they'd fallen in love in the colorado rockies, where they settled to raise their three kids and ran a thriving photography business. then, one frigid night, dale said his wife walked out of their house and never returned. investigators quickly discovered the grieving husband was not the only man in her life. there were three potential suspects. police needed to focus on stephanie's life to figure out who may have caused her death. here's keith morrison with "secrets in the snow." keith morrison: it was cold the night it happened. so very cold. a night to be inside by a fireplace, tucked under a quilt, not outside in the frigid dark. not way up here-- 9,000 feet up in the colorado mountains, snow thick already that late november night. and with the wind chill 24 below. dale bruner: i don't know enough to know exactly what happened. i'm still trying to figure it out. keith morrison: what in god's name was his wife doing walking out into the brutal cold? and more to the point, what happened to her? this middle class, married mother of three-- where did she go without a word to him or her

. >> they were heading up a mountain in the colorado rockies when their lift, more like gondolas, came to a complete and sudden stop. and for some, it was hours before they were on the ground again. abc's alison kosik with the details. >> this morning, a dramatic rescue at a popular ski resort in colorado. skiers and snowboarders evacuated from a gondola after it malfunctioned, leaving them stranded and suspended in mid-air for six hours. >> joe. >> hang on. rescuers using ropes and ladders to save the 174 people who became trapped when the ski lift malfunctioned saturday afternoon, investigators say. this photo posted online, clearly showing a cracked piece of metal, was part of the malfunction. >> it stopped, as it should. we're not sure exactly what caused the failure on the part, so the part has currently it has been removed. the new part is being replaced. >> no one was injured. the incident was the first time the lift has been evacuated since opening six years ago. passengers telling us they're thankful for the first responders who saved their christmas. >> the ski patrol dropped

. >> we're getting another burst of moisture just coming across the colorado rockies. that's going to develop into the next storm system of the one that pushed through the deep south. that was a very intense system that moved on through. and you see the line of storms and behind that just dozens of tornadoes dropping down on the backside of that as well. and so all the damage done by that, thousands of people also without power and they'll be cleaning up from that one for quite a while. in the meantime, not done just yet that next storm system that we were just talking about rolling right across the rockies. and there you go. as we head toward midnight tomorrow night, boy, they're going to be ringing in the new year on the wet side, possibly new york, some heavy rainfall moving through. there may be some possibility of some thunderstorms, maybe a little lake effect. snow on the backside of that as well. now travel, of course, around the country. now can have some issues with these thunderstorms of pilots often get the diverted from some of that activity. but right now

if you're in the northwest and colorado rockies, where you see the snow in the west there's a winterinter storm warning, significant snow in higher elevations and flooding concerns especially for creeks and rivers and our streams in washington and parts of oregon. this is going to stay unsettled with rain. head to the east, quiet for the mid section, the lower mississippi valley, further up. we have rain into the upper midwest. severe threat, it does remain for areas across mississippi, into louisiana. some storms now, we could see reinvigoration of the storms through the afternoon. some tornadoes are possible. keep that on your radar. a bigger threat tomorrow for some of the same areas. the northeast is quiet, temperatures around where they should be. we're watching rain that's going to head into the i-95 corridor and that could bring maybe even an icing event for portions of pennsylvania, into new jersey. that would be overnight tonight into tomorrow. watch for that. the other big headline is temperatures. the arctic air is staying well to the north and overall we're looking at eve

you can see downwind of the great lakes, the colorado rockies into the sierra tahoe region. look at this. we have a cold spell that will come. so any precipitation that falls, maybe next week we can hope that it will actually be snowfall, but not looking that likely. >> no, not just like the ones i used to know, as they say. derek van dam, thank you very much, sarah. >> at least you didn't sing it. john. we really appreciate that. all right. this morning time is running out to get your gifts to their destination before christmas and hanukkah. and that winter weather derek is talking about could come into play. cnn's vanessa yurkevich is here with what you need to know to make sure your presents arrive on time. okay, so what are some of the biggest factors causing delays this year? i am the most procrastinating person in the history of procrastination, so i know a lot of people feel the same. i'm right there with you. >> 2.2 billion packages are shipping between thanksgiving and christmas. >> that is a lot. >> so we're just one of 2.2 billion and more than half of americans r

in colorado how many rocky mountain the peaks are 14,000 above sea level? 38, 48, 58 or 68?ack. ♪ ♪ .. y'all see this, patrick mahomes is saying goodbye! patrick! patrick! people was tripping. where are you going!? he was actually saying goodbye to his old phone. i'm switching to the amazing new iphone 16 pro at t-mobile! it's the first iphone built for apple intelligence. that's like peanut butter on jelly...on gold. get four iphone 16 pro on us, plus four lines for $25 bucks. and save on every plan versus the other big guys. what a deal. that's a lot if you ask me. ya'll giving away too fast t-mobile, slow down. hillsdale was founded in 1844. we're passing on a cultural heritage, the culture of the west. when the federal government started giving money to colleges, we didn't take it. that independence has allowed us to stay with our mission that we established 175 years ago. because we don't accept federal money. we are free to concentrate on the mission of the college. we care about freedom, and that affiliates us with the free institutions of america. (♪) >> we asked in

that warm air extending in this ridge across much of the rockies, where places like denver, colorado, will make it to 61 degrees sunday. that's about 20 degrees, just about 20 degrees warmer than it should be this time of year. meantime, our friends on the east coast getting ready for the biggest cold snap that we've seen all season long. temperatures not feeling like they're out of the teens on sunday. david? >> andrew kozak. >>> tonight, just days before families and friends gather for the holidays, there are concerning new numbers about the flu. c cbs's ali bauman is in new york with a warning from the cdc. >> reporter: david, the cdc says flu activity is increasing in all regions and all age groups across the country. and with millions on the move this holiday week, doctors are warning we may soon hit the peak of flu season. the holiday season is in full swing, and so, too, is the flu season. 13 states have reported high or very high levels of flu-like ill ens last week, according to the cdc, that's about double the states from the week before. the agency estimates so far this sea

reporter: the colorado river which starts in the rocky mountains and once flowed so abundantly to thissionally flood. >> there is all of this sediment from flooding over the years. reporter: that plus the consistently mild and sunny winters in southern arizona has made let us growing a cash cow. >> you could say that you want to grow them in florida which is great if they don't get hurricanes. there are other places that keep trying but they cannot grow consistent quantities and the quality that the country needs. so if you want lettuces in the wintertime or broccoli, you have to come to the desert. >> these sprinklers are something we have implemented in the last two years. reporter: the farmer said the winter climate and irrigation practices produce a better harvest and better yields. >> this is what allows us to micromanage our farming practices. reporter: meaning it is sunny all the time. >> we average three inches of rain a year. but consistent sunshine is the trick. reporter: but the climate is creating problems. the colorado river is major reservoirs reached historic close a few

rockies. there are avalanche alerts issued where you are seeing darker blue, and that includes parts of coloradofar as this cross-country storm that continues to make its way towards the east, moving through the heartland by monday, and then look what happens 12:00 a.m. on wednesday morning, new year's, the rain is arriving just in time to sit with you and join you in new york city for that ball to drop. that's a look at the forecast across the country. >> somara: that's >> somara: that's a look at your local forecast. you guys, we have a potential for rain on new year's eve in new york city when the ball drops. >> whit: yeah. >> gio: wonder what that means for the fireworks. and all that -- >> janai: that's a good question. you guys won't be out in in times square at the ball drop in your diapers. >> whit: i'm hoping to be in bed. >> janai: amen. amen to that, whitney. >>> coming up here on "good morning america," all about fire extinguishers. you've done a story on this. very important. you may have one in your home but do you know how to use it? we put four moms to the test as whit cowers in

rocky ok, the shows. and now the to that is the previous business that he paid to on colorado to the mosque goes and talks that he had the, the russian, pres, russian foreign minister and the egypt, sin, foreign minister, and other officials. these are all coming in the context that syria plays a very pivotal role into calculations into jo strategists, regional calculations of the country. and for that to be heard a lot of the statements. if i can give you a very summary of, i'd be here from to around regarding these developments and the culture in particular, i can tell you that there are at least 3 important aspects. the 1st aspect is the commitment that iran expresses pertaining to the syria in return, not in return, excuse me, in, in just the fight that they are had the, they having their having a smart to you on coals, reactivated terrace groups. this is one point and the 2nd part is the concern that iran expresses. concerns are 3 fold. first stairs, a concern regarding the, the start of the supply vision of see we have the know that you're on has spend a lot of years to, let's say empty the country

colorado over the weekend. a crack in the ski lift left nearly 175 skiers and snowboarders stranded high above the rocky mountainselplessly on a busy ski day. ski patrol arriving on scene to instruct this group on how to get to safety. >> winter park confirmed there were no injuries and they are back up and running after a new part was installed, the 150 skiers that were stranded were given two days of free skiing because of that. as far as heavenly, they will be open today but the common express chairlift will be closed. >> i just couldn't do it, if i was stopped, you would have to put me under or something to get me out of there it is so scary. >> that is a tough one, rappelling down on ropes? >> thank you so much. >>> and new this morning, president-elect trump weighs in on president biden's decision to commute 37 federal death row sentences to life without parole. trumps plan will resume federal executions that were positive under the biden administration, last month he posted writing that he will direct the justice department to, quote, vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect american families and chi

colorado over the weekend. a crack in the ski lift left nearly 175 skiers and snowboarders stranded high above the rocky mountains. this was the scene when the gondola stopped mid-trip, dangling passengers on a ski day. this instructor telling them how to rappel to safety. >> we're going to use this rope right here, this big orange one. you're good. >> reporter: winter park confirmed there were no injuries, and the lift is back up and running after a new part was installed. as for heavenly, they will be open today, but the comet express chair lift will be closed. laura. >> glad everyone is okay. thank you for your reporting. >>> we turn to a massive holiday jackpot. if you are still looking for the perfect gift, how about a shot at $1 billion? the drawing is tonight. one lucky winner could have the holiday of a lifetime. nbc news correspondent emilie ikeda has more. good morning. >> reporter: hey, guys. good morning to you. this is the potential for a christmas miracle of mega proportions as the mega millions jackpot is quickly closing in on that billion dollar mark. you can see it is sitting at $970 million righ