>> that could be something. >> that is it for us right now. "nightly news" is next. >> see you again at 6:00. >> ♪ tonight in ohio, another train derails run by the company that crashed in east palestine. dramatic video after the train tumbled off the track. 28 cars overturned. residents asked to shelter in place overnight. the train was carrying hazardous materials but none spilled new questions about the company's safety record growing desperation. residents trapped in their homes for nearly two weeks after that historic snowstorm in southern california. supplies running low, roads closed >> this is hard. it's scary. >> and the driver rescued from this suv after being stranded for days a southwest flight

forced to make an emergency landing in havana passengers evacuating on to the runway how a bird strike caused it all. nbc news first to report ukrainian pilots are now inside the u.s. preparing to train on f-16s what it could mean for the war. nba star ja morant suspended for at least two games after flashing a gun while live on instagram at a nightclub. is his nearly $200 million contract in jeopardy and hitting back chris rock rips into will smith opening up for the first time since that infamous oscar slap >> people are, like, did it hurt? >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow good evening it has happened again. another train derailment in ohio involving the same rail company norfolk southern 28 cars jumped the trac 200 miles southwest of east palestine where a

train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, you remember, back on february 3rd for some perspective, there are more than a thousand train derailments in the united states every single year. in this latest derailment there were hazardous materials on the train but not in the cars that derailed local officials say no hazardous materials leaked still, this latest incident raising new questions about the company's safety record we begin tonight with jesse kirsch at the site of the new derailment >> reporter: another norfolk southern derailment again in ohio. the harrowing moment captured on camera this driver backing away from a railroad crossing saturday as several train cars came off the tracks in springfield. tonight, norfolk southern says that train was carrying hazardous materials and liquid propane and ethanol. the company says those cars did not derail. >> no release of any chemical or any hazardous material to the soil, to the air, to the water

>> reporter: officials reporting no injuries and no public health threat, but they ask less than a dozen residents within a thousand feet of the site to shelter in place for roughly nine hours overnight. some who live miles away largely unphased >> i assumed if it was anything important i would get wah-wah on my phone >> reporter: you weren't too worried because you didn't get an alert. >> exactly >> reporter: authorities also saying they weren't aware that there were hazard materials onboard before the derailment. >> we were not notified which is not uncommon >> reporter: it comes after the toxic derailment more than 200 miles away in palestine, ohio. state officials say they were not aware of that train's hass haza hazardous cargo before its derailment >> what do you say if people say you shouldn't be operating right now? >> first of all, safety is our number one priority >> reporter: the train had 212 cars and two crew members and four of the 28 cars that derailed having previously carried diesel exhaust fluid

or an additive or an additive commonly used in waste water treatment. >> it's weird that this is happening everywhere >> jesse joins me from springfield now. this is just the latest in a string of issues for this railroad >> reporter: this is norfolk southern's fourth derailment in ohio in less than five months one of the state senator sherrod brown calling this unacceptable making another push for rail safety legislation, something that has bipartisan support kate >> jesse kirsch, thank you. in california, nother massive storm is dumping up to five feet of snow in the sierra nevadas and in the mountain areas of southern california residents are becoming desperate after being trapped in their homes by snowed-in streets for nearly two weeks now. they're running out of food, supplies and patience janis mackey frayer is there. >> reporter: tonight, blowing snow and blizzard conditions in california's sierra nevada the latest round expected to dump up to five feet of snow in

the northern part of the state. truckee already seeing more than two and a half feet just this weekend. parts of a major thoroughfare, i-80 remain shut down the road caked with ice. up and down the statehouses are buried under feet of snow in san bernardino county, residents in mountain communities are still digging out. >> this is hard. it's scary >> reporter: some have been trapped and the situation growing more dire every day and running out of basic necessities. many roads are unplowed even first responders are having a tough time getting to those stranded. >> we went through the cupboard yesterday. we'll run out of milk here pretty soon so i'm going to hike over to the store. it will be about four miles round trip. >> reporter: these mountain towns are used to getting snow, but nothing like this. four times what people here consider a bad storm. in crestline, there's food if people can make it here the only grocery store in town until the roof collapsed.

it's now a makesft distribution point for warm meal, water, and reassurance. >> you drive through town, and you just see buildings toppled over our neighbors, their roofs have caved in. our porches are destroyed. >> reporter: we are also learning more tonight about the miraculous rescues that are still taking place. an 81-year-old man was rescued from his suv after being stuck in the snow for nearly a week and these two experienced teen hikers huddled to stay warm while they were stranded in the snowstorm. tonight, they're reunited with their families >> janice joins us from the grocery store in crestline when can residents expect help to arrive? >> reporter: authorities said on friday that it could be another week before residents here can count on any help. we spoke to people who said they still can't reach their homes, and they're having to use snowshoes to get around so everything is just taking time. kate

