NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, March 2, 2024

Episode Date: March 3, 2024

Millions under winter weather alerts across West; U.S. airdrops pallets of thousands of meals into Gaza; 3 Norfolk Southern trains involved in collision and derailment in Pennsylvania; and more on tonight’s broadcast. 

Tonight, the dangerous blizzard dumping massive amounts of snow across parts of the West right now. Up to 12 feet, yes, 12 feet, expected in parts of the Sierra Nevada. This major highway shut down. Drivers trapped for hours. Whiteout conditions as the unrelenting snow is whipped up by 100 mile per hour winds. Also breaking, the U.S. airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza. New video of pallets of food and supplies parachuting down. The dangers to U.S. forces flying over a war zone.

A massive three-train collision in Pennsylvania. Several freight cars toppled over, some crashing into the river below. I'm actually surprised that the cars didn't explode. All three trains involved operated by Norfolk Southern just over a year after their disastrous crash in East Palestine. Car theft warning. In one major city, thefts of one model are up more than 1,000 percent. The new technology thieves are using to duplicate electronic key fobs. Many people should be very concerned about their property. Spring break crackdown.

After years of wild scenes on Miami Beach, law enforcement says no more. How they're using thermal imaging drones to keep crowds under control. And real horsepower on the highway. The wild scene on a major interstate today. This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz-Balart. Good evening. Millions across the West are facing potentially life-threatening winter weather. The biggest snowstorm yet this year. The storm is hitting 11 states from Minnesota to California, bringing powerful winds and a dangerous amount of snow. The numbers are astounding. The storm is hitting 11 states from Minnesota to California, bringing powerful winds and a dangerous amount of snow. The numbers are astounding. This storm will be measured in

feet, not inches. Some areas will see five to ten feet of snow, and the pace of it is unrelenting, two to four inches per hour. This is the scene at Sugar Bowl Resort in California, where they already have more than four feet of snow. Already a major highway has been shut down after drivers were stranded there overnight for hours. Crews are trying to clear the snow as quickly as they can, but it's almost impossible to keep up. Steve Patterson starts us off tonight from the middle of the storm. Tonight, residents in the Mountain West locked in a life-threatening blizzard, battering the region with sheets of brutal, swirling snow.

The most harrowing danger, braving the roads. If you don't have to travel, do not. Your lives are way more important, and we want you to be safe on the road. The snow whiting out visibility, causing spinouts and rollovers on major highways. The region's most vital artery, Interstate 80, shut down for more than 100 miles after cars and trucks were stranded overnight for hours. Yeah, I was in first or second gear, 15 miles an hour, and I was losing traction, so I decided to pull over. Tonight, more than 6 million under winter weather alerts across the West.

Areas from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe can see anywhere from 5 to 10 feet of snow, with more than 12 feet gusting at over 100 miles per hour in the mountains. This video from the summit of Mammoth Mountain, giving an up-close look at those hurricane force winds. Meanwhile, crews in Truckee are racing to keep up with the non-stop snow. A constant push to clear roads, roofs, and patios to avoid collapsing structures. We finish up and when we turn back, we turn around, the snow's already piling up. It's already back? Yeah, you can turn around and there's already one inch.

Residents with little choice but to hunker down in town. Awesome. Trying to make the most of a harsh winter reality. And back with us now is Steve. The snow, Steve, is still falling. How much have they gotten so far? Jose, I can show it to you. The accumulation, if left unchecked, up to my waist.

