platforms. live at 8:00. diving into immigration rights. a leader from the amigos de guadalupe center for justice and empowerment joins us live with more on resources now available. well, that's what's happening today in the bay. the today show starts in just a minute. and of course, you can always check out nbcbayarea.com for all your latest news and information. that's right. also join us for our midday news. that's at 11 a.m. we're always updating nbcbayarea.com. have a great first friday of 2025. almost the weekend. good friday morning. (musica) bourbon street reopening with heightened security. >> good morning. it is january 3rd. this is "today." touching tributes. >> he was my best friend. he was my role model. >> families of the 14 people killed in new orleans speaking out and honoring their lives. a moment of silence held before

the sugar bowl. while investigators reveal more about the army veteran behind the terror attack. the explosive devices he planted on bourbon street and the evidence found inside his home. we'll have the very latest. new details. a decorated soldier now the focus of the investigation into that cyber truck explosion into the trump hotel in las vegas. >> it is a coming that has factors that raise concern. >> officials search for a motive behind the deadly blast. showdown on capitol hill. the new congress kicks off this morning with the political future of house speaker mike johnson hanging in the balance. inside the difficult fight he faces from fellow republicans to hold on to power. we'll have a live report from washington. polar plunge. much of the country waking up to brutally cold temperatures. so how low will it go this weekend? the full forecast straight

ahead, including a major snowstorm isn't the works set to impact tens of millions. those stories, plus remembering wayne osmond. tributes pouring in for the beloved member of a family musical dynasty led by his brother donny. we'll celebrate his life and legacy. panda watch. the new additions at the zoo getting set for their highly anticipated debut. >> they look fluffy. i want to squeeze them. >> just ahead, how they're preparing to take the country by storm this month. and victory march. >> play fake into the end zone. touchdown irish! >> notre dame wins big over georgia. >> it is the best notre dame team we've seen in a long time. >> as the fighting irish punch their ticket to college football's final four, today, friday, january 3, 2025. from nbc news, this is

"today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb. from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning. happy you are with us on this friday morning. and i'm happy to have you with me, peter alexander. >> they said you have a week left. i'll try to squeeze in. >> last night was patriotic at the super dome. it was a great win for notre dame. they beat up on the bulldogs. >> it was nice for new orleans to have a moment to celebrate after the awful several days they had. >> yeah. that bowl game, of course, taking place at the dome against a backdrop and a city in mourning in the search for answers after the terror attacks in new orleans. federal officials say the isis-inspired attacker acted alone, driving a crowd through a packed crowd on bourbon street, killing 14. >> the fbi found what has been described as the remnants of bomb making inside the suspect's

home. that's in houston. authorities also say there is no definitive link between the attack on bourbon street and the tesla cyber truck. >> in the meantime, the officials say the man who died in that blast at trump hotel was an army special ops soldier, but the motive does we main a mystery this morning. we've got all of the covered. we're going to begin this morning in new orleans with tom llamas. good morning to you. >> reporter: hey, hoda. good morning to you. we are live on bourbon street, which has now reopened. the cleaning crews are out here on bourbon street. a lot of developments overnight. we got our first look at the new orleans attacker, and we're also hearing from our family. this as our teams here. overnight crowds returning to bourbon street, now reopened for the first time since the tragic new year's day attack. we're learning more about the

army veteran that killed 14 and injured dozens more, driving a truck at high speed in the iconic french quarter. >> this was a lone actor. therefore, we are confident that we can open bourbon street. >> reporter: according to two senior law enforcement officials, the fbi recovered a significant amount of bomb-making materials and chemicals in a trailer at the texas home of the suspect. shamsud din jabbar. new video obtained showing the inside of his home obtained by our affiliate, kprc. authorities also now have a time line leading up to the horrific incident. he rented a pickup truck on december 30th. drove to new orleans on new year's eve, posting along the way, proclaiming his support for the terrorist group isis. >> he originally planned to harm his family and friends but was concerned the news headlines

would not focus on the, quote, war between the believers and the disbelievers, end quote. >> reporter: authorities releasing these images showing him placing homemade explosive devices on bourbon street that luckily did not go off. and for the first time we're hearing from jabar's brother who said their family is shocked. >> this was in no way a direct representation of who he was as a person and as a human being. >> reporter: he says jabar grew up muslim, but he was not aware of any ties to isis. graphic surveillance video shows the moment the truck turned on to the crowded street on a high speed. jeffrey elder is the chief medical officer at university medical center where some of the injured are being treated. have you ever seen anything like this? >> not to this extent.

this is probably the largest influx of patients at one time. >> my wheelchair was completely bashed, and the pieces are all over the place. >> reporter: this picture shows the aftermath of the wreckage where you can see what's left of the wheelchair. >> i just can't believe that that would happen. >> reporter: president biden saying federal law enforcement agents are still investigating whether there is a connection between the attacks in new orleans and las vegas. but as of right now, they have not found a definitive link. >> i have directed them to keep looking. >> reporter: overnight some side streets leading to bourbon street still without barriers. the city adding these yellow archers to sidewalks, which it had on hand before the attack but was not using. >> i didn't know about them, but we have them. so we have been able to now put them out. >> reporter: now, we do want to mention we did reach out to the nopd about those vulnerabilities we spotted last night along bourbon street.

last night it was a sell-out crowd but about 10,000 people did not show up. there was a moment of silence before the game began in respect to all those people who died in the terror attack here in new orleans. hoda? >> tom, you mentioned that the suspect planted explosives in those ice chests around bourbon street. but they didn't detonate. why not? >> reporter: yeah, that's the big question, right? it is unclear if the terrorists wanted to set off those bombs before the attack, after the attack. his exact idea was they simply did not work. the fbi tells us inside those coolers were those pipe bombs filled with nails. had they gone off, had those remote detonators worked, this terror attack would have been much more deadly. >> tom, thank you. as the investigation moves forward, we're starting to learn

more about the victims of that attack on bourbon street. 14 people that were killed, a nursing student, a college football star. several parents. nbc's jesse kirsch joins us with that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. they were teenagers, young adults early in their careers. some were parents now leaving behind children who will grow up without knowing that parent. 14 people killed with an isis-inspired terrorist. this morning the new orleans terror attack victims are coming into sharper focus. many of them young adults, just starting out their lives. martin tiger bech worked on wall street and graduated from princeton university where he was a star football player. the 27-year-old had been helping his younger brother prepare for the nfl draft. >> he was my best friend.

he was my role model. >> reporter: his family saying they will always remember his infectious smile, telling nbc news in a statement, we cherished the 26 years we had with him and raising him will always be the greatest joys of our lives. michael headed to bourbon street to celebrate the new year. the 25-year-old's parents said they had dinner together. >> he was 25 years old, but just starting life. >> reporter: nikyra dedeaux was 18 years old and just days away from starting nursing school just like her mother and grandmother, according to the "new york times." 18-year-old kareem badawi was home visiting family after finishing his first semester at the university of alabama. his parents described his kind heart and great personality. 63-year-old terrence kennedy, remembered by his sister for his extremely big heart. reggie hunter was a father of two sons. his cousin says he was a life of

the party with a good sense of humor. >> a lot of love in his heart, a great father. someone we will deeply miss. >> reporter: nicole perez was excited about a new promotion. she leaves behind a 5-year-old son. billy dimaio was a 25-year-old account executive in new york city. his mother telling nola.com, he was a pure, gentle-hearted soul. and 21-year-old hubert gauthreaux. his mother saying he was a gentle spirit. he was spirit. he would give anybody anything. now across the grieving city of new orleans, memorials and vigils growing, remembering lives gone too soon. mar more than two dozen people were injured and hospitalized. we have not been given an update on their conditions or who may have been discharged from the hospital so far. i was out on bourbon street last night seeing some of these memorials. it is so heartbreaking.

peter? >> just far too many lives cut too short. jesse, thank you so much. meantime, new details are emerging on that cyber truck explosion in front of the trump hotel in las vegas. the driver believed to be an active duty soldier in the army's elite social forces unit. authorities now working to piece together information after the blast. morgan chesky has more. >> reporter: good morning. authorities believe they do have their man here, after recovering a military id and a passport but they're awaiting dna confirmation simply because there was so little left behind of the truck after the explosion. they're confident this was a 37-year-old train bid the special forces whose one act has launched a global investigation. this morning authorities are working to fully id the driver of the cyber truck that exploded on new year's day outside a trump hotel on the vegas strip. >> we do feel like we have the

subject identified. at this time there is no information about additional suspects that the fbi is tracking on. >> reporter: law enforcement says mounting evidence points to master sergeant matthew. livelesberger as the suspect. investigators found his passport, credit cards and military id inside the charred vehicle. authorities adding they're still waiting on dna tests to positively identify the burned body recovered behind the wheel. >> looking into exactly what the motivation is remains our number one priority. >> reporter: the sheriff says the driver died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head before the explosion, leaving more questions than answers. >> he might not be looking to create casualties but to deliver a message in a symbolic event. >> reporter: inside the truck, investigators found fuel canisters and fireworks mortars. plus, two semiautomatic handguns they say he bought legally on monday. using tesla charging stations authorities tracked his route through denver through mexico

and arizona to las vegas. officials say he was on active duty and served as a green beret. assigned to army special operations command. he was based in germany but was on approved leave according to army officials. he was also deployed multiple times and he was a recipient of the bronze star with valor. in colorado springs, a neighbor says livelesberger and his partner had a new baby at home and seemed normal enough. >> we would come out at the same time with our dogs, and we'd say hi to each other. >> reporter: the investigation now stretching across the country and even abroad with his possible motive still unknown. >> what was the frustration that motivated him from being an honorably serving special forces sergeant to carrying out an act of political violence. >> so, morgan, how do investigators go about establishing a motive here? >> reporter: it is not lost on

them at all this was a tesla cyber truck in front of a hotel bearing the name of the president-elect. this was parked in front of the hotel. they say at this hour, there's still no direct evidence saying that this was a politically motivated attack. that said, elon musk has sent a team of tesla engineers to try to recover as much video as possible from that truck in hopes of learning more. hoda? >> all right. morgan, thank you. we have more to get to now, including a new day in congress. republicans in full control of the house and senate getting underway. the first order of business, the election of a house speaker, and all eyes are on that man, mike johnson, and whether he can maintain the gavel. nbc's senior capitol hill correspondent garrett haake. >> reporter: they must elect a speaker before they can do any other work. that could go through this afternoon or it could take days. with the house republican majority so small, any two

members can block the current speaker or anyone else from claiming the job. this morning, mike johnson is still working to lockdown the votes he will need to keep the speaker's gavel as some members of the paper-thin house republican majority continue to withhold their support. conservatives like south carolina's ralph norman leaving the meeting with johnson thursday still undecided. it doesn't sound like you are close to making a decision. >> well, i wouldn't say that. we'll know tomorrow. >> reporter: johnson was elected speaker in october of 2023, ending weeks of chaos after a small group of republicans ousted former speaker kevin mccarthy, who needed 15 ballots over 4 days to secure the gavel. with a small and often squabbling majority, johnson's gop house relied heavily on democrats to move must-pass bills. that, plus his support for ukraine and its war against russia and other stances have created republican skeptics,

including kentucky's thomas massey, the only republican to publicly claim he won't pull for johnson today. >> you can start cutting off my fingers. i am not voting for mike johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank. >> if all decmocrats vote for hakeem jeffries as expected, all it takes is one vote against johnson to block him. johnson met with trump on new year's day, now touting trump's support and proclaiming he will claim victory on the first ballot. >> every single republican can put aside their preferences every day and work together for the team. >> reporter: johnson and allies arguing that congress can't start the work republicans were elected to do or even certify donald trump's election until the party rallies around a speaker. ideally him. >> everyone understands the importance of the moment, and i think they will come and get along. >> reporter: now, part of johnson's challenge here is many

of the members withholding support for him want different things. promises he makes to some on the right might conflict with others in the center. it is a complicated balancing act we will all see. >> garrett, thank you so much. two people were killed and 19 hurt when a small plane crashed into the roof of a warehouse near los angeles. security camera footage captured the fiery explosion after the plane slammed into the building in fullerton. the two people who died in the crash with believed to have been inside the aircraft. the 19 people who were hurt were in the building. the cause of that crash under investigation, but officials say it appears the pilot was attempting to return to the airport just moments after takeoff. all right. we will get a first check of the weather right now as we head into the first weekend of 2025. cold and snow for tens of millions. you better get used to driving in the snow again for a lot of folks. >> i know.

right now we're taking a live shot here in oswego county in new york. you can see the road is just totally snow covered here. this is that like effect snow, very dangerous to drive through because one second you can see clearly, and the next second visibility is s gone. that's how intense these snow bands are. unfortunately, this is going to be the setup all through the weekend. so including saturday and most of sunday where we will see that snow pile up. off of lake erie, it is 8 to 20 inches of snow in those heavier bands. in oswego county 12 to 36 inches of snow. that's one area that will get that. the other area right next to that might not get any at all. it is the frigid air that will continue to settle in, even up through the northern plains. peter, south dakota, 17 degrees for a high today. min yap poly, saint paul 14 degrees. this cold air will continue to settle in as we look into tomorrow. madison a high of 19. detroit 26. louisville 33 degrees.

that is actually going to set the stage for the next storm system that's going to move in sunday into monday. it will be cold enough through areas like st. louis and kansas city where snow and ice will be a concern. that's something we will get to in our next half hour. your local forecast is coming up in 30 seconds. your vitamin to? that's my job. ♪♪ nature made. made with quality ingredients. (glasses clink) made to care for you, every day. ♪♪ from nature made, the #1 pharmacist recommended vitamin and supplement brand. there in the north bay. we do see those showers pushing on through. heavy right now along 101, in petaluma, santa rosa and even out towards point reyes and

inverness. it's a little bit more choppy as we get on in here into the east bay and parts of the peninsula, and the rain is just arriving right now in through parts of san jose and the south bay. now it won't rain all day and it won't rain into and that's your latest fore caste. >> all right, forecast. >> all right, dylan. thank you. still ahead, new details on the headline legal battle that's erupted between costars blake lively and justin baldoni. his attorney now speaking out exclusively to liz kreutz. >> good morning. justin baldoni's attorney says once people read all the text messages between the costars, they may have a different take on what happened. he also told me the next step he's planning to take in this ongoing feud. >> all right, liz. we'll see you in a moment. plus, 2025 is expected to be a record setter for the cruise industry. we will take you onboard some popular ships to welcome that

boat load of passengers. but, first, this is "today" on nbc.

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yeah...oh, yeah. stew virginia? yeah, checking first is smart. so check allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. -hey, what's up? i'm the “w”. -hey. you're in good hands with allstate. (♪♪) years of hard work. decades of dedication. committed to giving back. you've been there, done that. and you're still here for more. so now that you're 50 or older, and at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and ipd be proactive with capvaxive- a vaccine specifically designed for adults to help protect against pneumonia and invasive disease caused by certain types of pneumococcal bacteria. capvaxive is the only vaccine that helps protect against the strains that cause 84% of ipd in adults 50 or older compared with up to 52% by other pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. don't get capvaxive if you're allergic to the vaccine or its ingredients. tell your doctor if you have a weakened immune system.

common side effects include injection-site reactions, feeling tired, headache, muscle aches, and fever. whether you've had another pneumococcal vaccine or not ask your doctor or pharmacist about capvaxive. (♪♪) as the people you love get older, ask your doctor or pharmacist about capvaxive. their risk of severe flu and covid goes up. last year, those viruses hospitalized nearly 1 million people 65 and older. talk with them about vaccines. a very good morning to you. it is 726. i'm laura garcia. here's a look at our top stories. i'm ginger conejero saab in san francisco. the city looking to change course when it comes to the new year. according to the chronicle, the city closed out 2024 with 41 traffic fatalities. that as the

city's goal to eliminate all traffic deaths, marked ten years in 2024. evy. 645 legalized surveillance cameras to help catch speeding drivers, and establishes a five year pilot program to install cameras in six cities, including san francisco. the santa cruz wharf will partially reopen tomorrow, far earlier than originally thought. this comes after a section collapsed into the ocean last week during a strong storm. 17 businesses have been closed since then. originally, the city said it would take weeks, if not months, to partially reopen the wharf, but city leaders announced they plan to reopen it tomorrow. the portion of the wharf affected by the collapse will remain closed. let's get a look at the forecast. some rain in the works, cynthia. yeah, it's been raining all morning long that we've been tracking it through parts of the north bay. some heavier cells pushing through inverness. petaluma, up into santa rosa and out towards monterey and guerneville area. not many alerts right now with the rivers up there. we'll keep an eye on that approaching parts

of yountville, but then it gets choppy as we go on into parts of the east bay and the peninsula. and it just started to pick up some light rain down here into the south bay. it won't rain all day. so that's the good news. back to you. laura. all right. thank you very much. don't forget to join us for our today in the bay live streaming newscast at 8 a.m. diving into immigration rights. a leader from the amigos de guadalupe center for justice and empowerment. join us. live with more on the resources available. you can watch on

♪ ♪ everybody's got a hungry heart ♪ ♪ everybody's got a hungry heart ♪ ♪ when out of money, and you play your part ♪ ♪ everybody's got a hungry heart ♪ back now at 7:30. that's a bruce springsteen classic.

so we have been telling you about this biopic that stars "the bear"'s jeremy white. i hear a yes coming from the cheap seats! now the boss is weighing in on his performance. we will get to that in "popstart." peter is in for savanna, and laura is covering for craig. >> the ladies of america saying yes, chef. there is a lot to get to in this half hour, and we will start with the legal battle we have been paying a close on between former costars blake lively and justin baldoni. >> the film made $350 million worldwide. but the actors say behind the scenes it was anything but movie magic. a now baldoni's attorney speak out about ththose alletions. >> he sat down exclusively with nbc's liz kreutz who joins us now.

what is he saying? >> justin's attorney says they're not done taking legal action, adding he plans to a release even more text messages between the costars. he insists the truth is in those documents and blake lively used her power and influence to take control of the film.team saying lively's team saying they will defend her accusations in court. for the first time, the lawyer for justin baldoni is speaking out, saying the liable lawsuit will not be the last lawsuit. >> do you plan to sue blake lively? >> absolutely. >> you will? >> yes. >> what will you allege in the suit? >> we're working on it now. a brian friedman firing back at blake saying she was subjected to unfavorable behavior on the set. in the more than 90-page federal complaint against baldoni, his production company and the pr

team they hired, lively said he was retaliated against for a hostile environment onset. baldoni's lawyer denying those allegations. >> was there a smear campaign to bring down blake lively? >> 100% no. justin said he didn't want to hurt her. >> reporter: "the new york times" was the first to report on a separate civil rights complaint which included emails and text messages that suggest she was the target of a smear campaign. in response, baldoni and nine other other plaintiffs are suing the paper for $250 million, alleging the article relied on lively's self-serving narrative saying those messages were taken out of context. one is that baldoni would enter her trailer when she was undressed, including breast-feeding.

a text exchange appears to show blake inviting justin baldoni to practice lines while pumping. justin baldoni built his brand and is known for supporting women, believing women. so why in this case should people not believe blake lively? >> i'm not asking anyone to not believe anyone. i am more than willing to take every single text message that exists out there, lay them out, put them on a one site for the world to see, have them see the truth and determine the truth for themselves. >> reporter: in a statement, the times say they standby their reporting and plan to vigorously defend the lawsuit. while a lawyer for the actress says nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims in lively's suit. >> you are denying a smear campaign, but are you acknowledging there may have been some behavior onset that may have made the cast, including blake lively, uncomfortable? >> i think there is some behavior always to make somebody uncomfortable. nobody had any intention to do that.

does it rise to the level of sexual harassment? >> reporter: lively has previously said, i hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics. >> baldoni's lawsuit also mentions this interaction he had with ryan reynolds, of course. what did he say in that? >> yeah, laura. in that lawsuit against "the new york times," baldoni says lively's husband aggressively berated him, accusing him of fat shaming his wife, which baldoni denies. meantime, lively is seeking compensation for what she says have been lost wages and mental pain she says she suffered throughout all of this. guys? laura. >> liz, thank you. still ahead this morning, the personal tributes pouring in celebrating the life and career of wayne osmond, the founding member of the beloved osmond family band. a lot of people taking cruises. sam brock is looking into the

travel boom. >> you know this is a wheel house topic here. 2024 was a record-smashing one for the cruise industry, far exceeding the numbers we saw before the pandemic. so what can we expect in 2025 and how is the target evolving with a rising tide that lifts all travelers? that story coming up next. and maintained it. i'm under 7. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. i'm lowering my risk. and adults lost up to 14 pounds. i lost some weight. ozempic® isn't for type 1 diabetes or children. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take if you or your family had mtc, men 2, or if allergic to it. stop taking and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck,

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all of that part of the picture for sailing in 2025. but maybe the biggest challenge while families have always been the bread and butter of the industry, young travelers are infusing new energy at the experience at sea. with passengers ready to set sail in record numbers this year, cruise lines are pulling out all the stops to welcome thrill seekers by the boat load. norwegian cruise lines newest sister ships luna and aqua redefining onboard entertainment with vr arcades, full service bars and the slide coaster, the world's first roller coaster water slide hybrid. companies are making waves with elevated guest experiences. norwegian adding clay saunas and glow courts where you can shoot hoops or play pickle ball. >> when the sun goes down, this

thing does literally light up. >> royal caribbean pushing the pedal to the metal, including an all-inclusive pass to paradise, designed for every type of vationer. more travelers taking shorter trips. for customers looking for memorable experiences at a fraction of the cost. plus, carnival taking passengers to its own private island, celebration key, with activities tailored for multi-generation families. in 2024, cruising incorporating fine dining, water parks, even broadway's "the wizard of oz." >> close to 36 million people took a cruise in 2024, with that number only expected to bump up

to 37.1 million in 2025. millennials and gen zers making 40% of those bookings. >> in terms of our generation, it is like, let's get it in now. >> last year we got a front row seat to some ship's iconic new features. >> okay. this isn't scary at all. like when royal caribbean introduced their icon of the seas to ththe world,he largest cruise ship on the planet. plenty more memories to come in the years ahead as travelers can expect calm seas moving forward. >> we're providing memories to people, to families, to groups. that's what's exciting about 2025. >> all right. a lot to look forward to. it is interesting to note, it is not just themed cruises but high-level theater and music productions that are the standard for many of these sailings. a prince tribute is expected to be a wow factor for travelers. the best time to buy your

tickets is right now through january and march. that is wave season, when companies offer their best deals. so gear up. >> and zip lining like you did so well that day. we remember that. >> a little terrifying. i think i closed the book on that. >> thank you. >> appreciate you. getting chilly. >> it is getting chilly. we have quite the storm we're watching for the weekend. we do have winter storm watches and advisories posted. this includes areas like kansas city and st. louis. here is the area of low pressure. it will develop into tonight and tomorrow. tomorrow on saturday we could see that snow start to take hold across nebraska and into kansas, too. there is a cold side of this storm. there is a wet side to this storm and ice right in the middle. st. louis should be on the snowier side. cincinnati same thing. and we have the ice that will move through kentucky and west virginia. then it moves offshore as we go later into the day on monday. still looking at accumulating snow into washington, d.c. and

philadelphia. in the pink here, that's where we could see perhaps 9 to 12 inches of snow. then you go south of i70. that's where we're looking for most of our ice. perhaps just under a half an inch of ice. that will make traveling very dangerous on the roads. the time frame for the midwest would be saturday into sunday and sunday into monday for parts of the mid atlantic. that's a look at the weather ac notice that live camera with lots of rain coming down right now in the north bay, mainly out towards the coast, bodega bay, with those gusty winds coming on as the front pushes on through. it's a little bit more sparse as we get into the east bay and the south bay. cloudy, but the rain will continue to push on here as we go on into lunchtime, so expect some heavier sho

and that's your latest forecast. >> all right, dylan. are you ready? >> ready. >> all right. we will get you ready for the highly anticipated national zoo's giant pandas. okay. is that not enough good news for you? we got more. i've got a morning boost. it is all happening right after this. 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. feeling ughh from a backed up gut? ughh. miralax works naturally with the water in your body to help you go. free your gut and your mood will follow. for 8 grams of fiber, try mirafiber gummies.

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national zoo when two giant pandas make their public debut. ryan nobles has a closer look at what visitors can expect. hey, ryan. >> reporter: hey, guys. good morning. yes, it is safe to say the nation's capital can barely wait. the duo has been acclimating to their new surroundings and preparing for the massive crowds expected when the public is officially allowed back to see them in person. from the moment d.c.'s new dynamic duo touched down on the panda express, zoo goers have been anxiously awaiting their opportunity to see bao li and qing bao in person. >> i like that they're big. they look fluffy. i want to squeeze them. >> reporter: the pair have been acclimating to their new surroundings in the smithsonian national zoo. quarantined from both humans and other animals for a period of time and getting used to their

new surroundings. >> they have new food, new enclosures, new keepers. that's what we have been working on. building some trust with them. >> reporter: not only are the pandas new, but their habitats have been completely remodelled. >> we have brand-new glass inside all of our enclosures, which gets a lot closer of a view and clearer of a view to the pandas that we had before. now we have these great new climbing structures facing the fronts of these exhibits. they're nice and close. >> reporter: and they're already getting comfortable and showing off their unique personalities. >> bao li is very sweet. he loves his keepers to come and give him treats and things like that. and qing bao is also very into the keepers. she's just not as warm and fuzzy as he is. bao li's mother was born here in 2013. his grandparents lived in d.c. for two decades. and the zoo keeper who is knew

his grandparents see many similarities. >> he really doelook like his grand dad. also, just his behavior and sweetness he gets from his grandpa. so that's great. >> zoo goers are counting down the days, anxious to see the new pandas in action. >> it is getting a glimpse of what they do in the wild. i think that would be really exciting to see. >> bao li and qing bao will get a soft launch on january 10th. then their big public debut will be january 24th. and the zoo is also prepared to launch their 24-hour panda cam in early january. a lot of pandemonium here in d.c. >> ryan, thank you. coming up on "popstart," meghan markle's return to television. what you can expect from her new netfx series after your local news and weather.

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always dry scoop before you run. listen to me, the hot dog diet got me shredded. it's time we listen to science. one a day is formulated with key nutrients to support whole body health. one a day. science that matters. you've got a pepto predicament, ace. you overdid it on the loaded fries. undo it with pepto fast melts. ♪ when you have nausea, heartburn, indigestion, ♪ ♪ upset stomach, diarrhea. ♪ when you overdo it... ...undo it with pepto bismol. you know, most people quit their new year's resolutions by the second friday in january. it's called quitter's day, [timer countdown] look it up. [timer countdown] but what if we didn't quit right after starting? or 'cause it's raining or something? [notification chime] what if we had some extra motivation?

♪ “follow me” by special interest ♪ this year, what if a little bit [notification chime] of help on our wrists... [chime] siri: goal achieved. ...could help us quit, quitting? ♪ good friday morning to you. 756 right now. i'm laura garcia, and i'm scott mcgrew. happening. right now i'm bob redell in san jose outside the hall of justice. where at 9:0:00 this morning, a former defensive tackle for the 49ers. and the raiders will argue for his release from prison. this after the california appellate court last week overturned the conviction. the rape conviction of dana stubblefield in july of 2020. stubblefield was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of raping

a woman who was interviewing for a babysitting job at his morgan hill home. the court determined that stubblefield did not get a fair trial, and prosecutors violated the 2020 racial justice act by making him making racially biased comments about him being black. let's get a look at the forecast right now. cinthia pimentel keeping an eye on the sky and some rain coming down. yeah, it's a wet start up there in the north bay. we see it right here through our san rafael camera. so some slick roadways as you make your way along 101. some heavier cells of course, popping up right there through petaluma. we see them with those areas of yellow out towards inverness, and it continues up into the north bay, santa rosa, right there and stretching out towards parts of napa. it's a little bit more cloudy as we get in through parts of danville, out towards the dublin interchange. we see those lighter returns right now along the peninsula and parts of richmond down here in the south bay. just a drop or two, but it will turn heavier as we go towards that lunchtime hour. so i'll wait for you at 8:00 and we can time it out together and see what that weekend forecast also

has in store. back to you. all right. we'll make sure to watch our today in the bay live streaming newscast starting in minutes. coming up, we'll talk about new research released about the abstaining, abstaining from alcohol and participating in dry january. you can watch on roku, pluto, and other streaming platforms.

it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, new details. the latest on that terror attack in new orleans. >> this is a lone actor. therefore, we are confident that we can open bourbon street. >> crowds slowly returning to bourbon street as investigators uncover more about the suspect and the city honors the victims and survivors.

the details straight ahead. remembering wayne osmond. tributes pouring in this morning for the founding member of the osmond brothers. we'll honor his legendary life and career straight ahead. then, fresh start. the experts weigh in on new year's resolutions. how to keep them. and do you even need them? plus, a look at lowering your screen time in 2025. all that, plus meghan markle making moves. caitlin clark takes taylor swift. >> i turned my mom into a full swiftie. and in the morning, in the evening. ♪ ain't we got fun ♪ >> it's all ahead on "popstart," today, friday, january 3rd, 2025. happy birthday, dad! watching in houston, texas. >> from des moines, iowa. >> the last trip before i graduate.

>> traveling from alabama. >> pittsburgh, pennsylvania! >> kentucky. >> mississippi. >> and virginia. ♪ >> mother and daughter trip from virginia. >> celebrating ally's birthday. >> i'm turning 10! >> oh, happy day. wow! that's a crowd. those two fat heads are husbands of those women, we're told. bundle up. it is a cold friday morning, but everything is out enjoying the last week of january, the last first week of january. is that what it is? >> yes. >> we'll just go with it. >> who knows? peter and laura here. >> it is blowing up. there is a reason we have been playing kool and the gang "celebration" for you, because

next week will be huge here on "today". >> so big, in fact, we have an animation for you. a week long hodabration, filled with funs, laughs, surprises as we honor the one and only hoda kotb, leading up to the last morning with us one week from today. >> that's weird. i can't even think about it. should we just continue? >> we'll get right to the news. we will turn to the headlines this morning. we begin with the developing story that continues from new orleans. authorities now saying there is no definitive link between the attack on bourbon street on new year's day and that cybertruck explosion in las vegas. nbc senior national correspondent tom llamas remains in new orleans for us with the latest. >> reporter: good morning. just behind me, bourbon street reopened. the cleaning crews are out. the deliveries started. overnight, the crowds came back to bourbon street. this as we're getting a first look inside the home of the

terrorist who killed so many in new orleans and his family speaking out to nbc for the first time. we're learning more about the army veteran who killed 14 and injured dozens more, driving a truck at high speed in the iconic french quarter. >> this was a lone actor. therefore, we are confident that we can open bourbon street. >> reporter: according to two senior law enforcement officials, the fbi recovered a significant amount of bomb-making materials and chemicals in a trailer at the texas home of the suspect. shamsud din jabbar, new video showing the inside of his home obtained by our affiliate, kprc. authorities also now have a time line leading up to the horrific incident. investigators say he rented a pickup truck on december 30th. he drove to new orleans on new year's eve, posting along the way, claiming his support for the terrorist group, isis. >> he originally planned to harm his family and friends but was

concerned the news headlines would not focus on the, quote, war between the believers and the disbelievers, end quote. >> reporter: authorities also releasing these images showing him placing homemade explosive devices on bourbon street. the coolers contained pipe bombs packed with nails that luckily did not go off, and for the first time we're hearing from jabbar's brother who told our houston affiliate, kprc, their family is shocked. >> this was in no way a direct representation of who he was as a person and as a human being. >> reporter: graphic surveillance video shows the moment the truck turned onto the crowded street at a high speed. jeremy is one of the survivors. >> my wheelchair was completely bashed, and the pieces were all over the place. >> reporter: president biden saying federal law enforcement agents are still investigating whether there was a connection between the attacks in new orleans and las vegas. as of right now, they have not

found a definitive link. >> i directed them to keep looking. >> reporter: overnight, we found side streets leading to bourbon street still without barriers. the city adding these so-called yellow archers to sidewalks which it had on hand before the attack but was not using. >> i didn't know about them, but we have them. so we have been able to now put them out. >> reporter: the city, meanwhile, marching on. we did reach out to the new orleans police department about those apparent vulnerabilities, and we do want to mention the sugar bowl took place last night. it was a sell-out crowd, but organizers say about 10,000 people did not show up. there was a moment of silence for all those that were killed here in new orleans before kickoff. peter? >> tom, thank you. that powerful second line as they reopen the streets there on boururbon stre. thank you. all right. tributes are pouring in this morning for wayne osmond, the singer and guitarist who was a founding member of the osmond

brothers. he passed away at the age of 73. joe fryer has more on his life and legacy. >> so many people grew up with osmond-mania. first as part of the osmond brothers and later the osmonds. he had an incredible career, spanning more than six decades. they brought joy to so many around the world. with his signature voice, he was always in perfect harmony with his siblings. the fourth oldest of the nine children, wayne started performing at a young age with his brothers at their mormon church. what began as four boys from utah singing in a barbershop quartet soon became something much bigger. in 1962, the osmond brothers were regulars on the andy williams show.

♪ yes, sir, that's my baby ♪ >> years later after younger brothers donny and jimmy joined the family act, the osmonds skyrocketing to fame, turning out hits like "one bad apple," "down by the lazy river," even performing with cher. ♪ i feel like this is the beginning ♪ >> for decades, show business continued to be the family business for wayne and his siblings, including brother and sister duo donny and marie with their popular '70s variety show -- >> "donny and marie". ♪ >> throughout the years, they reunited many times on stage, including right here on "today". >> they're the best, and they were supportive. >> back in 2019, the four original osmond brothers came together to perform one last

time in honor of marie's 60th birthday. this morning, donny is remembering his brother wayne as someone who brought so much light, laughter and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. the family added in a statement, he would want everyone to know that the gospel of jesus christ is true, that families are forever and that banana splits are the best dessert. we love him and will miss him dearly. and the family says that wayne passed away peacefully after suffering a stroke. he was surrounded by his loving wife and their five children. little history here. wayne and his brothers were first discoveredy walt disney himself at disneyland. he asked them to perform for a disney special. that eventually led to an audition for the andy williams show, and the rest is history. not bad to be found by walt disney. that's pretty impressive. >> all right, joe. thank you so much. appreciate it. all right. what do you say, a little college football now? and a trip to the semifinals up

for grabs as notre dame and georgia faced off in the sugar bowl. the fighting irish coming out swinging in the opening moments in the second half. >> playing relentless. >> harrison bringing back the kickoff. he brought two back for touchdowns last year when he played for the thundering herd of marshall, and he has one for notre dame. >> jayden harrison, 98 yards on the kickoff, returned for a touchdown. notre dame goes on to win it 23-10. the fighting irish will face penn state in the semis next thursday might. >> we have another one right now. >> i got you. i got you. one year ago, as the calendar turned to 2024, ivanna hughes made it her goal to ice skate at rockefeller center. growing up, she competed in track and field, never learned how to skate. so she got practicing with the

help of her boyfriend. douglas knew that rockefeller center was the perfect place to propose. so guess what? last month the couple flew from north carolina to new york city. douglas reserved private time on the ice. the couple skated out to the middle of the rink. douglas got down on one knee. ivanna said she thought maybe a proposal was coming, but that was the perfect spot right there on the ice, and she said yes. so what a day for them. >> good thing he came through. >> that's a way to deliver. well done, my friend. still ahead, a packed "popstart" filled with big news on legends in movies, music and even the nfl. first on our living well series, your guide to a fresh start in 2025. we brought in two incredible experts that will teach us how to reset our lives and our relationships as we get set for the new year right after this.

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creativity. he's the best-selling author of "regret." annie lamott is also here. together, their wisdom and insight will help us start 2025. good morning. good morning. good morning. >> good morning. >> i hate to say, let's start with regrets. but we have all made a few. why don't we start with that, dan. you say it is important to underscore. like regrets are something we should look in the eye. >> exactly. we shouldn't ignore them. we should stare them in the eye and learn from them. >> sometimes i feel crummy when i go, oh, god, here's one of my regrets. >> that's exactly the point of regret. it makes you feel bad, but helps you do better. if you take your regret and say, what did i learn from this and how can apply that lesson going forward, it is a great way to start the new year. look back on 2024 and say what is one regret i have. pick one. draw a lesson from it and do something different.

>> and move on from that. don't wallow. >> annie, this is not your thing. you are not into regrets. >> no, no. i regret everything. >> so you have a cool philosophy, i think, about how you look at the world. >> yes. >> yeah. it's the glasses. >> the glasses, yeah. you know, this priest helped bill walton get aa off the ground in 1995. he said to bill, sometimes i think heaven is just a new pair of glasses. so i actively, psychologically and spiritually put on a pair of new glasses when i'm feeling cranky or uptight or fixated on something. i just think, put the good glasses on. >> and love is the thing. i think everyone is looking for the thing. give me the magic sauce. >> yeah. >> but is that really what it is in the end? >> i don't think it is magic sauce so much as i do believe it

is who we are. i think we're in love with skin on. you know, because i'm a sunday schoolteacher, i know these things. but i do think we are loved beyond all comprehension and that we are love and that we want to have loving feelings, which is heaven. we do loving things. dan and i talk a lot about taking the action, and the insight will follow. that figure it out is not a good slogan. you take the action. you go around smiling. you decide to smile at ten people that morning, and it puts you in a good mood. >> i like that. do you agree with all that? >> 100%. i think we try to figure things out before we act when, in fact, acting, just doing something, is a way to figure things out. >> what about resolutions. a lot of people make them. are you a believer? >> i am. we say, you know, we hear this all the time this time of year. we will say, well, by next month two-thirds of people abandon their resolutions. i look at that and say, wait, a third of the people are keeping their resolutions?

that's huge. so this time of year offers us a chance for a fresh start. in my view, what we need to do is pick one resolution. >> what's yours? >> mine is to show up and do deep work every morning. rather than read my e-mail, show up every morning and do deep work. >> what's yours? >> that't's not mi. mine is to be more committed to the craft, the use the word loosely, meditation, to quieting my mind with more commitment. left to my own devices, my mind is a monkey on lsd at a mall. and if i do these very simple breathing exercises for five minutes, it changes everything. and i do that not as often as i wish. >> you guys, your books are extraordinary. you are both such deep thinkers.

you are so entertaining to have on. i think our resolution should be to read your books because they're so incredible. yours just came out in april. >> right. >> what is it called again? >> "somehow thoughts on love". >> i love it. love them both. you guys are awesome. this is what we needed to start the new year. i'm so happy you came in today. thank you so much. you can go to the website today.com/books to find your books. good morning again. thank you so much. we do have frigid air settling the northern plains.midwest and teens for highs today, that's it. a quick burst of snow will move through the appalachians. lots of sunshine through the country. heavrain out west.y

and that's your latest forecast. >> that's not it for you. you have a little "popstart". >> let's talk about meghan markle this morning. yesterday the duchess of sussex revealed a first look at her netflix documentary. it's an eight-episode lifestyle series called "with love, meghan." it's guardardening tips alongsi her friends. >> i have always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it. surprising people with moments that let them know i was really thinking of them. >> what? >> this is probably one of the most glamorous moments of my life. ♪ it's magic ♪ >> i will share some little tips and tricks.

i see what coloror i gravite to and everything goes from there and how you incorporate these practices every day. >> that looks so beautiful. >> i want a house tour. >> i know. me, too. "with love meghan" premiers january 15th on netflix. next up, bruce springsteen opening up in an interview about the biopic in which "the bear" star jeremy allen white is set to play the music legend. take a listen. >> and jeremy is such a terrific actor that you just fall right into it. you know, he's got an interpretation of me that i think, a, the fans will deeply recognize anand he's jt done a great job. so i've had a lot of fun. i've had a lot of fun being on the set when i can get there. he sings very well. >> he sings very well. >> wow! high praise. that's cool. >> the biopic is expected to

arrive in theaters later this year. you know, my mom went to high school with bruce springsteen, so if they need to cast the role of my mom, i can help with all of that. just throwing that out there if that's in the movie. next up, caitlin clark. the basketball star is the latest guest to join the "new heights podcast" talking about how she turned her family into a team of swifties. >> the last time i saw you with travis was the eras tour. >> electric. it was great. my mom was begging me to take her. she's like, i got to go. like everybody is talking about it. viously, it is just a great show and a lot of fun. full swiftie. turned my mom into a full swiftie now. >> nice! >> and my brother, too. so good time. good time. >> seeing their reaction to that is great. >> i love travis with the wayne's world hat right there, breaking out the old school.

next up, let's talk about our friend kathie lee gifford. who remembers this iconic commercial? ♪ in the morning, in the e evening, ain't we got fun ♪ >> you can't help but sing along. guess what? 40 years later, that commercial is getting a reboot. hallmark and mean girls star jonathan bennett just recreated the entire song and dance. he called it the most iconic commercial of all-time. ♪ in the morning, in the evening, ain't we got fun ♪ ♪ life is funny, oh, but honey, ain't we got fun ♪ ♪ the food is great here, we'll stay up late, dear, let's not miss a thrill ♪ ♪ sunny weather, altogether, we've got the fun ♪ >> i can't! i can't! >> why did it take 40 years? >> i know. way too long. kathie lee reposted the video writing, i guess imitation is

the best form of flattery. thank you, jonathan bennett. although, i do look a lot better than you. >> i didn't want to wake her up this morning, but i did look online and was like, of course she reposted it. very cool. just ahead, we're getting ready for sunday night's huge game in the nfl. yummy treats from our friend. but, first, a check of your local news and wea

♪ hello, everybody! we are back on "the today show"

plaza right now. what a beautiful way to get things started at 8:30 with an energetic crowd right here. we're here with hoda kotb as she celebrates the start of the long celebration. >> y'all, this crowd is so wild! okay? it's so wild on so many levels. people came with great signs. okay, those two fat heads of their husbands, their husbands couldn't be here, so they dressed it up. we want to say thank you to everybody who made this trip. dylan, can you go around the horn later? >> i guess so. >> some much needed help when it comes to healthier habits with our phone. we'll get some tips for dialing back on screen time and how that can actually help the whole family. plus, another way to get a fresh start on healthy habits, a wellness focus trip.

travel expert marks. elwood is sharing his picks for resorts surprisingly affordable in january and his tips to get there. and we're gearing up for the vikings and the lions with some delicious game day recipes from the talented cuisine. >> and coming up on the 3rd hour, we are breaking down 20255 by the numbers with some fun facts for the year ahead, including a fun one about a calendar you can re-use from the previous year. willie is sitting down with lisa lisa kudrow. she had some sweet words about her friend and costar matthew perry. >> so smart, so funny, uniquely funny. when we had that first table read, what matthew was doing fu funny. when we had that first table wasn't what i thought i was going to hear. it was like nothing i had ever heard before. i went, oh, boy, matthew was blow-away hilarious. >> and you are going to hear a

lot more of that awesome, deep conversation on "sunday today." we should mention that lisa's new series "no good deed" is streaming right now on netflix. a lot going on this weekend with a big storm system moving through the country. on saturday, we will start to see it develop after the rockies, but it takes hold saturday into sunday. and the cold air is in place, teens and 20s, meaning in st. louis and kansas city, we will see more snow out of this thing than anywhere else. then you do across the south into parts of kentucky and into tennessee. we could see an icing situation, a quarter of an inch up to a half an inch of ice. dangerous driving conditions. that is in place on sunday. lots of sunshine. temperatures in the 30s. out west, we have some snow showers and some rain falling once again in the pacific 833 on our first friday in the north bay is getting socked in right now. with all of that

rain, particularly out there in west marin, we go from point reyes station to lagunitas and stretching into parts of fairfax and marinwood. that's where that heavy cell is right now. it will push through. you'll get a break right around lunchtime, when it will start to move into parts of the east bay where it's light right now, also including parts of the peninsula and no rain yet in through and, guys, we're wrapping up the regular season here. you know, sunday night is football night in america. the vikings are taking on the lions. it is a big, important game. it's also indoors, so the weather doesn't matter. increasing clouds. 24 degrees outside. but inside it is going to be a great game. the vikings and the lions, sunday night football night in america. okay. i got to stretch out for this one because, i mean, there are a lot of people here and hoda requested i go around the horn again. here we go! let's go!

wow, wow, wow! so many people. they're like five deep back there. oh, my goodness. we're going. and i'm going around the horn. the horn never ends. it just keeps going and going. pt loves hoda! here we go. we're almost there. and we made it to the end. congratulations! you just retired. >> back to you guys. >> wait. this is a hug. what is your name? >> loretta. >> hi, loretta. i love you. okay. we started a new year this month, and jenna always reveals her new book club pick. so, jenna, take it away. >> hey, guys. it is january, so it is time to announce a new read with jenna pick. are y'all ready? three, two, one. it is "the life cycle of the common octopus" by emma knight.

we fellow a woman on a mission to uncover her family's secrets. her search takes her to a famous writer's estate where she falls in love for the first time and discovers life-changing truths. this is a book about friendship, motherhood and finding ourselves with mystery and romance at its core. this debut novel will sweep you off your feet. it is in stores tuesday. come on, y'all. it is our new year's resolution. let's read more. it is available to preorder now. go to your local bookstore or scan that qr code at the bottom of your screen. read with us. let's go. >> by the way, everybody's got a copy. that's pretty cool. all right. and we will give you some more time for reading, some handy tips to cut down on your screen time. we'll help you out. 2025. but, first, guys, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:38 with "today wellness." everyone looks for healthier habits in the new year whether it comes to food, exercise or alcohol. what about healthier habits when it comes to our phone? the video you are about to see caught our eye. it offers perspective that i think a lot of us could use. take a look. >> you can't park there. >> all right. that's -- i think that's pretty eye-opening. one study found the average cell phone user looks at their device 144 times a day. so here to help us reign in our habit is a board certified psychologist, author of "practical optimism."

great to see you. okay. this is so important and i think it is the right time of year. how we start the day sets the table for the day. a lot of us use our phone as an alarm. you are by default already on it. >> that's a great point. sometimes having an old school analog or digital alarm but not your phone. >> not your phone, okay. >> also something like the five-second rule where you give yourself five seconds to get out of bed. some people, the reason they don't do that is they think, oh, i will just stay a little longer, i will linger on my phone, start my day and be productive. but they don't realize that minutes can turn into hours. so get out of bed first. >> get out of bed before you turn off your alarm. now you are out of bed and you are getting ready to brush your teeth and take your shower and you think, wait, i might have messages from work or overnight. should i check them?

is that the time? >> wake up 15 to 20 minutes earlier so that you allow yourselves a morning routine. >> a window before that. >> and morning routines are so important because you really want to have something compelling to get you out of bed, something that will motivateou and something that's fun. whether it is tea or coffee, like i love that, it is an opportunity to read something other than, you know, news, like something pleasurable and journaling, right? it could be an affirmation of, i'm going to have a great day. it could be a gratitude list. it could be a to-do list. but the whole idea is you are keeping it old school and not scrolling on your fun. >> yeah. i try to do that, too. i don't look at my phone at all until i'm downstairs. it is like analog. the world could have -- who knew? >> especially for you because that's your spot. >> you have to focus on the project, but other things on your phone are grabbing your attention. >> yes. do not disturb on the phone

daily. and this allows important phone calls from family members, from schools to come through for parents. but it is saying that the rest of the world i will shut out. there are apple lockers so you can choose the apps you don't want to hear from. i say instagram is my drug of choice. i limit myself, whether it is one hour or two hours. and then i set a reminder. then there is the pomodoro effect. give yourself 25 minutes to work, a 5 minute break, 25 minutes to break and a 5 minute break. that allows you to be accountable and productive and also to recognize you are human and avoid burnout. >> before you go to bed, that's when people fall into the death scroll. you are in bed and you're like, this is relaxing. >> yes. a lot of us do, right. we want to capture the day back. the do not disturb 30 days before and a mellow bedtime routine that could be a boring

book or an exciting book. but books are better than scrolling. mark elwood is here. he has you covered. you don't want to miss his tips for planning an affordable vacation. but, first, this is "today" on nbc.

this morning on "today travel," wewe are helng you get away. january is not only the perfect time for a fresh start but also a good time to get yourself a cheap flight. they have a strong focus on wellness, offering everything that you need to sort of recharge and get ready for 2025, the year ahead. our guide is the travel expert mark elwood. nice to be with you. so january best time to buy. always the best time to travel. how long do these deals last? >> we're all overspent,

overtired. the travel city cuts its prices to try to encourage us to change our minds. >> so we're trying to have a healthier mind set as we start the year. it is a good way to get the year started. >> we will look at travel as a way to restore you. we will start in colorado in grand junction. this great hotel maverick surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. rattlesnake arches, colorado national monument, which is mini grand canyon. what it is running is a special event where you go into the canyons and you enjoy canyon bathing. have you heard of this? >> canyon bathing, no? >> it isrom japan. it is about being in nature and allowing it to wash over you. >> is it a winter or summer thing? >> it is a winter thing. you can enjoy the spectacular scenery. >> let's talk about wisconsin for a moment. this is some hot and cold therapy.

>> when you think of wisconsin in the winter, you think cold, right? i will take you to a great golf resort right in central wisconsin. in the winter there is lots of winter activities, but it is running an incredible getaway weekend which combines several breathing practices and contrast therapy, which is a hot sauna and then a cold plunge. repeat, repeat, repeat. it is supposed to energize you. >> it is also supposed to be very good for the blood flow through your system as well. >> exactly. >> let's talk about the aisle of palms. this is a beautiful place right now. >> please. 20 minutes north of charleston, you have this vacation play land. in january, the weather will be in the 50s and 60s, still very nice. i will send you to a hotel that has a 3,000 square foot outdoor spa garden with fire pit ifs it gets chilly. but they have an incredible spa facility and also it's running a reiki circle.

if you'd like to try that, you can do it here. >> can we talk about the next one? this is in idaho. i spent time in spokane, where i started. this is a spectacular destination on a beautiful lake. >> this is a great golf resort we are talking about with the world's only floating golf green. >> i played in the water around it. never hit it stiff. that's for sure. >> this resort is running wellness weekends every month. the one in january i really, really love because they have turned their outdoor pool into a giant hot tub. that night you get bottomless mimosas, and you can let the surroundings surround you. >> that's a fun getaway. jamaica sounds nice. >> this is another place that's not about deprivation. if you go for jamaica for wellness, you will have a great

time. a gorgeous boutique hotel, and it has what is a big trend in travel. the spa used to be hidden in a basement. their spa is on the roof. so when you have your treatments, you are listening to nature, you are looking at the caribbean ocean. you will see that more and more in hotels, the spa being a spot outdoors. >> what about new york city? >> of course. this is a reminder that you don't have to go to resort to get wellness. we have the even hotel, which we could walk to from here. the rooms have fitness zones in them. so you have an exercise ball. you can stream e exercise asses on your tv and your workout clothes are laundered for free. >> go to the hotel, wake up in the morning and join us right here on "today." hoda? >> hey, peter. look who's here. the very talented chef. stick around. we have recipes great for game day, especially this weekend in the nfl. but, first, this is "today" on nbc.

welcome back. we're here with "today food loves football," getting you ready for one of the biggest matchups in football. the vikings and lions will wrap up the regular season sunday night battling out for a division crown and the nfc's top seed in the playoffs. here to share some great game day dishes, how are we? >> i'm great. >> you have a couple of fun things for us to enjoy. >> i do. i just based it all on what you would love. >> okay. >> it is all about you. and football, but mainly you. >> okay. what is the first thing we will make? >> we will caramelize onions. it is an onion dip for hoda. >> this is the real stuff. >> this basically caramelizes them. that takes 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat. add some thyme and maple syrup.

so you want it medium heat, not high because you want them to be sweet and luscious and fabulous, and that takes a while. >> okay. >> but when you get them to that point -- >> oh, look at that. that looks good. >> but i always pick the biggest onions. i would usually double that. smoosh this. >> what do you have in there? >> this is cream cheese, sour cream and mayo. so smush it. i will add these because it melts everything together. then like a little hot sauce, a little garlic powder. >> wait a minute. >> salt to taste. >> what are you doing? this is good! >> wait. there's more. one-and-a-half cups of cheese, vermont sharp cheddar. >> you love vermont, don't you? how long have you lived there? >> i have lived there 20 years. 20 years. >> wow, okay. so are we cooking this? >> yes.

then you put it into a little casserole dish and put the remaining cheese because they will put the remaining cheese on top. then once it's done -- >> wait. are you adding bacon, too? girl! what's going on over there? >> i have a weakness for onion dip. >> yes, thank you. >> i didn't know it was a dip, so i just took it and -- they won't know. >> it is your new stew. isn't that tasty? >> you know what, you will never go back to the lipton. >> it's my favorite. it's my happy. now we go to sweet. i know you love peanut butter and chocolate sandwich cookies. we will put them altogether. this is peanut butter and add confectioners. do the creamy. and do the not natural stuff. >> yeah, like the regular kind.

>> the regular kind. not natural stuff so you don't have to whisk in any oil. >> oil, right. >> and then there is some vanilla, a stick of butter because, come on. >> and just kind of warm room temperature. >> yeah, get it a little warmer than room temperature. i always add a little extra salt because i like the sweet salty of it all. once that's altogether, refrigerate it because you want to get it a little stiff. >> okay. >> and then it's time to play. >> okay. look at that little cute scooper. >> you can scoop the little scooper. i press it to get it flat. then just shove one of those to get it flat. you want a sandwich cookie about the size of a scooper. i press it in and i put it over here. and then there's chocolate. >> yeah. >> so this is -- you have to stab it, which is, you know, very sad. buyou want to get down to the point that you hear the cookie and then you put it in. but because it can come off and

dunk. >> look at this. you can fish it out with this thing. >> that looks like a s'more right there. >> it gives it a stable base and it gives it a crunch too. >> and that's it. what do you all think? so good. we loved it. how is the wine? >> good with wine, actually. >> all right. for these recipes, scan the qr code below or head to today.com/food. do not miss sunday's game at 7:00 eastern right here on nbc, streaming on peacock. you guys, enjoy your friday. we will be back with more of the 9:00 and 10:00 after your local news. more of the 9:00 and 10:00 after your local news.

56 i'm scott mcgrew. today, a former defensive tackle for the 49ers and the raiders will argue for his release from prison. a judge will hold a hearing to release dana stubblefield. a california appellate court overturned the 2020 rape conviction in 2020. stubblefield sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after he was convicted of raping a woman who was interviewing for a babysitting job at his morgan hill home. a california appellate court determined that stubblefield did not get a fair trial, and prosecutors violated the racial justice act. happening now, san francisco is looking to change course in 2025. when it comes to traffic deaths. this, after recording one of the deadliest years in decades, according to the chronicle. the city closed the year with 41 traffic deaths. california hopes to change the direction ab 65, legalizing surveillance cameras to help catch speeding drivers and

install cameras in san francisco, san jose and oakland.

this morning on the 3rd hour of "today," the big chill. the new year off to a bitter cold start and now a major snowstorm is on the way. we're tracking all of it. plus, sights to sea if you are dreamingng of warmer days. how cruise companies are going all out to get you onboard this year. then te