Morning Express with Robin Meade

Morning!
I recently recorded a cover of a classic Beatles tune for the *next* version of my music.
So, if you've had it on your mind to get my debut album at Target, ya better hurry! It’s on the aisle near the greeting cards, NOT the CD section. Enjoy!
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On the show today:

We are taking you live to Alabama to witness the remarkable damage from yesterday’s storms. Bob Van Dillen is there.
200 homes were destroyed and 2 people were killed in the storms.
Watch to see what kind of help you may be able to provide or click on Impact Your World at HLNtv.com/Robin to make a difference right now.
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Mitt Romney went on the attack in last night's debate, accusing Newt Gingrich of "influence peddling."
Gingrich insists his work with Freddie Mac had nothing to do with lobbying.
Hear both sides.
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How would you like a major highway named after you? It could happen if one state's governor gets his way.
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Narcissism is bad for your health?
But wouldn't you be soooo all about yourself that you'd take care of yourself? Guess not, said self, after screaming "Look at me! I need attention!"
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This is so rotten:
One of the 49ers is getting death threats over his playoff performance.
Come on!

You know what's waiting for you on the other side of that snooze alarm? Friday!
So Morning Express is waiting to pick you up for your end-of-the-work-week whirlwind.
Ready?
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Did you see the GOP debate start off with a bang?
A fiery, finger-pointing Newt Gingrich took on CNN’s John King and the media… and got a standing ovation for it.

What do you think about Newt's former marriage becoming an issue? What else stuck out to you about the debate?

If you're not on twitter you missed this gem from me yesterday:

Ya. It happens. Ha! Join the convo... I'm @robinmeade on twitter.
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He didn't abandon ship...
He "FELL"... right into a lifeboat??
According to an Italian newspaper, THAT'S the claim from the captain of the Concordia ship.
Oh boy.
This you gotta hear.
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Is it a rescue or a recovery now, days after more than twenty went missing from the ship.
the latest on that.
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winter slams the northwest where they don't see this kind of snow accumulation.
YOU'LL see the results, and where’s it headed now.
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I love this opportunity for someone:
A big box retailer has its own American Idol-style contest....for product ideas YOU may have. Tune in, entrepreneurs or just deep thinkers!
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Are you hungry? Maybe it’s because you didn’t get enough sleep – there's apparently an interesting link between how much shut-eye you get and a ravenous appetite!
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What would a new season of American Idol be without the good, bad and the ugly from auditions?
Honey, we have those.

The hits keep coming to the NW. As yesterday's titanic snow/rain maker extends eastward, a new storm will hit tomorrow afternoon, with a 3rd on Sunday afternoon. The end will result will be the steady rain and snow continuing through the weekend in OR/WA/CA/ID/MT/NV/CO and WY.

The snow in the Cascades is around 5' deep right now and more is on the way. Another 3-4" of rain is expected on the coast of WA/OR/CA this afternoon as well. Extreme cold is back for ND/SD and MN with temps around -30F to -50F this afternoon too.

If you had Monday off for the observance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day....hey aren't you surprised it's Wednesday already?

Howdy, friend.
Here is what our team has waiting for you:

Update on the NW storm. The pineapple express connection is in full swing this morning from what I can see on the satellite loop. That’s when the jet stream connects Hawaii with the West Coast (in this case the Pacific NW). This allows for tremendous amounts of Pacific moisture to be transported out of the Ocean and thrown onto the Coast. The rainfall alone in Northern CA will approach 7” in the next 24 hours alone, and it will be all snow in the NW Mountains. 3-4 feet total in the Cascades! Even the lower elevations will see the snow today, with around 2-4 inches more in Seattle before it mixes and turns to all rain tonight. ID, MT, UT and northern NV will all see the snow too and there are winter storm warnings and advisories for just about everybody up there, I’ll have the details on the program.

Getting away from there, the arctic air is back in the northern Plains with extreme cold warnings in ND/SD and MN. It’ll feel like -35F to -45F at times today.

Howdy team, I'm back witcha this morning but a little rock-star-raspy after a busy weekend of reporting, music recording and (most wear and tear on the voice is from this:) whooping it up in Nashville.
Here is what we have waiting for you this morning:

We have brand new images of the humongous cruise ship that ran aground off Italy. AND there are new accounts of what was going on inside.
All that, as the number of missing makes a dramatic jump.
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An American husband and wife from Minnesota are among the missing. You'll hear why they booked their trip. And see for yourself the incredible effort to get inside the belly of the ship.
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Another political debate last night.
Once again, Mitt Romney was wearing a bullseye.
Our Country Votes 2012
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I'm hearing from my pals in Chicago about freezing rain. And when there's freezing rain... there's HLN meteorologist Bob Van Dillen to show you who's next in line.
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For our Midwest viewers, thought it would be a long time before you heard words like this about your region, I'll bet:
Ohio, the next boomtown?
What's going on!
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One website that some consider a plethora of information will offer NO info today.
Check out its protest and one-day shutdown.
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They are not exactly pop-yooo-lahr!
Congress wouldn't win a popularity contest with the people as it gets back to work today.
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We're not getting thinner. But we're not getting fatter. So... we ask, what does that say about our health?
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See u!