5 Things to Know This Morning

Jan. 7, 2014— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. South, East Brace for Polar Temps, Wind Chills
Schools and businesses shuttered due to record-breaking cold temperatures in southern and eastern parts of the U.S. Power outages in the Midwest caused residents to leave their homes.

2. Federal Judge: Ban on Gun Sales Unconstitutional
A federal judge has potentially opened a new market to gun dealers after ruling that Chicago ordinances banning the sale of guns within the city's limits in an effort to reduce gun violence are unconstitutional.

3. 'SNL' Hires First Female Black Cast Member in Years
Sasheer Zamata will make her debut on "Saturday Night Live" Jan. 18.

4. No. 1 Florida State Beats No. 2 Auburn State for BCS Title
Star player Jameis Winston took the Seminoles 80 yards in seven plays, and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds to spare for the winning margin in a 34-31 victory.

5. Global Disasters Killed More, Cost Less in 2013
The German insurance company Munich Re says some 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012.