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CNN Live Today

Suspicious Package on Manhattan Bridge; Bush En Route to Europe; 'Precious Doe' is Identified

Aired May 06, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

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


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Transit officials in New York City that this was a suspicious package that apparently they believe dropped through the tracks to the subway tracks from the Q-Tracks. And they're trying to figure out what's in it. And diffuse the situation. There are no trains operating on the tracks at this point. Traffic is stopped above the bridge.
Our Maria Hinojosa is standing by in New York City to tell us about what we're seeing taking place and exactly where it is -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, this is on the Manhattan Bridge, which is one of the bridges that connects Brooklyn to New York City. It happened before 9:00 this morning that a bag was perhaps apparently dropped out of the subway, and ended up on this part of the lower bridge of Manhattan Bridge. They have closed down the entire area of the Manhattan Bridge. There is no traffic that is going through.

But you can see right now that they are approaching this bag. Apparently one of our CNN producers on the site telling us it was a black and red knapsack. They have already -- if you're watching the video now. They have already X-rayed this bag. They are removing the material that they would have put up now to take that X-ray. Apparently we're hearing that this could wrap up pretty quickly. Once they've already taken the X-ray there was a crowd of police and other officials around that bag. But they have now moved away.

My sense is that if that bag was scary, they wouldn't be anywhere near it. But at this point, they seem to be looking at the X-rays that they did take of that bag. Important to note that this comes after a bombing that occurred on Thursday, very early in the morning around 3:00 a.m., in front of the building that houses the British Consulate. That has kind of rattled a few feathers here amongst New Yorkers. Nothing that we can say is tying this at all to that experience. But just a sense of more rattled nerves in New York City.

So right now, you're seeing police officials on-site looking at this bag. Perhaps being prepared to remove the bag. But my sense is that if you're looking at these officials, they don't look nervous. They don't look like they're running around. There doesn't seem to be -- you're getting a wide shot. You can see that that's the Manhattan Bridge.

You're looking actually as it leads into Brooklyn. And there's a part of the -- don't ask me what highway that is. It's probably the Gowanis, but I don't travel by car a lot in Brooklyn, where -- OK. There you see that it's leading you to the Manhattan Bridge. So what we're looking at right now are pictures of the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge. You're getting a wide shot there and now you get a sense of the Manhattan Bridge, which leads commuters and those that live in Brooklyn into New York City.

Right now that bridge is closed to traffic, as well as subway traffic closed. The Q Line is closed. There are some subways that actually operate along that Manhattan Bridge; that they have now been closed. And the police appear to be taking -- they have already taken X-rays. Just so that we're clear, they have taken X-rays of that bag. And they're looking closer at what those X-rays are telling them. At this point that's what we know. And as soon as we get more information, we'll bring it to you straight ahead.

KAGAN: Well, that does give us more context. I think you're absolutely right. Usually in a potential bomb situation we see them send robots closer to the suspicious item. We see them put on padded uniforms, huge outfit. And we're not seeing any of that this morning. But thanks for giving us some context there. Maria Hinojosa from New York City.

As we continue to monitor the situation on the Manhattan Bridge going between Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York. Much more ahead as we learn it.

Right now, let's take a look at what else is happening now in the news.

President Bush en route to Europe for a four-nation visit. The highlight will be events marking the 60-anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The president's first stop will be Latvia, where he'll meet with the leaders of three Baltic nations. Mr. Bush will also hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president's ally, Tony Blair will be getting his third term as British prime minister. Today he said he will focus on a wide range of domestic issues. Mr. Blair's Labor Party won parliamentary elections on Thursday, but Labor lost seats as voters express anger over Mr. Blair's report for the Iraq War.

Iraqi police found the bodies of 14 men in an industrial part of Baghdad today. They were apparently killed execution style. Police were first tipped off to the deaths by a call that somebody was digging a grave. CNN has confirmed also that a suicide car bomb has exploded at a market in Iraq. That attack happened in a town about 25 miles south of the capital. We'll bring you more information as it becomes available.

