here'is nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: perched as always this time of year by her sewing machine, sue johnson prepares the next big secret. how do you come up with the ideas each year? >> sometimes they come to me in dreams. or my husband refers to them as nightmares. >> reporter: for nearly two decades, sue's hand-made the costumes and cajoled her family into posing for christmas cards that take elaborate to the extreme. there was the choir year, the elf year, the toy soldier year. friends now clamor for them, even friends of friends want to see what she's come up with. and no one knows before the white envelope drops into the mailbox. >> we complain, but the reality of it is, is when we get together to do it, we all really have a good time doing it together as a family. ♪ >> reporter: but wait, there's more. the christmas bulb year, the poinsettia year, the gingerbread year. >> it is what it is. there's not really any getting out of it. you're in this family, you're in the christmas card. >> our family is -- it maintains a closeness, you know? it is a wonderful tradition. ♪ you

kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >>> here in new york today they were lined up outside christie's auction house for a look at elizabeth taylor's jewels. she's acquired a formidable collection over her 79 years, an array of diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, all now on display before they're sold at auction later this month. as you can see, they're spectacular. and at 30 bucks a ticket, i guess they better be. >>> up next here tonight, why there's still jazzed after all these years. >>> finally tonight, more proof that just because you've entered your golden years you don't have to give up your passion. there's a special organization that's helping musicians who've still got it keep the music going. here's nbc's mara schiavocampo and "all that jazz." >> reporter: in the shadow of a new york subway line, an ode to the "a" train. a jazz quartet playing the duke ellington classic for teens who have probably never heard it before. but just minutes into the hour-long performance, this audience develops a new appreciation of these old tunes. >> it was very lively. >> the music made me feel really

>> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> that's our broadcast on a thursday night.hank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> i'm doing very well, thank you. >> thank you. >> right now at 6:00 and only on "nbc bay area news." we hear from him for the first time after the brutal attack outside a giants dlsh

: and each visit comes gift-wrapped in song. ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ >> reporter: kevin tibblesws, racine, wisconsin. >> that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today" then right back here tomorrow night. "today" then right back here tomorrow night. good night, everyone. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> good evening. thank you very much for being with us tonight. i'm garvin thomas in for diane. >>> a four-alarm fire in alameda

>> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> that's our broadcast on a thursday night.ou for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

so tonight nbc's kevin tibbles has tonight's making a difference report. >> reporter: this christmas,ng wences would be proud. when this unemployed plumber lost his wallet, he lost the money for rent and his daughter's gift. cue the good samaritan of san jose. >> i broke down in tears, gave her a big hug. she said, it's okay. >> reporter: kathy silva, a single mother seeking work found the $1,300, returned it and refused any compensation. >> i didn't feel i needed a reward for returning something that belonged to someone else. >> reporter: jim jordan lost his home to foreclosure in costa mesa, california, and his 40-year tradition of putting up a snoopy lights display was in jeopardy, so the town stepped in to host the festivities outside city hall. in the carolinas 200 packages containing pearls were tucked away here and there with the message, finders keepers. >> it's the season for giving and it's good for the people. >> reporter: in hard times there is always need. this salvation army center in chicago wants to give toys to 1,200 kids but so far there are only 200 to give. a secre

here's nbc's kevin tibbles. ♪ rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose ♪ >> christmas canfor the elderly or disabled who have very little family. >> buying a christmas present is out of the question because of their fixed economy and the way the economy is. >> reporter: in racine, wisconsin, that's where the younger generation steps. in brightening up the holiday with their music, their gifts and smiles. all part of a program called "be a santa to a senior". trees are set up in local shops and decorated are ornaments containing requests from the needy. volunteers then buy the gifts, donate them, and they're all wrapped up, often by youngsters for a very special delivery. school kids and grownups then swoop in to deck the halls of local retirement communities with laughter and song. >> how does it look? >> it looks perfect on you. >> reporter: each resident gets a present. >> i'm so happy. very happy. thank you so much for everything. >> a scarf, yeah. >> reporter: locally the program will distribute 700 gifts this year. nation-wide, 1.5 million packages have been presented

