>> what is that record? >> 22,742 dogs. >> exactly. >> yes, i got it right. >> nbc nightly news is next. on this sunday night, bearing down, a massive storm that brought death and destruction to the middle of the country now takes aim at the east. tonight tens of millions are in its path. out of control. all of a sudden a wildfire in california nearly quadruples in size destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. tonight we are on the front lines. outrage over new allegations of the irs wasted millions in taxpayer money. some are asking just why would employees make this dance video. and crowning achievement for an enduring symbol of stability and unity. queen elizabeth, whose coronation was 60 years ago today.

good evening. that storm system that pummeled the middle of the country with tornadoes, lightning, and torrential rain late last week is still at it leaving a trail of damage and misery as it pushes eastward tonight. some 40 million americans are potentially in its path. in its wake, flash flooding. images from places like missouri, oklahoma, arkansas and kentucky show just how bad the flooding has been. in some spots the water is still rising. right now as we look at the current radar, the severe weather is moving into the northeast with thunderstorm watches and warnings up from new york state into maine. weather channel's meteorologist chris warren leads off our coverage from albany, new york. chris, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, lester. here in albany it is dry right now. don't let that fool you, because the threat is far from over.

as we've seen from this storm system, it has already caused some major damage. with floodwaters receding and swollen rivers coming down, oklahoma authorities hope they will be able to locate as many as seven missing people believed to have been swept away in floodwater caused by rain. four bodies recovered today, two adults and two children in the deep fork river. in white city, arkansas, the search for hissing people believed to be caught up in violent floodwaters came to an end. >> they had life jackets on. they did everything right. >> reporter: claimed the lives of two women and two rescuers trying to save them. the bodies found today, while the body of sheriff carpenter was found friday. a home off its foundation and topped at the tree line. in missouri, three deaths blamed on storm waters. three swept away as rivers and creeks flooded without warning. flooding remains a serious threat throughout the country. parts of 16 states under a flood

warning, including kentucky, the site of many water rescues continues on alert, even as water starts to recede in some areas like mccracken county. >> sometimes deep enough to cause real concern for drivers. >> reporter: cleanup crews at the days inn in paducah spent much of the day gutting rooms. several guests had to be rescued on saturday. indiana also on alert. more than five inches of rain swamped the children's zoo in fort wayne. the massive storm system moved east today, breaking the heat wave that had temperatures in the 90s, but not before half marathon runners in connecticut had to be taken to hospitals. >> from pennsylvania to canadian border, we've seen downed trees and power lines as a powerful front tries to push out this warm summer-like area. in the south from atlanta to the carolinas, we've seen strong storms. >> reporter: at least 40 million people on the east coast are in the storm's path stretching from

florida to maine. that front does continue. right now there's still a chance for severe weather. large hail, damaging winds, an isolated tornado still a possibility. this threat stretches from the southeast all the way up to maine for today and tonight. also looking in the west throughout parts of new mexico, in texas, and then for tomorrow, once again, we're going to slowly see that severe weather threat return to parts of the plains. lester, it looks like that threat to some of the hardest-hit areas will be back tuesday and wednesday. >> all right. chris warren, thank you. now to our other developing story we're following. what how now become a huge and destructive wildfire in los angeles. nearly 1,000 firefighters are battling this blaze, which has already consumed 20,000 acres. nbc's diana is covering it for us. good evening. >> reporter: good evening. i'm standing where it used to be a shed. the powerhouse behind the fire.

many homes in this neighborhood have been reduced to rubble with the exception of the home behind me saved by one brave man with a couple of hoses. within just a few hours, the massive powerhouse fire exploded, nearly quadrupling in size overnight, crippling the effort of nearly 1,000 firefighters to contain it. >> the winds were swirling, unpredictable, several different directions, changing quite frequently. >> reporter: it's around the clock effort, battling the fire from the ground and in the air. unseasonably warm and dry conditions working against them. 2,000 people were forced to evacuate. but dennis imel was determined to save his home. >> just a wall of flames coming. it went right over the house. >> reporter: he said he had no time to be scared. he was too busy fending off towering flames with two hoses and fire gear he bought years ago as a precaution. >> my lungs were on fire.

there was 10 minutes where i really got nervous. >> reporter: after racing to the flames he raced to extinguish his wood pile, precariously close to propane tank and then at a nearby camp for seriously ill children. his home one of the few standing in his neighborhood, helpless from the fast and erratic fire. >> i was thinking, got to go, got to go. >> reporter: she was forced to evacuate her home. she and her neighbors carried what they could to the shelter. >> we don't have fires. >> reporter: in new mexico crews are working to contain two fires which consumed 9,000 acres, prompting mandatory evacuations for hundreds. back in california, so extreme, dennis's wife feared the worst until he called. >> i said, it's me. that's all i said, it's me. she started crying. >> reporter: he survived along with his home and what's left of

his american flag. he plans to frame some of these stars to remind him of what he survived. for firefighters, their work is far from over. the fire is nowhere near contained and they have another long night ahead. lester. >> diana, thank you. in oklahoma, ten people are now confirmed dead from the huge tornado that swept through the small towns near oklahoma city on friday. they include some veteran storm chasers who were following the tornado. nbc's mark potter in el reno, oklahoma, with more. mark. >> reporter: good evening, lester. with the weather here in oklahoma clear for two days now, more victims of the friday storm are being found and are being identified publicly. oklahoma authorities say the three veteran storm chasers killed by the powerful friday storm known as the el reno tornado were doing scientific research. they were carl samaras, his son

and photographer paul samaras and meteorologist carl young. samaras was famous for placing sensors inside tornadoes and featured on cable tv shows. this weather channel interview was shot last year. >> i don't look at it as a job. to me a job means work. to me, this is actually very enjoyable. of course, you know you've succeeded in life if you go out and do the things you love to do and collect a paycheck. >> reporter: today in el reno, oklahoma, for which the ef-3 tornado was named, continued in neighborhoods by the storm. kelly's home was severely damaged and she's now trying to salvage as much as possible. when the tornado passed close by, she took this photo. when it turned toward her, she and her family raced into the storm shelter. later thinking the storm had passed, she went back outside but had a very close call in the

still swirling winds. >> as i got right here, i lifted up into the air and started kind of floating in the air. >> how high up were you lifted? >> i was about this high off the ground. i felt like i was floating in the air. my husband shoved me back down. i don't know how he did it. >> reporter: this is the shelter in the garage where five people and four dogs came to get away from the tornado. it's a metal vault built into the ground. when dangerous weather comes, you climb down here. it's not very comfortable and there's not a lot of room, but it will save your life. >> kelly says she's convinced without that shelter, she would never have survived the storm. and since just last night four more bodies of storm victims have been found here in oklahoma, and authorities say they are looking for seven more people still missing, who they fear may have been lost in flash floods. lester. >> all right. mark potter, thank you. overseas, this is another violent day in turkey in what has become the biggest anti-government protest that country has seen in years.

in ankara, the capital, almost 2,000 have been injured throughout the country. the protesters say the prime minister has too much influence over every part of life in turkey. in this country a health scare tonight. the cdc investing investigating an outbreak of acute hepatitis a that may have been linked to frozen berries in five states, 30 cases in colorado, new mexico, nevada and california. nine people have been hospitalized. some reported they had eaten townsend farms organic antioxidant blend. that's a frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix sold in costco stores and possibly elsewhere. another rough week expected for the irs with more congressional hearings on their targeting of conservative groups and a new report inspector gent report released detailing millions of taxpayer dollars spent on lavish employee conferences. there's even a parody video

surfaced featuring irs employees. peter alexander with that story. >> reporter: the latest in the string of embarrassing videos showing irs employees line dancing was released just days ahead of the treasury department's inspector general report on excessive spending at the agency. the irs says the video was produced for a 2010 employee conference, same as this "star trek" parody, gilligan's island spoof. total cost, more than $60,000 taxpayer dollars. acting irs head danny werfel said this is an unfourth national vestige from a prior era. travel and training expenses have dropped since 2010. obama administration under fire for targeting of conservative groups. with darrell issa accusing the white house of lying and claiming interviews with irs

workers in cincinnati shows the targeting reaches back to washington. >> this is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of washington headquarters. and we're getting to prove it. >> house democrat elijah cummings blasted those claims as unsubstantiated calling them reckless statements, inconsistent with findings of the inspector general. democrats say it's an irs issue, not an obama issue. >> if there was somebody political involved in this, it never would have happened. it was the stupidist thing you could imagine. >> reporter: also facing new scrutiny eric holder over tactics in government leak investigations, with republicans accusing him of making conflicting statements under oath. >> i think that the attorney general has definitely lost the trust of the american people. when you are out in my district, people feel betrayed by the conduct of this administration and this attorney general. >> there have been all kinds of accusations but i haven't seen anything that would prevent him from continuing to do his job.

>> reporter: in this week ahead, the white house is hoping to return the focus to economy and immigration with predicting a bipartisan bill will pass the senate with as many as 70 votes. >> peter alexander competing with a downpour in washington, d.c. thanks. when "nbc nightly news" continues this sunday, rethinking zero tolerance policies in school. some say there's a better way to get kids to tow the line. from london, a milestone for the monarchy. six decades since the coronation of the queen.

we're back with tonight's education nation report on helping kids in trouble at school get back on track. it's an innovative approach taken by some schools, one that emphasizes their potential for progress over punishment. the story tonight from nbc education correspondent. >> reporter: the high school in chicago was marked by a history of low academic achievement and violence. >> there will be more officers outside the high school. >> reporter: four years ago the deadly gang beating of a 16-year-old honor student just blocks from the school was caught on tape and symbolized the dangers facing kids from low in come neighborhoods. >> when i first got here, i was kind of scared, like what if something happened to me. >> reporter: today those tensions have eased. >> where are you supposed to be? >> reporter: the principal now patrols the hallways determined to keep order. >> it's not a violent place. it's a comfortable environment.

>> reporter: conflicts are down 80%, graduation up 8%, principals point to restorative justice as why. >> i've seen lives transformed. >> reporter: the practice, which is being used in several big city schools, is changing the culture of expectations of kids in neighborhoods. students working in this circle that can last from 40 minutes to two hours learn how to listen and talk through a conflict instead of fight. >> it's what kids need to really be able to process through what they are feeling and to be heard. >> reporter: there's also a peer jury that substitutes for traditional disciplinary action like suspension. >> suspending a student doesn't work. if you give the student an opportunity to learn from the actions, that's when it's working. >> reporter: through a combination of factors, restorative justice has not only reduced the number of fights in the school, but officials say it's also led to improved

attendance and better grades, a comfort for la tonya. it was her cousin who was killed in 2009. >> it makes me feel like i'm safe now, like those types of things won't happen. >> reporter: but the funding for the additional services ends this year and the principal worries that could end the school's success. >> it's fragile. we work at it every single day. it's like a marriage or relationship. you've got to keep working at it. >> reporter: one school teaching students how to resolve differences and improving how they learn. rehema ellis, nbc news, chicago. just ahead on "nightly news," his deadly aim made this navy s.e.a.l. a legend on the battlefield. tonight his wife speaks out on the tragic fate that took his life here at home.

of the many accounts of bravery and heroism from america's long war in iraq, the story of navy s.e.a.l. chris kyle was one of those that stood out. he became the military's most

lethal sniper while providing cover for other troops. kyle left the service in 2009 to assume a more quiet life back in his native texas, and he wrote a best selling autobiography. then in february, with his combat days far behind him, he was shot and killed. now for the first time since his death, his wife is speaking out. as a navy s.e.a.l. sniper, he was credited with 160 kills. when i sat down with him one year to the day before he was killed, chris kyle told me his focus was on the number he saved. >> did you ever have any sense of remorse or lingering feelings about taking a life? >> no. every person i killed i have a clear conscious of. they are trying to kill americans, allies or civilians. >> in iraq, insurgents placed a bounty on his head. but four times he deployed and four times he came home safe to his wife taya and their two

children. >> did you get to that point where you thought he was invincible. >> no, i never did. i always was in fear for his life. >> there seemed nothing to fear last february 2nd when kyle agreed to spend time on a texas shooting range with a 25 yearly fellow vet who he was told had some issues. >> what did he tell you about it? >> that there was a veteran that was struggling and needed help. he was going to go down and spend some time in the car talking a little bit, spend a short time shooting. >> police say that vet turned his gun on chris kyle and his friend, killing them both. his family said he suffered from ptsd. without offering specifics, taya kyle hints there were other demons at work. >> if this is a simple case of a veteran having ptsd, it would not have been an issue. this was a simple case of chris not having the whole story.

>> at the time of his death, he was writing a second book, "american gun." >> he was a history buff. he loved america. >> if there's a tragic irony in, taya doesn't see it. >> he died because someone wanted to kill him. >> it earned kyle a sudden fame but he had long been a hero at home. >> i'm so thankful in january this year i was able to tell him, you know, i just want to take time and tell you how proud i am of you and that i don't know how you've done it. i really don't know how you've been able to live through everything you've lived through and be so kind and loving and to be able to get back to the guy you started at. >> chris kyle also left behind two young children. the suspect in his death remains behind bars and awaits a possible grand jury indictment

on capital murder charges. in london angelina jolie made her first public appearance after revealing last month she had a double mastectomy after finding she was at high-risk. jolie said she was happy to see discussions about women's health expanded. up next, fit for a queen. a milestone for elizabeth.

it was on this day in london 60 years ago that a young woman just 26 years old was crowned at a coronation ceremony. people watched around the world in black and white, of course. now 87, queen elizabeth still reins, a timeless symbol in a digital age. nbc's anabel roberts has more from london. >> this is "today," june 2nd, 1953, tuesday, coronation day. >> reporter: nbc forecast of the historic event 60 years ago. >> the big event is now under way.

>> reporter: in a solemn ceremony with a history stretching back almost 1,000 years, queen elizabeth the second was crowned in westminster abbey, a 4-year-old prince charles looked on. >> she looked completely untroubled, unfazed by the whole thing as if this was the most natural thing in the world to stand in the middle of the abbey receiving the crown. >> one of the six maids of honor who carried the train, 20-year-old felt the happiness, return of optimism after the optimism of war. >> somehow it was sort of the beginning of something new and different and better. >> reporter: the queen was just 26 years old when she walked through the doors of westminster abbey for her coronation. in the 60 years since then, the world has changed and the monarchy, especially the queen, has had to change with it. her children's broken marriages,

the death of diana, the paparazzi and increasing scrutiny. >> i think the greatest challenge for her has been to recognize the public's mood at certain times and to adopt to them. >> today the future of monarchy is safe, the birth of william and kate's first child is imminent and the royal family is very popular. the queen may be delegating some duties to charles but the promise she made to her people -- >> i stand before you all, my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service. >> reporter: this is a promise she has kept. anabel roberts, nbc, london. that's "nbc nightly news" for sunday. brian williams will be here tomorrow. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. from all of us at nbc news, good night.

>> good evening. >> after five killings in seven days, police called an unusual emergency meeting this weekend. that city is now onace to have the deadliest year in more than two decades. kimberly joins us tonight with more on the chief's plans. kimberly? >> reporter: i am told that the chief called the top brass and told them no one was leavinging unthey came up with a better plan to curve the violence. that was a d