5 things you need to know Monday
1. Everything you missed at the Grammys
Music's hottest night was filled with high notes (thank you, Sam Smith), some snoozy performances and even a presidential appearance. British crooner Smith was the night's big winner, taking home three of the four big awards of the night: best new artist, record of the year and song of the year. Beck pulled a surprise album of the year win for Morning Phase. President Obama, a Grammy winner himself, made a brief video appearance supporting "It's On Us" — a campaign against domestic violence. See a full list of winners here.
And, if you need one more look at the red carpet looks. Here they are:
2. Merkel drops by the White House to chat with Obama
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Washington, D.C. late Sunday for meetings with President Obama starting Monday. They will discuss a range of issues including military aid for Ukraine in its battle against Russian-backed rebels, negotiations with Iran on limiting its nuclear program, Germany's role in the fight against the Islamic State, the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which would eliminate most trade barriers between the United States and the European Union.
3. New England basted with another winter storm
Parts of New England, already reeling from record-breaking snow in the past two weeks, were expecting up to 2 feet of snow by the time a new storm left the area Monday. Boston was blasted with 16 inches of snow Feb. 2, less than a week after 2 feet of snow paralyzed the city. With a total of 40.5 inches in a week, the city broke its all-time seven-day snowfall record, the National Weather Service reported. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh ordered public schools closed Monday and Tuesday and Gov. Charlie Baker ordered state offices closed Monday and urged businesses to allow workers to stay home.
4. A friendlier Healthcare.gov call center prepares for rush
Thousands of more friendly and better-trained call-center employees will be working starting Monday to deal with the expected late onslaught of people signing up before the Obamacare open enrollment ends Feb. 15. A 40% increase, to a 14,000-person workforce, is expected to help with wait times, which averaged about 2 ½ minutes the last week of January, but are likely to get longer as the deadline nears.
5. Dr. Phil interviews ex-Vanderbilt player convicted of rape
Corey Batey, a former Vanderbilt player convicted of raping a fellow student with a teammate, tells Dr. Phil in a jailhouse interview airing Monday that he is sorry for his actions. Batey was convicted along with Brandon Vandenburg on Jan. 27 of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery in an attack in a campus dorm. Batey faces decades in prison when sentenced March 6.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Parts of New England could see as much as two more feet of snow on top of the already record-breaking accumulation of the past two weeks.
Stocks: Wall Street stock futures traded lower.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Gotham, Jane the Virgin and Better Call Saul.
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Contributing: Associated Press