right here on nbc. >> thanks for joining us. >> good night. a big storm barrelling across the country just as the thanksgiving travel rush gets underway. a nightmare scenario for tens of millions on the move. the investigation. nearly a year after the tragedy in newtown tonight, what authorities have uncovered about what happened inside that school. the police response, and the 20-year-old gunman. what's the deal? the administration says it is a history-making agreement with iran. the other side labels it an historic mistake, and the stakes are high. and the salute from the son of a fallen president on his third birthday. it was 50 years ago today. tonight, what we have learned all these years later about that iconic moment. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. well, as if on cue and just in time to disrupt the travel plans of millions of americans going home for thanksgiving, a sizable storm is gathering strength and moving through the north and east through the busiest airports and population centers in this country. that's why the east coast storm is bound to affect the rest of the country. this one comes after a long warning period. forecasters knew a week ago it was a possibility. now already it's a reality across a big area. we start with two reports tonight beginning with tom costello at national airport in washington. tom, good evening. >> reporter: hi, brian. in fact, tens of millions of americans are about to face off against mother nature. at last count roughly 500 fliegts flights canceled systemwide. if you are east of the mississippi traveling by car expect rain, sleet, snow.

and if you're flying, you need to have a lot of patience. mid--sm mid-afternoon at the american airlines dispatch center in dallas -- >> chicago looks like it has a light dusting going on. >> reporter: -- all eyes are trained on the weather radar. >> if that's going to impact a hub or any airport we are well aware of it before it happens and that it will be a possibility and route the airplane appropriately. >> reporter: the biggest choke point so far dfw with ice and sleet delaying more than 600 flights on sunday. today as the sleet turned to rain, the cancellations dropped to roughly 300. now the storm is headed for the southeast and midatlantic. in atlanta, the weather warnings are out. >> heavy rain through the overnight for the morning commute. it will be coming down heavy. >> reporter: further north in chicago, some folks have already moved out. >> the best part about flying is we're not driving. >> i think leaving early takes the pressure off. >> reporter: just in time flightaware.com unveiled the

misery map highlighting routes that are the most delayed or canceled in realtime. today, denver, dallas, chicago and new york were showing the most red. meanwhile, 39 million americans are hitting the road this week. they were off to on a icy start in oklahoma while in wisconsin, it's snow. >> the roads here are very, very bad. >> reporter: in the deep south they are de-icing in memphis. kerry sanders is there. >> this is what everybody will be doing in the next day or so as they head to a nice turkey dinner. eyes on the road. >> reporter: while back at american airlines -- >> touch base with northern california. >> reporter: -- the next 48 hours will be the big test. let's put some numbers to this. if you have 500 flights canceled, each flight has about a hundred people or so. you're talking about having to rebook 50,000 people. and you know flights these days are completely packed. there isn't an extra seat between you and the guy on the other side.

so it is going to be a very difficult time if they have to rebook that many people. brian? >> tom costello setting stage at washington national tonight. tom, thanks. meteorologist chris warren is watching it all at weather channel headquarters for us tonight. chris, show us what this is going to do over the next few days. >> reporter: this is going to be a very messy and potentially nasty and dangerous situation over the next couple of days. throughout the afternoon and evening, the heaviest rain we have been seeing has been in the south. that's one major component that will work into the northeast. we are already seeing a bit of a wintry component with this as well. this little bit earlier this evening now looking at the forecast for tomorrow, this mess does move up into the northeast. much of the extreme northeast will be okay for the first part of the day, but you're talking some very heavy rain making it throughout the i-95 corridor again on wednesday. right through there. heavy rain will be a serious problem.

possibly ponding on the roadways. with so many people out there you have to be very careful. interior locations expecting icy and snowy conditions when it's all said and done. over the next couple days, some spots looking at 5 to 8 inches of snow. again, in the interior locations, and this could not come at a worst possible time. >> you said it best. chris warren at weather channel headquarters for us tonight. chris, thanks. with the first snap of cold wintry weather and the christmas decorations going up, in one new england town it brings so much sadness. a reminder that it's now almost been a year since the awful tragedy in newtown, connecticut. tonight investigators released a summary of the final report. it concludes that 20-year-old adam lanza acted alone when he fatally shot his mother, then carried out a massacre at the sandy hook elementary school, killing 20 children and six adults. fair warning, a lot of this

information is difficult to report and comprehend. we get more tonight from nbc's rehema ellis. >> reporter: today's report from the connecticut state attorney offers a minute-by-minute account of the crime and the best insight yet into the young man who caused the tragedy at sandy hook elementary. the first 911 call came in at about 9:35 a.m. police are there in four minutes. the entire horrible event is over in about five minutes with the gunman's suicide. as suspected and now confirmed by the report, adam lanza acted alone when he blasted his way into sandy hook elementary school with his bushmaster rifle. he planned his actions including the taking of his own life with this glock handgun. the report states lanza had significant mental health issues that affected his ability to live a normal life and to interact with others. he lived in his mother's home in a room with garbage bags taped over the window. his computer contained images of suicide and mass shootings.

he'd been prescribed therapy and medication, but no health professional saw any violent tendencies. he was eventually home schooled. according to the report, lanza's mother was concerned about him. he would only communicate with her by e-mail though they were living in the same house. >> adam lanza had tremendous problems in his life. but all of these warning signs, so to speak, do not allow us to anticipate the outcome. >> reporter: an outcome that people in the community are still struggling with. >> this will be the most widely read and reviewed criminal report since the lindbergh kidnapping many, many, many years ago. >> reporter: investigators say more than 301 rounds of ammunition were found at the school, including 147 rounds lanza still could have used. with all the questions the report may answer, the answer that's so important to so many families in newtown is why. but after nearly a year-long investigation there is still no answer. brian?

>> rehema ellis in danbury, connecticut, tonight. rehema, thanks. the big news this weekend, of course, was the deal between the u.s., iran, and other world powers to slow down iran's nuclear program. skeptics including israel and some in congress are saying iran can't be trusted and that the u.s. should have taken a harder line in the talks. for a closer look at the deal we are joined tonight by our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell from our d.c. newsroom. andrea, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. the iran nuclear freeze came together after months of secret talks between iran and the u.s. and a decision by both sides to accept vague language to sidestep a big disagreement that could still jeopardize a final deal six months from now. in san francisco, the president defended the iran deal today from a barrage of critics. >> tough talk and bluster may be easy thing to do politically, but it's not the right thing for our security. >> reporter: at the same moment his secretary of state returned home from his marathon deal-making.

even as members of congress flooded the airwaves claiming the u.s. gave too much and got too little. >> the ayatollah wants that bomb. as he continues to organize rallies in downtown -- in the capital where people are yelling "death to america." >> reporter: in fact, the ayatollah told president rouhani and foreign minister zarif his bottom line was getting the right to enrich uranium for fuel. the u.s. refused. >> we have not recognized the right to enrich nor will we recognize iran's right to enrich. it's not in the agreement. >> reporter: iran's foreign minister told ann curry -- >> it doesn't say it in so many words. it says very clearly that iran will have an enrichment program and it has a right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. >> reporter: how did they finesse it? partly with a cloak and dagger operation. months of secret talks with iran in the country of oman held with deputy secretary of state

william byrnes, under secretary wendy sherman, and biden adviser jake sullivan. in the end they came up with diplo speak, creative ambiguity. the text t t t says a final agreement, hopefully in six months, would involve a mutually defined enrichment program with practical limits. and inspections, all to be negotiated. both sides declare victory. critics say it sows the seeds for problems down the road. >> it is a huge difference. this is not about two people trying to put the best face on a deal as they walk out. >> reporter: but in tehran, people are celebrating at the prospect of getting even some relief from crippling sanctions says nbc's ali aruzi. >> there is a sense of cautious euphoria here. iranians are eager for economic prosperity after years of sky high prices. now they're hoping for tangible changes that will affect their buying power and quality of life. >> reporter: did the u.s. win or cave? experts say it's too early to tell. it depends if the temporary freeze leads to a bigger deal permanently removing the chance that iran could build a nuclear

