NBC Nightly News Full Episode - March 15

Tonight, the punishing storm system bringing blizzard conditions and the threat of tornadoes with millions under alerts. Heavy snow paralyzing parts of the Midwest, dozens of crashes, cars like this one spinning out. Blizzard warnings blanketing seven states and down south, an intense dust storm. You see it there.

Plus, possible tornadoes from Michigan to the Gulf Coast with the East bracing for what's headed their way tomorrow. Iran attacking global oil supplies as President Trump calls on allies to help reopen a key waterway and the president telling NBC News why he's not ready to make a deal with Iran just yet. We're live in the Middle East. Plus word late tonight of surging oil prices yet again, meaning gas could hit $4 a gallon this week. Why it could cost you more for your airfare soon and your groceries.

And no break for spring break travelers dealing with long TSA lines like these. And today, airline CEOs out with an urgent call to Congress to end the DHS shutdown. Former Doge staffers under fire for what they said in these video depositions. Look at this, an out of control cab smashes into two women, how both incredibly managed to survive. The mysterious outbreak making dozens sick. Why something hidden in the ground could be to blame.

And there's good news tonight about the team effort that helped save this coach's life.

This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson.

Good evening. We begin tonight with the punishing storm system barreling from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. You can see hard hit Minnesota, where more than two feet of snow sent dozens of cars spinning out of

control. The storm snarling travel with thousands of flight delays and cancellations. At Chicago's O'Hare Airport, for example, six-hour holdups. And now the threat heads east, putting millions more at risk from thunderstorms, hail, and maybe rare and dangerous tornadoes. Our Angie Lastman is in Green Bay tonight.

And Angie, it's looking messy where you are. Hallie, the storm already packing a punch 10 inches on the ground in Green Bay with strong winds continuing overnight. Millions at risk as we head into tomorrow. Tonight, heavy snow pummeling parts of the Midwest.

In Minnesota, this powerful storm system leading to icy roads and reduced visibility. Minnesota State Patrol reporting dozens of crashes and spinouts, urging drivers to stay off the roads. The state slammed with more than two feet. Residents and crews working to keep sidewalks and streets clear. Blizzard warnings now stretching throughout

seven different states. In Wisconsin, 25 inches. Dangerous blizzard conditions causing travel

chaos. In Sheboygan, Michelle Barron is prepping for up to 10 inches. How have you guys been

preparing? Yeah, we've been shoveling and salting and everything doing as much as we can. Oh my gosh.

In Texas, more wild weather. A massive dust storm reducing visibility for drivers with wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour. The National Weather Service issuing an advisory. Meanwhile in Hawaii, heavy rain triggering flash flooding.

Water rushing through neighborhoods.

It was up to my waist. That's actually the worst I've ever seen it. rain triggering flash fl through neighborhoods. It

my waist. That's actually

seen it. This house colla Back in the Midwest, the travel with thousands of reported, including at Ch the FAA earlier today reported average delays of nearly six hours.

Back in Wisconsin, residents here bracing for more wind and snow.

I've been tired of this for the last probably 45 years, almost 46 of my life. Yeah, I just, you would think that I would be used to this by now, but absolutely not.

Angie is joining us now from Green Bay, where Angie it's obviously still snowing. It's still windy, but this storm is going to look a lot different as it heads east. Far from over Hallie that lizard

conditions will continue in Green Bay overnight with an additional foot of snow possible. Meanwhile, a tornado watch in effect for the southern half of this storm, extending from Texas to Illinois. The storm system on the move tomorrow impacting 56 million people

with the potential for severe weather. This bringing damaging winds up to 75 miles per hour and tornadoes possible from Washington, D.C. to the Carolinas. Hallie. Angie Lastman, thank you. Tonight, President Trump wants U.S. allies to help reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East, as a top official warns higher energy prices could last weeks. And with the war against Iran entering week three, the president's telling our Kristen

Welker he's not ready to make a deal just yet. Raph Sanchez reports.

Tonight, with Iranian attacks still choking global oil supplies, President Trump's call for other nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz is going unanswered. The president had listed the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, and even China as potential partners. But so far, none of them have committed to sending forces, leaving the U.S. with no clear plan

for protecting oil tankers in the critical waterway.

Is the Strait of Hormuz safe for shipping right now, Mr. Secretary?

No, no, it is not. That's one of the objectives at the end of this conflict is to reopen the Straits of Hormuz.

That's going to be an increasing focus of our military going forward. Mr. Trump also telling NBC News Iran wants to start ceasefire talks, a claim Iran denies. While the chair of the FCC renewing threats to revoke broadcasters licenses after the president criticized media coverage of the war. Meanwhile, Iranian backed militias stepping up attacks in Iraq. This video from a militant affiliated channel shows an explosive drone careening through

a US base in Baghdad. Although a defense official says there are no American troops stationed there. While an earlier strike damaged the roof of the US embassy, prompting a State Department warning for all Americans to leave Iraq immediately. Six US service members died in Western Iraq Thursday when their refueling plane crashed. Their names released overnight.

Today Iran firing ballistic missiles at Israel, wounding six people. While in Lebanon, authorities say Israeli strikes against Hezbollah have now killed 850. And Israeli jets are dropping not only bombs, but also leaflets. That cloud of paper came down in this neighborhood in central Beirut. The leaflets are from Israeli intelligence and they call on people to rise

up against Hezbollah and they threaten that Israel will do in Lebanon what it did in Gaza. On this side you have QR codes where people can get in touch with the Israeli military. More than 800,000 Lebanese, around one in seven in this small country, have now been displaced, the government says. These kids sheltering in a Beirut public school and waiting to go home.

Raph is joining us now from Beirut. And Raph, President Trump's also telling NBC News it's not even clear whether Iran's new supreme leader is still alive.

Yeah, Holly, the president's saying he may actually have been killed or at least very badly wounded, which is why he hasn't appeared in public so far. Mr. Trump also saying if the new leader is alive, he should surrender, which is something Iran has indicated it's not going to do.

Hallie. Rob Sanchez in Beirut, thank you. Just in tonight, oil futures spiking again to more than $100 a barrel. Brian Chung is monitoring all of it. And Brian, this could affect way more

than just gas prices, right? Yeah, that is right. The gas prices rose to over $3.70 today. That's up over 70 cents from before the war began. And analysts tell me the prices are likely to touch $4 a gallon this week, as Energy Secretary Chris Wright said today, Americans will feel it for a few more weeks. Now, rising jet fuel costs could also be weighing on airfares with Deutsche Bank saying domestic advance booking tickets have jumped 15 to 57 percent and prices at the grocery store could rise too. And that's because a lot of the nitrogen needed for fertilizer also travels through the strait, which the American Farm Bureau

Federation warns could raise costs for farmers firing up for spring crops like corn and also wheat. Hallie?

Plenty to watch, Brian. Thank you. Also tonight, the new alarm bells from the CEOs of the country's biggest airlines, urging Congress to end the DHS shutdown as travelers navigate major delays and TSA workers miss their first full paycheck. Erin Gilchrist reports.

Travel trauma impacting airports across the country tonight. Passengers recording long lines at TSA prechecks from Austin to Philly and similar scenes from Houston to Atlanta.

It's crazy. I'm really disappointed. It is stressful for sure. And even more stressful

for the people who aren't getting paid and are at work. After TSA workers got a zero dollar paycheck on Friday, the major airlines now ratcheting up pressure on Congress to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. The CEOs writing in a letter, Americans who live in your districts and home states are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown. In the month since DHS funding lapsed, more than 300 TSA agents have quit, many of the remaining agents calling out and picking up odd jobs to make ends meet.

The transportation secretary calling on Democrats to end their protest over immigration enforcement and vote to restore Homeland Security dollars.

We can get to a better place if they would just come to their senses and negotiate after they open it up.

The airline's predicting a record 171 million passengers will fly this spring and are asking lawmakers to approve a bill protecting TSA worker pay in future shutdowns. Meanwhile, security lines snake in and outside the Fort Lauderdale Airport and all through ATL with travelers doing their best to fly above the chaos. I just appreciate those

that are still with TSA remaining on on the job so I can wait. Aaron is joining

us now from the airport in Atlanta and Aaron especially given crowds like what's behind you folks are being warned now is not the time to cut it close.

Yeah you're right Hallie this airport is telling people to check its website for TSA wait times because the TSA app is also shut down. And there's also a warning for people to get here three hours ahead of time. There's other news from Southwest Airlines tonight as well. It is ending its service at two major airports, Chicago O'Hare and Dulles International in early June.

Hallie?

Aaron Gilchrist, thank you. Also tonight, the new controversy around some former DOJ staffers for what they revealed during depositions in a civil suit. Here's Julie Serkin.

Former employees of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in the hot seat tonight.

You don't regret that people might have lost important income to support their lives? No.

Deposition videos from January tied to a civil lawsuit going viral online. Lawyers asked former Doge staffer Justin Fox about projects flagged as diversity, equity and inclusion, including a documentary about Jewish women forced into slave labor during the Holocaust.

It's a Jewish specifically focused on Jewish cultures and amplifying the marginalized voices of the females in that culture. It's inherently related to DEI for those reasons.

Fox said he used ChachiPT to help identify and eliminate DEI programs. The depositions are part of a lawsuit filed by humanities groups that say DOJ violated the First Amendment by canceling more than 1,400 grants used to fund arts, history, and education projects. On Friday, the judge ordered the groups to remove the videos they posted. The government said Fox was harassed and received death threats because of them. The groups filed an emergency request to reconsider, but it was denied, and a

hearing is set for this Tuesday. NBC News obtained the videos from the Internet Archive, and Musk even amplified one of the clips on X. In one video former staffer Nathan Kavanaugh said their goal was cutting spending. I think it was more important

to reduce the federal deficit from two trillion dollars to close to zero. Did

you reduce the federal deficit? No we didn't. Before Doge ceased to exist and Musk's relationship with President Trump ended in a public feud, the agency claimed $150 to $180 billion in savings, far short of eliminating the deficit. Julie Cirkin, NBC News.

To New York City and the miraculous ending to a shocking cab crash. And this one, you have to see to believe.

Here's Valerie Castro.

Tonight, scary moments in New York City when an out of control taxi cab slams into two women standing on a sidewalk. The crash happening on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The pedestrians stopping at that particular spot on the sidewalk lingering there for less than 30 seconds before the cab jumps the curb. According to one witness, the impact tossed one woman to the ground and through the other down through cellar doors

into the store's basement.

Her friend said, have you saw my friend?

So we tried calling her name

and then we heard a little whisper, I'm right here, I'm right here. You couldn't even see her underneath the cab from this side.

Witnesses rushing in to help. It was crazy, bro. Like everybody's wanting panicking. The crash damaging the storefront and flower stand. Miraculously, police say both women were taken to the hospital and are expected to be okay along with the driver and two passengers in the cab.

We had no idea what happened and then came out. We saw someone was on the

ground. We saw someone was under the car. The crash is still under investigation. Walking in Manhattan. No, it's crazy. A weekend stroll. No one could have predicted Valerie Castro NBC News.

Still ahead tonight, a mystery outbreak making people sick and what experts say could be behind it to a new health alert tonight as a rare and mysterious outbreak seems to be spreading through parts of the South. Cathy Park explains. In the rapidly growing suburbs around Nashville, Tennessee, an unlikely danger has been unearthed.

When bulldozers come in and they turn over the soil, that germ gets lifted up from the

soil, gets into the air, and then we breathe it in.

That microscopic fungus causes an infection called histoplasmosis, histo for short. At least 36 people have been sickened so far in Middle Tennessee, and one family says for them,

it turned deadly.

I was probably in shock the first month,

and then it's just been hitting me more.

You know, it was my baby. Gwendolyn Brown says her 39-year-old daughter Alicia had just moved outside Nashville last August. Not long after, she started getting sick. Just feeling like no energy, so fatigued and just really like just in general feeling terrible all over. After several doctor's visits and no relief, a trip to the ER finally revealed the cause. Histoplasmosis. Days later, Alicia was gone. Did you know what histoplasmosis was prior to this?

Oh no, never heard of it before. But when I did see it and I read up on it and I read the symptoms of it, that's when I thought that sounded like what my daughter was complaining of.

According to the CDC, the fungus itself is most likely to live in nearly half the country. At the center of this outbreak, spores are getting stirred up into the air across multiple counties as construction booms.

And once inhaled, they can infect the lungs.

So playing outside, playing sports outside, involved in construction or lawn maintenance

or any sort of time spent outside, that's certainly a risk factor in this area of the country. Symptoms are

similar to the flu. Fever, cough, fatigue and chills. For most, the infection is mild and treatable, but in rare cases, among the immunocompromised, the infection can become life-threatening. Gwendolyn says Alicia did have an underlying condition and while she waits for autopsy results, she urges others to speak up if something feels wrong.

Ask to be tested, and if you get pushed back, push back.

Cathy Park, NBC News, Knoxville, Tennessee. A huge win on the ice for Team USA today, beating Canada to win gold in men's sled hockey. That means it's a clean sweep for the American hockey teams at both the Olympics and Paralympics. A huge congratulations to the athletes with the Paralympic Games wrapping up today in Milan.

When we come back, there is good news tonight about the team effort that helped save this coach's life.

for one coach.

fences.

get bumps in the road and just got to keep moving.

career.

know coach Lou was diagnosed with heart failure 10 years ago, his condition getting worse since.

Stay strong mentally.

And then his doctor broke the news. He needed a heart transplant. He was put on the list at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and waited for a miracle. That wait only lasted a single day.

The next day he says, we got you a heart and we were both in tears. And she said, God must want you out there. single day. The next day and we were both in tears

want you out there. All g Coach Lou was motivated b getting back to his playe you're most excited you'r

I am so excited about get being around these kids, life.

And the coach found out how much he was missed too.

The hospital organizing a special surprise with all of his teams. Doctors, athletes, friends and family celebrating his recovery and his birthday. Tell me a little bit about that what that moment was like to you what was

going through your mind.

They say my life. I mean I I'm sorry I'm getting emotional but it is they've done so much for me administration staff doctors and surgeons just surgeons just they help me through.