>>> TONIGHT, IS THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF MONEY TO PAY ITS DEBTS? THE DIRE NEW WARNING BY TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN, NOW TELLING CONGRESS A DEFAULT COULD HAPPEN IN JUST WEEKS IF IT DOESN'T RAISE OR SUSPEND THE DEBT LIMIT. WHAT IT ALL COULD MEAN FOR AMERICANS. PLUS, THE 11th HOUR MEETING PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN. BUT IS THERE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATIONS? >>> THE HUGE PILEUP AND FIERY CRASHES CAUSED BY A MASSIVE DUST STORM. AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE REPORTED KILLED AND DOZENS MORE HOSPITALIZED. >>> PLUS, HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SEARCHING BY LAND AND AIR FOR THE SUSPECT WHO KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AT A HOME IN TEXAS. THE HEARTBROKEN FATHER. A 9-YEAR-OLD AMONG THE DEAD. AUTHORITIES SAY THE SUSPECT HAD BEEN DEPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES. >>> AN NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. AFTER THE U.S. SHOT DOWN A SPY BALLOON FROM CHINA, THE MILITARY TRACKING SWIMMING POOL. WHAT PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD KNOW. >>> JUST HOURS TO GO BEFORE A THREATENED NGING THE SONGS AGAIN THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE START WITH BREAKING NEWS. IN A YEAR DEFINED BY EXTREME AND DEADLY WEATHER, THE LATEST, A DUST STORM ALONG A STRETCH OF I-55 IN ILLINOIS. DOZENS OF CARS PILED UP IN POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. TONIGHT, SIX PEOPLE ARE DEAD, MORE THAN 30 HOSPITALIZED. MUCH MORE ON THE STORY IN JUST A MOMENT. >>> BUT FIRST, THE WINDOW FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY ITS BILLS JUST GOT A LOT NARROWER. THAT NEWS COMING IN A LETTER TO CONGRESS FROM TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN WHO, AFTER CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS AGAIN, ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WILL BE UNABLE TO SATISFY ITS OBLIGATIONS BY EARLY JUNE, POTENTIALLY AS EARLY AS JUNE 1st. THE NEW ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT FIVE DAYS EARLIER THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT, PILING ON MORE PRESSURE ON CONGRESS TO MAKE A DEAL TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING. THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE IS DEMANDING SPENDING CUTS BEFORE AGREEING TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT, PUTTING IT AT SHARP ODDS WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND BIDEN WHITE HOUSE. RYAN NOBLES IS AT THE CAPITOL TONIGHT. RYAN, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS HERE? >> Reporter: WE SHOULD FIND THAT OUT NEXT WEEK, AND THAT'S BECAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE PHONE CALLS TODAY TO HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY AND OTHER CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, ASKING THEM TO COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A MEET ON MAY 9th TO NEGOTIATE THE DEBT CEILING SHOWDOWN. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE, ESPECIALLY AFTER HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND McCARTHY PASSED AN INCREASE TO THE DEBT CEILING BUT ONLY IF DEMOCRATS WOULD AGREE TO STEEP SPENDING CUTS. IT WAS THOUGHT OF AS A WAY TO BRING BIDEN BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. BIDEN SAID HE'D ONLY AGREE TO A DEBT CEILING INCREASE WITH NO OTHER STRINGS ATTACHED. EARLIER TODAY THE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER APPEARED NO CLOSER TO MAKE A DEAL. >> WE PAY OUR BILLS AND SHOULD DO SO WITHOUT HOSTAGE TAKING BY SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS. >> WE WILL NOT PASS THE DEBT CEIL IF IT JUST RAISES IT WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT OUR DEBT. >> Reporter: THIS NEW LETTER FROM THE TREASURY SECRETARY BRINGS WITH IT A NEW LEVEL OF URGENCY. THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT DAYS WHERE THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE BOTH IN SESSION BEFORE THEY HIT THAT DEADLINE. THE U.S. HAS NEVER DEFAULTED ON ITS DEBT, AND IF IT WERE TO, FINANCIAL ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD LEAD TO AN ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE. LESTER? >> RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. >>> IN ILLINOIS, AUTHORITIES SAY MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND DOZENS INJURED ON A HIGHWAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF A HUGE DUST CLOUD. JESSE KIRSCH HAS LATE DETAILS FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THIS HIGHWAY DUST STORM TURNING DEADLY IN ILLINOIS. STATE POLICE SAY DOZENS OF VEHICLES CRASHED ON A HIGHWAY SOUTH OF THE STATE CAPITAL THIS MORNING. >> THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WINDS BLOWING DIRT FROM FARM FIELDS ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, LEADING TO ZERO VISIBILITY. >> Reporter: AT LEAST 6 PEOPLE KILLED, WITH OVER 30 TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, AND TWO SEMIS CATCHING FIRE ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. >> AT THIS TIME OUR NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE ARE APPROXIMATELY. 20 COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES AND 40 TO 60 PASSENGER CARS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. >> Reporter: THAT BRUTAL WEATHER, ROUGHLY A THREE-HOUR DRIVE SOUTH OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, IN E-A REGION WHERE SOME STREETS ARE BETTER SUITED FOR BOATS THAN CARS. IN BUFFALO, IOWA, JANINE BUCKLEY SAYS THANKS TO THOSE SANDBAGS INSIDE HER HOUSE IS DRY. YOU STILL HAVE POWER, HEAT. IF YOU WERE INSIDE YOU'D HAVE NO POWER. >> IF I HAD THE CURTAINS CLOSED I'D NEVER KNOW. >> Reporter: OTHERS AROUND THE CITY ARE NOT SO LUCKY. THE THE MIDWEST WAITS TO DRY OUT, PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST ARE CLEANING UP FROM TORNADOES. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A TWISTER WITH 145-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS RIPPED THROUGH VIRGINIA BEACH AFTER A WEAKER TORNADO HIT PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, SATURDAY, TOSSING CARS. >> IT'S LOUD, SCARY LIGHTNING EVERYWHERE. >> Reporter: DAVENPORT WAITING FOR WORD THE WATER IS DONE RISING NOW. A FAMILIAR PROBLEM SOME PEOPLE FEEL IS A FAIR PRICE FOR LIFE ON THE RIVER. >> JESSE JOINING US NOW. WHEN DO WE EXPECT THE FLOODWATERS TO RECEDE? >> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF WATER DOWNTOWN. WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO START DROPPING TOMORROW, BUT PARTS OF THE CITY WILL BE FLOODED INTO NEXT WEEK. LESTER? >> THANK YOU. >>> AN URGENT MANHUNT IS UNDER WAY IN TEXAS TO PICK UP THE TRAIL OF A MAN WHO AUTHORITIES SAY TURNED HIS ASSAULT RIFLE ON NEIGHBORS, KILLING FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY. PRISCILLA THOMPSON HAS LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL SCOURING THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, CHASING DOWN TIPS, LOOKING FOR THE MAN WANTED FOR FIVE MURDERS. >> WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP SO WE CAN BRING THIS SUSPECT, OR THIS MONSTER I WILL CALL HIM, TO JUSTICE. >> Reporter: AN $80,000 REWARD HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST. THE SHERIFF SAYS 38-YEAR-OLD FRANCISCO BARGED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOME LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND OPENED FIRE EXECUTION STYLE WITH AN AR-15 RIFLE AFTER HE WAS ASKED TO STOP SHOOTING THE GUN ON HIS FRONT LAWN. FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED, ALL HONDURAN NATIONALS AUTHORITIES SAY. THE YOUNGEST JUST 9 YEARS OLD. WILSON GARCIA ESCAPED THE CARNAGE, BUT HOURS LATER RETURNED TO HIS HOME WHERE HIS WIFE AND YOUNG SON WERE MURDERED, TELLING NBC NEWS HIS SON WAS KILLED TRYING TO PROTECT HIS MOM, THAT WHEN HE SAW HER LYING ON THE FLOOR, HE RAN TO HER AND WAS SHOT DEAD. [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: THREE OTHER CHILDREN WERE ALSO FOUND AT THE SCENE COVERED IN BLOOD BUT UNINJURED. SHIELDED, AUTHORITIES SAY, BY TWO OF THE WOMEN WHO DIED. GARCIA SAYS HE HAD CALLED POLICE THAT NIGHT TO REPORT HIS NEIGHBOR WAS BEING THREATENING BUT SAYS IT TOOK 20 MINUTES FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. >> WE GOT A CALL ABOUT 11:31 P.M., AND THEN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THEREAFTER, WE RECEIVED OTHER 911 CALLS OF SHOOTING GOING ON, THERE'S BODIES, AND SO WE PICKED OUR PRIORITY. >> Reporter: NEW DETAILS ARE A MERGING ABOUT THE SUSPECT, INCLUDING, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS, THAT THE MEXICAN NATIONAL HAD BEEN DEPORTED FOUR TIMES. >> ANYONE WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO KILL SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY KIDS, WILL KILL AGAIN. I THINK THAT'S A FEAR, THAT'S A REAL FEAR. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A COMMUNITY ON EDGE WITH A KILLER ON THE LOOSE. PRISCILLA THOMPSON, NBC NEWS, CLEVELAND, TEXAS. >>> THREE MONTHS AFTER THE U.S. SHOT DOWN THAT CHINESE SURVEILLANCE BALLOON, THE MILITARY IS TRACKING ANOTHER BALLOON, THIS TIME OVER HAWAII. COURTNEY KUBE IS AT THE PENTAGON WITH DETAILS. COURTNEY, WHERE IS THAT BALLOON HEADED NOW? >> Reporter: THE MYSTERY BALLOON IS NOW HEADING TOWARDS MEXICO AFTER FLY OVER HAWAII, ACCORDING TO THREE U.S. OFFICIALS. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO OWNS IT OR WHAT IT'S DOING, BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT IS NOT A CHINESE SURVEILLANCE BALLOON. THIS COME AFTER THAT CHINESE SPY BALLOON INCIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FACED CRITICISM FOR ALLOWING THAT BALLOON TO FLY ACROSS THE U.S. BEFORE SHOOTING IT DOWN. U.S. OFFICIALS TOLD NBC NEWS THE BALLOON GATHERED INTELLIGENCE OVER SENSITIVE MILITARY SITES, BUT WE'RE TOLD THIS NEW OBJECT IS NOT COMMUNICATING ANY SIGNALS AND DID NOT CROSS OVER SENSITIVE SITES IN HAWAII. THE PENTAGON, AT LEAST FOR NOW TONIGHT, SAYS NO LONGER ACTION IS NEEDED. >> COURTNEY KUBE, WITH AN UPDATE, THANK YOU. >>> ANOTHER ECONOMIC HEADLINE TODAY. THE LATEST BANK FAILURE FIRST REPUBLIC, NOW THE THIRD BANK TO FAIL IN JUST TWO MONTHS. SEIZED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS EARLIER TODAY AND SOLD TO J.P. MORGAN CHASE. CNBC'S ANDREW ROSS SORKIN JOINING ME. ANDREW, HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED HERE. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST BANK FAILURE SINCE 2008. $100 BILLION OF DEPOSITS LEFT THIS BANK OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IT WAS A CLASSIC RUN ON THE BANK. THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN, SAVED THAT BANK, AND EFFECTIVELY SOLD IT ASSETS TO J.P. MORGAN. THE GOOD NEWS, DEPOSITORS, ALL OF THEM, DIDN'T LOSE ANY MONEY AT ALL, AND THE BRANCHES OPENED TODAY. WHAT IT MEANS EVEN MORE BROADLY IS THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IMPLICITLY IS PREPARED TO GUARANTEE ALL DEPOSITORS AT BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> ANDREW ROSS SORKIN, THANK YOU. >>> IN NEW YORK, TOUGH QUESTIONING BY DONALD TRUMP'S LAWYER FOR THE WRITER ACCUSING HIM OF RAPE AND DEFAMATION. SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT REPORTS. >> Reporter: BACK ON THE STAND, E. JEAN CARROLL FACING A SECOND DAY OF INTENSE CROSS-EXAMINATION. JOE TACOPINA, AN ATTORNEY FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT, DOUBLING DOWN ON THE DEFENSE THEORY THAT CARROLL MADE UP HER ACCUSATION AGAINST MR. TRUMP TO GAIN NOTORIETY. PLAYING THIS OLD INTERVIEW ON CNN FOR THE JURY, WHERE SHE DESCRIBES BUMPING INTO DONALD TRUMP AND HELPING HIM PICK OUT A GIFT. >> HE WAS GOING TO GET LINGERIE. I'M LIKE, I COULD DINE OUT FOREVER ON THIS STORY. >> Reporter: TODAY CARROLL TOLD THE JURY IT WAS SUCH A NEW YORK STORY AND SUCH A HAPPY STORY, AND THEN OF COURSE IT TURNED TRAGIC. SHE SAYS THE FORMER PRESIDENT RAPED HER IN THE DRESSING ROOM, AN ALLEGATION THE DEFENSE AGAIN TRIED TO UNDERMINE MONDAY BY SAYING SHE NEVER TRIED TO CALL THE POLICE, DESPITE TELLING OTHERS IN HER ADVICE COLUMN TO DO SO. CARROLL EXPLAINING IN COURT, I'M A MEMBER OF THE SILENT GENERATION. WOMEN LIKE ME WERE TAUGHT TO KEEP OUR CHINS UP AND NOT COMPLAIN. TACOPINA ALSO CONFRONTING CARROLL WITH OLD POSTS ON FACEBOOK YEARS AFTER SHE SAID SHE WAS ASSAULTED WHERE SHE CALLS HERSELF A, QUOTE, MASSIVE FAN OF TRUMP'S TV SHOW "THE APPRENTICE". BUT CARROLL TOLD THE JURY SHE ALSO MADE SEVERAL JOKES ABOUT HIM. TODAY TRUMP VISITED SCOTLAND. IT APPEARS UNLIKELY HE'LL SHOW UP AT TRIAL. EARLY THIS MORNING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FILED A MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL, CITING A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR JUDGMENT AGAINST THEM. THE JUDGE DENIED THAT NOTION. LESTER? >> LAURA JARRETT, THANK YOU. >>> IT'S BEEN A VIOLENT DAY IN FRANCE. DEMONSTRATORS CLASHING WITH POLICE OVER THE PLAN TO INCREASE THE RETIREMENT AGE, AND NOW THREATENING TO DISRUPT WORLD FAMOUS EVENTS LIKE THE FRENCH OPEN. RICHARD ENGEL IS THERE. >> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TODAY TOOK TO THE STREETS ACROSS FRANCE TO PROTEST AGAINST WORKING MORE. THEY'RE TRYING TO FORCE PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON TO REVERSE THE NEW DEEPLY UNPOPULAR LAW, RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE FROM 62 TO 64, A CHANGE MADE WITHOUT A VOTE IN PARLIAMENT AND APPROVED BY THE HIGHEST COURT HERE. MORE THAN 100 POLICEMAN WERE INJURED. 20 HOSPITALIZED IN PARIS ALONE. THE POLICE HAVE BEEN CHARGING THROUGH HERE, AND THE PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THEM BACK, KICKING THEM, THROWING STONES AT THEM, AND NOW IT'S TOO MUCH TEAR GAS HERE. MOST OF THE PROTESTERS WERE FAR FROM RETIREMENT AGE. SOME CRITICS SAY THAT PEOPLE IN FRANCE ARE BEING UNREALISTIC, THAT YOU NEED TO WORK MORE. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: AND THAT THEY'RE LAZY, FRANKLY. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? >> WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THE AMERICANS, LIKE, 80 YEARS OLD, HAVE TO WORK. THIS IS NOT A LIFE. IT'S NOT A LIFE. >> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT ARGUES DEMOGRAPHICS ARE KILLING EARLY RETIREMENT. PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER AND HAVE FEWER CHILDREN TO KEEP THE SYSTEM GOING. THE DEMONSTRATORS DON'T BUY IT AND SAY THEY'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR A WORK/LIFE BALANCE THAT'S SLIPPING AWAY. LABOR UNIONS SAY THEY WILL CUT THE ELECTRICITY TO THE UPCOMING CANNES FILM NEWS. >> HORRIBLY SAD. >>> STILL AHEAD, DOWN TO THE WIRE IN HOLLYWOOD WITH A POTENTIAL WRITER >>> THE BIGGEST DRAMA IN >>> THE BIGGEST DRAMA IN YEARS IS PLAYING OUT IN HOLLYWOOD. THE INDUSTRY BRACING FOR A WRITERS STRIKE JUST HOURS FROM NOW THAT COULD SHUT DOWN YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS. MIGUEL ALMAGUER EXPLAINS WHAT'S AT STAKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, SUSPENSEFUL HOLLYWOOD DRAMA UNFOLDING BEHIND THE SCENES HAS COME DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH JUST HOURS LEFT FOR THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO REACH A DEAL WITH THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS WHICH REPRESENTS STUDIOS. AT ODDS OVER STREAMING RESIDUALS, HIGHER PAY, AND CONSOLIDATED JOBS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WRITE FOR YOUR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS AND MOVIES ARE SET TO WALK OFF THE JOB AT MIDNIGHT. >> NOBODY WANTS A STRIKE, BUT THEY HAVE TO MEET US. THEY HAVE TO MEET -- WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH. WE'RE ASKING FOR JUST A LIVABLE WAGE AND FOR OUR JOBS TO BE PROTECTED AND FOR US TO MAKE RESIDUALS ON THE CONTENT WE'RE CREATING. IF WE DON'T STAND UP TO THESE BULLIES WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GETTING BULLIED OUR WHOLE LIVES AND NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. >> Reporter: IF PENCILS GO DOWN AND PICKET SIGNS GO UP, WE COULD SEE A SEQUEL TO THE 2007-2008 STRIKE THAT COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND CUT INTO SHOW PRODUCTION. >> IF A STRIKE BEGINS THIS WEEK, THE FIRST THING VIEWERS AT HOME WILL NOTICE IS THEIR FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SHOWS WILL GO INTO RERUNS. IF THERE IS A STRIKE, THE LONGER IT GOES THE, MORE SIGNIFICANT THE IMPACT. BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT A SCRIPT. >> Reporter: A SHUTDOWN TRICKLES WELL BEYOND WRITERS. PRODUCTION PROPS AND EVEN CRAFT SERVICES WOULD BE LOCKED OUT. THAT'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. WITH NEGOTIATIONS STILL UNDER WAY, THE STUDIO REPS SAY ITS PRIORITY IS THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND STABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY. TONIGHT, THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THIS REAL-LIFE HOLLYWOOD CLIFFHANGER. >> MIGUEL JOINING ME HERE IN OUR LOS ANGELES STUDIOS. YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO INSIDERS. ARE THEY SURPRISED THE TALKS HAVE GONE ON SO LATE? >> NOT SURPRISED. THESE NEGOTIATIONS TYPICALLY GO INTO THE 11th HOUR, BUT PEOPLE THAT WERE OPTIMISTIC HE STAG JOHN FOGERTY AND HIS BAND. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW ALL THAT HAPPENED. WE'L