hour after that as well. >> don't forget to join us for nbc bay area news at 11:00. it is thursday. get out and enjoy the day. make sure you join us pack here at 11:00. good morning. good morning, breaking news, horror down under. an suv slams into a crowd of holiday shoppers in melbourne australia. police calling it a deliberate act. at least 19 people injured. two men arrested. we're live with the latest on the investigation. travel crunch. the holiday getting underway. more people expected to take to the roads, rails and skies than ever before. will the weather make getting to your destination a nightmare. trump's triumph. basking in first legislative win. >> fellow republicans pour on the praise. >> you're one heck of a leader. >> exquisite presidential

leadership. >> america is going to start growing again. >> corporate america gets out the checkbook for the employees. how long will the good times roll. all that, plus new bombshell. michaela claiming usa gymnastics tried to buy her silence on abuse. the new ad that could scare you out of ever texting and driving again. what made prince william get on his high horse? today, thursday, december 21, 2017. >> from nbc news, this is today live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. >> and good morning, everybody. pretty shot there. welcome to today. nice to have yo with us on the thursday before christmas. >> just when you thought you couldn't love him anymore, he gets on a horse like that. >> why do we love it when they do dorky things look that. >> nathey're just like us.

breaking new in australia. driver rammed car into a group of pedestrians, happened in melbourne. this morning, there's a suspect in custody. police say he did it deliberately. nbc chief global correspondent bill neely with the very latest. bill, good morning. >> good morning, savannah. this happened at the start of the evening rush hour right in the center of australia's second biggest city. probably the biggest intersection in melbourne. a deliberate act say police, terrifying, but they still can't say it was terrorism. this was no accident, the victim's mowed down by a man whose intentions, say police, was to injure or kill. a high-speed collision witnessed by hundreds on crowded streets. a white car plowing into pedestrians. this the scene filmed by a bystander, seemingly moments afterwards. people rushing to help the injured. a man believed to be the driver is being searched and handcuffed

by police. at one point, they slap his face while all around him the injured, many of them seriously, are being treated by passers by and first responders. witnesses say the driver accelerated through a red light, ramming into 50 or 60 people crossing the road. >> at this stage, we believe it is a deliberate act. however, we do not know the motivation and it is still early stages. >> reporter: one witness said the driver made no attempt to brake or swerve. and overs saw people flying through the air. a preschool child is among those seriously injured. police now say the driver has a history of drug use and mental health issues. >> he's a 32-year-old australian citizen of afghan decent. he's a person who is known to the police. he has historical assault matters. >> reporter: it's the second suc such incident in melbourne this year. just a few streets away in

january, a man drove a car into a crowd of people killing six. police say that was not terrorism, but they built concrete barriers to prevent a high speed ramming. barriers the driver of this car avoided. several of his victims clinging to life this morning. >> so police say they have no evidence or intelligence at this point to indicate any connection to terrorism, but in another quite bizarre twist, when they arrested the second man who they say had been filming the incident on his phone, they found he was carrying a bag of knives. . so counterterrorism detectives are still working on this and they are ruling nothing out right now. hoda, savannah. >> there's a lot to be done there, bill, thank you very much. with christmas just four days away, holiday travel rush is picking up steam. millions keeping a close eye on the weather. a lot of storms out there may be threatening to slow you down. al has what you need to know.

triple a says 107 million people traveling. 107.4 million. 97 million by car. 6.4 million by air. and other 3 .6 by training, buses and cruise ships. starting to see first storm get itself together right now. in the rockies going to see problems for denver today and. plains and midwest, snow developing throughout the day. possible travel problems from denver along i 90 and airport in green bay. move into tomorrow. rain and snow disrupting travel. down into dallas for rain. get up into upstate new york and new england. along i 90 looking at snow. rain from mobile to portland. i 70, i-75 a mess. atlanta airport a big problem.

boston, everybody in the northeast and moving into sunday we're watching another storm system get itself together. rain from the cape to savannah. snow developing across the ohio valley and this is going to be very interesting to watch. all on christmas day, could be a big storm along the northeast of new england coastline. lake effect snow, heavy snow possible for new england. so guys, we are going to have to watch this very carefully. we've got a lot going on right through christmas. and a lot of people travel on christmas day. so this could be very, very interesting. >> interesting is one way to put it, al. we'll keep in touch with you, thank you. also this morning, politics, the president and republicans are still savoring the package of the biggest tax overall had decades. most significant victory since taking control of congress and the white house last year. millions of americans will soon feel the impact. some are already. we've got two reports for you beginning with nbc white house correspondent kristen welker. good morning. >> reporter: hi savannah, good morning to you there. there's still a sense of

celebration here at the white house after republicans passed that landmark tax bill. giving them a legislative lead. calling it a christmas gift for middle class. before they can start their christmas break, back to work with the government set to run out of money tomorrow. >> this morning, fresh off their historic tax reform victory, it's crunch time again for republicans. with a possible government shutdown looming tomorrow. overnight, many gop lawmakers insisting they'll find a way to keep the government open. despite linger battle. >> optimistic. we'll know more tonight. >> while republicans try to work out a spending deal, they're still relishing their biggest legislative achievement yet. major overhaul of the tax code. >> always a lot of fun when you win. >> it's a campaign promise kept. we're going to have the biggest tax cuts since ronald reagan. >> on wednesday the president was practically giddy as he took

a victory lap at the white house. flanked by house republicans. >> we are making america great again, you haven't heard that, have you. >> mr. trump who clashed with republican leaders. had nothing be high marks. >> i want to thank mitch mcconnell. i want to thank -- what a job. what a job. i want to thank paul. >> that's house speaker paul ryan who was among the republican lawmakers keeping praise on the president. >> something this profound could not have been done without exquisite presidential leadership. >> this that has been a year of extraordinary accomplishment for the trump administration. [ applause ] >> reporter: senate majority leader mitch mcconnell also gave president trump a louisville sl slugger with his name on it. to celebrate historic tax reform. jeff flake, not seeking

re-election and sharply critical of mr. trump, one of the few republicans who didn't attend the party. >> i can only take so many of this stand around and clap things. rather be here. >> reporter: what's in the bill? lower taxes for eight and ten americans including most middle and working class families those taxes expire in eight years. corporations will see the ar largelarg largest cuts. cuts that are permanent. republicans are benefitting the business will triple down. boost individuals and the economy. at&t and parent company comcast announcing employee bonuses. something the legislation doesn't require. the bill passed without democratic support. they say it will hurt the middle class. polls showing the bill is wildly unpopular. democrats are pouncing. >> officially remits the republican party of the party of the wealthy and party of big corporations. >> reporter: the tax bill also

r repeals the obamacare individual mandate. could lead to higher premiums and 13 million fewer people being insured. still republicans say many americans will see more money in their pockets starting in february. now the president could sign that bill into law by tomorrow, but that timing could also shift as for funding the government, well the expectation is republicans will strike a short-term deal. the house expected to vote later today. savannah, hoda. >> kristen, thank you. we want to focus in on corporate america response and surprise bonuses for hundreds of thousands of workers. stephanie is here with us. she covers business. just talking about this yesterday with house speaker paul ryan. would corporations really take the money they're getting and plow it back into the academy and on the first day seems some have done that very thing. >> they're doing something, but they're literally doing the least they can do. now, it's a positive for anyone at at&t or comcast or boeing or wells fargo. it's great to get that $1,000. it's great to semmee minimum wa

get pushed up. this is day one. you're darn right the companies should have done something. they without a doubt have a relationship with the white house. they know protesters in washington and people going wait a second. my taxes are going to go up ask p corporations are going to get billions of dollars less they're going to pay. what are you going to do for me. this is a great gesture on part of these companies. thus far, it's a secreciture. >> at&t does have a merger pending before the justice department. >> that's not being cynical. they've got a merger. we know the president has an issue with cnn. the department of justice has gotten in the mix. comcast has benefitted just last week. you ask me who benefits from net neutrality. big media companies. so comcast is doing something. boeing huge contracts with the government. wells fargo, they certainly like that the cfpv now has mick

mulvaney in charge. it's a great pr move. it's not long-term yet. >> all right. stephanie, thanks so much. the top democrat on the senate intelligence committee is warning president trump against firing special counsel robert mueller. virginia senator mark warner said wednesday that growing criticism of mueller's investigation is concerning and that calls for president trump to remove mueller are irresponsible and reckless. the aitems to fire mueller or pardon anyone in the investigation would lead to a constitutional crisis. >> in the yietsz united states america, no one, no one is above the law. not even the president. >> president trump said recently that he would not try to push mueller out. also on this thursday morning, learning more about that terrible bus crash in mexico. killed 12 people and most of the victims were american tourists on a cruise ship excursion. today national correspondent craig melvin here with the latest. this is heart breaking.

>> trump administratiit's a trg confirming eight americans are among the dead. all, but four of the 18 hurt are released from local hospitals and could be heading home soon. >> this morning, devastated families are searching for answers. trying to understand how a routine day trip to see mayan ruins could have ended like this, a bus carrying tourists down the mexican highway flipping over tuesday morning, claiming at least a dozen lives and injuring many more. among the american victims, andy fritz, and his wife jody. an assistant principal from washington state. and five members of one family. 11-year-old daniel and his mother anna and his grandmother all died. 15-year-old david and his father were hurt, but managed to survive. >> when the bus got flipped over, i saw people escaping from the bus and screaming because you know, it's blood everywhere.

>> fellow cruise passengers expressing shock and sadness. maria martinez was going to be on the bus, but decided at the last minute not to go. >> thankfully, we didn't go. >> the bus was traveling from the cruise port towards the mayan ruins when it flipped over. witnesses say the road was dry and didn't appear other vehicles were involved. >> it wasn't because of a tire explode or something like that. it seems like the bus just lose control. >> mexican nvpgss t investigato trying to figure out what caused the crash. the bus was being driven at moderate speed. the driver is not being held by police, but according to state prosecutor could be charged at a later date. the bus was carrying passengers from two royal caribbean cruise ships. the company said it is doing all it can to care for guests, calling the accident heart breaking. >> the driver has not talked about the accident yet.

the bus company posted a statement on facebook page expressing profound sadnesstrago cooperate with the investigators and support. >> so close to home. so many people have taken those and gone on one of those trips. >> thank you, craig. meantime the family of a bride to be shot to death by a minneapolis police officer earlier this year is speaking out. this after prosecutor blamed investigators for failing to produce evidence to file charges. nbc has more on all of this. ron, good morning. has more on. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. this case has captivated the twin cities and much of the nation. was this officer justified in using deadly forced against an unarmed woman? in australia, her dad is speaking out and demanding some answers. in the five months since 40-year-old justine damon was killed by a minnesota police officer, her family in australia has kept a low profile, speaking at a memorial service this summer but saying little else.

this morning, they're calling for justice in the wake of recent comments by the county prosecutor, critical of the investigation conducted by the state's bureau of criminal apprehension, the bca. >> what are we to think? we are apprehensive that perhaps the bca have not fulfilled its promise. >> reporter: the family's outcry coming days after attorney mike freeman, whose office will determine whether the officer will be criminally charged, was caught on cell phone video at a holiday reception, blaming officers for a lack of resolution in the case. >> i need evidence, and i don't have it yet. let me just say, it is not my fault. so if it isn't my fault, who didn't do their job? it's called investigators. they don't work for me. they haven't done their job. >> reporter: a frustrated freeman also said officer knorr still refused to answer his

questions, using an expletive to describe a second officer's account of what happened that night. >> [ bleep ]. >> reporter: monday, the prosecutor apologizing for the outburst in a youtube video. >> i was wrong to discuss the agency's work on the justine damon case in a public setting. >> reporter: the controversial shooting happened july 15th near damon's home, when the officer sitting in the passenger seat of a police vehicle fired across his vehicle and struck damon when she appeared outside of the vehicle door. she called 911, reporting what she thought was a sexual adult in the alley behind her house. her family in australia has raised the volume on their grief. >> they looked me in the eye and said they were committed to getting to the truth of the event. we were grateful for their promise, so we could better understand why and how such a tragic event could occur. >> reporter: in his apology video, the county prosecutor there said he would update the

public next week on the status of this case. nbc news obtained a statement from the bca. in part, bca is committed to conducting a fair, impartial investigation. back to you. >> thank you so much. back to al. everybody is hanging on your forecast because of the holidays. >> that's right. let's show you what we have going on right now around the country. again, we're looking at some more winds picking up. i'm sorry. in southern california. critical fire danger there. above average temperatures in the mid mississippi and ohio river valley. sunshine along the eastern seaboard. the big storm system getting itself together in the rockies. we'll get to your local forecast ♪ deck the halls with boughs of holly, ♪ ♪ fa la la la la la la... ♪ ♪ oh when you walk by every night ♪ -talking sweet and looking fine. ♪ -tis' the season ♪ -to be jolly. fa la la la la... ♪ -oohh... ♪ ♪ i'm so into you. ♪ ♪ what fun it is to ride and sing ♪ ♪ a sleighing song tonight. ♪ ♪ it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy bab♪.

♪ it's time for the holidays. holla back holla hey... ♪ hurry in to old navy for up to 75% off the entire store. get last minute gifts for just 3, 4, and 5 bucks at old navy. good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. as we take a live look outside in san francisco a cool start and it's still breezy with mostly clear skies. it's going to start to calm down as far as our winds today and temperatures warm up into the upper 50s. even a knew low 60s for the inland areas, but it's going to be very cold tonight as our lows by tomorrow morning drop down below freezing, that's why we do have some freeze warnings that will be in effect for the inland areas starting out late tonight. >> that's your latest weather. >> al, we need you. hang in there. >> okay. coming up, an explosive accusation from gold medal winner mckayla maroney. did usa gymnastics pay her to

keep quiet about abuse allegations against the team's former doctor? and the powerful, new ad to stop you from reaching for your phone when you're behind the wheel. first, this is "today" on nbc.

still ahead, help for anyone flying with holiday gifts. what you should not bring if you want to avoid hassles when you go through security. plus, what had prince william galloping like a horse. and prince harry and meghan markle's just released en it's almost christmas dad. ♪ "it's raining men" - the weather girls ♪ ♪ hi.

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i )m - -... our breaking news: a deadly crash involving a fed- good morning, it's 7:26. i'm laura garcia. we continue to follow breaking news this morning, a deadly crash involving a fedex big rig, its closed traffic on southbound 880 in oakland. "today in the bay's" kris sanchez has been following the story all morning long. what are they saying now about a reopening? >> reporter: they were saying 7:45 a couple minutes ago but that's before they realized that one -- two vaps were not going to work to upright that trailer you see behind me. right now they're trying to put a third strap on. if they can't upright it that way they will drag it off the freeway so they can try to get some of these commuters back on the freeway. there was quite a backup caused by this crash, a sedan hit the back of that semi, fedex semi,

and the driver of that sedan sadly dried died. that also contributed to the length of the investigation as well. if you are headed to the airport this morning this will impact you if you are going southbound, your work around will be 580 to hagen berger, vianey has been tracking the rest of the work around for you as well. >> we're definitely seeing delays on our traffic maps, heavy delays all the way backed up through fruitvale avenue, past that at this point. your best bet will be to use san leandro street. you are looking at a 12 minute commute. your second option at a 24 minute commute is to use oak port street but we are starting to see the traffic building on the surface streets as well. now a look at the weather. it's a cold start as we get a live look outside in san jose and christmas in the park set up we are going to have temperatures in the upper 30s as you head out the door but it's going to be a nice day. upper 50s for this afternoon, a few spots reaching into the lower 60s. have a great day. >> thank you very much. another update in half an hour.

we'll see you then.

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♪ i gave you my heart we're back at 7:30. thursday morning, december 21st, 2017. >> great version of that song. christmas, just four wake ups away. there's a lot to get to. we'll start this half hour with a check of the headlines. a tragic story breaking overnight. >> chaos in australia. a car plows into pedestrians early this morning in melbourne, injuring more than a dozen people in what police say was a deliberate act, but not connected to terrorism. >> police arrived to the scene within minutes and arrested two men. at this stage, we have 14 people injured and several are critical. it's always a lot of fun when you win. >> white house celebration.

republicans pass their landmark tax bill without any votes from democrats, securing president trump's first major legislative win. >> we are making america great again. mounting outrage. child sex abuse survivors blast the catholic church's decision to hold a funeral for disgraced cardinal bernard law today at st. peter's basilica. pope francis expected to speak. in the clear. tennis star venus williams will not be charged in that fatal car crash she was involved in earlier this year. and christmas miracle. police recover dozens of presents stolen off the doorsteps of boston amazon shoppers. those robbed hoping to reclaim their gifts today, thursday, december 21st, 2017. >> all right. we're going to begin this half hour with disturbing, new information on olympic gold medalist mckayla maroney's lawsuit on the sex abuse she claims she suffered for years at the hands of the team's former

doctor. nbc's stephanie gosk joins us with more on this story. >> reporter: good morning. mckayla maroney was a member of the fierce five who took the london olympics by storm. while the world was applauding her gold medal win, the young gymnast was being sexually abused by then-team doctor larry na naslarry nassar. she accuses usa gymnastics of signing a deal with her four years later, giving her money in exchange for her silence about the abuse. mckayla maroney anchored the fierce five team in 2012 with incredible performances on the vault. >> unbelievable! >> reporter: earning gold and silver at the london olympics. but a new lawsuit says her career was cut short. the young athlete suffering severe depression after years of alleged sexual abuse by team doctor larry nassar. according to the suit, maroney believes nassar took thousands

of photographs of her, continuously, obsessively and compulsively. including while he was abusing her. maroney believes the photos were shared by nassar with other pedophiles. in september of last year, reports first surfaced of nassar's crimes against young gymnasts. in december, maroney went to usa gymnastics according to the complai complaint, to get help for psychological treat mentreatmen. they agreed to a settlement, her lawyer says, for exchange in signing a disclosure agreement. >> you don't put a gag on them saying, we know you were molested but you can never talk about it. >> reporter: usa gymnastics says the concept of confidentiality was initiated by maroney's previous attorney. not usa gymnastics. her current attorney says, the agreement was written by usa gymnastics lawyers and designed

to do one thing, keep their secret from the public. maroney wants the previous usa gymnastics settlement overturned as unlawful and is suing the organization, nassar and his former employer michigan state university. maroney went public with her story in october, despite the agreement. writing, in part, i had a dream to go to the olympics. the things i endured to get there were unnecessary and disgusting. at the time, usa gymnastics publicly commended maroney and other accusers for their courage. because of their strength in coming forward, predators can be held accountable for their actions. >> they would try to look good by acting like they wanted her to come forward. that statement is the height of hypocrisy, and it is despicable. >> reporter: two other members of the london team, aly raisman abused them, too. >> he is a monster.

it is disturbing, what he did to me and so many other people. >> reporter: raisman has been critical of usa gymnastics. >> i was told to keep it quiet and they were handling it. they didn't let me help. >> reporter: nassar is in jail, awaiting sentencing on sex abuse charges against seven young girls in michigan. he also pleaded guilty to federal child pornography after investigators found 37,000 images in his home. the former doctor will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. the usa gymnastics statement says that attorney gloria allred represented maroney when she signed the nda during last year's agreed settlement negotiations which are, by law, supposed to remain confidentiality. allred had no comment. michigan state university had no comment, citing the ongoing litigation. >> he was able to continue to work for a year and is astonishing. thanks, stephanie. let's switch over to al, who

has a check of the weather. >> yes. i want to take a moment, get the kids here, because we have proof about rudolph, okay? this is very important. the fact is, think about the song, "rudolph the red-nosed reindeer." then one foggy christmas eve, santa came to say, rudolph with your nose so bright -- ♪ won't you guide my sleigh today ♪ >> when you put high beams on with fog, because of the short wavelength of the white light, it is scattered by the fog and it creates glare. well, if your nose emits a red light, it is a longer wavelength and it cuts through the fog. guess what? according to smithsonian magazine, there is a reindeer species that's also known as caribou in north america and parts of siberia and sweden that actually have noses with a distinctive red hue.

in fact, rudolph does exist. yes! >> yes! >> yes, he does. we're going to need him right around denver and parts of the plains, where we have snowy, cold weather. above average temperatures in the eastern half of the country. some fog down through the gulf coast. won't good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. it's a chilly start this morning as you get ready to head out, our high temperatures today will reach into the upper 50s and even up to 61 degrees in concord. winds will be calming down as well. as those winds calm down our temperatures dropping down quite a bit tonight and we will have a freeze warning in effect for all of these areas shaded in purple. it's basically all the bay area away from the immediate coastline. and this is where temperatures will dip down below freezing for several hours, roads may be icy as well and damage to plants possible. >> get that weather any time you need it. check out the weather channel on

cable. did vail enjoy that? >> she believes santa, but the smithsonian is good proof, too. >> of course. more ahead, including a new ad that will shock you into never texting and driving again. then if you're flying and bringing gifts along with you, we'll tell you what is and is not allowed on your flight. also ahead, some images to brighten your morning. how about this? harry and meghan's first official engagement photos. i'd say they're in love. >> they're in love. no-fuss recipes to make holiday entertaining a little easier. (chris) the very first time i met bruce i saw on his lapel he's got a purple heart. (bruce) we started talking about the service. i outrank him. (chris) [laughs] yeah. meals on wheels reaches so many people. it's impactful beyond anything i've ever done in my life. (bruce) the meals and his friendship really mean, means a lot to me. (vo) through the subaru share the love event, we've helped deliver over one-point- seven million meals to those in need. get zero percent financing for 63 months on select models, plus we'll donate two hundred and fifty dollars to charity.

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welcome back. in the days ahead, nearly 100 million americans are going to hit the roads to reach their holiday destinations. >> we're among them. we have new warnings for you about the dangers of texting and driving. this is important. tom costello has the story this morning. good morning. >> reporter: hi, guys. good morning. we talk about this for years, but if you're going 55 miles per hour, you can go the length of two basketball courts in two seconds. even if you keep your eyes off of your phone and on the road, what about the guy next to you? this week, millions of americans are filling up, buckling up and hitting the road, making their way to visit loved ones for christmas. but while the stress of driving over the holidays can be high, the dangers may be even higher. recently, traffic deaths in the u.s. saw their biggest spike in

50 years. with the first six months of 2016 up 10% over the year before. a major contributor, smartphones. with apps, texting and e-mail all distracting us behind the wheel. according to a new analysis of 3 million americans, drivers were on their phones during 88% of the trips, putting a spotlight on how frequently drivers can be distracted. and causing major accidents. overseas in the uk, the issue also taking on new urgency. with road safety groups warning drivers are twice as likely to crash while texting as they are while driving drunk. the threat now the focus of a new ad campaign. a father killed after texting with his daughter while driving home. highlighting how distraction can lead to tragedy over the holidays. back here at home, the danger not going away. >> if i'm able to speak, i will speak. >> reporter: florida resident

corlet lost her daughter last year. >> i don't want her memory to be lost. i want people to really understand how dangerous it is. >> reporter: the 19-year-old was texting her boyfriend while driving. with her last message saying, i can't wait to see you this weekend. moments later, her car veered off the road and crashed into a tree, killing her instantly. >> she was a good kid. i couldn't ask for a better one. she wanted to do good things in life, and all that is gone. >> reporter: corlet is now working with the local sheriff's office to turn her tragic loss into the focus of an anti-texting campaign. >> we want people to take distractions out of their life while behind the wheel. the text message, phone call, whatever you're doing in your car, is it worth the few seconds that could change your life forever? >> reporter: this week, police are sure to be out in force, making sure everyone has a safe holiday. florida is among the states now increasing the penalties for texting while driving. you know, guys, a state trooper said to me recently, it is

incumbent upon each one of us to tell our spouse, tell the person sitting next to us, to tell our kids, put the darn phone down. it has no place when you're in a car. you may not be popular, but you may save a life. back to you. >> i know. i mean, i've done it. i've been the recipient of it. i would say everything we care about is in this car. >> yes. >> we can't look at our phones. >> absolutely. >> thank you so much. carson is back this morning in the orange room. >> hoda. hey, everybody. the video re-igniting the christmas debate. christmas debate. real or fake christmas tr nick is a logistical mastermind. when it comes to moving packages on a global scale, nobody does it better. he's also an avid cookie connoisseur. dig in, big guy. but when it comes to mortgages, he's... less confident. fortunately for nick, there's rocket mortgage by quicken loans. it's simple, so he can understand the details and get approved in as few as eight minutes. apply simply. understand fully. mortgage confidently.

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chapstick. put your lips first. ♪ sleigh bells ring back at 7:50. guess who is back in the orange room, right where he belongs, after wrapping up another successive season of "the voice"? our friend, carson daly. >> thank you for the plug for "the voice." we need it around here, hoda. people have preferences when it comes to getting a real or fake christmas tree. that can be said of joe napoli

of california. his wife joked about getting a fake tree this year. >> well, we re-use it a lot of times. >> no. >> then we can get a glade candle that smells like the tree. >> i don't know what's happened to you. i know i can't solve it. so i'm just going to let it go. >> that video has been seen more than 4 million times. people were quick to make a meme of joe's disappointed face there. devin tweeting, me looking at 2017 and leaving for 2018. don't worry, joe ended up getting a real tree. his reaction started this discussion around here. we thought, we're going to ask you, real tree or fake tree? our twitter poll here, i thought it'd be a little more toward a real tree, but it is split. 55% and 45% there. let's look at ours. savannah, is that real? >> sure is. >> hoda, who shrunk your tree?

what happened? >> look at haley sticking her tongue out. >> uncle al, real tree? >> real tree. >> carson. >> i have two trees. this is my first, which is real. i put lights on and ornaments. it was too small. we took the ornaments off. then we got a new tree. before and after. >> serious. >> that's fun. >> we're getting great trees. send them to us. use the hashtag orangeroom. >> thanks. why some late-night hosts why some late-night hosts are not ♪ why some late-night hosts are not ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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a very good morning. we continue to follow breaking news this morning. there has been an accident on 880 causing a lot of traffic troubles there. i want to check in with kris sanchez, she continues to follow it because they were trying to upright that fedex truck. kris? >> reporter: they just uprighted it, they took it off to the side so they are going to be able to open three lanes of traffic southbound. you see the street sweeper removing the last of the debris and as soon as they clear up off the freeway all of these folks will be able to get on their way for their morning commute. otherwise these folks are still diverting at 66th avenue and the backup goes back for quite some way as we saw from the nbc bay area sky ranger. there was one fatality in this accident and now we know that there is another vehicle that's involved in the investigation, though, which was not involved in the crash. we asked why that driver is no longer here at the scene,

whether that person was under arrest, and they say that they won't elaborate until later. stay tuned to nbc bay area. let's check in with vianey for the work around until this reopens in about two or three minutes. our traffic maps right now showing heavy delays along the southbound and northbound side now. obviously the northbound side is probably people slowing down to take a look, but good thing about that is if they do reopen some of those lanes we will see some clear up, but that traffic is backed up to fruitvale. a new accident at 880 at hegenberger road, that right shoulder is blocked. it's a cold start as you get ready to head out for the drive this morning. we are going to see some high temperatures today reaching into the upper 50s and it won't be as windy so it will feel much more comfortable. we will also have some freezing temperatures tonight. more updates on that on nbcbayarea.com. another local news update coming up in half an hour. have a great thursday morning. meteorolgist kari hall has the

changes in her exclusive weekend weather forecasts - every morning at 5:38 and 6:38. plus- we )ll track the holiday drive as more travelers hit the road. .when you join us tomorrow from 4:30 to 7 on today in the bay. ♪ toyland, toyland

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it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, breaking news. holiday shoppers in australia mowed down by an suv. >> at this stage, we believe it is a deliberate act. >> more than a dozen injured. a suspect now in custody, as police search for a motive. we'll have the latest. plus, travel smart. heading to the airport with some holiday gifts? the important information you need to make sure security is a breeze. and aliens in new york? ♪ look what you made me do ♪ look what you just made me do ♪ >> the latest viral prank from think modo that has people

running away. on thursday, december 21st, 2017. >> merry christmas. >> who do you want to say hi to at home? >> amanda and dad down the street in our hotel. >> wow, they came a long way. >> i like this. al roker. 44 years? >> 44 years. >> you've never had a fight? >> that's right. >> you didn't say anything. >> our bucket list is a photo with al. good morning, everybody. welcome back to "today." glad you're with us. it is thursday. >> is it? >> 21st of december. >> here we go. >> four days until christmas. >> it's knocking on the door. >> it is. let's get right to the news at 8:00. an suv slammed into a crowd of holiday shoppers in melbourne, australia today. it injured at least 19 people. police are calling this a

deliberate act and a cowardly one, as well. nbc's chief global correspondent bill neely joins us with the latest. >> reporter: good morning, everyone. this happened at the start of melbourne's evening rush hour, right in the center of australia's second biggest city. police say a 32-year-old driver deliberately rammed into dozens of pedestrians. witnesses say he accelerated through a red light and made no attempt to brake or to swerve. so this was no accident. video taken minutes afterward shows a man, believed to be the driver, being handcuffed by police. at one point, an officer slaps his face. police say he is an australian citizen of afghan origin who has a history of drug use, assault and mental health issues. they say they've got no evidence or intelligence to indicate a connection to terrorism. but in another quite bizarre twist, when they arrested a second 24-year-old man who they say had been filming the incident on his phone, they

found he was carrying a bag of knives. so counterterrorism detectives are still working on this. they're ruling out nothing right now. strangely, there was a similar ramming just a few veet street in january, when a driver killed six people. that was not judged terrorism. 19 people injured in this incident. one a preschool child. four of them are in critical condition. hundreds of people, of course, witnessed this. a crash that is still a mystery, savannah. >> bill, thank you very much. after a turbulent year, president trump is basking in his first legislative triumph after making good on his campaign promise to deliver a big tax cut before christmas. nbc's chief white house correspondent hallie jackson joins us with the latest on this. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the president is clearly feeling triumphant today, and so are republicans in congress, heading into the new year. today, ready for another celebration of their tax cut bill. this time, not at the white house but at the capitol.

there is also more work to be done. the government is set to shut down at midnight tonight. congress is scrambling to cut a deal to keep the lights on. it sounds like right now, there will be a vote in the house today on something short-term. punting the big battles over spending and immigration until after the holidays. in the meantime, for republicans, it is all about the afterglow of the tax bill passage. now that the president is ready to sign it into law as early as tomorrow, possibly. most americans will see a tax break, but the bill boosts businesses and the wealthy more. that has democrats howling. not a single democrat supported this plan. the republicans are making the bet that benefits to businesses will trickle down to everyone else. we've already seen companies like at&t and comcast, nbc's parent company, linking new employee bonuses to those corporate cuts. but the bill does not require other companies, any companies, to do anything similar. the white house says people will start to see the impact of the tax cuts in their paychecks, hoda, starting in february. >> hallie jackson, thanks. now to the morning boost.

what you got to pick us up? >> people are stressed this time of year, but this may be the cure. sometimes going to the grocery shore can be maddening. one employee at a store in massachusetts managed to bring the hustle and bustle of a holiday season to a complete halt. take a listen. ♪ hear the angels voices ♪ o night divine >> that's the voice of an employee in massachusetts. the store hired another musical act to entertain shoppers, and he was just doing the sound check. he brought everybody to tears. turns out, he was a singer in brazil before he moved to the u.s. two years ago. >> wow. >> how about that? >> he hopes maybe he can pursue

that dream. >> i hope so. he gave me chills. that is beautiful. thank you. coming up, are you flying home the next few days? are you bringing gifts? well, we have a guide for everything you can and cannot bring through security. also ahead, what had prince william showing off his dance moves? and breaking overnight, harry and meghan's new engagement photos. first, a look ahead to "megyn kelly today." >> four days until christmas, and we have you covered. last-minute gift ideas, fun crafts for the kids when home from school, wrapping odd-shaped gifts and megyn's month of merry. >> she loves doing that. >> her voice has gotten strong from doing that every day in december. plus, a remarkable woman using her camera to bring the magic of christmas to deserving

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how do we get back to "us"? the y fills the gaps. and bridges our divides. donate to your local y today. because where there's a y, there's an us. welcome back, everybody. if you're planning to fly to your holiday destination and you want to come baring gifts, we have important info to know before you head to the airport. >> before you try to get it through the tsa. contributor editor from "traveler" magazine, good morning, mark. >> morning. >> happy christmas. >> first is wrapped presents. >> nay? >> yay. i've gotten one through. >> you can take them but probably shouldn't. this beautifully wrapped gift is allowed on the plane. but if a tsa agent x-rays it and

says, i want to see what's inside -- >> then you have to open it. >> you're chancing it. >> put it in a gift bag. if you have to arrive with a wrapped gift, put it in a bag. pull it out and put it back? >> candles. i'll say yes, you can bring a candle. not the lighter but the candle. >> i'll say no. al roker whispered to her in my ear. >> so this is another maybe. if you take -- you can't take a gel candle because it falls under the rules around liquids. wax candles you can take on board. this happened to me, tsa agents will see the wick in the x-ray and often need to manually check the candle. it'll give you extra time in security. >> what about the glass, too? >> there are lots of reasons they want to look at it. they should let you on board with it but, remember, it'll take longer. >> okay. >> sadly. >> must tell you, this seems like a no-brainer. >> you can't bring your wine. >> sadly. i wish it were open and we can toast the holidays. you can't bring a big bottle of wine. you're taking a lovely bottle of

champagne home, you can't do it. you can bring the miniatures because they fall under the tsa rules. what's the fun? put it in the suitcase. >> sometimes the shops will sell champagne if you want to pay the big prices at the airport. >> there are work-arounds. i wouldn't want someone to pack a beautiful bottle of champagne and have to leave it at the tsa checkpoint. >> the snow globe seems like a no. >> i'll say no because it is liquid. >> liquid in it. >> i love that you notice that. people just see the solid part. again, lotion and snow globes, both fall under the tsa rules. remember, 311. one person, one quart gallon bag, and everything inside it must be 3.4 fluid ounces. >> is this okay? >> a small one. >> put it in your toiletry bag, and it's okay. >> ice skates. i'm going to say no. they're on blades, for crying out loud. >> i'll say yes. >> i feel like hoda is the pro here because she is right. >> okay, that's never been said. honest to god, never. >> oh, it has.

>> never. >> maybe you've traveled a lot. you can legally take them through at the security checkpoint, but take them out of your bag so the staff can check them manually. >> finally, batteries. what do you think? >> i say definitely, yes, you need them for the toys. >> i'd follow her. you're absolutely right. in fact, you should take batteries into the cabin. in the new year, some airlines are changing rules about checked luggage. the smart luggage with batteries built in that you can charge devices on you can't put into the hold. batteries can be a fire risk in the hold. if in doubt, put batteries or items with batteries into your carry-on bag. >> why are they a fire risk in the hold but not the cabin? >> they're reachable in the cabin and the staff can put out any fire. >> learn something every day. mark, thank you so much. hoda, since you knew all the answers. let's get a check of the weather from al. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by zales.

tis the season to sparkle more than ever. zales, the diamond store. >> looking at what's going on today, we've got snow stretching from denver to green bay. that may cause some airport delays. we move on into tomorrow. rain building from dallas to cleveland. airport delays from boston all the way down to dallas. we'll be watching that. snow also in new england. as we get into saturday, going to be a real mess along the east coast. we could see major storm systems develop, causing snow for a white christmas on monday in the northeast. last time new york had one that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. our chilly temperatures this morning will warm up and it will feel very nice with our highs in the upper 50s and it won't be as windy. mostly sunny skies. for tonight, though, it's going to be really cold and temperatures dropping fast. a freeze warning will be in effect for all of these areas shaded in purple. this is where temperatures will be below 32 degrees for several hours. we will have these cold nights

for tonight as well as friday and the roads may be icy in a few spots and that's something we'll be watching and keeping you up to date right here. >> that's your latest weather. guys? >> al, thank you. time to trend. >> thank you so much. >> we are excited. not only is jenna here. >> yeah. >> but kathie lee. >> i mean, hello. >> christmas came early. >> not for have many people. anyway. >> we are four days away. i know we all love christmas music. kathie has a hit christmas song. >> yeah. >> two. >> no account for taste. >> sing one. ♪ glory, hallelujah on monday, i'm going to sing it right. >> sounded good to me. >> we are ready for trending because it has a christmas music theme. buzzfeed created a game that puts a modern spin on our favorite holiday classics. can you guess the christmas song from the emojis?

>> fun. >> we'll start easy. >> grandma got run over by a reindeer. >> next, next. >> next one. >> i saw mommy kissing santa claus. >> i love this game. >> no need to yell, kids. >> santa claus is coming to town. >> yes. >> what is it? >> santa claus is coming to town. >> the next one? >> baby it's cold outside. >> good. next? supposed to be getting harder. >> o holy night. >> next one. >> turn back christmas, santa claus. >> return christmas -- >> santa come back and don't -- >> oh! ♪ last christmas, i gave you my heart ♪ >> there's no heart. >> i'm sorry. >> okay. >> what's this? >> 12 days of christmas. >> oh, wow. nice. >> you guys were almost perfect. >> what was the other one? >> last christmas. i don't get it either. >> needed to be a heart. >> you guys did great.

it was fun, right? >> carson daly? >> pop start. >> has ellen degeneres returned it into a game show yet? give her 20 minutes. it'll be on primetime nbc tonight. we'll start with prince william. we know about the royal wave, bow or curtsy. are you aware of the royal gallop? check out this video of prince william at the royal variety show, showing off his new moves. >> please, sir, will you gallop for us? >> oh! >> oh, my gosh. >> i'm sure the internet will put ganggmemes to that. >> kensington palace releasing harry and meghan markle's new engagement photos. >> that's hot. >> what is the date? >> may 18th. >> 19th. >> be there on the 18th. >> be there early. >> rehearsal dinner is the 18th.

>> beautiful photo. jimmy kimmel shared a photo on instagram. jimmy assembling a giant food truck toy for his daughter. he said it took him four hours. who would buy such a gift? here's the caption. dear carson daly, thank you for your terrible gift. it only took four hours to assemble but jane loves it. that's payback. he got his son, jackson, a nerf blaster a couple years ago, which was big and awesome. with it, he got 1.2 million extra nerf darts and they're all over my house still. there you go, buddy. let's go to the daly click. our pals at thinkmodo, they're known for viral video pranks. their newest video has new yorkers running for their lives. check this out. >> oh! [ bleep ]. >> [ bleep ]. >> oh! [ bleep ]! >> oh.

>> [ bleep ]. >> oh, hell no! >> amazing stuff. >> thinkmodo created the video for next month's "x-files" premiere. we couldn't resist pulling the same prank on a few of our own. >> it's just there. >> oh [ bleep ]! >> i thought i was going to -- ah! what the hell is that? >> what the hell is that? >> she hasn't returned to work since. there you go. >> oh, my. >> there's too much cursing going on at this point. all right, carson. kathie lee made a special appearance for many reasons. first, she looks hot in leather. secondly, it's because we want to announce vary special contest. >> we certainly do. we are throwing a wedding. >> what? who is getting married? >> we don't know yet. they have to qualify. so we're looking for one happy

couple. do it while you're happy. to say i do with us. john cena is going to officiate. >> what? >> he is the sweetest guy. yep. >> we're going to pick the couple. viewers will be able to vote on the details, like the ring, the dress. the honeymoon, all of it. >> so if you want to get hitched with me, hoda, john cena, send us a 60-second video of the two of you sharing your love story. you have until january 2nd. we're going to give you major bonus points if you go to creativity. make us laugh. that's going to be good. >> so fun. >> and when you get divorced, come back on the show, we'll do the whole thing, too. it's a full -- >> or marriage counseling. >> that's a great idea. >> will you sing at the wedding? >> i have to sing by monday. i'm going to get this voice in shape. >> we have the legal forms right here. >> let's pause and get a check off whatever is coming next.

now to a story that really shows you what the holidays are all about. jenna has that one pore us. >> photographer wendy wellington with help from santa and her community made some magical moments for some very special kids. >> look at me and smile. >> i love santa. >> as a photographer, you see beauty through the camera. >> i do. i do see the beauty in the kids' eyes and the way they look at santa. >> yeah! they made the good list. >> we started taking pictures at the studio in 2009. and a family came in to get pictures. >> so this little girl, what did she ask santa for? >> she asked him for underwear. that was all she wanted was underwear. and we all kind of looked at her and we thought, what little girl

asks for underwear? when we looked into her, it was a single mom that was really struggling. >> wendy was inspired to help struggling families at christmas where she takes free family portraits. she hands out invitations to local teachers and nurses who pick the families going through tough times during the holidays. >> here we go. >> each family is invited for a special photo shoot at wendy's studio. >> one year, a father had kneeled down in front of santa and he had tears in his eyes. he said i lost my job this year and i didn't think i was going to be able to give any gifts to the kids. we don't judge any family for coming because you don't know what is going on behind those doors or why they were nominated. and it's always been wonderful, the people that come. >> and the community chips in, too, to provide a hot meal and the perfect gifts for santa to

surprise some very excited deserving kids. >> thank you! >> what about for you, mom, the fact that the community comes together like this and san b ta looks out for your kids. >> this is a really incredible experience. last christmas, both of my children were hospitalized in two different counties in two different hospitals. so this is such a gift. >> thank you so much. >> my pleasure. >> why was it so cool? because i never knew i could actually go to like this place and get presents from santa. >> a dentist, the police, the firefighters, the bank. yeah. >> the doctors. your entire community is behind this. >> yes. >> what has that taught you about where you live? >> we have a great community that we've grown up in and we have such support and we love to give back to the kids right in our backyard. >> i'm going to tickle you. >> what's your favorite part of all of this? >> i love to see the kids opening the gifts and the

excitement on their face. it keeps you going every year to make it bigger and better each year, you know, more toys. and i think it's wonderful that these kids that might not get a lot, it makes it worth it. >> can you say i love santa? >> i do. >> you do. >> it's a photo, but so much more. capturing the joy of children and the importance of giving back, the true meaning of the holidays. >> what has this taught you about the goodness in people? >> just helping is what gets you through. it humbles us every year of what we're doing. and it makes you realize what christmas is all about is to give, fought to receive. and that's what we do. and it's been wonderful. >> and can we say i love santa. >> i love santa. >> oh, y'all, i love wendy wellington. >> i know. >> it's one woman who had an idea who then changed her community. >> i think if you ever feel like you're overwhelmed and what can i do, to watch one person change

the world like she just did in her community -- >> that's the christmas spirit, too. that whole story embodies. we get so wrapped up in shopping gifts and what are we going to do. >> also, lights like what did she -- she knows she's a photographer. this is something she could do. >> also to see these parents who now have this relief because their kids are celebrated. that was incredible. >> beautiful. >> that was awesome, jenna. >> thank you all. coming up, we're going to the eat, folks. easy appetizers, the simple stocking stuffers. we're going to solve everybody's last-minute holiday needs after a check off your local news and weather. i )m ...

a live look from our traffic camera at hb good morning. it's 8:26. i'm marcus washington. want to take a live look now at the camera at southbound 880 and oakland. all lanes reopened after a deadly crash early this morning involving a fedex big rig. that happened a little after 3:00 this morning near the 56th avenue exit as you can see. chp says the driver in another car died when that car struck the big rig, causing the truck to end up on its side. it took crews nearly five hours to right the truck and clear it from the scene. that driver of the car has not been identified. the backups, they went from miles. as you saw in that video from earlier, still going through that right now, even though that scene is cleared. right now fo, for a lot of peop

commuting, it's going to be a tough time. >> yes, it's a mess out there. overall, we've got the bay area, not too bad. we're looking pretty good. you've got to remember that accident, shortly after 3:00, so you can imagine that traffic has been building in that area since about the 3:00 a.m. hour. all the lanes have remained open. we're seeing it not just from the southbound side, also on the northbound side. and then just up ahead, after that crash, but on the northbound side, at haganburger, there's another accident blocking the right. hand shoulder. it's still messy. >> i'll have another local news update in half an hour.

♪ just hear the sleigh bells ringing ♪ 8:30 now on this thursday morning. it is the 21st of december, 2017. we got a great crowd out here. getting a little chilly. feeling like the holidays are upon us. got some weather coming. cute crowd. >> yes. >> by the way, do you see that? world-famous harlem globetrotters are collecting gifts this morning. happy to have them doing the honors, and thank you for donating. >> we have a crowd moment. i'll do what al roker does and run. >> she's running. >> come here. hold on. where's the halter family? wait a minute.

is this the halter family? >> yes! >> we've heard about you. what do you want for christmas? >> puppy. >> oh. well, we'd like to give you something for christmas. >> what else? >> we don't have a puppy, but we do have -- kevin will walk in with this gift bag for you guys. these are stocking stuffers for your whole family from our next segment coming up. we hope you enjoy this. >> thank you! >> you are saying? >> go hokies! >> over to you guys. >> wow. we have simple snack ideas for your next holiday party. or for the times when a friend or neighbor stops by unexpectedly. >> love when that happens. megyn stopped by, but we expected her. what do you have coming up? >> i never know what to get doug for christmas, ever. men are impossible to buy for. >> impossible. >> you can ask. >> that takes all the fun out of it. >> i agree. >> there are certain things you know he'll like, but i'm talking about things you can buy at the store. we'll have an expert come on --

wow -- and talk about what you can get for the man in your life. we'll talk about how to wrap the weird stuff, like the bike or the skateboard, the dollhouse. what should you wear to your holiday parties? then the end of the show -- >> oh, boy. >> megyn's month of merry. >> i almost tripped doing that with you yesterday. i have to stop. i don't have the core strength you have. megyn, thank you so much. al, a check of the weather, my friend. >> starting off, of course, with today. out west, unfortunately, red flag warnings. 40 to 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts today. southern california to santa barbara to south and east of los angeles. elevated risk for over 9 million people today. we're going to be watching that very closely. the rest of the country, big storm system coming out of the rockies, causing probably airport delays. denver all the way up to minneapolis. we're looking at above average temperatures through the mid-atlantic states to the gulf. that's ways going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods.

>> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we have some cool temperatures and some breezy ones to start out the day. as we go into this afternoon, we are going to have some highs in the mid-50s and winter now has officially started. so we are going to have more of this cool air in the forecast. as we go into christmas, there will be a chance of rain, especially for the inland areas, as that rain moves from north to south and our temperatures reaching into the upper 50s. we do have to be concerned about those freeze warnings that will be in effect starting tonight. >> by the way, 11:28, winter officially begins here in the continental united states. and another big thank you to the harlem globetrotters, helping with our toy drive this morning. we've already donated more than $15 million in gifts. we're going to add to the total with a special donation from sanrio. here to tell us about that is pop star and youtube sensation poppy poppy. >> good morning, i'm poppy. >> yes, you are. what are your friends at sanrio

doing for our toy drive this year? >> this is the 18th year sanrio is donating. it is their biggest donation ever. $175,000 worth of merchandise. >> including hello kitty? >> including hello killty. >> kitty. >> why do you do this? >> sanrio wants to bring smiles to the whole planet. >> we appreciate that. >> thank you. >> tomorrow is the last day to donate to our toy drive. if you're headed to the plaza, bring a gift. you can donate online. go to today.com for more details. is it colder up there where you are? >> yes. >> anyway, let's go back inside to you. >> announcer: this portion of share kindness is created with our sponsor, the y. supporting kids and families in 10,000 communities for a better us. >> now to our special series "share kindness." our friends at the y are giving us a look at some of their programs helping members across the country. >> sheinelle is here with that

story. >> this is a good one. it changed me, i'll tell you that. it did. so the y wants you to know that it is more than just a gym, right? it is a place for people of all ages to find the community they need. we talk with one student who says the support it provides to kids like him is something that can benefit people of all ages. just 17 years old, hercules has already faced a lot of problems. >> i don't have food or i don't have a home tonight. that builds up in you, and you start thinking, you know, i'm at the bottom of the totum pole. i'm in this dark hole, and i can't get out. >> struggling with homelessness for as long as he can remember, by 15, he had lived in 20 different places. what's the hardest part about it? >> i think the hardest part is just knowing that you're going through this moment and that you feel, you know, alone.

how many times can you go to another student and be like, hey, i'm going through this? >> he's now living with a family he knows from church, an hour commute from his school. >> knowing you're not alone is something all teens, parents and families should know. there are so many generous people. there are people with good hearts out there. the y is a perfect example of that. >> the y, located on his high school campus in los angeles, california, is now his home away from home. >> regardless, you know, socio-economic level, you know, come here, find a place, a safe place, first of all, and be able to interact with other students. be able to be emerged in all of the programs the y has to offer. just be in a space where all you're expected to do is be yourself. >> jane lynch has been a member of the y in her neighborhood for nearly 20 years, and now she's a spokesperson for the y. >> there are very few communities for kids these days. now the y is offering this

opportunity for kids to have like a neighborhood. a place to go after school where, you know, everybody knows your name. you can have fun and feel safe and protected and cared for. >> we talk about things like this, and it almost sounds, you know -- it is a big thing to grasp, and then you meet a young man and it puts it in perspective. >> it does. it is about these individual kids finding a place where they can see more possibilities for their life than they would going home every night. >> lynch says she's doing her part to give back to the y. >> it's about community. it's giving to the community. give to your local y. you can designate where you want the money to go. you can say, i want it to go to the after-school programs for kids. i want to support that so kids have a place to go that's safe and enriching. >> joining in the spirit of kindness, we arranged for some gifts for gisome of the classm e

classmates. thanks to our friends, you have this decked out, stylish teen lounge, just for you. >> oh, my goodness! >> wow. >> you guys are also going shopping. jcpenney is giving all of you guys gift cards to go shopping. >> oh, wow! >> sort of like a blank canvas, you know, where you as a student, as a young individual can come and sort of create. you don't have to worry about what's going on and why. >> one, two, three. >> teen lounge. >> he was in the process of applying to colleges. he's planning on majoring in phycology and theater. right after we talked, he rushed to take a stats final, statistics, and came right back. he's a great student. he was telling me there were times where he's getting ready to take a test and his stomach is growling and he was wondering where he was going to sleep that night. you meet him and he is so positive. >> super smart. >> beautiful, thoughtful. >> warm and kind. >> i'm forever changed. not allowed to complain.

>> extraordinary. great work they're doing at the y to help kids like that. thank you so much, sheinelle. coming up next, we're going to have some last-minute stocking stuffer ideas, and all of them are under $12. >> like that. >> first, this is "tod" nbc.ayon

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we are back with today's hassle-free holiday. the shopping is done. wrapping is nearly finished. menu is planned. wait a minute, you forgot about the stocking stuffers. we are here to help you. lifestyle expert jen has ideas for all the members in your family. the price is right, right? >> $12 and under. easy to find. available at places you're probably shopping anyway. make it simple. >> the idea for these, you go to the stores. you're not going to be online because right now we're in crunch time. go out, put your pants on. >> put on pants that button, get in the car and go. all these things are useful, but they're still unique. things people will use. >> all right. >> first up, these are bath bombs. this is a new brand called

being. they're $6. drop them in a bath, and it is going to fizz up. this brand has the best scent. there are four scents. really fun. another beauty treat, cvs has a huge range of k beauty. the korean beauty imports. these are masks. something for everyone. they're $3 each. >> put this on your face? >> we have a picture of me doing it the other night. before i come on air, i get ready with it. >> what does it do? >> there's hydration. something for everybody. they're great for stockings. >> stroll down memory lane, lip smackers. >> target has these vintage lip smackers. i love the strawberry. now i can't get it open. smells so good. >> reminds me of being a kid. awesome. >> they're great. >> if you want a fun game for the stocking. >> also at target, this is coinhole. a coin toss game. it is table top. it's like a yard game, in the big scale. i'm terrible at it. fun way to keep everyone occupied. >> pom-poms are big, on

slippers, on the side. >> pom-poms are huge. hold navy has these. they're $10 right now. they're soft and cuddly. they roll up. there is a brand called all in the cards. they have these at target, $3 each. you can use it to personalize your bag. this is my bag. makes it look fun with pom-poms. >> everybody loves coffee. this is a fun way to get it into a stocking. >> yeah. for christmas morning, you're up early typically, so this is a great thing to put in a stocking. bullet proof coffee. whole foods stores nationwide. it is clean coffee. no toxins and gives you great energy. this is cold brew, and it is new. it is in this great pack. put it in a stocking. pour over ice. >> taste good. >> we love. >> marshmallows? i wouldn't think of putting it in a stocking. >> this is the glam marshmallow. this is candy cane. mint chocolate chip. it's a fun thing for a stocking. >> those are good. >> i know. i can't get started with these

or they'll be gone. >> this is a fun, cute little one. i love this. >> i think this is so fun. american eagle happens to have all these cool stocking stuffers. iiss a pocket disco ball. bring the party with you. plus it into your phone and you're set. >> genius. >> these are chargers that you will never lose because they're unique. snowflakes, chrtmisas lights, they can blink so they stay solid. they're $10 each. everyone can use more chargers. >> post-it notes seem bland. i did not realize that's what these were. what a clever way. >> how cool is that? from pop, a container store. you'll never lose a post-it note again because this is a great desk accessory. >> the end? >> this is fun. maybe they wanted a motorcycle and they're not getting it for christmas. put this in their stocking. >> it goes on the bike? >> all of a sudden, it sounds like a motorcycle. there you go. $9.99 at amazon. get it on amazon prime. how fun. >> when we were kids, we used to put playing cards with a clothes pin thing. this is so much cooler than

that. >> keep your playing cards and use this. thank you so much. coming up, easy appetizers you can throw together when the unexpected holiday guests stop by. first, this is "today" on nbc.

>> announcer: today food is created with our sponsor, ritz. life's rich. >> all right. today, we've got a good one for ya. it is today's food. we have a quick and simple holiday fare. no one needs a complicated recipe when you're entertaining. elizabeth is going to show us a fun recipe. this is the time of year people just show up at your door and i have to whip up an appi quick. >> it is going to hell in a hand basket. that's where my life is right now, and i don't have five minutes. >> what is a quick one?

>> this is the best dip in the world. softened cream cheese, green onions and bacon. everything everybody loves. we have mayonnaise. we're going to mix, mix, mix. we're going to add our scallions into this and let this go. continue to mix it all up. fabulous. then we're going to add some of the bacon. some people only add the bacon on top. we're big bacon fans. >> we all are. >> we're going to add this. i'm going to let you work on that. >> i'd be happy to. >> start spreading that in there. >> bourbon works into this whole thing, and i discovered it. we'll get to it in a moment. >> absolutely. >> you're going to bake this? >> yes. once it gets nice and bubbly. >> how long do you bake it for? >> it'll take probably about 15 to 20 minutes. >> you're not going to use the ritz cracker as the cracker for this, you're going to crush them up and put it into it? >> exactly. it'll go on top. like you see here. so this has been baked. we have the ritz. >> crumbled. how long did you bake it? >> 350 degrees for about 15

minutes, just till it gets nice and warm. now, this is the secret. my friend -- >> look at al roker. and hoda and savannah. >> get out of here. it is not your turn. it's not your turn! >> sorry. pay no attention. >> we're fine. >> now we have this wonderful pepper jelly glaze. my great friend, this is his favorite dip in the entire world. so now we put it on top. it's going to pop back into the oven for a few more minutes. >> the whole thing took less than ten minutes. while your friends are out there -- >> people were also stealing bacon and it worked out. >> so what is this? >> something the kids love. again, it couldn't be simpler. we have caramel. we melted them with a little cream. take that and let it cool a little bit. >> delicious. >> you need it to be a little solidified. we're going to put that in the center. >> savannah, really? >> a 2-year-old can do this. >> stealing wine. >> we're drinking?

>> ridiculous. >> now, let that cool. >> the crackers are good. they're salty and savory. >> salty and sweet. >> yeah. >> we'll dip it into the chocolate. we're going to add a pecan on top. >> you're making a sandwich here. >> yeah. you can even do -- sometimes i'll do peanut butter and fluffer nutter in the middle of this. >> i'm sorry, is that a car, a volkswagen? >> it's the marshmallow stuff. you can drizzle more caramel on the top if you want it to be fine and fancy, which is what we love. >> beautiful. >> isn't that good? >> also, your kids can help you out with this, as well. >> where is your bourbon? >> i don't know. i'll get it. >> you left it. >> these are so easy. and the ritz crackers are a nice -- >> it's really difficult. i mean, you have presents to buy. you're trying to clean up your house. you have in-laws coming.

you need quick and easy. >> this is the dip. >> move the flowers out of the way. >> hoda, this is one of the best things you'll ever put in your mouth. >> is it? >> the first time i made this, i made it six times like in a three-day period. it's absolutely delicious. >> ridiculous. >> come on! >> isn't that wonderful? you top it with a pepper jelly glaze. fabulous. >> really good. >> it's that sweet/salty/smoky. everything in the world you could possibly ever need. >> one of the questions was, if you didn't want to use bacon, could you use something else? >> you could. i can't imagine why people would want to do that. these people are not my friends. >> these people. >> who asked that? >> you could do chopped mushrooms, if you had an aversion to bacon. >> yeah, right, sure. >> those people won't come to my house, so i don't worry about it. >> less than ten minutes to make this. your bacobacon, i don't have a y contraption there.

>> we always do the bacon in the oven. i do a sheet pan. i don't have anything fancy like that either. you bake it, bring it out. you want it to be nice and crisp so you can crumble it on top like that. >> this is good. little gin and tonic. >> for us, it's like lunchtime. >> you're right. we drink at lunch in new york. >> well, yes. >> i love my job. >> city never sleeps. elizabeth, thank you so much. >> happy holidays. >> if you want these recipes and more, click on today.com/food. we're back in a moment. first, cheers, everybody, this is my wish was a clubhouse,

but we call it "the wish house."

people visit national parks from all over the world. food tastes better when you don't have to cook it. he was just supposed to be my dog. i don't know why. (vo) we're proud that, on behalf of our owners, the subaru share the love event will have donated over one hundred fifteen million dollars in just ten years. get 0% financing for 63 months on select models. plus we'll donate $250 to charity. welcome back, everybody. it's time for a lot of things, but it is time for birthdays, mr. roker. >> uh-oh. >> with the gin and tonic. >> it'll be a good one. set your dvrs. all right. time to celebrate some nice folks from smucker's. first up, happen by 100th

birthday to lil rains. she likes to workout. took up by pla tees in her 90s. ruby is busy keeping track of her 11 grandkids, 19 great grandkids and 8 great great grandkids. happy 100th birthday to frankoff moline, illinois. he walks at least one mile every day. end of the week, he's seven miles from home. salty from venice, florida. she loves to keep in touch with her grandkids using facebook. ellen jones from virginia, also 100, served ed as a deacon at h church over 80 years. last but not least, happy 75th anniversary to rhoda and sam.

these proud grandparents are from florida. they say the secret to a long and happy marriage is having a good sense of humor and a whole lot of patience. >> awesome, al. >> sounds about right. >> excellent job. what do you have coming up? >> ambush makeovers. louis and jill went to the crowd, picked a couple lucky ladies and they'll get re-dos. >> this was delicious. >> thank i )m - -... all lanes of southbound 880 good morning. it is 8:56. i'm marcus washington. all lays of southbound 880 in oakland are open again after a deadly early morning crash involving a fedex big rig. video from nbc bay area sky ranger shows crews clearing that truck at around 7:30 this morning. now, that crash happened near the 66th avenue exit. chp says the driver in that car died when he hit the -- struck that big rig, causing that truck to end up on its side.

it took nearly five hours to clear the scene. and frightening moments for workers at a concord goodwill store. police say a man with a gun hid in that store until it closed, then held up workers as they counted the cash. no one was hurt. but the robber ran from the scene. happening now, we have a crew headed to concord to ask police about possible leads. we'll bring you a live report in our midday newscast. and fatal drug overdoses across the nation are skyrocketing. on our twitter feed link to the alarming new report and details on drugs most likely to be deadly. and the south bay charity kicks off one of its most popular giveaways. thousands of young people will receive christmas gives from san jose's sacred heart community service. but more is needed. go to our twitter feed for details at nbc bay area. meteorolgist kari hall has the

changes in her exclusive weekend weather forecasts - every morning at 5:38 and 6:38. plus- we )ll track the holiday drive as more travelers hit the road. .when you join us tomorrow from 4:30 to 7 on today in the bay.

♪ >> this morning on megyn kelly today, your holiday headquarters. last-minute gifts for him, her and those tiny tots. then it's a wrap, creative ideas for picture-perfect presents. plus our month of merry rolls on, just three days left and we're giving three gifts away today. what could they be? all that and more on megyn kelly today, right now. hi. hi. whew, hello, merry christmas.