susan candiotti from times square. at least a dozen suspected arson fires overnight. several of them appear to have been started by setting cars on fire in underground parking garages. cnn affiliate kabc is reporting several vehicles, a home and apartment building have been damaged by the flames. dozens of tenants have been forced out and one firefighter has been injured. >>> and a missouri man arrested after trying to board a delta flight to arizona. allegedly with a loaded gun and $26,000 in cash. it happened at the kansas city airport yesterday. tsa screeners spotted the weapon with an x-ray machine. anthony is now charged with possession of a firearm. he claims he was returning the gun to his brother. the police say he later changed his story and denied knowing that the gun was in his bag. >>> police in minnesota are searching for a groping suspect that was caught on camera. security video shows the man assaulting a 13-year-old girl. it happened at a walmart on monday. the man is seen following the victim for sever

en un... >>> time square. >>> ¿time qué? time square. >>> yo tengo una onda.a. >>> y esto es la encuesta que nosotros queremos, que nos manden por twitter acuerdense que sus twitter son. que nos escriban y ya, que digan si les gustó. >>> pone la música sexy. >>> uy! >>> ya, ¿que pasa? soy una chica seria y de mi casa. >>> y armando nuestra cámara. >>> cada vez mira, se pone más rojo y más rojo >>> pero bueno. segui c

if you can't make it here, you can see it on our web cast and our times square ball app. itbull, hot chelle rae. six hours of entertainment. >> do you know about beyonce? i have to ask one last time. either of you? know anything about beyonce coming? >> not really. >> we're trying to get the scoop here. thank you for being here. thanks for putting on this huge party. we're ready to start 2012. >> ginger, on the case, with the aggressive questioning. thank you, ginger. >>> do not miss dick clark's new year's rockin' eve, with ryan seacrest. it starts at 8:00 eastern, right here on abc. >>> coming up here on "good morning america," which did you pick? of all the incredibly absurd videos we've shown you this year, which was your favorite? coming up, we're going to reveal the winner. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] be bold. introducing the new blackberry bold. and it's your fault. instead of blaming me try advil congestion relief. often the real problem is swelling, not mucus. advil congestion relief reduces swelling due to nasal inflammation. so i can breathe. [ mucus ] advil cong

on a serious note, security is extremely tight tonight here in times square. our media credentials were checked a handful of times coming up to the risers and everyone here in times square was checked. >>> still not too late to figure out your plans for new year's eve. visit nbc washington.com for a list of events throughout our area. if you want to celebrate at home, don't miss nbc's new year's eve with carson daly. the festivities kick off live from times square at 10:00. >>> in decision 2012, four republican presidential candidates are joining rick perry's lawsuit to try to get on the ballot in the virginia primary. perry, michele bachmann, newt gingrich huntsman and santorum failed to get the 10,000 signatures that were required. the lawsuit says virginia's requirements are unconstitutional. most of the candidates are in iowa today. with just three days left before the caucus. polls show perry is in third. >> what was so important that senator santorum felt compelled to add greater debt. was it the bridge to nowhere that he voted for? was it the montana sh

we like to say that times square is our backyard. the ball every year before the big event? >> yes. as a matter of fact, i manually push it up and release it to make sure it won't get stuck. that was successful yesterday. >> everybody was telling me, ryan was just here. the big plan this year is for lady gaga. but tell me some of the other things we're going to see. >> it's the 40th anniversary special of dick clark's new year's rockin' eve. we have lady gaga, as you mentioned. also, justin bieber who has a surprise during his performance. pitbull is going to be with us. as well as jenny mccarthy, hosting part of the night. and dick clark will be back where he loves to be each and every year. it's a 5 1/2-hour show, sam. you can come. >> i know josh will talk to you about the highlights of the show coming up. we're high above times square, above everybody in our backyard this morning. ryan's in the studio. now, back to the studio, gang. >> what is that? >> at the monitor, trying to figure out -- >> if he wants to handle the interview.

live coverage of the party in times square begins at 11:00 p.m. eastern time. ahead in the show, you can send us your new year's greeting. text utext and leave a space, then put in a short greeting and send it to 36288. that means type the word, letter u and text, leave a space, then your message, 36288 and you might see your mental scroll along the bottom of the scream. that's pretty cool. >> i'm going to send i heart rick folbaum. >> there are lots of dos and don'ts on new year's eve. of course you do kiss someone special at midnight. don't drink and drive, of course. there is one don't that you may not be thinking of. but it could really cost you. we'll tell you why you should avoid drunken on-line shopping. >> it's really a problem. also, a christmas surprise that only a military dad could deliver. how he managed to celebrate with his two young children. >> everything goes well, he's going to be inside the box, the kids are going to open the box and he's going to surprise them it's the perfect time to find great deals on the 4g lte devices you love. like th

you can go to a times square visitors center. i've done mine now. to report like dan harris. that's one resolution. that's it. >> i'm so flattered. >> that is kissing up if i've ever seen it. >> no. >> and to be as kind as bianna. that's what i'm working on here. confetti. more than 2,000 pounds will be dropped. so, pretty intense. let's talk about the weather because you do need to know, not just the weather in new york, which is going to be absolutely brilliant. but weather around some of the other parts of the nation and that have special names. look at celebration down there. 66. back at new year, montana, it will be a cool 16. let's talk, then, about the rest of the forecast for tomorrow because as you start your new year, you want to know what to plan. an arctic blast is coming in for the start of 2012. it will make it to the northeast by monday and tuesda >> and finally, party like ron claiborne. this weather report has been brought to you by activia. >> everyone's been counted on. >> she's only been here a couple weeks. but she really knows

welcome to times square.ew year's eve celebration in the world and this is the cnn riser. you won't see all of this on television, but follow me this way. this precise spot, this is where you will see anderson cooper and kathy griffin. now let's go. and i've got to say it's not very often i can say that in this exact spot just about 24 hours from now, i'm standing where lady gaga will be. but here's a little fun behind the scenes fact. on television, this stage will look huge. here in times square, it's really just about 40 feet by 20 feet. you're going to see lady gaga, justin bieber and pit bull. so here's the story behind the confetti. yesterday they actually conducted they call an air worthiness test to make sure that the confetti floats down to times square appropriately. also we found out there are peop standing all above on the tops of buildings so just before the strike of midnight, they all do this. so this is a massive 40-plus person cnn staff operation. not only does cnn have you covered with camer

kiss in times square we know so well. most recently. young and old, for a long time. has come in times square and new year's eve to celebrate their lives and their loves. and their past and their future. and whether it was jimmy cagney singing, "give my regards to broadway" or 42nd street's, lullaby on broadway or alicia keys, empire state of mind. and song and film, exciting inif i night possibilities of the crossroads lights the world and inspire us. whether we come from topeka or toledo or tahoe, we're gripped for one night by the empire state of mind that says that nothing is impossible. that we can push off the past and welcome the sharp promise of the new year. yesterday, i felt a special promise of america and the new year, unified by faith and flag at an interfaith breakfast at the new york public library, held by mayor michael bloomberg, he brought the protestant ministers, rabbis, catholic priests, imams and holy men and women together and saying let there be peace on earth and a greek orthodox youth choir singh

anyone here going to times square?ends coming with me. >> we have a lot of stories coming up this hour. including a sad story and an update about a man who was killed by a drug cartel on his jet ski about a year ago. it's believed those cartel members shot him, but his body was never found. now a new discovery could give his wife and family the answers they have been looking for. his wife, tiffany, spoke with us and gave us those new developments. we'll speak with her when we come back. >> and 2011 was jam packed in terms of the news we had. lots of headlines. and the year that brought us -- and, jeff, you know this well, tiger blood. we have compiled the biggest of the stories to share with you, so that is coming up. >> a dynasty. >>> by the way, one other note from the entertainment world, russell brand and katy perry have decided to call it quits after only 14 months of marriage. the couple hats has filed for divorce. we have what's behind the split and details coming up on that this hour. >> all right. >>> first, l

welcome to times square.iggest new year's eve celebration in the world and this is the cnn riser. you won't see all of this on television, but follow me this way. this precise spot, this is where you will see anderson cooper and kathy griffin. now let's go. and i've got to say it's not very often i can say that in this exact spot just about 24 hours from now, i'm standing where lady gaga will be. but here's a little fun behind the scenes fact. on television, this stage will look huge. here in times square, it's really just about 40 feet by 20 feet. you're going to see lady gaga, justin bieber and pit bull. so here's the story behind the confetti. yesterday they actually conducted they call an air worthiness test to make sure that the confetti floats down to times square appropriately. also we found out there are people standing all above on the tops of buildings so just before the strike of midnight, they all do this. so this is a massive 40-plus person cnn staff operation. not only does cnn have you covered

one of those spots is times square here in new york city. seth doane is there with more. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, russ. yes, with hours to go until midnight, excitement here in times square has already reached fever pitch. for instance, this is lady gaga performing just feet behind me, and with relatively warm temperatures tonight, organizers say around one million people are expected to turn out. time zone by time zone, the world welcomes a new year. from the spectacular in dubai, to the almost-spiritual in tokyo. where they bid farewell to a 2011 that brought an earthquake and tsunami. new year's celebrations provided a break for u.s. troops in afghanistan, while at home, times square was prepped for the 1 billion who will tune in to watch the ball drop on tv. that dwelve-foot-wide, nearly 20,000-pound ball is about the weight of two pickup trucks. workers put finishing touches on the more than 2500 waterford crystal triangles. >> this is a celebration the whole world watches. >> reporter: organizer jeffrey strauss tells us the ball builds on an old cust

they're live in times square.reat entertainment tonight. >>> and if you smoke, you won't get a job, at least from one employer. we'll tell you who it is and how they're screening potential employees. >>> plus, for all you procrastinators out there, there are three simple things you can do today to save yourself money at tax time. we'll have them for you. row. they genatectry, wch le me rf t. guinea pig: row...row.took one, 8 months to get the guin: ..row. lile cbby one to yell row! guineaig: ro's kof strange. guinig: row...row. such a simple word... row. anncr: t an easierayof strange. save. get online. go to geico.com. get a quote. e u 15% or more on car insurance. >>> we're not sheep. we like to be careful with your money. if you can save money on taxes, more power to you. three simple things you can do. give donations to charities in the mail. go online, make a contribution today. also, clean out the clutter, you know? get rid of it. take it to a donation center and get that tax receipt. if you have extra cash,

usually we have a million people celebrating, ringing in the new year in times square.he mayor said maybe you could expect 2 million people. a lot of people are already here for the big party. we're here, too. police officers here in big numbers to make sure everyone stays safe. reporting from times square, katherine creag, nbc bay area news. >> that is a lot of bumping and grinding going on. katherine, thank you very much. >>> pretty soon you will be able to get your hands on the hottest ticket in town. >> that sounds fun and dangerous. that's right. tonight is the deadliner for the 49ers season ticket holders to buy the play-off tickets. general public tickets going on sale january 3rd through ticketmaster. there's a limit of eight tickets per order and the seats are first-come, first-serve. you can click for tickets at 10:00 tuesday morning. >>> okay. let's check the fast with meteorologist christina loren. >> he, guys, we have weather running through the bay area. much-needed rainfall coming through parts, even south of the golden gate bridge. it's hard to believe w

. >>> times square countdown. two reasons why this year's ni new year's eve could draw one the biggest crowds ever. >>> and extreme weather. a look back at some of the most eye-catching and difficult moments from mother nature of the past year. . good morning to you. welcome to "weekends with alex witt." i'm veronica de la cruz. three days to go, the final stretch of the iowa caucuses is going on right now across the state with gop candidates making a mad dash to rally supporters. let's go live right now to des moines and peter alexander. peter, for many of the candidates, this morning is just the start of what's is sure to be a whirlwind weekend, if you will. >> reporter: yeah, that's right. to give you a sense where the confidence is right now, it's with ron paul and mitt romney. ron paul now back in texas to, his family. and mitt romney is already in the next state to vote. he's made it very clear that he expects to be the nominee. more than 1200 miles away in new hampshire, mitt romney was already focusing on

we will take a look at live pictures from new york's times square. that will be packed with tons of people tonight. we will show you how the city is getting ready for its biggest party of the year. plus three days away until the iowa caucuses. the candidates crisscrossing the state until the final push. what the heck is a caucus any way? and are you looking for a job? one employer says you better not smoke. we'll show you how they are testing job applicants for nicotine. >>> happy new year to you. if you're celebrating new zealand style. that's because it's midnight there. let's look at auckland. there it is. they are among the first to ring in the new year. they do it in amazing style. we will spend the next couple hours showing you the new year's celebrations from around the world as the clock strikes midnight in various parts of the world. >>> there's a new year and perhaps changes for the better. iran says it has no plans to close the strait of hormuz. the country had said they would block the strait if sanctions on iran were enforced. reports sa

that includes tomorrow evening up into new york, too, and central park and times square.ll number good shape with temperatures in the 40s as well. if you're making that trip up there, you'll be in good shape. 56 for a high tomorrow, 55 on sunday. now we get a little cold push sunday night and feel it on monday with a high of 43, but the real code stuff gets here monday night -- cold stuff gets here monday night and settles in for monday, tuesday, wednesday and we'll have wind chill values on monday and tuesday in the teens and single digits at times. >> does that mean the wind will be kick up? >> absolutely. we'll have -- kicking up? >> absolutely. we'll have some gusts around 30, so this weekend get outside and do what you want to enjoy. >>> how does this sound? skip dave work and get full pay. that's what happened in the pacific nation of samoa. the island skipped a day on the calendar going from thursday to saturday. officials decided to align their time with their closest trading apparentlies, australia and new ze -- trading partners, australia and new zealand. >>> up

the news continues, they're polishing the big apple for sunday's big new year's celebration in times square. if that's too far, find out where else you can ring in the new year. >>> but first, thousands of mourners racked with grief bid a final farewell to kim jong il buried earlier today. >>> in a new book, jimmie hoffa's personal driver says the former labor union boss is buried in detroit right under the headquarters of general motors. marvin says he learned where hoffa was buried during a teamsters conference back in 1985. hoffa disappeared ten years earlier, supposedly while on his way to meet mobsters. >>> north koreans have paid their last respects to their late leader kim jong il. a massive procession took place in the capital -- in the country's capital ahead of his funeral. dvor funeral. >> they line the streets to say good-bye to kim jong il. sobbing uncontrollably, they waited in the snow for a glimpse of their dear leader's casket. state tv showed mourners falling to their knees and soldiers pushing back crowds to keep the path clear. kim who ruled the nation with an iron fist

new york city's times square right now, they're in a nice warm studio to give us a preview. >> hey. >nt to start out with you guys the question, every time, and that is, what will it take to get kathy banned from the air at cnn? >> thank you. >> what can you say? that will be it. >> the question i keep asking every year, why on god's green earth have they hired her again? that's the question i don't -- >> i came in today and i went to the security desk downstairs and i said nancy grace plus one and i swear i have a tag here that says nancy grace plus one. crack security team thinks i'm nancy grace by the way which is my dream. that's a real recorder, nancy grace. >> candy, you may not realize this, but kathy's. >> did you forget my name? you went kathy. >> an obsessive watcher of cnn. >> i have not missed a moment of carol costello. >> nancy grace and jane velez mitchel. >> sorry. >> candy, how's iowa? what's the capital? >> can you see this? these are the questions i have to ask you. see in you can take over the show. >> i really don't know the capital of iowa. i don't. >> well, it's

a consummate pro with a teenager's soul. >> it's all dick clark shaking in times square. >> you wouldt home and you would feel like you are part of the party. feel like he was just talking to you. >> reporter: the man in charge is now 82 and it's been seven years since the stroke that changed his beloved broadcast. >> i want to thank you for tuning in tonight. >> reporter: how is he doing? >> good. he's excited about this year. he gets excited every year, looks forward to this. looks forward to being on the air. >> reporter: will he make an appearance? >> he will. are you kidding? he still runs the show. >> reporter: we go see the -- >> don't press anything, don't break any crystals. it's expensive. let's go. it's pretty cool to be right under the ball that soon will be 2012. >> reporte when i saw it on tv, i thought it would be bigger. >> reporter: i thought the same about you. >> hey, so did america. >> reporter: i did mr. seacrest because most of hollywood works for him. in addition to his hosting deals with "american idol" and e, he creates shows like "keeping one the kardashians,

anand times square is packed w what could be a record-breaking crowd on a baumy evening in new york city. but in los angeles tonight an undercurrent of anxiety. someone has been setting fires, dozens of them over the past two nights with no suspect or suspects identified. tonight officials are worried it could strike again. nbc's mike tiabbe is live in north hollywood with more details. good evening, mike. >> reporter: good evening, kate. so far this one has investigators stumped. they say unequivocally this is arson. but there's no evidence and no negative information from any witness that points to a specific suspect. scott froshour of north hollywood said it was his wife who woke him to say a neighbor's car was on fire. logic and fear drove him to take action until the real feerts arrived. >> we just ran over, i got a jose and started putting it out. she called the police. luckily it was just a car. >> reporter: there's been luck so far in what fire official say is clearly an arson rampage. none of the fires have started in the house there were sleeping occupants. instead just about e

new year's eve party, live picture, times square if new york city.ook at all those folks revellers beginning to arrive. million people could be arriving there and if you can't make it to times square, make it to our network, fox news channel the plaitd place to celebrate. fun begins 11:00 p.m. eastern, megyn kelly and bill hemmer. and you can text your greeting to a number 36288, you type u text. heading to the homestretch in the state of iowa. why is some people are saying it's time for him to start fighting back, we'll ask a gingrich inside insider about that next. forty years ago, he wasn't worried about retirement. he'd yet to hear of mutual funds, iras, or annuities. back then, he had something more important to do. he wasn't focused on his future but fortunately, somebody else was. at usaa we provide retirement solutions for our military, veterans and their families. from investments... to life insurance... to health care options. learn more with our free usaa retirement guide. call 877-242-usaa. ♪ that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm [ male

drew, cbs news, times square, new york. >>> wow. okay. over the top pop singer, lady gaga will have the chance to drop the famous crystal ball. >>> here in our area, there are several public new year's eve parties plans. d.c., maryland, and virginia. lindsey mastis has one celebration that is fit for the whole family. >> if you're looking for a family friendly event, you'll want to check out first night alexandria. crews are already setting up for the big event. you can roam old town with your kids, there will be face painting, story time, magic, clowns, a moon bounce, and a fun hunt. >> we have 18 different venues. over 30 performers and over 100 performances. >> the party starts at 1:00 in the afternoon. if your children are planning to stay up in the midnight, you'll want to come here to the george washington memorial. >> we're going to have a laser light show and a 6,000 different balls are going to be shot into the air at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the new year. and some prizes associated with the balls as well. >> event is

times square is pretty quiet right now. but that will definitely change by tonight when more than a million people will watch that famous ball drop. nbc's wendy gillette joins us live from the site of the iconic street party with more on what we can expect tonight. good morning, wendy. >> reporter: good morning, erica. it is lovely this morning in new york city. very mild temperatures. that is expected to continue through tonight. it's expected to be about 50 degrees. really perfect for the crowd. new york city police and it be event organizers here in times square say they're ready. they will be welcoming what could be a record crowd tonight. barricades already line the streets this morning awaiting the crowds that will begin arriving within hours. >> i've just seen it on tv so many times. i thought i would come and experience it in person. >> reporter: it's a dream that will be realized tonight by tourists from around the globe. >> i'm from canada. >> spain. >> reporter: where are you from? >> mexico. >> reporter: lady ga

and when they call times square the crossroads of the world, they aren't kidding.s a big ball of humanity. now a very powerful woman with an exotic name and a controversial, almost glamorous public image is trying to unsnarl new york's endless traffic jam and make it a better place to live and a better place to drive, either on four wheels or two. her name is janette sadik-khan and she is not like a lot of the other transportation officials you meet. as harry smith found out when he walked the streets of new york with her this fall. >> reporter: up until two years ago, this was a street. there was buses, cars trucks, and now day and night this is filled with people. >> yes. it used to be an incredible tangle of traffic. and now you can see people out just enjoying it. >> reporter: janette sadik-khan is single handedly either revitalizing or ruining the streets of new york city. she is that rarest of public servants, a bold bureaucrat. >> reporter: did this all turn out better than you anticipated? >> i was greatly relieved that it turned out as well as it did. >> r

. 34 degrees, skies mostly clear as the ball drops in times square. it will be great there. i'll tell you, around much of the nation, it's going to be great. travel delays will be something that makes you want to rip your hair out. especially in places like san francisco, san diego. that volume is going to give way, but you still may have some backups. in denver, the wind may keep you grounded for a little while. in minneapolis, although we're expecting to be under an hour in the afternoon when the rain and the wind begin to pick up, you might see them increase a bit. the big weathermaker we have is the big one across the northern plains and moving into the upper midwest. you can see a telltale sign over parts of minnesota. for much of the central plains, the story we're going to have is the rainfall. wisconsin, there's the belt, upper peninsula of michigan, he could see 6 to 8 inches of snowfall. in terms of wind, there's a lot of that. area of low pressure moving towards the great lakes is going to give you a tight pressure gradient. the result will

live from times square. our live coverage starts saturday night, 11:00 p.m. is less than a year away. we'll tell you why that's triggering a boom in gun sales.  >>> so you may have found the latest tech gadget or hot new toy under your tree for christmas, but one of the hottest gifts this year was firearms. barbara starr explains the reason may be political. >> these are like $3,300 rifles. we sold three of these over the weekend. >> reporter: in this holiday season of peace on earth, good will to men, gun sales are on the rise. >> it was our busiest december ever. >> reporter: this maryland gun sho. owner says people are buying everything from assault rifles to handguns. >> we're totally sold out of almost all of our 9 millimeter glocks. >> reporter: it is a nationwide trend. fbi is reporting a million and a half background checks in the month of december alone. that is an all-time record. raymond says many customers already own guns and are buying more. >> there's also the political aspect of it because we have an upcome election. people are concerned with

. >>> still to come, counting down to new year's eve, the preparations underway in times square. >> a celebrity super couple is splitting up. >> a holiday weekend movie >>> russell brand and kb perry -- katy perry , calling it quits. they spent christmas day apart and were spot without their wedding rings. russell brand filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. >>> many people will be heading out to the movies. here is arch campbell with a few suggestions on what you should see if you do. >> best new movie honors go to "were forced," -- "warhorse," steven spielberg's sentimental movie, about 3.5 stars pg-13. this feels like the kind of movie they used to make. that is a weakened best bet. have a nice weekend everybody and happy new year. i am arch campbell, abc 7 entertainment. b>>> it is almost party time the confetti is ready in time square ahead of the big new year's eve bash. teen sensation justin bieber and lady gaga are set to perform and the waterford crystal ball is ready to drop. catch all of the action on dick clark's rocking new year's eve with ryan c. crest satu