Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, February 13, 2023

Episode Date: February 14, 2023

Eight people injured after U-Haul driver goes on "violent rampage" across Brooklyn, the death toll from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria rises above 35,000 people, Ohio residents return home and schools reopen amid fears of toxic chemical contamination after the train crash, a California family attacked while driving through an illegal drag race, and Nicaraguan-American artist using his family's roots to make modern works of art.

Tonight we start with breaking news. The violent rampage on the streets of New York City, multiple injuries reported. Surveillance video showing the moment a U-Haul van plowed onto the sidewalk. Pedestrians diving out of the way. The van knocking another person off his moped. At least eight people hurt two of them, critically. The driver leading police on a 30-minute chase before he was surrounded and arrested. The late details coming in on his history with law enforcement.

Also breaking tonight chilling new body cam footage released in the Alec Murrah. trial. The video showing the moment officers arrived at the scene of the murders. What an emotional Murdoch told those cops, just minutes after his wife and son were killed. Remarkable stories of survival tonight in Turkey. A 13-year-old pulled out of the rubble more than 182 hours after that catastrophic earthquake. Argue Gutierrez inside an emergency room where more than 4,000 patients have been treated, talking to a father and daughter who were trapped for days, what they say they did to stay alive. minivan mobbed, a family of six attacked as they were driving home from a birthday party

after getting caught up in an illegal street takeover, police still searching for the suspects involved. Plus, a deadly home explosion caught on camera in California. The arrest just made in connection to the blast. And last week, we told you about the surprise release of more than 200 political prisoners from Nicaragua. Well, tonight, one of those liberated inmates, a publisher, joins us to tell us his story, how he survived 545 days behind bars, and what he's continuing to fight for, top story starts right now. And good evening. We begin top story tonight with that violent rampage on the streets of New York City, at least eight people injured, two of them critically after a driver plowed through,

plowed through with a U-Haul van, onto sidewalks crowded with pedestrians. Surveillance video showing the van barreling down a sidewalk. You'd see it right there, a cop car speeding after on the sidewalk as well, pedestrians scrambling to get out of the way. Another clip showing the van hitting and striking a moped, knocking the rider onto the street. All of this unfolding just after 11 a.m. in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park. The suspect leading police on a chase for more than 30 minutes, spanning seven locations. You can see it starts right here, goes pretty much all over Brooklyn, ends up over here on Hamilton Avenue, more than four miles away. This is where he was surrounded by more than a dozen police vehicles and was ultimately arrested.

The suspect identified late today as 62-year-old, Wang Soar, while his motive, or even if he did this, intentionally remains unclear, we're now learning more about his checkered past with law enforcement. NBC's Stephen Romo has been following all the late-breaking details and leads us off tonight from New York. Tonight, eight people are injured, including a police officer, after a U-Haul truck plowed over New York City sidewalks in what police are calling a violent rampage. He not tried to stop. He stopped because it's not a car. wasn't from him. Just before 11 a.m., police got calls about a U-Haul striking pedestrians in the Bay Ridge area. The truck barreling through multiple Brooklyn neighborhoods as authorities responded by land and by air,

finally stopping the vehicle near the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. That's where officials say they took the driver into custody. We have seven different locations to process, including the one behind us. NYPD Commissioner Kishant Sewell updated the media soon. after and did not name the suspect. But four senior law enforcement officials telling NBC news that suspect is 62-year-old Wang Sore's son telling the Associated Press, his father has a history of mental illness, quote, very frequently he'll choose to skip out on his medications and do something like this, adding, this isn't the first time he's been arrested. It's not the

first time he's gone to jail. Two of the victims are in critical condition, and two others are are in serious condition, according to police, one witness saying he knows one of those victims. It looks like his knees were hurt or he probably got a couple of bruises, but I know the other guy looked like he was bad. New York City's mayor and the state's governor being briefed on the situation. The governor adding, quote, I am praying for everyone who was injured today in Brooklyn. The mayor's press secretary tweeting, there are no additional credible threats at this time. Every moment of every day, the NYPD must be burned.

prepared for every possibility. The incident, an eerie reminder of the Halloween truck attack in the city back in 2017, which also has new developments. In that case, the bike path killer trial enters the death penalty phase after a guilty verdict. Saifulo Saipov killed eight people by driving a Home Depot rental pickup at least 10 blocks, hitting nearly a dozen pedestrians and bicyclists before crashing into a school bus. Prosecutors said it was all to impress a terrorist group. That seems to differ from the latest incident in Brooklyn.

At this time, we have no indication that there is any terrorism involvement in this incident. All right, with that, Stephen, Stephen, joins us now live from the scene of the arrest there in Brooklyn. Stephen, we heard police there say it doesn't look like it was terror here. Do we know the conditions of those injured, though? Yeah, Tom, several of them going to the hospital. those two who are in critical, of course, the most concerning right now, along with the two in serious condition, the rest had minor injuries, which Cruz say is incredible when you look at just how many people are on these sidewalks each and every day. Yeah, and the video was pretty terrifying. When we looked at the map there, Stephen, it seems like there was a cluster of sort of incidents in the lower part of Brooklyn, and then it ends up a couple of miles away. Do we have any idea why he was driving this way or he chose that route?

No, it's unclear, but it did all end here at this tunnel, Tom. This is actually where the U-Haul truck stopped. It was just towed away just a few minutes ago, very near this tunnel that leads to Manhattan. There's no indication that's where he was trying to go right now from law enforcement, but obviously a concerning situation with how many pedestrians are in Manhattan. Yeah, thankfully, police were able to catch up to him. All right, Stephen, Roman, on that breaking story for us tonight. Stephen, we appreciate it.

We want to turn now to the Alex Murdoch murder trial. because today officials released the body camp video from when officers first arrive at the Murdoch property. That night, his wife and son were killed. Vaughn Hilliard has the video and a warning. You may find it disturbing. These are the chilling moments the first officers arrived at the scene of Alec Murdoch's property. They are dead, aren't they? Yes, sir, that's what it looks like.

A distraught Murdoch telling investigators he had found the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. When was the last time you were here with them or talk to them or anything like that? It was earlier tonight. I don't know the exact time, but I left. I was probably gone an hour and a half from my moms, and I saw them about 45 minutes before that. Okay. The body camera video released the public today.

It was shown to the jury during the first week of testimony. It's official that they're dead. Yes, sir. That's what it looks like. Deputy Daniel Green is the first officer to arrive after Murdoch's 911 call. Murdoch explaining to the officer who he thought might be responsible for the murders. My son was in a boat wreck a few months back. He's been getting threats. Most of it's been benign stuff.

We didn't take serious. You know, he's been getting, like, punched. I know that's somebody. I know that's what it is. An employee of the family testifying that the shirt Murdoch is wearing in this video is not what he was wearing earlier that day. Is that the one he was wearing that morning when he was not? It's not. No, sir, that was not the shirt he was wearing. His clothes appearing to look clean despite coming into contact with the bodies.

And on Monday, a DNA analyst from the state's law enforcement division testified that suspected DNA from a blood sample on the steering wheel of Alec Murdoch's vehicle. The night of the murders was very likely Maggie Murdoch's. blood. Now this wound was going in a downward direction. And Alec Murdoch, emotional in the courtroom today. It's a pathologist who conducted an autopsy on his son, explained Paul Murdoch's deadly gunshot wounds. This wound was fired at a fairly close range. We can't say exactly, but probably no more than three feet. The day, though, started with the judge outlining a new threat to the entirety of this trial. We have some matters with the jury. with two jurors who have tested positive for COVID.

With those two jurors dismissed, there are just three alternatives remaining, with concern other jurors could test positive, too, after being in close proximity to each other. Now, the concern is if there were to be a greater COVID outbreak among jurors, and there were no more alternates to turn to, that would lead to a mistrial. And after four weeks of trial, that is not what either the defense or the prosecution want here. The prosecution is expected to finish presenting their cases, their witnesses here this week before the defense is able to bring forward their own witnesses. Tom? All right, Vaughan Hillier for us, Vaugh. We thank you for that. I want to bring in now for more of the legal consequences

of this news today, the Murdoch trial, NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos. Danny, thanks so much for joining us here. So I actually want to switch things up a little bit here and touch upon what Vaughn was talking about. You had a bomb threat, I think, last week. Today you have the COVID. Can jurors still participate while they're sick with COVID? If I'm defense counsel, I'm getting very nervous about things like COVID. I mean, even as much as we were just a couple of years ago. And remember, all the courthouses were just paused during COVID. And they gradually came back.

And everybody was very worried about getting jurors to serve. They were concerned that jurors would come in and say, the heck with an excuse. My excuse is I'm not going to sit in a building with a bunch of strangers all day. That's a real concern. And especially now when jurors are. testing positive. There's a very real possibility that a juror might come in and say, I don't want any part of this. So just a mistrial. They've got to start from the beginning.

Yeah, and that would be something neither side wants is to lose a bunch of jurors. Frankly, I was surprised that the judge suggested that, hey, we're going to go forward and just live our lives. That really surprised me because it really seems like there's a risk of a mistrial here. Nobody wants that. So the jurors will have to come back. They will have to come back, but what if they revolt? What if they mutiny? A juror has, and I hate it. A juror has, and I hate it. to tell jurors. Actually, I'm glad to tell jurors this to empower them. They have so much more power than they ever imagined. This is a great example that one of them could come in tomorrow and say, I'm out. Do whatever you will with me, but I'm worried about COVID. And the judge would have to

at least respect that and address it. Let's transition over to the body cam. Do we know why the public is getting the video now when jurors saw it in the first week of trial? We don't know exactly why they are, but as this evidence is coming out, we're seeing it in real time, so to speak. is really damaging to the defense. Not for the reason you might think, because I don't put much stock in the he didn't seem sad enough evidence because I think everybody responds to stress

and catastrophe differently. And I think jurors understand that. No, what I think is more concerning for the defense here is that Murdoch, and I'm not being glib or comical here, but it's almost silly how he's vomiting out, figuratively, things like his alibi or an alternate theory of the killer.

You think it's too spoiled out? These guys wanted to kill my... son and they were after him. I mean, that doesn't seem like what you would do at a crime scene where your wife and son have just been killed has spurt out all of these alternative theories of the crime. What do you think about the T-shirt? I think the clothes changing could be explained. It's problematic. But again, I keep coming back to the fact that the police have arrived on the scene. He seems to be asking a little about his wife and son, but he saw them. I mean, I imagine that he didn't have a whole lot of questions about saving them. He's walked away from them. And one

One of the things you see on that body cam is him saying, you know, there were all these people that were threatening my son, and they were probably the ones that did this. Of course, I'm paraphrasing. But that, I think jurors might have a real problem with somebody seconds after the police getting there, just telling them alternate theories of the crime and alibiing himself. So Murdoch has a defense attorney. He himself is an attorney. How do you rate so far the defense and how they've done up to this point? Oh, the defense is doing fantastic. And Murdoch is not a criminal defense attorney. That is a special air. area of the law, just as the civil practice that he does is a specialized area of the law. So, and if he's ultimately guilty, then you can say that as a lawyer, he didn't lawyer up this crime scene very well. There are a lot of things he, if he did this, that he didn't recognize, the Snapchat video, which came back to bite him, the fact that the financial crimes are coming in as evidence.

So, look, as a lawyer, he may be helping his defense somewhat, but it's the defense attorney's show, and they're doing a pretty good job. Okay, Danny Saval is for us. We always appreciate your analysis. We want to turn out of the growing questions around the latest high-altitude objects shot down over North America. The U.S. military taking a new, more aggressive approach, but offering a few answers on what these objects actually are and why we're now hearing about them so often. NBC News, Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, takes a closer look.

As more electronics from the Chinese spy balloon are recovered from the ocean floor, new questions about why the administration is now shooting down unidentified objects. without knowing what they are. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Brussels today. I want to reassure Americans that these objects do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground. They do, however, present a risk to civil aviation and potentially an intelligence collection threat. The White House says the objects were not sending signals, were drifting, not propelled, but one was flying at about 20,000 feet over sensitive military sites,

military sites, according to the Pentagon. In light of the Chinese balloon program and this recent incursion into our airspace, the United States and Canada through NORAD have been more closely scrutinizing that airspace, including enhancing our radar capabilities. All three objects about the size of a small car but different. An octagon with strings dangling possibly sensors over Lake Huron, Michigan, a cylindrical object over the Yukon in northern Canada, and another over the Arctic waters of Alaska. We're just on a higher alert posture.

And so the rules of engagement are assume hostile intent, and if you're in doubt, shoot it out of the sky. The U.S. still doesn't know whether they were from China, other foreign adversaries, or civilian. NBC's Janice Mackie Freyer asked China's spokesman in Beijing. Can you confirm that any or all of the three other objects also belong to China, or is this just a coincidence? He answered, we're opposed to any attempt to smear China

by creating something out of thin air. But he went on to say the U.S. has flown at least 10 surveillance balloons over Chinese airspace in the last year, something the White House strongly denies. And after the NORAD commander refused to rule out that the three most recent objects were aliens, this unreal moment at a White House briefing. I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these craft. Tom, the State Department, in fact, said today it's important to keep lines of communication open. and they're not ruling out a meeting between Secretary Blinken and China's top diplomat in Germany later this week.

So far, the president has not said anything publicly about these most recent takedowns. But the search for any debris from them is underway, and that is critical to identifying just what exactly they were. Tom? Yeah, the mystery for the public, at least, deepening. Andrea, thank you for that. We want to head overseas a week after those devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the death toll. This is hard to believe is now over 35,000. But there are still some signs of hope somehow.

NBC's Gabe Gutierrez has more. Tonight, after more than 182 hours trapped in the rubble, this 13-year-old boy is alive, holding a rescuer's hand. More astounding rescues a week after the initial earthquake. This newly released security camera footage showing the terrifying moments as buildings crumbled into clouds of dust. Today, we visit in the hard-hit Turkish city of Nordau for the living, new tent camps, for the lost with new graves. Earlier today, a search and rescue team was called in here because they got word that there might be a survivor trapped in that rubble.

It turned out not to be the case. They instead found the body of a 16-year-old. Right now, her family is in the process of identifying her. As Turkish prosecutors issued warrants against more than 100 building contractors suspected of shoddy construction, The Turkish government is also facing backlash over what many call an inadequate response, including delays in search equipment. There should be investigations, this quake survivor says. Human life has no value here.

But amid all the tragedy, glimmers of hope. This new video shows hospital workers scrambling to save children as the ground shook. And today, we were granted rare access to another facility, Turkey's Adana City Hospital, where doctors are treating this unidentified. baby believed to be two months old. They cannot find his parents. Over the past week, this hospital treated some 4,000 earthquake victims. And for the workers here, it's personal. One of their nurses was killed. How remarkable has it been to see some of these children survive after more than 100 hours in the rubber? Amazing, this physician says. It's a miracle, especially after day four

and five. That's around when seven-year-old Tanim Okor and her father, Jim, were pulled from their collapsed apartment. Today we met them in their hospital room. How long were you trapped? 101 hours, she says. Matter of factly, even after such a terrifying ordeal, this young girl is eager to brag about her father. We couldn't even breathe, she tells me, and dad was able to find the little space where there was air, desperate for a drop. A cup of water, they pass the time by playing rock paper scissors. I made a promise to my daughter. Tomorrow we're coming out, he says, but by the very last day, we had lost hope.

How did you find the strength? It comes from love, he says. Tonight, his mother is still missing. His daughter, he's never letting go. All right, Gabe Gutierrez joins us again from Turkey tonight. Gabe, such heroin stories you're finding there, and that new video we saw in your report. And we've seen other videos like this as well. There was little to no chance of survival when this quake hits at night and those buildings just seemed to immediately collapse.

Yeah, that security footage, Tom, is amazing. You see those buildings collapse at the clouds of dust. And in some of those videos, you actually see cars driving down the street right by those collapses narrowly avoiding disaster. It was clear people had just no time to get out of the way. Then what happened is hours later came those massive aftershocks that some people went back into their homes and then not expecting it were hit with that other aftershock. It was devastating. And Gabe, do we know how these people are surviving? I mean, we saw that father and daughter surviving for more than 100 hours, the 13-year-old in report, in your report nearly 200 hours. How are they doing this?

Well, just sheer determination, Tom. Some of them were in these enclosed spaces and managed to find pockets of air and managed to survive without food or water for several days. However, Tom, unfortunately, the window of opportunity to find these people trapped inside the rubble, that is closing quickly. And rescue operations here are scaling back. Tom. All right, Gabe Gutierrez for us.

Gabe, we appreciate it. We want to take United Eastern Ukraine where Russia's latest offensive is taking a toll. NBC's chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel, went to a town near the front lines where civilians are in a daily fight for survival. Russian troops are throwing everything they can at their new offensive in eastern Ukraine, hitting more than a dozen cities in the last 24 hours. The Ukrainian military is fighting back hard, but is slowly losing ground. NATO today warned Ukraine is using up ammunition faster than Western allies can provide it. We entered the town of Chasseviyar. It's so close to the front line,

the people here hardly flinch when the artillery falls. But as the Russian advance draws closer, even here, they're reaching a breaking point. Victoria is looking for her nephew and tells us he went off to fight Russian troops and is missing in action. And can we help find him? His name is Olexander Tudorev, 27.

years old. Some have had enough. I thought it would get better, but now I don't, Mikola says. He boards a bus for a safer village. Others here waited too long. Vera left her basement shelter to find food two hours ago. A Russian artillery shell killed her. We just heard a big explosion.

She has a son, 14 years old, she says. How long can we bear all of this? The mayor and his team arrive with aid. He tells us he's encouraging people to get out now. Then that's incoming, he says, we're leaving. He's saying that the incoming is getting a little too close and thinks we should go inside. We're going to go down here to a bunker and there are people inside here. Hello.

Hello. How are you today? Well, okay. Okay, okay, how are you today? This family has been down here for eight months. The mayor tries to talk them into leaving, to no avail. Back outside, Oksana has just given birth and is being evacuated to a hospital. Maxime is two hours old, born as Vera was killed.

Even the mayor's team paused for a quick peek. Then another surprise, Ludmilla's here. We met her last week. She wouldn't let me leave her shelter until I sample Ukrainian hospitality. Well, Ludmila is a former nurse. You delivered the baby? Yes, she says, I had some clamps and delivered the baby in the basement. Oksana and Maxime made it to safety, far away from the advancing front line.

For the first time in months, Ukrainians are starting to lose ground, and the Russian offensive is only expected to intensify in the coming days and weeks. Tom. Richard Engel with another incredible report from the front lines of one town there in Ukraine. Richard, thank you. Back here at home, we want to turn now to the weather. Some rain and snow still hitting parts of the southwest as the region braces for more alerts later this week. Bill Cairns is here in studio again with this tonight.

Bill, I know what you're starting out west right now. Yeah, it's going to be in the west and head to the east. We'll probably in the middle of this week talk about another winter tornado outbreak. But first off, where these storms are moving through the west, a lot of wind, and we have problems with snow. and then as a head east, that's when we'll have the problems with the severe weather. So wind alerts, about 74 million people. I mean, it's everywhere from this middle of the country all the way to California, where we see the purple colors, especially the higher elevation in southern California,

heading through New Mexico, North Texas, and a little section here right where the Mississippi meets the Ohio River. That's where power outages will be possible over the next two days. So these are some of the wind gusts. You notice North Texas, Lubbock up to Amarillo, 60, maybe even up to 70 mile per hour winds. Even by North Texas standards, that's a pretty strong wind gusts. that could knock out some power outages. And as far as the snow goes, this isn't going to be almost similar to the storm last week. We're still getting a good dose of snow with the Four Corner region,

and then we'll take it out from Denver, Kansas City to Des Moines. Not a lot of snow, but just enough to make it a little treacherous on your drives. And as far as severe weather goes, we start this on Wednesday. Again, the same areas we've been targeting all winter along, Little Rock to Memphis to Greenville, Mississippi, to Shreveport, and then Thursday all the way from Cleveland down and through areas of the Gulf Coast. So, you know, this winter, it's been rinse and repeat. same weather pattern all year long.

We'll probably check in with you on those days. Okay, Bill, thank you for that. Still ahead tonight, an update on the toxic disaster in Ohio. You'll remember these images from earlier this month of the massive fire sparked by this train derailment. Tonight, why some residents are worried the air and water could still be unsafe. Plus, the dramatic video out of California, a home explosion caught on camera

why a suspect that's just been arrested in connection to the blast. And a minivan mobbed, how this family of six got caught up in an illegal street takeover involving drag rate. and how they fought their way out. Top story, just getting started on this Monday night. All right, we're back now with the Sacramento family, including four children, attacked while driving through an illegal drag race that had taken over a street this weekend.

The whole incident caught on camera, and these incidents, unfortunately, are a growing issue across the country. This one turned violent as a father and a 14-year-old were hit multiple times. The mother is now sharing their gut-wrenching story. Dana Griffin, would be very. This was a terrifying moment, a mob watching dangerous car stunts called sideshows attacked this minivan. Inside was Amanda Hensley and her four boys. The family minivan left with reminders of the traumatic experience.

This was a family vehicle, and now it's a box of trauma for me. It's undrivable. Just after midnight Saturday, the family was heading home from a group birthday party honoring her 10-year-old twin boys and their father, who asked not to be named. She says they got caught in the sideshow crowd that illegally blocked off an intersection as donuts and stunts were being performed. Hey, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here. Innsley said her youngest son started having a panic attack.

The boy's father, who was driving in a separate vehicle, got out to help. But the crowd turned violent. Someone pushes him, and more of the crowd rushes in. Hensley says they started beating him as he was on the ground. Her three youngest made a run for it. Come out, come out, come out. As her 14-year-old was punched in the face, he was still buckled in the front passenger seat. In this cell video, you hear police sirens as the crowd starts to disperse.

Hensley said Sacramento police quickly arrived, but are still looking for the people who attack them. It happens in this intersection frequently, at least once a month. There's a side show. Usually I just hear the screeching and the crowd. Hansley believes some of the participants come from as far away as the Bay Area, where side shows have been a major issue. Last November, San Jose police detained 500 cars and issued over 700 citations to participants on just one night of side show activity throughout the city. It's shocking and disturbing. Retired Seattle Police Chief, Carmen Best said if you're ever in this situation

and it's safe, try to drive away. If you find yourself in this situation, don't panic, don't jump out of the vehicle, as scary as it may be, you're a lot more protected inside your 2,000-pound vehicle than you are outside of your vehicle with other people.

The father who works as a third-party Amazon delivery driver does not have medical insurance and believes he has fractured ribs. The family is now hoping someone recognizes their attackers in the videos, so this doesn't happen to another family just trying to get home. I was going to protect my babies even if I was going to lose my life. You never know if people have guns, knives, anymore, but I was going to take that risk because I wasn't going to watch my babies get hurt. Amanda says the dints are superficial and her windows can be fixed, but now she's too traumatized to even drive the van.

A GoFundMe has been created to raise money to buy a new one. So far, the account has raised a couple thousand dollars. Tom? All right, hope police catch up to the people responsible. Dana, thank you. When we come back and update on the political prisoners, released from Nicaragua, more than 200 people freed and flown to the U.S. last week. And tonight, you'll hear from one of them how he went from publishing to prison

and what he plans to do with his freedom. Stay with us. All right, we are back now with Top Stories News Feed, and we begin with a deadly train collision in Texas. Police say a driver smashed his truck into a moving train in East Montgomery County this morning, causing several cars to derail. The driver of that truck was killed, but no one else was hurt in the crash. Hazmat teams are now working to determine what was on that train. Now to the deadly California home explosion caught on camera.

New surveillance video, take a look, shows the blast out of home in San Francisco. See it right there. At least one woman was killed. Another person injured. Police arresting a 53-year-old man on manslaughter and drug charges after discovering a drug lab inside that home. It's not yet clear if the woman who was killed was involved in that operation. And diners ducking for cover in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood. A moving car firing shots at a passing vehicle sending at least one stray bullet through the window of a restaurant. Surveillance footage showing the moment the bullet came through the window, sending those diners racing to take cover. Luckily, no one was inside. The restaurant was struck. No arrest have been made. And the Super Bowl champs are back on their home turf. The Chiefs touching down in Kansas City late today. The Lombardi Trophy in hand, the team starting their victory lap after beating the Philadelphia Eagles 38 to 35 last night.

Their Kingdom Champions Parade now set for this Wednesday, many local schools already announcing they will be closed for the day so that everyone can celebrate. Okay, we turn out to Ohio, where residents of East. Palestine are cautiously returning home less than two weeks after that train derailment sparked a massive fire and toxic chemical spill. Local leaders say it's safe to go back, but tonight residents telling top story. They're not so certain. Ron Allen has the details. Tonight, it's been 10 days since a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.

An emergency crews unleashed a controlled release and burn of toxic chemicals to prevent a potentially deadly explosion. Now, some residents who have returned home and this morning sit their kids back. to school, worry it may be too soon. How do you feel about being home? Do you feel safe? There's mixed emotions. I feel like there's not an immediate risk, but I definitely feel like there's a long-term

risk as far as things that are seeping into the ground. Ben just returned home after being evacuated. He has four children in the school system. I want them to be safe. We're being told that things are safe, but it's just deep down. You feel like, you know, how can things that already be safe? be back at a level where we can be back to normal. The city lifted the evacuation order on February 8th and assured residents that extensive testing shows the air and water are safe. But officials

have yet to release a complete manifest of what was aboard the train. Jamie Koza, who lives just steps from the river, is concerned about her three-year-old daughter and what East Palestine's other children could be exposed to in the water. I definitely have a right to know what was on that train, you know, to see that manifest, to know what chemicals are in the creek, and also how much. Now, new details igniting new fears. A letter, the Environmental Protection Agency sent to Norfolk Southern revealed that cargo included more potentially hazardous materials than vinyl chloride. Chemicals used to make adhesives, plastics, construction materials. The EPA telling the train operator it could be responsible for cleaning up the site. And some experts warn

the chemicals could be dangerous. Potential exposure to that could be detrimental, especially if it's during a critical developmental period or in people that are potentially susceptible to chemical exposures. All eyes now on Norfolk Southern, the railway company at the center of the disaster. Over the weekend, employing a task force to respond to residents worried about possibly contaminated well water sites

and also offering to test and monitor air quality. We're going to hold their feet to the fire. I'm not, this is going to get swept under the rug. The company did not return our request for comment. Columbia County has been monitoring East Palestine's groundwater. Is the environment there safe? We've had no indication that there's been any impacts that could relate to health or safety of our residents. Still, some residents worry about the potential long-term impact of such a huge derailment and chemical release in the years to come.

I've got a lot of concerns for the impact of the people locally, what it's going to look like, not only now, but in the future. All right, Ron Allen joins Top Story Live tonight. Ron, I know you have some new reporting when it comes to the EPA? Yes, the state EPA says that they are continuing to do monitoring, and that at this point they do not believe that the groundwater or the drinking water has been affected by all this. But, of course, residents are still concerned and probably will be for some time.

And that video is concerning of the dead marine life that's in there. I do want to ask you also, are people who live there? They're going to take legal action. There are multiple lawsuits already underway, class action lawsuits, claiming harm to businesses and families, and some residents are requesting medical monitoring and screening. The company, interestingly, just released a statement just a little while ago, saying so far that they have helped 700 families, that they spent a million dollars helping with lodging, food, shelter, that they've donated $220,000 to the local fire department to replace equipment that was destroyed, that they've done 340 home air tests, that they're testing well water, so on and so forth. They're trying to say that their assistant centers are going to be open for some time. They're trying to reach every business in the community. They're trying to put their best foot forward, but obviously in such an emotional situation, residents are going to be concerned for some time to come out with you.

You want it to be safe, but also you want to have peace of mind. Okay, Ron Allen, with a lot of new reporting for us. Ron, thank you. Time now for an update and story we've been following the last several days. Last Thursday, you'll remember, 222 political prisoners were released from Nicaragua and put on a flight to the United States. Many of them had been detained by the country's authoritarian leader Daniel Ortega for more than a year. them, Juan Lorenzo Olman Chamorro, the publisher of the Nicaragua newspaper La Prenza, this photo taken inside the plane on the way to D.C. out of Nicaragua. He was arrested in the summer of 2021. The government says he was charged for money laundering, charges he has long

denied and instead says it was because he was the head of the largest opposition publication. With more on this unexpected move by the Ortega regime, Juan Lorenzo joins Top Story Tonight from our Bureau in Washington, D.C. Juan Lorenzo, first of all, thank you for joining us. prison so long there in your home country of Nicaragua. What was it like to get out? First of all, thank you very much for the invitation to your program. How was it? Well, it was amazing. It took us all of us by surprise, because we were not expecting that. I'm so glad that I'm here in the United States free at last. You know, we were covering the leader, Daniel Ortega, when he imprisoned all the other presidential candidates, I should say,

and I want to be very clear to our viewers, there is not a doubt in your mind you were imprisoned, not because of money laundering charges, but because you were a journalist, because you published a newspaper. For sure. I have nothing to do with money laundering, and that was a scam. I mean, something that they invented just to try to silence us. But it didn't work. Juan Lorenzo, you were in prison for so long there. What was that time like? 544 days.

It's a very tough time to be in jail, especially in the way we were hold without no rights. We were not allowed to read. We were not allowed to have books in ourselves. What is your message to the people of Nicaragua tonight? Well, that we are going to be that when it gets darker is when we are about to see the sunrise. That we are going to be free very soon. Are you grateful to the Biden administration? Oh, not only to Biden administration, to the whole American people.

generosity that they have shown not only doing that, fleeting that plane so we could get out and also accepting us in this great nation and giving us the opportunity to breathe freedom. Will you ever, do you think you'll ever go back to Nicaragua? Oh yeah. Oh yeah, God will permit us do that. Definitely. Definitely. I don't know when. It's like we were when we were in prison. We said we are, God is going to set us free. I don't know when, but he will do it. And he did it. The way, the same way, he's going to do with Nicaragua. Juan Lorenzo Olman Chamorro, we thank you for your time and for speaking to Top Story tonight.

We turn out a global watch. We begin with New Zealand, getting slam, with the most powerful travel. cyclone in 25 years. A national state of emergency declared as Gabriela lashes the North Island. At least 46,000 homes now without power. Hundreds of flights canceled that schools and government facilities remain closed. The storm comes just weeks after record rainfall and flooding in Auckland, which killed four people. The Philippines is accusing China of shining a military-grade laser at one of its Coast Guard ships in the South China Sea. New video appears to show the Chinese Coast Guard

hitting the Filipino vessel with the laser, temporarily blinding some of the military, calling this a, quote, blatant violation of their rights. The incident comes just weeks after the U.S. secured four military bases in the Philippines. And an asteroid illuminating the skies over France and England. Take a look. New video shared on social media showing the asteroid burning up over the English channel. You see it perfectly there. The European Space Agency had predicted the asteroid strike ahead of time.

Only the seventh time in history an agency has been able to do that. They say the accurate prediction served as a, quote, sign of the rapid advancements in global detection capabilities. Okay, coming up next, one incredible journey of family, desperate to find the dog they had just adopted after she got loose, and you will never guess where she turned up. That's next. All right, we are now back with the incredible tale of a newly adopted dog who got lost from his home, and after several days alone on the streets of El Paso, he traveled more than 10 miles back to the show. shelter that kept her safe, even ringing the doorbell for help. Valerie Castro has Bailey's journey. At El Paso's local animal rescue league, one husky mix has always stood out from the pack. So Bailey's always been kind of a character. She likes to hug. She's super friendly,

lovey, cuddly kind of dog, but she's big. And our big dogs don't get adopted as quickly as our little dogs do. That's Animal Rescue League director Loretta Hyde. She worked hard to get Bailey into the right home, but not long after her adoption, the call came in that Bailey was on the loose. We put it on every social media outlet that we had to let people know. And then they were saying, okay, we've seen Bailey at certain sightings. Boom, we take off go look for her. But by the time you get there, they're gone. You know, they don't stay in one place. Reported sightings of Bailey by concerned community members kept moving in the direction of the shelter.

Night before she showed up, I told one of our board members that had been out looking for her that she's on her way home. And she goes, you're crazy. I said, mark my words, that dog is going to be back at the shelter soon. And sure enough, after two long days in the middle of the night on the shelter's ring camera, this notification.

They looked on the ring camera and go, Oh, is that Bailey? And they turned on the ring camera microphone and go, Bailey. And she jumps up right in the middle of the camera like, yeah, hello, it's me, let me in. I'm cold. I'm hungry. We're going to go. Bailey traveling over 10 miles all the way back to the shelter.

Animal Rescue League employees rushing over in the middle of the night, making sure this beloved dog got food and shelter. It's okay. It's okay. This energetic dog, now safely settling back in with her new family. For Bailey to get this much attention, I just hope it brings people to make them aware that shelters have wonderful dogs and cats that need to be rehomed. Coming up, the Americas, the Nicaraguan American artist and his ceramic works on display right here at 30 Rock, keeping his roots alive. We'll explain. News is more than a headline.

It informs, it inspires, and it still matters. To cover it, you have to be in it. And that's what we're going to do. Every night, we take you to the front lines of the story, where it's actually happening. With NBC News Journalists on the ground from all over the world, we cover what you need to know and bring your news feed to life. In primetime and streaming live, it's your news playlist every night.

Top Story with Tom Yamas, weeknights at 7 on NBC News Now. We're back now with the Americas, and tonight we are so fortunate to feature the work of a Nicaraguan American artist who uses traditional hand-building techniques to create modern works of art. Joel Gaidon was born in Haileo, Florida. He expresses himself through his creations exploring his family's ancestry and identity as a first-generation Nicaraguan American living here in the U.S. Gaidon has shown his art in exhibit halls all over the country, currently shown his work right here at Rockefeller Center in New York. That's where he got on our

radar. And we're joined now by Joel. Joel, thanks so much for joining Top Story. Thank you for having me. You are our first artist in our America series. So welcome. It's a big honor for us. You grew up in Hyaliyah. And now to have your work here at Rockefeller Center where millions of tourists are seeing this, people from all over the world. And you've been exhibiting all over the country. What's that been like? It's been, honestly, it's been fun. It's been great. You know, like my dream as a highly in Miami and was always to be like in the hardest soul of New York City. So we're here. So talk to me about this art.

It really jumped out at me. I saw that you were being exhibited here at Rockefeller Center and I immediately got curious because I'd never seen art like this. So explain to our viewers your inspiration. So my inspiration is just talking about in my work visually about, you know, just ceramic pieces being a part of my practice, my upbringing. you know, like, you know, the key chains that you have in your house that hold your keys and stuff that have your country's name and, like, the terracotta vases that we get from our countries. Like, you know, it's just like something that's homey and comfortable that I feel like sometimes we dismiss.

Clearly there's a lot of symbolism here. So talk to me about the symbolism. The symbolism here is just, you know, about all self-identity and being first generation in Nicaraguan and in Miami. So, you know, like when I go to Nicaragua, people are like to know. And when I'm here, it's like, you're not Miami in or you're not... It's almost a culture clash. You feel like when you're over there, they say you're too American.

When you're over here, you're to Nicaragua. Exactly. So it's just, you know, all these elements are just like a study of myself and where I come from my upbringing, religion. The art, obviously, and you can tell me if I'm wrong here, but inspired by indigenous art from Nicaragua? Yeah, so this is all pre-Columbian work inspired by all of that. And then also referencing, being from Miami, I have the opportunity.

and privilege to be surrounded by Caribbean and Central and South Americans that are not Nica. So... Talk to me about this one here. So the inspiration or even this one here. There's some gold and then obviously the pottery you were talking about. This is a 22-carat gilded gold on the terracotta pot. And it's just these are all portals, you know, kind of offerings to give to the ancestors

and, you know, just giving thanks for having this gift. The Latin culture can sometimes be conservative. What has it been like to grow up and to sort of express yourself and express your art in that community, growing up in that community? I mean, it's been tough, but, you know, that's the whole point of, like, making these works, you know, to challenge everyone, to see my work and, you know, people look at my work, like, and I'm like, what's up? I'm here. This is you making it. How long does it usually take you to make some of this art? So the pots usually, like, I consider the vessels to be, like, my canvas.

And then, like, adding its add-ons to it, I think, it takes me, like, about three to four days to make. You know, we're showing some of the more PG versions of your art, just obviously for a lot of reasons. But you explore sexuality a lot in your art and in these pieces. Why is that important to you? It's important to me because I like to challenge taboos. You know, you go to museums and you don't see yourself represented. You don't see the big bodies. You don't see sexuality, you know, things that you can talk about in your household.

So it's like, why not? And then you just your life, the way you live your life. I'm looking at you here. You almost look like you're living the art yourself. When you wake up every day, what do you think? Rupal said you're born naked, the rest is drag, so... Joel, you know, you are Nicaragua. Nicaragua's been going through a lot over the past few years.

We had a political prisoner earlier in the broadcast who was on our show. How difficult is it to go back and forth and sort of, like you said, be able to express yourself however you want? You know, I just, I go to Nicaragua, and my main goal is to go and support everyone, from workers to foods, everything. Whenever I see food, I buy, whenever I see art, I buy it. You know, my thing is just to keep... the Nicaraguan people alive, and especially with these works.

Yeah, and show the culture. Show the culture. Yeah. Is it tough being in South Florida? It's so dominated by Cuban-American culture. It's so dominated by maybe other cultures, Colombian, Venezuelan, large groups that have migrated to Miami. There is a large Nicaraguan community as well, but it's not one of the majority,

sort of, I would say, dominate communities there. Has it been tough to break out in Miami, or has it been a blessing because of the Latins? Honestly, Instagram has really brought a huge community of Nicaraguan's in Miami. And, you know, I source from, like, all my surroundings from the Venezuelans, from the Cubans. Like, I'm very privileged and happy to be in Miami where I could share cultures with everyone. Who are your inspirations as far as artists? Other artists. What do you like? That's a tough one.

Yeah. It's just so much. But I think my inspiration are the people who don't get recognized. Because I think that, you know, being back and forth from Nicaragua, I realize that, you know, all these people who are teaching me things, talking to me. Like, these are the real artists. My own people are the real artists. Like, just a regular conversation is real art. And I feel like they never get a pedestal to be represented.

So this is why I do what I do. Yeah. You know, a lot of the artwork is of females. I think if we sort of go back and sort of analyze it, you have classically what is known usually as sort of the fertility gods, right? That kind of shape. Why is that so important to you? For me, it's always important to birth and rebirth.

You know, I like to celebrate life, the afterlife, and whatever comes in between or after. So all of these pieces, I would consider them non-binary, because, you know, I like to separate the sex and the sexual orientation and just gender and all that stuff. I like to break all of that. Part of the taboos that I like to break. Okay, Joel Gaetown, where can people find your art? Right now, I have it at all over the Rockefeller Center and the Museo del Barrio. And then you're on social, you mentioned? I am on social.

My Instagram is Nicanahua. Okay, Nikolawa. I've got to ask you what that after. The OG name of Nicaragua. The OG name of Nicaragua. I love that. Joel, thanks so much for joining Topps, for everybody that you appreciate it and sharing all of your art. We thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there.

More news on the way. Thank you.