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Russia's War on Ukraine; U.N. Warns of Russia-Driven Food Crisis; Former Wisconsin Judge Killed in "Targeted" Attack; Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee; South Philly Mass Shooting, Three Dead, at Least 11 Wounded; Tropical Storm Alex; January 6 Investigation; U.S. Oil Closes at Highest Level in Nearly Three Months. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired June 05, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and all around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.

Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, billows of smoke above Kyiv, following a missile strike on the capital in Russia's advance to the. East

North Korea conducts yet another missile test one day after the U.S. and South Korea wrapped up joined naval exercises.

A gunman kills a former judge in Wisconsin. CNN has learned who else was on the suspect's apparent hit list.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: The Ukrainian capital was rocked by several large explosions in the past couple of hours. Have a look here.

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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): This video coming out of Kyiv today. The mayor says at least one person was hospitalized after missile strikes. We are hearing from Ukraine's state run nuclear power operator that Russia fired a missile critically low over a nuclear plant in southern Ukraine.

The operator says that the missile was likely fired over the Kyiv area. It's accusing Russia of another act of, quote, "nuclear terrorism." Weeks of nonstop strikes have leveled much of Eastern Ukraine without any major changes on the battlefield.

Outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian troops have slowed the Russian advance in the Donbas to a crawl. The main battle right now appears to be for control of the strategic city of Sievierodonetsk in the heart of the Donbas. Ukraine claims to have taken half of the city, saying Russia is throwing all of its reserves into the fight, continuing to storm the city.

A chemical plant in the city was also reported damaged. Also on the line of Russian fire, a revered church near Slovyansk went up in flames. Ukraine's president said All Saints Church, which has been recently renovated, was deliberately targeted by Russian forces. Have a look.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): This can no longer be fixed because this war is already going on. The terrible consequences of this war can be stopped at any moment.

The Russian army can stop burning down churches. The Russian army can stop destroying cities. The Russian army can stop killing children, if that same one person in Moscow simply gives such an order. And the fact that there's still no such order is obviously a humiliation for the whole world.

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BRUNHUBER: The U.N. is among groups warning Russia's war on Ukraine could trigger a global food crisis. About 10 percent of the world's wheat exports come from Ukraine, much of that grain goes to countries in Africa and Asia.

Ukraine and the U.S. says a Russian naval blockade is blocking exports from Ukrainian ports. Russia is also accused of stealing grain. Satellite images show Russian ships filled with grain, allegedly pillaged from Ukraine, docking in Crimea and Syria.

Earlier, Michael Holmes spoke with Amin Awad, the U.N. crisis coordinator for Ukraine. He stressed the need to lift the blockade and let commercial ships pass their. Have a listen.

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AMIN AWAD, U.N. CRISIS COORDINATOR FOR UKRAINE: Global food shortages and even famine and some part of the world, the Sahel of Africa, the Horn of Africa and other foreign (ph) states, they're in a state of transition. In Africa or Asia or elsewhere, they are facing food shortages.

So export the food from Ukraine is very important. Going by land through every country, so trains and road transports, that is not going to be the answer because the quantity is so huge. It is 20-25 million tons that need to be exported.

And Ukraine was exporting its wheat and other grains via sea. This needs about 100 ships a month, basically. It's a huge operation. It takes 12 months of the year to really keep feeding the world.

So there is a need to lift that blockade on Ukrainian ports. There's a need to also demine or at least establish corridors where these commercial ships can go and can sail away from the Black Sea safely. And there ought to be also an order on the Black Sea, as far as military (ph) operations.

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BRUNHUBER: For more on the summit I want to bring in Mustafa Nayyem, who's Ukraine's deputy minister of infrastructure and a former Ukrainian MP.

[03:05:00]

BRUNHUBER: Thank you so much for joining. I want to start with this because you're in Kyiv.

Is there anything more you can tell us about the explosions in the city?

MUSTAFA NAYYEM, UKRAINIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Hi, thank you for your invitation. First of all, yes. We had two or three explosions in Kyiv. There are five missiles which were aimed at objects of our railways and facilities.

It is critical infrastructure for us now to deliver our cargoes to the front line, not just the front line but to the border, our grain and our cargo. So it is I think one of the aim of Russians now these days.

The consequence, we don't know the impact. So we're still waiting for information from our colleagues on the ground.

BRUNHUBER: OK. Appreciate it. We're also waiting to get more information from our reporters there. Great to get some insight from Kyiv.

