NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 19

>>> TONIGHT, ESCALATING TENSIONS. BETWEEN THE U.S. AND. UKRAINE. PRESIDENT TRUMP. CALLING PRESIDENT. ZELENSKYY A DICTATOR. BLAMING UKRAINE FOR. THE RUSSIAN INVASION. THE UKRAINIAN LEADER. SLAMMING HIM FOR. DISINFORMATION. THE RAPIDLY. DETERIORATING. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN. ONCE KEY ALLIES AND. WHAT IT ALL MEANS FOR. THE WAR. RICHARD ENGEL IS ON. THE FRONTLINES. >>> SINGLE ENGINE. PLANES COLLIDED.

CHARRED DEBRIS ON THE. RUNWAY. WHAT WE ARE LEARNING. ABOUT THE LATEST FATAL. AVIATION ACCIDENT. >>> DOGE EMPLOYEES. WORKING INSIDE THE. PENTAGON. NBC NEWS REPORTS THE. DEFENSE SECRETARY MAY. DISMISS TOP MILITARY. GENERALS. THE SHOWDOWN ONE MONTH. INTO TRUMP'S. PRESIDENCY. >>> THE WINTER STORM. SENDING TEMPERATURES. PLUNGING BELOW ZERO. RESCUES FROM FREEZING.

WATER IN VIRGINIA. PARTS OF THE SOUTH. UNDER STATES OF. EMERGENCY. >>> JUST IN, NEW. RULING IN THE IDAHO. COLLEGE MURDERS. THE EVIDENCE ALLOWED. IN. >>> THE ARREST IN A. STRING OF BURGLARIES. TARGETING CELEBRITIES. AND PRO ATHLETES, INCLUDING TRAVIS KELCE. AND PATRICK MAHOLMES. >>> GOOD NEWS TONIGHT, THE MOTHER/SON DUO. MAKING HISTORY ON THE. BASKETBALL COURT. >>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. LESTER HOLT.

>>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THE WORLD HAS BEEN. VIRTUALLY TURNED. UPSIDE DOWN IN THE WAR. BETWEEN UKRAINE AND. ITS RUSSIAN INVADERS. WITH AMERICAN. PRESIDENT TRUMP. SHARPLY TURNING. AGAINST UKRAINIAN. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA. POST, TRUMP LABELING. ZELENSKYY, WHO IS THE. DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED. LEADER OF UKRAINE, A. DICTATOR. INACCURATELY ACCUSING. UKRAINE OF STARTING. THE WAR. TRUMP'S FORMER VICE. PRESIDENT PUBLICLY. CALLED OUT AS UNTRUE.

THE U.S. SPENT. BILLIONS IN MILITARY. ASSISTANCE HELPING. UKRAINE FIGHT AGAINST. THE RUSSIAN. AGGRESSORS. THE U.S. ENGAGING. RUSSIA IN PEACE TALKS. ZELENSKYY ACCUSING. TRUMP OF BEING IN A. RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION. BUBBLE. RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS. NOW FROM UKRAINE. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT. TRUMP WENT ON THE. ATTACK AGAINST. UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY. HE CALLED ZELENSKYY A.

DICTATOR WITHOUT. ELECTIONS, CONTINUING. WITH WHAT SEEMED LIKE. A NAKED THREAT. ZELENSKYY BETTER MOVE. FAST OR HE IS NOT. GOING TO HAVE A. COUNTRY LEFT. IN THE MEANTIME, WE. ARE SUCCESSFULLY. NEGOTIATING AN END TO. THE WAR WITH RUSSIA. IT'S A PATTERN. ON TUESDAY, PRESIDENT. TRUMP BLAMED ZELENSKYY. FOR STARTING THE WAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS. RUSSIA THAT INVADED. UKRAINE THREE YEARS. AGO. >> HE SHOULD HAVE. NEVER STARTED IT. YOU COULD HAVE MADE A. DEAL. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT.

