Dog after falling onto the subway tracks in new york city adds a new friend to the family than tox the kindness of strangers. Were there exclusively today, sunday, january 26, 2014. Announcer from nbc news, this is today, with lester holt and erica hill live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Welcome to today on this sunday morning. Im erica hill. Im lester holt alongside dylan and jenna. Sadly another case of a gunman opening fire with thousands of people nearby. Typical saturday, people go to the mall and suddenly shots ring out. Thats our top story. It hadnt been open for very long on saturday when people started running for covering, hearing the barrage of bullets all around them. This Morning Police are still trying to determine just what may have sparked the senseless violence. Kristen welker is outside that mall in columbia, maryland, with the latest. Good morning. Reporter erica, good morning. This malo kated about 25 miles outside of washington, d. C. Remains closed this morning while Police Continue their investigation. Overnight they say they found and disabled two devices, what appeared to be crude attempts at explosives. They said they scoured the mall with canine units. This morning this community continues to be rattled by the violence that erupted here. Police say 21yearold Brianna Benlolo and 25yearold Tyler Johnson were working at the Clothing Store sooum please when a gunman opened fire killing them both before police say he turned the gun on himself. It was just boom, boom, boom and people started screaming and running. Reporter the shooting began just after 11 00 saturday morning. 911 calls captured the first terrifying moments. We have an active shooter at the columbia malast seen at the food court. Reporter witnesses say the crowded mall became a scene of fear and chaos. We were crying and scared out of our minds. It was completely crazy. Everybody started running, screaming. I almost passed out because i couldnt breathe. Reporter some fled while others sought a safe place inside. There was a young couple with two brand new babies. We have like a restroom at the end in the storeroom, so as many people as we could fit in there. Reporter police say they got to the mall within minutes of the first 11 they say they found three bodies in the second floor store. And next to the gunman, a shotgun. He also had a large amount of ammunition on and about him. Because of concerns about any other weapons he may have or explosives, we are approaching this as an abundance of caution. Reporter while Police Worked late into the night searching for clues and surveillance video, outside a vigil for the victims as yet another American Community prepares to mourn lives. When Something Like this happens, it makes you realize how fragile life is and how it can change for you in an instant. Reporter now, police say they have tentatively identified the shooter. We expect to learn more about that at a News Conference which is scheduled for later on this morning. So far no word on a motive, but Law Enforcement sources say there are early indications that the shooter may have known one of his victims. Five people were injured in this incident. They have been treated and released. The Associated Press is reporting that brianna, one of the victims, was also a young mother. Just adding to the devastation here. Kristen, thank you. Olympic athletes will soon be leaving home to head to sochi, russia. That comes behind the new threat against russia from militants who already claim responsibility for a deadly bombing last month, in fact, two attacks last month. Keir, good morning. Reporter good morning. Im actually standing in front of the picturesque mountain that surround sochi as i speak. In the background we can hear music playing for the celebrations that will launch the games. Yet with all the concerns you talk about, theyre seeing fewer americans booked to come here than for the last 20 years. High above the olympic park, keeping watch this morning. Control tears are picking up uniforms. Many more arrived today bringing enthusiasm even excitement. Im having fun. Im very proud that my countrys host of the games. Reporter but a month after a double suicide bombing in a city 4 hurk 400 miles from sochi, more threats. An internet message from the group behind that attack promising further violence. Though not mentioning sochi and many believe the threat to the games is low. The security at sochi is going to be huge. I think it would difficult not impossible, nothing is impossible, but difficult to pull off an attack there. Reporter president putins Spokesman Says this is all an attempt by the west to discredit russia. Swimming in the cold waters of the black sea for fun. And determined, they say, not to be frightened by threats. Sochi is preparing to welcome the world. Russia getting ready for its closeup. And there are lots of smiling volunteers everywhere you go here. And they have been learning how to welcome americans, how to reach out across the cultural divide. In russia even the idea of volunteering is new, lester. The word volunteer in russian is taken from the american word volunteer. Thanks very much. David gregory is moderator of meet the press and joins us this morning. Good morning. Good morning. We heard about these stories. We hear conflicting stories over the past week about the threat, about concerns for americans headed there. When it comes to cooperation between the u. S. And russia, how important is it that there be some cooperation . I think its very important. Remember, Vladimir Putin is at a high level of awareness and concern about anything going wrong for these games. You know, you look at that security blimp that keir talked about, there was also one in afghanistan high above kabul. You talk about how to harden a target. I think that security perimeter around the games is a very hard target to penetrate. It doesnt mean theres not significant worry and a potential threat there. But i think that with the president speaking to the russian president this week, i think theres going to be a high level of cooperation and anticipation. The president looks to address the state of the country with the state of the union. There is also speculation about what will be in that speech. He is going to lay out an agenda. At this time last year, his Approval Rating was much higher. 53 . Its now at 42 . As he lays out that agenda, how important is it to be measured especially in an Election Year if he wants to get anything done . Well, i think he doesnt want to be measured when it comes to defining democrats versus republicans. Right . Thats the great thing he can add to this debate is to say as the head of the democrats, we have an agenda to make sure nobodys left behind for the middle class. Really kind of a down payment, i think, on the future of the democratic party. But also to be thinking about midterm elections. I think it depends what persuasive punch he has left. Maybe some momentum for Immigration Reform among republicans. So look for an outstretched happened in at least those couple of areas. Real quickly, will we hear much about obama care . No. Hes got to do it. The republicans are going to use it against him. Hes got a big audience to make the case for why in his view its working and will continue to work. David gregory, nice to see you. Well check back with you in a little bit. Some of us got a break yesterday. But another arctic blast heading our way. Dylan is here with that. Its a broken record with the cold. All of january has been exceptionally cold because of this polar vortex. Its always there, but its wobbling a little bit. That shoots off these areas of low pressure sinking to the south dragging the jet stream as far south as parts of the deep south into areas like alabama and mississippi. And temperatures especially tomorrow and tuesday will rival that cold blast we had at the beginning of the year if not a little bit colder by 7 00 a. M. Monday morning. 15 below in minneapolis with your feels like temperature, minus 43 degrees. Chicago by 5 00 p. M. Monday, 4 below. Chicago gets up to about 14 below on tuesday morning. So that is going to be a cold wait at the bus stop. 8 will be the feels like in charlotte. Into wednesday, it will moderate a little bit. Still not great. Temperatures will still be staying below average for quite some time. All right, dylan. Thanks very much. Well get the full forecast in just a few minutes. Right now lets get caught up on the other stories. Janna is here with that. Good morning, everyone. U. S. Health officials are expected to board a Royal Caribbean cruiseship. They want to investigate a possible outbreak of a contagious norovirus. Another major retailer may have fallen victim to a Data Security tap. Michaels is investigating the possible breach on its network. Its telling customers to check their statements, but the warning comes in the wake of Security Breaches at target and niemann marcus. We head overseas now to egypt where the death toll continues to rise. State tv is reporting at least three people were killed this morning in an attack. This comes a day after officials confirmed at least 49 people died in attacks across the country. The violent cashes and celebrations are marking the third anniversary of their 2011 uprising. After weeks of speculation about his personal life, Francois Hollande says hes splitting with his longtime girlfriend. Reporter the french president and his first lady now beginning life apart. Francois hollande announced the end of his relationship with Valerie Trierweiler after news of his affair. He made a note i want to to be known ive put an end to my shared live with Valerie Trierweiler. He cannot afford any of that to be polluted with some negative focus on his private life. Reporter two weeks ago a tabloid magazine posted pictures of his visiting his ladys apartment and staying overnight. Soon after the first lady checked in to the hospital for exhaustion. Promising to clear up confusion before the state visit to the u. S. Next month. The couple had been together for seven years, but never married. In relaxed france, that was okay. So, too, it seems was an affair. Whether the public even had a right to know. This woman says he can do what he wants. Its his life. Trierweiler is keeping a low profile but tweeted about her emotional depackture with staff at the president ial palace. Some in france now wondering who might take her place. Nbc news, london. And finally, apparently just being good looking and having an incredible body is not enough to win a grand slam title at the Australian Open. Right now rafael nadal is saying with b dang, serious . The win was big. It was subdued. Because he was more concerned with checking on his competitor. Nadal suffered a back injury in the second set. He did finish it. By the way, he was 012 against nadal coming into the match. Thats huge. Exactly. All right. Thanks. One week from today, we will be counting down to kickoff. Excitement is already building here in new york city for super bowl xlviii even though that game will actually be playing across the river in new jersey at metlife stadium. And its that focus on the big apple that has neighbors across the hudson a little miffed this morning. Reporter good morning. Theres a lot of trash talking. Its not even between the players. Theres the matchup on the field between the seahawks and the broncos, but whats taking center stage before the game is the debate over whos hosting the super bowl. Is it new york or new jersey . The stage is set for the biggest game of the season with a week to go to the super bowl, all eyes are on one city. New york city is hosting the super bowl. New york. New york city. Reporter but theres one small problem. Actually, the game wont even be played in new york. But about eight miles west of the big apple in new jersey. Oh, yeah. New jersey. Same thing. Reporter not if you ask new jersey senator bob menendez. Richard sherman isnt going to be yelling at anybody in the financial district. Its happening here in new jersey. Reporter you wouldnt necessarily know it if you looked at the hype around the game. The epicenter for super bowl fans is in the heart of times square. Super bowl take into accou super bowl tickets, the lombardi trophy is superimposed on the outline of new york. The game is actually being held in new jersey. Thats not fair. Reporter while the nfl insists the super bowl is shared between the two states, this s about much more than bragging rights. It would have been great if the giants or the jets would have won, but nevertheless, having the pride of having the game here but the economic impact. Potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. Reporter money that is mostly going to new york instead of new jersey which is hosting the game. And more importantly footing the bill for security and making sure the super bowl goes off without a hitch. While the new Jersey Hotels and restaurants will see a spike, in the end, new jersey may have a hard time competing with the glitz and glamour of the big apple. Now, i was out in new jersey yesterday. The food was great. They have some selling points. People are excited. They root for the nurnlss jets and giants when theyre there. They say theyre all a suburb of new york. Its a great story though. I love the rivalry going on. Thanks very much. Dylan is out on the plaza with a check of the rest of the national forecast. Our local jersey girl, dylan dreyer. And a patriots fan. Figure that one out. We are going to see blizzard conditions in parts of the nsno on the ground. Life threatening conditions. If you get stranded, its going to be very hard to kind of move forward there. Because the visibility will be so poor. Its all this clipper system that is bringing that snow through the Northern Plains and through the western great good morning. 6 18. Temperatures are cool, especially in the north. 30s right now. Overall we dont have much fog to talk about. We will see some cloud cover once we do see our sun come up. Eventually, though, temperatures today will be a little bit cooler than where they were yesterday. Still very pleasant, though, back into the mid to upper 60s with a few high passing clouds. Overall, the good news is we dont have to spare the air for this sunday. Have a good one. And that is your latest forecast. Thanks. Up next on today, first it was an oscar nomination. Then hosting saturday night live. Well look at jonah hills big night right after this. I take prilosec otc each morning for my frequent heartburn. Because you cant beat zero heartburn. Woo hoo [ male announcer ] prilosec otc is the number one doctor recommended frequent heartburn medicine for 8 straight years. One pill each morning. 24 hours. Zero heartburn. When you just know. Ne. New almay smart shade makeup made it easy with just three skintoneadjusting shades to choose from. Not hundreds. New almay tonemimic technology intuitively transforms to your skintone. Almay smartshade. Its my one. And only. The pain started up and wrapped around to the front. I couldnt play my bassoon because of the pressure that i felt throughout my whole head. The blistering and the rash was moving down towards my eye. The doctors at the emergency room recommended that i have it checked out by an eye doctor. There was concern about my eyesight. When i had shingles the music stopped. Oscar nominee jonah hill is riding high hosting saturday night live last night for the third time. Third times a charm, huh . His latest role in wolf of wall street is a dramatic one. But his comedic skills help on snl. We have a closer look at how mr. Hill fairs. Reporter one of the best last names there. But the wolf of wall street has a good last name too. Reporter this is fantastic. We are looking at social media here. If its any indication of how jonah hill did last night, he nailed it. And with a pretty funny surprise in the opening monologue. Remember when we were on set and i would get really nervous . Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember. Can we do the thing we always did every day, that thing that made me feel better . Im flying, jack yes, rose. Yes, youre flying. And of course Leonardo Dicaprio is the costar in wolf of wall street. They also did their little spin on her which was hilarious. Wolf, hill, dreier. Her. Thanks. Still to come on a sunday edition of today, who will be the big winners at the grammys and will we see a mini beatles reunion . More after this. [ male announcer ] bring your style to life with a new vanity for just 179 at lowes. With a new vanity for just 179 at lowes. [ male announcer ] not all toralb prohealth toothbrushes have crisscross bristles that remove up to 90 of hard to reach plaque. Feel the difference. Oralb, trust the brand more dentists and hygienists use. Oralb. Still ahead, a today exclusive. Happy ending for a blind man that was saved by his guide dog. I would put my money on you, dreier. Its 11 to get on purple. Next time shes bringing holt with her. Make any place your place of business with it. Get paid faster with it. Run payroll with it. Sync this stuff with that stuff with it. 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A live image of San Francisco from san bruno. Still have one day left in your weekend. Lets find out what the weather