Back to the story of getting the grain out of Ukraine, first of all, I want to start with how much grain is at risk here that cannot be moved from the silos in Ukraine?

NAYYEM: Before war, monthly, we exported 7-8 million tons of grain per month. Because of war now, we have to increase because last two or three months we had big problems with exporting. Our ports are blockaded.

For now, it is obvious that we need to export these two or three months, the amount of maybe 20 million grain, tons of grain. But it doesn't have this capacity. For now, we can do just 4 million tons per month because of blockade of our ports.

That means that all other 16 million tons will stay in the warehouses. That means that the next harvest will happen in September. And we don't have a place to save it.

From the other side, it is obvious that the world will have a problem. The world will face a critical food shortage. Unless Russia lifts its Black Sea port blockade, other transport options would be -- we will be unable to deliver a fraction of the total grain.

BRUNHUBER: What are those other options with the Black Sea port blocked?

How viable are, let's, say water routes, using the Danube River, for example?

NAYYEM: Yes, the Danube River will not be able to deliver this amount of grain. The Danube River, three of them we have now, they can export 1 million tons of grain per month. It is the highest capability of these ports.

Also, we can deliver 1 million by trucks, I mean roads. Maybe 2 million by railways to Poland and other countries, which we have a common border. In total, we can have just 4 million. Again, we need at least 20 million in the next three months. And then seven or eight months.

BRUNHUBER: Each of those land means of transporting grain has a challenge, right?

With the train tracks, I understand they are wider in Ukraine than they are in Europe. The trains can't just go straight from Ukraine to the other countries.

By road, I spoke to a Ukrainian MP about this. She told me that the challenges there, because of the extent of the damage to Ukrainian travel infrastructure, which, as you said earlier, has been damaged by Russia.

What are the obstacles that you face moving the grain by road?

NAYYEM: First of all, we never used to export this amount of grain by our trucks and railways.

[03:10:00]

NAYYEM: So we all did it by ports. So I think to take this chance and to have this amount of grain from Ukraine, European Union countries, especially Poland, they should improve their infrastructure also. And it takes time.

It means that we will have big problem in the world with food.

BRUNHUBER: We have to go but I just don't want to let you go without asking you about solutions here. There are sort of diplomatic negotiations ongoing.

Any word about how those are progressing?

NAYYEM: You know, this is only one chance for all of us. If you will not lift up this blockade for the seaport in the Black Sea, we will have big problem in all of the world. I think that we can have more killed people by starvation than by war in Ukraine.

Now we understand that many, many millions of people around the world, they depend on the Ukrainian grain. So it's only one option. Of course, we're doing many things. I know the government is in negotiation with other sides of this negotiation. I will not go in details.

As I know, we have some success. It is not, still it is not an option that Russia will say, OK, we will leave. We will deliver. We will take out the grain from seaports from Black Sea.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. But there is so much at stake, as you said. Thank you so much for talking to us. Mustafa Nayyem, we really appreciate it.

North Korea's back to back missile activity is moving into even higher gear. Hours ago, Pyongyang fired eight short-range ballistic missiles according to South Korea's joint chiefs of staff. They say all of the missiles went up in the span of less than 40 minutes. That is a first for North Korea.

It comes right after the U.S. and South Korea wrapped up joint naval drills Saturday. The three-day exercise involves the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Paula Hancocks joins us from Seoul.

Paula, this is the 17th missile launch by North Korea this year, if I remember right?

This one, potentially, breaking new ground.

What more can you tell us?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We're hearing from the Japanese side that its defense ministry says that this is unprecedented to have so many missile launches within such a short space of time.

Now we've also heard from the South Korean side, the joint chiefs of staff saying that they believe it all happened between 9:08 this morning and 9:43. They say that they worry because they think it's a challenge to the security posture of the new government.

This is actually the third launch that we've seen since the President Yoon took power here in South Korea. They believe that this is a real test and challenge to the security posture here.

So Japan's prime minister is also condemning what he sees as this violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Ballistic technology is banned for North Korea. Yet they continue to carry out these launches. Let's listen to what the prime minister said.

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FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): North Korea has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles since beginning of this year, including a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile. They threatened the peace and stability of the region and the international community and cannot be tolerated.

This missile launch is also a violation of international law and we strongly condemn it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HANCOCKS: So the previous launch by North Korea was back on May 25th. That was just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden had actually left the region. He was here at the end of last month in Seoul, also, in Tokyo for meetings and summits.

