What the company is saying coming up. And we do say good morning to you on this Christmas Morning. This is anything but a White Christmas for most of the country. Heavy rain, of course, unseasonable temperatures and tornadoes. Not exactly something for bing crosby song. Not quite especially not in the south where christmas was ruined for many americans. Abcs Kenneth Moton has the latest. Reporter holiday weather for the record books. This Christmas Morning the Weather Threat continues for parts of the south with heavy rain causing flood watches. We woke up to Civil Defense pounding on our door telling us we had 20 minutes to leave our homes. Reporter people evacuated their homes to escape floodwaters from the south the more than a dozen killed when 24 tornadoes. And one stretched 150 miles destroying homes and lives. If you look at the damage here, it is as bad as any tornado that weve had and ive reporter in wisconsin, crews are working overtime to restore power after strong winds wreaked havoc in other parts of the midwest, snow and lots of it. A heavy downfall in omaha, nightmare before christmas. Its impossible for me to get there. Its insane. Reporter along the east coast its not a White Christmas but its definitely a warm one. Record highs from florida to vermont. In new york city, 70degree weather had people in shorts and tshirts. Im loving it. Everyone should have a hot holiday. I dont have to go to florida or california. Im fine right here. Reporter those residents should enjoy the warm christmas because temperatures are expected to drop next week. Washington. There were several tornadoes in Northern California east of sacramento. Some roofs were damaged. Trees and fences torn down. But there were no reports of injuries. One Traffic Accident is plamed on the tornadoes though the driver was distracted by the storm. Holiday travel could be a nightmare in other parts of the country. Heres accuweathers cam tran, good morning, cam. Well, happy christmas. Good morning. Itll remain balmy out in the east so if youre looking for a White Christmas you have to head out west. Pressure will bring widespread snow utah and western colorado and will shift and brings it into the northern plains. Could see Poor Visibility as well as drifting snow making travel a bit dangerous. The system will move into minneapolis by saturday morning but the big storm system were talking about will be over the weekend. We have a major storm saling across the south that will bring blizzardlike conditions into panhandle and could see upwards of ten inches of snow in el paso, as well looking at heavy rain in east texas and Severe Weather possible in the Lower Mississippi so heading back home for the holidays could be a bit dangerous. Back to you, kendis and marci. Breaking news from africa where more than 100 have died in a gas explosion. It unfolded when a tanker truck ignited an inferno at a gat plant in nigeria. Hundreds of people were lined up to refill their cooking gas cylinders in time for christmas. Witnesses described the horrible scene with many of the victims burned beyond recognition. And from the vatican, the pope sending a somber message during his Christmas Eve mass. Noting the simplicity of jesus christs birth pope francis condemned what he called societys intoxication with consumerism, pleasure and abundance and wealth and said jesus calls on christians to act simple, balanced, consistent and capable of doing what is essential and delivers his christmas message and blessing and hell do that in 50 languages. Fewer pilgrims in the holy land put off by a surge of violence between israelis and palestinians. The palestinian president joined christian faithful for Midnight Mass in bethlehem. Yesterday was quiet. In North Carolina chaos at a mall after gunfire erupted between two groups of feuding teenagers. Police in charlotte say an offduty officer shot and killed one of the gunmen. Panic shoppers scrammed for cover and the officer was placed on administrative leave until an investigation is complete. There were black lives matter protests on Christmas Eve including in chicago. Investigators released recordings of Chicago Police radio calls from the night teenager Laquan Mcdonald was shot and killed. Five minutes pass between a request for a taser and when Jason Van Dyke opened fire. Shots fired by the police. Shots fired by the police. You guys okay . Everything is fine. Roll an ambulance over here. Reporter the protest about that shooting 100 demonstrators marched along chicagos busiest shopping district but this protest appeared to have less impact on merchants and a bigger one held on black friday. The Obama Administration is getting g ting to launch a new salvo. The department of Homeland Security is going to sent thousands of immigrants living here illegally. Pierre thomas has the latest. Reporter they came from the southern border by the thousands. Children and families, in some cases fleeing violence and persecution in Central America. Many bussed beyond the border some facing angry crowds while fate. Now with illegal border crossings spiking again, hundreds of those families are being targeted for deportation in a series of sweeps that could approved by the white house. I think what theyre trying to do is send a message saying dont come and in order to do that, i think they believe their images of families being offloaded in planes in Central America that its going to deter people from coming. Reporter the families targeted had their requests denied but their removal is sparking controversy because the Obama Administration has typically focused on deporting criminals, not families. A very tough day for this news to break on Christmas Eve. Reporter some said the plan is symbolic window dressing that will do nothing to stem the tide of illegal immigration. In many cases these families will have to be tracked down but immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are confident its too difficult for families to hide, they say. Opposition to this plan is already fierce. Pierre thomas, abc news, washington. Well, straight ahead, 2015 is so over when it comes to your money. What wall street is looking forward to. Fedex not making any friends this morning thanks to some deliveries that still need to be made. Yeah, so what is the company doing about it. The americans who spent 444 days in captivity in iran, uncle sam offering up a healthy i have asthma. One of many pieces in my life. So when my asthma symptoms kept coming back on my longterm control medicine, i talked to my doctor and found a missing piece in my asthma treatment. Oncedaily breo prevents asthma symptoms. Breo is for adults with asthma not well controlled on a longterm asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Breo wont replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. Breo opens up airways to help improve breathing for a full 24 breo contains a type of medicine that increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents. Breo is not for people whose asthma is well controlled on a longterm asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Once your asthma is well controlled, your doctor will decide if you can stop breo and prescribe a different asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Do not take breo more than prescribed. See your doctor if your asthma does not improve or gets worse. Ask your doctor if 24hour breo could be a missing piece for you. See if youre eligible for 12 months free at mybreo. Com. Well, if you have been waiting and waiting and the Christmas Gifts still havent arrived, believe it or not fedex says theres still some hope. The shipping giant will be delivering packages today and opening counters at its express offices so customers can pick up gifts themselves. The bad weather in the south and lastminute surge of Holiday Shopping delayed some Christmas Eve deliveries. Analysts agree the biggest bargains in stores tomorrow will be clothing. Thats always true but this years discounts may be even better because the warmer than expected temperatures has put a crimp in winter clothing sales. One analyst says the best deals will be at Department Stores which are struggling the most this year. Twothirds of us plan to shop the postchristmas sales. And when it comes to the money you have invested, those who manage it are already looking ahead to 2016. Some Mutual Fund Managers and analysts say you should expect lower returns from stocks many could the new year and a few economists are predicting a recession with one week of trading left this year the dow is in negative territory, nasdaq we may never know exactly what caused the e. Coli outbreak at two chipotle restaurants. Thats the word from chipotle which says it no longer has any of the ingredients that might have been contaminated. Health officials also acknowledge the problem, chipotles emphasis on fresh, locally produced ingredients may work against it here. Chipotles sales have taken a beating in recent months. All right, when we come back, a shocker from janet jackson. Some bad news for fans who might have been looking forward to seeing her back on stage. Quite a surprise on the streets of the mile high city. Elevation. Lets put it that way. Stay with us. Od clot. What about my family . My lil buddy . 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Ptell your doctor about all planned medical or dental v eliquis treats v plus had less major bleeding. Both made switching to eliquis right for me. Ask your doctor if its right for you. You never know when itll be so dont trust your smile to any regular toothpaste. Removes 5 times morerstains than the red box. Try the whole collection for a smile that gets you noticed. Right when you feel a cold sore, abreva can heal it in as few as two and a half days when used at the first sign. Without it the virus spreads from cell to cell. Only abreva penetrates deep and starts to work immediately to block the virus and protect healthy cells. You could heal your cold sore, fast, as fast as two and a half days learn how abreva starts to work immediately at abreva. Com dont tough it out, knock it out, fast. With abreva. As we mentioned earlier one place having a White Christmas is omaha. The 6 inches or snow of fell that fell werent in the forecast. Not only caught the meteorologists by surprise but the road crews, as well leading to accidents and traffic jams, but no major injuries. Snowy roads likely in many more places this morning from the rockies across to the twin cities in the south flooding is the main problem with wet road as cross the ohio valley and possibly into the midatlantic states. If youre flying airport delays are likeliest in houston, memphis, washington and denver. 36 years after their capture the americans taken hostage in tehran in 1979 are set to receive millions of dollars in its news that brought tears to the eyes of the former hostages. Tom llamas has the details. Reporter more than 30 years after those american hostages were paraded before the world, a measure of justice. The 53 americans seized by an angry mob that stormed the u. S. Embassy in tehran in 1979. Will spend at least another night imprisoned in the embassy. Reporter they became international pawns. Their ordeal dragging on for more than a year, rodney sickman was one of them, a 22yearold marine serving as a Security Guard at the embassy. Being held hostage was 444 days of a bad nightmare where each day we woke up, we thought we were dead. Reporter finally on the day Ronald Reagan was sworn in they won freedom for 52 americans. Reporter in all the years since the former hostages fought for compensation and now its finally come. Buried in a budget bill president obama signed last friday, they will each receive thats 10,000 for every one of the 444 days they spent in cap difficulty. Sickmann calls it justice. Tom llamas, abc news, new york. Some personals in the news this Christmas Morning. Bristol palin gave birth to sailor grace. She hasnt publicly identified sailor graces father but dakota meyer posted best Christmas Present ever. Troubling news about pop star janet jackson. She posted on instagram that she is postponing her unbreakable world tour until the spring because of an undisclosed upcoming surgery but told fans to hang on to their tickets until her concerts are rescheduled. California governor jerry brown has given actor Robert Downey jr. An official pardon for that 1996 drug conviction that landed him in prison. Browns office says he has since the ironmans conviction will remain on his record but Voting Rights to him will be restored. Five games on the nba christmas schedule including a rematch of last seasons finals between the warriors an cavaliers. As for the Christmas Eve football action, highlights now from espn. Good morning, america. And especially those watching in utica who like john buccigross. Merry christmas to my favorite utica viewers. There was a Football Game played on Christmas Eve, an nfl Football Game. Nfl Football Game, a lot of college. Its the capital one bowl mania. Charles woodson, final season in the nfl. Final home game in oakland, saying goodbye from free month, ohio and will return to ohio into the hall of fame, canton, less than two months of free month and phil rivers in overtime incomplete. Jankowski kicked a field goal and raiders win in his final home game as a raider. Bahamas thursday for the popeyes bahamas bowl between western michigan, middle tennessee. Jamari bogan stealing the show, 215 yards rushing. Four touchdowns, the kids from kalamazoo are happy and broncos win it, 4531. I dont know what you got, america, but i got them those two highlights. Merry christmas, utica. Merry christmas, america. Environmentalists delivering a buzzkill over christmas lights. While Holiday Light displays are just a small fraction of what we consume consider this. They burn up more energy than nations use in an entire year. Cambodia as an example. Up next, that surprise we it was all for a good cause actually. And the holiday treat, nfl locker room style light the fireplace, our christmas pulse is straight ahead. When heartburn hits fight back fast tums smoothies starts dissolving your tongue and neutralizes stomach acid at the source tum, tum, tum, tum hey amanda, sorry to bother you but i gotta take a sick day. Moms dont take sick days, moms take dayquil severe the nondrowsy, coughing, aching, fever, sore throat, stuffy head, no sick days, medicine. Now that weve added an adjustable base, my favorite part is to be able to lift your legs up a little bit. And it feels like im just cradled. Tat Mattress Firm get zero percent apr financing. And there you have it. Visit Mattress Firm, americas number one tempurpedic retailer today. What if the sweet stevia leaf was discovered. Before the sugarcane. And everything had fewer calories. Truvia. Life with less sugar is just as sweet. When cigarette cravings hit, all i can think about is getting relief. Only nicorette mini has a patented fastdissolving formula. It starts to relieve i never know when ill need relief. Thats why i only choose nicorette mini. A quick wardrobe change as were making our way to the fireplace here and christmas threw up on me on the way over here. A special christmas edition, of course, of the pulse and were going to start with the traditional christmas meal in japan. Christmas is not a National Holiday there but having a meal of kfc Fried Chicken with the colonel is the way many celebrate the day there apparently. It is so popular that people start making reservations in october. Thats insane. Wait time, by the way, can be as long as six hours without a reservation. The tradition dates back to 1974. How did that get started . I have so many questions about this. But i like it. Delicious tradition. Agreed. Team that is as hot as this fire burning behind us talking about the carolina panthers. As hot as this suit. They are undefeated, 140 right regular season, and they can wrap up Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs with a win on sunday. These panthers arent all rough and tough, though. They have a seasonal musical side as we check them out right now. Really . Yeah. Sleep in heaven heavenly peace Merry Christmas to all of you Merry Christmas to all of you Merry Christmas, everybody. Merry christmas. I love that they were hitting the notes while completely stark naked, the other guy there. I like it as well and i like when you sing along to it. Ill pass on that but thats panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker in his rudolph suit and his friend all nude hitting all the right notes in the carolina locker room after practice. A simple suggestion, guys, dont quit the day job. Id give money to watch more of this. Really . Oh, yeah. Also hitting a high note on the way in to christmas, a Nonprofit Group in denver that gave free marijuana joints to the homeless and anyone else who wanted one. The Group Cannabis can says its high time that the homeless had access to rest rooms and showers so the group is raising money. Oh, by giving this to them. Its illegal to smoke marijuana in public in colorado, by the way, but giving it as a gift is okay. The group wishes everybody, cannimas. Very festive. So there are a lot of home guys with the munchies this morning in denver. All right. Stay with us. More news coming up. Im going to burn this over there. Just head around the corner to walgreens when you re searching for that Perfect Little something. Walgreens has great gifts like toys, beauty gift sets, and photo gifts, and it s all just a hop, skip, and a bark away. Most stores open the flu virus hits big. With aches, chills, and fever, theres no such thing as a little flu. And it needs a big solution an antiviral. So when the flu hits, call your doctor right away and up the ante with antiviral tamiflu. Prescription tamiflu is an antiviral that attacks the flu virus at its source from spreading in the body. Tamiflu is fda approved in people two weeks of age and older whose flu symptoms started within before taking tamiflu, if youre pregnant, nursing, have Serious Health conditions, or take other medicines. If you develop an allergic reaction, a severe rash, or signs of unusual behavior, stop taking tamiflu and call your doctor immediately. Children and adolescents may be at an of seizures, confusion, or the most common vomiting. Antiflu . Go antiviral with tamiflu. Our top stories more than 100 people are dead following a gas explosion in nigeria. The disaster unfolding when a tanker truck ignited an inferno at a gas industrial plant. The south. There was also heavy rain, flooding and at least one mudslide. Seven of the deaths were in mississippi. Freaky weather also in michigan. A rare tornado there in detroit and several to Northern California. The brief twisters east of sacramento damaged cars and property, but there were no serious injuries. And looking at todays weather, chilly in the west, a free watch for the bay area. Snow across the upper plains. More rain moving into the ohio Christmas Morning lets take a visit, shall we, to whats being called californias Miracle Manor. Its an apartment complex for families with children who are critically ill. The Miracle Manor is near what is known as choc, the Childrens Hospital of orange county. Kabc reporter greg lee paid a visit. Reporter Bridgette Colby unpacks boxes while her two kid s s are here. It may not seem like much but to them its a miracle. Our family is whole and that we can be a family and do what we need to do. Reporter when she was 1, doctors diagnosed sophia with hlh, an extremely rare disease that causes her immune system to attack her own tissues and organs. She began intensive treatment including chemotherapy and her Family Spending weeks at a time at Childrens Hospital of orange county, all of it taking a serious toll . Is it the meds, is if the all those things add up exponential. Reporter the family nearly lost their home and the nonprofit asked them to be the first family to move into the Miracle Manor, an apartment complex less than a mile when choc built specifically for families with critically ill children. A place where they could feel safe and comforted and part of the community. Reporter doctors continue to monitor sophia after a bone Marrow Transplant from her father and while the family doesnt know what to expect the 11yearolds just enjoying her new home and the friends dealing with the same things. I like it very much and i like how its for families so that way theres more kids to play with around here. Reporter the colbys manage the property for four other families with critical illnesses, and while they wait to open their presents, bridget said this new community is more than a gift, its a miracle. This gives the ten years of what weve been doing a purpose and hopefully we can help them get through it a little easier than we did. Reporter construction is