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

4 3 2 1 - cheers

AHEAD THIS MORNING ON THE NEWS AT NINE --

OLD TRADITIONS BRING IN THE NEW YEAR --

HOW THE WORLD SAYS HELLO TO 2013 --

PLUS SOME NEW LAWS TO GO WITH IT.

AND -- OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF.

THE SENATE MAKES A MOVE TO SAVE MIDDLE CLASS TAX DOLLARS --

NOW THE FOCUS TURNS TO THE HOUSE --

HL1) NYC COUNTDOWN-NATVOTOPS

HL2) SENATE BILL PASSED-TRX-VOTOPS

WX HL-WX WALL

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

ARCADIA OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING-NAVI OC OTS

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING -

WE'VE JUST LEARNED OF AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN DESOTO COUNTY.

IT HAPPENED NEAR THE OAK RIDGE CEMETARY.

WE'RE TOLD IT WAS BETWEEN AN ARCADIA POLICE OFFICER AND TWO INDIVIDUALS.

THE OFFICER WAS NOT INJURED.

AND AT THIS TIME -- IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE OTHER TWO WERE HURT.

THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT IN CUSTODY THIS MORNING.

POLICE SEARCHED FOR THEM LAST NIGHT AND THEY'RE CONTINUING THE SEARCH THIS MORNING.

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

SENATE BILL PASSED-SOTTOPSVO- 2 SHOT

"i think we can say we've done some good for the country."

THE SENATE CELEBRATES THIS MORNING AFTER FINALLY MAKING A MOVE TO AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF.

NOW THOSE LOOMING TAX HIKES AND SPENDING CUTS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE HOUSE.

GOOD MORNING - THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE NEWS AT NINE--

I'M JOELLE PARKS.

AND I'M JOE ROETZ.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

20-12 IS BEHIND US -- AND WE'RE RINGING IN 20-13 WITH EYES ON WASHINGTON AS LAWMAKERS NEAR AN AGREEMENT ON THE FISCAL CLIFF.

AMERICA IS TEETERING ON THE FISCAL CLIFF THIS MORNING -- WAITING FOR THE HOUSE TO TAKE UP VOTE -- AND THE SENSE IN WASHINGTON -- IS THAT THE WORST OF THE CLIFF CAN BE AVOIDED.

SENATE BILL PASSED-PKG

PKG SCRIPT:

NATS -

"3,2,1"

As Americans rang in the New Year, the Senate was in session -- in the

middle of the night -- passing a bill after the fiscal cliff deadline had

gone by.

SOT Sen. Mitch McConnell

"I THINK WE CAN SAY WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY."

Since lawmakers missed the midnight deadline, nearly every American wakes up

this morning with higher taxes.

But Congress can undo those tax hikes if the House passes the Senate's bill.

Vice-President Biden, who was instrumental in brokering the deal, told

reporters he's hopeful the bill can get through the House. But you never

know.

SOT Vice President Biden

"YOU SHOULDN'T PREDICT HOW THE SENATE IS GOING TO VOTE BEFORE THEY VOTE. /

AND NUMBER TWO, YOU SURELY SHOULDN'T PREDICT ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE IS GOING TO

VOTE."

The Senate bill would:

Extend tax cuts for all workers earning under $400,000. But raise

taxes on people above that level.

It would also prevent a big tax hike in estates valued at less than $

5-million.

and extend unemployment benefits for some two-million people.

The House will take up the bill later this morning.

The hope is that chamber can pass it before the economy is rocked by the tax

hikes.

NATS - Biden

"HEY EVERYBODY. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I FEEL REALLY VERY, VERY GOOD."

President Obama called the Senate vote "the right thing to do for our

country" and he encouraged the House to pass the bill right away.

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.

BUT 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 CONGRESS REACHES A DEAL ON THE FISCAL CLIFF, DRIVERS CAN EXPECT GAS PRICES TO CONTINUE TO RISE BASED ON OPTIMISM FOR THE NEW YEAR.

NYC COUNTDOWN-TRX NATVOTOPS

4 3 2 1 - cheers

IT'S THE BIGGEST OF ALL BALL DROPS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE GATHERED IN TIMES SQUARE TO BRING IN 2013.

PHILLY FIREWORKS-POP VO -WIPE

IN PHILADELPHIA --

THOUSANDS BROUGHT IN THE NEW YEAR WITH TWICE THE FIREWORKS.

THERE WAS AN EVENING SHOW AROUND 6 -- THEN A TRADITIONAL MIDNIGHT SHOW.

GEORGIA PEACH DROP-TRX VOTOPS

MOVING DOWN THE EAST COAST -- TO ATLANTA,

THEY NEED MORE THAN JUST A BALL TO CELEBRATE THE COMING OF THE NEW YEAR.

CAPE CORAL NYE-TRX NATVOTOPS

BRINGING IT IN -- CLOSER TO HOME NOW

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.

FM NEW YEARS EVE-TRX VOTOPS

THOUSANDS FILLED UP FORT MYERS TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR.

TAKE A LOOK AT DOWNTOWN.

ABC-7 CHIEF METEROLOGIST JOHN PATRICK HOSTED DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWN.

BUSINESS OWNERS ALSO WELCOMED THE COMPANY.

NEW THIS MORNING-CLIP

MINIMUM WAGE UP TODAY-VO

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

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.

RATES IN FLORIDA ARE GOING UP 12 CENTS -- BRINGING MINIMUM WAGE UP TO 7-79 AN HOUR.

NATIONWIDE -- THE RATES WILL INCREASE BETWEEN 10 AND 35 CENTS PER HOUR --

NEW FLORIDA LAWS-CG HFSC RVL

NEW FLORIDA LAWS GO INTO FFECT TODAY.

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 CHILDREN 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.

NEW LAWS NATIONWIDE-VO

LOOKING AT NEW LAWS NATIONWIDE -- THERE'S MORE THAN 400 GOING INTO EFFECT.

IN ILLINOIS FOR EXAMPLE -- MOTORCYCLISTS WILL BE ABLE TO PROCEED THROUGH A A RED LIGHT IF THE LIGHT FAILS TO CHANGE.

GAY MARRIAGE BEGINS IN MARYLAND-OC

IN MARYLAND THIS MORNING --

SAME SEX COUPLES CAN RING IN THE NEW YEAR -- BY PUTTING A RING ON IT.

DEVELOPING CLIP-CLIP

HILARY BLOOD CLOT-VO-WIPE

TURNING TO DEVELOPING NEWS THIS MORNING-

DOCTORS SAY THEY'RE CONFIDENT SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.

SHE SPENT NEW YEAR'S IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER DOCTORS FOUND A BLOOD CLOT 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.

HILARY BLOOD CLOT-SOTVO

Kerry: secretary clinton is recovering from a serious virus and concussion. /flash/ all of you who know hillary know that she would rather be here today.

UNABLE TO TESTIFY IN PERSON ON THE BENGHAZI ATTACKS - HER DEPUTIES WENT INSTEAD.

A SCATHING REPORT BLAMED THAT ATTACK SQUARELY ON OFFICIALS UNDER HER COMMAND

AND RECOMMENDED 29 ACTIONS THE STATE DEPARTMENT TAKE TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE ATTACKS LIKE THE ONE IN LIBYA.

NEW FOREVER STAMP-VO

TODAY - THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE UNVEILS THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION FOREVER STAMP.

IT CONICIDES WITH THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNING THE EMANCIPATION PROCLOMATION.

THE UNVEILING CEREMONY IS TAKING PLACE AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES -

ROSE PARADE-VO

THE SMELL OF FLOWERS IS IN THE AIR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

AS THE FINAL PREPS ARE UNDERWAY FOR TODAY'S ROSE PARADE.

OPERATORS WILL BE PILOTING THESE COLORFUL FLOATS DOWN THE STREETS OF PASADENA AS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WATCH.

THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S PARADE IS "OH THE PLACES YOU WILL GO!"

THE PARADE STARTS AT 11 O'CLOCK OUR TIME.

ESPN ANCHOR BACK TODAY-OC

RETURNING TO THE AIR TODAY -- JUST IN TIME FOR THE ROSE PARADE.

ESPN ANCHOR HANNAH STORM IS BACK TODAY.

SHE WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED THREE WEEKS AGO FROM A PROPANE GAS GRILL ACCIDENT AT HER HOME.

TEASE ONE-1 SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

A NEW YEAR -- MEANS SOME NEW RESOLUTIONS --

AND IF YOUR TRYING TO SHED A FEW POUNDS -

TZ1 A) ORDERING FOOD ONLINE-VOTOPS

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

LIGHTS OUT-VO

IT'S LIGHTS OUT FOR AN OLD LIGHTING FIXTURE TODAY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PULLING THE PLUG ON THE 75-WATT INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB.

THEY CAN'T BE PRODUCED OR IMPORTED AS OF TODAY --

BUT RETAILERS CAN SELL OFF WHAT THEY HAVE IN STOCK.

GIFT RETURNS-VO

HOLIDAY GIFT RETURNS ARE EXPECTED TO JUMP NEARLY 40-PERCENT IN THE NEW YEAR.

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.

SAFETY AT SEA-VO

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

THE INDUSTRY JUST PUT IN A PLACE 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.

ORDERING FOOD ONLINE-OC

AFTER COOKING BIG HOLIDAY MEALS,

MANY AMERICANS WILL TURN TO TAKEOUT THIS WEEK.

ONLINE ORDERING MAKES IT EASY, BUT CALORIES CAN ADD UP,

AND MAYBE AT ODDS WITH THOSE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.

ORDERING FOOD ONLINE-PKG

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --

THE CONCEPT OF ORDERING FOOD ONLINE OR USING A SMARTPHONE APP HAS MADE DINNER EASY. BUT IT CAN ALSO MAKE IT MORE COSTLY, AND LESS HEALTHY.

A RECENT STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER evaluated 160,000 ONLINE ORDERS TO A NORTH CAROLINA PIZZA SHOP OVER THE COURSE OF 4 1/2 YEARS.

UNDER THE CLOAK OF ONLINE ANONYMITY CAME ORDERS WITH HIGHER COSTS AND MORE CALORIES.

THE SAME ONLINE TOOLS TO LOAD MORE TOPPINGS ON A PIZZA -- CAN EASILY BE USED TO CUSTOMIZE A HEALTHIER MEAL. SITES LIKE GRUBHUB, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE RECENTLY ADDED MORE OPTIONS.

We've had a lot of people really ask for these low-fat, low-carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, of things like that, because they want more healthy options.

ORDERING ONLINE MEANS REQUESTS TO TAKE OFF SAUCES, SUBSTITUTE HEALTHIER SIDES ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE - SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND FOR BIG PORTIONS -- PUT HALF TO THE SIDE AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES.

One of the nice things about delivery food is it comes in its own container so you can put half that portion in the fridge and eat it as a leftover.

THAT CUTS CALORIES AND TURNING ONE MEAL INTO TWO, OR POSSIBLY THREE -- ADDING MORE BANG -- and less bulk --FOR THE BUCK.

2 SHOT BUMP TO BREAK-2 SHOT 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.

MISSOURI SNOW CONDITIONS-VOTOPS

SLICK ROADS AND ICY CONDITIONS ARE MAKING IT TOUGH FOR DRIVERS IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

POLICE ARE REPORTING SEVERAL CRASHES AND A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS SLIDING OFF THE ROADS.

LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS MORNING --

STORMWARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK INTO WX-CAM 9 WX EST

FORECAST-WXWALL

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.

BABCOCK RANCH-VO-WIPE

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HOME TO A BRAND NEW, SOLAR POWERED CITY BY NOW.

SIX YEARS AFTER HEARING THE PLANS, BABCOCK RANCH STILL LOOKS LIKE A RANCH - BUT THAT WILL CHANGE.

DEVELOPER SYD KITSON ADMITS THE RECESSION KEPT HIM FROM MAKING AS MUCH PROGRESS AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

HE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT ABANDONING THE RANCH DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, BUT KITSON DID RE-WORK THE PROJECT.

BABCOCK RANCH-SOTVO

"What you'll see at Babcock Ranch is a town, a community that is very much in touch with south Florida"

KITSON SAYS HE STILL PLANS ON POWERING THE CITY USING PREDOMINATELY SOLAR ENERGY.

GOLDEN GATE FIRE CHIEF STEPPING DOWN-VO

WE ARE GETTING A CLEARER PICTURE SURROUNDING THE SUDDEN RESIGNATION OF GOLDEN GATE'S FIRE CHIEF.

ROBERT METZGER IS HEADING TO REDONDO BEACH CALIFORNIA TO TAKE OVER AS THE FIRE CHIEF THERE.

HE'LL START IN FEBRUARY.AND WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE CITY'S HARBOR MASTER.

DRUG COLORS-VO

A NEW STUDY SAYS THE COLOR, SHAPE AND SIZE OF A GENERIC PILL CAN INFLUENCE IF A PATIENT WILL TAKE THE MEDICATION.

RESEARCHERS AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IN BOSTON TRACKED PRESCRIPTIONS FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS.

THEY NOTICED SOME PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED GENERIC DRUGS VARYING IN COLOR WERE MORE THAN 50-PERCENT LIKELY TO STOP TAKING THEM.

RECESS NECESSARY-VO

MAYBE AS A KID, RECESS WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY.

WELL NOW--- SCIENCE IS BACKING THAT UP.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS RECESS IN AN IMPORTANT PART OF SCHOOLCHILDREN'S' DAY.

THEY STRESS THAT IT SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY AS A "PUNISHMENT" AND THAT THE TIME IS ESSENTIAL FOR CHILDREN RECHARGING THEIR BRAINS.

TEASE TWO-1 SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

INTERACTING WITH OTHERS -- MAY BE SECOND NATURE TO MANY OF US.

BUT FOR SOME -- IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE--

IT'S MORE THAN JUST BEING SHY --

AND IT CAN TAKE A TOLL ON A PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH.

COMING UP -- WE LOOK AT THE SIGNS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY -

TZ2 A) SOCIAL ANXIETY-VO

SOCIAL ANXIETY-VO IN TC MON

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.

SOCIAL ANXIETY-PKG

SUPERS:

S/ DR. KRISTY DALRYMPLE, PSYCHOLOGIST:13-:22

VENTURING OUT IN TO THE WORLD. INTERACTING WITH OTHERS. FOR MANY OF US THIS IS PART OF EVERY DAY LIFE.

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

"The main concern is the fear of embarassing themselves, maybe looking foolish and a fear that other people will judge them negatively or reject them in some situations so it's really a fear of how they might be perceived by other people."

THIS GOES BEYOND BEING SHY.

SOCIAL ANXIETY IS A VERY REAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION WITH PHYSICAL AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS.

AND IT'S WHAT DR. KRISTY DALRYMPLE SPECIALIZES IN AND RESEARCHES.

SHE ADMITS WE ALL HAVE SOME SOCIAL FEARS. THAT'S NORMAL.

"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."

FOR THOSE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IS OFTEN THE FIRST LINE OF TREATMENT.

SOCIAL ANXIETY-OC

BARABARA MORSE REPORTING.

ONE OF THE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT IS A FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE IT.

AND PATIENTS ARE OFTEN EMBARASSED TO ADMIT THEY MIGHT HAVE SOCIAL ANXIETY TO THEIR DOCTOR.

BUT THIS IS A REAL DISORDER WITH AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT WHICH.

IF IT'S COUPLED WITH DEPRESSION.

DEMENTIA AND DEPRESSION-VO

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

A NEW STUDY LOOKED AT MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.

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

GRACIE'S ROOM-VO-WIPE

TURNING NOW TO A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN MINNEAPOLIS DESIGNED TO COMFORT THE SMALLEST PATIENTS.

IT'S CALLED GRACIE'S ROOM.AND IT OFFERS BEDROOM MAKEOVERS FOR KIDS BATTLING LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES.

DESIGNER JENNIE KORSBON'S LIFE'S WORK HAS TAUGHT HER THAT DARK SPACES NEED LIGHT.

WHILE ON THE JOB AT GRACIE'S,

GRACIE'S ROOM-SOTVO

"Hi, I'm Gracie, on Monday morning at 10:30, I had a spinal tap. And an IV shot."

EVEN WHEN CANCER TOOK CENTER STAGE, GRACIE JOLES DID CARTWHEELS IN HOSPITAL HALLWAYS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

SLEDDING INJURIES-VO

IF YOU'RE TAKING A TRIP -- SOMEWHERE A LITTLE COLDER THAN FLORIDA --

YOU MAY GET THE CHANCE TO BREAK OUT THE SLEDS -- AND HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

BUT THIS MORNING -- DOCTORS WANT TO WARN OF SOME OF THE DANGERS.

MOST SLEDDING INJURIES HAPPEN WHEN THE SLED HITS AN OBJECT OR A CHILD FALLS OFF --

SO EXPERTS SAY PICK AN AREA THAT IS NOT NEAR THE STREET AND THAT DOESN'T HAVE TREES OR FENCES.

CHILDREN SHOULD WEAR THE HELMET THEY USE WITH THEIR BIKE.

TEASE THREE-TRX SOTTOPS

People screamed and yelled. Some mothers screamed to find their son or daughter."

A TRAGIC BUS CRASH IN OREGON LEAVES 9 PEOPLE DEAD

AND DOZENS INJURED.

AHEAD THIS MORNING --

TZ3 A) OREGON TOUR BUS CRASH-SOTVO

CROSSTALK WX TEASE-WX GFX TOPS

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIP

TS1) ARCADIA OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING-NAVITOPS

RUNNING DOWN OUR TOP STORIES THIS MORNING AT 9:30.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS SURROUNDING AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN DESOTO COUNTY.

IT HAPPENED NEAR THE OAK RIDGE CEMETARY.

WE'RE TOLD IT WAS BETWEEN AN ARCADIA POLICE OFFICER AND TWO INDIVIDUALS.

THE OFFICER WAS NOT INJURED.

AND AT THIS TIME -- IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE OTHER TWO WERE HURT.

POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THEM THIS MORNING.

THE ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION,

TS2) 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.

TS3) MINIMUM 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.

RATES IN FLORIDA ARE GOING UP 12 CENTS -- BRINGING MINIMUM WAGE UP TO 7-79 AN HOUR.

DEVELOPING-CLIP

FISCAL CLIFF UPDATE-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 UPDATE-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

"listen. this is disgusting. everyone involved should be embarrassed"

FISCAL CLIFF UPDATE-OC

STEVE HANDELSMAN REPORTING.

CA NYE SHOOTING-VO WIPE

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

WE'RE TOLD TWO 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.

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.

INDIA RAPE PROTEST-VO

PROTESTERS IN NEW DELHI DEMAND THE DEATH PENALTY THIS MORNING FOR MEN ACCUSED OF GANG RAPING A YOUNG WOMAN.

SHE LATER DIED OF HER INJURIES.

THE PROTESTERS IGNORED THE COLD AS THEY LIT CANDLES AND SHOUTED SLOGANS DEMANDING JUSTICE.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THE YOUNG STUDENT WAS SEVERELY BEATEN, RAPED AND THEN THROWN OFF A MOVING BUS -- SHE LATER PASSED AWAY.

OREGON TOUR BUS CRASH-OC

A HORRIFIC BUS CRASH KILLS NINE AND INJURES MORE THAN 25 SUNDAY IN OREGON.

NOW FAMILY MEMBERS AND SURVIVORS OF THE ACCIDENT ARE TELLING THEIR STORIES.

OREGON TOUR BUS CRASH-PKG

NEW HOME VIDEO SHOWS THE SNOWY ICY CONDITIONS ALONG I-84 JUST EAST OF PENDLETON

AND HERE-- WHERE THE TOUR BUS WITH 49 PEOPLE ON BOARD-- HIT A GUARD RAIL -- AND *FLEW SOME 200 FEET DOWN THIS EMBANKMENT

IT ROLLED OVER AT LEAST ONCE, AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE.

"People screamed and yelled. Some mothers screamed to find their son or daughter."

THIS YOUNG MAN IS A KOREAN STUDENT LIVING IN VANCOUVER, BC.

.

"JAEMIN SEO" SAYS HE HEARD THE SCREAMS. OPENED HIS EYES. THEN FLEW OUT A WINDOW AS THE BUS CRASHED DOWN THE SLOPE.

HIS FIRST THOUGHT? THAT HE WAS THE *ONLY* SURVIVOR.

"I thought all the people on the bus were dead because the bus was totally broken down."

NAT UP

THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT OF THE TOUR BUS AS IT HEADED DOWN THE FREEWAY FOR A MECHANICAL INSPECTION…. INVESTIGATORS TODAY WERE BACK AT THE SCENE… COLLECTING EVIDENCE AND GATHERING PEOPLES PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

OREGON TOUR BUS CRASH-OC

ABBEY GIBB REPORTING.

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.

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 LOVELY WAY HOME,

WHEN THE WIFE HEARD A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

SHE ANSWERED IT, AND THE ROBBER, WHO WAS 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,

TRAILER THEFT PLANE-VO-WIPE

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

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.

WALMART GREETER PUNCHED-VO WIPE

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

A QUICK SALUTE IN THE COURTROOM.

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

POLICE SAY MAREZ FIRST RAN UP TO A 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 IS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, THREATENING AND BREACH OF PEACE.

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.

TEASE FOUR-1 SHOT

FROM NEW ZEALAND TO NEW YORK --

IT'S OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

TZ4 A NEW YEARS AROUND THE WORLD-NATVO

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

NEW YEARS AROUND THE WORLD-POP VO

FIREWORKS AND CELEBRATIONS UNFOLDED AROUND THE GLOBE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR.

THERE WAS EVEN A CHILLY DIP IN AN ICY RIVER FOR SOME.

NEW YEARS AROUND THE WORLD-PKG

THE FIRST MAJOR CITY TO CELEBRATE 2013 WAS AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. FIREWORKS AND BOAT HORNS RANG IN THE NEW YEAR.

IN AUSTRALIA, A SEVEN-TON FIREWORKS DISPLAY DAZZLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN SYDNEY'S HARBOR WITH A ESTIMATED ONE-BILLION PEOPLE WATCHING ON TV WORLDWIDE.

A LARGE CROWD COUNTED DOWN TO THE NEW YEAR IN SHANGHAI, CHINA.

WHILE IN TOKYO, JAPAN. BUDDHIST MONKS RANG BELLS TO CLEANSE SINS.

NATO SOLDIERS SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN TOOK TIME TO LET LOOSE AND DANCE THEIR WAY INTO 2013. NATO HAS MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND SOLDIERS SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN INCLUDING SOME 66-THOUSAND U-S FORCES.

IN CENTRAL RUSSIA, THESE BRAVE SOULS TOOK AN ICY DIP TO GREET THE NEW YEAR. THE WATER TEMPERATURE, A VERY BRISK 37 DEGREES.

WHILE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING, THE BUR KHALIF, SET THE STAGE FOR A GIANT CELEBRATION.

IN PARIS. TENS OF THOUSANDS CELEBRATED AT THE EIFFEL TOWER.

WHILE IN LONDON, BIG BEN RANG OUT THE OLD AND RANG IN THE NEW.

STORM WARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK-CAM 9 WX EST

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.

FL HOLLYWOOD HEIST-VO BNR

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

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

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NEW VIDEO.

THE THIEVES USED THESE MASSIVE TANKS TO TORCH THROUGH SAFES.

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

THEY THEN CUT THE ALARM SYSTEM EVEN RIPPING OUT ONE CAMERA.

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.

YOUNG INVENTOR-SOTVO

18-YEAR-OLD WHO'S IMPATIENT TO CHANGE THE WORLD,

MAKES FORBES MAGAZINE "30 UNDER 30" LIST.

THE LIST HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE U.-S.

"It's something that I love doing, and I don't even realize that I'm doing it.

THE LAST TIME WE MET THE 18-YEAR-OLD GRAD AND CURRENT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY SOPHOMORE… WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS INVENTION:

YOUNG INVENTOR-(2)SOTVO

"I've seen him at four o'clock in the morning reading. I didn't do that when I was 18 years old."

"It made me realize that I'm doing something big, and that I can have a big impact with my research."

IN JUST TWO YEARS,

HE'S BEEN THRUST INTO THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

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.

RECORD MOVIE SALES-VO

LOOKS LIKE 2012 WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR. MOVIES!

YEP, AMERICANS APPARENTLY WENT TO THEATERS IN DROVES THIS PAST YEAR, WITH NEARLY 11-BILLION BUCKS IN TICKET SALES.

AND THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, ANALYSTS SAY, IN THIS AGE OF VIDEO STREAMING ON COMPUTER TABLETS AND LARGE SCREEN H-D TELEVISIONS.

ONE ANALYST THINKS 2013 MAY BE EVEN BETTER.

ADAM LAMBERT CRITICIZES LES MIS SINGING-VO

SINGER ADAM LAMBERT IS APPARENTLY CRITICIZING THE ACTORS IN THE NEW MOVIE VERSION OF LES MISERABLES.

LAMBERT SAYS THE ACTORS ARE NOT SINGERS AND IT SHOWED.

THE AMERICAN IDOL ALUM BLASTED THE SINGING ON TWITTER, BUT SAID THE ACTING PERFORMANCES WERE "EMOTIONAL."

CHARLIE SHEEN APOLOGIZES-VO

ACTOR CHARLIE SHEEN IS APOLOGIZING FOR A RECENT HOMOPHOBIC SLUR HE MADE.

THE L-A TIMES REPORTS SHEEN MADE THE COMMENT WHILE EMCEEING THE OPENING OF A BAR AT A RESTAURANT IN MEXICO.

THE COMMENTS WERE CAUGHT ON CAMERA AND POSTED ON T-M-Z'S WEBSITE.

THE "ANGER MANAGEMENT" STAR QUICKLY RELEASED A STATEMENT APOLOGIZING.

TEASE FIVE-1 SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

LADY GAGA IS SERVING UP MORE THAN JUST OVER THE TOP PERFORMANCES ON HER TOUR.

COMING UP --

TZ5 A) LADY GAGA TOUR-VO

GREEN DAY TOUR-VO-WIPE

GREEN DAY IS GETTING READY TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN.

THE GRAMMY-WINNING PUNK BAND CANCELLED DATES AT THE END OF 2012 AND DELAYED THE START OF A 2013 TOUR.

THAT'S AFTER SINGER-GUITARIST BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG HAD A MELT DOWN ON STAGE IN LAS VEGAS.

HE WENT THROUGH TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

LADY GAGA TOUR-VOTOPS

AND SPEAKING OF TOURS, LADY GAGA'S BORN THIS WAY BALL TOUR IS SERVING UP MORE THAN JUST MUSIC AND SONG.

THE POP ICON IS OFFERING FREE COUNSELING AT THE BORN BRAVE BUS.

BEFORE HER CONCERT, INDIVIDUALS CAN STOP BY THE BUS AND

GET PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE OR GROUP HELP

PSY MOVING ON-VO-WIPE

SOUTH KOREAN RAPPER PSY SAYS HE'S READY TO MOVE ON FROM HIS SIGNATURE SONG.

PSY BECAME WORLD FAMOUS WITH HIS HIT SONG "GANGNAM STYLE."

PSY MOVING ON-SOTVO

Now, I've seen some rumors that tonight you're gonna retire the dance. is that the case?

"Not to retire, but kinda, because I got it ready for the new one, but i still get a lot of call for "Gangnam Style", but I cannot just stay here. I gotta move forward.

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIPTOPS

TS1) FISCAL CLIFF-VOTOPS

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.

TS2) 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.

TS3) 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.

TS4) MINIMUM 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.

FINAL WEATHER-WX GFX

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.

CLOSE-2SH-AWS ANI

AD LIB GOODBYE

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