nbc's natalie morales has their story. >> reporter: if you had any doubt about the true meaning of theidays, just follow the holiday express. a volunteer band with 100 entertainers spreading good cheer. one stop they make year after year, eva's village, a shelter and treatment facility in patterson, new jersey. >> i've had grown men come up with tears in their eyes telling me this the is the first time they've ever celebrated the holidays. >> look at the penguins. >> reporter: at the holiday express warehouse year round, hundreds of volunteers pack gift bags. tim is a front man. >> people need shampoo and toothbrushes. >> reporter: he dreamed up the idea 18 years ago. >> when you do things for people, it comes right back at you immediately. >> reporter: he developed compassion early in life, seeing his brother in and out of hospitals with polio. now as his 13-year-old son jack battles leukemia. >> when he was diagnosed, my moment was, and i don't like cliches, but it was the, i've been talking the talk, it's time to walk the walk. ♪ >> reporter: their motto is serving the underserved.

out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer, along be natalie morales and al roker. we all know that julian assange the founder of wikileaks has been released from a british jail where he was awaiting extradition to sweden. he's now going to fight that extradition on charges of sexual molestation. we spoke to him on a live interview from outside london earlier this morning. you'll hear what he had to say about the charges against him. >> he's under arrest at his mansion. >>> also ahead, what could have been an enormous tragedy, you all remember that shocking video that we saw earlier this week, an armed man held school board members at gunpoint and started shooting. lester, he started firing at brave security guards. despite his incredible bravery, he does not consider himself a hero, we're going to hear from him and his wife. what he does for kids in his community. >> he's a hero. >> he is a hero. >>> when we move around new york city, you get a real sense of how great the food is around new york. >> oh, yeah. >> we're going to take you along with martha samuel son

natalie morales has a preview. >> reporter: more than eight years after brn david mitchell snatched elizabeth prosecutors were ready to try him for her kidnapping. her long held silence about the details of those months with mitchell was over. pat coveredthe trial. >> this is the first time we've heard in great detail about what happened to her. and the interest has been immense. >> overhe course of three days, elizabeth gave jurors a portrait of a young girl's fight to survive. elizabeth described how it began. that june night in 2002. the jolts from sleep. the intruder with a knife. hi bone chilling threat. >> i'll kill you a your family. if you make a sound. and he leads her out of the house. >> and toward a tra in the foot hills behind her home. even in the moonlight in confusion, she recognizes him. >> emanuel who came in and worked on the house. she questions him. why are you doing this? >> the reporters heard how emanuel, aka brian mitchell, ignored her pleas. near daybreak they came to a remote campsite. a woman named wanda stepp forward and led the girl into a ten. mitchell following

natalie morales looks at a slew of recent stars who have untied the knot in tinseltown. >> reporter: people's sexiest man alive in gq's baby of the year are now officially single. on tuesday, the hollywood couple called it quits after two years of marriage. for months, there were rumor the marriage was in trouble and when johansson won her first tony award this june, her acceptance speech left some wondering a she thanked the cadian who she lives. with despite the speculation, the very private couple took a european vacation and even purchased a home in l.a. this summer. >> they re trying to make this work for months. this is a relationship that basically fell apart due to their "a" list stat us and the demands on them and their careers. >> reporter: the model and actress elizabeth hurrily was also forced to address the swirling rumors about her own marriage. over the weekend the loon tabloid reported that hurrily was having affair with an australi australian cricket star. she took to twitter. not a great day. for the record, my husband and i separated a few months ago. she married t

just a couple of feet from this inside studio 1a, i'm matt lauer and al roker and natalie morales. a gunman opens fire on a school board. one woman tried to stop him by hitting him with her purse. we'll have a live report and it is as we mentioned very dramatic. >> hard to watch that video. >>> and ahead on "today's" money 911. our financial experts are back, they have got advice for protecting your personal information if it happens to get in the wrong hands. and priorities when it comes to paying down debt and is it better to file as a married couple or as an individual? >>> and we're out with the picks of the best and the worst of 2010. there has been no shortage of highs and low this is year. we're going to have a look back at the year as it was. >>> and we're going a little bit beyond the traditional to help jazz up your holiday decor with some festive and chic accents. >>> good morning to all of you this morning. we begin with news that overnight a boat packed with what rescuers believe is a boat from iraq and iran. at least 41 people survived but 50 refugees might have died.

. >> i'm matt lauer along with natalie morales. take a look at some of the scenes from around the country, and we should tell you that al this morning is up in dunkirk, new york. it looks chilly up there, al. >> yeah and i'll give you an idea of how cold it is, this is lake erie just about 15 yards behind me. and this is what just flew over here. >> come on. no. >> no, you got that at a & p. >> look, over here, this is one of our producers, it's cold and i found this. and it's crazy. >> oh, my goodness. >> that's how cold it is. you got to look around, someone's throwing fish at you. all right, al. >> nobody's throwing fish. >> that's great. >> this is for your, lauer. >> someone threw it at you just for the halibut, no question about it. we're going to get to your forecast in just a moment. >> you're giving me a had ddock. >> this is getting worse. >> i'm tired of working for scales. >> okay, we can't take it anymore. also ahead, navigating the diet mine field known as the holiday season. this morning on our diet s.o.s. whether yo

so, natalie morales, who is the stunningly beautiful reporter, who's their hispanic reporter, she walksi realize over my shoulder there is a chilean miner, she thinks i'm a miner. [ laughter ] we all have the same beard thing going on. she thought i was the miner. so sorry. >> jimmy: was she asking you questions, "like how did you survive?" >> i don't know! it was in spanish, i don't know what she asked me. >> jimmy: it would've been great if you went along with the story and started lying. like, "we ate one of the miners." [ light laughter ] >> like, "si." >> jimmy: there's great pics in this book. any fan of baba booey should look at this guy right there. a little "saturday night fever" there. that's pretty awesome. >> that's 1979, i was very heavily influenced by that movie. >> jimmy: was this "midnight cowboy" in this one? >> i don't know what. >> jimmy: which one was that? [ laughter ] yikes! >> my wife begged me not to put that picture in the book. >> jimmy: i love that you did that. i also love that you made a beer can pyramid over here, a beeramid, pretty awesome, just says clas

. >> and i'm natalie morales in for meredith. this morning, it looks like a compromise is in the works to extend those bush era tax cuts to every taxpayer in the u.s. >> this after republicans blocked two attempts by democrats over the weekend to approve the cuts just for the middle class. so what's changed? what does president obama have to say about this? we'll get the latest and what it could mean for your bottom line, straight ahead. >>> also ahead, what happened to utah mother susan powell? she vanishes a year ago and her husband was named the only person of interest in the case. well, now he's speaking out about his wife's disappearance, saying he thinks she ran off with another man. we'll have more on that and a live interview with susan powell's parents, coming up. >>> also ahead, news you can use. we'll show yo the calorie count in your favorite holiday drinks. you're drinking tea. but have you tried those eggnog latte things with with the whipped cream. >> bad news. >> wait until you see how many calories and how much s

i'm matt lauer, natalie morales, al rocker. in this half hour a local weather report we are a rising career here in new york city may be in a bit of trouble after police say she filed a false police report claiming that she was assaulted by a would-be rapist in central park. investigators say she has now admitted to making all up. so, what happened? we will have the latest in a live report. >>> also going to be talking about a serious problem of chronic loneliness it affects millions of americans and of course this time of year it can be especially tough, but there are ways to overcome it and get yourself to a happier place. we will have helpful advice coming up. >>> something we are all too aware of, getting the so-called 40 wink withes of sleep cab little hard, especially with all of our busy lives. as you may have heard here yesterday there is a new study that finds beauty sleep is not an old wife's tale after all, you actually look better the more you rest. i would need about a week with, i guess. other health benefits as w

we have even got our own joy bauer and natalie morales.end. here's what we have got for you. on saturday, we have snow cutting across from minnesota all the way into illinois, talking about three to six inches of snow, rain moves into the pacific northwest, northern california, rain in new england as well. sunny and warm through the gulf coast, then on sunday, sunday, we're looking at some more lake-effect snow along the eastern great lakes, windy along the mid-atlantic states, rain from the pacific northwest down into central and almost southern california. sunny and cool through texas, mild in florida. finally warming up after a chilly start this morning. >>> and here's a view of san jose, looking at hazy sunshine and high clouds moving through. temperaturewise this morning we're more mild. 40s and 50s outside just before 9:00, still some showers heading away from the east bay hills. more moisture offshore, that will continue to spin on in for the weekend. today 50s and 60s for the high. look for a few widely scattered showers, and sunda

. >> natalie morales. >> now here's brian williams with what's coming up tonight. >> we're back.r. >>. ♪ when i see your face >> you have children ages 13 to 18. why did you stop? >> i stopped because i was caught on the couch necking with my boyfriend. >> the shorelines here that have now been oiled. >> taking one for the team, swallowing a bug for breakfast there, mark. ♪ >> that's not funny. here's the billboard. right in front of our hotel. and take a look at that, who'sa liliputian with the parted red hair? that is our own investmeredith ruling cannes. ♪ i don't need anything but you ♪ ♪ we will we will rock you ♪ thank you for being a friend ♪ travel down the road and back again ♪ >> me, a drink with jam and bread ♪ ♪ that will bring us back to doe ♪ >> this will go down as one of the strangest things we have ever done. ♪ ♪ going to go all night ♪ we're going to light it up ♪ like it's dyno mite >> do your co-workers get on your nerves? what are you implying? >> nothing about you, it's matt lauer i'm thinking about. ♪ note ♪ today's going to be a good day ♪ ♪ today's going

al roker and natalie morales, meredith vieira. >> stuffed with memorabilia from the biggest names onrom michael jackson, john lennon and more. >> we know you love that glove, matt. >> i do. i might have to break into my little move and bust a move again. >> oh, boy. >> can't wait for that. >> speaking of big stars, as we move along, johnny depp, one-on-one, makes it seem almost confrontational. matt's conversation with johnny depp from everything from angelina jolie to captain jack. >> he got all spiffy for you. nice. >> does crossing your legs cause varicose veins? i hope not, we hail have them all over my legs. >> and can we introduce owen wilson starring in not one but two movies right now. "how do you know" and "the folkers." >> nice to be here. >> are you cold? >> it doesn't feel like hawaii. like jack london cold. >> you have a lot to be thankful for at the holiday season, two movies opening within a couple weeks of each other and the scripts keep coming, must be nice to be in such demand. >> exciting, especially working on the jim brooks movie and a great cast with reese and p

. >> ann is on assignment which means that natalie morales is at the news desk. >>> wikileaks foundersweden where two women have accused him of sex crimes. wikileaks releasing the sensitive documents is a threat to national security. >>> president obama reached a deal with congressional republicans on monday to extend the bush era tax cuts. >>> elizabeth edwards is home from the hospital to spend her final days with family and friends. doctors have told the estranged wife of former democratic presidential candidate john edwards that further treatment for her breast cancer will do no good. >>> the eastern half of the united states is shoveling and shivering this morning. freezing below normal temperatures and snow stretched from the midwest to the deep south where many schools are closed and farmers are worried about crop damage. >>> an american accused of killing his wife during a honeymoon scuba dive in australia has arrived in alabama to face murder charges. he has already spent 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. >>> american shark experts have flown to egypt

first, let's go inside to natalie morales at the news desk. >> good morning, everyone.afghanistan again today, a car bombing has killed at least three people and wounded more than a dozen others in the southern city of kandahar. a nato service member was also killed in a roadside bombing today. >>> at least 34 people lost their lives in a bus crash in india on sunday. officials say it happened when a speeding bus collided with a truck traveling in the opposite dregs. >>> suspected u.s. missile strikes have killed at least 18 militants in pakistan along the afghan border. this according to pakistani intelligence officials. the region has been a primary target for american missile strikes, aimed at taking out taliban and al qaeda insurgents. >>> a package bomb was found and defused at the greek embassy in rome this morning. four days after similar mail boxes exploded at the swiss and chilean embassies in the italian capital. investigators today were also examining suspected explosive packages at the embassies of denmark and monaco. >>> new clashes have broken out in parts

> meanwhile on this thursday morning, i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira, al roker and natalie moralesicated their lives helping u.s. veterans. today, we have a few surprises waiting for them make their work a little bit easier. great. >>> also coming up, the issue of holiday tink, how much do you give, who do you give to how much i do owe you guys? >> a lot. >> talk about that coming up in a little bit. >>> a little later on, dr. nancy snyderman will be here, talking about a topic we are all too sensitive about, sleep. how much do you need to really get a good night? what do you do -- >> always depressing. >> if you've got a spouse that snores? all that and a lot more, everything you need to know about sleep. >> all right. first, bring in liam neeson. good morning. great to see you, liam. happy holidays. big opening weekend? >> it is not happy holidays it is happy christmas. >> odd good christmas or good holiday weekend at the box office, man. >> did well. >> $25 million. when you signed on to this a couple years ago, did you realize it would be this big? talk to you. >> i had a feeli

. >>> first let's get a check of the news with natalie morales filling in for me at the news desk. >>er still has thousands of travelers stranded and digging out their homes and cars. the heaviest snow in more than a half a century blanketed much eastern seaboard from florida to tennessee to new england. many flights could be standed through the end of the the weekend. >>> this morning iran says it has hanged an alleged israeli spy. officials also say they have allowed two germany journalists to meet with the man. >>> the fda is warning americans not to eat alfalfa sprouts produced by tiny greens organic farms. the sprouts were distributed in more than four midwestern states. >>> attorneys for conrad murray want a private lab to test the fluids inside the syringes. murray was jackson's live in doctor who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. >>> wikileaks founder julian assange now has a book deal that he says could be worth more than a million dollars. assange says he was forced to write the book mainly to pay for his legal fees. >>> 56 people are dead in egypt as a swine f

. >>> meanwhile on this thuday morning, i'm matt lauer along wi meredith vieira, al roker and natalie morales in central and southwestern virginia now. there's a live picture near roanoke, virginia. and that snow has been continuing to pile up. it's really piling up there and snoeling moderately to heavily. but closer to washington, northern virginia and in the district. e radar is showing sno in the district. it should shortly in the next couple of hours and begin to accumulate later this aftnoon. farther north, though, just about an inch, but farther south >> a lot of crazy weather out there check in with the weather channel twothree, four times a day oro online to weather.com. head down to willard scott and willard.com. >> nicest gifts in the wor, the metropolitan museum of art. they are classy and they are priced right, something for everyone. metmuseum.org. please. you are doing yourself a favor. any way, happy birthday, how sweet it is. check it out and see for yourself. this is dorothy haines from harmon, missouri, 101. taught bible studies for years. we love her. good old darryl, he i

gn natalie morales is covering for an.ing. >>> several suspects are arrested in connection with the deadly attack on coalition troops. six soldiers killed after a minibus was detonate to a joint nato/afghan base. >>> 20 children and their teacher have now been safely released after a 17-year-old man wielding two saber swords took them hostage this morning at their nursery school in eastern france. elite national guardsman stormed the school and took the assailant into custody. >>> british police raided a home north of london, believed to be linked to the suicide bombing in sweden this weekend. it's the first terror attack in stockholm's history. the suicide blast killed only the bomber, but wounded two others. >>> 22 sailors are feared dead this morning after a south korean fishing ship suddenly sank in the antarctic would sending out a distress signal. and north korea is sending out new warnings. >>> the great atlantic and pacific tea company, better known as the a&p has filed for bankruptcy amid rising competition. the r

. >> now let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories, natalie morales at is the news desk>> good morning, everyone. an end to the controversial don't ask don't tell policy may no longer be in sight as senate republicans have blocked legislation that would have allowed gays to serve openly in the military. now with only days to go in the lame duck session, as you heard, opponents of the ban are racing the get new legislation on the president's desk. >>> there's an empty chair in oslo at the nobel awards ceremony to honor peace prize lar yet. ian williams joins us from beijing. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, natalie, a crackdown on the award don't stop protests in beijing today. they knew the authorities would quickly crack down. but that didn't stop scores of ordinary people from across the country gathering to demand an end to human rights abuses. they complaineded of forced evictions and official brutality. they knew that today the eyes of the world were on china. this is a protest that was the here. the authorities have tried to restrict outside information abo

natalie morales is in for ann at the news desk. good morning, nat. >> good morning. the website wikileaks released more secret diplomatic cables this morning as its founder, julian assange remains behind bars in london on allegations of sexual assault. he was denied bail as a flight risk. he has said, though, the website will not be gagged and is promising more leaks. >>> north korea carried out artillery drills overnight, firing off live rounds in the border near the tense border with the south. meantime, the u.s. and south korea announced today that they will conduct more joint war exercises in the near future. >>> the obama administration has dropped its push for israel to renew a freeze on settlement construction, even though the moratorium is a key demand for palestinian negotiators. u.s. officials say the administration has also pooled the set of incentives offered to israel in exchange for the freeze. >>> police are calling it operation ivy league after nabbing five columbia university students for selling thousands of dollars of drugs on campus. police were t

i'm matt lauer, along with natalie morales, running for office apparently here.al weeks ago. last night, a strange development in that case, a man considered a person of interest in that case actually killed himself when police went to question him. the latest on a developing story coming up in a couple of minutes. >> then we'll get to health -- "mythbusters." i can barely talk. you've all heard you go outside with wet hair, catch a cold, right? turkey makes you sleepy with the tryptophan and all that. >> sure. >> well, is that really true? we'll get to facts and fiction. especially as we approach the holidays. >> if the wet hair one isn't true, i'm going to be so mad at my mom. >> now, you don't have to worry so much. >> i can go out with a wet scalp. >> works for me pretty well. >> thank you for that, natalie. >> any time. i'm just running for office here. >> if you're thinking about getting away but going off the beaten path, we have places for you, everywhere from walla walla to montana, unexpected travel destinations across the good old usa. >> really pretty