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D.C. Madam Has Hanged Herself; Pre-K Competition; President Bush Addresses World Food Crisis

Aired May 01, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, her fate was sealed in a federal courtroom 16 days ago or so, well, we all thought. Today, police in Florida believe the so-called D.C. Madam chose a different fate, a worse fate than prison.
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: We are expecting to hear from police in the Gulf Coast community of Tarpon Springs at any moment this hour on the suspected suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

Hello. I'm Melissa Long at the CNN Center here in Atlanta, in today for Kyra Phillips.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We're following a breaking news story out of Florida. Police say they found the body of a woman believed to be -- believed to be the so-called D.C. Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

Our Kathleen Koch joins me now from Washington with more on that.

And we have been stressing "believe" because they don't have an identification on this yet.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Correct. Correct.

But let's talk a bit about Deborah Jeane Palfrey. People called her smart, feisty, a fighter. But now the woman known to most as the D.C. Madam may -- and we do have to say may -- have taken her own life.

It was police in Tarpon Springs, Florida, who put out a press release just before 1:00 today saying that the body of a woman in her early 50s was found in a small storage shed on the west side of a mobile home on property owned by Blanche Palfrey.

Now, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who is 52, was reportedly staying at the home of her mother, Blanche. The body has not yet, as I said, been positively identified. But police are calling it an apparent suicide.

The statement they put out says that handwritten notes were found on the scene that described the victim's intention to take her life. And the statement goes on to say that foul play does not appear to be involved. Palfrey, as you may remember, was convicted last month in connection with a high-end prostitution ring catering to Washington's elite starting back in 1993. Palfrey was found guilty of money laundering, racketeering, mail fraud. She was due to be sentenced on July 24 and face up to 50 years in jail.

One of her attorneys, a Montgomery Blair Sibley, not confirmed the reports. He said he was, though -- quote -- "devastated" to hear the news, adding -- quote -- "If it turns out to be true, it is a tragic loss of life."

At least one lawmaker, Louisiana Senator David Vitter, a Republican, turned up in the phone records of Palfrey's business, State Department official Randall Tobias also. He resigned back in May of last year after confirming that he had patronized Palfrey's business.

Now, Palfrey, for her part, always argued that she ran a legitimate, a legal escort service. She had served time in jail in the 1990s on other charges.

In an interview with ABC News last year, Palfrey vowed she would never go back, saying she was -- quote -- "not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone four to eight years."

And in an interview with CNN Radio, Palfrey said the prosecution had made her -- quote -- "indigent," and she had been writing a book about her experiences to raise money to pay her living expenses, but, Don, no idea if that book was finished. And the big question, what happens to the case now?

LEMON: Yes. What happens, and especially if all of this is confirmed? And it's looking like it has that possibility.

Thank you, Kathleen.

KOCH: You bet.

LEMON: Because, at the bottom of the hour, again, that possibility -- at the bottom of the hour, 3:30 p.m. Eastern, Tarpon Springs police will hold a press conference to talk about this case and exactly what information they have, what is correct and what is not correct. We will bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LONG: Coast to coast today it is immigration Day '08. It is colorful, it is passionate and divisive. Marchers and their allies say immigrants both legal and illegal deserve better treatment and more legal protections.

Now, critics say people who came to the U.S. illegally have no business making demands. We're covering the events, as you can see with these pictures, from coast to coast, New York, L.A., Washington.

Let's go to New York right now. Looking at that schedule, is a rally at Union Square and coming up, a march about 4:00 in the afternoon Eastern. And that's where we find Jim Acosta.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Melissa.

If you will forgive me putting the finger in the ear there, it is off to a loud and boisterous start here in Union Square in New York City, these protesters who are calling for an end to immigration raids and deportations across the country, holding rallies here in New York and in big cities nationwide.

These organizers launched these protests and demonstrations two years ago to put pressure on the government to basically, as they put it, demand more human rights for the undocumented and, as they put it, for legal immigrants.

