Right now, only 7 of the United States is covered in snow. Thats even less than this time last year, when 32 of the nation was laced in winter white. Not enough snow means no skiing. Yet. This resort in Washington State has had to wait. Impatiently. To get our show on the road here. Reporter less snow helped make it even warmer this past week. Almost 700 record high temperatures have been set in the past five days. All of that will contribute to 2012 likely becoming the warmest on record in the lower 48. While one week or one season can not tell a climate story, a longer range report card was released by noaa today. The subject . The arctic, where records were broken this year. In 2012, there was less snow and more sea ice melting than theyve ever measured before. Satellites started measuring arctic ice in 1979. Since then, half has disappeared. And just this year, 4. 5 million square miles melted away, an area the size of the u. S. And mexico, combined. Melting on the green land ice sheet is a big concern, because that moving water thats curr t currently thawed in the ice, moving it into the ocean, if that continues, thats going to have an impact on people that live in coastal regions. Reporter Sea Levels Rising in vulnerable coastal communities means even more after a storm like sandy. And we learned today that the white house is requesting 50 billion to cover the damage from that epic storm but the states involved, diane, say that just isnt going to be enough. These bulletins just keep coming. Reporter right. And they keep finding these reports and records. And they will. We started records in 1979 in sea ice melt. They will keep changing. And the man i talked to, he anticipates more. Even more. Okay, thank you so much, ginger. Now, we turn to the news tonight that a lot of ordinary americans have been put on notice, as we approach that fiscal cliff, just 27 days away. People who are already having trouble finding a job are receiving a letter of warning about something to happen to them if congress cant make a deal. And Abcs Jonathan Karl has that. Reporter melinda vega has been put on notice. If congress and the president dont get their act together, her unemployment checks will stop immediately at the end of the year. Were dependent on that money to pay our bills. Reporter shes been without a job for a year. Her 450 a week unemployment check, her lifeline. We wont be able to pay some of our bills, and, i mean, you know, as for christmas and things of that nature, probably off the table. Reporter shes not alone. Without a deal, Unemployment Compensation will end for more than 2 Million People whove been out of work for more than 26 weeks. Many of the unemployed started receiving the news this week from prerecorded phone calls, like this one in Washington State. Emergency Unemployment Compensation shuts off at the end of december unless Congress Votes to extend the program. Reporter and, of course, going off the socalled fiscal cliff means a tax hike for just about everybody who does have a job. But today, treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said the president is absolutely willing to go off the cliff unless republicans agree to raise tax rates. Theres no prospect for an agreement that doesnt involve those rates going up on the top 2 of the wealthiest americans. Remember, its only 2 . Reporter and on that, no progress. Where are the specifics . Where are the discussions . Nothing is going on. Reporter there have been no real talks between the white house and republicans for a week. But late today, diane, one possible sign of progress. The president and the speaker of the house spoke via telephone. Neither side would give any details about what was said, but the stock market closed higher today with traders, at least, apparently optimistic that a deal will be reached. One phone call can do that. Okay, thank you, jonathan karl. And now, we head overseas to cairo. Another day of bloodshed and chaos there. Battles erupting in the streets. Look there, outside the president ial palace. Between those two support between those who support egyptian president morsi and those who want him to go. Both sides using fire bombs, rocks, even sticks as weapons. And more than 120 people were wounded. And now, we move onto the other big headline. The millions of americans battling Breast Cancer getting this news. A new study saying a popular drug used to keep the disease from coming back, tamoxifen, should be taken twice as long for even better results. And the news has a lot of doctors saying theyre going to change how they treat some of their patients. And abcs chief medical editor dr. Richard besser here to tell us about it. Tamoxifen, we know about it, but a change in the way you use it. Reporter thats right. This is really big news for hundreds of thousands of women who have Breast Cancer that is hormone receptor positive. The study out today looked at a drugtamoxifen, which is a hormone blocker. They gave some women this drug for five years and some women this drug for ten years and then followed them for a tenyear period. Look at the results. Women on the drug for five years, 25 of them had a recurrence. If you were on it for ten years, it dropped down to 21 . Very similar numbers, reduction, if you look at Breast Cancer deaths. 15 , for those on for five years. Down to 12 for those who were on it for ten years. But again, to the layperson, we say, oh, we want bigger, better numbers, that doesnt seem like a huge change. Reporter the numbers dont look big, but across the population, thats thousands of lives. And what it says to cancer researchers is, we may be onto something. This type of drug may be what were looking for. And side effects from this drug . Reporter you have to look at that. The serious side effects are rare. Blood clots and uterine cancer. The common side effects, this drug can bring on symptoms that are very much line menopause. It can cause hot flashes, sweating, fatigue. Some women will stop taking the drug, but i think todays study may get them to reconsider. And what it says is, hormone therapy may work if you give it longer. Give it longer time. And as you said, clinging to anything that says were onto something. Reporter thats right. Thank you so much, rich. And now, we turn to our consumer watchdog. The government sounding the alarm tonight about something that affects millions of older americans. You may have seen commercials calling for a reverse mortgage. But tonight, abc news has learned theres growing concern and the government may be ready to take action. Heres abcs Senior National correspondent jim avila. It was just grand. This was our dream. Reporter the family home, dream and nest egg for wisconsins linda and jim mcmahon. Until it had to be sold out from under linda to pay back a reverse mortgage as soon as her husband died. I get a letter, sorry to hear about your husband passing away. Buy the house or move out. Reporter reverse mortgages give homeowners an immediate cash payment in exchange for future equity. Allowing them to stay in the house until death. But only people 62 and older qualify. Linda was too young to be on the mortgage, so, when her older husband died, she lost everything. Its only one danger inherent in the reverse mortgage. Hi, im fred thompson. Hi, im henry winkler. Reporter critics say the tv commercials prey on vulnerable seniors. And today, the government is warning that reverse mortgages are not free money. Turn their equity into tax free cash. Give you tax free cash. They are not being told about the down side. Reporter right now in america, 57,000 seniors in reverse mortgages are in danger of losing their home. A nearly 10 foreclosure rate, four times higher than traditional mortgages. Tomorrow, the department of housing and urban development will recommend congress prohibit large lump sum payments. And recommend seniors be very careful with reverse mortgages. Is a reverse mortgage the last option . I really think it should be. Absolutely. Reporter an option its a wonderful house. Reporter Linda Mcmahon regrets taking. I hope somebody will enjoy it. Reporter jim avila, abc news, washington. And now, our made in america team is back in action, because 40 of retail sales take place between thanksgiving and christmas. And the more items we buy made in america, the more american jobs we can create together. And theres proof tonight. One of your ideas led abcs david muir to the iconic mall of america, where it turns out, you, our viewers, can see what youve done. David . Reporter diane, you and i have loved this. The ideas pouring in from the viewers. Familying out looking for their one thing. Economists say, if we spend 64 on anything made in america, we can create 200,000 jobs. Tonight, as diane mentioned, proof of that power, as we track one of your ideas that we first reported on a year ago. Have viewers made a difference . We traveled to the iconic mall of america. Minneapolis, minnesota. Inside, santa taking those requests. David muir with world news. How are you . Oh, good. How are you . Reporter so, im just curious. Those kids sitting on santas lap, how much of what theyre asking for is made in america . Oh. Oh, i guess i guess i guess reporter even the elf stumped, telling us he cant answer those kinds of questions. Those famous rides in the mall. And mom kim, bringing her daughter all the way from baltimore. Came all the way to the mall of america to shop. Reporter how much do you think was made in america . In here . Reporter but if you look closely enough, we guarantee youll find made in america. So many world news viewers emailing diane a year ago about one simple item. A tervis tumbler. It keeps your hot drink hot, your cold drink cold. That sign a year ago after our first report, made in america. It turns out so many viewers placed orders, the company says it helped them build a new store, opening this week here in the biggest mall in america. Are we the first customers . In fact, they opened nine stores since last christmas, nearly 100 new employees. You were not in the mall of america a year ago. No. Reporter and back at the factory in florida thank you, world News Reporter which brings us to another factory where world news viewers are already bringing christmas cheer. The faribault factory. Closing down but after we reported they were trying to open up again you have 80 additional people since our last report . Yeah. Reporter and this week, a tour of their newest shop. I love it. You can see it right here. Made in america, all over. Reporter we wanted to know about donny, who had been called back to the assembly line. Tonight, they tell us hes gone from part time to full time. Here i am. Im back again. Reporter and from his coworkers thank you, world News Reporter and in a tiny neighborhood outside st. Louis, missouri, tonight, they hope theyre next. At the corner of 8th and betten, the sign. Welcome, made in america. Come on in. Reporter thank you. This inventor taking us into the factory, where they are making protective cases for your iphone. They hold your credit cards, too. Her own made in america ads on youtube. Water resistant. They can take a beating. But when we asked her, why make it in america . To its so weird. Why am i crying . Reporter she same simply, her father was a veteran. Its that important to you. Yes. Reporter you can do better . Youre convinced of it. Pitching her product to me, too. As you can see, her pitch worked. Bought another American Made product. Her company is called bodacious cases. You can look it up. You can also find a link on our list of made in america ideas at abcnews. Com. She would spend hours in the middle of the night skyping to china, but was determined to make it here. So was tervis. And the new store at the mall of america. And the faribault mill. Merry christmas. I didnt wrap it. Christmas comes early. Thank you, david. And thanks to all of you, our viewers in this together. Its great. Thank you. And still ahead on world news, the story of the millionaire mogul on the run. But tracked down tonight by our reporter. Those Little Things still get you. For you, lifes about her. But your erectile dysfunction that could be a question of blood flow. Cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be Ready Anytime the moments right. You can be more confident in your ability to be ready. And the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. Do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. Side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. To avoid longterm injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. If you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. Ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30tablet free trial. Do you often experience the feeling of a dry mouth . It can be the side effect of many medications. Dry mouth can be frustrating. And ignoring it can lead to. Sipping water can help, but dentists recommend biotene. Biotene moisturizes and helps supplement some of salivas enzymes, providing soothing relief when you need it most. Dont ignore dry mouth. Look for biotene in your oral care section today. This has been medifacts for biotene. [ male announcer ] campbells green bean casserole. Its amazing what soup can do and now, abc news tonight is speaking to a man whose name has surfaced in a murder inquiry as and he has created a worldwide frenzy. His behavior described by the New York Times as sometimes just bizarre. You may have heard the name mcafee. Hes the mogul who created the ant antivirus software. But tonight, he sits down in guatemala with abcs matt gutman, who brings you the strange encounter. Reporter after weeks on the lam, Software Security pioneer john mcafee has surfaced in guatemala. Where we caught up with him. How have you been . Pretty good since i got here. Reporter i bet. Mcafee is an internet legend. His name still pops up when many open their computers. At one point, he was worth 100 million. But in 2009, mcafee took his money and moved to tropical belize, living an excentric life style on this oceanfront compound. Three weeks ago, his next door neighbor turned up dead. Who do you think killed greg faull . How would i know . How would i know . Reporter police want him for questioning. But the 67yearold went on the run. For weeks, he and his 20yearold girlfriend lived in closets, even burying himself in the sand. And he wore disguises. I had a cane. I was walking like this and i had my jaws stuffed with toilet paper. Reporter but his behavior in hiding quickly brought ratings worldwide attention to him and his sanity. All the while, he kept contact with some reporters. If you were a madman, how could i reporter mcafee told abc news the police want him dead. But the police say hes not even a suspect. Right here. Reporter but now hes in guatemala, hoping for asylum. He says he still has money and wont rule out going back to the u. S. Matt gutman, abc news, guatemala city. And coming up next here, would you believe, a dog taught to drive . And its a stick shift. Well tell you how and why. New prilosec otc wildberry is the same frequent heartburn treatment as prilosec otc. Now with a fancy coating that gives you a burst of wildberry flavor. Now why make a flavored heartburn pill . Because this is america. And we dont just make things you want, we make things you didnt even know you wanted. Like a spoon fork. Spray cheese. And jeans made out of sweatpants. So grab yourself some new prilosec otc wildberry. [ male announcer ] one pill each morning. 24 hours. Zero heartburn. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Military families face, we understand. At usaa, we know military life is different. Weve been there. Thats why every bit of Financial Advice we offer is geared specifically to current and former military members and their families. [ laughs ] dad dad [ applause ] [ male announcer ] life brings obstacles. Usaa brings advice. Call or visit us online. Were ready to help. Perfect golden color. Rich in fiber. My dad taught me, and i taught my son out there. Morning, pa. Wait. Whos driving the. . 99 bushels of wheat on the farm, 99 bushels of wheat [ male announcer ] yep, theres 8 layers of whole grain fiber in those miniwheats® biscuits. To help keep you full. 45 bushels of wheat. All morning long. Theres a big breakfast. [ mini ] yee haw . In those fun little biscuits. Theres a big breakfast. Of washington about the future of medicare and Social Security. Anncr but you deserve Straight Talk about the options on the. Table and what they mean for you and your family. Ancr aarp is cutting through all the political spin. Because for our 37 million members, only one word counts. Get the facts at earnedasay. Org. Lets keep medicare. And Social Security strong for generations to come. And now, time to take a look at what made it to the top of our instant index tonight. Starting with a video, showing something that dogs can be trained to do, we didnt know they could. That is a dog behind the wheel of a car. A new zealand Animal Rescue organization taught three rescue dogs to steer a car, use a rigged brake and even shift gears. Its just a practice car and they use doggy treats to reward them for each new move they mastered. To highlight the unexpected possibility in rescue dogs and promote their adoption. And heres a picture in the news. A silent night from space. Look. Nasa released brand new images, the continents lit up, asia and australia, africa and europe, south america and north america. The United States, a beacon of light, right there across the galaxy. And our person tonight is dave brubeck, the man who put the urgent pulse into american jazz. He died at the age of 91, after a life of bre