right now on "america this morning" -- weather emergency. the extreme and deadly conditions spreading across more than 40 states. >> oh [ bleep ]. >> arctic air all the way down to texas. the first-ever windchill warning in houston. temperatures in some areas 50 degrees below average. a major ice storm on the move. millions bracing for rolling blackouts because of stress on the power grid and the upper midwest and northeast bracing for more snow, what to expect today. breaking overnight, more mutations of the coronavirus in the u.s. the seven new variants found, just as more states reopen. and more vaccination sites run out of shots. looking to the future. the next step for former president trump after his impeachment acquittal and what his staunch ally senator lindsey

graham is now saying. plus, the fiery crash at the daytona 500 after midnight this morning. the growing backlash after two apologies from two high-profile men, bachelor host chris harrison and justin timberlake. from harry and meghan's big announcement to "snl" mocking tom brady, to reports that laugh emoji isn't cool anymore. all the trending stories for your monday morning. >> good monday morning, everyone. on this presidents' day, states from texas to virginia have declared emergencies because of an historic ice storm and crippling cold weather. >> here is a live look at houston where more than 130 weather-related crashes have been reported in recent hours. temperatures will be 50 degrees below average in some areas. >> looking at the radar, the freezing rain and snow will be moving from texas and oklahoma into louisiana, mississippi,

tennessee and kentucky. and farther north, chicago could see four more inches of snow. >> new video from nashville, tennessee, shows just how dangerous the roads can be. this driver backed out of their driveway and they went sliding all the way down the street. abc's andrea fujii begins our coverage. >> reporter: this morning, historic cold hitting the country. arctic air dropping down through the plains into texas, turning roads into skating rinks. >> slow down. >> reporter: in el paso, mangled big rigs littering this highway. overnight windchills dipping below zero in san antonio. conditions so extreme in houston, the city could see its coldest february in 122 years. >> the freezing temperatures have already reached, so it's very, very important that folks stay off the roads so that we don't cause a disaster on top of a disaster. >> reporter: power companies in texas now considering rolling blackouts because the massive

demand for electricity during this record cold threatens to overwhelm the power grid. and it's not just texas. 240 million americans across 40 states are on alert, with feel-like temperatures from albuquerque at 3 degrees up to fargo at negative 40. in mississippi, which could see half an inch of ice today, at least five 18-wheelers were involved in this fiery crash. snow and ice is expected from dallas through memphis all the way to new york city. in connecticut, road crews trying to prepare for the upcoming storm are facing a shortage of salt after a major supplier shutdown. >> time line for eight hours, nine hours and we have one load. i mean, i can use 20 loads. >> reporter: the extreme weather also slamming the west. in las vegas, intense wind kicking up this dust storm, causing near zero visibility. in oregon, hundreds of thousands of customers lost power after heavy ice toppled trees.

and seattle, digging out from nine inches of snow in one day. the most in 52 years. one man getting creative, navigating city streets with skis and a fan strapped to his back. most of the extreme weather is expected through tomorrow morning. but another storm system is forecast to take aim at the northeast on thursday. kenneth, mona? >> all right, andrea, thank you. two more people have been killed by avalanches in colorado. at least two dozen people died in recent weeks. the latest were a snowboarder and a snowmobiler in back country areas. we turn now to the pandemic and breaking news overnight concerning new mutations of the coronavirus raising concern that another spike in cases could be on the horizon. this morning, growing concerns about variants of the coronavirus. "the new york times" reports, doctors have now found seven variants of the virus that originated in the u.s.,

spotlighting the urgent need for better tracking of cases and mutations. >> all of these variants had the same exact mutation. now, that could just be a coincidence, but some researchers are worried that could this mean that the virus is getting smarter and adapting? >> reporter: until now, scientists have been studying mutations discovered in other countries, like the south african strain which is more resistant to vaccines, and the u.k. variant which is more contagious and could therefore be more deadly. >> the absolute risk is still low. they compare two groups, so it's still too early to say it's more deadly, but it's certainly more contagious. >> reporter: it comes amid a major drop in overall cases across the country. about 71,000 new infections were reported yesterday compared to last month when the country saw more than 225,000 daily cases. as a result, more states are easing restrictions. in minnesota, dining capacity has been increased to 50%. >> we're extending hours that eating establishments and bars can be open. we're expanding some of those capacities up to 250. >> reporter: in washington state, gyms and movie theaters

