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MYB: Dow on best streak since 1996, Samsung unveils new Galaxy S4
Christine Romans is minding your business with more good news on U.S. stock futures and markets. The Dow has been up for nine straight days, its best streak since 1996. "Remember that movie 'Fargo'?" Romans asks. "That was the last time you saw a winning streak like this."
Also, the And Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S4 today. Samsung and Apple have been competing heavily over their share of this market, Romans reports. "This is really an interesting food fight for dominance in the smartphone world."
CNN TRENDS: Fans greenlight 'Veronica Mars' movie & world celebrates 'Pi Day'
Trending on the web this morning is news of the first “fan feature” from online crowd funding site Kickstarter and "Pi Day" festivities.
Fans are thrilled that a Kickstarter campaign to bring the short-lived but much-loved TV series "Veronica Mars" to the big screen reached its goal in less than 24 hours. Series creator Rob Thomas and its star Kristen Bell launched the drive yesterday, hoping to raise $2 million over the next month. Thomas says they plan to shoot the film over the summer and release it early next year.
Also, it’s time to get your geek on for “Pi Day”. There'll be "Pi Day" festivities all over the world today, March 14, celebrating the mathematical constant beginning with 3.14. And make sure you eat some actual pie.
Motel standoff ends in Oregon for suspect in grandparents' death – Dan Simon reports
A standoff at a beachside Oregon motel ended Tuesday evening with the focus of the police's attention - the suspect in his grandparents' deaths over the weekend - being taken from his room and transported away in an ambulance.
Members of a "tactical team" entered the Lincoln City, Oregon, room of 26-year-old Michael Boysen around 7 p.m. (10 p.m. ET), emerging with no injuries, said city police Chief Keith Killian. The suspect had suffered apparently self-inflicted cuts, he added.
The image of him on a stretcher being placed in a waiting ambulance closed a day full of drama at the WestShore OceanFront Suites.
Boysen was taken into custody about an hour after authorities used water cannons to blast down part of the front door to the suspect's room, a move that showed authorities' intent to "just kind of step ... things up a little bit," according to Killian.
Dan Simon reports the latest on "Early Start" this morning.
READ MORE: Police: Motel standoff ends for man wanted in grandparents' deaths
Black smoke from Sistine Chapel indicates no new pope selected – Chris Cuomo reports
All eyes are on Sistine Chapel chimney this morning. Millions are watching for a smoke signal from the 115 cardinals voting inside. Chris Cuomo is live in Rome with the latest.
The cardinals' second or third ballots this morning show an inconclusive vote as black smoke billows from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. A new Holy Father to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics has not yet been selected.
Teen driving deaths on rise as 15 teens killed in three accidents in three days – George Howell reports
Recent news of teen driving deaths across the country have brough the issue of car safety to the forefront. George Howell takes a look the statistics this morning on "Early Start."
“When you look at the stats about teenagers and safety on these roads, the stats are alarming,” Howell says. According to the CDC, “teenagers are three times more likely to be involved with fatal wrecks.”
In fact, "three tragic car wrecks in three different states claimed the lives of 15 teenagers in a matter of just three days,” Howell reports. The leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, deadly car accidents have seriously raised the issue of car safety among teen drivers. Driving instructors are now hoping these tragedies will send a message to their young students around the country.
Cardinals voting now for next pope – Chris Cuomo sets the scene in Rome
Right now, the world is focusing on a thin copper chimney above the Sistine Chapel. At any moment, it could show white smoke and signal the election of a new pope. Yesterday and earlier this morning, black smoke signaled that the 115 cardinal electors had failed to choose the Catholic Church's next spiritual leader.
After black smoke emerged Wednesday, the cardinals will return for an afternoon voting session beginning at 11amET, and at 12:30pmET all eyes will then be back on the Sistine Chapel chimney, awaiting another smoke signal from the cardinals.
Chris Cuomo sets the scene from Rome on "Early Start" this morning.
The 'Super Tuesday' of papal election: Father Beck and John Allen on conclave day two
Today marks the second day of the secret papal election known as conclave. The cardinals are voting right now as millions around the world watch the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel for the white smoke signal indicating that a new Holy Father has been chosen.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen and CNN Contributor Father Edward Beck are following the latest live in Rome with Chris Cuomo. Allen describes the importance of the vote today now that the cardinals have a better grasp of the candidates. “Today becomes what we Americans would think of as Super Tuesday, because it's the make-or-break day for the front-runners,” he says.
Father Beck describes the two things people have told him they desire in a candidate. “One is they want a reformer. Not only if you think of reforming as sexual abuse and cleaning house, but people have seen there's been mismanagement at the top,” Beck says. “So, they want a reformation of that organization. Secondly, they say we want someone who can communicate to the masses. They long for John Paul II again, who can stand up on a world stage and elicit excitement about the church, about the vision of the church, and someone who can inspire youth once again as well.”
Americans make the pilgrimage to Vatican for glimpse of white smoke and new pope – Miguel Marquez reports
History is in the making in Rome, Italy today. Today marks the second day of the papal election. We may see white smoke emerge from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating a new pontiff has been chosen.
Many Americans are making the pilgrimage to Rome to witness the moment live at the Vatican. Miguel Marquez speaks to two American Catholic students on watch for the smoke signal.
Both active in the Catholic church, Nora and Victoria share their feelings about the significance of being present for this conclave.
"It's such an exciting experience and it's part of history, and just to say that I was here for a new election of a new pope is amazing," Nora says.
“It's very important," Victoria says. "The pope is the leader of our church, and he's such a model, so we really need someone who is strong an and who can lead us.”
CNN Trends: Lady Gaga's golden ride
Trending on the web this morning is Lady Gaga's hip new ride. The singer is wheeling around in a designer 24-karat gold wheelchair as she recovers from hip surgery. Designer Ken Borochov specifically made it for her, and it comes complete with a leather seat and a removable leather canopy.
Conclave: The vetting process in electing the new Holy Father – Miguel Marquez reports
In Rome today, 115 cardinals from every corner of the earth are preparing to take an oath of secrecy to begin the election process for the next leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. The eyes of the world will soon be on the copper chimney above the Sistine Chapel to see when white smoke signals the selection of a new pope. Inside brews the politics of a monumental race. Miguel Marquez explains the vetting process.
“In the politics of becoming pope there's never been a race quite like this,” Marquez says. The church's problems are enormous. The need for a powerful, unifying pope, have never been greater. “The new pope will have to reinvigorate the church and bring its enormous bureaucracy—the Curia—into the modern world.”
Cardinals in the running “are judged on their intellectual, religious and spiritual heft” as well on their ability to socialize with fellow cardinals and “even their ability to communicate in Italian,” Marquez reports.
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