announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. talking about that song there and that powerful moment. most powerful moment of the oscars. really incredible. i m ryan smith in for t.j. holmes. he s on assignment. i m reena ninan. yeah, that blew away the entire show. i don t know if you seen the movie, phenomenal. really good. i can t wait to watch. so many on the list that i want to see. good morning to you guys. top story, though, we can t get over the winter discontent. the weather, 175 million people are affected by the harsh weather. parts of many southern states are coated with snow and slush, making the roads icy and slippery. boy there have been hundreds of accidents including one at the grounds at dfw airport and there s bitter cold throughout the east. we get more from abc s ted rowlands.
Can t be right on my line. i scared my kids because i was jumping up and down. reporter: marie holmes has a child with cerebral palsy and said her life changed just like that. good luck to you. it is 19. reporter: six numbers near the end of this crumpled ticket are putting 127 million, a lump sum payment directly in to her bank account. it is her split of a half billion dollar power ball jackpot. anything my kids ask for i can get it for them and i don t have to tell them no. are you going to tell them no, though? yes. she s leaving behind a single wide trailer and a lifetime of worries, saying her first trip outside the country will be paris. it s not going to change the person that i am but it is going to change our situation financially, like we will have our own everything. reporter: steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta. we love hearing about people who really need the money. we do. her plans are to buy a new home and set up college funds for the kids.
Good morning. i m ryan smith in for t.j. holmes. i m reena ninan. here s some of the top headlines we are following this morning on world news now. authorities say despite a video posted on-line by al shabaab militants there s no credible plot against the mall of america or a u.s. mall. the white house is encouraging americans to be vigilant just in case. full details coming up. driving will be dangerous in many parts of the south with slick, icy roads. there were hundreds of auto accidents. many schools closed today and dozens of flights cancelled. in a medical breakthrough, a new study suggests exposing children to peanuts may reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy by more than 80%. starting today in alaska, it is legal to smoke marijuana for nonmedical purposes in private places. alaska is the third state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Telling her story and how this money will give her family the incredible boost they deserve. seven of us living in one room. it wasn t comfortable. reporter: her vow to use the money to change their circumstances, but not who they are. it is tuesday, february 24th. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. he s back. reena ninan, ryan smith. i m in for t.j. holmes. he s on assignment this morning. the big discussion today, is it wreaking havoc or wrecking havoc. we re trying to figure that out. it is wrecking havoc. you came in like a wrecking ball and you wreaked havoc. that would be wreaking havoc. remember back in the day, 1998, there was a thing called global warming.
It was barely two weeks ago we and just about everybody else in america learned sadly we were not turned in to overnight multimillionaires. i was banking on this. you were. and it didn t work out. i went on vacation to in florida thinking it was that s how much. i emptied my bank account thinking it was going to work. out. three people hit the drawing on february 11th and one of them is just now stepping forward. here s abc s marci gonzalez. reporter: the only thing bigger than the number on marie holmes giant check is her smile. coming forward to claim her share of the $564 million power ball jackpot. i m still processing it. it hadn t hit me yet. reporter: a lot to process for the single mother who left her job to care for her four kids including one with cerebral