♪ two girls for every boy ♪ all right, marci, i propose a toast. >> thank you, my friend. >> we suffered through this incredible winter. >> we have. >> by the way, it's still below freezing out there. it's a beach day on "world news now." >> beach day, cheers. lemonade on a magic blanket. welcome back, folks. you might be asking yourself why marci and i serious journalists are sitting on a beach. it's simple. we need it. >> we totally need it. it has been a long, long winter. so we here at "world news now" decided we needed something to warm oushsz up. so throughout the morning we'll slather on some sunscreen, and since we can't go to the beach, we're going to try to go to the beach. >> can you get my shoulders? first thing we want to do from our approach on the beach is check out the weather. >> we are hoping for a little good news, please. so, we are going to brave it and check in with accuweather meteorologist jim dickey. good morning, jim. >> good morning, john and marci. it's been a harsh winter across the north and east. everyone wants to know, when will the warmth, when will spring finally arrive? this is the current pattern. unfortunately, this is something to have some staying power, at least through early march. the jet stream diving down through the north and east allowing the arctic air to stay in place, well below averages. we're looking march 13th through the 15th, that's when it looks to change. the jet stream allows warmth to move back in, the spring equinox and temperatures should climb and arctic temperatures should be held at bay. let's get a preview for the summer. our long-range team at accuweather, a few highlights. expecting a hot and dry end to the east, wet in mid section and drought to continue across the west. back to you. >> thank you. now that we've heard the weather, news in order. let's check important headlines. >> first up, the big story from key west where racers are in key largo. this weekend is the 14th annual ev everglades challenges where paddlers and small craft sailors will go between 60 to 300 miles. beautiful, crystal clear water in the keys. >> another place i love. a slice of paradise. this from "the bali times". >> this one will make us jealous. >> many european tourists keep spending their holiday in bali. they say the island is increasingly popular with those who live in uk, france, germany and russia. beach living sounds like a good life. >> so we're pooling our pennies, seeing what's out there on the market. to the west coast. the pricey ocean front zip code, that is malibu. check this out. the cozy little 11,000 square foot home has a 160-degree view of the beach. six bedrooms, ten bathrooms, maid's quarters, gym and wine cellar. asking price, $65 million, $275,000 a month if you're doing the math here. $11 million down payment. >> whoa. >> you've got that now. >> if we chipped our money together, we might be able to do that. >> how about a home in the hamptons, beach cottage from the 1900s, offers 200 feet of direct access to the ocean. it's being offered for nearly $30 million. >> bargain price. another slice of paradise can be found in hawaii. this home offers something unique, whale watching at its finest. a tropical retreat on nine acres which looks out onto the ocean and can yours for just under $12 million. >> finally if this isn't enough for you, how about your own private island in the florida keys? six acres of land, totally surrounded by water. the price for this one, only available by request, which means i think it's a lot of money. >> yeah, i think so. well, if you can't afford all of that, how about a simple vacation for a week or two? >> we'll have a look at affordable spots to get away from old man winter. it's beach day on "world news ♪ ♪ i'm not getting too red yet, am i? >> you're doing all right. get under the umbrella. >> very good. rockaway beach is a fine get s . >> so where should we go for a little sunshine? abc travel and lifestyle editor has our guide. >> reporter: hey, guys. as you can see, winter is not over, not even close. if one more snowflake is going to send you over the edge, time to book a vacation. i found three different deals in three different locations. westin on hilton head island is offering $179 a night, ocean-front room comes with access to one of the oversized luction cabanas with tvs, fridges, and fire pit perfect for s'mores. the resort has three golf courses, three pools, a heavenly spa and kids' club. when you book use code glamp. next is for adults only on caribbean island of st. lucia, no children. 24 deal from jetsetter.com puts it on sale for $390 per night, discount from $w 530 a night. they include continental breakfast. the rooms are 1,000 square feet with a private ocean view. book this by february 28th. how about to fuji, a private island getaway with 13 bungalows. this deal includes all meals and complimentary activities like snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, cat amman sailing and more, one welcome cocktail a person and a bottle of wine and breakfast in bed one morning. accommodations include a king bed and private veranda. it's based on a seven-night stay. five night stays going for $476. travel through march 2014 or november but book by march 16th. enjoy this new york city cold. i'm off to florida. back to you in the studio. >> we're already there. at least in minds, anyway snud nothing like reliving old vacations to get in the mood for new ones. a couple of pictures from my trip to philippines. that was the beautiful island. that's the snorkel boat. you wouldn't believe the fish i saw. stunning. the sunset, cocktail in hand. can you feel it? can you feel it? >> gorgeous. i can feel it. keep in mind, i grew up at the beach, so i don't need to take a real vacation. before we get there, this is from st. africa. this is st. lucia, she just stalked about that. some pictures from home. that was the view from my apartment at home in daytona. artment. at home in daytona. prs to a new way of cleaning. to give you sparkling results with less harsh chemicals than ever before. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com other things, you don't. [ female announcer ] charmin ultra soft is so soft you don't even have to squeeze it to believe it. you can actually see the softness with our comfort cushions. plus charmin ultra soft is so much softer and more absorbent you can use up to four times less. but what if you can't help but squeeze it? that's been happening to people for years. [ female announcer ] used by more plumbers than any other brand. try charmin. it's clog-free or it's free. she'd just grab the bounty select-a-size. one select-a-size sheet of bounty is 50% more absorbent than a full size sheet of the leading ordinary brand. use less, with bounty select-a-size. it's not for colds, it's not for pain, it's just for sleep. because sleep is a beautiful thing™. ♪ zzzquil. the non-habit forming sleep aid from the makers of nyquil®. ♪ summer days those summer days ♪ okay, "mix" time. i usually have a snack by now. >> sun chips on this subfreezing day in new york city. >> yeah. not here, though. it's beautiful here. and gorgeous in other places. trip adviser's best island in the u.s. we will count them down. from number five, maui. have you been? >> been. awesome. >> so you agree? >> sure. why not. >> number four, san juan, island. in washington state. >> not san juan puerto rico. >> no. san juan island in washington state. number three, "animal island" in florida. then chico island in virginia. beautiful wild horses there. and coming in at number one, marco island, florida. gorgeous. >> been there many times. beautiful place. let's talk about the disappearing man trick on the beach. interesting. a group called disturbed reality. this is santa monica beach. they dig a big hole. guy jumps down. puts a towel on. distracted the guy they're with. they're like, where is he? >> they think they've been in the sun too long and starting to hallucinate. >> is he going to pop out and scare them? >> no. >> leaves them confused. >> drink all their beer and that's it. -s. so, 40 years after the movie "jaws," better watch out for him here on the beach. don't go too deep into the water. they are auctioning off some rare behind-the-scene photographs from the movie. take a look at some of these. how cool is that? the shark out of water. so, the presale estimate, some of these things, $30,000. >> that would be good for a new york city backyard, marci. >> for a new york city backyard, that would fit perfectly. >> let's party like it's 1900, not 1999. >> sexy. >> i'm telling you. this is the latest in vintage beachwear. could you rock this on miami beach? >> i mean, i could, but -- maybe in winter. >> what do you think? >> that's great. oh, my gosh. it kind of looks like the hat you're wearing. >> what are you trying to say? >> i'm saying you look like a beautiful -- >> i'm going to bust that out. >> jail bird outfit. >> sure does. >> that's pretty cool. >> how about a little beach ball. >> all right. >> all right. let's do it. beach set accident. i need the lifeguard. i can't take you anywhere. >> hold on. i think my microphone is stuck to the chair. come on now. you play with the this morning on "world news now" -- winter extremes from 45 below windchills in the upper midwest to dangerous downpour and snowfall threatening california. when will spring finally arrive. airline anxiety. major carrierle changes to frequent flier programs. why there is a dramatic move in the skies. >> frozen treat. my chance to learn how to make gelato. as spring fever gives us cravings for anything resembling ice cream. >> throw back thursday brings back lifeguards and bikinis le along the california sandy shores. who was your favorite "baywatch" star. it's thursday, february 27th. ar . >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning. i'm marci gonzalez in for diana perez. >> i'm john muller on this back to the beach edition of "world news now." we are taking you to our virtual beach this half hour. check it out, a special edition of "the skinny." >> find out where your favorite celebrities go to get some sun because we are full of surprises today. >> yeah. check out our beach set. isn't that cool? >> yeah. hi, jordan. >> captain jordan. let's get to the bitter cold now. in the upper midwest, heading into the danger zone today. in duluth this morning will feel like 45 degrees below zero. high today, expected to be minus 4. >> just one of the major weather extremes today as americans from coast to coast can't wait for this terrible weather to end. as abc's brandi hitt reports, even california is