with the lack of snow we've had this winter... it seems drivers have forgotten the road rules of winters. hundreds of drivers ended up in the ditch across state and the metro. channel 13's jodi whitworth joins us live outside our studios with more whether you were heading across the state or just across town... hundreds of drivers found themselves in less than ideal situations, like in the ditch or stranded on the side of the road. but some drivers aren't letting a car accident ... wreck their

if you or family members are travling this evening... make sure to check iowa dot's road condition map by heading to our website whotv.com or 511 i -a dot org a des moines police officer is under investigation after accidentally firing his gun at the airport... it happened inside an office there yesterday afternoon. police say 23 year old brady pratt drew his gun from his holster to practice his "quick draw skills." they say he unknowingly had his finger on the trigger and fired a round... hitting the ceiling. pratt reported the incident to his supervisor... who then notified a lieutenant. police say there's now an investigation underway... 10:13:46:16-10:14:01:19 paul parizek the fact that he was practicing

preference is those things are reserved for a approved range facility, we have policies using safe firearms and obviously there is going to be a very thorough investigation." disciplinary actions may follow after the investigation. we now know the name of the man killed in a rural walcott crash... it happened near the "iowa 80 truck stop"... around five-30 last night. officials say... 55 year old paul ostrand... of stockton... went into a ditch off of 220th street. the vehicle rolled several times. ostrand was taken to the hospital... where he later died. the crash is still being investigated. one person is dead after shots are fired inside a shopping mall in north carolina. police say two groups of people were fighting inside northlake mall in charlotte when one of them opened fire. they say a gunman was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer who was working at the mall. witnesses say... they heard several shots fired.. and shoppers ran toward the

angela romeo/witness :14 "i heard 6 gunshots, and they sounded like firecrackers to me, and then i saw people turning around running towards me and trampling each other, and then there was another set of 6 gunshots." so far, no other injuries related to the shooting have been reported. medics say a woman went into labor and a couple of people suffered minor injuries as they were running outside. the mall remains on lock down. officers remain on the scene as the investigation continues. a pre-christmas storm system has wreaked havoc on the southern portion of the u.s., leaving at least 11 people dead and dozens injured. meanwhile, the northeast is experiencing temperatures well above the norm for the holiday. karin caifa has details on the unusual christmas eve weather in many parts of the country. daybreak on christmas eve shed light on storm damage in areas southwest of nashville -- the result of a wave of weather that arrived wednesday. it is not the kind of holiday, anyone wanted. your heart just sinks. it makes

want to run and help, and do the best you can. :48an unusual christmastime system brought severe storms to tennessee and arkansas -- and a deadly tornado in northern mississippi. a twister that started there may have been on the ground for 150 miles, according to the national weather service. rolled right over me. uprooted trees, cut trees in half. and i don't know why i'm still standing here talking to you.hit especially hard -- the community of holly springs and surrounding marshall county, where a seven-year old boy was killed in a car with his family. "the smaller the community, the more people you know, the emergency responders here, you're gonna deal with your family, your relatives, people that you meet and greet every day on the street. "forecasters believe the greatest threat to the region has passed -- the risk of severe storms lower, but more rain expected. meanwhile, in the northeast -- last- minute travelers in cities like new york and washington have experienced

sixties and seventies -- but, under some clouds, and a little rain. i'm karin caifa reporting." at least 11 people have been confirmed dead following the storms in the south... more people are calling west des moines home. a special census this year shows the population has grown by nearly seven thousand people since 20-10. according to the "des moines register".. that's up 12 percent to 63 thousand 541 people. the city conducted the special census to get more road use tax the state. the federal budget passed by congress last week includes tax energy... that is a lot more than just economics - it's about leaving for our children a cleaner environment. there are wind turbines spinning in 39 states... including iowa... providing about five percent of the country's electricity. the industry will get 14 billion next ten years... some argue that wind energy isn't worth the investment... but others argue it'll support 73

jobs. that includes jobs in construction- in development - in mainnanafacturing iowa alone has about seven thousand jobs in the wind energy industry. the u-s department of agriculture has waived its usual fees for santa's reindeer permit. the permit allows all nine reindeer to enter and exit the united states -- quote -- "through or over any northern border port." they must do so between 6 p-m tonight and 6 a-m christmas morning. the "movement permit" is filed through the u-s-d-a's animal and plant health inspection service. costs associated with inspection and overtime fees have also been waived. the u-s-d-a's chief veterinary officer says the department wants to do everything in its power to help santa make his deliveries. and right this very minute -- santa claus is flying around the world. and norad is tracking his every move. norad stands for "north american aerospace defense command." every christmas, hundreds of volunteers field calls from

around the world asking when santa will arrive. it's a tradition that started -- by accident -- in 19-55 when a sears ad featuring santa asked kids to call him, but printed the wrong number. kids who called reached a top- secret government line. and a 60-year tradition was launched. and here's a live look at santa and his nine reindeer flying over ... so far he has delivered x-point-x billion gifts... he is still hours away from arriving to the united states... but he is expected to arrive as early as nine o'clock... and a reminder for all the kids... santa will only leave presents if you're asleep. so make sure to listen to your parents and get to bed early... it started as a challenge to help make handmade toys for less fortunate kids. coming up.. how a former shop teacher is spreading christmas joy to those

this christmas is a little brighter for an eastern iowa retirement home... an eastern iowa man is getting some help spreading some holiday cheer... thanks to a festive display... jill kasparie shows us how one group helped him to bring it all together.... "hey dad, hello there. hello hello!" russell is used to his routine with dinner at 4:30... but tuesday night it was obvious -- things are a bit different. "with christmas a couple days away what better of a night. " it is the night russell has waited

passed lat year. i couldn't make christmas come back and i had to wait until this christmas. " the 82-year-old says last christmas his daughter - rusty holub - put lights in his window and he thought one just wasn't enough. "he said wouldn't it be awesome to light every window in this building and that's - i just took it from there." russell still has the first box of lights from his daughter. and after that - from donation to volunteers - many worked to get lights up each one of the 363 windows on the building. "when they turned the lights on, moment, it was a dream come true. i loved it. " "it really touched my heart to see people pull together for my dad." for everyone at summit point they couldn't wait to celebrate his dream come true tonight with bus trips around the sparkling building. for a man who's always thinking of others and sharing hugs -- this night is all about russell. "he's the type of guy who no matter how bad he's feeling or having a rough day he makes sure to open

you." now, russell gets to make it part of his routine to enjoy this holiday dream come true. "these are his lights and his pride and joy. " "i like them, i love them. to me it's been a lot of work for a lot of people and i want to appreciate it." want to appreciate it." summit pointe staff members say they plan to put the lights up every year. they all light up through the use of

america is not just electing a president, we're also electing a commander in chief. that choice matters. because strengthening the economy, making healthcare more affordable, raising incomes. all of that depends on us being both secure at home and leading the world. i will get up every single day and do whatever it takes to make sure our country is safe and strong.

it all started 12 -years ago as a lesson for his students... now a former chicago shop teacher is making handcrafted toys or children in need... how many he expects to make this

it all started 12 -years ago - peter legrand was trying to change the mindset of some chicago high school seniors.. he was a shop teacher and challenged them to make handmade toys for less fortunate kids... to show his students how big of a difference simple handmade gifts can make in a childs life. his challenge worked.. and changed the holidays for peter - likely forever.

peter legrand now works with seniors in an assisted living facility, and some he builds. stick around, we'll get another

praised as one of america's best mayors who governed as a pragmatist. bernie sanders passed more amendments in a republican congress than any other member. cracked the gridlock with john mccain to strengthen veterans' healthcare. bernie sanders. a consistent, principled, and effective leader. building a future to believe in.

santa just passed over ghana right now... he has delivered about 3.7 billion christmas gifts... we are told he is making great time... we will have the latest on his progress around the world coming up on the channel 13 news at 6... and on our website,

finally tonight.... excitement over 'star wars the force awakens' has awakened a larger than life tribute and it is made entirely from miniature characters in connecticut. the stamford museum and nature center's "a billion bricks three: galactic travels" exhibit is a work of construction fit for a jedi master. it's made up of fan favorites like the tie fighters, x-wings and a few whimsical arrangements like storm troopers on trains. they gathered every single lego mini figure -- 620 in all - and assembled them brick by brick, click by click. developing news tonight. a state of emergency

tornado outbreak tears