From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening, his state is about to host the super bowl but it is a sport of bare knuckles new jersey politics that has governor Chris Christie on the ropes tonight, facing a new allegation that he did indeed know all about a politically engineered traffic snarl on the George Washington bridge, something he has strongly denied. The charge is being made by a lawyer representing a key figure in the controversy. It has so far not been backed up by any evidence. But with christie standing as a likely president ial contender the claim has quickly gained traction, and tonight christie is fighting back hard. Nbcs Kelly Odonnell has been covering the story from the start. She joins us tonight from the gw bridge in ft. Lee, new jersey. Reporter geood evening, lester. This is a real balancing act for the governor. With the public duties of having the big game here while his team is more sharply pushing back tonight against those new allegations, trying to undercut them, sending the word out to christie supporters about what happened here saying these new claims come without evidence. Despite being the host governor, today new jerseys Chris Christie did not appear to get the home field advantage. Good afternoon, everybody. Reporter a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd in new york citys times square. We look forward to hosting everybody in this group that has got a ticket over in new jersey tomorrow. Reporter in what is supposed to be a celebrityfilled Football Party weekend christie finds himself playing defense again. After a former christie ally, David Wildstein who supervised the lane closures last fall and then took the fifth in january dangled hints that christie may know more about the bridge traffic scandal. Let me tell you everybody i was blindsided yesterday morning. Reporter while wildstein wrote evidence exists that he knew about the period during when the lanes were closed. Contrary to what the governor stated publicly. That claim was made in a letter specifically demanding that wildstoowil wildsteins former employer, the port authority, pay his legal bills and wildstein may also be looking for a deal. If he gets what he is seeking here, that would be a very clear signal that the u. S. Attorney believes there is something to what hes got to offer. Reporter Christies Office responded that wildsteins lawyer actually backs up the governors claim that he had no prior knowledge of the traffic mess, and further denies wildsteins lawyers other assertions. Wildsteins central role in the scandal makes the claims intriguing, but he offers no specific evidence. David wildstein claims there is evidence, but what is left is left unanswered is what kind of evidence, who has that evidence, and does it say anything about whether or not christie knew the most vegas behind the lane closures. Reporter late today, they obtained a Christie Office memo being sent to supporters that it aggressively pushes back both against the New York Times which reported the allegations, and then takes on wildsteins personal character concluding that, quote, David Wildstein will do anything and say anything to save David Wildstein. And that memo uses a series of personal anecdotes against wildsteins character. We tried to reach him but were unsuccessful. And also the number of people to produce subpoenas by mondays deadline have been given an extension by new jersey lawmakers, meaning it will take more time before we get to know more about what may be in the evidence that could support either the allegations by wildstein or the story that the governor maintains that he knew nothing about this. Lester . All right, kelly, thank you, and as we noted super bowl xlviii is being played tomorrow in new jersey just across the river from us here in new york city. The big apple has been where much of the pregame excitement has been found. Yet businesses on both sides of the river are finding the big game is not turning out to be the big payday they had counted on. Nbcs are on mott has more from times square. Reporter hey, lester, good evening, there is talk that the super bowl could bring half a billion dollars or more to new york city and new jersey, but tonight, reality has businesses questioning just how super the game is for the bottom line. The rutherfords traveled across country to root for their be beloved Seattle Seahawks in the super bowl. And theyre paying a pretty penny. Do you have like a budget . Well spend more than ten grand, that includes super bowl tickets, which is a big chunk. Reporter a big chunk indeed, but as much money as the family and others spend here, not to mention all the Corporate Cash flowing in, Research Suggests it will be far less than the 600 million projected for the region, historically generated between 120 million for host cities. Those studies are very good at doing adding and multiplying, but they dont do well at subtracting. Reporter while the Game Features two of the best nfl teams, the digit prices are flat. Hotel rooms can still be had. Nearly one in five are available in and around metlife stadium. Many are finding it tough to close a deal despite the crowds. It is not as lucrative as i thought it may have been. Reporter at the Hotel Chandler in manhattan, theyre dressed for the occasion but didnt score the sellout they wanted. Were going to wind up at the same occupancy that we had last year that is act 65 for the weekend. Reporter across the river where the game will be played, super bowl buzz has been the feed here at the restaurant. I dont want it to hurt me, that other people dont come in because theyre afraid. Reporter afraid of overcrowding, the diluted turnout could be affected because of fears of the cold. Is it the first outdoor venue, with Hotel Restrictions and high fares. Nonetheless, this family is sparing no expense for their super bowl expense, a 7,000 adventure. This is a once in a lifetime experience for my son and i, and were looking forward to just spending it and worry about paying for it later. Reporter tonight, super security is in place for the super bowl. Law enforcement is not saying just what theyre spending but it will be sure to have an impact on the bottom line. All right, thank you, ron, and on the super bowl eve, the middle of the country is getting socked with another snowstorm. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled already and there are two more storms right behind this one. Weather channel meteorologist mike seidel is in snowy chicago tonight, hi, mike. Reporter hi there, from the navy pier here in chicago, and once again the snow flying. So far theyve had more than 4 1 2 feet of snow this season, thats more theyve shovelled in chicago in the past two winters combined. And cold morning, 15 so far sub zero has led to ice on the riverways and out here on lake michigan. In detroit, a record, last month 39 inches, more fell today leading to crashes on area highways in the motor city. Another storm down south sunday brings more snow and ice in the dallas ft. Worth area, and from the d. C. Area to new york city, right now were looking at one to three inches in philly and new york. Then a juicier storm in the midwest on tuesday. A swath of storms from chicago, to kc, and there will be mostly rains for the big city on wednesday, then more cold weather late next week. Lester . Outdoor first cold weather super bowl. What is it going to be like at kickoff in new jersey . Reporter lester, after all the worries of maybe a blizzard and icy cold weather, its going to be balmy. 50 for a high, kickoff temperature at 41. So right now, tulane, super bowl six in new orleans in 1972, will remain the coldest at 39. Mike seidel, thank you very much. And state officials in california say the historic western drought is not a coming crisis, its a Current Crisis and the impact is already being felt from farms to local businesses. And unless the weather shifts dramatically and soon, things are only going to get worse. Nbcs mike taibbi reports from Ventura County in california. Reporter for Ventura County ale avocado farmers, the drum beat of bad news. The quickly shrinking reservoirs spelling disaster for than on this growing season. The industries as a whole will be affected, at least three years because of this situation that were in right now today. Reporter he has been relying on county water for irrigation and has not been shut off yet. And has even cut off older, more thirsty less productive trees to save additional water. But all the numbers that describe a drought and its impact are at historic extremes. January rain days, usually southern californias wettest month, zero. January wildfires, last january there were none, this year, 406. Snowpack amount, a mere 12 of normal. Nobody can remember anything like this because nothing like this has happened in over 100 years. Reporter and it is not just farmland that is at risk. Unless there is a dramatic and unanticipated weather turn around 17 California Water districts say they will run out of Drinking Water in two to three months. In marin county, north of San Francisco . We have asked customers to 25 voluntary conservation. Reporter voluntary now, but that will change if the weather does not. The impact is spreading, a 25 price jump for locally grown fruits and vegetables at some farmers markets, a bait and tackle shop relying on disappearing waters, hanging on for dear life. Were doing our rain dance and praying for rain. Reporter there have been rain and snow dances, catholic bishops have asked the faithful to pray for rain, and are trying Spray Chemicals into rain clouds to inspire extra rain or snow with the clouds. But the skies, for too long, in what is supposed to be the rainy season, have been a beautiful ominous blue. This is the wrong time of year to be beautiful. Reporter with no relief on the horizon, mike taibbi, nbc, california. And in indonesia, a volcano thats been rumbling for months erupted today with deadly results. Officials say at least 14 people were killed when mt. Sinabung erupted. It was on the island of sumatra. It came a day after authorities allowed thousands of nearby villagers who had been evacuated to return home. Saying the volcanos activity was decreasing. It is now just five days until the competition begins a at the Winter Olympics in sochi, russia, amid concerns the athletes including the American Team have begun arriving and practicing at the venues where theyll compete. Just how ready are things . We get more from our chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel in sochi. Reporter the mountains are ready, jagged, wild, and covered with snow, and watched by troops looking for any suspicious tracks. Despite threats from terrorists, members of the American Team today said they feel safe and are ready to compete. I feel safe, knock on wood, but it seems great. The mountains are amazing, the facilities are great, everyones been really friendly. Looking forward to the next month. Reporter down off the mountain, team usa short track speed skater j. R. Celski was testing the ice. Feeling good. Feeling really good about this. Just loving the atmosphere and the energy in this rink. Reporter this has been a monumental project for sochi, in 2005, the olympic park was just swampy farmland. By 2010, a mere outline. Since then, it has gone up quickly. But everything isnt quite done. Far from it. Workmen have less than a week, some hotels were just today loading in furniture. And security, russia denies there is any threat. But you have to go through airportstyle checks to board a train in sochi. The main olympic park is not actually in sochi, but in the town of adler about 40 minutes up the black sea coast. And the view is probably not what youd expect at a Winter Olympics. The train better be nice, the olympic rails, tunnel and roads cost more than 9 billion. The final tab for sochi will ring in around 50 billion. So far, the athletes and tourists have been able to ignore the controversies. I feel so safe, just loving it. Reporter and get excited for these Winter Olympics, split between the mountains and the sea. Richard engel, nbc news, sochi. And a reminder the competition in sochi begins next thursday, february 6th. And so does olympic coverage right here on nbc. And when nbc nightly news continues this saturday, new fears about whether the water in West Virginia is really safe to drink following that Chemical Spill several weeks ago. And later, what has become an irresistible alternative to watching the super bowl. Even Peyton Manning cant bark out signals like these guys. There are new concerns tonight that the water declared safe to drink in West Virginia following a Chemical Spill three weeks ago may not be. Officials yet again are handing out bottled water to the 3,000 300,000 charleston residents. Nbcs Kristen Welker has more. Reporter lester, good evening, i spent the day in charleston yesterday. And many people told me their lives have been fundamentally changed. The state says the water in West Virginia is safe but that is being questioned and creating a lot of confusion and fear. Life hasnt been the safe in the goldman house since the chemical, mchm leaked into the water supply from a tank at Freedom Industries three weeks ago. What is frustrating, there is no end in sight. Reporter for weeks, this family says the tap water smells like licorice, a scent associated with the chemical. We have a new normal now, we have new ways of cooking and washing hands. Reporter the goldmans say they have been using bottled water and will continue to especially when tests found the levels of the chemical higher than standard, in six area schools yesterday, including at eldest daughters ellies school. My big concern will be the health of my kids maybe in ten years. Reporter restaurants say they have lost business and many of them are now touting the fact that they cook with bottled water. On the other side . Reporter the state had stopped giving out bottled water for a few days but started again friday, Officials Say to ease the publics concerns. The doctor here is the commissioner for Public Health and she insists the water is safe. I am drinking it and cooking with it. I am bathing in it. My family is, as well. Reporter why are you passing out water if the water is safe to drink . Were doing it because were listening to our constituents. Okay . They just dont have confidence and so we are trying to tell them, we hear you. We have confidence but we understand you dont yet. Reporter tierney also says the mchm found at the schools is negligible and crews will work to flush out the water supply at each location. They say they need to do a better job of informing the public. Statements are said that we are like lab rats in the sense that this is the first time this chemical has been exposed to humans at a large scale. Reporter pregnant women in particular have been told to refrain from drinking the water. For jennifer, who is due at any moment . It is pretty stressful. Reporter its just one more piece of conflicting information adding to her fears. But to think about bringing this one day, two dayold baby home and not knowing that, well what are the real Health Effects . Because there is just so much uncertainty, still. Reporter now, the state is aiming to have the schools water at safe standards by monday. Part of the broader problem is that very little is known about mchm, or a second chemical that leaked into the water supply, pph. We reached out to freedom industry multiple times but got no response. All right, thank you. And when we return, one of the big problems caused by the frigid january temperatures. From the great lakes to the Atlantic Shores and all the waterways in between, it is an effect of one of the coldest januarys on record, ice jams, they make for some spectacular winter scenery. But as our Kristen Dahlgren reports, they are causing some Serious Problems on some of the nations most vital waterways. Reporter on this coast guard cutter, this is one objective. We want to keep this channel clear so that maritime traffic can get through. Reporter these are not the icy waters of antarctica, these are the icy waters of philadelphia. Its been maybe 20 years since weve seen it this bad. Reporter so every day, the coast guard ice breakers are out, slicing through a foot or more of ice, making sure the vital shipping lanes stay open. The groceries for the stores and heating oil for your homes, all that coming through the maritime channels. So if the river froze through, obviously that affects thousands of people. Reporter this year, the extreme cold left hundreds of waterways iced over. In the hudson river it is almost a constant battle. Overhead, reconnaissance scouts for ice jams, while down below crews attempt to cut through. People dont realize if were not out here these areas will not flow through new york, it just wont happen. Reporter on the great lakes, ice breakers are running day and night to keep things moving. When temperatures are at their coldest, the lakes freeze over as soon as the boats pass. Meanwhile, back on the delaware, a dead end. This is about as far as we can go today. The ice here simply is too thick to get through. So their best bet is to break up the ice south of here so once it does freeze it will have somepl