Now, in Los Angeles a year ago, one of these demonstrations turned violent when protesters clashed with police. Because of that concern, we're seeing a big police presence here in New York and at these demonstrations across the country, some in Chicago and Milwaukee happening now.

But, as for the immigration debate, advocates for immigrants say that even the undocumented serve a purpose in this economy because many of them do jobs that Americans are unwilling to do. But immigration critics say that they are a drain on this country because they overwhelm local hospitals and local schools, becoming a burden for local governments.

We talked to one of the organizers out here today, who said, simply put, he wants to see the government take a new approach on the issue of immigration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTER SINCHE, RALLY ORGANIZER: No human being is illegal in this earth. We're all humans.

But going back to who has the papers or the permit to work in the United States, it's one different thing that the Congress should consider it, to get the opportunity to work, because they're contributing to the economy. We are contributing. Myself, I'm working as an electrician. So, I'm part of the economy of this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, against that backdrop of the immigration debate, the Bush administration has stepped up its immigration efforts, holding more raids and more deportations over the last year or so.

But many of the organizers out here today say that those raids punish families because they unfairly target the breadwinners of those families, resulting in those breadwinners being deported and sent out of the country.

As for this rally and what's happening right now, I can tell you that this crowd is only numbering in the hundreds at this point, not the thousands that we have seen in years past -- Melissa.

LONG: Hundreds, but still loud and lively.

Jim Acosta live from New York -- Jim, thank you.

LEMON: And whenever talk turns to immigration, border security is sure to come up.

Our Jeanne Meserve brought it up with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. And she joins us now from Washington.

What did he have to say, Jeanne?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, as you just heard Jim mention, there has been an uptick in the number of workplace raids, resulting in the deportation of illegal employees and sometimes the prosecution of company managers.

Some people, like many of those marching today, say the Department of Homeland Security should abandon the tactic, which can separate parents from their children. Others say the number of businesses using illegal labor is so large and the number of enforcement actions is so small, that the raids are ineffective.

In an exclusive interview, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff responded to the criticism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I think the public looked back on 1986. They saw that there had been a package deal with an amnesty and a promise of enforcement. They saw that the amnesty was delivered, but the enforcement wasn't.

And, so, when we came up with a comprehensive reform that involved some element of regularization, not an amnesty, I think the question was, well, how do we know you're going to enforce the law, or are you just simply going to regularize these people and then more people will come in?

So, really, what we have got to do is build that credibility with the American people. But I think in the long run, the public is going to understand the only real enduring solution is one that deals with all elements of the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: So, the secretary sees enforcement as key.

DHS has hired more Border Patrol agents, built more border fence, deployed new technology. And it says apprehensions at the border are down, a sign that fewer people are trying to come across.

But, of course, there's really no way to know how many illegal immigrants are not being caught and making it into the U.S. -- Don.

LEMON: Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve -- thank you very much for that, Jeanne.

If you would like to watch any of the rallies or speeches taking place all over the country today, just go to CNN.com/live. We will be streaming them all day long live.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

LEMON: Let's talk about something. We thought it was gone. But now we're hearing it is back. And we're talking about the measles, a potentially deadly disease that we were told was wiped off the Earth a few years ago.

Well, today, the CDC announced 64 confirmed measles cases so far this year. That's the most since 2000, when the same organization assured the world that measles was a thing of the past. The infected patients are spread across the country. But we -- but get this. In every case, except one, the patient had not been vaccinated.

LONG: And want to make sure you're up to date on a developing story we have been following all afternoon.

Police in the community of Tarpon Springs -- that's outside of Tampa, Florida -- believe they have found the body of the so-called D.C. Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey. On the right-hand side of your television screen right there, we're waiting for a news conference to get started at any moment, as we find out more about their investigation, find out more about where she may have been found today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We have been following a developing story out of Florida. And there is some new video into the CNN NEWSROOM. And it involves what Tapron -- Tarpon, I should say, Springs police are calling a possible suicide.

They're saying it's a suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey. They have found a body that they believe is hers. They have not confirmed that. They say the -- Palfrey, who is 52-years-old, appears to have killed herself in a storage shed near her mother's home.

You might recall she was convicted last month in a federal court of running a prostitution service. Her operation reportedly catered to Washington's political elite -- new video from that scene. And, as we look at this video, we want to tell you coming up very shortly police in Tarpon Springs will hold a press conference and tell us what information they have. That should happen at the bottom of the hour, in about 15 minutes.

LONG: Now, jurors who will decide the fates of three accused bombers in the London transit attacks saw graphic videos today. The security camera images offer a new look at what really happened on the morning of July 7 of '05.

Here is ITN's Juliet Bremner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIET BREMNER, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): The computers packed onto the underground station at Liverpool Street could have no idea that amongst them was Shahzad Tanweer.

Seconds later, he would detonate his bomb, killing himself and seven of them. The first plumes of smoke can be seen. Then the station fills with a cloud of dust, debris from the explosion in the tunnel. Any remaining passengers run for cover. These CCTV pictures were part of a catalogue of disturbing images played to the jury.

Above ground in slow motion, commuters on the bus immediately ahead of the doomed number 30 turned, startled by another explosion. In the entrance to the British Medical Association, whose offices overlook Tavistock Square, at the spot where the bus was blown apart, there was more CCTV.

This time, the court saw staff waiting at the start of a normal working day diving for cover as the bomb goes off. The prosecution say it's necessary to show such graphic pictures to illustrate the appalling nature of these crimes.

Earlier in the day, the jury was shown three of the bombers on a dry run for their deadly mission, a (INAUDIBLE) nine days earlier to map out a mission that would eventually claim the lives of 52 people.

Juliet Bremner, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: OK. At the break of dawn this morning, the big moment finally came. We will tell you what the crush -- see this crush of humanity you're seeing there? We will tell you what it's all about.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LONG: Some new information to share with you related to a story we have been following this afternoon.

Earlier, we reported that police in Tarpon Springs, Florida, believe they found the body of the so-called D.C. Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Well, now her mother is reportedly confirming the body is, in fact, her daughter.

She was reportedly staying at this location right here. We're looking at some tape from just a moment ago. She was staying at the mobile home park where her mom lives. And the body was found in a small storage shed on the west side of that mobile home.

We are waiting for a news conference and waiting to get more details from police outside of Tampa. That's scheduled to start about 10 minutes from now. So, when it starts, we will bring it to you live.

And, just again, the mother of the Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so- called D.C. Madam -- at the heart of her case, of course, was a prosecution against her alleged prostitution ring. She was convicted in April, on the 15th, of running that ring, catering to Washington's political elite. And her mother confirming she did, in fact, find her body. We will find out more from police about 10 minutes from now.

LEMON: Well, this week, some folks here in Atlanta may have flashed back to camping out for concert tickets. They bundled up in sleeping bags in a round-the-clock vigil. But why did they do it?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON (voice-over): This morning, days of waiting in line finally paid off for some Atlanta parents.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel pretty relieved.

LEMON: The state-run free kindergarten program in Atlanta Public Schools is free and holds enrollment on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many in this group had been waiting in line since Monday morning for the 20 coveted spots.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been rough. It's been cold. It's been cold. We were fortunate we have a pop-up camper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're going to go camping, it's better to do it in the mountains than on the roadside. But it was all right.

LEMON: This is not the first year the tents, campers and barbecue grills have gone up around this school, which has a reputation for strong test scores.

But parents say it was the first time that the district tried to stop it. In a letter, the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools called the practice of camping out unfair and asked the police to help prevent it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just don't understand how you can, like, change your rules three days after people are camping.

