ringing in the new year with new beer. how police are going above and beyond to protect revellers in time square as weather threatens to but a damper on the celebration. the president was upbeat, in a very good understood and i think he's receptive to making a deal if it achieves his goals of securing our border. new hope that an end to a government shutdown is in sight from a senator. primed for the playoffs. which teams punched their tick that to post season as a pair of head coaches get the ax.

an unsuspecting football fan gates visit from the national bird. "early today" starts right now. good morning. >> we're on high alert for wicked weather this new year's eve at the legendary time square ball drop, heavy rain threatens to damper the fun. and in the midwest and parts of the plains, heavy snow is in the forecast. nbc meteorologist michelle grossman. >> we're looking at temperatures are going to be mild. big difference from this time last year. we were frigid last year. but the trade off is rain that will be fall. so here's our countdown. and we're looking at temperatures around 49. otherwise we're looking at frigid temperatures in the northern plains. honestly that's a little more dangerous. well below freezing in many spots and typical once again

looking at snow showers in the four corners. looking at some feet of snow in the mountains there. so we have it all over the place. rain, snow, frigid temperature cans. that time of year. meanwhile we're still counting down to the legendary times square ball drop safety is the top concern this new year's eve. the nypd will be in full force with heightened alert. more from mat bradley. >> reporter: this new year's eve the famous ball won't be the only thing in times square. keeping eyes in the skies on what could be hundreds of thousands of revellers below. >> with the drones is the first time we're using them at a large scale event. >> reporter: along with bomb sniffing dogs, helicopters, snipers and 200 blocker vehicles

and thousands of uniform officers. man ea taking up positions around the square. the bottom line is this. they should feel safe too. one of the most well policed, best protected events at one of the safest venues in the entire world. >> reporter: that's reassuring from cameron grey. >> we're excited. >> i'm excited. i'm not worried about anything. i'm just there have a good time and this is my first time ever seeing a ball drop. >> reporter: well, times square is already packed. the stage is set and in a few hours the very first revellers are go tying start trickling into times square, getting ready for a very long night. at midnight cap 28 rr hill will ring in the new year with no deal to end the shutdown. now law makers aren't scrambling to finds a fix. president trump continued to dig

his heels in, blaming democrats on twilter and comparing his demands for a border wall to the fence around former president obama's house in d.c. saying quote the u.s. needs the same thing, slightly larger version. jennifer johnson has the latest. >> reporter: president trump spending his holiday week at the white house. republicansonter lindsey graham optimistic about a possible deal that protects the so-called dreamers, immigrants in exchange for a border wall. >> there's things that you want that can be had if you agree to border security in a reasonable way. >> reporter: they say border security, yes, but not a wall. >> they want to waste $5 billion in taxpayer money on a medieval border wall that is a fifth century solution to a 20th century problem. >> reporter: the president is now escalating the blame game

after two migrant children died in u.s. custody this month. it's strictly the fault of the democrats and their pathetic immigration policies. while claiming the wall would have prevented the death. the head of border protection is calling for a ceasefire. >> we need really confront and grapual the fact that children and families are coming into this . >> reporter: even republicans losing patience with the border wall fight. >> we've got to move away from the blame game. blaming the president, blaming the democrats and get back to doing what we're sent there to do, to nund government. >> reporter: agts 00,000 federal workers remain furloughed while working without pay. a federal judge in texas will let obamacare stand. ruled that the affordable care act is constitutional.

in the controversial case the judge said the law cannot stand without its individual mandate penalty which congress zeroed out last year. he issued a stay saying quotemany every day americans would otherwise face a great uncertainty. now involving lions at an animal conservation center in north carolina. they say a 22-year-old woman was killed after a lion escaped from a locked space and attacked her. the woman, had been interning in burlingten. she had been there two weeks and cleaning a separate inclosure when the attack happened. the lion was shot and killed. now investigators are looking into how the lion scaped that incleezed yairia. >> as soon as he got out the inclosed, he went straight towards her. it's unfortunate the loss of life of a young lady who just starting out.

