Final playoff spot over the bears. Lets go live to halas hall where wgns rich king is. Hey rich. He is a out of there is a good coach. Confirmed about an hour ago after stories broke this morning. After nine years as coach of the bears. Missing the playoffs five out of the last six years did him in. A nine year career here in chicago. It began pretty well. He was coach of the year his second year. He is always in charge of the defense. The defense did well over the years. He had no offense. The offense struggled this year. It was hoped to be better. It did not work out that way. It eventually cost him his job. Not enough points, not enough victories. Changes and always a bad thing. Sometimes it can be good. Nobody wants to really change our attend about changing. Now it is upon us. That is what it is. But he got to keep moving forward and whoever we get as our next coach. Theres a lot of opportunity out there for him. We want him to be here but it is not the scenario. He is a great coach. He is a great man. Am anxious to see what they do. Im going to go home and away from football right now. A very emotional reaction from devin hester. Mrs of life is in the nfl. People get hired and fired. Fill emery will not speak today. You have in this Conference Tomorrow at 10 00 a. M. The bears fans already weighing in with their opinions. Were not finding a lot of fans that are all that surprised that he is out. Frankly not a lot of them are upset to hear that either. Not a lot of love lost for him. Use generally muck by most of the last nine years. He led the team with that even kill them in there. Even keel demeanor. The coach is the one that always gets the criticism in most cases. That is a hard pill to swallow for a coach. If youre not winning, youre not winning. He did nothing to improve the line. I think the last couple of years have been a little rough. As well as his biggest downfall offense keeps coming up as the topic of conversation. And obama is scheduled to speak about 30 minutes. This is as capitol hill lawmakers are battling the clock trying to keep the nation from going off the cliff. The autumn at expanding cuts and tax hikes could trigger a new recession. The markets could plummet. Many still recovering from the last recession. Fearing the worst of congress does not act. That means a lot for my family. I have family that is unemployed. There were about unemployment benefits. I have friends who are also facing some pretty hard times. Everybody has been a kind of hard lately. Youre definitely a little worried about falling even further into debt or into another recession. Bettas all i care about. Does it affect you . Yes i guess. I hope it gets resolved before 12 00 p. M. Tonight. With the deadline fast approaching. Negotiations continue with still no deal. The nation just hours from plunging off of the fiscal clef. That is on the dreaded combination of spending cuts and tax hikes take effect. The average middleclass family standing to lose about 2,000. Vice President Joe Biden is said to be a key player to try to make a deal with senate republicans. This is as the gop has reportedly backed off of a key Social Security measure. Democrats have reported to offer to extend tax cuts for families making up to 450,000 a year. Individuals making up to 400,000 a year. President obama originally wanted the tax cuts extended only four families making over 250,000 a year. As both sides make difficult concessions, the two sides appear to be inching closer to a deal. Whether they can close a deal by midnight remains a question. Want everybody to know that im willing to get this done. I need a dance partner. If there is an ultimate compromise, there will be parts of it that i find it disgusting and reprehensible. If lawmakers did not reach a deal by midnight tonight. You will likely not see a big change in their next paycheck. A lot of businesses use 2012 withholding rates. If you want to check out how much this fiscal cliff falloff will affect your next pay check, had to this web site. Half a bill to legalize same sex marriage in illinois could come before state lawmakers in springfield as soon as this week. A white house spokesman tells the chicago suntimes, president obama is urging lawmakers to approve the religious freedom and marriage fairness act. The Spokesman Says if the president were still in the legislature, he would support a measure to treat all couples equally. Illinois passed a law approving civil unions for same sex couples in june of last year. If youre going out to celebrate tonight. The cta is offering you a safe ride home for a penny. This year, the cta is partnering with miller lite to provide rides on buses and trains for just one cent. Penny fares begin at 10 pm tonight. Continuing through four am on new years day. They are erupting with tons of exploding fireworks as they welcomed in the new year. It was the worlds first major celebration for 2013. 7 t of fireworks were set off from rooftops and barges. Many of them cascading from the bridge. The pyrotechnic extravaganza was built by organize tiesorganizers. Coming up next a onehundred Million Dollar lawsuit is filed in connection with the newtown connecticut shootings. Also ahead, the latest on the condition of secretary of state Hillary Clinton after being hospitalized, this time for a blood clot. And Party Planners in new york are gearing up for tonights new years eve celebration the mother of a man suspected of setting a deadly fire that killed his girlfriend and critically injured their two children is speaking out. Nathaniel beler died of injuries he suffered in the fire at his mothers home in the 42hundred block of west 21st place saturday. Taniya tuhkneeyuh johnson died. Neighbors told police they heard the couple arguing before the fire broke out. Police accuse beler of setting the deadly fire but his mother says taniya is responsible. President obama says the Connecticut School shooting should be enough to bring a new gun control law next year. The president said something fundamental in the country had to change after the recent mass shooting. The president says he supports banning assault weapons and high capacity ammunition clips. But hes against the National Rifle associations idea to put more armed guards in schools. Im skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools. Vice President Biden is leading a task force to create new gun legislation. The president says the recent School Shooting could persuade lawmakers who are reluctant to support gun control to pass a bill. The body of the gunman in the Connecticut School shooting has been claimed for burial. Adam lanza killed himself after he shot and killed 26 people at sandy hook elementary on december 14th. He also murdered his mother before he went to the school. The New York Times reports that someone claimed lanzas remains for burial, but it that person is said to have wanted to remain anonymous. The unidentified girl heard the gunfire, screaming and conversations over the schools intercom. She was not injured but was left with the emotional scars. Other states are failing to protect the children from guns. Golfing came over the intercom. Down to the screaming and cursing. Her friends are dead. That is trauma. Police have still not given a motive for the shooting. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton will be spending the new year in the hospital. A Spokesman Says clinton is being treated for a blood clot related to a concussion she suffered earlier this month. The clot was discovered during a followup exam. But officials wont say exactly where its located. Shes expected to remain at a New York Hospital so doctors can monitor her condition. Clinton was suffering from a stomach virus earlier this month when she fainted at home due to dehydration, causing the concussion. He is now out of intensive care. Mr. Bush has been in the hospital for more than a month now. For bronchitis and a fever. He is 88 years old. He is the oldest living former president. A family Spokesman Says that he has been alert and always in good spirits. Returning to the new congress after being gone almost a full year for rehabilitation. His goal is to walk up the senate steps. Youll meet him at the top. The nets in practice last month when he climbed 37 flights of stairs at its the last day of 2012 but its the first day of a new era for the Tribune Company. After spending four years in a chapter 11 bankruptcy case, the chicagobased Media Company will emerge today under new ownership late last night, the new Tribune Company named its board of directors, and filed notification with a delaware bankruptcy court. The Tribune Company owns 23 television stations, eight daily newspapers, and other media assests including wgn, clt v, and wgn america. The final test drop has been on the famous new years eve ball in times square. The ball is made up of nearly 27hundred Waterford Crystal and 32thousand 2hundred56 led lights. This year the ball weighs 12thousand pounds almost six tons. The ball drop is actually an old maritme tradition that was adopted by new york city more than a century ago. Just ahead the best times of the year to buy certain home necessities. And, still to come this midday well tell you which airline is considered to have the rudest employees. On track for its lowest decade of growth since the great depression. Plan the economy for that. At the current pace the nations population will grow just 7 . The influx of immigrants has been on the decline since the 20072009 recession. You just have to know what to buy and when. Im going to break this down for you. January is the best time of year to pick up linden, if you need to upgrade your appliance, jim and is your best bet. After thejune is your best bet. Eject see if their employees have an attitude problem. They asked 1000 people which airline had the rudest employees. American airlines topped the list with 25 percent criticizing the banners of the workers there. United airlines was second. Speaking of that im sick of saying it. The word fiscal cliff topped its list of words to be banished in 2013. Each year the University Comes up with a list of words and phrases that are overused and misused. Others making this years list includes trending but a list,guru present. Obama likely to be using these words and just about 10 minutes as he speaks on the economy from the white house. A father and son from chicago made a pact with each other to go to every nfl stadium in the country in one season but they decided to make extra room on their trip for some of our nations heros. Craig and Matt Steichen started the program called all 32 in 17 and have taken wounded vetrans to all 32 nfl stadiums this year. Craig steichen said he and his son are just trying to find a way to give something back. You start out in the morning theyre heroes. Next year, the steichens plan to expand the program and take vetrans to basketball and hockey games. Coming up next Party Preparations are underway. How chicagoans plan to ring in 2013 plus, still to come, a new study about a popular device that helps smokers quit and whether or not its effective. Hello, im alex trebek. For over 10 years now, ive been representing the Colonial PennLife Insurance company and im here today to talk with some of their insurance representatives about their guaranteed acceptance Life Insurance. That was a really good point. Hi, alex. Hi, everyone. I thought itd be interesting to hear from you what your customers say are some of the things they like best about Colonial Penns whole Life Insurance. 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Now whether youre getting new insurance or supplementing what you already have, call now and ask one of their representatives about a plan that meets your needs. Theyre waiting to hear from you, so call now. Its party time in the city as the clock ticks down. New years parties planned all over town tonight. Live checking out some party stores. This is a big day for certain segments of retail. Liquor and party supply particularly. Because new years eve falls on a monday this year, the Party Supply Store opened on a rare move on sunday to make sure they could cater to all of their customers. Most not start making their plans until after christmas. Chicagoans have come to shop for their new years supplies and decorations. We just have to be prepared. Because people expect us to have enough supplies, we certainly did not want to run out a couple of days before. A lot of people did not plan until after christmas. He is planning to blow up and deliver 6000 balloons by the end of today. Owners work hard. They pay double what they used to. Normally in a given week we might get 2025 cylinders delivered. This year as of march we were only getting nine. The busiest day of the year and the liquor business. Theyre selling bodymodeled on bottle. More people are staying in. He works for the Postal Service terrain sleet or snow. I will be bringing it in working. For many home is the only place they ever wish to be on this night. It is a little bit safer trying to keep yourself at home than it is to be out in the public. That is where all of the fund is. A friend of mine got a bunch of us to go to a ballroom party. For many chicagoans faith comes first in 2013. I will be in church. God continues to keep my family and cover my family. We started 2012 and church, we will start 2013 and church. That is where we will be every new years eve. Theyre staying open as long as they need to. Your full forecast coming up try delicious light fit greek its no ordinary nonfat yogurt. It has twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt. And at 80 calories, its the lightest greek yogurt with fruit. Its creamy, thick texture helps satisfy you. So you wont feel like youre running low on satisfaction. Light fit greek. Be light and fit. And satisfied. And the next 24 hours we are going to do something we have not done before on any single day in the last 310. The daytime temperature below freezing. This is really amazing. We are in the last day of 2012. We are about ready to break a record for the warmest year on record. Going back to 1895, were not alone with the warm weather. We have a snow drought going. We also moved away from the sunthe sunnier than normal days. It is snowing again downstate. Folks here as clear the snow has gone. You have to go south to fund this year. For the third time in less than a week we have is no area calling across central and downstream illinois and indiana. The coldest air of the season, if theres any good news is that it will not last. The pattern is very progressive. We are very cloudy. It has been snowing all the way from kansas to oklahoma, eastward across missouri. Look how close we are to the line. The north and extent of that snow. Here are the statistics. Let me run this down for you. The normal is only about 499. It is 10 percent normal. It is mainly been going on north and west of us. The heavier snowpack that has been in place. Were still at 32. 35 at midway. That is the longest streak of subfreezing daytime High Temperatures that weve had on record. The wind chill is 22. Look at the snow on the radar. Some of this is up in the clouds. There is rain on the south end of this latest weather system. Our model shows that the scenario will cover about the southern half of our viewing area. Snow showers coming down the lake after that and running down into parts of indiana and michigan. There will not be a lot of snow. Even downstate areas. If you had selfs to valparaiso, not exactly downstate. Those are not huge toes. Heres a better look at what occurs truly downstate. The Winter Weather advisers for accumulating snow down south. Even some winter storm warnings. Tomorrows High Temperature may not get much above 20 degrees. We have not been tackled yet this winter. There you can see the next little of reinforcing cold behind this front. This is thursday mornings weather map. That will go south and bring more cold air and. Snow cover. About 61 of the country is covered by snow. It has been snowing, it just has not been doing it here. Were not actually snowcovered very much. There is one more look from the satellite. Downstate these are the snows that came in late last week. In parts of missouri. We are laying another couple of inches on top of that. And some wind gust going to 30 mi. Per hour. Temperatures in the twenties to low 30s across the area. 33 at lincoln park. Our weather station is at 25 degrees. Here is the forecast. Cold air surges in. Temperatures will be falling as the afternoon goes on into the 20s. There will be some light snow in the southern suburbs. Clouds will break late toni