oh yeah for sure. yes. for me it's my parents health. elderly parents who are doing fine. that is a blessing. that is, and the ability to stay connected with this because of either transportation or technology. right. exactly. good morning to the mcgrew family, to my dad. every day. good stuff. and what about you? for my husband and our dogs, we just have a little, you know, warm home that. i'm so glad that, though i love cozy vibes. cozy vibes all the way. all right. yeah, my little puppies too. it's good. thanks for being a part of our family. oh, yes. your good tuesday morning. and you know the countdown is on. >> the new year's eve arrival now just hours away. it is december 31st. this is "today." primed and ready. the nation getting set to welcome in 2025. parties planned from coast to coast. more than a million people expected to pack time's square after that iconic ball passed

its final test. >> happy new year. >> security being ramped up as well. but with storms on the move, will rain and show put a damper on the celebrations? we'll have everything you need to know. final farewell. new details on the plans to honor the life of jimmy carter in both georgia and washington, as more tributes to the nation's 39th president and peacemaker pour in. mounting questions. u.s. officials now join the investigation into that deadly plane crash in south korea. this morning, what we're learning about a landing gear issue on another plane operated by the same airline, and how the lone survivors of the disaster managed to survive. on alert. the fbi's new warning about the alarming string of burglaries targeting professional athletes. the latest victim, nba superstar luka doncic. straight ahead, the organized crime rings that could be behind the break-ins, and what players

are now being told to avoid doing. survivor story. a colorado teenager who lost her leg in a vicious shark attack speaking out for the very first time. >> i wake up every day feeling grateful just because, i mean, i'm here. >> just ahead, an inside look at her harrowing ordeal and inspiring road to recovery. those stories, plus it's official. angelina jolie and brad pitt's divorce saga finally ends after an eight-year legal battle. what they're saying overnight. in memorial. >> i'm the owner of the inn. >> we'll remember and celebrate the legends and icons lost in 2024. >> we're ready for you now. follow me. >> and the many talents they shared with the world. and the lions roar. >> goff. >> amon-ra st. brown, touchdown! >> detroit outpaces california

san francisco in a high-scoring monday night showdown, setting the stage for a thrilling week in the push to the postseason. today, tuesday, december 31st, 2024. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb, from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning and welcome to "today" on this, the final day of 2024. i'm peter alexander alongside my friend hallie jackson. we are filling in for savannah and hoda. the countdown is on for me until early afternoon and my nap today. tough to make it to midnight. >> it is legitimately exciting to be in new york city for new year's eve. there is a huge crowd on the plaza, tons of people in midtown. it is reallyly excitin >> yeah. a lot of people are already trying to find their parking spott times square as they get started today. >> time for the countdown to the countdown. this is a live look at times square this morning with major security measures in place ahead of tonight's ball drop.

>> of course, the question that's on everybody's mind is about the forecast. is the weather going to hold up? unfortunately for a lot of the northeast, it is shaping up to be a wet rain. at least as the clock strikes midnight. >> it is all coming with a new health concern as people are gathering to ring in the new year, a sharp rise in norovirus cases across the country. that's that nasty stomach bug that's contagious. >> we have it all covered, including dylan's forecast. first, we begin with nbc's emilie ikeda, who is just a few blocks away right there in the heart of times square. emily, good morning. >> reporter: hey, guys. there is concern about a high-profoile event. that's why you will see a police presence everywhere you turn here with police officers monitoring the region by foot, air and boat as more than a million people are set to con

congregate here in the crossroads of the world. in the final countdown to 2025, police are bracing for a tidal wave of tourists from boston to atlanta to the center of it all, new york city. >> this is probably a once in a lifetime thing, right? >> everyone around the world also watches this. >> reporter: more than a million people will flood times square to watch the ball drop. already tested and in place. tonight will cap off the city's second busiest year for tourism. according to officials, to secure the area, the nypd setting up concrete blockades. k-9 teams, their aviation unit and drones. >> we have been operating in a heightened threat environment since october 7th, and we remain vigilant. >> reporter: reinforcing concern over tonight's celebrations is the driver who plowed into a christmas market in germany earlier this month. rebecca weiner is the deputy commissioner of counterterrorism. >> we calibrate our counterterrorism overlay based on lessons we learn from incidents, whether they happen

here in our city or elsewhere around the world. >> reporter: event organizers also taking precautions in the sky, from new york to texas to south carolina, some planned drone shows for tonight have been scrapped. >> oh, no! i don't think that's supposed to be falling. >> reporter: after several drones collided and fell at a holiday event in orlando earlier this month, injuring a 7-year-old boy. this morning, police encouraging the public to stay alert to help ring in the new year safely. >> we really do mean it when we say the public is our strongest force multiplier. people notice things. and if they notice them and tell an officer or call 911, we're all the stronger for it. >> reporter: and while we could see rain tonight, one thing that's a no-go for times square visitors, umbrellas, along with folding chairs and alcohol. large backpacks. hundreds of thousands of visitors have to pass through count terrorism checkpoints in order to access this area.

peter. >> emily i eket ikeda who will joined by thousands of her friends. appreciate it. let's turn to dylan dreyer who is in now for al. so they can't bring umbrellas, but they probably need your ponchos out there. >> something to keep the rain off a little bit because it is going to rain later on this evening as we get closer to the ball drop. st. louis, cincinnati, seeing some rain across indiana. we have heavy pockets of rain, too. this is an area that will move to the east. it combines with a secondary low. that's going to stream in some of the moisture from the south. here we are at 8:00 tonight, and the rain is around. we'll see pockets of heavier rain in the timesquare area. that will continue up until midnight. it might end just before midnight, just after midnight. either way, once you're e wet, you're wet, so what's the difference at that point? when we go into tomorrow for the first day of 2025, the lake effect snow will take hold. off of lake erie and lake ontario, the interior northeast will see some of the snowshowers, too. your forecast for tomorrow -- or for today, rather, does look

like we'll see the soaking rain back through the great lakes. but the rest of the western half of the country looks really nice. chilly in the upper midwest. northern plains. as we go into this evening, that's when the rain will take hold across the northeast. but elsewhere where your celebrations are, it looks like we should see clear skies, peter. >> thank you. also this morning, the tributes celebrating the life of jimmy carter are growing. we are learning about the plans to honor the 39th president. both in his home state of georgia and in the nation's capital. nbc's jesse kirsch is in atlanta with all the details this morning. good morning. >> reporter: peter, good morning. so much of the work and legacy of the former president that will be remembered was carried out through his humanitarian organization, the carter center. which is housed here behind me in atlanta. but the state funeral will begin more than two hours from h saturday in carter's hometown of plains, georgia, where current and former members of his secret

service detail will carry his remains to the hearse, which will travel through plains, stopping at the family farm where carter grew up, before continuing on to atlanta. that's where the motorcade will stop at the state capitol for a moment of silence. he'll lie in repose at the carter presidential center, giving mourners a chance to pay their respects, before carter's remains are transported to washington, d.c., carried to the u.s. navy memorial and finally a funeral procession will carry him to the u.s. capitol. that's where members of congress will pay their respects, and he will lie in state until thursday, january 9th. the national funeral service will take place with president joe biden expected to eulogize him. the two commanders in chief who built a close relationship over decades last saw each other at rosalynn carter's funeral last november. carter's remains will return to georgia one more time aboard special air mission 39. there will be a private service at the baptist church where the

former president taught sunday school for decades. and finally, the 39th president will be privately interred at his home after a missingan formation flyover by the u.s. navy, honoring carter's service as a navy lieutenant who ultimately became commander in chief. officials are welcoming members of the public to line the route in plains as carter makes his final trip through his hometown. january 9th has been declared by president biden as a national day of mourning for the 39th president of the united states, jimmy carter. >> jesse kirsch in the late president's home state of georgia this morning, thank you. also this morning, u.s. investigators are now joining the search for answers after that deadly airplane disaster in south korea this weekend. we're also learning that one of on two survivors is now awake and speaking to his doctors. nbc's steve patterson has made his way to the airport where that fiery crash happened. steve, good morning. >> reporter: hallie, good morning.

behind me, the grim primary task of identifying the dead now nearly completed putting renewed focus on the investigation as new questions arise. as you mention, as fresh help arrives. today, u.s. investigators at the scene of one of south korea's worst air disasters. the country in mourning. grieving families refusing to leave the international airport desperate for answers on why their loved ones are gone. just days ago, this jeju aircraft, this boeing 737-800 skidded down a runway and erupted into flames as it collided with a wall, killing 179 passengers and crew. two flight attendants at the back of the plane the only survivors. one reportedly blacking out asking what happened, why am i here?

another boeing 737 800 taking off monday and turning back, due to reports with an issue with its landing gear. authorities now promising an investigation into the airport model with more than 100 operating in the country. the airport now filled with emergency tents, families waiting for the return of their loved ones remains. people do not want to leave their family members. this is part of this agonizing identification process that could take the next few days, weeks, even months. we spoke to this man who lost his aunt and uncle in the crash. he thinks the government should be working faster to identify bodies and provide families with more information. officials say only five victims are yet to be officially identified. experts are looking to the plane's black boxes for answers. they will be transferred to a testing center friday. they'll be checked to see if analysis will be possible. until then, for many families, the agonizing wait will continue. meanwhile, the jeju air ceo taking full responsibility, pledging a financial

compensation package to the families of the victims. hallie? >> steve patterson in south korea, thank you. we turn now to an important health alert on a troubling rise on norovirus across the country. cases of the contagious stomach bug are up in several states right now. nbc's shaquille brewster joins us with more from chicago, including, importantly, what health officials want you to know before you head out to the celebrations tonight. shaq, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, guys. look, i know this is the last thing we want to be talking about on this new year's eve, but new numbers show a spike in norovirus clashing with these holiday festivities. if you are going out in a celebration later today, there are some simple precautions you can take. this morning, a holiday health warning as cases of the norovirus surge. >> norovirus is our last little christmas gift. >> reporter: an increase in outbreaks with 91 reported in

the first week of december acro 14 states, more than double the number for the same week over the past three years. is there any reason why we're seeing this rise? >> we're all together this time of year and all the traveling we're doing, that's causing the increases. >> reporter: the highly contagious virus can cause days of vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, and fever. >> i promise you, you do not want this. >> reporter: the recent rise comes as multiple states reported new infections in december. in minnesota, health officials say the number of outbreaks are twice what they usually see. california officials also investigating an outbreak involving 80 people who became ill after eating raw oysters at a los angeles food festival. and on three different cruise ships operated by holland america and princess cruises, more than 300 passengers contracted the virus. norovirus can be spread through direct contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces, or eating contaminated food. >> if you have been sick with

this, i'm sending you all my love because it is no joke. >> reporter:r: now witmillions expected to gather for new year's eve celebrations, experts say it is impoant to take precautions. wash produce thoroughly. don't share utensils and don't rely on hand sanitizers. >> you know, we all have that around the house. hand sanitizer. this does not work well with norovirus. you need to wash your hands those 20 seconds we talked about. >> reporter: dr. torres went on to say that if you are not feeling well, the best thing to do to protect others tonight is to stay home. remember, with this virus, even if you're feeling better, it could remain in your system and you could be contagious for up to two weeks. doctors are saying make sure you monitor your symptoms to avoid further spikes. >> been there years ago. it is no fun. shaq, thanks so much. another serious warning now. this one to the fbi. it is tied to a series of home burglaries targeting pro-athletes we've been following. the the newest victims, one of the

nba's most popular players. nbc's kel kaylee hartung is here with that. yet another break-in. what's going on? >> yeah, for real. the fbi has issued this warning to all professional sports leagues, letting them know it appears highly organized criminal groups are targeting their players. dallas mavericks star luka doncic just the latest in a string of threats. >> reporter: this morning, pro athletes on alert after a string of high-profile burglaries. the fbi writing in a memo that the crimes are l the crimes are likely driven by south american organized theft groups who conduct surveillance and review security measure of pro players, according to a official briefed on the matter. the homes of multiple nba and nfl stars. >> pressure, mahomes, throws, completes. >> reporter: including patrick mahomes and travis kelce have been hit over the last few months. >> lite stop and go. kept his dribble going. scores! >> reporter: dallas maverick

superstar luka doncic appears to be the latest victim. according to dallas police, thieves broke into the guard's home while his team played in phoenix last friday. the home now has several boarded up windows and security cameras in place. the dallas pd saying officers responded to a burglary on friday on a block where doncic lives. and determined unknown suspects entered the property and took items. according toto an inteal police report obtained by the dallas morning news, the thieves snatched $30,000 worth of jewelry. the fbi believes that the south american groups go after athletes they think have high-valued electronics, personnel effects and cash. it comes at the heels of the break-in of bengals quarterback joe burrow. while "sports illustrated" model olivia potten was there. >> someone broke into my house. >> reporter: burrow was on the road when it happened. thieves also hit the home of milwaukee bucks forward bobby portis last month. >> i had a home invasion, and they took most of my prized possessions. >> reporter: in october, the homes of super bowl champs

mahomes and kelce were broken into within hours of each other. >> it is frustrating. it's disappointing. >> so that fbi memo also includes similar guidance that the leagues have shared with players, warning them not to post high-value personal items on social media. security experts say pro-athletes are often very susceptible targets. guys, this isn't surprising to hear, because their schedules are public. >> people know when they're at away games or homewhatever the case may be. >> that's when the break-ins are happening. >> kaylee hartung, interesting. thank you for bringing that. stick around for the rest of the show. >> thank you for having me. >> they're thinking, oh, look, he's not available. i can go to that house right now. that's rough. let's go to the forecast. we're hoping it will be a dry midnight for most. >> we will certainly see a dry midnight for a lot of folks. but it is in new york where the big bash is happening, that's where we see the rain move in. if you are traveling around, we will see a couple flurries out of the pacific northwest, but it

is heavier rain and snow falling through central and southern michigan and indiana where we could see slowdowns on the roads early this morning. that's the weather across the country. we'll get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. [trickle of espresso pouring out] [whoosh of espresso settling] [hissing and frothing of milk steaming] [pouring espresso into cup] [sliding coffee on counter] [person sipping their coffee] a frosty one up towards the north bay 35 in santa rosa, sonoma 33 in calistoga. there are frost advisories and freeze warnings in place, and we go out towards danville, 31 degrees right now in the immediate bay. you've got some low to mid 40s,

but those low 30s continue in through south san jose and san martin 36 degrees right now. it will be a sunny day and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you very much. ahead, the 15-year-old sir vooifr of a frightening shark attack speaking out for the very first time. what she is revealing about her harrowing ordeal and her inspiring road to recovery. plus, the value wars that dominated 2024 showing no sign of slowing down in the new year. what you need to know about your favorite restaurants and the new deals just announc. but, first, thedis

still ahead, news overnight that angelina jolie and brad pitt have finally settled their divorce. we will have the details including why the intense legal battle took more than eight

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♪♪ 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. good tuesday morning to you. i'm laura garcia. it is 726 right now. here's a look at our top stories. i'm bob redell. happy new year's eve. authorities are reminding us to stay away from illegal fireworks tonight as we celebrate the new year 2025. the city of richmond. people there

are telling us that the problem now appears to be a much worse. it's something they've seen year round, not only on new year's eve, but illegal fireworks, obviously on the 4th of july, but also christmas eve. one city council member tells us that after the new year, he is going to ask the council to review and possibly strengthen that city's fireworks ordinance in the new year after he too, has been shocked at the escalation of the the year. let's get a look att our forecast. cinthia pimentel is in for kari. it's a chilly start. it is chilly, but look at those beautiful sunrise shots we have right behind us, the bay bridge. just a little bit of a sliver of those low clouds hanging in through the city. so those long, cold winter nights are putting us in thisrost advisory and some freeze warnings until about ten this morning. we see some of those numbers coming down into the low 30s and some isolated upper 20s in our hit, in our deepest valleys of the bay. now, the treat for the afternoon, though, will be mostly sunny skies and

temperatures in the upper 50s. we'll watch for those clouds rolling around tonight for those new year's eve fireworks. back to you. thanks so much. and don't forget to join us for our today in the bay live streaming newscast at 8 a.m. join us on roku, amazon fire tv, and streaming platforms including nbcbayarea.com, and of course, from our app. happy new year's eve, everyone! love to have you join us here on today in the bay. another local news update for you in about half an hour. have a great day.

goff, here's a little lateral to williams, and he's down the sideline, and caught for a touchdown. >> back at 7:30. that was so impressive. i watched that replay live last night.

the lions win over the 49ers. next sunday night it is lions versus vikings with the number one seed on the line. that's a game here on nbc you are not going to want to miss. i was talking about it with my partner last night. that's a huge game. >> you know mike tirico and melissa stark are absolutely pumped for that one. hey, congratulations are in order. peter alexander, winner of his fantasy football league. >> 500 hours committed. $50 coming home. my wife was like, wow, that's a big congratulations. appreciate it. stop looking at your phone, right? well, guys, we have a busy half hour ahead, starting with a story that's both harrowing and inspiring. >> we want to share the story of a colorado teenager who survived a horrific shark attack during a family vacation and is speaking out for the very first time. >> she sat down with morgan chesky. morgan, good morning. >> reporter: good morning.

anna bell carlson may only be 15 but is tackling her long road to recovery with the wisdom and mindset of a true warrior. we spoke to her and her mom, who shared how the shark attack changed all of their lives, but also showed the family a strength they didn't know they had. >> reporter: for annabelle carlson, it's the lacrosse warm-up, hiding a miracle in plain sight. >> houw's it feel? >> good. >> reporter: but it's been a long road to get to good, following a brutal shark attack last august. >> i wake up every morning thanking god that she's here. >> reporter: the family on a diving trip off the coast of belize when annabelle went for a swim. >> the minute she hit the water, the shark attacked her. >> it came from under the boat. it started attacking my hands. >> i'm screaming, yelling, somebody help, help her. >> and also coming in, there is a second shark that does bite my right leg. >> reporter: the pair of reef sharks leaving annabelle's hands

mangled and causing catastrophic damage to her right leg. >> i knew right then and there i everything i could to save her life. >> reporter: it was a race against time, over two hours via boat and helicopter, to get annabelle to a belize hospital. >> i wasn't sure she was going to make it because she was sheet white. >> what is the first thing they tell you? >> she's going to lose her leg. i just wanted them to save her life. >> reporter: they saved her life. now annabelle is facing an entirely new reality. her spirit, however, remains undaunted. >> i wake up every day feeling grateful just because, i mean, i'm here. >> reporter: and she's fully owning this new life. this past halloween, dressing up with her best friend as a shark and shark attack victim. >> it's fun to joke about it, i think, because at least for me, it's part of staying positive. >> reporter: annabelle now tackling physical therapy with the same passion she does sports. >> i'm planning on obviously

playing lacrosse and using my prosthetic to ski hopefully. >> we talked about maybe going scuba diving again. >> yeah, hopefully back into the ocean as soon as possible, too. >> reporter: but this teenage warrior isn't out of gowoods ju yet. she's currently fighting a bacterial infection requiring five different antibiotics daily for at least the next six months. >> we're hopeful all signs are pointing to good things. >> reporter: from lots of hospital texting to visits at home, friends and family rallying behind the toughest teenager they know. >> i mean, the second i talk to my friends, definitely like gave me life. >> reporter: and now, four months and seven surgeries later, annabelle has a brand-new leg. >> it has shock absorption and torque absorption, almost all the bells and whistles you could get. >> that's really cool. >> there you go. >> i could walk without anything. >> you can? >> reporter: she's walking tall and is done looking back.

>> that's crazy. >> reporter: her little sis, sophia, so proud. >> i can't wait until she gets like back into sports. she's definitely an inspiration to me and my brother. >> this whole thing has really opened my eyes to her strength, a strength i didn't know she had. >> i'm able to walk again, which is so -- i'm so lucky to be able to do. >> as tough as the last four months has been, you still wake up every day feeling grateful. >> yes. definitely. >> that gratitude and grit so incredibly evident. i asked annabelle how long before we could see her on a lacrosse field. she said, give her a year, and then we are all invited back to catch a game. guys? >> what a strong, young woman. morgan, thank you. >> annabelle is such an inspiration. >> to her sister, too. to hear they look up to her, her siblings, too. she's incredible. >> that's beautiful. coming up, wonder woman star

gal gadot opening up about a life-threatening health scare of her own during her recent pregnancy. what she's saying about her emergency surgery, and what she wants all women to know. but, first, christine romans is looking ahead to what the new year holds when it comes to those heated fast food wars, and where you'll find the biggest deals, right after this. this stutuff chang my life. so good. high protein. check. one gram of sugar. oh, yeah. and a flavor for every vibe. (♪♪) (♪♪) premier protein. sweeten the journey.

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>> after a year of those value wars enticing you with offer after offer, the world of fast food is entering a new phase. >> joining us now with a look back and ahead, nbc news business correspondent christine romans. good morning. what do you got for us? >> facing the pain of inflation, many americans cut back their restaurant visits, especially to fast food last year in 2024. but that led to an intense competition of deals and offers. and now it seems value is here to stay. >> reporter: after a year of restaurants battling for your business -- ♪ eat like a king who is on a budget ♪ >> the price makes five. >> reporter: the fast food value wars are showing no signs of slowing down in 2025. the deluge of deals, new offers, even drone deliveries, a response to win back bargain hungry consumers fed up with sticker shock. >> the patties are smaller, and you are paying more. >> $40 on fast food? got to l love 2024

>> reporter: leading to a 2% drop in foot traffic through october this year. >> consumers were in the drive's seat and forced restaurants, particularly fast food restaurants, to respond. they did. >> reporter: and now experts say the value strategy may be paying off. what is your word for 2025? >> normal, hopefully. >> does normal mean good prices for the consumer? >> normal means that there is going to be more sort of permanent value on the menu. >> mcdonald's announcing that it's $5 meal deal will stay on the menu through summer 2025 with a new buy one, add one option for $1 more on other popular items. the golden arches also saying it is investing $100 million to support franchises impacted by october's deadly e.coli outbreak linked to raw onions. the cdc says the outbreak is now over. wendy's has a free frosty for 2025. no timeline yet to test a

controversial dynamic pricing mod model says wouldn't raise prices but lower them in off-peak times. >> the chicken tender battle has just begun. >> reporter: chicken is trending for the new year. raising 'canes and wing stop are expected to grow fast while kfc is launching a sauce-forward spin-off. even taco bell getting in on the poultry action. >> look at the size of the nuggets. >> reporter: promising more new products in its most innovative year ahead. >> fresh chicken hot off the grill. >> reporter: chipotle is adding a honey chicken to its menu in 2025. the burrito chain increased sales and customers in 2024 despite a 2% price hike and backlash over claims of skimped portion sizes. >> lately, chipotle has not hit the same. >> reporter: chipotle quick to respond by bulking back up their meals. a focus on value that ceo scott boatwright promises will continue into the new year. >> lean in to high quality,

great tasting ingredients. we'll continue to give the consumer value for the money. >> now chipotle's former ceo was brought over by starbucks as the coffee chain struggled there. he says he is planning a big year ahead, including trimming menu items, focussing on quality drinks with quality service. bringing back coffee condiment bars. by the way, if you prefer a booth to the drive through, dine-in chains like chili's and appleby's are offering their own meal deals. i went to check one out. >> research for the story. >> yes, 200 people in line. the chicken menu is going to be really big this year. >> i have to say raising 'canes chicken is my favorite. baton rouge made todd graves created that. >> a big up and comer. >> it's amazing to see how much it's grown. >> you have to have a story in 2025 because people want value and something really special for the experience. oh, thank you.

did you put this on your expense countdown? >> 2025, yes. if i would have known, i would have gotten raising 'canes for us this morning. next time. >> it will be another year of the deal. >> dylan, you are left with hash browns. >> i know. i was wondering why no one was tossing the last sandwich to me. >> can you catch? i'll toss it over now. >> i can catch a sandwich, don't worry about that. we have decent weather across most of the country. we're also looking for sunny weather out in california. a little messy through the great lakes, the ohio and tennessee river valleys where we have a slight rain. that will move to the northeast by the time we get to the ball drop tonight. rain will be coming to an end by midnight, but still it will be wet if you are out there waiting for the ball drop. at lst it's not too cold. temperatures 51 degrees. let's get that in there. geez. >> bad toss! th

it's like these over the golden gate bridge. no fog in the overnight hours. let's talk about our new year's eve plans there in the city, we will see some cloud cover returning, but maybe starting to drift apart as we go on a little bit closer to midnight. please bring those jackets around the region. we are >> you cover sports. you don't ay them. >> for a reason. now you all know. >> but the mcmuffin is now safely in hand. dylan, thank you. as the year draws to a close, we will take a look back at the notable figures, the personalities, and stars we lost in 2024. but, first, these messageses.

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welcome back. with the year coming to a close, we want to take a moment to remember some of the people we lost in 2024 and their many talents and contributions to the world. world. >> the only thing you owe yourself or the world is to understand who you are and what you're doing. >> people will come, ray. people will most definitely come. >> every one of us has a chance to decide what kind of person we are. >> once a dancer, always a dancer. ♪ ♪ should have been a cowboy ♪

>> i'm not joking.is my job. this is my job. ♪ >> he's back, back and got it! ♪ ♪ just another word for nothing leleft to lo ♪ ♪

>> get that body going. ♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪♪ ♪ ♪ i've got hungry eyes ♪ >> how are you going to know where i'm at if you haven't been where i've been? understand where i'm coming from? >> we're ready for you now. follow me. >> hello? is this anything for a buck? >> people come up to me and say, thank you for all the laughter. and i say, it was my pleasure. ♪ does it ever drive you crazy ♪ ♪ just how fast the night . >> changes ♪ >> so many lives we lost. it is hard to believe how long a year is when you think about all the people we lost in the course

of last year. rickey henderson growing up as a child in california, that was a guy i always looked up to, brought a thrill to me and so many other voices. brought thrills to so many others. >> nice way to remember them. thank you. we're back with much more on this final day of the year, including an uplifting morning boost and a can't miss edition of "popstart." but, first, your local news. last year alone, those viruses hospitalized nearly 1 million people 65 and older. that's nearly 1 million moms, dads, favorite uncles, and grammas. if someone you love is 65 or older, talk with them about vaccines, because to you, they're not just another number.

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sleep apnea innovation. learn more and view important safety information at inspiresleep.com 107 56. i'm scott mcgrew, and i'm laura garcia. here's what's happening now. i'm ginger conejero saab in san francisco. we are hours away from ringing in 2025. the pyro spectacular group was busy getting things ready for its annual fireworks display here in san francisco. you can watch the fireworks show off the embarcadero at one of the city's new yeaear's eve parties, or from the comfort of your own home. a toast to 2024, hosted by hoda kotb and jenna

bush hager, will air tonight starting at 9 p.m. on nbc. transit agencies trying to help the celebrations stay safe with special offers to get you home. you can try out the new all electric caltrain for free starting at eight tonight through the end of the special night. late night service as last trains headed out of san francisco at 1 a.m, 130 and 2 a.m. meantime, three other agencies extending their service beyond that muni ac transit, vta offering free rides from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. of the morning of the first. okay, getting your glittery outfits ready for this evening? maybe bring a coat at least tonight, right? oh yeah, we're keeping them all day long pretty much as we start this morning under a frost advisory and freeze warnings in much of the bay up there towards the north and the foothills down here in the south bay is where some of those cold, colder

numbers are expected. but into the afternoon we should see a lot of sunshine region wide. not really breaking out of the 50s. and we'll watch that cloud cover, of course, all day long for the fireworks in the city. back to you. all right. make sure to join us for our today in the bay live streaming newscast. it starts in just minutes ahead at 8:00. the family friendly new year's eve events that are happening across the bay area. join us on roku,

it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, the countdown is on. new year's now just hours away. the ball in times square ready to drop. >> probably a once in a lifetime thing, right? >> everyone around the world also watches this. >> a look at the security preparations and precautions. plus, how rain and snow could affect celebrations. we're live with what you need to

know. then reaching an agreement. breaking overnight, angelina jolie and brad pitt finally settle their divorce more than eight years after announcing their breakup. new details on the contentious back and forth. and sharing her story. actress gal gadot opens up about a life-threatening health emergency, diagnosed with a massive blood clot in her brain while she was eight months pregnant. ah ahead, the message she wants all women to hear. all that, plus sabrina carpenter shakes it off. how the holidays are topping the charts. ♪ have a good night and a merry christmas ♪ >> and dan + shay ring in the new year with a special performance just for us. ♪ happy new year, everybody may it be filled with peace and love ♪ >> today, tuesday, december

31st, 2024. ♪ >> from murrieta, california. >> celebrating my sweet 16. >> celebrating our 30th anniversary. >> hey, dad! >> back home in georgia. >> here from atlanta, georgia. >> weatherford, texas. >> wisconsin. >> utah. >> and illinois! >> from lake forest, florida. >> today is my birthday. >> ending the year. >> at the "today" show! [ applause ] >> welcome back to "today." first stop on "the today show" plaza. a lot of those tourists here to join us. believe it or not, the final day of 2024. savannah, hoda, craig, al, all spending it with their families. can you guys believe we made it? 2025 just a wink away. >> can you believe the crowd on the plaza today? people are out there.

it is packed yet again. it's huge, it's amazing. >> i love how this is how we all get to close out the here. year. thanks for having me. >> we're drinking before the end of the hour, so you better get your cocktail ready. >> as we should. we begin with, of course, the countdown to the new year. the nation getting ready to welcome in 2025. celebrations planned, of course, from coast to coast. one of the biggest is a couple of blocks from here in time's square. that's where we find nbc's emilie ikeda. good morning. >> reporter: hey there! well, there are exactly 15 hours and 58 minutes until that 11,000 pound crystal ball will descend just behind me. it is part of a 120 year tradition in times square that is watched around the world. more than one million people will get to see it in person here in times square, capping off the busiest season for tourism ever on record according to officials for new york city. the nypd is rolling out a sweeping security effort with

concrete blockade, officers in and out of uniform, their k-9 teams, aviation unit, drones. authorities say there are no specific threats to tonight's festivities, but they remain concerned about potential targeting of this high-profile event, especially considering geopolitical tensions and recent events, including a driver that rammed into a christmas market in germany earlier this month. now, police this morning are encouraging people to stay alert, calling the public their greatest force multiplier. you know the saying. see something, say something to help ring in a safe new year. >> we wish you a safe and happy new year as well. we will get to the holiday forecast in just a bit. to a big cybersecurity event out of washington. chinese hackers remotely accessed several treasury department workstations, as well as unclassified documents. the department did not provide details on what sort of documents may have been obtained, but it says the hackers managed to access those workstations by compromising a third party software service provider.

china has denied the u.s. allegations. big news out of hollywood this morning. brat pit and angelina jolie reached a settlement in their divorce. eight years of a contentious back and forth in the public eye. nbc's chloe melas joins us now with the details. >> good morning. joely's team confirming that the divorce settlement was signed and filed on monday and that the actress is, quote, relieved that this one part is over. >> reporter: this morning, breaking news in the legal battle between two of hollywood's biggest stars, brad pitt and angelina jolie, finally reaching a divorce settlement after eight years. jolie's team saying the settlement was signed and filed on monday. she and the children left all the property they shared with mr. pitt. adding, frankly, angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over. pitt's team refused to make a comment on the matter. the couple shares six children. they have been locked in a

contentious back and forth since their public breakup which followed an equally high-profile relationship. once hollywood's most famous couple with their own iconic nickname, brangelina. heating up the silver screen. the picture perfect pair together for almost a decade before tieing the knot in 2014. two years later, jolie filed for divorce, citing differences. they were officially declared single by a judge in 2019. pitt filed a new lawsuit in 2022, accusing jolie of intentionally harming him and their once shared french winery business. jolie filing a cross complaint saying pitt subjected the family to verbal and physically abuse, including allegedly choking one of their children on a transatlantic flight in 2016. no criminal charges were ever filed against pitt. his attorney stating at the time, brad has owned everything he's responsible for, but he's not going to own anything he

didn't do. now the two stars out with new movies this year. >> who are you? >> i'm here to take care of your problems. >> looking for a wrap on a bitter chapter. >> so even though they've reached this divorce agreement, it's not going to affect that 2022 winery lawsuit, which is still ongoing. and, you guys, that might actually go to trial in 2025. they have been fighting back and forth because angelina jolie sold her stake in the winery and brad pitt has been very unhappy about that. it wilbe interesting to see if it does make it to a courtroom. but this is one step in the right direction. >> and the wine is still flowing. we know that much. >> it is still flowing. >> happy new year to you. >> brad pitt 61 years old. is that right? >> yes. >> this has been going on a while. >> time flies. >> appreciate it so much other news we're watching, the faa is investigating another frightening close call. this one at one of the nation's busiest airports. this one on friday at lax as a delta plane was taking off with a separate charter flight with

the gonzaga men's basketball team onboard. it was taxiing to its gate, watch. >> stop, stop, stop. >> that's the close call. you could hear the air traffic controller there saying stop, stop, stop, making sure it did not cross into the runway. lucky it didn't. the company says it is working with the faa to determine exactly what happened there. listen, we have covered the news. you know what that means now. >> boost it up. >> it is time. it is time for the boost, baby. united airlines pilot had a big surprise for her dad, who was in town visiting for a few days. she took him to the airport so he could catch his flight back home. they said their good-byes. here's what he didn't know. zeline was actually the pilot to his plane headed to new york city. while everyone was settled in their seats, she shared a special tribute to her dad. listen. >> i wanted to take a brief moment to introduce a very special passenger. onboard with us today is my dad. i dropped him off at the airport and i told him i was flying to

albuquerque today.your unwavering suppor surprise, dad. i wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude funwavering support. your belief in me has been the wind beneath my wings. i could not come this far without you and thanks for always being present in my life. >> oh, come on. incredible, right? she said her dad was willing to do whatever it took to help her achieve her dreams. she also joked that her dad wanted her to become a doctor. clearly she ended up in the right profession. that's a heck of a way to get to new york city. special. >> two days getting to do the boost with you all. both days i'm in tears over here. what is wrong with m that was beautiful. >> that was awesome. and they arrived on time, perfect landing. >> exactly. >> look at that. look at that. coming up, remember that commercial about shipping pants that went viral a few years back? if you enjoyed that one, stick around. you want to see the word play fun in a new ad featuring music sensation sabrina carpenter. i had to say that carefully.

also ahead, the message from actress gal gadot she wants all women to hear as she is revealing the terrifying health crisis she went through while pregnant. but, first, these messages. -ga♪ ♪far-xi-ga♪ ask your doctor about farxiga. oh... stuffed up again? so congested! you need sinex saline from vicks. just sinex, breathe,

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(vo) margaret is eating progresso chicken noodle soup with coin cut carrots and tender white meat chicken.tible. that gives her the idea to take a sick day and finish binge watching her latest obsession. (margaret) mmmm. (vo) when you make it progresso, you've made it. gal gadot opening up about an alarming health scare she experienced earlier this year. >> she made a career of fighting bad guys on the big screen. earlier this year gal said she was fighting for her life when she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her brain. now she's sharing her story, not to scare anyone, but to raise awareness. >> reporter: access gal gadot

now opening up about a life-threatening medical emergency. the 39-year-old mother in four revealing in february while eight months pregnant she was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in her brain. writing on instagram, "for weeks, i endured excruciating headaches that kept me confined to bed. in one moment, my family and i were faced with how fragile life can be and how quickly everything can change. and in the midst of a difficult year, all i wanted was to hold on and live." in a matter of hours, gadot was rushed to cedar sinai. she had emergency surgery. as she describes it, her daughter was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear. after a long road to recovery, she now says she's fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life she's been given back. supporters rallying around the wonder woman star online. one fan writing, "i'm glands you're okay. i had a disorder that almost took my life. pregnancy needs to be talked about more often, and the

stories that women go through." >> let's go. >> the israeli-born actress got her start in "fast and furious" films will be cast as wonder woman, and she's starring in the live-action, upcoming "snow white." >> gadot and her husband have four daughters. their youngest, whose name means, my light, is now ten months old. gadot says going into that emergency surgery, ori was the light waiting for her at the end of the story. >> gadot says she is sharing her story to encourage women to listen to your bodies. if one person is compelled to take action for their health, it will have been worth sharing, she wrote. we will bring in dr. natalie azar with more on this. listen, you heard there, this is rare. is there a person who is more susceptible to this, who is more at risk? >> yeah, yeah. so we do want to emphasize this

is not a common occurrence. in fact, cerebral vain thrombosis, cvt, is the proper name for this, only makes up half to 3% of all strokes. in terms of pregnancy, we see it in about 12 out of every 100,000 pregnancies. again, not common. what is unique about this story and what is important to point factor out is there are some risk factors for this to occur. they happen to be relevant to this story. pregnancy and particularly the postpartum period, about four to six weeks after you deliver, you are kind of at the highest risk if this is going to happen. that's when it could potentially happen. oral contraceptives. obesity acting synergistically with pregnancy can increase the risk. then underlying conditions. if you have genetic clotting disorders, certain infections, trauma, those kinds of things could theoretically increase the risk of this. >> what are the symptoms women should be looking out for? when is it time to check in with your doctor? >> the most common symptom is

the headache, okay. big flash point here. this does not mean every headache in pregnancy is a foreboding of this to happen. what we want to explain to people is if you have a new headache, a changing headache, a severe headache, this is something that you would want to talk to your health care provider. by the way, you know, tension headache, migraine, those kinds of things, super common in pregnancy. common things are common. nausea, vision changes, even seizures can occur and signs and symptoms that could relate to the location of the blood clot could cause certain neurological symptoms. >> if you were to have one of these blood clots, would it be safe to try to get pregnant again? >> the good news is that having had this in the past pregnancy is not what we call an absolute contraindication for having another pregnancy, which is fantastic. obviously, every case is different and unique and you need to talk to your doctor if you have risk factors. maybe u're on a blood thinner for a subsequent pregnancy. but the good news that we're going end on here today is that, number one, she's doing great. >> she's okay.

>> she's fully recovered, which the majority of people do become fully recovered. if she were to choose to, she would have another healthy pregnancy. >> baby is healthy, too. >> yup. >> thank you very much. dr. azar, good to see you on this last day of 2024. >> she has one beautiful family, gal gadot. dylan has another look at the forecast. >> foggy conditions across the northern plains. clear out west. getting a break before the next storm system makes its way onshore. we also have some heavier rain across northern illinois, indiana, through ohio. this is going to turn into a rainmaker for the northeast as we go closer to midnight tonight after 7:00, 8:00 tonight. temperatures above average in the 40s and 50s in the northeast. very cold across the northern plains and north dakota. temperatures today for highs only in the teens. that winter chill is on. sunny and mild out west and down

>> and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan i'm going to toss you a metaphorical ball now. >> just don't drop it from the sky. >> and say get to "popstart" for us. you're covering for carson again. >> so much to get to. let's start with sabrina carpenter. it has been a breakout year for the pop star. earning her first grammy nomination, selling out a world tour. but one thing is sure to define her 2024, those iconic words from "expresso." the viral hit song became a phenomenal. take it a step further, sabrina is teaming up with

dunkin to release her own twist on the pfafcaffeinated classic. and to be clear, before we roll the tape, it's espresso. emphasis on the s. take a peek. >> i just love shaking that s. >> been shaking that for hours. you should try it. >> i'm shaking that s. >> can i grab that s? >> yes. >> am i shaking that s? >> you are shaking that s. >> no one shakes that s like gam-gam. >> grandma? oh, shake that s kind of sounds like shake that -- >> only at dunkin. >> so they have really like stepped up their commercial game. >> and the celebrity endorsements, so good. remember ben affleck and matt damon? >> we do have this drink right here.

it's come pinie i-- combining espresso with some brown sugar. you can taste the sweetness. it has oat milk in it. >> that's good. >> i will be shaking that s. >> shaken, not stirred. >> just watch it. careful. careful. all right. next up, mariah carey. we got to hear this song one more time, right? ♪ i don't want a lot for christmas there is just one thing i need ♪ ♪ and i don't care about the presents underneath the christmas tree ♪ >> i'm still not sick of it. the queen of christmas isn't abandoning her throne just yet. "all i want for christmas is you" just landed an 18th week atop the billboard hot 100. this takes her one step closer tohe historic 19th she'd need to top "a bar song" and "old town road" for the longest running top 100 title. the top ten is now made up of all holiday hits. this marks the first time in the chart's 66th year history that festive favorites fully dominated. in fact, the first non-yuletide song doesn't come on until number 17, which is lady gaga

and bruno mars "die with a smile". >> something about this christmas season because people are listening to the music, the crowds are showing up. >> and it is the christmas classics, too. >> andy williams, nat king cole. >> good, old-fashioned christmas. it's been nice. next up, karol g. is getting the documentary treatment. yesterday, netflix announcing the grammy winner will be hitting the screen with a new, intimate portrait of the woman behind the music. karol g. writing a relentless journey that defied all odds. my powerful connection i share with all of you. of course, we have a suggestion for a must-see scene in the doc ♪ >> the crowd was wild that day. i'd never seen so many people out there on the plaza. >> i was back home in d.c., and i remember it was like just

everybody talking about it in this building. it was a mob scene. >> people everywhere. >> how cool. >> shaking that s. >> i'm still drinking mine. get on board, guys. >> it's actually really good. that project is set to hit netflix in 2025. next up, a complete unknown. if you saw the musical biopic over the weekend, you may be wondering how accurate it is to bob dylan's real life. turns out, the movie was actually given the green light from the icon himself. in a recent appearance on a podcast, peter jason described how involved dylan was in the development process. >> bob dylan had approval over the script. he had meaningful input. he met with jim multiple times. at one point, they sat there and read the entire script out loud, with jim reading every part and stage direction, and bob dylan only reading the lines and dialogue of himself. through that process, he sat there writing notes on the script.

and at the end of his last session with jim mangoldt, he signed the script and says, go with god. >> i saw the film, and that was the first question i asked when we left, what role did bob dylan play in that getting made? that makes it so much more powerful. >> when you watch it and you feel like you actually learn something. >> right. >> i like your answer. >> you can catch the bob-approved script for "complete unknown" in theaters now. and finally, it's new year's eve, the end of another year. marks time to reflect and, of course, make resolutions. saving money, working out more. maybe you can stick with something simple like kevin. >> not about being perfect. it's about trying. why don't we go around and say some of the ways we fudged on our resolution. >> i said i would eat more vegetables, and i haven't yet. but it's okay. i still have time since last year i ate none. >> hard to top that, but want to go down the list. >> kevin, coming in clutch. >> oh, i have to start?

drink less caffeine would actually be high on my list, i got to say. >> i'm setting an intention for i don't know what it is yet. raincheck. >> okay. you're working on it. take your time. peter? >> set an intention? >> yeah, get my crystals out. >> mine would be more experiences with family, fewer things. just create more memories. this is nice. 50th state. we went to maine this summer. it was the best. >> i just want to declutter, like just get rid of stuff. >> oh, i went on a tear last night. throwing stuff out of the closet. >> why wait to start? >> the new yr's toast coming ea

♪ we are back at 8:30. can we just get a shout-out?

our last morning of 2024 out here on the plaza. this crowd is awesome. we are so glad to have these happy faces spending their final hours of the year with us, getting to talk with some folks, they're from all over. a lot of people have set their new year's resolutions, but plenty of people are still thinking about it. we'll see. you have 15 hours left. >> all bundled up. how is everybody doing? >> we've got a lot of birthdays out here. a whole bunch of birthdays. happy birthday to all our birthday folks. where are they? cheer for them. >> good way to celebrate. coming up, dan + shay with a festive performance inside studio 1a. plus, there is some time to pick up some bubbly or sparkling wine. we have brought in one of the world's best experts to share his picks for delicious yet affordable options. >> that's for us, right, the bottle? >> yes. >> i love it here. also ahead, their games are wildly popular. in fact, you probably play one

of them each day. connections, wordle. >> yes. >> wordle, yeah. >> it's fun. >> we will chat with the editorial director of "the new york times" games and try our hand at the year's most play ed puzzles. and looking ahead to our 3rd hour, one of our favorite conversations of the year. sheinelle's catchup with the mom of track star noah lyles. first, let's get a check of our new year's eve forecast. >> it is fine for now, right? it is sunny. we have clear skies with some rainmaking its way in. we are seeing that rain through the ohio river valley for now. but that will move into the northeast for later this evening. the rest of the country looks really nice. anything you have planned for new year's bundle up. northwest and mid plains, temperatures only in the teens and 20s. we are looking for colder temperatures down through the southern plains this evening. only in the 20s and 30s. tomorrow we are going to see that heavier rain exit the northeast. it will make its way into new

england. lake-effect snow takes hold, too. but then into the afternoon our tree is sunshine. temperatures in the city should stay in the upper 50s for the next couple of days. we'll of course continue to watch the cloud cover for the fireworks later on tonight. i do see a little bit of a chance of some sprinkles up towards the north bay for the new year, wednesday and thursday. up there towards the north, with a ■bettr chance of rain pushing across the region as we go on into >> and that's your latest forecast. >> all i want for my sweet 16 is a picture with this girl. >> we'll step back. we'll get dylan get into that one. very good. thank you so much for being here.

we have a lot more coming up, too. have y you done ur wordle this morning? how about your connections? people can't start their day without these popular games. we will talk to the star behind all those puzzles. get ready. but, first, this is "today" on dupixent helps people with asthma breathe better in as little as 2 weeks. so this is better. that too. dupixent is an add-on treatment for specific types of moderate-to-severe asthma. it works with your asthma medicine to help improve lung function. dupixent is not for sudden breathing problems and doesn't replace a rescue inhaler. it's proven to help prevent asthma attacks. severe allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for face, mouth, tongue or throat swelling, wheezing or trouble breathing.

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♪ we are back now at 8:36, taking a closer look at some of the most popular games on the planet. >> you certainly heard of this like you tried your hand at wordle or connections or cross word. you're far from alone. 11 billion people played a new "new york times" game in 2024. 11 billion. >> that's a ton of people. it is huge. it is a cultural phenomenon. joining us now to break down just how puzzling the year has been, the "times'" editorial director of games. we're so glad to have you with

us. good morning. >> good morning. >> let's start with wordle because in march of this year, wordle celebrated its 1,000th puzzle. hard to believe it's three years old. it's still a thing people do. talk to us about how it works, why it is popular. >> yeah, how it works. i have a fabulous editor, tracy bennett, in charge of the list, capital t, capital l. >> list of the words. >> the list of the words. we inherited a list from the original creator, josh wordle, but we have been editing the list. tracy does the scheduling. she thinks about not just each day but also a week's worth of wordle. >> do you try to get schematic with the words? >> no because our audience hates that. we tried it once, and everyoyon was real mad. >> okay. >> we ran domize it and make sue that, each day, you know, we don't want to thave too many had ones. >> the trick can be double letters in a place, as well. what is the word that stumped

more people than any other? >> yes.is funny because it is te words that you don't normally use as a noun. >> also the double r. >> the double r, it is weird. >> we are going to live my nightmare on live television, which is me trying to do the wordle on live tv. so this is going to be horrific. let's start. i want to start here and hit play. you can actually see. so my phone is connected to what you are looking at on the screen. my strategy for wordle as a "wheel of fortune" kid, r, s, t, l, >> april 23rd game we're revisiting. >> it was the most popular one of the year. >> why did most people play it that day? do we know or just -- >> it just happens. >> what is the most popular starting word? >> the most popular to do, which makes sense, people are trying to knock out as many vowels as possible.

this has long been a popular starting word. our friend wordle bot makes sometimes a different starting word, but it is the most popular. when i play, i like to be really random with it. i pick a random word and i feel very smart when i'm able to navigate around it. >> everdeen, you keep talking because she's having a heck of a time. >> i'm going through the vowels. i did the e at the end, which i shouldn't have done. >> the show ends at 9:00, so just take your time. >> you know i am stressed about this. >> we've been talking about this all morning. >> r, o. and what do you think, peter? give me some suggestions here. >> rover. >> that's a good one, a double r. peter alexander! this guy. >> incredible. >> drop the microphone. it's not just wordle that's gotten so popular, though. connections is also really big. >> yes. >> and that one is controversial because it can be really hard. >> it can be, but they're all solvable.

they're all tested. i solve all of them, though i'm the worst test solver for connections. the person who makes them, our brains, like the overlap in the venn diagram is really large. >> so this is connections without words. >> yes. this is our april fool's connections. we were really excited about doing this one. most of the time we're not twiddling our thumbs, but this time we were kind of. and emojis are so cute. >> so why did you -- >> food slang for money. >> so you picked the ones that were like -- cheese. >> i was just thinking they were food. i didn't realize -- we'll go with it. >> now 180 million people played connections this year, and i have a full confession. the one sitting next to me, i said you have to do connections because it is too hard for me every single day. >> okay. there is a method to the madness a little bit. there is a general -- so each category sort of loosely corresponds to like a type of

word play or a type of thought. so it's kind of like easy, medium, tricky, like the category is tricky. >> it rhymes. >> dude, drop the hammer on this thing. let's keep going. >> okay, yeah.trivia. pu so blue is often trivia. purple is often like a tricky word play wihing like homophones or puny. it's not always like that, but generally that's how we think about them. >> is there a strategy that works for people like this? give me the newbie tip. >> no pressure. >> okay. well, i will channel my creative genius. so think about how it looks when it starts. some people hit that shuffle. if you want to, you can. >> you would recommend not hitting the shuffle. >> i would recommend not because sometimes there are little tricks in there, too. >> okay. >> and i think my biggest would be to take your time. >> peter alexander. >> i apologize, but can we just live in this moment for a second? >> you're killing it. >> homophones.

>> this is the best one? of your life? >> i just want to say thanks to pete brine of the control room. this has been one of the best days of my professional life. >> so the connections portal. >> yes. >> this is something that if it hasn't already caught on, folks will be dialing into this because this is a great way to pass some time. >> yeah, it's really fun. i like to warm up with the mini because it makes me feel smart, the mini crossword. knock out wordle as quickly as possible. and then connections, sometimes i like to spend a little time because my biggest tip is to not rush connections. a lot of people try to jam it through. >> it is a good thing it's fun. it's entertaining for a lot of folks. for seniors in particular, it has the brain games and can be a difference maker, right, for people to keep their brains working later in life. >> i like to think that my brain is smarter than it was. >> well, we're looking forward to another full 2025 year ahead

with lots of "new york times" puzzles. e everdeen, thank you. >> thank you. >> you can play these games every day in "the new york times" games app. peter has downloaded that and will be on it all of 2025, i'm sure. >> i think that went well. up next, great ideas to get your celebrations popping from

now we drink. welcome back. this morning on "today food," we are getting a start on tonight's new year's festivities. we're doing it with the wonderful wine director. aldo, so nice to have him here. he is here to do a little champagne one-on-one. you'll know which bottle to pop. a very happy new year's to you. >> happy new year. peter is celebrating his wordle victory. a little bubbly. >> i'll be celebrating that most of 2025. when you show up to the party, you could be the mvp if you bring a good bottle.

a prosecco is good to start. what do you recommend? >> i used a prosecco here because it is interesting. the bubbles are very fine. however, there is always a little bit of a sweetness. you might not pick it up at first because the bubbles are hiding them because that's how our palate works. however, you have the guacamole here. the fat and sweetness likes each other a bit. >> one of the benefits of prosecco is it can be less expensive than champagne. when you're at the wine shop, what's the number you're looking for for a bottle? >> it depends where it's from. you can get anywhere from $15 to $20 to $30. there are upper scales, too. this is fairly accessible. again, it doesn't break your bank. don't feel guilty if you open a second bottle. because this is what new year's eve is all about. you can have a second bottle, too. don't feel guilty about it. >> can you talk some rose here, too? >> we go to the next one and the next one. now you are making me drink,

too. >> exactly. >> so the rose here, you like to say that looks can be deceiving when it comes to the bottle versus what is in the glass. explain that. >> to me, when you look in a beautiful bottle in the wine store, you know, you always buy the most beautiful bottle that speaks to you. >> yeah. >> and most of the bottle your purchase price is mostly dedicated to marketing. this case is a perfect producer. this is like a grower champagne. a small farmer who farms dynamically, and it is one of the greatest deals in the market. on top of it, it is rose. >> why roh rose with the salty snacks? >> same thing. we have an element here. and rose, you can basically go across the board. and look at how easy and yet it's stimulating. >> this rose is -- >> i'm stimulated just drinking it. one of the things that my sister likes -- >> water table. >> my sister is really into champaign and she loves brut.

explain the difference. >> people often think brut tells you anything about quality. that's not true. sugar goes from 5 to 15 grams. then you have extra brut, which is drier. don't recommend as a beginner to start with mature because it is too tart. start with the brut and work your way into it. >> as we look at the brut with the cork on top, this can be a challenging moment, right? chandeliers beware. what's the best way to open the bottles? >> i see this all the time. many people shoot themselves after victory, the eye out. it happens and you have to abandon the race. look, open the cage here. and then you turn it. >> should you do the dish towel over the cork or is that not necessary? >> most people turn the cork just like this, and that's exactly when everybody is scared. so would i be. but you do one thing. you hold it here and you go on a dance. >> watch out. >> she's very safe. >> i have no doubt. >> you don't turn the head on your dancing partner because

that might not go so well. turn the bottom here. one thing you do is just release it slightly. and then all you hear is that's it. >> you turn the bottle, not the cork. >> bottle and hold it back. that's it. >> now the finale. >> 45 degree angle because the pressure sits up here. >> i'm waiting here at the end of the finale with the champagne here. we have guests joining us as well. glasses all ready. >> hello. >> this is it. i mean, this is the big one that people will tend to do for new year's eve. >> see, this is what wine is all about, the sharing element. make friends. you have one or two glasses of wine and connect immediately with someone who is a stranger and you make friends in no time. >> cheers to that. >> thank you so much. >> celebrate on "today". thank you for a great year. >> thank you for having me. >> happy new year. >> this was a lot of fun. we thank you and wish you a happy new year as well. when we come back, we will add festive performance with a

the citi concert series on "today" is proudly sponsored by citi. ♪ it's officially christmas ♪ >> well, we left our champagne and our coats inside. we are back with a special year-end treat from one of our favorite grammy winning duos. >> performs "happy new year" from their album "it's officially christmas," here is dan and shay. ♪ it's been one hell of a 365 ♪ ♪ can you believe we made it ♪ ♪ we hit rock bottom and trophr mountain top highs ♪ ♪ i did some things that i want to take back ♪ ♪ isn't that just the way that

it goes ♪l we laughed ♪ ♪ at ♪ say good-bye to a friend and cried until we laughed at a bar in the town we call home ♪ happy new year, everyone ♪ may it be filled with peace and love ♪ ♪ we'll say good-bye to the old and head off to the new ♪ ♪ i'm just so grateful for you ♪ ♪ happy new year ♪ ♪ happy new year ♪ ♪ may it be filled up with good health and cheer ♪ ♪ may it be blessed ♪ ♪ all of the best ♪ ♪ and may we all have a happy new year ♪ ♪ this year i'll take time to call up my mom ♪ ♪ just so she knows that i love

her ♪ ♪ give new adventures to all of my dogs ♪ ♪ lord knows they ain't getting younger ♪ ♪ i want to try to give myself gase for the things that i cannot control ♪ ♪ oh, and i want to try to thank god each day for the life and the hands that i hold ♪ ♪ happy new year, everybody may it be filled with peace and love ♪ ♪ we'll say good-bye to and head on to the new ♪ ♪ i'm just so grateful for you ♪ ♪ happy new year ♪ ♪ happy new year ♪ ♪ may it be filled up with good health and cheer ♪

♪ may it be blessed ♪ ♪ all of the best ♪ ♪ and may we all have a happy w♪ new year ♪ ♪ ♪ here's to the lessons we learn as we go ♪ ♪ the beauty that comes from the broken ♪ ♪ so raise up a glass and join me in the toast ♪ ♪ to living with hearts wide open ♪ >> a huge thank you to d and shay. what a way to say good-bye to 2024 and hello to 2025. >> okay. we're going to have more music for you coming up in the 3rd

hour from the legendary cool and the gang. >> we want to wish you all at happy and safe new year's. we will see you again in 2025, but, first, your local news. ♪ aead off to the new i'm just so grateful for you ♪ ♪ happy new year happy new year ♪

scott mcgrew. we begin with new details of this month's police shooting at san francisco's union square. this may be hard video to watch. the hit and run happened late last night or late night on december 19th in kearny and sutter. police say the video shows the moment a guard, identified as pete hodge, sped down a sidewalk in an suv with emergency lights on, hitting two people as he chased a man. hours later, investigators encountered hoe and his vehicle outside a store. police shot him after video appears to show hodge drawing a gun on police officers. happening now putting a stop to illegal fireworks at the end of the year. bringing illegal fireworks into neighborhoods throughout the bay area on our midday newscast. the way one community is fighting back. plus, a slew of new laws go into effect when the clock strikes midnight. so we'll take a look at those that will impace to join us at 11 a.m, and you

can watch on roku and pluto and other streaming platforms, and of course, our nbc bay area app. free to download.

this morning on the 3rd hour of "today," through mom's eyes. sheinelle catching up with noah lyles mom to find out what she's thinking when he's on the track. plus, our series behind the brand heads into the great outdoors with an american classic. your great father had a golden rule. what was that? >> that was to sell