HEADLINES-------------

MILLIONS WILL HEAD OUT TODAY --

IN ROUTE TO THEIR HOLIDAY DESTINATION.

BUT MOTHER NATURE HAS SPOKEN --

WILL HER FURY STALL YOUR MUCH ANTICIPATED PLANS?

ABC-7 HAS ALL THE DETAILS ON TODAY'S TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

LIKE MOST OF YOU -- LAWMAKERS ARE ON BREAK, TODAY.

AND THAT MEANS -- ANOTHER DAY *WITHOUT FISCAL CLIFF TALKS.

THE NATION -- JUST 8-DAYS FROM THAT CLIFF.

WILL WE MAKE IT?

ABC-7 BREAKS DOWN THE CHANCES.

THE MAD DASH. TO THE MALL!

DID YOU WAIT UNTIL THE *LAST MINUTE.

TO CROSS OFF THAT CHRISTMAS LIST?

IF SO, ABC7 IS HERE TO HELP.

HL1) HOLIDAY TRAVEL-VO-WIPE

HL2) FISCAL CLIFF-VO-WIPE

HL3) LAST MINUTE SHOPPING-VOTOPS

WX HL-WX WALL

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIPTOPS

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

FM FIRE-2SH-SS-NAVI

WE BEGIN AT NINE A-M WITH BREAKING NEWS.

CREWS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A FIRE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S IN THE AREA OF SAN CARLOS BOULEVARD AND BUTTONWOOD DRIVE AT THE SPORTMAN'S COVE CONDO COMPLEX.

WE'RE HEARING THE FIRE IS COMING FROM A UNIT ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

TAKE A LOOK.

THIS PHOTO IS FROM ABC-7'S DANIELLE KOLENIAK WHO IS ON THE SCENE.

AND IT'S CREATING QUITE THE TRAFFIC MESS.

HERE'S A MAP TO SHOW YOU --

OFFICIALS SAY SAN CARLOS BOULEVARD IS BLOCKED OFF,

AT BUTTONWOOD DRIVE.

THEY'RE DIVERTING TRAFFIC TO PRESCOTT STREET.

AGAIN -- OUR CREWS ARE THERE.

WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED,

TOSS TO KIRA-2SHOT

IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY THIS MORNING.

AND FOR THOSE HEADING OUT OF TOWN --

WINTER WEATHER HAS MADE IT'S MARK ON THE NATION.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH STORM WARN SEVEN METOROLOGIST KIRA MINER --

WITH ALL THE DETAILS ON YOUR HOLIDAY WEATHER AND TRAVEL FORECAST.

STORMWARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CHILLY XMAS EVE MORNING-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL WEATHER-TRX-2SHOT

THE FIRST WAVE OF HOLIDAY TRAVELERS TOOK TO THE SKIES.

*AND HIT THE ROAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

BUT WITH CHRISTMAS JUST HOURS AWAY --

THE NEXT WAVE IS LOOMING.

AND SO IS THAT FRONT OF BAD WEATHER --

LOOKING TO BE THE GRINCH AND SPOIL CHRISTMAS PLANS FOR MILLIONS.

THIS MORNING AND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL WEATHER-PKG

From San Francisco

NATS WIND

To Syracuse -- many around the country are finding their travel plans ruined

.

NATS

a huge snow storm on the West Coast continues to hit northern California

hard -- causing hundreds of delays and canceled flights in and out of San

Francisco, with the average delay lasting over 2 hours

The high winds and severe conditions have left many drivers in the Sierra's

unable to even stay on the road

NATS CALIFORNIA ROADS

The roads were pretty bad there were a lot of spinouts

A major storm is expected to bring snowfall to Oklahoma tonight into

Christmas morning -- complicating travel for the Sooner State just three

years after Santa brought a record breaking 14 inches of snow on Christmas

Eve, shutting the roadway down for the evening.

NATS OKLAHOMA

We got some family trying to come up from Oklahoma they turned around and

went back.

The Midwest will be covered by Wednesday morning -- causing major delays AT

AIRPORTS IN cities like Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago --

just in time for one of the busiest travel days of the season, the day after

Christmas. WHEN TENS OF MILLIONS AMERICANS WILL BE ON THE MOVE

People in central New York woke up to blankets of snow --

HOLIDAY TRAVEL WEATHER-OC

ALEX PEREZ REPORTING --

HOLIDAY GAS PRICES-VO

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVLERS --

GAS PRICES DROPPED *AGAIN OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

THAT CONTINUES AN ALMOST THREE-MONTH LONG TREND.

BETWEEN DECEMBER 7-TH AND THE 21-ST --

THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR GAS FELL 11-POINT-7 CENTS.

RIGHT NOW -- THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR GAS IN THE U-S IS A LITTLE OVER THREE-25 A GALLON.

SINCE EARLY OCTOBER -- GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN FALLING.

NEW THIS MORNING CLIP-CLIP

BOIL WATER NOTICE-VO

NEW THIS MORNING --

THERE'S A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S AFFECTING THE SOUTH END OF ESTERO ISLAND --

FROM THE POINT ESTERO RESORT,

ON THE BAY AND GULF SIDES.

