>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT. RISING TENSIONS IN THE SKIES. THE U.S. ACCUSING RUSSIA OF DOWNING ONE OF ITS DRONES NEAR UKRAINE. A RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET ALLEGEDLY STRIKING THE UNMANNED U.S. DRONE IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE OVER THE BLACK SEA. THE U.S. MILITARY CALLING IT RECKLESS. WHAT THE KREMLIN IS SAYING, AND HOW WILL THE U.S. RESPOND? >>> ALSO TONIGHT, STATES OF EMERGENCY AS TWO MAJOR STORMS SLAM THE EAST AND WEST COAST. A POWERFUL NOR'EASTER BRINGING MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW TO THE NORTHEAST. TREACHEROUS TRAVEL. IN NEW YORK, ONE PLANE MAKING A BUMPY LANDING, ANOTHER ROLLING OFF THE TAXIWAY. IN MINNESOTA A MALL ROOF COLLAPSING UNDER SNOW. THE WEST COAST BRACES FOR MORE CATASTROPHIC FLOODS. THE DRAMATIC RESCUES. WE'RE TRACKING IT ALL. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNING A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER ON GUNS. WHAT IT DOES FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS. >>> NEW FALLOUT FROM THE FAILURE OF SILICON VALLEY BANK. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND S.E.C. NOW LAUNCHING INVESTIGATIONS. DID BANK EXECUTIVES UNLOAD STOCK BEFORE THE COLLAPSE? >>> YET ANOTHER CLOSE CALL ON THE RUNWAY, THIS TIME NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C. MY EXCLUSIVE WITH THE ACTING CHIEF OF THE FAA. I ASKED HIM WHY DO THESE NEAR MISSES SEEM TO BE HAPPENING SO OFTEN. >>> AND THE BAKERY HELPING YOUNG CHEFS RISE TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND INSPIRING AMERICA. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE'LL GET TO THAT MAJOR WEATHER NEWS IN A FEW MOMENTS. >>> BUT FIRST, WE WANT TO BRING YOU THE LATEST IN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT A DANGEROUS AERIAL ENCOUNTER IN THE SKY TODAY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA. THE PENTAGON SAYING A RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET POURED FUEL ON AN UNMANNED AMERICAN DRONE, THEN COLLIDED WITH IT OVER THE BLACK SEA. IT SENT THE AMERICAN AIRCRAFT INTO THE WATER. THE CONFRONTATION ESCALATING ALREADY HIGH TENSIONS BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES WHICH ARE TELLING DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF TODAY'S EVENT. COURTNEY KUBE HAS THE LATEST FOR US FROM THE PENTAGON. >> Reporter: THE STUNNING SHOWDOWN HAPPENING OVER THE BLACK SEA NEAR UKRAINE AND RUSSIA WHEN AN UNMANNED AMERICAN DRONE LIKE THIS ONE CALLED A REAPER WAS CONFRONTED BY TWO RUSSIAN FIGHTER JETS. WEAVING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO IT, DUMPING FUEL ON THE U.S. DRONE, AND THEN COLLIDING WITH IT. THE RUSSIAN JET'S WING STRIKING THE REAPER'S PROPELLER. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE U.S. DOWNED A $32 MILLION DRONE IN THE BLACK SEA, FIRST BLACKING OUT ITS SOFTWARE TO KEEP CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OUT OF RUSSIAN HANDS. THE PENTAGON DESCRIBING THE RUSSIAN ACTIONS AS RECKLESS. >> BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE RUSSIAN PILOTS, IT'S CLEAR THAT IT WAS UNSAFE, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND I THINK THE ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. >> Reporter: THE PENTAGON SAYS THE DRONE WAS CONDUCTING A ROUTINE INTELLIGENCE GATHERING MISSION IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE WHEN THE INTERCEPT OCCURRED. >> IT WAS OVER INTERNATIONAL -- IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE OVER INTERNATIONAL WATER. >> Reporter: THE RUSSIANS DISAGREED, INSISTING THE U.S. DRONE WAS IN THEIR ESTABLISHED AIRSPACE NEAR CRIMEA, AND THAT THE RUSSIAN JET DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DRONE. AND THAT THE RUSSIAN JET DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DRONE. LATE TONIGHT, THE U.S. SUMMONING THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO OBJECT TO THE RUSSIAN PILOT'S ACTIONS. THE U.S. IS WORKING ON OPTIONS TO RECOVER THE DRONE, BUT WITHOUT U.S. SHIPS IN THE BLACK SEA, THE REALITY IS THE RUSSIANS CAN REACH THE WRECKAGE BEFORE THE U.S. CAN. >> COURTNEY, WE KNOW THE PENTAGON HAS SOME VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT? >> LESTER, YEAH. THEY'RE NOT RELEASING IT PUBLICLY AT THIS POINT. WHILE THIS INCIDENT IS NOW OVER, WHAT U.S. OFFICIALS HERE TELL ME THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS FUTURE CONFRONTATION. EVEN WITH AN UNMANNED DRONE, THAT COULD LEAD TO A MILITARY RESPONSE AND THEN EVEN POSSIBLY AN ACTUAL CONFLICT. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT. COURTNEY KUBE LEADING US OFF TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> A LATE SEASON BLAST IS PUMMELLING PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST WHILE ANOTHER ATMOSPHERIC RIVER DRENCHES CALIFORNIA. THE NOR'EASTER BRINGING WITH IT HEAVY SNOW AND DANGEROUS WINDS HERE IN THE EAST, KNOCKING OUT POWER TO THOUSANDS. TRAVEL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN TREACHEROUS FOR DRIVERS SKIDDING OFF THE ROAD AND MAKING FOR SOME ROUGH RIDES IN THE AIR. WHILE IN THE WEST, FAST-MOVING FLOODWATERS MAKING FOR HARROWING RESCUES. EMILIE IKEDA HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: WITH FIERCE WINDS, SNOW, AND RAIN, TONIGHT THE SEASON'S FIRST NOR'EASTER IS BULLDOZING THROUGH MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES. AND AFTER A MOSTLY MILD WINTER, IT'S DELIVERING A BRUTAL BLOW. >> WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A BIG SNOW LIKE THIS AT LEAST TO COME. SO HERE IT IS. >> Reporter: SNOWFALL REACHING DOUBLE-DIGITS IN LEOMINSTER, WILMINGTON AND ROW, WHILE WHIPPING WINDS WERE THE PROBLEM ALONG THE COAST. GUSTS EXPECTED TO REACH UP TO 55 MILES PER HOUR IN BOSTON. THE DANGEROUS COMBINATION SNAPPING TREE BRANCHES AND KNOCKING OUT POWER TO SEVERAL 100,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION. FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS SOARING IN THE FACE OF THE STORM. WATCH THIS PLANE'S BUMPY LANDING CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN ROCHESTER, WHILE FURTHER EAST IN SYRACUSE, A DELTA PLANE EXITED ONE OF THE TAXIWAYS WITH 61 PASSENGERS ON BOARD, ACCORDING TO AIRPORT OFFICIALS. >> ALL SOUTHSIDE TAXIWAYS ARE COVERED WITH SNOW. BRAKING ACTION POOR REPORTED BY VEHICLE. >> Reporter: FROM THE RUNWAY TO ROADWAY, TREACHEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS LED TO THIS BUS CRASH IN MASSACHUSETTS. TOPPLED A TREE ON TO THIS PLOW TRUCK, LANDING TWO PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL IN CONNECTICUT, AND SENT TRACTOR-TRAILERS SLIDING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> THE SNOW IS SO, LIKE, THICK. OH, GOD, IT'S TERRIBLE. >> Reporter: AFTER A WEEKEND SNOWSTORM IN MINNESOTA, EMPLOYEES SCRAMBLED TO SAFETY TODAY WHEN A MALL ROOF COLLAPSED. AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A ONE-TWO PUNCH AS ANOTHER STORM FUNNELS RAIN AND SNOW TO AN ALREADY WATERLOGGED CALIFORNIA. 