have a good one.eastern iowa later today. this morning, we're hearing from a republican presidential candidate who's been picking up momentum in thi polls. plus thisis not what you expect to see along the side of the road. a semi explodes. and have you ever tried to talk your way out of a ticket? wait until you see --and hear -- one man's approach. those of us who cannot carry a tune are jealous. i'm jerry gallagher... leles check on yoururweather now with storm track 7 meteorologist eileen loan. good morning. very mild this morning with temperatures already climbing into the low 50s in some area this is helpededout by breezy south winds at 10-20 mph, already gusting higher this morning. we have a few clouds, but will end up with partly sunny skies today

temps... highs will be in the mid to upper 50s and even a few low 60s are possible! this is the warmest day, plus we have some in a few minutes. new this morning -- a suspicious fire in waterloo. today and pretty warm temps... highs will be in the mid to upper 50s and even a few low 60s are possible! this is thee warmest day, plus we have some rain in the forecast. i'll have that for you in a few new this morning -- a suspicious fire in waterloo. it happened on mulberry street police tell us firefighters think the fire might have been set on

this afternoon, lawmakers in washingon are getting a classified briefing on the california terror iivestigation. tracie potts has the surprising new information we're already hearing from the fbi. "i think the most urgent threat that we face here in the homeland is an externally inspired or potentiallyydirected threat from terrorist groups..." today the fbi will tell lawmakers what its director cld not say in public, when he dropped this bombshell about the san bernardino shooters: "they were actually radicalized before they started courting or dating each other online. and online, as early as the end of 2013, they were talking to each other about jihad and martyrdom before they became engaged." that was before the rise of isis and before the u-s approved tashfeen malik to travel here on a fiance visa. "it's still too early to make grand pronouncements about what

a year earlier the fbi says syed farook was talking to his neighbor about an attack. "i mean in allonesty my greatest fear is more attacks and more dead americans." as investigators dig for clues in the couples' smashed phones and hard drives, we're also learning there may have beenother targets: this california high school farook inspected for work... or another building or public gathering. lawmakers are expected to learn more today from the fbi, homeland security and national counterterrorism center. alsls here: the state department is supporting congress' attempt to overhaul the visa waiver program. anyone traveling here from who's been to syria, iraq, iran, syria or sudan in the last five years would beerequired to get a visa. i'm tracie potts in washington, now back to you. decision 2016 coverage: a republican rising in the polls

senator marco rubio is in iowa city this afternoon meeting voters after a town hall with veterans in west des moines this morning. the most recent monmouth universty poll has him in third place in iowa behind ted cruz and donald trump. we wanted to interview rubio one-on-one in iowa city, but his campaign told us the senator did not have time to oit down with us. rubio campaigned in michigan yesterday -- where he was critical of the president's speech the other night.. not literally. i refuse to call stop being so discriminatory. end of speech. donald trump also weighed in on the president's speech about terrorism. "we can't be politically correct stupid people. we have a no way that a normal president can make the speech that he made

trump has been taking heat from both sides of the aisle over his plan to keemuslims from coming into the u-s for now. which is something the democratic frontrunner touched on during her stop waterloo. "we have to enlist help from ideology they represent. instead donald trump is supplying them with new propopganda." clinton toured techhorks in waterloo before heading to another wn hall in urbandale. meantime -- an eastern iowa muslim -- who's also a u-s veteran said trump can question his patriotism. but he also says -- he can laugh at him for making those comments. he says he was proud to serve his country. "this is my country, okay, i was born here, the idea of defense was a big idea after

part of my job." he served as an army engineer in e 1950's. he says he isn't too worried about trump's comments -- saying actions speak louder than words. one iowa homeowner is taking action wittthis big sign. it's rd to miss along jordan creek parkway in west des moines. the homeowner says he isn't for or against trump. he just wants to get people thinking. what inspired me to put the bad was in 1992 with ross perot, the little short guy with big ears and big mouth. he's shaking up the establishment really well. its also shaking up the internet...

reddit... with dozens of comments from people trying to decide if it's the suspect in the planned parenthood shooting is in court -- telling the court he's a warrior for the babies. seal the truth, huh? kill babies. that's what planned parenthood does." robert dear is accused of killing three people, including a police officer, at a planned parenthood in cololrado last monnh. it's unclear whether the prosecution plans to seek the death penalty in the case. more protests in chicago -- as demonstrators call on chicago's mayor to resign. rahm emanuel says he will not step down -- after video shows a police officer shooting and killing a teen. it took a yar for that video to be released. yesterday, the mayor used a special meeting of the city i own it. i take responsibility we're going to fix it, i want you to understand it's my

since the video was released, the chicago police superintendent was fired.. this week... the head of the independent police review and the chief of detectives both stepped down. and now, a justice department investigation has been launched into the police department. a tense night onnthe road in alabama. an 18-wheeler carrying chemicals explodes. authorities say the driver stopped the truck, smelled something -- and then called 9-1-1. the semi later ploded. the interstate was shut down in both directions... and people living near the road were forced out of their homes. no one was hurt. rescuing a cat up a tree isn't a big dedel... unless the tree is 65-feet tall. people in chile organized a massive effort to bring the cat down. they ususd ladders, ropes and even a slide. when that didn't work, they set this

they climbed up with cage that had food and water. the cat finally came out. it haddbeen up there for two weeks. a man pulled over by police. he doesn't talk his way out of trouble... justin potter shows us the man in florida -- sang happennd to me, i'm b bing pulled my god i'm in trouble, i'm in trouble because she asked me what do i do when i gave her my license because i was dressed up, and i told her i'm a singer, i'm a gospel artist, and she was like stick, and there was action. you are so beautiful to me. and if it was 3 men, i would i loved it because it brought us together, and like i say, both of us left smiling and they made my day out there and i'm quite sure through that beautiful song that it made their day, so it to all the drivers out there, click it or ticket, or you better have

we still have a lot to get to this morning: including another alarming video about a popular gift right now. it went up in flames -- this ti in a mall. plus -- cyclone fans wait... and wait... and wait. they're camping out to get a great seat before a big game tonight. breezy south winds will become windy frfrm the southwest today, t it will help warm us up despite some clouds in the state. we stay mild, although not quite this warm as

the weekend, but we also have some rain to

team. see the screen for your complete weather information. here is additional forecast information from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team: it will be windy and warm today with mild weather into the weekend, although we will have the chans of rain increasing by saturday night.t.stormtrack7 live weather network cameras are pretty nice right now... they will get wet through the weekend. and it is warm... temps are already climbing... they are in the 40s to low 50s already this morning with much of the same across the state. south winds are helping out and they will pick up more as they turn to the southwest... they will stay gusty and will eventually turn more to the

clouds over us for the day and may squeeze out a few showers to our north. we could e a sprinkle or two over us, but most of the moisture will stay north. that system will track away from us, but another will track toward us tomorrow and saturday with another chance of showers by

limited. a much stronger system tracks in later in the weekend with more rain expected. temps will stay very mild today with highs in the 40s to 60s in theeidwest

tomorrow. today will be windy and warm with highs mainly in the mid to upper showers possible saturday with system tracks through tuesday with a chhnce of rain and snow. one little girl is keeping the post office very busy right now. we told you about her only christmas wish yesterday -- and this morning -- you'll see that wish come true. plus... diamonds may be a girl's best frirind... but right now, they're more important to families in need. a surprise donation to tell you about next. you're watching kwwl. we've got you covered in shellsburg,

dots witmornng -- a possible big breakthrough. a pesticide found in the milk supply years ago in hawaii could be connected to signs of parkinson's. researchers studied men for more than 30 years until thhy died. doctors say during their autopsies, they detected a

percent of those who drank the most milk. the pesticide is called heptachhor epoxide. more research is needed to prove a direct link. they seem to be one of the popular gifts right now -- but this may y ave some shoppers reehinking. a mall near seattle was evacuated this week after a hoverboard caught fire. a mall employee tries to put it out -- but not before smoke fills the area, forccng everyone to get out. nobody was hurt. it's a big night for college basketball fans right here in iowa. iowa state hosts iowa -- and cyclone fans have been waiting outside hilton for the best seats in the house. fans say its always worth it to camp out for the cyclones ... but are thrilled with the mild weather we're having right now. one brave little girl in new york.... is catching the attenenion of the thousands of people across the world. yesterday, we told you about the girl who was badly burned in a fire. now, she'' asking for ooy one

she wants christmas cards -- and people from all over the world are responding -- including this class in florida. because the kids got to learn about someone who was less feel better and lift her spirits." we firsstold you about the girl yesterday on today in iowa -- and some of you told us on twitter on she is now being flooded with cards. this video shows her reeeiving countless cards in the mail. if you'd like to send one to her, we've posted the address on our homepage in a story about her. along with the cards, ppple have also donated more than 150-thousand dollars to a you caring page for her. bellringing thistime of yea is nothing new... but what endedd up in a red kettle might be. in massachusetts, a diamond ring was dropped into a kettle.

dollars. "it's pretty heartwarming..to themselves." other cities have also seen jewelry being given anonymously. as a reender, you can catch us as we help team up with the salvation army. we're ringing bells -- and also having a friendly competition to se who cn raise the most money through our metal in the kettle ccmpetition. amanda was in cedar falls two weeks ago -- ringing a bell. i did so in cedar rapids last weekend. ron is in dubuque on saturday. and i'll be in coralville on the 1919h. we also have kettles online -- which you can donate to anytime. you can find that information on our website at kwwl- dot-com. the time now is... decking the halls can be fun... but it can also be a pain in the neck and back. we're checking out some holiday hazards next.

you this holiday season, but even

problems. mary moloney explains the holiday hazards when you and your family are decking the halls -- december of last year -- the americans were sent to emergency ooms -- stemming from problems with holiday decorations -- as in falls and back strains. the c-p-s-c also says some injuries were so severe -- 12 people lost their lies. to keep you and your family safe -- the commission warns two holiday staples -- candles and trees -- can cause fire risks. look at this menorah. candles put too close to drapes or other fabric -- can cause fire in seconds. "we never want to see unattended candles or candles that are too close to a tree or to any decorations or of course a tree too close to any type of radiatow or heat source." not watering a christmas tree -- also poses a danger. especially if it is decorated with lights. "you want to make sure that there are no exposed wires. any funny about the lihts, just throw them out and get a new one. get a new set." watch what happens with a simple spark on a dry the tree to burn -- but 7ithin 30 seconds -- the

also -- parents be mindful of young kids. place small ornaments outf their reach -- so children don't put them in their mououhs . and keep an eye on fragile or glass decorations. breaks can cause cuts and scratches. for consumer watch -- i'm mary moloney. today in iowa continues in a moment with the forecast from storm track seven meteorologist eileen loan.

check of your storm track seven forecast. windy and warm today with highs getting close to record highs. a on sunday... and it may be heavy another round possible on tuesday. it's and coming up on today in iowa.

eastern iowa library-- so much so -- it has to get rid of some billboard is bringing up a debate a call to remember the true meaning of christmas.

"you're watching kwwl.now on today in iowa... a daycare provider sentenced to prison in iowa... after she was caught on tape abusing children.

drivers and uber drivers gets