common sense especially with handcuff keys and suggest making a second set. >> did you ever think your career would come down to giving advice like this at the end of a news cast? >> people need to know. >> we'll be back at 6:00. terror attack. a manhunt underway after a deadly ambush during a free speech event in europe. tonight, chilling echoes of the "charlie hebdo" attack. piling on, yet another big storm bearing down on new england packing near hurricane force winds and record cold. why some are saying it could be the most dangerous blizzard of the season. weighing in. the controversial plan that could become law. should parents pay a fine if their children are obese? and flying high, the race to save a colorful and gentle creature that's disappearing before our very eyes. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this

is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening. europe is on edge again tonight after yet another deadly attack apparently aimed at a controversial cartoonist. tonight, the prime minister of denmark is calling it a terrorist attack. one person was killed and three others wounded after a gunman opened fire at a conference in copenhagen attended by an artist whose depiction of the prophet muhammad several years ago made him a marked man. today's attack was a chilling echo of last month's deadly attack on the offices of a satirical newspaper in paris. tonight, denmark is on high alert as police search for the gunmen. nbc's kelly cobiella has late details. >> reporter: bullets crashed through the windows of the cafe at 4:00 in the afternoon. a 40-year-old man killed, three officers wounded. there was only one shooter, according to police. they're looking for this man who they say abandoned a car close

to the cafe then disappeared. >> our main priority at this stage is to catch the perpetrator. >> reporter: the likely target controversial swedish cartoonish lars vilks. hosting a talk with a french ambassador at the french cafe about freedom of speech in the aftermath of the attacks in paris last month. this attack eerily reminiscent of those three days of terror. french satirical "charlie hebdo" team massacred. hostage standoffs followed and in the end 17 were dead. the magazine was on an al qaeda hit list for publishing cartoons of the prophet muhammad. that same motive may have been at work today. vilks has been the target of death threats since 2007 after drawing the prophet muhammad as a dog. but he refused to be silent. >> this will be a small thing really to -- religion.

>> reporter: in 2010 vilks was attacked during a speech at a swedish university. that same year his house was fire bombed. and pennsylvania woman colleen larose called her jihad jane online is serving a ten-year sentence for plotting to kill him. vilks escaped uninjured today. and across denmark there is still a massive manhunt for that gunman. and late tonight a second shooting, this one at a synagogue in central copenhagen. one person reportedly shot in the head. we don't know that person's condition. two police officers injured as well in the arm and leg. the shooter reportedly ran. and, lester copenhagen police say it's still too early to say whether this is connected to the earlier attack at the cafe. >> all right, kelly cobiella tonight. thank you. tonight, weather conditions are quickly worsening in the northeast. eight states are under a blizzard warning, an area that stretches from michigan to

maine. nbc's ron mott is in an area already hard-hit this winter, cambridge, massachusetts, on the campus of m.i.t. hey, ron. >> reporter: hey, lester. they've been talking all week about they're running out of places to pile up this snow. take a look behind me, it's got a name. they're calling it the alps of m.i.t. it's about three to four stories high. by this time tomorrow after all this new snow the summit up there could be at an all new elevation. arming for battle again in boston. salt trucks loading up and heading out today, part of the snow-fighting armada of more than 4,000 plows massachusetts has at the ready tonight. >> i can't say this enough. unless you have a really good reason to be out tomorrow, we would urge you all to stay off the roads so crews can do the work they need to do. >> reporter: with the biggest punch from this powerful storm landing early sunday and mass transit suspended tomorrow, work crews continued freeing jammed rail switches. residents took advantage of the

relative calm to clear roofs for what could be hazards, a bumpy frost-filled night. >> making room for the next batch. >> reporter: a triple threat of snow, wind and bitter cold is already slowing the flow of things from cleveland's whitewashed skyline to frigid new york city. >> i'm over it. i'm tired of wearing big puffer coat. >> reporter: and beyond. on i-90 in erie, pennsylvania, a 107-vehicle pile-up snarled traffic. in indiana several more, fortunately no fatalities. restaurants are preparing for what they hope will be a full house tonight of valentine's day romantics. >> we felt the repercussions of three consecutive snowstorms week after week after week. so it's been like a jab, jab, jab. now it's like the right hook. >> reporter: the industry has been especially hard hit here. many forced to shut their doors on the roughest days. >> always plan for some weather every winter, but not a season's worth of weather in 18 days. >> reporter: and all this snow

can't be beaten, some have decided to simply join it turning frustrations into fun. this storm system on this side of the country is causing flight disruptions all around america tonight. more than 600 flights canceled today. more than 1,000 canceled for tomorrow. and the line of the amtrak line between boston and into maine is also suspended, lester. >> they could open a ski resort behind you, ron mott, thank you. behind that incredible mountain. for more on what to expect from this storm we turn to nbc meteorologist dylan dreyer also in boston. >> reporter: good evening, lester. we're waiting for the winds to pick up. that's when we're really going to see conditions deteriorate. if you look at radar right now snow is filling in across southern new england. but there's also an arctic front. the line of heavier snow from new york state down to pennsylvania, once that front passes through that's when we'll see winds pick up. the storm is going to strengthen by overnight and early sunday morning we're looking at very gusty winds, blizzard conditions, blowing snow and

whiteout conditions on the roads. so that storm is going to exit by early afternoon. but then the winds remain strong. so we're looking at lesser amounts now in boston, about six to nine inches of snow with the highest amounts up across down east maine especially eastern maine where we could end up with one to two feet. but even in southern new england where we're looking at three to four inches of snow, it's the blowing snow that's still going to make it very, very dangerous out on the roads. winds right now are already gusting up near 40 to 50 miles per hour back in places like the ohio river valley, even down into north carolina we're seeing those gusty winds. and those will continue to spread east as this storm strengthens overnight. we could see gusts as high as 60 to 70 miles per hour. so factor in those gusts with plummeting temperatures, even back through cleveland we are looking at tomorrow morning to start off around 20 degrees

below with the windchill. even north carolina, down in raleigh we should feel like it's about 3 below with the windchill. and then as we go into sunday night temperatures continue to drop here, about 18 below in boston. but, lester, by monday morning all across new england windchills will be 30 degrees below zero. it is going to be dangerously cold. >> all right, dylan, we'll check back with you in the morning on "today." thank you. now the fight against isis in iraq. kurdish forces have been making considerable gains against the militant group, but american officials worry it may not be enough to stop them. our chief foreign correspondent richard engel has our report from irbil, iraq. >> reporter: it seems beheadings weren't enough for isis. the group has released a new video showing 17 kurdish troops locked in cages and say they'll be burned alive just like a jordanian pilot. according to u.s. officials, kurdish forces have managed to take back around 20% of the ground lost to isis this summer. their fighters though underarmed have shown a real fighting spirit, a spirit isis is trying to break by throwing everything it can at them including bombs

laced with chemicals. we've heard about isis using bombs like this. and there have been international condemnations and investigations into them, but i've never actually seen one. the kurdish forces here are claiming that this is chlorine powder that was part of a very large truck bomb. the powder had a texture like sand. kurdish fighters say they shot the driver of the truck bomb with a shoulder-fired rocket before he could set off the explosive. these kurdish troops have done all they could from the north. now they need the iraqi army to do its part. for the last two days iraqi government troops backed by american advisers claim to have made major progress north and west of baghdad, attacking isis in anbar province. baghdad's plan is for the iraqi army to drive north to the isis stronghold of mosul and squeeze isis between iraqi soldiers and kurdish troops. but american officials privately

admit that the iraqi army, which is now seen as little more than a string of sectarian militias, is nowhere near ready. richard engel, nbc news, irbil, northern iraq. tonight, the obama administration is keeping a close eye on ukraine where a new cease-fire has just gone into effect between that government and pro-russian separatists. the question on everyone's mind, will it hold. nbc's white house correspondent kristen welker is covering that for us tonight. kristen. >> reporter: lester, the cease-fire is in place and the fighting has stopped for now. there's a lot of skepticism that the deal will hold because in the hours leading up to the cease-fire fighting raged on. and satellite photos showed russian tanks moving further in. the deal calls for ukrainian and russian forces to withdraw heavy weapons from the front lines immediately while working to reforms to ukraine's constitution. a tough sell for both sides. the president has been pushing for this all week talking to his european partners and president putin. today mr. obama monitored the

developments while vacationing in palm springs. he spoke with ukraine's president and the german chancellor, all leaders stressed the need for the cease-fire to hold. the u.n. security council will meet tomorrow. lester. >> kristen welker tonight. thank you. in this country a protest today over the police killing of a man in washington state earlier this week. all of it captured on video by a bystander. the three officers involved are under investigation. we get the latest tonight from nbc's hallie jackson in pasco, washington. hallie. >> reporter: good evening, lester. about 500 people have marched through town to this intersection where the shooting happened. some of the demonstrators still out here. it's been peaceful today. many here say they're disappointed in their police department and want the officers involved held accountable. >> do a thorough investigation. >> reporter: calls for justice today after a deadly police shooting. >> it didn't look right to me. i'm hoping something is done. >> reporter: the incident caught on cell phone video shows a man appearing to throw something in

the direction of police officers who had responded to reports of someone hurling rocks at cars. >> told him to drop the rocks and he did not want to listen. it was pretty crazy. >> reporter: the police begin shooting as antonio zambrano-montes runs away. when he turns, police open fire again. killing him. the three officers have been placed on leave. >> very important we get the truth out. and i want the truth to come out whatever it is. >> reporter: at least four law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting. >> it's a stressful time for anybody with a badge. and it was a stressful time just based on the national events growing over the past year. this should bring a little closer to home for us. >> reporter: the shooting is drawing attention far beyond this small farming community. even the mexican president has condemned the death of montes, a 35-year-old orchard worker arrested last year after trying to grab an officer's gun. his family says killing him was unnecessary.

>> could have shot him in the leg or got him down. >> reporter: they filed a claim for $25 million in damages. many here say they simply want what's right for montes' family. once the independent police investigation is finished, the coroner plans to open his own inquest into montes' death, lester. it's a step he's only taken a couple times in the last 20 years. >> hallie, thank you. this week the so-called american sniper trial put renewed focus on mental health issues involving those who have returned from war. it's a problem raising questions far beyond the courtroom. nbc's chuck todd sat down with the secretary of veterans affairs to discuss what's being done to tackle it. >> the movie "american sniper," this has really hit home. >> great movie. >> what's the important message that you think folks should take away from the movie and the story that it tells about the plight of veterans when they come home? >> i'm hoping this will help raise the consciousness of the need for mental health professionals, mental health

treatments in the general public. we see that need at v.a. where canary in the coal mine, but it's a national need. >> chuck will have much more on this and other issues affecting veterans tomorrow on "meet the press". when "nbc nightly news" continues on this saturday, a controversial plan that could become law. should parents be fined if their children are obese? and later, a symbol of love that's a bridge too far for some people.

now to a controversial piece of legislation aimed at combatting the growing problem of childhood obesity. lawmakers in puerto rico have proposed a plan that would fine the parents of obese children. both sides agree something needs to be done, but is this the best way to do it? nbc's kristen dahlgren has that story for us. >> good morning. >> reporter: mari's daughters struggle with their weight since they were 2. now 9 and 13 they're in a medically supervised program. but the proposed law could soon make their mother pay if the numbers on the scale don't move. >> my initial reaction was this is preposterous. >> reporter: students considered obese would be identified by education officials and assigned a caseworker who would with the help of parents lay out a diet and exercise program. after six months parents of those who don't lose weight could face fines from $500 to $800. for santana it's not just about the money. >> i feel that this law would ostracize my children and as a

mother that is the last thing i want my child to experience. >> reporter: the girls doctor worries a fine might put an fine might bring an even heavier burden. >> many parents are having difficult times and putting an additional burden will not solve this problem at all. >> reporter: the childhood obesity rate in puerto rico is one of the highest, 28%. compared to 18% on the u.s. mainland. lawmakers who support the proposal say something has to be done. senator huberto rodriguez told us there have to be consequences for parents who do nothing or promote bad eating habits. professor of pediatrics points out some states like new york are seeing success without fines. >> there are some proven approaches such as adjusting school lunches, pulling soda machines out of schools, and most recently the nutrition labeling. >> reporter: a vote on the controversial proposal could still be months away. the fight against a growing

epidemic that some want to move much closer to home. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. when we come back here tonight, a little conservationist making a big impact in the effort to save a beautiful creature.

now to an update to a story we first told you about this past fall. the monarch butterfly was once a common sight throughout this country, but over the last few decades their numbers have dropped off dramatically. now a major effort is underway to save them before it's too late. here's our chief environmental affairs correspondent anne thompson. >> reporter: they are ready-made for close-ups. monarch butterflies whose circle of life is taught to school

children everywhere. in this first grade science class at brooklyn's kensington school, the lessons go beyond learning. what happens to monarchs if they don't get the proper food? >> they'll die. >> reporter: that's pretty bad, huh? so the students are growing the monarch's food, milkweed, in dixie cups to transplant outside in the spring. what does the milkweed do for the monarch butterfly? >> to be strong and be healthy. >> reporter: using a grant from the national wildlife federation for supplies, efforts like this are now getting a big boost. working with the nwf, the u.s. fish and wildlife service will spend $2 million to restore and improve 200,000 acres of habitat for the butterflies and support 750 school projects. >> at a time when i think folks are not convinced that, you know, big problems can be solved, this is something we can actually fix. >> reporter: since 1995, monarchs lost an area the size

of texas in critical habitat. along their annual trek from mexico to canadian border. numbering plummeting from 1 billion in 1996 to 30 million years ago. last fall conservation biologist karen overhouser showed us the launching pads for these important pollinators threatened by development and agricultural practice. >> the answer is to use any kind of pesticide, insecticides or herbicides judiciously. >> reporter: now by planting milkweed, everyone can help. what do you see in their eyes if you teach them about the monarchs? >> wonder and they're inquisitive. >> reporter: it's evident in the faces of diane's students. anxious to help save the creatures that light up their imagination. anne thompson, nbc news, brooklyn. up next here tonight on this valentine's day, a weighty debate in the city of love.

we end tonight with a matter of tough love in one of the most romantic cities in the world. for years couples have expressed their commitment to one another by attaching padlocks, hundreds of thousands of them, to one parisian bridge. and now some are saying there's such a thing as too much love. from paris, here's nbc's katy tur. >> reporter: when locking your love in the city of love, don't expect any love from the locals.

the center of paris and one of its most iconic bridges has been transformed from most charming display into, well, this. enscribed with initials and hearts, locks on top of locks on top of locks. so many the city had to cover them up with plywood for fear they would multiply endlessly. >> this is a form of vandalism. >> reporter: enter lisa taylor, an american expat with a mission to save her favorite bridge. through social media and an online petition, she and another american have pushed for the french government to crack down on the lockdown. >> each panel, if they weighed it would be somewhere between 500 and 700 kilograms. >> reporter: and when you multiply those tiny tokens of affection by the thousands, you get a bridge many tons heavier than it should be. yes, tons.

case and point, these collapsing grills. >> it's dangerous. >> reporter: bruno is the deputy mayor of paris. he says the city is preparing to cut all the locks off and cover the railings with plexiglass. >> all people are in love, we want them to come in paris, but we don't want them to put love locks. >> reporter: you can cut them off, but they're like weeds or cockroaches. they keep coming back. this couple flew to paris to lock their love. the french say you're not supposed to lock up your love. you're supposed to let it be free. >> that's the french. we're american. >> true. >> reporter: there's no -- >> no, no kidding. >> reporter: is that a proposition? happy valentine's day indeed. katy tur, nbc news, paris. >> that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday and this valentine's day. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today" then right back here tomorrow evening. good night everyone.

right now at 6:00 heating up on valentine's day. near record heat across the bay area where hundreds flocked so they could enjoy the sun. >> first a destructive fire in the south bay in morning. two auto shops go up in flames.

the smoke still can be seen for miles causing a lot of problems for nearby residents. we'll have the latest. good evening. i'm peggy bunker. >> i'm terry mcsweeney. firefighters say they are not done. crews are still on the scene mopping up after a fire in san jose. it's still sending up smoke. it destroyed two businesses at the corner of commercial street and berryessa road early this morning. marianne favro joins us now live at the scene. the smoke was so bad, firefighters put out an evacuation alert. is the that right? >> that's true. the office of emergency services actually issued an evacuation alert to neighbors who were downwind from here because the smoke was so bad. i can tell you ten hours later, the smoke is still extremely bad and irritating to your eyes which is why i have been wearing a mask out here. i want to show you what's going on right now. as i mentioned, ten hours after this fire started, it is still smoldering. right