a massive avalanche surrounds a luxury italian hotel. today begins an hour by hour count down of the inauguration of the 45th president of the united states. new details on the medical conditions of george h.w. bush and hisife barbara, as both remain hospitalized in houston. president obama offers his last public comments before trump takes over, while reassuring the nation. >> at my core, i think we're going to be okay. we just have to fight for it, work for it, not take it for granted. good luck. >> complete with a helicopter

and a whole lot more. "early today" starts right now. >> good thursday morning, i'm ayman mohyeldin. >> i'm francis rivera. >> we begin with breaking news this morning, nearly 30 people feared dead or missing while an earthquake triggered an avalanche in italy overnight. there were 22 guests and seven workers at the hotel. rescue workers are digging through the snow and rubble, making their way into parts of the hotel and there's still some hope as italian news reports say some hotel guests have sent text messages to emergency numbers saying they are trapped inside. in italy with the latest. >> reporter: the hotel is a four-star popular ski resort. at the back of the mountain you see behind me, it is really difficult, of course, as you can imagine to reach it and it was difficult for the authorities and rescue team to get to the hotel after they received that distressed call for help by one

of the two people who just happened to find themselves outside of the hotel when the avalanche struck. they only managed to get there many hours later at 4:00 this morning, and what they saw when they got there they described as apocalyptic. we've seen videos and pictures released by the authorities of the structure. this is a four-story building and all you can see right now is only the roof and a bit of the last floor, so you can imagine how much snow it is buried under. we've also seen pictures and videos from inside the hotel, again, from the rescue teams, and it shows the structure is still intact, but the snow burst through the windows into the corridors, rooms, and parts of the lobby. right now, of course, only two people rescued alive, other two people who were lucky enough to be outside of the hotel when the avalanche struck, and one body was found. 29 more are missing. back to you, ayman.

>> all right, such beauty at the scene of such a horrific situation. thank you so much. now to iran where tehran's iconic building has collapsed. the associated press citing media is reporting at least 30 firefighters were killed and some 75 others injured as the building crumbled under its own weight after a fire engulfed several floors. firefighters were battling the blaze for many hours before the 17-story high-rise gave way. the building was among the first high-rises built in the iranian capital. well wishes have been pouring in for george h.w. bush and his wife barbara after the oldest living president was taken into intensive care unit at houston's methodist hospital following breathing problems stemming from pneumonia. a spokesman said he was doing well until he took a turn, forcing doctors to remove a blockage from his lung. the former first lady was admitted as a precaution, as

well. eight days ago 41 sent this letter to president-elect trump saying he wished him well but saying he will not be able to attend the inauguration. we will be with you and country in spirit. this is bush's fourth hospital visit in just five years. donald trump boarded his private plane back to new york for the final time as president-elect last night. he'll wake up in his home this morning for one last time before becoming the president. after honoring his incoming vice president mike pence and cabinet nominees and it was those same cabinet picks that faced a grueling set of hearings. lawmakers grilled them on everything from russia to the israeli-palestinian conflict to gas emissions and nafta, but it was trump's pick to head the department of health and human services that received the lion's share of the grilling after he was put in the hot

seat. >> you told me that you did this one on your own without the broker, yes? >> no, i did it through a broker. i directed the broker to purchase the stock, but i did it through a broker. >> you directed a broker to purchase that stock? >> that's correct. >> the president-elect said let's do repeal and replace simultaneously. >> i think that's fair. i think one of the important things we need to convey to the american people is nobody's interested in pulling the rug out from under anybody. >> elsewhere on capitol hill, yet another moment trump's key picks openly disagreed with the president-elect on policy. this time it was epa nominee scott pruitt on climate change. >> donald trump has called global warming a hoax caused by the chinese. do you agree that global warming is a hoax? >> i do not, senator. >> so donald trump is wrong? >> i do not believe that climate change is a hoax. >> that comes as we get word sonny perdue will be trump's

choice to lead the department of agriculture. trump will break with his predecessors without having a single democrat or hispanic in his cabinet. that has rick perry is said to have entirely misunderstood the job he was nominated for, perry initially took the role to head the energy department believing he would be a global ambassador for the oil and gas industry, only to see he would have oversight over the country's nuclear arsenal. perry is said to have a hearing this morning. meanwhile, protesters staged a so-called year dance party near the home where vice president elect mike pence is citying to demonstrate his positions against lgbt issues. tomorrow president obama departs for palm springs for a well earned vacation. the 44th president touched on everything from his recent c

pardon of chelsea manning and reminded democrats this is not the end of the world. >> let's be clear, chelsea manning has served a tough prison sentence. i feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message is still been sent, but i have enjoyed working with all of you. that does not, of course, mean i've enjoyed every story that you have filed, but that's the point of this relationship. you're not supposed to be sing kuo fants, you're supposed to be skeptics and ask tough questions and hold us accountable to the people that sent us here. man, my daughters are something, and i think it was interesting to see how malia and sasha reacted. they were disappointed. they paid attention to what their mom said during the

campaign and believed it. they don't mope. the only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world, and sometimes i get mad and frustrated like everybody else does, but at my core, i think we're going to be okay. we just have to fight for it, we have to work for it, and not take it for granted. >> and as the president bid farewell to the press, overnight the first lady posted an incredibly heartfelt social media message along with this photo. "being your first lady has been the honor of a lifetime. from the bottom of my heart, thank you." check out these jaw dropping moments caught on camera. a pickup truck smashes into a gun store in alabama at the speed of around 60 miles per hour. police say the smash and grab burglars stole about 16 firearms and a reward has been offered for tips leading to their arrest. and in texas, check this out, an officer's dash cam captured an enormous explosion lighting up the sky.

the inferno is a result of a natural gas line rupture. crews were allowed to cut off the gas. best news of all, though, no injuries were reported. nasty flooding in the deep south in different parts of the city and looks like a lot more rain is on the way. let's check in with bill karins who's watching the west coast, where heavy rain and mountain snow will continue over the next two days. >> yeah, been active. storms have been dipping down into the south and here comes another one. overnight in areas of los angeles, oceanside and san diego, moisture and showers through california and rainfall, too. the problem is this just continues. this really unusually fast and persistent jet stream out here is going to continue to bring the moisture to the west so we're going to keep going. friday another batch of rain. mountains will get snow, but equivalent of four to five inches, feet of snow again and lower elevations are going to deal with significant rainfall th potential forwicalifornia, s

weather will be persistent right throughout your day. also two other important forecasts going out there, inauguration and important information about the climate and how warm the planet was last year, that's coming up. just ahead, the woman abducted 18 years ago as a baby is speaking out. and did world's most expensive weapon get more affordable? "early today" is back in two minutes. .another anti-wrinkle cm in no hurry to make anything happen. neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair works... ...in one week. with the... fastest retinol formula available. it's clinically proven to work on fine lines and... ...even deep wrinkles. "one week?

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what was that meeting like when you got to meet your biological parents for the first time? >> it was okay. they felt like family. just kind of distant, like we haven't seen each other in a while, like that. i'm going to continue to love my

family i grew up with, of course, and i'm going to continue -- you know, move forward and learning to love them. >> that was the 18 year old speaking out for the first time about meeting her biological parents. alexis was born kamiyah mobley. >> i understand that one mistake, but it wasn't all bad. everything that came out of it was not bad. >> williams made her first appearance in court yesterday. she is being held without bond. this morning lockheed martin and the pentagon could be nearing a deal that could save the u.s. millions of dollars. sources say negotiations over the f-35 fighter jet will bring the price of each one of the fighter jets below $100 million for the first time ever. donald trump had recently criticized the f-35 program for being too expensive, though early in the summer the company

said they anticipated offering a lower price. this morning's "new york times" lawsuits say student loan collector cheated millions. federal regulators say navient made it hard for borrowers to repay loans by giving them bad information, processing payments incorrectly, and failing to act on complaints. the consumer financial protection bureau is seeking penalties and restitution for borrows that could cost the company billions. ellen degeneres did something no one else has ever achieved. plus, president obama through the years and all the tolls those years have taken on him. you're watching "early today". y on your medicare part d prescriptions. at walgreens we make it easy for you to seize the day by helping you get more out of life and medicare part d. now with zero-dollar copays on select plans... ...and rewards points on all prescriptions, walgreens has you covered.

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recognize some of these pictures. white house photographer pete souza says he's often asked to choose his favorite photo of president obama. souza instagramed these snow day pics from 2010 saying he couldn't pick just one favorite photo, this was his favorite day. talk about a guy who's witnessed so much history. pete has been there since day one with president obama. president obama campaigned on promises of hope and change back in 2008. nbc's harry smith takes a look back at how the last eight years have changed him. >> reporter: we've grown accustomed to this face, and my how it's changed. since his speech in 2004 -- >> there is not a liberal america, a conservative america. there is the united states of

america. >> reporter: president obama has occupied the focus of many a camera. we, though, view him from the lens of our own expectations, our dreams, our biases. imagine how any of us would have fared under the circumstances. you are president of the united states, commander in chief, leader of the free world, but also comforter in chief, scold, cheerleader, father, husband, wearer of weird shirts, and turkey pardoner. >> you are hereby pardoned. >> reporter: we have seen him pensive and watched him preach. ♪ we have even heard him sing. ♪ i'm so in love with you >> reporter: but the job does something to you. there is a weight, there is a responsibility that can't be measured. look at other presidents. their faces are like an odometer of human experience. over the years you see them rack up the miles.

the job is never a breeze. there is always conflict, a world's worth of cares and concerns, and no matter who they are, over time it shows. there may be victories and triumphs, but no one leaves without detractors and disappointments, so to survive you grow a thick skin, and as thick as it may be, we can still see right through it. harry smith, nbc news, new york. just ahead, another '90s show is making a comeback. plus, can you guess the price tag for the most expensive home in america? i can tell you it's not something i can afford for sure. full details and a peek inside next. even a rodent ride-along. [dad] alright, buddy, don't forget anything! [kid] i won't, dad... [captain rod] happy tuesday morning! captain rod here. it's pretty hairy out on the interstate.traffic is literally crawling, but there is some movement on the eastside overpass. getting word of another collision.

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it was a television phenomenon winning 16 emmy awards. >> just shut up. >> just shut up. >> just get in the cab. >> and now do we have an announcement for you. >> you, just you. >> just them. will and grace, they are back. you know this era of reboots and revivals, nbc has officially confirmed the late '90s comedy will be returning to the network for ten episodes. it is with the original cast, so stay tuned. it is coming in the 2017-2018 season. >> you see a lot of reboots on film, not that common to see it on television. this is kind of groundbreaking. >> i love the two of them.

man, jack and karen, oh, i cannot wait. all right, a new home just hit the market and it can be yours for the small affordable price of $250 million. that makes it the most expensive home in america. let's take a look inside. you can probably guess where it's located, bel air, los angeles. this comes with a bowling alley, movie theater, $220,000 candy room, 85-foot infinity pool, six bars, because one bar is never enough, spa, helicopter, and two champagne cellars, just to sweeten the deal. how about that? >> they have the antique cars, i think $20 or $30 million just because the cars come along with it, of course, like everything else. >> you're going to make the down payment next week. >> you know what, i would be happy in the maid's closet, how's that? ellen degeneres is adding three awards to her shelf after last night's people's choice awards and making her the most

decorated winner in people's choice history. >> tonight her people's choice awards total 20. i don't know how that's possible. she's one of the best people on this planet, and no one is more deserving, the one and only ellen degeneres. >> i say, thank you, people, and the only thing that would make me happier, and not a lot happier, because this makes me happy, but if it was voted on by animals, because i love animals and i think they know how much i love them. >> i think animals would vote for ellen, as well. >> she definitely is a groundbreaking artist in her own way. she's transitioned and the show she has is one of the most enjoyable things to watch on tv. just ahead, why netflix is having a good year. plus, paul mccartney's battle to get back the rights to classic beatles songs. you're watching "early today". this is 100% useful for a 100% fresh mouth.. what's it like to not feel 100% fresh?

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tofa fairbanks, alaska, we . it went down to negative 50. a lot of people had fun with boiling water. that's what happens when you take boiling water in negative 50 degrees and throw it in the air, instant snow. warm in the lower 48, but cold in alaska lately. officially got the record in from noaa. 2016 barely beat 2015 for the warmest year recorded on the globe. that makes three years in a row we have had warmer, warmer, warmer. last three years have been the warmest ever recorded. the forecast for the inauguration, light rain will move through, but the timing looks to be right during the swearing in ceremony and

beginning of the parade. cloudy and mild. 47 degrees isn't too bad, though. thing is, they can't bring umbrellas because of security concerns. hopefully it will just be light showers. i don't think it's going to ruin anything. >> that insta snow makes for great pictures. >> i want to try it without feeling the temperatures. bill, thank you. tomorrow will likely showcase a long transition of peaceful transfers of power, but the developing crisis in gambia reveals a stark contrast after the president refuses to step down from office after losing in an election a month ago. they are lining up troops on the west african country's borders threatening to remove him by force if necessary. thousands are now fearing gambia in fear of potential violence. chances are if you're watching our broadcast this morning you're a netflix subscriber. the streaming behemoth says it has 93 million members after

nabbing an additional 7 million in just the last three months. that news, of course, sent the company's stock skyrocketing. some 56% hitting an all-time high. netflix's expansion for the increase in subscribers and probably a few more subscribers in this room, right? >> versailles is the next one to watch. the crown, i should say. paul mccartney filed a lawsuit against sony claiming back beatles song he wrote with john lenon. the publisher acquired the rights from the estate of michael jackson. remember he bought them back in 1985. mccartney says his reclamation of the song love me do possible in two years and the rest of the catalog over the next decade. >> music copyright is very complicated. thanks for watching, i'm ayman mohyeldin.

>> i'm francis rivera. thanks for being wh usit.

==sam/2shot== good morning- and thanks for joining us. i'm sam brock. ==laura/2shot== and i'm laura garcia cannon. slick roads and whipping winds.. that's what drivers will be dealing this morning.. good morning on this thursday. i'm sam brock. >> i'm laura garcia-cannon. taking a live look outside from the bay area bridges.