A 9yearold migrant girl dying while trying to cross the rio grande her mother sharing her grief tonight. The georgia democrat arrested while protesting the new law passed by State Republicans restricting voting rights, including a ban on giving food or water to voters in line how President Biden is responding if you are booking a rental car for your next vacation, will it be there when you arrive the growing problem and what you can do about it my conversation, the four female Navy Commanders making history. And celebrating the bestselling author beloved by generations of children announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt good evening, everyone for so many alabama and georgia communities, its been relentless and traumatizing a parade of tornadoes over the last week, and this time they have proven deadly at least six People Killed in a violent outbreak that began yesterday and into overnight. By daylight, a tornados ragged footprint came clearly into view. Neighborhoods simply crushed. Tonight, were hearing from survivors well also take you to the southern border, the tragic video thats driving home the danger and desperation being witnessed there. And with so Many Americans now being vaccinated, why are Health Officials growing increasingly concerned . Well get to all of it and more lets start in hardhit alabama Kerry Sanders is there. Reporter from cal union county, alabama, to coweta county, georgia, the damage widespread. For the survivors, today was about cleaning up and sharing the heartache of lives lost. It happened so fast really didnt give you enough time to feel anything reporter at least six people died when at least 23 tornadoes, some with winds up to 140 miles per hour, ripped through the region three of the fatalities in one home family now devastated. It happened so fast im kind of numb really right now im being able to hold it together for them reporter in georgia, twisters tearing paths of destruction under cover of darkness. In alabama, 74yearold James Dunaway who yesterday pointed to the second floor where he was in bed when the tornado hit. Today, distraught. Hes got some kind of plans for me. Things happen for a reason just believe reporter his wife joyce in the kitchen where there is no longer a roof. Ive been here 50 years. Ill die here. Fortunately, it wasnt yesterday thats right. Reporter James Dunaway says this is the third tornado that he has survived at this address tonight, the stormweary southeast traumatized after yet another deadly Tornado Outbreak kerry, has the storm threat passed . Well, on saturday, lester, the threat remains. Up to 14 Million People in the region to be on alert for tornadoes. Anrecasters say on sunday, the south and the midatlantic need to be aware of potential severe weather. Lester not what anyone wants to hear. Kerry sanders, thank you. New warnings about a surge in covid cases. Heres the encouraging news almost 90 million americans have received at least one vaccine dose but heres the but. Hospitalizations are rising again amid concern about young people spreading the virus. Miguel almaguer now with the latest. Reporter tonight, the only number of states outpacing those with a rise in new covid cases are the ones moving towards a full reopening colorado removing nearly every restriction. Arizona lifting its Face Mask Mandate as bars and clubs welcomed back crowds but the cdc director cites a 7 increase in covid cases and a rise in hospitalizations. I remain deeply concerned about this trajectory reporter with states soon opening vaccinations to all adults, a new Analysis Finds faster rollouts can be plagued with problems leadi mass frustratin yesterday, nearly 3. 5 million americans were vaccinated that record equivalent to filling up Dodger Stadium 60 times the race to vaccinate comes amid a growing debate over the origin of covid former cdc director Robert Redfield now says he believes the virus came from a Chinese Laboratory i am of the Point Of View that i still think the most likely etiology of this pathogen in wuhan was from a laboratory. You know, escaped. Other people dont believe that thats fine. Reporter dr. Fauci says many disagree the alternative explanation, which most Public Health individuals go by, is that this virus was actually circulating in china, likely in wuhan for a month or more before they were clinically recognized. Reporter the w. H. O. Could weigh in next week as we learn from the past in hopes of protecting the future miguel almaguer, nbc news make a plan so youll be ready when its your turn for a vaccination. Visit planyourvaccine. Com for more information the migrant surge at the southern border has taken on a tragic new dimension tonight with word that a 9yearold girl died, as she her family tried to reach the united states. Her mother is speaking out and expressing her anguish tonight. Gabe gutierrez has the story. We should warn you, some of this is difficult to watch reporter with a growing number of Migrant Children making their way to the u. S. , tonight a heartbreaking reminder of the dangerous journey. A 9yearold drowned while trying to cross the rio grande her mother in agony today as she spoke with telemundo i never wanted to take her life, she says i loved her. She was my princess. She was everything to me relatives in the u. S. When they were overwhelmed by the current. The Border Patrol has encountered an average of 5,000 undocumented immigrants a day over the last month, putting the u. S. On track to outpace the trump administrations monthly record of Border Crossings today both republican and Democratic Congressional delegations traveled to texas the Biden Administration wants to hide what is going on here. Were glad to see the administration, the Biden Administration, is building up the capacity to handle Kids Reporter Border Patrol Processing Facilities are overcrowded because, for unaccompanied minors, theres not enough space where theyre supposed to go next temporary housing run by the department of health and Human Services we toured one earlier this week, and the Biden Administration is now scrambling to open more. But tonight, whether you call it a crisis, a surge or something else, for mothers like aracelie francocruz, its a nightmare. Gabe gutierrez, nbc news well take a break. In just 60 seconds, the uproar over georgias restrictive new voting law as a string of states consider similar action and remembering Beverly Cleary, the beloved author of so many childrens classics ten months after the death of george floyd, opening arguments are set to begin monday in the trial of the former Police Officer charged with murder. Nbcs Shaquille Brewster is in minneapolis. Reporter tonight in minneapolis, security is tight. The National Guard activated as the city braces for potential unrest during its most highprofile murder trial ever residents should be expecting a gradual increase in Law Enforcement and National Guard presence reporter the jury of nine women and six men now seated the court says nine identifying as white, four black and two mixed race set to hear Opening Statements next week in the trial of exofficer Derek Chauvin charged with seconddegree murder and manslaughter and thirddegree murder after pinning george floyd to the ground with his knee for about nine minutes today that intersection, a selfdescribed autonomous zone. Residents opposing police entering. The space has really allowed us to really work through together as a community of what is possible for us to become reporter just three weeks ago, there was a deadly shooting inside the area. Black Business Owners telling us they want the police back. After the george floyd and the barriers went up and the crime rate went up wit slowing dow. Reporter the trial is expected to last three to deliberations, but the judge warned that could change at a moments notice. Lester all right, shaquille, thank you a restrictive new voting law in georgia is already the target of a lawsuit tonight republicans say the law makes voting more secure, but a democratic lawmaker was arrested for trying to get into the room after the governor signed it lets get more on this from Pete Williams reporter Georgia Troopers arrested a member of the legislature, park cannon, after she kept knocking on a door outside the room where Governor Brian Kemp talked about signing the sweeping new election law whats the problem . Please stop pulling on the Handcuffs Reporter she was protesting the law that says anyone asking for an Absentee Ballot must include their drivers license number instead of signing a form republicans say Verifying Identity will make voting more secure when voting in person in the state of georgia, you must have a photo i. D. It only makes sense for the same standard to apply to Absentee Ballots as well. Reporter but opponents say it will discourage turnout by elderly, poor and minority voters who tend not to have government i. D. S the law also bans the use of Ballot Drop Boxes outdoors or after business hours, cuts down on early voting in runoff elections, allows the State Legislature to take over local election boards, and makes it a crime to provide food or water to people standing in line at the polls. Its antidemocratic. Its unamerican they are trying to make it harder for people to vote, rather than making it easier. Reporter President Biden today called the georgia law an atrocity you cant provide water for people about to vote . Give me a brea reporter and President Biden saysnight the house and ju georgia law. Lester all right, Pete Williams, thank you. Late today, tennessees governor signed into law a bill that restricts transgender students from competing in school sports. A similar bill was just signed by the governor of arkansas Stephanie Gosk on the growing controversy. Reporter the supporters of the new law in arkansas say banning Transgender Athletes from Sports Levels the Playing Field. A mans belief or feelings about his gender does not erase his biological and physiological advantages over female athletes reporter the ban comes just months after President Biden signed an Executive Order on gender identity, declaring children should be able to learn without worrying about whether theyll be denied access to school sports. But 26 states are considering transgender bans in sports and three have passed laws i now have a confident, a smiling, a happy daughter reporter a missouri father State Assembly to let his daughter play the state for allowing Transgender Athletes to compete selena telling me in 2019, she missed out on a regional competition. No matter how hard we try and how hard we train, they will beat us reporter thats what worries Arkansas State senator missy ervin who wrote the new law. If we allow men to enter into and compete against girls sports, youll dismantle girls sports. Do you believe that allowing transgender girls on the Playing Field will dismantle as you say girls sports . I believe that case has happened in connecticut. But, its not a total dismantling. Yes, it can be. And that is why the law is incredibly important. Reporter supporters of transgender rights have another word for It Discrimination were required reading. Henry huggins and so many more. Tonight Beverly Cleary has died at age 104. Heres rehema ellis. Reporter Beverly Clearys stories are timeless favorites in bookstores and libraries, inspiring kids to read her first book Henry Huggins was published in 1950 followed by ralph, the legendary star of the mouse and the motorcycle and the spirited heroine ramona quimby. Like the best of authors, cleary wrote about what she knew. Ramonas father lost his job and tried to give up smoking well, my father lost his job and tried to give up smoking. Reporter growing up in rural oregon, cleary struggled to read once she mastered the art she said it was hard to find something she wanted to read so many books in those days, back in the 1920s, had been published in england, and the children had nannies and pony carts and they seemed like a bunch of sissies to me reporter the reluctant reader eventually became a librarian. When she found many kids were just like her and bored with the books they were given, cleary decided to write for them it was genius. And clearys books became an instant hit in print ha, ha, i get to ride the bus to school today all by myself. Reporter and on screen ramona. Ramona. Ramona. Reporter she won dozens of awards for her 42 books with more than 85 million copies sold all around the world. When she turned 100 in 2016, she was as witty as ever. I didnt do it on purpose. Reporter what cleary did do on purpose was to celebrate kids with captivating tales of Childhood Adventures that are still worth the read today rehema ellis, nbc news, new york up next, how to beat the soaring cost of renting a car oh, you think this is just a Community Center . No. Its way more than that. Cause when you hook our community up with the internet. Boom look at ariana, crushing virtual class. Jamol, chasing that college dream. Michael, doing something crazy. This is the place where we can show the world what we can do. Comcast is partnering with 1000 Community Centers to create wifienabled lift zones, so students from lowincome families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. Oh were ready. You may have already discovered this, but with Travel Ramping back up, Rental Car Prices are soaring. Heres jo ling kent. Reporter tonight, getting your hands on a rental car is tougher than ever. Im put in a Bind Reporter unhappy customers sounding off. This is the second occasion where i reserved a car as a preferred member, get to the location. I get a phone call that they dont have cars available reporter if youre lucky enough to get behind the wheels of a rental, be prepared to pay up the average fourday rental is now 350, compared to 250 last month. All this driven by rental Car Companies dropping rates and selling off vehicles to survive the pandemic last year now as demand soars again, adding cars back is tough with automakers struggling with a Semiconductor Shortage without semiconductors to run the systems in those cars, you cant produce those cars and prices for new cars are at historic highs. How long do you think this is going to last its going to get worse before it gets better were predicting things will normalize in the fall. Reporter not only are rental cars more expensive, the price of gas keeps going up, making Vacation Budgets even tighter to avoid coming up emptyhanded, they recommend book a car rental before your flights and hotels months or weeks in advance. And consider making a Backup Reservation just in case jo ling kent, nbc news, los angeles. Now a dateline nbc Exclusive On Lori and chad daybell, the idaho couple who made headlines when loris two children disappeared only for their bodies to be found months later on chads property. Tonight, chads sisterinlaw speaks out for the first time about her sisters death and chads wedding to lori a month later. I was shocked because at that point, i mean, tammy had only been gone for a month. And i just thought, is the grief clouding his judgment i mean, who goes and does that . It didnt make sense to me. And, obviously, i was really upset you felt almost betrayed yeah, yeah. Because i felt like, that was too soon for anybody to get over my sister see much more tonight on dateline at 9 00, 8 00 central. Up next, i speak with the Navy Commanders making history. Finally, as we near the end of womens history month, i want you to meet four remarkable women of color who are literally making waves at sea as they help shape the navy of the future their warships can deliver hundreds of sailors and marines into battle in virtually any part of the world. But for four naval officers, it would be hard to top the groundbreaking journey that led them to where they are now. Commander Kimberly Jones commands the uss tortuga. Commander jones, when you consider and look at the women around you right now, what do you think . I think that i am honored and privileged to serve with them, to waterfront and hopefully be an example. But stand next to them is something that is truly hard to capture in words for the first time in navy history, four women of color are commanding warships at the same time. Commander ladonna simpson, a Naval Academy grad, is the captain of the uss carter hall. We talked to her while under way at sea what do all four of you share in common . We have managed to make our family work with the career that we have in the navy, and weve all been successful at doing that and that family includes children. All are moms commander Kathryn Wijnaldum is the Commanding Officer of the uss oak hill. Does each one make you better at the other . Does being a great mother make you better at being the captain of the ship . If it werent for, one, being married over 18 years, i would not know how to operate in a maledominated profession as a mother, it definitely taught me patience and Time Management commander kristel ocanas is the Commanding Officer of the uss whidbey island. The fourth generation in her family to serve in the military. We have family on board. And every single sailor is important. And being able to relate to everyone on board and have a story and talk to them is one of the more magical things that we get to do as Commanding Officers on a ship the commanders each carry the hardearned distinction of being nuclear qualified. Their s. T. E. M. Focused background science, technology, engineering and math they hope will inspire others coming up the we are a collective of diverse personalities, and it takes all of us. So stand up, be you. Be your best you tremendous advice and a privilege to talk to all four of them thats nightly news for this friday. Just a program note, i recently had a chance to catch up with students taking part in a unique School Music Program in los angeles and i couldnt help joining in for a little jam well have that and more tomorrow on Nightly News Kids Edition right here on nbc. Thank you for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night right now, at 6 00. Rallying against hate. The show of support across the bay area for the asian community. Important for support businesses. How you can help do your part from your couch, right now. Plus, one minute theyre shopping. The next, they are getting told to get out of the store, as quickly as possible. The tense moments at a target store in san jose that brought the police out. Looking to book a Vaccine Appointment but running into problems. When Governor Newsom says things like we are going to open up to the entire world, the problem is exactly as you are describing. The Vaccine Appointments are in such short supply. We are going to show you some tricks to help you get that highly coveted appointment. The news at 6 00 starts right now. Thanks for joining us. Across the bay and across the country, the asianamerican community and their allies took to the streets today. Their message, very simple. End the hate and violence. In san francisco, hundreds turned out to denounce the recent attacks on members of the aapi community. It began with a march from union scare to the plaza. Followed by, we spoke to, broug her Young Children to make sure they could see the support. Its really scary. And that, you know, again, like i said, its its nothing new