NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 21

>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, THE. NEW TWIST IN THE MENENDEZ. BROTHERS BID FOR FREEDOM. L.A.'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYING. HE OPPOSES A NEW TRIAL FOR ERIK. AND LYLE MENENDEZ, THE BROTHERS. SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE. MURDERS OF THEIR PARENTS. SPEAKING FROM BEHIND BARS. WE ASKED THE D.A. WHAT IT MEANS. FOR THEIR FUTURE IN PRISON.

>>> PLUS. >> HOW CAN WE BE. REPRESENTED BY YOU? >> BACKLASH GROWS IN. TOWN HALLS ACROSS THE. COUNTRY. AND JUST IN, MORE THAN. 5,000 DEPARTMENT OF. DEFENSE WORKERS ON THE. CHOPPING BLOCK. THE SWEEPING CRACKDOWN. ON IMMIGRATION. NBC NEWS LEARNING THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS SEARCHING FOR NEW. PLACES TO DETAIN. UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS. AND WHAT'S BEHIND THE. REASSIGNMENT OF A TOP. I.C.E. OFFICIAL? >>> THE WORST DAY OF. THE YEAR FOR THE DOW, DROPPING OVER 700. POINTS OVER NEW.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE. ECONOMY. >>> ACCUSED KILLER. LUIGI MANGIONE FACES A. JUDGE AFTER BEING. ACCUSED OF THAT BRAZEN. MURDER OF A TOP HEALTH. CARE CEO. HIS SUPPORTERS LINED. UP AT DAWN. >>> DEATH FROM A. BRUTAL FLU SEASON HIT. A NEW HIGH, AND RISING. LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT. THOSE NEW YORK. YANKEES. >> Announcer: THIS IS. "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS".

WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS'. BID FOR FREEDOM TOOK A. HARD TURN TODAY WITH. THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY. D.A. PUBLICLY SPOKE. OUT AGAINST THEIR BID. FOR A RETRIAL, ARGUING. THE EVIDENCE THE. BROTHERS HAVE PUT. FORWARD DOES NOT MEET. THE LEGAL STANDARD. THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS. HAVE EMERGED AS POP. CULTURE ICONS DECADES. AFTER MURDERING THEIR. PARENTS IN THEIR. BEVERLY HILLS HOME IN. 1989. THEIR PLEA FOR FREEDOM. THRUST INTO THE.

HEADLINES LAST YEAR. AFTER STREAMING. DOCUMENTARIES AND. OTHER PROGRAMS. HIGHLIGHTED THE. BROTHERS' CLAIM OF. BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED. BY THEIR FATHER. ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ. HAVE BEEN SERVING A. LIFE SENTENCE FOR. THEIR CRIMES, PINNING. THEIR HOPES ON A. RETRIAL, CLEMENCY FROM. THE GOVERNOR, OR. RESENTENCING. LIZ KREUTZ IS IN L.A. WITH LATE DETAILS FOR. US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A. MAJOR SETBACK TO. MENENDEZ BROTHERS AND. ONE OF THEIR BIDS FOR.

FREEDOM. >> WHAT WE FOUND OUT. IS ERIK AND LYLE. MENENDEZ HAD TOLD FIVE. DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF. THE EVENTS OF WHAT. HAPPENED. >> Reporter: D.A. NATHAN HOCHMAN, WHO. TOOK OFFICE IN. DECEMBER, SAYS THE. COURT SHOULD DENY A. HABEAS PETITION FILED. BY ERIK AND LYLE, ONE. OF THE THREE PATHS THE. BROTHERS ARE TAKING TO. TRY TO GET OUT OF. PRISON FOR THE 1989. KILLING OF THEIR. PARENTS. THE PETITION WHICH IS. SEPARATE FROM THE HIGH. PROFILE RESENTENCING. EFFORT INCLUDES --. EVIDENCE LAID OUT IN A.

PEACOCK DOCUMENTARY, THAT THE BROTHERS SAY. PROVES THEY ACTED IN. SELF-DEFENSE AFTER. YEARS OF ABUSE AT THE. HANDS OF THEIR FATHER. >> SEXUAL ABUSE IN. THIS SITUATION, WHILE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A. MOTIVATION FOR ERIK. AND LYLE TO DO WHAT. THEY DID, DOES NOT. CONSTITUTE. SELF-DEFENSE. >> Reporter: IN A DOC, A FORMER MINUTO BAND. MEMBER ALLEGED JOSE. MENENDEZ ALSO MOLESTED. HIM. >> THAT'S THE MAN HERE. THAT RAPED ME. >> Reporter: THERE'S. ALSO A LETTER ERIK. ALLEGEDLY SENT HIS. COUSIN WRITING, I'VE. BEEN TRYING TO AVOID. DAD. I STAY UP THINKING HE.

MIGHT COME IN. >> IF THEY HAD. EVIDENCE THAT WOULD. SHOW SEXUAL ABUSE HAD. BEEN COMMUNICATED NOT. JUST SIX YEARS BEFORE. THE EVENTS BUT NINE. MONTHS BEFORE THE 1989OULD. ABSOLUTELY HAVE COME. OUT DURING ONE OR BOTH. OF THEIR TESTIMONIES. >> Reporter: IN A NEW. INTERVIEW FROM PRISON. ON TMZ'S "TWO ANGRY. MEN" PODCAST, COHOSTED. BY THEIR OWN ATTORNEY,

MARK ERAGOS, THE. BROTHERS ACKNOWLEDGE. THE NETFLIX DOC HAS. HELPED BOOST PUBLIC. SUPPORT FOR THEIR. CASE. >> IT DID ACTUALLY. MOVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. TO UNDERSTAND THE. CHILDHOOD TRAUMA ERIK. AND I SUFFERED. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. THE D.A. CASTING DOUBT. ON SOME OF THE. EVIDENCE HE'S. REVIEWED. IS IT FAIR TO SAY. BASED ON EVERYTHING. YOU LAID OUT, YOU MAY. NOT BE RECOMMENDING A. RE-SENTENCE FOR THE. BROTHERS? >> AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T. DECIDED WHAT TO DO. WITH RESPECT TO. RESENTENCING OTHER. THAN TO BRING THIS. FORWARD AS WELL. WHATEVER THE D.A. SAYS. TO THE JUDGE IN. CONNECTION WITH. RESENTENCING, THE. JUDGE ULTIMATELY MAKES. THE CALL.

>> Reporter: AND JUST. IN TONIGHT, FAMILY. MEMBERS OF THE. MENENDEZ BROTHERS WHO. SUPPORT THE BROTHERS'. RELEASE HAVE RELEASED. A JOINT STATEMENT. IN IT SAY THEY THEY'RE. PROFOUNDLY. DISAPPOINTED WITH THE. D.A., THAT HE HAS. DISCREDITED THE TRAUMA. THAT THE BROTHERS SAY. THEY EXPERIENCED AS. BOYS. LESTER? >> THANK YOU. LAURA JARRETT IS HERE. LAURA, CAN YOU GLEAN. ANYTHING BASED ON WHAT. WE JUST SAW ABOUT. WHERE THIS CASE IS.

GOB? GOING? >> AT FIRST GLANCE, IT. MAY SEEM LIKE THIS. DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR. THE BROTHERS' PUSH TO. GET OUT OF PRISON. TODAY. REMEMBER THERE ARE. DIFFERENT LEGAL PATHS. WITH DIFFERENT LEGAL. STANDARDS. TODAY WAS ABOUT NEW. EVIDENCE, GETTING A. NEW TRIAL. AND EVEN IF THE D.A. DOESN'T GO FOR THAT, WE MAY ULTIMATELY. SUPPORT RESENTENCING. AND REHABILITATION. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TIE JUDGE, LESTER. >> OKAY, LAURA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>> LATE WORD TONIGHT. FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF. DEFENSE THAT THOUSANDS. OF CIVILIAN WORKERS. WILL SOON BE FIRED. IT COMES AS A BACKLASH. TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. REDUCTION OF THE. FEDERAL WORKFORCE IS. GROWING. HERE'S GARRETT HAAKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. THE PENTAGON. ANNOUNCING IT WILL. ELIMINATE THE JOBS OF.

SOME 5,400 EMPLOYEES. BEGINNING NEXT WEEK. THE LATEST AND ONE OF. THE DEEPEST KNOWN CUTS. TO ANY ONE FEDERAL. DEPARTMENT. A DOD STATEMENT SAYING. THE TERMINATION OF AS. MUCH AS 8% OF THE. CIVILIAN WORKFORCE IS. TO, QUOTE PRODUCE. EFFICIENCIES AND. REFOCUS THE DEPARTMENT. ON THE PRESIDENT'S. PRIORITIES. LATE TODAY PRESIDENT. TRUMP PRESSED TO. DEFEND THE DEEP CUTS. BEING PUSHED BY ALLY. ELON MUSK'S DEPARTMENT. OF GOVERNMENT. EFFICIENCY. >> HE'S DOING. SOMETHING THAT A LOT. OF PEOPLE WOULDN'T.

HAVE THE COURAGE TO. DO. WE WANT TO STREAMLINE. OUR COUNTRY. >> Reporter: IT COMES. AMID A BACKLASH TO THE. CROSS COUNTRY CUTS NOW. SHOWING UP AT. CONGRESSIONAL TOWN. HALLS. CONSTITUENTS. COFFIN CONFRONTING. LAWMAKERS FROM. GEORGIA --. >> WE ARE ALL PISSED. OFF ABOUT THIS. >> Reporter: -- TO. WISCONSIN. >> HOW CAN WE BE. REPRESENTED BY YOU IF. YOU DON'T HAVE A VOICE. IN CONGRESS. >> Reporter: ROBERT. McCABE WAS FIRED FROM. HIS JOB AT THE IRS ON. THURSDAY. HE SAYS HE WAS A TRUMP. SUPPORTER, WHO. APPLAUDED THE. PRESIDENT'S SEARCH FOR.

WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT. SPENDING. >> I THOUGHT SOMEONE. WITH HIS BUSINESS. ACUMEN WOULD HAVE COME. IN WITH A FINE TOOTH. COMB AND ACTUALLY. FOUND IT INSTEAD OF. COMING IN WITH A. WRECKING BALL AND. DESTROYING PEOPLE'S. LIVES FOR NO REASON. >> Reporter: A NEW. "WASHINGTON POST" POLL. SHOWS THE PRESIDENT'S. EARLY ACTIONS ARE. UNPOPULAR, SUPPORTED. BY JUST 43% OF. AMERICANS. 57% OF RESPONDENTS. TELLING "THE POST". THEY BELIEVE THE. PRESIDENT HAS EXCEEDED. HIS AUTHORITY. THE PRESIDENT. DISMISSING CONCERNS. ABOUT THE CUTS WITHOUT.

PROVIDING EVIDENCE. >> WE'VE POLLED IT AND. PEOPLE ARE THRILLED. THEY CAN'T EVEN. BELIEVE IT'S. HAPPENING. >> Reporter: EARLIER. THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING. TO A BIPARTISAN. GATHERING OF GOVERNORS. AT THE WHITE HOUSE. OFFERING THIS UPDATE. ON HIS EFFORTS TO END. THE WAR IN UKRAINE. >> I'VE HAD VERY GOOD. TALKS WITH PUTIN, AND. I'VE HAD NOT SUCH GOOD. TALKS WITH UKRAINE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY. CARDS, BUT THEY PLAY. IT TOUGH. >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT ALSO BUTTING. HEADS WITH MAINE'S. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. JANET MILLS OVER HER. STATES WITH THE.

PRESIDENT'S COMPLY. WITH THE EXECUTIVE. ORDER, THREATENING THE. STATE'S FEDERAL. FUNDING. >> YOU BETTER COMPLY. BECAUSE OTHERWISE. YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY. FEDERAL FUNDING. >> SEE YOU IN COURT. >> EVERY STATE --. GOOD, I'LL SEE YOU IN. COURT. I LOOK FORWARD TO. THAT. THAT SHOULD BE A REAL. EASY ONE. AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE. AFTER GOVERNOR BECAUSE. I DON'T THINK YOU'LL.

