>> thanks for joining us. "nightly news" is next. we'll see you back here at 6:00. on the broadcast tonight, system overload. a rush tonight to get christmas presents to families still waiting. what led some big names to make promises they didn't deliver on. trapped. a distress call from one of the coldest places on the planet. people on a big ship stuck at sea. tonight the effort to reach them. the mystery in the american west. a family's incrediblfind while out on a hike. now to figure out what is grounding bald eagles. under the knife. surprising medical news about one of the most common knee surgeries in america. why doctors now say it may not be necessary. and one extraordinary mom's mission to "make a difference." "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. i'm natalie morales in for brian. for the shipping giants today it is the nightmare after christmas as u.p.s. and fedex have workers around the clock trying to get all the packages that didn't make it in time finally to their destinations amid growing frustration. meantime, the day after christmas for many is about shopping for post-holiday deals, perhaps making a return or exchange. this year retailers are desperate to make up for lackluster holiday sales. gabe gutierrez is in atlanta. good evening. >> reporter: good evening. consider this the year that online shopping changed everything from returning presents here at the mall to deliveries on the road. the post holiday rush is far from over. before dawn, the trucks were on the move.

fedex and u.p.s. scrambling to deliver late packages that didn't make it in time for christmas. some customers got tired of waiting and showed up at u.p.s. centers. >> my son was crushed. you know, these were things he was expecting for christmas. >> got the call that the package was here. we're here to pick it up. >> reporter: u.p.s. took the brunt of the criticism. the company apologized blaming nasty weather and soaring online sales. saying it's now making every effort to get packages to their destination as quickly as possible. fedex says the vast majority of its deliveries had no problems and promised to address any isolated incidents. >> shippers this year really did not do a good job of anticipating the shift in holiday shopping. more consumers shopped last minute. more retailers offered online deals and free shipping. >> reporter: some consumers are still sounding off on social media. still waiting for deliveries they say sitting at the houston airport, some as long as two weeks. but today some identifying themselves as u.p.s. drivers defended themselves.

i worked 10 to 14 hours a day for a month straight. did not see my wife. did not go christmas shopping. this year total holiday spending with us up 3.5%, but online sales up 10%. adding up to more than $42 billion spent this holiday season. more internet purchases have also led to more returns. >> i have to exchange a coat that i bought for my son. >> reporter: and if you've ever wondered where your returns end up, major retailers send them to this 200,000 square foot warehouse in new jersey where they are repackaged and resold. >> americans are returning more and more especially what they buy online. we test, inspect and refurbish in some cases and resell those goods. >> reporter: the shift to online shopping has left brick and mortar stores with more inventory, meaning more deals after christmas. >> today was sort of like the big post-christmas sale. >> i got a pair of shoes that were $79 for $29.95. >> reporter: a post-holiday rush

with more pressure than ever to discount and deliver. neither u.p.s. nor fedex said exactly how many packages were delayed. but careful not to suffer any backlash, amazon.com is compensating some customers with gift cards and refunds on shipping charges. natalie? >> gabe gutierrez in atlanta for us. thank you, gabe. it's been an ice christmas for folks in parts of the midwest and northeast still in the dark and cold and still dealing with misery following the sunday ice storm. and tonight it appears for some the situation could get worse. nbc's kevin tibbles is in east lansing, michigan. kevin, good evening. >> reporter: natalie, it's going to be another miserable night for thousands after all this ice has brought down trees, damaged homes, and left a lot of families in the dark for christmas. on the second day of christmas, all more than 100,000 people want is their electricity back. across the midwest and northeast crews have been scrambling to

restore power to those who lost it during last weekend's massive ice storm. >> blitzing the area and going along. >> reporter: in lansing michigan, the danzigers spent the last three nights in a hotel room. >> still no power. >> reporter: they spent christmas day shivering in coats at home under the christmas tree opening presents. >> all the other things don't matter. that we were together and still had a great christmas. >> reporter: in maine, 94-year-old grace burly has been in the dark since sunday. a friend came by with the generator and spent the night to make sure grace is okay. temperatures in her home had dropped into the 40s. >> there you go, grace. >> there's nothing you can do, really. you just wait it out, but keep is sense of humor about it because it, too, shall pass. >> yeah. >> reporter: state officials say one of the big concerns is carbon monoxide poisoning from poorly ventilated heaters. there have been at least seven deaths and multiple people sickened by fumes in the u.s.

