on our broadcast tonight, help wanted. news tonight on the jobs front. what may be signs of life out there for millions of americans looking for work. bang for the buck. a big change coming for the military. if the president gets his way, it will be the biggest change in years. protecting her own. a young mother is forced to use a weapon to defend her home and child. it all happened while she was on the phone with 911. wild weather. what's going on with winter? records falling across the country today in what is supposed to be the dead of winter. it feels more like spring. and the comeback kid. an nbc news exclusive. a promising olympic athlete until a terrible accident. well, tonight the inspiring story of kevin pearce back on the slopes. story of kevin pearce back on the slopes. "nightly news" begins now.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. in every poll every day of this political season we asked voters about the number one issue and every day the answer comes back jobs and the economy. everyone looking for shreds of evidence of a turnaround or any good news on the horizon. yesterday was auto sales. people are buying more cars these past few months. that can't be bad but today brought better news -- a surge in the number of jobs in the private sector just as 2011 came to a close. it's enough for a lot of folks to pin their hopes on as 2012 gets under way. it's where we begin here tonight with nbc's chris jansing. >> i have been looking for a job for three years. >> reporter: in ontario, california, job hunters lined up early to apply for some of the

6,000 new jobs nationwide at retailer dollar general. >> i saw the big ad in the paper. i figured it was worth a shot. >> they are looking for forklift operators. i can operate a forklift. >> reporter: walmart is looking for 250 new workers today in covington, georgia. >> i'm a lot more optimistic today than i would have been a couple months ago. >> reporter: snapshots of a stronger job trend heading into 2012 than we saw a year ago. new numbers from payroll giant adp show the u.s. added 325,000 private sector jobs in december. >> it's going to be $19.99 plus tax. >> reporter: while the numbers may be inflated by seasonal issues, other indicators are positive, too. u.s. companies say they are planning fewer lay-offs, the lowest number since june. new unemployment claims are down for the best four-week average in two and a half years.

>> fewer people are being fired. more people are being hired. but there's some debate about the magnitude of that. >> reporter: in large part that's because while segments of the private sector are hiring, amazon, td bank, chrysler and jpmorganchase among those adding new jobs in recent months, government jobs continue to dry up. we are seeing a lot of state and local cuts of teachers, policemen and firemen. we are now going to see in 2012 the military really begin to see lots of job cutting. >> reporter: and so while companies like dollar general are building new stores and stoking enthusiasm, boeing this week announced plans to close a plant in kansas that's built airplanes since 1929. >> this is a very sad day for wichita. >> reporter: a victim of military spending cuts. >> nobody is ready to sound the all clear signal until they can really come out of the bunker, look up in the sky and make sure that there are no more airplanes dropping bombs. >> reporter: there is one more key number economists will be watching. tomorrow morning the government's report on unemployment and job growth comes out.

it is expected to show, even if unemployment ticks up a little, that manufacturers have added jobs for two consecutive years. the peak was in 1979. it's been a long time coming, brian. >> as we said, everybody's looking to hold onto something in this economy. chris, thanks. chris jansing here with us. a program note. more on this subject tomorrow night here on the broadcast. for those who have been working but watched their retirement savings shrink in this awful economy. tomorrow night we focus on how to bounce back including three things americans can do right now at the start of the new year to get things back on track. if president obama gets his way along with the senior leadership at the pentagon, the u.s. military is in for a big change. it will affect all the american sons and daughters who raised their hands to fight our wars. it will affect the wars this country chooses to fight perhaps. it's a design for a new military in the era after the dual wars we have been fighting. it will be the biggest change in

decades. we start our reporting with jim miklaszewski on duty tonight at the pentagon. jim, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. for the first time since 9/11, the pentagon is being forced to tighten its belt. to do that will take wholesale changes in the way the military does business. president obama came to the pentagon today as commander in chief to unveil his new military strategy aimed at cutting the pentagon's budget. the president acknowledged the new military will be leaner but insisted no less meaner. >> the united states is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats. >> reporter: a decade of war in iraq and afghanistan sapped the military and sent pentagon spending soaring up 71% in the past ten years. a bill that defense secretary leon panetta says the nation can no longer afford. >> all of this comes at a time

when america confronts a very serious deficit and debt problem here at home, a problem which is itself a national security risk that is squeezing both the defense and domestic budgets. >> reporter: to cut the military's budget will take a major shift in strategy. u.s. forces will now focus on deterring a growing threat from china in the asia-pacific region, conduct smaller counter insurgency operations with u.s. special forces elsewhere, and no longer attempt to fight two major ground wars at the same time. >> i'm uneasy about recognizing up front that we are not going to retain that capability. it tells your adversaries, look, they're tied up in a place like korea. it's time for mischief in the persian gulf. >> reporter: there will also be sacrifice. the pentagon will slash its spending by $489 billion over the next ten years.

the army and marines will cut more than 100,000 service members. major weapons programs will be cut back or eliminated. for the first time in nearly 20 years active duty military and retirees will be forced to pay more for health care benefits. reaction from capitol hill was swift. a release from the house republican-controlled house armed services committee says this is not a strategy for superiority. it is instead a menu for mediocrity. and so, brian, the pentagon budget battles begin. >> all right, jim miklaszewski at the pentagon tonight, thanks. with us here in new york, our military analyst, retired army colonel jack jacobs, a recipient of the medal of honor and combat veteran of the vietnam war. jack, you and i have both been to the battlefields in both dual wars overseas. we have seen the build-up of the military complex, but what does this now mean for the future? >> it means we're going to have to do what we need to do to defend this very large country

with far fewer people. if you want to save money, you can save money by cancelling programs but you're going to save money only in the future. you want to save money today, you have to make the army in particular much smaller. we are about ready to have an army that's smaller than the army was in vietnam when i was fighting there. i'm not convinced we can do what we need to do with that small an army. >> what about the guard and reserve who have seen such great sacrifices? >> well, we're going to call on them again. despite what we want to do -- and that is keep the guard and reserve so they don't have to make constant trips over the ocean, we're going to continue to call them because we won't have enough people on active duty to take care of the little spots we have to take care of in the future. >> colonel jack jacobs, thank you, as always. >> you're welcome. speaking of american troops it was less than three weeks ago as you will recall as we covered here, u.s. forces exited iraq leaving behind a fragile

situation there, one people fear could slip back into sectarian violence, perhaps civil war. today we saw clear evidence of just that kind of thing. it was a very bloody day in baghdad and elsewhere. at least 68 people killed. more than a hundred wounded in coordinated attacks by sunni insurgents against iraq shiites who now dominate the government there. of interest to our west coast viewers, in california someone accidentally posted the state's new budget online before it was supposed to be made public and everybody got an advanced look at a $9 billion gap that governor brown says has to be filled with tax increases and more budget cuts. our report tonight from nbc's george lewis. >> reporter: brian, the governor this afternoon announced $1.4 billion in cuts in welfare and child care aid to the poor while asking voters to approve almost $7 billion in tax hikes. >> as you know, there are no secrets in government. >> reporter: the government wasn't planning to announce the

budget plan bound to draw heavy criticism until next week. but then there it was posted on the state department of finance website. >> we're making some very painful reductions. a mother and kids are getting the same a welfare check in real dollars that they got in the '80s. >> reporter: child care programs for the poor would be among the items slashed while parents on welfare who don't meet work requirements would have their benefits cut off after 24 months compared to 48 months now. california taxpayers are being asked to pass an initiative in november that would increase sales taxes one half cent and hike income taxes on millionaires by as much as 2% to help pay for education. >> what we know is folks are willing to pay for the bills as long as they know their money is not being wasted. >> reporter: a poll conducted by the los angeles times and the university of southern california showed 64% of californians would pay more taxes if the money went to public schools.

but this is the state where anti-tax crusader howard jarvis successfully slashed property taxes in 1978 with a measure known as proposition 13. and where opposition to new taxes by conservatives remains strong. >> average folks, real folks in the communities, they are not looking to pay higher taxes. >> reporter: if the tax measure fails the state says it will have to cut almost $5 billion out of public education. >> we can't wait. the people can't wait. let's get it done and california will be in a better spot. >> reporter: agencies say they are studying the budget tonight. by tomorrow there is likely to be a firestorm of negative reaction. george lewis, nbc news, los angeles. still ahead as we continue tonight, a mother protecting her own doing something brave to save herself and her baby with intruders just outside the front door. also ahead, millions of americans had reason today to

ask, "what's the deal with the winter of 2012 -- at least so far"? and later, he was a star on the slopes before a tragic accident. tonight, an nbc news exclusive -- kevin pearce meeting the greatest challenge of his life. they offer me one-on-one guidance to help me choose my investments. not just with my savings plan here at work. they help me with all of my financial goals. looking good, irene. thanks to fidelity, i can stay on top of my financial future, huh? good one. why, thank you. whether it's saving for retirement, college, or anything else, contact a fidelity investment professional today. the amazing alternative to raisins and cranberries with more fiber, less sugar, and a way better glycemic index. he's clearly enjoying one of the planet's most amazing superfruits. hey, keep it down mate, you'll wake the kids. plum amazins. new, from sunsweet.

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the flames. the funeral was today here in new york city attended by waves of firefighters who were deeply affected as well. the mother of the three girls eulogized her own children saying, quote, my girls are in my heart. that's where they live now. though separated the girls' parents were together today in grief. we have since learned the fire was caused by fireplace embers taken from the fireplace, placed near a back door apparently because the little girls were worried the chimney would be too hot for santa to come down. the house was under renovation. one of the questions for investigators is whether the home had working smoke alarms. now to the story out of oklahoma about another mother forced to make an extraordinary step to protect herself and her child in a dangerous situation. intruders were at the door when she called 911. nbc's kristen dahlgren picks up the story. >> in case the 12-gauge didn't go off --

>> reporter: a young mother facing a life or death decision. >> i've got two guns in my hand. is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door? >> you have to make a choice -- you or him. i chose my son over him. >> reporter: 18-year-old sara mckinley was home alone with her 3-month-old baby -- grieving. her husband had just died of cancer on christmas day -- when two men started banging on her door. >> he was from door to door trying to bust in. >> reporter: grabbing a shotgun, she called for help. >> i knew she was scared. she was whispering. so i knew she didn't want him to know she was on the phone with me. >> is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door? >> i can't tell you that you can do that. but you do what you have to do to protect your baby. >> reporter: mckinley shot and killed 24-year-old justin martin who was armed with a knife. >> they said i couldn't shoot him until he was inside the house. i waited until he got in the door and then i shot him. >> reporter: mckinley was cleared of any wrongdoing. those 911 tapes proving she was squarely within the rights laid out in oklahoma's castle

doctrine. a law in 21 states that gives the right to protect your home. >> when someone breaks into your house the oklahoma castle law presumes that the intruder means to use deadly force, so the homeowner is legally justified in shooting even if it turns out the intruder was unarmed. >> reporter: now instead of mckinley, the second alleged intruder is charged with first-degree murder. >> the accomplice was up to no good with the person who was killed. under our felony murder laws that's the person responsible. >> reporter: today mckinley is a hometown hero with hope that the worst is behind her. >> maybe something a little better than last year. >> reporter: kristen dahlgren, nbc news, los angeles. >> up next here tonight we're going to try to explain what's going on across parts of this country including 60 degrees in a town famous for cold winters. cold winters. [ male announcer ] it's simple physics... a body at rest tends to stay at rest... while a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

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europe's biggest and most active volcano mount etna in sicily. today's activity sent an impressive-looking ash plume into the sky. it turned the snow-capped mountain top orange and black in the process on into the night. here's a fact to wrap your head around. today, 98% of this country had temperatures above freezing. that is virtually unheard of for january. in fact, here's one more. there were 115 new record high temperatures for the date set as of today. continuing the strange weather it has already been, people were christmas shopping in shirt sleeves this christmas season here in new york. some folks enjoyed the outdoors today. it was a gorgeous day across the plains, midwest from north platte, nebraska, where the play ground was packed with kids to north dakota where the cows might be forgiven for being

