protesters shut down d [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] right now, ringing in a new year. ey kicked off festivities. we will check on the big celebrations in our country in a

few minutes. a major protest shut down traffic in the district for hours. jay korff joins us with a look at what is going on. jay, have you learned? tonight, hundreds of protesters decided, well, maybe they would disrupt business as usual. vibe in chinatown -- >> here we are on new year's eve 2015. jay: was purposely interrupted thursday night by rage directed at police brutality. a number of groups, including black lives matter, stop traffic at seventh and h to protest a long list of incidents that have left african-americans dead. -- weingest this message inject this message int their

name. no indictment for the police officer that shot and killed to mayor wright's, who thought the 12-year-old was killedg a -- who rice, whoce -- tamir thought the 12 euros was carrying a gun when it was a pellet gun. they want this movement to be a marathon. >> don't with this be your last action, don't let this be your last protest, don't let this be your last minute to make people uncomfortable. jay: those we spoke with say they vowed to continue to raise their voices throughout 2016. live in the district, jay korff, abc 7 news. are blocked and shut down in alexandria, for a different reason. in less than an hour, fireworks will be welcoming in 2016.

richard reeve joins us from first night alexandria. how is it looking out there? richard: leon, old town is booming right now, people everywhere. king street is divided partly into way roadway, and over here people walkway area, thronging towards the river to see the fireworks. what an incredible night. ♪ richard: it is a musical, festive night in old town. a family-friendly alternative to the bar scene. >> we are chilling out a little bit. ♪ richard: an event that draws up to 12,000 people. it'sople are having fun, lit up, there is lots of music and arts on the streets. 28 venues, least

from cool jazz -- >> organized chaos, that's true, but it's organized and fun. to this elementary school gym, transformed into a kingdom of fun. >> i think it's cool. richard: pretty much anything that you would want to see your do. >> you feel like you can just let your kids go and have fun and they will be safe. richard: celebrating the final night of 2015. >> people are coming out in droves, and the weather is gorgeous. richard: not a bad way to ring in the new year. >> a perfect place to spend new year's with family. on king one big party street, with the fireworks going off exactly at midnight. happy new year, everyone. richard reeve, abc 7 news. new tradition in

hagerstown, the annual doughnut drop. it drops into an equally large cup of coffee. is never an excuse to drive drunk on new year's eve. metro is offering free ride starting at midnight. just swipe your smart trip card at the entrance and you will not be charged. there is also free rides with sober ride, and in some areas aaa is offering rides. call aaa and find out if it is available where you are going. the new year's celebration in las vegas will be under close guard in part because what happened a few weeks ago when the police say a woman intentionally drove on the sidewalks on the strip, killing a woman and injuring dozens more. nothing can compare to the bright lights of las vegas. behind me, people are excited to

be out here tonight. this was the place to be. they have shut down traffic, 330,000 people here to ring in the new year, it is like a giant block party. new york city has the ball drop, but it's all about the fireworks in las vegas. it launches from seven hotel rooftops. it is in the 30's tonight, which is considered cold for las vegas. it is also breezy. a lot of people are bundled up with their beanies and jackets. vegas, they do not do not the message and they are in their miniskirts and heels. it will be a great night here in vegas. leon: have a good one and happy new year. the new year got off to a rough start in dubai where fire broke out in a luxury hotel about two hours before a fireworks display.

injured and had a heart attack. the fireworks went on as scheduled even of the building was still burning at the time. no word on what started the fire. be live in, we will times square for the nation's biggest new year celebration underway. steve: i'm steve rudin in the belfort furniture weather center. big changes all the way as we ring in the new year. are you ready for daytime highs in the 40's? a fight and chase that goes the wrong way down a busy road.

which truck brand do you think offers best in class hd towing, best v8 horsepower, and has this year's motor trend truck of the year? ram. chevy. what do you think? the ford. here's the answer. that's the chevy silverado hd, the chevy silverado, and the chevy colorado. chevy, chevy, chy. or trade up to this silverado all star and get a total value of ten thousand dollars when you finance through select lenders. plus, find your tag and get twenty-five hundred bonus cash on select silverado models in stock. find new roads at your local chevy dealer. okay. for the soccer team... for the girl scout meeting...

how many meetings are you having?! at giant, prices are down. savings are up. which makes the checkout lane, victory lane. my giant. leon: the following breaking

news in annapolis at this hour where the search is on for a who felloater overboard from a sailboat at about 9:00 tonight. we saw a wild scene in montgomery county and prince george's county after a confrontation in a fast food a miles longead to chase that included a car driving the wrong way down new hampshire avenue.

tom roussey explains. wendy'sm the calverton chases thellegedly other down powder mill road, and the chase continues down new hampshire avenue after shots were fired. >> later on i heard the screech of the car. after that i heard a little crash. car being chased goes north and the south lanes to escape. several cars swerved and got into minor accidents. the chasing car blows a tire and enters the white oak shopping center. four people are taken into custody. the police search for a gun but don't find one. because of that, the folks involved may only face traffic charges. the police say that they and the person they chased know each other. leon: the new year celebrations are heating up. we will have a live report from times square next.

leon: the most famous celebration in america is underway and under tight guard. 6000 police officers are patrolling times square's. we are joined from amid the celebration with how it 's shaping up. how does it look? reporter: good to be with you, leon. it certainly has gotten more festive in the last hour or so. the crowd got here earlier this afternoon, some of them earlier this morning to try to stake out a spot. lesswill be rewarded in than an hour with a prime view

times ball drop in square. security is a big concern for the crowd. ,hey had multiple check points multiple layers of security before they could get this close. certainly different for a lot of these folks, coming to a celebration in new york, but a lot of them we spoke with earlier said they were happy, willing to go through the little of having bags checked and going through the knowing nypd, just was taking extra steps to keep them safe this year. leon? leon: thank you, karen, and happy new year. the weather is really cooperating. steve: yeah, they are in the 30's. it is cold up there, mild. it has been cool but mild here, but big changes on the way. you have been waiting for winter? leon: some of us have been. in colder.ill begin

46 degrees at reagan national. up 2015,ac as we wrap 57 degrees was the high earlier in the day. the month of december, just one day with temperatures below average. that was on the 19th. every other single day above average. this will go down as the warmest december on record. they have been keeping record since the late 1800s. 43 leesburg and baltimore, 44 andrews, southern maryland that 48. 50's closer to the coast. where the mountains is the core of cool air is located. , state0's in detroit college. the winter has arrived there. cloudyte radar, partly right now. a little closer, some breaks in the clouds overnight. partly sunny skies, waking up tomorrow morning with temperatures ranging from anywhere between 34 to 40, with

wind out of the northwest at 8 to 12. oforrow, january 1, a lot you getting up early to exercise, bundle up it will be chilly. 35 fairfax, 35 germantown. moving through the day tomorrow, the clouds begin to break apart. the high pressure builds overhead, meaning more sunshine. with the sunshine will come cooler temperatures. the wind out of the north and west, daytime high temperatures in the 50's. tomorrow will only be in the 40's. the seven day outlook in a moment, daytime highs will only be in the 30's. nighttime lows will be in the 20's. to seventhe next five days, dry, no snow in the forecast. january 1, 2016, a cool start to the morning, middle 40's by noontime. 5:00, upper 40's. the next seven days, saturday

7 sunday, the were 40's monday. and tuesday, these are in-town temperatures, inside the beltway, upper 30's, in the mountains low 30's during the day. nighttime lows in the 20's. if we get enough moisture -- we will not -- but tuesday would be the perfect day to make some snow at night. will not happen, but maybe for the ski resorts. go atle bit of snow will long way, especially the season they have had. leon: ice talk. erin: perfect transition. good work, steve and leon. you set him up. the capitals on the road this new year's eve. sports is coming up.

it's the holidays, which means a house full of people, who all want to get online. so hurry and get verizon fios. only fios has the fastest internet and wi-fi available, with speeds from 50 to 500 megs. and right now, for only $79.99 a month online, you get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for your first year. plus, with a 2-year agreement, fios ges you $400 back, and all the premium movie channels for a year. so go online or call now for this great offer. get out of the past. get fios.

♪ (vo) some call it giving back. we call it share the love. during our share the love event, get a new subaru, and we'll donate $250 to those in need. bringi our total donations to over sixty-five million dollars. and bringing love where it's needed most. love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru. >> and now the toyota sports desk, brought you by your local toyota dealers. erin: the capitals on the road tonight in carolina, looking to extend their nine-game winning streak, but they would have to do it without john carlson and jay beagle. we picked this up in the second, the slapper. 1-0 carolina. in the third, the canes pounce.

and thehe goal, nine-game win streak is over. the caps lose 4-2. preparing forre their final game of the season in dallas sunday, a game that does not mean anything as the redskins have already clinched a playoff spot, but jay gruden expects the starters to play unless they are injured. he wants to keep the momentum going into the playoffs. this insightful message from a rookie. >> i understand everybody don't look at the playoffs, the playoffs are next week. i wish i had a machine i could push forward. i just want to tell all the guys, let's finish the season strong, be healthy, be smart about what we are doing. erin: a big night in college football, the national semi final, clemson-oklahoma.

-yard pass, clemson roles in the orange bowl. they will face the winner of the cotton bowl, which looks to be alabama. good thing the redskins are not playing at lambeau field this weekend. this was the field. fans were asked to give a helping hand to get the stadium ready for packers-vikings on sunday. the job pays $10 per hour come if you are interested. there could be warmer days ahead for the packers. the citrusorget, bowl featuring michigan and florida will be right here on abc 7 tomorrow at 1:00. leon: i just noticed you are wearing clemson colors. is that who you were pulling for? erin: no. leon: sure. for the girl scout meeting...

okay. for the soccer team... for the girl scout meeting...

how many meetings are you having?! at giant, prices are down. savings are up. which makes the checkout lane, victory lane. my giant. president obama: highways wanted

to be on a show about nothing, and here i am. comedy wod leaders do you are completely out of their mind? president obama: i think a sizable amount. leon: that is president obama on jerry seinfeld's web series. they go into the white house grounds and enjoy coffee. the entire video includes a conversation about presidential underwear come of all things, and it's available on wjla.com. steve: you watched it and liked it? leon: it was interesting. steve: in the 40's tomorrow, middle 40's saturday. leon: have a good night.

we're live in new york city. the magic moment, just a half-hour away. the crowd is pumped. our special guests are ready to hit the stage. we're saying so long to 2015 with the biggest party on the planet. so, let's get it started. here we go. live from hollywood, it's "dick clark's new year's rockin' eve" 2016. with carrie underwood and jimmy buffet, 5 days