Thanks to low gas prices. Its been the gift that keeps on giving all year. The National Average for gasoline has dropped below 2 dollars a gallon, triplea estimates drivers are saving about 550 dollars total this year. Experts attribute the current excess of crude oil and a fall in demand for the drop in fuel prices. Deborah if youve been procrastinating your Holiday Shopping, you may not be out of luck. Waiting until the last minute, could even benefit your bottom line. Mark ellwood, author bargain fever the sales this year are looking better are desperate to sell us things many stores are offering anywhere from 20 to 75 percent off already reduced prices today. Plus, because of the unseasonably warm sthe winter. Theres deep discounts on cold weather clothes and accessories. And if youve waited this long. Dont feel guilty. Only ten percent of americans have all of their Holiday Shopping done. Now, if you still need to ship gifts to your loved ones, be prepared to dig deep into your wallet. Today is the deadline for one day shipping. But it will cost you two to three times the price of regular shipping. Alternatives like amazon prime could even allow you to order last minute for a small fee. But they make up for it with yearly memberships. Deborah if youve ever been on the recieving end of a random act of kindness. However small. Big impact it can make on your outlook. Well, here at abc9. We had a secret santa come to us with an idea. He handed over three thousand dollars. And wanted us to help him give it away to strangers. So, we enlisted the help of some christmas elves from the Woodbury CountySheriffs Office. And what happened next is going to warm your heart this holiday season. Take a look woman says, holy buckets woman cries. Says, thank you so much woman shouts excitedly, thank you last thursday, armed with envelopes filled with 200 cash, each, we got to fufill an anonymous donors Christmas Wish give this money, and a little goodwill, to 15 unsuspecting siouxlanders. Deputies from the Woodbury CountySheriffs Office drove us around and helped spot some folks they could tell needed a little holiday cheer. Deputy jim mccrystal says, were just looking for people that we want to maybe things just areant going their way at this point and time, financially, and we just want to help them out as much as we can, so its great that our secret santa is in a position to donate this money. One man invited us into his home where hes caring for four children. He says its been a tough year paying the bills, and the money, is a bit of a relief. Man says, absolutely, because this has been a slow year as far was work goes; you know, ready, willing, and able to work, but the ground was soft and, you know, so work just wasnt there this year, so this is awesome. Jerry cruz, Woodbury County transport officer, says, its a lot of fun. It makes me feel good to be able to share the holiday spirit with people that [you can] make it a little bit easier everyone we met needed this money, especially this time of year. Woman says, im so overwhelmed, i cant believe it. It couldve have come at a better time for me an my kids. But, even more than that, maybe, they needed hope someone to care about them someone who understands that the holidays arent easy for everybody. Womans says, you kind of lose faith a little bit at christmas time, and this kind of gives it back a little bit. And, you never know how far a little hope can go. In sioux city, with chief photographer johnathan mack, jenna rehnstrom, abc9 news. Deborah we have no idea who our secret but he says he had a good year at work this year and he wanted to pay it forward. And, we want to say thank you for that. Deborah christmas came early for hundreds of siouxland parents. As they got to pick out gifts for their kids. For free. It was distribution day at the Salvation Army for their operation toys drive yesterday. People lined up in shifts. To pick out toys for their children. They also got to take home food baskets. A new coat, hat and mittens. Over 500 families are getting toys, including tiffany, who says this makes a huge impact during the holidays. Tiffany escobar says, im getting help with four kids. I actually have eight kids, so this means a lot to me helps me out in a lot of different ways and puts a big smile on my kids face. Deborah abc9 and bomgaars are proud partners in bringing donations for deborah still to come. Ill introduce you to mabel the hippo. Who is making her grand debut at a zoo in omaha. See this cute girl in action. Up next. Scott well have. Rain snow chances, more precip chances in the 7day, plus your christmas forecast youre watching abc9 news this morning. Jessica rae. And scott larson. And afternoon, taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds linger, low 22. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve light passing snow possible, partly cloudy and cooler, high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly cloudy, high 36. Holiday travel plans should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday with snow. Were are keeping an eye on the potential for a next week. Jessica rae scott adlib deborah if the song i want and afternoon, should start to taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds linger, low 22. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve light passing snow possible, partly cloudy and cooler, high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday with snow. Were are keeping an eye on the potential for a bigger system early next week. Jessica rae scott adlib deborah if the song i want a hippopotamus for christmas, describes your holiday wish list. Prepare to get jealous. Visitors at omahas Henry Doorly Zoo are actually getting one the pygmy hippo calf. Mabel was born in october. But she finally took to the water yesterday as delighted visitors looked on. The Henry Doorly Zoo got a hippopotamus for christmas. Mabel, the two month old pygmy hippo flopped a little on the rocks before a big dive in front of visitors. The baby got some swimming lessons before coming out tuesday. christie eddie, zoo curator the water is very deep so we dont want to have a baby born on exhibit, and hippo calves actually have to learn how to swim, they dont know how to swim when they are first born, and so obviously in the wild the mother would gradually take it, you know, wading in, while we have to control our level because we dont have the rivers edge. So we do the swimming lessons in holding. Mabel was born october first, weighing 19 pounds. Just a few months old, zoo staff says shes already weighing 76 pounds. This hhungry hippo will get very very big. When shes fully grown, mabel will weigh between 350 and 600 pounds. Thats still about oneeighth the size of the common hippopotamus. Mabel will spend her time between swims and head bobs and resting on the rocks with her mother, chomel, for the next year or so. Zoo staff says after a couple of years its rare to find mother and calf together in the wild. Pygmy hippos are pretty seclusive, independent mammals. Pygmies in us zoos. Theyre considered endangered because of habitat destruction, but in her habitat today, its all smooth swimming, something that had kids like owen neilsen transfixed. amanda neilsen, visitor they were entranced, they just couldnt leave watching her swim by, waiting for her to swim by, waiting for her to swim by again. Deborah and if mabel didnt put a smile on your face. Maybe 20 sea turtles will. The turtles were rescued by volunteers from North Carolina from dangerously cold temperatures. Reporter Hannah Patrick tells us what happened. And how the hospital decided to name the little guys. nats and here comes yoda. The star wars gang is all here. Off a plane from new england. Okay. Not the real star wars cast. But Karen Beasley sea turtle rescue founder jean beasley says these 20 turtles were named after them. what else could we choose this year, but the force awakens volunteer Corda Johnson has been waiting for them for weeks. i read about it. I heard about it and was just waiting for the moment that it happens and you get a call and youre just ready and you come in. johnson and several others came in. Not because of their star wars fame. But because these turtles are in danger. coldstuns beasley says they did not get the message. that at a certain time of year you need to get out of the shallow feeding grounds, because youre going to get zapped. zapped with dangerously cold temperatures. so if the water is 36 degrees, they are going to be dropping to that eventually. then. They are stranded. they just freeze in place. thats when help comes in. there are a lot of great folks up in new england that walk the beaches looking for them. then. They are flown to facilities across the southeast with so cold. we all shift turtles around to get them the best care that we possibly can. they do run into one of the Biggest Challenges every year. keeping them with the right name with the right number with the right turtle. but by the end of the turtles stay. These volunteers hope to send this stars wars cast back to the ocean. With lightsaber power to zap off any kind danger. nats deborah when we come back. Are fashion models too thin . Well there are new calls to regulate the health of models. Ill bring you the details. Runway models. To make sure they are healthy. France just passed a law that in effect bans excessively thin models. And now Public Health experts here are urging officials do the same. Abcs reena ninan has more. They are the epitome of glamour. The models that define style and beauty. [nats fashion show] fire from critics who say that most models are dangerously thin, katherine record the modeling industry definitely encourages women often explicitly so to maintain extremely thin frames. In a new editorial Public Health experts and eating disorder professionals say the industry body standard is hazardous and encouraging problems like eating disorders and body dysmorphia. They write . Runway models are, by definition and professional necessity, starving to death. They are urging the us to regulate and set a standard bmi a working model must meet. Just last week, france passed such a law requiring models to have a doctors note proving that they are healthy. Katherine record Harvard School of Public Health we have statistics such as 70 of adolescents report that they define the ideal body image as what they see in magazines, fashion magazines. Record says that the average model who makes it big on the International Stage has a bmi of 14 which is 2 points below the World Health Organizations definition of starvation. She wants the Us Administration to require all models to have a bmi of 18 and above. Katherine record Harvard School of Public Health 170745 a bmi of 14 or below is not naturally skinny. You are at great risk at any time of day for cardiac arrest. For good morning america, reena ninan, abc news, new york deborah Elisa Deborah and elisa are chatting about fashion models. Deborah and elisa are chatting about fashion models. Deborah and elisa are chatting about fashion models. Deborah and elisa are chatting about fashion models. Scott deborah and elisa are chatting about fashion models. Deborah and Elisa Deborah and elisa are chatting about and afternoon, should start to taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds linger, low 22. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve light passing snow possible, partly cloudy and cooler, high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly cloudy, high 36. Holiday travel plans should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday the potential for a bigger system early next week. Scott heres a quick check outside on one of our iowa dot traffic cams here at. Many folks still waking up and starting their workday. Please drive safely everyone. Deborah thanks elisa. A tech giant is teaming up with an America Car Company to make a selfdriving vehicle. Abcs reena ninan nine an and Kendis Gibson have the details. In todays techbytes, google teaming u with ford. Online reports claim that the two companies have been in talks with the goal of creating a new selfdriving car. A deal could be announced as early as next month. Just in time for the holidays, several new Family Friendly game titles rolling out for google chromecast, including speed boat paradise and hasbros monopoly here and now. Theres also yahtzee blitz. They are available for download at the chromecast apps store. The robotic reindeer are the work of boston dynamics. Note it takes three to pull the slgh, not eight. Guess this means rudolph, youre out of a job. And thankfully mrs. Claus is hun ere. Those are you techbytes. Have a great day, everyone. Still not feeling well . No. You know when i got sick my mom useto make me chicken noodle soup. Aw, ok. Campbells chicken noodle soup. There when no one else is. Campbells. Made for real, real life. Just head arnd the corner to walgreens when youre searching for that perfectct little something. Walgens has great gifts like toys, beauty gift sets, and photo gifts, and its all just a hop, skip, and a bark away. Right now, save 50 americans will serve for their holiday dinner. But how about Something Different . Howard is here with a recipe that will make your family run to the table. With christmas dinner right around the corner, now is the time you should be thinking about what to serve. How about going all out youre not familiar with how to cook one, let me show you. And its really simple. We start by picking up a standing rib roast. I suggest getting it boneless, which makes it a whole lot easier when it comes to carving. As for the size, the rule of thumb is about three quarters of a pound per person. Now, to give this lots of flavor, we rub it with a mixture of kosher salts, coarsely ground pepper, thyme, as well as some garlic and onion powder. Just make sure you place it on a rack fat side up. This way, the drippings will help keep it nice and moist. Okay, into a hot oven itll go to seal in its juices. And after a bit, turn down the oven so it cooks low and slow. It takes about 20, 25 minutes per pound for medium rare. And once its done, tent it with foil and let it rest for about 15 minutes. This keeps it juicy. While its resting, well deglaze the pan with a bit of red wine and some beef broth. What you end up with is slice after slice of pure heaven. After one bite, youll know why this is one of my favorites. I hope youll go online, and get the recipe for our roasted prime rib of beef so you can share one of my family traditions with your family and friends. Im howard in the mr. Food test kitchen, where to say ooh its so good. Deborah coming up. The war of words between Hillary Clinton and donald trump continues to heat up. Ill bring you the latest on the grudge between the two front runners. After the break. Scott rain snow today, more precip chances in 7day, plus christmas forecast happy wednesday rain mixing with snow this morning and afternoon, should start to taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds linger, low 22. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve light passing snow high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly cloudy, high 36. Holiday travel pns should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday with snow. Were are keeping an eye on the potential for a bigger system early next week. Jessica rae snow this morning and afternoon, should start to taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds linger, low 22. Tomorrow, possible, partly cloudy and cooler, high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly cloudy, high 36. Holiday travel plans should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday with snow. Were are keeping an eye on the potential for a bigger system early next week. Snow this morning and afternoon, should start to taper off after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, high 38. Tonight, clouds Christmas Eve light passing snow possible, partly cloudy and cooler, high 33. Christmas day light passing snow possible in afternoon, but chance increases overnight with a 60 chance mix. Mostly cloudy, high 36. Holiday travel plans should run smoothly weather wise. Could be blustery saturday with snow. Were are keeping an eye on the potential for a the preview of a general election matchup between donald trump and Hillary Clinton the billionaire went on a twitter rant to explain what he really meant when he used a sexually derogatory term while attacking clinton. Abcs Kenneth Moton has the latest. Donald trump fired back at the media overnight for his use of a vulgar term to describe Hillary Clintons 2008 loss. Trump she was favored to win and she got schlonged beep she lost, i mean she lost. That bleeped word refers to the male anatomy. On urban dictionary, its described as a sexually degrading act. Last night, trump tweeted saying he meant clinton got beaten badly in the 2008 race. He then blamed the media. Clinton thats why its important to stand up to bullies wherever they are clinton didnt respond directly to trump during her iowa rally. But Bernie Sanders