PUBLIC WORKS ALERTED RESIDENTS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THEY BLAME A LOW PRESSURE DROP AT THEIR SOUTH STATION,

IF YOU LIVE IN THIS AREA --

RED LIGHT CAMERAS-BNR-OTS-OC

ALSO NEW THIS MORNING --

RED LIGHT CAMERAS ARE WORKING IN COLLIER COUNTY.

THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS REPORTS --

THERE'S ABOUT 25-PERCENT FEWER CRASHES.

THAN IN THE THREE YEARS *BEFORE THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS EXISTED.

SINCE THE CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED --

DEVELOPING CLIP-CLIP

GUNS AND TAXES-OC

LAWMAKERS MAY BE HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING MUCH OF A BREAK.

TWO MAJOR DEBATES ARE HEATING UP IN WASHINGTON.

THE FIRST OVER GUN RIGHTS.

AND THE SECOND THAT LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF.

IT'S NOW JUST ONE WEEK AWAY.

GUNS AND TAXES-PKG

FRESH OFF A DEMAND FOR ARMED GUARDS IN EVERY SCHOOL- THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S WAYNE LAPIERRE REMAINED DEFIANT IS HIS ONE AND ONLY INTERVIEW WITH NBC'S DAVID GREGORY.

SOT/ Wayne LaPierre / Executive VP - National Rifle Association / super in corner of screen - NBC Meet the Press:11-:19

"If it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy. /

THE NRA'S LEADER DISMISSED CALLS FOR LAWS ADDRESSING ASSAULT WEAPONS OR AMMUNITION.

New York / super in corner of screen - NBC Meet the Press:50-:55

"our Republican colleagues, by refusing to go along with revenues are risking the fiscal cliff."

South Carolina / super in corner of screen - NBC Meet the Press:56-:59

"I think we're gonna fall out of the fiscal tree. There will not be a big deal.

GUNS AND TAXES-OC

DANIELLE LEIGH REPORTING.

LAWMAKERS RETURN FROM THEIR HOLIDAY RECESS ON THURSDAY.

GOLDEN GATE INVASION-SOTVO

THIS MORNING -- WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS OF A COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY -- SHAKEN UP BY A RECENT HOME INVASION.

NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS DESCRIBED IT AS SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE.

IT ALL HAPPENED SATURDAY MORNING -- IN THE GOLDEN ESTATES AREA.

A GROUP OF MEN APPROACHED THREE ROOMMATES -- WHO WERE IN THEIR FRONT YARD.

THAT'S WHEN THE FOUR SUSPECTS FORCED THEM INTO THE HOME -- TIED THEM UP AND RANSACKED THE PLACE.

THEY FLED WITH CASH AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS.

THE VICTIMS WERE TOO SHAKEN UP TO GO ON CAMERA --

GOLDEN GATE INVASION-SOTVO

DEPUTIES SAY -- THE FOUR MEN WERE WEARING LIGHT COLORED HOODIES.

EDISON MALL LOOKBACK-VO

THERE'S AN UNSOLVED MURDER THAT STILL HAUNTS A LOCAL FAMILY, THIS CHRISTMAS EVE.

JUST ONE YEAR AGO -- A MAN WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THE EDISON MALL PARKING LOT.

AND THERE'S STILL NO ARRESTS IN THE CASE.

IT ALL HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE THE J-C-PENNY AND MACY'S ENTERANCE -- ON DECEMBER 23-RD LAST YEAR.

THOMAS GOODMAN WAS AMONG HUNDREDS OF OTHERS -- DOING LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

EDISON MALL LOOKBACK-SOTVO

somebody had to been there watching him what door he came out of because you take a side door and the gunman's right there unless somebody had set that up.

THIS CHRISTMAS -- GOODMAN'S FAMILY IS FRUSTRATED AND HEARTBROKEN -- WITH ONLY THEORIES OF WHAT ENDED HIS LIFE.

POLICE ARE CONTINUING THE SEARCH FOR THE GUNMAN, TODAY.

TEASE ONE-OC

ONLY *ONE DAY LEFT --

TO CROSS OFF THAT CHRISTMAS LIST.

AND IF YOU'RE A LAST MINUTE SHOPPER,

ABC7 HAS *EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

FROM EASY GIFT IDEAS.

TZ1 LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS-VOTOPS

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

BLOOMBERG TEASE-SOT

BLOOMBERG BUSINESS REPORT-PKG TOPS

STORMWARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK INTO WX-CAM 9 WX EST

FORECAST-WXWALL

There's an old saying inspired by Mark Twain: if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes. Well, it was more like three days for us in Southwest Florida, and now we've got some changes coming our way just in time for Christmas.

After one of the coldest starts since January yesterday, temperatures will now swing in the other direction. As winds start to turn more southerly over the next couple days, the warmth will continue to build across Southwest Florida.

Daytime highs on this eve of Christmas are on track to warm into the mid to upper 70s this afternoon, which happens to be very close to average for this time of year. By Christmas Day, however, temperatures will be on the warmer side of average with highs climbing to the low 80s.

