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Gunman holds 6-year-old boy in underground bunker for third day in standoff – George Howell reports
It is day three now of a tense standoff in Alabama, where a gunman is holding a six-year-old boy hostage in an underground bunker. Police say the boy was dragged off a school bus Tuesday afternoon in Midland City after the gunman shot and killed the school bus driver.
Authorities are communicating with the suspect through a PVC tube. They've also sent down prescription medicine, crayons and coloring books for the six-year-old hostage. School officials are calling the driver a hero. They say Charles Poland Jr.’s quick thinking saved the lives of 21 children. CNN’s George Howell is live in Midland City with the latest.
CNN Trends: Wacky Super Bowl bets and 'Idol' contestant bring Mariah to tears
Trending on the web this morning: Bleacherreport.com looks at some wacky Super Bowl bets, and one "American Idol" contestant brings Mariah Carey to tears.
Extreme weather moves further East, wreaking havoc on South – Miguel Marquez reports
(CNN) - Powerful winds and a tornado spawned by a 1,000-mile-long storm system pounded communities in northwest Georgia on Wednesday, overturning dozens of vehicles and trapping residents.
The tornado caused significant damage in Adairsville, Georgia.
One person died in that town and another died in Tennessee, authorities reported. At least 17 people were injured in Georgia, two critically.
The Adairsville death marks the first person killed by a U.S. tornado in 220 days, a record for most consecutive days without such a fatality, said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.
This morning on "Early Start," Miguel Marquez reports on the damage from these severe storms.
Read More: High winds, tornado trap Georgia residents, turn over cars
MYB: Dow could hit 14,000, S&P ' just shy of record highs'
The buzz is building on Wall Street as the Dow and S&P near all-time highs. Christine Romans is minding your business.
MYB: BlackBerry 10 unveiled today – Can BlackBerry get its groove back?
Can BlackBerry get its groove back? Christine Romans is minding your business with more on the new BlackBerry 10. "It's do or die for BlackBerry in the battle of the smartphones," Romans says.
Security footage of missing American woman in Istanbul could yield clues – Ivan Watson reports
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
Tennis phenom Sloane Stephens on besting Serena Williams in Australian Open: I don't know how I did it, but I did
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.”
Clinton skirts 2016 question with grace in exit interview with CNN – Elise Labott reports
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
'The Story of a Gun' – crime reporter Ed Komenda on how he tracked the journey of a Glock
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
CNN Trends: Man's fast food funeral, and Lebron goes to the White House
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.
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