Bill passed by congress. Dire situation officials warning of a deadly postchristmas surge the governor of california says hospitalizations will double in 30 days, but the states icu capacity is already at zero. In los angeles one person is dying every ten minutes. Stopping the spread. A highly infectious new strain of covid is showing up in more countries as european nations gear up to vaccinate across the continent. And steals, deals and returns. How to get the best postchristmas prices and return those unwanted packages. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with jose diazbalart. Good evening im kate snow in for jose tonight. Federal Authorities Say they have moved in today on the home of a man they believe could be connected to a deliberately set bomb inside an rv that exploded on Christmas Morning in downtown nashville. The blast left at least three injured and destroyed businesses up and down a central commercial street the governor today saying hes asked President Trump for an Emergency Declaration given the severity and magnitude of the situation. We begin tonight with Morgan Chesky in nashville. Reporter tonight senior federal Law Enforcement officials tell nbc news theyre searching the nashvillearea home of 63yearold Anthony Quinn warner theyre looking for evidence in connection with the Christmas Morning crime. A possible clue, officials say, a google street view image of the address shows an rv as an identical match of the same vehicle Nashville Police say was used in the bombing that rocked music city the explosion authorities call intentional shattered windows, smashed through doors and damaged nearly 40 downtown buildings. The blast coming from an rv parked near the at t transmission building and right outside the home of betsy williams, who woke to the sound of gunshots, then heard a strange voice coming from the vehicle. And it was a mechanized computerized female voice. What did it say it said evacuate now there is a bomb in this vehicle. This vehicle will explode. Evacuate now. Reporter williams and her family got out just in time. Three others were injured. [ sirens ] tonight Authorities Say theyve recovered human tissue in the wreckage but little else were standing just blocks away from such devastation is nashville safe tonight . Nashville is safe we have no known threats against the city were following up on every Investigative Lead that we have. Reporter Nashville Police chief john drake quick to credit the six officers who first encountered the rv each rushing to clear the area and get nearby residents to safety they went with their gut instinct and immediately began evacuating people. Wed be talking about a lot of people seriously injured had they not taken those actions reporter the at t outage disrupted 911 access and grounded flights at nashville airport yesterday. Full restoration could take days as some residents across tennessee and in parts of georgia, alabama and kentucky are cut off from cell phone and internet access. Tonight music city eerily quiet as investigators piece together a crime scene they call a massive puzzle you could outline a dozen different scenarios of this of what could have happened, but we were just damn lucky. Morgan joins us now from downtown nashville morgan, those pictures what is being done to help people in the neighborhood reporter yeah, kate. This i a popular neighborhood that a lot of people live and work in so to help them out the governor of tennessee now requesting federal assistance from fema those funds likely going right to cleaning up all of this debris a lot of the folks who live here that ive spoken to have compared it to a war zone. Kate morgan, thanks for being there for us our other top story tonight for millions of americans th Economic Impact of the pandemic has been devastating and federal assistance a lifeline now that federal assistance is about to run out benefits are set to expire tonight because congress and the president are deadlocked over covid relief legislation heres Garrett Haake reporter across a pandemicravaged nation tonight reality sinking in help from washington isnt on the way. Grandmother nicole akers in wilkesbarre, pennsylvania, is staring down her last week of unemployment. The panic mode has now kicked in you know, my unemployment is not a whole its not a heck of a lot. But its gotten us by. But this now is going to be a real struggle. Reporter today two federal Unemployment Insurance programs that would have been extended in the relief bill now expire cutting benefits for some 12 million americans. Millions more could be put out of their homes in january. The federal Eviction Moratorium is the next Major Program to expire on new years eve if the president doesnt act. Nicole is watching that deadline, too. Come january, i probably wont be able to make my rent payment. Reporter on the president s desk the bipartisan bill his administration helped negotiate, which he now refuses to sign tweeting this morning i simply want to get our great people 2,000 rather than the measly 600 that is now in the bill. And complaining about pork actually foreign aid spending requested in the white houses budget trump ally Lindsey Graham tweeting after christmas golf with the president that mr trump is more determined than ever to get the 2,000 direct payment, which he calls reasonable. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has made no Public Comment on the president s demand President Trump never left his maralago resort today, tweeting about the election results, calling the Supreme Court incompetent and weak and his successor a fake president that successor, president elect joe biden this afternoon issuing a lengthy statement on the covid relief bill which reads in part, this bill is critical it needs to be signed into law now. And garretts with us now garrett, what happens if the president doesnt sign the bill . Reporter well, Congress Comes back to washington on monday, and democrats will try to pass those 2,000 direct payments theyre also likely to try to pass a government funding extension, but if the president doesnt sign that or the relief and spending bill by midnight monday, the government shuts down. Kate all right Garrett Haake following it for us in california where the Health Care System is already operating at capacity theres real concern tonight that a new postholiday surge will make things even worse. Meagan fitzgerald has our report reporter for millions of americans it was a dark christmas. Were seeing the biggest numbers that weve seen so far in the pandemic. Reporter the epicenter, california, where statewide icu bed capacity stands at zero percent and the governor warning the second holiday surge could be deadlier than the first were projecting that our hospital numbers will double in just the next 30 days. Reporter in Los Angeles County a person dies every ten minutes from covid doctors say the consequences of christmas gatherings will be a breaking point this is pretty taxing theres no icu beds. We keep opening up new covid units. We will end up just like new york ended up in april, in crisis care. You dont want to be in that place. Reporter another concern, the highly contagious strain thats running rampant in the uk testing for that has begun in l. A. Tennessee, second only to california in cases per capita, now has just 12 icu availability many Critical Care nurses there are seeing patients die on every shift. Were working so hard and working to support our team. And we need our community to support us reporter adding to the national crisis, more than 8 Million People flew for the holiday. The busiest period since the pandemic began College Sports continue to get hit by covid university of michigan announcing 199 student athletes have now tested positive to date dukes Womens Basketball canceling the remainder of their season due to health and safety concerns now in the second week of the vaccine rollout dr. Hussein sadrzadeh in boston appears to be the first to have a severe reaction to the moderna vaccine, using his own epipen on himself. Today he told us hes still experiencing symptoms he believes are linked to the vaccine, a vaccine viewed as armor for medical workers on the front lines facing a new surge after a season of sadness. These people are dying alone because theyre in a covid unit. No family members, no friends, no husband or wife there they die alone and meagan, hospitalizations in l. A. County have more than tripled in the past month. What are hospitals doing to prepare for this potential next surge . Reporter well, kate, hospitals like this one had 20 Covid Patients before thanksgiving now they have 130. So like other medical systems across the county theyre bringing in more staff like travel nurses and adding more beds to try and meet the demand. Kate thank you. And in europe tonight, more countries are detecting that new highly contagious variant of the disease. Nbcs matt bradley is in paris tracking that story for us matt, where has this new strain been found reporter well, kate, french authorities said last night that the first case here in france was discovered, it was a frenchman who had been living in britain and had returned last week Authorities Say hes asymptomatic and sheltering at home so now sweden, spain, japan, and canada all have reported their first cases, and all of them can be linked at least somewhat back to britain. Kate and matt, help could be coming, right . Some European Countries have begun vaccinations reporter well, the whole effort is going to start tomorrow for all 27 eu countries. The Pfizer Vaccine has been delivering just yesterday, and today germany and hungary have started their first vaccinations in germany the first one went to a 101yearold woman who lives in a nursing home, but important to note, kate, that all of the approved vaccines according to scientists will be effective against this new mutant variant kate all right matt bradley, thank you. Europe is beginning to deploy those vaccines, and the race is on to do that across the globe now while many are still being produced in several countries theres real concern some will have to wait years for their shot heres bill neely. Reporter in the global race between injections and infections millions have now been vaccinated against the covid virus. In china, where it first appeared, more than 20 vaccines are in production. Several approved are now being sent abroad. Big problem reporter the governor of brazils most populous state says hell try to force people to have one of the chinese vaccines next month. In a country with the second highest death toll in the world after the u. S. Yet china hasnt finished trials for its key vaccines we havent seen that yet. Reporter where scientists also acknowledge the urgent demand theres no border to this pandemic, and there shouldnt be a border to the vaccine. Reporter russias sputnik vaccine is another shot in the dark its final Clinical Trial results still unpublished. It doesnt mean that the vaccines are unsafe. And i would argue that to make that assumption is a terrible mistake. Reporter but Many Russians are skeptical. I think its dangerous. Im scared very much. Maybe ill take it, yeah. Why not . Reporter yet the european vaccine Maker Astrazeneca have signed a deal with russia to develop vaccines the Pfizer Vaccine, which needs ultra cold storage, may never reach the poorest parts of the world. Many countries cant afford costly western vaccines. There is a need for the world to receive this vaccine. There should be access everywhere reporter which is why g20 leaders pledged last month to share vaccines with poorer nations. The chinese virus reporter but vaccine nationalism wont end soon who was first . Whose is the best . Whos the most generous . The race is still on as the virus mutates and thousands die by the day never before has the whole world set out to vaccinate its population with rich countries making and buying up most of the vaccines it could be years before millions in developing nations get one. The problem for us well, no one is safe until were all safe. Kate bill neely, thank you still ahead tonight, with christmas over, where to get the really good deals. Also, how to return those Holiday Gifts safely and efficiently. Were back now with the price you pay and the sales to move that unsold holiday inventory. Kathy park reports on how and where to find the best bargains. Reporter with the presents unwrapped, millions are no dashing for postholiday deals the sales are incredible. Reporter this year more than 30 of americans plan to cash in on afterchristmas clearance sales. If you still have the shopping bug after christmas, there are some things that i would focus on right now holidaythemed items, holiday decor. Retailers are going to be looking to clear space for the new season coming in reporter what else is worth the deals . Winter apparel im looking for sweaters. Reporter with the pandemic driving more online shopping, chances are your inbox is flooded with retailers looking to grab your attention with eyecatching offers. Walmart, target, and macys posting savings stretching from 20 to 70 off the deals instore and online are more level than theyve ever been, as retailers try to create an environment where consumers feel comfortable shopping, whether its instore or online. Reporter if you plan to use a gi carft pairing it with a savings platform like slickdeals. Net could stretch your dollar even further set a deal alert on that site and youll be alerted to when any specific items go on sale. Reporter and while the prices kee dropping for many items, consumer experts say there are some products to consider keeping off your list for now. I would hold off until january for things in the new year new you category like fitness items, wellness items, also hold off on tvs until right before the super bowl, because thats when theyll be on sale again. Reporter heading into 2021, with more bargains on the horizon. Kathy park, nbc news and while youre stocking up on those deals, you might need to make some returns well tell you the best way to do those and one little girls Christmas Wish come true how she helped to update an iconic toy with so Many Americans shopping online this year, retailers are anticipating record returns of Unwanted Gifts in the coming days, and this year its even more complicated because of the coronavirus pandemic jo kent now on the best way to return reporter the gift giving is done and the stockings unstuffed. But what if santa didnt quite hit the mark this year were expecting to have a major surge in overall customers returns this year. Reporter with so many still stuck at home the likelihood of gifts being sent back is higher than ever. Experts predict that 115 billion worth of goods will be returned items bought online are returned three times as often as those bought inperson. As customers buy more online the expectations for returns are extremely high they expect fast refunds they expect easy to make exchanges, and some of this has been driven by amazon. Reporter this year more retailers than ever are offering a new concept called express returns. Companies like amazon are using designated dropoff points at places like whole foods, kohls, and the u. P. S. Store. Other brands like gap, levis and Neiman Marcus setting up concierge dropoff points in Shopping Centers across the country. Like mall of America Walmart recently announced free returns with fedex pickup so you can send online gifts back without leaving home but for Small Business owners like mackenzie farquay of lockwood boutiques keeping up is tough. Well, when you see an order come through thats the same garment but two sizes you know exactly whats going to happen one of those is going to get returned at someones expense, but theres not much i can do. I think consumers have been trained to overbuy and return. Reporter but she knows that Customer Satisfaction is king. If a return is going to make someone a returning customer to lockwood, then the return should always be in the customers favor. Reporter if youre looking to bring back a gift this year season make sure you look up your retailers return policy. Major stores like target, amazon and macys extending until january 31st and if you do miss the deadline the online resale market is booming. Sites like poshmark, offer up and mercari providing a way to unload gifts and get some extra cash in your pocket. Jo ling kent, nbc news, los angeles. When we come back, Mission Accomplished some good news about a little girl who wanted to change a classic toy. How a toymaker in a different state helped make her wish come true theres good news on this Christmas Holiday weekend. You know those little green soldiers that have been popular toys for decades well, theyre finally being updated to look like a modern, more inclusive military, thanks to one little girl with a big idea reporter from under the Christmas Tree amazing reporter a special gift more than a year in the making but well worth the wait for 7yearold vivian lord in little rock, arkansas im so happy. I just opened the box and there the woman figures were reporter the toys were based on women in the military something vivian wanted after noticing there were just boy toy soldiers she came over and said, mommy, why are none of these girls . And it was one of those moments where i was like, i never thought of that. What a cool question reporter so vivian reached out to Toy Companies last year, writing, my friends mom is in the army, too. So why dont you make them too i would play with them every day. Jeff imel from bmc toys in scranton, pennsylvania, was so inspired by the idea he decided to give it a try when i saw the letter, first thing was like, you know, this one would be hard to say no to reporter determined to get it just right, he spent months researching photos, sketching and working with sculptors and prototypes, making sets of 16 figures, including a military nurse dog handler, even one based on rosie the riveter. The one thing i kept in my mind all year over this is no matter what happens i have to get vivian a set of women soldiers for christmas so even if i only get one set made, i have to get her her set this year. Reporter but when word got out, his orders started to skyrocket. This just gives girls like vivian just some more options during that time when theyre playing. This is just a tool to help kids be the hero of their own story reporter vivians vision, a powerful lesson that even little girls can make a big difference. I want to say to them that if you want to do something keep trying until it comes true were proud of her. Its a great story of speaking up its about children having a voice. About equality, women, empowerment. I mean, its everything. Vivian and her mom are saving some packs of the new soldiers so one day vivian can show her own children that is nbc nightly news on this saturday. Im kate snow. Hope you had a Merry Christmas for all of us at nbc news, stay safe and have a good night oh, my gosh look at all these right now at 6 00, were tracking a another storm headed for the bay area and different from the last one. Cases are soaring. The record set in one bay area county today and the message from Health Leaders guested tested for coronavirus. If President Trump doesnt sign the covid relief bill in the next 6 hours whats at stake for you . The news at 6 00 starts right now. Good evening, everyone. Thanks for joining us. And relatively nice and clear day across the bay area today, but more rain is on the way. A live look outside. Some of our Traffic Cameras working for you. Clouds beginning to roll in. This next storm is going to bring some rain. How about some snow in the sierra vianey arana tracking it all. Hey there. Good night. Hey, terry. Hey janelle, were going to start to see those clouds rolling in yet again. You might have noticed it was a pretty mild day, pretty humid at times especially when you woke up this morning when we had the last of at