pretty good. warmer weather inland. thanks for joining us. we'll see you back here at 6:00. our broadcast tonight, hot seat. called in front of congress. the contractors who put together the health care website face some tough questions and reveal what happened in the days leading up to the launch. the crackdown on the way for some of the most popular painkillers on the market. a big move by the feds that's likely to change the way tens of millions of americans get their prescription kidnapped on the high seas. two americans grabbed off their vessel off the african coast. tonight our conversation with captain phillips on this latest incident on the high seas. and paying it forward. the anonymous acts of kindness that are breaking out more often. this one happening at the drive-thru. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. in the urgent and ongoing effort to fix the rollout of the new federal health care plan website and find out what went wrong with it, today the architects of it were called before congress to explain what happened. they talked about the days and weeks leading up to the big launch and today disclosed the entire system was not tested end to end, as they put it, until two weeks before it opened to the public. it's where we begin tonight with kelly o'donnell on capitol hill. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. today the obama administration provided the first details about how many people have been trying to sign up using the website. they say 700,000 people have registered and another 1.6 million calls from come into the call centers. but they're not saying how many people have actually bought insurance. meanwhile today a house committee grilled those company experts about what has gone so wrong.

the top government contractors who built and run the flawed healthcare.gov website -- >> can you tell us when you'll have the issues repaired? >> reporter: -- ignored our questions today. >> did you feel you had an opportunity to explain that today? >> reporter: but did take an oath to answer congress truthfully. grilled for more than four hours. >> is that a system you're proud of? >> these problems need to be fixed fast. >> reporter: contractors responsible for different parts of the health care website and enrollment process repeatedly claimed they did their jobs well and are working to fix system bugs. >> you keep speaking about unexpected volumes. that really sticks in my craw. pro-flowers doesn't crash on vol tine's day. >> reporter: as the day wore on, they gave a more frank word. >> we're not excited with what we delivered on october 1, but in principle it worked.

>> reporter: today's hearing did uncover new facts. saying they waited too long to test all parts of the website system together. just two weeks before it launched october 1st. >> what's the recommended industry standard for end to end test before rolling up a major website like this? >> months would be nice. >> reporter: the contractors also blame the same government agency for a last-minute change to how the website works. instead of consumers being able to browse for different insurance plans, the system was changed to require consumers register online first. >> we weren't made aware of this until the final days prior to the launch. >> reporter: but henry waxman is optimistic it can improve. you think it can be fixed? >> i'm confident they told us they could fix it. >> reporter: while republican chairman fred upton says they must get more answers. have you learned yet who's responsible? >> well, it seems there was a lot of finger pointing and all that was going to the

administration. >> reporter: and much of the new information that was learned today will be used to prepare questions for health and human services secretary kathleen is sebelius. and more than 30 house republicans have sent a letter to the president asking for her to resign. >> kelly o'donnell starting us off from capitol hill tonight. thanks. the deadlines are confusing. and last night, we want to clear it up. once and for all, the deadline for one uninsured americans need to get coverage is march 31st. that hasn't changed. what the white house intends to change is the arbitrary date for signing up to meet that deadline. it has been february 15th, but as we reported here last night, the administration wants to give americans more time without worrying about paying a penalty. so as long as you sign up by march 31st, there's no penalty. the white house also says this change has nothing to do with

the computer glitches as they're called that have plagued their website. there is a new story having to do with health care tonight. it's about prescription pain medicines. and a change for doctors and hospitals and pharmacists but mostly for patients who take them. tonight the food and drug administration, the fda, is recommending new restrictions on prescriptions for widely used pain meds in this country. our chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman is here with more. these are the brands, the meds people are familiar with. >> reporter: these are the brands people are on primarily. hydrocodone in combination with acetaminophen drugs. right now they are prescribed to over 47 million americans. today's move by the food and drug administration follows an ongoing debate pitting patients who need pain narcotics for pain control against otherwise healthy people who abuse them. this change would hopefully curb

