fnd in an eastern iowa river is dentified by police as missing teen moe sed. we'll hear from religious leaders who are now comforting the family. plus... ouch. that's what a reporter tweets moments after he is one injjred at an iowa basketball game. and it turns out saint nick can speak in any language. we'll show you how he went the extra mile to communicate wwh these students. i'm ally crutcher. jerry has the day off. let's check on your weather now with storm track 7 meteorologist eileen loan. good morning. while cooler than yeeterday morning,

average... they are in the 30s this morning. winds will be lighter today... they are calm to 10 mph from the west this morning. clouds are starting to track into the viewing area, although weeill see some sun today, we will have quite a few clouds, too. as low level afternoon... highs will be in the mid 40s to mid 50s this afternoon. more rain is more on that in a few minutes. decision 2016... we have mixed news about donald trump this morning. one poll shows he's gaining ground. another shows his idea to ban muslims is unpopular. as tracie potts tells us - he as signs ddclaring him a "racist" go up at donald trump's "don't let the door hit you in street journal poll shows 77 percent of repvblicans like trump's style - "people are saying, you know, muslims is wrong. "he's a great politiciin but he's not a serious man." trump canceled his trip to israel amid cbiticism: "most people are relieved he's

than double ted cruz. "ultimately the decision is who has the right judgment." but can he win? "i believe the republican nominee is goi to be someone who can win the general election major polii endorsement and death penalty is going to happen, ok, can't go - we can't popularity... with ideas most trump: people like the issues he brings up, but not necessarily his solutions. tracie potts, nbc new, washgton. death penalty is going to donald trump... gaining popularity... with ideas most voters oppose. and that's the thing with trump: people like the issues he brings up, but not necessarily hisssolutions. tracie potts, nbc news, washington. trump s back in iowa today -- he's got a rally scheduled for

in des moines. senator marcc rubio is baak campaigning in iowa.. where he promised u.s. forces would never be involved in a "fair fight." as rubio told a veterans town hall meeting in des moines... he'd make sure american troopspsalways have superior resources and strategy in any conflict. the republican presidential candidate also promised extensive reform of the veterans administration... when i amampresident benefits are going to follow the veteran. the veteran is not going to have to follow the benefits. he later told reporters donald trump can't win a general election. rubio held 14 campaign events in iowa over the last two months. that far trails a rival he's increasingly jousting with - senator ted cruz. cruz has held 41 iowa events in the last two months. and speaking of cruz...a prominent iowa evangelical leader is now endorsing him. bob vander plaatsannounced his endorsement in des moines, calling cruz a "serious lader for serious times." vander plaats stresses it's a

behalf of the family leader, the group he leads... "people are moving on and they're looking and saying well believe that the eetraordinary leader that we need for r hese extraordinary times is u.s. senator ted cruz." vander plaats also called cruz the one candidate that can get the u-s out of what he called "the mess thth we're currrntly in." the endorsement comes as cruz sees his support growing in iowa. a recent c-n-n o- r-c poll shows 20 percent of likely iowa g-o-p caucus- goers back cruz. the body found in the cedar river is identified as that of missing waterloo teen moe sed. he was last seen in late october. a trapper found his body in the cedar river just north of gilbertville on sunday. the community came together in hope and prayer just weeks ago. those who led the pray service are w leading the amily through what they call the family's darkest day.

with moe's mother today she was to not be wondering is he out there somewhere, when will our son come home. they know where he s, there is a comfort in that." a memorial fund is being set up to help cover funeral costs. the family has tentative plans to lay moe sed to rere on sunday december 20th - -what would have been his birthday. moe sed's family releasing this statement. it says: "our family is not sure what to say as we grieve the loss of our son. we are thankful for the support of the police and sheriff's departments and the entire cedar valley community for the many ways everyoyoe came togethee to susuort our family during this difficult time." we also spoke to one of his teacher's who had this to say... "just utter devastation and sadness and we're the teachers went out to the parents and the famill"

the non-profit embarc helped organize those searches for moe. they say they're proud of the community for coming together during this tough time. police say a 32- yea-old stabbing victimmis out of surrery and in stable condition. authorities were called to the perkin's restaurant on university avenue in waterloo after a report of a man bleeding in the parking lot. they say he was involved in some soror of fight in the university avenue studios parking lot... on site, and it happened right outside their window, and they didn't hear or see anything, but it was 2 o'clock in the morning so." at this point -- no charges have been filed -- and police are talking to the people involved. a huge celebration in ames when the cyclones beat the hawkeyes on the basketball court -- but that celeleration came at a cost. this is des moines register columnist randy peterson. when students rushed the court, peterson broke his leg. he's in the hospital. he wasn''the only one hurt. an usher was knocked over,

carried out to an ambulance... was standing there and the the celebration on theecourt could come at a cost. in may the big 12- conference approved a a easure allowing the conference to punish schools who fail to prevent fans from storming the court. punishments can range from fines.. to the loss of future home games. the christmas, and hlliday season is filled with joyous music, beautiful sounds and wishes for things special... but for kids who can't hear... they often miss out on some of the magic... unless#they get to sit on the lap of a santa that communicates in their language... trina robinson has our story. christmas wishes signed directly to santa at the mall.. "i want something to hearing impaired children know first hand that st. nick got deaf world and-they are not the

will mimis a lot of what's going on in the hearing world songs and things like that." in addition, to listeng to the little ones christmas wants, nd dreams via sign language. santa already had gifts in hand ahead of december 25th.. "this is for you to be able to take home.. you will be able to color it.."." "any chance to see anta claus and especially to have a signing santa to communicate for the children who can't communicate orally is very, very special.." the hearing impaired children also snapped fun photos - to be with the deaf kids and goodbye but only until christmas eve when delivers their toys nd joys. directly to them. make snow angels. "l!st year, i volunteered to this - to be with the deaf kids and bet with h hem and be good experience for them."

goodbye but only until christmas eve en delivers their toys and joys. directly to o em. (nats: "bye santa!!") it's coming up on today in iowa -- a vikings running back scored his 1- hundredth career touchdown last night, but that's not the only milestone he achieved. plus... she wanted her father who is fighting overseas to come home before christmas. and that he did. cloud will increase today and we

"now your stoweather information. here is additional forecast

team: wi gusts into the 40s tracked through the state yesterday, but it will be less windy today with areas of drizzle tracking in. rain will move in tomorrow with heavy rainfall tomorrow night and sunday. stormtrara7 live weather network cameras will eventually show drizzle in the area later today. temperatures are running in the 30s over m mst of the vieeing area this morning with upper 20s to low 30s to the west. winds are light right now and will be mainly southeast at 5 to 15 mph today. a s`ries of fronts and lows willlltrack through the region over the next several days. this will increase

low level moisture and bing clouds and drizzle to the state today and tonight. a few in showers track in morrow with heavy rain heading our way for tomorrow night and sunday with the strongest low tracking toward us. rainfall amounts will stay light through saturday, but tart to piqk up saturday ight into sunday moring. cloudd will increase today y ith areas of drizzle. highs stay mild in the mid 40s to mid 50s. drizzle and fog tonight, possibly dense, with lows in the upper 30s to mid 40s. light rain showers tomorrow with highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s again and then the rain picks up. heavy rainfall saturday night and sunday with a few showers lingering into monday... but they

in with the next system tuesdayy afternoon with snow possible into wednesday. it too early to pin down snow amounts, but it looks like moisture will be more limited. temps cool into the low 30ssby thursday. picks up. heavy rainfall saturday night and sunday with a few showers lingering into monday... but they should stay rain. rain and snow showers track in with the next system tuesday afternoon with snow the naonal weather service confirms a tornado roared through washington state.

preliminary rating of e-f-one... with winds between 86 and 1-hundred 10 miles per hour. it's part of a asystem that's pummeled the pacific northwest causing flooding and landslides. it's coming up on today in iowa.... it's a sailor surprise. we'll show you a spepeal reunion between father and daughter. plus... it was one heck of a comeback last night at the iowa-iowa state basketball game. you're watching kwwl. we've got you covererd in hedrick, ollie,

bad news this morning for iowa hawkeye fans: iowa state claims the cy-hawk seriis for men's basketball. it wasn't an upset -- since iowa state ranks at number four in the nation -- but the cyclones were trailing the entire game -- until the very end. iowa state and iowa in the cy-hawk series--fran nd steve prohm facing off for the first time. the first half belonged to the hawkeyes. but after trailing by as many as 20, iowa state made a comeback, winning the game 83 to 82 meantime iowa ffotball player

iowa player ever to win the jim thorpe award. it's the award given to the nation's top defensive back. king had eight intercepttns thhs yearr here's what he had to say when asked why quarterbacks keep throwing at him... "umm, to be honest, i honestly don't know, but if they keep doing it, they just gonna keep getting intercepted." hawkeye fans certainly hoping for at least e more out of king this year when iowa takes on stanford in the rose bowl on new year's day. minnesota vikings running back adriaia peterson reached the endd zone and reached a milestone on the same run last night at arizona. it was his 1- hundredth career touchdown. that's not it: he also surpassed 12- hundred rushing yards for the season...it's the seventh time his career e reached 12-hundred yards in a season. the holiday spirit was alive and well last night in waverly for the annual "christmas greetis on ain" event. area businesses along bremer avenue utting out wiiow displays --ranging from carolers to charlie brown and company to the grinch himself. saint nick also making an appearance with kids waiting over an hour in line for their

"well i really like the music were also someeof the biggess hits. santa needs helping knowing who's naughty and nice -- and so does the iowa state patrol. for the last few days, a trooper with the iowa state e atrol would tweet what the trooper's elf on the shelf is up to. his name is trooper elf -- and as you can see he wears a state patrol bomber and fits pretty well in a pocket. trooper elf is alsls a big fan of holiday donuts... you can see these pictures on twitter by searching the hash tag trooper elf. a sailor surprise for one virginia elementary schooler. the sailor jujut returned homee from a nine month deployment as his daughter morgan sat quietly in her classroom. he admits he was "a little nervous" walking down the hallway, but nerves soon went away when daddy and dauuter were reunited... "i asked her the other night when she wanted me to come home enjoy the holidays and relax and be by my

this was his f furth deployynt. it's coming up on today in iowa -- besides bringing joy to the neighborhood, arereyour christmtms lights endangering pilots? we'll take a closer look at the risks coming up... and when you see news - or if you have pictures or video to share... you can do that by going to our page on facebook. you can also "like" our page to stay up to date on breaking news

you may have a laser light chirstmas isplay on yoor home, but these lights have recently caused problems for pilots across the country. shining a laser at a plane on purpose, is a federal offense but these lasers are likely unintentional, by people simply wanting to light up their homes ffr the holidds. kwwl's kristin rogers looked at "it's the most wonderful where christmas displays like this one are

their communities "i"ihope everybody has a merry christmas, and just have peace." but there's a new light in town... and you don't have to hang it up... (cg: kristin rogers) "this is what these ser lights look house like this one, but they can be very dangerous if pointed in the wrong direction." recently a pilot in texas reported seeing a laser, it was traced back to a christmas light didiplay... there was also a similar incident in california...the air traffic manager at the cedar jason mullet says his laser light projector is a new addition to his christmas display this year inexpensive way to make your house looolike you spent a lot of money on it." the federal aviation administration recently warned holiday decoraters abouthe lights on their facebook page... mullet says thought thought about it a little bit but when i looked at it it really doesn't pass over my roof but may if they're flying this way wouldn't effect them but maybe if they're flying this way

that is a concern." air traffic control at the cedar rapids airport say there have not been any reports of this in the area but it's certainly something to be aware of as mny people in the community have these lights.... today in iowa continues in a

36-6-undred peopleetook part "building" the largest human christmas tree in the world. this happened in portugal wednesday night. in was a cold night, but they all danced in a warmup exercise before assembling to form the shape of a tree. now, there will have to bea

sent to the guinness world records authorities to prove that the record was achieved. eileen loan is back with another check of your storm track seven forecast. not as windy today, but we will have drizzll acking through today and tonight. tonight areas of fog may be dense. light rain morning with rain and snow it's and coming up on today in iowa. firefighters battle a fire at the same house for the third time this year. are the firefighters thinking it's arson? plus... we'll tell you why you can expect busier airports and fuller planes this holiday travel season. more on that in our next hour of

"you're watching kwwl. we've got you covered. this is today in iowa." now on today in iowa... it's being called a medical mystery. doctors don't know what's wrong with this eastern iowa boy. plus... the terrorist group isis now leading to changes at an and new footage shows a bald eagle telling "the donaldd who's boss. good morning, i'm ally crutcher.