6AM HOUR-CLIPTOPS

BREAKING-CLIP

FISCAL CLIFF SENATE DEAL-VOTOPS

BREAKING RIGHT NOW AT--

THE SENATE APPROVED A LAST-MINUTE DEAL TO AVOID THE FEARED FISCAL CLIFF.

THE VOTE CAME JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THE SENATE PACKAGE WOULD PUT OFF BUDGET CUTS FOR TWO MONTHS AND PRESERVE BUSH-ERA INCOME TAX CUTS FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING LESS THAN $400-THOUSAND.

OR COUPLES EARNING LESS THAN $450-THOUSAND.

THE MEASURE NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

NYE BALL DROP-NATTOPS

COUNTDOWN

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

IN NEW YORK AND AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE WELCOMED IN 20-13.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CROWDED IN TIMES SQUARE TO WATCH THE CRYSTAL-COVERED BALL DROP.

THIS YEAR, AMONG THE ONE TON OF CONFETTI DROPPED ON THE CROWD AT MIDNIGHT WERE FANS' MESSAGES TO THE LATE DICK CLARK.

LONGTIME HOST OF THE CELEBRATION WHO PASSED AWAY IN APRIL.

FORT MYERS NYE-2SH-NATVO

CELEBRATIONS CLOSER TO HOME BROUGHT OUT THOUSANDS.

FORT MYERS DROPPED ITS OWN BALL AT MIDNIGHT.

SUCH A FUN ATMOSPHERE.

THOUSAND OF PARTIERS CAMPED OUT DOWNTOWN TO RING IN 2013.

ABC SEVEN CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JOHN PATRICK HOSTED THE DOWNTOWN GET DOWN.

BUSINESS OWNERS ALSO WELCOMED THE COMPANY.

CAPE CORAL NYE-NATVO

AND IT CAPE CORAL,

ANOTHER HIGH-ENERGY ATMOSPHERE FOR THE LAST PARTY OF THE YEAR.

CAPE CORAL NYE-SOTVO

"My New Years Resolution is to come back to America next year.

-Exercise.

-My New Years Resolution is to get fit

-Stop making her angry

- Be nice to people

- Looking to make a good life New York.

-I'm not changing anything

- Better year than the past few.

TOSS TO JASON-2SH- CAM 9

WE TURN NOW TO STORM WARN SEVEN METEOROLOGIST JASON DUNNING.

530AM~STORMWARN FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

530AM~STORMWARN FORECAST-WXWALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

BREAKING-CLIP

FISCAL CLIFF DEAL-2 SHOT

TURNING BACK NOW TO THAT BREAKING NEWS WE TOLD YOU ABOUT AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.

THE SENATE HAS PASSED LEGISLATION TO BLOCK THE IMPACT OF ACROSS-THE-BOARD TAX INCREASES AND SWEEPING SPENDING CUTS THAT MAKE UP THE FISCAL CLIFF.

WE'RE STILL GETTING NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE OVERNIGHT DEAL.

FISCAL CLIFF DEAL-PKG

FISCAL CLIFF GAS PRICES-VO WIPE

HOW MUCH YOU PAY FOR *GAS* ALSO DEPENDS ON FISCAL CLIFF NEGOTIATIONS.

ANALYSTS WITH TRIPLE-A EXPECT PRICES AT THE PUMP TO GO DOWN.

THEY POINT TO CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AS THE MAIN REASON.

SPECULATORS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET DRIVE PRICES HIGHER AS OPTIMISM IN THE ECONOMY GOES UP.

FUEL COSTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE ALREADY ON THE RISE.

FISCAL CLIFF GAS PRICES-SOTVO

:22:18:45

I have a two kids, you've got to budget, i'm a high school teacher, so it's something you definitely have to be aware of." 54

ANALYSTS SAY IF LAWMAKERS REACH A DEAL TO AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF, DRIVERS CAN EXPECT GAS PRICES TO CONTINUE TO RISE BASED ON OPTIMISM FOR THE NEW YEAR.

DEVELOPING-CLIP

HILLARY'S HEALTH-VO-BNR

DOCTORS AT NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL SAY THEY'RE CONFIDENT SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY FROM A BLOOD CLOT THAT FORMED IN HER HEAD.

AN M-R-I SHOWS THE BLOOD CLOT IS LOCATED BETWEEN CLINTON'S BRAIN AND SKULL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CLOT DID *NOT RESULT IN A STROKE OR CAUSE NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE.

FL PLANE CRASH-VO

SAD NEWS TO REPORT THIS MORNING.

THE PILOT OF AN ULTRALIGHT PLANE DIED MONDAY WHEN IT CRASHED IN MANATEE COUNTY ON FLORIDA'S GULF COAST.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCENE.

OFFICIALS SAY THE HOMEMADE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM AIRPORT MANATEE.

IT WENT DOWN A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT NEAR PALMETTO.

6AM COVERAGE PROMISE TO BREAK-2SH-VO

2012 HAD IT'S UPS AND IT'S DOWNS.

THERE WAS THE TRAGEDY THAT FOLLOWED HURRUCANCE SANDY.

AND THEN THE DEVESTATION AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY IN CONNECTICUT.

BUT OUR FRIENDS AT BUZZFEED PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF MOMENTS THAT RESOTED OUT FAITH IN HUMANITY THIS YEAR.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE PARENTS WHO TURNED TEHIR KIDS WHEELCHAIR INTO THIS AWESOME HALLOWEEN COSTUME.

A STRANGER WHO SAVED SOMEONES CAR FROM GETTING WET.

AFTER THE HURRICANE- PEOPLE HELPING HOWEVER THEY CAN.

THE DISNEY SECURITY GUARD WHO ASKED THIS PRINCESS FOR HER AUTOGRAPH.

THE MAN WHO COMFORTS HIS OLD DOG.

STORMWARN GENFORECAST OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

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

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

TRAFFIC SPONSORSHIP BILLBOARD-CLIPTOPS

PRECISION TRAFFIC-TC MON

FL HOLLYWOOD HEIST-VO BNR

A ROBBERY THAT SEEMED LIKE A SCENE OUT OF A MOVIE.

THIEVES IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA PULL OFF A "HIGH-PRICED HEIST" -- AND IT'S ALL CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS IS NEW VIDEO.

THE THIEVES USED THESE MASSIVE TANKS TO TORCH THROUGH SAFES.

THE MEN BROKE IN THROUGH THE ROOF CUTTING THEIR WAY INSIDE ACCORDING TO STORE EMPLOYEES.

FL HOLLYWOOD HEIST-SOTVO

I work right here but they didn't tell us anything.

Crime Scene Investigation was here. They basically cut everyone's phone lines, internet off so that they couldn't investigate.

THE MEN DRESSED IN WHITE WITH COVERED HANDS AND FACES DURING THE BREAK-IN LATE SATURDAY.

BREAKING-CLIP

FISCAL CLIFF DEAL VOTE-VOTOPS

BREAKING RIGHT NOW AT--

THE SENATE APPROVED A LAST-MINUTE DEAL TO AVOID THE FEARED FISCAL CLIFF.

THE VOTE CAME JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THE SENATE PACKAGE WOULD PUT OFF BUDGET CUTS FOR TWO MONTHS AND PRESERVE BUSH-ERA INCOME TAX CUTS FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING LESS THAN $400-THOUSAND.

OR COUPLES EARNING LESS THAN $450-THOUSAND.

THE MEASURE NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

STORMWARN ALLYSON OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

NEW THIS MORNING-CLIP

BAGHDAD BLAST-VOTOPS-BNR

ALL NEW OVERNIGHT,

FIVE PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER A CAR BOMB EXPLODED IN BAGHDAD.

THE ATTACK TARGETED PILGRIMS AHEAD OF A SHIITE RELIGIOUS RITE.

THIS WAS JUST ONE OF A SERIES OF ATTACKS ACROSS IRAQ MONDAY.

IN ALL, AT LEAST 23 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 87 WERE WOUNDED IN THE ATTACKS.

CA NYE SHOOTING-VO WIPE

SHOTS RANG OUT DURING A NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION IN OLD SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA OVERNIGHT.

WE'RE TOLD 2 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE GUNFIRE THAT LEFT THREE OTHERS HURT.

POLICE SAY SOME 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE GATHERED IN OLD SACRAMENTO FOR A FIREWORKS SHOW WHEN THE GUNFIRE ERUPTED.

OFFICERS RUSHED IN TO SECURE THE CRIME SCENE.

OFFICIALS THEN CANCELED THE MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION.

NO WORD ON WHAT PROMPTED THE SHOOTING.

BRAZIL HOSTAGES-VOTOPS

NINE HOSTAGES IN BRAZIL ARE KISSING THE GROUND THIS MORNING AFTER BEING FREED.

THIS, AFTER AN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY OF A JEWELRY WORKSHOP IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL.

SECURITY CAMERAS SHOWED THE SUSPECTS SETTING UP EXPLOSIVES TO FORCE OPEN THE DOOR OF THE PLACE SUNDAY MORNING.

THREE ROBBERS DIED IN A SHOOTOUT AFTER POLICE ARRIVED, SEVEN OTHER ROBBERS ESCAPED WITH NINE HOSTAGES.

TRAILER THEFT PLANE-VO-WIPE

A GLADES COUNTY PILOT TELLS US HE FLEW OVER HIS HOUSE AND WATCHED A MAN STEAL FROM HIM.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE CASE OF BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

DAVID ZEHNTER WAS FLYING HOME AND CIRCLED HIS HOUSE BEFORE LANDING AT THE LABELLE AIRPORT.

HE CLAIMS IN HIS DRIVEWAY -- HE SAW A MAN HOOK HIS TRAILER UP TO THEIR TRUCK AND DRIVE OFF.

TRAILER THEFT PLANE-SOT-SS

"Right in front of us, with us making a tight circle around our property here, watching him from the air and he was clearly looking at us several times.looked up."

DEPUTIES ARRESTED THIS MAN,

GARY HAINES.

HE WAS PULLED OVER ON I-75 ABOUT 40 MINUTES AFTER ZEHNTER SAYS HE SAW HIM.

MORE GUNS AT AIRPORT-ON CAM

MORE PEOPLE ARE PACKING. AT AIRPORTS.

ATLANTA LEADS THE NATION FOR HAVING THE MOST WEAPONS SEIZED AT ANY AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR.

MORE GUNS AT AIRPORT-PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

"You catch most of them but there could be, you know, the one or two that get through. It's a danger."

GLADYS MCMILLAN TOLD ME SHE FEELS UNSAFE KNOWING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE ATTEMPTING TO BOARD AIRCRAFT WITH GUNS AT HARTSFIELD JACKSON AIRPORT. THE T-S-A, TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE HERE.

"Over the course of 2012, our officers discovered 100 firearms inside carry-on bags at the checkpoints here at Hartsfield Jackson."

THAT COMPARES TO 69 GUNS FOUND LAST YEAR. THE NUMBER OF GUNS FOUND HERE ARE THE MOST IN THE COUNTRY.

"It may have something to do with the fact that you're one of the busiest or the largest airports."

THE T-S-A SHARES THAT THOUGHT. I'VE COVERED SEVERAL PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO TAKE GUNS IN THEIR CARRY-ONS THROUGH THE X-RAY MACHINES HERE. INCLUDING CHICK FIL A EXECUTIVE SHERYL REXRODE AND HAROLD DUNCAN, A MEMBER OF THE RAP GROUP TRAVIS PORTER.

MOST SAID THEY FORGOT THEIR GUNS WERE IN THEIR BAGS.

"I can't imagine forgetting that I have a firearm on my person."

ROBB SCOTT DOESN'T BELIEVE FORGETTING IS A VALID EXCUSE. HE SAYS HE PUT HIS UNLOADED FIREARM IN A LOCKED BOX, TOOK IT TO THE T-S-A AND THEY CHECKED IT IN. SCOTT WONDERS HOW PEOPLE CAN BE SO CARELESS.

MORE GUNS AT AIRPORT-ON CAM

THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIRPORT WAS NEXT ON THE LIST, WITH 75 GUNS CONFISCATED THIS YEAR.

TSA REPORTS 15-HUNDRED FIREARMS WERE FOUND AT ALL THE NATION'S AIRPORTS COMBINED IN 20-12.

6AM COVERAGE PROMISE TO BREAK-2SH-VO

THIS NEW YEAR- EVERYONE'S BUSY MAKING RESOLUTIONS,

BUT IN CASE YOU'RE WAKING UP WITHOUT SOME-

HERE'S SOME IDEAS.

TAKE A LOOK-

EAT SALAD.

MAKE ACTUAL NEW RESOLUTIONS.

EAT MORE PIZZA.

SPORTS WRAP AT 5AM-PKG

STORMWARN GENERIC FORECAST OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

STORMWARN AND TRAFFIC TRANSITION-CLIPTOPS

TRAFFIC-AWS OR SS

TRAFFIC SPONSOR BILLBOARD-CLIPTOPS

NYE CELEBRATIONS-NATTOPS

BALL DROP

PEACH DROP

BOSTON NATS

TAKING A LOOK AT CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY,

IT'S NOW 2013.

BUMP TO BREAK-3SHOT, CAM 10 BMP

6AM HOUR-CLIPTOPS

HL2) FISCAL CLIFF-VO-WIPE

BREAKING OVERNIGHT,

THE SENATE FINALLY REACHES A DEAL ON THE FEARED FISCAL CLIFF.

HL1) NEW FLORIDA LAWS-NATTOPS

321 HAPPY NEW YEAR

ALL NEW AS YOU WAKE UP,

IT'S NOW 2013.

HL3) WALMART GREETER PUNCHED-VO-WIPE

A WALMART GREETER IS GREETED WITH A PUNCH IN THE FACE.

ALL NEW RIGHT NOW,

530AM~STORMWARN FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

530AM~STORMWARN FORECAST-WXWALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

BREAKING-CLIP

FISCAL CLIFF SENATE VOTE-2 SHOT

OUR NATION, THIS MORNING, IS OFFICIALLY OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF.

YOUR FEDERAL INCOME TAX HAS GONE UP. FIVE TO TEN DOLLARS A DAY ON AVERAGE. AT LEAST UNTIL CONGRESS CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. AND THE SENATE MADE THE FIRST MOVE, EARLY THIS MORNING.

FISCAL CLIFF SENATE VOTE-PKG

IT WAS RARE BIPARTISAN SENATE VOTE. 89 TO 8.

TWO HOURS AFTER AMERICA WENT OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME TO THE CAPITOL TO SELL THE FIX HE WORKED OUT

WITH GOP LEADER, MITCH MCCONNELL, WHO SPOKE FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS

KENTUCKY / MINORITY LEADER :22-:30

"we don't think taxes should be going up on anyone, but we all knew if we did nothing they'd be going up on everyone"

THE SENATE VOTED TO REVERSE TODAY'S TAX HIKE ON 98% OF AMERICANS

BUT KEEP THE HIGHER RATE ON FAMILIES MAKING OVER 450 THOUSAND DOLLARS

PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK CREDIT FOR BREAKING 20 YEARS OF GOP OPPOSITION TO TAX HIKES

:49-:54

Now keep in mind that just last month republicans in congress said they would never agree to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans

ONLY FIVE SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED NO.

:57-1:05

"middle class families will wake up today to the assurance their taxes will not go up 2200 dollars each"

NOT SO FAST. HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER AND HIS GOP LAWMAKERS MIGHT NOT GO ALONG

GAVEL

BOEHNER SENT HOUSE MEMBERS HOME, TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR,

WITHOUT A VOTE TO AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF

SOT: REP STEVE LATOURETTE 1:19-1:23

FISCAL CLIFF SENATE VOTE-ON CAM

STEVE HANDLESMAN REPORTING.

FL MINI WAGE-VO

SOME MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS WILL BE EARNING MORE THIS NEW YEAR!

THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE IN 10 STATES STARTING TODAY.BOOSTING THE INCOMES OF ALMOST ONE MILLION WORKERS.

THAT INCLUDES FLORIDA.

STARTING TUESDAY, MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE TO 7-DOLLARS-AND-79-CENTS.

NEW FL LAWS-(4)HFGCRV

NEW FLORIDA LAWS TAKE AFFECT TODAY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT A FEW-

FLASHING YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO ALERT ONCOMING DRIVERS THAT POLICE ARE LURKING ON THE ROADSIDE AHEAD IS NO LONGER ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA.

THE FLORIDA SAFE HARBOR ACT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE SHELTER FOR SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

IT REQUIRES POLICE TO TURN OVER KIDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THE NEW LAW ALSO HAS REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE HOUSES.

ANOTHER PROVISION INCREASES CIVIL PENALTIES FROM $500 TO $5,000 FOR SOME VIOLATIONS RELATED TO PROSTITUTION.

NFL FIRINGS-VO

IT TOOK LESS THAN 24 HOURS FOR THE NFL'S REGULAR-SEASON TO END BEFORE SEVEN HEAD COACHES.

FIVE GENERAL MANAGERS AND ONE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WERE TOLD THEIR SERVICES WERE NO LONGER NEEDED.

THE LIST INCLUDES HEAD COACHES ANDY REID OF PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO'S LOVIE SMITH.

BOTH LED THEIR TEAMS TO SUPER BOWLS AND LEAVE WITH WINNING RECORDS.

OTHER NFL COACHING CASUALTIES WERE ROMEO CRENNEL IN KANSAS CITY AND CHAN GAILEY IN BUFFALO.

GAY MARRIAGE SOUTHERN STATE-VO

ALL NEW THIS MORNING,

GAY MARRIAGE MOVES SOUTH!

IN MARYLAND, GAY COUPLES WILL BE ABLE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR BY PLACING A RING ON IT. SINCE THEY ARE NOW ABLE TO GET MARRIED.

EMANCIPATION PROCLAIMATION-VO

LOOKING AHEAD.

THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WILL UNVEIL THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION FOREVER STAMP.

THE STAMP COINCIDES WITH THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNING THE DOCUMENT.WHICH DECLARED THAT SLAVES WOULD BE LEGALLY FREE.

630AM COVERAGE PROMISE TO BREAK-2SH-VO

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW -

AS WE WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR--

WE HAVE FIGURED OUT THE PERFECT WAY TO SUM UP ALL OF 20-12 IN ONE PICTURE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

PAUL RYAN'S BODY.

TARDAR THE GRUMPY CAT.

YOLO PHRASE.

A PSY TATTOO ON HIS ARM.

STORMWARN GENFORECAST OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

TRAFFIC SPONSORSHIP BILLBOARD-CLIPTOPS

PRECISION TRAFFIC-TC MON

WALMART GREETER PUNCHED-VO WIPE

A MAN FACES CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY PUNCHING AN ELDERLY WALMART GREETER IN THE FACE.

54-YEAR-OLD ANDREW MAREZ FACES A JUDGE IN MILFORD SUPERIOR COURT.

HE'S CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING AN ELDERLY GREETER AT WAL-MART.

REPORTS SAY MAREZ FIRST RAN UP TO ANOTHER MAN IN THE PARKING LOT AND PUNCHED HIM.

WALMART GREETER PUNCHED-SOTVO

:12- 19

"He's just at work and he's just greeting people. He's one of the smiling people that you walk in and say hi. And he gets assaulted. It's not cool."

COURT PAPERS SAY MAREZ ALSO APPROACHED A FEMALE CUSTOMER AND SAID.DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU TOO?

MAREZ WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, THREATENING AND BREACH OF PEACE.

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIP

QUARTER TOP STORY REVEAL @ 45-HLF REVEAL

LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES THIS MORNING AT 6:45.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE HOUSE TO MAKE A MOVE.

AFTER MIDNIGHT -- THE SENATE VOTED TO PASS A BILL TO AVOID SWEEPING TAX HIKES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE SOMETIME TODAY.

MILLIONS OF MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS WILL SEE PAY RAISES IN THE NEW YEAR.

A HANDFUL OF STATES HAVE INCREASES GOING INTO EFFECT TODAY -- INCLUDING FLORIDA.

HERE -- IT'S GOING UP TWELVE CENTS -- BRINGING THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE TO 7-79.

AND SEVERAL NEW LAWS GO INTO EFFECT AROUND THE COUNTRY TODAY.

TOPPING THE LIST -- GAY MARRIAGE IS NOW LEGAL -- FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A STATE SOUTH OF THE MASON DIXON LINE.

STORMWARN ALLYSON OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

NEW THIS MORNING-CLIP

HIV SENTENCE-VO

ALL NEW THIS MORNING,

A NORTH TEXAS MAN IS HEADED TO PRISON FOR AN UNTHINKABLE CRIME.

PROSECUTORS SAY JIMMY BERNARD BILLINGSLEY KNOWINGLY INFECTED A WOMAN WITH

HIV.

THE WOMAN SAYS SHE TRUSTED 42-YEAR-OLD BILLINGSLEY TO THE POINT WHERE

SHE ABANDONED HER INSISTENCE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY PROTECTED SEX.

HOME INVASION ROBBERY-VO WIPE

A VIOLENT ROBBERY IN NORTH FORT MYERS-

LEAVES A COUPLE WITHOUT THEIR MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS.

THE MAN AND HIS WIFE- BOTH SENIOR CITIZENS- WERE IN THEIR HOME, WHEN THE WIFE HEARD A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

SHE ANSWERED IT, AND THE ROBBER-- ARMED WITH A GUN--- PUSHED HER TO THE FLOOR.

HE THEN WENT INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE DEPUTIES SAY HE ATTACKED THE HUSBAND.

THE SUSPECT DEMANDED MONEY FROM THE COUPLE, WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE.

HOME INVASION ROBBERY-SOTVO

44:02 "he went directly to the dresser- took some very valuable items, especially things that cannot be replaced like a wedding ring, engagement ring and several valuable rings."

THE ROBBER THEN TOOK OFF RUNNING.

THE COUPLE CALLED THE COPS,

BUT DEPUTIES DIDN'T CATCH HIM.

THE HUSBAND DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ON CAMERA,

DEPRESSION STUDY-VO

ALL NEW THIS MORNING,

PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPRESSED LATE IN LIFE FACE AN INCREASED RISK FOR DEMENTIA.

A NEW STUDY OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM LOOKED AT MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.

THEY FOUND PEOPLE WHO WERE DEPRESSED HAD AN INCREASED RISK FOR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA.

SOCIAL ANXIETY-VO WIPE

MANY OF US LOVE SOCIALIZING. SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

BUT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. THE FEAR OF BEING SCRUTINIZED OR JUDGED CAN LEAD TO CRIPPLING ANXIETY. ISOLATION. AND DEPRESSION.

FOR ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF THE U-S POPULATION, INTERACTING SOCIALLY CAN BE TERRIFYING.

THIS GOES BEYOND BEING SHY.

SOCIAL ANXIETY-SOTVO

"The point where you know that it's a problem is when it's affecting areas of their life. so it's where it gets to the point where it's affecting your job, or affecting their school or affecting their ability to have meaningful relationships."

CRUISE SHIP SAFETY-VO

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS WILL SEE NEW SAFETY PLANS WHEN SAILING THE SEAS.

"USA TODAY" REPORTS THE INDUSTRY JUST ENACTED A NUMBER OF NEW SAFETY FEATURES.

SHIPS MUST HAVE "EXTRA" LIFE JACKETS, AND THEY HAVE TO BE EASY TO REACH.

CRUISE LINES MUST SECURE "HEAVY" ITEMS LIKE PIANOS.

THERE'S MANDATORY TRAINING FOR CREW MEMBERS WHO LOAD LIFEBOATS.

AND INCREASED COMMUNICATION TO PASSENGERS DURING DRILLS AND EMERGENCIES.

HOLIDAY GIVEBACK-VO

HOLIDAY GIFT RETURNS ARE EXPECTED TO JUMP NEARLY 40-PERCENT, ACCORDING TO "LIQUIDITY SERVICES", WHICH MANAGES RETURNED MERCHANDISE FOR RETAILERS.

ANALYSTS ATTRIBUTE THE SURGE TO THE INCREASE IN "ONLINE" SHOPPING.

CLOTHING AND ELECTRONICS ARE TOPPING THE RETURN LISTS.

"ANGIE'S LIST" HAS SOME TIPS TO MAKE YOUR "GIVE BACK" GO SMOOTHLY.

LIKE: COPY OR SCAN RECEIPTS.

DON'T WAIT. SOME STORES HAVE LIMITED RETURN WINDOWS.

HULK HOGAN RESTAURANT-VO WIPE

HULK HOGAN IS RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR AT HIS NEW BEACHFRONT RESTAURANT IN FLORIDA.

THE 20-THOUSAND SQUARE-FOOT WATERFRONT EATERY CALLED "HOGAN'S BEACH" OPENED MONDAY IN TAMPA.

HULK HOGAN RESTAURANT-SOTVO

"We've got the cheers vibe inside with the really high-end food that's priced reasonably. We have the beach outside with the tiki huts, the water sports.

HOGAN WANTS TO TURN THE RESTAURANT INTO ANOTHER REALITY SHOW WITH HIS FAMILY.

THIS ISN'T HIS FIRST RESTAURANT.

630AM COVERAGE PROMISE TO BREAK-2SH-VO

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WAKING UP THIS MORNING MEANS A FRESH START FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF RESOLUTIONS OUT THERE.

THIS MORNING WE FOUND A LIST OF 12 RESOLUTIONS FOR A HAPPIER FAMILY THIS YEAR.

- CREATE A FAMILY PROJECT - WHETHER IT IS BUILDING LEGOS OR PAINTING A ROOM IN THE HOUSE. IT GUARANTEES SOME FAMILY TIME.

-MAKE A BUCKET LIST OF THINGS TO DO WITH THE FAMILY -- AND PUT THEM ON A CALENDAR.

STORMWARN GENERIC FORECAST OPEN-CLIPTOPS

STORMWARN FORECAST-WX WALL

The cool air continues to fade across Southwest Florida as the warmth keeps building in.

Temperatures for this first day of the New Year will be slightly above average this afternoon with daytime highs projected to warm up to 80 degrees after starting the day in the upper 50s.

We'll enjoy an abundance of sunshine with only some patchy clouds expected to develop from midday through the afternoon. Winds will stay fairly breezy but lighter than the last couple days, and the wind flow will be more southerly as well.

If you have plans to do a little grilling outside or perhaps head to the beach, chances are very high you'll stay dry all day as rain will be hard to come by with such a stable, dry atmosphere in place.

This quiet, warm weather pattern continues through most of the week until late Thursday and Friday, when a weakening cold front begins to approach Southwest Florida.

Signs point to this front most likely losing steam as it begins to slide into South Florida, so we may have to deal with some extra cloud cover along with some hit-or-miss showers from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

With the extra clouds and moisture around, temperatures should be a touch cooler by the end of the week; daytime highs will mainly stay in the mid to upper 70s from Friday through the weekend, and overnight lows should range from the low to mid 60s.

STORMWARN AND TRAFFIC TRANSITION-CLIPTOPS

TRAFFIC-AWS OR SS

TRAFFIC SPONSOR BILLBOARD-CLIPTOPS

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW-2 SHOT

FAREWELL, 2012!

IT WAS TWELVE MONTHS FILLED WITH STORIES OF JOY, SADNESS, GRIEF, ELATION, AND ASTONISHMENT.

WE'VE SAID HELLO AND SOME NEW FACES, AND GOODBYE TO SOME FAMILIAR ONES.

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW-PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> A MASSIVE CROWD HAS GATHERED HERE.

>> WE WANT OUR FREEDOM. WE WANT TO BE FREE PEOPLE.

>> THE ITALIAN CRUISE SHIP CAPSIZED.

>> NEARLY 23% UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> JOSEPH KONY -- VIRAL ON MEDIA SITES. OUTRAGE STIRRED SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> MY NAME IS SANDRA --

>> LEGITIMATE RATE.

THIS IS A MASSIVE PLAY BY FACEBOOK. IT LARGEST IPO IN TECH HISTORY.

>> THIS IS BREAST-FEEDING IN THE PICTURE. ONE ARTICLE HAS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TALKING.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE NOW BELIEVES THAT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SHOULD BE LEGAL.

>> WE NOW KNOW THE NAME OF THE SUSPECT BLAMED FOR THE MOVIE THEATER SHOOTING SPREE.

>> SHOOTING AT THE SIKH TEMPLE IN WISCONSIN.

>> POLICE NOW TELL CNN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT IN FRONT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

>> BATH SALTS. BATH SALTS? BATH SALTS.

>> JERRY SANDUSKY SENTENCED TO A MINIMUM OF 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

>> AN ICONIC STATUE HONORING THE LATE FOOTBALL COACH JOE PATERNO IS GONE.

>> THE BRITISH PEOPLE ARE GOING GA-GA FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE.

>> THE FLYING SQUIRREL.

>> THE FAB FIVE.

>> RYAN LOCHTE.

>> SOMEONE SOLD PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRINCE HARRY NAKED --

>> ONE OF THE HOTTEST NOVELS AROUND.

>> WHAT WENT WRONG, WHY NOW?

>> ISAAC IS FORCING SOME CHANGES AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

MANUFACTURE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHUT UP?

>> FOUR MORE YEARS!

BUMP TO BREAK-3SHOT, CAM 10 BMP

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIP

TS 1) FISCAL CLIFF-VO-WIPE

WE'VE OFFICIALLY GONE OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF THIS MORNING.

BUT AFTER MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT -- THE SENATE VOTED TO APPROVE A BILL THAT COULD KEEP TAX HIKES FROM GOING INTO EFFECT FOR AMERICANS MAKING LESS THAN 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE HOUSE TO VOTE ON THE BILL.

TS 2) HILLARY HEALTH-VOTOPS

DOCTORS EXPECT SECRETARY OF STATE -- HILARY CLINTON TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.

SHE'S SPENDING NEW YEAR'S DAY IN THE HOSPITAL -- BEING TREATED FOR A BLOOD CLOT.

THIS MORNING -- WE NOW KNOW THAT BLOOD CLOT IS BETWEEN HER BRAIN AND HER SKULL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CLOT DID *NOT RESULT IN A STROKE OR CAUSE NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE.

TS 3) BAGHDAD BLAST-VOTOS

FIVE PEOPLE ARE DEAD THIS MORNING -- AFTER A CAR BOMB EXPLODED IN BAGHDAD.

THE ATTACK TARGETED PILGRIMS AHEAD OF A SHIITE RELIGIOUS RITE.

THIS WAS JUST ONE OF A SERIES OF ATTACKS ACROSS IRAQ MONDAY.

TS 4) FL MINI WAGE-VOTOPS

THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE IN 10 STATES STARTING TODAY,

INCLUDING HERE IN FLORIDA.

IT'S GOING TO BOOST THE INCOMES OF ALMOST ONE MILLION WORKERS.

TS 5) FL NEW LAWS-OC

NEW FLORIDA LAWS TAKE AFFECT TODAY.

HERE'S A FEW OF THEM:

FLASHING YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO ALERT ONCOMING DRIVERS THAT POLICE ARE AHEAD IS NO LONGER *ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA.

ANOTHER PROVISION INCREASES CIVIL PENALTIES FROM $500 TO $5,000 FOR SOME VIOLATIONS RELATED TO PROSTITUTION.

TS 6) GAS PRICES-VOTOPS

HOW MUCH YOU PAY FOR *GAS MIGHT DEPEND ON FISCAL CLIFF NEGOTIATIONS.

ANALYSTS WITH TRIPLE-A EXPECT PRICES AT THE PUMP TO GO DOWN.

THEY POINT TO CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AS THE MAIN REASON.

FUEL COSTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE ALREADY ON THE RISE.

GOODBYE WEBSITE TEASE-3SH-WEB ANI

COVERAGE PROMISE OF THE BIGGEST STORY OF THE DAY ON WEB

" WHEN EVER YOU NEED A NEWS OR WEATHER UPDATE - WE ARE LOGGED ON AND UPDATING ABC-7.COM "

-WHAT IS COMING UP ON GMA - BIG STORY COVERAGE OF THE MORNING.

END TIME