Find Out How Many “Frozen” Dresses Have Been Sold This Year

Buena Vista(NEW YORK) — Guess how many Anna and Elsa dresses have been sold in the last year? It’s more than twice the population of the state of Maine.

Disney Consumer Products (DCP), the business segment of The Walt Disney Company, announced Tuesday that more than 3 million dresses inspired by Frozen have been sold at Disney Store and mass retailers in North America alone in less than a year.

And, according to DCP, the sales show no sign of slowing down. Elsa and Anna are leading costume sales at all Disney Store locations in North America by double digits.

Since the release of Frozen in 2013, Disney Publishing Worldwide and its licensees have published more than 800 Frozen print titles globally and more than 35 e-books in the U.S. The Disney Karaoke: Frozen app has reached no. 1 in the iPad Entertainment Downloads category in more than 100 countries around the world and “Let it Go” has been played in the app 3.2 million times since its launch in May 2014.

In other words, even more little girls are making their parents listen to them belt out “Let It Go” than are making them buy the Elsa dress.

Just how will the Frozen craze translate itself in Disney’s North American theme parks? There’s a new Frozen-themed attraction in the works at Epcot, planned to open in 2016. Until then, Elsa and Anna are available for meet-and-greets at Princess Fairy Tale Hall at Magic Kingdom Park. Also at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, Cinderella Castle will be turned into an ice palace every night this month using Elsa’s “powers.”

Characters from Frozen will also be incorporated into the park’s Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. At Disneyland Resort, guests can be transformed into their favorite Frozen character at Anna and Elsa’s boutique in Downtown Disney.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

1 World Trade Center Opening Highlights Rebirth, Renewal Following 9/11 Attacks

iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — It’s finally done.

Thirteen years after the Twin Towers were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001, the new centerpiece skyscraper at the World Trade Center opens Monday morning.

The path to this day was anything but easy or clear. Battles began almost as soon as the debris was hauled away in 2002 and, since then, there have been fights over cost, design, security and even the structure’s name. But still, the tower — a technological marvel sitting on piles driven more than 100 feet below the Hudson River — rose steadily out of the northwest corner of the WTC site.

Monday, the storied Conde Nast magazine empire, with titles like Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair, moves in with 2,300 employees spread among 24 floors. In so many ways, this day marks the final piece of the rebirth and renewal of a Lower Manhattan devastated when two hijacked jets slammed into the Twin Towers that bright morning.

On Sept. 11, 2011, the 9/11 Memorial opened. Six months ago, the 9/11 Museum opened. Both were built to commemorate what was lost.

One World Trade is a monument to the future.

“It’s a fantastic milestone,” said Steve Plate, who has overseen WTC construction since the beginning. “I was there that fateful day. And to see from where we started to where we are today, it’s truly a miracle.”

“It truly is the eighth wonder of the world,” Plate said. “And the building itself is truly iconic.”

The new 1 WTC tower and the 16-acre site it anchors are owned by the Port Authority, a massive government agency controlled by the governors of New York and New Jersey.

Plate was supposed to be in his office on the 82nd floor of the North Tower when the attacks began 13 years ago. He wasn’t because he drove his son to school and then missed his usual train. Since then, it has been his mission to rebuild the site into something that would make New York City proud.

“I’m an engineer and I can add numbers and tell you ‘tallest, strongest’ and all this stuff,’” Plate said. “But at the end of the day, it’s the most beautiful building in the most beautiful city in the most beautiful region in the world.”

Standing at 1,776 feet (which includes its landmark spire), 1 WTC is the tallest building in the country and the western hemisphere. It is 104 stories tall and has a three-floor observatory that is to open this spring.

Much like the tower itself, its price tag rose steadily since construction began. By the time the first Conde Nast employee walks in Monday, the final dollar figure will be around $3.9 billion — or double the original estimate.

The problems and battles that preceded opening day are going to fade into the background, according to the building’s boosters, as 1 WTC takes its place in the fabric of New York.

“There’s so many people who have done so much to bring it where it is,” said Dave Checketts, the CEO of Legends, the company operating the observatory on floors 100-102, told ABC News Anchor Dan Harris. “I give them all a lot of credit for staying with the fight because the finished product is going to be something inspirational to people and comforting.”

Checketts said there’s just one message in the reality that the new skyscraper is built and reclaiming its place near the southern tip of the New York skyline.

“It’s a brute fact. We did come back,” Checketts said looking out from near the tower’s top. “We brought it back; we built it even higher than it was before.”

More ABC US news | ABC Health News

Follow @ABCNewsRadio

Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Winter Comes Early for Tennessee Lodge

LeConte Lodge(SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.) — Employees at the LeConte Lodge in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee dug themselves out of 22 inches of snow that fell Saturday.

The temperature on Saturday was nine degrees, LeConte Lodge general manager Tim Line said. Sunday the temperature is up to 10 degrees.

Guests at LeConte Lodge have been snowed in since Friday.

“They occupy themselves,” Line said. “They stayed up in the office building yesterday (Saturday) and read, and sat in the rocking chairs by the heater. A few of them ventured out and took some short hikes.”

Temperatures are expected to be 20 degrees warmer on Monday, which may melt some of the snow.

Follow @ABCNewsRadioCopyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Poll: Rep. Gardner’s Lead Widens in Colorado Senate Race

Inset photos: (t) US Congress / (b) US Senate(WASHINGTON) — A new Quinnipiac University poll out Thursday morning is bad news for Colorado Sen. Mark Udall in one of the most closely watched races this cycle.

The poll shows Udall’s Republican challenger, Rep. Cory Gardner, leading the Democrat by seven points — 46 to 39 percent — in Colorado’s Senate race. Seven percent are for Independent candidate Steve Shogan, while another 7 percent are still undecided.

This gap between Udall and Gardner is slightly wider than last week’s poll, which showed Gardner leading by five points.

There is also a significant gender gap in this race, but it benefits Gardner more. He is leading among men 51 to 38 percent, while women back Udall 45 to 39 percent.

Only 10 percent of likely voters in Colorado could still change their mind, according to the poll. That’s enough to make up the difference, but with only five days before Election Day, there’s not much time to convince them.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

NY Program Would Encourage Health Care Workers to Travel to West Africa

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — As New York City hosts the nation’s sole Ebola patient, city and state officials have announced a program to encourage health care professionals to travel to West Africa to treat Ebola patients.

The initiative would be modeled on benefits and rights provided to military reservists.

New York state and the city will work to ensure that health care workers who travel to West Africa would have their pay, health care and employment statuses continue seamlessly when they get back.

“The depth of the challenge we face in containing Ebola requires us to meet this test in a comprehensive manner on multiple fronts, and part of that is encouraging and incentivizing medical personnel to go to West Africa,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Friday.

State officials would also provide necessary reimbursements to health care workers and their employers for any quarantine that are needed upon their return to New York.

New York state is coordinating the program with New Jersey and the Greater New York Hospital Association.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Maine Pizzeria Awaits Nod from Police to Deliver Pizza to Ebola Nurse

Creatas/Thinkstock(FORT KENT, Maine) — A nurse fighting Ebola quarantine orders in Maine may get at least one perk: a pizza from Moose Shack on Main Street.

Nurse Kaci Hickox told reporters Wednesday night that the one thing she missed while she was cooped up in her Fort Kent home was Moose Shack pizza. Now, the pizzeria is in contact with the police department to see whether they can deliver a pizza to her on Thursday.

Hickox, 33, returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa last week and on Thursday morning broke Maine’s voluntary quarantine by going on a bike ride as officials waffled between whether to seek legal enforcement to the quarantine or let her off the hook with a blood test.

April Hafford, whose father owns the pizzeria, told ABC News that their biggest concern is how their customers will feel about it.

“It’s such a small place here, and it could go either way,” she said. “There’s a lot of people that maybe wouldn’t come here because of it — and who would come because of it. It could go either way.”

Hafford, who said she’s seen Hickox and her boyfriend in the pizza shop three times since it opened in January, said Moose Shack has already received a lot of calls about Hickox Thursday morning, and that the quarantine is a controversial issue in the small town.

So does Hickox have pepperoni or veggies coming her way on that pizza? “I don’t know,” Hafford said. “We haven’t decided what kind yet.”

