>> i'm with you. >> me too! >> i'm with "if". >> good morning, america. stark warning. u.s. capitol authorities brace for a possible violent attack this morning from another militia group. the capitol surrounded with razor wire, fencing and thousands of national guard troops on high alert. why today's date is significant, and how capitol police are preparing for all scenarios. rush to re-open? >> i think it's a big mistake. >> president biden critical of states like texas and mississippi for dropping their mask mandates as covid cases rise 75% in texas in just the last ten days. plus, how the administration is planning to get kids back in the classroom. the new secretary of education joins us live for his first national television interview since being sworn in. and as the race to vaccinate

the nation ramps up, this morning how some of the top infectious disease experts are planning their summers safely. refusing to resign. new york governor andrew cuomo apologizes in his first public appearance in the wake of explosive sexual harassment claims but remains defiant. >> i never touched anyone inappropriately. >> the latest on the fallout this morning. is this the new war of the windsors? buckingham palace saying it's investigating those bullying allegations against meghan markle. she's firing back at the royal family in a new clip released overnight. >> there's a lot that's been lost already. >> and the new headline on prince philip at this hour. the 99-year-old undergoing a heart procedure, the latest on his condition. abc news exclusive, one-on-one with embattled bachelor host chris harrison in his first interview since stepping back from the franchise. >> i'm wondering why would you defend rachael kirkconnell?

>> this morning, harrison apologizing, what he said to former bachelorette rachel lindsay and if he plans to come back to the franchise only on "gma" this morning. mission impossible? the spacex starship bursts into flames minutes after a successful landing seemingly and what happened and what elon musk is saying this morning. ♪ superfreak ♪ and it's gonna be a wanda-ful morning. fans cannot sit still and wait for a super surprise finale. >> what am i doing here sitting talking to you? >> this morning, "wandavision" star paul bettany is flying onto "gma" ahead of the show-stopping episode. good morning, america. it's great to be with you on this thursday morning, a/k/a friday eve. so many people have been binging

"wandavision" and if you haven't, it's not too late to start now. we can't wait to talk to paul bettany, one of the stars of the show ahead of their season finale. >> looking forward to that. we start with the latest on the covid crisis. as vaccinations increase across the country, many parents are wondering if and when it will be safe for their children to go back to school. this morning the new secretary of education miguel cardona joins us in his first national interview with his plans to get kids back into the classrooms safely. >> we'll have much more on that, and the coronavirus emergency. now the top story. you're looking live at capitol hill where police there are on high alert over new fears of another possible attack on the u.s. capitol. just two months after that deadly siege. house leaders abruptly canceling today's session. chief global affairs joins us from capitol hill. good morning, martha. >> reporter: good morning, robin. house leaders wrapped up their session last night specifically because of the security threat with extremists allegedly making plans to storm the capitol and

remove democtillence bultin ys it stark attractive target and that a known militia group could try to breach the capitol today. the fbi intelligence report says the so-called three percenters, a known militia group, could try to get some 50,000 supporters to come to d.c. around this date and could be plotting diversion nar tactics such as detonating a bomb to get law enforcement away from the capitol and then try to storm it. unlike january 6th with some 800 rioters breaching the capitol itself and thousands more swarms the grounds, the entire capitol complex is now surrounded with fencing, razor wire on top and 5,000 national guard troops and the acting chief of the capitol

police told lawmakers, because of the threat, security has been beefed up even more. >> we have enhanced our security posture. we've taken immediate steps to let the national guard, as well as our workforce, know what to expect. >> reporter: the intelligence was specific to march 4th. why today? because some far right conspiracy theorists like qanon believe donald trump will return to power today. march 4th was the original presidential inauguration date before 1933 when it was moved to january 20th. what is unclear is how solid this intelligence is. one law enforcement source telling abc news that the initial intelligence does not support 50,000 people descending on d.c., but they say whatever happens, they are ready. >> we are prepared to respond appropriately. we do have some concerning intelligence. >> reporter: while house members

will not be in session today, the senate will be, but these ongoing threats are the reason this fencing will stay in place for weeks if not months to come and the national guard will remain here until at least the middle of march. robin? >> ongoing threat, all right, martha, thank you. michael? >> thank you, robin. now to the latest on the coronavirus emergency. nearly 53 million americans have received at least one vaccine dose. that is about 21% of the u.s. adult population. the white house saying now is not the time to relax as some states ease restrictions. whit johnson has more from the vaccination center at yankee stadium. good morning, whit. >> reporter: michael, good morning to you. starting today yankee stadium will be one of the mass vaccination sites offering appointments 24 hours a day, specifically overnight for the johnson & johnson vaccine. the pace of the vaccine rollout is picking up steam. public health officials are

urging people and states not to let their guards down. is mnisident callinout statesxas and mississippi for dropping mask mandates and lifting most restrictions. >> i think it's a big mistake. the last thing we need is neanderthals thinking that in the meantime, everything is fine, take off your mask, forget it. >> reporter: dr. anthony fauci warning against claiming victory over the virus too soon. >> i don't know why they're doing it but certainly from a public health standpoint is ill-advised. >> reporter: the cdc saying the next few months are critical with the country on the cusp of a potential fourth wave driven by new variants. since the peak in early january, hospitalizations have dropped by 65%, but the cdc pointing to a slight uptick. covid cases increasing 3.5% within the last week. fatalities up more than 2%. overnight mississippi's governor standing by his decision. >> we are just simply doing the things to give our people the power back to do what they think is best for themselves and their family.

>> reporter: texas opening businesses to full capacity and ending its mask mandate next week. some applauding the move. >> i'm about done with masks. >> reporter: but the state has seen daily cases increase 75% over the last ten days and ranks 48th in administering vaccines per capita. as some states are moving towards re-opening, many students still learning remotely. according to one analysis 45% of k-12 students in the u.s. are attending in-person school every day. president biden hopes to get teachers vaccinated and back in the classroom. >> our goal is to do everything we can to help every educator receive a shot this month, the month of march. >> reporter: as part of the new push from president biden 9,000 pharmacies across the country will be offering appointments to teachers and educatoeducators, they're not eligible in their own states. george?

