>>> TONIGHT, THE NEW LEGAL BLOW FOR DONALD TRUMP ON THE HEELS OF HIS HISTORIC INDICTMENT. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SAYS HE'LL NOT FIGHT A JUDGE'S ORDER TO TESTIFY AND ABOUT HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. TRUMP LEADING UP TO JANUARY 6th. IT COMES JUST A DAY AFTER MR. TRUMP PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN NEW YORK TO 34 COUNTS RELATED TO HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS IN 2016. THE FORMER PRESIDENT DEFIANT, LASHING OUT AT THE D.A., THE JUDGE, EVEN THE JUDGE'S FAMILY. A GROWING FALLOUT. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK. AT LEAST FIVE KILLED AFTER A TWISTER CUT A PATH OF DESTRUCTION IN MISSOURI. 30 MILLION IN THE RISK ZONE THIS EVENING. AL ROKER IS TRACKING IT ALL FOR US. >>> THE BRUTAL KILLING OF A TECH TITAN. THE FOUNDER OF A POPULAR CASH APP STABBED TO DEATH ON THE STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE SEARCH FOR SUSPECTS AND A MOTIVE. >>> THE HIGH STAKES MEETING. SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY WELCOMING TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TO THE U.S. OUR ANDREA MITCHELL ONE-ON-ONE WITH McCARTHY. IS HE WORRIED THE VISIT WILL ESCALATE TENSIONS WITH BEIJING? >>> IN JERUSALEM THE ISRAELI POLICE RAID THE MOSQUE AS FIREWORKS ARE THROWN AT THEM. >>> AND AFTER HER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SURPRISED THE WORLD, THE HISTORY MAKING LEADER WITH ONE FINAL MESSAGE OF EMPOWERMENT. >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS PICKED UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF PRIOR TO HIS ARREST YESTERDAY HERE IN NEW YORK WHILE HIS ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO ATTACK THE SUBSTANCE AND MERITS OF THE 34 FELONY CHARGES AGAINST MR. TRUMP. THE EMBATTLED EX-PRESIDENT HIMSELF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY RESUMED VERBALLY ATTACKING THE JUDGE IN THE CASE ALONG WITH THE JUDGE'S FAMILY AND THE PROSECUTOR D.A. ALVIN BRAGG, ALL OF WHOM ACCORDING TO SOURCES HAVE RECEIVED UNSUBSTANTIATED THREATS. MR. TRUMP'S RHETORIC APPEARING TO TEST THE SPIRIT OF JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN'S REQUEST MR. TRUMP AND POTENTIAL WITNESSES REFRAIN FROM LANGUAGE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INCITE VIOLENCE. TODAY WITH THE D.A.'S CASE FULLY REVEALED PARTISAN BATTLE LINES DO NOT APPEAR TO BUDGE. PROMINENT REPUBLICANS STILL COMING TO MR. TRUMP'S DEFENSE. OUR GARRET HAAKE LEADS US OFF TONIGHT WITH THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT 24 HOURS AFTER A FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT WAS ARRAIGNED IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS BLASTING THE 34 FELONY CHARGES AGAINST HIM OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS. >> THERE'S NO NEW EVIDENCE. THIS CASE IS GOING TO FALL ON ITS MERITS, ON LEGAL CHALLENGES WELL BEFORE WE GET TO A JURY. >> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER RECEIVING A WARNING FROM THE JUDGE AGAINST INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC THAT COULD INCITE VIOLENCE MR. TRUMP TAKING SWIPES AT THE D.A. AT BOTH ALVIN BRAGG. >> HE LEAKED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GRAND JURY INFORMATION. >> Reporter: AND THE JUDGE HIMSELF. >> I HAVE A TRUMP HATING JUDGE WITH A TRUMP HATING WIFE AND FAMILY WHOSE DAUGHTER WORKED FOR KAMALA HARRIS. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE'S DAUGHTER HAS WORKED IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS INCLUDING FOR A FIRM THAT WORKED FOR THEN-CANDIDATES HARRIS AND BIDEN IN 2020. THOUGH THERE'S NO EVIDENCE SHE STILL WORKS FOR A BIDEN POLITICAL OPERATION. TONIGHT TWO SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING EXTRA SECURITY. >> NO ONE IS SUGGESTING ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE JUDGE OR FAMILY. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S COMMENTS DID NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM INCITE VIOLENCE. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALSO FACING A LEGAL SETBACK IN ANOTHER CASE WITH FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE DECIDING NOT TO APPEAL A JUDGE'S DECISION REQUIRING HIM TO TESTIFY TO A GRAND JURY ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL ILLEGAL ACTS MR. TRUMP MAY HAVE COMMITTED SURROUNDING JANUARY 6th. AS THAT LEGAL FIGHT LOOMS, REPUBLICANS ARE RUSHING TO MR. TRUMP'S DEFENSE OVER THE MANHATTAN CHARGES BY A DEMOCRATIC D.A. >> NOW AFTER WE'VE SEEN ALL THAT YESTERDAY, I THINK PEOPLE THINK IT'S EVEN MORE POLITICAL THAN WE THOUGHT BEFOREHAND. >> Reporter: EVEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S MOST CONSISTENT REPUBLICAN CRITIC IN WASHINGTON, UTAH SENATOR MITT ROMNEY SAYING IN A STATEMENT WHILE HE BELIEVES MR. TRUMP IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE, QUOTE, THE NEW YORK PROSECUTOR HAS STRETCHED TO REACH FELONY CRIMINAL CHARGES IN ORDER TO FIT A POLITICAL AGENDA. BRAGG DEFENDING HIS CASE TUESDAY. >> THESE ARE FELONY CRIMES IN NEW YORK STATE NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT NORMALIZE SERIOUS CRIMINAL CONDUCT. >> GARRET, LET'S CIRCLE BACK IF WE CAN TO THAT SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION. HOW SOON MIGHT FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE BE CALLED TO TESTIFY? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER PENCE WON'T APPEAL BUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS STILL MIGHT. THEY HAVE LOST BEFORE ON EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE GROUNDS, BUT EVEN AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL COULD DELAY ANY PENCE TESTIMONY. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, GARRET HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> TONIGHT'S OTHER TOP STORY AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN A TORNADO STRUCK SOUTH EASTERN MISSOURI WITH TENS OF MILLIONS STILL UNDER SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS TONIGHT. MAGGIE VESPA HAS MORE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT YET ANOTHER RUTHLESS ROUND OF SEVERE STORMS LEAVES ANOTHER TRAIL OF DEVASTATION AYAUSZ THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH. >> I'M PRAYING HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET THROUGH IT. >> Reporter: THE LATEST BULLS EYE GLEN ALLEN, MISSOURI, WHERE A REPORTED TORNADO KILLED AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE EARLY THIS MORNING. >> WE RAN INSIDE, RAN IN THE BATHTUB, AND IT WAS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND IT JUST HIT, AND IT WAS JUST AWFUL. >> Reporter: FROM ABOVE THIS RURAL COMMUNITY A COUPLE HOURS SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS DECIMATED. MISSOURI'S HIGHWAY PATROL FINDING SEVERAL HURT. >> GLEN ALLEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: IN ALL 11 TORNADOS REPORTED ACROSS ILLINOIS, IOWA, AND MISSOURI WITH LARGER THAN BASEBALL SIZED HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 120 MILES PER HOUR. IN ILLINOIS HOMES DESTROYED. THIS WEEK TORNADOS SLAMMING IOWA, ARKANSAS, EVEN AS FAR EAST AS DELAWARE. ALL POINTING TO A POTENTIALLY RECORD SETTING YEAR. 2023 ALREADY RACKING UP 478 REPORTED TORNADOS ACROSS 25 STATES. IN HARD HIT ARKANSAS A GLIMMER OF HOPE. >> I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. >> Reporter: A FAMILY PHOTO LOST AMID THE DESTRUCTION THAT FOUND ITS WAY HOME THANKS TO A GOOD SAMARITAN'S POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> GLAD WE COULD HELP YOUR FAMILY. IT'S THE LEAST WE COULD DO. >> Reporter: TODAY SEVERE STORMS ALSO FORCING BRIEF GRAUND STOPS HERE AT O'HARE AND MIDWAY AIRPORTS WITH OVER 400 FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CHICAGO CANCELED. >> MAGGIE VESPA THANK YOU. LET ME BRING IN AL ROKER NOW TRACKING THIS STORM AS THE STORM MOVES EAST. GOING TO BE ANOTHER WILD NIGHT. >> IT REALLY IS, LESTER. WE'VE GOT A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING FROM ERIE P.A. DOWN TO VIRGINIA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ALL ALONG THIS LINE. AS THE SYSTEM PUSHES TO THE EAST WE'VE GOT 30 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK, WIND GUSTS UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, DAMAGING HAIL. AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ORANGE AREA NASHVILLE INTO CINCINNATI AND WEST OF PITTSBURGH WE'RE TALKING STRONG TORNADOS. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST WITH OHIO TO TEXAS LOOKING AT HEAVY RAIN AND THEN TOMORROW HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MIDATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST WITH A RISK EXTENDING FROM CHARLOTTE TO NEW YORK CITY. SOME SPOTS LISTED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 6 INCHES OR MORE AND A RISK OF FLOODING ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER. >> I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE MORE ON "TODAY" IN THE MORNING. AL, THANK YOU. >>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY STUDENTS WALKED OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS BY THE THOUSANDS DEMANDING THAT OFFICIALS AND POLITICIANS DO MORE TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE. SOME SAYING THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN FEAR IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THE ACTION CAME NINE DAYS AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN NASHVILLE THAT KILLED THREE CHILDREN AND THREE ADULTS, AND A WAVE OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN RECENT YEARS. >>> AND TONIGHT POLICE IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE INVESTIGATING THE STABBING DEATH OF A HIGH PROFILE TECH EXECUTIVE, BOB LEE. HIS DEATH SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE TECH INDUSTRY. WE GET MORE FROM MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> Reporter: WHEN SAN FRANCISCO POLICE ARRIVED AT THE CRIME SCENE BOB LEE, THE HIGH PROFILE TECH EXECUTIVE, HAD BEEN STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE 43-YEAR-OLD RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED. THE BRUTAL ATTACK NEAR THE SHADOW OF THE BAY BRIDGE AT 2:35 A.M. TUESDAY UNFOLDED NEAR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS. TONIGHT FRIENDS IN SHOCK WITH NO SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY AND NO APPARENT MOTIVE FOR THE MURDER. >> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN'T CALL BOB AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE THIS PROBLEM I'M THINKING THROUGH, CAN YOU HELP ME THROUGH IT. >> Reporter: LEE, A FATHER OF TWO WHO HAD RECENTLY MOVED TO MIAMI WAS A TECH GIANT. >> WE'RE AIMING TO LIFT THE ENTIRE WORLD INTO A NEW ERA OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM. >> Reporter: THE CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER OF MOBILECOIN, THE 43-YEAR-OLD HELPED CREATE ANDROID BUT WAS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR STARTING CASH APP NOW RUN BY TWITTER FOUNDER JACK DORSEY WHO CALLED THE DEATH HEART BREAKING. >> I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING. >> Reporter: LEE HAD LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR YEARS AND HAD BEEN VISITING ON THE DAY HE WAS MURDERED. AMID THE FLOOD OF CONDOLENCES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ELON MUSK A VOCAL CRITIC OF SAN FRANCISCO POLICIES WRITING MANY PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE BEEN SEVERELY ASSAULTED. VIOLENT CRIME IN SF IS HORRIFIC WITH THE CITY'S MURDER RATE CLIMBING IN RECENT YEARS, ROBBERIES, THEFTS, AND ASSAULTS ARE ALSO UP AMID REPORTS OF AN EXODUS AS HOMELESSNESS AND THE COST OF LIVING SKYROCKET. NOW ANOTHER HIGH PROFILE CRIME. THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF A TECH TITAN. MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS. >>> IN JERUSALEM ISRAELI POLICE HAVE NOW STORMED THE ALAXA MOSQUE TWICE WHERE THEY WERE MET WITH A BARRAGE OF FIREWORKS AND ROCKS AFTER THEY SAY AGITATORS BARRICADED THEMSELVES INSIDE. VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA APPEARS TO SHOW OFFICERS HITTING WORSHIPPERS WITH BATONS. ISRAEL SAYS MORE THAN 350 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED. THE RAID LEADING TO THE EXCHANGE OF ROCKETS AND AIR STRIKES BETWEEN GAZA AND ISRAEL. IT ALL COMES AS PASSOVER BEGINS TONIGHT COINCIDING WITH THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. >>> AND WITH TENSIONS SOARING BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY MEETING WITH HER IN CALIFORNIA. ANDREA MITCHELL IS THERE FOR US TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT DESPITE THREATS FROM CHINA, HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY AND A BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY IN CALIFORNIA SIDE BY SIDE WITH TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN IN A STRONG SHOW OF SUPPORT. >> OUR BOND IS STRONGER NOW THAT AT ANY POINT IN MY LIFETIME. >> TODAY THE PEACE WE'VE MAINTAINED AND THE DEMOCRACY WE'VE WORKED HARD TO BUILD ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES. >> Reporter: AT HER SUGGESTION THEY'RE MEETING IN THE U.S., LESS PROVOCATIVE THAN THE SPEAKER'S ORIGINAL PLAN TO GO TO TAIWAN AS THEN-SPEAKER PELOSI DID IN AUGUST. THAT SPARKED A FURIOUS BARRAGE FROM CHINA OF MISSILES OVER THE SELF-GOVERNING ISLAND THAT CHINA DECLARES ITS TERRITORY. BEIJING SAYING TODAY'S MEETING UNDERMINES CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY. >> THIS IS BIPARTISAN MEETING OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE HONORED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU. >> Reporter: TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA ALREADY HIGH INCLUDING OVER CHINA'S SPY BALLOON, WHICH NBC NEWS REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY WAS PICKING UP ELECTRONIC SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE WHILE MAKING REPEATED PASSES OVER SENSITIVE U.S. MILITARY SITES BEFORE THE U.S. FINALLY SHOT IT DOWN OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST. DO YOU WORRY THAT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TSAI IN THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO FURTHER ESCALATE THE TENSIONS? >> NO, IT SHOULDN'T BY ANY MEANS. I MEAN I WOULD SIT DOWN WITH PRESIDENT XI. WHAT I THINK WOULD FOSTER A WORSE SITUATION IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION. >> Reporter: BUT STILL LOOMING U.S. INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY CHINA IS LIKELY TO INVADE TAIWAN WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. U.S. OFFICIALS TELL NBC NEWS DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA ARE NOW ALMOST NONEXISTENT. LESTER? >> ANDREA MITCHELL IN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT. THANKS. >>> WE'LL TURN NOW TO RUSSIA AND THE BLUNT MESSAGE FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN TODAY TO A GROUP OF DIPLOMATS INCLUDING THE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW. RICHARD ENGEL IS HERE. RICHARD, PUTIN'S COMMENTS COME ON A DAY NATO DEALT HIM A SERIOUS BLOW. >> WHAT WE SAW TODAY WAS CLASSIC VLADIMIR PUTIN. HE GATHERED A BUNCH OF FOREIGN AMBASSADORS INCLUDING THE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR AND DRESSED THEM DOWN. HE SAID THAT THE REASON FOR DETERIORATING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE WEST AND RUSSIA IS THEIR FAULT, NOT RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE. BUT IT COMES JUST AS THE FINNISH FLAG IS FLYING OFFICIALLY IN NATO HEADQUARTERS. AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID THAT HE WAS INVADING UKRAINE WAS TO PREVENT NATO EXPANSION. NOW FINLAND'S A MEMBER, AND THE LENGTH OF NATO'S BORDER WITH RUSSIA HAS JUST DOUBLED. >> RICHARD ENGEL, THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> IN 60 SECONDS THE STARK NEW WARNING FROM THE NATION'S DRUG CZAR >>> BACK NOW WITH A DEADLY HIGH RISE INFERNO IN CHICAGO, THE FLAMES ERUPTING FROM AN APARTMENT ON THE 27th FLOOR. OFFICIALS SAY A 55-YEAR-OLD FIRE LIEUTENANT WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS ON THE JOB DIED AFTER COLLAPSING ON THE STAIRS ON THE WAY UP TO BATTLE THE FIRE. IT'S THE CITY'S SECOND FIREFIGHTER DEATH IN AS MANY DAYS. >>> NOW TO OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS LIKE FENTANYL WERE BLAMED FOR MORE THAN 70,000 OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE U.S. IN 2021. NOW A NEW CAMPAIGN IS BEING LAUNCHED TO WARN YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE DANGERS, CALLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA STARS. THE NATION'S DRUG CZAR SPOKE ABOUT IT WITH KATE SNOW. >> Reporter: IT'S A LIFESAVING EFFORT. >> WHAT'S UP GUYS, CLIFFORD HERE. >> Reporter: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PARTNERING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE ON INSTAGRAM. >> I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. >> Reporter: CLIFFORD TAYLOR IS A FORMER COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. SAMMY IS A STUDENT AT UCLA. FENTANYL RELATED DEATHS IN YOUNG PEOPLE SPIKED NEARLY 200% FROM 2019 TO 2021. SOME OF THAT INCREASED BECAUSE COUNTERFEIT PILLS CONTAINED FENTANYL, AND 6 OUT OF 10 CAN BE DEADLY. >> FIVE MINUTES AROUND THE CLOCK. >> Reporter: THAT'S WHY THE ADMINISTRATION'S DRUG CZAR LAUNCHED THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. WHAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE? >> KNOW WHAT IS IN THE DRUG SUPPLY. ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA 2 OUT OF 3 OF THOSE DEATHS HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THERE ARE BY STANDARDS RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. >> SOMEONE COULD HAVE SAVED THEM. >> TO ME AS A PHYSICIAN IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND EMPOWER THE YOUTH OF OUR COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO BECOME LIFESAVERS. >> NALOXONE IS A MEDICINE THAT CAN REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE. >> Reporter: NALOXONE OR NARCAN REVERSES OPIOID OVERDOSES. IT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE IN PHARMACIES IN MOST STATES. NOW THE NASAL SPRAY IS APPROVED OVER-THE-COUNTER. DR. GUPTA SAYS IT SHOULD BE ON STORE SHELVES OVER THE SUMMER. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NORMALIZE BRINGING AROUND NALOXONE OR NARCAN IN YOUR BAG. >> Reporter: DIGITAL NOTICES WILL APPEAR IN BARS AND CAMPUSES AND EVEN RESTAURANTS. IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CARRY NARCAN ADMITTING DEFEAT, ADMITTING WE CAN'T CONTROL THE FLOW OF FENTANYL COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY? >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE, FIRST OF ALL. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO SAVE LIVES FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT AT THE SAME TIME DON'T LET UP. AND WE'RE NOT LETTING UP IN OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE AND GO AFTER THE BAD GUYS THAT ARE PRODUCING IT. >> Reporter: IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY NARCAN IS FREE IN VENDING MACHINES. THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS AND REDUCE THE PRICE, WHICH AT SOME STORES CAN STILL COST AROUND $100. HOPING TO CONVINCE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CARRY IT. >> I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. AND PLEASE STAY SAFE. >> Reporter: KATE SNOW, NBC NEWS, WASHINGTON. >>> AND UP NEXT, THE SHIFTING PATH OF DEADLY TORNADOS. WHY IT'S HAPPENI >>> IN OUR SERIES "CLIMATE CHALLENGE" THE WAVE OF TORNADOS WE'RE SEEING MAKES WARNING SYSTEMS ALL THE MORE URGENT. BLAYNE ALEXANDER REPORTS ON NEW RESEARCH TO SAVE LIVES AS THE TRADITIONAL PATH OF THESE STORMS IS CHANGING. >> Reporter: IN THE FIELDS OF SOUTHERN TENNESSEE IT'S SUNNY SKIES NOW. >> READY, OKAY. >> Reporter: BUT THIS TEAM LED BY AN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST IS PREPARING FOR THE STORM. ESSENTIALLY THE GOAL WAS TO PUT YOURSELF RIGHT IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. >> YES, PERIL IS REALLY TRYING TO GET RIGHT IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. WE'RE TRYING TO GET SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THEM. >> Reporter: MEET THE PERILS PROJECT, A UNIT DEPL DEPLOYING RAIDDARS, SENSORS AND SCIENTISTS. >> WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE STORMS, WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE THE STORM PRODUCES TORNADOS SO WE CAN BETTER PREDICT TORNADOS IN THE SOUTHEAST. >> Reporter: WHY ARE THESE STORMS SO DANGEROUS? >> THESE STORMS ARE DANGEROUS FOR MANY REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, THEY CAN OCCUR AT OFF HOURS, SO WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T PREPARED FOR TORNADOSCH. >> Reporter: TORNADOS LIKE THE ONES THAT RAVAGED MISSISSIPPI LAST MONTH AND JUST DAYS AGO TORE THROUGH ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE. >> THERE'S A HIGH POPULATION DENSITY IN THE SOUTHEAST, SO THESE STORMS AND TORNADOS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT LOTS OF TOWNS OR PEOPLE. >> Reporter: HISTORICALLY THE GREAT PLAINS IS CONSIDERED TORNADO ALLEY. THE AREA WITH THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY OF THESE STORMS. BUT THAT TREND HAS STARTED TO SHIFT. RESEARCH SHOWS OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TORNADOS IN THE SOUTHEAST. THIS WAS THE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR THAT'S PRODUCED A POWERFUL EF-4 TORNADOES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. FOUR OF THOSE IN THE SOUTHEAST. WILL THIS RESEARCH HELP CREATE MORE ACCURATE FORECASTS? >> YES. WE REALLY WANT TO GET BETTER WARNINGS OUT THERE, BETTER PREDIBTABILITY AND REALLY MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN TAKE THE ACTION THEY NEED TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. >> Reporter: CRITICAL ACTION THAT COULD SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES. BLAYNE ALEXANDER, NBC NEWS, ST. JOSEPH, >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, SHE RESIGNED IN JANUARY AS NEW ZEALAND'S GROUNDBREAKING PRIME MINISTER, AND TONIGHT INSPIRING WORDS FROM JU JACINDA ARDERN IN HER FAREWELL ADDRESS. HERE'S MOLLY HUNTER. >> Reporter: JACINDA ARDERN NEVER THOUGHT SHE'D MAKE IT HERE. WEARING A FEATHER CLOAK TODAY SHE BID FAREWELL TO PARLIAMENT. >> I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THIS TO BE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I LEAVE KNOWING THAT TO BE TRUE. >> Reporter: TAKING STOCK OF HER TIME IN OFFICE. >> DOMESTIC TERROR ATTACK, A VOLCANIC ERUPTION, A PANDEMIC. >> Reporter: THE TERROR ATTACK IN CHRISTCHURCH HUMBLED HER, SHE SAID, AND SHE WILL NOW WORK TO COMBAT VIOLENT EXTREMISM. AT JUST 37 YEARS OLD SHE WAS NEW ZEALAND'S SECOND YOUNGEST LEADER IN MORE THAN 150 YEARS. SHE WAS THE SECOND WORLD LEADER AFTER PAKISTAN'S TO BECOME A MOTHER IN OFFICE, MAKING HEADLINES WHEN SHE BROUGHT HER 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER TO THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BUT TODAY WAS ABOUT GRATITUDE, ABOUT IMPLORING HER COLLEAGUES TO MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOST POWERFULLY ABOUT LEAVING THE DOOR FIRMLY OPEN. >> YOU CAN BE ANXIOUS, SENSITIVE, KIND AND WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE. YOU CAN BE A MOTHER OR NOT. YOU CAN BE A NERD, A CRIER, A HUGGER, YOU CAN BE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND NOT ONLY CAN YOU BE HERE, YOU CAN LEAD JUST LIKE ME. >> Reporter: SETTING A LEGACY SHE HOPES WILL BE FOLLOWED. MOLLY HUNTER, NBC NEWS. >>> 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.