An inspiring america. Nightly news begins right now. Announcer from nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. President trumps nominee to the Supreme Court neil gorsuch made big news during a visit to capitol hill today with a headsnapping rebuke of the president over his criticism of the judiciary saying remarks made by the president about the courts are demoralizing. The almost unheard of a criticism of the president by a Supreme Court nominee coming on what could be the eve of a critical Appeals Court decision on whether to lift the stay on the president S Immigration ban. Our justice correspondent Pete Williams has details. Reporter unusually strong criticism tonight from President Trumps own Supreme Court nominee neil gorsuch about mr. Trumps biting critique today of three federal judges. The president was on the attack barely 12 hours after last oral argument on whether to keep enforcement of hiS Immigration executive order on hold. Connecticut democrat Richard Blumenthal said today that gorsuch told him during a courtesy visit that the president s comments were disheartening and demoralizing. He certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing comments made by President Trump about the judiciary. Reporter a gorsuch associate confirmed the comments. They followed mr. Trumps speech today to a Law Enforcement group. I listened to a bunch of stuff last night on television that was disgraceful. I dont ever want to call a court bias, so i wont call it biased, and we havent had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. Reporter he noted that a federal law gives the president power to suspend the entry of any class of aliens to protect national security. If you were a Good High School or a bad student in high school, you can understand this. Reporter how, he asked, could the judges question the legality of his executive order. Despite the president s tough talk, legal experts say they doubt his comments will affect the courts decision because the judges would have voted immediately after last nights oral argument. Theyve already made their decision so i think the president s comments wouldnt have any affect at all on the courts outcome here. Whatever the reason for judge gorsuchs criticism of mr. Trumps remarks, it could help ease concerns in the senate that he wont be independent of the president who nominated him. Lester . Pete williams in our washington newsroom, thanks, pete. President trump also lashed out on twitter at retail chain nordstrom for dropping daughter ivankas brand. His attack once again raising concerns of potential conflicts of interest between the oval office and the trump familys business concerns. We get more from nbcs ha reporter tonight, ethics experts sounding the alarm about one of the latest tweets. Donald trump writing today, my daughter ivanka has been treated so unfairly by nordstrom. She is a great person. Always pushing me to do the right thing. Terrible. It comes after the Department Stores decision not to buy anything this season from the ivanka trump branded fashion line. A company rep says thats due to sales, not politics, just business. A business, by the way, ivanka trump no longer runs. So how is she being treated unfairly if shes not a partner its clearly a targeting of her brand. This is a direct attack on his policies and her name. Reporter now, new concerns about the president s focus on the Family Businesses hes supposed to be separated from. I think that hes putting the bully back in bully pulpit and its wrong, its unethical but legal and even constitutional questions. Reporter from voters, so far, mixed reaction. I think its an appropriate use of his fatherly power to defend his family. Hes got that right as well as a citizen and as a father. Step outside of policy to influence the economy through twitter, of all things, is just incredibly inappropriate, from my perspective. Reporter nordstrom stock ended the day up about 4 . Critics argue all of this comes at a time of other ethical questions, like lawyers representing Melania Trump in a lawsuit arguing that she stands to lose millions if her brand is unable to capitalize on her onceinalifetime role as first lady. Lester . Hallie jackson at the white house, thanks. Theres new fallout after a dramatic moment on the floor of the United States senate. Top democrat Elizabeth Warren silenced by republicans after reading the words of mlks widow scott king. Here is our capitol hill correspondent kasie hunt. Reporter a stunning standoff on the senate floor. Senator Elizabeth Warren reading a scathing 1986 letter from Martin Luther kings widow criticizing attorney general nominee senator Jeff Sessions record on civil rights. One more technique used to intimidate black voters. Reporter Mitch Mcconnell interrupting. I call the senator to order. Reporter invoking an arcane rule that prohibits attacking another senator. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Reporter within hours, that quote became a feminist battle cry already printed on tshirts. Hillary clinton tweeting, she persisted, so must we all. Reporter do you think what senator mcconnell did last night was sexist . I think what he did was wrong. Reporter do you think it was sexist . I think reading the words of Coretta Scott king rs senate. Reporter today, other democrats reading the same letter on the floor without interruption. A frightened elderly black voters. Reporter a mcconnell spokesperson says their remarks were not preceded by a prolonged dispargement of a colleague. The republican senator who held the gavel last night agrees. The senator will take her seat. This was not about senator warren as a person. This is about the words used on the floor of the United States senate. Reporter there have been insults hurled without punishment before. Ted cruz once called mcconnell a liar. He is not telling you the truth. Reporter but can this silencing give her a bigger mega phone . Its the first step in your 2020 president ial campaign . Were the party of opposition and that is our job. This gives her a big leg up vying for leadership. Reporter the white house tonight is still defending sessions record but after all of this, none of the drama on the floor is expected to change the ultimate outcome [000 07 58;00] sessions expected to be confirmed within the hour. Lester . Kasie, thank you. Turning now to the terrifying moments in florida when a circus act involving Daredevil Nik Wallenda went horribly wrong. Five performers were injured when they plunged to the ground during highwire rehearsals. We get details from nbcs kerry sanders. Reporter tonight, five circus performers were injured following a horrific highwire fall. We have triaging. We have three confirmed trauma wounds. Reporter eight performers from the famed wallenda family were rehearsing seen in a video shot by nbc news three weeks ago. The show was scheduled to open here in just two days. Perhaps the best known wallenda, 38yearold nik who left viewers breathless with daring walks over the grand canyon and between two buildings in chicago. Wire today when the group fell. Luckily, he and two others were able to hang on. We were about halfway out and thats when it happened. Reporter do you know what caused the fall . Theres no way theres no way to know. It was an accident. It clearly was balance. Reporter two performers in Critical Condition after the person on top fell more than 40 feet. Extremely lucky given the height of the fall that they survived. Reporter the family has never shied away from the dangers of their profession. In 1962, a fall during a similar tiered pyramid act claimed the lives of two of niks uncles. The family was nen nicknamed the flying wallendas. Now we know what our ancestors felt. What a nightmare. Reporter wallenda says those who were injured will all recover. Kerry sanders, nbc news, sarasota. Lets turn now to the weather whiplash impacting millions. Recordbreaking warmth today in the middle of february is about to give way to a big snowstorm s t metropolitan areas, including new york, philadelphia and boston. In a moment, al roker here with the forecast. But first, heres nbcs blake mccoy. Reporter a 55car pileup snarling the commute north of boston. Crunched metal the result of black ice that sent cars sliding. The roads were blankets of ice. It was brutal. Reporter todays mess comes ahead of a fastmoving storm that could bring up to a foot of snow tomorrow for parts of the northeast. It will feel like weather whiplash. Record highs set today in d. C. , baltimore, philadelphia and new york city. Tomorrow, those same cities will see temperatures plummet by as much as 30 degrees. Airlines have already canceled more than 2,000 flights. We may see blizzardlike conditions. Reporter down south, cleanup is under way after ef3 tornado, the most powerful ever recorded in new orleans. Amanda stockfelt strapped her 8weekold baby in a car seat as the tornado approached. It was literally trying to suck her up and the only thing i could think of was, i cant let go. Reporter a stunning tale of survival as tonight the Severe Weather threat moves north. Tonight here in boston, an army of salt trucks is rolling out ahead of this storm and school has already been canceled for boston and new york city. Lester . Blake mccoy, thank you. Al roker is at the map. It was a no coat day here. Not the same tomorrow. I know. Its going to be such a big, big change. 13 states, 53 Million People under some sort of Winter Weather advisory, watch or warning and even blizzard warnings for parts of long island and massachusetts. 6 00 a. M. , the snow is going pretty well from d. C. Up to new york. But because its so warm in d. C. , they wont get that much. By the afternoon, we see the winds increase, up to 35, 40mileper hour winds gusts. Snowfall rates, 1 to 2 inches per hour. We may hear thundersnow from new york all the way to boston. It moves its a quick mover. Thats the one good thing. It pulls away as the snow tapers off but still problems for commuters in boston and new england. Washington and baltimore, less than an inch. 6 to 8 in philly. 8 to 12 in new york. Lester, anywhere from 8 to 12 inches throughout much of new england. I know youll have the latest in the morning on today. See you then, al. Thank you. Still ahead, the fight against cancer hitting home for one of our own. Craig melvin on his brothers brave battle and screening for colon cancer. Also, thinking inside the box. The big idea inspiring a small town in texas and america. Im on it. Weathertech. Made right, in america [ pidaddy lets play sorry kids. Feeling dead on your feet . Ive been on my feet all day. Dr. Scholls massaging gel insoles have a unique gel wave design for outrageous comfort that helps you feel more energized. Dr. Scholls. Feel the energy whonly new alkaseltzer plus t want powerful relief. Free of artificial dyes and preservatives liquid gels delivers the powerful cold symptom relief you need without the unnecessary additives you dont. Loudspeaker clean up, aisle 4. Alkaseltzer plus liquid gels. Were back now with an important and very personal story about fighting colon cancer, specifically the kind that strikes before the age of 50, which doctors call early onset. Africanamericans are twice as likely to develop it as white patients and a recent study shows they are less likely to survive. One of the familys impacted is our own craig melvins. We ought to take time out of our schedule and pray sometimes. Reporter my big Brother Lawrence is a pastor . Spartanburg, south carolina. Faith has guided him his whole life. Hes been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 39. I couldnt get my head around it being no drinking. Yeah. No partying. Yeah. I was like man, gosh, i should have been drinking and smoking. I should have been getting all of the other stuff in, too. Reporter hes still cracking jokes just like when we were kids although his doctor removed a baseball size tumor from his abdomen in october but the cancer had spread. His doctor sees a troubling increase in early onset cases, meaning patients under 50. Were expecting that these incidents will continue to rise and may increase by 50 over the next 15 years. Reporter and doctors cant figure out why. So they tell the families of early onset patients to start screening ten years before the age their loved one was diagnosed. As soon as you hit 29, its time to get the colonoscopy. Im 37. Reporter this is part of the problem with early onset cases. The American Cancer Society says most people should colonoscopies at the age of 50. For higher risk groups, its 45. No help to lawrence and our family, including his wife angela and their two children addie and lawson. Its hard for me to look at that little boy who is like, wheres my dad and just think he doesnt know what were dealing with. Reporter but theres encouraging news from lawrences latest rounds of tests. Our goal was to stop its growth. We certainly accomplished that but i think, even better, were seeing shrinkage of the cancer. Reporter the doctor even showed us where its shrinking. But the cancers still there . Yeah. Hes indicated that there is no cure for colon cancer. Like cutting grass, to cut it back, cut it back until eventually it just dies. Reporter back in south carolina, hes determined. This is the only fight im focused on. Yes, i got you. Evicting cancer from me. Craig, this is personal stuff, i get. But i want you to know i learned something i didnt know and i bet a lot of people procedure went public. He said if anyone takes anything away from this, if you have a history and you look like me and you, talk to your doctor and get tested. Hell go back for another checkup. He goes every two weeks to get chemo. Hes had eight rounds so far and five more until another scan and our hope is that we get another great report next year. Please send him our regards. Youre 37 and youre going for a colonoscopy . Next month. All right. Thanks. When we come back, he shoots, he scores. You wont believe what a High School Player pulled off on the basketball court. But did you know that the lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath . Well, there is biotene, specially formulated with moisturizers and lubricants. Biotene can provide soothing relief and it helps keep your mouth healthy too. Biotene, for people who suffer from a dry mouth. Cking up for kyle. Here you go. You wouldnt put up with part of a pizza. Um. Something wrong . So when it comes to pain relievers, why put up with just part of a day . You want the whole thing . Yes, yes live whole. Not part. Aleve. [bullfighting music] [burke] billygoat ruffians. Seen it. Covered it. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum you may know what its like to deal with high. And low blood sugar. Januvia sitagliptin is a oncedaily pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar. Januvia works when your blood sugar is high and works less when your blood sugar is low, because it works by enhancing your bodys own ability to lower blood sugar. Plus januvia, by itself, is not likely to cause weight gain or low blood sugar hypoglycemia . C ketoacidosis. Tell your doctor if you have a history of pancreatitis. Serious side effects can happen, including pancreatitis which may be severe and lead to death. Stop taking januvia and call your doctor right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area which may be pancreatitis. Tell your doctor right away and stop taking januvia if you have an allergic reaction that causes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or affects your breathing or causes rash or hives. Kidney problems sometimes requiring dialysis have been reported. Some people may develop severe joint pain. Call your doctor if this happens. Using januvia with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. To reduce the risk, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin. Your doctor may do blood tests before and during treatment to check your kidneys. If you have kidney problems a lower dose may be prescribed. Side effects may include upper respiratory tract infection, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache. For help lowering your blood sugar talk to your doctor about januvia. Well, when you hear that music, it can mean only one thing. Believe it or not, were one year out from the Winter Olympics in pyeongchang, south korea, not to be confused with pyongyang, the capital of north korea. Lets get down to business, which is exactly what is happening in the host American Olympic hopefuls are already there and so is nbcs keir simmons. Reporter to pyeongchangs snowy slopes and seouls neon lights, excitement is building here for olympic hopefuls. High tech and high flying. 16yearold snowboarding sensation chloe kim. Its awesome. My side of the family lives here and the fact that the 2018 olympics will be here is pretty crazy. Neighboring china, japan and south korea, seoul will be soon around a 17minute train ride from the olympic park to pyeongchang. Constructing this line cost 3. 7 billion. Highspeed trains will deliver people to the olympic venues at 186 miles per hour. Reporter south korea moving fast, building new venues and two athletes villages. Team usas brightest taking test runs this week and rusis here, too, but not yet cleared to compete after a massive doping scandal. Then theres the regions politics. Are you worried north korea may threaten the games . I dont think so. Reporter team usa hoping for a successful games led by fresh faces like this figure skater and familiar ones like lindsey vonn and shaun white. A year to go and the olympic clock is ticking again. Keir simmons, nbc news, pyeongchang. In california, an amazing basketball feat Rising High School star sinking a basket after basket after he led his team to victory last night. When it was all said and done, he had scored 92 points all by himself. And it runs in the family. Oldest brother alonzo is a star at ucla. When we come back, boxes full of blessings. Why they are spreading nbc nightly news is brought to you by pacific life, helping generations achieve longterm Financial Security for over 145 years. Fifty years ago, humpback whales were nearly extinct. They rebounded because a decision was made to protect them. Making the right decisions today for your longterm financial future can protect you and your family, and preserve your legacy. Ask a Financial Advisor how retirement and Life Insurance solutions from pacific life can help you plan for your future. If you have moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis like me, and youre talking to your rheumatologist about a medication. This is humira. This is humira helping to relieve my pain. And protect my joints from further damage. Humira has been clinically studied for over 18 years. 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Reporter the town of big spring, texas, is not very big, except when it comes to kindness and what they like to call the blessing box. Food, personal hygiene items, diapers free for anyone, any time. This single mother of four just lost her job. I tell them, this is for us, you know, for anybody. And they dont have to feel shame or anything. Reporter insurance salesman eric built the box after reading about a similar project in another city. Theres been times when i was the one who needed the extra meal. Everybody goes through those needs. Reporter inspiring neighbors to set up their own boxes. Others simply donate their groceries. I always try to get something that the kids might like, fruit cups, applesauce. Reporter in less than a month, big spring has gone from erics one blessing box to more than a dozen. Thats what i wanted to do. Its, lets move together as a community and change the city as a whole. Reporter and not just the city. Nobodys sure where the original idea came from. But in recent months, dozens of blessing boxes have popped up around the country. A godsend for the carmona family, especially joshua. Its his birthday. Reporter its his birthday today . Yes. Reporter happy birthday. For special occasions, the birthday blessing box. No matter how small, every box of kindness counts. Jacob rascon, nbc news, big spring, texas. Another reminder, theres a lot of good [000 28 59;00] thats going to do it for us on a wednesday night. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. Watching and good night. Im like what is this . Am i dying . Whats happening . A hospital scare at age 30 is just one of the stories this is us star chrissy metz is ready to share. How weight has played a part in