  
   >>> BREAKING NEWS  
   TONIGHT, THE OUTRAGE 
   BOILING OVER IN THE 
   STREET.
   MASSIVE NEW PROTESTS 
   AFTER IRAN ADMITTED 
   SHOOTING DOWN THAT 
   PASSENGER PLANE AND 
   TONIGHT THE AFTERMATH 
   ON THE ATTACK ON U.S. 
   TROOPS IN IRAQ.
   OUR ACCESS ON THE BASE
   WHERE THE MISSING 
   FELL.
   THE FIRST ON THE 
   GROUND OF THE DAMAGE 
   AND THE HARROWING 
   SURVIVOR STORIES. 
   >> WHENEVER IT WAS 
   COMING, IT WAS MUCH 
   WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
   >> HOW CLOSE OFFICIALS
   SAY WE CAME TO WAR. 
   >>> OUR REPORT THE 
   PRESIDENT APPROVING 
   THE KILLING OF THE TOP
   COMMANDER MONTHS AGO 
   UNDER ONE MAJOR 
   CONDITION.
   THE SHIFTING 
   EXPLANATIONS FOR THE 
   STRIKE.
   QUESTIONS GROWING OVER
   WHETHER THERE WAS AN 
   IMMINENT THREAT. 
   >>> THE NEW TORNADO 
   STRIKE, POWERFUL WINDS
   STACKING CARS ON TOP 
   OF EACH OTHER AFTER 
   NEARLY A DOZEN WERE 
   KILLED.
   QUEEN. 
   >>> THE PUNISHMENT 
   HANDED DOWN TO THE 
   HOUSTON ASTROS AND THE
   TEAM SPIED ON RIVALS 
   DURING THE WORLD 
   CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
   WHO THE TEAM FIRED. 
   >> THE OSCAR 
   NOMINATIONS ARE OUT, 
   THE BIG SURPRISES AND 
   BACKLASH TONIGHT. 
   >> Announcer: THIS IS 
   "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" 
   WITH LESTER HOLT. 
   >>> GOOD EVENING.
   IN IRAN THERE ARE 
   GROWING 
   ANTI-GOVERNMENT 
   PROTESTS OVER THE 
   ACCIDENTAL SHOOTDOWN 
   OF A PASSENGER JET 
   THAT CAME JUST HOURS 
   AFTER IRAN'S MISSILE 
   STRIKE AGAINST 
   AMERICAN TARGETS IN 
   IRAQ.
   TONIGHT, WE'RE GETTING
   AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT 
   HOW CLOSE THE CALL IT 
   WAS FOR AMERICAN 
   SOLDIERS IN THE CROSS 
   HAIRS OF THAT ATTACK.
   OUR CAMERAS TODAY WITH
   THE FIRST LOOK AT 
   DAMAGE FROM INSIDE THE
   IRAQI BASE INCLUDING 
   WHAT APPEARED TO BE A 
   DIRECT HIT ON SLEEPING
   QUARTERS USED BY 
   AMERICANS. 
   >> Reporter: NEW 
   DEMONSTRATIONS TONIGHT
   IN IRAN.
   OUTRAGE OVER THE 
   GOVERNMENT'S ADMISSION
   THAT IT ACCIDENTALLY 
   SHOT DOWN A UKRAINIAN 
   PLANE AFTER DAYS OF 
   DENIALS.
   SOME PROTESTERS SAYING
   THEY WERE FIRED UPON 
   BY SECURITY FORCES 
   WHICH IRAN'S POLICE 
   CHIEF DENIES THIS AS 
   WE'RE GRANTED ACCESS 
   TO THE WESTERN BASE IN
   IRAQ STRUCK BY MORE 
   THAN A DOZEN IRANIAN 
   BALLISTIC MISSILES.
   SOME WITH DIRECT HITS 
   WHERE U.S. TROOPS WERE
   LIVING AND WORKING.
   OFFICIALS SAY THIS 
   SHOWS HOW CLOSE THE 
   U.S. CAME TO WAR WITH 
   IRAN.
   THIS WAS ONE OF THE 
   MAIN HOUSING UNITS FOR
   THIS PART OF THE BASE,
   BUT IT'S SO BADLY 
   BURNED AND DAMAGED 
   IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT
   IT EVEN WAS.
   YOU ONLY KNOW PEOPLE 
   WERE LIVING HERE 
   BECAUSE THERE IS A 
   BURNED OUT BED, 
   SOMEBODY'S BICYCLE.
   HAD SOLDIERS STILL 
   BEEN INSIDE WHEN THE 
   MISSILE IMPACTED, IT 
   WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY 
   CASUALTIES.
   THE SOLDIERS DID HAVE 
   ABOUT TWO HOURS OF 
   ADVANCED WARNING FROM 
   U.S. INTELLIGENCE THAT
   SOME KIND OF ATTACK 
   WAS COMING.
   BUT FEARING THE BASE 
   MIGHT BE OVER RUN, 
   MANY STAYED OUT OF 
   BUNKERS TO GUARD THE 
   BASE.
   CAPTAIN JEFFREY HANSON
   HAD THE WIND KNOCKED 
   OUT OF HIM BY ONE OF 
   THE FIRST MISSILES.
   THEN RALLIED.
   SO YOU WERE KNOCKED ON
   THE GROUND AND SLID 
   UNDER A TRUCK?
   >> I DID.
   I WENT BACK TO THE 
   SHELTER AND KNEW THAT,
   YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WAS
   COMING, IT WAS MUCH 
   WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
   >> Reporter: IRAN SAYS
   IT DID NOT WANT TO 
   KILL U.S. TROOPS. 
   >> DO YOU THINK THIS 
   WAS LETHAL?
   >> YES, YEAH.
   I MEAN, A LOT OF 
   PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DIED
   IF WE HADN'T MOVED. 
   >> Reporter: 39 
   SOLDIERS WERE LIVING 
   IN THESE QUARTERS.
   DOZENS MORE WERE 
   POSTED NEARBY. 
   >> I THINK WE WERE 
   BEYOND LUCKY. 
   >> Reporter: U.S. 
   COMMANDERS SAID AFTER 
   THE ATTACK, THEY 
   EXPECTED THERE WOULD 
   BE AMERICAN 
   FATALITIES.
   LESTER?
   >> RICHARD ENGEL FROM 
   IRAQ TONIGHT. 
   >>> IT WAS A KILLING 
   OF THAT TOP IRANIAN 
   GENERAL THAT DEEPENED 
   THIS CURRENT CRISIS 
   WITH IRAN AND CURRENT 
   AND FORMER 
   ADMINISTRATION 
   OFFICIALS TELL NBC 
   NEWS EXCLUSIVELY THAT 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP 
   AUTHORIZED IT BACK IN 
   JUNE RAISING NEW 
   QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS 
   PUBLIC EXPLANATIONS.
   HERE IS HALLIE 
   JACKSON. 
   >> Reporter: SEVEN 
   MONTHS, THAT'S HOW 
   LONG AGO THE STRIKE 
   AGAINST QASSEM 
   SOLEIMANI WAS ORDERED 
   KILLED.
   THE PRESIDENT GAVE THE
   GO AHEAD IF THE 
   AGGRESSION IF IT LED 
   TO THE KILLING.
   JOHN KERRY REACTING 
   TODAY. 
   >> THIS IS A SHIFTING 
   STORY THAT'S SO 
   SHIFTING THAT I THINK 
   IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK
   LIKE A COVERUP OVER 
   THEIR ORIGINAL 
   CHOICES. 
   >> Reporter: NBC CAROL
   LEE HELPED BREAK THE 
   STORY. 
   >> THE TIMING OF THE 
   PRESIDENT'S DECISION 
   TO AUTHORIZE THE 
   KILLING OF SOLEIMANI 
   COULD UNDERMINE HIS 
   KEY JUSTIFICATION FOR 
   THE OPERATION, WHICH 
   IS THAT SOLEIMANI WAS 
   PLANNING IMMINENT 
   ATTACKS AGAINST 
   AMERICANS THAT NEEDED 
   TO BE STOPPED. 
   >> Reporter: THE WHITE
   HOUSE AND NATIONAL 
   SECURITY COUNSEL ARE 
   NOT COMMENTING BUT 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP LAID 
   TODAY IS DEFENDING THE
   INTELLIGENCE AS 
   CONSISTENT. 
   >> SHOULD HAVE BEEN 
   DONE 20 YEARS AGO. 
   >> Reporter: THAT'S 
   AFTER HE SUGGESTED 
   ATTACKS WERE LOOMING 
   ON NOT JUST ONE BUT 
   MULTIPLE U.S. 
   FACILITIES. 
   >> I BELIEVE IT WOULD 
   HAVE BEEN FOUR 
   EMBASSIES. 
   >> Reporter: THAT'S A 
   SPECIFIC CLAIM BUT THE
   PRESIDENT'S OWN 
   DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS
   HE NEVER SAW A PIECE 
   OF EVIDENCE TO BACK 
   THAT UP. 
   >> I DIDN'T SEE ONE 
   WITH REGARD TO FOUR 
   EMBASSIES.
   WHAT I'M SAYING IS I 
   SHARED THE PRESIDENT'S
   VIEW THAT PROBABLY MY 
   EXPECTATION WAS THEY 
   WOULD GO AFTER OUR 
   EMBASSIES. 
   >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS
   ARE ACCUSING THE 
   PRESIDENT OF FUDGING 
   THE INTELLIGENCE THAT 
   LED TO THE STRIKE AND 
   SAYS HE'S OVER STATING
   HOW IMMINENT THE 
   THREAT WAS. 
   >> THE RISK TO OUR 
   PERSONNEL HAS GONE UP,
   NOT DOWN AND I DON'T 
   THINK IT WAS JUSTIFIED
   BY THE INTELLIGENCE AT
   LEAST NOT THE 
   INTELLIGENCE THAT I'VE
   SEEN. 
   >> HALLIE JOINS US 
   NOW.
   THERE IS ALSO MOVEMENT
   ON IMPEACHMENT.
   WHERE DO THINGS STAND 
   RIGHT NOW?
   >> Reporter: SHAPING 
   UP TO BE A CRITICAL 
   WEEK.
   NANCY PELOSI IS 
   EXPECTED TO TAKE THE 
   NEXT STEPS IN THE 
   PROCESS TOMORROW.
   THAT STARTS THE 
   COUNTDOWN TO A SENATE 
   TRIAL POSSIBLY THIS 
   WEEK, LESTER?
   >> THANK YOU. 
   >>> THREE WEEKS TO THE
   IOWA CAUCUSES AND ON 
   THE EVE OF THE KEY 
   DEBATE UPROAR ON A 
   COMMENT BERNIE SANDERS
   SAID TO ELIZABETH 
   WARREN THAT HE DIDN'T 
   THINK A WOMAN COULD 
   WIN THE 2020 RACE FOR 
   PRESIDENT.
   HERE IS JEFF BENNETT. 
   >> Reporter: IN THE 
   SPRINT TO THE IOWA 
   CAUCUSES, A PAUSE IN 
   THE PEACE PACK BETWEEN
   THE PROGRESSIVE 
   CONTENDERS.
   SENATORS BERNIE 
   SANDERS AND ELIZABETH 
   WARREN.
   SANDERS SLAMMING 
   REPORTS HE TOLD WARREN
   DURING A PRIVATE 
   MEETING IN 2018 THAT 
   HE DIDN'T THINK A 
   WOMAN COULD WIN THE 
   2020 PRESIDENTIAL 
   ELECTION.
   STANDARDS IN A 
   STATEMENT TO NBC NEWS 
   SAYING IT IS LUDICROUS
   TO BELIEVE THAT AT THE
   SAME MEETING WHERE 
   ELIZABETH WARREN TOLD 
   ME SHE WOULD RUN FOR 
   PRESIDENT, I WOULD 
   TELL HER THAT A WOMAN 
   COULDN'T WIN.
   A SENIOR SANDERS AID 
   TELLS NBC NEWS THEY 
   BELIEVE WARREN'S 
   CAMPAIGN INTENTIONALLY
   LEAKED A FALSE 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE 
   CONVERSATION.
   THE WARREN CAMPAIGN 
   DID NOT RESPOND TO 
   NBC'S REPEATED REQUEST
   FOR COMMENT.
   THE TWO ALSO TRADING 
   SHOTS OVER A POLITICAL
   REPORT THAT THE 
   SANDERS' CAMPAIGN 
   INSTRUCTED ITS 
   VOLUNTEERS TO PAINT 
   WARREN AS THE 
   CANDIDATE OF ELITES IN
   CONVERSATIONS WITH 
   VOTERS. 
   >> I HOPE BERNIE 
   RECONSIDERS AND TURNS 
   HIS CAMPAIGN FROM A 
   DIFFERENT DIRECTION. 
   >> I HAVE NEVER SAID A
   NEGATIVE WORD ABOUT 
   ELIZABETH WARREN WHO 
   IS A FRIEND OF MINE. 
   >> Reporter: TENSIONS 
   RISING WITH POLLS 
   SHOWING THEM LOCKED IN
   A TIGHT RACE.
   IN THE MEANTIME, 
   TONIGHT CORY BOOKER 
   DROPPING OUT OF THE 
   RACE AFTER STRUGGLING 
   FROM THE START TO GAIN
   TRACTION.
   LESTER?
   >> JEFF BENNETT, THANK
   YOU. 
   >>> TO THE STRUGGLE 
   WITHIN THE ROYAL 
   FAMILY AND THE MOVE TO
   LET PRINCE HARRY AND 
   MEGHAN MARKLE CREATE A
   NEW LIFE AS THE QUEEN 
   HERSELF PUT IT AFTER 
   AN UNPRECEDENTED 
   FAMILY MEETING.
   KELLY COBIELLA HAS 
   LATE DETAILS. 
   >> Reporter: PRINCE 
   HARRY AND MEGHAN 
   MARKLE HAS THE QUEEN'S
   BLESSING TO STRIKE OUT
   ON THEIR OWN.
   THE AGREEMENT AFTER AN
   UNPRECEDENTED ROYAL 
   MEETING.
   PRINCES CHARLES, 
   WILLIAM AND HARRY 
   GATHERING AT THE 
   QUEEN'S SECLUDED HOME 
   WITH THE MEDIA CAMPED 
   OUTSIDE, REPORTS 
   MEGHAN MAY HAVE DIAL 
   IN FROM CANADA AND THE
   QUEEN CALLING THE 
   TALKS CONSTRUCTIVE 
   SAYING THE FAMILY IS 
   ENTIRELY SUPPORTIVE OF
   HARRY AND MEGHAN AND 
   ALTHOUGH WE WOULD 
   PREFER THEM TO REMAIN 
   FULL-TIME WORKING 
   MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL 
   FAMILY, WE EXPECT AND 
   UNDERSTAND THEIR WISH 
   TO LIVE A MORE 
   INDEPENDENT LIFE.
   THE COUPLE'S BOMBSHELL
   ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK
   SPARKING ENDLESS 
   HEADLINES AND 
   SPECULATION ABOUT WHY 
   THEY WANTED TO LEAVE 
   ROYAL LIFE AND WHETHER
   A RUMORED BROTHERLY 
   RIFT BETWEEN WILLIAM 
   AND HARRY WAS THE 
   CAUSE.
   THAT RUMOR WAS FUELED 
   BY AN UNSUBSTANTIATED 
   REPORT IN A BRITISH 
   NEWSPAPER ALLEGING 
   PRINCE WILLIAMS 
   BEHAVIOR DROVE THEM 
   AWAY AND THIS MORNING 
   A SIGN OF PUBLIC UNITY
   FROM THE BROTHERS WHO 
   ISSUED A JOINT 
   STATEMENT CALLING THE 
   REPORT FALSE, 
   OFFENSIVE AND 
   POTENTIALLY HARMFUL.
   TONIGHT, THERE IS 
   STILL NO DETAILS ON 
   WHAT HARRY AND 
   MEGHAN'S NEW RULES 
   WILL LOOK LIKE BUT THE
   QUEEN WANTS FINAL 
   DECISIONS IN THE 
   COMING DAYS. 
   >> PEOPLE ARE LOOKING 
   AT THE MONARCHY IN THE
   U.K. AND AMERICA AND 
   CANADA.
   WHY DO THEY LOOK SO 
   DYSFUNCTIONAL. 
   >> Reporter: THERE 
   THEN ASTROS' BENCH 
   COACH ALEX CORA AS A 
   MIDDLEMAN.
   CORA WENT ON TO COACH 
   THE BOSTON RED SOX WHO
   WON THE WORLD SERIES 
   THE VERY NEXT YEAR.
   AND WHO ARE NOW ALSO 
   UNDER INVESTIGATION 
   FOR STEALING PITCHING 
   SIGNS DURING THE 
   REGULAR SEASON.
   THE LOS ANGELES 
   DODGERS LOST BOTH 
   WORLD SERIES TO CHAMPS
   NOW ACCUSED OF 
   CHEATING.
   MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC 
   NEWS. 
   >> NOT A GOOD DAY FOR 
   SPORTS.
   >>> THERE IS NO BREAK 
   IN SIGHT FROM SEVERE 
   WEATHER, AT LEAST ONE 
   TORNADO CONFIRMED IN 
   THE SOUTH FOLLOWING A 
   DEADLY OUTBREAK THAT 
   LEFT 11 DEAD.
   WITH MORE, HERE IS SAM
   BROCK. 
   >> A TORNADO VIOLENTLY
   TOSSING CARS AROUND 
   THIS SOUTH CAROLINA 
   PARKING LOT TODAY AND 
   STRONG WINDS 
   COLLAPSING THE ROOF OF
   A SCHOOL GYM INJURING 
   THREE STUDENTS. 
   >> CUSTODIANS CAME IN 
   AND SAID THE GYM 
   WAS -- HALF THE GAME 
   WAS GONE. 
   >> Reporter: THIS 
   AFTER AN EF-2 TORNADO 
   LEFT THIS SCHOOL IN 
   SHAMBLES.
   TORNADOS RIPPED 
   THROUGH 1 1 STATES 
   INCLUDING KENTUCKY 
   WHERE ONE SENT THREE 
   PEOPLE AIRBORNE IN 
   THEIR MOBILE HOME. 
   >> I REALIZED THIS IS 
   THE CEILING, WE'RE 
   UPSIDE DOWN. 
   >> Reporter: RIPPED 
   SECTIONS OF ROOF OFF 
   LOUISVILLE'S WHITE 
   HALL MANSION.
   ON
   >>> TONIGHT THE 
   JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS 
   CALLING LAST MONTH'S 
   DEADLY SHOOTING AT A 
   U.S. NAVY BASE AN ACT 
   OF TERRORISM AND THE 
   ATTORNEY GENERAL IS 
   DEMANDING APPLE'S HELP
   IN THE INVESTIGATION.
   PETE WILLIAMS REPORTS.
   >> Reporter: THE 
   JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
   SAYS TONIGHT IT WAS AN
   ACT OF TERRORISM WHEN 
   A SAUDI AIR FORCE 
   OFFICER HERE IN THE 
   U.S. FOR MILITARY 
   TRAINING OPENED FIRE 
   IN A CLASSROOM AT 
   PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR 
   STATION DECEMBER 6th 
   KILLING THREE U.S. 
   SERVICEMEN.
   ON SEPTEMBER 11th, THE
   FBI SAYS HI POSTED 
   THIS MESSAGE ON SOCIAL
   MEDIA.
   THE COUNTDOWN HAS 
   STARTED.
   INVESTIGATORS SAY HE 
   ALSO POSTED A SPRING 
   OF ANTI AMERICAN, ANTI
   ISRAELI AND JIHAD 
   MESSAGES, THE LAST ONE
   TWO HOURS BEFORE THE 
   ATTACK.
   BUT THE FBI SAYS HE 
   APPARENTLY ACTED 
   ALONE. 
   >> WE HAVE NOT 
   IDENTIFIED ANY 
   CO-CONSPIRATORS, ANY 
   EVIDENCE THAT THE 
   SHOOTER ACTED WITH 
   ANYONE ELSE OR THAT HE
   WAS INSPIRED BY ANY 
   ONE SPECIFIC GROUP. 
   >> Reporter: OUT OF 
   852 SAUDIS IN THE U.S.
   FOR MILITARY TRAINING,
   21 HAVE BEEN SENT HOME
   AFTER IT WAS FOUND 
   THEY HAD CHILD 
   PORNOGRAPHY OR JIHAD 
   MATERIAL.
   FBI AGENTS FOUND TWO 
   PHONES BELONGING TO 
   HIM.
   ONE HE PUT ON THE 
   FLOOR AND SHOT DURING 
   THE ATTACK THAT THE 
   GOVERNMENT WANTS TO 
   UNLOCK AND SEARCH. 
   >> IT IS VERY 
   IMPORTANT FOR US TO 
   KNOW WITH WHOM AND 
   ABOUT WHAT THE SHOOTER
   WAS COMMUNICATING 
   BEFORE HE DIED. 
   >> Reporter: APPLE 
   SAYS IT TURNED OVERALL
   THE DATA IT HAS, BARR 
   SAYS IT HASN'T 
   PROVIDED ANY 
   SUBSTANTIVE HELP.
   THIS MAY BE HEADED TO 
   COURT.
   LESTER. 
   >> THANK YOU. 
   >>> DISTURBING DETAILS
   ABOUT ANOTHER TERROR 
   ATTACK.
   TWO SHOOTERS IN JERSEY
   CITY NEW JERSEY HAD A 
   BOMB IN THEIR VAN 
   POWERFUL ENOUGH TO 
   KILL OR INJURE PEOPLE 
   UP TO FIVE FOOTBALL 
   FIELDS AWAY AND ENOUGH
   MATERIAL TO BUILD A 
   SECOND BOMB.
   THE TWO WERE FOUND 
   DEAD AT A KOSHER 
   MARKET LAST MONTH 
   AFTER KILLING THREE 
   PEOPLE INSIDE AND A 
   POLICE DETECTIVE.
   >>> A FRIGHTENING NEW 
   ALERT ON THE FLU NOW 
   WIDE SPREAD IN ALMOST 
   EVERY STATE NEARLY 10 
   MILLION CASES AND THE 
   DOMINANT STRAIN THIS 
   SEASON HITS KIDS THE 
   HARDEST.
   HERE IS DR. JOHN 
   TORRES. 
   >> Reporter: IOWA MOM 
   AMANDA PHILLIPS 
   THOUGHT HER 4-YEAR-OLD
   DAUGHTER JADE WAS 
   PROPERLY VACCINATED 
   FOR THE FLU.
   NOW COMPLICATIONS 
   COULD LEAVE HER BLIND.
   IT ALL STARTED ON 
   CHRISTMAS EVE. 
   >> HER EYES WERE IN 
   THE BACK OF HER HEAD 
   AND THAT'S WHEN I 
   WAS -- I LOOKED AT HIM
   LIKE YOU NEED TO MOVE.
   WE HAVE TO GO. 
   >> Reporter: THEN A 
   COMA, SEIZURE AND 
   BRAIN SWELLING.
   THIS YEAR FOR THE 
   FIRST TIME IN THREE 
   DECADES INFLUENZA B, 
   THE HARDEST ON 
   CHILDREN IS THE 
   PREDOMINANT STRAIN.
   JADE HAD THE VACCINE 
   LAST MARCH. 
   >> I WAS UNDER THE 
   IMPRESSION NO MATTER 
   WHAT, IF YOU GOT THE 
   FLU SHOT IN JANUARY OR
   FEBRUARY OR MARCH THAT
   TIMING REALLY DIDN'T 
   PLAY A PART OF IT. 
   >> Reporter: THE CDC 
   RECOMMENDS GETTING THE
   FLU VACCINE EVERY 
   FALL, SINCE THE SEASON
   USUALLY RUNS OCTOBER 
   TO MAY.
   THIS YEAR THE SEASON 
   STARTED EARLY 
   ESPECIALLY IN THE 
   SOUTH. 
   >> WHEN WE STARTED 
   SEEING CASES OF THE 
   FLU, THE FLU VACCINE 
   FOR THIS YEAR WAS NOT 
   YET EVEN COMMERCIALLY 
   AVAILABLE. 
   >> Reporter: BACK IN 
   IOWA AMANDA PHILLIPS 
   WON'T KNOW FOR SIX 
   MONTHS WHETHER HER 
   DAUGHTER WILL REGAIN 
   HER SIGHT. 
   >> SHE'S STRONG AND 
   SHE'S SMART AND SHE'S 
   AMAZING AND SHE'S A 
   TOUGH COOKIE. 
   >> Reporter: DR. JOHN 
   TORRES, NBC NEWS, NEW 
   YORK. 
   >> WE WISH HER THE 
   BEST IN HER RECOVERY. 
   >>> TO THE OSCAR 
   NOMINATIONS, "JOKER" 
   LEADS BUT BACKLASH WHO
   WASN'T INCLUDED.
   HERE IS JOE FRYER. 
   >> WE GOT TO START 
   THINKING LIKE THESE 
   WALL STREET GUYS. 
   >> Reporter: FOR J. LO
   THE AWARD SHOW ROLL 
   CAME TO A STOP.
   JENNIFER LOPEZ DID NOT
   SCORE AN OSCAR FOR 
   HUSTLERS.
   OTHER STUNNING SNUBS, 
   LUPITA IN "AQUFINA" 
   WHO WON A GOLDEN 
   GLOBE.
   ONLY ONE ACTOR OF 
   COLOR WAS NOMINATED 
   WHO PORTRAYED HARRIET 
   TUBMAN.
   THE LACK OF DIVERSITY 
   IS DRAWING CRITICISM 
   FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER 
   THE OSCARS SO WHITE 
   MOVEMENT WAS BORN AND 
   CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS 
   THE BEST DIRECTOR 
   CATEGORY, NO WOMEN 
   WERE NOMINATED, 
   SOMETHING QUICKLY 
   NOTED THIS MORNING. 
   >> CONGRATULATIONS TO 
   THOSE MEN. 
   >> Reporter: THEY 
   FOUND 11% OF LAST 
   YEAR'S TOP MOVIES WERE
   DIRECTED BY WOMEN, THE
   HIGHEST PERCENTAGE IN 
   13 YEARS, STILL, ONLY 
   MEN WERE NOMINATED. 
   >> HOLLYWOOD IS STUCK 
   IN THE 1970s OR 
   EARLIER AND WILL 
   CONTINUE TO LOSE 
   REVENUE RELEVANT WITH 
   DECISIONS LIKE WE SAW 
   BY THE ACADEMY THIS 
   MORNING. 
   >> Reporter: AND 
   >>> AHEAD OF THE TOKYO
   OLYMPIC, WE HAVE AN 
   EXTRAORDINARY LOOK 
   INSIDE THE NUCLEAR 
   DISASTER AT THE 
   FUKUSHIMA POWER PLANT.
   KEIR SIMMONS FOUND 
   PEOPLE STILL FEELING 
   THE IMPACT NINE YEARS 
   LATER. 
   >> Reporter: WE'VE 
   BEEN GIVEN RARE ACCESS
   TO GROUND ZERO OF ONE 
   OF THE WORLD'S WORST 
   NUCLEAR DISASTERS.
   WE KEEP A RADIATION 
   MONITOR CLOSE.
   NINE YEARS AGO, 
   JAPAN'S STRONGEST 
   EARTHQUAKE IN HISTORY 
   FOLLOWED BY A 30-FOOT 
   TSUNAMI 22,000 PEOPLE 
   DEAD OR MISSING.
   THE WALL OF WATER 
   SMASHING INTO THE 
   POWER PLANT CAUSING 
   MELTDOWNS AND 
   EXPLOSIONS.
   THE CLEANUP HAS COST 
   $294 BILLION.
   NOW IN MANY PLACES, 
   YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR
   A MASK.
   IT IS STUNNING I CAN 
   STAND HERE WITH SO 
   LITTLE PROTECTIVE GEAR
   ON.
   THE CORE OF THE 
   REACTORS IS JUST 
   THERE.
   THE EXCLUSION ZONE, 
   THE LAST PLACE IN 
   FUKUSHIMA UNINHIBITED.
   IT'S A GHOST TOWN.
   THEY MAKE SHORT VISITS
   TO TAKE PICTURES.
   HOLD ON TO MEMORIES. 
   >> SO THIS IS HOME?
   >> I CAN SEE YOU'RE IN
   TEARS. 
   >> NOT QUITE BUT 
   ALMOST. 
   >> Reporter: HE IS 75.
   THEY GET PICTURES OF 
   HIS OVERGROWN ROSE 
   GARDEN.
   HE LEFT WITH ONLY HIS 
   CLOTHES.
   FUKUSHIMA'S FISH IS 
   MAKING A COMEBACK.
   EACH CATCH TESTED FOR 
   RADIATION.
   WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS 
   RADIO ACTIVE WATER, 
   THEY MIGHT FILTER IT 
   AND POUR IT INTO THE 
   PACIFIC. 
   >> SCIENTIFICALLY, 
   WHATEVER THE DECISION 
   WILL BE, THERE WILL BE
   NO RADIATION. 
   >> Reporter: MANY 
   LOCALS DEEPLY OPPOSED.
   >> NO. 
   >> Reporter: THEY 
   SHOULD NOT?
   >> NO. 
   >> Reporter: JAPAN 
   PREPARING FOR AN 
   OLYMPIC CELEBRATION 
   WITH THE NUCLEAR 
   REACTION FRESH, 
   SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE 
   NEVER FORGOTTEN, A 
   DISASTER THE WORLD 
   WILL NEVER FORGET.
   KEIR SIMMONS, NBC 
   NEWS, JAPAN. 
   >> HARD TO IMAGINE 
   THEY ARE STILL FEELING
   THE IMPACT T
   >>> FINALLY, THE 
   SURPRISE WELCOME BACK 
   FOR A BRAVE YOUNG 
   STUDENT THAT HAS SO 
   MANY GEARING.
   REHEMA ELLIS WITH 
   "INSPIRING AMERICA". 
   >> Reporter: 
   6-YEAR-OLD JOHN 
   OLIVER, J.O. FOR SHORT
   HAS ALWAYS BEEN A 
   FIGHTER.
   FASCINATED WITH 
   HISTORY, HE LOVES 
   DRESSING UP AS A WORLD
   WAR II SOLDIER, BRAVE 
   AND STRONG.
   IN REAL LIFE, HE 
   NEEDED TO BE.
   IN PRESCHOOL, J.O. WAS
   DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE 
   FORM OF LEUKEMIA.
   TUTORS HELPED HIM KEEP
   UP WITH SCHOOL WORK 
   AND TWO DAYS AFTER 
   CHRISTMAS, THE BEST 
   GIFT EVER.
   J.O. FINISHED HIS LAST
   CHEMOTHERAPY 
   TREATMENT.
   DOCTORS AND NURSES 
   BROKE OUT IN SONG.
   á á 
   >> Reporter: LAST 
   WEEK, J.O. RETURNED TO
   FIRST GRADE WITH A 
   SURPRISE STANDING 
   OVATION LIKE A 
   CONQUERING HERO.
   HIS PARENTS SAID J.O. 
   WHO WANTS TO SERVE HIS
   COUNTRY ONE DAY HAS 
   SURVIVED THIS BATTLE 
   BY FOLLOWING ADVICE OF
   WINSTON CHURCHILL TO 
   NEVER, NEVER, NEVER 
   GIVE UP.
   REHEMA ELLIS, NBC 
   NEWS. 
   >> GO GET THEM, J.O. 
   >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY 
   NEWS."
   I'M LESTER HOLT.
   THANKS FOR WATCHING 
