the relentless winter not showing any signs of letting up. snow, rain, and ice are in the forecast. plus, texas still feeling the brunt of those frigid temperatures as millions struggle without power. >> that extreme weather causing major disruptions in covid vaccine distribution plus, dr. fauci on whether you can still spread the virus even after vaccination. the new rocher ready for its close-up the details on the mars landing. a battle over loan

forgiveness. is president biden's plan on track? halfway around the world it was serena williams versus n naomi. we've got all the details. "early today" starts right now. the storm continues dumping more ice and snow across the south. a least 35 lives have been lost because of the dangerous weather. and the crisis continues to unfold in texas where there are still over a million power outages and homes are being flooded by burst pipes, and with water notices in place, there are some families boiling snow to have access to clean water. let's bring in nbc meteorologist janessa webb of what we can expect janessa, good morning. >> the storm is racing to the east coast think the bulk of this system

started to enter new york city and the mid-atlantic states by 8:00 a.m., and the heaviest part will be around the noon hour you see the flakes accumulating across the northeast i think the biggest story, north carolina, two portions of west virginia where we could see some significant icing. winter storm warnings stretch from louisiana to northern new england and they will not expire until about midafternoon it's the triangle to d.c. where we could see a quarter of an inch of ice. there are travel troubles across this area. the snow, at least 3 to 6 inches guys >> all right, janessa, thank you. let's turn back to the dire situation unfolding in texas, with millions still waiting for help in the darkness and cold. the big question this morning is how was the state so unprepared? nbc's gabe gutierrez joins us

with some t from houston gabe, good morning. >> reporter: phillip, good morning. more gas stations have shut down in the houston area, and more people have lined up here throughout the day, also in their cars waiting to get more propane. all this as city officials say millions across the region are without power. the so-called energy capital of the world is mostly powerless. >> who dropped the ball here >> i think it's the state. >> reporter: texas has its critic the governor is calling for an investigation of ercot who operates the grid. >> how could you not see it coming >> ercot saw it coming what happened on sunday, as the storm blew in, it did damage to the supply side. it knocked it enough out of balance we had to take these

measures. >> reporter: wind and solar only make up 21% of the state's power. natural gas makes up half. this week there wasn't enough supply for the demand caused by the extreme temperatures. >> the power system, i think it's safe to say at this point was not prepared for climate change. >> reporter: el paso on the other side of the state is on a different system is running smoothly and is leaving people like terry wondering what's so wrong? >> everybody knew the storm was coming why are we in this position? >> reporter: ercot said if they had not instituted the rolling blackouts, the entire grid coul potentially for months, phillip? >> still a major problem gabe, thank you. governor cuomo nation a lot. there's an investigation into

how his administration handled nursing homes during the pandemic overnight the cuomo administration said in a statement the doj has been looking into this for months we have been cooperating with them and will continue to. it comes after he admitted to intention a lil withholding data on covid-19 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities member of his own party have turned on him, threatening to strip him of his emergency powers >> tvaccinations continue but extreme weather could hamper those endeavors. >> reporter: frigid weather in some 30 states has frozen many vaccine distribution centers to a standstill with delays andprig

delays in florida and causing the closing of grocery stores. people were scheduling appointments that were impossible to get. >> i would tell people to be their own advocate and assume they'll have to reschedule the vaccine themselves. >> reporter: it's not just the storm but supply compounding problems in new york city, tens of thousands of appointments will be delayed because of their shortage, and another storm is moving in. >> we're going to run out. today, tomorrow, we're going to run out of what we have now. >> reporter: with the u.s. vaccinating 1.7 million americans a day, the white house says the vaccines supplied to states will increase to 13.5% a week in boston, 6 been

inoculated scientists are getting close to it the question is if you get vaccinated, can you affect others >> there are studies pointing us in a favorable direction that will have to be verified and corroborated by other studies. >> reporter: help can't come soon enough. by mid-march, the cdc says 559,000 americans could lose their lives to the virus, a dark reminder that every day and every delay can cost lives this morning there's also concern about virus variants which could also set the u.s. back in terms of daily infections and hospitalizations. lindsey? >> miguel, tha you. it's a story for nasa and life on mars they'll plunge to the red planet surface this afternoon they'll use a parachute and jet

pack to touch down safely. once on the ground, perseverance will land on the ground. they'll capture it all realtime. it will begin at 2:15 eastern time perseverance is scheduled to set down at 3:55 eastern. congress will start digging into the gamestop saga today all of the big players are going to testify about the epic short squeeze that rocked wall street pitting hedge fund giants against armchair investors it sent the stock on a wild roller coaster, peeking at $384 a share before plummeting 90%. the head of the house financial services committee says this is the first of three hearings to get to the bottom of what happened >> on the third one, we probably will have enough nofgs really determine who really did what and whether or not there was

collusion, whether or not there's conflict of interest, whether or not there are things going on that's in violation of s.e.c. rules >> the hearing kicks off at noon eastern. rush limbaugh, the controversial and hugely popular right-wing talk radio host has died at the age of 70 after a year-long battle with lung cancer nbc's geoff bennett looks back at his life and career. >> reporter: rush limbaugh was a broadcasting icon and troernl voice in republican politics. >> i have a question for the democrats. when are you going to get tired of losing. >> reporter: his self-titled show was the most popular show by the time he was 8 years old, rush limbaugh had set his sights on a career in radio getting his start by playing records on a toy radio in his bedroom that enthusiasm and singular focus carried through his teens.

limbaugh quit college to become a rock and roll deejayk radio. he showed up i the rush limbaugh show became known for its extremely conservative slant and alt times his racist and bigoted commentary. >> the nfl too often looks like a game between the bloods and the crypts without any weapons there, i said it. >> we're being invaded by immigration, illegal immigration. americans still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage. >> reporter: limbaugh was a staunch ally os,ad times, he

doesn't waver because he's tough as hell. >> reporter: limbaugh awarded the presidential freedom medal following his speech he announced his diagnosis of his lung cancer the day earlier. >> i have to tell you something i wish i didn't have to tell you. i have been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. >> reporter: limbaugh had beaten other challenges including losing his hearing and later getting a cochlear implant and then he was addicted to painkillers. >> you all have made it possible. >> reporter: rush limbaugh, always brash, bold, powerful, and polarizing geoff bennett, nbc news, washington. >> our thanks to geoff for that report. janessa is back with more on today's wicked weather janessa, good morning.

>> good morning. good morning, everyone severe weather can happen any time of year that's what we're seeing in blame, georgia, texas, and florida. big wind gusts will be the issue this afternoon in this area. an today oklahoma city, 21. beat the heat, get to florida. miami, 83. hope is on the way with these cold temperatures. i'll show you when we see a gradual warmup coming up. >> all of those people without power, they're going to need that, right, janessa it was a semifinal showdown with naomi osaka against serena

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in today's news by the numbers, san diego fernando tatis jr. is staying with the team. the extension is the third largest in major league baseball history, $340 million. donald glover signs an

amazon deal. it's said to be in an eight-figure agreement. singer rapper laura hill has made a major milestone the miss education of lauren hill goes diamond. this makes her the first rapper to go diamond. president biden is facing backlash alexandria ocasio-cortez says the plan does not hold water, but the president says he has his own plan sam brock has his own report. >> reporter: cnn's town hall. >> we need at least a $50,000 minimum. what will you do to make that happen >> i will not make that happen. >> reporter: president biden said he' firing

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a longtime dream of oscar winner regina king is finally going to come true she's going to star and produce a movie about shirley chisholm, the first black congresswoman. she'll follow the groundbreaking plan since 1972. >> regina king is killing it. >> "snl." >> one night in miami. coming a long way from being the little sister on "friday." the troop in eagle scouts

are making history they're the first women to achieve that rank. >> reporter: in communities around the country, almost 1,000 young women flew right through the glass creeling this week. >> when women think of eagle scouts, there are a lot of characteristics they associate with them like service and leadership. >> reporter: until now it was all male it's been opened to girls. now with 21 merit badges and a service project, these young women ascended to the highest honor, something only six scouts have ever achieved. >> it's perseverance and hard work to get through the rank and enjoy the group. >> reporter: these twins are two of 17 in baltimore to lead the way for girls everywhere. >> it leaves you with the feeling that anything is possible as long as you work toward it. >> reporter: i that the exact ideadahlgren, nbc news.

>> good lessons that they're learning at an early age. >> i am still can't start a fire with a match, so good on them. >> maybe they can teach you. let's go to a bizarre case in south florida two men are accused of pretending to be federal marshals and flashing phony credentials all to get out of wearing masks as a resort. they were asked to cover their faces. they refused and instead threatened to arrest employees and fine theg suspicious they called police so officers and a real u.s. marshall arrested them on charges of impersonating a federal officer. >> this happened in florida, right? >> yeah. >> all right just checking. >> thank you so much for starting your thursday with us i'm lindsey reiser. >> and i'm phillip mena.

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