>> marco rubio had a very, very bad night. and personally i would call for him to drop out of the race. >> "snl" also weighing in, taking aim at the gop front-runner. >> i mean, everyone loves me, racists, other racists, people who didn't even know they were racists. >> this morning, where the roller coaster campaign goes from re. super soaker. at least one person is dead as el nino fueled storms hammer california and that massive syem now set to race across the country this week. we'll tell you what to expect. breaking this morning, reports that nfl superstar peyton manning will announce his retirement tomorrow as we head into the next chapter fresh of that super bowl win with the denver broncos. and polar plunge. from fallon to von to gaga and now dreyer. dylan gets ready for a chilly dip this morning in chicago.o. why she'll be freezing for a

2020. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on this sunday morning, i'm erica hill. >> i'm craig melvin alongside sheinelle jones. dylan dreyer in chicago for the annual polar plunge for special olympics we're going do that live on television this morning. should be interesting. >> that it will and a little chilly. our top story this morning, though, is the presidential race and those super saturday results. >> donald trump notching two more big wins in the south, kentucky and louisiana. ted cruz, strong showing as well taking kansas and maine. here is where the gop delegate count stands. donald trump 392. 305 for cruz. 130 for marco rubio. and 35 for ohio governor john kasich. >> as for the democrats, bernie

hillary clinton, he took kansas and nebraska. clinton meantime took louisiana . despit her two second place finishes, c inton extended her substantial lead. she's almost halfway to that total number needed to secure the democratic nomination. >> whave complete coverage of both races beginning with nbc's gabe gutierrez. gabe, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. donald trump seemed almost unstoppable after super tuesday, now, ted cruz is picking up steam and trump is calling on marco rubio to drop out. hoping to emerge as the anti-trump this morning ted cruz is soaring after super saturday. >> we're seeing republicans coalesce around our campaign because ours is the only campaign that has repeatedly beaten donald trump. >> the texas senator pulling off decisive victories in kansasnd maine. but donald trump still the front-runner, trouncing his rivals in louisiana and kentucky.

maine and on kansas and he should do well in maine because it is very close to canada. let's face it. >> reporter: the billionaire trying to fend off the gop establishment. >> donald trump is a phony, a fraud. >> reporter: in the first contest since mitt romney's blistering attack. trump skipped saturday's conservative political action conference or c-pac and came in a distant third in its straw poll. >> as a party, we should come together and stop thiss foolishness. >> marco rubio! >> reporter: marco rubio, a distant third in kansas and fourth in maine. today he's hoping to scrape up delegates in puerto rico's primary after campaigning there overnight. >> we knew this would be the roughest period in the campaign given the makeup of the electoral map. >> reporter: and now he's feeling the heat in florida, his must-win home state. trump is leading in the polls,s, but cruz is upping his ground game here, trying to squeeze out rubio and make it a two-man race.

senator to drop out. >> i would love to take on ted one on one. that would be so much fun because ted can't win new york, he can't win new jersey, he can't win pennsylvania, he can't win california. i won ted one on one, okay. >> reporter: here in florida, more than half a million republicans have already voted, either early or absentee. and, craig, as if this entire race wasn't already out of a movie, today john kasich is campaigngng in his home state of ohio with arnold schwarzenegger. >> california governono is with him. gabe gutierrez in jacksonville, thank you. over to e democratic side, bernie sanders picked up some big wins in kansas and nebraska. hillary clinton countered with a landslide victory in louisiana which widened her delegate lead. nbc's kristen welker is in flint, michigan where the candidates debate later tonight. od morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. senator sanders was looking for new momentum on saturday. and he got it with wins in those two key caucus states.

clinn did net more delegates than she was already far ahead in the delegate count, making her still very much the one to beat. >> senator bernie sanders. >> reporter: riding high off victories in nebraska and kansas, senator bernie sanders at a democratic dinner detroit saturday. >> we will win in november. if we have a large voter turnout. >> reporter: secretary clinton at that same dinner also had reason to celebrate, earning a victory in delegatatrich louisiana . >> i am thrilled we're a aing to our pledge delegate count. >> reporter: punctuating her dedegate lead, each candidate focused on what's ahead. >> i'm grateful to everyone w turned out to support us. but now all eyes turn to michigan. >> reporter: and with michigan voting tuesday, clinton isn't taking anything for granted. her top surrogates former president bill clinton and daughter chelseaill campaign here, sanders aides say a win in michigananould prove he can be