26 MILLION PEOPLE THERE FACING FLOOD ALERTS. OVERNIGHT, REMARKABLE RESCUES FROM RUSHING WATERS. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY PULLED 11 PEOPLE TO SAFETY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE WATER COMING DOWN AND HOW STRONG IT CAN BE. >> Reporter: BICOASTAL THREATS BEARING DOWN IN THE FINAL DAYS OF WINTER. >> EMILIE, LOOKING HERE TO THE EAST, ANY SENSE WHEN THE POWER WILL BE RESTORED? IT IS QUITE COLD OVER A LOT OF THESE SPOTS. >> LESTER, THERE ARE MORE THAN 250,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE NORTHEAST WITHOUT POWER TONIGHT. WHILE WE EXPECT THIS SNOWFALL TO TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT, THE STRONG POWERFUL WIND GUSTS WILL LINGER THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR UTILITY WORKERS TO RESTORE POWER AND COULD EVEN MORE DOWNED POWER LINES. LESTER? >> EMILIE IKEDA, THANK YOU. >>> BILL KARINS IS TRACKING THE STORMS ON BOTH COASTS. BILL, WHEN WILL THE EFFECTS OF THE NOR'EASTER PASS? >> NOT UNTIL TOMORROW AFTERNOON, LESTER. GOOD EVENING. WE ARE WATCHING THIS STORM STILL PRODUCING SOME AREAS OF HEAVY SNOW. A LOT HAS ALREADY FALLEN. THE WINDS ARE STILL GOING THE CRANK AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL POWER OUTAGES. THIS SNOW WAS LIKE CEMENT ON THE TREES. IT WAS HARD AND WET. AND WITH THE WINDS BLOWING, IT'S GOING TO BRING DOWN MORE TREES. WE STILL HAVE 28 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER WIND ALERTS AND WIND WARNINGS, UP FROM BOSTON UP THE COAST TO PORTLAND, WHERE TONIGHT THE WINDS WILL HOWL IN THAT 50-MILE-PER-HOUR RANGE. IN THE AREA OF CONCERN TONIGHT IN CALIFORNIA IS FOR THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER IS FROM SANTA BARBARA TO LOS ANGELES AND THE MOUNTAINS OUTSIDE OF L.A. IT IS GOING TO RAIN HARD. MUCH HARDER TONIGHT THAN IT DID WITH THE LAST ATMOSPHERIC RIVER. WE COULD SEE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STANDARDS. SO UNFORTUNATELY, MORE FLOODING AND DEVASTATION IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT. >> SORRY TO SEE IT. ALL RIGHT, BILL, THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT MASS SHOOTING IN MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN THAT CITY AIMED AT STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING GUN BACKGROUND CHECKS. BEFOREHAND, THE PRESIDENT GREETED BRANDON TSAY WHO BRAVELY DISARMED THE GUNMAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED 11 PEOPLE AT A DANCE HALL DURING A LUNAR NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION. >>> THERE IS NEW FALLOUT AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF SILICON VALLEY BANK. FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW LOOKING INTO ACTIONS BY BANK EXECUTIVES BEFORE THE COLLAPSE. JAKE WARD HAS DETAILS. >> Reporter: SILICON VALLEY BANK NOW UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. NBC NEWS CONFIRMING WITH MULTIPLE SOURCES THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ALONG WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAVE LAUNCHED PROBES LOOKING AMONG OTHER THINGS STOCK SALES MADE BY EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVES BEFORE THE BANK COLLAPSED. THIS AS CALLS GROW IN WASHINGTON FOR RENEWED BANK REGULATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. >> I DO THINK THAT CERTAINLY THE PROFITS FROM THE SALES BY THE OWNER SHOULD BE CLAWED BACK, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING HAVE TO BE RAISING