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Times square awaits the new year. 2017 arriving in 12 hours. Unprecedented security tonight. Hello, im Stephanie Gosk, just blocks from times square at msnbc headquarters in new york. A number of countries already bidding ado to 2016. Vietnam on the early list of early celebrators with this beautiful display. And not long before that, spectators in hong kong crowded waterfront to watch a dramatic fireworks display over victoria harbor. Earlier, New Zealanders celebrated with a brightly colored fireworks display from the sky tower. And perhaps most dazzling of all, 1. 5 Million People in sydney...

President Barack Obama granted executive clemency to more than 1,900 federal prisoners, a record. Jesse Webster made the most of his freedom. Three others are back in jail.

A Cincinnati Police report said the man held a utility knife to the woman's throat.

About the jesse webster story was the fact that he was able to -- the lawyer was able to get the federal judge, who sentenced webster to life in prison to write a letter to the office of the pardon attorney, asking them and supporting jesse webster's plea to be released. as well as to the prosecutors who worked on the case. >> tell me about how this clemency took place involved in the prosecution. tell me about that. >> i beg your pardon? >> talk me through the petition with clemency with president obama. how did that come about? >> okay. so jesse webster had been trying to get out of prison f...

Many for nonviolent drug crimes. this man is featured in the chicago sun times. mary mitchell authored the series and joins us now. thank you very much for joining us. this is some great reporting. let's start with the story of jesse webster, recently released from prison after serving more than 21 years. what got him there in the first place? >> well, what got him there was drug dealing. he admits that, he was selling drugs. he got into the drug business as a young boy. not even in high school. he came from a poor family, and a distressed neighborhood. and to make ends meet, he went out and s...