Suspension from nightly news . His comments about an experience on the war in iraq led to his temporary removal. Jon stewart plans to leave the daily show after 16 years. In my heart i know it is time for someone else to have the opportunity. The announcement that is rocking hollywood, washington and millions of fans this wednesday, february 11th, 2015. Announcer from nbc news this is today. With matt lauer and Savannah Guthrie live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning and welcome to today on a wednesday morning. When jon stewart made that announcement on the show there were gasps in the studio. Its hard to imagine the late night landscape without job stewart and he should be proud of those 16 years. More on that story. A tribute to american aide worker Kayla Mueller who died at the hands of isis. President obama is vowing to bring her captors to justice. Chief correspondent Andrea Mitchell broke the story of her death. Such a terrible 15d story not only necessary her family but the legions who tried to save her. For 18 months she agonized over her fate. Bright adventurous, compassionate. My Immediate Reaction is heart break. The frantic efforts to save her included a special forces raid last july that missed finding kayla and three other americans who were later beheaded. They were seeking help from foreign leaders. I want to express the deepest condolences to kaylas parents. There was a policy of not paying ransom. Its as tough as anything i do adding conversation to parents who understandably want by any means necessary for their children to be safe. Five months after the u. S. Started battling the president is asking for War Authority from a deeply divided congress. The challenge will be to define how american Ground Troops to be used. We set a precedence that congress is setting restrictions for violating the constitution. The president s proposal coming today will rule out a large ground force and limit the war to three years. Many say that Kayla Muellers death will be how hard it will be to defeat this vicious group. Even in her darkest days, Kayla Mueller managed to find the brighter side. Joe friooir is there. Reporter she is being remembered for how she lived through memories by her family and her own words. By every account Kayla Muellers death could not overshadow her unselfish life. She has done more in 26 years than many people could imagine in their lifetime. The news is beyond the hometown of prescott. People are touched by her letter while she was in captivity and smuggled out by cellmates. Please know that i am in a safe location completely unharmed and healthy and i have been treated with the utmost health and kindness. The thought of your pain is the source of my. Simultaneously. Hopefully its the source of my. She was a calming presence and a free spirit. Standing up for those who were suffering and wanting to be their voice. They said relatives received a photo of mueller where she had trauma injuries but the cause of death is unclear. Isis claimed she was killed in a Jordanian Air strike but official his seen no proof. I am in solidarity with the syrian people. She was captured in august of 2013 working for aid groups along the turkishsyrian border. Her passion was raising awareness about turkish refugees. Im not sure living in a World Without kayla, but we are living in a better world because of her. She could only write the letter a paragraph at a time. Plans are under way to honor her at Northern Arizona university. Thank you very much. Even at her death, her words are incredibly inspiring. Take time to read them if you have the chance. This unrelenting winter rolls on. The eastern half of the country is bracing for the coldest air of the season and for an already snowweary northeast, more storms are on the way. Dylan dryer is in boston. Higher and higher there is noplace to put the snow but up. We resorted to carving these mazes so people have a place to walk. With more snow on the way, this area is doing whatever they can to clear it away and new englanders are doing what they can to grin and bear it. Its become an excavation without end. Boston buried under feet of snow with another storm on the way. So much that the city is rebelling once again, dumping it in the harbor. Even the now drivers had enough. What has it been like . Its a boom financially, but its dire. Snow zila is clearing the train tracks to blast away the snow. It is stretched into a second day. We are running in extreme aid system getting a pounding every day. Up on the roof top, snow snow and more snow. The weight building for weeks causing collapses. A piano store in rocklin badly damaged. People are following the forecast closer than a red sox pennant race. So far more than 7 inches of snow has fallen, leading to 230,000 miles plowed and 60,000 tons of salt spread. I stopped by my sister in laws house to see how they are handling snow days six so far this year. You having fun . Fun for the kids but how about the adults . I dont mind the snow days. I feel like life is so crazy every other day of the year. Its nice for to you stop and do this. My nephew pj said he wore his pajama bottoms inside out. That was the superstition to get a delayed opening. That didnt happen. All schools are back in session. The others are working that make it not snow. Tomorrow nights storm is not looking like that big of a deal anymore. The next one is not so great. You have been the greatest aunt in america. Thats pretty cool. Should i slide down . Yeah dial an dryer is here until tuesday. Literally. Anyway this is the first clipper coming through. Very light stuff and a few snow showers that will be the worst of it. It pushes through and moves through fairly quickly wednesday into tomorrow. It sets up off the coast for the secondary system. Accumulated snow in southeastern massachusetts. Big news will be the bitter cold. 9 in buffalo. 30 in washington, d. C. 16 in boston. Saturday morning the temperatures drop. Overnight of minus 1 and 14 in detroit. By sunday morning, its 14. 6 in lexington. 2 in buffalo and the second storm is the one we are worried about. The snow will increase and it sets up off the coast bringing in strong winds at 15 Miles Per Hour and dangerous wind chills. This is what we are concerned about. We are looking at heavier snow boston into new york. We could be talking about another six to nine inches of snow if the latest holes true. Thank you. Now we turn to a story that hits close to home for all of us who work at nbc news. Brian williams who anchored nightly news since 2004 has been suspended for six months. Peter alexander has more on that. Good morning to you. Good morning to you. It follows two weeks of scrutiny and uncertainty in the wake of comments he made about his experience covering the early days of the iraq war in 2003. Brian williams has been suspended without pay for six months as both anchor and managing editor of nightly news that he held since 2004. The president announced it tuesday saying he misrepresented events of the iraq war in 2003 calling it wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in brians position. Williams did not say the helicopter he was in took fire. On the ground we learned that the chinook ahead of us was almost blown out of the sky. He told David Letterman he was on the chopper that was hit. Two of the four helicopters were hit by ground fire including the one i was in. No kidding a week and a half ago he paid tribute to major tim who helped them after he landed. When the helicopter was forced down after getting hit. Soldiers on the helicopters in 2003 questioned that account leading to this on air apology a week ago. I want to apologize for saying i was traveling in a helicopter that was hit. I was instead in a following aircraft. In addition to the suspension the internal review is ongoing. Stating in addition we have concerns about comments that occurred outside nbc news while brian was talking about his experiences in the field. It has been widely reported that questions are raised about comments williams made describing coverage of hurricane katrina, including claims he saw a body floating outside his hotel in new orleanss french quarter. He has been an outstanding journalist and i think this was an instance where you cant find an excuse for it. Thats why nbc had to act. The Parent Company of nbc news said by his actions he jeopardized the trust many place in nbc news. As actions are inexcusable and the suspension is severe and appropriate. His lifes work is delivering the news. He loves his country, nbc news and his colleagues. He deserves a Second Chance and are rooting for me. He expressed deep remorse and is committed to winning back everyones trust. They also announced that lester holt will substitute anchor the nightly news. Matt and savannah . It probably goes without saying but this is a difficult for us to report on because it is so personal in so many ways. Most importantly brian is not only a colleague, but a really good friend. We all care a lot about brian. Thats what makes it so hard and we care about this place. The standards of nbc news. Thats what they are trying to balance here. We wish the best for brian at this time and hope the best for nbc as well and look forward to brians return. A thank you to lester holt who brings the news in very difficult circumstances. Lets take a turn to natalie. You have the news and you started with a deadly shooting at a college campus. Disturbing news where an alleged gunman is being charged after the shooting death of three muslim students. It happened near the university and chapel hill. The victims were related and two in their 20s and the other was 19. The suspect, Craig Steven Hicks turneded himself in and police have not released a motive or said whether he knew his victims. The few americans left in yemen have been moved out and the facility has been closed according to the state department. Yemen has been in crisis for months and shiite rebels took over much of the country. Britain closed but for now there no plans for an evacuation of american citizens in the country. Two people were killed and more than 60 others injured after a massive pile up in south korea involving about 100 vehicles early this morning on a bridge near the airport. Officials say thick fog and icy conditions tor blame. Witnesses say they could only see about ten yards ahead of them. The Little League team that won last years u. S. National championship Jackie Robinson west could be stripped of their title if they find the team used ineligible players. They are scrutinizing the roster of the team and investigating allegations that the squad may have used player who is live outside the Geographic Area the team represents. It could release a statement as early as today. And power ball fever sweeping the nation. Now a whopping 485 million. Its the fifth largest lottery prize in history. If you match all five numbers and the power ball you can choose the cash option and net 327 million. We can all dream. The chances of winning are about 1 in 175 million. Office pool, right . Worth a shot. Give me your money. Ill buy the tickets. Natalie and mr. Rocker. Good morning im meteorologist bill henley. Bright sunshine you will need your sunglasses. Mostly sunny and a bit breezy with high temperatures near 40 this afternoon. Clouds move in tonight. A scattered snow shower is possible tomorrow. Should be light. The gusty winds will bring in a bitter blast of cold for friday. Could see some light snow late on saturday. A high of 24 for valentines day. And then a blast of frigid cold for sunday and into monday. Have a great day. Thats your latest weather. Thank you. Jon stewart dropped a bombshell after 16 years as host of the daily show. He will step down later this year. Willie good morning. Good morning to you. Jon stewart took a half hour comedy show and turned it into a fixture not only in television but politics as well. From actors to politicians no one was spared the wrath of his commentary and criticism and his youth. The late night landscape is shifting again. This show doesnt deserve an even slightly restless host. Neither do you. It is time for someone else to have that opportunity. Jon stewart Holding Back Emotions in front of a stunned audience. Not only am i going to miss being on television every day, but i will miss coming here. I love the people here. They are the best. I love and respect them so much. He took over the show from Craig Kilborn in 1999. I feel like its my barmitzvah. Here won 19 emmys and interviewed the newsmakers. Your father is back stage. Would he be mad if i adopted you . And the countless public figures in his comedic ways. This is the most joy i have gotten from an old man since dick cheney not fatally shot won in the face. It brought bite to late night. He was not afraid to go after people. He also launched the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy like steve carrel, john oliver and Stephen Colbert. He took his steps away from the daily show desk directing his first movie, rosewater. Here in november promoting the film he joked about his possible life after the daily show. I will do a folk out. As for the real post daily show plans, stewart said he has a lot of ideas, but first im going to have dinner on a school night with my family who i have heard from multiple sources are lovely people. Still no word on when jons last show will be but his contract is up in september. Regardless of when it happens, jon stewart will have a send off not to be missed. So hard to be funny five nights a week and he kept us on our tows. He will be able to write his own with every option available. Tamron a lot of people talking about mr. Stewart . You think . Indeed. His announcement took social media by storm. Here are numbers. Nearly 250,000 sweets mentioning just the daily show. That doesnt include tweets we miss you, jon. Just the daily show 250,000 tweets. Comedy central of course sending out a tweet in part saying she a comic genius generous with his time and talent and will always be part of the Comedy Central family. Thats not in part. Thats the total thing. Ryan seacrest said jon stewart, thanks for all you have done to make us think, learn, and laugh. And a fan of the show dear jon stewart. I regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your reservation at this time. Sincerely, literally everyone. This woman is not famous. Her tweet was shared and favorited 14,000 times. Just that with the hash tag. They keep coming and cant wait to see what he has next for all the us. Thank you so much. Coming up bring on the bacon. The guidelines for cholesterol are about to get a Surprising New makeover. The return of the egg. Opening statements in the trial of the accused killer of chris kyle. But first, this is today on nbc. [ female announcer ] Business Travel isnt just about the going. Its also about the going home. And being connected all along the way. Whether youre working or recharging do Business Travel on your terms. Acela. Take off. The first lady gives a new look at the they inspire you to give more kisses and get more hugs. Now, show your love for them with more deals youll find only at petsmart. For 4 days only, save up to 50 on hundreds of items. And. Dont miss the petsmart charities® be my valentine adoption weekend february 14th 15th. 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It will be a nice sunny day. That will lead to a nice warm up. You can see how clear the skies are from this view from center city. With clear skies, temperatures are in the 20s and teens. Pottstown, allentown and reading in the upper teens. Trenton is 22 with the wind blowing to feel like 16 degrees. Feels like the teens for most of the area. The good news is we have bright sunshine. 35 degrees at lunchtime. Near 40 this afternoon. Thank you, bill. Well get a check on traffic with jillian. We had the problem at the route 30 bypass all morning. Its still out there. An accident involving a tractor tractortrailer overturning off the vehicle this morning. The route 30 bypass westbound past route 340. We have the right lane blocked there and are seeing a delay because one lane of traffic is very slowly getting by. You can take business route 30 as your alternate. Keep in mind thats also going to be congested. And speaking of congestion 95 is busy with volume crawling along with drivers into center city. A portion of the busy philadelphia road is still closed. Its a story we first told you about yesterday morning. Repair crews are back at the scene this morning with a water main break on roosevelt in the bustleton neighborhood. All lanes were shut down during yesterdays morning rush. Crews reopened all lanes but one last night. Another update in 25 minutes. And you can get the latest news and weather with the nbc 10 weather app. Now back to the today show. See you in a half hour. 7 30 on this wednesday morning. The 11th day of february. A chilly morning although we have seen chillier. We will again. The come attractions to have you along. Lets take a look at the headlines and a tribute to the life of Kayla Mueller is growing in her hometown of prescott arizona. The 26yearold aid worker died while being held captive by isis. The state department has been unable to confirm the cause of death. The shooting of a popular sports anchor surrendered to police overn