By Alexandra Banner

Flight cancellations are on the rise in the US, forcing many travelers to rethink their plans. Some are turning to trains and car rentals, while others are finding more creative ways to reach their destinations.

Here's what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

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Government shutdown

The Senate has taken a key step toward reopening the government as lawmakers push to end the longest shutdown in US history. In a 60-40 vote on Sunday, eight Senate Democrats crossed party lines and reached a deal with Republicans to end the stalemate in exchange for a future vote on extending healthcare subsidies. Despite sharp criticism from top Democrats, the centrist bloc defended the move to reopen the government without achieving the party's chief demand — securing billions of dollars in health care tax credits. Still, the path to ending the shutdown remains uncertain: any senator can delay consideration of the package for several days. It must also clear the House before reaching President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

Trump pardons

President Trump has pardoned a long list of his political allies for their support or involvement in alleged plans to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to the Justice Department's pardon attorney. The list contains dozens of names, including high-profile figures like Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and the president's former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Each of them was charged with election interference in Georgia for trying to subvert Trump's 2020 defeat. Notably, presidential pardons only apply to federal charges, not state or local charges.

Arctic blast

Temperatures are plunging across much of the US, with several major cities bracing for potential record lows today. In Chicago, a dangerous lake-effect snow event could dump three or more inches per hour — so fast it would overwhelm the ability to keep roads clear. Some parts of the city could see 10 inches of snow, marking Chicago's first double-digit snowfall since January 2021. The city's fierce weather pattern is fueled by the same Arctic air mass expected to sweep through the eastern two-thirds of the US this week. Forecasts indicate that today will bring the coldest air to tens of millions east of the Rockies since spring. Freezing temperatures are possible as far south as Texas and Florida and as far east as the Appalachians.

Arctic blast spreads across much of the US. CNN Weather

Ukraine

Millions of Ukrainians are enduring cold temperatures and darkness after one of Russia's largest attacks on energy infrastructure since the start of the war. Nine Ukrainian regions came under attack over the weekend, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Of the 45 missiles fired by Russia, some of which were ballistic weapons, only nine had been intercepted. Some 450 drones were also launched. Amid widespread damage, Ukraine's energy minister implemented emergency power cuts across almost all regions to stabilize the network. The latest Russian attacks come as Ukraine has requested more help from allies to replenish its air defenses. 

Typhoon Fung-wong

Typhoon Fung-wong is headed toward Taiwan after it slammed into the Philippines on Sunday. The storm follows on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed almost 200 people in the central part of the archipelago nation, as well as five people in Vietnam. About 1.4 million people were evacuated ahead the typhoon making landfall on Sunday night, according to the Office of Civil Defense. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.

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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

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5 Things AM is edited by CNN’s Andrew Torgan.

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