this morning on "world news now" -- blizzard of 2016. >> the massive storm wreaking havoc in the south as the east coast is bracing for heavy snowfall. thousands of flights already canceled. we have accuweather live with the latest. hillary clinton trailing bernie sanders in early state polls and now going right at her democratic rival. the gloves coming off on both sides as the primary race heats up. >> shocking scene on a busy freeway. a toddler running down the middle of the road. the parents desperately searching and the fast-acting deputy swooping in just in time. making a play for snow day. the students pushing one tv station hard, pretending to be school administrators. plus why this weekend plenty of people will be busy in more ways

than one. that's in a blizzard edition of "the mix" on this friday, january 22nd. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." i'm concerned about you, i have to say. >> why? >> the single guy in the city. you've done zero to prepare yourself for this. i have been going to the grocery store every day for the past four days. >> i'll tell you, i mean, i plan to shelter in place. i plan and hope and pray that seamless wll be able to deliver during the height of the snow. that's really a tough concern when you're single in the city. >> i'm concerned about you because you really do have to prepare for something like this. >> mostly in the city if you're single you just swipe to the right. >> that's how you prepare. >> there's no swiping to the left at all. >> but it is a pretty serious -- >> it is. there's a lot of people who are concerned. the forecast is changing a little bit, at least for the d.c. area. it's looking a little worse. we are talking first about the big severe weather that so much of the country is concerned

about this morning. >> massive storm moving through the south. icy conditions has already caused three traffic fatalities in north carolina as well as tennessee. a school bus in north carolina nearly added more to the toll. it's the tornado watches and warnings overnight in texas, louisiana, mississippi that have southerners really worried. right now you mentioned the southerners, the storm is sitting over the south, but as today progresses it will move toward the coast, bringing heavy appalachians and mid-atlantic region. the heaviest snowfall will be from northern virginia to southern connecticut. >> states of emergency have been declared in tennessee, north carolina virginia maryland and pennsylvania, as well as parts of other states. the snow likely to shut down highways. amtrak will be operating on a modified schedule for the next few days. when you're talking about the air, airlines have already canceled more than 2200 flights today. the federal government offices in washington are shut down at noon. >> so many people are getting ready for the big storm.

stocking up and already hunkering down in many places. here's abc's. >> reporter: millions of americans are preparing for a winter storm of epic proportion. this storm in chesapeake virginia forced to limit the amount of snow supplies each customer could purchase. >> the faster thing has been snow shovels. we're down to the last few of them which is like three or four. >> reporter: this d.c. trader joe's supermarket, only allowing ten shoppers in at a time. is it all too much? the director of the nation's weather forecasting agency said preparation is important to save lives. >> we're talking about a potentially paralyzing storm. >> reporter: it is a message that resonates with parents in north carolina, furious after a school bus filled with students nearly slid into a river. luckily, no one was injured. >> it started going side ways down the hill. i kind of screamed a little bit. my heart was a little bit in my knees, in my feet. >> reporter: here in the nation's capital in what's predicted to be the heart of the

storm, after wednesday's relatively minor snowfall caused major accidents, the stakes now are even higher. and it isn't just the snow. now forecasters are predicting the possibility of tropical storm-force winds here in the nation's capital, threatening to bring all this traffic to a complete standstill. lana zak abszc news washington. >> it's a big, big concern. particularly in the district. the forecast is changing. i was watching some 11:00 newscasts last night from wjla down there. they are mentioning now that 2 feet they'd be lucky if they only get 2 feet. >> that's a lot because it shuts down for whatever reason when it snows. you know this. >> absolutely. it shuts down on a regular day, on a rainy day. the city is shutting down. the metro is close down for 48 hours, which is unprecedented and a lot of people are hoping for the best. >> absolutely. we know one of our producers in the washington, d.c. bureau sent

an e-mail yesterday afternoon saying his 25-minute commute to virginia took him something like 2 1/2, 3 hours. >> yeah during the massive 2-inch snowstorm they had. you know one good thing, there's a little silver lining talking about the district to all these storm clouds for the first time in decades sledding is again allowed on capitol hill. >> oh i didn't know you weren't allowed to do is that. >> yeah. apparently it was against the law. >> did they send someone out to regulate that? >> the capitol police. >> that's right. >> now they've been told not to enforce it. >> wow. and they said the change hasn't happened in washington, d.c.? >> there yougo. >> change has happened. >> it did take an act of congress literally -- >> to allow that. >> to instructions to the police force to look the other way are included in an appropriateions bill. >> that's hilarious. that's great. democrats and republicans working together. >> there must be pork attached

