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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jan 27, 2015
January 27, 2015
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The White House:
A few tense moments early yesterday morning at the White House when a small drone was found on the residence grounds. The Secret Service later said that an unidentified man contacted the agency to report that he was flying the drone and lost control before it crashed on the White House lawn. (Pacelli)
The Weather:
The Blizzard of 2015 --or, as some people refer to it, "Snowpocalypse"-- is hitting the East Coast this morning, as a major winter storm has forced residents of seven states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, to declare states of emergency.
Nearly seven thousand flights have already been cancelled, and mass transit systems planned to shut down from New York City to Boston as well as residents prepare for a couple of days of cleaning up after the storm.
New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority says this is the first time the entire subway system as well as bridges and tunnels will be shut down because of a winter storm. The last subway shutdown in the Big Apple was when Superstorm Sandy hit.
In Massachusetts, Gov. CHARLIE BAKER declared a state of emergency and said there would be a statewide travel ban, since Boston was was expected to get two feet of snow.On, off and way-off Broadway:
Monday is usually a dark night on Broadway, but because of the massive snow storm, the three shows that do have Monday night performances were canceled. The Broadway League said that since there was a ban on any traveling to and from New York City after 11pm, "Chicago," "Mama Mia" and "The Phantom Of The Opera" did not take the stage last night. (Marino)
Valentine's Day:
If you're *not* a fan of Valentine's Day, you might want to head to the San Francisco Zoothis year.
The zoo is allowing visitors to adopt cockroaches and scorpions in the names of their exes. The zoo's website reads: "This Valentine's Day, if you care enough to send the very best, you'll choose our charming Madagascar Hissing Cockroach package." The package is described as the perfect way to show "your favorite ex" that you've moved on with your life. (Still)What's the Buzz:
Liven up your SuperBowl party with Bingo! StudioDIY.com has created free, downloadable bingo cards for the Big Game. Kids and adults can compete by watching the game --and the commercials-- for appearances of the numbers and symbols on their card. Use pistachios or other fun party nuts as markers; the first player to fill a row wins. (Kaye)
Taking everything much too seriously:
A builder in California has spent two decades converting his home into a cat playground.
PETER COHEN of Goleta has spent $40-thousand dollars building an intricate network of tunnels, ramps, and walkways for his 15 rescue cats. Cohen says it brings him satisfaction knowing he's providing a safe and happy environment for his animals. He adds, "They give us unconditional love, and building the catwalks is one way of expressing my gratitude for that." A video showcasing his home is going viral on YouTube. (Still) -
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