charles hadlock joins us live from the hospital. as you're listening to the general talk about the fact that the president should be listed as among the nobility of this country action explain to all of us where he stands right now, the care he's getting about the series of setbacks he's faced over the month? >> reporter: good morning, thomas. former president bush remains in guarded condition at methodist hospital in houston. that's about all the information we have about the president, because the family has now asked for privacy, as he continues treatment for a persistent cough and fever. he was admitted to the hospital here in houston back on november 23rd, complaining of a could have. last sunday he was placed in icu because of his weakened did not and a persistent fever. now the family is asking for privacy. but just yesterday his former -- his chief of staff gene becker sent an e-mail to family and friends. in that e-mail she says -- sell he sick? yes. does he plan on going anywhere soon? no. he has every intention of staying

it's a highly controversial idea but as nbc's charles hadlock reports some schools are going a big stepurther. >> reporter: in school districts across the country teachers, administrators, and politicians are debating ways to keep classrooms safer. a police officer now walks the halls in an elementary school in butler, pennsylvania, one of a growing list of school districts including marlboro, new jersey and orange county, florida hiring armed guards after the deadly newtown shootingins. >> we have armed officers in all 14 schools in the butler school district and plan to have that on a daily basis from now on. >> reporter: but soon it may be more than just armed guards patrolling the nation's public schools. lawmakers in at least ten states have said they'll consider laws allowing teachers and administrators to carry firearms. in tiny harrold, texas where the nearest sheriff's deputy is 30 minutes away teachers and administrators sometimes felt unsafe. in harrold all 100 students from kindergarten to 12th grade attend school in one building. in a school this small and remote a security

. >> charles hadlock from houston, thank you so much for your update. >> reporter: sure. >>> topping the headlines on "andrea mitchell reports." in afghanistan today, at least three civilians were killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the gate of a u.s. military gate in khost province. taliban claimed responsibility. >>> hawaii's governor is expected to announce a replacement for late daniel inouye. today, the democratic party listed three finalists. senator inouye's dying wish was for her to take his place in the senate. >>> the winter storm that hit the middle of the country on christmas day is now spreading east, causing up to 19 tornados, that was a potential christmas day record. >>> the storm is also causing massive flight delays and cancellations. at least 1,176 since yesterday morning, and that number is expected to grow throughout the day. the airports most effected by cancellations, indianapolis, dallas-fort worth, chicago o'hare and washington dulles. >>> the dow has closed reflecting the uncertainty with six days to go before potentially devastating impact

. >> charles hadlock from houston, thank you. >> reporter: sure. >>> up next, democratic congressman pascrell to rejacket to the negotiations in the fiscal cliff and hundreds of teachers are being offered free firearms training in utah. do you think it's a good idea to carry concealed weapons to school? it is the "news nation" gut check. be sure to check out the tumblr page. there i am pretending to work there. how about that? find lots of behind the scenes pictures, "news nation." [ male announcer ] feeling like a shadow of your former self? c'mon, michael! get in the game! [ male announcer ] don't have the hops for hoops with your buddies? lost your appetite for romance? and your mood is on its way down. you might not just be getting older. you might have a treatable condition called low testosterone or low t. millions of men, forty-five or older, may have low t. so talk to your doctor about low t. hey, michael! [ male announcer ] and step out of the shadows. hi! how are you? [ male announcer ] learn more at isitlowt.com. [ laughs ] hey! and with my bankamericard cash rewards credi

. >> reporter: for "today," charles hadlock, nbc news, abilene, texas. >> once again here's willie. >now sending their wish lists up to the north pole. this year, many of those letters are coming from hurricane sandy victims. jenna is back with more. >> hey, willie. the letters are addressed to santa, just "dear santa" and some of them really show what a tough year it's been for many kids. the letters begin with a passionate "dear santa." >> i'm 11 years old and been really good this year. >> reporter: what follows are often emotional requests from model cars to miracles. >> what i really want is that you return my mom's health so she won't be sick anymore. >> reporter: each holiday season hundreds of thousands of letters are sent from across the country addressed to, well, to santa claus and for 100 years now fulfilling some of those wishes has been a tradition of the u.s. post office. >> this area is where we send the gifts out. >> reporter: keith fontana is keafe elf of "operation santa" at new york's main post office where last year some 500,000 letters to old st. nick came throug