kendis, reena? >> paul, thanks so much. >>> the woman now charged for sunday's hit-and-run crash along the las vegas strip begins facing justice today. lakeisha holloway will be in court this morning. she's facing charges of murder, child abuse, and leaving the scene of an accident. prosecutors say they expect "a great number of additional charges to be filed against her as well." >> why did she turn into people and run over a lady and drag that lady for many, many feet while her husband was running after her, banging on the window of the car, begging for her to stop? >> holloway is expected to plead not guilty. surveillance video of the incident has not been released. prosecutors do not plan to present it in court today. >>> a lawsuit stemming from the mass shooting in newtown, connecticut has been finalized. 16 of the 26 families will split $1.5 million from the estate of the gunman's mother. the money comes from her homeowner's insurance policy. three years ago this month adam lanza killed his mo

kendis and lauren? >> thank you, elizabeth. that's pretty incredible. >> incredible sceneses there. >> and in today's forecast, a cold blast in the mississippi river valley flood zone. heavy snow possible around the great lakes. downpours from new orleans to charlotte. dry and windy in the southwest. >> temperatures in the teens in the twin cities. 20s in great false, montana and chicago. 30s in portland and kansas city. 40s in new york and boston. 50s in dallas and washington, d.c. >>> to new york city now and a solemn good-bye for the soldier killed four days before christmas in a suicide bomb attack in afghanistan. thousands lined the streets of new york city for joseph lemm known affectionately as superman in a touching scene, his 4-year-old son gave hilgs dad a final salute as the coffin walked before him. the mayor and police paying respects at st. patrick's cathedral. five others were also killed in that attack. >>> in chicago, major changes coming to the city's police department. this follows several controversial and d

kendis, lauren. >> abc's megan hughes live in washington. megan, thanks. >>> the friend of one of the shooters in the san bernardino massacre has been indicted on federal terror charges. those charges against enrique marquez include conspiring and making false statements who he bought the guns used in the shootings. >>> now to the flooding in the midwest which killed more than 20 people. the mississippi and other rivers expected to crest today but widespread damage already. many people have been told to evacuate. some had to be rescued. it's the worst flooding since 1993 but that was in the summer. dangerous. it's really cold out there. everybody keep a good attitude because it's be a while. >> president obama pledged federal help. no rain or snow in the flood zone today but temperatures are cold. here's justin povick at accuweather. good morning, justin. >> kendis, lauren, it's the final day of 2015 and we're finishing things off on a very cold note. you know, we're making up lost ground. couple of concern areas, lake-effect snow off the gr

. >> i'm kendis gibson. thank you for being with us on new year's effective. >> i'm so happy to be here. >> we're going to get started this half hour on a sad note for many people and really a serious one, the first criminal charges against comedian bill cosby for sexual abuse. for the first time, the frail looking 78-year-old appeared in court. >> yeah, he did. >> he was then fingerprinted, photographed and released on bail. abc's marci gonzales reports from pennsylvania. >> god bless you, brother. >> thank you. >> reporter: bill cosby walking into court. >> how do you respond to the charges? >> reporter: he was arraigned on a felony aggravated indecent assault charge, allegations brought by a woman here in pennsylvania, re-examined by police, leading to the comedian's arrest. the charges coming just a month before the statute of limitations expired on the accusation made by andrea constand, the former temple university employee claiming cosby, her former mentor and friend, sexually assaulted her in 2004 in

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kendis, reena? >> paul, thank you so much. >>> the families of some of the sandy hook school shootings ctims will each get $94,000. against the estate of the shooter's mother has been finalized. they'll split $1.5 million from her homeowner's insurance. the families argued adam lanza's mother should have better secured the guns that he used to kill 20 children and six staffers. >>> a state known for its wide-ranging gun rights is tightening one of its gun laws. as of february 1st virginiaill no longer recognize concealed handgun permits from 25 other states. the decision was made by the state attorney general, a democrat. he says the concealed carry laws in those 25 states are too lax to meet virginia's standards. >>> robert durst will return to lolos angele for trial on murder charges. the real estate heir is accused of killing a writer to keep her from cooperating with an investigation into the disappearance of his wife. his attorneys say he didn't kill ththe write and doesn't know who did. but he

kendis and lauren? >> of course, there's going to the "new york daily news" has really taken on this topic. this is the headline for tomorrow by the way. in an editorial the daily news calling him a predatory step uncle. bill cosby there. and in it, you can see one he said and so many she said, she said, she said, making a point there. >> those she saids representing the multiple women, more than 55 accusations against bill cosby asserting he said versus all of those she saids. but the paper certainly pulling mo punches in that one that will hit newstands today. >> it's going to be quite a trial. >>> the other big story this morning, ethan couch's deportation has been delayed by a judge in mexico. 9 so-called affluenza teen is seen here being moved from a detention center in guadalajara to an immigration facility in mexico city. once returned to the u.s., couch faces charges of violating his parole from a drunk driving accident which killed four. >> his case is still under juvenile law. as messed up as

reena and kendis? >> our thanks to brandi there. >>> the unusual weather pattern could cause more travel delays in the hours ahead. >> snow in the west and downpours in the east. here's accuweather's justin povick. good morning, justin. >> thanks and good morning to you, as well. the severe threat has diminished. good news after a very, very busy day yesterday with all the tornado reports and unfortunately, all the damage, as well. there will be some rain but this is the big story. temperature departures 25 to 30 degrees above normal. we're talking about record amounts of warmth. and then out east, we're concerned about heavy snow and soaking showers at the coast. reena and kendis, back to you. >> thank you so much. >>> lawyers for the woman accused of driving on a las vegas strip sidewalk says she's distraught and overwhelmed. lakeisha holloway made her first court appearance yesterday charged with murder, child abuse and hit and run and currently on suicide watch. one person was killed in the inciden

i'm kendis gibson. >> and i'm lauren lyster in for reena ninan. we begin with the world on alert prepare t ring in 2016. >> i new york city unprecedented levels of security in times square. other celebrations canceled around the world. abc's megan hughes has all the details. good morning, megan. >> reporter: kendis, lauren, good morning, the fbi and other officials have been sifting through potential threats leading up to today. now, they've expressed particular concern about the safety of americans overseas. in paris, the holiday street party will go on as planned but the fireworks diggs play has been called off. officials stressing the need for vigilance in the wake of november's attacks which left 130 dead. >> i was in paris the week after it happened and the thing is you can't let people like that dictate, you know, your lifestyle and your choices. >> reporter: this tourist is now in brussel and the mayor there also called off the fireworks display, they arrested two in connection with the holiday plot. it won't halt celebrations at home. thre

reena, kendis? >> wow. every night we talk about how donald trump is -- >> is surging and continues to surge. his poll numbers nationally around 38% now and the next closest ted cruz about 18%. we still have about 38 days till the iowa caucuses. you have to think. >> he used a fund-raising opportunity, he even had a picture of hillary clinton lap dogs in the "new york times" and "washington post" as the dogs. do you think this helps his supporters rally even stronger behind him? >> for donald trump? >> sorry, for ted cruz. >> no, this is actually the sort of gravy he needs. the good thing for donald trump, this is what his supporters need for him to take on hillary clinton at this point, that will help his numbers i would imagine. >> okay. see what happens. >> coming up in our next half hour, gift card grinches. the most popular of gifts worthless before you can buy them. >> first a desperate 911 call made by a little girl she'll end up on santa's badside after an incident with an elf on a shelf. you're wat

>> thanks, reena, kendis. unfortunately, it looks like mother nature is going to target mississippi, alabama, as well as tennessee near the nashville area and into kentucky for the next round of storms. it's over as far as texas and over towards louisiana is concerned. but the folks in new orleans will still possibly see severe storms there and why i, there's a real possibility and likelihood of tornadoes. scattered showers over towards atlanta and then actually rain to the point of flash flooding to occur in the ohio valley region reaching towards portions of st. louis. now, that's not the only concern. we have a storm that's advancing throughout the midwest with a chance of wintry mix hitting chicago and snow hitting minneapolis. kendis, reena. >> thanks to paul at accuweather. now to the growing demand for answers after another deadly police involved shooting in chicago. one of the victims bettie jones remembered at a vigil yesterday. investigators are admitting she was killed by accident. when police answe

. >> i'm kendis gibson. we'll get started on a serious that are crossing the south. >> we're talking at least seven people who have been killed in the violent weather that stretched in arkansas to mississippi. at least 21 reports of tornadoes confirmed and twisters, as well, including this monster wedge tornado in holly springs, mississippi, that killed at least two people including a 7-year-old boy. >> we're just getting a look at some of the devastation in tennessee where two people were killed there. look at that. our coverage begins with phillip mena in memphis. day. >> oh, man. >> reporter: this massive tornado touching down in mississippi. officials telling abc news, up to 15 homes destroyed and at least seven injured. but the storms, firing up early. dumping half a foot of rain on mobile, alabama. this neighborhood underwater. the street, looking more like a river. an 1-year-old woman died after a tree crashed into this home. a baby pulled from the wreckage. to a local hospital. the 18-year-old female

. >> i'm kendis gibson. top headlines we're following this morning on "world news now." at least 21 people are dead in the midwest after flooding with major rivers in the st. louis river cresting today. it's the worst flooding in 22 years and maybe ever. accuweather's forecast in a moment. >>> a solemn farewell for joseph lemm, the new york police detective and military member killed in a suicide bomb attacking in afghanistan. thousands paid their respects at new york's st. patrick's cathedral. >> with the countdown to 2016 on right now, 1 million expected in times square tonight amid unprecedented security. 6,000 heavily armed officers will be patrolling the party zone. >> no winning powerball ticket was drawn last night. the jackpot grows to at least $330 million. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> we begin this half hour with the deadly floods in the midwest. thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed. thousands of people have had to evacuate. >> the flooding is some of the worst ever.

i'm reena ninan. >> i'm kendis gibson. we're going to get to all the excitement that took place during the miss universe competition last night. >> what a night. >> yes. a lot of people talking about it. of course, we've got to start on a serious note here. >> we've got some breaking news out of las vegas. it's a deadly incident along the vegas strip which was packed last night with pedestrians. >> police say a woman drove her car up onto the crowded sidewalk in two different locations striking people walking along the way. at least one person was killed and 36 others injured. several of them critically. police have ruled out terrorism but they say it appears to have been an intentional act. the woman is in custody this morning. >> all you could see was her driving away and people are bouncing off the front of the car. you can hear it. the windshield was smashed. she rode the sidewalk and came to a stop at the paris intersection and then she like people were punching the window trying to get the child out of the back seat.

i'm kendis gibson. good timing to have a new baby in 2016. >> right in the middle of it all. >> in an election year. we'll get to the details of that. >> there's never a good time to plan to have a child. especially a second child. you don't realize with the first. so much changes. for me personally. i should not generalize for women and parents everywhere but it was like having a thousand children having my second one. >> i'll take your word for it. hey, it's a great tax write-off though. >> there you go. that's an upside. >>> let's talk about the race for the white house because it is still heating up. about 40 days till the first war is going on war, war of words bean donald trump and hillary clinton. >> if it's a boy it probably won't be called donald. >> last night trump took a new swing at clinton using what some might say as a vulgar reference and calling her bathroom break during saturday's debate disgusting. >> the verbal barbs started between the two of them over the weekend and show no signs

i'm reena ninan. >> i'm kendis gibson. some of our top stories on this morning. we're following here on "world news now." a war of words on the campaign trail between hillary clinton and donald trump. in saturday night's debate, clinton said trump was being used in isis recruitment videos. trump's response, she made it up. details straight ahead. >>> a boy scout lead ser recovering from being mauled by a bear in the woods of new jersey saved by three quick thinking boy scouts who called for help after he led them into a cave where the bear was apparently hibernating. > dozens of people missing it following a landslide, collapses and burying buildings at an industrial park in southern china. red mud with several buildings either knocked on their side or collapsed entirely. >>> this was a doozy. an embarrassing moment at last night's miss universe contest. first miss colombia crowneds as the winner, then the host steve harvey had to admit he made a mistakes and miss philippines was the actual winner. harvey owned it. those a

good morning, paul. >> thanks, kendis, aditi.re still expecting a good deal of snow from sioux falls down towards omaha and minneapolis. the darker blue indicating 6 to possibly 10 inches of snow from the same system that was just a little bit of a problem with flooding to the west but now has changed over to snow showers. by wednesday, we'll actually have something that's going to help us out. the jet stream will divide us between church and state. a slow-moving cold front brings scattered showers along the east coast. much colder air behind that. we really want this jet to stick around because it will keep them separate because if not for the dividing line, we'd have a monster of a snowstorm to tell you about. annoying snow showers maybe in the upper elevations. aditi, kendis. >> the state department released the largest batch of e-mails from hillary clinton's private server to date. some 7800 pages. these e-mails cover the period of the attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi. they include the message clinton sent to her daug

paul, good morning. >> thanks, reena, kendis. a bit of slippery and sliding action we're expecting throughout the northeast. if not the rain throughout the mid-atlantic, d.c. area towards richmond, watch out for slippery travel up towards albany, new york, and going up towards maine, with a bit of icing along i-87 and i-95 into the northeast. then we'll have a bit of snow going to slide through the dakotas. particularly south dakota. and we're looking for significant snow in the southern portion offices minnesota, going into the northern portions of wisconsin. we're looking at accumulation between 3 to 6 inches at the very least. recover from the storms. record-challenging warmth still in the florida area. >> kendis, reena. >> thank you so much. >>> the wild weather means many american travelers are stuck, even airline passengers in areas with mild weather were stranded. nearly 3,000 flights canceled yesterday and another 4800 delayed. abc's linzie janis reports. >> reporter: millions of americans facing chaos at airports across

. >> i'm kendis gibson. it is a busy thursday morning late night news conferences or early morning news conferences were held out in san bernardino as we mentioned. a lot of information coming in. i guess we should get right to it. the breaking news out of san bernardino, california. the search for a motive does continue at this hour after the deadliest mass shooting on u.s. soil since sandy hook. >> at least 14 people were killed and 1 wounded in the bloody rampage at a social services center. >> two suspects are dead a man and woman killed in a fierce gun battle with police after a high speed chase. one identified ass syed farook. brandi hitt leads off coverage live from san bernardino. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. there are three very active police scenes here in san bernardino at this hour. we are where it all began where the shooting spree started just a few minutes ago, police have now identified both of the suspected gunmen as a young couple. they were both armed with assault rifles and ha

i'm kendis gibson.me of the top headlines we're following this morning on "world news now." winter's opening act set to disrupt travel plans for millions of americans days before christmas. at least a dozen states are under winter weather alerts as heavy snows slammed the western states. full details straight ahead. >>> army sergeant bowe bergdahl held captive by the taliban for five years after he walked away from his post will be arraigned today. he's charged with desertion and endangering troops. a conviction could land him in prison for life. >>> bill cosby sued former super model beverly johnson over her claims he tried to drug and sexually assault her. johnson responded to the suit by saying that abusers often try to sbim state and weaken their victims. >>> and christmas coming early for the clintons as chelsea clinton shares the happy news. she's pregnant with baby number two. a soon to be little sister for 15-month-old daughter charlotte. those are some of our top stories on this tuesday, decemb

i'm kendis gibson. thank you for joining us it was a rough weekend in the heartland of this country with a lot of people who are hurting this morning. devastating tornadoes in the nation's dsection. there was just damage. arkansas with a twister tearing off the r roofs and uprooting trees. this video just into us this morning. >> in the dallas area, at least 11 are dead and several hundred homes destroyed. matt gutman. >> this is the home turning into a pillar of fire as it blew up transformers. >> that's a tornado. >> and sparking panic. >> those 11 people killed in separate locations at least five died as the storm dcended on i-30. >> i see it. it's cssing the highway right there. i can see it. >> reporter: in the pitch black saturday night, those flashes of lightning. >> gosh, it's big, illuminating that monster. the sirens blared as that wedge darkened the sky. that same system bringing flash floods all the way to missouri. the tornado that crashed down in garland, texas, clocked in as an ef-4. in t

. >> reporter: good morning, reena and kendis. as you mentioned, the two suspects that are now dead have been intified as 28-year-old syed farook and 27-year-old tashfeen malik. a motive at this point and are not ruling out terrorism and though the suspects are dead, investigators remain on scene and on alert. [ sirens ] it ended much as it began with a barrage of gunfire captured on this cell phone video. >> my house is getting shot at right now. >> reporter: four hours of terror in san bernardino after gunmen stormed an office building killing 14 people. the final confrontation on a neighborhood street lined with houses, a dark suv riddled with bullets. a person with a gun shot down just feet away. another dead inside. >> we are reasonably confident at this point that we had two shooters and we have two dead suspects and, as i said, they were armed. i do have information on what they were armed with. both suspects were armed with what was essentially a 223 caliber assault rifle. >> reporter: law enforcement tracked down the susp