Theyres a demanding background checks for all gun sales. It faces an uphill battle in the republican controlled house. Celebrities, politicians and people affected by gun violence gathered in washington, adding their voices to the gun control debate. They appeared on behalf of the mayors against illegal guns group, founded by Michael Bloomberg and the mayor of boston. Its almost impossible to describe the pain of losing your father to a senseless murder, knowing that that murder might have been avoided if only our leaders had acted to stop the violence. Saying gun control would be a great tribute on the 50th anniversary of the march in washington. Another interesting debate, people who are against it and people who are for it. And theres no right answers in this debate. A lot of gray area. We can have all the debate we want. It comes down to what capitol hill is willing to do. There seems to be bipartisan support for background checks. But the other stuff, the assault weapons ban and high capacity magazines, things are going to get messy. A vote for chuck hagels nomination has been postponed. Hagel still has the backing of all the democrats in the senate. The vote was set for today and is postponed to next week. Now to a medical headline this morning and a Health Care Burden for the u. S. Neurologists predict the number of alzheimers patients is expected to triple by the year 2050. Thats when as many as 14 million patients may need care for the disease. The startling projection follows a study of patient records, as well as census numbers. Doctors are warning parents about a strain of whooping cough. The new england journalthe new medicine reports its caused by a vaccine resistant strain. Its the worst outbreak of its kind in 60 years. And what will be the story of the weekend. A powerful blizzard is zeroing in on the northeast, threatening to bring fierce winds and up to two feet of snow. The noreaster expected to be the worst in years, is moving in from the gulf coast and the great lakes. Snow is coming down this morning in chicago. But by tomorrow night, this storm will be unleashing heavy snow on boston and coastal new england. And that storm, as you know, could make a mess out of travel, even before the first flakes fall. Some Airlines Announced plans to relax rebooking rules so passengers can change flights without having to pay the standard fies. Its still too early to tell how many flight also be canceled, but expect a nightmare at the airports. It might happen to you. And heres a look at your thursday forecast. That storm barreling to the northeast to bring snow to milwaukee, chicago, green bay and detroit before heading to the ohio valley and western new york. Showers and thunderstorms from new orleans to the carolinas. Mountain snow in the Sierra Nevada and the cascades. Thirties from the twin cities to detroit. 70s in dallas and new orleans. And a unique sort of retirement for a pretty unique player. 1500 packers fans were in green bay yesterday to watch as packers receiver Donald Driver calls it a career. Even the governor was there declaring yesterday Donald Driver day. He spent his entire 14year career with the packers. Along the way, he won his season on abcs dancing with the stars. Hell be guest hosting Katie Courics talk show. I smell a nice, lucrative tv career. He missed only four games in a career that spanned 14 years. Thats impressive. He was also the 7th round pick in 1999. That doesnt mean anything. Not when you get tickets. Its what you do after. He said he didnt want to cry and he held it together. Well earned, thats for sure. Coming up next, a love story thats gone on for 80 years. A long time. And a landmark decision behind the boy scouts and why theres a sudden delay. Youre watching world news now. My name is marjorie reyes, and im a chief warrant officer. 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Its going to be a few more months before the boy scouts of america make a decision on whether or not to allow gay people into their ranks. The organization was close to announcing one, but it received so much feedback, its leaders decided to take a little more time to think it over. Abcs cecilia vega has the emotional reaction. Reporter Jennifer Tyrrell was fired as a den leader. Im not a distraction. Alicia is not a distraction. We are moms, and were americans. Reporter thats her son, 8yearold cruz in tears, with his two moms. The news that the scouts will postpone a decision on allowing gays in its ranks this time had terrell fighting tears. Im not looking forward to have to go home and tell cruz that we have to wait a little longer. Reporter after last months announcement that scouts were close to dropping the ban, there was an outpouring of feedback, like that from governor rick perry, an eagle scout opposed to the change. Scouting is about teaching a substantial amount of life lessons, sexuality is not one of them. Reporter in a statement, the scouts say they concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the Organization Needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy. When it comes to the future of an organization more than a century old, division persists. A new poll out shows a narrow majority of americans want the scouts to end its ban on openly gay members. And while 61 of women want to see that ban lifted, fewer than half of men agree. Now time will tell. Will the ban on gays end . Tyrrell says shell keep fighting. I will never stop fighting for what i know is right, and ill never stop fighting for a better world for my children to live in. Reporter whats next . The National Council will make the decision at the groups National Meeting in may. Cecilia vega, abc news, new york. Just to put this into perspective, 23,000 people commented on their Facebook Page when they announced the fact that they were thinking about making the change. Its a hot issue, and everyone has an opinion. Were living in an era where youre seeing a lot of headway on this issue in terms of dont ask dont tell going away, in terms of the president coming out in support of samesex marriage. The Supreme Court will take up gay marriage. Youre seeing more states approve samesex marriage. So this is the cultural issue were in and the latest manifestation is the boy scouts. No at what timer somewhat they decide to do, half of america will have a problem with it. And more women support lifting the ban than men. That is interesting. The latest culture war. Here we go again. Still ahead, going under water with one of the most experienced ocean scientists in the entire world. What shes learned in her 60 years studying the depths and why shes so concerned about the oceans future. Youre watching world news now. Thats good. The music is awesome. Oh, billy ocean. Been a long time, billy. Now to a trip, literally, to another world. A famous explorer has spent more time under water than nearly anyone on earth and probably more time under water than above water. Reporter abcs bill weir dove into the depths of the Caribbean Sea to see why her work is so vital. Reporter shes out there somewhere. Under there somewhere. A woman known as her deepness. And when one of the most respected ocean scientists alive arranges for an urgent meeting at the bottom of the caribbean, you go. To our interview spot 62 feet below the surface. For 20 years, the reef base has bubbled off the florida keys, housing scientists of every stripe. This one of a kind place is endangered, doomed by the federal budget ax. Here to try to save it is the former head of noaa, unofficial sturgeon general, sylvia earl. Good to see you again. Good to see you, too. Reporter thanks for having me in. She originally fell in love with ocean plant life, the microscopic algae responsible for every fifth breath you take. But over the years, her wonder has been steadily replaced with worry. Once vast pockets of thriving teaming life are getting increasingly hard to find. A warming planet is changing the acid levels in the sea, killing coral reefs, pesticides running down the mississippi and the deep horizon water accident has stressed the gulf of mexico and shes determined to stounldz the alarm on the overfishing thats driven some species to the brink. You cant imagine the farmer taking apples by lowering down the Apple Orchard thats what were doing to the ocean. Reporter shes concerned about the pesticides and mercury floating out here. One reason she says ocean study is more vital than ever. But Research Money is drying up. Florida International University scraped enough to save acquire use for now. But there are no longterm guarantees. I want to thank you for this experience. I can tell my grand kids that i went diving with sylvia earl. God speed. Thats impressive. Not just an amazing cause, shes 77 years old and still doing that work. Still rolling like that. That is impressive. For many reasons. Hey, ill be the next one down there. The next sylvia. Hey, hey, hey. Thats what you wear in the tub, huh . [ female announcer ] going to sleep may be easy, but when you wake up in the middle of the night it can be frustrating. Its hard to turn off and go back to sleep. Intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved for use as needed in the middle of the night when you cant get back to sleep. Its an effective sleep medicine you dont take before bedtime. Take it in bed only when you need it and have at least four hours left for sleep. Do not take intermezzo if you have had an allergic reaction to drugs containing zolpidem, such as ambien. 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Ahh mmm ahh finally, theres cepacol sensations. Serious sore throat medicine, seriously great taste. Plus the medicine lasts long after the lozenge is gone. Ahh mmm cepacol sensations. Our love is here to stay welcome back to the cotton club. This is nice. Oh, man. Theres really no other way to describe this next one, except for the fact that its a classic love story, 80 years young. 80. And thats why its a clear winner for our favorite story of the day. The nations longest married couple keeps love alive in their very own special way. Here is our report from new haven, connecticut. Reporter john and ann have been married for more than 80 years. At 101 years old and 97 years old respectively, they are the countrys longest married couple. We just fell in love, thats all. Reporter they tied the knot on november 25, 1932. And have been buy each others side ever since. So whats their secret . 80 years, you know, its just contentment. Just contentment. Shes no problem. Shes never worked. Shes always cooked, took care of the family. A good mother. Great mother. Hes always had his hand on my knee or my hair. Reporter the happy couple met in bridgeport. In fact, their houses were right here, they lived across the street from each other. But their union almost never happened because anns parents arranged for her to marry someone else. Thats when john and ann took matters into their own hands and eloped. We went to harrison, new york. We didnt have any money to go any further. Reporter they went on to have five kids, 14 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. Your love grows, you know. And it grows in very good directions for the two of us. Reporter their record breaking union has meant the phone at their fair fieldhouse has not stopped ringing. John and ann cant believe they hold the record. Kind of surprised me that there arent anymore. Reporter also surprised was the waker who made their anniversary cake. He thought we were 80 years old. She said no, its their 80 anniversary. Said he never had one before. If that doesnt restore your faith in love a little bit, thats impressive. You dont see that anymore. Their personality is so wonderful. The gentleman, he was talking about the fact that theyve lost two kids, to of the five kids have passed away. He said, thats what happens when you last that long. Endless love. Thats a good way to end this half hour. More from abc next. This morning on world news now, blizzard watch. The worst winter storm in two years threatens millions of people with some areas bracing for two feet of snow, possibly even more. Airports from chicago to boston are in crisis mode as Airlines Urge passengers to rebook. Its thursday, february 7. From abc news, this is world news now. You were flinging it around. Anchors get fidgety. I get nervous when talking about the weather. Oh, man. Good morning, everybody. Can you tell its almost friday . Im rob nelson. And im diana perez. The storm hits the northeast on the anniversary of an actual winter disaster. That went down in history in 1978. Accuweather has the very latest. Also this morning, the invisible enemy attacking the u. S. How hackers are getting to the heart of Computer Systems and why its so difficult to track down the criminals responsible. Sign of the times in this cyber world. Theyre out there and theyre good. The latest thing theyre doing, too. Getting into very deep levels of government, too. Also later, from laughter to outrage. New jersey gofr your Chris Christie joked around on late night tv, joking about his weight. But now youll see what turned from laughter to anger the governor speaking out now against some folks who were concerned about his weight. Youll hear what he told them to do with his opinions. He aint bashful. Now to a new study, just before valentines day that reveals what singles look for in a potential mate. Its a pumped up body . Or Something Else. Well tell you. Everyone has that checklist of, i need this, this, and that. A little bit of that. And you want chris carr kardashian kim, lets be clear. Forecasters warn this could be historic. Its actually two storms that are converging into a giant system, whipping up 50mileanhour winds and two feet of snow. It could rival only monster blizzards. New england is expected to be hardest hit with the snow coming down tomorrow evening. Airlines have started waiving rebooking fees. Carriers are keeping a close eye on the forecast before announcing what could be numerous cancellations. Travelers be ware. And people across new england are taking no chances. In rhode island, theyre filling up tanks and shovels and generators are flying off the shelf in connecticut. For more, lets go to accuweather and get the latest from meteorologist jim dicky. Good morning, jim. Good morning. A major winter Storm Brewing here. Were watching two systems expected to come together on friday. First system today, moving across the midwest, bringing heavy snow to wisconsin, Northern Michigan with ice in chicago. This while a system is bringing plenty of moisture across the southeast. Moisture from this storm is soaking rain, combined with that system in the north, bringing up the level of energy, leading to a powerful snowstorm, potentially a blizzard. Snow arrives friday across portions of new england, especially boston here. Bigtime accumulations expected. Multiple feet not out of the question. Icy mix likely in new york city that lasts into saturday. Back to you. Thanks for that, jim. The growing controversy of drone attacks on american terror suspects. John brennan, the president s choice to head the cia, is expected to be questioned about the policy today during confirmation hearings and expected to face tough questions over harsh interrogation methods and long detention of suspects without due process. Ahead of todays hearing, the white house ordered that top lawmakers be given secret documents about the administrations drone program, this comes days after a group of 11 senators demanded more information, especially about the killing of american citizens. At least one prominent republican is backing the policy. South carolinas Lindsay Graham says hes 100 behind it. At the center of everything here is due process, or lack thereof when it comes to attack on americans outside of america. You hear two key arguments. There youre violating civil liberties. Other people say in a post 9 11 world, whatever you have to do to stop that from happening again, go ahead and do it. Warfare doesnt really have any rules, particularly when youre trying to stop a constantly evolving area. A lot of people are okay with going out and killing the terrorists. We dont think about it or worry about it. But when we Start Talking about it happening to americans who have lost their way somewhere and now theyre somewhere else, were not going to ask them whats on their mind, were just going to kill them, thats the problem. The Federal Reserve says its fixed what it calls a temporary vulnerability which allowed hackers to breac