>> okay, whit, thanks very much. let's bring in the education secretary miguel cardona. thanks for joining us on "gma." i think it's your first time on "gma." thank you. let's talk about re-opening schools. it's your top priority. the president promised it in his first 100 days. how close are we to achieving that goal? how long will it take to achieve? >> thank you, george. i'm glad to be here and an honor to serve as secretary of education. the goal of re-opening schools quickly and safely is the priority and what we're finding is there are places doing it really well and there are places that need a little more support to get it done. it is our goal in the first 100 days to re-open as many schools as possible, pre-k through 8 but not forgetting high schoolers need to return back to school safely. >> realistically we won't have all kids in school five days a week. some of them some of the time. what exactly do you expect in these next 58 days? >> you know, i expect we'll be focused really intently on making sure we are sharing best

practices. you know, the first lady and i visited two communities yesterday, one in pennsylvania and one in connecticut where they're doing an awesome job getting students back into school safely. the educators want that. the parents want that the students want it and we have to make sure we're doing everything we can to get them in as much as possible. five days if possible to make sure they're accessing in-person learning. we know students learn best that way. >> president now says it's a priority to get teachers vaccinated in march, but the cdc says vaccinations aren't a prerequisite to get back into the classroom. is it fair to prioritize them over other essential workers? >> i'm pleased that the president took that approach. you know, the cdc was clear but i also recognize that as a former commissioner in connecticut, you know, we were seeing that schools were closing not because there was transmission in schools but because we had to quarantine teachers that might have been exposed. educators, not just teachers,

paraeducators, different staff members. so we were finding that schools were closing as a result of quarantining, not covid transmission. so if we vaccinate our educators there's a greater likelihood we won't have to close for quarantine because you don't have to quarantine. so for me this is a positive step in the right direction to re-open our schools safely. >> you were a teacher, an administrator as well. what would make you comfortable to be back in a classroom now? >> listen, i'm a father and i have two children that attend schools and they've been attending since the beginning of the year. for me, what i would want for my children is what i want for all the children in america -- to make sure there are clear mitigation strategies, that they're being enforced, that my students are safe. i wouldn't compromise their health and safety to go into school, but it can be done. we've seen it. there are models across the country that we have to lift so we can learn from one another and safely re-open our schools. >> this pandemic has taken a huge toll on learning as you know. how much have kids fallen behind

over the last year and how can you fix it? >> you know, visiting schools yesterday, one thing that stood out to the first lady and myself is a sense of community that schools provide. it's not just about reading and math and -- it's really about that sense of community, almost like a second family we know schools provide for our students. that's the priority to get our students back in, and it's something that we have to, as a country, come together and prioritize, making sure that we can safely return our students to school. >> normal school year in septemr? >> define normal, right? i think what we've done is we've learned what works, what doesn't work and we have to do everything to get them in, to try to re-engage our students. you know, as i said yesterday, we have the future lin-manuel mirandas waiting for their drama clubs to start and future astronauts, mark kelly, sitting at home waiting for their

s.t.e.m. lab to re-open. we have to get them back in. it's not the way they looked before march 12th of last year but giving purpose to the communities and making sure the schools are prepared to meet the social and emotional needs of our students too. >> a goal we all share, secretary cardona, thanks very much. robin? >> all right, george. now to new york governor andrew cuomo. apologizing in his first public appearance in the wake of those sexual harassment allegations but standing his ground refusing to resign. a lawyer for one of his accusers is now responding. stephanie ramos has the latest. >> reporter: in his first public appearance in a week, new york governor andrew cuomo addressing the sexual harassment allegations threatening his political career. >> i now understand that i acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. it was unintentional, and i truly and deeply apologize for it.

i feel awful about it and, frankly, i am embarrassed by it. >> reporter: cuomo apologizing publicly after three women came forward accusing him of unwanted advances. two former aides accused cuomo of sexual harassment. 25-year-old charlotte bennett claims the 63-year-old governor made it clear to her that he wanted to sleep with her. >> i'm embarrassed and hurt and i apologize that somebody who interacted with me felt that way. i never knew at the time that i was making anyone feel uncomfortable. >> reporter: the attorney for charlotte bennett, deborah katz, refuting that claim saying in a statement, my client reported his sexually harassing behavior immediately to his chief of staff and chief counsel. we are confident they made him aware of her complaint. the governor also declaring this --

>> i want you to know this from me directly, i never touched anyone inappropriately. >> reporter: but two other accusers say things did get physical. former aide lindsey boylan says the governor gave her an unwanted kiss, and anna ruch, who met cuomo at a wedding reception in 2019, said the governor took her face in his hands and asked to kiss her. claims the governor has denied. >> to establish sexual harassment, you don't need physical conduct. comments can be enough too. >> reporter: following the allegations, state lawmakers called on governor to resign. national democratic leaders stopped short of that saying they'll wait for the independent investigation. while the three-term governor says he's not quitting. >> i was elected by the people of the state of new york. i'm not going to resign. >> reporter: the new york attorney general is conducting an investigation into those allegations and the governor says he will cooperate fully

with that investigation but asks that new yorkers wait for the full report before framing an opinion. michael? >> all right, stephanie, thank you so much for that. now to the urgent water crisis in mississippi. many residents of jackson have been without wat tou t sth. e freezing col g doo lingor michael. from outside of jackson's main source of water and frustration. this is their water treatment plant. while they have made some progress, yesterday they were forced to shut down again because of some debris that was blocking the flow of water. they've got it back up and running, but nowhere near 100%. it has been more than two weeks since the storms crippled the region. states like texas, mississippi, even tennessee weren't ready and just don't have the infrastructure to handle that kind of cold. water mains breaki ie freezing temperatures. jackson's outdated water system got knocked out about 16 days

ago. many have gotten their water back. tens of thousands still without running water mostly in predominantly black south jackson unable to take a shower, brush their teeth or flush their toilets. they have been relying on bottled water. orks cave epity is under a bwar. getting setbacks like the shutdown yesterday and, unfortunately, no real time line for when the water will be restored or when the boil water advisory will be lifted. guys? >> what a tough situation down there. >> awful. also this morning take a look at this fiery end for a spacex starship. took off fine, but it exploded minutes after a seemingly successful flight. early reports say there were some sort of leaks in the propellant tank anne elon musk tweeted rip, sn10, honorable discharge. those in the space industry will tell you you need to see things go wrong so you can fix them before it's really go time. >> okay. >> that's one explanation. also ahead, buckingham

palace is making an unprecedented move on those bullying accusations against meghan markle. and the latest on prince philip's condition. and our exclusive with ychrs harrison, the embattled host of "the bachelor" is in the hot seat in his first interview since those controversial comments and will talk about race and what he's saying about his future with the franchise. but for now we'll go to ginger. hey, ginger. >> reporter: michael, much-needed rain in southern california. look at this. >> oh, my gosh, mom. look. >> reporter: that would be san diego, california and af of il. they also had a half inch of rain, lightning, some severe storms in the plains but the bitter cold will settle in again here tomorrow morning. your local weather in 30 seconds. first, the sunny cities sponsored by subaru.

good morning. sunshine returns today, but dangerous surf if you're walking along our beaches. rain, prepared to get wet tomorrow and even more so next week. let's take a look at today's temperatures. 55 to 60 along the coast. we have about 60 to 66 around the bay. low to mid-60s in the north bay. upper 60s in the east bay and south bay. tonight a little bit more fog. upper 30s to we'll be right back. we'll b. this is hal. this is hal's heart. it's been broken. and put back together.

