watch breaking news and news conferences. on "nightly news," the new treatment that's helping some tonight, a direct strike, a destructive tornado hits little rock with more storms on the move. violent funnel clouds caught on camera, and hospitals prepare for injuries cars thrown and heavy damage to homes. the national guard called in. tens of millions at risk, the dangerous tornado emergency from the midwest to the mississippi valley we're tracking it with our team in the storm zone also tonight, new details about the historic indictment of former president trump. sources telling nbc news it contains around 30 counts of document-related fraud for his alleged role in a hush money payment to an adult film star. mr. trump calling the democratic d.a.'s move a political persecution. what we're learning about when the indictment will be

unsealed and what will happen when mr. trump arrives in a new york city courtroom. just released, the names of the nine soldiers killed in the nightmare training crash of those two army black hawk helicopters. our inside look at a remarkable new treatment helping people regain their sense of smell and taste lost for years due to long covid. and the cinderella teams making it all the way to the final four >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening as we come on the air tonight, we are tracking those violent and damaging storms on the move in the south central part of the country right now including early concerns of mass casualties and tornado destruction in the little rock area the mayor there asking for the national guard to assist. tonight, severe weather alerts including tornado watches are in effect in several southern and midwest states larger cities potentially in the path tonight include memphis, st. louis,

and des moines earlier the national weather service labeling it a particularly dangerous situation. let's go right to little rock now, emilie ikeda, you were forced to take shelter a while ago. what can you tell us? >> reporter: lester, that's right a twister barreling through just across the river there. this area seeing back-to-back tornado warnings, and as we see reports of injuries and damage governor of arkansas tonight declaring a state of emergency >> go, go, go, go. >> reporter: life-threatening danger in the heart of arkansas. >> this is not a possible tornado this is a tornado in progress >> reporter: a confirmed tornado touching down around little rock, cars and trucks flipped, and storefronts ripped apart. >> the scariest thing i've ever been in. sheets of rain and then the trees, like toys, being picked up. >> reporter: residents frantically trying to find safe shelter. >> i made it into one of the little salons over here, got in, and

as i got in, huddled up against the cement barrier, every single glass window blew out, and people were blown back, and i held on, and it must have been a minute just huddled. i thought i was -- i thought i was a goner for sure >> for your safety, please remain calm >> reporter: our crew having to race to the basement of this hotel as the fast-moving storm closed in. this is the reality for residents across arkansas, hunkering down, and taking cover as life-threatening storms and tornadoes begin to barrel through. the storm system, one of several spread across the mississippi valley and midwest 58 million people facing a tornado threat along with thunderstorms, hail, and powerful winds damage is already being reported more than 90,000 without power. officials in little rock urging people to stay inside their homes, so emergency crews can get close to those who need help. one of little rock's major hospitals at a level 1 operation, expecting nearly 20 patients, their

conditions unknown >> a lot of damage, a lot of trees down, and damage to structures, so it's a pretty serious situation. >> reporter: the state capital and surrounding areas now reeling from this raging storm >> emilie joining us now. any update in the number of injuries at this hour? >> reporter: you know, lester, earlier today we heard tornado sirens, and now it's the sirens of ambulance and police cars we've confirmed numerous injuries, but authorities are still trying to assess the damage in what is an active situation. the threat is not over, so they expect the number to continue to rise. numerous hospitals in this area, lester, are bracing for what they say is a surge in patients >> emilie ikeda, thank you. to the east, memphis is also in the crosshairs. blayne alexander is there for us blayne, what is the situation there this evening? >> reporter: well, lester, here in memphis we are now bracing for all of that destructive weather that you just saw to now head this way. in fact, just a few moments ago, we heard tornado sirens going

off in the distance. we have confirmed that this area where we are is not in danger yet, but meanwhile in iowa, there have been at least eight reported tornadoes. it's not clear yet just how extensive the damage is there, but these storms are powerful that's why back here in memphis in this busy entertainment district, some hotels and restaurants already have emergency plans in place telling people where to seek shelter if needed, lester. >> okay, blayne alexander, thank you. i want to go right now to bill karins he's tracking this urgent situation we are not over here yet. >> lester, we have numerous tornadoes on the ground right now, and only 15 miles to the north of where blayne is, this tornado is on the ground crossing the mississippi river as we speak it is a large and dangerous tornado and there's been a tornado emergency for this we've seen significant damage in the wind areas. we have tornado watches that will continue for the next couple of hours, probably at least until midnight the tornado threat will continue, then a wind damage threat through the ohio valley during the overnight hours. we're seeing the worst of it in these areas of iowa. numerous pictures of

just huge tornadoes. also as we go throughout the memphis area, you still have to wait for your storms to move through as we go throughout the evening. you're not done yet. they'll pass into illinois and eastern portions of arkansas as we go throughout the next couple of hours, and then tomorrow, we still got a severe weather threat even including new york city, but not tornadoes, thunderstorm wind gusts. >> all right bill watching it all for us, thank you. also tonight, new york preparing for a court appearance like none other the arraignment of former president trump expected on tuesday. the indictment still under seal, but sources tell nbc news mr. trump will face around 30 counts likely centered on the accounting of a hush money payment to an adult film actress here's garrett haake >> reporter: tonight, the nypd preparing for lower manhattan to become the epicenter of an ongoing legal and political earthquake as the historic prosecution of former president trump transitions to its next phase security tightening, and officers told to be in uniform ahead of

possible protests, though the mayor's office today saying there are no credible threats. the indictment of mr. trump is still secret and under seal, but sources familiar with its contents tell nbc news, the former president will face some 30 document fraud-related charges when he's formally arraigned next week. the case developed by manhattan d.a. alvin bragg centers on payments allegedly orchestrated on behalf of mr. trump by former trump fixer turned critic, michael cohen, in 2016, all to silence claims of an affair with mr. trump by adult film star stormy daniels mr. trump has long denied the affair, and hush money payments themselves are not illegal. the question is how the payment was accounted for. what could be a misdemeanor, or if he pursues a low-level felony, bragg may try an unprecedented move, a state prosecutor charging an alleged federal election law violation. >> this was a personal resolution for a personal matter that would have been made irrespective of the campaign, so with

those facts together, there is no crime. it's not even a bad act. >> reporter: both federal prosecutors and bragg's predecessor in the d.a.'s office declined to pursue a case against mr. trump, which would have relied heavily on testimony from cohen, who pleaded guilty to a federal campaign law violation related to the case, and lying to congress in a separate matter. >> i am a convicted felon. i am a disbarred lawyer, but i also brought the documents. there's plenty of testimony, corroborating testimony to go around >> reporter: mr. trump's attorneys say he will surrender himself aheaeaof his expected arraignment tuesday. he'll be fingerprinted and have his mug shot and dna sample taken though they say he will not be handcuffed then he'll appear before a judge all of it while under the protection of his secret service detail in yet another historic first >> and garrett joining me live from lower manhattan. garrett, i understand there are new calls for protests outside the courthouse >> reporter: that's right. marjorie taylor greene, a top trump

ally in congress, says she's planning a protest here on tuesday with other republican lawmakers expected to attend that could draw counterprotests, as well the nypd says they're ready. lester. >> all right, garrett, thank you. the historic indictment is already showing the potential to shake up the race for the white house. peter alexander now with that part of the story. >> reporter: first the historic indictment, now the political fallout. president biden deliberately avoiding the topic. >> i'm not going to talk about the trump indictment >> reporter: but republicans tonight are slamming it as a democratic d.a. trying to take out president biden's top political opponent with a bogus legal case like this reaction from former trump attorney general turned fierce trump critic, bill barr. >> it's the archetypal abuse of the prosecutorial function to engage in a political hit job, and it's a disgrace. >> reporter: some of mr. trump's biggest defenders, those expected to challenge him for the gop

nomination. >> the unprecedented indictment of a former president of the united states on a campaign finance issue is outrageous. >> reporter: mr. trump's top potential rival, florida governor ron desantis, blasted the indictment as un-american and vowed his state will not assist in the extradition, even though the former president plans to surrender voluntarily to new york authorities. former president trump, his lawyer says, was shocked by his indictment but is ready to fight, quickly condemning the d.a.'s move as political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history, and today lashing out at the new york city judge expected to preside over his arraignment claiming the judge, quote, hates me. his daughter ivanka trump offering a brief statement in support, i love my father, and i love my country. today i am pained for both top democrats are applauding the d.a.'s move. >> this is an affirmation of the fact that no one should be above the law and that we all

are held to account for this is someone who has escaped accountability now for years and years. >> reporter: mr. trump has been reaching out h republican allies in congress like lindsey graham. >> this is turning the rule of law upside down to destroy a man, donald j. trump, who the left fears do not let them get away with this. >> reporter: the former president's supporters are now looking to capitalize on the yet to be announced charges, hawking t-shirts online to raise campaign money for any other candidate, an indictment would almost certainly be the end of the line, but mr. trump's allies insist this move by a democratic prosecutor is rallying republicans and will cement his front-runner status. lester. >> all right, peter alexander, thank you for more on what's next, let me bring in senior legal correspondent laura jarrett and jonathan dients, nbc news chief justice contributor. jonathan, let me begin with you what do we know about the former president's return to new york? >> yeah, several officials telling us tonight that former president trump is expected to arrive here in new york monday night. tuesday around 1:00

p.m. he will go to the courthouse the former president will likely not be handcuffed, not placed in any holding cell. he will be fingerprinted, but as of now, there is no photograph machine in place there, so it is possible there will be no trump mug shot. the court plans to adjourn many cases that afternoon to greatly reduce the crowds of people normally inside. lester >> all right, and, laura, let me turn to you, on 30 counts, it sounds like a lot. it may not be all that it appears to be though >> well, it suggests that it will not be a short indictment, lester, but 30 counts doesn't necessarily mean we'll see 30 different charges, of course. we might see the same charge just repeated multiple times earlier mr. trump suggested -- mr. trump's attorney suggested, rather, that it was one charge for each of the reimbursement checks that get sent to michael cohen, but there were only 11 of those. as for the other counts, there could be banking charges, there could be tax charges, there could be conspiracy. we'll have to wait and see when the indictment gets

unsealed sometime we believe on tuesday >> all right laura and jonathan, thanks to both of you. we're back in 60 seconds with the controversial cultural clash in tennessee with a new law cracking down on drag shows set to take effect within hours. and later, the remarkable treatment for anyone who lost their sense of taste or smell while suffering covid.

tonight, we're learning more about the service members killed in that kentucky black hawk helicopter crash on wednesday night. it happened during a training exercise near fort campbell. today officials released the names of the nine 101st airborne division soldiers who died aboard those two choppers safety teams are still investigating the cause of the crash at midnight tonight in tennessee, a controversial new law, the first of its kind in the country, will go into effect banning drag show performances in public places

antonia hylton reports. ♪ >> reporter: since she turned 18, story van ness has loved drag. as a transgender woman living in knoxville, she's no stranger to feeling isolated, but since the passage of a new law restricting drag shows and the shooting in nashville monday, she's been unable to sleep. how do you feel right now when you perform in drag? >> somebody walked in during my number, and i immediately thought, this could be it just today could be the day, you know. >> reporter: at midnight tonight, tennessee will become the first state to implement a law restricting drag performancesn public or anywhere a child might see them conservatives say the law, which would carry a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on the second, will only ban performances that are harmful to minors. at least 14 other states have similar bills in progress. >> all we can do is say that it's bad, and it's wrong, and please don't do this to us because -- but they have found us to be a really effective political tool. >> reporter: new

research released this week by glaad foun 161 incidents of anti-lgbtq protests, attacks, and threats targeting drag events since early 2022 ♪ the performers warn this is part of a series of bills that will marginalize lgbtq people. >> if lawmakers in my state really wanted to protect kids, maybe they would do something about assault rifles. >> reporter: state senator jack johnson authored tennessee's law that equates drag shows with sexual activity the community is saying they feel attacked by this bill. >> well, they shouldn't unless they intend to perform sexually graphic entertainment in front of kids. >> circle the sentence >> reporter: toni stockton is a mom of four she first heard about drag back in 2019 and started a group to stop drag queens from doing storytime at her local library. >> little boys, you know, put on disney dresses, and little girls, it's just -- there's so much confusion that it's our job as a parent to point them in the right direction. >> why protest their events

why -- they don't come to your church, so why go and tell them they can't go to a library? >> well, the live and let live is very dangerous. when you don't stand on biblical convictions, people always go the way of culture. >> welcome >> reporter: story refuses to give up on drag she has this warning. >> we need all hands on deck, because when they finish with us, don't be naive enough to think that they're not coming for you. >> reporter: antonia hylton, nbc news, knoxville, tennessee. ♪ there is more to tell you about tonight. still ahead, the treatment offering new hope for covid patients who lost their sense of taste and smell.

more than three years since the start of covid, many who got sick are still struggling with long-term effects, but now there's new hope for those who lost their sense of smell and taste. here's kristen dahlgren >> reporter: jennifer henderson wouldn't normally cry over a cup of coffee. >> can you smell it? >> i can smell >> is it strong? >> yes >> yeah? >> reporter: but she hadn't smelled one in nearly two years >> oh, my god. >> reporter: after a covid infection in january 2021, jennifer henderson never got her smell or taste back >> you couldn't smell or taste anything? >> nothing, nothing, and then after about a year, it wasn't that i couldn't smell or taste anything. now the taste was off. it was terrible. >> reporter: food she once loved tasted disgusting >> chicken, couldn't eat chicken.

>> what did it taste like >> it tasted like rotten flesh >> reporter: jennifer grew depressed. meals were unbearable. >> hard to get through each day. >> reporter: and then a facebook group with nearly 50,000 people with similar complaints led her to dr. christine shin at the cleveland clinic. >> it was incredible that something as simple as a stellate ganglion block could produce this type of result. >> reporter: the stellate ganglion is a nerve bundle in the neck numbing it has been used for a century to help regulate some pain and circulation, so doctors tried the procedure on long covid patients. >> we have seen quite a good response, but there are also patients who don't respond, and we're still in that phase where we're trying to figure out who it's going to help. >> reporter: doctors still don't know exactly why it works to restore taste and smell, but shin estimates it helps about 50% of patients. shin plans to start

the first clinical trials for its use in treating long covid soon, but in the meantime is offering the procedure to patients like jennifer, now getting her third round, a quick injection into her neck within minutes jennifer tries something she hasn't tasted in years, watermelon >> you can taste it? >> yes >> oh, wow >> reporter: dr. shin says some patients see instant relief others get senses back over time, and some nothing at it's unclear if improvements are permanent, and insurance coverage also varies by plan. >> oh, gosh. >> reporter: but for jennifer -- >> you're my hero. you gave me my life back. >> reporter: -- the results couldn't be sweeter. >> i can't get over it >> reporter: kristen dahlgren, nbc news, cleveland. when we come back, the cinderella stories making history in the final four

finally, it's down to the final four featuring two underdog teams from the sunshine state, both hoping to make history on the hardwood. sam brock has the story. >> reporter: on college basketball's biggest stage, 64 teams start, but tonight only four are still dancing. >> work it out, coach larranaga. work it out. >> hey >> reporter: the miami hurricanes haven't been to a final four until now, but head coach jim larranaga has, who at 73 would be the oldest ever to win a title. would this be the crowning achievement of your career >> oh, of course. any coach that wins a national championship, that has to be

now if you win multiple ones, that's a whole different story, but, yeah, that would be the cherry on top of t the sundae.e. >> repeporter: so o what arare the oddsds that thisis scenario also sounds pretty sweet to the cinderella fau owls based in boca just an hour away, who are also still playing on the other side of the bracket led by cbs sports' coach of the year, dusty may. >> i personally wish fau played on monday night. >> that's priority number one >> one, two, three >> but if it happens to be against miami, so be it >> icing on the cake. >> reporter: both squads boast a certain grit the dallas point guard, nick boyd accustomed to proving people wrong >> on your shoulders. >> most definitely have both on our shoulders, rock hard i know a lot of guys, man, undermiment -- underestimate us together i feel like we're unbreakable. >> reporter: jordan miller also has a fire to finish strong >> i feel like we've always been the underdogs, but at the end of the day, you know, to get that

respect, you just got to win basketball games. >> reporter: now another win for each team would create the first intrastate finals in 60 years sam brock, nbc news, miami. >> bring on the drama. that's "nightly news" for this friday. thanks for watching. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night, everyone >> chuck, i seen you dance, and i seen coach larranaga dance. neither one of you should be dancing.

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