Veterans Day, Record-breaking cold front, Rare Mercury transit: 5 things you need to know Monday

Editors, USA TODAY

A Veterans Day thank you

Businesses and restaurants across the country are saluting veterans and active-duty military personnel Monday. They’re offering free meals, treats and special discounts on Veterans Day to show their appreciation for all those who have sacrificed for the country. The National Parks Service, too, is waiving entrance fees in honor of the federal holiday. Veterans Day, which is celebrated every year on Nov. 11, honors all those who served in the military, whether in war or peace. First recognized as Armistice Day in 1919, Veterans Day marks the date when Germany and the allies signed a 1918 agreement to cease World War I hostilities. The fighting ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

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Record-setting cold front sweeps across the nation

The National Weather Service is forecasting more than 100 potential daily record low temperatures Monday to Wednesday as a cold front sweeps across the U.S. Freezing temperatures are expected to stretch as far south as parts of the Gulf Coast. The cold will sweep into the southern Plains and Ohio Valley Monday, then through most of the East Coast and Deep South by Tuesday. High temperatures on Monday may be stuck in the teens and 20s in the Midwest and around the Great Lakes. It could be the coldest Veterans Day on record in cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis, according to the Weather Channel. Parts of Michigan could see up to a foot of snow by Monday morning, the weather service warned.

Rare Mercury transit is coming to a sky near you

Mercury, the innermost planet in our solar system, will appear as a small black dot crossing the sun’s face Monday – a rare event that won't occur again until 2032. The astronomical phenomenon is known as a transit and will be visible in the eastern United States for its 5 1/2-hour path across the sun. Folks in the central and western U.S. will have to wait until after sunrise to see the remainder of the event. Similar to a solar eclipse, NASA cautions that looking at the sun directly or through a telescope without proper protection can lead to serious and permanent vision damage.

U.S. Catholic bishops meet; Hispanic immigrant in line to lead bishops

Clergy sex abuse is once again on the agenda as U.S. Catholic bishops meet this week — but so is a potentially historic milestone: Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, an immigrant from Mexico, is widely expected to win election as the first Hispanic president of the bishops' national conference.In terms of doctrine, Gomez is considered a practical-minded conservative, but he is an outspoken advocate of a welcoming immigration policy that would include a path to citizenship for many immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The three-day meeting, opening on Monday, will mark the end of the three-year presidential term of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop of Galveston-Houston.

Sluggish weekend at box office allows for a few surprises

Despite big movies entering the marketplace, audiences largely stayed away from theaters this weekend. Down nearly 27% from last year, the sluggish weekend at the North American box office still allowed for a few big surprises. The biggest was the Roland Emmerich film "Midway," which slightly overperformed, and snagged the first-place spot over "Doctor Sleep," a film that came in well under expectations. The war epic earned an estimated $17.5 million from 3,240 screens, according to studio estimates. Budgeted at around $50 million, "Doctor Sleep" was expected to open with at least $25 million but it grossed only $14.1 million from more than 3,800 locations. Final numbers are expected Monday.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Veterans Day, Mercury transit, cold front: 5 things to know Monday