ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Dec. 28, 2025

SEVERAL DEVELOPING STORIES. THE NEW WINTER STORM THREATENING. TENS OF MILLIONS. A DEADLY CRASH, TWO HELICOPTERS. COLLIDING IN MIDAIR, AND THE. HIGH STAKES TALKS AT MAR-A-LAGO. WILL THEY BRING PEACE TO. UKRAINE? >> FIRST, WE'RE TRACKING THAT. STORM FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST TO.

THE NORTHEAST. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND FREEZING. RAIN IN THE FORECAST, WITH 40. MILLION ON ALERT. AND IT'S ALL HAPPENING ON ONE OF. THE BUSIEST TRAVEL DAYS OF THIS. HOLIDAY SEASON. THE AIRLINES TRYING TO CATCH UP. AFTER CANCELING THOUSANDS OF. FLIGHTS OVER THE WEEKEND. >>> IN THE WEST, THE GAS LEAK. THAT BROUGHT A KEY HIGHWAY TO A. STANDSTILL. PLUS, FIVE PEOPLE HURT WHEN A. BOULDER CRASHED ON A ROADWAY, AND THAT REGION NOW BRACING FOR. ANOTHER DANGEROUS STORM. OUR WEATHER TEAM TIMING IT ALL. OUT.

>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE DEADLY. MIDAIR CRASH. TWO CHOPPERS COLLIDING IN THE. SKIES OVER NEW JERSEY. SHOCKING VIDEO SHOWING ONE OF. THEM TUMBLING TO THE GROUND. AT LEAST ONE PILOT KILLED. >>> THE UKRAINE PEACE TALKS AT. MAR-A-LAGO. AFTER MEETING WITH UKRAINIAN. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT. TRUMP SAYS THEY ARE GETTING A. LOT CLOSER. BUT TONIGHT, STILL NO DEAL. AS RUSSIA CONTINUES ITS ATTACKS. ON KYIV, AND THE BIG STICKING. POINTS REMAIN. WILL UKRAINE HAVE TO GIVE UP. TERRITORY? WHAT ABOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES?

AND THE OMINOUS WARNING FROM. IRAN'S PRESIDENT, SAYING HIS. COUNTRY IS A, QUOTE, TOTAL WAR. WITH THE U.S. VOWING TO REBUILD ITS NUCLEAR. CAPABILITIES. >>> THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING. TEENAGER IN TEXAS WHO SEEMINGLY. VANISHED AFTER BEING SEEN. LEAVING HOME ON CHRISTMAS EVE. >>> PLUS, HOW A DAD USED HIS. SMARTPHONE TO RESCUE HIS. DAUGHTER FROM AN ALLEGED. KIDNAPPER AND THE CHARGES THAT. SUSPECT NOW FACES. >>> THE DANGEROUS STUNT AT ONE. OF THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE. VOLCANOES.

WHY SOME ARE WORRIED THRILL. SEEKERS ARE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO. KILAUEA. >> HOLIDAY SHOPPING. STRONG SALES DESPITE HIGHER. PRICES. BUT THERE'S GROWING CONCERN. ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS ON. THE U.S. ECONOMY. >> AND IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A. LOT LIKE NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES. SQUARE. HOW THIS YEAR'S BALL DROP IS A. WARMUP FOR AN EVEN BIGGER. CELEBRATION.

>> Mary: GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU. FOR JOINING US ON THIS SUNDAY. I'M MARY BRUCE IN FOR LINSEY. DAVIS. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MORE THAN. 40 MILLION AMERICANS UNDER. WINTER WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE. MIDWEST TO NORTHEAST, DURING ONE. OF THE BUSIEST TRAVEL DAYS OF. THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IOWA HIT WITH BLIZZARD. CONDITIONS, MAKING FOR HAZARDOUS. DRIVING AND IMPASSABLE ROADS. AIRLINES NOW TRYING TO GET BACK. ON TRACK AFTER THOUSANDS OF. FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED OR DELAYED. OVER THE WEEKEND. AND PASSENGERS ON AMTRAK'S BUSY. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR ALSO FACING.

DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS. CAUSED BY DOWNED POWER LINES. IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, RESIDENTS STILL REELING AFTER. DAYS OF CATASTROPHIC AND DEADLY. FLOODING, HIT WITH A NATURAL GAS. LEAK THAT LEFT TRAFFIC AT A. STANDSTILL FOR HOURS. SHUTTING DOWN A MAJOR FREEWAY. LET'S GET RIGHT TO METEOROLOGIST. DANI BECKSTROM FROM WABC. DANI, HELP US TIME THIS ALL OUT. >> SNOW, ICE, DAMAGING WIND. GUSTS AND THE THREAT FOR. TORNADOES. SO MUCH TO TRACK TONIGHT. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE ALERTS. WE HAVE A BLIZZARD WARNING FROM.

FARGO TO MASON CITY. ALSO A BLIZZARD WARNING IN THE. UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN FOR. HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND. THAT COULD CREATE WHITE OUT. CONDITIONS. TORNADO WATCH FROM CAPE. GIRARDEAU TO CHAMPAIGN, AND THEN. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. DETROIT, CLEVELAND, THE. APPALAC. APPALACHIANS. A FLOOD WATCH IN WESTERN NEW. YORK BEFORE LAKE EFFECT SNOW. TOMORROW AND ICE HEADING INTO. THE NORTHEAST. HEAVY SNOW AND WIND IN THE UPPER. MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. THEN THE ICE STARTING TO SLIDE. INTO THE NORTHEAST AS THE SEVERE. LINE TRACKS THROUGH INDIANA AND. ILLINOIS.

THE TEMPERATURES RISE OVERNIGHT. WHICH MEANS THE LINE OF RAIN IS. MOSTLY RAIN AS WE MOVE INTO. MIDMORNING ON MONDAY. THEN THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW. MACHINE TURNS ON FOR MONDAY. THAT WILL ADD 6 TO 12 ADDITIONAL. INCHES OF SNOW. IN PARTS OF WESTERN AND UPSTATE. NEW YORK. ALL OF THIS CONTINUING TO. COMPLICATE AN ALREADY TOUGH. STRETCH OF TRAVEL. TONIGHT, DRIVERS STRUGGLING TO. STAY ON THE ROAD AS SNOW AND. HOWLING WIND BRING A WHITE OUT. TO THE MIDWEST. WINDS GUSTING TO 50 MILES PER. HOUR NEAR CLEAR LAKE, IOWA, STRANDED VEHICLES LITTERING. ROADWAYS.

SMASHED AND FACING THE WRONG. WAY. HAZARD LIGHTS BARELY VISIBLE. THROUGH THE BLOWING SNOW. THIS SYSTEM HEADING INTO THE. NORTHEAST ON THE HEELS OF THEIR. BIGGEST SNOW STORM IN NEARLY. FOUR YEARS. AIRLINES PLAYING MAJOR CATCHUP. AFTER MORE THAN 2700 FLIGHTS. WERE CANCELED FRIDAY AND. SATURDAY. AND MORE THAN 600 CANCELED AGAIN. TODAY. THOUSANDS MORE DELAYED. RON HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET TO. HAWAII FROM BOSTON LOGAN. >> THEY CANCELED THE FLIGHT FROM. JFK. WHICH OF COURSE WE MISSED OUR. CONNECTING FLIGHT. REBOOKED UP FOR 7:25 TONIGHT, WHICH WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE'RE. GOING TO MAKE THAT BECAUSE THE.

PLANE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET ON. IS RUNNING LATE GETTING HERE. NOW. >> Reporter: IT'S NOT JUST THE. PLANES. DOWNED WIRES BROUGHT DELAYS AND. CANCELLATIONS TO AMTRAK'S BUSY. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR LINE. MEANWHILE IN THE WEST, AFTER. DAYS OF STORMS CAKED. NEIGHBORHOODS IN MUD, A BREAK IN. THE RAIN, BUT THE DANGER IS FAR. FROM OVER. IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR BIG BEAR. LAKE, FIVE PEOPLE WERE HURT WHEN. THIS MASSIVE BOULDER CRASHED ON. HIGHWAY 18. NORTH OF LOS ANGELES, IT WAS A. NATURAL GAS LEAK THAT FORCED. RESIDENTS TO SHELTER IN PLACE.

