>> here we go. it's already starting. it's already starting. breaking overnight, a dozen people killed after a fast moving fire rips through a five story apartment building sending residents to the streets. reports children may be among the dead. >> icy blast, the dangerous freeze grips much of the nation as millions get set to ring in the new year. we'll have the forecast and what's in store for this new year's eve. >> presidential headlines, trump makes news on everything from the russia probe to the north korean threat in a spontaneous and wide ranging new interview. >> plus, a few lucky lottery players could enter 2018 rich beyond their wildest dreams. >> and some new yorkers bidding good riddance to 2017 in a special way. "early today" starts right now. >> good morning. i'm phillip mena.

>> and i'm richard lui, in for frances rivera. we begin today with tragedy out of new york city. 12 people dead including several children after a massive fire ripped through a five story apartment building in the bronx. four others were critically injured. now fighting for their lives. authorities now say this is the city's worst fire in terms of loss of life in a quarter century. here's nbc new york's ray have i era with the latest. >> reporter: when firefighters arrived around 7:00 thursday night, they were met with a chaotic scene near prospect avenue. nearly a dozen people on the fire scape and when they worked their way inside they were met with heartache, people dead inside, several units including a person found dead inside the bathtub. while it's too early to tell what the cause of this fire is, the heart break is starting to set in. the fire started on the first floor and authorities say it worked its way up like a chimney to all five floors, killing 12 people in its path. the youngest victim, a one-year-old.

>> i saw people being carried out of here today, guys. i just -- it's overwhelming. >> reporter: as doors opened and folks tried to evacuate, the fire may have spread working its way through all 25 apartments. inside the prospect avenue building. >> i saw smoke. i came back down. >> reporter: crews rushed to rescue people on fire scapes. the smoke the fire commanding the work of 200 firefighters. despite their work and flames and smoke, 12 died. >> hold your families close and keep these families here in the bronx in your prayers. he >> reporter: leaving a neighborhood heartbroken and neighbors in this bronx community devastated. >> the last thing i saw this afternoon when i pulled up from work was those two little kids throwing out the trash for their mother and they went back upstairs and not an hour or so later i'm seeing them being wheeled off. >> reporter: according to sources familiar with this investigation, we are told multiple children are among the deceased. their ages range from 1 to in their 50s. and many more are displaced trying to find shelter in this

incredibly cold weather. reporting from the bronx, i'm ray vieyyda, nbc news. >> bone chilling temperatures gripping the great plains and northeast. one person is dead after more than a thousand weather related crashes. erie, pennsylvania is digging out from more than 65 inches of snow that was dumped earlier this week as it braces for another round of winter storms that could bring inasmuch as ten more inches. for more on this arctic wave sweeping the country we bring in meteorologist michelle gross man. how is it looking out there? >> it's looking cold. cold air in place, cold air in place for a couple days now. dangerously cold air and we haven't seen the coldest yet. that is going to come on new year's eve. so, prepare for that. there is that arctic express from canada, it is going to continue to flow over the next several days reaching as far as the south. looking at the temperatures currently now, we're looking at 14 degrees in omaha, 14 in

cleveland, 18 degrees in raleigh. but the wind chill is something you really want to pay attention to. we're looking at temperatures that feel 24 below 0. that's what it feels like on your body and that's going to continue over the next several days. >> so, it's bad in canada but cold here. it's coming from canada, that's arctic express. >> about right. whatever it is, it is fleesing. >> the commander in chief made headlines in a new interview with "the new york times." sitting down with reporters for a 30-minute impromptu conversation, even his staff unaware of reportedly. the times reporting president trump believes special counsel robert mueller will, quote, treat him fairly, contradicting some members of his party who have waged a weeks long campaign to try to discredit mr. mueller and the continuing inquiry. the report continues saying, the president did not demand an end to the russia investigation swirling around his administration, but insisted 16 times that there has been no collusion discovered by the inquiry. and it seems that may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wide ranging and headline making interview.

for more let's go to nbc's edward lawrence in washington. edward, interesting part of it, many parts, but his team not knowing about it, at least some of them. >> reporter: you know, that was very interesting. but not surprising with this president. you know, in true president trump fashion, he did not hold back on this interview. let's get right into it. the president telling "the new york times" that this russia investigation makes the country look very bad, and puts the country in a very bad position. the sooner it's worked out the better it is for this country. the president further adding fuel saying that he has the absolute right to do what he wants with the justice department, which could include firing special counsel robert mueller. now, nbc's presidential historian says he has never seen a president like this before. >> nixon never would have said something like that as president, nor would any other modern president, and that's why i think what he said was ominous, bordering on shocking because you have this president making this claim that he can do whatever he wants with the

justice department. no other modern president would agree with that. he goes on to say he has the right to open or end an investigation. well, guess what investigation he's alluding to? >> and the president not stopping with this interview. he took to twitter. he actually mocked the global warming on twitter saying that global warming is -- actually new year's eve is going to be the coldest on record in the east. the president going on to talk about china, saying that china has sent oil to the north koreans. he added a threat to that, saying that if that continues, there cannot be a friendly solution to the north korean issue. richard? >> edward, thank you so much for that. >> as revellers prepare to bring in the new year in new york's times square, police are making preparations of their own. millions expect to hit the square safe as the ball drops. we turn to stephanie gosk. stephanie, good morning. >> reporter: hey there, philip. so, the new york city police department has shown just how

nimble they are in the past, responding to a whole spectrum of threats. this year it will be no different and in particular, two attacks in the last year, both of them very different, have changed the way new york city is going to be protecting times square this new year's eve. as the risers and barricades go up in times square, the new york police department announced it is taking new steps to protect the estimated 2 million people expected on new year's eve. >> as a result of the events of december 11th, we have prepared a tactical bulletin, a response to suicide bombers. >> reporter: the attempted suicide bombing on december 11th took place just steps away from times square in an underground walkway. in response to that failed attack, the n.y.p.d. says training for officers on duty new year's eve will include identifying would-be bombers, clearing crowds if they detect a threat, stopping the bomber with lethal force, and treating the wounded if a bomb goes off. there will also be detect ichlz

in t detectives in the many hotels after the shooting in las vegir a window to a concert crowd below killing 58 people, the worst mass shooting in modern u.s. history. positions.revious years we had this year along with those spotters they will be accompanied by snipers. >> reporter: in new york, revellers will also see the kinds of security measures that have now become standard at big gatherings. sanitation trucks filled with sand, heavily armed counterterrorism units, and vapor-sniffing dogs that can smell traces of explosives from a distance, measures that both protect and reassure. >> i think they've got it n.y.p.d., they know what they're doing. >> reporter: there have been calls from isis for attacks in the u.s. over the holidays. as there had been in the past, new york city officials say it amounts to propaganda. so far they know of no serious credible threats against the

city on new year's eve. phillip? >> all right, stephanie, thank you. >> let's talk money, gobs of it. some lucky lottery players could see a great late holiday present this weekend. both megamillions and power ball jackpots have reached $690 million combined. tonight's megamillions drawings has an estimated jack poll prize of $306 million which is the largest prize in the 13 year history according to lottery officials there. power ball jackpot is larger with $384 million big ones. >> all right. let's get another check of the weather from meteorologist michelle gross man. michelle? >> all right, we are looking at another cold day, frigid air out there. we are looking at an area of low pressure to help reinforce the cold air in place. we'll also bring snow to parts of the great lakes, eventually into the northeast by saturday. the good news it doesn't seem to be a big system. it's a quick moving system. clippers don't tend to hold a lot of moisture but it will reinforce the cold air that is

in place. let's take a look at saturday where we see an area of low pressure combining with this low that may bring precipitation along i.zf?

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and now that you do, please give at cancer.org. i may be leaving the senate, but i'm not giving up my voice. we still have a lot of work to do together on issues ranging from net neutrality to climate change. and we still have to be ready to speak out for economic justice, and to defend the truth. [cheering and applauding] >> that was soon-to-be former senator al franken giving his first public speech in his home state of minnesota since announcing his resignation from office following allegations of sexual misconduct. an emotional franken insisting while he may soon be out of the d.c. arena, he has no intention of remaining silent on the issues that drove him into public office in the first place. >> leading the news, federal

prosecutors say romania took over outdoor police surveillance cameras. they did it in the days just before president trump's inauguration last january. a federal complaint unsealed thursday says the cameras were unable to record video for several days until the problem was resolved. prosecutors say it was ransomware scheme and the alleged hackers were arrested earlier this month by romainian authorities. prosecutors will try to extradite two of them back to the united states. >> sad news this morning. actress rose marie best known as the wise cracking sally rogers on the 1960s dick van dyke show has died at the age of 94. rose marie began her career as a toddler, later going on to perform on broadway. television, radio and films. the family spokesperson said she had been resting in her l.a. home when a care giver found her not breathing. after news of her death broke, a tribute posted on her website said, heaven just got a whole lot funnier. indeed. >> just ahead, the hunt for a

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police in lima, ohio releasing this video of a brawl outside a waffle house restaurant there. they are seeking tips about the men and women involved, that fight breaking out at about 3:00 a.m. tuesday and ended before deputies arrived.

one female victim has come forward. a second fight breaking out in the parking lot in front of deputies leading to two arrests. >> investigators in upstate new york are on the hunt for a killer who murdered two children, their mother and her partner in what is being described as a gruesome killing. it is a murder mystery with no leads and has people in troy, new york on edge. nbc's gadi schwartz has details. >> reporter: police releasing pictures of the meyers and melz family. two children, two daults. the victims of mysterious killing. their bodies found in the basement of this apartment. those responsible still on the loose. >> after being in this business for almost 42 years, i can't describe the savagery of a person like this. >> reporter: 11-year-old jj and 5-year-old sha niece and her girlfriend were discovered by the apartment manager. her sister is devastated. >> it feels like somebody has ripped us to shreds. >> reporter: police haven't released the details of the crime, but the local paper reported the family was bound

and their throats slashed according to law enforce sources. >> we don't think there is some mad man running loose out there. there were indicators that led us to believe that this was a targeted act on this poor family. >> reporter: the quadruple homicide the reminder of a similar family massacre in 2014, the chin family killed in their homeless than ten miles away. but investigators say the two tragedies are unrelated, nevertheless those who live in this city along the hudson are rattled and afraid. >> that's terrible. i don't feel safe around here any more. >> reporter: now police trying to calm a community's fear while a family pleads for answers. >> i can tell you a million stories about my entire family, this is not about them. this is about the answers we deserve and we need. >> reporter: goddy schwartz, nbc news. >> when should you get a rid of that christmas tree, according to mariah carey? one skier, not how he finished

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guy? not an easy thing to do. >> on a snow board, not skis. >> not good for the knees. very talented. mariah carey's classic all i want for christmas is you, ryan see crest wondering when one should take down their tree. the grammy winning singer was quick to tweet back, to keep it up through independence day. >> carey's christmas hit is played every december across holiday play lists, movies, tv, everywhere you go making it the top selling digital song of all time. that is according to nielsen music. it has earned carey more than $60 million in royalty checks. it came out in 1994 and she is not done for the holidays. she's going to take the stage new year's eve in times square for dick clark's rocking eve. >> if you make $60 million, i'll keep up my tree. >> that song keeps getting more popular every year. incredible. all right. sometimes you do not know what

is going to happen on live television, as we know all too well. >> been there. >> and our own hallie jackson found out as well during an msnbc hit yesterday. three t-rexes stole the show when they were wrestling and stumbling around. she didn't seem to notice, though, what was happening behind her. later she did reference it on twitter saying at least it wasn't gators. after careful consideration i have decided not to endorse your park. that's a line there, classic line from the hit film jurasic park. >> folks are usually running toward you yelling things. >> it happens. >> random t-rexes. we have your frigid new year's eve forecast plus a rescue caught on camera you just have to see. season... give the gift of effortlessly smooth feet... from amope. amope pedi perfect with diamond crystals.

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rescued from the flames. firefighters rushed into the dangerous cold when a home catches on fire. five people including a firefighter are hurt. mum's the word. why the dangerous cold my silence a philadelphia new year's day tradition. safety and a celebration. the new steps new york city police are taking to keep millions of people safe when the ball drops. just a few minutes before 4:00 a.m. good morning, this is "nbc10 news today" first look at 4. i'm katy zachry. >> i'm dray clark. we've done it again -- that is, issued a first alert as the bitter and dangerous cold sticks around another day unfortunately. you'll want to again dress in layers as you head out and face the bone-chilling temperatures.

we'll get right to meteorologist steve sosna with the first alert forecast, the most accurate neighborhood weather forecast. steve? >> good morning, guys. a touch or sprinkle of good news. the first alert for today expires at 8:00 this morning. the reason why, the wind speeds will will be lightening up. we'll be looking at the dangerous conditions north and west of the city, the lehigh valley and poconos. it's through 8:00 this morning. again, it's the painful wind and dangerous conditions outside. if you're out for any extended period of time. here are the current feels-like temperatures. 6 in philadelphia, 2 in trenton. 5 in allentown. still, mt. pocono with the most extreme conditions at 12 below 0. if you're headed out and about, i would say this is the day to do it. later on today. we'll have sunshine, less wind. a manageable type of cold. once we get back into sunday, then, it is the bottom falling out once again for new year's eve.

conditions, cloudy across the suburbs, temperatures in the lower teens now. as you see, 11 degrees across a lot of chester county. 12 from lansdale to bluebell. 11 in warrington. planning your day, 9 is what it feels like at 7:00 a.m. 14, see, the improvement for you at lunch time. 16 at 6:00 tonight. it is tgif. let's see if the roads are doing any better than the weather. we'll check the traffic with my friend jessica boyington. good morning. >> thanks, good morning. we're watching in maple shade. we had an earlier crash that still has some disturbance on the roads. 73 approaching 295 southbound. here's 295, here's 73. a second ago on the southbound side i saw reports that it was still closed. the northbound side reopened after a closure in both directions. now we're worried about the southbound side. i'll keep watching that and watching the schuylkill expressway. so the schuylkill moving through center city around the vine street expressway, actually open.