NBC Nightly News Full Episode - March 28

>>> TONIGHT, BREAKING. NEWS. THE CATASTROPHIC. EARTHQUAKE, THAILAND'S CAPITAL. ROCKED. THE IMAGES OF. BUILDINGS CRUMBLING. SENDING PEOPLE. RUNNING FOR THEIR. LIVES. STILL, SO MANY. TRAPPED. THE 7.7 MAGNITUDE. QUAKE LIKELY KILLING. HUNDREDS, AND THE. TOLL EXPECTED TO. CLIMB. WE TALK TO THE. AMERICAN MEDICAL. STUDENT WHO JUMPED. INTO ACTION. >>> ALSO BREAKING. TONIGHT, MARKETS. TUMBLING.

ON RENEWED FEARS OF. INFLATION, PLUS, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. AUTO TARIFFS POISED. TO KICK IN AS CANADA. SAYS IT WILL FIGHT. BACK IN AN ESCALATING. TRADE WAR. >>> VICE PRESIDENT JD. VANCE IN GREENLAND. HIS MESSAGE TO THE. PEOPLE OF THE DANISH. TERRITORY ABOUT WHY. THEY WOULD BE BETTER. OFF UNDER U.S. PROTECTION. >>> THE GROWING FIRES. IN THE EAST AND THE. DEADLY FLOODS IN. TEXAS. THREE DEAD THERE AND. HUNDREDS RESCUED. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE TABLE ROCK FIRE. NOW THE HIGHEST. PRIORITY BLAZE IN THE.

TOOK DOWN THE BRUTAL. SUSPECT AND PREVENTED. MORE BLOODSHED. >>> AND WITH THE. NATION'S CAPITAL. HITTING PEAK CHERRY. BLOSSOM SEASON, HALLIE JACKSON WITH A. GOOD NEWS UPDATE ON. EVERYONE'S FAVORITE. WOE BEGOTTEN TREE. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR. LESTER TONIGHT. WE ARE TRACKING TWO. MAJOR BREAKING. STORIES. HERE AT HOME, THE. SHOCK ON WALL STREET.

THE SECOND WORST DAY. OF THE YEAR FOR THE. STOCK MARKET. ALL THREE MAJOR. INDICES DOWN SINCE. PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK. OFFICE. BUT WE WANT TO START. TONIGHT WITH THE. UNBELIEVABLE SCENES. OF DEVASTATION IN. THAILAND AND MYANMAR. WATCH AS THIS. SKYSCRAPER COMES. TUMBLING DOWN. WORKERS SPRINTING AS. THE DUST AND DEBRIS. CLOUD SURROUNDS THEM. THE 7.7 MAGNITUDE. QUAKE DOING HEAVY. DAMAGE IN BANGKOK. THE BUSINESS HUB AND. TOURIST DESTINATION. HOME TO SOME 17. MILLION PEOPLE. AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT.

HERE, WATER CASCADING. OFF A HIGH-RISE POOL. AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE. HAVE DIED, BUT THE. QUESTION IS NOT IF. THE DEATH TOLL WILL. GROW BUT BY HOW MANY. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER. STARTS US UF, AND A. DESPERATE SITUATION. AS THE SUN IS COMING. UP. >> Reporter: TOM, IT. IS A RACE IN TWO. COUNTRIES FOR. RESCUERS TO FIND. SURVIVORS. THEY HAVE BEEN. WORKING ALL THROUGH. THE NIGHT. THE MILITARY JUNTA. RULING MYANMAR HAS. OPENLY APPEALED FOR. INTERNATIONAL.

HUMANITARIAN AID. A SIGN THAT THEY. EXPECT THE DEATH TOLL. TO BE HIGH. AS THE SITUATION IS. NOW SHIFTING FROM. PANIC TO DESPAIR. TONIGHT, MOMENTS OF. TERROR AS THE EARTH. SHOOK. CRUMBLING BUILDINGS. REDUCED TO DUST AND. RUBBLE. SENDING PEOPLE. FLEEING FOR THEIR. LIVES. THE 7.7 MAGNITUDE. EARTHQUAKE STRIKING. THE HEART OF MYANMAR, AND FELT AS FAR AWAY.

AS BANGKOK, THAILAND. WHERE THIS BUILDING'S. SWIMMING POOL TURNED. INTO A WATERFALL. SPILLING ONTO THE. STREET. AT THE TOP OF THIS. BUILDING THIS WOMAN. FROM ATLANTA FEARING. FOR HER LIFE. INSIDE MYANMAR, A. STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND THE DEATH TOLL. EXPECTED TO RISE. AS SURVIVORS RUSH THE. INJURED TO HOSPITALS, PEOPLE DIGGING. THROUGH THE RUBBLE. WITH THEIR BARE. HANDS.

THE DAMAGE. CATASTROPHIC. TO ROADS, BRIDGES, AND HOMES. FAMILIES SEEKING. REFUGE AT MANDALAY'S. AIRPORT, TERRIFIED. THAT MORE AFTERSHOCKS. WOULD HIT. THE FULL SCALE OF THE. EARTHQUAKE IS STILL. UNCLEAR, THOUGH. EXPERTS FEAR ECONOMIC. LOSS IN THE BILLIONS. OF DOLLARS. IN BANGKOK, EMERGENCY. WORKERS ARE GETTING. HELP FROM THAILAND'S. ARMY. AFTER A 33-STORY. BUILDING UNDER. CONSTRUCTION. COLLAPSED IN A CLOUD. OF DUST. TRAPPING DOZENS OF.

WORKERS IN THE. DEBRIS. SKY NEWS. CORRESPONDENT. CORDELIA LYNCH IS. THERE. >> WE'RE HERE, YOU. CAN SEE THE SCALE OF. THE PROBLEM UP CLOSE. JUST HOW MUCH RUBBLE. THEY HAVE TO CLEAR, AND THEY'RE USING. HEAVY MACHINERY TO DO. IT. >> Reporter: THE. NEARBY HOSPITAL WAS. FORCED TO EVACUATE. PATIENTS. SHIVONNIE IS AN. AMERICAN MEDICAL. STUDENT WORKING. THERE. >> A LOT OF CHAOS, UNCERTAINTY, AND. FEAR. >> Reporter: PATIENTS.

ARE BEING TREATED. UNDER A HIGHWAY. OVERPASS, WITH. TEMPERATURES HITTING. 100 DEGREES. FAHRENHEIT. >> I WAS CONCERNED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS. OUTSIDE THAT THE. WHOLE TEN-STORY-PLUS. BUILDING MIGHT. COLLAPSE AND I MIGHT. STILL BE CRUSHED BY. IT. >> Reporter: THE. RESCUE OPERATION. CONTINUES INTO THE. NIGHT. THIS WOMAN WAITING. FOR HER NIECE, WHO IS. 23 YEARS OLD AND. MISSING. SHE'S THE HELP OF HER. PARENTS, SHE SAID. I NEVER THOUGHT. SOMETHING LIKE THIS. COULD HAPPEN.

A DESPERATE MISSION. HERE, AND THE CHANCE. OF FINDING SURVIVORS. FADING. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER, NBC NEWS, BEIJING. >> WE'RE ALSO. TRACKING OTHER. BREAKING NEWS HERE AT. HOME. WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT. STUNNING PLUNGE ON. WALL STREET, AS THE. S&P 500 FELL 2% AND. THE NASDAQ LOST 2.7%. BRIAN CHEUNG IS HERE. TONIGHT LIVE IN. STUDIO. BRIAN, SO MANY. AMERICANS WORRIED. ABOUT THEIR 401(k)s. >> IT BREAKS DOWN TO. THREE THINGS. SOME OF WHICH ARE. SHOWING SIGNS OF. CRACK IN THE ECONOMY.

FIRST, A KEY MEASURE. OF INFLATION RISING. 2.8%, A SLIGHT RISE. OVER LAST YEAR, BUT. WORSE THAN EXPECTED. SECOND, SURVEY DATA. NOW SHOWS CONSUMER. SENTIMENT OVER THE. ECONOMY DROPPING FOR. THE THIRD MONTH IN A. ROW. FINALLY, THAT GROWING. CONCERN ABOUT. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. IMPENDING TARIFFS. THAT HAVE INVESTORS. WORRIED. T-MINUS FIVE DAYS TO. WHAT COULD BE. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. MOST SWEEPING AND. WIDE-RANGING ROUND OF. TRADE ACTION YET. RECIPROCAL TARIFFS. WHERE THE U.S. WILL. CHARGE THE SAME TAX.

