5 Things To Know This Morning

Oct. 9, 2012 — -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. Meningitis Outbreak: 13K Received Shot
As many as 13,000 people received steroid shots that are suspected to have sparked a national meningitis outbreak, health officials said on Monday. Officials added that they do not know how many of the shots may have been contaminated. The number of cases rose to 105 and 9 deaths have been confirmed.

2. Pew Poll Has Romney Pulling Ahead
A new Pew Research Center poll covering the days immediately following the first presidential debate shows Mitt Romney pulling ahead of President Obama among likely voters 49 percent to 45 percent, and tied among registered voters at 46 percent.

3. Poll: Romney Hits Highest Personal Popularity
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Mitt Romney reaching his highest personal popularity of the campaign among registered voters. Romney is now seen favorably by 47 percent of registered voters and unfavorably among 51 percent. President Obama's rating is better, 55-44 percent.

4. Life Sentence Expected for Jerry Sandusky
Jerry Sandusky is expected to be sentenced to life in prison today for sexually abusing 10 boys over the course of 15 years. The former Penn State football coach blamed his accusers, the media and the university for his fate in an audio tape released on Monday. His attorney says his client plans to appeal the conviction.

5. U.S. No Longer Has Protestant Majority
For the first time in its history the U.S. does not have a protestant majority, according to a new study from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The percentage of Protestant adults in the United States has reached a low of 48 percent. One reason for the drop is because the number of Americans with no religious affiliation is on the rise.