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Woman Says She Has Winning $218M Ticket; Seven Dead In California College Rampage; New Images In Trayvon Martin Case; Anger Flares In Trayvon Martin Case; JetBlue "Meltdown" Pilot In Court; James Murdoch Resigns; Damaged Yacht Reaches California; Plane Crashes Into Supermarket; Driver Survives Truck Plunge; Palin, Couric Face Off On Rival Shows; Rowdy Kentucky Fans Celebrate Title; Polls Open In Three GOP Primary Races; Rowdy Kentucky Fans Celebrate Title; James Bond to Open 2012 Olympics; Return of the Flip
Aired April 03, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this morning with this though, the Mega Millions mystery woman is finally talking insisting she does possess one of the winning tickets for the Mega Millions jackpot.
But Merlande Wilson hasn't coughed up the ticket and lottery officials say no one has come forward. Wilson is a Haitian immigrant, the mother of seven kids.
She works at a McDonald's and she told our affiliate, WMAR, that a co-worker bought the ticket for her and then called her while she was sleeping.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MERLANDE WILSON, CLAIMS SHE HAS WINNING JACKPOT TICKET: He says your number is on TV. I said what number? He said, I'm not sure, but let me go back to sleep. And I haven't gone back since that day and all the news coming to me and all this. So I said, let me make sure before I do nothing else. I don't know what's going on, that's what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bottom line is you have the ticket and it's yours.
WILSON: It's my ticket. It's just my ticket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: If she actually does have the winning ticket, there is a controversy over whether it was bought for her or part of a pool with co-workers.
Our Brian Todd has been all over this story. He joins us now from Washington. So you've been investigating Wilson's claims. What have you found out?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, I just spoke to a Maryland lottery official who says that this morning still no one has come forward to claim the Mega Millions winning ticket in that state.
This is just perpetuating this mystery that we've been trying to crack over whether there is just one winner in Maryland or if there are several.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): It's out there. The tiny ticket stub everyone is looking for. We've been on the hunt in Maryland for the Mega Millions winner who will snag more than $100 million after taxes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But nobody has come through the doors yet.
TODD: Could it be this woman? Merlande Wilson told the "New York Post" she is the Maryland winner. We learned she also told people at a deli across the street from her house.
But co-workers at the McDonald's where Wilson works told "The Post" she was among a group of them who went in on the tickets together. Wilson says the ticket she bought was separate from that.
(on camera): A key piece of evidence in solving this mystery is going to be found right at this spot at the Baltimore 7-11 where the winning Mega Millions ticket was sold right from this machine. Here is what they are going to be looking for.
Each Mega Millions ticket has a date and time stamp on it. They'll match it up according to lottery officials with surveillance video. Hopefully that they got of this purchase taken on these two cameras here.
You can see some of the return video over there. Lottery officials tell us they do take surveillance of these purchases. Hopefully, they're going to match this up with the winning ticket and verify everything.
(voice-over): But I asked lottery spokeswoman, Carole Everett about the dispute.
(on camera): What do you make of her claim at this point?
CAROLE EVERETT, MARYLAND LOTTERY: There is nothing to make of it. Again, it doesn't sound like a typical jackpot winner to us. I don't put much stock in that story.
TODD: Why not? Why doesn't it sound like?
EVERETT: She claims she won. She can't produce a ticket. We really don't even spend that much time on it other than to field questions from the media.
In our opinion, until they walk in that door, hold that ticket, produce valid identification and our security people can process and validate it, doesn't matter.
TODD (voice-over): Co-workers did tell "The Post," Wilson later couldn't find her ticket. We looked all over Baltimore for Merlande Wilson, at her home, on her street where neighbors say she took off.
(on camera): She's a good neighbor?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. She's a good neighbor. She's an honest person.
TODD (voice-over): And at that McDonald's. No one would talk to us on camera. The owner e-mailed us saying nothing has been confirmed about anyone there being involved. We asked Mark Schamel, a gaming attorney how to avoid these disputes.
MARK SCHAMEL, GAMING AND WHITE COLLAR CRIME ATTORNEY: I did avoid it. Bring the tickets back, put them someplace where the entire group has oversight of them and then the person is free to do whatever they want on their own behalf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Lottery officials also tell us that when people buy these tickets in a group, they should get everything in writing. Have one document with the names of everyone who is going in on it, explicit language saying they are going to share it so that they can avoid these disputes after a drawing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: If there indeed is a dispute, but I'm just curious. You talked to the employees at McDonald's. Did they tell you they had any sort of document?
