Morning Express with Robin Meade

Good morning. Robin is in Joplin, Missouri, this morning for special coverage from the city where at least 150 people died a year ago in a massive EF-5 tornado.

Natasha Curry's handling anchor duties while Robin talks to us from a city changed forever by the disaster.

One year ago, a massive EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, killing more than 160 people and changing the city forever. In the weeks after the tornado hit, HLN visited Joplin and -- amid untold devastation -- found people determined to stay and rebuild their lives in the city they call home. Now, a year later, HLN returns to Joplin to tell the next chapter in this story of perseverance, courage and resolve. 

Robin Meade and Clark Howard will lead HLN’s one-year anniversary coverage on air and online. "I'm someone who is all too familiar with the regularity of the tornado siren," says Meade, who grew up in the Midwest. "Joplin could be 'my town' for any one of us."

Hey everybody, just want to give you a heads up on the solar eclipse that will happen on Sunday evening in the western parts of the U.S.

I don't want you to think the world is ending and that the Mayans were right, but just seven months off. It's a rare annular solar eclipse, when the moon is in apogee (farthest away from Earth's center) in its orbit. That means the moon won't cover the entire solar disk as it passes in front of the sun. The image is often described as a "ring of fire." Remember the supermoon earlier this month? That was when we had the full moon and it was in perigee (closest to Earth in its orbit), making it 14% brighter than normal. The eclipse will start over Lubbock, Texas, around 7:30 p.m. MDT Sunday evening. The total eclipse path will take it near or over Albuquerque, New Mexico; The Grand Canyon, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; and off the west coast near Eureka, California. You can see the NASA projection here.   Remember, a solar eclipse is when the moon goes between the Earth and the sun, and the moon's shadow hits Earth. I've heard people say a solar eclipse happens when the sun comes between the Earth and the moon. If that happens Sunday, then the Mayans will have been right!

Russ Leatherman, also known as Mr. Moviefone, takes on three films opening this weekend: 'The Dictator' starring Sasha Baron Cohen; a dramatized version of the how-to-have-a-baby book 'What to Expect when You're Expecting'; and 'Battleship' which features some real military members on screen -- including Col. Greg Gadson who despite losing both his legs to an improvised explosive device in Iraq several years ago, is still active duty with the U.S. Army.

While Gadson is an Army Colonel in real life, his character in 'Battleship' is one step below, Lieutenant Colonel. But he DOES get to play most of his scenes with Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model-turned-actress Brooklyn Decker. Which some might say makes up for the demotion. "You should go," says Col. Gadson, "because you'll feel great about our military after you see it." 

Last week, Kentucky businessman Rankin Paynter decided to see what bargains could be found at his Clark County Kmart before it was closed down. He was at the store just two days ahead of its closing and asked a clerk what would happen to all the merchandise left behind. The clerk told him a group of “power buyers” would be able to snap it up for a good deal. 

So Paynter decided to become one of those buyers with power. Only he used his power for good.

When a group of second-graders in Colorado Springs, Colorado, dressed up as historical figures for a class project, eight-year-old Sean King put on a jacket and tie to portray the reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

He also put on a fake mustache and painted his face black, and that’s where the trouble started.

Local police and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms are looking for a man who was spotted pointing a rifle at a moving school bus south of Atlanta. 

Since the sighting Monday, cops have been escorting school buses, and going door to door in Clayton County, Georgia trying to find out who the suspected sniper is. 

Danielle Berger writes on CNN.com, "[There are] an estimated 10,000 youth caregivers living in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to the American Association of Caregiving Youth. The nonprofit, founded by county resident Connie Siskowski, was instrumental in bringing this previously unrecognized population to light in 2002, and it has since provided support to more than 500 area youths who are caring for an ill, disabled or aging family member."

Read Connie Siskowski's whole story and nominate someone YOU think should be a CNN Hero at CNN.com/Heroes.

Today hurts on the sleep meter, doesn't it? Bring on the caffeine, the flat iron, the spray-on wrinkle release for the non-ironing types with the wadded-up shirts. (We should get something like that for our faces. Ha!) Bring it all just as you are and be the most informed as you start your day.  Because Friday looks good on you.

Tons of intriguing new information in the Trayvon Martin case:

Kids all over the U.S. are getting a hand getting fit thanks to Louis Yuhasz and his 'Louie's Kids' fitness program. 

Meet some of the kids Louis is teaching to live more active lives and you'll see why he is a Morning Express with Robin Meade 'Leader with Heart.'