with fox news directly to bill o'reilly and rejects the fox anchor's request for forgiveness. >> you are taking this much more seriously than i am. >> while trump's rivals take the most of the moment. >> interesting side show, greatest show on earth. this is not a show. this is serious. >> with the iowa caucuses just four days away we have brand new poll numbers in the race on both sides. new arrests overnight in the standoff in oregon as the leader of the antigovernment occupation tells his followers to go home. top u.s. health officials urging quick reaction against the zika virus. and cheap check? a hockey player slams into an ice.

the league may see things differently. from nbc news, this is "today" with matt lauer and savannah guthrie live from studio 1 a in rockefeller plaza. welcome to "today." it's a thursday morning. do we need an instant replay. >> this is the calgary flames. i think that accident might earn him a couple of days off. >> we will have more on that in just a moment. our top story on a thursday morning, the donald trumpless republican debate a day away. so far trump isn't budging. it is add ag new wringal to the already wild race. we have it covered with peter alexander.

venue for tonight's debate with or without donald trump. a source familiar with the situation tells nbc news that fox news ceo reached out to trump through the women in his life trying to see whether his decision to skip the debate is a done deal indonald trump betting he is bigger than fox news. the republican front runner will be in des moines tonight but not at the final gop debate instead touting a special event for veteran veterans. late wednesday trump differented his boycott on fox news. >> they came out with this ridiculous pr statement like drawn up by a child. >> host bill o'reilly all but begged the billionaire to reconsider, appealing to his

>> forgive, go forward, answer the questions, look out for the folks. just want you to consider it. >> trump refusing to back down. >> even though you and i had an agreement that you wouldn't ask me that, which we did, i will therefore forget that you asked me that. >> here in iowa -- >> if gentle donald cannot handle megyn kelly. >> reporter: ted cruz hasn't given up on his dual even naming a time and place. tell >> whether we are in fact concerned or saying what is expedient to get elected. >> reporter: chris christie calling trump's move a mistake. >> i think anytime you get a

to 20 million people watching in an election campaign you should take it. >> reporter: jeb bush telling reporters i have a $20 bet he shows up. rushing to defense, rush limbaugh. >> he knows he is owning the entire event by not showing up. >> reporter: he praised megyn kelly in 2011 discussing a debate trump was trying to host going viral. >> do you think you are a better moderator than i am? i could never beat you. that would not be close. you have done a great job, by the way, and i mean it. >> reporter: obviously that relationship has gone souktth since. our new poll shows trump in first place ahead of ted cruz in iowa by seven points.

to 20 points. remember no non-incumbent republican president has ever won iowa and new hampshire. >> let's bring in nicole wallace who served as an adviser to the mccain/palin campaign. do you think donald trump has a change of heart and shows up tonight? >> i would say maybe before the o'reilly interview. >> if he is not there physically, will he be there as a presence in some sense? >> when you are up as far as he is in the polls you are always going to be there. they are all still running against him. >> isn't the lunacy of this -- donald trump says he is angry over that statement that fox news put out a couple of days ago saying it sounded as it was written by a child and mocked him. this is donald trump, running an

people and using childish words like "loser." >> megyn kelly's original sin in the mind of donald trump is she asked him if he was a war against women. what is interesting to me is that donald trump is engaged in a hot war against fox news' most prominent woman. the universal consensus is it is show strength but i think it can show a weakness when women start evaluating him as commander in chief. >> on the fox side, she has been victimized by the words of donald trump over the last six months. how do you think she must feel watching bill o'reilly trying to get donald trump to give them forgiveness? >> probably a twilight zone point in her career. she is tough. i think the fact that fox news stood by her is an important one.

place would hope their work place would stand by them. this is the highest stakes war he has started and i'm not sure if he will win in the end. >> if you love trump you love -- >> and plenty of people do. >> if you don't like trump it is petulant and icky. >> the sliver gets bigger should he emerge as the republican party's nominee and have to appeal to a general electort it will have to change the way he combats people he doesn't agree with. he is treating megyn kelly as an enemy combattant because she dared to ask him a question he didn't like.

>> you said donald trump will be there whether physically or not. doesn't this change the focus to ted cruz? aren't the other candidates on that stage going to level their attacks on him? >> they might but the other campaigns, i checked in with all of them last night, they are barely concealing their enthusiasm for a debate not dominated by questions for trump. trump had the best moment of his campaign when he stood in defense of new york values at the last campaign. it is a missed opportunity for trump and one the other campaigns are looking forward to. >> thanks very much. nice to see you. >> there is a bit of debate drama on the democratic side, as well. should more be added. hillary clinton and bernie sanders are weighing in as their race in iowa gets closer. andrea mitchell is in des moines this morning. >> reporter: right you are, there is a debate over debate from a democratic side. we'll get to that in a moment.

new poll shows a very tight race on the democratic side here in iowa. now it all depends on whose supporters come out to vote. >> i will work my heart out for you. >> reporter: our new nbc news poll has hillary clinton and bernie sanders virtually tied in iowa. >> you are going to have to fight and that is what this campaign is about. >> reporter: clinton has a small lead over sanders, 448% to 45%. during an interview president obama praised clinton. on wednesday sanders got his own meeting with the president afterwards telling lester holt obama promised to stay neutral. >> indicated it is up to the voters. >> reporter: sanders has a crushing 19 point lead over

the new hampshire union leader and msnbc proposed one more debate, not sanctioned by the democratic party. clinton tells chris matthews she will show up if sanders does. the sanders campaign proposed three more debates saying if the clinton campaign would commit to this schedule we would ask the dnc to arrange a debate. >> she is raising money from a philadelphia investment firm. >> reporter: the clinton campaign released this photo showing the candidate meeting with faith leaders before attending the investment house fundraiser. and today clinton is headed back to iowa for the final push before the caucuses. today the washington post editorial board has slammed

saying they are his own brand of fiction. >> thank you so much. by the way, we are taking the show on the road for the iowa caucuses. we will be live in des moines next monday as voters get set to cast their votes. we have new developments on the occupation of federal wild life refuge in oregon. three new arrests overnight. now the group's leader who was arrested a couple of days ago is telling his followers to stand down and go home. nbc's joe friaryer has more. >> reporter: the fbi has set up check points. eight militants have left. the rest were allowed to leave freely which means the armed occupation is quickly shrinking. the anti-government activists

jailed leader ammon bundy. >> to those at the refuge, i love you. let us take the fight from here. >> reporter: the number of militants is dwindling as law enforcement sets up road blocks and check points. >> it is time for everybody in this illegal occupation to move on. >> reporter: 11 of the group's leaders are behind bars. seven of them appeared in federal court each facing a federal charge. they took control of the refuge demanding the release of ranchers convicted of setting fires on federal land. this week the militants were arrested along a rural highway during a violent confrontation of authorities that ended in the death of occupier lavoy finicum. >> they had ample opportunity to leave the refuge. as the fbi and our partners demonstrated actions are not without consequences.

offered few details but a senior law enforcement official tells nbc news one vehicle hit a snow bank and finicum emerged with a firearm and was shot and killed. mark mcconnell says he was at the scene and while he didn't see the shooting he was told by a witness that finicum charged police. conflicting accounts are circulating saying finicum's hands were in the air. the rancher was remembered in a candle light vigil. this morning it is unclear how many militants remain at the refuge. because of the check points no new members can join and anyone >> thanks. thousands of people who come to rely on their local wal-mart store will have to find somewhere else to shop.

this is going to have a big impact. >> it will be very tough. a lot of places where walmart hires hundreds of people and often small local stores are put out of business. some of those walmarts are closing leaving people unemployed and residents with no place to shop. >> reporter: it is devastating for a lot of people. right now many are the only grocery and pharmacy around. and in some places closing the store would leave behind a food desert. >> when you don't have the transportation or the means to get to where you need to get to it will hurt. >> reporter: the pain will be widespread. walmart is shutting down 154 stores in 27 states and puerto rico creating food deserts in three states, alabama, arkansas and kansas. >> they are packing up and leaving the town high and dry.

small grocery store in oriental. walmart came to oriental forcing her to board up her store. now walmart is closing and many residents are bitter. >> they knew they were leaving. it has been within three months. >> reporter: it is a similar story in many towns. in italy, texas where the town's only pharmacy in the walmart is closing today. >> why go to expense of building a building and then all of a sudden -- >> reporter: a spokesman from walmart said we never want to walk away from the opportunity to serve customers. we share the community's disappointment. >> i don't like it at all. it makes it inconvenient. i love this store. >> walmart says it is committed to opening 300 stores in the so-called food desert areas and

won't do much for people in the towns where they are closing up shops and leaving. >> thank you. the michigan legislature poised to approve an emergency spending bill today aimed at getting the lead out of flint's drinking water. rachel mad ow hosted a town hall. she displayed a lead pipe. starting in april water from the flint river corroded the pipe. flint is no longer using the river water but the mayor says no time table on when the pipes will be replaced. >> our trust has been broken in the city of flint. because that happened, if we don't get new pipes people are not going to trust that. >> michigan's governor rick snyder admitted he has no plans

isn't on his short term agenda. a u.n. panel is reportedly recommending rechargeable lithium patries be banned as cargo concerned they can create fires. experts believe at least three cargo planes have been destroyed by lithiumi ion batteries. they are used to power everything from cell phones to hybrid cars. back to the video that we showed you, a defenseman for the flames is apologizing for knocking down an official during last night's game. dennis weidman was skating towards the bench. he said it was completely unintentional. he said he didn't see the official until the last second and couldn't avoid him. he said he apologized to

during the game. the nhl will be reviewing the incident. >> i'm suspicious. florida getting hit with pretty strong storms. yesterday reports of an ef-1 tornado. we had six inches of rain fall and we have the same setup today. a stalled front to the south of naples bringing in the stream of moisture. this is finally going to be on the move later today. in the meantime a chance of more severe storms today. some could produce damaging wind gusts and torrential down pours. tomorrow we will start to see some improvement. another two to three possibly four inches of rain is possible within some of the heavier down pours especially into the afternoon. we have lake effect snow starting to develop through michigan and western new york and pennsylvania, ohio seeing some of that.

lots of melting and middle of the country nice and we're the hottest young company around but if we want to keep the soda pop flowing we need fresh ideas! >>got it. we slow, we die. >>what about cashing out? no! i'm trying to build something here. >>how about using fedex ground for shipping? >>i don't need some kid telling me how to run a business! i've been doing this for 4 long months. >>fedex ground can help us save money and deliver fast to our customers. not bad, kid. you remind me of a younger me. >>aiden! the dog is eating your retainer again. let's take a short 5-minute recess.

and that's your latest forecast. >> thank you very much. a new twist in the case of an illinois police officer who committed suicide but staged it to look like a murder. why his wife has just turned herself in. >> and the many hues of donald trump.

nbc. could become the next ebola. how well do matt and i really know each other?

[ indistinct conversations ] always set a place at the dinner table for good manners. stay seated, napkin on your lap and elbows at your sides. and remember, mealtime is for nourishment, nothing more. let the music play, he won't get away just keep the groove, and then he'll come back to you again let it play let the music play

it's up to two times stronger than imitators try roc retinol correxion night cream... after one week, fine lines appear to fade one month, deep wrinkles look smoother... and after one year, skin looks ageless. only from roc . your body was made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis. before you and your rheumatologist move to a biologic, ask if xeljanz is right for you. xeljanz is a small pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. xeljanz can reduce joint pain and swelling in as little as two weeks, and help stop further joint damage. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma, and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts, and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz, and monitor certain liver tests.

where fungal infections are common, and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. xeljanz can reduce the symptoms of ra, even without methotrexate. ask your rheumatologist about xeljanz. my sister raves about her toothpaste and mouthwash all the time. i'm like, huh? aren't they all the same? you know, i had to see for myself. so i went pro. with crest pro-health advanced. advance to a healthier, stronger, cleaner mouth from day 1. this toothpaste... ...and mouthwash make my whole mouth feel amazing. and my teeth stronger. crest pro-health advanced is superior in these 5 areas dentists check. this is gonna go well, for sure. advance to a healthier stronger, cleaner mouth from day 1. great check up. my sister was right. good morning... the time is... you're looking live at the star city form our ....downtown

topping our news today... the search continues in blacksburg for 13-year-old nichole lovell. she was last seen around midnight tuesday at her family's apartment. police say she's in danger because she has to take medication twice a day after having a liver transplant. local orgniazations like help save the next girl are also working to lend a hand in the search. volunteers are working with the teen's mother to get information so they can spread the word online. "when we talk to the mother, that's the first thing i tell her to do, is remain calm and lets get the information out there," if you have any addtional information that could help find nichole your'e asked to call blacksburg police. let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori. thursday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s friday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s.overnight flurries possible saturday: early morning flurries possible.mostl y sunny afternoon with highs in

sunday: mostly sunny with highs in the upper 50s and lower 60s monday: isolated rain showers possible with highs in the upper 50s tuesday: partly cloudy with

7:30 on a thursday morning.

nice group of people outside. we will get outside in just a couple of minutes. back. >> there is a look at today's headlines. donald trump standing firm on the decision to skip tonight's republican presidential debate. fox news' bill o'reilly calling that a mistake last night. >> here is what it is. >> you taking it much more seriously than i am. you are depriving the people of seeing you in a forum they need to see you in. >> no i'm not. >> trump plans to host a rally a few miles away from the debate site and says it will raise money for wounded veterans. with four days until the caucuses we have new nbc news wall street journal poll

on the democratic side hillary clinton holds a slim three point lead over bernie sanders. and ammon bundy the leader of the occupation movement in oregon is urging followers to go home. another follower was shot and killed in a confrontation with police. more on the bizarre case of an illinois police officer who took his own life but staged it to look like a murder. it is back in the news. >> investigation revealed lieutenant charles joseph gliniewicz had been -- >> the latest twist in a bizarre story that baffled investigators since last year. a grand jury in illinois indicting melodie gliniewicz, the wife of joseph gliniewicz, a northern illinois police officer

embezzling from a youth program investigators found that money was used for personal expenses including a trip to hawaii and more than 400 charges at restaurants. the death of gliniewicz last september captured the country's attention. gliniewicz was on call when he radioed that he was chasing three suspects on foot. >> i meant out near the old concrete plant checking out two male whites. >> gliniewicz was later found with a fatal gunshot wound. his death sparked a large scale manhunt. police scouring the region and was publically mourned at a hero's funeral. melodie telling the program how

>> all i wanted was one more kiss, one more hug, one more chance to hear his boisterous laughter. and i'll never have that again. >> last november police made a stunning announcement. gliniewicz had actually staged his suicide after a long run of stealing money from a program with children. >> melodie gliniewicz turned herself in after the grand jury indicted her on six counts all felonies. melodie gliniewicz posted a $50,000 bond. she was released. her attorneys released a statement saying considering her cooperation with law enforcement she is devastated by the decision to bring charges against her. she is a victim of her husband's

to her day in court to show the world her innocence. she is due back in court next month. let's get a check of the weather. >> and we are seeing a train of storms continuing to make their way on shore. we have a lot of rain from western washington state along the west of oregon. this storm going to move in and then a second one is on the heels of it. we will see more mountain snow especially across northern rockies. that is today. as we go into tomorrow afternoon we see this next storm system make its way on shore. this is going to produce heavy rain across northern california. we are continuing to build the snow pack. rainfall amounts could be as much as five inches. flooding. we are looking at perhaps as much as a foot of snow in park city, utah. in the sierra we could see up to three feet of snow. we are continuing to build up the snow pack.

we have lake effect snow in and around the great lakes. the chance of stronger storms and through the forecast. just ahead on trending, big news for barbie. the dramatic changes coming to

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 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 to moderate nausea and vomiting. anti-flu? go antiviral with tamiflu.

wholesome breakfast with jimmy dean delights, made with real egg whites, lean cut meats, and whole grains. an excellent source of protein, it's a delicious way to fuel up on energy to help power through her morning run. which motivates these bikers to pedal faster, and inspires ted to land that front-side ollie. which delights everyone, including pepper's twins with jimmy dean delights, good mornings lead to great days. shine on. how do you stay on top of your health? ahh... ahh... ahh... cigna customers have plan choices and tools to take control. so they're more engaged, with fewer high health risks and lower medical costs. take control of your health at cigna dot com slash take control. are you powered by protein? milk has 8 grams to help give you energy to unleash your potential. start every day with

adventures from $599, plus up to $300 to spend at sea. come seek the royal caribbean. book now, offer ends soon. (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'll never forget. get out there, in the 2016 ford escape. be unstoppable. this is my fight song take back my life song (music) alright.. big smile! hey, honey! how'd it go? thanks, dad!

give extra. get extra. we're back now. 7:40. donald trump's bigger battle with fox news is only the latest of high profile feuds that he found himself in. willie is here with that. >> it has been unpredictable presidential campaign. throughout trump's four decades in the spot light he has proven

he is the republican front runner whose currency is controversy. >> i have been very nice to you although i could probably not be based on the way you treated me. >> reporter: trump's war against megyn kelly is the latest. going back to the '80s when he was mocked by the spy magazine. on twitter blasting co-founder now the editor of vanity fair as a total loser. as a reality tv star trump battled with roez o'donnell. >> this man is like one of those salesman on little house on the prairie. >> she will say anything that comes from her unattractive mouth. i look forward to suing her.

going strong. >> you call women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. >> onlyrosie o'donnell. >> reporter: he sparred with martha stewart over her short-lived performance on the apprentice. >> fantastic for him. built him a platform. he thinks he can be president. >> reporter: trump's biggest feud of all, with the man he wants to replace in the white house. in 2011 trump pushed the conspiracy theory that president obama was not born in the u.s. >> i would love him to come out with a birth certificate. >> reporter: the president did just that releasing his original birth certificate sdplmpt with i

>> reporter: turning the tables while trump sat stone faced in the audience. >> no one is happier and prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the donald. that's because he can finally get back to focussing on the issues that matter like did we fake the moon landing. what really happened in roswell? and where are biggy and tu-pac. >> all good questions. as for the feud at hand, the way it has gone with donald and fox in the past is they had a public fight and made up for it behind closed doors and everybody wins. it remains to be seen if they make up in time for him to show up. he says he won't. >> through everyone of these battles and feuds we give him tons of air time.

coming up, do you feel the need? the need for "top gun 2." >> i love that movie.

me on the hot seat you're unpacking already? yeah, help me find some mugs. sure. (beep)

o.k. they'll do. wake up to the mountain grown aroma of folgers. the best part of wakin' up so, where do you want to start? i think this is a pretty good place. is folgers in your cup to the couple wondering what a good deal looks like... no. seriously? we'll give it a 6 for composition. scary. wow, what about just putting a fair, no haggle price on the window? not zany enough? sometimes the best deals are pretty plain to see. you say avocado old el paso says... zesty chicken and avocado tacos in our stand 'n stuff tortillas . (record scratch) you say stand n' stuff tortillas old el paso says...

and off you go,

and off you go, for every step, every stride, every start, begin strong with the lasting energy of 100% whole grain quaker oats... and off you go. soup and sandwich and clean and real, and feeling good, sort of. and 500 calories or less. the clean pairings menu. at panera. food as it should be. and we are back. 7:49.

tamron has the reason for that. >> i do, indeed. good morning. last night having fun matt and savannah you guys were on bravo's "watch what happens live." the two of you taking questions from fans all night long. but then you put each other in the hot seat with a game called questionable behavior. let's see how you both did. >> what are the things you have to have on the set every morning before the show starts? >> tick tacks. >> is your jeans size smaller than mine? >> maybe. what do we do before the show in the studio almost every morning before we go on the air? >> listen to our favorite songs. yours are from the '70s. or the horse with no name. >> i hate that song sblmpt de. very good.

watching the two people i start my day with and the guy i end my day with. our plaza producer, alex the guy behind the bar showing spirit fingers. there he is. in action and before the show ended i guess you guys were all in on it. there you have it. good morning. that is how we all wake up. >> not what he calls alex. we are not going to repeat it. alex had the best time of any of us. >> every time the camera went to him -- >> you guys made my dream come true. thank you so much. let's do my thing. >> tamron, thank you very much. just ahead, the app that will do the complaining for you. and the emergency meeting being called to deal with zika as we separate fact from

first on a thursday morning your local news and weather. my moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis made a simple trip to the grocery store 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.

because with humira clearer skin is possible. [ julie ] the wrinkle cream graveyard. if it doesn't work fast... you're on to the next thing. neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair has the fastest retinol formula to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles in just one week. neutrogena . i try hard to get a great shape. this... i can do easily. benefiber healthy shape helps curb cravings. it's a clear, taste-free daily supplement... ...that's clinically proven to help keep me fuller longer. benefiber healthy shape. this, i can do. find us in the fiber aisle. fortifying the gravity-defying... adventure-collecting... friend-connector... fortifying the going-places...

day-seizing... you. you're strong. and we're here to help you stay that way. new special k nourish. multi-grain flakes with quinoa, apples, almonds and raspberries. new special k nourish. fortify. mom, dad. >>son. now that fedex has streamlined our e-commerce and helped us grow our business, i think it's time we start acting like a business. >>okay... here we go... >>oh, look at this... ok, so number one. no personal items are permitted in the workplace. ...so those will need to come down. we'll be doing some mandatory testing. and there's also a strict no dating policy. >>uh, but honey, we're married. that's going to be a problem. grow your business with the

the new sprint lte plus network delivers faster download speeds than verizon, at&t and t-mobile based on data from an independent third party. and to celebrate, we're cutting their rates in half. switch to sprint and save 50% on most verizon, at&t or t-mobile rates. and we'll cover your costs to switch, up to $650 per line.

erin brookshier with a look at traffic. as you head out the door this morning... lets get a look at timesaver traffic... as you head out the door this morning... lets get a look at timesaver traffic...

as you head out the door this morning... lets get a look at timesaver traffic... let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori. thursday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s friday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s.overnight flurries possible saturday: early morning flurries

it's 8:00 on "today."

how worried should you be. we will separate fact from fiction. then step away from the smart phone. >> you gave up your phone? are you crazy? >> how long could you go without it? what happened when one woman obsessed with liking gives up her phone for good. i feel the need for speed. >> do you feel the need? the need for speed? the top gun sequel tease that has hollywood flying high. >> good morning, texas. >> good morning, denver.

>> celebrating my 27th birthday! >> good morning. welcome back to "today." it is 8:00. we are on our plaza. we are saying good morning to them and good morning to you. i like your throw back thursday song. >> martha stewart is going to be here. she will show the brides to be how to put a modern twist on those classic wedding traditions and because it is throwback thursday we have a peek at some of our wedding days, as well. a check of the top stories. >> donald trump says he is standing by his boycott of tonight's republican debate. the final gop show down before monday's iowa caucuses. peter alexander is in des

>> reporter: donald trump does not appear to be budging. this sets up a rare split scene moment where trump is hosting what he is touting to be a special event benefitting veterans organizations. the rest of the republicans here on stage debating. the fox news ceo has reached out to trump through the women in his life to see if trump's decision is a done deal. on fox news last night trump was on with bill o'reilly who all but pleaded with trump to reconsider. the rest of the republicans have been attacking the front runner saying the decision is a mistake and calling the whole thing a side show. here are the standings. our new poll out just this morning shows donald trump has catapulted back in front of ted cruz up seven points holding on

away. >> will be very interesting to thanks. police overnight arrested three more of the anti-government activists involved in the occupation of federal wild life refuge in oregon. spokesman lavoy finicum was shot and killed tuesday in confrontation with police and fbi. the leader ammon bundy is urging the remaining occupiers to stand down and go home. walmart is shutting down stores today in 27 states. the closings have impact beyond lost jobs. now in alabama, arkansas and kansas walmart's departure will create so-called food deserts, area wheres no grocery stores are within ten miles. walmart says it shares the community's disappointment about the difficult decision.

organization called an emergency meeting for monday to decide if the zika outbreak should be emergency. the virus is spreading explosively and linked to birth defects and neurological problems. the last global health emergency was over the ebola outbreak in 2014. savannah has more on this coming up in just a minute. a trucker is sharing a photo action. he was driving near pittsburgh when he saw a truck that skidded to a guard rail teetering on the edge of the highway. within minutes good samaritans formed this human chain to remove the driver. he said he recorded the scene because the display of humanity brought him to tears.

thought she was having a nightmare when she woke up to find a kinkachou asleep on her chest. the pet is used to snuggling up in bed with the owner. guess he got a little confused. purdue basketball star a.j. hammond doesn't need both hands or shoes to dominate. he lost his shoe on wednesday night. what did he do? >> he carried it down the court managing to grab a key rebound with the other hand. they went on to win by slim four-point margin. deserves an extra point for that. thank you so much. now to more on the alarming concerns over zika. word of emergency meeting by the world health organization one day after president obama called

we heard the world health organization say the threat is explosive. seems like alarm bells are ringing everywhere. >> in reality this has been brewing for some time. this mosquito borne virus that had the first start in the 1940s and made a slow and quicker migration from africa to asia to the pan american area. and i think the urgency is really that this link to small brain and significant impact on newborns is so powerful and so concerning that i think it's lending credence to this concern right now. >> absolutely. let's get to some of the myths and fact and fiction. how is it transmitted? >> it is transmitted not from person to person but rather through a mosquito bite. an infected person when the virus is circulating in their

mosquito that acts as a vector that infects somebody else. there are case reports of suspicion that there might be some person to person contact through sexual contact. the main mode of transmission is the mosquito bite. >> one thing people believe is that all women of child bearing age are at risk. >> the way we understand it right now is if you have been infected the symptoms last a couple days up to a week. after that period of time you are no longer able to transmit to a child. i think the recommendation for most of us is if you are traveling to a country like this and you are a woman planning to become pregnant after you return you should wait at least a week or a few weeks to ensure that an occurred. >> sexual contact, this is saying -- >> there are at least two that we are aware of where there

sexual contact and there is also reports that the viral can be found in urine and saliva as well as semen. the main mode of transmission is via mosquito bite. >> are these mosquitos already here in the u.s.? >> the mosquitos themselves are here as of today we have not had any locally-acquired infections. that means that the mosquito is in the united states particularly in the gulf coast, southeast area as well as southern california. none of the mosquitos here to our knowledge have been infected with the zika virus. travelers who are bitten can transmit the virus to other spread.

could carry it are here but we don't have mosquitos shown to have the virus right now. men, we hear a lot about women, should men be concerned? >> the main concern is just transmission if they get infected they can transmit. there was a news story about the possible link of zika virus to an illness which could be treated. in that regard it is a concern but remember that the vast majority of people infected with zika virus are asymptom attic and it is usually joint pain, fever. coming up next a new body for barbie? the radical changes coming to the iconic toy. maverick ready to fly again.

to give up your smart phone? one woman's wakeup call. the citi double cash card comes in very handy with cash back twice on purchases. earn once when you buy, and again as you pay. that's cash back now, and cash back again later. it's cash back d\j vu. the citi double cash card. the only card that lets you earn cash back twice on every purchase with 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay. with two ways to earn, it makes a lot of other cards seem one sided. listen up! i'm here to get the lady of the house back on her feet. and give her the strength and energy to stay healthy. who's with me?! the complete balanced nutrition of great tasting ensure. with 9 grams of protein... ... and 26 vitamins and minerals ensure. take life in! feel a cold coming on? new zicam cold remedy nasal swabs shorten colds with a snap,

shorten your cold with a snap, with zicam. all month we talked about building a financial life that works. there's a story behind the silver of philadelphia cream cheese. it always begins with fresh, local milk blended with real, wholesome cream. going fresh from the farm to our fridge in just six days. when it comes to fresh taste, nothing else tastes like philadelphia. karl, don't you have friends coming over? yeah, so? it stinks in here. you've got to wash this whole room are you kidding? wash it? let's wash it with febreze.

...febreze fabric refresher whoa hey mrs. webber inhales hey, it smells nice in here and try pluggable febreze... ...to continuously eliminate odors for... ...up to 45 days of freshness pluggable febreze and fabric refresher... ... , two more ways to breathe happy mmmm mmmm....mmmm mmm mmm mmmm

8:13. >> time for trending. >> breaking news in the world of trending. "time" magazine announced that barbies. you can buy barbie in curvy, petite and tall form. customers have the option to buy a barbie similar to their bodies. matel hopes to more closely reflect the young world. >> barbie sales has been hurting so this is a necessary move. >> this is something that barbie is this unrealistic -- >> american girl doll you can buy your likeness as close as you can. >> i wonder if you put the dolls

would they go for? you know they have done experiments in the past which does the child go for. would a 7-year-old go for the curvy barbie or marketed for the adults to buy for them. >> and what happens with ken? >> couch potato ken. we have all had bad experiences flying. do you take the time to complain to the airline? >> i say i'm going to? >> i have passively aggressively tweeted. a new app does your complaining for you. it is called service. you tell them what your complaint is against a business and an employee from service reads through it. if they think you are justified they are going to take on the business for you. once you filed your complaint you can hang tight to see how things shake out. if the employee for service doesn't think you are in the

empathize with you and offer you a little emotional support. they say most complaints are filed for airlines. for now the app is free. >> what is it in for them? >> maybe they hope it catches on and can charge for the service. >> a bunch of people who like hearing complaints sgrmpt had can you imagine working there? all day long. >> that's terrible that that happened to you. >> on your resume, professional empathizer. you think the stores have the most lenient return policies get the most returns? makes sense? >> sounds logical. >> a study from the university of texas found that the more lenient a store's policy was on returns the less likely customers were to return the items. the researchers think this is

endowment effect, a theory that the longer we possess something the more value we place on it. so even if we don't wear the shirt we don't bother to return it. for me i think it is laziness. >> some people are embarrassed to return things. >> i think i would keep it the more used to it i got. an up and coming pga golfer pokes fun at the pga tour. first this is thomas peters. this is the before picture. this is the after. this is the one that the pga uses as his official head shot. here is the picture thomas peters submitted. the pga tour airbrushed his hair. exactly what nbc has done with

this explains it. i have a lot more hair than you see on the air. he tweeted this. guess the pga tour doesn't like my curly hair so they gave me a photoshopped hair cut. the pga claimed they do doctor photos if needed and agree this is -- by the way, we regret the sequence of events and meant no disrespect to thomas. we think he has a great head of head. >> #wherearemycurls. let's get to it. happy news first. tyra banks and her boyfriend are now new parents. boy. on wednesday night tyra posted this picture saying the best present we worked and prayed so

thank the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us. we pray for everyone who milestone. instant reaction on social media to that. people were so happy to her. another post been rumored that a sequel to "top gun" has been in works starring tom cruise. tom has said it would be fun to jump back into the cockpit. now that jump might be the case. producer tweeted this photo saying just got back from a weekend in new orleans to see my old friend tom cruise and discuss a little "top gun 2." hopefully things take off. get your aviator jackets, the hat, eye glasses. >> that movie was life changing. >> how many times do you think you have seen it? >> at least 30. >> i have never seen the whole

>> homework assignment. >> if you want to know what happens? >> there is stuff for men, women, everything. for women i mean tom cruise. >> you remember the band berlin? the love scene is by berlin. >> i didn't know that. one of hollywood's favorite couples dax shepherd and kristin bell with a home made video online. since nobody really wants to see

photos, introducing the vacation music video africa. nothing 100 men or more could never do i felt the rain down in africa take the time to do the things we never say >> i know the lyrics but who sings the song? >> love that song. >> it's a classic. we need to vacation with them. >> by the way --

>> i we are still fighting over music. >> thank you. more of our special series, today's digital divide. this morning impact on the relationships. >> recent survey found people check their phones up to 150 times a day. how long do you think you could last without your smart phone? meet one woman who dared to do the unthinkable.

routinely, every second. i don't have it dinging necessarily, but i'm looking at it constantly, updating it, checking it. >> a freelance writer and mother of two from brooklyn, new york says her cell phone was consuming her. >> if i took a run i would stop and take pictures and put them on facebook and stop again to see if anybody liked it on facebook. >> reporter: when she lost her phone she took a bold step. you gave up your phone? are you crazy? >> at first i thought oh, no. then i thought i don't have to deal with my phone. what if i just gave it up? >> reporter: a move many would never consider. in a recently survey nearly half owners said the phone was something they couldn't live without. >> i think the technology is affecting every aspect of who we are. >> reporter: author of reclaiming conversation is a leading researcher on impact of

is giving all of us a wakeup call. her research shows we communicate but are afraid of face-to-face confrontation. we text more than talk. the result even though we are constantly communicating we are barely connecting. >> face-to-face conversation. empathy is born, these are the skills that allow us to deeply relate to each other. you can't just skip that. >> what have you learned and observed about how we are relating to each other when technology is at the table? >> you are saying your attention is potentially elsewhere. you're a vibration away from going there and it is a real possibility you will go there. >> harmful when kids can't handle being bored. >> boredom is your imagination calling to you. this is really the flowering of children's imagination. and we said don't bother with

>> that screen which can cause so much controversy can help many of us do our jobs. my mornings can look like this. or this. and like so many other working parents i am truly thankful for technology in moments like this. and that is one of the main struggles she faced when she tried to give up the cell phone. >> i could only contact her when she was in the house on the home phone. that was hard to get in touch with her. >> reporter: her friends resorted to extreme measures. >> i didn't know she had a house phone number. i had her on cell phone. i ended up knocking on her door. i had to ring her bell to get her. >> reporter: so the experiment came to an end after just two weeks. >> not going to go back to no technology. i don't think that is the answer which i'm working harder to just go places and not take it with me now.

back to you within two seconds that is okay. the world will still spin around on its axis. >> i learned so much. the researcher from m.i.t. said having a phone on the table decreases our empathy, our ability to connect. just the specter of having it there has an effect. >> i usually check mine out of boredom. you are missing out on moments to be creative. >> her discussion about instant reply. people believe if you don't reply within seconds something is wrong. >> tomorrow we will introduce you to people who have no choice but to go without cell phones because in their town cell phones are banned. can youemergency is in effect in flint, michigan because of lead in the tap water.

group of researchers at virginia tech. tonight professor marc edwards and his team will present their findings. the presentation will provide an overview of the study as well as citizen science, ethics engineering and experiments. let's check in with erin traffic. brookshier with a look at traffic. as you head out the door this morning... lets get a look at timesaver traffic... as you head out the door this morning... lets get a look at timesaver traffic... let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori. thursday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s friday: sun & clouds with

40s.overnight flurries possible saturday: early morning flurries possible.mostl y sunny afternoon with

morning. 28th day of january, 2016. and a look at some people gathered in our plaza on this new york city. >> everyone is so fired up on this plaza this morning. coming up, the new app that can turn life's daily annoyances into a thing of the past. do you know anyone planning a wedding? grab them because martha stewart is here sharing knowledge about pulling off the ultimate day. >> she looks beautiful today. we saw her walk in. she looks like she is ready for a wedding. and from casserole week we have one dish that you can make small tweaks to and serve it

you have a run for your money, the most fashionable kid. >> i love that hat. what is his name? >> carson cody from texas. >> sharp dressed man. >> let's get a check of the weather. >> the snow is all but melted away here in new york city unless the plaza is plowed well. temperatures are warming up nicely. it will be unseasonbly mild. the snow continues to melt away. temperatures running five to ten degrees above average. later this week we have a couple of chilly days. cleveland high of 26. down south temperatures should get back into the mid 70s. 60s in atlanta after only in the 50s on friday. northeast looking for temperatures in buffalo about 26 degrees tomorrow. we are going to see temps back into the mid to upper 40s. boston close to 50 on sunday. washington, d.c. should be close

we will see things warm up and then settle into closer to >> and that's your latest forecast. >> thank you very much. how often do you go to a store? recent statistics show nearly half of all u.s. households have amazon prime as a membership. we have become an on demand society where everything is just

if you want it there is probably an app for that. olivia sterns is here with a few you should try. which came first the chicken or the egg? did we demand things quickly or did companies decide to give us things quickly? >> amazon changed our expectations. with amazon prime we expect free shipping fast and increasingly it means same day delivery. we want everything solved with one click of an app. >> it effects every portion of our lives. let's talk about laundry. tide has been experimenting. >> personally i live in the city and have outsourced nearly every hassle in my life. i'm sure you remember putting your jeans in the hamper and walk down the street carrying your tide and maybe bring a bad of quarters. a new service called spin. they are going to pick up your

and return it. an attempt to go from consumer products into services. >> before you say that is revolutionary they may be a little behind the curve. >> the number one on demand laundry service is called washo. >> how expensive is it? >> you can get a suit cleaned for $12. let's talk about shipping packages. a huge concern for a lot of people. you like this app. >> shipp takes away the confusion out of online returns. say you get something online and take it out of the box you have no idea what to do. all you do is take a picture of what you want to ship and they pick it up at your door within 20 minutes. >> you don't have to have a box. >> you don't have to have tape or cut your fingers trying to

all you do is hand it over to the person at shyp. they will check with all the major carriers to decide what is the cheapest rate for you. i have shipped laundry ahead of a trip. >> they charge $5. parking spots. huge issue here in new york. talk about this spot hero. >> the number one on demand parking app in the country. all of us who drive around big cities you can waste hours looking for a spot. just on your app you can browse for parking spots nearby. you can find the closest lot or garage. it lets you reserve the spot. >> you get a discount? >> you can compare prices. you don't get a discount. it gives you directions and then you can get in and out of the lot by flashing the app. >> tell me about get magic. it is a number you text.

within two minutes you get a response anything done you want. yankee tickets, send your wife flowers. >> anything that is legal. >> very important. these are fantastic. thank you very much. just ahead something old, something new. martha stewart walks you through popular wedding trends then and now. also, protecting your future, how to make sure you are ready to face the financial emergency. we will do that.

first this is "today" on nbc. we are back with more of our start today. we are helping you hit the start button on new year's resolution. today financial editor taught you how to earn more, spend less and invest the money you save.

to protect your financial future. >> what we are going to talk about today is something people don't love thinking about. these are financial emergencies and challenges that can change your life. >> no question. we are talking about things like illness, like death, like a hurricane or a flood. they can change your life in an instant and most people are not prepared. >> let's talk about too stressed. they think protection is expensive which is a myth. >> i'm going to show you how to refund. >> first line of defense is to do what? >> have an emergency cushion. we talked about this before. we usually put them in the category of savings. in fact, they are your protection against any small emergency that might become a big emergency. the average tax refund is $3,000. that is a basic cushion there. >> what is your equation?

much cushion. i would love everybody to have three to six months worth of living expenses. if you can put $2,000 away i'm a happy girl. >> insurance, second line of defense. >> we need health insurance. health insurance is something you have to have now mandated by law. not having health insurance causes more bankruptcies every year. it is a lot less expensive than people think. 80% of people qualify for subsidies. >> life insurance, who needs it? it is expensive. >> it is not as expensive as people think. if you have anybody depending on your income or your services which mean stay at home parents need it, too. you need life insurance. if you are single nobody is

you want to look at a 20 year level term policy much cheaper than whole life to figure out how much you need use a calculator. i have one on my website. it is free and easy. use this rule of thumb. eight times your income a pretty good ballpark. >> a couple of other kinds of insurance, disability insurance, renter's insurance. >> disability is particularly important for single people. best way to get it through your employer. renter's insurance is dirt cheap and if you rent a place to live you absolutely need it. >> nobody likes talking about this one. it's important that you have a will. how easy is it to draft a will? >> it is so easy with online tools and super inexpensive. legalzoom.com you can do your

if you want to go the lawyer root hire one for $500 or more. >> they put it in the safety deposit box and don't look at it and it is out of date. >> life changes. use your tax refund. do all the things we talked about with that tax refund. if you can't replace something that is when you need insurance. that is my basic rule of thumb. if you have kids and you are a parent please get a will. it is unconscionable not to have one. >> she has more strategies on her website. we are going to wrap up our start today campaign tomorrow with a special chat. head to today's facebook page to send your questions. up next, martha stewart's ultimate guide for the perfect

first this is "today" on nbc. welcome back to "today." before a bride says i do it could take months or years before the big day. martha stewart combined 20 years of wedding wisdom in her new book. we are going to take a look at classics and see how people are modernizing. >> evolutionary. 20 years ago it was much more traditional. now it is getting easier and easier to be yourself. >> be yourself. sometimes with those kinds of classics let's show the classic bride. we have a picture of the typical. that is a beautiful gown. >> wonderful sort of covered up dress with a bouffant skirt. very traditional, usually a veil. >> another classic bride, i think. >> that is me. >> that's martha stewart.

i made my dress with my mother. beautiful dress. our first model. this is kate. she is wearing a stunning gown. this is a trend, the mermaid gown. >> it shows off her amazing figure and hugs her torso. the skirt below the knees which is fun for dancing. she got married last june. >> her actual wedding dress. >> let's bring out katrina who is very -- >> christina sgrmpt had she is my niece. and she just got married at my farm. her wedding featured in a magazine. she has this amazing dress. there is an illusion above her.

back because during the sermoanen ceremony that is what people see. >> the derier is important in fashion. bridesmaids dresses we have classics to show on our screen. the brides made dress used to be long and the same exact dress. >> this is a typical assemblage of the same dress. not all girls have the same body. now the trend is changing the color, a beautiful offwhite and letter the brides choose in that tonal pattern a dress to fit them. i think it is really pretty. >> and short bridesmaids dresses, too. let's talk about flowers. there is the short look.

on flowers the classic this is one of your magazines from way back which show classic flowers. >> beautiful bouquet on the first cover of the magazine. this is a modern rendition of that. like 100 roses here but easy to carry. stems exposed. that is such a pretty. >> cannot go wrong with pale pink. if you are more of an outdoor nature girl you could have a variety of beautiful flowers. >> i love that pop of color. >> with sweet peas i just love this. >> i love this flowers because it has a black middle. it is like a punk rock flower. >> a little bit of silver. ooeng it is very gorgeous. >> we have 30 seconds. talk about cakes. >> the traditional cake is this

you can embellish it with fresh flowers. this is a good budget cake because it is not so heavily embossed with beauty. you can do a macaroon like this. i love this one. these sugar decorations start to bring the price up but so beautiful and wimsiccal. >> it is sort of a modern twist. >> which would you like? >> i think i like this one? >> i do, too. thank you so much. coming up next, the recipe for mouth watering casseroles

first this is "today" on nbc. it's 851:518:51. this week all about comfort food classics. we are talking about casseroles. she has a delicious one dish recipe that you can make for breakfast or dinner. that is the greatest thing you have done because we love breakfast casseroles here. >> getting your core ingredients that you can swap out and take it from day to night. >> let's talk about the morning recipes. here are ingredients. >> we are using hot italian sausage because who doesn't like

we have sweet bell peppers and onions. pretty much everything else are staples that you find easily. >> you start by browning the sausage. >> take it out of casing and crumble it up and cook it until there is no pink left. it takes about eight to ten minutes. then we add in all of our great ingredients. look at these colors. >> we drain off the fat. absolutely then we put it all back into the same pan. we really want these great flavors to fuse together. we have our onion. all of these colors are looking great. then fresh spinach. we are going to season it with salt and pepper. you are going to want to cook this down for about four minutes until the vegetables become tender. then you add in your spinach. you want to cook out the moisture. >> then it gets too soupy.

>> the spinach basically disappears in there. >> now we sprinkle in half of the cheese. you just can't get better than this. >> we are using cheddar cheese. the thing i love about casseroles is you can make so many different. you can use chicken sausage or turkey sausage. we whip together eight eggs. we put in a little milk to make it nice and fluffy. >> let's look down stairs. we have our tasters digging in. which are you trying first? >> we are serving ourselves. >> i'm trying to school her on "top gun" right now. >> we are going to take this and put it in the oven. i will help you. there you go. how long? >> put that right in the oven at 325 for 45 minutes. >> when that comes out let me show what it looks like. it looks like this. you serve it for breakfast with

you are going to take those ingredients and swap them out to make a dinner casserole. what is the big change? >> when we are buying ingredients you have to buy in bulk. why let things go to waste. we want two different uses. we use the same techniques used for the breakfast casserole. we browned the sausage and drained out the fat. we add in our peppers, garlic, onions. we are going to let that all cook down. then we can swap over here to the ones that are already done. >> you have added tomatoes. >> now we add in fire roasted tomatoes, some fresh maur narra sauce. then we have rigatoni. >> she has done cooking. >> we add this in. we mix it all together. >> you are going to layer it here. >> lay it down perfect. and then we bake it and look at

>> here is the finished product. two casseroles, very similar ingredients, one for breakfast and one for dinner. >> finish it off with fresh -- >> how is it? >> really good. >> mix them both together. >> mixed them both? >> one bite of each at the same time. breakfast and dinner in one. >> and by the way, all the casserole recipes this week are on today.com/food. two of the greatest hockey

first your local news. good morning... the time is... from our skycam apparent murder-suicide after a lengthy armed standoff with police in chesapeake. situation unfolded after home. the swat team was called out to assist, as police say they attempted to negotiate with the suspect for several hours. when the standoff ended late last night.. officers found another five bodies, including the suspect inside the home. investigators believe all six people were related. let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori. thursday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s friday: sun & clouds with highs in the middle 40s.overnight flurries

saturday: early morning flurries possible.mostl y sunny afternoon with highs in the middle 50s sunday: mostly sunny with highs in the upper 50s and

this morning on today's take.

hockey legends. and quick comfort food you can whip up in minutes. all that and more coming up now. >> from nbc news this is "today's take" with al roker, natalie morales, willie geist and tamron hall. >> welcome to "today." i'm willie along with tamron and natalie. al is on assignment. >> this is one of kanye's stronger coming out with new album that was called swish. he changed it. if you are anywhere near social media yesterday the most epic twitter war between kanye west,

amber rose you know -- willie was tweeting live. >> i was hitting refresh. then i jump over and go back and forth. it. i was like what is going on? just tears. kanye had a 17 point plan of why he is offended by kalifa. he is nominated for an oscar but the kardashians -- bottom line is i have decided twitter is just for people warring now. that is where you go to -- >> after all of that it was misunderstood a tweet that he thought was about his wife that wasn't about his wife. it went on for like two hours and was like my bad. >> and ends with him saying i'm sorry. then you said i'm all for peace and love. >> that is why i pick the -- >> so funny.

yesterday did you see something like 6,000 likes. >>. our show. button. >> get a hit for five minutes. >> 48017. >> close to 50,000. >> we are going to get it. >> this one you guys broke yesterday. >> just to remind you to mark the launch of our page. we are giving away 25 prizes in 25 days. today's prize is a big one. microsoft surface 3 tablet. you can hide that and put it as a christmas gift later. >> go to facebook.com/todaystake. gently used.

time. then right after this show at 10:00 a.m. i am going to be on facebook and i'm told this is our first facebook chat adam is looking at me raising his brows because the deal is you can ask me anything. i've signed a contract that says if your question is selected -- that is the key part, i will answer anything you ask me. >> you reserve the right to answer all the questions. >> if i reserve the right then that means i'm not answering it. i have extra layers of deodorant on. >> we have all done it. >> did you agree to answer anything? >> well done. >> we are almost surpassing 51. >> yesterday somebody won a trip

announce the winners on monday. i will be answering anything about willie. >> i'm getting on that computer. the big story tonight in politics and the country is the republican debate in des moines iowa. iowa caucuses just four days away. on monday we have nbc news wall street journal poll. among republicans in iowa trump at 32%, ted cruz at 25%. marco rubio jumping up to 18 points. donald trump is getting a little separation there. rubio is the guy to watch in iowa and new hampshire. let's flip over to the democratic side. we have a dead heat within the margin of error. hillary clinton 48%, bernie sanders at 45%. mark o'malley at 3% unchanged from the last poll.

trump's refusal to show up at this debate. he will do a parallel event at drake university right up the road. he will be at 9:00 eastern time which is precisely when the debate starts surrounded by veterans and hopes to raise a lot of money instead of showing up to the debate which is hosted by fox which he says has treated him unfairly. he was on last night with bill o' >> they want to know you. >> you are not giving them the opportunity. >> i'm not walking away. >> you are walking away. would you do me a favor -- >> i bought you so many vanilla milk shakes you owe me. will you just consider, think about it. i might come back, forgive, go forward, answer the questions,

just want you to consider it. >> even though you and i had an agreement that you wouldn't ask me that which we did, i will therefore forget that you asked me that. but it's not up to me, bill. >> what is going on? >> i just felt like -- these two grown men, one a prestigious commentator, very successful, one a presidential candidate and it comes down to you know you bought me milk shakes. i kept thinking if two women were on television basing the presidential debate on milk shakes -- do you know the things that would be said? >> one milk shake, two straws.

>> there is a meme for that. >> the long straw. >> the curly one. >> like lock eyed. >> if it weren't so serious it would be funny. >> it is comical at this point. it really is. >> amazing that donald says he is not going to be there. a lot of people wondering -- >> definitely not going there. in 2011 donald trump in better times between him and megyn kelly sat down for an interview. he was trying to put together a debate, a republican debate in 2011 and he was criticizing candidate whose wouldn't commit to it. here he is talking to megyn kelly. >> do you think you are a better moderator than i am? >> i can never beat you. you have done a great job, by the way, and i mean it. >> isn't that ironic. >> i think it is megyn kelly drop the mic. put that on the loop.

yesterday i was like that right there. >> if you feel since then she has not treated him well. >> she is allowed to drop the mic on what he said or she can just buy him a milk shake. >> that solves everything. shakes? >> i love vanilla but i put chocolate on it. >> old school vanilla. french vanilla is delicious. >> how can you knock a vanilla milk shake? >> i love america. that's why. >> america likes chocolate. crazy hit in an nhl game. not something wetypically see. calgary defenseman dennis wideman cross-checks the

linesman is skating backwards heading to the bench. he says it was unintentional. he was looking down and looked up and didn't have time to get out of the way. he wasn't penalized during the game. you can be sure about the review. >> it looks like he is skating towards the ref. you don't know where his eyes are. you don't see that other shot. is he looking down? he had just gotten knocked senseless. >> what about the part where he does this? >> watch that moment. i don't know if it continues on. he sits down on the bench and then watch his face. >> he might be a great guy, a great player. he pushed him. >> if he did that on purpose he is not very smart. >> you can be a smart person and

he makes a propelling motion forward. >> i don't think anyone is that dumb to lay out a ref in professional sports. >> we saw a player trip a guy. he is probably a smart guy but had a dumb moment. you got checked last night. >> watch what happens live with andy cohen. asked about the biggest anger disagreement on set. >> you had a disagreement. >> maybe over the temperature in the studio. >> willie likes it like an ice box. >> does willie have a say? >> apparently because it is like 12 degrees in there. >> is there a thermostat? >> the floor director says lower the temperature. >> would you take a pole dancing class with willie geist on tv?

>> we did. matt with public with our pole dancing. it's an exercising class. >> i missed that. >> it is something we do on our own time. two guys pole dancing. >> two guys with vanilla milk shakes and two poles and one straw. i haven't hit the facebook button in a while. i want to see how much it jumps. we are up more than 56,000. >> keep working that button. if you are on the facebook page for today's take i have a facebook page so give me a couple of likes, too. might as well throw myself out there, too. i will go back to the weather. we have heavier rain moving into the miami area. we could see strong storms today. this frontal system has been stalled and did cause severe weather yesterday finally on the move.

strong storms with damaging >> and that is your latest forecast. international lego day. we have our own legos. >> mine is scary. >> they are very scary like a big head on a little body. >> my kids are obsessed with legos. coming up josh dumel came

>> he has a new movie see me. see me. don't stare at me. see me. see me. see me to know that psoriasis is just something that i have. i'm not contagious. see me to know that i won't stop. until i find what works. discover cosentyx, a different kind of medicine for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. proven to help the majority of people find clear or almost clear skin. 8 out of 10 people saw 75% skin clearance at 3 months. while the majority saw 90% clearance. do not use if you are allergic to cosentyx. before starting, you should be tested for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms... ...such as fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. or if you have received a vaccine or plan to. if you have crohn's disease, tell your doctor as symptoms can worsen. serious allergic reactions may occur. see me. see me. see me on my way. find clear skin and a clearer path forward.

ask your dermatologist about cosentyx. [ julie ] the wrinkle cream graveyard. if it doesn't work fast... you're on to the next thing. neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair has the fastest retinol formula to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles in just one week. neutrogena . at clorox 2 we've turned removing stains into a science. now pre-treat with clorox 2! watch stains disappear right before your eyes. remove 4 times more stains than detergent alone. soup and sandwich and clean and real, and feeling good, sort of. and 500 calories or less.

at panera. food as it should be. brandon thinks hellmann's is heaven in a jar. that's because our ingredients come from... farmers committed to responsibly sourced oils... blended with ingredients like cage-free eggs. mmm. heaven. real ingredients. that's how we're working to bring out the best. actor josh duhamel started out as a model. you know him from movies. >> josh is lending talent and general dreaminess to the state of north dakota.

>> take out everything his home state has to offer. i feel a road trip coming on and many people converging. >> i guess i should have asked if i could read the text. >> it's all true. i'll take it. it's freezing. >> it's your best pitch on north dakota. >> i grew up there. it was something that was all i knew. when i moved away it was like nobody knew anything about it. i don't know how many times i heard people say i have been to 49 other states but haven't been to north dakota yet. when they asked me if i would be a part of the campaign i said absolutely. so we spent eight days going across the state and seeing things that i had never seen before. it's beautiful. and it's one of the best kept secrets in the country. >> the coolest start is you are

greeting every person. >> i will be up there. >> you will be there. let's talk about this flick. al pacino, anthony hopkins. talk about the plot a little bit. >> it's a movie about a guy -- i play an attorney who is trying to make partner at this firm. al pacino is a founder partner. i get information that there is a pharmaceutical titan getting drugs illegally. i ask if i can go after him trying to make partner. he warns me that if i don't have everything that i need to take him down he will take me down. it becomes a movie about a guy on the run trying to clear his name. it is a movie you never know who did it until the end. >> so have you guys seen it?

>> can you do a quick shout out? we have a facebook page behind everybody in america. can you ask the good people of north dakota to give us love on facebook? >> come on, north dakota, like the "today" show. >> we did a little research and found out you wanted to be a dentist. >> i did. that was the plan. at least that is what i told my mother. >> you ended up doing a good thing instead. the game is called ain't that the tooth. we will show you images of people that you have worked with closely and see if you can spot. let's take a look. this is her smile. you know it is a woman. >> rebecca?

closely. one more. >> think current projects. >> james franco. >> this one is easy. you got to know the one we just showed a glimpse there. i know who that is. >> is that my wife? >> yes. . >> no! >> does the smell of a freshly bound presentation fill you with optimism? do you love your wireless keyboard more than certain family members? is your success due to a filing system only you understand? does printing from your tablet to your wireless printer give you a jolt of confidence?

someone who knows that the right office gear helps you do great things. and there's one place that has it all. office depot officemax. gear up for great. grilled chicken and bush's baked beans. >>they're totally eating their vegetables. i know. it's awesome. >>boo-yah. blow it up. bush's baked beans. the veggie kids love. is your head so congested it's ready to explode? you may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec -d to powerfully clear your blocked nose and relieve your other allergy symptoms. so, you can breathe easier all day. zyrtec -d. at the pharmacy counter. this winter, you have the power to heal. because your purchase of vaseline intensive care lotion, supports the vaseline healing project. join us to help millions in crisis heal their skin. all the hard work... time in the service... community college...

it's why we, at university of phoenix, count your relevant work and college experience as credits toward your degree. learn more at phoenix.edu. it's olive garden's new take on lighter italian fare. three new mediterranean inspired dishes. savory shrimp scampi sauteed in a mouthwatering garlic sauce. and flavorful new! chicken piccata. all under 575 calories. only at olive garden. my sister raves about her toothpaste and mouthwash all the time. i'm like, huh? aren't they all the same? you know, i had to see for myself. so i went pro. with crest pro-health advanced. advance to a healthier, stronger, cleaner mouth from day 1. this toothpaste... ...and mouthwash make my whole mouth feel amazing. and my teeth stronger. crest pro-health advanced is superior in these 5 areas dentists check. this is gonna go well, for sure. advance to a healthier stronger, cleaner mouth from day 1. great check up. my sister was right. when your cold makes you wish... ...you could stay...

...you need the power of... new theraflu expressmax. the power to feel better. quick and easy comfort food with justin chapel. >> thanks for having me back. >> i love comfort food. this is a corn bread with chile cheese waffle. >> it is a corn bread waffle. it usually takes 45 minutes. in the waffle iron it takes minutes. scoop it right in. >> well greased. >> close it and then three or four minutes later you get these awesome beautiful waffles. you top them with this beautiful chilly, a little cheese. >> i got to get in on that action.

it becomes heaven on a plate. i tweeted this out. lasagna soup? >> it is like five ingredients. everybody knows these. you scoop them into a bowl. the trick is store bought marinara sauce. we add chicken stock. we have 32 ounces of marinara sauce and a quart of chicken broth to a boil. add cooked lasagna noodles. >> can you use no boil? >> exactly. >> you get a little cheese and fresh basil. >> delicious. >> this is something that intimidates me. you are going to show us how to

>> gnocchi. what we did here was we mix ricotta cheese, a little flour. i tie string nice and tight over simmering water. you pipe it right into the water. you use the string to cut the gnocchi. >> that is genius. >> and then a few minutes of simmering and -- >> they fluff up to the top. >> and then you add herbs. add a little oil, lemon zest. >> you are a genius. head to today.com/food for the there's a voice of a daredevil in all of us. that urges us to shake things up, to turn up the heat, and take bigger risks. why should damaged hair silence that voice? new dove regenerative nourishment

in a formula that nourishes to regenerate extremely damaged hair. for smooth, strong and healthy looking hair as if damaged never happened. new dove regenerative nourishment. there's a story behind the silver of philadelphia cream cheese. it always begins with fresh, local milk blended with real, wholesome cream. going fresh from the farm to our fridge in just six days. when it comes to fresh taste, nothing else tastes like philadelphia. resolve to turn heads roc retinol. it's up to two times stronger than imitators try roc retinol correxion night cream... after one week, fine lines appear to fade one month, deep wrinkles look smoother... and after one year, skin looks ageless. only from roc . good morning... the time is... you're looking live at.... roanoke county from our poor mountain skycam. a man wanted in connection with a

amelia county has been captured by u-s marshals in massachusetts. police say he is in critical condition... after shooting himself when officers tried to make the arrest. police say over the weekend.. "dana william" held his former in-laws... and several others hostage. after he eventually left the area with his mother in law.. police found her husband tied up... and unresponsive. he was pronounced dead at the scene. the investigation is now focused on finding his mother-in-law. family remains hopeful. shawntae smith."he told us his plan was to kill my mother and my stepfather and then kill himself" several rewards have been offered for information. # let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori.

meterologist kristina montuori. [ scanner beeping ] sir, could you step aside? "sir"? come on. you know who i am. progressive insurance? uh, i save people an average of over $500 when they switch? did you pack your own bags?

it shows people policy options to help fit their budget. [ scanner warbling ] crazy that a big shot like me would pack his own bags, right? [ chuckles ] so, do i have the right to remain handsome? [ chuckles ] wait.

taking a look at the headlines, the world health organization called a meeting for monday to decide if

be declared international health emergency. the mosquito borne virus is spreading linked to birth defects. the last time the world health organization declared an international emergency was during ebola outbreak. federal inspectors say they found defish practcient practices. they say they uncovered five major infractions including some that pose immediate jeopardy to patients health and safety. says it is reviewing the report and is commit today insuring that all labs operate at the highest standards. a disturbing report about bed bugs. bed bugs have developed resistance to the most widely used group of insecticides for controlling them. people are spending a lot of money on products that aren't

fight bed bugs need to be re-evaluated. a new report says people who live in hawaii have the highest overall well being in the nation. the well-being index looked at how americans feel about health, finances, community and sense of purpose. follows hawaii is alaska, montana, colorado and wyoming. west virginia ranked lowest for the seventh year in a row. let's get a check on the weather. >> we have a little clipper system moving through the great lakes. this will produce some light snow and trigger lake effect snow and will accumulate. you can see the banding does start to set up once you have colder winds. mostly light amounts as we go through the afternoon today and then on thursday later tonight we are going to see the storm continuing to move into the northeast. a lot of precipitation with it just sizzled out. as far as snowfall totals two to

isolated higher amounts four to >> and that's your latest forecast. today our special series chill out we are talking winter health. >> nbc's medical contributor is here to help us sort out fact and fiction when it comes to common winter myths and old

good morning. >> we are going to hit it running. number one, cold air gives you a cold? >> false. >> good job. common misconception. especially the whole idea of make sure your head is covered when you go outside. only about 10% of your body heat is lost through your head. that is the idea where it has to do with surface area. it is not that the head is exposed but how much skin is exposed. >> are we wasting money on hats? >> one of the issues is that more viruses and more colds circulate in the winter time so people tend to get sick more frequently in winter but has nothing to do with the cold temperature. exercising in the cold is good for you, true or false? >> false.

>> that is really the answer. so it is definitely not bad for you. why do you think it is bad for you? >> because i don't like it. >> i didn't think that would be the most scientifically based answer. the answer is that any place you exercise inside or outside is good for you. there is an idea that maybe exercising outside because you have to use more energy to stay warm when you can burn more calories and exert more energy. >> it does hurt going down. for some people it could trigger asthma. you can have allergies in the winter true or false? >> people are inside. you can get dust mites, mold. we know people in the spring and summer are exposed to pollen but there are indoor allergies. >> absolutely.

round. >> number four and i gave this answer. you can't get this wrong. you lose most body heat through your head. were you listening? >> false. >> so my apologies. >> it has nothing to do with the fact that the head is exposed. it has to do with the amount of skin that is exposed. for argument sake that you went out with a hat, a scarf and gloves and your underwear you would be colder than if you had your head uncovered because your legs are exposed. >> has nothing to do with catching a cold. >> nothing to do with catching a cold. >> a weird riddle. the flu shot gives you the flu? >> true. >> no. >> i thought you got the flu virus put in you? >> it is an inactivated dead virus. you cannot get the flu from the

look at you guys. they are giving you dead virus protein that your body has a reaction to. >> that sickness is a vaccine reaction. you know how kids get vaccine reactions. >> i'm getting another opinion on this, with all due respect. >> and that is the end of the segment. >> here we go. thank you.

make delicious recipes that are lighter in calories and added sugar when you use splenda no calorie sweetener. think sugar, use splenda ladies, we don't need all this to talk about lbl. i mean, who pees a little when they laugh? get 3 in 1 protection for dryness, comfort, and odor control. and unlike period pads, poise thin shape pads have thin flex technology. poise makes my life easier.

weight watchers has changed. weight watchers all-new beyond the scale program puts the focus on you and not just the number on the scale. lose weight while eating healthier, with all new smartpoints. and move more by including fitness in ways that work for you. see how good you'll feel with the new weight watchers beyond the scale program! join for free now and lose 10 pounds on us. 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. when we're making mashed potatoes, and add a packet of hidden valley original ranch. it becomes the first thing they reach for. ranch mashed potatoes.

this winter, you have the power to heal. because your purchase of vaseline intensive care lotion, supports the vaseline healing project. join us to help millions in crisis heal their skin. is your head so congested it's ready to explode? you may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec -d to powerfully clear your blocked nose and relieve your other allergy symptoms. so, you can breathe easier all day. zyrtec -d. at the pharmacy counter. soup and sandwich and somewhere to go, and clean and real and nowhere to be, and warmth and looking good, and sandwich and soup and inside jokes, and dan is back! good, clean food pairs well with anything. the clean pairings menu. 500 calories or less. at panera.

right when you feel a cold sore, abreva can heal it in as few as two and a half days when used at the first sign. without it the virus spreads from cell to cell. only abreva penetrates deep and starts to work immediately to block the virus and protect healthy cells. you could heal your cold sore, fast, as fast as two and a half days when used at the first sign. learn how abreva starts to work immediately at abreva.com don't tough it out, knock it out, fast. with abreva. have you ever thought about just how many times a year we search the internet? it is in the trillions. we are going to break it down and reveal the top searches of the month. you have the best job. >> i have so much fun splmpt de. >> you get to go through and see in our heads.

>> oscar nominations top search for obvious reasons. elchapo. steven avery making of a murderer. >> it has gotten so much interest. one thing we are seeing is people asking how they can help steven avery. we start to see these petitions pop up. we saw the white house step in and people wondering what they can do for him. >> it's not did he commit the crime but how we can help him. the nfl playoffs. the super bowl is two weeks from now. >> about a week. >> my team is not in so that is how much i care. powerball, lucky numbers? >> the term powerball spiked. people searching for where to buy tickets. >> not lucky numbers.

where can i buy? people were feeling good about the numbers selected. >> i googled where the most winners come from not that i had access to that state. drake. >> continues to be a moment. >> kanye west. the album was swish and now weigh. >> he stays top of mind for everybody on the web. >> we love at number three on the search of entertainment, adele just continues to make us glow. one thing that really set the web on fire was the car pool karaoke. we all want to be adele's friend. one question topping the top is how to sing like adele. my vocals are not there.

how do i sing like adele. the next one, kim kardashian, number two. >> she continues to be popular for obvious reasons. she is a new mom talking about her weight loss. >> justin bieber hanging in there at number one. >> he is at the top of the billboard charts. people are following the music and following his love life. some of the instagram pics have been popping up. one is he dating katie baldwin. >> how do i sing like adele, vocal techniques. >> did we get answers? >> i'm going to try to play it. >> are we singing? >> we are not singing. >> how do i sing like adele? i will be singing like adele in

the puck stops here. natalie and willie ready to hit the ice. did they google i knew that if i had ice in my water, it would just be so painful and i couldn't even drink it. i would like almost scoot the ice over and try to sip it very slowly so that it wouldn't trigger the pain. that's when i realized i had to do something. my dentist recommended that i use sensodyne. i think that sensodyne has been great in terms of reducing the sensitivity and pain that i was experiencing. now i can put ice in my water. sensodyne absolutely works, there you have it. our next item is a genuine "name your price" tool. this highly sought-after device from progressive can be yours for... twenty grand? -no! we are giving it away

the lines are blowing up! we've got deborah from poughkeepsie. flo: yeah, no, it's flo. you guys realize anyone can use the "name your price" tool for free on progressive.com, right? [ laughing nervously ] [ pickles whines ] i know, it's like they're always on television. what? indulgence... no longer comes at a price. well, actually it does... but it's just $9.99 new hot shot whisky chicken applebee's grill & bar favorites made a little better for you. featuring new dishes loaded with flavor, and all under 650 calories. want to survive a crazy busy day? sfx: cell phone chimes start with a positive attitude... and positively radiant skin. aveeno positively radiantmoisturizer... with active naturals soy. aveeno naturally beautiful results . brandon thinks hellmann's is heaven in a jar. that's because our ingredients come from... farmers committed to responsibly sourced oils... blended with ingredients like cage-free eggs.

real ingredients. that's how we're working to bring out the best. (becky) i started smoking when i was 16. now i have end stage copd. my tip is; if you keep smoking, your "freedom" may only go as far as your oxygen tube. (announcer)you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit-now. my moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis made a simple trip to the grocery store 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.

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. with ingredients like roasted hazelnuts and cocoa, the delicious taste of nutella

make any day a pancake day with nutella - spread the happy! fortifying the gravity-defying... adventure-collecting... friend-connector... fortifying the going-places... off-to-the-races... day-seizing... you. you're strong. and we're here to help you stay that way. new special k nourish. multi-grain flakes with quinoa, apples, almonds and raspberries. new special k nourish. fortify. dreams come true segment. we are on the ice with a couple of hockey legends. mark messier won six stanley cups.

the great mike richter together won a cup with the rangers. >> they are here to get us excited about a huge weekend for the nhl, the all-star game and you can find it on our sister network nbc sn. good morning. >> talk about the incredible careers you both have had. you have to have amazing moments and memories. what was the best for you? >> too many to think about one in particular. i always remember my first nhl goal was on my mom's birthday. i always remember. >> if you live in the new york area june of 1994 is a time that will live in history for all the right reasons. that game seven, 28 saves. what do you remember about that time? >> of all the cups i won new york was my finest moment. mark as six, i have one. it's a great hockey town, great

memories of the all-star game in '94 here in new york. we had so much going on. it was 10 below 0. that whole year was magical and unbelievable teammates. >> this year what do you expect of the competition? >> i am looking forward to it. i was doing something for one of the networks ten days ago in edmonton. the town is so excited about the all-star game. i know they will put on a good show. the format i think everybody is anticipating. a lot of thrills for the players. >> skill now every year athletes are better, stronger and more skilled. this will showcase how good these guys are. >> we will showcase -- >> we might want to go to commercial break right now.

>> you and mark messier on a break away. >> look at that skill. >> there we go. >> i have to work on my celebration. >> just keep going. >> yeah! >> come on. keep going! >> forehand, backhand. >> did she go down?

>> how do you get up? >> were you celebrating? >> i think part of hockey is toughness. >> lucky you are not between the pipes there. >> we have a big nhl weekend coming up. >> 4:30 eastern time on nbcsn. an honor to share the ice with you gentlemen. thank you so much. >> we are back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

>> so fun. we have our three stars of the game right here. thanks again so much. can't wait to watch the game on saturday. nbc sn. >> we are checking in on our

natalie's -- on the ice got us up to 61,150. natalie, your bum on the ice helped us.

answering questions on thegood morning... the time is... you're looking live at roanoke county from our poor mountain skycam. topping our news today... convicted murderer george huguely is trying another legal tactic in hopes of being released from prison. huguely is currently serving 23 years in prison for killing fellow university of virginia student yeardley love. a petition for habeas corpus on wednesday. if approved ... huguely's attorney can report an unlawful imprisonment before a judge. the attorney claims huguely was severely intoxicated at the time of the murder and did not premeditate love's death. the court has yet to schedule a date to hear huguely's case.### let's check in with storm team meterologist kristina montuori. today: sun & clouds with highs

from nbc news, this is ""today" with kathie lee gifford