A different focus
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008 4:13 PM by Ian Sager
By Peter Alexander, NBC News anchor
Just two days ago, millions focused their attention on Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago. During that evening's Midnight Mass, Pope Benedict XVI prayed "that hatred and violence will cease" between the Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, today, an unprecedented surge of violence erupted in that region, marking one of the bloodiest days in the 60-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The death toll is rising in the Hamas-run territory of Gaza – the most recent reports from Palestinian officials have indicated more than 200 dead. Our veteran Middle Eastern correspondent Martin Fletcher will have the latest details tonight.
Ron Mott will bring us the sobering 911 calls from family members trying to escape this week's deadly Christmas Day rampage in California. Police say 45-year-old Bruce Pardo killed nine people at his former in-laws' home, before taking his own life. We're learning more about what may have led him to commit such a heinous act.
Weather is once again wrecking havoc across the United States, and the radar suggests it might be a rough trip home for millions of people. My neighbor in the newsroom Michelle Franzen will wrap up the nation's trouble spots.
Our Chief Environmental correspondent Anne Thompson is on the ground in Harriman, Tennessee, gathering new details about what experts have described as a "witches brew" of potentially toxic sludge. The spill is threatening to give the coal industry's "clean coal" campaign a black eye.
Tonight, I'll report on what may be the next battleground in the country's culture wars: gay adoption. Arkansas residents recently voted to ban unmarried and same-sex couples from adopting beginning January 1st. I'll introduce you to people on both sides of the issue, including one family in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Lester is taking this holiday weekend off – spending some well-deserved time with his family. I'll be anchoring Nightly News tonight, and I hope you will join us.