How those families finally came down. And lost in the snow for more than a day. How the slip of paper one man carried in his pocket for three decades finally saved him. Good evening and thank you for joining us as we bid farewell to 2016. Im cecilia vega. As new years celebrations are under way around the world, we begin right here at home with a staggering show of force. A live look right here at new yorks times square, the sidewalks are packed. More than a Million People expected there for the countrys biggest party. Security at an alltime high. Sanitation trucks are on guard, blocking against possible truck attacks like that deadly one on a Christmas Market in germany. Law enforcement not just here but from coast to coast on high alert tonight against any and all threats. Abcs eva pilgrim is right there square starting us off tonight. Reporter tonight, more than a million now pouring into times square. Security check points going up, trucks in place. 7,000 police, some heavily armed setting those unprecedented security measures in motion. The fbi loading into suvs preparing to check for any possible explosive devices. Well be looking at our cases here in new york and well also be looking at Events Worldwide to see whether or not they could potentially have any impact on us here in new york. Reporter this is the nypd command center where authorities will have eyes, cameras, 9,000 video feeds watching everyone and everything coming and going near the celebration. Rooftop surveillance teams being deployed for a view from above. Bombsniffing dogs and Critical Response officers covering everything on the ground. Authorities put up 65 viewer pens from times square to 59th street. Each holds up to 3,000 people. Everyone wanting to get in will have to pass through multiple checkpoints. 65 sand trucks and 100 blocker vehicles as you can see are in place now circling the area from times square all the way up to central park hoping to prevent tragedies like the ones weve seen recently in berlin and nice. It will be a most protected event with multiple layers of security. Reporter cities from coast to coast on heightened alert. In baltimore and philadelphia, fences put in place to make sure ringing in the new year is done the safe way. And eva joins us now live from times square. You can see the police there behind you. What are they telling you about possible threats tonight . Reporter authorities here say there isnt a specific threat to times square or celebrations in other cities. They areaking these extra steps out of an abundance of caution. Cecilia . Eva pilgrim leading us off tonight, thank you. We want to turn now to new concerns about a possible cyr officials pointing fingers once again at Russian Hackers just as those 35 expelled Russian Diplomats are racing to leave the country. The president elects team is now questioning the obama administrations political motives behind that punishment. This as mr. Trump today ditched the reporters who cover him to play some golf. Heres abcs mary bruce. Reporter tonight on a tarmac outside washington that russian plane sits waiting, as the clock ticks down. 35 Russian Diplomats and their families, almost 100 people in total, have less than 24 hours to get out of the u. S. Already two lavish russian retreats on long island and the maryland shore have been shut down. Punishment for russias cyberattacks and interference in the u. S. Election. And tonight, new concerns the russians may have also targeted the American Electrical system. A code linked to the russian hack found on a Laptop Associated with a Vermont Electrical company. The apparent hack did not disrupt operations, but it raises questions about the security of the u. S. Power grid. The discovery comes as president elect trump is praising russian president putin. Tweeting it was a great move for him not to retaliate against the new sanctions, saying i always knew he was very smart. But even some republican lawmakers disagree. To praise putin, to come out and say that, a, this never happened and if it did its not a big deal and weve done way worse is a totally different thing and i hope that tone changes. Reporter trump has repeatedly denied u. S. Intelligence and questioned if russia was behind the hacking. Now in an interview with our Jonathan Karl trumps new press secretary questions if the punishment fits the crime. If you look at 35 people being expelled, two sites being closed down, the question is, is that response in proportion to the actions taken . Maybe it was, maybe it wasnt. Theres a question about a versus a diplomatic response. Reporter now with 2017 just hours away, trump is wishing a happy new year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly, they just dont know what to do. Love. But no love for the press. Trump once again breaking protocol, ditching the reporters tasked with following his movements as he ended the year with a round of golf. Now, the president elect will be celebrating tonight with the likes of Sylvester Stallone at his annual new years eve celebration. The soldout bash at his maralago estate is known for being quite the starstudded event. Cecilia . It sure is, mary. Thank you. There will be much more on the president elects response to russia. Our Jonathan Karl going oneonone with the Incoming White House press secretary sean spicer. That is tomorrow on this week. Overseas in iraq, 24 People Killed in a pair of suicide bombings. The blast went off in a busy market in central baghdad this morning. 39 people injured. Isis claiming responsibility for attacks in that iraqi capital. And now to the Staggering Number of deaths in this country of Police Officers killed in the line of duty. And tonight the latest casualty in what many are calling the most contentious year in recent memory between the public and their police. This time, a young trooper in pennsylvania shot and killed. Heres abcs marci gonzalez. Reporter that troopers deadly encounter sparking a massive manhunt. It started 6 30 friday night. A Pennsylvania State trooper responds to a domestic call at a home in rural pennsylvania. While inside 23yearold landon weaver began interviewing the suspect who Authorities Say then grabbed a gun and opened fire, killing the rookie officer and newlywed. Tragically, trooper weaver succumbed to his wounds. Reporter this, already a tragic year for Law Enforcement with at least 65 officers shot to death in the line of duty. That number up more than 56 over last year. From the five officers ambushed reporter to the two officers in georgia just this month, whose final moments were captured on body cameras. Gunned down as they responded to a domestic disturbance call. The Domestic Violence call is the number one most unpredictable type of call. Police officers answer in this country. Reporter a fact reiterated in this latest deadly case in pennsylvania. Trooper landon weaver, leaving behind his wife of just more than six months. After a more than 15hour manhunt, authorities finally tracked down the suspect, shooting and killing him. Trooper weaver was on the force for just more than a year. Cecilia . Marci, thank you. On the streets of chicago today, a silent march remembering those killed in that citys alarming spike in violence. On michigan avenue, a sea of people carrying crosses, each cross representing one murder victim. More than 750 people were killed in chicago this year, the most in nearly 20 years. And in cleveland tonight, divers beginning the recovery effort to find a family missing in lake erie. The coast guard suspending the rescue operation after 20 hours of searching. The familys small plane disappearing just after takeoff late thursday night. Six people were on board, a family of four and their two friends. And imagine this one, trapped on an Amusement Park ride for eight hours, parents and their children so high up there rescuers had to use ropes to get them down. Their ladders were just too short. Abcs phillip mena brings us the latest. Reporter tense moments, families trapped skyhigh. Stuck for eight agonizing hours on this Amusement Park ride. The Observation Deck at Knotts Berry Farm in california, stalling around 2 00 p. M. With 21 people inside including seven children. By 5 00, firefighters finally called to the scene, but their ladder not even close to reaching the riders. Stranded more than 120 feet in the air. One by one. This woman clinging to her rescuer. Witnesses on the ground terrified. Im ready to go into tears. Reporter gabe javage, and his family were among those inside the rotating ride. He captured this video of firefighters harnessing his 3yearold niece in the darkness. The last person rescued finally rescued just before 10 00, nearly eight hours later. Thankfully no one was hurt here. Officials here say the ride will remain closed while they conduct an investigation. Cecilia . We want to turn to what is shaping up to be a cold and damp new years eve for so many people. Police say dense fog may be to blame for this deadly pileup in bakersfield, california. And there in western maine, it took the owner two hours to dig that car out from heavy snow. Abcs senior meteorologist rob marciano is braving the cold for us tonight in times square. Rob, how cold will it be out there when that ball finally were watching four systems across the four corners of the u. S. When the ball drops around midnight at 40 degrees. There may be a passing shower of the rain variety. Maybe some snow across Northern New York and northern new england. The rain across atlanta and new orleans will continue a couple of days. Snow for seattle and portland and rain for parts of Southern California right through the midnight hour. Here in times square regardless of the weather, at the stroke of midnight, the crowd at usual will be going crazy. And youve got a front row seat, rob, thank you. We want to turn next to an incredible story of survival. A man lost on a hike spending more than 30 hours in the snow. The key to his survival right there in his pocket it turns out for decades. Abcs Adrienne Bankert has more. Reporter lost in the middle of nowhere, Wally Fosmore finding himself miles from help while snow shoeing near levinsworth, washington this year, using his cell phone to record his track. A snow squall blew in and visibility went to zero and i made a wrong tur temperatures plummeting to the low 20s. The 60yearold hiking in snow almost as deep as he is tall. At night fall, fosmore relying on his experience as a search and rescue volunteer three decades earlier and a list of ten wilderness essentials, typed on a small note card, supplies he say saved his life. My main job was just to keep the little tiny fire going. Reporter protected between two trees, he waited for the snow and wind to subside. He hiked out to attempt to get cell phone reception and was able to reach his son who called rescuers. Fosmore using a whistle to get the First Responders attention with a lesson for other adventure seekers. Take what you need and be ready to be selfsufficient. Reporter reunited with wife melody and the rest of his family in time to celebrate the new year. Adrienne bankert, abc news, dallas, texas. Next to some big changes about to take effect in 2017. New laws from what you can and catfish. Abcs Ron Claiborne tells us what we need to know as the clock strikes midnight. Reporter at the stroke of midnight you can toke at midnight in california, nevada, massachusetts and maine. Recreational amounts can be used and sold legally. The deadly 2015 accident between a fedex delivery truck and a charter bus led to a New California law requiring charter bus drivers to provide Better Safety instructions to passengers. Sgle. 911. We have an accident maam, listen to me. Take a deep breath. Okay, is he still shooting . Oh, my god reporter in the wake of the 2015 San Bernardino massacre that claimed 14 lives, new gun laws in california will ban easily reloadable semiautomatic weapons and prohibit magazines of more than ten bullets. That spurred a rush to purchase just those kinds of weapons. Illinois is expa against domestic and sexual violence, ordering training for kos met tolgss to recognize signs of abuse. 20 states will raise their minimum wage, ranging from missouri where it goes up by a nickel to arizona where it jumps nearly 2 an hour. And starting next year in illinois, youll be able to use a pitch fork, a spear gun or a bow and arrow, your choice, to hunt catfish. California alone passed 898 new laws. Other states hundreds more. Everything from oregon banning sky lanterns as a fire hazard to New Hampshire finally passing a law making it illegal to point a laser beam at a plane or car. You have to wonder why that one took so long. Certainly but now i know how to catch a catfish. With a pitch fork is one possibility. Thank you. Happy new year. Its almost time. The countdown is on here but it is already 2017 in many parts of the world. In sydney fireworks set off from the famous harbor bridge including purple fireworks in honor of the late singer prince. A spectacular scene in dubai, as fireworks shoot from the w0r8ds tallest building. And pyrotechnics lighting up victoria harbor in hong kong. There is still much more ahead on this final world news tonight of 2016. Yes, this is a car through the roof of a house. 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The captain was immediately escorted off the aircraft and the incident is now under investigation. Part of the training in any airport is how to prevent accidents from happening, so everybody is empowered along the line to speak up if they see something thats unsafe. Reporter in the u. S. One pilot is arrested every month for being over the legal alcohol limit. Just this year, passengers saw multiple incidences of pilots allegedly attempting to fly Airlines Pilot who was arrested on the tarmac in march. The captain of that sunwing flight was tested a full two hours after he was taken into custody and he still failed. Cecelia . Gloria, thank you. And when we come back, a terrifying flight for a College Basketball team. The oxygen masks drop as their plane drops thousands of feet. Players texting family members saying they thought they were going to die. And the tide trying for another national championship. Can alabama remain undefeated . 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While powerful medicine clears your worst cold symptoms. Lets end this. We have tonight. An armed attack at a nightclub in turkey during new years celebrations at one of that countrys top clubs. Two men reportedly set off explosions and opened fire. There are reports of several people wounded. A wild scene in North Carolina as a car flies through the roof of a house, the elderly driver apparently passing out, speeding up an embankment and going airborne. Amazingly, neither the driver nor the residents were seriously injured. And shaken nerves for a College BasketballTeam Following a terrifying flight. The butler players arriving home in indianapolis on a bus. Their plane dropping 25,000 feet in 12 minutes. Oxygen masks dropping, players crying, nding texts to loved ones. The plane landing safely in pittsburgh. Top ranked alabama continues its march toward a perfect season taking on washington today in the first semifinal of the College Football playoffs. Alabama wins the peach bowl. 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Abcs john donvan explains. 3, 2, 1 reporter its the sphere for the year, the ball dropping ritual in new yorks times square. Ive been coming out to see the ball drop for close to 20 years. Reporter the globe, now a global affair, seen by one billion people around the world. But originally conceived back more than a century ago as a stunt by the new york times. Our symbol of the new year getting more sophisticated over the decades, then going national. Televised across america which brings us the welcome 2017 ball. This thing weighs almost six tons, is made of 2,688 triangle shaped panels of waterford crystal, and 32,000 l. E. D. Lights, together creating more than 16 million colors. Floating through the sky will be not just any confetti. 3,000 pounds of confetti are thousands and thousands of peoples wishes. Reporter they refer to it as wishfetti the one sentence aspirations of ordinary folks, who this year are wishing for 2017 i wish that people would gain common sense and be nicer to each other. Healthy and happy. Reporter there will be this too, we hope, kindness. The firm theme of this years midnight drop. Or put another way, dont be mean in 2017. Happy, kind new year. John donvan, abc news. Thank you for watching on this last night of the year. Im cecilia vega. And before we go, one final look at times square. You can see the ball drop right here on abc with Ryan Seacrest starting at 8 00 p. M. From all of us here at abc, have a happy and safe new years. Good night. From Sony Pictures studios, its americas game wheel. Of. Fortune ladies and gentlemen, here are the stars of our show pat sajak and vanna white here we are. Happy new year almost. Thank you. Thank you, jim. Thanks, everybody. See you later. Well. Were ringing out the old here. Glad you could join us. Everybody get ready for our first toss up of the night. Its worth 1,000. And the category is event. [ bell chimes ] janine. Toasting in the new year. No. Everybody else