ZELENSKYY ISN'T TAKING. IT QUIETLY. HE SAID PRESIDENT. TRUMP IS IN A. DISINFORMATION BUBBLE, SUGGESTING HE IS. FOLLOWING RUSSIAN. PROPAGANDA. MIKE PENCE SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, UKRAINE DID. NOT START THIS WAR. RUSSIA LAUNCHED A. BRUTAL INVASION, CLAIMING HUNDREDS OF. THOUSANDS OF LIVES. THE ROAD TO PEACE MUST. BE BUILT ON THE TRUTH. THIS IS FAR MORE THAN. JUST A WAR OF WORDS.

OR A CLASH OF. PERSONALITIES. UKRAINIAN TROOPS. DEPEND ON AMERICAN. SUPPORT. TO DEFEND AGAINST. RUSSIAN ATTACKS. WITHOUT U.S. HELP, UKRAINE WOULD STRUGGLE. TO KEEP THE RUSSIANS. BACK. OUT HERE IN EASTERN. UKRAINE, THE FIGHTING. IS RELENTLESS WITH. DRONE AND MISSILE. ATTACKS COMING ALMOST. CONSTANTLY, ESPECIALLY. WHEN THE WEATHER IS. CLEAR LIKE TODAY. NOW, UKRAINIAN TROOPS. SAY THEY HAVE PERHAPS. A BIGGER PROBLEM, WONDERING WHETHER THEY. HAVE SUPPORT FROM. WASHINGTON. THIS MAN, WHO UNDER.

ARMY RULES ONLY GAVE. HIS FIRST NAME, COMMANDS A TANK. BRIGADE ON THE. OUTSKIRTS OF KHARKIV. DOES IT FEEL LIKE. DECISIONS ARE BEING. MADE ABOUT UKRAINE. WITHOUT UKRAINE'S. INPUT? "YES, YES, THIS IS. EXACTLY THE FEELING WE. HAVE, IT DOES. INFLUENCE THE MOOD, IT'S VERY. DEMOTIVATING.". >> HAS PRESIDENT PUTIN. WEIGHED IN? >> Reporter: HE IS.

HAPPY WITH THE WAY. THINGS ARE DEVELOPING. HE DESCRIBED THE. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. SO FAR ON UKRAINE AS. FRIENDLY AND GOING. WELL. HE SAID, IT WOULD BE A. PLEASURE TO MEET WITH. DONALD, THAT'S HOW HE. REFERRED TO HIM. SO FAR, NO DATE HAS. BEEN ANNOUNCED. >> RICHARD ENGEL, THANK YOU. >>> FEDERAL. AUTHORITIES ARE. INVESTIGATING ANOTHER. DEADLY AVIATION. INCIDENT. A COLLISION BETWEEN. TWO SMALL PLANES IN. MIDAIR THAT LEFT AT. LEAST TWO DEAD. JESSE KIRSCH WITH LATE. DETAILS.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS. THE SCENE IN RURAL. ARIZONA TODAY, CHARRED. DEBRIS LITTERING THIS. AIRPORT OUTSIDE TUCSON. AFTER A. DEADLY MIDAIR CRASH. THIS MORNING. >> SMALL AIRPORT FULLY. INVOLVED IN A FIRE. >> Reporter: JUST. BEFORE 8:30 A.M. LOCAL. TIME, TWO SMALL. PRIVATE PLANES WERE. FLYING NEAR THE. AIRPORT WHEN THEY. COLLIDED MIDAIR. THE FAA SAYS TWO. PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD. EACH AIRCRAFT. WHILE FEDERAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE. CESSNA LANDED.

UNEVENTFULLY, THE. OTHER CRASHED, CATCHING FIRE. LOCAL OFFICIALS. CONFIRMED TWO PEOPLE. ARE DEAD. BOTH PLANES WERE OVER. WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN. UNCONTROLLED FIELD. THAT HAS NO AIR. TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER. >> SMALL AIRPLANES GO. IN AND OUT FREQUENTLY. THEY DEPEND ON RADIO. POSITIONS TO TELL EACH. OTHER WHERE THEY THE. AIRPLANES ARE AND. VISUALLY TO WATCH OUT. FOR OTHER AIRPLANES, SIMILAR TO DRIVING A. CAR. YOU LOOK OUTSIDE TO. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T.

