Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following on this Thursday.
1. Ebola fears in Cleveland after sick nurse boarded plane
Some nurses are staying home from work and at least two schools are closed in Cleveland after federal health officials announced that an Ebola-stricken nurse took a commercial flight from Cleveland to Dallas earlier this week. Authorities say they believe the 132 people on the flight are probably at low risk of exposure to Ebola. Read more in NEWS.
2. Experts say Ebola outbreak will get much worse
It’s a moving target as experts try to figure out how big the Ebola outbreak will get in West Africa. The World Health Organization says roughly 1,000 people a week are being infected, but one WHO doctor says that figure could rise to as high as 10,000. And it’s still not clear how many people have Ebola in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the center of the outbreak. Read more in NEWS.
3. Trouble in paradise: Hurricane bears down on Bermuda
Hurricane Gonzalo has strengthened to a Category 4 and has its sights on Bermuda. The storm is packing wind of 140 mph, and The Weather Channel says it should pass “perilously close” to the island on Friday. High surf and a threat of rip currents are forecast for the East Coast of the United States on Thursday. Thousands of miles away, Hawaii is bracing for a tropical storm. Read more in NEWS.
4. Freak blizzard kills at least 20 trekkers in Nepal
At least 20 people are dead and at least 70 missing after a freak blizzard triggered avalanches along a popular trekking route in Nepal. Two Israelis are among the dead are the storms. The nationalities of the other climbers are not clear. A trekking association tells NBC News that helicopters are circling in hopes of finding the missing and trapped. Read more in NEWS.
5. Get ready for more turbulence on Wall Street
Investors are bracing for another rough day on Wall Street after some of the rockiest trading in three years. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped as much as 460 points before recovering to end the day down 173. Investors are worried about Ebola, corporate earnings and a slowing global economy. Stock futures are pointing to a sharply lower open on Thursday. Read more in BUSINESS.
6. And the hosting gig goes to …
Neil Patrick Harris can cross another awards show off his list: He’s hosting the 2015 Academy Awards. He confirmed it Wednesday in a video in which he was shown on his phone saying simply, “I’m in” and “Nice.” The star of “How I Met Your Mother” and Broadway has already hosted the Emmys and the Tonys. The 87th Academy Awards are scheduled for Feb. 22. Read more from TODAY.
7. Fan-gate livens Florida gubernatorial debate
It might be the most awkward moment of the campaign season: A gubernatorial debate in Florida on Wednesday night was delayed because of a dispute about a fan. Republican Gov. Rick Scott at first refused to take the stage because his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, had a fan behind his podium. The Scott campaign said it was a violation of debate rules. Read more from NBC Miami.
... What’s trending today?
It’s a long way from your basic pepperoni and sausage: Pizza Hut in Korea has rolled out the Star Edge Pizza, and the toppings are … inventive. Get ready for a pie piled high with calamari, shrimp, broccoli, steak and bacon. And apple or cranberry cream cheese in the crust. No word on whether that comes with Crazy Bread.