out west, it was a white christmas and then some. historic storm and more on the way. omicron hits home. the new surge forc airlines to cancel hundreds of flights during one of the busiest travel days of the year >> if you are hit with a cancellation, how to make sure you get a refund spider-man saves the day

setting the prepandemic record at the box office giving hope for the future of the movies "early today" starts now airlines have already been forced to cancel 500 flights across the country today for more on dangerous conditions, here is kathy park >> extreme weather crashing the christmas holiday. the 20-car pileup in nevada. across the state line, heavy snow across california >> we tried to make it to wout conditions in washington in seattle, slick streets. more bad weather out west when a reported tornado touched down in

santa barbara, california. in oregon, the governor declaring a state of emergency in the southeast, parts of texas in the 90s >> it is incredible. everybody is out >> weather whiplash from sizzling temps to a rare white christmas. the omicron variant is driving a new surge of covid cases, hospitalizations and death and causing a nightmare for travelers. millions of americans are trying to get home for the toll days now. more than 2,000 domestic flights were canceled after crew and staff called out sick. >> an omicron surge in the midst of a travel crush partly to blame for another spike in flight cancellations >> they said the reason why the

flights were canceled was due to crew availability. >> more than 2,000 flights wiped away j jetblue canceled 10% of their flights. that's a huge amount of people inconvenienced i think it is fair to call this a meltdown >> american and delta you saw many flights >> kind of difficult pretty much just regular christmas flying >> how worried are you with covid spreading like wild fire >> it is like a sign >> lines in testing is in overdrive. >> we've obviously got to do better things will improve as we get into january but that doesn't help us today and tomorrow

>> the fenway and college bowl games went dark after 40 players unavailable. the daily seven-day average over 200,000. >> around 200 counties in red alert. >> couldn't come at a worst time people are traveling and getting together >> before we even started the day, there were more than 130 flights canceled the expectation is that this could go on for days jetblue and delta doing whatever they can asking the cdc time for vaccinated employees to be cut in half. schools heading back to virtual learning

many districts are on edge. >> california's governor ordering 6 million free tests for kids >> it hurts a tinsy bit. >> giving parents a peace of mind >> in clovis, california 50,000 free tests have gone out to students and staff. districts installing hepa filters in classrooms. >> when i tell you having kids in classrooms is critical, the data confirms that too >> across the country, the school district in philadelphia

with an estimated 200,000 students keeping a close eye on the rise in covid cases and considering the vaccine mandate. >> what's your message to the families >> number one, we'll do whatever we can to keep schools open. >> fears loom that students will have to go back to remote learning, some already are ucla, columbia and northwestern are swroining a growing list of colleges and universities going virtual the first weeks of the new semester >> to make things more difficult, some schools are dealing with staff shortages between july and november. lost about 200,000 workers in education as they also deal with the virus. former president trump's spokesman is suing over access

to his financial records taylor budowich was in charge of the rally that preceded the january 6 rally. they want to know the source of the funding. he says he'll cooperate at depositions but is balcking over release of his bank records. the passing of dez monday tutu other figures such as nelson mandela, tutu was instrumental in the end of a par tide in south africa he chaired the truth in

reconciliation committee to help heal wounds. he died at the age of 90 canadian director died best known for aids drama "dallas buyer's club." he won an emmy of directing the first season of "big little lies." at the time of his death, he was set to direct another hbo series his cause of death has not been med public japan made the decision not to send government owe firms to beijing joining the likes of the u.s., united kingdom and australia. they will still send officials including the chief of the tokyo summer games and yjapanese olympic committee president.

>> joining us now and tracking the winter wallup. good morning we continue to see snowfalling in feet to the west where the most dramatic weather is today also seeing some snow in the northern plains. stretching from the west to the east we do have winter storm warnings in the pink. 26 million people impacted with the heavy, heavy snow. we could see additional 1 to 3 feet again today more heavy snow for the sierras. we are looking at an additional one to three feet. in the northern plains, we are looking at some snow as well northeast also looking a wintery weather an0s

in the northern plains, it is so cold with wind below zero in billings >> we'll talk more about the extreme temperatures and the week ahead and your travel forecast coming up thank you. despite supply chain issues, holiday sales rose at the fastest face in 17 years sales increased 8.5% from last year and 10.7% compared to the prepandemic holiday period in 2019 numbers fuelled by clothing and jewelry, online were up 11% from a year ago and 61% since 2019. pandemic rages on movie theaters one web-slinging hero may save

the day. >> the global box office heights. more on that next. it looks like it, craig. and the defensive linemen are playing peek-a-boo. i've never seen anything like that before. harris now appears to be burping the baby. that's a great moment right there. the ref going to the rule book here. what, wait a minute! harris is off to the races! we don't need any more trick plays. touchdown!! but we could all use more ways to save. are you kidding me?? it's going to be a long bus ride home for the defense. switch to geico for more ways to save. when they're sick, they get comfortable anywhere and spread germs everywhere. it's going to be a long bus ride home for the defense. wherever they rest protection nothing kills more viruses, including the covid-19 virus, on more surfaces than lysol disinfectant spray. lysol. what it takes to protect. when you really need to sleep you reach for the really good stuff. new zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. it's non habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil. new zzzquil ultra. when you really really need to sleep.

>> sorry, kid. yeah, me too >> spiderman, no way home. the first pandemic era movie to cross $1 billion in a near record 12 days matirx near $70 million and sing 2 close to $65 billion >> in the industry's road to recovery after the pandemic, screening of spiderman has pushed movie goers even further to get out we have more on how the cinemas

are adjusting. >> just like how it happens on screen, the movie theaters needed a hero to swoop in. feeling like spider-man saved the day. >> this could mark an important turning point in recovery to the big screen experience. >> 88% of theaters now open and operating compared to prepandemiclevels. in an era of lockdowns, audience wrenss traded theaters for the couch. >> the year before was $11 billion. this year, back up to $4 billion. theater owners are hopeful a sign of a return >> pushing a new front

screaming. facing incredible losses >> studios made block busters available to watch at home >> ceo of the second largest theater chain. >> the premier should be in the theater. >> going to the theater now moving shorter >> this can work out day in the list is not go for theaters >> operators are doing everything they can to get movie goers back they have to do a lot more than the standard bag of popcorn. >> saying the cinema is now beyond just catching a flick offering gourmet meals, alcohol and 4 d experiences. >> visiting the cinema is still the most affordable

entertainment you can get. >> for now, the holidays may have been the here "the holidays needed, in the long run, the theaters will have to save themselves >> nbc news, hollywood >> you give your stamp of approval >> excellent >> still to come, kwanzaa celebrations even in the home of the president. uchhh!!! so now we use our swiffer sweeper and dusters. the fluffy fibers? they pick up dust easily. grabbing it in all those hard-to-reach places. gotcha!!! and for our floors, sweeper's textured cloths lock all kinds of dirt, dust and pet hair. unlike my vacuum, it sneaks under and around places. look at that!! dust free and hassle free. stop cleaning and start swiffering.

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>> a sobering report from our nation's airlines. >> this is the most crowded i've seen the airport >> finding more than 100,000 complaints from april 2020 more than double prepandemic levels more than 80% concern refunds. >> it makes me feel incredibly important. >> saying the airlines canceled her flight three times she submitted for a refund and tried calling but didn't get a dime back until filing a formal complaint with the department of transportation >> when you got the refund, did it cover everything? >> they sent us vouchers of $125 each i'll never use them. >> united sayings it more for cussed now than ever it did not respond on her case

>> more than a dozen airlines with refund complaints finding air canada for extreme delays resolved a dispute paying out $4.5 million saying air canada and dot have agreed to settle the matle and dot plans to widen protection for travelers unable to travel because of pandemic restrictions >> saying since the staurt of the pandemic, they've issued more than $20 million in cash refunds. >> experts say know your rights. if an airlines canceled or changes your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund follow up. you may get a different answer from a different agent >> if the airline is dragging

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try always discreet. down in seven. blocked by williams. on the fly leaping into the end zone. 68 yard strike >> bangles quarterback with the best game of his young career in cincinnati fourth most in a game in nfl history. the bangles crushed the ravens 41 to 21 absolute demolition in dallas.

it didn't give the rival a warm welcome. they got out to a lead in the first before turning on the jets dallas nearly doubled in yardage. prescott doubled out of the bench out of precaution and mercy. 56 to 14 the highly contested race and the bills and patriots went back new england's harris would run the patriots back in the game. would it matter the most shovel pass and that would seal it for buffalo and the buffalo's mckinsey found himself on top of performers >> the rams and vikings came into the nfc playoff picture

los angeles over the vickings 30 to 23 and clinched a playoff birth in the process >> in a return match, put the hurt on big blue tossing two touch downs as the eagles soared to a 34-10 victory all four division leaders and cardinals have clinched playoff births nasa celebrated by launching one of the most anticipated missions the world's largest, most powerful telescope blasted into space. 100 times more powerful than the huble. it will travel more than a million miles away from earth and capture images of what happened 13 million years into the past possibly even the birth of the universe >> starting the eek-long

celebration of kwanzaa celebrating creativity, responsibility, determination and faith. >> tweeting about her fond memories and wishing those who celebre a happat

right now at 4:30, tracking the storm, rain moving across the bay area. meteorologist, vianey arana, is tracking the storm hour-by-hour and when it's set to move out. >> plus, missing. the search is under way for a skier in lake tahoe. what his sister is telling us about his last-known whereabouts. the uptick demand for tests. this is "today in the bay." good morning. thank you for joining us. i am