As far as rain chances are concerned, the forecast looks very dry for us through Christmas. The only thing we'll really be tracking in our sky is Rudolph, of course, and some thin sheets of clouds building in from the northwest. Cloud cover should be extensive enough through today to filter the sun at times, but we should at least see partial sunshine.

The clouds will thin out a bit more by tonight while temperatures cool down to the upper 50s by Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day, the warming trend rolls along with highs close to 80°. We'll also notice a slight uptick in humidity, but humidity levels shouldn't be too uncomfortable. Cloud cover won't be as widespread on Christmas Day, but we'll still see a nice mix of sun and clouds.

Wednesday will be the next our next weather system arrives. We'll see a chance of some scattered showers and even a few rumbles of thunder late Wednesday, and then some cooler weather moves in Thursday and Friday.

This next cool down won't be as substantial as the last one. Daytime highs will warm to the low to mid 70s, and overnight lows will cool to the mid to low 50s.

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS-2SHOT

NOW THE MAD DASH TO THE MALL.

IT'S REALLY A RACE AGAINST TIME AT THIS POINT

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE STILL HAVE *NOT FINISHED THEIR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!

LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS-PKG

Nat -- hi how are you, did you find everything ok?

WITH JUST HOURS TILL CHRISTMAS

Stephanie Blavat 5/8 Baypark Square Mall Marketing Manager "the atmosphere is

crazy." wsHolidayShoppersPKG

.THE MADNESS AT THE MALL IS IN FULL SWING

Sot--Glen Shor/ "the strategy is come earlieryou know, have a good list."

sot--Jeffrey Siegal/ "gift cards are the strategy"

AS FRENZIED MASSES FLOOD SHOPPING CENTERS today

HUNT FOR THAT PERFECT GIFT AND TROLL FOR BARGAINS

nat - you're going to get a coupon $25 off

THIS YEAR - ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION - TEN PERCENT

OF AMERICANS HAVE WAITED UNTIL now - CHRISTMAS EVE - TO BUY THAT FINAL ITEM

BEGGING THE QUESTION: WHY?

sot--Kevin Gale/ That is a good question, a question my wife would be better

answering for me.

sot--Matt Biggar/ it works for me. I do it quick and efficiently so it works

.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THE PEACE OF MIND TO BRAVE THE CROWDS TODAY - YOU'LL BE

REWARDED WITH DEALS.

Sot--Beth Winbourne/GM Legacy Place "a lot of stores you're seeing right now

are experiencing the same markdowns, the same sales they did black Friday

weekend. So it's a great time to come out."

Dana Shopping Expert "they start to hand out these discounts cause they don

't want to be left with all this excess inventory."

SOME NATIONWIDE CHAINS HAVE EMBRACED SHOPPING MARATHON MENTALITY- MANY KMART

AND MACYS ARE OPEN 24 HOURS

THE TOYS R US TIMES SQUARE LOCATION HAS BEEN OPEN FOR OVER 500 HOURS

STRAIGHT CLOSING, FINALLY, AT 10PM TONIGHT.

BUT IF YOU'VE HAD IT WITH CROWDS AND STORES

THERE'S HOPE ON THE WEB: A GIFT CARD, E- BOOK, OR ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION IS

EASY.AND STRESS-FREE

ORYOU CAN TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER

Dana Shopping Expert You could pull the whole I left my gift at home card

PICK UP TRUCK GIVEBACK-VO

JOHN SCHRIFFEN REPORTING --

AND JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS -

YOU COULD GET A NEW PICK-UP TRUCK FOR A GOOD PRICE.

GENERAL MOTORS MIGHT OFFER THE BEST DEAL --

AS MUCH AS NINE-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN INCENTIVES FOR IT'S FULL-SIZE TRUCKS.

AUTO MAKERS ARE CUTTING PRICES AND BOOSTING OFFERS.

STARBUCKS LIMITED EDITION-TRX-VOTOPS

STARBUCKS' LATEST MARKETING MOVE HAS ONCE AGAIN TURNED COFFEE INTO CASH.

EARLIER THIS MONTH -- THE COFFEE COMPANY SOLD 5-THOUSAND LIMITED-EDITION STAINLESS STEEL GIFT CARDS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

THE CARDS SOLD FOR $450 A PIECE BUT WERE ONLY LOADED WITH $400 IN STARBUCKS CREDIT.

TEASE TWO-OC

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

WE'RE HEARING FROM PASSENGERS WHO WERE FORCED OFF THEIR CRUISE SHIP BECAUSE OF AN ILLNESS THAT RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS THE BOAT.

TZ2 NOROVIRUS-VO

STROKE DEVICE-2SHOT

TIME IS CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING A STROKE.

THERE'S A *SMALL WINDOW AFTER THE STROKE BEGINS --

FOR DRUGS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

BUT EVEN 'IN' THAT WINDOW --

THOSE DRUGS DON'T ALWAYS WORK.

BUT NOW, A NEW DEVICE COULD HELP SAVE LIVES.

STROKE DEVICE-PKG

THIS IS A MUCH MERRIER CHRISTMAS SEASON FOR DAN AND SUE NUGENT THAN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

THAT'S BECAUSE DAN, DESPITE BEING TRIM AND AN AVID WALKER, SUFFERED A STROKE BACK IN MARCH.

"Around 3:30 in the morning he seemed to be tossing and turning a lot and he wasn't answering me when I was nudging him."

BECAUSE DOCTORS AT ELLIS MEDICINE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE STROKE STARTED THEY TREATED HIM WITH A CLOT BUSTING DRUG AND HAD HIM AIRLIFTED TO WHERE DOCTORS ARE USING THE SOLITAIRE DEVICE.

"That's the normal vessel outlined in blue."

AS DR. ALAN BOULUS EXPLAINS, THE SOLITAIRE DEVICE CAN BE USED WHEN CLOT BUSTING DRUGS DON'T DO THE JOB OR WHEN THE PATIENT MAY BE BEYOND THE FOUR AND HALF HOURS THOSE DRUGS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE.

IT'S USED WHEN A LARGE BRAIN ARTERY IS AFFECTED. DAN FIT THE CRITERIA.

DOCTORS THREAD A VERY FINE WIRE, GENERALLY UP THROUGH THE GROIN. IT GOES ACROSS THE CLOT. A SPECIALLY DESIGNED STENT IS THEN THREADED ALONG THAT WIRE.

"When you first expand the stent it pushes the clot to the sides. But then the clot will slowly fold into the stent because it's all open cells. There's no closed part. There's no wall to that."

DOCTORS WAIT 5 MINUTES AS THE CLOT FOLDS INTO AND IS CAUGHT BY THE STENT.

AS THE BLOOD BEGINS FLOWING AGAIN THE CLOT BEGINS TO DISSOLVE. WHAT'S LEFT IS SLOWLY PULLED OUT OF THE ARTERY WITH THE HELP OF A BALLOON THAT'S EXPANDED IN THE ARTERY.

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS DEVICE WORKS, AND BECAUSE CLOTS OFTEN OCCUR AT A JUNCTURE IN THE ARTERY, ALL OF THE CLOT IS REMOVED IN ONE PASS.

IN THE PAST DOCTORS MIGHT HAVE TO GO INTO THE ARTERY, REPEATEDLY TO CLEAR IT. THE SINGLE ACTION ADDS TO THE SUCCESS RATE FOR SOLITAIRE, COMPARED WITH OTHER, OLDER DEVICES.

"I think it's higher because the procedure's quicker. So it's more efficient and then also because it removes the clots from the other vessel on a regular basis. We've had that experience. I think the patients do recover faster."

AS FOR DAN AND SUE. THE HOSPITAL STAY IS BEHIND THEM, BUT THEIR DELIGHT IN HIS RECOVERY, IS STILL FRESH.

STROKE DEVICE-OC

BENITA ZAHN REPORTING.

LINH FAMILY PHOTOS-2SH-VO

IT'S CHRISTMAS AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY OUR FAMILY IS HERE.

NICK FAMILY PHOTOS-2SH-VO

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

AHEAD IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR --

AN IOWA WOMAN LOST HER JOB.

BUT THE REASON MIGHT SHOCK YOU.

HER BOSS CLAIMS SHE'S TOO "IRRESISTABLE"!

AND JUDGES AGREE WITH HIM.

TZ3 IRRESISTiBLE ATTRACTION-VO

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIP

NY STOCK EXCHANGE OPEN-SAT 3 TOPS

RIGHT NOW -- ABC7 TAKES YOU LIVE TO THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH CHRISTMAS CHEER ON WALL STREET.

U-S STOCK FUTURES WERE LOWER AHEAD OF THE OPEN.

STOCKS HAVE BEEN SLIDING,

BECAUSE OF GRIDLOCK IN WASHINGTON.

THAT FISCAL CLIFF IS JUST A WEEK AWAY.

TS3) FM FIRE-BNR-OTS-SS

BREAKING NEWS -- RIGHT NOW.

CREWS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A FIRE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S IN THE AREA OF SAN CARLOS BOULEVARD AND BUTTONWOOD DRIVE AT THE SPORTMAN'S COVE CONDO COMPLEX.

WE'RE HEARING THE FIRE IS COMING FROM A UNIT ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

TS2) GOLDEN GATE INVASION-TRX-VOTOPS

A COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY IS SHAKEN UP THIS MORNING --

AFTER A HOME INVASION OVER THE WEEKEND.

OFFICERS SAY A GROUP OF MEN ROBBED THE RESIDENTS AT GUNPOINT.

TIED THEM UP AND RANSACKED THE HOUSE.

THEN GOT AWAY WITH CASH AND OTHER ITEMS.

TS1) BOIL WATER NOTICE-VOTOPS

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS HALF HOUR --

RIGHT NOW -- THERE'S A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE FOR AREAS OF FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S AFFECTING THE SOUTH END OF ESTERO ISLAND

TOSS TO KIRA-2SHOT

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M LINH BUI.

AND I'M NICK CILETTI.

YOU KNOW -- IT'S BEEN A LITTLE CHILLY BY OUR STANDARD THE LAST FEW DAYS.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MOTHER NATURE WILL BE WARMING US UP NICELY FOR THE HOLIDAY.

STORMWARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

HOLIDAY TRAVEL FORECAST-WXWALL

There's an old saying inspired by Mark Twain: if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes. Well, it was more like three days for us in Southwest Florida, and now we've got some changes coming our way just in time for Christmas.

After one of the coldest starts since January yesterday, temperatures will now swing in the other direction. As winds start to turn more southerly over the next couple days, the warmth will continue to build across Southwest Florida.

Daytime highs on this eve of Christmas are on track to warm into the mid to upper 70s this afternoon, which happens to be very close to average for this time of year. By Christmas Day, however, temperatures will be on the warmer side of average with highs climbing to the low 80s.

As far as rain chances are concerned, the forecast looks very dry for us through Christmas. The only thing we'll really be tracking in our sky is Rudolph, of course, and some thin sheets of clouds building in from the northwest. Cloud cover should be extensive enough through today to filter the sun at times, but we should at least see partial sunshine.

The clouds will thin out a bit more by tonight while temperatures cool down to the upper 50s by Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day, the warming trend rolls along with highs close to 80°. We'll also notice a slight uptick in humidity, but humidity levels shouldn't be too uncomfortable. Cloud cover won't be as widespread on Christmas Day, but we'll still see a nice mix of sun and clouds.

Wednesday will be the next our next weather system arrives. We'll see a chance of some scattered showers and even a few rumbles of thunder late Wednesday, and then some cooler weather moves in Thursday and Friday.

This next cool down won't be as substantial as the last one. Daytime highs will warm to the low to mid 70s, and overnight lows will cool to the mid to low 50s.

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

NATIONWIDE TRAVEL-TRX-VOTOPS

NO MAJOR TRAVEL PROBLEMS TO REPORT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND, BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE.

IT WAS SMOOTH SAILING AT AIRPORTS AND TRAIN STATIONS ACROSS MOST OF THE COUNTRY, YESTERDAY.

WE'RE HEARING AIRPORTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND ATLANTA ARE CROWDED --

BUT MOST FLIGHTS ARE RUNNING ON TIME.

RSW FLIGHT CHECK-MITTO

WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON HOLIDAY TRAVEL --

SO FAR AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL.

A COUPLE MINOR DELAYS --

ON BOTH ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.

MOST FLIGHTS ARE SCHEDULED ON TIME.

IF YOU'RE FLYING OUT TODAY --

MAKES SURE TO ARRIVE 2-HOURS BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT'S SCHEDULED DEPATURE.

NEW THIS MORNING CLIP-CLIP

CAPE CORAL STRUCTURE FIRE-VO

NEW FROM OVERNIGHT --

A FIRE FORCED A CAPE CORAL FAMILY FROM THEIR HOME.

THIS IS BRAND NEW VIDEO FROM THE SCENE.

IT HAPPENED ON THE 34-HUNDRED BLOCK OF SOUTHWEST FIFTH PLACE.

CREWS WERE ABLE TO TACKLE THE FIRE WITHIN MINUTES.

THE GOOD NEWS.

NORTH PORT FATAL CRASH-TRX-OTS-OC

ALSO NEW THIS MORNING --

A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN IS DEAD,

AFTER A CAR CRASH IN NORTH PORT.

POLICE OFFICERS SAY EMANUEL WRIGHT WAS SPEEDING ALONG PARLAY LANE SUNDAY NIGHT.

WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR,

AND HIT A ROCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

HE DIED AT A HOSPITAL.

DEVELOPING CLIP-CLIP

COUNTDOWN TO FISCAL-2SHOT

THE COUNTRY IS JUST EIGHT DAYS AWAY FROM FALLING OFF THAT LOOMING FISCAL

CLIFF.

THIS MORNING -- THERE ARE SOME WHO THINK THE MATTER WILL BE RESOLVED AND SOME WHO THINK OTHERWISE.

COUNTDOWN TO FISCAL-PKG

THE FIRST FAMILY ARRIVED IN THE DARK.BUT WOKE UP TO PARADISE FOR THE

HOLIDAYS. HOWEVER THE PRESIDENT MAY NOT STAY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET HIS

WISH.A DEAL WITH CONGRESS.

MEMBERS STREAMED OUT OF THE CAPITOL LAST NIGHT.WITH NO AGREEMENT TO AVERT

THE FISCAL CLIFF.

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER IS HOME IN OHIO.BUT HE LEFT A VIDEO BEHIND.

NATS

WHICH IF PLAYED IN THE CAPITOL TONIGHT.WOULD ECHO THROUGH THE EMPTY HALLS.

.

BOEHNER NATS

THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE SENATE TOOK A RHETORICAL HOLIDAY SWIPE AT

DEMOCRATS.

MCCONNELL SOT - I'M STUCK HERE IN WASHINGTON TRYING TO PREVENT MY FELLOW

KENTUCKIANS HAVING TO SHELL OUT MORE MONEY TO UNCLE SAM NEXT YEAR

WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW NEGOTIATIONS FELL APART.THE WALL STREET

JOURNAL QUOTING UNNAMED SOURCES SAYS WHEN THE SPEAKER

WHEN BOEHNER OFFERED 800 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE BY LIMITING DEDUCTIONS.

THE SPEAKER ASKED. "WHAT DO I GET?"

THE PRESIDENT REPORTEDLY RESPONDED "YOU GET NOTHING. I GET THAT FOR FREE."

UNABLE TO AGREE TO A "BIG DEAL" ON TAXES AND ENTITLEMENTS.THE PRESIDENT

IS NOW HOPING FOR A "SMALL DEAL."

EXTEND MIDDLE CLASS TAX RATES.EXTEND SOME UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.AND

AGREE TO A FRAMEWORK.FOR A "BIG DEAL."

OBAMA SOT - THAT'S AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL. THAT CAN GET DONE IN 10 DAYS.

CAN IT? CONSIDER SPEAKER BOEHNER'S OTHER WORDS.WHICH ARE REALLY ECHOING.

.ABOUT MAKING A DEAL.

COUNTDOWN TO FISCAL-OC

DAVID KERLEY REPORTING.

LAWMAKERS RETURN TO WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY.

IF THEY DON'T REACH A DEAL IN A WEEK.

GUN CONTROL LATEST-VO

GUN CONTROL REMAINS A HOT DEBATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THE HEAD OF THE N-R-A *STANDS BY HIS POSITION --

TO PUT ARMED GUARDS IN *EVERY AMERICAN SCHOOL.

WAYNE LAPIERRE MADE THAT SUGGESTION,

DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY.

HIS COMMENTS WERE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL.

SO YESTERDAY -- HE STOOD UP FOR HIS STATEMENTS.

GUN CONTROL LATEST-SOTVO

AS WE TOLD YOU BEFORE --

GUNS ARE STILL FLYING OFF STORE SHELVES,

DELRAY BEACH SHOOTING-TRX-VOTOPS

TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD IN DELRAY BEACH,

AFTER A CONVEINENCE STORE ROBBERY.

AND THIS MORNING - POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO TRACK DOWN TWO SUSPECTS.

AUTHORITIES SAY TWO MEN ENTERED THE STORE,

AND OPENED FIRE.

ONE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

THE OTHER LATER DIED AT A HOSPITAL.

THE MEN DEMANDED CASH AND PISTOL WHIPPED THE STORE'S EMPLOYEE,

DELRAY BEACH SHOOTING-SOTVO

"It also is devastating for a community who has seen its share of too many instances of gun violence. As citizens, we are sending out the call now to take our neighborhood back."

POLICE CONFIRM --

THIS ROBBERY IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER INCIDENT,

THAT OCCURRED JUST 12 HOURS EARLIER.

THAT ONE HAPPENED IN ANOTHER CONVENIENCE STORE,

GUN SALES SURGE-TRX-VOTOPS

NATIONWIDE -- GUN SALES ARE SOARING.

GUN STORE OWNERS SAY THE SALE OF WEAPONS -- INCLUDING ASSAULT WEAPONS -- HAS SKYROCKETED SINCE THE TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT.

THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

AND ALSO FEAR A GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON BUYING GUNS.

THE F-B-I REPORTED A RECORD 16-POINT-8-MILLION BACKGROUND CHECKS.

BILL MCBRIDE DIES-SS

SAD NEWS, THIS MORNING --

FORMER FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BILL MCBRIDE.

HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 67.

MCBRIDE RAN AGAINST GOVERNOR JEB-BUSH IN 2002 -- BUT LOST THAT RACE.

HIS WIFE, ALEX SINK, ALSO RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2010.

BUT RICK SCOTT DEFEATED HER.

BOTH PARTIES HELD MCBRIDE IN HIGH REGARD.

HE WAS AN INFLUENTIAL LAWYER,

AND A VETERAN WHO FOUGHT IN VIETNAM.

NAVY SEAL DEATH-VOTOPS

THIS MORNING --

MILITARY OFFICIALS CALL THE DEATH OF A NAVY SEAL COMMANDER. A SUICIDE.

COMMANDER JOB PRICE'S BODY WAS FOUND SATURDAY IN AFGHANISTAN.

PRICE WAS ONE OF THE NAVY'S MOST SENIOR SEAL OFFICERS.

THE 42-YEAR-OLD DID NOT SHOW UP FOR A SCHEDULED EVENT --

IRRESISTABLE ATTRACTION-2SHOT

THIS NEXT STORY --

IS ONE YOU *DON'T WANT TO MISS.

IT'S INVOLVING A FORMER DENTAL ASSISTANT IN IOWA -- WHOSE BOSS SUDDENLY FIRED HER -- BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO ATTRACTIVE!

AND GET THIS --

THE HIGHEST COURT IN THAT STATE. HAS NOW SIDED WITH HER BOSS.

IRRESISTABLE ATTRACTION-PKG

MELISSA NELSON SPENT 10 HAPPY YEARS WORKING AS A DENTAL ASSISTANT. UNTIL

SHE WAS FIRED BECAUSE HER BOSS SAID SHE WAS TOO TEMPTING. AND A THREAT TO

HIS MARRIAGE.

ON FRIDAY, THE ALL-MALE IOWA SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT DENTIST

JAMES KNIGHT WAS JUSTIFIED WHEN HE FIRED AN EMPLOYEE HE SAW AS AN "

IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTION".

SOT/MELISSA NELSON

"I'm devastated there is not an appeal, the state is as far as we

can go.

THE DECISION IS SPARKING MUCH CONTROVERSY. WITH SOME EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEYS

CALLING IT A DANGEROUS THROWBACK:

Glen Savits/Employment Attorney

I wouldn't have been surprised if it was a decision written in 1970, by

the characters of Mad Men.

THE 32-YEAR -OLD MARRIED MOTHER OF TWO, SAYS SHE SAW HER EMPLOYER AS A

FATHER-FIGURE. AND WAS SHOCKED WHEN DR. KNIGHT ADMITTED: EVEN THOUGH SHE

WAS GREAT AT HER JOB. HE COULDN'T BE TRUSTED AROUND HER.

"After working so many years side by side I didn't have any idea that that

would have crossed his mind

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, DR. KNIGHT REFERENCED NELSON'S INFREQUENT SEX

LIFE, SAYING:

"THAT'S LIKE HAVING A LAMBORGHINI IN THE GARAGE AND NEVER DRIVING IT.

"

AND WHEN THE DOCTOR'S WIFE DISCOVERED HIM SENDING TEXT MESSAGES TO HIS

ASSISTANT.IT WAS HIS *WIFE* WHO DEMANDED SHE BE FIRED. NELSON SUED FOR

GENDER DISCRIMINATION.

I think the women in Iowa should probably should start going to work in

burqas for fear that the boss might find them sexually attractive and

terminate them

DR. KNIGHT'S LAWYER GAVE ABC NEWS THIS STATEMENT:

" SHE WAS NOT TERMINATED BECAUSE OF HER GENDER, BUT TO PRESERVE THE

BEST INTERESTS OF HIS MARRIAGE."

SOT/ MELISSA NELSON

I think it is sending a message that men can do whatever they want in the

IRRESISTABLE ATTRACTION-OC

TANYA RIVERO REPORTING.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS --

NELSON WAS VERY GOOD AT HER JOB.

CRUISE SHIP NOROVIRUS-SOTVO

PASSENGERS ABOARD A TEXAS CRUISE SHIP SAY --

THEY'RE HAPPY THEY'RE HOME.

NEARLY 100 PEOPLE ONBOARD GOT SICK WITH A NOROVIRUS.

"I felt the same as she did. terrible

THE SHIP DOCKED IN TEXAS,

AFTER A 20-DAY TRANS-ATLANTIC VOYAGE.

CRUISE LINE OFFICIALS SAY --

THE CAUSE OF THE VIRUS WAS LIKELY A SICK PASSENGER.

THE SHIP WAS SANTIZED OVER THE WEEKEND.

TEASE FOUR-OC

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW --

STAY WITH US -

TEASE FOUR-OC

Tanya Rivero REPORTING

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

TZ4 XMAS STORY LAWSUIT-VO

SOLDIER'S SURPRISES MOM-2 SHOT

A MEMBER OF THE U-S MILITARY.

GIVES HIS MOM AN EARLY GIFT.

HE WAS IN AFGHANISTAN DURING CHRISTMAS *LAST YEAR.

BUT THIS YEAR, HE ENLISTED THE HELP OF REPORTER EMILY SINOVIC,

SOLDIER'S SURPRISES MOM-PKG

:11-:14

Jeremy Fogle

Petty Officer

:40-47

Sue Fogle

Jeremy's Mom

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

"I'm so excited. My mom's like my best friend, so I can't wait to see her."

KEEPING A SECRET FROM MOM ISN'T EASY. THE PLAN? MEET IN THE BACK ROOM OF BETTE'S, A FAMILY FRIEND'S RESTAURANT.

"She still thinks I'm there doing a field op right now. She thinks I'm in the field right now."

BRING IN GAY, ONE OF MOM'S BEST FRIENDS WHO RUNS THE RESTAURANT.

"Sue, this is Gay at Bette's."

HER DUTY: GET MOM HERE WITHOUT KNOWING JEREMY IS IN BACK.

"Just come on up. I have them all in a box and ready for ya."

JEREMY STAYED BACK THERE WHILE WE ACTED LIKE WE WERE DOING A STORY ABOUT HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AND CINNAMON ROLLS.

"They're delicious."

SHE BOUGHT IT BUT SOON STARTED TALKING ABOUT HER SON.

".and he's getting ready to go to Afghanistan again."

"He doesn't get to come home before he goes back?"

"Not this year. I know. Maybe next year."

A FEW SECONDS LATER, SHE REALIZED CINNAMON ROLLS WEREN'T THE REASON WE WERE IN HOOD RIVER.

"Merry Christmas."

"Hi, Jeremy. You made it home."

"This is my best present yet."

GOOD JOB, DAD.

"That had to be a hard secret to keep."

"It was. It took a long.There were a couple slip-ups here and there."

"He's usually terrible about it. I'll be the first to know when he can't keep a secret."

SOMEHOW, THEY PULLED IT OFF.

"Oh! Hahaha."

.AND FOUND A WAY TO BRING BACK JOY LIKE ONLY SEEING HER SON JEREMY CAN.

"He always does."

"It's awesome."

"Yes, it is."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, and I'm so happy you're home."

STORM WARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK-CAM 9 WX EST

FORECAST-WX WALL

There's an old saying inspired by Mark Twain: if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes. Well, it was more like three days for us in Southwest Florida, and now we've got some changes coming our way just in time for Christmas.

After one of the coldest starts since January yesterday, temperatures will now swing in the other direction. As winds start to turn more southerly over the next couple days, the warmth will continue to build across Southwest Florida.

Daytime highs on this eve of Christmas are on track to warm into the mid to upper 70s this afternoon, which happens to be very close to average for this time of year. By Christmas Day, however, temperatures will be on the warmer side of average with highs climbing to the low 80s.

As far as rain chances are concerned, the forecast looks very dry for us through Christmas. The only thing we'll really be tracking in our sky is Rudolph, of course, and some thin sheets of clouds building in from the northwest. Cloud cover should be extensive enough through today to filter the sun at times, but we should at least see partial sunshine.

The clouds will thin out a bit more by tonight while temperatures cool down to the upper 50s by Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day, the warming trend rolls along with highs close to 80°. We'll also notice a slight uptick in humidity, but humidity levels shouldn't be too uncomfortable. Cloud cover won't be as widespread on Christmas Day, but we'll still see a nice mix of sun and clouds.

Wednesday will be the next our next weather system arrives. We'll see a chance of some scattered showers and even a few rumbles of thunder late Wednesday, and then some cooler weather moves in Thursday and Friday.

This next cool down won't be as substantial as the last one. Daytime highs will warm to the low to mid 70s, and overnight lows will cool to the mid to low 50s.

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

SPORTS PKG-PKG

FOOD ALLERGY BULLYING -VO

A DISTURBING NEW STUDY THIS MORNING --

CHILDREN WITH FOOD ALLERGIES. ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BULLIED.

RESEARCHERS TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND KIDS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES.

31-PERCENT OF THE KIDS SAID THEY'D BEEN BULLIED.

AND THE THREATS OFTEN INVOLVED FOOD.

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH -TRX-VOTOPS

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS -- STRESS LEVELS TEND TO BOIL OVER DURINJG THE TEENAGE YEARS.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OFFERS PARENTS SOME TIPS ON DEALING WITH TEENS.

THESE INCLUDE PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR KIDS BEHAVIOR --

SHOWING AN INTEREST IN THEIR SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES --

HOLIDAY HEADACHES -TRX-VOTOPS

THE HOLIDAYS CAN *LITERALLY BE A HEADACHE FOR ADULTS.

THERE ARE CHANGES IN SCHEDULE.

DIFFERENT EATING OR DRINKING HABITS.

AND MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.

DOCTORS SAY TO GET EXTRA REST BEFORE BUSY WEEKENDS OR TRAVELING.

ALSO -- HAVE A GLASS OF WATER FOR EVERY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE YOU DRINK.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO THE GYM --

TOP MOVIES-2SHOT-VO

WE'VE GOT A LOOK AT THIS PAST WEEKEND'S BOX OFFICE NUMBERS.

"THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY" REMAINED AT THE TOP --

FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEKEND.

THE ADVENTURE FILM BROUGHT IN NEARLY 37-MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S A 57-PERCENT DROP FROM IT'S OPENING WEEKEND,

BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BEAT OUT THE NEW ENTRIES.

TOM CRUISE ACTION THRILLER "JACK REACHER" CAME IN SECOND -- WITH JUST OVER 15-POINT-5 MILLION.

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIPTOPS

TS3) FM FIRE-BNR-OTS-SS

BREAKING NEWS -- RIGHT NOW.

CREWS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A FIRE ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S IN THE AREA OF SAN CARLOS BOULEVARD AND BUTTONWOOD DRIVE AT THE SPORTMAN'S COVE CONDO COMPLEX.

WE'RE HEARING THE FIRE IS COMING FROM A UNIT ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

TS2) GOLDEN GATE INVASION-TRX-VO

A COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY IS SHAKEN UP THIS MORNING --

AFTER TWO OF ITS OWN RESIDENTS WERE ROBBED AND GUNPOINT, OVER THE WEEKEND.

THIS CHRISTMAS EVE -- THE FOUR MEN BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE -- ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE.

TS1) BOIL WATER NOTICE-TRX-VOTOPS

LET'S LOOK AT YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS HALF HOUR --

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE.

FOR AREAS OF FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT'S AFFECTING THE SOUTH END OF ESTERO ISLAND.

IF YOUR BUSINESS OR HOME IS IN THAT AREA --

JIBJAB-2SH-VO

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU --

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS EVE TREAT.

A GIFT FROM US. TO YOU.

CHECK IT OUT --

CLOSE-2SH-AWS ANI

AD LIB GOODBYE

please be sure to tease our next newscast

JOIN US FOR ABC 7 NEWS AT 5, RIGHT AFTER ELLEN.