NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 6

>>> TONIGHT, A FEDERAL. JUDGE BLOCKING THAT. MIDNIGHT DEADLINE FOR. MILLIONS OF FEDERAL. WORKERS UNDER PRESSURE. TO TAKE BUYOUTS, THE. GROWING NATIONWIDE. PROTESTS AS THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION RACES. TO SHRINK THE FEDERAL. WORKFORCE NOW SAYING. 60,000 GOVERNMENT. EMPLOYEES HAVE TAKEN. THE OFFER TO LEAVE. ALL OF IT AS SERIOUS. QUESTIONS EMERGE ABOUT. ELON MUSK AND HIS DOGE. ALLIES' EFFORTS TO. ACCESS SENSITIVE DATA. >>> THE WINTER STORM.

WREAKING HAVOC, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS IN. THE MIDWEST, A TORNADO. TOUCHED DOWN IN. KENTUCKY AS WEST. VIRGINIA'S CAPITAL. FLOODS. THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS. DELAYED, PLUS THE. COMING STORMS AHEAD. AL ROKER TRACKS IT ALL. FOR US. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, WASHINGTON REAGAN. AIRPORT SCALING BACK. FLIGHTS AFTER THAT. DEADLY MIDAIR. COLLISION. THAT BLACK HAWK. INVOLVED HOISTED TODAY. FROM THE ICY POTOMAC. >>> THE FLU EXPLOSION, ONE OF THE WORST. SEASONS IN YEARS, LEAVING CLASSES EMPTY. AND SCHOOLS CLOSED.

>>> THE WARNING ABOUT. ADDICTION TO NITROUS. OXIDE, KNOWN AS. WHIPPITS, THE POPULAR. FLAVORED GAS THAT'S. EASILY AVAILABLE. ONE WOMAN'S STARK. WARNING AFTER SHE HAD. TO RELEARN HOW TO. WALK. >>> OUR BIRD'S EYE. VIEW ABOVE BOURBON. STREET, THE EPIC. EFFORT TO SECURE THE. SUPER BOWL AFTER THE. DEADLY NEW YEAR'S. TERROR ATTACK IN NEW. ORLEANS. >>> AND THE RIGHT. STUFF. HOW THOUSANDS OF. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE. JOINING THE RACE TO. PRESERVE HANDWRITTEN. NOTES DATING BACK TO. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. ♪♪.

>> Announcer: THIS IS. "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS". WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND. WELCOME. NEW ROADBLOCKS ARE. STANDING IN FRONT OF. ELON MUSK'S EFFORTS TO. SLASH GOVERNMENT. SPENDING. A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY. PLACING A HOLD ON THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S. OFFER TO PAY FEDERAL. WORKERS TO RESIGN. THEIR POSITIONS. AN OFFER THAT WAS TO. EXPIRE TONIGHT. THE BUYOUTS ACCEPTED. BY OVER 60,000. EMPLOYEES, ACCORDING. TO A SENIOR GOVERNMENT. OFFICIAL, BUT NBC NEWS. REPORTING THE TRUMP.

ADMINISTRATION IS. APPLYING NEW PRESSURE, NOW WARNING WORKERS. THEIR JOBS MAY BE IN. JEOPARDY. OPPOSITION TO THE. BILLIONAIRE'S. UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS. AND AUTHORITY, INCLUDING TO CERTAIN. GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, CONTINUES TO SWELL, WITH PROTESTS ACROSS. THE COUNTRY. DEMOCRATS RAMPING UP. THEIR OWN PRESSURE, DECRYING MUSK AND THE. HASTILY CREATED OFFICE. HE RUNS AS PART OF AN. ILLEGAL POWER GRAB. REPUBLICANS, CHEERING. THE COST-CUTTING. EFFORTS AS SO MANY. FEDERAL WORKERS WORRY.

ABOUT THEIR FUTURES. PETER ALEXANDER HAS. DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, JUST HOURS AHEAD OF. THE WHITE HOUSE. DEADLINE, A FEDERAL. JUDGE HAS PAUSED THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. FROM IMPLEMENTING ITS. BUYOUT PROGRAM FOR ALL. FEDERAL WORKERS. THAT BUYOUT OFFER, PART OF THE. PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN. PLEDGE TO SAVE. TAXPAYER MONEY BY. SLASHING THE FEDERAL. WORKFORCE. BUT LABOR UNIONS WENT. TO COURT TO BLOCK IT, ARGUING IT VIOLATED. MULTIPLE LAWS, AND NOW. THAT JUDGE HAS PUT THE. BUYOUTS ON HOLD UNTIL. MONDAY. A SENIOR. ADMINISTRATION. OFFICIAL SAYS MORE.

