sam: weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in

are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: let's get into the top five this morning.... sabrina: thirteen items will get the axe at west des moines schools....includi ng the foreign language program for first through third graders. the cuts will first through third graders. the cuts will save west des moines schools nearly 600- thousand dollars. the district originally had a goal of saving 800-thousand. it's not clear if more cuts are ahead. sabrina: elias: in the number two spot this morning... sabrina: madrid is mourning the loss of head football coach rand hinkel. despite leading his teams to 25 of the last 26 state playoffs, his winning record will not be the only thing remembered most by the community. ""30 years ive seen him take boys make them into men, better citizens, fathers and husbands sabrina: you could also feel the love for hinkel during our "blitz game day" live

during football season-- where fans held signs of the beloved coach's head. sabrina: the third thing you need to know before you walk out the door... sabrina: an investigation into a hazing incident at ankeny centennial high school has begun. the case apparently involves eleven students at the school. the district says it's committed to the safety of all students, but isn't commenting on any disciplinary action against the students involved. sabrina: number four... sabrina: the manhunt grwos for the texas teenager that was spared jail timr for a deadly drunk driving accident due to an infamous affluenza defense. a five-thousand dollar reward has been offered for information leading to ethan couch. his mother has also been officially declared a missing person. officially declared a missing person. the pair are believed to be on the run together. sabrina: and finally in the top five... sabrina: governor terry branstad has issued an executive order to step up iowa's cyber-security. the order would initiate a cyber- security strategy, and update iowa's

update iowa's emergency response plan. governor branstad wants a way to better deal with the consequences of an attack on the state's infrastructure. sabrina: another republican presidential candidate decides to drop out of the race and the frontrunners from both parties increase attacks on each other this morning...as we take a look at news from you local election headquarters. sabrina: south carolina senator lindsey graham decided to suspend his campaign for the white house. since joining the campaign, graham has struggled in the polls due to a crowded republican field. his numbers never got him to the prime time debate stage. graham joins republicans rick perry, scott walker, and bobby jindal who've withdrawn from the race so far. that leaves thirteen major presidential candidates for republicans with just over a month until the iowa caucus. sabrina: billionaire donald trump has his sights set on hillary clinton. overnight, the gop presidential frontrunner used a sexually derogatory

opponent. and this morning, the clinton camp has some strong words for trump. abc's kenneth moton has the latest on the frontrunner battle. " script: hillary clinton versus donald trump...the top contenders' war of words got downright nasty overnight. the gop frontrunner used a vulgar term to describe clinton's 2008 loss to president obama. sot trump she was favored to win and she got (bleep). she lost, i mean she lost. trump rallied thousands of his supporters in grand rapids, michigan...calling out clinton for taking a bathroom break during the abc news democratic debate. sot trump "i know where she went, it's disgusting...." trump's latest attack...sparked by this claim from clinton. sot hillary clinton he is becoming isis's best recruiter. they are going to people showing videos of donald trump insulting islam and muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists. trump called that a lie and demanded an apology. clinton's campaign said quote "hell no"

sot brian fallonclinton campaign spokesman "these comments are aired across the middle east, isis is pointing to them on social media. it's making us less safe. it's farcical to suggest from donald trump of all people, that hillary clinton should apologize to him" instead, clinton got creative... quick nat from video she released this campaign video just in time for christmas featuring the "grinches in gopville" youtube ad we'll send them back to gopville where they all belong, we'll protect our progress and keep american families strong (kenneth standup close) clinton has not responded to trump's latest comments but her campaign chair went on a twitter rant saying she will never back down from calling out trump. kenneth moton, abc news washington." sabrina: we're back with meterologist sam schreier... sam: (sam adlibs) sam:

we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel

rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: new this morning, a name change and new logo for a local crime stoppers organization. sabrina: polk county crime stoppers will now be operating under a new name....crime stoppers of central iowa. the organization will maintain the same principals and efforts it has in the past, but is expanding to assist law enforcement in the communities surrounding polk county. the non-profit assists law enforcement by offering incentives for crime tips....with reward money coming from fund-raising and donations. the change becomes fully effective on january first. sabrina: applications for iowa's safe at home program are now being accepted by the secretary of state's office... the program helps victims of domestic violence, and state officials expect around 150 people to sign up in the first half of the

"this program offers a way out. it's not the answer, there's other initiatives that we will continue to work on, but it is, as you indicated, another tool in the tool box to start to make a difference for individuals that are suffering." " sabrina: safe at home helps keep personal information private for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, trafficking, and stalking. sabrina at ((time check)) we'll take a short break but still have lots more good morning iowa ahead..... coming up, healthy eating ahead..... coming up, healthy eating can be difficult during the holidays, but with a little knowledge, you can treat yourself without wrecking healthy habits! sabrina: but first...for those traveling into polk county...be safe this morning... the sheriff's office has automated traffic enforcement vehicles at two locations.... one at the ...68- hundred block of northwest toni drive and a second at the ...nine- hundred block of boone street...that's in sheldahl so take care on the roads today... street...that's in sheldahl so take care on the roads today... sabrina let's also get a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at valley west... [current conditions] good morning

morning iowa in hd with elias johnson, sabrina ahmed and we are iowas most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. this is good morning iowa." sabrina: if may not feel like it, but today will be the first full day of winter for the northern hemisphere... the earth finished its tilt back just before eleven last night...moving us into the winter solstice. much of the country has

temperatures for december. that's on the heels of the warmest autumn on record. you can blame it on the el nio weather phenomenon. sabrina: (anchor toss to wx) sam: adlib toss. sam: weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel

rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: the holidays are upon us, but that's not an excuse to veer from your diet. with a little thought and preparation, you can eat the treats you want without breaking your health habits. elizabeth cohen explains. " --reporter pkg-as follows-- eating during the holiday season is all about balance - eating the treats we want, but remembering our good health habits so we don't pack on the pounds. how do we make this happen? registered dietitian dana nahai

meals in-between the holiday get togethers. (dana nahai/registered dietitian) you want to focus on foods that are naturally low in fat and high in fiber like vegetables, whole grains and beans. such as in this dish with brown rice, lentils, butternut squash and parsley. and when you do head to the holiday parties, try not to pile too much on your plate. (dana nahai/registered dietitian) you don't want to consume more than the typical amount that you would consume at any other sit-down meal. and if you're drinking alcohol, here's a trick to cut down on calories. (dana nahai/registered dietitian) try refilling your glass with water in-between cocktails. and though our schedules get hectic this time of year, it's important to remember to exercise. it can help burn off those extra calories, so that when we indulge we don't leave the holiday season with an extra bulge. " sabrina we have lots more good morning iowa ahead...but first here's abc's reena ninan and kendis gibson with tech bytes. techbytes: in today's tech bytes... one of apple's newest features now works, on facebook. "apple

hey there, in today's "techbytes," one of apple's newest features now works on facebook. >> apple live photos turns your favorite photos into three seconds of videos. the catch, they're only available on facebook's ios app. and lg taking smart vacuum to the next level. the new homebot turbo plus uses an app to direct the device to areas owners would like cleaned. >> yeah, so, users can point their phone camera at areas that need extra cleaning and the vacuum will head to that location. >> not so sure about that one. and now you can react to your friend's text messages just like kim kardashian would, with kimojis. >> the app was so popular yesterday it broke the apple app store. >> she seems to be ahead of the game.

those are your "techbytes." what if the sweet stevia leaf was discovered... ...before the sugarcane. all our favorite sugary foods would be our favorite truvia-y foods. truvia. life with less sugar is just as sweet. when cigarette cravings hit, all i can think about is getting relief. only nicorette mini has a patented fast-dissolving formula. it starts to relieve sudden cravings fast.

that's why i only choose nicorette mini. "now, we are iowa's most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. certified by weatherrate the independent weather experts" sam weather adlib: put script here in green we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers

late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sam toss back. sabrina:

this today...an airline introduces a way this today...an airline introduces a way to cut holiday travel stress.. united airlines has recruited some furry

less "ruff"... its united paws program will introduces comfort dogs to select airports this week. the dogs walk the terminals during a morning and afternoon shift, helping passengers reduce stress and anxiety. after all....it's hard to stay mad about a delay when you have a furry face and wagging tail nearby. all: (reax) sabrina

short break... but when we come back... looking for a last minute gift this christmas, but want to go with something out of the ordinary... we'll take a look at why the city of des moines

"you're watching good morning iowa in hd. we are iowa." sabrina on your money now sabrina a new study finds fewer americans have high-speed internet at home. pew research center found high costs of broadband internet connections -- and the convenience of smart-phones --

researchers say americans have internet at home. that's compared to 70 percent in three-percent years. sabrina: enjoying the holiday season followed by the most dreaded time of year....tax season. the i-r-s says that tax filing january 19th. day the agency will accept 20-15 returns either or on paper. stress the need your personal and tax information, to help avoid identity theft during tax time. sabrina: and boy did the force awaken over the weekend....the new star wars installment made 248 million dollars in north america...and 539 million dollars worldwide during its opening weekend. both setting new opening weekend records for a movie. and that's just the beginning... experts say companies cashing in on merchandising deals tied to star wars could look to bring in five billion

sabrina: with christmas just days away, good morning iowa has been looking at unique gift ideas to consider this holiday season... today, we talk about presents you can pick up through the des moines parks and rec department... for those who enjoy a swim, you may want to pick them up a season swim pass...which also have discounted prices this time of year. you could also honor a pet with a "dog bone" at one of the dog parks. and the department also offers gift certificates good for things like shelter rentals. sabrina that's a look at your money this morning... coming up after the break... sam's in with central iowa's most accurate forecast... but first... time for a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at euclid... [current conditions] good morning iowa returns after this.