FEES ON BANKS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THE UNINSURED DEPOSITORS AT THIS BANK AND OTHER BANKS. >> Reporter: TODAY DESPITE SEVERAL SMALLER REGIONAL BANKS BOUNCING BACK IN THE STOCK MARKET, MOODY'S ANNOUNCED A DOWNGRADING OUTLOOK FOR THE U.S. BANKING SECTOR AS A WHOLE. HOW HEALTHY ARE OTHER SMALL INSTITUTIONS LIKE SILICON VALLEY BANK? ANALYSTS SAY WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL THE FEDERAL RESERVE LOOKS AT COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS FRIDAY. >> THESE STOCKS ARE NOT A RELIABLE INDICATOR. IN TWO WEEKS WE'LL KNOW IF THERE IS A BIG OUTFLOW OR NOT. THAT'S THE NEXT KIND OF SCHEDULED DATA POINT THAT WE'LL GET. >> Reporter: JUST BEFORE ITS COLLAPSE, SILICON VALLEY BANK BLAMED ITS TROUBLES ON ELEVATED CASH BURN FROM ITS MOSTLY TECH-FOCUSED CLIENTS. NOW THE CONCERN IS IN NOW THE CONCERN IS IN PART WHETHER OTHER REGIONAL BANKS ARE EXPOSED TO SIMILAR RISKS. TODAY THE PULLBACK IN THE TECH SECTOR CONTINUED WITH META'S ANNOUNCEMENT IT WOULD ELIMINATE 15,000 JOBS FOLLOWING 11,000 LAYOFFS A THE COMPANY IN NOVEMBER. NOW ON TOP OF ALL THIS, TODAY WE LEARNED INFLATION HAS FALLEN TO 6%. THAT MAKES FOR A COMPLICATED ECONOMIC PICTURE AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE PREPARES TO MEET NEXT WEEK. MANY ECONOMISTS ARE NOW ASKING IF THE FED WILL HIT PAUSE ON FURTHER RATE INCREASES. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, JAKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> ALMOST SIX WEEKS AFTER THAT TRAIN DISASTER IN OHIO THE STATE SUED NORFOLK SOUTHERN TODAY, SAYING IT RECKLESSLY ENDANGERED PEOPLE'S HEALTH. OHIO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID HE IS SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, AND RESIDENTS. NORFOLK SOUTHERN SAYS IT'S WORKING TO CREATE SEVERAL LONG-TERM FUNDS TO HELP EAST PALESTINE. >>> WE TURN NOW TO CONCERNING QUESTIONS ABOUT AIR SAFETY THAT HAVE RATTLED SOME FLYERS RECENTLY. IN MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BILLY NOLEN, THE ACTING HEAD OF THE FAA. WE SPOKE ABOUT A STRING OF NEAR COLLISIONS ON RUNWAYS, THE MOST RECENT JUST LAST WEEK AS THE AGENCY CONVENES AN AIR SAFETY SUMMIT TOMORROW. >> Reporter: AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALARMS ARE BEING RAISED OVER DANGEROUS NEAR MISSES, FROM THE RUNWAY AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM AIRPORT, WHERE A CONTROLLER CLEARED A FED EX 767 CARGO JET TO LAND ON THE SAME RUNWAY THAT A SOUTHWEST 737 FULL OF PASSENGERS WAS TAKING OFF FROM, JUST 75 FEET FROM DISASTER. >> SOUTHWEST ABORT. FED EX IS ON THE GO. >> Reporter: TO AN UNSETTLING CLOSE CALL AT BOSTON'S LOGAN AIRPORT. >> JETBLUE 206, GO AROUND. >> Reporter: WHERE A LEARJET PILOT TOOK OFF WITHOUT CLEARANCE AS A JETBLUE FLIGHT WAS LANDING ON A CROSSING RUNWAY. AND NOW NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED OF ANOTHER NEAR DISASTER LAST WEEK AT REAGAN NATIONAL WHERE A REGIONAL JET PILOT ROLLED IN FRONT OF A DEPARTING UNITED AIRBUS JET. >> UNITED 2003, CANCEL TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. >> ABORTING TAKEOFF, ABORTING TAKEOFF, UNITED 2003. >> Reporter: ALL ALONG THE RECENT CLOSE CALLS THAT LED FAA ACTING ADMINISTRATOR BILLY NOLEN TO CALL FOR TOMORROW'S SAFETY SUMMIT. SOME OF THE HEADLINES ARE DOWNRIGHT SCARY. FLYING SAFE RIGHT NOW? >> LESTER, I CAN SAY TO YOU, TO YOUR AUDIENCE, TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT FLYING IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE. WE