THAN 60,000 FEDERAL. EMPLOYEES HAVE. ACCEPTED THE OFFER. THAT REPRESENTS MORE. THAN 2% OF THE FEDERAL. GOVERNMENT'S CIVILIAN. WORKFORCE. OFFICIALS HERE. PREVIOUSLY SAID THEY. EXPECTED 5 TO 10% TO. TAKE THE BUYOUT. >> WHAT PRESIDENT. TRUMP AND ELON MUSK. AND THIS ENTIRE. ADMINISTRATION IS. TRYING TO DO IS MAKE. OUR BLOATED. BUREAUCRACY HERE IN. WASHINGTON RUN LIKE A. PROFITABLE BUSINESS.orter: A. TONIGHT, THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION IS. RAMPING UP PRESSURE TO. TAKE THE BUYOUT. AN EMAIL TO ALL. ELIGIBLE FEDERAL.

WORKERS OBTAINED BY. NBC NEWS WARNS THOSE. WHO DO NOT COULD LOSE. THEIR JOBS. READING, IN PART, "AT. THIS TIME, WE CANNOT. GIVE YOU FULL. ASSURANCE REGARDING. THE CERTAINTY OF YOUR. POSITION.". THE PRESIDENT TODAY. TOUTING PROGRESS ON. HIS PLEDGE TO SLASH. SPENDING. >> WE GOT RID OF WOKE. OVER THE LAST TWO. WEEKS. >> Reporter: AND. PRAISING ELON MUSK AND. HIS DEPARTMENT OF. GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, INCLUDING ITS EFFORT. TO DISMANTLE USAID, THAT DISTRIBUTES. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN. FOREIGN AID. >> THEY CAN'T BELIEVE. THEY'RE GETTING.

CAUGHT, AND I HAVE. GREAT RESPECT FOR THE. PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING. IT. ELON MUSK IS HELPING. US ON IT. AND HE'S PRETTY GOOD. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, "THE WASHINGTON POST". REPORTS DOGE EMPLOYEES. HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO. HIGHLY RESTRICTED. GOVERNMENT RECORDS ON. MILLIONS OF FEDERAL. EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING. TREASURY AND STATE. DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS. IN SENSITIVE SECURITY. POSITIONS. ACCORDING TO FOUR U.S. OFFICIALS WITH. KNOWLEDGE OF THE. DEVELOPMENTS. AND THE WHITE HOUSE. CONFIRMS THAT DOGE. STAFFER APPROVED BY A. FEDERAL JUDGE TO. ACCESS TREASURY. DEPARTMENT PAYMENT. SYSTEMS HAS RESIGNED. AFTER "THE WALL STREET.

JOURNAL" ASKED ABOUT. HIS LINKS TO A DELETED. SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT. THAT ADVOCATED FOR. RACISM AND EUGENICS. MEANWHILE, FEDERAL. WORKERS TONIGHT ARE IN. LIMBO. ALFONSO McCREE. ACCEPTED THE BUYOUT. OFFER. >> THE TIMING COULDN'T. HAVE BEEN ANY BETTER, BUT THERE WAS ALSO. THAT CONCERN OF, LIKE, WELL, THIS IS KIND OF. WEIRD. IS THIS ACTUALLY. LEGAL? >> Reporter: WHILE. HOLLY, WHO ASKS WE. DON'T USE HER LAST. NAME, DID NOT. >> I'M GLAD I DIDN'T. TAKE THE BUYOUT AT. ALL. I DON'T TRUST THAT THE. ADMINISTRATION WILL. KEEP THEIR PROMISE.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, MUSK'S X. PROFILE NOW READS. WHITE HOUSE TECH. SUPPORT, AND DEMOCRATS. ARE SLAMMING HIS. EFFORT TO DOWNSIZE THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS. ILLEGAL. >> WHAT WE ARE SEEING. UNFOLD IS AN UNLAWFUL. POWER GRAB BY A. UNELECTED AND. UNACCOUNTABLE. BILLIONAIRE. PUPPETMASTER WHO'S. PULLING THE STRINGS OF. HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND. APPARENTLY THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. >> Reporter: BUT. REPUBLICANS ARE. APPLAUDING MUSK'S. COST-CUTTING MISSION. >> I THINK IT'S VERY.

