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Boston Victims Remembered; Obama as Comedian in Chief

Aired April 28, 2013 - 16:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining us. We're of course live in Boston for CNN's special coverage. As you can see, it is a gorgeous day in the city of Boston. I'm standing here in Copley Square in the midst of the spontaneous memorial. Just take a look at how this thing has grown. People all day long have been bringing flowers and stuffed animals. They've been writing beautiful messages in honor of the victims. Not just the victims but those hurt in the bombings as well.

This one says Boston Strong - I am Boston. God bless all of you. People have included their names, too. First and last. Proud just to be here to support the city and all of you standing around like Boston Strong, right? Yes!

Because although there are tears here, there is a feeling of hope, too, and a feeling of unity, a feeling of community and that's what the mayor of Boston really wants to - really wants people to impart when they come to visit this memorial. Not only does he want people to remember the victims and feel a little sorrow but he also wants to bring the city together, to bring the nation together and to make Boston Strong.

Let's turn now to the investigation. There are some new developments. Let's head to Devens, Massachusetts and Susan Candiotti. Susan, bring us up to date.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. I'm outside the federal medical facility where the suspect is being held at this time. As we are, we can tell you this - questions continue to swirl around the Russians' wiretapping the mother of the bombing suspects. Sources with knowledge of the investigation tell CNN that the Russians were eavesdropping on the mother of the suspects in this case in early 2011, including a phone call from one of the brothers to the mother who was in Russia at the time.

However, we don't know the specifics of that phone call. We are told according to our sources that the subject was jihad but it was very vague. So were they talking about a religious struggle, were they talking about specifics of an attack, we don't know, nor do we know, Carol, why the Russians were wiretapping the mother at that time. And what other details might they have had. And for how long were they wiretapping, which brings up another point - why did the Russians wait until just a few days ago to share this information with the FBI. Carol? COSTELLO: That is the million dollar question. That's going to be like mulled over all week long. I understand, Susan, you also have an update on the suspect's condition. Tell us about that.

CANDIOTTI: They're not saying much about his medical condition but we do know this. According to a spokesperson for the medical facility here, we know that he is able to speak. We know that he is talking with doctors who are taking care of him and other personnel there. Of course he is still confined to a special secure area of this medical facility, but as to whether he has met with his lawyer or investigators, they're not saying. Carol?

COSTELLO: All right. Susan Candiotti outside that federal prison in Devens, Massachusetts. Thanks so much.

Nearly two weeks after the bomb blasts and dozens of people are still in the hospital. Here's where it stands right now, 28 victims remain in Boston hospitals. That's three fewer than yesterday, a little bit of bright out there. One person does remain in critical condition though. The largest number of patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Nine people being treated there.

24,000 runners hit the streets this morning for the Oklahoma City marathon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We ask you now for 168 seconds of silence, please.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That's what I was waiting for. The marathon started after a moment of silence for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. As you might expect, the security was tight after the attacks here in Boston. Many runners though wore t-shirts and red socks to show support for the victims and some of those who didn't get to finish the race here in Boston, they crossed the finish line in Oklahoma City.

It's hard to capture in words the bittersweet atmosphere here at the Boston memorial site. So many coming to pay their respects. While it is sad what happened, there is hope in the air, too. This beautiful city feels a little stronger. Stands a little taller today.

I want to bring in one of the guests that - is it OK if I bring her in now? I'm sorry. There you go. OK. Sorry. What's your name?

ESTELLE: My name is Estelle.

COSTELLO: Hi, Estelle. Thank you so much for talking with us. Tell me why you came to the memorial site?

ESTELLE: I just wanted to pay tribute to the people who lost their lives and were injured. We just felt, the least we could do. It's such an unfortunate incident that happened. But at least it brought people together and, you know -

COSTELLO: Are you surprised at the number of people down here?

ESTELLE: I am. I'm surprised the number of flowers and all the well wishers have signed the cards and everything. It's overwhelming and more than I expected to see.

COSTELLO: I'm sure you were reading the messages. Is there one in particular that stands out?

ESTELLE: No, none in particular because there seems to be a common theme behind all of them, everybody was behind them wishing them good luck and that their thoughts and prayers were with these individuals.

COSTELLO: A lot of messages are saying Boston Strong, stand tall, we're in this together.

ESTELLE: Right. I think that's part of the New England ethics and it is coming through. That we will not be intimidated by acts of terrorism, that we will fight against terrorism.

COSTELLO: Yes, because you don't get the sense that anybody's afraid.

ESTELLE: No. If you look up and down Boylston Street today, it is just filled with people celebrating this beautiful weather and this wonderful day and this beautiful city.

COSTELLO: And really, the conditions of the streets are beautiful. Most of the buildings have been repaired. If you didn't know what happened you probably wouldn't know anything was wrong.

ESTELLE: That's right. That's right.

COSTELLO: How does that make you feel?

ESTELLE: That makes me feel wonderful. That the city is coming back to life and we're going to move forward and we're going to hopefully bring positive changes and continue the spirit of good will towards other people.

COSTELLO: So normalcy is the best revenge.

ESTELLE: Normalcy is the best revenge. We will not be intimidated, we will not crawl into a corner and cower. Yes, normalcy is the best course of action.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Estelle.

ESTELLE: Thank you very much.

COSTELLO: Thank you for talking with me. I appreciate it. Thank you so much.

ESTELLE: Thank you so much. COSTELLO: Well, let's talk a little bit about the White House Correspondents dinner. The president had a great night actually. Had some touching words about Boston, but also he was the jokester in chief that night. We'll talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: As comedian in chief, the president was a big hit at last night's White House Correspondents dinner. He even took aim at himself saying "These days I look in the mirror and I got to admit, I'm not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be." That kind of set the tone for a night filled with zingers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am not giving up. In fact, I'm taking my charm offensive on the road. A Texas barbecue with Ted Cruise. Kentucky blue grass concert with Rand Paul. And a book burning with Michele Bachmann.

My charm offensive has helped me learn some interesting things about what's going on in Congress. It turns out absolutely nothing. But, the point of my charm offensive is simple - we need to make progress on some important issues.

Take the sequester. Republicans fell in love with this thing and now they can't stop talking about how much they hate it. It's like we're trapped in a Taylor Swift album.

One senator who has reached across the aisle recently is Marco Rubio but I don't know about 2016. I mean the guy has not even finished a single term in the Senate and he thinks he's ready to be president. Kids these days.

I, on the other hand, have run my last campaign. On Thursday, as Ed mentioned, I went to the opening of the Bush Presidential Library in Dallas. It was a wonderful event and that inspired me to get started on my own legacy. Which will actually begin by building another edifice right next to the Bush library. Can we show that, please?

I'm also hard at work on plans for the Obama Library and some have suggested that we put it in my birthplace but I'd rather keep it in the United States. Did anybody not see that joke coming? Show of hands. Only Gallup, maybe Dick Morris.

Now, speaking of presidents and their legacies, I want to acknowledge a wonderful friend, Stephen Spielberg and Daniel Day- Lewis, who are here tonight. We had a screening of their most recent film "Lincoln," which was an extraordinary film. I am a little nervous though about Stephen's next project. I saw a behind-the- scenes look on HBO. Well, let's just check it out. Roll the tape.

STEPHEN SPIELBERG, DIRECTOR: Well, I was thrilled that "Lincoln" was a success and as I was thinking about what to do next, in the middle of night I woke up and it hit me. "Obama." I mean the guy's already a lame duck so why wait? Picking the right actor to play Obama, that was the challenge. I mean who is Obama really? We don't know. We never got his transcripts and they say he's kind of aloof. So I needed someone who could dive in and really become Barack Obama. And as it turns out, the answer was right in front of me all along. Daniel Day-Lewis. He becomes his characters. Hawkeye from "Last of the Mohicans," Bill, the Butcher from "Gangs in New York" and Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln." You know what? He nailed it.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ACTOR: It was hard playing Obama. I'll be honest. Yes, it was. His accent took a place. Hello, Ohio. Hello, Ohio. I'll have your back. Look. Look. Let me be clear about this. The cosmetics were challenging. You won't believe how long it takes to put these ears on in the morning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: As you could see, the president took a break from his official duties to attend what quite a lot of people in Washington call the nerd prom. Was he the funniest on stage? We'll talk about his performance and the performance of so many others at the White House correspondents dinner. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: For example, this whole controversy about Jay-Z going to Cuba. It's unbelievable. I've got 99 problems and now Jay-Z's one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The president's pretty funny. There were a lot of jokes last night from the president at the White House Correspondents dinner. Let's bring in Candy Crowley, anchor of "State of the Union." Hi, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR "STATE OF THE UNION": How are you?

