Update: Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas has also stated that she, too, will vote to push the bill forward, which gives the Democrats the 60 votes they need to avoid a Republican filibuster. [CNN]

Here's a clip of the press conference, wherein Alderden describes the "a-ha moment" he experienced after watching the Heene family's interview with Wolf Blitzer, wherein little Falcon uttered his now-infamous line, "We did this for the show."



Later in the press conference, Alderden announced the following possible charges:
Conspiracy
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (Class 4 felony)
False reporting to authorities (Class 3 Misdemeanor)
Attempting to influence a public servant (Class 4 Felony)

The FBI and FAA will also be contacted to determine whether or not Federal charges apply, Alderden says, and the state is considering seeking restitution for the manhours, costs, and resources taken up by the elaborate scheme. At one point, Alderden also mentioned that Richard and Mayumi Heene met in Los Angeles, at acting school. "They put on a very good show for us, and we bought it."

Update: Alderden says the scheme was planned for approximately 2 weeks, and was a set-up, as many suspected, to gain publicity and help the family secure a reality show. He also says the Sheriff's department has not contacted Robert Thomas, the man who gave an exclusive interview to Gawker yesterday about planning a hoax with Heene, but that they are aware of him and are interested in speaking with him.

Child Protective Services have been also notified and will be investigating the situation. Alderden says the children, due to their age, are unlikely to face any charges. Poor Falcon. I think being known as "Balloon Boy" for the rest of his life is punishment enough.

Update: The entire 25 minute speech can be watched here:

A few quotes from the speech:

• "It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady GaGa. I've made it!"

• "You continue leading by the force of the arguments you make and by the power of the example that you set in your own lives, as parents, as friends, as PTA members and church members, as advocates and leaders in your community. And you're making a difference. That's the story of the movement for fairness and equality. And not just for those who are gay, but for all those in our history who have been denied the rights and responsibilities of citizenship."

• "This story, this fight, continues now. And I'm here with a simple message. I'm here with you, in that fight. For even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot and we will not put aside issues of basic equality. I greatly appreciate the support I've received from many in this room. I also appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough. I want to be honest about that, because it's important to be honest among friends."

• "My commitment to you is unwavering even as we wrestle with these enormous problems. And while progress may be taking longer than you'd like, as a result of the all that we we face, and that's the truth, do not doubt the direction we are headed, and the destination we will reach. My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians, whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time when we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."

• "Together, we will have moved closer to that day when no one has to be afraid to be gay in America. When no one has to be afraid to walk down the street holding the hand of the person they love. But we have more work to do."

• "I have called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act."

• "We can not afford to cut from our ranks people with the critical skills we need to fight, anymore than we can afford for our military's integrity to force those willing to do so into careers encumbered and compromised by having to live a lie. So I am working with the Pentagon, it's leadership, and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' That is my commitment to you."

Obama: I'll Let Gays Serve Openly In Military [MSNBC]

[Image via New York Daily News.]

The victim, James Pouillon, was shot at 7:30 AM, and another victim was shot shortly thereafter, near a gravel pit. Police believe the shootings are related, and have arrested a suspect at the suspect's home. Neither the suspect nor the second victim have been publicly identified yet, and no Owosso High School students were involved in either shooting.

Pouillon was known in Owosso as "the abortion sign guy" for his signs depicting aborted fetuses. He had been arrested in 1994 for protesting against abortion on the steps of Owosso's City Hall, and later sued the city of Owosso for violating his First Amendment rights. Part of his suit reads,

James Pouillon is a dedicated anti-abortion protester whose non-working life is largely devoted to activism in that cause. He was a familiar figure on the streets of Owosso, where he staged abortion protests for a portion of each day almost every weekday for over ten years.

Posters on a Shiawassee County Forum last year criticized Pouillon for the manner of his protests, and for allegedly harassing UAW retirees at a parade. One wrote,

well I do not like his sign, but that is not what I have the real problem with- he does have a right to protest—but....he takes it too far- yelling at people and especially kids is just not right-

And moderator Kevin Michael Brown offered this anecdote:

He was sitting outside of the commercial building at the fair a few years ago.... I think shortly after his health problems got worse..... he had his oxygen. I sat down with him and we chatted. [...] Poullion was pleasant and spoke highly of my father, who passed in 2003. We had a nice exchange for about half an hour and then I got up, shook his hand and went back to the Dems booth and he to the Right To Life booth. This in no way is meant to excuse his rude/gross/obnoxious behavior and language, but to show that he DOES have a human side.

I think he is a lonely, frightened little man who probably was the class clown. He goes out of his way to provoke people (yelling obscenities, etc.) and get attention.

Responding to the shooting, Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life calls for "a strong expression of indignation from the pro-abortion community, just like there was a strong expression of indignation form the pro-life community at the killing of Dr. Tiller." He also says this is a time for "a renewal of unity within the pro-life community, coming to one another's assistance supporting one another, and by no means allowing fear or intimidation to have any role in our lives, but rather to move forward in peaceful organized ways to stand against this evil of abortion."

Update: The shooter's second victim was Mike Fuoss, 61, owner of the gravel pit. Fuoss's brother-in-law says the shooter was the son of one of Fuoss's former employees. The shooter's name still hasn't been released, but he's apparently 33 years old and has admitted to shooting Fuoss.

Anti-abortionist Shot Dead In Front Of Teenagers As They Arrive For School [Daily Mail]
Breaking: Anti-Abortion Activist Is Shot And Killed Outside MI School [Breitbart]
Police Investigating 2 Deaths In Owosso [WNEM]
Pro-life Activist Shot Dead Near Owosso High [AP]
Breaking: Well-Known Local Pro-Life Activist Shot And Killed In Michigan [LifeSiteNews]
Update: Two Dead In Shiawassee County [WLNS.com]
Federal Appeals Panel Reinstates Abortion Foe's Free-Speech Case [First Amendment Center]
Police Say Second Apparent Homicide Discovered This Morning In Owosso Township [MLive.com]
Sign Man [Shiawassee County Forums]
Man In Custody For 2 Fatal Owosso Shootings [Detroit Free Press]

"She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward," a source tells CNN, "She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year." Tina Fey, get your costume ready, because I think the "Also, You Betcha! Tour: 2009-2012" is about to begin.

Palin Will Not Run For Re-Election [CNN]
Palin Won't Run For Re-Election [WDSU]
Report: Palin Resigning As Alaska Gov [MSNBC]
Transcript Of Palin's Resignation [Alaska.Gov]

"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times." [Fox]