you guys stay safe out there. we appreciate you taking time in the middle of this. >> thank you. still ahead today, the battle against the omicron variant continues to rage across the country. hospitalizations reaching an all-time high and the cdc just updating its mask guidance. we're going to bring you details on that. we're also continuing to monitor a major winter storm that could dump several inches of snow and ice across much of the country, stretching from the southeast up to new england. that storm hitting the midwest, parts of iowa seeing several inches of snow overnight, and crippling ice is expected to hit the carolinas. that could leave millions of people without power. several governors have declared a state of emergency in anticipation of those severe conditions. we're going to have more details for you on this in just a moment.