WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nexstar) — President Donald Trump honored Rick Rescorla Thursday for saving thousands of lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Rescorla was working in the Twin Towers on September 11 when the first plane hit and helped thousands of people evacuate.

But he was able to get out in time to save his own life.

“On Tuesday September 11, 2001, Rick got up early, put on his blue pinstripe suit and just before he left his home in New Jersey he kissed Susan and told her “I’ve never felt better in my life. I love you so,” said Trump.

It would be the last time Susan Rescorla saw her husband. 

Rick was working as the head of security at Morgan Stanley, based in the South Tower of the World Trade Center, when the first plane hit.

Trump says Rick ran up the stairs of the South Tower to tell thousands of people to evacuate.

Rick never made it out of the tower but because of him, 2,700 people did.

Trump posthumously awarded Rick the Presidential Citizens Medal. Susan says she knows her husband is looking down, proud to be an American.

The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Last year, for the third straight year, suicides of police officers outnumbered deaths in the line of duty.

Bipartisan legislation before Congress would require the FBI to create a national, anonymous database of those deaths with the goal of identifying patterns and giving agencies new information to help officers before it’s too late.

“We need to be there for these men and woman who put their lives on the line, who choose to wear blue,” bill sponsor Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. “They face trauma, they’re in tough situations and then they don’t have anywhere to go.”

With 167 suicides by law enforcement officers nationwide in 2018, Hawley said it’s now the leading cause of death of the group.

“What they need to know is what kind of problems to look for,” fellow Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said. “This is a problem we have to solve. These are people who stand between us and danger.”

Several of the country’s largest law enforcement groups are backing the plan, saying it will help shed light on the trauma officers experience.

If passed, agencies would have the option to report data on officers’ suicides but would not be required to do so. They would be asked to include locations, demographic information about the officer who died and what role the officer held.

“If we’re going to bring in resources, we need to know the scope of the problem,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who is cosponsoring the bill, said. “Focus on mental health or behavioral health or whatever it is that we have an understanding of what’s causing this.”

The House has introduced an identical bill. Hawley said he hopes both chambers will pass the plan soon.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — President Donald Trump says he should be able to face his accuser – the whistleblower who sparked the impeachment inquiry against him.

The president’s Republican allies in Congress are calling for the whistleblower to come forward and testify as part of the inquiry. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is leading the charge, pushing for the person’s identity to be revealed during a campaign event on Monday.

“The whistleblower needs to come before Congress as a material witness,” Paul said. “To the media: Do your jobs and print his name!”

The whistleblower complaint sparked the inquiry into whether Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Or, as the president put it, the “deranged, delusional, destructive and hyper-partisan impeachment witch hunt.”

His son, Donald Trump Jr., has already tweeted the name of the person he thinks is the whistleblower.

“He worked for Joe Biden at the same time Hunter Biden was getting money from corrupt oligarchs,” Paul added.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, says Congress must uphold the whistleblower laws, which are designed to protect those who come forward with charges of wrongdoing.

“Whistleblowers should never ever be exposed,” he said.

Federal law provides some protection for whistleblowers but it’s unclear if those protections include anonymity.

“The 6th Amendment says very clearly that if you’re accused of a crime, you have a right to confront your accuser,” Paul said.

According to Casey, Congress and the executive branch have the duty to protect the identity of the whistleblower and safeguard them from retaliation.

“We have to call it out if any government official seeks to expose the whistleblower is always wrong,” he said.

Casey says if whistleblowers like this one aren’t safe to come forward, it won’t be possible to hold government accountable.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nexstar) – Country music’s biggest night is just around the corner!  

The CMA Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

We’ll have LIVE coverage from the red carpet from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CST with an on-air and online special, “Live on the Red Carpet: An Early Look.” Viewers will get a sneak peek of the red carpet before the stars arrive and hear from some of their favorite artists before they head into the star-studded awards show.  

Nashville-based anchors, Neil Orne and Nikki Burdine will host the special, followed by “Live on the Red Carpet” from 6:30 to 7 p.m. CST. The pair will talk to everyone from fan favorites to up and comers.  

The coverage doesn’t stop there. Anchor Erica Francis will host an “After Party” special live from backstage at the Bridgestone Arena from 10:35 p.m. to 11:05 p.m. CST.  

You never know who will stop by on the red carpet or backstage!  

This year’s CMA Awards’ show will be hosted by Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire.  

The organization previously said this year’s show will celebrate “legendary women in country music throughout the ceremony.”

(NEXSTAR) — It’s Week 10 of “Big Game Bound,” and there’s only one unbeaten team in the NFL: the San Francisco 49ers.

While they’ve survived several tests this season, Monday night may be the biggest. They host a division foe, the Seattle Seahawks. 

On this week’s episode, which streams exclusively on Nexstar Nation websites starting at 1 p.m. ET, we’ll have:

• Our Big Game correspondents from San Francisco and Seattle break down the Monday night matchup. How can the 49ers slow down Russell Wilson? What’s been the key to Jimmy Garoppolo’s success?
• Our Big Guest is former NFL and Super Bowl Champion tight end Martellus Bennett. He talks about the dominance of his former team, the New England Patriots. And what he thinks of his brother Michael, a current player for the Dallas Cowboys who’s taking a stand for social justice.
• Bob Harris from footballdiehards.com returns with who you can pick up off the waiver wire with some big names on their bye weeks.

“Big Game Bound,” hosted by WOOD TV8 Sports Director Jack Doles, streams every Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. If you didn’t watch the stream live, you can watch episodes on demand by clicking or tapping here.

Today’s livestream of “Big Game Bound” has ended. Above, watch a replay of the episode.

(NEXSTAR) — It’s Week 9 of “Big Game Bound,” and the NFL trade deadline has come and gone with no fireworks. On this week’s show, we’ll look at which teams missed a major opportunity to improve by sitting idle.

Plus, which teams can make a second-half push and challenge for their divisions? Is the AFC north the Ravens to lose? We’re talking with our Ravens expert as they get ready for their biggest test of the season: a visit from Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots.

On this week’s episode, which streams exclusively on Nexstar Nation websites starting at 1 p.m. ET, we’ll have:

• The Big Guest: Jeff Stoneback, the director of the MGM Resorts Sports Book in Vegas, joins us to talk about how the NFL drives the gambling scene in Vegas. Plus, how do their experts set the lines for each game? And how are they always so accurate?
• What the Hallock: Former NFL player Ty Hallock joins us once again with his takes on the winners and losers of the trade deadline, and what we should expect from “America’s Team” – the Dallas Cowboys – in the second half of the season.
• The Big Decision: Bob Harris from footballdiehards.com is back to help you set your fantasy football lineup. Which players might be flying under the radar, poised for a big second half? And how should owners handle Joe Mixon as the Cincinnati Bengals continue to sputter?

“Big Game Bound,” hosted by WOOD TV8 Sports Director Jack Doles, streams every Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. If you didn’t watch the stream live, you can watch episodes on demand by clicking or tapping here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nexstar) — President Donald Trump will award the nation’s highest award for valor to U.S. Army Master Sgt. Matthew Williams, a graduate of Angelo State University and native Texan.

Williams is being honored for risking his life and saving four wounded special forces soldiers during a 2008 joint raid with U.S. troops and Afghan commandos.

Texas Republican Congressman Mike Conaway says Williams receiving this award is special. It’s rare for a medal of honor recipient to be an active duty soldier.

“I think his responsibilities may get a little different than what they were before,” says Conway. “Generals will have to salute him, which will be a little odd for him as a Master Sergeant.”

According to the U.S. Army, all officers and enlisted service members are encouraged to salute a medal of honor recipient — regardless of the recipient’s rank.

Brian May, President of Angelo State University, Williams’ alma mater says Williams is a role model and a hero.

“He represents what we all aspire to be,” says May.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A new bill before the U.S. House of Representatives would give tax credits to retailers every time they sell a safe gun storage device.

“We’ve had far too many tragedies,” said Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., who wrote the bill introduced Wednesday. “This is a bipartisan, common-sense bill to prevent family fire.”

He said the added incentive of the small tax credit will prevent suicides and school shootings, saving lives.

“I was thinking of this as a father of two young children,” he said. “Everything we can do to get those firearms locked is really critically important.”

Studies show more than 75% of school shootings and 80% of youth suicides are linked to unsecured guns in the home.

“We know safe storage saves lives,” said Kyleanne Hunter of the Brady Campaign, one of the nation’s largest gun control advocacy groups.

This bill has enough bipartisan support to move forward, she said.

“This is a bill that has a great chance to make it through and will have an impact on this gun violence epidemic,” she said.

Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., voted against a bill expanding universal background checks (legislation now stalled in the Senate), but he’s on board with Levin’s plan.

“These are the types of bipartisan solutions we need,” he said in a statement.

The National Rifle Association says it is waiting to read over the bill’s language before it weighs in.

Levin said he hopes his bill will find a swift path to a vote.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling on Twitter to follow the example of Facebook and take down accounts that support terrorist organizations.

In a letter sent to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, they challenged him to remove all content from terrorist organizations and affiliated profiles by Nov. 1.

Rep. Tom Reed, R-New York, said while President Donald Trump’s tweets often draw criticism, he’s more concerned about the social media platform being used by terrorist organizations.

“Maybe we should not focus on the president’s Twitter,” Reed said. “We should focus on Hamas’ Twitter and Hezbollah’s Twitter account and say maybe that is where we should be rooting out this evil.”

Reed said the federal government and tech companies must guard against the spread of terror and hate online, beginning with Hamas and Hezbollah.

Social media companies such as Facebook, Instagram and Google have already taken action to remove terrorist organizations from their platforms.

“Twitter, on the other hand, decided no, there are some good people in Hamas and there are some good people in Hezbollah and they have a right to have access to the Twitter handle,” Reed said.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was pressed on the issue last week by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, while testifying before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

“Mr. Zuckerberg do you agree with Twitter that foreign terrorist organizations designated by the United States of America belong on a social media platform, or should Twitter have to take down Hamas and Hezbollah affiliated accounts and content?” Gottheimer asked.

“I think all American companies should comply with American law,” Zuckerberg responded. “We do not allow them on our services.”

Twitter said they allow the group’s political arms to maintain accounts, but accounts affiliated with their military wings are permanently suspended.

In a letter, Twitter told lawmakers they make exceptions for organizations “currently engaging in peaceful resolution process.”

WASHINGTON DC (NEXSTAR) – A Republican from Louisiana and a Democrat from Arizona have teamed up to try to give new parents better-paid leave.

The senators’ plan would allow new moms and dads to get a tax credit earlier than usual, but a policy group calls the proposal misleading.

The United States is the only industrialized nation without paid family leave.

A handful of states have passed policies on their own, but more and more members of Congress are starting to support a federal mandate.

“That first year of life is the most expensive,” said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R) Louisiana.

As a dad and a doctor, Senator Cassidy says he knows the challenges leading up to a baby’s first birthday.

That’s why the Republican is proposing a paid family leave plan.

“If the mother breastfeeds, then it’s better for the child, it’s better for the mama, but it’s also better for society because they bond and with that bonding, things just go better,” he said.

The proposal, co-sponsored by Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, would allow new moms and dads to get an advance on their child tax credits and immediately receive $5,000 when a child is born.

They could use the money for income replacement to stay home with their baby, or spend it on daycare or other expenses to go back to work.

“We’ve created a program which does not raise taxes, does not increase the deficit, has no mandates,” Cassidy said.

The proposal is starting to gain traction, but a policy group argues the money doesn’t come free – families would have to pay it back.

“They’re kind of misrepresenting it as a paid family leave bill,” said Kathleen Romig with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Romig calls the idea a loan, not a new benefit.

Families would get the $5,000 upfront but have to pay back $500 each year for 10 years.

“It would be difficult for many families to repay that amount,” she said.

Romig said she wants to see a paid family leave policy that offers new benefits and job protection to all families.

“Unfortunately, that’s not what this is,” she said.

Romig says there is a second bipartisan option in Congress that would accomplish her goals called the Family Act.

But since it would raise taxes to pay for the paid family leave President Donald Trump has tweeted support for Cassidy’s option.