5 things to know for NYE

Fiscal 'cliff' deal proving elusive

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Capitol Hill deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" was proving elusive Sunday as a deadline to avert tax hikes on virtually every American worker and block sweeping spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon and other federal agencies grew perilously near.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell remained at odds on such key issues as the income threshold for higher tax rates and how to deal with inheritance taxes, among other issues. McConnell complained that Reid had yet to respond to a GOP offer made Saturday evening and reached out to Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime friend, in hopes of breaking the impasse. Biden assumed the lead role for Democrats, and a McConnell spokesman said the Kentucky Republican and the vice president were expected to negotiate by telephone into the night.

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Troopers patrol roads on NYE

Troopers will be patrolling the roads to keep those in Charlotte safe on busy New Year's Eve.

Troopers allowed Channel 9 to ride along with them as part of the Booze It and Lose It campaign.

Troopers said they have seen a slight increase in the number of DWI arrests this month and will be on the lookout Monday night.

Monday morning, Eyewitness News was on Providence Road with Charlotte Mecklenburg police after they said a driver ran off the road and nearly hit a house.

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Local voters send message to Congress about fiscal cliff

As the fiscal cliff debates head down to the wire in Washington, local voters decided to send a message to Congress by writing personal letters to a local lawmaker.

Sunday night, a dozen voters--many of them part of a grassroots tax advocacy group called The Action--gathered outside the Charlotte offices of U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick.

Myrick is retiring soon, but the voters want her to help get legislation passed on New Year's Eve that would stop the fiscal cliff.

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Clover man to find out if he has cleaned up enough junk

A Clover man will soon find out if he has cleaned up enough of the junk that had piled up in his yard.

In October, Eyewitness News reported that 79-year-old John Ramsey had to go to jail for not cleaning up.

He said he sold it to make money to buy his wife's medicine.

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First Night Charlotte preparations under way in Uptown

Preparations are under way for Charlotte's big New Year's Eve event.

First Night Charlotte is geared toward families and children who are ready to ring in 2013.

There will be a number of activities going on at several locations including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the ice rink in Uptown and the Wells Fargo Atrium.

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WSOC