weapon. brian? >> andrea mitchell in the d.c. newsroom tonight. thanks. we saw the president in san francisco today. while he was there, he talked about immigration reform which has been stalled in congress. at one point, though, he was interrupted by someone from the stage behind him shouting calling for a halt in deportations. >> i need your help. there are thousands of immigrants. >> that's what we're talking about. >> every single day. >> that's why we are here. [ shouting ] >> stop deportation! >> thank you. all right. >> fairly unusual for a protester to get so close to the president, but the white house confirmed they were invited guests. part of an advocacy group at the event. secret service quickly tried to escort them out, but the president said he wanted them to stay. he told them he needs congress to change the law to stop deportations. still ahead for us on a monday night, big news for a lot of people who get their health insurance through their work.

tonight the surprising reason things may be about to change. later, the young widow who led this country through a period of national mourning with astonishing grace.

we're back tonight with more about the fine print in the president's new health care plan. tonight it's about the 75 million or so americans who get their health insurance through large employers. during this traditional insurance enrollment period, as you may know, some folks have been surprised to see some out of pocket cost increases they weren't expecting in part because of the new law. tonight our senior investigative correspondent lisa myers explains why. >> reporter: when billy and aaron baker and their kids got their insurance information this year, they were pleased their premiums will go up only $4 a month next year but were shocked to discover they're getting less coverage for their money.

their deductible has gone from zero to $1,000 with a $2,500 out of pocket maximum. >> i look at it and say, what's going on? why is it getting worse and why are we having to pay more? >> reporter: hip surgery which cost billy only $375 this year would cost as much as $2,500 if she had waited until next year. aaron's employer wrote the changes are needed to avoid the excise tax imposed by the new health care law. it's known as the cadillac tax and hits the most generous health plans beginning in 2018. >> saying your insurance is too good, so we're going to give you a penalty is kind of outrageous to me. >> reporter: one survey of 1,000 businesses which employ more than 20 million americans found 60% said this looming tax is having a moderate or significant influence on benefits. the cadillac tax is designed to make companies and workers more cost conscious.

the thinking is that if workers have to pay more expenses themselves, they will avoid unnecessary procedures. and that will bring down overall health costs. the president's top economic adviser insists the tax ultimately will hit only a small percentage of plans and four years from now. when employers notify workers they're saying one of the reasons for greater out of pocket costs is the new health care law. >> i don't see that at all. nothing in the law tells you that you need to raise copayments or deductibles. in fact, the law limits your ability to shift costs to your worker. >> most employers are looking forward to the cadillac tax in 2018 and realizing they're going to have to get ready for it now. >> reporter: employers have been asking workers to pay more for years, even before the new law. it's causing anxiety for the bakers. >> this is what next year will bring? what are the following years going to bring? >> reporter: lisa myers, nbc

news, washington. we are back in a moment with a close encounter up above and what it could mean for us down here on earth.

a wild day in the nfl turned into a wild night. it was bad enough that the packers and vikings played to a tie with a lot of fans wondering how such a thing should be possible with so much on the line. then last night it looked like the patriots and broncos were headed for the same thing in an epic battle until the pats won it late with a field goal on the frigid tundra in foxboro. gave nbc, by the way, the highest november primetime overnight football rating in 17 seasons. a change in the air to report. the long-time record holder for the longest commercial flight in the world came to an end this past weekend. singapore to newark on singapore airlines clocked in at 19 hours, almost a full day in the air.

it flew over the polar ice cap to get there. it was grounded because of profitability. the number of seats versus the price of jet fuel. it means the new record holder for the longest time in the air is atlanta to johannesburg on delta at a svelte 17 hours. there is a new title to brag about. john and ann betar of fairfield, connecticut, are tonight celebrating their 81st wedding anniversary, earning them the unofficial title of the longest married couple in the united states. john is 102. ann is 98. they eloped in 1932 and 81 years of marriage means john learned to put the seat down during the hoover administration. congratulations to the betars of fairfield. and remember that photo ringo took of the kids in the car during the beatles 'first u.s. visit back in '64? he wanted to know where they all were now. friday night they were with ringo backstage at his show in

vegas bringing their lives as beatles fans full circle. they received billing on the marquee. 49 years of chasing down the beatles motorcade in their car. all eyes at nasa are on the skies because of a comet coming in for its final turn around the sun. and if it survives that part of the trip, we are all in for a spectacular and multi-week-long show in the night sky. it is the comet ison and astronomers say it can trace its life back to the beginning of time. already visible through telescopes and binoculars, if it survives the slingshot around the sun it will be visible to the naked eye as a kind b of bright but dirty snow ball in the predawn sky in the days approaching christmas. we'll be tracking it and we will let you know. speaking of space, since we have reason to believe our friends on the international space station are watching this broadcast, if you guys ever take requests, can you please take a

photo of this house from space? it's the richards family home in australia. it is this year's guinness record holder for most christmas lights at just over half a million. we are guessing it's visible from space. when we come back tonight, the salute, the eternal flame, and what we didn't know then, 50 years ago about the woman who held the country together in honoring her husband.

finally here tonight, a look back 50 years. on friday from dallas we showed you the solemn anniversary of the jfk assassination. that event, the shock and sadness in late november of '63 started a marathon period of mass mourning in this country. and for the next four days, americans watched an average of eight hours of television each day transfixed by what they saw. 50 years ago today during the funeral of jfk, one gripping moment stood out for most. our report tonight from our national correspondent kate snow. >> reporter: it was one of the first times the nation mourned together by watching live tv. >> in all of the succession of moving scenes that have passed

before all our eyes these three days, none has been more so than mrs. john kennedy. >> reporter: she was only 34 years old, a young wife and mother who had lost a newborn child just months before. but in the hours after a gunman changed the course of this nation, it was jackie kennedy who took the lead. >> she was absolutely determined that the often sordid and brutal images from dallas be supplanted by images that would put her husband historically on a level with abraham lincoln. >> reporter: so the east room was draped in black, just as it had been for lincoln. the flag-covered casket was covered on a horse drawn caisson. the muffled drums and a riderless horse in the procession. >> she has never been less than perfect. more than any other one person it was she who raised the level of it all from savage insanity up to the level of solemn grandeur. >> reporter: the first lady had no choice but to share her

private grief. >> she took her ring from her finger and placed it in his hands. >> reporter: a personal moment at the hospital after kennedy was pronounced dead became the refrain in his eulogy. but perhaps the most enduring image of that day, a young boy saluting his father. the story behind that image? president kennedy had taken john john to arlington cemetery for veterans day. the kennedys were trying to teach him to salute. for weeks he practiced with his mother, but because he was left-handed, he couldn't salute with his right hand until that monday when his mother leaned down and said it was time. it was his third birthday. >> for the first time he gave an absolutely perfect salute as his father's coffin went by. that's what everyone remembered. >> reporter: that and the first lady's grace. >> maybe no one will know how she did it, how she found the strength and self-control to do it, but she d. >> reporter: kate snow, nbc news, new york.

and that's our broadcast on a monday night as we start off a new week. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. good evening and thanks for joining us. i'm jessica aguirre. >> i'm raj mathai. the naacp is now stepping in at san jose state, calling for harhar harsher students accused of taunting their african-american roommate. we have a closer look at the allegations of what happened in the dorm room. we begin with plaer amarianne f campus with the district attorney's reaction. >> reporter: today the naacp demanded that the district

attorney change these charges to felony hate crimes. but today the d.a. said he is sticking with misdemeanor charges. >> all racist behavior, racist acts, racist people, racist themes will not be allowed on this campus today, tomorrow, forever more. >> reporter: during an emotional rally at san jose state university today, members of the naacp demanded that the four students accused of a hate crime after allegedly tormenting their black roommate in an on-campus dorm, face much more serious charges than the misdemeanors they're currently charged with, especially since the white students were accused of barricading the victim in his room and putting a u-shaped bike lock around his neck, among other things. >> these acts rise to the level of felonies under the california criminal law. >> reporter: santa clara district attorney rosen issued this response saying, "we understand the outrage of