A powerful storm takes aim at the east coast this morning with snow, ice, freezing rain and high winds. Double check your paycheck. Why new irs guidelines can cause confusion. Shell the movie about patty hearst. A major afloumt from facebook overnight. The big changes coming. Its friday, january 12, 2018. Are from nbc, this is today from ved with Savannah Guthrie and hoeta kotb from rockefeller plaza. Gorpg, everybody. Welcome to today. Its 7 00 a. M. On the west coast. Gone and happy friday. Its been a busy morning. Our top story with new 2kw0789s. It is lots to keep up with. The fire storms sparked here at home and around the world over reports that the president made a vulgar remark about haiti and some african nations. The president himself directly addressing controversy this morning in a series of tweets. Theres already a back and forth. Our correspondent is live with the latest. Bring us up to dates. Reporter a big back and forth. That deal being negotiation on clip may have been been derailed by the president s comments. This morning he is twreeting, saying this never said anything derogatory about haitians other than haiti is obviously a very poor and troubled country. I have a wonderful relationship with haitians. Unfortunately, no trust. This morning, a bitter backlash after President Trump referred to haiti and after cap nations as slowell countries during a meeting structures. The president t started tweeting this morning, denies that he used those words. It is not true. He said these hatefilled things repeatedly. Now the ambassador to the u. S. Vehemently condemning the remarks, summoning a u. S. Official to explain. The ambassador slamming mr. Trump saying either the president has been misinformed or he is miseducated. The president was meeting with a bipart San Antonio Group of lawmakers thursday at the white house when he asked about people from haiti and after ka saying why do we want hes people here from shole countries. We should have more people like norway. Why do we need more haitianss . Take them out, he said. According to two conversations briefed on the conversation. Someone else responded because if you do, it will be obvious why. Those words infuriating democrats and republicans alike. This woman calling the comments unkind, divisive, elitist. Jeb bush tweeted i hope todays comments were a crash and flippant mistake and do not reflect the hateful racism they imply. Others speaking outs overnight. Yod agree at all. This morning, this colorful headline and illustration. A white house spokesman not denying the president made the remarks. Certain washington politicians choose to fight for foreign can countries but President Trump will always fight for the american people. Still, the comments could make democrats less likely to compromise on immigration. On thursday, a deal seemed close for a period of time but the white house and many conservatives werent on board. We still think wreck get there. Were very focused on trying to make sure that happens. Prrchl v President Trump has canceled a trip to london next month. He blamed his move on former president obama who he accused of moving the u. S. Embassy to a new location but that was actually a Bush Administration decision. Many t of his decisions have been unpopular. Back to this remark. The president tweeting this morning, essentially, that he different say it. Dick durbin, a senator, a democrat saying yes, he did. Repeatedly. Hows the white house handling this . Theyve been up against these kinds of issues before. We have. They insist this is not a rabl comment but getting tough on immigration. As you point out, many say this latests controversy is unsurprising. Remember, the president launched his career by saying president obama wasnt born in the u. S. In his First OfficialCampaign Speech plump said they were rainest and would bring crime to the white house. The president seemed to equate the countercharlotte protesters by saying there were the fine people on both sides. Kristin, thank you. The frantic search for possible victims still missing in the wake of the tragedy mudslides in southern california. Here we are three days later. A heart breaking look at the new damage. Miguel alma gear is with us. Miguel, good morning . Good morning. Authorities say this is still a search and rescue mission but here it looks like more like a recovery. These bolders came down the hill. The number listed was 43. Weve heard that number is revised to five. Finding any survivors in this would be a difficult task. In this massive area of devastation, search and rescue teams are still hoping for a miracle. With so many roads still blocked, the size and scope of the disaster can only be fully understood from the air. This is some of the worst devastation we have seen. The homes here look like theyve been gutted. Boweled ersz have gone through living rooms and bedrooms. The normally pristine shoreline marred with debris. Highway 101 shut down until at least next week. There have been more than a hundred air rescues. Choppers plucking families and pets to safety from places too difficult and dangerous for ground teams to reach. Youll see three or four houses that are completely basically inaccessible from anywhere. Turn around this is the moment when these hillsides came crashing down. Get out of here, go ripping up gas lines and setting off a huge fire in the middle of rainstorm. 400 feed of fire in the heir. A big mushroom fire cloud over our whole neighborhood. Maria isiss home is in ruins but she and her family survived. It doesnt make sense. Just these huge bolders and trees going sideways. Its the most scary, unsettling feeling youll ever have. Those who made it out grateful for what they have, including celebrities like oprah, pledging her support toss fellow resident ellen degeneres. Im going to do what i can do for the rest of the community. Authorizes are trying to expand the evacuation zone and bringing in massive machinery to help move the debris. The search and rescue missionst under way today. Back to you. Thank you so much. Now were following that. Also following the weather coming. As we look at whats going on, the radar tells the story. Its rare to see this. You can see ahead of this system its 57 in cleveland. Beckley west virginia, birmingham, alabama, 50 in new orleans. St. Louis, 14, chicago 13. This is the cold air coming in. Weve got 72 Million People at risk for Winter Weather storm warnings. Weve got heavy rain coming to the northeast. Ice jams on rivers. 30 Million People at risk for flooding. This morning, mixed freezing rain and sleet from michigan all the way to louisiana. A band of snow behind this. Temperatures also drop by as much as 40 degrees. This evening look for snow and ice from buffalo to nashville. For tomorrow, heavier rain ends early in new england. Flash freezes, heavy snow for western new york. Ice from memany memphis from bangor main. A tept to a quarter inch of rain. Snowfall, were talking upwards of nine to 12 inches of snow from north american pennsylvania all the way up into northern maine. The heaviest amounts as much as a foot and a half as we get into parts of the northeast. Guys, this is going to be about a 48hour event. On the roads and in the air, itses going to be a mess. Allow yourself extra time. Thanks, al. Also ahead, Important Information tied to your money. The irs is now out with revised income tax with holding tables to reflect the kmajs made with by the new republican tax laws. The question is what does that mean for you and your paycheck . Whenever we get confused we bring stephanie in in what we call stephspeak. This all hands, this tax law at the end of the year. Youve got an understaffed irs so people are confused. This is new with holding tables but were supposed to figure it out ourselves . You figure out your w4. Your employer figures out what they should with hold. An issue is the moirs are working off last years system. The government says were going to get you the new forms by mid february, so thats positive. Thus far, people are anxious about it. Were going to find out. There are going to be these irs tax calculators coming on line. Youre going to go on line and say heres my income, my family information. That will spit out a number. Youll tell your employer if it seems too high or too low. Yes, its making you nervous. This is all going to happen overnight . This went through very quickly. They dont have the forms they need but according to the government, midyear these companies should figure its out. Does it look like more people will get more money . 90 of people will be affected. Wait for next month to spend. But according to the white house, be patient and work through the system. Ok. Im still confused but ok. Give it a little time. Ok. Youre going to use this new tax calculator on line next month when it comes. These things take time to get through the system. Thank you. Uhhuh. This morning, were learning more about the death of a College Student in california. Its been investigated as a homicide. Joe is in los angeles with the latest. Joe, good morning. Reporter good morning. So far no arrests in the this case but investigators say theyre working around the clock. The body of 189yearold blaise burnstein was discovered tuesday a week after he disappeared. He was a premed student at the university of pennsylvania and was hemoin california on a break. A search warrant is revealing new information about the friend who was with him the night he vanished. His parents are searching for answers after his body was found insided a park near their home in lake forest, california. We just want to see resolution. Authorities say last week bernstein drove to the park late at night. According to a search warrant affidavit obtained we the Orange County register, not ver fwied by nbc news before it was sealed, investigators spoke to that friend who said just before midnight he walked into the park himself. The unidentified friend told authorities he waited about an hour and tried to can contacts bernstein. Then at 1 00 a. M. Drove to his girlfriends house before returning to the park after burnstein had not responded. Two days after his disappearance,ing detectives noticed the friends hands had several scratches and abragszs which he said were from a fight club. Also there was dirt under the fingernails. According to the newspapers report on the affidavit, during another interview, investigators noticed every door the friend had to touch on the way out of the building, he pulled his jacket over his hand to prevent his hand and fingers from touching any part of the doors. We have interviewed that friend several times. That person is not in custody. Reporter investigators say bernstein was probably killed the night he disappeared but woorcht s wouldnt say how he died. His grandfather told friends and neighbors that heavy rains helped expose the teens body. We wont be left in limbo for years by discovering the grave. We thank everybody here. According to the Orange County register, the affidavit said bernsteins friend could not remember his girlfriends last namened a did not know where she lived. Investigators say his story stayed fairly definite. The Orange CountySheriffs Department declined to comment saying its working tirelessly to make an arrest. New developments this morning in the story we told you about on thursday. A st. Louis prefer has launched a formal investigation to determine if missouri governor eric gritons committed any crimes. Hi admitted he was unfaithful to his wife but denied allegations that he threat pd to blach b mailg the other woman. The prosecutor said no evidence of the crime had been presented to her office but hours later she said after further consideration she believes an investigation is necessary. Let us turn back to mr. Roker, man of the hour. Its friday and its going to be a messy weekend. It sure is. Lets show i what weve got arp the rest of the country. West, things are calm, looking at showers making their way into the pacific northwest. Temperatures well below zero. International falls right now about 22 degrees below zero. Sunshine and warmer conditions right now through texas, but were looking at heavy showers and thunderstorms down through the southeast ahead of that frontal system. Welcome to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. Ve the largest in store selection of blue buffalo pet food, including puppy solutions which are specifically formulated to support healthy growth and development. From grain free to meat rich recipes, wet food and even puppy training treats. Petsmart and blue buffalo have got you covered. And now, when you spend 50 on blue buffalo puppy products at petsmart, youll save 10 why shop anywhere else . Petsmart. For the love of pets. Good morning, as you step out this morning, you are going to notice all that fog. Here is a live look at oakland. Believe it or not, yes, this is the highway. You can barely see the cars. Be careful, slow down and keep both hands on the road. The temperatures are fairly mild in san jose, 53 degrees. San francisco, 53. We are anticipating a dry afternoon with mild temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s inland. And thats your lat. And theis o your latest weather. Thanks, al. 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Firefighters have not determined how the fire started. Residents believe it may have started on an outside balcony or patio. Fog was the story of the day. Will it continue to be . Definitely. At this hour, look at san jose. You can see the fog. Look at this camera oversan rafael. You cant see anything. This is completely covered by fog. You can see a couple headlights here. Slow it down and keep both hands on the wheel. We are expecting it to continue for a couple hours before it burns off. The temperatures remain on the mild side. 40s and 50s. 50 degrees in oakland. San jose, 53 and for the afternoon, clear skies with upper 50s and lower 60s. Mike . We are looking at a smooth flow of traffic. Friday is a lighter volume. Also that heavy highlighting there in livermore and coming toward the east bay hills as well as up here toward the walnut creek interchange. Southbound 680 in the middle of that fog, thats why im worried about this hazard before it clears. Im watching for those more than the few crashes we have. The bay bridge back up and richmondsan rafael. Look at the fog near the toll plaza. Back to you. Hopefully, theres safe stopping. More local news in a half hour. We are back now. 7 30 on this friday morning. Ill say it again. Friday morning, the 12th of january, 2018. The good news for much of the east coast is it happens to be the warmest day of the year so far, the bad news, there is a nasty storm rolling in. Well get to the forecast in a 340e789