It was just shortly after that that North Korea carried out a number of missile launches, including one that was presumed to be an ICBM, an intercontinental ballistic missile. Those are the missiles that concern Washington the most as, if flown at a normal trajectory, they are believed to be able to hit mainland United States.

One of the things that officials are waiting for and watching is, of course, a potential seventh underground nuclear test. Just recently, joint chiefs of staff in Seoul say that they believe that North Korea has completed their preparations for that potential seventh underground nuclear test.

So potentially, we're waiting now on the political decision from the leader, Kim Jong-un, as to when or if he would actually be carrying this out. That would provoke a stronger reaction from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.

BRUNHUBER: All. Right thanks so much Paula Hancocks. Appreciate it.

Now to Wisconsin where an investigation is underway.

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BRUNHUBER: A former judge was shot and killed inside his own home in what officials are calling a targeted attack. Now we're learning that the suspected gunman may have been planning other attacks on several high-profile targets, including two governors and a U.S. senator. CNN's Whitney Wild reports.

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WHITNEY WILD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN looked through court records which show the suspect in this case, Douglas K. Uhde, has a criminal history which includes a 2002 conviction for several charges, including firearms charges.

Part of those proceedings went in front of Judge John P. Roemer, the man police say Uhde killed. Sources tell CNN the suspect had a list of targets, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers and U.S. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.

Police say this all began at 6:30 Friday morning, when someone ran out of Judge Roemer's home to call 9-1-1, reporting that there was someone armed, reporting someone was firing a weapon.

Throughout the morning, police tried to negotiate with a suspect inside, Douglas Uhde, but those negotiations broke down. At around 10:15, tactical teams were finally able to get inside that home, where they found 68-year-old Roemer dead.

They also found Uhde, a 56-year old, inside that home with a self- inflicted gunshot wound. Officials have been sounding the alarm for months that there is this real potential that anti government sentiment could fuel violence in this overall heightened threat landscape.

This case is the example of the very crimes officials have been so worried about. Now the big fear is that this case could result in copycat attacks, certainly one that law enforcement across the country is watching closely -- Whitney Wild, CNN, Washington.

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BRUNHUBER: Funerals are being held this weekend for some of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting. The family of Jacklyn Cazares laid her to rest on Friday. The father tells CNN it was a powerful and beautiful service. He remembered the 9-year old as his angel, who made TikTok videos with her friends, some of whom were killed alongside her.

He says he plans to demand justice for his daughter after all the children are laid to rest.

The family of Eliana Garcia says she was a big fan of the Disney movie, "Encanto." She would've turned 10 on Saturday. Her family says she dreamed of becoming a teacher and she loved the color purple. Her funeral will be held on Monday.

The type of weapon used in the Uvalde school shooting is an assault style gun. Dr. Andre Campbell is an ICU and critical care physician and surgeon in San Francisco. And I asked him about the damage the bullets from this gun can cause and what separates it from weapons of smaller caliber. Here he is.

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DR. ANDRE CAMPBELL, VICE CHAIR FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO: The bullets are bigger, they travel faster, they travel over 3,000 feet per second.

When they travel through tissues, they create cavities or explosive areas within tissues. So bones, tissue, blood vessels, all the nerves are destroyed when these missiles or these bullets go through people's bodies.

I've seen it over the last -- over two decades that I've been taking care of trauma patients here in San Francisco. When I was in New York, I saw the same thing: higher velocity, more destruction and less chance that we have to save the patient's life.

When we deal with smaller bullets, we may get a chance. We've gotten quite good at saving lives. But when people are shot by these weapons of war on the streets of the United States, they create devastating injuries. It's like a bomb going off in someone's body. If it's a kid, it's a bigger bomb.

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BRUNHUBER: Next hour, I will have the full interview with Dr. Campbell.

Still ahead on CNN, Queen putting on a performance for the queen. We have a look at the celebration still underway, to mark the British monarch's Platinum Jubilee.

Plus, there is now a tropical storm traveling the Atlantic. Some of the damages left behind and what to expect in the coming days. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: The U.K. is set to kick off a final day of celebrations, honoring Queen Elizabeth's historic 70-year reign. The 96-year-old monarch, largely absent for much of her Platinum Jubilee but she did manage to steal the show on Saturday with a surprise video appearance alongside, who else?

