NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Nov. 20

>>> TONIGHT, THE. DEADLY BOMB CYCLONE, SLAMMING THE WEST. COAST. HUNDREDS OF. THOUSANDS WITHOUT. POWER. THE POWERFUL SYSTEM, HITTING WITH HEAVY. RAIN, HURRICANE-. FORCED WINDS AND. SNOW. FALLING TREES, KILLING AT LEAST TWO. PEOPLE. AND THE ATMOSPHERIC. RIVER THREAT. WE'RE TRACKING IT. ALSO TONIGHT, THE. VERDICT IN THE. MURDER OF LAKEN. RILEY. THE MAN CONVICTED,

INN UNDOCUMENTED. MIGRANTED ISENTENCED. TO LIFE WITHOUT. PAROLE, AFTER THE 22-. YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND. DEAD AT THE CAMPUS. AND THE EMOTIONAL. BODY CAM VIDEO, THE. MOMENT RILEY'S MOM. LEARNED OF HER. DEATH. >>> AND TRUMP'S PICK. MATT GAETZ ON. CAPITOL HILL, WITH. JD VANCE. AS THE BATTLE. RELEASING THE REPORT. ON HIM. >>> SPEAKER MIKE. JOHNSON'S ROLE AS.

PREPARES TO TAKE. OFFICE. OUR EXCLUSIVE. DEFENSE SECRETARY. AUSTIN. AFTER REMARKS BY. TRUMP'S PICK TO. REPLACE LIM. >>> PLUS, WHAT HE. SAID ABOUT RISING. ATTENTIONS IN. RUSSIA. >>> SUSAN SMITH, THE. WOMAN CONVICTED OF. KILLING HER TWO. 20 YEARS AGO, MAKING. A PLEA TODAY. WHAT THE PAROLE. BOARD DECIDED. >>> AND HURRICANE. HELENE AND LIGHTING. UP THE WHITE HOUSE.

THIS CHRISTMAS. >>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING. AND WELCOME. FLOOD AND LANDSLIDE. WARS GROWING TONIGHT. IN THE PACIFIC. NORTHWEST, AS WHAT. CLIMATE SCIENTISTS. ARE CALLING A ONCE-. IN-A DECADE, BOMB. CYCLONE SCUTS. THROUGH THE REGION. CUTTING OFF POWER TO. A MILLION AND A HALF. PEOPLE. TOPPLING TREES AND. WREAKING HAVOC ON. THE ROAD. THE DANGEROUS SYSTEM. OFF THE WASHINGTON. COAST TONIGHT, HAS. ALREADY TAKEN AT.

LEAST TWO LIVES. TORRENTIAL RAINS. EXPECTED TO FALL FOR. DAYS. BUT SO FAR, IS T IS. THE WINDS CAUSING. MISERY. SOME GOVERNMENT. GUSTS CLOCKING IN AT. HURRICANE SPEEDS. WHILE NORTHERN. CALIFORNIA IS. PREPARING FOR ITS. OWN ATMOSPHERIC. BLAST. COULD DROP UPON UP. TO FIVE FEET OF RAIN. AND MOUNTAIN SNOW IN. SOME. STEVE PATTERSON IS. IN THE WEST TO. STARTUF OFF TONIGHT. >> Reporter: AND. LESTER, THAT RAIN, JUST STARTING TO. FALL HERE. BUT OFFICIALS WARN.

IT COULD LAST FOR. THREE DAYS STRAIGHT. ELEVATING THE RISK. OF MUD SLIDES. BUT SO FAR, IT IS. THE WIND THAT IS. PROVING DEADLY. >> TONIGHT, THE. CHAOTIC SO-CALLED. BOMB CYCLONE, DROPPING A DELUGE ON. THE SEVERE WEATHER. NORTHWEST. THE STORM PACKING. HURRICANE FORCE. WINDS, WITH GUSTS UP. TO 80 MILES AN HOUR. SNARLING TRAFFIC, DOWNING POWER LINES. AND UPROOTING TREES. IN WASHINGTON STATE, OFFICIALS SAY SEVERE. WEATHER ALREADY. CLAIMED TWO LIVES, AS LARGE TREES.

