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HL1) LEE HOME INVASION-SOTVO

I heard some dogs barking and so forth, the next thing I know there are some police here

AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE FOR NEIGHBORS IN ONE SOUTH FORT MYERS COMMUNITY.

A WOMAN FACE TO FACE WITH A PERSON STABBING HER.

HL2) WINTER WEATHER-SOTVO

I was just praying for my safety and I knew the church was shaking

34 TORNADOES SPOTTED IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA.

HL3) FISCAL CLIFF-VO

AND WE'RE LESS THAN ONE WEEK FROM THE SO-CALLED FISCAL CLIFF.

TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE INDUSTRIES BRACING FOR IMPACT.

AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOU.

OPEN-CLIP

LEE HOME INVASION CLIFTON LIVE-SOTVOTOPS TRX MAP F

you have to make sure that you lock your doors and that you know what's going on

NEIGHBORS ON EDGE THIS AFTERNOON, AND HEARING THAT SOMEONE LIVING IN THEIR GATED COMMUNITY WAS STABBED THIS MORNING.

POLICE ARE CALLING IT A HOME INVASION.

IT HAPPENED IN SOUTH FORT MYERS COMMUNITY, AT THE PASEO COMMUNITY.

LEE HOME INVASION CLIFTON LIVE-REM LIVE

IT WAS INSIDE OF THE GATED COMMUNITY WHERE THAT WOMAN WAS STABBED INSIDE OF A HOME.

LEE HOME INVASION CLIFTON LIVE-PKG

SOT: Brad Cherkin, Neighbor "I heard some sirens, then I heard some dogs barking and so forth, the next thing I know there are some police here."

IN THIS QUIET, GATED, SOUTH FORT MYERS COMMUNITY. BRAD CHERKIN IS USED TO SEEING HIS NEIGHBORS CRISS-CROSSING THE STREET WITH THEIR DOGS.

THIS MORNING, THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, THE DOGS HE SAW WERE POLICE K-9'S. AND THE PEOPLE CROSSING HIS STREET WERE POLICE OFFICERS. NAVIGATING A MAZE OF YELLOW TAPE.

SOT: Brad "It's a quiet neighborhood, we've lived here for four and a half years and it's highly unusual for something like this to happen here."

ACCORDING TO POLICE, IT WAS JUST BEFORE 4:00 THIS MORNING WHEN THEY GOT THE CALL ABOUT A HOME INVASION THAT HAD TURNED VIOLENT.

A WOMAN HERE, WAS STABBED. THEN RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHILE DOZENS OF POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES COMBED THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN CARS, ON FOOT, AND IN THE AIR WITH A HELICOPTER.

AN UNNERVING SIGHT, AND CRIME. FOR THOSE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ASSUMED BEHIND THIS GATE, EVERYTHING IS SAFE.

LEE HOME INVASION CLIFTON LIVE-REM LIVE

THE CONDITION AND NAME OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS STABBED HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

NEIGHBORS TELL US SHE LIVED IN THAT HOME WITH ONLY HER YOUNG TEENAGE SON.

RIGHT NOW IT'S UNCLEAR IF SHE KNOWS HER ATTACKER OR IF IT WAS RANDOM.

BUT POLICE ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR HIM.

I75 MORNING AX-TRX VOTOPS

NEW VIDEO TO SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW, FROM I-75 IN COLLIER COUNTY THIS MORNING.

TRAFFIC ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL BECAUSE OF AN OVERTURNED TRACTOR TRAILER.

THIS IS AT MILE MARKER 109 -- JUST SOUTH OF IMMOKALEE ROAD IN NAPLES.

CREWS ARE TRYING TO CLEAR THE SCENE.

SEVERE STORMS MOBILE TORNADO-TRX NATS VOTOPS WIPE

oh wow. Oh jesus look at that tornado

AMAZING VIDEO FROM MOBILE ALABAMA.

A WOMAN REACTS TO A TORNADO HITTING THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

ONE OF DOZENS THAT POPPED UP LAST NIGHT.

AUTHORITIES SAY SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED.

SEVERE SOUND MOBILE REACTION-2 SOT TOPS

it came in behind the church right there and then all green flourescent lighting and it was like popping transformers left and right and heard the crashing and everything and then the power went out.

SEVERE STORMS-VO IN PLASMA

FROM SNOW IN CALIFORNIA, TO TORNADOS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

SEVERE STORMS-PKG

SCRIPT:

OVERNIGHT DOZENS OF CHRISTMAS TORNADOES TERRORIZING THE SOUTH,

NATS FROM scared people watching it come

EYE WITNESSES WATCHING THIS MONSTER TRAMPLE THROUGH MOBILE ALABMA.

Nats from Cyrstal Rivers Verbates:

19:45:50 "Christmas day tornado, going through Mobile. Oh my God, look, that

's a tornado. Oh wow! Look at that tornado. Oh my God, that's cool."

FIRST THE SLEW OF AT LEAST 15 TWISTERS POUNDING TEXAS THEN TOUCHING DOWN IN

LOUISIANA, BLASTING THROUGH HOMES IN MISSISSIPPI

Tim Kahl/Resident of Pearl River County, MS: "Ah we got a lot of damage.

people hurt.