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Jobless Claims Jump to 287K

iStock/Thinkstoc(WASHINGTON) — Jobless claims were higher last week, increasing by 3,000, according to the latest figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.

For the week ending Oct. 25, the number of people filing for benefits jumped to 287,000. The previous week claims stood at 284,000, revised up from 283,000.

The Labor Department said there were no “special factors” impacting that week’s figures.

The four-week moving average decreased, however, falling by just 250 to 281,000.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Man Survives Driving Off Cliff, 17 Hours Trapped Underneath Vehicle

iStock/Thinkstock(BOONE, N.C.) — A man in North Carolina survived 17 hours pinned underneath his vehicle after he fell asleep behind the wheel and drove off a cliff, authorities said.

Joseph Woodring’s vehicle fell at least 60 feet when he went off the road in Boone, N.C., on Tuesday night, according to State Highway Patrol.

The crash launched Woodring, 21, from his vehicle, which landed upside down and pinned him underneath it. He was found Wednesday afternoon.

“He was lying on his side. Both legs were pinned under,” Dale Watson told ABC News affiliate WSOC-TV. “He wanted some water so I give him some water.”

Watson said Woodring told him he fell asleep while driving. It took rescue crews an hour to raise the vehicle off him.

Woodring was taken to the hospital with two broken legs, according to the State Highway Patrol.

More ABC US news | ABC Health News

Follow @ABCNewsRadio

Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

Man Says He Wrongly Confessed to Murder After Undergoing ‘Exorcism’

iStock/Thinkstock(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) — A man claims he was under a sort of exorcism when he confessed to killing a fellow member of a religious group in Kansas City, Missouri, whose death was originally ruled a suicide.

The body of Bethany Deaton was found Oct. 30, 2012, in the back seat of her minivan with the doors locked and a note inside.

“My name is Bethany Deaton. I chose this evil thing,” the note read, according to court documents. “I did it because I wouldn’t be a real person and what is the point of living if it is too late for that? I wish I had chosen differently a long time ago. I knew it all and refused to listen. Maybe Jesus will still save me.”

Deaton, 27, was a member of a religious group called the International House of Prayer, which was led by her husband, Tyler Deaton. A few weeks after her death, Micah Moore, another member of the group, confessed to her slaying.

Tyler Deaton had a cult-like following within the group and controlled virtually every aspect of some members’ lives, according to court documents.

When Moore confessed, he told police Deaton ordered him to kill his wife to stop her from telling anyone about sexual assaults against her in the house, according to police records. The three lived in a communal house with other male members of the group.

“This is a horrible, horrible crime,” Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said. “A young woman lost her life. She lost her life in a very violent way and today, we do know what happened to her.”

Now Moore claims he only confessed to killing Deaton because he was under the influence of what some have called an exorcism. Moore, who is scheduled for trial next month, has pleaded not guilty.

“They were the statements of a distraught and confused young man,” his attorney, Melanie Morgan, said.

The medical examiner has also changed the manner of Deaton’s death to undetermined.

“We are aware of no evidence that a crime has occurred,” Morgan said.

The International House of Prayer denied any affiliation with Deaton’s group in a statement to ABC News.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

NASA Completes Initial Assessment of Virginia Launch Site Following Rocket Explosion

Image Credit: NASA/Terry Zaperach(WALLOPS, Va.) — NASA said on Wednesday that the Wallops Incident Response Team completed its initial assessment after Orbital Science Corporation’s Antares rocket exploded seconds after liftoff on Tuesday.

“I want to praise the launch team, range safety, all of our emergency responders and those who provided mutual aid and support on a highly-professional response that ensured the safety of our most important resource — our people,” Wallops Director Bill Wrobel said. The initial assessment is just a “cursory look,” the NASA press release notes, though it found numerous broken windows and imploded doors at buildings in the immediate area.

The most severe damage was found at a sounding rocket launcher adjacent to the launchpad and buildings nearest the pad, and there was damage to the transporter erector launcher and lightning supression rods at Pad 0A.

Soil, air and water samples will be taken from the incident area to ensure that the environment is safe. No hazardous substances were detected in initial sampling.

Also on Wednesday, Orbital said in a statement that the “major elements of the launch complex infrastructure…avoided serious damage.”

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio