have talked on radio, but never one on one on television. you hung out all over the world, in germany and europe. i have been with you on tour and all over the country. but never one on one on set. so i am delighted. i am glad you are finally here. you are hard to catch up with. >> you said it. my best day is right behind you. -- my birthday is right behind you. tavis: how are you feeling? you are looking well. >> i

cities, with the poverty rate nearly double the national average and the loss of life along the mississippi delta is the stark reality, according to the defense fund, a child dies or is injured by guns once every 30 seconds. >> it's beyond just the violence, it is the community that has embraced crime that succumb to the criminal elements that exist in their city, they're comfortable with vigilante justice, which as a community we have a problem. not the safest choices in their lives but it helps them sustain and take care of their families. ultimately the result is incarceration or death. but these are the choices they choose to survive. >> it is not only choice. the vast majority of residents in new orleans walk the past of peace. like amara skinner. >> it doesn't make you look like a man. it means you are stupid. like walking on street like you stay on guard like a lot. like i don't wear any shoes that i can't run in just in case. >> and back in the lower 9th patrina peters is rising above her grief. >> i do want queen won't bow down to violence. i am duriah queen. >> her son di did he -- demo

. >> reporter: he's the last of the legendary blues men who emerged from the mississippi delta. pers, riley b. king was born on a cotton plantation outside of berclair, mississippi, and started working at age 7. you said you could pick 400 pounds a day? >> i did. >> reporter: you did. >> mm-hmm. >> reporter: he started hitch hiccing to play blues in memphis. he soon picked up the nickname blues boy or b.b. his song "3:00 blues" hit number one on the r & b charts. in 1946 you played 346? >> in two nights. >> reporter: but he wouldn't play for a white audience until 1967 until he was invited to the fillmore west in san francisco. >> that was the beginning of playing rock 'n' roll and i've been doing it ever since. >> reporter: he influenced hendrix, opened for the stones, and played with eric clapton and u2. "rolling stone" has you ranked number three guitar player. >> i don't believe it. but i'm not going to tell them. >> reporter: king of the blues is still king of the road, playing 125 dates a year, including this one at the white house last year where he performed his biggest h

. >> reporter: he's the last of the legendary blues men who emerged from the mississippi delta.scribe the blues? >> it's good for me, and when i'm feeling bad, and good for me when i'm feeling good. >> reporter: the son of sharecroppers, reilly b. king, was born on a cotton plantation outside berclair, mississippi, and started working at age seven. you've said you can pick 400 pounds a day. >> i did. >> reporter: you did? >> uh-huh. >> reporter: he was 22 when he hitch hiked north to play music in memphis, where he soon picked up the nickname "blues boy," or b.b. in 1952, his song "three blues" hit number one on the r&b charts, and b.b. started touring black theaters across the country. in 1956, you played 342 days? >> 342 one-nighters. >> reporter: but king wouldn't play to a white audience until 1967 when rock promoter bill graham invited him to the fillmore west in san francisco. >> that was the beginning of b.b. king and rock 'n' roll, not playing rock 'n' roll. >> reporter: right. >> and i've been doing it ever since. >> reporter: he influenced hendrix. opened for the stone

.>> young peor generations, people in the mississippi delta have been struggling with poverty, ill literacy, and severe health problems. these stations reveal the hard times. >> it's lack of insurance and jobs and it makes it hard far lot of people here. >> the department of defense sets up missions where the mission an training. >> irt provides free medical, dental and vision care as a way to train service members about treating people dealing with intense sufferinging with intense situations. >> i can see my wife. i can see my wife. that is an impact on that man's life. >> it takes a while on the ten-day trip. people waite waited patiently fr treatment. it's in other delta towns. >> greg fisher needed glasses. he also had not been to a dentist in 20 years. if it were not for this service, he was considering another service for his toothache. >> go without the glasses. >>> chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are 50% above the national average. >> and the delta regional authority has been trying to improve those statistic by partnering with the department of defense and

. >> for generations, people in the mississippi delta have been struggling with poverty illiteracy andere privacy. >> with the lack of jobs it makes it hard for a lot of people here you know. >> the department of defense sets up missions in places like clarksdale for innovative readiness training. irt as it's called provides free medical dental and vision care as a way of treating members to deal with intense suffering in situations. >> one man said, i can see my wife, i can see my wife, that is an impact on a man's life. >> on this trip more than 30,000 who can't afford health care waited patiently for treatment in clarksdale and other towns. greg fisher needed glasses. he also had not been to a dentist in 20 years. if not for this service, he was considering another option for his toothache. >> probably just give me some instrument and pull it out myself and go without the glass he. >> the delta regional authority has been trying to improve those statistics by partnering with the department of defense for this training. >> if our people are not healthy our communities are not going t

the loss of young life along the mississippi delta is a stark reminder of grim statistics. child dies or is injured by a gun every 30 minutes in america. victims advocate says the issue of gun rye lens is greater than the latest headlines. >> it's beyond just a toddler. it's a community that has embraced crime that has succumbed to the criminal elements that exist in their city, and they're comfortable with vigilante justice, which means as a city, we have a problem. a lot of these young men are engaging in activities that are not the safest choices in their lives but helps them sustain financially to take care of their families. ultimately, the result is incarceration or death, but this is the choice they choose to survive. >> it's not the only choice. the vast majority of young people in new orleans reject rye lens and walk the path of beat. >> it doesn't make you a man or gangster or something like that. it's just to me, it just makes you look stupid, like you're doing all this for no reason. you get scared walking on the street. you stay on guard like a lot. like i know

. >> reporter: sister ann brooks is a doctor in the mississippi delta town. at age 75 she worries who will take her place at the clinic she has run for 30 years. >> there are 74% of my patients can't pay me, how am i going to earn enough money to pay the salary of another doctor. it gets to be very sticky. >> reporter: sister brooks is one of just three primary care physicians in her poor rural county. >> we're there when grandma dies. you're there when the babies are coming. you're just with the family. they become part of you. >> reporter: it's a nationwide problem. the american association of medicine predicts a shortage of primary care physicians. >> here in mississippi this new medical college was started as a solution of a shortage of primary carry physicians in the gulf. >> reporter: dr. james turner is dean of osteopathic medicine. he predicts the affordable healthcare act will make the situation worse because millions of americans without health insurance will suddenly become eligible. >> adding the burden to that system is only going to make it wors

. >> sister ann brooks is a doctor in the mississippi delta town. she worries who will take her place at the clinic she has run for 30 years. >> if 74 percent of my patients can't pay me, how am i going to pay another doctor? it gets to be very sticky. >> she is one of just three primary care if i as i says in her poor rural county. >> you're there when gamma dice, when the baby's coming. you're with the family and they become part of you. >> just breathe in and out. >> it's a nationwide problem. it is predicted a shortage of 45,000 primary care physicians by the end of this decade. >> here in mississippi, this new medical college was started as a solution to the shortage of primary care physicians in the gulf. >> that is true. >> dr. james turner is dean of william carey college of as pattic medicine. he predicts the affordable health care act will make the situation worse, because millions of americans without health insurance will suddenly become eligible. >> adding to the burden of that system is only going to make it worse. >> 24 new medical sc

. >> sister ann brooks is a doctor in the mississippi delta town of tutweiler. in a75, she worries who will tae her place >> if 74% of my patients can't pay me, how am i going to earn enough money to pay the salary of another doctor? it gets to be very sticky. >> sister brooks is one of just three primary care physicians in her poor rural county. >> you are there when grandma dies, when the baby's coming. you know, you are just with the family and they become part of you. >> just breathe in and out. >> it's a nationwide problem. the american association of medical colleges predicts a shortage of 45,000 primary care physicians by the end of this decade. >> here in hattiesburg mississippi, this medical college was started as a solution to the shortage of primary care physicians in the gulf. >> that's true. >> dr. james turner is dean of william kerry college of osteopathic medicine. he predicts the situation will be worse because millions of americans without health insurance will suddenly become eligible. >> adding any burden to that system is only going to make

. >> for generations, people in the mississippi delta have been struggling with poverty, illiteracy andvere health problems. these faces reveal the hard times. >> with the lack of insurance and jobs, you know, it makes it hard for a lot of people here, you know. >> the department of defense sets up missions in places like clarks dale. i.r.t. provides free medical, dental and vision care to train service members treating people dealing with intense suffering in desperate situations. >> one man came in, put his glasses on and said i am see my wife, i can see my wife. that is an impact on that man's life. >> more than 30,000 people waited patiently for treatment in clariesdale and four other towns. greg fisher needed glasses. he had not been to a dentist in 20 years, also. if not for this service, he was considering another option for his toothache. >> i probably just give me some wire pliers and pull it out myself and go without the glasses. >> chronic conditions like diabetes and blood pressure here are 50% above the national average. the delta regional authority has been trying to impro

i'm from the mississippi delta. medgar evers was one of my heroes. when i was growing up in mississippi. in fact, i saw him shortly before he was killed. i want to say that i will always remember his service and the freedom struggle. i am grateful that the two of you are bringing his legacy and his living and the documents, we need the documents that show his sacrifice. i just can't tell you how this anniversary, it's like an anniversary because this time in june so many years ago reminds me of the day that i learned that he had died. i will always, always remember that. and i just can't tell you how we mississippians benefited from his sacrifice. >> it is a fitting closure. medgar -- and the only thing i would add to that is that actually medgar evers lives because as long as there is the struggle for justice, medgar is alive and well, and this book is a testament to his courage, to his dignity. it is his voice, it is his vision for the struggle for freedom. it was an honor to work with myrlie to put this together so that a future generation could be

why oppress blacks in the mississippi delta against their white oppressers?medgar seriously struggled with the issue. was armed struggle the way forward? eventually medgar came to the conclusion that it was possible to build a nonviolent movement. nevertheless, i think it is significant that when myrlie and medgar had their first child, darryl, his middle name is kenyatta. unlike dr. king, medgar was not an advocate of nonviolence in the face of white terrorism. he purchaseed a rifle, and over the next years carried it with him in his automobile in case he had to protect his family or himself. he concluded that race war was unfortunately a very real possibility in the deep south. if white structural racism, the extensive socioeconomic institutions of prejudice, power, and privilege that created a permanent sub class of americans. endured, then what alternatives would blacks have? myrlie, during the writing of this book said to me that medgar and her quote, we found ourselves in a separate part of america. how we could not be starved out, how we could be in a

for "good morning america," gio benitez, abc news, the mississippi delta. >> good people there in mississippio "nightline" tonight for more. >>> time for the weather. it's a great start to the week when you get sam champion in a wet suit on the beach there in florida. good morning, sam. >> i -- i don't know if it's good for anyone else. it's a great start to sam's week, i can tell you that. good morning, everybody. we're live in new smyrna beach, florida. we're going to talk about weather all morning long from this location. we're shooting season three for "sea rescue" later on. let's get to the boards. we have one or two things going on this morning. wear' going to talk to the start of one of the latest starts to the hurricane season ever. look at humberto. the hurricane center thinks it will be a hurricane. not a threat to the u.s. right now. we'll continue to watch anything that happens in the tropics right now. how about the rain in the west? kingman, arizona. 18 days in a row with heavy rain. the big flooding in san bernardino yesterday. we continue to watch rain in the west although >>>

. >> reporter: he's the last of the legendary blues men who emerged from the mississippi delta. gone now. how would you describe the blues? >> it's good for me when i'm feeling bad and good for me when i'm feeling good. it's kind of relims music. >> reporter: the son of share croppers. riley b. king was born on aton plantation outside of mississippi and started at 7. you said you picked 400 pound as day? >> i did. >> he was 27 when he left. in 1952 his song "three o'clock blues hit number one and he started touring black theaters and roadhouses in the country. 1956 you played three 3 4342 days? >> 342 one-nighters. >> reporter: in 196 p rock promoter bill graham invited him to the fillmore west in san francisco. and that actually changed for you when you playing in fillmore. >> yes, i did. >> reporter: it was the first time he played in front of a white audience. >> i was extra scared. the kids i performed in front of knew the music. they introduced me ladies and gentlemen, b.b. king. everybody stood up. everybody stood up. that was the beginning of me playing rock and roll. i'v

. >> reporter: he's the last of the legendary blues men who emerged from the mississippi delta.are all gone now. how would you describe the blues? >> it's good for me when i'm feeling bad and good for me when i'm feeling good. it's kind of relims music. >> reporter: the son of share croppers. riley b. king was born on aton plantation outside of mississippi and started at 7. you said you picked 400 pound as day? >> i did. >> he was 27 when he left. in 1952 his song "three o'clock blues hit number one and he started touring black theaters and roadhouses in the country. 1956 you played three 3 4342 days? >> 342 one-nighters. >> reporter: in 196 p rock promoter bill graham invited him to the fillmore west in san francisco. and that actually changed for you when you playing in fillmore. >> yes, i did. >> reporter: it was the first time he played in front of a white audience. >> i was extra scared. the kids i performed in front of knew the music. they introduced me ladies and gentlemen, b.b. king. everybody stood up. everybody stood up. that was the beginning of me playing rock and ro

it gives the delta queen another opportunity to go up and down the mississippi river. delta queen is a national treasure that for 80 years took passengers up and down the river and of course stopped in my hometown of memphis. on its last trip, about three or four years ago, i was there to witness the queen's last trip and it was an emotional time for a lot of people from memphis who really revere the river and the traffic thereon. there were issues about safety but those issues i think are satisfied. there were ocean standards put to a river boat which were improper. the unions that opposed this in the past came to be for it. the delta queen has a safe vessel that will provide -- is a safe vess that will will provide a -- vessel that will provide a wonderful experience for the people traveling up and down the mississippi river. it's a treasure, a piece of history. it's also economic development for the region. i thank my colleagues for supporting both the delta queen and the communities along the river and i look forward to a nice trip on the delta queen sometime. i yie

for in the delta of mississippi, in southwest georgia, the black belt of alabama, in harlem, in chicago, detroit, philadelphia, and all over this nation, the black masses are on the march for jobs and freedom. >> in the five decades since, john lewis has become an icon of the civil rights movement, a hero who faced down brutal southern police in the name of freedom and was beaten bloody for daring to do so. today, he is a 14-term congressman from georgia. recently, he and i returned to the national mall in washington to remember that day in 1963 and the march that changed america. >> people were all the way down. and you just saw hundreds and thousands of individuals. i'm john lewis, and i was the youngest speaker. ten of us spoke. i spoke number six. dr. king spoke number ten. and out of the ten people that spoke that day, i'm the only one still around. >> congratulations. >> what's that? >> congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> it was a great moment in american life. >> you were his friend? >> yeah. i got to know dr. king. i met him in 1958 when i was 18. but i first heard of hi

by the center for social inclusion in mississippi naacp that took a look at broadband in the mississippi deltaand analyzed zip codes and how many broadband providers were in those zip codes, they had four to seven broadband providers, internet service providers, there were 378 businesses and the codes that had zero there were about seven and it is no surprise a lot of those zip code is very much dovetailed over with rural communities, poor communities, communities of color. what we learned from these struggles is when we lack agency over these critical infrastructures our communities suffer. this case in the fight for an open internet is our fight because it is directly tied to our other fights for community health and well-being and as other folks alluded to, corporations are often times trying to look for more ways to make more profit which is natural, they are corporations so when profitmaking conflict with public interest in a lot of cases profitmaking usually wins out but it doesn't have to be this way. network neutrality is the principle that protects the public and when this erodes we f

mississippi education system, whether you think that having the option of charter schools is really going to benefit students? >> well, i have the opportunity to grow up -- my youth i got to spend time in the deltawell as in integrated schools in starkville, mississippi. so i got to see both sides of this. and i am very familiar with the current statistics about our state. we are typically dead last, or near the bottom in nearly every category related to academic performance. that's just not for low income kids. that's just not for black kids that's almost every area. in order the move from last into first, which is why we created our nonprofit called mississippi fist, we have to do a lot of things p i think charter schools is part of that. i think that this could be a way that we can provide that. when you think about students that live in areas where all the schools in their area are failing, you don't have the option to a lot of parents don't have the means to move to boater areas. they don't have the opportunity to send their kids to a private school. in some cases there are some areas in the delta, particularly with private school may be no presidenter if not worst than the public schools i

and we're taking a look at this in the mississippi delta and we look at how many were in each of the zip codes. those that have the service providers that were about 378 businesses, and supposed to have zero, there were about 70. it is no surprise that a lot one of those went over with rural communities and poor communities and communities of color. we have learned from the struggles is that when the lack agencies so one process inevitably conflicts with the public interest. it is a principle that protects the public. it is network neutrality and network pcs. he came out with a tiered data plan for little but we can get an additional website. you can start seeing this with metro pcs, it's a company that is now t-mobile. but they are now were specifically marketing towards people of color the communities of color for the working-class communities. we are denied one more platform. this is now more than ever in regards to how syria has been. we must understand that it is vitally important that we hear these stories of those anti-muslim racism it is the same kind of company that has prov

was an interesting study done in the mississippi naacp that took a look at broadband in the mississippi deltanalyzed zip codes and look at how many broadband providers when each of the zip codes. and zip codes that had for the seven broadband providers, internet service providers, they were about 370 businesses. the posts that have zero, there were about seven. and it's no surprise that a lot of those zip codes very much dovetailed over with rural communities, poor communities, communities of color. so what we learned from these struggles is that we lacked agency over these critical infrastructures, our communities suffer. this case and the fight for an open internet, our fight, and because it's directly tied to all of our other fights for community health and well being, and you know, as other folks have kind of alluded to, corporations are oftentimes always trying to look for more ways to make more profit, which is natural, their corporations. so when profit-making inevitably conflicts with public interest, you know, in a lot of cases profit-making usually wins out, but it doesn't have to b

took a look at the broadband in the mississippi delta and analyze zip codes and look how many were in the zip code. and zip codes that had 4 to 7 broadband providers there were about. 278 businesses. in zip coz with 0 there were seven. it's no surprise that at zip codes dove tailed over with rural communities or communities with color. what we learn from the struggle when we lack agency over the critical community suffer. the case in the fight for an open internet is our fight. t directly tied to all of our other fight for community health and well -- trying to look for more ways to make more profit which is natural corporations. when profit making inevitable belie conflicts with the public interest. profit making usually wins out. it doesn't have to be this way. networking neutrality is a prin. that protects the public. when it erodes we face an internet system that preys on the public. we look shortly after the fcc imply meted the rules. they came out with a tiered data plan. you pay $40 and get what they call unlimited web browsing and you can get unlimited youtube for a little bit

jaspers school district in the southeastern part of mississippi close to where the civil-rights workers were killed in the '60s but glenn was born in the delta of group chopping cotton, living in a three-room shack outside of clarksdale. she went to the local community colleges and became the first african-american homecoming queen at the college then had two children and had her ph.d. by the time she was 30. i was told of when he hinted he said it you will talk to him and i thought to myself if she can realize this dream then we have a duty to encourage other women end up ourselves to fight equally hard to hear them what of rituals reach the end. think you for being here. i will be happy to talk further. [applause] id as we go into cuba and a people should come up to the microphone. i want to recognize three women who have helped me along the way. marcia, heather, and to jane. thank you for being here. [applause] >> my neece wrote the book through the cracked ceiling. >> is a great book. >> but it does not mean that blood is not thicker than water. there are some things the you have really downplayed downplayed, if that is all things equal

mississippi . close to where the civil rights workers were killed. in the 60s. but she was born in the delta and she grew up chopping cotton and living in a three room shack outside of clarksdale. she went to the local community college and became the first african american homecoming queen at the college. she then had two children and had her phd, i think him by the time she was 30. i was talking about when by derrick johnson from the head of the naacp in mississippi. and he said that you're going to love talking to her. and i did. and i thought to myself as we finished the interview, if she can realize this dream at 39 years old, chopping cotton and 1980s in mississippi, then we have a duty to encourage other women and ourselves to work equally hard. and give them whatever tools we can. and i am happy to talk further. [applause] [applause] >> as we go into the q&a, i understand people should come to the microphone. i would like to recognize three women who have helped me along the way who are here tonight. marcia greenberger, heather booth, and jane pinsky. thank you for being here. [appla

jasper school district in the southeastern part of mississippi close to where the civil rights workers were killed in the '60s. but gwen was born in the delta she grew up in -- chopping cottop, live anything a three-room shack outside of clarksville. she went to local community college, she became the first african-american homecoming queen at the college. she then had two children and had her ph.d., i think, by the time she was 30. and i -- against was, i was told about against by derek john soften, the head of the naacp in mississippi, and he said you're going to love talking to gwen. and i did can. and i thought to myself as we finished therinterview, if gn can realize this dream, 39 years old, chopping cotton in the 1980s in mississippi, then we have a duty, i think, to encourage other women and ourselves to work equally hard and to fight equally hard and to give them, you know, whatever tools we can. so thank you for being here. i'm happy to talk further. [applause] and as we go into the q and a, i understand people should come to the mic. i want to recognize three women who have helped me along the way who are here tonight, marsha gre