Thousands of flight delays are slowing travelers in the U.S. as a dangerous mix of winter weather blankets the Midwest. Slick roads led to multiple crashes in several states. The same system spawned tornadoes in Illinois that scattered debris across neighborhoods. NBC News' Shaquille Brewster has the story. In New Jersey, authorities say both pilots have died in a terrifying helicopter collision. Investigators continue to look into what caused the horrific crash involving two friends. NBC News' Emilie Ikeda has the latest. Fifty years after Charlie McMahon became one of the last Americans killed in the Vietnam War, NBC News staffer Dawn DiCicco discovered a ring that once belonged to him among her late mother's belongings. Charlie was her mother's high school sweetheart. DiCicco recently visited Charlie's loved ones and presented them with the ring. NBC News' Sam Brock reports. President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago as the U.S. pushes to start the second phase of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, he also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, over the latest efforts to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez reports. Tonight, we are learning more about the arrest of a farming tycoon, accused of murdering his estranged wife. The details, rocking communities in California and Arizona. NBC News' Steve Patterson has the details. The Department of Homeland Security says it is knocking on doors at more than 30 sites in Minneapolis in an effort to rout out businesses that may be collecting taxpayer money fraudulently. It comes after a viral video made by a right-wing YouTuber reignited interest in the issue. NBC News' Julia Ainsley reports. 

As millions of Americans get ready to ring in the new year, fresh rounds of snow are pummeling parts of the Midwest and Northeast. In Southern California, heavy rain is beginning to soak the region and raising new fears about landslides. NBC News' Maggie Vespa reports. The Justice Department is scrambling to review roughly 5.2 million documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a source familiar with the operation. That number is much higher than previously known. NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez reports. The Trump administration says it is freezing federal funding for childcare in Minnesota, after a video alleging fraud at daycares in the state, posted by a right wing YouTuber went viral. NBC News' Julia Ainsley reports. The manhunt is on for the thieves in Germany who police say are responsible for stealing money, jewelry and valuables from a bank on Monday. The heist was the work of professionals, according to authorities. NBC News' Daniele Hamamdjian has the latest. With the price of new monthly car payments now over $750, many consumers are extending the length of their loans to get lower payments. But experts warn it may not be as simple as it sounds - and consumers could end up paying more in the long run. NBC News' Christine Romans explains. As more than a million people descend on Times Square for the famous New Year's Eve ball drop, officials are stepping up security. There are additional officers, drones, helicopters, pickpocket patrols, K9s, and more. NBC News' Emilie Ikeda takes a look at what's being done in New York and around the world to ensure safety. In Times Square, hundreds of thousands of people have written their wishes for 2026 on small pieces of confetti that will drop down tonight to ring in the new year. NBC News' Peter Alexander has the story.