Hurricane Ophelia has gained strength this morning with winds around 100 mph. Bermuda is under a tropical storm watch now, and the big waves will build for the south shore. Winds will approach tropical storm strength by Saturday afternoon, and I think the’ll get around an inch of rain. The storm will book it to the north and gradually lose tropical characteristics, but should slam into Newfoundland as a powerful post-tropical storm Monday.

Check out the new Great Lakes storm! Same as the old Great Lakes storm. Actually, the current rain maker over MI, IN and OH booted the old one out to ME last night. The wind behind this new one is howling, with gusts over 40 mph from WI/MI to IL, IN and OH. Radar won’t show the 15-20’ waves on Lake MI and Huron this morning. If you are flying to the MW today, it’ll be a two-bagger for you with all the rocking winds.

The energy from this storms heads eastward today, and will form as an early Nor’easter-type storm for New England. That means more wind and rain for the NE and a possibility of snow mixing into the WV mountains. Temps will drop 15-20 degrees from today too! Powerful stuff.

A little light rain is falling in TX this morning, but it wont amount to much. It’s already cooler north of there with frost advisories in MN, IA, WI, SD and NE. Clouds are back this morning for the Bay Area, so San Francisco will probably get some delays at SFO.

Have a good weekend you guys!

*If you are not following HLN Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen on Twitter... you are missing out on gems like this: @BobVanDillen Headed 2 Robin's CD/Book signing @ the TurnerStore. Hope she doesn't call security on me. Only worked w/ her for 9 yrs!

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Hurricane • Ophelia • Weather

Russ Leatheman (aka Mr. Moviefone) says '50/50' is a "cancer comedy...a weird mix and I did like this movie a lot."
What happens: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character is diagnosed with cancer at 27, and his doctor says his chances of beating it are "50/50." Seth Rogen plays his best friend and together they try to laugh their way through this tough time. "50/50" is based on a true story about Seth's real-life best friend Will Reiser who wrote the film. They joined Natasha Curry in the studio a few weeks ago to talk about that experience and what it was like to make a "cancer comedy."

Russ does not give you the same odds for liking "What's Your Number" starring Anna Faris. He says, "This movie wants to be "Bridesmaids"...it's not a 10th as funny...and really I was very disappointed."
What happens: Faris stars as a woman who reads an a magazine article that says if you go over 20 sexual partners, you've probably missed 'the one.' So she goes back over all her old boyfriends to see if there's one in there worth re-visiting.

Finally we can't tell you what Mr. Moviefone thinks of the new Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz film "Dreamhouse" because no one got to screen it... however he does say it has "a great director and great actors." Did you see it? Give us your review!

Get more of Mr. Moviefone FAST at his site: 6 Second Reviews where he reviews all the new flicks in... you guessed it... 6 seconds!

Filed under: New Movie Friday

How's this for motivation: As part of his Transformation Nation initiative, Dr. Oz is giving away one MILLION dollars!

Yes please!

Here are the 7 steps you need to take to become a "Million Dollar You":
• Tell a Friend
• Official Weigh-in/Calculate Your BMI
• Connect with Your Doctor
• Learn Your Family's Health History
• Get More Sleep
• Assess Your Stress
• Start New Fitness Habits

For all the details on Dr. Oz's Transformation Nation initiative and how you could be a big winner (in health OR wealth or maybe BOTH) visit his website: doctoroz.com

Click HERE to see all the ways you can Live Better Now.

Filed under: Dr. Oz • Live Better Now

It’s Friday and you wear it well!!
-
On the show today:
See how Michael Jackson’s chef defended not calling an ambulance right away the day Michael Jackson died.
And: Was Michael Jackson’s doctor torn between trying to save his famous patient, and trying to hide the drugs that killed him?
More from the dramatic trial behind what killed Michael Jackson.
--
Outrage!
One of the nation’s biggest banks has the nerve to charge you $5 a month to use your debit card! Is this the only bank trying this? Or are others thinking the same way?
--
Possibly coming soon:
Marriage in 2-year increments. See where some want to treat is as a renewable contract.
Wowza.
-–
Does parenting make you fat?
(Or is it the leftover kid-friendly food you are eating?)
--
Alrighty! Check out my Twitter feed for pics from my album//book signing yesterday in Atlanta. Btw, u can still get my debut record at Target stores, target.com or on iTunes. Enjoy!