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>> announcer: building a better bay area for a safe and secure future. this is abc7 news. good morning. i'm reggie aqui from "abc7 mornings." now that san francisco is in the red tier, mayor breed is looking at the next move which is the orange tier. one of the biggest changes would be nonessential office buildings reopening. experts say health and safety will be first and foremost for companies thinking of getting back to the office. >> in the next couple of months, we'll see a lot change from what we've been seeing in the last year. but ultimately, i think we have a whole new vision of the workforce. >> if the covid numbers hold or improve, san francisco will likely go into the orange tier march 23rd. the current covid-19 numbers are good enough to be in that tier. but under the rules, you can't skip tiers. today educators in santa

clara county are expected to address the rules. they will stress the importance of educators following through and getting vaccinated, especially those already w

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raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and may worsen kidney problems. i have it within me to lower my a1c. ask your doctor about once-weekly trulicity. good morning. how about this for a turnabout? santa rosa is one of our warm spots this morning. san ramon is 36. here's a look at your commute weatherwise and grab the sunglasses. that's the only issue. it's going to be quiet weatherwise today. tomorrow evening through saturday morning, not so much. a first in the series of storms rolls through. the good news, they're all 1s. they're going to bring us much rain, beneficial rain, without any adverse weather. >> sounds good. thank you. coming up on "gma," an interview with chris harrison,

his first since stepping away

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because duracell optimum makes this rc truck... announcer: we have a winner. (duracell chime) it's a sitcom. it's a sitcom. >> starring two avengers? >> it's a working theory. >> i think something is wrong here. >> welcome back to "gma." that's the disney plus hit show "wandavision." so many marvel fans are counting down to the blockbuster finale tomorrow. this morning one of the stars, paul betemit is soaring into "gma" with all the shots. he has a fang theory, fans trying to figure that out. we'll see what he thinks about it. >> we shall do that ahead. first the top headlines we're following. the capitol police on high alert. just two months after that deadly siege and the house canceling as a precaution. thousands of national guard

troops on the ground as capitol police are preparing for all scenarios. also right now in the senate, they're pressing ahead with that covid relief bill including changes to who will get those $1,400 stimulus checks and extending weekly unemployment benefits of $400 through august. the bill still has to go back to the house for final passage. really, stop what you're doing and take a look at this. a dramatic water rescue. thai navy sailors rushing to save four cats abandoned on a sinking ship. the thai crew was sent to check the ship for an oil spill and instead found these tiny forgotten crew members. the cats in good hands being cared for, oh, by the sailors at their command post. >> that's great. >> that's a good story. we'll continue now with that unprecedented move from buckingham palace. saying in a statement it will investigate claims meghan markle bullied three royal staffers. meghan is firing back saying the royal family is perpetuating falsehoods and james longman has the latest. james, this all comes as price

philip is still in the hospital. there was an update on his condition overnight? >> reporter: yeah, that's right, george. prince philip has undergone a heart procedure at the hospital. expected to stay there just a little longer. meanwhile, this royal family drama seems to escalate by the day. first we had allegations that meghan had bullied staff and then as if in response overnight a new promo released for the meghan and harry interview in which meghan essentially says that the royal family has been spreading lies about her. this is the latest chapter in the breakdown of this relationship. this morning, harry and meghan just days away from a groundbreaking prime time interview with oprah. the duchess speaking out about the royal family in a new promo. >> i don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still be just be silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. >> reporter: saying she no longer fears telling her truth.

>> if that comes with risk of losing things, i mean there's a lot that's been lost already. >> reporter: but just before that sit-down is set to premiere buckingham palace in an unprecedented move opened an investigation into bullying allegations against meghan. buckingham palace saying in part, the royal household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace. the allegations brought to light this week in an article in "the times of london" saying an official complaint was lodged that meghan markle drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. other unnamed staffers accusing her of emotional cruelty and humiliation. a spokesperson for the duchess who is currently pregnant with her second child, calls the report a smear campaign, saying she's saddened by this latest

attack on her>> this is not abo palace as an institution fighting back against harry and meghan. this is about individuals who feel that their story that -- the bullying they suffered has not been heard and problems have not been acknowledged and about people trying to correct a narrative. meghan has had it her own way and portrayed herself as a victim. actually, the people i've spoken to and several people have said this in different ways. >> reporter: the couple vocal about their coverage in the british tabloids, speaking out about this in a 2019 interview. filing several lawsuits against several newspapers for invasion of privacy. >> i never thought it would be easy but i thought it would be fair. >> reporter: in her interview she uses the word "the firm." that's used to refer to the royal family rather than the institution of the monarchy. this is getting personal, george. >> it sure is.

let's bring in robert jobson for more. thanks for joining us this morning. tell everybody about the statement from buckingham palace and about how unprecedented it is. >> well, it was a shocker, really, george. the fact is it's incredibly unprecedented to start blaming an issue in these statements like that is incredible. the fact that they've now opened this investigation is also a bit of a worry for the royal family going forward. it's going to open a can of worms. if there's other people out there that want to complain, not only about meghan, but about other members of the royal family, that is something that could well unravel. >> the timing of these allegations coming out just as we're about to hear from meghan and harry in that big oprah interview. >> well, yeah, i mean the fact is though that, of course, meghan recorded it a couple of weeks ago, not exactly a response but the fact they've come out now shows clearly the members of -- former members of staff want to get their point of view across before the characters may be besmirched in the interview so they feel they want to get a balance to this and that's why they're coming out with what they said to "the

times." >> some are calling it double standards saying they're investigating meghan but not prince andrew. is meghan being treated fairly here? >> i think it's difficult to say. i think that she obviously herself thinks she's not been treated fairly and that's why she's coming out and saying these things. but i understand what they're saying about prince andrew. from across the pond, it must look very strange that there's this negative publicity about the duchess and about harry, but nothing has been said about prince andrew. and i'm sure given what's been happening that will continue to be questions will continue to be raised about that until there is a development. >> so what do you expect to happen with this investigation? >> well, i think it's going to expand. that's what i believe will happen. at the moment they're focussed on a couple complaints. i think it will go further than meghan. i think it will go to spread to other members of the royal family and other senior staff at buckingham palace because if there are emails in existence,

which i believe there are, on other areas, then that could welcome out in this investigation. it's a can of worms and can only end in a mess and sure there will be a lot of worried people behind buckingham palace. >> wow, that is quite a situation. we will be watching. thanks very much. michael? all right, george, coming up next, our exclusive with chris harrison, his first interview since stepping away from "the bachelor" franchise. what he's saying about his comments on race to rachel lindsay and why he thinks he's still the right man to lead the franchise. we'll be right back. so abe and art can grow more plants. so they can hire vilma... and wendy... and me. so, more people can go to work. so, more days can start with kisses. when you buy this plant at walmart. ♪

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we are back with michael's exclusive interview with we are back with michael's exclusive interview with "the bachelor" host chris harrison. that's harrison's first interview since stepping away from his signature franchise, michael. >> yes, in the wake of the racism controversy that plagued the first season of the show featuring a black bachelor i sat down with the longtime host to find out what was behind his contentious remarks. >> it was a mistake. i made a mistake. >> reporter: this morning, embattled "bachelor" host chris harrison sitting down with "gma" exclusively in his first interview since stepping away from the franchise. after facing backlash for defending rachael kirkconnell whose past posts show her liking a photo with a confederate flag and attending an old south plantation-themed party in 2018, she since apologized for those actions. >> thank you for holding me accountable. i'm so sorry.

