5 Things to Know This Morning

5 Things to Know This Morning

ByABC News
September 16, 2014, 5:57 AM
Season 19 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" is back on Sept. 15 and the thirteen celebrity contenders are ready to strut their stuff in the ballroom.
Season 19 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" is back on Sept. 15 and the thirteen celebrity contenders are ready to strut their stuff in the ballroom.
ABC/Ida Mae Astute

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

1. ‘Dancing With the Stars': Alfonso Ribeiro Sets High Bar in Season 19 Premiere

"Fresh Prince of Bel Air" star Alfonso Ribeiro was the early standout during the Monday premiere of the 19th season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," while designer Betsey Johnson and Olympian Lolo Jones suffered significant missteps during their routines.

Ribeiro finished in the lead among the 13 celebrities who are vying for the coveted mirror ball trophy.

This year's celebrity cast includes reality TV personality Sadie Robertson, who appears in "Duck Dynasty," YouTube beauty guru Bethany Mota and NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.

2. Obama to Unveil Expanded Ebola Response

President Obama plans to unveil today an expanded U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the worst outbreak of the disease in history.

Obama, who has called the outbreak a national security priority, will outline new steps to address the crisis during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

According to senior administration officials, the ramped up military effort centers on command and control, logistics, training and engineering support.

With the new measures the United States is significantly ramping up its response, and the next steps will focus on command and control, logistics, training and engineering support.

3. 3 Foreign Troops Killed in Suicide Attack in Afghanistan

Three foreign troops were killed in a suicide attack near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan Tuesday, authorities said, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for the attack.

The Afghan interior ministry said 16 civilians were also injured in the morning rush-hour attack.

The attacker targeted a foreign forces convoy.

The blast shook Kabul's busy airport road, bringing chaos to a beautiful morning and leaving the roadway covered in leaves, shrapnel and debris. Thick smoke rose from the site of the attack.

4. Adrian Peterson's Lawyer Calls New Abuse Report 'Unsubstantiated'

Adrian Peterson's lawyer called a new report claiming that the star Minnesota Vikings running back was accused of abusing another of his children "unsubstantiated," and the team said it was aware of the allegation when it reinstated him after he was benched for one game.

According to KHOU-TV in Houston, the allegations involve a 4-year-old boy who was visiting him in June 2013 at his home in The Woodlands, Texas.

The boy is Peterson's son by a different woman from the boy he allegedly injured in a spanking in May. That case led to Peterson being charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for allegedly spanking his 4-year-old son with a switch, causing numerous injuries.

5. Mindy Kaling Talks About Her Split from 'Office' Co-Star B.J. Novak

Mindy Kaling is now single and dating.

However, when Howard Stern asked if she ever had "a great love" in her life, she answered in the affirmative: Her "Office" co-star B.J. Novak.

"He broke up with me," she told Stern on his radio show. "It was years and years ago."

Kaling, 35, said that now, Novak, also 35, is one of her best friends and a great professional collaborator. However, at the time of their split, she was "so sad."