Good morning. Here are some of the stories we're following today:
1. At Least 10 Dead, 15 Wounded in Istanbul Blast
At least 10 people were killed and 15 were injured in an explosion the shook a popular Istanbul tourist zone Tuesday morning. Turkish officials would not immediately say if the incident was terror-related, and Istanbul's governor's office said the cause of the explosion was under investigation. Read more in NEWS.
2. Walk-Up to SOTU: Obama Shares Thoughts on TODAY Show
In an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer hours before his final State of the Union address President Obama expressed disappointment that he enters the final year of his term in a deeply divided country. TODAY is broadcasting live from the White House on Tuesday, providing viewers with a tour inside rooms rarely ever seen by the public. Read more on TODAY.com.
3. Poll: Trump, Clinton Retain Double-Digit National Leads
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton remain national front-runners for their party's nominations less than three weeks before the Iowa caucus. Trump is polling at 38 percent support, while his closest competition is Ted Cruz with 20 percent. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton holds a 15 point lead over Bernie Sanders. Read more in POLITICS.
4. Millions in ISIS Cash Destroyed in U.S. Airstrike
Tens of millions of dollars in ISIS cash went up in smoke when one of the terror group's banks was hit by an American airstrike before dawn Sunday, U.S. defense and military officials told NBC News. Since November, U.S. and coalition forces have been trying to cripple ISIS by going after its main money source — oil smuggling. Read more in NEWS.
5. Rare Courting of Hollywood Spelled 'El Chapo's' Doom
Authorities were watching as Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman sought out filmmakers to help make a biographical film, and in the end it helped officials recapture the kingpin. But those who have followed Guzman's criminal career say that the only possible explanation for the kingpin's sudden thirst for publicity was that, while living on the run, he became obsessed with his legacy. Read more in NEWS.
6. Oregon Sheriff Accuses Armed Protesters of Harassment
Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward accused the armed protesters that have occupied a wildlife of harassment and intimidation. Ward described an "uptick" in reports of law enforcement officers and residents being followed home and watched. Read more in NEWS.
7. Wisconsin Gov. Says No Pardon for 'Making a Murderer' Subject
Tens of thousands of people have signed petitions for Steven Avery, the convicted killer featured in Netflix's "Making a Murderer," to be exonerated in the October 2005 killing of Teresa Halbach. Gov. Scott Walker, or Avery's home state indicated in a statement Monday that he wasn't about to consider pardoning Avery. Read more in NEWS.
Nightly Spotlight: Remembering David Bowie
In a career that spanned six decades, David Bowie reinvented himself and music many times over. The singer’s final album, which many are calling his parting gift, was released on his 69th birthday, just a few days before he passed away.