Breaking overnight, alabama passes a new law to protec a major move in the battle over fertility treatments and its giving renewed hope to thousands of families its march the 7th, this is today. Breaking overnight, alabama passes a new law to protect ivf treatments after that controversial ruling on frozen embryos. Clinics that were forced to pause procedures now racing to reopen this morning, what it means for couples, the potential impact in other states, and the critics who say that law did not go far enough high stakes. President biden preparing to deliver his state of the Union Address tonight. A speech that comes at a key moment in his presidency and the 2024 race. So, what does he need to say and show to convince voters that he deserves another four years . Whi. Crack down. We know people feel unsafe. The National Guard now being deployed t were live at the white house. Crackdown. We know people feel unsafe. The National Guard now being deployed to new yorks subway system, one of the major cities nationwide taking drastic measures to deal with a surge in crime. Behind bars. The woman in charge of guns on the rust movie set convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. Just ahead, new reaction from the victims family and jury and how this case could impact alec baldwins upcoming trial super soaker heavy rain triggers flood warnings across the northeast. The next storm already on the move down south. Well have the full weekend forecast all of that, plus, sailing history. Into history [ cheers and applause a daring adventurer enters the record books, just hours ago the First American woman to race solo around the world, and we will celebrate with her, when she joins us for an exclusive live interview and golden girl. Shes the adorable toddler with a very grownup hair style, taking the internet by storm she has us rolling daily. We cant wait for miss evelyn may to share her joy and a few hard candies with us, right here in studio 1a today, thursday, march 7th, 2024 announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb. From studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Well, good morning welcome to today. Thanks for joining us on a thursday morning a good thursday morning with this little evelyn may do we need this smile evelyn may, the 20monthold toddler. Shes taken the world by storm, because she has that oldfashioned hairdo always has a werthers in handi. We look forward to that a bit later in the show. We also have a good conversation coming up with col shes ready to pose. Shes probably in hair and makeup right now if you think that hairstyle just happens that has a little aquanet going. Maybe some dippitydo, as well we look forward to that later in the show we also have a good conversation with cole brauer. Remember that name this is the moment she made history early this morning, becoming the First American woman to race around the entire world alone, after spending 130 days at sea, she will join us live in just a moment. She has a great story but we will start with that breaking news overnight in alabama. The governor signing a bill into law that protects in vitro fertilization, after the state Supreme Court ruled that embryos are children so under this new law, clinics and patients using ivf will not be held criminally responsible if an embryo is destroyed. The states largest hospital saying it is moving now to promptly resume treatments, adding, we will continue to assess developments. But at least one clinic is saying, its waiting on further legal clarification before reopening. Nbcs senior legal correspondent, Laura Jarrett, is here with details. Laura, good morning. Hey, hoda, good morning to you. Its been only two weeks since that Court Decision brought ivf in alabama to a virtual standstill the reaction and frustration so palpable, lawmakers actually managed to pass new legislation in record time but questions still remain this morning about whether this new law can fully accomplish what it set out to do. Reporter this morning, fertility patients and doctors in alabama hoping a new law will now pave the way for them to restart ivf treatments left on hold for the last two weeks. All right, 29 aye, 1 nay, the Senate Concurs reporter the new legislation signed overnight by republican governor kay ivy meant to shield ivf clinics from costly lawsuits civil damages now also sharply limited, if an embryo is damaged or destroyed this bill gives us the ability to immediately offer ivf care to our patients reporter state lawmakers under pressure to pass something, fast, after the alabama Supreme Court found tro in the state to worry more lawsuits could follow, abruptly halting all ivf procedures. Now some fertili parents could sue for wrongful death when their frozen embryos were destroyed, causing clinics in the state to worry more lawsuits could follow, abruptly halting all ivf procedures now, some fertility clinics in the state still evaluating the new landscape. The university of alabama at birmingham, the states largest hospital, saying, its moving to promptly resume treatments, but adding, we will continue to assess developments. But one clinic at the center of the states Supreme Court case telling local outlets, quote, we are not reopening until we have legal clarification. Patients like megan cole, left in limbo for weeks, now hoping to restart the ivf process once again, with the help of a surrogate. Were hopeful that although this has been probably the worst two weeks of our lives, that it will get back on track and we can move forward reporter but some lawmakers acknowledge the new law is only a temporary fix, doing nothing to tackle the underlying reasoning of the Court Decision, equating frozen embryos to children were not adjusting the courts central issue is by putting a bandaid on a hemorrhaging wound when were talking about refusing to address the actual constitutional crisis that we have created so, laura, some clinics are saying, lets wait a minute. Theres still a legal limbo that exists, that the politicians in alabama are trying to fix this, saying, okay, that state Supreme Court doesnt say what you think it might say but theres still kind of a legal gray area here yes, because they can still be sued, because, obviously, the Supreme Court decision trumps everything, right . Thats the highest court in the state. And they have still said that embryos are children all this does is cap the damages, right all this does is just reduce the money damages, that the clinics would have to pay if any of the embryos are destroyed. So it shrinks liability, but in no way they cant go in there and reverse what the alabama Supreme Court did. No. But the clinics say it does provide some comfort, but again, it all depends on how much risk theyre willing to take. All right laura, thank you very much well, in politics, President Biden delivers his third state of the Union Address tonight its a highstakes speech at a Pivotal Moment for the country and for the Reelection Campaign weve got two reports. Well start with nbcs senior white house correspondent, gabe gutierrez. Good morning to you. Hey, savannah, good morning with the exit of nikki haley, the biden trump rematch is taking shape, and the stakes could not be higher. The president is expected to lay out his vision for a second term and propose new taxes on Large Companies and billionaires with the race for the white house kicking into high gear after super tuesday, this morning, President Biden is preparing to deliver perhaps the most significant address of his presidency the president will outline an agenda that is about continuing to build on the progress that weve made over the last three years. Reporter the president expected to hammer several themes in this state of the Union Address, an improving economy, reproductive rights, and preserving democracy and despite trailing mr. Trump in recent polls on securing the border, President Biden is expected to highlight his immigration policies, after House Republicans tanked a bipartisan Border Security bill. Still, he faces a slew of challenges, as election season ramps up, persistent voter concerns about his age, his handling of the israel hamas war, with some democrats voicing their disapproval by voting uncommitted in recent primaries, and high food prices due to inflation contact my office, ill give you a copy of the proposal reporter last year, some republican members of Congress Interrupted his address. This year, the white house says hes ready for anything as you saw him literally do that last year. Reporter the speech coming as the general election rematch takes shape, after donald trump won almost every super tuesday state, his rival, nikki haley, suspended her campaign that. The former president securing the endorsement of Mitch Mcconnell who had sharply criticized him over his conduct on january 6th. Recent it is now up to donald trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And i hope he does that. Reporter the former president securing the endorsement of Mitch Mcconnell, who had sharply criticized him over his conduct on january 6th. Recent polls show mr. Trump leading President Biden within the margin of error, and after skipping gop primary debates, mr. Trump is now calling on President Biden to debate him anytime, anywhere, any place hes the worst president in the history of our country reporter the Biden Campaign wont commit to a debate just yet, saying thats a conversation well have at the appropriate time, and urging mr. Trump to watch the state of the union. After tonights address, the Biden Campaign is planning a travel blitz to battleground states in the coming weeks, savannah all right, gabe thank you. I want to turn to kristen welker, moderator of meet the press kristen, good morning. The president has two challenges tonight. The state of the union is about policy, what do you want to do if you get a second term, but also about performance how he appears and how americans assess him savannah, thats absolutely right. In fact, the performance is going to be as important as the policy tonight look, he is going to make a case for why there should be another four years of joe biden. Weve heard him in recent weeks really focus on why voters shouldnt vote for trump tonight, the focus is about him. Ive been talking to outside allies who say, look, hes got to do more than just deliver a list hes got to tell a story about the biden presidency i expect he will do that, but to your point about the performance aspect of this, savannah, look, these are two candidates who are seniors, we know that, but if you look at the polls, voters express more concerns about the president s age and ability to serve another four years hes got to show that fight that we saw in gabes piece we know the white house is prepared for it. We also know that speaker johnson has urged his conference to show restraint tonight, but will they listen, given that were in the middle of this fraught Reelection Campaign, well see how that plays out in th savannah yeah, i think we saw some hecklers last year well see how that plays out in the chamber. Lets talk about the republican response i think you reported that there had been a moment where former President Trump was considering doing it himself who is going to deliver that republican response . Thats right. Former President Trump had talked a little bit about it and his team, i think, decided the stakes probably not right for him to do that so alabama senator katie britt, a 42yearold mom, is going to be delivering the response this is notable. She will talk about ivf, what you were just talking about, with laura, that fight, shell try to appeal to suburban women voters, those allimportant voters, straddle that line, also, between this trump Reelection Campaign and also, making the case that republicans do favor expanding reproductive rights but savannah, this has been a real challenge for republicans weve seen it in past elections. Can they find a way to talk about this issue that is so galvanizing for voters all right, kristen, thank you. Of course, we will bring you live coverage of tonights state of the union and the republican response we get started at 9 00 eastern, 6 00 pacific here on nbc and of course, on nbc news now and nbcnews. Com as well. Also this morning, here in new york, riders on the nations largest subway system will be seeing more police officers, even National Guard troops on those rails. Its part of a new safety push to deal with the recent rise in crime. Nbcs Stephanie Gosk joins us from times square request that story. Hey, steph, good morning reporter good morning. You know, a subway conductor was hit over the head with a glass bottle in the bronx on wednesday, just a few days after another subway conductor was slashed with a sharp object in brooklyn those are just two of the violent assaults that have happened in the new York City Transit system in recent weeks, and its why commuters in this station and other stations busy. Over 3. 6 Million People take the new york city subway every day. Im always mindful of m like this one this morning will see more nypd officers and even the National Guard over 3. 6 Million People take the new york city subway every day im always mindful of my environment, im always looking. Reporter this morning, the National Guard will be checking bags, after a rash of violent assaults on the nations largest train system one highprofile case, this horrifying moment a woman smashed cellist ian forest in the head while he was performing on a subway platform a lot of pain, i didnt know what happened. Reporter the increased security part of the new york governors plan to crack down on crime. These brazen, heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated. Reporter it builds on the 1,000 additional nypd officers new york citys mayor ordered to patrol the trains last month, after a reported 45 spike in transit crimes in january. The latest gallup poll finds 77 of americans believe crime is on the rise nationwide, but that perception is not the reality in most places. The fbi says Violent Crime is actually on the decline, after a nationwide surge in 2020 still, some cities are facing big challenges in philadelphia, eight teenagers were shot at a city bus stop, just hours after the Transit Police chief there pledged an aggressive push against all crimes on public transportation. Were going to target every criminal code on the books reporter despite the national trends, washington, d. C. Saw an historic spike in Violent Crimes last year, up 39 . If the bill is approved unanimously. Reporter the d. C. Council passed a massive bill aimed to make the district safer, including increased penalties for some gun offenses, and expanding the definition of carjacking here in new york city, transit chief Michael Kemper says the increased Police Presence on subways is a deterrent if anyone is thinking of ood going to get caught. Reporter here in new york city hav coming into the subway system with a weapon, theres probably a good chance theyre going to get caught reporter Civil Liberties groups here in new york city have called the governors plan overreach and overreaction meanwhile, the nypd reminds people, millions of people take this system every day, without incident they do say it is worth taking their longstanding advice on how to stay safe watch your things, and lower the volume on those headsets that you wear or take them out entirely, hoda all right, steph gosk, thanks so much. We take the subway a lot almost every day. Fastest way to get around in new york glad theres extra protection. Absolutely. Lets say good morning to craig. What you got this morning . Good morning. Good morning to you as well. Some new video is now emerging from that frightening incident on a United Airlines flight this week as you can see, flames shot from one of the engines, forcing the crew to make an Emergency Landing. Nbcs Senior Correspondent tom costello covers aviation for us. Tom, what happened here . Good morning to you. This looks like an engine or a compressor stall that happens when theres an air flow disruption in the engine and it causes the engine to spit fire out the back. Usually not a serious risk to the plane. But pilots do need to get that plane on the ground as soon as possible reporter it was a terrifying few moments caught on video at altitude ladies and gentlemen, we realize something happened outside. Reporter flames shooting out of the engine of a United Airlines flight, possibly an engine stall, as the plane departed houston en route to ft. Myers earlier this week. Stall in the left engine. Reporter the aircraft, a boeing 737, made an Emergency Landing back in t