day. good 33 morning columbia. thanks for joining us. i'm rochelle

jonathan kennedy. we're live from main and gervais. the time's now 5:00. freezing temperatures are hitting us once again this morning... so you'll definitely want to dress in warm clothes before you head

to 33 give you a quick traffic update as you head out and

some trouble spots that you might encounter. south carolina highway patrol is reporting a collision with injuries on the i-26 flyover that's going to be in the eastbound lanes. of course, we'll be sure to keep an eye on the roads and keep you updated for your morning commute. a-b-c columbia wants to help you jump start your day. we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get started. two richland county politicians are charged with not paying their taxes. richland county councilman kelvin washington is facing three counts of willful failure to file a tax return for three consecutive years. and former city councilman brian newmananis facing two counts of failure to pay taxes in 2012 and 2013. both men are out on bond. while the charges arose following an investigation by the department of revenue into the county's penny tax program... newman's attorney's says the

the current charges. 33 newman received two years of probation. the time will be reduced to six months after he pays nearly 11-thousand dollars in taxes owed and court costs. in a statement richland county council chairman torrey rush says the matter is being dealt with by authorities and 'if there is any required action by richland county council, we are prepared to call a meeting and act accordingly.' those arrests are putting the richland county penny tax program back under the microscope. one county council man... seth rose says... rebuilding confidence in the penny tax program is a top priority... and that changes need to take place. rose hahaproposed three motions.... included giving added power to the citizens

revamping of the process used to approve companies selected for carrying out penny projects. his plans also include reimbursement of penny tax dollars spent on efforts aimed at engaging small business. rose's 33 motion will be on the council's january 12th agenda, when it will be referred to the appropriate committee for vetting. president barack obama has unveiled a 10-point plan he says will help keep guns from those who shouldn't have them. the measures include expanding background checks on firearms sales. the administration is also expected to provide more funding for mental health treatment, fbi staff and the bureau of alcohol, tobacco firearms and explosives agents. the widow of the late senator clementa pinckey stood

made the announcement. president obama went on to name charleston in a list of cities where mass shootings have occurred... and became emotional when speaking about the children killed at sandy hook elementary school. 33 president obama call his proposals common-sense safety measures... but the national rifle association says the effort to tighten sales of firearms are "ripe for abuse." back here at home... the announcement has residents divided over the issue of gun control. we caught up with customers outside of

columbia... who say they support their second amendment right to bear arms... but did express different views when it comes to their thoughts on the president's proposal. and south 33 carolina attorney general alan wilson has issued a response to the president's executive order.. saying in part: "the president cannot criminalize conduct through executive fiat. whether at the federal or state levels, criminal laws can only be enacted or amended through action by the legislative branches. someone should remind president obama that america is not a monarchy."

really packing a punch. we'll have the latest on the storms slamming the west coast. a very cold start to your wednesday with temps in the 20's.expect a slightly warmer afternoon with mostly sunny skies.more details next.we are

33 quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. a series of strong storms are slamming the west coast... all fueled by el nino. and there doesn't appear to be any relief in sight.

latest. gamecock 33 basketball... all they do is win. carolina hoops improving the best combined start ever in the s-e-c to 27 and 0. tim hill has that and more in this morning's

still to 33 come... we're sending out a big thank you. we're taking a look at the numbers from our "new year's blood drive."a very cold start to your wednesday with temps in the 20's.expect a slightly warmer afternoon n with mostly suy skies.more details next.

gervais. welcome

if you couldn't make it out to yesterday's drive... you can always just make a donation at red cross headquarters on bull street. representatives with the red cross say donating in the winter months is particularly important as blood donations typically sag during the holiday season. and come one... come all... we're clowning around for the midlands ringling bros and barnum and bailey "circus xtreme"... that's right... the circus' ambassador of laughter... kelli argott will be clowning her way to the kershaw county library to present a book about the circus to children at 10:30 this morning until 11. the "circus xtreme" starts on the 21st but if you want to get your tickets in advanced... they're on sale now at the colonial life arena or you can go to ticketmaster dot com. and if you're missing all the sweet treats the holidays have to offer... don't worry. the girl scouts of south carolina want you to know... they have you covered.

full of goodies to let everyone know... they're preparing to launch their annual cookie sales program.... and celebrating 10-year anniversary of the lemonades. that's right. it may be cold outside... but the savory slice of shortbread will take you straight to summer with its tangy lemon flavored icing. and you can get your hands on some soon. door-to-door, pre-order sales start this friday. or you can order through their mobile app... e "digital cookie." boxes will set you back four-dollars.

