and good evening on this wednesday night. i'm amy robach. david is off. as we come on the air tonight, the holiday nor'easter affecting more than 40 million americans across the country. the storm hitting the east, unraveling travel plans from coast to coast. long lines of passengers snaking through airports. more than 4,000 flights delayed. 700 canceled so far. slick highways slowing traffic from the midwest all the way east. drivers struggling to stay on slippery roads. shopping for thanksgiving dinner, even a struggle. just ask this woman, dragging her shopping cart through the snow in minnesota. abc's david kerley starts us off at the airport. >> reporter: tonight, the perfect storm for thanksgiving travelers has become a holiday headache for some. the nor'easter forcing hundreds of cancellations and thousands of delays. and with darkness comes freezing temperatures, meaning later, more flights may be forced to de-ice. we've already seen long lines. new york gets the worst of it, causing a ripple effect of delays throughout the country. the york family of the atlanta area trying to get to the grandparents as the storm was baring down. they got out early. you were worried about it? >> i was, yeah, so, i was watching it all day yesterday. >> reporter: airlines and even the u.s. military prepared for this day. the military releasing air space on the east and gulf coast and over parts of the southwest and california all to allow commercial jets more routes. and in washington, the faa is using what it calls next gen. satellite gps tracking to give jet liners a direct route to the airport, boosting on-time arrivals. that may have even helped the yorks, who were on time. the three girls couldn't wait to see the grandparents. and they are celebrating tonight in d.c. that board behind me, 80 flights, 25 of them delayed. if your flight is delayed, you still need to be at the airport. if the weather clears or they get clearance, that delayed flight could leave on time. amy? >> all right, thank you so much, david. and from the air to america's treacherous highways. millions of people are on the roads. the most families traveling by car in years. this view from the passenger seat shows getting there, not so easy. heavy snow is slowing down drivers from north carolina to maine. minnesota to new york. abc's gio benitez gets behind the wheel. >> reporter: as millions hit the road for their thanksgiving day destinations, a powerful nor'easter dumps snow on every state from north carolina to maine. record snow totals just outside washington, d.c. and here in connecticut, the snow is coming down hard and fast. when most of us will be driving. in fact, an estimated 41 million people will be on the roads this thanksgiving. that's the most in seven years. weather snarling traffic up and down the i-95 corridor. accidents littering the roadway. this car slid into a guardrail. a reck on i-77 in virginia, backed up traffic for seven miles. officials across the region issuing speed restrictions to slow drivers down. >> we're urging motorists to drive with additional care and allow more time to reach their destination. >> reporter: the midwest hit hard, too. parts of minnesota digging out from almost a foot of snow. and in iowa, this semi tractor trailer jackknifed after hitting black ice. salt spreaders and plows are racing to keep up with travelers on one of the busiest days of the year. and these are exactly the kinds of storms where you see that dangerous black ice. that rain and snow creating that thin invisible layer of ice on pavement. so, amy, that's why you have to be especially careful on bridges and roundabouts. >> such great advice, gio, thank you. let's get right now to abc's senior meteorologist rob marciano with the thanksgiving forecast and what a forecast it's been, rob. >> yeah, and gio's right about that, it's going to get even more slick. some folks are going to get over a foot of snow. here are the winter storm warnings still posted. pretty much through midnight. you notice that the coastal sections really not in the warning area. this is why. it's mostly rain there. here's the rain/snow line. pretty much i-95. you go south and east of there, it's mostly rain, so, a slushy ride there. but inland, it is very much in the way of white. we time it out to wrap up the snow, everywhere but new england at 1:00 a.m. by tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., colder by d but drier air. temperatures going to be very cold. chicago, 25 degrees. that could be the coldest thanksgiving they've had in 50 years. >> oh, my. and of course, a lot of people hitting the roads and back on planes on sunday. what does that look like? >> sunday's a pretty busy day for sure. it looks pretty quiet at this point. snow showers across the lake effect areas, but the west coast is going to get a piece of the action, northern california and l.a. by the middle of next week will get some heavy rain. >> you will be busy. >> indeed. >> rob, thank you so much. and now to new protests in ferguson, missouri, tonight. the several demonstrators today storming into st. louis city hall. across america, in at least a dozen major cities, thousands took part in mostly peaceful demonstrations. streets filled from washington to los angeles. and tonight, the family of michael brown responding to officer darren wilson breaking his silence to abc news, telling george stephanopoulos his version of their 90-second confrontation. abc's steve osunsami back in ferguson for us tonight. >> reporter: tonight, all of this in the name of michael brown -- a growing protest nationwide against police profiling. in st. louis today, they stormed city hall. >> this is an unlawful assembly! you're being ordered to disperse from the area! >> reporter: the words of ferguson police officer darren wilson haven't calmed the debate one bit, over who was to blame that august afternoon when wilson shot and killed the unarmed teen. in this exclusive interview with george stephanopoulos, the one person everyone wanted to hear from in this case, on what he would say to brown's family. >> you know, i'm sorry that their son lost his life. it wasn't the intention of that day. it's what occurred that day. and there's no -- nothing you can say that's going to make a parent feel better. >> it sounds like you don't think you were responsible. >> i did my job that day. >> do you feel any remorse? >> everyone feels remorse when a life's lost. like i told you before, i never wanted to take anybody's life. you know, that's not the good part of the job. that's the bad part of the job. so, yeah, there's remorse. >> reporter: brown's family and their lawyers weren't hearing any of it. >> it was very hurtful to michael brown's parents when he said he had a clear conscience after killing their unarmed teenage son. they were taken back, looking at the interview, because they felt that he had no regards for their child and that was hurtful to them. >> reporter: meanwhile, back in ferguson, police are still trying to explain how they let a small group of alleged arsonists get the best of them. >> if any of us knew last night was going to be what it was, if we had a crystal ball, we would probably done something different. but we could have never imagined that. >> reporter: families here worry more of the city could burn as the protests continue. they are also worried about what happens when the federal government announces its decision on possible charges in this case. amy? >> all right, steve, thank you so much. and now to the tragic police shooting making headlines in cleveland. the 12-year-old boy shot and killed by two officers why holding a pellet gun. police today releasing new video as we learn more about the officers involved. one joining the force just this year. here's abc's tom llamas. >> reporter: this surveillance tape made public today at the request of tamir rice's family. it shows the 12-year-old on a cleveland playground holding what appears to be a weapon. police roll up, confronting tamir. it takes just seconds. the passenger door opens wider. an officer fires, striking the boy, who later died. >> shots fired. male down, black male, maybe 20, black revolver, black handgun. >> reporter: but tamir's gun -- you can see it here -- turned out to be an airsoft pistol that shoots soft pellets, not bullets. >> there's a guy in here with a pistol. you know it's probably fake, but he's pointing it at everybody. >> reporter: that 911 caller, noting three times in the call the gun could be a fake. but dispatch apparently didn't relay that to the responding officers. >> he keeps pulling a gun out of his pants and pointing it at people. >> reporter: the officer who fired his weapon, 26-year-old timothy loehmann, on the job only eight months. police say he ordered rice to put his hands up before he fired. >> the facsimile weapon in this incident is indistinguishable from a real firearm. >> reporter: that's because it was missing this orange tip, designed to signal that it's not a real firearm. police in new jersey showed us the difference. this is an airsoft pistol, similar to the one used in cleveland, with the orange tip removed. so, i'm just two feet away from you. does this look like the real thing, chief? >> absolutely. >> reporter: here are three >> reporter: the family saying this could have been avoided. the two officers involved are now on administrative leave. tom llamas, abc news, new york. and around the world tonight, and the daring raid by american special forces. u.s. commandos fighting al qaeda militants, helping rescue hostages held in eastern yemen. that region, the source of several terrorist attacks over the year. abc's chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz with new details about the mission. >> reporter: it was in the pre-dawn darkness, when u.s. helicopters carrying some two dozen u.s. commandos, including members of the navy's elite s.e.a.l. team six and yemeni forces, swept in to free the hostages. the location, one of the most remote and dangerous provinces in yemen, where al qaeda affiliates have flourished. after landing, the commandos crept silently on foot through the dark to a cave deep in a mountainside, where the al qaeda militants were hiding the hostages. a shootout killed at least seven militants, but the u.s. commandos grabbed all eight of the hostages, six yemenis, a saudi and an ethiopian, and flew them to safety. >> and martha joins us now. martha, isn't this highly unusual for the u.s. to use its own elite commandos to carry out a rescue of foreign hostages? >> reporter: it is, amy. and the pentagon just won't say why this was carried out beyond the fact that we are partners with yemen in counter terrorism operations. and don't forget, this was where the so-called underwear bomber got his training and where the u.s.-born cleric anwar al aalak was killed in a u.s. drone strike. so, that relationship with yemen is important. but a lot of questions tonight, amy. >> all right, martha raddatz, thank you. and now, to new health concerns for supreme court justice ruth bader ginsburg. today she underwent a procedure to insert a heart stent. she was admitted to the hospital tuesday night. at 81 years old, she's considered the most liberal member of the court. she expects to be back at work monday. now, to the big countdown before thanksgiving. millions of customers lining up to get the first big jump on their holiday shopping. stores and malls across america will open their doors tomorrow. but at least one super shopper says he will be locked out of a store because he claims a major retailer says he's just too good at saving money. abc's rebecca jarvis spokes us shows us how he does it. >> reporter: tis the season for extreme savings. but israel mata says he's getting those low, low prices even lower. >> i've exceeded $25,000 in savings. >> reporter: how