a winter wallop out west the blizzard burying homes in the california mountains while rain sparks flash flooding in lower elevations we're tracking the system as over ten million americans brace for more winter weather. inside brittney griner's journey home how she opened up on the long trip back to the u.s., plus, how she spent her first days in freedom. finding hope in the wake of total devastation. inside the recovery efforts one year after a deadly tornado tore through mayfield, kentucky 'tis the season for trouble. why charities across the country

are desperate for donations this holiday season nasa is over the moon about artemis. the unmanned space can sul splashes back down to earth and paves a new path through the stars. it's monday, december 12 "early today" starts right now hi there thanks for starting your day and your week with us. i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm vinita nair a massive storm wreaking havoc across the west, bringing blizzard-like conditions from washington into california more than four feet of snow fell in parts of the sierra nevada. some areas had zero visibility, including a 70 mile stretch of eastbound interstate 80 that was closed from northern california to nevada state line lake tahoe ski areas were grateful for the white stuff, but not for the wind that rocked lift chairs and halted rather some ground operations like at palisades tahoe resort >> meanwhile, in metro areas, rain, flash flooding and strong

wind pummelling millions streets flooded in los angeles, with some places seeing up to half an inch of rain per hour. the powerful system is make its way east, passing through the great plains bill karins is with us good morning >> good morning. what a weekend it was. we desperately need the wet weather. we need the snow in areas of the west because of the mega drought we've been dealing with. but you don't want to get it all at once like this. we've had an incredible period the tahoe area, they've had 7 feet of snow since december 1. that was only 12, 13 days ago. that's nuts. the storm is still rolling down the california coastline we have a big plume of moisture going through the west, and we're getting snow now in the mountains of northern arizona, through the wasatch range in utah and idaho too some of the higher totals, soda springs 60 inches of snow. that's in the lake tahoe area. donner about 46. ketchum, idaho even had 3 feet of snow. heavenly in california and mammoth both coming in with over

30 inches. so we still have winter weather advisories and warnlings all through the west and now we're getting ready for the system to head into the central plains that will start tonight into tomorrow. >> bill, thank you very much we'll check in with you in a bit. >> all right, thanks new photographs have come out showing brittney griner in her first moments of freedom from that russian jail here she is seen with her wife cherelle, and u.s. envoy roger carsons. a special envoy for hostage affairs describes griner's first moments back in american custody. >> she jumped on the plane and went right to saying hi to everyone, making a personal connection, shaking hands, saying thank you >> the wnba star more than nine-month ordeal came to an end friday morning when she was watched with russian arms dealer viktor bout. griner was convicted of drug smuggling after authorities found videotape cartridges in her luggage containing less than a gram remaining in russia, paul

whelan, american businessman and former marine. he was long thought to be part of the griner deal, but ultimately russia chose to keep him. his lawyer says nonetheless, he is confident his client will be released in the coming months. while griner's return is celebrated, the narrow deal that freed viktor bout is facing fierce criticism from republicans. a man accused of making a bomb from blowing up a plane over scotland is in u.s. custody. the explosive killed all 259 people on board as it flew over the small town of lockerbie in 1988 our maggie vespa has more. >> a sigh of release the justice department confirms the man charged with building that bomb is in u.s. custody

his name, abu agila mohammad mas'ud kheir al marimi bird ammerman lost his brother tommy, a father of two, traveling on business. >> he was not supposed to be on the flight he was supposed to leave a day earlier, but the company asked him to stay one more day he told his wife, what's one more day. >> reporter: he booked that flight last-minute. >> yes >> reporter: this comes after he was charged then in custody in liber libya in the deadly plot. >> at long last, this man responsible for killing americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes >> reporter: dubbed the lockerbie bombing, the crash killed everyone on board the london to new york flight. 190 of them americans, including 35 students from syracuse, university returning from a semester abroad. the university calling masud's arrest a milestone

>> my parents have known their grandson longer than they knew their son. and that's not the way life should be. >> reporter: also killed, 11 people on the ground archive video shows mangled wreckage across a scottish neighborhood later funerals the justice department saying massoud will appear in federal court in d.c >> this is something that we have fought for. to bring justice and hold those accountable for who murdered our loved ones >> and our thanks to maggie for that report. milwaukee police are investigating a bomb threat this morning that forced patti labelle to rush off the stage in the middle of a concert. the video shows security escorting her out of the theater. the whole theater ended up being evacuated. no one was injured and no explosive devices were found the heater is working to reschedule the show. nearly one year after a

deadly tornado leveled much of mayfield, kentucky, the community is working to rebuild. lee si rse ya y has the story. >> reporter: we see a community starting all over again. and it sure has a long way to go but the town is getting advice from another city that knows exactly what they're going through. joplin, missouri a monster tornado killed more than 160 people there in 2011, and nearly 13 years later, they're still building back. >> they tell us ten years. so i'm not expecting anything shorter than that. >> reporter: right now, mayfield's mayor says city and county leaders are devising a long-term plan for basic infrastructure, like housing and transportation no doubt, that's important but some tornado survivors miss what can't be built.

>> all them trees used to go up to the sky it seemed like. and i said to myself, i was looking out the window then. i said look like those trees are gone and they were. >> reporter: sami bright rode out the storm in her home that only had roof damage her church around the corner blew away. how have you gotten through the past year? >> you see, i have talked. i'm making it. when the people came to the house to work on the house, i couldn't talk but cry. sometimes i don't even know where i am see, i can see clear up. >> reporter: city views she's never had nor wanted the landscape of her town forever changed. but in spite of mayfield's years' long road to recovery, the city has adapted

its local government offices are spread out in different shopping centers, even the circuit and district courts as well as the sheriff's office sami bright knows mayfield has a long way to go, but she's hanging in there >> they trying we have people coming that helped us from everywhere. and they still are >> and our thanks to our lexington, kentucky affiliate for that story speak of weather, let's turn now to nbc meteorologist bill karins who is tracking a major winter storm it was not nice coming into work this morning, was it, bill >> no, a little overachiever storm with snowfall. probably a lot of snow delays in school areas heading through small new york albany had almost 6 inches of snow so here's what's going to progress with our western storm. it's going to head into the middle of the country. it looks like tonight into

tomorrow is when it really intensifies. that's when we'll see the snow breaking out, blizzard conditions a mess in the rapid city area. and watch out r severe weatherf yesterday, at least the sun will come out and melt some of the conditions on the roads and improves in the northeast today. we'll talk more about the weekend forecast eventually that western storm will come to the east coast also >> we got to know what's it going to be doing. thank you, bill. we'll see you in a bit there is a little girl in los angeles county with dreams of having a unicorn, but she wants to do things by the book so madeline wrote a letter to animal control asking if she can have a unicorn in her backyard if she can find one. not only did she get a response, but the county sent her a license and a stuffed toy unicorn. the permit requires that

unicorns must be given regular access to sunlight, moon beams and rainbows and you got to somehow remember about sprinkles and glitter too i think. >> that's cute i'm glad they actually wrote her back coming up, the next step for the respect for marriage act and charities in crisis this holiday seon ppesre runnining out a amid a drop in n donations.s. in a any small s space. no batteriries and no oututlets neededed. wiwith one firirm push, no batteriries and no oututlets neededed. smsmall spaceses gives youou 4s of continunuous freshnhnes. easisily tackle e odors anywyw. smsmall spaceses gives youou 4s of continunuous freshnhnes. fefebreze smalall spaces..

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shortage of donations. many worry they won't have enough for those who rely on them for this time of year savannah sillers visited a food pantry and toy drive in chicago to talk about the challenges >> look, i want you to see it from this view look >> reporter: two years ago, this stage, the puews, almost every corner filled with toys. but this year -- pastor, this looks like a pretty good start, but is it? >> it's not nearly enough for the people that's going to be standing in these long lines for hours. >> reporter: they barely have enough to cover half the stage >> we have less money than we've ever had in our history. >> reporter: we visited pastor kenyatta smith last year, when donations were down significantly. >> yes less than 1200 toys here. >> reporter: but with just weeks to go until christmas this year, what are you seeing so far with donations? >> really slim to none. >> reporter: tenicia reynolds

comes here every year to get christmas troys for her four children what's it been like to see that moment for them, the joy it brings. >> it's amazing. just to see the smiles on their face. >> reporter: food banks are feeling the strain as well >> so here we're stepping into the food pantry right now. i mean, these shelves look pretty bare. >> yes >> reporter: on the other side of chicago, at the salvation army's community center, they're struggling to help those in need how dire of a situation is this right now? >> well, we have some emergency food on hand for those who are completely out of food. >> reporter: captain king harvey said they're set to restock the shelves, but it won't be enough. what does it look like at the holidays is the need even greater >> oh, it's extremely. it's almost overwhelming because we do rely on the generosity of the public. >> reporter: families who used to come once a month now coming twice as often rising inflation isn't just squeezing those in need, but also those who often give.

here is a snapshot of that the group charity navigator found that on giving tuesday people gave less than they did last year. the average donation dropped from $129 to 118 >> one of the challenges i think is facing all of us is the uncertainty. so people are being maybe more conservative in their giving >> and with rising price, each dollar donated buys less, making it harder for toy drives and food pantries. what's your wish for these families this holiday season >> they can make it through. >> reporter: that simple >> that simple. >> reporter: a simple wish getting harder to grant. savannah seller, nbc news, chicago. still to come, the one-armed basketball player that is inspiring his team, and the country with this incredible dunk shot. idonon, urom the court to the griryo sununday night t foototball highlhlights nextxt nn $5$57 a monthh anand knowing g that we are c covered, it simplififies life.. withth my plan f for $0 a monthth,

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he unlocks the bucket. misses the second. gets his own rebound here he goes emmanuel >> that is today's shot of the day. a one-handed slam from a one-handed superstar hansel emmanuel lost his left arm as a child but after a rebound on saturday, the guard from northwestern state threw down a rim-rocking dunk with his right arm. the 19-year-old scored fife points on the night, and his team flew past, 91-73. from saturday basketball to sunday night football and two teams battling for a play-off position the dolphins played like fish out of water in the first half but a quick 60--yard strike to tyreek hill brought miami back into the game. the chargers were able to run out the clock from there, padding their lead with field goals and picking up a crucial win, 23-17 another week, another incredible patrick mahomes play. mahomes drew in a stampede of broncos defenders only to flip to it jerick mckinnon for the

easy score the chiefs have a lead that broncos can't come back from a chiefs win keeps them on the heels for the top spot in the afc. and it is a coast-to-coast showdown for the final wild card spot after the l.a. chargers passed the new york jets for the seventh seed on sunday jalen hurts and the top-seeded eagles put the hurting on the meadowlands the eagles became the first team in the nfl to clinch a spot in the play-offs. philly wins 48-22. tom brady was just 23 years old when brock purdy was born. but the 49ers quarterback looked pretty good, throwing a pair of first half touchdowns as san fran ran away from the buck knees, 35-7. the despite having a losing record, the bucs still hold on to a play-off spot they lead the nfc south by one game over the panthers and falcons. with their win, the lions open

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♪ when n you have n nausea, heartbtburn, indigigestion, ♪ ♪ upspset stomachch, diarrh♪ ♪ when n you have n nausea, heartbtburn, indigigestion, ♪ pepto bibismol coatsts and sootothes for fafast relie. whenen you needd it most.t. welcome back to "early today. this storm is going to be with us all week long today obviously the worst of it is what's happening in the west, and especially into the rockies today. as we go into tomorrow, that's when the storm really becomes a problem in the central plains. blizzard conditions are likely in areas like wyoming, south dakota, into nebraska, even possibly montana then we're going watch severe weather late tuesday, heading into wednesday by the time we get to friday, this mess redevelopsover areas of southern new england. it looks possibly a nor'easter type storm with rain on i-95 we'll nail that forecast down as we get towards the end of the week. >> sounds good thank you, bill. stl ea a milahd,oon n missi

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>> now is our time to strike. >> well, it looks like wakanda is staying forever at the top of the box office, championing a feith weekend in a row at number one. the black panther sequel took in just over $11 million domestically and with its total global earnings nearing the billion dollar mark, it is now the sixth highest grossing movie of the year >> time for us to see it, right? i haven't jumped on that

it's not too late, though it seems like artemis is back on earth the orion capsule splashed down in the pacific ocean yesterday the 26-day mission is the first step in eventually getting astronauts back to the moon. nbc's lindsey reiser has more. circumstances well, this was a big test for orion's heat shield, making sure it could withstand 5,000 crease fahrenheit, taking in at 24,000 at 500 miles per hour. also a big test for the parachute. let's show you the flight path of where orion has been. orion first did a close fly-by of the moon. then went into distant retr retrograde this is farther than any vehicle built by humans have gone. then orion did another close fly-by around 79 miles away interest the moon and used help from the moon's gravity, a lunar gravity assist to slingshot it back on a trajectory back for earth. there are obviously a lot of

studies being done on orion. there are sensors measuring radiation vibration. one of the mannequins has a next generation space suit. eventually the goal for artemis ii is to get humans on board and to get artemis iii to land back on the moon. they're eyeing the southern region, the southern poll because they believe ice is in this region. here are some possible landing sites they have mapped out this is potentially 2024 and beyond, but for now, the celebration of orion successfully splashing down, let's show you some of the incredible images that orion took while on its voyage just some breathtaking images. you see the moon on top. crescent moon in fact. so right now nasa very cleesed saying this mission has exceeded their expectations after the celebration, on to artemis ii and artemis iii back to you. >> thank you it will be here before you know. but every step of the way towards that is so fascinating

and amazing. >> like she said, you can't stop staring at the images. once you see them you want to see more. >> a man in the capsule down the road for artemis iii, so great road for artemis iii, so great thanks for watinch ♪♪ my name isis austin jaj. as a mususician livg withth diabetes, fingerersticks canane a real c challeng. ththat's why i i e the freestyle librbre 2 system. with a p painle, one-e-second scan, i know m my glucose e nums withthout fingererstic. with a p painle, one-e-second scan, now, i'm'm managingy diabetes b bett, with a p painle, one-e-second scan, and i'i've lowered my a1c1c

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