LEMON: Around the country, extreme measures to get into preschools and kindergarten classes have become more common. Some selective schools require essays from the parents with applications. Others stick to the first-come, first-served plan.

Recently, some San Mateo, California, parents planned to camp out, but once they arrived, were actually given numbers to hold their place in line. And in some exclusive private pre-kindergartens in New York, parents have reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations in hopes of helping their little ones get in, not the case for the parents here in Atlanta.

Those who didn't get the spots they wanted for their kids will have to move to plan B.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have heard there are two spots open at my next opportunity, my next choice. So, we will see how we do. And, if not, we will move on to the third and so on. (END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: As you can see, this is a really big deal. And, as it turns out, even some of the first in line didn't get their kids into the program. As often happens, the line was scrambled at the last minute. And parents weren't admitted in the order in which they had arrived.

Case in point, the third dad on the campout line ended up on the waiting list. And he calls it -- and this is a quote -- "a total freaking disaster."

(BUSINESS REPORT)

LEMON: All right, our developing news on here CNN this afternoon, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the D.C. Madam, her mother confirming that it is indeed her body that police found there today -- a press conference in just a few minutes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the 2002 movie "Minority Report," Tom Cruise's character used hand motions to control images on the screen. Today, a device called ZCam promises to bring that future closer to reality.

ZVIKA KLIER, 3DV SYSTEMS: We think this will really create a totally new experience to interact with machines.

DE LA CRUZ: ZCam looks like a regular Webcam, but it's a three- dimensional Webcam that uses infrared lasers to measure depth and movement. So, with gaming applications and without a remote control, you can use your hand and body gestures to play a boxing game like a heavyweight champ or fly an airplane like a fighter pilot.

KLIER: We can understand the way a person is moving. So, we can -- we're actually creating a new type of man-machine interface for multiple different arenas, video gaming being one of them.

DE LA CRUZ: Other applications include browsing your P.C. with specific finger motions. But Klier says ZCam could also help save lives.

KLIER: There are applications related to automotive safety, where we can understand -- supply the means or the sensors to understand the size of a person, the head location, et cetera, just seconds before an accident, and then operate air bags more safely.

DE LA CRUZ: ZCam will be released later this year, but developers are already experimenting with the technology for applications like controlling Second Life avatars, making it even easier for players to get in the game.

Veronica De La Cruz, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: President Bush speaking now, asking Congress for $770 million in new money for global food aid.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As America increases its food assistance, it's really important that we transform the way that food aid is delivered. In my state of the union address this year I called on Congress to support a proposal to purchase up to nearly 25 percent of food assistance directly from farmers in the developing world. And the reason you do that is in order to break the cycle of famine that we're having to deal with too often in modern era, it's important to help build up local agriculture.

I asked Congress to approve this measure as soon as possible. It's a common-sense way to help deal with food emergencies around the world. Other countries have a role to play as well. America is in the lead. We'll stay in the lead and we expect others to participate along with us. We're working with our G-8 partners and other developed nations to secure commitments from their governments for additional food aid. We're also working toward the conclusion of a successful Doha agreement that will reduce and eliminate tariffs and other barriers as well as market-distorting subsidies for agricultural goods.

The reason why getting a Doha done is important is it will end up reducing the cost of food, importing food. It will make it cheaper for consumers all around the world. In other words, we want to change the system to make it easier for people to get less expensive food. We're also urging countries that have instituted restrictions on agricultural experts to lift those restrictions. Some countries are preventing needed food from getting to market in the first place. We call upon them to end those restrictions, to help ease suffering from those who are getting food.

We're also urging countries to remove barriers to advanced crops developed through biotechnology. These crops are safe. They're resistant to drought and disease and they hold the promise of producing more food for more people. Here at home, we're working to ensure that our poorest citizens get the food they need. Since 2001, administration in working with Congress has increased funding for nutrition assistance programs by 76 percent, we've adjusted food stamp benefits annually to cover price increases at the checkout counter.

Last month the Agriculture Department made available an additional $150 million to respond to the food needs of those who depend on WIC, the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children. This new funding we will have increased our support for WIC by 18.6 percent this year. The American people are generous people and they're compassionate people. We believe in the timeless truth, to whom much is given, much is expected.

So therefore, at home, we will work to ensure that the neediest among us can cope with the rising food prices. And with the new international funding I'm announcing today, we're sending a clear message to the world that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come.

Thank you very much for your interest. God bless.

LEMON: All right. That was the president in Washington asking for $770 million in new money for global food aid and development programs. We're going to get some perspective on this.

We want to tell you we're awaiting that press conference that's happening in Florida now to talk about Deborah Jeane Palfrey and her suicide. If that happens we'll have to cut out of this.

But we want to bring in our Zain Verjee now to talk about those food prices.

Zain, I'm seeing the price of corn has gone up 31 percent, rice 74 percent, soy 87 percent, and wheat a whopping 130 percent -- Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: It's really been a serious situation for many of the world's poor that live under a dollar a day. You saw there the president of the United States taking action. The rest of the world has been pleading for this kind of action from the U.S., they're asking for $770 million in new money. That needs to be approved by Congress.

But Don, it's something that is much needed. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making this a real priority, the food aid crisis.

LEMON: Hey Zain sorry, I'm going to have to thank you very much for that. We need to get to the breaking news. Go ahead Melissa.

LONG: Now to Tarpon Springs, Florida, we're finding out from law enforcement more about their investigation into the D.C. Madam.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

CAPT. JEFFREY YOUNG, TARPON SPRINGS, FLA. POLICE: ... When she went outside she noticed the three wheel bicycle had been moved, that was normally kept in the shed. Upon entering the shed located on the west side of the residence, Blanche Palfrey discovered her daughter Deborah had apparently hung herself using a nylon rope from a metal beam on the ceiling of the shed. She then called 9-1-1.

At approximately 11:01 a.m. Tarpon Springs fire rescue had pronounced Deborah Jeane Palfrey deceased. The Pinellas County Medical Examiner's office will conduct an autopsy and determine the cause of death. Are there any questions?

QUESTION: Can you talk about the note she left behind?

YOUNG: Right now we're not prepared to give out any information that was within the notes.

QUESTION: Captain, there's more than one note?

YOUNG: Yes, there was more than one.

QUESTION: How long had she been visiting here?

YOUNG: That information I do not have.

QUESTION: Is that her car back there?

YOUNG: I believe that's a rental car.

QUESTION: How many notes were left, more or less and where were they?

YOUNG: I do not have all the information available where they were located. But it was more than one note. I believe it was approximately two and then some other notes in a book.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

YOUNG: I don't have the exact time, it was just a short nap.

QUESTION: How long had she been staying with her mom?

YOUNG: I do not have that information.

QUESTION: Can you talk about the 9-1-1 call she made? Are you guys releasing that yet?

YOUNG: I do not have the 9-1-1 tape at this time, it's still down at central. We'll have to get that sent up to us.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

YOUNG: Again, we're not releasing any of that information at this time.

QUESTION: Earlier you mentioned working with the sheriff's office with the FBI, what's the FBI's interest?

YOUNG: Well the reason why we called -- first of all, we called in Pinellas County forensics unit to process the scene for us, the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's office is charged with determining causation of death and also actually confirming the identity of the victim. The FBI was called and notified due to the ongoing cases that we knew that Ms. Palfrey had in the Washington area.

QUESTION: What was Ms. Palfrey wearing when she died?

YOUNG: I do not have her clothing description.

QUESTINO: Did her mom say she was despondent, depressed?

YOUNG: She said that she had talked to her in the morning, they were both kind of tired and her mother said I'm going to go take a nap real quick. That was pretty much the last she talked to her. Obviously, you know, the mother is very distraught, discovering your child in this state is not something anybody wants to go through and we feel for the family as they are victims in this case just in any other case, where a suicide leaves behind a whole mess of victims. They have to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

QUESTION: She had no indication that her daughter was --

YOUNG: No indication.

QUESTION: Captain Young, was anyone else in the home at the time?

YOUNG: No, there was not.

QUESTION: Do you know how long she had been there?

YOUNG: No, we don't have the exact time yet.

QUESTION: Can you talk about was that a wash room or what else was in there?

YOUNG: Basically that's just a storage shed off to the side in the back part of the carport.

QUESTION: Washing machine in there?

YOUNG: I do not know if there was washing machines in there. I did not go inside the residence at all.

QUESTION: Just to clarify, did you say that her mother didn't have any indication that she was this depressed or despondent?

YOUNG: To the point of committing suicide, no. I don't have any information that would lead to that.

QUESTION: Captain, have the police ever been out to this home before?

YOUNG: I did not check that, but I'm not aware of any times that we were out here. But I would have to check to confirm that.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

YOUNG: I do not have that information.

QUESTION: Captain is that the three-wheeled bike that you were referring?

YOUNG: The three wheel, correct, yes.

QUESTION: It was normally in the shed but it was not when she came out?

YOUNG: Correct.

QUESTION: What else was in the shed?

YOUNG: I don't have all the details of what was inside the shed. I did not go inside.

QUESTION: Captain we notice on the front door it says Frank and Blanche. Do you know who Frank is?

YOUNG: Frank is deceased.

QUESTION: The rope -- what kind of rope?

YOUNG: A nylon rope.

QUESTION: Like a clothes line.

YOUNG: Again, all I was told was a nylon rope.

QUESTION: Do you know how long the Palfreys have lived here?

YOUNG: I do not have that information.

QUESTION: Where did they take her body?

YOUNG: The Pinellas county medical examiner's office.

QUESTION: What did her mother do after she found her?

YOUNG: She immediately called 9-1-1. She's 76-years-old, getting her daughter down would have been almost impossible for her.

QUESTION: Was there any evidence of drug or alcohol use leading up to the hanging?

YOUNG: Nothing that we can see at this point. However, there will be a toxicology screen done through the medical examiner's office, and they will come in with the determination and causation of death.

QUESTION: Other then the notes, the body and the rope, what else did you guys secure?

YOUNG: There's other items inside the residence that they'll be looking at and so forth just to determine what was her state of mind and things of that. The detectives were in the house obviously for a few hours scouring the house for any evidence that would help support why she might have wanted to take her life.

QUESTION: Did you find a diary or anything?

YOUNG: That I'm not aware of.

QUESTION: A little black book?

YOUNG: I'm not aware of any of that.

QUESTION: Do you know if there was another gentleman that was in the home?

YOUNG: That was a resident of the neighborhood here that just came over, he's a friend of the mother's and she called him right away after she called 9-1-1. He came over and was there merely for moral support.

QUESTION: And he was here when the police arrived?

YOUNG: Correct.

QUESTION: How is she doing?

YOUNG Obviously she's very distraught and despondent.

QUESTION: Do you know where exactly the notes were found?

YOUNG: I don't have the particulars on where they were inside the residence not inside the shed, correct.

QUESTION: You said there was at least one?

YOUNG: More than one, yes.

QUESTION: More than one?

YOUNG: At least two.

QUESTION: You mentioned something in a book?

YOUNG: Some type of notebooks that had notes to family and so forth.

QUESTION: Were they written today?

YOUNG: That I'm not aware when they were written.

QUESTION: Were all the notes in the notebook, or were they more scattered around?

YOUNG: That I don't have.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

YOUNG: Now we must leave. Sorry. Captain Jeffrey Young.

LONG: Captain Jeffrey Young leading this news conference just outside of that mobile home community and that mobile home park where 76-year-old mother today found her daughter hanging after committing suicide today. It's Deborah Jeane Palfrey that we're talking about, the so-called D.C. Madam that was found.

There she is on the left-hand side of your television screen, her mother on her right, standing by her as she was facing an important court case in Washington, D.C. She was convicted in April on the 15th by that federal grand jury -- not grand jury, federal jury of running a prostitution service catering to members of Washington's elite.

Today her mother, again, a 76-year-old, said I'm going to go take a nap. And when she woke up, she found her daughter had, in fact, committed suicide by hanging herself in a storage shed not far from her mobile home in that community in Tarpon Springs, just outside of Tampa.

LEMON: Police say they found her mom -- sadly found her, went to take a nap, woke up and discovered her daughter was missing. She couldn't find her. Went outside and saw that her daughter had hanged herself with a nylon rope.

They said they found one or more, possibly two suicide notes, also other notes in a notebook handwritten to family members. Seventy-six-year-old Blanche is the mom that you saw in that video there accompanying her during her ordeal when she was being tried for running this illegal prostitution ring.

LONG: So many people will be curious about finding out about the note. She was in the process of writing a book as well.

LEMON: Details to come obviously we'll be following this throughout the evening on CNN in primetime as well.

Last night on primetime, if you didn't see it, we're going to give you a chance to see it now, is a ticket with both Obama and Clinton still a possibility. Michelle Obama will tell us what she thinks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time now for America Votes 2008. We're going to get you out live to South Bend, Indiana. You're looking at someone speaking there. And she's asking questions, probably giving her opinion about Senator Barack Obama, presidential hopeful there. He had the mic just a short time ago. Of course this is ahead of Indiana and North Carolina's primaries on Tuesday.

Barack Obama to the left, if they pan back, is there. This is one of those intimate settings that Barack Obama has been doing lately. He did one yesterday with his wife. And you can see -- I just wanted to pan back so you can see, there's Barack Obama in the barn, complete with hay and also a tractor in the background.

Let's talk now more of Suzanne Malveaux's interview with Barack Obama's wife, Michelle. They talked about the Democratic presidential race and about speculation that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton might end up on the same ticket.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The last time you were asked about a possible Obama-Clinton ticket, you said, well, I need to think on that a little bit. You've had some time to think. What do you think about an Obama-Clinton ticket?

MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF SEN. BARACK OBAMA: I haven't thought about it.

MALVEAUX: Is it possible? M. OBAMA: You know, that's going to be Barack's call. I think that's the one thing you earn when you go through this process, is that at the end, you get to decide who your running mate is going to be. And I think that that's going to require a lot of analysis and sort of a sitting down and figuring this out.

Our focus is one day at a time, one step in front of the other. We're here in Indiana. We want to win here in Indiana. And we want to win in North Carolina. And we're focusing on the voters that are right in front of us. And that's been our strategy this whole year, not to get too far ahead of the game and understand the challenges that we're faced with right here today.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Michelle Obama was in Indiana campaigning with her husband.

LONG: On the CNN political ticker today, the latest national poll of polls, it's an average, poll of polls, it shows the Democratic race still about as close as it can be, 45 percent of registered Democrats supporting Barack Obama -- 43 percent supporting Hillary Clinton, 12 percent, just not sure.

On the superdelegate front, Obama's big gain is Clinton's big loss. Former DNC chairman Joe Andrews was an early supporter of Clintons. But today he switched sides saying he's impressed with Obama's response to the controversy over the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. And who also says, Democrats are going to win in November. The nomination fight needs to end now.

John McCain has put a prominent supporter on the spot over last summer's bridge collapse in Minneapolis. The Republican presidential hopeful blamed the disaster on too much pork barrel spending. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is a national co-chair of McCain's campaign. He said everyone should wait for investigators to issue their final report.

All the latest campaign news you know you can find it, right there on you computer. Go to CNNPolitics.com. We have up-to-date analysis from the best political team on television. Again, go to CNNPolitics.com.

LEMON: OK, all right, get ready. We have some shocking pictures of an ancient rite. You'll never believe what they do with these babies.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: I've got to warn you, you might find this next video we're about to show you a bit shocking. But it is a 500-year-old tradition at a shrine in western India. Here it is, caught on camera. Screaming babies are thrown off a 50-foot temple tower. They bounce on a bed sheet. Then they're returned to their mothers.

The rite is supposed to bring the children good health and good luck. Critics say it's dangerous but villagers say none of the babies s have ever been injured. Can we hear? I wanted to hear when they drop the whistle. Wow.

LONG: Then they toss from person to person in that community.

LEMON: They're cute, though. Glad they're okay.

LONG: Some people say the number eight brings luck, it's just a different way of finding luck.

LEMON: Just give me a T-shirt with an eight on it, right? And be done with it.

Long: Coming up the closing bell and a wrap-up of the action on wall street.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time now to check in CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

LONG: He's in Washington with a preview of what's coming up in his program in just four minutes -- Wolf?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks guys, a lot coming up at the top of an hour. A Democrat who won in a state that normally votes Republican. Can North Carolina's governor Mike Easley help Hillary Clinton win especially with those so-called NASCAR? The governor is here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Also, how much would you really save this summer if you didn't have to pay for the federal tax gas? It's an idea John McCain is pushing. I'll ask McCain adviser Carly Fiorina what's going on. Apparently Iran wants the presidential candidates to know this, it's listening to what they're saying. Iran has a harsh message in response to Hillary Clinton's tough talk about that country's policies.

All that and a lot more coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

LONG: Thank you, Wolf. We'll see you in a few minutes.

Let's check some of the stories you find the most interesting today. First a rescue effort in Hong Kong. At least 15 people died when a bus carrying elderly passengers to a religious event overturned.

A suburban San Diego mom of three is under arrest 32 years after she escaped from prison where she was serving time on a drug conviction.

She says her husband never knew and make way for the ducks. Some cute video to share with you, police in lake Washington stopped traffic in this busy highway to let the duck and her little ducklings cross safely. That's cute. These stories and much more today on CNN.com. LEMON: Cute for you but probably not for the drivers who were late for work. But anyway, glad they have a (INAUDIBLE).

All those cars clogging up all those freeways. Welcome to Los Angeles, welcome again to the most polluted city in the United States, in view of the American Long Association. For other California communities round out the top five. Bakersfield, Fresno, Vasalia and Hanford, Corkran. This bird gets an additional nod. It's the sootiest in the country. Sootiest, there's no H on there Inn Pittsburgh gets an additional nod, is it the sootiest city in the country.

Clean estuary titles go to Fargo, North Dakota and Salinas, California. Sootiest is probably because of all the smoke and obviously soot.

LONG: See the file video there.

LEMON: Drop some people's houses, kind of like the kind of like the pollen here in Atlanta.

LONG: That blankets everything and turns everything yellow.

LEMON: Fluorescent green and yellow, you've seen it here, Susan Lisovicz, you're , very familiar with it, I'm sure.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

We have the antihistamines ready. I get results.

LEMON: Absolutely or stay inside.

LISOVICZ: Hey guys, I just want to tell you we've had a third day of falling oil prices. Crude prices have come down six bucks in the last three sessions. Bad news, it's still trading at above $112. Sparked a nice rally here. The Dow is going to close at its highest level since January 4th. We've been waiting for this. Above 13,000 financials did well on the back of the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut.

Tomorrow we have the big jobs report. Expect it a fourth straight month of decline. That's the big story tomorrow.

See you guys. Don and Melissa.

LEMON: All right, hanks, Susan.

LISOVICZ: Your welcome.

LEMON: Now it's time to turn it over to "THE SITUATION ROOM" --

I thought you were going to say it.

LONG: No you can do it.

LEMON: -- and Wolf Blitzer. LONG: Hi, Wolf.