You might think these mounds of snow are drifts created by the system. They are, of course, cars buried under feet of this blizzard-like condition starting again now. This will last all night, overnight, into tomorrow. This storm is relentless. Jose? Steve Patterson in Truckee, California. Thank you. The U.S. military has begun a risky

mission to help millions of starving Palestinians, airdropping in crates filled with desperately needed food into Gaza. Ali Rafa reports. In a risky operation flying in an active war zone, the U.S. and Jordanian air forces airdropping 66 pallets holding 38,000 ready-to-eat meals over Gaza's coastline, where U.S. officials say Palestinians would be best able to access the aid. But this Palestinian still frustrated, saying, We have land crossings. It's better to send aid via crossings, and better than airdropping via parachutes. The parachutes' aid

is not enough for one family. This is nothing. Officials vowing today's drop is the first of more to come, meant to supplement but not replace the now bottlenecked flow of humanitarian aid through Israel's border crossings. You can pack an awful lot into a military aircraft. You can't replicate the size and scale and scope of a convoy of 20 or 30 trucks. The U.S. now urging Israel to open more than two border crossings as the U.N. warns one quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million residents face starvation. Today's brief sighs of relief not preventing reminders of the war zone. I cannot imagine that there is a plane that will dropping aid into Gaza. And in the same time, there is another plane near to this plane dropping shots and dropping bombs on those people who are trying to collect food.

This is unbelievable, actually. Free, free Palestine! The airdrops coming amid protests in more than 30 cities across the U.S. today in support of Palestinians. And calling for an end to the fighting, which U.S. officials concede is the best option for getting more aid into Gaza. Ali joins us from the White House. And Ali, there are some new developments tonight in the ceasefire negotiations. That's right. U.S. officials say Israel has basically accepted the deal's framework, but still no word from Hamas. Both sides set to meet in Egypt tomorrow. Jose.

Ali Rafa at the White House. Thank you so very much. In Pennsylvania today, three freight trains collided, causing a massive derailment, with some cars even toppling into a river below. All three trains are operated by Norfolk Southern. That's the same company behind last year's toxic derailment in Ohio. George Solis reports from the crash site. Tonight, dramatic images of three Norfolk Southern trains involved in a collision and derailment. I could hear it. It was like, boom, and then another real loud. It's like, I don't know what it was.

The NTSB now investigating the wreck, saying its preliminary assessment shows the derailment occurred after an eastbound train collided with a train that was stopped on the same tracks. A westbound train then striking the cars that had spilled over onto its tracks. In the derailment, two locomotives ended up partially submerged in the Lehigh River. A westbound train then striking the cars that had spilled over onto its tracks. In the derailment, two locomotives ended up partially submerged in the Lehigh River. Norfolk Southern saying it will clean up a small amount of diesel fuel that spilled into the river and plastic pellets that spilled from one of the cars. The company adding, there is no threat to the public, no hazardous material concerns from the rail cars, and no reports of injuries to our crew members.

We request that everyone stay out of the area so first responders and Norfolk Southern personnel can continue to assess and work at the scene. Tonight, there are no evacuations. Officials saying teams mobilize fast. Adding first responders have trained multiple times since the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the one-year anniversary of that wreck just a few weeks ago. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw spoke to us exclusively about the safety measures his company has taken

since last February's fiery derailment and subsequent chemical spill. What are you doing to ensure a derailment like the one that we saw on February 3rd of last year doesn't happen again? You know, it's a comprehensive approach. There's no one single thing that you can do. It's a continuous improvement process. But back in Pennsylvania tonight, another multi-car derailment leaving another community stunned. We hear the train every single night. It looks very scary and horrible.

George joins us now from the crash site. George, where does the investigation go from here? Jose, NTSB investigators are already on the ground right now assessing the wreckage. Cleanup continues. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has installed air quality monitors out here out of an abundance of caution. Jose. George Solis in Pennsylvania. Thank you. And now to politics and the countdown to Super Tuesday. Former President Trump and Nikki Haley both on the campaign trail today as Haley makes a big and possibly final push to stop Trump's march to the Republican nomination.

Ali Vitale has the very latest. Come on, Raleigh. I know we can do it. A Super Tuesday showdown. Hello, Greensboro. Donald Trump and Nikki Haley duking it out in North Carolina. In a general election, we're given a choice. In a primary, we make our choice. We're going to win by the biggest margins, I think, in history.

The GOP rivals crisscrossing the country three days before Super Tuesday, when more than 800 delegates across 15 states are at stake. Trump inching closer to the nomination with caucus wins tonight in Idaho and Missouri. The former president and much of the Republican Party ready to call him their nominee, even though the primary is not actually over. Trump today seemingly irked at Haley's staying power. People say, don't even talk about her. I know her very well. She's very average. Super Tuesday's contest could essentially secure Trump's spot as the party's standard bearer.

And his wins so far have been decisive. More than 50 percent in New Hampshire, nearly 60 percent in South Carolina, and almost 70% in Michigan days later. But for an almost incumbent like Trump, losing between 30 and 40% of primary voters shows a party far from united. To have an incumbent like Donald Trump not getting 40% in the early states, what we've received in these states are not small numbers. They can't be ignored. Haley vowing to stay in the race until at least next week, but her supporters hoping she stays longer. I'd like to honestly see her take it all the way to the convention. It pains me that he still has such a hold on our party. Jose, it's not just voters looking for a Trump alternative either. Republican senators from two Super Tuesday

states, Alaska and Maine, just endorsed Haley. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are frequent Trump critics, as well as Haley's first Senate endorsements. Jose. And I leave you, Tali, in Washington. Thank you. And join us for full coverage of Super Tuesday on our streaming network, NBC News Now, and right here on your NBC station. Coming up, the high-tech way joyriding thieves are using key fob technology to steal cars. What you need to know. There's a warning tonight about a new high-tech strategy thieves are using to steal certain kinds of cars for joyrides and street racing. It's done by copying your key fobs. Priya Sridhar with how to protect yourself.

L.A. has long been home to street takeovers like this. Street racers blocking off roads and intersections, performing dangerous stunts and maneuvers. And tonight, a new warning. Thieves may be looking to steal your car to take it for a joy ride. Generally, people don't do that to their own vehicles that they own because of the wear and tear. And of course, the expenses that would cost to actually repair a vehicle, it was to be damaged. In Los Angeles, the problem has gotten so bad, police say they've seen a massive spike in car thefts, a more than 1,000 percent increase in just the first two months of this year. And the thieves' car of choice, the Chevy Camaro. Why specifically are we seeing such an uptick with the Chevy Camaro?

We've seen that it's a muscle car that young juveniles or young adults really like. It's a popular car. And of course, the horsepower that the vehicle has, they're able to speed and of course, do maneuvers in these vehicles. Police say car thieves can use a device the size of a cell phone, which can pick up on the signal of nearby key fobs. Once it detects a key fob, it can copy it, which allows car thieves to open the car door, reprogram the ignition system, and the entire process can take less than three minutes. Experts say you can buy the duplicating devices online anywhere from $500 to $2,000. They're meant to help people who have lost their car keys, but now thieves are using it to get their hands on Camaros valued at

approximately $30,000. Some are being used for street racing. Others are being sold online. If an individual sees a vehicle being sold that appears to be brand new, take heed and not consider purchasing that vehicle. Police say to protect yourself, never keep your key fob in your car and consider using a security case or wrapping your fob in aluminum foil to prevent the signal from being detected. LAPD now trying to get a grip on this alarming trend. Priya Shrether, NBC News, Los Angeles. Still ahead, spring break chaos. How Miami Beach police plan to stop wild scenes like this one from playing out this year.

Will it work? And our tribute to a style icon who hit her stride in her 80s. You won't believe what stopped traffic in Cleveland today. Two horses galloping the wrong way on the highway. You can see cars stop to let them go by. Turns out they were police horses that got loose from their stables. They were not hurt and they were quickly corralled back to safety. As spring break gets underway at beach destinations across the U.S.,

at least one city says they've had enough of the wild partying that can oftentimes turn violent. They're taking drastic new measures to control the crowds. Sam Brock has details. Spring break in Miami Beach. Often descending into total bedlam. From smashing cars. Oh, my God cars to gunfire, prompting life-threatening stampedes.

On Ocean Drive, Mango's nightclub owner David Wallach has seen it firsthand. Last year, I was in 16 stampedes. That's hundreds and hundreds of people running in panic. With crowds already beginning to swell this weekend, Miami Beach's newly minted police chief says this is the year the cycle stops. We want to change in how spring break occurs here in Miami Beach. There's consequences to your actions. If you come here, you break the law, we're likely going to arrest you.

