coming up on "early today," six foot snowdrifts slamming new york. temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below normal from the gulf to the northeast. congress acts on two highly charged issues, the keystone pipeline and wire tapping. new details on the americans killed in the jerusalem terror strike. plus, model and tv host plus, model and tv host janice dickinson adds her name to the list of women accusing bill cosby of sexual assault you santa pressed the cold by swimming with penguins. it's wednesday, november 19th. "early today" starts right now. good morning, everybody. i'm francis rivera. dangerous weather has a tight

grip on the u.s. in new york, a colossal wall of snow slammed into buffalo. governor cuomo deployed the national guard. over 100 miles of nearby i-90 closed. the niagara university women's basketball team was stranded on their bus for over 24 hours. overnight, salvation, new york troopers to the rescue. this tweet from the coach saying thank you for rescuing us. their ordeal might be over, the bad weather will press on. nbc's kirk gregory has the latest on snowvember 2014. >> reporter: the calendar may say mid november, but in buffalo, new york, it looks more like mid february. snou mounds five feet tall have piled up, burying cars and stranding motorists. >> we're asking that people stay home, they don't travel unnecessarily. >> reporter: it's just too much too fast, even for this snow-prone city. >> this is a very, very intense

storm, one of those record storms that we're going to remember for a few years beyond this date. >> reporter: the snow has been falling at a rate of four to five inches per hour, at times creating near whiteout conditions and prompting the governor to deploy the national guard. from the air you could see it coming. >> i've lived in buffalo my whole life and never seen it like this. it was scary. >> mother nature is also taking aim at the rest of the country. in upper michigan and wisconsin snow is piling up as well while brisk winds and record lows are causing bitter conditions, prompting many to take note. >> it's not even winter yet. >> reporter: the official start of winter still more than a month away. kirk gregory, nbc news. a senate bill to approve the keystone xl pipeline has failed by just one vote. 14 democrats joined all 43 republicans in voting for the pipeline. the final tally was 59-41.

the pipeline showdown is over for now. incoming senate majority leader mitch mcconnell vows to bring it up again. nbc's tracie potts joins me from washington. what's been the reaction to the keystone vote? >> reporter: republicans really don't seem to be feeling too bad about it. they know they're going to bring it up again next year. some democrats, as you said, who crossed over for the party and voted for it, it could be a bit challenging for them, especially mary landrieu who is trying to win that senate race still down in louisiana. the controversial keystone xl oil pipeline failed in the senate by just one vote. republicans aren't worried. they'll be in charge in just two months. >> this will be an early item on the agenda in the next congress. >> reporter: already warning president obama of a veto. >> it would be the equivalent of calling the american people stupid. >> reporter: the most urgent issue right now is immigration.

>> i deserve full equality. >> reporter: dreamers, immigrants brought here as children want their parents to stay. a white house source tells reuters the president could allow that in an executive order he's promised before the end of the year. >> we are here to say we will not stop, we will not back off. >> reporter: some democrats are pushing the president to issue that order soon. >> he should go big, as big as he can. >> reporter: bypassing congress on immigration could sour republicans and slow down budget negotiations. the budget runs out december 11th. they're considering fighting back by passing a budget now but draining money for immigration later. >> obviously this is not something that we would that we would view very favorably. >> reporter: the white house has suggest thad the president would look into approving the pipeline, but they also want republicans to be open to things like tax reform and reducing carbon emissions which is a big ply or the that president obama

wants to get through this republican-controlled congress next year. >> tracie potts, so much to watch out of washington, d.c. thank you very much. stepped up security throughout new york city following the deadliest terror attack. the at trk left three american born and one ju risch want buy dead along with a police officer who fought the terrorist. nbc's bill neely is in news long-term. >> reporter: juice long-term is a very tense city after yet another attack. it was murder inside a synagogue. two palestinian cousins from east jerusalem who entered a synagogue just after dawn when about two dozen men were praying and set about them with knives and axes. there was also a pistol and they

fired at the police who eventually came to try and relieve the situation and killed a policeman. he died here in the hospital. so there are great fears in this city. it's the latest in a long wave of attacks. as i say, this one was different and it brought fears that there might be a sharpening religious edge to the long political conflict here between veils and palestinians. fears that began way back in july that this violence is building towards the third palestinian intifada or uprising, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu promised to respond to the latest attack with what he describes as a heavy hand. so jerusalem in the 24 hours since the attack is a city on edge. the u.s. government is demanding more be done to protect american drivers. the u.s. federal government

wants japanese air bag maker takata to act now. they're calling for a nationwide recall from honda, ford, chrysler, bmw. they say they will comply if there is a, quote, risk to safety beyond the current scope of the field actions. former super model janice dickerson is the latest to come forward with rape allegations against bill cosby. in an interview with entertainment tonight, she says the incident happened back in 1982. she said she met with cosby to discuss a role on "the cosby show." she also claims she included a description of the assault in her draft of her 2002 memoir but says cosby's lawyers pressured her and her publisher to remove it. cosby's lawyer calls it a complete lie. meanwhile nbc entertainment is not commenting on plans for

cosby's new show on the network. networks, however, is postponing the launch of a comedy special that's scheduled the day after thanksgiving. although he settled a civil vladimir putin in 2006. cosby denied the allegations in the past and has never been charged with a crime. to an erie mystery here where is miss honduras? the 19-year-old and her sister went missing last thursday after a party. she was last seen getting into a car. the beauty queen is supposed to appear in the miss world pageant this week, but this morning no sign of her. honduran police are holding four people for questioning. to get to these fridge it temperatures out here. dominica davis is here. getting slammed. >> everybody is. from the east coast to the west coast, an unusual weather pattern is going to stick around for at least the next several days. here is a look at your winter radar. we have rain across the west coast. in the higher elevations we are dealing with some snowfall. so that will be the case for

today. temperatures are starting off cool this morning, and today while we or looking at rain all along the coast from seattle to san francisco, temperatures are going to be hovering in the low 60s in vegas, only 63 degrees for your afternoon high. 72 in los angeles, 55 in seattle and 46 for your high in portland. that's a look at your national 74 in phoenix. still warm there and 72 in los angeles. >> that's a look at your wednesday forecast. back to you, francis. >> thank you very much. the $400 play station 4 for just 90 bucks, how did that happen? a real life scene out of the godfather. mafia bosses sworn in and caught on tape.

welcome back. 23 inmates escaped from a prison in colombia. prisoners set mattresses on fire and threw rocks at military personnel. 43 inmates escaped during those riots. 20 were captured, but 23 are still on the loose. convicted killer leon taylor is the ninth person to be executed in missouri this year. he was put on death row for shooting a kansas city gas station attendant in front of the man's 8-year-old stepdaughter in 1994. he stopped short of killing the stepdaughter when his gun jammed. he stopped short of killing the stepdaughter when his gun jammed. governor jay nixon denied him clemency. taylor's lawyer says the all white jury that convicted him was racially biased. there are doubts if comedian tracy morgan will ever be the same again. that is according to his lawyer

who made the comment in court. he says the 30 rock star is struggling to recover from a severe brain injury he sustained when his tour bus was involved in an accident with a walmart truck back in june. for the first time, a mafia swearing in ceremony has been caught on camera. police in italy recorded it as part of an investigation that led to 40 arrests. the video also captured role and ranking assignments in three mafia families. so that's how it goes down. and here is one panda having some fun with these record snowfalls. who needs a sled, right, when you can just roll your way down snow covered hills. he is one of two giant pandas at the toronto zoo. life is good if you're those pandas. time to get down to business. would you rent your car out for free parking? travelers flying out of washington's dulles international can get free airport parking and a car wash if they agree to rent out their cars while they're gone. the company, flightcar, is offering a new service starting today. i don't know if i'd do that. airlines are making record profits.

it's partially due to jet fuel prices. they are down 17% from a year ago, but non-stop flights cost 10% to 15% more. the airlines say they are reinvesting their profits to include customer service, terminals and more. cnbc is reporting that walmart has been scammed into selling play station 4 for just 90 bucks. the price match promotion went into effect when third party sellers on amazon began selling the sony gaming console for less than 1/4 of the regular $400 retail price. it is hammer time, people. the magazine has named "thor" actor chris hemsworth the sexiest man alive. "people" reports hemsworth thought it was funny when he heard the news but added it gives him a few weeks of bragging rights around the house with his wife. oxford dictionary has named vape the 2014 word of the year. vape is a verb to inhale or exhale saudi arabia povapor fro

cigarettes. big action in college hoops, plus, before tiger woods there was charlie sifford. the man some might call the jackie robinson of professional golf. his story next.

this morning on "today," the dirty truth. just how clean is your hotel room? "today's" week long series continues with the black light and swab test. what are the dirtiest spots in the hotel room? find out later on "today." let's get the latest in

sports. the lakers get the 114-109 win over the hawks. kobe bryant scoring 28 points, becoming the fourth player in nba history to score 32,000 career points joining great kareem abdul-jabbar, karl malone and michael jordan. top ranked kentucky may made a statement against kansas, holding them to 20% shooting in a blowout win, 72-40. fourth ranked duke topped 19th ranked michigan state. they scored in double figures in their 81-71 victory. manhattan forces over time with this alley-oop dunk. slow mo, rich williams finds the open lane for the monster slam. they fall to umass 77-68. another shift in the college football play-off rankings, alabama jumped from fifth to

first after handing top ranked mississippi state its first loss. oregon state is second, followed by unbeaten florida state and mississippi state slipped to four. 12-time all pro quarterback champ pro bailey a formal send off. broncos gm john elway had encouraging words for the future hall of famer. >> the good news is, when you sign retirement paper irs at 36 years old, you're a young man. you're a going man when it comes to society. you've got good things ahead. charlie sifford will receive the presidential medal of honor on november 24th. the 92-year-old has often been compared to jackie robinson for breaking the pga's color line in 1961 and has been credited to opening doors to other minority golfers.

check out this crazy dunk by jordan calganon. mission impossible. >> what? >> it is called the scorpion. a 180 rotating dunk with no look while jumping over someone else. just in case, betty, you're on the hard wood and feel like doing the scorpion. the improbable rise for america's most popular nation. the symbol of america is getting a facelift like no other. a revealing behind-the-shooens look next.

welcome back to "early today." i'm meteorologist domenica davis

and we'll start with taking a look apartment current temperatures. wake up phoenix, looking at 50 degrees as you head out the door this morning, a little chilly there. 45 in vegas. temperatures are cool all along the west. we have rain up and down the east coast for today with temperatures 66 in san francisco. francis? >> domenica, thank you very much. you may notice the u.s. capital dome is wrapped in a web of scaffolding, upped going a $60 million restoration. nbc's kelly o'donnell gives us a rare look at this spectacular proje project. >> reporter: have you noticed the change? the u.s. capitol dome is slowed in medal and mess. we got a rare close-up view from the rooftop. the dome dating back to the days of abraham lincoln is ritualed with 1300 crack, made of cast iron but meant to look like

stone, the shell is worn by weather, water damage and history. >> 14 layers of paint. some of them with upwards of over 150 years old. everything will get completely remov removed. >> reporter: right now the dome is surrounded by 52 miles of scaffold pipe. the whole structure weighs more than 1 million pounds. the idea is to give the dome another 50 to 75 good years and yes the hats and glasses were required. the last dome facelift happened when dwight eisenhower was present. this time it's a construction zone in the sky. >> it frees spans without touching the skin of the doem were with a 60 million budget, the capitol makeover will take another year, to give washington a fresh look for the next president's inauguration. kelly o'donnell, nbc news, from the roof of the capitol.

leading the news. in the "l.a. times", state can't make sex offenders give authorities their internet i.d.s. the ninth circuit of appeals has ruled that the internet reporting requirements of california prop 45 designed to fight sex trafficking infringed on free speech rights. and in the omaha world harold, omahan offered full tuition, unl scholarship in the 8th grade. that is because the 13-year-old whiz kid got a perfect score on the reading section of the a.c.t. some other stories we're following. the united states is no longer the world's favorite country. turns out germany is the top spot according to a new survey. the country is admired for its economy, political leadership and the sports. the u.s. is number one in

creativity, pop culture of course and educational institutions. a food drive in tampa bay, florida, has broken a guinness world record for the most food collected in one day. volunteers raced against the clock to pack up more than 566,000 pounds of food. brains behind this food drive, a 16-year-old who says he's on a mission to help homeless children. i'd say he's going quite far with that. santa made an appearance at the kansas city zoo yesterday. he wore a traditional red suit to go diving with penguins. the celebration was the first at the penguin plaza at the zoo. you may recall the holderness family. they got national attention with their christmas jammies video that went viral. now they are back with a new one. ♪ because you know i'm all about that baste, that baste ♪ ♪ more butter ♪ i'm all about that baste, about that baste, more butter ♪

>> i love that, more butter. the video has already received more than 1 million views in just two days. >> francis, you have two kids, you and your lus band could actually give them a run for their money. >> one thing that's missing, that guy is a former news anchor who said check it out news anchor desk. i think he did his quitting video and then the jammies thing came about. >> you can do it while you're here. >> i would love to -- we'll let him do it and wait for next year to see what he comes out with. now a look ahead and a look back. today look for the release of the latest nbc news poll, topics include the recent elections, the next congress, immigration and 2016 presidential hopefuls. happy birthday to jodie foster who is 52. meg ryan turns 53, fashion designer calvin klein is 72. i'm francis rivera, thanks for

watching

>> announcer: from nbc bay area, this is "today in the bay." >> very good wednesday morning to you. it's 4:30. i'm sam brock. >> i'm laura garcia-cannon. lots to get to. first, check the forecast with meteorologist christina loren. rain's on the way. >> yeah, we have rain, a lot of it on the radar right now. good morning to you. you can see some parts of the bay area getting drenched just before we kick off the morning drive. so this could become dangerous notice san francisco now getting moderate rainfall, also here's your palo alto, getting good downpours. a lot of this just started up over the past couple hours. want to take you up north and show you marin county, getting quite a bit of rain, all of this packed in,