♪ news breaking overnight of a shooting sat a colorado mall, at

least one person dead, two others in serious condition. we'll have the latest on what officials are calling a targeted dispute. one of the busiest airports in the nation grounds to a halt at the peak of holiday travel. the christmas travel chaos made worse by storms in the midwest. michelle grossman joins us with a look at whether you're going to get a white christmas or a wet one. it's the most wonderful time of the year for some people, for others it's more like a nightmare for christmas. the holiday's impact on mental health and how to talk about it with your loved ones. lions fans are riding high today. biggest plays from the nfl's christmas eve highlight, and look ahead at which teams will face off today. and santa might be giving a ride now to cabbage patch kids decades after the toy craze

caused riots in stores. we look at the toy's popularity. "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm brie jackson. mother nature made it harder for travelers to make it home. a number of americans braved last-minute holiday trips, fog rolled in to shut down one major hub and a storm is on the move making roads dangerous. >> reporter: rough weather slowing down the christmas eve travel rush. >> a little stressed. >> reporter: dense fog causing a stop at chicago's midway airport. more than 300 flights canceled and delayed, leading to long lines and frustrated passengers. >> tried to leave yesterday, we had an evening flight, it was delayed because of the fog, then

eventually canceled. >> reporter: with 40 million across the great lakes under fog alerts, the weather causing a ripple effect, more than 3,000 delays nationwide. passengers stuck over 15 hours. you're going to drive from florida? >> because christmas is important, to be with my kids. >> reporter: met with blizzard conditions across the rockies and northern plains, high winds causing a semi truck to slide off the road in nebraska. projected to be one of the busiest travel seasons on record, in florida a 6-year-old boy flying alone was mistakenly put on the wrong flight by spirit airline employees. the airline apologizing, saying the child was always under the care of a crew member and they took steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them. no nationwide disruption for

southwest after last year's holiday meltdown led to nearly 17,000 canceled flights and 2 million stranded passengers. including doreen. >> can't control the 0 weather, and with chicago, you never know what's going to happen. >> reporter: home for the holidays, at last. thanks for that report. now a live look at the travel outlook from meteorologist michelle grossman. merry christmas, good morning. >> good to see you. we're looking at more trouble, large portions of the northern and central plains with blizzard conditions throughout the day. that's going to bring treacherous travel on christmas today. heavy rain from the midwest to the southeast, could see flash flooding in the southeast, really soggy there. sandwiched in the middle, upper midwest, icy conditions as well. that's tough travel. winter alerts stretching from

the upper midwest into portions of the northern and central plains. purple is a blizzard warning, winds gusting up to 55 miles an hour and we could see a lot of snow today and tomorrow. locally up to 18 inches. that's where the pink and purple colors are. that's throughout the day. and soggy from the midwest to the southeast, where you see the darker colors of reds, oranges and yellows, it's soggy conditions. could see flash flooding there. we'll talk more in a few minutes. now to the middle east, new insight into the hamas tunnels under gaza, where israeli forces recently found the bodies of five hostages. this comes as new air strikes have reportedly left dozens dead in a gaza refugee camp. >> reporter: the world is seeing just how deeply hamas has

burrowed itself underneath the gaza strip. israeli military has released videos showing tunnels under gaza, complete with a shower, toilet, extensive plumbing, electrical gear, air tanks and a water cooler. it's two levels dozens of feet underground passing under a school and hospital. nbc news can't verify the claims. israel revealing the bodies five bodies in the tunnels, their deaths were known, the circumstances not. israel is reeling from one of its deadliest stretches of the war. 15 israeli troops killed since friday according to the idf. prime minister netanyahu saying israel is deepening the fighting in the gaza strip. they killed at least 70 at a refugee camp, the palestinian

health ministry says. it's reviewing the incident. the war's cost is staggering. the family from northeastern gaza fled three times to safety with three children with disabilities. reaching rafah an israeli strike destroyed their tent and their son's wheelchair. i don't know how to take him to the bathroom, he can't go by himself. how can i help them. stopped short of demanding he call off the war, and the conflict is increasingly spilling out of gaza and across the region. new clashes between israel and lebanon's hezbollah, houthis in yemen with missile strikes. and striking a chemical tanker

in the indian ocean, the first time the u.s. has accused iran itself of an attack since the war began. now to breaking news out of colorado springs. police say one person is dead and two others are in serious condition after shots rang out at a shopping mall christmas eve. officers believe the shooting was targeted, two groups of people fighting each other. this was not considered an active shooter situation. the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the colorado springs police. in california, growing outrage after a mother was fatally shot when sheriff's deputies responded to her distress call. >> reporter: questions mounting over the death of the 27-year-old mother. her family said she was shot and killed by police in front of her 9-year-old daughter after

calling 911 seeking help for domestic violence. the family has filed a legal claim, the first step to a lawsuit. they allege in early december she called for help after her estranged boyfriend would not leave her home. >> it's just the worst nightmare you ever want to go through. >> reporter: the los angeles sheriff's department said when police arrived they saw her holding a large knife, making verbal threats indicating she may harm the man. she approached him, they say, and deputies fired the fatal shot. the family disputes the account and the ex-boyfriend told authorities there was no reason to shoot her. what are you asking? >> for justice. you couldn't mace her, use a stun gun? >> reporter: her distraught father says his granddaughter shot the shooting unfold, the

young girl gave her the knife for self-defense. >> he was hurting my mother and me, i didn't have no choice but get something sharp. >> reporter: the family is suing for $30 million, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations. in a statement the los angeles sheriff's department saying they're reviewing the incident and will release the body cram video by next week. father mourning a daughter. ♪ most wonderful time of the year ♪ i sing all the time. i can never get her back. an investigation is under way in texas after a massive fire at a car auction facility in denton county. emergency crews were called out to a suspected grass fire after 1:00 a.m. sunday, they found

dozens of cars on fire, 58 were damaged. the cause of the fire was not immediately clear. santa tackled some of his naughty list personally. peruvian police carried out a drug bust operation with special help of a santa claus. one squad member dressed as st. nick broke down a door with a sledgehammer. the costume was used to get close to the scene without alerting locals to the action. two were arrested for selling drugs. the holiday travel rush is not over. no matter your destination, you want to keep an eye on the winter weather. meteorologist michelle grossman has a look at what to expect. >> it's going to be tough for some of us, looking at a big system bringing wintry weather to the plains, icy to the midwest and soggy from the

midwest to the southeast. pacific northwest has another storm system moving onshore, bringing travel trouble there. heavy rain throughout interior northeast, along the east coast and into the southeast. blizzard conditions linger in portions of the northern and central plains but will start to weaken the latest part of tuesday. snow in the intermountain west, the middle of the workweek, northeast showers, soggy in the upper midwest to the midwest. temperatures in cool, only 50 in dallas. that's the christmas day forecast. coming up, if you're having a blue christmas, there are tips to help.

and how aquaman is struggling to stay afloat at the box office with a quiet opening. jerry! come see who it is! what are you doing here you said you weren't coming home! i wanted to surprise you! mom, are you coming? i'll be right in! ( ♪♪ ) this is not just 1-hour delivery. this is help with the holidays, right in your neighborhood. walgreens. ( ♪♪ ) sometimes your work shirt needs to be for more than just work. like when it needs to be a big soft shoulder to cry on. which is why downy does more to make clothes softer, fresher, and better. downy. breathe life into your laundry. ma, ma, ma— ( clears throat ) for fast sore throat relief, try vicks vapocool drops. with two times more menthol per drop, and powerful vicks vapors to vaporize sore throat pain.

vicks vapocool drops. vaporize sore throat pain. many are feeling the joy of the holidays, but this time of year can be challenging. seasonal depression can take a toll in kocolder months. we spoke with mental health experts for advice ♪ >> reporter: seasonal depression for the holidays may not be the best time of year for some. >> symptoms worsen end of fall. they may have lost people this time of year or celebrating the holidays brings memories of people not with them anymore. >> reporter: a psychiatrist with st. bernard's behavioral health care says those dealing with depression this time of year can do some things to combat it. >> self-care, exercising helps

release and regulate serotonin and dopamine in your brain. >> reporter: speaking to someone is never a bad idea. >> be reminded of good things out there. there is hope and hechlt you need to look for help and talk to people. don't need to talk yourself out of getting help. >> reporter: the responsibility to seek health is not just on the one suffering. family members and friends need to be on the lookout for signs of depression, don't be afraid to have a hardconversation. >> sometimes we see things and are afraid of acting on the things we see, but it is important to have physical conversations with people we care about. >> reporter: that hard conversation might make the difference between life or death with someone struggling. >> thanks to hayden for that

important report. still to come, road to atlantis not paved in gold, the aqu aquaman sequel. an upset and the full slate of nfl games. scrub, soak? nope. i just scrape, load... and i'm done. platinum plus is cascade's best clean ever. with double the dawn and double the scrubbers, it removes the toughest grease and food residue for an irresistible clean and shine. rewash? not in my house. upgrade to cascade platinum plus. dare to dish differently. honey... honey... nyquil severe honey. powerful cold and flu relief with a dreamy honey taste. nyquil honey, the nighttime, sniffing, sneezing, couging, aching, fever, honey-licious, best sleep with a cold, medicine. for your most brilliant smile,

crest has you covered. ♪♪ (laughing) nice smile, brad. nice! thanks? crest 3d white. 100% more stain removal. crest. ♪ on your period, sudden gushes happen. say goodbye gush fears! thanks to always ultra thins... with rapiddry technology... that absorbs two times faster. hellooo clean and comfortable. always. fear no gush. a mystery! jessie loves playing detective. but the real mystery was her irritated skin. so, we switched to tide pods free & gentle. it cleans better, and doesn't leave behind irritating residues. and it's gentle on her skin. tide free & gentle is epa safer choice certified. it's got to be tide.

i cannot believe you let this happen. >> yeah, well, i hate this job. >> a true king builds bridges, right? >> a true king builds bridges. >> "aquaman and the lost kingdom" notmaking a huge splash, just over $28 million in the opening weekend. it was still enough to take first place.

"wonka" was second, shy of 18 million, and "migration" $12.3 million for its opening weekend. santa has a full slate of nfl fun for christmas day. blockbuster triple header with the raiders and chiefs, vegas fighting for a playoff spot, and eagles look to snap a three-game skid against the giants. the top contenders cap off tonight, raiders and 49ers facing off in what could be a super bowl preview, after a wild christmas eve across the league. >> johnson grabs it, he's free, touchdown! >> fakes the run. >> down 23-7, russell wilson and the broncos clawed their way back to tie up with the

patriots, but new england sealed the win with a 56-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game. the dolphins clinching a spot in the afc playoffs with a huge win over the cowboys. tua tagovailoa led miami on a 12-play 62-yard drive to top dallas on their home turf. and nfc north champions. jared goff was born in 1994. he led the lions to clinch their division for the first time since 1993. it was a heroic 30-24 win against the vikings. when we come back, a look into what the paris olympics is dishing up this summer.

lately, my skin seems dry and sensitive. my dermatologist recommended all free clear for my laundry. it's free of dyes and perfumes, for a clean that's gentle on skin. if it touches my skin, i clean it with all free clear the number one brand recommended by dermatologists. the all-in-one and done symptom relief of mucinex is delivered fast with doordash to the comfort of your couch. slow down!... i mean (coughs) slow down! ahh! watch it! ♪♪ come on! a hero will answer the call... (laughs) you just have to answer the door. oof! that was fast. ♪♪ mucinex available on doordash. ahh! it's comeback season. how white do you think your teeth really are? ahh! let's try the tissue test.

ooof, still yellow. whitening toothpaste can only do so much. there's toothpaste white, and there's crest 3d whitestrips white. so much whiter! crest. okay, so here's my most requested hack for stubborn odors. you'll need vinegar, a large salad bowl and... oh, hi! have you tried new tide fabric rinse? it works after your detergent to fight deep odors 3 times better than detergent alone. i love that. try new tide fabric rinse. it's been said that when someone you love has parkinson's, you have parkinson's. the truth is parkinson's disease doesn't just affect the diagnosed, it affects everyone who supports and helps care for them. if you have questions, the parkinson's foundation has answers. we can help you understand the disease,

and give you tips for living a better life. to learn more, please go to parkinson.org or call 1-800-4pd-info. the parkinson's foundation. better lives. together. we're back with what you need to know "early today." tesla is recalling more than 120,000 of its cars over doors that could become unlocked during a crash, causing them to

fly open. affected vehicles include 2021 through 2023 models s and x. the original mickey mouse from 1938 short "steamboat willie" is public domain, only the original. sneak peek for athletes and spectators for the paris olympics. menu is 60% vegetarian, including meat-free burgers. we'll be back. jerry! come see who it is! what are you doing here you said you weren't coming home! i wanted to surprise you! mom, are you coming? i'll be right in! ( ♪♪ ) this is not just 1-hour delivery. this is help with the holidays, right in your neighborhood. walgreens. ( ♪♪ )

♪♪ vicks vapostick provides soothing, non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family. vicks vapostick. and try vicks vaposhower for steamy vicks vapors. i'm adding downy unstopables to my wash. now i'll be smelling fresh all day long. [sniff] still fresh. ♪♪ get 6x longer-lasting freshness, plus odor protection. try for under $5! it's been 40 years since cabbage patch kids took the country by storm, sending parents, kids and toy stores

into a frenzy. but as joe fryer reports, decades later the craze is going strong. >> reporter: when the cabbage patch kids exploded on the scene in 1983 -- ♪ you can give them all your love ♪ >> reporter: harmonious ads at odds with what it took to acquire one. >> i got my doll. >> reporter: toy stores turned into wrestling rings, a blood sport for a stuffed toy. there were victors. >> here she is, hello. >> reporter: jennifer was 13 when she got corinne marie, one of the last dolls on the shelf. >> you'll do whatever you can, if that means fighting in the toy aisles, you'll fight in the toy aisle. >> i never expected riots in department stores. >> reporter: xavier roberts created the cabbage patch kids,

unlike any other dolls at the time, distinctive and diverse, a unique name and birthday. >> you weren't buying a doll but adopting a cabbage patch baby. >> reporter: the curator, they just inducted the kids into the toy hall of fame. >> i got a tip some were arriving in the department store, lined up one at a time. >> like a speakeasy. >> reporter: a craze that paved the way for tickle me elmo. they're still on the market and delivered daily at baby land general hospital in georgia. >> a beautiful baby girl. >> they have the cabbage patch hospital. she said, we're going. absolutely. >> reporter: for adults, it's nostalgia. >> baby. >> reporter: for kids, it's a

chance to hold the dolls, even adopt one, without all that pushing and shoving. turns out it was not just a passing fad. >> why have you held on to her so long? >> i can't imagine not. where would she go? >> reporter: what was planted in the patch more than four decades ago is still growing. joe fryer, nbc news. santa claus is on the move, norad is following his journey, you can, too, through noradsanta.org. it's a tradition 65 years strong. winter weather might impact travel but won't cause trouble travel but won't cause trouble for st. nick and his look mom, i found one. oh, yeah, you did.

but we need an atm from our bank unless you want to spend a small fortune in fees. uh, no, thank you. banking with us means more fee-free atms than the two largest us banks combined. well, that would be convenient but there is no b-m-o here. ah, you can just call us bee-mo, and there is now. you know what else is convenient? mobile banking that makes it easy to track your goals and manage your money get out of town. but we... just got here. when a bank helps you get and stay ahead. that's the bmo effect. ♪ bmo ♪ ♪ a subdued christmas in the city of bethlehem. the holy