>>> TONIGHT, A DIRECT STRIKE, A DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO HITS LITTLE ROCK WITH MORE STORMS ON THE MOVE. VIOLENT FUNNEL CLOUDS CAUGHT ON CAMERA, AND HOSPITALS PREPARE FOR INJURIES. CARS THROWN AND HEAVY DAMAGE TO HOMES. THE NATIONAL GUARD CALLED IN. TENS OF MILLIONS AT RISK, THE DANGEROUS TORNADO EMERGENCY FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. WE'RE TRACKING IT WITH OUR TEAM IN THE STORM ZONE. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE HISTORIC INDICTMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. SOURCES TELLING NBC NEWS IT CONTAINS AROUND 30 COUNTS OF DOCUMENT-RELATED FRAUD FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN A HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TO AN ADULT FILM STAR. MR. TRUMP CALLING THE DEMOCRATIC D.A.'S MOVE A POLITICAL PERSECUTION. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT WHEN THE INDICTMENT WILL BE UNSEALED AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN MR. TRUMP ARRIVES IN A NEW YORK CITY COURTROOM. >>> JUST RELEASED, THE NAMES OF THE NINE SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE NIGHTMARE TRAINING CRASH OF THOSE TWO ARMY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS. >>> OUR INSIDE LOOK AT A REMARKABLE NEW TREATMENT. COVID. >>> AND THE CINDERELLA TEAMS MAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL FOUR. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING. AS WE COME ON THE AIR TONIGHT, WE ARE TRACKING THOSE VIOLENT AND DAMAGING STORMS ON THE MOVE IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW INCLUDING EARLY CONCERNS OF MASS CASUALTIES AND TORNADO DESTRUCTION IN THE LITTLE ROCK AREA. THE MAYOR THERE ASKING FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ASSIST. TONIGHT, SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS INCLUDING TORNADO WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT IN SEVERAL SOUTHERN AND MIDWEST STATES. LARGER CITIES POTENTIALLY IN THE PATH TONIGHT INCLUDE MEMPHIS, ST. LOUIS, EARLIER THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LABELING IT A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LET'S GO RIGHT TO LITTLE ROCK NOW, EMILIE IKEDA, YOU WERE FORCED TO TAKE SHELTER A WHILE AGO. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> Reporter: LESTER, THAT'S RIGHT. A TWISTER BARRELING THROUGH ACROSS THE RIVER. THIS AREA SEEING BACK-TO-BACK TORNADO WARNINGS, AND AS WE SEE REPORTS OF INJURIES AND DAMAGE POURING IN, THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS TONIGHT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY. >> GO, GO, GO, GO. >> Reporter: LIFE-THREATENING DANGER IN THE HEART OF ARKANSAS. >> THIS IS NOT A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS IS A TORNADO IN PROGRESS. >> Reporter: A CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN AROUND LITTLE ROCK, CARS AND TRUCKS FLIPPED, AND STOREFRONTS RIPPED APART. >> THE SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER BEEN IN. SHEETS OF RAIN AND THEN THE TREES, LIKE TOYS BEING PICKED UP. >> Reporter: RESIDENTS FRANTICALLY TRYING TO FIND SAFE SHELTER. >> MADE IT INTO ONE OF THE LITTLE SALONS OVER HERE, GOT IN, AND AS I GOT IN, HUDDLED UP AGAINST THE CEMENT BARRIER, EVERY SINGLE GLASS WINDOW BLEW OUT, AND PEOPLE WERE BLOWN BACK, AND I HELD ON, AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN A MINUTE JUST HUDDLED. I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER FOR SURE. >> FOR YOUR SAFETY, PLEASE REMAIN CALM. >> Reporter: OUR CREW HAVING TO RACE TO THE BASEMENT OF THIS HOTEL AS THE FAST-MOVING STORM CLOSED IN. THIS IS THE REALITY FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS ARKANSAS, HUNKERING DOWN, AND TAKING COVER AS LIFE-THREATENING STORMS AND TORNADOES BEGIN TO BARREL THROUGH. THE STORM SYSTEM, ONE OF SEVERAL SPREAD ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND MIDWEST. 58 MILLION PEOPLE FACING A TORNADO THREAT ALONG WITH THUNDERSTORMS, HAIL AND POWERFUL WINDS. DAMAGE IS ALREADY BEING REPORTED. MORE THAN 90,000 WITHOUT POWER. OFFICIALS IN LITTLE ROCK URGING PEOPLE TO STAY INSIDE THEIR HOMES, SO EMERGENCY CREWS CAN GET CLOSE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP. ONE OF LITTLE ROCK'S MAJOR HOSPITALS AT A LEVEL 1 OPERATION, EXPECTING NEARLY 20 PATIENTS, THEIR CONDITIONS UNKNOWN. >> A LOT OF DAMAGE, A LOT OF TREES DOWN, AND DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES, SO IT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS SITUATION. >> Reporter: THE STATE CAPITAL AND SURROUNDING AREAS NOW REELING FROM THIS RAGING STORM. >> EMILIE JOINING US NOW. ANY UPDATE IN THE NUMBER OF INJURIES AT THIS HOUR? >> Reporter: YOU KNOW, LESTER, EARLIER TODAY WE HEARD TORNADO SIRENS, AND NOW IT'S THE SIRENS OF AMBULANCE AND POLICE CARS. WE'VE CONFIRMED NUMEROUS INJURIES, BUT AUTHORITIES ARE STILL TRYING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE IN WHAT IS AN ACTIVE SITUATION. OVER, SO EXPECT THE NUMBER TO CONTINUE TO RISE. NUMEROUS HOSPITALS IN THIS AREA, LESTER, ARE BRACING FOR WHAT THEY SAY IS A SURGE IN PATIENTS. >> EMILIE IKEDA, THANK YOU. >>> TO THE EAST MEMPHIS IS ALSO IN THE CROSSHAIRS. BLAYNE ALEXANDER IS THERE FOR US. WHAT IS THE SITUATION THERE THIS EVENING? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, HERE IN MEMPHIS WE ARE NOW BRACING FOR ALL OF THAT DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER THAT YOU JUST SAW TO NOW HEAD THIS WAY. IN FACT, JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO WE HEARD TORNADO SIRENS GOING OFF IN THE DISTANCE. WE HAVE CONFIRMED THIS AREA WHERE WE ARE IS NOT IN DANGER YET, BUT MEANWHILE IN IOWA, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST EIGHT REPORTED TORNADOES. IT'S NOT CLEAR YET JUST HOW EXTENSIVE THE DAMAGE IS THERE, BUT THESE STORMS ARE POWERFUL. THAT'S WHY BACK HERE IN MEMPHIS IN THIS BUSY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, SOME HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ALREADY HAVE EMERGENCY PLANS IN PLACE TELLING PEOPLE WHERE TO SEEK SHELTER IF NEEDED, LESTER. >> OKAY, BLAYNE ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> I WANT TO GO RIGHT TO BILL KARINS. HE'S TRACKING THIS URGENT SITUATION. WE ARE NOT OVER HERE YET. >> LESTER, WE HAVE NUMEROUS TORNADOES ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW, ONLY 15 MILES TO THE NORTH WHERE BLAYNE WAS, THIS IS ON THE GROUND CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AS WE SPEAK, LARGE AND DANGEROUS AND AN EMERGENCY FOR THIS. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE WIND AREAS. WE HAVE TORNADO WATCHES THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, PROBABLY AT LEAST UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THE TORNADO THREAT WILL CONTINUE THEN A WIND DAMAGE THREAT THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WE'RE SEEING THE WORST OF IT IN IOWA. NUMEROUS PICTURES OF JUST HUGE TORNADOES. ALSO AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE MEMPHIS AREA, YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOURS TO MOVE THROUGH AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. WE'RE NOT DONE YET. THEY'LL PASS INTO ILLINOIS AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF ARKANSAS AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, AND THEN TOMORROW, WE STILL GOT SEVERE WEATHER THREATS INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY BUT NOT TORNADO, THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS. >> BILL WATCHING IT ALL FOR US, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW YORK PREPARING FOR A COURT APPEARANCE LIKE NONE OTHER. THE ARRAIGNMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPECTED ON TUESDAY. THE INDICTMENT STILL UNDER SEAL, BUT SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS MR. TRUMP WILL FACE AROUND 30 COUNTS LIKELY CENTERED ON THE ACCOUNTING OF A HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TO AN ADULT FILM ACTRESS. HERE'S GARRETT HAAKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE NYPD PREPARING FOR LOWER MANHATTAN TO BECOME THE EPICENTER OF AN ONGOING LEGAL AND POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE AS THE HISTORIC PROSECUTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TRANSITIONS TO ITS NEXT PHASE. SECURITY TIGHTENING, AND OFFICERS TOLD TO BE IN UNIFORM AHEAD OF POSSIBLE PROTESTS, THOUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TODAY SAYING THERE ARE NO CREDIBLE THREATS. THE INDICTMENT OF MR. TRUMP IS STILL SECRET AND UNDER SEAL, BUT SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH ITS CONTENTS TELL NBC NEWS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL FACE SOME 30 DOCUMENT FRAUD-RELATED CHARGES WHEN HE'S FORMALLY ARRAIGNED NEXT WEEK. THE CASE DEVELOPED BY MANHATTAN D.A. ALVIN BRAGG CENTERS ON PAYMENTS ALLEGEDLY ORCHESTRATED ON BEHALF OF MR. TRUMP BY FORMER TRUMP FIXER TURNED CRITIC, MICHAEL COHEN, IN 2016. ALL TO SILENCE CLAIMS OF AN AFFAIR WITH MR. TRUMP BY ADULT FILM STAR STORMY DANIELS. MR. TRUMP HAS LONG DENIED THE AFFAIR AND HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS THEMSELVES ARE NOT ILLEGAL. THE QUESTION IS HOW THE PAYMENT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR. WHAT COULD BE A MISDEMEANOR, OR IF HE PURSUES A LOW-LEVEL FELONY, BRAGG MAY TRY AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, A STATE PROSECUTOR CHARGING AN ALLEGED FEDERAL ELECTION LAW VIOLATION. >> THIS WAS A PERSONAL RESOLUTION FOR A PERSONAL MATTER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN, SO WITH THOSE FACTS TOGETHER, THERE IS NO CRIME. IT'S NOT EVEN A BAD ACT. >> Reporter: BOTH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AND BRAGG'S PREDECESSOR IN THE D.A.'S OFFICE DECLINED TO PURSUE A CASE AGAINST MR. TRUMP, WHICH WOULD HAVE RELIED ON TESTIMONY FROM COHEN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO A FEDERAL CAMPAIGN LAW VIOLATION RELATED TO THE CASE AND LYING TO CONGRESS IN A SEPARATE MATTER. >> I AM A CONVICTED FELON. I AM A DISBARRED LAWYER, BUT I ALSO BROUGHT THE DOCUMENTS. THERE'S PLENTY OF TESTIMONY, CORROBORATING TESTIMONY TO GO AROUND. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS SAY HE WILL SURRENDER HIMSELF AHEAD OF HIS EXPECTED ARRAIGNMENT TUESDAY. HE'LL BE FINGERPRINTED AND HAVE HIS MUG SHOT AND DNA SAMPLE TAKEN THOUGH THEY SAY HE WILL NOT BE HANDCUFFED THEN HE'LL APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE. ALL OF IT WHILE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF HIS SECRET SERVICE DETAIL AND YET ANOTHER HISTORIC FIRST. >> AND, GARRETT, JOINING ME LIVE FROM LOWER MANHATTAN. GARRETT, I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NEW CALLS FOR PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, A TOP TRUMP ALLY IN CONGRESS, SAYS SHE'S PLANNING A PROTEST HERE ON TUESDAY WITH OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS EXPECTED TO ATTEND. THAT COULD DRAW COUNTERPROTESTS, AS WELL. THE NYPD SAYS THEY'RE READY. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT, THANK YOU. >>> THE HISTORIC INDICTMENT IS ALREADY SHOWING THE POTENTIAL TO SHAKE UP THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. PETER ALEXANDER NOW WITH THAT PART OF THE STORY. >> Reporter: FIRST THE HISTORIC INDICTMENT, NOW THE POLITICAL FALLOUT. PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIBERATELY AVOIDING THE TOPIC. >> I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS ARE SLAMMING IT AS A DEMOCRATIC D.A. TRYING TO TAKE OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TOP POLITICAL OPPONENTS WITH A BOGUS LEGAL CASE LIKE THIS REACTION FROM FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL TURNED CRITIC BILL BARR. >> IT'S THE ARCHETYPAL ABUSE OF THE PROSECUTORIAL FUNCTION TO ENGAGE IN A POLITICAL HIT JOB, AND IT'S A DISGRACE. >> Reporter: SOME OF MR. TRUMP'S BIGGEST DEFENDERS, THOSE EXPECTED TO CHALLENGE HIM FOR THE GOP NOMINATION. >> THE UNPRECEDENTED INDICTMENT OF A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ON A CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUE IS OUTRAGEOUS. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP'S TOP POTENTIAL RIVAL, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS, BLASTED THE INDICTMENT AS UN-AMERICAN AND VOWED HIS STATE WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE EXTRADITION, EVEN THOUGH THE FORMER PRESIDENT PLANS TO SURRENDER VOLUNTARILY TO NEW YORK AUTHORITIES. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, HIS LAWYERS SAY, WAS SHOCKED BY HIS INDICTMENT BUT IS READY TO FIGHT. QUICKLY CONDEMNING THE D.A.'S MOVE AS POLITICAL PERSECUTION AND ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN HISTORY, AND TODAY LASHING OUT AT THE NEW YORK CITY JUDGE EXPECTED TO PRESIDE OVER HIS ARRAIGNMENT CLAIMING THE JUDGE, QUOTE, HATES ME. HIS DAUGHTER IVANKA TRUMP OFFERING A BRIEF STATEMENT IN SUPPORT, I LOVE MY FATHER, AND I LOVE MY COUNTRY. TODAY I AM PAINED FOR BOTH. TOP DEMOCRATS ARE APPLAUDING THE D.A.'S MOVE. >> THIS IS AN AFFIRMATION OF THE FACT THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW AND THAT WE ALL ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS ESCAPED ACCOUNTABILITY NOW FOR YEARS AND YEARS. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP REACHING OUT TO HIS ALLIES IN CONGRESS LIKE LINDSEY GRAHAM. >> THIS IS TURNING THE RULE OF LAW UPSIDE DOWN TO DESTROY A MAN, DONALD J. TRUMP, WHO THE LEFT FEARS. DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS. >> Reporter: THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SUPPORTERS ARE LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED CHARGES, HAWKING T-SHIRTS ONLINE TO RAISE CAMPAIGN MONEY. FOR ANY OTHER CANDIDATE AN INDICTMENT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE THE END OF THE LINE. BUT MR. TRUMP'S ALLIES INSIST THIS MOVE BY A DEMOCRATIC PROSECUTOR IS RALLYING REPUBLICANS AND WILL CEMENT HIS FRONT-RUNNER STATUS. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> FOR MORE LET ME BRING IN LAURA JARRETT AND JONATHAN DIENTS, NBC NEWS CHIEF JUSTICE CONTRIBUTOR. JONATHAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S RETURN TO NEW YORK? >> SEVERAL OFFICIALS TELLING US FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HERE IN NEW YORK MONDAY NIGHT. TUESDAY AROUND 1:00 P.M. HE WILL GO TO THE COURTHOUSE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL LIKELY NOT BE HANDCUFFED, NOT PLACED IN ANY HOLDING CELL, HE WILL BE FINGERPRINTED, BUT AS OF NOW, THERE IS NO PHOTOGRAPH MACHINE IN PLACE THERE, SO IT IS POSSIBLE THERE WILL BE NO TRUMP MUG SHOT. THE COURT PLANS TO ADJOURN MANY CASES THAT AFTERNOON TO GREATLY REDUCE THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE NORMALLY INSIDE. LESTER. >> LAURA, LET ME TURN TO YOU, ON 30 COUNTS, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT. IT MAY NOT BE ALL THAT IT APPEARS TO BE. >> IT SUGGESTS IT WILL NOT BE A SHORT INDICTMENT, LESTER, BUT 30 COUNTS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE'LL SEE 30 DIFFERENT CHARGES, OF COURSE. WE MIGHT SEE THE SAME CHARGE JUST REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES. EARLIER MR. TRUMP SUGGESTED -- MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEY SUGGESTED RATHER IT WAS ONE CHARGE FOR EACH OF THE REIMBURSEMENT CHECKS THAT GET SENT TO MICHAEL COHEN, BUT THERE WERE ONLY 11 OF THOSE. AS FOR THE OTHER COUNTS, THERE COULD BE BANKING CHARGES, TAX CHARGES, CONSPIRACY, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL IT GETS UNSEALED ON TUESDAY. >> LAURA AND JONATHAN, THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU. >>> WE'RE BACK IN 60 SECONDS WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL CULTURAL CLASH IN TENNESSEE WITH A NEW LAW CRACKING DOWN ON DRAG SHOWS SET TO TAKE EFFECT WITHIN HOURS. >>> AND LATER, THE REMARKABLE TREATMENT FOR ANYONE WHO LOST THEIR >>> TONIGHT, WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN THAT KENTUCKY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER CRASH ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT HAPPENED DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE NEAR FORT CAMPBELL. TODAY OFFICIALS RELEASED THE NAMES OF THE NINE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION SOLDIERS WHO DIED ABOARD THOSE TWO CHOPPERS. SAFETY TEAMS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. >>> AT MIDNIGHT IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT, A CONTROVERSIAL NEW LAW, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY, WILL GO INTO EFFECT BANNING DRAG SHOW PERFORMANCES IN PUBLIC PLACES. ANTONIA HYLTON REPORTS. ♪♪ >> Reporter: SINCE SHE TURNED 18, STORY VAN NESS HAS LOVED DRAG. AS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN LIVING IN KNOXVILLE, SHE'S NO STRANGER TO FEELING ISOLATED, BUT SINCE THE PASSAGE OF A NEW LAW RESTRICTING DRAG SHOWS AND THE SHOOTING IN NASHVILLE MONDAY, SHE'S BEEN UNABLE TO SLEEP. HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU PERFORM IN DRAG? >> SOMEBODY WALKED IN DURING MY NUMBER, AND I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, THIS COULD BE IT. JUST TODAY COULD BE THE DAY, YOU KNOW. >> Reporter: AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TENNESSEE WILL BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO IMPLEMENT A LAW RESTRICTING DRAG PERFORMANCES IN PUBLIC OR ANYWHERE A CHILD MIGHT SEE THEM. CONSERVATIVES SAY THE LAW, WHICH WOULD CARRY A MISDEMEANOR ON THE FIRST OFFENSE AND A FELONY ON THE SECOND, WILL ONLY BAN PERFORMANCES THAT ARE HARMFUL TO MINORS. AT LEAST 14 OTHER STATES HAVE SIMILAR BILLS IN PROGRESS. >> ALL WE CAN DO IS SAY THAT IT'S BAD AND IT'S WRONG AND PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO US BECAUSE -- BUT THEY HAVE FOUND US TO BE A REALLY EFFECTIVE POLITICAL TOOL. >> Reporter: NEW RESEARCH RELEASED THIS WEEK BY GLAAD FOUND 161 INCIDENTS OF ANTI-LGBTQ PROTESTS, ATTACKS AND THREATS TARGETING DRAG EVENTS SINCE EARLY 2022. ♪♪ THEY WARN THIS IS A SERIES OF BILLS THAT WILL MARGINALIZE LGBTQ PEOPLE. >> IF THEY WANTED TO PROTECT KIDS, MAYBE THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT ASSAULT RIFLES. >> Reporter: STATE SENATOR JACK JOHNSON AUTHORED THE LAW THAT EQUATES THOSE SHOWS WITH SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING THEY FEEL ATTACKED BY THIS BILL. >> THEY SHOULDN'T UNLESS THEY INTEND TO PERFORM SEXUALLY GRAPHIC ENTERTAINMENT IN FRONT OF CHILDREN. >> Reporter: TONI STOCKTON IS A MOM OF FOUR. SHE FIRST HEARD ABOUT DRAG IN 2019 AND STARTED A GROUP TO STOP DRAG QUEENS FROM DOING STORYTIME AT HER LOCAL LIBRARY. >> LITTLE BOYS, YOU KNOW, PUT ON DISNEY DRESSES AND LITTLE GIRLS, IT'S JUST -- THERE'S SO MUCH CONFUSION THAT IT'S OUR JOB AS A PARENT TO POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> WHY PROTEST THEIR EVENTS? WHY -- THEY DON'T COME TO YOUR CHURCH, SO WHY GO AND TELL THEM THEY CAN'T GO TO A LIBRARY? >> WELL, THE LIVE AND LET LIVE IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU DON'T STAND ON BIBLICAL CONVICTIONS, PEOPLE ALWAYS GO THE WAY OF CULTURE. >> WELCOME. >> Reporter: STORY REFUSES TO GIVE UP ON DRAG. SHE HAS THIS WARNING. >> WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK, BECAUSE WHEN THEY FINISH WITH US, DON'T BE NAIVE ENOUGH TO THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING FOR YOU. >> Reporter: ANTONIA HYLTON, NBC NEWS, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. ♪♪ >>> THERE IS MORE TO TELL YOU ABOUT TONIGHT. >>> MORE THAN THREE YEARS SINCE THE START OF COVID, MANY WHO GOT SICK ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH LONG-TERM EFFECTS, BUT NOW THERE'S NEW HOPE FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR SENSE OF SMELL AND TASTE. HERE'S KRISTEN DAHLGREN. >> Reporter: JENNIFER HENDERSON WOULDN'T NORMALLY CRY OVER A CUP OF COFFEE. >> I CAN SMELL. >> IS IT STRONG? >> YES. >> YEAH? >> Reporter: BUT SHE HADN'T SMELLED ONE IN NEARLY TWO YEARS. AFTER A COVID INFECTION IN JANUARY 2021, JENNIFER HENDERSON NEVER GOT HER SMELL OR TASTE BACK. >> YOU COULDN'T SMELL OR TASTE ANYTHING? >> NOTHING, NOTHING, AND THEN AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, IT WASN'T THAT I COULDN'T SMELL OR TASTE ANYTHING. NOW THE TASTE WAS OFF. IT WAS TERRIBLE. >> Reporter: FOOD SHE ONCE LOVED TASTED DISGUSTING. >> CHICKEN, COULDN'T EAT CHICKEN. >> WHAT DID IT TASTE LIKE? >> IT TASTED LIKE ROTTEN FLESH. >> Reporter: JENNIFER GREW DEPRESSED. MEALS WERE UNBEARABLE. >> HARD TO GET THROUGH EACH DAY. >> Reporter: AND THEN A FACEBOOK GROUP WITH NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LED HER TO DR. CHRISTINE SHIN AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC. >> IT WAS INCREDIBLE THAT SOMETHING SIMPLE AS A STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK COULD PRODUCE THIS TYPE OF RESULT. >> Reporter: THE STELLATE GANGLION IS A NERVE BUNDLE IN THE NECK AND NUMBING IT HAS HELPED, AND THEY TRIED IT LONG COVID PATIENTS. >> WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A GOOD RESPONSE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO PATIENTS WHO DON'T RESPOND, AND WE'RE STILL IN THE PHASE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IT WILL HELP. >> Reporter: THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT WORKS TO RESTORE TASTE AND SMELL, BUT SHIN ESTIMATES ABOUT 50% OF PATIENTS. SHIN PLANS TO START THE FIRST CLINICAL TRIALS FOR ITS USE IN TREATING LONG COVID SOON, BUT IN THE MEANTIME IS OFFERING THE PROCEDURE TO PATIENTS LIKE JENNIFER, NOW GETTING HER THIRD ROUND, A QUICK INJECTION INTO HER NECK. WITHIN MINUTES JENNIFER TRIES SOMETHING SHE HASN'T TASTED IN YEARS, WATERMELON. >> YOU CAN TASTE IT? >> YES. >> OH, WOW. >> Reporter: DR. SHIN SAYS SOME PATIENTS SEE INSTANT RELIEF. OTHERS GET SENSES BACK OVER TIME, AND SOME NOTHING AT ALL. IT'S UNCLEAR IF IMPROVEMENTS ARE PERMANENT, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE ALSO VARIES BY PLAN. >> OH, GOSH. >> Reporter: BUT FOR JENNIFER -- >> YOU'RE MY HERO. YOU GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK. >> Reporter: THE RESULTS GOT TO WIN BASKETBALL GAMES. >> Reporter: NOW ANOTHER WIN FOR EACH TEAM WOULD CREATE THE FIRST INTRASTATE FINALS IN 60 YEARS. SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI. >> BRING ON THE DRAMA.