AND WREAKING HAVOC HERE IN MOBILE. WHERE A WIDE FUNNEL CLOUD WAS FILMED

BARRELING ACROSS THE CITY - LIGHTNING FLASHING INSIDE LIKE GIANT CHRISTMAS

ORNAMENTS

NUMEROUS TWISTERS SPAWNED A BY A SNOWSTORM MARCHING ALL THE WAY FROM

CALIFORNIA. THE STORM TRIGGERING THESE EXPLOSIONS.

THE MIDTOWN AREA FULLY BLACKED OUT - LIT ONLY BY THE LIGHTS OF POLICE

CRUISERS.

****THIS MORNING THOUSANDS OF MOBILE RESIDENTS ARE STILL

WITHOUT POWER.TENS OF THOUSANDS ACROSS THE REGION.

Shane Tucker, Pearl River County Sheriff's Department, Pearl River County,MS

1:05:04 "We've had some moderate to minor injuries. To this point there have

been no deaths reported. Judging by some of the damage we've witnessed

today it's a miracle."

****DAZED RESIDENTS PICKED THROUGH DEBRIS AS RESCUE WORKERS

CHECKED FOR PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THE RUBBLE. THE WINDS MANGLING THE GRACEFULL

ANTIBELLUM HOMES -- PICKING UP CARS -- AND RIPPING THROUGH A NEARLY 100

SEVERE STORMS-OC

MATT GUTMAN REPORTING.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 12-30,

WE'LL REVISIT MOBILE AND LOUISIANA,

KRISTA TOSS-OC TRX TRAFFIC

SIX DAYS UNTIL THAT SO-CALLED FISCAL CLIFF.

FEARS OVER PENDING TAX HIKES AND BUDGET CUTS HAVE SOME SECTORS OF THE U-S ECONOMY BRACING FOR IMPACT.

NBC2 ANCHOR KRISTA FOGELSONG JOINS US IN THE STUDIO AT NOON.

FISCAL CLIFF KRISTA-VO IN TRAFFIC

STACEY,

THINK NECESSITIES OVER LUXURIES.

FISCAL CLIFF KRISTA-PKG

AMERICANS ARE ALREADY TAKING A GOOD-HARD LOOK AT THEIR WALLETS. AS CONFIDENCE THE COUNTRY WILL AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF DIMINISHES.

"I dont think grand bargain before the end of the year, there is hope that a deal will be cut."

IF CONGRESS DOESN'T EXTEND EXPIRING TAX CUTS IN JUST DAYS-

MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS WOULD OWE UNCLE SAM ABOUT 2-000 DOLLARS EXTRA A YEAR.

MARKET RESEARCH FIRM IBIS-WORLD PREDICTS CONSUMERS WILL CUT BACK IN THREE MAIN INDUSTRIES.

AUTOMOTIVE, APPAREL AND ENTERTAINMENT.

"Once people decide to pull back on that the effect is dramatic."

THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION SAYS RETAILERS SUPPORT ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS JOBS-

AND IF THE DOWNWARD TREND INTENSIFIES- THOSE JOBS WOULD BE AT RISK.

"If retailers stop creating jobs the economy as a whole will probably stop creating jobs."

FOR THOSE INDUSTRIES- THE WAIT IS EXCRUCIATING.

PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITED TROOPS IN HAWAII OVER CHRISTMAS- AFTER A FRUSTRATING WEEK ON CAPITOL HILL- LEFT HE AND SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER A FEW HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS APART ON A DEAL.

super burned in

New York 1:02-1:08

The President was about $200 billion higher on revenues, Speaker Boehner $200 billion higher on spending cuts."

ON SUNDAY- LAWMAKERS WERE MILDLY OPTIMISTIC.

super burned in

South Carolina 1:12-1:14

"If you get 80 percent of what you want, that's a pretty good day."

FISCAL CLIFF KRISTA-VO IN TRAFFIC

MEANWHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA LEAVES HAWAII FOR WASHINGTON LATE TONIGHT.

AND TOMORROW CONGRESS WILL GET BACK TO WORK IN THE HOPES OF REACHING A DEAL.

IN THE STUDIO, KRISTA FOGELSONG.

HENDRY CO ACCIDENT-VO WIPE

KRISTA THANKS.

A ONE YEAR OLD BOY REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION THIS AFTERNOON.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HIS AUNT BACKED OVER HIM AT A CLEWISTON APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IT HAPPENED AT THE HARLEM TENANTS APARTMENTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS NECIE LOVE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN HER NEPHEW RAN TOWARD THE CAR.

HE WAS PINNED UNDERNEATH.

ALVA SHOOTING-VOTOPS

LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A SHOOTING SUSPECT IN ALVA.

IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN THE CHARLESTON COMMUNITY PARK - LEAVING ONE MAN IN THE HOSPITAL.

ONE MAN WAS SHOT AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BUT HE'S EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

THIS IS THE SAME AREA WHERE A WOMAN WAS STABBED CHRISTMAS EVE.

CAPE BOIL WATER NOTICE-OC

SOME CAPE CORAL RESIDENTS ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF A VALVE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ALONG SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD.

A TOTAL OF 244 HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE AFFECTED RIGHT NOW.

GEORGE BUSH UPDATE-VO

FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H-W BUSH REMAINS IN A HOSPITAL AT NOON.

HIS FAMILY IS VISITING HIM IN HOUSTON.

HIS WIFE, BARBARA ALONG WITH HIS SON, NEIL VISITED THE FORMER COMMANDER IN CHIEF ON CHRISTMAS.

BUSH HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL SINCE NOVEMBER WITH A LINGERING, BRONCHITIS-LIKE COUGH.

HE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A FEVER.

TEASE ONE-TRX TOPS

nats of opening bell

STOCKS ARE OPENING MODESTLY HIGHER ON WALL STREET AS TRADERS RETURN FROM THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

LOOKING LIVE AT THE BIG BOARD.

RIGHT NOW THE DOW ___.

YOUR MARKET WATCH UPDATE IS IN THREE MINUTES.

AND LAWMAKERS BUYING COFFEE IN D-C WILL NOTICE A CHANCE ON THE CUPS.

THE COFFEE COMPANY'S MESSAGE CONCERNING THE FISCAL CLIFF.

TZ1 A) MARKET WATCH-NATS VOTOPS BIGBOARD

TZ1 B) STARBUCKS FISCAL CLIFF-VO

WEATHER-STC TO BREAK

MARKET WATCH-PKG

Obesity rates among pre-schoolers fell in 2010. The first drop in a decade.

That's according to the Centers for Disease Control, with researchers citing greater awareness of health problems caused by being severely overweight.

And an increase in breastfeeding, which studies show can reduce the risk.

++++++

Meantime, the retailer behind the Slurpee. is stocking up on fruit, yogurt and fresh sandwiches.

It's looking to counter the criticism of unhealthy food **and** declining cigarette sales.

And the NYT says 7-Eleven is aiming to double the amount of sales it gets from fresh food, by 2015.

+++++++

Over at another chain. A call for political action.

Starbucks ceo Howard Schultz asking workers at its DC stores to write.

"come together" on cups, through Friday.

He says we need to send elected officials a respectful and optimistic message to find common ground on the budget impasse.

+++++++

And housing continues its recovery. The S&P/Case Shiller report showed property values in 20 cities - up the most in more than two years, in the 12-month period through October.

++++++++++++

HOLIDAY RETURNS-TRX 3SOTVO TOPS

"58:40 we dont really return anything unless its broke 58:42 58:57 common sense would say do not go the day after christmas definitely not 59:01. The day after

NOW THAT THE GIFTS HAVE ALL BEEN UNWRAPPED,

RETAILERS EXPECT A BUSY DAY TODAY.

THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE ARMED WITH GIFT CARDS.

BUT KEEP IN MIND NEW RETURN POLICIES.

AT TARGET YOU ONLY HAVE 30 DAYS INSTEAD OF 45 TO RETURN ELECTRONICS.

SEARS HAS SHORTENED IT'S "EXTENDED HOLIDAY RETURN PERIOD."

IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING YOU RECEIVED, DON'T OPEN IT.

AT THE PUMP-CG BNR

ELLEN THANKS.

NBC2 ON PUMP PATROL THIS AFTERNOON.

UNCHANGED FROM OVERNIGHT.

EXPECT TO PAY 3-29 FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE STATE AVERAGE IS ALSO 3-29 THIS AFTERNOON.

THE NATIONAL IS 3-25.

FOR THE BEST PRICES IN YOUR AREA CHECK OUT OUR PUMP PATROL PAGE AT NBC DASH 2 DOT COM.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

RAIN TODAY, SUN TOMORROW

A prolific storm system wreaked havoc across the Southeast on Christmas night. Prelimary storm reports estimate that the system spawned over 30 tornadoes in the Deep South on Christmas alone.

It's still a healthy weather maker as it heads toward New England, and it is still producing strong storms from Northern Florida to North Carolina.

Those storms are heading toward Southwest Florida with an ETA at 3 PM today.

As a result the Storm Prediction Center is outlining West Central Florida for the possibility of severe weather. I expect the brunt of the activity to stay north of Tampa Bay today. As the storms approach our area they'll become disconnected from their energy source and will push through with hardly a punch.

Is that to say you won't hear any thunder or see any lightning? Nope, because some of you most certainly will. However, it'll all stay below severe limits and pass over with little to show.

The line of storms will traverse Southwest Florida pretty quickly the afternoon. They'll be gone by the afternoon rush hour. Once they're gone we'll see the skies begin to clear. And cooler temperatures filter in.

Tomorrow morning we'll wake up to partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 40s to lower 50s. After sunrise we'll see those clouds erode away, and we'll be left with a deep blue sky and temperatures struggling to get passed 70 during the daytime.

The pleasant pattern will continue into Friday, but conditions deteriorate on Saturday with another rain maker approaching. Highs on Saturday will be around 80, storms will bubble up late in the day, and they'll last through Sunday morning.

POTATO WIFI-VO IN PLASMA

JIM THANKS.

THEY'RE TASTY MASHED, BAKED, SCALLOPED AND FRIED!

NOW BOEING HAS A HIGH-TECH RECIPE USING POTATOES TO HELP TEST WI-FI ON PLANES.

POTATO WIFI-PKG

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED THROUGH OUR PHONES AND OUR LAPTOPS, CONNECTED WITHOUT WIRES. WE CALL IT WIFI. WE CAN EVEN USE THESE DEVICES ON PLANES.

"It's a challenge sometimes."

FREQUENT FLIER MARK REIS HAS ALL THE TOYS, BUT SAYS WI-FI SERVICE ON PLANES IS SPOTTY.

"So it's a problem."

"Yes."

