kristen dahlgren nbc news we still have a lot to get to this morning... postal service has today circled on its calendar. find out why. plus -- most of us would have to use the force to afford this. a rare star wars action figure has been sold... so for how much? heavy rainfall from the last couple of days will dry out later today and we will start a cool down for the week. i'll have more details coming up. "now your storm track 7 forecast on kwwl." from the kwwl stormtrack 7 team. see the screweather information. here is additional forecast information from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team: rain will end from south to north today and another system may bring some light rain and snow on wednesday, but the rest stormtrack7 live weather network cameras will be wet this morning and dry out later today. raran continues to ack north, but some dry air is starting to work into the southern counties. however... we have had plenty over the last couple of days. many of us got 1 to 3" with some getting even more. temperatures arar have already sesen their highs in

at herald square, kristen dahlgren, news 4 new york. >>> up next on news 4 at 11:00, firefight. the battle against a raging wildfire threatening dozens of homes along a scenic part of southern california. >>> plus, meet this family's second christmas baby. this little guy is already following in his big brother's footsteps. so cute. >>> new tonight, we are hearing the police radio calls moments after an officer-involved shooting in chicago left two people dead. >> shots fired out here. shots fired! shots fired. >> officers responded to a domestic violence incident at a home early this morning when they opened fire. his father called police after his annual stated son tried breaking down a door. shots rang out. tonight, two families are left distraught. >> my mama just opened the door and they shot and killed my mama! >> she is dead! >> they didn't do nothing, man! and i'm hurting. i'm hurting real bad. >> jones lived in a first-floor apartment in the building. la greer's mother says her 19-year-old son had recently been suffering from mental illness. police say they were confron

kristen dahlgren, nbc news, washington. >>> i'm casey hunt in cedar rapids, iowa. donald trump talks a big game. but if trump is going to win eya, he has to turn the thousands of fans into something less glamorous. caucusgoers. >> we want to you be what we call a caucus captain. >> in iowa big crowds don't always translight into a big win on caucus night. in 2012, rick santorum won iowa with fewer than 30,000 votes. trump's challenge, his thousands of supporters aren't traditional republicans who could be counted on to caucus on a cold, february night. >> who did you caucus for last time? >> jimmy carter. >> reporter: the trump's go-big strategy is new. the last two gop winners spent months visiting every one of iowa's 99 counties. >> winning in iowa vote. but that is not the donald trump style. >> that is tanna's style. as a runner-up on apprentice, she has a dash of celebrity. and with iowa roots, she's the face of trump's campaign here. >> he can't go to a pizza ranch. he just can't walk in. that is just not in his arena. arena. >> reporter: take ron and sally l

kristen dahlgren, nbc news. >> so sweet.hen it comes to "star wars" this isn't all that unusual. just last month a 32-year-old who died of cancer had a chance to watch a cut screening of the movie himself. she slept every day with that droid watching her up until the day she died. >> it's great to see how they're honoring her and that legacy lives on with that. >>> we have much more ahead on news fewer today. >> that includes an hour-by-hour look at your forecast with tom kierein. >>> we're getting some new information about this fire caught on camera. this is a search to the cause for the flames at the annapolis chbt club. >> three years after sandy hook local moms are demanding tougher action for gun laws. >> and what you need to know about a planned emergency response on metro today. >>> and we want to turn our attention to the weather. is it really december 13th? is it really december 13th? >> check the calendar, that's what it says. >> what are we, a week and a half away from christmas? >> i know, it doesn't make any se

that was nbc's kristen dahlgren reporting. at this point, experts say you can expect to pay a pretty penny to ensure your packages arrive on time. those headed to the pumps can expect the opposite..... gas prices are diving across the nation... overall, the national gas price is down about two dollars.. some of the lowest prices are popping up in ankeny... the sam's club there is at just 1.64 per gallon. here in the metro, the average is at 2 dollars 16 cents. analysts predict these prices will stick around into next month. be the coolest of the next several days. we will see temperatures just into the 20s. expect clearing skies by tuesday morning. there will be much warmer temperatures tuesday. highs will zip back to the upper 40s. the extra sunshine and warm sw wind will help warm us up. wednesday will be wet. there is a good chance for rain through the day. by early thursday morning there is a chance for some rain/snow mix...even thursday morning...but the warmer temperatures will not allow for a white christmas. temperatur

nbc's kristen dahlgren is in central park with the latest on that. kristen, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, harry. december 26th, it is 53 degrees in central park. a lot of people running by in shorts this morning. with the weather this christmas, but new york is not one of them. forget the figgy pudding. it was ice cream in new york. >> what is christmas normally like? >> white. >> how about this year? >> sweaty. >> reporter: ice cream trucking doing summer-like business with temperatures soaring to 66 degrees. >> best christmas ever? >> best christmas ever. >> reporter: in central park, short sleeves replaced winter wear. >> new york christmas. never think this. >> reporter: and in this bizarre world in buffalo, where there is feet of snow, instead saw a lake day with jet skis and scuba diving. and near frigid providence, rhode island, christmas day was a good day to hit the links. record highs shattered for a second day. we spend half of our christmases in florida. >> reporter: there was no areas. no snow means no business. there was not h

kristen dahlgren nbc news we still have a lot to get to this morning... postal service has today circled on its calendar. find out why. plusus- most of us would have to use the force to afford this. a rare star wars action figure has been sold... so for how much? heavy rainfall from the last cool down for the week. i'll have more details coming up. "you're watching kwwl, we've got you covered! with jerry gallagher, ally crutcher and meteorologist eileen loan. "now your storm track 7 forecast on kwwl." from the kwwl stormtrack 7 team. see the screen for your complete weather information. here is additional forecast information from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team: rain will end from south to north today and another system may bring some and snow on wednesday, but the rest of the week should dry out. stormtrack7 live weather network cameras will be wet this morning and dry out later today. rain continues to track north, but some dry air is starting to work into the southern counties. however... we have had plenty over the last couple of days. many of us

kristen dahlgren has a story that is better than black friday. >> reporter: it's beginning to look a lot like black friday. again. stores open early. >> i got everyone out there 6:00 in the morning. >> reporter: the mad scrambles. >> it was $23. >> like 10% off. >> reporter: this is the day after christmas, now becoming a shopping phenomenon of its own. an american express study claims 66% say they expected to shop today, compared to 45% on black friday and 47% on cyber monday. for many it's about the deals. a few more gifts. or more likely a little something for themselves. >> the sales are a lot better the day after christmas than before then. >> right after christmas because there's such seasonal products, the best deals are on toys, books, movies. >> reporter: but it's also about returns. those gifts that didn't quite fit. >> they were big. >> reporter: the national retail federation expects americans will return 15% of sales. not all stores make it easy. >> i think the number one trip to getting back the full money. number one, you're returning it within ten days. >> reporter: e

nbc's kristen dahlgren has more on your last-minute shopping. >> reporter: it is the most wonderful time of the year and the busiest for the united states postal service. today, an estimated 30 million packages are heading for porches around the nation, making it the busiest delivery dayu usps. but that is a small chunk of the 15.5 billion of the cards, letters and packages the postal services expects to deliver. this is one of the busiest for post offices and stores. according to the national retail federation, as much as 40% of the season's sales happen in the ten days before christmas, with delivery deadlines inching closer, here are the biggest concerns from last-minute shoppers. can you still ship packages in time for christmas? the answer, yes. but know your cutoffs. the deadline for usps priority mail service is today. their priority mail express service, wednesday. if you prefer ups or fedex, you have until tomorrow to make their second-day air deadline or wednesday for next day delivery service. next, can you shop online and get gifts delivered before christmas? it depends. stan

kristen dahlgren, nbc news. >> i love r2-kt. it shows you how moving "star wars" can truly be. >> a great day. >> a great day to go skiing, water-skiing. >> break out the shorts. this holiday, ford america's best-selling brand is giving you more. the ford holiday sales event... with 0% financing for 60 months on 2015 f-150 and focus and 2016 fusion and escape. plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on 2015 focus and 2016 fusion and escape. it's the best gift ever. now during the ford holiday sales event get 0% financing for 60 months plus 1,000 dollars holiday bonus cash on select vehicles. see your local ford dealer. >>> this sunday morning, donald trump's call to temporarily ban muslims from entering the country may have thrilled his supporters but it's disgust it had establishment. >> you really have no choice. it's so out of control. it's so terrible. >> why republicans fear a ticket headed by trump is a ticket heded for disaster. >>> plus, could we be looking at a contested convention? our new nbc news/"wall street journal"

kristen dahlgren in central park. thanks so much, kristen. >>> well, donald trump is at it again on twitter. coming up, his response to new polling showing hillary clinton beating him in a head-to-head match. (vo) some call it giving back. we call it share the love. during our share the love event, get a new subaru, and we'll donate $250 to those in need. bringing our total donations to over sixty-five million dollars. and bringing love where it's needed most. love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru. wheall i can think abouthit, is getting relief. only nicorette mini has a patented fast-dissolving formula. it starts to relieve sudden cravings fast. i never know when i'll need relief. that's why i only choose nicorette mini. ♪ everything kids touch during cold and flu season sticks with them. make sure the germs they bring home don't stick around. use clorox disinfecting products. because no one kills germs better than clorox. could protect you from diabetes? what if one sit-up could prevent heart disease? one. wishful

nbc's kristen dahlgren wraps it all up. >> reporter: at fedex today, there was no christmas break. a last-minute scramble for employees that volunteered to get gifts where they need to be. the shipping giant slammed on social media for not delivering packages on time. one mom posting i hope to find a open store. >> marty's holiday sweets are stuck in transit. >> if my baked goods arrive moldy, then it is what it is. and hopefully i'll get a refund. >> reporter: in a statement, fedex said they are doing everything possible to get customer shipments delivered by christmas. in spite of slight delays due to heavier than planned last-minute shipment volumes and severe weather outbreaks. there are weather extremes across the country. in new york, the says it all. the mercury soaring to a record high of 66. santa hats topping sleeveless shirts. and ice cream replacing cocoa. >> what do you guys think about eating ice cream on christmas? >> i like it. >> reporter: so does the ice cream man. >> best christmas ever. >> reporter: it was a golfers' paradise near providence. >> i was going to p

nbc's kristen dahlgren has been following it all and has our report tonight. >> reporter: it's beginning to look a lot like black friday again. stores opening early. >> i got everyone up at 6:00 in the morning to come. >> reporter: the scrambling, the sales. >> shoes for $23. >> it was 10% off. >> reporter: but this is the day after christmas now becoming a shopping phenomenon of its own. an american express study claims today could be bigger than black friday and cyber monday. 66% saying they expected to shop today compared to 45% on black friday and 47% cyber monday. for many, it's about the deals. a few more gifts. >> we did well. all of our bags are in the car. >> reporter: or more likely a little something for better the day after christmas than before then. >> right after christmas because there's such seasonal products the best deals are going to be on toys, books, movies, and music. >> reporter: but it's also about returns. those gifts that didn't quite fit. >> didn't look good. >> looked too girly. >> reporter: the national retail federation expects americans to return some 15%

nbc's kristen dahlgren has more. >> give comfort, lord god. >> reporter: a vigil to remember betty jones, the 55-year-old mother of five caught in the cross fire. >> my mama opened the door and they shot and killed my mama. >> reporter: jones was killed with her upstairs neighbor, 19-year-old college the student's father said he called police after finding his son a little agitated. >> a male caller said someone is threatening his life. the 19-year-old is banging on the bedroom door with a baseball bat. >> reporter: the father reportedly asked jones to watch for the arrival of the police. >> shots fired out here, shots fired. >> they were confronted b a combative indidual. reltingn a ofcer fing ots. >>eporte police sa littl else about wh led to the ooti. instatent, sd jones w accentay struck andffer epestcondences. la greer'sother sd heeveled a menl iless b he wasot vient. >>hy couldn' hee inhe hospit, rath than the morgue >> whatbout t tase? n't sho innocent ople! >> repter:eople thatened t marchn thelay yo's office if they want bldshed, is what they'll getattacking our chdren protests

nbc's kristen dahlgren has more. >> give comfort, lord god. >> reporter: a vigil to remember betty jones, the 55-year-old mother of five caught in the cross fire. >> my mama opened the killed my mama. >> reporter: jones was killed with her upstairs neighbor, 19-year-old college student. the student's father said he called police after finding his son a little agitated. >> a male caller said someone is threatening his life. the 19-year-old is banging on the bedroom door with a baseball bat. >> reporter: the father reportedly asked jones to watch for the arrival of the police. >> shots fired out here, shots fired. >> they were confronted by a combative individual. resulting in an officer firing shots. >> reporter: police said little else about what led to the shooting. in a statement, said jones was accidentally struck, and offered deepest condolences. la lagreer's mother said he developed a mental illness but he was not violent. >> why couldn't he be in the hospital, rather than in the morgue? >> what about the tasers? don't shoot innocent >> reporter: people threatened to march on the pl

. >> kristen dahlgren in central park. at our house, we complained because it was so warm. we had mosquitoes in the apartment. honestly. >> it is weird. >> still better on christmas. >> snow is better on christmas. we need the hard freeze. if they don't do it this year, and it looks like we might not, this is the first time on record we have not gone below freezing in central park. here is the set up. the above average weather continues. 25 to 30 degrees above average. bermuda high pressure. 80 in charleston. new york city is in the 50s. record breaker in new york city. 65 degrees. part of the warm weather is responsible for the severe weather we saw yesterday. this is the set up. tracking a winter storm in the upper midwest. portions of the southwest this morning, you see the rain breaking out. this storm is just getting started. we will deal with this one for several days. here is the severe set up. possible supercells. we will track that. over 14 million people in the risk area. dallas and now a blizzard warning on the cold side of the storm for eastern new mexico into t

kristen dahlgren joins us live from new york's laguardia airport with the latest on another day of travelelays. >> here with hundreds of people now trying to rebook those canceled and delayed flights. really a tough day, and it's not just here in the northeast. nationwide they're seeing problems. more than 1,000 cancellations today. more than 1300 delays nationwide. and what we're looking at is this domino or trickle down effect. you saw all of the bad weather in airline hubs like dallas and chicago over the weekend and into yesterday. that starts this whole process, and then it does trickle down through the entire system. as of last night there were more than 5100 delays. and almost 3,000 cancellations. so all of those aircraft that couldn't get where they were going, all of those passengers who couldn't get where they're going, they are being rebookd and moved around the system. so it is causing problems from here through los angeles, sara. >> thank you very much for the update, kristen dahlgren at laguardia airport. >>> the volatility continues within energy. oil rebounding today after

he was alive and hundreds of kristen dahlgren has more. >> good morning, guys. if you lost a pet ever, you know the pesdesperation. the family had almost given up hope and then the call came, that may make you believe in christmas miracles. >> reporter: it's a sight daniel and alison marx never thought they'd see again. their beloved dog happy and home for the first time in six years. >> i wish he kept a journal. >> reporter: they last saw him when his brother and him ran out in the storm. only the brother came back. >> i thought an animal got to him. >> reporter: daniel searched in the storm, lost himself. >> i was lost over five hours. fortunately, i was able to hear the traffic on 93, so i moved toward that and got to the road. a deputy sheriff picked me up. >> reporter: they searched again, put up signs, placed ads in the paper. finally, went home to las vegas. but they never forgot willie. >> i go to bed at night, even years after we lost him, and think, what should i have done? what could i have done differently? >> reporter: they got another dog, another

for "today," kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. >> since we're talking history with the film, we thought we'd look at the reviews for the original "star wars." the new republic said, the only way that "star wars" could have been interesting was through its visual imagination and special effects. both are unexceptional. >> "star wars" taps the pulp fantasies buried in our memories. because it's done so brilliantly, it reactivates old thrills, fears and exhilarations we thought we'd abandoned when we read our last copy of amazing stories. >> it's enjoyable on its own terms but exhausting, too. like taking a pack of kids to the circus. it's an epic without a dream. that might be my favorite review ever. >> there's a lot in there. >> wow. >> there you go. >>> still ahead, a soldier's best friend. the decorated dog recovering alongside his master after both we'll share the lot of gifts at prices low for everyone this season find thousands of rollbacks, like a 55" 4k smart tv for just $798. i'm crowning you the shopping queen! share the wonder every day. walmart. happy holidays your majesty. i

kristen dahlgren is here with more on america's reaction to the attacks. kristen, good morning. >> good morning, guys. there are still a lot of questions about motivation in the massacre, but the fact that this is being looked at as terrorism has changed the conversation for a lot of people. not just people worried about another attack, but muslim-americans now concerned about backlash against them. about 100 miles north of new york city, the sheriff has a strong message for gun owners. >> if they're comfortable with carrying a weapon, they're proficient and they're that. >> he first posted his call to facebook page. i want to encourage citizens of ulster county who are licensed to carry a firearm to please do so. the post drew mixed reaction. >> i'm getting e-mails that i can't keep up with. the majority of which are in agreement with me. but i am getting some pretty >> new york's police commissioner was among those who spoke out against the idea. >> i'm not supportive of that at all. >> the sheriff makes no apologies. >> i firmly believe in if you have a