thank you very much for joining us now. we'll see you in half an hour. deep freeze. dangerous cold gripping much of the country and there is more snow and lower temperatures on the way. first look inside the rehab center where congresswoman giffords begins the long road back. forced out, police cuts in one of america's most dangerous cities, tonight what happens when people need help. and, home on the range. one man's drive to save some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this

is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. for much of the country, this is shaping up to be the winter of our discontent. our tough winter is getting tougher this weekend for millions of us with an arctic chill grabbing hold of the snow fatigued northeast. temperatures have already fallen below 0 in parts of upper new england. we could see single digit lows by monday here in new york. but already tonight, a lot of americans in the midwest, south and east are suffering under below-average temperatures and in some cases dangerous conditions. here in the city we get our report from the ice tonight with nbc's jeff rossen on the rink. talk about adding insult to injury. >> reporter: no question about that. good evening to you. you asked me to find the coldest place in the city tonight. we have brave souls the skaters who won't let the cold keep them inside. we were talking to a lot of

people today. if this is a joke, we are not laughing. five snow storms so far and now we can't walk outside outside without >> you okay? >> that tractor trailer skidded on the slush, crashed through the median and broke apart landing in oncoming traffic. no one was hurt. >> i literally just missed part of the truck and luckily i missed it just in time. >> in new jersey. >> jets, jets, jets! >> reporter: fans rallied for the big game tomorrow. proving loyalty trumps comfort. with dangerous windchills in the single digits. >> toes are numb. >> 5:30 we left the house, it is freezing. but it is worth it. >> this blanket of cold air, is smothering 32 states this weekend. the coldest spots today,

minnesota 33 below 0. grand forks, north dakota 25 below. new york 11 below and letreux, pennsylvania 4 below and diving. >> the cold air will be here today, tomorrow and peak in the northeast with the most extreme cold being felt there on monday. >> reporter: how cold is it? a viewer in minnesota tweeted this home video. >> it is so cold outside that the cup of water instantly froze. >> reporter: in illinois today, a deadly accident on icy roads, two people were killed when this truck hit a school bus carrying a girl's basketball team. 15 girls sent to the hospital but expected to recover. reminding us how dangerous this weather can be. this is by far the coldest air of the season so far. here in the northeast and really across the entire country, no relief in sight. cold again tomorrow and as we were recovering, they are

calling for another major snow storm in the east. mid week. >> just what we need. thank you. congresswoman gabrielle giffords began her first full day at a houston rehabilitation hospital today. the next step after the shooting attack in tucson, two weeks ago today. she was flown to the texas medical center yesterday. janet good evening. >> reporter: hi lester. gabrielle giffords was seen by a number of therapists today who were evaluating her condition. tonight her doctors, here new doctors gave us an update saying, "she surprised us". today a first look inside the facility where gabrielle giffords will take the next step on her road to recovery. like these patients, therapists will guide here through exercises to regain basic skills. also today an update from the new doctors. >> she surprised us. she did not need as much assistance as we had anticipated.

there were still people holding onto her, but she is activating her muscles even more than what i had anticipated. >> good luck, we love you! >> reporter: giffords arrived in houston on friday. after a heart felt send off from tucson. >> i felt like we were letting go of a family member, but she is going to come back. >> reporter: they lined the route. cheering as the ambulance passed. doctor said she responded. >> when i drove with her in the ambulance and saw her reaction to the cheering in the streets, it confirmed to me that she knows what is going on. >> reporter: giffords was taken to the hospital's trauma unit. where she will stay for the next few days. it is going well so far according to her husband, astronaut mark kelly. who tweeted that she was settled in and was doing great in her new room. and encouraging news from a nurse. during the flight to houston when this photograph was taken. tracy culbert described how she

play the with her ring. >> i took it off and asked her if she wanted to see it. >> she took it and was looking at it and turning it to see all sides of the ring and put it onto her finger to hold on to it. >> reporter: it is doctors say, another sign of her progress and strength. traits she will draw from every day as a new captor of her recovery begins. tonight she is still in intensive care but is expected to be moved. and lester, doctors say that is when the real work begins. >> thank you. >> now to the economic hit that has turned one of the poorest cities into cut back. the people of cam ben, new jersey worry if they need help, nobody will be there. >> if it is not the camden city police department is coming nobody is going to come.

