Happy new year

Kate Snow writes: Personally, I’m ready to bid farewell to 2010. And I’m guessing I’m not alone on this New Year’s Eve. The year is ending painfully for many in the Midwest. Tornadoes have been reported today in Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. There are deaths and widespread damage.

Across most of the country, of course, the focus is on celebrating this evening. We’ll spend some time on the broadcast tonight enjoying wonderful video of New Year celebrations from Sydney to Paris. And we have a revealing piece about security measures hidden in plain sight in New York City, as they prepare to drop the ball in Times Square.

But my favorite item tonight is a look at some of the smaller stories that struck a chord with you this year. If you’re a regular, you know that each Friday we run a segment highlighting someone who is “making a difference”. What’s incredible is the response we often receive after those stories air. And this year social media sites have only made it easier to spread the word about people in need. One story can literally prompt thousands of strangers to reach out, to offer time or money or simply a kind word.

As we head into 2011, it’s nice to remember the power we all have to impact others.