Well, good morning to you on this Friday morning. We begin with President Bush who this hour is on his way to Europe. He's going to spend five days there. Primarily celebrating the 60-anniversary of the end of the World War II in Europe. He begins tomorrow in Riga, Latvia. Then a day later visits an American cemetery in the Netherlands. On Sunday he will attend a VE Day ceremony with the first lady. And then Mr. Bush gathers with other leaders in Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebration. From Moscow, Mr. Bush moves on to Georgia.

Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us. She stayed behind. She's at the White House with a look at the trip and a list of Mr. Bush's objectives.

Good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, of course, President Bush left just a couple hours ago from the White House. This is going to be a very hectic trip for the president. We're talking about four countries in five days. He is also, of course, engaged in a very delicate diplomatic dance, if you will, the president, of course, visiting two former Soviet States: Latvia and Georgia, to recognize the pledge of democracies there. But also, of course, to also recognize Russia's contribution to sacrifices at the end of World War II.

Now, of course, the highlight, the centerpiece of this trip is going to be when President Bush meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two of them, of course, a very important meeting for those two leaders. There has been quite a bit of strain between them over a number of issues. Mainly Russia's support for aspiring nuclear power such as Iran, also supplying weapons to Syria, Russia's backsliding of democratic reforms.

And then also another aspect of this is Russia's tense relationship with its neighbors. Some of those new blossoming democracies we have seen pictures of those protests of thousands and thousands of people that have taken to the streets in places, such as Georgia, as well as Ukraine. Those blossoming democracies as well as Latvia and Estonia.

Now, it is going to be a very carefully orchestrated trip. Expect the president to speak very openly about the victory over Nazism. But also to talk about the painful history, what this means to the Baltic States. The fact that they were swept in by the Soviet Union. That it also marks the beginning of the Cold War. He is also going to come out and talk of in great support, great detail for those former Soviet republics, to talk about those democracies. And very much make the argument it's in line with his own vision of spreading democracy around the world.

Daryn, I should also tell you as well, just an indication of how tense this is between the Bush administration. We have learned that Russia's foreign minister fired off a letter to Condoleezza Rice, objecting to the president's itinerary, to his schedule; that he is giving so much support to Latvia, to Georgia, to some of those other Baltic States. And of course, we have been told that the State Department fired back its own letter as well, responding saying they believe it is completely appropriate for the president to deliver that message as well -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It is certainly going to be an interesting few days to follow the president through his trip. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you. Well, before he went, President Bush facing a potential environmental firestorm on a plan that could lead to development on national forest land. The Agriculture Department is moving to open up 58 1/2 million acres of remote national forest lands. Open it to mining, logging and other commercial ventures. The majority of the land involved is in a dozen western states. Environmentalists say the plan threatens the protection of the nation's most pristine lands. The nation's governors have 18 months to speak their minds.

We move over seas now. In Great Britain, Bush ally Tony Blair has weathered his own storm in the national vote, reflecting his support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The British prime minister has apparently won re-election, but with a reduced majority in the parliament.

Our Walter Rodgers joins us now from London.

Walter, hello.

WALTER ROGERS, CNN SR. INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. The British public sent Tony Blair a rather clear message, namely, they didn't like any of the alternatives. So the public gave Tony Blair an unprecedented third term as a Labor prime minister. But still, it was by stingiest of margins. Mr. Blair only got 36 percent of the total popular vote. And by all measurements, it was the war in Iraq, which hurt Mr. Blair the most. It's very unpopular here in Britain and the prime minister had to have that dogging him throughout the campaign.

Indeed, this morning here at Downing Street, after the election was over, he almost confessed that he had been chastised by the voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, U.K.: I've listened and I have learned. And I think I have a very clear idea of what the British people now expect from this government for a third term. And I want to say to them very directly that I, we, the government, are going to focus relentlessly now on the priorities the people have set for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROGERS: Tony Blair saying that he wants to leave Iraq 500 miles down the road behind him. He's going to go with a very big domestic agenda here in the U.K. One of the things he says he's going to focus on is asylum seekers. That was -- that is curbing the numbers of asylum seekers. Or at least sorting it out and getting some order to the process.