COSTELLO: You know, in the face of the Boston tragedy, all the other dangerous issues, the president and Congress deal with, this correspondents dinner is a way for just a minute - for me a little longer than a minute - to take a breather. Right?

CROWLEY: It is. Let's face it, something is always going on in the world. I remember George Bush doing it in the midst of the Iraq war when the search for weapons of mass destruction was still under way. It is time for levity but I will tell you that Boston was usually just a sentence away, coming out of the speakers, whether it was the comedian Conan O'Brien or the president or those who are that belonged to the White House Correspondents Association. They all mentioned Boston. They all talked about what a tough time it has been for the country. So there certainly was recognition of that.

But you're right, this is intended as one of those annual events and there is a lot of levity to it as you saw with the president, with the comedian and there's also a lot of Hollywood to it. So it is a very interesting time in Washington we're not usually telling jokes with another and we're not usually standing next to actors and singers and all that kind of stuff. So it is sort of a stand-out night in the year for White House correspondents.

COSTELLO: Understood. So the fun is passed, sadly, now we have to get back to what's serious. And a lot of lawmakers are talking this morning about this Boston Marathon bomber suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev having his Miranda rights read to him in the hospital after 16 hours of questioning.

I want to play a clip from the attorney general Eric Holder talking to CNN last night at the correspondents dinner and - about his reaction, and also reaction this morning from Congressman Peter King, the Republican from New York. Let's listen to both.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: The decision to mirandize him was one that the magistrate made and that was totally consistent with the laws that we have. We had had a two-day period that we were able to question him under the public safety exception so I think everything was done appropriately and we got good leads.

REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: The attorney general to say I got some good leads, they can stop the interrogation? This isn't "Colombo," where you're playing a game as trying to follow leads. You get all the evidence you can. It is a matter of life and death. I don't know of any case law which says the magistrate has the right to come into a hospital room and stop an interrogation and I don't know why the attorney general of the United States consented to that. The FBI wanted to continue the interrogation and Eric Holder now said he approved that interrogation being stopped. It is absolutely disgraceful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK. So Candy, Eric Holder's not exactly a popular guy among Republicans anyway, but is this issue of reading the suspect his Miranda rights, is it a partisan issue?

CROWLEY: Not exactly. First of all, it's a done issue. So let's start with that. This is something that right away Republicans were out there - Lindsey Graham was out there going, "I hope they don't treat this man as a criminal, this man is a terrorist and we need to not Mirandize him, we need to find out everything we can." And that generally has been the Republican tact when a terrorist is caught.

Let's remember this young man now in custody is an American citizen so Democrats have pushed back. It falls along party lines but it also kind of falls along legal lines, how people view it. But nonetheless, in the end this is a moot argument simply because it's done. He's been mirandized, and as far as we know he's stop giving sort of substantive information.

COSTELLO: Candy Crowley, thanks so much. Candy Crowley from the "State of the Union."

We're also learning much more now about the prime suspect in those ricin letters sent to the president and two other public officials. James Everett Dutschke will appear in federal court tomorrow to face charges. CNN's Alina Machado is in Tupelo, Mississippi where Dutschke was taken into custody.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The judge of a son here in Lee County who received one of those ricin letters is telling us that he is hoping the arrest is a step towards justice for his family.

(voice-over): This is the man federal authorities now believe mailed three ricin-laced letters earlier this month to President Obama, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker and County Court Judge Sadie Holland. Federal prosecutors have charged James Everett Dutschke. He is accused of "knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, possessing a biological agent for use as a weapon." That agent, according to the U.S. attorney's office, was ricin.

STEVE HOLLAND, VICTIM'S SON: This could have been devastating. Very devastating. Mom could have died.

MACHADO: Steve Holland's mother is the Mississippi judge who received one of the letters. Dutschke ran against him for a seat in the Mississippi state house in 2007.

HOLLAND: He was a mad personality. He was a vicious kind of guy. He attacked me personally and even my entire family. That was his M.O. during the campaign.

MACHADO: Last week charges were dropped against the first suspect in the case, an Elvis impersonator named Paul Kevin Curtis. Curtis said he had been framed and pointed to Dutschke as a possible suspect. Not long after FBI agents searched the martial arts studio Dutschke used to run as well as his home in Tupelo.

In this YouTube video posted last week, Dutschke talked about the investigation.

JAMES EVERETT DUTSCHKE: I met with the FBI. I consented to a search, signed a piece of paper saying go ahead and search the house. I don't have anything at all to do with this.

MACHADO: An attorney representing the 41-year-old on a separate case says the martial arts studio closed after Dutschke was charged with child molestation earlier this year. Dutschke has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

(on camera): Dutchske is expected to be in federal court tomorrow morning in Oxford. We are hoping to learn more about the arrest and also what it was that led authorities to make the arrest here in Tupelo.

Alina Machado, CNN, Tupelo, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And in the meantime, the investigation into those bombing suspects go on in Boston and during that time, too, people continue to pay homage to those hurt in the Boston Marathon bombings.

This is a spontaneous memorial in Copley Square. As you can see, hundreds of people are paying their respects. This is one of my favorite spontaneous displays. You can see lots of people left their running shoes behind because of course it happened during the Boston Marathon. There are messages from runners all around the world saying we're going to run strong, Boston Strong. This is not going to stop us, a little bit over that way - I won't show you because a lot of people are standing around. You can see it there.

There is a chain, a paper chain made by elementary school students, it looks like. Each link has the name of a student on it and well wishes for the people of Boston. This is exactly what public officials want to see. They want to see people coming out. Not only paying homage but shopping, in the stores and eating in the restaurants here in the Copley Square area. The mayor wants life to get back to normal as soon as possible because normalcy is the best revenge.

Coming up in the "Newsroom," Barbara Starr has a look at brand- new way to detect explosives. One that may soon replace bomb sniffing dogs. We'll tell you about that when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back. I'm Carol Costello live in Boston. Before we get to the latest in the investigation here in Boston, a look at some of the other headlines making news today.

Foggy rain mess turned dangerous fast as floodwaters took offense roads in Texas. Fire officials in Houston had to rescue 150 drivers whose cars got stuck yesterday. The "Houston Chronicle" says some areas got as much as eight inches of rain.

One World Trade Center in New York City will become the tallest building in the western hemisphere. That will happen tomorrow. Construction crews are going to put the last two pieces of the spire into place. That will bring the building to its total height - 1,776 feet tall. It's already the tallest building in New York City. Of course, that happened while it was being constructed last year.

Could a bomb sniffing dog have prevented the Boston Marathon attack or could a machine? New technology is putting highly trained canines against man-made bomb detectors. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more for you.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Carol, some new advances in bomb detection technology are coming that experts hope will keep everyone safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): From the Boston marathon to U.S. troops on patrol in Afghanistan, in the life and death challenge to detect bombs. It's a debate over dog versus machine in the search for the best solutions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is focusing on technology. This bunch of boxes and computers screens is actually a prototype for detecting explosives.

MARISSA MORALES, OAK RIDGE ENGINEER: So what this sensor does is it combines infrared sources with optics and an infrared detector.

STARR: Simply put -- lasers shoot out. The target here, a suitcase, reflects certain colors. Advanced computers analyze the colors and within seconds detect explosives. This has two critical advantages, the laser finds small amounts of explosives, nearly a football field away, and it can be put on a truck, moving, scanning a crowd like the marathon.

PANOS DATSKOS, OAK RIDGE SR. Scientist: You need maybe five scanning device, look out a large area and saw it is a difficult question to answer but I would say the technology could do it.

STARR: Scientists say a dog's nose is the best detector, but Pentagon officer Sgt Sarah Lagasse says even Aldo, her bomb sniffing partner, has limits.

SGT. SARAH LAGASSE, Pentagon Police: Some dogs can search a really long time. Some dogs don't search as long. They get fatigued just like people do.

