Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days
May 22nd, 2011
07:26 PM ET

Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days

Talk show maven Oprah Winfrey’s syndicated show comes to an end this week after 25 years. Here is a look at this and other stories that CNN plans to follow:

Fans, stars turn out for Oprah Winfrey's big goodbye

After a quarter-century that has seen Oprah Winfrey become a pop culture icon, the Queen of Talk has decided to walk away on her OWN terms, as in devote herself full-time to her Oprah Winfrey Network.

But first there's a two-day sendoff - taped last week - that will be broadcast Monday and Tuesday and promises a solar system of stars, surprises, and of course, ratings gold. On Wednesday, the final "Oprah Winfrey Show" will air. Winfrey is reportedly producing the show herself and is keeping her plans secret.

Louisiana, Mississippi officials wait on the water

Louisiana officials are expected to reassess the need for a mandatory evacuation Monday for Butte La Rose in the face of forecasts that the Atchafalaya River will crest just below flood stage.

Many residents living in a swath of Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin have left their homes in anticipation of high water after officials opened floodgates to relieve the state’s pumps and levee systems.

Several Mississippi communities have reported floodwaters while downriver in Louisiana, many residents are waiting and wondering  if the alarm was warranted.

Malaysians dig out after landslides

Rescue workers were expected to continue looking for children reported missing following two landslides that buried a Malaysian orphanage.

At least 16 people were killed and nine others injured in the landslides that were triggered by heavy rains, the nation's official news agency reported Sunday.

Rescue workers scoured the area for up to two dozen children believed buried in and around the orphanage near Hulu Langat, southeast of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the Bernama news agency said.

The prime minister, who was attending meetings in the United States, said the government would rebuild the orphanage and provide payments to the victims.

Will the volcanic ash cloud in Iceland grow?

Officials in Iceland were expected to monitor the ash cloud that has formed after the Grimsvotn volcano under the Vatnajokull glacier erupted over the weekend.

The eruption forced flight cancellations and the closure of airspace over the country's four international airports, Keflavik International Airport spokeswoman Hjordis Gudmunsdottir said.

Officials will reassess the situation at midnight Sunday (8 p.m. EDT), she said.

Weather patterns this weekend have been very different from the northerly winds that swept through the region after last year's eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which spewed an ash cloud that disrupted air travel in Europe.

But the movement of an ash cloud is difficult to predict, a spokeswoman for the official United Kingdom weather agency said.

Ash could reach the United Kingdom and northern continental Europe Wednesday, she said.

Netanyahu set to address AIPAC in Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected Monday to address the main American-Israeli advocacy group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington.

Netanyahu's visit comes after President Barack Obama on Sunday spoke to the U.S. Jewish lobby, softening his remarks after he said last week that Israel-Palestinian negotiations should start from pre-1967 borders.

Originally saying that borders based on Obama's remarks would be "indefensible," Netanyahu struck a conciliatory tone Sunday.

"I share the president's will to promote peace, and I value his current and past efforts to achieve this goal," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"I am determined to act together with President Obama in order to find ways to resume the negotiations for peace," Netanyahu's statement said. "Peace is a vital need for all of us."

'O'bama' heads to Europe, to the sound of Irish ayes

In search of relatives, President Barack Obama is expected to visit Ireland this week, where he may see children sporting "O'Bama" T-shirts and waving American flags.

"It was brought to my attention last year that my great-great-great-grandfather on my mother's side hailed from a small village in County Offaly," he said on the campaign trail in 2008.

To many of the residents in one small village, the presidential visit is a homecoming of sorts,  a gesture of solidarity and kinsmanship in troubled times.

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Filed under: Ahead of the curve • Barack Obama • Louisiana • Mississippi • Volcanoes
soundoff (74 Responses)
  1. peter

    Finally it's over. Why she consider smart i don't know.

    May 22, 2011 at 10:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • thatundergrad

      Why you consider sentence complete I don't know.

      May 22, 2011 at 11:09 pm | Report abuse |
  2. joAnn

    I,would rather watch Opher,than some stupid t.v. Show.I,will miss Opher.Good luck,wit whatever you do. JoAnn

    May 22, 2011 at 10:41 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Doug Ericson

    A big loss for the trailer park crowd. Doug.

    May 22, 2011 at 10:47 pm | Report abuse |
  4. wackoae

    joAnn, the Oprah show IS a stupid show. It is just about the same quality as the Jerry Springer show.

    May 22, 2011 at 10:48 pm | Report abuse |
  5. infonomics

    The real surprise in this story is that CNN has the courage to permit commentary on it. So, I take this opportunity to opine that Oprah has exposed what otherwise would remain a theory: that scores of women unabashedly genuflect to her because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Imagine admitting that your salvation was contingent upon a talk show program financed by a sundry of daytime advertising. My opinion would be of no consequence if I did not point out that in the same 25 years that Oprah reigned, America declined. Not all is lost though. Imagine what these women would have been doing if they were not distracted by Oprah's omniscience. Yes, just imagine. So, Oprah, we salute you, for otherwise, these women may have been spreading their tiny thoughts.

    May 22, 2011 at 10:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Lana G

      Oprah's not God - but maybe the success of a woman just drives some people crazy

      May 23, 2011 at 2:50 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Ni@er&proud

    Why can't you W people ever be happy for a successful N? Stop hating. You people claim not to be racist but every time CNN mentions a successful black man/woman you have to say something negative. Screw you haters. Get a life.

    May 22, 2011 at 11:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • 2West

      You're name says it all, Cuz. Now quiet down boy, grown people try'n to talk here.

      May 22, 2011 at 11:38 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Jazzzzzzzz

    I am extremely proud of Obama and yet yes there are some things I disagree on with him but am very happy to see him as our first HALF BLACK president.

    May 22, 2011 at 11:06 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Martin

    That's good Jazzzz Obama is half black and you are half stupid. Funny how life evens out sometimes.

    May 22, 2011 at 11:12 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Brian

    First Bill Clinton gets caught with his pants down, and nothing happens. Now our current president is using our money to visit "relatives" in Ireland. As a 22 year Air Force veteran, for our Commander-in-Chief to do something like this is an out and out slap in our face. If Americans can do nothing but continue to complain, and take no positive, legal action,...not protesting or demonstrating, but being proactive to let our elected officials know that "some" of their activity is bordering on unethical, and perhaps illegal behavior (use of govt property for personal use - violation in the military; what does the GAO have to say about this?)

    May 22, 2011 at 11:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • The Truth

      Well, as a 22 year old Air Force veteran, your opinion on this matter means just as much as the next average joe's. Cry some more.

      Have you ever considered this was a diplomatic trip? Of course not. Though I doubt you were complaining when Bush visited the many countries he did throughout his presidency, which, by the way, INCLUDED IRELAND IN 2004.

      May 23, 2011 at 12:06 am | Report abuse |
  10. PotFace

    Wait a minute.... who's going to brainwash the women into being selfish and manipulative then?

    May 22, 2011 at 11:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • Lana G

      If a woman knows she very smart and talented and wants to use it and can influence others in a better more positive direction she can do it. If every woman to you is still :your mommy" and you still have to rebel You need to work on your personal problems.

      May 23, 2011 at 2:57 pm | Report abuse |
  11. MPLArms

    Who are Gayle and Phil going to cozy up to next?
    She's probably leaving to see a proctologist and get their heads removed.

    May 22, 2011 at 11:32 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Ellis

    Ooo. Ooo Me! I'll do it!

    May 22, 2011 at 11:32 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Ellis

    Well Brian,you must be a big fan of the right-wing nuts in Washington. That war is disgusting. Who does the United States think they are imposing their own ideology on others! It is not acceptable,you war mongoler. It's as simple as that!

    May 22, 2011 at 11:36 pm | Report abuse |
  14. candy

    Wow amazing so much negativity here ashame to see what the worlds coming to these days god bless all

    May 23, 2011 at 12:04 am | Report abuse |
  15. Ellis

    I need an enema

    May 23, 2011 at 12:06 am | Report abuse |
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