and canada. >> we ask that anyone using an emergency generator use it outdoors only at least 15 feet from doors and windows. and never, ever, ever in a basement or even an attached garage. >> reporter: it is equally grim north of the border in parts of canada where at least 100,000 people also remain without power from toronto to the maritimes. electrical crews continue to work around the clock in frigid, icy conditions. in pennsylvania the icy conditions are blamed on several multi-vehicle pile-ups and crashes along the pennsylvania turnpike. >> it's winter. it is cold. we say it will get a warm-up. we are talking about in the 30s. >> reporter: but in spite of spending the holiday in the cold, many are keeping their christmas spirits up. dozens of families spent the day in the warmth of the red cross shelter in lansing. >> it is a little frustrating. but it's definitely a lot better than being at home. >> reporter: those warmer

temperatures are bound to help work crews trying to restore power, but it is probably not going to be melting a lot of the ice. meanwhile on the east coast, maine in particular, they are all bracing for even more snow. natalie? >> making matters worse there. kevin tibbles in east lansing, michigan. thanks so much. an american contractor held kidnapped from his home in pakistan more than two years ago has surfaced in a new video released by his captors. it shows him talking about his confinement and asking the u.s. government to do more to work for his release. our justice correspondent pete williams has our report. >> reporter: in suburban washington, yellow ribbons surround a tree outside the family home of warren weinstein, kidnapped two years ago and presumably held by al qaeda. in a new video from al sahab he asks the u.s. to negotiate his release. he says time is not on his side. >> i am now over 72 years of age. >> reporter: he was kidnapped two years ago from a house in

lahore, pakistan, where he was working for an american company helping pakistan improve its economy. he first appeared in a video in may of 2012. then another four months later. each time urging the u.s. to win his freedom by accepting al qaeda's demands. among them, releasing al qaeda prisoners in guantanamo bay and elsewhere. >> al qaeda doesn't have a lot of leverage with the detainees currently held in gitmo. and perhaps this is their way of obtaining a little bit more leverage in terms of what happens to these people in the future. >> my name is warren weinstein. >> reporter: there is no way to tell when the latest tape was made, but a letter sent with it is dated october 3rd. he said he believes he could be released, quote, if the u.s. would negotiate in good faith with my captors. but in hawaii where president obama is vacationing, nbc's peter alexander said the government rejects any deals. >> as a matter of policy the u.s. says it doesn't negotiate with terrorists because it would give them incentive to capture more hostages. but today the administration

demanded his release. in the latest video he has this message for his family. >> i would like them to know that i love them very much. i think about each and every one of them every moment of every day of my captivity. >> reporter: that captivity lasted two years and four months. u.s. intelligence officials say they are following every possible lead to try to find him. natalie? >> pete williams in washington. thank yous so much, pete. it's finally done after a bruising year in washington of budget battles and the government shutdown, this afternoon while on vacation in hawaii president obama signed the bipartisan budget bill. the deal amounts to about $63 billion in savings with across the board spending cuts and includes another $85 billion in projected savings. the president signed a comprehensive defense bill authorizing about $500 billion in spending. it will give military personnel a pay raise of 1% and cracks down on sexual assault on the military. commanders will no longer be

permitted to overturn jury convictions in sexual assault cases. tonight, ice breakers are racing to antarctica after a distress call from a big ship trapped with 70 people onboard. they are safe. they have no way out until help arrives. the story tonight from martin fletcher. >> reporter: eastern antarctica, the coldest and windiest place on earth where today an expedition cruise ship is is stuck in an ocean of ice. the crew radioed a distress signal christmas morning. the >> the vessel hasn't moved for two days. >> reporter: professor chris turny, head of a team, 47 passengers and a crew of 20 are trapped. he reported on youtube. >> we are surrounded by sea ice. we can't get through. everyone is safe. the vessel is perfectly safe, but we can't make a passage forward. >> reporter: they set off from new zealand to cape denison.

