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Deadly Tornado Hits Mississippi; Arizona's Immigration Crackdown; Emails Released on Capitol Hill; Illinois Politics a Problem for Democrats

Aired April 24, 2010 - 17:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: We start with breaking news.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. And we're talking about a tornado, almost a mile wide, cutting a deadly path through Mississippi. Today you've been watching it unfold here on CNN. Just look at the damage in the west central part of that state. Just one of the areas seeing severe weather and it is all happening right now.

We're getting information in as we're on the air and we'll be checking with our meteorologists. But I want to take you through a little bit of this, homes have been reduced to splinters, and Yazoo City, and that's where the mayor says, two people are dead from this. Again, that's according to the associated press and the mayor of that town. Yazoo City fire chief there says, 20 to 30 houses are completely destroyed and some people were trapped inside of those homes. Unbelievable. Even if you have warning here, it is not enough to save your property because you don't know where it is going to go.

Listen, Governor Haley Barbour who is at his home in Yazoo City when all of this hit, but he is OK. We have been talking to his office, his office also says, there is damage in four counties right now. Emergency crews and the National Guard all there, the whole state is now under a tornado watch. And that is a good way to get to our meteorologist now Jacqui Jeras. Jacqui, a tornado watch and this is really unbelievable stuff. We heard the rumble here in Atlanta, that weather system is rolling through and, boy, creating some havoc.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Unbelievable. You know, the worst outbreak of the year by far, Don. It's been a quiet start and boy when severe weather season gets started, and all those conditions come, you know, together perfectly, it just creates conditions like this. This is typically what we would see in parts of April and into May and we have had just a tremendous outbreak with about 37 reports of tornadoes. Now, the one tornado that caused so much damage in parts of Mississippi was likely the one parent cell that produced a tornado on and off, that covered a path about 150 miles.

We do still have a tornado warning in effect across parts of Mississippi and this is a different cell. This is for Noxubee and Winston County. This is a Doppler radar indicated tornado but we could potentially see something touching on the ground at any given time. Now, we also have another warning that I want to tell you about. And this is up into part of Tennessee and there you can see the cell that we're looking at and oh, look at that, hey, tornado warning looks like it expired now, changed over to severe thunderstorm warning, and these storms, this is the one that oh, and there you can see the purple box that just returned.

OK. So, we've got possible tornado and rotation still on this cell. It has a history of producing some large hail. This one also, again, a Doppler radar indicated tornado. So, hopefully we keep these things off the ground. Now, the one that we have been tracking across Mississippi has dissipated as it moves to Alabama. And there you can see that cell that moved all the way across. Almost all the way across the state. And then moved into Alabama before weakening. But it could still produce some damaging winds associated with this.

Now, I want to show you the path and all these storm reports that we have been seeing across Mississippi and we'll zoom in and then show you, it wasn't just Yazoo City that saw the damages. This thing cross I-55 around Durant, a bunch of cars got blown off the interstate, here along with some injuries, quite a few injuries also are reported in the Hesterville area. And we did have some reports of damages to Sturgis as well as Starkville, Mississippi. So, this is what we call those large, violent, long track type tornadoes that can stay on the ground for a very long period of time.

And based on some of the new video that were starting to get in and I'm going to say, this is likely at least an ef-3 tornado that moved through here with estimated winds potentially up to 165 miles per hour. Of course, the national weather service is going to go out tomorrow and to Yazoo City and give their official assessment on that but they are telling us, it was likely at least three quarters of a mile wide as it moved through the city.

LEMON: All right. Jacqui Jeras, thank you very much. Jacqui stand by. And viewers, as you can see, things are changing as we're on the air here. You have a warning and then watches that go up and then expire here at any moment. That's what we want to check in now to talk about the damage. Because on the phone is Jeff Rent, he is with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. He's outside Jackson, Mississippi.

Thank you, sir, for joining us. Explain to us what you're dealing with right now. JEFF RENT, MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Right now we're still in our response mode to this storm. You know, it moved through a couple of hours ago, but we are still trying to account for all the residents which have been impacted by the storm. We have at least 12 counties which have reported various amounts of damage. The one giving the most attention with the most heavily impacted, that is Yazoo County in Yazoo City specifically which is probably the most densely populated area which was hit by this large tornado.

