Wednesday, March 01, 2023 |
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Wednesday, March 01, 2023 |
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Good Wednesday afternoon. The jury in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial is hearing closing arguments, an arrest has been made after a train collision killed at least 43 people in Greece, and an arrest warrant has been issued for a top NFL draft prospect. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Closing arguments in Murdaugh trial after jury visits murder scene |
Attorneys are delivering their closing arguments today in the double murder trial of once-prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. Murdaugh is charged with fatally shooting his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul at the family’s estate in 2021. Earlier in the day, the jury visited the 1,700-acre property where Maggie and Paul were found dead. Murdaugh maintains that he did not kill his wife and son, but he admitted on the stand last week that he had lied to police about his alibi the night of the murders. The jury has heard from more than 75 witnesses over more than six weeks. Following closing arguments, they will receive their instructions from the judge and begin deliberations. Murdaugh faces 30 years to life in prison if he is convicted of murder. |
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Station manager arrested after train collision kills 43 in Greece |
An arrest has been made after at least 43 people were killed and dozens more injured, when a passenger train collided with a freight train in northern Greece, officials said. A 59-year-old station manager, who is responsible for overseeing signaling, has been charged with manslaughter by negligence and grievous bodily harm by negligence, police said. About 350 passengers were on board the passenger train headed from Athens to Thessaloniki, a popular tourist destination, when it collided “head-on” with the freight train near the town of Tempe overnight, the rail company said in a statement. Multiple cars derailed and at least three burst into flames, according to reports. The impact threw several passengers out of the train windows, according to survivors. |
“Havana syndrome” unlikely caused by foreign adversary, U.S. report finds |
The mysterious condition known as “Havana syndrome” reported by hundreds of U.S. officials in recent years was likely not caused by a foreign adversary, according to a newly declassified assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies. Beginning in late 2016, U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials in Cuba began complaining of unexplained illnesses and bizarre symptoms, including brain injuries. The report finds those symptoms were likely caused by a combination of environmental and social factors, and pre-existing health conditions. NBC News reported in 2018 that U.S. intelligence officials considered Russia a leading suspect in the “Havana syndrome” investigation, but spy agencies have not uncovered enough evidence to support that theory. |
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Winter storm sweeping across the country after battering California |
The major winter storm that has been pounding California is expected to quickly accelerate across the nation and produce more wintry weather, severe storms and flooding rainfall through Friday. Winter alerts are in effect for 14 million people stretching from California through the Southern Rockies. Widespread precipitation, high winds, blizzard conditions, and record cold high temperatures will continue to impact California today as the winter storm moves into the Southwest, the National Weather Service said. In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, ski resorts reported at least 2 feet of new snow early today. The Snow Valley resort has reported a seven-day total of 10 feet. There are reports of avalanches in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. “Multiple life threatening avalanches reported in the Movie Slope area below the ski area parking lot,” the Mount Baldy Resort tweeted. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are also possible today in the Mid-South, according to the NWS. |
| Drugmaker Eli Lilly slashes cost of insulin to $35 a month |
Eli Lilly will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its insulin at $35 a month, the drugmaker said Wednesday, bringing relief to millions of Americans with diabetes who rely on the life-saving drug. The company said it will cut its list prices for Humalog and Humulin, two commonly prescribed types of insulin, by 70 percent or more. President Joe Biden, who called for a cap on insulin prices in his State of the Union address last month, applauded the move by Lilly, and called for other companies to cut their insulin prices as well. |
Legendary composer John Williams on making Oscar history |
John Williams, the legendary composer behind the soundtracks to such movies as “Star Wars,” “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Superman,” and the Indiana Jones series, sat down with Lester Holt to talk about his latest, history-making Oscar nomination. At age 91, Williams is now the oldest person to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award, for his work in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.” Williams has been nominated for an Oscar 53 times, but surprisingly, he’s only won five times over seven decades, with the last for 1993’s “Schindler's List.” “I’d think most people would think you would have won more, because your music is so familiar,” Holt said to Williams. “Well my wife thinks I should have won more, and someone asked, ‘Samantha, why do you always wear black dresses to the Oscars?’ And she says because we lose every year,” Williams joked. “But it couldn’t be more wonderful, I couldn’t be happier. It’s the recognition from one’s peers, one’s colleagues, that is always very gratifying,” he added. In addition to Williams’ iconic work in film, he also composed “The Mission,” the theme for NBC Nightly News. |
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What else we're watching: |
An arrest warrant has been issued for Jalen Carter, the Georgia Bulldogs star player and top NFL draft prospect, in connection with a crash in January that killed two people, including a former teammate, police said. |
A Buffalo firefighter was killed today while battling a massive four-alarm fire in a building downtown, the mayor said. |
Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department's handling of the separate special counsel investigations into classified documents linked to former President Donald Trump and President Biden, as he testified today before the Senate. |
The CEO of Norfolk Southern will testify before the Senate next week about the company’s toxic train derailment in Ohio, the company said. |
The Ukrainian military may pull out of the key city of Bakhmut after weeks of fierce fighting with Russian forces, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. |
Lori Lightfoot has become the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election. |
The long-lost Ironton, a ship that sank in 1894, has finally been found at the bottom of Lake Huron, officials in Michigan said. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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