He was hit very hard in the campaign by Michael Howard on that issue. Michael Howard being the Tory party leader. And Howard actually made some considerable gains but not enough to satisfy himself. So Michael Howard, leader of the conservatives here in Britain, figuratively fell on his own sword today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAEL HOWARD, CONSERVATIVE LEADER: I've said that if people don't deliver, they go. And for me, delivering meant winning the election. I didn't do that. I didn't do that despite my best efforts. And I want to do now what is best for my party, and above all, for my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROGERS: So if nothing else, the British election reshuffled the political landscape here. Michael Howard, the Tory party leader, saying he's going to get out of politics. And Tony Blair, now at this very moment, meeting with his various cabinet ministers saying he's going to reshuffle government. And as I say Blair wants to put as much distance between himself and the war in Iraq as possible, announcing he's going to go with a big domestic agenda now.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: But what does that mean in practical terms, Walter? It's not like he's going to pull out British troops from Iraq.

ROGERS: No, but he wants to diffuse the issue and not talk about it anymore. And he's virtually said I don't want to talk about Iraq anymore. This issue hurt him very, very much. And he just wants to get away. You know, it doesn't play in Britain like it plays in the United States. He wants to get as far away from the war in Iraq as possible.

And he's talking about this big domestic agenda. The problem, of course, is his majority in the House of Commons was cut in half. He can't do anything with the domestic agenda he's got now. He can't do these great reforms. So really all he wants to do is more gracefully down the road, as far away from this as he can.

The last thing Tony Blair wanted to be remembered as was the Prime Minister of Great Britain who got this country into a very unpopular war in Iraq. So he ran for the third term. Most people here don't think he will finish that third term. May only do two years of it and then cede to his Finance Minister Gordon Brown.

KAGAN: All right. And you'll be watching it for us from London. Walter Rodgers, thank you.

Back to New York City now. Authorities are hoping a surveillance video will shed light on a predawn explosion outside of a building that houses the British Consulate. Two crudely built bombs shattered windows but did no structural damage to the building. There were no injuries and apparently no witnesses. Investigators say they're now trying to enhance a tape of admittedly poor quality.

Let's go back to live pictures now of the Manhattan Bridge. You can they're reopening it and allowing cars now to pass. Closed for some time this morning when somebody found a suspicious package, like a gym bag that had been tossed out. They looked at it. They X-rayed it. Traffic had been shut down on the bridge for an amount of time and subway traffic as well. It looks like things have been cleared up and traffic back to normal. Manhattan, going from Manhattan to Brooklyn or Brooklyn to Manhattan, depending on your direction.

Thirteen minutes past the hour. This was an unsolved murder that one community just could not forget.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNETTE JOHNSON, PRECIOUS DOE COMMITTEE: I feel her presence every time when I'm here. I feel her presence. She's happy. She's running around. When we're holding hands, she's running between us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Still to come, stranger who's never really knew her, rallied for a little girl who became a part of their family.

Plus, he swore to serve and protect, but now a manhunt is on for one South Carolina police officer. We'll tell you why.

And may the force be with you. Coming up later, a sneak peek at this summer's biggest thriller, "Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith."

(BEGIN AND END "STAR WARS, REVENGE OF THE SITH" CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and bring you more information on a story that was breaking during this hour yesterday. It's the identification of a murdered little girl, with a bittersweet ending for a Kansas City community. The people who followed her story named her Precious Doe. Now they know her real name and arrests have been made in her death. But other questions still remain unanswered.

Here now, CNN's Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNSON: This is right here is where her body laid.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Right where?

JOHNSON: I will take you.

GRIFFIN (voice over): Annette Johnson has walked this path dozens of times and wondered just who the little girl was? Her headless, nude body dumped on the road. The head found a week later dumped in a bay. No name, no family, no one in this little girl's life who even reported her missing. It was up to strangers to keep at least her case alive.

Johns I decided to put together a committee, which is called the Precious Doe Committee. That's the name that we gave her because we didn't know who she was. And to us she was precious. And we named her Precious Doe.