CRASHED ON HOMES, CARS, BUSES, TRAILERS. MEANWHILE IN. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, MULTIPLE SEMIS SPUN. OUT, JAC KNIFING ON. A MAJOR INTERSTATE. DUE TO WHITEOUT. CONDITIONS. >> TO ME, IT'S. IMPORTANT TO BE WARY. OF WHAT IS GOING ON. WITH THE WEATHER. >> Reporter: THE. POWERFUL OF THE. CYCLONE IS SO LARGE, SATELLITE IMAGERY. CAPTURED IT FROM. SPACE. AUTHORITIES LOOKING. AT IMPACTFUL RIVER. NARROW BAND OF.

INTENSE MOISTURE, EXPECTED TO DOUSE. THE REGION WITH. TOTAL OF 15 INCHES. OVER THE NEXT 48. HOURS IN PARTS OF. CALIFORNIA AND UP TO. FIVE FEET OF SNOW IN. THE MOUNTAINS. CLIMATE EXPERTS SAY. THESE WEATHER EVENTS. ARE GROWING LARGER. AND LASTING LONGER, MEANING MORE INTENSE. PERIODS OF RAIN. >> BATTERIES, CANNED. GOODS. I'M STOCKED UP. THESE ARE SMALL. ROADS. ANYTHING COULD. HAPPEN. >> Reporter: RESIDENTS ACROSS THE. WEST, ALREADY WORN.

AND RESTLESS, ALREADY BASING FOR. MORE BAD NEWS. AS THAT OMINOUS. SKYBORN RIVER BEARS. DOWN. >> BILL, THIS. SITUATION IS ABOUT. TO GET A LOT WORSE. >> THIS IS A RARE. SITUATION. WE HAVE A BOMB. CYCLONE. HITTING THE SAME. EXACT AREA. IT'S GOING TO DRIVE. THIS ATMOSPHERIC. RIVER INTO. CALIFORNIA FOR THREE. OR FOUR DAYS IN A. ROW. THAT'S THE ISSUE. WE'VE GOT THE RAIN. ADDING UP TO ALL THE. RIVER BASINS. AND THAT'S THE.

PROBLEM IN THE. MOUNTAINS, TOO. THAT'S HOW YOU CAN. GET FIVE FEET OF. SNOW OUT OF THIS. THE HIGH RISK AREA, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. ALL THE WAY TO THE. OREGON BORDER DOWN. TO SANTA ROSA HAS A. CHANCE OF EXTREME. FLOODING. AND AS FAR AS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS. BY THE TIME THIS IS. SAID AND DONE, WE'LL. GET UP TO 10 TO 15. INCHES. AND AS WE SAID, THE. MOUNTAINS, AS HIGH. AS FIVE FEET. >>> IN ATHENS, GEORGIA TODAY, A. JUDGE FOUND AN.

UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT. GUILTY OF THREE. FELONY MURDER COUNTS. FOR THE MURDER OF. LAKEN RILEY ON THE. CAMPUS. THE POINT OF THE. PRESIDENTIAL RACE. >> Reporter: AFTER A. TRIAL THAT LASTED. FOUR DAYS, 24-YEAR-. OLD JOSE ANTONIO. IBARRA, SENTENCED TO. LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR THE BRUTAL. KILLING OF 24-YEAR-. OLD LAKEN RILEY. >> THERE IS NO END. TO THE PAIN, SUFFERING AND LOSS, THAT WE HAVE. EXPERIENCED OR WILL.

CONTINUE TO ENDURE. >> HER FAMILY AND. LOVED ONES, EMOTIONAL. SEEING THE POLICE. BODY CAMERA VIDEO, SHOWING THE MOMENT. LAKEN RILEY'S MOTHER. FIRST LEARNED HER. DAUGHTER DIED. PROSECUTORS SAY THE. NURSING STUDENT WAS. OUT FOR A MORNING. JOG ON THE. UNIVERSITY OF. GEORGIA CAMPUS IN. FEBRUARY, WHEN. IBARRA, WHO WAS. LURKING IN THE WOODS. NEARBY, ATTEMPTED TO. RAPE HER, THEN. KILLED HER. >> NOT ONLY DOES THE. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. IDENTIFY HIM, THE. VIDEO EVIDENCE. IDENTIFIES HIM. >> Reporter: DESPITE. NUMEROUS STUDIES.

