of violence like nothing seen before. a man threw hand grenades into crowd of shoppers. in the end he killed four people and injured more than 120 before take his own life. police say the gunman had a history of drug and weapons convicti convictions. but it is still not clear what motivated this rampage. now to a christmas controversy in california where nativity scenes have been a tra dings one city for decades until now. messages from atheists are take the place of traditional holiday displays. >> reporter: santa monica churches have most of the 21 spots for holiday displays at palisades parks. it's been that way for 60 years. atheist groups applied for and received most of the spots through a lottery held by the city. that left three spots for nativity scenes and a menorah display. the rest are signs displaying atheists beliefs. an atheist helped put up the spots. >> not to be used to promote religion. it is promoting religion and has been, even though the city is not directly financially supporting it. that's the main issue, separation of church and state. >> hunter jamison is the spokesman for the group of churches battling the atheists over the spaces. >> the truth of the matter is they're trying to suppress our first amendment rights by pushing us out of the park. we have no objection to their peeing there. it's fine. they can be there, express their views all they want. they have been there in the past. >> reporter: most of the people we talked to had a strong pun yun on the lack of nativity displays at the park. >> i don't understand why the atheist community seems to be -- intimidated by something that has been up for 60 years. all of a sudden this year they seem stew to be making a lot of noise. >> there is a secular movement. we are happy about what we believe. we believe we have an equal say. we will say the. fight for our rights and show ourselves as who we are. >> sid garcia reporting for abc news. >> i'm sure this will divide a lot of people. the last comment is kind of true. abc did a story in the last year, there is a growing number of atheists. people consider themselves nonreligious in the country. they're going to have their say. >> they have a right to have their say. seems like they want the other folks to take down their things. >> that's not cool. >> that's inappropriate. and vicks doesn't live in santa m monica. >> he can be an atheist. >> a diverse country. good luck. if you plan on trimming a tree and haven't done it. you will want to hear this. serious injuries linked to putting up holiday decorations on the rise. 13,000 pement went to emergency rooms during november and december last year. pretty sharp increase from '07. each year there are actually four fatal christmas tree fires a year. injuries from ladder falls and cuts from broken glass ornaments are a lot more common. follow-up to a beautiful work of art here on "world news now." this is what little f angie's ice bar in duluth looks like now. melting in warmer weather. had to put down hundreds of pounds of dry ice to keep it in place. mother nature will help with a deep freeze and snow. >> love an ice bar. you have been one to one? >> fabulous. really good. >> you drink enough you don't feel the cold. >> a look at your forecast. stormy from central texas to southern oklahoma. hail, winds, topping 70 miles an hour. rain from little rick to the upper midwest. a mix of rain, snow, and sleet, sioux falls, fargo and uner peninsula of michigan. >> 46, detroit. 39, minneapolis. 50, new york. 67, atlanta. 79, miami. 30s from billings to salt lake city. fine tix, 58. albuquerque, 42. >> you have got to talk a look at this. talk about guilding the lily. a tokyo company is showing off a one of a kind toilet covered in 72,000 pieces of crystal. it is worth $128,000. it's very sparkly. >> that would hurt to sit on that thing. the toilet is not actually for sale. the company hopes it will draw visitors to the famous ginza shopping district. a tough year in japan, the earthquake and devastating tsunami. the spokesman said the toilet represents their hopes for a brilliant new year. a toilet for a symbol of hope. >> sparkly. >> that's different. we'll take it. whatever work for you, japan, that's good. >> that's right. we'll be back with more "world news now." ♪ in a material world and i am a material girl you know we are living in a material world ♪ ♪ silver and gold silver and gold everyone wishes ♪ >> abc news is getting some action because of a report we first brought you during the summer. >> you might remember when we told you about all the unused dollar coins minted by our government. abc's john carl tells us now the production has practically ground t to a halt. >> reporter: the government has been sitting on more than a billion unused and unwanted dollar coins. so what have they've been doing about it? they've been making more of them as we found when we visit itted the u.s. mint over the summer. a million and a half every day at a cost of 32 cents a pop. tim knee geithner says enough is enough. >> we shouldn't be wasting money on money. >> reporter: virtually nobody uses the coins they go right to storage. a boondoggle that has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars since 2005. here at the federal reserve in baltimore the coins are stacked into bags all the way up and down this aisle, several aisles of them, millions and millions of dollars in presidential coins. so far they have made coins of every president from george washington to james garfield. that's going to stop. ing savings to taxpayers $50 million a year. but if you were really counting on getting a president chester arthur coin, don't despair, the mint will resume production of the coins next spring in smaller numbers the they will now make enough to meet the demands of coin collector whose preorder them. jonathan carl, abc news, washington. >> duh. if they're not going anywhere, people don't use them. stop wasting our money to make them. >> they don't use them. >> shouldn't have taken an abc news. oh, we're losing money. let's stop. >> at least geithner understands it. >> yes we, live in a fascinating country. i bet your dollar they won't do it again. coming up next, eye-popping gifts for the gadget geek on your shopping list. >> they're impressive, high tech and won't break your budget. you're watching "world news now." ♪ our finest gifts we bring >> welcome back everybody. it is definitely hard to find that perfect gift especially when you are on a bungdget. shopping for high tech gifts. forget it they're always pricey. we asked our giz-whiz to find us the latest and cheapest high tech gifts out there. as a master of his craft you came back with a table full of stuff. useful, cheap we, like this time of year. >> yes. fun stuff. multitask light pen. for years there have been pens with a little light in the tip. >> we have seen this thing before. this is a different touch. >> this is very different. multitask light has a light, but a goose neck light. aim the guy anywhere you want. use it as a book reader if you drop something under something. if the's really neat. about $10. >> cheap. we like that. that its operative word today. cheap. >> cheap. >> under $25. >> i saw an ad on amazon. $10, $3 shipping each of will risk that money. called lava watch. looks like a heavy duty i.d. bracelet until you push the side. the time comes on. push it again. date comes on. push it again seconds. it goats oes out and become is bracelet. this is tank-bot, a usb dongle there. stick him in your computer. charge him up. then press the button here. he starts up. and, three different modes. so he is going to start going. and he avoids objects. so you can build a little maze. and tank-bot will avoid it. put him in crazy mode. he runs around and makes weird sounds. >> what is the upon the point o? >> you are bored. you want to play. exactly right. comes with a dongle for iphone, ipad, ipad touch. >> ipad becomes a remote control of sorts. >> yes. under $25. >> unbelievable. if you are bored. >> a company where people send in ideas, inventions if they look it and people vote on it enough they produce it. inventer gets 30%. >> not bad. >> this is a four-port, usb adapter. flexible. on the airplane or something. if you bang it not going to break your computer. then you wrap all the excess usb cable around here. and each usb plug goes through here. so that it organizes your desk also. >> basically keeps things neat, tidy altogether. >> and four uplets for one usb. >> i like it. >> let's have some fun. let's have some fun. >> little bit over $20. you don't get this under $25. i extend it a little bit. bathe & brew, shower and make coffee at the same time. >> ridiculous concept we both admit. >> right, which is why these are prank boxes. prank boxes. give this to someone. they go what? oh, i love this. and then, it comes empty. you stick a pair of socks in it. they will be thankful they got sock. >> go for the cheap laugh. >> also, slippers with, speakers. >> i would wear them. >> alarm clock griddle. they're $8 the boxes. >> good for a holiday laugh. >> ebook reader from delco. -- zelco. $10. e-book reader. finally, this is appmates. two for $20 t download the app to your ipad. put them on the ipad. ipad recognizes the car. looks like the car is lit up. it sucks up juice from the ipad. you play different. this guy is so jealous. the tank-bot is jealous. appmates under $20. >> cool for the ipad. racing the cars on the screen. >> exactly. >> cheap and fun. >> everything under $25. >> luke it. well done as always. thanks to our giz whiz. find all the products he showcased, giz-whiz.biz. or check out wnnfans.com. happy holidays. >> same to you. i'm looking for something cheap for you. >> i appreciate that. >> we'll be back. we know a place where tossing and turning have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restftful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then get lunesta for $0 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta. what? pay you? hang on. kitchen counselor here. mom, i think what she means is "greasy dishes." cascade complete pacs fight tough greasy messes better than the other tablet. there's only one cascade. love it, or your money back. well this is an interesting story coming out of the herald sun, a man is modeling women's lingerie. a dutch lingerie company, called hema, apparently showing its mega pushup bra which apparently can boost your cup size, two cups extra which could now never be in doubt because he is a man. >> who looks very much luke aik woman. >> look at the cleavage. the pushup bra works. a man modeling the pushup bra looking like he has cleavage is a coup, advertising coup. >> i have been a fan of the pushup bra for many years now. i just never realized it had the level impact that a flat chested dude could put on one and look curvy. >> the hema, pushup bra. masterf masterful. it looks like a woman. the male model said in describing the campaign it is just a money job. do it. >> make the money you person, you go out there and duo your thing. i luke thike this kind of story. we applied for a job, now linksin created the top overused business buzzwords. the bottom five before we show the graphic. this, bottom five. dynamic, communication skills, problem solving, innovative, motivated. top five on your screen, track record, extensive experience, effective, organizational and creative. they say don't use the words we use them too much. if you use them you won't stand out. we have all done our resume or cover letter with some of the words. >> creative, multitasker. >> organizer. >> out of "the new york daily news," facebook being a good corporate citizen is aiming to prevent suicide. a new way of doing it. program launching, allows users to connect with a crisis counselor through the chat messaging system. people experiencing reductions in suicidal thinking, reduces when there is quick intervention. so how the service works. if a friend spots the suicidal thought. he or she can report it clicking the link. >> well done, facebook. >> holidays is the time. >> want to avoid catching a code, you know what don't stay indoors. get out there. not that it is cold outside that makes us sick. the fact that we stay indoors. >> you are sick, i am going. >> spreading infection this morning on "world news now" -- deadly dangers. drivers who text and talk on the phone behind the wheel. now government safety experts say "enough is enough." >> they're demanding a national ban on drivers using any kind of electronic device in the car. it is wednesday, december 14th. good morning, i'm sunny hostin. >> good morning, everybody, i'm rob nelson. safety experts have been saying hang up, concentrate and just drive for years. especially after a string of deadly accidents blamed on texting or talking while on the phone. now they want an all-out ban on electronic communications, even the hands-free stuff. will drivers though get the message? this is goingconversation. >> i don't text and drive. you have got to be able to talk on the phone. >> so ingrained in our lifestyle. >> people in california are never going to go for this. also this morning, more controversy for a florida a & m university after a young woman on the marching band says she was badly injured during a hazing incident. her disturbing story and legal action. >> later this half-hour, more proof man's best friend can be a lifesaver. holly the dog was a christmas present last year. this year she is being credited with saving her owner's life. >> she is cute. >> cute dog. >> first, the numbers are disturbing. more than half a million crashes a year are caused by drivers who just aren't paying attention. >> 3,000 people die each year due to distracted drivers. now the government is urging some drastic measures. with details on all of this, here is abc's lisa stark. >> reporter: the board calls it a full-fledged crisis on the nation's roads. talking while driving. and even more dangerous, texting while driving. text and your eyes leave the road for an average of nearly 5 seconds. at 55 miles an hour you will have driven the length of a footballieield. essentially blind. shelly forney lost her 9-year-old to a distracted driver. >> she hit my daughter head on with her 5,000 pound suv. >> reporter: jaycee good her parents. >> beth my parents were dead instantly. i wasn't breathing. no one really expected that i would live past the first 36 hours. >> reporter: right now laws all over the map. texting while driving is banned in 35 states and washington, d.c. hand-held cell phone use outlawed in ten states and d.c. but the ntsb wants a ban on the use of all personal electronic devices in cars. except in emergencies or when the device is used to help the driver such as gps navigation. >> it is a very, very serious issue and people need to put their devices down and drive. >> reporter: they say it is time to take the same tough approach that we did on drunk driving which has saved tens of thousand of lives. it is prompted by this deadly accident. the driver of the pickup received 11 text messages in the 11 minutes before his crash. 90% of drivers support texting bans. 60% favor cell phone bans. still drivers do not practice what they preach. admitting they would talk and text even near a police officer at night time or with children on board. but we don't need to depend just on the government to make new laws, auto come pans are now starting to put technology in cars that can disable your cell phone once you turn the key. technology often moves faster than legislation, that may turn out to be what really saves lives. lisa stark, abc news, washington. >> fascinating point about the technology in the cars there. towards the end too. this is our facebook question of the day. people are saying a lot about this. a great debate topic. what do you think about banning drivers from using electronic pages. go to wnnfans.com. i think a tough sell to the nation. >> i just don't think it will happen. certainly hands-free device do's what needs to be done. i don't know that you can police people inside of their cars. there is some sort of ex-pe expectation of privacy. >> do police have time to stop every guy on the phone? >> i got a ticket for texting while driving when i was an offender. >> did you? >> i did. >> enforceability is the issue. we'll see. >> now to the stunning turn in the case of jerry sandusky. his first court appearance lasted less than five minutes. the former penn state coach waived his right to a preliminary hearing. pled not guilty and said he will go to trial. all ten of the accusers were waiting in the courthouse ready to testify that he sexually abused him. they were all there. >> seems like a game of chicken by the defense team there. florida a & m university is ep broiled in yet another hazing scandal. we told you yesterday three students there have been charged with beating a marching band member so badly she could barely walk. she was attacked not only with fists, spatulas, rulers, book binders. now she plans to sue the school. >> reporter: what is most amazing about the arrest of the three florida a & m band mep bemep -- members they had nothing to do with this hazing incident that killed the band member. >> is he breathing or is he not breathing? >> we don't know if he is breathing. >> reporter: instead, the three are charged with beatings that happened nearly two weeks earlier. police say one of their victims was brea hunter who played clarinet and told wftv she was hurt so badly she could barely walk. the police report is shocking. on october 31st, the red dawg order, band members from georgia were allegedly called to a meeting at james harris' apartment, hobson and golson was giving out the beat downs. hunter was lined up with 11 pledges and struck 20 times. the very next day at the apartment, hunter and the same to dents suffered more repeated beatings. then on november 5th, police say sean hobson sent pledges a group text message telling them i apologize for the hurt i put you through. but by november 7th the hurt was too much for brea hunter who called paramedics was hospitalized and diagnosed with a cracked femur and blood clots in her legs. awe thought morning when i woke up. >> reporter: the young men denip the beatings and say know hazing rituals took place at the apartment. >> i am so confused by this. why are you being hazed as a band member? >> i never understood. >> thought sorority and fraternity things. extends to groups. clarinet player says he was paddled 300 times in '98 had to go to the hospital. he is coming public. talking about hazing incidents for years. i don't know why people are doing it. >> people in school there to be educated. i'm confused. >> we're all confused. we're all confused. >> facing a deadline at the end of the month. lawmakers in the house approved an extension of the payroll tax cut there are strings attached. the bill would require construction of a canada to texas oil pipeline, something president obama has threat tuned veto. so the house bill is likely to die in the senate. setting up another 11th hour deadlock. >> this could lead to another government shutdown. stay tuned for that. let's turn now to the presidential race now where mitt romney picked up an endorsen't this one from tea party favorite christine o'donnell. >> romney and newt gingrich promise to make nice on the campaign. abc's karen travers is following the campaign. good morning, karen. >> reporter: good morning, rob. good morning, sunny. the top republican contenders have been ramping up the attacks for days. but yesterday, they took a breather. he doesn't have a republican opponent yet, president obama is moving full steam ahead with the re-election. >> we are going to have to fight for it. it's not a slam dunchl dunk. >> it is understandable. >> reporter: the republican campaign trail, newt guingrich called for a december fire. >> our determination to run a positive campaign. >> reporter: in that letter gingrich instructed his staff and campaign surrogates to avoid initiating attacks on republican candidates. gingrich went further and said he will run a positive campaign and won't run negative ads. but there is a catch -- gingrich said he reserves the right to respond when his record is distorted leaving him plenty of room to fight back. >> we aren't running negative ads at that point buc, but we m. this is politics there is no whining in politics. >> reporter: gingrich has the front-runn front-runner's momentum. >> newt needs to stop this. get above this. the more he gets dragged down the worse for him. >> reporter: top officials say a long, builter primary works to their advantage and gives them time to focus on their own strategy and will weaken the eventual republican nominee. >> the last positive political campaign, bet you $10,000 ton that. your wednesday weather now, everybody. some gusty wind. hail, thunderstorms around san antonio. dallas, southern oklahoma. also rain from little rock, memphis. up to minnesota. moving later to cleveland and buffalo. also some snow in the colorado rockies in a wintry mix in the dakotas. >> 35, fargo. 40, seattle. 53, sacramento. wet, 51, chicago. 54, kansas city. stand 67, atlanta. upper 40s in new york. >> well there were some serious pda going on here in new york the past few days. all inspired by two giant mistletoe wreaths hanging from ten foot tall candy canes on a pedestrian mall. the kissing was getting hot and heavy. >> put there by findyourfacemate.com. the company dope naug donating h for children around the world with facial deformities. >> i had never seen a mistletoe ball that big. >> hope to donate $20,000 t makeout. do it for a good cause. >> just smooch. >> not bad. more "world news now" when we come back. f us want to hear we've done a good job caring for our mouths. that's why there's a rinse like crest pro-health multi-protection. it helps you get a better dental check-up. so be ready for your next dental check-up. try any crest pro-health rinse. ♪ you're the best thing that i ever had ♪ >> well this next story makes it easy to know why we call dogs man's best friend. and that's part of why it is our "favorite story of the day." >> comes to us from wisconsin where a dog is now being credited with saving his owner's life. wbay's jason zimmerman has the details. >> reporter: expressing a sense of gratitude, bob has a special relationship with his dog harley. after surviving a farm accident the day after thanksgiving when a skidster malfunctioned and pinned him to the point he couldn't move. the dog was the only witness. >> she saved my life. i was running out of air the i knew if i passed out. trying to not pass out. i didn't know how long it would be before somebody would find me. >> reporter: he sits in a wheelchair, a right shoulder rotator cuff was injured. at the time of the accident, he was operating this skidster, the bucket was all the way up. he was in the driver's seat and got out to fix a pedal that was stuck. when heap did so the arm came crashing down, leaving him trapped in this space few inches wide. >> all i could do is start yelling for help. holly my dog cape. she jumped in the bucket. trying to lick my face. every time she jumped in it. i kept telling her, holly, no. then i would go, oh, help, somebody can you help. she started barking more and louder. >> she wouldn't stop. so i got my shoes on and went out there. and -- i know why she was barking. she wanted someone to help bob. and if it wasn't for holholly, wouldn't have my husband. >> reporter: reflecting back, he considers holly his hero. >> just glad she was there. >> smart dog. lucky guy. >> would you consider having a dog, rob. you have them and they're your best friends. >> that's impressive. i will give you that. >> there you go. coming up, breaking the fatherhood stereotype. >> oh, yes, stay-at-home dads and their impact, growing impact on american culture. we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ >> hump day. well done, liz. i love it. little bobby brown. here is a reflection of our times. courtesy of the u.s. census bureau. figures show the number of stay at home dads has increased, get this, 50% in the past decade. >> i'm shocked at that. another example of the transforming roles of husbands and wives. abc anchor josh elliott knows all about it. >> daddy! >> reporter: at work, dave lesser has what so many of us have, an exacting boss. >> okay. >> reporter: at times demanding. given off to tantrums. and ever the perfectionist. >> no. >> reporter: she also favors afternoon naps, princess dresses, simply quirks of lesser's particular trade, parenting. >> i never had that passion as an attorney. and i do have that passion as a dad. >> reporter: lesser is a stay at hope dad and much less of an exception that thee once was. because our culture is changing beyond the driving forces of economics and employment. the detergent commercial that once featured mom has dad doing e laundry. >> i'm a dad/mom. changing spread sheets for a clean sheets, once a novelty are now a regular popular culture. >> at least you don't have to work. >> because raising a human is no work at all. >> reporter: in fact the number of stay at home dads has almost doubled in the past decade to 5 million today and counting. >> i'm proud to consider myself a stay at home dad. and my -- my feelings of what i think about myself are completely tied to my daughter. >> reporter: despite such investments, stay at hope dads tread at the fringe of realms that were once their wives.judg back to work. >> reporter: like the teams of their youth they ban together. the stay at home daddy play group. >> knowing you are not home alone. i have a posse of guys doing the same thing. i am not an anomaly. >> reporter: all work and all play at least until it's time for the boss to go night-night. full disclosure. i have a daughter penny's age. i can tell you when i was with her first approached library groups and cliques, i felt i was disembarking a lunar modular. one dirty diaper for man, and the rest. i feel i am accepted as one of the other moms and dads. josh e yolliott, abc news. >> dads get a bad rap, it is cool to see a new trend in the stay at home dad. >> i don't know. i don't know about it. i feel so sexist saying it, feeling this way. but i am, i don't like the stay at home dad thing. >> what about stay at home moms? >> i don't know. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then get lunesta for $0 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement nsurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to " 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, not paid by medicare part b. that can save you from paying .up to thousands of dollars... out of your own pocket. these are the only medicare supplement insurance plans... exclusively endorsed by aarp. when you call now, you'll get this free information kit... with all you need to enroll. put their trust in aarp p medicare supplement insuranc. plus you'll get this free guide to understanding medicare. the prices are competitive. i can keep my own 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story is for you. all about elizabeth taylor's stuff, jewelry, exquisite jewelry has gone up for auction. some of her art and clothing is being sold in the next few days. >> some of the prices being paid are simply through the roof. >> reporter: elizabeth taylor voted best actress. >> reporter: the last of the great hollywood starlets dripping with diamonds and emeralds. a product of the now defunct studio system, elizabeth taylor was taught to exude glamour. now her spectacular collection of jewelry is for sale. if you have a few million to spare, you could try bidding for this diamond ring. taylor called it her baby. there is this necklace, a gift from richard burton, who showered his wife with gems. >> she loved diamonds. every husband she had, she had many, seven that we know of, richard burton twice, gave her diamonds. she loved jewels. there was never a jewel that she didn't keep or love. >> i guess all i can do is say thank you. >> reporter: the oscar winning actress liked pearls too. take this opulent necklace. richard burton liked to say i introduced liz to beer and she introduced me to bulgari. the italian jeweler, during filming of cleopatra, the cup looked to shop. with potential buyers from across the world it is anyone's guess where the bidding will end up. how much is the elizabeth taylor factor worth? >> it is unimaginable, incalculable. >> reporter: jewels were key to her contract with the public. she loved to dazzle and we loved to watch. >> one of the rings from richard burton went for almost $9 million. diamond bracelet, a gift from michael jackson went for $200 t people are paying for liz's jewels. >> because it is liz. let's face it. >> that mystique. >> yes, yes. i was at the auction. no! ♪ diamond >> there are a lot of things popping off in the picture. >> yes. >> that its the news for this half-hour. remember to follow us on facebook at wnnfans.com. >> and catch our tweets on twitter. keep in touch online and on the air. coming up more news from abc. this morning on "world news now" -- angry accusers. the young men who say penn state coach, jerry sandusky molested them, call him now a coward. >> that's after sandusky backed out of a preliminary court hearing at the last minute in a major legal surprise. it's wednesday, december 14th. good morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. a surprise move in pennsylvania. i don't think anyone was expecting that when sandusky's legal team waived his right to a preliminary hearing. we'll explain what happened in court and what's next. for both sides. >> i know you have a lot to say. about this, you didn't see this coming? >> i did not. i don't think anyone did. >> wonder what the strategy is. that's the question now. does this make sense? now this will go directly to trial. >> i have some ideas. >> i think probably the smartest thing he has done. >> we'll get to more of