tonight, the severe storms moving east after a deadly tornado outbreak. the new images revealing the scope of the destruction in iowa. entire streets of homes destroyed. vehicles demolished. wind turbines toppled.

one town leveled by at least an ef-3 tornado. winds up to 165 miles per hour, and now the storm is on the move. some 44 million at risk tonight. also this evening, the surprise from nikki haley. she was one of donald trump's most intense critics in the primaries. why she says she's voting for him. the deadly workplace shooting near philadelphia. the suspect in custody. nearly two years after the uvalde school shooting, the victims' families filing a lawsuit against 92 texas dps officers over the failed response and the $2 million settlement. the chilling video of hamas taking female israeli soldiers hostage. it comes as israel is slamming three european countries for saying they'll recognize a palestinian state. the second human case of bird flu linked to dairy cows confirmed in the u.s. what health officials are saying. and after 20 years on stage with the boston ballet, the company's founding

principal dancer takes a final bow. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, and welcome. the scenes out of greenfield, iowa, tonight, broken homes and broken spirits. people literally claiming the fragments of their lives following a powerful and deadly tornado. officials say there have been multiple deaths after a tornado outbreak sent several twisters rolling across the region yesterday afternoon. the aftermath images painfully familiar to so many people living across the midwest. the plains and south whose lives have been upended these last several weeks from an exceptionally active and destructive tornado season. more than 860 tornado reports so far this year. 82 in iowa alone. in the month of may, we have gone only two days with zero tornado reports, and more dangerous weather lies ahead. tonight, 44 million

people from texas to western new york are at risk for severe thunderstorms. maggie vespa leads our storm coverage, and, maggie, a difficult scene tonight. >> reporter: yeah, lester, a difficult scene and chaotic one. amid all of this destruction you can see cleanup crews, power crews, and officials tell us they're till in search and recovery mode despite the latest line of storms having caused multiple deaths. tonight, in iowa, a sprawling landscape of destruction after the latest deadly tornado outbreak. >> that's a tornado, guys. >> reporter: more than two dozen reported twisters sliced through the midwest, mostly iowa yesterday, one leveling the city of greenfield. initial surveys dubbing it at least an ef-3 tornado packing winds up to 165 miles per hour. >> everything was on top of me. >> reporter: joan newell was trapped under the rubble of her home for 45 minutes before her apple watch alerted rescuers.

>> at one time they didn't think i was down there, and i kept hollering, i am here. >> reporter: this entire neighborhood is just obliterated. pieces of home also scattered everywhere, and one woman who tells us her house was on a lot down the block said the cars sitting on her front lawn, she has no clue where they came from. iowa authorities only saying multiple people were injured and killed adding, they're still in search and rescue mode. the state's governor declaring an emergency in 15 counties. >> what would you say to people who feel like they're seeing an increase in the frequency and severity of these storms? >> no, it's typical but i think they need to take it seriously when we say you need to take cover, you need to take cover. >> reporter: jaw-dropping twisters from oklahoma to tennessee. so far this month we've only seen two days without a tornado reported. total, 2024 has seen more than 860 tornadoes reported

across 37 states marking the third most active start to the year ever recorded. >> i've never seen a tornado like that. >> reporter: back in iowa, donna pruitt's house used to sit across the state. >> it was a matter of 30 seconds, and it was gone, and they said, donna, if you would have been here, i wouldn't be here today. >> reporter: maggie vespa, nbc news, greenfield, iowa. all right. bill karins is here and, this threat of severe weather continues even tonight. >> lester, we've had two tornadoes reported in west texas. no damage reported with those. we still have a tornado watch that will be with us for the next couple of hours from dallas to san angelo tracking a few strong storms at this hour. as we go into the forecast into tomorrow, we're still watching a chance of flash flooding too that continues through tonight. numerous areas of flash flood warnings in texas. the severe threat will be in the center portion of the country from south dakota all the way down to dallas, isolated tornadoes are possible and, lester, heads-up, sunday a severe weather outbreak is possible. >> bill, thank you for that. late today former

u.n. ambassador nikki haley announcing she'll vote for former president trump despite her criticism of him before she dropped out of the race. here's peter alexander. >> reporter: tonight in a surprise move, nikki haley, one of former president trump's most vocal critics throughout the primary, now says she will vote for him this november despite her reservations about his foreign policy and handling of the border. >> trump has not been perfect on these policies. i have made that clear many, many times, but biden has been a catastrophe, so i will be voting for trump. >> reporter: haley, mr. trump's former u.n. ambassador, was the last candidate to drop out after repeatedly slamming her former boss. >> donald trump was totally unhinged, unhinged. >> he's not qualified to be the president of the united states. >> reporter: mr. trump fired back in january questioning why haley was still in the race. >> who the hell was the impostor that went up on the stage before and, like, claimed a victory? >> reporter: haley's

announcement comes as the presumptive republican nominee is considering a vice presidential pick. this month mr. trump posting that nikki haley is not under consideration, even after exiting the race haley was still getting double-digit support among republican primary voters. >> trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me. >> reporter: the question tonight is whether haley voters will follow her lead and vote for mr. trump or will they back president biden? in a close race what they do could determine the outcome. near philadelphia police are trying to determine why a gunman opened fire at the company where authorities say he worked killing two employees and injuring three others. erin mclaughlin is there. >> reporter: in pennsylvania, a community shaken by gun violence. >> it's pretty big. >> reporter: tragedy unfolded this morning at a local linen company west of philadelphia in the city of chester. >> this is a workplace

shooting incident. an employee came to work today with a firearm, took out his anger. >> reporter: and opened fire killing two and injuring three employees, who were transported to a nearby hospital. [ speaking in a global language ] >> reporter: adalina was there at the time of the shooting and said workers ran for their lives. resident james pierce heard the shots and called 911. >> pop, pop, pop. pop, pop, pop. i looked to the door and looked out. i seen people running out of the building. >> reporter: authorities later arrested the alleged gunman in a nearby city. they have yet to name him but is believed to be an employee of the linen company. the possible motive is the subject of an ongoing investigation. >> any information i have is the employee had had some issues with fellow employees, but nothing that would lead to what happened today. i mean, this is just everyone's worst nightmare. >> reporter: today's shooting now counted by the gun violence archive as the 169th mass shooting so far this year. >> it speaks to guns in america. it's heartbreaking.

it's tragic. it has to stop. >> reporter: tonight, yet another american community in shock and an all too familiar call for change. lester. >> erin mclaughlin, thank you. and on friday, it will be two years since the deadly school shooting in uvalde, texas. today victims' families announced new legal action against the city and many of the officers involved. tom llamas is here. tom, what are they asking for? >> lester, good evening. tonight the families who lost so much ready to fight back announcing a $500 million federal lawsuit against more than 90 officers from the texas department of public safety and the uvalde school district. their call for justice coming nearly two years after a gunman killed 2 teachers and 19 students inside robb elementary school. body cam footage inside the school shows officers fumbling with keys, hesitating to move in, and waiting in the hallways as children were killed inside of those classrooms. the school district acknowledges the

lawsuit and says it's opening to exploring a resolution. the texas department of public safety tells nbc news, it does not comment on pending litigation and, lester, the families today also announcing a settlement with the city of uvalde for $2 million total. the reason, that's the max for the insurance fund and don't want to bankrupt their own city. >> tom, thanks very much. in israel chilling newly released video of seven israeli female soldiers as they were abducted by hamas terrorists on october 7th. the women appearing bloody and beaten. raf sanchez has more. a warning, the images are disturbing. >> reporter: tonight, the disturbing footage from october 7th showing hamas terrorists inside an israeli military base. seven female soldiers covered in blood and bruises are up against the wall. they're handcuffed and terrified. 18-year-old liri trying to speak while the women are receiving death threats. >> that's what you mean?

>> what? >> i don't know. show us. show us. >> reporter: the gunmen leering at the women telling them they're beautiful. the u.n. has said hamas has committed rape and sexual violence against their victims. unclear if it happened in this case. you can hear the gunfire as they're abducted into gaza. of the seven, one was rescued, and another found dead. the remaining five still in captivity. 229 days later including 19-year-old karina arias. we spoke to her sister, sasha. >> what's it like to see your little sister there in her snoopy pajamas surrounded by these men with guns? >> like a movie, begging for people to do something, you know, just get them out of there. >> reporter: a group representing hostage families releasing the footage, which they say was edited to take out the most gruesome scenes trying to create pressure for a

cease-fire deal, but with negotiations at a stalemate, ireland, norway and spain saying they'll recognize an independent palestinian state. the white house says that's the wrong approach to get to peace. >> the only way to achieve a two-state solution that delivers for both israelis and palestinians is throught direct negotiations between the parties. >> reporter: israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu also slamming the move calling it a reward for terrorism and saying it won't stop israel's war against hamas. lester. >> raf sanchez, thank you. in 60 seconds, the growing political fight over birth control. plus, the state now on its way to becoming the first to make possession of abortion pills wit a prescription a crime. right after this. in my office tell me about their frequent dry eyes, which may point to dry eye disease. millions of americans were estimated to have it. they've tried artificial tears again and again, but the relief is temporary. xiidra can provide lasting relief. xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

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the first case was found in texas in march. also tonight, reproductive rights and 2024. donald trump walking back his comments about potential restrictions on birth control while louisiana lawmakers are set to criminalize abortion pills. here's hallie jackson. >> reporter: a new front in the battle over reproductive rights tonight, birth control. >> women are not going to let the republican party turn back the clock on their rights. >> reporter: democrats today revealing plans to try to protect access to contraception under federal law aiming to put senate republicans on the spot and highlight divisions on reproductive rights with some in the gop dismissing the push as a political stunt. >> it doesn't seem necessary to me. i think republicans do support that. >> reporter: the focus coming after this from former president trump. >> do you support any restrictions on a person's right to contraception? >> well, we're looking

at that, and i'm going to have a policy on that very shortly. >> reporter: mr. trump backtracking hours later posting he will never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control. the biden campaign is looking to tie mr. trump to controversial reproductive rights proposals like in louisiana, now poised to become the first state to reclassify two drugs used for abortions as controlled dangerous substances on the same level as depressants like xanax, criminalizing the possession of mifepristone and misoprostol without a prescription. most abortions are already outlawed in the state. the bill's author describing how his sister was slipped abortion drugs without her consent while pregnant. her husband sentenced to prison after a plea deal in the case. >> it is to simply say that when you're a bad actor in possession of these pills, that you should be held accountable. >> reporter: but 280 doctors in the state in a letter argue the bill's not scientifically based and creates confusion and misinformation for patients since the drugs are also used for other reasons like inducing labor and managing miscarriages. >> this is not about

abortion. this is about using these drugs routinely for other -- many, many other things. >> reporter: and the supreme court is set to issue key rulings on abortion access later this spring for the first time since overturning roe versus wade two years ago with justices considering cases including whether to put limits on mifepristone. lester. >> okay, hallie, thank you. up next how one big city is reducing dangers to mothers giving birth with a program that could become a model for the nation. e himself again. but even though time has passed, his risk of a second attack hasn't. mike is still living in the red. with a very high risk of another heart attack or stroke. he doesn't know with his risk factors his ldl-c (bad cholesterol) is still too high - the recommended level is below 55. are you living in the red? get in the know. learn how to get a free ldl-c test at attackheartdisease.com.

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the u.s. has an alarmingly high rate of pregnancy-related deaths, but in san antonio a program is taking action to get new mothers the lifesaving blood so many need after childbirth. cynthia mcfadden reports. >> we have three cases to review. >> reporter: the medical staff gathered around this conference table at university hospital here in san antonio, texas, meet once a week at dawn with just one purpose in mind, saving lives. >> a patient that has been ruled out to have accreta. >> reporter: dr. kaitlin martin is one of them. the lives she and others are determined to save, pregnant women but increasingly diagnosed condition called placenta accreta occurring in 1 in 500 pregnancies. >> basically the placenta won't detach from the uterus and causes massive hemorrhage in many cases. >> the pregnancy was fine until it wasn't.

>> reporter: women like bianca who at 20 was pregnant with her second baby. the first had been delivered by c-section, which is the most common precursor to the condition. >> it didn't feel like my first pregnancy at all, and they were telling me it's normal. >> reporter: so, she went online to see what she could find. >> that's when i found out about placenta accreta, and i looked up rates of survival for that, and it's terrifying. >> reporter: seven out of every 100 women with placenta accreta die. many more spend months in the hospital recovering from massive hemorrhage. bianca's original doctor told her if it was placenta accreta, their hospital didn't have enough blood to treat her. >> how scared were you? >> i was in a state of shock. >> reporter: so, at eight months pregnant, bianca was sent here to university hospital where dr. martin, who co-directs the program stepped in. >> dr. martin called me right away and she

was leaning to get me in because this is what we think it is. you're in great danger, and it was on a saturday. >> reporter: bianca's suspicion was right. she did have placenta accreta. doctors like to plan these complicated life-threatening deliveries months in advance, but because of the protocols they've developed here, two days later dr. martin helped her deliver a healthy baby boy, though in the process bianca lost ten units of blood. most women only have nine to ten units in their whole body. >> a lot of hospitals don't even carry that much blood in the entire hospital. >> reporter: that's right. one of the reasons why doctors say this can exist is because of san antonio's whole blood program, which is considered a model for the nation. >> everyone's got a stake in this. >> reporter: dr. donald jenkins, former air force trauma surgeon, has been a driving force behind creating the coordinated whole blood system in san antonio. he says key to making it work, a steady supply of whole blood from blood banks who are willing and able

to provide it. whole blood is just the blood that the donor gives before it's broken down into plasma, platelets, and red cells. >> how many lives do you feel conservatively have been saved by this program? >> easily 2,000. >> reporter: bianca says they saved her life. >> i think someone came to say hello. >> hi. >> hi. >> reporter: bianca, what does it feel like to be sitting next to this incredible doctor? >> it feels like i'm sitting next to a superhero right now. >> reporter: bianca wanted dr. martin to see her kids. >> this is dr. martin, look. say hi. >> hi. >> hi, doctor. >> hi. how are you? >> reporter: too young to know they're meeting the woman who saved their mother's life. >> thank you so much. >> of course. >> it's, like -- >> reporter: and the program is working. doctors tell us 40% to 50% of women with this condition used to be admitted to the icu. now it's down to 20%. lester.

>> all right. cynthia, i'm sad to say after ten years, this is your last report for nbc. >> well, lester, it has been an honor to work with you on this broadcast, which has nurtured and celebrated original investigative reporting. yeah, i've had an incredible run, and in no small part thanks to you and the really high standards you set. >> you're certainly kind. thank you. we will miss you. >> i'll miss you. this is a hot flash. but this is a not flash. for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause... ...veozah is the first and only prescription treatment that directly blocks a source of hot flashes and night sweats. with 100% hormone-free veozah... ...you can have fewer hot flashes... ...and more not flashes. veozah reduces the number and severity of hot flashes day and night. don't use veozah if you have cirrhosis, severe kidney problems, kidney failure, or take cyp1a2 inhibitors. increased liver blood test values may occur.

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years with the boston ballet, the principal dancer has come to the last dance. here's vicky nguyen. ♪♪ >> reporter: before there was this, there was this. john lam was just 4 when teachers offered him free ballet lessons in california. >> i would go to dance and, yes, i would be made fun of at school, but i knew there was something bigger. >> reporter: his hard work propelled him to the boston ballet where he made history as the first vietnamese american male principal dancer, now retiring after 20 years with starring roles. >> what is it like to be the first, to be a trailblazer in this? >> oh, gosh, you know, i keep thinking back, and i think i'm no different than anyone else, and i think, gosh, that 4-year-old kid coming from poverty somehow made it into an industry that maybe deemed elitist, but somehow i faced it all. >> sunday.

>> reporter: his parents came to america in the '80s as part of a wave of vietnamese boat refugees. his father still works seven days a week. this was his parents' first time seeing john perform in boston. >> i really appreciate everybody that helped my boy. >> it's been my home for 20 years. >> reporter: lam says he still has more to accomplish with a memoir and his nonprofit, lam danceworks. >> what advice would you offer to the next generation? >> to keep that fire burning bright and bright. to not let go of what you believe in. >> reporter: a final bow, but not the last dance for this trailblazer. vicky nguyen, nbc news, boston. and that is "nightly news" for this wednesday. thank you for watching. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night.

smoke over the peninsula. here's why. firefighters are battling a fire at a scrap metal yard in redwood city. nbc bay arky