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Evacuation Convoy to Attempt to Leave Mariupol; Israel Summons Russian Ambassador Over Lavrov Comments; Ballet Dancers Return to the Stage in Lviv; Cubans March in Havana's Revolution Square Sunday; Authorities Searching for Missing Inmate, Officer; Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Strike Central U.S. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired May 02, 2022 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:30:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to the show, everyone. If you're just joining us, let me give you the update with the breaking news story out of Ukraine. Mariupol city council says the evacuation convoy supported by the U.N. and the Red Cross will attempt to leave the besieged city today. But it's unclear if anymore civilians trapped inside the Azovstal steel plant will be able to leave in the hours ahead.

On Sunday Ukraine's president says more than 100 people including women and children were evacuated from the complex after a period of calm allowed the operation to move forward. But by Sunday night, though, shelling had resumed with one Ukrainian commander inside the plant calling it a turbulent night.

Meantime, the Ukrainian military now says Russian forces are pressing their offensive towards Sloviansk, that is a key town in the region of Donetsk region -- you can see there. Heavy shelling of Ukrainian defenses is being reported.

And we got these images within the last hour. Polish President Andre Duda meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- as you can see there. This follows her unannounced visit to Kyiv on Saturday with a Democratic Congressional delegation. That made Pelosi the highest ranking U.S. official to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the Russian invasion more than two months ago.

During that stop we heard her tell Mr. Zelenskyy, Ukraine's fight is the fight for everyone. She also reiterated the U.S. is committed to support Ukraine until the fight is done. Those were her words.

Now, Israel has summoned the Russian ambassador over comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Israeli foreign minister says Lavrov's remarks over the weekend are certainly hitting a, quote, have Jewish blood, are antisemitic and unforgivable. CNN's Hadas Gold joins me now live from Jerusalem. Hadas, no doubt these remarks are raising eyebrows. What else did he say and how, critically, how is it being received there?

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, these are sort of shocking remarks that Lavrov made in an interview with an Italian news channel in trying to justify the claim that Russia is, quote, de-nazifying Ukraine. He said it doesn't matter that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish, since quote, Hitler also had Jewish blood. It means absolutely nothing. Also claiming that the most ardent anti-Semites are usually Jews.

Now the chair of the Vad Hashem Holocaust Memorial Museum said the remarks are absurd, dangerous and that the claims that Hitler has Jewish blood are completely unfounded.

The Russian ambassador to Israel has now been summoned for talks. And the Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, I want to read to you his statement he posted on Twitter. He said ----

Foreign Minister Lavrov's remarks are both unforgivable and outrageous statement as well as a terrible historical error. Jews did not murder themselves in the Holocaust. The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of antisemitism.

Now he says for those hoping that these remarks will somehow spur Israel into finally joining Western sanctions against Russia may be disappointed. Although Israel has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they've accused Russia of war crimes and they've been sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Israel has been trying to maintain a sort of delicate diplomatic balance between the two countries. Both in order to act as mediator, the Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been speaking with Zelenskyy and Putin and because of security concerns.

Israel says they are concerned about the hundreds of thousands of Jews both in Russia and Ukraine, and because of Israel's northern border with Syria. Israeli essentially considers its border with Syria a border with Russia because Israel coordinates with Russia in order to keep the calm in Syria because of Russia's military presence here. So, while these remarks are causing a big stir here in Israel and the Russian ambassador has been summoned, I don't expect it to change Israel's position drastically, Isa.

SOARES: Hadas Gold there. Thanks very much, Hadas joining us from Jerusalem.

Well, here in Lviv Ukraine national -- the national opera was forced to close its doors in February when Russia, of course, launched its violent assault on Ukraine. This weekend it reopened its doors for a ballet performance. And I was fortunate enough to be there. Here's a look at how art really is trying to help heal in the shadow of war.

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[04:35:00]

SOARES (voice-over): Away from the front lines, an army of artists begin the process of mending this nation's grief, gently repairing the hurt brought on by war. At Lviv's National Opera, everyone has a part to play. Tonight's "Giselle" ballet will be the first full performance since the theater closed its doors almost two months ago. As musicians dust off their instruments, and as the audience starts to trickle in. "For us coming to the theater is returning to a small part of our life, which was there before the war. We are internally displaced from Kyiv," says Julia Dimitrieva. "We had to come to Lviv while there are hostilities."

The artistic director tells me why they decided to open now.

"We understand that light must defeat darkness, that life must defeat death, and the mission of the theater is to assert this."

But the reminders of war are never too far away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear guests, our event will be suspended in case of an air raid out.

SOARES (voice-over): Only 300 seats were allowed to be sold tonight, the capacity of the opera's bomb shelter. Still, it sold out.

SOARES: It's only minutes now until that curtain opens, and you can feel the tension, because this performance this extra special.

SOARES (voice-over): For a few hours, nothing else matters, as the audience and I are transported to a world of love and beauty.

Playing Giselle tonight is 21-year-old Daryna.

