>> nightly news with lester holt is next. tonight, a cold turkey blast. a big winter storm about to hit as millions of families travel home. snow, wind, and rain, and a ripple effect hitting highways and airports across the country. we have the latest forecast. breaking news, word of a possible plea deal in the works between mueller and an associate of long-time trump confidant roger stone. new developments in the tragic death of an american missionary hit by an arrow and a remote island tribe cut off by the outside world. a warning for all patients. is your doctor being paid by a pharmaceutical or medical device company? and could that money be influencing the treatment you receive? i was shocked and i thought, obviously i should have been told. >> tonight, the questions you need to ask and where you should look for a consumer

for drivers. what to look out for so you don't get ripped off by a growing scam at the gas station. a black friday bonanza. but the bigger bargains may be to come. and a store that's giving strays a place to curl up out of the cold. and a spectacular holiday tradition. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, everyone. getting there might have been the easy part for millions of thanksgiving week travelers. getting home, however, could be a different story. a snowy winter blast is on the horizon, likely hitting the nation's heartland right about the time a lot of you will be making the return leg of your holiday journeys. more than 7 million people from eastern colorado to illinois could be in the storm's path. nbc's tom costello now on how your travel plans might be affected. >> reporter: the timing could spell trouble for the midwest. on the busiest tl y central plains are in the crosshairs for

snow, wind, and ice. >> there could be some issues here on sunday for those who are either trying to get out or get in. that's part of a winter storm watch that's in effect all the way from the mississippi westward through des moines, down through kansas city, omaha, concord i can't. >> reporter: hardest hit, road travelers, returning home days after making the journey to grandmother's how was. >> it's a little more than 400 miles. it can range to 600 to 700 hours depending on traffic. >> reporter: now the potential for heavy winds extending through the day. the highways most at risk, i-29 from nebraska south and i-55 from chicago south. the airports in the target zone, omaha, kansas city, des >> 381, you are clear to push. >> reporter: so far, chicago is expecting a rain/snow mix. >> sw and ice, you know it's coming. and airports typically handle it well.

we have so many de-icing systems, we can plan our different performance calculations. that usually is a known variable. >> reporter: a late-breaking storm on the tail end of the thanksgiving break. tom costello, nbc news, washington. dylan dreyer is monitoring the forecast for us. dylan, first this deep freeze you're standing in right now in the northeast, then the rain and snow for the midwest could be messy. what are we looking at here? >> reporter: well, lester, it is going to be tough to travel this weekend. tomorrow we are going to see heavy rain through themid-atlantic. but icing is possible through the higher elevations, back through the appalachians. the eastern rockies and the western plains will see heavy snow tomorrow. that moves east into the midwest on sunday. now, we could see wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. that could cause whiteout conditions, greatly reducing visibility on the roads, especially through southern iowa, northern missouri, northwestern illinois, and southern wisconsin. we could end up with about six inches of snow. chicago is right on that rain/snow shriline,

but we could still see airport delays into chicago and stretching into kansas city. >> dylan, thank you. after weeks of silence, the mueller team may be about to make another plea deal related to the russia investigation, this one between the special counsel and an associate of long-time trump confidant roger stone. kristen welker has details. >> reporter: tonight, jerome corsi, a close associate of former trump adviser roger stone, tells nbc news he's in talks to cut a plea deal with special counsel robert mueller. corsi, a conspiracy theorist, says he was questioned about prosecutors about wikileaks' release of john podesta's hacked e-mails. podesta was hillary clinton's campaign chair. for weeks corsi has signaled the pressure is mounting. >> i fully anticipate in the next few days, i will be indicted. >> reporter: mueller's team has been zeroing in on whether corsi learned before the public that wikileaks had obtained podesta's e-mails hacked by the russians, and then

shared that information with roger stone. in a radio interview late today, stone says he hasn't done anything wrong. >> there's simply no evidence whatsoever that would show that i knew about the source or the content of any allegedly stolen e-mails or any allegedly hacked e-mails that were published by wikileaks. just not so. >> reporter: and stone told laura ingraham earlier this month he's concerned corsi could cause him problems. >> i think poor jerry corsi has been squeezed now relentlessly to bear false witness against me or perhaps false witness against me and the president. >> if jerome corsi had any advance knowledge of what wikileaks was going to do and if he transferred that information to the trump campaign, that could be big trouble for all those individuals including the president. >> reporter: the president's legal team declined to comment. mr. trump submitted written answers to mueller earlier this week and continues to insist there was no collusion with russia, lester. >> kristen welker in

florida tonight, thank you. with time running out for house republicans before democrats take control in january, the gop has subpoenaed former fbi director james comey to testify behind closed doors. comey says he's happy to comply but only if the country can see it. our justice correspondent pete williams has details. >> reporter: james comey himself revealed he had been subpoenaed by house republicans but said he wants to testify in it tthe open about hillary clinton's e-mails and the russian election meddling. he said, i've seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. it comes from the house judiciary committee. if comey refuses, the full house to vote to find him in contempt and seek a prosecution. but a court fight would also certainly outlast republican control of the house. >> any sort of legal delay will inevitably wrap thisp in court and wind down the

clock so that this current congress comes to an end. >> reporter: comey's subpoena orders him to show up on december 3rd, an appointment he will likely skip. pete williams, nbc news, washington. a federal report on climate change is out tonight, saying climate change is transforming where and how we live and presents growing challenges to our health and quality of life. of authors said severe weather events will continue to get stronger and more intense. for its participant, the trump administration says this latest assessment began under the obama administration and is largely based on the most extreme scenario. there are new developments andthis evening ae killing of that american missionary by an endangered tribe on an isolated island. nbc's keir simmons reportscong. >> reporter: john chau embarked on a fatal journey he was warned against taking. tonight, a key question for investigators. who assisted him? his trip to the remote

sentinel island extremely perilous and illegal. the endangered indigenous tribe there often kills visitors. an arrow taking john's life, local fishermen say. now indian police believe more people may have helped the 26-year-old. john chau's family say they don't want anyone prosecuted. police say the vancouver native, a christian missionary, wanted to establish the kingdom of jesus on the island. an oral roberts university graduate, he was always devoted to god, friends say. >> he put his life on the line for christ. that's really what his goal was. >> reporter: according to his jou wro of an early attempt to reach the island. i hollered my name is john, i love you and jesus loves you. thiercn his waterproof bible, he said. all nations tonight are expressing our deepest sorrow for this monumental loss. experts warn traveling

to sentinel island risks spreading diseases to the local people as well as the terrible fate that awaited john chau. keir simmons, nbc news. gunfire erupted in the middle of holiday shopping in alabama. nbc's ron allen has details. >> reporter: terrified shoppers running for their lives. >> there has been shots fired. >> reporter: multiple gunshots ringing out in alabama's biggest mall, packed after thanksgiving dinner. >> a mob of people running through seriars. >> reporter: a fight had broken out e betra holiday security, encountered the shooter and shot him dead. >> we were fortunate that hoover officer was there needed to be. >> reporter: but also wounded by the suspect, police say, a 12-year-old girl named molly with a bullet lodged close to her spine. medics raced molly to surgery at a children's hospital.

they found none of her organs were damaged and that there was no internal bleeding, molly's mom wrote on facebook. she may be able to head home soon. i am so thankful to everyone who helped us, added mom. it's the mayhem of yet another senseless shooting in america. ron allen, nbc news. we turn now to an explosion that rocked a neighborhood in st. paul, minnesota this morning. surveillance video on the street captured the moment a house exploded, sending flames and debris into the air. the house was destroyed and nearby homes were damaged. officials say the cause appears to be a gas leak. one person was injured. now to the black friday bonanza. tens of millions packing stores or deals from the comfort of their couch. you know which one as nbc's jo ling kent reports, the bargain hunters are just getting started. >> reporter: black friday rushed in from california to chile, new york. >> i'm wearing

everything in three layers. undled up to kick off the holiday shopping season. >> pretty good deals, i really like them this year. >> i have saved more than what i expected. >> reporter: but experts and shoppers say on the ground, black friday felt quieter this year. >> i thought it would be packed, lines everywhere. it's not. >> reporter: but thanks to soaring consumer confidence, this black friday is on track to be one of the strongest in years. on thanksgiving day alone, consumers spent an estimated $3.7 billion, rising a staggering 28% over last year. >> retailers, they're offering great deals, not just in the stores but also online. so for people who want to stay home, they can still get those black friday deals. >> reporter: and bargain hunters overwhelmed some retail website, bringing down lowe's and j. crew. tablets slashed an average 33%. tvs down 22%. computers cut by 16%. and you can expect more bargains tomorrow on small business saturday and cyber

monday is right around the corner. shopping experts say if you missed a good deal today, chances are it will resurface next week. lester? >> jo ling, thank you. the fda says the romaine lettuce that has sickened dozens of people likely started in california. don't eat it, don't buy it, don't serve it. new romaine from different regions is growing and will soon be harvested. now to a "nightly news" investigation into the relationship between doctors and companies that make drugs and devices. a 2017 study showed that roughly half of u.s. doctors received payments from the industry, totaling almost in just one year. stephanie gosk reports on the experience of one woman who believes those payments affected her quality of care. >> reporter: in 2016, wendy connect got the news every woman fears. she tested positive for the breast cancer gene. >> i felt like if i

had it, i would eliminate my risk as much as possible. hat meant a double mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction. she turned to this plastic surgeon. but almost immediately after the surgery, connect grew worried. >> i was in excruciating pain. i felt something was wrong. >> reporter: what she didn't know was that the critical support device the doctor used for the reconstruction, something called the seri scaffold, had failed. >> apparently all the seri had just dispersed inside my body. >> reporter: wendy has now had a total of six procedures. the nerve damage so bad, she may never be pain-free. the seri scaffold used in her first surgery was made by medical device manufacturer allergan. it is fda-approved but not specifically for breast reconstruction. >> i was shocked. and i thought, well, you know, obviously i should have been told. >> reporter: connect says she wasn't told and she thinks money may be to blame. the doctor is a paid

consultant and researcher for ail a allergan and owns stock in want compathe company. he earned more than $470,000 from the company doing consulting and research, something she says she only later learned online. >> in one way, it made me feel like, oh, that's why this happened, you know? maybe the doctor was being paid to use this. >> reporter: do you think the money tainted this doctor's medical judgment? >> in my opinion, yes. >> it was fda cleared. >> reporter: by law the doctor is not required to disclose his financial ties directly to the patient during treatment. no doctor is. physicians only have to report the money to the federal government. the information is publicly accessible but consumer watch dogs say patient harmed when doctors have a pecuniary interest in the medical devices or drugs that they're prescribing and recommending to patients. >> reporter: the

doctor declined nbc's request for an interview but on his website assures patients that any financial affiliations he has will have no bearing on his clinical recommendations. but research shows doctors receiving even a free meal can influence what brand name drugs they prescribe. lester, the big message is doctors have to report these payments to the government. that's then publicly accessible online. but patients need to talk to their doctors as well. ask them why they're using a specific medical device and of course get that second opinion. >> it's a real eye opener. stephanie, thank you. we'll have more of our broadcast exclusive global investigation into medical device dangers tomorrow and next week on "nbc nightly news" and on "today." also tonight, drivers beware of the growing scam at the gas pump. and a new alert about hidden devices that secretly rip off your credit card. also the unexpected guests coming in out of the cold and finding a home in the aisles of a giant retailer. you're going to love this one. and a new twist on

a christmas spectacular and how it's become even more so this holiday season. hope you can stay with us.

back now with a consumer alert. so many folks get the set to hit the road again. this is about a growing scam at the gas station, drivers filling up and their credit card information getting swiped by thieves. here's tammy leitner. >> reporter: more than 29 million people buy gas with a credit or debit card every day. many of those paying at the pump unaware that these small skimmers could be hidden inside and stealing your credit card information. typical skimmer. ter:t happened to steven blake in texas. >> i ended up seeing charges on my bank account that i knew i didn't charge. >> reporter: texas and florida are hotspots for the crime. these two thieves caught in the act at a florida gas station. boca raton officer jessica ratiere says it's a high tech scam. >> this little device

can steal your information like that. it's all transmitted through bluetooth. >> reporter: the secret service finding more than 200 skimmers at pumps across the nation this holiday season. >> the skilled guys can do it in 20 or 30 seconds. >> reporter: travelers on alert. >> i'm very cautious about those kinds of things because we work really hard for our money. >> reporter: police recommend paying in cash or inside with a credit card and advise choosing a pump closest to the store. all tips that could save you from getting scammed this holiday season. tammy leitner, nbc news, miami. we're back in a moment with one big retailer that's gone to the dogs. and yes, you can take them home.

we're back now with what you might call the aisle of dogs. several of them, in fact. as shoppers brows for furniture, store in italy is giving strays a place to get comfy out of the cold. here's matt bradley. >> reporter: though the weather outside is frightful, this store has been so delightful

to stray dogs who have no place to go. look how sweet the dogs are when they're sleeping, said this customer. her facebook video earned more than a million views. in fact the furniture store in catania, sicily, has heard howls of praise across social media just for letting sleeping dogs lie, on carpets, snuggled up to packages, even wrapped up under the christmas tree. stray animals are a problem in sicily, which is why this ikea is taking them in, giving them food and sometimes family. some customers who came to do some decorating left with . matt bradley, nbc news. >> what a terrific idea. we'll take a break. up next, a traditional christmas spectacular and how technology is kicking it up a notch. next at :

we )re in a microclimate weather alert. i )m tracking the rain that fell in the bay area today and i )m watching new storms tht are on heading toward us. t atp

welcome back. and finally tonight, from outside our 30 rock studios, we're going to look ahead to christmas, along with all these folks here. just around the corner is radio city music hall where there's something different this year for a show that's ushered in the holidays for generations. here is joe fryer. ♪ >> reporter: the radio city rockettes are a time-honored tradition. but this year you can see them in a whole makehat a hundred lights, each hovering above, attached to a drone. a new drones are like dance pattertner. we dance with each other onstage and we have a friend above our head. >> i love that there's a little breeze above our heads, which is really nice. >> reporter: the rockettes have been doing the christmas spectacular on this

stage since 1933. but the drones and other elements add a new twist to this holiday tradition. ♪ >> this is back to the drawing board, starting from scratch. so it's a whole new idea. >> reporter: dancing drones are popping up all over, like at this year's winter olympics. those drones were created by intel, which developed smaller ones that are used by the rockettes. >> a fraction of the size, a fraction of the weight. you can see it fits in the palm of my hand. >> reporter: on top of that, a company called obscura digital is projecting images on the walls and ceiling of this cavernous space. >> we're gift wrapping radio city music hall. >> reporter: the goal is to create an mersive experience, giving the rockettes an extra kick. joe fryer, nbc news, new york. >> just part of what makes it so magical around here this time of year. that's "nbc nightly news" for this friday night. i'm lester holt.

for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. a ferry, filled with oh me god! >> that's what happened. at 6:00 the ferry filled with commuters crashes into the ferry building. witnesses describe to us what they saw. plus an annual tradition e at a special meaning. lighting, the special honor happening for a family who lost everything in the camp fire. first, under a microclimate weather alert, tracking rain and when it will wind down. plus there's another storm on the way. the news at 6:00 starts right now. while the heaviest rain is moving out everywhere but the

south bay, we're still seeing rain everywhere. you're looking at live, our traffic cameras, a slick drive no matter where you are. >> and snow in the sierra, cars sliding off the road as people head to tahoe. tonight live team coverage. we begin with meteorologist rob mayeda. you've been tracking the storm. what is the status of it now? >> right now we're beginning to see the transition to the south bay in terms of the heavier rain. look at these totals since wednesday, more than 5 inches of rain for the santa cruz mountains, leading to runoff issues. moraga, to the east bay hills, napa, 2 to 3 inches of rain. less at lower elevations, san jose .25 inches. san francisco and oakland, over 1 inch since the trend. scattered showers north of san francisco, but still a line of heavier showers right over downtown san jose where they're having a tree lighting ceremony. you can see heavier rain