confused what month this is. weather channel meteorologist jim cantore is with us from headquarters tonight. jim, everyone is saying the same thing. didn't used to be this way. we had a halloween blizzard but nothing since. what's going on? is it part of anything larger or permanent? >> well, i mean, brian, until we can get the jet stream to really start blocking some of the air masses and allowing cold air to come down and build up a snow pack we are going to continue with this mild winter. let's just show you today for example. you mentioned the 115 record highs. this is where we want to center in on. because some of these -- four of them have been all-time for select cities for the month of january. in aberdeen, they are 41 degrees above average. they don't even have 41 degrees for an average high. that just shows you how extraordinairy that is. we had snow cover across the country last year 46%. the jet stream situated like this. this year we have 19%. unless you can keep cold air coming down refrigerated you pretty much lose all that. and that's exactly what we are going to see over the next several days. 75 in los angeles. they have waves to accompany the

record heat out there and more heat as we head toward this weekend. look at the 50 in new york. one could almost argue for flip-flop. until we get the atmosphere to block up, the winter that wasn't continues. >> the weather is nice outside. you're in the studio. usually you're out in it when it's bad. >> that's right. >> jim cantore, thanks my friend. >> up next tonight back on the board again. olympics viewers followed his story. tonight we'll document his comeback. [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus presents: the cold truth. i habe a cohd. and i toog nyguil bud i'm stild stubbed up. [ male announcer ] sorry, buddy. truth is, nyquil doesn't un-stufftuff your nose. what? [ male announcer ] it doesn't have a decongestant. really? [ male announcer ] you need a more complete cold formula, like alka-seltzer plus liquid gels. it's specially formulated to fight your worst cold symptoms, plus relieve your stuffy nose. [ deep breath ] thank you! [ male announcer ] you're welcome. that's the cold truth! [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels. ♪ oh what a relief it is! ♪ then i found new pronutrients omega-3.

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it's been two years since world class snowboarder kevin pearce suffered a terrible head injury during a practice session on the half pipe almost ending his dreams for the sport, almost ending his life. nbc's kevin tibbles has been keeping track of kevin pearce every step of the way since and tonight he reports on a happy milestone. >> reporter: two years ago kevin pearce was flying high. >> whoa, kevin! >> reporter: a favorite on the snowboard circuit, poised for the podium at the vancouver olympics. but then he fell to earth. pearce missed a new difficult maneuver called the double cork while training on the 22-foot half pipe in park city, utah, slamming his head into the icy wall with such force it cracked

his helmet. he was left near death with severe brain trauma. >> i guess from what i hear i never will remember any of what happened that day. you know, that's all right with me. >> reporter: pearce suffered memory loss and impaired vision. he would have to learn to walk again. his father, renowned glass blower simon pearce and the rest of this tight knit vermont family supported kevin each and every step of the way. >> what he's done in the last two years, i can't imagine anyone who's been part of it who wouldn't be inspired by it. >> reporter: kevin's brothers were a constant source of strength including david who has down's syndrome and who used to be his workout partner. >> let's go rip a run together. >> reporter: but there is one more challenge facing him. with his family at his side pearce straps on the board high in the mountains of vermont and he rips it up. >> just like riding a bike for you?

getting back on? >> it is, man. it's mellow. it's good how easy it is. >> reporter: you didn't forget any of it? >> no, i didn't. i've still got it all with me. i still know how to do it. >> reporter: he says competing is out of the question -- just too dangerous. being on the mountain again means the world. >> it just feels so good after so much hard work. just everything i put in to be able to get back up there and start snowboarding again. >> reporter: even after a two-year convalescence, keeping up with him proves very difficult. slow down! >> i had no idea we would be here today, snowboarding together today. i couldn't be more proud of him or happy over how it's turned out. >> reporter: but for the boy who loves to fly it's the love of family that has helped guide him back home. >> high five me, right there. yeah, dude! >> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc news, vermont. >> that's our thursday night broadcast. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. of course we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

right now at 6:00, worse than before, a bay area waterway with a toxic past has an even more dangerous present. good evening and thanks for joining us on this thursday. >> contaminated bay area waterway that's getting worse by the day with rising levels of a pesticide not seen in the u.s. sense the '70s. where is it coming from and could it hurt you? an alarming report