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Reporter's Notebook: Hoopla Over Roberts; Red Cross Offers Tips for Dealing with Heat; More Details Revealed in London Bombing Investigations; Man Who Lost Wedding Ring Discovers it While Clamming

Aired July 25, 2005 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: "Now in the News:" Naming names in London, as police release the names of two suspects in that botched London bombing -- plus, two more suspects are arrested. In addition to possible participants, the probe is also focussed on plastic food containers. Complete details ahead in a live report from London.
An Indiana National Guardsman has pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the death of an Iraqi police officer. Twenty-two-year-old Corporal Dustin Berg enterned the plea at his morning court martial at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He had been originally charged with murder.

An imperfect union: the nation's largest labor organization is in crisis, with two groups, including the influential Teamsters union, headed by James Hoffa, split off to form -- split off, rather, to form their own coalition. That rift comes amid squabbles over how to address the diminishing clout of organized labor in America. AFL-CIO president John Sweeney calls the split and egregious insult to working people.

It's the heat and the humidity. Much of the Midwest is enduring triple digit misery today, as states like Louisiana and Mississippi smother in swamp like conditions. Occasional thunderstorms and local watering holes offer spotty relief, even as the National Weather Service continues to post excessive heat warnings.

First this hour, another day on Capitol Hill for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. Roberts met this morning with Dianne Feinstein, one of the Democratic senators who sits on the committee that will review his nomination. He didn't reply to reporters when asked if he belonged to the Federalists Society, a conservative legal group.

It's become a bit of an issue, since White House officials denied initial reports of Roberts' membership. Subsequent supports have suggested Roberts served as one of the organization's leaders.

Well, that curious blip aside, it's been smooth sailing for Roberts so far since his nomination last Tuesday. CNN's Ed Henry is "On the Story."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every time a senator popped up in the hallway you would see this crush of reporters, crush of cameras running up, trying to get him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Out of his way, please.

HENRY (on camera): We've spent the last few weeks talking about the story of the White House, the CIA leak case, all about a leak, and in this case the White House can keep the secret. They can actually keep this under wraps.

It's been less that 24 hours but John Roberts has already racked up key endorsements from pivotal senators. It may not be a cakewalk, but it's close.

They were telling me privately it was a home run. They wouldn't say that on camera. But the point is, there was this quiet confidence that the Republican senators had this guy is going to be a home run. He's going to get through easily.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), MAJORITY LEADER: He is the best of the best legal mind in America.

HENRY (voice-over): They feel like the president just knocked this out of the park and even top Democrats are falling all over themselves with praise, suggesting there's not going to be a filibuster.

I spoke to Arlen Specter, the Senate Judiciary chairman. He's been through nine of these confirmation battles for the Supreme Court, and he says the one things that dominates nominations them all is the surprise.

(on camera) There's always a surprise. And it often becomes rock 'em, sock 'em, something you're not expecting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And our rock 'em, sock 'em reporter, Ed Henry joining us now live on the Hill.

Ed, I love these stories that you told me that you sort of experienced when working this story and also working this charm offensive while John Roberts has been on the Hill courting all these senators. Tell our viewers about -- you spent time with Arlen Specter, what he told you about his softball game.

HENRY: Yes, I mean, that's one -- one of the fascinating parts, as I mentioned, the secrecy with which this all played out. And Arlen Specter on last Monday night, the first inkling, first clue that the Senate judiciary chairman got an idea that something was up was when he was supposed to go to a softball game on the National Mall with his staff.

He got called over to the White House for an unexpected meeting. He initially said, "I can't make it. I'm supposed to be with my staff." As you know, Specter is battling cancer right now, so he wanted to go play softball to show that he's still fighting here.

The White House said, "No, you better get over here. The president really wants to talk to you." So he headed over, had a meeting with the president, got an idea that something was coming on Tuesday but didn't actually get the name of John Roberts yet.

And then on Tuesday night, an hour before the president told the entire nation, Arlen Specter still did not know the name would be John Roberts. He was called into the Republican cloakroom, said there was a phone call from the White House chief of staff, Andy Card.

And as "Roll Call" newspaper told it, when he got into the cloakroom, Specter picked up the phone and the voice on the other line basically said, "Is your wife there?"

And Specter said, "No, no. This is Arlen Specter."

And it turned out it was the president pretending that it was Andy card. And so it's kind of funny how these things play out. But also, the fact that it was not until an hour before the rest of the nation knew that the Senate judiciary chairman find out -- found out. The White House really kept this secret pretty good.

PHILLIPS: Well, and that's pretty -- when you told me these stories, and especially the president of the United States I guess playing a bit of a practical joke, pretending that he's the chief of staff, Andy Card, why would he do this? Why do you think he had a bit of fun with this whole shroud of secrecy?

HENRY: I suspect that the president feels really comfortable with the way that this all turned out. It was an hour before a prime time address where he was formally going to introduce Roberts. And rather than being uptight, rather than being tense about it, the president obviously was cool and confident that he felt he had the right guy.

And as you mentioned, with this charm offensive, it's clear that at least so far it appears that the president did find the right guy. He found somebody that Republicans are mostly excited about. There are some conservatives a little concerned that he might not be conservative enough. But by and large they're very happy. He kept his base happy. And meanwhile, the Democrats are pretty muted in their criticism.

PHILLIPS: Great stuff, Ed Henry. By the way, are you working that softball game, the CNN folks versus Arlen Specter's team?

HENRY: We're going to try get you as the CNN captain and Arlen Specter as the captain of the other team. We're trying to play it this weekend.

PHILLIPS: Right. We're on. Ed Henry on the Hill, thank you so much.

HENRY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: And of course, you can catch our wonderful correspondents like Ed Henry and others with "ON THE STORY," Saturday 7 p.m. Eastern, and also Sunday for another repeat at 10 a.m. Eastern. You basically get the human side of our correspondents, what it's like to work stories and great little tidbits like what you heard from our Ed Henry.

Well, seething, sizzling and scorching, soaring temperatures are causing another day of misery across much of the country. Chicago, which endured triple digit temperatures over the weekend, is getting some relief today, but that's not the case in the east.

Several cities under excessive heat advisories. In western Tennessee the heat index has surpassed 100 degrees.

Well, the nation's capitol is also under a heat advisory. Poor CNN's Kimberly Osias, trying to keep it cool up there.

Bless your heart.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't know if you just finished tossing over to me, but I can't imagine Ed Henry or you or anybody else, for that matter, playing softball in this heat. It is a positive scorcher.

Now the temperatures are a little bit misleading. They're actually in the high 80s, or low 90s, but what they say are sort of the key indicators are the three "H's," if you will: hot, humid and hazy. So it actually feels like it's in the triple digits.

And the Red Cross has been monitoring this here, just like they have been in Chicago, where they opened a lot of cooling centers.

Joining me now is my guest, Steve O'Brien from the Red Cross. I know you all are actually really concerned with what is happening here.

STEVE O'BRIEN, RED CROSS: Certainly, we're concerned, just like anywhere else. Our government partners are watching what's going on, and the community as a whole, courtrooms (ph) and et cetera, are ready to help out if needed.

OSIAS: Now I know, Steve, bless your heart. I can tell you're perspiring and so am I. And that is sort of your body's natural coolant.

O'BRIEN: That's right.

OSIAS: But what are some signs that people can look for when they know they may be in trouble?

O'BRIEN: Well, the lower levels, just the profuse sweating, the tiredness setting in, the loss of energy. That should tell you, whether you're working with someone or just around someone else, whether it's yourself or you're watching them, just start taking it easy. You should be in a cool place and settling down, slowing down, drinking water and trying to bring yourself out of that.

OSIAS: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

OSIAS: They say when you actually feel thirsty, it's really too late.

O'BRIEN: Right, right. Yes, you're right. You should be doing that throughout the day, especially if you're outside, because that helps your body with its defense.

OSIAS: now I know there have been some folks that have actually been going to the hospital because of heat-related issues. When do you know that it's time to do something?

O'BRIEN: Well, if a person starts becoming a little bit incoherent, if they lose consciousness, especially, and that's any time with first aid, someone loses consciousness, that's when you should be calling 911. If they can't keep down some water, if they start getting a little disoriented, things like that, you should be on the phone with 911 then.

OSIAS: Great. Thank you so much, Steve.

And a heat advisory is in effect here in the Washington area. It may actually move up to a heat warning a little bit more severe. The good news is, Kyra, we are expecting to see a little bit of relief, a little respite on Wednesday.

PHILLIPS: All right. Kimberly Osias, thank you so much.

Jacqui Jeras, what do you think? A little relief in sight?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Jacqui, thanks so much.

Now to Britain, where the number of people arrested in connection with last week's attacks has grown to five, but investigators are still looking for bombers. They're calling it the biggest man hunt in history -- their history, rather. CNN's Jonathan Mann joins us now live from London with the details -- Jon.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The investigation is spreading out in a lot of different directions. And we get details. There are new headlines every day. Today we are seeing numbers: eight and two and five. Let me explain.

The police shot and killed an innocent man, a Brazilian electrician on Friday, Jean Charles de Menezes, under conditions that are still not entirely clear. An independent investigation is underway, and what we learned just a short time ago, if it's revealed that he was shot eight times.

Now, the number doesn't change the fact that he is dead, an innocent man, simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time acting suspiciously, but it will add to questions that are surrounding his death, questions that was brought by the British -- rather, by the Brazilian foreign minister, who was visiting the British foreign secretary on this day, demanding answers, demanding a full investigation. The foreign secretary apologized and reminded him and the public that an investigation is underway. Now, two new suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the attacks. That represents the day's progress, I suppose you could say. The police were looking for four men. They now at least know who two of them are. They have been identified as Muktar Said Ibrahim, who's also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, a 27-year-old man who police say tried to bomb a bus last Thursday. And Yasin Hassan Omar, 24, who tried to set off a bomb in the subway.

Four failed attacks last Thursday, a device that was found which may have been used, potentially, for a fifth one. Police said they had one thing in common, all of them were built with a kitchen container, a plastic container, known in the United States under a lot of brand names, including Tupperware. It's known as a delta plastic container. That's an important clue.

Eight, two, and five and four would-be suicide bombers still on the loose -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jonathan Mann from London, thank you.

Egypt is in the midst of a terror investigation of its own. Authorities are monitoring roads out of the resort town of Sharm El- Sheikh two days after b bombs exploded in that city. They fear that people connected to the attacks might try to flee the city.

Officials are also looking at a possible connection to a group of Pakistanis sought even before those blasts.

An American woman is among the 84 people killed in those bombings. The State Department is urging U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling in the southern Sinai.

The American who was killed in that attack was in Egypt celebrating her birthday. Kristina Miller was in Sharm El-Sheikh with her British boyfriend, Kerry Davies, who was also killed. Miller's father says he spoke to his daughter just -- for the last time just hours before that attack happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY MILLER, FATHER OF CHRISTINA MILLER: She turned 27 on the night of the bombing and I talked to her that night. And she told me that she was going out to dinner with Kerry and they were having a great time. She had two more days left on her trip there. And unfortunately, she went out that night and was in one of the areas of the bombs and didn't make it.

But Kristy was a wonderful girl, wonderful, just you know, very happy all the time. She was an outstanding college graduate and full of life, full of energy and way, way too young to leave me now. And I wish to God I could trade places with her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Miller's father says that the family is planning a funeral for his daughter next week in Las Vegas. Well, a funeral crasher causing controversy in Pennsylvania. Staff Sergeant Joseph Goodrich lost his life in Iraq. The Marine was buried Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knolls showed up for his funeral uninvited. Goodrich's relatives say they were disgusted by her behavior. She handed out business cards and criticized the war. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says that he is sending the family a written apology.

They say the third time is the charm, but NASA is hoping No. 2 will be the Shuttle Discovery. All systems go for another try tomorrow. We're live at Kennedy Space Center for a preview. That's coming up next.

And later was it a stroke of luck or destiny? A man loses is his wedding ring and finds it two years later. Where it shows up is nothing short of amazing. That story when LIVE FROM returns.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: "Pretty confident." That's how NASA managers say that they feel about the likelihood of today's -- or Tuesday's, rather, planned launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. As we look at live pictures now from the Kennedy Space Center, it's not the faulty fuel sensor inspiring those iffy conditions.

Let's go straight to our Sean Callebs. He's going to talk more about that wild weather card. Might affect the launch, might not, right?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Might scrub the launch, might not. That's always the case. In fact, the other day the deputy program manager, kind of halfway joking, saying that every time the orbiter is ready the weather doesn't cooperate and vice versa. You know how it goes here.

But certainly, 10:39 Eastern Time tomorrow, NASA is ready. They certainly expect that they will launch Discovery, the first shuttle launched in two and a half years.

We're going to take you live now out to the launch pad we were talking about a moment ago. Now look on the left side. You'll see that gray structure. That is known as the rotating service structure. We're kind of watching that. NASA was scheduled to pull that away a couple of hours ago. Certainly, nothing serious in the mix at this point.

Once they do move that rotating structure away, it basically means the shuttle is buttoned up and ready to go, but as Kyra mentioned, NASA certainly keeping an eye on that faulty fuel sensor.

There you see where the crew will board, tomorrow early in the morning. See "Discovery" right there on the hatch of the door and doing all they can to make sure nothing that could hold up the launch gets inside that spacecraft. Very important time right now for NASA. A lot going on behind the scenes.

But really, we're waiting until just after midnight. That is when NASA is scheduled...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: That's right. Doesn't he get a catered lunch, too? Doesn't that help?

CALLEBS: Even the astronauts cater to him.

PHILLIPS: Sean Callebs, you poor thing, always having to play second fiddle to that guy. You're doing a great job. Thank you, Sean.

CALLEBS: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You can log onto CNN.com for a special report on the Space Shuttle Discovery's mission, of course. You can even test the knowledge of the shuttle's history by taking an audio quiz. That's at CNN.com/shuttle. Hope you get it right, because Miles monitors everything.

Well, straight ahead a check of the markets.

Also, he went digging for clams, but he found a treasure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of a study, I came up with a clam rake and a little gold ring on top of it which I didn't recognize.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Was it fate or fortune? After two years, a man finds the item he says proves love is everlasting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, one of the world's biggest music companies paying big bucks to settle charges it paid off radio stations. Susan Lisovicz live from the New York Stock Exchange with that story -- Susan.

(STOCK REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Sounds good, Susan. So Susan, do you believe love is everlasting?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do, especially with that story that you teased.

PHILLIPS: See, I was hoping that you were going to wait and ask about that and want to see it. You believe in...

LISOVICZ: I'm not a cynic when it comes to love, Kyra. PHILLIPS: Synchronicity? Fate? Faith? Miracle? I don't know how to put this, all right, stay tuned. You've got to watch this. It's basically a lost and story -- a lost and found story that a lot of people dream of.

I mean, did you lose your wedding ring, maybe misplace it, can't find it? Well, wait until you hear about this man who lost his ring, but how he found it and when he found it and his whole reaction. Erin Cox from WNTH brings us this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN COX, WNTH CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly 40 years of marriage and Stewart and Mary Petrie still hold hands.

MARY PETRIE, WIFE: When we go out for a walk, or something like that, sure we do.

COX: For two years, he's been without the wedding band she gave to him in 1967. He lost it digging for clams.

STEWART PETRIE, HUSBAND: I was very depressed when I came back and even more depressed when I had to tell my wife Mary that I'd lost the wedding ring.

M. PETRIE: I know it bothered him that he didn't have it, and so that bothered me. So that's why I said, "We'll get you another one."

S. PETRIE: And she didn't berate me for it, which I thought she might. But she did not.

COX: Mary did forgive but she couldn't forget the ring given to symbolize their love, so she bought a replacement ring.

M. PETRIE: It's never the same. I don't even have the initials in here.

COX: When Stewart went back out to that same clamming spot this week, he got a gift from the sea.

S. PETRIE: All of a sudden I came up with a clam rake and a little gold ring on top of it, which I didn't recognize.

COX: The couple cleaned the clams and the ring.

M. PETRIE: And I saw the initials, MPF to SJP, and I couldn't believe it.

COX: And to come up with a ring from two years ago, I mean, the odds are just stupendous.

COX: What makes this story really unbelievable, Stewart Petrie tells me he only goes clamping here once or twice a year.

S. PETRIE: It's God correcting my stupidity, losing it in the first place. COX: Now when Stewart and Mary hold hands, their wedding bands match. They know the love in their hearts, though, was never lost.

S. PETRIE: There's a line in "Titanic" that says "other love will go on."

M. PETRIE: It just shows that it was meant for us to have our -- our rest of our life together.

COX: Reporting in Branford (ph), I'm Erin Cox, News Channel 8.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: OK, we are all a little verklempft (ph) here in the control room, in B Control. That wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM. Let's take it over to Dana Bash. We have a preview of what's ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS."

It's going to be hard to top that story today, Dana.

DANA BASH, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Well, we're going to go from that, Kyra, to something quite different, and that is a huge shakeup for organized labor. Some of America's biggest unions are bolting from the AFL-CIO. I'll ask Teamsters president James Hoffa about the decision to break away and what it may mean for labor's clout in the future of political campaigns.

Plus the question Supreme Court nominee John Roberts declined to answer today and how it figures into his chances for confirmation.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END

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