Last year alone, there were 573 arrests and more than 100 firearms impounded. A new guard in Miami Beach, including the police chief and mayor and city commission, have joined forces to preemptively put more enforcement in place. We've had fatalities on our streets, so I believe our city has a moral obligation to protect every person that comes in our city. That includes activating every member of the police department for spring break, plus help from 16 other agencies, and implementing three security stops by the beach to check for illegal items like guns. Last year in this intersection, in the middle of Ocean Drive, gunfire broke out and somebody died. Members of the community and business owners that we've

spoken with said they are sick of this and they want it to stop. A major tool in the fight is new drone technology from manufacturer Skydio. We're not utilizing the technology to intimidate people, but to assist us in our investigations. The department showing us how it works on a normal beach day. What is the sergeant doing? He's currently about 257 feet up in the air and he's monitoring us right now. If there's an incident on the beach or on Ocean Drive, we're fully prepared to collect information from our device. The drone's thermal video can aid that tracking for fights or people in distress when light is challenging. What is your level of

confidence that this entire mosaic of rules that you've come up with will actually stop someone from dying this year? Listen, we can't ever say for certain, right? We have a very, very good plan, but it's very, very hard to predict human nature. We're a law and order city. That's 24-7, 365 days a year. The test now, whether all that planet will maintain order even in the middle of spring break. Sam Brock, NBC News, Miami Beach. Tonight, we're remembering a fashion icon. Iris Apfel has died. Known for her vibrant wardrobe, she had a long career as a celebrated interior designer to high-end clients, including nine presidents. But Apfel refused to let age define what she wore, shooting to fame in her 80s for her joyful style. Iris Apfel was 102 years old.

When we come back, there's good news. The electrifying on-court celebration to honor a true champion. There's good news tonight. You know, so often the good news doesn't get as much attention as the bad. So every Saturday we highlight the many people who spread joy and love. And these are just some of those stories this week. There was music that struck a chord in Central California. It was a celebration of life for beloved music teacher and choral director Gary Lamprey. Friends and former students honoring his half a century of lessons with song.

This is McPhee. She'd like to give your classroom a balloon. And that's Connie Abbott. Her birthday wish as she turned 100 years old. Happy birthday! Thank you, thank you, thank you. To surprise and thank the kids at Buttonball Lane Elementary in Connecticut. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The whole school had sent her birthday cards and she showed up with balloons for them. Connie sharing her secret to a long and happy life. Be kind, be kind. The world needs that so badly and love too. And take a look at this. That's NBA superstar Tyrese Maxey going out of his way to make a young fan's dream come true. You can see how kind words and a hug from his hero moved 14-year-old Braxton Elliott to tears. That connection so special that Tyrese answered our call to surprise Braxton again. Yo. What's up?

Oh my God, bro. You good? There's no way. How are you doing? I'm great. Tyrese, you're my idol. Like, he's my idol. Tyrese giving Braxton and his little brother

these words of wisdom. Just whatever he wants to do in life, you got to find ways to get 1% better every single day at it. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it. Harper has officially become a native tree bird. In North Carolina, this was the electrifying night marking a new chapter for 10-year-old

Harper Harrow. Harper, are you ready? Yes! That's her at the Duke basketball game ringing the bell, celebrating the end of a two-year-long battle with leukemia. Both teams united to cheer her on. Take me back to that night at the basketball game. I couldn't anticipate the energy and the enthusiasm.

The place erupted. I was over in the corner just weeping because it was just so emotional. It was so much fun. Everybody chanted my name and it was awesome. For this family, it's a moving reminder of the power of community. I think for me, the message is knowing that with the right people besides you, you can soldier on and get through the really hard things. And Harper has created a foundation called Harper's Home to help create housing for families

traveling to Duke for medical treatment. That's NBC Nightly News for this Saturday. I'm Jose Díaz-Balart. Thank you for the privilege of your time. And good night.