CNN19981231.2130.0000 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION And why the U.S. embassy in Israel is closing its doors for awhile. "CNN Headline News." Hi, everybody. Hope you're having a safe and fun new year's eve. I'm Tony Frassrand, sitting in for Lynne Russell. CNN19981231.2130.0053 NEWS CAPTION Parts of the eastern United States are still digging out tonight after yet another snow storm. More than four inches fell in southwestern Virginia today. That made driving slippery, but state police say it caused only minor injuries. Road crews in Kansas city, Missouri, are bracing for snowfall. Significant ice accumulations are expected tomorrow. CNN19981231.2130.0071 NEWS CAPTION And people in western Ohio are cleaning up after the heaviest snow storm in years. Valeri furst from affiliate wjw reports. Few would argue freshly fallen snow in the countryside makes a Beautiful picture. But living in it? Depends on your point of view. My toes, my fingers, my nose, it's cold. People like Bob and Sherry Hines have been waiting two years for this day. Last year, we didn't get much snow. And this year, we've been waiting up to now, and we finally got some snow today. Contrast that to this car with bicycles loaded on the back. That's one driver who can't wait to get out of town. We're on our way to Arizona, so we're getting out of the snow. It's like 72 in Tucson right now. But in southern asterbula county, dreams of warm weather or even seeing the ground again could be months away. This is where the storm hit the hardest, dumping about two feet of snow. Forecasters explain a snow streak is to blame. So while most of northeast Ohio averaged one to four inches, this area got buried. It's keeping people like telephone repair man John layton very busy. A lot of trouble reports, people out of service. And the sheriff's department. A lot of deputies are handling cars that are in the ditch, helping people out that are stuck and getting tow trucks and things like that for people. But despite the gray skies and snow that won't stop falling, people here are keeping a sunny disposition. I love this weather. And not letting a little snow get in the way. There's been a few times in 20 years that I've said, huh-uh, turned around and went back in. But hasn't happened very often. And got my Jeep, and it keeps me going. Valeri furst, fox 8 news, in asterbula county. CNN19981231.2130.0195 NEWS CAPTION The weather contributed to a freeway pileup today in Michigan. It happened on interstate 75 near grayling, 180 miles north of Detroit. Authorities say the interstate has now reopened. Dozens of cars crashed into one another on the ice-slickened roadway. Officials say one person was killed and several more were injured, some seriously. About 100 stranded motorists were bused to shelters. Police say strong winds and light snow created a whiteout. CNN19981231.2130.0221 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION Stay tuned for the latest extended weather forecast as always at 8 minutes and 38 minutes past the hour. CNN19981231.2130.0228 NEWS CAPTION CNN has learned vice President Al Gore will file the necessary paperwork tomorrow to launch his candidacy for president in 2000. Gore will notify the federal election commission by mail of his intention to form a campaign committee. The notification means once he has raised and spent $5,000, his campaign will be officially recognized and eligible for federal matching funds. CNN19981231.2130.0250 NEWS CAPTION U.S. and British aircraft patrolled the Iraqi no-fly zones today without incident. U.S. officials say forces in the Persian gulf will respond if threatened. Allied aircraft have been fired upon twice in the past three days. Tariq Aziz says the battle against aggression will continue. Once again, Baghdad has promised to shoot down plane naz are in its airspace. Iraq cannot be singled out around the globe. Out of those zones that were denying Iraq the right to fly its own airspace, we consider that as intrusion of our sovereignty, and I don't think that's acceptable under our international laws. So Iraq has decided to keep challenging those intrusions. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says the carrier "USS enterprise" and its battle group will leave the Persian gulf by the weekend. The carrier "Carl Vincent" and more than two dozen other ships will remain. CNN19981231.2130.0316 NEWS CAPTION The last year that starts with 19 is just around the corner. Americans are celebrating the arrival of 1999. New York's Times Square prepared all day for about 500,000 revelers. Of course, the traditional new year's ball will drop as will 15,000 balloons. CNN19981231.2130.0332 NEWS CAPTION President Clinton spent his new year's eve playing a round of golf in hilton head, South Carolina. He had good golf weather, sunny skies and cool temperatures. CNN19981231.2130.0340 NEWS CAPTION 1999 is already here for most of the world. Thousands celebrated in Hong Kong, though the Chinese new year isn't until february. And a spectacular fireworks show lit up the skies in Sydney, Australia. Australians considered it a tune-up for the summer Olympics in 2000. CNN19981231.2130.0357 NEWS CAPTION The U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv was closed today while security officials investigate what they're calling "A direct and credible threat" against the facility. Officials did not describe the threat. But Israeli radio reports a caller told an embassy agent that the building would be blown up. The threat was received yesterday evening, and in response, employees were ordered not to report to work today. An embassy spokesman did not know how long the embassy would remain closed. CNN19981231.2130.0383 NEWS CAPTION The census bureau says the U.S. population grew 1% last year. The bureau reports Nevada was the fastest growing state for the 13th year in a row. The western United States was the fastest growing region with a rate of 1.6%. the south follows with a 1.3% increase. The midwest grew 0.4% and the northeast was up 0.3%. if congressional seats were reapportioned based on those figures, nine seats would change states. Reapportionment will be based on the year 2000 census. CNN19981231.2130.0413 NEWS CAPTION Researchers studying schizophrenia reportedly gave healthy people a Powerful hallucinogen without fully informing them the drug could produce psychotic episodes. "The Boston globe" reports the experiments were done at the national institute of mental health in Maryland. They involved the drug ketamine, also known as "special K." The paper says the participants often weren't specifically told the drug would induce conditions similar to schizophrenia. Officials connected with the studies say possible side effects were mentioned on a consent form. CNN19981231.2130.0441 NEWS CAPTION New research adds weight to the argument that the human brain is prewired for language and learning begins early. A study published in the journal "science" found infants as young as 7 months notice differences in sentence structure. Scientists say that suggests recognition of symbolic patterns or rules of structure may be a basic mechanism of the human brain. A psychologist says the study sends parents an important message, even babies are ready to learn. CNN19981231.2130.0469 NEWS CAPTION Federal and state governments appear to be doing a much better job of collecting delinquent child support payments. A department of health and human services report says $14.4 billion was collected in 1998. That represents an 80% increase since 1992. Federal seizures of income tax refunds helped contribute to the increase. The White House has announced it wants to create federal laws to restrict people from crossing state lines to avoid child support payments. CNN19981231.2130.0495 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION Coming up -- a look back at some discoveries, unpleasant changes and unsolved mysteries in the world of science and technology in 1998. First, the extended weather forecast. CNN19981231.2130.0506 NEWS CAPTION This is meteorologist Valerie Voss with your "CNN Headline News Weather" forecast for Friday, the first day of 1999. A strong storm will develop through the southern plain states with a Secondary low pressure center over the northern plains, so we'll see snow across much of the central U.S. changing to rain in the lower Mississippi river valley. Snow showers will move from the Great Lakes across New England overnight. And we'll see some rain or snow in the northwest as well. High temperatures on Friday will still be mild in the southwest, but they will be subzero or single numbers in the upper midwest and northern sections of New England, and feel even colder than that if you take wind chills into account. Looking ahead to Saturday, look for heavy snow, ice, and rain across much of the country from the Great Lakes to the gulf coast with cold temperatures. On Sunday, those temperatures drop even farther southward as our mix of rain and snow moves into New England. For Monday, snow showers northeast, rain and snow showers northwest, and still pretty cold, except for the southwest. Don't forget, four-day forecasts for more than 7,200 cities at CNN.com. CNN19981231.2130.0573 NEWS CAPTION Authorities have detained a pacific gas and electric employee after finding hundreds of pounds of bombmaking materials in the company's warehouse in san Francisco this morning. 250 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in the Oklahoma City bombing, were found thawing in a locker. Other chemicals, books on bombmaking and explosives were found elsewhere in the building. The employee reportedly led authorities to a second PG&E building, and a Police bomb squad is at the scene. CNN19981231.2130.0601 NEWS CAPTION Ohio swore in its first female governor today, but she'll only serve for 11 days. Nancy Hollister is filling in for departing governor George voinovich, who was recently elected to the U.S. Senate. She'll hold the office until January 11th, when incoming governor Bob Taft will be sworn in for a full term. Hollister has been lieutenant governor since 1995. Today, she announced her plans for her 11 days as governor -- "no major initiatives and no legislation." CNN19981231.2130.0628 NEWS CAPTION The world of science and technology saw its share of surprises in 1998, including those that may impact your life in the new year. Ann Kellan looks back now at some of the highlights. I don't think it's gonna go anywhere because we've got him fied down tight on those things. From the most expensive space project to the stunning contradictions of a worm. The world of science and technology produced both marvels and mysterys in 1998. For the first time we have the complete instruction book, if you will, of an animal. It took researchers eight years to produce a detailed genetic blueprint of this worm. No one's taking it seriously enough. In 199, many began to worry about a threat that could disrupt everything from travel to banking when the next new year rolls ash. The so-called millennium bug could paralyze computers that aren't programed to read the year 2000. The government start add I trial to put the brakes on Microsoft's phenomenal growth and monopoly. He's really out to destroy Microsoft. In December, space walkers joined an internaksal space station. In all, 16 nations are building this laboratory. This is getting deeper blue, and getting colder and colder there. In late spring, El Nino was replaced with La Nina. La Nina's most devastating legacy, a busy and deadly atlantic hurricane season. The storm was the least understood and most abundant. These were once thought to be flashes of energy, but the discovery in Japan that these particles have maps, could alter scientists' theories of how the earth has changed since the big bang. Perhaps a mystery to be solved next year. Ann Kellan, CNN. CNN19981231.2130.0745 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION Top stories are two minutes away. And in consumer news -- a new currency for a new year. The Euro makes its debut. see ya. bye. See ya. Night, daddy. I go out walkin' after midnight out in the moonlight just like we used to do I'm always walkin' after midnight searchin' for you... keep in touch... on America's number one direct Internet service. CNN19981231.2130.0930 NEWS CAPTION Checking our top stories -- bitter winter weather is rolling in over much of the eastern United States this new year's eve. Significant snowfall is expected in New England after thousands of without electricity after last week's ice storm. CNN19981231.2130.0945 NEWS CAPTION In spite of freezing temperatures, 500,000 revelers are expected to welcome the new year in Times Square. CNN19981231.2130.0955 NEWS CAPTION The Pentagon says the aircraft carrier "USS enterprise" will leave the persian golf by the weekend. The ships were part of the recent air attacks in Iraq. CNN19981231.2130.0964 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION Those stories and more coming up in 15 minutes. CNN19981231.2130.0976 NEWS CAPTION Europeans are Ringing in 1999 with a new common currency. Finance ministers from 11 European countries met in Brussels today to launch the Euro. They won't be in circulation for another three years, but starting tomorrow, the new occur Ren sti will begin challenging the U.S. dollar and U.S. businesses. Charles Molineaux explains. For U.S. traders, the setting of a value for the Euro injected unusual excitement into a normally quiet new year's eve. And bankers here say the transition to the Euro could translate into a plus for American shoppers. As far as the U.S. consumer is concerned, I'd had thought that increasing competition in Europe is gonna kick down the pressure on prices, so from their point of view, they could be getting better-quality, lower-priced goods from Europe. The bottom line for U.S. businesses is trickier. U.S. companies could find it easier to do business with their continental counterparts without the fluctuations of 11 different currencies. But newly more efficient Euro businesses could also become tougher competitors. And the Euro is the first serious challenge in decades to the dollar's dominance as the reserve currency of choice. Some central banks are already planning to convert part of their reserves to the Euro. And some analysts say that could weaken the dollar, although not right away. A unified European currency could also make European stocks more tempting for American investors, challenging U.S. markets. Right now in the U.S., about 10% of all investment portfolios are in foreign investments. That's a very small -- a very small number. So they're going to be looking at this second largest market in the world, the 11 countries represented by the single currency, as to what percentage of their investments they should have in those markets. The coming of the Euro did offer a one-time opportunity for some investors willing to incur some end of the year risk. Over the past few months, trading in European currency has fluctuated wildly. That meant an opportunity for hedge funds and other investors to bet on it returning to its target levels. Charles Molineaux, "CNN Financial News," New York. CNN19981231.2130.1097 NEWS CAPTION Blue chips finished this last day of 1998 on a down note. The Dow gained 16.2% for the year. CNN19981231.2130.1111 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION College football bowl weekend is under way highlights are next in "CNN Headline Sports." CNN19981231.2130.1258 NEWS CAPTION With "CNN Headline Sports," I'm Russell Biven. They won't bring home the national championship, but today the green wave finished with a perfect 12-0 record. Tulane ran over byu, 41-27 to give new head coach Chris selfo a first win. Michael Jordan took this touchback 79 yards for a king. CNN19981231.2130.1280 NEWS CAPTION Meanwhile, despite controversy, tcu showed it was worthy of playing in the sun bowl with a Rout on southern California. Mitchell scored a touchdown run in the first quarter. Keep your eye on the "sportsticker" for all the gays in progress. CNN19981231.2130.1295 UNTRANSCRIBED CAPTION The rebels face Texas tech in the independence bowl. He may wait till later to adjust the terminology to help them. The other side, just in case the Texas tech people may like at this, we may use a little bit of the new. It will be interesting for us and a fun mix for the kids. CNN19981231.2130.1317 NEWS CAPTION After less than a year on the job, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ray sherman resigned today. The steelers finished the season 7-9 and broke their streak of six straight playoff appearances. CNN19981231.2130.1327 NEWS CAPTION Meanwhile, good news for Jacksonville. The quarterback made it through practice Jed and didn't have problems with his injured ankle today. He's expected to start Sunday in the wild card game against New England. CNN19981231.2130.1340 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION Remember, it's not too late to sign up for NFL's fantasy football. Dial up cnnsi.com. CNN19981231.2130.1347 NEWS CAPTION Finally, the Flyers will be without Eric Lindros. He leads the league with 44 points, suffered a mild Con tugs in Tuesday's win over Cal grarry. Russell Biven, "CNN Headline Sports." CNN19981231.2130.1361 MISCELLANEOUS CAPTION 1998 was another year of controversies, drama and surprises in Hollywood. Sherri Sylvester looks back at an eventful year in the lives of many celebrities. Barbra Streisand and James Brolin. With "CNN Headline Sports," I'm Russell Biven. Mike? Mike? As the year draws to a close we take a moment to recognize our colleagues, the people who helped bring you "CNN Headline News."