First time. What students from the school revealed about his behavior, and our interview with his lawyer right after she met with the suspect. Has he said whether or not he plans to plead guilty or not guilty. New years attacks, President Putin and zelenskyys competing messages to their countries, as war rages into 2023. And are movies getting longer . Hollywoods new test of endurance, as we look into whether threehour films are becoming the norm. Plus remembering a top icon, one of the last remaining pointer sisters has died. Im so excited and i just cant hide it announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with kate snow. Good evening and happy new year. Im Gadi Schwartz in for kate snow. The new years celebrations in times square have feared to be a prime target. The city has always taken extreme security measures. Tonight three Police Officers are recovering after a man with aa Machete Attacked them. We have new video, of people fleeing for safety, as it all went down, and new images of the suspect in the moments after the attack. While this is nowhere near the type of coordinated attack authorities usually fear, investigators say the suspect was on their radar because of his jihadist online rants. Reporter just hours before the iconic ball drop in times square, a violent Machete Attack away from the celebration. We have a male reporter armed with this large knife, several Law Enforcement sources tell nbc news, the suspect, 19yearold trevor bickford, of maine, charged a group of nypd officers at a Security Check point just after 10 00 p. M. One officer, an eightyear veteran, suffered a laceration to the head. Reporter Police Say One of the officers eventually shot bickford in the shoulder. Hes seen here on a stretcher, arriving at a hospital. Meanwhile, revellers caught in the chaos captured the moments after the attack. Right in front of us, and everyone in the line dispersed like crazy. Reporter Police Quickly moved in to secure the scene. Everybody keep walking. Lets go. Reporter tonight officials telling nbc news, the suspect likely arrived in New York City via amtrak on thursday, and had a backpack that included personal writings, terrorist propaganda, a pocket knife, and 200 in cash. They say in mid december, he was interviewed by federal Law Enforcement after being alerted by a relative. Fbi agents were seen at bickfords family home earlier today. Back in new york, police say there is no longer a threat. We believe this was a sole individual at this time. Theres nothing to indicate otherwise. Reporter A Violent Act just moments before the new year, for a city already battling a crime surge. Kathy joins us live from times square. I learn you just learned what the suspect wrote in his diary . Reporter gotty, thats right. The suspect was prepared to die in that attack. He wanted to send his belongings to others and where he wanted to be buried. Gadi . Thank you. In california tonight, First Responders are still trying to rescue people trapped in flood waters. Dozens of rescues have played out all day today, and there is at least one fatality. Priscilla thompson has late details. Its going to be quite a while. Reporter motorists stranded on top of vehicles, with rescuers trying to reach them by air, water, and land. Vehicles submerged, First Responders wading through dangerous waters and breaking into cars in search of survivors. The flooding having claimed one life so far. Throughout the weekend, dozens of people throughout california have been rescued amid historic rainfall and flooding. Daniel hig ets was headed out to celebrate the new saturday night. All of a sudden, my car went thud, thud, dead. And im, like, in the middle of the river. And theres water all around me. Reporter the moment you saw the water getting into the car, what went through your mind . I was going to drown. Reporter after hours alone in her car, First Responders reached her vehicle and brought hibbitts to safety. This is the new year ill never forget. Reporter in sacramento, the water came rushing in after a levy on the river failed. Highways and homes turned into islands. Were still going basically car to car, these disabled vehicles along the highways, the roads, and clearing them to make sure that nobody is inside. Reporter the new years eve storm produced wind gusts more than 64 miles per hour, sending trees crashing into homes. Thousands in sacramento still without power. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect through monday, as residents brace for more rain on the way. Priscilla thompson, nbc news. Tonight the suspect in the murders of four University Of Idaho students is awaiting extradition from pennsylvania, where he was arrested friday at his parents home. Weve been learning more about him today from his lawyer, the from a student, and for the first time, from his parents. Dana griffith reports from moscow, idaho. Reporter for the First Time Since their son was arrested for the murders of four College Students in idaho, the parents of Bryan Kohberger are speaking out, writing, first and foremost, we care deeply for the families that have lost their precious children. Adding, we will love and support our son and brother. We have fully cooperated with Law Enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth. How are they feeling about the things they are reading about their son . Theyre trying to stay off the media. What theyre hearing is not the bryan they know and love. So, its really out of character. Reporter kohbergers initial public defender said his client, who is eager to be exonerated, was arrested friday after driving Cross Country with his father on december 17th, a trip the Attorney Says was planned. The suspect was studying for a phd in Criminal Justice at Washington State university, less than ten miles from the crime scene. Undergrad austin morseson says he was a Teaching Assistant in one of morrisons classes. He sent a screen shot of a Paper Kohberger graded in april. He seemed rather quiet to me. Reporter according to the university, police have executed Search Warrants at the suspects office and oncampus apartment. Neighbors there, who do not want to be identified, say he was polite and seemed normal, but often made strange noises, like he was cleaning or using tools in the middle of the night. Very loud sounds. Then, oh, what is happening . Reporter before his time at wsu, kohberger graduated with a masters degree in Criminal Justice in pennsylvania. The owner of a nearby brewery telling nbc news, staff had added notes that would pop up, this guy makes creepy comments. Keep an eye on him. We know kohberger is being held at a jail in pennsylvania. When could we see him brought back to idaho . Reporter according to his public defender in pennsylvania, the earliest could be tuesday night. Once kohberger is brought back to idaho, he says it could take a little bit longer to figure out whats going to happen next. Back to you. Dana, thank you. In ukraine, the new year is beginning, as the old year ended, with more russian air strikes. The leaders of both countries gave impassioned speeches to mark the holidays with drastically different messages. Matt bradley reports tonight from inside ukraine. Reporter Russia Ringing in the new year with another round of attacks on ukraine, 45 drones on new years day. After dozens of missiles the day before. Amazingly only one person was injured here. Ukrainian authorities are saying, this is Vladimir Putins new years greeting. One of the drones even scrawled with happy new year according to kyiv police. But despite the attacks, the new years went on on the home front and front lines. There was also a war of words. Russian president Vladimir Putin and ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivering dueling messages. Zelenskyy rallied his people with a message of hope. For many, new years was muted. One of this womans sons was killed. Your family has suffered so much. You see people drinking and dancing. What do you think about that . Translator if people feel good, let them feel good. Let them have fun and celebrate. Reporter on the other side of town, they did just that. Most of these club kids are soldiers. Tonight, they swapped their uniforms for this. Do you think that parties right now is sending a message . Translator we should continue to do our thing, to work, to party, to be strong. Reporter in ukraine, you have to fight for your right to party, even on new years. Matt bradley, nbc news, kyiv. At the vatican today, pope francis prayed for his predecessor during new years eve mass. The body of Pope Benedict xvi was placed on view today. He died yesterday at the age of 95. Starting tomorrow, the public will have the chance to pay respects at st. Peters basilica. Back in this country, were remembering anita pointer. She was one member of the singing group, the pointer sisters, which topped the charts with hits like im so excited. Blayne alexander has her story. Reporter their iconic songs helped decide the dance era of the 80s. Im so excited and i just cant hide it reporter tonight the music world is mourning the death of anita pointer, one of the original members of the pointer sisters. Her family says she died of cancer at age 74. Tell me how you want me reporter the oakland born singer rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s, Turning Out Grammy winning hits like jump. Jump for my love reporter the group was officially born in 1969, when anita quit her job as a secretary, and joined her sisters on the road. Their crossgenera appeal made them trailblazers in the music industry, Striking Grammy gold three times, including in 1975 for their hit fairy tale. Reporter the group won for best country vocal performance, notable in a category rarely dominated by black artists. Through the years, their songs became sound tracks to a number of memorable movie moments, including car wash in 1976 and this iconic scene from 2003s love actually. Reporter tonight her family says of anita pointer, she was the one that kept all of us close and together for so long. Heaven is a more loving, beautiful place with anita there. And no doubt, a little more soulful too. Blayne alexander, nbc news. Blayne alexander, nbc news. Still ahead limu emu doug hey, manan. Nice pacace clclearly, yourere a safe drdriver. Nice pacace you cocould Save H Hundreds for r Safe Driviving with libererty mutual. L. They cusustomize your car i insurance. So o you only p pay for what y you need they cusustomize your car i insurance. 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By 2025, well increase to 500,000. Reporter by 2025, canadas government hopes to bring in 1. 5 Million Immigrants to fill jobs. We are in a Health Care Crisis and significant nursing shortage. We really needed to get creative and innovative. Reporter the Recruitment Push is on. Hello. How are you doing . Reporter this 25yearold was a nurse in india. She arrived in canada, just as the pandemic began. I never thought that i would be at this place, like, working in a world class hospital. We currently have about anywhere between 400 and 500 vacancy in nursing alone. Reporter toronto is a multicultural city, one of the most diverse in north america. But people here say they need even more immigration to fill key labor shortages. In 2022, immigrants made up 23 of canadas population, the largest proportion in more than 150 years. Thats compared to just 14. 6 and the united states. It is a nonpartisan issue in canada. All the Political Parties support immigration. Reporter and with a rapidly ageing work force we need more people. We dont care where theyre from. If they have got technical skills, if theyre able to work, if theyre able to work with numbers, bring them in. Up against any of that kind in canada. That narrative comes up every once in a while. We still have almost 1 million vacancies in the canadian economy, where businesses need workers. Reporter workers like this woman, who now call this country her home. Ive gotten all the support. I was alone here, so ive gotten all the support from all the communities that are here. Reporter julia ainsley, nbc news, toronto. Still ahead, the new movie marathon. New movie marathon. Wantnt luxury hahair repairr ththat doesntt cost 50 . . Pantenees provitatamin formrmula repairirs hair. As welell as the l leading luxy bonding g treatment. T. Fofor softnessss and resilili, withouout the pricice tag. As welell as the l leading luxy bonding g treatment. T. Ifif you know. W. You know i its pantenene. Technically when enamel is gone, you cannot get it back. But there are waways you can rerepair it. You cannot get it back. Im excited about pronamel repair because it penetrates deep into the tooth to help actively repair acidweakened enamel. I recommend pronamel repair to my patients. New numbers just out from hollywood today show avatar the way of water has topped 400 million at the u. S. Box office. And thats even with the film running more than three hours long. Thats the latest blockbuster that have people asking, are movies getting longer . Reporter its a Holiday Weekend tradition, going to the movies. Lets do it. Reporter but this year, youll be sitting in the theater a little longer. Avatar the way of water clocks in at three hours and 12 minutes. Brad pitts babylon, three hours and 9 minutes. And wakanda forever, two hours and 40 minutes. Kevin smith is a selfdescribed movie aficionado. When he saw the run time for one of the most anticipated feature films this holiday season. What ever happened to the hour and a half hour movie. Movies are way too long for no reason. Reporter he broadcast his thoughts to the small screen to his more than 100,000 followers. Trying to jam pack so much in the story that it becomes almost convoluted. Reporter while it may seem movies today are inching toward epic you know what we have to do . We have to redefine the form. Reporter we crunched the run time for the top domestic films for the last 20 years and didnt find evidence that movies are consistently getting longer. It certainly isnt a new phenomenal. 1963s, cleopatra was four hours and 8 minutes. Gone with the wind just shy of four hours. I get so bored i could scream. Reporter now with our tiktok sized attention span, its becoming all the more top of mind, even inspiring an snl skit. Why is this the trend that were seeing . Part of the reason were seeing longer films is filmmaker clout. In other words, if you have a filmmaker or a brand, like marvel, where theres so much riding on these films, its hard to keep those movies to a short running time because theres so many stories to tell within those universes. Reporter kevin tells us that after threeplus hours in the theater for avatar it blew all my expectations out of the water. Reporter the cinematic journey with time, a lot of time, well spent. Lindsey reiser, nbc news, new york. And up next, an amazing sister act. Four women all in their 80s performing four women all in their 80s performing publicly for the oh, hi yououre in a h hurry. Im ofoff to ameriricas best i heard whwhat you saiaid at not t overpayingng for glasss. Two pairs s and a freeee, Qualality Eye Exexam starting a at just 7979. 95 . Yes s the exam m alone is worth. 59 bucksks. Whwhich is grereat, becausue i hate getetting overcrchar. 59 bucksks. You hahave no ideaea. 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Introducing them, our nbc affiliate in minneapolis. Reporter if we told you that beautiful music youre hearing is coming from a woman in her 80s, you likely wouldnt raise an eyebrow. Add a second octogenarian, and its a duet you might not ignore. But this is a story about times four. Im january doris. Im 80 years old. Val, 81. Im karen hall, 83. Vicky hall, 88. Reporter its not just the ages, hair styles, and vests that set them together. Sisters, tight as piano strings then and still. They are very advanced female players. Reporter Jennifer Aguilar is the Music Therapist at vickys senior who offered up her pianos for practice. Its wonderful. Reporter but this isnt just a sister act. Jan and val and carol and vicky could be role models for family harmony. I am closer to any of my sisters than any of my friends. Reporter vacations together, coffee together, hot tubs, and slumber parties. Our love is seized, any differences that we might have. And one and two reporter yet only once, for their mothers 90th birthday party, have they played together publicly. Only once, until now. Well, welcome, everyone. Reporter at orchard path senior community, the closest of sisters seem to also have a knack for bringing everyone else together. Plenty of grandmas have attended their grandchildrens piano recitals. Isnt it nice to see the tables turned. This holiday season, theres joy in numbers. Eight hands, 40 fingers, and 80s ladies. Nbc news. Heres hoping for an encore this new year. Thats it for Nbc Nightly News for this sunday. Lester holt will be in tomorrow. Stay tuned for sunday night football, which starts right now. Its the Baltimore Ravens versus the pittsburgh steelers. Im Gadi Schwartz. From all of us at nbc news, good night. Olympipic games, the premier league, nascar, the pga tour and prime titimes number one show sundnday night football. Sunday night football, man. Showtime. Primetime. Sunday night football thats what stars are for. To not relax. Primetime sunday right now. Lets go