that's what's making news in good morning columbia. thanks for joining us. i'm eric weisfeld. and i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and gervais. the time's now 5:00. it's cold out there this morning... but the good news is we're no longer in the freezing

yeah you'll still want to grab your jackets before you head out... but still not quite as cold as previous morning temps this week. for more on what you can expect for the remainder of the day... lets turn things over to

we want to 33 give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. and good news... there are no trouble spots to report out on the roads in or around the capital city. but of course, we'll be sure to keep an eye out on

the roads and keep you updated for your morning commute. a-b-c columbia wants to help you jump start your day. we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. we're learning more about where our state stands. governor nikki haley delivered her 2016 state of the state address to the general assembly last night. education took up a large portion of last night's address. governor haley spoke on issues such as crumbling facilities and a teacher-retention issue in rural parts of the state. lawmakers 33 say education is a priority during this year's legislative session. following last night's addresses some lawmakers took the time to praise the governor's commitment to education...

to be done. 33 education was also a major talking point of the democratic response to governor haley's state of the state address. the response was made by representative mandy powers norrell of lancaster. during the response norrell criticized the republican party... for what she calls a "grossly under-funded" education system... and for failing to give the people, quote, "the south carolina we want and know is possible." governor nikki haley is making improvements to the state's infrastructure a high priority. lawmakers say october's historic flooding highlights the gaping holes in the state's infrastructure. during last night's address, governor haley made it clear... if the general assembly passes legislation that cuts taxes, reforms the department of transportation and invests in our roads... it has her signature. when it comes to fixing those roadways... the interim

agency since last year has now cleared the first hurdle to run the department of transportation. the senate transportation committee unanimously approved christy hall for the job. the issue now moves to the full senate for consideration. also out of the state house... if you aren't sure where the confederate relic room and military museum is located... lawmakers say, chances are, you are not alone. a house budget writing panel is proposing moving the museum that will house the confederate flag that was taken off the state house grounds last summer. right now... the relic room is in the back of the state museum building. shifting gears... six people have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking. the indictment was announced by attorney general alan wilson and the richland county sheriff's department. authorities call human trafficking a form of modern-day slavery and say during the past two years the agency has doubled the number

investigators 33 say the suspects were selling under-aged girls for sex. according to the attorney general's office... human trafficking is a 1-hundred 50 billion dollar industry. chapin's police chief is under a three day suspension. a spokesperson tells us chief troy crump was suspended for an unspecified personnel matter. we are waiting for a response from chief crump... so be sure to stay with a-b-c columbia news for an update on this developing story. still to come... we're bundling up this morning... but it looks like, here in the midlands, we're dodging a

a major winter storm. 33 here's a quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. having to bundle up here is nothing compared to what winter weather other parts of the east coast are facing.

from north carolina to as far north as boston... people are bracing for a major winter

has the latest. 33 we're hoping the panthers will prowl their way to a victory this weekend. eric, what can you tell us about this much-anticipated game? just two nfl games remain before the super bowl. one of them will be just up the road in charlotte sunday.

match-up and more in this

it. 33 still to come... the work week is just winding down... but it's time to clown around. find out how you can catch one extreme show... coming

welcome u can visit the columbia animal shelter off humane lane. and no better time than now to add a pet to your home... because you're in for a deal. the columbia and lexington animal services is having an adoption special for the new year... adoption fees are only 40-dollars per pet.

deal ends january 31st. 33 we're checking out what will be making headlines later today. here's eric with your "look ahead." the circus is coming to town... and you can catch all the extraordinary performances this week. "circus xtreme" runs this thursday through sunday... at the colonial life arena... featured by ringling bros. and barnum and bailey. tickets are on sale at the colonial life arena or you can always go to ticket master dot com. and for tonights showing, you're in for a special deal... because tickets are being reduced from their normal price of 18-dollars to 16-dollars. it all starts at seven. and "circus xtreme" performers are also making a special visit to the palmetto health children's hospital today. this is for those children who are unable to attend the circus due to health concerns. it's going to be a fun filled event of dancers, clowns, dogs and contortionists... this

still to 33 come... it's a tax scam alert reaching the midlands... what officers are advising you do to protect your finances... stay with us. we're live

officials 33 say there are tax scammers posing as f-b-i officials right here in the midlands.