18 hurkds miles away. they made their way to morrison's base, an icon of exploration. a hundred years ago explorers established the base with camp that remains remarkably well preserved. everything went well until after 18 days on the way home pack ice gripped them tight. icebergs the size of cathedrals. it's lonely out there. even penguins are stranded on the fast-moving pack ice and the huge iceberg known as b-90-b. it's cut cape denison off from the ocean. the drama at sea didn't upset the passengers who messaged friends they had a wonderful christmas. the latest news is that a chinese ice breaker, the snow dragon, should arrive within 24 hours to try to cut them free. martin fletcher, nbc news, london. still ahead tonight, big health news about a popular surgery for knee pain. how doctors used fake surgeries to determine a lot of people may not need to go under the knife.

and later, how one amazing mother/daughter bond is now making a difference for a lot of families across the country.

as we said before the break there is important medical news

out tonight that involves one of the most popular knee surgeries in america. for a lot of people living with knee pain, it seems there's no choice but to go under the knife. but for one knee ailment in particular, doctors now say surgery might not be necessary for some patients. we get our report from nbc's ron mott. >> gently give that a little pull. >> reporter: in new york, jessica laport is two months into rehab for knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. she's happy with the results. >> i definitely feel it worked. it's been a hard time recovering. >> reporter: she had an acute injury from yoga, but researchers question whether the operation she had called arthroscopic partial menisectomy is necessary. or even effective for most other patients. the study published this the new

england journal of medicine had a unique set-up. patients going into the operating room weren't aware whether doctors performed the full surgery or a sham surgery, simulating without repairing damaged tissue. patients got the same post-op care and after a year researchers found both groups showed the same level of improvement. >> ultimately this helps us select patients more carefully. >> reporter: surgeon dr. scott rodeo treats olympic and professional athletes. so someone has knee pain. it seems the natural instinct is surgery. are we finding that's now unnecessary as a first step? >> i think that oftentimes as a first step, it's probably not the best way to go. >> reporter: the meniscus is a shock absorber between the knee joints. when it tears, doctors can remove some of the torn cartilage in theory to improve motion and alleviate pain. but surgery may not be for those who have normal wear and tear. for them routine exercises to strengthen the knee might eliminate the need for surgery. >> every exercise and activity should be individualized to that individual. all right? and generally speaking, if your knee hurts doing the activity,

you shouldn't be doing it. >> reporter: new questions whether a common knee surgery is the best solution for patients. ron mott, nbc news, new york. we're back in a moment with the race to solve a mystery involving an american icon.

the holidays are over, but the surprises keep coming. in this case for some lucky flyers who scored really cheap flights after a computer glitch involving delta airlines flights that usually cost hundreds were going for as low as a few bucks. the airline quickly noticed the mistake and corrected the problem, but delta says they will honor any fares purchased at the incorrect price. now to a growing mystery tonight in the american west. an unknown illness is taking the lives of our treasured national symbol. in northern utah more than a dozen bald eagles have died this

month alone. now a team of researchers from across the country is working to figure out what is behind it fearing these cases could spread. nbc's miguel almaguer has our report from bountiful utah. >> reporter: what began as a family hike through utah's rugged back country turned into a rescue. the bald eagle, one of our country's most majestic creatures, was spotted in trouble by taylor schulte and his father-in-law bob carter. >> within seconds you could tell it was a bald eagle. the distinct features. white head, big yellow beak. it was just almost immediate, that's a bald eagle down clearly it couldn't fly. >> reporter: using his go pro camera he recorded the experience. >> i have never seen a bald eagle that close. >> reporter: they delicately wrapped the bird with its six-foot wingspan and razor sharp beak. >> how cool is that? >> that is awesome.