to that. someone is getting an airport in the middle of men pennsylvania. >> you're probably right. the epa says it will take over lead sampling in the city after blasting state and local officials for their handling of the crisis. the regional epa director who oversaw flint has resigned. in the meantime, officials in michigan say they're still unsure whether the contaminated water is linked to a sudden increase in the number of legionnaires cases. the occupation of a national wildlife refuge in oregon may be coming to an end. the arm group's leader has started talking to the fbi about a way to resolve the sandoff. ammon bundy says the group will not escalate the situation. the occupation has been going on, as you know, for three weeks. shakeup in the democratic presidential race. bernie sanders has jumped eight points in a new poll of iowa

caucus voters. clinton even admits she may be too late for a comeback. cecilia vega is on the campaign trail. >> reporter: in the home stretch of iowa hillary clinton acknowledging her stark reality, she could lose iowa and new hampshire, but she is not giving up. >> it's not whether you get knocked down. it's whether you get back up. and i can tell you, as long as there is work to do and people to help i'm not going to quit. >> she also turned up the heat on bernie sanders. >> do you believe the american people are ready to elect a socialist as president of the yas? united states? >> it's up to the voters. i know a number of democrats, people i highly respect, are concerned and are expressing that concern to me to journalists and others. >> reporter: from sanders, confidence. >> if we do well in both of those states i think my friends, we're looking at one of the great political upsets in modern history of the united states of america.

>> reporter: the vermont senator also dropping this ad a simon and garfunkel throwback to the song "america." ♪ america ♪ and sanders just now came out swinging saying in a statement, quote, clinton's lead is evaporating here in iowa and we understand why her campaign is panicking. the gloves are off in this race. cecilia vega abc news vinton iowa. >> we know where to get sweet corn there in vinton iowa. stocks higher on wall street thanks to rising oil prices. the markets made up some of their losses. the dow jones industrial average was up s&p about 10 points. crude prices moved above $30. the european central bank says it will review its monetary policy. average long-term mortgage rates fell for the third straight week. the average for a 30-year fixed rate loan was 3.81%.

other mortgages were also lower. recruiting site says are the best jobs in america. you better polish off your computer skills. >> number four is engagement manager, which has nothing to do with weddings and everything to do with getting team members to work together. >> okay. >> third on the list is solutions architect. what does that mean? >> i don't know. >> sounds very complicated. number two is tax manager. obviously, you got to love numbers, so those of us in journalism are out. >> and according to glassdoor, the number one job right now is data scientist. >> so tell your kids focus on math and science. >> so astronaut, rock star ballplayer didn't make the list. >> you know what else didn't make the list? >> journalist. >> yeah. >> we didn't. >> that really surprised us. >> we're happy, aren't we? >> crickets. coming up -- we're getting geared up for a blizzard right here in our studio.

>> nobody warned me about this one. >> i know. >> you don't want to miss this apparently. but first, that shocking video a toddler in the middle of the freeway. how the child got there, why the police are using the incident to teach drivers. the latest on the major threat to pregnant women, the zika virus outbreak. more cases popping up in the what expecting parents need to watch out for. remember you can find us on facebook, wnnfans.com and twitter @wnnfans. (ugh.) ♪ does your carpet ever feel rough and dirty? don't avoid it resolve it. our formula with a special conditioning ingredient, softens your carpet with every use. it's resolve so you know it cleans and freshens. but it also softens. resolve. a carpet that welcomes you. and to clean pet messes, try resolve pet expert. hey buddy, let's get these dayquil liquid gels and go. but these liquid gels are new.

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this is a very disturbing image from a police dash cam in oregon. that's a 2-year-old boy running down the middle the highway. the deputy able to pick up the boy just as that huge tractor/trailer comes by. wow, that's a close call. the toddler apparently slipped away during a family gathering. the parents had been frantically searching. there were no criminal charges filed and the sheriff's department released a video, not to are distracted while driving. >> how could the kid get a -- >> the toddler they're young, not rationale not thinking. it's every parents' worst nightmare. >> i'll put a hook on my kids. >> a leash? >> yeah. >> i did have one of those. i usually use them in airports. they're very good. people give you weird looks, though. >> they do. but you can understdd why. thousands of child carseats are being recalled because of a

safety hazard. britax is recalling more than 1,000 infant car seats because the handles can break. the b-safe 35 travel system made between october 2014 and july of last year. full details on our website, abcnews.com. we turn to an urgent health alert over the zika virus. >> it's a tarl danger to pregnant women as it's linked to a serious birth defect and the latest map shows the number of cases in the u.s. is growing. >> all of those cases were contracted while traveling to particular global hot spots. the cdc is now warning women to stay away from. abc's eva pilgrim has the latest. >> reporter: the new warning about the dangerous virus leading to a flurry of concerned patients. >> monday morning we got about ten phone calls. >> reporter: lindsey mitchell traveled to mexico, one of 20 hot zones when she was 20 weeks pregnant before the cdc issued

the warning, telling pregnant women to stay away. >> i feel terrible just by going on vacation, i've now put my baby at risk. >> reporter: doctors say the symptoms for most people fever, rash joint pain are mild and pass without incident. the concern for an expecting mom, life-threatening brain damage in the baby. >> the results can be really catastrophic for a family so that's why we are being so careful. >> reporter: there are no vaccines to prevent it and no drugs to treat zika virus infection. doctors say anyone who has traveled to the countries with the virus and has the symptoms should be tested. eva pilgrim, abc news new york. >> that's frightening for many parents and anybody traveling. it's been mild and only causes symptoms in one in five people. >> but it's so -- it's one of those fears you have when you're pregnant that something could go wrong like that. apparently disease specialists

in brazil are saying this virus can cause a surge in another condition called gill oneon-buchlt it can paralyze some patients, forcing them to go on life support. a very serious condition. coming up in the next half hour, the hollywood a-lister what will smith told our own robin roberts about why the movie industry itself is to blame. first, an update on the accusations leveled against amy schumer that she stole other comic's jokes. what one of her accusers is saying now on "world news now." >> annou

they looked at what you google. do you know what you googled the most? he said is it me? no. by far what you google the most is, can i drink on these antibiotics? and do these antibiotics make my birth control worthless? >> comedianxheed xheed comedian amy shum other "snl" accused of stealing. >> now tammy pescatelli saying i

went to far and i'm super apoth poll gettic. >> reporter: the world's hottest tee mail comedian accused of stealing jokes from other funny women. take this new bit from her hbo special "live at the apollo". >> i'm old school. i think the guy should pay on the first day for sex. >> reporter: not unlike wendy's stand-up 20 years. >> maybe i'm old-fashioned but i like it when the guy pays for sex. i mean that. >> reporter: or this skit from schumer's comedy spral show about a new diet and exercise plan. >> they knock it out of your stupid mouth. >> reporter: compare that to kathleen madigan's stand up. >> you have enough money to pay a man to stand there and slap it out of your mouth before you put it in your mouth.

>> reporter: wendy told us i believe it was an honest mistake. in the comedy world, accusations of joke-stealing are no laughing matter. >> they're self-policing sort of community of artists and your jokes are your currencies. >> reporter: schumer is defending herself online and on the air waves on the jim norton advice show podcast. >> i'm being accused of stealing jokes and i wanted to come and talk to you about it and clear my name, because i would never, ever do that. and i never have. >> reporter: she's even vowed to take a polygraph and air the results on her show. comedy doesn't usually depend on the cliffhanger, but this one might. david wright abc news new york. >> well coming up the kid who tried to call in their own snow days. "the mix" up next. >> how did that work out?

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we've got our essentials for the storm. >> yeah absolutely. i came prepared. i wore my favorite snow boots. >> okay. so "the mix". >> "the mix," yeah right. apparently kids are pretty clever in chattanooga, tennessee. they ended up sending messages to the station that they wanted school canceled. pretending to be officials from hamilton county saying there's no school tomorrow. they said ha ha nice try. apparently you don't know the password. and then also kids don't be us pretending you are some school officials canceling school closing. we're not that dumb. just in hamilton county schools closed. >> the kids won.

>> is it was closed but "a" for effort. >> and they won in the end. so, there's a 100% chance of a blizzard and baby-making blizzard. many of the popular websites tinder says during blender -- during blizzards, it's so cold they see an increase in people swiping right. >> swipe to the right if you want blizzard babies. swipe to the left if you don't. >> now it's time to polka. ♪ politics and foreign wars all the weather all the scores ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ ♪ around the world and up your street ♪ ♪ "the skinny" is our gossip sheet ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ ♪ it's late at night and you're wide awake and you're wearing thermal pants ♪ ♪ so grab your "world news now" mug and everybody dance hey ♪ ♪ have some fun ♪ ♪ be a pal every guy and gal ♪

♪ do the world news polka ♪ ♪ why go out to russia for olympics that's too far ♪ ♪ we've got the winter games right here just digging out my car ♪ ♪ polar vortex polar vortex polar smortex ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ ♪ i can't walk on the snowy sidewalk though it's not my fault ♪ ♪ the doctor told me that i have to stay away from salt ♪ ♪ have some fun be a pal every anchor guy and gal ♪ ♪ do the world news at 90 se who cares what the bosses think they're a goofy crew and if your neighbors call the cops here's all you have to do ♪ ♪ when they yell it's half past three say it's world to me ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ stay warm. see you monday!

this morning on "world news now," the blizzard moving in. more than 2 feet of snow set to dumpb on the mid-atlantic region. and major flooding expected along the coastlines. schools closed today and government offices shutting down early. we're live with the latest storm predictions. the war of words heating up on the republican campaign trail. donald trump calling his nemesis a nervous wreck and ted cruz is suggesting that trump's priorities are all wrong. and new this half hour, flying while drunk. >> a former alaska airlines pilot has been arrested after landing his plane at an l.a. area airport. conviction on the charge could mean 50 years in prison. the full story straight ahead. and it's apparently official. re-engaged after taking a break