tonight, we're tracking several holiday storms. the trouble in the west. and the hazard in the east. icy rain and snow fueling what could turn into a travel disaster. breaking news. found alive. the supermom who vanished while jogging three weeks ago, discovered safe. now with her husband. tonight, new questions about how she disappeared. rudy versus romney. the battle within the trump transition team. who to name as secretary of state. the revealing tweet from a top trump adviser. ambush. the lone police officer making a traffic stop when a fugitive jumps out of the trunk. this comes after a week of attacks on police officers. and the best deal. on the eve of black friday, we're scouring stores and the internet to find you the biggest

and the restock headline. the popular soldout toy about to hit a store near you. and good evening on this thanksgiving night, i'm tom llamas, in for david this evening. and we begin with the travel trouble looming, as millions of americans take to the roads and the skies to return home. storms in the west, like this one in utah, kicking up through the weekend. a white-knuckle ride on i-80 and the dangerous conditions there causing a flatbed and a car to collide. snowy runways at the airport in duluth, minnesota. that wintry weather in the center of the country moving east. the forecast in a moment, but first, abc's alex perez, starting us off in chicago. >> reporter: tonight, mother nature making a mess of the thanksgiving holiday. >> this is crazy. >> reporter: in the pacific northwest, the first of several systems now moving through. dumping up to three feet of snow

home for many a headache. >> drive for conditions, otherwise, we're going to end up in the ditch just like this gentleman. >> reporter: already in parts of utah, traffic snarled. this time-lapse showing the powerful cold front moving through. winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour. from alabama to virginia, nearly three dozen wildfires keeping crews busy, fighting the flames. more than 160,000 acres already scorched. this was the scene in los angeles, comet and possibly more on the way. another surge of travelers soon to come. and tom, on sunday, so many people will be trying to get home at once, experts are predicting a 240% increase in traffic jams across the country. tom? >> 240% increase. all right, alex, thank you. let's get right to chief meteorologist ginger zee. ginger, several storm systems right now that we're following into tonight. but the big question, what about the ride home?

that 240%, it's about to get a whole lot worse. especially, tom, if you're on the west coast. you can see here, the satellite image of not just the first, but of many storms that's going to impact the west as we go through the next four days. the winter storm warnings in place for some of the areas that will see eventually in the mountains one to even three feet of snow. we time it out here for you. so, you see the first storm pass through overnight. you get another one by saturday morning. and some of that rain could come in buckets. so, we even have flash flood and flood watches for places that could get eight-plus inches. that's out in the west. of course, you have to mention what's happening on sunday for the east. some light snow showers mixing with rain. fortunately, nice, but still dry in the southeast. >> all right. we'll be tracking all these storms through the weekend. ginger, thank you. let's turn now to that breaking news from california. that mother, sherri papini, who vanished while jogging three weeks ago, has been found alive. police say the wife and mother of two children was released by captors who left her on the side of a road. and they say the investigation into the mystery is just beginning.

latest details. >> reporter: tonight, a mother back with her family after a terrifying three-week abduction. and now, a manhunt is under way. police say sherri papini was released by her captors on the side of the road 150 miles from her home. her captors, still at large. >> reporter: we are very ecstatic to report that sherri papini has been located, and has been reunited with her husband and family on this day of thanksgiving. >> reporter: the 34-year-old found this morning, in restraints, by a passing motorist. she was taken to an area hospital and treated for injuries. >> she could drop her phone but she would never in a million years, you know, not pick up our children on the time that she normally would have. >> reporter: her husband, keith, reported her missing on november 2nd after sherri failed to pick up their children from daycare. then, using the "find my iphone" app, he discovered her phone abandoned on the side of the road with her hair tangled in

a frantic search by police and friends picked up no trace of the mother of two. keith passed a polygraph test and maintained all along that he believed his wife had been abducted. friends and family called papini "supermom," and said, before her abduction, she had called dibs on cooking sweet potatoes, the way the kids liked them, for thanksgiving. >> and kayna joins us live now. kayna, what do we know about the people who allegedly abducted this mother? >> reporter: tom, tonight, investigators working off a vague description, saying they are looking for two hispanic females, armed with a handgun in a black suv. they urge everyone in the area to use caution, saying this investigation is far from over. tom? >> kayna, thank you. today may be thanksgiving, but it is no holiday from conflict in the presidential transition. the team divided about the choice for secretary of state. some arguing for loyalist rudy giuliani and others endorsing former foe mitt romney. the two men so different in

choice, possibly sending foreign policy in very different directions. here's abc's devin dwyer. >> reporter: holed up inside his florida estate tonight, donald trump faces a divided inner circle. tension over his pick for secretary of state now spilling out into public view. senior trump adviser kellyanne conway tweeting this headline, "some trump loyalists warn against mitt romney as secretary of state." abc news has learned romney is a serious contender, but allies of former new york city mayor rudy giuliani are pressing ei case, questioning romney's loyalty. >> you've got to surround yourself with people like secret service people, who will take a bullet for you, rather than put a bullet in you. that's not who you surround yourself with. >> i could think of 20 other people who would be more naturally compatible with the trump vision of foreign policy. >> right. >> and, so, you know, he's got to make his decision. >> reporter: tonight, as trump celebrates with his family, he's still tweeting. "i am working hard, even on

post about saving american jobs. his video message noting the challenges that remain. >> emotions are raw and tensions just don't heal overnight. it doesn't go quickly, unfortunately. >> reporter: trump now moving at full speed with cabinet nominees. filling top posts more quickly than president obama did eight years ago. 78-year-old billionaire wilbur ross is the expected pick for secretary of commerce, senior transition officials tell abc news. ross made millions on wall street turning around bankrupt companies for profit. when trump's taj mahal casino went into bankruptcy, ross was part of the restructuring. former trump rival ben carson in the mix for secretary of housing and urban development. >> the offer is on the table. and there are a lot of other possibilities that we're considering. >> reporter: with the flurry of cabinet moves, trump has yet to deeply engage on another area. presidential intelligence briefings. trump has had just two as president-elect, a u.s. official tells abc news. vice president-elect mike pence said to have received several more.

has plenty of time to get up to speed. >> and devin dwyer joins us from the white house tonight. devin, though it may be a long shot, there is a growing movement tonight backed by millions of dollars to challenge the election results? >> reporter: tom, a group of data analysts and lawyers studied the vote in three key states, michigan, pennsylvania and wisconsin. they say they see irregularities there that could mean tampering was involved. they want a recount. tonight, green party candidate jill stein has raised more than $3 million for that effort. no comment yet from the cl tom? >> devin dwyer for us tonight. devin, thank you. and investors are upbeat about the trump administration. the dow hitting seven new record highs since the election. retailers are hoping some of that optimism will drive shoppers to spend more this holiday season. an estimated 140 million people are expected to take advantage of thanksgiving weekend deals. here's abc's chief business and economics correspondent rebecca jarvis. >> reporter: tonight, retailers battling it out with never

best buy, target and kohl's all open right now. macy's, too, opening their doors earlier than ever this year. sears with more than 50% off this dryer. macy's slashing more than half off the regular price of these knives. topping the best deals this weekend? experts say, electronics. this hp laptop, $170 at best buy. these amazon fire tablets for $33. and the very best deals we fo tvs. what do you think are going to be the big sellers? >> behind me, you see that 55-inch phillips. it's not only a 55-inch high-def tv, it's 4-k, it's a smart tv, it's $298, and you can only get that at walmart tonight. >> reporter: and if this year's soldout hottest toy, the hatchimal, is on your kids' wish list this year, fear not. while some are going for hundreds of dollars on ebay, walmart will sell a limited

tom, those hatchimals are going quickly, so, you have to act fast. and here at best buy in chicago, the doors just opened. the line, twice as long as this time last year, and everyone in it telling me they're here for one thing -- a tv. tom? >> tvs and hatchimals, the gifts to get this year. all right, rebecca, thanks so much. next tonight, the family of one police officer in utah, very thankful he's alive, after a dangerous traffic stop. take a look at this dash cam video, showing the officer at the side of a car, when a wanted fugitive jumps out of the trunk, trying to take him down. that fugitive carrying a weapon that appeared to be real. abc's eva pilgrim on the latest threat to a police officer's life. >> reporter: caught on dash cam, a terrifying encounter. as an idaho officer on a traffic stop fights off a fugitive hiding in the trunk of a car. >> we have to make split-second, difficult decisions that are life and death. >> reporter: the video shows lewiston police officer thomas woods stopping this car for not having a license plate. the car had just left a home

arrest warrants, was known to visit. after hearing a noise from the trunk, the officer asks the driver, harrell's mother, if her son is there. >> and she immediately responded with the words to the effect of, it's a toy gun, don't shoot him. >> reporter: the officer calls for backup. >> 146, i need you here immediately. >> reporter: next, you see the trunk open. the officer springs into action. the two wrestling on the ground until backup arrives. police later determine that the firear this video released after a particularly dangerous week for law enforcement around the country. five officers shot, two killed. harrell was booked on those outstanding warrants, as well as new charges for aggravated assault and resisting arrest. his mother also facing charges for harboring a fugitive. tom? >> eva pilgrim for us tonight. eva, thank you. we turn next to chattanooga, tennessee, and the death toll climbing after that crash of an elementary school bus.

the battle against his injuries, becoming the sixth child to die in that devastating crash. the driver, johnthony walker, has been charged with vehicular homicide. amid growing concern that he should not have been behind the wheel at all. and overseas tonight, a u.s. service member killed in the battle against isis in syria. the first to die in combat there. the service member, whose name has not been released, died from wounds sustained in an ied blast in northern syria. he was one of some 300 u.s. special operations forces on an advise and assist mission in syria. and from iraq, a horrific suicide bombing near baghdad, killing scores of shiite muslims on a religious pilgrimage. it comes as isis is losing ground in the battle for mosul in northern iraq, and there is fear that loss could propel the terror group to lash out elsewhere around the globe. here's abc's alex marquardt. >> reporter: the massive blast from a suicide truck bomb just south of the capital baghdad, leaving a charred and smoldering scene and at least 60 people

many of those killed in the attack, which was quickly claimed by isis, were religious pilgrims from iran in iraq, for a religious holiday, which had been seen as a potential isis target. isis has been under assault in mosul. their last foothold in iraq. as their so-called caliphate crumbles, they have lashed out to distract and weaken the u.s.-backed effort to root them out. there is serious concern that as isis loses ground in iraq and syria, that they and their followers will respond with attacks in the u.s., europe and elsewhere, as revenge, and as a way to keep their twisted ideology alive. tom? >> alex, thank you. and that possibility of terror taken very seriously here at home. the nation's top security agencies urging vigilance, especially during the holidays. here in new york, the thanksgiving day parade took place with unprecedented security. abc's gio benitez on what the nypd has in place to keep people safe. >> reporter: on the ground, a

daunting task of protecting more than 3 million parade-goers. >> a lot of cops out here. a lot of people in uniform. there's also a lot of people that are not in uniform. >> reporter: how many officers? try 3,000. 500 more than last year. an unprecedented show of force, with some newly enhanced anti-terror tactics. 83 sanitation trucks packed with tons of sand to prevent a vehicle attack like the one in nice, france, that killed 86. long-range rifles to deter a massacre like the one at the pulse nightclub in orlando. but authorities say, the terror threat will extend throughout the holiday season. >> large gatherings, malls, baseball games, football games, et cetera. you always need to be aware of your surroundings and how you can get out of them if crisis comes. >> reporter: the heightened security giving parade-goers today some peace of mind. >> everything's been great. security's been great. >> reporter: all thanks to the men and women in blue, delaying their own celebration with friends and family.

valiantly came to the rescue of legendary crooner tony bennett. miss piggy there. and police here in times square remaining vigilant, now reviewing security plans for the next big party here in the big apple -- new year's eve, just five weeks away, tom. >> can't wait. and miss piggy saving a national treasure there. all right, gio, thank you. there's still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this thursday. buyers beware. a new alert tonight about dangerous toys that can catch fire. why you may not see any warng until it's too late. plus, one of the largest powerball jackpots ever could get even bigger. find out how much money's up for grabs. and this thanksgiving, a new tradition. it's happening across the country. images like this coming in tonight. why some people are getting the surprise of their lives on this day.ves on this day. . you should have quit while you were ahead. 32 years at this place

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back now with a consumer warning for parents. some websites are selling recalled toys that can pose serious dangers to children. abc's gloria riviera explains. >> reporter: tonight, an urgent warning for parents after this toy truck apparently caught fire on a washington highway. >> i couldn't believe this toy is in the back of our truck on fire. >> reporter: toys "r" us has temporarily pulled the truck from sale, pending further investigation. the manufacturer telling "fortune" magazine it is aware of the incident, and working around the clock to identify the cause. this year alone, at least 44 toys have been recalled, due to unforeseen hazards, but consumer safety advocates warn, many of these recalled toys are still in american homes, and some are even available for purchase online from sites like craigslist or ebay. >> there are third party sellers

they've been recalled. >> reporter: to protect consumers, the attorney general's office in illinois released a guide listing toys recalled by manufacturers. it includes popular items like the aero cruz sky rover, which can overheat. crazy jewels, which contain traces of lead. and moogy plus for babies, a potential choking hazard. the toy industry of america says u.s. toy safety requirements are among the strictest in the world. it advises all buyers to shop from reputable stores they trust and to stay up to date on all toy recalls. tom? >> good tips tonight. all right, gloria, thank you. and when we come back, double devastation. we'll take you to the country hit by both a hurricane and an earthquake at the same time. plus, special delivery. u.s. soldiers stationed overseas are getting a taste of home this thanksgiving. i'm with sprint now because guess what? it's 2016 and every

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finally tonight, a new thanksgiving tradition taking shape. abc's linsey davis has the story. >> reporter: when katherine allen went to work on this thanksgiving -- >> happy thanksgiving! >> reporter: she was not expecting to be given this. >> i love all y'all. >> reporter: she is what la brea bakery calls a thanksgiving hero. now an annual tradition, it's a contest the bakery holds to celebrate deserving people by delivering a feast to their job. so, at hospitals -- >> oh, my gosh! >> reporter: fire stations -- >> thank you. >> reporter: -- and retail stores like this club monaco in new york -- >> let's eat! >> reporter: -- a portion of the compassion they've dished out over time is piled on high. an extra helping of great tide, an extra helping of gratitude,

>> you deserve it. >> very deserving. >> reporter: while katherine's parents are breaking bread tonight hundreds of miles away in south carolina, her sister is right by her side. so, what are you most thankful for this thanksgiving? >> i'm just thankful for everyone, my family, my true family, just everyone that is working today. >> reporter: gratitude for many reasons tonight, including its ability to transform a job into joy. linsey davis, abc news, new york. >> and tonight, from all of us here at abc news, happy thanksgiving. i'm tom llamas. night. good night. working off their thg dinner -- as they dash through the stores -- in a mad frenzy

we've got live team coverage in several of the shopping hot spots as the pre- black friday bonanza begins. let's start with 13 action news reporter gina lazara at the kohl's near charleston and durango where the doors are just opening... gina? and here's a live look inside

the fashion show mall where "pink" just opened their doors to holiday shoppers... about 300-thousand people are in las vegas right now o holiday and many of them are heading out to get those doorbuster deals. meanwhile... 13 action news reporter mahsa saeidi is at the toys- r-us at 5th and deer springs where parents are rushing to get the best deals on the hottest