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Tropical Storm Andrea expected to churn up East Coast- Nick Valenica reports
Tropical Storm Andrea is expected to churn up the Eastern Seaboard, bringing heavy rain, flooding and the possibility of isolated tornadoes from Florida to Maine.
Nick Valenica reports live from Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on the throne- Max Foster reports
The United Kingdom celebrates 60 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign today. Max Foster has more on the occasion.
In 1953, 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey in a ceremony “steeped in tradition and religious symbolism,” Foster reports. “The first coronation held in the exact same spot was for William the Conqueror in 1066.”
The Queen returns to the Abbey today, marking the 60th anniversary of her reign in a low-key affair with close family and special guests.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandson Peter Phillips calls the occasion “a moment of great pride.” Phillips says, “There’s also the pride of being able to show our support as grandchildren and as children, to ensure she’s got a very supportive family around her.”
Parents of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev reveal details of their first conversation with son since his arrest – Phil Black reports
The parents of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects are revealing details of their only conversation with their son Dzhokhar Tsarnaev since he was placed under arrest. The Tsarnaevs played audio recordings of the conversation during an interview that aired on British television.
CNN’s Phil Black reports that the conversation took place one week ago and that the family was unable to discuss specific details relating to the bombing case itself.
Black says the conversation was “brief but very emotional, as the parents asked lots of questions about their son’s welfare.” Black reports that when Tsarnaev was asked if he was in pain, he reassured his parents he’s doing OK, telling them “he’s been eating for some time, being fed rice and chicken, and he insists that everything’s fine.”
Both parents are maintaining their sons’ innocence, telling British television, “It is terrible what happened you know, but I know that my kids did not do it,” Black reports.
Seagal with U.S. Congressional Delegation in Russia – Phil Black reports
American film star Steven Seagal joined a congressional delegation in a press conference aimed at counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation in Moscow Sunday night. CNN's Phil Black reports that the delegation has been meeting with Russian officials to try and determine what lessons can be learned about cooperation between the two countries in the aftermath of the Boston bombings.
The head of the delegation said that it was actually Seagal who was instrumental in setting up some of their meetings. Black says Seagal received “overwhelming praise about the role that he played” and was credited with “setting up very high level meetings within the Russian establishment, particularly with one of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister’s.”
Seagal himself credited the U.S. Embassy with playing a large role in making the meetings possible. But the actor, who shares an interest in martial arts with Russian President Valdimir Putin, has said in his own words that he is “friends with many presidents in many countries.”
FBI questioning person in ricin probe – Ed Lavandera reports
Law enforcement officials are questioning a man in New Boston, Texas about threatening letters believed to contain ricin sent to President Obama, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a gun control group. Ed Lavandera has more on the investigation.
Lavandera reports that all three letters contained this threatening message: “You will have to kill me and my family before you get my guns. Anyone wants to come to my house will be shot in the face. The right to bear arms is my constitutional God-given right and I will exercise that right 'til the day I die. What's in this letter is nothing compared to what I’ve got planned for you."
“This latest round of threats has many wondering if ricin is becoming the weapon of choice for intimidation,” Lavandera says. Former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says, "Ricin is probably one of the worst ways to try and kill somebody. So I don't see it as a real threat in the sense of an actual capability to kill, but rather, to intimidate and attract publicity."
