peaceful demonstrations from coast-to-coast in the wake of a tyre nichols beating and the death at the hands of multiple memphis officers could spur police reform on a national level from congress. >> our dana griffin takes a hard look at the difficult questions surrounding race and policing in america today. two high-ranking leaders, one in congress, the other a four-star air force general, both predict that the u.s. could be at war with china in two years. super bowl 57 is set with philadelphia taking on kansas city as two high-powered kwns lead

their teams into arizona and our jose diaz-balart on the biggest surfing competition in the world a busy final monday of january "early today" starts right now good morning i'm vanita nair. >> glad you're with us i'm frances rivera the latest deadly fallout. there are growing calls for change after the 29-year-old was seen on video being brutally beaten by five black officers. nichols' parents have accepted an invitation to attend biden's state of the union address next week memphis police announce they'd are permanently deactivating a unit called scorpion all five officers involved in nichols' death had been part of it the department vowed to take proactive steps in the healing process, but that process complicated. the death of tyre nichols is leading to more difficult discussions about race and policing in our country.

our dana griffin reports >> reporter: after a heavy weekend, the nation grappling with another black man dying after a violent encounter with police but in memphis, all five officers charged with the murder of 29-year-old tyre nichols are also black the city's police chief says they have to take responsibility, no matter who's wearing the uniform. >> so it takes race off the table. but it does indicate to me that bias might be a factor also. >> reporter: others say there are systemic issues. >> we have to talk about this institutionalized police culture that has this unwritten law that you can engage in excessive use of force against black and brown people >> i think that sometimes police officers, black police officer, latino police officers can feel a real pressure to show that they are part of a team and to

distinguish themselves from the communities that are really being dehumanized that they're actually policing. >> reporter: in the wake of a black lives matter movement, several departments have tried to expand the number of officers of color, hoping to bridge the gap between the community. in memphis, 58% of officers are black, a city where more than half of residents are people of color. but some, like tyre nichols's mother says she wants accountability, regardless of race >> people try to say black people, we only try to go after white officers that's not true. we don't care what color is officer is we want bad officers taken off the force. >> reporter: but others believe bad police officers are simply that, bad police officers. and there can be mistrust, even when officers look like them you don't think this has to do with race? >> not at all. they did this because this is what they wanted to do, and this is what they chose to do and because they were unfit to be police officers.

>> reporter: robert salcedo has been working as a community adversary since the rodney king beating in 1991. he views race as part of the issue here, but not the only one. >> it does speak to the fact that is there a culture of hiding behind the cloud of authority, if you would, using the badge to engage in ways you otherwise would not. >> is there a solution >> yes i think there is a solution that we have to have more citizens engaged in the conversation. >> a conversation once again in the national spotlight dana griffin, nbc news >> the followout in the video of the police beating of tyre nichols has also re-ignited the topic of police reform on capitol hill nbc's brie jackson is joining thus morning from washington, d.c. with more so brie, the federal government has struggled to pass meaningful police reform over the past two years. but do you think the outrage over this case might actually turn the tide? >> good morning, venita.

many police proposals were introduced after the black lives matter protests in 2020. the george floyd justice in policing act has been stuck in the senate since 2021 due to disagreements between members of both parties last year president biden moved on the issue with an executive order that attempts to advance police accountability. now in light of the events in memphis, this issue is become on the table. the congressional black caucus put out a statement on sunday requesting a meeting with president biden about reforming the acts of those in law enforcement and referring to the beating of nichols as murder meanwhile, here is what lawmakers had to say on the potential movement on police reform in the future >> i still think you want to keep this atthe state and loca level. this is a law enforcement issue. you start getting the federal government involved in databases and federalizing things. that gets -- because the federal government screws it up so many times. >> senator booker, chairman of the crime subcommittee, has been working on this for years. i think he and senator scott

should sit down again quickly to see if we can revive that effort but that in and of itself is not enough we need a national conversation about policing in a responsible constitutional, and humane way >> durbin also said he would not rule out the possibility of a federal investigation of the memphis police department who had already announced the permanent deactivation of their scorpion unit prior to the release of the video on friday especially now that the parents of tyre nichols will now be attending the state of the union next week. vanita >> a lot of folks interested in the national conversation. thank you. an amazon robber was robbed at gunpoint in orange county, florida by two men the dash cam captured the terrifying moments the video may be hard to watch the driver parked the van to deliver packages, and two suspects are waiting for him after he was finished. police said he demanded he give up his things after he got back

into the van investigators believe about ten packages were stolen before the suspects entered a white phan van and drove off. they're facing robbery with a firearm. an air force general has predicted that the u.s. will be at war with china in 2025. nbc news has obtained a memo to his air mobility command officers in it he writes i hope i am wrong. my gut tells me we will fight in 2025 adam smith is slamming the general. >> this type of rhetoric i think heightens tensions, not the other way around this is not something u.s. generals should be saying. >> minihan said in the video he suspects china will move on taiwan when the u.s. is distracted by the 2024 presidential election. he has ordered commanders to report back on preparations for war with china by february 28th. a baby boy who was about a

sucked with his twin brother in ohio last month has died 6-month-old kaire thomas was taken to the hospital because he stopped breathing and passed short after. he and his brother were abducted during a carjacking december 19th kaire was found a few days later outside dayton international airport while kasan was found two days later the cause of death has not been released dramatic video this morning showing the moment atlanta police rescued the driver of a stolen police car, just seconds before the train crashed right into it. take a look. >> come on move >> a 29-year-old managed to steal the vehicle during a traffic stop, and new body cam footage shows the officer pulling him to safety just before the train rolls over the car. he has been charged with theft, needing and alluding, reckless driving and damage to city problem. >> the bitter cold and

windshield alerts are in full force. who the has to bundle up good morning >> hi, guys. a lot of people are going to have to bundle up this morning, especially if you're waking up in places like the far plains or even far texas that's where the windchill alerts extend through the morning hours, at least today. we're going see 15 million people included in you're going to see major cities like minneapolis and denver are included this. something to note if you're preparing and heading out the door early 19 below in fargo. denver waking up to 8 below. but feeling like 23 below. so that just sets the stage for how the day is going to go we're not going to see a whole lot of warming throughout the afternoon hours. single digit high temperatures for places like minneapolis and denver these numbers are way below normal and at cold aithhe

northeast, temperatures are anywhere from the 40s, 50s, even close to 60 degrees in washington, d.c. today a bit of a different look for what people are dealing with in, say, the northeast compared to the plains, but we also have some wintry conditions that we're tracking i'll talk than coming up >> thank you, angie. this week is your last chance to catch a glimpse of the rare green could it's making another close approach with earth on wednesday after it passes by earlier this month. scientists say that the comet orbiting 26 million miles away can be seen on a clear night with binoculars and won't return for millions of years. we are back in just a minute with a special message from buffalo bills' damar hamlin. plus, a preview of super bowl lvii stay with us the power of an overnight soak in minutes. i'm sorry, minutes?

with 3 cleaning boosters... not found in traditional dish soaps that help break down, loosen and lift away food and grease... so much faster! tougher mess? let the suds sit a few minutes before wiping. even cleans... the grill! thank you! man: i'm not slowing down anytime soon. that's why i take osteo bi-flex every day. it's clinically shown to improve joint comfort in 7 days, and continues to improve over time. kinda like us. osteo bi-flex. find our coupons in sunday's paper. think he's posting about all that ancient roman coinage? no. he's making real-time money moves with merrill. so no matter what the market's doing, he's ready. and that's... how you collect coins. your money never stops working for you with merrill, a bank of america company. down to the wire

the chiefs and bengals battling for a spot in the super bowl >> able to see him here's the pass. oh, what a catch >> cincinnati fought back multiple times to even up the score in kansas city the game was tied at 20 in the final seconds. but the ball was in patrick mahomes' homes magic got kansas city in place for a last-second field goal the chiefs win it and head to their third super bowl in four seasons, 23-20 jalen hurts had the eagles flying high early in the nfc championship game. both 49ers quarterbacks. the rushing attack found the end zone four times. the eagles are back in the super bowl for the first time in five years. they beat the niners, 31-7 philly been ruffling the nerves of new york state fans. the empire state building lit up green.

everyone to the sanitation department all had to comment. later the empire state building said "that hurt us more than it hurt you," as it changed red to celebrate the win. super bowl in arizona when jalen hurts and patrick mahomes take the field. it will be the first super bowl matchup between two black starting quarterbacks. off the field, buffalo bills player damar hamlin is speaking out on camera for the first time since his collapse earlier this month during monday night football nbc's jesse kirsch has hamlin's message. >> reporter: first he wrote to his fans then he joined them in person. but now for the first time since his onfield cardiac arrest, damar hamlin is speaking to the world. >> it's a lot to process within my own self, mentally, physically, even spiritually. >> reporter: in a more than five-minute video released statistic night, reacting to his collapse earlier

>> what happened to me on monday football i feel is a direct skl of god using me as a vessel to share my park and my love directly from my heart with the entire world. >> reporter: the 24-year-old inspired more than $9 million in donations for a toy drive he now hopes can help kids nationwide hamlin speaking directly to the children he sent letters and gifts. >> you mean the world to me. you made my day every day. you inspired me to keep dreaming big and to continue helping making this world a better place. it's always been important for me to be a road molle. >> expressing gratitude for his medical and training teams. >> his family and fans also thankful for the entire nfl, including the cincinnati bengals who he was playing when he collapsed. >> you put humanity above team loyalty. you showed the world unity over division i am not surprised by it, but i am deeply grateful and i will be forever thankful and indebted to

that. >> reporter: now hamlin promising to do more good deeds. >> and i can't wait to take ellen on the journey with me. >> an adventure wouldn't be possible without supporters following his playbook of love jesse kirsch, nbc news. >> it's amazing to see him doing so well. >> hope he stays right on that path still to come on this monday morning, while most people are eating their lunch, this guy ended up winning a world fouams competition. >> the stunning fraud allegations in a fight over lisa marie presley's estate provide l. it targets inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. don't use if allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied, and unusual taste sensation. why wait? ask your doctor about a 90-day prescription and pay as little as $0. xiidra. oof! for bathroom odors that linger.

try febreze small spaces. just press firmly and it continuously fights odors in the air and on soft surfaces for 45 days. ♪breathe happy febreze♪ ♪la la la la la♪ dad, you alright? the road to college can be expensive. luckily, bank of america lets dad switch his choice cash back category so he earns more on gas. with the bank of america customized cash rewards card, you just can't stop getting rewarded. wondering what actually goes into your multivitamin? at new chapter, its' innovation, organic ingredients, and fermentation. fermentation? yes. formulated to help you body really truly absorb the natural goodness. new chapter. wellness, well done. truth is... i've never really known how to care for my hardwood floors. then i found swiffer wetjet wood.e natural goodness. these soft microfiber-like pads absorb dirt and grime deep inside. and it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. wetjet wood. also try sweeper wood cloths. pain hits fast. so get relief fast.

only tylenol rapid release gels have laser drilled holes. they release medicine fast for fast pain relief. and now get relief without a pill with tylenol dissolve packs. relief without the water. when your v-neck looks more like a u-neck, that's when you know, it's half-washed. downy has 7 benefits that condition and smooth fibers so clothes look newer, longer. feel the difference with downy.

coming up on "today," hoda kotb sits down with shania twain, talking her new album out this week, queen of mement. now the a lifeguard who surprised the world by winning a major international surf competition, all on his lunch break. jose diaz-balart has the story >> reporter: this is the

astonishing moment 27-year-old surfer luke shepardson conquered a monster wave on oahu's north shore last sunday. >> that was super well done. >> reporter: luke, making history, riding swells 50-feet high [ cheering ] >> it was his first time competing in and winning the legendary eddie aiko big wave invitational, one of the world's most important surf contests the victory remarkable by any measure. but even more so because luke is a lifeguard on the north shore and competed during his lunch breaks >> so you go from lifeguard into the competition and then go back to work? >> yeah. just like any other day at work. and then when it's my time for a break, i go for a surf and come back to the tower, do my job. >> reporter: luke has been surfing in hawaii all his wife

but riding in the eddy was always the goal. did aiko was also a lifeguard, who disappeared in 1998, trying to get help for a group in a capsized canoe his brother clyde helped organize this week's competition. >> well, luke winning is so magical. this young man truly embodies what eddie was all about thinking about other people before you. >> it's a message luke's wife natalia says inspires their family every day >> he's -- sorry, i feel like i'm going cry. shea great example for our kids. i hope that they have that same fire in them to really chase after their dreams he really had to prove himself, and he did

>> thanks to jose for that story. >> wow the epitome of surfer dude chill. we can all use a little bit of that >> makes you rethink what kruer doing for lunch. >> exactly today's top stories just ahead, including a man who police believe is finding women on dating apps and tort dhering t torturing them >> why this georgia bulldog took celebrations just a bit too far. it's not peanut butter. i know, i know. but every time the box comes, we get the peanut butter. yes, because mom takes the meds out of the box and puts them in the peanut butter. sounds like we're getting peanut butter. yes, but that is the chewy pharmacy box. ♪ the peanut butter box is here. ♪ ♪ the peanut butter box is here ♪ alright, i'm out. pet prescriptions delivered to your door. chewy. a dental tool is round for a reason. so is an oral-b. round cleans better by surrounding each tooth. so clean, you'll feel like you just left the dentist. oral-b. brush like a pro.

♪♪ think he's posting about all that ancient roman coinage? no. he's making real-time money moves with merrill. so no matter what the market's doing, he's ready. and that's... how you collect coins. your money never stops working for you with merrill,

a bank of america company. hate it when a car freshener hits you with an overwhelming blast of perfume? febreze car vent clips work differently. febreze gives you consistent freshness that starts just right and stays just right for 40 days. upgrade to febreze car. this is going to be great. taking the shawl off. i did it. is he looking at my hairline? my joint pain isn't too bad. well, it wasn't this morning. i hope i can get through this. is plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis making you rethink your everyday choices? otezla is a pill, not a cream or injection that can help people with plaque psoriasis achieve clearer skin. otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness and pain in psoriatic arthritis. and no routine blood tests required. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. otezla can cause serious allergic reactions. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop.

some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines and if you're pregnant or planning to be. doctors have been prescribing otezla for over 8 years. don't hesitate. ask your doctor about otezla today. welcome back the week ahead looks good in some spots, but some other spots could be trouble especially if you're living in parts of the south that's where we'll see rain, snow, ice mixing in. some spotty snow showers lingering around the northeast in the interior areas. as we look to wednesday halfway through the workweek, it will be sunny and dry out west but there is the heavy rain and the snow and freezing rain that i mentioned. it will finally be a little warmer for folks in the high plains they are waking up into singles and below zero by the end of the week maybe, i don't know, 19

ou. ill be better thgh >> sheltering. up next, police manhunt for a suspect using data apps. se smell amazing. after i make the bed... after i catch my dog on the couch... so i can wear my jacket or jeans one more time, before i wash them again. it even makes shoes smell fresh! it doesn't cover up odors with scent... but actually helps eliminate them. over 1,000 uses. febreze fabric refresher. ugh-stipated... feeling weighed down by a backedup gut" over 1,000 uses. miralax is different. it works naturally with the water in your body to unblock your gut. ...free your gut. and your mood will follow. ready to shine from the inside out? say “yes” to nature's bounty advanced gummies and jelly beans. the number one brand for hair, skin and nails. with two times more biotin to bring out more of your inner beauty.

get more with nature's bounty. ♪ the best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees, i need money, that's what i wand, that's what i want >> one of the founding artists of motown has died motown museum announced the news on social media, barrett saying money, that's what i want. together with norman whitfield he also wrote many hits for the temptations. debt at 81 in today's top story, police are aftering a $2500 reward for information leading to the

arrest of 36-year-old benjamin foster police say he torturing a woman he held captive last week. she was hospitalized in critical condition. law enforcement warns foster may attempt to change his appearance by shaving his beard and hair or by changing his hair color he is charged with attempted murder, kidnap and assault he is using data apps to help find people and to avoid police, and to potentially find new victims. students at richneck are set to return glass today. the school has been closed since first grade deeper abigail discerner who was shot by one of her students families of students at richneck received the text last week saying that cool will reopen for all students on january 30th former of university quarterback by the name of stenson bennett was arrested over the weekend in dallas, facing a misdemeanor charge of

public intoxication. he was taken into custody after police responded to a report of someone loudly banging on doors. he was released later that afternoon. but the 25-year-old led the bulldogs to two back to become national championships in 2022 and 202. just weeks after the death of elvis presley's only daughter, lows is a marie, there is a battle over her mistake a legal challenge to a 2016 amendment that removed her of a trustee of lisa marie's trust. that amendment made lisa mar re's daughter riley the sole trustee. prosecutors argue the signature doesn't match lisa marie's and her name was misspelled. shooting for the stars and landed in the record books taylor robinson set the division 1 record on saturday seeking her 493th.

she'd finish with 500 three careers and the sooners have at least nine more games this season so there is plenty of time to extend that record well, good for her and good to have all the chances here cheering her on thank you so much fo