BE IN ELECTED. POLITICS. >> GARRETT, PRESIDENT. TRUMP ALSO SAID TODAY. HE'S CONSIDERING MAJOR. CHANGES TO THE POSTAL. SERVICE. >> Reporter: LESTER, THE PRESIDENT SAID. HE'D LIKE HIS COMMERCE. SECRETARY TO TAKE A. LOOK AT THE POSTAL. SERVICE, WHICH HE. DESCRIBED AS IN NEED. OF A TURN AROUND. WHITE HOUSE SOURCES. SAY THERE ARE NO PLANS. FOR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. AFFECTING POSTAL. SERVICE. ANY KIND OF TAKEOVER. WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE. AN ACT OF CONGRESS. >>> THE DEFENSE. DEPARTMENT NOW. CONSIDERING OTHER. OPTIONS BESIDES. GUANTANAMO BAY TO. HOUSE MIGRANTS, AS THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. MAKES A MAJOR CHANGE. THAT WILL AFFECT MORE. THAN HALF A MILLION. HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS. OUR GABE GUTIERREZ. REPORTS.

>> Reporter: TONIGHT. THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION IS. LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES. TO HOUSE MIGRANT. DETAINEES. TWO SOURCES FAMILIAR. WITH THE MATTER SAY. THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT. IS CONSIDERING FORT. BLISS IN TEXAS. IT COMES AFTER NBC. NEWS WAS FIRST TO. REPORT MIGRANTS HAD. BEEN ABRUPTLY CLEARED. OUT OF GUANTANAMO BAY, MOST SENT TO HONDURAS. >> THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL COOPERATION. HAS TO BE THE BACKBONE. OF BORDER SECURITIES. >> Reporter: OTHER. COUNTRIES ALSO FEELING. THE FALLOUT. NEARLY 100 MIGRANTS. RECENTLY DEPORTED BY. THE U.S. TO PANAMA. WERE LOCKED IN A HOTEL.

FOR DAYS, THEN MOVED. TO A DETENTION CAMP ON. THE OUTSKIRTS OF A. NOTORIOUS JUNGLE. NOW, DESPITE THE. ONGOING VIOLENCE IN. THEIR HOME COUNTRY, THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION IS. CANCELING AN EXTENSION. OF TEMPORARY PROTECTED. STATUS FOR HALF A. MILLION HAITIANS. THAT MEANS THEY'D LOSE. THEIR WORK PERMITS AND. COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR. DEPORTATION BY AUGUST. HOMELAND SECURITY. SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM. WRITING, PRESIDENT. TRUMP AND I ARE. RETURNING TPS TO ITS. ORIGINAL STATUS, TEMPORARY. IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO,

WHICH BECAME A FLASH. POINT DURING THE THE. CAMPAIGN --. >> THEY'RE EATING THE. DOGS, THE PEOPLE THAT. COME IN. THEY'RE EATING THE. CATS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. THERE IS WIDESPREAD. CERTAIN AMONG THE. 15,000 HAITIAN. IMMIGRANTS THERE WHO. CAME TO THE U.S. LEGALLY UNDER THE TPS. PROGRAM. >> WE WORK HARD, REALLY HARD, AND WE. HAVE THE COMMUNITY. WE WORK HARD TO PUT. FOOD ON PEOPLE'S. PLATES. >> Reporter: HAITIANS. HAVE HAD TEMPORARY. STATUS SINCE THE. MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN. 2010.

THE DEPARTMENT OF. SECURITY SAYS ABOUT. 37,000 HAITIANS WERE. ELIGIBLE FOR TPS THE. FOLLOWING YEAR. BY 2024 THE NUMBER. CLIMBED TO HALF A. MILLION, INCLUDING A. LARGE COMMUNITY IN. MIAMI. >> HOW CRUEL CAN WE. BE, AMERICA? HOW CALLOUS CAN WE BE. ABOUT THE LIVES OF. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE. CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. COMMUNITY? >> Reporter: ALSO. TONIGHT, THREE SOURCES. TELL NBC NEWS THE. ACTING I.C.E. DIRECTOR. HAS BEEN REASSIGNED. AMID FRUSTRATION OVER. THE PACE OF. DEPORTATIONS. LESTER? >> GABE GUTIERREZ,

THANKS. >>> LUIGI MANGIONE. APPEARED IN COURT. TODAY FOR THE FIRST. TIME SINCE HE WAS. ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES. FOR THE MURDER OF. UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO. BRIAN THOMPSON LATE. LAST YEAR. STEPHANIE GOSK WAS IN. THE COURTROOM TODAY. >> Reporter: LUIGI. MANGIONE SHACKLED AND. SILENT MAKING HIS WAY. INTO NEW YORK STATE. COURT TODAY, DEFENSE. ASKING HE BE UNCUFFED. FOR THE HEARING, BUT. THE JUDGE DECLINED THE.

REQUEST. >> HE'S BEING TREATED. DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE. HE'S BEING HELD IN. FEDERAL CUSTODY THAN. ANY OTHER PERSON WHO. WOULD BE FACING. SERIOUS MURDER 1. CHARGES IN NEW YORK. STATE COURT. >> Reporter: IN. DECEMBER, MANGIONE. PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO. MURDERING FATHER OF. TWO BRIAN THOMPSON, THE CEO OF. UNITEDHEALTHCARE. HE ALSO FACES FEDERAL. MURDER CHARGES. ONE COUNT COULD CARRY. THE DEATH PENALTY. [ CROWD CHANTING ]. >> Reporter: TODAY. DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED. OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. TO SUPPORT THE ACCUSED. KILLERS, OTHERS TO. PROTEST THE HEALTH.

CARE SYSTEM. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE. A MURDER TRIAL. IS THAT THE RIGHT. VENUE TO MAKE A LARGER. POINT ABOUT HEALTH. CARE? >> YOU KNOW, I'M --. I'M VERY REASONABLE, BUT I THINK THE. AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE. BEEN PUSHED REALLY, REALLY FAR. >> Reporter: THE. BRAZEN MURDER IN. MIDTOWN MANHATTAN LEFT. NEW YORK CITY STUNNED. >> THIS WAS A. SENSELESS ACT OF. VIOLENCE. IT WAS A COLD AND. CALCULATED CRIME. >> Reporter: AFTER A. FIVE-DAY MANHUNT, MANGIONE WAS ARRESTED. IN A PENNSYLVANIA. McDONALD'S. PROSECUTORS SAY HE WAS. FOUND WITH A GHOST GUN. THAT MATCHED BULLET.

CASINGS FOUND AT THE. CRIME SCENE, ALONG. WITH WRITINGS CRITICAL. OF THE HEALTH. INSURANCE INDUSTRY. PUBLIC FRUSTRATION. WITH THE HEALTH CARE. SYSTEM IN SOME CASES. TURNING TO SUPPORT FOR. MANGIONE. A DEFENSE FUND HAS. RAISED MORE THAN HALF. A MILLION DOLLARS. IN A STATEMENT POSTED. BY HIS DEFENSE TEAM, MANGIONE WRITES, I AM. OVERWHELMED BY AND. GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE. WHO HAS WRITTEN ME TO. SHARE THEIR STORIES. AND EXPRESS THEIR. SUPPORT. MANGIONE IS FACING. THREE CASES, ONE IN. PENNSYLVANIA AND TWO.

IN NEW YORK ON STATE. AND FEDERAL CHARGES. THE LEGAL PROCESS. COULD TAKE YEARS. IT'S ONLY JUST. BEGINNING, LESTER. >> STEPHANIE GOSK HERE. IN NEW YORK. THANKS. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN. 60 SECONDS. WE HAVE THE DRAMATIC. VIDEO, FALLING. CONCRETE ON THE MASS. TURNPIKE. >>> PLUS DOCTORS. SAYING IT'S THE WORST. FLU SEASON THEY'VE. SEEN IN YEARS. WHICH PART OF THE. >>> WE'RE FOLLOWING. SOME BREAKING NEWS OUT. OF BOSTON TONIGHT. SHOCKING VIDEO FROM.

THE MASS TURNPIKE. INSIDE THE PRUDENTIAL. TUNNEL, PART OF THE. CEILING FELL AS CARS. WERE DRIVING THROUGH. THAT'S CONCRETE YOU. SEE THERE, SHATTERING. ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE DEPARTMENT OF. TRANSPORTATION SAID NO. ONE WAS HURT, BUT IT. DID CAUSE DAMAGE AND. SIGNIFICANT DELAYS. >>> NOW TO THE LATEST. FIGURES ON THE BRUTAL. FLU SEASON. DEATHS CLIMBING ACROSS. THE COUNTRY, EVEN AS. FEDERAL HEALTH. AGENCIES ARE LOSING. HUNDREDS OF WORKERS. MAGGIE VESPA WITH THAT. STORY. >> Reporter: AMID. AMERICA'S MONSTER FLU. SEASON, TONIGHT NEW. CDC DATA SHOWING AN. INCREASINGLY DEADLY.

TOLL, WITH NOW 19,000. DEATHS FROM THE FLU. OVERALL THIS SEASON. AND 18 PEDIATRIC. DEATHS REPORTED JUST. LAST WEEK. WHILE TEST POSITIVITY. RATES FELL SLIGHTLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF. STATES REPORTING HIGH. OR VERY HIGH FLU. LEVELS. >> DEFINITELY THE MOST. INTENSE FLU SEASON IN. MY CAREER. >> Reporter: AT. CHICAGO'S RUSH. UNIVERSITY MEDICAL. CENTER, DR. NICOLAS. COZY SAYS KIDS. INFECTED WITH THE FLU. ARE GETTING SECONDARY.

PNEUMONIA INFECTIONS, A COMBO TYPICALLY. RESERVED FOR OLDER. PATIENTS. >> KIDS ARE COMING IN. WITH DIFFICULTY. BREATHING. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO. DRINK. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO. EAT. IT'S MAKING THEIR. HEART RATE ELEVATED. >> Reporter: 12-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR. McGINNIS FLEW FROM NEW. YORK TO ARIZONA FOR A. SOCCER TOURNAMENT ONLY. TO GET SICK FOR A. WEEK. >> I FELT LIKE I WAS. VERY TIRED AND, LIKE, COULDN'T REALLY MOVE. VERY MUCH. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE. CHAOS ROCKING FEDERAL. HEALTH AGENCIES WITH. THE CDC'S WILD TO MILD. CAMPAIGN PROMOTING FLU. VACCINES APPEARING TO. HAVE BEEN WIPED FROM. THE AGENCY'S SITE. IT COMES ROUGHLY A.

WEEK AFTER FAMOUS. VACCINE SKEPTIC RFK. JR. WAS SWORN IN. AS HEALTH AND HUMAN. SERVICES SECRETARY. HHS NOT RESPONDING TO. NBC'S REQUEST FOR. COMMENT ON THE. CAMPAIGN. >> WE HAVE HEALTH CARE. WORKERS OUT HERE! >> Reporter: THAT. AGENCY FACING HEATED. PROTESTS EARLIER THIS. WEEK OUTSIDE ITS D.C. HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TERMINATED HUNDREDS OF. CDC EMPLOYEES. ACCORDING TO TWO. SOURCES AT THE AGENCY. HHS SAYING IN RESPONSE. TO NBC'S QUESTIONS. ABOUT THE FIRINGS,

THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE. ADMINISTRATION'S. GUIDANCE AND TAKING. ACTION TO SUPPORT THE. PRESIDENT'S BROADER. EFFORTS TO RESTRUCTURE. AND STREAMLINE THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> AND MAGGIE, THE. COUNTRY'S HEALTH. AGENCIES ARE ALSO NOW. DEALING WITH A GROWING. MEASLES OUTBREAK IN. THE SOUTHWEST. WHAT'S THE LATEST? >> Reporter: LESTER, THAT'S RIGHT. NEW STATE DATA SHOWS. TEXAS HAS 90 CONFIRMED. MEASLES CASES, THAT. NUMBER NEARLY DOUBLING. IN THE LAST WEEK. IT COMES ON TOP OF THE. NINE CONFIRMED CASES. JUST ACROSS THE STATE. BORDER IN NEW MEXICO. LESTER? >> OKAY. MAGGIE, THANKS. >>> BREAKING NEWS FROM.

LOS ANGELES TODAY. MAYOR KAREN BASS. ANNOUNCED A SHAKEUP AT. THE TOP OF THE CITY'S. FIRE DEPARTMENT. BASS REMOVED CHIEF. KRISTEN CROWLEY FROM. THAT ROLE AMID. TENSIONS OVER HER. DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE. TO THOSE RECENT DEADLY. WILDFIRES. LATE TODAY THE MAYOR'S. OFFICE SAID CROWLEY. WILL STAY WITH THE. DEPARTMENT BUT AT A. LOWER RANK. >>> WE'R. >>> IN MICHIGAN TODAY, THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE. ROSE BY NEARLY $2 AN.

HOUR, UNLESS, THAT IS, THE WORKER MAKES TIPS. CHRISTINE ROMANS. EXPLAINS WHAT IS. HAPPENING WITH THE. RENEWED DEBATE OVER. TIPPING IN OUR SERIES, "THE COST OF LIVING.". >> Reporter: AT. SHIELDS PIZZA IN TROY, MICHIGAN, MEGAN. HENDRON SAYS HER TIPS. MEAN SHE EARNS WELL. ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE. >> I'M MAKING OVER $20. AN HOUR CONSISTENTLY. >> Reporter: IN. MICHIGAN, THE NEW. MINIMUM WAGE AS OF. TODAY, $12.48 AN HOUR.

FOR TIPPED WORKERS, IT'S LESS THAN HALF. THAT. AND HEDRON HAD BEEN. WORRIED A NEW STATE. LAW COULD LOSE HER. MONEY. THESE CHANGES, WHAT'S. THAT'S GOING TO MEAN. FOR THE MONEY YOU. BRING HOME. >> IT WILL BE A. DRASTIC CHANGE. I PROBABLY WON'T BE. ABLE TO OWN MY HOUSE. >> Reporter: MICHIGAN. WAS ON THE CUSP OF. JOINING SEVEN STATES. THAT MANDATE TIPPED. WORKERS GET THE SAME. MINIMUM WAGE AS. EVERYONE ELSE.

>> HER BOSS SAYS. HIGHER WAGES FOR. TIPPED WORKERS WOULD. COST HIM $90,000 A. YEAR. >> I JUST DON'T HAVE A. SLUSH FUND SITTING. THERE THAT I CAN GO. RAID TO PAY FOR THIS. I HAVE TO GET IT FROM. THE CUSTOMERS. >> Reporter: BUT. CRITICS SAY THE. TIPPING SYSTEM ALLOWS. BUSINESSES TO HAVE. CUSTOMERS PAY THEIR. WORKERS FOR THEM. THIS LABOR ATTORNEY. HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR. STATES TO ADOPT A. SINGLE MINIMUM WAGE. >> WE NEED TO GO BACK. TO WHAT TIPS REALLY. WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO. BE, AN EXTRA BONUS FOR.

A JOB WELL DONE ON TOP. OF A FAIR WAGE FROM. YOUR EMPLOYER, LIKE. EVERY OTHER BUSINESS. >> Reporter: BUT IN. MICHIGAN TODAY, AFTER. INTENSE LOBBYING FROM. THE RESTAURANT. INDUSTRY, THE TWO-WAGE. SYSTEM HELD. GOVERNOR WHITMER. SIGNING LEGISLATION. THAT SAYS TIPPED WAGES. WILL RISE ONLY 2% A. YEAR AND MAX OUT AT. 50% OF THE STATE'S. REGULAR MINIMUM WAGE. BACK AT SHIELDS, CUSTOMERS WE MET SAY. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO. TIP REGARDLESS OF WHAT. THEIR SERVERS ARE. PAID. >> YOU MIGHT FEEL. STRONGLY ABOUT GIVING. A SERVER EXTRA MONEY.

THAN WHAT THEY. DESERVE. >> LET ME ASK YOU. ABOUT THE MARKETS, ANOTHER DOWN DAY. IS THIS A SIGNAL ABOUT. THE FUTURE OF THE. ECONOMY? >> IT WAS A. COMBINATION OF THINGS. TODAY. THERE WAS AN EXISTING. HOMES SALES REPORT. FROM JANUARY THAT FELL. ALMOST 5%. THERE WAS A CONSUMER. SENTIMENT INDEX THAT. FELL ALMOST 10%. PEOPLE THERE CONCERNED. ABOUT INFLATION MAYBE. FROM POTENTIAL NEW. TARIFFS. BUT CONTEXT IS REALLY. IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE. TALKING ABOUT THE. STOCK MARKET UP AND AND PLAY. ARE FACING TOGETHER.

JESSE KIRSCH, NBC. NEWS, TAMPA, FLORIDA. >> THAT'S A LOT OF. CHANGE TO GET USED TO. THAT IS "NIGHTLY NEWS". FOR THIS FRIDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER. GOOD NIGHT. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER.