breaking news tonight. president-elect trump is shutting down the trump foundation. word after a storm of controversy and an investigation. the nightmare before christmas. slick roads and runways. treacherous travel as millions head home for the holidays, and the last-minute shoppers trigger madness at the malls. holiday tragedies. a pai of house fires claimed the lives of several children strapped unes able to escape. frightening new incidents raising concerns about the safety of a habit soaring in popularity. and jingle all the way. a tv commercial now a christmas tradition where the wind comes sweeping down the plains. you might not be able to get it out of your head. "nightly news" begins

right now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with jose diaz balart. good evening. i'm peter alexander in tonight for jose. breaking news on the christmas eve as president-elect donald trump is trying to calm the controversy over potential conflicts of interest before he takes the oath of office now less than a month away. tonight trump announced that he'll dissolve the donald j. trump foundation, a charity that bears his name and remains under investigation by the new york state attorney general. nbc's kelley o'donnell brings us the latest on the breaking news from outside trump's mar lag go estate. >> reporter: the surprise christmas eve announcement. part of an unfolding plan to detangibling the billionaire from a maze of business and family ties that could hinder his new administration. trump's reasoning? he writes "to avoid even the appearance of any conflict with my role as

trump praised the foundation's philanthropy. i'm very proud of the money that has been raised for many organizations in need. the new york attorney general launched an investigation in september over how the foundation used its funds. >> it would be incredibly unusual if there were allegations of inappropriatety by a nonprofit and we didn't investigate. >> reporter: the new york ag said not so fast. the trump foundation is still under investigation by this office and cannot legally dissolve until that investigation is complete. trump has blasted the inquiry as partisan. the new york attorney general is a democrat. trump summed up his decision this way. "i will be devoting so much time and energy to the presidency and solving the many problems facing our country and the world, i don't want to allow good work to be associated with a possible conflict of interest." >> kelley, the foundation has a unique history. what more can you tell us about

>> reporter: well, peter, a bit of background. it goes back to 1988. there are no employees. trump family members sit on the board. the irs cited the foundation and it paid a fine for campaign contributions here in florida that were deemed improper. >> kelley, tonight a little bit more breaking news. president-elect trump trying to fill out his white house team. another key voice not coming with him. what do we know? >> reporter: fewer than four weeks to go, peter, and many people have seen jason miller on television. a top communications advisor to trump. accepted the position of communications director in the white house. he announces he won't be taking that position saying he's had a chance to spend time with his family. his wife is pregnant with their second child and he's going to put family ahead of his career. but that's a loss to the trump white house because he's been a huge part of that are strategy. >> kelley, merry christmas. thank you. the prime minister

netanyahu is venting his frustration with the obama administration after a u.s. abstention allowed the u.n. security council to condemn israeli settlements in the west bank and east jerusalem. netanyahu called it a shameful anti-israel ambush and looking forward to working with pleblgt trump. secretary of state john kerry said the u.s. acted with one primary objective in mind. to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. in time for christmas a major winter storm is moving east through the rockies threatening to make last-minute travel tomorrow dicey from the midwest to the plains. it's an ugly forecast, freezing rain, snow, even the possibility of a tornado in places. here is nbc's steve paterson. >> reporter: tonight treacherous conditions for a record number of holiday travelers. in california, a rare rainstorm drenching drought-plagued south. record daily and

havoc on washedout roads. recent wild fires creating poor conditions on hillsides making a muddy mess. further north snow shutting down interstate 5. california's major artery. closed in both directions. in washington state, ice and snow stranded drivers. a winter storm in spokane is sending more than 20 vehicles slamming into each other, including a city bus. drivers here thankful no one got hurt. >> it was pretty scary but i felt safe we were going to bump into people. in iowa tractor trailers and cars were slid off the highway. last minute travel will be dicey at best. freezing rain potential, as well. >> that's happening. >> reporter: in wisconsin, the minnesota vikings' football team trying

scary situation. the players stranded after the team's plane skidded off the taxi way in icy conditions. >> we're definitely over the limit now. >> reporter: the vikings having to be rescued from the plane. ice, rain, and snow across the country slowing the way for many trying to get home for the holidays. steve paterson, nbc news los angeles. there is sad news on this christmas eve. word of two deadly fires claiming the lives of children who were unable to escape. their families left in a state of shock and mourning. nbc's morgan rad ford has more. >> reporter: three children trapped and killed in a house fire minutes before christmas eve. flames broke out in a gary, indiana apartment where a 2, 4, and 5-year-old were pronounced dead. >> i seen the flames. i heard the kids

"help. it hurts." >> reporter: their mom and adult male rushed to the hospital. >> we're still going through the debris and checking out probably causes. >> reporter: hours later in pennsylvania, another fire. this time in a single-family home killing a 5-month-old baby on the second floor and the grandmother and uncle lifeless at the bottom of the stairs. >> for the firefighters it's going to be tough. we're going to get some emotional assistance for them. >> reporter: while authorities search for clues, a fresh reminder of a dangerous reality. nearly 47,000 fires happen during the holiday season. claiming more than 500 lives. tonight sending shock waves of grief. >> man, christmas eve. that's the most heartbreaking thing in the world. >> reporter: a painful start to the holiday

morgan rat ford nbc news new york. overseas authorities arrested three people, including the nephew of the alleged berlin christmas market attacker. they're suspected of belonging to a terrorist cell and having contact with this man, anise amari. he later tied in a shoot out with police in italy. in the war against one of the world's most vicious terror groups, the nigerian president is claiming victory over boko haram. the group responsible for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls a few years ago. the nigerian army said it freed more than 200 captives. most of the girls remain missing, as lucy kavanaugh explains. ♪ >> reporter: hope for a peaceful christmas renewed tonight as nigeria claims to have finally crushed the islamist streamist group

saying they are on the run driven from their last enclave. hostages freed. for seven years, they've murdered and terrorized in their quest to set up an islamic state in africa. their brazen kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls inspired a worldwide campaign "bring back our girls." two years later, barely any escaped. just 21 released. most still missing. boko haram joined forces with isis last year becoming its most sinister franchise. >> they actually are far, far more lethal. they were far more lethal than isis was. >> reporter: unlike isis, boko haram's attacks are focussed on nigeria and neighboring countries. >> it could be possible that boko haram has been defeated a the base camp. they may have broken down into smaller units and going underground back into clan destine terrorism. >> reporter: as isis has already proven, losing ground doesn't mean they can't

lucy kavanaugh nbc news london. now to the, that syria. an extraordinary look at the incredible scope of devastation inside aleppo. a siege for so many years. now reduced to rubble. nbc's bill neely was inside that war-torn city. >> reporter: one million people lived here, but east aleppo was a ghost town now. it has emptied. 30,000 people evacuated in just over a week. half of syria's biggest city is destroyed. but aleppo has lost more than that. war turned its ancient sites to battle fields and rubble. this was the grand mosque before the war. this is it today. a thousand years of beauty blown to pieces. gunmen were protected here, but not history. this was the market, the oldest in the world. today it'

ruin. after 1200 years of business, it's an underground arsenal filled with snipers' nests and spent bullets. this was the citadel a world heritage site. today it's a camp for victorious syrian troops. the walls breached by shelling. it's in ruins. aleppo was one of the jewels of the arab world. not anymore. the collapse began when rebels seized the eastern half and the regime bombed relentlessly. whole neighborhoods wiped out. people have lived here for 8,000 years. it claims to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. they won't live here again. amid this waste land, people salvage scraps. they are surviving but the is hardly living. it's hard to say this place is coming back to life after so

death. a death toll thought to be in the tens of thousands after years of air strikes. but, frankly, the exact figure may never be known. half of aleppo's people are now refugees. homeless and traumatized. aleppo has fallen. it will take a generation to build it again. bill neely nbc news aleppo. back now to politics. a look at one of the pressing issues facing the next president. health care for america's veterans. donald trump has yet to announce his pick to head the department of veteran's affairs. he's already vowing to shorten the wait time to see a doctor and improve veteran's access to private health care. still, as our pentagon correspondent explains, there are plenty of questions how it will work. >> reporter: on his way to the white house, donald trump appealing to america's 22 million veterans. >> one of the big problems is the wait time. vets are waiting six days, seven days,

[000:12:59;00] >> reporter: part of trump's plan, give every vet the option to go outside to a private practice of their choice. similar options already exist for some veterans. the biggest choice? veteran's choice. di dave maier tried it out for an eye exam. >> it took longer than if i would have went to the va. >> reporter: the program was designed for vets like myier. those who live more than 40 miles from the closest va. for anyone who faces a wait time of more than 30 days. >> it would be good if we could get more local va help, but the program they have isn't working for us. >> reporter: congress created the $10 billion program after a 2014 scandal revealed some veterans were dying waiting for care. nationally wait times of more than 30 days are down. that's in part because doctors like lawrence goldberg, a nonva ophthalmologist in

florida are looking to clear the backlog. >> they're putting [000:13:58;00] they're in dire straits with their vision and then sending them to me because they're not getting taken care of at the va expeditious. >> reporter: some doctors complain they're going months before getting reimbursed by the va and may not continue in the program. >> first few patients it took over six months to get paid. they kept denying it. >> reporter: the response from the va? in the past two years va has increased access to care both inside va and through our work with private health care providers. formyier who drives vets to appointments across minnesota, he said the best way to endure is by helping one another. >> any time you're sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself, go spend a day at the va. there's always somebody that's got it worse. >> reporter: as for the future of veteran's care. trump can ask congress to extend the program beyond next summer, expand it for all veterans, or create

something entirely new. nbc news minnesota. tonight carrie fi intensive care at a los angeles hospital one day after the "star wars" actress suffered a heart attack on board a flight from london. her family rushed to her side. there's been an outpouring of support from friends and fans and former co-stars. among them han solo himself. harrison ford writes "i'm shocked and saddened to hear the news about my dear friend. our thoughts with

