maya eaglin, nbc news, new york. >> what a great idea.n to grand proportions in one utah neighborhood where nearly every house seems to have a git, inflatable santa on their front lawn. >> we have a neighborhood chat and a group meet. and as soon as anyone sees the santas on sale they'll post. hey, it's at home depot, on sale, go grab it while you can. >> the area's new holiday tradition became bigger than anyone could imagine, with over 75 inflatable santas standing for the second year. it's got to be so cool even at night with it lit up. with those mountains in the background, how beautiful, how fun is that? >>> coming up on "today", here comes the holiday rush. vicky nguyen has everything you need to know to get your packages mailed on time for christmas. and here's sheinelle jones with a look at what else is ahead on "today." >> healthy habits to start as we head into 2025. plus ali love is stopping by with ideas for the perfect cozy night at home. and we are making a meaty meal in "today" food on the third hour of "today." >>> and th

maya eaglin has the story. >> reporter: for these dancers in canton, michigan, the holiday season meanson from the ballet company. >> it is just a magical part of the holiday season. >> reporter: despite months of rehearsing, the curtain almost didn't go up. >> the holiday spirit under fire after thieves stole a storage container. >> reporter: this ring camera video capturing the moment this trailer and thousands of dollars worth of props inside were stolen, sending the show scrambling to replace them. community members stepping in, raising more than $18,000. as many parents got to work. >> i built these clocks. hopefully these last another 40. >> reporter: another 40 years but not another grinch. finally, opening night. what's the vibe? what's everyone feeling? give me some words. >> happy! >> excited! >> reporter: new props decorating the stage, along with the holiday spirit. now stronger than ever. >> if no one ever volunteered to help, then the show wouldn't happen. >> it means the world. ♪ ♪ >> it's the nutcracker family, and now it's become the community family that has come toget

here's maya eaglin. >> reporter: for these dancers in can ton, michigan, the holiday season means showtimerking the 40th anniversary production from the plymouth canton ballet company. >> it is just a magical part of the holiday season. >> reporter: despite months of rehearsing, the urtain almost didn't go up. >> under fire after thieves stole a storage container. >> reporter: this ring camera video capturing the moment their trailer and thousands of dollars worth of props inside were stolen, sending the show scrambling to replace them. community members stepping in, raising more than $18,000, as many parents got to work. >> i built these clocks. >> hopefully these last another 40 years. >> another 40 years but not another grinch. >> i'm so excited. >> reporter: finally, opening night. >> what's the vibe? what's everyone feeling? give me some words. >> happy. >> excited. ♪ >> reporter: new props decorating the stage along with the holiday spirit, now strongerer than ever. >> if no one ever volunteered to help, the show wouldn't have happened. >> it means the e wod. it's "the nutcracker" fa

maya eaglin, nbc news, new york. >>> and that is "nightly news" for this tuesday. holiday ♪ ♪ i felt so out of place ♪ ♪ i find the only truth ♪ ♪ is in your eyes ♪ ♪ the world feels upside down ♪ ♪ you turn it back around ♪ ♪ through wind and snow ♪ ♪ you are my northern star ♪ ♪ baby, baby ♪ ♪ turn on the christmas tree ♪ ♪ take me home and set me free ♪ ♪ a blanket's good ♪ ♪ but your love's even better ♪ ♪ baby, baby ♪ ♪ put on the classic songs ♪ ♪ you make me wanna sing along ♪ ♪ your heart's good ♪ ♪ at making me remember ♪ ♪ it's gonna be ♪ ♪ a sweet dember ♪ ♪ the holly fills the air ♪ ♪ fills the air ♪ ♪ there's beauty everywhere ♪ ♪ everywhere ♪ ♪nd you lead me ♪ ♪ to the light ♪ ♪ don't ever stop ♪ ♪ baby, baby ♪ ♪ turn on the christmas tree ♪ ♪ take me home and set me free ♪ ♪ a blanket's good ♪ ♪ but your love's even better ♪ ♪ baby, baby ♪ ♪ put on the classic songs ♪ ♪ you make me wanna sing along ♪ ♪ your heart's good ♪ ♪ at making me remember ♪ ♪ it's gonna be ♪ ♪ a sweet december ♪ ♪ i follow your footprints ♪ ♪ in the snow ♪ ♪ your love is what

maya eaglin, thank you. >>> today thousands of union workers at two key amazon fulfillment centers iny they're ready to walk off the job. >> members voted to approve a strike over the weekend unless amazon agrees to start negotiating a new contract. with just nine days left until christmas a work stoppage could have a dramatic effect on some holiday shops and deliveries. rehema ellis joins us now. what are amazon workers demanding from the company? >> reporter: it's a familiar cry. they want more money and better woing conditions. they say it's not too much to ask. look at the statement that came out from the union that wants to be representing amazon workers. they're saying amazon threatens and intimidates and coerces workers by unleashing union busters. these workers are fed up and fighting back. as you can imagine, amazon is disputing any of these claims of -- coming from the teamsters union about how they may have been responding to all this. at this point we seem to be in a holding pattern at this point. a strike is looming, but it is not currently under way at this moment. there

maya eaglin is following the story. >> reporter: growing calls for action over the mysterious objects in the skies over new jersey and new york. >> there's another one over there. >> reporter: an fbi official says they've received thousands of reports over the past few weeks, with less than 100 of those warranting further investigation. but whatever it is people are seeing, local lawmakers want answers. >> our local people who have questions about these drones shshould not have to shake an eight ball to get an answer. >> reporter: senate majority leader schumer urging them to use technology like the robin radar. >> determine what the heck is going on. >> reporter: new york governor kathy hochul says federal partners are sending a drone detection system to new york. and alejandro mayorkas says there is no si of foreign involvement. >> i want to assure the american public that we are on it. >> reporter: people we spoke to want more answers. are you skeptical when you hear that? >> it's a security threat to the whole world. >> reporter: meanwhile, reports of mysterious objects in the sky

maya eaglin, canton, michigan. >>> that is "nightly news" for this wednesday. and each other. good night. ♪♪ move a long standing policy. the move president elect trump plans to make his first day in office, and how it's causing concern in the immigrant community. good afternoon. i'm audrey asistio. welcome

. >> nbc news reporter maya eaglin is following the story closely.ng kind of nothing to see here, but lawmakers don't seem to be buying that. >> yeah, kate and zinhle, it's a bit of mixed messaging. we hear from john kirby this morning on "today" that there is no threat to the public. he mentioned that many of these reported drone sightings are actually small planes, recreational drones. they are saying there's really nothing out of the ordinary. however, local lawmakers and local officials are a bit more skeptical. we heard from new jersey congressman josh gottheimer who is asking for a public hearing. he's, like, hey, this new information today might be helpful, but what would be more helpful to my constituents is hearing from the government officials directly and clearly to get some more answers. >> as if the drone technology isn't enough, we understand artificial intelligence may be complicating the investigations, too? >> absolutely. some of these videos we've been reviewing in our own numbers numbers reporting, they've been made with artificial

maya eaglin delivers the good news tonight. >> reporter: the messages are personal. >> i have never loved ifs, should haves, maybe next times. >> reporter: and hopes for the future. >> please bring us peace. >> reporter: this is a popup art installation sophia calvin brings around new york city. calvin says like many, she's struggled with feels of isolation. >> anonymity is such a unique experience of urban living and it's incredibly isolating. >> reporter: the rules are simple. >> you can sit and write a letter anonymously, and in exchange, read one written by someone else. >> reporter: nadia is one of hundreds to join in, writing a letter that would never be sent and reading one from a person she's never met. >> they connect everybody together. it's just a beautiful thing. >> reporter: for some, the writing brings out unexpected emotion. >> we've had a lot of homeless people. we've had super rich, high-flying people. and they write about very similar topics. it's is a strange thing, it's love. >> this is weird, but i kind of like you. >> reporter: and reading strangers' secrets. >> i wa

maya eaglin has the story. >> reporter: this time of year, some things never change. >> i like the ninjadress. >> reporter: children around the world are making their lists, and holiday shoppers are filling their carts. it's not just the big name stores that are working to serve up smiles. smaller toy stores are, too. according to the toy association, an estimated 3 billion toys are sold annually in the u.s., that adds up to $41 billion in sales. we turned to the toy experts. the march hare is one of the few locally remaining stores. they took over the store a few years ago. >> we had dinner one night. my husband said why don't we buy the toyshop. and we all were like, really? >> reporter: there's a legacy of toy stores on east ninth street. >> there used to be gun called dinosaur hill that was here for 30 years and closed during the pandemic. >> reporter: how are you able to remain competitive? >> we have a lot of stuff in the shop that can you not find in some of the more major retailers. >> people want to come support something that's part of their community and a way to feel like the

nbc's maya eaglin is tracking the latest. hey there.h, we are in teaneck, new jersey, where there have been several reports of drone sightings over the weekend. the local police actually still encouraging residents to send in those reports, although we've heard from fbi and faa officials that many of these reports are actually folks seeing small planes and might not be drones. still, there are a lot of unanswered questionsns fro local officials. i spent the evening with a sheriff's detective in ocean county, new jersey. they were doing their own investigation with a drone using thermal radar surveillance. other residents we spoke to said they've also been seeing objects in the air moving erratically. again, we're not sure exactly the origin of where these objects are coming from. a lot of unanswered questions, as people are really wanting some clarity as to where these things are coming from and why. back to you. well, on now to the latest on the menendez brothers and their push to get out of prison. the new district attorney in los ang

maya eaglin, nbc news, new york. >> whether your letters are sent or unsent, my hope for you is love and connection find all of us this holiday season. on that beautiful note. i thank you for watching and i wish you a beautiful night. for all of our colleagues across the networks of nbc news, thanks for staying up late for me. >> reporter: so donald trump's war for free press has reached a new level. nbc news hat settled a defamation lawsuit for donald trump with $15 million. the lawsuit alleged that abc news anchor george stephanopoulos had defamed trump when he misspoke several times during an interview. and said that a jury had found trump liable for rape for rape. that trump's afuser accuser failed to prove that trump accused her. it is hard to imagine donald trump brought that lawsuit because he really cared about the legal distinctions here. trump likely brought that lawsuit to keep controversy at bay. that campaign is ratcheting up. at a press conference yesterday, . >> i will be bringing one against the people in iowa, their newspaper who had a pollster who got me right all t

i want to bring in maya eaglin who has been covering this for us. to new jersey and talked to some folks. what are they telling you? >> one is that they think this is a big deal. some of them have genuine concerns. a few of them were nervous about all of the hype around the story. and other people i spoke to said they think it is hype and the story has blown into something it was never meant to be. i spent time with a sheriff's detective in ocean county, new jersey. he had no idea what was going on and said his own investigation was to get answers for himself. we saw a few curious things move passed his radar. we are hearing from the nypd, rebecca winer, deputy commissioner, to kind of get more context on what we are seeing in new york city. let's take a listen. >> okay. >> just to give you some numbers, over the weekend, we had 120 odd 911 and 311 calls related to drone activity which is more than what we had for the month of november. more people are reporting to us. the number of drones being detected by our teams and software is roughly commensu

here's nbc's maya eaglin. they're everywhere.lls for action over the mysterious objects being reported in the skies over new jersey and new york. there's another one over there. an fbi official says they've received thousands of reports over the past few weeks, with less than 100 of those warranting further investigation. but whatever it is people are seeing, local lawmakers want answers. our local people who have questions about these drones should not have to shake an eight ball to get an answer. today, senate majority leader chuck schumer urging federal officials to use special drone detection technology like the robin radar. there certainly is the technology that can track the craft with precision and determine what the heck is going on. new york governor kathy hochul saying federal partners are sending a drone detection system to new york, and homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas says there is no sign of foreign involvement. i want to assure the american public that we are on it. but despite these assurances, peopl

nbc's maya eaglin reports. they're everywhere. for action over the mysterious objects being reported in the skies over new jersey and new york. there's another one over there. reporter. an fbi official says they've received thousands of reports over the past few weeks, with less than 100 of those warranting further investigation. but whatever it is people are seeing, local lawmakers want answers. our local people who have questions about these drones should not have to shake an eight ball to get an answer. today, senate majority leader chuck schumer urging federal officials to use special drone detection technology like the robin radar. there certainly is the technology that can track the craft with precision and determine what the heck is going on. new york governor kathy hochul saying federal partners are sending a drone detection system to new york, and homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas says there is no sign of foreign involvement. i want to assure the american public that we are on it. but despite these assurances