STARR: And dogs have to get close up to their target.

LAGASSE: If it was a large event like the marathon, you'd have to have numerous teams. Do a grid and get through it.

STARR: At Auburn University dogs are trained to sniff for vapors. CNN's Randi Kaye asked if that could have helped in Boston.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you think if you had a vapor wake dog in Boston they might have detected the suspects before they were able to place those backpacks down?

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Had one of our dogs been in place on that corner with those two guys walking there with those backpacks, I think they would have alerted on it.

STARR: The Oak Ridge team says it's advantage in Boston it could have identified the precise explosives in seconds.

DWIGHT CLAYTON, OAK RIDGE ENGINEER: If I'm on a bomb squad I want to know right now is this a dangerous package or not, not have to blow it up unnecessarily or put my life at risk.

STARR: The Oak Ridge technology is just one of many ideas being worked on right now to detect bombs containing small amounts of explosives. For now experts say they will use anything they can -- dogs and technology in this deadly challenge.

Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks a lot, Barbara Starr reporting for us this afternoon.

I wanted to give you another look at Copley Square, the spontaneous memorial that has sprung up. Take a look at all the people. Inside this area are many displays, there are like actual walls set up where people can write messages. People have left their shoes with "strong" written on the back of the heels. These are my favorite because it of course this happened during the Boston Marathon.

If you are a runner, you know what a tight community we runners are. We like to give support to one another and especially in times like these. I think it is important that we all show our support and continue to run races without fear. I just want to read you some of the messages too.

This one from Connecticut to Bean Town, "My home away from home, love to you. We love you, Boston. Boston, stay strong. Stay strong Bean Town." A woman named Estelle was telling me before she found a theme in all of these messages. She's right. Because most messages simply say, stay strong, Boston. We are here for you. We love you. That's about it. It seems that people just want to get back to life as they knew it, life as normal. I want to bring in this gentleman, my new friend. What's your name?

HARRY TETHER: I'm Harry Tether.

COSTELLO: Hi Harry. Where are you from?

TETHERL: Seneca, New Hampshire.

COSTELLO: And why did you come down here today?

TETHERL: Came down to be part of this great outpouring.

COSTELLO: Can you believe it?

TETHERL: Well I was in Paris when the marathon took place, and you know how you always remember where you are when a tragic event takes place? I was looking at the Eiffel Tower. You know how it sparkles every hour? It was sparkling just when the bombs went off and that was such a lovely sight and this was such a tragedy. I had to come and --

COSTELLO: Did you leave a message? Did you bring something?

TETHERL: I'm bringing a lot of thoughts. I just came out of the tea. We'd been at the art museums, the Museum of Fine Arts and Isabelle Gardner and had to come by and see Boston strong.

COSTELLO: I think that really encapsulates all of this. Because you look around and there are tears but not too many. It's more of -- you can't beat us, you can try, but you're not going to do it.

TETHERL: I talked to a friend last night at dinner. He said he stopped running a marathon five years ago but after this he's going to come back and run it again. It is going to be the strongest marathon next year ever.

COSTELLO: Thank you Harry. Thanks for sharing. You can see what a great attitude people have and what a hopeful vibe there is in this city and just the simple fact that terrorists will not beat us. They just won't.

When we come back we'll have much more on the investigation into the suspects who did that terrible thing at the Boston Marathon. We'll be back. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: An update now on the father of the Boston bombing suspects. He says he's in the hospital in Russia with an unspecified illness. Anzor Tsarnsev didn't give any details of what the illness is but he did say it will force him to postpone his trip to the United States indefinitely. He was planning to fly to Massachusetts to meet with his son Dzhokhar and to bury his older son, Tamerlan. But as I just said, he'll be staying in Russia indefinitely.

Until the Boston Marathon attacks the world didn't hear much about the Russian Republic of Dagestan. That is where the two suspects lived and the people there are worried that their republic and their reputation will be forever tainted by what the Tsarnsev brothers allegedly did. Nic Robertson has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aspiring hopefuls slug it out. This day only training. Tomorrow, well, just look at the photographs on the wall in this Dagestan gym. The print for America. "The boxers there are cool. The sixteen year old tells me. I'd like to spa with them, find out who is better. Learn from them."