topping your headlines this morning... iowa's governor wants the state to take measures for stepping up its cyber security sabrina: and despite the rains washing out their holiday attraction, the make-a-wish foundation gets some very good news. sabrina: plus, a central iowa community mourns the sudden loss of a beloved coach whose impact goes far beyond the football field. "you're watching good moring iowa in hd. we are iowa's most accurate weather team. good morning iowa starts now " sabrina: thanks for joining us on your [day of week] morning, i'm sabrina ahmed. elias: weather is always first on good morning iowa... in with central iowa's most accurate forecast... meteorologist sam schreier. sam: (adlib toss) sam weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be

into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: our top story this morning....madrid mourns the sudden death of long time coach randy hinkel sabrina: the beloved coach has a name that became

randy hinkel was known for winning on the football field in madrid. but it was away from the gridiron where he may have left his biggest impact. local five's claire powell has the story "wanted to go to sleep wake up and realize it was a bad dream. it wasnt just a bad dream"d "we were looking for a football coach... and a teacher, he impressed us most as a teacher" j "first to chew your butt when you got it coming,but first to put his arm around you when you had that coming too" "he had that unique ability of making everybody important, makign them see they had a role" "i got the news, i was shocked and didnt know what to do. i couldnt believe it would happen to someone like him, hes so strong" t "we had a lot of fun, hes the type of guy that just from friendship youre fortunate to have in

whistles laughs "theres a long list of hinkelisms that we were fortunate to be a part of" "when the going gets tough, are we going to give up or nut up" hinkelism "whats it going to take to win tonight? he'll say outscore the opponent" > "lives not always easy, sometimes you get punched in the gut. how you respond to that is how youre going to be as a man" d "what are you going to do when you get uncomfortable? thatll be in my mind forever. ar eyou going to throw in teh towel or fight through it. ill use that for the rest of my life. that quote will be stuck in my brain" t "if youre on time you're late... that was a goodone" sp > "community as a whole is a better place because of randy hinkel" d "he was a big part of our lives outside off hte field, with our families." sp "we had a feeling hed be a great fit in madrid, he ended up being one of my best friends for a long time" jim "we'll remember him forever and he left his mark here and hes a true legend. never forget him. " ending? t

will be this wednesday. visitation is from 4 to 7 at the high school. madrid schools will dismiss early wednesday to get ready. they'll also have the lights at the football field on from 5 to 11 their respects. sabrina: in other news...an investigation is underway in ankeny this morning. sabrina: the focus is on a possible hazing incident at ankeny centennial high school. it apparently involved 11 students. in a statement, the district says it's committed to the safety of all students. it says, quote: "when concerns or issues regarding student conduct arise, ankeny schools administrators investigate reports and then follow policy set by the board of education, based on the circumstances." the district isn't commenting on any disciplinary action against the students involved. sabrina: west des moines school officials have determined what will be cut as they try compensate for a drop in enrollment... the district will be cutting 13 items. one is the foreign language program for first through third graders. also cut, the des moines art center scholarships and 3-year-old

education preschool offered by the district. all these cuts will save west des moines schools nearly 600-thousand dollars. the district originally had a goal of saving 800-thousand. it's not clear if more cuts are ahead. sabrina: we're back with meterologist sam schreier... sam: (sam adlibs) sam: weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the sam: weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we

will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: governor branstad has his sabrina:

cyber-hackers! monday he announced an executive order to set up a state cyber-security strategy and update iowa's emergency response plan, he wants to better deal with the consequences of an attack on the state's infrastructure. director of homeland security and emergency management mark schouten "like floods, tornadoes, and winter storms, it's important that we be prepared to respond to a significant cyber attack should one occur" the update to the state's emergency reponse plan will be part of a broader iowa cyber security strategy as requested by the governor in his executive order." sabrina: governor branstad also formed a state cyber working group last december to expand on the work that was being done at the national level. that group is made up of state agencies and federal and private partners. sabrina at ((time check)) we'll take a short break here on good

may have put a stop to jolly holiday lights, but others pitch in to help the organization that it benefits. sabrina: but before we go...as you get ready to start your day...be safe out on the roads.... des moines police will have mobile radar set up at three locations... one at the ....three-hundred block of east mckinley - east bound a second at the....nine- hundred block of maury - east bound and due to the holidays...a third set up at the 51- hundred block of franklin -east bound. so use caution while driving.. sabrina while we're at it... a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at mlk... [current conditions] good morning iowa continues after this!

elias johnson, sabrina ahmed and we are iowas most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. this is good morning iowa." sabrina: those in northern california are dealing with a winter storm this morning. forecasters say strong storm systems will bring heavy mountain snow this week. snow rates of more than one inch per hour were expected overnight. lower elevations could see accumulation of up to 14-inches, with more than two-feet of new snow at higher elevations. sabrina: anchor toss to wx sam: adlib toss. sam: weather adlib: we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there

enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week. sabrina: from the brink

foundation is now having a remarkable fundraising season. the jolly holiday lights were shut down due to flooding a little over a week ago. organizers were concerned they wouldn't be able to reach enough kids during the holidays. local hospitals started a push on social media, with the hashtag bring the jolly, and presented a check to the foundation. because of those efforts, make-a-wish now has nearly $400- thousand dollars. " "chris voggesser, make a wish iowa ceo: "at a time of year where you want something good and some good news to happen, we were able to make something bad for us turn it into something wonderful." sabrina: there's still time to contribute to the campaign. it will run through january first. sabrina elias: we have more good morning iowa coming up right after the break.. but first here's what's coming up on "good morning america."

"you're watching good morning iowa in hd. we are iowa." sabrina jey & jimmy uso brothers from a legendary samoan wrestling family have been wwe tag team champions wwe super smackdown live see your favorite superstars in action! on december 22 wwe super smackdown live comes to wells fargo arena. this tuesday morning, the uso brothers (jey uso and jimmy uso) joins us on good morning iowa. the pair discusses what it is like to wrestle professionally and

"now, we are iowa's most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. certified by weatherrate the independent weather experts" sam weather adlib: put script here in green we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little

partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late friday and last throughout the weekend and into early the 40s through most of the weekend but 30s are likely coming back in the middle of next week.

toss back. sabrina elias: a final look at the top five... all the news you need to know before you head out the door... right after this.

let's get a final look at your top five.... sabrina: thirteen items will get the axe at west des moines schools....includi ng the foreign language program for first through third graders. the cuts will save west des moines schools nearly 600- thousand dollars. the district originally had a goal of saving 800-thousand. it's not clear if more cuts are ahead. sabrina: elias: in the number two spot this morning... sabrina: madrid is mourning the loss of head football coach rand hinkel. despite leading his teams to 25 of the last 26 state playoffs, his winning record will not be the only thing remembered most by the community. funeral services for coach hinkel will be this wednesday. madrid schools will dismiss early wednesday to get ready. sabrina: elias: the third thing you need to know before you walk out the door... sabrina: an investigation into a hazing incident at ankeny centennial high school has begun. the case

students at the school. the district says it's committed to the safety of all students, but isn't commenting on any disciplinary action against the students involved. sabrina: elias: number four... sabrina: the manhunt grwos for the texas teenager that was spared jail timr for a deadly drunk driving accident due to an infamous affluenza defense. a five-thousand dollar reward has been offered for information dollar reward has been offered for information leading to ethan couch. his mother has also been officially declared a missing person. the pair are believed to be on the run together. sabrina: elias: and finally... you'll want to know about this story in the big five... sabrina: governor terry branstad has issued an executive order to step up iowa's cyber-security. the order would initiate a cyber- security strategy, and update iowa's emergency response plan. governor branstad wants a way to better deal with the consequences of an attack on the state's consequences of an attack on the state's infrastructure. sabrina

final look at central iowa's most accurate forecast... sam final weather adlib we are dry across the state and after the gloomy and cold day we had yesterday, we can now look forward to something a little brighter and warmer. we are going to have partly sunny skies today, so while there won't be a ton of sun all day, there will be enough to warm us up into the mid 40s. overnight tonight we are going to see the clouds return, and so will the rain. showers will start popping up late tonight but more so through tomorrow morning across central iowa and give eastern iowa the heaviest rain totals. temperatures will be falling quickly on the back side of the rain, so it's possible we will have a bit of a rain/snow mix work across the state, but again rain is the primary form of precip expected tomorrow. thursday there is still a small chance for a few snow showers, but accumulations still look minimal at best, so travel shouldn't be affected. rain chances return late fday and last throughout the weekend and into early next week. we'll be in