THAT INDICATE. UNDOCUMENTED. IMMIGRANTS COMMIT. FEWER CRIMES, THE. CASE HAS BECOME A. FLASHPOINT IN THE. NATIONAL DEBATE OVER. IMMIGRATION DURING. THE PRESIDENTIAL. ELECTION CYCLE. IBARRA AN. UNDOCUMENTED. IMMIGRANT FROM. VENEZUELA. >> RIGHT HERE, AN. UNDOCUMENTED. IMMIGRANT. >> THE VIDEO SHOWS. LAKEN RILEY'S FINAL. MOMENTS. HER LAST TEXT. MESSAGE TO HER. MOTHER, AND HER. ATTEMPT TO CALL 911,

BEFORE YBARRA. ATTACKED HER. >> SHE DID FIGHT. AND IT IS A DIRECT. RESULT OF THAT FIGHT. THAT GIVES YOU ALL. THE PHYSICAL. EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO. CONVICT HIM. >> IBARRA'S SKIN WAS. FOUND HER HER FINGER. PRINTS, AND HIS DNA. ON THE JACKET. THIS SURVEILLANCE. VIDEO SHOWS IBARRA. DISCARDING THE. JACKET. THE DEFENSE CLAIMING. THE EVIDENCE WAS.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL AND. POINTING THE FINGER. AT IBARRA'S BROTHER. TONIGHT, RILEY'S. FAMILY, REMEMBERING. HER AS A KIND, LOVING DAUGHTER. >> THE BEST. DAUGHTER, FRIEND YOU. COULD EVER MEET. >> AND PRIA, IBARRA. COULD DEFEND THIS. DECISION? >> THAT'S RIGHT. THE JUDGE TOLD. IBARRA, HE HAD 30. DAYS TO APPEAL THIS. DECISION. >> PRIYA SRIDHAR,

THANK YOU. >> THE BATTLE OVER. MATT GAETZ FOR. ATTORNEY GENERAL. MOVED TO CONGRESS. TODAY. GAETZ AND VICE. PRESIDENT-ELECT JD. VANCE. AS SENATE LAWMAKERS. RELEASE A REPORT, WITH SEXUAL. MISCONDUCT CHARGES. >> PRESIDENT-ELECT.

TRUMPING HE HAS HAD. NO COMMENT. AND MATT GAETZ, WITH. THE REPUBLICAN. SENATORS WHO WILL. DECIDE IF HE WILL. GET THE JOB. >> SENATORS HAVE. BEEN GIVING'S ME A. LOT OF ADVICE. WE'RE LOOKING. FORWARD TO THE. HEARING. >> Reporter: GAETZ. MEETING WITH. UNDECIDED JUDICIARY. MEMBER TOM TILLIS. >> MY POSTURE IS. THAT EVERY NOMINEE, WHETHER THEY ARE. BIDEN'S IN THE LAST. ADMINISTRATION, OR. WHETHER THEY ARE. PRESIDENT TRUMP, DESERVE A PROCESS. >> Reporter: AND.

MISSOURI'S JOSH. HOLLY, WHO TOLD US, HE'S PLANNING TO. SUPPORT ALL OF. TRUMP'S PICKS. >> ARE YOU CONFIDENT. THAT HE HAS. SUFFICIENT CHARACTER. TO BE THE TOP LAW. ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL. IN THE UNITED. STATES? >> I WOULD SAY TO. THOSE WHO ARE. CONCERNED ABOUT. THAT, HEAR FROM HIM. GIVE HIM A SHOT. >> NORTH DAKOTA'S. KEVIN KRAMER SAYING. TRUMP HAS TALKED TO. HIM ABOUT GAETZ. >> THIS IS GOING TO. BE A DIFFERENT. ADMINISTRATION WITH. A DIFFERENT STYLE. AND WE WANT TO. DISMANTLE THE. BUREAUCRACY BECAUSE. AMERICANS ARE. DEMANDING IT.

>> AND LINDSEY. GRAHAM BLASTING WHAT. HE CALLS A LYNCH MOB. AGAINST GAETZ. BUT SEEING THAT. REPORT FROM THE. HOUSE ETHICS. COMMITTEE. >> THERE HAS BEEN NO. DECISION TO RELEASE. THE REPORT. >> THE CASE SAYS. WOMEN SAY HE PAID. THEM FOR SEX, INCLUDING A WOMAN. WHO SAID SHE WAS 17. YEARS OLD AT THE. TIME. GAETZ HAS REPEATEDLY. DENIED THE. ACCUSATIONS. >> JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT. ULTIMATELY CLOSED.

ITS INVESTIGATION. AND DID NOT CHARGE. GAETZ. TONIGHT, THEY ASKED. FOR THE COMPLETE. EVIDENTIARY FILE. CALLING IT CRUCIAL. THEY SEE ALL OF THE. CHARGES AGAINST. GAETZ. MAINE REPUBLICAN. SUSAN COLLINS, AMONG. THOSE APPEARING. SKEPTICAL. >> I WAS SHOCKED BY. THE NOMINATION. GIVEN THE MANY.

ALLEGATIONS. >> TRUMP ALSO. ANNOUNCED. AND JD VANCE. RETURNING TO PUSH. FOR TRUMP'S PENTAGON. SELECTION, PETER. HEGSETH. >>> AND LLOYD AUSTIN. SPEAKING OUT ON. HEGSETH'S COMMENTS. THAT WOMEN SHOULD. NOT SERVE IN COMBAT. AND ON RUSSIA'S. POTENTIAL USE OF. NUCLEAR WEAPONS. COURTNEY KUBE SPOKE. >> TONIGHT, SECRETARY DEFENSE. LLOYD AUSTIN, WEIGHING IN.

AFTER THE U.S. MADE. THE RARE MOVE TO. TEMPORARILY CLOSE. ITS EMBASSY IN KYIV, AMID A RUSSIAN AIR. ATTACK. AND PRESIDENT PUTIN. LOWERED THE. THRESHOLD. >> IS THERE A REASON. TO BELIEVE THAT. VLADIMIR PUTIN MAY. USE A NUCLEAR. WEAPON? >> WE'VE KNOWN FOR. SEVERAL WEEKS THAT. THEY WERE REVAMPING. THEIR POLICY ON USE. OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. I DON'T SEE AN. INDICATION THAT. THERE'S AN EMINENT. INTENT TO USE. NUCLEAR WEAPONS. >> IS HE BLUFFING.

WITH THIS CHANGE? >> HE HAS RATTLE THE. HIS NUCLEAR SABER. QUITE A BIT. AND THIS IS. DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. >> IN HIS FIRST. INTERVIEW SINCE. DONALD TRUMP WAS. ELECTED AGAIN, AND. CHOSE MEDIA. PERSONALITY AND. VETERAN, PETE. HEGSETH TO TAKE OVER. THE PENTAGON, AUSTIN. ADDRESSED SOME OF. HEGSETH'S VIEWS. >> YOUR POSSIBLE. SUCCESSOR SAYS WOMEN. SHOULD NOT SERVE IN. COMBAT ROLES AND. THEY MAKE FIGHTING. MORE COMPLICATED? >> I HAVE SPENT 41.

YEARS IN UNIFORM. AND EVERYWHERE I. WENT ON A. BATTLEFIELD, THERE. WERE WOMEN IN OUR. FORMATION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT. OUR WOMEN ARE THE. FINEST TROOPS THAT. IN THE WORLD? >> DO YOU HAVE ANY. CONCERN THAT WOMEN. IMPACT READINESS OF. THESE UNITS? >> THEY DO IMPACT. READINESS. THEY MAKE US BETTER. THEY MAKE US. STRONGER. THIS IS NOT. HYPERBOLE. THIS IS FACT. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT. I'VE SEEN. >> YOUR LIKELY. SUCCESSOR ALSO SAYS. TO FIRE THE JOINT.

CHAIRMAN OF CHIEFS. HOW WOULD CAPTAIN. LLOYD AUSTIN FELT. ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE. THAT OUT OF THE. SECRETARY OF. DEFENSE? >> CAPTAIN LLOYD. AUSTIN WOULD BE. CONCERNED. COURTNEY, I THINK. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT. YOUNG OFFICERS, YOUNG SOLDIERS, YOUNG SERGEANTS, BE. ABLE TO SEE. THEMSELVES IN OUR. SENIOR LEADERSHIP. THIS IS THE THIRD. TIME THAT I'VE. SERVED WITH GENERAL. BROWN DIRECTLY. HE'S ONE OF THE MOST. COMPETENT AUTHORS. I'VE EVER WORKED.

WITH. >> I ASKED IF PETE. HEGSETH HAS WHAT IT. TAKES TO BE. SECRETARY OF. DEFENSE. AND HE SAID, HE. DOESN'T KNOW HIM. >>> ALSO, THE. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. WEIGHING IN ON THE. CONTROVERSY OVER. TRANS RIGHTS, ISSUING A NEW POLICY. ON THE USE OF. BATHROOMS. AS RYAN NOBLE. EXPLAINS, IT COMES. AFTER THE FIRST. OPENLY TRANSGENDER. MEMBER OF CONGRESS. >> DELAWARE'S SARAH. McBRIDE MADE HISTORY. IN NOVEMBER, BECOMING THE FIRST.

OPENILY TRANS WOMAN. TO WIN A SEAT IN. CONGRESS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO THE CONGRESSIONAL. CAUCUS. >> HER WINS CAME AS. REPUBLICANS MADE. THIS PART OF THEIR. CAMPAIGN STRATEGY. >> KAMALA IS FOR. THEY/THEM. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS. FOR YOU. >> THIS ISN'T. MANUFACTURED. THIS IS A REAL. THING. >> SOUTH CAROLINA'S. NANCY MACE WHO. GRADUATED FROM THE.

ONCE ALL-MALE. CITADEL, ARGUED THAT. MEN SHOULD NOT BE. ABLE TO USE FEMALE. OTHER BATHROOMS. >> IT LED TO HOUSE. SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON. ISSUING NEW POLICY, SAYING THAT REST. ROOMS, CHANGING. ROOMS, AND LOCKER. ROOMS ARE RESERVED. FOR INDIVIDUALS OF. THAT BIOLOGICAL SEX. >> A MAN IS A MAN. AND A WOMAN IS A. WOMAN. AND I MAN CANNOT. BECOME A WOMAN. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE. THAT WE TREAT.

EVERYBODY WITH. DIGNITY. >> Reporter: THIS. BATTLE, A MICROCOSM. OF THE WAR RAGING. OVER TRANS RIGHTS, WITH REPUBLICANS. PUSHING BACK ON. BATHROOM ACCESS, PRONOUN USE, AND. HEALTHCARE FOR TRANS. PEOPLE. >> THEY'RE. ENDANGERING WOMEN, ENDANGERING GIRLS OF. ALL KINDS, AND. EVERYBODY SHOULD. REJECT IT. IT'S GROSS. >> Reporter: IT'S A. FIGHT McBRIDE WHO. CAME TO CONGRESS TO. DEAL WITH ECONOMIC. AND QUALITY OF LIFE. ISSUES. >> I AM NOT RUNNING. TO BE THE. TRANSGENDER MEMBER. OF CONGRESS. I'M RUNNING TO BE.

DELAWARE'S MEMBER OF. CONGRESS. >> AND McBRIDER THE. BALCONY. TONIGHT, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND BANDS. ARE REMEMBERING THE. BELOVED MUSICIAN. >>> AFTER A RARE. BREAK. THE RARE APPEARANCE. OF SUSAN SMITH 30. YEARS AFTER SHE WAS. CONVICTED OF. >>> 30 YEARS AGO, SHE COMMITTED A. CRIME THAT SHOCKED. THE NATION. TODAY, SUSAN SMITH, THE WOMAN WHO. DROWNED HER TWO. YOUNG SONS IN 1994, GOT A SHOT AT.

FREEDOM. BUT AS KATHY PARK. REPORTS, DESPITE HER. TEARFUL PLEA, THE. PAROLE BOARD WASN'T. CONVINCED. >> DESPITE A REQUEST. FOR FREEDOM, A SOUTH. CAROLINA PAROLE. BOARD DENIED SUSAN. SMITH'S RELEASE, ROUGHLY 30 YEARS. AFTER SHE WAS FOUND. GUILTY OF DROWNING. HER TWO YOUNG BOYS, ALEX AND MICHAEL. >> SUSAN SMITH. DENIED PAROLE. THE VOTE IS. UNANIMOUS. >> THE NOW 53-YEAR-. OLD SMITH EXPRESSED. REMORSE FOR HER. ACTIONS.

>> I WANT TO SAY HOW. VERY SORRY I AM. I KNOW WHAT I DID. WAS HORRIBLE. AND I'D GIVE. ANYTHING TO GO BACK. AND CHANGE IT. >> Reporter: SMITH. FIRST MADE NATIONAL. HEADLINES IN OCTOBER. 1994, WHEN HE. CLAIMED A BLACK MAN. STOLE HER CAR CAN. HER BOYS. ULTIMATELY, SHE. CONFESSED TO KILLING.

HER SONS. HER ESTRANGED. HUSBAND STOOD BY HER. SIDE AS SHE PLED FOR. HELP. >> I WANT TO SAY TO. MY BABIES, THAT YOUR. MAMA LOVES YOU SO. MUCH. >> TODAY, HE SPOKE. AGAINST HER RELEASE. >> THIS WASN'T A. TRAGIC MISTAKE. SHE PURPOSELY MEANT. TO END THEIR LIFE. SHE CHANGED MY LIFE. FOR THE REST OF MY. LIFE THAT NIGHT. >> Reporter: THE. ORIGINAL PROSECUTORS. IN THE CASE, SAYING. THE BOARD MADE THE.

RIGHT DECISION. >> DO YOU THINK SHE. IS THE SAME WOMAN. SHE WAS 30 YEARS. AGO. >> I BELIEVE SUSAN. IS THE SAME WOMAN. SHE WAS 30 YEARS AGO. WHEN SHE LAUGHED IN. THE COURTROOM AS. SOON AS THE JURY. WASN'T IN AND CRIED. AS SOON THE JURY WAS. IN. >> HIS COMMITMENT TO. SEEING SUSAN IN. JAIL, AS SHE KEEPS. REAPPLYING FOR. PAROLE EVERY TWO. YEARS. >> FOR TWO MORE. YEARS, THERE WILL. STILL BE JUSTICE FOR. MICHAEL AND ALEX. >> Reporter: KATHY. PARK. CLUMP QUA, SOUTH. CAROLINA. >>> COMING UP, AFTER.

THE BREAK. THE STORM CLEARED HEALTH. >> BIG PICTURE. WHY IS IT SO TOUGH. >>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. ABOUT A TREE THAT. SURVIVED HURRICANE. HELENE, GETTING A. BIG HONOR AT THE. WHITE HOUSE. HERE'S STEPHANIE. GOSK. >> Reporter: THE. FRAZIER FIR GROWS. BEST IN THE. MOUNTAINS OF NORTH. CAROLINA. MILLIONS WILL. DECORATE HOME THS. HOLIDAY SEASON.

CARTER'S CHRISTMAS. TREE FARM HAS A. SPECIAL HONOR. AFTER BEATING OUT. THE COMPETITION, ONE. OF THEIR FIRS IS. GOING TO THE BLUE. ROOM IN THE WHITE. HOUSE. >> THE TREES ARE. PLANTED WHEN THEY'RE. SAPLINGS, ABOUT A. FOOT OR SO TALL, THEN THEY GROW A. FOOT EVERY YEAR. THIS TREE HAS BEEN. IN THIS SPOT FOR 25. YEARS. NOW IT'S TIME TO. HEAD TO THE SHOW. >> Reporter: TODAY, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. GATHERED TO CUT DOWN. THE TREE. >> WHY WAS IT. CHOSEN? >> THE TAPERS, NUMBER ONE. IT'S GOT ABSOLUTELY.

PERFECT TAPER ON IT. >> WHAT MAKES. PERFECT TAPER? >> IT'S NOT THIS. WAY. IT'S NOT TOO LIM. IT'S JUST RIGHT. >> CO-OWNER SAM. CARTNER EVEN HAS A. NAME FOR THE. PERFECTLY-SHAPED. >> TREE-MEND-OUS. THIS TREE IS GOING. TO MENDOUS. >> THIS THIS PLACE.

NEEDS MENDING AFTER. HURRICANE HELENE. TODAY WAS A MOMENT. TO TAKE PRIDE IN. THEIR RESILIENCE. >> ALL OF THOSE GOOD. THINGS IN LIFE. FAITH, HOPE AND. LOVE. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. THIS TREE TO. REPRESENT. >> HAVE YOU FELT. THAT SPIRIT IN THIS. AREA AT YOUR STORE? >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE. >> AND LIKE EVERY. YEAR DURING THE. HOLIDAYS, NORTH. CAROLINA IS SHARING. THAT SPIRIT WITH THE. REST OF US. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC. NEWS, NEWLAND, NORTH. CAROLINA. >>> AND THAT IS. NIGHTLY NEWS FOR.

THIS WEDNESDAY. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE.