Mums the word on the air forces secret space plan set to blast off today. Secret but we have some details. We know all about it. Good thats right. Good morning and welcome to early start, everyone, im john berman. And im Zoraida Sambolin. Tuesday, december 11th, 5 00 a. M. In the east. We begin this morning in the south where more storms are expected today. This after residents are left cleaning up from the aftermath of yesterdays storms. The rain was so intense. Take a look at what happened to the home of one man, this is birmingham, alabama as he was being interviewed by a local tv reporter. We had dogs. He was in the cage. Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Oh, my god. You all okay . You all okay . You all all right . Look at that, the roof of clint thorntons home collapsing due to the soaking rain. He believes a tornado touched down in his neighborhood. Lets check in with alexand exe ste steele. There were 12 reported tornadoes yesterday, 2 have been con dining roomed by the survey teams. More survey teams will go out today and deem it be a tornado or not. This is what we saw yesterday. We have a cool weather season for tornadoes and its in what we call dixie alley. Louisiana, mississippi, alabama, thats where we saw them. Even into florida yesterday afternoon. Thats where the reports of the tornadoes were. The only thing today in florida, were watching this cold front just set up there and that is where we could see a Severe Weather threat. But you know, december tornadoes as i said are not that uncommon. Birmingham, an ef1 was confirmed yesterday. They actually averaged two tornadoes for the month of december. New orleans, averages four and jackson, mississippi averages seven tornadoes. But thus far this winter or this fall from november to today, weve had very few Severe Weather reports or confirmed tornadoes. It has been a quiet season. This is looking right now where the cold front is. It is still draped right here over south and central florida. Thats where, if any, action will occur today. Isolated tornado but damaging winds not out of the question. You can see a slow go in south florida, flights out of there are driving today. Damaging winds or hail, thats the picture. Well talk more about the big picture weatherwise and also about the tornadoes and how rare they are or not, coming up. All right, alexandria, thank you. And coming up, the photographer that shot this video when the house collapsed along with the reporter covering the story. That is clint thorntons home that is collapsing behind him. Hes yelling out. Everybody is okay. Nobody was injured there. Well have that interview for you. Can you imagine the cameras are rolling and you capture this craziness. Amazing picture. My goodness. Oklahoma city police are looking for whoever put two pipe bombs on a truck. The driver found them attached to his fuel tank after he got back from a 400mile trip. The truck reportedly was hauling rock. You can imagine what happened if this thing blew up. A bomb squad destroyed the explosives. Also new this morning, a medical chopper goes down in North Central illinois, it was on its way to a hospital. Three people on board all crew members, were killed. Rockford Memorial Hospital told the Chicago Tribune that two nurses were on the chopper as well. No patients were on the chopper. Just 21 days until the tax hikes and spending cuts kick in. Remember, congress is supposed to break for the holidays at the end of this week. Heres the latest. House Speaker John Boehner and his aides were quietly conducting behind the scenes fiscal cliff talks with the white house. On capitol hill for one day at least, all was pretty quiet. Posturing and finger pointing kind of stopped. Cnn political reporter Shannon Travis joins us now live from washington. Whats the the latest on the talks or the silence . The silence seems to be golden, john. Remember last week when all the players involved seem to be posturing and positioning and talking about negotiations . Not so much, at least in the past few days. We know president obama and house Speaker John Boehner had a oneonone meeting, right, on sunday, their first since midnovember. What were the details from that meeting and from the ongoing discussions . Theyre not really both sides are not really being forthcoming with what the substance of those conversations, both sides yesterday, the white house and the Republican Leadership put out statements. Theyre essentially the same. Ill read just one from boehners press secretary. Discussions with the white house are taking place but we have no detail to share about the substance of those conversations. The republican offer made last week remains the republican offer and we continue to wait for the president to identify the spending cuts hes willing to make as part of the balanced approach he promised the american people. So, of course, that coming from the republican side, the president obviously saying hes waiting for something, too, john. Hes waiting for the republicans to identify the specific details of that 800 billion of revenue theyre willing to offer. What are the specifics the president is saying . Take a listen at something the president said yesterday at that event that you mentioned. When you put it all together, you need a package that keeps taxes where they are for middle class families, make tough spending cuts on things we dont need and ask the wealthiest americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate. John, this is essentially the impasse that one side is saying the republicans are saying we need deep savings in entitlement spending and president obama saying he wont compromise on raising the tax rates for the wealthiest americans. Shannon, you said the republicans are waiting for the president , the president is waiting for the republicans. Were all waiting for everyone here. What kind of deadlines are we talking about . We could be looking at a potentially serious deadline for friday, a de facto deadline of sorts with be john. Once they reach a deal, the legislative process could actually take two weeks to put into effect. So were bumping up right against friday that they would potentially need to have a deal in place so that we wouldnt actually go over the clip. Its been Serious Business but this week could be even more serious, john. Friday seems pretty quick. Well see. Shannon travis, thanks very much. Seven minutes past the hour. Were learning more about petty officer first class nicolasd. Checque. Hes described as hardworking and enthusiastic. He joined the navy in 2002 after graduating from high school and entered the s. E. A. L. S program the very next year. He received the bronze star and other awards during his tenyear career. A hero. Yes, he indeed. British banking giant hsbc agreed to pay 1. 92 billion to settle a Money Laundering investigation here in the u. S. Hsbc is accused of transferring billions of dollars for nations like iran doing business with firms linked to terrorism and enabling mexican drug cartels to move money illegally through u. S. Subsidiaries. The settlement represents the largest pen the ever paid by a bank. Now pot is officially legal in colorado. People 21 and older may have up to 1 ounce of weed, smoke it, not in public and grow a small amount at home as well. The governor has created a task force to help implement the law. Heres the problem. Its complicated. The federal government still says marijuana is illegal. Rocky mountain high. Ill be the billionth person to say that. Countdown to double secret lift jop. The space plane is cleared to lift off at 1 05 p. M. Eastern time from cape canaveral. This is an unmanned reusable mini verlgs of the Space Shuttle. It lifts off vertically and lands on auto pilot on a runway. No one knows what its carrying. The cost to develop it, that is also classified. Were calling it a spooky space launch. Its about a forth of the size of the Space Shuttle. You know, no designs to have any humans on board. Its designed to stay in space for like 270 days which is way longer than the Space Shuttle was. Lets hope it all worked. Its the third tile. Its worked before. Oming up, unions rally against a proposal they say will hurt workers. Also ahead, real story of the hero secret agent portrayed in the Osama Bin Laden movie zero dark 30. As i said, real story, ahead. Is simply revolutionary. Oralb Power Brushes oscillate, rotate and even pulsate to gently loosen and break up that sticky plaque with more brush movements than manual brushes and even up to 50 more than leading Sonic Technology brushes for a superior clean. Oralb Power Brushes. Go to oralb. Com for the latest offers. Governor of getting it done. You know how to dance. With a deadline. And you. Rent from national. Because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle. And go. You can even take a fullsize or above, and still pay the midsize price. This is awesome. [ male announcer ] yes, it is, business pro. Yes, it is. Go national. Go like a pro. Since Ameriprise Financial was founded back in 1894, theyve been committed to putting clients first. Helping generations through tough times. Good times. Never taking a bailout. There when you need them. Helping millions of americans over the centuries. The strength of a Global Financial leader. The heart of a onetoone relationship. Together for your future. Together for your future. Try running four. Ning a restaurant is hard, fortunately weve got ink. It gives us 5x the rewards on our internet, phone charges and cable, plus at Office Supply stores. Rewards we put right back into our business. This is the only thing weve ever wanted to do and ink helps us do it. Make your mark with ink from chase. Welcome back. Michigan is poised to become the most unionized right to work state. Workers are expected to voice their disapproval today at the state capital. Even president obama stepping into the fray during a visit yesterday to a daimler truck factory in redford, michigan. These socalled right to work laws, they dont have to do with economics. They have everything to do with politics. What theyre really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money. Alison kosik is in lancing with the latest for us. If we could take this to the 101 level here. Explain right to work. It essentially means if this law passes, the right to work law, even it passes here in michigan, it means if you are looking for work in michigan you wouldnt be forced to Pay Union Dues 0 are join a union as a condition to get a job or keep a job. For a state like michigan which was built on unions, it really is a huge sea of change here. And it comes with an element of symbolism as well. Especially since unions are so engrained in this state. Not only sort of undermine the power of unions in michigan, it could undercut the power and influence of unions even across the country, zoraida. How likely is to happen . I know ive been reading that the governor supports it. Yes. I mean, were hearing it is likely. First all, whats happening here today at the statehouse in michigan is around 10 00 a. M. The senate and house which have already passed measures last week, they just need to pass each others measure. So thats all going to begin at 10 00 a. M. , final approval expected to happen today. Once that happens, its expected to go to governor rick snyders desk. He is expected to sign it, despite the fact that he did have an hour of intense meetings with Democratic Congressional delegation from here yesterday where they were asking him to veto this decision or at least delay the decision. He said he would consider their concerns but the likelihood is, if that bill reaches his desk, he will put his signature on it, zoraida. Were looking at video right now. We see a little bit of Police Presence there. Theyre expecting 10,000 unionized workers to show up today. Do they have some security measures in place . Oh, yeah, they definitely do. Youre seeing road closures around the capital. There are parking restrictions in place. You know, if last week is any indication when thousands of people descended on the capital, today aets expected to be even more intense because were getting closer and closer to that final approval, yes. Weve seen even yesterday when i was out here, police were getting ready for what the onslaught of demonstrators are to bring. Lots of barricades, lots of Police Presence. The demonstrations expected to begin in a few hours, zoraida. Alison kosik, live in michigan for us. Thanks very much. A couple of schools are closing down because the teachers are saying theyre going to the rally. This is going to be a big deal over the next 24 hours. Yes, it is. We are going strong here. Christine romans here with the top stories. Residents in parts of the south cleaning up from Severe Weather. More storms may smack the area today. Soaking rains, heavy wons blanketed the region from louisiana to florida. There are reports that tornadoes touched down in some areas in alabama, tree limbs fell to the ground and some trees were simply uprooted by those strong wons. Former imf boss Dominique Strausskahn has settled a civil suit filed by a new York City Hotel maid accuwho accused him various items. Criminal charges against him were dropped. The state of hawaii is no longer 50th in voter turnout. Its tied for 49th with West Virginia. This time around, theyve got company at the bottom. Both West Virginia and hawaii tenned out 44. 2 of its voters in 2012. The duke of cambridge decided to cancel a scheduled appearance at a military event to be with his pregnant wife. Katherine has been battling acute morning sickness. They are supposeded to attend the royal premiere of the hobbit tomorrow but the daily mail says katherine may not be well enough to go. If he skips the hobbit for her, that is true love. Ill be impressed. Thank you. 17 minutes past the hour. Time for early reads, local news making national headlines. Were starting with the Charlotte News and observer in North Carolina where a federal judge ruled the state cannot issue choose life license plates without offering ones with different view points. He called it viewpoint discrimination and violation of the first amendment. Prochoice advocates and the aclu praised that decision but the ruling suggests, they say, they will have to offer a kill the sea turtles plate to counter the save the turtles plate. This is a movie about the decadelong hunt for Osama Bin Laden zero dark 30. This year of the cia agent a little more complicated than the hollywood spy version portrayal. The post says she was actually passed over for a poe motion shortly after the mission that killed bin laden. Also it says she took heat for ties to filmmakers and there was jealousy over her fame and that led to internal friction within the agency. The post says after being given a prestigious award for her work this agent sent an email to dozens of others saying they didnt deserve to share in the accolades. Not good. Not getting along very well inside the cia, apparently. In the a smart move either. For an expanded look at all of our top stories, head to cnn. Com earlystart. Also follow us on twitter and on facebook. Just search for early start cnn. Its made of steel but its not a steal by any means. The gift card craze that has some coffee lovers paying way more than face value. Look over time, cascade complete pacs fight film buildup two times better than finish quantum to help leave glasses sparkling. Cascade. The clear choice. But when i was in an accident. To help leave glasses sparkling. I was worried the Health Care System spoke a language all its own with unitedhealthcare, i got help that fit my life. So i never missed a beat. Thats health in numbers. Unitedhealthcare. Gives you 1 cash back on all purchases, plus a 50 annual bonus. And everyone likes 50 more. [ midwestern chicago accent ] cheddar yeah 50 percent more [yodeling] yodelayeeoo. 50 more flash. [ southern accent ] 50 percent more taters. Thats where tots come from. [ male announcer ] the capital one cash rewards card gives you 1 cash back on every purchase plus a 50 annual bonus on the cash you earn. Its the card for people who like more cash. 50 more spy stuff. Whats in your wallet . This car is too small. Whats in your wallet . Capella university understands back from rough economic times. Employees are being forced to do more with less. And the need for capable leaders is greater than ever. When you see these problems do you take a step back, or do you want to dive right in . With a degree in business from capella university, youll have the knowledge to go further in your career than you ever thought possible. Lets get started at capella. Edu you know it can be hard to lbreathe, and how that feels. E, copd includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Spiriva helps control my copd symptoms by keeping my airways open for 24 hours. Plus, it reduces copd flareups. Spiriva is the only oncedaily inhaled copd maintenance treatment that does both. Spiriva handihaler tiotropium bromide inhalation powder does not replace fastacting inhalers for sudden symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, or an enlarged prostate. These may worsen with spiriva. Discuss all medicines you take, even eye drops. Stop taking spiriva and seek immediate medical help if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells, you get hives, vision changes or eye pain, or problems passing urine. Other side effects include dry mouth and constipation. Nothing can reverse copd. Spiriva helps me breathe better. blowing sound ask your doctor about spiriva. That is a real life picture of new york city, the big apple. The fog has lifted. We can now see more than three feet in sfront front of us here we are celebrating. U. S. Stock futures are up. Everyone is watching washington for any news from these private fiscal cliff talks. An