>> reporter: harrison made his case to rachel lindsay, the show's first black latch low rhett. >> it's not a good look. >> no, it's not -- well, rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or 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? >> i think the biggest surprise for a lot of people was that this season was supposed to be a turning point for the show. we had the first black bachelor in the franchise's history after being on the air for two decades. it was a move that was criticized as being too little too late by quite a few people. now it's overshadowed by this controversy over racism, but not just by a contestant on the show, but

contestant on the show but also by its own host and you are the face of the show. so a lot of people and i'm wondering why would you defend rachael kirkconnell? >> i'm an imperfect man, i made a mistake and i own that. i believe that mistake doesn't reflect who i am or what i stand for. i am committed to the progress, not just for myself, also for the franchise. >> my guess, these girls got dressed up and went to a party and had a great time, they were 18 years old. now, does that make it okay, i don't know, rachel, you tell me. >> you said, quote, is it not a good look in 2018 or not a good look in 2021 because there's a big difference. so what is the -- to you what is the difference or is there one? >> there is not. antebellum parties are not okay. past, present, future, knowing what that represents is unacceptable. >> reporter: in that interview with lindsay harrison also used a term he now says is unacceptable. >> i am not the woke police. there's plenty of people. plenty of people who will do that for us. >> lindsay later discussing that

interview on her podcast. >> during that conversation he talked over me and at me. during that conversation, his privilege was on display. he never gave me room to talk and he never gave me room to share my perspective. he wasn't trying to hear it. he was just trying to be heard. >> i am saddened and shocked at how insensitive i was in that interview with rachel lindsay and i didn't speak from my heart and that is to say i stand against all forms of racism and i am deeply sorry. i'm sorry to rachel lindsay and i'm sorry to the black community. >> since your conversation with rachel lindsay, she's been a target online of intense harassment and bullying, so much so she's had to deactivate her instagram account. have you had a chance to talk to her and, if so, what was that conversation? >> i talked to rachel, not since she deactivated her instagram account. i talked to lindsay initially

and apologized, and i want to do so again. i am incredibly sorry. to anyone who is throwing hate towards rachel lindsay, please stop. it is unacceptable. >> do you think the reaction that you received has been fair? >> i am not a victim here. i made a mistake, and i own that. racism, oppression, these are big dynamic problems and they take serious work and i am committed to that work. >> reporter: harrison says he's been working closely with a, quote, race educator and strategist, along with faith leaders and scholars like dr. michael eric dyson. >> dr. dyson often talks to me about counsel, not cancel. and that is full accountability, understanding what you didn't understand. owning that, learning from that, seeking counsel often in the community that you hurt,

learning from them, listening, gaining experience, knowledge, and moving forward. >> so you are the right person to lead this franchise into the future, you feel. >> i plan to be back and i want to be back. this interview is not the finish line. there is much more work to be done and i'm excited to be a part of that change. >> reporter: a lot more work to be done, chris, i cannot agree with you more on that. you know, guys, his apology is his apology, but i felt like it got nothing more than a surface response on any of this and obviously he a man who wants to clearly stay on the show. but only time will tell if there is any meaning behind his words. got to stay right there. we'll be right back.

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>> announcer: building a better bay area for a safe and secure future. this is abc7 news. good morning. i'm reggie aqui from "abc7 mornings." starting today, you can get one of the best views in the bay area from the ferris wheel at golden gate park. the wheel has been shut down since october. the ferris wheel will be in the park. it was supposed to stay for a year, but the board of supervisors could vote next week let'k in now w teorologist mike. love those views. >> they're gorgeous today. under a mostly sunny sky. great for outdoor activities. temperatures are going to be back to seasonal averages and that means mainly in the 60s. a few 50s along the coast. we have dangerous surf until 3:00 tomorrow morning. prepare to get wet tomorrow. and look at all the chances of rain next week.

>> thank you. coming up on "gma," they're going to talk to six infectious disease experts about planning for summer vacation. is it safe enough to go with your family? another update in 30 minutes. you can always find us at abc7news.c covid has made clear that having health insurance is more important than ever. at covered california, every plan is comprehensive, covering everything from preventive care to mental health. and it's the only place that offers financial help for health insurance. enrollment is open due to covid-19. if you or someone you know isn't covered, now is the time to sign up. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll now at coveredca.com.

good morning, america. it's 8:00 a.m. stark warning. u.s. capitol authorities brace for a possible violent attack this morning from another militia group. why today's date is significant and how capitol police are preparing for all scenarios. rush to re-open. >> i think it's a big mistake. >> president biden critical of states like texas and mississippi for dropping their mask mandates and lifting most restrictions. this as covid cases rise 75% in texas in just the last ten days. bitter fertility fight. "modern family" star sofia vergara's major victory in the six-year court battle over frozen embryos with her ex-fiance. vaccinated vacation. summer travel bookings on the rise as more americans get shots. six infectious disease experts

tell "gma" how they're planning safe vacations and how you can too. and our special edition of "deals" for women's history month. >> the best part about running my own business is getting to create products that make a positive impact for other women. >> tory johnson with the steals, all from woman-owned small businesses. and we can't wait for the wild "wandavision" finale. >> no, wait. wait up. >> vision himself, star paul bettany is here live as we say good morning, america. ♪ boom, boom, boom ♪ good morning, america. on this thursday, cannot wait for paul bettany. see what he has to say. snyf themut there. i know you rem i went down to lake charles, louisiana, to visit the region there that faced those devastating double hurricanes back-to-back. while i was there, after we went

off the air i was asked to meet the incredible girls basketball team of st. louis catholic high. take a look. let me tell you, ladies, please dream big, but focus small. the adversity that you overcome is making you search stronger. -- so much stronger. and next time i want to see you in uniform. >> and so to lift their spirits when i was leaving the gym i looked back and said, you know what, if you win the state title we'll have you right here on "gma." guess what, they made it to the championship game. which is tomorrow. i'm going to stick to my promise. they win tomorrow, you're going to see them here live from lake charles on monday. go, saints. lake charles proud. >> i'm going to say, put it out there early. we'll see you here on the show. good luck. >> that is great. we're going to get to the news starting with those new fears of a possible militia attack on the u.s. capitol.

police there are on high alert right now, and this comes two months after the deadly siege. house leaders abruptly canceled today's session, and we go to martha raddatz. martha. >> reporter: good morning, george. th it's starkly the u.s. capitol remains an attractive target and that a known militia group could try to breach the capitol today. the fbi intelligence report says the so-called three per centers, a known militia group could allegedly try to get some 50,000 supporters to come to d.c. around this date and could be plotting diversionary tack tiers -- tactics such as detonating a bomb to get law enforcement away from the capitol and then try to storm it. but unlike january 6th, with some 800 rioters breaching the capitol itself and thousands more swarming the grounds, the entire capitol complex is now

surrounded with fencing, razor wire on top and 5,000 national guard troops and the acting chief of the capitol police told lawmakers because of the threat, security has been beefed up even more. >> we have enhanced our security posture, we've taken immediate steps to let the national guard as well as our workforce know what to expect. >> reporter: the intelligence was specific to march 4th, so why today? because some far right conspiracy theorists like qanon believe donald trump will return to power today, march 4th was the original presidential inauguration day before 1933 when it was moved to january 20th. what is unclear is how solid this intelligence is. one law enforcement source telling abc news that the initial intelligence does not support masses of people descending on d.c. but they say

whatever happens, robin, they are ready. >> they are ready. all right, martha, thank you. we're going to turn to the latest in the fight against the pandemic. nearly 53 million americans have received at least one vaccine dose. the white house saying now is not the time to relax and criticizing states that are easing restrictions. whit johnson is back with more on that. good morning, again, whit. >> reporter: robin, good morning to you. starting today yankee stadium is one of the mass vaccination sites offering appointments 24 hours per day. the pace of the vaccine rollout is picking up steam. but public health officials are urging americans not to let their guards down. the cdc saying the next few months are critical with the country on the cusp of a potential fourth wave driven by new variants. since the peak in early january, hospitalizations have dropped by 65% but the cdc pointing to a slight uptick. covid cases have increased 3.5% within the last week. fatalities up more than 2%. and this morning, president biden calling out states like

texas and mississippi for dropping mask mandates and lifting most restrictions. >> i think it's a big mistake. the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking in the meantime, everything is okay. take off your masks are forget it. >> reporter: dr. anthony fauci warning against claiming victory over the virus too soon. >> i don't know why they're doin doing it, but from a public health standpoint, it's ill advised. >> reporter: mississippi's governor standing by his decision. >> we are doing things to give our people the power back to do what they think is best for themselves and their family. >> reporter: texas opening businesses to full capacity and ending its mask mandate next >> i'm about done with masks. >> reporter: and as states begin to re-open, questions still remain about when schools across the country will return to normal. george speaking with secretary of education miguel cardona earlier. >> you were a teacher. as you said you were an administer as well.

what would make you comfortable to be back in a classroom again? >> listen, george. i'm a father, and i have two children that attend school, and have been attending since the beginning of the year. what i want for my children is what i want for all children in america, make sure that there are clear mitigation strategies that are being enforced and my students are safe. i wouldn't compromise their health and safety to go into school, but it can be dong. we've seen it. there are models across the country that we have to lift so we can learn from one another and safely re-open our schools. >> reporter: president biden is pushing for all educators to receive at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of the month so now 9,000 pharmacies across the country will be offering them appointments even if they're not yet eligible in their own states, george. >> moving fast, thanks very much. coming up here sofia vergara's big victory in the six-year legal battling with her ex-fiance over her frozen embryos. ha sixop

doctors are telling "gma" about how they're safely planning for summer, and how you can too. and tory johnson has a special "deals & steals" celebrating women's history month. we'll be right back. you again ♪ mornings were made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis. when considering another treatment, ask about xeljanz... a pill for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when methotrexate has not helped enough. xeljanz can help relieve joint pain and swelling, stiffness, and helps stop further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections. before and during treatment, your doctor should check for infections, like tb and do blood tests. tell your doctor if you've had hepatitis b or c, have flu-like symptoms, or are prone to infections. serious, sometimes fatal infections, cancers including lymphoma, and blood clots have happened. taking a higher than recommended dose of xeljanz for ra may increase risk of death. tears in the stomach or intestines

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♪ just the way you make me feel ♪ welcome back. time now for "pop news" with lara. hey, lara. hey, michael. good morning to you all. and good morning to you. we're going to begin with an all-star cast for a classic adaptation.

on b of "pinocchio." she'll go to playing the blue fairy and lorraine bracco will voice a new character named sofia the seagull. the original came out in 1940. this goes into production very soon. also this morning, barbie is celebrating women's history month with the release of its eleanor roosevelt-inspired doll. highlits that roosevelt, unt inspiring new generations to speak up. the post goes on to say they hope the new roosevelt doll inspires girls to remember their voices matter. she is part of the aspiring

women barbie collection that includes ella fitzgerald and billie jean king. finally, shaq, shaq, caught sleeping on the job much to the amusement of his pal, co-host dwyane wade. take a look. >> what is going on in here? we supposed to be working. >> so mean. okay, if you're wondering, what's with the space helmet? observers say it's likely a cpap machine. or perhaps a device to protect against covid. one thing for sure, if it is meant to help snoring, shaq might want to check the warranty. >> that's true. you could hear him snoring loud and clear, his former teammate, d-wade. candace parker was in on it too,

good fun by all. >> thank you. we move to our "gma" cover story, "modern family's" sofia with her ex-fiance over the frozen embryos they created when they were still a couple. erielle reshef has the story. >> reporter: it has been a long battle for sofia vergara and her ex-fiance over those two frozen embryos but now with that new court ruling an end may be in sight. this morning, a major victory for actress sofia vergara in a bitter "modern family" battle. a judge in los angeles ruling her ex-fiance, nick loeb cannot access the embryos the couple created before they split in 2014. loeb filing a lawsuit contesting a written agreement they signed at their fertility clinic which requires both to consent before using them. >> so what the win means for her she won't become a parent of a child unless she's part of the decision-making.

>> reporter: vergara now married to actor joe manganiello sitting down with "good morning america" when news of the bitter dispute first broke. >> what do you want people to know about this situation with your ex-fiance? >> i don't like promoting my private life and i don't want to allow this person to take more advantage of my career and try to promote himself, get press. this shouldn't be out there for people to give their opinion when there's nothing to talk about. you know, there's papers signed. >> reporter: loeb went as far as creating a trust in louisiana to get the embryos legal status so that they could sue vergara to be born. >> the louisiana laws are a little different than the laws in the rest of the states and tried to get the louisiana court to take control over this trust and the court issued an injunction saying that it was not going to get involved in this matter. >> reporter: and, again, that new ruling means that both parties would have to consent in order to use those frozen embryos. so far no indication about

whether loeb plans to file an appeal. guys. >> okay, thanks very much. now we'll go to the summer vacation planning. it's on the rise as more of america is getting vaccinated and now top docreaying they might feel comfortable traveling but under a few conditions. it's a story we first saw in "the washington post." gio benitez at newark airport with more. good morning, gio. >> reporter: hey, michael. good morning. we're already seeing a steady increase in travel numbers so this morning we ask six top infectious disease experts about their own plans this summer and their advice for you. take a look. this morning, major news from the cruise industry. royal caribbean saying its newest ship is set to hit the seas in may from israel, but this time all passengers must be vaink avenough vaccine supply for every adult by the end of may, many are already making plans. >> we're seeing a huge surge in

demand specifically for spring and summer travel in the last two weeks alone. >> reporter: but is it safe? "gma" spoke with six infectious disease experts all saying they're optimistic about taking a trip this summer as long as cases continue to lower and with some other caveats. the main one, being vaccinated. >> these vaccines are highly effective against disease particularly severe disease and so that really changes the math about what we're willing to do. >> reporter: dr. natalie dean is planning on traveling. with her husband and two young children, while her kids won't be vaccinated, she knows children can spread the disease, but points to the data that shows severe illness is less common among young children. in the state's reporting, the american academy of paediatrics says up to 2% of child covid cases result in hospitalization. dr. david rubin says he's also feeling hopeful about traveling to see family this summer. >> my mother has fully received

her vaccinations and it feels safer. with declining transmission that opportunity is open. not just for my family but many families out there as we encourage our loved ones to get the vaccination. >> reporter: all six of the experts we talk to agree being vaccinated is the safe factor for traveling and say they would feel safe traveling by plan -- plane while vaccinated and wearing a sk ma. for now, the cdc is still asking americans not to travel. no word if that will change by summer, but with more americans vaccinated, experts say even with vaccinations, it's critical we watch the numbers and keep doing the simple things like wearing masks, washing hands and spending time outside. >> we've really turned a corner and can make plan force summer and thinking about end points, important for the optimism of the american public. >> reporter: our experts say maybe take direct flights so you spend less time traveling and

less time in airports, but we should tell you that all six of cancel planshi numb gs.an >> to trav onot to tra >> good morning, michael. i know we've got to start with kentucky because they have been on the rise as far as the rivers go and some pictures are unbelievable. that's the high bridge, kentucky. the kentucky river still rising in some places and will for the next 48 hours sore so still getting people out in some of these towns answer the fortunate news there's not a lot of rain on the way for that part of the country. at least not in the immediate future, but these flood warnings are going to stick around until the rive good morning. sunshine returns today, but dangerous surf if you're walking

along our beaches. rain, prepared to get wet tomorrow and even more so next week. let's take a look at today's temperatures. 55 to 60 along the coast. we have about 60 to 66 around the bay. low to mid-60s in the north bay. upper 60s in the east bay and south bay. tonight a little bit more fog. upper 30s to ♪ the best part of running my own business is my flexible schedule so i can still be a mom and a wife and not miss those precious moments. >> the best part about running my own business is getting to create products that make a positive impact for othewo >> we appreciate that too. now a special women's history month edition of "deals & steals." tory johnson has rounded up some incredible bargains from small

businesses, all o women, and ec them pntgouell phecamera at litn your seen.g, torlet's t ing heh something for thsees.is michele designs. beautiful packaging, exquisite artwork, everything is kind of inspired by the owner's love of gardening and art and you can see that in the products. even better than the beauty of the products is how they perform. they're just terrific, bath and body products, these amazing fragrances. we also have their beautiful traveling umbrellas. they'll be the prettiest umbrellas you ever owned. great fragrances, i might add and amazing prices, everything that you see ranges from $5 to h, yea iovth this next deal, whets our appetite. do i say, tory?

>> valente's pasta. this is an all natural plant-based pasta. it's all obviously made in america. family recipe, passed through the generations. it cooks in less than five minutes. they carefully source all of their ingredients, the vegetables, herbs, seasonings, they have three sensational varieties of roasted garlic and basil, spinach, garlic and parsley. it's a terrific company. you'll get six bags for $18. >> not bad at all. all right. kids can be, well, also george and michael, they can be picky when it comes to eating. this can help them, right? >> yes, you can use this for them under the desk. it's the gobe. it's a snack spinner, and it is a simple and smart way to pack snacks for your kids for a couple of reasons. each spinner holds five specific snacks so that's awesome, and it just in one push of a button, kids can choose a snack that they want.

so it's actually a great way to introduce new foods because they see it in their spinner and it's kind of fun to choose them. this is a smart one. really smart invention and obviously eliminates single use plastic. today is a good day to try it, slashed in half at $12.50. >> adorable. yummy. good times. good times, tory. >> it is, good vibes only. this company is good karmal. it's all exquisitely hand made. all natural. caramels from montana and each piece is individually wrapped with a positive quote around it so you get good caramel, good caramel -- good karma in every single bite. big variety. vanilla, chocolate, sea salt. a couple of different packages starting at $12.50. >> i was listening but michael wanted me to throw him some. oh, good hands. >> i was listening. that's why i wanted some. thank you. >> we're keeping with the food theme here. tory. >> this company is gear get it

right. our viewers know and love them. we have new options from them. all of their silicone tools for the kitchen, they look great on the counter but perform even better and feel really good in your hand. there's spatulas, spoonulas. sort of a big assortment of products with their own twist on them. all are nonstick so not going to scratch your pans. heat proof, dishwasher safe plus even more from them on the website. all slashed in half starting at $47.50. >> these are great deals and you know what, this last deal has become very, very popular. hasn't it? >> yes. harvest good, mini embroidery kits. these are amazing to create your own pretty project. they're designed in arkansas. everything is included, meticulous instructions, whether you are a beginner on a seriously experienced stitcher. this is all right, tory, thank you very much. you didn't even compliment me on

the spiral i threw you. >> i was eating. that was fantastic. >> we thank tory, and we can't wait to see what other dealsrem. "wandavision" and paul bettany is going to join us. i should try one too.

live breaking news. >> that breaking news is in the north bay where a preliminary 3.2 earthquake struck just outside santa rosa in the last 30 minutes. in the meantime, governor newsom is saying that there is a chance baseball stands will not be empty this season if covid cases keep dropping. giants president and ceo says that they're working on a plan to welcome back fans in time for the home opener on april 9th. the "a"s are working on a safety plan and are already selling undated ticket vouchers in hopes of fan-filled games this spring. the extra sunshine early this morning. temperatures are off their morning lows. everybody out of the 30s and into the 40s. a few 50s around oakland, san mateo and half moon bay. as far as your commute, it is dry and it's really no worries

until tomorrow evening. that's when we have a 1 on the storm impact scale. prepare to be wet tomorrow evening. look at all of these other chances of wet weather next

hey, bay area, "live with kelly and ryan" is coming up. >> we've got stanley tucci from "searching for italy," plus we learn about cooking. >> that's at 9:00 on abc7. we'll have another abc7 news update in 30 minutes. you can find the latest on our

app and at abc7news.com. the news continues now with "good morning, america." ♪good morning, america." welcome back to "gma." and that was your exclusive first look at the new music video for "lead the way," the original song making its feature film debut in "raya and the last dragon." it's sung by grammy nominated artist janai eiko. it is on disney plus with premiere access tomorrow. can't wait to see it. a lot of people looking forward to the big "wandavision" finale. fans counting down for weeks coming up with their own theories. we'll try to get answers from vision himself, paul bettany, great to have you back on "gma." paul, thanks for joining us but -- >> so good to be here. >> the internet is upset with

you. you teased a big cameo and said it was an actor you longed to work with forever. extraordinary chemistry then we see the cameo and it's another version of your character. what is going on there? >> yeah. you know who you think something is going to be funny and say it and panic about it which is what i did because fans starting guessing who it might be and they were guessing people like benedict cumberbatch or patrick stewart and i was thinking, god, that's a good idea and they will be so disappointed when they find out it's me. >> we're not sure. you could be trolling us right now. so is there a big appearance by someone? >> well, you know, i'd love to answer that question but my service keeps -- >> oh, no, that was good. that was clever. >> what. what. what. >> but you know what, there was

a scene from last week's episode that really resonated with a lot of people. it's when vision comforts wanda after the death of her brother and he says to her, what is grief if not love persevereing? any idea, the reaction that got from a lot of folks? >> yeah, my dear friend jack shaver, we were trying to figure out that scene and it just wasn't quite clicking and then she wrote that line and i went, you got it. that's it. that's the line. but my favorite unline meme of it was somebody had taken it and said, this is me explaining to a vegetarian why it's okay to eat meat and it said, what is beef if not cow persevering. >> okay. >> so in another episode you and cat denning share time.

would you consider a spin-off with her? >> i love that. she is such a hoot to work with. she's so funny like funny in your bones funny and when she was on set it was so great, so funny. she's the best. i would love that. >> you guys got to love the fan, man, they dig deep. they're looking for any kind of clue in all the episodes. that's got to be a lot of fun. >> yeah, it's the first time i ever made a show that's been disseminated episodically so fun to see them clamoring over -- for more information and then coming up with their own theories, you know. >> well, paul, we have researched the fan theories about what's going to happen on the finale so we want to run some of them by you. see if you can confirm or deny

if you don't break up, if your feed doesn't break up with us. we are calling this should we envision it. are you ready? >> that's clever. i get it. >> here's a first one, should we envision a magical battle between agatha and wanda in the finale? >> ooh. >> okay. i like that answer. >> that feels like a yes. >> feels like a possible leaning towards a yes. okay. should we envision another even bigger villain like mefisto showing up? >> ooh. >> i like how this is going. >> sound effects. that's a little extra sound effect. that's a for sure yes. evan peters who plays quick silver appeared on the show so

should we envision the x-men showing up. >> well, that's more of a -- hmm. >> you had me at that's -- then we cut it off. here we go. the magical world that wanda created in the m.j. town is called the hex on the show. should we envision the hex being destroyed? >> that's -- oh. >> and finally one more. should we envision -- >> good. >> vision -- should we envision vision surviving the finale? hmm. >> well my bank manager certainly hopes so. >> good answer. that was a good answer. >> that may have been one of the best you've ever done, paul. great answers.

>> way to go, paul. thank you. finale of "wandavision" starts streaming tomorrow on disney streaming tomorrow on disney plus. because it's just easy. bundling for example. you've got car insurance here. and home insurance here. why not... schuuuuzp.. put them together. save even more. some things are just better together, aren't they? like tea and crumpets. but you wouldn't bundle just anything. like, say... a porcupine in a balloon factory. no. that'd be a mess. i mean for starters, porcupines are famously no good in a team setting. geico. save even more when bundle home and car insurance. so you're a small business, geico. save even more or a big one. you were thriving, but then... oh. ah. okay. plan, pivot. how do you bounce back? you don't, you bounce forward, with serious and reliable internet. powered by the largest gig speed network in america.

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welcome back. our next guest had the power of the force in "star wars," now she has the ability to hear men's thoughts in the new sci-f

day ridley goomorning to you anoroings this morning. nice to see you.much. >> nice to see you. this is the first time we've talked to you since the pandemic. we know a lot of people spent the past year during the pandemic baking at home but, of course, you took yours another step. you competed on "the great british bake-off." so what was that like? >> well, the interesting thing was like i did a reverse thing because i was sort of baking before i did it and then i did it and didn't go as well as i thought it would go. at the end they were like, are you going to carry on baking. no, i'm going to stop baking now because i am, you know, horrified by my baking skills on the show. >> i'm pretty sure your baking skills are good. i just buy other people's baking. makes it easier on me. your movie "chaos walking." i've been watching the ads. i cannot wait to see it. it is so interesting. your character viola lands on a planet where all the men's

thoughts were on display. would you want this power in real life? >> no. not at all. >> why not. >> i feel like i -- i've literal got vanilla thoughts. i say i think -- i'm not shy about it. but watching other people's thoughts, no. i just don't want it. >> doesn't really sound fun but what is fun, we'll take a look at a clip right now. let's check it out. >> whoa. stop. don't come any closer, girl, girl. it's a girl. >> where are you from? >> you're a girl. >> are you from earth? >> girl. shut up. >> i'm sorry. i'm sorry. i've just never seen ray girl before. are you from earth? you're really pretty. yellow hair. i found her, i found her. wait, wait, wait. >> ooh. and you star with tom holland who is your co-star in the movie and you two have something in common. both are part of major franchises, you have "star wars" and he's with marvel. did you guys find common ground with that? >> it's funny because it feels

so different. like i was part of a group of people that make up "star wars" and he's like spider-man in spider-man like it's just -- i don't know. it feels like he's a different thing. like people are crazy about him. >> yeah, my twin daughters being two of them who are crazy about him. but you also star along someone we love, cynthia you got a chance to see her sing. >> i saw her in "the color purple" so i got to see her. there was a day when she was singing to herself. who is this angel from heaven that is like gracing us with her voice. like the most spectacular, obviously has ever heard of but, oh, amazing. to just hear that on set. beautiful, beautiful. >> you were so lucky to hear

that. we know you've done a lot of action movies. but you're funny. you have a great sense of humor. you think you'll ever do comedy? >> i may be doing something that may be comedic but the thought of it literally makes me feel so sick that i haven't fully processed it. part of me doesn't want to do it because i'm so scared but i'm excited but i'm scared so that may be happening in the near future, yes. >> i'm pretty sure you'll be great in it like everything else and appreciate you joining us. thank you for your time. her movie "chaos walking" hits theaters in imax tomorrow. let's go over to ginger. >> who is ready for an ah spring moment? all right. well, i'll give you one, this one is in arlington, y the apricot blossoms blossoming. that feels good. so will this. a big ridge of warm air will slide east and move through the great lakes as we go through the end of this week into the weekend and then look at new york city, nearly 6

good morning. i'm abc7 news meteorologist mike nicco. starting off partly cloudy but will become mostly sunny, pretty average. check out all the chances of rain coming up in ththththththt. . areef show. . erivo. . areef show. erivo. . eef show. erivo. . show. erivo. . how. erivo. . ow. erivo. . w. erivo. . . erivo. . erivo. . ivo. . vo. . o. . . . something very special we're excited to reveal. the cover of "all in," the autobiography of tennis champ and dear friend billie jean king. it is the first time billie has ever told her story in full from her storied playing career to her personal life to her activism. she spoke out early on this racial injustice and she has done so much, so much for men and women when it comes to equal rights. she's done this on and off the court. she was part of the original nine, those were the women who created the women's pro tennis tour and has pushed for equal

prize money for decades. billie jean really has been all in from the moment she stepped on the court and into our lives. "all in" comes out in august. g herabt it.ing forward to now as we celebrate world book day a mission to bring diversity to children's books. according to the cooperative children's book center only about 12% of children's books in the u.s. feature black heroes and now the owner of "woke baby" is trying to change that and linsey davis has that story for us. >> reporter: kelly believes all children should see themselves reflected in the pages of the books they read. but after self-publishing her first children's book four years ago the uk born fashion stylist turned entrepreneur discovered just how much children's books lacked main characters who were black. >> why did you feel that there was a need to create "woke babies." >> i'm a firm believe you can't be what you can't see. >> reporter: so "woke babies"

was born out of what she deemed was a necessity, a monthly subscription service and publisher of black children aftchildren's books. >> as far as seeing their image inning boos why is it so valuable. >> we live in such a diverse world and needs to be opportunity for all children and growing up for me, when i read a book if there wasn't a character i could relate to i kind of didn't want to read it. >> reporter: "woke babies" now helping to reimagine the classic fairy tale with a new series "the hairy tales" spell greating black heroes in their natural hair including, zell, let out your hair. >> that cannot be overstated. when we see ourselves in a positive light in a ray of hues being the hero, princesses or the smart ones or scientists or focal point of an amazing story that creates momentum for us.

>> zell, it's time to do your hair. >> reporter: accompanied by an animation narrated by "little fires everywhere" actress lexi oncewood. >> who mom braids zell's hair, it takes forever. >> what drew you to her? >> it reminds me of my friends and i growing up. i know the struggles of not wanting to get my hair done. she is a queen, a principal set on her own with her beautiful crown which is her hair and she doesn't need straighter hair or to change anything about her to feel like a princess. i think that's beautiful. >> and zell loves her hair. >> reporter: for "good morning america," linsey davis, abc news, new york. >> you know what, linsey has written some terrific children's books as well. "woke babies" books aren't just for black families. half of their subscribers who are white parents who realized they need to

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♪ back now with more women owned small business "deals & steals." you can link right to the deals by pointing your cell phone at that qr code on your screen and let's say hello again to tory johnson and, tory, our first deal helps women feel comfortable and beautiful. what you got? >> yes, cosabella making their

debut. means beautiful thing in italian and a lot of beautiful things, their soft pima cotton loungewear. a big variety of underwear and wire-into bralets. everything today is slashed at least in half so the prices start just over $12. >> a nice little deal and good skin routine is very, very important. how does this system work? >> so what is awesome about this is this is a luxury clean beauty skin care line that is accessibly priced because you should be able to feel good about what you put on your skin and also expect to see results. that's what you get. every product filled with really nourishing ingredients to achieve kind of the best version of your own skin. if you are interested in aauty three-step every day sort of very simple process that will

introduce you to clean beauty and show you just what it can achieve. if you buy just one thing from the line today i cannot recommend their moisturizer more highly. it is great for sort of soft, smooth, naturally glowing skin. i've loved this brand. i hope you guys will too. all of the options range from $9 to $18. >> got to keep that skin soft and supple. > xt cosmetics for everyone, tory. how does the owner use her background as an inspiration. >> this line, they take their inspiration from latina culture. spanish for rebel queen and all of the pigments are beautiful and they work for every skin tone. so it wasn't designed just to serve the latinas but really to be something that where every woman could feel the pigments and the beauty and all of kind of the color that comes along

with that culture. we've got assortments for lips, eyes, face and nails, again, really accessibly priced. everything ranges f wm extraord, went into making this eyewear and this is a favorite. >> it is. i heart eyewear have a lot of innovative options, makeup read that's allows to you see out of one eye while you apply makeup to the other. they have got their neck readers so that your readers are always right there front and center. kids and adults, blue blockers as well. everything is slashed in half and start at $7.50 then we move to naturally london, foot care that is awesome. what they make is nourishing, moisturizing, foot balms as well as we're introducing their cuticle oils all made in america, natural ingredients. 50% off, starts at $11 and our last deal, pink picassse kit, e

included to make your masterpiece, lots of new options today. these kit slashed in half, $21. >> make you all an artist. we partnered with these companies. get them by heading to

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that breaking news is from the north bay, a preliminary 3.2 earthquake struck in the last hour. and it was west of mountain saint helena. we have more updates coming up soon. there are new developments on done by march 31st. the extension to the t third line was supposed to open last year, but the project has faced several delays, the most recent caused by the pandemic. here's mike with our forecast. >> expect more sunshine today. mostly sunny to kind of partly cloudy day. great for outdoor activities no matter what you have to do. tomorrow, get ready to get wetr re chances of rain next week. now it's time for "live with

kelly and ryan." we'll be back at 11:00 for "midday live." "midday live." see you then. announcer: it's live with kelly and ryan. today film star and host of searching for italy, stanley tucci, plus we'll learn the sous vide technique as live's cooking school continues. also a woman from rhode island making art in her front yard is our good news story of the day, all next on live. ♪ let it go... ♪ and now here are kelly ripa and ryan seacrest. ♪ feed the flame, 'cause we can't let go... ♪ there we go. ♪ run ♪ i like it. it is thursday, march 4, 2021, everyone. ryan, that is some turnout you have. that is some turnout that i have. i find it hard to believe that you did not... have ballet lessons. was that a, uh, turnout that i just did? yeah. you had a beautiful fifth position, i might add. i thought it was an elevé plié.