Cosby Charged, Bail Set at $1 Million; Epic Flooding Swallows Parts of Missouri; Heavy Security for New Year's Eve
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Bill Cosby defiant. His lawyers are promising a vigorous defense after he was charged with sexual assault. What are his alleged victims saying this morning? We have the very latest, straight ahead.</s>ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: The historic flooding only getting worse in parts of Missouri. Roads and homes washed away by the power of rushing waters with nowhere to go but up. We're going to tell you where the danger lurks next.</s>ROMANS: And security out in force as the world gets ready to usher in 2016. Police working in major cities around the world to keep celebrations safe. But the terror threat already forcing one major cancellation. We'll tell you where 2015 will go out very quietly. Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.</s>KOSIK: Good morning. I'm Alison Kosik. It is Thursday, December 31st. New Year's Eve. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East. And reaction is pouring in this morning to the stunning news that for the first time, comedian Bill Cosby faces criminal charges. The TV legend is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, 12 years ago. The local prosecutor at the time declined to charge the actor, citing insufficient evidence. Constand sued Cosby and settled in 2006. Well, now, following the parade of recent accusations against Cosby, his deposition in Constand suit has been unsealed, providing a new prosecutor with new evidence. CNN's Jean Casarez was at Cosby's arraignment and has the latest.</s>JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Alison, Bill Cosby was not late to his arraignment yesterday right here at this very small court house behind in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. When defendant Cosby entered the court, he appeared as though he couldn't see well and his attorney had his arm and really helped him step by step get to the defense counsel and sat him down in his seat. The magistrate judge took the stand a very short time later and really apprised Mr. Cosby of the criminal charges against him, alleged, aggravated indecent assault, explaining the various theories of the prosecution. She also told him bail was set at $1 million, 10 percent he would have to pay. Cosby didn't saying anything. He doesn't have any emotion that came out through his eyes. He just was intently looking. But she was talking about the conditions of bail, saying that he could not have any contact with the accuser with the complainant. At one point he said, "With who?" And she said, "With the complainant." He seemed to understand. She said, "Do you understand what I'm telling you?" He said yes. He gave up his passport. His attorney had it, gave it to the prosecutor as a condition of bail. The judge ended by saying, "Mr. Cosby, good luck." And Bill Cosby said, very matter of fact and very respectfully, "Thank you." The victim, Andrea Constand, at this point, we believe remains in Canada. Her attorney said she was told one day ahead of time that charges would be brought. She is so grateful, I'm told, that this district attorney is believing and has confidence in her -- Christine, Alison.</s>ROMANS: Jean, thank you for that. Other Cosby accusers are applauding the news that an alleged victim will get her day in court. The lawyer for former supermodel Janice Dickinson releasing this statement, "Though he is a very wealthy and famous celebrity, Mr. Cosby should be subject to the same criminal and civil laws as everyone else. Mr. Cosby's arrest today is a highly significant chapter in his accusers' long journey towards justice. Every woman who stands up against Mr. Cosby does so in solidarity with the over 50 women who have now had the courage to speak out against him." Supermodel Beverly Johnson tweeted about karma, writing, "When it comes down to it, truth is simple. There is nothing that we give to others that does not come back to us in some shape or form."</s>KOSIK: Attorneys for Cosby immediately slamming the prosecution of their client as political. Their statement says this, "The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the alleged incident and on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county's D.A. which this case was made the focal point." It goes on to say, "Make no mistake. We intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law." Cosby faces 10 years in prison if convicted.</s>ROMANS: All right. There is no rain in the forecast, thankfully, for Missouri. But you know what? The historic flooding underway there right now is only going to get worse. Overnight, state officials closed parts of the major interstate south of St. Louis so they could push the sandbagging efforts to the limit. They are hoping to keep the interstate open as long as possible. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says the Mississippi River is expected to crest later today and will hit all time record levels. CNN with the governor as he toured the flood ravaged area by helicopter. Houses, neighborhoods, schools, all under water and ruined. Rescue efforts across the state. Watch carefully. This is terrifying to watch as this unfolded live. This is a man trying to get the dog off the roof and he fall into the water. For some time, they had been on the roof with the waters rising. The dog getting more frantic, really not cooperating frankly. Check out this truck towed up and out with some of the river still inside. Watch as they open the door and the water pours out. Unbelievable there. Governor Nixon discussed the magnitude of the damage he saw.</s>GOV. JAY NIXON (D), MISSOURI: Until you see the magnitude of it, it sometimes difficult to feel the damages. Plus, we want to make sure that we understand where we know the water is moving, because all of this water is headed down to another place in the state of Missouri. And if you are winning fights here, it allows us then to measure and be prepared downstream, in places like Perryville and further South.</s>KOSIK: So many people are affected by the flooding. In fact, more than 12 million people under flood warnings right now in 19 states. You can see them there. It is extremely unusual for this time of year to see this. For the latest on the forecast, let's bring in meteorologist Allison Chinchar. Good morning.</s>ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. And, Alison, I want to update you, because you are right about this being rare. Some very strong wording coming from the National Weather Service in St. Louis. Wanting to emphasize out of the series of floods that we had -- Interstate 44, Interstate 55 and Interstate 93 have been shutdown for at least a period of time. That never happened during the Great Flood of 1993 in the same area nor did it happen during the December flooding of 1982. So when you are trying to grasp the magnitude of this storm, understand we will no longer be comparing to the previous storms. This storm is the benchmark going forward, if there were ever any flooding events here. So, that just really puts it into perspective, how serious this really is. And again, as you mentioned, we still have more than a dozen states dealing with flood watches, flood warnings or even flash flood warnings right now. And over 350 rivers are still either at or above their flood stage. Now, the good news is we are going to start to see those come down over the next couple days. It stopped raining and it will stay that way for at least 5 to 7 days in these areas which will allow the rivers to come down. The roadways to start to become uncovered and people can finally start to recover. Here is a look at current conditions. Behind the system that moved through, we are talking much cooler weather, 17 right now in Minneapolis, 24 in Des Moines, 37 degrees in Louisville, but it's still 67 in Virginia Beach, and 69 in Charleston right now into Charleston. All of the rest of the system will push out into the Atlantic. Today, we have areas of lake-effect snow for the northeast and also into the Midwest. But for the most part, eastern half of the country is really going to get a bit of a break. High temperatures, again, big changes, especially for cities like Nashville. You're only going to top out at 44 today, 58 in Atlanta, 47 degrees for the high today in Boston. We will be 84 in Jackson, but your colder temperatures are also going to be on the way as well. Just give it a few extra days. New Year's Eve for tonight, if you are heading out for some celebrations in New York City, it should be 40 degrees as you are out there. The good news is we will have some light winds and mostly cloudy skies, relatively a normal New Year's Eve for a lot of these folks. So, that at least is good news. No rain or snow to have to contend with.</s>KOSIK: OK, Allison Chinchar, thanks for the latest on weather.</s>ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on money this morning. The last chance to trade stocks for the year. And U.S. stock futures barely moving. The big story: another huge drop in oil. A 3 percent slump in oil prices yesterday. Oil now down 30 percent for the year. So, a progress report for you for stocks this year, ending the year basically where they started. This is the S&P 500, moved sideways most of the year. Right now, the S&P 500 is up just 0.2 percent for 2015. That's very different from the double digit gains so many have become used to. Last year, the stocks climbed 11 percent. In 2013, a stunning 30 percent. But what's in store for next year? You know, this is barely budging here. Well, experts polled by CNN Money, they do not expect more double digit gains. But they expect a bigger boost than this year. The prediction about a 6 percent gain for the S&P 500 for rest of the year. And I will say, there's some tech stocks that did very well this year. Netflix, Amazon, a few others. That is why you have the NASDAQ with a solid gain for the year. So, if your retirement portfolio has those names in it, you did pretty well this year.</s>KOSIK: I hear you. All right. 2016 is just 19 hours away. Celebrations planned around the world, but terror concerns threatened to put a damper on the festivities. That story, next.</s>ROMANS: Tonya Couch, mother of the so-called affluenza teen, she is back in the U.S. this morning, landing just hours ago while her son -- her son is still in Mexico. Sources say Ethan Couch has been transferred to an immigration holding facility in Mexico City. He is expected there while lawyers file paper works seeking legal protection for him and they tried to block Mexican authorities from deporting him. Couch violated his probation sentence in Texas from a drunk driving crash in which he killed four people and badly wounded two others. He and his mother were on the run for nearly three weeks before arrest in Puerto Vallarta last week. Texas prosecutors plan to charge Tonya Couch with hindering the capture of a juvenile. She could face up to 10 years in prison.</s>KOSIK: Breaking news this morning, police in Belgium have arrested a tenth person in connection with last month's terror attacks in Paris. The men charged with terrorist murder and participating in a terrorist organization. Those are the new charges authorities have put on this new suspect. Let's go to CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joining us now live from Brussels. So, Nic, arrest apparently netting new clues as to how these terrorist attacks in Paris were carried out?</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, absolutely. We know that what this man charged with terrorist murder, participation in a terrorist organization in connection with the Paris attack, that ten cell phones were found in the premises where he was arrested. We now know yesterday, new information emerging that a cell phone found outside the Bataclan Theater in Paris, that theater where so many were gunned down and killed, that the cell phone had sent 25 text messages in the 24 hours before the attack. The last message sent immediately before the attacks, saying we are about to start. Those text messages, those 25 text messages sent to cell phones here in Belgium. Now, it's not clear if those ten cell phones recovered yesterday are the same cell phones that the text messages sent to. But this, the arrest of this man, the charge with terrorist murder, the third arrest this week, two men arrested earlier this week, planning an attack here on New Year's Eve in the Grand Place, the center of Brussels, a beautiful square where revelers gather for the New Year. But celebrations here have been canceled. Fireworks displays, traditional in Brussels to bring in the New Year. They have been canceled this year. The prime minister appearing on television saying terrorists are more prudent, more professional than they have been in the past, that the terror threat changes hour by hour. The mayor of the city saying he cannot keep large numbers of the people in the city safe. That is why the celebrations for New York are being canceled -- Alison.</s>KOSIK: So many big cities on edge this New Year's Eve. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.</s>ROMANS: And again, the celebrations canceled in Brussels, but they are still, of course, scheduled to go on here in the U.S. despite a threat to New York City, Los Angeles and Washington. The NYPD is responding with an unprecedented deployment for the annual Time Square celebration. We have Miguel Marquez there.</s>MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Alison, well, this is it. The crossroads of the world despite not being any credible threats will be turned into the most secure streets in the world. The ball will drop right down there. The famous New Year's Eve ball, more than 1 million revelers in Times Square here. Police taking no chances though, saying even though there is no credible threat, they will plan for anything that comes at them. Six thousand police just for these few blocks alone. Tens of thousands of law enforcement to protect events happening throughout New York City. What was once parties and good times are now considered soft targets. The threat of ISIS has changed for cities like New York. They will have to throw everything at it from the land, from sea, from underground in the subways, even from the air over the city to protect the entire city during the New Year's Eve celebrations. They will have lots of bomb-sniffing dogs out and available. They will have radiation detectors, chemical detectors, and thousand of cameras as well to keep tabs on things. The mayor of New York saying that because of Paris and San Bernardino, it has changed the way they look at security.</s>MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: We pride ourselves in the city. We are the best prepared city in the country. The best prepared city to prevent terrorism and to deal with any event should it occur. There will be a tremendous number of officers who you will see and many officers you won't see. There will be obvious security measures you will see and a number of measures you won't see. What we can assure you is that the preparations are extraordinary.</s>MARQUEZ: New York City saying that special response team is able to respond to dozens of incidents at a time, that's because of the San Bernardino and Paris attacks. They want to be able to hone in and respond to any sort of small bore attacks in several different locations at the same time. This will be the biggest security operation ever with 800 additional officers. New York City says it is prepared for whatever may come -- Alison, Christine.</s>KOSIK: OK, Miguel Marquez, thanks for that report. And a friend who allegedly supplied assault rifles to the San Bernardino massacre couple now facing terrorism charges. Twenty-four- year-old Enrique Marquez was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday. He is accused of conspiring with Syed Farook to plan terror attacks in 2011 and 2012, years before Farook and his wife killed 14 people earlier this month. Prosecutors have said there's no evidence Marquez knew about the San Bernardino attack.</s>ROMANS: Turning to the world of politics. Most of the candidates laying low for the New York's holiday. Even so, big news this morning from the Jeb Bush campaign. A major shift in strategy, dropping $3 million worth of TV ad buys in early voting states. Instead, switching gears, those resources will be redeployed with the campaign instead sending 60 or more staffers to those states. Donald Trump doing a redeployment of his own, repurposing his signature slam against Bush, that he is low energy, using it now against Hillary Clinton.</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Low energy can be applied to Hillary. I just don't like to use the same thing twice on one of my enemies, right? Because I consider them enemies. We view this as war. Don't you view this as war? It's war. It's war.</s>ROMANS: Ben Carson's war chest in the headlines as well, with word he raised at least $23 million in the fourth quarter. That puts Carson at or near the top of the Republican fundraising race. Not a bad haul for a campaign that was reported just weeks ago to be in a fundraising crisis. Cruz had $20 million, also near the top of that list. All right. The Golden State Warriors taking the court without their top star. Could they pull off a win and how long could Steph Curry be on the sideline? Coy Wire live on site, he's there, for the Orange Bowl. He's got the details for this morning's bleacher report, that's next.