Good morning. Robin is off today. Natasha Curry leads us into the weekend.

Watch HLN this morning. We'll be going live to a courtroom in Sanford, Florida, as the man who shot Trayvon Martin asks a judge to release him from jail. Martin's family will be there. There's no guarantee a judge will grant the request. Aside from the legal issues, there are concerns about George Zimmerman's safety.
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We're looking for more secret service agents to exit stage left today. And you'll want to check out the controversial Facebook page of one of the agents who's been in trouble over the prostitution scandal.
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It was 30 years ago that little Etan Patz's photograph was plastered on milk cartons across the country. It was a dramatic shift in the way authorities would search for missing children. And now, decades later, police are using jackhammers to tear apart the New York basement of a man who met the boy the day before he disappeared. Cadaver dogs have picked up a scent.

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Measles was supposed to be gone. It's not. We've got the details.
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Starbucks is "transitioning away" from bugs in two drinks. What?!
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Our Country Votes:
There's more chatter about who might share the ticket with Mitt Romney. We'll catch you up.
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Also this morning... four Americans are dead in a chopper crash in Afghanistan... and remember that report about all the phone calls and text messages in the Bobby Petrino affair? You'll have one question today: Who can type that much?

Filed under: Extras

Good morning. Robin is off today. Natasha Curry has the reins.

We're hearing reaction from across the country this morning to the passing of Dick Clark, an entertainment pioneer whose influence touched millions and crossed generations.
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Also:

The investigation into the Secret Service scandal is widening. Three agents are already out. And critics are clamoring.
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See the incredible video of a car that flew into a grocery store with such force it ended up in the middle of the store. Although no one was killed, 10 people are hurt.
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We have new, disturbing details this morning in the story of a nurse who killed a Texas woman and stole her new baby. Fortunately, the child survived this heartbreaking attack.
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How much does your mental outlook affect your health? Lots. We're looking at the impact on your risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Federal agents are going to have a little chat with Ted Nugent. The activist rocker's comments about President Obama were just this side of scorching. Nugent says he welcomes the scrutiny.
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Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow made the list. So did 98 other people. It's Time magazine’s 100 most influential.
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The search for a missing Fort Bragg medic has taken a discouraging turn. A dive team is scouring a pond in Fayetteville, N.C.
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Also this morning...
• Pat Summitt steps down
• a surprising development in the case of the JetBlue pilot who had to be restrained by his passengers
• which new cars keep their value the longest? We’ve got the list
• President Obama and Mitt Romney are trading jabs
• new turns in the Trayvon Martin case
• and finally, could yard work and house cleaning help protect you from Alzheimer's disease?

Those stories and more starting at 6amET/PT on HLN.

Filed under: Extras

Thank you thank you thank you.
How many times will you say it today? I'm starting off by telling you how much I appreciate you letting us into your home/gym/break room/office/airport terminal right now. Thank you!

Ready? Here’s what you'll see today on our show:
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Police think a missing soldier may be in danger.
The soldier, stationed at Fort Bragg, was last seen on Saturday.
Tune in as we gather more details about the last time she was seen.
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Police in Georgia are defending their decision to handcuff and arrest a 6-year-old after she threw a tantrum in the principal's office. They say it was for her own safety.
What do you think about it?
Tweet me @robinmeade
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Why are gas prices so high? The president thinks he knows. And someone's getting the blame.
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A woman who won $1 million in the lottery and kept collecting welfare checks may have something else coming to her... jail time.
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How much money do you need to make to be happy? Here's a great little barometer in the world of "How am I doing?"
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Some dude has good evidence that he turned in the right guy for reward money. HE is the wanted person.
This you gotta see.
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Making the rounds on Twitter and our newsroom:
The forest service might use dynamite to blow up some frozen cows. Weird.
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Get your news in the fast lane on Morning Express with Robin Meade because, lawdy knows, your life moves fast!

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras

Hi there.

Many thanks to the viewers tweeting that they picked up the new deluxe version of my music album, either on iTunes or in the home section of Walmart stores. Two brand new songs are added!

Coming up on Morning Express with Robin Meade on HLN:

This could get ugly.
11 Secret Service members have had their security clearance yanked after accusations they had prostitutes come back to their hotel rooms.
Now we're hearing some military members in the detail may be investigated too.
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Breaking news:
Two big earthquakes overnight in the Pacific. (Is it just me, or do we seem to have earthquakes more regularly than we used to?)
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George Zimmerman's defense team wants a different judge for the trial in the death of Trayvon Martin. But do you agree with their reasons why?
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Procrastinators, today is tax day.
If you're getting a refund, what are you doing with it?
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Our Country Votes:
"Start packing." How did Mitt Romney follow up those for Pres. Obama?
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A man holds up a convenience store with......wait for it......tongs!
And there is video!
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Who said physics class wouldn't come in handy in real life? How one man used it to get out of a $400 ticket.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras

Morning, team! Glad to be back with you.

From Texas to Minnesota, storms made for a treacherous weekend with more than 130 tornadoes in all. Wow.
5 people are confirmed dead.
Listen to this:
In one of the hardest hit towns in Oklahoma, the storm knocked out the tornado sirens.
Our meteorologist, Bob Van Dillen, can show you what kind of threat today brings.

You gotta see how the backside of that system however is leaving SNOW elsewhere!

If you’re a runner, can you imagine running 26 miles in 89-degree weather? That’s the forecast for Boston’s marathon today.

I'm guessing this doesn't count as reconnaissance work:
Several members of President Obama’s secret service team were sent home for allegedly hiring prostitutes. Yikes!
You gotta hear about the alleged flings in Colombia before the president arrived, and what the boss has to say.

You get to see a military dog and its handler reunited.

Mortgage rates are low, but qualifying for a loan is getting even harder.

A man tries out for the Denver Broncos cheerleader squad! See if he made it. Also, hear what point he was trying to make.

See how Tim Tebow responds when boo birds fly at Yankee stadium.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras

Good morning. Robin is off today. Natasha Curry is here on what is turning out to be a huge news day.
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We now have a sense of how the case against the man who killed Trayvon Martin will be prosecuted. And we saw the first video of George Zimmerman since the shooting. He was in court to hear the charge against him. In a nutshell, he's accused of "profiling" an unarmed teenager who was not committing a crime.

We're all over this case. You'll hear reaction from the family... and more.
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Speaking of reaction, the U.S. has something to say about North Korea's failed rocket launch yesterday.
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A tragic standoff in California. A policeman is killed, and so is a person who tried to help him.
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Casey Anthony may not be able to hide out much longer. A judge ruled the civil case against her will go forward. Her lawyers were trying to get that defamation suit thrown out on technical grounds.
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We knew Rick Santorum had money problems. But we didn't know they were this bad.
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The Democratic strategist who complained that Mitt Romney's wife "never worked a day in her life" has apologized. But the controversy grew so large, even the president weighed in. And you may have something you'd like to say about this one. We'll be taking your comments.
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Will Drew Peterson's third wife be allowed to testify against him from beyond the grave? It's a distinct possibility. And it could mean Peterson's attempts to avoid a murder trial have failed. We'll explain.
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Also... hear the findings of engineers who were brought in to investigate the Indiana State Fair stage collapse – the Red Hot Chili Peppers are heading for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – a big-city mayor ends up in the hospital after saving a woman from a burning home – good news for men who drink beer (you'll tell your wives and girlfriends about this one) – you thought weddings were expensive? Wait 'til you hear what teens are paying to go to the prom these days – and finally - no more lingerie football? Say it ain't so.

Filed under: Extras

Good morning. Robin is on assignment. Natasha Curry's got the reins.
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We're hearing this morning from Trayvon Martin's parents, after the man who killed their son was charged with second-degree murder, six weeks after the controversial shooting.

We'll also hear from George Zimmerman's brother, the special prosecutor and Zimmerman's new attorney. We're all over this case. Stay with us for updates throughout the morning and the rest of the day.
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Our Country Votes:
It didn't take long for the speculation to begin about who might land on Mitt Romney's list of potential vice-presidential candidates. Romney talks about it.
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Is North Korea on the verge of launching a rocket? It sure looks that way. We'll get you up to date.
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What just surfaced in the ongoing saga over Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino's fall from grace? Records of thousands of phone calls and text messages between Petrino and the young staffer who was riding on the back of his motorcycle the day he crashed.
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The federal government is suing Apple and several publishing companies over an alleged price-fixing scheme that investigators say forced book prices to shoot up, virtually overnight. Jennifer Westhoven will explain.
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And there's no reunion in sight for Guns N' Roses. Axl Rose is not pulling any punches when he talks about his decision to stay away from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Get another look at the frantic moments after Whitney Houston's body was found in a Beverly Hills hotel. We've got the 911 call.
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Also... a new report slams campus police at the University of California-Davis for pepper-spraying student protesters... a woman and her grandfather at home in Florida were stunned by an enormous crash, it's not every day that a school bus lands in your bedroom... the worst appears to be over in Indonesia after yesterday's powerful earthquake, and it appears lessons were learned after the catastrophe eight years ago... and finally today: Charles Manson is 77. Guess how old he'll be before he gets another shot at a parole hearing?

"Morning Express with Robin Meade" is on at 6aET/PT only on HLN!

Filed under: Extras

Breaking News overnight —
A huge earthquake off the coast of Indonesia.

Evacuation orders have been issued and a tsunami watch is in place. It's in the same region as the devastating 2004 tsunami.
We're watching.
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Also:
Where is George Zimmerman?
The men who used to represent him *don't know*.
They wonder if he's even the state of Florida anymore.
That, as we wait on a big announcement from the prosecutor.
She gave a 72-hour window, so it could come at anytime now.
She says there's new information on the controversial shooting!
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Don't miss this:
You could see the rescue of some miners live on our show today. They're in good spirits, reportedly, but anxious to get air above ground for the first time since being trapped last Thursday.
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An epidemic of stolen cell phones has the industry working on a way to disable yours if someone nabs it. Jen's all over that story for you.
She also has some advice if you're car shopping. Now could be a great time to sell your used car. Find out if yours is in high demand.
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Turns out bourbon is recession proof. Check out the bourbon boom for yourself.
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And then there were 3. Rick Santorum is suspending his presidential campaign. What it means for the White House race.
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Then it's coaches gone wild...
One is suspended for remarks about Fidel Castro. Another is fired for all of the ugly details of an affair and a motorcycle crash cover-up.
Sordid, indeed.
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I keep getting questions concerning where viewers can get the new bonus tracks on the deluxe version of my music album, "Brand New Day." Get 'em in a snap at iTunes. Or if you want the physical CD, it's now in the candle aisle of Walmart. There's an interactive music display there where you can listen and then buy.

I hope my remake of "Here Comes The Sun" is as enjoyable for you to hear as it was for me to make! Also, check out my original, "The Truth."

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras

Thanks to you or your fellow viewers who tweeted me when I implored, "Say something to wake me up. I'm tired on the air today!" Fun stuff. Join the conversation. As long as there isn't breaking news to attend to, I might tweet you in between commercial breaks. @RobinMeade on Twitter. Cool.

George Zimmerman is talking.
We're hearing from the man who shot Trayvon Martin via his *website*. (Wait a minute. He has a website?)
And you gotta checkout what he is asking for.
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Another ticket is claimed in that Megamillions lottery. But is another person *not* coming forward? Watch with us as we learn more details during a live announcement in the 8am eastern hour.
Awwww... I completely understand wanting to remain anonymous after you win. But for the rest of us, that's the fun... watching your reax and thinking, "What if it were me?"
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Meet the latest creative folks to hit the jackpot in their own way:
The folks at "Instagram" are darn near insta-rich.
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Could getting an x-ray at the dentist put you at risk for a type of cancer? You'll want to see this story if you remember getting x-rays for cavities as a kid.
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911 calls from Friday's Navy jet crash have been released. Incredibly scary.
Hear them here.
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The skinny on country star Sara Evans and me backstage at the ACMs, as told by radio host Blair Garner. ha ha! Watch

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras

Hi there. Hope you had a joyful holiday weekend with family. I was sad to see my parents and niece leave after their week with us. So that's the mark of a good visit, dontcha think?

Stealing a line from our web producer Grayson:
The only way to Friday is through Monday. So let's dynamite that bad boy. Who's with me?

On the show today…

Arrests have been made, but questions remain about the shootings of 5 people in Tulsa.
The 2 suspects are listed as white on their arrest records. The victims are African American.
So one pressing issue: was it racially motivated?

2 rescue efforts are underway-
In Peru, rescuers are trying to save 9 miners trapped underground since Thursday.
In Pakistan, more than 130 people are buried in the snow after a massive avalanche. Rescuers hope they can get to them in time for there to be survivors.

It’s a big week in the Trayvon Martin case. A grand jury will meet tomorrow and could decide to take the case if there’s probable cause to charge George Zimmerman, the man who admits shooting him. We’ve got all the details.

You don’t hear about a red flag warning and fire danger in the Northeast and the Great Lakes often. But that's what we have. Get a heads up with us if you have a flight today.

“I never got this far in my dreams.” That’s from the latest winner of the Masters. His win seemed to light up Twitter!

Can a mother’s weight during pregnancy impact whether her child will have autism? We’ve got the details of a new study out this morning.

Hey have you checked out my 2 new songs added to the deluxe version of my album "Brand New Day"? Check it out here on iTunes. Or now at Walmart in the candle aisle!

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras