tonight, the stunning moment on live television. the $90 million gamble spacex launching falcon heavy, the world's most powerful rocket into space. a car inside it, and tonight, that car now floating in space. the boosters returning to earth. millions watching. would they stick the landing? would those boosters land right back in florida? also tonight, the winter storm. the pileups turning deadly. the rescue playing out in the northeast, as the system now moving across the country and into the east. the morning commute could be dangerous. president trump today saying "i'd love to see a shutdown." with the deadline looming, what prompted him to say this repeatedly. the deadly flu worsening tonight. new york city authorities tonight with a new warning. and the second grade teacher who went to the hospital, was sent home, and then was rushed back to the hospital two days later,

where she died. two train cars on act track's acela express breaking apart. and the deadly earthquake. the mag any constitute 6.4, nearly toppling buildings. people trapped in hotels. bob woodruff reporting in tonight. good evening. and it's great to have you with us here on a tuesday night. and we begin with that stunning launch. a new american rocket build not by nasa, but by billionaire entrepreneur elon musk. and millions were watching today. his $90 million gamble, launching his own rocket. the spacex falcon heavy lifting off into a clear sky, some very unusual cargo inside. elon musk's own tesla sports car carried into space where it is tonight with a dummy there in the driver's seat. that car now speeding toward mars. you can't make this up. three rockets attached are supposed to come back down and stick the landing.

but would they? millions again watching that part, as well. all part of elon musk's hope of carrying people back to the moon and starting a colony on mars. abc's david kerley leads us off from cape canaveral tonight. >> three, two -- >> reporter: from the same launch pad america sent men to the moon -- >> liftoff of falcon heavy. >> reporter: elon musk's spacex ignited the falcon heavy, the biggest rocket in the world. >> you heard the call out. vehicle is supersonic. >> reporter: actually, three rockets strapped together. the two boosters recycled. cheers as they pull away from the $90 million vehicle. >> successful separation. >> reporter: but this private space company with intentions of going to mars wasn't through. those boosters slowing reentry with another engine firing and a nearly synchronized landing. >> and the falcon has landed. >> reporter: and then, the big reveal of the cargo.

musk's very own roadster from his other company, tesla, which makes electric cars. in the driver seat, a dummy in a spacesuit and a message on the dash. "don't panic." the playful test cargo companied by music from david bowie. ♪ life on mars >> reporter: the plan is to send the tesla towards mars, but first, remarkable pictures of the dummy, dubbed starman, with a glorious background of earth. a stunning success for spacex. this big rocket means much heavier cargo can be carried into space. and with its reusability, spacex now has a price advantage over its competitors. musk, who said there was only a 50/50 chance of this working, tweeting after the launch, with video of his starman, quote, "the view from spacex launch control, apparently there is a car in orbit around earth." >> this was incredible to watch

today. david kerley at kennedy space center. and david, we saw those two boosters land back in florida. so, what are we learning about the third center booster that was supposed to return safety, and how how about the car tonight? >> reporter: yeah, quite the scene today, david. it was vibrating on the chest as it was taking off. now, that second rocket, we don't know whether or not it landed in the ocean there is a report that it may have been lost, but that would be just a minor setback and what was a spectacular day. as you mentioned, the car is circling earth at this hour. it will be sent toward mars to actually orbit around the sun and mars and, david, if it survives out there, it could be out there for a billion years. >> a billion years. all right, david kerley, none of us will be here to report on that. thanks so much. in the meantime, we move to other news tonight. there is a new winter storm on the move this evening. snow, ice, heavy rain, from the gulp you have to new england. 25 states under winter weather

alerts. snow, ice, strong thunderstorms with this. it comes after a deadly storm struck the heartland already. at least 13 people killed on treacherous highways in the past 24 hours. here in new york tonight, a daring ice rescue, and abc's alex perez from the storm zone. >> reporter: tonight, as the northeast braces for a powerful storm -- >> you see two rescuers in the water, they look they're bringing someone in. >> reporter: -- first responders racing to try to save a person who fell through the ice in queens, new york. >> right now, first aid immediately being administered. >> reporter: that person in serious condition tonight. >> it appears right now that it was a child. we empl'e implore everyone, pley off the ice. >> reporter: 90 million americans now in the path of snow, ice and wind. watch as this car loses control on i-94 in chicago monday narrowly missing other vehicles before slamming right into the concrete median. that driver reportedly okay. but winter weather already claiming at least 13 lives in

crashes across the heartland. in iowa, high winds and low visibility causing a string of fatal crashes. watched probably 20 or 30 cars start piling up. >> reporter: in all some 40 vehicles involved. one person killed and another injured on interstate 35 near ames. and on i-80 near grinnell, another pileup. this one involving 19 vehicles, including the "dancing with the stars" tour bus. and david, parts of the midwest bracing for another monster morning commute. here in chicago, on top of all this, we could get another three inches of snow tonight. david? >> all right, another three inches possible there in chicago. alex, our thanks to you. let's get right to ginger zee, who is tracking this. >> reporter: yes, and it's a large area that is included here. let's start from texas, a winter weather advisory, up to lawrence, massachusetts. i want your ears tonight, because it's already happening. and a lot of it will be freezing rain. that's the part that's going to make a lot of the roads slicker than even the snow could. and so you'll see this move in,

it's really tomorrow morning in a place like cincinnati where you get up to two inches of snow, but comes along with up to a quarter inch of ice. it is going to be a mess. and look at i-95 at the drive time tomorrow evening. that is heavy rain south and that heavy snow to the north with ice in the middle. >> all right, we appreciate the warning. we'll let you know how this storm ends, because i know you begin maternity leave now. we wish you well. >> not right at this moment, but yes. >> soon. and by the way, david is a pretty good name. >> keeping it in mind. we turn to other news tonight, and president trump's new threat on immigration, saying today he would, quote, "love to see a government shutdown," if continue dung agree to a plan. blaming the democrats. but creating some confusion with that remark, repeatedly saying "bring on the shutdown." and the president's chief of staff with words of his own making headlines tonight, about what he said concerning t ining the dreamers. here's abc's cecilia vega

tonight. >> reporter: the deadline to keep the government open just two days away, but today president trump stunned even members of his party when he declared, bring on a shutdown. >> let's have a shutdown. we'll do a shutdown. >> reporter: it was during a meeting on ms-13 gang violence. the president saying he wants tougher immigration restrictions or else. >> i'd love to see a shutdown, if we don't get this stuff taken care of. and if we have to shut it down because the democrats don't want safety, then shut it down. we'll go with another shutdown. >> reporter: again and again the president went there. >> without borders, we don't have a country. so, would i shut it down over this issue? yes. >> reporter: so many times, republican congresswoman barbara comstock called him out. >> we don't need a government shutdown over this. i think both sides have learned a government shutdown was bad, it wasn't good for them. >> barbara, we are not getting support from the democrats. you can say what you want. we're not getting support from the democrats. >> reporter: but even as the president spoke, over at the

capitol, senate leaders of both parties announced they're close to a sweeping two-year budget deal to avoid the recurring shutdown drama. >> i'm optimistic that very soon we'll be able to reach an agreement. >> i am very hopeful that we can come to an agreement. >> reporter: the white house today doing damage control. >> we are not advocating for a shutdown. i don't think that we expect the budget deal to include specifics on the immigration reform. >> reporter: the shutdown, not the only looming deadline. in less than a month, protections begin to expire for the dreamers, those undocumented immigrants who came here at children. more than 690,000 people signed up for those protections. the president now wants to offer a path to citizenship for nearly double that number. today, his chief of staff john kelly under fire for these comments. >> the difference between 690 and 1.8 million were the people that some would say, were too afraid to sign up, others would say were too lazy to get off their asses but they didn't sign up. >> reporter: is that the

position of this white house, that dreamers are lazy? who thinks this? >> frankly, if anybody's lazy, it's probably democrats who aren't showing up to work and aren't actually getting to the table to make a deal on this. >> so, let's get to cecilia vega, live from the white house tonight. and cecilia, again, the deadline for the dreamers less than a month away now. president trump said he might extend daca if there's no deal by then. but today, his chief of staff seemed to offer a different message on that front. >> reporter: exactly, david. john kelly told reporters today that he very much doubts the president will extend this deadline. in fact, he said he would advise the president against doing so, saying, quote, any time you give this institution time, they will take it. this white house very much wants to put the pressure on congress on this issue, but i've got to say, over on capitol hill, at this point, republicans and democrats are nowhere near close to reaching a deal. >> cecilia vega with us again tonight. thank you. and next, a jittery start to the day on wall street, after that record point drop yesterday. worried traders at the opening bell at the dow fell another 500 points, swinging more than 1,000 points throughout the day before

then closing sharply higher today, 24,912, up 567 points at the closing bell. the markets closed tonight back to where they started the new year, but volatility could continue. in the meantime, we turn to new trouble on the tracks for amtrak tonight. the acela express today breaking apart during a trip from d.c. to boston. two cars on the train actually separating. here's abc's steve osunsami. >> reporter: this is what it looked like this morning when the speeding train came to a stop. passengers couldn't believe it. two cars were breaking apart. >> are you guys okay? >> no. >> you're not okay? >> i'm a little shook up. >> reporter: the high speed acela express from washington to boston broke apart near haverdy grace, maryland. amtrak tonight is calling this a "highly unusual mechanical event." all 52 passengers were uninjured and had to be moved to a different train. >> felt like we were almost dragging something. when i looked out the window, i could see a shower of sparks coming out the side of the

train. >> reporter: this has been an unfortunate few weeks for amtrak. >> everything is everywhere. we wrecked on the train. >> reporter: these were calls for help just two days ago, after a train on its way to miami crashed head-on into a parked freight train sitting on the tracks in south carolina. >> there's babies on here bleeding out there heads. it's a lot of people hurt. >> reporter: amtrak is investigating the train this morning that broke in two. they say its speed could be as high as 125 miles an hour. david? >> steve osunsami with us tonight. thank you. the deadly flu epidemic, and the new warning from authorities right here in new york city. the deaths of two children confirmed just this week. and in texas tonight, grief counselors brought in after a second grade teacher died from the flu. she had been to the hospital, was sent home and then was rushed back to the hospital. here's abc's linsey davis. >> reporter: health officials in new york city sounding the alarm today with the flu epidemic raging on. >> the flu is prevalent in every single state of the continent of

the united states, and in our part of the united states, the number of cases continues to rise. >> reporter: in new york city, two children confirmed dead from flu-related illness, as visits to area emergency rooms for the flu are the highest in four years. hospitalizations soaring nationwide. more than 14,000 so far. heather holland, a second grade teacher in texas, sick less than a week, admitted and then released from a hospital, died after she was rushed back by paramedics two days later. >> everybody thought very highly of her, so, it's really tough. >> reporter: aaron masterson, 12 years old, taken off life support sunday after his battle with the deadly virus. >> if you notice that your child is getting better and then suddenly gets worse, they might have gotten a pneumonia on top of the flu virus. >> reporter: as for those still debating whether to get a flu shot -- you. >> you reduce your chance of getting the flu by about a third, so, that's, you know, not zero. what is 0% protection is not

getting a vaccine. >> reporter: we are now at week ten. typically, flu seasons last 11 to 20 weeks. david? >> could last into may. linsey, thank you. overseas tonight, a deadly earthquake rocking taiwan. buildings tilted there. people trapped inside hotels. emergency responders scrambling in the dark. and abc's bob woodruff reporting in from the region tonight. >> reporter: tonight, destruction and chaos in the streets of taiwan. buildings destroyed. this apartment teetering on the verge of collapse. and authorities now searching for those trapped inside. this man bravely climbing to search for the missing. at least two are dead and at least 200 injured in the 6.4 magnitude quake. it struck just before midnight local time. roads, bridges, cars damaged. neighborhoods reduced to rubble. rescuers scramble to bring survivors to safety.

in this apartment complex, children are handed down from a balcony to safety below. this was the largest in a string of 70 reported quakes in the last two days. there was a 6.1 tremor on sunday that experts fear may trigger even more in the days and months ahead. >> it would be hard to tell people in taiwan that this sequence is over. >> reporter: tonight in taiwan, 40,000 households are without water. now, overnight, there have been many more aftershocks, which is why the authorities are telling people to stay out of the buildings in case there is structural damage. david? >> all right, bob, we appreciate it. and there's still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this tuesday. the alarming headline about pregnancy and alcohol. worse than many thought. also growing outrage tonight over the deadly police shooting of a teenage boy, shot several times trying to run from deputies. the break-in while an nfl start was at the super bowl. the patriots star's home was robbed. we have new details on that. director quentin tarantino breaking his silence all these years later. uma thurman's allegations about

a movie opportunity gone wrong and what that director is now acknowledging. acknowledging. it's making news tonight. that can make yod, feel tired, and have difficulty concentrating. trintellix is a prescription medication for depression. it may help you take a step forward in improving your depression. tell your healthcare professional right away if your depression worsens, or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens and young adults. do not take with maois. tell your healthcare professional about your medications, including migraine, psychiatric and depression medications, to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition. increased risk of bleeding or bruising may occur, especially if taken with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin or blood thinners. manic episodes or vision problems may occur in some people. may cause low sodium levels. the most common side effects were nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

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next here tonight, director quentin taern tino breaking his silence. uma thurman claiming she was perm innocently damaged after he pressured her to perform a stunt. what tarantino is now acknowledging. here's abc's linzie janis tonight. >> reporter: tonight, director quentin tarantino calling his decision to pressure uma thurman into driving in this famous "kill bill" scene the biggest regret of his life. the apology comes as thurman released this footage given to her years after by tarantino of the same scene, showing her struggling to control the blue convertible as it careens off the road, smashing into a tree. tarantino says he believed the car was safe, but the actress telling "the new york times" she did not want to drive what she called a "deathbox."

saying the crash left her with permanent damage to her neck and knees. and tonight, tarantino also under fire for this 2003 radio interview with howard stern in which he appears to defend fugitive director roman polanski, who pleaded guilty to having sex with an underage girl in the late '70s. >> he didn't rape a 13-year-old. it was statutory rape. he had sex with a minor. all right, that's not rape. look -- she was down with it. >> reporter: david, tarantino has not responded to our requests for comment. as for that crash, thurman says she's proud of tarn teal know for eventually giving her that footage. david? >> linzie, thank you. when we come back here tonight, the new headline this evening about pregnancy and alcohol. is the combination more dangerous than many thought? also, news about the super bowl. the bacreak-in at an nfl star's home when he was away for the big game. news on that front, as well. liked to style my dog as a kid... and were pumped to open my own salon. but i couldn't bear my diabetic nerve pain any longer.

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authorities say 16-year-old anthony weber was shot several times while running away from deputies. police say he turned and pointed a gun at them, but no weapon has been recovered. community leaders say he was not a armed. investigators say they believe someone took the gun from the scene. the super bowl break-in. police in foxborough, massachusetts, investigating a burglary at the moment of patriots star rob gronkowski. "the boston globe" reporting multiple safes and possible guns were taken. gron cow skip was in minneapolis for the super bowl at the time. the new health headline tonight about pregnancy and alcohol. researchers warning that fetal alcohol syndrome may be up to ten time mrs. common than previously thought. doctors have long said drinking alcohol during pregnancy, four glasses or more of wine in one sitting, could cause life-long physical harm. that study in jama tonight. when we come back, was there a major clue in one of the biggest ads of the super bowl about 50,000 new jobs coming to an american city.

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where agents help keep you protected from mayhem... ...like me. mayhem is everywhere. are you in good hands? finally tonight here, did you hear a clue in amazon's super bowl ad? we asked alexa. it was the super bowl about amazon's alexa and what happens when she loses her voice. >> in austin, it's 60 degrees with a -- >> alexa? >> reporter: the replacements stepping in. >> play some country music. ♪ i make money moves >> no, alexa, country music. ♪ >> reporter: so was anthony

hopkins. >> alexa, call brandon. >> i'm afraid brandon is a little tied up. do let me know if there's anything i can help you with. >> reporter: but was there something else in the ad, a hidden clue about where in the u.s. amazon will open its second headquarters, 50,000 american jobs? on social media, viewers immediately began tweeting after this. >> in austin, it's 60 degrees with a -- >> reporter: the mere mention of austin. viewers immediately began tweeting. did amazon just announce hq 2 in their super bowl ad? amazon commercial mentioned the weather in austin. they're moving here. but amazon telling us tonight, the commercial and hq 2 are completely unrelated. they would say nothing more. and alexa isn't revealing anything, either. >> thanks, guys, but i'll take it from here. >> so, the wait con

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this is "jeopardy!" please welcome today's contestants -- a graphic designer from albuquerque, new mexico... a software engineer from new york, new york... and our returning champion, an expediter from cherry hill, new jersey... ...whose 1-day cash winnings total... and now here is the host of "jeopardy!" -- alex trebek! thank you, johnny. [ cheers and applause ] thank you, ladies and gentlemen. it's always nice to make a good first impression, and that's what sean did on our program yesterday. he'd have won more than $20,000, but he missed the final jeopardy! nabila and quin, welcome aboard. good to have you here and good luck.