GRIFFIN: Annette Johnson and everyone in Kansas City, who adopted a girl they never knew, heard the news they had waited four years to hear.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The little girl we have known for four years, as Precious Doe, has a name.

GRIFFIN: Erica Michelle Marine Green would have been 8-years-old this month.

JOHNSON: I felt so relieved, I felt so happy. And then I started to feel sad because I had to think about all night. And I tossed and turned and said what happened?

GRIFFIN (on camera): But along with the joy of finding out who this little girl was, Kansas City also learned how precious Erica Green died. And there was nothing precious about it.

(voice over): Prosecutor Mike Sanders, at this prayer vigil, said the mother and stepfather have confessed. He has charged both with second-degree murder. Sanders said the reason the couple gave for killing the girl is even more horrific than how they disposed of her.

MIKE SANDERS, PROSECUTOR, JACKSON COUNTY: She didn't want to go to bed, became somewhat fussy and started to cried. At that point, he then struck her through to the ground. And then by her statement, kicked her in the head.

GRIFFIN: Then police say the couple used a hedge clipper to decapitate this child, dumping the body down this road and the head in the woods. Not a happy ending. How could there be one? But at least for those who have waited and prayed for a precious little girl, the ending has a name.

(on camera): Do you wish Erica Green, maybe she does in her mind, know how much she's loved by this community?

JOHNSON: She does. I know she does because I feel her presence. Every time I'm here, I feel her presence. She's happy. She's running around. When we're holding hands, she's running between us, you know, laughing. Looking at her teddy bears, touching them, smelling her flowers. And said, "Boy, they loved me. They love me."

GRIFFIN (voice over): Drew Griffin, CNN, Kansas City, Missouri.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: As this news was breaking yesterday, we were speaking with Alonzo Washington. He was part of that community who never forgot Precious Doe. In fact, he played a prominent role in her identification. He'll be along to tell his story in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY.

Still to come with us today, he was a respected officer, a karate teacher, but did he betray his community's trust? Why the search is on. And calling all moms: not sure if you made the right choices in life? Gerri Willis has some advice for you, just in time for Mother's Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Today's "Top 5 Tips" are for you mothers out there. And one of the toughest decisions many have to make. Here now is CNN's personal finance correspondent Gerri Willis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (on camera): In honor of Mother's Day, we're honoring moms: stay-at-home moms, working moms, part-time moms pop. No matter which path they choose, most moms agree it's a tough choice between the diaper bag and the briefcase. If you're on the fence, today's five tips will help you make the right choice on whether to work or stay home.

Tip No. 1, tune out the Joneses. There are societal pressures out there to go back to work and to stay home. Many women have run in the rat race for so long, that stopping to be a full-time mom might sound like a setback.

There's also the pressure to maintain your double income lifestyle. On the other hand, you might live in a community where being a stay-at-home mom is a status symbol. Your paycheck could allow your children to go to a better school, take violin lessons. Look, don't let the societal pressures sway you. Your decision should be made on your family's personal and financial needs.

Next, weigh the costs and the savings. In many instances, going back to work adds very little to your household income. That's because you will have to pay for child care, hired help and other items of convenience. But don't forget, if you give up work, you lose that nice company match to your 401(k) and career opportunities. To crunch your family's numbers, check out the online calculators on smartmoney.com and kiplinger.com.

Even if your finances say it makes more sense to stay home, take a moment to remember your needs. If you know work adds to your self worth, don't keep yourself from it. You don't want to feel bitter towards your working spouse. After you and your partner have discussed your options together, talk to your accountant and financial planner. No matter what decision you make you want to also weigh in your affects on taxes, saving for college and retirement.

Setting the finances aside, be warned, most mothers say no matter what you decide you're going to feel some guilt. Your best bet, probably take your own mother's advice. Follow your gut.

Those are today's five tips. Happy Mother's Day. I'm Gerri Willis in New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Second that. Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the mothers out there.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, he wore a uniform of trust, but now a community feels betrayed. Up next, a search for a police officer accused of child molestation and murder.

