have a great wednesday. 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

hump day than we've seen for previous mornings this week... yeah we're seeing a big improvement in those temperatures... and hopefully they're here to stay. for more on what you can the day... lets turn things

traffic update as you head out and about this morning. and good news at the top of the hour... there are no incidents to report in or around the capital city. but as always... we will continue to keep our eyes on the road and update you if anything changes 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. so, let's get started. opportunity in the wake of disaster. during last night's state of the city address, columbia mayor steve benjamin says theres a chance to make the capital city better than it was before

looking ahead, the mayor says he wants to: -rebuild roads to make them more walker and biker friendly. - and launch a small business disaster relief fund to help businesses still wading in the flood waters. in doing so, mayor benjamin hopes to launch columbia into the 21st century. 33 there were many other issues the mayor touched on during the state of the city address... including a city-wide literacy push and a new eco-tourism expedition. for more on the address... be sure to check out the online version of this story at a-b-c columbia-dot-com. mayor benjamin isn't the only one speaking out on improving our state's infrastructure. out of the state house... the senate finance committee continues to work to get more money for south carolina roads and cut taxes. the latest compromise... would raise the gas tax by 12-cents over three-years... along with a

an additional 665-million dollars for roads. but senators say they're going to take more time to discuss this proposal. also out of the state house... the legislator whose journalism registry proposal touched off a media firestorm.... says he never actually wanted to require reporters to register with the state, but the instant backlash made his point. republican representative mike pitts says by screaming first amendment.... the media reacted to his bill exactly as he expected. the retired law enforcement officer modeled his proposal on the state's concealed weapon permit law. pitts says he wanted to spark discussion on what he calls media bias in treating free speech rights under the first amendment as

under the second amendment. 33 pitts says the second amendment is just as pure and simple'' as the first. governor nikki haley is moving forward with her threat to sue the u-s department of energy for the agency's failure to meet a january first nuclear fuel deadline. governor haley has asked the state's top prosecutor to pursue litigation and collection of a one-million dollar daily fine. on the decision, haley says, "south carolina will not sit idly by while the department of energy continues... in violation of federal law... to ignore its commitment to the people of south carolina." it's national school choice week. and to raise awareness about k through 12 school choice here in south carolina... supporters are set to rally across the street from us...

superintendent of education molly spearman is set to speak at the event... today at noon. the republican front-runner donald trump will be making his way to the palmetto state today. trump will hold a rally at harmon tree farm on augusta road in gilbert. doors open at five and the event starts at seven. one place you won't see him.... on stage at tomorrow night's debate in iowa. the debate is being broadcast by fox news. you may recall trump has previously criticized fox news anchor and moderator megyan kelly. instead, trump says he'll be raising money for veterans tomorrow night... at the same time of the g-o-p presidential debate. the decision for trump to skip the debate... isn't being taken lightly by his competition. republican presidential hopeful is challenging trump to a one-on-one debate anytime between now and the iowa caucuses. according to a c-n-n/o-r-c poll... cruz is trump's closest competition. nationwide, trump continues to dominate the polls... taking 41-percent of support.

second... with 19-percent support among voters. but with the polls continuing to shift... it's important to remember... your vote matters. that's right. and on the other side of the political spectrum... time is running out to make sure your voice is heard. the deadline to register to vote in the south carolina democratic presidential preference primary is today. for more information on how to register to vote... be sure to head to s-c-votes-dot-org. still to 33 come... more on vote 20-16. we're taking a closer look at the presidential candidates' campaign... less than a week away from the iowa caucuses.mostly cloudy and mild this morning with temps near 50.but expect to see a few showers later today.

and gervais. 33 here's a quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. the democratic presidential

crossing iowa... making a final push for votes. meanwhile, the republican front-runner is refusing to take the stage in tomorrow night's debate. a-b-c's

on vote 20-16. 33 one gamecock is feeling quite comfortable in colonial life arena. eric, what can you tell us about last night's game? carolina basketball gets a career night from one

to 18 and 2 on the season.

to win it. still to 33 come... take me out to the ball game. we're headed to the baseball diamond to check out the fireflies new digs. stay with us.

gervais. for an owner that will give her a lot of attention. they add cleo is very energetic and extremely loving. if you'd like to meet cleo or other pets up for adoption... you can visit the 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. but you better hurry... the

31st. 33 33 we're checking out what will be making headlines later today. here's eric with your "look ahead." baseball season is right around the

fireflies" ... and they're ready to unveil the new sports gear for 20-16.... there will be a press event today to release what this years jersey's will look like. they're also introducing the winners of the "name the team contest" and announcing the 20-16 coaching staff. this is taking place at the south carolina state museum... and it starts at four this afternoon. and u-s-c students are looking to give one lucky couple the wedding of their dreams... by planning a free wedding for them. the requirements to qualify are that you must be affiliated to u-s-c... be willing to turn all decision making to the class... and have your wedding march 21st. to apply... you must submit a photo and 500 word essay or a three minute video explaining why you should be selected to the email: apply-dot-u-s- c-dot-love story-at- gmail-dot-com. you better hurry though... because

winner by today.33 still to come... it's carpet rides and magic lamps. a show that will take you back... through the performances of ballets

gervais. it's a much warmer start to your hump day than we've seen for previous mornings this week... yeah we're seeing a big improvement in those temperatures... and hopefully they're here to stay.

expect for the remainder of the day... lets turn things

kennedy. 33 we want to give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. and good news at the top of the hour... there are no incidents to report in or around the capital city. but as always... we will continue to keep our eyes on the road and update you if anything changes for your morning a-b-c columbia wants to help you jump start your day. we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get started. opportunity in the wake of disaster. during last night's state of the city address, columbia mayor steve benjamin says theres a chance to make the capital city better than it was before october's historic flooding. looking ahead, the mayor says he wants to: -rebuild roads to make them more walker and biker friendly. - and launch a small business disaster relief fund to help businesses still wading in the flood waters. in doing so, mayor benjamin

the 21st century. 33 there were many other issues the mayor touched on during the state of the city address... including a city-wide literacy push and a new eco-tourism expedition. for more on the address... be sure to check out the online version of this story at a-b-c columbia-dot-com. south carolina state university is still working to get out of the red. the university is asking for 30 million dollars. university officials made the request during a meeting of the house ways and means committee. according to numbers compiled by the "times and democrat" much of the money will go toward repaying debt and repairing buildings on campus. recovery efforts continue here in the midlands... following the one-thousand year flood. and now more help is on the way. south carolinians who were originally refused help following the floods will be getting about ten million dollars in aid. a fema spokesman says after a review.... nearly five thousand additional south carolinians were deemed

something as simple as information missing on the application could have resulted in it being denied the first time. in all... fema has approved almost 85 million dollars in disaster aid statewide for individuals and households. residents along the east coast are e so working to recover... following the weekend winter storm. economic experts peg the lost economic output at about two-and-a-half to three-billion dollars along the east coast. the death toll related to winter storm jonas is also on the rise. it now stands at 48-people nationwide. turning to crime... authorities say a murder suspect shot by deputies in a gun battle... actually died from a self- inflicted gunshot. richland county deputies say the death of 42-year-old damon jonard james has been officially ruled a suicide. james faced a murder warrant out of houston, texas... for the 20-14 deadly shooting of

houston police say james was arrested, freed on bond and then disappeared. monday... he was discovered at the byron road apartments in columbia. deputies continue to investigate why he was in the midlands. we now know the identity of the man who was shot and killed while trying to rob a columbia barber shop friday night. coroner gary watts says 35 year old adeyemi hannibal was shot by people with concealed weapons permits.... inside "next up barber and beauty" on fort jackson boulevard. columbia police are still looking for a second suspect. and richland county sheriff's department is searching for another robbery suspect. take a look at this surveillance video.. from the family dollar on decker boulevard. officials say the suspect walked into the store, pretended to purchase an item, and then stole money from the register before fleeing the scene. if you have any information to help in this case, you're asked to call crimestoppers... at one- triple-eight-crime-s-c. over at columbia metropolitan

security administration officials say a loaded firearm was discovered at a checkpoint. officials found this tp- nine pistol in a passenger's carry-on bag. t-s-a immediately alerted airport police... who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the check point area. t-s-a officials want to remind passengers that firearms can by transported in checked baggage... provided they are declared to the airline in a proper carrying case and unloaded... but are prohibited in carry-on bags. and there's a new chief in the town of chapin. mayor skip wilson announced seth zeigler will take over the department next month. zeigler, a chapin native, most recently served with the west columbia police department. he replaces retiring police chief troy crump.... who was recently suspended without pay for three days... for missing work without clearing it with the mayor's office first. still to come... we have an update on those california homes... close to tumbling off

enforcement is going to... to get residents out of their homes.mostly cloudy and mild this morning with temps near 50.but expect to see a few showers later today.details next.live from main and gervais. good morning. topping "america's money" -- toyota is still number one. >> the company sold just over 10 million vehicles last year, making it the top seller for the

