Announcer this is nightly news with kate snow. Good evening. For the third day in a row, antigovernment protesters took to the streets in iran in what appear to be the most widespread demonstrations since the government crushed a big Reform Movement in 2009. There was also a large progovernment rally in tehran today, and from florida, President Trump weighed in, saying the world is watching. Nbcs Kelly Odonnell is there with more. Reporter on the streets of irans capital, days of public protest reached a boiling point, not seen for nearly a decade. The kindling to this show of anger and desperation is a poor economy, with few jobs and rising prices. Brewing unrest that drew the attention of President Trumps twitter feed. Iranian government should respect their peoples rights, including right to express themselves. The world is watching. Echoing the president s message United Nations. The longest suffering victims of irans leaders are, in fact, its own people. Reporter the volatile conditions today moved many young people to demonstrate against the government spontaneously, as word spread through social media posts. By contrast, a more organized and scheduled wave of progovernment support turned out to praise the Supreme Leader aia toe that khamenei as thousands backed the regime. The u. S. Designates iran a state sponsor of terror. President trump has refused to certify the owe ba inera agreement to blunt Irans Nuclear program. This weeks protest response is coordinated. From the state department the United States strongly condemns the arrest of peaceful protesters. The White House Press secretary iranian citizens fed up with the regimes corruption ended squandering of the nations wealth to Fund Terrorism abro. Tweeted excerpts of his United Nations address to amplify pressure, and encourage other nations to aid protest protesters. That irans people are what their leaders fear the most. Reporter and demonstrations spread across iran. There are reports tonight of bloody violence towards some of those protesters, but those are unconfirmed reports. The iranian government also responded to President Trump saying his words were deceitful and opportunist. Kate . Kelly, also tonight, there is a new report from the New York Times today on the russia investigation specifically about why federal authorities decided to investigate in the first place. What can you tell us about that . Reporter is it a mystery solved, kate . It appears the New York Times has a clue about what got this started in the beginning, and they point to the young former Foreign Policy adviser george. Done plus who has pleaded guilty for lying in the investigation. They say that back in may o australian diplomat, telling him that the russians had unflattering emails of hillary clinton. When those emails later became public, the diplomat went to the fbi, who asked for permission to investigate under the foreign Intelligence Surveillance act. So maybe that is what started it all. Now today, the white house responded saying that out of respect for the special counsel, it would not comment, hoping that the inquiry would be completed expeditiously. Kate . Kelly odonnell with the president in florida, kelly, thank you. A growing Health Concern tonight. The cdc says this flu season is already shaping up to be a lot worse than last years, with widespread flu activity now being reported in dozens of states. Gabe gutierrez has that story. This is our familys first time getting the flu this flu season. Reporter for the Nicholson Family of brighton, colorado, the last few days of 2017 have been miserable. We all have been experiencing the body [000 04 58;00] and the fever. His fever had spiked to 130. 3. Reporter in syracuse, new york, Christie Freitas has been worried sick about her son, jackson, since wednesday even though hes been vaccinated. I set up alarms to give him more medicine or check his temperature and make sure he was doing all right. After a couple of days now, hes doing better, but were still dealing with him being sick. Reporter the cdc reports the flu is now widespread in 36 states. There are almost three times as many case this is flu season compared to last years. The reason it started earlier could be because of the cold weather, could be because of the virus the way it mutates every year. This year is especially attractive to people. Reporter in kentucky eight deaths so far, in South Carolina seven and in North Carolina 12 people have died, including a child. Adding to the concerns an initial report citing data from australihi vaccine was only 10 effective though experts say the actual figures are here. This pediatrician is on the front lines making sure his patients get a flu shot, priorities children ages 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women and adults older than 50. Its imperative it definitely helps you. Theres no real downside as opposed to the positives. The rewards far outweigh the risk when it comes to the flu vac vaccine. Reporter and the peak of flu season runs through february. Gabe gutierrez, nbc news, atlanta. Much of the eastern half of the country dealing with more extreme cold and snow tonight, as we look ahead to new years. Meteorologist dylan dreyer has the chilly forecast. Good evening, kate. Boy, is it cold out there. And the coldest is still yet to come. Tomorrow morning windchills of 34 below in bismarck, north dakota. Green bay 14 below. Indianapolis it will feel like 1 l feel like 1. On monday morning we kick off the new year with colder temperatures. Paducah, kentucky, feel like 10 below zero. The windchill in atlanta, 13 degrees. Its cold everywhere, but before we get to monday morning weve got midnight on new years eve and brutally cold everyone it tours gripping most of the country. The only warm spot in the best is. Little bit of lakeeffect snow and in new york city, 11 degrees, that would make it a tie for the second coldest new years eve on record so it is going to be very chilly for those folks outside. Chilly is an understatement. Dylan, thank you. Two men are under arrest tonight and charged with murder in the brutal killings of a couple and two children at their home in upstate new york. The motive still unclear. Anne thompson has the latest. Reporter in troy, new york, a nerveracking week of fear comes to an end. Reporter whyd you do it . Anything you want to say . What do you want to say to the victims family. Reporter 38yearold james white and 24yearold murders of shanta miser, her children and niece and partner brandy mills. I feel so much weight was lifted. Shakira is her sister. The family was in court today. It was difficult to look at the individuals and not react in rage. Reporter next to her, isiah, the surviving son, who was away when the crime happened. It gave me hope that i can finally get justice for my family. Reporter the victims were found the day after christmas in their apartment by the property manager, but Officials Say they were killed on the evening of december 21st. The local paper reports Law EnforcementOfficials Say the victims were bound and their throats slashed. The savagery as you put it and the barbarism of what happened to these people h families. Reporter Police Say One of the defendants knew the victims. Mann is on parole. Both suspects pleaded not guilty. Officials say there is still no known motive. We didnt understand it. We still dont understand it. Reporter tonight, the family and the community turn to prayer and each other, seeking comfort for questions still unanswered. Now police say they used technology to connect the suspects to the crime, and they say they do not expect any additional arrests in this case, because they believe, in fact, they are very confident, kate, that they have the two men who are responsible for this. Still so many unanswered questions. Anne, thank you. Overseas, there was heavy bombing in syria today. The government launching a new assault on a besiege rebelheld area not far from damascus where the human toll has been enormous. Nbcs matt bradley reports tonight on reporter he is too young to speak. But 2monthold karim has become the voice of suffering in eastern guta near syrias capital damascus. Since 201 the 400,000 people have lived under siege and bombing. Today was among the worst. Residents reported some 20 regime air strikes with more than 100 bombs. The sort of attacks that maimed baby karim and also killed his mother. There is no, no medicine for him now, no treatment for him. He want to evacuate from eastern ghouta. Reporter this month a syrian photographer turned karims plight into a movement. Actors and politicians covered an eye begging the world to open theirs. It may have helped. After two months of critically ill patients, mostly children, have been evacuated to damascus. Baby karim was not among them, nor are the nearly 500 seriously sick and injured civilians in desperate need of care. But theted t the wounded arent its own casualties. Cancer, kidney failure, there are some children suffering from malnutrition. Reporter two weeks ago a 6monthold died before she could be evacuated. With isis all but defeated and syrian president Bashar Al Assad nearing a brutal victory, many hope deals like this will expand. Eastern ghouta is one of the last rebel holdouts. The country razed to the ground, were hoping this might be a ray of sunshine. Reporter the war may finally be coming to an end, but for children like li lifetime of suffering is only beginning. Matt bradley, nbc news. Three months after Hurricane Maria tore through puerto rico Officials Say power has now been restored to 55 of the homes on the island, but that means 1. 5 Million People remain in the dark and puerto rico is facing an Unprecedented Health care crisis with pregnant women, mothers and their babies perhaps most at risk. Tam tammy leitener reports. Reporter bobby orion was born at home. Midwife me shell perez chiquez is under pressure. Theres no room more mistakes work nothing electricity, no clean water and no doctors. On this day, baby and mom are given a clean bill of health. Its a bleak situation for pregnant women here. The island already had the fifth highest premie rate in the u. S. And since Hurricane Maria, Public Health ets facing a growing crisis. Most families have no power. Doctors have fled the island. Its so bad, no one knows how many doctors remain. We have had families that havent reached their doctors in a month. Reporter with nowhere to turn, word of mouth leads expectant mothers to one of the few still open clinics, this one run by midwives. I think the most concerns are the water and the electricity. Reporter mothers say its difficult to find the basics. Fema initially sent diapers, formula and bottles but now many families rely on donations from churches and charities. This new mom thankful for whatever she gets. Its hard, but like i think you learn a lot, because then you have people around you that can help you, and you depend on the people helping you. Reporter strangers coming together during desperate times, bringing new life into the world. Tammy news, san juan, puerto rico. She was profeld onto the public stage after the death of her father put in a chokehold by a new York City Police officer. Erica garner became an advocate for Police Reform and the black lives matter activist. Today the tragic news erica garner herself died after suffering a heart attack last week. Get back fight back reporter erica garner turned personal tragedy into a public mission. She became a national advocate following the death of her father at the hands of a new York City Police officer in 2014. I cant breathe reporter his last words i cant breathe, a rallying cry for those pushing to reform policing in the u. S. With cameras or without cameras, with your support or without your support. Thats right im gonna be out here, representing for my father. Reporter her family tweeted she cared when most people wouldnt have. Wa she only pursued right, no matter what. No one gave her justice. During the 2016 president ial election, garner used her platform to campaign for senator bernie sanders. She used her grief and her pain to fight back and to say that we will have real Police Department reform in new york and around this country. Reporter today sanders said she was a fighter for justice and will not be forgotten. Love you. Reporter a young mother of two, inspired to fight by the death of her father. He raised me to be the fine young lady that i am right now. I know thats right. That my father is very proud of me. Erica garner was just 27 years old. Still ahead tonight, training the police to deal with people who have i was wondering if an electric toothbrush really cleans better than a manual. And my hygienist says it does but theyre not all the same. Who knew . I had no idea. So she said, look for one thats shaped like a dental tool with a go pro with oralb. Oralbs rounded brush head surrounds each tooth to gently remove more plaque. And unlike sonicare, oralb is the only electric toothbrush brand accepted by the American Dental Association for its effectiveness and safety. My mouth feels so clean. Ill only use an oralb. Oralb. Brush like a pro. But he hasoke up wwork to do. In. So he took aleve. If hed taken tylenol, hed be stopping for more pills right now. 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Reporter its outside the comfort of home that his mom, roxanne daly, wo he has autism. We have to stay on alert all the time with him. Reporter so today shes taking connor to meet with local Law Enforcement, an opportunity for him to get comfortable with police, firefighters and medical personnel, and for them to learn from him. Can you try there . Reporter for officers used to protocol, autism and its spectrum of behavior presents a unique challenge. Some of them will let you touch them. Some of them wont. Some of them will talk, some of them wont. Reporter the train something part of the nonproperty alert, run by stephanie cooper. She travels the country to educate Law Enforcement, enlisting the help of autistic kids in each place she visits. Why is the handson tracking so important . Autism video trainings are great to have. Theyre a great resource, but doesnt cover what live handson interactive training covers. So theres no look to autism. Reporter for cooper the mission is deeply personal. Shes a former Police Officer herself and 9yearold son. By doing this type of training and knowing there are safe places for him to go if he is scared and confused, it just makes me feel better about the future for him. Reporter for the officers hey connor. Reporter and parents, the training has been revealing. He avoided every attempt they made. It was a huge eye opener for me and it was a shock. Reporter connor avoided eye contact and most interactions. Something roxanne hopes to change. I need to make an attempt, myself and my husband, to introduce him to more emergency personnel, so that he can feel comfortable that he can talk to them. Good job. Reporter todays introduction a First Step Towards understanding. Blake mccoy, nbc news, batesville, arkansas. So important. Were back in a moment with the fourlegged intruder looking for food, coaching means making tough choices. 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Biotene really did make a difference. [heartbeat] sometthats when he needs the way ovicks vaporub. s sleep. Proven cough medicine. With 8 hours of vapors. Vicks vaporub. Goodnight coughs. So it began with a call to the police, a squirrel had gotten into a house in upstate new york, and was eating the cookies. When the police arrived, they got more than they bargained for. The squirrel apparently did not want to be disturbed, and as you see, he jumps at one of the officers. The whole thing recorded on his body camera. The squirrel was eventually caught and released, and everybody was laughing. When we come back, the bond between two best friends and the amazing dis hey yeah . Ico and got more more savings on Car Insurance . They helped with homeowners, too ok plus motorcycle, boat and rv insurance geicos got you covered like a blanket houston . You seeing this . Geico. Expect great savings and a whole lot more. When you have a cold, geico. 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Xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. Dont start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz xr, and monitor certain liver tests. Tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common and if you have had tb, xeljanz xr can reduce the symptoms of ra, even without methotrexate. Ask your rheumatologist about xeljanz xr. Finally tonight, a story that gives new meaning to the expression friends and family. It begins long ago when two boys first met and started a friendship that continues to this day. But then, as Steve Patterson reports, there was a discovery that no one could have imagined. Reporter its the kind of hawaiian day, perfect for a beachside walk. Were so lucky, arent we . Reporter with your best friend. Oh, my. Reporter Walter Mcfarland and Alan Robinson have shared a bond for more than 06 years. Oh my god. We were just great friends. Reporter both adopted as children as met in the sixth grade. Teammate champions on the football squad in high school. Two life times of friendship, loving marriages, successful careers. Come on, lets not take all day. Reporter even retirement. You stainged that deck, walter in. Reporter but something was missing in both of their lives. They searched for answers. Both tried dna matching sites to chase their ancestry and before christmas an announcement that stunned friends and family my brother reporter these men, inseparable for six decades discovering they were brothers all along. He was crying. He couldnt even make it all the way up before he started crying, you know. It was so time. Im still not the same and i dont know if i ever will be. Reporter since then, their newfound relatives have been insprashi inseparable. My family party all the time, they love music, they dance, they drink. Its fun. As soon as we wrap this up there will be another party. Reporter the ties of friendship, now family. Whats all this like now that you guys know youre brothers, youre out on a Beautiful Day like this. I mean well theres going to be more days like this, thats for damned sure. Yeah. Reporter the kind of hawaiian days youd want to share with your brother. Steve patterson, nbc news, honolulu. Just beautiful. That is nbc nightly news for saturday night. Tomorrow well look at a state where a growing number of School Districts are in session just four days a week. Im kate snow. For all of us here at nbc news, have a great night. [ splash ] [ horn sounds ] dang ok, i gotta run. Hey, wait, theres something i need to tell you dang. Dang dang dang. Dang. See zero in a whole new way. Get zero down, zero deposit, zero first months payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. Time has come for the the redskins coachs show with jay gruden. Im Larry Michael with chris cooley and the coach jay gruden. The show is always presented by polk industries. Final game of the year at the giants. It is a wild year, coach. Team has sucked it up at the end. Good job. What was practice like this week. It was good. Getting ready for the giants and eli manning. Guys are energized over the last two victories and came to work ready to go. Did you do anything different over the last three weeks compared to earlier in the season and not because you are winning, just because you were out of it the last three weeks . Change anything up