you inside the san francisco flower mart. its final days at its home of 58 years, where it's headed where you'll soon be able to buy your next bouquet. yeah, sad to see it go, but you know what? i'm so happy to be at work. yes, i know, i didn't mean with me. i just meant, like, you know, it worked. yeah. we're so happy to be here. and you know what? we're back here tomorrow. are you? and saturday and sunday. i'm not here tomorrow, but i'll be back on saturday and sunday. i doo get one day off. hey, you have next week off. don't tell my business. that's what's happening. today in the bay. we love you a good thursday morning good thursday morning. it is the day after christmas and millions of americans are getting ready to begin the long journey home. >> but will severe storms across the country put a wrench in your travel plans? it's december 26th.

this is "today." winter blast. holiday zmoe rain making a mess -- snow and rain making a mess of the trek home. airports across the country already experiencing a high number of delays with what to expect for your journey home plus dylan's full forecast. christmas tragedi. dozens of passengers killed yesterday after a flight bound for russia ended in a fiery crash. how almost 30 survivors, make it out alive, and what new video from inside the plane is revealing about its final moments. taking aim. president-elect trump threatening a u.s. expansion into canada and the panama canal and greenland. what his social media is revealing about his potential actions and how some officials in the regions are firing back. rol holiday. british monarchy spreading cheer and keeping tradition alive with their annual christmas day

stroll. >> merry christmas! >> princess kate taking center stage amid her nearly year-long battle with cancer. a look inside the family's celebrations after a challenging few months. those stories, plus, return rush. the presents have been unwrapped, but what to do with those unwanted gifts? we're breaking down the deadlines, receipt requirements, and exchange policies to master those returns like a pro. and festive field. a christmas day filled with fireworks in the nfl. >> mahomes to kelce, touchdown, chiefs! >> reporter: the kansas city chiefs and baltimore ravens both celebrating blowout wins and a new record for tight end, travis kelce. ♪ this ain't texas ♪ ♪ ain't no hold'em ♪ >> but it was the beyonce bowl halftime performance that stole the show, today, thursday,

december 26th, 2024. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. good morning and welcome to "today." thanks so much for joining us this thursday morning. i'm laura jarrett alongside peter alexander. savannah and hoda enjoying some time off. all right, beyonce bowl, she won, obviously. she won the whole thing. let's be clear, you have to wait for the super bowl for an event like this, but the nfl was not messing around, rolling out beyonce at halftime on christmas day, and she showed up with friends shaboozey, post malone, and all the others dressed in their cowboys white. we'll show you the highlights. >> and a tease for what's coming next month should be good. the first day after christmas, we have everything you need for your post-holiday survival guide. if you are getting ready to hit the road after your celebrations, we'll tell you about some severe weather that may make the journey a little bit harder.

and if you're getting ready to return some of those unwanted christmas gifts, some rules and policies that are new that could make getting those refunds a bit trickier this go around. >> we have it all covered, including dylan's forecast. let's start with marissa parra at atlanta hartsfield-jackson aiairport fous this morning. good morning. >> laura, good morning from the world's busiest airport, right here in atlanta. my report on the ground, as you can see behind me, it's definitely not not busy, but things to be moving pretty smoothly at airports around the country, but the severe weather threatening 13 million people could put a damper on that later on today. >> reporter: this morning, a white or wet christmas throughout the country means millions may be dealing with a travel mess on their way home from the holidays. millions across the south are facing severe storms, including flash flooding with as much as 4 inches of rain. and police in sherman, texas, with the grim task of searching

for persons swept away in floodwaters. one body was recovered while four others in the car were rescued. >> the only thing that i can communicate to the public or anybody who's wanting to do more is simply pray for a quick and successful recovery. >> reporter: the west coast facing an unrelenting atmospheric river storm with powerful winds, heavy rain, and snow. in california, officials are assessing the damage after part of the santa cruz pier collapsed under high surf. three people were plunged into the water, and authorities say a man at a nearby beach died after being trapped under debris by a wave. that wharf now closed indefinitely. meanwhile in the sky, travelers facing thousands of travel delays after a chaotic start to the busy holiday travel rush, with a nationwide ground stop for american airlines. >> american airlines computers are down. we're de-planing. >> reporter: it comes amid a series of scares on airplanes and airports over the hospitals. police responding to reports of nfire at sky harbor airport in phoenix leading to some moments

of chaos. it happened between a group that knows each other of them. four were injured, two others detained. and in hawaii, an investigation is underway after a body was found in the wheel well of a plane after landing in miami from chicago. after a statement, the united airlines says, the wheel well was only accessible from outside the aircraft, adding, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well. now, we have been talking about what is expected to be record-breaking holiday travel. if you are one of those travelers still taking to the skies or the roads, in terms of the airports, we expect it of course to be busy today, but not as busy as tomorrow or monday is expected to be, according to tsa. and if you're taking to the roads, keep in mind, we enjoyed two days of minimal traffic, but aaa does say they expect that to creep back up starting today. if you're hitting the roads, pack a nice play list so you can have your patience and enjoy nice music on the way. >> thank you, appreciate it. let's check in with dylan right now, she is in for al. hope you had a nice christmas

with all the boys in your hood. >> it was busy. >> if you are traveling, it looks fine up and down the east coast, weather wise, at least. it's a little bit chilly, but not as cold as it has been. it's really down through texas and in through eastern oklaha and arkansas, and also out west. we have another storm making its way onshore, that means rain and mountain snow. very difficult getting through the mountain passes, we could see some delays because of the heavier rain in seattle, also into portland, too. later on today, dallas and houston, when those storms get going, we could see some of those delays at the airports, and the roads through the mountain passes, some of the snowier spots will be slick going, and slow going down south, where some of that rain could be a little heavy at times. it's this cold front that's moving eastward across eastern texas, down through louisiana, up across arkansas. as we go into this afternoon and this evening, we'll start to see the heavier rain and thunderstorms. there's morning fog in the midwest, that could create some slowdowns and delays at the airports early this morning. as we go into tomorrow, a lot of

that rain will lift north into the western great lakes. just want to point out, hail and damaging winds will be the greatest threat. there is the chance, especially through eastern texas, later on tonight, that we could see a few isolated tornadoes, peter. >> what we call a dynamic forecast. appreciate it very much. let's turn to this growing mystery to what caused a passenger plane to crash overseas. at least 38 people were killed yesterday when that aircraft plummeted to the ground and burst into flames, but dozens of others survived. nbc's steve patterson joins us live with the latest. steve, what more do we know? >> reporter: good morning to you. that azerbaijan airlines flight carrying 65 passengers and 5 crew members, it crashed in a field early wednesday. and miraculously, at least 29 people survived, including 3 children. now investigators are trying to understand how and why that plane went down. new images this morning of that terrifying plane crash. [ bleep ] witnesses capturing the final

moments before an azerbaijan airlines passenger jet with 62 passengers and five crew onboard sharply started losing altitude, then seemingly straightened out, before crashing in a kazakhstan field in a fiery explosion. a stunned survivor, miraculously stumbling out of the plane's wreckage. this russian rescuer on scene told reporters, we saw the plane crash with our own eyes and quickly packed up to the head to the scene for rescue. at least 29 people survived the initial crash, including 3 children. stunning video from inside the plane as it was still in the air shows people calm, even after oxygen masks dropped. the flight took off early wednesday, heading to the chechen capital of grozny in southern russia. the airplane was diverted due to fog. tracking data from flight radar 24 shows the plane making a figure eight near the airport in kazakhstan and sharply gaining and losing altitude in the final