For century's young men in Russia's troubled Caucasus have tested themselves this way. Alleged Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev excelled at this sport but the worry is here his legacy is not going to be boxing but bombing and that will reflect badly on them and the region.

Eighteen year old Easa (ph) a regional champion competes at international level and fears Tsarnaev's trip to the region last year may hurt them. "I'd like Dagestan not to be associated with what happens," he says. "We go to competitions and now we might face problems." Their coach worries about America's reaction. "What happened in Boston was horrible," he says. "But you can't make a judgment on a nation base on two people's action. These kids all want to be in competition. I don't want any bearings to block their visas." It is not just the gym. Dagestan may once have been so far behind the iron curtain that few in the west could find it on a map.

But here the reverse was never true. Here anything Americana means cool. The cafe got its name because the designers thought would bring in more business. Not because they're selling great traditional American food. Like the cafe, there is new construction here. Outside investment, essential.

This worker tells me, "I just really hope that everyone will understand that it is quiet in the Caucasus and it is safe. You shouldn't judge because of these two people who did those explosions." Even so the news of the daily grind means news of the Boston bombings has mostly passed them by. This veteran bread seller tells me she's not heard of the Tsarnaevs and the attack.

"People here are poor, she says. There are no jobs, no productions plants. Sometimes I give my bread away for free. All those people think about," she adds, is just putting food on the table." Here at the gym or on the streets, everyone here has got their eye on a better future and the prize they dream is within their grasp.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Dagestan, Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: On the fast track to sainthood. Pope John Paul II may be headed that way. I'll talk to a Vatican insider. We are back from Boston right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The late Pope John Paul II could get on the fast track to becoming a saint. Italian media reports say a healing attributed to the Pope has been called inexplicable and that would be his second miracle, if true. Pope John Paul was beatified in 2011 after then Pope Benedict confirmed his first miracle. A second miracle would mean Pope John Paul could be canonized into sainthood. Father Thomas Reese joins me now live from Washington. A priest and the author of "Inside the Vatican." Hi Father Reese.

FATHER THOMAS REESE, AUTHOR, "INSIDE THE VATICAN:" Hi Carol.

COSTELLO: Well everybody wants to know what this second miracle is. Do you have any insight track on that?

REESE: Well we know that in order to be canonized the Pope needs a second miracle, a miracle by God attributed to his intercession. What we've heard is that this has now been reviewed, this miracle, this healing has been reviewed by a committee of seven doctors who have determined that they have no scientific explanation for why this person was cured. So it looks like he's on the fast track for becoming a saint, being declared a saint, maybe as early as October.

COSTELLO: So remind us of the first miracle. There was a nun with Parkinson's disease. At least that's what doctors thought she had. She prayed to Pope John Paul for a cure. Supposedly she was cured. Is that right? That was the first miracle.

REESE: That's correct. And what the church does is it requires that these alleged miracles be investigated by medical experts, that the x-rays, the blood tests, everything, the medical records be reviewed by a panel of doctors and they try to get experts in the field of the disease that the cure took place in and they look at them and they say, OK, is there an explanation.

If there's an explanation, a possible explanation then the miracle's thrown out. But if they cannot find any scientific explanation for the miracle, then it can be used in the cause of beatification or canonization.

COSTELLO: OK. I have to ask you a cynical reporter question -- who are these doctors?

REESE: Well, it's a committee of doctors that the Vatican has who are independent doctors. They've gone through medical school and all that. Their reputations are on the line in terms of their professional credibility. So they're not people who are going to just allow something to go through that they have not carefully studied.

COSTELLO: OK. So what happens now? So the first miracle is in place and that's been proved. Now they're working on proving the second miracle. After they do that, what happens?

REESE: Well, after they do that, after the doctors have approved it and said they have no scientific explanation, then it goes to the Congregation for Causes of the Saints, which is a committee of cardinals and bishops. Then they have to vote on it and approve it also. And at that point then it goes to the Pope's desk and it is up to him to decide when and if he wants to declare that Pope John Paul II is to be considered a saint, somewhat of heroic Christian virtue, someone who can be presented to the faithful as someone to be imitated and honored.

COSTELLO: So the Pope has already been byaetfied (ph). So you just talked about the process that has to happen now. What time period could we say St. John Paul?

REESE: I think it could come as early as October. This would be close to the anniversary of the election of John Paul II and October is also the month when we celebrate the feast of blessed john Paul II. So October looks like the end of the race.

COSTELLO: Father Thomas Reese thanks for filling us in. We sure appreciate it.

REESE: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Coming up in THE NEWSROOM, is your house worth more than it used to be? Wouldn't you love to hear me say, yes, of course it is! Well, maybe I will next. We'll have more on that coming your way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Is your home worth more than it was a month ago? How about a year ago? This week investors get a look at something called the Case Schiller Index. It is a measure of how much homes are worth in the biggest metropolitan areas. Todd Shoenberger is managing partner of LandColt Capital and he joins me now from Baltimore with the answers to all of your questions. Thanks for being with us, Todd.

TODD SHOENBERGER, MANAGING PARTNER, LANDCOLT CAPITAL: Thanks for having me.

COSTELLO: OK. So I'll ask you that question. Is my home worth more than it was last year?

SHOENBERGER: Well, it should be, Carol. I mean you are right Case Schiller Index. Everybody wants to focus on this. The housing data recently has been OK'd. It hasn't been great but it hasn't been poor. And Case Schiller is going to look at 20 major metropolitan cities. It is going to give you somewhat of a value, a housing value on residential real estate. It doesn't include condo sales or new construction but right now Wall Street is expecting a year over year increase of 9 percent. This is the biggest increase then since 2006. So if you bought a home a year ago you should be feeling pretty good right now.

COSTELLO: OK. So oddly enough, I am shopping for a house right now. I have heard of bidding wars in certain cities, like homes on the market that go in one day. How common is this and in what areas is that common?

SHOENBERGER: That is common, especially in Washington, D.C. and in New York. You think of some of the biggest cities obviously where there is a lot of commerce that's taking place, but you can also focus on the west coast and San Francisco. Of course, even in San Diego, there are certain cities in this country right now that you do have those bidding wars that are taking place.

It is almost like you would feel it is part of the housing bubble. Like what we had pre the economic collapse. But I got to tell you, a lot of these home buyers right now are mostly cash. I'm not sure that bubble is going to be blowing up any time soon.

COSTELLO: That's what I wanted to ask you. So let's say I have my eye on a house and I get into this bidding war. How can I protect myself, how do I know when to stop bidding, when to stop upping my bid, I should say?

SHOENBERGER: Good question. I think that's on a per-person basis, on a case by case basis. Because clearly if there is affordability there, if you have the opportunity to obtain the mortgage, there's several factors obviously. Obviously if home values continue to increase, but also job security. So you have to keep that in mind as you are buying a house. Realistically though, this is not going to not send a trend or at least it shouldn't for would-be home buyers to think that home values will increase 9 percent per year but they are increasing. There is an uptrend there and that's great for residential real estate.

COSTELLO: Well you know there is a problem though, Todd. It is very difficult to get a loan still. I'm lucky, I have perfect credit. Took me a long time but I worked hard on it. But if you don't have perfect credit it is really, really difficult to qualify for a loan.

SHOENBERGER: That's right. And so here's the thing. If you are trying to obtain that loan, you want to have everything in order before you try to get that mortgage. Because first of all, you want to know what your credit report is. Carol, it looks like you've done your own personal due diligence. But everybody needs to do the same thing.

They have to get everything, all of their assets together and their liquidity, also their job history. You're right, banks are not lending like they once did but they are lending. That's something to keep in mind. Sure, you might have a few more hoops to jump through but at least banks are at least offering something to would-be buyers.

COSTELLO: I have a lot more hoops to jump through and I have my husband to thank for my good credit. Todd, thank you so much for joining us today.

SHOENBERGER: All right. Thank you.

COSTELLO: You are welcome.

Coming up in THE NEWSROOM, a new lead in the Boston bombing investigation. The Russians were eavesdropping on the suspected bomber's mother and someone they think was one of her sons. Investigators think they were having a conversation about Jihad. All the latest details for you just ahead in our 5:00 p.m. hour of NEWSROOM live from Boston.

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