the u.s. navy strikes back the growing tensions in the middle east after the u.s. strikes back against rebel ships

from yemen a second amendment showdown. california's sweeping gun ban goes into effect today, but it could trigger a bigger legal battle down the road amtrak is back in action this morning after ending the year with a day of delays. what caused the major disruptions for travelers across the northeast? and from new york to new zealand, the world is ringing in 2024 we'll take you across the globe for the biggest celebrations and the packers end the year on a high note the last football game of 2023 was a blowout. but there is plenty of action left today we'll have a preview happy new year "early today" starts right now good morning and welcome to 2024 i'm frances rivera we begin with the new year's celebrations still carrying on all around the world three, two, one!

>> times square they counted the seconds to the iconic ball drop. the confetti that rained down on the crowd at midnight contains messages of hope and well wishes that people shared for 2024. paris rang in 2024 by celebrating the upcoming summer olympics officials there estimate that over 800,000 people joined this olympic-themed new year's party, complete with lights show and massive fireworks display. and australia kicked things off with one of the biggest celebrations at sydney's harbor bridge more than one million people were there, which is equivalent to about 1/5 the city's population so how are we starting things off in 2024 weather-wise let's check with meteorologist michelle grossman who is here. happy new year, michelle. >> happy new year, frances so good to see you we are starting out very, very quiet, which is good news. we have a quiet day today. tomorrow not as quiet but still relatively quiet today lots of sun across the country. we're looking at temperatures pretty close to normal for many of us.

really, the only problem spots, light snow in portion of the great lakes to the appalachians. a couple of rain showers along the gulf coast but we're dry in the southwest with clouds in phoenix, 56 northern plains we are dry we're drying to the upper midwest. the northeast looking good as well the midatlantic a few showers by later on this afternoon. it's the same system that is moving through great lakes so this is good for travel we're looking green all across the map, expected as we go throughout this monday looking at seattle, san francisco, los angeles, in the clear that will change tomorrow, though we have a new system moving onshore on the west coast. that's going to bring showers for seattle, san francisco, also los angeles. that could bring heavy rain and along the roads as well. the southern plains looking at widespread rain. breezy too along the gulf coast looking at that but chicago looking really god and the northeast too. back to you. >> all right thank you for the update, michelle appreciate it. turning now to a major escalation in the middle east involving u.s. forces. the u.s. navy says it retaliated

against attackers from yemen in the red sea after they fired on navy helicopters it is the first lethal action taken by the u.s. military in those waters since the israel-hamas war began here is meagan fitzgerald. >> reporter: the most aggressive action yet against the u.s. navy in the red sea since the israel-hamas war broke out the u.s. defense department saying four boats with houthi rebels from yemen firing on u.s. navy helicopters those choppers firing back, sinking three of the four ships and killing all crew members on board. the fourth boat got away the incident started when the small boats started smiering on the "maersk hangzhou" vessel they started firing back until the navy arrived the u.s. central command saying the rebels were feet away from getting on board the merchant ship the thinks are an iranian-backed rebel group which controls large parts of yemen

how big of a threat are the houthi rebels? >> they've been a surprisingly large threat they say they're targeting israeli shipping or israel-associated shipping, but in fact they're going after what really is 12% of all global commercial traffic >> reporter: subpoenaed's incident, the first time the u.s. has used deadly force while responding to the recent houthi attacks in the red sea the latest incident coming two weeks after the defense department says the uss kearny shot down 14 drones launched from houthi-controlled areas of yemen. these waters are one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, vessels trying to make their way to the suez canal in egypt which connects to the mediterranean sea. but to get there, ships must first pass through the waters off the coast of yemen the same area where the u.s. says the houthis have launched 23 illegal attacks on shipping vessels since november 19th. >> and our thanks to meagan for

that report. now to the war in ukraine and a new wave of attacks from russia two people were killed and 28 injured after russia pounded the ukrainian city of kharkiv with missiles and drones. it's the latest of several major attacks from both sides in recent days. it all began when russia bombarded cities across ukraine on friday, and then dozens were killed in a russian border city on saturday. california will begin this year with major new action on guns the state is implementing a new law banning the carry of firearms in most public place, including parks, playgrounds, and zoos the law, signed by gavin newsom in september is facing legal challenges over its constitutionality. on saturday, a federal appeals court put a hold on a december ruling from a district court that would have blocked the law, allowing it to take effect today. and the new year got off to a delayed start for many frustrated amtrak customers. there were long delays and

cancellations beginning late saturday night and into sunday afternoon. amtrak says server and signal issues were to blame for the disruptions. they say the problems have now been resolved, but service was impacted throughout new year's eve. now let's see what kind of weather we can expect for the first week of the year and take a look back again nbc meteorologist michelle grossman is here with the look hi, michelle. >> hi, frances we're looking good lots of sunshine across the country. for most of us, we have the snow in the great lakes also along the appalachians. but look what happens when we get towards wednesday. a pacific storm moves onshore tomorrow that's going to bring a lot of rains and heavy snow as well from the pacific northwest all the way down to the southwest into portions of nevada as well. we're good in the middle of the country. we're dry in the northern plains, the central plains, the southern plains. gulf rain along the gulf heavy moisture moving onshore from the gulf. light snow throughout the up upper midwest. we're looking at snow into the intermountain west and look at all the snow stretching from tupper great

lakes down to the south central states could see some snow and rain also in portions of the south centl states rabu san angelo 64 in houston, and 55 in shreveport that's your monday forecast. >> okay. thank you so much, michelle. coming up, the packers pillage the vikings in the last sunday night game of the year. but first, we're back in 60 seconds with a look at some of our favorite stories from 2023 . start your day with nature made. the #1 pharmacist recommended vitamin and supplement brand. i'm adding downy unstopables to my wash. now i'll be smelling fresh all day long. [sniff] still fresh. ♪♪

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in north carolina, cheers for beloved elementary school assistant principal jordan farrell, battling breast cancer. what's the message that you wanted to convey to jordan >> that we're all behind her 100% >> reporter: there were so many gestures of support during illnesses. >> i don't even know you you really don't have to do that >> reporter: for friends, mothers, and brothers. >> treat it well handle it with care. it is special. >> reporter: we were there when leah osmond met jason summers. he is the man who received the heart donated from leah's late son. >> i wondered what it was like

when you put your head to his chest and listened >> overall, it was just an amazing, happy moment for everybody. >> congratulations you got a good heart. >> thank you so much >> oh my god, i got in >> reporter: we saw hard work pay off. >> agh students finding out they got into college and passing important exams. student athletes were winning too. celebrating after finding out they earned full scholarships. >> we're going to pay for the rest of this school. you have no more bills [ cheering ]

>> reporter: we also honored our nation's heroes. >> mom, mom, mommy mom! >> reporter: once again, in the arms of loved ones after months overseas >> it's okay how you? i missed you >> reporter: at this country music concert, army first sergeant jeff doherty stunned his wife shannon >> was it almost like time is going at 100 miles an hour and frozen at the same time? >> yes, yep. are you here right now and this is happening we'll be able to hold on to that moment for the rest of our lives. >> yeah. >> reporter: we also saw how much educators make a difference amy mcginley won the philadelphia phillies all-star teachers award.

>> that moment meant everything. it's the culmination of 35 years of blood, sweat and tears. >> reporter: in michigan -- >> and you're amazing, and i love you >> tears flowed when these middle school teachers read notes of gratitude to their students >> can i get a hug >> yeah! >> you light up our classroom with your kindness, and you are going to make a world a better place. so >> reporter: what is it about amaya that you wanted to recognize? >> her leadership. she has shown me that she's there for me >> reporter: often it was our nation's young people who showed us the way in south carolina, high school basketball manager carson waters who has downs syndrome made this epic shot.