"It feels great," she tells me back in her dressing room, "because dancing helps to distract from what's happening."

Like many here, her life has been shaken by war and the horrors of Bucha, where mass graves were recently found.

"My mom and my grandmother and her sister survived occupation in Bucha," she tells me. Now she's in safety in Poland, restoring her nerves.

Daryna finds solace on the stage, throwing herself behind her character. "All the negative emotions which accumulate for a long time flow out," she tells me."

A cathartic performance for those both those on and off stage, offering comfort to those who need it most, in the hope they can lift, if only just briefly, this nation's aching soul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES (on camera): The power of art and trying to heal, of course, the wounds of war. And there was a powerful moment at New York's Metropolitan Opera over the weekend too. Have a look at this. That is Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska who performed in the title role of Turandot. Then took her curtain call -- as you can see -- draped in the Ukrainian flag. She replaced famed Russian star Anna Netrebko, who was cut from the performance after she refused to publicly distance herself from Vladimir Putin after Russia invaded Ukraine. It looks like a terrific performance too.

That does it for me. I'm Isa Soares in Lviv, Ukraine. We've got much more breaking news coverage of the war in Ukraine at the top of the hour, of course, on "EARLY START." For now, I want to send it back to Christina Macfarlane in London with our other top stories -- Chrissy.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNNINT ANCHOR: Thank you very much, Isa. Well still to come on CNN -- May Day brings people together in cities across the globe to celebrate workers' rights. That story and much more coming after the break.

[04:40:00]

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MACFARLANE: Welcome back. Cuban's marked May Day with scores packing into Revolution Square for the annual march. CNN correspondent Patrick Oppmann is there in Havana and here's his report.

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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Following a two-year suspension due to the pandemic, government supporters once again took to the streets in Cuba to commemorate May Day. This is one of the largest gatherings of pro-government supporters throughout the year in Cuba. As it's called a Workers Day here is an opportunity for the government to whip up their support in Havana, bring in thousands of people, hundreds of thousands according to the government's own numbers to march through Havana's Revolution Square.

Once again, while their leaders looked down on them, show their support for the Cuban Revolution and the Cuban government. Cuba is still being battered by the effects of the pandemic, what it has done to their tourism economy here. And as well, by the impacts of increased sanctions started by President Trump that have been continued under the Biden administration.

Some critics say that Cuba should not carry out these mass celebrations due to the pandemic. The risk still presented by the pandemic, as well as the high cost in transportation and gasoline of busing in so many people to the Cuban capital.

But clearly, the Cuban government that has been stunned by criticism, that has been on the defensive following unprecedented protests last July, felt that it was more important to make this show of strength and the show of support.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well, some of the scenes played out around the world including in Honduras, Spain, and Mexico, authorities say some 20,000 people marched in Paris. Most participants were peaceful but there was some violence. Police say there were at least 45 arrests. And one person was killed and five were injured after gunfire erupted

at a festival in Mississippi. It happened Saturday night in Jackson, the state capital. Police say multiple shots were fired at the Mississippi Mudbug Festival around 10 p.m. local time. They believe the person who died was involved in the incident. At least two people have been detained. The final day of the festival has canceled.

And the search is still on for a Alabama corrections officer who disappeared with a murder suspect she was reportedly transporting to court. The U.S. Marshals Service is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading them to the missing pair.

[04:45:03]

CNN's Nadia Romero has more from Atlanta.

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NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the manhunt continues for corrections officer Vicki White and inmate Casey White, the two are not related. The Lauderdale County sheriff says they're working on a couple of leads right now, and they're reviewing video footage but don't have anything new confirmed. The sheriff says he doesn't know if officer White is a hostage or she's an accomplice. But the sheriff in the U.S. Marshals say regardless, they believe she's in danger right now.

So, let's look at Vicki White. She had worked in the sheriff's office for nearly 17 years and since 2015, assistant director of corrections. The sheriff says Vicki White sent in her retirement papers on Thursday, the day before the escaped. The sheriff says Vicki White worked in the halls of the detention center with access to all prisoners and including Casey White. But the sheriff says he's shocked this happened because Officer White was well liked and respected.

RICK SINGLETON, LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA SHERIFF: All of her coworkers, all the employees at the Sheriff's office, the judges all have the utmost respect for her. She hasn't unblemished record. She's an exemplary employee so we're very concerned for her safety.

ROMERO: Sunday the sheriff's office released these photos of inmate Casey White inside the County detention center. There's a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped inmate Casey White.

Marshals said in a statement that corrections officer White and the public are in great danger. And you can see why. A long list of convictions for Casey White, attempted murder, kidnapping charges. He was already serving 75 years in prison when prosecutors say back in 2020, he told them he killed 59-year-old Connie Ridgeway. Ridgeway was murdered in her apartment in 2015. Casey White pleaded not guilty.

The sheriff says in 2020 they found out White was planning an escape that included taking a hostage. And he was sent to prison with more restrictions as punishment for that thought. A sheriff says he was recently brought back to the county detention center for court proceedings. Now Ridgeway son, Austin Williams, says this escape is bringing up a lot of emotions for his entire family.

AUSTIN WILLIAMS, SON OF MURDERED VICTIM: It does kind of bring it all back together, you know, the shock, and you just kind of wonder how it's possible. But there is a part of me that knows that, you know, justice will be served. And you just kind of have to leave it to -- leave it to God and leave it to the law enforcement to do their jobs to bring them in. It's not something I thought I would experience again.

ROMERO: So many unanswered questions surrounding this case. Take another look at Casey Cole White -- 38 years old, 6'9" tall. He also has tattoos of the confederate rebel flag. We reached out to Casey White's attorney with no response. He is supposed to stand trial for capital murder charges in the Ridgeway case this summer.

Nadia Romero, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: All right, still to come this hour. The U.S. is bracing for two severe storm systems this week. Details on which parts of the country they're threatening, after the break.

[04:50:00]

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MACFARLANE: You are looking at the aftermath of the severe thunderstorm just west of Chicago. It tore through Illinois causing buildings to collapse and knocking down power lines. The same system also unleashed tornadoes in Kansas and Nebraska earlier before moving toward Chicago. That storm system is now moving off to the east but a second system is expected to impact the central and southern plains. As CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri as more.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, Christina. It was pretty wild weekend across the U.S., upwards of 300 severe weather reports to be had across the U.S. and the central region, the northern Plains region, the Midwestern region all of which saw the severe weather. Notice some 30 reports of tornadoes as well and some of the hailstones that were observed as largest teacup size in diameter. That's about three inches according to the National Weather Service, across O'Donnell, Texas and widespread damage across some of these areas where some large hail came down.

But notice a lot of rainfall as well in a 24 hour span rainfall totals in parts of North Dakota exceeded four inches. Now you know flooding was also seen in that region. But severe weather still in play here, across the south central area of the U.S. upwards of about 7 million at risk here for Monday afternoon storms in the area around say Wichita, Jocelyn, down toward Oklahoma City. That's where the highest zone is. That's a level three on a scale of 1 to 5. And of course, you have the usual large hail and damaging winds. But there is a threat here for tornadoes, some of which can get EF two or greater and about 10 percent chance for that around O'Casey and points to the southern Kansas. Now the good news is this is a short-lived event. So, as the energy kind of shifts off toward the east on Tuesday afternoon, the threat level diminishes quite a bit. Tornadoes become far less likely, just straight-line winds and some large hail east of that region.

Notice just how much rainfall is here 4 to 6 inches widespread across an area of the Central U.S. into the Midwest. So again, some flooding is going to be expected.

Now where we want some rainfall, across the Southwest, of course we've touched on these fires. The Tunnel fires seeing improving conditions almost 100 percent containment. Well, to the east the Hermits Peak and the Calf Canyon fire still about 30 percent containment and we know this region still has a critical risk here for some gusty winds to continue. So, fire weather becomes a primary threat across that area, and these are one of 13 fires that are impacting about eight states across the Western half of the U.S.

I will leave you with the temperatures, 40s and 50s across the Pacific Northwest, 70s around Salt Lake City, and down around areas of Houston high temperatures right around 86 degrees -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Our thanks to Pedram. Well elsewhere New Mexico Calf Canyon fire has now spread to more than 100,000 acres. This comes as red flag warnings remain in place due to the shifting winds, low humidity and rising temperatures. The Santa Fe National Forest Department says crews around neighboring Las Vegas are still trying to stall the blaze. Six scuba planes and eight helicopters are also being used to slow the fire. Calf canyon fire is only 30 percent contained.

[04:55:02]

U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries gathered for a memorial service in Minnesota on Sunday to say good-bye to one of the state's political giants. Former Vice President Walter Mondale passed away in April last year. He served as Jimmy Carter's Vice President and was the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1984. Mr. Biden said Mondale, quote, reflected the goodness of the American people and he helped him get through the personal tragedy of losing his first wife and daughter in a car accident.

Well now, Naomi Judd was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame just one day after her family announced her death. The music star was tearfully remembered by her daughters Ashley and Wynonna Judd during Sunday's induction ceremony in Nashville. Naomi and Wynonna were inducted for their decade of chart-topping songs, as the mother and daughter duo known as the Judds. Naomi passed away on Saturday after battling mental illness -- according to her family. She was 76 years old.

Now the second round of the NBA playoffs kicked off Sunday and former MVP Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to a game one win over the Boston Celtics 101-89. The Greek freak scored a triple double scoring 24 points. And in the other game, the Golden State Warriors won a thriller over the Memphis Grizzlies 117-116. Warriors superstar Steph Curry scored 24. But it was his teammate Jordan Poole who left the team scoring 31. And Klay Thompson hit the game winning three-pointer in the final minute of play there.

All right. Thanks for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. Our coverage continues next with "EARLY START" with Christine Romans and Laura Jarrett. Stay with us.

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