. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening i'm kristen welker, in tonight for lester on this christmas eve americans are preparing to spend yet another holiday against the backdrop of covid-19. and tonight the nation's major airlines announcing that thousands of flights have been canceled around the world, in large part because the fast-spreading omicron variant has prevented some staffers from working, creating shortages. and there is late word that a u.s. navy ship is stuck in port after a portion of the crew tested positive for covid. it comes as the biden administration announced it is lifting travel restrictions initially imposed last month and while the number of cases rises, there are new signs omicron may be less severe than other variants. we are covering all of the latest developments tonight sam brock starts our coverage from miami. >> reporter: with omicron shattering infection records set during the peak of delta, at airports nationwide a christmas curveball. united airlines pre-emptively canceling more than 250 flights through the weekend afte

lester holt joins us from new york right now. >>> tonight, the high stakes showdown between presidentutin of a strong response if russia invades ukraine during their two-hour video call it comes amid a massive build-up of russian troops on the border how putin is responding and our own richard engle inside ukraine where fears are growing. >>> also tonight, the omicron variant now in at least 21 states new data on how effective pfizer's vaccine is against it. covid cases surging, deaths up more than 50% in a week, and the cdc new self testing guidelines ahead of the holidays. >>> a state of emergency in hawaii. massive flooding, some areas seeing over a foot of rain urgent rescues five boys pulled from the rushing water. >>> nick cannon's tragic loss. what the star revealed today about his 5-month-old son. >>> our nbc exclusive, federal warning of gift card scams this holiday season how to protect yourself. >>> remembering pearl harbor our conversation with five survivors returning to the solemn site to mark 80 years since that day of infamy. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other.elodia. she's a recording artist. 1 of 10 million people that comcast has connected to affordable internet in the last 10 years. and this is emmanuel, a future recording artist, and one of the millions of students we're connecting throughout the next 10. through projectup, comcast is committing $1 billion so millions more students, past... and present, can continue to get the tools they need to build a future of unlimited possibilities. ♪give my regards to broadway!♪ ♪remember me to herald square!♪ ♪tell all the gang at forty second street♪ ♪that i will soon be there!♪ ♪whisper of how i'm yearning♪ ♪to mingle with the old-time throng!♪ ♪give my regards to old broadway♪ ♪and say that i'll be there, 'ere long!♪ was coming is here. the omicron variant confirmed in the bay area. we are going to take you inside the san francisco lab that detected it. also talking to a covid expert about what you should know if the omicron virus continues to spread. >>> by the time i looked back, somebody wa

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. yo >>> good evening as we head into our third winter of covid, but health experts are pointing tonight to a more urgent challenge on another front, where the delta variant is still killing more than a thousand people each day. let's begin with tom costello. six states now make up half the country's hospitalizations, michigan, ohio, indiana, pennsylvania, new york and illinois. most patients unvaccinated but some are breakthrough cases. massachusetts is now coping with a third covid wave trauma rooms at umass memorial 120% full the staff utterly exhausted. >> what we're hearing about people now is crying on their way into work knowing what they're about to face. that's what health care workers are going through right now. you're tired, but you are not as tired as the health care workers that have to deal with this crisis right now. >>> despite the rising death toll, a new axios toll finds americans are eager to put the pandemic behind them. only a third say they will stop dining indoor

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. a verdict as we come on the air in the closely watched jussie smollett trial a chicago jury tonight finding the former "empire" actor guilty on five of six counts related to lying to police about being the victim of a hate-driven attack in 2019 the verdict coming on the second day of deliberations. rehema ellis has the breaking news for us. rehema >> reporter: lester, jussie smollett stood with his arms crossed and he was stoic as the jury read the verdict. as you point out, he was found guilty of five of six counts not guilty on a charge of reporting a false aggravated battery to police but it was nearly three years ago that he was facing six felony counts of reporting a fake, anti-gay and racist attack against himself and lying to police about it on the witness stand he had always insisted on his innocence saying there was no hoax, but the prosecution told jurors that he had orchestrated a hate crime, paying two brothers to stage the attack smollett now could face up to three years

i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night this is elodia. 1 of 10 million people that comcast has connected to affordable internet in the last 10 years. and this is emmanuel, a future recording artist, and one of the millions of students we're connecting throughout the next 10. through projectup, comcast is committing $1 billion so millions more students, past... and present, can continue to get the tools they need to build a future of unlimited possibilities. ♪ i see trees of green ♪ ♪ red roses too ♪ ♪ i see them bloom for me and you ♪ (music) ♪ so i think to myself ♪ ♪ oh what a wonderful world ♪ atmospheric river will arrive and has the potential to dump a half foot of rain. plus. >> cracking down on restaurant owners who are dragging their feet when it comes to asking patrons for one of these. >> cracking down the east bay restaurants not following covid guidelines. what happens when repeated fines aren't enough. one restaurant found out the hard way. >> the san francisco church postponing a visit from the archbishop because of his vacc

that's "nightly news" for this tuesday thank you for watching i'm lester holt. yourself and each other. >> would you be able to take care of them ♪ i see trees of green ♪ ♪ red roses too ♪ ♪ i see them bloom for me and you ♪ (music) ♪ so i think to myself ♪ ♪ oh what a wonderful world ♪ . >>> i'm raj mathai. next on nbc bay area news, here comes another storm. we got the time line on the next round of rain and snow in the bay area. >>> also, hugs and tears for steph curry. we'll take you to new york city on this history-making night. >>> new information about that shooting at the tesla factory in fremont. a deadly case of workplace violence. >>> will it work? san francisco and oakland announcing plans to combat the rise of crime. we'll be joined by oakland mayor libby schaaf. >>> a silicon valley vc is back from space. our exclusive interview about his out of world experience.

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening we have been following a bizarre and unfolding drama in michigan today involving the parents of a 15-year-old suspected school shooter. tonight the oakland county sheriff says a fugitive man hunt is underway for those parents who, in an unprecedented move, were charged earlier in the day with involuntary manslaughter they're accused of providing the weapon their son allegedly used to kill four students at oxford high school on tuesday. the teen, ethan crumbley, remains in custody. facing murder and terrorism charges. his parents, however, no shows at their scheduled arraignment this afternoon the prosecutor meantime laying out in unusual detail what she says were chilling signs the teen was at risk of turning violent. megan fitzgerald has the breaking details >> reporter: tonight the parents of accused school shooter ethan crumbley are about to turn themselves in, according to their attorney, after being charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with tuesday's deadly attack at a michigan high

i'm lester holt.e take care of yourself and each other. ♪ ♪ ♪♪ i have traveled many moonless nights ♪ ♪ cold and weary with a babe inside ♪ ♪ and i wonder what i've done ♪ ♪ holy father you have come ♪ ♪ be with me now ♪ ♪ be with me now ♪ ♪ breath of heaven ♪ ♪ hold me together ♪ ♪ be forever near me ♪ ♪ breath of heaven ♪ ♪ breath of heaven ♪ ♪ lighten my darkness ♪ ♪ pour over me your holiness ♪ ♪ for you are holy ♪ ♪ breath of heaven ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: how are you doing! it's christmas time add to "the kelly clarkson show"! we are celebrating and in big ways. we have the gift tree, rows of lights. way to go, art department, you did a really great job! and of course we have my band y'all! give it up for them! [cheers and applause] so that was amy grant's "breath of heaven" also known as "mary song" what is your connection to that song, girl? >> my connection brings back childhood memories for me. my mom and dad would make us every year go to midnight mass for christmas eve and we dr

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. yourself and each other, and have a good night. when it comes to flooring, i'm hard to please. so, i go to floor & decor where they don't just know the difference between products, they live for it. from american hardwood to spanish porcelain to italian marble, i'm looking for inspiration from every part of the world. so, when it comes to discovering every imaginable tile, wood, laminate or stone without compromising my design, one aisle doesn't cut it. i need an entire store. now, i've got one. explore floor & decor in person or online at flooranddecor.com ♪give my regards to broadway!♪ ♪remember me to herald square!♪ ♪tell all the gang at forty second street♪ ♪that i will soon be there!♪ ♪whisper of how i'm yearning♪ ♪to mingle with the old-time throng!♪ ♪give my regards to old broadway♪ ♪and say that i'll be there, 'ere long!♪ >>> next on nbc bay area news tonight, is it that bad already? many are saying to cancel your holiday travel plans because of the omicron virus. and elizabet

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. the drum beat for booster shots for over 100 million eligible americans grows louder tonight as more omicron cases emerge here in the u.s. and around the world the latest u.s. cases include colorado, minnesota and new york but health officials reminding us it is still the dominant delta variant driving a rise in new covid infections with signs more americans are rolling up their sleeves, president biden rolling out a series of new strategies today to combat the covid spread and meet the still unspecified omicron threat including an expanded booster campaign family vaccination clinics, free at home testing and new testing rules for travelers arriving from abroad. kelly o'donnell leads us off tonight from the white house. >> reporter: tonight, expected but still unnerving. more cases of the omicron variant detected inside the u.s. new york officials calling a news conference this evening to announce omicron is there add colorado to california and minnesota. today officials identified om

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night >> give it up for the host of today's show... jay leno! [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ >> jay: hi, everybody. thank you very much, welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." i am not kelly. i am jay leno. it's my second time doing it. you know, it's the holiday season and kelly is taking some personal time with her kids to do some shopping and all that kind of stuff, so she asked grandpa jay to come in and take over for a little bit. so i certainly appreciate that. we have a lot of guys here. hey, guys, you like shopping, guys? really, you are lying. you don't like shopping. you know something, my wife said to me the other day, every time a light bulb blows in the house, you go to the supermarket and buy one bulb, can you go to the home depot or lowe's and just get a box? i said that's a great idea. if so i go to home depot and i'm walking around, oh, how are you doing? i said do you have a bunch of assorted light bulbs? they say i will get you a combo pack.

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening reminding we can never take our eyes off the ball when it comes to covid, the delta variant, the one we have been living with for months is the one fuelling a disturbing new rise in cases tonight, climbing now in at least 22 states. delta still accounting for more than 99% of infections but it is the newer omicron variant and its worrisome potential driving big changes and mandates tonight. the new u.s. global travel requirements taking effect today as new york city officials announce the most sweeping vaccination mandates in the country impacting virtually all private companies. tonight we go into the heart of a community under siege with the team coming to the rescue of a health system teetering on the edge here's miguel almaguer >> reporter: tonight with omicron now discovered in nearly 20 states, the mayor of new york city is implementing the nation's most sweeping vaccine mandate for all private employers. by the end of this month, those who work in person must have at least one dose of a vaccine unless they qualify

that's "nightly news" for this tuesday thank you for watching i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. >> would you be able to take care of them ♪ ♪ ♪♪ you let flowers say, "i love you" ♪ ♪ you let diamonds hold my hand ♪ ♪ so this christmas, i'm making new plans ♪ ♪ merry christmas baby ♪ ♪ you send gifts that someone else picks ♪ ♪ you send cards with empty promises ♪ ♪ but you don't need to worry 'bout me again ♪ ♪ merry christmas baby ♪ ♪ you'll wake up all alone and ♪ ♪ wonder why i'm not home ♪ ♪ and i'll let my phone ring ♪ ♪ a dose of your kind of love and ♪ ♪ i'll let my absence show you ♪ ♪ what i got you for christmas ♪ ♪ is losing me ♪ ♪ merry christmas, baby ♪ ♪ so have yourself a merry christmas ♪ ♪ hope it's not as cold as you cold as you ♪ ♪ merry christmas, baby merry christmas ♪ ♪ merry christmas, baby merry christmas ♪ ♪ merry christmas, baby ♪ ♪ to you ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: all right, y'all! welcome to "the kelly clarkson show"! our holiday festivities are in full swing here, people! give it up for my band y'

>>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. after the destruction we saw unfold last weekend, there is understandable anxiety as another onslaught of dangerous and unseasonable weather, including rare december tornados rips the middle of the country. there have been tornado watches and warnings issued in several states this evening and high winds are up in more than a dozen states from new mexico to upper michigan many left without power. just days before the start of winter, warm, spring-like temperatures bringing with them those damages winds. some with gusts topping 100 miles an hour and a tornado risk in places that have never seen such a thing in december tonight's threat the same system that barrelled through southern california, dumping rain, swelling rivers and forcing dramatic rescues our team in place to cover it all starting with tom llamas. >> reporter: tonight new tornados whipping across the midwest official warnings stretching to at least five states. thousands bracing for cover as a massive storm wave pushes thr

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other, and have a good night. [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ ♪♪ well you've heard about love givin' sight to the blind ♪ ♪ my baby's lovin' cause the sun to shine ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little thing she's my pride and joy ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little baby i'm her little lover boy ♪ ♪ yeah i love my baby my heart and soul ♪ ♪ love like ours won't ever grow old ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little thing she's my pride and joy ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little baby i'm her little lover boy ♪ will give it up! ♪ ♪ [screams] all right! ♪ well i love my baby like the finest wine ♪ ♪ stick with her until the end of time ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little thing she's my pride and joy ♪ ♪ she's my sweet little baby i'm her little lover boy ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: all right, welcome to "the kelly clarkson show"! give it up for my family all! get it jacko! that amazing solo. that was "pride and joy" by legendary ms. edition stevie ray vaughn, what's so special about that song for you? >>

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. as we come on the air, late word from the cdc that omicron has become the most common coronavirus variant in the u.s. with cases doubling every two to three days, the highly contagious variant has overtaken the delta variant with breathtaking speed many americans approaching the christmas holiday with a sense of dread as the heavily mutated virus rapidly infects the unvaccinated and vaccinated alike though, as we'll show you, often with sharply different outcomes officials stress symptoms among the vaccinated and boosted trend toward the mild side still hospitalizations are on the rise and lines for tests are long many weighing the risk of going forward with holiday plans. we have a lot to tell you about tonight starting with gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: tonight a covid surge coast to coast. omicron now the most dominant variant, making up three-quarters of cases. testing lines and new restrictions mounting. >> it is time for boston to follow the science. >> reporter: boston announcin

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. it is the way a lot of us have done business these last two years, video chats. but likely not with as much at stake as today's virtual face to face between two of the world's most powerful leaders according to the white house, president biden warned russia's vladimir putin against a military invasion of ukraine, promising strong economic and other measures which include increased supplies and resources to american allies of the region for his part, president putin wants guarantees against nato expansion and u.s. offensive weapons in the region. there was a lot on the agenda for the two-hour meeting but nothing more important than tensions over a build-up of tens of thousands of russian troops near the ukraine border we'll go to richar engle in ukraine in a moment first, kristen welker with the latest from the white house. >> reporter: tonight, in a high stakes video call the white house described as direct and useful, president biden warned russian president vladimir putin not to inv

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening i'm peter alexander in tonight for lester just a day ahead of those festive new year's eve celebrations, a sobering reality check with covid cases raging across the country. the latest tally another all-time high. nearly 500,000 new infections in a single day. the eye popping case count causing major staffing shortages and more travel nightmares some cities are now canceling their new year's festivities but here in new york the mayor is allowing a scaled-back crowd in times square for the iconic ball drop still tonight, there is some promising news that omicron cases are less severe among the vaccinated, keeping hospitalizations down. and we're learning new details about the effectiveness of the vaccine in kids. we begin tonight with nbc's sam brock. >> reporter: tonight the u.s. is barrelling toward the new year's holiday under a tidal wave of new covid cases. shattering the daily record with nearly half a million infections wednesday or roughly double the previous high last winter the 1.9 million cases in a week mean

. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening a political act of loyaltys reckoning tonight over getting to the bottom of one of this country's darkest days the house of representatives voting this evening on the question of whether former donald trump chief of staff mark meadows should be referred to the justice department

i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. >>> the plot was hatched. this dreadful plot -- it's like a movie script, it's family rivalries, betrayal, and, murder. >> so horrific. what were the last hours on earth like for her? >> reporter: it lurks here, on this storied family estate: a mystery as tangled and gnarled as the trees that reach for the sky. >> i think she's dead! >> it eats at me. i can't sleep most of the time. >> reporter: a crime like a storm -- everyone could see it coming. >> everybody in town has their suspicions. >> she was missing -- the matriarch with a grip on the family's powerful fortune. did someone have a powerful motive to do her harm? >> i saw bruises on bonnie's arms, like someone had grabbed her. >> she looked at him and said "you tried to kill me." >> who was behind this? a search in the dark. >> right there, right there! >> a secret in the family. and a jailhouse interview to make your jaw drop! >> reporter: you said you wished she were dead. and then later, she became dead! >> i'm lester holt, and this "dateline" is a

here's lester holt with "tipping point." >>> in this city -- >> the murder of a utah man -- >> -- and in this story that transformed it -- >> a tourist killed trying to defend his family -- >> where does the truth live? does it live in what was said in this police station? >> all i saw him was taking the knife. >> or what was seen on this subway platform? >> clearly she sees one person that she recognizes. >> does it live in what was argued in this courtroom? >> you made that up, didn't you? >> no. >> or is the truth locked up in this prison? >> this is my cry for justice. >> you'll hear a judge decide where the truth will prevail. times square, bustling with tourists, vibrant and safe. except it wasn't always like this. new york was in turmoil. crime was out of control. and then came the moment new yorkers said enough is enough, a murder of a young tourist on a manhattan subway platform just a few blocks from where i'm standing. it's a murder that would have consequences for this city and one man for the next quarter century. it was labor day weekend, 1990, a sunday. the u.s. open te

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening i'm kristin welker in for lesterhere is late, breaking news ni

lester holt spoke to dr. fauci to get his guidance about how it will impact your holidays. >> vaccination is going to make the difference, lester. if i'm a family member, i'm vaccinated, i'm boosted, my wife is vaccinated, she's boosted. my children are coming in, by plane from all different parts of the country, they are vaccinated and boosted, so we can feel very comfortable in having our plans to be together as a family in our home, with some friends who are also boostered and vaccinated, and i feel we can feel safe. >> coming up next on nightly news, what dr. fauci says about people who haven't seen received a single vaccine shot yet. >> california is in bet are beter shape to deal with it. california's death rate is also substantially lower. as you've heard, health officials now say getting a booster shot is imperative to protect you against omicron. we spoke with dr. monica gandhi about how it prevents you getting a severe case of covid. >> luckily, t-cells that we just got data from the nih on saturday

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening i'm kristin welker in for lester there is late, breaking news tonight. the cdc announcing it will shorten isolation periods for asymptomatic people infected or exposed to covid from 10 to 5 days the move comes as covid cases are soaring. creating worker shortages across the country. and the airline industry hit particularly hard. today alone at least 1,200 flights canceled in part because of covid-related staff shortages. the country on pace to reach another difficult milestone, averaging close to 200,000 new cases per day, approaching a level not seen since earlier this year. and with people lining up for hours to get tested, the president conceding his administration must do more tonight we will speak with dr. anthony fauci about all of this. but first we begin with nbc's sam brock >> reporter: tonight a change in policy from the cdc cutting the recommended quarantine time in half for all americans infected with covid-19. from 10 days down to 5, provided they are asymptomatic and wear masks around others for five m

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening i'm kristin welker in for lester after the death of jeffrey epstein, the world has watched and waited as the jury deliberated for days about what would happen to his confidant, ghislaine maxwell.

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening.s we come on the air, late word from the cdc that omicron has become the most common coronavirus variant in the u.s. with cases doubling every two to three days, the highly contagious variant has overtaken the delta variant with breathtaking speed

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening the last thing any of us wants isone rough road but the comparisons are inescapable tonight in pockets of this country covid sidelining more and more people as it

an inside look with lester holt, right now. >>> tonight, the omicron variant now in all 50 states.ovid pill in the u.s. pfizer's potential game changing pill that can be ken at home how soon will it be available? it comes as omicron deals a 25% surge in u.s. cases in just one week with three days until christmas, dr. fauci recommending disinviting unvaccinated guests, but promising new data from where omicron was first reported what they're now seeing in south africa. >>> also tonight, holiday travel ramping up, despite covid concerns nearly 110 million americans on the move. the rush behind the scenes at american airlines as the busiest travel day since the pandemic began. >>> president biden touting his response to the supply chain crisis, saying gifts are being delivered and shelves are not empty before christmas. how the gridlock is helping some smaller businesses thrive. >>> the truck driver who killed four people in a fiery crash and the backlash over his sentence more than 100 years in prison growing pressure on colorado's governor to take action. >>> the american state depa

lester holt joins us now. >>> breaking news tonight, the unprecedented december storms sweeping acrossome on the air reports of tornados on the ground and damage in the plains and midwest. nearly 100 million americans under alerts from arizona to new york in the west rain and snow hurricane force winds, gusts over 100 miles an hour. travel nightmares on e road and in airports al roker tracking it all. >>> it comes on the heels of that deadly tornado outbreak president biden in kentucky today touring the disaster zone. a massive recovery effort underway. >>> growing fears of the omicron variant. now in at least 36 states dr. fauci today saying there is no need for an omicron-specific vaccine at this time because the current boosters work against it >>> and the plea in one major u.s. city to avoid holiday gatherings. >>> plus, new outbreaks in the nfl and nba. >>> the new warning from u.s. airlines the danger they say from 5g networks why airlines ceo faced a grilling today on capitol hill. >>> the new guilty plea from derek chauvin. months after his conviction for george floyd's murder

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening.aging words tonight from the head of vaccine maker moderna, quoted as saying there could be a material drop in the effectiveness of current vaccines against the omicron variant. while late today pfizer filed for approval of booster

to those most in need that's "nightly news" for this monday thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other good night (soft music) hey dad, i'm about to leave. don't forget your hat . good morning. how can i help? i need help connecting with my students. behind every last minute save, ok, that works. and holiday surprise, thank you! a customer service rep is working unseen, making it happen. and at genesys, we're proud to help them help you everyday. >>> good evening. this is nbc bay area news tonight of the i'm raj mathai. a lot happening on this stormy monday. a suspicious death at the tesla factory in fremont. steph curry's made the record. the game just ened, by the way, and the new mandate that goes into effect statewide. our exclusive radar is lit up in green. a flash flood watch is in effect until 10:00 p.m. one of the hardest hit places, san mateo county, check it

lester holt joins us in a few seconds. >>> tonight, the new alert on johnson & johnson's covid vaccine potential holiday surge. the cdc advisory panel saying unanimously people should not get the j&j vaccine if pfizer or moderna shots are available. the data they cited involving rare blood clots. it comes amid the double threat of the rapidly spreading omicron variant and the still dominant delta variant. the cdc warning cases could surge 55% by christmas. deaths could rise 71% by the first week of january. dr. fauci is here. what you need to know before gathering for the holidays also tonight, the second deadly tornado outbreak in less than a week in this country. multiple people killed in the central u.s hundreds of thousands without power. minnesota's first december tornado ever. our team in the storm zone tonight. >>> just in, the major decision by the fda expanding access to abortion pills. >>> also breaking, the search warrant issued for alec baldwin's phone. what police investigating the "rust" shooting believe is on it >>> the "sex and the city" star facing accusations of sexua

. >>> up next on nightly news, lester holt looks back at the life of bob dole, he spent decades serving focus on the care for veterans. lester spoke with dole in 2018 at the memorial in washington. nightly news is next. >>> tonight, new york city announcing the strictest vaccine mandate in the country as the omicron variant spreads. new york city's first in the nation mandate requiring all private sector workers to get vaccinated by december 27th now confirmed in 20 states, while the delta variant drives a surge in hospitalizations our exclusive inside the icu being pushed to 200% capacity. >>> also tonight jussie smollett taking the stand at his trial. what the actor told the jury about the brothers he's accused of paying to stage a hate crime attack on himself. >>> plus, new details about the parents of the alleged michigan school shooter what we're learning about their time on the run. police interviewing the person of interest whose art studio is where they were arrested. >>> the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 beijing olympics as tensions rise with china. >>> president biden set to

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening i'm kristin welker in for lester after the death of jeffrey epstein, the world has watched and waited as the jury deliberated for days about what would happen to his confidant, ghislaine maxwell. tonight they have found her guilty on five of six counts, including sex trafficking of minors. let's get right to ron allen, who is outside the courthouse >> reporter: tonight after six days of deliberations, a jury found ghislaine maxwell guilty of five out of six federal charges, including sex trafficking of minors, which is the most serious and carries up to 40 years behind bars. >> the road to justice has been far too long. but today, justice has been done. >> reporter: throughout the three-week trial, prosecutors calling two dozen witnesses. the heart of their case, four women who say they were recruited, groomed and lured by maxwell when they were teenagers so they could be sexually abused by jeffrey epstein. the prosecution calling ghislaine maxwell epstein's partner in crime, saying epstein was able to sexually abuse

." >> reporter: i'm lester holt. and this is "dateline." here's dennis murphy with -- "shining star." >> reporter: cajun country is where the dreadful thing happened. baton rouge, the louisiana state capitol perched on the banks of the mississippi. three blocks off the river, on a chilly thursday night, a criminal defense lawyer was working late, drafting a writ for the big murder trial starting monday. when did the killer take her? sometime after 8:00 was the best guess. the news led next morning's early drive. >> i hear on a local news station, they interrupt to say that there is a downtown murder in a law office. >> reporter: attorney prem burns was on her way into work. >> which, of course, alerts me. initially, my -- my gosh -- is it an attorney? >> reporter: the office, now strung with yellow crime scene tape, belonged to an up-and-comer named chiquita tate. a local woman just a few years out of law school, but already making a name for herself in the competitive, pads and helmets, arena of litigation and criminal defense. >> she had

. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening the last thing any of us wants is to revisit 2020 that was one rough road but the comparisons are inescapable tonight in pockets of this country covid sidelining more and more people as it did last december when vaccinations were just beginning. new york city with over 10,000 new cases reported today in several major cities, there are long lines for testing. facing outbreaks of their own, businesses in some places are closing their doors. major sporting events postponed. classrooms closed. and the unvaccinated being warned in no uncertain terms these are dangerous days ahead, especially as the highly contagious omicron variant multiplies tonight urgent calls for the vaccinated to get booster shots. so far some 58 million boosters administered to just over a quarter of those fully vaccinated our team is in place to cover it all starting with miguel almaguer >> reporter: well before our nation has even reached what's predicted to be the depths of this year's deadly winter surge, businesses, venues and schools are shutte

lester holt sits down with the stars to discuss the remake. >> were you concerned in a remake it mayi think it has way more soul. >> more authenticity? >> absolutely. there isn't a latino in the script of character who isn't being played by a hispanic person. >> next on nightly news, a discussion on the importance of diversity and representation in the film. >>> tonight, promising news from pfizer in the race to contain the omicron variant. pfizer saying two doses of its covid vaccine may not be sufficient against omicron but that a third dose offers significant protection it comes as the u.s. faces a delta winter surge with hospitals under siege. dr. fauci is here answering your questions. >>> also tonight the powerful testimony, the mother of daunte wright in tears on the stand at the trial of kimberly potter, the former officer accused of killing her son the defense saying potter mistook her gun for her taser. >>> the never before seen images of jeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell shown at her sex trafficking trial. what they reveal. >>> the january 6th committee moving to hold

kristen walker is up for lester holt tonight. she is up next on "nbc nightly news." americans isolating with covid as the omicron variant explodes the cdc now says some americans with covid need to isolate for just five days, half the current guidance what's behind the change it comes as thousands wait for hours to get a covid test the supply chain crisis and what the presidenhas to say about it some states hitting infection records. and more children are hospitalized plus, the nation's strictest private sector vaccine mandate takes effect, and my interview with dr. fauci on all of this >>> chaos in the air as covid and weather take a toll. another thousand flights canceled many more overseas as airline crews and staff are grounded by covid. passengers are feeling it >> then one of the pilots didn't show up. so we had to deplane. >>> also tonight, blizzard conditions with tens of millions under winter weather alerts more snow and severe windchills on the way. we'll tell you where. >>> on this monday

lester holt joins us right now. >>> breaking news tonight, the verdict just moments ago in the jussieounts for staging a racist anti-gay attack on himself. how long smollett could spend behind bars. our team at the courthouse tonight >>> dramatic testimony in the trial of former officer who says she mistook her gun for her taser when she fatally shot daunte wright wright's girlfriend in tears, testifying about her frantic attempt to save wright's life as he was gasping in his final moments. >>> and new video. the crash caught on camera >>> also tonight the fda and cdc authorizing pfizer boosters for 16- and 17-year-olds a day after pfizer said boosters provide strong protection against the omicron variant. nationwide fears of a winter surge as the unvaccinated fill icus the states deploying the national guard to hospitals. >>> the cross country winter storm we're tracking up to three feet of snow >>> president biden's high stakes call with the ukraine president days after he warned vladimir putin against a russian invasion our richard engel on the front lines in ukraine tonight. >>> f

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening the country appears to be slipping into a covid vice tonight the aggressive delta variant squeezing us from one side. the more contagious omicron strain multiplying on the other. covid cases projected to steeply climb as we approach christmas, followed by a sharp rise in deaths tonight theater doors temporarily closed again on new york's broadway as a precaution some school kids back to learning at home. while the cdc advisory panel has stunned with its recommendation that the johnson & johnson vaccine should be our last choice for protection over concerns about potential blood clots. in a moment, dr. fauci's positive message on holiday gatherings my interview with him coming up. but first the latest from miguel almaguer. >> reporter: the new projections mean the current devastating surge may be just the beginning. already facing a crushing wave of delta, hospitals are now bracing for an ominous outbreak of omicron. by christmas week, the cdc predicts the combination of variants could skyrocket cases by 55% or 1.3 mill