The family of a New York woman last seen earlier this month in Turkey is pleading for help, and clinging to hope, as they try to find out what happened to her and bring her home.
Sarai Sierra traveled to Istanbul on January 7 and over the next two weeks chronicled her trip in photos. She last spoke to her family on January 21, the day before she was ticketed to fly back to New York City.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Ivan Watson reports on new security footage of Sierra in Istanbul, and what it could mean for the search.
READ MORE: Family seeks help finding New York woman last seen in Istanbul
No one seemed more stunned then Sloane Stephens when she beat tennis great Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. It was a moment suddenly everyone was buzzing about, including celebrities who tweeted out to the 19-year-old phenom who grew up with a Serena Williams poster on her bedroom wall. Stephens talks about what it was like going up against her idol with John Berman on “Early Start” this morning.
Stephens says her goal is to rank in the top ten by the end of the summer. “So hopefully,” Stephens says, “I can get to that goal and then at the end of the year, get a little bit higher.” One thing that’s definitely is her number of Twitter followers, reaching 60,000 as of last night, including Shaquille O'Neal. “That is unbelievable,” the young tennis star says. “I mean like Shaq tweeted me. That's insane.”
Most impressive of all is of course the reason for the tweet, the quarter final match where she defeated Serena Williams. “I don't know how I did it, but I did,” Stephens said. “I was so excited. It was so much fun. And like the energy and all the people that were there cheering. It was such a good atmosphere and I just loved being out there. I wish I could do it again.”
(CNN) - A buzzer went off in the newsroom of a local television station in Nashville, Tennessee, letting staff know to evacuate to their safe room immediately.
Tornado warnings had cropped up in at least 11 counties around CNN affiliate WSMV, and the signal came to head for cover at around 4 a.m. central.
The National Weather Service also issued tornado warnings around Louisville, Kentucky, indicating thunderstorms capable of producing multiple tornadoes.
A large springlike storm system is pushing severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and unstable conditions favorable for concocting tornadoes eastward through the Mississippi Valley. The system stretches from southern Illinois into northern Louisiana, the National Weather Service said.
This morning on "Early Start," Wilson Co. Emergency Management's John Jewell describes the damage after a deadly line of storms passes through Tennessee. He says explains the local damage and says there is one report of a family trapped in a mobile home.
READ MORE: Tornado warnings in Southern states as storm sweeps east
FROM CNN SECURITY CLEARANCE BLOG:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she can't be faulted for not solving some of the thorny diplomatic issues she faced her in term.
In her final week of Secretary of State, Clinton defended her legacy in an exit interview with CNN's Jill Dougherty and Elise Labott.
Clinton acknowledged that her legacy includes unsolved problems in some of the world's hot spots, but noted that she assumed the job four years ago at a time of great uncertainty.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Elise Labott shares a moment when she grilled the outgoing Sec. of State on her 2016 intentions.
Read More: Clinton defends her diplomatic legacy
Michael Drysch on making an impressive half-court basketball shot to win $75,000, and then hugged by Lebron James.
A .40-caliber Glock gun ordered for a Palm Beach sheriff's deputy winds up in the hands of criminals. The gun then moved from place to place, from criminal to criminal. And a crime reporter set out to find out how, and why.
Reporter Ed Komenda traced the history of the Glock and recounted its journey in "The story of a gun: Serial number MPX753" for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He explains his reporting on “Early Start” this morning.
Over four years, the gun traveled more than 5,000 miles and was involved in four shootings. Komenda says he daily looks for “interesting charges” in police reports when this story presented itself.
“It was much more dramatic than a typical gun story is,” he says. While the gun has passed from criminal to criminal, “nobody has really been convicted in any case tied to this gun.”
Concerning an issue of heated debate, Komenda’s story received a mixed response. While one person commented it was one of the best stories he's read, another said he didn’t like it. “Another guy says I have no business in the business,” he says. “They claim that it’s politically driven.” But Komenda just saw a story worth pursuing and that’s what he did. “I wasn't looking at either side.”
Read Komenda's story here: The story of a gun: Serial number MPX753
Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL) on whether Congress and President Obama can work together for immigration reform.
Christine Romans shares tips for travelers to avoid catching the flu or norovirus.
Trending on the web this morning: One man's final wish to have a fast food funeral is granted, and President Obama welcomes Lebron James & the Miami Heat to the White House.
Forget "Fat Tuesday" - It's Super Tuesday in New Orleans! Also known as...media day at the Super Bowl.
The Baltimore Ravens arrived last night, one day after their Super Bowl 47 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, touched down.
In a few hours, players from the Ravens and the 49ers will be getting hit from all sides...with questions!
This morning on "Early Start," HLN's Carlos Diaz shares the latest on the preps for the big game.
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