use. it would also require having a written prescription rather than having the doctor call the pharmacy. currently a patient can get a prescription refilled five times over a six-month period before needing a new one. with the new recommendation, a patient would now need to see a doctor every three months. not everyone thinks this is a good move. the american medical association and pharmacy organizations are worried that this will be a burden to patients who are already suffering. >> by making hydrocodone more regulated and harder to prescribe and dispense, our patients are probably going to have a difficult time getting good control of their pain. >> reporter: but the drug enforcement agency and health policy experts say that prescription drug abuse has now reached a tipping point and something has to be done. in a statement today, the fda has become increasingly concerned about the abuse and misuse of opioib products which

has sadly reached epidemic proportions. putting them in the same category as oxycontin, fentanyl, ritalin. the fda change still requires the blessing of the department of health and human services, but that is expected. and then these restrictions would go into effect next year. very short time frame, brian. >> dr. nancy snyderman, thank you as always. two americans are at the center of a drama on the high seas tonight. they have been kidnapped by pirates off the coast of nigeria. where they are tonight, what it will take to set them free is pretty much anybody's guess as jim miklaszewski reports the kidnapping happened in an area where ocean-going criminals have been stepping up their attacks. >> reporter: in a brazen attack,

pirates kidnapped two americans off this u.s. oil ship. officials say once on board, the heavily armed band of pirates singled out the americans. the captain and engineer and took them ashore as hostages. it all happened in the gulf of guinea off shore from nigeria. with its vast record of oil rigs and cargo ships, this area has become a fertile hunting ground for pirates. while piracy around the world has dropped to its lowest level in nearly a decade, the number off the coast of nigeria has skyrocketed by more than 30% so far this year. nbc news sailed with terry mcknight, the commander of a task force that hunts down pirates off the coast of africa. now retired, mcknight tells us with no such counter-piracy jobs in the gulf of guinea.

>> then they've got free reign out there. >> reporter: one of the most notorious acts of piracy is now a hit movie. captain phillips was held hostage for five days before he was rescued by navy s.e.a.l.s. the navy always had phillips and his captors in sight. today the two americans have disappeared. >> it's almost an impossible situation. that's where it gets touchy. >> reporter: over the past few years, nigerian pirates have captured 32. it's not clear there's been any ransom demand for these two americans. as of tonight, the u.s. company that owns the ship is not talking. jim miklaszewski, nbc news, the pentagon. >> and just a few hours ago we spoke by satellite from norfolk, virginia, with captain richard phillips who knows those waters and sadly knows what it's like

when pirates board your vessel to take hostages. beyond your obvious concern for your fellow merchant mariners, what do you think about this one? what does your gut tell you? >> i know they are fellow mariners. they are intuitive and intelligent. they wouldn't be a captain and engineer without the abilities they have. i think they will do what all seamen do around the world. make the most of it and do their best. >> this kidnapping aspect, boarding the vessel, taking crew members then the world waits to hear where they pop up again and what the demand is, that must trouble you. >> this is the m.o. for nye g nigerians. they will hold them. you've got to understand, it is dangerous out in the gulf of guinea, but it's also dangerous on the land in nigeria with everything going on there. you do have revolutionary-type

groups going on. you do have some al qaeda-type people there. the government that's fairly corrupt and oil companies in there with a lot of oil and exploration going on there. that mix there is dangerous. >> captain richard phillips with us from norfolk today. captain, thank you very much for your time. >> thank you very much, brian. >> part of our conversation earlier with captain phillips. as we've been reporting, a growing number of america's friends including germany's chancellor angela merkel are expressing outrage over what's in classified documents that are being leaked by the former american intelligence contractor edward snowden. revelations that the u.s. has been listening in on phone calls, reading e-mails of world leaders. including many friends of this country. now there is a new published report that the nsa monitored the phone conversations of 35 world leaders in all. a senior white house official tells nbc news, quote, we are not going to comment publicly on

every specific alleged intelligence activity. and we have made clear that the united states gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations, end of quote. we learn late today that reverend billy graham was hospitalized near his home in north carolina. he was admitted of tuesday for what are being called precautionary pulmonary tests. he is just a few weeks shy of 95 years of age. still ahead for us tonight, two teachers killed at american schools yus in the last week alone. tonight why these tragic events seem to come in clusters and what schools are going to combat them. and later, the movement taking place and making its way across this country that involves a big surprise at the drive-thru window.

there were no classes again today at danvers high school in massachusetts. many students and staff came to the school for counseling sessions b and to remember their popular math teacher, colleen

ritzer allegedly murdered yesterday by a 14-year-old student. there was a candlelight vigil for ritzer last night. students in algebra class with philip chism said she asked him to stay after school to do extra work. danvers is the latest incident that's shattered the expectation that america's schools are safe havens. our chief education correspondent rehema ellis tonight ta takes a closer look at the facts about school violence. >> reporter: two teachers killed at schools this week alone. >> she was just a young caring girl that had the world ahead of her. >> reporter: days before 24-year-old colleen ritzer died in massachusetts, a 12-year-old student opened fire in nevada. >> two people are dead after a shooting at a middle school. >> reporter: killing michael landsberry and injuring two students before taking his own life. in washington state an 11-year-old has been arrested

>> a frightening discovery sent a middle school into lockdown. >> reporter: after authorities discovered knives, a handgun, and 400 rounds of ammunition he allegedly brought to his vancouver middle school. since the tragedy at sandy hook there have been 16 more school shootings. news headlines suggest these type of violent and often fatal events are occurring with increased frequency. >> these events tend to come in clusters. there is a copycat element to them. so they do come in waves. but so do near misses. often when kids hear about these horrible things they come forward when they hear about plots. >> reporter: beyond the headlines, the numbers tell a different story. the cdc reports the rate of youth homicides nationwide has declined substantially since the mid-'90s and that less than 2% of the killings occur in schools where gun violence is just part of the problem. about 7% of teachers report being threatened or physically attacked by a student. when it comes to students, about

6% report missing at least one day of school because they felt unsafe. 5% say they have carried a weapon to school. schools are taking steps to improve safety. in many states, wireless panic alarms are being installed. in oklahoma, computers are being programmed allowing teachers to send emergency messages to patrol cars in the area. in california, some schools are even monitoring students' social media pages hoping to detect an even monitoring students' social media pages hoping to detect any signs of potential threats. it's a controversial move some say is necessary to protect everyone in schools. brian? >> sad week in many school communities. rehema ellis, thank you, as always. when we come back, it was a powerful image. and a famous one. the methodical pepper spraying of peaceful protesters. tonight the police officer is back in the news.

a veteran forecaster in the pacific northwest said he's never seen anything like it. they are calling it fogmageddon in the seattle area. a stalled weather situation meant days of persistent morning fog. look at the pictures. there is nothing in the upper atmosphere to move it along. they are used to fog in the puget sound area, but later in the year, and it doesn't last quite this long. his image was beamed around the planet in november of 2011 as an example of law enforcement overreach and abuse. john pike, the campus police officer at uc davis who pepper sprayed the seated protesters will receive $38,000 in worker's compensation for the depression and anxiety he suffered in the aftermath including, he says, death threats and the loss of his job. by comparison, the 21 people hit by the pepper spray in the otherwise peaceful protest each

received $30,000 each in their settlement. a story in "time" magazine uncovers something else that was in the bill to restart the government a few days back. it stops funds for now for the dwight d. eisenhower memorial. it is supposed to be a sweeping structure on the national mall in washington. it was supposed to open in 2015 on the 70th anniversary of v.e. day. instead there's been widespread disagreement over how it all looks. the design, the materials. members of ike's family don't like how the great five-star general and former president is depicted. it appears the entire project will now be delayed. well, you would be forgiven for thinking the boston red sox are the only all amish team in the majors. pioneer men who worked the land and shunned the use of motorized transportation. it's some impressive facial plumage. say what you will about their superstition beards, but something is working.

last night they spanked the cardinals 8-1 at fenway. beards are all over boston. today that included the famous ducklings in the boston public "gahden." well, here's proof the royal family has access to one of them 24-hour film developing places. the official photographs are out of the christening of prince george yesterday. four generations of windsors gathered for the big moment. young george in the traditional long christening gown, and longside his beaming young parents showing already a love of american football by clearly signaling a touchdown. when we come back tonight good deeds gone viral. yes, there are fries with that in some cases.

finally tonight, contrary to the bad news in the forecast tonight and on any given night there are good things happening in the world. we try to highlight them with regularity. in the case of tonight's story there are random acts of kindness going on regularly. that includes a growing trend at drive-thrus across the country. our report tonight from nbc's janet shamlian. >> reporter: on a brisk october morning what's unfolding in the drive-thru of a tulsa bagel shop

is heartwarming. when ashley nelson reached the window, cash in hand she learned the driver ahead had already paid. >> he just wants to pay it forward. >> reporter: the next customer heard the same. >> he paid for your food. >> reporter: it continued all morning. more than two dozen people had breakfast paid for. >> it's a nice thing. it makes you want to do it for someone else. >> reporter: everyone was caught off guard except the store's owner. you weren't surprised by what happened this morning. >> no. it happens quite frequently. several times a week people just come in and say i'd like to pay it forward. >> reporter: at all kinds of drive-thrus. there is a surge of stealthy giving. >> they paid for me and my grandfather's meal. >> reporter: at this chick-fil-a in houston, a chain of 67 drivers bought lunch for the next in line. >> it's a little bit of kindness. it's fun for things like this to happen. >> reporter: it's called paying it forward.

when it happens in the drive-thru the random act of kindness is more accurately paying it backwards to the driver in the rear-view mirror. it usually keeps the gift anonymous. it's not a new idea, but many believe it's happening more often. catherine hyde wrote "pay it forward" which became a movie. >> that's me. that's three people and i am going to help them. >> reporter: now a social movement. >> it's definitely been going on too long to be a flash in the pan. it's not a fad. i figured that much out. >> reporter: the good deed doer doesn't often stick around, but bill grant wasn't quick enough for a quiet getaway. >> what a nice way to make an impression on somebody's life. >> reporter: super sizing goodness. as the drive-thru becomes a vehicle for secret kindness. >> your meal is free. >> oh, thanks! >> reporter: janet shamlian, nbc news, tulsa. >> how about that. that's our broadcast on a thursday night. thank you for being here with us. we want to leave you with a shot of the white house tonight

bathed in pink for breast cancer awareness. i'm brian williams. of course we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. that breaking news happening in san francisco. a scary sight. the cab of a big rig dangling off the highway 280 connector ramp with drivers down below. thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang. >> i'm jessica aguirre. want to show you what it looks like, again, a sig alert has been issued in san francisco right now. you're looking at live pictures above the scene right now. again, this is at the 280 connector with southbound 101. near the silver terrace exit in the portola neighborhood. it's a major mess right thousand. apparently what we're hearing is that that big rig slammed into

the guardrail and you're seeing now lots and lots of traffic and how far it's extending. but it slammed into that guardrail. it's just virtually stopping traffic. there's also debris falling on the lanes of northbound 101 below. now, as the chopper gets closer, you can see that there are firefighters on scene. there's also a tow truck and they're trying to strap now that big rig and try to move it off that ledge and try to put it back on and try to move it out of that location. but, again, a nerve-racking situation. a sig alert. traffic is really just really backed up at this point. good news is so far, no injuries have been reported, but, again, the northbound lanes of 101 below are blocked. so the traffic is going to continue to be a mess. we'll bring you more on that as it continues to develop. a controversial shooting and a growing backlash in the killing of a 13-year-old boy. we're learning new details about the death of andyez