nbc's kevin tibbles has more. >> reporter: this christmas good king wenceles would be proud.t he lost the money for his rent and daughter's gift. cue the good samaritan of san jose. >> i broke down in tears and gave her a big hug and she comforted me and said it's okay. >> kathy silva a single mother and also seeking work found the $1300, returned it, and refused any compensation. >> i didn't feel like i needed a reward for returning something that belonged to someone else. >> reporter: jim jordan lost his home to foreclosure in costa mesa, california and his 40-year tradition of putting up a snoopy-like display was in jeopardy. so the town stepped in to host the festivities outside city hall. in the carolinas 200 packages containing pearls were tucked away here and there with the message finders keepers from hdg pearls. a christmas treasure. >> it's good for the people. >> in hard times there is always need. this salvation army center in chicago wants to give toys to 1200 kids. but so far there are only 200 to give. a secret mrs. santa in michigan asked who was buying toys o

nbc's kevin tibbles has more. >> reporter: this christmas good king wenceles would be proud. lost the money for his rent and daughter's gift. cue the good samaritan of san jose. >> i broke down in tears and gave her a big hug and she comforted me and said it's okay. >> kathy silva a single mother and also seeking work found the $1300, returned it, and refused any compensation. >> i didn't feel like i needed a reward for returning something that belonged to someone else. >> reporter: jim jordan lost his home to foreclosure in costa mesa, california and his 40-year tradition of putting up a snoopy-like display was in jeopardy. so the town stepped in to host the festivities outside city hall. in the carolinas 200 packages containing pearls were tucked away here and there with the message finders keepers from hdg pearls. a christmas treasure. >> it's good for the people. >> in hard times there is always need. this salvation army center in chicago wants to give toys to 1200 kids. but so far there are only 200 to give. a secret mrs. santa in michigan asked who was buying toys on th

keep your money, lowe's and we will keep ours. >> that was kevin tibbles reporting.or news4 at 5:00. >> news4 at 6:00 starts right now. >>> a barrage of bullets rattle a d.c. neighborhood. tonight, new details about the gunman who fired off shots randomly before being killed by police. >> yet another showdown over whether to extend the pay roll tax cut. a new deal on the table. we'll tell why you the president is threatening to veto it. >>> a federal agency is calling for a nationwide ban on all cell phone use behind the wheel. >> good evening. today was supposed to be the day accusers would finally face jerry sandusky in court. instead, the former penn state assistant football coach waived his right too preliminary hearing, sending the sex abuse

nbc's kevin tibbles is live in chicago.usly kevin the chicago bears are beloved in the town and they're worried about where it could go. what do we know about the investigation? he is a wide receiver last night in federal custody and about to go in to see if he will be released on some form of bond. his lawyer said he is saying he is not guilty in this case. >> sam is ready to fight the case and we will take it step at a time day by day. >> these are very, very serious allegations of course. drug charges are serious allegations in any case. what i think is most interesting or startling about all of this is the scale or the scope of drugs being discussed here. i am reading from the affidavit and alleging that he met with under cover officials in a chicago area resident and inquiring about purchasing as much as to ten kilograms of cocaine every single week. along with that as much as 1,000 pounds of marijuana. this is a fellow who is already making about two million a year playing professional football. this is what you can g

>> even though canada claims to not know why sergeant tibbles has detained him, he soon let's slip tos know. >> this is from compton's punk ass, man. >> how do you know it's from compton? because, that's the only thing it could be for. you guys can't save him forever, all right? >> save him from what? >> what do you mean save him from what? don't play dumb. you know what he's doing around here. he's just a snitch, you know. [ bleep ]. try to do something, help him get out of some trouble, you know, and he's saying like i did something wrong to him. i didn't never do nothing wrong to him. he had his mom take copies of the money order receipts that he sent me. right? he sent me a money order receipt because i got him out of some trouble. >> i will have to go up front. i will have to sit down and write a conduct report for threatening and then take it to the captain's office. the lieutenant will then write him up some paperwork which means he will be on confinement until the hb. >> coming up -- >> i'm here to tell you guys i did not do what they're accusing me of doing. >> steven weaver

now from nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: after more than 30 long years, a break in the case involvingica's notorious mass murderers. >> victim number 19 is never going to be known by a number anymore. >> reporter: when chicago police uncovered the horrors hidden in the crawl space of john wayne gacy, eight of the brutal killer's 33 victims remained unidentified. until now. thanks to advancements in dna technology, investigators have determined one of them, victim number 19, was a 19-year-old young man who disappeared in the fall of 1976 by the name of william bundy. >> all my girlfriends wanted to date him. >> reporter: laura o'leary is bundy's sister. >> i remember him leaving that one night saying he was going to go to a party and that was the last time i saw him. >> reporter: gacy lured his young victims, men between 14 and 22, to his home where they were sexually assaulted and murdered. authorities in chicago sent the remains of those still unidentified to this lab in texas in hopes that they could be named. >> back in the 80s, everything was dental. that was about it. with dna no

here is kevin tibbles with the story. >> reporter: perched, as always by her sewing machine, she hasbig secret. how do you come up with the ideas each year? >> sometimes they come to me in dreams. or my husband refers to them as nightmares. >> nightmares. for nearly two decades sue handmade costumes and got her family to pose for christmas cart that is take elaborate to the extreme. there was the choir year, the elf year, the toy soldier year. friends now clam mor for them. even friends of friends want to see what she's come up with. no one knows before the white envelope drop sbos into the mai. >> the reality is when we get together to do it, we have a good time doing it together as a family. >> wait, there's more. the christmas bulb year. the poinsettia year. the gingerbread year. >> it is what it is. there's not getting any out of it. you are in this family, you are in the card. >> our family maintain as closeness. it's a wonderful tradition. >> reporter: now she boasted of two son-in-law's, andy who can be bribed. >> as long as i get the cookies with chocolate on them and a coupl

>> kevin tibbles, taking one for the team. >>> still to come, where is baby ayla? the 20-month-old missing from his family's home a week ago. >>> plus the power of a song and >>> this is a news 4 news break. >> good morning it is 7:26 on this saturday, december 24th, 2011. topping your news for today, virginia's 2012 republican primary ballot will have two fewer names. texas governor rick perry and former house speaker newt gingrich did not get the required number of signatures from registered voters. candidates are required to get at least 400 signatures from each of the state's 11 districts and 10,000 total. personry's campaign says they're reviewing to facts to see if they'll appeal the decision. gingrich's campaign has not commented. vaes' primary is on march 6th. potomac native alan kbrosz is not being released by cuba. gross was arrested in 2009 while working as a government contractor accused of spying. gross maintains he was in the country working to help the jewish community. his family members are protesting saying most of the released prisoners are over

for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, eagan, minnesota. >> oh, i love it!ed as reindeer whipping up holiday treats. first, this is "today" on nbc. >>> today's holiday kitchen is brought to you by hershey's kisses. delightfully delicious, one of a kind kisses. ♪ >>> this morning on "today's" holiday kitchen, i'm getting some breaking news from the north pole right now. santa claus has reached out to "today" contributor jana de laurentis. santa needed some help. she has already cooked for the royals so why not santa? she has shared some recipes with him, and us too. and our helpers are my handsome son josh and our friend sophia is the daughter of one of our producers. hey, guys, good morning. >> hi! >> are you excited about christmas? how many days to go? are you keeping count? not -- right around the corner. >> i think about four. >> there you go. keeping count. what about you, sophia? are you excited? >> no, actually five. >> yeah? >> it's four days. it's four days. that's right. what do you think you're going to get this year? >> um -- >> what did you ask

kevin tibbles in chicago, thank you. >>> there was a dramatic ending to a police chase near los angeles overnight. officers had their guns drawn when the suspect refused to hand over a young girl in the car with him. the child's mother had called to say her daughter was taken after a domestic dispute. police eventually swarmed the man and rescued the child. >>> at&t has scrapped its $39 billion bid to buy t-mobile usa which would have made it the nation's largest cell phone service provider. the company could not overcome antitrust opposition by the obama administration. >>> and it was lights out in san francisco during last night's nfl game at candlestick park. the power failed not once, but twice during the nationally televised game. the 49ers eventually beat the steelers while utility officials tried to figure out what went wrong. pretty unbelievable. people using their cell phones to light up the stadium. it's 7:18, let's turn back over to ann and carl. >> i keep thinking about the journey song when the lights go down in the city. >> i think that's right. that's pretty good. all rig

for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, eagan, minnesota. >> kevin, just may have crossed a line when itent. >> never looked better. i tell you that. isn't that nice, though, to have a tradition like that? >> it is. although i can empathize with the man who married into the family. you probably should warn people. >> our twins are 2. so with 100 pictures, one good shot, we're grateful. >> yeah, so maybe a mask would be good. >>> mean time, coming up, the people who have left the biggest mark in entertainment in 2011. >> but first, a look back at some of the most striking images of the year. sears last minute gift sale is on now. use you 15% off savings pass for amazing deals like up to 65% off sweaters, coats and pajamas for the whole family. and 35% off fragrance gifts sets for him and her. shop sears now for great deals for everyone on your list. sears. cuban ca jun raw seafood pizza parlor french fondue tex-mex fro-yo tapas puck chinese takeout taco truck free range chicken pancake stack baked alaska 5% cash back. right now, get 5% cash back at restaurants. it pays to discover. ...for

>> kevin tibbles, taking one for the team. [ female announcer ] help i need a holiday party idea. mmm... pillsbury crescent wrapped brie just unroll, wrap the brie and bake. it's so easy. now this might even impress aunt martha. pillsbury crescent wrapped brie. holiday ideas made easy. in 15 minutes, [ female announcer ] you call that bread? you can serve some warmth with your bread. and some flavor with your bread. and some layers with your bread. if you're serving bread honey, then serve it. grands! dinner ideas made easy. >>> still to come, where is baby ayla? the 20-month-old missing from his family's home a week ago. >>> plus the power of a song a >>> good morning. 5: 26. >> the numbers on this map are a little shocking.24 , fairfield, 29, concord. 27, livermore. 33, san jose. 22, gilroy. that's the cold spot. san francisco, 44. oakland. clear skies, dry air. in between now and 7:23 this morning. when the sun comes up, pretty nice day this afternoon. dry weekend ahead. tomorrow morning, another chilly start. pretty pleasant finish to the weekend. wednesday to thursday, finall

>> all right, kevin tibbles. thank you so much for that story. >>> and just ahead, are political in michelle parker's family losing hope they'll ever find her again? what are they also telling her 3-year-old twins? you're going to hear from parker's sister coming up after this, "today" on nbc. >>> still ahead, the latest chapter in the miraculous recovery of a young model badly injured when she walked into an airplane's spinning propeller. >>> plus, is it really possible to live forever? what scientists are now doing to unlock the secret to reversing the aging process. that's coming up after your local news. center pieces. you're a miracle worker sabrina soto. [sfx: doorbell rings] and you can mix your seasonal pieces with your everyday china. [sfx: knocking on door] and now you need to hide. oh, i love the mercury glass pieces on the mantel, we could put some evergreen pieces... you know a simple touch like adding. oh, i think we should quickly decorate the hallway, wouldn't that be fun? maybe just put some...oh

kevin tibbles has that story. >> reporter: the 19-year-old college student from kansas has not been heardrom since leaving this panicked message on her sister's cell phone. >> oh, my gosh. it was so scary. >> reporter: she said she had just been accosted by a man who smelled of marijuana and alcohol. while studying for finals outdoors and at the university of kansas campus in overland park. she said she slapped him and that he had run away. >> he left and he was so pissed. pick up your phone. i am freaked out right now. bye. >> reporter: she returned the call but no answer. she drove to the campus and found her books, cell phone, and ipod on a picnic table but no sign of her. >> we have no information that for a is -- solid information waits an abduction and no information it wasn't. >> reporter: khan was married over the summer. >> i ask you to help me out, bring my wife back home. >> reporter: now there is facebook page dedicated to finding her. police have gone door-to-door seeking information and as the missing woman's family prays for her safe return. >> keep us in your prayers. and

kevin tibbles in chicago, thank you. >>> there was a dramatic ending to a police chase near los angeles overnight. officers had their guns drawn when the suspect refused to hand over a young girl in the car with him. the child's mother had called to say her daughter was taken after a domestic dispute. police eventually swarmed the man and rescued the child. >>> at&t has scrapped its $39 billion bid to buy t-mobile usa which would have made it the nation's largest cell phone service provider. the company could not overcome antitrust opposition by the obama administration. >>> and it was lights out in san francisco during last night's nfl game at candlestick park. the power failed not once, but twice during the nationally televised game. the 49ers eventually beat the steelers while utility officials tried to figure out what went wrong. pretty unbelievable. people using their cell phones to light up the stadium. it's 7:18, let's turn back over to ann and carl. >> i keep thinking about the journey song when the lights go down in the city. >> i think that's right. that's pretty good. all rig

>> all right, kevin tibbles. thank you so much for that story. >>> and just ahead, are political in michelle parker's family losing hope they'll ever find her again? what are they also telling her 3-year-old twins? you're going to hear from parker's sister coming up after this, "today" on nbc. ♪ [ man ] we've been in the business over the course of four centuries. [ woman ] it was a family business back then, and it still feels like a family business now. the only people who knew about us were those in new england, that moment that we got our first web order... ♪ ...we could tell we were on the verge of something magical. all of a sudden it just felt like things were changing. we can use this to advertise to bakers everywhere. [ man ] browns summit, north carolina. crescent city, california. we had a package go to kathmandu once. the web has been the reason this entire section of the warehouse exists today. we were becoming more than this little flour company in vermont. [ woman ] we're all going after one common

some, this one named tibble, eats at the table. he has opposable thumbs with the help of his owner.facial expression while eating dog food. it's funny. >> thank you, lara. >> you're welcome. >> you finished strong, lara. >> thank you. >>> time, now, for the weather. in for sam is our weekend meteorologist, ginger zee, outside. ginger? >> huge crowd out here. and we are celebrating, robin. let's look. 22 years old, again. >> it's amazing. >> how do you feel? >> i feel younger every day. >> wonderful. so, a group from atlanta. and i'm telling you, it is so thick, the crowd here. a look at philadelphia, wpvi's shot this morning. it's been beautiful in the northeast. we were so spoiled with 12 degrees above average. that will be coming -- has come to an end. but we'll warm up over the weekend. the winds stick through los angeles to new mexico. the center of the nation looking the frost in laurel is slowly eroding on the field with some light. skies today with just a few clouds. it is a cold start to the day, still 28 at dulles airport. and 25ees in frederick in martinsburg. tomorrow,ny

kevin tibbles. thank you so much for that story. >>> just ahead, what is the family of missing florida mom michelle parker telling her 3-year-old twins about why their mom has not been seen in nearly a month? we'll hear from parker's sister. but first this is "today" on nbc. and even though you do what you can to take care of it, sometimes you want to give your immune system some support. try new airborne chewable tablets. each serving contains 14 vitamins, minerals and herbs... including zinc, echinacea, ginger, and a blast of vitamin c. it's the easy, great-tasting way to help support your immune system. airborne. in fast-acting effervescent formula, and new super-convenient chewable tablets! my high school science teacher made me what i am today. our science teacher helped us build it. ♪ now i'm a geologist at chevron, and i get to help science teachers. it has four servo motors and a wireless microcontroller. over the last three years we've put nearly 100 million dollars into american education.

nbc's kevin tibbles is in chicago with the latest.evin, good morning. >> reporter: natalie, police have conducted extensive searches around the campus where she was last seen studying for final exams but so far no sign of the missing student. the 19-year-old college student from kansas has not been heard from since leaving this panicked message on her sister's cell phone. >> oh, my gosh. it was so scary. my heart is like pounding. i've never been this scared in my life. >> reporter: she said she'd just been accosted by a man who smelled of marijuana and alcohol while studying for finals outdoors at the university of kansas campus in overland park. she said she slapped him and that he had run away. >> and he left. and he was so pissed. pick up your phones. i am freaked out right now. okay. bye. >> reporter: her sister returned the call but no answer. she drove to the campus and found her sister's books, cell phone, and ipod on a picnic table but no sign of aisha. >> we have no solid information it was an abduction and no information th