does he do it? mata starts by price matching, that is, when one store matches a competitor's lower price. >> doesn't take long to google it, find it somewhere cheaper. >> reporter: but mata says the real key to bagging bargains is finding retailers that let you layer additional discounts on top of that price match. >> you use their credit card, a lot of stores will give additional 10%, 15%, 20% off on top of the already sale price. >> reporter: kohl's says it matches prices on in-store items only. but mata says he was able to order this $1,100 dresser by phone. for $79, using price matching and discounts. he ordered six, but they would object sell him three. >> she told me i was price matching too much and they were losing money. >> reporter: kohl's telling abc news it reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased per person. whether you're shopping here in chicago or anywhere else in the country this week, many retailers from walmart to best buy are offers price matching. some of the smaller retailers tell me they'll do it, too. bottom line, never hurts to ask. amy? >> good advice. rebecca jarvis, thank you so much. there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this wednesday. up next, recipe for disaster. you are three times as like the likely to have a house fire on thanksgiving day. what you need to know before you head into the kitchen and where you should never keep your fire extinguisher. and from fire to ice. what forced these airline passengers in russia onto the tarmac, and what they had to do to get this plane off the ground. and, the boy scout who just wanted to beat his dad. well, now he's earned every single merit badge possible. how he did it, and the one badge he says was the hardest to obtain. abe! get in! punch it! let quicken loans help you save your money. with a mortgage that's engineered to amaze! what if one push up couldcoli cprevent heart disease?cancer? one. wishful thinking, right? but there is one step you can take to help prevent another serious disease- pneumococcal pneumonia. one dose of the prevnar 13 ® vaccine can help protect you ... from pneumococcal pneumonia, an illness that can cause coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and may even put you in the hospital. prevnar 13 is used in adults 50 and older to help prevent infections from 13 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia. you should not receive prevnar 13 if you've had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. if you have a weakened immune system, you may have a lower response to the vaccine. common side effects were pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site. limited arm movement, fatigue, head ache muscle or joint pain, less appetite, chills, or rash. even if you've already been vaccinated with another pneumonia vaccine, prevnar 13 ® may help provide additional protection. get this one done. ask your healthcare professional about prevnar 13 ® today. i have the worst cold with this runni better take something. dayquill cold and flu doesn't treat your runny nose. seriously? alka-seltzer plus cold and cough fights your worst cold symptoms plus your runny nose. oh, what a relief it is. as millions of american families get ready to prepare their thanksgiving feasts, a sobering statistic. there are more than three times as many house fires on thanksgiving day than any other day of the year. tonight, we are talking to the men who know both cooking and fires, with a warning where you should never keep your fire extinguisher. here's abc's paula faris. >> reporter: it's where the holiday meal magic happens. >> that's good right there. >> reporter: but the kitchen can also be a danger zone, especially on thanksgiving. why is thanksgiving so dangerous? >> it's one of the few days where almost everyone is preparing a meal. >> reporter: more fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home and on thanksgiving day in particular, there are three times more fires than any other day of the year. >> we've had fires where people took the turkey right out of the freezer, put it in the oven, forgot to take the plastic off and next thing you know, you have an oven fire. >> reporter: for these new jersey firefighters, feasting at the firehouse on thanksgiving eve is a tradition. >> turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes. >> reporter: lots of carbs. >> lots of carbs. >> reporter: tomorrow will be one of their busiest days. so, they're serving up some trim the turkey safety tips. don't wear loose-fitting clothing. do not leave your food unattended. and, if you're going to fry that turkey, do it outside. what if there's a grease fire? >> put a lid on it. absolutely do not use water, because that's just going to spread the fire. >> reporter: and one of the biggest mistakes people make is they store their fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink. instead, store it in plain sight and near an exit. and should you use it, spray low and slow. fires double every five to ten seconds and can consume a room in just one minute. so, before you do anything else, call 911. getting our fill of food and safety this holiday. paula faris, abc news, new jersey. and still ahead on "world news tonight," one day ahead of thanksgiving, an annual white house tradition. this year, a family event. what the first daughters said that cracked everyone up. and what in the world are these guys doing with this plane? it happened at an airport in siberia. our "instant index," straight ahead. a man who doesn't stand still. but jim has afib, atrial fibrillation an irregular heartbeat, not caused by a heart valve problem. that puts jim at a greater risk of stroke. for years, jim's medicine tied him to a monthly trip to the clinic to get his blood tested. but now, with once-a-day xarelto®, jim's on the move. jim's doctor recommended xarelto®. like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective to reduce afib-related stroke risk. but xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem, that doesn't require regular blood monitoring. so jim's not tied to that monitoring routine. gps: proceed to the designated route. not today. for patients currently well managed on warfarin, there is limited information on how xarelto® and warfarin compare in reducing the risk of stroke. xarelto® is just one pill a day taken with the evening meal. plus, with no known dietary restrictions, jim can eat the healthy foods he likes. don't stop taking xarelto®, rivaroxaban, unless your doctor tells you to. while taking xarelto®, you may bruise more easily and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. xarelto® may increase your risk of bleeding if you take certain medicines. xarelto® can cause serious bleeding, and in rare cases, may be fatal. get help right away if you develop unexpected bleeding, unusual bruising, or tingling. if you have had spinal anesthesia while on xarelto®, watch for back pain or any nerve or muscle related signs or symptoms. do not take xarelto® if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. tell your doctor before all planned medical or dental procedures. before starting xarelto®, tell your doctor about any conditions such as kidney, liver, or bleeding problems. jim changed his routine. ask your doctor about xarelto®. once-a-day xarelto® means no regular blood monitoring, no known dietary restrictions. for information and savings options, download the xarelto® patient center app, call 1-888-xarelto, or visit goxarelto.com. imany cold medicines may raisee your blood pressure. that's why there's coricidin hbp it relieves cold symptoms without raising blood pressure. so look for powerful cold medicine with a heart. coricidin hbp. here's what made it to the top of our "instant index" tonight. what has become an american pre-thanksgiving tradition. the presidential turkey pardon. president obama did the honors at the white house today, along with daughters sasha and malia. >> you guys want to pet him? >> nah. >> this is one half of this year's two lucky turkeys, both spared a place on the table, despite their side dish names of mac and cheese. next, to an unusual sight in russia. at an airport in siberia. this is how desperate these oil and gas workers were to get home. temperatures hitting 60 degrees below zero iced up the oil in the plane's landing gear, so 20 or so of the strongest men got out and pushed, helping along the plane's tow truck to unstick those wheels so the plane could eventually take off. and when we come back, meet the boy scout who is absolutely, positively prepared for anything. how beating his dad put this scout head and shoulders above nearly all the others. at panera bread, our hearty all-natural turkey chili is back in season. slow-cooked with turkey raised without antibiotics, tart tomatillos, chilies, carrots, edamame and more. the savory spice of the chili pairs perfectly with the black bean hummus and the fresh crunch of napa cabbage blend in our southwestern chicken flatbread. and it all comes together in a you pick two made just for you. only at panera bread. and i quit smoking with chantix. people who know me, they say 'i never thought you would quit.' but chantix helped me do it. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it gave me the power to overcome the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. some people had seizures while taking chantix. if you have any of these, stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix or history of seizures. don' take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, or if you develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. decrease alcohol use while taking chantix. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. i'm a non-smoker, that feels amazing. ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. creeping up on you... fight back with relief so smooth... ...it's fast. tums smoothies starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue ...and neutralizes stomach acid at the source. ♪ tum, tum tum tum... smoothies! only from tums. is a really big deal.u with aches, fever and chills- there's no such thing as a little flu. so why treat it like it's a little cold? 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coming up next, his little brother zack. he's already at 102 badges and counting. john donvan, abc news, washington. >> and thank you for watching. we are always here at abcnews.com and you can join us for "nightline" later tonight. and, of course, i'll see you tomorrow for "good morning america." have a great night. >> where were police when this was happening? >> we'll have team coverage tonight, picked up merchants on the police response and protestors that tried to stop the looting. >> a former bay area woman comes forward with allegations against bill cosby. >> and what is to blame for the bay area smog? >> you can see dozens of extra officers, have been mobilized in case they're needed for a new demonstration, tonight. good evening. for two nights, oakland has been the scene of some of the most-disruptive demonstrations in the country. vandals have had their way with a number of downtown businesses here, you can see them breaking into a paint store this, over the decision by a grand jury not to indict a police officer. why haven't police been able to stop this from happening? vic, police are changing their tactics tonight. >> you're right. they are. and i just spoke with the chief here a little while ago he had been busy planning for whatever happens tonight. he said last night, the number of demonstrators was smaller than monday night's but they were the so called professionals intent on causing damage, and committing crimes. not there to exercise the first amendment rights. >> i saw a guy with a sledge hammer smashing windows. >> this and he says place were present but seemed to do little