>> janis mackey frayer for us, thank you. we have breaking news about an terrifying emergency landing today. take a look at this. passengers rushing away from this southwest plane in havana, cuba the flight had started in cuba bound for ft. lauderdale but a bir hit the engine shortly after takeoff according to southwest. the plane turned back and landed in havana emergency crews raced to the runway. as you can see, they were putting out the fire. the 2024 presidential race is starting to take shape. at least one governor bowing out and leaving -- leading contender like president biden and former president trump are making appearances. ali raffa is tracking it all from the white house. >> on this bridge what was given to help redeem the soul of america. >> reporter: president biden today paying tribute to the heroes of bloody sunday, the seminole moment in the civil rights movement that led to passage of the voting rights act nearly 60 years ago. >> the right to vote, the right to have your vote counted is th

threshold of democracy and liberty. with it, anything is possible without it, without that right nothing is possible 3the president hoping to make good on a 2020 campaign promise his

administration is trying to keep in the

spotlight, ahead of an expected second presidential bid >> will not let the simulators and they are not flying actual plane according to defense officials and ten more ukrainian pilots are expected to join them in the coming week. this after zelenskyy has asked for f-16s, but the biden administration has resisted a top pentagon official says f-16s can take up to 18 months to deliver and cost billions of dollars and they're focused on weapons and equipment they can deliver more immediately. kate >> courtney kube, thank you. memphis grizzlies point guard ja morant is off the court for at least two games and it comes after he posted live video of himself flashing a gun

and at stake a deal worth millions george solis has more. >> off the court and under fire memphis grizzlies standout point guard ja morant is facing scrutiny after appearing to flash a gun in a video shared on his instagram live. the video reportedly streamed early saturday morning at a nightclub just hours after the grizzlies lost against the denver nuggets the instagram and twitter accounts were deactivated by saturday afternoon the grizzlies announcing morant will be away from the team for at least two games. the nba also taking a closer look. in a statement a league spokesperson says they are aware of a social media post and are investigating. morant issued an apology saying he takes full responsibility and is going to take some time away to get help. >> understand that you're in a different stratosphere you have to conduct yourself properly. >> the video was the subject of discussion among prominent sports analysts

questions are also now being raised about ja morant's off-court conduct including one incident in recent weeks which was said to be a part of a league representation. >> you represent your organization you represent your family you represent your city you've got to be mindful of all of that >> at stake, a plethora of lucrative deals including a reported five-year $194 million extension with the grizzlies morant also signing deals with nike and power ade. >> putting in 50% more >> this ad narrated by his father just dropping four days ago. >> tonight, the future of one of the nba's top prospects clouded with controversy. >> he could be suspended for more than just two games. >> that's right, kate. it is unclear if morant plans to take more time away from the game including the one tonight. if the nba finds any evidence of wrongdoing they could fine him or even suspend him. >> george solis for us, thank you. >> up next, chris rock

finally speaking out after being slapped at last year's oscars and why he thinks will smith did it did you see the chris rock special on

did you see the chris rock special on netflix last night for the first time the comedian spoke publicly about the infamous oscar slap last year and when he thinks will smith was really angry about marisa parra has details. >> oh, wow >> reporter: the face of the slap heard around the world wasted no time getting

to the punchline >> anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face >> reporter: in hi new netflix special "selective outrage" chris rock is finally tackling that infamous slap head-on >> people are, like, did it hurt? it still hurts i got "summertime" ringing in my ears >> reporter: the comedian spending almost ten minutes of his special on the smack. >> will smith is significantly bigger than me. we are not the same size, okay this guy has done movies with his shirt off. you've never seen me do a movie with my shirt off. >> reporter: that moment at last year's oscars prompted by rock's dig at smith's wife, jada pinkett smith, whose bald appearance is due to alopecia last night the comedian came swinging at both, suggesting smith's anger at him was really resentment towards his wife. >> she hurt him way

more than he hurt me, okay >> reporter: who has publicly admitted to having an affair. >> everybody who really knows knows i had nothing to do with that [ bleep ] i didn't have any entanglements. >> reporter: we reached out to the couple who have not yet commented, but smith has given multiple public apologies. >> chris, i apologize to you i am here whenever you're ready to talk >> reporter: it's not clear if the two have since spoken or if last night's jabs make it less likely if they ever will again. >> i have rooted for will smith my whole i've rooted for this [ bleep ] and now i watch "emancipation" just to see him get whooped. >> reporter: marisa parra, nbc news. >> quite something still ahead, no degree no problem the dramatic shift in hiring practices that has some workers wondering is college really necessary the simple surprising thing one school did that had students and staff crying tears of joy.

at denny's, we have the best value all day long. like the everyday value slam for only $5.99. now you can stack your wins and enjoy the sunny side of craveable value. $5.99 every day. part of the all day diner deals value menu. only at denny's.

statistics clearly show that the average college graduate makes significantly more money over their career than those without a college degree, but now there's a major shift taking place with many high-profile employers saying they will no longer require a college degree dasha burns explains >> i was, like, they're never going to put me in this job. >> reporter: beth christian is pennsylvania's acting deputy secretary for administration, a position she reached without a college degree >> did you feel that barrier? >> it took me about ten years to get to the level that a person with a degree would have >> reporter: beth stood alongsid governor josh shapiro as he eliminated the college barrier for 92% of jobs in state government >> that was your first official act of governor why? >> we want folks to know that we're going to judge you based on your skills and the

grit and determination that you bring to bear >> reporter: opening up about 65,000 jobs to non-college graduates. the democrat joined his republican counterpart in maryland and utah who made similar moves >> i am sick and tired, frankly, of this attitude that if you don't go to college you don't have the requisite skills to succeed >> reporter: more than 62% of americans over 25 don't have a bachelor's degree. for people like doreen mahu, who works in the governor's office, college simply wasn't an option. >> i come from a one-person home, single mother. my father in and out of incarceration i remember in high school my mom saying you have to get a job. you're not going to go to college. >> reporter: about halfway through her career, doris did decide to go back to school >> i just felt like i had to have the piece of paper. >> reporter: but it's a growing trend in today's labor market one in five employers are relaxing educational requirements to attract workers at a historically been shut out. >> potential candidates are saying, okay, so i can go into the workforce, avoid

debt and, by the way, be rewarded with pay increases that we haven't seen in quite a while in the u.s a college degree is not essential even in the high-tech spaces of our economy >> reporter: like ibm who implemented a skills-first hiring approach in 2016 >> more than 50% of our jobs do not require a college degree >> how has that changed the workplace? >> what we are finding is that the real-world experience is ensuring that they have a broader, more diverse set of skills. >> reporter: ibm says it's seen a 63% increase in applicants from underrepresented communities by taking away the degree requirement for more jobs, opening the doors to those with experiences beyond the traditional classroom. >> even if you don't meet every single requirement for the job you should apply because it is much wider now. >> reporter: dasha burns, nbc news, harrisburg, pennsylvania when we come back, hug after hug, after emotional hug. the powerful gestures

that meant so much to students at one school

there's good news tonight about the power of praise and the teachers and staff at one school honoring their students in profoundly moving ways >> one, two, three >> roseville >> have fun. >> at roseville middle school near detroit. >> awesome >> coach and reading teacher stacy earl had a big idea what did you ask your staff to do? >> i asked my teachers, secretaries, custodians, our cooks at lunch to write a card to a student, any one of their choice of why they inspire them. >> thank you very much >> you're welcome. >> so this year they surprised some of the students with handwritten notes of gratitude. >> you inspire miss moore and i to come to work every day >> the kids had their parents' permission to be filmed by the school

>> you're amazing, and i love you >> thank you so much >> you can see the experience was profoundly moving for both students and staff. >> you give me so much love in my heart, and i love having class with you guys. >> i wanted to give you that and say thank you. come here. thank you. i'm so proud of you. i'm very proud of you. thank you. okay now real hug oh you're amazing

[ laughter ] >> can i go to class >> yes [ laughter ] >> english teacher emily grimes presented letters to four students, including amaya brown. >> what is it about amaya that you wanted to recognize >> her leadership. i narrowed it down to her because the bottom line is that she's shown me she is there for me as i am there for her. >> i wrote something for you. >> social worker julie cooper's message brought eighth grader alicia turner to tears. >> i am really grateful you're here are you okay >> can i get a hug >> yeah! i love you >> she is an inspiration for me to come to work, and i really cherish the relationship that we have >> she gives you good advice when you need

it >> more than 50 heartfelt letters in all, lifting up students and educators alike. >> you light up our classroom with your kindness, and you are going to make the world a better place so -- >> i'm not crying. you're crying. the school says the project was such a success that they are going to do it again before we go, a quick mention about my digital series, "the drink," always about how people make it to the top of their field and the latest late-night talk show host and comedian amber ruffen tells me one encouraging comment she had that changed her whole past it's at nbc news.com/the drink or on the nbc nightly news podcast feed. that is "nbc nightly news" for this sunday night. i'm kate snow. for all of us at nbc news, stay safe and have a great night

right now at 6:00, i hiked turns it tragic. we are learning about the celts while out with the boy scouts true. can ai discriminate? that's the heart of a lawsuit. while they are being taken to court. the light display is set to shut off 10 years as the first light up. we are going to hear about the artist who design them and the effort to save them.