the hunt continues for the gunman who shot and killed a health insurance ceo on the streets of new york. the new details police have revealed about the killer. california on high alert after the northern part of the state is rocked by a powerful earthquake. how residents there reacted to that unexpected tremor. the holiday shopping season is in full swing, and some retailers are trying to make the experience a little bit easier. find out about the changes they're making to their return policies. the lions' most hated rival try to put an end to their historic win streak on thursday night football. we have the full recap of the classic nfc north grudge match. and five years after a devastating fire, the bells of notre dame are ready to ring again. we're live from paris ahead of the reopening of that historic cathedral. it is friday, december 6th. and "early today" starts right

now. good morning, and thks for joining us, i'm jessica layton. we beginin this friday morning with the latest on the shocking murder of an insurance executive in new york city. police releasing new pictures, showing a man wanted for questioning. unitedhealthcare ceo brian thompson was gunned down in what police say was a targeted attack. we begin with nbc's sam brock. >> reporter: new images show the full face of a hooded man the nypd is calling a person of interest, wanted for questioning in connection with wednesday's ambush and early morning killing of unitedhealthcare ceo brian thompson. a law enforcement source telling us the images were captured at this hostel where the man shared a room with rangers and checked out on wednesday. one guest who said she did not share the same room saw police arrive around 6:30. >> it makes you second guess who are you actually staying in a hostel with. it's quite scary that we could

have been in the same room. >> reporter: the search for a killer hinging on a network of crucial camera images as police are probing whether this nest video could be the shooter. the shootage footage showing a a bike. the gunman approached the 50-year-old ceo walking forward an investor conference alone at 6:45 in thmorning and gunned down the man right in front of the midtown hilton hotel. this surveillance footage may show the suspect exiting a subway station just a half hour before the shooting. video obtained by the new york city times also shows the person resembling the shooter walking roughly 175 feet from the scene of the crime ten minutes before thompson was shot, appearing to talk on the phone. this is a former fbi special agent. >> knowing the shooter was on the phone changes the way the

investigation goes. possibly someone knew the shooting was about to happen. >> reporter: shell casings from the shooting now a key focal point of the investigation. a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation telling nbc that the three casings recovered on scene had the words "deny, defend, and depose" written on them, a possible reference to a book critical of the insurance agency. there are new revelations about the minutes before the murder, that the shooter not only stopped by a starbucks but bought several items, including a water bottle and two energy bars which were then discarded. >> it's a great opening for law enforcement to get on top of who the perpetrator is. it could be some kind of physical evidence, a fingerprint, maybe even dna that they can trace. >> reporter: the targeted killing raising new questions across the insurance industry about security, with thompson, a highly-paid executive in a sector frequently facing frustration and even outrage,

walking alone from his nrby hotel. recent corporate statements from unitedhealth don't reveal personnel expenses for security. it comes after his wife, paulette, telling nbc news wednesday, there had been some threats against her husband, adding, basically, i don't know, a lack of coverage. i don't know details. in the family's hometown outside minneapolis, the police department told nbc news they had no record of any reports. as the staggering and unfolding manhunt is leaving a city stunned. california residents were rattled by a 7.2 earthquake erupting off the northern coast thursday morning. noaa issued a tsunami warning, forcing evacuation orders to move inland immediately. that warning was lifted a little over an hour after the quake. luckily, there were no injuries

or deaths reported here. california's governor, though, declared a state of emergency and said damage assessments will continue first thing this morning. well, elon musk and vivek ramaswamy were on capitol hill thursday talking big budget cuts. the two billionaires were selected by donald trump to head up a so-called department of government efficiency, aimed at dramatically reducing government spending. meanwhile, trump's pick for the pentagon toiled away in the halls of congress yet again trying to own nomination. let's go to brie jackson in washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, jessica. so elon musk and vivek ramaswamy met with congressional republicans. elon musk even brought his young son to the meeting, which house speaker johnson described as a brainstorming session on how to cut spending. now the department of government efficiency is not an actual department, just a commission, and it can only issue recommendations to the white house.

musk has hinted that he is willing to slash popular programs, including social security, which president-elect trump promised to preserve when he was campaigning. meanwhile, pete hegseth met with more senators on capitol hill, trying to security the 50 votes needed to be confirmed as defense secretary. now, iowa senator joni ernst has come out and said she is not ready to support him yet. >> i think, for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that's why we have to have a very thorough vetting process. >> reporter: and hegseth has denied allegations of excessive drinking, sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement at a nonprofit ten years ago. he spoke to our garrett haake and said he had, quote, great meetings with lawmakers. >> this is how the process works. it's not going to be tried out here. it's going to be discussed inside the offices, how we rebuild our military, put the

war fighters first. that's what donald trump, president trump, has asked me to do. >> reporter: are there any circumstances from which you would withdraw from this process? >> i'm here with the support of president donald trump. as long as he supports me, which he told me this morning, i'll be here. >> reporter: and also on capitol hill, the house voted against releasing an ethics committee report on the year-long investigation into former florida representative, matt gaetz. the report looks into claims that gaetz engaged in illicit drug use and had sex with an underage girl. it's unclear now if it will ever be made public. gaetz denies the allegations, but the controversy quickly derailed his nomination last month. the woman accused of sneaking onto a delta flight to paris appeared in a brooklyn federal court yesterday.

svetlana dali could face five years in prison if convicted. she did not enter a plea. they say dali boarded the plane last week. she was denied entry into france and then eventually returned to new york on wednesday. dali's attorney says the russian national is a u.s. resident. she is expected back in court later today. the notre dame cathedral is set to reopen in paris after that devastating fire ravaged the church back in april of 2019. an opening ceremony is expected tomorrow, followed by the first mass on sunday. our jay gray joins us now live from paris. jay, good morning. we know, amid all of this, there is a lot of political strife going on n the background. >> reporter: yeah, no, you're absolutely right, jessica. good morning to you. chaos in the french government right now, with a vote of no confidence for french president macron and his cabinet. he will remain in office, obviously, but will appoint a

new prime minister, and all of that at a time when there is a huge focus on this country and the cathedral behind me. as you know,w, it is a very special, very sacred place for many. more than 850 years old at the time of that fire. and now coming back to life. something that many here thought may never happen. as the world watches in stunned disbelief, flames swallow the iconic chedral. the spire crumbling into ash. much of the 850-year-old structure gutted. >> it felt painful to watch, but we knew they'd rebuild it. to see it now is amazing. >> reporter: more than five years later, thousands gathering at notre dame, celebrating what many call the rebirth of this historic landmark, brought back to life by nearly 2,000 construction workers, craftsmen and artists from across the globe. >> i am so excited to see it open. such a big part of our world,

notre dame. >> reporter: the official reopening of the cathedral, marked by ceremonies and religious services, including sunday when dignitaries, heads of state and celebrities will join the faithful and more than 150 bishops from around the world during an evening mass led by paris archbishop lawrence ulrich. before the fire, it was the most visited site in europe with 12 million to 13 million tourists each year. as notre dame reopens now, officials are extending visiting hours until 10:00 each night, expecting 15 million or more in the next fewew mths with as many as 40,000 a day visiting the refurbished cathedral. there are already huge crowds gathered in this city. as you know, president biden, dr. jill biden and president-elect trump will be here on saturday for that opening ceremony. jessica? >> what a time to be there. jay gray live in paris this

morning. thank you. now to the weather. let's bring in nbc meteorologist angie lassman, who is tracking more snow for so many people who are still already digging out across the country. >> you've got that right, jessica. good morning to you. it is friday. we are once again dealing with lake-effect snow across the great lakes. here's what it locks like oks l satellite and radar. winter alerts are up. we're going to see many of those be in place through the day today, potentially into tomorrow as more of the snow continues to fall. the wind pushing the cold air across the lakes. downwind is where we're expected to see the highest amounts. tomorrow the next clipper system moves in and works into northern new england late into the day. we'll see additional snowfall for folks across that region. but highest amounts upwards of maybe half a foot or up to a foot here across this region that as you mention is still digging out.

meanwhile, across the south, chilly starts across much of that region. temperatures in the teens, 20s and 30s for folks there. let's mostly sunny skies in houston today. and that's a look at your forecast, jessica, back to you. you'll like this next story. two of the best teams in the nfl faced off on thursday night football. packers' run back josh jacobs scored his second hat trick of the season. the game tied up in the final minutes, detroit's 11th straight win hinged on this crucial fourth down conversion. >> are they going? they are going! montgomery is able to pick up the first down! >> and there you have it.

the risk paid off, and jake bates kicked the walkoff field goal. the lions punched their ticket to the playoffs, 34-31. coming up on "eaearly toda" we'll have early oscar predictions for you. but first how an insurance company quickly changed course on a policy on anesthesia after on a policy on anesthesia after fierce backlash. ooo imma be fet at work today. she smells so good i'm actually paying attention! smell unstopable. ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. deodorant... but not as you know it. for thighs... folds... pits... and bits. seventy-two-hour odor control... full of skin-loving ingredients. plus, it's dermatologist and gynecologist approved.

introducing whole body deodorant from dove. ♪♪ vicks vapostick provides soothing non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family. vicks vapostick. and try new vaposhower max for steamy vicks vapors. back now with news that a major u.s. health insurer quickly reverses course after announcing it would limit anesthesia coverage. but first the final jobs report of the year is due out later this morning. so what can we expect? let's turn now to cnbc's charlotte reed with that. charlotte, good morning. >> good morning, jessica. well, indeed, the bureau of labor statistics is expected to show the non-farm payrolls increase by 214,000 jobs in november. now in october, that number came only at 12,000.

but that is time the bureau said it was because the impact of hurricane miltonnd the strike at boeing holding down jobs. this jobs number is important because it will inform policymakers at the fed ahead of the meeting later this month. and we know that inflation is easi, but it is remaining high, so the labor market is one of the other essential data for policymakers to decide the next steps. now, for investors, expect the fed to continue with interest rates. now one one f the largest healt insurers said it would not be going ahead with a policy. if certain surgeries exceeded a specific time limit, the additional anesthesia costs would not be covered. the policy triggered outrage from physicians and elected officials, and they have now removed it.

>> all right, charlotte, thank you. still to come on "early today," the awards buzz is heating up for two huge blockbusters. and it's the end of an era but the start of an age. find out what swifties are expecting from the last weekend expecting from the last weekend of the eras tour. with rapid relief at 4 weeks. tremfya blocks a key source of inflammation. at one year, many people experienced remission... and some saw 100% visible healing of their intestinal lining. serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. healing is possible with tremfya. ask your doctor about tremfya today. ♪ are you tired of your hair breaking after waiting years for it to grow? new pantene with more pro-vitamins,

plus biotin & collagen. repairs as well as the leading luxury bonding brand. stronger, healthier hair, without the $60 price tag. if you know, you know it's pantene. (♪♪) skincare can start in the laundry room. that's why i always recommend all free clear for sensitive skin. it's free of dyes and perfumes. it's a key part of my self-care routine. and is gentle for my skin, and her's too. for an effective clean that's gentle on skin, all you need is all free clear. ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open aorld of surprise. deodorant... but not as you know it. for thighs... folds... pits... and bits. seventy-two-hour odor control... full of skin-loving ingredients. plus, it's dermatologist and gynecologist approved. introducing whole body deodorant from dove. it's mesmerizing. cleaning that greasy mess with dawn platinum...

and not even scrubbing. —well, fluff my feathers. — [giggle] it cuts through the slimy stuff better than their old dish soap, removing 99% of grease. that's why only dawn is trusted to save wildlife. nice to meet ya. my name is david. i've been a pharmacist for 44 years. when i have customers come in and ask for something for memory, i recommend prevagen. number one, because it's effective. does not require a prescription. and i've been taking it quite a while myself and i know it works. and i love it when the customers come back in and tell me,

"david, that really works so good for me." makes my day. prevagen. at stores everywhere without a prescription. you can do ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i know. ♪ ♪ >> ah, two of the biggest hits of the year are on the road to becoming oscar frontrunners. the american film institute named "wicked" one of the top ten films of 2024. it's joined by the spring box office sensation, dune part two. other films include the brutalist, anora and the bob dylan biopic. a complete unknown. i have a lot of movies to see,

starting with wicked. as soon as i can get a ticket in new jersey for a movie theater that isn't sold out. >> some of those are already out in theaters. >> i know. >> snuggle up on the couch and catch up on those. after two years, nearly 150 shows and a record-breaking movie, it's finally the end of the eras era. taylor swift will play in vancouver. and there could be the announcement of a taylor re-recording. they are sporting a giant friendship bracelet ahead of the show. it is truly the end of an era, but, as you said earlier, she deserves a little rest, and she had will get it. >> i hope she does. she probably has another album coming out tomorrow. when we come back, honda issues a rececall for lot and issues a rececall for lot and passport vehicles.

bounty is made to be stronger... ...and more absorbent. so, while ordinary brands can't hold up, one sheet of bounty keeps working, even when wet. (♪♪) now that's the sound of value. bounty. the quicker picker upper. (♪♪) “the darkness of bipolar depression made me feel like life was moving on without me. then i found a chance to let in the lyte.” discover caplyta. unlike some medicines that only treat bipolar i, caplyta is proven to deliver significant symptom relief from both bipolar i & ii depression. and in clinical trials, movement disorders and weight gain were not common. caplyta can cause serious side effects. call your doctor about sudden mood changes, behaviors, or suicidal thoughts right away. anti-depressants may increase these risks in young adults.

elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke. caplyta is not approved for dementia-related psychosis. report fever, confusion, or stiff muscles, which may be life threatening, or uncontrolled muscle movements which may be permanent. common side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth. these aren't all the side effects. in the darkness of bipolar i & ii depression, caplyta can help you let in the lyte. ask your doctor about caplyta. find savings and support at caplyta.com. [♪♪] looking for better hydration ask yoat half the price?plyta. try curél ultra healing lotion. the dermatologist-tested formula contains an advanced ceramide complex, and provides 2-times more hydration at half the price. try curél. (♪♪) when life spells heartburn... how do you spell relief? r-o-l-a-i-d-s rolaids' dual-active formula begins to neutralize acid on contact. r-o-l-a-i-d-s spells relief.

(♪♪) skincare can start in the laundry room. that's why i always recommend all free clear for sensitive skin. it's free of dyes and perfumes. it's a key part of my self-care routine. and is gentle for my skin, and her's too. for an effective clean that's gentle on skin, all you need is all free clear. ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. inez, let me ask you, you're using head and shoulders, right? only when i see flakes. then i switch back to my regular shampoo. you should use it every wash, otherwise the flakes will come back. —he's right, you know. is that tiny troy? the ingredients in head and shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. microbes, really? they're always on your scalp... but good news, there's no itchiness, dryness or flakes down here! i love tiny troy. and his tiny gorgeous hair. make every wash count! and for stubborn dandruff, try head & shoulders clinical strength.

here's what's making headlines this morning. honda is recalling more than 205,000 suvs due to a fuel leak concern. the recall affects certain 2023 to 2025 passport and pilot models. days after announcing the return of the mcrib, mcdonald's is bringing back the snack wrap, no launch date yet. and here's one for those of us of a certain age. it's been decades since knewma it's been decades since knewma knewma went viral. gar-ye: maurice! sometimes jonah wrestles with falling asleep... ...so he takes zzzquil. the world's #1 sleep aid brand. and wakes up feeling like himself. get the rest to be your best

with non-habit forming zzzquil. ♪ ♪ ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. my life is full of questions... how do i clean an aioli stain? use tide. do i need to pretreat guacamole? not with tide. why do we even buy napkins? thankfully, tide's the answer to almost all of them. —do crabs have eyebrows? —except that one. for all of life's laundry questions... it's got to be tide.

during the busy shopping season, not every gift you buy online will be perfect. and while many online retailers have started charging fees for returns, others are taking a different approach. lynda baquero from our station here in new york explains. >> reporter: most online retailers are changing their return policies to make things easier on consumers. it's because the average return costs companies s a lot of mone specifically in shipping and operation coarses. according to a 2023 report from logistics technology company opturo, it can cost up to 30% of the original price of the item, pair that with online purchases having a higher return rate than those from a store, around 18%. the founder of the retail blog rather be shopping says in addition to amazon, he's noticed retailers like walmart, target,

chewy, wayfair, zappos, costco, kohls and home depot now allow customers to keep certain returns. i've noticed items $20 or under, items that have been opened, big or bulky items, a lot of times costs more for the retailer to ship it back than to keep it. >> reporter: he says the returns consumers are most likely to keep are inexpensive, difficult to restock. small electronics, low cost clothing. >> oftentimes they'll tell you to keep it and still refund you. >> reporter: be careful trying to get free things with these policies, because you could be banned from returning things in

the future if you're caught. >> our thanks to lynda baquero for that report. president biden continuing to ring in the holiday season, lighting the christmas tree at the ellipse south of the white house. it is joined by smler decorated trees representing every state and u.s. territory. the site will remain open daily until january 1st. coming up later this morning, "today" is bringing back their holiday series, merriest main street where they highlight towns across the country full of holiday spirit. first up, stockbridge, massachusetts. its main street was immortalized in the famous rockwell painting. thanks so much for waking y.

stay right there, more news on the way.