NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Episode Date: January 1, 2025

New tornadoes reported across the South after outbreak in Texas; U.S. intelligence suggests Russians may have shot down Azerbaijan Airlines plane; Fifth graders learn fine dining at restaurant after viral classroom lesson; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the final countdown to 2025. Security in Times Square on high alert for any potential threat, with New Year's celebrations already in full swing around the world. Just hours now until the ball drops, and police out in force in Times Square. Thousands of officers, a fleet of drones, and canine teams too. The heightened threat environment, with more than a million people expected there at midnight and the spectacular images from Sydney to Dubai to Paris just moments ago as the world welcomes 2025. Plus, the New Year's storm spreading snow and rain from the Midwest to the Northeast. We're tracking it.

The massive power failure triggering a blackout for most of Puerto Rico this New Year's Eve. How long before it's restored? American investigators now on the ground in South Korea after that horrific plane crash killing nearly 180 people. And growing questions tonight about the wall the plane slammed into near the runway. New fallout over the disturbing video of the deadly beating of a New York prison inmate. The governor now announcing changes. but do they go far enough? The stock market doing something it hasn't done in more than 20 years to close out 2024. And what's your New Year's wish? The hidden hopes and dreams for 2025 tucked into all that confetti about to flutter down on Times Square. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening. I'm Hallie Jackson in for Lester on this final night of 2024. And tonight, as the country gets ready to turn the page on the year that was, police around the country are bracing for the night that's just beginning, boosting security in Times Square, where hundreds of thousands are gathering as we speak for the iconic ball drop. You can see here the checkpoints opening, everybody getting scanned as they head in. And this is Times Square. Take a look right now. Law enforcement agencies are concerned the celebration could be targeted tonight, although they say there is no specific threat and no major incidents in other cities and countries around the world already ringing in 2025.

You can see the fireworks over the Sydney Bridge. And take a look. This was the celebration in the heart of Paris. We've got team coverage tonight, starting with our Emily Akeda in Times Square. Emily, what do you see? Hey there, Hallie. Well, the stage is set for one of the biggest New Year's Eve parties in the entire world. Police in and out of uniform fanned out across the city, urging the public to stay alert for signs of trouble.

From barriers to canines to thousands of officers. Tonight, authorities rolling out a sweeping security presence at the crossroads of the world. Expected to draw more than a million revelers for the midnight magic. Everywhere, police. You can just walk around and see that they have a pretty good handle on it. There are specialized teams dedicated to preventing pickpocketing and monitoring hotel activity, too. Today, New York City Mayor Eric Adams with this warning. Let the police do their job.

Those who are coming to celebration, follow the rules. We're not going to allow anything to disrupt the celebrations. Authorities say there's no specific threat to tonight's festivities, but remain concerned about the potential targeting of the widely watched event amid geopolitical tensions. There are different defenses for different crimes. Check out these trucks used to block any driver from plowing into the crowds. NYPD's Rebecca Weiner says a fleet of drones plays a critical role in their counter terrorism efforts. You need the extra eyes in the sky, but you also need to detect when drones are being used for malign purposes. And while authorities here are still counting down, it's already 2025 for other parts of the world.

New Zealand among the first to welcome in the new year. In Dubai, a spectacular display at the world's tallest building. And just moments ago in France. Now it's New York's turn as police work to usher in the new year safely. And every single person behind me had to go through counterterrorism screenings. No large backpacks, chairs, alcohol, even umbrellas, despite the chance of rain later tonight. Hallie. Emily Akeda in the thick of it.

Thank you. So maybe a messy night there in Times Square. But much of the rest of the country should stay fairly dry tonight. Michelle Grossman is tracking it all. Michelle, talk us through it. That's right, Hallie. We are looking at a storm system bringing some rain from the Great Lakes all the way to the Mid-Atlantic, also the Northeast, even seeing some snow, some December thunderstorms. That heavy rain is going to move into the New York City area, but by the ball drop

ringing in 2025 should taper to showers. Look at that temperature, though. Nice and mild temperatures right around 50 degrees. So you don't need all the layers, but you need the rain layers. The rest of the country, you said it, we're looking nice and dry, chilly though in the northern plains. Temperatures only in the 10s and 20s. We're looking at really cold temperatures in the south central states as well. A new system moves into the Pacific Northwest. That's going to bring some higher elevation snow, some lower elevation rain. Then New Year's Day, we're looking at lake effect snow once again. Hallie? Michelle Grossman, thank you. And as 2024 comes to a close on Wall Street, we're seeing the stock market do something it hasn't done in a generation.

Brian Chung joins us now to explain. Brian, good evening. Hallie, it was a down day, but stocks are roaring into 2025 off of a one-two punch of solid years, with the S&P 500 rising 24 percent last year and now this year gaining another 23 percent, something we haven't seen in over 25 years. But the stock market is, of course, not the economy. High prices and high interest rates have continued to weigh on Americans. We'll see what 2025 brings with inflation expected to ease, likely more interest rate cuts and a new administration in the White House. Allie. Brian Chong, thank you. To Puerto Rico now and a huge power outage wiping out electricity

for nearly the entire island. It could be days before everybody gets it back. Here's George Solis. Puerto Rico is on edge again tonight after being hit with a massive power outage on New Year's Eve. Sad that in this day, the last day of the year, that impact our tradition. The blackout began early this morning, affecting more than a million people, 90% of the island. He says, how are we going to celebrate the new year without power? Luma, the private company that distributes power in Puerto Rico, says a faulty underground cable at a power plant on the island's southern coast is to blame. Luma says it's working on restoring power, but officials say it could take days for it to be fully back. This is what we're using.

Many residents criticizing the company. There's an issue in its limo. They say just the latest in a frustrating saga of outages over nearly a decade. After Hurricane Maria ravaged the island's already aging and crumbling power grid in 2017, the incoming governor says the energy grid is her top priority, adding, we can't keep relying on an energy system that fails our people. Back in San Juan, Federico De Jesus with advocacy group Power for Puerto Rico says residents are fed up with promises. What message is this sent to the world about

what this island nation and U.S. territory has to offer the world if it can't even turn the lights on? Growing frustration with no long-term solution in sight. George Solis, NBC News. In South Korea, American investigators are now on the ground to help search for answers after that deadly airline crash, with a growing focus now on the concrete wall near the runway the plane slammed into. Steve Patterson is in South Korea, a nation in grief, scaling back or calling off New Year's celebrations altogether. Tonight, investigators sifting through twisted metal and scorched earth in a desperate attempt

to make sense of what caused this Boeing 737 to slam belly first onto the runway with no landing gear and skid into this dirt and concrete embankment before bursting into flames, killing 179. U.S. investigators are on the ground assisting local authorities, while some aviation experts are raising questions about the placement of that concrete embankment, which Korean aviation officials say was used to house antennas that guide planes. The airplane was on the runway. It was under control. It was slowing down, and it would have been able to come to a stop had they not hit that barrier. It immediately just started to disintegrate and there was an explosion.

Meanwhile, New Year's celebrations canceled as the country continues its national mourning. You can see this community laying flowers, paying respects. They may not know the families of the victims, but they want to be a part of this seven days of national mourning to try to help this community heal and come together. We met with Kim Yong-rok, the province governor of this tight-knit farming region. He says most of the passengers were families traveling together, so some people lost more than five loved ones. He told us about meeting one of the survivors, a male crew member he says was in deep shock. His eyes were open, he says, but he was not there. Tonight, South Korea beginning this new year in mourning.

Steve Patterson joins us now from South Korea. And Steve, the process of identifying victims has been an agonizing one for families. It's been an absolutely heartbreaking process, excruciating even, but it's a process that is working. Now, 174 identified out of 179, some solace in a new year now marked by tragedy. Hallie. Steve Patterson, thank you. Back here at home, the stage now set for a major test of Republican unity heading into 2025 with a possible showdown over who should serve as House Speaker and how far a new endorsement from President-elect Trump will go. Gabe Gutierrez is covering the transition tonight. Tonight, House Speaker Mike Johnson is hanging on after President-elect Trump's complete and total endorsement. I'm really humbled and honored

to have President Trump's endorsement for Speaker again. He's hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaotic 22-day fight to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Now, after barely avoiding a government shutdown, Johnson's speakership is in jeopardy. His majority in the House will be razor thin. One Republican congressman has already said he won't back him for speaker. That means Johnson can only afford to lose one other Republican vote. It's not clear whether Trump's endorsement will prevent more defections. Right now, I don't believe that he has the votes on Friday. The president-elect tonight preparing for New Year's Eve here in Florida,

but he'll need a unified Republican party to quickly deliver on an ambitious agenda. With big plans for tax cuts and an immigration crackdown, there are other rifts within the GOP. Over the weekend, Trump sided with billionaire Elon Musk, supporting H-1B visas, which allow skilled foreign workers to come to the U.S. Other conservatives are blasting the program, arguing it amounts to cheaper labor. The H-1B visa program is a total and complete scam from its top to the bottom. But more urgently, a dragged out speaker showdown would paralyze the House and could potentially even delay the certification of the election on January 6th. Gabe Gutierrez, NBC News, Palm Beach, Florida. In 60 seconds, outrage after the deadly beating of a New York prison inmate.

What the governor has now decided to do right after this. New fallout tonight from video showing the deadly beating of a New York prison inmate. The governor now rolling out new changes with our Shaquille Brewster asking the family's attorney whether they go far enough. Growing outrage and a shakeup tonight at New York's Marcy Correctional Facility. New picture showing Governor Kathy Hochul visiting the prison just days after the state released disturbing video of officers fatally beating 43-year-old Robert Brooks as he was handcuffed earlier this month. The video was blurred and redacted by investigators. Brooks, who was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault,

was pronounced dead the next day on December 10th, his son Robert Jr. speaking out at a demonstration Monday night. His killing must be a catalyst for change. Justice must be served. Governor Hochul writing in a statement, the system failed Mr. Brooks as she announced several reforms, naming a new prison superintendent, rushing $400 million for more cameras at correctional facilities across the state, and hiring an outside firm to conduct reviews across the system. Tonight, Brooks family attorney Elizabeth Mazur responding on camera for the first time.

What does the family think about what has been announced so far by the governor? You know, I think those are important steps. Significant change needs to happen. Obviously, you know, it's a bit late for Mr. Brooks. The governor says 13 individuals have been suspended without pay. Another has resigned as an investigation is underway. Mr. Brooks was a person who deserved an opportunity to serve his debt to society and come out a better man. And New York's Department of Corrections is now requiring that officers activate their body camera during any interaction with inmates. Hallie?

Shaquille Brewster, thank you. Coming up next, the tangle of red tape when reapplying for Medicaid and the potentially dangerous consequences for some children who have had their benefits cut off. Back now with more of our reporting on the Medicaid shakeup that's led to millions of children losing health insurance. For many, it can take months to fix. Jesse Kirsch has more on the devastating impact on families. Three-year-old Jabril Kassir has autism, communication issues, and sensory processing disorder. For his mother, Desiree

Wines, taking care of him is a full-time job. And it got a lot more complicated in January, when Jabril, whose family lives in the Denver area, abruptly lost his health insurance under the Medicaid program, which also meant losing access to therapy. What was that time like? Confusing. It was very sudden. They didn't warn me in any way, shape or form. As the COVID public health emergency was ending, the federal government began requiring states to reevaluate every Medicaid recipient's eligibility. Over 25 million people lost coverage in the process, known as unwinding. Can I check a few things today? But many who lost their health benefits, like Jabril, actually still qualified for Medicaid. A government letter said his renewal information

wasn't received. But when Wines tried getting Jabril's coverage back, actually still qualified for Medicaid. A government letter said his renewal information wasn't received. But when Wines tried getting Jabril's coverage back, it appears his case may have been caught in a backlog of people trying to do the same thing. Wines says after about five months, Jabril's coverage was finally restored. But the consequences lasted much longer. Wines says Jabril needs a special bed like this one to stop him from wandering at night. Put your head up here. But when we visited in early December, this was Jabril's bedroom.

He could very well walk out the door. He just doesn't have any awareness of, like, dangers. You couldn't even use a typical child's bed for him. He'll fall out. Yeah. And where do you sleep? Right next to him. And where does the baby sleep?

Often in the middle. Because of his lapse in coverage, it took more than a year for Jabril to finally get the special bed. Our focus has been... Dan Tsai is the Biden administration's Medicaid director. Why isn't more being done in those kinds of situations? So first, I just want to say those and I would say to the parents and the families and the people that you've spoken with. Those are really difficult stories to hear. No parent, no family should have to go through that. Medicaid, which serves low income and disabled Americans, is funded by the federal and state governments.

But each state runs its program differently, leading to drastically different unwinding outcomes. Every single time we found any violation of federal rules, we have stepped in. However, Tsai says states have discretion over things like call center staffing. Do laws need to change to give you more teeth to be able to pressure states to fix this faster? I think at the end of the day, it should not be this complicated for individuals across the country to go through the Medicaid renewal process. Now some advocates are concerned about what a second Trump administration might bring. The last time he was in office, the president-elect repeatedly tried to scale back Medicaid, though he recently told NBC's Kristen Welker

he would not cut entitlement programs. Okay, off the table. Meanwhile, Unwinding's impact may take years to play out. We have huge problems with chronic illness in adults that are costing the system a lot of money. Cutting care for kids, the preventative care that they need to grow into healthy adults, is just about the worst way to make that problem better. Jabril still has not resumed speech therapy. But he has the insurance back now.

Yeah, well, now there's a wait list. Snuggle up. A reminder that even short gaps in health care can have long-lasting effects. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, Washington. We'll take a break. And coming up, the hidden messages set to be revealed at midnight when all that confetti falls on Times Square. Stay with us. Finally, there's good news tonight about those hidden hopes and dreams for 2025 set to be revealed in all that confetti that will fall in Times Square tonight.

As the world counts down to welcome a new year. The confetti floating over Times Square. Will once again carry wishes written on each tiny piece. I wish to spend more time with those that I love. I wish for more blessing for all. I wish for love, joy, and a second cat. Come on in, make your wish. Visitors writing down their hopes all month long at New York City's wishing wall.

In 2025, so many dreaming of new beginnings. I wish to get a job. I wish to retire comfortably. My wish for 2025 is to be successful in music and just to have a fun and great year. Three, two, one. Happy New Year! Wishes, too, for love and light. I wish my friends and family all the happiness and success in the new year. Others looking for the confidence to find their calling.

My wish is to get my dream job teaching history. I wish to get accepted into my dream college, FIT or UCF. My wish is to get my dream job in the NFL. There were hearts set on romance too. I wish for a boyfriend. I wish for a love that's going to give me the rich life. Along with continued connections. We wish for another year together.

We wish to create another year together. We wish to create new memories together. To be friends forever! New adventures. I wish to go abroad to Italy. My wish is to have lots of fun and meet new people. I wish to be a real New Yorker. And bright lights. My wish is to someday be an actor on Broadway.

I wish to be a successful actress. I wish to be able to sing and perform at least once next year. There were prayers for good health. My wish is for a healthy lifestyle and to prioritize myself. I wish for a happy and healthy 2025. I wish for good health for me and my family. And a longing for peace. My wish is to embrace joy and gratitude every day in the new year.

My wish is to have more patrons with things in my life. My wish is for my friends and family to have a happy and healthy 2025. Love you guys. And when the clock strikes 12, wishes for coming together as one. And here's hoping that all of those wishes come true next year. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC,

thank you for watching. Have a happy and healthy new year.