NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, January 14, 2024

Episode Date: January 15, 2024

Dangerous winter storms impact tens of millions across the U.S. over the weekend; Brutal cold grips Iowa in hours leading up to caucuses; Border Patrol prevented by Texas officials from intervening to help drowning migrants, WH says; and more on tonight’s broadcast.  

Tonight, the life-threatening Arctic blast, nearly 90 million bracing for brutal cold as Iowa gets set to vote with wind chills in the negative 40s. Blizzard-like conditions across the Midwest, more than three feet in the Great Lakes, an avalanche onto a Colorado highway, a total whiteout in Buffalo. It's life-threatening weather. More than a thousand flights canceled just today and the big NFL game postponed. Even a coach whose mustache froze over as temperatures plunged from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Will the cold impact the Iowa caucuses? The first votes of the 2024 election set to be

cast tomorrow. Our latest poll showing a possible shakeup in the race. But will anyone come close to former President Trump? The White House and Texas clashing after three migrants drowned while crossing the border. Did Texas authorities block federal Border Patrol agents from helping them? A powerful volcano erupts in Iceland, lava shooting up into the sky and now flowing right into one evacuated town, homes there on fire. The accused Gilgo Beach killer set to be charged with another murder.

And the man released from prison now battling the junk science that he says wrongfully convicted him, hoping to free others. This is NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow. Good evening. This is NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow. Good evening. We are tracking dangerous cold and blizzard like conditions that are disrupting flights, NFL games and may have a major impact on the first votes of the 2024 election. We're seeing record low wind chills that almost seem like typos. They're not. Negative 60 in Montana, negative 50 in South Dakota, negative 45 in Minnesota. There are blizzard like conditions in places like Michigan and western New York.

Already more than 16000 flights have been delayed or canceled this holiday weekend. And it's only going to get worse in parts of the country with the cold expanding into the south and the northeast in the days ahead. But all eyes in the political world are on Iowa's weather, where they're going to see wind chills there in the negative 40s as the candidates make their final pitches ahead of tomorrow's caucus. They're not just asking voters to support them, but to come out in dangerous weather to do so. We have it all covered for you tonight, beginning with Jesse Kirsch in a very snowy Grand Rapids, Michigan. From near whiteouts to record cold, tonight tens of millions of Americans are caught in a series of dangerous winter storms that already appear responsible for at least four deaths. All weekend, from the West Coast to the Great Lakes, communities getting pelted with a wintry mix,

some seeing more than three feet of snow. In New York, near blinding conditions causing today's Buffalo Bills playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to be postponed. The fans helping dig out the stadium. New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The storm is not over. It could have been far worse, but it's still not as safe conditions to go out. Meanwhile, Grand Rapids, Michigan hit with snow for the sixth day straight. Kim Davis deciding to walk roughly 90 minutes round trip to the pharmacy. But when you feel that wind.

It feels really, I felt like my jaw was freezing. From the Pacific Northwest to Florida, much of the country experiencing temperatures well below average. Some wind chills making it feel like negative 60. In Kansas City, Missouri, last night's Chiefs-Dolphins game played on in negative 7 degrees, even as the Chiefs head coach's mustache started to freeze. A Saturday storm in Maine was blamed for washing away these fishing shacks. Across the country, roads turning dangerous, too. In Colorado, officials say a highway was hit by an avalanche today.

Iowa roads also treacherous on the eve of that state's Republican presidential caucuses. Jesse joins us now from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jesse, that area expected to see more snow this week? We'll keep seeing this snow here and in other parts of the Great Lakes until Wednesday. Meanwhile, the northeast could start seeing some snow as early as tomorrow night. And the travel issues continue. U.S. airports today alone seen more than 6,000 delays reported. Kate. All right, Jesse, thank you.

In Iowa, there's concern that brutally cold weather could cause some voters to stay home and not participate in tomorrow's first in the nation caucus. We're just over 24 hours now from the first votes and a new NBC News Des Moines Register poll is showing a surprise in the race for second. Garrett Haik is with the Trump campaign in Des Moines. Hello, Iowa. One day from now, we're going to win. Tonight, Donald Trump closing out his Iowa campaign with one final rally, urging supporters not to let cold or complacency keep them from caucusing. So brave the weather and go out and save America because that's what you're doing. This is really about saving our country. The former president enjoying an historic lead in the final NBC News Des Moines Register Iowa poll with 48 percent of likely caucus goers saying they'll support Trump more than double the backing of second place candidate Nikki Haley, a top target at today's rally.