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Uncategorized

A weather pattern shift is finally going to take place today for the MW and NE. That stubborn, slow-moving storm that has dumped heavy rain for days on the region will get the bum’s rush out the door to the East by a sharp cold front dropping down from Canada.

Check out the map. The brown solid lines are isobars (lines of equal surface air pressure), the green lines are forecasted rainy spots, and you can see the blue cold fronts and red warm fronts. That cold front over WI to KS is the one that will boot the Low (Red L) from it’s perch over Ontario!

The rain will be heavy today for spots in New England, and the flood warnings are lining up south of there in NJ, PA, and NY right now. The rain should ebb tomorrow, but a weekend storm will bring it right back. In fact, it appears to me that we could see a very early season Nor’easter develop in the NE on Saturday. This would be a big wind and rain maker, too early and warm for snow.

The cold front over the Upper MW this morning will make for a windy day in MN, EI, MI, and IA/IL. Wind advisories are posted for the spots this afternoon, with gusts near 45 mph.

The tropical air mass across the SE will soon be replaced by the cool air as well, but today will feature more warm temps from the Carolinas southward.

A few showers are popping near Houston early this morning, and some real rain will develop later today over Central TX! I know, it seems too good to be true but keep your fingers crossed San Antonio/Austin to Waco.

The west is exceptionally dry today once again.

Ophelia is back to strong tropical storm strength and may be a hurricane by late today. Bermuda may get put in a tropical storm watch this afternoon as the storm gets close by Saturday. We’ll see. Our good friends in Newfoundland may take a hit from Ophelia on Monday as a tropical storm as well, I’ll keep you guys updated.

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Flood • High winds • Hurricane • Ophelia • Rain • Severe Weather • Storms • tropical storm • Weather

*meet and greet details at the end of this preview:

This trial is something else, isn’t it?!

Good morning, time for you to rise and shine. Okay, some days to shine is a stretch. Ha!
--
In the news:
Crying, curled up on the floor and in shock.
That’s how one witness described Michael Jackson’s children as they watched their father dying.
Don’t miss the riveting testimony from Jackson’s inner circle – his bodyguards and his assistant.
What they said Conrad Murray did, the day Jackson died.
The defense also brought another one of Jackson’s doctors into the fray – more on all that.
Gavel to Gavel coverage begins at 11am ET (8a PT) on HLN. Background, updates, behind the scenes & commentary at HLNtv.com/MichaelJackson
--
The FBI says it foiled a terrorist plot that would have used remote-controlled model planes!
Check out how they would have carried explosives.
-–
What bugs you about your co-workers? Their eating habits? ‘Borrowing’ your food from the company fridge? Too much cologne?
We’ve got the list. (Get a sneak peek at cnn.com/Robin – look under "Important Links")
--
A big shoe company advertised shoes that would give you a butt lift.
Now the govt. says they’ll pay for it!!
(my question…that one company wasn’t the only one, so what about the rest?)
---
Looking forward to meeting some of your fellow viewers at the Turner Store inside Atlanta's CNN Center today two ways:
1) the VIP tour which ends right in our studio every Thursday
2) I’m doing a meet ‘n’ greet to sign my book and cd for peeps.
If for some reason you just happen to be in these parts, stop by at noon! Otherwise – I’m with ya in spirit. J

Filed under: Extras • Robin Meade

Molly Barker is a FOUR-TIME Ironman athlete and she's using her love or running to teach girls valuable life lessons.

Her organization, "Girls on the Run" is a program for 3rd to 8th grade girls that them the tools to live their lives with intention and celebrate who they are through running. The after-school program helps girls build confidence while they train for a 5K!

