good morning. breaking overnight. the pentagon acknowledges defense secretary ash carter used his personal e-mail account to conduct government business, and kept doing it, even as the hillary clinton e-mail scandal was unfolding. carter now admitting it was a mistake. but the question this morning, why didn't he know better? late night confession. >> i've been a little bit divisive, in the sense that i've been hitting people pretty hard. >> a little bit, yeah. >> a rare admission from donald trump as he tells jimmy kimmel he'd like to see republicans come together. but hours earlier, it was vintage donald. >> i had jeb come at me.

he said it just the way his pollster told him to say it. >> this morning, how bush is responding. sucker punched. a 17-year-old lands a left hook on the spanish prime minister. it left that mark. the teen tackled to the ground and in custody, facing serious charges. and not so far, far away. the opening of "star wars: the force awakens," just hours from now. the fans already lining up. one member of our team may be a bit too excited today. thursday, december 17th, 2015. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning, everybody. welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. >> spoiler alert. the stormtrooper --

welcome back, buddy. want to take the helmet off? >> really? >> held hello, everybody. welcome. coffee. excited for "star wars." great to be back, guys. >> great to have you back. >> thank you. >> we'll get to all things "star wars" in a bit. first, the revelation that defense secretary ash carter used his personal e-mail for work-related matters, and he was doing that after hillary clinton came under fire for doing the same thing while she was secretary of state. let's go to jim at the pentagon. what can you tell us about this? >> savannah, given the uproar over doing official government business on your own personal e-mail, it's difficult to imagine any top government official would actually do that. the pentagon now admits that defense secretary ash carter did just that. according to the officials, it was shortly after he was sworn in as defense secretary in

his private e-mail to conduct some official business. now, according to the officials, there was no classified information, no secrets in any of these e-mails. but nevertheless, it violated regulations. months after he started doing that, the scandal broke on capitol hill about secretary clinton's exclusive use of e-mails for her business while she was secretary of state. it launched a huge political neverthe nevertheless, we're told despite the scandal, carter continued to use his personal e-mail to do official business for at least two months. officials here stress that no secrets, no classified information was contained on any of those e-mails. but the fact that he would even do it raises questions about his own personal judgment, savannah.

thank you very much. we have new information this morning tied to the san bernardino shooting. federal prosecutors have decided to bring criminal charges against the man who purchased some of the rifles that were actually used in that attack. let's turn to n bc justice correspondent pete williams. tell us more. >> matt, good morning. several federal law enforcement officials tell nbc news the first criminal charges to stem from the san bernardino mass shootings could be filed as early as today. officials say the charges will be brought against enrique marquez, a long-time friend and former neighbor of syed farook. investigators said marquez bought the rifles three and four years ago that were used in the shooting. marquez told them he did this as a favor, so that farook wouldn't be on record as the purchaser or go through a background check. marquez told the fbi he and farook talked about conducting

off after unrelated terror arrests in southern california. jim comey said agents found no connection between farook and the people arrested back then. comey also said despite reports to the contrary, investigators have found no social media postings by tashfeen malik in the months before she came to the u.s. that means the state department and homeland security officials who reviewed her background before giving her a fiance visa did not miss any publicly available social media postings. all her statements in support of jihad, comey said, were in private messages or e-mails. as for marquez, officials said he agreed to be interviewed by the fbi for several days without a lawyer, even though it's been clear almost since the beginning, he could be charged with a crime, at the least, for buying the guns for farook. matt? >> pete williams on the story for us. thank you very much. president obama will travel to san bern dee ardino tomorrow to meet

before heading to hawaii for the first family's christmas vacation. the department of homeland security is adding a third warning level to the terrorism level. the bulletin level allows the public to be aware of any terror threats. it includes actions the government is taking and suggestions what the public should do in response. the former system had two levels, elevated and imminent. officials say the change has been in the planning stages for months and is not in response to a specific or credible threat. to politics now. donald trump's feud with rival jeb bush spilled over on to the campaign trail. during a late night appearance, the republican front runner appeared to have a change of heart and a new message for his party. peter alexander has more. good morning to you. >> good morning. donald trump is picking up where the debate left off, swatting at jeb bush, insisting he doesn't want bush's endorsement.

statement, jeb doesn't represent strength, power and stamina, needs. >> reporter: donald trump marking six months in the race. almost all of them atop the gop field, the same way he spent much of the time on tv. overnight with jimmy kimmel. republican party come together, and i've been a little bit divisive, in the sense i've been hitting people pretty hard. >> a little bit, yeah. >> reporter: rallying supporters in arizona, trump dismissed critics who said he was a showman. >> somebody said, trump is an entertainer. that's a [ bleep ]. >> reporter: and bashed jeb bush after bush got under trump's skin in tuesday's debate. >> this is a tough business, to run for president. >> oh, yeah, jeb. i had jeb come at me. he said it the way his pollster told him to say it. >> reporter: bush is confident he cracked the trump code. >> he's not a serious candidate.

feel compelled to point it out, but i did. >> reporter: with trump and cruz dominating the race, the establishment lane, anti-trump, may be up for grabs. with bush and chris christie delivering strong performances, and marco rubio bouncing between iowa and new hampshire wednesday with hallie jackson, defending accusations from cruz he's too moderate on immigration. >> i've always been at the right. i'm a consistent conservative -- >> that is ted cruz's campaign slogan. >> i have been more for than just the years in the senate. >> reporter: cruz questioned on fox news about his support for immigration reform in 2013. >> it doesn't mean that i supported the other aspects of the bill, which was a terrible bill. >> reporter: insisting his position hasn't changed. >> i categorically oppose amnesty. i want to secure the borders. >> cruz, rubio and the others

trump moves forward. he was taken aback by his support. several of thousand people in the crowd in arizona during the day, saying something is going on and it's beautiful to see. >> peter, thank you very much. big news in the economy. historic move by the federal reserve, raising key interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade. chairwoman janet yellen saying it marked an extraordinary period. >> the economic recovery has clearly come a long way, although it is not yet complete. but with the economy performing well, and expected to continue to do so, the committee judged that a modest increase in the federal funds rate target is now appropriate. >> nbc's olivia stearns is here to explain what it means. it's the end of an era. good morning. >> what this means for people at home is it's going to get a little more expensive to borrow money. the fed raised their interest

economy are pegged to by 1/4 of 1 percentage point. they're doing this because they're saying the economy is ready to stand on its own two feet after seven years of 0% interest rates. still, rates extremely low and supportive of lending in the economy. one sign that we were actually ready for it, wall street rallied on the back of this news. the dow jones shot up 200 points. it's a signal that even investors think we can cope with slightly higher rates. >> what happens now? will we see more rate hikes? >> all eyes on the fed's next news conference that is coming up in march. the question there is, will janet yellen move to raise rates again? she said repeatedly yesterday, he'll only continue to raise interest rates gradually and only if the economy continues to improve. if we see a selloff on wall street, bad jobs reports, she's likely not to move and move gradually throughout the year.

market accelerates, growth accelerates, inflation picks up, she's likely to raise rates at a quicker pace. she expects to raise rates 1% over the next three years. >> keep an eye on it for us. thank you so much. >> thanks, olivia. in other news, protesters took to the streets of baltimore last night, hours after a mistrial was declared in the freddie gray case. demonstrators remain peaceful, but at one point, they tried unsuccessfully to block the interstate. on wednesday, the judge announced a hung jury in the manslaughter trial of william porter, the first of six officers to stand trial in connection with freddie gray's death while in police custody. new video shows the fatal police shooting of an ax-wielding student at a university in north texas. stephanie gosk has that story. >> it happened on sunday.

cam video of the incident, shortly after university officials named unt police officer steven bean, as the officer involved. >> reporter: police dash cam video released overnight shows an officer with the university of north texas fatally shooting a student on sunday. the shooting happened around 1:30 a.m., when the officer responded to a call about a man smashing car windows inside a parking garage near the campus. sophomore ryan mcmillen can be seen walking toward the officer with a small ax in his hand. the officer repeatedly telling mcmillen to back away, while mcmillen says, "shoot me" over and over. nbc news paused the video so it doesn't show the actual shooting. this is the confrontation. >> hey, hey, back away. back away. >> excuse me. >> back away. back away from me now. >> shoot me! shoot me!

>> reporter: the officer radios the station. >> i've got a white male down with an ax in his hand. >> reporter: the officer has been on the police force for four years. he's been placed on routine leave, as the investigation into the incident gets underway. ryan mcmillen was a pre-hospitality major. he turned 21 last saturday. some students say they don't believe lethal force was necessary. >> if you're given a gun, you should be trained to know how to use that gun in a way that you're not just going to kill people without absolute necessity. >> the medical examiner is still conducting the autopsy. among the questions is whether ryan mcmillen was under influence of alcohol or drugs when the shooting took place. >> stephanie, thank you very much. we have breaking news this morning tied to the pharmaceutical world and the ceo who was making headlines a short time ago. nbc's justice correspondent pete williams back with that. pete?

several reports this morning say martin martin shkreli was taken into custody this morning, but they say these were securities charges. it's a federal investigation related to his former hedge fund. the fact he was under investigation had been reported earlier. this apparently stems from his time as the manager of a hedge fund called msmb capital management. and the chief executive of biopharmaceutical company retrophin incorporated. this is not related to the controversy that got him into hot water, jacking up 5,000%, the cost of a life-saving aids drug. >> pete, thank you very much. back to that video we showed you at the top of the show. the spanish prime minister stop on wednesday. watch the middle of your screen. you can see a 17-year-old boy

in the face with his left hand. he was hit so hard, his glasses flew off. he staggered but didn't fall. he had a red mark on his face. his attacker was quickly detained. >> scary they got so close to him. >> yeah. christmas, eight days away. the holiday travel rush is about to take off. new numbers show u.s. airlines are headed for their best year ever with big profits. what does that mean for you the next time you fly? nbc's tom costello is at washington's reagan international airport with more on this. >> good morning. all the low prices we're paying at the gas pump, they're helping to pump up the prices and the profits for the airlines. best year on record. guess what? even if you're a procrastinator, you can still find a good deal if you're flying home for the holidays. >> reporter: profits are taking off. for airlines that once flew for peanuts, up 75% in just one

per passenger profit soaring almost 60%. airlines now make more than $20 for each person on the plane. that's up from $13 last year. add $56 million in bag and change fees, and for profits, it seems the sky is the limit. >> it seems like it's excessive. hundreds of dollars just to move from a 4:00 flight to a 1:00 >> we're going slight light. we didn't have baggage fees. >> you buy a ticket, then there's additional fees. >> reporter: airlines are passing the buck back to consumers. fare compare.com found last-minute deals for christmas. $187 round trip. $257 for d.c. to dallas. miami to dallas, $241. you don't have to wing it. book now. air fares for the last three weeks of january and most of february are at five-year lows.

destinations and those three-day weekends. >> fly on the cheapest days. tuesday, wednesday and saturday. you'll always find a decent deal. >> reporter: giving airlines a lift, all the extra fees and falling fuel prices. this year, play paid $45 billion less to gas up those planes. the airlines argue they're reinventing their profits, just like other big companies, apple or starbucks. >> airlines are doing the same thing with new planes, seats, new apps for your phone, making the travel experience better. >> listen to this, on an inflation adjusted basis, air fares today are 10% lower than they were in 2000. that's what the airline industry says. however, that doesn't include all the extra fees we pay today. back to you. >> tom, thank you very much. i'm one of these people who wants airlines to make a profit to reinvest in better planes and better service. >> for years, they couldn't make a profit. in terms of economics, i think it's good they are making money.

the case of a texas teenager. a child described as too rich to have to pay for his actions. two years ago, ethan couch killed four people in a drunk driving crash. he received ten years probation, after his attorney's coined the term, after fluenza. natalie picks up the story. >> an arrest warrant is issued for ethan couch after he failed to appear for a probation hearing that would have tested him for drugs and alcohol. his absence coinciding with the controversial video that recently surfaced online. >> reporter: this morning, frustrated authorities are on the hunt for ethan couch, the young man infamously known as the affluenza teen. >> frustration is is mild word for what most of us feel. >> reporter: ethan's case gained worldwide attention when, after killing four people while driving drunk near ft. worth,

didn't understand the consequences of his actions because of his family's affluence. he was given probation. recently, ethan missed a meeting with his probation officer. authorities believe he's on the run, moss poss my ibly with his mother. >> hate to say i told you so, but i did. >> reporter: ethan was 16, driving with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. >> there's another child in the ditch. >> reporter: his affluenza defense devastated the victim's families all over again. >> boyle lost two family member s s. >> it's dirlt fficult to talk about.

they're investigating this video that was released, appearing to show ethan playing beer pong. the officer has been unable to make contact with ethan or his mother, and authorities are seeing if he violated terms of his probation. outrage is growing on social media. one posting, rich kids are always exempt from consequences. another, find ethan couch and lock him up. >> somewhere in this part of the world, we'll find him. i don't think he's gone a short distance. >> if authorities find ethan and he violated his probation, he could find himself in jail for up to ten years, guys. >> natalie, thank you very much. let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. >> we're talking about a christmas coming up that could be the warmest in living memory. i mean, it is going to be country. in fact, this is the temperature departures.

15, 25, even 30 degrees above average. overnight christmas lows, record lows, washington, charlotte, ind indianapolis indianapolis, we're coming close. northeast, record warm lows. look like we could see this. for christmas day, we'll probably see record highs in portland, boston, new york city, philadelphia and, as we make our way from chicago, washington, raleigh, atlanta, and memphis, all most likely seeing record highs for christmas. that's what's going on. we'll get it's that night of the year you come here. looking for gifts so there won't be tears. eleventh hour shopper...that's you. it's ok because they know you. they're loaded up with gear. an xbox for the children. and a mixer for your dear. no need to shop around for present you've missed it's all here. you're off the naughty list! eleventh hour shopper... that's you! see you next year, buddy!

walmart. >> bri: good morning, everybody. clouds throughout the day today. possibly some light drizzle and steady showers move in this afternoon. there will be some areas of fog. pack your patience for that evening commute. highs 44 to 50 degrees, closer to 50 south of the mass pike. and a look at that on -- 7 on 7 forecast shows more seasonable temperatures for the weekend, but then we >> that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you so much. coming up, yahoo! ceo under fire again. should she have thrown a multi-million dollar party for employees as her company struggles struggles? what if you're stranded in a winter storm? jeff rossen on what you can buy for $30 that could be the difference between life and death.

nbc. welcome, to the simply orange tour. this is our plant. these are our workers. and this, is upper management. but what you won't find around here, is any freezing, flavoring, or concentrating. which brings us to our end product. simply orange. honestly simple. that's just the night watchman.

building a better bank starts with looking at something old, like this... and saying, "really?" so capital one built something new - caf\s. where you can unwind with free wi-fi and banking advice, without all the mumbo jumbo. free checking accounts. no minimums, fees or gimmicks. and a top-rated banking app that lets you handle your financial needs... right here. that's banking reimagined.

coming up, tonight's the night. carson gets us ready for the new "star wars." plus, the good times we've ( ) just head around the corner to walgreens when you' re searching for that perfect little something. walgreens has great gifts like toys, beauty gift sets, and photo gifts, and it' s all just a hop, skip, and a bark away. x this week, save 30% on photo gifts. i decided to tell the story of our life together... spoiler alert: we live happily ever after. at jared, we only sell one piece of jewelry... ...the pandora bracelet you had created just for her. and it's waiting for you...

john kasich's an impatient rascal. paces, pushes. but, unlike some, his state is now booming. unlike some, john kasich has proven he can do the job. brought back jobs from mexico and china. keep us safe, make us boom. because he's done it before. only an impatient rascal can bring america back. john kasich. new day for america is responsible for the content of this advertising. >> this is 7news now. >> christa: good morning, everybody. 7:26.

downtown boston, we welcome bri eggers with a check of our forecast. >> bri: good morning, christa. clouds sticking around throughout the day today. steadier rain will move in this afternoon, basically about after 3:00 for most of us. temperatures stay cool. areas of fog forming as well, so pack the patience for that evening commute. it looks to be a little wet and possibly a little slow. >> christa: bri, thank you. a check of your top stories now. fans are gearing up for the nationwide premier of "the force awakens." that includes locally. if you plan on attending the premier, you may want to leave your props home. most theaters say props are okay, but many are saying to leave masks and promise that look like weapons at home. an explosive discovery at a warehouse in boxborough. boxes of dynamite. bomb squad units arrived quickly and detonated the explosives. officials say there were six boxes that were highly volatile because they were nearly a quarter century old.

7:30 now on a thursday morning. 17th day of december, 2015. big crowd on the plaza. probably some "star wars" fans out there. ready to see the force "force awakens." we'll get out and say hi in a little while. let's take a look at stories making news now. dozens of protesters took to the streets in baltimore following the mistrial in the case against the first of six officers charged in the death of freddie gray. lawyers were expected to meet

dates for a possible retrial. there is a new e-mail controversy in washington. the pentagon acknowledging defense secretary ash carter used a personal account to conduct official business. it happened during secretary carter's first month on the job, even as hillary clinton was under fire for doing the same thing. a pentagon spokesperson said the practice has been stopped and it was a mistake. parts of the midwest are starting to wind down. the snow and ice leading to several deadly accidents. nearly two-day closure of a 350 mile stretch of a highway in wyoming and hundreds of cancelled flights. yahoo! yeo is in the hot seat again for an elaborate anniversary bash, reportedly costing millions, even as her country struggles. erica hill has the story. >> during the dot com boom,

today, those events not only lots of questions. >> reporter: it's a scene that looks a lot like tech parties in the high flying '90s, but this is 2015. anniversary. the roaring '20s theme with a speak speakeasy and costumes out of the "great gatsby." that's ceo marissa mayer posing with employees on a lavish set. >> it's a company trying to write itself versus having this lavish party, where it looks like you don't have a care in exstrav ex exstrav ex lot. >> reporter: employees thanked

criticized the spending. shareholder eric jackson raises concerns about the future of the company saying, quote, a change in ceo must be made now. accusing mayer of misallocate ing $10 billion in capital, and pointing to costly perks for employees. like $450 million in free food. a source familiar with the party tells nbc news the cost was closer to $2 million. still, industry watchers say the optics and very public pressure from shareholders are a serious threat to mayer's job security. >> yahoo! >> reporter: yahoo! launched in 1996 as a web portal and search engine, growing to become one of the most visited websites before struggling in recent years. its stock plummeting 34% in the past year alone.

>> reporter: yahoo! hired mayer in 2012. she was pregnant with her first child at the time. her decision to take two weeks of maternity leave, sparking a national conversation. shortly after the party, pick ictures were taken, she had a baby girl. >> this is the time she has to prove to shareholders and employees she has what it takes to keep the company going. >> yahoo! declined to comment on the holiday party or the removal. when announcing her pregnant earlier this year, mayer indicated she'd take a limited maternity leave and work throughout the leave. it's important to note during her tenure, yahoo! has upped paid leave for 16 weeks for moms and 8 weeks for dad. >> you have to put all the costs in perspective. but the optics of that --

even if it costed $70,000, it >> thank you very much. let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by walmart. stop by a store or visit us at walmart.com to share wonder every day. >> we're looking at a frontal system that's going to be pushing in showers to the northeast. heavier thunderstorms as you get to the south. rm warm, moist air ahead. colder air behind it. tonight, we'll be looking at heavier thunderstorms through atlanta. airport delays today from atlanta north to boston, as the afternoon wears on. rainfall amounts, thoroughly light, though we could see an inch around new york city all the way back to charlotte. lighter amounts to the east. then look what happens. we'll see colder air filtering in. lake-effect snow lake-effect snow setting up. through sunday, 18 inches of snow potentially.

>> bri: good morning, everybody. clouds throughout the day today. possibly some light drizzle and steady showers move in this afternoon. there will be some areas of fog. pack your patience for that evening commute. highs 44 to 50 degrees, closer to 50 south of the mass pike. and a look at that on -- 7 on 7 forecast shows more seasonable temperatures for the weekend, >> that's your latest weather. savannah? >> al, thanks. and you have a great story coming up. paying it forward to someone. >> yeah. first, a special rossen reports. >> good morning. i'm jeff rossen. it happens every winter. a storm hits and drivers get stranded in their cars. how do you survive? are you supposed to get out of the car and go for help? do you keep the car on or off? we have all the tips you need to

here. plus, the emergency kit you can buy right now for less than $30. the snow is starting to fall... and all the decorations are just right. the presents have all been opened... and our loved ones are gathered all around. so share that extra joy in your heart... and make this christmas even more special than the last. walmart has everything you'll need for a christmas meal they'll never forget. share wonder every day. walmart. get to kohl's saturday for early bird specials starting at 6am! like $49.99 pendants men's jackets - $39.99 save on throws and kid's sleepwear too plus

take an extra 15 or 20% off with your savings pass! this saturday at kohl's the flu virus. it's a really big deal. aches, and chills, mom knows it needs a big solution: an antiviral. don't kid around with the flu, call your doctor within the first 48 hours of symptoms and ask about prescription tamiflu. its source with tamiflu, an antiviral r in the body. tamiflu in liquid form is fda approved p weeks of age and older whose flu symptoms started within the last two days. before taking tamiflu tell your doctor if you're pregnant, nursing, have serious health conditions, or take other medicines. if you develop an allergic reaction, a severe rash, or signs of unusual behavior, stop taking tamiflu and call your doctor immediately. children and adolescents in particular may be at an increased risk of seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior. the most common side effects are mild

anti-flu? go antiviral with tamiflu. (politely) wait, wait, wait! you can't put it in like that, you have to rinse it first. that's baked-on alfredo. baked-on? it's never gonna work. dish issues? trust your dishwasher with cascade platinum. it powers... through... your toughest stuck-on food. better than finish. cascade. [ laughter ] [ male announcer ] for tim and richard smucker, giving a gift

always made the holidays just a little bit sweeter. we forgot to put our names on them! richard, i think they'll know who it's from. thank you boys. you're welcome. you're welcome. [ male announcer ] happy holidays from our family to yours. i love christmas! the bold nissan rogue, with intuitive all-wheel drive. because winter needs a hero.

for up to 60 months on the 2015 nissan rogue. nissan. innovation that excites. you never know when it'll be your moment to shine. so don't trust your smile to any regular toothpaste. improved crest 3dtwhite brilliance removes 5 times morerstains than the red box. try the whole collection for a smile that gets you noticed. 7 :41. time for our jeff rossen series, save a life. >> jeff rossen shows you what to do if you become stranded on a winter road trip. jeff, good morning. >> good morning to you. this happens all time. we see it on the news.

litter the side of the road, people trapped inside. i think to myself, come on, it'd never happen to me. it turns out, it's happening to people just like you and me, from small towns s s to the biggest cities. what are you supposed to do? this morning, the simple tips to save your life. >> reporter: the big storm hits and, suddenly, you're stranded. it happened just days ago to this family. their car got stuck in deep snow in the oregon mountains on their way to go sledding. >> i was, like, trying to stay calm. my anxiety kicked in, and i was thinking the worst. >> reporter: after nearly 24 hours, a group of snowmobilers found them. it's not just the middle of the mild wilderness. it's happened outside of atlanta. >> i had one bottle of water, half a tank of gas left. >> reporter: on i-65 in kentucky. >> i was melting ice and snow to drink. >> reporter: even in the middle of lake shore drive in chicago. >> if they don't get me in

covered completely in snow and i could be barricaded under here. >> reporter: drivers trapped for days, unprepared, desperate to stay alive. what do you do if you're stranded? >> to show you how to save your life, we've come to frigid utah. it is cold here. this is cray si tracy christiansen. my instinct is i would stay in the car and get out to get help. >> that's one of the biggest mistakes, leaving your car. stay in the car. >> why? >> it's cold out there. you can die from hypothermia. >> you say rescuers have a better chance of finding the car than a random person on the road. >> we will find you in you're in the vehicle. >> reporter: should you run the engine or save gas? >> run your car ten minutes an hour to stay warm. make sure you're conserving fuel. you could be here for the long haul. it is okay to run your car. >> ten minutes every hour. >> another tip, always make sure

free from snow so you don't suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning. >> never sleep alone in a running car? >> exactly. it's a recipe for disaster. >> reporter: the life and death decisions begin before you leave your house. you can buy the bare essentials for less than $30. >> you can pick this up anywhere. >> what do we have? >> couple things are really important. at least a liter of water, snacks and fruit, batteries, hand warmers. >> those are cheap in the store. >> they're great. super important. >> one of the most important things to have. a little bit of warmth. wrap this around yourself, keep your core temperature warm like this. are with >> with these tips and minimal equipment, you can stay alive for 24 to 48 hours. >> yes. and we will find you. >> just to give you an idea how

freezing. >> holly: hypothermia can set in within 30 minutes. tell someone where you're going and how to get there. >> years ago, i got stuck on the highway between boston and providence, rhode island, for four hours. it was a long four hours. >> did you have a blan et ket? >> no, but you think about your fuel everything. >> before cell phones? >> back in your day. we know how long ago that was. >> thank you. just ahead, the wedding proposal so grand, it shut down a major interstate. the hot waters that landed the groom to be in. next, carson's ready. are you? are new "star wars" in theaters tonight. how far some fans are going to keep their friends from spoiling it for them. savannah has seen it.

when neil lane creates a ring for today's biggest stars... ...it looks fabulous from every angle. and for kay jewelers... ...he does the exact. same. thing. yes! neil lane bridal -- vintage-inspired rings at kay, the number one jewelry store in america. every kiss begins with kay. it's the kay jewelers save the best for last event! with up to 30% off storewide... ...now is the time to find her the best gift at an incredible price. so hurry in... ...and save up to 30% at kay... ...the number-one jewelry store in america. if you struggle with type 2 diabetes, you're certainly not alone. fortunately, many have found a different kind of medicine that lowers blood sugar. rimagine what it would be like to love your numbers.

. it's the #1 prescribed in the newest class p of medicines that work with the kidneys to lower a1c. rinvokana is used along with diet and exercise tto significantly lower blood sugar t in adults with type 2 diabetes. p it's a once-daily pill that works around the clock. here's how: p the kidneys allow sugar to be absorbed back into the body. p invokana reduces the amount of sugar allowed back in rand sends some sugar out t through the process of urination. r and while it's not for weight loss, it may help you lose weight. r invokana can cause important side effects, including dehydration, p which may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, r or weak especially when you stand up. other side effects may include tkidney problems, genital yeast infections p urinary tract infections, changes in urination, p high potassium in the blood, or increases in cholesterol.

if you have r severe kidney problems or are on dialysis. r stop taking and call your doctor right away r if you experience symptoms such as rash, rswelling, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. r tell your doctor about any medical conditions, medications you are taking, r and if you have kidney or liver problems. tusing invokana with a sulfonylurea ror insulin may increase risk of low blood sugar. it's time. lower your blood sugar with invokana . imagine loving your numbers. there's only one invokana . ask your doctor about it by name. (music) woman: i' ll never remember all the projects, presentations, or meetings i gave up my nights for. (music' s drums intensify) but days like this, i'

in the 2016 ford escape. be unstoppable. this is my fight song take back my life song (music) it's that night of looking for gifts so there won't be tears. eleventh hour shopper...that's you. it's ok because they know you. they're loaded up with gear. an xbox for the children. and a mixer for your dear. no need to shop around for present you've missed it's all here. you're off the naughty list! eleventh hour shopper... that's you! see you next year, buddy! get low prices on all your last-minute gifts.

in case you haven't heard, the new "star wars" film opens in a few hours. >> so excited. fans are ready. carson is in his costume. it's like the "star wars" bar over there. >> it's so much fun. hold on. there we go. got stuck there. let's just talk about what people are doing right now all across the country. this is a really genius idea. they're having these marathon screenings, where people are flooding the theaters and they'll watch all seven movies back to back. they've got the guy doing the "star wars" theme on the organ mood. this is hitting social media, as it's rolled out internationally.

in different languages. i would fit into the movie theater. people are going pressed up. my theory is that's brad pitt in los angeles, the only way he could possibly see this movie. joining me now, the great chewbacca. chewy is a little smaller in the orange room than in real life. does everybody know who you are, chewy? want to do a reveal? >> i have stilettos. >> it's natalie, everybody. >> that's impressive. >> we're excited. we know everybody else is >> hot. >> "star wars" fever. >> are you gargling? >> can i reveal a secret talent of our audio guy in joe, one more. >> you have to hear natalie's. >> joe?

gargling red wine. >> like last night. >> i heard. >> thank you. >> wonderful. first time coughing...sniffling... and wishing you could stay in bed all day. when your cold is this bad... ...you need new theraflu expressmax. theraflu expressmax combines... maximum strength medicines available without a prescription... ...to fight your worst cold and flu symptoms... ...so you can feel better fast and get back to the job at hand. new theraflu expressmax.

lilly. she pretty much lives in her favorite princess dress. but once a week i let her play sheriff so i can wash it. i use tide to get out those week old stains to get it fresh and soft. you are free to go. tide and downy together. discover card and my fico credit score's on yeah! we give you your fico credit score. for free! awesomesauce! that is... lisa? julie? we've already given more than 175 million free fico credit scores to our cardmembers. apply today at discover.com just fifteen minutes and a little imagination are all you need to make holiday magic. (microwave) ding! chex party mix. it's what the holidays are made of. if you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis like me... and you're talking to a rheumatologist about a biologic,

helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. this is humira helping me reach for more. doctors have been prescribing humira for more than 10 years. humira works for many adults. it targets and helps to block a specific source of inflammation that contrubutes to ra symptoms. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. talk to your doctor and visit humira.com

feel a cold coming on? new zicam cold remedy nasal swabs shorten colds with a snap, and reduce symptom severity by 45%. shorten your cold with a snap, with zicam. [ dog barks ] [ bark ] there it is! [ gasps ] oh no! look, the sky's awake! that. was. epic!

announcer: a horrific terror attack in paris. then, a brutal act of terror here at home. it's time for a tested and proven leader who won't try to contain isis. jeb bush has a plan... to destroy them. and keep america safe. jeb bush: the united states should not delay in leading a global coalition to take out isis with overwhelming force. announcer: tested and proven leadership matters. jeb bush. right to rise usa is responsible for the content

>> this 7news now. ism good morning, everyone. it's 7:57 on this thursday morning. let's send it over the bri eggers. >> bri: clouds throughout the day today and we're looking for more steady rain showers to move in as we work into the afternoon. it looks like after 3:00 p.m. and we could also see some areas of fog. 44 to 50 degrees today and even cooler weather in store for the weekend. sarah? >> sarah: taking a look at today's top stories, crews working to clean up a house of squalor in jamaica plain. it all started when a woman reported that a relative may have a hoarding issue.

hampstead road and found a dead dog inside. an elderly resident was taken to the hospital just as a precaution. the patriots may be adding some running back depth. veteran steven jackson worked out with the team on wednesday. jackson has been to the pro bowl three times but he hasn't played in the nfl since the falcons cut him in february. we're back in 25 minutes with another update. hope to see you then. paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself. bernie sanders is a well-known friend of family farms. bernie cannot be bought out by big money. bernie's opinion cannot be purchased. it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street,

take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. he's a rock. sanders: i'm bernie sanders

all i do is win, no matter what it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, the donald and the doctor. >> called "winners aren't losers." >> donald trump joins jimmy kimmel for his take on dr. seuss. >> i do not like them at all. we must kick these froog gs out and build a wall. paying it forward. al goes to great lengths to honor the remarkable woman who had a huge impact on his family. >> three, two, one, go! yes! honey, i'm good, but i probably should i got a honey at home, and if

from singing to dancing to lots of laughing, we'll reminisce about all the good time wes s we had together in 2015. today, thursday, december 17th, 2015. strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard >> 20 years of marriage here at the "today" show. >> my christmas present is standing next to me. >> celebrating our 46th anniversary. >> merry christmas from indian river, michigan. >> merry christmas from oregon. >> we're from omaha, nebraska, trying not to be too corny. >> happy hop lidays. >> good morning, everybody. it's 8:00 on "today." it's thursday, december 17th,

what a beautiful day on our plaza. i'm loving this warm weather. it feels so good, and everybody is in a great mood, getting ready for the holidays. we have matt lauer's biggest fan here. >> so nice of you. how are you? happy holidays. sorry. i didn't mean to ignore you. i was swept away by the music we're hearing in the background. this is savannah's throwback thursday song. i believe this is "don't stop believing" by the cast of glee. >> it's a version of that. >> the cast of glee? >> you don't like it? >> i'll withhold comment. it's great. >> wow. >> everyone else is silent. anyway, i'd glad you like the song. >> a lot, yeah. >> was your outfit chafing? >> in more ways than one. >> the cast of glee. >> interesting call. >> you don't get it every day. >> let's go inside with natalie

>> savannah, i like your choice. even though you haven't supported me in the past. in the news this morning, the pentagon admitting defense secretary ash carter used his personal e-mail for government business. according to a "new york times" report, carter started the practice just after he became defense chief in february, and he continued even after the scandal that erupted over hillary clinton using her personal e-mail while she was secretary of state. the pentagon says carter's occasional use of personal e-mail for work-related business was a mistake, and he did not use it for classified information. controversial drug company ceo martin slel was arrested. he made headlines when boosting

his arrest on fraud charges snts s s isn't connected to the matter. he took money from a business to pay off unrelated business dealings. a sheriff's deputy risking his life to stop a run away truck after a 12-mile pursuit. the driver was having a medical emergency and his truck was rolling toward the norfolk airport, when it slowed to 25 miles per hour. the sergeant dashed across the highway and climbed inside. he brought the truck to a safe stop. thank goodness. the good news, she said yes. the bad news, a texas man who shut down a major interstate highway so he could propose to his girlfriend was arrested. the 24-year-old was charged with obstructing a highway. he stopped his car monday on interstate 45 and houston. got down on one knee and popped the question. several drivers recorded the

he posted $500 bail and defended his actions. he said, sometimes love makes you do stupid things. i wanted to do something she will always remember. yeah, they're not going to forget that one any time soon. a soccer era came to an end wednesday night in new orleans, when the greatest goal scorer in u.s. history, abby wambach, played her final game. the u.s. lost to china, but wambach helped her team win the world cup title this year. she also has a pair of olympic golds and inspired young women to take up the game she loves. we're going to miss her. incredible athlete and inspiration to many. >> she is. congratulations to her on a great career. >> absolutely. let's >> bri: good morning, everybody. clouds throughout the day today. possibly some light drizzle and

afternoon. there will be some areas of fog. pack your patience for that evening commute. highs 44 to 50 degrees, closer to 50 south of the mass pike. and a look at that on -- 7 on 7 forecast shows more seasonable temperatures for the weekend, >> and that's your latest weather. just ahead, i'm going to pay it forward in a personal way. i'm going to celebrate a woman who means a great deal to our family. >> terrific story. plus, we are taking care of your last-minute holiday shopping this morning with our biggest gifts guide ever. but first, singing, dancing and a whole lot of laughter. all the fun we've had over the past 12 months on i said i really can't stay baby it's cold outside i have to go away baby it's cold outside

baby it's cold outside! p you never know who you'll meet at barnes & noble. what makes thermacare different? two words: it heals. how? with heat. unlike creams and rubs that mask the pain, thermacare has patented heat cells that penetrate deep to increase circulation and accelerate healing. let's review: heat, plus relief, plus healing, equals thermacare. the proof that it heals is you. you know what i love best about your style? you. at jared, we only sell one piece of jewelry... ...the pandora ring that celebrates her personal style. and it's waiting for you... ...at jared. nivea in-shower body lotion. first i wash... then i

it moisturizes with no sticky feel. i quickly rinse off. and i'm ready to go. nivea in-shower body lotion -- in the body lotion aisle. dave, i'm sorry to interrupt. i gotta take a sick day tomorrow. dads don't take sick days, dads take nyquil severe the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep with a cold, medicine. with ingredients like roasted hazelnuts and cocoa, there's a whole lot of happy in every jar of nutella.

stuff your stockings with big savings at lowe's. hurry in to your neighborhood store today for great winter deals on all of your holiday gifts. oooh. now get this dewalt 20-volt drill for only $99. v (vo) some call it giving back. we call it share the love. during our share the love event, get a new subaru, p and we'll donate $250 to those

pbringing our total donations to over sixty-five million dollars. p and bringing love where it's needed most. plove. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru. feel a cold coming on? new zicam cold remedy nasal swabs shorten colds with a snap, and reduce symptom severity by 45%. shorten your cold with a snap, with zicam. thank you. thank you, again. pat yourself upon your back. your shopping is done. you ain't no slack. rest at ease it's all ok. you ordered online and got them in the same day. navigate the app at will with incredible digital ninja skills. the holidays could not

him a sweater. i don't know maybe a snowman. i could do that. let's get out of here. i'm just thinking. order gifts online and pick them up the same day. walmart. >> announcer: year in review on "today" is brought to you by mercedes benz. the best or nothing. >> oh, my gosh, we have a quorum. we're all year. time for something we look forward to every year. >> the cast of glee, really? >> come on! >> to look at all the fun we've had in 2015. hey, that's what i like, i like about you the way you do what you do, how you do, i like about you

i like, i like about you the way you do what you do, how you do, i like about you >> the gang is all back. >> i love what the script says. it says, we're all back, even >> hey. >> raise your hand if you were in sharknado 3 last night. >> carson, were you glued? >> no, i was not. honey, i'm good, but i probably should i got a honey at home, and if i stay, i might not leave alone >> where do you keep your emmy? >> one with me right here. never leaves me. good morning, coaches. pharrell, blake, christina -- hey! where am i? >> let's trend, guys. there's someone in this studio right now who does not remember anything that happened yesterday. any guesses?

>> i will go to a movie alone. i'm happy sitting in a dark theater with popcorn by myself. >> not really what we were talking about but -- >> here's how it works. the question you pull out, you must answer. >> what is your porn star name. >> what is it? >> i check in to hotels under the name, dj warm cookies. >> whoa! >> we are in the white house kitchen, where among other thins, thin s gs, you brew beer. >> it's not good. >> serious? >> it's not. don't eat any of this stuff. you can learn more -- >> just say no. >> even the germ freak would -- just to show you. there you go. >> i'm just saying.

on my own, once again now >> this is the chisel. >> apparently, i'm burning the counter. >> sorry. >> oh, dear. wow. >> having my way with it. leave me alone. let me have a moment. >> come back here with those. >> yeah! >> that is unbelievable. >> go! go left. your left. left! your left! >> what we should have talked about first was our right from our left.

i just do what i'm told. >> this is called hoda or yoda. these are all real quotes. rejoice for those around you who transform into the force. >> yoda. >> correct. next up, i wake up at 4:15, get coffee, turn on the news, clickty clock to see what i missed. then i go to work and i'm really awake. >> yoda. >> it's hoda! >> i used to have great legs, then gret at knees and now great ankles. >> we're busy reading the wall street journal. we start our day with a little research. >> i'm here. whoo hoo! >> thank savannah guthrie for helping me out. do you know who is co-hosting tomorrow? >> you wanted to today. >> matt lauer is going to co-host the fourth hour. >> i have not prepared, but with hoda, she doesn't anyway. what's the big deal? >> i was told matthew m mcconaughey was here, not matt lauer.

>> very little to do. >> we are going to build a fantastic playground right in this field here. >> it's really beautiful. i hope everyone takes care of the park. >> all month long, the men of today, along with guys all across america, have grown out their facial hair to raise awareness for men's health. >> i changed my mind in the middle. >> called the twizzler challenge. all the money goes toward programs to help with autism. >> riding 230 miles from boston to the big apple, to raise money for red-nose day charities. >> i have a lot of people i'd put on spandex for at this hour of the morning. don't stop to party

>> i'm going all the way up there. >> they know how to welcome somebody in sydney, australia. >> guys, it's so hot out here, my iphone just shut off. that's hot. >> brace yourselves. >> can you handle rockerthon2? >> one weatherman. >> paradise. >> we are in kentucky. >> 50 states. one week. to bring you the weather from every state in our great nation. >> rokerthon rolls on! see you in boston! york. >> here he is! >> does carson ever mention us when he's at the "voice"? blake said, i didn't know carson

>> it's so good to be up this early. >> boogie woogie. i ain't going to play more because i charge. >> nice golf swing. >> girl got moves. >> you're a grandpa? >> matt, you're a grandpa? that was hard. >> i want you to relax, savannah. relax. >> i'm trying. >> what line will be remembered for this movie you've just finished? >> man, that's a good question. nothing i can say on this show. >> get out of my way.

i'm gonna work, work, work every day this is where my story's going, i just want to share this moment whoa the earth moves under my feet, i feel the sky tumbling down you never count your money table there will be time enough for counting when the dealer is done with your love, nobody can drag me down nobody, nobody >> i was on vacation. how did you get out of this? >> wow, i don't know, but thank the good lord. down in your pocket, you've got something to give, it goes jingle, jingle

today is christmas living like, living like, living like every day of the year >> baby, let's go. we want to know, what do you need oh, what do you need now all i need is the rhythm, be in the rhythm yeah, the rhythm, be in the rhythm

roll never grow old it's going down, hey, hey,

[ applause ] >> the naked show! >> tah-dah. >> next one, fudge brownies. >> i knew it! >> and matt lauer, just take a look. >> exposed, he's naked. >> lauer! >> overnight, matt lauer put up four billboards. >> two second of your s >> two second of your s of your time. >> go somewhere else. >> get out of here. >> oh, my goodness. what happened? oh, you son of a gun. you son of a gun! i knew you were going to do that. >> cue the alarm.

>> don't panic. we'll be right there. >> what is that? >> i'm neil patrick harris. >> oh, my god! >> we're back. carson -- >> on the air. >> making my -- >> tv program, savannah. >> sorry. >> leonardo dicaprio. >> you got the offer to do this by text mail? >> text message? >> the kids are calling it text mail. >> text message. >> it's going potty. >> it's popping.

>> start your engines! >> good job. >> i just touched street gum with my hand. i don't know what got into me. time to get some purre ell. >> the bush ladies know how to raise beautiful little girls, and you're one of them. >> wait a minute. >> what's up? >> what's up? >> couple years ago in washington, the correspondents dinner, at the men's room, standing next to me at the urinal. >> did you high-five him? >> no, you don't do that at the urinal.

>> you two are really obnoxious. >> wow. that was quite a show. >> i won't do it. i won't. for the rest of my life, i will do what's right i will do what's right stars in the sky, rest of my life yeah, yeah, yeah, the rest of our lives edge of the earth, search in the sky at night, out on the verge on the rest of our lives [ applause ] >> nice. >> that was fun. really fun. >> we have to thank an editor somewhere.

>> really well done. >> erica levins is the producer. molly, drew, and paul is the graphic artist.

>> this is 7news now. >> sarah: good morning, everybody. 8:27 as you take a live look at boston this thursday. let's send it to. >> bri: with more on this fourth. hey, bri. >> bri: hey, sarah. the steadier widespread rain doesn't work in until this afternoon. looks like 3:00 p.m. for most of us. still patchy drizzle and patchy fog as we head through the day today. reduced visibility as you can see. down in worcester you have visibility less than a mile. 44 to 50 for our temperatures. areas of fog sneaking around. and that steady rain bringing between one-third and half an inch. >> sarah: fans are gearing up

if you're planning on attending the premier tonight, you may want the leave your promise at home. most theaters are saying costumes are okay, but many are saying leave masks and weapon-like promise at home. six boxes of dynamite discovered at a warehouse in boxborough. the bomb squad dealt indicat -- detonated the explosives. officials say they were highly volatile because they were nearly a quarter century old. exeter high school in new hampshire announcing a ban on school dances. the "union leader" reports the superintendent is concerned over drugs and provocative behavior at the dances. he also cites the recent owen labrie case where seniors

today, today, today, today is christmas we are back now. it's 8:30 on a thursday morning. it's the 17th day of december, 2015. kind of a dark morning here on the plaza. rain expected. but we're brightening things up with a couple of broadway stars. we have matthew broderick and annaleigh ashford from the play

they're the elves of the day. we're going to chat with them in a couple of minutes. >> loob king forward to that. plus, we have a rare christmas miracle. that's right, i'll be baking. don't worry. siriinter is here and she knows what she's doing. we're making cookies, and we have the cutest helpers. our babies. >> that's cute. also ahead, if you didn't do your shopping for christmas back in july, we have our ultimate gift guide, the biggest ever to finish off everyone on your list. and i'm going to get a chance to pay it forward by doing something for an amazing woman who has really changed my sonic nick's life. >> carson, we'll have your buddy from the "voice" who was crowned the winner in a second. first, we have matthew broderick and annaleigh ashford, stars of "sylvia."

>> matthew, you have to choose between the love of your life and man's best friend. >> all right. it's a tough one. >> how does that go? that's the play, you have to see the play to find out. >> annaleigh, you play the best friend. >> i do. i play a dog. i know, it's crazy, but i do. i'm looking at the sweet dog. maybe i'll get inspiration for tonight. what a cutie. >> you don't have a liver treat, he won't look at you. we can get you something. >> oh, he's so cute. hi. hello. you want to -- he's like, no. >> this is your 12th broadway production, matt, right? we're keeping count here. >> really? >> what brings you back to the stage all the time? >> something to do. >> just a little something. >> no, i really love doing it. you know, i've been lucky enough to get 12 jobs, i guess, now that you've told me that. >> this is your 12th broadway show?

>> your wife, sarah jessica parker, originated the role. >> that's right. that's correct. >> she's looking for liver treats. >> somebody laz has a treat. >> the facts are correct. >> i'm surprised it's that many. i thought it was maybe nine. >> this is your life. >> yeah. >> i know, that's magical. it's good if you lost count. it means you're fabulous. >> or senile. >> guys, have fun. we want to say for people to go check them out on broadway in "sylvia." thanks for connecting toys this morning. we appreciate it. mr. roker, >> bri: good morning, everybody. clouds throughout the day today. possibly some light drizzle and steady showers move in this afternoon. there will be some areas of fog.

highs 44 to 50 degrees, closer to 50 south of the mass pike. and a look at that on -- 7 on 7 forecast shows more seasonable temperatures for the weekend, >> and that is your latest weather. >> al, thank you so much. now to the "voice" on "today." this morning, we have the champion in the house. take a look. >> the winner of the voice is -- jordan smith! >> jordan smith is here. good morning and congratulations. >> congratulations. >> i have to tell you, i have a friend who is a super fan of the "voice" and told me nine weeks ago, i predict it, jordan smith goes all the way. >> that's so kind. >> did you feel good or were you sweating it?

had a great time working with adam and the other contestants. it's a creative atmosphere. it didn't hit me until i was on the stanl ge at the finale. i'm in the finale. we were taking it week by week. >> gwen stefani said you don't look like your voice. is that a good thing? >> i think so. i think this whole time, i've been proving that. those things aren't really what happens. last tuesday night, whenever i won the show, it was kind of a big moment for me. i proved to myself, what's on the outside doesn't matter. it's what's in your heart and what you love to do and doing those things. >> we've had front runners on the show before who, you know, were strong all the way down. they've grown fatigued. it was interesting to watch you in the final weeks, you never got nervous. you were stronger. how did you thrive when the pressure was really on? >> i think that it's kind of the type of person i am. i love that pressure. that's what makes me stronger and better. i think just keeping a level head through the whole process

i think that those are four really strong contestants, myself and the other three. i was proud to be among them. to the end. >> your parents were the only won. what was it like in your close circle? >> they're so proud and happy. they made so many sacrifices for me to get to this point. for them, it's a huge payoff and they're proud. they saw this in me before i saw it in myself. >> congratulations. >> jordan smith, congratulations. >> he'll be with kathie lee and hoda in a little bit. also ahead, cookies and cuteness. siri and i do a little baking with our babies. checking people off your holiday shopping list. you can't miss our biggest gift guide ever. first, this is "today" on

it is now time for today's hassle free holiday and our biggest gift guide ever. we have so many items we can't fit it in one segment. we're streaming it live at today.com so you can find what we don't get to on the air on our website. lori is the style director at good housekeeping. this gift segment goes from here all the way around the studio. >> we better get started. eight days left to shop. >> great gift ideas. >> this is the best of the best. the amazon echo. it's a voice-activated information teller. you can get news, information, traffic. it will tell you knock-knock jokes. it is the gift of the future. $179. >> this looks like something out of my childhood, the view master. >> $30 at target. what you do is put your smartphone in there and they partnered with google cardboard for virtual reality. it's like you're in the wildlife, in space. it's so cool.

>> throwback thursday gift with a modern flair. this is available at bloomingdales. it plays vinyl and mp3. real cool. >> how much is that? >> $79. >> great. >> i'm obsessed with this, as are many women in the world. the urban decay smoky naked palette. one is sold every 6 seconds. >> are they expensive? >> $54 and they'll last a long time. universally flattering shades. >> why are these shoes so hot? >> don't you love them? they're a little sporty, a little cozy. $50 at jc penney. you can wear them with anything. they appeal to all ages. they're comfortable. love that for the winter. >> these are going to catch a lot of attention because of what they're made of. >> fashion flex. this is the great bag co. everyone is saying these will be

they're $120, very affordable. heat resistant, crash resistant, you can clean them easy and they look amazing. >> talk to me about the glassware. >> matt, everybody loves a gift that feels personalized. these have initials on them. they're from skyros. these are flown from portugal. beautiful something to bring to a house, hostess gift. >> taught about something special. >> "star wars" opening, have you heard about that? >> i haven't heard. >> "star wars" fans. >> indy film. this toaster is available at kohl's. it has a light side and dark side for toast. we love that. also for the little fans with big imaginations, the force really awakens with leg golegos. you can do anything with the millennial falcon. fun for the little ones. how cute are these guys?

jackson is on the brilliant buy sickle -- bicycle. everybody >> everybody said this is the best way to learn to ride the bike. >> no more training wheels. >> i'll pause for a second and tell you we're going to end this on the air right now. we have more gifts to get to so we'll stream live at today.com. coming up next, holiday cookies with the kids. savannah and siri get adorable help in the kitchen. plus, siri will share one of her go-to cookie recipes. first, this is "today" on

this is the one place we're not afraid to fail. of these experiments may not work. a few might shape the future. turning algae into biofuel... echnology for capturing co2 emissions... ...and cars twfficient the average car today. s exxonmobil scientists are working on to make energy go further... .no matter how many tries it takes. ergy lives here. we're back now. it's 8:44 with more of our holiday cookie swap. i decided to do baking and

we had pint-sized pastry chefs. >> peek a boo. >> we're going to make fudge candy cane cookies. >> to me, the holidays are all about family and home. >> that's a yummy cookie. oh, boy. oh, my gosh, she's putting the whole thing in her mouth. no, no, no. we lost a lot of dough. >> my favorite childhood christmas memory is probably baking with my mom. we would make the same things every year. we'd give them to the same people, the same, you know, plastic tins we'd buy at the drugstore. i'm going to take the butter and put it in here with the sugar. >> christmas is about the only time i remember us being in

>> the lifesavers, you baked glass. >> good job. >> baking makes me feel like i can give something of myself to people. >> yeah, yeah. >> these look amazing. >> why were we holding babies? down. >> we didn't color coordinate well today. >> let's make this reschke. cipe recipe. >> we can make it because we don't have babies. this is flour, baking soda, salt, sour cream, vanilla bean paste. you can use extract. >> that's the secret recipe. >> eggs and sugar. in this mixer, we have butter and sugar. i'll give it a little more of a stir, then we'll put in an egg. >> okay. >> and some vanilla. >> did you say sour cream? >> yes, it's coming in in a second. that's the vanilla bean paste.

>> gives it a little something extra, i think. >> now, over here, we have our dry ingredients. flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. important to whisk them together so everything is incorporated. do you want to add half of that to the mixer? >> yes, i do, siri. >> this is a mixer, savannah, which we couldn't find in her home. >> i'm a mess. >> you were looking in the closet for your mixer. >> i know. oh, boy. >> now, we'll add the sour cream and the rest of the dry ingredients. >> baking, you have to do things in a certain order. why is that? >> it's scientific. it's important that you really follow the directions properly. >> you can't wing it, apparently. >> the ex- next thing i do is chill it so solidify the butter so it doesn't spread. >> how long? >> at least 30 minutes, but overnight if you can. it deepens the flavors of the cookies. use this little scooper. >> cute. >> scoop them out.

they'll spread a little. over here, we have our sugar, which we thought the babies would do well. >> didn't go well. >> we'll roll them in sugar all around. then bake them 12 to 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. >> great. we have 30 seconds. >> fudge brownie candy cane cookies made with brown knee ie mix. >> did you invent brownie mix as cookie? in my mind, you did. >> i'm sure someone else has done it, but it's an easy way to make a chocolate, fudge cookie. >> thank you, my dear. you can get our cookie swap res recipes at today.com. up next, al pays it forward to someone who means a great deal to his family. first, this is "today" on nbc. for lynn's family, the big stress is paying four hundred dollars a month in medical and drug costs for aidan. for other families it's higher deductibles,

that keep adding up. that's why we've got to crack down on price gouging, cap out-of-pocket costs, and fast track approval of less expensive generic drugs. because we've got to get health care costs under control for lynn's family and for yours. i'm hillary clinton and i approve this message. pson, the holiday season's just like football season... you got your big games... ...cheese plates, turkey, appetizers.

get it all at a great price... ...and the holiday season is won. that's my boy! fill your cart with everything you need this s eason, all at one place. my stop & shop. this morning on make your today, it is al's turn to pay it forward. >> thanks so much. when i was asked to pick someone to honor, i didn't have to think twice. it's a woman who means a lot to me and my wife deborah, because she inspires and helps other extremely special person in my life. my amazing boy, nick. >> numbers start on this corner.

lori will tell you, she defies description. >> what do you think? >> fancy. >> very fancy. >> you have to experience lori. lori is an experience. >> super strong legs. those are super strong. >> reporter: she's an occupational therapist for kids with special needs. >> can you get this undone? >> >> reporter: like my son. she's so much more. >> sometimes as a parent when as many as is wrong with your child, you can freeze because it's overwhelming. to have someone that's not only amazing for your child and to your child, but is an advocate for your child, is a god send. >> use the strong arms. >> reporter: lori started working with nick when he was 3 years old. he's 13 now. >> he didn't talk, couldn't walk. he had very low body core plus musculature musculature. a lot of people were not positive about his, you know, his outlook.

that with lori. >> look at me because i'm the focus point, okay? >> some kids are a 50-piece puzzle. some are 100-piece. some are 150. i think nick was about 150, if i was to look at nick. my heart is so big for him. he's my son. he's a little bigger than me these days, but he is my son. >> beautiful, nick. beautiful. >> reporter: this is her calling. lori knew she wanted to be an occupational therapist since she was in seventh grade. >> their goal was to work in the presence of others with minimal sharing of supplies. >> reporter: this is a student in the '70s, working with students with autism before there was a diagnosis. she was devoted then and is now, helping children reach their developmental milestones.

meeting the benchmarks a 2-year-old should be. this past june, he got his black belt in tie quando. recognition. >> three, two, one, go. yes! nicely done. >> well, goods ending, right? >> i do this because i believe in the kids. i don't do it for recognition. >> i can honestly say that nick is where he is today because of her help. and for that, i can't thank her enough. >> reporter: but on this day, i wanted to try. i know lori pretty well, and i know she loves two things. running and tennis. specifically, serena williams. current sports illustrated sports person of the year, byflying you and roy down to miami to run in the serena williams foundation 5k to support children coming up in a couple of weeks. >> fabulous.

>> nick has come so far. >> i know. >> more to go. more to go. >> hi, serena, how are you? >> how are you? >> nice to see you. this is lori. >> how are you? >> nice to meet you. >> reporter: on the day of the run, serena williams did not disappoint. >> little windy, but we are on the water. hopefully the wind will be behind us. >> reporter: the serena williams live ultimate run in miami raises money for the serena williams fund. >> serena williams fund, we help send kids to college. we also build schools in africa and help families affected by violence in communities, like my sister was. it's really exciting for me. >> reporter: and exciting for us to be part of such a special day. >> serena williams run, we're about to get started. >> right now! >> reporter: the race was exhilarating. at least for my wife, deborah. and for lori. >> we did it!

>> reporter: for me, might have another word for it. >> wasn't it fun? >> oh, what a barrel -- we have a different idea of fun. >> reporter: but what's a few aches and pains for a woman who worked nonstop for my child and countless other kids? >> everybody has a lori in their life, they just may not realize it. they could probably make more money doing something else, but they're doing it because they love your child. >> like i say, everybody has a lori in their life. it's easy to assume they know how much they mean to owe, but you, but this is a great time of year so make sure they do. >> reacted to the same moment, she knew she wanted to do it amazing. >> it's a calling for her, and she answers the call every day for so many kids in this area. >> what a saint. >> she is. she's a gift. >> incredible. >> nick is a really cool kid, too.

>> yeah. >> he asked for an allowance. oh, okay. we're back with much more of "today" on a thursday morning

a new hampshire high school says no more school dances.

profile rape case. we're live. state police making an explosive discovery in one town here in massachusetts. "star wars" mania hits the silver screen. some local theaters are stepping up security ahead of the big debut. and get ready for a spicy and sweet cake. i'm baking up a delicious holiday helping. stay tuned for that. you will want the rain gear for this afternoon. the winter coat you haven't worn in a while. you may need it this weekend.