this morning on "world news now," dangerous weather impacting millions. >> warm, dry winds are getting stronger across california, fanning a large brush fire overnight. and in the plains and midwest, dangerously cold temperatures are moving bringing whiteout ski conditions and snow. the russia probe is getting closer to the president. one says no matter what the president has done it can't be obstruction of justice. now the plan is being faced with multiple lawsuits. we're talking to people on both sides of the

morning, 10:00 a.m., santa's coming. >> santa! oh, my god! >> i know him! >> the excitement builds, so does the controversy. with santa under fire this morning. seriously, a 6-year-old going after the big man in a scathing rebuke of his powers. his letter and why it may have santa rethinking everything on this tuesday, december ath. a are you hearing me now? from abc news, this is "world news now." >> santa! >> you maight not want to know santa after this letter. it is scathing. it is scandalous. we're going to get a special prosecutor involved in all of this. because there's a 6-year-old who is like, oh, no. >> he is not happy with santa. things are busy on the east and west

severe hitting with the breaking news from the west coast. high winds fanning a fire north of los angeles. >> the fire is tearing through ventura county, growing within hours to more than 10,000 acres. wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour fanning the flames. >> at least one person was killed in a car crash connected to the fire. the person may have been trying to escape the flames. there are mandatory evacuations of homes and a college there in santa paula and ventura as well. there are widespread power outages, more than 150,000 customers without power this morning. the damaging winds will be strongest today but are expected through thursday. so a tense few days ahead there in southern california. we've been watching this for several hours now, and just watch this fire as it has blown up overnight. it continues to be a very, very tense moment. we'll stay on top of this breaking news. meanwhile, in the center of the country, the concern right now

>> parts of the dakotas and minnesota seeing blizzard and whiteout conditions, dumping nearly a foot of snow, driven by wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour. rob marciano tracking it. >> reporter: the warmth and rain squeezes off to the east. temperatures will feel 50 degrees colder, especially in minneapolis. below freezing temperatures from boston, nashville all the way to mississippi, with a reinforcing shot of cold coming this weekend. >> oh, good times there, thanks, rob. we're going to continue to follow both weather situations throughout the day. but now to that former trump campaign chairman, paul manafort, accused of drafting an editorial, co-written with someone linked to russian intelligence. >> so in a court filing, special counsel robert mueller's team says man for the and his russian colleague were ghost writing the op ed as late as last

that violates the $10 million bail. >> man for tafort remains under arrest. president trump is now sympathizing with michael flynn days after flynn's guilty plea. >> the president's comments came as his defense team appears to be turning to a new strategy following a controversial tweet following his decision to fire flynn. one of the president's attorneys is now arguing that trump cannot be guilty of obstructing justice. abc's jonathan karl explains. >> reporter: at the white house, the president offered words of sympathy for his former national security advise ir, michael flynn. >> well, i feel badly for general flynn, i feel very badly. he's led a very strong life. >> reporter: over the weekend a decidedly different tone from the president when he is asked if he stands behind flynn. >> we'll see what happens.

bargain is a big rid fled flag the white house. >> i think what we're beginning to see is the putting together of a case of obstruction of justice. >> reporter: the president seems determined to undermine that case by slamming the fbi. tweeting that its reputation is, quote, in tatters. worst in history. >> i will say this. hillary clinton lied many times to the fbi, nothing happened to her. flynn lied and they've destroyed his life. i think it's a shame. very unfair. >> reporter: but former fbi director james comey has testified he had no reason to believe clinton lied to the fbi. he is defending the agency he once led, quoting his own words to congress after he was fired by president trump. >> i want the american people to know this truth. the fbi is honest. the fbi is strong. and the fbi is and always will be independent. >> reporter: over the weekend, the president's o

he has said before that he fired general flynn because he lied to the vice president. but this weekend he tweeted, quote, i had to fire general flynn because he lied to the vice president and the fbi. that tweet could become a problem. the president had not previously acknowledged knowing that flynn lied to the fbi when he fired him. comey claims trump pressed him to halt any investigation into flynn. a possible obstruction of justice. now the president's personal lawyer, john dowd, said it was he who wrote the president's tweet. but it has not been disavowed by the white house. and the president continues to deny that he ever asked comey to go easy on michael flynn. the president's lawyer is now arguing that the president, because of the nature of his job as the top law enforcement officer in the nation cannot be guilty of obstruction of justice. it's a variation of

that if the president does it, it's not illegal. jonathan karl, abc news, the white house. and the president has offered his strongest support yet for alabama senate candidate roy moore. trump tweeted twice and called moore, offering his endorsement. moore tweeted that trump told him to "go get'em". also the republican national committee has reestablished its support for moore. the committee had previously withdrawn its support because of the allegations against moore. one woman who said she dated him when she was a teen and he was in his 30s has come forward with a graduation card that she says was from moore. she showed that to the "washington post" saying it's proof that she did know moore and openly dated him. she said she decided to come forward with the new evidence when she heard moore say he didn't know any of his accusers. she now knows he's a liar. the administration's latest travel ban is

thanks to the supreme court. the justices allowed the ban on travel to the u.s. from six mostly-muslim countries to be fully enforced while challenges move through lower federal courts. arguments on the legality of the ban are being held in two appeals courts this week. ultimately, the legality is likely to be decided by the supreme court. environmental and native-american groups are filing lawsuits after the president scaled back two national monuments in use use. it's the largest roll back of federal land protection in u.s. history. donya baucus has details. >> reporter: president trump signing proclamations to shrink two areas, bears ears and grand staircase. >> to revoke federal overreach and restore the rights of this land to your citizens. >> reporter: bears ears will be

acres from its current designation of over 1.5 million acres. grand staircase will drop from around 2 million acres to just above 1 million. the move was met by protesters. ♪ we will speak out >> reporter: for months, they fought to preserve the designation of monument which some say added vital protections to tribal lands. >> you're taking away what we believe in. >> reporter: ranchers say it took away their grazing rights on wide areas of land. >> it's very important to us. we've been here for a long time, and it's how we make our lives. >> reporter: president trump's decision comes after he signed an executive order earlier this year calling for the review of 27 monuments designated under the antiquities act. former president obama established bears ears at the end of his term after a coalition of tribes spent years urging that the area be made a national monument. the announcement is expected to face legal challenge

native-american groups. diane and kendis? >> the challenges will continue for some time, donya, thank you. and breaking overnight, the coast guard is searching for two fishermen missing off nantucket, massachusetts. two others were picked up from life rafts by another vessel after the misty blue sank. and some can rest easy now that police say they caught the culprits trying to spoil christmas. >> they've been investigating since a vandal ruined a christmas lights display in the jersey shore town of seagert last week. workers repaired the torn lights. but police had a feeling the suspect -- so they staged a stakeout. >> they thought he was going to come back. the stakeout worked. >> oh, okay. >> there is the suspect! caught in the act! it was a squirrel

through the wires. the squirrel was charged with criminal mischief and released on bail. >> that's it? >> yeah. he's back out there. >> not his first time, by the way. >> watch your christmas lights, everybody. >> coming up, decorating yourself for the holidays. >> we'll find out why a college student is wearing a christmas tree costume to class for the rest of the semester. >> the squirrel might like that. and the latest on the student who wednesdnt missing w her soccer coach, next on world enoughs now. ead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. then i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if you're eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. call now and find out about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan,

like all standardized medicare supplement insurance plans, it helps pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and could save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. to me, relationships matter. i've been with my doctor for 12 years. now i know i'll be able to stick with him. [ male announcer ] with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. plus, there are no networks, and virtually no referrals needed. so don't wait. call now and request this free decision guide to help you better understand medicare... and which aarp medicare supplement plan might be best for you. there's a wide range to choose from. we love to travel - and there's so much more to see. so we found a plan that can travel with us. anywhere in the country. [ male announcer ] join the millions of people who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans

an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations. remember, all medicare supplement insurance plans help cover what medicare doesn't pay. and could save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. call now to request your free decision guide. and learn more about the kinds of plans that will be here for you now - and down the road. i have a lifetime of experience. so i know how important that is. tand, our adulte children are here. so, we save by using tide. which means we use less. three generations of clothes cleaned in one wash. those are moms. anybody seen my pants? nothing cleans better. put those on dad! it's got to be tide.

we're getting a first look at this dramatic body cam video from a police officer in savannah, georgia, racing up flights of stairs to rescue a choking infant. he used chest compressions to restart the 29-year-old baby's breathing. he's credited for saving her life. slager returns to court for sentencing. he's charged with using excessive force when he killed an unarmed man, walter scott after a traffic stop. this video taken by a bystander is a key part of tha

and deaf and hearing-impaired residents of the tampa area say the sign language interpreter last week wasn't much help. he was announcing the arrest of a serial killer, but those who know american sign language aren't sure what that interpreter was announcing because apparently nothing made sense. the police department says they didn't arrange for her and they had someone else for the next news conference. >> sort of like the sign language person at mandela's funeral making things up along the way. >> and no one had any idea what he was talking about. >> a large part of the world watching was confused. so we're learning new details about the 17-year-old high school senior from florida who triggered a nationwide search. >> police caught up with her and her soccer coach 1,000 miles from home. here's linzie janis. >> reporter: standing side by side, clinging to their daughter, the parents of

relieved she is back home in florida after disappearing with a soccer coach from her high school. >> we are looking forward to a very merry christmas and extremely bright future for caitlyn. >> reporter: the coach, 27-year-old ryen rodriguez who once gave her private soccer lessons, now facing charges of interfering with the custody of a minor. >> there are indicators that there was a relationship that started in august or september. >> reporter: before they disappeared. friends of frisina say she texted them saying he wanted her to leave the country with him. she climbed out of the bedroom window after erasing her phone. her father took the sim card from that phone and discovered lewd snapchat messages. they were spott

surveillance cameras in south and north carolina before with being detained in new york less than 100 miles from the canadian border. the police investigation isn't over. he could face additional charges. abc news, orlando. coming up, weight watchers is upping the diet game again. >> the dramatic changes next on "world news now." the bug stops here protection. lysol kills over 100 illness-causing germs and viruses, even those that may cause stomach bugs. lysol. what it takes to protect. ltry align probiotic.n your digestive system? for a non-stop, sweet treat goodness, hold on to your tiara kind of day. get 24/7 digestive support, with align. the #1 doctor recommended probiotic brand. also in kids chewables.

stepping into the unknown, it can be difficult to find the way. but with the compassion and strength of a name, and the security of the cross and shield, obstacles... become openings. as we have for more than 75 years, we'll continue to light the way. using our knowledge to create new healthcare solutions giving you the power to shine forward... to whatever awaits tomorrow. carefirst blue cross blue shield. live fearless.

♪ ♪ >> so that schoolhouse rock teaching kids about the importance of the heroic zero. >> zeros are important too. >> yes, that's what i tell the ladies all the time. it's okay that i'm a zero. now the number's back in the headlines. >> no, you're not. did i take too long with the response? weight-watchers has just added 200 foods to its zero points, eat as much as y

category, but is there a catch? here's adrienne bankert. >> reporter: weight-watchers is blowing it up again. oprah announced she has lost 40 pounds and is raving about "freesty "freestyle". the fish tacos are zero points. members lose weight by limiting the number they consume. weight watchers is taking food that will fill people up without costing them precious points. >> it's not thing like cake, cookies, chips and soda. th their idea is not that you request can go on a free-for-all but choosing foods that you are not likely to overeat. >> reporter: 200 more items have been added to the menu, including low-fat yogurt, corn,

alexis has lost almost 95 pounds on weight watchers and was part of an early group to test the freestyle program. >> you think i can't go out to dinner because i'm not going to have options that fit with my plan or program. by having things like seafood and chicken and turkey, you are able to eat the foods that you need to fuel your body and get to eat the foods that you want to indulge in. >> reporter: to counteract the extra calories, daily points totals go down. but now there's a point rollover system. >> let's say you're allocated 20 points today and you only consume 15. you roll the 5 over on the next day. on a tuesday, maybe you can save them up for something you want to indulge in later in the week. >> reporter: but zero points don't mean zero calories. >> you still have to balance your plate and think about which foods you're eating. you can't just have allou

cookies and not move your body and not be mindful. >> adrian bankert, abc news. >> it's all about mindfulness. think about what you're eating before you eat. >> i'm thinking about cheeseburgers and cookies. >> and we're okay with it.

ialmost everything. you know, ke 1 i n 10 houses could get hit by an expensive septic disaster. but for only $7 a month, rid-x helps break down waste. avoid a septic disaster with rid-x. i had this chest cold, but my medicine kept wearing off. oughs)! i missed you! then i discovered mucinex. one pill lasts 12 hours,and i'm good. why take 4-hour medicine? one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this.

detergent alone doesn't kill bacteria but adding lysol laundry sanitizer kills 99.9% of bacteria with 0% bleach. lysol. what it takes to protect. so thouis is about that tim when all these kids are writing to santa and saying i have been awesome. in school, they kind of force kids to do it, just to get it out of the way. they did it for this 6-year-old kid who is cute and his mom posted the letter. it is a love letter to santa. it says dear santa. santa, i'm only doing this for the class. i know you're not in this, and your list is empty, your life itself is empty. >> oh. >> you don't know the trouble i've had in my life. good-bye.

name. >> oh, oh, oh. wow. >> sarah mckaman posted this letter of her kid's somewhat skeptical letter. >> somewhat skeptic 6-year-old. >> yeah, exactly. just imagine what the letter will be by saturday. >> you don't know the trouble i have had in my life. i lost my lego yesterday, take that, santa. >> therapy. >> sticking with the christmas spirit, let's go to a student at the university of alabama regretting a challenge to her twitter followers. 20 year old kelsey hall posted this picture, challenging her 300 followers to share the picture more than 1,000 times, saying if it reached that mark she would wear this costume to class for the rest of the semester. you can guess what happened next. the tweet reached 10,000 retweets in only two days. chelsea says, yeah, she didn't expect that to happen, to have to wear the

for the semester, but she says she's going to stick with it and hopes to bring christmas cheer to her classmates, walking hand in hand. >> ooh, look at that. that's awesome. there's still plenty of time this semester, especially down in alabama. all right. so this eastern european brand, di conna has come out with a full-body tube scarf. >> huh? >> it's what you need. take a look at it. it's about 8 feet long. >> what are you supposed to do with that? >> she's doing it. it's means to be wrapped around the whole body like a giant leg warmer. >> that's what it looks like. and you can walk in it? is this a fashion statement? >> the turtle neck is back. it's about $220. >> it's a giant turtleneck neck. speaking of fashion, i think i have a better one for you, the company fab dog

for you and your dog. the set matches. dogs get some, you get some. $60. but they're sold out

this morning on "world news now," president trump is giving his full support to alabama senate candidate roy moore despite sexual misconduct allegations against him. and the republican committee is sending resources back to alabama. what it all means a week before the election. and the president's legal team comes up with a new strategy, saying that the president cannot obstruct justice. this comes as michael flynn is now cooperating with the russia probe. and if at first you don't succeed, detroit, try again. >> the silverdome faced a second round of explosives.