And later, everyone complaining about the higher gas prices but is anyone willing to change their ways?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 6, 2005 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Transit officials in New York City that this was a suspicious package that apparently they believe dropped through the tracks to the subway tracks from the Q-Tracks. And they're trying to figure out what's in it. And diffuse the situation. There are no trains operating on the tracks at this point. Traffic is stopped above the bridge.
Our Maria Hinojosa is standing by in New York City to tell us about what we're seeing taking place and exactly where it is -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, this is on the Manhattan Bridge, which is one of the bridges that connects Brooklyn to New York City. It happened before 9:00 this morning that a bag was perhaps apparently dropped out of the subway, and ended up on this part of the lower bridge of Manhattan Bridge. They have closed down the entire area of the Manhattan Bridge. There is no traffic that is going through.

But you can see right now that they are approaching this bag. Apparently one of our CNN producers on the site telling us it was a black and red knapsack. They have already -- if you're watching the video now. They have already X-rayed this bag. They are removing the material that they would have put up now to take that X-ray. Apparently we're hearing that this could wrap up pretty quickly. Once they've already taken the X-ray there was a crowd of police and other officials around that bag. But they have now moved away.

My sense is that if that bag was scary, they wouldn't be anywhere near it. But at this point, they seem to be looking at the X-rays that they did take of that bag. Important to note that this comes after a bombing that occurred on Thursday, very early in the morning around 3:00 a.m., in front of the building that houses the British Consulate. That has kind of rattled a few feathers here amongst New Yorkers. Nothing that we can say is tying this at all to that experience. But just a sense of more rattled nerves in New York City.

So right now, you're seeing police officials on-site looking at this bag. Perhaps being prepared to remove the bag. But my sense is that if you're looking at these officials, they don't look nervous. They don't look like they're running around. There doesn't seem to be -- you're getting a wide shot. You can see that that's the Manhattan Bridge.

You're looking actually as it leads into Brooklyn. And there's a part of the -- don't ask me what highway that is. It's probably the Gowanis, but I don't travel by car a lot in Brooklyn, where -- OK. There you see that it's leading you to the Manhattan Bridge. So what we're looking at right now are pictures of the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge. You're getting a wide shot there and now you get a sense of the Manhattan Bridge, which leads commuters and those that live in Brooklyn into New York City.

Right now that bridge is closed to traffic, as well as subway traffic closed. The Q Line is closed. There are some subways that actually operate along that Manhattan Bridge; that they have now been closed. And the police appear to be taking -- they have already taken X-rays. Just so that we're clear, they have taken X-rays of that bag. And they're looking closer at what those X-rays are telling them. At this point that's what we know. And as soon as we get more information, we'll bring it to you straight ahead.

KAGAN: Well, that does give us more context. I think you're absolutely right. Usually in a potential bomb situation we see them send robots closer to the suspicious item. We see them put on padded uniforms, huge outfit. And we're not seeing any of that this morning. But thanks for giving us some context there. Maria Hinojosa from New York City.

As we continue to monitor the situation on the Manhattan Bridge going between Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York. Much more ahead as we learn it.

Right now, let's take a look at what else is happening now in the news.

President Bush en route to Europe for a four-nation visit. The highlight will be events marking the 60-anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The president's first stop will be Latvia, where he'll meet with the leaders of three Baltic nations. Mr. Bush will also hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president's ally, Tony Blair will be getting his third term as British prime minister. Today he said he will focus on a wide range of domestic issues. Mr. Blair's Labor Party won parliamentary elections on Thursday, but Labor lost seats as voters express anger over Mr. Blair's report for the Iraq War.

Iraqi police found the bodies of 14 men in an industrial part of Baghdad today. They were apparently killed execution style. Police were first tipped off to the deaths by a call that somebody was digging a grave. CNN has confirmed also that a suicide car bomb has exploded at a market in Iraq. That attack happened in a town about 25 miles south of the capital. We'll bring you more information as it becomes available.

