it is thursday december 31st. coming up on "early today." the image was jarring. once america's father figure, now facing serious charges of sexual assault. thousands of cops and safety on minds as new year's celebrations overseas have been canceled over security concerns. and infighting is about to get more personal between candidates. and no rest for millions in lines of extreme weather. the affluenza mom leaves the u.s. and more. bill cosby, a man who once personified family values now faces charges of sexual assault.

standing from one women's accusations evolving from an incident allegedly taking place decades ago. 55 women have made accusations. the theme of this morning's new york daily news cover. stephanie gosk has more. >> the spectacle felt out of place at a small courthouse in pennsylvania. bill cosby, once america's favorite dad arrived to face multiple accounts of sexual assault. the first time the 78-year-old has ever been criminally charged. the comedian walked gingerly using a cane and said nothing. he posted $1 million bond and was processed mug shot and all at the police station. he's charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault when former temple university employee went to cosby's house to discuss her career. >> mr. cosby urged her to take

pills that he provided to her and to drink wine. the effect of which rendered her unable to move or respond to his advances and he committed aggravated indecent assault upon her. cosby filed a criminal complaint but the prosecutor at the time said there was not enough evidence to charge. a year later she filed a civil suit, revealing 13 more alleged victims. one of them barbara bowman spoke with kate snow. >> i cried when i found out there were 13 women. i didn't think there were two. i thought there was one, me. >> the civil suit was settled out of court. but since then allegations piled up. now more than 50 women say nerp abused too. many tell a similar story. cosby denies the allegations and in a statement his lawyer said make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against

this unjustified charge and we expect mr. cosby will be exonerated by a court of law. but the flood of new accusations prompted authorities here to reinvestigate the claims. representing 29 other victims also who's cases fall outside the statute of limitations. >> seeing him criminally charged is the best christmas present they could have ever received. around the world peopling are starting to celebrate the new year. this is is down under in talk lund new zeld auckland new zealand. and with the increased security threat around the world expect an increased security presence keeping everyone safe in times square. it's quiet now but that is going to change. >> reporter: shaping up to be an

unseasonably warm and we're expecting that crowd of about a million people to start filtering in here over the next several hours. there will also be 6,000 police officers here too to make the sure this all goes off without a hitch. >> the world's most famous crystal ball tested and ready to go will welcome in 2016 at the stroke of midnight tonight. >> don't seem real. >> they say they are not worried about security and the nypd says they shouldn't be. >> people should feel safe this new year's orr eve because we're there. you are going to have one of the most well policed and safest venues in the entire world given all the assets we employ there. >> times square will be protected on foot and horseback, detectors and bomb sniffing

dogs, a thousand security cameras will help keep an eye on it all. >> i feel safe. stuff's gonna happen. i'm pretty sure anything happen everybody feel safe every day. you can't live in fear. >> i love times square. all the lights and stuff. i just come in and it's just like you don't know where to look first and everything is going on. there is so much to do here. >> happy new year. >> a party atmosphere with thousands looking out for anyone who might want to ruin it. >> and despite the threat of terrorism abroad the nypd still says it has no specific credible threat regarding tonight's events here in times square. >> thank you so much. meanwhile the terror threat appears more immediate overseas.

with evidence of two attacks being planned one in turkey. and a number of arrests. so it's not surprising some celebrations are being scaled back. >> reporter: in belgium two men arrested for planning suicide attacks in this historic square. due to be filled with new year crowds, authorities canceling fire work citing a terrorist threat. in turkey more arrests. after a suicide vest and a backpack filled with explosives were found at an isis safe house in the capital ankara. two men suspected of planning a new year massacre. and in paris authorities are scaling down celebrations, canceling fireworks, fearing a repeat of november's attacks. in london too security is tight. police in london have considered a terror attack highly likely for the past year. but based on new intelligence they have now doubled the number of police officers on these

streets. the treat is real. this british couple was jailed for life for planning suicide attacks in london. they kept explosives in their backyard. they are isis supporters, radicalized like the doubcouple san bernardino. europe is a continent on edge. bill neely nbc news london. >> at least 14 dead in missouri from historic flooding. they don't know how many homes destroyed and there is no let up in sight. 13 killed in cars when rising flood waters swept them away. one kayaker figured a boat was the best way to travel and captured this footage of a flooded high school. only the tops of the football uprights remain visible. nearly nothing visible on the school's school board.

parts of the maeramec river are tonya couch faces charges. ethan remains in mexico city after a mexican judge issued an injunction blocking his immediate deportation. the injunction is expected to take weeks if not longer to resolve. texas sheriff dee anderson says they expected to take couch into custody yesterday but added we are patient people. we'll be waiting. this is it. tomorrow we officially enter an election year. strong new language from donald trump, candidates brawling over early states. and today a crucial mile marker. edward, it is the last day for

fourth quarter fundraising. and we've got some new estimates in who's doing well and who's not. >> richard some very big numbers too. the political money seems to have jumped on senator ted cruz and ted carson's band wagons in the fourth quarter. they raised more money than any other republican presidential candidate. >> we heard stories of people in their homes that were just standing in the one spot that didn't collapse. >> at the same time he raised a whopping $20 million in the fourth quarter. only ben carson beat that amount for the fourth quarter. senator marco rubio brought in $6 million. this as donald trump amps up his attacks on the democratic front runner hillary clinton.

>> and the husband is one of the great abusers of the world? give me a break. >> duking it out for third place behind trump and cruz. in a drastic move jeb bush cleared out his campaign staff in miami and shipped them to early primary states to get his support us out to vote. >> and this is do or die for a number of republican candidates for president. we are about one month now from the first caucus. >> and we'll see more shifting no doubt. edward lawrence thank you. now to meteorologist bonny schneider. promising new figures about the snow pack and the figures, california and the west hoping for more water. >> el nino will likely bring some much needed to california. but look what we already have at the sierra. about two feet of snow on the ground and more is to come. this is really an incredible season.

160% above average and that is a big difference from last year at 45% of average. so nice to see the snow on the ground out west in california. unfortunately it is a different picture to the's. we have lots of rain and that is going to create problems with flooding once again along the mississippi and in the southeast. but it is new year's eve. the forecast looking beautiful in california, san francisco, 51. and for new year's eve in chicago colder at 28. but your forecast for new year's day does call for sunshine and we're starting off the year right. but keep in mind the colder temperatures are working their way in. boise only at 14 degrees to start the first day of the new he central coast. colder though in the mountains. we're getting cold air, not just

the first day of the year but the first week of the year. big changes ahead. >> thank you so much bonny. big changes for the chicago police department. and jerry sieinfeld goes one on one with the commander in chief. no it can't! what are you, nuts? that's baked-on alfredo. baked-on? it's never gonna work. dish issues? trust your dishwasher with cascade platinum. it powers... through... your toughest stuck-on food. better than finish. (to the hostess) see, told you it would work... (turns to girl 2) you guys heard me say that, right? cascade. the tougher tough-food cleaner.

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an ohio man is under arrest after being a little too open on social media. according to police they received a tip about a man who was drinking and driving all the while filming and posting it to facebook. he was quickly identified. police were soon able to track him down and arrest him. police say it shows the power of social media. and enrique marquez junior has been indicted by a grand jury. the five count indictment includes providing material support to terrorists also being charged with marriage fraud along with making statements to

purchase two assault rifles and on immigration paperwork. he's scheduled to be arraigned on january 6th. and chicago mayor making chan changes. he wants every squad car also to be equipped with a taser. >> we have sent about 700 tasers in the city. we're going to go to 1400. it is to make sure that every week out there during the night has a taser in that vehicle. >> the premier of jerry seinfeld's season of car comedians in cars getting coffee features president obama. >> i do really well with the 0-8 category. >> oh really. >> they love me. partly because my ears are big and i look a little like a cartoon character. >> no one won last night's power ball but you have another chance

this saturday. t japt jackpot goes up to $334 million. just ahead. who is number one? we'll tell you. plus a thrill ner chicago. over time with some last second heroics. sports is next. i've smoked a lot and quit a lot, but ended up nowhere. now i use this. the nicoderm cq patch, with unique extended release technology, helps prevent the urge to smoke all day. i want this time to be my last time. that's why i choose nicoderm cq.

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this morning on today an exclusive interview with white house photographer pete susa and his year end gallery of photos. to sports now. we didn't get a winner until early this morning. the badgers kicking off a field goal with just 227 left to take the lead. a trojan come back fell short as wisconsin defeated the trojans 23-21 in the big ten. the steph curry-less warriors, he was resting a bad leg. mavericks bested them a whopping 114-91. ouch. and kobe bryant got a heartfelt sendoff in boston. los angeles won 112-104. to chicago in overtime. this ties the game with 3.7

seconds left. chicago inbounds the ball to gasol and a beautiful lob to butler for what would be the winning basket. chicago 102-indiana 100. and who are the best athletes of all time. wayne gretsky. tom brady number tine. lebron james at seven and joe montana. serena williams the only woman in the top ten. and mohamed ali, baby ruth at number two and number one? michael jordan. his heirness himself. and the little boy who gave a touching salute to his hero father. you never know when it'll be your moment to shine.

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yesterday an emotional tribute to an nypd detective. nbc's harry smith has the story of one final salute. >> reporter: the streets came to a standstill for the funeral of new york police detective joseph lemm along fifth avenue near st. patrick's cathedral a sea of blue stood in tribute. lemm was on patrol with five other americans in afghanistan when they were attacked by a suicide bomber december 21st. it was his third deployment to afghanistan with the air

national guard. yes, he was a cop and a reservist, for whom duty meant everything. two years ago local news cameras were there when he surprised his family at a restaurant coming home early after his second long deployment. lemm was a country kid from nebraska who thrived as a cop in some of the roughest sections of the bronx. his boy idolized him. and saluted his pop. during the funeral police commissioner bratton said this. >> today we say farewell to a hero of our time and a hero for all ages. a patriot, who centered his life on protecting others. >> and that sure sounds like superman to us. harry smith nbc news new york. mucinex fast max. it's the same difference. these are multi-symptom.

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family of two-year-old amputee adopts kitten that lost a limb. she was just ten months old and lost a limb due to a rare form of cancer. when her family heard on the news of a rare kitten that had her leg amputated they knew it was meant to be. we could watch that all day long. and on nbc news.com. sick of el nino? the storm system is likely to worsen in the next year. satellites bear a striking

reser resemblance to 1997. if you look up at the sky tonight you might see the northern lights. is a strong solar storm is causing it to happen more south than usual. areas along the border have the best chance to see it. and now take a look at this. this seal at an aquatic park in russia is an artist evidently. he grabs the paint brush and begins to paint a master piece. he can even put a signature in the corner, which is really just his first initial. this piece was sold to spectators at a special auction. now trained or just natural

talent? >> probably a little of both. but i think natural talent. you saw the circle he maid. >> that is about my ability with a paint brush. at least i could try. new year's is ahead of us. >> yeah. it is looking good for so many in times square. low 40s. >> and the crystal ball on the confetti all ready. times square, performing tonight we have tony bennett, lady gaga, seth mcfarland, gwen stefani and pharrell williams. and happy birthdays. bat man val kilmer. have a very safe and very happy new year's eve.

focused on the serious allegations against bill cosby after formal charges come down. is it a first step for justice? we speak exclusively to a bay area woman who accused cosby of sexual misconduct. >> crime of the cruelest nature. possibly a comment in court from the grandmother who allegedly drowned her own grandson. tightening up security in new york city, intense protection for those looking to come out and enjoy the fireworks. "today in the bay" starts now. good nurse morning, thank you for joining us. i'm sam brock. >> i'm laura garcia-cannon. let's