HIT ANYTHING. >> Reporter: THIS HAS. BEEN A TROUBLING YEAR. FOR AMERICAN AVIATION. LAST MONTH, 67 PEOPLE. WERE KILLED ON AN. AMERICAN AIRLINES JET. THEN EARLIER THIS. WEEK, A DELTA AIRLINER. FLIPPED OVER AS IT. LANDED AT TORONTO. PEARSON INTERNATIONAL. AIRPORT. 18 PEOPLE WERE. INJURED. TONIGHT, OFFICIALS SAY. EFFORTS HAVE BEGUN TO. REMOVE THE PLANE FROM. THE RUNWAY, WHICH. SHOULD IMPROVE TRAFFIC. DELAYS AT ONE OF NORTH. AMERICA'S BUSIEST. AIRPORTS.

JESSE KIRSCH, NBC. NEWS. >>> IN WASHINGTON, THE. PENTAGON IS EXPECTED. TO BE THE LATEST. TARGET AS THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION WORKS. TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL. WORKFORCE. HERE IS PETER. ALEXANDER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE. HEGSETH IS CONSIDERING. FIRING MILITARY. GENERALS IN SOME OF. THE MOST SENIOR. OFFICERS AS EARLY AS. THIS WEEK. ACCORDING TO TWO. DEFENSE OFFICIALS AND. THREE CONGRESSIONAL. SOURCES. MOST OF THE TARGETED. WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSELY. ASSOCIATED WITH FORMER. DEFENSE SECRETARY.

LLOYD AUSTIN WHO. SERVED UNDER FORMER. PRESIDENT BIDEN AND. WORKED ON DEI. INITIATIVES OR VOICED. OPINIONS THAT TRUMP. ALLIES VIEW AS. POLITICALLY OUT OF. LINE WITH HIS AGENDA. THE PENTAGON SAID. HEGSETH IS LOOKING TO. CUT 8% OF NEXT YEAR'S. DEFENSE BUDGET, TOTALING $50 BILLION. MUSK'S DOGE EMPLOYEES. ARE WORKING INSIDE THE. PENTAGON, ACCORDING TO. SENIOR OFFICIALS, EYEING STAFFING CUTS. THERE. OVERNIGHT, PRESIDENT. TRUMP ALONGSIDE MUSK. DISMISSED CONCERNS. ABOUT CONFLICTS OF. INTEREST WITH MUSK'S.

BUSINESSES. EVEN THOUGH THE TECH. BILLIONAIRE'S. COMPANIES HAVE MASSIVE. CONTRACTS WITH THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> IF THERE'S A. CONFLICT, HE WON'T BE. INVOLVED. I WOULDN'T WANT THAT. HE WON'T WANT IT. >> Reporter: FIRST THE. MASS FIRINGS, NOW THE. FALLOUT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, GROWING PROTESTS. OPPOSED TO THE. PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS TO. SHRINK THE FEDERAL. WORKFORCE. JONATHAN WAS FIRED. DAYS AGO FROM HIS JOB. OVERSEEING. CYBERSECURITY FOR THE.

V.A.'S WEBSITE. YOUR FIRING HAS THE. POTENTIAL TO HAVE AN. IMPACT ON THE BENEFITS. AMERICAN VETERANS. RECEIVE. >> SO MANY VETERANS. RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON. VA.GOVE TO ACCESS. BENEFITS. IF IT GOES DOWN, THEY. CAN'T GET TO THEIR. BENEFITS. >> Reporter: THE.

PRESIDENT AND HIS TOP. LIEUTENANT IN MIAMI. ARE DEFENDING THEIR. RESHAPING OF THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE. SEEING HERE IS THE. THRASHING OF THE. BUREAUCRACY AS WE TRY. TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY. AND THE WILL OF THE. PEOPLE. >> Reporter: MUSK. INSISTED THE MAJORITY. OF FEDERAL WORKERS ARE. ANTI-TRUMP. D.C. IS LARGELY. DEMOCRATIC. MORE THAN 80% OF. FEDERAL WORKERS ARE. NOT IN D.C., SPREAD. THROUGHOUT THE REST OF. THE COUNTRY. THE ACTING FAA. ADMINISTRATOR. REVEALING IN A LETTER. TO STAFFERS TOLD, SPECIAL GOVERNMENT. EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR. SPACEX HAVE VISITED.

THE FAA'S COMMAND. CENTER AND WILL GO TO. OTHER SITES TO. ENGINEER SOLUTIONS. WHILE THE. ADMINISTRATOR SAYS THE. AGENCY IS KEEPING. EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM. SAFETY CRITICAL. FUNCTIONS, ITS UNION. SAYS SOME FAA JOBS. ELIMINATED SUPPORTED. SAFETY AND AIRPORT. OPERATIONS. >> PETER, THE. ADMINISTRATION. INVOLVED IN LOCAL. POLITICS, PUSHING. FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO. KILL NEW YORK'S. TRAFFIC CONGESTION. PRICING. >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. THE CONTROVERSIAL.

PROGRAM THAT CHARGES. DRIVERS TO END PARTS. OF MANHATTAN IS WHAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PRESIDENT TRUMP. POSTING, CONGESTION. PRICING IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE KING. A TOP AIDE SHARED THIS. AI IMAGE AS PRESIDENT. TRUMP AS A MONARCH. NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR. RESPONDING, WE ARE A. NATION OF LAWS, NOT. RULED BY A KING. WE WILL SEE YOU IN. COURT. >> PETER ALEXANDER AT. THE WHITE HOUSE, THANKS. >>> WITH THE. PRESIDENT'S FREEZE ON. CERTAIN FEDERAL. FUNDING, SOME FARMERS. AREN'T GETTING. CRITICAL GOVERNMENT. GRANTS THAT THEY WERE. COUNTING ON. THEY TELL US, THEY ARE. STRUGGLING TO PAY. BILLS.

>> 100 OUT THERE. >> Reporter: KEVIN. HOPED THESE SOLAR. PANELS WOULD HELP HIS. FARM FLOURISH. >> THE HOPE IS THAT. THEY PRODUCE ENOUGH. ELECTRICITY THAT THE. FARM NEEDS. >> Reporter: HE WAS. ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. WITH THE PROJECT. BECAUSE OF A FEDERAL. PROGRAM THAT PROMISED. TO SHOULDER A THIRD OF. THE COST AFTER. COMPLETION. THE PANELS HAVE BEEN. UP AND RUNNING FOR. WEEKS. NO SIGN OF THE $45,000. HE HAS BEEN COUNTING. ON FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF. AGRICULTURE.

COULD YOU HAVE EVER. IMAGINED FINDING. YOURSELF IN THIS. POSITION AFTER TAKING. ON THAT AGREEMENT? >> NO. EVERYTHING IS IN. WRITING. EVERYTHING IS SIGNED. YOU ARE STRESSED OUT. YOU ARE ON EDGE. IT HAS A TOLL ON YOU. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT. TRUMP SIGNED EXECUTIVE. ORDERS PAUSING FEDERAL. FUNDING FOR REVIEW. INCLUDING THE. INFLATION REDUCTION. ACT, THE CLIMATE. INITIATIVE PASSED. DURING THE BIDEN. ADMINISTRATION. THAT HAS GRANT MONEY. BUILT IN FOR FARMERS. TO CONSERVE SOIL, WATER, AND ENERGY. >> I CAN'T GET ANY. ANSWERS.

>> Reporter: FARMERS. WHO OVERWHELMINGLY. SUPPORTED TRUMP IN. NOVEMBER ARE VOICING. CONFUSION AND CONCERN. >> I HAVE DONE A BUNCH. OF THE WORK. PAID FOR THE MATERIAL. PAID FOR THE LABOR. >> IT'S GOING TO REACH. INTO EVERY STATE AND. EVERY COMMUNITY. NATIONWIDE. THAT'S HOW FAR THE. REACH OF THE. DEPARTMENT OF. AGRICULTURE IS. >> Reporter: A USDA. SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE. SECRETARY IS AWARE. FARMERS HAVE BEEN. WAITING ON PAYMENTS. DURING THIS GOVERNMENT. REVIEW. IS WORKING TO MAKE. DETERMINATIONS AS. QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. CITING PLANS TO SHARE.