>> the center remains closed during the investigation. one big safety issue is drunk driving linked to 21 deaths every day in this country. utah is taking a controversial step to try and change that. it's not the first time the state has made a bold move. >> reporter: new year's eve and utah is already buzzing with the strictest dui law in the country. >> if you're go tying drink here, don't drive here. >> reporter: nationally considered legally drunk at 0 out -- .08%. in utah.05%. it's estimated egging 1line 20 pounds, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor. for a 160-pound man it's about two drinks.

>> we're hoping to see betder scissions made on the front end on a night when someone's choosing toival alcoholic beverages. >> other states followed and now a handful are considering once again lowering the limit . >> we're one of the lowest in the country for injuries and deaths but we still have a problem. >> reporter: the american beverage? stut calls it an attack on the restaurant and hospitality industries and converts their responsible patrons into criminals. a crackdown to keep drivers safe and sober. kalgty park, nbc news. let's check back win michelle grossman. >> and we're looking at lots of weather. snow, rain and a chance for severe weather. nashville, jackson, columbus. you could be seeing severe

weather. you want to move indoors, listen for thunder. 6 million at risk. and we're looking at the chance of isolated tornados and heavy rain. otherwise we're looking at rain in parts of the tennessee valley. heavy rain in some spots. where you see yellows and greens, and that will be the case as we go throughout the day and towards the northeast we're ha warmer than this time last year but the trade off will be the it rain. yes, so last year we were in the low 20s for a high. it was frigid but the trade off will be umbrellas. one of the biggest stars of the cotton bowl in texas wasn't

even a player. a trained bald eagle decided to take detour and landed on some noelter dame fans. the handlers eventually got the bird back. unfortunately notre dame fans, that might have been the most enjoyable part of the game since they lost. just ahead we'll have the nfl playoff picture and only rescue animals at retail. a strict new law. be right back. with moderate to severe crohn's disease, i was there, just not always where i needed to be. is she alright? i hope so. so i talked to my doctor about humira. i learned humira is for people who still have symptoms of crohn's disease after trying other medications. and the majority of people on humira saw significant symptom relief and many achieved remission in as little as 4 weeks. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis.

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puppy mill. >> reporter: california becomes the first state in the it country where dogs, cats and rabbits can be purchased from pet stores only if they come from rescue groups or shelters. >> when they go in the pet store and see the cute puppy or kitton for sale, they're not seeing what's behinds that. >> reporter: they say the new law puts the welfare of pets over profit. puppy mills supply 99% to pet stores every year and animals are euthanized every year for poor breeding. >> if pet stores would partner with breeders who are like minded, then you're going to have healthy dogs going out to the public. >> reporter: nevertheless similar crack downs are being considered in parts of minnesota and florida and third-party sales will eventually be banned in britain.

but the golden state setting a golden rule for the treatment of animals. >> don't you just want them all? >> they're all so cute. just ahead feeling good about 2019? then you may want to pick up a megamillions ticket. and how general motors is giving a chance to stay-at-home parents ready to switch gears. r. but did you know that 98% of us don't get enough of them? that's why megared advanced 4in1 packs more omega-3 power into just one small softgel. it supports four vital areas of your body. your heart... your brain... your eyes... and your joints. give your body the omega-3s it's missing. megared advanced 4in1. one pill. more power.

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thank you. >> there was no big winner in

friday's megamillions. that means it's $415 million. the eighth largest in its history. the plant closing and the thousands of all ofs. one key piece of news may have slipped under your radar. it shifts focus to autonomous vehicle and technologies. here with more. >> reporter: anet's morning routine hasn't changed that much over the years. get her boys up and fed, pack lunches, kiss her family goodbye for the day. and now she's leaving the house too. heading back to work at gm as an engineer after taking 15 years off to be a mom. it's part of an initiative

called take two aimed largely at women just like annette. >> i would have never believed that years ago when i was going to stay home did i ever even have any idea i was going to return in my 40s doing the same type of role when i was in my 20s with a completely different outlook. >> i've learned tremendous amount. >> reporter: it's a 12-week pay tryout, a chance for them to see if the timing is returned and for the company to see if their skills fit. >> the seed that was planted is blossoming now in my life. >> there's no way someone who's been out of the workforce for 18 years to reengage without a program like this. >> reporter: 87% were offered full-time jobs at gm.

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all the pieces are in place for the nfl playoffs. the colts punch their ticket to the post season thanks to a huge gain from andrew luck. three touchdowns in their prime time showdown with the titans and wins it 33-17. and a brutal end to the season for the packers. quarterback aaron rodgers was pulled out with a concussion following a hard hit in the first quarter. after that it was lights out at lambo. the lions win it 31-0. the bears locked in the number three seed in the nfc and ruined the vikings dream of a post season run. the defense kept minnesota out of the end zone until the 3rd but that would be the vikings only touchdown of the day. bears win it 24-10. the stars aligning for the eagles. they got the break they needed. they shut out the redskins to

sdh secure the sixth and final plaufr spot. the chiefs earning much-needed rest securing the by week with an easy win over the raiders. patrick muhomes becoming the second player to ever throw for 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards in a single season. the only ever quarterback to pull that off was peyton manning. chiefs win it. the ravens clinch the afc north with a huge win over the browns. ravens picked off baker may field in the final minutes of the game, wining it 26-24. and it might have been the most exciting inkaunwauns kwengsal g of the day. ezekiel elliott sat out. dak prescott threw for four touchdowns including an unbelievable bullet to coal beasley on fourth and long that was enough to knock off new

york. cowboys win 36-35. and it's that time of year for the coaching carousel. the jets fired head coach todd boles. it was his fourth season with the team and the buccaneers announced its parting ways with head coach dirk caughter after missing the playoffs for three seasons. michelle is back now with a new year's eve forecast. >> we're mild in the northeast although we're going to have rain. all that cold air continues to be bottled up. we're looking at temperatures well below. just 13 in billings. one below zero in bismark and 13 in pierre. raining in the northeast and frigid in the northern plains. still to come she dreams of becoming a doctor, then she became the patient. one. clean grease on more than dishes?

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now to a story that will given you new hope for the new year. one woman's inspiring journey of helping others eve within overwhelming challenges of her own. >> reporter: claudia martinez has dreamed of becoming a doctor since she was a little girl. the first in heir family to attend college, she was living the american dream when at age 20 everything was almost taken away. >> he told me i needed brain surgery as soon as possible. if not i was going to be paralyzed from the neck down. >> reporter: effecting vision, speech and cord nations.

she's had six major brain surgeries. >> i think my lowest point was my most recent surgery. when i woke up, i realized i couldn't function from the neck down and they told me i had a stroke during surgery and i just saw my dream of becoming a doctor just gone. >> reporter: but something turned. >> i just thought to myself what can i do? >> reporter: she was determined to study anyway she could. >> reporter: she would turn the pages in the book so i can read. >> reporter: little by little she got stronger. she still has limited use of one arm. a feeding tube and carries a backpack full of iv fluids, her constant lifeline. but she is acing her classes at mcgovern medical school. >> she could do anything else,

yet she chooses to pursue this dream of hers. that goes beyond any words i can say. >> reporter: and her patients. >> hi, nice to meet you. >> reporter: instantly know she gets. >> my experiences as a patient has definitely provided me with education, an experience i would not have otherwise gotten in medical school. and i'm very thankful for this lesson in disguise. >> reporter: she will likely be a patient for life but next year, when she's scheduled to graduate with honors, she will also be a doctor nbc news. houston. >> what a remarkable story. >> absolutely. her determination is unreal. >> the definition of perseverance. incredible. and in moscow an incredible ice festival that runs through midjanuary.

we hope you have a happy new year. we begin with a microclimae

weather alert. it's monday, december 31st. we begin with the microclimate weather alert. taking a live look outside at the golden gate bridge this morning, that's a pretty picture, but some potentially dangerous weather conditions to warn you about. to hit the bay area. strong winds will affect most of the bay area, along with the wind, temperatures are expected to plunge as people head out to celebrate the new year, last day of the year here, last monday, too. good morning to you. thanks for joining us. i'm laura garcia. >> i'm scott mcgrew. marcus washington getting the new year off to an early start, he's off this morning, as is kari but we have vianey double dipping. >> we have traffic and weather, i've got you re