small effort quake that shook the area. t it was a 2.1 magnitude quake that struck near ringwood just before 1:00 a.m. no damages or injuries reported. we'll bring you more information as it becomes available. >> and we'll see you right here at 8:30. good morning. inspired by isis? a gunman goes on a deadly shooting spree at a popular pub in tel aviv. the terrifying scene caught on camera as those who made it out alive relive the moments of terror. this morning, the manhunt is on for the suspect. and midwestdisaster. more levees fail as deadly

through threatening hundreds of communities. >> our biggest concern is looking out for those who haven't evacuated. >> the national guard now alert as some are urged to take higher ground. fired up. the president taking aim at gun violence. >> i get too many letters from parents and teachers and kids to sit around and do nothing. >> heading back to washington and ready to side step congress on the hot button issue of gun control. and bowl game blowouts. a wild day in college football as records fell. >> and will he score on the first play from scrimmage? yes! >> perhaps the biggest surprise is a message for donald trump in the skies above the rose bowl. we well tell you what it said, today, saturday, january 2nd, 2016. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" live from studio

>> and welcome to "today" on this saturday morning, the second of 2016. i'm erica hill. >> i'm craig melvin alongside sheinelle jones and dylan dreyer. i have not talked to you since last year. >> you waited all morning to say that. >> did it land the way you wanted? >> no, it never does. let's get to the top story. the massive manhunt for the gunman who opened fire on the bar in tel aviv. killing two people in what people fear is an isis inspired attack. all of it caught on video. nbc's keir simmons has the latest on the suspect. keir, good morning. >> reporter: erica, good morning. police hunting the killer believing he is in the tel aviv area. witnesses say they thought of the paris massacre. candles overnight for the victims of the killer still on

a manhunt still on the way this morning. on surveillance camera, young people relax at a bar and dive for cover in fear. a gunman appears firing more than 15 rounds. seconds later, one survivor looks up in horror. around him two are dead. seven people were injured. four in serious condition. >> i'm in shock. i was thinking what is happening? my daughter, she was in the restaurant. i was in shock. >> reporter: more chilling surveillance footage showing the same gunman moments earlier in the grocery store pretending to shop. then he pulls an automatic weapon from the backpack and begins killing. leaving bullet holes and bar stools overturned in horror. >> it was like all were dead.

could be the first isis inspired attack. one new yorker visiting israel says most are not frightened. but this morning, detectives still hunt the man who both hands gripping his weapon were so determined to kill. and tel aviv's mayor called it a terrorist attack motivated by nationalism. other reports say police are not ruling out a criminal motive. 2015 was scarred by terrorism around the world. erica, it looks like 2016 may not see an end to the violence. witnesses say the shooter was smiling. >> so disturbing. keir, thank you. here at home, the situation is dire in the midwest this morning. deadly flooding and record setting river levels are threatening homes in southern missouri and illinois. on friday, two more levees failed and the national guard was activated in illinois with some residents urged to move to higher ground.

almaguer is on the front lines in valley park, missouri. miguel, good morning. >> craig, good morning. three major are rivers responsible for triggering this devastation. some dropping up to eight feet a day. the problem, all of the water is headed right down river. >> some houses with flooding in and around the area. >> reporter: it is moving at a volume and rate few have seen before. after swallowing homes, the mississippi river is now pushing downstream at ten times the speed of niagara falls. late next week, it reaches memphis. before it does. >> there are a lot of dangers. >> reporter: this u.s. coast guard team is helping to patrol 500 nautical miles of river looking for anyone in trouble. >> our biggest concern is looking out for those who haven't evacuated and making

assistance. >> reporter: the widespread flooding across the midwest still threatens 9 million people after claiming seven lives and two missing. the governor of illinois in hard hit alton has the national guard standing by ready to deploy. >> we have communication equipment and sand bags and other supplies to support local first responders. >> reporter: for many, help comes too late. small cities taking the biggest punch. arnold, missouri, an estimated 150 homes here under water. for those like dan crawford, this is anything but a happy new year. >> massive clean up. just a muddy mess. a muddy mess is what we got. intention n tention n tensions are high. >> reporter: the good news, the water is recede ing

eureka, missouri three days ago and this weekend. and this torrent is headed south. with it, a new threat. in cities downstream like memphis, the surge of water will arrive next week. the flood threat will be moderate, but the question is will the levees across that area hold. craig. >> we hope so. miguel, thank you. the rains that caused the flooding in the midwest are viewed as a godzilla el nio. dylan has more on it. this is serious. not a joke. >> this is one of the biggest el nios on record. when you have the warmer temperatures, the air holds more moisture. we see rain through the south that we would likely see in the springtime. i want to break down an el nio.

in part of the equator. the ex-pans of water is two more times the size. this disrupts the weather patterns across the world. especially the united states. a wetter and stormier pattern across the south. a stormier pattern out west. warmer temperatures across the northeast. breaking it down. out west, the wettest december on record in portland. 25 to 50 inches of snow in the sierra. that is 115% above average. that will continue for at least the next month. down across the south, you have the jet stream that pumps in the warmer temperatures and moisture. we had 23 deaths from tornadoes in the month of december alone. the second most ever for december. it is also the wettest december in cities like st. louis. in the northeast, in boston, norfolk, virginia and through detroit. we will see temperatures stay above average for the next several weeks. that could lead to more ice

temperatures don't get all that much below freezing. that could be the pattern we see through this january. these are all trends and patterns. you can still get a major snowstorm in the northeast. the trend is for this type of set up. >> all right. thank you, dylan. to hawaii now. where president obama is enjoying the last day of his holiday vacation. on monday, he is expected to meet with attorney general loretta lynch to talk about stopping gun violence by taking executive action. nbc's ron allen is joining us from honolulu. ron, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, craig. the president is called the inability to stop mass shootings the biggest frustration of his time in office. now that congress is not willing to do anything on the gun issue, the president is looking at the powers of hiss office, to take

>> we will remember the third anniversary of newtown. i will remember gabby giffords. >> reporter: putting the gun violence at the list of unfinished business. >> the amendment is not agreed. >> reporter: criticizing congress for failing to pass a bill three years ago to make background checks for gun purchases almost universal. >> since then, tens of thousands have been mowed down by gun violence. >> reporter: now the president is expected to try to use executive authority to do what congress won't. closing the so called gun show and online loophole that allows sales without background checks. and perhaps stopping people on the terror watch list not allowed to fly on airplanes from buying guns. gun enthusiasts say that is an abuse of power. >> the president is clearly overreaching because the law is very clear as to who can and who cannot transact the firearm sale. >> reporter: but in the final

nation anguished more than a dozen times after mass shootings, the president seems on. >> this is tough politically. the president did not get issues. >> reporter: also on the agenda, especially since paris and san bernardino, keeping america safe and defeating isis. enforcing the nuclear deal and finally closing guantanamo bay. first up, guns. >> because i get too many letters from parents and teachers and kids to sit around and do nothing. >> reporter: we expect to learn more of what the president will propose on monday after meeting with the attorney general. members of his administration have been working on for months after the oregon community college shooting that left ten dead. craig. >> ron, it will likely be a fair

what can republicans do to stop him? >> reporter: well, court. i think that is the main answer. obviously this is an emotional issue. lines are drawn. a lot of comparisons made to, for example, to change the immigration laws through executive action. the gun issue is likely to end up in court. these are legacy issues for the president. issues he feels strongly about. they may not be civil by the time he leaves office. >> ron allen in hawaii. thank you. turning to the developing story with a tense situation in the arab world after a shi'ite cleric was killed overnight. >> saudi arabia announced executions that could spark new protests. among the prisoners put to death is a shi'ite cleric. he was a protesters part of the arab spring. it is feared his death could ignite unrest.

looking into the cause of a fire that kept a major hotel smoldering into the new year. the flames forced hundreds to flee, including a photographer who gave nbc news an inside look at the struggle to get out. as he joined firefighters walking down 48 floors to safety. police in utah released a taser incident of a man threatening his home. this video may be disturbing. a man with a machete and blowtorch. after the taser, flames were set by the suspect. the 36-year-old man was eventually pulled from the house which was destroyed by the fire. there was some surprising interest in the air at this year's rose parade in pasadena.

suddenly turned to the sky. "america is great" and "trump is disgusting." turns out it was paid for by supporter of his rival marco rubio. the rose bowl. stanford running back mccaffrey scored on the first play. the cardinal beat the hawkeyes 45-16. the other bowl games to start the year, ohio state beat notre dame in the fiesta bowl. and we won't talk about what happened to northeastern. finally ringing out the old and now in the new got complicated. a family in san diego welcomed twins born in different years.

boy was born at 12:01. every year, they will have separate birthday parties back-to-back. they also have a toddler. they are in my world. we thought that would happen. separate cakes and separate days. fast forward to last year, separate cakes and took the candle off. you blow. >> a sign of the times. >> good luck with that. sheinelle, thank you. >> dylan dreyer has the check of the forecast. >> although we have not seen rain in the midwest, we are looking at the flooding as an issue through missouri and arkansas. all the water continues to flow into the mississippi. other than that, we are really not seeing a lot going on. we have dry conditions out west, through the rockies and midwest and up and down the east coast except for lake-effect sn good morning, everyone. chilly start to the first weekend of 2016. temperatures in the 30s and 20s

lots of sunshine out there already from new york city into the hudson valley and also down the jersey shore. 33 outside right now. bundle up weather right through the afternoon. today's high temperature only in the low 40s. windchills feel like 30s today. tomorrow, breezy and cool. then much colder next week. . and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you. hollywood's biggest names went to twitter to remember natalie cole who died at age 65. blake mccoy has a look back at her life and career. this will be an everlasting love >> her stardom instant. her single winning a grammy and drawing comparisons to aretha franklin. a string of hit for her, daughter of crooner nat king cole.

next to my dad. not in front of him. not behind him. next to him. >> reporter: the '70s brought success, but '80s brought struggle. addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. forcing her into rehab. it was during the period, she believed she contracted hepatitis c and health problems and kidney transplant late in life. >> i had to face myself. >> reporter: cole found sobriety and rebounded with this in the '80s with this iconic moment. unforgettable >> reporter: a duet with her late father. "unforgettable" shot to number one as cole sang her father's hit. she would continue recording new music into the very end.

father and pay homage to him, but forge her career as a solo artist which a lot of folks can't do. >> reporter: outside the capitol records building, her name is etched in the hollywood walk of fame. >> it is a loss for the music industry. she had great talents. >> reporter: natalie cole, daughter of the legend with a voice that bridged generations. truly unforgettable. for "today," blake mccoy, nbc news, los angeles. >> that album he referenced is absolutely fantastic. >> instant classic. >> she will be missed. back in a moment. but first this is "today" on nbc.

back now on this first saturday of the new year with a look back at 2015.

15 minutes of fame. a lot of moments. >> from the rights of civil rights activists to the dentist who killed a beloved lion. they became household names in an instant to disappear from the spotlight. where are they now? >> are you african-american? >> i don't understand the question. >> in june, rachel dolezal was outed as a white woman. after being widely panned apparent vilified. she resigned from her job. she feared she is pregnant with a third baby boy on the way. we are not issuing marriage licenses today. >> in september, kentucky county clerk kim davis refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. she had a secret meeting with pope francis. she continues to fight lawsuits

davis told the ap, if i could be remembered for one thing. it is i was not afraid to compromise myself. >> to capture two inmates in a brazen break. >> and questions around joyce mitchell. >> the new york prison seamstress was sentenced to seven years for helping two convicted killers escape from the correctional facility. >> i knew i was in way over my head. >> she was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution. >> i'm not the monster. >> the death of cecil the lion ignited controversy around the world. >> walter palmer, the 55-year-old american dentist faced death threats for killing a beloved lion in zimbabwe.

the lion had a name and was important to the country or study, obviously i would not have taken it. i brought something to school that wasn't a threat. >> in september, 14-year-old muhammad brought a clock to a school which some thought was a bomb. ahmed received a flood of support. since then, he moved to qatar where he was awarded a full scholarship to college. for others, a tough 15 minutes of fame. sheinelle, thanks. >> when we come back, wouldn't it be great if you could wave a wand and get rid of certain annoying words or phrases from the english language? not when come back. now. >> a group at lake superior state in lake michigan has more on that. dylan has more on that from the orange room. >> the professors at the college are saying enough is enough.

annual list of words or phrases to banish. they accept thousands of submissions. let's look at some of the words. the first, craig, man spreading. >> i do like to man spread. i do. >> this word is tmi. this is especially familiar for those of us in bigger cities. men take up more space on public transportation. they spread their legs encroaching on the other seats. the term is stupid and men don't need another word to justify their disgusting habit. another casualty. vape and vaping. the university says it is a strange word and it should go up in smoke. i agree. guys, a lot of people in our business use this. join the conversation. it is never just a nice calm conversation con conversation conversation. and break the internet.

amounts of traffic. we will not say that one anymore. and secret sauce. i have not heard of it. it is used in a sentence for a secret in detail. the phrase is frequent in business discussions. there was another one on there. "so." that is my crutch word. so. i always say so. >> what is your crutch? flake. >> it used to be well. i got rid of. it i would say well -- >> we could add to that list. exponentially. there are a lot of those. >> we will make lists in the break. >> we shouldn't. still to come on "today," a look at the week's biggest stories from donald trump attacking bill clinton and nfl star peyton manning hiring a staffer and taking a spin with sign einfeld

the time now is 7:26. a live look at the brooklyn bridge on this brisk saturday. a place in the bronx right now looking for two robbers targeting women in elevators. this video shows one of the suspects checking a victim's metrocard to see if it works. he has helped rob at least four women in elevators. police also want to question the suspect you see in the hat there. people in new jersey say an earthquake shook the area there. the u.s. gee ological survey reports no injuries. you need to grab some layers as you're heading out the door.

for the next few days. lots of sunshine, though. tomorrow more of the same, breezy and bright with a high of 43. monday, that's when things get actually cold. below freezing in many spots. monday night we're in the teens for the first time in central park this season. and then tuesday, probably below freezing all day. >> it's january. thank you.

i like the hand hanging over the wheel. >> yeah. if you are driving a 'vette, you have to do it that way. you can't do the 12 and 2 thing. i'm appreciatable cooler than i was two minutes ago. >> president obama showing his comedic chops with the corvette

"comedians in cars getting coffee." we will have more with that interview in a moment. we're back on the first saturday morning of 2016. it is january 2nd. look at the brave bundled up on the plaza. we will get out in a bit to help them ring in the new year. that is the first time the president's been behind a wheel of a car in a long time. >> that and another jerry seinfeld had on sneakers. i cannot imagine going to the white house with sneakers. >> jerry can do it. we will get to those stories in a moment. here is what is making headlines. homes in missouri and illinois are being threatened by swollen rivers as water levels keep rising. two more levees failed friday. tributes pouring in for singer natalie cole who died thursday at age 65.

nat king cole gained acclaimed in 1991 rerecording his classic. and mccaffrey led the team to a win with a score of 45-16. we have the check of the weather with dylan dreyer on the plaza. >> january is here and it is cold outside. i want to say hello to someone who is or is not watching. it is recording. >> hi, daddy. >> where is he right now? >> in africa. >> on the "uss gravely?" >> yes. >> thank you for your service. let's look at the weather. it is colder. cold enough for lake-effect snow off lake erie and lake ontario. we will see higher accumulations near watertown. amounts. along lake erie, 2 to 4 inches.

falling. it at will be very chilly across the northeast down through the mid-atlantic where temperatures will sink in the 30s in charleston by monday. 35 for the high. in new york city, monday, a high of 31 degrees. we haven't been below freezing yet in new york city. that will feel different. we have rain today through southern texas and northern florida. the rest of the country, besides the lake-effect snow, it is chilly, but it will be sunny. finally feels like winter outside this morning. windchills in the teens and twej out 20s. breezy by dry. you need to bundle up if you're going to go outside. 33 right now. we stay in the 30s. breezy conditions right through the afternoon. a high temperature barely in the 40s, but it doesn't feel that mild.

and that's your latest forecast. guys. >> dylan, thank you. now for "the download." our time to wrap up the week's biggest stories. >> while many of us may have been in a holiday stupor enjoying time off, the world kept up spinning. let's get a quick look at the week that was. >> extreme weather impacting much of the country. >> this morning, weather whiplash from tornadoes to floods to blizzards. devastating the southwest and midwest. >> at least nine confirmed to adoes touching down in texas. destruction spanning nearly 40 miles near dallas. >> there's houses torn up everywhere. >> the mississippi, the missouri and meramec rivers are raging. homes here have washed away. neighborhoods are torn apart. at least 21 in the area are dead. >> in politics, donald trump continues to dominate the republican field.

contenders this week and targeting potential general election rival hillary clinton. >> she's playing the woman's card. it's like give me a break. >> unloading on clinton's secret weapon. former president bill clinton. >> there were certainly a lot of abuse of women. you look at monica lewinsky or paula jones. >> in sports, peyton manning forced to defend himself against allegations in a documentary over performance enhancing drugs. >> monday, manning hired ari fleischer to help control the controversy. they are reviewing the al jazeera and weighing the decision to file charges after the claims of hgh from the guyer institute.

america's father is charged with sexual assault over a 2004 even counter with a former employee. >> he felt out of place in the small courthouse in pennsylvania. bill cosby, once known as america's favorite dad, arrived to counts of sexual assault. the first time he has ever been criminally charged. unprecedented security for the times square celebration. >> the ball is ready for the revelers who will pack into times square this new year's eve. joining them is 6,000 nypd officers and anti-terror force. >> the revelry around the times square and around the world went off without incident. and season seven of "medians in cars getting coffee" debuted with president obama. >> don't you think every american child says you grow up loving the president?

to 8 demographic. >> really? >> yeah. partly because they think my ears are big and i look a little like a cartoon character. >> that is hilarious. >> it is funny. >> 0 to 8. >> how did you spend your new year? >> with good friends who come over with their kids. we lay low. >> i went to bed at 6:42. >> 6:42 this year. >> i was trying to have a rested new year's day. my husband sent me a picture. they hit the town. they had rattlers and lights. picture pictures of them on the train. mommy was sleeping. >> are they home yet? >> we stayed in. my husband requested all foods that were round. pepperoni and meatballs. >> how about you? >> we had dinner at 8:45.

>> we are a rocking good time. >> i tell you what, the morning shift win. >> we are getting old. let's be real. >> not in a bad way. just ahead here, from the old bunch, the first photo of lamar odom since being hospitalized since the drug overdose. and how celebrities sharing how they spent their new year's. but first these messages. phil! oh no... (under his breath) hey man! hey peter. (unenthusiastic) oh... ha ha ha! joanne? is that you? it's me... you don't look a day over 70. am i right? r jingle jingle. if you're peter pan, you stay young forever. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. you make me feel so young... it's what you do. you make me feel

my trainer didn't believe me that trop50 could taste so good and still have 50% fewer calories. can i stop, jane? no. trop50. tastes so good you won't believe it has 50% fewer calories. the flu virus hits big. with aches, chills, and fever, there's no such thing as a little flu. and it needs a big solution: an antiviral. so when the flu hits, call your doctor right away and up the ante with antiviral tamiflu. prescription tamiflu is an antiviral that attacks the flu virus at its source and helps stop it from spreading in the body. tamiflu is fda approved to treat the flu in people two 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

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 to moderate nausea and vomiting. anti-flu? go antiviral with tamiflu. i've smoked a lot and quit a lot, but ended up nowhere. now i use this. the nicoderm cq patch, with unique extended release technology, helps prevent the urge to smoke all day. i want this time to be my last time. that's why i choose nicoderm cq. we are in the age of ageless. age neutral. age defiant. age agnostic.

only the best 1% of ingredients for transformed skin without expensive brands or procedures. it's the ultimate nobody has any idea how old you are. with olay, you age less. so you can be ageless. olay. ageless. back on this saturday morning. with a little trending to kick off the year. at the start of every year, there is a resolutions. the google has the list of the most googled resolutions. number one, how to get rid of stress. number two, how to make kale chips. number three, how much water should i drink to lose weight.

or recommendation letter. a lot of people maybe making healthy eating or lifestyle changes for the year. we are talking about whether any of us? >> none of us do resolutions. >> i try to keep something in mind. a couple years ago, it was clutter. all my e-mail passwords. it kind of works. >> that is a good way to do it. >> i did make a resolution last year to try to be more present and not get so caught up in this. >> did it work? >> no. >> there is always 2016. >> i will not set myself up for disappointment this year. >> i didn't make a resolution, but i did google how to change a doorknob. i opened the doorknob to get out of the apartment and it fell off. >> you did that here once. we kind of -- >> that happened here, too. this is knowledge i need. i looked it up. the explanation was so difficult. i called a locksmith.

swim. we watched penguins swimming. >> how did you know that? >> i googled it. >> come on. >> do you know? >> it is just like this. right through the water. all right. the popstart. how celebrities rang in 2016 and "star wars" takes in titanic numbers at the box office. first "popstart" of 2016. >> i don't know what this is. >> it is trending. >> first up, i'm out of time now. we have the full round of some of the celebrities. newly wed sofia and joe shared this moment before the ball dropped. david and victoria beckham celebrated with their four kids and kiss at midnight. and john legend and wife chrissy

and finally, the first look at lamar odom since his hospitalization in october. thanks to a picture his son posted saying, thanks, here's to 2016. and a new year and a new record broken. "the force awakens" brought in an estimated $687 million. making it the second highest grossing film of all time domestically before it was number two "titanic" and on the highest grossing film of "avatar" which brought in $690 million. >> we are going for a third time. >> you will put them over the top. >> i'm slightly obsessed with it. >> i would say completely obsessed. >> it was really good. >> am i the only loser that hadn't seen it yet? >> i don't know i would use the "l" word. >> i can't remember the last movie i have seen.

when we come back, we are switching things up here. we like to bring you in for the plaza fan of the day. well, this wasn't our idea. one of our producers thought it would be a great idea to ask us questions. >> could be awful. >> slightly nervous. first these messages. to the woman in the mid-90's showstopper... you're right. it's time to set this bird free. hot blooded, check it and see... got a fever of 103... feelin' hungry? how 'bout a donut? i'm hot blooded..i'm hot blooded! whether it's 30-years old or 30-days old, carmax will appraise it in as little as 30 minutes. and then your only concern will be how to spend the cash. rad. feel a cold coming on? new zicam cold remedy nasal swabs shorten colds with a snap, and reduce symptom severity

shorten your cold with a snap, with zicam. my trainer didn't believe me that trop50 could taste so good and still have 50% fewer calories. can i stop, jane? no. trop50. tastes so good you won't believe it has 50% fewer calories. only kraft natural cheese has a touch of philadelphia cream cheese, so whatever you make, is creamier than ever. [music] no, no, no, no, people are both soft and strong... yey! which is why our

angel soft. i'm here at my house, on thanksgiving day and i have a massive heart attack right in my driveway. the doctor put me on a bayer aspirin regimen. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. go talk to your doctor. you're not indestructible anymore. i am never getting married. never. psssssh. guaranteed. you picked a beautiful ring. thank you. we're never having kids. mmm-mmm. breathe. i love it here. we are never moving to the suburbs. we are never getting one of those (minivan). we are never having another kid. i'm pregnant. i am never letting go. for all the nevers in life,

we are back on a saturday morning. with "today's" plaza fan of the day. sorry. i thought i was on camera. we are going to have the segment with you fans of the day ask us questions. we don't know the question. i'll let you ask it. let's see how it goes. >> you are being granted one wish for 2016. what are you wishing for? you cannot say more wishes. >> you are good. ladies first. >> craig melvin was complaining. you should go first. >> i should wish for world peace and all that. you know, everyone.

we are trying to sell our apartment. i hope we sell our apartment. >> you are going to get a hit right now. >> i would say peace for my family. >> i would say serenity. if i could just oomm all the time. >> i wish for and this is going to sound cheesy. health and happiness for my family. >> not cheesy. >> now i don't like my answer. >> it was very selfish. >> no, it is not. >> it will bring you serenity and stability and happiness. >> i want money. i want money. >> thanks for being honest. guys, thank you so much. i appreciate it. i like this segment. coming up on "today," how to set up the perfect profile for online dating and why you need to get this done before tomorrow.

still to come on "today," what lawyers for bill cosby's accusers hope to uncover now the comedian's wife is forced to testify. lone star state. we will look at that. but first this is "today" on nbc. 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. the power to feel better.tm what if the sweet stevia leaf was discovered...

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it is 7:56. a chilly 33 degrees on this saturday morning. a live look there at the tappan zee bridge. january 2nd. happy new year to you. people in new jersey say an earthquake shook them out of bed this morning. the u.s. geological survey confirms it was a 2.1 quake that struck just before 1:00 a.m. no damage or injuries were reported. the coney island polar bear club. all these folks did this new year's eve tradition. about 2,000 people taking the

raising money to send children with serious illnesses to camp sunshine in maine. in case you had any doubts, she had on her little polar bear hat. >> it was chilly but not too bad. colder today. breezy and chilly. layers are needed. guys, get ready, it's cool this weekend but monday and tuesday our first arctic blast to get excited about. >> thank you.

good morning. it's 8:00. here are the stories we are watching. a dire situation this morning in the midwest as swollen rivers top failing levees there. some department of homeland security some homeowners are urged to seek higher ground. and al qaeda released a new

the clip features the candidate's pledge to keep muslims out of the community. and bill cosby prepares to testify in a civil suit after losing a legal battle. today, saturday, january 2nd, 2016. >> and good morning. welcome back to "today" on a saturday morning. we have a fantastic crowd. >> we do. >> fantastic crowd on the plaza. some birthdays. it is cold. >> it is chilly. >> a little chilly. >> i'm used to it. there is an adjustment period we did not get in december. >> we will get it in january. >> you said winter would show up. >> a lot to get to this morning. let's start off with sheinelle with recruiting video featuring donald trump. >> good morning. a new tape set to come from al shabaab and using donald trump

it uses part of the republican candidate's comments of keeping muslims out of the country. and the midwest is still dealing with flooding. nbc's miguel almaguer is in valley park, missouri. he joins us with the latest. miguel, good morning. >> reporter: sheinelle, good morning. not far outside st. louis. you can see behind me many of the intersections are still flooding and affecting the roadways. the water is receding, but there has been significant damage across the area. let's show you what the damage looks like from above. more than 150 homes completely destroyed. many are still under water this morning. at least 24 people are dead and another 2 are still missing. certainly some bad news for specifically smaller neighborhoods that have been hit hard here. the water is moving ten times the speed of niagara falls. mostly through the mississippi river and headed to smaller cities across the river.

keeping close eye on 500 nautical miles across the region to make sure the levees are safe and anyone who is trapped or needs rescued has been. it will be a tense 24 to 48 hours. the damage here in the area has been done and the water is moving downstream. sheinelle. in allentown, pennsylvania, the search for a missing autistic boy. the boy is believed to be in the allentown neighborhood not far from the lehigh river. rescuers with helicopters and blood hounds race to pick up his scent as the temperatures dip below freezing. his second night on his own. the 5-year-old suffers from autism. he apparently walked out of a family gathering on new year's eve without a coat, shoes or socks. >> we were upstairs. left out of nowhere.

check hidden spaces for the boy, but do not approach him. >> he is generally afraid of people. if you were to come across him, do not call out his name. don't move to him. call us so we can get there quickly and try to secure him. >> while some children are autism are known to run, his family said it is not like him to wander away. they hope he is in a warm place. >> i don't know what he will do. i'm really scared something will happen to him. >> there was an encouraging sign friday afternoon when the search dog picked up a scent, but nothing yet. they will keep on. and mexico affluenza teen ethan couch has hired a lawyer to fight the extradition to the u.s. he is wanted on possible parole violations.

in mexico, couch was seen at a strip club and his mother paid his tab there. and it could be a happy new year for anyone with the right numbers. here we go. the drawing for powerball tonight has risen to $334 million. that's the 12th highest jackpot. if you are really lucky, combine that with the mega million, you could win $500 million. >> wow. >> i made a wish for money. >> i wanted to sell my apartment. you said money. >> last time i checked, they give you money for selling your apartment. >> you don't have to worry about selling it. >> if you win, you should share. >> absolutely. >> i would not be here tomorrow morning. actually, i would be here, but with a different attitude. >> wow! >> let's get another check of the forecast. i'll save you from the hole you are digging into right now. we have rain in southern texas. heavy in some areas. yellow indicating the heavy rain. it extends over the gulf of

showers in northern florida. here is the set up. as we go through the weekend, we are going to see the rain continue through the south and eventually get heavy through central and northern florida. more or less showers through florida, but 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. out west, more rain moves in. the area of low pressure brings more rain instead to the pacific nest northwest, but more in california. we are looking for snow in the higher elevations. we could see perhaps up to 1 foot of snow in areas. we are looking at rain in phoenix. up to .50 of rain is possible. san francisco could see up to .50 to 1 inch of rain. elsewhere, high pressure in control. chilly well, the first weekend of 2016 off to a cold start. we have breezy and dry conditions around the region.

sunshine throughout the day. it is breezy and chilly. windchills stay in the 30s throughout the day today. tomorrow we've got more of the same, breezy and bright for sunday. 43 for your high there. much colder early next week. and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you. >> bill cosby's wife is set to be deposed as early as next week. nbc's christine dahlgren has more. >> reporter: after a year of standing by her man, camille cosby will be deposed by lawyers who claimed her husband drugged or assaulted them. >> she has information about his sexual proclivities and encounters and consensual or

his use of quaaludes. >> reporter: the women are suing in court saying cosby publicly denied their claims. they are among more than 50 who allege some form of sexual misconduct. camille cosby was absent in court this week when her husband was charged with aggravated indecent assault. her statement more a year ago. the man who i met and fell in love with is the man you know through his work. she is the mother of his five children and also his business manager. >> they may be looking for business records or checks paid out through the business. knowledge of when and where he was and when he was supposed to be. >> reporter: cosby as repeatedly denied all allegations and counter suing the seven women for defamation. >> i believe when you separate what happens in the court of law

court of public opind you will get an outcome of justice. >> reporter: he broke his silence days before his wife faces questions. for "today," kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. gun owners in texas are facing new rights because it is okay to carry a gun in holster in public. here is nbc's jacob rascon with more. >> obviously, we are having problems with. that we will get that though you in a bit. still ahead here on "today," did you know tomorrow is the busiest day for online dating. we have pb&j. it' s just pb&j.

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we apologize for the technical difficulties a few minutes ago. now you can open carry a holster in public in texas. the change is not welcome for everyone in the state. here is nbc's jacob rascon. >> reporter: it is about time many texans with handguns with hip holsters are allowed in places. >> i don't have to worry about hiding anything. allows quicker access.

last states to legalize it. the 45th with some form of handgun open carry. at a gun range in lewisville, texas, gun owners are ready for the privilege, if most say they don't plan to use it. >> people are walking down the mall with an open gun. the people will look at them differently. >> reporter: under the new law, no additional paper work, training or fee is required for them. a conceal carry permit now doubles as an open carry permit. >> tell us how to comply. >> reporter: law enforcement across the state, ready for a spike in 911 calls for those unfamiliar with the law, largely oppose it according to the survey by the texas police chiefs association. >> we don't want people riding behind our cabs. >> reporter: businesses may ban open carry and larry phillips

>> the real question is for those that are out hunting, working in the rural areas. >> reporter: and campus carry allowing concealed at universities with some exceptions. >> no reason for them to come with a gun. >> reporter: opposed by many students, faculty and others across the state. open carry and campus carry, the gun friendly lone star state now even friendlier. for "today," jacob rascon, nbc news, dallas. >> jacob, thank you. erica, over to you. craig, thank you. along with eating better and losing weight, finding love is a top resolution. especially for the more than 107 million singles. according to match.com, tomorrow is the busiest day for online dating. bella is the founder of the smart dating academy in chicago. nice to have you here. >> nice to be here. >> your way to start the year is finding love.

let's start with the 20 somethings. >> definitely look at dating apps. our favorites are hinge, bumble and tinder. those are free and you need a smartphone. >> i only heard of one of those. what about men and women in 30s and 40 snz. >> a lot of engagements and many happen in the age bracket with match.com. >> match.com. still ahead of the pack. what about people in 50s or above? >> eharmony or ourtime.com. >> does this determine who you are going after? >> yes. >> when it comes to putting your profile together, your picture is 90% of the success. >> at least 90%. >> oh, look at that. the first thing you need to do is to get prepared is make sure photos are in shape. a mix of head shots and body shots.

the camera and body shots, head to knee on head to toe. >> dress your success? >> absolutely. don't think you are trying too hard. here are before and after shots. a guy with sunglasses and old t-shirt. a woman casual. she literally broke the internet when we put her on. she already found love. >> and nobody else is in the pictures. >> you and only you. no pets. no kids. people know you have friends. you don't have to have tons of friends. >> what about your actual profile? what should we say when we are trying to introduce ourselves? >> you want to stand out with fun facts about yourself. in addition to that, if you are adventurous, you might like to bungee jump or hike.

>> and you should always have a plan. this plan should include a spreadsheet? had. >> you can absolutely have a spreadsheet. like anything big in life, you have to have a plan. for tomorrow, pick one to two sites or apps. put 30 to 60 minutes in. say you will connect with five people. you have to have a plan. >> you have to e-mail within 24 hours. >> important. this game moves fast. you cannot wait around five days because you are busy. if somebody e-mails you that is interesting. get on and e-mail back right away. >> don't ever give out your phone number. use google voice. >> it is free. you can set it up in five minutes. it is an internet-based phone number that leads to your cell phone. that way if you go out on a date and somebody unsavory wants to text you at 3:00 a.m. several times, you can disengage it.

before the date? >> that is a good point. don't go from text to e-mail to the date. you can build a connection with people on the phone. and crazy people cannot keep crazy in the closet for more than ten minutes. a quick ten minute conversation will absolutely weed it out. >> i like that thinking. something you should never do. you started to touch on this. don't get caught in an e-mail relationship. >> nothing text or e-mail. if somebody doesn't want to talk on the phone or go out on the date, put them to the back of the line. you are out there to find love. >> you recommend not corresponding with anybody too negative or too sexual. >> if they look super cute or the profile reads negatively or talking about what they don't want or it is critical, just say no. >> this last one surprised me. butterflies are bad. i thought that was good? >> we teach this at the dating academy.

excitement and interest. it is your gut that is saying danger up ahead, will robinson. run. it is fear and anxiety. >> my butterflies turned out well 15 years ago. dave, you're still doing great. i love these. okay. we have 24 hours to get ready. tomorrow is the day to find love. >> 8:52 p.m. eastern is the busiest moment. >> right before you are starting to watch "downton abbey." >> right. >> thank you for your time. we'll be right back, but first

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it was a fun first saturday. >> that's going to do it for this saturday. tomorrow on "today," a bucket list of 34 country ies spanning five continents. and how many vacation time my moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis

anything but simple. so finally, i had an important conversation with my dermatologist about humira. he explained that humira works inside my body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to my symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults saw 75% skin clearance. and the majority were clear or almost clear in just 4 months. 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. ask your dermatologist about humira. because with humira clearer skin is possible.

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coming up next on "today in new york" -- >> reporter: saying good-bye to a hero. thousands are expected to pay a final tribute to an airman killed overseas. also live this morning we are tracking an earthquake that startled neighbors in new jersey. and an arctic blast headed our way. we'll show you some bone

. live from studio 3c in rockefeller center, this is "today in new york." now on "today in new york," residents reacting to a rare rumble in new jersey. what we now know about a small

family and friends gather on long island to remember a local soldier killed in afghanistan. and the latest for the search for the gunman in the deadly shooting on the streets of tel-aviv. >> it's good to be with you on this saturday. >> glad to have you joining us on this first weekend of the new year. we'd like to wish you a happy new year. raphael is in the weather center with the changing forecast. >> temperatures out there in the 30s right now. windchills in the 20s. it's going to get much colder than this over the next few days. breezy and cool throughout the day today. and we are talking about temperatures well below freezing week. you could see in storm tracker, a lot of sunshine for nassau and

as we head north and west of