ON GOODS IMPORTED TO. THE U.S. THAT. COUNTRIES CHARGE ON. AMERICAN PRODUCTS. SOLD OVERSEAS. >> WE HAVE LIBERATION. DAY, AS YOU KNOW, ON. APRIL 2nd. I THINK YOU'RE GOING. TO HAVE A COUNTRY. THAT'S GOING TO BOON. >> Reporter: AT. NEARLY THE SAME TIME, IMPORTED CARS AND. AUTO PARTS WILL GET. SLAPPED WITH 25%. TARIFFS. THE PRESIDENT. SPEAKING WITH. CANADIAN PRIME. MINISTER MARK CARNEY. AFTER PUBLIC CLASHES. OVER THE TRADE WAR. >> I THINK THINGS. WILL WORK OUT WELL. >> Reporter: CARNEY. CALLING IT A VERY. CONSTRUCTIVE. CONVERSATION BUT. STILL VOWING TO SLAP.

RETALIATORY TARIFFS. ON THE U.S. >> OUR RESPONSE TO. THESE LATEST TARIFFS. IS TO FIGHT, TO. PROTECT, AND TO. BUILD. >> Reporter: THE AUTO. TARIFFS TAKING EFFECT. NEXT WEEK COULD ADD. UP TO $8,000 IN COSTS. FOR EVEN DOMESTIC. VEHICLES. STILL, THE UNITED. AUTOWORKERS UNION. SUPPORTS PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S TARIFFS. JEFF BOOTH HOPES. THEY'LL BRING BACK. JOBS. >> EVEN IF IT COSTS A. LITTLE MORE, YOU KNOW. YOU GET BETTER. QUALITY, WHEN. SOMETHING SAID MADE. IN AMERICA, IT MADE. YOU FEEL PROUD. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A NEW QUESTION. IF TARIFFS DRIVE.

PRICES UP AND. INFLATION REMAINS. STUBBORN, WOULD THE. FED LOOK TO CHANGE. COURSE ON INTEREST. RATES? AS WALL STREET AND. MAIN STREET BRACE FOR. WHAT'S NEXT. BRIAN CHEUNG, NBC. NEWS. >>> NOW TO VICE. PRESIDENT VANCE. LOOKING TO BREAK THE. ICE DURING THAT RARE. TRIP TO GREENLAND. ALL AFTER PLANS FOR. HIS VISIT WERE SCALED. BACK FOLLOWING. SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK. MOLLY HUNTER IS THERE. TONIGHT FOR US. >> Reporter: TODAY, IN THE REMOTE. NORTHWEST OF. GREENLAND, JD VANCE. BECAME THE FIRST. AMERICAN VICE. PRESIDENT TO VISIT. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST.

AND LEAST POPULATED. ISLAND. ARRIVING WITH HIS. WIFE USHA, THEY FLEW. DIRECTLY TO THE SPACE. BASE TO CHAT WITH. U.S. MILITARY. PERSONNEL. DURING VANCE'S. THREE-HOUR VISIT. HERE, BACK IN. WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT. TRUMP REITERATED HIS. DESIRE TO TAKE OVER. THE DANISH TERRITORY. >> WE NEED GREENLAND, VERY IMPORTANTLY, FOR. INTERNATIONAL. SECURITY. WE HAVE TO HAVE. GREENLAND. IT'S NOT A QUESTION. OF DO YOU THINK WE. CAN DO WITHOUT IT.

WE CAN'T. >> Reporter: BUT. VANCE SAYS THEY WANT. TO CONVINCE. GREENLANDERS TO JOIN. THE U.S. >> WE DO NOT THINK. THAT MILITARY FORCE. IS EVER GOING TO BE. NECESSARY. WE THINK WE'RE GOING. TO BE ABLE TO CUT A. DEAL, DONALD TRUMP. STYLE. >> Reporter: AS CHINA. AND RUSSIA RAMP UP. THEIR ARCTIC. INFLUENCE, VANCE TOOK. DIRECT AIM AT NATO. ALLY DENMARK. >> OUR FRIENDS IN. DENMARK HAVE NOT DONE. THEIR JOB IN KEEPING. THIS AREA SAFE. >> Reporter: BUT THE. MESSAGE FROM. GREENLANDERS, THEY'RE. NOT INTERESTED IN. THIS KIND OF DEAL. WITH THEIR LONGTIME. U.S. ALLY.

WE JOINED TWO YOUNG. WOMEN WATCHING. VANCE'S REMARKS FROM. A CAFE. >> IT'S SO. DISHEARTENING. >> IF YOU COULD MEET. THE VICE PRESIDENT. TODAY, WHAT WOULD YOU. SAY? >> WE ARE NOT AN. OBJECT. WE ARE PEOPLE. >> Reporter: PATRICK. HAS LIVED HERE HIS. WHOLE LIFE. >> NOBODY AT THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. HAS TALKED ABOUT. GREENLANDIC PEOPLE. >> HOW DID YOU USED. TO FEEL ABOUT. AMERICA? >> ALWAYS CLOSE. ALWAYS CLOSE. FOR NOW, IT'S A. DIFFERENT STORY. >> Reporter: VANCE. ALSO SAID IF THE U.S. DOESN'T TAKE THE LEAD. RIGHT NOW IN THE.

ARCTIC, RUSSIA AND. CHINA WILL FILL THE. VOID. TOM. >> MOLLY HUNTER FOR. US. WE THANK YOU FOR. THAT. >> BACK HERE AT HOME. TO EXTREME WEATHER. WILDFIRES RAVAGING. THE CAROLINAS, AND. DEADLY FLASH FLOODS. BATTERING TEXAS. OUR MARISSA PARRA IS. ON THE FIRE LINE. TONIGHT WHERE THE. LARGEST BLAZE IS. STILL ZERO PERCENT. CONTAINED. >> Reporter: FIRES. RAGING ACROSS THE. CAROLINAS TONIGHT. THE TABLE ROCK. COMPLEX FIRE IN SOUTH. CAROLINA NOW THE. HIGHEST PRIORITY FIRE. IN THE COUNTRY. OVER 10,000 ACRES. SCORCHED BUT.

CONTAINMENT AT ZERO. PERCENT. >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL. PLACE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S. ON FIRE RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: CREWS. TAKING AGGRESSIVE. MEASURES. A TANKER DROPPING. FIRE RETARDANT FOR. THE FIRST TIME IN THE. STATE'S HISTORY. A REGION UNDER RED. FLAG WARNINGS. HOMES AT CONSTANT. RISK OF NEW. FLARE-UPS. >> WE FACED SOME. REALLY DIFFICULT. CONDITIONS BUT WE'RE. MAKING PROGRESS. >> Reporter: THE. INFERNO TOOK SEVERAL. PROPERTIES FROM. ANDREW REED. >> IT'S LIKE A WAR, FIRE BALLS, JUST THE. FLAMES WOULD JUST. JUMP. >> Reporter: ROUGHLY. A DOZEN HOMES HERE.

LOST, BUT COUNTLESS. OTHERS HAVE BEEN. SPARED. THIS PINPOINT WATER. DROP THE REASON. MIKE'S HOME STILL. STANDS TODAY. >> BASICALLY, THE. WATER DROP AND GOD'S. HANDS SAVED IT. BECAUSE IT WAS. IMMINENT, AS YOU CAN. TELL. >> Reporter: THE WILD. WEATHER NOT JUST IN. THE CAROLINAS. AT LEAST THREE DEAD. IN TEXAS AS THE RIO. GRANDE VALLEY SAW 15. INCHES OF RAIN IN 36. HOURS, STREETS. SWAMPED IN STANDING. WATER. AND THE McCOWN. MEDICAL CENTER. FLOODED.

THE RAIN DRENCHING. TEXAS, DESPERATELY. NEEDED IN THE. CAROLINAS. BUT HOPE ISN'T DRYING. UP. WHERE DO YOU START. THE PROCESS OF. REBUILDING? >> WAKING UP. AND THEN JUST SEEING. WHAT IS THE HIGHEST. AND BEST USE OF MY. LIFE FOR THAT DAY. >> Reporter: MARISSA. PARRA, NBC NEWS, FLAT. ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA. >> AND CALIFORNIA. WILDFIRES ARE AT THE. HEART OF A NEW. LAWSUIT. THE L.A. TIMES IS. SUING THE CITY OF LOS. ANGELES ACCUSING. OFFICIALS OF DELETING. OR WITHHOLDING MAYOR. KAREN BASS' TEXT. MESSAGES AND OTHER. PUBLIC RECORDS FROM.

THOSE DEADLY. WILDFIRES. THE CITY HAS TURNED. OVER SOME OF THE. EXCHANGES BETWEEN. BASS AND OTHER. OFFICIALS, BUT ARGUES. IT IS NOT REQUIRED. UNDER THE LAW. >>> SOME OF THE. COUNTRY'S MOST. POWERFUL LAW FIRMS. ARE SCRAMBLING TO. FIGURE OUT HOW TO. HANDLE PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S RECENT. EXECUTIVE ORDERS. TARGETING THEM. LAURA JARRETT REPORTS. SOME ARE FIGHTING. BACK WHILE OTHERS ARE. OPTING TO MAKE DEALS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AMONG AMERICA'S TOP. LAW FIRMS, A. DEEPENING DIVIDE. >> THE LEGAL INDUSTRY. IS AT STAKE. >> Reporter: MAJOR.

FIRMS NOW FACING A. DILEMMA AFTER. PRESIDENT TRUMP. REVOKED SOME OF THEIR. LAWYERS' SECURITY. CLEARANCES. AND THREATENED TO. CANCEL THE GOVERNMENT. CONTRACTS OF. COMPANIES THAT WORK. WITH THEM. >> THEY BEHAVED VERY. BADLY, VERY WRONGLY. >> Reporter: SOME. FIRMS NOW TAKING THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TO COURT. OTHERS OPTING TO CUT. A DEAL WITH THE WHITE. HOUSE, AGREEING TO. TENS OF MILLIONS OF. DOLLARS OF PRO BONO. WORK IN LINE WITH. TRUMP PRIORITIES. THE PRESIDENT. TARGETING FIRMS. EMPLOYING LAWYERS WHO. PREVIOUSLY. INVESTIGATED HIM, INCLUDING WILMER.

HALE, FOR DECADES THE. LEGAL HOME OF FORMER. SPECIAL COUNSEL. ROBERT MUELLER. THE FIRM BLASTING. WHAT THEY SAY IS THE. PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL. VENDETTA, RETALIATION. FOR EMPLOYING LAWYERS. HE DISLIKES. A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. SPOKESMAN SAYING. THESE LAW FIRMS DON'T. NEED OR DESERVE. TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED. ACCESS TO NATIONAL. SECURITY SECRETS. THE PRESIDENT'S. ACTIONS DRAWING SHARP. CONDEMNATION WITHIN. THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS. WEEK BLOCKING THE. PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE. ORDER AGAINST ANOTHER.

TOP FIRM, SAYING. MR. TRUMP'S ACTIONS. SEND LITTLE CHILLS. DOWN MY SPINE. >> JUST PICKING ON. BIG LAW. TO KOWTOW HIM, SO. THEY DON'T HAVE THE. ABILITY TO REPRESENT. THOSE PEOPLE WHO. MIGHT OPPOSE HIS. POLICIES. >> Reporter: RACHEL. COEN, A JUNIOR. ATTORNEY, SAID SHE. WAS SO DISILLUSIONED, SHE QUIT, FIRING OFF. A BLISTERING LETTER. CRITICIZING FIRMS. THAT'S GONE VIRAL. >> I'M HOPING IT. INSPIRES THOSE LAW. FIRM LEADERS TO DO. THE RIGHT THING.

>> Reporter: WHILE. PARTNERS PRIVATELY. FEAR THE PRESIDENT'S. ACTIONS COULD RESULT. IN FINANCIAL RUIN IF. CLIENTS FLEE. >> FIRMS ARE RUNNING. SCARED AT THE. ADMINISTRATION RIGHT. NOW. >> Reporter: ONE. PARTNER TELLING NBC. NEWS THE SITUATION IS. COMPLETELY. DEMORALIZING. ANOTHER SAYING IT. ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN. TO PROFITS OVER. PRINCIPLE. ALL PUTTING A NEW. SWIFT. ACTIONS OF ONE MAN. RAF SANCHEZ, NBC. NEWS. >>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE. BACK IN A MOMENT WITH. A WARNING ABOUT. SENIOR LIVING.

>>> NOW TO THE. GROWING SENIOR LIVING. INDUSTRY AND THE. RESIDENTS WHO SAY. THEIR COMMUNITY'S NEW. OWNER PRICED THEM. RIGHT OUT OF THEIR. OWN HOMES. HERE'S MAGGIE VESPA. >> Reporter: YOU. DON'T LIVE HERE. ANYMORE IN? >> NO, THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE BEEN BACK. >> Reporter: THEY SAY. YOU CAN'T GO HOME. AGAIN. FEW KNOW THAT BETTER. THAN SUSAN FRENCH. HOW DO YOU FEEL BEING. BACK? >> SAD. >> Reporter: A. SADNESS DATING BACK. TO 2016, WHEN SUSAN.

TO BE NEAR FAMILY. MOVED TO RIVER GLEN. OF ST. CHARLES, A. SENIOR LIVING. COMMUNITY WEST OF. CHICAGO. NEIGHBOR MARTY BRAY. AND HER HUSBAND CHOSE. RIVER GLEN, THEN. OWNED BY NORTHWESTERN. MEDICINE BECAUSE OF. PROMISED ASSISTING. LIVING AND NURSING. HOME OPTIONS. BOTH WOMEN BOUGHT IN. SUSAN PUTTING DOWN AN. ENTRY FEE OF. $242,000. MARTY, $314,000, PLUS. MONTHLY MAINTENANCE. FEES. THEY SAY THE. CONTRACTS WERE CLEAR. NEITHER WOULD OWN. THEIR HOME BUT THEY.

SAY THEY WERE. PROMISED 85% OF THE. CURRENT ENTRY FEE AT. WHATEVER POINT THEY. CHOSE TO MOVE OUT. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. HOW MANY OF YOU. PLANNED ON LIVING THE. REST OF YOUR LIVES IN. RIVER GLEN? ALL OF YOU. MEET THE GLEN GIRLS. HOW MANY OF YOU LOST. MONEY LEAVING RIVER. GLEN? FIVE FORMER AND TWO. CURRENT RESIDENTS WE. SPOKE WITH WHO IN THE. SUMMER OF 2023. LEARNED RIVER GLEN. HAD BEEN SOLD TO IOWA.

BASED PRIVATE EQUITY. FIRM JAYBIRD CAPITAL. AND CHICAGO BASED. REAL ESTATE INVESTOR. CITRINE INVESTMENT. GROUP. THE WOMEN SAY THEY. LEARNED THEIR MONTHLY. MAINTENANCE FEED. WHICH HAD RISEN. MODERATELY OVER THE. YEARS WERE ABOUT TO. SKYROCKET. MARTY'S, SHE SAYS, QUADRUPLING TO. $6,000. IF THEY WANTED OUT, THE WOMEN SAY, THEY. WOULD NOW GET 75% OF. THEIR ORIGINAL ENTRY. FEE, A FAR CRY FROM. THE OLD DEAL WHICH. PROMISED 85% OF THE.

UPDATED ENTRY FEE. BASED ON THE TOWN. HOME'S APPRECIATED. VALUE. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU. ESTIMATE YOU LOST? >> ABOUT $100,000. >> I LOST $70,000. >> Reporter: YOU. BELIEVE YOU LOST. $70,000? SOME SAY THE STRESS. EXACERBATED HEALTH. ISSUES. >> I USED TO PLAY. GOLF. I USED TO GO BOWLING. I HAVEN'T DONE THAT. SINCE. >> Reporter: SOME. CONSULTED LAWYERS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE. NEW DEAL WAS. COMPLETELY LEGAL. THEIR OLD CONTRACTS. NULLIFIED BY THE. SALE. MULTIPLE LEGAL AND.

FINANCIAL EXPERTS. TELLING NBC NEWS. THESE DESTABILIZING. EVENTS ARE HAPPENING. ACROSS AMERICA. AS PRIVATE EQUITY AND. OTHER FINANCIAL FIRMS. HUNT FOR PROFITS. LAST YEAR, 78% OF. INSTITUTIONAL. INVESTORS SURVEYED. SAID THEY PLANNED TO. INCREASE THEIR. HOLDINGS IN SENIOR. CARE FACILITIES. NBC NEWS REACHED OUT. TO JAYBIRD SENIOR. LIVING, AN AFFILIATE. OF JAYBIRD CAPITAL. NOW OPERATING RIVER. GLEN AS WELL AS. CITRINE MULTIPLE. TIMES. NEITHER PROVIDED. COMMENT FOR THE. STORY.

JAYBIRD HAS. PREVIOUSLY SAID ITS. RENTS WERE BASED ON. FAIR MARKET RATES. >> WHAT THEY DID WAS. NOT ILLEGAL. BUT IT WAS MOST. DEFINITELY IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, AND CRUEL. >> Reporter: THE GLEN. GIRLS NOW URGING. OTHERS TO BE VIGILANT. WHEN CONSIDERING. SENIOR LIVING. ARRANGEMENTS AND. HOPING LAWMAKERS TAKE. STEPS TO PROTECT. PEOPLE FROM HAVING. THEIR END OF LIFE. PLANS SOLD OUT FROM. UNDER THEM. >> THEY GOT AWAY WITH. IT SO THE LAWS DON'T.

REALLY PROTECT PEOPLE. IN OUR SITUATION. >> Reporter: MAGGIE. VESPA, NBC NEWS, ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS. >>> WE THANK MAGGIE. FOR BRINGING US THAT. STORY. WHEN WE COME BACK, THE GIVING TREE. HOW SCIENCE IS. . >>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. ABOUT A BELOVED BUT. UNDERSIZED TREE WHOSE. LEGACY IS BLOOMING. ALONG WITH THE CHERRY. BLOSSOMS. HALLIE JACKSON. EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: PEAK. BLOOM AND 3800 STARS.

OF THE SHOW, WITH ONE. NOTABLE ABSENCE. >> A LITTLE SAD. STUMPY IS NOT HERE. THIS YEAR. >> Reporter: STUMPY, THE SCRAWNY SELFIE. STAR STUNTED BY. SEAWATER FLOODING ITS. ROOTS, A RESILIENT. CHERRY TREE, BUT THE. SITE WHERE STUMPY. ONCE STOOD, IF NOT. TALL, AT LEAST PROUD, NOW PLOWED. STUMPY CHOPPED DOWN. TO MAKE SPACE FOR A. NEW SEAWALL. >> THAT'S TO KEEP THE. WATER IN THE TIDAL. BASIN, OUT OF THE. ROOTS OF THE CHERRY. TREES AND THEY'RE.

GOING TO MAKE SURE WE. HAVE HEALTHY TREES. AND NOT ONES THAT ARE. FAMOUS BECAUSE THEY. LOOK LIKE THEY'RE. DEAD. >> Reporter: THERE. WAS SOMETHING TO IT. THOUGH. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT CAUGHT THE CITY'S. IMAGINATION. >> Reporter: STILL, WHILE THE ICONIC TREE. IS R.I.P., ITS MEMORY. LIVES ON, IN THE. FIRST ANNUAL STUMPY. MEMORIAL BOAT RACE, AND IN THE HEARTS AND. CAMERA ROLLS OF. VISITORS. >> I DO HAVE A. PICTURE WITH STUMPY. BEFORE STUMPY'S. DEMISE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. >> Reporter: BUT. DON'T CRY FOR STUMPY.

TURNS OUT THERE'S A. SECOND ACT, AFTER. ARBORISTS USED. CUTTINGS WITH THE. SAME DNA TO PROPAGATE. FOUR SEEDLINGS OR. THEIR MORE COMMON. NAME, STUMPLINGS. SPROUTING LAST SUMMER. AND THIS SPRING, A. FEW INCHES TALLER. IN A COUPLE YEARS. THEY'LL BE PLANTED. NEAR WHERE STUMPY. ONCE STOOD. >> HOPEFULLY THEY'LL. PUT A NAME ON IT SO. WE KNOW WHICH ONE IS. GOING TO BE BABY. STUMPY. >> Reporter: A D.C. FAMILY TREE PROVING. THERE'S SOMETHING. ELSE BLOOMING AT THE. TIDAL BASIN THIS. YEAR. HOPE FOR WHAT'S TO. COME.

HALLIE JACKSON, NBC. NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> WE'RE GOING TO. MISS STUMPY. GLAD THE LEGACY WILL. LIVE ON. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS". FOR THIS FRIDAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR. WATCHING. I'M TOM LLAMAS. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.