usands in our area. >> and not just federal workers worried about not gettingaid but friends and family wanting to take part in d.c. holiday tradition. >> 'sd. mark segraves. >> this has been seen outside of the white housena at the natio christmas tree for the past few days. disappointing children and adults. >> t government shutdown. >> probably upset. tell meri to b my grandchildren here and it's closed. this is our tree. and i think that's awful. for what?or >> f just after 12:00 noon today, with no fanfare, t tional christmas tree reopened. >> i thi this reopening is hintastic. just seeing gentleman here, coming in and opening these gates shows me there's some common sense and decency left with se part of the government. >> reporter: money came from a nonprofit. the national park foundation. across the area, services and

facilities at the national parks are closed because of the natishutdown. the park service isn'tng picki up the trash but it is getting picked up. last week, d.c. mayor muriel bowser announce that had d.c. crhes would pick up t trash at more than 120 national park sites in the district t as f federal workers, faced with uncertainty. especially contract w this woman who has worked as a custodian at the state department for 20 years. >> we don't know when we're going back. >> reporter: like many others who work for the federal government isctlly employed by a private company. ernment shuts .own sxherks thousands of others don't get >> that means my rent will be late. i can't pay my rent. >> reporter: some contractors who don't get paid could qualify for unemployment benefits. news4. from washington street,he ttoll.hu

meanwhile at the white house president trump has spent most of the day tweeting. and as thousands ofrs wornd contractors go into the holidays about uncertainty about their next paycheck, the president is writing poor me as he tri on shift blame to the democrats. >> reporter: 'twas the night before sxrm in onwashin no compromise in sight. a partial shutdown stretching into day three. the stand-off over borr wall funding. the white house willing to budge from its initial demand of $5 billion. but want demrats to increase their offer of $1.3 billion. the senate out until thursday. a top white house official predicting the shutdould last into the new year leaving so 0,000 federal employees in limbo. >> they'll have an impact ais it upy plea to the president, open , government. >> reporter: president trump out of sight but punting blameight

back to democrats. i am all alone, poor me, in the white house, he tweeted. waiting for the democrats to come back andak a deal on border security. the uncertainty reflected on wall .street the dow plunging 653 points today. >> this comes after steve mnuchin took the step of calling ceos and then releasing the atement staying banks are healthy. and sending the defense secretary packing. he announced on twitter, patrick shanahan will step into place on january 1st. a possible factor, saying president trump was upset with reports for training mattis and the last adult in the room.

>> right now you'll find some free and cheap things to do. lifted from the rubble. meanwhile, many have died and hundreds more have been injured. completely offguard with no cyber or tech warning. experts sayve it appears to been caused byc volca activity from an underwater land slide.>> you can't use to it cross the potomac.ch per 4 was in the area. you can see how high the waner wa you can see the debris.

well, no rain adding to that situation today. we've got some clouds and cold air moving in. i was really hoping we would get more sunshine during the i forecast buthink a lot more clouds will be moving in for your christmas day. all the snow, it seems like everyone to theorth is getting to that system. we're staying pretty dry. here at home we're looking a cloudy conditions. it will be downright cold out there. here's a look at the reason.

i'm talking another rain system. >> as you can with these clear skies, santa and his sleigh should have no issues making it to the dmv night. already delivering more than 3 bill npresents. better everybody joy life on th edge. time is quickly running out. >> the malls are filled with people who procrastinated. >> and you'rehone of guys trying to avoid the rush.

did you go out there because you were shopping or what? no. i came out because i was working. i'm trying tohe find perfect gift for my wife. a lot oai peopled to get their shofb done. some people like myself tive on this. whether it is the thrill of the hunt or the holiday hustle and ncstle, shopping on christmas eve takes patie -- >> it took about an hour in one store. >> you think you tone have enough. >> and procrastination. >> you know it's christmas eve. >> yeah. >> reporter: and you waited so long >> we were busy, i guess. with plenty of stores and many offering deep discounts and desirable details, sometimes it pays to wait. >> the deals are great. >> reporter: what did you walk

away with? >> i man't tell kids. >> reporter: not everyone wanted long.it this he had no choice. why are you starting today? >> when you work two jobs and you're on the go. >>ou waited so long because -- >> good thing it doesn't take lot of presents. >> and she's tnking a bit bigger. >> hey! at least grandma is on board. >> what would you think about going to the bahamas? >> why? it means she will get to spend time with family. >> i think it is more the you can ganybody. >> so the a outlets close 6:00.

yo does kohl's and macy's. if you're rea going to push it to the edge, target is open until late. so needless to say, i know where i will be later tonight. and you about 2,500 other guys. a grinch is caugh stealing packages. they took pictures of theouoot they yesterday when they arrested mario wilson. officers found him with 13 boxes andnvelopes that don't belong to him. this evening a judge is ordering north korea to say hel, to pay $5 million. the family filed wrongful death suit in april.

a u.s. judge ordered the payment today. he with a tour group when he was arrested for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster. he was sentenced to 15 yea to hard labor and returned to the u.s. in a coma> nd james mattis signed an order today to begin whdrawing american troops the letter came one day after president trump abrumley announced american troopsea wou beng syria. he said he would step down in february. over the weekend the president announced he'll be leaving at the end of the year. newly engaged father to a 2-year-old girl. we're learning about the young man who died in a crash as we head int christmas is th how friends are remembering this man tonight. plus, doctors say cases of the flu are starting to pick up. the states wheret is already

widespread and your best defense against the bug. coming up on news4, how these carollers are making christmas eve a little happier. and now a look at st. peter'sa basil as the pope delivers christmas mass. ♪

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a reminderd to spr holiday cheer, not germs. the flu is now widespread in six states. the closest state to us is delaware. doctors say there are signs the virus will soon become more e active her in the washington area. so your best protection is a flu shot. but they say you should also washour han and wash them of ten. lather up about 20 secondsach time you go to the sink. it's christm eve and many children will have trouble getting to sleep tonight. but many adults have a hard time gettg to sleep as well. the average person slept about 6:17 per night in 2018.

and during the holidays, many tend to thk about the children they love. but don't forget to make special time for the oldest people in your lives. experts recommend engaging by asking them to help youook or looking at old photo albums wit them. if you plan to have elderly guests, remember to put away the loose cords and plugs so they don't trip. and a look at thes dialy center in maryland. look at these kids. they were arehringingtmas carols to the patients there who have to go through dialysis whether it is a holiday or not. ♪ >> this christmas theho people w have to ten is that holidays at the clinic, the carolers want to spend their lives aittle brighter even if just for a moment. she started the group time for

kidneys. >> we have blankets. >> she knows just what they're going through. kidney disease forced her to go on dialysis three hours at a time three times a week for three years. >> sometimes it can be kin of lonely. it is you and your imachine. vowed when i got well, i would come back lpand@ others in the situation. >> i used to come the this facility. yes. the patient spends so much time on dialysis, he says it is like a part-time job and he hopes to make the job a little easier. >> it's nice. really, really nice. i love it. >> peoplere praying for you and they're rooting for you. and the carolers say they hope to make this a holid

tradition and do it every year. joy to the world ♪ >> a little booster shot there. i love it. the financial services and mobile pment company square inc. says christmas tree sales are up 10% o r lastyear. the national christmas tree association suspects it is because millennials suspect the ainability of christmas tree farming. another suggestion is th millennials prefer real items like organic foods or in this case, live christmas trees. >> okay. whatever works forthem. and you've probably noticed social media has become a bigpa of the holiday for millennials. >> that's right. and asouan imagine, the #millennial christmas traditions is getting a lot of use on

twitte >> reporter: smile or maybe roll your eyes a little bit but it's l been in fun. twitter has been reagt to the most millennial ways to smile at christmas. like leaving avocado toast for santa. exchanging gifs instead of gifts. or get this. displaying the nativity selfie scene. what's most troublingbout that is that actually exists. and yes, i'm reading my script on my pho because i'm not millennial. so the internet, you're hilaous and we appreciate all the things you to to make us smile. if you don't understand the millennial humor, i guess -- emoji shrug. hash time sorry not sorry. >> we know you're not sorry. >> you're agreeing with him.

yes, i bustedou out. it began as a way to help a vetera now it's grown to help hundreds of families in need. there is still plenty of christmas cheer to go around. >> we've collected overto 4,500 for families of need. they didn't have to supply anything just had to have children. they've gathered resources, back to school supplies, at some of our top stories. thousands of federal workers facing uncertainty ae go into the holidays and reach new rent and mortgage deadlines.

while most national park facilities expose the lights on the christmas tree have been turned back >>. there appears to be no compromise in sight to tend shutdown. the president spent most of the dayweeting and trying to blame democrats for it and the democrats said they're not sure what the presidentll actua wants for a compromise. all of this causing wall street to see its worst christmas eve ever. theowropping 650 points. james mattis signed an order to begin withdrawing american troops. fighting isis in syria. last week he announced he was resigning over foreign policy differences. over the weekend, the president announced that he will leave early, at the end of the year. the holidays will never be the same for a famy from manassas. prince william police s edward

died in a crash last night. he was just years old. he had just gotten engaged. he leaves behind his 2-year-old daughter. today, shomari stone spoke with one of his friends. >> reporter: so tragic. people who live out here near bristol road say it is not uncommon for people to be speeding on e street but it ison uncomm for someone to die. he described how he feels after losing his frien the father o a 2-year-old girl, in a carcr h. >> he was a good man. we went to school together. >> reporter: they were driving on bristow road. poli say he was seetd behind the driver. the two passengers in the back

seat with him were ejected from the car. the front seat passenger, the driver, they were trapped and firefighters had to extricate them. now they're at the hospital with serious injuries. it's sad. >> reporter: he lives near accident scene. >> a lot c ofs going over the speed limit. >> reporter: police stay was speeding. the speed him was live to. they haven't said where alcohol or drugs were involved. the two passengers were transported to the hospital with serious injuries police tell us the driver was the only person wearing a seatbelt. in prince william county, news4. dave, what that here? >> it is not the season to

criticize. dj swearingerad expressed displeasure about defensive game plans and the head coach, jay gruden, had saidea he wanted issues to stay inside theam te saturday, swearinger released more criticism and this afternoon, swearinger was released. in the wake of the loss to the titans, he was upset w play calling and that so and suggested he watches more game film. gruden said, in his words, he was disappointed in swearinger and today swearinger found out how disappointed. >> i was releed. i've been there three times and he was going to release me. i asked why, for an explanation. because of the media. being grinding and

myself. to get ready for the next journey, man. >> reporter: didn't see this coming christmas eve. up next, more on dj swearinger and his christmas exit. >> they've been talking about this is not something new. >> no. it's not new. but the head coach was asked about previous criticismnd i can only speculate that at that point, jay grouden didn't like that. >> as the world turns with the redskins. this sunday season finale for the redskins against the b eagles hn moved from a not woo:00 start to a 4:25 kickoff at fedex field. new relief for tens of

thousands of d.c. water customers. and funding a massive tunnel project to keep sewage from flooding into the rivers. the way it is calculated means some nonprofits, religious organizations and churches are facing water bills of tens of thousands of dollars. w d.c. council is that d.c. water have budgeted $13 million to help pay those fees. you ve to apply though for the help and the application process begins next week. >> it feels like it is hate in coming, i'm very happy that they've come up with a plan to do something about it. >> itill be retroactive through october 2019. many are worried that they have

not come one relief. tonight we'll show hue is eligible for the year's release and how to apply. > so if you ask santa to bring you millions this year, you could get your wish tomorrow night. it turns out it has grown to $3io mi no big winners friday night. the next drawing said tpe h tomorrow on christmas day. so far this year there have been five jkpot winners. >> you may remember in november, a singleng win ticket was sold in south carolina for $1.5 biion and no one has claimed the prize yet. >> what are they waiting on? >> may be they don't know. >> that would be the worst. that would be theworst. i don't even want to contemplate that. coming up next, the video catching a lot of attention as celebrities and others force a

wrestler to forfeit his dred locks or ffeit his match. and i'm tracking another you know when you're at ross and you find a deal on cookware that makes you say. yes! ...oh, yeah! bring on the holidays! that's yes for less. everything you need to prep, cook and serve up the season. it feels even better when you find it for less-at ross. yes for less.

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canney berreth was last seen by her mother on thanksgiving day. police say they believe she was killed in her home but her boyfriend's cell phone pinged a tower in idaho. right now that boyfriend patrick frazee is the only person you said arre said, under arrest. >> there is only one arrest. >> the couple hasld a c together. that baby is now staying with frazee's family. the death toll from a tsunami in indonesia has killed many and many are hurt. >> reporter: it is day two in indonesia withearch and rescue operations. this was a holiday weekend in indonesia which means beach cked s and resorts were pa

full of people and families. it was a ten-foot tall wave. the military workers have been combing through for survivors with fear death toll could climb even higher. and this has been a race against the clock. there are new fears this morning of more ddly waves. experts believe a vcanic eruption at the volcano set off ande ater volcano triggering a tsunami on saturday. it is still active. if another chunk slides into the sea, disaster could strike indonesia yet again. nbc news, london. a calm but breezy night here as we look live at the national christmas tree. back with what to expect

over the holiday. they lost everything in a fire in their home but

a little breeze outsides we look at our studios no rain tonight but that won't be the story later this week. a family who lost everything in a fire is finding many reasons to be grateful this holiday season. >> they're rebuiing their lives thanks to the kindness of >> he's happy he's spending christmas eve with his three daughters. even if it is in a hotel room. this is home for now. the laurel townhouse was destroyed in a fire at the start

of the holiday season. >> it was a total loss. we lostev ything. we're okay. >> this family is starting over and learning a tough lesson about what is most important in life. >> it was eye opening for all of us. everything can be taken away. >> and they feel blessed by the generosity of friends and neighborsy prince george's cou schools and neighbors. they got school supplies, neighbors, uniforms, coats, gift cards. their basic needsre takenare of. >> the whole community. it is amazing. i am so humbled and grateful. >> she's if middle school. she still managed to make the honor roll. adrianna has a job and goes to college full time. none of them voiced a single complaint. even about sharing a bedroom. what m the most is we're all okay and we're showered with

love even though something so tragic happened to us. >> a lot ofpeople, they don't need any money and i'm reallygr eful for that. we don't have anythi. >> they are living day to day. no trees, no decorations. they're not worried. i feel like we wanted that but we're still grateful that we don't have our lives. >> reporter: their going to be living in that hotel roo for the next couple months. then they'll move into some temporary housing. they hope to know back here home for christmas by september. >> oh, so tlad for a generosity. >> and they're going to need

those coats. >> a lot to talk abou first, i thought we would go ahead and take a look in old wawn alexandria. this is what he doing before he started his delivery it started in 1986. santa had a little too much how cocoa to drink and he lost a bet and wasn't until ther next y that it appeared on the news. and now it is annnual radition for more than thr years along the alexandria waterfront. they try to spread holiday cheer and give back to the community. there are also others showing up including frosty the snow man. well, santa is no longer skiing. he is on hisy. and guess what? he has clear skies, forhe most part. a few cloudsin cin.

he should have no late deliveries. r do have somen moving in thursday night. and we are tracking a wintry mix that could be impacting us. it i pretty chilly out there. the winds are calming. all right on a race to the lower temperatures now in the 30s. a lot of the snow situations to the north of us. we arehary and w some clouds in the area and that will build overnight. as you head to the suburbs, we could see the temperatures in the upper 20s. and a look at your holiday

travel. you may be making travel it will be cold and dry for your christmas day. the rai returns thursday night.h tls i low 40s. not as cold and breezy as toda lots of clouds building in but staying dry nonetheless. if you take a look at the rain u outlook, see the rain moving up on thursday. that will be the second half o thursday. i'll breakt down foryou. as we move into kwanzaa, theer teures will be in the upper 40s. we're starting to rise.

it will be pretty mild byda f and saturday. some of e toward 2019, us may see more snow flakes than others. after you've pick up all that wrappingpaper, you may want to get out othe house. here's what's on stage. >> merry christmas e, everybody. we wanted to do a special christmas report we have the nutcracker that takes o christmas day but it is back the 26th, 27th, 28th. you have to see it every year. this is the 15th anniversary of them doing it.

the cherry blos roms the and george washington is the nutcracker. you can still check out a christmas carol at ford's theater. n see the light. donate to the children's homeless play time project. that's there from december 26th through the 30th. elf the musical in maryland. that's still playing december 26th through january 6th. you get a little more time to see buddy the elf there. singing loud enough for everyone to hear and then love factually. the second city of chicago. the famous comedy truthful ey're doing a roast of love actually. my co-worker checked it out and he said it's good if you're an f the movie and if you hate it, there is a little something

for everybody. for your christma >> a lot of good ideas out there. live action, that's a great experience for kids. >> especially for the holidays. speaking of hive action, the nativity scene came to life at the national cathedral. look at that. hat's a hive camel on the chur's lawn. inside, children came dressed angels and shepherds for the children's mass. sheep and doctors were there to talk abouthe day jesus was born. the kids t had fun b animals up.ittle trouble stepping

volunteers spent time collecting hundreds of toys over the weekend. all the toys were donated to zion kingdom ministries in temple hills. the church holds the event every year during the holidays and all the toys you see here will help more than 250 local families. so santa has about five or ix hours to head out and deliver them. next new, reaction from the family o a young man who was forced to choose between his dreadlocks and forfeiting his wrestling match. and

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