>> reporter: driving him to safety. >> how is it doing? >> nervous. never been in a car before. >> reporter: keeping the eagle calm at home until wild life experts arrived. >> then it just became our friend. we took it home and watched football. >> reporter: the eagle was brought to the wildlife rehabilitation center where it joined three other sick bald eagles. >> we don't have all the pieces of the puzzle together yet. so this could be the end of it or this could be the tip of the iceberg. we don't know. >> reporter: it's alarming. so far this month, 16 bald eagles have died from the same illness. blood work from the infected birds discovered in this region have all been sent to a lab for testing. those results could be back in days or weeks and could be the first clue into solving the mystery. bald eagles are no longer an endangered species, but are still federally protected. >> it is a symbol of our country too. the bald eagle is what american stands for. so to see one hurt, injured, you know, that's not what you want

to see. >> reporter: but tonight in utah, something is killing this majestic creature. and now the race against time to save them. miguel almaguer, nbc news, bountiful, utah. when we come back, "making a difference." inspired by a life-changing moment of her own, a mom now hoping to change the lives of so many others.

our final story tonight is about an extraordinary mom inspired by the love for her daughter. determined not to let a devastating diagnosis hold them back. she's now on a mission to spread her message to other families dealing with a big challenge in life. she's making a difference in so many lives. we get the story from our national correspondent kate snow. >> reporter: nancy gianni loves babies. she holds them every chance she gets. >> oh, thank you! >> reporter: she remembers when her baby gigi was born when the doctors' smiles suddenly faded. the unexpected diagnosis -- down's syndrome. >> at that point, everything stopped in my world. i don't remember anything else they were saying.

i was like, okay, i don't want to hear anymore. please just let me see her. i want to see her. i want to see that she's a baby. i want to hold her. >> reporter: 11 years later not only do she and gigi have an unbreakable bond they now share an office at gigi's playhouse, a place where kids with down's syndrome and their siblings and participants can be together. >> i wanted them to walk in somewhere where they feel a celebration, feel the warmth and they feel the love and know they belong. >> reporter: nancy built the gigi's playhouse outside chicago. then 16 more across the u.s. and in mexico with six more set to open in 2014. >> she's changing lives day by day, making things happen and swinging doors open for all of us just to walk through. >> reporter: it's a place where songs and games teach kids to speak and read. blowing bubbles is a way to strengthen facial muscles. i first learned about it through

my own family when my sister-in-law kira was born 32 years ago, there was nothing like gigi's play house. >> i wish i had more support. i know people who have been here from day one. that's when you need it the most. >> reporter: everything here is free. from programs teaching life skills to yoga classes. >> good. straight legs. >> some day i would like to teach exercise. >> reporter: thanks to gigi's, megan nicholas knows she can. >> i don't really hide my disability, really. because i love being down's. >> i think the most important thing that people need to understand about down's syndrome is the potential in that person. i am constantly motivated just by being in this place and surrounded by these amazing individuals. >> are you a star? yes, you are. >> reporter: and they are motivated by her. kate snow, nbc news, hoffman estates, illinois. >> love that story. and that is our broadcast for this thursday night.

thank you for being with us. i'm natalie morales in for brian. and we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. have a good night. good evening, thanks for joining us. i'm diane dwyer in for raj mathai. >> i'm jessica aguirre. let's take you outside right now, san jose, where it's finally beginning to cool down a little bit after a day of record temperatures. a few hours ago it looked more like spring than winter in downtown san jose. families taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to visit christmas in the park. meteorologist rob mayeda with a look at the day and boy, some parts look like spring out there. it's crazy. >> they do. people have been headed to coat,

pacifica, half moon bay, santa cruz, we saw 70s and 80s in the forecast. here's another part of our weather story. rough surf, beach hazard statement for rip currents and sneaker waves. larger sets coming in for localized beach danger out on the coast. as we take a look at the area affected hereb eed here, along seashore, the area in orange, the same location seeing the warmest temperatures around the bay area. it's temting to head to the coast when you see weather like that. use caution as you head out to the beaches into tomorrow ank. temperatures still pretty mild. san jose, 58 degrees, down from the numbers earlier that hit the low 70s. the temperatures around the bay area, the south coast. santa cruz, yesterday, 76. today, 833 degrees. just remarkable to see temperatures that warm this time of year. san jose, 72. two new records today, gilroy, 73. oakland for the second straight day, a record, 78 degrees. you don't have to get all that warm on december 26th to break a