INFORMATION LATER THIS. WEEK. UNTIL THEN, WHAT DO. YOU WANT PEOPLE IN. WASHINGTON TO KNOW? >> ENFORCE THE. CONTRACT THEY GAVE TO. EVERYBODY ELSE. DO WHAT IT SAYS. >> Reporter: OR ELSE? >> OR ELSE THERE MIGHT. NOT BE FARMS. >> Reporter: EMILIE. IKEDA. >>> BRUTAL WINTER. WEATHER CONTINUES. ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TONIGHT. KATHY PARK REPORTS. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. ARE FEELING SOME OF. THE COLDEST. TEMPERATURES WE HAVE.

SEEN ALL SEASON. >> Reporter: A FIERCE. SNOWSTORM CLASHING. WITH BRUTAL AIR, GRIPPING PEOPLE FROM. THE MIDWEST TO THE. MID-ATLANTIC. VIRGINIA BRACING FOR. THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORM. IN YEARS. >> WE ARE GOING TO. CLOSE IF THE WEATHER. BECOMES TOO MUCH. >> Reporter: ICY ROADS. CREATING HAZARDOUS. CONDITIONS. A SNOWPLOW ACCIDENT IN. KANSAS MANGLING THIS. SUV. HURTING BOTH DRIVERS. TOW TRUCKS AT THE. READY.

>> I BOUGHT HEATED. GLOVES AND A HEATED. JACKET. REGULAR WORK GLOVES, IT'S FROSTBITE ALMOST. >> Reporter: TEMPERATURES LOW IN. ST. LOUIS WHERE. OFFICIALS SAY A. HOMELESS WOMAN WAS. FOUND DEAD ON THE. STREETS TUESDAY. MORNING. ROADS SO SLICK IN. TENNESSEE, CARS. SPINNING OUT. DOZENS OF WRECKS AND. INJURIES. >> IF THEY DON'T HAVE. TO BE ON THE ROAD, STAY OFF THE ROADWAYS. SAFEST PLACE IS AT. HOME. >> Reporter: AS A. STORM PUSHES EAST, A. STATE OF EMERGENCY IN.

NORTH CAROLINA. ROADS PREPPED WITH. MORE THAN 3 MILLION. GALLONS OF BRINE. 1,200 CREWS READY TO. RESPOND. THEY BRACE FOR UP TO A. FOOT OF SNOW. TONIGHT AS EASTERN. KENTUCKY RECOVERS FROM. THE HISTORIC FLOODS, ANOTHER BLOW FROM. MOTHER NATURE. CARS LOSING CONTROL ON. THE INTERSTATE IN. LEXINGTON. OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT. 12 HOURS WILL BE. CRITICAL, WARNING. MILLIONS TO BE ON HIGH. ALERT. LESTER? >> KATHY, THANK YOU.

>>> TO IDAHO WHERE A. JUDGE HAS JUST REFUSED. TO TOSS OUT KEY. EVIDENCE IN THE CASE. AGAINST BRYAN. KOHBERGER ACCUSED OF. MURDERING THE FOUR. COLLEGE STUDENTS IN. 2022. LAURA JARRETT IS HERE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN. FOR HIS DEFENSE? >> Reporter: THIS IS A. HUGE BLOW TO THE. DEFENSE TEAM. ALL OF THE MOST. DAMNING EVIDENCE. AGAINST HIM WILL COME. IN AT TRIAL. CELLPHONE RECORDS, SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE. THE DNA EVIDENCE. TIEING HIM TO THE. CRIME SCENE. HE HAD TRIED TO ARGUE. THAT THE INVESTIGATORS. VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS.

WITH THE SEARCH. THE JUDGE NOT BUYING. IT. HE IS SET TO GO TO. TRIAL THIS SUMMER. >> THANK YOU. >>> THE NEW DETAILS. ABOUT THE. INTERNATIONAL BURGLARY. RING TARGETING. PR. >>> WE ARE LEARNING. ABOUT THE CASE OF. SEVEN MEN ACCUSED OF. BREAKING INTO THE. HOMES OF WELL-KNOWN. ATHLETES. AS LIZ KREUTZ REPORTS, A CRIME GROUP FROM. SOUTH AMERICAN IS AT. THE CENTER OF IT ALL.

>> Reporter: FEDERAL. PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCING. CHARGES AGAINST SEVEN. PEOPLE BEHIND THE RASH. OF HIGH PROFILE HOME. BURGLARIES. AUTHORITIES SAY THE. ALLEGED BURGLARS ARE. FROM CHILE AND PART OF. A SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT. GANG. THEY BROKE INTO AT. LEAST SIX DIFFERENT. HOMES BETWEEN OCTOBER. AND DECEMBER OF LAST. YEAR, ACROSS FIVE. DIFFERENT CITIES, STEALING A TOTAL OF. ROUGHLY $2 MILLION. WORTH OF VALUABLE. ITEMS. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY.

USED CELLPHONE DATA TO. TRACK THE MOVEMENT, FINDING THIS PHOTO. POSING WITH ITEMS. STOLEN FROM BOBBY. PORTIS. FOUR OF THE SUSPECTS. WERE ARRESTED EARLIER. THIS YEAR DURING A. TRAFFIC STOP WHEN. POLICE FOUND THIS LSU. SHIRT BELONGING TO JOE. BURROW. >> SOME OF THE THINGS. THEY ARE TAKING ARE. IDENTIFIABLE. THAT'S WHERE THE. MISCALCULATION WAS. IF YOU DIDN'T ROB. PATRICK MAHOLMES AND. JOE BURROW, WOULD. ANYONE REALLY HAVE PUT. IT ON THE NEWS?

PROBABLY NOT. >> Reporter: THE. LATEST BURGLARY. HAPPENING VALENTINE'S. DAY NIGHT AT THE HOME. OF NICOLE KIDMAN AND. KEITH URBAN. THEY HAVE NOT NAMED A. SUSPECT OR SAID IF. IT'S CONNECTED TO. PREVIOUS BREAK-INS. THE MEN HAVE BEEN. CHARGED WITH. CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT. INTERSTATE COMMERCE OF. STOLEN PROPERTY. THEY FACE UP TO TEN. YEARS IN PRISON. >>> WE ARE BACK IN A. MOMENT WITH THE BATTLE. AGAINST BIRD FLU. IN A LAB ON THE. FRONTLINES AS THE. DISEASE.

>>> SINCE 2022, A. SEVERE FORM OF BIRD. FLU HAS BEEN. CIRCULATING AMONG. WILDLIFE IN THE U.S. LEADING TO OUTBREAKS. AMONG POULTRY AND. HUMAN CASES. NBC'S ANNE THOMPSON. HAS MORE ON. SCIENTISTS' RACE TO. GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. IT. >> Reporter: ON A. FRIGID WINTER MORNING, YOU CAN SEE WHY THE. FINGER LAKES ARE. CENTRAL NEW YORK'S. ENVIRONMENTAL HEART. NOT IMMUNE TO THE BIRD.

FLU. HERE ON CAYUGA LAKE, CORNELL UNIVERSITY'S. DR. BLOODGOOD TESTS. FOR BLOOD FLU. >> SWIRL IT AROUND. THAT'S GREAT. >> Reporter: I GOT TO. HELP WITH THE. SWABBING. BACK IN THE LAB, INITIAL TESTS SHOW. THREE OF THE FOUR. DUCKS HAVE THE HIGHLY. CONTAGIOUS VIRUS. >> WE HAVE FOUND MANY. DIFFERENT POSITIVE.

SPECIES RANGING FROM. WATERFOWL TO RAPTORS, EAGLES AND HAWKS. >> Reporter: SINCE. 2022, THIS STRAIN OF. THE VIRUS HAS BEEN. DETECTED IN WILD BIRDS. IN ALL 50 STATES. THERE ARE REPORTS OF. BIRDS FALLING OUT OF. THE SKY AND WASHING UP. ON BEACHES. WHAT MAMMALS HAVE. TESTED POSITIVE FOR. BIRD FLU? >> IN NEW YORK STATE, IT'S PRIMARILY BEEN. RED FOX. WE HAVE SEEN A SKUNK. AND A POSSUM, A. BOBCAT.

>> Reporter: DOES THAT. SUGGEST THE FLU IS. MUTATING? >> IT COULD, YES. >> Reporter: A. MUTATION CAUSED THIS. DIE OFF OF ELEPHANT. SEALS ON THE COAST OF. ARGENTINA IN 2023. >> THE BEACHES ARE. STILL COVERED WITH. BONES. >> Reporter: THIS. SCIENTIST SAYS IN JUST. WEEKS, THE MUTATED. VIRUS SPREAD KILLING. 17,000 OF THE TOP. OCEAN PREDATORS. SHE ESTIMATES IT WILL. TAKE THE SPECIES TEN.

TO 70 YEARS TO. RECOVER. THE BIRD FLU HAS THE. POTENTIAL TO REALLY. UPSET AN ECOSYSTEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE BIRD FLU IMPACT IS. ALSO ADDING TO CLIMATE. CHANGE AND EL NINO. EVENTS AND CHANGES IN. THE OCEAN ECOSYSTEM. >> Reporter: DEADLY TO. WILDLIFE. THREATENING ECOSYSTEMS. HERE AND AROUND THE. WORLD. ANNE THOMPSON, NBC. NEWS, ITHACA, NEW. YORK.

>>> MORE TO TELL YOU. TONIGHT, INCLUDING THE. MOTHER/SON DUO TRYING. TO MAKE HISTORY ON THE. HARDWOOD. A PREGAME RITUAL THAT. HAS BECOME THEIR. RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. >>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. ABOUT A MOTHER/SON DUO. WHOSE LOVE OF THE GAME. OF BASKETBALL IS. TAKING THEIR TEAM ON A. TOURNAMENT RUN. HERE IS SAM BROCK. >> Reporter: AT HOME, LINDA IS MOM. BUT ON THE COURT --. >> PUT A BODY ON HIM.

>> Reporter: SHE'S. COACH. GUIDING THE LINCOLN. WARRIORS OUTSIDE. BOSTON. HOW RARE IS IT TO SEE. ANOTHER WOMAN COACH IN. MEN'S HIGH SCHOOL. BASKETBALL? >> I WON'T SEE IT. >> Reporter: FOR THEIR. 17-YEAR-OLD SENIOR. SHOOTING GUARD NOLAN. SHE WEARS TWO HATS. WHEN YOU ARE OUT HERE, DO YOU CALL HER MOM OR. COACH? >> ACTUALLY DEPENDS. IF I'M ON THE COURT, COACH, 100%. AFTER THE GAME, PROBABLY CALL HER MOM. >> Reporter: THE. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

BELIEVES THEY'RE THE. FIRST MOTHER/SON DUO. IN THE TOURNAMENT'S. HISTORY. >> WE HAVE RULES. WE DON'T DISCUSS THE. GAME RIGHT AFTER. WE GIVE IT TIME. I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT. THE GAME. WHEN I GET HOME, HE IS. THE PERFECT AUDIENCE. >> Reporter: THE. PERFECT PARTNER FOR A. PRE-GAME RITUAL. A HUG BETWEEN MOTHER. AND SON. BEFORE EVERY SINGLE. GAME. >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO CONNECT FOR ONE. SECOND. I'M YOUR MOTHER.

>> Reporter: SHE. PLAYED COLLEGE BALL. AND COACHED ALL FOUR. OF HER CHILDREN. NOLAN IS THE BABY. DON'T THINK SHE'S. TAKING IT EASY ON HIM. >> SHE'S THE HARDEST. ON HIM. AS YOU COULD EXPECT. SHE'S PICKING ON ONE. OF OUR BEST PLAYERS, HAPPENS TO BE HER SON. >> Reporter: HOW PROUD. ARE YOU OF YOUR SON. AND THIS TEAM? >> BEYOND. WE MAKE THEM WORK. REALLY HARD. >> Reporter: THEY JUST. HELD SENIOR NIGHT. SHE SPORTED HER SON'S. 33 JERSEY WHILE THE. TEAM DOESN'T KNOW HOW.

THEIR UPCOMING. POSTSEASON WILL END, ONE THING IS FOR. CERTAIN. EVERYONE KNOWS HOW. THEIR LAST GAME. TOGETHER WILL START. >> JUST ME AND HER FOR. A SECOND, LOVE YOU. MOM, LET'S DO THIS. >> Reporter: SAM. BROCK, NBC NEWS, MASSACHUSETTS. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY. NEWS" FOR THIS. WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.