She's not up to the job, OK? I can tell you that. I don't want to be mean. Trump supporters also the most likely to say their minds are made up and to describe themselves as extremely enthusiastic about their candidate, excited to caucus despite the cold. How cold would it have to be for you to not go caucus on Monday night? An astronomical probably 80 below. How concerned are you that the weather might be a factor tomorrow night? Not concerned at all after being here in Iowa for the last 20-some years.

The blizzard slows us down, but the cold weather won't stop us at all. Climate criminal! Mr. Trump's rally briefly interrupted by climate protesters. Climate criminal! Including during a Trump endorsement by North Dakota Governor Doug Berger, the first former candidate to back the current front runner. Under President Trump, America was safe and prosperous. Back now with Garrett in a frigid Des Moines.

And Garrett, there are hearty folks out there, but the weather could be a factor tomorrow. It absolutely could, Kate. This record breaking cold and those icy roads factors the campaigns cannot control, though all of them are working to make sure their supporters at least have reliable transportation to get to their caucus sites tomorrow night. All right, Garrett, thank you for braving the cold. Appreciate it. Let's get right to Ali Vitale, who's covering Nikki Haley's campaign. Ali, the latest polling numbers seem to be a good sign for Haley. Hey, Kate, the Haley campaign loving the upward trend in that NBC News Des Moines Register poll that shows Haley here in second place. But some warning signs in that poll, too.

A small amount of caucus goers say they're enthusiastic about caucusing for Haley. And frankly, enthusiasm may be essential in temperatures like these. The Haley campaign, though, brushing off any turnout concerns. Instead, their focus is on not Donald Trump, but on Ron DeSantis. They're hoping that a second place finish here in Iowa can make this a one on one race. Trump versus Haley as they head into the Granite State in New Hampshire. Some polls show Haley within striking distance of the former president. Kate. Thank you. Ron DeSantis is polling not far behind Nikki Haley. Our Dasha Burns is in Iowa covering his campaign. Dasha, what has DeSantis been focusing on? Kate, Governor DeSantis has bet big on the caucuses, pouring the vast majority of his

resources into Iowa. So the stakes are especially high for him. He needs to have a good showing here to argue viability moving forward. But one factor keeping his team's hopes high, the low temperatures. They believe their investment in a strong ground game here will give them an advantage in rallying caucus goers in these frigid conditions. They've got a vast network of precinct captains, volunteers and staffers. They've been organized in teams early last year. And that could make the difference between second and third place.

All right, Dasha, thank you. And join us tomorrow for our minute by minute live coverage from Iowa, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. It's streaming on NBC News Now. Find that on our website or wherever you stream. We also do have some sad news out of Iowa. A beloved school principal shot there 10 days ago has died. Principal Dan Marburger was among the injured on January 4th at Perry High School when a student opened fire, killing a sixth grader and wounding other students and staff.

His daughter says Principal Marburger tried to calm and distract the shooter so that students could flee. A migrant woman and two children died trying to cross the Rio Grande into Texas this weekend. The U.S. Border Patrol says their agents wanted to save the three people, but Texas authorities wouldn't let them through. Guadalcanagas has more. Tonight, the drowning of three migrants, a woman and two children, escalating tensions between the White House and the state of Texas. The White House says Texas officials in Eagle Pass prevented Border Patrol agents from providing emergency assistance to the migrants by blocking agents' access to a city park with a boat ramp.

The state had recently taken control of the park earlier this week. I'd like to tell you what's going on here. As you can see, there's a gate here at Shelby Park. If you come down here, then they will be denying access. Texas Governor Greg Abbott justifying his state's takeover to police the border. Texas has the legal authority to control ingress and egress into any geographic location in the state of Texas, and that authority is being asserted with regard to that park in Eagle Pass, Texas. The DOJ responding with a legal filing to the Supreme Court stating without the boat ramp, Border Patrol has no practical options for

responding to migrants who may be in distress. A White House spokesperson telling NBC News, Governor Abbott's political stunts are cruel, inhumane and dangerous, adding U.S. Border Patrol must have access to the border to enforce our laws. This as negotiations in Washington over immigration continue. President Biden saying on Saturday, we have to make major changes at the border. Yet the struggle for power between state and federal authorities remains, with U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar calling the death of the migrants a tragedy, while the Texas Military Department, which is now controlling the park, issued a statement indicating they had a team searching the river the night of the incident,

but no migrants were observed. Gwad Vinegas, NBC News. Now to Israel, where today marks 100 days since the attack by Hamas in southern Israel. 100 days of grief and protests on both sides of the war. Israel's prime minister is renewing his vow to pursue total victory. Josh Letterman reports. Tonight, a grim milestone in the Israel-Hamas war. 100 days of bloodshed with no end in sight. And 100 days that hostages have been captive in Gaza.

A balloon for each day set free into the Tel Aviv sky. This war is now the longest between Israel and the Palestinians since Israel's founding 75 years ago. And the deadliest. Just under 24,000 people killed in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry there says that's 1% of the population. The UN says Gaza's now on the verge of famine. When I pick up my UN food coupons, I feel so bad I cry, this mother at a soup kitchen says. In the end, humans have dignity and self-esteem.

I'm still a human. The suffering in Gaza fueling rallies from London and Italy to Washington. How can the world tolerate this? As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to bring every hostage home and to keep fighting until the end. In Tel Aviv's hostage square, they have set up a reenactment of a Hamas tunnel where Israeli captives are being held. Israelis leaving messages on the wall saying, bring them home now. Noam Perry hoping her 79-year-old father, Chaim, will hear this message. Daddy, we know it's hell. We know each day feels like

eternity, but we beg you to hold on. Josh Letterman, NBC News, Tel Aviv. Coming up, a new volcanic eruption in Iceland, one town right in the lava's path. An alleged serial killer in a high-profile case expected to face a new murder charge this week. Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach killer, could be charged with killing a fourth woman. Heuermann was arrested in July after a years-long investigation. He was charged with killing three other women whose remains were found on New York's Long Island back in 2010. There is a natural disaster unfolding in Iceland tonight. Unbelievable pictures of a new volcanic eruption sending rivers of lava toward one town. Thousands of residents have fled the area. Matt Bradley has

the latest. Tonight, a tiny fishing village facing off against a wall of fire after a volcano in Iceland's southwest opened two cracks in the earth, sending rivers of lava creeping toward the town of Grindavik, just 30 miles from the capital. The town's nearly 4,000 residents were evacuated overnight, just in the nick of time. Already homes on the town's outskirts are catching fire. Today's events will be remembered a long time, said this police official. We're probably just seeing the beginning of a chain of events that will continue and be difficult to deal with. No one has been hurt or injured so far, but workers still struggling to divert these expanding rivers of flame.

The government spent weeks building these protective ramparts, but this morning's eruption has already breached them. Workers racing toward the molten rock, reaching perilously close to the lava's edge to rescue heavy equipment that had been meant to build the barrier. It was awful to see the fissure open and the lava reaching the first houses, the town's mayor said. But Iceland is well prepared, sitting on a massive fault line. It's long dealt with volcanoes. Iceland's president said that while this slow-motion crisis will damage property, it's unlikely to hurt any people. Though it has created another awe-inspiring spectacle in this land of ice and fire. Matt Bradley, NBC News.

Still ahead, the prisoners set free after wrongful convictions. They were found guilty after prosecutors cited science that has now been debunked. So why are prosecutors still using that science? We're back now with a story sparking outrage inside the justice system. A type of forensic science that has been used to convict people for decades is unreliable at best, according to multiple government bodies. So why are prosecutors still using it to put people behind bars? Ken Delanian reports. After spending 33 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Keith Harward finally walked into the sunlight, a free man. Did you ever think you'd see this day? No, I didn't.

More than seven years later, Harward now lives a quiet life in rural North Carolina. It's always a great day to be out of prison. But not entirely quiet. He's trying to get the word out about the junk science he says wrongly put him and many others behind bars. Bogus bite mark comparisons. What do you want the public to know about bite mark evidence specifically? That it's garbage. It's crap. You can't believe it. It doesn't mean anything. Harward was convicted in 1983 of raping a woman

and murdering her husband. A so-called forensic dentist, who had helped convict a notorious serial killer, told the jury his teeth matched bite marks found on the woman's leg. He got up there and with his four by six photographs of my mouth and the bite marks and stuff and said, well, I was a past president of this and I helped Ted Bundy go to prison. I was done. That was it. Three decades later, the Innocence Project took his case and newly analyzed DNA showed someone else committed the crime. Did you ever think you were going to get out? No. I was going to die in prison. Four separate governmental scientific bodies have concluded that bite mark comparisons aren't valid. The National Institute for Standards and Technology,

the gold standard for measurement science, said in 2022 that bite mark analysis lacks a sufficient scientific foundation because human dental patterns have not been shown to be unique at the individual level. One 2016 study found that self-described experts couldn't distinguish between animal bite marks and human ones. People that were board certified did not agree about what a bite mark was. If a science isn't a science and it's not reproducible and it's not reliable, courts of law should not allow it in, period. Yet bite mark analysis has been used in thousands of cases and no U.S. court has ruled it inadmissible. There are still many people still in jails because of bite mark testimony.

Charles McCrory has been incarcerated for 38 years, convicted of murdering his wife based on bite mark evidence. He spoke to us from a prison facility. Mr. McCrory, did you kill your wife? I did not kill my wife. After the original dental expert recanted his testimony, prosecutors offered him a deal. Admit to killing his wife and go free. You refuse to take it. Why? I refuse to take it because I didn't kill her.

The Innocence Project is still helping McCrory fight to clear his name. My faith is strong. I believe God is in control. Charles McCrory has appeals pending in federal court. The Innocence Project says more than 30 people convicted on false bite mark comparisons have been exonerated. Kate. Kandalinian. Fascinating report. Thank you so much. When we come back, there is good news tonight. We switch gears. The surprise gift, 50 years in the making that had this grandmother crying tears of joy. There's good news tonight about making dreams come true and the grandmother who just got a life-changing gift that has landed her on a bestseller list. For Barbara Rico and her

grandson, Chad Cooper, this new year is beyond belief. We're just barely into 2024. You guys have had quite a year already. This has been insane. Total insanity. Hello. I have a gift for you. Okay. That's because last month, Chad surprised Barbara with a gift more than 50 years in the making and posted her reaction on social media.

Got the present for me. What is it? Beer mousse. What's in here? In that bag, a children's book based on an unpublished manuscript Barbara wrote way back in 1972. Barbara couldn't believe her eyes. Oh my God, this is probably the nicest thing anybody's ever done for me in my entire life in my entire life this is the nicest thing can you explain what those tears were i couldn't believe that somebody would be that wonderful to me to do it. And he did. I adore him. I love him to death. When you

make believe you can be anything, but the little girl so poor. The book called More, More, More is based on an underprivileged little girl Barbara once knew who teaches other kids about gratitude. For decades, Barbara couldn't find a publisher. She told Chad all about it. And one day he spotted her book file on her computer. I had never published a book before or knew anything about the process or anything, but I learned it pretty quickly and within two weeks got it on Amazon. And now More, More, More has become a number one bestseller. Comments filled with love are now pouring in online from across the country.

OMG, yes, you made it, Grandma. To be seen and acknowledged for what we're passionate about is all anyone ever wants. Even, I'm a kindergarten teacher. This book will now be in my classroom library. It's coming from their heart. Barbara says it's all been a blessing. I feel like I've done something important in my life now. And all I want to do is just give everyone a hug.

And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I loved meeting them. That is NBC Nightly News on this Sunday. Before we go, I'd like to invite you to check out my digital series, The Drink, about how people make it to the top of their field. My latest conversation with Melissa Beneshe, CEO of Baked by Melissa. We talk about how getting fired early on led her to start her own company

and the double meaning behind the name Baked by Melissa. Find them all at mbcnews.com slash the drink or on the Nightly News podcast. I'm Kate Snow. Have a great night.