minutes before impact. the russian aviation authority quickly blaming an apparent bird strike for the devastating crash. birds, famously struck us airways flight 1549, the so-called miracle on the hudson, where all 155 people onboard the plane survived the dramatic landing. the investigation remains ongoing, as speculation swirls around the theory that the plane was shot down, including from a ukrainian national security official, who says it was shot down by a russian air defense system. experts also pointing to the kind of damage to the aircraft and recent military activity. >> follow-on video examination of the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the air space security environment in southwest russia leads osprey to assess that the flight was likely shot down by a russian air defense system. >> reporter: the kremlin responding that it would be incorrect to make any hypothesis before the investigation comes to a conclusion. and as for that bird strike

theory, the expert we spoke to for that story says that if there were a bird strike, passengers likely would have reported more than one explosion. and the damage to the aircraft would appear much different. but remember, this is all according to preliminary assessments and a lot still needs to be investigated. laura? >> and a lot of questions. steve, thank you. we turn now to ukraine where a series of punishing christmas day attacks by russia sent people running to shelters, prompting a call for peace by the pope who also urged a cease-fire in gaza. nbc's raf sanchez is in israel for us this morning. raf, good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning. this was a large-scale russian attack, involving around 70 missiles and more than 100 drones according to ukrainian officials. they say the goal was to cripple ukraine's power grid, cutting off heat and light, in the middle of winter. this morning, ukraine still reeling from a massive christmas day drone and missile attack by russian forces. at least six people killed in strikes like this in kharkiv,

officials say. while in the capital, thousands of families spending christmas seeking safety in the subway. it's scary to stay at home, so we came to the shelter, says this mom. russia is once again targeting the energy grid, ukraine says, leaving half a million people without power in the depths of winter. president zelenskyy saying that putin deliberately chose christmas for an attack, what could be more inhumane. and president biden calling the attack outrageous, vowing to surge u.s. weapons to ukrainian forces. but nearly three years into this grinding war, ukraine is losing ground in the east and struggling to hold territory it captured inside russia, where putin's forces are supported by thousands of troops from north korea. also bracing, to see if donald trump will try to end the war and on what terms.

>> too many people being killed. >> reporter: but on the front lines in donetsk, ukrainian soldiers celebrating christmas with their comrades and saying they're not giving up. we can't be with our families right now, but we're united by our military family, he says. in his christmas day address in rome, the pope appealing for a cease-fire not just in ukraine, but also in gaza, where israeli strikes continued over christmas. and just a few hundred christians remain in what was once a vibrant community. while israeli hostage families marking a second hanukkah without their loved ones. now, both israel and hamas are publicly accusing each other of making new last-minute demands, which are slowing down cease-fire negotiations, but there is a sense of urgency here, with president-elect trump saying that there will be, quote, hell to pay if there is not a deal in place by the time

of his inauguration on january 20th. peter? >> raf sanchez there for us again in israel. raf, thank you. back here at home, there are new questions about president-elect trump's ideas to claim new territory overseas, after he fired off a series of social media posts on christmas day, suggesting that the u.s. should expand into canada and greenland and take control over the panama canal. nbc's aaron gilchrist is at the white house with the very latest on all of this. aaron, good morning. what are mr. trump's intentions here? >> reporter: laura, good morning. trump's brain-storming policy ideas on social media has been a key feature of his campaigns and his first term in office. there were no signs of him slowing down over christmas day, either. the president-elect starting off a holiday truth social post, expressing frustration about the u.s. pouring money into repairs for the papanama can. that's after he all already said that he would demand control of the canal back if panama doesn't ease usage fees. this comes as he also named his pick for ambassador to that

country, miami-dade county commissioner, kevin marino cabrera, and trump's musings about potentially expanding u.s. power didn't really stop there. he went on to wish a merry christmas to canadian prime minister justin trudeau, and again suggested the idea of canada becoming the 51st state. there was another post where he also encouraged former hockey star wayne gretzky to run to replace trudeau. trump then ends the post with a mention of greenland, saying yet again that the u.s. could obtain the nation for national security needs, laura. >> aaron, there are countless questions about how this is supposed to work in reality, but what are the leaders of these countries saying? >> these leaders are all really pushing back on these ideas from mr. trump. panama and denmark both insisting that they are not selling anything. and it remains to be seen if all of these comments amount to real foreign policy goals, some sort of strategic positioning, or if they're just plain internet trolling, laura. >> f fair enou. aaron gilchrist at the white house for us, thank you.

this morning, after weeks of anticipation, it appears one streaming powerhouse is officially ready for some football. netflix making its football debut that featured a beyonce halftime show that dazzled viewers. nbc's sam brock joins us with more. sam, good morning.chiefs, did l advantage for the playoffs. >> peter, laura, good morning. a lot going on there. let's talk about what did happen on christmas day. the chiefs, aforementioned chiefs, did lock up home field advantage for the playoffs. travis kelce became the team's all-time leader in touchdowns, and lamar jackson and the ravens steamrolled the texans. here's what did not happen. any major meltdown from netflix. the streaming went smoothly, setting the stage for the company to be a major player in live sports. it was domination on christmas day for the kansas city chiefs and baltimore ravens. the chiefs crushing the steelers in a 29-10 win, locking up the top spot in the afc. >> mahomes to kelce, touchdown, chiefs.

>> reporter: with travis kelce catching a franchise-record 77th touchdown pass from who else, patrick mahomes, eclipsing team legend tony gonzalez. kelce paying homage to gonzalez's iconic celebration, dunking the football through the goalpost. >> it's showing tony some love. >> reporter: the post-game festivities including a cake that looks more like a football than a pastry. >> i'm scared -- oh, it's a red velvet! look at that! >> reporter: the chiefs clinching the top seed means some of its top stars may be able to take a longer rest before the first round of playoffs, and that means a lot to mahomes. >> i told my wife, my pregnant wife, i was near the number one seed so we could go have that baby. so i got the one seed. >> reporter: while in houston, lamar jackson dazzled and the ravens danced to victory after breaking the record for all-time quarterback rushing yards. >> lamar jackson! >> reporter: the star qb celebrating with a special christmas jacket and making one young fan's day. >> how about a nice little soft

toss beanie to the kid wearing the lamar jersey. that's a christmas to remember. >> reporter: it came as netflix made its rookie debut, airing live nfl games on its platform. >> welcome back to netflix kickoff. >> with a cold mic issue, as both contests kicked off with a taped performance from the queen of christmas herself, mariah carey. ♪ make my wish come true ♪ >> reporter: and then during the halftime of ravens/texans, a texas-sized welcome. ♪ this ain't texas ♪ ♪ ain't no hold'em ♪ >> for the queen bey beyonce, in what's appropriately dubbed the beyonce bowl. rocking out with a "cowboy carter" show joined by her daughter, blue ivy. >> one step to the left and in the middle. >> not surprisingly, she did great. now, back that legendary halftime show. this was the first time beyonce performed songs from "cowboy

carter" in front of a live audience in her hometown, houston. after it was over, she posted the date january 14th on social media. what does that mean? an upcoming tour? only time will tell on that. but needless to say, the beyhive very pleased with what they saw last night at the halftime show. >> it's got to be a tour, right? >> what else could it be. >> i was only disappointed you didn't roll in with the big white beyonce blazer. >> i think for 2026 for sure. i just need to acquire that for my wardrobe, then we'll be good to go. >> i like that. thank you. maybe dylan has some thoughts on that. that was a good luck. that all-white cowboy gear? >> on sam? >> don't put her on the spot! >> sorry, go! >> speaking of the white stuff, we've got some snow falling across the mountains, up across the pacific northwest, and rain along the coast from seattle down to portland, even into northwestern california, where we could see some heavier rain. also heavy rain down through texas, oklahoma, louisiana, arkansas, later on today. we could see some severe storms.

the great lakes, the northeast, the southeast, lots of sunshine. a little chilly. 30s and 40s and even some 50s down through the southeast, which is below average for this time of year. that's a look at the weather across the country. we'll get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. c,mon bo! this is a before picture of bogart. such a big boy. pre-portioned packs makes it really easy to keep him lean and healthy. and look at him now. he's like a show dog. [silence] bogue, can you give daddy a break here? he's having a hard enough time. will be a brief break before heavier rain moves in later this evening. so we are going to see more of the wet weather developing and moving in

overnight and continuing with some spotty showers tomorrow. the rest of the forecast keeps it pretty. off and on. in terms of the rain coming in through sunday, and then early next week, we'll have a chance and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you very much. coming up here, we are taking a look at the royal family's christmas celebration taking part in cherished family traditions in a year marked by health battles for the monarchy. and something a lot of folks are thinking about this morning, holiday returns from deadlines, receipt requirements, to return alternatives, we've got everything you need to know. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

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their lives before a fire burned down their home. it happened just after six yesterday morning on christmas morning. oakland firefighters responding to a fire on oak knoll boulevard. that's where they found a 37 year old man unconscious. neighbors are identifying him as steve weatherford junior. a neighbor tells us after steve junior helped his dad, his brother and his aunt get out safely. he went back into the burning home but didn't make it back out safely. neighbors think it was to get the engagement ring he just purchased for his girlfriend. the cause of the fire is under investigation, but weatherford's father fears it could have been the christmas tree. turning now to a terrifying christmas morning for people living in one santa cruz county neighborhood, an apparent home explosion caught on camera. a friend says one person was living in the home but thankfully was out of town. the cause of that fire is still under investigation. we're going to turn now to a lighter note. the forecast with meteorologist kari hall, and we've seen quite

a few people out compared to yesterday, and now dealing with some spotty showers that have been moving through. we're going to see rain off and on and heavier rain overnight into early tomorrow. and the rest of the forecast into the weekend will be wet at times, but we are going to enjoy some sunshine for the last few days of the year and welcome in the new year with more of those clear skies and cool temperatures. kyra. all right. kari. thanks. and don't forget, you can join us for today in the bay. our live streaming newscast is at 8 a.m. we'll take you to the storied san francisco flower mart on its final day at its home of nearly 60 years. watch on roku, amazon fire, xumo and other streaming

back now at 7:30 with a look at that wonderful holiday crowd and the tree that they are helping us celebrate, along with a beautiful festive throughout

midtown. an extra special holiday morning, because jacob soboroff is here. first night of hanukkah just passed. >> that music is making me feel emotional. or it could be sitting next to you guys. >> a lot of holiday celebrations going on. commemorations overseas as well. the british monarchy spreading christmas cheer and smiles as they kept some beloved traditions alive this year. nbc's kelly cobiella joins us from buckingham palace with a look at the celebrations. kelly, good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning to you. yeah, some big crowds turned out to greet the royal family on christmas day, as the king struck a personal note in his message to the nation. cheers, smiles, and an armful of gifts for the royal family on christmas day. chocolates and stuffed toys for the youngest royals, and a hug from princess kate. >> the prince and princess of wales and their three children all joining king charles and queen camilla for christmas

mass. ♪ >> in a break with tradition, the monarch's holiday message usually delivered from a royal palace, this year from a hospital chapel, praising health care workers. >> i offer special heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who this year have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness. >> reporter: the king and princess kate both back in the spotlight after their own cancer journeys. >> welcome to our together at christmas carol service. >> reporter: kate creating a new tradition for the fourth year, hosting her together at christmas concert at westminster abbey, broadcast christmas eve, choosing a theme, love. >> love that listens with empathy. love that is kind and understanding. love that is forgiving. and love that brings joy and hope. >> reporter: and sending a personal message to all who were there.

>> it was talking about the need to recognize people who show love and support to others, going through their darkest time. >> reporter: prince william offering a prayer. >> the people who walked in darkness have a seen a great light. those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them lights are shined. for a child who has been born for us, a son, given to us. ♪ >> reporter: the couple's three children all in the audience and this time princet charlotte the unexpected star, lighting her brother's candles, the crowning moment of the much-anticipated return to public duties for princess kate after her cancer diagnosis. >> i think that the focus will continue to be on her remaining cancer free, being involved in the children's school life, and taking care of herself. she knows she has a very big job coming down the line, it's only right that she takes this time now while she can. >> reporter: the palace has said

that the king is still undergoing his cancer treatments, but will resume a full workload next year, including trips overseas, and prince william has hinted that kate may also resume travel overseas next year, as well. but the palace still hasn't put out any sort of detailed schedule for 2025. peter, the royals, like a lot of us, still in holiday mode. >> that's for sure. and i know so many people would love to say hello to princess kate in person. they'll be waiting with bated breath to hear wt her travel plans are. thank you so much. ladies and gentlemen, coming up, we are answering all of your burning questions on student loans heading into the new year. what you need to know if you have been late on payments. up next, for all of those presents that maybe weren't quite right, it's time to talk returns. brian cheung i is tellinus everything you need to know about all of those store policies. >> maybe it didn't fit right or maybe it wasn't the right color. everything you need to know about how to get those holiday returns processed, right after the break.

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this morning on "today's" holiday consumer, the presents have been all unwrapped, but maybe not all will be kept. retailers estimate that nearly 17% of their annual sales this year are going to be returns, reaching $890 billion. >> $890 billion! if you're planning on making any of those returns, the best policies and options you need to know about. business correspondent brian cheung is here to help us break it all down. brian, nice to see you. the day after christmas. the moment after you open up the gift, you can't reveal it's going to be returned. but you're thinking, how do i get my hands on that receipt or something like that. >> what are the return windows? they vary by different stores. >> i feel like everyone's perfected it. oh, this is so perfect, thank

you so much. as they're getting ready about when they're going to return it. but the window is wider for a lot of the holiday gifts you buy during that black friday weekend. the good news is that if you do want to return something, you don't have to do it today. you don't have to endure the rush today. you can do it as late as january 31st, as we're talking about the major retailers. amazon, wal-mart, macy's. but if you're trying to return electronics, it's a shorter period to return things. fwrex for example, apple, target. january 14th, it's going to be the sooner you have to bring those things back to the store. at target, just for electronics, it will be january 24th. >> but some retailers have changed their policies. is there any fine print we need to keep in mind? >> when it comes to returns now compared to about five or six years ago, the good news is that you have more options in terms of where to return them, if you bought something from amazon, you can bring it to a whole foods and take it outside the box. the bad news is in some cases, it will come with more fees. when you talk about, for example, j. crew, h&m, they're in some cases charging these

re-stocking fees. you have to be careful about that. maybe bringing it in store will be a good way to avoid those return labels, restocking fees. >> sometimes it's not worth it if that happens. >> i have an admission to make. i have been known to throw away a receipt or two. what happens if you don't have your receipt? >> we've all been there. the good news now is that because of technology, in many cases, the retailer can just look it up for you. but i want to point out, there are other ways to get around that. you might not be able to get your cash back or get refunded to your credit card, but you can always get store credit. you can ask for an exchange, and if that fails, you can go to the secondhand market, re-sell there, or this is a time of giving, just give that gift away to somebody else. >> re-gifting. >> next year, when the memories have faded. beyond that, with some things can't be returned or exchanged. what are some of the other ideas we should have in mind? >> so things that for example would be personalized. so if i gave you a pair of air pods and said, laura jarrett, probably can't return those.

it's etched in there. >> i'll take 'em. >> jacob will take them. alcohol and certain clothing as well, swimsuits, you can't bring those back to the store. and keep an eye out for final sale items, this is a thing that's getting a lot of people. you bought something because it was discounted on black friday, it might be final sale. just go to the store and ask in some cases, maybe if you do your pleading eyes, sometimes the sales associate has a little wiggle room, sometimes. just ask is the best policy. >> that's big reveal, oh, no, they bought this for $9.99. it was the biggest discount we've got. >> that's not cool. >> trade it in for a pair of socks. >> thank you, brian. let's get a check of the weather from dylan dreyer. >> let's do it. we have a warm-up to talk about in a lot of places. today, rapid city gets up to 53. same in denver. minneapolis, up to 37, which doesn't sound that warm, but still 12 degrees above average. we're seeing a high of 50 tomorrow in chicago, pittsburgh, close to it.

nashville, 60. little rock, 65 degrees. and across the northeast, where it's been quite chilly lately, we are going to see temperatures get up into the mid-50s going into early next week. wilmington gets up into the 60s and 70s. cincinnati, mid-to-upper 50s, too, as we continue through the weekend. now let's go into next week, when we start the new year. it actually looks like the southwest, most of the west coast and into the northeast, great lakes will see warmer than average temperatures, although it does come with a little bit of rain. we're going to see wetter than average conditions across the northwest, dry down south. we are looking for some cooler temperatures to take hold next week, down through florida in the southeast. make sure you keep the umbrella somewhere close by. we are going to see some spotty showers and more widespread rain later on this evening into early tomorrow. saturday looks like for the most part it's going to be a break from the rain, but a new storm system will be arriving late, bringing us more

showers through sunday. monday as well as tuesday and wednesday will be dry, but we'll also be a little bit that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you. coming up, from "wicked" to "moana 2," special sing-along versions are bringing fans back to the theaters. we'll take you inside the holiday box office boom. and a special morning boost for you right after this. don't let symptoms define you... emerge as you, with clearer skin. with tremfya®, most people saw 100% clear skin... ...that stayed clear, even at 5 years. tremfya® is proven to significantly reduce joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. 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.

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we are back with the soundtrack. "wicked" fans in tears. >> well, now, guess what, they have full permission to belt it out during the show, with special sing-along screenings in select theaters! >> delightful! >> as our friend joe fryer tells us, it's one of many creative ways that theaters are now boosting sales. ♪ defying gravity ♪ >> reporter: after weeks of debate, there's finally harmony at the movies. >> finally, you're invited -- ♪ you're going to be popular ♪ >> -- to sing along. >> reporter: sing-along showings of "wicked" hit theaters on christmas. >> we invite you to sing as loud as you can. >> reporter: a gift for fans who just could not hold it in. >> now to be able to sing along with it is just so surreal. >> reporter: especially after the movie's soundtrack popped -- topped the billboard charts. >> reporter: crooning at previous screenings sparked some serious loathing. >> there is one answer. no! no! absolutely not. >> reporter: and not just from me. >> do not sing along to the film!

no matter how much you love "wicked" and -- ♪ defying gravity ♪ >> reporter: though elphaba herself did give us permission when hoda asked? >> you're okay with it? >> i'm okay with it. we spent this long singing it ourselves. it's time for everyone else to join in. it's wonderful. >> reporter: certainly, the box office has been wonderful. "wicked" along with the sequels to "gladiator" and "moana" powered a record-breaking thanksgiving weekend, $425 million in ticket sales. and this past weekend was big for "sonic the hedgehog 3." there's also a big appetite for movie merch, especially popcorn buckets from dune 2's viral sand worm vessel to a coffin-shaped tub for the vampire-themed "nosferatu." theaters are rereleasing old flicks in new ways. and "interstellar" hit imax theaters for its tenth anniversary. >> we can expect great things from you.

>> reporter: and in february, the first four harry potter films will return in 4dx, which features motion-controlled seats. >> it's not just about going and sitting and watching a movie, it's doing it in the best possible way, in the most state of the art settings, possible. something for fans and theaters to sing about. joe fryer, nbc news, new york. >> i was singing during the entire report from joe. >> just humming it. >> i'm glad they have the sing-alongs. i feel redeemed. >> three times. i'm not going to put you on the spot, but i think i'm the one who has seen it the most at this table. >> anybody want a little boost? >> let's do this. >> it's a holiday surprise that will warm your heart. just before christmas, a young girl named alyssa came home to a huge box along with a note from her elf on the shelf with instructions for creative some christmas magic. sprinkle some of my special glitter outside the box and

knock three times, it says. >> how'd i get here! >> so sweet! >> it is alyssa's big brother, home for the holidays after six months of being away. her parents said that made her big christmas wish come true. i watched the entire video. it's pretty good. >> ahh! how long did that hug last? >> a long time. it was longer than you should sing "wicked" in a theater. >> the holiday reunions are worth an hour of their own show. "happy gillmore" fans are getting another christmas gift. adam sandler returning to the green. but first, your local news. might keep us stuck on the couch. no way. ♪♪ if you have postmenopausal osteoporosis, and are at high risk for fracture, u can do more than just slow bone loss.

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liver problems leading to hospitalization may occur when treated for crohn's. now's the time to take control of your crohn's. ♪ control is everything to me. ♪ ask your doctor about skyrizi, the #1 prescribed biologic in crohn's disease. good morning. it is 756. i'm kira klapper and i'm marcus washington. here's what's happening. good morning. we're at sfo this morning. tsa and triple a are warning people that these next three days are going to be some of the busiest travel days of the year, by road and by

air. so get out early if you're driving and get to airports early if you're flying. back to you. and here we go. the first day of kwanzaa. san francisco city hall will be lit up in red, green and black in recognition of the first night of kwanzaa. at dusk. the first day of kwanzaa is called umoja, which means unity in swahili. tonight, the center of black candle is the first to be lit over seven days. for each of the principles. we're going to turn now to the forecast with meteorologist kari hall. and we started out with a round of rain that has since cleared, and we're just cloudy with still some lingering moisture across the bay area and a chance of rain as we go throughout the day. but the best chance of rain will be later this evening into the overnight hours. off and on. showers and it may be heavy at times, most of it falling before sunrise tomorrow and then tapering off to a few lingering showers throughout the day and into the weekend. the we're

going to see throughout the next several days the possibility of getting about another one to possibly two inches of rainfall across the bay area. so we'll be watching this active wet weather and storm system pattern continue into the weekend, but next week it's looking much better. we'll be tracking all of that for you in the coming days. back to you. you always do. kari. thanks. the today show continues ahead, but for more local news, stay with us on today in the bay, streaming now on roku, pluto and other streaming platforms including

coming up, travel trouble. with tvelers heading home after the holidays, severe storms coast-to-coast threaten to disrupt plans for millions. we'll have your full forecast.

plus, deadly crash. dozens of passengers killed yesterday afr an overseas flight ended in a fiery crash. how survivors managed to make it out of the wreckage and what new videos are revealing about the plane's final moment. then, student loan confusion. outrage among borrowers after the supreme court rejected the president's debt forgiveness plan. >> how did you feel when you heard you were on the hook for almost $16,000? >> you know, i was shocked. the check, i'm looking at it right now, it says, fed student loan refund. to me, it's a refund. i wouldn't think i would have to pay it back. now here i am. >> reporter: what you need to know about new payment deadlines and other changes coming in 2025. all of that plus, packed pop start. netflix giving fans everything they wanted for the holidays, from the "happy gilmore"

trailer. >> gilmore! >> to a first look at the next season of "bridgerton," and that epic halftime performance from "queen bey." >> we'll have the moments coming up and more, today, december 26th, 2024. ♪ >> celebrating our 34th anniversary. >> three generations -- >> from st. louis, missouri! >> hi, aunt vivian. >> back in russellville, kentucky. >> merry christmas from ft. worth, texas! >> ohio! >> ontario, canada! >> casper, wyoming! >> and copenhagen, denmark! >> from arkansas. >> celebrating my 64th birthday. >> happy in kennebunk, maine! >> look at all of those smiling faces. welcome back to "today." thanks so much for starting your thursday morning off with us. i'm laura jarrett, along with peter alexander and jacob

soboroff. >> brr, i'm just cold looking at those guys out there. >> well, we're glad that you're here. savannah and hoda are off for the week. let's get straight to your news at 8:00 with a record number of travelers set to head home on the roads and in the skies this weekend. but some parts of the u.s. seeing weather that could make that journey home much harder. millions are at risk for severe weather in parts of the south today. dylan is in for al today and is following the path of these storms. >> later on this afternoon and this evening, we could see some severe storms. large hail, damaging winds. we could rule out isolated tornadoes down near eastern texas, near houston later today. the northeast, southeast all looks good, but out west, we'll see some slow spots. heavy rain along the coast. snow in the mountain ranges. seattle, portland, could see some delays. dallas and houston could see delays as those storms really get going, would make it slow on the roads, too.

as you see some of the ponding. out west, we have to deal with slippery conditions across the mountain passes. we've got a series of storms moving onshore out west. sometimes we'll see some of the heavier rain down across southwestern oregon, northwestern california. sometimes up near seattle. so we're going to see these -- this chance of rain and heavier pockets of rain through the day today, into tomorrow and beyond. we are also looking at as much as 2 to 3, up to 5 inches of rain for some of those areas like portland. but also up into the mountains, we couldld end up th 1 to 2 feet of snow. that would make it difficult, getting through some of those untain passes if that's where you have to travel. now to the growing mystery over what caused the passenger plane to crash overseas yesterday, killing dozens of st following this developing story for us this morning. steve, good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning to you. we're getting new video of the final moments from that terrifying crash, whic people. nbc's steve patterson is following this developing story for us this morning. steve, good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning to you. we're getting new video of the final moments from that terrifying crash, which had 62 passengers and five crew members onboard, but with at least 29

survivors. you can see the azerbaijan airlines jet starting to lose altitude. then appearing to straighten out before it eventually crashes into a fiery explosion above kazakhstan. radar data shows the flight originally took off from azerbaijan early wednesday, heading towards the chechen capital of grozny. it makes a figure eight near kazakhstan before it makes impact with the ground. now the russian aviation authority says a bird strike appears to be the cause behind the cash, but there are growing questions on whether that's correct. and if the plane was actually shot down by a russian air defense system, due to recent military action in the region. an aviation expert telling nbc news that in a bird strike passengers likely would have reported more than one explosion, and that the damage would appear much different. meanwhile, the kremlin is saying, quote, it would be incorrect to make any hypothesis before the investigation comes to conclusion. so clearly, peter, it's sill early in the assessment process and there is still so much here to investigate. peter?

>> after seeing that fireball, amazing that anybody surved. steve, thank you so much. in other news, here in manhattan, somewhat of a christmas day miracle on 34th street near the iconic macy's department store. check this out. police say a group of samaritans jumped in to help save six people struck by a taxi that suddenly veered on to a sidewalk at the busy herald's square area yesterday. the injured pedestrians included a mom and her 9-year-old boy. thankfully, police say none of the injuries are threatening. authorities say the taxi driver might have suffered a medical episode. the fda is escalating its recall of costco eggs to its highest risk leg. federal food regulators raising the alarm to include risks of severe illness or death. the agency had previously announced the recall of about 11,000 units of organic eggs sold under costco's signature kirkland brand now, the eggs were sold on november 22nd in costco stores in alabama, georgia, north and south

carolina and tennessee. for more on this recall, go to today.com. and a big christmas day game for two nba superstars, when the nba lakers took on the golden state warriors. lebron james scoring 31 points in a record 19th christmas day game for king james. the warriors' all-star, steph curry, didn't disappoint, finishing with 38, including a three-pointer to tie the game, with just seven seconds remaining. the lakers took advantage of one final trip down the court. watch. >> he packs it in! with one second remaining! >> austin reeves with a clutch layup for the 115-113 victory for the lakers. hard to believe that king james has now played 19 christmas day games. what a holiday tradition for folks. >> sorry, dude, golden state, lakers -- >> bay area, southern california. coming up, we have a wickedly special sneak peek for you coming up in pop start.

but up next, vicky nguyen is here to explain all the changes that are going to go on with your student loans, to how you can make your payments to the temporary refunds that many people are finding they are now on the hook for. we'll be right back with the top takeaways. le [♪♪] looking for a moisturizer that does more than just moisturize? try olay regenerist for 10 benefits in every jar. olay visibly firms, lifts, and smooths wrinkles, by penetrating the skin, to boost regeneration at the surface cellular level. try olay. for more than a decade farxiga has been trusted again and again, and again. ♪far-xi-ga♪ ♪far-xi-ga♪ ask your doctor about farxiga. now taxes is getting the turbotax app... and filing your taxes yourself 100% free if you didn't file with us last year. (♪♪) now this is taxes. file free in the app by 2/18 when you switch to turbotax do-it-yourself (vo) t-mobile has a gift for everyone 55 and up.

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made with supercharged botanical blends, our sulfate-free formulas deeply penetrate to boost hair health. without the salon naturals price tag. herbal essences. consumer and an important alert for student loan borrowers out there. starting in january, even if you've been late on your payments, your loans could go into default. >> as you can see, nbc's consumer investigative correspondent vicky nguyen is here with us now, helping us with what borrowers need to know. this affects a lot of people. >> hundreds of thousands of people. good morning to you. there is a lot of confusion out there for people with student loans, between the president's promises and the court whiplash, many are confused about what exactly they owe. and now, on top of that, hundreds of thousands of people are now getting notices in the mail. that they have to pay back student loan refunds. this morning, we've got your 101.

>> reporter: during the pandemic, student loan borrowers could get a temporary refund on payments they made. >> and the first student loan payments and defer interest until further notice. >> reporter: money during the covid crisis that they would ultimately need to pay back. >> i was able to get a refund for $10,000. >> reporter: you can get a refund on those payments. >> reporter: few applied for that refund, until president biden said he planned to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt. >> we did it! >> let's just say, i've been forgiven. >> reporter: borrower will adams, a director for nbc bay area in california had paid off his son's $15,000 loan during the pandemic, so when he heard about the forgiveness plan, he applied for the refund, thinking it was debt cancellation. >> i was hesitant a little bit when we got the money, like, is this fake, is this a scam? >> reporter: but the check was real. and he said he spent the 15 grand on travel and home expenses. now, two years later, he's expected to pay it all back,

plus interest. >> how did you feel when you heard you were on the hook for almost $16,000? >> you know, i was shocked. the check, i'm looking at it right now, it says, fed student loan refund, to me, it's a refund! i wouldn't think i would have to pay it back, but you know, now here i am. >> reporter: adams is not alone. an estimated 250,000 borrowers now owe the government for those so-called refunds. why? the supreme court rejected biden's debt forgiveness plan, so anyone who received a refund is now being asked to return that money, which nfused many borrowers like adams. >> the communication from the government was very spotty during that period of time. >> reporter: scott buchanan is the executive director of the student loan servicing alliance. >> that's why we strongly advised borrowers to be very thoughtful before they requested a refund and continue to wait until actual loan forgiveness occurred. >> these borrowers are stuck in an incredibly unfair situation. >> reporter: the student borrow protection center is helping families navigate the confusion.

what is your advice to people in this situation? >> the only path forward is to try to figure out how to make their day-to-day finances work. >> reporter: the department of education declined to be interviewed. they said borrowers should contact their servicers before the end of the year to avoid going into default. ask about different income-driven repayment plans that can lower your interest and monthly payments. and if you're a public employee, see if you qualify for forgiveness under the public service loan forgiveness program. that $78 billion is currently approved to help more than 1 million people wipe out their federal student loans. for will, who now has to pay $700 in interest on top of the loan he already paid back, this repayment will be a family affair. >> everybody's going to have to pitch in to help pay it off again. >> he's got a really great attitude about it. listen, just last week, president biden announced an additional $55,000 borrowers will get forgiveness if they work in public service. so that brings the total to nearly 5 million people who will receive relief under various

programs. but the biden administration also last week dropped a couple of its key plans that were facing legal challenges. it was unlikely they would even go into effect under the trump administration anyway. so the bottom line here, talk to your loan provider about the options that you have, in the new year, but don't ignore it, if you're one of the folks that got one of these letters, interest is accruing on your loans right now. >> i think that's what people might not have appreciated, even if the program wasn't going to go through, because the court said no dice, the idea that you have to pay something back with interest. >> it's crazy! especially when you paid it off and thought a refund was coming your way. also, studentaid.gov, that's a great website to go to, if you have any questions. go there, check. it is confusing. and everyone's situation is a little bit different, based on what their job is, what their loan was. >> such a head fake for so many people. vicky, thank. you'll be back with us tomorrow. we'll be talking about christmas sales, the best things to buy, as we look ahead with prices dropping after the holiday.

thatat is tomoow on "today." and can you kick up your boots right now. >> though, no! >> bringing it in with her little christmas slippers today. >> this is the day after christmas, kind of like mom brain moment where i thought i had the shoes and didn't have the shoes. and thank you to jim, our director, who cropped it out. >> show us your tank top, peter! >> thank you, jacob! >> those are nice! >> they're very comfortable, i will say! >> you're never getting out of the dog house for that one. >> what's it looking -- >> we all want the cozy feel after christmas? we ate too much. we're just tired. we have some interesting travel conditions across the pacific northwest. rain and mountain snow, also severe storms possible down through texas today with this cold front moving eastward. that's going to trigger some of those storms. we'll see those spread eastward as we e go into is afternoon and this evening. that's a loo

and don't forget, if you're headed out the door, you can catch us on the radio at sirius xm radio channel 108. >> you have some double duty! pop start for us? >> pop. we've been talking about beyonce all morning. it's the halftime show we can't stop talking about. last night, queen bey hit the field in houston for netflix's big christmas day live nfl event, stunning the streamer with a super bowl-worthy performance. and the grammy winner brought along a few guests including "cowboy carter" collaborator, shaboozey.

♪♪ ♪ ♪ bought a chevy and paint it red ♪ >> speaking of collabs, post malone showed up alongside a decked out in denim pickup truck. denim pickup truck. ♪ ♪ i love you down to the bones ♪ >> a little patch work pickup. and it wouldn't be the holidays without some family, right? beyonce's eldest daughter, blue ivy, showed off her line dancing moves in mom's hometown. ♪ we headed to the dive bar ♪ ♪ one to the left ♪ ♪ and spin me in the middle ♪ >> as a special holiday treat, netflix revealed the beyonce bowl will be streaming some time soon, as a stand-alone special. they didn't say when, but maybe

mark your calendars for january 14th. that's the date that queen bey posted on her social media without any context. maybe that's what she was talking about. >> all i'll say, blue ivy is 12, but she is so grown up. i remember when she was just a nugget, as i like to say. >> can you do the blue ivy dance? >> with your tank top on? >> one step to the right. >> you could. you've got some moves. >> careful what you ask for. >> next up, "wicked," the holiday gifts just keep on coming, because this morning, we have a big pop start exclusive. it's a deleted scene, guys, from the box office hit featuring ariana grande and cynthia areva as glinda attempts to turn elphaba into someone more popular. >> we toss our hair. ready. toss, toss. toss, toss. toss, toss. oh, i forgot to tell you,

there's another version. you can do. toss, toss, legs. toss, toss, legs. >> toss, toss, legs. >> i'm going to teach you how to talk with your eyebrows. >> okay. >> when you got something to say, but you can't really say it and you want to get your way. >> yeah? >> that's good. >> thank you. >> jacob, you raising your eyebrows? >> i was thinking to myself, if i did toss, toss, leg before i came out every day, it might look pretty good. >> and the eyebrows. >> this is why you can't get botox. >> guys, here'e's anothetreat. this morning, we can announce very soon, you'll be able to watch "wicked" and sing-along at home. it's available to purchase and rent starting december 31st. remember, that special sing-along edition that joe was

talking about earlier, now you can watch that at home, too, with all new bonus content and even more deleted scenes. you can find the information over on today.com, just a reminder, "wicked" comes from our sister company, universal pictures. okay, moving on. "happy gilmore 2," a sequel nearly three decades in the making is headed to netflix. we teased this a little earlier. on christmas day, the streaming service released the first teaser for sandler's new flick with some celeb cameos and original cast returning to the fairway. ♪ >> it's great to see you back, mr. gilmore. >> yeah, baby! >> we've only just begun. ♪ oh, oh, oh, it's magic ♪ >> gilmore! >> danggabbit. >> we are ready for that.

no official release date just yet, but netflix says the movie is set to start streaming, quote, soon. >> wait, was that travis kelce? was that a cameo? >> for sure, the best golfer on this couch, have you ever tried to hit the golf ball like that? >> nobody's tried to hit a golf ball like that. >> the only golfer on this couch. >> when the windmill stops, i'm smooth on the putt greenens. next up, "bridgerton." next season, this bridgerton brother will be taking center stage for season four. >> this author suspects what the second son truly seeks is a sense of purpose. i do encourage you to say "yes" to society fornce, mr. bridgerton. you never know where it may lead you. >> directly into the arms of some anxious debutante, i should gather. or worse, her ambitious mama. >> her ambitious mama. that's actor luke thompson, or you might know him as anthony bridgerton. the star sibling of the next

season. yesterday, netflix revealed a sneak peek from the set at the cast table read, giving a glimpse at the new and returning cast, including anthony's next love interest. the steamy show is set to return in may for a two-part season, with the second half dropping in june. and now on to andy cohen. yesterday, the king of bravo celebrated with his two little ones. santa left his son a slinky under the tree, and andy with a puzzle in his hand. >> if you have a 5-year-old, shelf life of a slinky is very fast. ben broke this thing in like four minutes last night. now, it looks so much worse right now. this is the result of me having a fight with the slinky while i was trying to fix it. but it just didn't. >> a little too real. >> you give it as a gift to

kids, and it's just broken -- >> let me say to ben, grown-ups can't handle the slinky either, ben. >> it's a tough one. and there's no going back once it's out of the loop. finally, christopher nolan, fresh off the success of "el paso oppenheimer," the oscar-winning director is revealing his next blockbuster project. yesterday, universal pictures announced nolan will be bringing homer's "the odyssey" to the big screen. the ancient greek tale will be brought to life using brand-new i-max technology. and while details are limited, the star-studded cast already includes matt damon, tom holland, anne hathaway, zendaya, robert pattinson, and lupita nyong'o. >> that's going to be good. >> what's the other part of it? >> we'll see what other movie is up against it. >> that's a great pop start. >> thank you! >> i wrote it myself! right ahead, the popular milk deliveries service bringing

a taste of nostalgia to a new generation. that's after your local news.

♪ we are back here at 8:30 on this thursday morning, the day after christmas. with a great holiday crowd on the plaza. just enough time to enjoy the christmas tree out here. >> it is chilly and they are

hype! and we have a busy half hour ahead. maria shriver took a look at a new program that could be game changer for women going through menopause. plus, we are m making th ultimate winter comfort food that everyone on this plaza needs right now. soup! soup has never gotten such a big shout-out. these recipes don't just taste good, but will make you feel good, too. >> i'm excited for soup now! then also coming up, the story of a throwback milk delivery service that's kept business booming for four generations, and they are not slowing down anytime soon. we are going to take you inside one community, where a visit from the milkman is a beloved way of life. and ahead on the third hour of "today," dylan goes one on one with an nba star, jalen bronson's mom. that's fun. >> that's very cool. >> it's a big deal. i learned a lot. >> i was going to say, that's a fun one. we want to look ahead to that, but talk about tomorrow and today with new year's around the corner. we'll talk about where to travel

in 2025, on a morning like this, it's nice to think about a warm, sunny destination. first, it is with a very heavy heart that we are saying good-bye to one of our own. playback operator and editor john soltus is retiring, believe it or not. after 30 years, he is known around this building for his work on "today," along with numerous olympics, the thanksgiving day parade, so much more. he'll now get to enjoy his other home, his fishing boat in manhope. he brings home a bunch of fish like that. that is legit! >> we love you, john! we appreciate you so much! >> what have you got? >> so, ava, right? ava's boyfriend, she's doing this for her boyfriend. this is ava's mom. come say what's up to ava's mom real quick. where are you from? >> tennessee. >> what is this? i'm just doing it. i don't know what this is.

>> it's a jellycat. where's ava's boyfriend? >> he is in tennessee. >> okay, ava's boyfriend, jellycat is on the plaza. >> should we get a check of the weather? >> jellycats are a big deal. >> let's take a look at what's going on this weekend, as we continue into tomorrow. we are going to look for some rain showers to take hold back through the ohio and tennessee river valleys. it will warm up down through texas and the storms move away, 60s and 70s. more wet weather makes its way onshore out west with rain and mountain snow. that heavy rain is going to move into eastern tennessee and across alabama and mississippi on saturday. still hanging on to some nice weather down through florida in the 70s and 80s, but we will see some late-day rain on saturday, the mid-atlantic turns into a really rainy day on sunday, although it does come with warmer temperatures in the mid-50s. you just can't get out and enjoy it. it looks sunny and warm through the middle of the country. on sunday, temperatures in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and yet more wet weather and mountain snow out west. that's a look at good. thursday morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we are

waking up to some wet conditions out there. some off and on light rain. this is a look at the approach to the bay bridge toll plaza. so windshield wipers on. and we are also going to see the rain becoming more widespread and heavier late this evening and into early tomorrow morning, with a brief break tomorrow afternoon. on saturday it's looking mostly cloudy, but the next storm system will be approaching and bringing us some heavier >> so cold! >> just do a little jumping. coming up, possible relief for women of a certain age going through the symptoms of menopause that could make a big difference in their quality of life. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

(musica) now to a phase of life that most women will experience. we're talking about menopause. more than 6,000 women enter menopause every day in this country, yet surveys show the vast majority never receive treatment for their symptoms. >> this morning, our special anchor, maria shriver, looks at a new medical program that's trying to change how women are cared for. good morning, maria? >> good morning. despite menopause being a normal part of aging, many women still feel completely in the dark about it. and they struggle to get the treatment that they need. now an innovative new program here in los angeles is trying to revolutionize menopause care. and patients say that it's making a huge difference in their lives. >> lori bustamante says when menopause hit, her symptoms were debilitating. >> i had joint pain, mood swings. >> julie says she could barely

get out of bed. >> i kept thinking, this isn't me. the energy is not there. something's wrong. >> these working moms in their 50s are part of the 75 million women in stages of menopause in the u.s. but surveys show at least a third of patients never discuss menopause or treatments with their doctors. when lori asked her physician for help -- >> she told me, it only lasts for a few years. just get through it. >> and what was your reaction? >> i was shocked. i was shocked. >> reporter: now an innovative new program in los angeles is giving women like lori and julie the care they crave. >> there's actually biological changes going on with them that are happening so suddenly that kind of throws their equilibrium off. >> reporter: obgyn dr. patel is the director of the comprehensive menopause care program at ucla health. patients first fill out a detailed survey about their

symptoms, health issues, and lifestyle. then ucla's team designs some specific care plans to treat every part of their bodies impacted by menopause, from their hearts, bones, and skin to even their brains. >> this is all one big time frame in a person's life, where all of the organ systems are somewhat being affected, but different for each person. >> reporter: dr. rhonda vosquel is one of the program's directives. -- neurologists. she said 71% of their patients report cognitive symptoms. >> bad for the brain to lose estrogen during menopause. >> reporter: researchers don't know for certain if losses of estrogen cause cognitive decline later in life, but julie worries about it because her mom has alzheimer's, and two-thirds of alzheimer's patients are women. >> did you think, oh, here we go? >> yes, i did.

it was very scary. >> reporter: currently, there are no fda-approved treatments for the cognitive symptoms of menopause. until they are, dr. vosquel prescribes one off-label to patients like julie. it's a pill that combines the hormone progesterone with the weaker form of estrogen called estriol, usually prescribed for symptoms like hot flashes. >> has that helped your brain fog? >> yes. unbelievably. for me, it's focus more than anything else. >> reporter: dr. vosquel says early research says estriol can have brain-protecting benefits. others say there is more science -- more study is needed. >> this is a neurosymptom and it's fixable. it's been ignored. >> reporter: thanks to the program, these women say they finally feel seen.

lori's team diagnosed her brain fog as partly caused by sleep apnea and she now uses a cpap mask. because a heart condition prevents her from taking hormones, doctors prescribed an antidepressant for her mood swings and a new diet and exercise regime to boost her energy and alleviate pain. >> as a mother and a wife, i'm always the one taking care of everyone, though. now i feel like i have a care team. i do have this great team behind me now. >> would you like to see comprehensive menopause centers all across the country? >> absolutely. we talk about prenatal care, we talk about adolescents, we talk about puberty. but we really just don't talk about this part of a person's life. 40% of their life can be lived in this period. and we need more people that understand it. >> for women who are at a higher risk of breast cancer and cannot take hormones, there are fda approved therapies that are non-hormonal. and any good menopause doctor should know about them and you should ask.

back to you. >> maria, thank you so much. it's wild how this topic was just taboo or sort of ignored for so long. >> right, and now i need more and more and more information. >> you do appreciate as a husband, how much energy was focused on men's health for so long, and now there's such a rush to fill that void for women to get the same kind of treatment,t, access,nd information. >> thank you. >> yes. >> it'll make going home a little easier after this. next, how good does a steaming bowl of tomato soup sound right about now? we're making some recipes that are perfect to warm you up in the chilly weather with a healthy twist. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

we're looking for adults 45 and under to be in our hpv vaccination ad. sound like you? nah...not me. in a relationship. if you're sexually active and unvaccinated, it could still be you. i'm too old if you're under 45, you're not. for most people, hpv clears on its own. but for those who don't clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers. wow... gardasil 9 is a vaccine given to adults through age 45 that can help protect against certain hpv-related cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, and certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers, and genital warts. gardasil 9 doesn't protect everyone and doesn't treat cancer or hpv infection. these diseases may have many causes. your doctor may recommend screening for certain hpv-related cancers. routine cervical cancer screenings are still needed. you shouldn't get gardasil 9 if you're allergic to the vaccine, its ingredients, or yeast.

tell your doctor if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or plan to be. the most common side effects include injection site reactions, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sore throat. fainting can also happen. help protect yourself against certain hpv-related cancers. talk to a doctor or pharmacist today. we are back on this day after christmas with a very special holiday edition of "today" food. and maybe if you overindulged yesterday or enjoyed one too many sweets this season, have no fear! dawn russell is here to help you get back on track with some of her favorite good-for-you winter

soups. she's a health expert. founder of eight greens. so nice to have you. >> thank you for having me. >> we know you're all about the greens for beauty, but you also say soups are the key to unlocking all the nutrients we need. >> absolutely. we need to have our fun n and te care of ourselves. so each ingredient has a lot of beauty properties. and the nutrients in the specific ingredients help for beautiful. >> the first one up, tomato soup. i was surprised about the sweet potatoes. >> sweet potatoes, antioxidants, great for our skin. and some vitamins, vitamin "a," vitamin "c." also, the cherry tomatoes. let's start with the onions. onions are great for weight management. we have the cherry tomatoes, which are sweeter. it's really great for the soup. and also, the cherry tomatoes are great in that they have antioxidants for our skin. we literally take the sweet potatoes, the cherry tomatoes, and the onions, put it in a

blender. we add our omegaoil, amazing for skin. put it all in a blender with some chicken stock and there we have our soup! >> could you use a vegetarian stock if you needed to? >> absolutely. >> second one up here. >> second one for skin as well. we have butternut squash, amazing for skin, because of all of its anti-inflammatory properties. we also have the onions. we have cherry tomatoes again. >> the same little trio. >> the cherry tomatoes are amazing for our skin in a sense of the antioxidants. and then we have garlic, we have three gloves of garlic, which are great for detoxification. put this in the oven for 45 minutes. you put some olive oil on it, some salt. put it in the oven for 45 minutes, just to saute it and make it soft, use your stock, put it in here, and you have butternut squash soup. incredibly sweet.

i love it. if you have a sweet tooth, this is the soup. >> and these freeze really well too. >> unbelievable for freezing. >> which is awesome. for those who have a little sweet tooth, but a healthy sweet tooth. >> a healthy sweet tooth. and this time of year when we're celebrating the new year, we're going to go home and do something to restore our skin while we sleep. so full fat milk. and the reason for full fat is because it helps you sleep and makes you less hungry. >> love whole milk. >> then you're going to add cocoa, amazing skin properties. you're going to add collagen. we all know collagen is so good for skin elasticity, and mct powder, great for weight management. >> i find sometimes the collagen gets clumpy. is that bad? >> you're right, no matter if you put it in hot milk or cold milk, it will get clumpy. >> either eat the clumps or toss them. >> we suffer the clumps for beauty. >> if it tastes good. >> you leave it in here.

you can put as much manuka honey in the drink as you want. depending on how sweet you want, and it's from a bush in new zealand with hundreds of health properties. so really all three recipes have ingredients that help us with our beauty. >> good for you and tastes good. so many great ideas! dawn, thank you! peter, over to you. >> laura, thank you so much. coming up next, a booming business that might surprise you in this day and age. milk delivery. we talk to some happy customers about why that special connection to their milkman means more than a trip to the grocery store. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

ponder as you're thinking about breakfast on this day of christmas, whatever happened to the neighborhood milkman? >> it is a good question. it might sound as old-fashioned as a jukebox or dial-up

internet, but one company is still going door-to-door with dairy deliveries. >> they've been around for more than 100 years. and our morgan chesky got to ride along on one milkman's route to see what's keeping customers so loyal. hint, it's not just the milk. good morning, morgan. >> good morning! what a ride this really was. my first question to customers was, why have a milk man in 2024 when you can grab a gallon off the shelf at any grocery store or deliver it directly to your house on any kind of app, it seems like. the one constant we heard from almost everyone, that face-to-face interaction is something they just don't get enough of these days in an age where we're all attached to our screens. and this visit is something they look forward to every week. >> reporter: in this quiet suburb of seattle, mornings still brings a visit from the neighborhood milkman. >> hey, there he is! how you doing, andy! >> reporter: at every stop on his route, rob frederick remembers the names of his

customers, their kids. >> how old are you now? 8? >> reporter: brings a treat for their dogs. >> winston, is that what you're looking for? huh? yeah? >> reporter: and even catches up on the latest news. >> so the motor's getting built on the car? >> yeah. >> reporter: it's 2024 and you have a milkman. >> it's pretty awesome. it's become a part of like something we look forward to. rob's here, and the whole house gets excited. >> i've got to think that you can drive this around in a dead sleep. >> my truck knows the way. >> reporter: hard to believe, but rob's been delivering milk and now much more to families like the youngs for 35 years. sure, they could buy milk at the store themselves or order groceries online, with a few taps on a screen, but rob's weekly visit is something special. >> i love the nostalgia of it. i had a milk man as a kid. >> reporter: do you think that

personal interaction has kind of faded and/or disappeared these days? >> totally. we're so old-fashioned, we're back in style, is what i say. >> reporter: frederick started driving for smith brothers farms at just 18 years old, back when his granddad was the route manager. >> we would have keys to peoples houses or their garage, and go in and stock that second fridge that's in the garage. the community invites you in. >> reporter: 35 years later. how's that going? >> i'm 54, still going. still showing up every day. >> reporter: his customers know that they can expect him rain or shine. and in seattle, the rain is part of the route. >> 35 years. has rob ever missed a delivery? >> no. >> no, never. >> you remember when you were a kid, you had a smith brothers milkman. >> yep. >> how does it feel to be that guy for a whole new generation? >> you hand milk to a little kid, and i'm telling you, it doesn't seem like any time at all, and you're handing milk to their little kid. >> reporter: at the smith

brothers farms warehouse, dozens of trucks are loaded bright and early every morning. >> is it true all of this began with a single cow? >> one cow on a half-acre lot in west seattle. >> reporter: dusty highland's great grandfather brought a dairy farm back in 1920. and it's grown from its humble origins to now serve 70,000 homes. now the fourth generation of his family to head the company says business boomed during the pandemic, with customers growing by nearly 50%. >> how does smith brothers not just survive, but flourish when you have a neighbor down the road called amazon promising to bring people whatever they want, whenever they want. >> we changed all of our technology. we used to be getting orders on notes left in the porch box. and now we have a website and an app. >> reporter: changing with the times, but still keeping that personal connection their customers love. >> it's not just about the milk.

it's about a community that not just accepts you, but welcomes you. and that's contagious. >> okay. we'll see you next time. >> you heard multiple customers say that rob's never missed even one day. to give you a sense of how challenging that, he told us a story trying to get up a route on what's known as ice hill during an ice storm. he gunned his truck uphill, but it started to slide all the way back down. question, did he miss the delivery? absolutely not. rob just took the incredibly long way around to reach that house and make that beloved delivery. guys? >> wow! morgan, thank you! >> rob, what a legend! >> all the neighbors would come out and start pushing that milk truck. >> the people want their milk. ahead on the third hour of "today," craig tries his hand in my favorite workout, a little bit of pilates. >> and supreme court justice ketanji brown jackson opens up about her memoir. but first, your local news and

weather.

good morning. it is 8:56 a.m. marcus washington. a terrifying christmas morning for people living in one santa cruz county neighborhood. an apparent explosion at a home caught on surveillance. a friend says that one person was living in that home, but was thankfully out of town at the time. the cause of that fire is still under investigation. happening now, the san francisco flower market is saying goodbye to its home of 58 years today. after today, that is, the market will close its doors at the corner of sixth and brannan streets. the warehouses in soma have been its home since 1956. next week, the flower market is set to open a new location at 16th street on potrero hill. 27 of its current flower market tenants will make that move. 13 of them decided to retire or strike out on their own. well, today is the first day of kwanzaa. san francisco

city hall will light up in red, green and black in recognition of the first night of the celebration at dusk. the first day of kwanzaa is called umoja, which in swahili means unity. tonight, the center of black candle is the first to be lit in the seven day celebration. we'll

this morning on the third hour of "today," making an impact. >> i take brooklyn to the world and bring the world back to brooklyn. how this self-taught fashion designer created his own buzz-worthy brand inspired by