The New York Times is reporting that Anderson Cooper has signed a deal for a daytime talk show to run in syndication on local stations next year.

Cooper is the host of "Anderson Cooper 360" on CNN, a serious news program that runs weeknights at 10pm, and he'll stay on there. Cooper's new daytime venture is described as a light-hearted show focused on current events and pop culture, and could be a good fit for stations looking to fill next year's Oprah void.

Cooper regularly fills in for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly," and he's actually very funny on the show. He has great chemistry with Kelly Ripa, but there's no indication that he'll have any type of co-host or sidekick on his new show.

Sunday is the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's assault on the Gulf Coast. CNN is featuring live coverage from New Orleans through Monday, August 30, but below are a few of the specials we've found that take a look back at the storm's devastation. If you know of some we missed, add them in the comments section.

SATURDAY

Sanjay Gupta, M.D. (7:30am, CNN) - Gupta revisits the now-shuttered Charity Hospital with Dr. Ben Deboisblanc, the last doctor standing at Charity following the storm and learns how the terrible storm has affected his life. Caring for patients during Katrina turned out to be a reprieve of sorts, his 20-year marriage ended shortly before the storm, and living alone and depressed as he battled to rebuild Charity, he discusses with Gupta the challenges many in New Orleans with medical needs have faced five years ago and now. Part one of two.  Part two airs Sunday morning.

Wake County school board member John Tedesco and the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, are going to get more television time to debate diversity in the state's largest school district.

NC SPIN announced today that Barber and Tedesco will appear on a special edition of the show that will be broadcast Aug. 15. In addition to Barber and Tedesco, regular panelists John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon will also be on the show that will be moderated by Tom Campbell.

The arrests and protests at the last Wake County school board meeting has led to a whole new wave of national media coverage.

On Thursday, CNN interviewed both school board member John Tedesco and the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP. Both men were also interviewed for a story that ran Saturday on ABC News.

Barber accused the school board majority of trying to resegregate the school system by ending the diversity policy. But Tedesco argued that Wake is already diverse and integrated as he criticized the diversity policy.

TheWrap.com is reporting that CNN is in negotiations with British television host Piers Morgan to replace Larry King on the network's primetime interview show.

King will step down from "Larry King Live" this fall.

Morgan is a judge on "America's Got Talent" and "Britian's Got Talent" and was also a winner on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice."

So I guess CNN decided not to go the "journalist" route....

Disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer has a new job -- hosting a  political talk show on CNN.

Spitzer will partner with the conservative columnist Kathleen Parker (right) of The Washington Post.

The former democratic governor resigned from office in March 2008 after his relationships with high-priced prostitutes came to light. Spitzer has been a repeat guest on "Real Time with Bill Maher," "Daily Show with Jon Stewart," and "The Colbert Report."

The new show will air at 8pm weeknights, replacing Campbell Brown's straight news show, and is likely to debut in September.

Time Warner Cable and CNN en Espanol are providing free Haitian earthquake coverage to all subscribers through January 21.

CNN en Espanol provides Spanish language breaking news updates, and this special free access is available to all subscribers in North and South Carolina.

CNN en Espanol is on channel 381 in the Raleigh and Fayetteville area, 555 in Charlotte, 897 in Wilmington, and 163 in Greensboro.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (8pm, ABC) - Charlie Brown and Snoopy are serving popcorn, ice cream, and toast for Thanksgiving. Don't be late. Bonus cartoon "This is America, Charlie Brown" has the whole Peanuts gang aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

Punkin Chunkin (9pm, Science) - Four local teams are competing in this annnual pumpkin hurling competition. There's a "Road to Punkin Chunkin" special preceding this at 8pm.  

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (9pm, CNN) - Anderson Cooper hosts the third annual salute to ordinary people who have done extraordinary work in their communities or in the world. NCSU grad Doc Hendley is one of the ten finalists for the honor, for his Wine to Water foundation's work providing clean drinking water to those in need. Performers include Leona Lewis and Carrie Underwood. Presenters are Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, and many others. 

NBC People of the Year (9pm, NBC) - Matt Lauer interviews the year's most notable people. Of course, that means The Octomom, Susan Boyle, Kobe Bryant, Taylor Swift, Chesley Sullenberger.

CNN is hosting a celebratory rally in Raleigh tomorrow at noon for Doc Hendley, who has been named one of the network's Top 10 Heroes of the year. (Read N&O profile of Hendley here).

The 30-year-old Blowing Rock bartender, who works to bring clean drinking water to people in need, was chosen from over 9,000 entries by a panel which included notables such as Gen. Colin Powell, Sir Elton John, and Ted Turner.

Hendley is eligible to win the #1 "Hero of the Year" spot through voting going on now. Hendley has already been awarded $25,000 and could win $100,000 if he's chosen as "Hero of the Year." You can vote until November 18. The winner will be announced on November 26.

North Carolina State University will hold a rally Thursday at noon in support of Doc Hendley, a 2004 alum named one of 10 "CNN Heroes" by the cable news network.

The rally, at the brickyard, will include comments by Hendley, Chancellor James Woodward and Raleigh City Council member Thomas Crowder.

Hendley is the founder and executive director of "Wine to Water," an international faith-based organization that installs running water and sanitation systems in needy parts of the world.

Click here for a CNN video about Hendley's work.