are now open in nearly every county. iowa and montana have lifted mask mandates and new york is opening sports arenas. but the head of the cdc is warning americans now is not the time to let our guard down. >> we are nowhere out of the woods, and as you know, if we relax these mitigation strategies with increasing transmissible variants out there, we could be in a much more difficult spot. >> reporter: and in the race to vaccinate, new frustrations this morning. a major vaccination site in san francisco is the latest to close because of a lack of supply. meanwhile, there is a new push to study the vaccines' effect on children. oxford is beginning vaccine trials on kids as young as 6. president biden is hitting the road as he focuses on his covid relief plan. he'll tour a vaccine facility thursday. he is proposing a nearly $2 trillion package that includes $1,400 stimulus checks. democrats appear ready to pass the bill without republican support. former president trump is eyeing a political comeback after his impeachment acquittal.

trump said his "make america great again" movement has only just begun. he still has the loyalty of many republicans, but legal hurdles could get in his way. abc's faith abubey from has more from washington. faith, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, kenneth. trump has kept a low profile, not making public appearances since leaving office, but that may appear ready to change. former president donald trump ready to step back into the spotlight now that the cloud of impeachment has been lifted. >> i spoke to him last night. he was grateful to his lawyers. he appreciated the help that all of us provided. >> reporter: senator lindsey graham telling fox news the former president is planning his next move in politics. >> he's ready to move on and rebuild the republican party. he's excited about 2022. >> reporter: but as he tries to perfect the art of the comeback, the former president facing legal issues. analysts now believe the impeachment trial while over might have also left the former president legally exposed. >> i think that can lead

reluctant officials who might be on the fence, if they believe a crime has been committed, to move forward. >> reporter: officials in georgia are investigating his attempts to subvert the will of voters in the state after calls to election officials to find him more votes. in new york, a criminal probe into his taxes and finances. >> president trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office. didn't get away with anything yet. yet. >> i think senator mcconnell's speech, he got a load off his chest obviously. but unfortunately he put a load on the back of republicans. >> reporter: trump also said to be angry after seven republicans voted to convict him. those gop senators now facing backlash. among them, senator bill cassidy now censured by the louisiana republican party. >> i'm attempting to hold president trump accountable, and that is the trust i have from the people that elected me. and i am very confident that as time passes, people will move to that position. >> reporter: while some members

of the gop are calling for a new direction for the party, away from trump, the overwhelming majority still support him as they look to take back power on capitol hill in 2022. and a new abc news/ipsos poll shows only 14% of republicans believe trump should have been convicted in that impeachment trial. however, a large majority, 83%, believe that trial should never have happened. kenneth? >> all right, faith there in washington, thank you. and vandals have targeted the home of one of former president trump's lawyers. the word "traitor" was spray painted on michael van der deen's driveway near philadelphia. no arrests have been reported. breaking news overnight, tensions are rising in myanmar as thousands of protesters a oppose the military coup. the army is now allowing authorities to search and arrest citizens without warrants. tanks are rolling through the streets and internet service was once again shutdown. turning back to our top story, the historic weather across this country, here's a closer look at your forecast.

the snow and ice are moving out of texas and into the interior southeast today. up to six inches of snow is possible in some areas. the huge storm system will also bring rain to the mid-atlantic and heavy snow to the midwest. a winter storm warning is posted in chicago where at least four inches of snow could fall today. and that storm will make a mess tomorrow morning across much of the northeast. today's high temperatures will not get above zero in minnesota. only 18 degrees in dallas today. 30s in the northeast. coming up, robocalls on the rise. how americans are responding to all the annoying phone calls. also ahead, scare on the slopes. the girl who fell from this chair lift explains what happened after her frightening fall. and the growing fallout after the host of tv's "the bachelor" steps aside in the wake of a controversial interview. bachelor" steps aside in the wake of a controversial interview.

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welcome back. police here in new york city say they found a subway killer. a 21-year-old man is under arrest charged with four stabbings on the subway. two were deadly. the victims were homeless. police say they recovered this knife and the suspect suffered from mental health issues. robocalls are on the rise and you can thank the pandemic. with more people at home, a new survey finds three out of four americans were targeted by phone scammers in the last year. as a result, fewer people are answering the phone. 94% say they won't pick up when it's an unlisted number. we turn now to the growing controversy surrounding the host of tv's "the bachelor." it follows another high-profile apology in the entertainment industry. this morning, growing fallout after a bachelor bombshell. host chris harrison announcing he's stepping aside for a period of time. the move came after he defended

contestant rachel kirkconnell who's been criticized for posts. reportedly liking posts with the confederate flag and sharing qanon conspiracy theories, and one photo showing her at a southern plantation-themed party in 2018. in a recent interview, harrison was asked about the post. >> rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021? >> it's not a good look ever, because she's celebrating the old south. if i went to that party, what would i represent at that party? >> reporter: harrison writing in a statement, i set standards for myself and have to meet them. by excusing historical racism i defended it. i am ashamed over how uninformed i was. i was so wrong. kirkconnell writing on instagram, at one point i didn't realize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn't excuse them. adding, i was ignorant. but my ignorance was racist. in the meantime another high-profile apology. ♪ i can't wait to get you good looking ♪ >> reporter: justin timberlake

admitting that he failed britney spears and janet jackson. the singer apologizing for that 2004 super bowl appearance with jackson, ending in that infamous wardrobe malfunction. and timberlake now saying sorry to his ex-girlfriend britney spears after the documentary "framing britney spears," which examines how spears has been treated by others during her career, the documentary highlighted the release of "cry me a river" after their breakup. painting spears as a heartbreaking cheater. in his apology, timberlake said the music industry is flawed and designed to set white men up for success. meanwhile, following timberlake's apology, janet jackson's album control hit number one 35 years after its release. coming up, the fiery crash at the daytona 500 after midnight. also ahead, harry and meghan expecting their second child. what will be different this time? with certain inflammatory conditions. because there are options. like an “unjection™”. xeljanz. the first and only pill of its kind

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tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems, such as eye pain or vision changes, or a parasitic infection. if you take asthma medicines, don't change or stop them without talking to your doctor. so help heal your skin from within, and talk to your eczema specialist about dupixent. if your financial situation has changed, we may be able to help. back now with a wild, fiery end to the daytona 500 early this morning. the rain-delayed race was in its final lap when a huge crash split up the field. some cars were almost completely engulfed in flames, but no injuries were reported. with the wreckage behind him, driver michael mcdowell took the checkered flag. a mother and daughter are speaking out after a scare on the slopes. 8-year-old shiloh was dangling from this chair lift in maine. 25 feet off the ground. officials say she was never properly seated. her mother let go and shiloh dropped into a safety pad being

held by the ski patrol. she still hit the ground hard. >> i felt like it was going way too fast. >> and i just did my best to hold onto her. as a mom, i'm not letting my kids go, you know, and i had another child right next to me on the lift, her older sibling. >> shiloh has a pre-existing heart condition. she is okay this morning. prince harry and meghan markle have announced they are expecting their second child. and even though they stepped back from royal duties this -- last year, their child will still have a claim to the throne. here's abc's janai norman. >> reporter: big baby news from meghan markle and prince harry. sharing this photo, smiling at each other, meghan hand on her baby bump. a spokesperson confirming archie is going to be a big brother. the duke and duchess of sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child. >> today's announcement hits quite a few firsts. not only will this be the first american royal baby, but also one of the first royal babies to be born in the u.s.

we have a very transatlantic royal family. >> reporter: news of that child, that would be 8th in line to the throne, coming just 2 1/2 months after markle revealed the couple suffered a miscarriage. in a "new york times" op-ed, i knew i clutched my firstborn child, i was losing my second. hours later i lay in a hospital bed holding my husband's hand. i tried to imagine how we'd heal. >> after the difficulties that meghan faced in the close of 2020, this is a great start to 2021 for her. >> reporter: and the timing of the announcement is notable. 37 years ago, february 13th, 1984, princess diana announced she was pregnant with her second child, prince harry. the news making headlines that valentine's day. kenneth, mona? >> a royal born in the u.s.? he or she could be president one day. coming up, the best bargains on this presidents' day. also ahead -- should tom brady apologize for throwing the super bowl trophy?

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♪ time to check "the pulse." we begin with the best bargains for presidents' day. >> clothing is a big part of president day sales. each year eddie bauer and old navy are selling winter cloths for up to 50% off. nordstrom, 70% off sweaters and shoes. >> but it's not just clothes. amazon is selling the new ipad for $539. sam's club has air pod pros on sale for $179, that's $70 off. home depot is selling the front-loading washing machine for $200, a 20% discount. we sound like commercial salesmen. >> buy one, get one free. next, new fallout after tom brady's super bowl celebration. >> he's being asked to apologize for throwing the trophy during the boat parade. in tampa. >> the daughter of the trophy's

designer says brady's throw disgraced and disrespected the trophy. brady's condition at the parade also got the attention of "saturday night live." >> i saw you throw the super bowl trophy from one boat to another. >> oh, yeah. that was awesome. i've been bringing this bad boy around with me pretty much everywhere. she's a little banged up, but she still works. yeah, like that. >> just a little banged up. there's no indication the real tom brady will be apologizing for anything. next, what could be the oldest beer factory in the world. >> archeologists in egypt have uncovered a brewery believed to be 5,000 years old. they found dozens of large clay pots that were likely used to turn grains and water into beer. and finally, the most popular laugh emoji apparently isn't funny any more. >> reports say generation z say both laughing and the laughing while crying symbol is old and tired because older

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checking the top stories, ice and snow are blanketing texas and oklahoma creating treacherous driving conditions. power companies in texas have entered an emergency stage because of overwhelming demand for heat. as that storm system moves north, more snow is expected in the midwest while ice is expected in louisiana into tennessee valley and up to the northeast later today. meanwhile, a storm in the pacific northwest could bring a foot of snow to the mountains. researchers are concerned about new coronavirus mutations in the united states. "the new york times" reports seven variants have been uncovered around the country. doctors aren't yet sure whether those variants will be more contagious. memorials were held sunday marking three years since the shooting at marjory stoneman douglas high school in parkland, florida, where 17 lives were lost. president biden sunday urged congress to pass what he called commonsense gun laws.

and finally from us on this monday, searching for the next big star. a new season of "american idol" is under way. >> will ganss has the good, the bad and the ugly from day one. >> reporter: remember kelly? ♪ life is like a song ♪ >> reporter: that's the kind of talent that's back, baby. ♪ you make me feel like a natural woman ♪ >> that's got to be right up there with the kelly clarkson audition. the jennifer hudson audition. >> reporter: "american idol" kicking off its search for the next great jacket? >> 400 smackeroonies. >> what a deal. >> i just paid you. >> wow. >> reporter: the auditions on the season premiere right on the money. ♪ why do i feel so blue ♪ >> reporter: annalee making the judges' jaws drop. benson boone, too.

♪ i guess my heart never learns ♪ ♪ no use in fighting ♪ >> reporter: but it wasn't just the talent that knocked the judges over. [ laughter ] >> okay. >> reporter: maybe no william hung auditions to crack them up. no shortage of drama nonetheless. some unhappy parents. >> next time i'll have her audition for "the voice." >> reporter: and some high-profile parents. claudia conway trying to make a name for herself with her voice. claudia getting the golden ticket to go to hollywood, but the real star of the big premiere. >> does he make you nervous? >> honestly, i think you look great in a speedo as well. >> reporter: mario proving the model contestant doesn't have to have the best voice to get the judges off their feet. mario did not get the golden ticket to hollywood, but it looks like he's more interested in sharing some other kinds of content, if you catch my drift, kenneth, mona.

>> n srning." right now on "america this morning" -- weather emergency. the extreme and deadly conditions spreading across more than 40 states. >> oh [ bleep ]. >> arctic air all the way down to texas. the first-ever windchill warning in houston. temperatures in some areas 50 degrees below average. a major ice storm on the move. millions bracing for rolling blackouts because of stress on the power grid and the upper midwest and northeast bracing for more snow, what to expect today. breaking overnight, more mutations of the coronavirus in the u.s. the seven new variants found, just as more states reopen. and more vaccination sites run out of shots. looking to the future. the next step for former president trump after his impeachment acquittal and what