THE GAS SEEN SPEWING SKYWARD, KICKING UP DEBRIS IN CASTAIC. AUTHORITIES SHUTTING DOWN THE. I-5 FREEWAY ON ONE OF THE. BUSIEST DAYS TO DRIVE. >> WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD A. POTENTIAL OF A MAJOR EXPLOSION. WE SHUT DOWN ALL FREEWAYS IN THE. IMMEDIATE AREA. >> Reporter: THOUSANDS STUCK IN. A STANDSTILL. ABC NEWS PRODUCER JEN WATTS. DOCUMENTING HER FAMILY'S. SIX-HOUR TRIP THAT TURNED INTO A. 14-HOUR NIGHTMARE. AUTHORITIES GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR. AROUND 9:00 P.M. LUCKILY WE HAVE A BRIEF BREAK. FOR THE WEST COAST, BUT THE NEXT.

STORM SYSTEM ALREADY ON THE. WAY. THAT'S GOING TO SPREAD AN. ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN. FOR CALIFORNIA'S COAST AS WE. RING IN THE NEW YEAR. >> Mary: A SOGGY START FOR SO. MANY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> NOW TO A DEADLY MIDAIR. COLLISION BETWEEN TWO. HELICOPTERS IN NEW JERSEY. WITNESSES SAYS ONE OF THE. CHOPPERS WERE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE CLASH. AT LEAST ONE PILOT IS DEAD AND. ANOTHER IS CRITICALLY INJURED. MORGAN NORWOOD HAS THE LATE. BREAKING DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A MIDAIR.

DISASTER OVER A NEW JERSEY TOWN. DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWING A CHOPPER. SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. THICK BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING INTO. THE SKY. WITNESSES STUNNED, IMMEDIATELY. CALLING 911. >> I SEE ONE HELICOPTER SLOWLY. DESCENDING DOWN IN A ROTATING. MOTION ALMOST AS IF THE RUDDER. AND TAIL HAVE LOST CONTROL. THEN I SEE A SECOND ONE COME. DOWN WITH THE SAME ISSUE BEHIND. IT. >> Reporter: THE MIDAIR CRASH. HAPPENING NEAR HAMMONDTOWN. AIRPORT, 35 MILES SOUTH OF. PHILADELPHIA, JUST AFTER NOON.

HAMMONDTOWN POLICE SAY ONE. PERSON WAS KILLED, ANOTHER. RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH. CRITICAL INJURIES. TONIGHT, NEWS OF A SEPARATE. DANGEROUS CLOSE CALL AT BUSH. AIRPORT. A JET AND UNITED EXPRESS FLIGHT. TAKING OFF FROM PARALLEL RUNWAYS. ON DECEMBER 18th. THEN, A CRITICAL. MISCOMMUNICATION. FLIGHT DATA SHOWS THAT THE. AIRLINES PLANE HEADED TO EL. SALVADOR MAKING AN UNAUTHORIZED. RIGHT TURN, CROSSING INTO UNITED. JET'S FLIGHT PATH. BOTH RECEIVING COLLISION.

AVOIDANCE ALERTS. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS QUICKLY. INSTRUCTING THE UNITED JET TO. CLIMB. THE PLANES COMING WITHIN ABOUT. 700 FEET SIDE TO SIDE AND 150. FEET VERTICALLY. BOTH FLIGHTS LANDING SAFELY. AND AS FOR THAT HELICOPTER CRASH. IN SOUTH JERSEY, THE FAA SAYS. ONLY THE PILOTS WERE ONBOARD. THAT CHOPPER. THE FAA AND NTSB ARE. INVESTIGATING. >> Mary: A HORRIFIC SCENE THERE. THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THAT CRITICAL MEETING. BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AT. MAR-A-LAGO.

