Okay, lets bring in jeff. Beautiful shot of the bridge. Gorgeous. Nice and clear but we will see that with a lot of rain. Starting here on thursday, how about we get you to tomorrows forecast first. We get some sunshine, may become the outside tomorrow. The patio furniture. Oh, i like that. I know you well. We had temperatures in the upper 60s, san jose, 67. Right into napa, 65. We start to see that rainfall returning as we head into thursday, i know, friday and saturday over three quarters of an inch to two inches and spread out so hopefully it will to avoid any major flooding issues, i think the big headline is the sierra. We are looking at 7 feet of snow over the passes, up to 100 mileperhour winds. Thursday you will meet be able to get up there as it is starting but friday and saturday i wouldnt be trying to travel up there in the middle of that. We that is a lot of snow coming. Thank you, jeff, our next newscast is tomorrow morning at 5 00 a. M. Byebye. Tonight, the major crosscountry winter storm on the move as we come on the air tens of millions on alert in the central u. S. For very large hail and strong wind gusts. A tornado watch in chicago. Danger on the roads, semis crashing in colorado while elsewhere in the u. S. , record warmth. Were tracking it all. Also, its primary night in michigan. A key test for President Biden, facing a protest vote over his handling of the israelhamas war former President Trump expected to win over nikki haley as she sets her sights on super tuesday. Just three days left to avoid a Government Shutdown. The high stakes meeting at the white house. Can they cut a deal . The war in gaza, after President Biden raised hopes of a ceasefire by next week israel and hamas both casting doubt. The Court Controversy in illinois a judge reversing his own ruling and throwing out a mans Sexual Assault conviction our interview. Why he says he did it. And our oncamera exclusive with the alleged victim her reaction after learning the judge was removed from the bench. The new images from the odysseus moon lander, as we learn the spacecrafts time is running out and the queens of the ice, who just made figure skating history. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt good evening and welcome, everyone. For many of you watching us tonight, the temperature outside your door right now reads closer to summer than it does winter but this february heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring into the 70s and 80s across the midwest and plains is about to take another wild, and this time violent swing overnight. Milwaukee, which saw a record High Temperature of 73 today, now in the risk zone for Severe Weather. Some 41 Million People in all in places that include louisville, detroit, and chicago facing a potential threat of large hail, damaging winds, even tornadoes. The weather whiplash is where we start tonight with meteorologist dylan dreyer dylan, good evening. Good evening, lester the temperatures have certainly been incredible the record heat in st. Louis, 85 degrees for a high today we got up to 73 in milwaukee. In detroit, it hit 73, breaking the record of 63 but this warm air setting the stage out ahead of this cold front for some severe storms we have tornado watches in effect including areas like chicago and davenport, iowa the severe storms starting to pop up in that area. Well also see another potential for Severe Weather down through the louisville area, with wind gusts up to 70 Miles Per Hour and very large hail. Tornadoes are also a possibility. And when they occur overnight, that could become very dangerous. And its all ahead of this cold front thats going move east throughout the night tonight. Its moving into the appalachians by tomorrow morning, and then heavy rain is likely up and down the east coast as we go into tomorrow evenings commute, with temperatures tumbling back behind this cold front. All right, dylan, thank you. It is primary night in michigan, where polls have shown little doubt about another win for former President Trump, and for President Biden, though there was an unusual move by some democratic voters. Here is Gabe Gutierrez. Reporter tonight, nbc news projects President Biden with a big win in the michigan primary, though facing an unusual challenger uncommitted. We feel like our voices arent being heard, and the genocide is being committed in palestine. Reporter here in dearborn, with one of the nations highest concentrations of arab americans, ramsey kassin told me hed always voted democrat. This year, everything is different. I dont feel that i want President Biden to represent me. Reporter instead, he and others are now voting uncommitted to protest the president s support of israel and refusal to call for a permanent ceasefire in gaza among them, one of the states top democrats. I was proud today to walk in and pull a democratic ballot and vote uncommitted. Reporter on the republican side, nbc news projecting a swift victory for frontrunner donald trump, who has called himself the most proisrael president ever when he was president , i was okay. And now im not okay reporter but his rival nikki haley already looking ahead to super tuesday walter and his wife sue voted for haley, citing the age of the frontrunners. We need a Younger Generation who have different ideas than the older generation to move us forward reporter an nbc news poll shows 76 of americans are concerned that mr. Biden does not have the necessary mental and physical health to be president 48 had those concerns about mr. Trump. The 81yearold president trying to brush it off overnight. Number one, you got to take a look at the other guy, hes about as old as i am reporter the border crisis also taking center stage tonight. Former President Trump blasting President Biden for announcing he would visit the southern border on thursday, days after mr. Trump announced his own visit that day. Well, we found out how to get him off his ass. And thats nice. And it took me announcing that im going down to the border all of the sudden he announces hes going down to the border reporter the white house says mr. Trumps visit played no role in the president s announcement and gabe, in addition to the border visit, another key moment for President Biden will be the state of the Union Reporter yes, lester a Biden Campaign official tells us that they expect former President Trump to have the nomination locked up on super tuesday, so then President Biden can really lay out his contrasting vision at his state of the Union Address two days later. Lester all right, Gabe Gutierrez starting us off, thanks. Congressional leaders from both parties are speaking optimistically tonight about averting a partial Government Shutdown this friday, after a meeting with President Biden at the white house. Kelly odonnell is there and has late details. Reporter their meeting described as intense yet productive the president and congressional leaders facing urgent deadlines and differing priorities, from critical aid for foreign allies i think the consequence of inaction every day in ukraine are dire. Reporter to House Speaker mike johnson insisting the border crisis requires executive action from the president. The First Priority of the country is our border in making sure its secure. Reporter on top of that divide, threat of a phased federal Government Shutdown. Friday, the first wave of Government Departments and agencies run out of funds. Among them, the fda, transportation, and Veterans Affairs march 8th, the rest could close, including defense, homeland security, and justice. A painful replay for 36yearold navy wife and mother of two, nikita fowler. This is not our first or even second Government Shutdown, and its just the continuous worry of how this is going to impact our family. Reporter given the harsh consequences, talk of common ground. Shutdown would damage the economy significantly, and i think we all agree to that and we need a bipartisan solution. Reporter optimism, but no clear path yet from the speaker we will get the government funded, and well keep working on that. And kelly, a lot of the focus here is on the new speaker . Reporter lester, this really is a test for the uneasy Biden Johnson relationship the speaker made a point today, saying he and the president had a separate oneonone meeting, something hes wanted for months but the white house characterized it differently, saying it was a brief moment as others left the room lester all right, kelly, thank you. In the middle east tonight, no breakthrough in sight on a ceasefire in gaza and possible release of hamas hostages, despite those optimistic comments from President Biden. Raf sanchez is in israel tonight raf, where do things stand right now . Reporter lester, both israel and hamas tonight pushing back on those comments from President Biden that he hopes for a ceasefire deal by monday israeli Officials Say they were caught offguard by the president s remarks, while hamas is saying there are still major gaps between the two sides. But negotiations are ongoing, and right now, theyre focused on a u. S. Proposal that would pause the fighting in gaza for up to six weeks, with hamas releasing around 40 israeli hostages, including women, in exchange for israel freeing potentially hundreds of palestinian prisoners. Lester okay, raf sanchez, thank you. In georgia, a key witness back on the stand in a hearing that will determine if the top prosecutor i former president Donald Trumps election interference case will stay in place. Senior Legal CorrespondentLaura Jarrett reports. Reporter this is the man Defense Attorneys in the Georgia Election interference case were hoping would establish the timeline of the romantic relationship between Fulton County d. A. Fani willis and lead prosecutor nathan wade i do not have knowledge of it starting or when it started. Reporter on the stand for the second time this month, Terrance Bradley deemed a potential star witness for donald trump and his codefendants as wades former divorce attorney bradley confronted with Text Messages today he sent suggesting the relationship began before willis hired wade to lead the trump case but on the stand today i was speculating. Reporter he tried to walk that back. When did you first get knowledge of their relationship ive said over again that i was not i didnt have any personal information where i could personally say when it started. Reporter at issue for the judge to resolve whether willis benefitted financially from hiring wade, as Defense Attorneys have highlighted the pairs vacations together it is a lie it is a lie. Reporter willis and wade testified expenses were split, and that their relationship only began after wade was hired, but willis former friend cast doubt on that. You have no doubt that their romantic relationship was in effect from 2019 until the last time you spoke with her no doubt. Reporter the state today opting not to question bradley now on friday, the judge will hear more arguments about the extent of willis and wades relationship. But bottom line to remember here, lester, the timeline matters less than whether she benefitted financially from someone she hired. Okay, laura, thanks in alabama, new fallout from the court ruling recognizing frozen embryos as children facing backlash, republicans, state lawmakers moved today to enshrine ivf protections into law kathy park has more from birmingham. Reporter tonight, alabama moving one step closer to preserving access to in vitro fertilization. Were letting to in vitro fertilization is referred to the committee on health care. Reporter with new bills introduced today by republicans in the state senate designed to protect ivf we work to foster a culture of life, and i anticipate having a i anticipate that bill on my desk ver bill on my desk very shortly. Reporter alabama democrats introduced a similar bill in the house last week following the state supreme courts controversial ruling finding embryos are children, the ruling upending ivf procedures. Every one of the women here, their families have invested emotion, time, and a ton of money. Reporter today, the biden administrations Top Health OfficialXavier Becerra in birmingham, meeting with patients and providers. Hannah miles has been trying to have a baby for three years. Its not an acceptable way to treat someone or families that are going through something so hard. This isnt a political talking point. Reporter she was weeks away from a scheduled embryo transfer when the ruling came down. Its like you already feel like youre being held hostage by ivf, because its my whole life now were being held hostage by this ruling. Reporter hannahs clinic has paused new ivf treatments but for now, hers is moving forward having a child for you is priceless . Yes, yep. You do everything you can, because what other choice do you have reporter and tomorrow, hundreds of ivf patients and families plan to rally at the State Capitol to send the message directly to lawmakers. Lester kathy, thank you. In 60 seconds, the shocking case. A teens attacker was convicted of sexually assaulting her then when it came to sentencing, the judge reversed his own ruling now he has been removed. Our exclusive removed. Our exclusive reporting is next. Wasnt punishment enough. What are you looking at huh. Its a one speed. Hahaha. Hahaha. And if you have cut rate car insurance, odds are youll be paying for that yourself. So, get allstate and be better protected from mayhem. Like me. Hey, im walking here feeling sluggish or weighed down . Could be a sign that your digestive system isnt at its best. But a little metamucil everyday can help. Metamucils psyllium fiber gels to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down. So you can lighten every day the metamucil way. Were back now with a legal firestorm. In illinois, a judge removed from the bench after reversing his own verdict in a Sexual Assault case. Our maggie vespa asked the judge why he did it, and has the exclusive oncamera reaction from the alleged victim to his removal. Reporter cammie vaughn was 16 when she learned shed have to fight. It was may 2021 in rural quincy, illinois cammie says she drank at a party, fell asleep on a couch, and woke up to someone she didnt know holding a pillow over her face i couldnt really see anything once i understood this man is raping me, i kind of pushed him off me, and i leave the room and immediately crying and telling my friends what had happened reporter the investigation and threeday bench trial were swift, with 8th Judicial Circuit Court judge Robert Adrian convicting then 18yearold drew clinton of Sexual Assault. The charge carried a minimum sentence of four years in prison what did you think when you heard the guilty verdict i was extremely happy. Reporter then in january 2022, a stunning pivot at the sentencing ruling. You reversed your own ruling. Yes. Reporter according to court transcripts, the judge said clinton has no prior records and called the almost five months hed already served in jail plenty of punishment, adding, there is no way for what happened in this case that this teenager should go to the department of corrections. And with that, judge adrian found clinton not guilty there was no in there was no new evidence, nothing new to make him change his mind it was like getting slapped in the face. Reporter for nearly two years, facebook groups and petitions called for judge adrians removal. Protests plagued his campaign for reelection. Clinton was not guilty reporter which he won. Then late last year, a rare hearing with the illinois courts commission, the states official Oversight Board. That commission has now removed you from the bench . Yes reporter today, judge adrian stands by his reversal, now saying he did it after revisiting the evidence once i did that, i saw that i made the mistake. I didnt explain my not guilty ruling, because in order to do that, i would have had to say, well, i didnt believe her. She reporter you dont believe her . Yes, i didnt believe her. I would have had to say that in court. I didnt want to say that shes a minor. Reporter the Oversight Board not buying it, writing adrian intentionally subverted the law and then lied about it under oath to serve his own interests, adding they dont accept his contention that he made a mistake in finding clinton guilty this fight became about the judge. Yeah. Reporter cammie, now 18, maintains she was assaulted. The Commission Said you lied are they wrong they are wrong. Reporter okay. Theyre totally wrong. If they would have looked at the evidence in the case, then they would have seen that he was not guilty. But they did