more misery on the way this holiday weekend. unprecedented. the tightest security ever set to greet new year's eve revelers in the wake of two terror attacks in the past year. why police say they aren't taking any chances. those stories plus apple's apology. the tech giant fesses up to slowing down older iphones and offers a new solution. jackpot weekend. let the run on mega millions and powerball tickets with $750 million starting tonight. and driving while hungover. >> it feels like the flu mixed with -- >> before you celebrate new year's, a new warning about the dangers of getting behind the wheel too soon after a night of drinking. >> this is tough. you have to focus so hard. >> today, friday, december 29th, 2017. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning. welcome to "today." 7:00 a.m. on the west coast. we certainly appreciate you joining us on this friday morning. savannah and hoda are off today. >> it's a busy friday morning. a lot to get to, starting with the devastating fire in new york city. the deadliest fire the city has seen in decades. here's a live look at the scene right now where officials are about to hold a news conference. >> that fire started around 7:00 last night. the flames quickly swept through every floor of the apartment building near the bronx zoo. families who managed to escape were out in the streets on one of the coldest nights of the year. nbc's anne thompson has the latest. anne, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, sheinelle. this morning, we are learning more about those 12 victims, including four children. among the dead, a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old. several people were taken to the hospital, including six firefighters who tried to stop this deadly blaze in near zero windchill. this morning, at least a dozen people are dead, including four children after a massive fire ripped through this bronx, new york, apartment building. in frigid conditions, 160 firefighters responded, battling the four-alarm blaze that tore through the entire five-story building of 20 apartments. >> we have people on the fire escape of the front of the building. they're on their way down now. >> we need a rush on an ambulance. we have a 1045, a child. >> i think it's my building that's on fire. what happened was, it wasn't actually my building. it was my building across the street. by the time i got downstairs, the fire had escalated from one apartment to two, two almost to three. all i see is a bunch of kids on the fire escape, cold and with no jacket, no pajamas, no nothing. >> reporter: the fire creating heavy, black smoke, taking firefighters nearly two hours to bring it under control as they rush to rescue residents. >> i saw people being carried out of here today, guys. it's overwhelming. those two little kids throwing out the trash with their mother. and then they went back upstairs and not an hour or so later, i'm seeing them be wheeled off. >> the fire spread into this building quickly. people died on various floors of the apartment. >> reporter: mayor de blasio calling the blaze a tragedy the city hasn't seen in nearly 25 years. >> we're here at the scene of an unspeakable tragedy in the middle of the holiday seasons. this will rank as one of the worst losses of life to a fire in many, many years. >> reporter: the victims range in age from 1 year old to 63 years old. four people are fighting for their lives this morning. they are in critical condition at a local hospital. behind me you can see investigators getting to work to fig are out what caused this deadly blaze. sheinelle and craig? >> anne, thank you. now, to the latest on the deep freeze that has hundreds of millions of americans firmly in its grasp. if you thought it's been cold this week, just wait. we have complete coverage this morning including what you can expect eve. we start with nbc's ron mott in chicago. ron, good morning. >> reporter: hey, craig, good morning to you. cold is the word of the day from the northern rockies into the northeast and new england as morning lows are going to be in the single digits or even colder, below zero, in many places. and now the countdown is on to see when she's temperatuthese tl start rise again. this morning, it's so cold, boiling water immediately turns to snow. >> this cold is on a different level. >> i'm freezing. >> the national weather service in nashville is calling it #stupidcold. >> reporter: on mt. washington in new hampshire, temperatures plunging to 34 degrees below zero. shattering an 80-year record. the windchill, a blistering 89 below, with 110-mile-per-hour gusts. in new york city, famous fountains transforming into arctic ice sculptures. today, millions of americans are in the grip of a big chill. in chicago, this mailman is used to braving these kinds of elements. rain, sleet, snow, ice, you have to be out here. what's it like? >> it's rough. it has its days. we get service talks from my management to keep us prepared. >> reporter: if he had his pick -- >> i would take the snow over the ice. just a little bit, though. >> reporter: in erie, pennsylvania, people are digging out. >> i've run out of places to throw the snow. >> reporter: and cats, too. after 65 inches of snow in just 4 days. in minnesota, a headache on the roads. more than 1,100 crashes and 330 spinouts on thursday alone. but the rapid snowfall is ideal for the slopes, from michigan -- >> it was the perfect timing. >> reporter: -- to west virginia. >> great time to get outside. >> reporter: sledders and skiers alike taking advantage of the deep freeze. here in chicago, we expect the temperatures to warm up to close to 20 degrees. the bad news, we have snow in the forecast. >> a balmy 20 degrees in the windy city. ron, thank you. let's bring in dylan who is in for al this morning. >> the cold is here. you don't need me to tell you that. i will tell you it will get colder as we go into monday morning. the first day of 2018. we have still some windchill advisories in some areas, especially across upstate -- or northern new england, across central maine. we have windchills about 10 to 40 degrees below zero. that's just a taste of what's to come. the arctic air continues to pour down. current temperatures this morning, sioux falls, 6 degrees, but the windchill is 7 below. detroit feels like 2 below. louisville feels like 16 degrees this morning. in the northeast, we had record lows. bridgeport, connecticut, 8 degrees. islip, new york, 11. laguardia 12. the windchill isn't that bad in baltimore. but as the winds pick up, the windchill will become more of an issue. let's look at what happens when we get to monday morning. pierre, south dakota, 20 degrees below zero, actual air temperature. chicago, 9 degrees below zero. in atlanta, 23 degrees monday morning after being in the teens. we are looking at monday to be the bottom of this whole thing. it's going to warm up a bit, not much. but monday will be the coldest. >> okay. >> thank you, dylan. that bitter cold, combined with concerns over security, has officials in cities across this country taking extra precautions for new year's eve. nbc's stephanie gosk is in times square with more on the preparations for the nation's biggest celebration. steph, good morning. >> reporter: craig, good morning. there's layer after layer of security here in times square, many of themp a direct response to a possible threat. in the u.s. over the year there has been multiple attacks using different tactics. what does that mean? even more security here in times square on new year's eve. this weekend, as the countdown to 2018 begins, the nypd will be out in force. >> people will be safe. and they should feel safe, too. the nypd and our partners are well-prepared. >> reporter: police say they are upping security in the wake of two high-profile terror attacks. in response to last october's truck attack that claimed the lives of eight people, 125 garages near times square will be closed and sealed. and sand-filled trucks will be used to block off streets. after an attempted suicide bombing just two weeks ago, police say they're adding new training for officers. >> we have prepared a tactical bulletin, a response to suicide bombers. you'll see an increase of heavy weapons. bomb squad personnel. 1,000 cameras. >> reporter: on the street, the increased police presence appears to put many at ease. >> it makes you feel better. >> we came here worrying a little bit about it. it's all right now, i guess. >> reporter: sunday night, an estimated 2 million people are expected to watch the ball drop in times square. police now banning backpacks and other large containers. all garbage cans in the area will be removed. and to route out any possible explosives, vapor-sniffing canine units will be deployed. >> the difference between this year and last year, we're putting out more dogs. we're also putting out more observation teams with counter sniper abilities. >> reporter: authorities are keeping an eye on hotels, after a mass shooter killed 58 people from inside a resort along the las vegas strip last october. uniformed officers will be placed inside times square hotels, along with multiple response teams throughout midtown. the nypd not taking any chances, hoping to keep people safe during the biggest party of the year. new york officials emphasize they know of no serious, credible threat. on new year's eve, the most dangerous thing is likely going to be this bitter cold. >> stephanie gosk, thanks. president trump is making a lot of headlines this morning after he gave a spur of the moment interview to "the new york times" at his golf club in florida. the president weighing in on a host of issues that have dominated his first year in office. chief white house correspondent hallie jackson has more on that. hallie, good morning. >> reporter: hi, sheinelle. good morning to you. during his working vacation down here in south florida, trump has been relatively quiet. that all changed in this one-on-one talk with the reporter, where the president hit on everything from the special counsel, to north korea, to one of his biggest priorities come 2018. this morning, that impromptu interview with "the new york times" giving a glimpse of how the president sees the special counsel's russia investigation. "it makes the country look very bad. the president did not demand robert mueller stop his inquiry. quote, the sooner it's worked out, the better it is for the country, insisting 16 times there was no collusion between his campaign and moscow, the president tells "the times," mueller's investigation doesn't bother me because i hope he's going to be fair. i think he's going to be fair. those comments, in contrast to some republicans, who have spent the holidays casting doubt on the department of justice, by, for example, describing them disparagingly as the deep state. there are those that look at comments like you're making and saying republicans are trying to work to discredit the department of justice and, thus, discredit the russia investigations. is that not what you're doing? >> no. i don't want to discredit them. i would like to see the directors of those agencies purge it. >> reporter: the president reiterating, regretfully it seemed, it was too bad his attorney general, jeff sessions, recused himself from the russia investigation. and in perhaps a revealing comparison, praised former attorney general eric holder because he protected president obama. totally protected him. adding, quote, i have great respect for that, i'll be honest. over his working vacation, president trump has mostly hunkered down either at his mar-a-lago resort or at his golf club. that's where he spent a half-hour at lunchtime talking with "the times" reporter, alone, no staff. for the first time, the president acknowledged he has been soft on china on trade, as the white house encourages beijing to pressure north korea to stop its nuclear weapons program. president trump explaining that's because the only thing more important to me than trade is war. and on one of the president's top priorities come 2018, his trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. he tells "the times," i think we can get as many democrat votes as we have republican. so, lots of topics for the president in that interview. another one on twitter, where he talked climate change and seemed to take a swipe at the paris climate accord. the president tweet, in the east, it could be the coldest new year's eve on record. perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old global warming that our country, but not other countries, was going to pay trillions of dollars to protect against. bundle up. experts say you can't link local weather in one area to climbed change overall. and nasa says 2017 is the second-hottest year ever for planet earth. back to you. >> hallie, tell us more about the unexpected guests that i saw that you had yesterday on your msnbc show. what happened? >> oh, no. >> i had no idea. this is a moment, as you're watching, that kind of went viral. you can see over my shoulder, a real-life "jurassic park" episode. i found out during a commercial break that we had three t-rexes fighting behind us. i guess people on twitter noticed. i got kind of blown up. there's probably a metaphor for 2017 somewhere in there, guys. >> you're probably right. >> hallie jackson in west palm beach, florida, for us this morning. you be careful. >> i will. thank you. >> thank you, hallie. also this morning, it's official. democrat doug jones is the new senator from alabama, after his win was certified by the state's election board. jones heads to washington as the first democrat to hold the seat in a quarter century. meantime, republican roy moore, still has not conceded. he fought election results by filing a last-minute legal complaint, claiming systematic voter fraud. jon merrill dismissed the objections. he said his office investigated more than 60 complaints but couldn't find any legitimate allegations of fraud. how would you like to start the new year as a multimillionaire? starting tonight, you have a shot of winning not one, but two massive lottery jackpots worth nearly $750 million combined. tammy leitner is in miami with more on that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, craig. somebody would be starting the new year a whole lot richer. that's because of something that's only happened once before. both the jackpots are up over $300 million. now, if you're feeling lucky, here's what you need to know. we'll start with the mega millions. earlier this year, they changed the format to increase the lottery winnings on that one. that drawing is tonight. and that jackpot is up to $306 million. the odds of hitting all six numbers are 1 in 303 million. on to the powerball. that drawing is tomorrow night. that's up to $384 million. you have a little better odds of winning this one. that's 1 in 292 million. now, if you're feeling lucky and you're going to play both, you should know that your odds of winning both jackpots are 1 in 88 quadrillion. yes, we're talking with 15 zeros there. you have a better shot of getting hit by an asteroid. but experts say you can increase your odds of winning by joining a lottery pool. if 100 people play $10 each, that increases your odds by 100 times. we know that americans, if nothing else, are an optimistic group. this last year, americans spent more in lottery tickets than buying books, buying video games, going to the movies and going to sporting events. i've got my tickets. if you're feeling lucky, go out and get some. back to you guys. >> tammy leitner. >> should we be proud of that? >> while tammy was talking, the crew started collecting. >> i never go in. you know i usually don't. this one, i think i might. >> it's because you never have cash on you. you can't go in. >> you paid me back yesterday. so i have cash. >> you have cash now. give us a look at the forecast before you stop working after you hit the powerball. >> not with those odds. let's take a look at what's going on across the rest of the run. a little clipper system through the chicago area. we could see an inch or two. that will turn on the lake effect snow machine. erie, pennsylvania, will get some more snow. it's icy near charleston, south carolina, with freezing drizzle. watch out for the roads. it's above average in the southwest. that's a look at the weather across the country. your local forecast is coming up in the next 30 seconds. good morning, i'm meteorologist, kari hall. a beautiful sunrise as you get ready to head out. cool temperatures. right now, 42 degrees and a chilly 36 degrees in the tri-valley. north bay, we drop down just above freezing and we may have freezing temperatures in the low lying areas. as we go through the day, it's going to be really nice. highs low to mid-60s and upper 60s for the south bay. san jose, 67 degrees. and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you. coming up, apple's new plan to make customers happy after admitting to intentionally slowing down the old iphones. an eye-opener ahead of your new year's celebrations. what happens when we try out a suit that simulates driving with a hangover. >> you look like me. >> it's a simulated hangover. >> minions don't care. >> this is "today" on nbc. still to come, beyonce and jay-z's family feud? 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nbc's joe fryer has that for us. joe, good morning. >> reporter: craig, good morning. in the wake of mounting criticism and lawsuits, apple has issued an apology, at issue, how the company has communicated how it slows down iphones with aging batteries. the tech giant says there's misunderstandings about this topic and is offering replacement batteries. apple is facing harsh feedback from customers. we know you feel that apple let you down. they apologized. >> they apologized for miscommunicating thain didn't apologize for slowing down the phones. >> reporter: the tech giant is facing heat from critics who learned apple software updates can slow down iphones to compensate for aging batteries. the company says that's necessary to keep the phones from shutting down unexpectedly. several class action lawsuits filed by iphone owners, said that apple should have disclosed what it was doing sooner. >> i think it's a well thoughtout plan by apple to make sure the consumers come back and buy the latest and greatest phone. >> reporter: apple disputes this saying, we have never and would never do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any apple product or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. the company adds, we've always wanted our customers to be able to use their iphones as long as possible. in a detailed post, apple describes what it says can cause rechargeable batteries to age factor. factors like time, how often a battery is charged. leaving a battery in a hot environment. now, the company is offering replacement batteries for $29, a $50 discount, to anyone with an iphone 6 or later, a deal that starts in late january. >> just like the tires of your car wear out and you can replace them, apple has to be clear about what happens when the battery in your phone wears out. this is a first step but there's a long way to go. >> reporter: one of the attorneys suing apple, the $29 battery is too late for those who spent 1,000 bucks on a new phone. next year, apple plans to issue a software update that gives customers information about the health of their battery help them determine if they should get a new one. with the battery, the phones should no longer run slower. >> joe fryer for us. a lot of frustrated apple fans. apple users. let's get a check of the weather from dylan. >> good morning, guys. we have a clipper system that's going to try to work its way through parts of the northern plains and the upper midwest. we have some snow and ice back through the mountains, across the northern rockies. here's that little bit of light snow, moving through sioux falls and down into waterloo, iowa. we have lake-effect snow in western michigan and lake-effect snow will kick in across erie, pennsylvania, and into syracuse, too. we have all sorts of winter storm warnings. we have winter weather advisories because of that brief period of snow that's moving through. and it's cold. it's going to just kind of stick wherever it lands. as we go through the night tonight, we'll see the snow increase in chicago. cleveland will see some of that snow, buffalo, too, as the lake-effect snow kicks in. we'll see flurries in the northeast and the coastal low will stay offshore for the most part. maybe cape cod will see a little bit of snow as we go into the weekend. as for snowfall totals, it's a fast-moving system. one to two inches in most areas. you'll see some higher amounts, good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we have beautiful weather in the forecast. a lot of sunshine. the high temperatures today will reach the low to mid-60s and upper 60s for the south bay and the interior valleys. santa cruz, look for a high of 68 degrees and 60 in san francisco. for the weekend, it looks good as we lead into the new year with highs reaching the low 60s. morning temperatures, mid-40s. inland will see more of the same with a chance of rain by wednesday of next week. >> as always, you can find your full forecast 24/7 on the weather channel on cable. still ahead, the dangers of getting behind the wheel a morning after a night of drinking. the experiment you need to see before celebrating on new year's eve. also ahead this morning, are you a fan of "the breakfast club"? 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[ horn honks ] oops. that's the same cone. it's tough. you have to focus so hard. this is horrible. >> it's horrible but eerar eeri realistic. wrong window. that was horrible. at first i thought it would be silly, not realistic. but this is pretty realistic. it feels like the flu mixed with -- >> turn and take nine steps back. >> reporter: now, to the next challenge, a field sobriety test. oh, gosh. one -- can people really do this? okay. 1,001. 1,002. 1,003. 1,004. 1,005. did i pass or did i fail? >> you would have failed. >> reporter: according to sergeant james butler, there's only one way to truly sober up. >> nothing really works, just time. >> reporter: police say signs of hangover impairment can last 20 hours after consuming alcohol. a warning to drivers, as new year's approaches, one of the deadliest days. >> they sleep for a few hours and feel relieved and feel like the effects are gone. and you found out today, it's still in effect. >> reporter: a sobering reminder to always be aware of when it may be too soon to get behind the wheel. okay. i know i looked like a minion. but it really was realistic. you feel heavy. >> what was the point of the right eye thing? >> like eye sensitivity. you know how people wear sun dwla glasses. >> i thought it was to make you look more ridiculous. >> it's one of those things that people don't think about it. the trooper said he had one guy, he was doing contracting work. and he thought he was able to sleep it off. they told him, you're actually drunk still. this is the guy with the best of intentions. >> you need more time than you think you need. >> and again, the hangover suit is part of the ford driving school's for life program. teaching teens and parents the necessary skills for save driving. a lot of parents are like, you know what? i want my kid to try this. >> to be clear, though, when you were driving that car sober, it looked like you were having some issues. >> to be fair. >> you couldn't see over the wheel. >> i couldn't see over the hood. i put up the seat as high as i could go. what's going on in the orange room? >> in the orange room, how far would you go to see your favorite team play? one football fan's legal hail mary out of the un-stop right there! i'm about to pop a cap of "mmm fresh" in that washer. with unstopables in-wash scent boosters by downy. and if you want, pour a little more. ah, it's so fresh. and it's going to last from wash to... ...wear for up to 12 weeks. right, freshness for weeks! unstopables by downy. for a fresh too feisty to quit. progresso soups are so full of magnificient and delicious ingredients. they print the label on a blue ribbon. i don't see any other blue ribbon labels around here. except when i'm there, wearing the one i got for winning best at being the best. progresso soup you simply must taste it. test. test. test. test. test. test. test.s test.pu test. test. test. test. test. test. test. test. test. test. test. test. ♪ looking to lose weight this year? 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strong chemo can put you at risk of serious infection. neulasta helps reduce infection risk by boosting your white blood cell count, which strengthens your immune system. in a key study, neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17% to 1%, a 94% decrease. applied the day of chemo, neulasta onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the next day. neulasta is for certain cancer patients receiving strong chemotherapy. do not take neulasta if you're allergic to neulasta or neupogen (filgrastim). ruptured spleen, sometimes fatal as well as serious lung problems, allergic reactions, kidney injuries, and capillary leak syndrome have occurred. report abdominal or shoulder tip pain, trouble breathing or allergic reactions to your doctor right away. in patients with sickle cell disorders, serious, sometimes fatal crises can occur. the most common side effect is bone and muscle ache. so why go back there? if you'd rather be home, ask your doctor about neulasta onpro. we are back with an unexpected legal motion and the reason it's going viral this morning. carson? >> we have a little champagne taste testing going on this morning? is that happening now or later? oh, this one first. a lawyer in georgia is a die-hard university of georgia bulldogs fan. he and his brother got tickets to check out the game. they're going to the big game. they're playing the sooners in the iconic rose bowl. that's on january 1st. here's the problem. he's a lawyer and he's due in court the very next day and wouldn't be able to make it back in time. what does he do? of course, he files a spirited motion, to actually attempt to postpone the trial date. he writes -- get to some of it here. the 2018 rose bowl will be a momentous occasion for the dogs. this will be the second time the dogs appeared in the rose bowl. he went on to mention that the bulldogs head coach's mother was his english teacher. here's the ruling from the judge. plaintiff's counsel has made it clear to this court that victory for the bulldogs hinges on nothing less than the very attendance of the plaintiff's counsel at the rose bowl. so, we have a new trial date. it's set for january 25th on one condition. should the bulldogs lose, patrick has to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. on january 3rd, to tell why he must not be held in contempt of court for the loss. >> he should add that to his resume. >> that was a good one. coming up, the truth about your new year's resolutions and how achievable they really are. and girl power. savannah steps into the ring with an 11-year-old boxing star. that's right after your local news. needles. essential for vinyl, but maybe not for people with rheumatoid arthritis. because there are options. like an "unjection™". xeljanz xr. a once daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. xeljanz xr can reduce pain, swelling and further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz xr, and monitor certain liver tests. tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. needles. a must for vinyl. but for you, one pill a day may provide symptom relief. ask your doctor about xeljanz xr. an "unjection™". i love you, droolius caesar, but sometimes you stink. febreze car vent clip cleans away odors for up to 30 days. because the things you love can stink. ♪ ladies and gentleman this is a robbery. what are you doing after this? 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and extra detention. ♪ we have a look at a never before seen clip from "the breakfast club" sure to make fans fall in love all over again. today, friday, december 29th, 2017. ♪ >> it's another freezing cold plorng on the plaza. who wants a hand warmer? we're saying good morning to -- >> mississippi! >> columbia, tennessee. >> al, if you're watching -- >> dilly dilly. >> dave, you asked sandy to marry you last night. >> and i said yes! ♪ >> we're checking off a bucket list for -- >> my 70th birthday! >> so it's your first time in new york city and what's your first stop? >> a trip to the plaza! >> what was your favorite gift for christmas this year? >> being on the "today" show! >> this always makes me smile. welcome to "today." thank you for being here. savannah and hoda have the morning off. >> we'll go outside in just a bit. it is a busy friday morning. a lot happening. let's get right to your news. we start that with that tragedy here in new york city. a massive fire tore through an apartment building in the bronx last night. at least 12 people were killed including four children. nbc's ann thompson is at the scene this morning with the very latest. what do we know? >> craig, we just learned that the number of children is now five. that information comes from a press conference that just wrapped up and in a very tragic update to this story. fire officials say that the fire was started by a 3 1/2-year-old boy playing with the burners on the stove in a first floor apartment. he started the fire, yelled for his mom. his mom grabbed him and a 2-year-old child and ran out of the apartment. the problem was she didn't close the door. and as a result, the stairwell in this five floor building acted like a chimney and quickly moved that fire all the way up through all five floors. it took firefighters just three minutes to get here. and they were able to rescue many, many people, in fact, at one point there were 20 people on a fire escape. but it was not enough for those 12 people who died in the early moments of this fire. that's the latest from the bronx. now back to you. >> ann thompson. thank you. now let's talk about this weather. 220 million americans are battling subfreezing temperatures this morning and it's only going to get colder. ron mott is in chicago. >> good morning to you. weather is all about perspective. spoke to someone in the coffee shop this morning who talked about how cold it was in chicago yesterday. but she thought it was actually warmer today and it is really cold. that's the word of the day. all the way from the northern rockies and into the northeast and new england as we head into the last weekend of the year. morning low temperatures in the single digits for most places. in some places, morning lows will be below zero, not to mention these ridiculous wind chills. yesterday in minnesota there were a ton car wrecks and spinouts. but what is fortunate about the timing of this latest cold snap is that a lot of people are off during the holidays. so traffic in chicago and other places is not what it usually would be. and so driving is going to be treacherous again today, especially in the northern rockies where we got another storm system on the way. we are expecting as i mentioned a warmup in chicago. it is going to snow later on in the afternoon. >> thank you. >> we have a look at what we can expect this holiday weekend. dylan? >> craig, yeah. ron is right. 82 degrees below zero is the wind chill in mt. washington yesterday. i can't even fathom what that would feel like. but let's take a look at our current temperatures. in duluth, 26 below. that is still brutal. 3 in cleveland. raleigh, 16 degrees, the same as the wind chill in boston. the air temperature is 2 degrees. the cold extends all the way down into texas and parts of the south. so as we go through the weekend, frigid high temperatures continue to have their grip across the midwest. light snow moving into parts of the northern plains. also some light snow and even some heavier snow off the great lakes. but some light snow in parts of the northeast. on sunday, not really a whole lot going on weatherwise. temperatures, highs during the afternoon, not even making it above zero through the northern plains. we could see a bit of an icy mix. and rain down along the gulf coast. and then at midnight, brutally cold temperatures. lake-effect snow. 11 degrees in new york city. that would be a tie for the second coldest new year's eve on record if it is only 11 degrees. and then monday morning, we're looking at record lows. we should bottom out monday morning. still stays cold. but monday morning should be as cold as it gets. >> dylan, thank you. sad news this morning. showbiz legend rose marie died. marie was best known for her role as comedy writer sally rogers in the "dick van dyke show" in the 1960s. she began her career as a toddler, billed as baby rose marie. she went on to television, radio films and on the stage in las vegas. a family spokesman said she died thursday at her home in los angeles. she was 49 yea94 years old. check this out. police were chasing a man suspected of trespassing on boats when he drives the pickoff off a pier into the frigid colombia river. the 27-year-old suspect gets out of that vehicle and he starts to swim away. but eventually he turns around and some marine workers plucked him out of the water. he was treated for hypothermia. he was later booked into jail on felony charges of burglary and attempting to elude police. much more ahead including a visit from tom brokaw. he caught up with a family described as the bravest in america. >> also ahead, the best of today. what happened when savannah stepped into the ring with jess zilla, the tween taking the boxing world by storm? plus the story behind jay-z beyonce's family food. >> and the best budget bubbly to sip on this new year's eve. but first, these messages. and floors replaced. jack and jill no longer have to fetch water. they now fetch sugar-free vanilla lattes with almond milk. call geico and see how affordable homeowners insurance can be. pain from chest congestion can make this... when you have a cold, ...feel like this. all-in-one cold symptom relief from tylenol®, the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand. tylenol®. whole blendshair by garnier.ishing care. legendary olive haircare. infused with olive oil & olive leaf extracts. it softens and shines for naturally-beautiful hair. garnier whole blends legendary olive. find every blend at walmart. it was love at first touch met and all you wanted to do was surround them in comfort and protection that's why only pampers swaddlers is the #1 choice of hospitals to wrap your baby in blanket-like softness and premium protection mom: "oh hi baby" so all they feel is love wishing you love, sleep and play. pampers ♪ i'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain ♪ ♪ what glorious feeling i'm happy again, ♪ ♪ just singing, singing in the rain. ♪ and welcome back. the end of the year is a good time to reflect on what really matters. things like family, things like service to this country. tom brokaw is here this morning, along with a family from his south dakota hometown, with whom he shares a very special connection. we're going to talk to you and talk to them in just a moment. but first, their story. >> reporter: cory and jenny have come to new york for some holiday sightseeing. but more important, they're here to fulfill a christmas wish of their children, kylie and conner. they wanted to see the 9/11 memorial and museum. >> this wall didn't breech. it became a symbol of strength and resilience. >> reporter: a reminder of that horrendous day when america was attacked. >> all of the first responders were in the north tower. >> reporter: the attack that launched america into a war, that is still under way. the war that almost killed their father. cory and his national guard outfit from south dakota were hit by an i.e.d. three of his friends were killed. that was 12 years ago. and three long hospital stays. his wife, jenny, would not give up. she got him home, damaged but alive. their hometown pitched in to build a house to accommodate his wounded body. jenny constantly nourished their love and marriage. they renewed their vows on a hawaiian beach. the three of us appeared on oprah to remind everyone that those who survive but return home wounded, for them, the struggle never ends. where were you that morning? >> cory was at work that morning. and he just -- i remember him saying, i just called the guard, what can i do? where do i need to be? what can i do to help? >> reporter: this trip is part of that constant renewal to understand his sacrifice. why is it important to bring your family here to do this? >> this is, you know, where dad was injured fighting for our country because of terrorists who caused all of this. >> reporter: and you're living with the consequences of what happened. >> this is a huge part of their life. >> reporter: this is why they wanted to come. that's great. you got a heck of a family, cory. and remember the sacrifices of so many on 9/11 and thereafter. craig, i've stayed in touch with this family, in part, because they're emblematic of so many families across the country. we forget that 60,000 wounded veterans come back. and some of those who came back well later developed ptsd. and they're part of a hidden part of american life. and we have to keep reminding everyone about the sacrifices they made because they're considerable. >> i know they're from your hometown. but there's another connection between you and the family, as well. what's that? >> when he went to iraq, they were living in the house that my father built, a house i used to visit in those days. it was too small and too many steps to get up and down. the community pitched in and built him a house that's much easier for him to get around in. and got him a car so they could do things. community by community across the country, people have to step up and help the veterans because in too many instances, they're too far away from a v.a. hospital or a facility that can help them through the day-to-day facilities. >> we're delighted to have the family along with us this morning. cory and jennifer and kylie and conn conner. let me start with you. i know it's been 12 years, now, since your life changed forever. what has that time been like for you? >> well, i think it's gone fast and gone slow at the same time. we always say, this is our new normal. and we just, you know, started going day-by-day. we still go day-by-day. whatever the day brings us. >> has it gotten easier? >> has it gotten easier? yes and no. yes with his injuries and no with their schedules. >> exactly. >> kylie, i know you visited the 9/11 memorial and museum. how was that for you? >> i just think it shows that this time in the world, there's no time when there's not war. and that's all i've known. i haven't had a time in my life where there's not a war going on somewhere, some place. >> was there part of the museum that impacted you more than other parts? >> seeing the last wall just standing there alone with all the different police force and the firefighters, it really hits you. >> jenny, how about you? how was the experience? >> well, i must say about this family, they're so typical of the families out there. they get through life day-by-day. and what happens in too many communities and this happened as well, some of his earlier friends said they couldn't come around because it was too hard for them. too hard for them? come on. but they made a whole army of new friends since then. and they do a lot of things with other wounded families that are going to the mountains and having retreats and so on because you can identify with them, right? >> yep. that's one of the nice things, the friends we have made through the wounded warrior project and other wounded warriors, they understand what's going on. we don't need to tell our story. we can say we had a bad day and they understand it. and they connect with cory on not just that brotherly bond, but also that injured bond. >> we were in an audience together in south dakota. and i didn't expect to see him there. so, i said, how is it going to the middle of the audience. and he said, it's going really well. he said it through jenny. he said, i can pick out cool girls and hot cars. >> conner, how about you? what are you into these days? >> just mainly sports and -- just, that's mainly it. >> this is a big nfl family. >> uh-oh. who is the team? >> he is the only one that's a houston texans fan. >> how did that happen? >> they'll be proud to know that. they gather on sundays. that's a way they stay together, as well. we wanted them to be here in part because we wanted the rest of the country to know this goes on in so many families and so many places. and this family has been so brave and so enterprising in how they dealt with it. >> the bravest in america. >> yeah. >> thank you so much for your service, cory. thank you to the family, as well, for being a shining example. mr. brokaw, always good to have you. thank you for sharing your story. >> great to be here. let's send it over to dylan for a check of the weather. >> thanks, craig. we've been focusing on cold temperatures across the country. in the southwest, it will be a warm end to 2017. temperatures will be running 10 to 20 degrees above average. l.a. should hit friday today. 70s through the weekend. albuquerque on tuesday. albuquerque will be in the 60s. and 77 on sunday. that's one part of the country with temperatures will be above average. we have a system moving in, picking up moisture to the pacific northwest. a brief one to two inches of snow in areas just south of minneapolis-st. paul, and through iowa. the chicago area too. and this will try to make its way to the northeast. it will be a trigger to turn back on the lake-effect snow machine. 6 to 12 inches possible around the great lakes. that's that's a look at the weather across the country. now here's a peek out your window. >> we will have some very warm weather later today but it does start out cool. after we see a very chilly morning, warming up. we will have a high of 67 degrees in san jose and 62 at antioch. 60 degrees in san francisco. the next few days will feature more dry weather, cool mornings and a lot of nine. we will start to see some more clouds moving in by the end of the weekend and rain is in the forecast for wednesday and thursday of next week. >> and that's your latest forecast. guys? >> all right. thank you, dylan. guess what time it is. >> what are we doing? >> it's time to "trend." with new years around the corner, it's the time of year that so many of us vow to make a change in the new year. "the huffington post" asked therapists to weigh in on how achievable resolutions really are. they graded the resolutions on a scale of one to five. one being the most attainable. five being the most difficult to accomplish. first up, a lot of people want to lose weight. >> oh, yeah. there you go. >> therapists gave the resolution a three. makes sense. another common goal to get organized, this is more achievable, with a grade of one. we can all do it. >> that's not the most achievable. >> well, the therapists say it is. have you ever done this next one? learn to say no. they gave this one a three, as well. this one might surprise you. travel more. this got a one. they say that's because you consider day trips. that's still a trip. here's another common resolut n resolution -- spend more time with your family and friends. they gave this a two. learn a new skill or take up a new hobby, people put this one off, which they gave a three. do you have new year's resolutions? >> same ones for me. >> what are they? >> i want to spend time with friends and family. >> it's a three. it's attainable. >> i feel so common and basic. everything i named, i have. >> dylan, what's yours? >> this year, i want to focus on going to church more. i was doing really well when calvin was born. but his nap time is the same time as our mass time. we fell off a little bit. i want to make sure i get back into that. >> that's a good one. you want to tell america your other one? >> i need to stop biting my nails. >> i thought you were going to do the singing one. >> you're not going to start singing, are you? >> i want to know if it's possible to teach this voice to sing. >> it's not. >> i want to know. >> i'll turn my chair around. let's play a little game. you sing. >> come on, dylan. >> no. >> here you go. >> no, i can't. it is so bad. my whole family is cringing. >> she wants to sing to calvin. and wants calvin to be like, my mommy can sing. >> if he's the only one i sing to. >> what's your new year's resolution? >> mine is to drink more. i was slacking off the second part of the year. more water. >> hydration. big "pop start." i revolve to get through "pap sta pop start." jay-z and beyonce has coupled up for a new video. it's called "family feud," and the couple team up, as well as blue ivy, and here it is. ♪ >> hey, now. what's going on here? the carter family headed to church. jay-z and beyonce, sitting down for a confessional. interesting imagery there. no word if the couple's other two children will be featured. the full music video will be released at 4:44 today. that coincides with jay-z's album. and you can watch it on title. pink, the singer, not only vocal on stage but off it, as well. known for being open and honest as well as an advocate for others to do the same. she felt a heartfelt moment she experienced between her and a fan. here's what she wrote on twitter. a sweet momma came up to me in the grocery store and how she gets strength from my parenting because i'm not afraid to mess up in public. we wish our mommas can give ourselves and each other a break. other parents can share that sentiment, too. pink, a brother mother of two. her daughter and her son just turned 1. it's been more than 30 years since "the breakfast club." you remember that one? 30 years ago it was released. the movie became an instant classic. five high school students from different walks of life. they serve detention. do kids serve detention anymore? >> no. >> by the end of the day, they see each other in a different light and spend time each other. they have the release of "the breakfast club." 50 minutes of never-before-seen nottage. there's basket case and the princess, ally sheedy. they're in the ladies room. never saw that moment. they added some deleted scenes and interviews with the cast. that special will be released on january 2nd. that's your "pap start." "daly click" is a good one. we've been showing reactions to christmas gifts all this week. none compared to this young man. have a look. >> open it. >> banana. banana. i got a banana. >> yay. >> i got banana. i got banana. >> great. >> that's 2-year-old mason, who apparently is half-human/half-minion. he's thrilled to get a banana. had i known it was that easy to make your kids happy at christmas, i would have saved a lot of money. that video has gone viral. the priceless gift of a banana. put it in your phone for next year. >> and genuine. >> not even a great banana. look at it. >> i was thinking it the same thing. >> that was wrapped in the box for a while. >> that is the third minion's reference through this broadcast. i hope the comcast bosses are taking note. synergy. >> not even playing. still to come, an inspiring 11-year-old who shines in the boxing ring. and what's new year's eve without bubbly? we're sampling options for every taste and every budget, as well. we'll do some day drinking. >> she's been drinking all morning. >> after your local news. i )m ... apple is apologizing for good morning. it's 8:26. i'm marcus washington. apple is apologizing for slowing down older iphones. the cupper tino company is now offering to replace older batteries for just $29, dropping from the price of $80 before. apple admitted to slowing down older phones to preserve batteries. customers were never told about the slowdown or offered to purchase new batteries. battery replacement discount only applies to iphone 6 and newer phones. it will be available next month and you can get that offer until next december. right now, mike, you're tracking traffic accident in the east bay? >> yes, we have one crash in the report. i feel like that kid who just watched the "today" show, i got a banana, i got a crash. it's not an injury crash. no one's hurt. it's over, off the shoulder. we believe everything's moving smoothly, south 880 past washington. usually we have slowing in this area any other week, even on a friday, but light traffic here. the bay bridge toll plaza camera show us why we have no metering lights. there was a short period with a backup here. it has cleared up. we will look at san jose. we don't have traffic as a problem. you need sunglasses. >> that's it, make sure you pack sun glasses this morning. i'll have another local news update coming up in half an hour. ♪ toyland, toyland ♪ little girl and boy land ♪ while you dwell within it ♪ you are ever happy there daddy, it's christmas! ♪ childhood's joy land never let go of your dreams. the mercedes-benz winter event is back. lease the e300 sedan for $569 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. oh, we are back at 8:30, now, on this friday morning, december 29th, 2017. last friday of the year. and another morning of gold stars for every, single one of you who took the time to be out here on the plaza on one of the coldest days of the year. >> this has to be one of the biggest crowds i've seen. >> this is fantastic. >> my goodness. >> good morning. >> okay. >> and they're so energetic, too. they're so cold, they're delirio delirious. >> i wonder, if we just let them go, they would keep cheering. >> they haven't seen humans. >> they haven't. we're talking so much about the cold. >> yes. >> i'll bet there's two people on the plaza who are extra cold this morning because they're from scottsdale, arizona. when is the last time you were this cold? >> never. this is the first time ever. >> i hear there's a story behind this sign. you brought this all the way from arizona. >> yes. all the way from arizona. >> through security and everything. >> through security. through the check-in, on top of where the luggage is. >> and it's still intact. thank you for all your hard work. thanks for being here. freezing with us all. >> i love that. the fact you made it at home. thank you for coming. coming up, an 11-year-old girl who pulls no punches in the ring. a look back at one of our favorite stories from 2017. also, we'll pop those bottles. we'll show you the best wines and champagne for your money, if you plan on raising a glass this new year's eve. how about another check of the forecast. it's going to be cold. >> you don't need me. it is cold. it will get colder, unfortunately, as we get into 2018. so, let's look at the maps and show you what we can expect across parts of the west coast. on monday, at 11:00 a.m. eastern, it's even chilly out in pasaden pasadena, california, >> partly cloudy sky, it will warm up. back open east coast on new year's day, we have the winter classic. it is going to be very frigid, 17 degrees by game time at 1:00. but it will at least be mostly sunny. elsewhere across the country today, we are looking at a little light snow back through chicago. later today. that will move into the cleveland area. and reinforce the lake-effect snow off the great lakes going through the start of the weekend. it's icy down near charleston, south carolina. we have some freezing drizle this morning making the roads very slippery. one spot is above average out in the southwest. the northwest, though, we have another system that's making its way on shore. that means heavy snow in the mountains and some rain up near seattle stretching down into portland. now here's a peek out your window. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we have a lot of sunshine. but as we go through the day, we will have a lot of sunshine and warmer temperatures with a high of 60 degrees in san francisco. our overnight temperatures come back down into the mid-40s and more sunshine tomorrow. we will start to see an increase in cloud cover by sunday. and there may be some low clouds in san francisco. inland areas will reach into the mid-60s for the next several days. and there will be a pretty good chance of rain in the forecast starting next wednesday. >> for your weather anytime, you can head to the weather channel on cable. give a nice wave. back to you, craig. >> dylan, thank you. we are wrapping up our special week-long series, "the best of today." this is where we've been highlighting some of the people who left their mark on us in 2017. >> this is a good one. near the top of that list, a spunky tween. savannah got into the ring with a pint-sized champ that packs a mean punch. >> reporter: jessalyn silva can pack a punch. were you into princesses. >> i liked princesses when i was smaller. when i got into boxing and even when i was little, i didn't really like dolls because it was just like -- they creeped me out a little bit. >> reporter: maybe you can be a princess that boxes. ♪ jessalyn, what do you love about boxing? >> what i love about boxing is that i can express myself in so many ways. like, just by hitting the bag. and it's really fun. >> reporter: when you say you're expressing yourself when you hit the bag, what are you saying? >> when you hit the bag hard, you're saying, i got some strength. so, like, i got strength. so, don't mess with me or right in your stomach. >> reporter: you have a nickname, right? >> uh-huh. >> reporter: what is your nickname? >> my nickname is jesszilla. >> reporter: at 75 pounds, jesszilla works out for nearly two hours a day, four days a week. how did you get into boxing? >> i got into boxing when i was 7 years old. and my dad just went to the gym to lose some weight and snuftuf. i wanted to do it, too. i started to hit the bag. next thing you know, i was working on my one-two and my dad was still working on his jab. >> reporter: jessalyn's proud single dad is her biggest fan. he supports her every step of the way. >> she's got that fighting spirit, though, even at a young age. >> reporter: matches are usually against boys since not too many girls compete. are people surprised to hear you're a box center. >> they're really surprised. >> reporter: what do they say? >> they're like, wow, you are really good. people that don't like what i'm doing, they say, why are you boxing? girls shouldn't be boxing. it's a man's sport. they didn't see me before. >> reporter: when did you realize, i might be kind of good at this? >> i started to notice it when i won my first fight. i was like, wow, i'm actually really good. >> reporter: if you want to be in this sport, you got to take a punch. >> uh-huh. you have to take a punch. >> reporter: are you taken some hard punches? >> i can say i've taken some hard punches. i've taken some tough sparring and some tough fights. it's all lessons to teach you how to get better. >> reporter: i thought she could teach me how to throw a few punches. one, one-two. you play with all-boys. >> uh-huh. the first time i ever sparred, i didn't know it was going to be that tough. so, i cried. that's how i knew it takes like guts to get inside that ring. you have to have a heart for boxing. and i know i have a heart for boxing. >> reporter: blessed with brains and brawn, jess made honor roll and is proud of her achievements in and out of the ring. >> i got this medal for being an honor role student. >> reporter: do you have a favorite muhammad ali quote? >> yeah. float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. >> reporter: that's what you said. >> you have to sting like a bee, wait for the punch. and you have to be fast so their hands can't hit what their eyes can't see. >> reporter: what's your goal? what's your biggest dream? >> my biggest dream is to go to the 2024 olympics. i'm going to win the gold and represent for my country and all women. float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. >> we're going to save that video. >> i like that. >> i got a feeling that come 2024, that will probably happen. >> good stuff. i've enjoyed these stories this week. >> so have i. up next, from boargains to splurges, the best bubbly to and we're back with today's "hassle-free holiday." it wouldn't be a new year's eve celebration without some bubbly. this morning, we're running down the best wines and champagnes to get your party really popping. leslie, good morning. you have the greatest job in the world. >> i drink for a living. >> this is quite the selection you brought. where do we begin with the sparkling wins, the champagnes. >> all of these wines except for the handful at the end are under $20. >> 90% down this table -- >> $20. you don't have to spend a lot of time to have a great time. we're going to get the party started right here. i'm going to have you do a little exercise, getting ready for the new year. up and down and up and down. some of the best bubbly bargains are coming from spain and italy. you have a spanish wine here. they've been making wine since about 1552. a little bit of time on that. it's a wonderful wine. >> a beautiful bottle, too. and i call this glacial bubbly. >> we have a cooking table down there with the gang. >> hi. how are you? >> follow along. >> you have the -- i'm going to pour my punch for you. >> these are the $10 ones? >> these are available. $10 and about 12 to $15. and i have the prosecco. it's an italian sparkler. okay. it is perfect, the belini is the classic cocktail with peach juice. this is the belini bowl. one part beach juice, to two parts prosecco. >> it's not too sweet. you can add a little bourbon or vodka if you want to, too. these are bubbly bargains. party wines. >> okay. >> i like to impress people for less. both these wines, $15 and $19. trento doc. you have the rotari. >> on the left? >> that's your wine number one. isn't that wonderful? this is about $19. this is from around the city of trento in northern italy. this the one of my favorites. you don't have that. >> this is the rose sparkling. why are roses so popular? >> because they're so delicious. i have a tattoo on my leg of rose. >> a story for another day. >> we don't have enough time for that. i love it with popcorn. and i do a popcorn bar. isn't that beautiful? i remember sparkling wine is wine with sparkle. you can serve it throughout a meal. this is a beautiful new zealand rose. >> how is the new zealand one? >> that is good. mcbride sisters, with pulled pork. that's what i do at my party. >> people at home probably think they taste identical. >> they don't. and under $20. and this one i call my little -- did you like that? did you like the pulled pork? >> why is pork a good gapairing? >> pork and pino is the best pairing. this is moscato from asti. it's my fairy dust wine. >> that's like a port sparkling wine. >> isn't that gorgeous? and now, we're at the splurges. >> i need the key to open up the thing. >> do we have this one? did you splurge on us? >> no. >> these are just about $50. we have fantastic champagne. and only from champagne from the champagne region of france can be called champagne. >> five seconds, what makes a great expensive -- cristal is 300 bucks, versus a $15 battle. what makes it so great? >> the process and the time in the bottle. you have four years, this has been aged in the bottle. and you have fantastic history behind this. >> 11:59.59. >> you're back over there. >> anniversary, this side of the table. >> this has been a fun segment. thank you. if you're at home and you're trying to figure all this out, head to today.com/food. straight ahead, "america's got talent" winner, grace wan r vanderwaal is here. >> happy new year. >> i'll see you later. i ft you the cheap stuleff "today" is proudly presented to you by citi. >> since being crowned the winner of "america's got talent" at the ripe age of 12 last year, grace vanderwaal's career has taken off. >> she was named one of music's rising stars by "billboard" magazine. launched her first tour and "just the beginning" is climbing the charts. performing the single, "so much more than this," here she is, grace vanderwaal. ♪ sit right here chillin' level low ♪ ♪ close you eyes and let it flow ♪ ♪ right here next to me when i hear your heartbeat, beat ♪ ♪ when the dial turns up and the music starts playing ♪ ♪ we don't realize in this society ♪ ♪ doesn't matter how your hair looks or what they are thinking ♪ ♪ just what we are finding ♪ tom your foot and listen in ignore the world led the music cave in ♪ ♪ close your phone and breathe in the air ♪ ♪ you soon realize that there is something that is ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ the whole crowd seems to like me now ♪ ♪ 'cause i think i'm cool but back when i was in school ♪ ♪ they found it easy to hate me ♪ ♪ funny how always these times are changing ♪ ♪ back then it was so easy to shatter ♪ ♪ but now, in the end, it doesn't matter ♪ ♪ tap your foot and listen in ♪ ignore the world let the music cave in ♪ ♪ close your phone and breathe in the air ♪ ♪ you'll soon realize that there is something that is ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ all of the talk and the talk from ya ♪ ♪ won't even matter when the lights come up ♪ ♪ all of the talk and the talk from ya ♪ ♪ open your eyes and just wake up ♪ ♪ do all the things that will matter to ya ♪ ♪ open your eyes and just wake up, oh, whoa ♪ ♪ tap your foot and listen in ignore the world, let the music cave in ♪ ♪ close your phone and breathe in the air ♪ ♪ you'll soon realize that there's something that is ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ so much more than this it is what it is ♪ ♪ so much more than this oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ >> love it. grace vanderwaal, thank you. we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. >> what a voice. my wish was a clubhouse, but we call it "the wish house." people visit national parks from all over the world. food tastes better when you don't have to cook it. he was just supposed to be my dog. i don't know why. (vo) we're proud that, on behalf of our owners, the subaru share the love event will have donated over one hundred fifteen million dollars in just ten years. get 0% financing for 63 months on select models. plus we'll donate $250 to charity. it's the end of the year. everyone is in the mood to celebrate. dylan, let's celebrate some birthdays. >> my drink is empty. we'll refill while we spin around the smucker's jars and wish happy birthday to lovely people. happy 100th birthday to shay. she says her secret to longevity is visiting the beauty parlor every week. margaret is an ice cream lover who is celebrating 100 years. she's a proud mother of nine kids. happy 102nd birthday to walter hayes jr. of pennsylvania. how cool is this? walter designed and built an 18-hole grsolf course. irene dunham is 110 years old. age is just a number for this proud gardenuarardener from bat michigan. she bought herself a car when she was 100 and recently renewed her driver's license. millie ashton from norwalk, connecticut, is celebrating 106 years. she loves to sing and volunteer in her church's choir. and let's wish a happy 101st birthday to lee. he says his secret to longevity is his wife because he how well she took care of him. how sweet is that? if you have someone you want to celebrate, head to tod today.com/celebrates and include a picture. we're back with a look at what's ahead on "weekend today." tomorrow, we're going to have the latest on this relentless deep freeze. just won't quit. it's impacting new year's eve celebrations across the country. we'll look at that. on sunday, willie is looking back at the best of his sunday sitdowns, with everyone from movie stars, musicians and ceos and a president. that's on can't sunday today" with willie geist. >> a great year of that show. willie had incredible guests. great candid conversations. >> how are you bringing in the new year? >> i'm not this year. nbc had a football game on. now, they don't have a football game. >> you personally? >> i've been in times square ever year since 1998. i don't know what i'm going to do. >> i'll invite famous people to your house. >> i don't know. >> are you going to be awake at midnight? >> i don't think so. we need to put on a pot of coffee to stay up. i'm not used to having this day off. >> what are you doing to do? how are you going to bring it in? >> i will be making coffee. >> i have a feeling we'll be doing a church service. i'll pray for the rest of you. >> we all have kids. >> "megyn kelly today" is ahead. first, your local news and weather. i )m - -... apple is apologizi good morning. it's 8:26. i'm marcus washington. apple apologizing for slowing down older iphones. the company is now offering to replace older batteries for just $29. dropping the price from $80. this comes after nine lawsuits have been filed. apple admitted to slowing down older phones to preserve batteries but customers were never told about the slowdown or offered to purchase the new battery. many say apple's apology's too little, too late. >> i think people are still going to be concerned about the reason that the phone slowed down in the first place. >> not cool. i'm glad they're addressing it by giving this discounted option to get a better battery but like i said, i might not have gone to the 10 if i'd known i could have just gotten my phone working like it could have been. >> the battery replacement discount only applies to iphone 6 and newer phones. happening now as we approach the new year, chp officers are stepping up enforcement. maximum enforcement starts tonight at 6:00 and lasts through new year's day. security is tightening in san francisco for new year's eve. in san jose, police are encouraging people to report anyone lighting fireworks. and in oakland, police are warning people not to fire guns in celebration. now, we'll have another local news update in an hour. a new year. opening a (new door in california history. inside the controversial pot law getting a lot of buzz ) around the country. plus- kari will track new rain chances for your work week. ...when you join us )new years) morning from 4:30 to 7. this morning on "megyn kelly today" -- power from pain. a mother turns her addiction into redemption. then, throwing a new year's bash and don't want to invite the neighbors? we count down ways to navigate 2017's biggest night. plus, dreaming of your summer vacation? the points guy is here with secrets of getting a bigger bang for your travel buck. all that and more on "megyn kelly today," right now. [ applause ] hi. hi. hello. hi, there. hey, everybody. welcome. welcome to the show, everybody. i'm megyn kelly. it's great to have you here. toda