[Holmes:] And good morning, everybody. Good morning, New York City. Taking a look at Columbus Circle with Central Park in the backdrop there. Woke up to some snow this morning. You see it there on the ground. But hopefully it won't be piling up, don't think it will be on the roads. But who am I to say, I'm no meteorologist. We'll check in with Rob Marciano here in just a bit.
[Chetry:] Yes, we don't care anymore for a few inches, right? I mean, we've been through so much this winter here in New York. No one even mentioned it this morning when they came in. No one even said a word about the snow.
[Holmes:] I did.
[Chetry:] You did?
[Holmes:] Yes.
[Chetry:] Well, it's 42 minutes past the hour time for a look at our top stories. Schools in Madison, Wisconsin, called off again today. The state's largest union told teachers to go back to work. But they voted against showing up today. They actually had doctors out in the crowd handing out sick notes. Democrats in Wisconsin Senate left the state to stall that bill on a vote that would force state workers to pay more benefits to surrender their rights to collectively bargain.
[Holmes:] Also, anti-government protests continue in Libya. And the government crackdown continues there, as well. The protests which have been mainly centered in the second largest city there Benghazi, now is spilling over to the capital of Tripoli. Some update we're getting this morning that BP said it's going to start pulling some of its employees out of Libya. Also, Moammar Gadhafi's son in a televised address was warning a civil war. Also, the reports of at least 233 people killed in clashes there.
[Chetry:] Gas prices inching higher overnight. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular is now $3.17. That's more than 53 cents higher than this time last year. Analysts say tensions in the Middle East and North Africa are partly to blame for that rise in prices.
[Holmes:] Also, they're on alert in the Philippines right now because of Mt. Bulusan. That's a volcano there that's been spewing it. It's done it twice in the past 24 hours and it hasn't done it since 1996. So, some people concerned about what's happening. It seems that there's little threat to nearby villages. And so far, most people out of the danger zone. But still, officials are warning residents to stay as far away as possible, and may still some steam and ash explosions.
[Chetry:] The two girls in Arizona are in the hospital after they were thrown from a jumping castle. High winds actually lifted the castle 100 feet into the air. Both girls, a 9-year-old and 11-year-old, were ejected from the bouncer. The 11-year-old was thrown to the ground just as the castle went airborne. She is expected to be OK. And the 9-year-old was tossed as it landed on a nearby roof. She suffered serious head injuries. Authorities say the jumpy castle was installed properly, but the wind was just too strong. Unbelievable.
[Holmes:] Yes, we see these things. Those what they call them, bounce houses or something?
[Chetry:] Yes, the bouncing castles. The kids love them.
[Holmes:] I love those things. Amazing. But the wind could pick one of those things up.
[Chetry:] Well, 45 minutes past the hour right now. We get a check of the morning's weather headlines. The wind was a big deal this weekend, right? Doesn't it also destroy the national Christmas tree?
[Marciano:] Yes, big winds in D.C. on Saturday as that cool front came through, and you're right. That big old Douglas fir got snapped in half right at the base. So, they've got to find a new tree to decorate come next Christmas there on the white house lawn. We have a large system. Actually, it's kind of a double system, one kind of moving through the northeast right now, and then, one still back towards the Midwest and this has brought a tremendous amount of snow already to the Midwest. Eden Prairie, Minnesota, seeing 17 inches of it, Middle and South Dakota 16 inches, and Minneapolis proper seeing 13 inches of snow. So, over a foot there. And they're right now in the top five as far as the snow goes for their season. So, a lot of cities are breaking records or at least getting into historic territory this winter for sure. Boston, a little bit of light snow, but right now, the heaviest snows are in through New York City and is mostly a wet snow. You saw at least in the city streets. It's having a hard time sticking. Just winter weather advisories are up right now because temperatures are right around the freezing mark, 30, 31, 32 degrees in New York City, just above freezing in Philadelphia, and look at temperatures in the 40s in D.C. So, obviously, there's a little bit of a warm front down there. Three to five inches of snow expected in the New York City area up through parts of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, as well A little bit farther north and west of the city, you'll see six to 10 inches, maybe in some cases, up to 12 inches of snow. Going to be some travel delays, of course, especially around the New York metropolitan airports, 30 to 60-minute delays in Boston and Pittsburgh as well. Chicago, Minneapolis, still some leftover snow. The system is so wide in its expanse. Thirty to 60-minute delay is expected in Cleveland and Philadelphia and Atlanta, just low clouds in those areas. Double whammy storm, warm air to the south, so mountain snow out towards the west, and this will this system the back end of it is going to take its time getting through. So, it'll be kind of drawn out, although, not very intense and that's good news. Here we go. Slowly moving across the northeast today and tonight, and the backside of this, thus, bring in some colder air. So, even though you're well above freezing and close to 50 degrees in Washington, D.C., the backside of this, we'll see temperatures drop close to the freezing mark. And I think parts of Virginia will see temperatures that will be cold enough to sustain snow. Temperatures today, though, will be well above freezing in D.C., 55, 37 degrees in New York City, 70 in Atlanta. So, we're still warm across much of the south. Spring comes early for folks who live south of the Mason-Dixon. Sixty-two degrees tomorrow for high temperature in Atlanta. It will be 41 degrees in Chicago and 39 degrees in New York City. So, a little bit of snow, but likely as I mentioned, I mean, considering what you've seen the past season, small potatoes to get three to five inches of wet snow there in New York City. No problem at all.
[Chetry:] Exactly. All right. Thanks, Rob.
[Holmes:] Thanks, Rob. It is flu season, if you didn't know it, it's official. Flu is in all 50 states reportedly now, and it's widespread according to doctors in at least 37 states. Some of the statistics for you. About 200,000 Americans are hospitalized every year with the flu, 40,000 die. The CDC encourages flu vaccinations for people over six months old. You should always consult with your doctor. Good news here is that unlike several years in the past, there is no flu vaccine shortage they say. That plenty of vaccine is available, and it appears to work with the current flu strain that's out there.
[Chetry:] All right. Another language could mean another advantage for you, according to a new study. Researchers were on tested learning a second language can delay Alzheimer's disease. Their study focused on 450 Alzheimer's patients who were bilingual. Those who were, were diagnosed four or five years later than patients who spoke only one language. Being bilingual won't prevent the disease, but it may delay symptoms. Scientists say that the more proficient you are, the better, but then, you don't have to become fluent to see benefits at keeping the brain active is the key. Top stories just a couple of minutes away, including a California news crew attacked by an angry mob. A female journalist pulled to the ground by her hair and kicked. It was all caught on tape.
[Holmes:] Also, coming up this morning, it's a heck of a morning for one young man. The day after his 20th birthday and his second race ever in NASCAR. What does he do? He goes out and wins the Daytona 500. He will be joining us live on this AMERICAN MORNING. We're ten minutes till the top of the hour.