TODD: Well, we tried to talk to the employees at that McDonald's. Officials at McDonalds and some of their representatives wouldn't let us talk to them. We've been trying to get to them for the last couple of days.
But they do tell us that they don't know if anyone at that McDonald's had this in writing. Apparently, the people at McDonald's, they wanted to buy these tickets in two batches.
They had one batch that according to the "New York Post" they had in a safe somewhere in the McDonald's. Then her co-workers told "The Post" that Merlande Wilson was asked by her boss to go to another store on her way home on Friday to buy another batch of tickets for the group.
That's apparently where the purchase occurred that is in some dispute whether it's her purchase that she claims it is or whether it is a purchase for the group.
COSTELLO: Well, it's also possible, of course, that she doesn't have the ticket at all.
TODD: That is very possible, right.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Brian.
Now to Oakland, California, at a small Christian college, new cell phone video captures the chaos as a gunman systemically murders seven students.
The cell phone video captures the gun shots and terror as the bloodshed unfolded. We talked to the man who videotaped it. But first chilling new details are coming out this morning.
Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan tells CNN the gunman killed his seven victims execution style. He says the shooter first took a receptionist hostage and then lined students up against the wall.
He then began firing randomly at his victims. Chief Jordan says the gunman was upset with an administrator and was specifically hunting for her.
The suspect is 43-year-old One Goh, a former student. He was arrested an hour later at a grocery store several miles away. Now the killing spree appears to have been much more calculated and ruthless than previously believed.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is in Oakland. Good morning, Thelma.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. The police chief told us that 43-year-old One Goh came to Oikos University yesterday morning with a very specific plan.
They say that he was looking for a particular administrator. He grabbed the receptionist. He went looking for that administrator. When he didn't find that person who was not identified and not at the school at the time, he said that they took the receptionist.
They went into one of those classrooms. Lined four people up against the wall, and as you say, Carol, shot each one of them execution style one by one. After that, he left.
The police chief told us he had time to reload a .45 caliber weapon and that he returned and began to fire indiscriminately at any of the students that he could find.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF HOWARD JORDAN, OAKLAND POLICE CHIEF (via telephone): He felt a certain urge to inflict pain on them. He gave us no exact reason why he did that. He just wanted to get back at the administration for dismissing him earlier in the year. He was looking for this one particular administrator that he wanted to seek revenge on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Police say that after the shooting spree, One Goh got in one of the victim's car and drove about five miles from this university where he then surrendered to police.
But Carol, what I thought was interesting is an eyewitness account from that Safeway. This woman told us that she actually looked One Goh in the eye as he was being handcuffed.
She said that he appeared calm, he was a little sweaty, but nothing to tip her off that this terrible tragedy had happened. She didn't know that it had occurred until she went home and turned on the local news.
COSTELLO: Thelma Gutierrez reporting live from Oakland, California.
Also this morning, possible new clues in the killing of Trayvon Martin. We visually enhanced the surveillance video of the shooter, George Zimmerman, as he arrived at the police station after he shot Martin.
The clear images may support Zimmerman's claim that he was attacked by Martin and shot him in self-defense. The newly-enhanced video more clearly shows a possible gash or injury to the back of Zimmerman's head.
In the meantime, a Florida prosecutor is lashing out at the Martin family attorney for claims the prosecutor and police chief overruled a request for Zimmerman's arrest.
The family asked the Justice Department to investigate. The state attorney calls the account outright lies. Let's head now to Sanford, Florida and check in with Martin Savidge. Good morning, Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, this all exploded yesterday. It began with a letter that came from Ben Crump. He is the attorney for the Trayvon Martin family. He was requesting that the federal Justice Department investigate what he said was a meeting that took place on the night of Trayvon's shooting.
A meeting between the Sanford police chief and the state attorney, that's Norm Wolfinger. As a result of that meeting, he says there were no charges ever brought against George Zimmerman. So he's implying that there was some sort of impropriety.
Norm Wolfinger fired back immediately. He issued his own letter. He said I am outraged by the outright lies contained in the letter by Benjamin Crump to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy Austin dated April 2nd, 2012.
I encourage the Justice Department to investigate and document that no such meeting ever occurred and what he is pointing out is that he never met with the police chief here so there was no impropriety. That has been the back and forth in this war of words -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Martin Savidge reporting live from Sanford.
We are seeing for the first time the mug shot of JetBlue pilot Clayton Osbon who had a mid-air meltdown last week. Osbon appeared composed to this court hearing yesterday where a federal judge ordered him to remain in custody without bond. Osbon is charged with interfering with a flight crew. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine. James Murdoch, the son of the media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch, is stepping down today as chairman of British pay TV company, B Sky B. He's been under fire over his handling of the "News of the World" hacking scandal that's still being investigated, that newspaper shutdown last summer.
A yacht that got smashed by a giant wave during a race around the world, finally made its way back to the California coast. Two injured sailors also back on land. They arrived in a coast guard cutter.
They're recovering at a San Francisco hospital. Huge waves slammed the boat and left it paralyzed during the weekend. They were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials say everyone is safe and sound.
This could have been a real disaster in Deland, Florida near Orlando Monday night. A small plane crashed into a supermarket injuring several people including the pilot and passenger, some seriously. A store employee said it felt like an explosion. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard this zip like artillery and then boom! Like, wow, man, I'm surprised everybody didn't hear it, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That meat manager told a local TV station the pilot and passenger actually on fire when they climbed out of the plane. He helped douse the flames.
Check out these pictures. They capture a big rig being towed on a snowy mountain road in Norway. When the truck slides too close to the edge, the guard rail gives out. The rig tumbles down a cliff taking the truck driver with it. The tow truck driver managed to bail out in time. But the other driver went down with the truck. He survived, but has several broken bones.>
Sarah Palin and Katie Couric are facing off again. This time hosting on competing network morning news shows at the same time. The former Alaska governor is guest hosing on NBC's "Today" show. But just an hour before her hosting gig, Matt Lauer interviewed her. Moments later, she would be the one asking the questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's talk about the economy. You think it's improving?
SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For whom? Maybe for those some on Wall Street, but not for the millions still unemployed. I'm very excited to get to be here with all you New Yorkers and tourists here enjoying this nice weather. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We like to put guest hosts right to work here. We are going to throw you in the middle with "Today's" professionals. Are you ready for that?
PALIN: I am. I look forward to talking to Dr. Nancy and Star and Donny. Great topics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: She actually did sit in that chair later. Remember, Katie Couric grilled Palin during the 2008 election when she was running as the GOP vice presidential candidate. Of course, Couric used to work for NBC and this week, she is filling in on the rival show "Good Morning America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Off on vacation, hope she is enjoying it. So glad to have you back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had so much fun yesterday. I decided to come back for more, George. It's great to be here with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Guest hosting gigs could be part of the morning show ratings war. Normally comes out on top, the "Good Morning America" ratings are making a comeback. We'll keep you posted.
Kentucky wins on the court. Will fans lose it in the streets? Just after a couple of days of ugly celebrations, we'll tell you if a national title pushed a college town to the edge.
And the first lady on TV again. This time, Michelle Obama will pop-up in "The Biggest Loser." Why so much show-hopping lately? We'll ask our "Political Buzz" panel that's coming up later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In Lexington, Kentucky, police were braced for violence regardless of whether the Wildcats won college basketball's title game or not.
It turns out the University of Kentucky dominated the game, and local police, many of them in riot gears, struggled to control the rowdy fans. There were dozens of nuisance fires even one report of someone firing a gun in the direction of police and fire crews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's scary. You're out to celebrate and enjoy it, have a good time and so excited and something like that happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: But the celebrations did not seem quite as volatile as Saturday night when several cars were torched. More than 20 people arrested then after street parties after Kentucky won its game to secure a place in last night's championship matchup with Kansas.
But let's head to New Orleans now, the site of the title game and where we find Carlos Diaz. Good morning, Carlos.
CARLOS DIAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Yes, you talk about what went down in Lexington last night. There were 30 fires set in Lexington. That's actually considered subdued compared to the 50 fires set on campus after the Wildcats knocked off their in-state rival the Louisville Cardinals.
Now there was something interesting going on Twitter last night. A topic that was trending on Twitter, hash tag Lexington police scanner would allow you to read quotes from the police scanner last night in Lexington.
I want to read those quotes for you right now. One quote, "No, let them light their fireworks, just as long as they don't fire them off at each other."
Possibly my favorite quote from the police scanner, "We have a partially nude male with a propane tank." Carol, apparently, it's not enough to be partially nude. You need to have a propane tank with you. It's obvious that the Kentucky Wildcat fans who waited 14 years for a title wanted to celebrate in style.
COSTELLO: Yes, I'll say. That's quite some style. I have to get that image out of my mind now. The game itself though was so exciting.
DIAZ: It was an exciting game in the last few minutes when Kansas made a run and cut the lead to six points. But basically, Kentucky was never in doubt, not only in this game, but in the entire tournament.
Kentucky came in as the number one seed in an overwhelming favorite to win the entire thing. The Wildcats did not disappoint. They won every one of their games by double digits leading up to the final four.
Then they knocked off Louisville by eight points and Kansas by eight points. John Calipari, the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gets his first national championship of his career.
And the Kentucky Wildcats also have the best player in the nation in freshman big man, Anthony Davis, who will probably be going to the NBA sometime in the next few months.
COSTELLO: I bet you're right. Carlos Diaz, many thanks.
We want to introduce you to another winner. This is 18- year-old Kwame Almondige from Tacoma, Washington. Today, he is the king of the CNN Bracket Challenge.
He went by Young Kwame and he's number one out of more than 13,000 entries. Kwame had a total of 174 points. He did not make a single wrong selection. Congrats.
To politics now, three big primary races taking place today. Polls show Mitt Romney could win them all. Will that be enough to send his rivals home?
Plus, a first look at Whitney Houston's final film. Taping on that movie wrapped up not long before the singing legend's sudden death. We'll take another look at the upcoming movie and find out what people are saying about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is primary day in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and in Wisconsin. Of the three key races, Wisconsin holds the biggest prize. Our CNN political director, Mark Preston, is here. Romney poised a win in Wisconsin.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Romney poised to win in Wisconsin and poised to win in the District of Columbia, in Maryland, which would be a hat trick for him today. You know, all this momentum is behind him. Republican establishment seems to be backing him. It could be a big night.
COSTELLO: OK, so any chance if he wins all three states, I guess, District of Columbia and two states, what will it take to get Rick Santorum to kind of step aside?
PRESTON: Well, certainly not tonight even if Rick Santorum loses tonight. You know, even though he spent so much time in Wisconsin, he's done quite a bit of campaigning up there.
Even if he loses Wisconsin, he's expected to lose Maryland and the District of Columbia. He's not even on the ballot. He pledges to stay. In fact, he told Piers Morgan last night that he is going to stay in.
And in fact, Carol, he wants to get beyond the month of March right now in April. He wants to get in to May because he thinks the states in May that are voting are more favorable to him.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, so in the meantime while all this is going on, Mitt Romney appears to now be talking a lot about President Obama again and President Obama appears to be talking about just Mitt Romney.
PRESTON: Yes, you know what's interesting? This is what Mitt Romney's strategy had been all last summer. Let's just focus on President Obama. I'm going to be the nominee and then he had to stop because he saw the rise of Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain, now Rick Santorum.
Well, he's getting back on message focusing most his ammunition on President Obama. President Obama is returning in kind. In fact, his campaign has a new television ad that's going up in battleground states where it's focusing on the difference between President Obama's policy on oil and Mitt Romney's policy on oil.
What is interesting about this ad is that in fact the Obama campaign singles out Mitt Romney by name in it. So talk about game on.
COSTELLO: Yes, OK, so in a nutshell, I would guess that the Obama ad says Mitt Romney loves big oil and all their tax breaks, right?
PRESTON: You hit the nail.
COSTELLO: I would guess that President Obama is to blame for high gas prices.
PRESTON: Exactly. Of course, that's it. Of course, President Obama is saying, look, I'm for renewable. Mitt Romney is not. I'm not for big oil, Mitt Romney is.
COSTELLO: Mark Preston, you have a long night ahead. Thank you so much.
At this phase, what is next for the first lady, "Dancing with the Stars?" She's booked yet another TV appearance. So what's going on here? Our "Political Buzz" panel takes a look.
And flipping is in. The house craze from the late '90s is back big time. Should you get in? You're watching the CNN NEWSROOM. We're back in 2 minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In Oakland, California, a cell phone video captures a gunman's deadly rampage. Police say the gunman killed his seven victims execution style. First he took a receptionist hostage, then lined students up against a wall and fired randomly.
The suspect is 43-year-old One Goh, a former student. He was arrested an hour later at a grocery store several miles away. Police say he was upset with the school administrator.
A Mega Millions mystery woman in Baltimore insists she does have one of the winning tickets for the Mega Millions jackpot. But Merlande Wilson has not produced the ticket yet.
And lottery officials say no one has come forward. Wilson told our affiliate, WMAR, that a co-worker bought the ticket for her and called her while she was sleeping.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: He says your number is on TV. I said what number? He said, I'm not sure, but let me go back to sleep. And I haven't gone back since that day and all the news coming to me and all this. So I said, let me make sure before I do nothing else. I don't know what's going on, that's what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bottom line is you have the ticket and it's yours.
WILSON: It's my ticket. It's just my ticket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: If she does have the winning ticket, there is a controversy over whether it was bought for her or part of a pool with her McDonald's co-workers.
Look who is co-hosting the "Today" show. Sarah Palin helped Matt Lauer, Ann Curry with their morning show duties.
She told Tori spelling to keep having children. She was competing directly with her old nemesis Katie Couric. Couris was guest hosting "Good Morning America."
In Lexington, Kentucky, police were braced for violence regardless of whether the Wildcats won college basketball's title game or not. It turns out the University of Kentucky dominated the game and local police, many of them in riot gears, struggled to control rowdy fans. There were dozens of nuisance fires and even a report of someone firing a gun in the direction of the police and fire crews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's scary. You're out to celebrate, enjoy it, have a good time and so excited and something like that happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But the celebrations did not seem quite as volatile as Saturday night when several cars were torched and more than 20 were arrested.
"Political Buzz" is your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today on the left, Sirius XM political talk show host and comedian, Pete Dominick; in the middle, Jason Johnson, he's chief political correspondent at Politic 365; and on the right Republican strategist, Ron Bonjean. Welcome to all of you.
JASON JOHNSON, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, POLITIC 365: Good morning.
PETE DOMINICK, POLITICAL TALK SHOW HOST SIRIUS XM: Good morning Carol.
RON BONJEAN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Ok first question, it's a serious one. It's about gun laws in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting. I'll let Bill Maher set it up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL MAHER, TALK SHOW HOST: We can go on and on about hoodies and the neighborhood watch guy who looks like Chaz Bono. But -- but it's not really a discussion until you save some blame for the liberal politicians who unconditionally surrendered in the fight for sensible gun laws. When are they going to stand their ground?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So the question, why isn't anyone talking seriously about America's gun laws? Jason?
JOHNSON: Well, look, because gun laws aren't really the problem. What we have here is an issue of racial profiling. What we have is an issue of police corruption.
It was racial profiling that led George Zimmerman to just assume that this young black man was doing something wrong. It was police incompetence that allowed them to not contact Trayvon Martin's parents for three days. Not interview his girlfriend who was on the phone with him.
So there are so many different layers of incompetence, bigotry and government corruption in this that gun laws might actually be the last thing on this list to be effectively addressed. And that wouldn't necessarily be a problem.
COSTELLO: Pete.
DOMINICK: Well, here is a couple of statistics. Since 1968 Carol, one million Americans have died because they were shot by guns. Last year, 100,000 people were shot by guns. The truth is no matter whether it's Virginia Tech, the shooting yesterday or the Trayvon Martin case, which I agree with Jason has a lot to do with race, people don't seem to be that outraged about gun violence in this country putting pressure on the legislator.
But the other thing is the NRA is one of the strongest government lobbyists. They spend $20 million just on federal elections. That's hard to compete with.
COSTELLO: Ron.
BONJEAN: Yes contrary to Bill Maher's opinion, most Americans already believe that there are strict gun laws in place. And that's why politicians aren't pushing for them. Because it isn't politically popular and despite the gun laws that are in place, despite any more restricted gun laws that does not prevent people from making stupid decisions like we saw in Florida. So you know, I think that Bill Maher is just on the other side of it as an example of a liberal commentator.
COSTELLO: All right, second question and it's about Michelle Obama. She's on "The Biggest Loser" tonight. The several -- the latest of several TV appearances, she's been on Nickelodeon, she's been on Jimmy Fallon, she's been on David Letterman. And now she's going to be on "The Biggest Loser". We asked yesterday if Ann Romney were Mitt's best weapon as Michelle the president's best weapon? Pete?
DOMINICK: Yes I mean, with respect to Ann Romney, there is no comparison with the First Lady who is -- who is heroic to so many people. I look up to her. She is a strong woman. The President has a very strong, intelligent woman who came from very little to be the First Lady of the United States and before that a successful business woman who went to Harvard.
And this childhood or obesity epidemic is a great issue as well as military families that this First Lady has taken on. And people respect her a great deal and criticize her very little because there is very little to criticize. She is an amazing, amazing role model for -- for women of all races all over the world.
COSTELLO: Ron?
BONJEAN: You know it's a good idea to put the wives of politicians out there if they're good at presenting. I think both Michelle Obama and Ann Romney do a good job. Ann Romney is doing a great job of personalizing Mitt Romney. People are flocking to listen to her. I think she has tremendous star power.
And I would have to say regarding "The Biggest Loser" appearance. "The Biggest Loser" in November is going to be President Obama. I had to say it. It was right there.
COSTELLO: It was. I know you couldn't resist. Jason?
JOHNSON: You know the best weapon for Barack Obama, I don't think so. This fall I believe the ballot is going to be Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. It's not going to be Michelle, it's not going to be Ann Romney.
And the reality is even if you line up the two of them together, Michelle Obama gets slimed at the Nickelodeon Award but Barack Obama can make people faint when he speaks. Michelle Obama can do the doggie with a bunch of junior high kids, Barack Obama can sing Al Green.
I mean, they make a great combination but she is not going to win this campaign for him; 68 percent of eligible African-American women voted in 2008 they were voting for Obama. They won't vote for Michelle.
COSTELLO: All right, your "Buzzer Beater" now 20 seconds each. Here's the third question. The General Services Administration, the GSA chief resigns after a spending scandal, clowns, the mind reader, a fat reception in Las Vegas, you know and spent what $825,000 of taxpayer money for this -- for training purposes. Would you have respected them more if they had just gone to a strip club? Pete?
DOMINICK: No is the answer and I don't -- there's a lot of women that work in that -- in that organization. And I'm guessing Carol. I don't want to put you on the spot. But women don't really love to go to strip clubs. I think you know the waste is -- is what we're spending in Afghanistan, ten years and five months, hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
But I think that she should have hired a psychic who could have said I'm reading your future and you're going to regret not writing me off as a -- you're going to regret not writing me off as a consultant.
COSTELLO: Jason.
JOHNSON: Let's be clear here. If $800,000 was spent, there were some strippers involved. Ok we just haven't heard about it yet. Let's be honest. This is Vegas ok. I mean, there are reports of $2,000, $3,000 being spent on personal room parties.
This is a huge problem for Barack Obama. This guy is trying to appear to be fiscally responsible. They need to shut this down, I can't respect any aspect of this whether there were strippers, prostitutes or just funny clowns doing the whole event.
COSTELLO: Ron.
BONJEAN: Yes I know, it's a crazy situation. But I would have -- I would have respected them more if they would have brought, would have hired Gary Busey and taken him into the strip club and have them get him in front of the story with a huge incident. And by the way he probably would have endorsed Newt Gingrich for president once again. That would have been hilarious.
COSTELLO: All right, Ron, Jason, Pete thanks for playing with me today.
DOMINICK: Thanks Carol.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Still ahead, James Bond in the 2012 Olympics. Not even 007 can turn down a personal invite from the Queen. We'll explain in today's "Showbiz Headlines".
Plus -- fixing up homes to flip for a profit. It's making a comeback. We'll tell you what to look for if you're in the market to invest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: James Bond is taking his talents to the Olympics. Actor Daniel Craig has been handpicked by the Queen to open the 2012 games in London. A.J. Hammer is in New York for us. Good morning, A.J.
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Good morning, Carol. I think this is pretty cool. According to "The Sun" newspaper in Britain, the Queen not only personally decided that Bond should be the one to open the games she actually opened her private apartments in Buckingham Palace to the iconic secret agent. What they did is they used that location so they could shoot a short film where Craig, as Bond, is given the mission to launch the games.
Now, nobody is saying on the record if the Queen herself had a cameo in the film. I think it's a pretty good possibility we'll see her, which will obviously be pretty cool to see her and Bond together, hopefully. The report says they're going to play the video during the opening ceremonies. And then as it ends, you'll have Craig parachuting into the stadium to open the games.
So I think Carol we all have to hope for good weather. We have to hope the London fog stays away. It could sort of hamper an appearance like that. The audience for the Olympics opening ceremony could be around a billion people watching worldwide. So you kind of want to get it right.
COSTELLO: Yes, you do. No doubt there.
Whitney Houston's new movie. Her final movie role. There are some previews out. Show us.
HAMMER: Well, yes. And for a trailer, Carol, which is all we're seeing right now, people are pretty excited to see this. But obviously, it is tough to really objectively look at the film without thinking this is the role that Whitney wanted to really launch a comeback for her this coming summer. Instead, of course, she never lived to see it released.
The movie stars Whitney Houston as a mother who was once a professional singer who now has three daughters who want to launch singing careers.
Let's take a look at the trailer right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was my life not enough of a cautionary tale for you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are close to getting a record deal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, if I had any sense, I'd be living off you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He did that to you, didn't he?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you still going to be part of the group?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are trying to destroy what we built. You and me we started this thing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would the Lord give me this gift if I wasn't supposed to use it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It takes a lot of faith.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it's almost a little tough to watch now. Jordin Sparks there playing Houston's daughter "Sparkle". This, of course, a remake of the 1976 film that starred Irene Cara. I think, Carol, this is going to be one of the most anticipated films of the summer.
Everybody who was involved in the project who had spoken out said Whitney just poured her heart and soul into this thing. So obviously, a lot of people eager to see it.
COSTELLO: A.J., thanks.
If you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J. has it tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT". That's at 11:00 Eastern on HLN.
If you're in the market to invest your money, stick around. Alison Kosik takes us inside the world of house flipping. Yes, it's back.
And like millions of people, a Kansas man bought a Mega Millions Lottery ticket, he bought it, you know, hoping he would hit it big, instead he was struck by lightning. We'll have that story ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Remember the big house flipping craze from the early part of this decade? Seems almost everyone was doing it. Now it might be making a comeback. Alison Kosik is on this story -- Hi, Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Carol, so when investors come in and actually flip homes, they typically buy these homes at a bargain, they fix them up and then sell them for a big profit. So I caught off with one investor who's kind of got this knack for finding homes that look like "Ugly Ducklings" and then turning them into beautiful swans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You always want to give them the nice kitchen, the nice master bathroom and the nice master bath.
KOSIK: Before real estate Laura Abbott, bought this three- bedroom house in Northern New Jersey last fall. It had been closed on, abandoned and neglected. Abbott is fixing it up and when she's done, she'll sell it for a profit.
LAURA ABBOTT, REAL ESTATE INVESTOR: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We bought it for $180,000. Closed on it in November of last year. And it's a three bedroom 1-1/2 bath, and we are converting it to a five bedroom, 2 1/2 bath.
KOSIK: In the mid 2000s, when the housing market was booming, flipping houses was all the rage. It drove up prices, helping to create a massive bubble. When the bubble burst, flipping became a dirty word.
ABBOTT: I have people who think I'm insane for putting my money on the line and for buying houses that need a lot of work, but again, if you buy it for the right price, there is no risk. Or I should say the risk is minimal.
KOSIK: One in four homes that are sold are actually bought by investors. Part of the reason is because of the millions of foreclosures on the market. With so many empty homes out there, it's easier to find a good deal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you have to be living under a rock. Not to know there is a housing crisis going on right. People get the idea that in crisis is opportunity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I can smell it.
KOSI: What would make you buy a home that has mold in the basement?
ABBOTT: When we see mold in a basement, we just say cha-ching because we know that it's going to help us get a better price on the house.
KOSIK: House flipping has its critics who worry investors can force-out young buyers looking to put down roots and rebuild communities.
LAWRENCE YUN, NAR CHIEF ECONOMIST: In some markets where investors are pushing out the first-time buyers, it is unfortunate because generally over a longer term fundamentals, we want the owner occupies. In the current environment, there is the excess inventory and that excess inventory needs to be absorbed as soon as possible. The investors are helping in that process.
KOSIK: Abbott plans to list the renovated home this spring for $450,000. She wouldn't share how much she spent on the renovation, but says there is plenty of room for profit.
ABBOTT: I just love taking an old, ugly house and bringing life back to it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: And in fixing up these homes, Laura Abbott told me that what she tries to do is really, try to make these homes kind of move- in ready to try to provide a service for these buyers. And at $450,000 for the price that Abbott plans to list the house for, it really leaves her plenty of room for profit considering it was sold in 2006 for $620,000 -- Carol
COSTELLO: Still $450,000 sounds like a lot to me. She says there's minimal risk. Is she right? KOSIK: Well, you know what, it helps that she comes into this investment situation with money, but as I said, you look at what this house sold for in 2006. It sold for $620,000. She is going to list it at $450,000 with all these renovations. It's going to have more bedrooms, offer a family more. In that way it really is a bargain for the buyer, too.
I know, but you've got to find a buyer. These days that's not so easy.
Rachel: It isn't so easy. That's where the risk comes in. Yes.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange -- Thanks.
COSTELLO: Bill Ailes is the luckiest man who didn't did not hit the mega millions jackpot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was like flash, boom, instantaneously, like.
COSTELLO: Instead of hitting the jackpot, he was struck by lightning and he lived to tell the tale.
And it wasn't the best of landing. But with her husband unconscious, she had to act immediately. Well tell you how shed ID it. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We asked you to "talk back" today about GSA and the big scandal over the General Services Administration. As you know, he spent $825,000 for a team-building trip to Vegas. The GSA administrator resigned and also the senior staff was fired. We wondered, is that enough?
So in our "Talk Back" question today. "How should GSA employees be held fully accountable?" I saw your responses now. This from Jodi. She writes; "Take it out in their paycheck."
Chris said, "Fire all of them and fire upper management, as well." Al says, "They should be required to pay all excessive spending" And Paula writes, "Anyone regardless of who they are, should be held accountable for wasting taxpayers' money. The hypocrisy of it all is already rearing its ugly head by nitwits making excuses.
If you want to continue that conversation, facebook.com/CarolCNN and thanks as always for your comments.
Stories we are working on in the CNN newsroom.
At 12:30 Eastern, President Obama speaks at a luncheon and is expected to explain why Congressman Paul Ryan's GOP budget would be bad for the country. At 3:45 Eastern vice president Joe Biden answers questions in a Twitter event on college affordability. And at 8:first lady Michelle Obama, takes her takes her exercise push to the weight loss TV show "The Biggest Loser".
We've got storms to tell you about now. Alexandra Steele is here. And I guess the extreme weather center is back there but you were just there.
ALEXANDRA STEEL, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. And now we are seeing some strong spire up, you know. There's this and it's kind of the main weather player and we'll be all week long lumbering (inaudible) from West to East and along it. And it happened that we thought these storm's firing up.
Here's a look at what we're seeing. Right around Dallas, you can see that watch box, severe thunderstorm in play there until 5:00 tonight. And you can see north of it.
The biggest stress today an isolated tornado perhaps but what we're looking at hail, about two inches in diameter; wind gusts, 60 to 70 miles per hour at this point. You can see that line of storms moving through kind of Wichita falls, moving northeast where they kind of hanging together. So that's the severe threat.
Also farther north, heavy rain, Oklahoma City south and east of that. And even right along the Florida panhandle we are seeing some rain and also of course, around Detroit. Those storms dropping south and southeast.
So storms kind of moving all over the place. But what they are doing is following the stationary front. And along and ahead of it, there are the two pockets of severe weather today.
Again, isolated tornados. The biggest threat hail and some very heavy rain and some gusty winds. In the southeast though, of course, it's the heat that's been the biggest player. That will continue to rule the roost. Temperatures five to 25 degrees above average.
You can see kind of where that ridge and that trough is. And it's right along that line where the storms are firing off. So very warm conditions today.
And for tomorrow, Carol, really, the same areas in play for severe weather in terms of maybe some hail and very gusty winds tomorrow. It's just not very progressive.
COSTELLO: Such a strange spring, it really is.
STEELE: It really is. That's the climate change we are seeing. Extremes kind of are ruling the roost and really what we are seeing, more become the norm.
COSTELLO: I know. It makes me afraid for what next spring will bring because it might be like unnaturally cold. Who knows?
STEELE: Because that's not it. This global warming is really kind of a misnomer -- Global climate change. So the colds are colder and warms are warmer. And the severe is more severe.
We're experiencing that to spring. Thank you, Alexandra.
How do you lose that record $656 million Mega Millions Jackpot and still feel lucky? Well, when you're struck by lightning and live to tell the tale.
Coming up this man will tell that tale.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country, vandals in Crosby, Texas. Flattened the tires on your living. The entire fleet of school buses. 2,500 kids had to scramble for other rides home from school. Working parents got automated calls asking them to drive their kids to class.
In Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, an 80-year-old woman makes a rough landing after her 81-year-old husband slumps over the controls of their small plane. She is not a pilot. She was talked down just as the plane was running out of fuel. Sadly, her husband died. She suffered minor injuries.
Don't tell Bill Isles of Wichita Kansas that he is more likely to be struck by lightning than to win the lottery. He already knows. Not long after buying tickets for the big mega millions drawing, he was struck by lightning after ways standing in his backyard talking on a two-way radio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL ISLES: It was like, flash, boom, instantaneously. I was thrown about four feet that way and my radio went about another two feet ahead of me. My whole body is jerking. It's the strangest thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Ok. So He didn't win the lottery, but he says he still feels like a lucky man. Let's toss it over to Kyra Phillips now. Good morning.