Well, good morning to you on this Friday morning. We begin with President Bush who this hour is on his way to Europe. He's going to spend five days there. Primarily celebrating the 60-anniversary of the end of the World War II in Europe. He begins tomorrow in Riga, Latvia. Then a day later visits an American cemetery in the Netherlands. On Sunday he will attend a VE Day ceremony with the first lady. And then Mr. Bush gathers with other leaders in Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebration. From Moscow, Mr. Bush moves on to Georgia.

Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us. She stayed behind. She's at the White House with a look at the trip and a list of Mr. Bush's objectives.

Good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, of course, President Bush left just a couple hours ago from the White House. This is going to be a very hectic trip for the president. We're talking about four countries in five days. He is also, of course, engaged in a very delicate diplomatic dance, if you will, the president, of course, visiting two former Soviet States: Latvia and Georgia, to recognize the pledge of democracies there. But also, of course, to also recognize Russia's contribution to sacrifices at the end of World War II.

Now, of course, the highlight, the centerpiece of this trip is going to be when President Bush meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two of them, of course, a very important meeting for those two leaders. There has been quite a bit of strain between them over a number of issues. Mainly Russia's support for aspiring nuclear power such as Iran, also supplying weapons to Syria, Russia's backsliding of democratic reforms.

And then also another aspect of this is Russia's tense relationship with its neighbors. Some of those new blossoming democracies we have seen pictures of those protests of thousands and thousands of people that have taken to the streets in places, such as Georgia, as well as Ukraine. Those blossoming democracies as well as Latvia and Estonia.

Now, it is going to be a very carefully orchestrated trip. Expect the president to speak very openly about the victory over Nazism. But also to talk about the painful history, what this means to the Baltic States. The fact that they were swept in by the Soviet Union. That it also marks the beginning of the Cold War. He is also going to come out and talk of in great support, great detail for those former Soviet republics, to talk about those democracies. And very much make the argument it's in line with his own vision of spreading democracy around the world.

Daryn, I should also tell you as well, just an indication of how tense this is between the Bush administration. We have learned that Russia's foreign minister fired off a letter to Condoleezza Rice, objecting to the president's itinerary, to his schedule; that he is giving so much support to Latvia, to Georgia, to some of those other Baltic States. And of course, we have been told that the State Department fired back its own letter as well, responding saying they believe it is completely appropriate for the president to deliver that message as well -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It is certainly going to be an interesting few days to follow the president through his trip. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you. Well, before he went, President Bush facing a potential environmental firestorm on a plan that could lead to development on national forest land. The Agriculture Department is moving to open up 58 1/2 million acres of remote national forest lands. Open it to mining, logging and other commercial ventures. The majority of the land involved is in a dozen western states. Environmentalists say the plan threatens the protection of the nation's most pristine lands. The nation's governors have 18 months to speak their minds.

We move over seas now. In Great Britain, Bush ally Tony Blair has weathered his own storm in the national vote, reflecting his support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The British prime minister has apparently won re-election, but with a reduced majority in the parliament.

Our Walter Rodgers joins us now from London.

Walter, hello.

WALTER ROGERS, CNN SR. INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. The British public sent Tony Blair a rather clear message, namely, they didn't like any of the alternatives. So the public gave Tony Blair an unprecedented third term as a Labor prime minister. But still, it was by stingiest of margins. Mr. Blair only got 36 percent of the total popular vote. And by all measurements, it was the war in Iraq, which hurt Mr. Blair the most. It's very unpopular here in Britain and the prime minister had to have that dogging him throughout the campaign.

Indeed, this morning here at Downing Street, after the election was over, he almost confessed that he had been chastised by the voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, U.K.: I've listened and I have learned. And I think I have a very clear idea of what the British people now expect from this government for a third term. And I want to say to them very directly that I, we, the government, are going to focus relentlessly now on the priorities the people have set for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROGERS: Tony Blair saying that he wants to leave Iraq 500 miles down the road behind him. He's going to go with a very big domestic agenda here in the U.K. One of the things he says he's going to focus on is asylum seekers. That was -- that is curbing the numbers of asylum seekers. Or at least sorting it out and getting some order to the process.

He was hit very hard in the campaign by Michael Howard on that issue. Michael Howard being the Tory party leader. And Howard actually made some considerable gains but not enough to satisfy himself. So Michael Howard, leader of the conservatives here in Britain, figuratively fell on his own sword today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAEL HOWARD, CONSERVATIVE LEADER: I've said that if people don't deliver, they go. And for me, delivering meant winning the election. I didn't do that. I didn't do that despite my best efforts. And I want to do now what is best for my party, and above all, for my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROGERS: So if nothing else, the British election reshuffled the political landscape here. Michael Howard, the Tory party leader, saying he's going to get out of politics. And Tony Blair, now at this very moment, meeting with his various cabinet ministers saying he's going to reshuffle government. And as I say Blair wants to put as much distance between himself and the war in Iraq as possible, announcing he's going to go with a big domestic agenda now.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: But what does that mean in practical terms, Walter? It's not like he's going to pull out British troops from Iraq.

ROGERS: No, but he wants to diffuse the issue and not talk about it anymore. And he's virtually said I don't want to talk about Iraq anymore. This issue hurt him very, very much. And he just wants to get away. You know, it doesn't play in Britain like it plays in the United States. He wants to get as far away from the war in Iraq as possible.

And he's talking about this big domestic agenda. The problem, of course, is his majority in the House of Commons was cut in half. He can't do anything with the domestic agenda he's got now. He can't do these great reforms. So really all he wants to do is more gracefully down the road, as far away from this as he can.

The last thing Tony Blair wanted to be remembered as was the Prime Minister of Great Britain who got this country into a very unpopular war in Iraq. So he ran for the third term. Most people here don't think he will finish that third term. May only do two years of it and then cede to his Finance Minister Gordon Brown.

KAGAN: All right. And you'll be watching it for us from London. Walter Rodgers, thank you.

Back to New York City now. Authorities are hoping a surveillance video will shed light on a predawn explosion outside of a building that houses the British Consulate. Two crudely built bombs shattered windows but did no structural damage to the building. There were no injuries and apparently no witnesses. Investigators say they're now trying to enhance a tape of admittedly poor quality.

Let's go back to live pictures now of the Manhattan Bridge. You can they're reopening it and allowing cars now to pass. Closed for some time this morning when somebody found a suspicious package, like a gym bag that had been tossed out. They looked at it. They X-rayed it. Traffic had been shut down on the bridge for an amount of time and subway traffic as well. It looks like things have been cleared up and traffic back to normal. Manhattan, going from Manhattan to Brooklyn or Brooklyn to Manhattan, depending on your direction.

Thirteen minutes past the hour. This was an unsolved murder that one community just could not forget.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNETTE JOHNSON, PRECIOUS DOE COMMITTEE: I feel her presence every time when I'm here. I feel her presence. She's happy. She's running around. When we're holding hands, she's running between us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Still to come, stranger who's never really knew her, rallied for a little girl who became a part of their family.

Plus, he swore to serve and protect, but now a manhunt is on for one South Carolina police officer. We'll tell you why.

And may the force be with you. Coming up later, a sneak peek at this summer's biggest thriller, "Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith."

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KAGAN: Let's go ahead and bring you more information on a story that was breaking during this hour yesterday. It's the identification of a murdered little girl, with a bittersweet ending for a Kansas City community. The people who followed her story named her Precious Doe. Now they know her real name and arrests have been made in her death. But other questions still remain unanswered.

Here now, CNN's Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNSON: This is right here is where her body laid.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Right where?

JOHNSON: I will take you.

GRIFFIN (voice over): Annette Johnson has walked this path dozens of times and wondered just who the little girl was? Her headless, nude body dumped on the road. The head found a week later dumped in a bay. No name, no family, no one in this little girl's life who even reported her missing. It was up to strangers to keep at least her case alive.

Johns I decided to put together a committee, which is called the Precious Doe Committee. That's the name that we gave her because we didn't know who she was. And to us she was precious. And we named her Precious Doe.

GRIFFIN: Annette Johnson and everyone in Kansas City, who adopted a girl they never knew, heard the news they had waited four years to hear.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The little girl we have known for four years, as Precious Doe, has a name.

GRIFFIN: Erica Michelle Marine Green would have been 8-years-old this month.

JOHNSON: I felt so relieved, I felt so happy. And then I started to feel sad because I had to think about all night. And I tossed and turned and said what happened?

GRIFFIN (on camera): But along with the joy of finding out who this little girl was, Kansas City also learned how precious Erica Green died. And there was nothing precious about it.

(voice over): Prosecutor Mike Sanders, at this prayer vigil, said the mother and stepfather have confessed. He has charged both with second-degree murder. Sanders said the reason the couple gave for killing the girl is even more horrific than how they disposed of her.

MIKE SANDERS, PROSECUTOR, JACKSON COUNTY: She didn't want to go to bed, became somewhat fussy and started to cried. At that point, he then struck her through to the ground. And then by her statement, kicked her in the head.

GRIFFIN: Then police say the couple used a hedge clipper to decapitate this child, dumping the body down this road and the head in the woods. Not a happy ending. How could there be one? But at least for those who have waited and prayed for a precious little girl, the ending has a name.

(on camera): Do you wish Erica Green, maybe she does in her mind, know how much she's loved by this community?

JOHNSON: She does. I know she does because I feel her presence. Every time I'm here, I feel her presence. She's happy. She's running around. When we're holding hands, she's running between us, you know, laughing. Looking at her teddy bears, touching them, smelling her flowers. And said, "Boy, they loved me. They love me."

GRIFFIN (voice over): Drew Griffin, CNN, Kansas City, Missouri.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: As this news was breaking yesterday, we were speaking with Alonzo Washington. He was part of that community who never forgot Precious Doe. In fact, he played a prominent role in her identification. He'll be along to tell his story in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY.

Still to come with us today, he was a respected officer, a karate teacher, but did he betray his community's trust? Why the search is on. And calling all moms: not sure if you made the right choices in life? Gerri Willis has some advice for you, just in time for Mother's Day.

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KAGAN: Today's "Top 5 Tips" are for you mothers out there. And one of the toughest decisions many have to make. Here now is CNN's personal finance correspondent Gerri Willis.

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GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (on camera): In honor of Mother's Day, we're honoring moms: stay-at-home moms, working moms, part-time moms pop. No matter which path they choose, most moms agree it's a tough choice between the diaper bag and the briefcase. If you're on the fence, today's five tips will help you make the right choice on whether to work or stay home.

Tip No. 1, tune out the Joneses. There are societal pressures out there to go back to work and to stay home. Many women have run in the rat race for so long, that stopping to be a full-time mom might sound like a setback.

There's also the pressure to maintain your double income lifestyle. On the other hand, you might live in a community where being a stay-at-home mom is a status symbol. Your paycheck could allow your children to go to a better school, take violin lessons. Look, don't let the societal pressures sway you. Your decision should be made on your family's personal and financial needs.

Next, weigh the costs and the savings. In many instances, going back to work adds very little to your household income. That's because you will have to pay for child care, hired help and other items of convenience. But don't forget, if you give up work, you lose that nice company match to your 401(k) and career opportunities. To crunch your family's numbers, check out the online calculators on smartmoney.com and kiplinger.com.

Even if your finances say it makes more sense to stay home, take a moment to remember your needs. If you know work adds to your self worth, don't keep yourself from it. You don't want to feel bitter towards your working spouse. After you and your partner have discussed your options together, talk to your accountant and financial planner. No matter what decision you make you want to also weigh in your affects on taxes, saving for college and retirement.

Setting the finances aside, be warned, most mothers say no matter what you decide you're going to feel some guilt. Your best bet, probably take your own mother's advice. Follow your gut.

Those are today's five tips. Happy Mother's Day. I'm Gerri Willis in New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Second that. Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the mothers out there.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, he wore a uniform of trust, but now a community feels betrayed. Up next, a search for a police officer accused of child molestation and murder.

And later, everyone complaining about the higher gas prices but is anyone willing to change their ways?

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