NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, April 1, 2024

Episode Date: April 2, 2024

The Florida Supreme Court tightens access to abortion in the state, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to 40 years for federal financial crimes, workers remove the wreckage of the Baltimore bridge to create a narrow channel, and more in tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking news tonight, the major ruling in Florida on abortion rights. Florida Supreme Court saying the state's six-week abortion ban can take effect in 30 days. But also ruling that voters should have the ultimate say by putting the abortion issue on the ballot in November. The growing national battle. Also tonight, the SUV ramming a security gate at the FBI's Atlanta field office. The driver in custody, what we're learning. The spring storms and tornado threat across the country, and is April snow headed for New England?

Al Roker is here. The significant progress in the race to reopen the port of Baltimore after that massive bridge collapse, the temporary fix to get ships in and out, the major escalation in the Middle East, Iran accusing Israel of striking its consulate in Syria and killing two top generals. Convicted double murderer Alec Murdoch back in court, sentenced to 40 more years for stealing from his clients. Why some of his victims say they forgive him. A lawyer for NFL star Rasheed Rice

says he's cooperating with police after reports his car was involved in a major crash. Authorities asking for help IDing the man in this video. And he's young and driven, the gamer turned NASCAR star who just claimed his first major checkered flag. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. Breaking tonight, a pair of closely watched abortion rulings laid today by Florida's Supreme Court. The conservative majority panel opening the door for a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a point at which some women don't know they are pregnant.

But in a separate ruling, the court will leave it to Florida voters to decide whether to restore abortion rights when they go to the polls in November. Senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett starts us off tonight. Tonight, Florida's highest court paving the way for a strict abortion ban to go into effect, while also sending the issue back to the voters this November. The conservative court finding the state's constitution does not protect abortion rights, which will now allow Florida to ban the procedure as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women know that they're pregnant. That law, signed last year by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, now set to go into effect in the next 30 days.

We are here today to defend those who can't defend themselves. It's all likely to usher in a sea change, not only in Florida, but throughout the South, as the state has seen a surge in patients from surrounding states that have passed stricter bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned. But at the same time, the court today also approving key language for a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights after advocates gathered enough signatures for voters to decide the issue this November. I feel like women should not be told what to do. I don't think they should have abortion at all. If passed, it would guarantee the right to abortion before viability, which is usually around 24 weeks or when necessary to protect the patient's health. And Laura, it's not just Florida that could have abortion on the ballot in November.

That's right, Lester. Several different states are considering ballot measures like these. Some they have already succeeded. The advocates have succeeded getting them on the ballot. But in the meantime, in the short term, Lester, this abortion ban, this six-week abortion ban is going to start in the next 30 days in Florida. All right, Laura, thanks very much. Just developing tonight, a driver near Atlanta ramming his car into the front gate of the FBI office there. Blaine Alexander reports he is in custody tonight. Tonight, a major security scare at the FBI field office in Atlanta when agents say a man driving this vehicle used it to try and force his way inside. We can confirm a person rammed into the FBI Atlanta's front gate shortly afternoon

today. He was not associated with this facility. The FBI says the driver tried to get past the security checkpoint by following an employee's vehicle inside, but the security barrier engaged and the suspect crashed his car into it. Officials say he then jumped out of the car and tried to run toward the building, but only made it a few feet before being tackled. Several of our special agents who were passing by apprehended him. His motives at this point are not known. The suspect was taken to a local area hospital where he's being evaluated. The suspect was never close to actually getting inside of the building, officials say. And note, it's too early to tell whether this was a potential act of terror.

Tonight, FBI officials are not releasing the name of the suspect and say no weapons were found inside the car. And tonight, officials are considering both state and federal charges. Lester. Blaine Alexander, thank you. Tens of millions are in the crosshairs of severe weather tonight and tomorrow in the Midwest and South from the same storm that caused major flooding and surprisingly heavy snow in California over the weekend. Al Roker is tracking it for us. Al, a dangerous situation brewing.

In fact, Lester, it is developing right now, a volatile situation. We have 8 million people under tornado watches from St. Louis, Kansas City, down to Oklahoma City and just north of Dallas until late tonight. And then we've also got, as you can see, the line of showers and thunderstorms moving into the Midwest. Flood watches for 16 million people. Tonight, we are really concerned about this area right in central Oklahoma, where we've got damaging hail, wind gusts, nocturnal tornadoes. These are twice as deadly as daytime tornadoes. Fort Smith, Joplin, St. Louis, Poplar Bluff. And then we move into tomorrow.

The threat ramps up to 55 million people in the upper Ohio River Valley from Columbus, Nashville, Chattanooga, Birmingham. We're looking at rainfall amounts anywhere from two to three inches. And on the backside of the system, Lester, we've got a major snowstorm, blizzard conditions possible in parts of northern New England for up to 18 inches of snow. All right, Al Roker, thank you. Six days since Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship, there is progress in the urgent effort to reopen the port. Officials saying crews have already opened a narrow channel to allow recovery

vessels to access the disaster site. Aaron Gilchrist is there. Tonight, authorities battling more bad weather and the urgent mission to get a portion of the Baltimore port back open. Today, announcing a temporary channel now complete. It will help us to get more vessels in the water around the site of the collapse. We were out on the water with the Coast Guard late today. With this temporary shipping channel now open, we're seeing one of the first ships to go through off in the distance here, a barge being pushed by a tugboat. The operation in full swing six days after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a container ship struck one of its pillars. We know crews were out this weekend with cutting torches, slicing these pieces of metal. You're looking at now some

of the first pieces that were cut and they're waiting to be removed. The new 11-foot-deep temporary shipping lane expected to allow only vessels essential to salvage operations. More than 370 engineers, technicians, logistics experts and others working around the clock. The plan? Clear the bridge wreckage from the channel, stabilize the dolly, remove the bridge span from its bow, and eventually remove some cargo containers so the massive ship can be refloated and brought back to port. All of this expected to take weeks at least. We're going to move as rapidly as possible, but we're going to continue to do it safely. Every day the port remains closed could have a major impact on both the supply chain and the 8,000 jobs that directly depend on this busy

waterway being open. 140,000 workers have some connection to this shipping hub. It's stung, seeing it come down. Chris Elliott is a longshoreman, the folks who handle all the products moving from ship to shore at the port. Since the bridge collapse, Chris has been in limbo. The uncertainty has to be hard, though. Yeah, it is. It's every day you're thinking about the future and the uncertainty. You know, you lose some sleep over it. Got bills to pay. Tonight, we're also learning the owner of the container ship petitioned a court to limit its liability for this accident.

And President Biden plans to visit the wreckage on Friday. Lester. All right, Aaron, thank you. In South Carolina, a new sentence for Alec Murdoch today for federal financial crimes. Priya Sridhar joins us. Priya, this comes on top of multiple state sentences, including for the murder of his wife and son. That's right, Lester.

Today, Murdoch was sentenced to 40 years in prison and $8 million in restitution for stealing millions from his family law firm's personal injury clients. was sentenced to 40 years in prison and $8 million in restitution for stealing millions from his family law firm's personal injury clients. This is in addition to the two life sentences without parole he's already serving for killing his wife and son and 27 years in state prison for similar financial crimes. Murdoch appeared in court today in an orange jumpsuit and shackles and addressed the judge for 13 minutes. He said he's remorseful and embarrassed about what he did and that he thinks about his victims every day. Two of his victims also appeared in court today and said that they forgive him. Lester. Priya Sharider, thank you. Tonight, a lawyer

for NFL star Rasheed Rai says he is cooperating with authorities as they investigate a six-vehicle crash in Dallas that may have involved one of his cars. Priscilla Thompson now with late details. For the first time since this terrifying crash, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rasheed Rice is responding amid reports that his car may have been involved. His attorney writing in a statement that Rice is cooperating fully with authorities and will take all necessary steps to address the situation responsibly. Adding his thoughts are with everyone impacted. The response comes 48 hours after this six-car crash caused, police say, by this Lamborghini and Corvette speeding down the expressway. The major accident on the freeway at 6700 block of North Central Expressway northbound.

Dramatic dash cam video shows the moment police say the drivers lost control. One car slamming into the center median as the other appears to spin out. Kayla Quinn says she and her four-year-old son were headed home after a day at the zoo when they were among those hit. This could have ended way worse, she wrote on social media. Both cars hitting me, yet me and my baby walked out untouched. Police say all injuries were minor and the occupants of the Lamborghini and the Corvette all ran from the scene.

Moments after the crash, a bystander captured this video. You guys all right? Yeah, what's up? Whereer captured this video. You guys all right? Yeah, that's it. Where are you guys heading? You guys all right? Yeah. You guys just going to leave it? Tonight, the NFL not commenting, but the chief's president telling KCMO Talk Radio this.

We'll get to the bottom of it. We'll gather the facts and we'll react accordingly. Dallas police are not saying if Rice was involved in the actual crash, and they're asking for the public's help in identifying the men in the video. Lester. Priscilla Thompson, thank you. In the Middle East, Iran is claiming tonight that an Israeli airstrike in Syria killed some of its senior commanders at an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.

Rav Sanchez has more. Tonight, the fiery aftermath of what appears to be a targeted strike in Syria. Smoke and flames billowing from an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus. Debris scattered on the streets. Iran says the blast killed two generals and five officers from its Revolutionary Guard, and it's blaming Israel and vowing revenge. Israel not commenting. Iran is a primary backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas, as fears grow of a widening conflict outside Gaza, where today Israel announced the end of what it called a two-week counter-terror raid on El Shifa Hospital,

leaving behind a trail of destruction. Israel says Hamas used the hospital as a base and that Israeli commandos killed 200 militants and captured senior Hamas operatives. The U.S. saying Hamas is hiding among civilians. Hamas should not be operating out of hospitals. But as we've also said, we do not want firefights in a hospital. The World Health Organization says at least 21 patients died during the Israeli siege. And Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said they found bodies of civilians decomposing in the dirt. Among them, Dr. Ahmed Mekatma, according to his family and Palestinian media.

The situation in Gaza is still catastrophic. Among them, Dr. Ahmed Mekatma, according to his family and Palestinian media. A dedicated surgeon, his colleague said he refused to leave his patients behind. He opted to stay in northern Gaza in Shefan Al-Ahli to look after his patients. And Israel's military saying tonight an Iranian-made drone hit an Israeli naval base. There were no casualties, but Israel calling it a very serious incident. Lester. Raf Sanchez, thank you. In 60 seconds, the $20 an hour pay hike for fast food workers in California. But what will the impact be on meal prices? Next. More than 500,000 fast food workers got a raise today to $20 an hour as a new law took effect in California. It's meant to offset the high cost of living, but it may also mean you'll pay more for your burger.

Here's Liz Kreutz. Something is better than nothing. For three years, Anisha Williams has worked at Jack in the Box, struggling to make ends meet as a single mom in high-priced Los Angeles. They need to know that their workers are struggling. Some workers are homeless. That's why today marks a moment she's been waiting for. Anisha is among hundreds of thousands of fast food workers across California getting a raise. We need this. We need this so bad. After years of protests, restaurant chains with more than 60 locations nationwide

must now pay their California employees at least $20 an hour. It's one of the highest minimum wages in the country and the first time state lawmakers have mandated a minimum wage for just one industry. Supporters say it's time for the billion-dollar corporations to pay a living wage. How's it going? But many franchise owners, like like Jessica DiAmbra, who runs 11 McDonald's around L.A., say the law puts an unfair strain on their businesses already operating on slim margins. Do you feel targeted that it's specifically for fast food? Yes. And I think people just don't realize that they see this big McDonald brand and just think, they've got all the money in the world. And it's just, that's not at all how it is. McDonald's, Chipotle and Starbucks already saying they plan to raise

prices to offset the rising labor costs. Pizza Hut preemptively laid off 1200 delivery drivers like Michael Ojeda. I was very frustrated. A lot of us got our jobs taken from us. He was let go after eight years. What's the point of the raise if you don't have a job anymore? Experts say the law may also lead to shorter hours and expedite the push to automation, replacing people with technology. Economists often say there's no such thing as a free lunch. Does that apply here? It really applies here, but we forget that somebody's paying for it somewhere. But for Anisha, as the cost of living rises, she says a few extra dollars goes a long way. I'm praying that this $20 will actually do something for me and my children.

Liz Kreutz, NBC News, Los Angeles. Up next for us tonight, college's warnings over financial aid chaos. Could it impact thousands of students' ability to go to college in the fall. We're back now with our series, Kids Under Pressure. We first told you last month about glitches causing chaos in college financial aid approvals. Now universities are sounding the alarm that they can't process it all in time. Here's Stephanie Gosk. Choosing a college is hard enough, but as the enrollment deadline draws near,

some students still don't know if they will get the financial aid they need to pay for school. Frustrating Virginia high schooler Kate Tunstall. How many schools accepted you? Five or six. How many of them have told you whether or not they will offer financial aid? None of them. Issues with the federal government's new financial aid form, FAFSA, keep mounting. Students who don't have offers, they likely will choose to not go to college in the fall.

That'll be a tragedy for them and a tragedy for the nation. According to a recent survey of college officials, 67 percent don't think their school can process financial aid in the next few weeks. Low-income students are already facing a number of challenges to get a higher education, and aren't they the ones who are hurt the most by this? They are definitely the ones who are hurt most. The irony is that this was a system that was aimed at making it easier. The new financial aid form mandated by Congress expanded eligibility and streamlined questions from 103 to about 20. But there was a late rollout and lots of glitches. There's no question that the transition here has been rocky and it's been challenging, not just for us, but for students

and for colleges. Facing delays, dozens of colleges have pushed back the May 1st enrollment deadline. The DOE has also made multiple changes, including adding department employees to deal with the issues and loosening requirements for schools. People are working seven days a week here, long nights, to make sure that it's going to be possible for people to get their aid offers. Meanwhile, the Tunstalls wait. If we're unable to know if we can pay for the college, then it's a pretty big deal. Like many students, what she doesn't want, along with a college diploma, is a mountain of debt. Stephanie Gossk, NBC News. And next tonight, how playing video games as a kid

propelled him right into the fast lane of NASCAR and his first big win. Sad news tonight about a World War II hero. Lou Conter, the last living survivor from the USS Arizona, has died at the age of 102. The Arizona was bombed. It sank during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. More than 1,000 American sailors and Marines were on board and were killed. And finally, he went from playing video games to driving a NASCAR. And at the age of 21, he's just getting started. Sam Brock now with his story. For fans of 21-year-old Raja Karuth. There it is. Raja Karuth wins it at Las Vegas. First career win. His accomplishments might seem to be flying in at breakneck speed. Are you telling me,

because you're 21 now, right? Only four years ago was your first race yeah coming on five it'll be five in june and so to be at this level i feel pretty proud so far the number 71 truck for spire motorsports just became the third black driver in nascar's history to win a national series race after wendell scott and bubble wallace did you see that as part of your mission the passion was the main thing and and it still is, right? It's authentic to my background and who I am and my family. But at the same time, you know, I'm here to be a racer. Video games as a kid.

So you even have like tire pressure in there? Oh yeah, you can see all that stuff. And eye simulator machines as a teen. Serving as a springboard straight to NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program here in North Carolina, following in the footsteps of drivers like Wallace and Daniel Suarez. Well, for me, it was literally the sole reason why I was able to make the jump from racing online to in real life. And critical support coming from his family. Just going through the cadence of any driver and any parent that wants to support a child doing something.

But as far as it being very unique, I think that's the difference, right? Do you think Raj's accomplishments are opening the door for other people to come on through? Yeah, absolutely. Now with a full garage. I appreciate their work. Carruth and inspiration. Last year was the dream, and now the dream is reality. So it's really cool. And success story that's only beginning to rev up.

Sam Brock, NBC News, Mooresville, North Carolina. And that's nightly news for this Monday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.