on this sunday night, when will it end? as march begins more wicked winter weather hitting much of the nation. the snow the freezing rain the travel nightmares including thousands of flights delayed or canceled. war of words. as venezuela detains americans accusing the u.s. of spying and imposes n travel restrictions. moment of crisis. after a sky diver apparently suffers a seizure, the midair rescue. and sister act. the unusual calling for a group of nuns their sacred place at home on the range. this is "nbc nightly news"

with lester holt sub. substituting tonight, peter alexander. good evening. after this already relentless weather, severe weather is punishing much of the country tonight. more exhausting cold and snow. thousands of flights grounded and ice producing dangerous conditions for drivers. to give you some perspective, right now nearly two-thirds of the u.s. is blanketed by snow and boston is bracing for its snowiest season ever. we begin with kristen dalgren. >> reporter: in minneapolis today, drivers were going nowhere fast. >> i got the car stuck now. my wife ran it down and we can't get it up the driveway. >> reporter: at least 6 inches of snow catching a lot of people off guard. >> i can't believe it accumulated so fast. >> reporter: getting around was down right hazardous. in raleigh, missouri crews finally have i-44 opened after this pile-up on saturday involving at least 25 cars trucks and a greyhound bus. in virginia state police were

working at least five separate crashes on route 60 alone. near boston a youth hockey team is now telling a harrowing tale of being inside this ice rink when the roof collapsed under heavy snow. >> i immediately started screaming to get off the ice. i just knew that wasn't a natural sound. >> reporter: february is now officially the snowiest month on record in boston. the city just 6 inches shy of the snowiest year ever. new england hasn the first day of march, more than 63% of the continental u.s. is still covered in snow. even dallas an icy mess this weekend, making roads thick and snarling air travel. more than a thousand flights were canceled or delayed today. but in the drought-ravaged west the winter storm was much more welcome. ski areas like lake tahoe's

sugar bowl got more than 2 feet. parts of colorado could see 4 feet. but while skiers may be digging it for others it just means more digging in a winter that just won't quit. and here in new york it's been snowing for much of the day. it's now switching over to kind of an icy mix, peter, but a travel advisory remains in effect through monday morning's commute. >> all right, kristen dalgren, thank you. if you think this is the end of it think again. for more let's bring in weather channel meteorologist maria larosa. maria, what's in store? >> f monday it's more snow and as kristen mentioned, more ice snuck in. in providence a little more snow as we go through d.c. there will be more of a morning rush however, the damage will be done. look at that purple. that falls right along the i-95 corridor so make sure you're

ready for a messy monday morning rush in the northeast. minneapolis, chicago with the snow but that i-70 corridor, look at that freezing rain potential, st. louis into central illinois and indianapolis. by tuesday, yes, it is back into the northeast, this catching up with the evening rush from pittsburgh to philadelphia, new york, and yes, even into boston by tuesday night. notice all that rain as well peter. we're talking about flooding concerns for parts of the mid-south. a real mess to start march with. back to you. >> maria, no rest for the weary. thank you very much. overseas it was two days of protests for moscow after a leader was gunned down by the kremlin. now it's a growing memorial. many carry signs with his picture, others simply read i am not afraid. james mates of our partner itn was among those at today's protest. >> reporter: this mosque was meant to be a protest against

the war in ukraine. he would have been one of the leaders, one of the faces at the front. the irony we face here is now everywhere as the crowd approaches the bridge and the point where he was killed. overlooking the scene, the walls of the kremlin from where many people marching today believe the orders to kill him may have come. >> james mace in moscow. there is new tension tonight in this country and venezuela whose social president has routinely accused the u.s. of a coup to drive him from power. now he's making new rules for americans who want to travel there. >> reporter: during a rally in caracus, the president claims the u.s. is trying to topple the country's social government. he said they had captured some u.s. citizens involved in what he described without detail as

undercover tifts andactivities and espionage. four american missionaries working in this venezuelan village was released after being questioned. they said hethey did not do anything wrong. maduro also released a so-called anti-terrorist list of americans barred from visiting his country, including former president george w. bush. ileana ros-lehtinen who said proud to be banned from maduro's country. i'll keep protesting for civil rights. he is now urging all american visitors to get visas. the continued allegations at the united states is involved in efforts to destabilize the venezuelan government are baseless and false. this latest flare-up comes as

the venezuelan economy is in shambles with skyrocketing process and shortages of basic goods. an ambassador to venezuela says he is using the u.s. as a smokescreen for his own failures. >> the maduro legislation has tried to make the united states a skapcapegoat but, in fact, their problems are of their own making. >> reporter: today pope francis prayed for a 14-year-old boy killed last week during an anti-government protest and urged venezuelans to reject violence and respect human dignity. mark potter nbc news miami. >> a new video has emerged supposedly showing the three girls joining isis militants. there was a young woman becoming a key are you krutrecr for isis.

>> reporter: three girls at the istanbul bus station 12 days ago. police believe shamimi begum and her two friends are believed to have left that day to join isis drawn in by a known recruiter. two days before she left shamima had reached tout her on twitter. a 20-year-old from glasgow, scotland she left her family in november 2013. >> we were horrified when we learned our daughter had become radicalized and had traveled to a aleppo in syria. >> she had attended one of the best schools.m ens looked into her past. >> she had little friends, she was into music, had a crush on movie stars. nothing unusual that would make you think she would become a

radical. >> reporter: a stark contrast to her new life somewhere in syria. now on her tumblr blog she lashes out at the west and encourages girls to join isis. bring a good pair of boots and makeup and jewelry because, trust me there is absolutely nothing here. in the months before she left she started wearing a head scarf and talking about the war in syria. but her parents never imagined she would give up studying at this university and her own family to join isis. the family lawyer said there were no warning signs. >> if the family had known, they would have stopped her. she just simply got up one morning, was supposed to go to university said goodbye to her family gave everybody a hug. >> reporter: anwar says now security services are constantly watching her social media and they question whether they did enough to stop s hrkshamima begum. >> you would hope they would

knock on their door and give her family a warning. >> reporter: in that surveillance video, the time stamp showed the three girls spent at least 17 hours at the bus stop in istanbul. no one ever approached them. police believer they're already in syria. nbc news glasgow, scotland. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu arrived in washington late today, two days ahead of a controversial speech in congress on the nuclear arms policy. >> reporter: this visit marks a new low in the already thorough relationship between president obama and benjamin netanyahu. they are fuming because they said the prime minister snubed the president by accepting an invitation with speaker john boehner without consulting the white house. today speaker boehner says the white house has every right to do this. last week national security adviser susan rice called the

speech quote, disruptive to israeli and u.s. relations. today he downplayed the tension, saying the prime minister is welcome to speak in the united states. netanyahu is expected to criticize the president's strategy dealing with iran's nuclear program which he says puts israel in mortal danger. according to the white house, the president won't meet with the prime minister because the israeli elections are just two weeks ago. nearly 30 democratic lawmakers plan to boycott netanyahu's tuesday speech before congress as well as vice president biden. tomorrow susan rice an ambassador to the u.n. susan power will meet at the conference the same day netanyahu speaks to the organization. as tensions mount, both sides will likely lay out different views on how to handle the iran nuclear crisis. >> kristen, thank you. one of the two nurses who contracted ebola while caring for a patient in dallas plans to

sue the hospit. nina pham's lawyer says she plans to file the lawsuit tomorrow. they say the hospital is negligent for failing to treat the people accurately. when nightly news continues on this sunday bringing out your inner entrepreneur. a country who wants your ideas. and later, escaping a disaster at sea will hear from in a race, it's about getting to the finish line. in life, it's how you get there that matters most. like when i found out i had a blood clot in my leg. my doctor said that it could travel to my lungs and become an even bigger problem. so he talked to me about xarelto®. >>xarelto® is the first oral prescription blood thinner proven to treat and help prevent dvt and pe that doesn't require regular blood monitoring or changes to your diet. for a prior dvt i took warfarin, which required routine blood testing and dietary restrictions. not this time.

while i was taking xarelto®, i still had to stop racing, but i didn't have to deal with that blood monitoring routine. >>don't stop taking xarelto®, rivaroxaban, unless your doctor tells you to. while taking xarelto®, you may bruise more easily and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. xarelto® may increase your risk of bleeding if you take certain medicines. xarelto® can cause serious bleeding, and in rare cases, may be fatal. get help right away if you develop unexpected bleeding, unusual bruising, or tingling. if you have had spinal anesthesia while on xarelto®, watch for back pain or any nerve or muscle related signs or symptoms. do not take xarelto® if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. tell your doctor before all planned medical or dental procedures. before starting xarelto® tell your doctor about any conditions such as kidney, liver, or bleeding problems. xarelto® is proven to reduce the risk of dvt and pe, with no regular blood monitoring and no known dietary restrictions. treatment with xarelto® was the right move for me. ask your doctor about xarelto® today.

for many prescription nexium helps heal acid-related erosions in the lining of the esophagus. it's my prescription. there is risk of bone fracture low magnesium, and vitamin b12 deficiency. side effects include headache abdominal pain and diarrhea. if persistent, contact your doctor right away. other serious stomach conditions may exist. avoid if you take clopidogrel. it's my prescription. nexium 40mg is available only by prescription. pay only $15 a month. visit purplepill.com today. who among us had a bright idea we were convinced was the next best thing but couldn't

make it fly? there is a company out there who will help you decide which ideas are worthy. >> reporter: seven-year-old houston diaz may not look the part but he's an inventor. his idea was borne out of frustration, how to keep the toothpaste on his toothbrush. >> the toothpaste fell in the sink a lot. >> reporter: with the help of his dad, houston invented the squeezey a toothbrush that dispenses toothpaste directly. >> i think it's going to get big and it's going to go to a lot of stores. >> reporter: a start-up company called quirky took his idea and ran with it. squeezey is now available on and soon in a store near you. quirky gets 4,000 ideas submitted weekly but only 10 get a real chance to get made. it's a game show like atmosphere that really makes quirky different. once a week the company reaches out to a community of more than a million on-line subscribers

and asks them whether their idea should be bought. he founded the company six years ago to give inventors what he once needed. >> it's access validation design assistance. it's access to these resources, but at the same time qualified people will help them do the legwork. >> reporter: his wife leslie developed the smart air conditioner, developed through a cell phone. the adjustable power strip is the biggest hit for quirky so far. he's now made more than $780,000 and counting. indiana welder has high hopes for the possum. yes, a water feeder for dogs. after nine years looking for help to develop his idea once

launched, the poaws-it sold out in nine days. not bad for being a little quirky. up next the dramatic midair rescue after a skydiver apparently suffers a seizure at ...and the wolf was huffing and puffing... kind of like you sometimes, grandpa. well, when you have copd it can be hard to breathe. it can be hard to get air out, which can make it hard to get air in. so i talked to my doctor. she said.. doctor: symbicort could help you breathe better, starting within 5 minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. symbicort helps provide significant improvement of your lung function. symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections osteoporosis, and some eye problems. you should tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. grandfather: symbicort could mean

a day with better breathing. watch out, piggies! child giggles doctor: symbicort. breathe better starting within 5 minutes. call or go online to learn more about a free prescription offer. if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. do you have nutritional gaps in your diet? try the improved formula of boost® original nutritional drink. each delicious serving provides... 10 grams of protein to help maintain muscle, and 26 essential vitamins and minerals including calcium and vitamin d to support bone health. plus, boost contains 3 grams of fiber which helps support digestive health. try boost original nutritional drink today. meet the world's newest energy superpower. surprised? in fact, america is now the world's number one natural gas producer... and we could soon become number one in oil. because hydraulic fracturing technology is safely recovering lots more oil and natural gas.

supporting millions of new jobs. billions in tax revenue... and a new century of american energy security. the new energy superpower? it's red, white and blue. log on to learn more. the northern illinois huskies didn't just bring down the house last night, they brought down the hoop. you'vey never seen anything like this before. a thunrous dunk and you see what happened. he pulled down the entire hoop's structure, nearly taking out one of central michigan's opponents. fortunately, no one was hurt except the chippewas who lost by

nearly 18 points. the 7-time all star was the firstajor league black player coming out of cuba. during the 1950s, the outfielder was one of the best players in the game. today president obama praised noso for innovating baseball and cited his speed, power and optimism. he was 93 years old. it was a little over three years ago when the costa concordia ran aground and nearly 100 people died. tonight on dateline some of those who escaped that shipwreck share their own stories of survival. here is josh elliott. >> reporter: for emily lau and benji smith, this island will always resonate. >> i really want to see it. >> reporter: not because they honeymooned in these waters but

because they almost died here. the boston couple's return last year was their first time back since the terrible tragic night in 2012 when their cruise ship the costa concordia, ran a aground, a disaster which left 32 people dead. >> the crew members started pushing the lifeboat away from the ship. as they tried to lower it down toward the water, it starts hitting against the side of the cruise ship. sometimes it freefalls for three feet and then we suddenly get jerked into place. >> i suddenly realized that they had no idea what was going on and ey did not know how to operate the lifeboat. >> reporter: the couple was eventually forced to abandon that lifeboat. >> we made loops in the rope. >> reporter: it was only after rapelling down the hole of the sinking ship that the two were rescued and tak to jilio. >> one of the things i remember

walking around jilio was a housekeeper, walking like a zombie and she was saying housekeeping housekeeping. i knew she was looking for her colleagues. she was looking for her friends and she cldn't find them and the voice, and the look on her face was just artbreaking. >> haunting jus haunting. >> reporter: the couple has since found inspiration borne of tragedy. smith has written a book about the experience while lau channels her feelings into music. >> that was nbc's josh elliott. you can watch the entire "escape" story right here tonight at 9:00 eastern on "dateline." he called it possibly the scariest moment of his life, and in this video of an australian sky skydiver you're about to see why that was an understatement. everything was going according to plan until about 9,000 feet. that's when he said he suffered a seizure. take a look at the wind whipping by. the man says he spent the next

30 seconds unconscious in freefall until his jump master noticed that something was wrong. the other skydiver was able to grab hold of the man and pull his rip cord at 4,000 feet. he became conscious again at 3,000 feet. a amazingly both men landed safely. when we come back we'll take you to colorado to meet a group of nuns who (woman) the constipation and belly pain feel like a knot. how can i ease this pain? (man) when i can't go, it's like bricks piling up. i wish i could find some relief. (announcer) ask your doctor about linzess-- a once-daily capsule for adults with ibs with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. linzess is thought to help calm pain-sensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. it helps youroactively manage your symptoms. do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. it may harm th. don't take linzess if you have a bowel blockage.

get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools the most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. if it's severe stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. other side effects include gas stomach-area pain and swelling. bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. (vo) get this close with beneful healthy smile. dental snacks that help keep teeth clean and breath fresh. with soft, meaty centers and teeth-cleaning textures, it dental that tastes so good. try healthy smile during pet dental health month. for many prescription nexium helps heal acid-related erosions in the lining of the esophagus. it's my prescription.

there is risk of bone fracture low magnesium, and vitamin b12 deficiency. side effects include headache abdominal pain and diarrhea. if persistent, contact your doctor right away. other serious stomach conditions may exist. avoid if you take clopidogrel. it's prescription. nexium 40mg is available only by prescription. pay only $15 a month. visit purplepill.com today.

finally tonight, it's one of the more unlikely success stories. a working ranch in colorado run by a group of women not normally known for their skills handling a herd of cattle. we sent nbc's erica hill to chk it out. >> reporter: in the shadows of colorado's rocky mntains lies a sacred place. where benedictine nuns serve god and work on this 250-acre ranch. >> people are certainly surprised that women are running a ranch, but that nuns are doing it we find it a real confidence to our spirituality. >> reporter: it's a real self-sustaining community, although not everyone arrived ready to tackle this part. >> reporter: how many of the sisters here had any experience in farming or husbandry prior to coming to the abbey? >> no one. we learn from each other. >> reporter: now as word of their ranch has spread the sisters are also learning to manage a growing national beef

business. >> some of our customers like it e they know the beef is not produced in commercial markets. others want it because they know the animals were treated with reverence. >> reporter: last year alone, they produced 13,000 pounds of natural raised beef for dozens of local families. but it's still not enough to meet the demands. >> reporter: are you surprised at all the reaction you've had to your beef? >> a little bit. i didn't expect quite that much. mine sisters at home say, oh yeah i'd like to have that. >> reporter: but did they have to get on the wait list too? >> oh yes. yes. >> reporter: even your sisters? >> even my sisters. that's the way it goes. >> reporter: while the novel he willty -- novelty of ranching nunss high it is a lot of work. >> you have to pray because you're not in contr of any of it. it taught me also how to laugh and how to learn to let go.

>> reporter: a lesson even the most dedicated here are learning every day. erica hill nbc news virginiadale colora. >> nice way to end the night. that's "nbc nightly news" this sunday. i'm peter alexander reporting from new york. le holt will be back here torrow night. from all of us here at nbc news have a good night.

. [ cheers and applause ] christina: music brings everyone together and that's why this show is so amazing. blake: i never really knew how important it was going to be for me to want to help other artists. adam: for me as a coach, it's about nurturing talent. it a cool dynamic that doesn't exist anywhere else. pharrell: "the voice" allows me to pay the things that were imparted to me forward. at the end of the day, it's all about the music. [ cheers and applause ] [ "are you gonna go my way" plays ] ♪ i was born ♪ ♪ long ago ♪ ♪ i am the chosen i'm the one ♪ ♪ and i have come ♪ ♪ to save the day ♪ ♪ and i won't leave until i'm done ♪