We did have eyewitness confirmations from trained storm spotter that this was a tornado on the ground and as you just reported, this was a very long track storm leaving in its wake really just horrible damages. We have many reports from different areas of injuries, many of those people are being treated. And several have been transported to various hospitals around the state. We have a Level One Trauma Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. And we do understand that some people have been airlifted and brought there for treatment. So, the injuries are very serious.

LEMON: Yes. Mr. Rent, tell us about those injuries. What kind of injuries are you seeing? Any life threatening?

RENT: As a matter of fact, we're hearing that. But I don't have any official confirmation yet. The reports are actually very sporadic that are coming in, which is sometimes typical in these types of situations. Because the local emergency managers, which are responsible for reporting the damages and the injuries to us, they're in their response mode. So, they're out in the field, really trying to get control of the situation. We do understand that the governor is going to be using the assistance of the National Guard in Yazoo County to help maintain some control and get assistance to the residents there.

So, that is something that is on the horizon. We had the state of emergency for the entire state, which, you know, this is still a developing storm system. We're not out of the woods yet. We still have at least one active tornado warning in the state. And we want residents to know that the storms obviously have been very dangerous, have potentially caused loss of life. We're still waiting on official confirmation of that. But we do know they have caused many injuries. They have completely destroyed many homes. Widespread power outages, and this is still a very dangerous storm system as the cold front pushes on through.

LEMON: Hey, thank you very much for that, Jeff Rent, he's with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Thank you, we may be getting back to you in just a little bit. But as you heard him saying, you heard our Jacqui Jeras say, listen, you need to seek safety and pay attention to CNN because we're going to guide you through all of this. This system has made its way across Alabama and is making its way across the south now. So, it could be hitting in your area. As a matter of fact, we have seen some heavy rain, some wind, there were several tornado watches here in Atlanta in the Georgia area.

So Georgia, to be specific, not Atlanta. And that we have been following it as well. So, listen, let's move on now. We want to get you to the ground. We told you that Yazoo City, one of most heavily hit spots at least for now because we are still assessing the damage. Let's go now to Joseph Pleasant with our affiliate WAPT on the ground. Joe, thank you for joining us. I see a line of cars behind you. What's going on?

JOSEPH PLEASANT, WAPT REPORTER (via telephone): Well, these lines of cars are going up highway 16. There is a whole other small town and neighborhoods behind me. And what is sad out here is that as people come through here, they're actually asking each other from car to car, have you talked to mama? Have you seen Paul? Have you seen Bill? They literally don't know if their loved ones are here. But the problem is about four miles up the road here, they're being turned around because only emergency officials are being allowed past a certain point there as they try to search for survivors and those still trapped.

Now, slide over to my left here, you can see that military helicopter has landed on the hill here. This is just one of the first responders that are making their way into the area. And just on the other side of that, if you can see, there is three flagpoles there, one with the State of Mississippi's flag, one with the American flag, and another flag, and on the other side of the hill is this scene. This is video of the Hill Crest Baptist church, or what's left of it that we took as soon as we got on the scene here this afternoon.

That church was once burned down and they built it again and now it is back on the ground, destroyed by this tornado. The good news about this church, though, there was someone inside that was doing work, when the tornado hit the church, he actually dove under the altar and was spared. He got out with only three scratches. That's just one of the many stories out here of miracles but also of great sorrow as people assess the damage and also continue to find out if their homes are damaged, if their loved ones are hurt or even worse.

LEMON: So, listen, I want to ask you this, Joseph, since you're there on the ground, I thought it was very interesting that you said, people are stopping each other there along the way to try to either go find other people or get to safety or at least go to the grocery store or what have you, and they're asking, have you seen mama and papa, and have you seen any of the relatives. So, there are people there that are still unaccounted for that these people are looking for family members?

PLEASANT: Right, exactly because this road that leads back to Benton, this is -- a lot of these people are neighbors and friends. And as one person is turned around at that checkpoint and sent back to highway 49, another person is driving in, trying to get to their home, trying to check on their loved ones. Another issue we're having here is with cell phone service, rubbing issues with getting signals in and out. So, phone calls on your cell phones are also very sporadic. And as you can imagine, land lines have been compromised here as well.

LEMON: All right, we want to thank Jeff Pleasant -- Joseph Pleasant, I should say, he's with our affiliate wapt. And he is joining us tonight from Mississippi.

We'll be checking back in with him. Nice job. Thank you very much. Interesting. People are concerned about their loved ones. And you heard the emergency management official there say, hey, listen, we don't know exactly what is going on there. There are still some watches and warnings throughout the state. They're still finding damage. People are still in the hospital. They're checking to see if there are injuries, are life threatening or not. So, a lot going on. And so, make sure you stay tuned here to CNN for the developing news as we continue on.

We'll continue to follow that developing story as we move on here. In the meantime, why don't we talk about immigration right now? A new Arizona State law targeting illegal immigrants has reignited a long running and emotional debate. Arizona's governor yesterday signed a bill that's being called one of the toughest in the country. It requires immigrants to carry their registration documents with them at all times and it requires police to question anyone they suspect is in the u.s. illegally. More on that story coming up in just a little bit.

Our Casey Wian is following that for you. We're back in a moment with the developing news or breaking news here on CNN, a tornado causing some really, really destructive damage, some major damage across the south tonight and we're on it. We're back in moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Again, we're following breaking weather news here on CNN. We'll get to that in a moment. And before the break, we told you about a new Arizona State law targeting illegal immigrants. It is really ignited a long running and emotional debate. Arizona's governor yesterday signed a bill that's being called one of the toughest in the country. Here is why. It requires immigrants to carry their registration documents with them at all times. And it requires police to question anyone they suspect is in the U.S. illegally. It also targets the businesses that hire illegal day laborers.

Our Casey Wian is covering reaction to the new law. He joins us from Phoenix. Casey, what is going on today with this?

CASEY WIAN, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what you see behind me is a group of nearly 100 or so protesters who are outside the state capital here in Phoenix, many of them spent the night overnight, they're nowhere near the number of folks. There was an estimated 2,000 folks that some points during the day yesterday, very angry that Governor Jan Brewer signed that bill into law. They're anticipating a prayer service here later this evening and tomorrow, they're anticipating a much bigger rally, several thousand people are expected to come, many from all over the country to gather here and show their opposition to this bill.

We traveled along the streets of Phoenix today and talked to some sort of non protesters, regular folks, if you will and you hear much different picture. Some folks are saying that they're very happy that the government of Arizona finally acted on this issue, they may not be entirely satisfied with all the provisions of the legislation, but they believe that the federal government has failed to act and failed to solve this problem. So they're happy that it has been signed. Others are very worried about the -- go ahead.

LEMON: Here is my question. We have been talking about the immigration for a long time, it's a very important subject. So, then, what prompted this tough new law to pass the state legislature there?

WIAN: A lot of folks say, it is just absolute frustration. They have had several successive administrations that have refused or failed to do something about the nation's illegal immigration situation. Whether it is a guest worker program, some sort of a path to citizenship for those who are here illegally, whether it is solving the border security issue, all of those issues have not been solved by the federal government. And you're seeing more and more frustration at the state and local level that is boiling over and resulting in laws like this. You probably going to see more states enact these type of laws or at least try to. Some of the anti-illegal immigration activists say, they're going to be taking mirror laws to other states and hopefully try to get them through their legislature. So, I think it is frustration with the federal government's failure to solve the broader issue.

LEMON: All right, thank you very much, our Casey Wian covering this story. We're going to continue to cover it right here on CNN. You know, it is hard to see how climate change and immigration reform could be linked. But there is apparently the case with a key Republican senator who has been working with Democrats but who now say that, they're not playing fairly here.

So our Ed Henry is traveling with the president and this weekend and he joins us now from North Carolina.

Ed, I understand that you along with CNN's Dana Bash uncovered really some new developments, the president wants immigration reform on the front burner right now. But you're picking up new information that suggests he may face a major roadblock with this.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Don. In fact, Dana and I just confirming that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is now abruptly announcing that he's pulling out of those separate climate change talks. Which is supposed to be a big news conference on Monday where he democrat carry Independent Joe Lieberman, they were going to unveil details of a new environmental piece of legislation there because he's frustrated that the White House and Senate Democrats want to push immigration reform ahead of this climate change legislation.

He thinks it is too much as once, he thinks they're going to collide and Senator Graham's words, a sharply worded letter that moving immigration ahead of climate change, quote, "In this hurried panic manner is nothing more than a cynical political ploy."

This really is a political difficulty now for the White House because as you just heard from Casey, President Obama yesterday in the rose garden was saying, this situation in Arizona is a wake-up call nationally that because of all of these issues that have been pushed to the side, and haven't been dealt with, you need federal immigration reform, otherwise as Casey said, there is going to be mirror legislation going from Arizona to maybe other border states and you're going to have a patch work system. Now with Senator Graham based with pulling out and saying, he's no longer going to work with the White House, that's a big political blow.

LEMON: All right, thank you, Ed Henry. We'll get back to you, we appreciate it. Stand by.

Let's return now to the tough new anti-illegal immigration bill in Arizona. The governor signed it yesterday, setting off a strong and emotional reaction among both critics and supporters. Joining me now from Phoenix is Bishop Minerva Garcano of the United Methodist Church. Thank you so much for joining us. So, listen, I am -- are you there, bishop? BISHOP MINERVA GARCANO, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (via telephone): Yes, I am.

LEMON: Yes. Bishop, hi. You're live on television right now.

GARCANO: Can you hear me?

LEMON: All right. We're having an issue with the bishop. We will stand by and see if they can work that out. Let's really talk about this, you heard our Ed Henry there talking about the energy and also climate change, I should say and also immigration. And now we're going to talk about immigration now with the bishop. Bishop, you're live on television. This is Don Lemon with CNN. Can you hear me now?

GARCANO: I can hear you. Can you hear me?

LEMON: I can. Thank you very much. Listen, did you expect this bill, the governor to sign it?

GARCANO: We suspected that she would sign it.

LEMON: And so your thoughts on it? You said that you have -- you've been witnessing large amounts of panic and fear with the signing of this. Explain that.

GARCANO: That is correct, our churches and synagogues across the state have been receiving calls from our families who are members of our congregations, afraid, afraid about racial profiling, afraid about the implications of this law, afraid to go to work, afraid even to come to worship. And so, we have been receiving all of those calls and responding to them. Yesterday many of us religious leaders were here at the capital and when it was announced that the governor had signed the bill, we had 1500 young people who were devastated, and who were also fearful.

Some of them are immigrant children, some of them have parents who are undocumented. They were devastated. They were also affected in terms of the advocacy work that they had done. They really thought in their youthful idealism that the governor would do the right thing, that justice would prevail and when it did not, we had quite a bit of anxiety and fear and so we were serving them.

LEMON: And bishop, I've got to ask you this. So, we have an issue with immigration here. They are saying that the laws need to be changed or that we need to close our borders in some way, at least get a grasp on it. So, you can understand that there is an issue with it and people are trying to solve the problem. There are also people who say, they don't think it is a bad idea to have this, because if you're legal, then you should not be concerned about someone having to present an identification, you have to have a driver's license, you have to present i.d. for other things. Do you understand that side?

GARCANO: I understand that we are all at a place where we are frustrated. Those who are seeking immigration reform and those who are facing some of the circumstances of immigration in this state. But the state law does not address any of that. We need federal change. We need a federal comprehensive immigration reform. This law also does...

LEMON: So, what are the solutions? What are the alternatives and the solutions in it if you feel that way?

GARCANO: Well, I think that a special session of the legislative body needs to happen. And this law needs to be taken away. It needs to be demolished. It needs to be set aside. We need to focus on federal change.

LEMON: All right, bishop, thank you very much. Minerva Garcano of the United Methodist Church.

GARCANO: Thank you.

LEMON: We appreciate you joining us. Have a great evening.

You know, first the church, now the Boy Scouts. We'll tell you about an $18.5 million judgment in a sexual abuse case. And also ahead, with November congressional elections getting closer, there is more trouble for Democrats, even having problems in President Obama's adopted home state. We will tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The image of Goldman Sachs took another hit today from e- mails released on Capitol Hill. The e-mails show how the firm was making lots of money by betting with mortgage securities would go down in value. Now lawmakers point out that contradicts with Goldman's ceo Lloyd Blankfein told them. He's back in November 2007 saying, his company lost money from what's called shorting this type of securities. Now, Securities and Exchange Commission has filed several charges that Goldman Sachs defrauded investors. Tuesday, its latest including Blankfein was scheduled to testify before a Senate committee.

In Oregon, a jury has found the Boy Scouts of America liable in a sexual abuse case, returning a verdict of $18.5 million. Thirty eight year old Kerry Lewis was 12 when a scout leader sexually abused him. During the six weeks trial, Lewis' attorney produced documents of previously secret Boy Scout files that detailed decades of abuse against boys. The Boy Scouts of America has not yet commented on the verdict. The case was the first of six filed scouts the Boy Scouts in the same court in Oregon.

The president's old senate seat in Illinois is turning into a real headache for Democrats right now. First, there was a fiasco over Roland Burris, remember that, a mess which isn't over now. Now, the democratic running for the seat is having trouble all of his own right now. Peter Hamby is here with us to tell us about that now. So, listen, with all this going on. November looks worst and worst for Democrats. Now, the president's old senate seat could be in jeopardy. What is happening here?

PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Well, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is the democratic candidate for the Senate in Illinois, trying to capture President Obama's old senate seat. His family-owned bank, Broadway bank, its community bank in Chicago was closed and taken over by the fdic yesterday. That's very bad news in the middle of a senate campaign. And basically, the problem with the bank was it cratered, sorry, they had issues when the real estate market cratered. Alexi Giannoulias has had to answer questions throughout this campaign because he was a loan officer at this family bank before he became state treasurer. So, it has been a real headache for his campaign.

LEMON: I was just going to ask you, what does one have to do with the other. A lot of banks are suffering. But if he's having to answer questions, and it takes his eye off the ball and people may have to say, oh something was going on or may just think that there was something under hand or just because it's happening. But listen, Illinois Senior Senator Dick Durbin went to the White House for help. Any luck there?

HAMBY: Yes, Dick Durbin is Giannoulias' campaign chairman. He went to the White House, he told reporters this week that he met with Rahm Emanuel to try to solicit White House help for this race because Giannoulias has had trouble fund-raising, he's had to answer questions about this bank again. The White House was pretty noncommittal. According to Durbin, they're taking kind of a wait and see approach with this seat because they don't want to commit the president's prestige to a seat that could be lost, even though it is his old seat.

LEMON: All right. Do you think this would be as big a story, it probably wouldn't if this wasn't the president's old seat. I'm sure it wouldn't, Peter.

HAMBY: Right. I think it definitely has that cache because it is his old seat. And keep in mind, Harry Reid in Nevada, the Senate Majority leader, he's in trouble. He could lose his seat. And Joe Biden's old seat in Delaware, the Republican, Mike Cassell, he looks like to be the favorite to take over that seat. So, you know, following on the heels of Ted Kennedy's old seat going to a Republican, you know, those are four prestigious democratic seats that could turn Republican in November.

HAMBY: In the meantime, back in Illinois, we didn't talk about Rod Blagojevich because now, they would like to subpoena, trying to subpoena the president to testify in this and that just takes it to an even higher level. Peter Hamby, thank you. We'll discuss that later on when you come back here on CNN.

Last weekend, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined us for a town hall event to discuss what has to happen to fix America's schools. Did you get the answers you wanted? We'll going to ask a parent, a student and a teacher who attended that event.

We're also following a serious weather situation in the south eastern part of the United States. Tornado watches and warnings across the area right now. And this damage left in the wake of a very serious twister in Mississippi. We're covering it all for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're going to continue to follow the education situation in this country. We thank you all for your feedback. There has been so much since we had our town hall last week.