POPULAR WITH THE. AMERICAN PEOPLE. TRUMP DERANGEMENT. SYNDROME IS A VIRUS. THAT THE DEMOCRATS. HAVE HAD FOR FOUR. YEARS. IT APPEARS THAT THAT. VIRUS HAS MUTATED INTO. MUSK DERANGEMENT. SYNDROME NOW. >> PETER, IF WE CAN. TURN BACK TO THE. USAID, YOU'VE GOT SOME. NEW REPORTING ABOUT. MAJOR CUTS THERE. >> Reporter: LESTER, THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION IS. EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE. RANKS OF USAID TO. ROUGHLY 290 WORKERS. OUT OF MORE THAN 5,000. FOREIGN SERVICE. OFFICERS, CIVIL.

SERVANTS AND. CONTRACTORS CURRENTLY. EMPLOYED THERE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO. PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH. THE PLANS. THE SECRETARY OF. STATE, MARCO RUBIO, LESTER, SAYS THEY ARE. NOT TRYING TO BE. PUNITIVE, BUT ARE. TRYING TO ALIGN THE. AGENCY WITH AMERICA'S. NATIONAL INTERESTS. >> PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> THE BACKLASH IS. MOUNTING AFTER. PRESIDENT TRUMP. FLOATED A. CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL. TO TAKE OVER GAZA. THE PRESIDENT TONIGHT. SAYING HE WOULD NOT. SEND IN AMERICAN. TROOPS AS PART OF THAT. REBUILDING PLAN. HERE'S KELLY. O'DONNELL. >> Reporter: NEW.

FALLOUT ON PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S ABRUPT. ASPIRATION FOR AN. AMERICAN-LED. RENOVATION OF GAZA. >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE. OVER THAT PIECE, AND. WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP. IT. >> Reporter: WHILE THE. PRESIDENT DID DISCUSS. THE MIDDLE EAST ON. CAMERA TODAY, HE CHOSE. TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO. OUTLINE HIS. CONTROVERSIAL PLAN, DECLARING, "THE GAZA. STRIP WOULD BE TURNED. OVER TO THE UNITED. STATES BY ISRAEL AT. THE CONCLUSION OF.

FIGHTING" SO THAT THE. U.S. AND DEVELOPMENT. TEAMS FROM ALL OVER. THE WORLD COULD BUILD. WHAT HE CALLED. SPECTACULAR. DEVELOPMENTS. MET WITH SWIFT. CRITICISM FROM. REPUBLICANS FOR. LEAVING OPEN THE DOOR. TO SENDING U.S. TROOPS. >> IT WOULD SEEM TO ME. TO BE AN INAPPROPRIATE. USE OF U.S. TROOPS. >> Reporter: TODAY, THE PRESIDENT, WRITING, "NO SOLDIERS. BY THE U.S. WOULD BE. NEEDED.". >> HE WILL NOT BE. SENDING BOOTS ON THE. GROUND. HE ALSO HAS MADE IT. CLEAR THAT AMERICAN. TAXPAYERS WILL NOT BE. FUNDING THIS EFFORT. >> Reporter: THE. SUGGESTION OF U.S. TROOPS ALSO REJECTED. BY VISITING ISRAELI. PRIME MINISTER. NETANYAHU.

>> MR. NETANYAHU, DO. YOU THINK U.S. TROOPS. ARE NEEDED IN GAZA? TO MAKE PRUFRP. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN. FEASIBLE? >> NO. >> Reporter: BUT THE. PRESIDENT'S GAZA PLAN. DISMISSED BY MANY. MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES. WHO INSIST. PALESTINIANS SHOULD BE. ABLE TO REMAIN IN. GAZA. TODAY, THE PRESIDENT. ACKNOWLEDGED THE. FRAGILE CEASEFIRE DEAL. WITH HAMAS TO RELEASE. HOSTAGES. >> WE HAVE MORE. HOSTAGES TO COME, AND. WE HOPE THEY LIVE UP. TO THEIR WORD. >> Reporter: AN.

