>>> TONIGHT, THE SCATHING REPORT FINDING UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION WITHIN A MAJOR U.S. CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER A BOTCHED POLICE RAID THAT KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FINDING LOUISVILLE POLICE ROUTINELY USED EXCESSIVE FORCE AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE. SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? AND THE NEW DOJ REVIEW ANNOUNCED IN MEMPHIS AFTER THE DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS. >>> NEW DETAILS ON THE FOUR AMERICANS KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO. TWO KILLED, TWO NOW BACK IN THE U.S. NOW NEW VIDEO REVEALING A FIFTH PERSON HAD BEEN IN THE VAN WITH THEM. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER? >>> THE NEW VIDEO, A BRAWL BREAKING OUT ON A SOUTHWEST FLIGHT A DAY AFTER THAT MIDAIR ATTACK ON A UNITED PLANE. WE HEAR FROM A PASSENGER WHO HELPED TAKE THE SUSPECT DOWN. >>> THE NEW STORM THREAT IN CALIFORNIA AS THE DEATH TOLL GROWS AFTER RECORD SNOW. WE'RE TRACKING IT. >>> FOX NEWS UNDER FIRE. PRESIDENT BIDEN BLASTING HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR GIVING TUCKER CARLSON THE VIDEO HE CHERRY-PICKED TO FALSELY PORTRAY THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK AS PEACEFUL AND THE NEWLY REVEALED TEXT MESSAGES. WHAT CARLSON REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AFTER THE ELECTION. >>> AND ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, THE ALL GIRLS TEAM OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS WHO FLED THEIR HOME AND ARE WOWING THE WORLD. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME ON THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. RARELY HAS AN AMERICAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, ITS PRACTICES, ITS CULTURE, ITS PERFORMANCE BEEN SO THOROUGHLY AND BROADLY CONDEMNED. THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCING RESULTS OF ITS NEARLY TWO-YEAR-LONG REVIEW OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCUSING IT OF ENGAGING IN A PATTERN OF VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THAT OFFICERS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE, ENGAGED IN EXCESSIVE FORCE AND INVALID SEARCHES. THE DOJ INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY THE 2020 DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR, A BLACK WOMAN WHO WAS FATALLY SHOT BY LOUISVILLE OFFICERS IN HER OWN HOME DURING A BOTCHED RAID IN 2020. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ANNOUNCING THE FINDINGS CALLING THE PATTERN OF CONDUCT UNACCEPTABLE AND HEARTBREAKING. TONIGHT THERE'S REACTION FROM CITY OFFICIALS AND WE HEAR FROM BREONNA TAYLOR'S MOTHER. MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS OUR REPORT. >> Reporter: TODAY'S SCATHING REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNVEILED A DAMNING ASSESSMENT OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THEY HAVE LONG ENGAGED IN A TROUBLING PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATORY LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES. INVESTIGATORS FROM THE DOJ CITED SERIOUS UNLAWFUL ABUSES, ESPECIALLY AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE. >> SOME OFFICERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED DISRESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SWORN TO PROTECT. SOME HAVE VIDEOTAPED THEMSELVES THROWING DRINKS AT PEDESTRIANS FROM THEIR CARS AND INSULTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND CALLED BLACK PEOPLE MONKEYS, ANIMAL AND BOY. THIS CONDUCT IS UNACCEPTABLE. >> Reporter: THE TROUBLING 86-PAGE REPORT CITES USES OF EXCESSIVE FORCE, UNJUSTIFIED NECK RESTRAINTS AND THE UNREASONABLE USE OF POLICE DOGS AND TASERS. OFFICERS ALSO CONDUCTED SEARCHES BASED ON INVALID WARRANTS, UNLAWFULLY STOPPED, SEARCHED AND DETAINED CITIZENS AND VIOLATED THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE ENGAGED IN PROTECTED SPEECH CRITICAL OF POLICING. THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL SPECIFICALLY CITED A SPECIALIZED UNIT ORIGINALLY CALLED VIPER. >> THE UNIT'S ACTIVITIES WERE PART OF AN OVERALL ENFORCEMENT APPROACH THAT RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT AND UNLAWFUL RACIAL DISPARITIES. >> Reporter: THE TWO-YEAR REVIEW INTO LMPD WAS LAUNCHED AFTER THE 2020 SHOOTING DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR. THE BOTCHED RAID IN WHICH TAYLOR WAS NOT A SUSPECT HELPED EXPOSE WHAT FEDERAL AUTHORITIES NOW CALL A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF CONDUCT THAT DEPRIVES PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHTS. >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO THINK, TO KNOW THAT THIS THING SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED AND THAT IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR ANYBODY ELSE TO SAY THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE FAILURE TO PROTECT AND SERVE AT THE COST OF COMMUNITY TRUST. >> MIGUEL, SOME CHANGES HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY LOUISVILLE'S POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT ALL THIS TONIGHT? >> Reporter: LESTER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS NOT CONCEDING TO A PATTERN OF CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS, SAYS IT'S REVAMPING ITS TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OFFICERS. THE CITY IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE DOJ TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES. MEANTIME, WE SHOULD MENTION AFTER THE DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS IN MEMPHIS, THE DOJ WILL REVIEW THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF FORCE POLICIES. >> THANK YOU. >>> WE WANT TO TURN TO DEVELOPMENTS ON THE AMERICANS KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO. WE'VE JUST LEARNED THERE WAS A FIFTH PERSON ON THE TRIP. GABE GUTIERREZ IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE THE AMERICANS ARE FROM. >> Reporter: THIS IS VIDEO INSIDE THE MINIVAN HEADING TO MEXICO BEFORE FOUR AMERICANS WERE KIDNAPPED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY LIVESTREAMED ON FACEBOOK. A LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TELLS NBC NEWS, A PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED FIFTH PERSON MADE THE ROAD TRIP BUT LEFT THE GROUP BEFORE THE OTHERS CROSSED THE BORDER BECAUSE THAT PERSON DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION. WE'RE BLURRING HER FACE SINCE SHE HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED. LaTAVIA WASHINGTON McGEE, A MOTHER OF SIX WAS AMONG THE AMERICANS CAPTURED WHEN CARTEL GUNMEN OPENED FIRE ON THE MINIVAN AFTER THEY CROSSED INTO MEXICO FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDURE. McGEE'S COUSIN, SHAEED WOODARD AND CLOSE FRIEND, ZINDELL BROWN WERE KILLED. McGEE'S MOTHER SPEAKING TO CNN. >> SHE WATCHED THEM DIE. >> Reporter: ANOTHER MEMBER, ERIC WILLIAMS, WAS SHOT IN THE LEG NOW RECOVERING. DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HE WOULD MAKE SUCH A TRIP AS THIS? >> I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED. I HAD NO IDEA HE WOULD GO TO MEXICO. >> Reporter: ROBERT IS HIS OLDER BROTHER AND HE WATCHED THE IMAGES OF THE TWO AMERICAN SURVIVORS BEING BROUGHT BACK ON TELEVISION. >> I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO FIND OUT HE WAS OKAY. I WAS TOTALLY RELIEVED. >> Reporter: WE'RE ALSO LEARNING NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE CHILLING ABDUCTION, PICTURES RELEASED BY MEXICAN AUTHORITIES SHOW THE GUNMEN TRAILING THE WHITE MEN VAN AND MORE SHOW LUGGAGE, DEBIT CARDS AND CASH INVESTIGATORS FOUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OVER A TENSE FEW DAYS INVESTIGATORS SCRAMBLED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT HOSPITALS IN THE AREA TO FIND THE VICTIMS DISCOVERING THEM IN THIS WOODEN SHACK SOME 50 MILES FROM MATAMOROS. POLICE ARRESTED THIS MAN, ACCUSED OF GUARDING THE AMERICANS BUT ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE GUNMEN. TODAY HUNDREDS OF EXTRA TROOPS FROM THE MEXICAN ARMY AND NATIONAL GUARD ARRIVED IN MATAMOROS TO RAMP UP SECURITY. AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THE GROUP OF AMERICANS WAS MISTAKENLY TARGETED BY CARTEL GUNMEN, BUT NEWS OF A FIFTH PERSON ON THE ROAD TRIP POINT TO A COMPLEX INVESTIGATION THAT IS ONLY WIDENING. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, GABE GUTIERREZ, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO ANOTHER ONBOARD DISTURBANCE, DRAMATIC VIDEO THIS TIME SHOWING A BRAWL BETWEEN PLANE PASSENGERS AS THE ACTING HEAD OF THE FAA REITERATED ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNRULY BEHAVIOR. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: IT HAPPENED AS SOUTHWEST 117 WAS BOARDING, DALLAS TO PHOENIX, ONE PASSENGER BEGAN PUNCHING ANOTHER, FELLOW TRAVELERS PULLING THEM APART. SOUTHWEST SAYS ITS CREW HELPED DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION, COMING DAYS AFTER 32-YEAR-OLD FRANCISCO TORRES THREATENED FELLOW TRAVELERS ON A UNITED FLIGHT TO BOSTON. >> I WILL KILL EVERY MAN ON THIS PLANE. >> Reporter: THEN TRIED TO STAB A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WITH A BROKEN SPOON AS FELLOW PASSENGERS TACKLED HIM. >> WE ARE NOW AN EMERGENCY AIRCRAFT. >> Reporter: THE CAPTAIN DECLARED AN IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY. >> THE PERSON IS SUBDUED AND BEING DETAINED RIGHT THOUGHT, HOWEVER NOT GOING QUIETLY. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE PASSENGERS THAT SUBDUED HIM TOLD OUR BOSTON STATION WE HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING HIM DOWN. LAST YEAR MORE THAN 2,300 REPORTS, MANY INVOLVING PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ASSAULTS. ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY THE ACTING CHIEF REITERATED THE FAA'S ZERO TOLERANCE. >> WE WILL TAKE EVERY, EVERY STEP TO ENSURE THAT ACTION TAKES PLACE AGAINST ANY PERPETRATOR. >> Reporter: THE NATION'S FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE AGAIN CALLING ON CONGRESS TO CREATE A NATIONAL NO-FLY LIST FOR BAD BEHAVING PASSENGERS. >> AIRLINES ARE BANNING PASSENGERS WHO ACT OUT BADLY ON THEIR AIRLINE, BUT THAT INFORMATION IS NOT SHARED WITH THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY. >> Reporter: THE FAA'S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY MEANS MISBEHAVING PASSENGERS CAN FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES AND FINES OF UP TO $37,000 PER VIOLATION. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, TOM COSTELLO, THANKS. >>> TONIGHT AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE WERE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOMES FOLLOWING THOSE MASSIVE SNOWSTORMS THAT STRANDED SO MANY IN CALIFORNIA, AND THERE IS ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS TO COME. DYLAN DREYER IS TRACKING IT FOR US. DYLAN, WHERE AND WHEN? >> IT'S GOING TO HIT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S GOING TO START TOMORROW, AND THIS TIME AROUND IT LOOKS LIKE FLOODING IS GOING TO BE THE MAJOR CONCERN. FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY. NOW, WE HAVE A STRENGTHENING STORM SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ITS WAY ONSHORE AND HAVE A HUGE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER OF MOISTURE CROSSING OVER THE PACIFIC AND BRINGING ALL OF THAT WATER AND MOISTURE ON SHORE. WE ARE GOING TO SEE SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IMPACT AREAS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, EVEN GOING INTO FRIDAY. IT'S STAYING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA AND POINTS JUST TO THE SOUTH. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT MOSTLY RAIN EVEN IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS BELOW 8,000 FEET, SO WHEN YOU HAVE 6 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN FALLING ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT SNOWPACK, LESTER, FLOODING IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN AND ALSO THE WEIGHT OF ALL THAT SNOW ON THE ROOFS. >> DYLAN, THANK YOU. >>> A STRONG REBUKE FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS AFTER THEY GAVE FOOTAGE FROM THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK TO FOX NEWS WITH EVEN REPUBLICANS DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE. KRISTEN WELKER REPORTS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME PRESIDENT BIDEN WEIGHING IN BLASTING REPUBLICANS AND FOX NEWS OPINION HOST TUCKER CARLSON FOR MISREPRESENTING THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK AFTER CARLSON AGAIN AIRED SELECT NEW FOOTAGE. THE PRESIDENT TWEETING, MORE THAN 140 OFFICERS WERE INJURED ON JANUARY 6th. I'VE SAID BEFORE, HOW DARE ANYONE DIMINISH OR DENY THE HELL THEY WENT THROUGH. I HOPE HOUSE REPUBLICANS FEEL ASHAMED. WHILE CARLSON SHOWED SOME IMAGES OF THE VIOLENCE, HE PRESENTED AN ALTERNATE REALITY OF THE DAY, FALSELY DESCRIBING IT AS, QUOTE, MOSTLY PEACEFUL CHAOS AIRING FOOTAGE OF THE SUSPECT KNOWN AS THE QANON SHAMAN SENTENCED TO 41 MONTHS IN PRISON. >> THEY HELPED HIM AND ACTED AS HIS TOUR GUIDES. >> Reporter: BEING WALKED AROUND THE CAPITOL BY POLICE. THE CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF NOT COMMENTING ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE VIDEO BUT CALLING THE OVERALL REPORT FILLED WITH OFFENSIVE AND MISLEADING CONCLUSIONS. CARLSON WAS GIVEN THE FOOTAGE BY HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY. >> THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE'S FINALLY TRANSPARENCY. >> Reporter: BUT MANY REPUBLICANS ARE DENOUNCING THE FOX NEWS HOST. >> I THINK IT'S [ BLEEP ]. >> IT WAS AN OUTRAGEOUS ACT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, NEWLY REVEALED EVIDENCE IN THE DOMINION VOTING SYSTEM'S DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST FOX NEWS SHOWS SOON AFTER THE ELECTION, SOME AT FOX NEWS WANTED TO MOVE ON FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP INCLUDING CARLSON WHO TEXTED A FELLOW FOX EMPLOYEE, QUOTE, I HATE HIM PASSIONATELY. SPEAKER McCARTHY SAYS HE RELEASED THE FOOTAGE TO CARLSON FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND THAT HE'LL GIVE IT TO EVERYONE EVENTUALLY BUT McCARTHY HASN'T DONE THAT SO FAR. LESTER. >> KRISTEN WELKER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANKS. >>> CHINA WAS FRONT AND SUNUNU CENTER AS U.S. INTELLIGENCE LEADERS APPEARED ON THE HILL AND LAID OUT THE BIGGEST THREATS FACING THE UNITED STATES. WITH MORE HERE'S ANDREA MITCHELL. >> Reporter: CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING'S CONTROL OVER THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND MILITARY BEING RATIFIED THIS WEEK IN BEIJING. THE GREATEST LONG-TERM THREAT TO THE U.S. ACCORDING TO INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. >> THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING THE UNITED STATES ECONOMICALLY, TECHNOLOGICALLY AND MILITARILY AROUND THE WORLD REMAINS OUR UNPARALLELED PRIORITY. >> Reporter: PLANS TO TAKE OVER TAIWAN AND CYBERESPIONAGE RECURRING THEMES, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA. >> COULD THEY USE TIKTOK TO CONTROL DATA ON MILLIONS OF USERS? >> YES. >> COULD THEY USE IT TO CONTROL THE SOFTWARE ON MILLIONS OF DEVICES GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO? >> YES. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS HAMMERING HOME CHINA'S COVER-UP AND THE LAB LEAK THEORY ON THE ORIGINS OF COVID NOT ANIMAL TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION. >> I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY THAT THESE ARE TWO EQUALLY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATIONS. THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT. >> I SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION WITH THE FACT THAT CHINA HAS NOT BEEN MORE COOPERATIVE ON THIS ISSUE. >> Reporter: THE ANNUAL REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTING CHINA'S INCREASED EFFORTS TO MEDDLE IN ELECTIONS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS BUT SAYS CHINA STILL WANTS A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SAYS RUSSIA'S MILITARY IS UNLIKELY TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN UKRAINE THIS YEAR, BUT THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN WILL PROLONG THE WAR EVEN IF IT TAKES YEARS BECAUSE HE BELIEVES TIME IS ON HIS SIDE. LESTER. >> ANDREA MITCHELL, THANKS. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE NEW DRAFT REPORT ON UFOs. THE PENTAGON'S EXPERT WARNING ABOUT A POSSIBLE MOTHER SHIP COMING CLOSE TO >>> IT MAY SOUND STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOVIE, BUT THE PENTAGON AND A HARVARD SCIENTIST HAVE COLLABORATED ON A NEW DRAFT REPORT QUESTIONING IF WE'RE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE AND WHETHER WE'VE ALREADY SEEN EVIDENCE OF LIFE BEYOND EARTH. HERE'S GADI SCHWARTZ. >> Reporter: MOVE OVER, CHINESE SPY BALLOON OR WHATEVER ELSE U.S. FIGHTER JETS SHOT DOWN LAST MONTH, TONIGHT OUT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, A DRAFT PAPER ABOUT MYSTERIOUS FLYING OBJECTS SOUNDING ALMOST LIKE SCIENCE FICTION. >> LOOK AT THAT THING. >> I THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT WE ARE NOT THE MOST INTELLIGENT CIVILIZATION THAT EVER EXISTED. >> Reporter: RENOWNED HARVARD ASTRONOMER AVI LOEB TEAMING UP WITH THE ALL-DOMAIN ANOMALY RESOLUTION OFFICE. TOGETHER THEY SAY THAT INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS DETECTED IN SPACE COULD BE SIGNS OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE AND THAT CURRENT SKY MAPPING TECHNOLOGY LIKE THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE COULD MISS SUCH OBJECTS. >> IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MOTHER SHIP THAT RELEASED SOME PROBES IN THE HABITABLE REGION AROUND THE SUN. WE HAVE A VISITOR TO OUR BACKYARD. WE SHOULD OBSERVE AT FIRST. >> Reporter: PROFESSOR LOEB NOW LEADING THE CHARGE TO BUILD BETTER ARRAYS OF SENSORS TO CAPTURE ANOMALIES BUT FOR NOW EVERYTHING IS HYPOTHETICAL AND HIS PAPER IS MEANT TO REMIND UFO HUNTERS NOT TO FORGET THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. >> IT'S NOT JUST THE REPORT FROM MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE INTRIGUING AND MOTIVATE MY WORK RIGHT NOW, I WANT MY INSTRUMENTS TO TELL ME WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, MORE VIDEOS SURFACING SHOWING ODD OBJECTS HAVE BEEN LEAKED TO DOCUMENTARY UFO FILMMAKER JEREMY CORBELL, WHO RECENTLY RELEASED THIS FLYING OBJECT OVER IRAQ. THE PENTAGON NOT COMMENTING BUT CONFIRMING PRIOR ONES RELEASED BY CORBELL HAD BEEN FILMED FROM SERVICE MEMBERS. AS FOR WHAT THEY ARE, EXPLANATIONS REMAIN OUT OF REACH. >> THAT'S ONE TO TALK OVER OVER THE DINNER TABLE. >>> THEY RECEIVED BILL >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION. AFTER COVID LOCKDOWNS SHUT DOWN SO MANY SCHOOLS, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS HAVE SPENT THE BILLIONS IN COVID RELIEF MONEY THEY RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER IT'S HELPING STUDENTS ENOUGH WITH LEARNING LOSS. HERE'S STEPHANIE GOSK. >> Reporter: NORTHUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA DESPERATELY NEEDED MORE SPACE. >> I THINK THIS HAS BEEN TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. >> Reporter: NOW PRINCIPAL TRAVIS BURNS FINALLY HAS IT. IT'S A BIG SPACE. >> ABSOLUTELY. THERE WILL BE A PARTITION SO WE CAN DO CLASSROOMS IN THE AFTERNOONS AND DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS SPACE ACTUALLY WILL HELP WITH ATHLETICS. >> Reporter: A $1.5 MILLION FACILITY FUNDED IN PART BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S COVID RESCUE PLAN. $184 BILLION OF EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR SCHOOLS. IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN A GENERATION. >> THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH MANY SCHOOLS, I THINK, IS FACILITIES. >> Reporter: AN ESTIMATED 20% TO 25% OF THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACCORDING TO EDUCATION RESEARCHER MARGUERITE ROZA. >> MANY DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY PUT THESE FACILITY'S PROJECTS IN MOTION. >> Reporter: SHE'S TRACKING THE EMERGENCY COVID FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS AND HAS SOME CONCERNS. >> I WOULD SAY GET THE KIDS BACK ON TRACK FIRST AND FACILITIES SECOND. SO, IF THE KIDS ARE LEARNING, THEN BY ALL MEAN, YOU KNOW, REMODEL THE GYM AND GET THE ROOF FIXED. >> Reporter: THERE IS DRAMATIC LEARNING LOSS FROM COVID. MATH AND READING SCORES FOR EIGHTH AND FOURTH GRADERS FALLEN TO 20-YEAR LOWS. IN DECEMBER WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR HOW FAR STUDENTS WERE BEHIND, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENT OUT GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED USING RELIEF MONEY ON NEW CONSTRUCTION, IN PART BECAUSE OF STUDENTS LIKE CHASE. HE WAS IN FIRST GRADE IN DELAWARE WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT. WHAT DID YOU FIND DIFFICULT? >> LOOKING AT THE TEACHER ON A SMALL SCREEN. >> YEAH, NO KIDDING. DID YOU FIND THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF IN YOUR ROOM THAT WAS A LITTLE DISTRACTING? >> UH-HUH. >> YEAH, I BET. I BET. >> YEAH. A LOT OF STUFF. >> Reporter: WITH HELP FROM THE COVID RELIEF FUND, HIS SCHOOL DISTRICT INVESTED IN SUMMER SCHOOL AND TUTORING, WHICH IS PAYING OFF. DO YOU THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE'S RIGHT WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE? >> ABSOLUTELY. HIS SPECIFIC SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES ALL OF THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. >> Reporter: ROZA SAYS IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL TO PARENTS. >> I WOULD CALL THE SCHOOL AND SAY WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT CAN HELP GET MY KID BACK ON TRACK? THOSE PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE. >> Reporter: IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY THE DISTRICT HAS ALSO INVESTED RELIEF FUNDS IN TUTORING AND SUMMER SCHOOL, WHILE PRINCIPAL BURNS SAYS THEIR NEW FACILITY WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE, AS WELL. >> THIS FACILITY IS ALL ABOUT SCHOOL CULTURE, SCHOOL CLIMATE AND BUILDING CONNECTION. >> Reporter: SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2024 TO SPEND THE RELIEF FUND BEFORE IT RUNS OUT. EACH ONE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS IN THE FACE OF SO MUCH NEED. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS, VIRGINIA. >>> UP NEXT FOR US TONIGHT, WE'LL CHECK >>> FINALLY ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, THE ALL GIRLS GROUP OF SCIENTISTS FROM AFGHANISTAN LEADING THE WAY TO A FUTURE OF GREATER EQUALITY. HERE'S MOLLY HUNTER. >> Reporter: WHEN KABUL FELL TO THE TALIBAN IN AUGUST OF 2021, THE ALL GIRLS AFGHAN ROBOTICS TEAM, SO-CALLED AFGHAN DREAMERS WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE. THEY'RE NOW BASED IN QATAR. WE CATCH UP WITH TEAM MEMBERS, 19-YEAR-OLD ASFANI AHMADI, SADAF HAMIDI AND CAPTAIN FLORENCE POUYA. >> WE ARE NOT JUST THE ROBOTICS TEAM. WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING THE ROBOT. IT'S A WAY TO SHOW THE OTHER GIRLS IN AFGHANISTAN, THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR POWER. >> Reporter: BACK IN HERAT BACK BEFORE THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE TEAM BUILT THIS PRETTY INCREDIBLE AFFORDABLE VENTILATOR PROTOTYPE. BUT NOW THERE'S LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCH INNOVATION. THE TALIBAN HAVE BANNED GIRLS FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY. UNICEF ESTIMATES 4 MILLION GIRLS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. >> I CAN BE THE VOICE OF MY FRIENDS AND I CAN DO HAVING FROM HERE THAT CAN HELP THEM. >> Reporter: AND THEY KNOW THEY'RE THE LUCKY ONES SAFELY OUT OF THE COUNTRY, SAFE ENOUGH TO DREAM BIG. >> OUR FRIENDS ARE STILL THERE, AND THEY WILL BE THE FUTURE SCIENTISTS, THE FUTURE LEADERS, THE FUTURE ENGINEERS, THE ONES THAT CAN BRING A SOLUTION ON CANCER. >> WE ARE ALSO TRYING HARD TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY FROM AFAR TO TELL THE WORLD AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT AFGHAN GIRLS CAN BE AMAZING IF THEY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. >> Reporter: AND THE AFGHAN DREAMERS, WELL, THEY'RE PROVING THAT EVERY DAY. MOLLY HUNTER, NBC NEWS, LONDON. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.