>> volkswagen, which overtook toyota in sales in the first half of the year suffered in the second half from the emissions scandal. add this to the list of things your smartphone can do. withdraw money from an atm. chase bank is upgrading all of its machines this year. >> eventually, account holders will tap their phones at the atm. and the oprah effect continues for weight watcher the. the company's stock jumped 18% after a new ad ard with oprah saying she lost 26 pounce. >> weight watchers stock also soared last october when oprah bought a 10% stake in the company. ? lots of people losing weight. that's "america's money." before earning enough cash back from bank of america to help pay for her kids' ice time. before earning 1% cash back

and 2% back at the grocery store. even before she got 3% back on gas, all with no hoops to jump through. katie used her bankamericard cash rewards credit card to stay warm and toasty during the heat of competition. that's the comfort of rewarding connections. apply online or at a bank of america near you. adventures from $599, plus up to $300 to spend at sea. come seek the royal caribbean. book now, offer ends soon. i've smoked a lot and quit a lot, but ended up nowhere. now i use this. the nicoderm cq patch, with unique extended release technology, helps prevent the urge to smoke all day. i want this time to be my last time.

33 conditions at an apartment complex in california... threatening to tumble in the pacific ocean... continue to get worse this morning... and yet, some residents are remaining in their homes. yeah... city officials have deemed pacifica apartments as uninhabitable due to a large cavity formation in the already unstable cliff. some tenants began moving out as soon as they got notice their homes could tumble into the pacific ocean. but others are choosing to stay even though they were instructed not to. officials are now saying that if this order is ignored... it may lead to criminal prosecution. 33 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. depression is considered one of the most common mental

states, today. now... a top panel of experts is recommending that one group of people in particular should get screened for the condition. with more... here's

33 still to come... if you don't have it... chances are one of your neighbors does... we're talking about a prime membership on the rise... stay with us.

gervais. students of lead. back here at home... a new walmart neighborhood market is bringing new jobs and fresh groceries to the midlands. it opens today and is located off broad river road.

community offers convenient in- store and digital shopping at affordable prices.... and is providing about one-hundred full and part time associates. and if no one in your house has an amazon prime membership, chances are that your neighbor does. nearly half of u-s households have a membership... according to a report from consumer intelligence research partners. the research firm estimates the number of amazon prime memberships in the u-s jumped 35-percent last year, to 54- million. that means about 46 percent of u-s households have at least one member. now for a look at what's making headlines in hollywood... lets turn things over to eric. it's scientific evidence that goes back for centuries now... but rapper b-o-b isn't buying it... the rapper and famed astrophysicist... neil degrasse tyson are feuding online... all over the shape of the earth... it started a few days ago when b-o-b sent out a series of tweets and photos insisting that the earth is flat. tyson responded back trying

confirming that our planet is in fact, round. still... b-o-b insists... it's all "some sort of government conspiracy." and it's baby news for the actress emily blunt... she's expecting her second child with husband, john krasinski. the couple confirmed the pregnancy to "people magazine." they already have a two-year-old daughter, hazel. blunt's pregnancy will coincide with the filming of her upcoming movie, "the girl on the train." and sad news to pass along this morning... beloved actor, abe vigoda, has died. abe vigoda was a veteran of the stage in 1972 when he got his big hollywood break as mobster sal tessio in "the godfather". he then moved to television, earning three emmy nominations as a worn-out new york police detective on the sitcom "barney miller". abe vigoda was 94 years old. still to come... theres more coming up on good morning

your day in historor.. 33 let's check out the day in history. -first atomic detonation at the nevada test site in 1951-john lennon writes and records "instant karma" in a single day in 1970 -national geographic society is founded in 1988 today is... punch the clock day... and national chocolate cake day.33 that's all the time that we have for the first hour of good morning columbia. but we're coming right back.

gervais. eric: good morning, columbia. today is wednesday, january 27th.

capital city into the 21st century. how supporters are raising awareness of education at the state house. and it's a final push for votes in iowa but one presidential hopeful is deciding to bow out of the debate. what the competition is saying about that decision. "good morning, columbia" starts right now. captioning provided by caption associates, llc www.captionassociates.com. >> eric: wake up, wake up, glad you are here with us, good morning. i'm eric weisfeld. >> rochelle: thanks for joining us on a wednesday. i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and

the time's now 6:00. >> jonathan: we've seen 60 degrees monday and tuesday afternoon but today we might change things up a little bit. we are seeing a nice change because it's a lot warmer as you wake up and head out this wednesday. 50 at the airport. 48 downtown but notice the 50s creeping in, i expect us to warm up and all in all, even if we don't warm up we are well above where we have beeee and where our averages have been, around 34. even if we don't move much we are above 50 as you wake up and head out. cloudy and potentially rainy skies, we are watching the rain moving in from the west, it's more scattered than earlier. we sought a condensed, solid line along i-85 but as the system crosses the mountains it is starting to break down.

wind are light out of the west and that will pull that system our way. obviously the low level wind are light, they are moving faster than the upper levels where it's driving the rain from west to east, so we will keep an eye on the system. we are seeing wind out of the southwest and upper levels, that will bring us rain from the atlanta area but notice in the upstate and into south carolina not a lot happening for us with the rain, a few scattered showers here and there. have the umbrella hedged but i don't think you will need it -- have the umbrella handy but i don't think you will need it. scattered and light showers, i'm not expecting a ton of rain but be on the look out for it as you are out and about. highs in the mid-50s, upper 50s toward our south, lower 50s to the north. we will stick with a seasonable day, cooler than yesterday that had a high of 68 but all in all not bad. the day.

>> rochelle: absolutely. >> eric: let's look at the roadways. >> rochelle: no incidents to report in and around the city but we're keeping our eye on the road and if anything changes we will pass it along for your morning commute. and abc columbia wants to help you start your wednesday. >> eric: we have a quick rundown disaster. during last night's state of the steve benjamin says theres a chance to make the capital city better than it was before october's historic flooding. looking ahead, the mayor says he wants to: rebuild roads to make them more walker and biker friendly and launch a small business disaster relief fund to help businesses still wading in the flood waters. in doing so, mayor benjamin hopes to launch columbia into the 21st century. >> tomorrow is a world of wonder waiting for us. it is a promise to anyone. that's why i'm committed to acting today. >> eric: there were many other issues the mayor touched on during the state of the city

literacy push and a new eco-tourism expedition. for more on the address be sure to check out the online version of this story at abccolumbia.com. mayor benjamin isn't the only one speaking out on improving our state's infrastructure. >> rochelle: out of the state house, the senate finance committee continues to work to get more money for south carolina roads and cut taxes. the latest compromise would raise the gas tax by 12 cents over three years along with a number of other fees to raise an additional $665 million for roads. but senators say they're going to take more time to discuss this proposal. rochelle: also out of the state house, the legislator whose journalism registry proposal touched off a media firestorm says he never actually wanted to require reporters to register with the state, but says the instant backlash made his point. republican representative mike pitts says by screaming first amendment, the media reacted to his bill exactly as he expected. the retired law enforcement

the state's concealed weapon permit law. pitts says he wanted to spark discussion on what he calls media bias in treating free speech rights under the first amendment as more important than gun rights under the second amendment. >> there's a slant and a bias against the 2nd amendment, not just the 2nd amendment but against other portions of the bill of rights in that the media as a whole will only come to the fight when it looks like the 1st amendment and only a portion of the first amendment is under attack. >> we should be concentrated on bills that deal with the problems we have in south carolina, lord knows we got plenty, and it would make sense we spend our time looking for solutions and introducing legislation that addresses those issues. >> rochelle: pitts says the second amendment is just as pure and simple as the first. eric: it's national school choice week. and to raise awareness about k-12 school choice here in south carolina, supporters are set to rally across the street from us

state superintendent of education molly spearman is set to speak at the event today at noon. eric: the republican front-runner donald trump will be making his way to the palmetto state today. >> rochelle: that's right, trump will holding a rally at harmon tree farm on augusta road in gilbert. doors open at 5:00 and the event starts at 7:00. one place you won't trump is on stage at tomorrow night's debate in iowa. the debate is being broadcast by fox news. you may recall trump has previously criticized fox news anchor and moderator megyan kelly. instead, trump says he'll be raising money for veterans tomorrow night at the same time of the gop presidential debate. the decision for trump to skip the debate isn't being taken lightly by his competition. republican presidential hopeful is challenging trump to a one-on-one debate anytime between now and the iowa caucuses. according to a cnn/orc poll cruz is trump's closest competition. nationwide, trump continues to dominate the polls taking 41% of

senator ted cruz comes in second with 19% support among voters. with the polls continuing to shift, it's important to remember your vote matters. >> eric: absolutely. and on the other side of the political spectrum, time is running out to make sure your voice is heard. the deadline to register to vote in the south carolina democratic presidential preference primary is today. for more information on how to register to vote be sure to head to scvotes.org. get out and vote, that's important to remember. >> rochelle: exactly. eric: still to come, members of the armed oregon group arrested. and another left dead. >> rochelle: we'll have the latest on the wildlife refuge standoff. >> jonathan: and mostly cloudy and mild as we kickoff this wednesday. we see a few showers moving on and off.

on you is >> jonathan: and just about 6:11on your wednesday morning waking up with a mild start, temperatures in the upper 40s. an improve. from what we have seen, but not as warm. looks like we will be cooler than the 68 from yesterday, also some scattered showers are possible. this system is breaking down but i do expect to see rain at some point today. it probably won't be vigorous heavy rain but certainly want to have the umbrella handy as you are out and about and continuing the rain into tonight. >> rochelle: sound good, jonathan, thank you. rochelle: here's a quick look at stories that are making

we have an update on protest. bundy and his followers were heading to a community meeting when they were stopped by fbi agent. when the protestors refused to surrender shots were kill. it's unclear who fired first. the seven suspects who were taken into custody are facing federal conspiracy charges. rochelle: and police say two people have been fatally shot and three others wounded by gunfire at a homeless encampment in seattle. police say the victims lived at the encampment and that the shooting was "very targeted." no arrests have been made yet. police say they're still searching for two people of interest. rochelle: one gamecock is feeling quite comfortable in colonial life arena. eric, what can you tell us about last night's game? >> eric: carolina basketball gets a career night from one of its seniors and improves to 18 and 2 on the season. this morning's sports minute to

>> talk about bouncing back from loss number 2 of the seeps. michael carrera and company hosting mississippi state. carrera going nuts, career high, becomes the first usc gamecock with more than 30 points and 10 rebound since 1987. >> i don't know, it was just my day. to be really honest, i was just trying to get open shots and shots that we are always practicing, when we're in practice, you know. i was making it today, just making shots. >> i'm ecstatic for mike because he's worked so hard and cares about our team and this program like it's his family. and i'm ecstatic for his willingness to lead and to take on the responsibility of doing

young man. what a great team mate. [ cheers and applause ] eric: still to come, take me out to the ball game. diamond to check out the fireflies new digs.

gervais.33 welcome back.

good morning, columbia on 6:16. >> jonathan: let's take a bite out of your morning menu, sponsored by bojangles'. if you're looking to add a pet to your home, we've got just the feline friend for you. meet cleo. she's a little over a year old and is a brown, short-haired tabby mix cat. the shelter says she is looking for an owner that will give her a lot of attention. they add cleo is very energetic and extremely loving. if you'd like to meet cleo or other pets up for adoption, you can visit the animal shelter off humane lane. >> rochelle: 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 per pet. but you better hurry the offer ends this sunday, the 31st. it started with the new year and it's going out with the end of january which is right around the corner now. but feeling pretty good for it to be january. >> jonathan: we have seen our fair share of cold air this month but it's kind -- we will

68 with sunshine and little cloudiness yesterday. today much cloudier, chance of rain, high in the mid-50s, only around 50 tomorrow, secondary chance of rain comes our way. after that we are back to the sunshine and back to the 60s, it will be absolutely perfect, 64 saturday, upper 60s, near 70 as we head into next week. you can't get any better than that, especially for the end of january, start of february. >> rochelle: and we are getting the rain away while we are at work, you can't be outside enjoying it, might as well get the rain out of the way and enjoy the rest of it. rochelle: we're checking out what will be making headlines later today. >> jonathan: here's eric with your "look ahead." >> eric: baseball season is right around the corner for the columbia fireflies and they're ready to unveil the new sports gear for 2016. there will be a press event today to release what this year's jersey's will look like. they're also introducing the winners of the "name the team contest" and announcing the 2016 coaching staff. this is taking place at the south carolina state museum and it starts at 4:00 this

eric: and usc students are looking to give one lucky couple the wedding of their dreams by planning a free wedding for them. the requirements to qualify are that you must be affiliated with usc be willing to turn all decision making to the class -- they don't want a bridezilla. and have your wedding march 21st. to apply you must submit a photo and 500 word essay or a three minute video explaining why you should be selected to the email: apply.usc.lovestory@gmail.com. they are looking to choose a winner by today. much time. we are talking march, that's quick, but all those people in that class, plenty of hands on. >> jonathan: if you can out source all that, it can be easy, just write the 500 word essay. >> rochelle: and everything will fall into place. rochelle: still to come, it's carpet rides and magic a show that will take you back ballets finest. stay with us.

gervais. hey, there. in today's "techbytes" how far would you go to lower your cell phone bill? >> a new boost mobile app will show you ads sometimes when you unlock the phone. in return, customers will get a $5 credit each month. it's only available for android so far. there's a brand-new way to share your gopro videos. users can live stream via their iphones using the periscope video app. >> this is expected to be on display during espn's coverage of x games. and uber-has a great new way to deal with drunk passengers. >> some drivers have been using an interactive toy called bop it on the seat. it's a way to distract passengers.

>> that always works. >> those are your "techbytes." >> have a great day, everyone. my moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis made a simple trip to the grocery store anything but simple. so finally, i had an important conversation with my dermatologist about humira. he explained that humira works inside my body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to my symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults saw 75% skin clearance. and the majority were clear or almost clear in just 4 months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b,

don't start humira if you have an infection. ask your dermatologist about humira.

>> rochelle: welcome back to main and gervais.

we just talked to you a couple months ago, the nutcracker, a big draw. now you are bringing back something we haven't seen. >> guest: aladdin, it is epic. we haven't done it in 13 years, i don't know why. i said we need to bring it back to columbia, we organized a five city tour and we have already done florence and opening this weekend in columbia. it's a huge ballet. >> rochelle: tell me what makes it so grand. >> guest: there are so many people in it, it's just big scenery, big columns, the flying and it's so colorful and the music is huge, it's just so exciting and the dancers love it because it's incredibly physically challenging. perfect for the whole family,

will love it and kids will love it. >> rochelle: the kids love it because of disney. tell me because of physicality, how challenging was it? >> guest: when we did it 13 years ago i remember it being challenging and the dancers, we all called it boot campp boot camp, because it's very, very difficult but even so, we came back 13 years later and i'm thinking, oh, yeah, i remember this being a tough ballet and we began the rehearsal process and i'm like it's worse than i thought. it's a wonderful challenge, it really pushes me and i love it, it's a lot of fun. >> you play jasmine? and all the magic that embodies. we have aladdin, everybody knows the story, the young poor boy

we get to see that play out on the stage as well as music, lights, dancing and colors. >> guest: it's so beautiful, so physical, big lifts, big dancing, very colorful. her harum, the principal senses come down a ramp, it's breath taking. i hate anyone would miss it. >> this is the only place you will be able to see it, nowhere else. >> guest: we have a special show, you call the office 803-799-7605 and get to meet jasmine. >> rochelle: i bet you have so many children want to dress up like you. >> guest: that's one of my favorite moments is the meet and

>> guest: saturday 3:00 and 7:30 and then at 7:30. >> reporter: we will have all the information at our website abccolumbia.com. get your ticket while you can, it fills up quick. popular slow and first time in

right after this. eric: good morning, columbia. one half hour of your news left. thanks for joining us. i'm eric weisfeld. >> rochelle: and i'm rochelle dean. we're live from main and gervais. he the time is 6:30. >> eric: it's been a lot nicer. >> rochelle: i came out with my big heavy coat, i call it bear. and then i thought i don't need it. let's turn things over to jonathan kennedy for your forecast. good morning. >> jonathan: i coat might be needed but light jacket, sweat shirt. temperatures in the upper 40s, low 50s. we are seeing the temperature

manning the cool spot at 43. cloud cover moving in from the west, areas in the columbia spots. we have been in the 40s for much of the evening hours but i'd like to see temperatures to warm up a little bit as cloud cover moves in riding the wind from the west as of right now. we will look for temperatures to stay around 50 degrees through honestly a good portion of the day, highs around 55, not as warm as it has been. thankfully it's been warmer than it has been the last couple mornings. satellite and radar picking up showers in lexington county, not expecting a lot of these on the radar, very light green which means extremely light precipitation and very scattered and piecey, not a good consolidated line like this morning. i think we will see showers scattered throughout your morning.

miles a hour and that will gradually bring the system into our neck of the woods. as you can see a more substantial liner earlier this morning than last night. going forward it will be more piecey. towards atlanta it's more solid. have the umbrella handy, not a wash out by any means. most areas will end up with a tint of an inch of rain. notice temperatures steady throughout the day, climbing to 55 and chances of rain throughout the day. not necessarily consistent rain throughout the day. pretty much every hour in the daytime window there is a decent chance of rain, 30 to 40% chance of seeing the peek around lunchtime, not expecting a lot of rain. >> rochelle: not a watch out. >> jonathan: not at all. nagging rain here and there, that's it. >> eric: let's see what is going on on the roadways. >> rochelle: good news on top of the hour not just weather but

if anything changes we will update you for the morning commute. abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. >> eric: we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. opportunity in the wake of disaster. during last night's state of the city address, columbia mayor steve benjamin says there's a chance to make the capital city better than it was before october's historic flooding. looking ahead, the mayor says he wants to rebuild roads to make them more walker and biker friendly and launch a small business disaster relief fund to help businesses still wading in the flood waters. in doing so, mayor benjamin hopes to launch columbia into the 21st century. >> tomorrow is a world of wonder waiting for us, there is a promise to anyone. that's why i'm committed to acting today. >> eric: there were many other issues the mayor touched on during the state of the city address including a city-wide literacy push and a new eco-tourism expedition. for more on the address be sure to check out the online version

abccolumbia.com. >> rochelle: the national unemployment rate is 5%. >> rochelle: the university is asking for $30 million, they made a request during the house ways and means committee according to a news story much will go toward rebuilding repairs on campus. rochelle: recovery efforts continue here in the midlands following the 1,000 year flood. and now more help is on the way. south carolinians who were originally refused help following the floods will be getting about $10 million in aid. >> eric: a fema spokesman says after a review nearly 5,000 additional south carolinians were deemed eligible for help. something as simple as information missing on the application could have resulted in it being denied the first time.

$85 million in disaster aid statewide for individuals and households. eric: residents along the east coast also working to recover following the weekend winter storm. economic experts peg the lost economic output at about $2.5 to $3 billion along the east coast. the death toll related to winter storm jonas is also on the rise. it now stands at 48 people nationwide. eric: turning to crime, authorities say a murder suspect shot by deputies in a gun battle actually died from a self-inflicted gunshot. >> rochelle: richland county deputies say the death of 42-year-old damon jonard james has been officially ruled a suicide. james faced a murder warrant out of houston, texas for the 2014 deadly shooting of 43-year-old rita joyce salton. houston police say james was arrested, freed on bond and then disappeared. monday he was discovered at the byron road apartments in columbia.

why he was in the midlands. rochelle: we now know the identity of the man who was shot and killed while trying to rob a columbia barber shop friday night. coroner gary watts says 35-year-old adeyemi hannibal was shot by people with concealed weapons permits inside next up barber and beauty on fort jackson boulevard. columbia police are still looking for a second suspect. rochelle: and richland county sheriff's department is searching for another robbery suspect. take a look at this surveillance video from the family dollar on decker boulevard. officials say the suspect walked into the store, pretended to purchase an item, and then stole money from the register before fleeing the scene. if you have any information to help in this case, you're asked to call crimestoppers at 1-888-crime-sc. rochelle: over at columbia metropolitan airport, transportation security administration officials say a loaded firearm was discovered at

>> eric: officials found this tp-nine pistol in a passenger's carry-on bag. tsa immediately alerted airport police who took possession of the bag and escorted the passenger out of the check point area. tsa officials want to remind you that firearms can by transported in checked baggage provided they are declared to the airline in a proper carrying case and unloaded but are prohibited in carry-on bags. eric: there's a new chief in the town of chapin. mayor skip wilson announced seth zeigler will take over the department next month. zeigler, a chapin native, most recently served with the west columbia police department. he replaces retiring police chief troy crump who was recently suspended without pay for three days for missing work without clearing it with the mayor's office first. eric: still to come, the blizzard may have passed but dangers still linger. >> rochelle: unfortunately they do. the warning for east coast residents as they work to dig out of winter storm jonas.

we can see a few showers today. i'll have details next.

main and gervais. >> jonathan: 6:42 on this wednesday morning, waking up it's dry for us, we are seeing our showers come in from the west, but as the early rain showers move in i'm not expecting much. it will be mild for us, we're at 50, warming up to 55 today and we play see it before lunchtime. we have cooler air this afternoon. cooler than what we have been but all in all not too bad. eric: warmer days here in the midlands. something other areas of the east coast could really use following that record breaking blizzard. >> jonathan: that's right. 80 million americans continue to dig their way out of the weekend

residents in southern new jersey are cleaning up the mess from flooding caused by the storm. and, of course, there's still plenty of snow to be shoveled. but officials are urging residents to use caution. more than a dozen people died from shoveling snow from the blizzard. i saw a stat earlier that said 90% of the roads are still covered in snow in the northeast. >> eric: all those people dying from the shoveling. >> jonathan: it's hard work. it can be a tax. 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. the u.s. centers for disease control and prevention is expanding its list of places on its zika virus travel alert this morning. the u.s. virgin islands and the dominican republic are now on the list of countries and territories where the mosquito transmitted disease is present. the agency recommends pregnant women avoid travel to places

the cdc is also asking doctors to screen infants whose mothers visited zika-infected areas while pregnant. zika has been linked to a rare birth defect that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads. rochelle: and there's another virus making its mark in the u.s. health and prison officials say the swine flu virus is linked to the death of one inmate and is sickening dozens of others at a prison in western indiana. the prison says it's taking steps to keep the virus from spreading, including giving out hand sanitizer and masks. officials say of the some 35 inmates who have become ill only three had previously gotten a flu shot. rochelle: oprah winfrey is giving weight watchers stock a heavy boost. oprah is an investor in the company and a member of its board and diet service. check her out. in a video she posted to

watchers. shares soared more than 20% following her revelation. that means the company's market value rose by nearly $150 million, a whopping $5.6 million for each pound she lost. not bad, not bad at all. rochelle: still to come, a high school is taking one for the team. it's a whole new approach to your taxes. >> jonathan: a cloudy start, watching rain showers come closer to home in the last hour or so. we're likely to see more rain coming later in the day. i'll have details. stay with us.

gervais. >> jonathan: good wednesday morning, a cloudy start, temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s right now. certainly an improvement where we have been, we're likely to stay there for the rest of today. not going to see the warm up when we saw temperatures in the 60s and upper 60s yesterday. we're tracking a few rain showers, very patchy rain at the moment, extremely light rain. a lot may not make it to the surface. we may get it to evaporate before it get to the ground but be on the look out for a few showers, not expecting a lot from this system but rain showers more likely than they have been earlier in the week. >> rochelle: thank you, jonathan. rochelle: the founder to bikram hot yoga finds himself in some hot water. bikram choudhury was ordered to pay $6.4 million after a jury found him guilty of sexual

at least seven women have filed sexual harassment claims against choudhury in recent years, claims he continues to denies. >> rochelle: shares of whole foods are down almost 15% and wall street says it time to sell with stock selling for half price. it's lost about 50% of it's market value since the end of 2013. rochelle: apple is taking a big bite out of profits. it had the most profitable quarter for any american company in history. but it looks like the company's era of unprecedented growth is over. according to apple's financial report i-phone sales are growing, but are slowing down. apple says it believes sales quarter, that would be the first time in 13 years. rochelle: and when it comes to tax season there are two yourself or go to an accounting firm. but now there's another option. high school students in

up to 700 returns this season. it's all part of a volunteer group to help local residents save money. and in case you were wondering, yes, they are irs certified. rochelle: hollywood is saying goodbye to a veteran of the stage. eric, what can you tell us? >> eric: he got his big break as a mobster in "the godfather." now celebrities are paying their last respects to actor abe vigoda. abc's jason nathanson has that and more in your showbiz wrap. >> reporter: hollywood is mourning sgt. fish. abe vigoda, a hollywood fixture for decades, was perhaps best known for playing sgt. phil fish on the 1970's series "barney miller." his daughter says the actor died in his sleep tuesday at her home in new jersey. cause of death -- old age she says, noting he was never sick. the 94-year-old also played sal tessio in "the godfather." reporter: the slave rebellion film "the birth of a nation" set a record at sundance this week, sold to fox searchlight for a reported

the festival. director nate parker talked about the diversity issue facing hollywood right now. >> it's kind of like with "hands up, don't shoot" and "black lives matter" and all these social issues happening where these young people of color are being shot and accosted and police brutality. you know, it's not new, these are just issues that are being brought to the surface by circumstance. >> reporter: also at sundance, lena dunham, who produced the documentary "suited," was asked about first daughter malia obama interning last summer on the upcoming season of the hbo show "girls." >> that's been publicly confirmed but not by me. i would never publicly confirm it. i am not interested in being a government threat. >> reporter: "girls" returns february 21st. reporter: and congratulations to "sicario" actress emily blunt and her "13 hours" star husband jon krasinski, they have another baby on the way, their 2nd. daughter hazel is almost 2. and that's what's happening in hollywood. i'm jason nathanson, abc news, los angeles eric: still to come, shopping and a show. it's something you don't see or hear everyday while hitting the stores. stay with us.

gervais. >> jonathan: 6:54 on this wednesday morning, a few showers moving through the midlands but not expecting a whole lot from the rain early on.

substantial rain later this morning into the afternoon. highs in the 50s, much cooler day, milder day, we're already in the 50 degree range and will probably stay there. scattered showers possible and that will be the trend throughout the day, showers possible but not a wash out for your wednesday or wednesday night. >> eric: music to your ears. this video of a high school student playing the piano inside a mall is now an online sensation. >> rochelle: i think this story is so cool. this video of 18-year-old monntel west has been linked and shared hundreds of thousands of times. and get this, west says he has never been formally taught how to play, doesn't read music, and doesn't have a piano at home. west is even being contacted by

now and getting plenty of offers for free piano lessons. doesn't sound like he needs them much. >> eric: i was going to say that, raw talent. >> rochelle: talk about a god-given talent. eric: still to come, chocolate lovers are in for a treat >> rochelle: we've got a tasty reason to indulge on this wednesday next in your day in history. >> jonathan: and cloudy start, we are watching the rain moving in from the west on the back side of the cold front, likely see a cooler day today but warmer air soon. i'll have the details next.

main and gervais. >> jonathan: not as warm as it has been, a mild forecast for your wednesday. mid-50s, rain in and out, probably the same day tomorrow. warm up friday into the weekend, highs at least 60 through the start of next week. rochelle: let's check out the day in history. first atomic detonation at the nevada test site in 1951. john lennon writes and records "instant karma" in a single day in 1970. and the national geographic society was founded in 1988. >> eric: today is punch the clock day and national chocolate cake day. so grab a slice. >> rochelle: you were talking about you had cake at home last

i'm wondering why we didn't have cake today.