Meltdown at home just ahead, what is being done to keep your health and your money safe tearful tribute. I miss you, all of you, every day. I love you Vanessa Bryant makes her first public appearance since the loss of kobe and gianna, to lead an emotional and starfilled celebration of life. Kobe was my dear friend he was like a little brother this morning, the powerful tributes to a father and daughter gone too soon, as one of the event speakers joins us exclusively. Those stories, plus, faceoff. Joe biden and Bernie Sanders running neck and neck in South Carolina ahead of tonights debate from hidden to hero. Tributes pour in for the groundbreaking woman who changed nasa and to the rescue. Good samaritans saved a unconscious woman who plunged into a Florida Canal jump out. Inside the race against time with a happy ending. Today, tuesday, february 25th, 2020 from nbc news, this is today, with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Hey, everybody welcome to today. Thank you for joining us on this Tuesday Morning. A lot of folks talking about kobes memorial yesterday. So poignant to see vanessa on stage. She had such poise and bravery. I thought, how is she doing this how do you eulogize your own child. Then i thought, well thats what a mom does she did it gracefully and so well well have more from the Memorial Service ahead we certainly will. But were going to start with our top story. Harvey weinstein not in prison, but in a new york City Hospital this morning, in the wake of his rape trial conviction. Well hear from one of his accusers and the woman who will help break the weinstein story first, Stephanie Gosk joins us from Bellevue Hospital steph, good morning. Reporter hey, hoda, good morning to you Harvey Weinstein is here at Bellevue Hospital. According to his defense attorney, he was suffering from heart palpitations and high Blood Pressure from here, he is going to Rikers Island prison. It is a far cry from the glitz and glamour in hollywood the once powerful hollywood producer, waking up a convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein, guilty of Sexual Assault, including rape, will await his sentencing behind bars the 67yearold faces a maximum 25 years with another trial on felony Sexual Assault charges looming in los angeles manhattans District Attorney calling the verdict a moment for history. Harvey weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed reporter the jury of seven men and five women, found weinstein guilty of assaulting mimi haleyi. And raping aspiring actress jessica mann tarale wulff established a pattern of Sexual Assault. She says weinstein raped her in 2005 i never thought he would be held accountable thats a big part of why i never spoke up because he is him and i was me but thats changed now reporter weinstein has been accused of Sexual Assault and harassment by over 100 women many saw this trial as a chance to get justice, even if their own allegations were not part of the case im just in awe that we saw justice today. And this could happen. Reporter ashley judd, thanking the women who testified, writing, you did a Public Service to girls and women everywhere. Mira sorvino tweeting, the beginning of justice more to come, my sisters it wasnt a total victory. Weinstein was acquitted of firstdegree rape and the most serious charges, two counts of predatory Sexual Assault each carrying a sentence of up to life in prison. Both of those are based in part on the accusation that weinstein raped her in the early 90s. After the verdict, the actress saying in part, we can never regret breaking the silence. While the defense says the fight is not over. As sure as im a bald man, we will be appealing. Reporter weinstein has long denied having nonconsensual sex. You can think whatever you want about Harvey Weinstein as a person, but i personally do not believe, as i have said all along, that Harvey Weinstein is guilty of committing these crimes reporter when the verdict was read, weinstein showed little emotion the walker he used for weeks, left behind. The timeline now for weinstein, he has his sentencing hearing on on march 11th here in new york city then, he has to face charges in l. A. , that include a charge of rape he will have to be extradited out there to face his accusers stephanie, thank you so much. Joining us now, rowena chiu, one of the New York Times original investigatorive reporters, and megan twohey, who helped spark and break the story wide open. Good morning to both of you. I imagine you both had different reactions to that verdict. You had the experience with Harvey Weinstein when you were a young lady attempted rape you told us about it on this show when you heard the words, guilty, Harvey Weinstein, guilty it was just an overwhelming moment and then, as surprisingly, or maybe not as surprisingly, just as confusing of course, i felt elation and that justice had been done. But also, profound sadness for all of the victims he assaulted over that time period. Megan, for you, you and your colleague at the New York Times broke this story. It was not a slam dunk there was a time not that long ago, not only would be convicted, but a prosecutor wouldnt have brought these facts. And here you have a conviction savannah, thats right. And we were talking about this as the trial unfolded, we realized it was more rare and risky than we predicted. The women at the center of the criminal charges acknowledged they had consensual sex with him after he had victimized them they had friendly communication. And often times prosecutors will never bring those types of cases. Theyre too risky. That jurors will not convict in those circumstances. Not only did prosecutors move forward and really pushed the envelope of sex crime prosecutions, with this verdict, we may be seeing a reshaping of Public Opinions about their day in cart. Deserve their day in court. There were six women that came forward i want to put an image up on our wall all of the people that have accused Harvey Weinstein in many ways, these voices were heard in a courtroom do you feel like youve been heard now . Absolutely. I have nothing but awe and respect. They went up on the stand. They were a proxy for many of us that could not bring our cases to the courtroom, because our cases were out of jurisdiction or beyond the statute of limitations. We lived through the six women that did go up on the stand. How does it sit with you, now that hes headed to rikers but hes been hospitalized what did you think about how he acted after the verdict. He said, im innocent, im innocent now, hes saying he has heart issues hes in the hospital how does that all sit with you in the statement of his innocence, his reality is far divided from the rest of us. You know, he has always denied the charges. His lawyers spoke of a consensual relationship he had with me. Thats clearly not my reality. In terms of the walker and the hospitalization, he left the walker behind in the courtroom it was wheeled out without him and the hospitalization, theres a lot of drama around this yeah. All those years ago, you were one of the first, rowena, you and zelda perkins. You were an assistant. He had all of the power. You had none of the power, but you did complain when you think of all of that now, all of these years later, that finally some measure of justice has been served, what goes through your mind its really overwhelming. I think im still processing how i feel about it. I remember not seeing any nda for 20 years and its a retriggering of the terror we felt in the office when we negotiated that nda. And also, pride in our 24yearold and 25yearold selves, that we fought so hard for the clauses that would help other women. Of course, they didnt because he is surrounded by the neighborhood hellbent on his sexual predation. Back this those days when we were negotiating the nda, we felt we were raising a voice, saying you cannot do that to us. And it took another 22 years before that voice was amplified to the extent to where everyone knows. Megan, now, this moves to los angeles. More charges there potentially this is not over this is not over. And he will face no matter what, he is facing charges of rape and Sexual Assault. He is facing up to a 29year potentially 29year sentence here in new york, that could be compounded more in l. A and its interesting to talk about, for so long, Harvey Weinstein was able to conceal and silence women who had allegations against him with highpriced lawyers. With secret settlements. The nda that rowena was just talking about. With spies, spies who basically had a contract on our reporting at the New York Times. To see him have to sit in this court and listen to woman after woman get up and testify against him and to now have this verdict, i have to imagine for somebody whos been able to wiggle out of accountability for so long, its really remarkable to wonder what he is feeling and thinking today. Rowena, megan, thank you for being here this morning and sharing your story we really appreciate it. Thank you. Ill send it over to you guys craig joins us now another big story were covering that coronavirus. Indeed, hoda. With cases continuing to surge around the world, the white house requesting billions of dollars in emergency funding to address the situation. And now coronavirus is impacting wall street. The mounting worries causing stocks to plunge well have more on that part of the story in a moment. But first molly hunter is in milan, italy, with the outbreak that is worsening by the day molly, good morning to you. Hey, craig, good morning. Worsening by the hour. We have nearly 300 cases, 7 dead and in milan, the famous cathedral right there is shut to tourists and theyre testing people fast. Its not just people are getting infected overnight but the sample size is actually getting bigger and actually moving south of the country in china, though, those infections are going down as they go up almost everywhere else 37 countries are now battling this virus in south korea nearly 1,000 people infected and 11 dead. People there growing increasingly afraid. A line for mass just keeps going. The usc and cdc avoiding nonessential travel to south korea. It comes on the heels of similar travel warnings for china due to widespread transmission. This video appears to show a chinese s. W. A. T. Team practicing a takedown of an uncooperative patient during the drill they say it has slowed again but were not sure of the numbers. The finger is pointed at one hospital north of the country for mismanagement. Officials locking down more than 50,000 people, including elizabeth marilee. Are the supermarkets empty a longer queue. Reporter in venice, where the carve value was cut short, Paramount Pictures now confirming the new tom cruise movie, Mission Impossible 7 has a paused plan threeweek shoot schools are closed and roads are shut down. Its a big test for the european bloc and its seamless boarders in the u. S. , 53 americans have tested positive. The white house has requested almost 5. 