Tiger woods on the comeback trail. And its on. Joy to the world the worlds most famous Christmas Tree comes to life, and Rockefeller Center is shining bright today, thursday, november 30th, 2017. Announcer from nbc news, this is today. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to today. Than thanks so much for being with us on a thursday morning. Pretty shot. Our rockefeller Christmas Tree is ready for the holidays. We had a nice Time Lighting that yesterday. This is a difficult morning. The top story is once again about our former colleague, matt lauer. Moments ago, we received a statement from matt. Let me read it to you. There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain i have caused others by words and actions. To the people i have hurt, i am truly sorry. As i am writing this, i realize the depth of the damage and disappointment i have left behind at home and at nbc. Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people i cherish dearly. Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching, and im committed to beginning that effort. It is now my fulltime job. The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. Its been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by people i love. I thank them for their patience and grace. Thats the statement from matt that just came in within the last minute or two. I want to turn to Stephanie Gosk, who is our correspondent. Stephanie, youre covering the latest allegations. Please give us your report. Good morning, guys. On top of the statement, there are also new allegations this morning against lauer, who has become one of the most highprofile cases of the Sexual Harassment firestorm engulfing this country. This morning, several more women leveled Sexual Misconduct allegations against matt lauer. Nbc news can report two additional women came forward to the network after the news initially broke. We are devastated. A former employee told the New York Times anonymously in 2001, she was sexually assaulted by the anchor in his office. Variety published a report late wednesday, laying out a pattern of alleged misconduct. Including exposing himself to an employee in his office. And inviting women employed by nbc to his hotel room late at night while covering the Olympic Games over the years. Several women told variety they complained to executives at the network about lauers behavior, which fell on deaf ears. Nbc news said in a statement, we can say unequivocally, prior to monday night, current nbc news management was never made aware of any complaints about matt lauers conduct. We thank you for joining us. Nbc news fired lauer roughly 24 hours after an employee made a complaint against the anchor. According to nbc news chairman andy lack. Lack released a statement that read, in part, it represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our companys standards. Adding, while it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years hes been at nbc news, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident. Nbc news has reached out to lauer, who has not commented publicly since his dismissal. Im matt lauer in olympic park in sochi. Nbc news said the alleged inappropriate behavior began in the sochi olympics and continued after that. The accusers attorney said, while i am impressed by nbcs response to date, i am awed by the courage of my client. Asking the company to just do the right thing. Todays Natalie Morales responding, praising the anonymous woman who came forward. When and if she wants to tell her story publicly, im sure she will, but it did take a lot of courage for her to come forward. It was no doubt a very painful decision. Lauer is among the most highprofile men in the country brought down by allegations of Sexual Misconduct. Shocking the nation in recent months. Good morning, everyone. An anchor of the today show for more than 20 years, known as a skillful interviewer of ordinary people, celebrities and politicians alike. President trump took a swipe at nbc news after lauers dismis l dismissal. Tweeting in part, when will the top executives at nbc and comcast be fired for putting out so much fake news . Lauer was scheduled to host the Rockefeller CenterTree Lighting, as you guys know. He was not there last night. Stephanie, thank you. Appreciate it. Meantime, garrison keillor, the former host and creator of a prairie home companion has been fired over allegations of inappropriate behavior with an individual who worked with him. Minnesota public radio terminated his contract wednesday, a month after receiving a report of the alleged misconduct. Keillor said all he did was, quote, put my hand on a womans bare back. Npr said the outside lawyer has been hired to conduct an independent investigation. Other news to get to, including a new controversy facing the president. He is under fire here and abroad this morning for sharing inflammatory antimuslim videos on twitter. Nbcs chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson with the latest, including how the president is responding. Hallie, good morning. Reporter good morning to you. The socalled special relationship with the uk is under some serious strain this morning, with new, heated discussion in Parliament Just today about the president s retweets. The british Prime Minister is not happy, and shes not hiding it. Out with some highly unusual and very public pushback. This morning, backlash building. Proof tweets do have consequences after President Trump turned to his favorite form of communication to retweet three inflammatory, unverified, antimuslim videos. Raising the profile of a farright Extremist Group in the uk. The far right has been associated with the religious bigotry. Reporter the fringe group led by jada, convicted of harassment last year for yelling insults at a woman wearing a hijab. Delighted to see the leader of the free world, president donald trump, had retweeted content from my twitter account in a clear display of support and sympathy for my plight. Reporter fransen, pleased, so the david duke, who tweeted, this is why we love trump. Both praising the president. The Prime Minister is not. Theresa may saying, quote, it is wrong for the president to have done this. Calling britain first, a Group Seeking to divide communities in their use of hateful narratives which pedal lies and stoke tensions. Late wednesday, President Trump firing back, tweeting to may, dont focus on me. Focus on the destructive radical islamic terrorism that is taking place within the united kingdom. We are doing just fine. New this morning, the topic sparking a heated debate in parliament. Lets also be clear, this is the president of the United States, sharing with millions inflammatory and divisive content. Reporter from the president s frepresident e president s press secretary, a defense of the retweets, even after the Dutch Embassy said at least one of the videos wasnt authentic, nor was the perpetrator an immigrant, like the title suggested. Whether it is a real video, the threat is real. That is what the president is talking about. That is what the president is focused on, is dealing with those real threats. Reporter the president s Team Juggling the fallout as he flew from missouri, hitting the road to sell the gop tax plan. The Senate Must Pass those tax cuts. Reporter undecided republicans, for now, supporting starting the senate debate, but how the debate will end, still an open question. So plenty of news here in washington. Over all of it, the shadow of the special counsel investigation looms, with new reports out now that Jared Kushner met briefly with investigators to talk mostly about former National Security adviser michael flynn. Kushners lawyer tells me now that kushner is voluntarily cooperating and will continue to do so. Savannah and hoda, back to you. Hallie jackson, thank you. New developments in the north korean crisis. Overnight, the rogue nation released video of tuesdays provocative launch of a missile capable of reaching any target in the u. S. Ambassador nikki haley telling the u. N. The test brings the world closer to war. Nbcs chief global correspondent bill neely is in seoul, south korea, with the latest. Good morning. Reporter good morning, hoda. Kim jongun has been reveling in the success of his missile launch, but hes now facing new threats of a complete oil embargo and a new taunt from President Trump. New images this morning of kim jongun with the missile he says can reach anywhere in the u. S. After congratulating his military, he called this launch a breakthrough. U. S. Officials tell nbc news it was a significant advance. The test, powerful enough to trigger an emergency meeting of the u. N. Security council. And this stern warning from the u. S. If war comes, make no mistake, the north korean regime will be utterly destroyed. Reporter north Korean State Television claimed this latest launch completes north koreas rocket system. U. S. Officials say this was an entirely new kind of north korean missile, flying higher and for longer than any other. Its altitude, ten times higher than the International Space station. Means all of the United States is now theoretically within range. The danger for the u. S. Is greater today than before this launch. Every time he tests, he moves the goalposts further toward us. Reporter President Trump escalating his war of words with kim jongun with a new insult. Little rocket man, he is a sick puppy. Reporter President Trump is now urging chinas president xi to cut off north koreas oil supply. Saying if he wont do it, the u. S. Will. Tweeting, this situation will be handled. This launch fueling new fears of kim jonguns next step. And the main fear is that his next step may be a seventh nuclear test. This time over the pacific ocean. His foreign minister has threatened as much. And that, combined with this new missile capability, would present the u. S. With very real danger and a very stark choice. Hoda . Savannah . Bill neely in south korea. Thank you. Now to some unwelcomed news for Airline Passengers during the busy holiday season. 15,000 flights in the coming weeks are currently without pilots because of a computer scheduling glitch at American Airlines. Wait till you hear this one. Tom costello is at Reagan National for us. Good morning. Reporter hi, guys. Good morning. The question is whether your pilot will be home for the holidays. The airline accidentally allowed pilots to request off during this long, big block of time over the holidays, and now they are trying really hard, offering big money, to get the flight crews back in the cockpit. With the Holiday Travel crunch just weeks away, American Airlines is scrambling after apparently failing to schedule pilots for some 15,000 flights. The issue is figuring out how we fill the airplanes with pilots. Reporter the problem, a computer scheduling error that allowed pilots to take days off during one of the busiest times of the year, december 17th through the 31st. Were not looking at placing blame. Were looking at repairing the problem and ensuring that the over 15,000 flights that are not manned over the critical last two weeks of december do have pilots in the cockpit. Reporter american released a statement, saying it expects to avoid having to cancel flights. Adding, we have reserved pilots to help cover flying in december. And we are paying pilots who pick up certain open trips 150 of their hourly rate. As much as were allowed to pay them per the contract. So what will it mean for passengers . Too soon to tell, according to travel experts. The airline hasnt said yet which, if any, flights could be affected. We expect increased air travel this holiday season. So if you have a flight booked, youll want to get in touch with the airlines as soon as possible to see what your options are. Reporter with more than 5 million air travelers expected this holiday season, american facing pressure to solve what the union calls a manmade snowstorm before it creates a system wide slowdown. Whatever they have to do to take care of their customers, they need to do it. Reporter i talked to american a short time ago. It remains confident it will be able to get enough flight crews to come back to the cockpits over that period of time. Theyll have to pay probably a lot of money to do it. Bonuses and ot to make it forth the pilots time and effort and being away from their families. Back to you. Tom, my brother is an American Airlines pilot. I hope hes home for christmas. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Also this morning, the search is expanding for a missing florida teenager after the 17yearold was spotted hundreds of miles away in north carolina. Kerry sanders joins us with more on this story. Hey, kerry. Reporter good morning, hoda. Deputies here believe this case will likely be solved when somebody in the public spots 17yearold Caitlyn Frisina, a High School Soccer player, or rian rodriguez, the 27yearold soccer coach who she is traveling with. The both were last spotted in fayetteville, north carolina. This morning, deputies say new surveillance pictures show 17yearold Caitlyn Frisina and rian rodriguez, a 27yearold soccer coach at her high school, together and on the run. None of this fits with the young daughter you know . No, it does not. Reporter can you make sense of it . No, i really cant. I dont know what brought this on. Reporter detectives believe the sighting showed the two are working their way north from florida. First spotted overnight sunday in st. Marys, georgia, at an atm, where the teenager used her debit card to withdraw 200. At 7 30 a. M. , their car turns up at a gas station in south carolina. Its about this time when caitlyns parents wake up, discover her missing and their nightmare begins. I cant fathom. I dont know. Its breaking my heart. Reporter 9 00 a. M. , caitlyn and rian rodriguez are sights at another gas station in st. George, south carolina. Now, the frisinas are frantic. Deputies called to their home. They immediately start investigating. Sunday afternoon, the two were spotted again at a pawnshop in fayetteville, north carolina. Investigators not revealing what was pawned. We dont feel that shes endangered at this point. Reporter gone for four days, the family says caitlyn has never been out of contact with them for this long. It feels like an eternity. Reporter caitlyns brother, chandler, nearly in tears. Just wants his big sister home again. I miss having someone to talk to. Just give me a call if you cant give someone elanyone else a ca. Please. Reporter investigators say they have now viewed a text message from caitlyn to a friend that indicates there was some sort of relationship between her and the coach. The authorities do not believe that shes currently in imminent danger. They have retrieved her cell phone because she left it behind. Unfortunately, she did a factory reset on it. So it is mostly wiped clean. They have technicians looking at it. At this point, no one is facing any charges. Hoda . Savannah . Kerry, thank you so much for that report. Time to get our first check of the weather. Mr. Roker, good morning. You know what today is . What . The last day of Hurricane Season. Good riddance. Thankfully. The total number of named storms, on average, we would have 12. We had 17 this year. Out of those, the number of major hurricanes would average to, we had six. Back to back categories, it was the costliest Hurricane Season ever. 262 deaths. However, in cost of damages, 203 billion. Making it the costliest Hurricane Season ever. Thankfully, things a lot quieter today. Cooler day along the northeast. Showers along the east. Fog through the gulf. Another front pushes to the Pacific Northwest bringing rain and snow. Plenty of sunshine and milder weather making its way through the central good morning. Im meteorologist bill henley. A cold start and weve got some clouds too, but as the day goes on well see more and more sunshine. That will warm philadelphia to 66 degrees this afternoon. Clearing skies, sunshine, 54 in the suburbs and new jersey, 56 degrees inland at the shore, just a little bit warmer. Already seeing nice sunshine. 57 this afternoon. It was below freezing this morning in the lehigh valley. Into the low 50s later today and plenty of sunshine. 56 in delaware. Have a great day. And thats you thats your l weather. Guys . Thank you, mr. Roker. Thank you, al. Coming up, an nbc news exclusive tied to the harassment scandal surrounding congressman john conyers. One of his former staffers and his alleged victim will break her silence in a live interview, right here. First, this is today on nbc. Still ahead, the fun that Prince William is having at his brothers expense over the next royal wedding. And a when youve crossed fruit of the loom off your list, you know your Holiday Shopping is complete. Its time to celebrate. [ ] [ ]