that. an intruder accused in a church break-in picked the wrong place. this pastor packed some heat as a trained battlefield soldier before he took his career in a higher direction. what went down before services got started. >> later this half-hour -- the lowdown on a police officer who left his squad car in a full upright position. the unusual accident and the explanation coming up. >> i think, probably a lot of good laughs at his expense. >> a lot of jokes. a lot of jokes. >> he wasn't hurt. we'll get to that in a second. on. one shocker after another in the child sex abuse case against former coach jerry sandusky. no one saw this development coming. the penn state coach pulled the plug on a preliminary hearing and said he will go straight to trial. abc's scott goldberg is in bellefont, pennsylvania. good morning, scott. >> reporter: some of sandusky's accusers cam to this courthouse ready to tell their stories while he sat in the same room. but the former coach backed away. then his lawyer went on the attack. in the end, jerry sandusky and his legal team decided there wasn't much good that could come out of a preliminary hearing. so the former coach waived his right to hear his accusers in person. >> we fully intend to put together the best possible defense that we can do. to stay the course and fight for four quarters. >> his lawyer called it a tactical decision to avoid listening to as many as ten young men describe how they say sandusky abused them when they were boys while the defense wouldn't have a chance to call its own witnesses. >> i think realistically -- all that would have reaffirmed what you think. >> reporter: joe amendola said his client pleading not guilty will waive his appearance at the arraignment. and take the case directly to trial. >> this is a fight to the death. >> reporter: amendola also took a shot at accusers saying they're in it for the money enticed by deep pockets at penn state university and sandusky's charity, the second mile. >> jerry, you maintain your innocence? >> reporter: lawyers for the accusers shot back. one called sandusky a coward for dodging the hearing while their clients worked up the nerve to confront him in the courtroom. another read a statement from his client, who promised he'll be back. >> i still will stand my ground, testify, and speak the truth. >> reporter: those accusers will now have six months to the get ready for the trial if there is a trial. they could avoid speaking publicly altogether if there is a plea deal in this case. lawyers for both sides say no such deal is in the works. rob, sunny? >> thank you, scott. >> what do you think is strategy here? >> it is very unusual for a defense attorney to waive a defendant's right to a preliminary hearing. what most people don't know is a prosecutor doesn't give all of the evidence to the defense team prior to trial. so usually sort of trial by ambush. this is the only time usually in a criminal trial where a defendant gets to pull the curtain away and see what the wizard is up to. >> what's stacked against them? right. >> i think what he probably -- the reason he did it was, so that he would remain free on bail. because after preliminary hearing, that proves probable cause, it is possible that a judge will say, this is really bad, i'm going to raise your bail, going to remand you until trial. >> just bought him time out of prison. >> exactly. that could be a reason. the other reason, i think he will be tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, no plea deal is possible when ten young men get up and testify against him, shocking detail, in front tough 200 folks from the media. it was remarkable to me. probably the smartest thing, that he has done. and heard he got new co-counsel. maybe the new lawyer said not a good idea. >> smarter move than giving the interviews. a few weeks back. the trial they said could be six months away. here we go. a development in the college sex abuse scandal at syracuse. two men who claimed that bernie fine molested them repeat lead when they were young are suing the school and head coach jim boeheim for defamation. boeheim called them liars out for money. the district attorney says the claims are credible but it is too late to prosecute. a small church may look like an easy target for a burglar. looks can be a little deceiving. an intruder in florida learned that the hard way. instead of turning the other cheek, the pastor decided to turn to his military training. >> reporter: pastor bob digart can see the church from his house. sunday morning before church his wife saw a man messing with the back window. >> looks like he is trying to break in. >> reporter: he was. >> he broke the window with the block here. threw the block into the win dpoep window to break it. >> reporter: bob quickly got dressed. so the pastor with 22 years of army experience in his past, tiptoed through the halls, looking for him. >> and this glass here, i can see a reflection. and the glass down the hall. so i was just looking down the hall, without exposing myself. >> reporter: bob cleared rooms like the army taught him two decades ago before he fought in desert storm. >> i moved to these halls. then i moved down to the next one. >> reporter: then he says he heard him in the church's children's room. >> then i moved in around the corner and caught him at the entrance of the door right there. >> reporter: the man was holding clothes, usually used in church plays. bob grabbed him by the neck and took him down. remembering the army taught hum don't leave a man on his feet. >> then i pulled him up. and we went back -- down the hall here to a place that i know that there is a telephone. >> reporter: sheriff's deputies came out and arrested 47-year-old raymond shipley for burglary. he told bob he wanted to use the phone. >> things just didn't add up. >> reporter: he was glad he could use his military training to keep him from doing no more damage to the church than busted glass. as for sunday service -- it went on as normal. now the church has to fix the window. >> pastor never needed his gun, thankfully. >> thankfully. >> the burglar learned his lesson. >> a burglar that steals and breaks into churches. not ever good. >> special place for that guy. >> now to politics. donald trump is pulling out of the republican presidential debate he promised to host later this month. trump says he wants to preserve the option for running for president if he is not happy with the republican choice. the debate was scheduled in iowa, december 27th. meanwhile, political wives are playing a much bigger role in this year's republican race. front-runners are starting to use their wives on the trail a little more often. abc's sharyn alfonsi has a look at what makes these women such potent and very different political weapons. >> reporter: with poll numbers plummeting, mitt romney is dedeploying his wife ann. >> mitt not what you think at home. he is my most disobedient child. >> reporter: a change of course from 1994 when ann romney was mocked for telling reporters she and her husband never seriously argued. ann began dating romney in high school, converted to mormonism. and married him at age 20. she often talks about the couple's unblemished 42 years of marriage and the way he stood by her with her fight against multiple sclerosis. stories that draw sharp contrast to what pundits say is his vulnerability. at saturday's debate he was asked about that as his third wife calista looked on. >> i have made mistakes. i have had to go to god for forgiveness. >> reporter: and gingrich does not hide calista in the background. cal if -- a french horn player who sings in the choir of her catholic church. gingrich since converted to catholicism as well. >> she actually describes herself as being a cross between nancy reagan, laura bush with a slight bit of jackie kennedy tossed in. >> she has stayed quiet. routinely standing beside him. signing her children's book. rarely publicly speaking. two wildly different approaches from the women now described as the candidates' real runningmates. sharyn alfonsi, new york. >> i wonder how much stock the voters put in the spouse of the person running for president. why that is a big deal? should it be? >> i think it is part of the picture. for many people. >> the image. family portrait. >> first lady. jackie onassis. just the list goes on and on and on. i think people do look at that. hillary. >> a big one. yeah. a look now at your wednesday weather. some strong storms with a threat of tornados around san antonio, dallas, southern oklahoma. rainy in little rock. memphis, st. louis, minneapolis and chicago. mountain snow in colorado. afternoon showers in the pacific northwest. >> 40s, seattle, portland. 58, phoenix. 39 twin cities. 46 in detroit. 56, indianapolis. boston, 41. baltimore, 54. new orleans, 74. >> ah, new orleans. >> city folks in vancouver, canada are still scratching their heads over a black bear ended up in a downtown garbage truck. police thought it was a joke when they got the call. but look, there it was, just looking out from the open-topped truck. >> chilling out. some bystanders swear the bear popped out of a dumpster. officials say it probably climbed in at an earlier stop, north of city and hitch hiked in. they tranquilized the bear and released it back into the wild. intrepid little bear. looking for a free ride. >> can you imagine? seeing a big bear? >> i would be gone. you wouldn't find me. i would be running. >> good place to be. could be food in there. >> smart bear. hitchhiking. frying to get downtown. holidays, last minute shopping. >> makes complete sense. >> we'll be right back. ♪ i get around ♪ get around >> okay. we are going to say this upfront. we understand if you are a bit skeptical after seeing this report. we were as well. >> uh-huh. at the center of it a miami police officer who apparently lost control of his patrol car. wplg shows us where the car ended up. >> how did he do it? >> what was he thinking? >> how could that happen? >> reporter: the neighborhood awoke to the strange sight of a miami police cruiser precariously placed next to a utility pole. >> i heard a ka-boom. i didn't get up until i saw that i didn't have any lights. >> reporter: power near northwest 67th and 6th avenue was shut off. so the officer behind the wheel could safely crawl out. crews were concerned about the pole's stability since it carries high voltage wires. >> what was he thinking? coming through the way he was coming through toen end up on a piece of wire, not the pole, a piece of wire holding up the pole. >> reporter: the officer was not involved in a chase. in fact, he was at a four-way stop. hard to tell since he somehow mowed down a stop sign. so what was his explanation given to the department's top brass? >> he was actually picking up the pen that he had dropped when he was not paying full attention to the roadway and he starts veering off to the side. >> reporter: when the front end of the cruiser met a high tension support cable tied to some utility poles. and the rest they say is history. >> then he got out smiling. how happy can he be? i hope he was saying thank you lord. he was smiling. i don't think it is funny. >> reporter: the squad car was lifted up by a crane and then towed away. not before picking up the now cruiserless officer. >> he is blessed to have walked out. >> uh, uh, uh. the power is back on in the neighborhood. >> picking up the pen. >> picking up a pen? all of a sudden you are on -- there is something more to the story, okay. we are going to investigate. >> we will get out there to the scene, yes, indeed. >> we'll investigate it. >> file a full report. >> bad boys, bad boys. >> what you going to do? >> we're coming for you. >> we're coming for you, got to say it with some. scare the people. >> coming up, criticism aimed at chelsea clinton. >> questions also about miley cyrus and a little possible -- cosmetic procedure. we'll let you be the judge next in "the skinny." little possible koz m -- cosmetic ♪ skinny ♪ skinny so skinny ♪ >> this is sort of a follow-up to the story yesterday, lowes, retail giant pulling its ads earlier this week from the all-american muslim tlc reality series. they claim they pulled the ads because it was a business decision. as opposed to perhaps yielding to pressure from groups that said they didn't want, they didn't think it was a -- >> accurate. >> accurate portrayal, depiction of all american muslims. interestingly enough, russell simmons is outraged by it. i think many people certainly are. russell simmons tries to buy all the ad time on all american muslim. trying to, basically put his money where his mouth is. apparently he tweets just purchased remaining spots for all american muslim. the show is now sold out. keep your money, lowes, we'll keep ours. calling for a boycott of lowes. >> backlash against company. the idea is to show muslim-americans live normal american lives. they're married. >> they're part of fabric of our society. >> if the show is a lesson >> if the show is a lesson in tolerance. lowes bowed to people that believe the exact opposite. stepping up. got the cash to diet. good for russell. >> think we will hear more from lowes. they're in a pickle. >> in much lesser news this morning, miley cyrus, at cnn sunday heroes. she wore a low cut dress. now people speculated, wait a minute did this lovely 19-year-old girl have some enhancements, three plastic surgery experts gave an interview to "star" saying yes we can tell those are not hers. she had to tweet back. and thank you for the compliment. these babies are all mine. i wish they would realize you don't have to be fake to be beautiful. >> they talk about her. she is too fat. now too skinny. now had plastic surgery. i think they should leave this, just a child, a kid, leave her alone. she looks good. >> i agree. >> now, chelsea clinton. wow, she is really, she has gotten an unwelcome reception after her much hyped debut as an nbc reporter last night. slammed as monochromatic, and nervous and showing no charisma, on rock center. many people saying, if, real journalists get trained, they work in the trenches, and you don't just get this plum job because of your name. you need some training. she is just not a real journalist. i don't know how i feel about it. >> i think her first time out of the gate. cut her some slack. she is an accomplished, well educated, young woman trying to do her own thing with the two, huge, towering parents she has. give her a chance. let's be honest. not the first time someone has been hired in tv because of their name and connections. give them a chance to grow, get their sea legs. she has grown up normal. let her do her thing. don't let the critics and haters get you down, chelsea. we all start some where. >> i don't know. she started here. >> she'll get there. don't listen to them. do your thing. we know a place where tossing and turning have given way to sleeping. where 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this half-hour, why wait for a winter that doesn't start officially until next thursday. >> december 21. they have had a ton of snow in the mountains west of l.a. skiers and snow boarders are stoked. having a grand old-time. kabc tea darcia phillips reports. >> reporter: thrills, chills, and even some spills. the winter storm brought a winter wonderland to skiers and snow boarders at mountain high resort in wrightwood. a lot of people are really ready for the, the ski, the snow board season, and it's here. we're getting snow. >> reporter: and many wasted no time. >> i got a few days off. i decided to come up and hit the slopes. looks like it is a good day to do it. >> reporter: ski lift at mountain high is working in high gear as skiers and snow boarders race to the top of the mountain to test out all this fresh powder. >> i'm excited. ready to go. >> reporter: this week's storm means a busy weekend for the resort. >> we're going to be able to open up our east resort and north resort on friday, december 16th. this friday open for the holiday. we are going to have two other resorts open. >> reporter: conditions were foggy on the mountain. most folks didn't seem to mind. >> a few days like this up here, come up here for a long time. probably ten years now, this is a top ten day. j joy -- >> reporter: jake sendell hit a little rough spot coming down the hill. i hit a little thin spot. clipped a rock. came down. got like a big hang-nail on the bottom of my board. >> reporter: he is taking it in stride. just a little bump, fixing his board will carve an hour off his time on the mountain. >> sitting here counting the minutes. looking at the hill. watching everybody coming down. when is my board going to be ready? i want to get back up there. >> they're having fun. >> i ski. snow boarding gives me some trouble. my idea of fun never involves cold, snow or potential death. which is what i feel look i could do on the slopes. >> if you have a cute outfit, you have the little toasties, gloves, boots. you actually can be quite warm and enjoy yourself. outfit is key and warmth of the outfit you don't feel the cold. >> something warm, fashionable, cute, something that absorbs the blood. that's nice. you are such a girl. >> see. something like that would look good. >> you can't tell i was actually on a gurney when that picture was taken. i am deathly afraid of skiing. maybe give me some lessons. that is not my scene. well, we hope this show is your scene and abc is your scene. we'll be right back after this. ♪ let it snow let it snow let it snow ♪ [narrator] afwas injured in iraq his young wife faced the daunting task of getting their v-a benefits. there's a lot of red tape, there's a lot of confusion. there's a lot of forms to fill out. trained experts have hehelped injureded veterans and their families. we are able to fill out all of the forms and applications and ask for all of the benefits that veteran's entitd to. you too can help paralyzezed veterans. 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