2 million in funds to fight the outbreak the w. H. O. Will start working it out reporter and this morning a Turkish Airline jet was turned away from turin and in the canary islands, popular place this time of year, a hotel has been quarantined after an italian doctor has been infected the outbreak is affecting wall street. Stocks plummeted on monday, with the dow dropping more than 1,000 points it was its worst day in two years. Nbc news Senior Business correspondent Stephanie Ruhle is here with that part of the story. Heres the thing weve been talking about the coronavirus for four or five weeks now, what was it about monday or yesterday that made investors so skiddish . The spread. Seeing it pop up in italy, in the middle east. Remember, weve been hearing about it for a few weeks investors think this is in asia. Its contained in china. And for wall street, its not about good news or bad news, its about having all the news information is the most valuable thing to investors we dont know how big this thing could get. And not knowing is a perfect reason for investors to say, im going to take some chips off the table. President trump was saying that the stock market, i think his quote is, looking very good to me. A lot of folks have some of the retirement invested in the stock market should they be freaking out . They shouldnt be freaking out. If you have your money in a retirement account, youre not a professional investor. Yesterday, Warren Buffett says he doesnt buy companies for a day or a week. You dont invest like its a date invest because its something you believe in you want to watch and listen and Pay Attention to these things. Remember, things can snap back in a heartbeat we saw sars and ebola, that were actually epidemics and months later, things got back to normal stephanie, thank you very much we move to the 2020 president ial race, the critical South Carolina primary and super tuesday looming. And the Democratic Candidates are hours away from facing off for the seconds time in less than a week. Theyre going to debate again. It happens in charleston its the final chance to make the pitches to voters on the National StageAndrea Mitchell has the latest on that. Hey, andrea. Good morning reporter good morning, savannah joe biden is leading Bernie Sanders in South Carolina, according to our new nbc news marist poll but that lead is within the polls margin of error. And tom steyer could play spoiler for the former Vice President. He is spending 20 million in South Carolina, siphoning off critical africanamerican votes, that biden in a state he has to keep alive joe biden threatening Bernie Sanders lead in South Carolina. The national frontrunner is now the candidate to beat in tonights debate we have the energy and the excitement that we need to create the largest voter turnout in the history of this country reporter biden and Mike Bloomberg, also releasing new digital ads targeting sanders. Biden accusing sanders to consider a primary challenge to president obama in 2012. I think it would be a good idea if president obama faced primary opposition reporter sanders denying it. I did not give any conversation for running for president of the United States until 2015 reporter bloombergs ads against gun control legislation. And the views on gun control in rural space are different than in urban space. Reporter both are critical for sanders praise for cuban dictator Fidel Castros programs. When fidel castro came into office, you know what he did he had a literacy program. Reporter sanders defending his comment. I have been critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world, including cuba. Reporter the new nbc news marist poll shows a tight race in South Carolina biden leading sanders by only four points. And that is within the margin of error. Biden is ahead of sanders with black voters by 15 . But sanders has been catching up South Carolina is going to determine who the next president of the United States is going to be you really are reporter with sanders leading in delegates and in the polls, South Carolina is a mustwin for biden the former v. P. Is expecting a boost when he will be endorsed by the most powerful democrat, jim clyburn. The other candidates facing a very big test tonight, Mike Bloomberg, who needs to recover from that shaky debate performance last week in las vegas. Thank you. Thank you lets get a check of the weather. We have rain and snow. Lets start with the snow. 25 million all the way to new england under a Winter Weather advisory showers and storms pushing through the east couple storms, showers from new york down to florida but as cold air filters in, you see snow developing from missouri all the way in to upstate new york and then new england. As we move on into thursday, the lakeeffect snow becomes really intense with cold winds behind the front. We take a look at the rainfall, especially down in florida over the next couple of days, one to three inches possible. Up the coast were looking at anywhere from two to nine inches of snow from parts of illinois, all the way into fung. Airport delays stretching from st. Louis, chicago, new york, baltimore, cleveland and cincinnati we will get to your local fast in the next 30 seconds my outback always got me there. So when it was time, of course i got a new one. Because my kids still need me. And i need them. vo welcome to the allnew subaru outback. The