33 still to come... one of the nations longest standing housing complexes is coming down. find out how local midlands residents are reacting to the news. stay with us. we're live from

the thanks 33 grace. c-h-a has been budgeting for this, but they do need some help covering the three-million dollar demo. columbia mayor steve benjamin says ch-a has said it will need the one million from the city early 2017. they're hoping to have all residents placed and demolition underway by the end of the year. the west columbia city

development until january 20th. council decided this just last night in a regular session hearing testimony from concerned residents. besides delaying the vote... the developer, "estates and companies", has agreed to sit down with the public before the vote. the site in question is the lot that has sat empty for decades, at the intersection of meeting and state streets. still to come... two richland county councilmen are facing charges this morning... we'll ha the latest on this case.

from main and gervais. 33 give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. here are some trouble spots that you might encounter. south carolina highway patrol is reporting a collision with injuries on the i-26 flyover that's going to be in the eastbound lanes. of course, we'll be sure to keep an eye on the roads and keep you updated for your morning commute. a-b-c columbia wants to help you jump start your day. we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get t started. two richland county politicians are charged with not paying their taxes. richland county councilman kelvin washington is facing three counts of willful failure to file a tax return for three consecutive years. and former city councilman brian newman is facing two counts of failure to pay taxes

are out on bond. while the charges arose following an investigation by the department of revenue into the county's penny tax program... newman's attorney's say that the investigation is unrelated to the current charges. 33 newman received two years of probation. the time will be reduced to six months after he pays nearly 11-thousand dollars in taxes owed and court costs. in a statement richland county council chairman torrey rush says the matter is being dealt with by authorities and 'if there is any required action by richland county council, we are prepared to call a meeting

those arrests are putting the richland county penny tax program back under the microscope. one county council man... seth rose says... rebuilding confidence in the penny tax program is a top priority... and that changes need to take place. rose has proposed three motions.... included giving added power to the citizens oversight committee and a revamp of the process used to approve companies selected for carrying out penny projects his plans also include reimbursement of penny tax dollars spent on an effort aimed at engaging small business. rose's 33 motion will be on the council's january 12th agenda, when it will be referred to

vetting. 33 that was the 33 chant heard outside the charleston county jail... members of the national action network calling for the former north charleston police officer charged in the shooting death of walter scott... to be put back behind bars. michael slager was released from jail in charleston monday after posting the 500-thousand- dollar bond. he will remain under house arrest until his trial later this year. a judge ordered that jury selection in the case will begin on october 31st. also out of charleston... mayor joe riley is saying farewell. he delivered his farewell speech last night.... after serving in office for 40-years. he didn't spend time talking about his accomplishments during the 10-minute address... but instead, offered simple words of

33 riley has served charleston longer than anyone in the city's 345-year history. while his time in public office is ending, riley is hardly done working. he will join the faculty at the citadel... his alma mater. and governor nikki haley is set to make a big speech. following president obama's final state of the union address next week.... governor haley will give the republican response. house speaker paul ryan and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell call haley one of the most popular governors in america. governor haley says she is honored to have been chosen. the 43-year-old is the country's youngest governor and the palmetto state's first female chief executive. still to come... we're waiting

midlands. but others are enjoying a winter wonderland.a very cold start to your wednesday with temps in the 20's.expect a slightly warmer afternoon with mostly sunny skies.more details next.we are live from main and gervais. it's good morning. toppinin"america's money" -- questions about trader joe's tuna.

lawsuit to say 5 ounce cans don't have enough tuna in it. starkist recently settled a lawsuit. might have trouble connecting to an online search. the miss wednesday back at work after the new year's is always the busiest day. >> just after a few days you get back on the job, lot of people realize how miserable they are. >> if you want to get rich, apparently the key, read. warren buffett said 80% of his working day is dedicated to read zblg author of how rich people think, he interviewed rich people over three decades all of them to educate themselves. >> does reading prompter count as that. >> it has to. that's "america's money." >> vet a great day. you get a cold. you can't breathe through your nose.

a mouthbreather! how can anyone sleep like that? well, just put on a breathe right strip and pow! it instantly opens your nose up to 38% more than cold medicine alone. so you can breathe and sleep. shut your mouth and say goodnight mouthbreathers. breathe right discover card hey! so i'm looking at my bill and my fico credit score's on here. yeah! we give you your fico credit score. for free! awesomesauce! the only person i know that says that is... lisa? julie? we've already given more than 175 million free fico credit scores to our cardmembers. apply today at discover.com eat up, buddy. you'll get it this time. yeah ok not too quick don't let go until i say so. i got you... start strong with the lasting energy of 100% you're doing it!

33 really cold... 33 but it's the making for a beautiful sight... that's right... check out these pictures coming from china at their annual harbin international festival. this winter wonderland opened yesterday... featuring sculptures made of ice and snow... and a castle standing 167 feet tall. the

tourists each winter season.33 still to come... twitters 140 character limit is being put to the test... and it's looking at a higher level for the new year. stay with us.

gervais. has agreed to a settlement. they will have to give

their subscriptions... but they won't have to admit any wrongdoing. and twitter may be getting a make over this new year... speculations have been made that twitter could be getting rid of its 140-character limit. technology news service "re-code" reports the social media giant is working on a product that would allow users to share longer content. twitter founder and c- e-o jack dorsey took to twitter to address the report, but neither confirmed nor denied it. and speaking of limits... the powerball is reaching a new height of an estimated 450-million. it was initially set for 4-hundred- million dollars... but lottery officials say the surge in ticket sales caused an increase. the jackpot's cash value is now 275-point-4 million dollars... making it the sixth largest jackpot of any u-s lottery game on record and the fourth largest

with the new year comes new resolutions... and that means many of you may be trying to get healthier. but could d st obesity come back to haunt you? with

timothy johnson. still to 33 come... your "to-do" list has a set addition today... what chore the new year brings with the end of the holiday

history. -morse demonstrates telegraph in 1838-theodore roosevelt dies in 1919 -franklin d. roosevelt speaks of four freedoms in 1941 today is... national take down the christmas tree day... and national shortbread day.33 that's all the time that we have for the first hour of good morning columbia. but we're coming right back.

gervais. good morning columbia. today is wednesday, january 6. two richland county politicians are charged with not paying their taxes following an investigation into the penny's tax program. we'll have the latest on the case. plus an emotional unveiling of executive measures to tighten gun control.

saying about the president's proposal. and thousands of families have passed through the walls of gonzalez gardens. now the feds are saying it's time to knock them down. how residents are reacting to the decision. good morning columbia starts . captioning provided by caption associates, llc www.captionassociates.com. good morning columbia. thanks for joining us. i'm rochelle dean. and i'm meteorologist jonathan kennedy. we're live from main and gervais. the time's now 6:00. >> rochelle: you may want to go out early and bundle up the kids and warm up the car. >> jonathan: hard thing will be getting out of the bed, it will be so coal, colder than yesterday. many areas already in the low 20s.s. we were at 27 downtown, 27 in lexington, lot of 27s.

23 for winnsboro, a very cold start across the board and the wind not helping us out. winds maintained out of the north and we are seeing a cooler start. many areas 3 to 5 degrees cooler. saluda warmer, they were so cold yesterday, they are technically warmer but at 24. winds out of the north around 7 miles a hour for pretty much everybody, that will make it feel considerable colder. this is what it feels like to your skin. 16 in winnsboro, 15 is what it feels like in newberry, 18 in bishopville. it will be brutally cold as you head out, you want to cover up any exposed skin you can, gloves, scarves, especially the kids as they head to the bus stop. a very cold start to your wednesday. satellite and radar nice and quiet, the key to the forecast overnight. to cool off we need cloud free

seeing both at night and during the afternoon. we've seen sunshine but not a lot of warmth, temperatures stayed in the low to mid-40s yesterday. i think we kick it up a little bit today but i don't think many areas hit 50, i think that will be a stretch to the cloud cover moving in this afternoon. that will shield us from some of the sunshine, but not really expecting any raino come our way today or tonight or even into really your thursday forecast. a lot of what we are expecting to see towards the weekend, friday into saturday, two separate systems as the rain out towards the central plains. that will come our way but not in the next 48 hours. nice dry forecast for the next couple days but it will be cold. 48 today, should be in the 50s and around 60 friday. the rain comes but it brings a boost in temperatures, should be in the 60s for friday, saturday and sunday and then as we dry out into next week

>> rochelle: a little boost. >> jonathan: we will take anything we can. we want to give you a quick traffic update as you head out and about this morning. >> here are some trouble spots that you might encounter. there are problems on the fly over. >> jonathan: that's in the eastbound lanes. we'll keep you up to date on anything that happens. abc columbia wants to help y y jump start your day. >>rochelle: we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get started. two richland county politicians are charged with not paying their taxes. richland county councilman kelvin washington is facing three counts of willful failure to file a tax return for three consecutive years. and former city councilman brian newman is facing two counts of failure to pay taxes in 2012 and 2013. both men are out on bond. while the charges arose following an investigation by the department of revenue into the county's penny tax program newman's attorney's say that the

the current charges. >> i think the bottom line here is he is not involved in the penny sales tax investigation. he pled straight up two counts of failure to file taxes and what that is telling is there is no plea agreement, if he was involved in some conspiracy that they were still investigating there would've been a plea agreement provided for him to cooperate. >> rochelle: newman received two years of probation. the time will be reduced to six months after he pays nearly $11,000 in taxes owed and court costs. in a statement richland county council chairman torrey rush says the matter is being dealt with by authorities and 'if there is any required action by richland county council, we are prepared to call a meeting and act accordingly.' those arrests are putting the richland county penny tax program back under the

one county council man, seth rose, says rebuilding confidence in the penny tax program is a top priority and that changes need to take place. rose has proposed three motions included giving added power to the citizens oversight committee and a revamp of the process used to approve companies selected for carrying out penny projects. his plans also include dollars spent on an effort aimed at engaging small business. >> penny proceeds should only be used for penny projects. although this is a noble cause, the county needs to fund this small local business enterprise out of our general fund and not penny proceeds. >> rochelle: rose's motion will be on the council's january 12th agenda, when it will be referred to the appropriate committee for vetting. rochelle: president barack obama has unveiled a 10-point plan he says will help keep guns from those who shouldn't have them. the measures includes expanding background checks on firearms sales. the administration is also

for mental health treatment, fbi staff and the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives agents. the widow of the late senator clementa pinckey stood behind the president as he made the announcement. president obama went on to name charleston in a list of cities where mass shootings have occurred and got emotional when speaking about the children killed at sandy hook elementary school. >> pres. obama: and from every family who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun ... every time i think about these kids it gets me mad. >> rochelle: president obama call his proposals common-sense safety measures but the national rifle association says the

back here at home the announcement has residents divided over the issue of gun control. we caught up with customers outside of shooter's choice in support their second amendment right to bear arms but express their thoughts on the president's proposal. >> i feel i'm entitled to my second amendment rights to own a gun, i'm a legal person, i've done background checks on me, but i think he's gone way over and beyond. >> the second amendment does allow us to possess guns and i'm in full agreement with that but there are some situation and some instances where there are some individuals who really should not have weapons in their hands. >> rochelle: and south carolina attorney general alan wilson has issued a response to the president's executive order >> rochelle: and south carolina saying in part: "the president cannot criminalize conduct through executive fiat. whether at the federal or state

action by the legislative branches. someone should remind president obama that america is not a monarchy." rochelle: still to come an emergency meeting by the un security council called. we'll have the latest following north korea's claim of a hydrogen bomb test. >> jonathan: and very cold start to your wednesday at home. temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the upper teens. look for a slightly warmer afternoon with mostly sunny skies.

gervais. >> jonathan: 6:11 on your

start, temperatures starting out in the low to mid-20s across much of the midlands and likely to see a little of a warm up today but not much of one. highs still expected to stay within the 40s. i think we will see a high around 45 to 48, those areas to the north will stay cooler, but mostly sunny skies. we will see a few clouds this afternoon. clouds tone will help us out, we will stay much warmer, it will still be very cold butot quite as cold as the 20s. likely to stay above freezing for the lows overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning. >> rochelle: one can only hope. thanks, jonathan. rochelle: here's a quick look at stories that are making headlines across the country. the u.n. security council has tentatively set an emergency meeting following north korea's claim that it's conducted a hydrogen bomb test. the claim comes after seismic activity was detected in the region. the white house says this test cannot be confirmed, but adds it would condemn any violations of the united nations security council resolutions. rochelle: the friend who

in the san bernardino attack is scheduled to appear in court today. he's set to answer to gun, immigration and terrorism-related charges. enrique marquez, jr. faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted. prosecutors say marquez bought the guns that syed rizwan farook and his wife used in the san bernardino shootings that killed 14 and injured 22 others. rochelle: and tonya couch's day in court as soon as possible. she's the mother of the 2 18-year-old fugitive who became known for using an "affluenza" defense in a drunken-driving case. couch has agreed to be sent from california back to texas to face charges. meanwhile, her son, ethan, is still being held in mexico where he and his mother were apprehended last week. >> rochelle: what can we say when talking about gamecock basketball, all they do is win. carolina hoops improving the best combined start ever in the sec to 27 and 0. tim hill has that and more in this morning's sports minute to

>> the gamecocks going into last night's sec opening at auburn. lead the way with 22 points. auburn cuts it to five. but the play of the night, scoring 12 points, grabs 10 rebounds and the gamecocks get the 81-69 win. martin wins his first sec opener, usc 14-0. vanderbilt comes to town, dame i enjones beats the clock, just beats the buzzer but vanderbilt would not win in overtime. arkansas gets the win. clemson into overtime in syracuse with a clutch three-pointer. the tigers beat the orange. clemson 2-1 in the acc. i'm tim hill, that's your abc

hope it gets your wednesday off to a good start. rochelle: still to come, we're sending out a big thank you. we're taking a look at the numbers from our "new year's blood drive." >> jonathan: and it will be a very cold start to your wednesday. temperatures in the 20s right now. it will feel colder than that when you head out due to the win. it will be a slightly warmer afternoon, highs expected to be in the 40s, sunshine, i'll

main and gervais. rochelle: welcome back to good morning column by a-your time is 6:18. out of your morning menu, sponsored by bojangles'. those of you who stopped by plex indoor sports in northeast our annual blood drive. because of your help the red blood. if you couldn't make it out to yesterday's drive you can always cross headquarters on bull street. representatives with the red cross say donating in the winter months is particularly important as blood donations typically sag during the holiday season. >> rochelle: we were out there, it's was cold. >> jonathan: many people probably didn't come because it was cold. >> rochelle: you can always come again. >> jonathan: gentlemen, on bull street. and come one come all we're clowning around for the midlands

bailey "circus xtreme" >> rochelle: that's right, the circus' ambassador of laughter kelli argott will be clowning her way to the kershaw county library to present a book about the circus to children at 10:30 this morning until 11:00. the "circus xtreme" starts on the 21st but if you want to get your tickets in advanced they're on sale now at the colonial life arena or you can go to ticketmaster.com. rochchle: and if you're missing all the sweet treats the holidays have to offer, don't worry. the girl scouts of south carolina want you to know they have you covered. thth stopped by with this box full of goodies. were they the lemonade cookies?>> jonathan: yes, for the 10-year anniversary.

i didn't get one. >> jonathan: it may be cold outside but the savory slice of shortbread will take you straight to summer with its tangy lemon flavored icing. and you can get yoururands on some soon. door-to-door, pre-order sales start this friday. or you can order through their mobile app the "digital cookie." xes will set you back $4. if you need a fix right now, you can get them online but there are girls in the region who need their badges. >> rochelle: it comes to moving to the next level. i was a girl scout, i try to collect as many badges and it's fun to go door to door and interact with people. neighbors. >> rochelle: i love it when they store. >> jonathan: it's bad because you go trying to get somebody healthy but you are bombarded with the cookies. >> rochelle: healthy but cookies too. >> jonathan: yes, the lemonade cookies make us feel like it's summer but it's been below freezing. we will warm up to the 40s

warmer, but not necessarily warm. it will be windy today too. lows of 35 tonight, not as cold as you head out tomorrow morning, highs back near 60 for the remainder of the week and weekend. all in all temperatures are warming up, getting warmer, but that is really no consolation because it's freezing cold. >> rochelle: it's relative when you look at it. warming up to the 40s. we'll take what we can get. rochelle: still to come, one of the nations longest standing housing complexes is coming down. find out how local midlands residents are reacting to the news. stay with us.we're live from main and gervais. electronics show kicking off. >> we're getting an early look at some of the gadgets.

action camera, allowing users to shoot high-definition viewers. fitbit unveiled the blaze. >> it comes in a choice of leather and stainless steel strap. the device is expected to hit stores in march. and twitter is dropping more hints the 140-character limit may be going away soon. >> users have been getting around the limit by tweeting photos. >> a desire for longer messages. . new limit could be as many as 10,000 characters. >> i don't know how i feel about that. >> we'll see. those are your "techbytes." your body was made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis. before you and your rheumatologist

ask if xeljanz is right for you. xeljanz is a small pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. xeljanz can reduce joint pain and swelling in as little as two weeks, and help stop further joint damage. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma, and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts, and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz, and monitor certain liver tests. tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common, and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. xeljanancan reduce the symptoms of ra, even without methotrexate. ask your rheumatologist

>> rochelle: welcome back to good morning columbia, thanks for waking up with us this morn. your time is 6:26. one of the nation's oldest public housing complexes will soon be no more. the columbia housing authority is asking the city for a million dollars as part of its demolition budget for gonzalez gardens. we're hearing from the people who are affected by this,

our grace joyal has their story. >> it's not where you live but how you live. that's what rolanda told her 17-year-old son, a straight a student at a. c. flora school after he toll his friends he lived in gonzales gardens. >> he had to show his i.d. because they didn't believe someone who carried the way he did lived in an area like this. >> the complex, one of the oldest in the country, has developed a violence reputation but she says that's not what her family is like. >> i hope my children will tell their children what life is like

>> it's a bittersweet moment, it really is. >> the feds have approved demolition of the 280 unit complex. >> my friends, i will miss the most, but i will love getting in a better place, providing a better home for my son. >> the columbia housing authority says it is interviewing each family and will give them relocation based on their needs. she says she will look for better schools and an easy transition. >> you have to do what you can do and make do with what you have until you can do better. >> and for her it might be the jumping off point she has needed. >> a lot has happened since i've been here but it never stopped me from trying to achieve better than here. i looked at it as a stepping stone. >> to finally own a house of her own. >> rochelle: thanks, grace. cha has been budgeting for this, but they do need some help

columbia mayor steve benjamin says cha has said it will need the 1 million from the city early 2017. they're hoping to have all residents placed and demolition underway by the end of the year. rochelle: the west columbia city council is agreeing to delay voting on the brookland development until january 20th. council decided this just last night in a regular session hearing testimony from concerned residents. besides delaying the vote the developer, estates and companies, has agreed to sit down with the public before the vote. the site in question is the lot that has sat empty for decades, at the intersection of meeting and state streets. rochelle: still to come, two richland county councilmen are facing charges this morning. we'll have the latest on this case.

gervais. rochelle: good morning columbia. thanks for joining us. i'm rochelle dean. >> jonathan: and i'm meteorologist jonathan kennedy. we're live from main and gervais. your time is 6:32. >> rochelle: nothing much has change.

want to put the covers over your head and forget it all. >> jonathan: just snooze until friday. >> rochelle: until it warms up. >> jonathan: it will be a cold start, waking up with temperatures in the mid-20s. we're at 27 downtown, 27 over towards lexington at the airport, columbia. camden our coldest spot. many areas seeing a little bit of a colder start this morning, even compared to yesterday, a lot of areas seeing the colder air and we will likely cool down another do he agree or two. haven't seen much movement in the last hour or two, may be hitting the bottom point. in the single digits in some spots. we still have wiggle room based on thermal dynamics, but with the wind up that will probably keep us with slightly steadier temperature pattern but it will make us feel colder. wind right now 5 to 10 miles a

that will bring a severe wind chill for a lot of places, feels like 21 in calm department, not seeing any wind there but 19 downtown, feels like 12 in newberry, out of the teens, not even in the teens. 12 degrees what it feels like for our neighbors to the north and west. a very cold start in the morning. looking at the forecast, clouds moving in this afternoon, that will do us a big favor. not necessarily to see warmer air tonight but it will help us tomorrow morning as we see the cloud cover stick around overnight. that will allow any warmth will allow us to hang onto some warmth. the central plains not expecting that to have any affect on our weather. minimal impact from the west coast except a faint shower or two for the extreme coastal areas tonight into tomorrow.

but we are still going to stick with a mostly sunny forecast today. look for highs in the upper 40s, little warmer tonight, only in the mid-30s, likely to stay above freezing. 60 by the time we get to tomorrow's forecast. there will be two separate systems, the friday rain system and saturday late afternoon into the evening hours of saturday rain system as well. so, little bit chance of rain but i think a lot of people will take it after getting a nice warm up to go with it. >> rochelle: friday and saturday, will they be wash outs? >> jonathan: no, intermittent. that could change but it's been so dry for us with the very cold air we've been seeing so it won't necessarily have the best kind of atmosphere to get a lot of heavy rain. >> rochelle: that's promising. we want to gift you a traffic

>> jonathan: no incidents around the city, we'll let you know if anything pops. abc columbia wants to help you jump start your day. >> rochelle: we have a quick rundown of your top morning headlines. so, let's get started. two richland county politicians are charged with not paying their taxes. richland county councilman kelvin washington is facing three counts of willful failure to file a tax return for three consecutive years. and former city councilman brian newman is facing two counts of failure to pay taxes in 2012 and 2013. both men are out on bond. while the charges arose following an investigation by the department of revenue into the county's penny tax program newman's attorney's say that the investigation is unrelated to the current charges. >> i think the bottom line here is that he is not involved in the penny sales tax investigation. he pled straight up two counts of failure to file taxes and what that is telling is there is no plea agreement, if he was involved in some conspiracy that

there would've been a plea agreement that would have provided for him to cooperate. >> rochelle: newman received two years of probation. the time will be reduced to six months after he pays nearly $11,000 in taxes owed and court costs. in a statement richland county council chairman torrey rush says the matter is being dealt with by authorities and "if there is any required action by richland county council, we are prepared to call a meeting and act accordingly." those arrests are putting the richland county penny tax program back under the microscope. one county councilman, seth rose, says rebuilding confidence in the penny tax program is a top priority and that changes need to take place. rose has proposed three motions included giving added power to the citizens oversight committee and a revamp of the process used to approve companies selected for carrying out penny projects. his plans also include reimbursement of penny tax

at engaging small business. >> penny proceeds should only be used for penny projects. and although this is a noble cause, the county needs to fund this small local business enterprise out of our general fund and not penny proceeds. >> rochelle: rose's motion will be on the council's january 12th agenda, when it will be referred to the appropriate committee for vetting. >> we want back in jail! we want him back in jail! >> rochelle: that was the chant heard outside the charleston county jail members of the national action network calling for the former north charleston police officer charged in the shooting death of walter scott to be put back behind bars. michael slager was released from jail in charleston monday after posting the $500,000 bond. he will remain under house arrest until his trial later

a judge ordered that jury selection in the case will begin on october 31st. rochelle: also out of charleston, mayor joe riley is saying farewell. he delivered his farewell speech last night after serving in office for 40 years. he didn't spend time talking about his accomplishments during the 10-minute address but, instead, offered simple words of gratitude to those he served. >> to those thousands of ways of communicating i got to know you, to feel and appreciate your goodness and get to understand your heart's wishes, and that has been a priceless treasure. >> rochelle: 40 years of service riley has served charleston 345-year history. while his time in public office is ending, riley is hardly done working. he will join the faculty at the citadel which is his alma mater. rochelleleand governor nikki haley is set to make a big speech. following president obama's

next week governor haley will give the republican response. house speaker paul ryan and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell call haley onenef the most popular governors in america. governor haley says she is honored to have been chosen. the 43-year-old is the country's youngest governor and the palmetto state's first female chief executive. rochelle: still to come, a wave of severe weather hitting the west coast. we'll have the latest on the damage the el nino fueled system is leaving behind. >> jonathan: and no storms for us here at home but it's a very cold start to your wednesday, temperatures in the 20s right now. expect a slightly warmer afternoon with mostly sunny skies. i'll have the details next.

>> people can do extra ordinary things on an ordinary income. >> protect your finances on "the 700 club" all this week. >> as you stretch that budget, you may in fact, break it. >> we can help you become a smarter spender, smarter saver. >> tackle it today. >> watch "the 700 club" five

finances all this week. >> jonathan: a cold start to your morning. 25 in camden, 27 here at home and many spots below that 27 degree number right now. warm up to 48 this afternoon, mostly sunny skies expected throughout the day, cloud cover will keep us from hitting the 50 degree mark, the cloud cover keeping us above freezing for the first night in a couple days. >> rochelle: just to let people know there is no other word but brrrr. it's down right cold. >> jonathan: very cold. >> rochelle: be prepared. rochelle: freezing temperatures are hitting us here in the midlands but thankfully no rainfall like other parts of the country are experiencing. >> jonathan: yeah, an el nino-related storm is pummeling southern california. it's bringing record-setting rainfall along with the potential for dangerous mudslides. due to the flooding roads have been closed and l.a. city officials have distributed sandbags to set up in shelters

this is just the third of four major storms expected this week with more set to roll in this morning. so, they couldn't find rain earlier and now there's more. it's good for the long term health of the area but you like to spread it out. >> rochelle: got too good for the residents. >> jonathan: short-term not good, thankfully getting some rain. >> rochelle: blame it on elnino. rochelle: still to come, it's big business for auto maker industries. we'll take a closer look at the record-breaking totals.

gervais. >> rochelle: welcome back to good morning columbia, your time it's 6:48. business is booming when it comes to car sales. auto sales in the u.s. hit a record high of more than 17 million in 2015 topping the old record set back in 2000. experts says low gas prices, easy credit and strong job growth are some of the reasons for the boost in sales. shifting gears to the coffee. you can now get your hands on starbucks newest drink added to its menu the latte macchiato. the latte macchiato is the first espresso drink the coffee giant

and consists of full espresso shots and steamed whole milk. sound yummy. rochelle: move over fitbit, there's a new addition to the world of wearable health devices. under armour unveiled its "health box." it's a kit of electronic devices that helps users track their bodies 24-7. it includes a chest strap to monitor heart rate a wristband and a circular scale that all communicate with the brand's app. it goes on sale january 22 and will set you back $400. rochelle: and just in time for those healthy eating resolutions, the u.s. news and world report has named it's top diet for shedding excess pounds. the "dash" diet takes the top spot for the sixth year in a row. the diet emphasizes health grains, veggies and lean meat and is designed to help people lower their blood pressure. somethings we want to keep in

resolution was to lose weight. hollywood's biggest stars are kicking off the new year with hijinks and good will. abc's brandi hitt has the latest in today's showbiz wrap. >> actor eddie redmayne just gave his fans another reason to love him. in an interview with gq -- the oscar-winner admitted he sometimes pays rent for struggling actors. the 2015 oscar winner is generating awards buzz again the 2015 oscar winner is this year for his role in "the danish girl." new fire to a long-running debate for american idol fans? as the show heads into its final season. host ryan seacrest was asked to name the shows biggest star? he responded carrie underwood -- over first-time winner kelly clarkson.

the final american idol title. west faked an audition delighting the judges a plan apparently hatched by jennifer lopez. and get ready "guns and roses fans" -- singer axel rose confirmed on twitter the rumors are true, the band is getting back together for the first time since the 90s to headline california's coachella music festival in april. that's what's happening in hollywood, brandi hitt, abc news, los angeles. rochelle: still to come we're checking in with caitlyn the dog. and taking a closer look at the family tree of the palmetto state's favorite pup. stay with us.

gervais. >> people can do extra ordinary things on an ordinary income. >> protect your finances on "the 700 club" all this week. >> as you stretch that budget, you may in fact, break it. >> we can help you become a smarter spender, smarter saver. >> tackle it today. >> watch "the 700 club" five

finances all this week. >> jonathan: 6:53, a cold start, but thankfully not seeing any precipitation, otherwise we'd be worrying about snow and ice. it's extremely cold outside. we are seeing the rain pretty much around the florida panhandle and towards jacksonville, those areas. some snow in the centralize. snow-rain mix for the coast. for us this will bring us rain for the weekend, for now nothing

air to go with the sunshine as well. >> rochelle: thanks, jonathan. rochelle: people magazine's best survival story of 2015 is now being called "americas dog" that's because caitlyn the once abused dog found with her muzzle taped shut last may is a mix of several breeds that are among the most popular in america. charleston's animal society performed a dna test and says she is part american staffordshire terrier, border collie, boxer, and german shepherd. caitlyn's foster mother and those who have met her say she fits these popular breeds with her bark and tail and her smarts like a collie. plus her temperament and loyalty to people even after abuse is a classic sign of american staffordshire. such a cute dog. and if caitlyn's story has inspired you to help out a pup in need you're in luck. the new year mean's a new beginning for the columbia and lexington animal services. they'll be holding an adoption special this month.

four-legged friend into the family will only set you back $40. the deal runs through january 31st. rochelle: still to come your "to-do" list has a set addition today. what chore the new year brings with the end of the holiday season next in your day in history. >> jonathan: and a cold start to your wednesday, temperatures in the 20s. this afternoon warmer but warmer air for the weekend. i'll have the forecast coming up.

main and gervais. >> jonathan: good wednesday morning, thank you for waking up with us on good morning columbia. you will havavto wait until after lunch to get warm air. get up and barry. waiting any longer won't help. 48 for the high today. 57 tomorrow. should be warmer tonight into tomorrow, that's good news. back in the 60s, that is nice as we head into the weekend. chance of rain friday and saturday, not a lot of rain expected, thankfully warmer air to go with it. >> rochelle: hard to believe last week we were seeing temperatures in the 07s. >> jonathan: 70s and 80s, yes. rochelle: let's check out the day in history. morse demonstrates the telegraph in 1838. theodore roosevelt dies in 1919. and franklin d. roosevelt speaks of four freedoms in 1941. >> jonathan: today is national take down the christmas tree day and national shortbread day. we had a little short bread cookies.