Of all the challenges facing our country, none may be bigger than fixing our schools. And last week I hosted a town hall meeting with secretary of education, Arne Duncan. We wrestled with the issues and asked teachers, parents and students for possible solutions.

Again, we're going to continue to follow this. So we want some perspective now on this story.

We're joined tonight by three people here who were really invested in this debate and are invested in this debate. MaryPat Hector, a seventh grader and the founder of Youth in Action.

I can't believe you're a seventh grader.

(LAUGHTER)

Tiffany Andrews, a kindergarter teacher at Brookwood (ph) Elementary School and the co-author of "Sincerely, the Teacher." And Stanley Bermudez is a father of three and a member of the Georgia Parent Advisory Board.

Let me start with you, MaryPat. If there is one thing -- this can be overwhelming at times. One thing you want the education secretary to focus on and our leaders what would it be about education?

MARYPAT HECTOR, 7TH GRADE STUDENT & FOUNDER, YOUTH IN ACTION: About education, it would have to be why kids are dropping out of school. And facts show that kids are dropping out of school not because they can't handle it, but because they're afraid to go to school, because, say, bullies and gangs and things like that.

LEMON: And you have that experience firsthand, you think?

HECTOR: I don't have it firsthand, but kids that do go to my school, they used to go to public school, and they said they couldn't handle it anymore because they were being pressured into being in a gang. And they just wanted to drop out. So what I said was, you can write a letter to my principal and I'm sure she can give you a scholarship to go to our school. And she did.

LEMON: Your parents are very involved with you.

And that's a question I want to ask to you.

TIFFANY ANDREWS, TEACHER & AUTHOR: OK.

LEMON: Parental involvement, we talked a lot about that. You heard the secretary's answer. How do you feel as a kindergarten teacher about parental involvement, the importance of it?

ANDREWS: I think, you know, with all the changes that we have coming, the one thing stays the same, and parents and teachers are working together. And we need to work together and we need to be each other's cheerleaders. We need to respect each other, and encourage each other because we are the adults in these students' lives. We are the examples and their role models. If we don't work together, we won't see much success with our students.

LEMON: Stanley is a leader of an education board.

Do you think our leaders in Washington are doing enough from what you got from the secretary of education? Do you feel they're on the right track? I'm sure they can do more, but do you feel they're on the right track?

STANLEY BERMUDEZ, PARENT & GEORGIA PARENT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER: Just the fact that they had the town hall meeting I think was very positive. And there were certain things I enjoyed listening to, some things I might not agree with.

LEMON: Do you think they understand the problem, understand the issues that parents and teachers face and students on a daily basis?

BERMUDEZ: I would say to a certain degree, yes, but every county, every state is different. And there is -- but I would say the problems are the same all over the nation. Our county is struggling with academics. There is a lot of poverty. So, you know, I'm not sure if they really truly see it.

LEMON: One of the big topics we talked about was standardized testing and we saw some of the problems that is driving students and teachers and administrators to in some cases possibly or allegedly change scores. That's a concern.

Do you think the pressure is so high for standardized testing that it forces people to do that? And do you think in some way or many ways should that be changed?

ANDREWS: I think that -- I love how Secretary Duncan talked about how we need to get away in bubbling in answer and focus on critical thinking skills. But I think unfortunately just the process of taking this standardized test is what is stressful. Teachers reading from the script, the endless hours of time it takes to teach to the test, because you cannot just teach the curriculum. You have to teach how to take the test, just like the SAT.

LEMON: Do you agree with her, MaryPat?

HECTOR: Yes, I do. And that's why --

LEMON: Is that one of the questions you asked? You asked a question. I don't remember what it was. It was a very good question during the town hall, but I don't remember what it was. Was it about testing?

HECTOR: I asked, do you think testing -- gosh, I forgot.

LEMON: That's OK. It was a very good question. He was very impressed with you. What do you think of what she said about testing? Do you agree? HECTOR: That's why some kids don't get to college is because they get so -- we have to take this test, and if I don't pass, I don't go to college. And it gets really stressful for them and the teachers as well. So that's why it is so hard for kids to go to college. I know some kids that just walked out of the test, said I can't even do this, because it is a two-hour test. People put it in their heads, it is a really long test. Instead of building them up and me feel -- you know, Georgia is the only state that has to take this test, correct?

LEMON: No. A lot of people nationwide, this is all nationwide for standardized testing, everyone does it. Yes.

HECTOR: I'm not worried.

(LAUGHTER)

Good thing.

We're going to continue to do this.

One other thing that I think is a huge issue here, we're talking about the cost to go to college. And we showed you during the town hall one parent who is so stressed out, crying, they don't know if they were going to be able to afford their homes.

We'll talk about this and bring you back. We're also -- the secretary of education said he would do more town halls. I'm sure you would like more transparency from the administration on this, right?

HECTOR: Yes.

LEMON: Thank you, all, for joining us again. A discussion we will continue to have. Be safe out there. It is rainy. We have bad weather here in Atlanta.

And that leads us to this. We're following breaking news of a severe weather outbreak across the southeast and Mississippi. A tornado estimated to be a mile wide at times, has ripped across several counties and destroying numerous homes and businesses.

Let's look at the video here. getting an amazing video from this tornado and it is all coming in now. New details.

And we're also asking you to be safe. Stay tuned because it could be in your area next. You need to know what to do. We'll show you more of this coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're following breaking weather news. If it hasn't hit your area, it could be hitting it already. Look at the video. And at the bottom of the screen, you see our meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras -- Jacqui?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The tornadoes continue to keep popping up, Don. We have got two confirmed right now at this hour. The watch area very extensive. You can see this goes really from Missouri, all the way down into Louisiana, over to Alabama, and on up into Indiana and Illinois.

We want to first take you to the St. Louis metro area. You're under a tornado warning as we speak. Trained storm spotters confirmed a funnel cloud. It is not on the ground, but it could touch down at any moment. This was near Manchester and 270. That was a few moments ago. So this area right in here that we're concerned about. This is just west of downtown St. Louis. And this is moving east/northeast. So in the line of this path, in this area, it is moving very quickly, about 50 miles per hour. So St. Louis, take cover now, especially in the western and northern sides of this city.

Now, another area that we're watching, we're going to take you into Kentucky and Tennessee where there are multiple warnings at this time, including you, in Clarksville. Up here, we have confirmed tornado in the Pembroke, Kentucky, area by trained spotters. This is on the ground as well. Elkton, you're next in the line of the storm. Make sure you're taking cover. We'll continue to monitor those warnings in that area.

We want to take you down to Mississippi where we have had a number of warnings all day long. We have got this new line. This is right near -- see this black line down the middle? That's the Alabama state line. To give you a better perspective, here is Columbus. The storms are down to the south of you. The Macon area we're looking at, south and east of Crawford, and then heading over the state line.

We have been seeing just a tremendous outbreak of tornadoes. In fact, 38 reports so far, many of which were in the state of Mississippi, just a couple of hours ago.

I want to show you now on Google Earth where all these tracks have been. and the worst of the damage has been in Yazoo City, Mississippi, where 20 to 30 homes have been damaged or destroyed. We have unofficial word that two people have been killed along with numerous injuries.

This is some new video that we just got in from Yazoo City, a spotter driving through the storm. Not recommended, might I add. And there you can see all that debris which is flying in the air at that time. I've searched through this video and I did not see any funnel in this video, but I do understand there were a couple -- oh, look at all that stuff just flying through the air here. Just an intense tornado that stayed on the ground for a very long period of time. It wasn't necessarily consistently on the ground, but we're looking at about 150 miles worth of damage, Don. Look at the homes here. You can see --

LEMON: Do we know exactly where that is, Jacqui?

JERAS: This video? This was right in Yazoo City. This was in the city itself. You can see some of these homes nearly leveled. Some of these pictures, you can see some cinder blocks which have been down, well constructed walls.

So based on the video damage I've seen, I'm going to guess this is at least an EF-3 tornado.

LEMON: What does that mean in comparison, how big, an EF-3?

JERAS: Well, it is based on the damage it causes. The estimated winds, probably 160 to 165 miles per hour with this. We have reports from the National Weather Service saying they thought the funnel itself was probably about three-quarters of a mile wide as it moved through Yazoo City.

LEMON: All right, Jacqui, we'll check back with you. Thank you very much.

Stand by for Jacqui Jeras. More updates on the weather situation happening in the southeast.

Meantime, want to check other stories making headlines today. Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides in the immigration debate. Arizona's governor is signing the toughest anti-immigration law in the country. It requires state police to question anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, and immigrants must carry their registration documents at all times. Critics say it opens the door to racial profiling. Supporters call it long overdue.

A death row inmate in Utah picks a rather out-of-date method of execution -- death by firing squad. The judge granted the request by Ronnie Lee Gardner and set the date for June 18th. Gardner is on death row for killing an attorney during a failed escape attempt at a court hearing back in 1985. Utah is the only state where firing squads are currently allowed. But the state hasn't used one since 1996.

Some of the most vulnerable patients in the hospital can be found in the neonatal intensive care unit. Having a sick baby is a tremendous emotional strain. When you add in the unexpected costs and financial hardship, the whole family can struggle to survive. That's when our "CNN Hero" of the week steps in to help. Take a look.

(CNN HEROES)

LEMON: So in less than six months, Dr. Shandonisman (ph) and his organization in San Diego have assisted 80 families with aid, ranging from medical expenses to mortgage payments and also transportation.

To nominate someone you think is changing the world, go CNN.com/heroes.

Things have really changed since I was a kid, probably since a lot of you were kids as well. Would your parents have let you look at a comic book if there was a gay character in it? There is a comic book that is introducing a gay character. Which one? Is there controversy behind it? We'll tell you all about it coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Following this program, of course, is the "The Situation Room," and Suzanne Malveaux joins us. What do you have for us, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, GUEST HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM: Thanks, Don.

Coming up in "The Situation Room," President Obama visits Wall Street and talks financial reform. One of his top advisers is here to explain what tacos have to with do it.

And Brian Todd tries out a new weapon in police arsenals, the head cam. You're not going to want to miss this amazing video.

And billionaire, Richard Branson, wants to take you into space. Find out where he plans to go, next in "The Situation Room" -- Don?

LEMON: All right. That will be interesting to see.

Thank you, Suzanne.

Eat healthy while saving money, sounds like something we all need to do. But in our today's "Fit Nation," our Dr. Sanjay Gupta gets some tips from a very surprising source.

(FIT NATION)

LEMON: All right, thank you, Dr. Gupta.

Hey listen, we're been telling you about breaking news here. of course, it is weather. A tornado touched down in Mississippi, two deaths, caused some major damage. Guess what? The Midwest, St. Louis, you could be next. Stay tuned. It's moving across the country.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Of course, our mission here is to give you information and also to keep you safe. We've been telling you about the tornado that touched down in Mississippi.

Our meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras, is here with news about the St. Louis area.

JERAS: Yes, a little bit of damage being reported. We don't know how extensive it is. This is at the West County Center Mall, which is in the Decatur area. This continues to show rotation with this storm. And a tornado warning remains in effect, which includes downtown St. Louis and many of the northern suburbs. So this is a legal situation. You need to be seeking shelter immediately and stay in the lower level of your home, away from doors and windows.

We've got a couple of other confirmed tornadoes on the ground. This one, southwest of the Nashville area in Tennessee here. Train spotters reporting a tornado about tornado about 19 miles west of the Lyndon area. And then, lastly, we have another tornado in Alabama. This is actually a funnel cloud being reported in the Pine Grove area in Pickens County. So this is the storm we're looking at right there.

So this outbreak continues, Don. We're pushing 40 tornado reports across the nation. And the worst has been in Mississippi thus far, but this is going to continue into tonight, so we'll keep you on top of this severe weather tonight.

LEMON: Make sure you stay tuned CNN if it happens. In one of our documentaries, our programming, we'll cut back in to give you the information. We should remind viewers, two people have died.

Jacqui, thank you very much.

I'm Don Lemon. See you back here in one hour. "THE SITUATION ROOM" begins right now.