[ cheering ] >> if we can open our hearts and open our minds to people who may not look like us or may not act like us or may is not learn like us, we might actually learn something from them. >> the 1-0. >> reporter: when this college softball player collapsed with an injury while rounding the bases, the other team lifted her up, carrying her all the way to home plate >> at that point, competition, win, lose, it did not matter to us >> we saw someone in need and we stepped in because we knew that was the right thing to do. >> reporter: and talk about the power of perseverance. that's hannah huntsly using every last bit of strength, determined to finish this race after an accident left her paralyzed. [ cheering and applause >> the moment of crossing the

finish line, i had to earn it. i'll be living that moment for the rest of my life. >> reporter: moments of personal triumph and connection. >> reporter: lifting us up all year long. >> and we hope for more stories just like that in the new year still to come, there is no better way to close out a year than a game between bitter rivals desperate for a play-off push the pack visit the vikes on sunday night, right after this . [ tires screeching ] director: cut! jordana, easy on the gas. force of habit. i gotta wrap this commercial, i think i'm late on my payment. it's okay, the general gives you a break when you need it.

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inside, inside the 10, to the goal line, breaks the plain. by reed! >> welcome back with some nfl action as the vikings found love on new year's eve, just not the kind they were looking for jordan love and the packers closed out 2023 by torching their bitter rivals in minnesota, including two scorers from rookie receiver swjayden reed green bay led minnesota by 27 rat the half the pack keep their play-off hopes alive with a 33-10 win and 2023 may have ended on sunday be, the race to the nfl play-offs is only getting started. in the afc, imagine two supe favorites with their weaver over the dolphins the ravens locked up the top seed in the nfc, as the eagles became the fourth team this year to lose to the cardinals, san

francisco ensured that the road to the big game will run through the bay area the niners clinched the conference's one seed with philly's loss and their own win over the commanders. and the panthers may have secured the top pick in the 2024 draft after their shut-out loss to the jaguars, but that pick will belong to the bears carolina traded their first pick to chicago last year in order to draft quarterback bryce young first overall. after four months, dozens of schools and even a little controversy. it all comes down to this. the college football play-offs kicks off this afternoon in pasadena and fourth ranked alabama returns to title contention for the first time since the 2021 season as they take on coach jim harbaugh and his top seeded michigan wolverines a the rose bowl the action moves to new orleans later where washington faces texas in the all state sugar bowl the winners will have a chance

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and we are back with what you need to know "early today. certain batches of nutramigen baby formula powder are being recalled over a possible bacterial contamination. the impacted batches were produced in june, and the potential bacteria in the product can cause sepsis and meningitis hershey's facing a $5 million lawsuit after a florida woman says its reese's themed halloween candies lacked the artistic detail shown on the package. she said she never would have bought a bag for around $5 in october if she knew the candies didn't have the card jack-o'-lanterns on the chocolate. hershey has not yet responded. wonka in first place at the

box office bringing in nearly $24 million over the holiday weekend. the aqua man sequel swam into second place with $19.5 million while "migration" moved into third. and another chance to start off 2024 as a multimillionaire the powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $810 million after no one took home the grand prize saturday one lucky player could take home the lump sum payment of nearly $409 million best of luck to you! "early today" will be right back . ffer, until, i saw how easily it picked up my hair every time i dried it! only takes a minute. look at that! the heavy duty cloths are extra thick, for amazing trap & lock. even for his hair. wow. and for dust, i love my heavy duty duster. the fluffy fibers trap dust on contact, up high and all around without having to lift a thing. i'm so hooked. you'll love swiffer. or your money back!

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here is emilie ikeda >> reporter: whether up close and personal or from a distance dancing across the sunrise, a glimpse of bald eagles never ceases to amaze. >> it's amazing to see bald eagles flying over the nation's capital almost every day. >> reporter: but decades ago sightings like this were nearly impossible in the early '60s, there were less than one thousand bald eagles in the lower 48 since then the bird's population has soared to more than 300,000, and american bald eagles are no longer considered endangered many wildlife biologists attribute the return to banning a pesticide and the endangered species act. there have been clashes in congress over some of the species listed as endangered and land use divisions but everyone can agree on the

espinosa's overall mission and says the growth of the american alligator, american peregrine falcon and grizzly bear, fo formerly almost extinct, is a sign of hope as we kick off the new year, we want to take a moment to thank everybody at "early today" who makes it possible. and we want to wish you all a happy and safe 2024. ♪

breaking now at 5:00, a series of strong earthquakes