News Wrap: Fatal airstrikes in Yemen mark start of 2018

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• William Brangham:

  In the day's other news, the new year brought more slaughter in Yemen. Security officials and witnesses say at least 23 people died in airstrikes by the Saudi Arabian coalition. The strikes targeted the port city of Hudaydah on the Red Sea. It's held by Shiite rebels. The war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 civilians since 2015.

  Much of the U.S. began the year still in the deep freeze. It was minus-32 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the coldest New Year's Day in 99 years. Readings in Omaha, Nebraska, plunged to 15 below zero overnight, smashing a record set in 1884. The windchill made it feel more like minus-40. And the Deep South braced for temperatures in the teens tonight.

  Despite the frigid weather, some people ushered in 2018 with a traditional swim. In New York, hundreds of swimmers at Coney Island braved 17 degrees to take the annual Polar Bear Plunge. It raises money for the local community.

  The 129th annual Rose Parade was considerably warmer. It rolled through the streets of Pasadena, California, with dozens of floats covered in flowers. People lined up for hours beforehand.

• Pico Rivera:

  Just everyone getting together with the family from out of town you know, and then just having front-row seats to the Rose Parade.

• Woman:

  Never been. First time. It's been on my bucket list to see the Rose Bowl Parade. We made it. Yay!

• William Brangham:

  The new year also brings in a number of new laws nationwide. We will look at some of them later in the program.

  President Trump's first tweet of the new year was a shot at Pakistan for harboring terror groups. He said the U.S. has given Pakistan billions of dollars in aid. But he charged, "They have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking our leaders as fools."

  Pakistan's foreign minister dismissed the criticism, saying America is frustrated over defeat in Afghanistan.

  In Northern England, a huge fire engulfed a parking garage in Liverpool last night, destroying some 1,400 cars. Flames and thick smoke could be seen billowing out of the seven-story parking deck next to an event arena. Police officials said the fire started accidentally in the engine of an older vehicle. No injuries were reported.

  And homicide rates fell in several major U.S. cities last year. The number in New York appeared to fall below 300 for the first time in nearly 70 years. Chicago had 650 killings, down more than 15 percent from last year. But Baltimore had 343, its highest rate of homicides ever.