NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING-2SHOT

GOOD MORNING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M KRISTA FOGELSONG

AND I'M STACEY DEFFENBAUGH.

BREAKING NEWS-TRX OC

WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW OUT OF FORT MYERS.

POLICE ARE ON THE SCENE IN THE AREA OF BERT AND CLARA, WHICH IS NEAR VERONICA SHOEMAKER BOULEVARD.

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SHOTS FIRED.

WE DO HAVE IT CONFIRMED THAT A PERSON IS DEAD.

GEN. SCHWARZKOPF OBIT-2SHOT VO

THIS MORNING, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN MILITARY HERO THIS MORNING.

GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.

HIS SISTER SAYS HE DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FROM PNEUMONIA.

THE RETIRED FOUR STAR GENERAL DIED AT HIS HOME IN TAMPA AT THE AGE OF 78.

SCWARZKOPF'S BEST KNOWN FOR LEADING COALITION FORCES DURING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR IN 1992.

HE DROVE SADDAM HUSSEIN OUT OF KUWAIT.

WE SPOKE WITH A GENERAL WHO GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT WITH SCHWARZKOPF.

GEN. SCHWARZKOPF OBIT-SOT(2)

20:43:24:00 "he's the kind of guy who makes military as great as it is. He's a leader, a motivator, got a lot of things done."

PRES. BUSH CONDOLENCES & CONDITION-OC-VO-OC

FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H-W BUSH OFFERED HIS CONDOLENCES IN A STATEMENT, CALLING SCHWARZKOPF "A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT AND ONE OF THE GREAT MILITARY LEADERS OF HIS GENERATION."

THE 88-YEAR-OLD SERVED AS PRESIDENT DURING GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF'S PRIME.

THIS MORNING, BUSH'S CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS THE FORMER COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS RECEIVING TOP-NOTCH MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A HOUSTON HOSPITAL, AND IS ASKING THAT PEOPLE PUT THE HARPS BACK IN THE CLOSET.

MR. BUSH IS STILL VERY SICK AND WILL LIKELY BE HOSPITALIZED FOR A WHILE.

THIS MORNING, THE FORMER PRESIDENT REMAINS IN THE I-C-U.

6:02 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:02 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Today's Weather Story

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC ALERT-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, LEE CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

NFM FIRE-TRX VO

BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NORTH FORT MYERS THIS MORNING.

FLAMES SWEPT THROUGH A MOBILE HOME IN NORTH FORT MYERS.

IT HAPPENED ON THE 8-THOUSAND BLOCK OF MARX DRIVE.

NFM FIRE-SOT VO

"duty officer from Lee County EMS.we won't know for sure."

FISCAL CLIFF SHOWDOWN-2SHOT

LATER TODAY, PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL MEET WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THIS IS THE LAST DITCH EFFORT TO STEER THE COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE FISCAL CLIFF.

IF A DEAL ISN'T REACHED BY THE NEW YEAR, TAXES GO UP, WHICH MEANS LESS MONEY IN YOUR PAYCHECK.

FISCAL CLIFF SHOWDOWN-PKG

THE PRESIDENT LEFT HIS FAMILY IN HAWAII TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON.WITH THE HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY AND THE BANK ACCOUNT OF EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY IS ON THE LINE.

BUT THE BACK AND FORTH BICKERING CONTINUED.

"The only people in America who don't think taxes should be raised on the rich are the Republicans who work in this building."

"Make no mistake: the only reason Democrats have been trying to deflect attention onto me and my colleagues over the past few weeks is that they don't have a plan of their own that could get bipartisan support."

TAXES GO UP FOR EVERY WORKER NEXT WEEK.UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE OUT OF A JOB LONGEST RUN OUT.DEEP SPENDING CUTS KICK IN THAT COULD HASTEN A RECESSION.

AND THAT HITS A NERVE.

"It really upsets me because the government's supposed to be working FOR the people and I don't see that."

"I just wish they'd hurry up and make a decision one way or the other."

TODAY EVEN THE HOUSE CHAMPLAIN'S DAILY PRAYER.

"As this Chamber lies silent and still."

REFLECTED THE PAINFUL WAIT FOR A DEAL TO AVERT THE FISCAL CLIFF.

".Send a spirit of wisdom and good judgment upon the Leaders of Congress

that they might forge a solution to assuage the concerns of their fellow citizens."

HOUSE GOP LEADERSHIP DID CALL MEMBERS BACK TO WORK THIS SUNDAY PREPARED TO WORK THROUGH NEW YEARS.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY THEY THEY WOULD GIVE-IN ON HIGHER TAXES BUT NOT MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

"Republicans aren't about to write a blank check just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff that wouldn't be fair to the American people."

BEYOND THE BITTER POLITICS IS A REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCE.

HOW MUCH LESS YOU'LL HAVE-FSS-TOPS

AS TYLER MATHISEN JUST SAID, IF A DEAL IS NOT REACHED YOU COULD SEE A 2-PERCENT INCREASE IN PAYROLL TAXES, TAKING HOME LESS IN OYUR PAYCHECK.

WE DID SOME MATH JUST TWO SHOW YOU WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE BASED ON SOME ANNUAL SALARIES.

SO IF YOU EARN $25-THOUSAND A YEAR, YOUR TAXES WILL INCREASE BY 42 dollars MORE A MONTH.

THOSE EARNING $45-THOUSAND A YEAR WILL HAVE $75-DOLLARS LESS A MONTH IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.

FL MAN SET ON FIRE-VOWIPE

THIS MORNING, POLICE CONTINUE THEIR MANHUNT IN MIAMI FOR THREE MEN WHO ARE ACCUSED OF SETTING ANOTHER MAN ON FIRE AND LEAVING HIM TO DIE.

IT HAPPENED AT A GAS STATION ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

POLICE SAY THREE MEN CHASED ANOTHER MAN, POURED GAS ON HIM, AND THEN SET HIM ON FIRE.

FL MAN SET ON FIRE-SOTVO

This is my only son, and it's hard for me to see him like this, for something he didn't do, he wasn't bothering anyone, he was only minding his business.

LONGSHOREMAN STRIKE-VO-WIPE

A STRIKE INVOLVING FLORIDA'S GULF COAST AND EAST COAST DOCK WORKERS IS GETTING CLOSE AND IT COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

THE LONGSHOREMEN MOVE EVERYTHING FROM OUR CLOTHES TO OUR ELECTRONICS.

BUT IF WORKERS AT MORE THAN A DOZEN PORTS FROM FLORIDA TO MAINE GO ON STRIKE THOSE GOODS WON'T BE GETTING DELIVERED TO RETAILERS.

PORTS IN THE GULF AND ALONG THE EAST COAST HANDLE ABOUT 55-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CARGO EACH MONTH.

LONGSHOREMAN STRIKE-SOTVO

. So this is going to be felt not just at the local economy at the ports, but nationwide for everybody else who relies on these ports to move their commerce."

A STRIKE WOULD ONLY IMPACT PORTS THAT HANDLE CONTAINERS, NOT OTHER CARGO LIKE CARS AND TRUCKS.

BANNING CELL PHONES FOR DRIVERS UNDER 18-OC

THERE'S A NEW PUSH TO BAN DRIVERS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD, FROM USING CELL PHONES BEHIND THE WHEEL.

FLORIDA LAWMAKER THAD ALTMAN, FILED THE PROPOSAL YESTERDAY.

UNDER THE BILL, DRIVERS UNDER 18 WHO ARE CAUGHT TEXTING OR TALKING ON THE PHONE WOULD HAVE THEIR LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR 30-DAYS.

FAILED TEXTING BILLS-VBX-RVL-TOPS

JUST LAST MONTH--

ANOTHER FLORIDA LAWMAKER PROPOSED TEXTING AND DRIVING SHOULD BE A SECONDARY OFFENSE.

THAT MEANS OFFICERS WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO TICKET DRIVERS IF THEY WERE PULLED OVER FOR ANOTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATION, LIKE SPEEDING OR NOT WEARING A SEATBELT.

THE FINE WOULD BE 30-DOLLARS.

TEASE 1-2SHOT

COMING UP ON N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY,

A SOUTH CAROLINA TODDLER IS DEAD THIS MORNING AFTER GETTNG AHOLD OF HIS FATHER'S GUN, WE'LL HAVE THE DETAILS,

PLUS, SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON IS ON THE MEND.

WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON HER CONDITION AND WHEN SHE IS EXPECTED BACK TO WORK.

TZ1A) TODDLER SHOOTS SELF-VOWIPE

TZ1B) CLINTON RETURNING-VOTOPS

FORECAST TEASE-OMNI

BREAK ONE 6:09:48

HIT TIME 6:09:48

6:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION?

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

TRAFFIC ALERT BILLBOARD-CLIP

RSW ARREST-SOT WIPE

AS HOLIDAY TRAVELERS CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR WAY NORTH FRUSTRATION WAS FLYING HIGH AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHEN A SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALLED IN SICK.

kaitlyn Kerr, traveler

RSW ARREST-SS-VO

ACCORDING TO THE LEE COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY POLICE REPORT- NANA MIMURA AND HER HUSBAND WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT THE DELAY EITHER, ARGUING WITH A TICKET AGENT.

WHEN POLICE ARRIVED HER HUSBAND BACKED OFF, BUT MIMURA REFUSED TO LEAVE.

POLICE SAY SHE CONTINUED YELLING AND SWEARING AT THEM AND THE SPIRIT ARLINES EMPLOYEE, ALL WHILE TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF STAFF WITH HER I-PHONE AFTER BEING ASKED TO STOP.

MIMURA WAS ESCORTED TO THE LEE COUNTY JAIL WHERE SHE WAS LATER RELEASED ON ONE-THOUSAND DOLLARS BOND.

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-VO

A JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER IS OUT OF JAIL THIS MORNING, AFTER BEING ARRESTED FOR A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT.

POLICE SAY SHE THREW A CUP OF COFFEE AND SIDE-SWIPED A CAR.

ACCORDING TO ARREST REPORT, TAMIKO ELLEN WAS DRIVING ON HARBORVIEW ROAD IN PORT CHARLOTTE, WHEN THINGS QUICKLY ESCALATED.

STEVE RUTHVEN SAYS HE HONKED AT ELLEN AS SHE DRIFTED INTO HIS LANE.

THE TWO DRIVERS YELLED AT ONE ANOTHER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

HE SAYS THE 2 LANES MERGED, AND THATS WHEN SHE THREW THE COFFEE AND HIT HIS CAR.

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-SOTVO

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte "it sounded like a huge rock or something hit the window, it was very loud."

SHE'S FACING ONE FELONY AND ONE MISDEMEANOR.

TODDLER SHOOTS SELF-VOWIPE

A TRAGIC STORY OUT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

A TWO-YEAR-OLD BOY SHOT AND KILLED HIMSELF WITH HIS FATHER'S GUN AFTER IT WAS LEFT ON A TABLE CHRISTMAS DAY.

RESPONDERS RUSHED LITTLE "SINCERE SMITH" TO THE HOSPITAL BUT HE DIED ON THE WAY.

TODDLER SHOOTS SELF-(2)SOTVO

S/ Luci Robbins/Neighbor:28-:33

"I have a 2-year-old-granddaughter and I couldn't even comprehend losing my granddaughter."

S/ Steve Nelson/Neighbor:51-:56

"People that have guns.isn't the guns that kill people, it's the people that leave them laying around like an idiot on top of a table. It should be in a locked cabinet. Guns don't kill people, people kill people."

FIREFIGHTERS VS CITY-VO

IT'S THE CITY VERSUS THE FIRE UNION AND THE PUBLIC IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

IN CAPE CORAL, CITY LEADERS BLAME THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR FAILED EQUIPMENT.

CITING IMPROPERLY STORED EQUIPMENT.

FIREFIGHTERS VS CITY-SOTVO

"If they don't check the equipment I don't care if it's a brand new piece, it's going to fail."

FM CRASH-TRX-VO

WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO GET NEW INFORMATION ABOUT A SERIOUS CRASH LAST NIGHT IN FORT MYERS.

IT HAPPENED AROUND 7 O'CLOCK AT ORTIZ ROAD AND PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.

N-B-C 2 REPORTER, STEVE CAMPION, SHOT THIS I- PHONE VIDEO ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK.

TWO CARS WERE INVOLVED.

CLINTON RETURNING TO WORK-VO

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON WILL RETURN TO WORK NEXT WEEK AFTER BEING OUT OF ACTION DUE TO A STOMACH VIRUS AND A CONCUSSION.

SHE'LL BE BACK AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT THOUGH DOCTORS HAVE STILL GROUNDED HER FROM OVERSEAS TRAVEL FOR SEVERAL MORE WEEKS.

SHE HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE AFTER A BOUT WITH STOMACH FLU AND A CONCUSSION REPORTEDLY SUSTAINED AFTER FAINTING.

CLINTON WILL BE PREPARING TO STEP DOWN FROM HER JOB AS SECRETARY OF STATE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

BABY RECLINER RECALLED-VO

A CONSUMER ALERT THIS MORNING INVOLVING A POPUALR BABY SEAT.

SEVERAL RETAILERS ARE RECALLING THE NAP NANNY.

5 DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

BUY-BUY BABY, TOYS-R-US, AND AMAZON ARE RECALLING 150-THOUSAND OF THEM.

THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION SAYS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DESIGN.

THERE HAVE BEEN 92 REPORTS OF INFANTS HANGING OR FALLING OUT OF THE NAP NANNY EVEN WHEN THE HARNESS IS USED.

TZ) NEWTOWN TURNING AWAY DONATIONS-2SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW --

NEXT ON N-B-C TWO NEWS TODAY --

THE OUTPOURING OF DONATIONS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE NEWTOWN SHOOTINGS HAS BEEN TREMEN DOUS

WE'LL TELL YOU WHY OFFICIALS THERE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STOP AND WHAT THEY ARE SUGGESTING INSTEAD.

BREAK TWO 6:18:05

HIT TIME 6:18:05AM

6:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION?

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

SANDY HOOK DNA-OC-VO-OC

THANKS NICK.

SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT PLAN TO EXAMINE THE D-N-A OF NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT SHOOTER ADAM LANZA.

IN WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE FIRST OF ITS KIND STUDY, GENETICISTS WILL LOOK AT THE 20-YEAR-OLD'S DNA TO SEE IF THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL CLUES AS TO WHY LANZA CARRIED OUT THE MASSACRE.

THE PLAN IS GETTING MIXED REVIEWS IN THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY.

SOME SAY STUDYING GENETIC ABNORMALITIES COULD HELP FURTHER RESEARCH ON HUMAN VIOLENCE.

NEWTOWN TURNING AWAY DONATIONS-VO

MEANTIME, OFFICIALS IN NEWTOWN ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STOP SENDING GIFTS.

WORKERS CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE PACKAGES COMING IN.

WATER MAIN BREAKS-VOWIPE

THE COLD WEATHER THAT HAS BEEN MMAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS NOT JUST CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR TRAVEL, IT'S ALSO TAKING ITS TOLL ON WTAER MAINS.

SINCE LAST WEEKEND, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 47 BREAKS ACROSS TROUGHOUT THE CITY OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

THEY'RE AVERAGING AROUND 7 TO 17 BREAKS A DAY.

PYTHON IN PICNIC AREA-VOTOPS

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!!

A FAMILY GOT QUITE A SHOCK WHEN AN UNINVITED GUEST SLITHERED INTO A PICNIC AREA IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.

THEY WERE VISITING FROM ARKANSAS AND CAPTURED THIS SNAKE ON CAMERA.

A 17-FOOT BURMESE PYTHON.

THE PYTHON DIDN'T INJURE ANYONE AND A PARK RANGER EVENTUALLY KILLED IT.

TZ) FORD FUEL MILEAGE-2SHOT VO

STILL AHEAD ON N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT YOUR TOP STORIES

BREAK THREE 6:27:03 AM

HIT TIME 6:27:03

HL1) SCHWARZKOPF-TRX-VO

RIGHT NOW ON NB-C 2 NEWS TODAY,

A TRUE AMERICAN HERO HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 78.

HL2) WX HEADLINE-TRX-OMNI

HL3) NFM FIRE-TRX-TBA

NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIPTOPS

GOOD MORNING-2SHOT

WELCOME BACK TO N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M STACEY DEFFENBAUGH.

AND I'M KRISTA FOGELSONG.

GEN. SCHWARZKOPF OBIT-2SHOT VO

WE'RE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN MILITARY HERO THIS MORNING.

GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.

HIS SISTER SAYS HE DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FROM PNEUMONIA.

THE RETIRED FOUR STAR GENERAL DIED AT HIS HOME IN TAMPA AT THE AGE OF 78.

SCWARZKOPF'S BEST KNOWN FOR LEADING COALITION FORCES DURING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR IN 1992.

GEN. SCHWARZKOPF OBIT-SOT(2)

20:43:24:00 "he's the kind of guy who makes military as great as it is. He's a leader, a motivator, got a lot of things done."

PRES. BUSH CONDOLENCES & CONDITION-OC-VO-OC

FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H-W BUSH OFFERED HIS CONDOLENCES IN A STATEMENT, CALLING SCHWARZKOPF "A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT AND ONE OF THE GREAT MILITARY LEADERS OF HIS GENERATION."

THE 88-YEAR-OLD SERVED AS PRESIDENT DURING GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF'S PRIME.

THIS MORNING, BUSH'S CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS THE FORMER COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS RECEIVING TOP-NOTCH MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A HOUSTON HOSPITAL, AND IS ASKING THAT PEOPLE QUOTE, "PUT THE HARPS BACK IN THE CLOSET."

WITH THAT SAID, BUSH IS STILL VERY SICK AND WILL LIKELY BE HOSPITALIZED FOR A WHILE WITH A HARSH CASE OF BRONCHITIS THAT HAS TRIGGERED COMPLICATIONS.

THIS MORNING, THE FORMER PRESIDENT REMAINS IN THE I-C-U.

6:32 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:32 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Today's Weather Story

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, LEE CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

ROADS ARE ALL CLEAR - NO ACCIDENTS OR ROAD BLOCKS TO REPORT.

NFM FIRE-TRX VO

BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NORTH FORT MYERS THIS MORNING.

FLAMES SWEPT THROUGH A MOBILE HOME IN NORTH FORT MYERS.

IT HAPPENED ON THE 8-THOUSAND BLOCK OF MARX DRIVE.

NFM FIRE-SOT VO

"duty officer from Lee County EMS.we won't know for sure."

LONGSHOREMAN STRIKE-VO-WIPE

A LOOMING STRIKE INVOLVING FLORIDA'S SHOREMEN COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

THE DOCK WORKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING EVERYTHING FROM CLOTHES TO ELECTRONICS WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN PORTS.

BUT, IF WORKERS AT MORE THAN A DOZEN PORTS FROM FLORIDA TO MAINE GO ON STRIKE, THOSE GOODS WON'T GET TO THE STORES.

PORTS IN THE GULF AND ALONG THE EAST COAST HANDLE ABOUT 55-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CARGO EACH MONTH.

LONGSHOREMAN STRIKE-SOTVO

. So this is going to be felt not just at the local economy at the ports, but nationwide for everybody else who relies on these ports to move their commerce."

A STRIKE WOULD ONLY IMPACT PORTS THAT HANDLE CONTAINERS, NOT OTHER CARGO LIKE CARS AND TRUCKS.

FISCAL CLIFF-VO

PRESIDENT OBAMA RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE FROM A HOLIDAY SHORTENED BY GOVERNMENT GRIDLOCK, WHILE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CONTINUED THEIR FIGHT AND SHOWED NO SIGN OF COMPROMISE TO AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF.

WHITE HOUSE AIDES DISPUTED REPORTS THAT OBAMA WAS SENDING LAWMAKERS A

SCALED-DOWN PLAN TO AVOID THE "FISCAL CLIFF" OF TAX INCREASES AND SPENDING

CUTS.

TOP SENATE LEADERS SAID THEY REMAIN READY TO SEEK A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT,

FISCAL CLIFF-SOTVOWIPE

SOT: Harry Reid, US Senate Democratic Majority Leader:

"The Republicans in the House have left town. The negotiations between the

President and the Speaker have fallen apart as they have for the last three-

and-a- half years. We've tried mightily to get something done."

SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL SAID REPUBLICANS HAD "BENT OVER

FISCAL CLIFF-SOTVO

"Republicans aren't about to write a blank check or anything Senate

Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the

cliff. That wouldn't be fair to the American people,"

WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, CURRENT TAX RATES WILL EXPIRE ON 31 DECEMBER,

HOW MUCH LESS YOU'LL HAVE-FSS-TOPS

WE DID SOME MATH JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT THOSE INCREASES WILL LOOK LIKE BASED ON SOME ANNUAL SALARIES.

SO IF YOU EARN $25-THOUSAND A YEAR, YOUR TAXES WILL INCREASE BY $42 MORE A MONTH.

THOSE EARNING $45-THOUSAND A YEAR WILL HAVE $75-DOLLARS LESS A MONTH IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.

FL MAN SET ON FIRE-VOWIPE

POLICE ARE CONTINUING THEIR MANHUNT THIS MORNING IN MIAMI FOR THREE MEN.

THEY ARE ACCUSED OF SETTING ANOTHER MAN ON FIRE AND LEAVING HIM TO DIE.

IT HAPPENED AT A GAS STATION ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

POLICE SAY THREE MEN CHASED ANOTHER MAN, POURED GASOLINE ON HIM, AND THEN SET HIM ON FIRE.

FL MAN SET ON FIRE-SOTVO

This is my only son, and it's hard for me to see him like this, for something he didn't do, he wasn't bothering anyone, he was only minding his business.

AGAIN POLICE ARE SEARCHING THE MIAMI-AREA FOR THE THREE MEN RESPONSIBLE.

RSW ARREST-SOT WIPE

FRUSTRATION FLYS HIGH AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHEN A SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT IS CANCELLED BECAUSE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALLED IN SICK.

RSW ARREST-SS-VO

ACCORDING TO THE LEE COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY POLICE REPORT- NANA MIMURA AND HER HUSBAND WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT THE DELAY EITHER, ARGUING WITH A TICKET AGENT.

WHEN POLICE ARRIVED HER HUSBAND BACKED OFF, BUT MIMURA REFUSED TO LEAVE.

POLICE SAY SHE CONTINUED YELLING AND SWEARING AT THEM AND THE SPIRIT ARLINES EMPLOYEE, ALL WHILE TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF STAFF WITH HER IPHONE AFTER BEING ASKED TO STOP.

QUARTER HOUR PUSH-OC

COMING UP ON N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY,

GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN, THE OBESITY ISSUE IN THE U-S MAY BE SUBSIDING, WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT A NEW REPORT FROM THE C-D-C HAS TO SAY.

FIRST ALERT DOPPLER TEASE-OMNI

BREAK FOUR 6:38:53 AM

HIT TIME 6:38:53

6:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Weather Trends

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION OR CHAR CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

ROADS ARE ALL CLEAR - NO ACCIDENTS OR ROAD BLOCKS TO REPORT.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

MATLACHA BRIDGE LIVE-2SHOT

MATLACHA BRIDGE LIVE-REM LIVE

MATLACHA BRIDGE LIVE-VO

MATLACHA BRIDGE LIVE-SOT

MATLACHA BRIDGE LIVE-REM LIVE

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-VO

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER WAS ARRESTED AFTER AUTHORITIES SAY SHE THREW A CUP OF COFFEE AND SIDE-SWIPED A CAR DURING A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT.

ACCORDING TO ARREST REPORTS TAMIKO ELLEN WAS DRIVING ON HARBORVIEW ROAD IN PORT CHARLOTTE, WHEN THINGS QUICKLY ESCALATED.

STEVE RUTHVEN SAYS HE HONKED AT ELLEN AS SHE DRIFTED INTO HIS LANE.

THE TWO DRIVERS YELLED AT ONE ANOTHER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-SOTVO

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"it sounded like a huge rock or something hit the window, it was very loud."

WE COULDN'T REACH ELLEN TO COMMENT ON THE ARREST.

SHE'S FACING ONE FELONY AND ONE MISDEMEANOR.

FORD FUEL MILEAGE LAWSUITS-VO

FORD IS FACING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THIS MORNING, OVER FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT FUEL MILEAGE.

THE SUIT FOCUSES ON FORD'S TWO NEW HYBRID MODELS, THE 2013 C-MAX HYBRID AND FUSION HYBRIDS.

A CALIFORNIA LAWFIRM CLAIMS THE MODELS BOAST 47-MILES TO THE GALLON, BUT ONLY GET ABOUT 37.

KID OBESITY DECLINE-VO

NEW STATISTICS JUST OUT SHOW THE NUMBER OF OBESE TODDLERS FROM POOR FAMILIES WENT DOWN IN 2010, SOMETHING EXPERTS CALL A PROMISING TREND.

THE NEW REPORT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FINDS THE NUMBER OF POOR, OBESE TWO TO FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WENT FROM JUST OVER FIFTEEN PERCENT IN 2003, TO UNDER FOURTEEN PERCENT IN 2010.

BAD BOTOX-VO

THE FDA HAS SENT A WARNING LETTER TO MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED DOCTORS ABOUT A BAD BATCH OF BOTOX.

THE LETTER SAYS ANY BOTOX PROVIDED BY A CANADIAN PHARMACY, CALLED CANADA DRUGS, IS NOT APPROVED AND MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

IN FACT, THE MEDICATION MAY BE COUNTERFEIT.

JAPAN NUCLEAR PLANTS-VOWIPE

JAPAN'S NEW GOVERNMENT SAYS IT AIMS TO STICK WITH A THREE-YEAR DEADLINE TO RESTART THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR REACTORS AFTER SAFETY CHECKS ARE COMPLETED.

JAPAN'S ECONOMY MINISTER SAID REACTORS WOULD BE RESTARTED AS THE UNITS RECEIVE THE ALL CLEAR FROM JAPAN'S NUCLEAR REGULATION AUTHORITY.

BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ATOMIC REGULATOR AGENCY SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THIS MORNING THAT COMPLETING ALL SAFETY CHECKS WITHIN THE THREE-YEAR TIME FRAME WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.

KOREA NUCLEAR REPAIRS-VOTOPS

MEANWHILE, SATELLITE IMAGERY SUGGESTS THAT NORTH KOREA HAS REPAIRED FLOOD DAMAGE AT ITS NUCLEAR TEST FACILITY.

EXPERTS SAY THE REPAIRS MEAN NORTH KOREA CAN NOW CONDUCT A QUICK ATOMIC EXPLOSION AT ANY TIME.

REAGAN FALKLANDS WAR-VO

NEWLY RELEASED CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS SHOW THE CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER AND PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.

IN ONE OF THE RELEASED LETTERS, THATCHER WRITES TO REAGAN, WHO SHE CALLS RON, SAYING SHE THINKS HE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WAR.

THATCHER GOES ON TO SAY THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE ARE AT STAKE.

SHE ALSO STRESSES THE "SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP" BETWEEN THE U-S AND THE U-K, SAYING THE FRIENDSHIP IS IMPORTANT "TO THE FUTURE OF THE FREE WORLD."

GREY'S ANATOMY COFFEE-VO

MCDREAMY MAY BE GOING INTO THE COFFEE BUSINESS.

"GREY'S ANATOMY" STAR PATRICK DEMPSEY IS TRYING TO BAIL OUT TULLY'S COFFEE IN SEATTLE.

THE COMPANY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN OCTOBER, AND ACCORDING TO ITS WEBSITE, SEVERAL OF ITS UNDERPERFORMING STORES ARE CLOSING.

MARRIAGE IN LIGHTS-VO

WELL, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR YARDS DECKED OUT IN HOLIDAY LIGHTS.

BUT A LIGHT DISPLAY IN MISSOURI CAUGHT PLENTY OF EYES WITH ITS ARRANGEMENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF ONE YOUNG WOMAN.

JUSTIN BLATTEL GOT CREATIVE WHEN HE PROPOSED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND OF SEVEN YEARS, MEGHAN OHRMAN.

BLATTEL POPPED THE BIG QUESTION USING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SHAPED TO READ, "WILL YOU", FOLLOWED BY AN ENGAGEMENT RING, AND THEN THE WORDS "MARRY ME."

MARRIAGE IN LIGHTS-SOTVO

"It was a complete surprise. I kind of had given up hope for it happening this year, and we drove past my house, and there it is!"

BLATTEL DIDN'T STAGE THE BIG PROPOSAL ON HIS OWN.

COVERAGE PROMISE-2SHOT

TIME NOW IS--

JUST AHEAD-- NBC-2 RUNS DOWN YOUR MORNING TOP STORIES.

BREAK FIVE 6:49:12 AM

HIT TIME 6:49:12 AM

6:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, COLLIER CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

ROADS ARE ALL CLEAR - NO ACCIDENTS OR ROAD BLOCKS TO REPORT.

TODAY SHOW TEASE-BNR SOTTOPS

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIP

BREAKING NEWS-TRX 2SHOT

WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW OUT OF FORT MYERS.

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE IN THE AREA OF BERT AND CLARA, WHICH IS NEAR VERONICA SHOEMAKER BOULEVARD.

N-B-C 2'S DANIELLE KOLENIAK JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM THE SCENE WITH THE LATEST.

BREAKING NEWS-REM-LIVE

BREAKING NEWS-VO

BREAKING NEWS-REM LIVE

TS1) SCHWARZKOPF-VOTOPS

YOUR TIME NOW IS--

LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED WITH THIS MORNING'S TOP STORIES.

GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 78.

THE RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT AT HIS TAMPA HOME.

TS2) NFM FIRE-VOTOPS

AN EARLY MORNING FIRE SWEPT THROUGH A MOBILE HOME IN NORTH FORT MYERS.

IT HAPPENED ON THE 8-THOUSAND BLOCK OF MARX DRIVE.

TS3) FISCAL CLIFF LATEST-VOTOPS

PRESIDENT OBAMA RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE FROM A HOLIDAY SHORTENED BY GROWING CONCERNS OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF, WHILE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CONTINUED THEIR FIGHT AND SHOWED NO SIGN OF COMPROMISE TO AVOID IT.

WHITE HOUSE AIDES DISPUTED REPORTS THAT OBAMA WAS SENDING LAWMAKERS A

SCALED-DOWN PLAN.

TOP SENATE LEADERS SAID THEY REMAIN READY TO SEEK A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT,

TS4) LONGSHOREMAN STRIKE-VOTOPS

A LOOMING STRIKE INVOLVING FLORIDA'S GULF COAST AND EAST COAST LONGSHOREMEN COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

UNION REPS SAY A STRIKE COULD HAPPEN BY SUNDAY.

THE DOCK WORKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING EVERYTHING FROM OUR CLOTHES TO OUR ELECTRONICS AS THEY ARRIVE IN PORTS.

TS5) DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-VOTOPS

A JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER IS ARRESTED AFTER AUTHORITIES SAY SHE THREW A CUP OF COFFEE AND SIDE-SWIPED A CAR DURING A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT.

ACCORDING TO ARREST REPORTS TAMIKO ELLEN WAS DRIVING ON HARBORVIEW ROAD IN PORT CHARLOTTE, WHEN THINGS QUICKLY ESCALATED.

STEVE RUTHVEN SAYS HE HONKED AT ELLEN AS SHE DRIFTED INTO HIS LANE.

TS6) RSW ARREST-VOTOPS

DAYPLANNER FORECAST-OMNI

FINAL TRAFFIC-TRAFFICCAM

GOODBYE-4-SHOT

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