getting hit. >> reporter: california is getting a super soaking. >> obviously we need the rain so it's great to have the rain, but on the other hand, you have to deal with it. >> reporter: the welcome rain is bittersweet. for a state plagued by severe drought, every drop is needed, but too much too fast could lead to dangerous mudslides. >> i think we're all pretty worried about what's going to happen. >> reporter: some trees have already fall en and crews have been constructing mud walls while families fill up sandbags, especially in areas hit hard by wildfires where nothing is left to help hold back an onslaught of wet soil. >> there are a lot of folks here who are really scared. >> reporter: this is aid series of storms that will hit the golden state through the weekend, with the biggest downpour expected friday. a half foot of rain could fall in the los angeles area. >> while there's no question that this is exactly what california needs, this will not come close to putting the dent into the drought. >> brandi hitt, abc news, los angeles. >> all right. here is a look at your weather. light snow in the east. heavier near the great lakes. fairly dry, though cold in the midwest and also dry in the south along with south florida, they could see some rain. >> it won't get above freezing in the northeast and above single digits in the upper midwest. the south will see temperatures in the 50s as will the pacific northwest. only 67 in albuquerque and los angeles. rescue workers don't hold out much hope for an illinois man missing since his boat capsized in floodwaters earlier this week. the 66-year-old boat was found yesterday under the ice near his home, which is surrounded by water. searchers say the subzero windchills and ice jams are slowing them down. after a dramatic rescue, a much happier outcome for another 66-year-old man air lifted from a cruise ship off by coast guard helicopter crew. he had some medical issues, but the air crew was able to hoist them into the jay hawk helicopter. never easy. and they took him to a tampa hospital. delta airlines revamping its mileage program. from now on, it isn't the mileage but money that matters. we will see if others follow suit. david kerley has more. >> reporter: you are already paying more for bags and food. bad news for many travelers. delta is completely overhauling its frequent flyer program. >> you used to be able to earn miles based on the distance you fly. the longer you sit in the airplane seat, the more you are rewarded. now you're going to be rewarded for spending instead of time in the seat. >> reporter: someone in first class and someone in economy flies 4900 miles. under delta's new plan, set to take effect next january, if i buy a ticket in advance for $350, i only get 1700 miles. and the last-minute business traveler who spends $1,000 gets 5,000 miles. those who are part of the more elite programs benefit more from a multiplier effect. it is those high-spending business travellers delta wants. as the head of their frequent flyer program said, changes are 246 aimed to, quote, better reward our most loyal customers. the system of rewarding you for how much you spend instead of how far you fly is already used by smaller airlines and some hotels are using had the same calculation. getting that free ticket is going to cost you more. david kerley, abc news, washington. >> american airlines is also announced a change that could hoef affect travelers suffering through the toughest times of their lives. american is dropping bereavement fares. it will no longer offer special ticket prices for passengers booking last minute because of a relative's death. american said this is in line with the merger with us airways, which doesn't have a bereavement policy. >> a major study linking older fathers to their children's psychiatric problems. researchers here and in sweden studied nearly 3 million people. men who fathered children after age 24 increase odds of having children with psychiatric or academic problems. including bipolar disorder and attention deficit issues. the greatest risk was seen in fathers 45 and older. health advocates are pushing the fdaed to stop a powerful painkiller from going to the market. it's called zohydro. it's five to ten times more potent than a similar pill, vicodin. the fda approved it last fall. it goes on the market next month but critics are urging the fda to reconsider because the drug is so potent and potentially addictive. get ready for a change you see on the labels in the market. the obama administration will announce new rules which have bigger and easier to read calorie numbers. serving sizes that reflect reality and separate sugar listings. other listings will be simplified and easier to understand. 12478 president obama asking congress for $300 billion for infrastructure projects. he made this announcement at a train and bus station that was just refurbished. an example of what is possible, he said. transit is expected to run out of money later this year. mr. obama says these projects 49 provide jobs. gay rights activists are celebrating the veto of a contention bill that had all eyes on arizona. governor jan brewer refused to sign the legislation by her fellow republicans into law. it would have allowed arizona businesses to refuse service to gays for religious reasons. loud cheers erupted outside of the state capitol last night when the governor announced her decision. >> i call them like i see them. despite the cheers or the boos from the crowd. >> i think there's an opportunity for this to be turned into a real victory for us as a state. >> poepts much the bill included apple, american airlines and the nfl, which is holding the super bowl in arizona next year. senator john mccain and hillary clinton were among those to immediately praise the veto. today an ang shxious one fo many ibm xeez. the computer giant expected to announce it is cutting at least 13,000 jobs in new york and vermont. it is part of what the company calls workforce balancing efforts. as ibm puts more emphasis on cloud computing, which requires fewer employees. more than 1300 people showed up at a casino to apply for 50 jobs. the line circled entirely around the fourth floor and to the floor below. another casino hotel closed last month, throwing 1600 people out of work, many of them were on the lines yesterday. so maybe if "the bachelor" jane pablo had done what one kid did in indiana, then andi wouldn't have walked out on him. >> a junior, chase brown rented a big billboard in order to post a message asking his girlfriend to the prom. >> wow. the lucky lady is emily. of course she said yes to chase's question. they've been dating for almost six months. he chase said he planned his big proposal for about half of that time. the prom is in april. must have been saving up that whole time, too. i would imagine that's not a very affordable away to ask. >> both juniors at evanville memorial high school, by the way. makes you wonder what he is going to do down the line, when he gets married, if that's what he is doing for prom. >> very romantic guy. look at him. 2. >> you better say yes after that. as we mentioned, this is a special beach day edition of "world news now." find out where your favorite celebrities escape their miseries in winter. you can escape winter with your taste buds. i just learned how to make gelato and what makes it different from ordinary frozen treats. we're heading to the beach. you're watching "world news now." ♪ sun and moon and sing a song of cheer ♪ ♪ fill your basket full of sandwiches ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by colonial penn life insurance. it's time to change, introducing finish power & free. powered by hydrogen peroxide action to give you sparkling results with less harsh chemicals than ever before. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ ♪ ♪ roll out those lazy hazy crazy days of summer ♪ >> oldie days of summer vacation whether a hot boardwalk and ice cold ice cream was all you needed. >> i learned how a well-made gelato can put a gal in a summertime frame of mind. we're here at lartedel gelato. i'm told i wasn't saying it right. so much better when you say it here with the owner. we're talking about gelato today. tell us what makes it different from ice cream >> from someone who never heard of gelato, i will say this is ice cream but a few differences. less fat than ice cream and also less air. this makes two things very important. it makes it creamier and also 4 makes more intense in flavor. >> so, we're going to head to the kitchen and you're going to teach us how to make pistachio gelato, right? >> let's go. >> what do we do first? >> we prepare a base milk gelato. fresh milk, fresh heavy cream, sugar, and mix everything together and then put inside freezer to make gelato. ♪ >> looks so good. >> see how cream it is? >> yeah, it's very creamy. put on the finishing touches for us. >> sure. >> are you ready? >> yes. i am very ready. >> okay. >> cheers. i don't care how cold it is outside, i could eat this all day. >> all right. well, cheers. give it a try. >> so, this is gelato. >> what do you think? >> delicious. >> now compare it. we've got some ice cream here, too. >> this is like trying to pick cheeseburger or pizza. it's like you really can't lose. >> but the gelato is actually lower in fat, supposed to be a little creamier. i don't know. i think either way, you can't go wrong. when it is hot outside -- >> i'm happy. >> if it's cold outside, whatever, i'm all about sweet treats. >> all good. no one can do sunshine and fun like the stars. ahead in "the skinny," a look at how celebrities are spending their winter. you're watching "world news now." at 15, i was addicted. by 40, i'll have lung disease. at 50, i'll die of a heart attack. dr. regina benjamin: cigarette smoke causes immediate damage that leads to health problems, even death. those who quit or die are being replaced by a new generation of smokers. i'm dr. regina benjamin, united states surgeon general. go to cdc.gov. learn how to make our next generation tobacco-free. ♪ >> ya, mon, i'm feeling it. >> i'm feeling it. "skinny time," folks. beach day segment here. skinny, buff and beautiful celebs on the beach. >> and we begin with the buff. ed is no complaints here. here's hugh jackman, not taking a break from his workout, despite being at beautiful bondi beach in australia. the wolverine looking good. >> what does he have that i don't? here's "pretty little liars" star, tyler blackburn. >> tyler blackburn skinny dipping, and showed that shot too. >> and we decided this shot is more appropriate for television. >> that's as racy as we can get. >> might have to check that one out later, though. >> these celebrities get the rainbow. >> check out this gorgeous picture of oprah winfrey in maui, along with her man, steadman, and bff gayle king. amazing day on the island. >> i would like to tag along with them. fun crew. this is just about the cutest 249 family photo ever seen. tom brady, wife gisele bundchen and adorable little girl on the beach. >> gisele posted this on instagram. but didn't say where it was. maybe trying to be a little private. i have a new favorite. forget the rainbow and oprah, i want to be there. >> looks just fine. we promised you buff, but how about in the buff. this is michelle rodriguez appearing to be meditating in the buff. >> this is in thailand where the actress was getting in a little rest and relaxation. definitely relaxed. and, hey, she doesn't have to worry about those peculiary tan lines. >> bonus. >> but did you wonder, did she just hand her iphone over and say, will you just take a quick pick of mae real quick, meditating naked. just go back there. >> while we're on the subject of exposure, we have to share our beyonce shot of the day. >> queen b struck a pose in jamaica recently in a sexy aztec pattern high-waisted two-piece. pretty good choice with her new blonde do. >> beyonce also knows how to take a plunge. taking the leap off the yacht. >> taken by her hubby, jay-z on vacation. showing again she is fearless. >> pretty good plunge. >> hot spots, celebs do know how to get away. >> maybe not from the paparazzi but they definitely pick the best places to get some r&r. cabo san lucas, one of the hottest celeb places. jennifer aniston is known to spend time sunbathing in this mexican oasis. can't blame her. >> of course, if you have enough money, you can have this slice of heaven. >> branson bought it in the '70s. three years and 10 million later, it is a lavish resort. it is usually rented out by celebrities. steven spielberg, oprah winfrey and kate winslet, mel gibson, among others. that's where i'm going this summer. >> sexy rio de janeiro is the place to be. >> this place is hot, sexy and filled with beautiful people. some stars who have been sighted here recently, penelope cruz and her husband have been seen there recently. seen her recently. girard butler. and madonna. >> this is from the hit abc show "the girls." >> now up for rent for $10,000 a month. you can hang out here for a week. not sure about that price. on a private three-acre estate with 300 feet of a private beach. also a five-story tower. 24 don't know, in case enemies approach? what do you need a tower for? >> stay way from the paparazzi. there is one thing missing and we'll tell you about that when we come back. you want to sing a little song, marci, you know the one. >> i don't want to scare anyone ♪ if everybody had an ocean across the usa ♪ my singing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you and me on the beach in about 30 more years. welcome back. we continue to celebrate all things sunny and warm on this beach day here on "world news now." >> it's also throwback thursday. that means a look back at the show that combined blondes, bikinis, beaches. of course we're talking about "baywatch". >> starring david hasselhoff and pamela anderson. "baywatch" was about lifeguards in los angeles who saved people from drowning and run around in slow motion a lot. >> the show was one of the most watched on the planet. no doubt because of the riveting dialogue, right? >> no doubt about that. >> like drums in the jungle, word gets out real fast when the surf's up. it oh, don't mind me. i'm making my rounds on foot this morning. >> oh. this is a first good swell in weeks. can i give the guys just a little bit longer? >> nope. winning the most congenial lifeguard award isn't important. time to turn the water back over to the swimmers. raise the blackball. and bring them in. >> wow. riveting. "baywatch" cancelled by nbc after just one season. >> with scenes like that, i don't understand why. >> but david hasselhoff believed in the show so he put his own money into the project, found financial backers, took off in syndication and lasted 11 seasons. >> we're laughing at him and he is loaded. >> exactly. >> "baywatch" is syndicated in 148 countries around the world. seen by an estimated 1.1 billion viewers each week. >> in 1999 production costs in l.a. were rising so the show had to move. it originally was supposed to move to australia -- or tape in australia, but residents didn't want it. so "baywatch hawaii" was born. it lasted two years. >> the show's theme song was called "i'm always here" sung by jimmy jamison, lead singer of survivor. i didn't know that. >> i didn't either. >> it's been a few years since "baywatch" went off the air. but some stars never fall from of the spotlight. >> where are they now? david hasselhoff still working. very popular in europe. is about to star in "captain hook" in a stage production of peter pan he also has his own mobile app called ask the hoff. >> pam anderson, staying in the headlines. personal life and relationships well documented. she is also passionate animal rights activist. she stripped naked for peta, asking people to curl up with their pets during winter. >> and carmen electra, married dave navarro of jane's addiction and dennis rodman. still looking hot. >> they all look good. >> stay with us. >> good mor good morning. i'm john muller. >> i'm marci gonzalez in for diana perez. here are some of the top headlines we are following this morning on "world news now." arizona governor jan brewer vetoed a bill that would have allowed businesses to turn away gays in the name of religious freedom. the legislation had strong opposition from big companies and politicians in both parties. delta airlines overhauling its frequent flier program. instead of tying awards to distance, travelers' logs will be based on how much they spend on tickets. people who fly for leisure will lose out big to business travellers. the air pollution in china has gotten so bad, it's called a nuclear winter. families are breathing in thick smog that can actually leave a metallic taste in your mouth. and some of that smog is making its way to the united states. big changes will be announced today in the nutrition labeling on foods. there is more emphasis on calories and sugar, less on fat. and serving sizes will reflect how much we actually eat. those are some of our top stories on this thursday, february 27th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good thursday morning, everybody. later this half hour, we will set our sights on spring. >> while the upper midwest wakes up to blow zero weather, california is getting slammed with rain and snow. and we are setting up shop in our virtual beach later on to get everyone in the spirit of spring and summer. >> it's working for me. it's working for jack over there. >> and jack is loving it. >> the boys of summer are playing, spring training. we'll get an update on that. yankees jersey. >> looking good. can't wait to get back over to the set. we have work to do. we begin this half hour with the veto from arizona's governor. a resounding no to the bill that could restrict gays. >> the bill drew national attention, pitting religious liberty against equal rights for gay americans. more from abc's cecilia vega. >> i call them like i see them despite the cheers or boos from the crowd. >> reporter: it was the announcement arizona's gay community had been waiting to hear. >> after weighing all of the arguments, i have vetoed senate bill 1062 moments ago. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: when that announcement came down, cheers, emotion outside arizona's 4 capitol. after a firestorm of controversy, governor jan brewer announcing her veto of the controversial bill that would have given businesses the right to use religious freedom as a reason to refuse to serve gay people. >> this is not a good bill. already thousand jobs lost, $10,000. >> reporter: opponents delivered 65,000 petition signatures calling for her veto. and a list of major american companies calling it bad for business grew, too. even the future of next year's super bowl to be held in arizona seemed at risk. the host committee saying the law would have been a major blow to any economic boost brought by the big game. but it seems this governor, known for being at the center of controversy in the past, wanted to put this one behind her. this is the decision opponents expected. in fact, they had these signs printed out well before the announcement came down. thank you, governor brewer. arizona is open to business to everyone. a lot of people celebrating. cecilia vega, abc news, air. a federal judge struck down the gay marriage ban in texas calling it uninstitutional. the judge said the law stigmatizes gay couples. there are similar rulings on same-sex marriage bans. but the texas law remains in effect but there is law pending that would likely end up in the supreme court. there is one more witness scheduled in the impaired driving trial of kerry kennedy. closing arguments and the jury may begin deliberating. yesterday was an emotional day for the daughter of robert f. kennedy and her family as we hear from abc's mara schiavocampo. >> reporter: testifying in her own defense in her drug driving trial, normally private, kerry kennedy, opened up about her very public family. in in answering the defense's initial questions, the 54-year-old described her upbringing. affectionately referring to her father, the late robert f. kennedy, as, quote, daddy. also talking about her farther's assassination, saying, quote, i have ten brothers and sisters. my mother raised us because my father died when i was 8. he was killed when he was running for president. kennedy's 85-year-old mother ethel, who rarely makes public appearances, her sister and three daughters were also in court. now the third day of trial is over, now a single misdemeanor count of driving while impaired, kennedy says in july of 2012 she accidentally took a prescription sleep pill with her breakfast instead of thyroid medication then got behind the wheel. kennedy, pleading not guilty. 24 testified she felt disoriented and frightened and i was struggling to figure out what had happened to me. on cross-examination, prosecutors tried to portray kennedy as i frequent user of the sleeping drug who carelessly took the wrong people. in the final moments, the prosecutor asked kennedy if a conviction would hurt her public image. kennedy responded, yes. mara schiavocampo, abc news, new york. the u.s. warning russia not to sper convenient in the crisis in ukraine. with john kerry saying it would be a mistake. there are war games near the ukrainian border. massive military exercise is going on involving some 150,000 troops. the move comes just days after russia questioned the legitimacy of the ukraine's new leadership. >> as we have said for several days now, any attempt to have military intervention would be a mistake. but again, we're monitoring it. we're watching what's happening. >> russia insist there are no plans to intervene in ukraine where the opposition just named a new leader to head up a new pro-western government. ousted pro-russian president remains on the run. a single photograph from syria showing the extent of the refugee crisis there. it is from a rebel controlled refugee camp that had been under siege for eight months. hundreds of people wait for what little food the relief agency manages to bring in each day. some 20,000 refugees, mostly palestinians, have been trapped there since last summer. nasa investigators now know why an italian astronaut nearly drown last summer. a plumbing problem forced liquid into the spacesuits system, thus flooding the helmet with water. houston cleared that space walk despite a reported malfunction with the suit days earlier. nasa announced the discovery of 715 new planets orbiting distant stars, almost double the number of known planets. analyzing data from the kepler 24 space telescope, scientists found all the new planets are in multiplanet star systems like ours and most are closer in size to earth than giant gas planets like jupiter. four new planets are in orbits considered inhabitable where it is not too hot, not too cold, for the liquid water to exist. it is so cold in chicago this week that you can walk across lake michigan. that's just what this man did. he was first spotted about 300 yards offshore. as he finished his walk, he was greeted by police who issued him a citation. they were worried the ice might give way and he'd fall through. it is finally raining in drought-stricken california. the first of two storms is bringing a drizzle but the stronger storm moves in later today. it could bring in flooding and mudslides to many areas, particularly those scarred by recent wildfires. residents are filling sandbags and there have been mandatory evacuations in the southern california foot hills. >> let's look at your weather. rainy today in south florida but dry for the rest of the south and midwest. northeast will get light snow although heavier near the great lakes. there will also be snow in the northern rockies. >> it will be in the teens in new england and upstate new york and around freezing in the mid-atlantic states. just 47 in memphis. single digits in upper midwest. 54 in salt lake city and seattle and 80 today in phoenix. germaphobes take note, your iphone case has arrived. a company called biocoat created a case that promises to 12348 eliminate 99.9% of all bacteria from an iphone surface. another added bonus for the obsessive compulsive. anti-microbial technology also helps remove fingerprints. the cases aren't cheap. they cost anywhere from 45 to 57 bucks. i like that idea. i think that's affordable to get rid of all those germs. >> you have one? >> no, but iphones get gross. >> they do. the french car company -- help me out there -- >> peugeot. >> -- announced it will sell the first air-powered car. the car will combine a normal gas engine with new system that runs on compressed air. the company claims the car, which will run on air, mostly for city driving, could cut gas costs by as much as 80%. and by 2020 the cars could, averaging 117 miles a gallon. >> wow. a couple of animal stories here. including a tiger taken for a walk. this is near lockport, illinois, near chicago. the guy who owns the tiger owns several exotic animals, including a wolf and bear. took the tiger out for a walk sunday evening. both were in uncle richie's bar, sam bar where the tiger on reportedly bit a woman in december but she never reported it. the owner has several misdemeanors. hello. something on the lighter side here, starring a couple of pit bulls. say hello to willis on the left and bumper on the right. >> they were seated in a photo booth when it seems like bumper sticks his tongue out at willis. but really, going to give her a lick or kiss. >> both dogs are happy. look at the smiles. perfect look back at the camera and smile big. >> what a couple of cuties. >> aren't they awesome? >> and the owner said these really were the pictures. they didn't photoshop, they didn't do a bunch of takes. the dogs are in the photo booth and these are the four pictures that came out. like they knew what to do. >> pals for sure. >> so cute. insight on major league baseball spring training. happening as we set up shop in the virtual beach. >> also, making a splash at the beach in water sports. the ultimate adventure at the shore. as we head to the vir stul beach, we want to know, where are the best beaches? we'll turn to a real expert, dr. beach, to get answers. it's beach day on "world news now." ♪ don't it feel good hey ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by no-no hair removal. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com powered by hydrogen peroxide action introducing finish power & free. to give you a sparkling clean with less harsh chemicals. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ i'm walking on sunshine whoa i'm walking on sunshine ♪ >> we here at "world news now" really wish we were walking on sunshine about now. it's been a rough winter. >> crazy rough winter. and since we can't go to the beach, we brought the beach to us. and to do that, by the way, we talked to a guy who has the coolest job in the world. listen to this, he picks the world's best beaches. >> people ask me all the time, what makes a great beach. clean sand and clean water. that's paramount. >> reporter: they call him dr. beach and he scours the sand and the surf to discover the cleanest, safest and most scenic places to catch some rays. dr. steve leatherman is a scientist and professor by trade, but his job is the culmination of a life-long passion. ever since he was a kid, playing in his backyard sand box. he spent two years surveying more than 600 beaches in the united states and tops on his latest list, east hampton, new york. >> huge sand dunes. and just a beautiful setting. if you've been to the little village of east hampton. i have said this, i have to take off points for access. the parking lot fills up quickly and it's pretty price ary. >> reporter: a bigger problem, he says, is caused we humans. >> most beaches it's litter on the beach. people just leave so much stuff behind. i don't know what it is. after that, of course, erosion is a problem in storm-impacts, like we saw with superstorm sandy. takes a long time to recover from those hits. i've never found a perfect beach but i've found a lot of great ones in the united states. >> so many great ones. if you want a list, drbeach.org is the website. nothing coming up like the boys of sunshine. >> oh, yes. spring training. boys of summer are next. we will check in with the cactus leagues. you're watching "world news now." >> "world news now" continues lead paint poisoning affects one million children today. it's also 100% preventable. if your home was built before 1978, visit leadfreekids.org to learn more. ♪ looked forward to it all my life. nothing says summer like the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, beer, cracker jacks, green grass. we are talking baseball. >> florida and arizona, major league baseball players are getting ready for the real thing. spring training is under way and it is awesome. here are reporters john thomas in clear water, florida, and pete in scottsdale, arizona, with the toughest assignments in the business. >> reporter: hey, i'm john thomas with abc action news in tampa. we're actually in clear water right now. we're watching the phillies take on the blue jays, spring training baseball. weather is touch and go. but not that bad. take a look around. we may get rain. but look. that's green grass. not snow. this is fantastic. this is the best time to be down here because it's not even humid. and you've got all these amazing baseball fans here. and you know what they say, the worst day of spring training is better than the best day working. now mind you, i'm doing both right now. that's why abc has bought me this hot dog. thank you very much, abc. >> reporter: you really can't beat the 80-degree weather here in scottsdale, arizona. just a beautiful day to kick off major league baseball spring training in the valley of the sun and the hot dogs and beverages were flowing and they were served up at salt river fields, at talking stick in scottsdale, arizona, as the home team, arizona diamondbacks, beat the los angeles dodgers 4-1. this is one of ten locations throughout the greater phoenix area will games will be taking place and spring training brings in $600 million annually to the state. and the fun and games run through march. so it is not too late for folks of new york to come to scottsdale to enjoy the great weather and great games. reporting from scottsdale, arizona. knxv, back to you guys in new york. >> thanks a lot. looks like a lot of fun down there. >> it does. real tough assignment. joining us for another fun guy. you didn't quite get the great assignment. you're stuck here with us. but at least you're faking the beach >> feels like st. lucia, but different. >> slightly different. without the seagulls. without the water. >> great to be back. you saw in the last clip there, the dodgers and diamondbacks. they're at it out in the cactus league. they're not going to be there that much longer because they're actually going to open their season in australia with games that actually count. they're playing at sydney's famous cricket ground down there march 22nd and 23rd. one guy who's not too excited about it, zack greinke. he said, quote, there's zero excitement for him for going to australia. i can't think of one reason to be excited for it, says zack grein greinke. >> aren't there worst places you could be than australia? >> yeah, it's the middle of summer down there. needless to say, some of the organizers, not too happy with zack. we will see what his reception is. unfortunately red sox are back at it. they won the world series last year. they are working out right now, ft. myers, florida. oddly enough, excuse me, they open their grapefruit league play today. split squad games against two college teams. they will get at it for real against an actual major league baseball team tomorrow. they start for real march 31st in baltimore. yankees, couple of big items from them. always lots of news from them. that's tanaka, he'll be paid $155 million for seven years. we will see what happens. derek jeter's last spring training. their first game, april 1st in houston. maybe the most important video from spring training. we told viewers the other day about hank the dog. >> check him out. >> he's at brewers' training camp in arizona. 2e9 he was racing the sausages yesterday. his first outing. he actually had a the hot dog costume on himself. so, there he goes. off to a bit of a slow start but he is awesome. >> they are putting him to work. >> he could actually -- they said he could actually be part of the sausage race in miller park when they get back there. something to look forward to for brewers' fans. >> who will win it all this year? >> new york yankees, number 2837 win it all this year? >> yankees, number 28. w ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com those spots are actually leftover food and detergent residue that can redeposit on your dishware during the rinse cycle. gross. jet-dry rinse agent helps wash them away so the only thing left behind is the shine. jet-dry rinses away residues for a sparkling shine. ♪ ♪ . ♪ sitting on top of the world beach boy time. pretty simple. grab a surfboard, get to the swell and catch it. >> if you can dream it, you can do it, if you have the guts. >> yeah. >> this is called jetlev. it allows to you pull a james bond above your favorite body of water. looks like something worthy of a "jetson's" episode >> when it first came out, these things had a six figure price tag, now they are dropping in price and gaining in popularity. >> this looks fun. >> this is called paddle surfing. it combines a surfboard, a paddle, a wave and a person who is willing to try something new. now, originated in hawaii. it lets someone paddle out further into the ocean and surf smaller waves like those you find in rivers and lakes. >> a lot like paddleboarding. here is surfing and skateboarding. marci, what do you think you get? surfing and skateboarding. >> something i would hurt myself doing. >> skurfing. no formal competitions or rules. it's all about style. so >> kind of like wake boarding. but an official skurf board has a different design. there are foot straps. concave tunnel at the bottom and heel fin. pretty cool. >> very cool. vacation was the subject of our facebook question. we wanted to know, what's your favorite warm weather destination. >> bhasmark says, i live there,. >> team ruby says, i have to go with poipu beach, kauai. >> nice, been there. >> timothy's response, the backyard with a bonfire and cold beer. >> nothing wrong with that. >> anything except minnesota. today is 2 below. >> they should come join our beach party. >> from karen, i don't necessarily want to go anywhere. just want to be warm and enjoy myself where i live. >> i really enjoyed beach day. guys, come on in. let's have a beach party. >> what's in the cooler? >> yeah, what's in the cooler? >> beverages of some type. anybody want to play beach ball. captain? >> why not? >> can't get the snorkel on. >> marci? >> i can't see. i'm going snorkeling. >> can't have a beach party without it. >> there's nothing in there? >> put on sunscreen there. those getting on your feet? >> oh, there you go. you need the snorkel. >> i don't think so. >> oh, i'll eat. you guys -- >> nice. >> where did that ice cream go? ♪ ♪ this will morning on "world news now" -- addressing anger. arizona's governor makes a major decision about a proposed law that set off a worldwide debate over gay rights. >> i think there's an opportunity for this to be turned into a real victory for us as a state. >> the governor's move after tensions over gay rights, big business and religious beliefs. political superstars from hollywood to capital hill, seth rogen and ben affleck are demanding attention to serious, real life issues they're raising. affordable travel options to help you forget about this miserable winter. it is thursday, february 27th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning. i'm marci gonzalez in for diana perez. >> i'm john muller. "world news now" taking you to the beach this thursday morning. forget that it's below zero here in new york. we've got our sights set on spring and summer after the worst winter in years. >> yes. we have some surprises in this half hour. including your first summertime forecast and getting things ready over there. hey, getting the party started. >> put on some sunscreen, man. those legs are looking pretty white. gives me great pleasure to say that, by the way. the only guy with whiter legs than me. >> he's also brave enough to wear shorts. we'll also have headlines from your favorite beaches. >> we'll get to that in a bit. we begin with the veto heard around the nation and decision by the governor of arizona to kill a bill with a bitter debate. >> opponents of the bill gathered outside the capitol building in phoenix last night as the governor announced she would not sign a bill that would allow businesses to turn away gays. abc's brandi hitt has the latest. >> reporter: in flont of a national audience, governor jan brewer put an end to arizona's controversial bill that would have allowed businesses to deny customers based on religious beliefs. >> after weighing all of the arguments, i have to vetoed senate bill 1062. >> reporter: the announcement drew huge cheers from outside arizona's capital, a moment many in the gay community had been waiting for. >> thank you, jan! thank you, jan! >> i think there's an opportunity for this to be turned into a real victory for us as a state. >> reporter: even large companies, such as alaska, american, delta airlines, apple, yelp, petsmart, marriott hotels and american express agreed, the bill was bad for business. >> the bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences. >> reporter: supporters argued the bill was not about discrimination. >> people want to be able to have their belief systems respected. >> reporter: arizona is a state that has a ban on gay marriage. federal judges recently struck down those bans in four states, including texas, with those decisions now under appeal. brandi hitt, abc news, los angeles. >> thank you. moving on to a big crackdown by the army, removing hundreds of soldiers from sensitive positions. 588 soldiers are being fired for a variety of serious offenses. they include child abuse, drunk driving and sexual assault. some fired were sexual assault counselors themselves. a review of 20,000 soldiers in what's called positions of trust follows a sharp rise in assaults in the military. warning russia not to intervene in the crisis in ukraine. secretary kerry saying it would be a grave mistake. ukrainian opposition named a new leader to head up a pro-western government. the ousted pro-russian president remains on the run. -p. anti-government protests are intensifying and spreading across venezuela. violent clashes shut down a neighborhood yesterday as rock-throwing demonstrators squared off with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas. at least 16 people have died since the start of the unrest two weeks ago. protesters are rallying against inflation, crime and shortages of food and other bakes. back at home a scary situation caught on camera in olympia, washington. a bus driver pulled over because a person in a hoodie was using foul language. after being pushed near the door the guy started beating on the driver, who fell into a set of seats. this surveillance video helped police find the guy and rest him. and that is what's left of a car that fell off an elevated stretch of highway in milwaukee and landed upside down on a basketball court. the man and woman inside the car survived. but are listed in critical condition. police say the driver with is going too fast, lost control, hit a guard rail and went over the edge. it landed a few feet from several homes. deliberations are likely to start later today in kerry kennedy's drugged driving trial. on the stand yesterday, the daughter of robert f. kennedy said she didn't wrlz she had taken a sleeping pill before getting behind the wheel. if she did, she would have pulled over before hitting a tractor-trailer, she said. the nation's capital is getting a touch of tinseltown with celebrity a-listers lobbying for special causes they hold near and doer. seeing famous faces on capitol hill is nothing new, but is all that star power really making a difference? abc's karen travers takes a look. >> reporter: out in hollywood, they're gearing up for sunday's academy awards. but here in washington, there was some megawatt star power. yes, that's actor seth rogen, testifying before a senate appropriations committee. "the knocked up" star may be known for his pot-smoking, slacker roles but he's a fierce advocate for alzheimer's research and funding. his wife's mother has the disease, and so did her grandparents. >> i've personally seen the massive amount of financial strain this disease causes. and if the american people ever decide to reject genitilia-driven comedy, i will no longer be able to afford it. >> reporter: the actor, oscar-winning director of "argo," met with secretary of state john kerry and joked about his political thriller. >> i had to make it for "argo." now i get to see the real thing here. >> reporter: director of the eastern congo initiative. celebrities are frequently spotted on capitol hill lobbying for a cause near and dear to them. for george clooney, sudan. ashley judd pushes on hiv research and the environment. even elmo from sesame street, asking lawmakers to support music programs in american schools. hollywood stars say they understand there may be skeptics but if their celebrity can help advance a cause, they're going to take advantage of the spotlight. john and marci. >> karen, thank you. a big legal defeat for actress lisa kudrow, ordered to pay her former manager $1.6 million. the "friends" star had oral agreement but no written contract for scott howard who worked for her for 16 years. the jury agreed kudrow owed him residuals. by the time "friends" ended, he was earning $1 million per episode. another look at justin bieber after his arrest in florida last week. the 19-year-old superstar takes a sobriety test. now clips show bieber giving a urine sample were withheld. bieber has pleaded not guilty to drunk driving. things are starting to get crazy down in rio, even before carnival season gets under way here. here is some proof. take a look. >> a couple of daredevils pulling off this stunt. they are in wing suits falling from about 6500 feet. one flies right under the arm of the statue of christ the redeemer. wow. >> that is amazing. all caught on mini cameras they were rigged up with. they pulled off the stunt in the early morning hours. they landed safely in a traffic circle, no less. then back to their hotel and celebrated with a breakfast of beer. >> that's not a terrible idea, when you survive something like that. >> when you live on the edge like that, having a beer for breakfast is nothing, i suppose. >> they almost had to cancel because winds were too high around the statue but they went ahead with it, took a chance and -- >> look at that will angle. that looks awful close. >> they are brave souls. >> yeah. not going to happen. going to happen? >> no way. hey, listen, coming up, it's beach day edition of "world news now," the best island destinations in the country. >> couldn't you use a little sun? don't plan your vacation getaways until you see the latest travel deals. we are heading to the beach. you're watching "world news now." ♪ surf city here we come ♪ ♪ still gets me the where i want to go ♪ the ♪ going to surf city >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by united health care. 