diverse states. sanders signaling a new focus on independence. >> the way to the white house is to win democrats and to win independents and to make sure trump does not win independents. >> reporter: both candidates preparing to face off tonight at a debate in flint, where sanders will likely take aim at clinton over herer support of trade deals like nafta, unpopular in the west belt. clinton will continue to paint herself as at candidate with the realistic policies and there will be no shortage of jabs for the republican contenders. >> really, you just want to pull your hair out when you see that insult fest that goes on. >> on our worstst day we will be infinitely better than the republicans on the best day. >> reporter: both candidatesp will spend much of the day getting ready for tonight's debate and the flint water crisis will be a central topic with residents demanding specifics from both of the candidates and this has been an issue that hasas resonated all across the country, particularly

>> kristen welker for us this morning, tnk you. chuck todd is nbc's political director and moderator of "meet the pressv" good morning to you. good to see you, my friend. >> good morning, craig. od to see you. >> these were the first contests since romney's passionate plea for trump -- for folks to dump trump. we saw the piling on thursdada night at the debate. how real is the possibilityhat these anti-trump forces are starting to pick up steam and that this is in fact, a two-man race? >> well, i have to say i want a little more information. there is two ways to look at what happened yesterday. on one hand, yes, maybe this is a coalescing, maybe ted cruz has some momentum, splitting the four states and actually netting more delegates than donald trump. however, it is also four states s that were closed republican contests meaning independents participate. and the one primary that cruz did caught up and did very well against trump, louisiana, was another state that touches the state o o texas. so what happens tuesday? michigan, mississippi, those are

if we see him struggle there, then i think it is time to connect the dots back to thursday from romney to that debate to a coalescing. but i can tell you this, i think one clear piece of evidence from yesterday is that if there is an anti-trump candidate, it is cruz. marco rubeio with three thirds anan a fourth, i don't think it will be him. >> rubio focused on florida. but ted cruz is really focusing there too, opening a number of new offices in state, trying to steal that momentum. what happens to marco rubio moving forward? is there something he can do between now and march 15th? >> you know, i don't think so anymore. i think florida is everything for him. he needed to win somewhere else, though, in this sort of in between week between the two super tuesdays and now it doesn't look like he has that opportunity at all. what he's got to fear, on tuesday, in mississippi, and michigan, john kasich has put extra focus actually on both states. what if rubio finishes fourth in both states, one week before he

it could really zap momentum for him. i think there is a lot of pressure on marco rubio to show some life on tuesday in michigan or mississippi if he has any hope of catching trump in florida. >> let's turn to the democrats quickly. bernie sanders picking up two states yesterday, but, again, these states, like the others he picked up, largely homogenous. i want to show our viewers the delegate count now for d docrats so they can see where this thing really stands. hillary clinton with literally almost twice as many delegates as bernie sanrs right now. is there still even a path for sanders to victory at this point, chuck? >> well, it would mean hillary clinton would have to collapse, he would have to win more than 60%. we're now at the point -- he has to win more than 60% of all remaining delegates in order to somehow capture this nomination. yesterday was a prime example of why it is going to be so difficult. he won two states. she won one. guess who won more delegates for the night? she did, because she won african-americans by such a large margin in louisiana.

large margin. and when she loses to sanders, she doesn't lose by the same margins he loses to her in states where she wins. this path is becoming less and less viable by the day for him. >> chuck todd, thank you very much good to see you. we'll be watching when your guests this morning on "meet the press," former republican presidential nominee mitt romney. >> want to turn to that wild weather that we mentioned hitting northern california. it is the start of what is going to be a big storm system, which will roll a aoss the country this week. we'll have dylan's forecast in a moment. first, sheinelle has more details on the system. >> yes, after a relatively dry february, march is turning out to be a very wet one on the west coast with the series of storms moving in from the pacific. it caused massive flooding in northern california overnight, claiming at least one life. high winds u uto 40 miles per hour blew across northern california from saturday into sunday, dumping heavy rains that should continue off and on

trees down, power outages across the city of sacramento. the storm drenching neighborhoods, submerging cars and homes. >> almost knee deep and it is really bad. >> reporter: california's highway 70 overflowing. the intense storm created a river below the highway 65 overpass, swallowing a car with two people who tried to circumvent a blockade. >> water was six, eight feet deep by the time we could get intotohe vehicle. took the dive team a while to follow it. >> reporter: the woman didn't make it. the male driver of the car was able to get out. the wat elements are expected to bring up to three feet of snow to the mountains. these stormy weather delays dozens of flights into san francisco for hours and could cause more problems on the west coast today.y. erica? >> a rough one. as we said, dylan is in chicago this morning wherere she'll be taking that plunge to the chilly waters of lake michigan for a eat cause. we'll have more on that in a moment. but, dylan, talk to us about the

we can expect across the cotry. >> well, we are going to see another couple of rounds of this wet stormy weather out west. but each one will get easier, i'd say. we had the bulk of the heaviest rain yesterdayayhere we did get reports of eight inches of rain. we saw wind gusts in the highest peaks in mount diablo of 88 miles an hour. a wild storm system that moved in yesterday. we'll see more wet weather tonight and tomorrow morning and another storm on tuesday. we are looking at additional two to four inches of rain and also another two to four feet of snow in the sierra mountains. want to point out as the whole system moves eastward, we are looking for the possibility not of a severe weather outbreak, but isolated tornadoes possible through the plains, down into texas. we could see large hail and flash flooding. and we also need to focus on the rivers through the midwest as this transitions over too some heavier rain. we could end u uwith about three or more inches of rain with isolated higher amounts and that

more of the springtime setup where you get the severe storms and the potential for significant flooding. south florida, looking brezy this afternoon, 39 knots over the atlantic waters, that's why small craft advisory will remain in effect, small craft should exercise caution. things will be looking pretty good. mostly sunny skies, most of the sunshine state, cold front over the area, then things will dry out right after that. >> and i'm not not talking about the lake yet, hoping don't have to go in. we'll get to more on that and the special olympics in a few minute guys. >> sounds good. dylan, thanks. a report out just this morning that superstar quarterback peyton manning is about to announce his retirement. espn reports the five-time mvp

of famer is going to leave the game after 18 seasons. nbc news has not independently nfirmed this report. manning expected to make that announcement tomorrow at the denver broncos headquarters. he goes out on top, of course, after winning hisecond super bowl last month. he is the nfl's all time leader in passing touchdowns and passing yards. he played 14 years with the indianapolis colts and won a super bowl with them in 2007. in other news on this sunday morning, the coast guard is searching t seaea off florida for a missing cruise ship passenger. royal caribbean'ss navigator of the seas reporting a 46-year-old man fell overboarar early saturday morning. the coast guard is searching an area about 40 miles south of key largo, a fellow passenger reported seeing the man fall from his state room on the tenth deck. that's 100 feet above the water. lena dunham, creator and star of hbo's series "girls" is in the hospital this morning.

she's been struggling with endometrtrsis, more than 6 million women in the country suffer from the painful condition. nham posted on facebook that she's lucky to have the support of the whole girls gang. a wild story out of florida to tell you about. a scuba diver who says he's lucky this morning to be alive after being sucked into a large pipe at a nuclear power plant. sarah sarah dahlof has more. >> reporter: off the aqua american waters are three submerged structures, a mystery they decided t investigate while diving last july in close proximity to the st. lucy nuclear power plant. >> i felt a little current and it got quicker and i said this isn't right. >> he got sucked in like a odle, just gong. >> reporter: he was sucked inside an intake pipe that delivers hundreds, thousands of gallons of water a minute to

the terrifying ride lasted up to five minutes. he feared he would be chopped into pieces, devoured by machinery. >> all i c cld think about is these horror movies, you know, this big turbine coming and i'm coming for it, you know. it is going to chop m up and kill me. i just contemplated, you know, do i pull the regulator out of my mouth and just die? started thinking about my family, you know. how are they going to survive without me. >> reporter: as he struggled with those dark thoughts, ligh >> fish everywhere, crystal clear water, the sun is shining, i'm, like, is this heaven? >> reporter: the journey took him a quarter mile along the 16 foot wide pipe, from the ocean intake, to a reservoir pool on plant property. he borrowed a phone from a surprised worker and called his wife, leaving her a miraculous voice mail. >> hey, it's me. i got pled through a [ bleep ] pipe. i'm okay. >> reporter: and connecting with her moments later. >> something is telling me to

so i did. and it was him. >> she picks up. and she just goes, hello. i said, i'm alive. >> reporter: le cun filed a lawsuit alleging negligence. the utility company has not yet responded to the suit, but in a statement claims the diver % intentionally swam into one of the intake pipes after bypassing a pce of equipment to minimize the entry of objects. he denies those allegations as well as florida power and light's claim that the buoy marking t t area that day claimed the warning to stay back 100 feet. meanwhile, he's savoring time with his wife and kids. remembering how close he says he came to losing them. for "today," sarah dahlof, nbc news. >> can you imagine? >> no. >> no. >> being the wife on the other end of the call too. >> sucked into a pipe. >> okay. >> doesn't h hpen every day. >> meanwhile, it is the end of an era onv tonight.

popular "downton abbey" but will it be the last time that fans get to enjoy the drama. kelly kelly kelly kobeila has more. >> you're not the only one watching. while tonight is the las@ time you'll see these characters on tv, the show's creator told me they may not be gone for good. after six seasons of ups and downs, it is time to say good-bye to america's favorite aristocrats. >> the world is changing. >> reporter: the period drama th british humor, history, and manners -- >> presenting the lady rose mcclaire. >> reporter: is taking its final bow tonight. it was an unlikely hit finding an audience with the real royals, our own first lady, even p. diddy. >> i wasn't expecting the success we got, because i think if you expect that you're a mad person. you know.

reer, if ever. >> reporter: the show won 12 emmys and three golden globes. incredible considering it almost never made it to america. >> remember being told by one american executive that no one in the united states wouldldver be interested in this idea. >> reporter: how wrong they were. it had something for everyone. romance, rivalry, and a grammy with great one liners. >> i take that as a compliment. >> reporter: before long, big american names were clamoring for a role. >> don't worry, i'm well prepared for cold baths, warm drinks and most of all the food. >> reporter: above all, "downton abbey" was about family, whether they lived upstairs, or downstairs. but how will it all end? will edith ever find love? wiwi there be any happily ever afters? and are the doors of downton abbey really closing for good? the show's executive producer

characters will never be back for season seven. his words. but a movie is a real possibility. but, first, of course, we have to see how it all ends tonight. the show already aired on this side of the pond. i've seen it. >> no spoilers. >> no spoilers for you. all i have to say is bring your tissues. >> oh, geez. thank you. >> thanks, kelly. >> i love the little one ners she's got. remember she said, what's a weekend? >> we don't have weekends. >> perfectly applicable. >> comingg up -- nice. key p pyers in the o.j. simpson case speaking out more than two decades after the trial of the century. prosecutor marcia clark, as she watched the guilty verdict slip away. cathy's gotten used to the smell of lingering garbage in her kitchen yup, she's gone noseblind. she thinks it smells fine, but her guests smell this... sfx: ding, flies, meow (after cat lands) music starts febreze air effects heavy duty has up to...

odors you've done e seblind to [inhales] mmm. use febreze air effects, till it's fresh and try febreze small spaces... ...to continuously eliminate up to two times the odors for 30 days. febreze small spaces and air effects, two more ways [inhale + exhale mnemonic] to breathe happy. check this out, bro. what's that, broheim? i switched to geico and got more. more savings on car insurance? yeah bro-fessor, and more. like renters insurance. more ways to sav!. nice, bro-tato chip. that's not all, bro-tein shake. geico has motorcycle and rv insurance, too. oh, that's a lot more. oh yeah, i'm all about more, teddy brosevelt. geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more. not yet. not yet! pull the peach!

still to come, a young rodeo star told she would never ride again, back in the saddle. and a sight in the sky, a hi i'm kristie. and i'm jess. and we are the bug chicks. we're a nano-business. windows 10 really helps us gethe word out about how awesome bugs are. kids learn to be brave and curious and all kids speak the language of bug. "hey cortana, find my katydid video." oh! this is so good. if you're trying to teach a kid about a proboscis. just sketch it on the screen. i don't have a touch screen on my mac, i'm jealous of that. you put a big bug in a kids hands and change their world view. the citi double cash card comes in very handy with cash back twice on purchases. earn once when you buy, and again as you pay. that's cash back now, and cashshack again later. it's cash back d\j vu. the citi double cash card. the only card that lets you earn cash back twice on every purchase

but that's how some presidential candidates seem to be dealing with social security. americans work hard, and painto it. so our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. (elephant noise) (donkey noise)

live, this is nbc 6 south florida, news now. hello, everyone. i'm sharon lawson. in the news this morning, a gunman on the run after shooting a man in northwest miami dade. police say a possible fight between two men ended in gunfire. one was shot and taken to the hospital. the suspect fled on foot. if you have any information, contact crime stopper at 305-471 tips. art in every form, miracle mile in downtown cal gables. on the mile, featuring more than 30 musical groups. if you couldn't make it out yesterday, no worries, we are a proud sponsor of the event, whiciccontinues today. a quick c cck on the weather.

cold front over south florida. dry air settled in. if you're heading out, the mile

upper this guy loves me, don't you? wait, what's that? get him out. as i was saying, everyone loves me. i even got this got this piece of -- behind me now.

>> yes, sir, thank you, sir, plea please, please, sir, may i have another. >> "saturday night live" skewering donald trump last night and that conference with chris christie. a great sunday morning crowd here on rockefeller plaza. >> she's from wichita, kansas. >> from wichita? >> i'll run over there and give her a hug. >> dylan dreyer standing by in chicago to jump into that frigid lake behind her for special olympics. >> she's excited. >> she is very excited. it is a great cause. we'll get to dylan in a bit. >> it will be quick. we want to get you caught up on this sunday's headlines. let's begin with politics. ted cruz waking up with new momentum in the republican presidential race this morning. the texas senator won saturday's contest in maine and kansas. donald trump picked up victories in kentucky and louisiana. marco rubio finished no better than third in all four states

trump to call on rubio to end his campaign. >> every time he comes in third or fourth, he says you got to be able to win. and he hasas not been able to win and i think it is time that he drops out. >> rubio's campaign quickly rejected that call from donal trump. >> on the democratic side, bernie sanders topped hillary clinton, two states to one, taking both kansas and nebraska, but clinton increased her lead in the delegate count, fueled by her massive win in louisiana. and massiveve el nino fuld storms are triggering major flooding across californiaia heavy rains turning roads into rivers in this neighborhood as you can see in the northern part of the state. dozens of flights were delayed in san francisco there. there is more rain expected today and tomorrow. also this morning, renew ed attention on the o.j. simpsonon case, both in the headlines and on television. much of it fuld by that riveting series on fx. tonight, key players from the actual trial will speak out on "dateline."

>> los angeles, june 12th, 1994, two horrific murders, defined by just three words, the o.j. case. a collision of pop culture and legal drama that still fascinates us today. >> i want him to finish this day alive. >> reporter: a new dramatic series airing on fx, "the people versus o.j. simpson" is winning ratings and review s. actress sarah paulson plays one of the stars who emerged in the trial, lead prosecutor marcia clark. >> we're taking him to trial. >> are you watching the miniseries? >> i am. i didn't think i could bear it, just reliving of the nightmare. >> reporter: the nightmare began when nicole brown simpson and her friend ron goldman were found murdered in the exclusive l.a. neighborhood of brentwood. kris jenner, nicole's best friend, remembers getting the horrible news. >> i was, like, what, what do

it was devastating. >> reporter: then came the infamous l l speed bronco chase, which had marcia clark watching and seething. >> we looked like thehe biggest idiots ever. >> possibly med, use caution. >> it was surreal. it was -- could this g any worse? >> reporter: it did. simpson was soon arresd and charged. >> we do have sufficient evidence to convict him. >> reporter: evidence rich in simpson's blood and dna. but the defense would undermine the prosecution's case by suggesting that evidence was tainted when gathered by a sloppy police department. >> i had had so many days of going back up to my office and feeling like, we're toast. it's over. there is no way. >> reporter: eventually the so-called trial of the century became a case more about race than evidence. as defense attorney johnnie cochran preached to the jury. >> stop this cover-up.

>> reporter: the jury deliberated barely four hours. >> orenthal james simpson not guilty of the crime of murder. >> that was not justice. >> reporter: josh mankiewicz, nbc news, los angeles. >> clark moved to private practice after that trial and started winning. her latest book "blood defense" comes out later this spring. hear more from her, kris jenner, cato okaykaelin and others tonight at 9:00, 8:00 central. dylan dreyer in chicago, getting set to take a polar plunge into a frigid lake michigan. good to see you there, dylan dreyer. >> good morning, guys. this is the 16th polar plunge in chicago. and millions of dollars have been raised for the great cause, special olympics. i'm joined by casey hogan, the president of special olympics chicago. this has become quite the celebrity affair. what can we expect this year? >> we're going to expect a lot this year. we are at a record-breaking year

expected to join us. we have surpassed last year's fund-raising goal and we have the great crew of chicago fire, chico pd, chicago med, our local chef graham elliott is joining us. and you never know, there migig be other surprises. >> we're looking at video of lady gaga did it a couple of years go, jimmy fallon has done it. you can see more ice in the lake than we're seeing today. are you surprised by the weather? >> this is unreal. if you're going to do the plunge, today is the day. this is unbelievable weher. we're calling it the tropical plunge. you picked a good year yourself to do it. >> yes. i think al roker and i had a little control in the year we were going to do this. >> this is great. we're really excited to have you here too. >> so much money has been raised for special olympics. good luck today. >> thank you.u. >> and i guess good look to myself too, because you're not jumping this year, but you've done it nine times. it. you're going to have a blast. >> i'm looking forward to it, kind of. it ip going to be fun. i think when everybody gets here and the weather in chago is

we should top out in the 50s. all part of this warmup that is moving across the country. we're going to see spring-like warmth through the northern plains, stretching into the midwest. this is all going to move east as we get into the middle of the week with temperatures topping out in the 60s and 70s. look at that, new york city, 70 degrees by wednesday. little further south we should top out in the mid-70s. the warm air is coming, just got to jump in this lake first. south florida looking breezy this afternoon. 30 knots over the atlantic waters. small craft advisory in effect. smalllraft should exercise caution. other than that pretty good. mostly sunny skis, rain free across much ofhe sunshine state. then things will dry out right after that. first the forecast calling for and, guys, the plunge

so we're not going to get to do it on live tv, but we'll havav it all on our website. check back there later today. and al roker and i have -- >> what are you going to wear? can you get some kind of warm suit or someing? what is your strategy? >> they recommend not wearing too many clothes, though i will not be wearing a bikini by any mes, but we have a t-shirt and shorts plan going, al and i do. >> good luck. we know you're going to knock it out of the park. the best news is, dydyn, not only is it for a good cause, but it is quick. dylan, thanks. >> real quick. up next, our sunday stories from a rodeo star back in the saddle after being told that would never happen again, to a taste for freedom for a man who spent a decade on death row for a crime he says he didn't % commit. harry smith is in the house, he visited a bird watching paradise in an unexpected place. it is all after these messages. does the smell of a freshly bound presentation fill you with optimism? do you love your wireless keyboard

is your success s e to a filing system only you understand? does printing from your tablet to your wireless printer give you a jolt of confidence? if so, you may be gearcentric. someone who knows that the right office gear helps you do great things. and there's one place that has it all. office depot officemax. gear up for great. i try hard to get a great shape. this... i can do easily. benefiber healthy shape helps curb cravings.

...that's clinically proven to help keep me fuller longer. benefiber healthy shape. this, i can do. find us in the fiber aisle. only kraft natural cheese has a touch of philadelphia cream cheese, so whatever you make, is creamier than ever. to the couple who set aside the whole day to sell their old car and buy a new one... oops. nana's got the kids til 9...

guess you'll just have to see a movie... ...then get some dinner. what a pity. back with a remarkable woman who can teach us a lot about overcoming obstacles. >> amberley snyder devoted her life to horses and rodeo. when a car accident tried to

going to let it get in the way. >> reporter: from the time she was a toddler, t ts is where amberley snyder has wanted to be. >> happiest place for me on earth is on my horse's back. >> reporter: a world champion barrel racer at age of 18, amberley was living her dream. then a car accident changed everything. >> i overcorrected my truck, and i was ejected and hit a fence post on the side of the road, which is what broke my back. >> reporter: amberley was paralyzed from the waist down. doctors predicted she would never walk, and certainly never ride again. >> the very first day of therapy, when my nurse asked me what my goals are, i tell her, walk, ride, rodeo. there is not and if, there is not an and, theres not a maybe. this is what we're doing. >> what was her reaction? >> she thought i was crazy. >> reporter: one of the biggest hurdle for amberley, wasn't getting into the saddle, it was staying there. how was her balance initially

>> really bad. to the point where even ifhe was sitting in bed and raised her arm to brush her hair, you know, she could fall over. >> i had m mtioned to my therapist that my balance is better on my saddle than anywhere else.saddle in and i got on the saddle and my balance was better there. >> reporter: four months after her accident, she was in the saddle, on her horse. when you first got back on the horse, is it what you exp]cted? >> the first time i got on the horse was the hardest day of my life. >> reporter: why? >> because in that moment, i realized my whole life was different. >> reporter: later that year, amberley hit bottom. for eight months she didn't even want to see her horses, let alone ride them. >> stubborn. i was, like, no, not doing it, not doing it. >> reporter: you needed your own time. >> mm-hmm. >> reporter: at one point, amberley begged her mother to sell the horses. tina snyder refused. >> i said, amberley, your horses

you waited for them to heal. they're going to wait for you. >> reporter: the wait paid off. 18 months after her accident, amberley snyder returned to regular competition. >> the very first time we went out for a race, you want to win. the competitive nature is still there every single time i go in the arena. >> when she's on a horse, she's like everybody else. she gs to leave the wheelchair behind and the horse is her legs. >> reporter: now, six years later, amberley snyder is firmly back in her saddle. >> had outrun myself of what i have before my wreck. even though i'm strapped in and can't kick, i still can run with anyone out there. amberley's able to saddle her horse from her chair, using an ol seat belt. >> we cut this out of a junk card car. >> reporter: and a series of

her steady and keep her legs in place. >> they go around my feet and my stirrups. >> reporter: her horses have also adjusted to this new normal. >> they learned to just completely ignore my legs. they don't even pay attention to them anymore. >> reporter: as positive as she is, amberley doesn't shy away from her daily strtrgle. >> i don't think i'm ever going to roll over when i get out of bed in the morning and go, man, i'm glad i'm getting into that chair. you just have to shift the way you look at it. my goals have not changed. i'm jus giving myself a little more time in order to accomplish them. >> reporter: when you look at her today, what is first thought that comes to your mind when you look at your daughter? >> awe. and grateful she's here. >> to say amberley and her mother tina are incredible would be a gross understatement. she gained some feeling in her legs. you can real more about it at today.com.

from the riding. >> from thetimulation of it? >> she thinks it helped. she's a motivational `peaker. but she's phenomenal. and caroline gottlieb, our prwducer, thank you, you found us an incredible story. >> we're back after this. at johnson's, the products in our bath time routine work together like a team. the washes with the shampoos, the shampoos with the lotions. a combination designed to help improve your b by's skin barrier while you stimulate his senses. with johnson's, the more you p in, the more they get out. johnson's . so much more plants may have their limits. imagination...doesn't with the right nourishment... ...patience... ...care...

have you s sn your garden? ...it'll blossom. find low prices on the things that make easter fun and delicious.

we're back with new developments in a controversial case out of texas. >> dwayne brown was sentenced to death for a crime he insisted he didn't commit. he was freed last year after new evidence was uncovered in a retired detective's garage. i visited him recently and found someone surprisingly not bitter, but thankful. say the word freedom to a man who hasn't had it for more than a decade, and you may hear thehe unexpected. >> freedom for me is being around things that i can actually get up and go do and i enjoy doing. it is a feeling that you can't explain. >> reporter: in 2003, dwayne brown was charged with murder in the shooting death of charles clark, a decorated police officer. the killing happened during a robbery at a check cashing store on the southeast side of houston.

>> never been any signs on this case that implicates him. never a shred of evidence, no dna, no gunshotot residue. >> reporter: brown was convicted and sentenced to death. spending 23 hours a day in a cell like this, 12 years in prison. >> when you're on death row, did you think that the day would come when you would actually get out. >> when you're in that place, you don't - at least i wasn't thinking that far ahead. i was trying to take care of what's today, what i'm going to do today. and that's how i live my life every day. day by day.y. >> reporter: his saving grace, a single piece of paper, subpoenaed phone records that proved h h was at his girlfriend's apartment during the crime, records that his appellant attorney said were never turned over to his court appointed attorney during his original trial. it would have confirmed his alibi. turns out they were discovered

of t t investigating officer. he has since retired. last june, the district attorney dismissed his case, saying she did not have enough evidence to convict in a new trial and set him free. do youou think you were set up? >> very much so. very much so. >> theyyere seeking a conviction at any cost. in a high profile case. and but for our work, they would have gotten away with it. >> reporter: nbc news reached out to the houston police department for comment, they e-mailed an audio recording of a june 2015 press conference wre the police chief said the case was improperly investigated and would not comment on the evidence. the district attorney's office declined to comment. >> we shouldn't be in a justice system where it takes eight years of work from a number of lawyers, probably over a million dollars in probono fees and expenses and those types of things to exonerate one man.

but that's what it took here. >> reporter: brown's daughter kiara w 2 years old when her father went away. what has it been like having dad back? >> it has been azing. he's strict. but he's not strict. he's like a cool dad. >> reporter: what is he strict about? boys? one thing that strikes me about you, you're not angry. you smile. it is the strangest thing to me. how is that? how are you not mad at the world? >> i don't have a word for it, i don't havav an answer for it, i'm just enjoying myself. i'm doing thehings i like to do. >> and under texas law, people wrongly convicted, they're entitled to $80,000 a year. brown's legal team petitioned the state to approve roughly about $973,000. the state has until april 7th to respond. >> that's remarkable story. >> he's a remarkable guy.

he is about life. >> a great story. craig, thanks. up next, an amazing display in the skies over nebraska after this. earning unlimited cash back on purchases. that's a win. but imagine earning it twice. you can with the citi double cash card. it lets you earn cash back twice. once when you buy and again as you pay. it's cash back then cash back again. and that's a cash back win-win. the citi double cash card. the only card that lets you earncash back twice on everypurchase with 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay. with two ways to earn, it makes a lot of other cards seem one-sided. wpen your cold makes you wish... ...you could stay... ...in bed all day... ...you need the power of... new theraflu expressmax. the power to feel better. look at this sweet face.

ok, we're going to need a napkin gooey, flaky, happy. tster strudel. one day a rider made a decision. the decision to ride on and save money. he decided to save money by switching his motorcycle insurance to geico. there's no shame in saving money. ride on, ride proud. geico motorcycle,

this morning on sundays with harry, something to get y y in the mood for spring. good morning, harry smith. >> good morning. feeling a tiny -- spring is a crow crocuses in central park and ey reminded me of something we shot, we got to see a couple of years ago too, a great seasonal migration that happen right in interstate 80. if you're on it, you race

but this time of year it is hard not to notice the birds here. yes, those are birds in the sky. thousands and thousands of snow geese migrating northward, slowing down for a rest. talk about a roadside attractiti. 20 million or so birds would be offended to hear nebraska referred to as a flyover state. the birds and their ancestors have spent every spring here for several thousand millennia. these are sand hill cranes, mike forsberg forsberg, a photographer, author and conservationist has been watching the cranes for more than 20 years. >> it would be like missing christmas. >> reporter: this is good. this is really good.

mike says the graceful elegant birds dance sometimes because they're nervous, sometimes because they're in love. and sometimes because they just like to dance. but the best time to watch them is at first light, with the golden moon in the western sky, you can barely see the birds, and you sure can hear them. the cranes spend the night on the bank and the sandbars of the plat river and as day break comes, the birds get louder and louder, building to a dramatic crescendo, a wake-up call the likes of which you have never heard. crane lovers come from all over the country, and all over the world, to visit aubon's rose sanctuary. lynn hobsa can't wait to see the birds up close. you're all pumped up. >> i . i can't help it. >> reporter: we used to say you know it's spring when the swallows return to capistrano.

the cranes return to carney. so mike forsberg, the picture, which we'll put up on the screen, that was taken just last week. >> oh, my goodness. >> the migration has started already. so if you're in the middle of the country, get to the plat riverr and be awed. >> thank you, harry. >> thanks, harry. morning. chuck will have more on the super satatday results and he's speaking with mitt romney. >> don't fget to check out our facebook page. dylan dreyer, the polar plunge. >> whoo!

go, lan, go! right now at 9:00, an unexpected super saturdayor ted cruz and bernie sanders. we've got the numbers. the governmont on the run after a shooting inmiami-dade. we're at the hospital with the

and a young girl killed in a tragic crash three years oorks we ago, we talk to her family. good morning, everyone. welcome to nbc 6 south florida today. it's sunday, march 6th. i'm sharon lawson. hope you slept well. we'll get you started with your first alert weather forecast with meteorologist erica delgado. >> i promised the second half of the weekend will be spectacular. there are showers over the atlantic waters. nothing that we need to worry about. we do have a north-northwest wind. all of the showers moving directly toward the south. i want to look at those winds. they are beginning to pick up. we're on a breezy trend especially this afternoon. right now between 10 to 15 miles per hour. pretty much across the board.