THIS BOEING TEST VIDEO INSIDE A PLANE SHOWS THE PROBLEM. RED AREAS SHOW A STRONG SIGNAL. BLUE AREAS, NOT SO MUCH. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU SIT IN THE PLANE, AND DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE SAT ON THE PLANE THAT SIGNAL STRENGTH CHANGES.

SO HOW DOES THAT CONNECT POTATOES WITH PASSENGERS?

ENTER THE WORLD OF METROLOGY. A FANCY WORD FOR MEASURING THINGS.

"I sit down on an airline seat, inside of what they call a reverberation lab. What this will do is tell engineers, how much my body will affect the wifi signal trying to reach my phone."

AS ONE PERSON IN THE CHAMBER, I AFFECT THE RADIO WAVES A LITTLE BIT.

"It allows us to test different technologies whatever they may be and whatever frequencies they may be."

NOW IMAGINE A PLANE FULL OF PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHERE THE POTATOES COME IN.

"One of our team members proposed the use of potatoes, due to the fact that potatoes have a very similar dialetric constant to humans."

IN OTHER WORDS, WIFI RADIO WAVES INSIDE A PLANE REACT A SIMILAR WAY TO POTATOES AS THEY DO TO PASSENGERS.

SO BOEING ENGINEERS LOADED UP 150 SEATS ON AN OLD DC-10 PARKED IN THE ARIZONA DESERT TO SEE IF THEY COULD TEST HOW TO MAKE WI-FI SIGNALS WORK BETTER.

"It wasn't feasible to have two or three hundred people sit still for two or three weeks of testing."

POTATO WIFI-OC

GLENN FARLEY REPORTING.

BOEING CALLS THIS TEST QUOTE "SPUDS".

STARBUCKS FISCAL CLIFF-VO

STARBUCKS IS TAKING A STAND ON THE LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF.

C-E-O HOWARD SCHULTZ IS ASKING WORKERS AT ITS 120 D-C-AREA STORES TO WRITE "COME TOGETHER" ON THE COFFEE CUPS THEY SERVE TOMORROW AND FRIDAY.

CHARCO WEIGHT LOSS CONTEST-CG

IT'S TIME TO WORK OFF ALL THAT HOLIDAY FOOD!

THE FITNESS SALON AT THE CULTURAL CENTER OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY IS HOLDING A 12 WEEK POST-HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS COMPETITION.

IT STARTS JANUARY 7TH.

IT COSTS 30 DOLLARS TO SIGN UP.

YOU GET A WEIGH-IN DINNER PARTY, A FREE WEEKS' USE OF THE FITNESS SALON, CASH PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS AND MORE.

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

YOUR TIME NOW __.

DO YOU KNOW HOW SAFE YOUR CHILD'S TOYS ARE?

So that came out at 5.23 pounds which is way less than the 15 so obviously that is going to be a failure

IN THREE MINUTES,

MILLIONS OF TOYS ARE SEIZED AT THE BORDER EVERY YEAR.

ALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET OUR STANDARDS.

TODAY WE'RE GOING INSIDE THE TOY TESTING LAB.

TZ2 A) TOY SAFETY LAB-SOTVO TO BREAK

TOY SAFETY LAB-CHROMA VIDBOX

WE'RE TALKING TOYS AT NOON.

WITH A SPECIAL LOOK AT TOY SAFETY.

13 CHILDREN DIED IN TOY-RELATED ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT TRIES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

TOY SAFETY LAB-PKG

NO, THIS IS NOT A TORTURE CHAMBER FOR TOYS. ITS YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK. TESTING TOYS FOR SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

"We simulate the use and abuse with a child of that age can do."

JOHN MASSALE IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER FOR C-P-S-C.

TOYS ARE TESTED WHEN INVESTIGATORS INTERCEPT POTENTIALLY UNSAFE TOYS AT U-S PORTS.

THIS YEAR MORE THAN TWO MILLION TOYS WERE SEIZED AND TESTED.

"So what we're going to do here is we're going to drop this toy."

THE RED LASERS SIMULATE THE HEIGHT OF A HIGH CHAIR OR A CHILD STANDING.

"What we're going to be looking for is sharp points or small parts anything that comes off of this when we drop it."

Q: "What is this machine?"

A: "This is our tension tester."

MASSALE ATTACHES THIS TOY GIRAFFE AND PULLS, SIMULATING THE FORCE OF A CHILD. TOYS MUST WITHSTAND 15 POUNDS OF FORCE.

"So that came out at 5.23 pounds which is way less than the 15 so obviously that is going to be a failure."

THE PIECE IS THEN DROPPED IN THE SMALL PARTS TUBE. IF IT FITS, THE PART IS TOO SMALL, POSING A CHOKING HAZARD.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS NEEDLE WAS PART OF A CHILD'S DOCTOR KIT. IT WAS SEIZED AT A U-S PORT. THE TEST?

"It's got a little hole in the bottom here and there's a trigger on the inside of this and so if a point is able to penetrate that hole and hit the trigger the light will go off."

WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS TOY IS BEING TORTURED, THIS BENDING TEST ENSURES NO METAL PARTS POKE THROUGH AS A CHILD PLAYS WITH THIS TOY.

THIS PULL TEST MAKES SURE SEAMS ARE STRONG ENOUGH SO SMALL STUFFING PARTS DON'T ESCAPE.

ANOTHER DANGER - MAGNETS. DOZENS OF KIDS HAVE SWALLOWED MAGNETS LIKE THESE AND SUFFERED SERIOUS INTERNAL INJURIES.

THE C-P-S-C TESTS THE SIZE AND STRENGTH OF MAGNETIC TOYS

"If it's small and strong it's a hazard."

NEXT UP - A STRANGULATION TEST

"So for example this telephone cord that can easily wrap on itself we're going to wind through the test probe perimeter of 12 inches."

TOY SAFETY LAB-OC

GOVERNMENT TESTING ALSO CHECKS AGE LABELS ON TOYS.

TEASE THREE-TRX

I was just, you know, totally speechless about how much damage there was

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT HALF HOUR,

DEADLY WINTER WEATHER HITS THE U-S.

TORNADOS IN THE SOUTH AND SNOW IN THE MIDWEST.

WE'RE TAKING A TOUR OF THE DAMAGE AND CURRENT CONDITIONS.

IMAGINE SOMEONE STEALING YOUR CAR - WITH YOUR CHILD INSIDE!

ONE FAMILY IN MISSISSIPPI CAN TELL YOU FIRST-HAND.

THEIR STORY IN EIGHT MINUTES.

AND MAYBE YOU'RE HITTING THE STORES THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

JIM REIF HAS YOUR FULL FORECAST.

TZ3 A) WINTER WEATHER-SOTVO TOPS WIPE

TZ3 B) CAR STOLEN WITH CHILD INSIDE-VO WIPE

OPEN-CLIP

WINTER WEATHER-VOTOPS

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

DANGEROUS AND DEADLY WEATHER HITS THE U-S.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HEAVY SNOW IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS.

AND IN THE SOUTH DOZENS OF TORNADOS REPORTED.

WINTER WEATHER-TRX PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

MOTHER NATURE AND FATHER CHRISTMAS APPEAR TO BE AT ODDS THIS YEAR.

A LARGE TORNADO.

CAUGHT ON A TOWER CAM BARRELING TOWARD DOWNTOWN MOBILE, ALABAMA.

THERE WERE REPORTS OF SOME DAMAGE.

"We stepped out and you could see it storming, doing it's thing. And then it came behind the church. it came in behind the church right there, and then all green flourescent lighting, and it was like popping transformers left and right. Then we heard the crash and everything, and then the power went out."

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY CONFIRMS AT LEAST 22,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE WERE WITHOUT POWER AS OF 6 P-M.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNED RESIDENTS ON TWITTER TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

"I prayed to God as loud as I could and I was just prayign for my safety and I knew the truck was shaking. I just prayed that the truck would stay put and that God would protect me."

IT WAS NOT THE MERRIEST START TO CHRISTMAS DAY IN OKLAHOMA, EITHER.

MORE THAN 20 VEHICLES MANGLED IN A MASSIVE PILE UP THAT SHUT DOWN INTERSTATE 40-WEST NEAR OKLAHOMA CITY.

AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS.

AND, AUTHORITIES IN TEXAS SAY ONE DRIVER DIED WHEN HIGH WINDS CAUSED A TREE TO FALL ON HIS PICKUP TRUCK.

SOME AREAS COULD SEE SIGNIFICANT SNOW.

SO FORGET THE EGG NOG AND COOKIES, ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY SUPPLIES INCLUDE SHOVELS, ICE MELT, AND SEVERE WEATHER RADIOS

AS THIS WHITE CHRISTMAS MESS PUSHES ONWARD.MILLIONS MORE ARE IN ITS PATH, MEANING PLANS FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE HOLIDAY WEEK COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

AL SEVERE WEATHER-TRX SOTVOTOPS WIPE

I was just, you know, totally speechless about how much damage there was, and to come outside and you can smell the gas and you can hear all, you know, the neighbors -- some of them were injured, some of them were trapped in their homes

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT MOBILE ALABAMA AT 12-30.

THAT WOMAN YOU JUST HEARD WAS IN THE PATH OF THAT TORNADO.

WE'RE TOLD SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED.

LA COW BARN DESTROYED-VOTOPS WIPE

AND IN LOUISIANA,

NEARLY 4 THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT POWER AFTER THE STORM.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS COW BARN FOR EXAMPLE.

LA COW BARN DESTROYED-SOTVOTOPS

"There was just a lot of wind. Cows were a little jumpy. If lightning should hit this building, we won't have no cows."

BEFORE THEY DETERMINE IF A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE AREA ,

AR WINTER STORM-TRX VOTOPS

TURNING TO ARKANSAS.

BIZZARD WARNINGS FOR PARTS OF THE STATE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT LITTLE ROCK.

A SNOWSTORM HIT LATE LAST NIGHT.

DRIVERS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING AROUND.

JACKSON MS RAINBOW-DISSOLVE VOTOPS

AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

A RAY OF HOPE AFTER THE STORM.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF A RAINBOW IN JACKSON MISSISSIPPI.

FORECASTERS EXPECT IT TO BE A LITTLE DRIER HERE TODAY AND TOMORROW.

2 DEAD IN MICHIGAN HOME-VOWIPE

A SOMBER CHRISTMAS MORNING IN FLINT MICHIGAN.

TWO PEOPLE WERE FOUND DEAD INSIDE THIS HOME.

A CHILD WAS FOUND ALIVE AND RUSHED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL.

2 DEAD IN MICHIGAN HOME-SOTVO

They just family. They was good people. They didn't bother nobody. They didn't harm nobody. Went to work, took care of the children, came home on Christmas. We were supposed to have New Year's.sobbing Oh God

REPORTS INDICATE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING COULD BE TO BLAME.

LEE HOME INVASION-TRX MAP VOTOPS

DEVELOPING NEWS IN LEE COUNTY AT 12-30.

INVESTIGATORS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A HOME INVASION AND STABBING.

IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING AT THE PASEO COMMUNITY ON ALEGRIA STREET IN SOUTH FORT MYERS.

A WOMAN WAS STABBED THEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE'RE WORKING TO GET HER CONDITION AND NAME.

NEIGHBORS TELL US SHE LIVED IN THAT HOME WITH HER TEENAGE SON.

POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE.

HENDRY CO ACCIDENT-VO

A ONE YEAR OLD BOY IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION THIS AFTERNOON.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HIS AUNT BACKED OVER HIM AT A CLEWISTON APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IT HAPPENED AT THE HARLEM TENANTS APARTMENTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS NECIE LOVE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN HER NEPHEW RAN TOWARD THE CAR.

HE WAS PINNED UNDERNEATH.

TEENS KILLED-VO

A TEENAGER FROM LEHIGH ACRES IS DEAD FOLLOWING A CRASH.

IT HAPPENED EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING ALONG STATE ROAD 29 IN COLLIER COUNTY NEAR OIL WELL ROAD.

INVESTIGATORS SAY 19 YEAR OLD EDGAR RENATA DIED IN THE CRASH.

19 YEAR OLD IVAN CRUZ OF IMMOKALEE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

HE REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY'RE PICKUP TRUCK LOST CONTROL AND HIT A TREE.

ALVA SHOOTING-VO

LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A SHOOTING SUSPECT IN ALVA.

IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN THE CHARLESTON COMMUNITY PARK - LEAVING ONE MAN IN THE HOSPITAL.

ONE MAN WAS SHOT AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BUT HE'S EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

THIS IS THE SAME AREA WHERE A WOMAN WAS STABBED CHRISTMAS EVE.

FIRE SHOOTING UPDATE-VOWIPE

POLICE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK THINK THE MAN WHO KILLED TWO FIREFIGHTERS HAD THE SAME CALIBER AND MAKE MILITARY-STYLE RIFLE USED IN THE CONNECTICUT SCHOOL MASSACRE.

WEBSTER POLICE ALSO SAY 62-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM SPENGLER TYPED A NOTE PLEDGING TO BURN DOWN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND DO WHAT HE LIKED DOING BEST, "KILLING PEOPLE."

OFFICERS THINK SPENGLER ALSO KILLED HIS 67-YEAR-OLD SISTER, CHERYL.

FIRE SHOOTING UPDATE-SOTVO

The medical examiner will be working on the identification. I'm assuming that's going to take quite a period of time. The assumption is that it's the shooter's sister.

CAR STOLEN WITH CHILD INSIDE-OC

A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ONE FAMILY IN MISSISSIPPI.

THEIR CAR WAS STOLEN WITH THEIR THREE YEAR OLD GIRL SITTING IN THE BACKSEAT!

EVERYONE'S OKAY TODAY.

CAR STOLEN WITH CHILD INSIDE-PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

CARLOS GALVAN AND DIANA GONZALEZ ARE SO HAPPY TO HOLD THEIR THREE YEAR OLD GIRL ISABELLA IN THEIR ARMS AGAIN.

It feels great. It has been very traumatic last 24 hours.

POLICE SAY IT ALL STARTED AT THIS WALGREENS IN PASCAGOULA. DAD, CARLOS WENT IN THE STORE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING. MOM, DIANA WAS IN THE BACK SEAT WATCHING LITTLE ISABELLA AND THEIR NEWBORN. AND POLICE SAY 25 YEAR OLD BRADLEY SCOTT HILSABECK WALKED UP AND GOT IN THE CAR.

He tried to put the vehicle in reverse and leave. The lady was able to get the three week old child out of vehicle, but the three year old child remained in the vehicle.

THE MOM AND DAD BEGAN PANICKING AND SOMEONE IN THE STORE THEN CALLED 911.

It is hard for a father and mother to go what what we went through.

ALL LAW ENFORCERS IN THE COUNTY WERE ALERTED AND THE SEARCH BEGAN FOR THE CAR AND CHILD. POLICE SAY THEY LATER FOUND THE SUSPECT 3 MILES AWAY, BUT NO ISABELLA.

Officers then were able to talk to Mr. Hilsabeck who was in custody and he gave us a landmark. She was sitting on the side of the road buckled inside the car seat, by two lakes that are known to be inhabited by alligators.

AND NOW THIS FAMILY SAYS HAVING THEIR LITTLE GIRL SAFE AND SOUND AGAIN IS THE BEST PRESENT THEY COULD EVER HAVE THIS CHRISTMAS.

CAR STOLEN WITH CHILD INSIDE-OC

PATRICE CLARK REPORTING.

FISCAL CLIFF-OC

SIX DAYS TO GO.

HERE COMES THE FISCAL CLIFF.

IF CONGRESS CAN'T AGREE ON A DEAL TO CUT SPENDING AND OR RAISE TAXES,

OBAMA VACATION-VOTOPS

LATER TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA PLANS TO END HIS VACATION.

HE'LL LEAVE HAWAII TONIGHT TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON D-C.

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND THEIR DAUGHTERS WILL REMAIN IN HAWAII.

THE PRESIDENT IS RETURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO WORK ON THAT FISCAL CLIFF DEAL BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS.

TEASE FOUR-OC

YOUR TIME NOW __.

CAN YOU IMAGINE A POINSETTIA THAT'S MORE THAN TEN FEET TALL?

IT'S THE REAL DEAL IN LOUISIANA THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT STORY,

PLUS A LOOK AT OTHER COOL VIDEO FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TZ4 A) VIDEO FROM AROUND THE WORLD-VO

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS-VO IN PLASMA

SANTA HITS THE SLOPES IN COLORADO.

A MONSTER POINSETTIA GROWS OUT OF CONTROL IN LOUISIANA!

AND SPACE-X LIFTS SPACE FLIGHT TO NEW HEIGHTS.

WE'RE SEEING SOME AMAZING VIDEO FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS-PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS -

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

THIS SANTA DIDN'T NEED A SLEIGH TO CUT A PATH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO, HE BROUGHT HIS SNOWBOARD! AND EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T DELIVER ANY PRESENTS, HE BROUGHT LOTS OF SMILES TO THE HOLIDAY SKIERS WHO STOPPED TO WATCH HIM CATCH SOME AIR AND WEAVE THROUGH THE OBSTACLE COURSE.

HERE'S A HOLIDAY TRADITION THAT HAS GROWN A LITTLE OUT OF PROPORTION. THIS 12-FOOT HIGH POINSETTIA HAS BEEN GROWING OUTSIDE THIS HOME IN LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA FOR ALMOST SEVENTY YEARS. THE HOME OWNER, WHO INHERITED THE GIANT PLANT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, SAYS IT COULD EVEN BE OLDER THAN THAT.

"But this plant, this root system comes from the 1940's when this street, Auburn Street, was just a dirt road or gravel road.and that's when they built their home."

KAREN BRYANT SAYS SHE TENDS THE PLANT EVERY YEAR AND HAS EVEN GIVEN AWAY PIECES OF IT TO HER NEIGHBORS.

THE COMPANY SPACE-X IS PUTTING THE STUFF OF SCIENCE FICTION TO THE TEST. THE PRIVATE SPACE FLIGHT COMPANY SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED A TEST FLIGHT OF ITS REUSABLE ROCKET IN MCGREGOR, TEXAS. THE "GRASSHOPPER" ROCKET, LIFTED OFF, HOVERED AND SAFELY TOUCHED BACK DOWN ON THE LAUNCH PAD. THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S ALMOST READY FOR ITS FIRST REAL LIFTOFF. NO WORD ON WHETHER BUCK ROGERS IS AVAILABLE TO FLY IT.

DALLAS SNOW-TRX VOTOPS

PAT THANKS.

WE'RE SEEING THE EFFECT OF THE WINTER STORM ROLLING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT DALLAS TEXAS.

A WHITE CHRISTMAS FOR FOLKS THERE!

ONE-TO-THREE INCHES OF SNOW WERE REPORTED ACROSS THE METRO AREA.

NO MAJOR PROBLEMS HERE.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

RAIN TODAY, SUN TOMORROW

A prolific storm system wreaked havoc across the Southeast on Christmas night. Prelimary storm reports estimate that the system spawned over 30 tornadoes in the Deep South on Christmas alone.

It's still a healthy weather maker as it heads toward New England, and it is still producing strong storms from Northern Florida to North Carolina.

Those storms are heading toward Southwest Florida with an ETA at 3 PM today.

As a result the Storm Prediction Center is outlining West Central Florida for the possibility of severe weather. I expect the brunt of the activity to stay north of Tampa Bay today. As the storms approach our area they'll become disconnected from their energy source and will push through with hardly a punch.

Is that to say you won't hear any thunder or see any lightning? Nope, because some of you most certainly will. However, it'll all stay below severe limits and pass over with little to show.

The line of storms will traverse Southwest Florida pretty quickly the afternoon. They'll be gone by the afternoon rush hour. Once they're gone we'll see the skies begin to clear. And cooler temperatures filter in.

Tomorrow morning we'll wake up to partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 40s to lower 50s. After sunrise we'll see those clouds erode away, and we'll be left with a deep blue sky and temperatures struggling to get passed 70 during the daytime.

The pleasant pattern will continue into Friday, but conditions deteriorate on Saturday with another rain maker approaching. Highs on Saturday will be around 80, storms will bubble up late in the day, and they'll last through Sunday morning.

COMING UP @ 4-CLIP

NBC-2 IS WATCHING A DEADLY WINTER STORM SLIDE TO THE EAST.

FIRST AT FOUR - HOW THE SNOWFALL IS IMPACTING TRAVEL TO AND FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

PLUS - PRESIDENT OBAMA IS CUTTING HIS VACATION SHORT.

HE WILL HEAD BACK TO WASHINGTON TO START-UP FISCAL CLIFF NEGOTIATIONS.

NBC-2 LOOKS AT RENEWED DOUBTS ABOUT REACHING A DEAL.

AND - RETAILERS HOPE THE SHOPPING SPIRIT CONTINUES TODAY.

THIS YEAR WAS THE WEAKEST INCREASE IN SHOPPING IN FOUR YEARS.

WHY TODAY MAY HELP PUT STORES IN THE BLACK.

A) holiday storms travel-VOTOPS-WIPE

B) fiscal cliff countdown-VOTOPS-WIPE

C) post holiday shopping-VOTOPS

DR. OZ LOOKLIVE TEASE-SOTTOPS TO BREAK

BLOOD CLOT ULTRASOUND-CLIP VO IN PLASMA

ON THE MEDICAL FRONT TODAY -

IT'S A NEW WAY TO SPOT A PULMONARY EMBOLISM.

THAT'S A BLOOD CLOT IN THE LUNGS.

DOCTORS TURN TO ULTRASOUND TO SAVE LIVES.

BLOOD CLOT ULTRASOUND-PKG

"I try to workout every day to some extent, consisting either of running, weights, exercise equipment, swimming or biking."

59-YEAR-OLD THOMAS RASPET LOVES TO EXERCISE. SO WHEN HE HAD TROUBLE FINISHING A 10-MILE RACE LAST YEAR, HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

"I was short of breath. My times were pathetic, really slow. I was almost fearful I wouldn't finish."

TURNS OUT RASPET HAD A MASSIVE BLOOD CLOT LODGED IN HIS LUNGS. IT WAS SO BIG THAT IT WAS PUSHING ON HIS CHEST.

"First time it happened, I had no indication as to what it was. I thought I was having a heart attack. I had severe pressure on my heart. I was out of breath."

"Mr. Raspet had a sub-massive pulmonary embolism. So he looked fine, he had extensive pulmonary embolism."

AND THAT EMBOLISM WAS CAUSING HIS HEART TO WORK HARDER CAUSING RIGHT HEART FAILURE, A CONDITION THAT CAN LEAD TO SEVERE HYPERTENSION AND DEATH.

WHILE MOST CLOTS ARE TREATED WITH CLOT-BUSTING MEDICATION CALLED T-P-A, RADIOLOGIST DR. KEITH STERLING TOLD HIM HIS CONDITION WAS TOO SEVERE. SIMPLY USING DRUGS WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH.

"His risk of death would have been far higher."

INSTEAD THEY GOT HIS CONSENT TO TRY A NEW DEVICE. STILL IN CLINICAL TRIALS. A SPECIAL CATHETER CALLED THE EKOS.

"It delivers not only the thrombolitic medication through the catheter, but it also has ultrasound energy that helps loosen up the clot and allows thrombolitic or the T-P-A to work faster and more effectively."

BLOOD CLOT ULTRASOUND-OC

AFTER TREATING THOMAS RASPET FOR TWO PULMONARY EMBOLISMS, DOCTORS FIGURE OUT THAT IT WAS BLOOD DISORDER CAUSING THEM TO OCCUR.

CHINA HIGH SPEED RAIL-VO

THE WORLD'S LONGEST HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN CHINA.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE TRAIN RUNS ALMOST 15-HUNDRED MILES FROM BEIJING TO SOUTHERN CHINA.

AND GET THIS.

THAT DISTANCE USE TO TAKE ABOUT 22 HOURS TO TRAVEL.

SEA TURTLE RESCUE-SOTVO WIPE

MORE COLD-STRESSED SEA TURTLES ARE FLOWN FROM NEW ENGLAND TO RECOVER IN BALMY FLORIDA.

We're out here on Bound Brook Island in Wellfleet picking up two endangered loggerhead juveniles that got cold-stunned in the bay and then blown ashore with the winds we're having right now."

SEAWORLD OFFICIALS SAY FOUR LOGGERHEAD TURTLES ARRIVED SUNDAY IN ORLANDO.

THE TURTLES WERE RESCUED FROM THE WATERS OFF MASSACHUSETTS.

RECORD NUMBERS OF HYPOTHERMIC SEA TURTLES HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM THE FRIGID WATERS OFF CAPE COD IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SEA TURTLE RESCUE-SOTVO

"This years been a great year with a lot of live turtles - the waters been a little bit warmer, the air's a little bit warmer and it think we've had almost 75% of the turtles have come in alive. Which is phenomenal, usually it's about 40 percent."

LEE HOME INVASION-TRXSS VOTOPS

RECAPPING OUR TOP STORIES AT NOON,

INVESTIGATORS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A HOME INVASION AND STABBING.

IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING AT THE PASEO COMMUNITY ON ALEGRIA STREET IN SOUTH FORT MYERS.

A WOMAN WAS STABBED THEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

NEIGHBORS TELL US SHE LIVED IN THAT HOME WITH HER TEENAGE SON.

HENDRY COUNTY ACCIDENT-VOTOPS

A LITTLE BOY REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION THIS AFTERNOON.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HIS AUNT BACKED OVER HIM AT A CLEWISTON APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IT HAPPENED AT THE HARLEM TENANTS APARTMENTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

CAPE BOIL WATER NOTICE-OC

SOME CAPE CORAL RESIDENTS ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF A VALVE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ALONG SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD.

A TOTAL OF 244 HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE AFFECTED RIGHT NOW.

SHOPPING & PUMP PATROL-CG TOPS

AND KEEP AN EYE EXTRA TRAFFIC TODAY.

SHOPPERS ARE HITTING STORES IN FULL FORCE THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

IF YOU'RE FILLING UP,

EXPECT TO PAY 3-29 FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE STATE AVERAGE IS ALSO 3-29 THIS AFTERNOON.

MARKET WATCH-SATLIVE

CLOSE-3-SHOT

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