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[ male announcer ] join the millions of people who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations. remember, all medicare supplement insurance plans help cover what medicare doesn't pay. and could save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. call now to request your free decision guide. and learmore about the kinds of plans that will be here for you now -- and down the road. i have a lifetime of experience. so i know how important that is. powered by hydrogen peroxide action introducing finish power & free. to give you a sparkling clean with less harsh chemicals. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com -hit the beach in florida. -and a reunion in seattle. we can afford to take more trips this year. [man] when hotels have unsold rooms, they use hotwire to fill them. [woman] so we got our 4-star hotels... for half price. ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e ♪ hotwire.com ♪ two girls for every boy ♪ all right, marci, i propose a toast. >> thank you, my friend. >> we suffered through this incredible winter. >> we have. >> by the way, it's still below freezing out there. it's a beach day on "world news now." >> beach day, cheers. a little lemonade on a magic blanket. >> i might. welcome back, folks. you might be asking yourself why marci and i serious journalists are sitting on a beach. it's simple. we need it. >> we totally need it. it has been a long, long winter. so we here at "world news now" decided we needed something to warm ourselves up. so throughout the morning we'll slather on some sunscreen, and since we can't go to the beach, we're going to try to bring the beach to us. >> can you get my shoulders? >> where's the sunblock? first thing we want to do from our approach on the beach is check out the weather. >> we are hoping for a little good news, please. so, we are going to brave it and check in with accuweather meteorologist jim dickey. good morning, jim. >> good morning, john and marci. it's been a harsh winter across the north and east. one of the worst winters in recent memory. everyone wants to know, when will the warmth, when will spring finally arrive? this is the current pattern. unfortunately, this is going to have some staying power, at least through early march. the jet stream diving down through the north and east allowing the arctic air to stay in place, well below averages. we're looking march 13th through the 15th, that's when it looks to change. the jet stream lifts back northward, allows the warmth to work back in, then near the spring equinox and temperatures should climb and arctic temperatures should be held at bay. let's get a preview for the summer. our long-range team at accuweather, a few highlights. expecting a hot and dry end to the east, wet in the midsections and drought to continue across the west. back to you. >> thank you. now that we've heard the weather, news in order. let's check important headlines. >> first up, the big story from key west where racers are in key largo. this weekend is the 14th annual 4 everglades challenges where 150 paddlers and small craft sailors will go between 60 to 300 miles. beautiful, crystal clear water in the keys. >> another place i love. another slice of paradise. this headline comes from "the bali times." >> this one will make us jealous. >> many european tourists keep spending their holiday in bali. it's a big push bit tourist industry in indonesia. they say the island is increasingly popular with those who live in uk, france, germany and russia. >> i know a couple americans who wouldn't mind going there either. >> you bet. beach living sounds like a good life. >> so we're pooling our pennies, seeing what's out there on the market. to the west coast. the pricey ocean front zip code, that is malibu. check this out. the cozy little 11,000 square foot home has a 160-degree view of the beach. six bedrooms, ten bathrooms, maid's quarters, gym and wine cellar. asking price, just $57.5 million. $275,000 a month if you're doing the math here. $11 million down payment. >> whoa. >> you've got that now. >> if we chipped our money together, we might be able to do that. >> totally. >> for us new yorkers, this is a little closer. how about a home in the hamptons? this beach cottage from the 1900s, offers 200 feet of direct access to the ocean. water views from every room. it's all about the location. it's being offered for nearly $30 million. bargain. >> bargain price. another slice of paradise can be found in hawaii. this home offers something unique, whale watching at its finest. a tropical retreat on nine acres which looks out onto the ocean and it can be yours for just under 12 million bucks. >> finally if this isn't enough for you, how about your own private island in the florida keys? it's on six acres of land. totally surrounded by water. the price for this one, only available by request, which means i think it's a lot of money. >> yeah, i think so. well, if you can't afford all of that, how about a simple vacation for a week or two? >> we'll have a look at affordable spots to get away from old man winter. it's beach day on "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now" continues after this from our abc stations. he ♪ ♪ >> i'm not getting too red yet, am i? do i need to get out of the sun? >> get under the umbrella. rockaway beach isn't warm enough. >> so where should we go for a little sunshine? abc travel and lifestyle editor has our guide. >> reporter: hey, guys. as you can see, winter is not over, not even close. if one more snowflake is going to send you over the edge, it's time to book a beach vacation. i found three different deals in three different budgets. put away the parka because your beach getaway awaits. westin on hilton head island is offering $179 a night, ocean-front room comes with access to one of the oversized luxe cabanas with tvs, fridges, and a personal fire pit outside your cabana. perfect for s'mores. beyond beach glamping the resort has three golf courses, three pools, a heavenly spa and kids' club. when you book use code glamp. this is available through march 31st. my next pick is for adults only. ladaro resort on caribbean island of st. lucia, doesn't even allow children. this deal from jetsetter.com puts this on sale for $390 per night through april. that's a discount from the regular rate of $530 a night. prepare to connect with your sweetheart because there's no tv or wi-fi. the rooms include is continental breakfast. the rooms are 1,000 square feet with a private ocean view. book this by february 28th. how about to fuji, a private island getaway with 13 bungalows. this deal includes all meals and complimentary activities like snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, kayaking, village tour, island tour, sailing and more. you get one welcome cocktail per person, a bottle of wine and breakfast in bed one morning. accommodations include a king bed and private veranda. the $449 per night stay is based on a seven-night stay. five night stays going for $476. travel through march 2014 or november but book by march 16th. okay, guys, enjoy this new york city cold. i'm off to florida. back to you in the studio. >> we're already there. at least in our minds anyway. >> thanks. nothing like reliving old vacations to get in the mood for some new ones. a couple of pictures from my trip to philippines. that was a beautiful beach. that's the snorkel boat. >> beautiful. >> these islands just jut out. you wouldn't believe the fish i saw. stunning. the sunset, cocktail in hand. can you feel it? can you feel it? >> gorgeous. i can feel it. keep in mind, i grew up at the beach, so i don't need to take a real vacation. before we get there, this is from south africa. a little cold so i'm wearing the wet suit. this is st. lucia, she just talked about that. some pictures from home. that was the view from my apartment at home in daytona. view from my apartment at home in daytona. artment. at home in daytona. prs to a new way of cleaning. to give you sparkling results with less harsh chemicals than ever before. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com other things, you don't. [ female announcer ] charmin ultra soft is so soft you don't even have to squeeze it to believe it. you can actually see the softness with our comfort cushions. plus charmin ultra soft is so much softer and more absorbent you can use up to four times less. but what if you can't help but squeeze it? that's been happening to people for years. [ female announcer ] used by more plumbers than any other brand. try charmin. it's clog-free or it's free. she'd just grab the bounty select-a-size. one select-a-size sheet of bounty is 50% more absorbent than a full size sheet of the leading ordinary brand. use less, with bounty select-a-size. it's not for colds, it's not for pain, it's just for sleep. because sleep is a beautiful thing™. ♪ zzzquil. the non-habit forming sleep aid from the makers of nyquil®. ♪ summer days those summer days ♪ okay, "mix" time. i usually have a snack by now. >> sun chips on this subfreezing 4 day in new york city. >> yeah. >> not here, though. >> it is beautiful out here. and it is gorgeous in some other places. trip adviser's best island in the u.s. we will count them down. from number five, maui. have you been? >> been. awesome. >> so you agree? >> sure. why not. 1278. >> number four, san juan island in washington state. >> not san juan, puerto rico. >> no. san juan island in washington state. number three, "animal island" in florida. then chico island in virginia. beautiful wild horses there. and coming in at number one, marco island, florida. gorgeous. >> been there many times. beautiful place. let's talk about the disappearing man trick on the beach. this is interesting. it's from a video group called disturbed reality, they like to post things. this is on san sta monica beach. they dig a big hole. put the guy jumps down. puts a towel on. distracted the guy they're with. they're like, where is he? >> they think they've been in the sun too long and starting to hallucinate. >> is he going to pop out and scare them? i don't think so. >> no. just leaves them confused. >> drinks all their beer and that's it. >> yeah. so, 40 years after the movie "jaws," better watch out for him here on the beach. don't go too deep into the water. they are auctioning off some rare behind-the-scene photographs from the movie. take a look at some of these. how cool is that? the shark out of water. so, the presale estimate, some of these things, $30,000. but who knows what it would go for once it goes to auction. >> that would be good for a new york city backyard, marci. >> for a new york city backyard, that would fit perfectly. >> maybe you can wear this outfit. let's see old fashioned bathing suits. we're going to party like it's 1900, not 1999. >> sexy. >> i'm telling you. this is the latest in vintage beachwear. could you rock this on miami beach? >> i mean, i could, but -- maybe in winter. >> what do you think? >> oh, my gosh. that's great. it actually kind of looks like the hat you're wearing. >> what are you trying to say? >> i'm saying you look like a beautiful -- >> i'm going to bust that out. >> jail bird outfit. >> sure does. >> that's pretty cool. >> how about a little beach ball all right? >> all right. >> all right. let's do it. beach set accident. i need the lifeguard. >> i can't take you anywhere. >> hold on. i think my microphone is stuck to the chair. come on now. you play with the beach ball. >> i'll entertain myself. >> come on now. and yeah, i've had people laugh at me, but i don't care. i just love collecting air. people can make fun of me all they want, but i choose to see the glass half-full. of air. think it's weird to collect air? you wouldn't think so if you saw what your lungs collect every time you breathe. protect your health with the free "state of the air" app from the american lung association. this morning on "world news now" -- winter extremes from 45 below windchills in the upper midwest to dangerous downpour and snowfall threatening california. when will spring finally arrive. it airline anxiety. a major carrier's big change to frequent flier programs. why there is a dramatic move in the skies. >> frozen treat. my chance to learn how to make gelato. as spring fever gives us cravings for anything resembling ice cream. speaking of spring fever, throwback thursday brings back memories of lifeguards and bikinis along california's sandy shores. who was your favorite "baywatch" star? it is thursday, february 27th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning. i'm marci gonzalez in for diana perez. >> i'm john muller on this back to the beach edition of "world news now." we're taking you to our virtual beach this half hour. check it out, a special edition of "the skinny." >> find out where your favorite celebrities go to get some sun because we are full of surprises today. >> yeah. check out our beach set. doesn't that look good? >> yeah. hi, jordan. >> captain jordan. let's get to the bitter cold now. in the upper midwest, heading into the danger zone today. in duluth this morning will feel like 45 degrees below zero. and the high today, expected to be minus 4. >> just one of the major weather extremes today as americans from coast to coast can't wait for this terrible winter to end. as abc's brandi hitt reports, even california is getting hit. >> reporter: california is s getting a super soaking. >> obviously we need the rain so it's great to have the rain, but on the other hand, you have to deal with it. >> reporter: the welcome rain is bittersweet. for a state plagued by severe drought, every drop is needed, but too much too fast could lead to dangerous mudslides. >> i think we're all pretty worried about what's going to happen. >> reporter: some trees have already fallen and crews have been constructing mud walls while families fill up sandbags, especially in areas hit hard by wildfires where nothing is left to help hold back an onslaught of wet soil. >> there are a lot of folks here who are really scared. >> reporter: this is the start of a series of storms that will hit the golden state through the weekend, with the biggest downpour expected friday. a half foot of rain could fall in the los angeles area. >> while there's no question that this is exactly what california needs, this will not come close to putting a dent in the drought. >> reporter: brandi hitt, abc news, los angeles. >> all right. here is a look at your weather. light snow in the east. heavier near the great lakes. fairly dry, though cold in the midwest and also dry in the south along with south florida, they could see some rain. >> it won't get above freezing in the northeast and above single digits in the upper midwest. the south will see temperatures in the 50s as will the pacific northwest. only 67 in albuquerque and los angeles. rescue workers don't hold out much hope for an illinois man missing since his boat capsized in floodwaters earlier this week. the 66-year-old boat was found yesterday under the ice near his home, which is surrounded by water. searchers say the subzero windchills and ice jams are slowing them down. after a dramatic rescue, a much happier outcome for another 66-year-old man air lifted from a cruise ship off by coast guard helicopter crew. he had some medical issues, but the air crew was able to hoist him into their jayhawk helicopter. never easy. and they took him to a tampa hospital. delta airlines revamping its mileage program. it's not about the mileage, but money that matters most. it's a blow to many passengers that depend on perks to travel on the cheap. abc's david kerley has more on this. >> reporter: you're already paying more for bags and food. more bad news for many travelers. the first major carrier, delta, is completely overhauling its frequent flier program. >> you used to be able to earn your miles based on the distance you fly. the longer you sit in the airplane seat, the more you are rewarded. now you're going to be rewarded for spending instead of time in the seat. >> reporter: someone in first class and someone in economy fly from new york to los angeles and each receives 4900 miles in their account. but under delta's new plan, set to take effect next january, if i buy a ticket in advance for $350, i'll only get 1700 miles. and that last-minute business traveler who pays $1,000 will get 5,000 miles. and those who are part of the more elite flier programs will benefit more from the multiplier effect. it is those high-spending business travellers delta wants. as the head of their frequent flyer program said, changes are aimed to, quote, better reward our most loyal customers. the system of rewarding you for how much you spend instead of how far you fly is already used by smaller airlines and some hotels are using the same calculation. getting that free ticket is going to cost you more. david kerley, abc news, washington. >> american airlines is also announced a change that could affect travelers suffering through the toughest types of their lives. american is dropping bereavement fares. it will no longer offer special ticket prices for passengers booking last minute because of a relative's death. american said the move is in line with us airways, which does not have a bereavement policy. topping headlines, a major study linking older fathers to their children's psychiatric problems. researchers here and in sweden studied nearly 3 million people. men who fathered children after age 24 increase odds of having children with psychiatric or academic problems. including bipolar disorder and attention deficit issues. the greatest risk was seen in fathers aged 45 and older. health advocates are pushing the fda to stop a powerful painkiller from going to the market. it's called zohydro. it's five to ten times more potent than a similar pill, vicodin. the fda approved it last fall. it goes on the market next month but critics are urging the fda to reconsider because the drug is so potent and potentially addictive. get ready for big changes in the nutrition labels we see in the supermarket. the obama administration will announce new rules which have bigger and easier to read calorie numbers. serving sizes that reflect reality and separate sugar listings. other listings will be simplified and easier to understand. president obama asking congress for $300 billion for infrastructure projects. he made this announcement at a train and bus station that was just refurbished. an example of what is possible, he said. major trust fund that finances transit is expected to run out of money later this year. mr. obama says these projects provide jobs. gay rights activists are celebrating the veto of a contention bill that had all eyes on arizona. governor jan brewer refused to sign the legislation by her fellow republicans into law. it would have allowed arizona businesses to refuse service to gays for religious reasons. loud cheers erupted outside of the state capitol last night when the governor announced her decision. >> i call them like i see them. despite the cheers or the boos from the crowd. >> i think there's an opportunity for this to be turned into a real victory for us as a state. ed is. >> opponents of the bill included apple, american airlines and the nfl, which is holding the super bowl in arizona next year. senator john mccain and hillary clinton were among those to immediately praise the veto. today an anxious one for 1 for many ibm employees. the computer giant expected to announce it is cutting at least 13,000 jobs in new york and vermont. an ibm worker group says it's part of what they call workforce balancing efforts. as ibm puts more emphasis on cloud computing, which requires fewer employees. the odds weren't very good for seekers in new jersey. more than 1300 people showed up at a casino to apply for 50 jobs. the line circled entirely around the fourth floor and to the floor below. another casino hotel closed last month, throwing 1600 people out of work, many of them were on the lines yesterday. so maybe if "the bachelor" juan pablo had done what one kid did in indiana, then andi wouldn't have walked out on him. >> a junior, chase brown rented a big billboard in order to post a message asking his girlfriend to the prom. >> wow. the lucky lady is emily. of course she said yes to chase's question. they've been dating for almost six months. chase said he planned his big proposal for about half of that time. the prom is in april. must have been saving up that whole time, too. i would imagine that's not a had very affordable away to ask. >> both juniors at evanville memorial high school, by the way. makes you wonder what he is going to do down the line, when he gets married, if that's what he is doing for prom. sdmroof right, exactly. a very romantic guy. look at him. >> you better say yes after that. as we mentioned, this is a special beach day edition of "world news now." find out where your favorite celebrities escape their miseries in winter. you can escape winter with your taste buds. i just learned how to make gelato and what makes it different from ordinary frozen treats. we're heading to the beach. you're watching "world news now." ♪ sun and moon and sing a song of cheer ♪ ♪ fill your basket full of sandwiches ♪ . in the >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by colonial penn life insurance. ws now" weather brought to you by colonial penn life insurance. it's time to change, introducing finish power & free. powered by hydrogen peroxide action to give you sparkling results with less harsh chemicals than ever before. because these are not just glasses. they're what your family drinks from. finish power and free. sparkling clean. less harsh chemicals. ♪ roll out those lazy hazy crazy days of summer ♪ >> a song from the oldies, a summer vacation when a hot boardwalk and ice cold ice cream was all you needed. >> i learned how a well-made gelato can put a gal in a summertime frame of mind. here we're here at l'artedel gelato. i'm told i wasn't saying it right. so much better when you say it here with the owner. we're talking about gelato today. tell us what makes it different from ice cream >> from someone who never heard of gelato, i will say this is ice cream but a few differences. less fat than ice cream and also less air. this makes two things very important. it makes it creamier and also makes more intensive flavor. >> so, we're going to head to the kitchen and you're going to teach us how to make pistachio gelato, right? >> let's go. >> what do we do first to make our pistachio gelato. >> we prepare a base milk gelato. fresh milk, fresh heavy cream, sugar, and mix everything together and then put inside freezer to make gelato. ♪ >> looks so good. >> see how cream it is? >> yeah, it's very creamy. put on the finishing touches for us. >> sure. >> are you ready? >> yes. i am very ready. >> okay. >> cheers. i don't care how cold it is outside, i could eat this all day. >> all right. well, cheers. give it a try. >> so, this is gelato. >> what do you think? >> delicious. >> now compare it. we've got some ice cream here, too. >> this is like trying to pick cheeseburger or pizza. it's like you really can't lose. >> but the gelato is actually lower in fat, supposed to be a little creamier. i don't know. i think either way, you can't go wrong. when it is hot outside -- >> i'm happy. >> if it's cold outside, whatever, i'm all about sweet treats. >> all good. no one can do sunshine and fun like the stars. ahead in "the skinny," a look at how celebrities are spending their winter. you're watching "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now" continues after this from our abc stations. ♪ ♪ >> ya, mon, i'm feeling it. >> i'm feeling it. "skinny time," folks. beach day segment here. skinny, buff and beautiful celebs on the beach. >> and we begin with the buff. ed is no complaints here. here's hugh jackman, not taking a break from his workout, despite being at beautiful bondi beach in australia. the wolverine looking good. >> what does he have that i don't? here's "pretty little liars" star, tyler blackburn. >> tyler blackburn skinny dipping, and showed that shot too. >> and we decided this shot is more appropriate for television. >> that's as racy as we can get. >> might have to check that one out later, though. >> these celebrities get the rainbow. >> check out this gorgeous picture of oprah winfrey in maui, along with her man, steadman, and bff gayle king. amazing day on the island. >> i would like to tag along with them. fun crew. this is just about the cutest 249 family photo ever seen. tom brady, wife gisele bundchen and adorable little girl on the beach. >> gisele posted this on instagram. but didn't say where it was. maybe trying to be a little private. i have a new favorite. forget the rainbow and oprah, i want to be there. >> looks just fine. we promised you buff, but how about in the buff. this is michelle rodriguez appearing to be meditating in the buff. >> this is in thailand where the actress was getting in a little rest and relaxation. definitely relaxed. and, hey, she doesn't have to worry about those peculiary tan lines. >> bonus. >> but you have to wonder, did she just hand her iphone over and say, will you just take a quick picture of me real quick, meditating, just go back there? >> we'll we're on the subject of exposure, we have to share our beyonce shot of the day. >> queen b struck a pose in jamaica recently in a sexy aztec pattern high-waisted two-piece. pretty good choice with her new blonde do. >> beyonce also knows how to take a plunge. taking the leap off the yacht. >> taken by her hubby, jay-z on vacation. showing again she is fearless. >> pretty good plunge. >> hot spots, celebs do know how to get away. >> maybe not from the paparazzi but they definitely pick the best places to get some r&r. cabo san lucas, one of the hottest celeb places. jennifer aniston is known to spend time sunbathing in this mexican oasis. can't blame her. >> of course, if you have enough money, you can have this slice of heaven. richard branson's private caribbean island. >> branson bought it in the '70s. three years and 10 million bucks later, he turned it into a lavish resort. it is usually rented out by celebrities. steven spielberg, oprah winfrey and kate winslet, mel gibson, among others. that's where i'm going this summer. >> if you're going to be seen instead, sexy rio de janeiro might be the place to be. >> this place is hot, sexy and filled with beautiful people. some stars who have been sighted here recently, penelope cruz and her husband. gerard butler has been spotted there, as well as madonna. >> not sexy but super hot nonethele nonetheless. from the hit abc show "the girls." >> now up for rent for $10,000 a month. you can hang out here for a week. not sure about that price. on a private three-acre estate with 300 feet of a private beach. also a five-story tower. i don't know, in case enemies approach? what do you need a tower for? check out views? >> keep out paparazzi. there is one thing missing and we'll tell you about that when we come back. you want to sing a little song, marci, you know the one. >> i don't want to scare anyone ♪ if everybody had an ocean across the usa ♪ ♪ everybody'd be surfing ocean across the usa ♪ my singing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you and me on the beach in about 30 more years. welcome back. we continue to celebrate all things sunny and warm on this beach day here on "world news now." >> it's also throwback thursday. that means a look back at the show that combined blondes, bikinis, beaches. of course we're talking about "baywatch". >> starring david hasselhoff and pamela anderson. "baywatch" was about lifeguards in los angeles who saved people from drowning and run around in slow motion a lot. >> the show was one of the most watched on the planet. no doubt because of the riveting dialogue, right? >> no doubt about that. >> like drums in the jungle, word gets out real fast when the surf's up. it oh, don't mind me. i'm making my rounds on foot this morning. >> oh. this is a first good swell in weeks. can i give the guys just a little bit longer? >> nope. winning the most congenial lifeguard award isn't important. time to turn the water back over to the swimmers. raise the blackball. and bring them in. >> wow. riveting. "baywatch" cancelled by nbc after just one season. >> with scenes like that, i don't understand why. but david hasselhoff believed in the show so he put his own money into the project, found financial backers, took off in syndication and lasted 11 seasons. >> we're laughing at him and he is loaded. >> exactly. >> "baywatch" is syndicated in 148 countries around the world. seen by an estimated 1.1 billion viewers each week. >> in 1999 production costs in l.a. were rising so the show had to move. it originally was supposed to move to australia -- or tape in australia, but residents didn't want it. so "baywatch hawaii" was born. it lasted two years. >> the show's theme song was called "i'm always here" sung by jimmy jamison, lead singer of survivor. i didn't know that. >> i didn't either. >> it's been a few years since "baywatch" went off the air. but many of the show's stars are never far from the spotlight. >> where are they now? david hasselhoff still working. very popular in europe. is about to star in "captain hook" in a stage production of peter pan he also has his own mobile app called ask the hoff. >> let's talk about pam anderson. also in the headlines, her personal life and romantic relationships well documented. she is also passionate animal rights activist. she stripped naked for peta, asking people to curl up with their pets during winter. >> and carmen electra, married dave navarro of jane's addiction and dennis rodman. and still looking hot. >> they all look good. >> yeah, stay with us. >> cheers. dennis rodman. still >> announcer: this is abc "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades. us. making news in america this morning, decision made. arizona's governor vetoes a controversial bill that some called anti-gay. what it means for her state and the rest of the country. breaking overnight -- >> leave all your belongings and get off this aircraft. >> passengers forced to leave everything behind and quickly get off a plane. new details about the emergency evacuation just coming in. the father factor. the biological clock for dad is now ticking a lot louder. what a man's age means for his offspring's health. and doggone shame. are these pups really remorseful? how our four-legged friends really feel when good dogs go bad.