miguel almaguer in washington state. miguel, the worst is yet to come? >> reporter: yeah, lester. rivers are raging and a landslide has cut off local amtrak service. one town is surrounded by water and the threat isn't over. a powerful unrelenting torrent is tonight cascading across communities outside seattle. dangerous walls of water fueled by days of drenching rain leaving some nine million people across the region under flood alerts. with five rivers threatening to burst their banks, homes, cars and roads are already partially submerged. >> if it's a couple of inches or a full foot of water or anything in between, it's a very dangerous situation. >> reporter: as three major storms barrel down on the pacific northwest, tonight a pineapple express, a warm flow of moisture from hawaii, is already dousing the region. the conveyor belt of steady rain setting a record in seattle monday, could dump up to 8 inches this week, wreaking havoc on the region. >> if it's got water over the road, like they say, turn around, don't drown. >> reporter: with rescue crews on high alert and accide

miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> and that's "nightly news" for this thursday. thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night . >>> i'm raj mathai. next on "nbc bay area news tonight," another setback for driverless cars. cruise is cutting hundreds of jobs after being forced to take its driverless taxis off san francisco roads. does the company still have a future here in the bay area? >>> also, draymond's spe

miguel almaguer, nbc news, granite falls, washington. >> that threat isn't over yet. nbc meteorologist anju lassman is tracking the next round of storms heading for the northwest. good morning, angie. >> that next storm is going to impact folks in that region today. we do see this low pressure that will move onshore bringing additional rain and snowfall it won't be quite as strong as the last one we've seen the impacts from over the last couple days. but nonetheless, we have saturated grounds. as we get into tomorrow, we see this low kind of redevelop east of the rockies this is going to make a big difference look what happens as we get into saturday we see this line of thunderstorms erupt had portions in portions of the south this will be something you need to make note of. we'll see the potential for heavy rain as far as severe weather, a couple tornados will be possible and then the system moves a little farther to the east we will see a wintry mix for parts of the great lakes and midwest, and w sunshine san angelo heads to the low 70s with dallas and san antonio.

miguel almaguer reports. >> reporter: tonight, the d.a.s the shocking murder of michael latt was a targeted crime authorities say the well-connected hollywood social justice advocate was allegedly shot in the head by a homeless woman who knocked on his door, forced her way inside, and killed the 33-year-old for being friends with a woman who the suspect had been stalking. >> this is a quiet neighborhood we've never had anything go on he's a super sweet guy. >> reporter: the son of a powerful hollywood couple and the brother of famed talent agent franklin latt, michael is being remembered for his philanthropy he founded lead with love, an organization promoting social justice through the arts his mother writing, "michael devoted his career to supporting artists, championing organizations that raised up artists of color, and leveraged storytelling for enduring change. >> where can you see growth and improvement? >> reporter: the tragedy reverberating across hollywood america ferrera posting, "what an incredible loss for his family, friends,

miguel almaguer, nbc news >>> let's turn now to rising anxieties over a new arms race in space. courtney kube has rare access inside an alabama facility on the front lines guarding the u.s. against threats from china in orbit >> reporter: growing tensions between the u.s. and china now extending to hundreds of miles above the earth. >> we know when we're threatened we need to be able to counter the threat >> reporter: to get an inside look at some of the latest american technology to counter the chinese threat, we went to united launch alliance's factory in alabama, working on defenses against things like chinese satellites that can use robotic arms to drag other satellites out of orbit, meaning china could disable critical american communication satellites >> they were actually able to grab ahold of one of their defunct gps satellites >> reporter: what is the concern about them having that kind of capability in space? >> anything that can interact with a spacecraft for servicing is inherently capable of interacting with a spacecraft to harm it or to gather intelligence from it

here's miguel almaguer >> reporter: tonight, at shopping centers across the country -- >> he's outside's outside he's outside >> reporter: -- undercover surveillance teams like these say this is the multibillion dollar problem exploding out of control. >> we've done probably already six or seven this week, and we are stepping up our efforts over the holiday season >> you got him. >> reporter: given rare exclusive access to covert operations, we followed the los angeles retail department task force and california highway patrol. >> let him come out. we'll get him. >> that's the suspect. it's two bags. >> reporter: as officers swarm suspected shoplifters, who they say often work with a network of criminals like this in what's known as organized retail crime. we see these really shocking videos that come out from all across the country why is this crime so pervasive? >> i think there's an absolute perception that nothing is going to be done because it's theft for years now, we've been looking at mobs of usually it's younger kids, and they believe that if they do it in packs, it's harder t

people pulled to safety after this ho their homes were surrounded by four feet of water miguel almaguer kicks off our coverage >> reporter: a powerful, unrehe lengthing torrent is cascading across communities outside seattle. 9 million people across the region under flood alerts. with five rivers threatening to burst their banks, homes, cars and roads are already partially submerged. >> if it's a couple inches or a full foot of water or anything in between, it's a very dangerous situation. >> reporter: as three major storms barrel down on the pacific northwest. pineapple express, a warm flow of moisture from hawaii is already dowsing the region the conveyor belt of steady rain setting a record in seattle monday, could dump up to eight inches this week, wreaking havoc on the region. >> if you've got water over the road, like they say, turn around, don't drown. >> reporter: rescue crews on high alert, bracing for another round of rain. a region on the brink of disaster, as the water continues to rise. miguel almaguer, nbc news, fall city, washington >> let's get an update now on where tho

miguel almaguer reports. >> reporter: the d.a. says the shocking murder of michael lath was a targeted crime the well-connected hollywood social justice advocate was allegedly shot in the head by a homeless woman who knocked on his door, forced her way inside and killed the 33-year-old for being friends with a woman whom the suspect had been stalking. >> this is a quiet neighborhood. we've never had anything go on he's a super sweet guy >> reporter: the son of a powerful hollywood couple, mike am is remembered for thhis philanthropy his mother writing that he devoted his career to raising up artists of color and leveraged storytelling for enduring change >> where can you see growth and improvement. >> reporter: reverberating across hollywood america ferreira posting, what an incredible loss for his family actor jesse williams saying michael was a shining beacon of selfless kindness. the suspect, who lived in her car near his home is being held on $3 million bail investigators have not yet said how she obtained a handgun this shock

week, but tonight, scientists warn eruptions can be as unpredictable as they are spectacular miguel almaguer, nbc news >>> in the middle east tonight, a growing crisis in the red sea. oil prices are rising as an iranian-backed militia is vowing to keep attacking ships there, all as chilling new video of hostages held in gaza is released here's richard engel >> reporter: the cargo giant maersk joined bp in halting traffic through the red sea in response to attacks by the iranian yemeni militia known as the houthis, who have hijacked and fired on several ships. defense secretary lloyd austin in bahrain today, home of the u.s. 5th fleet, announced the formation of a ten-nation coalition to defend the red sea, but the houthis vow to keep attacking ships until israel ends its blockade of gaza the showdown sending oil prices up again today. while the palestinian islamic jihad tonight put out a video of two israeli men it's holding hostage, yesterday hamas released a video of three elderly hostages taken under duress the man on the right is 83-year-old yoram metzger. his son, guy, told us he takes

miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >> wow, with the deferment, he'll be paid $68 million when he'sned lron aneb - hid , i'm steve. - i'm lea. and we live in north pole, alaska. - as i got older, my hearing was not so good so i got hearing aids. my vision was not as good as it used to be, got a change in prescription. but the thing missing was my memory. i saw a prevagen commercial and i thought, "that makes sense." - i observed the changes in steve's memory and i thought i should try that too. - after taking prevage, i just didn't have to work so hard to remember things. prevagen. at stores everywhere without a prescription. >>> israel ignoring american officials asking the country to pull back its assault on gaza. it comes as u.s. national security advisor jake surl van is in the region >>> jury deliberations under way in rudy

miguel almaguer is just outside seattle. miguel, rivers are raging there tonight. >> reporter: yeah, lester, believe it or not, the floodwaters here are expected to recede, and eventually the rain is going to stop. that's the good news. the bad news, another weather system is on the way for an area already waterlogged. bloated and bustling, tonight many of the rivers, streams, and creeks that carve through the pacific northwest are bursting at the seams fueled by days of relentless rain. the dangerous fast-moving torrents are leaving some 8 million people in the region under flood alerts. across washington, emergency teams race from rescue to rescue. the coast guard plucking one driver to safety then hoisting a family from their home, which was suddenly surrounded by four feet of rising water. today, an hour outside seattle, the damage has been done to some homes in granite falls. >> i put a lot of time and effort in this, and it just took one thing to take it all away. >> reporter: the deluge which triggered the flooding, th

miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> and that's "nightly news" for this thursday. thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. ♪♪ the door's unlocked ♪ ♪ and you don't even ♪ ♪ have to knock ♪ ♪ or you can use the fireplace ♪ ♪ i'll be waiting either way ♪ ♪ you come and go ♪ ♪ and no one ♪ ♪ is supposed to know ♪ ♪ but ever since you caught ♪ ♪ my stare ♪ ♪ you know i know ♪ ♪ that you are real ♪ ♪ well, santa ♪ ♪ i've been thinking ♪ ♪ and i just need one thing ♪ ♪ you to bring me ♪ ♪ something shiny ♪ ♪ like a diamond ring ♪ ♪ just a little something ♪ ♪ from tiffany's ♪ ♪ oh, santa ♪ ♪ make my christmas eve ♪ ♪ 4 carats please ♪ ♪ oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ something sparkly ♪ ♪ yellow canaries ♪ ♪ yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ mm, i'm waiting patiently ♪ ♪ santa, don't forget me ♪ ♪ ooh, don't forget me ♪ ♪ like a diamond ring ♪ ♪ just a little something ♪ ♪ from tiffany's ♪ ♪ or a big ruby ♪ ♪ you know red has always ♪ ♪ looked good on me ♪ ♪ i won't tell anyone ♪ ♪ i've been good all year long ♪ ♪ oh, santa ♪ ♪ make my christmas ev

miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. >>> and that's "nightly news" for this thursday. you for watching, everyone. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night. (♪♪) (♪♪) (♪♪) get exclusive offers on select new volvo models. contact your volvo retailer to learn more. >>> stream nbc bay area now. >>> stores in contra costa county targeted by thieves. how one store er

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miguel almaguer has an inside look at how law enforcement is fighting back. >> reporter: at shopping across the country. undercover surveillance teams like these, say this is the multibillion-dollar problem. >> get outside of the car, grab him. >> reporter: exploding out of control. >> done six or seven this week. we're stepping up our efforts over the holiday season. >> reporter: given rare exclusive access to covert operations, we followed the los angeles sheriff's department retail theft tcalirnia highway . >> let him come out. we'll get him. >> two bags. >> reporter: as officers swarm suspected shoplifters who they say often work with a network of criminals like this. in what's known as organized retail crime. >> we see these really shocking videos that come out. from all across the country. why is this crime so pervasive? >> i think there's an absolute perception that nothing's going to be done because it's theft. for years now, we've been looking at mobs of usually it's younger kids and they believe that if they do it in packs, it's harder to detain and arrest. >> reporter: the

at that explosion grounded much of the air travel for a week miguel almaguer, nbc news. >>> now to winterweather out west there will be snow fif the mountains. angie lassman is tracking these storms for us. >> we've got a white christmas on tap for some, not at that many, but some and a wet one for the travel week ahead we're already having flood alerts, stretching across portions of southern california, up into san luis obispo and stretching to san diego. here's what we're dealing with, a system inching closer to the coast bringing periods of heavy rain, additional snowfall. by the time we get into friday we know at that will be a busy travel day parts of arizona, fmnew mexico d nevada if n the potential for rain l.a., san diego, all could see potential delays las vegas as well. as far as the white christmas goes, this area is really the only spot athat we're tgo67 ifo temperatures a little cooler for new mexico, ending up at 48 degrees. with cloudy conditions for santa fe and at that's a look at your forecast >>> one lucky lottery player could spend this holiday season nearly 600$600 mi

nbc's miguel almaguer is standing by. >> reporter: the rain is slowly beginning to taper off.e has cut off amtrak service in this area, and some smaller communities are surrounded by water. it's a punishing weather system that's still on the move. >> powerful cascading torrents tore across communities near seattle, fueled by days of drenching rain, dangerous walls of water triggered flood alerts for some 9 million across the pacific northwest. at least five raging rivers are threatening to breach their banks. some already partially submerging homes, cars and roads. >> it doesn't matter if it's a couple of inches or a full foot of water. it's a very dangerous situation. >> reporter: emergency teams raced from rescue to rescue, the coast guard swooping in to pluck one driver from their truck while hoisting another family from their home after it was surrounded by rising water, but authorities say at least one man was swept away. >> how would you feel if you watched your best friend going in the water knowing you couldn't do nothing about it. >> with three major storms dumping a

miguel almaguer has more on this story. >> prosecutors say huffman paid $15,000 to have a proctor correcthe whole ordeal saying she wants to use her experience and do something good. this morning, "desperate housewives" star felicity huffman speaking out for the first time about the college admissions scandal that sent her to prison. speaking to abc news in los angeles saying she has something to say. >> i felt like i had to give my daughter a chance at a future. and, so, it was sort of like my daughter's future, which meant i had to break the law. >> reporter: huffman, who served 11 days behind bars in 2019 after admitting she paid a fixer to boost her daughter's college board test score huffman says as she was driving so it was sort of like my daughter's future which meant i had to break the law >> reporter: huffman, who served 11 days behind bars in 2019, after admitting she paid a fixer to boost her daughter's college board test score huffman says as she was driving her daughter to take the sat, she began having second thoughts saying i'm scared about the test what can we do that's fi

miguel almaguer for us in washington state.s get more on the flooding situation in the forecast. al is here. good morning. >> good morning. so this atmospheric river is starting to weaken a bit. but not before dumping more rain in the pacific northwest and into northern california. you can see flood watches all the way down to eureka. we will be watching that rain continue to accumulate. 1 to 3 inches from portland all the way down to fort bragg, and then it starts to taper off. this is part of a big jet stream, and we also have that massive ridge of high pressure. other than the pacific northwest, we are talking record warm in the west, but this alberta clipper coming down is bringing chilly air to canada. here in the northeast, boston, 36, and 51 in raleigh. omaha, wichita, oklahoma city, denver anywhere from 10 to almost 30 degrees above average. a possible record for minneapolis, chicago, amarillo, texas. we look for these records from hayward, minneapolis, marquette, waterloo. the good news is this warmth starts to move ea