look at all the cars making their way to downtown truckee. what we found today is actually proof there is another side to this no snow story. this is one side of the story, a worker shoveling for mud. the parking lot at the ski resort largely empty. we found this, lines, crowds, skiers, boarders and even snow, lots of snow. >> 100% of what you see is snow. >> reporter: some resorts like north star at tahoe say other ski area's gain is their reward. >> everybody is having fun. it's packed here. >> reporter: north star says it's decision to invest heavily in snow making is paying off. people are now flocking here to find rare snow. so much man manmade snow that north star says that their sean white signature super pike will be open by saturday. these pictures are proof not everyone is struggling with this dry december. >> yeah, it's great. people are loving it here at north star. between us and heavenly we have more ski trails than all the other ski resorts combined. >> reporter: another example of who is booming with business due to this lack

downtown area. >>> in the tahoe area they felt an earthquake. the usgs says the 3.2 earthquake hit about six miles from truckee t was felt as far away as reno. and a small quake hit here about 9:30 last my. it was a magnitude 2.7 earthquake centered near berkeley. there have been no reports of damage or injuries. >>> new this morning, the tense political standoff on capitol hill over extending the payroll tax, it's over. alison burns is live in our washington, d.c. newsroom with the impact this will have on your paycheck. >> reporter: dave, the house and senate this morning gave final approval to a bill that will extend a tax payroll tax cut, at least through the first two months of next year. >> without objection, the bill is engrossed, read for a third time, and passed and the motion to re-- to reconsider is laid on the table. >> reporter: house democrats celebrated and said the american people's voice was heard. >> they can continue focusing on buying those last-minute presents because we did our work. >> reporter: house republicans were trying to hold out for a year-long extension of the tax cut. but with time running out before it expir