EMOTIONAL AVIVA SEGAL, A FORMER HOSTAGE JUST. WELCOMED HOME HER. AMERICAN HUSBAND, KEITH. >> IT'S DIFFICULT FOR. ME TO THINK HE WAS. THERE SO MANY DAYS. WITHOUT ME, AND THERE. WERE SO MANY MOMENTS. THAT HE NEEDED ME TO. BE WITH HIM, AND I. WASN'T THERE. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT. TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO. MEET WITH ONE OF THE. REGIONAL LEADERS WHO. REJECTED HIS PLAN. JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH. IS DUE HERE NEXT WEEK. >>> THE WEATHER HAS. BEEN A MESS FOR TENS. OF MILLIONS ACROSS THE. COUNTRY. 20 STATES SOCKED IN.

EARLIER TODAY BY A. DANGEROUS MIX OF SNOW, SLEET, AND RAIN. THERE WERE WHITEOUT. CONDITIONS IN MICHIGAN. AND FLASH FLOODS IN. HARD-HIT CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WHERE. THEY GOT MORE THAN. THREE INCHES OF RAIN. IN JUST A FEW HOURS. AL ROKER JOINS ME NOW. AL, THIS IS THE START. OF A PRETTY VOLATILE. WEEK OF STORMS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. WE'VE GOT A PARADE OF. STORMS, LESTER, THIS. NEXT ONE COMING IN OUT. OF THE MIDWEST FOR. TOMORROW WITH LARGE. STORMS. IT'S GOING TO BRING. NORTHEAST ICE, RAIN, AND SNOW, POSSIBLE. POWER OUTAGES, AND. THEN CONTINUES OFF THE. COAST ON SUNDAY,

GETTING OUT OF HERE. WITH SOME SNOW LEFT. OVER IN THE GREAT. LAKES. WE'RE TALKING TO. HEAVIEST AMOUNTS FROM. BUFFALO TO COASTAL NEW. ENGLAND WITH UP TO. EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW. AND UP TO 0.1 INCH OF. ICE FROM CLEVELAND ALL. THE WAY DOWN TO. RICHMOND AND THEN A. SECOND MORE POWERFUL. STORM POSSIBLY GETTING. TOGETHER MONDAY. EVENING, STARTS IN THE. MIDSECTION OF THE. COUNTRY. BY TUESDAY, HEAVY. SNOW, WIND, AND RAIN. LIKELY IN THE. NORTHEAST, A MESSY. COMMUTE. WE'RE TALKING ANYWHERE. FROM HEAVY SNOW FROM. KANSAS CITY INTO NEW. YORK AND NEW ENGLAND, LESTER. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST. TOMORROW MORNING ON.

"TODAY.". >> OKAY, AL, GLAD. YOU'RE WITH US. TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> AFTER THE MIDAIR. COLLISION LAST WEEK. THAT CLAIMED 67 LIVES, TONIGHT, THE FAA IS. TAKING STEPS TO SCALE. BACK AIR TRAFFIC INTO. AND OUT OF. WASHINGTON'S REAGAN. NATIONAL AIRPORT. TOM COSTELLO REPORTS. IT COMES AS ELON MUSK. IS POISED TO HELP. OVERHAUL AIR TRAFFIC. CONTROL. >> Reporter: EIGHT. DAYS AFTER THAT MIDAIR. CRASH OVER THE. POTOMAC --. >> RESCUE 1 REQUESTING. PERMISSION TO SEARCH. THE SHORELINE FOR. DEBRIS. >> Reporter: RECOVERY.

TEAMS TODAY RAISED THE. ARMY HELICOPTER FROM. THE RIVER, CRITICAL TO. THE INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE. IT WAS FLYING ABOVE. ITS DESIGNATED. ALTITUDE BEFORE THE. CRASH. WITH TWO RUNWAYS OUT. OF SERVICE, THE FAA. HAS NOTIFIED AIRLINES. THAT IT'S CUTTING THE. NUMBER OF ARRIVALS. FROM 28 TO 26 PER HOUR. AT REAGAN NATIONAL. WITH INVESTIGATORS. CONCERNED FOR AIR. TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, WHO HAVE AN INCREASED. LEVEL OF STRESS WHILE. ALSO HAVING A FRONT. ROW VIEW OF THE. ACCIDENT RECOVERY. TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP. SUGGESTED THE NATION'S.

ANTIQUATED ATC SYSTEM. PLAYED A ROLE IN THE. ACCIDENT. >> WE SHOULD HAVE HAD. BETTER EQUIPMENT. WE DON'T. WE HAVE OBSOLETE. EQUIPMENT. >> Reporter: THE NEW. TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY, SEAN DUFFY. >> I HAD A. CONVERSATION WITH ELON. MUSK YESTERDAY. >> Reporter: SAYS ELON. MUSK WILL HELP. OVERHAUL AIR TRAFFIC. CONTROL, WHICH THE FAA. HAS SPENT YEARS TRYING. TO UPGRADE BUT WITHOUT. FULL CONGRESSIONAL. FUNDING. >> IF ELON MUSK OR. ANYONE ELSE CAN. PROVIDE GREAT IDEAS, I. MEAN, THEY ARE. CERTAINLY ON THE. CUTTING EDGE OF. TECHNOLOGY, THEN I.

THINK THAT'S GREAT. >> Reporter: BUT. DEMOCRATS ARE. CONCERNED ABOUT ELON. MUSK'S PROMISE OF. RAPID SAFETY UPGRADES, NOTING THE FAA. OVERSEES MUSK'S SPACEX. ROCKET LAUNCHES. >> IT'S A CLEAR. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SECRETARY DUFFY SHOULD. MAKE SURE THAT. MR. MUSK IS NOT PART. OF THE FAA AIR. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, PRAISE FOR. NEW D.C. FIREFIGHTER. SEAN, A MARINE VETERAN. WHO STOOD SILENT GUARD. FOR HOURS BY THE. REMAINS OF ARMY STAFF. SERGEANT RYAN O'HARA,

LOST IN THE CRASH. WHILE FIREFIGHTERS. SALUTED, FLIGHT. ATTENDANT IAN EPSTEIN, HIS REMAINS BROUGHT. HOME TO CHARLOTTE. >> AND TOM, MEANTIME, THERE'S SOME LATE NEWS. FROM THE NTSB. REGARDING THE. HELICOPTER CREW. >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. THE NTSB NOW SAYS IT. APPEARS LIKELY THAT. CHOPPER CREW WAS. WEARING NIGHT VISION. GOGGLES AT THE TIME OF. THE CRASH BUT WE DON'T. KNOW WHAT TYPE OF. GOGGLE AND WHETHER. THEY WOULD HAVE AIDED. THE PILOTS OR MADE IT. MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE. AN ONCOMING REGIONAL. JET. >> OKAY, TOM, THANK. YOU. >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO.

WHAT'S BEEN A VICIOUS. COLD AND FLU SEASON AS. FLU CASES FLOURISH, SOME SCHOOLS ARE LEFT. WITHOUT MUCH OPTIONS. OTHER THAN TO CANCEL. CLASSES. MAGGIE VESPA WITH WHAT. PARENTS NEED TO KNOW. >> Reporter: ACROSS. THE COUNTRY, CLASSROOMS SIT EMPTY, SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN WITH. ADMINISTRATORS FROM. TEXAS TO TENNESSEE, OKLAHOMA TO OHIO, CITING A SURGE IN THE. FLU. ONE DISTRICT NEAR. LOUISVILLE GOING. REMOTE FOR THREE DAYS, TELLING PARENTS MORE. THAN 1,700 STUDENTS.

AND 200 STAFF MEMBERS. WERE ABSENT DUE TO. ILLNESS MONDAY. PHOTOS SHOWING MASKED. MAINTENANCE WORKERS. DEEP CLEANING. CLASSROOMS NEAR. CLEVELAND. HAVE YOU SEEN SCHOOLS. CLOSE DUE TO THE FLU. BEFORE? >> NO. >> Reporter: OUTSIDE. CINCINNATI, SUPERINTENDENT KELLY. SPIVEY SHUTTERED. EDGEWOOD CITY SCHOOLS. FOR THE WEEK. YESTERDAY. >> WE'RE SEEING THE. INFLUENZA STRAND A. WE'RE SEEING THE RSV. PNEUMONIA, STREP. THROAT, ALL OF IT. AND AT A HIGH RATE.

COVID AS WELL. >> Reporter: THE CDC. SAYS AT LEAST A. QUARTER OF A MILLION. AMERICANS HAVE BEEN. HOSPITALIZED WITH THE. FLU THIS SEASON. 11,000 HAVE DIED. THIS LATE-SEASON SURGE. CATCHING NEW JERSEY. MOM OF THREE, GABRIELLE, OFF GUARD. >> I AM SURPRISED THAT. TWO OF MY KIDS WENT. DOWN THAT FAST. WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FLU. IN THIS HOUSE FOR. YEARS. >> Reporter: THESE. NUMBERS DON'T SURPRISE. YOU? >> NO. >> Reporter: DOCTORS. AT NATIONWIDE. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN. COLUMBUS POINT OUT FLU. INFECTIONS ARE STILL.

REBOUNDING. POST-PANDEMIC WHILE. VACCINATION RATES. AMONG KIDS FALL, PLUMMETING NEARLY 14%. IN FIVE YEARS. >> WE HAVE TO DO. BETTER. AND IT'S A HARD TIME. RIGHT NOW WHEN IT. COMES TO VACCINES. WE KNOW THAT. BUT WE KNOW THEY. MATTER. >> Reporter: MAGGIE. VESPA, NBC NEWS. >>> WE'LL BE RIGHT. BACK IN 60 SECONDS. AFTER A TERROR ATTACK. ROCKED NEW ORLEANS, WE'LL SHOW YOU THE. VIEW FROM THE AIR AT. THE MASSIVE SUPER.

>>> MORE THAN 100,000. PEOPLE ARE ALREADY. STARTING TO POUR INTO. NEW ORLEANS FOR SUPER. BOWL SUNDAY JUST WEEKS. AFTER A DEADLY. TERRORIST ATTACK IN. THE CITY. JESSE KIRSCH GOT AN. INSIDE LOOK AT THE. PLANS TO PROTECT THE. BIG GAME. >> Reporter: WHILE. TENS OF MILLIONS ARE. GLUED TO THEIR TVs ON. SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, FEDERAL AGENTS WILL BE. CIRCLING ABOVE NEW. ORLEANS AND ALONG THE. MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN. THE FRENCH QUARTER, HEAVILY ARMED NATIONAL. GUARDSMEN PATROLLING. ON FOOT. IN ALL, NEARLY 3,000.

LAW ENFORCEMENT. PERSONNEL WILL BE. SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE. CITY. >> SO, THEY KNOW WHERE. THE CROWDS ARE, WHERE. THE CROWDS AREN'T, AND. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS. THAT CHANGES THAT. SCENARIO, THEN THEY'LL. BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY. THAT. >> Reporter: BEYOND. SURVEILLANCE, THESE. FEDERAL AGENTS WILL. ALSO BE READY TO. RESPOND IF SOMEONE. VIOLATES GAMEDAY. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS. ON THE WATER, BOAT. CREWS WATCHING FOR. UNUSUAL TRAFFIC. >> WE'RE ALSO GOING TO. BE A RESPONSE FORCE. FOR ANY SORT OF SAFETY. EMERGENCIES. >> Reporter: AT THE.

SUPER DOME, CANINES. WILL SWEEP, ROW BY. ROW. >> WE'RE VERY EXCITED. ABOUT THIS WEEKEND, AND WE ARE REALLY. QUITE PREPARED. >> Reporter: BUT THAT. PLANNING CAME UNDER. RENEWED SCRUTINY AFTER. A TERRORIST BARRELLED. DOWN BOURBON STREET, KILLING 14 PEOPLE HERE. NEW YEAR'S DAY. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT. WE HAVE HAD A MAJOR. CHANGE, BECAUSE THE. PLAN FOR SUPER BOWL. HAS BEEN IN PLACE, WORKING ON THAT PLAN, FOR 18 MONTHS. >> Reporter: THAT'S. NOT REDIRECTED BY NEW. YEAR'S DAY? >> NO. NO. WE ACTUALLY TAKE OUR.

LEAD MAINLY FROM NFL. SECURITY. >> Reporter: HIGHLY. VISIBLE SECURITY. REASSURING FANS LIKE. TWYLA MOORE, WHO SAID. SHE CONSIDERED. CANCELING HER TRIP. AFTER THE NEW YEAR'S. ATTACK. HOW ARE YOU FEELING. NOW? >> SAFE. SAFE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS. THE SAFEST PLACE IN. AMERICA RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: AND THE. SECRET SERVICE SAYS ON. SUNDAY, PRESIDENT. TRUMP WILL BE THE. FIRST SITTING AMERICAN. PRESIDENT TO ATTEND A. SUPER BOWL. NEW ORLEANS POLICE. SAYS THAT MEANS EVEN. MORE SECURITY. LESTER? >> OKAY, JESSE, THANKS. >>> WE'RE BACK IN A. MOMENT WITH THE DIRE.

NEW WARNING ABOUT THE. DRUG KNOWN AS. WHIPPITS. THE OVERDOSE DANGERS. >>>. >>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD. OF WHIPPITS, ALSO. KNOWN AS LAUGHING GAS. OR NITROUS OXIDE. IT'S A CONCERNING DRUG. TREND AMONG YOUNG. ADULTS. VALERIE CASTRO SPOKE. TO ONE WOMAN WHO WAS. ADDICTED AND NOW HAS. THIS FOR OTHERS. >> Reporter: THIS WAS. JENNA A LITTLE MORE. THAN A YEAR AGO. >> SMALL STEPS. >> Reporter: RELEARNING HOW TO WALK.

AFTER SHE SAYS HER. ADDICTION TO NITROUS. OXIDE, WHICH SHE. STARTED USING WHEN SHE. WAS 19, LEFT HER. TEMPORARILY PARALYZED. >> I WAS USING. THROUGHOUT THE DAY 10. TO 16 FULL TANKS TO. WHERE THEY WOULD BE. EMPTY. >> Reporter: COMMONLY. KNOWN AS WHIPPITS, THE. SMALL CARTRIDGES HAVE. BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, AS WELL AS THEIR. ABUSE. >> YOU GET EUPHORIC. SIDE EFFECTS, HALLUCINATION. SOMETIMES. IT CAN CREATE OXYGEN. DEPRIVATION TO YOUR. BRAIN. >> Reporter: BUT.

WHAT'S CHANGED, EXPERTS SAY, IS THE. WAY THEY'RE PACKAGED. AND MARKETED. >> IT'S BEING SOLD IN. CONTAINERS WITH A MUCH. HIGHER VOLUME THAN. USUAL LITTLE WHIPPIT. CONTAINERS, AND. THEY'RE ALSO BEING. SOLD WITH FLAVORS. >> Reporter: 25-YEAR-OLD JENNA, NOW. BACK ON HER FEET, IS. WARNING OF THE DRUG'S. DANGERS AND THE WAY. IT'S BEING SOLD. >> THEY'RE ALL. MARKETED AS, LIKE, THEY'RE FOR MAKING. WHIPPED CREAM, WHICH. IS JUST NOT -- THAT'S. NOT THE CASE. >> Reporter: POISON. CONTROL SAYS THERE WAS. A 58% INCREASE IN.

REPORTED INTENTIONAL. EXPOSURES FROM 2023 TO. 2024. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE, AND THERE ARE A. VARIETY OF BRANDS AND. COUNTLESS FLAVORS, LIKE CRANBERRY MANGO, COOKIES AND CREAM AND. PINK LEMONADE. NBC NEWS REACHED OUT. TO SEVERAL OF THE. BRANDS AND DID NOT. HEAR BACK. MANY OF THEM STATE ON. THE PACKAGING THE GAS. IS MEANT FOR CULINARY. USE, SOMETIMES EVEN. WARNING THAT IT'S NOT. MEANT TO BE INHALED. BUT THOSE WARNING. LABELS DIDN'T STOP HER. FROM USING IT ON A. DAILY BASIS OR BUYING. THE TANKS AT HER LOCAL. GAS STATION.

LAST YEAR, LOUISIANA. BECAME THE FIRST STATE. IN THE COUNTRY TO BAN. THE SALE OF NITROUS. OXIDE IN STORES TO THE. GENERAL PUBLIC. >> YOU CAN SEE THE. CANISTER THAT'S HERE. BEFORE YOU. THAT WOULD BE OVER. 22,000 SERVINGS OF. WHIPPED CREAM IF. THAT'S REALLY WHAT. THEY WANTED TO DO BUT. THAT'S NOT WHAT. THEY'RE DOING. >> Reporter: THE. SUBSTANCE ITSELF, WHICH IS ALSO USED AS. A MEDICAL SEDATIVE, HASN'T BEEN OUTLAWED. >> NITROUS OXIDE. REMAINS LEGAL IN THE. UNITED STATES BECAUSE. THERE ARE SO MANY.

LEGITIMATE USES THAT. DON'T CORRELATE TO THE. ABUSE. >> Reporter: SHE'S. HOPING HER OWN STORY. SERVES AS A WARNING TO. OTHERS AND PUTS. PRESSURE ON THE. COMPANIES MAKING THE. PRODUCT. VALERIE CASTRO, NBC. NEWS. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, PRESERVING THE FIRST. DRAFT OF HISTORY IN. CURSIVE. HOW A.I. AND. EAGLE-EYED READERS ARE. HELPING SAVE THE WORDS. OF THE FOUNDING. FATHERS FROM BEING. LOST IN TRANSLATION. >>> MUCH INK HAS BEEN. SPILLED ABOUT THE.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR, BUT. FEWER AMERICANS CAN. READ IT AS CURSIVE. FADES FROM OUR PUBLIC. GRASP. HALLIE JACKSON HAS. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. ABOUT THE THOUSANDS. HELPING PRESERVE IT. FOR THE TIKTOK. GENERATION AND BEYOND. >> Reporter: TIKTOK'S. CURSIVE CHALLENGE. >> WRITE YOUR NAME. WITHOUT PICKING UP. YOUR PEN. >> Reporter: INTRODUCING GEN Z TO. THE LOST ART OF. LONGHAND, BUT IF YOU. WANT A REAL CURSIVE. CHALLENGE, YOU'VE GOT. TO GO OLD-SCHOOL, LIKE. VERY OLD. I SEE THE YEAR, 1764.

>> Reporter: AT THE. NATIONAL ARCHIVES, A. NEW PROJECT ASKS. VOLUNTEERS TO HELP. DECODE DOCUMENTS LIKE. THESE FROM THE. REVOLUTIONARY WAR. >> EVERY BOX HAS A. STORY. >> Reporter: PENSION. RECORDS FROM SOLDIERS. TELLING THE STORIES OF. AMERICA'S VERY FIRST. VETERANS IF YOU CAN. READ THEM. "IN THEIR SOMETHING". >> I THINK RECORDS. >> Reporter: OKAY. OF SOMETHING. >> THAT ONE'S HARD TO. READ. >> Reporter: HOW DO. PEOPLE DO THIS? THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ARCHIVES ASKING, IS CURSIVE YOUR. SUPERPOWER?

WHILE IT'S CLEARLY NOT. MINE, THEY'VE FOUND. 100,000 VOLUNTEERS, WHO, WITH THE HELP OF. A.I., ARE CONVERTING. THESE RECORDS INTO A. SEARCHABLE ONLINE. DATABASE TO GIVE MORE. ACCESS TO MORE PEOPLE. >> IT REALLY CONNECTS. YOU, I THINK, TO THE. PAST AND HELPS MAKE. THESE STORIES COME. ALIVE FOR THE NEW. GENERATIONS. >> Reporter: THE. PROJECT TIMED TO NEXT. YEAR'S 250th. ANNIVERSARY OF THE. DECLARATION OF. INDEPENDENCE WITH ITS. FAMOUS SIGNATURES, AND. AT THE ARCHIVES, WE. DECODED ANOTHER. I THINK THAT'S GEORGE. WASHINGTON. >> IT IS.

>> Reporter: ALONG. WITH THE STORY OF A. SOLDIER WHO JOINED. WASHINGTON. ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT OF. THAT YEAR. DURING THE FAMOUS. CROSSING OF THE. DELAWARE. IT WAS SNOWING AT THE. TIME. AND THE NIGHT WAS. UNUSUALLY STORMY. IT IS LITERALLY THE. FIRST DRAFT OF. HISTORY. >> EXACTLY. >> Reporter: THIS. CURSIVE CHALLENGE, FLIPPING THE SCRIPT, PROVING HANDWRITING'S. NOT YET HISTORY. HALLIE JACKSON, NBC. NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> NICE. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY. NEWS" FOR THIS. THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT.

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH.