on our broadcast tonight, high drama. another big day for the americans here in sochi. also, the russians turn back the clock and two sisters score a huge upset of their own. plus, the ice storm that has paralyzed an entire region of the u.s. a dangerous situation for millions where tonight people are being urged to stay in their homes. a mother's outrage over what a prominent ceo said publicly about her child. tonight, she talks to nbc news, and he is issuing an apology. and hit or miss? as olympic athletes continue to push the limits, growing concern about concussions, when things don't go as planned. "nightly news" begins now. >> announcer: this is nbc

"nightly news" with brian williams reporting tonight from the winter olympic games in sochi, russia. good evening. after the second full day of competition at these olympic winter games here in sochi. and the robust russian flame is burning brightly for the athletes of team usa. a strong showing today as the pace has now picked up. despite concerns about security, which, as you'll hear, were back in the news today, the news from here was for the most part about the americans' achievement in two of the new olympic sports. while we should tell you for those planning to watch in primetime, we're only going to be talking about those results that have already been widely publicized today. to start us off here tonight, chris jansing is back with us. >> reporter: a couple of free spirited americans won gold in the extreme sport called slopestyle. one of them, the most successful

woman in the sport who spent last night calming her nerves with incense and meditation, the other a 20-year-old who loves junk food or, hayes p as he put snacks and who hasn't been to the gym since september. >> he's on the course. >> reporter: americans soared, flipped and twisted into olympic history sweeping the medals in the new snowboard slopestyle. california jamie anderson's finish was nearly flawless. >> i'm just so thankful i was able to do my best and win a gold medal. blind blowing right now. >> reporter: anderson was the favorite, but many championed sage kotsenburg was the surprise and the home crowd in utah went wild. today sage was munching pizza and showing off the medal he won with wild tricks like this, 4 1/2 spins. >> i had never done it before in my life. i winged it on that one.

>> reporter: how do you do that in an olympic final? >> i don't know. that's my thought process. >> reporter: organizers suggested they do know why some of the venues look so empty, despite statements that 92s are of tickets were sold. a lot of people, they suggest, are showing up late. >> russians like to come to the event not prior by as close as possible. >> reporter: figure skating is drawing crowds and photos of ashley wagner went viral, one after her performance, the other reacting to her scores, but they were good enough to help the americans get into the new team skating finals where they pulled off an upset, taking the bronze. >> i can't believe that just happened at the olympic games. >> reporter: even a photo op with president vladimir putin and this photo, the adorable sister act from canada. justine and chloe dufour-lapointe winning gold and silver in moguls. a moment of sheer astonishment and unfettered joy.

>> it's just amazing. it's not like two or three. it's like, one and two. that's it. >> it's so rare. it's just so beautiful to have this moment but not alone. >> reporter: there was good news today, too, for the host russians who were shut out yesterday but won their first medals today. 15-year-old female figure skater looks to be one of the breakout stars of these games, brian. >> she sure does. chris jansing, starting off our coverage tonight. thanks. a note again about these continued concerns over threats to the games. texas republican congressman michael mccaul, who is the chairman of the house homeland security committee said in an interview this morning that it's highly likely, as he put it, there will be an attack in this region during the olympic games, though outside the immediate area of sochi. congressman mccaul said, quote, there's a high degree of probability that something will

detonate, something will go off. again, though, he said it's most likely to happen outside the ring of security surrounding the sochi games. our own richard engel tells us tonight u.s. security officials say the congressman's claim is not based on any new intelligence. they say the threat level remains the same as it was before these games got under way. now, back home in the u.s. tonight to the pacific northwest where the weather has emerged as a big issue in the lives of millions of people, many of whom are being urged to stay home until a major ice storm in the region blows over. nbc's joe friar is in portland, oregon tonight with more on this story. joe, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. after three days of snow came freezing rain, adding a layer of ice to roads and paralyzing much of the region. tonight, things are gradually improving on the interstate. many are electing to stay home and stay safe. >> give it a push. >> go ahead.

>> reporter: so disruptive is the winter storm that's blasting the pacific northwest, early this morning the city of portland sent its first-ever wireless emergency alert to cell phones, urging all residents to stay indoors today and not travel due to ice. many oregon drivers have abandoned their cars on idle highways, roads so bad at least two mothers had no other choice than to give birth to their babies in the back of ambulances. paramedic jesse fitzpatrick helped to deliver one of the babies. >> we were just trying to get to the hospital, but didn't quite make it in time. >> reporter: the state just doesn't have enough road equipment to keep up. >> we wouldn't want to spend the money maintaining that equipment for snow storms that only happen once or twice a year. >> reporter: falling tree limbs weighed down by ice are adding to the danger. >> the tree came down and went right across our truck. we're dodging trees coming down. >> reporter: even portland's popular transit trains came to a halt. what are you nervous about? >> getting to the airport so we

don't miss our flight. of course, the flight might be canceled when we get there. >> reporter: service is slowly returning, and a train showed up offering the popkins hope they'll make their flight. >> we measured a foot and a half in our backyard. >> reporter: others simply gave up on machines and relied on manpower. >> it's really good. when you're done, you're not facing a drive home. you just walk through your front door. >> reporter: this massive burst of moisture stretched along the west coast dumping snow in seattle and heavy rain in northern california causing long delays, up to three hour, at san francisco airport. but offering some hope for a region parched by extreme drought. >> while this is welcomed and it is a godsend, we need so much more to have a chance at being able to save many of our crops. >> reporter: as for ice-covered oregon, most heeded the warning and stayed indoors today, but the roads are expected to stay treacherous come monday morning. forecasters say the worst of it appears to be over. more rain is expected this week. people here just hope it's not

more freezing rain. brian? >> all right. joe friar in portland for us, joe, thanks. in the south tonight, all eyes are on atlanta and the next weather system that will roll through that region. a winter storm watch has been issued for the area. it includes the city of atlanta, which you'll recall was paralyzed a few weeks back by a 2.6" snowfall. governor of georgia eventually had to apologize for the reaction and lack of preparation following that storm. this next system is predicted to bring snow and ice combination their way starting tomorrow night and running through wednesday. the chief executive of aol has received a big wave of criticism for remarks he made while announcing a change to the company's benefit plan. he talked about the high cost of health care and, in doing so, he cited two aol families who had relied on their benefits to pay the medical bills for what he called distressed babies. one of those two mothers is

speaking out. the ceo, tim armstrong, has reversed himself. we get our report on all of it tonight from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> reporter: for deanna faye, every day with her daughter is a miracle. little mila was born more than three months premature. >> on her first day we were told we had -- i'm sorry, a one-third chance of her dying before we would ever be able to bring her home. >> reporter: faye's husband works for aol. last week ceo tim armstrong announced in his town hall meeting that it was changing its 401(k) benefits saying in addition to the rising cost of health care it had paid a million each for what he called two distressed babies born to aol staffers. he didn't name the baby, but they knew. >> it was sort of impossible to process that he was talking about my daughter, who was home with me at that time. you know, to hear her labeled a distressed baby.

and to me there did sound like the implication that somehow we were greedy consumers of health care benefits, that we had kind of gobbled up more than our share of the pie. >> reporter: faye wasn't alone in her shock. the internet lit up with criticism, and aol quickly did an about-face, restoring its original 401(k) policy. in a letter to the staff, armstrong said, i made a mistake and i apologize for my comment last week at the town hall when i mentioned specific healthcare examples in trying to explain our decisionmaking process. today, nbc news reached out to aol and a spokesman says armstrong has apologized personally to the family. >> he has spoken in very heartfelt ways about how badly he feels for having caused us this hurt. and i accept that. >> reporter: but for faye, who wrote an article in slate magazine that has now gone viral, it's about her baby. >> i think it's important to have the national conversation

about health care spending that we are having, but i also think it's important to keep in mind the lives that are sometimes, you know, so tiny, so vulnerable, so perilous that are really what we're talking about. did you have a good night, baby? >> reporter: a mom putting a face on a national conversation. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. in florida tonight, that state's stand your ground law is in the news once again at a murder trial involving a white man, who shot and killed a black teenager. the trial resumes tomorrow. our report tonight from nbc's mark potter. >> reporter: 47-year-old michael dunn is accused of murdering 17-year-old jordan davis and trying to kill three of his friends during an argument over loud music in this jacksonville store parking lot. the sounds of gunfire caught on camera. >> oh, my gosh! somebody's shooting. somebody's shooting out their car. i swear to god.

he's shooting. >> reporter: prosecutors say dunn ordered the teens to lower their music in their suv after complaining to his fiancee. >> and what did the defendant say? >> i hate that thug music. >> reporter: but authorities say when the teens refused and davis cursed him, dunn fired ten shots. >> pointed that pistol at the car full of unarmed teenagers and continued to pull the trigger. >> reporter: the defense argues davis threatened dunn with a weapon, dunn telling police he acted in self-defense. >> a shotgun come up or whatever. it was fight or flight. >> reporter: but investigators say no weapon was found in the car, and that dunn left the scene and never called police. the defense attorney suggests the teens may have ditched the weapon and that police didn't search for it. jordan davis' mother says she still can't believe why her son was killed. >> what do you say?

over loud music, your child is dead? over loud music? >> reporter: it's drawn comparisons to the trayvon martin case, which triggered widespread discussion of florida's stand your ground self-defense law. former u.s. attorney kindal coffee says even if stand your ground isn't cited this time, the basic principle still applies. >> if you fear death or serious injury, you can stand your ground and kill somebody. >> reporter: a case of self-defense or anger out of control? if convicted, dunn could face life in prison. mark potter, nbc news, miami. we have a follow-up tonight on a situation in syria where u.n. officials and aid workers came under fire yesterday, as they started the plan to evacuate people in the besieged city of homs. this was supposed to be a third day of a cease-fire, but even as 600 people were able to get out today they did so darting to waiting u.n. vehicles that were carrying white flags in between explosions and audible small arms fire.

it's estimated there are still a thousand more refugees inside the old portion of the city, which has largely been reduced to ruin. still ahead for us tonight, the big scare here at the games today and suddenly the risk of head injuries is front and center once again. and later, traveling across this vast and beautiful land on one of the world's most famous trains. mary carillo takes us on the two most storied rails in the world.

back here in sochi tonight. this year's olympics, just like back at home in the nfl, more than ever we're hearing more and

more talk about the danger and prevention of head injuries. at the women's slopestyle snowboarding finals a 23-year-old czech athlete came down so hard after a fall that it cracked her helmet open. she's said to be okay. but it's another reminder of the head injury danger faced by athletes. more tonight from kevin tibbles. >> banged up my shoulders. got a lot of concussions. >> few concussions here. >> hit my head a couple of times on the ice. >> and gave myself a pretty bad concussion. >> reporter: they compete at the highest of levels, but often just beneath the surface -- >> oh, no! >> reporter: a hidden and dangerous adversary. caitlyn cahow was at the top of her game and then came the hit. i got crushed, i got blind side hit. i didn't see it coming. and that was it. >> reporter: a law student, she found she could no longer read, concentrate or even form sentences. forced to take a year off school. >> i was a 26-year-old person with a harvard degree in law school, two-time olympian and i

couldn't do basic daily functions. >> reporter: kevin pierce was a half-pipe favorite for vancouver when he fell from the sky. >> my life was so set and was so certain. i was a snowboarder and i was going to snowboard. >> reporter: now he only boards for fun. >> slow down! >> reporter: competition too dangerous. >> this was the wake-up call for me. >> reporter: these days he can be found raising awareness, helping others, helping himself. >> still kind of talking about what i've had to come through and what i've had to overcome. it's been a huge, huge one for me. >> reporter: at the olympic training center, this doctor says athletes of any sport are at risk, even this javelin thrower who tripped and fell during a windup in practice. >> whenever i'm ready? >> whenever you're ready. >> reporter: his team is constantly looking for troubling signs. most athletes who experience concussions don't lose consciousness. >> concussions can lead, potentially, to long-term deficit later in life. we need to be vigilant as health

care providers to make sure that we watch each person as an individual. >> reporter: the danger of concussion changes with each new sport and new and more challenging maneuvers. >> and there it is! >> reporter: after extensive rehab, caitlyn cahow was clear to compete. but instead she made the hardest decision of her life. >> when you've been the best in the world at something, it becomes an addiction. you want to keep achieving that, you want to get that high from being the best and from winning. it's really difficult to walk away from that. >> reporter: recognizing that one more hit could bring with it a life of repercussions, she made the tough decision to hang up the skates. kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> we're back in a moment with a look back at what so many americans were settling down to watch at right about this exact time 50 years ago tonight.

a rapidly escalating scene in the waning seconds in lubbock, texas, oklahoma state

versus texas tech when oklahoma state all-american marcus smart committed a foul, went out of bound, tumbling into a crowd. that's when he confronted a man who appeared to say something to him, then push really did come to shove and it briefly got ugly. smart was handed a technical and sat out the remainder of the game. late today came word he has been suspended for the next three games. a nice touch on this sunday as we mark the 50th anniversary of the beatles' first visit to america. the ed sullivan theater on broadway in manhattan has made the marquee out front exactly as it was 50 years ago as millions of americans tuned in to see the wacky mop tops. we didn't know they'd go on to change the world in their own way. a landmark for mixed breeds, specifically the dog variety. they were allowed to compete in a special competition before the annual westminster kenl club dog show in new york. they have a plight euphemism for

mutts there. called all-american dogs. while this doesn't mean membership in the fancy dog community, it's a start. it's a first, especially for the 225 dogs who were competed and judged in agility drills, husky mix named roo took the top honors in the category. when we come back here tonight, the ride few of us will ever get to take, the view of this vast country only a lucky few get to see.

we have a beautiful story to take us off the air tonight. it takes us on a journey that few of us will ever get the chance to experience during our lifetime. and it's one of the peak experiences for anybody visiting russia, especially those that have the money and the time to take the longest and most beautiful train journey on this planet, the extraordinary and legendary trans-siberia railway. tonight, mary carillo takes us along for the ride.

>> reporter: at moscow's train station, the russian anthem signals the daily departure of the fabled trans-siberian railway. it takes you through the most breathtaking and unforgettable terrain on earth. there's certainly no train ticket like the one for the trans-siberian railway. the number two train starts here in moscow and finishes in vladivostok. it takes just under a week to cross two continents, seven time zones and nearly one-third of the planet. conceived by czar nicholas iii to construct the russian empire to its vast asian territories, construction began in 1891. workers braved extreme winters in the east and tiger attacks in the west. finally, completing the massive rail line 25 years later. the feat was celebrated by this faberge egg. a gift from czar nicholas ii to

his wife. those who work on the trans-siberian rail today consider themselves part of that proud russian tradition. >> translator: my father was a train driver. my grandfather worked on the railroad. i had this dream since i was a child. >> reporter: all right. here we go. on to vladivostok. you're awesome. on your way to vladivostok, the train hugs the banks of one of russia's true wonders, lake baikul. the deepest lake in the world, it holds a quarter of the earth's fresh water. premium seat across the land with all the bells and whistles will run you just over $1,000. but no matter what the price of your passage is, the view is first class. even after 22 years on the job, the train's supervisor is still stunned by the view. do you get used to the great beauty of your country or can

you still look out the window and be surprised? >> translator: every time the view from the window is different. each trip amazes me. the nature, the beauty, as you can see for yourself. >> reporter: a majestic view on a train once called the finest jewel in the czar's crown. mary carillo, nbc news, moscow. >> that does it for us on this sunday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. reminder, prime time coverage begins tonight at 7:00, 6:00 central. another reminder, full coverage of all the overnight competition when america wakes up tomorrow morning on "today." we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. for all of us here, good night.

a weather alert across the bay area. heavy rain still coming down in some locations. we have live team coverage. and a new olympic sport proves to be gold fort americans as team usa is dominating the slopestyle course. >> did you feel blindsided by the president? >> brian boitano tells us how his life has changed. thanks for joining us on this rainy sunday night. the storm is not finished. a flash flood watch is in effect for the north bay tonight until 9:00 tonight. >> there was lots of