5 Things to Know This Morning
5 Things to Know This Morning
— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.
1. Tornadoes Destroy Homes, Injure Oklahoma Residents
Dozens of tornadoes were reported Wednesday in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, with homes destroyed and cars flipped by the powerful winds.
At least 14 people in Oklahoma were hospitalized after sustaining storm-related injuries, authorities said. Many of the injured came from an Oklahoma City RV park, including two people in critical condition, said Emergency Medical Services Authority field operations supervisor Maj. Susie Patterson.
According to officials with INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, an 80-year-old woman is in critical condition with a fractured pelvis and internal bleeding. Additionally, OU Medical Center received eight patients, and five have been treated in the facility's trauma center.
2. Audio Reveals Final Moments Aboard Doomed Small Plane With Improbable Survivor
Audio from air traffic control that has just emerged reveals a pilot's last words before his small plane crashed in Kuttawa, Kentucky, killing everyone on board except a 7-year-old girl.
The young, lone survivor -- Sailor Gutzler -- trekked nearly a mile through dense woods to get help, but her parents, sister and cousin didn't survive the Jan. 2 crash, police said.
3. Cop Suing Starbucks Says He Didn't Think the Coffee 'Was That Hot'
The North Carolina police lieutenant, who is suing Starbucks after burning himself when his free cup of coffee spilled, took the stand for the second time Wednesday, saying that he wasn't prepared for how hot the beverage was.
"I didn't know it was that hot," Matthew Kohr said during his cross examination in a Raleigh court.
4. Deflategate Report Says Patriots Probably Knew About Footballs
A report released by the independent attorney hired by the NFL concludes "it's more probable than not" that Patriots personnel "participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots games balls after the balls were examined by the referee."
The investigation, led by attorney Ted Wells, stated it "is more than probable" that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady "was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" involving the release of air from the Patriots' footballs. But the report said there was no deliberate attempt by the Patriots to introduce a non-approved kicking ball during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 18. The Patriots won 45-7, then went on to win the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.
5. Shaquille O'Neal Wipes Out, and a Meme Is Born
Down goes Shaq.
Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal tripped on the set of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” halftime show Wednesday, a seismic wipe-out that drew widespread attention on social media.
Related Stories
ABC News Live