Paddington Bear. It helped kick off an all-star concert at Buckingham Palace, including a performance from the rock band Queen, naturally. Pop stars like Elton John, Rod Stewart and Diana Ross also performed. For more on that, let's bring in CNN's Anna Stewart, live in London.

I love that clip of the queen with Paddington. But let's start with the party at the palace.

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She really was the star of the show, for the party at the palace. Even though she wasn't there with that sketch for Paddington. He has shocking table manners for afternoon tea but he offered her a marmalade sandwich and she said that's what she keeps in her handbag.

For those who've wondered, mystery no more. There was a broad range of music performances. Thousands of people coming to watch that. And also, (INAUDIBLE) George and Princess Charlotte were allowed to stay of late. There's pictures of them enjoying it.

Prince George, particularly, enjoying "Sweet Caroline." He was singing along to that. And there was a moving address by her son and heir, Prince Charles. Take a listen.

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CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES: Your Majesty, Mummy --

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PRINCE CHARLES: -- the scale of this evening's celebration and the outpouring of warmth and affection over this whole jubilee weekend is our way of saying thank you.

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STEWART: It really has been an outpouring of goodwill and so much love and respect for the queen. Parties, up and down the country, here with the big events around Buckingham Palace.

But really picnics, parties, flotillas on rivers, you name it, it's been four days of celebration. And last night's party at the palace did not disappoint. Kim?

BRUNHUBER: That was last night, let's look ahead to today's finale, the People's Pageant.

Can we expect to see the queen, do you think?

STEWART: We have not had any messaging from Buckingham Palace to suggest she is not coming but equally, she has never been confirmed to attend, either. It's a bit of a wait and see.

This pageant will involve thousands of performers, sports stars, celebrities. And they will all follow the procession route that was taken for the coronation. It will be led by the gold state coach, which is covered in gold leaf. Only the queen, actually, is allowed to sit in that. She won't, of course, for this one.

There will be LCD screens on the side of it, which would make it look like she is in there. That will kick off soon and culminate here at Buckingham Palace. Also, today, for the last day, street parties up and down the country.

This is the moment for champagne, scones and meringues, cucumber sandwiches, despite thunder warnings, across the U.K. Hopefully, we will get off to that without a hitch. I, for one, will be getting my party on. Kim?

BRUNHUBER: Look forward to seeing that. Anna Stewart in London, thank you so much.

I'm Kim Brunhuber. If you are watching from here in North America, the news continues after a quick break. For international viewers, "INSIDE AFRICA" is next.

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BRUNHUBER: A Texas state lawmaker says lack of clarity about the Uvalde police response to the mass shooting there could hinder efforts to prevent such massacres from happening again.

Funerals are being held this weekend for three young victims. One survivor is now out of the hospital. Nick Valencia has that and the unanswered questions tormenting families in Uvalde.

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NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The release of a 9-year-old girl from University Hospital in San Antonio is a bright spot here in Uvalde amidst the tragedy. But at least two victims of last week's massacre are still in the hospital, including the 66-year-old grandmother of the shooter, who was shot in the face before the attack.

Tragedy here is still front and center as two more of those 4th graders from Robb Elementary were laid to rest on Friday, including Makenna Elrod, whose family I spoke to.

They said they were still too broken up and in pain to speak on camera but highlighted that she loved to play softball and to do gymnastics.

Also 10-year-old Rojelio Torres was also laid to rest on Saturday. There are still so many unanswered questions here and not really a clear notion about what happens next at Robb Elementary School.

The school board met for the first time since the shooting, during which the superintendent reiterated that the students will not return to Robb Elementary. Perhaps what is most striking is what was not mentioned, no mention about the future of chief of the school district, chief of police, Pete Arredondo.

It was something that some parents in attendance found disgusting.

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ANGELA TURNER, AUNT OF SHOOTING VICTIM: I have a 4th grader that was in the room next door that's terrified. My niece died. I have a 6-year old that just told me, "I don't want to go to school."

Why, to be shot?

I have one going into junior high. I have a 3rd grader. We want answers to where the security is going to take place. This was all a joke.

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VALENCIA: Parents here want answers. And as we approach nearly two weeks since the school shooting, police here have yet to offer a full explanation for their inaction that day -- Nick Valencia, CNN, Uvalde, Texas.

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BRUNHUBER: What has just been named tropical storm Alex is now moving into the Atlantic after inundating both sides of the Florida straits. Heavy rainfall turned some streets into rivers in parts of south Florida.

Some were drenched with around 11 inches of rain. In Miami, officials are now warning that wastewater may be overflowing into the ocean. Tropical storm Alex is expected to pass near Bermuda today. The Miami- Dade County mayor warns this is just the beginning.

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MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA (D-FL), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: It's just all, please, play it safe. Fortunately, we averted the worst of this storm. But it's an early warning system for us for a busy hurricane season.

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BRUNHUBER: The plant at the center of the baby formula crisis in the U.S. has resumed operations. But it will be some time before the products are back on store shelves. More on that after the break.

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BRUNHUBER: This just coming to us at CNN: another mass shooting in the United States, this one in south Philadelphia. Three people are dead and at least 11 more wounded by gunfire.

Police tell CNN affiliate WPVI they believe there were multiple shooters firing into the crowd. Two guns were recovered at the scene. The South Street district where this happened has a number of popular bars and restaurants, drawing large weekend crowds.

Police said there have been no arrests. Again, at least three dead, 11 wounded in a mass shooting in Philadelphia.

Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro says he wants to represent himself after a federal grand jury indicted him for contempt of Congress. It's part of the investigation into the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Navarro railed in court against what he called the hardball tactics following his arrest Friday at an airport. It comes just ahead of public hearings by the committee investigating the attack. CNN's Katelyn Polantz has details.

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KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The House Select Committee starts holding public hearings this week. The committee is already saying it's going to be presenting material that's never been seen before about January 6th.

[03:40:00] POLANTZ: The committee has done hundreds of interviews with witnesses to prepare for this and collected White House documents, phone records, text messages, including from one of the closest advisers to Donald Trump in the White House. That's Mark Meadows, chief of staff.

But even with this extensive investigation, the House won't be getting testimony from everyone they wanted. The House voted to hold four witnesses who didn't comply with their investigation's subpoenas in contempt: Meadows, Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon.

In the end, the House gets a mixed result. The Justice Department told the House it would not be prosecuting Trump's close White House advisers, Meadows and Scavino, as a way to enforce their congressional subpoenas.

But a grand jury indicted Navarro for his refusal to turn over documents and his failure to testify. While he wasn't talking to the committee, Navarro had written a book that described the Trump reaction to the election and even spoke about a plan called the Green Bay sweep.

The committee said he ultimately didn't even engage with them, so now he's in court, like another Trump confidant, Steve Bannon, facing contempt charges-- Katelyn Polantz, CNN, Washington.

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BRUNHUBER: The Department of Justice's refusal to indict Meadows and Scavino is a blow to the House Select Committee. Both officials served in high-level positions in the Trump White House. Some in Congress are perplexed by the DOJ's actions.

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REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA), MEMBER, INTELLIGENCE AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEES: Meadows is a central figure in this conspiracy to essentially try and stop the count in Congress.

And he also had a direct link to the chief architect of the insurrection, Donald Trump. So it is just puzzling as to why he would not be deemed relevant. Sure, he turned over some texts but there's no sort of dipping your toe in the water exception for subpoena and testimony compliance.

So the committee has asked for clarification. They're also litigating this in court. So I do help that we ultimately compel Meadows' testimony.

It certainly looks like with the grand jury subpoena of Peter Navarro that the investigation has quote-unquote "surfaced," meaning they are now, in a public way, it's clear that they are looking at the principals around Donald Trump.

That's a good thing because this insurrection started with Donald Trump and it seems fitting that accountability would end with Donald Trump. So it looks like they are piecing together and linking conspirators to conspiratorial acts; of course, the conspiracy to stop the count. So that is a positive sign as far as where that investigation is going.

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BRUNHUBER: The U.S. has pushed back a meeting between President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler following public scrutiny. The in-person meeting would be a remarkable turnabout for Biden, who has been highly critical of the Saudis' war in Yemen and their role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. CNN's Arlette Saenz reports.

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ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Biden is postponing an expected meeting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, a sit-down likely to take place in a broader trip to the Middle East in July.

Officials earlier this week had indicated the two men would likely be meeting toward the end of June, when President Biden is already scheduled to travel to Germany for a G7 summit as well as Spain for a NATO summit.

But on Saturday, officials told CNN that ultimately the White House determined two separate trips, one to Europe, another to the Middle East, would allow for more time to work on a schedule as well as set agenda items.

This would mark the first meeting between Biden and the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, after the administration has engaged in months of diplomatic work to try to repair U.S. and Saudi relations.

During the campaign as a candidate, former vice President Biden referred to Saudi Arabia, saying they should be treated as a pariah due to their human rights record. And the president has also been quite critical of Saudi Arabia following the murder of "Washington Post" columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The president has faced some criticism for this expected meeting with the crown prince but, on Friday, he defended the prospect of a meeting when speaking to reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have been engaged in trying to work with how we can bring more stability and peace in the Middle East.

And there is a possibility that I would be going to meet with both the Israelis and some Arab countries at the time, including, I expect, would be, Saudi Arabia would be included in that if I did go. But I have no direct plans at the moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: There were two key deals earlier this week which really laid the groundwork for this likely meeting between Biden and the crown prince. That included an extension of a truce in Yemen, as well as OPEC agreeing to produce more oil -- Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Oil prices keep climbing, despite OPEC agreeing to ramp up production, as Arlette mentioned.

[03:45:00]

BRUNHUBER: U.S. oil jumped again on Friday, closing at the highest level in nearly three months. Prices are up for the sixth week in a row, within striking distance of this year's closing high.

This continued spike doesn't bode well for customers looking to fill up at the pump. One gas station in northern California is charging customers nearly $10 a gallon. According to CNN affiliate KGO, this auto repair shop was selling fuel for $9.60 on Friday; for supreme drivers a whopping $9.91 a gallon.

The service organization AAA says the U.S. national average is about $4.81 for a gallon of regular. The gas station's owner says their prices are so high because they don't sell food or drinks to help cover costs.

Many families in the United States are struggling to find baby formula. The Michigan plant at the center of a nationwide recall and formula shortage finally resumed operations. The plant was shut down in February over contamination issues months after the FDA first became aware of the problems. CNN's Polo Sandoval has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This weekend's developments certainly highly anticipated by parents throughout the United States, who have been struggling with the ongoing baby formula shortage.

Abbott Nutrition announcing they have restarted production of at least one of their extremely needed baby formulas, EleCare, this amino acid- based hypoallergenic product. Their goal is eventually to expand manufacturing to include their Similac brand, hopefully having a bigger positive impact for parents.

We've heard from parents and Abbott Nutrition, many agreeing that the temporary shutdown of this plant in February, it was one of the key factors that contributed to this crisis.

Obviously that in addition to those ongoing supply and demand issues. The company releasing a statement over the weekend, saying or writing, "We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements.

"We are committed to safety and quality and will do everything we can to re-earn the trust parents, caregivers and health care providers have placed in us for 130 years."

In their review, Abbott maintained that they did not actually find any of their formula had been contaminated.

However, during the review and the conversations they were having with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they found room for improvement when it came to enhancing their sterilization procedures at this plant as well as reviewing and even improving their training protocols for not only staff but visitors as well.

So they're certainly hoping that this weekend will be a step in that direction. However, it may be some time before we begin to see those positive effects at store shelves. Abbott Nutrition saying the product being manufactured this weekend may not be at store shelves until at least June 20th -- Polo Sandoval, CNN, Sturgis, Michigan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Earlier on CNN, congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said action must be taken to avoid another crisis like this. She's introduced legislation to ensure it never happens again.

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REP. ROSA DELAURO (D-CT): I look at two things. I look at a shortage of the supply and I look at the safety. And I look at a manufacturer, who really -- it's contemptible to sell a product knowingly that is contaminated.

And then a government agency that dragged its feet for four months before this product was recalled.

That is a real problem at the FDA. Food safety is a second-class citizen. The FDA deals with drugs, with tobacco and it's my view that we either need to have a single food agency -- and I've introduced legislation on that score -- or we need to have a deputy commissioner there, whose only responsibility is food safety, with the authority that they can carry it out, that has the responsibility.

And it's someone who has relevant food nutrition and food safety experience and have the credentials. They don't have that at the moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Coming up, Ukraine's soccer team hopes to shine for a nation ravaged by war. I have a preview of their World Cup qualifying match next.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING) BRUNHUBER: In a matter of hours, Ukraine's national soccer team is

hoping to qualify for this year's World Cup in Qatar. After beating Scotland 3-1 on Wednesday, Ukraine's boosted the morale of the war- torn nation.

(SPORTS)

[03:55:00]

BRUNHUBER: That wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. We'll be back with more news after the break. Please do stay with us.

[04:00:00]