The newcracker ballerina with an inspiring season for the holiday. Early today starts right now good morning im phillip mena im dara brown. Holiday travel rush was brought to a scary halt on virginia roads after a nearly 70car pileup shut down interstate 68 in both directions near williamsburg. At least 51 people were injured. Despite potentially dangerous weather more than 100 million americans are choosing to drive to their holiday destinations. At least 4 Million People are under flash flood watches across the southeast where there is a storm system expected to dump heavy rain and bring with it gusty winds. Nbc meteorologist janessa webb is here with our latest forecast good morning ill get that out. Good morning. This is a very impressive and messy system that is impacting the southeast and now portions of the midatlantic. South carolina, charleston, to north carolina, youre on our radar, along with atlanta. So we are going to see these major hubs like atlanta, jacksonville, florida, deal with the possible delays today, as this system continues to make its way through. We are talking about wind gusts up to 35 to 40 Miles Per Hour across coastal areas of the carolinas into atlanta as well so make sure youre packing your patience as this system continues to make its way through. It should push offshore by tuesday. Also pacific northwest, l. A. X. To san diego, watching another storm system as well sounds good thank you. Capitol hill is quiet amid the holiday break but the buzz around impeachment is still building there is new information about the now infamous day last july when President Trump called ukraines leader asking for a favor. A trove of previously unreleased emails have shed new light on the aid to ukraine democrats kept up their attack with a flurry of tweets claiming their case is dead scott is joining us with the latest what did we learn from those emails reporter we learned a pentagon official or budget official told the pentagon to put a hold on military aid to the ukraine as the president was having a discussion with the ukrainian president about military aid and a potential favor, including a possible investigation of Vice President biden. That budget official saying Michael Duffey is one of four white house officials at the center of this roaring debate over an impeachment trial. Should those four officials be called to testify in an impeachment trial . That is what the democrats want. Republicans say they want a quick trial. That is the wish list right now but no answering that wish list right. Congress in break and president is in florida and the debate will likely continue today the charges are pretty thin and gruel. I dont see anything impeachable in that. If he really believes its thin, its thin because president of the United States ordered his top people who were in the room who know how firsthand knowledge not to testify. He ordered documents not to be turned over. Reporter no public schedule for President Trump today. He did tweet throughout the weekend several times last night, including one saying their case is dead the poll number are horrendous a reference to the democrats as the impeachment trial debate roars on this morning here in washington live in washington, im scott mcfarlane. Now back to you. No rest even during this hold season scott, thank you so much. Overseas now to fiscal year. We have new evidence the country could be getting ready to test more Nuclear WeaponsSatellite Photos sew krefhow in activity there molly hunter reports. Reporter the reconclusive strong man kim jongun meeting with his top military officials. U. S. Officials tracking north koreas action hourbyhour ready for a test of a longrange missile capable of reaching the u. S. Today, we have very high levels of readiness in the model of the u. S. Fight tonight. Reporter new evidence that test is emmeant. Commercial Satellite Photos are showing improvements to a facility associated in the past with ballistic missiles, including a temporary structure that could accommodate a launcher arm. Reporter reason diplomatic talks have faltered and earlier this month, kim jongun mounted a white horse climbing the countrys tallest mountain signaling he was making an important decision President Trump has hailed this as his signature Foreign Policy achievement and experts say a test now could signal the final breakdown of diplomatic talks. Molly hunter, nbc news, london two Carnival Cruise ships are back in port after colliding with each other in mexico. Carnival glory was maneuvering to dark when it crashed into carnival legend submarining out windows and bending railings at least six people were injured. An investigation is under way into how it happened the cruise line told passengers it may have been caused by wind gusts and strong currents. Now to a case that made headlines across the country new details in the murder of texas mom heidi bruioussard. People who know her believe she tried to steal brousard. On the phone for probably 45 minutes. Reporter tim miller is a family spokesperson who specialized in missing persons cases and he talked to the suspect all last week. She had me convinced when i talked to her and after i hung up talking with her, that was the last person in the world i expected that could possibly have anything to do with it. So, yeah, she fooled us all. Reporter last thursday, investigators uncovered brousards body in the trunk of car on the property and her weekold baby found alive in the houston home a spokesperson tells nbc news the baby is in foster care as they await dna testing to confirm its her and who the father is. Is it her boyfriend or someone else now she stood in the delivery room when heidi gave birth and putting out baby registry the same due date as heidis and struck her Close Friends as odd. Do you believe the suspect was ever pregnant . If she did lie about her pregnancy, why would someone lie about a pregnancy . Because she wanted the baby she wanted the baby. Reporter nbc news reached out to humphries courtappointed attorney on sunday and we havent heard back so far this as the family prepares for a vigil. Sam brock, nbc news, austin. A chicago man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that left 13 people wounded. People say it happened after an argument broke out after a house ae party. The victims range in age from 16 to 48. Authorities say 37yearold Marciano White has been taken under custody. The party was held as a memorial for a man killed earlier this year the shooting marks another grim milestone. More people were wounded in this incident than any other single shooting in the city since 2013. A new state of emergency is declared in New South Wales as firefighters are battling what are called catastrophic fire conditions they are battling 100 wildfires raging across several states two firefighters last week southwest of sydney. Authorities fear the dozens of home may have been lost. Officials say the flames have been aided by extreme wind conditions and high temperatures drivers on a michigan highway got quite the surprise when a mysterious greenish yellow slime oozed allow a retaining wall and on to the roadway. According to officials, the substance is contaminated ground water following a dlencleanup aa nearby business. Owner of that business is currently serving one year in federal prison after he pleaded guilty with storing Hazardous Waste without a permit lanes will remain closed until they can clean up that incident. Prince phil was admitted to the hospital due to a preexisting condition but palace officials have not provided an update on his current condition. It isnt clear with the prince will be released to join the rest of the royal family for christmas at the queens castle estate in norfolk. Lets check in once again with meteorologist janessa webb. What you got going on on there a storm system in the southeast that is gnth continoi continue to pull away and gusty winds for atlanta and South Carolina this afternoon as it make its wayoff sho offshore. Great news a most of the country not see a White Christmas across the country with day time highs welll texas, san antonio a high of 69 across south florida, in the mid70s. Important week we will take a look at this christmas forecast coming up thank you very much. The National Menorah is officially lit to celebrate the first day of hanukkah, hundreds gathered in washington, d. C. On sunday and faith leaders will illuminate one candle per night for the celebration of the eightnight holiday. Menorah display is one of the largest in the world and happy hanukkah to all of those who celebrate. That looked dangerous to light those up top. A nutcracker who is the inspiration of the Holiday Season. One week left in the nfl regular season but the pyolaffs arent set yet big sunday upsets next whatd we decide on the flyers again . Uh, fifteen minutes could save you 15 or more on car insurance. I think were gonna swap over to over seventyfive years of savings and service. What, were just gonna swap over . Yep. Pump the breaks on this, swap it over to that. Pump the breaks, and, uh, swap over . Thats right. Instead of all this that ive already . Yeah. 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There is just one week left in the regular season and the nfl playoff picture is nearly complete the chiefs, they are a lock already. They cruised to an easy win over the bears on sunday night football. That is reigning mvp Patrick Mahomes rushing for a touchdown there and he put up two more in the air. Kcs defense stifled chicago all night and they only allowed a single kick through the uprights chiefs win 263. Cowboys on the outside looking in after a crushing loss to the eagles. Head coach Jason Garrett was already in the hot seat and is practically on fire now. Philly took the early lead and never looked back. They win the ball game 179. If carson wentz and eagles beat the giants next week eagles are heading to the playoffs. Ravens win over the Browns Cleveland on the board first but Lamar Jackson getting to work. Baltimores quarterback making yet another case for mvp he threw for three touchdowns and he ran for over 100 yards. The ravens win it 3115. A stunner up in seattle. 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S. , and postal servic eds. Overdrive to get deliveries at your door before christmas. We have a much shorter Holiday Shopping season so i think that is what is causing this lastminute shopping bottleneck. Reporter retailers like best buy are offering next day shipping on certain items for those who wait until today to buy. The good news for carriers, more customers are shipping, up 21 this Holiday Season over last year the bad news for shoppers their track record of dloiverg elivern time is getting worse down 12 this season according to a software convey. Are you confident all of these packages will make it on tamime . The stuff in new york definitely but outside of the city its a different story. Like any business we face challenges as far as weather is concerned, as far as any other natural kind of occurring circumstance we try to work with our customers as soon as possible. Reporter 86 for the Postal Service shipments are arriving on time. U. P. S. Eighty. Fedex is worse only 68 on time meaning if you ship ten gifts with fedex, three are likely to arrive late. This week, amazon told its thirdparty retailers to stop using fedex because of these issues what is to blame bad weather in early december and rare oneoff events like this one, a fire on a fedex truck in southern california, some Christmas Gifts torched now if youre really procrastinating, fedex offers same day delivery on Christmas Day but it can get pricey, depending on where your package is going in the meantime, here in the usps distribution in midtown manhattan, hundreds of Seasonal Workers have been brought in to ensure that your packages make it on time phillip, back to you. Kathy, thank you. If by a chance it doesnt get there, you can use it as an excuse it was on that fedex truck that caught fire . You didnt hear about it it was on that truck. Santa better watch closely janessa will have the christmas forecast. An incredible stroore of determination. 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