HAVE THE SAFEST MOST COMPLEX SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. WE WORK AT IT EVERY DAY, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE. >> Reporter: WHY IS THIS SUMMIT SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW? >> WE'VE HAD THESE EVENTS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT GIVES US A MOMENT TO SAY LET'S STOP, LET'S REFLECT, LET'S ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION, ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING DIFFERENT? AND REMIND OURSELVES ALWAYS, ALWAYS THAT WE CAN NEVER BECOME COMPLACENT AND NEVER TAKE THIS INCREDIBLE SAFETY RECORD FOR GRANTED. >> WE'VE SEEN MORE OF THESE OR IS THIS WHAT YOU WOULD DESCRIBE AS A CLUSTER? >> I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS A CLUSTER. WE'VE SEEN OVER THESE LAST FEW MONTHS MORE THAN YOU'D EXPECT TO SEE. MAYBE YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE OF ONE OR TWO PER MONTH. >> I WILL KILL EVERY MAN ON THIS PLANE! >> Reporter: AND THEN THERE ARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON BOARD. >> THE FAA HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNRULY BEHAVIOR. AND WE WILL INDEED USE EVERY TOOL, EVERY RESOURCE AT OUR DISPOSAL WHERE SOMEONE INTERFERES WITH A CABIN OR COCKPIT CREWMEMBER, WE WILL GO FOR CIVIL PENALTIES AND FEDERAL PROSECUTION WHERE WARRANTED. MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS TO STAY HOME, BECAUSE IF YOU ACT UP IN FLIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO COME AFTER YOU. >> Reporter: WITH AIRPORTS FULL FOR SPRING BREAK AND THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON NOT FAR AWAY, NOLEN INSISTS THE FAA IS PREPARED AS THEY SEEK TO AVOID A REPEAT OF LAST SUMMER'S MELTDOWN. >> FLYING HAS COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE, SO TO SPEAK. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROACTIVE AND WHERE WE CAN BE, TO BE AS PREDICTIVE AS WE CAN BE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEMAND MATCHES UP. >> PART OF MY CONVERSATION WITH THE ACTING HEAD OF THE FAA, BILLY NOLEN. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE SURGE IN CAR THEFTS TOPPING ONE MILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS. THE TOP MODELS BEING STOLEN AND W >>> THE EPA TODAY PROPOSED THE FIRST EVER LIMITS ON SO-CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS IN DRINKING WATER. THE TOXIC CHEMICALS, ALSO KNOWN AS PFAS, HAVE BEEN USED IN MANUFACTURING FOR DECADES. THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND EXPERTS SAY THEY CAN CAUSE A HOST OF HEALTH ISSUES. THE EPA SAYS THE PROPOSED LIMITS WOULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, CAR THEFTS ARE SURGING NATIONWIDE. MORE THAN A MILLION IN 2022 ALONE. NOW SOME CITIES ARE SO FED UP, THEY'RE TAKING THE AUTO GIANTS TO COURT. MAGGIE VESPA WITH MORE ON THAT AND THE CARS THAT HAVE BECOME TOP TARGETS FOR THIEVES. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AMERICAN CAR THIEVES CAPPING A BANNER YEAR. >> JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM BEING STOLEN. >> Reporter: LEAVING A STAGGERING NUMBER OF DRIVERS STALLED. >> THIS IS WHAT THEY DID TO MY CAR. >> Reporter: A NEW REPORT SHOWS CAR THEFTS NATIONWIDE ARE SURGING, TOPPING ONE MILLION LAST YEAR. IN CHICAGO, UP 55%. >> YOU FEEL HELPLESS. >> Reporter: THIEVES STOLE TERESA McKINNEY'S CAR IN JUNE. INVESTIGATORS FOUND IT A DAY LATER, ONLY TO HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL FALL OFF. >> MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN RIGHT SINCE IT BEEN STOLEN. IT DON'T DRIVE RIGHT. IT DON'T DO NOTHING RIGHT. >> Reporter: POLICE PUSHING STEERING WHEELOCKS AND PARKING IN SECURED AREAS. AS FOR WHAT'S DRIVING THIS, RESEARCHERS SAY ON THE LIST OF MOST STOLEN MAKES TWO HAVE BECOME FREQUENT TARGETS. >> BE AWARE OF THE NEW KIA AND HYUNDAI BREAK-IN CHALLENGE. >> Reporter: TRICKS FOR HOT WIRING HYUNDAIS AND KIAS HAVE BECOME A TREND. NOW THE AUTOMAKERS FACING FEDERAL SUITS ALLEGING HYUNDAI AND KIA FAILED TO INSTALL ADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY IN CERTAIN MODELS CAUSING THEFTS TO SOAR. >> IT'S JUST RATING THIS HAS SPREAD SO QUICKLY, IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY PREVENTIBLE. THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. >> Reporter: BOTH COMPANIES OFFERING FREE UPGRADES TO SECURITY SOFTWARE, ADDING THEIR CARS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS. KIA ADDING IT'S DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TREND. HYUNDAI SAYS IT'S COMMITTED TO THE SECURITY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. LESTER? >> MAGGIE VESPA, THANK YOU. >>> COMING UP, THE DANGEROUS NEW DRUG RAVAGING SOME COMMUN >>> BA >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR SERIES "ONE NATION OVERDOSED," AN ALARMING LOOK AT THE RISE OF THE NEWEST DRUG WREAKING HAVOC IN A MAJOR U.S. CITY. DASHA BURNS REPORTS, AND WE DO WANT TO CAUTION YOU. SOME OF THE IMAGES IN THE STORY ARE DISTURBING. >> Reporter: THE KENSINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD OF PHILADELPHIA FOR DECADES HAS BEEN AN EPICENTER OF THE NATION'S DRUG CRISIS, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. >> THIS IS THE INFAMOUS KNI. >> Reporter: BUT THE SUPPLY IN THE LARGEST OPEN AIR MARKET ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD HAS BECOME EVEN MORE DANGEROUS, EVOLVING FROM HEROIN TO THE MORE POTENT FENTANYL, AND NOW THOSE DRUGS LACED WITH XYLAZINE, A LARGE ANIMAL SEDATIVE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS TRANQ. >> YOU'RE NOT SCREAMING LIKE BEFORE. THAT'S A PLUS SIGN, RIGHT? >> Reporter: THE CITY IS ROLLING OUT WOUND TREATMENT VANS TO COMBAT THE DRUG, BELIEVED TO PROLONG THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL, IT ALSO CAUSES DEEP WOUND INFECTS TONIGHT USER'S BODY, ERODING AWAY HUMAN FLESH, AND SOMETIMES LEADING TO AMPUTATION OF INFECTED LIMBS. >> HE COMES EVERY DAY TODAY HE WAS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS LEG. >> Reporter: THIS NURSE SAYS WHAT WE SAW HERE WAS MILD. >> SOME OF THEM COME WITH BOTH HANDS FROM HERE TO HERE. >> Reporter: RAQUEL IS IN RECOVERY FROM HEROIN ADDICTION. SOBER SINCE 2016, SHE RUNS THE MOBILE WOUND CARE PROGRAM. WHEN YOU WERE USING COMPARED TO WHAT YOU SEE NOW, HOW DIFFERENT IS IT? >> IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFERENT. A BAG OF HEROIN WOULD HOLD ME SIX TO EIGHT HOURS. NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO WITHDRAWAL WITHIN TWO TO THREE HOURS. >> Reporter: MANY USERS DON'T WANT TRANQS. BUT -- >> THERE IS NO FENTANYL THAT DOESN'T HAVE TRANQ IN IT. >> Reporter: TRAVELING IN KENSINGTON, WE MET ERIC TAYLOR, WHO ASKED POLICE FOR TREATMENT FOR HIS WOUNDS. >> WHEN YOU'RE IN PAIN IT MAKES YOU MORE LIKELY TO USE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO RELIEVE THE PAIN. >> Reporter: 2021 WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR OVERDOSE DEATHS IN PHILADELPHIA. THAT SAME YEAR, 90% OF OPIOID SAMPLES AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TESTED FROM THE STREET SUPPLY CONTAINED XYLAZINE. HOW SIGNIFICANT OF AN ISSUE IS XYLAZINE RIGHT NOW? >> I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: DOCTORS ARE FINDING CONVENTIONAL WOUND TREATMENTS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT DEPENDENTS ON TRANQ. >> WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT YET. BEST PRACTICE IN PLACE FOR IT BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT WASN'T SOMETHING MEANT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. >> Reporter: THE FDA HAS TAKEN ACTION TO RESTRICT THE UNLAWFUL ENTRY OF THE DRUG INTO THE COUNTRY, CITING ABOUT THE INCREASED PREVALENCE OF XYLAZINE MIXED WITH DRUGS. HOW MUCH SHOULD PEOPLE BE SOUNDING THE ALARM RIGHT NOW? >> I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE SOUNDING THE ALARM. THE MOVEMENT WITH WHAT WE SAW WITH FENTANYL IS IT WILL BE IN EVERY OTHER SUBSTANCE. >> Reporter: A DEADLY CYCLE TURNING DEADLIER. DASHA BURNS, NBC NEWS, PHILADELPHIA. >>> FINALLY, YOU MIGHT SAY THEY'RE BAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHEFS IN THE MAKING. OUR KATE SNOW EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: IT'S A BUSY DAY FOR THE CREW AT RISING ABOVE BAKERY IN NYACK, NEW YORK. >> HOW MANY COOKIES DO YOU WANT? >> Reporter: 21-YEAR-OLD CONNER CARSON LIKES BEING A PART OF THE TEAM. WHAT DO YOU BAKE NOW? >> I'M BAKING BREADS, COOKIES, SCONES. >> GOT IT. TELL ME WHEN TO SPREAD IT. >> Reporter: FOUNDER SHERI OLRICK WAS AN AVID BAKER AND SPEECH THERAPIST WHO NOTICED YEARS AGO WHEN SHE BAKED COOKIES WITH HER STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THEY LIT UP. >> THEY FOUND A VOICE IN THE KITCHEN. I WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL. >> Reporter: SO DURING COVID, SHE STARTED A BAKERY IN HER OWN HOUSE. THIS OVEN WAS IN YOUR DINING ROOM FOR A LONG TIME. >> YES. >> Reporter: THIS JANUARY, THEY FINALLY MOVED TO A TEMPORARY STOREFRONT, EMPLOYING YOUNG ADULTS WITH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS. WHAT'S THE IDEA? >> TO GIVE THEM A MEANING TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY I WANT TO GO TO WORK. I WANT TO BE AS IMPORTANT AS ANYONE ELSE. >> I'M GOING TAKE THE GLAZE ALREADY DONE HERE. >> Reporter: LUKE GARRISON SHOWED ME HOW TOE MAKE A MAPLE GLAZE. >> I DO MAKE MISTAKES. >> EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES. >> BUT I GROW IN THEM. >> Reporter: LISA CARSON IS CONNER'S MOM AND SERVES ON THE BAKERY'S BOARD. >> THE MINUTE HE BROUGHT IN THE DOOR, WHAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WAS VALUED. THEY REALLY SAW HIM FOR WHO HE WAS. >> Reporter: RISING ABOVE BAKERY WON'T HAVE THIS SPACE MUCH LONGER. THE NONPROFIT IS RAISING MONEY, HOPING TO SECURE A PERMANENT STOREFRONT. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WORKING HERE, CONNER? >> BEING SEEN WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. >> Reporter: BEING SEEN? >> BEING SEEN. THAT MEANS, I THINK LIKE HAVING CUSTOMERS COME IN AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THIS PLACE HAS KIND OF CHANGED YOUR LIFE? >> I THINK IT DID, YES. IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO SEE WHO I AM. >> Reporter: AND THAT IS THE SWEETEST RECIPE OF ALL. KATE SNOW, NBC NEWS, NYACK, NEW YORK. >> BOY, IT SURE IS. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS TUESDAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER.