Christmas weekend, you can track iowas Winter Weather by using our kcci storm team app. You get interactive radar and weather alerts, whenever you want them. The download is free. Search storm team 8 in the apple store or on google play. Lots of people heading out tonight, looking for something to do on christmas, when just about everything is closed. Kccis rose heaphy joins us live , she has solved that problem for you tonight. She is live from Flix Brewhouse with the story. Rose this place is hopping. The manager tells me this theater will serve thousands of people today. People are packing the theaters. Seven showings of star wars are already sold out at flix. For one ankeny family, going to the theaters was the plan all along for Christmas Day. They told me they bought their tickets two months ago to see star wars. In the spirit of christmas, they wanted to spend time together and share the experience. Rich im from california. Families, so theres 18 of us. Star wars. Weve probably grown up loving my son is so excited, he cant stand it. Rose the creatures of des moines all of stirring tonight. Live in des moines, rose heaphy, kcci 8 news, iowas news leader. Ryan but what about those of us that have to work today including us here at kcci . Vanessa peng shows what its like when you have to work, when most people are at home with their families. Vanessa ryan, Christmas Day is fast becoming the only holiday that people actually get off. But there are still a few people, like here at Mercy Medical center. For kearsten brown, christmas means spending time with a family that isnt hers. Kearsten its a doubleedged sword. Vanessa brown is a patient care technician at the Mercy MedicalCenter Pediatric unit. Kearsten i mean, you want to be home with your family and spend time with them. But at the same time, you also know that your job is here. Vanessa but she is spending time with people who need her here. Lance were really appreciative. Vanessa brown tells us she might even be more into the Christmas Spirit than if she wasnt working. Kearsten its really cool to come home and tell your family about all the stuff you go to do on christmas. You know, the reason for the season. If i had to work anywhere on christmas, it would definitely be here. Vanessa across the street tony somebody has to open, at least. Vanessa quick trip kept their pumps and registers running. Shamar its very convenient, because nothing else around is open. Vanessa assistant manger Tony Mcmullen says he doesnt mind working on christmas. Tony theyre paying us doubletime to be here. Its hard to not have a smile on your face when youre doing that. Vanessa and the customers we spoke to, like the patients here at mercy, tell us theyre grateful that theyre open. Vanessa peng, kcci 8 news, iowas news leader. Ryan we also noticed walgreens and cvs open today. Although most stores are closed today, theyll reopen tomorrow for those afterchristmas sales and returns. Consumer reports estimates 40 of americans will try to return like. But returning gifts at many stores is becoming harder, as they try and protect themselves 85 of retailers now require an id, as you try and return a gift without a receipt. Offering only instore credit for returns without receipts. Protestors at terrace hill today, protesting governor branstads resistance to allowing refugees from syria into iowa. The des Moines Catholic workers holding the protest this afternoon outside of terrace hill. The group sang Christmas Carols for half an hour, carrying signs. The group says, on the day of jesus birth, refusing to help people in need is not the christian way. Patrick there are iowans that do want refugees here, that do want immigrants here, that value people of all countries from all origins. And branstad does not represent our state. It is antichristmas. He does not represent us. Ryan Governor Terry branstad ordered all state agencies to stop work on resettling Syrian Refugees last month, after the paris attacks. The governor says that stay will remain in place until u. S. Intelligence can review its refugee screening process. Their Christmas Day giving back in a special way. Kccis emmy victor visited two centers that prepared meals for those in need. Emmy Christmas Day is a time to spend with family and friends. But several residents in the community are using that time to spend with each other for a great cause. In a kitchen already responsible for making 5000 meals a day, an extra 350 is a labor of love. Kevin im glad that, in the world that we live in, there are people that take care of other people. Emmy a team of 10 at Mercy Medical center spent hours getting meals ready for those who are unable to provide for themselves. Norma we prep the day before, figure out what the menu is going to be, and we just split up the work. Emmy on the menu . Mashed potatoes, vegetables, and gravy, served on a silver platter and sealed up for delivery. Meals on wheels arranged for over 60 volunteers to pick up the food and drop them off to those who requested. A different set of volunteers at Hope Ministries took on the task of delivering 1800 meals, a tradition that the group has carried on for decades. Cheryl it is fun. It is absolutely fun. You meet new people. Everyone has a good attitude. They want to do the job. And they are all here with a serving heart. Emmy when cars took off, the tables are set for an additional 200 people, welcome at the door, a courtesy that volunteers are praised for. Cheryl i always get thank you, maam. Thank you, maam. God bless you. Merry christmas. They receive with a gracious heart. Emmy emmy victor, kcci 8 news, iowas news leader. Ryan the clerk of a local store recovering tonight from a Christmas Eve stabbing. According to des moines police, a man walked into Southside Liquor and Tobacco Outlet around 6 30 yesterday, demanding money from the register. He then stabbed a female worker the suspect then drove off in a white honda crv, with iowa plates dmv672. It will be two weeks on monday since that deadly crash killed an iowa state freshman at lincoln way and ash, right across from the iowa state campus. 18yearold emmalee jacobs was hit and killed early on december 14th. Investigators have examined Surveillance Video from nearby businesses, even talked to some tipsters. But at this time, so far, no arrests. The Iowa National guard says combat engineer in its history. 20yearold megan reaska, a university of iowa sophomore, enlisted december 21st. While shes the first combat engineer, shes the third woman to join an Iowa National guard combat unit. Cheney spaulding in fort dodge and dakota doocy of lone rock have also enlisted, since the guard opened the positions up to women earlier this year. A commitment 2016 follow up, we told you about this campaign trailer for rocky de la fuenta. Estates in west des moines. The neighbors were upset about the huge signs on the semi trailer. Its now parked at fleur drive and payton avenue. No holiday from the hardwood for the Northern Iowa panthers. What happened when uni went up against byu in hawaii . Will ever match what thi announcer this is iowas news leader. This is kcci 8 news at 6 00 with steve karlin, stacey horst, chief meteorologist john sports director andy garman. Kristin i never dared count on waynes kidney, at least my head never did. My heart kind of thought it seemed like it was meant to be. Ryan an iowa city couple discovers they are really the perfect match. Theyve been married almost 40 years now. And friends thought they were the perfect couple. But as mark carlson shows us, a lifethreatening illness showed one couple were actually closer than either one ever suspected. Kristin i mean, i think we have been soulmates from the beginning. We met the first day of freshman week at st. Olaf college. You know, he was still 17, and i was 18. Mark that was back in 1972. Wayne and Kristin Thelander married in 1976, and a short time later, adopted two kids. These days, wayne is the orchestra director at iowa city west high school, and kristin is music. For years, kristin has battled polycystic kidney disease, which was getting worse with time and about to force her onto dialysis, when the couple made a discovery. Wayne kind of an ahha moment. Negative. Well, i think im a negative. And that was like a big, nice surprise, that we both had the same blood type. Mark doctors at the university of iowa hospitals and clinics decided the best treatment for kristin was a kidney transplant, right as the Holiday Season began. And wayne was her perfect match. Dr. Reed in the distant past, only people who were genetically related would donate organs. But now, its becoming far more common for people that are not genetically related to do it. So, husband to wife, wife to husband, friend to friend, and anonymous donors. Kristin i never dared count on waynes kidney, at least my head never did. My heart kind of thought it seemed like it was meant to be. Wayne to me, its a selfish decision to do this, because i want to spend more time with her. And i want it to be quality time, rather than being worried about being hooked up to a dialysis machine, or how that impacts her life. Says theyre feeling great. And their health is great, too, all thanks to a very unique gift. Kristin i say im 100 norwegian, but i have a swedish kidney. [laughter] mark in iowa city, mark carlson, kcrg tv 9 news. Ryan rain, snow, fog, all within the last few days. So, what can we expect this weekend . Kcci meteorologist kurtis gertz with your forecast. Kurtis yeah, it has been busy. Active at times. Up, especially as we head to the weekend and early next week. Our visibility as improved in the metro, but there are still locally dense fog in some areas, especially on some roads were they had a bit more snow. Wind chill of 22, southeast wind at 10, 3 to pick up on the doppler radar. Intensify back into eastern a brass the it cruises north. Light snow off to the west, should be quiet here with just low clouds and fog. 7 00 p. M. Around 31 degrees, near the freezing market 10 00 p. M. Snow continuing to the northwest. Tomorrow morning, it will be close, it will be but it looks like light rain 34 degrees. A could be freezing rain and sleet, causing travel problems if we get a little ice accumulation. The trend tomorrow is a slow climb to around 38 degrees. So here is our light snow moving to the north, expand the view, more intense across nebraska and south dakota, back into colorado. Initially, the heaviest snow looks to be in south dakota and wes central minnesota. That is why they have this area in pink. We will pick a county and show the area and purple, this is the Winter Weather advisory for hamilton and sue county until noon. A combination of freezing rain and sleet, especially along highway 20, and then north towards the minnesota border on i35, the snow will generally stay off to the north and northwest with 12 inches there. Could see some ice, though, as we had a long highway 30 and 20 with this area of purple sliding on in. This is freezing rain. Notice the metro at 9 p. M. Is just rain. It moves out quickly, should be dry after 1 00 for most of the state. I want to show you another computer model, because that keeps heavier rain down in central iowa through sunday morning. Also, this model expands do next week, so i can show you monday. Think it will start out as a mix of initially, then change over to snow. The be moderate snowfall, again, it is a ways away. It slowly pulls on out as we head into monday night. Temperatures tonight dipping to 32, rain late, snow to the northwest. Tomorrow could be an icy mix to the north, rain here early, 38 degrees with an east wind. Sunday looks drive, 32 on monday. Snow he and 32 on tuesday. And try and Colder Weather as we head into 2016. Ryan thank you very much, kurtis. Its been a couple years since weve had anything resembling a white christmas. We looked through our kcci archives. The last time we had enough snow for kids to use the sleds they got for christmas was back in 2013. Last year, temperatures were in the 40s. Warm enough, people were flocking to grays lake. Not this year, though. Still closed. Scott reister here with this. One iowa fan you found had an amazing christmas morning. Scott this video on twitter when he praised as one of americas best mayors who governed as a pragmatist. Bernie sanders passed more amendments in a Republican Congress than any other member. Cracked the gridlock with john mccain to strengthen veterans healthcare. Bernie sanders. A consistent, principled, and effective leader. Building a future to believe in. Announcer from iowas sports leader, this is kcci 8 sports. Scott kirk ferentz is in l. A. And in the Christmas Spirit. Check it out. This was tweeted out from hawkeyefootball, which said this was a Christmas Day tradition for the head coach. The hawkeyes got some work in bowl. Kcci is headed out early next week. The game is at 4 00 on new years day from pasadena. We will be reporting all week long, as we lead up to the new years game versus stanford. In just one minute, we will show you one teenagers reaction when he got the best Christmas Present possible. The uni Basketball Team is a hard one to figure out. On one hand, they have knocked off number 1 North Carolina and number 5 iowa state. They have also lost to colorado state, new mexico, richmond, and hawaii. Friday, they wrapped up their trip to hawaii with a game against byu. In the diamondhead classic, down 9, they start to chip away. Moments later, Jeremy Morgan on the way, hits one deep. Chase fischer had a gamehigh 26. He was the story of the game. Look at this range. Byu wins it, 8470s. 6. Uni falls to 85. The mayor made his Christmas Day coaching debut on the heels of some controversy. Fred hoibergs star player, jimmy butler, recently critized hoiberg for not coaching the team hard enough. The chicago head coach got a good effort after the criticism. Jimmy butler, himself, beats the buzzer from halfcourt at the end of the first quarter. They start to pull away on the road. Jimmy butler had 23. Chicago wins, 10596. Chicago, 1611. And the night cap is at san antonio. Finally, this morning, nathan sanders, a junior at waukee high school, received a present he will never forget. Nathan yeah yeah yeah [laughter] what is it . Dont take it. Scott wow. He will go with his dad, jeff, plus his uncle and cousin. Jeff sanders tells me they all head out monday morning. And get this, they are road tripping. Ryan that is a long trip, but well worth it. Now we have thousands of Hawkeye America is not just electing a president , were also electing a commander in chief. That choice matters. Because strengthening the economy, making healthcare more affordable, raising incomes. All of that depends on us being both secure at home and leading the world. I will get up every single day and do whatever it takes to make sure our country is safe and strong. Kurtis light snow off to the northwest, not a big problem initially. But this will intensify later tonight. And then, through the overnight and early saturday, if you live along the north of highway 30, even highway 20, could be freezing rain. Sunday is dry, big system on monday, drive through the new year. Ryan thank you very much for watching. That will do it for us and 6 00. Join us back here at 10 00. Have a great nigig. Is brought to yo the baby whisperer. A fussy infant. She wont stop crying on the plane in a total stranger takes over. And then the christmas elf is alive