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Wildfires raging in 13 western states – Rob Marciano on why conditions may worsen
(CNN) - Blistering hot temperatures will blast the normally tepid Pacific Northwest again Thursday as dozens of wildfires burn across large sections of the western United States.
The mercury is expected to soar near triple digits in Portland, Oregon, with Seattle forecast to reach the lower 90s, the National Weather Service said. The coastal region is roasting under an excessive heat warning.
At least 70 large fires were burning across 13 states west of the Mississippi River, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. California had the most with 13, followed by Nevada with 12 and Idaho with 10, the center said.
The Marines joined the fight on Wednesday, with helicopter units from California joining U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units from Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina and California in fighting the fires by air. The Marine units will help fight fires around San Diego.
In California alone, 8,000 firefighters were fighting a dozen fires, the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Wednesday. The state issued a burn ban, saying only some campfires are allowed.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano reports from Cle Elum, WA on the latest in efforts to battle the wildfires.
Female Olympic boxer punches for gold – Claressa Shields on being the first American woman to win gold in boxing
Claressa Shields is a 17-year-old US boxer who scored a triple knockout at the 2012 Olympics. She's the first American to win gold in Olympic boxing. She won the first-ever women's boxing middleweight competition.
She was also the only American boxer - man or woman - to win gold in London AND she's the second youngest boxer ever to win gold. Shields received a very emotional hero's welcome home in Flint, Michigan.
This morning on "Early Start," John Berman talks with Shields about the thrill of winning gold and that little matter of sticking her tongue out at her opponent. See the interview in the clip above.
Rep. Gutierrez: Deferred Action program about trying to get 'symmetry' for young immigrants, says no one will take away their future of being American
(CNN) - Hundreds of thousands of people who entered the United States as children but without documentation can apply - beginning Wednesday - to remain in and work in the country without fear of deportation for at least two years.
The form, titled "Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals," was dated August 15, 2012 and bore the expiration date of February 28, 2013. The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said Tuesday that applicants who have not committed major crimes can apply without fear of deportation.
"This afternoon, USCIS makes available online the forms and instructions for individuals who will request deferred action for childhood arrivals," Director Alejandro Mayorkas said in a conference call.
The announcement comes two months after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that people who arrived in the United States as children may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization.
This morning on "Early Start," Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, explains why it's such an important program.
SAMBOLIN: I know you worked tirelessly on the DREAM Act and championing the rights of these young people in particular. In today, you have a forum designed to have these kids come forth and potentially pill out this paperwork.
Some people are saying that this going to create a database available to the federal government of undocumented kids. Why would you say this is such a good idea?
"What we're attempting to do is take about 2 million young people and try to make some symmetry," Rep. Gutierrez says. "They are really much more American than they are immigrant. And today, we're going to begin the process where their status, their immigration status and reality of their American life and their American being, that there's symmetry and parity between the two."
When asked about the threat of deportation despite the program, Gutierrez says young people shouldn't be scared.
"Young people are brave and by showing up in line, they are changing and making the process irreversible," he says. "There is no one that is going to take away those work permits, those Social Security cards, those driver's license and their future of being an American for them once they step forward."
Powerball jackpot fever! Jason Carroll on the big $320 million pot and tonight's drawing
Have you bought your ticket yet? Tonight's Powerball lottery jackpot swelling to $320 million dollars, stoking players' wildest fantasies about what they'd do with that money.
Winning at least a little bit of the pot may not be out of reach: Odds of winning some sort of prize are only 1 in 32. But when you look at the odds of winning the whole kaboodle, well you might as well be a unicorn hunter because it jumps to 1 in 175 million. But it doesn't seem those odds will stop folks from buying a chance...or still believing in unicorns.
This morning on "Early Start," Jason Carroll looks at the excitement around the huge jackpot.
'Deferred action' plan goes into effect today for undocumented immigrants – Zoraida Sambolin explains how it could change one student's life
They're already lining up in Houston, Texas outside the Mexican Consulate, where today young illegal immigrants across the country will begin their question for a temporary reprieve from deportation.
Starting today, people who arrived in the United States as children and without documentation can apply to work without fear of deportation, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said Tuesday.
The announcement comes two months after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that people who arrived in the United States as children may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization.
The program, dubbed Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was created in June under an executive order signed by President Barack Obama.
"Early Start" anchor Zoraida Sambolin looks at the new program this morning, and she talks with a student here in New York City about how the reprieve could change his life.
VIDEO: Are American shopping again? Poppy Harlow on signs that retail sales are on the rise
Poppy Harlow on signs that retail sales are on the rise, and if it means Americans are more confident about the economy.
What's trending for Aug. 15, 2012
Wacky economic indicators, Tebow's "Jesus pose" in "GQ" and Shark Week fans chomp their tvs.
Romney's Ryan pick adds social media muscle for GOP ticket
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories as part of an exclusive partnership between CNN and Facebook that will take the electorate's pulse through social media this election cycle. Michelle Jaconi is CNN's executive producer of cross-platform programming and Mark Preston is CNN's political director. They are co-authors of CNN's Political Gut Check, a daily political newsletter.
Washington (CNN) - A seven-term Wisconsin congressman, who 54% of the American people were not aware of last week, just knocked the president of the United States off of his perch as the most talked-about politician on the largest social media platform in the world.
According to the exclusive Facebook-CNN Election Talk Meter, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, in the first 54 hours after being announced as Mitt Romney's vice-presidential running mate, sucked up the political oxygen in the social media landscape - with the Beltway topping the buzz and his home state of Wisconsin close behind.
What caught our eye? CNN political director Mark Preston explains on "Early Start" this morning.
Erick Erickson: Paul Ryan was a good pick, GOP convention will be 'carefully orchestrated'
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention later this month. Christie, himself, revealed the news in an interview with the "USA Today." He says his speech will focus more on the case of electing Mitt Romney rather than the case against President Obama.
Also new this morning, Republican rising star and Florida senator Marco Rubio will be introducing Mitt Romney at the convention when Romney formally accepts the party's nomination. He was also in the vetting process for vice president before Paul Ryan became the pick.
On the trail, it's day two all alone for VP candidate Rep. Paul Ryan, as he tries to convert the positive Republican reaction to this election into votes. Today, Ryan will campaign in Colorado after spending yesterday at the Iowa State Fair.
CNN contributor and RedState.com editor in chief Erick Erickson was among the first that suggested Paul Ryan be Mitt Romney's pick. He explains this morning why he thinks Paul Ryan was a good pick by Romney for vice president, and why he thinks the Republican convention will be 'carefully orchestrated.'
Rep. Gingrey: Dems doing a 'good job' scaring seniors on Medicare
It's a big week on the campaign trail, the first week on the trail for Rep/ Paul Ryan and the battle over Medicare he is raging.
The congressman's signature really is his budget. In it is a controversial plan to convert Medicare into a system that will provide subsidies or vouchers. They allow people to either purchase private insurance or stay in the current Medicare plan and it would not affect current seniors. It will start with people who are currently under 55.
Both sides are predicting doom and gloom if the other party takes control.
On "Early Start" this morning, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) tells John Berman the battle over President Obama's Medicare plan comes down to "Democrats doing a good job of scaring seniors." He also responds to polling on Paul Ryan's VP selection.
Transcript available after the jump.
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