this morning on "world news now," president trump spending the holidays away from the white house, golfing and also on twitter where he lashed out at the special counsel's russia investigation and the fbi. we'll bring you up to speed on the president's working vacation. and see he, severe winter weather is hitting the country. some locations are bracing for up to six feet of snow. travel could be a nightmare for many people. with all that, spinouts are already happening on the roads, and a passenger plane went skidding off a runway. we have the complete weather forecast coming up. and new this half hour. it's time to go bowling, no, not that bowling. we're talking about

football happening today, everything global, chief analyst will lay it out all for us. coming up. and later, why prince harry and meghan markle are being asked not to invite the obamas to the royal wedding. the answer in "the skinny" this wednesday, december 27th, 2017. from abc news, this is "world news now." >> that last part, 2017. >> 2017. we're going to start out this half hour with president trump continuing his mar-a-lago working vacation with twitter and the golf course. >> president hit the links with georgia senator perdue and lashed out at the fbi. kenneth moten has the latest from palm beach, in florida. >> reporter: president trump spotted on his trump international golf course, through the trees in his

on christmas, the president said he'd be back at work. he's also back on twitter, responding to a fox news report about the now-famous dossier. alleging links between the trump campaign and russia. >> the dossier we have long known is bogus. >> reporter: the president tweeting, wow, dossier is bogus. clinton campaign, dnc-funded dossier. fbi cannot after all this time verify claims. in dossier of russia/trump collusion. fbi tainted. the most salacious parts of the dossier have not been corroborated and it is not clear what role if any it has played in the broader fbi russia investigation. for weeks, the president has been attacking the fbi. >> it is a shame what's happened with the fbi. >> reporter: here in mar-a-lago, the president taking aim at andrew mccabe. accusing him of bias during the hillary clinton e-mail investigation. after an ally of clinton's donated to his wife's political campaign. at the time, he consulted fbi officials about the donation, the president asking on

$700,000 for wife's campaign by clinton puppets. the administration defending the president's attacks. >> he's making the point that we need to make sure there wasn't bias. >> this is the bill right here. and we're very proud of it. >> reporter: trump still riding high after signing the gop tax bill into law. now on to infrastructure, the border wall. he tweeted, democrats and republicans will eventually come together for a new health plan. he spent more than 109 days this year at one of his properties, nearly a third of his presidency. obamacare repeal is a claim he's been making since he signed the tax law. which does eliminate the individual mandate requiring health insurance. but key parts of the affordable care act are still in effect. 9 million signed up this year. there's work in the senate to stabilize markets and keep premiums from rising.

kenneth moten, abc news, west palm beach, florida. and a new report finds the justice department has a systemic problem when it comes to mishandling sexual harassment cases within its ranks. according to the "washington post," the department's inspector he general found some were not properly disciplined and were still allowed to receive awards and bonuses. the inspector general is calling for high-level action to resolve the issue. and the weather outside is frightful. >> yes. >> it's actually posing an extra challenge for people traveling this holiday week and it's not getting any easier. >> not delightful. a snow emergency has been declared in erie, pennsylvania where more than five feet of snow has fallen since christmas eve and there's more falling now. >> hundreds of crashes are being reported, including this one on interstate 70 in kansas that left four people dead. the pickup skidded and went off

a bridge. >> meanwhile to the north, 21 degrees below zero, causing fog to form over lake superior. quite a scene there. let's get the forecast from paul williams. >> good morning, diane, ron. snow squalls, deadly amounts coming off the lakes. we recorded over 60 that came over lake erie alone and ontario with biting winds and blowing snow throughout the northeast. gripping, harsh cold and cold air spilling from southern portions of canada dropping the wind chill to 40 below or worse. in the deep south we'll start out with rain and brace for it to turn into ice. arctic air combining with the icy mix along the northwest corridor. as we go through the latter part of the week, arctic cold is going to create snowshowers through the northern part of the country for a snow threat. friday into saturday and for new years eve, reinforcing cold. >> and a security scare at a mall in memphis, tennessee.

the wolf chase galleria. the shooting apparently stemmed from a fight inside the mall. three people were wounded. the injuries were described as non-life threatening. and the firefight sent shoppers fleeing in panic, no word on what started the fight. four people have been arrested. and after more than a year and a half, the husband of a murdered fitness instructor says she is no longer searching for her wife's murderer. terry beavers was found dead in a north texas church where she had been setting up for a fitness class. she had multiple puncture wounds. surveillance video showed the suspect walking through the church wearing a vest with the word "police" on it. now brandon beavers says he is ending the search for the killer for the sake of his children. and revelers beware. unprecedented security measures are coming to times square. with two terror attacks

halloween, efforts are being taken to avert another one. parking garages will be getting increased scrutiny along with large rental truck locations. no credible threat has been found. and a major department store chains are getting good news from wall street. stock prices are up this morning after a report found that americans spent big this holiday season increasing year-end sales by about 5%. and the shopping frenzy isn't over yet. erielle reshef has more. >> reporter: a merry and much-needed boost for retailers. holiday sales up 4.9%, the highest since 2011. anything on sale? >> everything's on sale. >> reporter: a welcome gift for brick and mortar companies like gap, macy's and toys "r" us. all naming store closures this year. this as online shopping is up 18%. people are feeling way better about the economy than they have in years past, and they are wanting to show that by spending their money. and now the rush to return. $90 billion worth of gifts expected to go back to vendors over the holiday season.

>> people want to do returns. i exchanged one bag for the other, and i actually got some money back. >> reporter: experts predict more than half of americans will do some post-holiday shopping. >> now we see there are deals we'll make some purchases, yes. >> reporter: and consumers turning out in droves, some braving sub zero conditions in illinois looking to snag great deals. stores such as banana republic, old navy. you're seeing discounts of up to 74%. >> reporter: the trend of buying online and picking up in stores is more popular than ever. it could revolutionize the way we shop in the future. erielle reshef, abc news, new york. and from the wild world of sports, three days after getting cut by the pittsburgh steelers, james harrison has a somewhat familiar home, with the steelers rivals, the new england patriots. the team's all-time sack leader, 39 years of age signed a one-year deal with the patting saying finally, a teammate that

is older than me. brady of course is 40 years of age. the steelers and patriots may be on a collision course for the afc championship with each clenching first-round byes. and now a story that caused a little commotion on set today and has led to trash talking on twitter. kevin durant was all over lebron james at the end of the cavaliers/warriors game. and no foul was called. >> and the warriors ended up winning. a lot of people saying that fouls should been called on k.d. after the game, a reporter asked about the twitter debate that the non-calls sparked. durant's response? take a listen. >> keep that [ bleep ] on twitter. >> boom. >> keep that on twitter. keep it on twitter, man. >> the controversy, though, wasn't just on twitter, keep in mind. >> the nba now admits that lebron james was fouled on two of his crucial drives at the end of that game.

they also say lebron should have been called as well. >> ah, touché. boom. no blood, no foul. coming up, the beginning of the end for college football season. >> a look ahead at the biggest bowl battles and why diane is on the edge of her seat with expectation. >> and confidence, i might add. jack's coming up with a preview and why will smith can't bring himself to watch "the fresh prince of bel-air." what? you're watching "world news now."

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so call today. because now's the perfect time to learn more. go long. ♪ i'm layin' back, catching my -- >> oh, okay. >> time now for college football. bowl season picking it up today with four big bowl games. >> yeah, baby. one of them involves my alma mater, the eagles are taking on iowa, in the pinstripe bowl, and i will be there to watch in person. >> the eagle flies on wednesday. >> who's this guy? >> i d

>> that's all right. everyone -- >> i'm just going to say, i did not approve this analysis. this is biassed in your notre dame sweatshirt. >> that's what you get when you invite a notre dame fan to analyze. the second place catholics just can't get over it, iowa, 7-5. they started 3-0. then a shocking defeat to penn state. >> yeah. >> surrendered the whole nine yards. they had ups and downs in their season, but the high point was a 55-24 hammering of ohio state. next, the o. >> whatever. >> a really good ohio state team. this was the loss that basically kept ohio state out of the college football playoff. hawkeyes, they've won four straight games against members of the acc. >> i guess that's progressive an a little. >> if iowa wins today.

>> which they won't. >> but if they do, 143rd victory, which will tie him for the most all time in the program. >> oh. >> which brings us to boston college, and it looked like a rough season on chestnut hill, diane. >> what? what? >> summed up early in november when notre dame came to town. >> i don't think we need to talk about this. >> here comes josh adams, 49-20, irish in that one. >> a really good team at that time. >> at that time. >> they lost the following week to clemson, and you're thinking ah-oh. then. >> no. >> boston college righted the ship. >> ah, now we're talkin'. >> including a friday night for the ages. >> excellent analysis, jack. >> at home against florida state. boston college, 35, florida state 3. >> see that? >> florida state was like a high school team this year, but nonetheless. boston college coming in hot.

>> yeah, baby. >> 36 points a game. >> see that? >> this is the first time these two teams have met, the eighth time the pinstripe bowl is played, the first time for iowa, second for bc, so they know how to get here. a couple of 7-5 teams. iowa has lost five straight bowl games. the past three not even close. let's make it six! boston college. >> ooh. >> 28. >> you're going close. >> iowa 27. >> like two and a half point favorite. >> they are indeed. >> but bc has the momentum. we're going to do this. we got this. >> both teams are going to run the football and the irish will show them how to do it next november. >> that's not important. we're not talking about notre dame. >> analyst out. >> iowa's going to win that game!

no one asked you. you're not the analyst. what is going -- i have a mutiny on my hands. >> let me know what happens. >> you're going to freeze out there. >> eagles on the warpath, ooh, ah. thanks, jack. coming up. >> 28-14 hawkeyes. go ahead. >> nobody asked you. >> something there for you to read. >> will smith on who he would want to play in a "fresh prince" reboot. plus, the possible tricky seating arrangements at prince harry and meghan's wedding. "the skinny" is next. >> i can't wait to go. >> don't touch that dial. t. >> i can't wait to go. >> don't touch that dial. i had this chest cold, but my medicine kept wearing off. oughs)! i missed you! then i discovered mucinex. one pill lasts 12 hours,and i'm good. why take 4-hour medicine? one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this.

♪ skinny ♪ so skinny skinny time. and we've got an interesting headline from across the pond starting us off this morning. >> there's a new report that says the british government does not want prince harry to invite the obamas to his wedding because of the current president. >> according to the "sun." they intended on inviting barak and michelle obama. but they are afraid president trump would be offended.

>> they just recently recorded a pod cast for the bbc. so it will be interesting. >> i had the same problem when i was planning my wedding. does that mean two more seats open up? which means, know what i'm saying? next, it's in may, a headline that startled diane regarding will smith. >> he says he can't bring himself to watch his iconic performance. no, not ali. >> not concussion. >> no, the fresh prince of bel-air. you can see him mouth his fellow actors live in the first five episodes. and he says it's quote, terrible. >> he also says if there were ever a reboot of the '90s tv series, he would have to play uncle phil. >> he also posted fun clips of himself and his wife jade and

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behind the walls of russia's kremlin. some of the most exclusive and secure places in the world. but for craig schnell, they were a challenge. >> being in places i didn't belong was that escape. it was, i didn't have to be me. when i was there i was a rock star. when i was inside russia walking around selling my jeans, i was a world traveler. when i was driving for president reagan and his motorcade, i was a diplomat. and i didn't have to feel me. >> reporter: in his new book "the uninvited", how i crashed my way into finding myself, he shares stories from his teens and 20s where he frequently talked himself into places he didn't belong. >> the most exciting place was the grammy awards, 1988. >> reporter: taking him to many events, including that grammy stage. >> there i was standing at

center stage before a packed house and a worldwide television audience. ♪ >> reporter: but schnell says his antics were really a cry for help. >> i was spiraling out of control. all the drugs, all the alcohol wouldn't have satisfied my first for self approval. >> reporter: he got sober with the support of his family and a doctor in new york. >> i changed my life, i started to do esteemable acts, i started to be a man of honor and integrity. >> reporter: now 27 years later, he's hoping his story inspires others and helps others. >> i want to help people who are lost to find some type of hope that you can change your life. >> reporter: adrian bankert, abc news, new york. >> uninvited. it's like a party crasher's version of "catch me if you can." if he could write some tips for us on how to crash the parties, we wouldn't mind that as well. >> it's amazing what you can do

by pretending you belong. >> we're glad he got some help and the story has a happy ending. and that's it for this half hour. check us out at wn

making news in america this morning, six feet of snow, that's not possible near the great lakes. >> a lot of snow. >> as the deadly record-setting weather pattern bears down on tens of millions of americans, this morning, just how cold it will get and why it could be days before relief. fbi purge, as president trump lashes out against the bureau. security crackdown, the changes in times square in the quake of terror attacks in new york city. junk food