At least seven people, Leaving Tens Of Thousands without power and hundreds of accidents. The alarming new warning about that massive cyber attack tied to russ now being called a grave risk to the government and beyond tough questions in congress for the family behind the maker of oxycontin and what they had to say about the Opioid Painkiller tied to so many deaths. Millions of packages stranded or delivered late. Tonight, warnings of new delays and what a Teacher Of The Year tells me about educating our kids, some valuable lessons for us all this is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening. There are several breaking covid19 developments as we start here tonight just a short time ago, an independent panel of experts recommended the fda approve a second vaccine, this is the one made by a Company Called moderna. A decision that within days could start injecting 6 million more vaccine doses into Distribution Networks and this evening the need couldnt be more urgent as Hospital Icus across densely populated Southern California reach their dreaded breaking point. 0 availability. Our reporting starts with tom costello. Reporter the vote today, nearly unanimous just as with pfizers vaccine, the fdas outside Advisory Committee is now recommending Emergency Authorization for modernas vaccine. The full fda could decide by tomorrow. The evidence that has been studied in great detail on this vaccine is highly outweighs any of the issues we have seen. Reporter the moderna and Pfizer Vaccines are very similar. Both use messenger Rna Technology that instructs the bodys Immune System to attack the virus both are close to 95 effective after 2 doses. The Moderna Vaccine seems to reduce asymptomatic infection by 63 after a single shot and while pfizers vaccine must be kept at negative 94 degrees fahrenheit modernas can be stored in a typica refrigerator, potentially a better option for hospitals and clinics without deep freezers. This week, millions of medical workers and nursing home residents are receiving the Pfizer Vaccine. The vast majority, like deann hall, a pharmacist at the university of pittsburgh, report no significant side effects. How are you feeling today . A little bit of a sore arm, achy muscle but no fever, headache or anything unusual. Reporter moderna says it has no reports of serious side effects during its trials but after two medical workers in alaska suffered allergic reactions to the Pfizer Vaccine, one of them serious, the fda says it will revise allergic reaction guidelines and urge the vaccinations occur close to emergency medical treatment. These cases underscore the need to remain vigilant during the early phase of the Vaccination Campaign reporter meanwhile doctors offices have been swamped with people eager for the shots. Dr. Jake deutsch runs two Urgent Care Centers in new york. Were getting phone calls. Were getting people messaging us through our portals. Yesterday we had a patient walk in and say she was there for the vaccine. Reporter a nation now hoping two vaccines will speed a return to normalcy tom, i know some states are complaining theyre not going to get the amount o Pfizer Vaccine next week they had been promised. What do we know . Reporter including iowa saying its expecting 30 less than it had anticipated but the government says thats not true that, in fact, all the shipments spread out over the week. Lester so, tom, america right now living through a split screen on one the vaccines and hope, on the other a soulcrushing horror as Southern Californias icu reach the tipping point, o capacity. As nationwide more infections and deaths. Heres miguel almaguer. Reporter tonight Southern California is on the brink of disaster, a region home to 23 Million People and the countrys second largest city, now reporting no open icu beds. So much stress on us, really working so hard through this. Hours and hours and hours and hours per day, nonstop. Reporter in a year filled with misery and loss, our nation is now in the depths of our darkest days, the pandemic took a cordre number of lives yesterday while for the 11th straight Day Hospitalizions soared to new heights. Covid wards like this one are operating at capacity and while this hospital has the unique ability to create more icu beds what they need desperately is staff tonight our country running out of space for the sick and the dying. We know that the morgues are fuel, the coroner is full. Reporter from colorado to missouri, Funeral Homes are also overwhelmed. We are booking maybe three weeks out. And im talking about every day, sometime two and three a day. Reporter fearing another surge on top of a surge, authorities are pleading for americans not to travel over christmas but upwards of 85 million still plan to hit the road nows not the time to say, you know, im just so tired of all of this, im jus going to do whatever i want to do that would only make matters worse. Reporter small gatherings are now accounting for a large number of the sick, more than 17 million nationwide are infected. I would obviously do anything to have her here reporter Catalina Montero lost her mother last month. Im personally heartbreaking. I would honestly say my mom was m best friend and i miss her every day. Reporter one familys heartbreak amid a nations grief. Miguel joins us now from los angeles miguel, it sounds like the situation in Southern Californi escalated to critical levels is that how officials are describing it . Reporter it is not only are icu beds at full capacity, bu inside many hospitals doctors say there are not enough nurses to help care for the patients in fact, in Southern California some nurses say theyre going to strike on Christmas Eve saying the conditions for patients are simpl dangerous inside icus and e. R. S, lester. You have been on the front lines but what is it like in Southern California as you drive the streets . Reporter lester, a lot of people are staying home but i can tell you on the flip side of that, inside the e. R. S and icu, where we spent the past few days, the situation is grim. Patients there are in their 30s, 40s and 50s they say theyre seeing patients at all age levels across the board, lester. This thing is hitting us in so many ways miguel, thank you. Beyond a vaccine, Something Else that millions of americans are counting on is new Economic Relief as they suffer through the downturn from this pandemic tonight it appears congress may be getting close. Nbcs Garrett Haake has the latest. Reporter tonight lawmakers are scrambling to lock in a 900 billion covid relief bill. Help is on the way. Theres an awful lot of help on the way and a lot of good will be done for a lot of people and keep the economy from collapsing. Reporter the package being hammered out would be the first relief from washington since march. Expected to checks likely around 600, enhanced Unemployment Benefits of 300 per week, billions of dollars to fund vaccin distribution and help Small Businesses not included, direct aid to state and local governments and no Liability Protection for businesses with some key programs set to expire after christmas, time is of the essence. Struggling americans dont just need action. They need action fast. Reporter Randy Williams of tennessee cant wait he lost his job in march and will lose his Unemployment Benefits in nine days if congress doesnt act. I try not to dwell on the what ifs. What will i do next because to be honest ive run out of what im going to do next. Reporter and top lawmakers are continuing to negotiate with the hopes of reaching an agreement tonight so that both chambers could vote tomorrow before Government Funding runs out at midnight lester all right garrett, thank you. The northeast is recovering this evening from a major winter storm that lived up to and even beyond its billing with record snowfall of several feet or more in some areas and some deadly conditions on the roadways Gabe Gutierrez tells us more tonight. Reporter tonight the northeast is digging out after one of the most powerful Winter Storms in years. Binghamton, new york, with a whopping 40 inches of snow, a record other parts of new york state and pennsylvania were also buried under more than three feet of snow 11 states with a foot or more. Road conditions are bad everywhere. Reporter the storm swept through causing Whiteout Conditions in connecticut. People should stay home i mean, not just due to covid but we need time to clear the roads. Reporter and Flooded Streets in massachusetts. 66 vehicles were involved in one Chain Reaction crash in Pennsylvania Travel Treacherous across the region. At least seven People Killed Tens Of Thousands left without power you seen a down line, please dont go near it and be safe. Reporter no on was injured when this plane skidded off a runway in baltimore. Hundreds of u. S. Flights canceled. Thought it would rain and then snow and sleet. And then snow on top reporter in the new york suburbs, a roof collapsed as the storm dumped more than ten inches of snow on central park, more than all of last winter. Many took it in stride. So peaceful its been such a tumultuous year and it feels like its quiet and peaceful and it is really nice. Reporter now that the storm has roared through, the coldest air of the season is expected to move in. Lester all right Gabe Gutierrez tonight, thanks. Were learning more this evening about the Harrowing Police raid on a womans apartment in chicago that turned out to be the wrong house. Blayne alexander now with the new video and what the mayor had to say about it reporter tonight the city of chicago is releasing new Body Camera Video showing the moments before and after the police raid that left angenet young naked, handcuffed in her home youve got the wrong house Reporter Police later learned it was the wrong house. One video shows an officer speaking to a female colleague. Shes naked and she probably will need some clothes so you want me to get her dressed . Reporter later an officer appears to apologize to young. You are a hard working person, maam. I understand that. I do apologize for putting you in this situation. Reporter at one point police try to use an Ironing Board to secure her broken door in chicago, the outrage is growing mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a review of the citys Video Release Policy and all pending Search Warrant cases. If there are other wrongs that need to be righted we are going to do just that. Reporter she also revisited new protocols enacted earlier this year. We need to ensure that this never happens again. With reformed policies, procedures and accountability reporter officials are reviewing the Search Warrant that led to the raid. Blayne alexander, nbc news. All right. For the first time today members of the family behind the company that makes oxycontin answered questions publicly about their role in the Opioid Crisis. Appearing before a House Committee and provoking even more outrage. Heres kate snow with that reporter videos from families destroyed by Oxycontin Addiction Set The Tone and now our family approaches another Holiday Season without my son. Reporter the current ceo and members of the wealthy family that founded Purdue Pharma, david and cathy sackler, offering apologies i am profoundly sorry. I am deeply and profoundly sorry that oxycontin has played a role in any addiction and death. Reporter but the sacklers who both spent time on purdues board argued they didnt know what they were doing to push sales of oxycontin will you apologiz for the role you played in the Opioid Crisis . I have struggled with that question there is nothing that i can find that i would have done differently. Reporter the family hammered over 10 billion in profit they withdrew over ten years, even as states were beginning to investigate democrats and republicans joining forces. Im not sure that im aware of any family in america thats more evil than yours. Our opinion of Purdue Pharma and the actions of your family i think we all agree are sickening. The family and the board acted legally and ethically. Reporter David Sackler argued theres systems to stop doctors from writing illegitimate prescriptions. Im frustrated and disappointed that they may have come up short but i think frustration and disappointment is great but you need to pay up and be held accountable. Reporter the sacklers are still negotiating a Bankruptcy Court settlement members of Congress Demanding they use some of the billions to help those who suffered most. Kate snow, nbc news. A new warning tonight about the scope of a massive cyber attack that appears to be the work of russian intelligence with more on that heres Pete Williams reporter u. S. Security officials are just beginning to discover how widespread the intrusion is acknowledging that it targeted at least the treasury, commerce, state and Homeland Security departments and may have hit the Pentagon American intelligence Officials Say theres little doubt it was spying by the russians at a massive level a u. S. Security bulletin issued thursday said it poses a grave risk to the government and private sector and said removing the infected Computer Code will be highly complex and challenging. The intrusion went undetected for nearly nine months, allowing the attackers to hunt for data in Unclassified Systems and read government emails in terms of theft of data and we believe that russian intelligence was behind this, this is probably one of the most consequential operations we have ever seen just in terms of the scope and the breadth of potential victims. Reporter tom bossert, a former u. S. Homeland security adviser, says in avernme New York Times oped we must act as if the russian government has control of all the networks it penetrated equally troubling, the companies and Government Agencies that were victimized may never know exactly what the russians looked at and managed to steal lester all right Pete Williams tonight, thank you. Russian athletes will have to compete under a neutral flag for the next two oims. Olympics a Sports Arbitration Court today banned the russian flag and anthem, punishment for a doping coverup. In just 60 seconds when bad things happen to nice presents the Shipping Nightmares that might be getting even worse. Mira pat. This ones for you. You inspired us to make your humira experience even better. With humira citratefree. It has the same effectiveness you know and trust, but we removed the citrate buffers, theres less liquid, and a thinner needle. With less pain immediately following injection. Ask your doctor about humira citratefree. And you can use your copay card to pay as little as 5 a month. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections. Serious and sometimes fatal infections,. Including tuberculosis, and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened,. As have blood, liver, and nervous system problems,. Serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. 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Reporter crewlala a South Carolina Boutique Selling custom dog collars hasnt been able to track their Post Office Shipments at all. How worried are you that might lose customers over something that you cant control . Thats the worst part of it im worried that especially for firsttime customers that this experience is going to turn them away. Reporter 30 of all crewlala packages have been delayed forcing them to switch to u. P. S. Next year. Its been our biggest christmas season, our biggest year to date, so its sad that its ending this way we will prevail. Reporter Keeping Holiday Spirits up in this final Shopping Sprint Jo Ling kent nbc news, los angeles. Up next, where did covid start . The hunt for answers next in our Exclusive Report report. Managing type 2 diabet . Youre on it. Exercising often and eating healthy . Yup, on it there too. You may think youre doing all you can to manage Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. But could your medication do more to lower your heart risk . 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Reporter an early theory that covid jumped from bats to another animal to humans at the wet market in wuhan, we verified this image of a menu from there offering wild animals for sale like Live Wolf Cubs and civits but there are many missing pieces the scientists tell us are you looking for a ground zero . And how confident are you that youll find one . Theres no guarantees this is not a one time visit. Reporter their work will depend on cooperation from chinese scientists and china, a country thats denied initially covering covid up officially the chinese say the first patient got sick on december 1st, 2019. By january 2nd, 41 people were hospitalized with confirmed covid. Many had no link to the market. Well follow the traces wherever they take us. Reporter the world health organization, which appointed the team, rejects criticism its too close to china. Are you confident that chinese scientists are able to speak openly theyre talking us to us. Were talking openly about all the different hypothesis on the table politics are clearly there. We all know that. Reporter peter daszak rejects accusations he is too close to chinese scientists saying the connections will help the investigation. Lester all right keir simmons, thank you. When we come back, a teacher touched by an angelk vicks vapopatch. Easy to wear with Soothing Vicks Vapors for her, for you, for the whole family. Trusted soothing vapors, from vicks find a stock basedtech. On your interests or whats trending. Get realtime insights in your customized view of the market. Its smarter Trading Technology for smarter trading decisions. Fidelity. Lets be honest. Quitting smoking is hard. Like, quitting every monday hard. Quitting feels so big. So try making it smaller, and youll be surprised at how easily starting small can lead to something big. Start stopping with nicorette. Starting small can lead to something big. 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I think all of us had teachers growing up who just made that special impact who was that person for you . That was my fourth grade teacher. My personal angel. Thats what i call her. When i was in her class in fourth grade social services knocked on her door and took me to a foster home. She grabbed me and she whispered in my ear. She said, anthony, everything is going to be all right. Reporter her name was ms. Wilson and she searched for anthony. When she found me, she just began to pour into me and began to tell me, you know, i dont want you to grow up to be like your parents. You can make something of yourself. Reporter boy, was she right. Swan was recently named virginias Teacher Of The Year for 2021 and i want to be a good, nice teacher like him. He makes me feel that i can do anything. Reporter he started what he calls guys with ties, Teaching Honesty and respect. You seem to exemplify the whole notion of paying it forward. Is that important to you . Absolutely. Yes, sir i just believe in giving back because the same way that someone impacted me because one word or one action can change somebodys life forever. Hence why im a teacher. Reporter the kind of teacher you remember thank you, mr. Swan thats nightly news for this thursday thank you for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night right now at 6 00 a second vaccine on the fast track for the approval. So what happens next now that another Coronavirus Vaccine wins backing from the panel . First doses in the south bay. Who else is eligible. Its a nine month thing. We have never had this before. The message as the county reaches this milestone. They are popping up everywhere. In the bay area. For lease signs. I lost 80 of sales. Theres a plan in san jose to help struggling businesses. Good evening. Thanks for being with us. Raj is with us. With San Francisco new controversial travel policy. Its catching people off guard. Beginning midnite tonight if you enter San Francisco from out of town you have to quarantine. There are important details to know about. Well tell you those in a few minutes. Another monumental day. Advisory panel approved another covid vaccine. From moderna. A key step that paves the way to distribute the second vaccine in the u. S. Next up the decision will go to the fda. Which follows the panel decision