Early Start's new website
Syrian refugee count reaches 1 million – Nick Paton Walsh reports
One million lives uprooted. One million desperate souls trying to start anew with nothing, far away from home.
The number of Syrians who fled the country since the civil war began almost two years ago reached 1 million on Wednesday, the U.N. refugee agency said.
That number represents about 5% of Syria's total population, with an average of almost 1,400 refugees spilling across the border daily.
It's like the entire population of Prague, Czech Republic, walking away.
"With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said. "This tragedy has to be stopped."
CNN's Nick Paton Wals reports more on the refugee crisis on "Early Start" today.
READ MORE: U.N.: Syrian exodus reaches 1 million
Three people confess to acid attack on Russian ballet director – Phil Black reports
A Russian ballet troupe, a vicious acid attack on its director and a star dancer's confession.
The attack on the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, allegedly masterminded by a lead dancer at the troupe, has jolted the centuries-old Moscow fixture.
And as more details emerge, so does the number of suspects. Dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko confessed to ordering the attack, Russian police said Wednesday.As did the driver of the getaway car and the masked attacker who flung concentrated sulfuric acid on director Sergei Filin on a Moscow street on January 17.
The attack left Filin with third-degree burns to his face and eyes.
Phil Black reports live on "Early Start" this morning with more on the motive behind the acid attack.
READ MORE: Police: Bolshoi Ballet lead dancer behind director's acid attack
Many questions about Venezuela's future after Chavez's death – Shasta Darlington reports
In Washington, politicians reacted almost as quickly as the South Florida crowd. "Hugo Chavez ruled Venezuela with an iron hand and his passing has left a political void that we hope will be filled peacefully and through a constitutional and democratic process, grounded in the Venezuelan constitution and adhering to the Inter-American Democratic Charter," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Menendez called for "free and fair elections" so that "Venezuela can begin to restore its once robust democracy and ensure respect for the human, political and civil rights of its people."
The chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Ed Royce, R-California, was harsher, calling Chavez "a tyrant who forced the people of Venezuela to live in fear" and adding, "Good riddance to this dictator."
But the news was not red meat to all U.S. politicians.
Former President Jimmy Carter noted that he had gotten to know Chavez while observing elections in Venezuela. "We came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized," he said in a statement. "Although we have not agreed with all of the methods followed by his government, we have never doubted Hugo Chavez's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen."
On "Early Start" this morning, Shasta Darlington reports live from Caracas, Venezuela on the future of the country after Chavez.
READ MORE: U.S. reaction to Chavez's death: from mourning to celebration
Winter storm heads to D.C., over 1,000 flights cancelled – Shannon Travis reports
A storm that set snowfall records in Chicago arrived in Washington, D.C. early Wednesday. It has triggered over 1,000 flight cancellations to and from airports in its path.
Just west of the nation's capital, it could dump up to 20 inches of snow but may turn into a mix of rain and snow as it nears the Atlantic Ocean, the National Weather Service said.
The federal government has closed offices for Wednesday. Emergency personnel will be expected to work as well as those equipped to work from home. D.C. schools will also be closed.
Washington suburb Arlington, Virginia, has readied snow plows and trucks in case of major snowfall.
Airlines have canceled flights to and from Washington's Dulles airport ahead of the storm's arrival. United has canceled 650 flights nationwide, most of them involving Dulles, U.S. Airways 350 and American 20.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Shannon Travis reports on the latest in how the winter storm is wreaking havoc on travel.
READ MORE: Snow storm that plastered Chicago reaches DC
MYB: Martha Stewart to testify in Macy's, J.C. Penney case
"Domestic diva" Martha Stewart is expected to testify in a civil case today pitting Macy's against J.C. Penney over Martha Stewart Living prodcuts. At issue is whether Stewart’s company broke an agreement with Macy’s by signing a $500 million deal to sell housewares at Penney locations. Christine Romans has more on the story.
Washington D.C. prepares for severe snowfall – Shannon Travis reports
If you grab a sled in North Dakota Tuesday, you might be able to ride it through the upper Midwest all the way to the nation's capital. But it would be wiser to avoid road travel for a day or two.
A corridor of winter weather is paving its way across the Ohio Valley, dumping heavy show from Minneapolis and Chicago all the way to the District of Columbia and Baltimore, according to a National Weather Service bulletin Monday.
Blowing snow impaired motorists' visibility in North Dakota Monday, as plows cleared roads and tow trucks retrieved stranded vehicles. There were no serious injuries in accidents, police said.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Shannon Travis has the latest preps in Washington D.C. in advance of the snow storm.
Read More: Frosty swath brings snow from Dakota to D.C.
Chicago gears up for severe snowfall – Jennifer Delgado reports
The storm sweeps over Chicago Tuesday and is expected to leave 5 to 11 inches of snow, according to the CNN Weather Center. Local hardware stores have put snow blowers, shovels and bags of salt on prominent display.
The winter system will reach the nation's capital Wednesday, bringing either rain or snow to the area before rolling off shore.
One weather model predicts that the snow won't make it that far, said CNN Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera. Another says Washington, Philadelphia and Boston could see a foot of snow.
The D.C. suburb of Alexandria, Virginia, is prepared to deploy 4,000 trucks and snow plows, CNN's Weather Center said.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Jen Delgado reports on the latest track of the storm.
Read More: Frosty swath brings snow from Dakota to D.C.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's health worsens – Shasta Darlington reports
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is fighting a new infection, and his breathing problems have worsened, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said late Monday.
"There is a worsening of the respiratory function, related to the state of his depressed immune system," Villegas said, reading an official statement on state-run VTV.
He reported Chavez is battling a new and "severe" infection, stressing that his overall condition remains "very delicate." Chavez is undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, he said.
"The president continues to hold fast to Christ and to life, aware of the difficulties he's facing," Villegas said.
This morning on "Early Start," Shasta Darlington reports on the latest in Chavez's condition.
Read More: Battling a new infection, Chavez has breathing problems
MYB: Dow close to all-time high, as China sets ambitious economic goals for 2013
Christine Romans is minding your business this morning with an eye on U.S. stock futures. "All three of the major averages set for a higher open," Romans reports.
Also, China sets highly ambitious economic goals for the year. Romans has the details.
Actor Taye Diggs teams up with Kellogg's in 'Share Breakfast' campaign to end childhood hunger in America
Actor Taye Diggs may be best known for his starring roles on the TV drama "Private Practice" and as the opportunistic landlord in Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical, “Rent.” But now he has a new role on the national stage working to fight child hunger in America. He's teaming up with Kellogg's as a paid spokesman, to help with their "Share Breakfast" campaign.
Kellogg's is pledging $1 million to breakfast programs to help the one in five U.S. children who start each day without breakfast. This is national breakfast week and Diggs comes to “Early Start” to share more on the campaign.
A staggering 16.7 million children currently struggle with hunger in United States. “People don't realize that this is an issue we are dealing with in our own country,” Diggs says. “So I teamed up with Kellogg's and we are participating in the Share Breakfast program, which is focusing on getting over a million breakfasts out to kids that otherwise would go without.” He says their ultimate goal is to end childhood hunger.
On Twitter
