politics. the southwest flight delayed five hours, the pilot arrested for dui. the fda banning a red dye used in everything from beverages to candy. the potential cancer risk. and after california's fire disaster, the small businesses ready to rise from the ruins. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, and welcome. the middle east is on tenterhooks tonight as news settles in of a ceasefire deal between israel and hamas that will see the return of hostages held in gaza, the release of some prisoners held in israeli jails and an end to the fighting. 15 months after the october 7th hamas attack on israel, the terms of the multiphase agreement were hammered out in the gulf state of qatar, calling for israeli troops to pull back from gaza beginning this weekend. of the 94 hostages, 34 are believed to be dead.

some will be gradually released over a 42-day period while a permanent cease-fire is negotiated. there are believed to be three american survivors and according to senior administration officials two of them will be among those released in the first phase. the ceasefire deal coming together with just days left in the biden presidency. the president saying he is deeply satisfied this day has finally come. the agreement also celebrated inside gaza, where more than 46,000 have been killed according to the government health ministry. richard engel is in the middle east tonight to start us off. >> reporter: in gaza the reaction was immediate and joyful. relief that the war is coming to an end. crowds gathered in israel too, but with mixed emotions. the hostages are due to come home, but in some cases only their remains. >> after more than 400 days of struggle, a day of success has arrived.

>> reporter: the deal was negotiated by qatar, egypt and the united states. president biden sayiying it was built on a framework he proposed last may and conditions finally made it possible. >> after more than 15 months of war, hamas's senior leaders are dead. with nowhere to turn, hamas finally agreed to releasing hostages. >> reporter: the state department said the involvement of president-elect trump's envoy in the talks was also critical. today, trump posting the epic ceasefire agreement only happened because of his election victory. president biden was asked who deserved credit. >> who does the history books credit for this, mr. president, you or trump? >> is that a joke? >> reporter: the deal is fragile and complex, to be implemented in three phases. phase one will last six weeks. hamas will release some hostages in return for hundreds of palestinian prisoners held by israel. and israel will withdraw troops from

populated areas in gaza. but a permanent end to the war and the release of all the hostages still needs to be negotiated. in israel, little celebration, in tel aviv square where families of hostages usually gather, nbc's daniele hamamdjian is there. >> reporter: there are only a few people gathered tonight in hostage square. one family member telling me they want to see all the hostages back before they can celebrate. >> repeporter: jmy miller's cousin and her children, a 10-month-old baby and 4-year-old boy, were kidnapped. >> i will believe to everything when i will see it in my eyes, that it's happening. i will believe it only in the second i see. >> reporter: this latest conflict began on october 7th, when hamas massacred more than 1,200 people in israel and took more than 250 hostages, among them 12 americans. only three are thought to be still alive. two are on the list for phase one release. lester recently spoke to the family of the

americans including the sister of 20-year-old edan alexander, who's not on the list. >> so it's been like a year that like my best friend i was growing up with has just been like gone from my life. i'm sorry. >> no, it's okay. >> it's been very difficult. >> reporter: in gaza tonight, people were hanging on every word, as news trickled in that a deal was coming. and when it was confirmed, the streets were jammed, palestinians overjoyed the bombings will stop and more food and medicine will come in. according to local officials, nearly 47,000 palestinians were killed during the war. asked for her reaction, narmin al subal said, "how can i celebrate tonight when my father, brother and uncles were killed?" >> richard, you spent a lot of time in that part of the world. this doesn't look easy. a lot of moving parts at work here. >> reporter: there are many moving parts. first, the deal has to

be formally approved by the israeli government tomorrow. although that is expected. and then as we've been stressing this deal takes place in phases. the first batch of hostages, 33, are only supposed to be released over the course of 42 days. and if that goes smoothly and israeli troops pull back, will things advance to the next stage, which still needs to be negotiated. lester. >> richard, thank you. as richard mentioned, we've been speaking with the families of the american hostages for months now. a short time ago, i spoke with adi alexander, he's the father of american hostage edan alexander. i asked him how he's feeling with the news of the deal. >> i'm very happy and grateful that finally, finally this deal is being sealed. it's unbelievable. >> there are so many american families who you all created this incredible bond. we've talked to you over the many months. what is your feeling for the entire group now of americans especially?

>> mixed feelings, i'm really happy about everybody, but on the other hand we have four american hostages that were murdered on october 7th and still being held there. but hopefully the parents will get their loved ones for the proper burial and we'll get our loved ones to live out lives happily ever after. >> what do you know about the conditions edan has been in? >> other than the last video on the thanksgivings weekend, which showed us a sign of life, we have no additional information. >> have you played over in your mind what the moment will be like when you're able to embrace your son? >> just hug him and hold him and just to hear what he experienced in those 16 months. >> and what will you want to say to him? >> thank you for holding. you're our hero.

and be strong. and just, just hug him and kiss him. >> adi, thank you so much for being with us and sharing your story not only today but over the many months. >> thank you, lester. let's turn to the wildfire emergency in southern california now with the battle against the two biggest fires far from over. tonight signs of progress, though, as schools open their doors to displaced students. here's morgan chesky with that. >> reporter: tonight, signs of progress amid disaster. >> in the past 24 hours there's been little to no fire growth on both incidents. >> reporter: red flag warnings finally expiring over the more than 60 square miles left blackened and charred. the 14,000-acre eaton fire now 45% contained. the larger palisades fire at 19% containment and counting. search and rescue teams canvassing burn zones with 26 people still missing.

for the families who lost everything, today a turning point. >> we have school today. >> reporter: the dale family getting their girls ready for their first day back at a brand new campus after losing their beloved home and school. >> i think our commute, we had it about three minutes in palisades. and so we're about probably over an hour today. >> wow. >> what? >> reporter: an extra early morning made easier when the girls met our crew's microphone. >> that's so i can hear you. [ laughter ] >> reporter: with donated backpacks ready to go. >> good morning. >> welcome. >> reporter: they arrived at a brentwood elementary school now absorbing hundreds of displaced students. >> they can play with their friends and have a normal day. we're just so happy to give them normalcy. because they were so, so happy this morning. it's really nice. >> it's a lot. >> yeah. and it comes in waves. >> we wanted the kids to be wiwith their trusted teachers and

their trusted principals and support staff during this time of anxiety, stress and crisis. >> reporter: back on the fire line, crews working around the clock. 12-hour shifts. how are you guys holding up? >> spirit, everything is good. they're asking a lot of us, and they're putting 100%. >> reporter: their mission, scour charred earth to keep hot spots from s starting yet another blaze. >> it's tough for the public to understand why is the fire not contained, i'm not seeing anything. but this is really the important stuff. >> and morgan joins us now. it was great to see the kids going back to school. you're in the palisades. any update when displaced residents will be able to return? >> reporter: yeah, lester, officials tell me that they want people home as quickly as possible but they do admit they're running into both safety and infrastructure issues. among them, broken gas lines, downed power lines and plenty of hazardous materials. lester? >> morgan chesky, thanks. on capitol hill today president-elect trump's choices for attorney general and

secretary of state were among those facing questioning at senate confirmation hearings. ryan nobles now with late details. >> reporter: tonight, a split-screen moment on capitol hill. half a dozen high-stakes confirmation meetings for president-elect trump's cabinet picks, including his choice to lead the justice department, former florida attorney general pam bondi, who vowed to keep politics out of the prosecutorial process. >> there will never be an enemies list within the department of justice. >> reporter: bondi replaced trump's original choice for the job, former congressman matt gaetz, who withdrew when it was clear he could not win enough republican votes. bondi is expected to be confirmed by the republican senate. >> i'm glad he picked you. he knows you, he trusts you, and you're highly qualified. >> reporter: but today senate democrats grilling her over potential trump pardons for some january 6th participants. >> do you believe that those who've been convicted of the january 6th riot violent assaults on our police officers should be pardoned? that's a simple question.

>> so senator, i have not seen any of those files. but let me be very clear in speaking to you. i condemn any violence on a law enforcement officer in this country. >> reporter: and this heated moment over trump's comments about liz cheney. >> i'm asking you sitting here today whether you are aware of a factual predicate to investigate liz cheney. >> senator, no one -- >> based on what you know. >> -- has askeked me to investigate liz cheney. that is a hypothetical. >> the president has called for it publicly. you are aware of it, aren't you? >> no one has asked me to investigate -- >> but the president is -- >> you're all so worried about liz cheney. you know what we should be worried about? >> miss bondi, please answer my questions. >> the crime rate in california. >> reporter: also expected to be confirmed, florida senator marco rubio, up for the post of secretary of state. today saying he disagreed with the biden administration's decision yesterday to remove cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. >> do you believe cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism? >> without a question. we know cuba has been friendly toward hamas

and hezbollah openly. >> reporter: and rubio forecasting the future trump administration's approach to ending the war in ukraine. >> it is important for everyone to be realistic. there will have to be concessions made by the russian federation but also by the ukrainians. and the united states will lend itself there. >> sob ryan, i gueuess this all comes out of the question, did the hearings impact the chances for these nominees to be confirmed? >> reporter: lester, if every democrat votes no these nominees can still afford to lose three republican votes and still win confirmation. and right now none appear to be in any danger. in fact, gop leaders are hoping to move forward with the confirmation process on monday, after trump's inauguration. the first likely vote being for marco rubio as secretary of state. lester? >> ryan nobles, thanks. tonight just five days before he leaves office president biden delivering his farewell address, citing his achievements as a long political career nears its end. here's peter alexander.

>> reporter: after more than 50 years in public life, president biden speaking directly to the american people one last time. an oval office address punctuating days of final events. >> after eight months of nonstop negotiation my administration -- by my administration, a cease-fire and a hostage deal has been reached by israel and hamas. >> reporter: the president insisting americans are better off than they were four years ago. >> in the past four years our democracy's held strong, and every day i've kept my commitment to be president for all americans. through one of the toughest periods in our nation's history. we need to amend the constitution and make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office. >> reporter: his focus tonight defining his legacy ahead of donald trump's inauguration next week. with trump already vowing to roll back many of biden's signature initiatives. >> i've been disappointed to see the biden administration's attempt to block the

reforms of the american people and that they voted for. we had a landslide election. >> reporter: still, president biden is not leaving the way he wanted. his last primetime address six months ago announcing amid pressure from his party he was dropping out of the race. >> i revere this office. but i love my country more. >> reporter: a half century after arriving as one of the youngest senators in modern history, tonight a final farewell. >> my eternal thanks to you the american people. after 50 years of public service i give you my word. i still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. >> reporter: peter alexander, nbc news, the white house. in 60 seconds, the southwest pilot arrested, taken off his plane and accused of dui. plus more trouble in the air over chronic lateness. that's next. 60 seconds, the southwest

pilot arrested, taken off his plane, accused of dui. and more trouble in the air over chronic lateness. that's next. 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 pneumoniaa 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. (♪♪)

a southwest airlines flight was delayed nearly five hours today after police boarded the plane and arrested the pilot for driving under the influence. tom costello is following this for us. tom, what happened? >> this happened at savannah hilton head airport this morning, on a flight that was supposed to go to chicago midway. airport police removed pilot david allsop from the plane this morning and arrested him for driving under the influence. he was booked into the chatham county jail on a $3,500 bond. southwest says the employee has been removed from duty, customers were accommodated on other flights, "and we apologize for the disruption to their travel plans." under the faa's so-called bottle to throttle rule, pilots are supposed to wait at least eight hours after their last drink before flying or if they have a blood alcohol rating greater than .04, lester. >> and tom, the transportation department also announced it's suing southwest for operating chronically delayed flights.

>> yeah, that's right. the biden d.o.t. accuses southwest of operating 180 flights back in 2022 that were chronically delayed with unrealistic schedules. southwest says it's disappointed in the it, saying "last year it completed 99% of its flight without cancellations. the d.o.t. has also fined jetblue and frontier for allegedly chronically delayed flights, lester. >> all right, tom, thank you. up next, it's in sodas, candies, cookies and a lot more. why the fda is now banning red dye number 3. cookies and more. the fda is now banning red dye number three. of course, the hot sun can be tough on vehicles too. you need weathertech. laser measured floorliners and cargo liner will shield the carpeting from sand and snow. for your interior, there's seat protector and sunshade. plus, mud flaps and bumpstep for the exterior. impactliner, with shock absorbing rings, safeguards your truck bed from costly damage. order american made products at wt.com surf's up!

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the fda today banning a controversial red dye found in so many foods sold in the u.s., citing a risk of cancer. anne thompson is with us. anne, why red dye? >> well, lester, this red dye is red dye number 3, and it's what makes maraschino cherries, strawberry milkshakes, candies and many other food products' color so appealing you just can't resist. well, the fda says no more. it is banning the synthetic dye made from petroleum because of two studies that showed high levels cause cancer in male rats. food manufacturers will have two years to reformulate their products. red dye number 3 was banned in cosmetics some 35 years ago. this is a big win for advocacy groups, lester, who have been literally fighting for decades to get this ban. >> anne, thanks very much. we'll take a break. up next, startup culture after the wildfires.

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and neither should you. listen to your heart. lower your ldl-c and your risk with repatha. talk to your doctor. finally, the wildfires have taken so much from southern california, but jacob soboroff reports many small business owners are vowing to rise again. >> reporter: this is the epicenter of the eaton fire zone here in altadena. small businesses are the backbone for so many locals here. and so many of them have been decimated. this was a pizza place

called side pie. i actually had my son's ninth birthday here just over a month ago. look inside, even the pizza oven burned. kevin hawkins started side pie during the pandemic. >> i have 13, 14 employees, and it's like my heart breaks. >> reporter: he and partner rosanna kvermo run several small businesses in the area. you can't get to your house. >> no. >> reporter: and your daughter's school is closed. >> yes. >> reporter: so it's not just the small business. >> no. >> reporter: while the entire shop caught fire, the back courtyard, typically filled with families and kids, didn't burn. >> what's it like to be back here? >> when i saw the tables i was le oh yes, this is definitely coming back. this community is so special. and it's -- >> so special. >> really special to have a business here. >> yeah. >> reporter: down the road the chacura family lost rhythms of the village, their shop and the only african store in the san gabriel valley. >> i saw the shop fully ablaze. and i screamed. i felt sad. i felt all the emotions.

then i came to the conclusion that we can rebuild. and those are material things. what matters is that we're all alive. >> what are you bringing in? >> reporter: now they're using their home to coordinate donations for the community. >> bedding, clothes, shoes, random -- >> we appreciate it. bring it on down. >> that's the way i was raised, being communal. so it's almost divine that we're back here, back at square one, and in a position to support anybody in need right now. >> even as you guys are hurting. >> yes. >> of course, yeah. >> that's our spirit. >> because in my culture if you have, i have. if i have, you have. >> reporter: a week after they lost everything, a community facing the future together. jacob soboroff, nbc news, altadena, california. >> and that is "nightly news" for this wednesday. thank you for watching. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night

♪♪ i can see you over there ♪ ♪♪ i can see you over there ♪ ♪ staring at your drink ♪ ♪ watchin' that ice sink ♪ ♪ all alone tonight ♪ ♪ and chances are ♪ ♪ you're sittin' here in this bar ♪ ♪ 'cause he ain't gonna treat you right ♪ ♪ well it's probably not my place ♪ ♪ but i'm gonna say it anyway ♪ ♪ 'cause you look like ♪ ♪ you haven't felt the fire ♪ ♪ had a little fun ♪ ♪ hadn't had a smile in a little

while ♪ ♪ baby ♪ ♪♪ blulooks good on the sky ♪ ♪ looks good on that neon buzzin' on the ♪ ♪ wall ♪ ♪ but darling it don't match your eyes ♪ ♪ i'm tellin' you ♪ ♪ you don't need that guy ♪ ♪ it's so black and white ♪ ♪ he's stealin' your thunder ♪ ♪ baby blue ain't your color ♪ ♪ no ♪ ♪ i'm tellin' you ♪

♪ you don't need that guy ♪ ♪ it's so black and white ♪ ♪ he's stealin' your thunder ♪ ♪ baby blue ain't your color ♪ ♪ blue ain't your color ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." give it up for my band. that was blue ain't your color. we had keith here a few weeks ago. when he had them in here a few weeks ago for the holidays and

talk about his torah. he is incredible lives. even if you don't know his catalog, don't miss him. our guest has done it all, modeling, film, television, attended princeton university. she has a new book out called brooke shields is not allowed to get old. please welcome back to the show, brooke shields. [applause] may be my favorite thing you have worn on the show. happy new year.

i hear you don't do resolutions but you do intentions. >> really, i decide instead of denying myself something, i feel like i am being punished. i will do one thing per day to a stranger. not to a stranger. >> congratulations. >> i was in the cookie line the other day and i said your smile is infectious. >> they told me they love me today in the holland tunnel and it was so sweet and you make eye contact with someone and i like your, everyone becomes a little more human and you get a little endorphins.

most of them are random acts of kindness. i get out of the store before they necessarily see it because i don't want to be like i'm the one who got you the coffee. >> it takes away from the giving. >> it is not a random act of kindness. >> when you're in the spotlight, people get nervous and i do too. i go blank. >> it does it quickly because i cannot mean not noticed. it is a weird thing. i decided to go real and hi, how are you in the minute you do that, it leaves for me. >> kelly: heard you got to

hang with dave chappelle a little bit. >> i was like do you want a shot of tequila? >> he is so nice. we got to see the whole party. i was alone. able to mingle and she was really happy and surprised. >> kelly: that is brave. you went along without a person to come and save you. >> you start being able to get out of that corner really fast. i am not kidding.

i said age and she thought -- >> kelly: that is what i use. i have got to go to the bathroom. with dave chappelle, he is cool. >> he is so cool and he is so funny and his wife is amazing. >> she is this little powerhouse and i thought i don't have to babysit anybody, i can have a lovely time. >> kelly: it has been a year since you wrote the book about your mom. how do you look at that now? >> writing a book is so fun. this one is about being empowered over the age