5 Things To Know This Morning

Oct. 12, 2012 — -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. Biden, Ryan face Off in VP Debate
Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan faced off in the first and only vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky on Thursday night. The first question of the night was on Libya and whether the recent attack there was a massive intelligence failure. Biden responded that those at the center will be brought to justice. Ryan, on the other hand, responded that it took President Obama two weeks to figure out it was a terror attack.

2. Record Rainfall Hits Las Vegas
Some schools in Las Vegas are closed after a record daily rainfall fell there on Thursday, making August through October the wettest period in the city's history. Storms from the west are moving east now and a severe weather outbreak is expected on Saturday from Dallas to Oklahoma City.

3. Biden, Paul Equally Favorable
Gallup released their latest favorability ratings among registered voters for Joe Biden and Paul Ryan and the difference between the two men is just 1 percent. Vice President Joe Biden has a favorability rating of 44 percent while Paul Ryan's favorability is 43 percent.

4. Meningitis Outbreak Death Toll Hits 14
Fourteen people have now died from the nation's growing meningitis outbreak. Federal health officials have tracked down 12,000 of the roughly 14,000 people who might have gotten contaminated shots of steroids that sparked the outbreak.

5. Fixed Mortgages Rates Inch Up
The average rates on fixed mortgages in the U.S. has inched up from record lows last week. Cheaper mortgages are boosting a modest housing recovering that could help the economy as a whole. Rates on the 30-year loan has increased to 3.39 percent from 3.36 percent, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.