>> even the police chief hits the streets of camden, new jersey. >> all hands on deck. in a city ranked second last year and first the year before that as the most dangerous in the country. >> it is not safe at all. especially for the kids and i have two of my own. >> police protested after 160 cops got laid off this week. dozens of firefighters packed their gear. cut backs eliminated one third of that department as well. piece e he has four children. >> one in college and one whose tuition is $53,000 a year. it is a hard hit. >> instead of protecting and serving the public the residents of camden, they chose to protect their high salary. >> the mayor claims they left her no choice. the city, one of the nation's poorest faces a huge budget deficit.

and must balance the budget. these adds in local newspapers by the police union stoked public fears. >> crime is not going to stop itself when you are taking away police officers. >> reporter: with so many cops laid off, the police vehicles are here in the lot going nowhere. camden gets help from the fbi and the new jersey state police and they will be counting on that now more than ever. >> camden isn't alone. the economy has forced cut backs across the country. oakland, california eliminated 10% of its force. flintish michigan, michigan laid off 30% of its officers. newark, new jersey had the biggest cut back in 32 years. off 30% of its officers. newark, new jersey had the biggest cut back in 32 years mi off 30% of its officers. newark, new jersey had the rk will be the center of o orm

president obama's state of t union message tuesday night. it is not just their jobs that are at stake, but his own. mike vicara is at the white house for us mike? >> reporter: almost 15 million americans are looking for work. but the economy is slowly recovering. as the president prepares to address the nation on tuesday night, he is putting a renewed focus on jobs and growth. in a pre state of the union message to supporters, the president left no doubt about the theme of tuesday's address. >> my principle focus, my number one focus is going to be making sure that we are competitive and that we are going and creating jobs not just now but well into the future. >> that focus is evident in nearly every recent public appearance by the president with new emphasis on competing on

markets abroad and give ing jolt to a slow economy. >> the next two years, our job now is putting our economy into over drive. >> after attacking business for much of the last year, mr. obama is trying to mend fences. his new chief of staff is a former commerce secretary with close ties to wall street. i named jeff immelt to the staff. the president has issued a new directive to regulators as well. for the gop that would include the new health care law. today republicans vowed to move ahead with repeal. creating a more favorable economic climate would boost growth but also his standing with voter. >> we started seeing a week or so after the election, the president moving, reaching out,

compromising, and the proof is in the polls. >> the president is already laying the ground work for a 2012 run for re-election where economic growth or lack of it could mean everything. >> if we continue with month after month after month where we are at 10% unemployment and in a four-year down period the president is in serious jeopardy. >> reporter: in addition to the steps that the president says he is going to take to boost the economy, he told supporters today he will be talking about deficits and debt on tuesday night. >> nbc's mike vicara at the white house, thank you. more on the republican agenda tomorrow on ""meet the press"". tomorrow david gregory's guest will be eric cantor of virginia. >> outside washington today, family and friends gathered for the funeral of sargent shriver.

he became one of the towering figures of public service in this country. they came from many walks of life. ♪ >> those who personally knew sargent shriver loved him. gather he was remembered for starting ing at the family church. the peace corp under his brother-in-law john f kennedy. for running the war of poverty. but for being a good man. >> could anybody really be as good as he seemed to be? i mean come on now. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> come on. every other man in this church feels about two inches tall right now. >> among others, he touched the rock star bono who sang his tribute. ♪ of your peace >> as did stevie wonder. ♪ >> maria shriver spoke of how

she saw her father. >> for me, perhaps his greatest achievement was showing us in our family how to show up in other people's lives and how to love unconditionally. he died this week at age 95. he was buried next to his wife of 56 years. when nbc "nightly news" continues, the case of amanda knox. the young american woman convicted of murder in italy. and later, one man's mission to preserve some of the most stunning landscapes of the american west. a knox. and later, one man's mission to preserve some of the most stunning landscapes of the american west. wow! that is huge! [ disco playing ] and this is to remind you that you could save hundreds! yeah, that'll certainly stick with me. we'll take it. go, big money! i mean, go.

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amanda amanda knox, the american college student who spent three years in an italian prison for murder is getting a new chance to prove her innocence. court decided to allow new examination of dna evidence in the case. michelle kazinski has the details. >> reporter: if amanda knox looked tired or upset coming into court, she melted into smiles. seeing her supporters. for the first time in more than three years, since her roommate was found murdered in their hillside apartment, the court is tackling the case with fresh eyes. leaving amanda and her family guardedly elated. >> we have said if the bits of evidence are re-examinere-exami

the truth will be found out. >> reporter: evidence that was found on the knife that the prosecutors claim was the murder weapon and on the victim's bra. they will retest it. they may even dismantle the knife in case other evidence is hiding. the defense believes it is not the murder weapon. it was found in a kitchen drawer. the boyfriend was also convicted of sexual assault and murder and this is his appeal too. a trace of his dna was on meredith's bra clasp but nowhere else on it or the scene. his experts don't even think it is his dna at all. >> no match. no match. i did a deep exam nation of the results obtained by the police and i am sure to exclusion. >> reporter: could new analysis

support their insistence that these two were not even there that night? the court also granted the defense to present new witnesses. possibly presenting new evidence for this oo peel. chances they didn't get the first time. >> it has been so long, it is cold in there, right now, it is gray, she doesn't deserve to be in there, so, she is not doing the best. >> reporter: now these small victories carry great weight. all that is standing between decades and even life in prison and freedom. michelle kazinski, nbc news, peruja, italy. >> when we come back, 144 days of captivity in iran. 30 years later an american hostage remembers. aptivity in iran. 30 years later an american hostage remembers. ♪

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30 years ago this week, 53 americans tasted freedom after being held hostage in iran for more than a year. time that at least one tells me he is still trying to reclaim. >> good evening. the american embassy in tehran is in the hands of students tonight. >> no story continuously dominated the news as lock as this one. >> it is insulting to see them being held at prisoners. >> the crisis began when iranian students seized the u.s. embassy in 1979, taking dozens hostage after the u.s. refused to deport the shah. 52 americans were held captive for 144 days. he was one of the hostages. >> i really felt after the first several months in captivity, that we would never get out.

>> what was the dimmest moment, the darkest day you had? >> after we were disbursed all over the country after the attempted rescue, many of us reassembled in a prison. cement walls, steel doors, bathrooms that were full of cameras to watch us day in and day out. it just seemed that the humiliation would never end. >> but an end to this long national nightmare would come on a day filled with irony and symbolism. january 20th, 1981, a new presidency begins. >> i will faithfully execute the office -- >> while america's agonizing ordeal is finally over after 14 months. >> did you know that ronald reagan had be elected?

>> they had the notion that reagan had freed us and it was carter. >> how did you get word that you were going to be released? >> on the morning of the 20th, we woke up to open the door and there was no guard there. and then somebody walked through and said sookay, pack up, you'r leaving. >> once we crossed the border, the turkish border, we broke out champagne and started to have a good time and we knew we were actually free. >> freedom that came with a cost still felt today. >> iran is etched in my mind. but there was no feeling of freedom like the one that i had 30 years ago. ♪ >> rosen and many of his fellow captives are marking the 30th anniversary at a reunion this weekend at the military academy at west point. >> they were officially called easy company, but tv viewers knew them as the band of

brothers, the unit that not fou in some of the biggest battles. today we learned the oldest living member, ed mouser had died. he was drafted in 1942 and volunteered. home of company e. he kept his role in the unit a secret until hbo produced a mini series. ed mouser was 94. up next, when we continue here, one man's mission to save a treasured piece of america's west. treasured piece of america's west. ease arthritis symptoms. but if you have arthritis, staying active can be difficult. prescription celebrex can help relieve arthritis pain so your body can stay in motion. because just one 200mg celebrex a day can provide 24 hour relief for many with arthritis pain and inflammation. plus, in clinical studies, celebrex is proven to improve daily physical function so moving is easier. and celebrex is not a narcotic. when it comes to relieving your arthritis pain, you and your doctor need to balance the benefits

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finally tonight, home on the range and the threat to some of this country's most beautiful landscapes. nbc's roger o'neal reports on a man's way to save an american way of life. >> reporter: if you want to make a small fortune in ranching, people say start with a large fortune. [ dog barking ] jim hughes didn't and the hardships are on his face. >> i don't have the money to buy a new pick up. >> how do you make it? >> a day at a time. >> reporter: he is cash poor but like many in the west, land rich. which sounds good. but he worries inheritance taxes will keep this son from becoming the 5th generation rancher. that worries john fielder too. he is a photographer whose camera for 30 years focused on colorado's stunning landscapes.

now his lens is refocusing on the meadows and barns here. >> this is history. we can't afford to lose 150 years of the histories of the families that define the fabric of american society. >> reporter: he has raised $100,000 from sales of his latest book to help farmers combat two old foes. the tax man and the developer who subdivides into 40 acre ranchettes. >> i'm just the messengers. that is the story of my life. being able to show people what is at stake. >> reporter: 37 million acres of land has been protected by ading tax breaks in exchange covnence to never develop. as states face shortfalls, pressure is building to cut proprom programs aimed at saving moronch land. in colorado, for example, it is estimated 60,000 acres of land last year was lost to

development. >> fielders donation will help a few with expenses to get their land protected. but to help many, he says, his photographs must convince many to keep protecting the scenery so the spectacular scenes of the west are not lost. roger o'neal, nbc news colorado. >> that is nbc "nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt in new york. i will see you tomorrow morning on "today" and then back here tomorrow evening. good night. on "today" and then back here tomorrow evening. good night. good evening. i'm garvin thomas. san jose police have arrested a suspect in the fating shooting of an 18-year-old. it happened near the