BOTH LEADERS LOOKING FOR AN. AGREEMENT THAT COULD END THE. NEARLY 4-YEAR-OLD INVASION. THEY ARE GETTING A LOT CLOSER, BUT TONIGHT, STILL NO DEAL. HERE'S ABC'S SENIOR WHITE HOUSE. CORRESPONDENT, SELINA WANG. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRESIDENT. TRUMP WELCOMING UKRAINE'S. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO. MAR-A-LAGO IN FLORIDA. TRUMP SOUNDING OPTIMISTIC, BOTH. UKRAINE AND RUSSIA FOR READY FOR. PEACE. >> WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. TODAY, BUT REALLY WE MADE IT. OVER THE LAST MONTH. THIS IS NOT A ONE-DAY PROCESS.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED STUFF. >> Reporter: AFTER THEIR. HOURS-LONG MEETING, TRUMP. HAILING PROGRESS BUT NO. BREAKTHROUGH YET. THE UKRAINIAN LEADER PUSHING FOR. STRONGER U.S. SECURITY. GUARANTEES AS PART OF A 20-POINT. PEACE PLAN TO INSURE PUTIN. CANNOT INVADE AGAIN. >> THE U.S. UKRAINE SECURITY. AGREES, 100% GUARANTEED. >> Reporter: ZELENSKYY ALSO. COMING WITH A NEW POTENTIAL.

CONCESSION, OFFERING THE IDEA OF. A DEMILITARIZED BUFFER ZONE IN. UKRAINE, TERRITORY VLADIMIR. PUTIN HAS LONG SOUGHT TO. CONTROL. THE PRESIDENT ASKED WHETHER AN. AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED ON. TERRITORY. >> THE WORD AGREED IS TOO. STRONG. I WOULD SAY NOT AGREED BUT WE'RE. GETTING CLOSER TO AN AGREEMENT. ON THAT. >> Reporter: AHEAD OF THEIR. MEETING TODAY, TRUMP SPEAKING. WITH RUSSIA'S VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR. OVER AN HOUR. THE TWO PLANNING TO SPEAK AGAIN. LATER TODAY. IT'S BEEN OVER FOUR MONTHS SINCE. TRUMP ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET. FOR PUTIN IN ALASKA. SINCE THEN, RUSSIA HAS ONLY.

ESCALATED ITS ATTACKS AGAINST. UKRAINE. JUST YESTERDAY, TARGETING KYIV. RUSSIA LAUNCHING ONE OF ITS. HEAVIEST ASSAULTS IN MONTHS. KILLING AT LEAST TWO, WOUNDING. DOZENS MORE, AND LEAVING. HUNDREDS WITHOUT POWER, BRAVING. FREEZING TEMPERATURES. STILL, TRUMP ADAMANT PUTIN IS. READY FOR PEACE. >> IT WILL EITHER END, OR IT'S. GOING TO GO ON FOR A LONG TIME. >> Reporter: NOW, PRESIDENT. TRUMP HAD REPEATEDLY VOWED ON. THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT HE WOULD.

END THIS WAR WITHIN 24 HOURS. BUT AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, TRUMP. SAYS HE HAS NO DEADLINE TO. SECURE A PEACE DEAL, SAYING THIS. IS A LONG AND COMPLICATED. PROCESS. MARY. >> Mary: BOTTOM LINE, SOME. OPTIMISM TODAY, BUT CLEARLY, A. LONG ROAD AHEAD. THANK YOU. >>> OVERSEAS NOW TO AN OMINOUS. DECLARATION BY IRAN. THAT COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT SAYING. IT'S AT, QUOTE, TOTAL WAR WITH. THE U.S., ISRAEL, AND EUROPE. LET'S BRING IN MARCUS MOORE. THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT ALSO SAYS. HE WANTS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH. HAMAS.

>> Reporter: AND MARY, WHILE. THIS WASN'T IRAN'S SUPREME. LEADER SAYING THIS, THIS WAS. STILL A CONCERNING STATEMENT. FROM IRAN'S PRESIDENT WHO IS. QUOTING SAYING WE'RE IN A FULL. SCALE WAR WITH AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND EUROPE. THEY DO NOT WANT OUR COUNTRY TO. STANDS ON ITS FEET. THIS IS NOTABLE FOR A COUPLE. REASONS. CERTAINLY, THE TIMING. IT COMES BEFORE PRIME MINISTER. NETANYAHU IS SET TO MEET WITH. PRESIDENT TRUMP TOMORROW AND IT. FOLLOWS THAT UNPRECEDENTED. MILITARY ACTION OVER THE SUMMER. WHEN ISRAEL AND THE UNITED. STATES COORDINATED TO ATTACK. IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM. SO A LOT COULD COME FROM.

TOMORROW'S MEETING, NOT ONLY ON. THE IRAN ISSUE BUT ALSO EFFORTS. TO MOVE TO PHASE TWO OF THE. CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA. AS THIS MEETING NEARS AND THE. NEW YEAR APPROACHES, IT IS. CERTAINLY CLEAR THAT TENSIONS. REMAIN HIGH IN THE REGION. >> Mary: THEY CERTAINLY DO. MARCUS, THANK YOU. >>> AND BACK HERE AT HOME, THE. DESPERATE SEARCH FOR A TEXAS. TEEN MISSING SINCE CHRISTMAS. EVE. POLICE SAYING TONIGHT THEY. BELIEVE SHE IS IN, QUOTE, IMMINENT DANGER. THE 19-YEAR-OLD WAS LAST SEEN. OUTSIDE HER HOME IN THE SAN.

ANTONIO AREA STANDING BY HER. CAR. HERE'S ABC'S JACLYN LEE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, IN SAN. FRANCISCO, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF. CAMILLA PRAYING FOR ANSWERS. AFTER THE 19-YEAR-OLD SEEMINGLY. VANISHED ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND. POLICE ISSUING A CLEAR ALERT. MEANT FOR MISSING ADULTS. >> WE BELIEVE SHE'S IN IMMINENT. DANGER. >> Reporter: AUTHORITIES BELIEVE. THE LAST TIME SHE WAS SEEN WAS. ON THIS NEIGHBOR'S SECURITY. CAMERA JUST BEFORE 7:00 A.M. THEY SAID SHE LEFT HER HOME AND. RUMMAGED IN HER CAR. SHE THEN LEFT WITH JUST HER. KEYS.

LEAVING HER PHONE IN THE HOUSE. HER MOTHER SAYING HER DAUGHTER. NORMALLY GOES FOR A MORNING. WALK. HER FRIENDS SAY SHE WOULD NOT. JUST DISAPPEAR. >> VERY OUT OF THE NORMAL. >> NOT LIKE HER. SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE ONE TO SAY. WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THIS? >> MAKE SURE HER PHONE IS ALWAYS. CHARGED. >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF SAYING. SHE RECENTLY HAD A BREAK-UP BUT. IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN. MUTUAL. SINCE HER DISAPPEARANCE, THE. COMMUNITY HAS RALLIED TOGETHER. EACH MORNING FANNING THROUGHOUT. THE SAN ANTONIO AREA TO SEARCH. FOR MENDOZA ALMOS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ON. FOOT WITHIN A THREE-MILE RADIUS. >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN. AS LONG AS THERE'S LEADS COMING. IN, AS LONG AS THERE'S HOPE. >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S. OFFICE TELLING US THEY HAVE. CONDUCTED MULTIPLE SEARCHES. USING DRONES AND CADAVER DOGS. THE FBI OFFERING ASSISTANCE. AND HOMELAND SECURITY CHECKING. BORDER CROSSINGS. MEANWHILE, HER FAMILY ISN'T. GIVING UP HOPE. >> DEVASTATING. PLEASE COME HOME. DADDY'S MISSING YOU. >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF TELLING. US EVEN THOUGH MENDOZA ALMOS IS. A U.S. CITIZEN, THEY CONFIRMED.

SHE WAS NOT STOPPED BY I.C.E. THEY ARE CHECKING INTERNATIONAL. OUTBOUND FLIGHTS AND TONIGHT THE. SEARCH CONTINUES. MARY. >> Mary: AND WE'RE THINKING OF. HER FAMILY TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE ECONOMY AND. SHOPPERS SPENDING BIG THIS. HOLIDAY SEASON DESPITE THE. STRAIN OF HIGHER PRICES. AS CONSUMERS ARE ALSO FEELING. THE PRESSURE FROM PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S TARIFFS. HERE'S ABC'S ELIZABETH SCHULZE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AMERICAN. CONSUMERS FUELING A STRONG. HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON. NEW DATA SHOWS SPENDING IN. NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER IS UP 3.9%.

FROM LAST YEAR. SHOPPERS SPENDING MORE ON. CLOTHES, JEWELRY, AND AT. RESTAURANTS. EVEN AS THEY FEEL THE STRAIN OF. STUBBORNLY HIGH PRICES. >> I BOUGHT A $7 COFFEE. >> THE INFLATION HAS BEEN FAIRLY. RIDICULOUS. IT HASN'T STOPPED RISING. >> Reporter: WHILE GAS PRICES. ARE DOWN, THE LATEST INFLATION. REPORT SHOWS OVERALL PRICES ARE. UP 2.7% FROM LAST YEAR. AMERICANS PAYING MORE FOR. UTILITIES. RENT, CHILD CARE, AND GROCERIES. AT HIS COFFEE SHOP IN VIRGINIA,

PAUL IMPORTS COFFEE BEANS FROM. ALL AROUND THE WORLD. >> ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, IT COST. $3,000 TO $4,000. >> FOR ALL THIS COFFEE. >> YES, THIS COST $9,256. >> Reporter: FROM $3,000 TO. ALMOST $10,000 FOR THESE BEANS. THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE. >> YES, IT'S INSANE. >> Reporter: HE SAYS PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S TARIFFS HAVE MADE RISING. COSTS SURGE EVEN HIGHER. RETAIL COFFEE PRICES ARE UP 35%. IN THE PAST YEAR.

>> I'M LOSING MONEY AND EATING A. MAJORITY OF THAT COST. >> Reporter: HOW SUSTAINABLE IS. THAT? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THAT IS HONESTLY THE MILLION. DOLLAR QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER. MOST OF US CAN SUSTAIN THIS. >> Reporter: THERE IS A GROWING. DIVIDE AMONG CONSUMERS. MOODY'S ANALYTICS SAYS THE TOP. 10% OF HOUSEHOLDS BY INCOME. ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF ALL. SPENDING IN THE ECONOMY. MARY. >> Mary: OKAY, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. >>> AND WE TURN NOW TO LAW. ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AROUND THE.

COUNTRY ON HEIGHTENED ALERT AS. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PREPARE TO. WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR. LET'S BRING IN ABC'S. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OLIVIA. RUBIN. AND OLIVIA, THOSE LONE ACTORS. REMAIN A BIG CONCERN. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT. TONIGHT, SECURITY PREPARATIONS. ARE UNDER WAY AND LAW. ENFORCEMENT ON HIGH ALERT AROUND. THE COUNTRY, HEADING IN TO NEW. YEAR'S EVE FOR POSSIBLE THREATS. ACCORDING TO A SECURITY. ASSESSMENT OBTAINED BY ABC NEWS. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC THREATS, BUT OFFICIALS REMIND THE. MILLIONS OF REVELLERS COMING. HERE TO NEW YORK TO REMAIN. VIGILANT.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED. WITH LONE WOLVES AND SMALL. GROUPS, JUST THIS MONTH, FOUR. SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED FOR. PLANNING TO FILL BACKPACKS WITH. PIPE BOMBS AND DETONATE THEM AT. MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN. FIVE LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA. OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THEY, QUOTE, REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE. RAMMING INCIDENTS, CITING THE. DEADLY TERROR ATTACK IN NEW. ORLEANS, AND MARY, OFFICIALS. ALSO KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE. ICONIC TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP, DESCRIBING IT AS, QUOTE, AN.

ASPIRATIONAL TARGET IN PART. BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGHLY VIEWED. ABOUT A BILLION TEAM AROUND THE. WORLD EXPECTED TO TUNE IN WHEN. THAT BALL DROPS IN JUST THREE. DAYS. MARY. >> Mary: AND WE CAN'T REPEAT. THAT ADVICE ENOUGH TO STAY. VIGILANT. OLIVIA, THANK YOU. >>> THERE IS MUCH MORE AHEAD ON. "WORLD NEWS TONIGHT" THIS. SUNDAY. A SUSPECT IS CHARGED WITH. KIDNAPPING A 15-YEAR-OLD. HOW HER DAD RESCUED HER USING. HIS SMARTPHONE. >>> AND TRESPASSERS CAUGHT ON. TAPE, THE VERY DANGEROUS STUNT. THEY PULLED NEXT TO AN ERUPTING. VOLCANO.

>>> NEXT HERE TONIGHT, A TEXAS. MAN IS UNDER ARREST ACCUSED OF. KIDNAPPING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT. KNIFEPOINT. THE GIRL'S FATHER RESCUING HER. SHE HAD GONE MISSING CHRISTMAS. DAY. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF. TSDZ THE DAD USED HIS PARENTAL. CONTROLS TO LOCATE HIS. DAUGHTER'S SMARTPHONE AND HELPED. HER ESCAPE FROM A PICKUP TRUCK. DEPUTIES ARRESTED THE. 23-YEAR-OLD DRIVER. HE'S NOW CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED. KIDNAPPING AND INDECENCY WITH A. CHILD. >>> ALSO IN TEXAS, A DANGEROUS. CHEMICAL LEAKED FROM AN. INDUSTRIAL PLANT IN THE HOUSTON.

AREA. SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SAY A CATWALK. COLLAPSED AT BWC TERMINALS, SEVERING A SUPPLY LINE THAT. CARRIED SULFURIC ACID. MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE WERE TREATED. FOR INJURIES AT THE SCENE. HARRIS COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY. ABOUT A MILLION GALLONS OF. CHEMICAL WERE RELEASED. THE NEARBY HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL. IS BEING MONITORED FOR. CONTAMINATION. >>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE. REMEMBER BRIGITTE BARDOT, THE. FAMOUS S. >>> TO THE INDEX NOW, AND A VERY. DANGEROUS STUNT CAUGHT ON. CAMERA.

TWO MEN WERE SPOTTED WALKING. DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HAWAII'S. KILAUEA VOLCANO WHICH CONTINUES. TO ERUPT. ONE SEEN GESTURING TO THE WEB. CAM OPERATED BY THE U.S. GEOLOGIST SURVEY. LOCALS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN AN. UPTICK IN PEOPLE TRESPASSING IN. AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. >> Mary: TONIGHT, WE'RE. REMEMBERING BRIGITTE BARDOT, THE. FRENCH ACTRESS WHO BECAME A SEX. SYMBOL IN THE 1950s AND '60s. STARRING IN MOYER THAN TWO. DOZEN FILMS. SHE LATER GAVE UP ACTING, THOUGH, BECOMING AN ANIMAL. RIGHTS ACTIVIST.

IN RECENT YEARS SHE ALSO BECAME. A VOCAL OPPONENT OF FRENCH. IMMIGRATION POLICY. SHE DIED TODAY. SHE WAS 91 YEARS OLD. >>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WHY. NEW YEAR'S EVE WON'T BE THE ONLY. >>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, A NEW. LOOK FOR A CHERISHED TRADITION. >> THREE, TWO, ONE. HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> Mary: TONIGHT, THE COUNTDOWN. TO NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES. SQUARE HAS BEGUN.

THAT ALL IMPORTANT NUMBER, 2026, CHECKED OUT CAREFULLY BEFORE THE. BIG NIGHT. >> WE WATCH IT EVERY YEAR ON TV. AT HOME IN FLORIDA. SO TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN. PERSON HAS BEEN PRETTY. INCREDIBLE. >> Reporter: EACH NUMBER SEVEN. FEET TALL, TOGETHER CONTAINING. 589 BULBS. THE MAIN STAR OF THE EVENT, THIS. YEAR'S CONSTELLATION BALL, THE. LARGEST NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL YET, ADORNED WITH 5,280 WATERFORD. CRYSTALS. WEIGHING IN AT 12,350 POUNDS. IT'S THE NINTH ITERATION OF THE.

TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL. SINCE IT FIRST DROPPED IN 1907. BUT THIS YEAR, THE COUNTRY. CELEBRATING NOT JUST ANY NEW. YEAR. THE NATION COMMEMORATING ITS. 250th. MARKED WITH ANOTHER CRYSTAL. BALL. ADORNED WITH AMERICA 250 IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, OF COURSE. THAT BALL WON'T DROP UNTIL THIS. SUMMER'S SEMI QUINN CENTENNIAL. >> THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNS. REPRESENT THREE DIFFERENT IDEAS, LIFE, LIBERTY, AND HAPPINESS TO.

CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S 250th. ANNIVERSARY. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A 2026. OF HOPE, HAPPINESS, LOVE, AND. GOOD CHEER. >> Reporter: LOTS TO CELEBRATE. THIS COMING YEAR. YOU CAN SEE IT ALL ON DICK. CLARK'S ROCKING NEW YEAR'S EVE. WITH RYAN SEACREST ON ABC. I'M MARY BRUCE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.