Molly started the program in 1996 after years of questioning her own self worth. She told us, "When I was about 11 or 12, I became very aware of the voices in my head saying you're not pretty enough, or smart enough, or thin enough, brave enough. Basically you're not good enough."

After changing the way she thought about herself, Molly was inspired to help others. Now more than 350,000 girls have taken part in "Girls on the Run!" One of her participants, Jane, says, "'Girls on the Run' teaches you even if you say negative thoughts about yourself you can turn them into a positive thought."

You can learn more about Molly and "Girls on the Run" at girlsontherun.org.

Meet all of our Morning Express with Robin Meade "Breakthrough Women."

Do you know a Breakthrough Woman? Nominate her at iReport.com.

Filed under: Breakthrough Women

Recently, HLN's Robin Meade got the chance to down with Emilio Estevez, the writer and director of "The Way" (in theaters Oct. 7th). You probably saw him in movies like, "The Breakfast Club," "Repo Man," and the "Mighty Ducks" films. She also got to talk with the star of the film, Martin Sheen... a Golden Globe winning actor who played President Bartlet on "The West Wing," not to mention starring roles in "Apocalypse Now" and "The Departed". Sheen ALSO just happens to be Emilio's dad!

Much like the plot of their new movie, the conversation focused on family:

Robin Meade: This story is about a father and son's kind of strained relationship... Why did you decide, "My dad's right for this?"

Emilio Estevez: I wanted to make a film in Spain that celebrated this man as an actor, as a human being, as a father. I wanted to celebrate my grandfather who is from the region the film ends in. In Galicia. It's really 4 generations of Estevez's who are celebrated in the film.

Martin Sheen: I adore him [Estevez]. He's my closest friend. The idea of working with him was so gratifying because he knew where all the buttons were. And I learned to trust him 100 percent. I'm looking forward to part two!

RM: When I think about this story of transition... I can't help but think about the year your Son, and your brother, Charlie [Sheen] has had as well. Where would you say he is at right now.

EE: He showed up at the AARP screening in Los Angeles. And he looks great, he was in good spirits. It was a great reunion... it really was. He seems like he's in a much better place.

RM: You know, I ask this because people are familiar with the two of you, and him... even though there are more members of your family... if you two are best friends where does Charlie fit in that relationship?

MS: Equally loved. Equally cherished. You know you give the love to the child who needs it the most at the time. Wether it was Emilio or Ramon or Carlos (which is Charlie's real name) or my daughter Renee. It is extended, and never withdrawn, it is totally unconditional. It is what you are supposed to do as a parent.

RM: Just as the guy in the story, Tom, really didn't want to let his son go through what he needed to go through on the camino because he really didn't understand it. How can you draw parallels to what you had to let Charlie go through this year?

MS: You know, he is an adult, and he has choices. He has children. And he has a life very separate from most people on the face of the earth... I can't even begin to imagine the pressures he lived under. The decisions he's had to make that affect his children and his wives and his family. I'm so deeply relieved and proud of him that he's made this turn and that he's standing up and walking forward... and I adore him. And we're always there for him as well as all the children and he knows that. He's always known that and that's every parent's dream that a child win their freedom and become themselves.

RM: One of the biggest statements that I took from the movie... there must have been some significance to the son saying to the father while he was still alive, "You don't CHOOSE a life dad... you live it."

EE: The idea of being in life, the idea of being open to the possibilities. Because we get very set in our ways and it's sometimes hard to look beyond what else is out there. And so for me it was a line to the father to say, "Before it's too late, get out in life. Get involved."

MS: Get a life!

EE: Get a life... yeah.

"The Way" opens in theaters in the U.S. and Canada on October 7th. You can see a preview at
theway-themovie.com

Filed under: Extras • Morning Express crew • Robin Meade

Good morning sports fans! Here are some of the most interesting sports stories we have for ya on this Hump Day!!

First... watch the clip above... Oh man... every dad knows the look this guy is going to get! This baseball fan in Taiwan goes for a foul ball and completely forgets that his daughter is sitting on his lap, and she lands in the row in front of him… The little girl is okay, which is more than I can say for dad… Check out the look mom is giving him… when he gets home, he's gonna get an ear full!! We found the video which has gone viral on SI.com's Extra Mustard.

Talk about a really bad computer error. Just hours after manager Ozzie Guillen was let out of his contract as the skipper of the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, a blog post appeared on Guillen’s website which said he was thrilled to become the new manager of the Florida Marlins. The only problem: Guillen had not yet reached an official agreement to manage the Florida Marlins. A league source told ESPN that a "raw" version of Guillen's post, which was "not intended for public consumption," was mistakenly posted by an employee who simply "hit the wrong button." So the post was immediately taken down. Oops!! But then outspoken Guillen tweeted on Tuesday, “Weird to be in Miami in this time but very happy ready to go." The Marlins are moving into a brand new ballpark next season, so having a World Series champion manager like Guillen is a big get for the team.

Some of the biggest names in the NBA will get together in near Miami next week to play a game for charity. The Miami Heat’s Big 3 of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh will host and play in “The South Florida All-Star Classic,” on October 8th at Florida International University. All-Stars like Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Chris PaulRajon Rondo and several other big named players will compete to raise money for the educational community of South Florida.

Brian Stow went outside for the first time in almost 6 months, and when his sister asked him how the sun felt, he responded, “It’s magical.” Stow is the Giants fan who was beaten into a coma outside of Dodger stadium on Opening Day. Since speaking some of his first words last week since the March attack, the father of 2 is now making jokes, recalling childhood memories and recognizing members of his family. Doctors are encouraged by Stow’s improvement, but they warn that he still has a long road of recovery ahead.

The Philadelphia Flyers Wayne Simmonds will not be disciplined for making an alleged homophobic slur toward the New York Rangers Sean Avery earlier this week in a preseason hockey game. The league says it was unable to take action because of conflicting reports about what was actually said. Simmonds strongly denied using a homophobic slur. All this drama comes just days after Simmonds was the subject of an apparent racial taunt from a fan during a different preseason NHL game in Ontario.

This has got to be the toughest par 3 in the history of golf. The PGA set up a tee box on the 16th floor terrace of a Chicago hotel, and the green is 220 yards away on a floating barge!! Golfers Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal then had to hit a ball between the opened draw-bridge and onto the green. Both golfers hit the green, and both balls rolled off into the Chicago River. The event raised 100-thousand dollars for charity.

Just remember on this Wednesday… every minute that goes by gets you further from Monday and closer to Friday!!! See ya tomorrow!!

*Follow Carlos Diaz on Twitter: @CarlosHLN

Posted by: Sports Anchor Carlos Diaz
Filed under: Basketball • Golf • Miami • Miami Heat • MLB • NBA • NHL • Sports

What an emotional start to the spectacle that is the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor!!

Did you see the tears from the defendant, emotions streaming from Michael’s mom, HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell even tweeted that planes with banners were flying overhead.

All on a day where the jurors not only saw a picture of a dead Michael, but heard his voice as if back from the grave?

The audio recording of Michael was the bombshell. He seemed to be slurred and groggy.

And people’s reax to it even had his brother Jermaine saying, basically, that one mumbled recording.... doesn't make an addict.

Check that out, as well as what our correspondents are seeing behind the scenes that the cameras don't show.

Don't miss it as we also spell out what you can expect today in the trial.

Updates all day at HLNtv.com/MichaelJackson

-–
Also:

Why in the world is there a call to put anti-missile technology on passenger planes?
-–
After more than 40 years on the run – an accused hijacker has been found – this is a guy who demanded that FBI agents deliver ransom money to him in bathing suits – and they did!!!
--
Our nancy grace goes on to another round on dancing with the stars. But check out which competitor DOES have to hang up the dance shoes.
-–
See you.

P.S. Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez will be here! They came by the studio to talk about their new movie, and Charlie!

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras