i am rob nelson. new years clutter is no match for someone with big ideas. with a new project in mind, some how-to knowledge to give us an edge, and more savings down every aisle. it only takes a few twists and turns for those e bright ideas to make the new year even brighter. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. start fresh and save with hdx 20 gallon totes, a special buy at just $5.88 a piece. man: at turbotax, we know this is more than a paycheck. it's long, hard days, late nights, and missed little league games. you've worked hard to earn your money. and we think you should have the power to keep as much of it as possible. we have tax experts to answer your questions. we'll back you and support you. because a dollar here, a dollar there-- every dollar is more important when it's yours. turbotax-- the power to keep what's yours. try it free at turbotax.com. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- coming up at 6:00, more of "hail to the redskins "videos. >> and a new study sheds a partiesng light on who in

here's rob nelson. the federal trade commission found no antitrust or anti- violations in how google highlights its search engine results. 70% of all web searches in the u.s. go through google. toyota and auid will have newt -- new self-cars cars from toyota and audi. and customers will be able to pictures and put them on paper, metal, or bemba our .ebsite and apple will launch a line of activated apparel within the next 10 years. i am rob nelson. (vo) sometimes the big plan doesn't work. and the e perfect life turns t to be not so perfect. you start fresh new city. new job. new everything. it's exciting, and scary, at the same time. and sosome days you think, "i can't do this on my own." but then...i went to suntrust. they helped me figure things out. and before you know it, i am doing it... (anncr) at suntrust, helping people shine is what we do. join the thousands who are switching to suntrust's award-winning service. make a wish! i wish we could lie here forever. i wish this test drive was over, so

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. the very heated debate over firearms restrictions is our top story this half hour. and it is quite a heated debate. >> it really is. senator feinstein was the first elected leader after newtown said i'm bringing the ban back and made good on her word. >>> now that the pentagon is lifting the combat ban for women in the armed forces, the questions begin, are women physically strong enough for the military's most challenging assignments? >>> also, there's no relief from the arctic weather system putting millions in the middle of this ongoing deep freeze. flights are canceled due to ice storms and it's too cold in some areas to even go skiing. i've never even heard of that before. that's cold. >>> and later this half hour, the wizards on the web called bad lip reading reinterpret the president's inaugural address. into something completely incomprehensible. why this is our favorite story of the day. i can't wait to see that. i'm going to watch it for the first time. >> i watched it earli

i am rob nelson. >> welcome back. some encouraging news on the robert griffin the third. >> the doctor says rg3 is ready to begin rehab on the right knee. on wednesday they replaced his acl and lcl with cartilage from his left knee. there will be working on the motion of his knee. they believe his motivation will lead to a full recovery. the cleveland browns will have rob chazinski adds the head coach. he rooted for the browns as a kid growing up in ohio. >> john gall said he is tired -- tired of wearing suits. >> he hopes to make his season debut tomorrow night against the atlanta hawks. he has been rehabing the patel injury for quite some time now. 6:25. "the bachelor" will have quite an effect in the northern virginia area. >> let's check in with brianne carter. she's at the live desk. >> all of the bachelor of fans, listen up. there are words of warning that chris schakowsky -- bukowksi will be opening a restaurant in the area. he will release the name and location today. he is deciding between two names, racket r

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm sunny hostin, in for

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. we'll take you live to cairo for the latest on the political unrest in just a moment. and then to brazil where investigators have uncovered disturbing new details after a deadly inferno in a popular nightclub. >> already arrests made in that case. so you can imagine the criminal ramifications, then the legal ramifications. and you have to wonder how libel the club will be. this thing is going to end up in court and it's going to be messy and horrific. the early stage of the fallout already beginning as that community continues to mourn. >>> this is a big day for president obama. he will announce his plans for immigration reform today in the state of nevada. you'll hear how eight senators as we told you about yesterday, are pushing for similar reforms and what it means for the entire country. the most significant overhaul perhaps of our immigration system that we have seen in a long, long time. lots of talk for a couple of decades now. finally some action perhaps. >> and sort of an unl

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. accuweather brings us up to date on the nasty cold snap in our top story. it hasn't been this cold for a while. >> old man winter is up and he's not happy. that's for sure. >>> also this morning, seven tons of marijuana, pot, that's what federal agents, yes, uncovered in a drug bust that is making history. how smugglers tried and failed to move all of this marijuana into the country. that's a lot of pot. come on. >> that's one way to stay warm. >>> also later this half hour, painful lessons for men from women. the simulation that lets men feel the intense pain of childbirth. >> yes. welcome to our world. i have two my children myself, and it is an interesting experience to say the least. >> women endure so much more than men physically. so i tip my hat. >> it is something to behold. >> god bless y'all. i couldn't do it, no way in the world. >>> we all showed you the swanky public celebrations the president and first lady attended after the inaugural. wait until you hear about the afte

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. that soldier has already put his new arms to use, and you'll see how in our top story. it's really just a miracle story. i love this story. >> the only thing more impressive than the doctors is that guy's spirit. >> absolutely. and also this morning, president obama's push for immigration reform. now members of the senate must search for common ground in their goal to help 11 million undocumented immigrants. >>> later this half hour, hillary clinton's long list of accomplishments as she gets ready to leave her job. what are her immediate and long-term plans? >> it's the long-term plans -- >> that will fuel a lot of speculation. >> that's right. and in some parts of the country, you are what you drive. what was this guy thinking when he decided to build a car that looks kind of like a banana? >> kind of? it's not a cantaloupe. look at that thing. i give him points for creativity. something different on the roadways. >> i'd check it out. >> it's not your average honda civic. i'll give h

i'm rob nelson. we'll get to our top political headlines in just a second, including a bipartisan deal on one of the president's pet projects. could be some major headway being made on immigration reform, which was a big focus of president obama's inaugural address. kind of a failed promise from his first term, but gaining steam in the second. >>> also this morning, tragedy in south america. the nightclub fire that has stunned the world. what investigators are learning this morning as brazil gets ready to bury more than 200 victims and still counting. >> terrible tragedy there. >>> and the nasty winter weather system that couldn't come at a worse time. snow and ice hit the midwest over the weekend, and it could spread misery to millions of people in the east as the workweek begins. >> just what we wanted to hear. >>> later this half hour, the inmate who broke out of jail, oh, no, not once, but twice. how his latest escape went unnoticed for a few days. >> how does that happen? once you break out once

i'm john muller in for rob nelson. >> and it is friday. >> friday. we made it. tgif. >> yes. armstrong said he was driven to cheat by a ruthless desire to win, saying it never felt wrong, he never felt bad about what he was doing and still didn't seem to be terribly contrite during that confession with oprah. we'll have the complete confession in a moment. first, a look at some of the other stories we're following. including escape from algeria. five americans held hostage by terrorists. they're now safe. but for others, the danger is not over. a lot of questions as to how many people remain, how many were taken to begin with. so definitely a situation that continues to evolve. >> very fluid situation there. >>> also ahead, changing the meaning of home. the new nontraditional way which homes are growing and families are expanding. >> fascinating. especially for those that are thinking about taking in their parents, maybe. >> i think the extended family is a good thing. bring it back. >> i plan on doing that. >>> later

rob nelson by the way is up in the snow. right? you went south, he went north. >> skiing. >> so he's off for a few more days. >>> let's talk about the president. promising to put everything he's got into a broad new gun control law. we'll hear his proposal and the challenges they face in a moment. >>> also this half hour, americans held hostage. the u.s. weighing its options as a group linked to al qaeda holds dozens of foreigners, including americans, in algeria. >>> and then, between a rock and a hard place. literally. how a woman got wedged in an incredibly tight spot, spending hours in an eight-inch gap before crews pulled off a delicate rescue. it's bizarre how she ended up there in the first place. >> did you see the look on her face when she got out? wow. >>> later on, the hottest thing on the yoga mat. bikram yoga is booming business. but the controversial man behind it is feeling the heat. >> have you ever done that? >> no. i've done yoga, but not bikram. >> i've done it a couple of times. >> i was thinking you might want

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. from lake-effect snow to below zero windchills, accuweather updates this miserable cold snap coming up. >> it is rough outside. people say it hurts to be outside right now. >> you can only be outside ten minutes. that's all they give you. >> frostbite can hit you like that. >>> then the freak accident that could have killed a baby girl. find out how a pencil pierced her skull and why her mom didn't notice anything wrong at first. goodness. >>> also this morning, the innovation unveiled exactly 29d years ago today. we'll look back at the world's first apple computer as the company announces record sales. look at that thing compared to the ipad and laptops of today. but at the time, that was the hot thing. that was the thing. put it right next to your walkman. >>> later, performers who should have considered lipsyncing the national anthem. beyonce, pay attention. >> these are folks who shouldn't have let us hear their voice. let's not give it all away. stay tuned for that story. >>> a t

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. the dangerous winds from that storm could turn the morning commute hazardous today for millions. we'll have the latest on that. it is remarkable the weather. >> oh, yeah. the roller coaster. >> 60 degrees in new york. >> balmy now in new york. by the time we get out to go home after the show it will be a blizzard outside again. so it's been a wild ride. dead of winter. got to love it. >> that's right. >>> and another major headline this morning, the hostage drama in alabama. in the middle of it all a little boy, 6 years old stuck in an underground bunker. this is just remarkable, this little boy taken off a school bus. the bus driver shot and killed. and the little boy is still being held hostage. >> just 5 years old going through an ordeal like that. wait till you hear the background on the suspect in the case and what he was known in the neighborhood for. very scary character. just say that. >>> this morning, highly paid baseball player in the middle of a federal drug investigation.

those are your techbytes, i'm rob nelson. >>> thanks for staying with us. the home burns as crews struggle to find a working fire hydrant. this happens on detroit's west side. the flames raced through the home while threatening an occupied house next door. the closest hydrant had a sign on it reading out of order. firefighters say threads are made of brass and the scrapers are stealing them. the scrappers rather. they had to move on to the third one. >> last couple of weeks, five, six fires on one street. hydrants not working. and when they take them so long to get here. pretty sad. >> fortunately no one was hurt in the fire and the home next door was saved with nearly no damage. so this was a situation could have been much worse megan. >>> all right charlie now 6:14 and after facing a fire storm of criticism, house speaker john boehner is scheduled a vote for friday on a partial aid bill for victims of superstorm sandy. now tomorrow's vote will be on $9 billion for a national flood insurance program. a second vote will be held on january 15th. on the remai

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm sunny hostin. paula faris is on assignment. you will hear about chuck hagel's pending nomination and the buzz it is creating worldwide in our top story. >> interesting choice there, could be another bloody few weeks for multiple reasons. >> critics on both side of this one. >> hagel has opponents on both sides of that aisle. the announcement could come late later today from the president. >>> also this morning, james holmes, the suspected colorado movie theater gunman he appears in court just hours from now. why the hearing taking place could be the closest he gets to a trial. >> unbelievable. also that case over the weekend from aurora, a hostage situation where four people including the gunman were killed. that town has been through -- >> unbelievable. >> unbelievable things since july. >> since july, that first movie theater massacre happened. >>> later this half hour, check your wallets. there is more funny money hitting the streets as counterfeiters get even more clever. the costly crime and what the government

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. we'll get to the latest on that nightclub fire and the growing number of dead in our top story. >> you have to imagine putting yourself in the shoes of those in that nightclub and the fire breaks out. one exit reportedly is there, and between 900 and 2,000 people running for the door. that's why the death toll is so high. you can imagine the panic. the panic of the last few minutes of their life, unbelievable. can't even get your head around it. >> we're up to over 200. >> 230 at this point, and counting. >>> we'll also talk about the mystery surrounding an american photographer who disappeared during her tour of turkey. her family is searching for answers and taking action today. >>> also this morning, the new and outrageous fee to use your credit card. charging a $200 purchase could cost you an extra $8. who's cashing in and why? credit card companies always find a way to just get a little more out of you. >> that's not going to be a popular move. >> no, it is not. >>> later this ha

i'm paula faris. >> and i'm rob nelson. so many people have gone to such great lengths to try to make the children of sandy hook feel safe today as they finally head back to school. we'll have a look inside their new classrooms coming up in a moment. a big step forward, hopefully for that entire community. so -- >>> and then also this half hour, hillary clinton, she is out of the hospital with her husband and daughter at her side. what doctors, though, are saying now about the secretary of state's treatment for that blood clot. >>> also, almost a year after a devastating stroke, illinois senator mark kirk is set to return to capitol hill today, ready to walk up 45 symbolic steps. should be an emotional and especially symbolic for him. this is a huge milestone for him. >> absolutely. and kind of completes the recovery, in a way. like a back to work, back up those steps. >>> and later, it takes two. the 5-year-old twins who make quite a team, managing to save their mom's life. how they sprang into action when exactly they wer

rob nelson has the morning off. lucky him. washington starting 2013 with a tentative agreement to hike taxes on the wealthiest americans but avoid the pitfalls of the fiscal cliff. we'll have the latest on that in a moment. >>> also this half hour, hillary clinton's health emergency. what's next for the secretary of state now that doctors have found a blood clot near her brain? >>> then party time in times square. when it comes to welcoming in the new year, nobody does it better than the million people who pack into the heart of manhattan. go ahead with the hat on. i know you're dying to. >> don't you have the one that lights up? what happened? >> they took it back already. budget cuts. >> there you go. >>> and later, the secret life of a dad. very cool viral video. this is offering clues about really goes on when mom goes away. >> you come home and the house looks like a bomb went off. >> this dad right here makes us all us dads look really good. if they time lapsed me, they would show me on the couch with a remote control sa

i'm rob nelson. >> i'm s

i'm rob nelson. just like we're starting a new chapter in the nation's capital, we are ending a chapter i guess here on "world news now." for the last time, i get to introduce the woman to my left, paula faris on her final day with us here on the overnight. >> your left but everybody else's right. camera left, camera right. >> good morning, everybody. >> yes. a bittersweet day. and we'll get more into it later. >> we're going to have fun today. we have fun on farewell shows. this will be no exception. >> it's always fun, but for me, i've had such a good time. i'm not leaving abc, i'm not leaving the building. just going to be reassigned. but i've had such a good time. i truly do have mixed emotions about everything. >> it's greener pastures. the greener, more well rested pastures. that's the bright side. you know what i mean? >> greener than cash? you know something i don't know? >> i got something for you. >> so we are going to take you to d.c. as we cover the inauguration. and then rob, this is for

rob nelson has the morning off. >> and i'm paula faris. and finally, the country has a fiscal deal in place. but both sides came out bruised. we'll have the latest from washington in a moment and why this is just the beginning of the debate. >> this is not going away for a long time. >>> also this half hour, day four in the hospital for hillary clinton. we'll have an update on the secretary of state's condition. >>> and then a parade of love. one family's new year's surprise at the tournament of roses parade that is now our favorite story of the day. >>> and later, the new year beginning with a bang for hugh hefner, no pun intended. >> did you write that? >> the 86-year-old just married his 26-year-old girlfriend. do the math, everybody, that's 60 years. >> oh, brother. >> the secrets of the ceremony coming up in "the skinny." i just can't -- ewww. >> what are you going to say about that? >> i don't know. it's love, right? >> that's what they claim. >>> all right. let's talk about the fiscal cliff. but first, taking the country right to th

i'm sunny hostin in for paula faris. >> and i'm rob nelson. the nra will get its turn to weigh in on the nation's ongoing gun debate today. we'll get the latest from washington coming up. in just a moment. that should be a fascinating meeting with the washington establishment and the nra crowd today. but it's good they're going to be at the table. >> and joe is no shrinking violet. so i would imagine that he'll have his say. >> oh, man. fasten your seat belts. >>> also this half hour, it's back to court for jerry sandusky today as his lawyers play new legal angles to fight his conviction on 45 counts of child sex abuse. >> good luck with that, jerry. >>> and a welcome surprise after superstorm sandy. how some generous people gave a hard luck couple a place to call home. >> that's a great story. >>> and later, making a splash. olympic gold medalist missy franklin is back in the water, swimming for her high school team and admitting she's actually kind of nervous. >> who wants to swim in high school against missy franklin? i mean, my goodness. l

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. paula faris is on assignment. we'll capture the mood of that colorado courtroom in our top story in a moment. you can't imagine what the families were going through today. >> absolutely not. >>> then to new england, where a homeowner is counting his blessings. he was mauled by a wild bobcat in his own garage. >> can you imagine? >> no, i cannot. >> opening the door and there's a bobcat. lucky lived to tell the story. guess that's what counts. >> that's right. >>> also this morning, what exactly happened to sunny's notre dame fighting irish? >> i have an explanation. >> do you really? because they just stunk. that was my explanation. the defense didn't show up at all. they didn't get on the bus to the game. we'll bring you alabama's big bcs victory. after the game, so many football fans are still talking about this. no matter who you're rooting for, nobody wants a rout of a title game. you don't want to see it come down to that final game and it is a boring blo

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin in for paula faris. we'll explain why that second virus on top of the flu should really be taken seriously. >>> also this morning, taking mother nature seriously. a winter blast is blowing from coast to coast after the gulf region recovers from january tornadoes. accuweather will bring us up to date. >> messy times for a large swath of the country. >>> also later this half hour, when prescription sleeping pills do more harm than good. well, the government is calling for changes to these remedies. an important topic for all of you insomniacs out there. >> that's right. >> i've never been a big -- what is it called? the ambien stuff, but i'll pop a tylenol p.m. so we've got to take those things a little more carefully. >>> and then in "the skinny," kelly ripka wants to make a huge change in her life and it's part of a multimillion dollar decision. we'll bring you the scoop. >> get a little glimpse into how miss ripka is living. >> it's fascinating. >> it is prett

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin in for paula faris. after years of denial, the lance armstrong admissions are coming fast and furious. we'll have new details in just a moment. >> it's a big moment and a lot more potentially to come. so it's a watershed moment and it ain't over. >> and the interview with oprah will be airing on thursday. so we will all learn a lot more. >> oprah tweeted something, that he came ready. so should be interesting. >>> also this half hour, turning their pain into a force for good. parents in newtown join together in an anti-violence movement to try to spare other families their shattering grief. >> yesterday was the one-month anniversary of that massacre. sometimes it feels like seconds and other times it feels like years. >>> and then it's four years since a miracle on the anniversary of that incredible landing on the hudson. how the story of flight 1549 continues to live on. we all remember that news day. >> i can't believe it's been four years. i remember that. >> we're getting old fast. >>> then no secret

rob nelson has the morning off. washington starting 2013 with a tentative agreement to hike taxes on the wealthiest americans but avoid the pitfalls of the fiscal cliff. we'll have the latest on that in a moment. >>> also this half hour, hillary clinton's health emergency. what's next for the secretary of state now that doctors have found a blood clot near her brain? >>> then party time in times square. when it comes to welcoming in the new year, nobody does it better than the million people who pack into the heart of manhattan. go ahead with the hat on. >> don't you have the one that lights up? what happened? >> they took it back already. budget cuts. >>> and later, the secret life of a dad. this is offering clues about really goes on when mom goes away. >> you come home and the house looks like a bomb went off. >> this dad right here makes us all us dads look really good. >> dad of the year award right here? >> exactly right. >>> the fiscal cliff dead line has passed but lawmakers are working to reach an agreement

. >> i'm john muller in for rob nelson. that deal keeps tax cuts in place for americans making less than $400,000 a year. but lawmakers delayed a decision on spending cuts, and that will set up a whole new fight. >> this is going to drag on for a while. and more on the compromise in a moment. but first, a look at some of the other stories we're following for you this wednesday morning. the children of sandy hook children to school this week, but not to the scene of that horrific tragedy. how their old classrooms have been meticulously re-created down to the crayons. really a remarkable effort by everybody in that community. we'll tell you some surprise visitors they're going to have, as well. >>> a triumphant comeback. espn host hanna storm returning to television after a month after her accident. >>> you know you make new year's resolutions that takes will power and support to succeed. but did you know there are people betting against you? doesn't that sound horrible? we'll tell you who they are, and why in the world anyon

i am rob nelson. >>> you're watching the station that works for you. now, good morning maryland. >> the vice president sits down with the nra on the same day as another school shooting. how the events could impact recommendations handed to president obama next week. >>> throw on the purple and put on the game face. ravens leave tore denver for a critical playoff game and ravens fans are not far behind. we are live showing you how they will be heading out to the mile high city. >> what better way to show your pride than wearing 52. find out where ray lewis ranks in the hottest nfl jerseys. thanks for joining us i am megan pringle. >> i am charley crowson. we have to get you ready for today. we have our purple on. it's playoff purple friday. and how is the weather going to be out there mike masco is here to take a look. >> we are talking about temperatures starting out on the chilly side but 60s close to 70s on the weekend. we barbecuing? good idea. >> i like that. >> 34 right now -- right now at joppa. annapolis 37. and it's on the chilly side and thing

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. they started burying the dead after that terrible nightclub fire in brazil. >> most of the victims died of suffocation after toxic smoke filmed the air of that crowded club. when firefighters rushed to the scene, they found the entrance blocked by a pile of bodies. more than 230 victims died. more than 100 were injured. >> we spoke earlier to the bbc's julia carnero, who just arrived in santa maria. >> the sports center, where families and grends have gathered to identify the bodies was decemberlating. trucks carried the bodies to the site. it was the only place in the city that had the capacity to actually be a solution for the tragedy that happened because there wasn't a morgue that could take in such a number. >> are you hearing more about the setup inside the club that there wasn't easier access for people to get out? >> yes, exactly. lots of witnesses were saying it was a desperate situation for them, not to get out.t. not being able to see far because of the smoke. and on top of

. >> and i'm rob nelson. we begin with the latest from a trio of american communities forever linked by sudden violence. in the wake of the newtown school massacre, today, tucson, arizona, is marking the second anniversary of a gunman's attack. we'll have more from there, coming up in just a moment. >>> also today, court hearing resumes in the shootings at an aurora, california, movie theater. during day one yesterday, james holmes appeared with a beard. the shock of red hair gone. veteran cops testifying breaking down in tears, recalling the horror inside the theater. and we learned holmes bought his ticket 12 days before the shooting. >>> and the shooting sprees in aurora and newtown are very much on the minds of people in tucson today. >> so many lives were changed forever by a gunman's assault. here's abc's tahman bradley. >> reporter: survivors of the mass shooting in tucson, arizona, have not abandoned their push for change. they joined hundreds at an interfaith service, praying for new laws. former con

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. we begin with the weather extremes. winter warnings in effect this morning in eight states with snow and plunging temps from kansas to michigan. that follows a day of soaring record highs. >> violent storms are still sweeping in this morning from texas to the midwest. they've spawned several unusual janitor nay does that flipped rvs and sent trees and powerlines crashing into homes. accuweather's jim dickey has more. >> an unusually warm day expected. a strong system moving into canada. plenty of rainfall with this. strong storms. temperature-wise, many areas challenging if not setting new highs today. 69 degrees in the b.c. area. mid 60s in pittsburgh as well. 80s across florida. rob and sunny, back to you. >> thanks, jim. >>> for much more on the weather ups and downs, stay with us for "good morning america." sam champion will be here with the latest on the snow, the twirss, and topsy-turvy temperatures. >> old man winter taking us for a ride. >>> the other big story, the economy. the powerful rally on wall street. if

i'm rob nelson. good to be back after a little vacation. >> how do you feel? >> rested, which is a strange, weird feeling on this shift. >> he's been chatting it up with all of us here for the last couple of hours. not that you usually don't, but you have an unusual little jump in your step. >> it's called sleep. >> isn't it amazing, the wonders of sleep? >> happy new years to you guys and happy one year anniversary to you. >> you missed all the fun. >>> good morning again, everybody. more on this emotional return to school for the sandy hook students coming up in just a second, including how their classrooms have been meticulously re-created to make sure all those young kids feel at home. a big day for that community. hopefully some return to normalcy for those guys. >>> first, some of the other stories we're following for you this half hour. the nation did avoid the fiscal cliff and wall street responded positively. how the new deal will benefit your retirement savings. rob and i will actually look into our 401(k). no, that's not happening. >> you don't want

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. they started burying the dead after that terrible nightclub fire in brazil. >> most of the victims died of suffocation after toxic smoke filmed the air of that crowded club. when firefighters rushed to the scene, they found the entrance blocked by a pile of bodies. more than 230 victims died. more than 100 were injured. >> we spoke earlier to the bbc's julia carnero, who just arrived in santa maria. >> the sports center, where families and grends have gathered to identify the bodies was decemberlating. trucks carried the bodies to the site. it was the only place in the city that had the capacity to actually be a solution for the tragedy that happened because there wasn't a morgue that could take in such a number. >> are you hearing more about the setup inside the club that there wasn't easier access for people to get out? >> yes, exactly. lots of witnesses were saying it was a desperate situation for them, not to get out. not being able to see far because of the smoke. and on top of t

have great day and i am rob nelson.

. >> and i'm rob nelson. we begin with the wicked weather that unleashed two dozen tornadoes on the south and the west. flipping cars, trucks, even a moving freight train. >> that storm is trejing up the east coast this morning. and big cities, d.c. and new york are getting drenched. abc's tahman bradley has the latest on the storm blamed, now, for at least two deaths. >> reporter: wicked weather lashed parts of the midwest and south, heavy flooding, dangerous winds and monster tornadoes. look at these images north of atlanta. >> a funnel north of the interstate. >> reporter: a tornado with winds estimated over 120 miles per hour, demolished homes, office buildings and wiped out parts of a factory. >> it picked me up and flinged me three times. trying to get that door closed. >> i had to dig my way out. >> i thought it killed my son in the bedroom in there. and i thought it was going to kill me, too. >> reporter: the tornado left behind a junk yard of twisted semitrailers and tossed suvs. one person was kille

. >> i'm rob nelson. good morning, everybody. just hours from now, the president takes the oath of office for the second time in two days. >> hundreds of thousands are gathering on the national mall to witness history. and abc's tahman bradley is keeping an you on it for us. good morning, tahman. >> reporter: good morning, sunny. good morning, rob. the national mall is about to fill up. hundreds of thousands of people are expected out here. the president's second term is already underway. so, the only thing left is the pomp and pageantry. >> i barack hussein obama do solemnly swear. >> reporter: president obama's second term is officially under way. the constitution required he take the oath of office yesterday. but today is when the american people celebrate mr. obama's second inaugural. it's also dr. martin luther king jr.'s birthday. the president will honor dr. king by swearing in publicly on a bible once used by the civil rights leader. he'll also use a bible that was once used by abraham lincoln. 800,000 people are expected

i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. the freezer door is still wide-open this morning, with millions of americans bracing for yet another day of teeth-chattering cold. >> it is rough out there. the arctic air mass is triggering windchill advisories in at least a dozen states, from north dakota to new england. it will feel like minus 45 in northern maine. and the actual temperature at international falls, minnesota, 33 below zero. bundle up in minnesota. most of us don't have to brave the cold for too much. but for many, it's just part of the job. those that have to spend their days outdoors have no choice but to bundle up against the very brutal elements. >> basically, keep moving. you know, layers. i have on, like, three layers. and if i need to, i'll take something off. put something on, as need be. >> the frigid air was too much for one worker in maryland. he had to be rescued from a cell phone tower 200 feet up in the air. he called 911 after becoming hypothermic in 10-degree weather. a colleague got to him first. an

. >> and i'm rob nelson. north korea has drawn a bull's eye on america. its leaders have issued a direct threat that they will soon test a nuclear weapon and a long-range rocket, aimed at the u.s. >> there are signs that a nuclear test is in the works. and we know their missiles can now reach hawaii. but it doesn't appear they can combine them yet. >> defense secretary leon panetta says the u.s. is ready, though, to meet any provocation. how is all this going over in that region? abc's gloria riviera has just arrived in seoul. and, gloria, how concerned are the leaders in south korea? >> reporter: rob, here in south korea, there is not panic yet. but there is serious concern. yesterday, it was the u.s. today, north korea directed its threat in this direction. north korea warned there would be, quote, strong, physical countermeasures against south korea if it takes direct part in the tougher u.s.-backed sanctions recently passed at the u.n. and analysts say american intelligence, international agency intelligence, it all concludes that the north koreans' m

i am rob nelson. >>> only on 2 this morning a pastor from a baptist church in cecil county closed his church this for good after a series of crimes have taken place there targeting the house of god. abc2 news jeff hager has more on the final chapter. >> this one is left is the baby girl. >> reporter: this family that prayed together has stayed together here at first mount carmel baptist church in northeast. lesson -- less and wanda were married here les and wanda were mareied here and all their children want eyed here and heer ised as the pastor as his father. >> he never took a dime for doing the work and he guess that's instilled in me. i worked here for 14 years and never would let them give me anything. >> reporter: but now he is taken all he can stand. >> but they took a brick from over there that block and threw it through the window. >> reporter: saturday morning police notified pastor thompson someone had vandalized the church again. knocking a hole in the message board. ripping off a piece of railing and smashing the windows. it didn't take northeast police long to come up wi

i'm john muller, in for rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris. it turns out the congress had a bungee cord when they took the country over the cliff. >> the house has ended a bitter deal over a tax deal. bringing the country back from the brink. >> tahman bradley joining us with the new developments from washington this morning. hi, tahman. >> reporter: all, paula and john. the country did technically go over the fiscal cliff. but congress has fixed the mess. what they passed is retroactive. so, 99% of americans will not see a change in their tax rate. they finally got it done. congress ended the long drama over the fiscal cliff with house republicans reluctantly passing the senate's bill. >> i will sign a law that raises taxes on the wealthiest 2% of americans, while preventing a middle-class tax hike that could send the economy back into the recession. >> reporter: for a time, it aspeared the bill was headed for defeat. house republicans did not want to raise taxes without significant cuts in government spending. >> there's no spending cuts. we