Good evening. Im erica hill. Brian is off tonight. We are just hours away from ringing in the new year. It is a tradition that dates back some 4,000 years, today it is a celebration synonymous with sparkling wine, confetti and fireworks. So far the 2014 displays have not disappointed. In sidney, more than a Million People lined the citys water front to see the show in person. A kaleidoscope lit up moscows red square, but it was dubai pulling out all the stops. Aiming to break a world record with lights displayed around 400 locations. The display required more than 100 computers and more than 5,000 hours of work. For our own celebration here in new york, we go straight to times square and nbcs stephanie gosk. Stephanie . Reporter hey, erica. Happy new years eve to you. Ill start with trivia tonight. There have only been two years that the ball didnt drop. 1942 and 43. Thats because the city was following a blackout rules. That isnt the issue this year. And the brls will drop again. Times square in new york city, there really is no place on the planet that brings in the new year with more fan fare and celebration. The ball coming from the sky. Reporter for over a century, the ball has dropped at the intersection of broadway and seventh avenue. In new yorks times square. Reporter tonight, it continues. While behind the scenes the new York City PoliceDepartment Works to ensure a safe and secure night to the roughly 1 million revelers. Among the precautions being taken, Manhole Covers will be sealed. Plain clothed officers will be in the crowd, and backpacks are not allowed. All the spectators will be scanned by the metal detectors. Our mentality in new york, new york is the number one u. S. Target and always will be. And we maintain all of these events like something will happen. Reporter the goal will be to secure the crowd will style allowing them to enjoy the night. On tap for the celebration, a notable first, Sonia Sotomayor a bronx native, will be the first to trigger the ball drop. It may be the first time a Supreme Court motion follows a live miley cyrus performance. From around the country and the world, the throngs started gathering early willing to endure the bitterly cold temperatures. Talk me through these layers. What do you have going on here . I have a blanket. Reporter oh, a blanket underneath . Yeah, i have like two pants on, i have three shirts, a sweater. Reporter this poor mother from georgia came out early to secure spots while his 17yearold son slept in at a nearby hotel. Teenagers, right . What well do for our children. Reporter but nearly everyone you see says the discomfort and cold is outweighed by the fun and the thrill of being on hand for one of americas most timehonored traditions. By the time the ball drops there will be people out here who have waited nine hours to see it. I give them a lot of credit. The temperature now lingering in the 20s. Ive been on air for 15 minutes and i am chilled to the bone. Erica . All right. Well let you get back inside then. Thank you, stephanie gosk. And it is not just the weather that is a factor for the new year, in fact, the northern part of the country is already facing some brutally cold weather. Stretching across the midwest. And all that cold and even more snow are heading east. Our report tonight from nbcs kevin tibbles. Reporter overnight, old man winter slid into minneapolis. Roads covered in ice and cars careening. More than 200 spinouts this morning alone. All morning long, the police and state patrol looking at everything from fender benders to rollovers. Reporter too cold for the mountain ski resort in duluth, minnesota. It was minus 20 without the windchill. They closed early. In the windy city . No driving, a little partying, but no driving. Reporter wind chills well below zero. And the Chicago River quickly freezing as much as half a foot of snow expected overnight. Still, the brave and daring went out. Its a great day. You dont get caught up with tourists or anything. Not bad on this day. Reporter in ann arbor, michigan, no danger of the ice melting at the nhl winter classic. 100,000plus diehards will brave the cold here. Can you feel your toes . No. Reporter fans attending todays alumni game in detroit doing whatever it takes to stay warm. Layers, layers, layers, that is what you got to do. Reporter of course, some visiting fans say it is perfect. When it gets to zero farenheit, canadians believe it is cold. Reporter some of that canadianstyle winter is heading east. If you live in the northeast heads up. There could be a major storm dumping several inches of snow thursday and friday. Reporter with snow and bitter cold settling in for the new year, many may be doing the big countdown by the fire. And erica, the heavy stuff is not even supposed to be falling until midnight. Which is why authorities here in chicago are asking people to leave the car at home and take the one cent bus service that starts at 10 00. Erica . Sounds like a great deal, thank you. Overseas, russian president Vladimir Putin promised a forceful crackdown on terrorists today after two suicide bombings killed more than 30 people. Raising new concerns about security as the sochi olympics approach. Nbcs jim maceda has the latest. Reporter hi, erica. As police offered up a suspect in the bombings, the latest violence was worrying the olympic athletes in the u. S. By the thousands, the Russian Police swept through volgograds coffee shops and markets overnight. Hunting for the accomplices in the suicide blasts that killed at least 34. Dozens of people were detained though any connections to the bombings were unclear. Vladimir putin backed a strong force. We will consistently continue the fight against terrorists until their complete annihilation, he said. Police now say theyve identified a suspect in the first bombing. The one that hit volgograds train station, though they have yet to have evidence. The 26yearold russian, a former paramedic, who allegedly converted to radical islam in 2011. The russian and foreign media reports say his parents posted this message to their son online after he vanished six months ago. They feared he joined armed insurgents. Come home, his mother pleaded. We see how many people die because of people like you. Dont harm people, said his father. No matter what their religion. But in a video of his own, pablo told his parents he made his choice. It is not easy to go this way, the way of jihad, he said. But allah makes us strong. With the sochi games just weeks away, the bombings have gotten attention of u. S. Athletes. Once you see it, it kind of hits you like all these things happen. You kind of worry about it, but bad things happen every day. Theres some things you just cant control. Reporter the head of the u. S. Olympic committee today said hes never seen anything like it. This is the first time we have had an incident so close to the games both in terms of geography and in terms of time. Reporter but here in sochi tonight, new years revelers said theyre not concerned. Theyre hoping for a great olympics. Security at the Olympic Games is is supposed to be impenetrable. Some fear the claim to be tested here very soon. Erica . Jim maceda, thank you. That russian ship stranded off antarctica remains stuck in the ice with more than 70 people aboard. They sent new years greetings by video today as they wait for rescue. Other ships have tried to help but havent been able to break through the ice surrounding the vessel. The plan now, air lift the scientists and other passengers by helicopters once the weather improves. Were told, though, that the crew will stay with the ship. In this country, after huge problems with the rollout of the Governments Health care program, the Obama Administration reported a good deal of progress today. All of the numbers are still far short of the goal. We have more on that tonight from White House Correspondent peter alexander. Peter . Reporter erica, good evening to you. The Administration Today announced more than 2 Million People have enrolled in the Health Insurance plans through both the federal and staterun exchanges. That is below the goal for the end of the year, but it is a rebound from the miserable enrollment numbers in october and november. Officials said success would be 7 million signups by the end of marge. So still unanswered is whether or not theyre getting enough healthy adults signed up to offset the costs for older and sicker enrollees. And really, the hard part begins when the newly insured show up at the doctors offices as early as tomorrow to try to use the coverage for the first time. Many are still waiting to get their insurance cards, waiting to see if their information actually got to the insurers. I suppose well find out soon. There is positive news to report about the economy. The Housing Market in this country has made impressive gains over the past year as Interest Rates remain relatively low, and that is helping both buyers and sellers as we hear from nbcs ron mott. Reporter outside atlanta, justin and helen archer had been under water in their home for years and were finally able to put it on the market this week. Now, thankfully, things are finally where our heads are poking above water. Reporter twice in the past five years they tried to sell it and with growing twins could really use a bigger place. Were busting out of the seams here. We have two of everything. Reporter now with an improved Housing Market well established across the country, more than 4 million homeowners like the archers are no longer upsidedown, owing more than their home is worth. Few will open up more housing transactions both purchases as well as sales. People moving up, people moving down, and the greater mobility is ultimately a plus for the economy. Reporter new numbers show the American Home prices surged in october over the Previous Year by the largest margin since february 2006, up 14 overall. In the past year. Were starting to get back to normal. Home prices are rising not to high levels, but theyre rising back in the normal range. Reporter and the west, hit hardest by the housing bust, is leading the way. Las vegas up 27. 1 . San francisco up 24. 6 . Atlanta up 19 . Modest 8. 6 in boston. There realtor Kathleen Sullivan is selling this house on the north shore cautioning buyers to sell. With higher Interest Rates expected in the new year. I think the price increase will be less than it was this year. But it will still go up. So people should get off the fence. Reporter back in georgia, the archers are hoping to find something before the prices get any bigger or the process any tougher. Wow. Just huge. I love it. Reporter ron mott, nbc news, boston. Still ahead tonight, a new era for one state as it becomes the first in the country to make marijuana legal for recreational use. And later, whats been killing the bald eagles out west . A mystery solved. Were back with what may be a sign of shifting attitudes in this country, as colorado becomes the first state to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use. The law goes into effect tomorrow, and the experiment will be widely watched. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez reports from denver. Reporter in the mile high city today, the countdown to a historic rollout. It will be a good test for the rest of the states. Reporter colorado, about to become the first state to allow the legal sale of recreational marijuana. How busy do you expect to be tomorrow . Well estimate that well see 800 to a thousand people. Reporter robin hackets is one of a dozen denver licensed sellers. An ounce will be 320 before tax. Reporter customers must be 21 or older to buy, those with the colorado i. D. , an ounce, and out of state buyers limited to an ounce. This man has 30 pounds of pot set aside for sale. We have our security staff lined up, my parents are bringing coffee and cookies to hand out to people in line. Reporter colorado is the pioneer for medical marijuana, but voters approved the recreational pot in 2012. Since then the states built the most complex regulation for weed in the world. State taxes topped 25 and strict rules for growers and sellers. No other substance is treated the same way where the federal government considers every transaction to be a crime and the state has said were for this. Reporter a Tourism Industry is already taking root. And this pot tour bus is taking reservations. Surprisingly it is a much older group of clientele. You know, you have your lawyers and doctors and people you wouldnt assume or think would do smoke marijuana. Reporter but not everyone is behind this Rocky Mountain high. I think its going to be a huge disaster. There are just some things that there are more harms to society than there are benefits to it. Reporter colorado expects to rake in tens of millions of dollars a year in sales tax revenue. They expect long lines here tomorrow. But one of the big questions, erica, how long will this supply last . All right, Gabe Gutierrez tonight. Gabe, thank you. We are back in a moment with the answer to one very important question. Just who is the best dressed man of 2013 . Wildlife officials in utah tonight have identified the Mysterious Illness that has killed more than two dozen bald eagles over the past few weeks. Using the blood samples of the infected birds, officials now know what theyre up against. Nbcs Miguel Almaguer has more. Reporter it was a bald eagle rescued by bob carter and Taylor Schulte that helped to solve the mystery. The bald eagle is just what america stands for. Reporter brought to a Wildlife Rehab Center in utah, today blood work showed this eagle and five others being treated are suffering from west nile virus. It is very rare, it is not something weve ever seen. Reporter the disease has killed at least 27 bald eagles, it is believed they got infected after eating a water foul on the nearby great salt lake. There is not a lot we can do to manage it at this point, so well have to let the disease run its course. Youve never been in a car before. Reporter with no risk to humans, officials believe the species will show no longterm effects from the virus. So was it a bit scary to approach the bird . Reporter for schulte and carter, relief. We want to have the opportunity to try to get the eagle back to where it should be. It was a very special experience. Reporter tonight that eagle is showing signs of recovery. This iconic bird is, again, a symbol of hope and strength. Miguel almaguer, san francisco. Nbc news. And there is this hope, from the best of department. Esquire magazine has named pope francis the best dressed man for 2013. An unconventional choice, for sure, notes esquire. But the magazine notes that clothing reflects the man. The plain white robe, the black shoes, humblestyle choices for a humble man. Sometimes simple is better. Or in this case, the best. When we come back, profiles in courage. Matt lauer talks with four men who share a unique perspective on the meaning of service to country and to family. We end the program and the year on an inspiring note with a tribute to some of those who have served this country well with distinction and with courage. Four recipients of the medal of honor. Matt lauer recently sat down with them to talk about their service and their sacrifice. Reporter from his citation, Staff Sergeant petrie unhesitatingly and with disregard for his safety picked up the grenade and threw it away from his fellow rangers. As he released the grenade, it went off, amputating his right hand at the wrist. Specialist carter woke up to an attack of over 300 enemy fighters and in spite of his own wounds, he ran through hail of enemy grenade and machine gun fire to rescue a fellow soldier. Specialist giunta exposed himself to enemy fire, observing two insurgents carrying away an american soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy. Despite profuse bleeding from his head wounds which compared his vision, Captain Jacobs returned to intense fire to help bring a seriously wounded adviser to safety. His extraordinary heroism saved the lives of one u. S. Adviser and 13 allied soldiers. Raise your hands if you were afraid that day. Everybody whos ever spent a minute in combat carries that moment with them for the rest of his life. Reporter when you look in the mirror and you see that medal around your neck, what do you think of . I think of all the Service Members, all those who have served and are continuing to serve and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. On a really bad day where everything went wrong, you followed your instincts and did what you thought was right. And for us, i believe that we had the fortune and misfortune of surviving when a lot of our brothers did not. You wear it not for yourself but those who cant. You represent tens of millions of american men and women who sacrifice, who serve so we can enjoy freedom. Whenever i put it on, i still cant help thinking about everybody else. Reporter outside of battle, what makes you afraid today . My biggest fear is with my daughter. To not be able to hand over the awesome country that i was given to the next generation. You think battles hard, wait until her teenage years. Reporter sergeant . Im still active duty. I fear that i will fail as a husband or ill fail as a father. So every time my daughter gets up and starts walking i fear i wouldnt be there to catch her when she falls or when my son goes to school if i have not taught him properly on being a gentleman, where have i failed there . Reporter during the season, people will travel and see members of the military getting on and off the planes in uniform. What should we say to those people when we see them . Just thank you. I think a thank you. That is one of the greatest rewards a Service Member can get is a simple thanks. Reporter let me end this by acting on the advice of four great men, and ill simple end by saying thank you. To all of you. Youre very welcome. Youre welcome. Ands that our broadcast for this tuesday night. Thank you for joining us. Stay tuned for a toast to 2013 with hoda and kathy lee coming up at 8 00 p. M. Eastern time. Im erica hill. We hope to see you right back tomorrow evening. From all of us at nbc news, happy new year and good night. Thanks for joining us. Im diane dwyer. Im janelle wang. We begin with a suspicious fire raising big concerns about the incredibly dry conditions around the bay area. A winter wildfire burned more than 40 acres near mt. Hamilton in the south bay. We have Live Team Coverage tonight. Chief meteorologist jeff ranieri is tracking the dry conditions that fueled the fire as well as the air quality in the bay area. We begin with nbc bay areas Marianne Favro with an update on the status of the fire. Reporter i checked with cal fire and the 40acre fire is now 100 contained. One engine and a small group of firefighters are going to stay up on the mountain on this new years eve to make sure it stays that way. The brown, dry grass accelerated speed of the Early Morning fire in grant county park in san jose. 100 firefighters from san jose, cal fire and Spring Valley volunteer Fire Departments spent the day establishing a line around the flames. While air tankers dropped retardant from above. Firefighters admit its unusual to be battling a 40 acre vegetation fire in winter. In the 15 years ive never been on a vegetation fire on december 31st in santa clara county. Reporter the steep terrain posed a challenge, so did the tinder, dry grass. With lack of rains weve had, thats been our biggest battle is no rain. The vegetation thats behind us is still able to