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breathe easier with your vicks vaporub. soothing cough relief that starts working instantly. in california, it began with a bus passenger rushed to the hospital after an e cigarette exploded in his pocket. investigators suspect a lithium-ion battery is to blame. we have the possible recalls tonight. >> reporter: a terrifying bus ride in fresno, california as a passenger on the right e cigarette explodes in his pocket. it's the latest case of an exploding lithi lithium-ion battery causing severe burns. this week in the uk, investigators releasing this video from inside a store where an e cigarette ignites over a baby stroller.

theda reporting nearly 100 cases of exploding e cigarettes since 2009. e cigarettes also raising alarm in the airlines flight was forced to land after a small fire on board. >> it was a lithium-ion battery that caught on fire. >> reporter: currently e cigarettes are allowed in carry-on bags. the tobacco vapor electronic association calls the incidents 100% avoidable. retailers saying most explosions are caused by overcharging the batteries. making modifications to small vaporizers or the batteries talking the metal in your pockets. preventable with specialized carrying cases. in new york senator schumer is calling certain types of cigarettes ticking time bombs. >> we haven't seen a single recall for any brand of e cigarettes. actually the device goes boom. the industry is silent and the feds are silent, too.

>> reporter: the fda and faa still evaluating how to regulate the and batteries sold every day. gadi schwartz nbc news los angeles. a dramatic high-wire rescue to at planters we know how to throw a remarkable holiday party. just serve classy snacks and be a gracious host, no matter who shows up. [cricket sound] richard. didn't think you were going to make it. hey sorry about last weekend, i don't know what got into me. well forgive and forget... kind of. i don't think so! do you like nuts? sometino big deal.shing my gums bleed. but my hygienist said, it is a big deal. go pro with crest pro health gum protection. it helps prevent gum bleeding by targeting harmful bacteria on your gums. left untreated, these symptoms could lead to more serious problems including tooth loss. gum crisis averted. it's just a cough.our cough,

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because of the high winds swinging those from one side to the other lifting them, at times, almost horizontally. plenty of harnesses, rope, and several hours to finally get all the passengers to safety. so if you haven't found the perfect gift yet, it's safe to say you're pretty much out of time. malls were packed today, though. stores were offering last-minute deals. americans are expected to shell out $655 billion this november and december. that's a jump of more than 3% over last year. get this, 10% of holiday shopping comes after christmas when stores push to clear those shelves of excess inventory. you're not too late. just in for the folks at norad tracking santa's sleigh around the world where it's already christmas in many places. santa and his reindeer making stops in sydney and athens. he's on the way here which makes a good time to remind the kids, including my own, santa is keeping

tabs on who is naughty or nice. name that tune

when we come

when a c more "doing chores for dad" per roll love" per roll bounty is more absorbent, so the roll can last 50% longer than the leading ordinary brand. so you get more "life" per roll. bounty, the quicker picker upper finally, tonight a christmas carol unlike any you've heard before. the beloved sound of the season and the state of oklahoma that became an annual tradition in a rather

untraditional way. here is nbc's kevin tibbles. ♪ i'm dreaming of a white ♪ >> reporter: the songs [000:26:58;00] ♪ rudolph the red nosed reindeer ♪ >> reporter:? oklahoma a tradition that would make irving berlin famous. ♪ from bc clark anniversary sale ♪ >> reporter: music to their ears for 60 years. the bc clark jingle. when you hear it, what do you think? >> i think christmas. i think snow. >> it's one of those that can drive you nuts but it get us you in the christmas season. >> reporter: even this oklahoma buenos the tune by heart. >> literally since i was born i remember hearing the jingle on the radio. ♪ >> reporter: bc clark

started his business back in 1892, before oklahoma was even a state. fast forward to 1956, when the family spent $300 on a jingle. >> reporter: now beloved by generations. >> we had no idea we would be playing that jingle today. >> reporter: some use it in their christmas displays or as their ring tones. even the city's hockey team sang it. >> what is funny, people don't view it as an advertisement. they view it as a christmas carol. >> reporter: i'm in oklahoma city and turn on the radio and what do i hear? ♪ jewelry is the gift to give because it's a gift that will live and live from bc clark's anniversary sale ♪ [ applause ] >> reporter: it's the best $300 you've spent. >> absolutely. no doubt about it. >> reporter: a christmas jingle that lets you know you're home. now that's okay. ♪ anniversary sale

>> reporter: kevin tibbles nbc news oklahoma city. that's a jingle that sticks. good luck getting that out of your head

tonight. that's nbc nightly news this saturday. i'm peter alexander reporting from washington. merry christmas and happy hanukkah, too. have a good night. kim held at gun point. kanye's reported breakdown. donald trump elected president. 2016 full of surprises. welcome to "access hollywood year end roundtable review." i'm liz hernandez. nina parker. dean cain. have you seen a year like this? >> 2016 was unique. >> it's a humdinger. humdinger. >> we have to start with the big story of the year. donald trump's presidential win. everyone has an opinion on this. of course. let's start with the celebrity angle. did this election show us people don't care about pin yuchbz slb ri t celebrities?