scammers act as if their opening an investigation on victims for tax evasion... the caller then pressures victims to pay up or else they will be arrested. officials at the f-b-i field office in columbia are aware of the scam... and richland county officials are now warning if you receive this type of suspicious call to be cautious... this isn't 33 the only scam circulating. officials say there are also scammers posing as law enforcement officials. if you believe you are receiving a scam phone call... again, you are advised to take the advice just mentioned from

department.still to 33 come... we're learning more about where our state stands... and taking a look at the hot button topics in last nights state of the state

gervais. what you can expect for the remainder of the day... lets turn things over to

33 we want to give you a quick traffic update as you about this and good news... there are no trouble spots to report out on the roads in or around the capital city. but of course, we'll be sure to keep an eye out on the roads and keep you updated for your morning commute. a-b-c columbia wants to help you jump start your day. we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. we're learning more about where our state stands. governor nikki haley delivered her 2016 state of the state address to the general assembly last night. education took up a large portion of last night's address. governor haley spoke on issues such as crumbling facilities and a

teacher-retention issue in rural parts of the state. 33 lawmakers say education is a priority during this year's legislative session. following last night's addresses some lawmakers took governor's commitment to education... while others say, more needs to be done. 33 education was also a major talking point of the democratic response to governor haley's state of the state address. the response was made by representative mandy powers norrell of lancaster. during the response norrell

party... for what she calls a "grossly under-funded" education system. 33 norrell also took time to address other issues the legislature is working to address this legislative session... such as the economy and state of our roads and bridges. infrastructure also a focus of governor nikki haley's state of the state address. lawmakers say october's historic flooding highlights the gaping holes in the state's infrastructure. during last night's address, governor haley made it clear... if the general assembly passes legislation that cuts taxes, reforms the department of transportation and invests in our roads... it's got her signature. and

ahead for the sate... she also took to look back and recall some of the tragedies that shook our state last year. the gallery was filled with people, affected by the immense challenges that arose in south carolina last year.... including... the family of walter scott, senator clementa pinckey, those who worked tirelessly throughout the one thousand year flood... and two of the survivors of the charleston charleston church shooting. officials in richland county are hoping to learn from october's historic flooding... and they're asking for your help. they're holding a series of six meetings to gather feedback from residents affected by october's historic flooding. it's all part of the "community input and recovery project." the information will be used to develop a flood mitigation study of lower richland... the gills creek and stoop creek watersheds. today's meetings will take place at noon at bluff road park... and at trenholm park at 5:30. for a complete list of dates

and locations... be sure to visit our website... a-b-c-columbia-dot-com. time's running out for small businesses seeking help following the historic flooding. the small business administration says it's closing its business recovery centers... at the close of business today. officials with the s-b-a say they're ceasing operations because of a steady decrease in activity. the richland penny program is hoping to make moving around the midlands... a little easier... and safer. they're set to hold a public meeting on this year's sidewalk projects. that's going to be at the eau claire pring building.. tonight starting at six. and some residents in richland county are going to have to take a few extra steps before using their water this morning. we have a boil water advisory to pass along. it's for residents living along trenholm drive... from lakeview circle to forest drive. that includes the trenholm plaza shopping center. residents there should boil their water for at least a full minute before using it

still to 33 come... it may be cold now... but just last month we we're wondering "what happened to winter?" there's a reason why your holiday, felt more like "christmas in july." cloudy skies with temps in the mid 30's this morning. expect a cool day with rain moving later.details next.live from

even good morning. overseas stocks were hammered overnight rkts sets up another rough day on wall street. >> yesterday, the dow fell almost 250 points. >> already the typical 401(k) has lost $8300 in value this year. dropping oil prices is good at the goes pump. but not for investors. the government is now investigating a number of companies that make hoverboards. >> one key official wants to suspend all online sales. details later today on "good morning america." bad news for "star wars" fans, the next movie in the series is being pushed back. >> instead of memorial day weekend 2017.

it will debut just before christmas next year. and that's "america's money." have a great day. huh. introducing centrum vitamints. a brand new multivitamin you enjoy like a mint. with a full spectrum of essential nutrients... surprisingly smooth, refreshingly cool. i see you found the vitamints. new centrum vitamints. a delicious new way to get your multivitamins. karl, don't you have friends coming over? yeah, so? it stinks in here. you've got to wash this whole room are you kidding? wash it? let's wash it with febreze. for all the things you can't wash, use... ...febreze fabric refresher whoa hey mrs. webber inhales hey, it smells nice in here and try pluggable febreze...

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33 though temperatures are feeling seasonably cold right now... it looks like last year's warm temperatures are breaking records by a surprisingly high margin... yeah... 20-15 was officially the hottest year since instrument record- keeping started in 18-80. that's according to both the n-o-a-a and nasa. the two have been keeping record of the average

temperatures for the last 136-years. experts say the record-breaking heat was fueled in part by one of the strongest el nino's on record. we're now going to turn our attention to your health. rochelle dean has a look at what is making headlines in the medical community. fast food and chain restaurants are now required to disclose calorie counts for everything they serve... but what about that calorie

doctor timothy johnson... 33 still to come... your in for some big screen t-v deals... just in time for that highly anticipated super bowl

from main and gervais. million workers, to at least nine bucks an hour. but... critics say the pay raises are nothing more than a publicity stunt. and speaking of walmart... you may be in for a deal if you shop there soon... walmart and other retailers are already starting to post deals in an effort to lure shoppers looking for those pre- super bowl deals. and on the top of the list... a new big screen t-v. according to "fat wallet- dot-com's" annual t-v buyer survey... more people plan to buy televisions ahead of super bowl sunday than at any other time during the year. and for good reason... because you can save an average of 20- percent or more on high-end tvs in january. looks like a fan favorite isn't coming to the big screen as soon as everyo star wars fans are looking at a later arrival date for the next premier... plus, adele may not have made the cut date for a grammy but she's still saying hello to

different way... and an actress is opening up about ... a health issue she's kept secret for years... with more on what's happening in hollywood... let's turn

with todays showbiz wrap... 33 still to come... it's soup for the soul... a perfect remedy for this cold day...

33 let's check out the day in history. -ethan allen is born in 1738-president carter pardons draft dodgers in 1977 -toyota officially passes g-m as planet's biggest car maker in 2009 today is... national hugging day... national granola bar day...

chowder day.33 that's all 33 the time that we have for the first hour of good morning columbia. but we're coming right back. so be sure to

from main and gervais. good morning columbia. thanks for joining us. i'm eric weisfeld. and i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and >> eric: glad you are waking up with us. good morning, columbia. i'm eric weisfeld. >> rochelle: and i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and gervais. the time's now 6:00. >> eric: good news is we know longer have a below zero temperature. >> rochelle: but don't get too

>> jonathan: it will be cold, it not below freezing so it's some improvement. it's a small improvement. the small wind are here early this morning, but we are likely to see a lot of spots get close to freezing if not below freezing at some point this morning. 32 in sumter, 36 manning. bishopville as 36 as are we. a couple cool spots but in general everybody around 5 to 10 degrees warmer depending on where you are. couple cool spots, it will be cool throughout the day today and you pretty much plan to have the jacket on even this afternoon, highs top out in the mid to upper 40s. not expecting much precipitation until later, there is rain to the south, that should not bother us and stay to the south. we are seeing a light breeze out

of the west and southwest. we are looking at the wind shift from the east and that will set this wedge condition for us and get that cold dome of air which could have big implications what we see precipitation-wise. this is 8:30 tomorrow, rain move in later today probably into tonight and it won't be necessarily anything to worry about there but as we wake up tomorrow morning, the cold air will get with the moisture and we have a chance to see freezing rain across our neck of the woods mainly north of columbia but there is a chance right along the i-20 corridor that is north of that could see freezing rain. this is tomorrow afternoon. we are changing over to plain rain at that point, freezing rain for a lot of the upstate into the charlotte area into the piedmont and seeing the heavy snow band. this system will shift and bring a lot of heavy snow for

mountains of north carolina and up toward richmond, d.c., potentially could see 16 to 24 inches of snow. certainly a lot of things to look out for. we have a couple watches and warnings later on tonight. for the forecast relatively quiet compared to what we will see tomorrow into saturday. highs of 48, cloudy condition and the rain comes our way later today but not really expecting a lot from the rain here during your thursday forecast. it will mainly be what that rain shifts over into as we head into friday morning. it will cool off tonight and we could see wintry mix tomorrow morning and that could freeze on some of the roadways, something to look out for as we head out for your friday. >> eric: our first hour was quiet on the roadways. >> rochelle: looks like there are no trouble spots to report. good news on the roads. if anything changes for your morning commute we will pass it along to you before you head to work and getting the little ones

as always abc columbia wants to help you jump start your thursday. >> eric: we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get started. we're learning more about where our state stands. governor nikki haley delivered her 2016 state of the state address to the general assembly last night. >> rochelle: education took up a large portion of last night's address. governor haley spoke on issues such as crumbling facilities and a teacher-retention issue in rural parts of the state. >> i have seen the disparities, continue. we want to raise our children to education. >> rochelle: lawmakers say education is a top priority during this year's legislative session. following last night's addresses some lawmakers took the time to praise the governor's commitment to education while others say more needs to be done. >> she, frankly, acknowledged some areas of the state that aren't enjoying the attention they should've received. >> we have to seriously look at

since i've been here two weeks, nothing has been mentioned about it. >> rochelle: education was also a major talking point of the democratic response to governor haley's state of the state address. >> eric: the response was made by representative mandy powers norrell of lancaster. during the response, norrell criticized the republican party for what she calls a "grossly underfunded" education system and for failing to give the people, quote, the south carolina we want and know is possible. governor nikki haley is also making improvements to the state's infrastructure a high priority. lawmakers say october's historic flooding highlights the gaping holes in the state's infrastructure. during last night's address, governor haley made it clear if the general assembly passes legislation that cuts taxes, reforms the department of transportation and invests in our roads it's got her signature. when it comes to fixing those roadways, the interim director of our state's roads agency since last year has now cleared the first hurdle to run the department of transportation. the senate transportation committee unanimously approved

christy hall for the job. the issue now moves to the full senate for consideration. eric: also out of the state house, if you aren't sure where the confederate relic room and military museum is located, lawmakers say, chances are, you are not alone. >> rochelle: a house budget writing panel is proposing moving the museum that will house the confederate flag that was taken off the state house grounds last summer. right now the relic room is in the back of the state museum building. rochelle: shifting gears, six people have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking. >> eric: the indictment was announced by attorney general alan wilson and the richland county sheriff's department. authorities call human trafficking a form of modern-day slavery and say during the past two years the agency has doubled the number of such arrests it has made. >> these are people, females, that are being forced to do things that they normally wouldn't do. they are being bought.

and we have individuals who are trafficing them. who are taking them when they are very vulnerable and selling them and using them making money and that's what we have to stop. that is what human trafficing is all about. >> eric: investigators say the suspects were selling underaged girls for sex. according to the attorney general's office, human trafficking is a $150 billion industry. eric: chapin's police chief is under a three day suspension. a spokesperson tells us chief troy crump was suspended for an unspecified personnel matter. we are waiting for a response from chief crump so be sure to stay with abc columbia news for an update on this developing story. eric: still to come, a water crisis continues. >> rochelle: what the president is saying about the situation in flint, michigan. >> jonathan: and cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, finally above freezing. expect rain heading our way later. i'll have details.

main and gervais.

i want to tell you that something missing is jesus. it was the beginning of a road of redemption for me. there is forgiveness, a new life, everything in trusting god. take that one step. that is all it takes. i felt like a new person, a

i fel >> jonathan: 6:11 on your thursday morning. waking up with cloudy skies, it is dry for us now. likely to see rain later today, highit will depend on a lot, how hard it rains will change what we see tomorrow morning. a low of 34, not freezing but cold enough to see a wintry mix.

some freezing rain a possibility, sleet a possibility as well depending on how that heat profile lines up for us. we could see cooler air, could see warmer air, but hopefully we will stay on the lower impact of things as you wake up and head out on that friday morning. >> rochelle: we are all keeping our fingers crossed, thanks, jonathan. rochelle: here's a quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. stock markets just keep on slumping. oil prices are falling and they're dragging the stock market down. the dow closed yesterday down 249 points as the price of oil suffered its worst one-day drop since september. now investors worry that huge stockpiles of oil could indicate a global economic slowdown. and experts say we could see more days like this. rochelle: president barack obama is weighing in on the water crisis in flint, michigan. residents in flint are using bottled water because of lead contamination in public water. speaking in nearby detroit, the president said he would be beside himself if his children's health were put at risk.

this week and promised federal assistance. rochelle: meanwhile, on capitol hill a measure that would crack down on syrian and iraqi refugees coming to the u.s. has been blocked by senate democrats. lawmakers say the goal of the bill was to prevent possible terrorists from slipping into the country. the vote means the refugee bill, which passed the house with broad bipartisan support in november, is likely dead for the year. rochelle: we're hoping the panthers will prowl their way to a victory this weekend. eric, what can you tell us about this much-anticipated game? >> eric: just two nfl games remain before the super bowl. one of them will be just up the road in charlotte sunday. tim hill previews that big match-up and more in this morning's sports minute to win it. >> carolina panther's quarterback cam newton says sunday's championship game, just another game, the only difference more media attention.

come to charlotte it will be the first battle with heisman trophy winners. >> i used to dream of being in this type position, so i don't necessarily get nervous more so than anxious for sunday. >> the time is 6:40 which is a weird time. i'm ready, you know what i'm saying? this is why you play football games. >> i think this preparation already you can see a different football team. there's a lot of energy, a lot of focus, maybe not as much apprehension. >> don staley try to make it 18-nothing. they play at auburn. i'm tim hill, that's your minute to win it, hope it gets your thursday off to a good start. eric: still to come, the work week is just winding down but it's time to clown around. find out how you can catch one extreme show coming right here to the capital city.

main and gervais. rochelle: welcome back to good morning, columbia. the time right now is :17. the time is 6:17. >> jonathan: let's take a bite out of your morning menu, sponsored by bojangles'. it's not quite st. patrick's day yet, but we're already seeing a hint of irish festivities for the big day. >> rochelle: that's right. just a little green mixed in there. you are invited to the 34th

annual st. pat's "line-up announcement party." delaney's music pub is revealing this year's music line-up, festival highlights, and changes coming to this year's festival. the event is tonight and it's featuring true irish-themed entertainment while you can sip on a complimentary guiness pint. all the fun starts at 6:00 and runs until 7:00. rochelle: and if you've been to the annual five points st. pat's fest before, you know there are some rockin' concerts to catch. several stages actually. and for local bands looking to play on the big stage this year "battle for st. pat's" is now accepting submissions to perform. the six top bands picked will battle it out for the opportunity to play at the festival on march 19th. submissions should be sent to the email battle for stpats@yahoo.com. "saint" is spelled s-t. and you must include a bio, contact information, three or more songs and a photo. those submmissions are due by febrary 19th.

so you have a little time to get that in there. love hearing those band when they get up there and rock out and there are several stages there throughout the area for five points. >> jonathan: it's a good day but you forget it's st. patricks and you try to drive there. walking for long periods. >> jonathan: it will be chilly. we will look for warmer air to come our way between now and the end of the weekend. we are watching this winter storm, i think we will see some type of wintry implications as we head into friday morning and also saturday morning. i think during the peek peak heating hours it will be this afternoon. tomorrow we can shift it into sleet, tomorrow high of 38, it will be cold, rainy, potentially

we are seeing higher impact elsewhere, there could be some impact but i don't expect to see high impact or severe system, but things could change a little bit so we will keep an eye on them for the next couple days. >> rochelle: when you start talking about low temperatures things can get icy or dicey. >> jonathan: you are right. rochelle: we're checking out what will be making headlines later today. >> jonathan: here's eric with your "look ahead." >> eric: the circus is coming to town and you can catch all the extraordinary performances this week. "circus xtreme" runs this thursday through sunday at the colonial life arena featured by ringling bros. and barnum and bailey. tickets are on sale at the colonial life arena or you can always go to ticketmaster.com. and for tonight's showing, you're in for a special deal because tickets are being reduced from their normal price of $18 to $16. it all starts at 7:00 p.m. and "circus xtreme" performers are also taking a special visit to the palmetto health children's hospital today. this is for those children who are unable to attend the circus due to health concerns. it's going to be a fun filled

event of dancers, clowns, dogs and contortionists. this starts at 10:00 this morning. they are sure to have a freight time as they bring the circus to the hospital. >> rochelle: the hallways will be busy this morning. good times, thanks, eric. rochelle: still to come, we'll be heading to the polls before you know it. where you can have all your questions answered when it comes to vote 2016. we'll have those answers coming up next. stay with us, we are live from main and gervais. in today's "techbytes" -- a recall by microsoft. >> it involves the power cords for older surface pro tablets, 2s and 3s. they may overheat and catch fire if they're wound too tightly or pinched.

ones will be released soon. new details about the upcoming samsung. it has a slightly smaller screen than the iphone six plus. have you ever dreamed of taking a private tour of buckingham palace? now you can. >> it can be viewed on your smartphone or pc. >> oh, look at those halls. absolutely beautiful. for real. those are your "techbytes." >> have a great day. there's only one egg that just tastes better. fresher. more flavorful. delicious. with more great nutrition. and 25% less saturated fat. only eggland's best. better taste. better nutrition. better eggs.

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33 presidential bernie sanders is sneaking ahead of his competition. with less than two weeks before voting begins... sanders is in a position to win both iowa eric: democratic presidential candidate bernie sanders is sneaking ahead of his competition. with less than two weeks before voting begins, sanders is in a position to win both iowa and new hampshire. >> rochelle: that's right. a new cnn/wmur polls shows the vermont senator leads the former secretary of state in new hampshire 60% to 30%. not only that but polls show sanders would do better that clinton against top republicans in the granite state. rochelle: students over at the university of south carolina are eager to hear sander's stance on higher education.

usc's russell house to hear philosopher and activist dr. cornel west. he lead a town hall to discuss sanders' higher education policy more specifically making college more affordable. >> it's time for a change. 1% of the population owning 40% of the wealth. we need investment in education, jobs with living wage, and healthcare as a right. >> rochelle: dr. west has joined sanders at a number of town hall meetings at colleges across the state. last night's event was sponsored by usc's student government. rochelle: and as the primaries approach republican and democratic leaders are hoping to answer some of your questions. >> eric: this morning our own ben hoover will be moderating "road to the white house: a conversation on the 2016 race." the event takes place this morning from 7:30 to to 9:00 at the capital city club. >> rochelle: i bet a lot of people have questions as we get ready for the caucuses coming up, the first in the state primaries, a lot of things people have questions and concerns about.

>> eric: interesting race so far. >> rochelle: yes. >> eric: still to come we're learning more about where our state stands. >> rochelle: and taking alook at the hot button topics in last nights state of the state address.

main and gervais. eric: good morning, columbia, just in time, we have one half of the hour left. thanks for waking up with us. i'm eric weisfeld. >> rochelle: and i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and gervais. the time is 6:30. >> eric: no longer below freezing temperatures, we are slowly climbing. >> rochelle: still cold out there, people, make sure you grab a coat and bundle up the little ones. for more of what you can expect, let turn things over to jonathan kennedy. good morning. >> jonathan: not as cold a start as we have been but it was cold, we are looking at temperatures in the mid-30s for us downtown but other areas are falling near or below freezing. you see winnsboro 32. saluda 32. 31 st. matthews, so still a lot of spots that are quite cold this morning and even the 37 that we are seeing downtown is

still cold but not officially freezing obviously. as we move throughout the day we are likely to see cloud cover stick around, not expecting any sunshine, might see a few peeks here and there. cloud cover sticks around but moisture is coming our way. the system bringing the winter weather to the carolinas and more appropriately into north carolina, virginia and d.c., that will be moving in later today and tomorrow. rain to our south, nothing to worry about. we saw a little clearing toward the upstate, that will clear things down with the clear sky but likely to see things pick up significantly over the day today into tomorrow morning. rain starts out late tonight and then we see it shift over as we get the coldest errorly tomorrow morning. you will see the freezing rain, it's scattered about how much moisture will be here, when the

we will likely see a mixed bag of precipitation and then see it change over to freezing rain and snow, especially in north carolina, that's where things will get really dicey and heavy rain band on the other side of that system. this is at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon, you see most of us in the columbia metro changing over to rain but the frozen stuff to our north, more snow for north carolina, and as the system moves on, if you are familiar with the i-85 corridor going from atlanta through clemson, through spartanburg, charlotte and the greensboro area, anything north or northwest of that line will see a significant snow fall. anything south of that will be more freezing rain. to the south moore wintry mix but not expecting ice accumulation. we have a couple watches and warnings put out for our neck of the woods. not necessarily downtown but areas in the viewing area for

sure, winter storm warning to the north and freezing rain advisory for those counties to our north. we will stick with the dry conditions, it will be chilly, highs in the mid to upper 40s this afternoon and likely to see a cold rain come our way this afternoon. >> eric: right now we want to keep you posted on the roadways as you head out and abound. >> rochelle: still good news, no trouble spots to report in and around the capital city. we're keeping our eye on the roads and if anything changes in the last half hour of good morning columbia we will pass it along to you. rochelle: as always, abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. of your top morning headlines. our state stands. governor nikki haley delivered her 2016 state of the state address to the general assembly last night. large portion of last night's address. governor haley spoke on issues such as crumbling facilities and a teacher-retention issue in

>> i have seen the disparities, and i won't stand by to allow them to continue. we want to raise our children to know they are worthy of a good education. >> rochelle: lawmakers say education is a top priority during this year's legislative session. following last night's addresses some lawmakers took the time to praise the governor's commitment to education while others say more needs to be done. >> she, frankly, acknowledged some areas of the state that are enjoying the attention they should've received. >> we have to seriously look at this educational problem. since i've been here two weeks, nothing has been mentioned about it. >> rochelle: education was also a major talking point of the democratic response to governor haley's state of the state address. >> eric: the response was made by representative mandy powers norrell of lancaster. during the response, norrell criticized the republican party

underfunded" education system. if the republicans could have give us the south carolina we want they would have done it a long time ago. eric: norrell also took time to address other issues the legislature is working to address this legislative session such as the economy and state of our roads and bridges. eric: infrastructure also a focus of governor nikki haley's state of the state address. >> rochelle: lawmakers say october's historic flooding highlights the gaping holes in the state's infrastructure. during last night's address, governor haley made it clear if the general assembly passes legislation that cuts taxes, reforms the department of transportation and invests in our roads, it's got her signature. and while the governor is looking ahead for the state she also took time to look back and recall some of the tragedies

that shook our state last year. the gallery was filled with people, affected by the immense challenges that arose in south carolina last year. including the family of walt scott, senator clementa pinckey, those who worked tirelessly throughout the 1000 year flood and two of the survivors of the charleston church shooting. rochelle: officials in richland county are hoping to learn from october's historic flooding and they're asking for your help. >> eric: they're holding a series of six meetings to gather feedback from residents affected by october's historic flooding. it's all part of the "community input and recovery project." the information will be used to develop a flood mitigation study of lower richland, the gills creek and stoop creek watersheds. today's meetings will take place at noon at bluff road park and at trenholm park at 5:30. for a complete list of dates and locations, be sure to visit our website abccolumbia.com. eric: time's running out for small businesses seeking help following the historic flooding. the small business administration says it's closing its business recovery centers at the close of business today.

they're ceasing operations because of a steady decrease in activity. eric: the richland penny program is hoping to make moving around the midlands a little easier and safer. >> rochelle: they're set to hold a public meeting on this year's sidewalk projects. that's going to be at the eau claire print building tonight starting at 6:00. rochelle: some residents in richland county are going to have to take a few extra steps before using their water this morning. we have a boil water advisory to pass along. it's for residents living along trenholm drive from lakeview circle to forest drive. that includes the trenholm plaza shopping center. residents there should boil their water for at least a full minute before using it for drinking or cooking. eric: still to come, time to grab the milk and bread. residents are stocking up along the east coast. >> rochelle: it never fails, does it? we'll have more on the winter storm that's leaving shelves bare. >> jonathan: temperatures in the

we will see a cool day with rain and winter lows coming our way.

main and gervais. >> jonathan: 6:42 on your thursday morning. waking up with a chilly start but we have seen colder air this week. want the jacket out, highs of only 48 this afternoon. likely to see rain head our way later today. a lot may hold off until after dinner time depending on your location and how the system develops over the next few hours. we will see lows around 34 and that is not the magic number of 32 where we look for freezing but it's cold enough to warrant certainly some concern about

what we may be seeing the rain change over into especially early tomorrow morning. we'll keep an eye on the track of the system, as i mentioned earlier, if it changes by 20 miles it's could change. we'll let you know what to expect. eric: it may be cold here but for many parts of the northeast they're looking at heavy snow by the end of the week. >> jonathan: yeah, the national weather service's weather prediction center is warning that a massive winter storm is set to slam the north east this weekend. the greatest impact is expected be felt in baltimore, washington in new jersey residents are already starting to stock up on working to keep shelves full for the mad rush. the bread. >> jonathan: i saw pictures of my parents up in charlotte, people were already panicking. >> eric: because when you are snowed in you need those milk sandwiches. >> jonathan: i'm like there was one type of bread left.

apparently there was one type bread nobody wanted even in a disaster. >> eric: bad news there. eric: we're now going to turn our attention to your health. >> jonathan: rochelle dean has a look at what is making headlines in the medical community. good morning, rochelle. >> rochelle: good morning, jonathan. good morning, eric. in chile there are government approved marijuana plants as far as the eye can see. this marijuana field opened monday in chile to fulfill the needs of patients authorized to consume cannabis for medical reasons. it is the largest in latin america, and it is expected to produce a ton of cannabis in a country where production and distribution of marijuana is still legal. rochelle: if you think an energy drink is just as harmless as other drinks, think again. a recent study found that over 40% of all energy drink-related calls to poison control centers in the u.s. were for kids under six. many of them suffering serious nervous system and heart symptoms. health officials say the risks are particularly high for kids who already take stimulant

medications for things like adhd, and older kids who may mix the energy drinks with alcohol. officials say it's best to keep energy drinks from small children and to lock them up if you have to. rochelle: and speaking of your health, time is running out for those affordable care act applications. the columbia richland library is opening its doors to anyone with questions about health care coverage and to help walk you through the application process all week. today consultations are being held at hopkins park from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. the final deadline for aca applications is january 31st. rochelle: still to come, it's tax season. the safety tips you should keep

safe. rochelle, welcome back to good morning, columbia, your time is 6:48. it's time to start thinking about filing your taxes. but before sending all that info to uncle sam, there's a few things to keep in mind. mary moloney explains. >> reporter: millions will soon put their most sensitive personal and financial information in the hands of uncle sam. that's why it's so important to choose a tax preparer wisely. the irs says to look for an irs preparer tax identification number. avoid people who base their fee on a percentage of your refund. and note if your preparer doesn't ask for receipts.

not asking enough questions about deductions and credits could be a warning sign that something is wrong. also never sign a blank tax return. tax time is also prime season for identity theft. never give your personal information over the phone or online unless you started the conversation and confirmed the identity of your tax professional or an irs employee. if information on your return is missing or wrong, that could also be red flags. common examples of identity theft from tax returns -- finding out more than one return was filed for one person in a year or seeing more tax owed or refund offset for a year you didn't file. another seems like a good thing but it's not. irs records pointing to more wages than actually earned. it could mean someone is using your information to steal your money. for consumer watch, i'm mary moloney. >> rochelle: good things to keep in mind. rochelle: it's relationship status starting over social media. eric, what can you tell us? >> eric: forget love at first

sight, one superfan is using social media to land her man. disney star jake t. austin told "people magazine" he connected in real life with a fan who tweeted him for several years. austin is best known for his role as max russo in wizard of waverly place. the superfan turned significant other has tweeted austin since 2009. austin says it doesn't matter where you meet someone, sometimes you just "click." eric: some college graduates are guilty of thinking "judge judy" actually serves on the supreme court. that's according to a poll by the american council of trustees and alumni. organizers of the poll say the results find college graduates "are alarmingly ignorant of america's history and heritage." others are criticizing the poll saying the question was misleading because "judge judy" was listed on a multiple choice question by her actual name judith sheindlin and not her famous tv personality. eric: the oscars may be promoting the awards ceremony by saying "we all dream in gold," but the recent controversy has some celebrities seeing red. george clooney and lupita

criticizing the lack of oscar diversity in the academy award nominating process. for the second year running, no minority actors have been nominated in the four oscar acting categories. clooney, who has won two academy awards, said, "we need to get better at this. we used to be better at it." nyong'o also said she is "disappointed by the lack of inclusion" in the nominations. chris rock is hosting the 88th annual academy awards sunday, february 28th right here on abc columbia. eric: still to come, we're facing a cold snap. and we're not the only ones. we're talking about some sea creatures looking for some warmer waters.

main and gervais. there was something missing and i want to tell you that something missing is jesus. it was the beginning of a road of redemption for me. there is forgiveness, a new life, everything in trusting god. take that one step. that is all it takes. i felt like a new person, a

i fel >> jonathan: 6:54 on your thursday morning. waking up with dry conditions for now. we will likely see it change the rest of the day into tomorrow and saturday. what we are looking at here based on the latest models, some rain later today and then change it over possibly to a wintry mix tomorrow and that system moves up the coast, dumps heavy snow and we will end up with some snow saturday. not expecting much in the way of accumulation of ice or snow for us in the midlands. it will be a lot more towards

north but it will be something to look out for especially if you are hitting the road tomorrow morning or saturday morning. eric: like an adventure out of "finding nemo," it's time to "grab shell." some sea turtles are hoping to make their way back to the big ol' blue. >> rochelle: just keep swimming, swimming. but until then eight green sea turtles are getting used to their temporary home at ripley's aquarium of myrtle beach. these guys washed up on north carolina beaches and are now being closely watched at the aquarium. the sea turtles are proving we're not the only one's not adjusting well to the winter weather. officials at the aquarium say the turtles were "cold stunned" due to the sudden cold snap and will be staying with ripley's until waters warm up again and they can be released back into the wild. >> eric: shock to the system. >> rochelle: shock to the system and they are probably, like, we are heading in the wrong direction. eric: still to come it's soup for the soul. >> rochelle: a perfect remedy for this cold day next in your

main and gervais. >> jonathan: a cold start to your thursday, we've seen colder air, we're not below freezing but we may see warmer weather. we could see rain tonight change into a wintry mix and then back to rain tomorrow afternoon and

then a rain mix even into snow saturday. not expecting accumulation of ice or snow for us in the midlands but it will be something to watch for sure for the neck couple days. high impact to north carolina and to the north, some impact for us at home. >> rochelle: the only good thing about the forecast are those who want to see a little snow may get lucky enough to do so but hopefully it won't come up till saturday. >> eric: and hopefully it will be the kind i like that makes a quick appearance. rochelle: let's check out the day in history. ethan allen is born in 1738, president carter pardons draft dodgers in 1977 and toyota officially passes gm as the planet's biggest car maker in 2009. eric: today is national hugging day, national granola bar day, and national new england clam chowder day. >> rochelle: new england clam chowder is almost like a hug. perfect day for us.