on our broadcast tonight, captive nation. in public parks, office buildings and even on board air force one, millions stopped what they were doing today as the u.s. team advances at the world cup. struck down. a major ruling at the supreme court involving one of the most divisive issues of our time. flood emergency. it's getting worse tonight across a huge part of the country. the mississippi river pushed to a major flood stage. and caught on camera. from any angle doing anything. news tonight about the technology that's changed the way we see the world. "nightly news" begins now. >> from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this

is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams. it turns out the u.s. lost to germany in a game more exciting than the 1-0 final score would indicate. and yet but that is exactly what happened to the u.s. squad today. nbc's katy tur was among the huge crowd at one of the biggest gatherings today in chicago. >> reporter: today might as well have been a national holiday. from supporters at home to the warriors on the road in brazil whose battle cries filled the streets, american fans decked out in face paint and team colors, ready to take on

germany. the torrential rain not enough to dampen their enthusiasm. team usa has fought in extreme weather before, last year in a snowstorm. today, ball on the pitch, eyes glued to the screen, it seemed everyone was cheering. in the nation's capital, the president on air force one, uncontrollable joy in denver. but 54 minutes in, germany scores. >> it is 1-0 to germany. >> reporter: a collective groan from coast to coast and here in chicago. you guys seem so nervous. >> i am. >> reporter: the suspense, too much even for this reporter. >> katy, tell us what's happening. >> reporter: it was close. who was supposed to be doing live tv. work was an afterthought for a lot of us today. >> told my boss i had some family obligations. >> reporter: online, many said they cleared their schedules. total life stop, no phone, no appointments. others called it multitasking, working but checking the live

stream. the u.s. soccer team itself offered a way out, tweeting a signed note to get out of work. but no need for excuses at this office in miami. our boys lost in the end, but it didn't really feel that way. >> next round of the world cup -- [ crowd chanting "usa" ] >> we -- usa! >> nobody thought we would do it. >> reporter: have you ever been more excited to lose a game? >> no! >> reporter: welcome to the world of world cup soccer where a loss can still be a win. so far the usa has tied a game, won and lost. they are able to move on to the next round. the next game is against belgium on tuesday. brian, you've got to admit, it's starting to get pretty infectious.

>> it is. katy tur, grant park in chicago, after a long day there. katy, thanks. in other news tonight, this story out of washington where the supreme court today struck down one of the toughest laws in the country intended to limit protests at abortion clinics. this case involved painted lines on the sidewalk in massachusetts and how far protesters would have to stand back. today's ruling will affect similar laws in other states and opponents of abortion are calling it a big victory. our justice correspondent pete williams at the supreme court tonight. pete, good evening. >> reporter: brian, good evening. this court is deeply divided on the issue of abortion. but it was unanimous today in declaring that massachusetts went too far in trying to prevent violence at clinic entrances. massachusetts was trying to avoid scenes like this -- >> they're lying to you and they're going to kill your baby. >> reporter: patients at abortion clinics confronted and hassled, sometimes even violence. so the state passed a law painting a line on the sidewalk 35 feet from clinic entrances. inside that line, no protests.

but the court ruled in favor of eleanor mccullen, a 77-year-old grandmother, and others who said the "no protest" zones violated their free speech rights to try to calmly suggest alternatives to abortion. >> when they need somebody to care for them and i care, i truly care, but then when we get to the buffer zone, i have to stop and then they keep going and i lose. >> reporter: writing for a unanimous court, chief justice john roberts said, a painted line on the sidewalk is easy to enforce, but the prime objective of the first amendment is not efficiency. the sidewalk, the court said, is one of the few places left where people with a message can be confident they're not just preaching to the choir. >> what massachusetts can't do is simply round everybody up and haul them off to jail if they're speaking close to an abortion clinic. >> reporter: at a minimum, today's ruling probably dooms similar "no protest" zones in san francisco, santa barbara, pittsburgh, portland, maine, and burlington, vermont. >> we're going to provide as many protections as we can for

staff, for patients, for the women in massachusetts who are trying to exercise their constitutional rights. >> reporter: women's groups say the same supreme court that denied them a buffer zone has a big one of its own, no protests on the plaza in front of the court building. today's decision does not address other limits that states have tried like floating bubble zones, no-approach zones that move with a patient entering a clinic but have cast a legal cloud over them. the court today all but killed the president's power to appoint people to government jobs when the senate is in recess. in modern times when the senate is controlled by the opposing party, it convenes briefly every three days during breaks. the court said today a recess has to last at least ten days before the president can use that power. so that means the senate can block recess appointments whenever it wants. monday will be the last day for decisions. we'll get the big case on the bank -- obamacare's requirement for contraceptive coverage.

brian? >> pete, thanks. tonight, responding to pressure from some lawmakers, president obama is asking congress for half a billion dollars to train and arm the rebel fighters in syria which could mark something of an escalation in u.s. involvement in that civil war. the white house said the rebels would be vetted before giving them assistance to make sure u.s. equipment doesn't fall into enemy hands, like we're watching right now in iraq with isis. andrea mitchell tells us tonight the u.s. has already been secretly arming the rebels through the cia. but this would permit more advanced weapons to be supplied and the administration can then say so publicly. in the american midwest, water levels are rising tonight still and the flood emergency in some places likely to get worse as even more rain is expected. it's already having a big impact on agriculture, among other things. nbc's john yang is in carver, minnesota, tonight, south of the twin cities, following all this severe weather. john, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian.

this is what a lot of minnesota highways are looking like tonight. if getting from point "a" to point "b" means crossing a river, you're probably going to have to go miles out of your way. and this is also what a lot of farms have been looking like, too. the midwest caught a much-needed break today as summer rainstorms moved south and east. in north texas, slow-moving storms brought flash flooding, 3.5 inches of rain fell in an hour, faster than storm drains could carry it away, stranding drivers and closing roads. in upstate new york, downpours triggered flooding and mud slides. 30 miles north of albany in the town of valley falls, firefighters rushed to stack sandbags in hopes of holding off rising waters. >> i've been chief here for 13 years. i have never seen this much water in the village before. >> reporter: rushing water damaged homes. >> i never really got in my house tonight. i had to move my car because half my driveway was gone. >> reporter: while the sun shined on the midwest, the

mississippi, missouri and red rivers continue to flow over their banks, still swollen from torrential rains. just hours after harley lowry finished planting 1,800 acres of corn, more than four inches of rain fell in just two hours, wiping out 10% of his crop. he's 74 years old and hated seeing his fourth-generation family farmland under water. how did it make you feel? >> it's kind of a feeling in your stomach that you -- you got kind of a sick feeling out of it. >> reporter: now the region is bracing for more rain and fearing more damage. >> many states, south dakota, minnesota, iowa and nebraska will see several days of severe weather and also heavy rain. by the time all is said and done, some of these areas that are so soaked may wind up with as much as 6 inches before the weekend is over. >> reporter: one estimate puts farm losses in minnesota at $7

million so far. and forecasters say that even without any new rain, a lot of rivers are going to stay above flood stage until well after the fourth of july. brian? >> john yang, carver, minnesota, tonight. john, thanks. the ceo of gm said today it's possible there could be even more recalls beyond the 20 million vehicles already affected by this series of problems the company has identified. in an exclusive live interview with matt lauer on "today," mary barra talked about the issue that started it all, those faulty ignition switches that have been linked to at least 13 deaths. she was asked if the company has tried to hide the problem. >> i don't really think there was a cover-up. i think what we had -- and it was covered in the report -- there were silos of information. so people had bits and pieces and then didn't come forward with information or didn't act with a sense of urgency. and it's simply unacceptable. >> that report she was talking about there was commissioned by gm.

it cited a memo from 13 years ago by a company engineer who discussed an ignition problem. we learned today howard baker has died. he was an american politician, a veteran senator and what we used to call a statesman. it's hard to compare him with anyone in politics today because they really don't make them like howard baker anymore. he was american political royalty and yet there was nothing regal about him. howard h. baker, jr., of tennessee remained the same while times changed around him. he played a role in changing american politics, beginning with a question he asked during the watergate hearings that has remained in the american lexicon ever since -- >> what did the president know and when did he know it? >> reporter: a republican senator investigating a republican president who later became the first president to resign in disgrace. howard baker was the son of a legendary congressman, the son-in-law of everett dirksen, a

lion of the senate -- >> the battle's not over -- >> reporter: baker spent 18 years in the senate, the first republican tennessee ever sent to the u.s. senate, and he married a senator, nancy landon kassebaum of kansas who survives him. the senator loved photography. and with his camera he chronicled what he saw in his life of public service. when the camera was on him, we saw a rumpled, comfortable, affable man. >> i think i can get elected and i want your help. >> reporter: he made a run for the presidency but sacrificed any future hopes for high office to help a sitting president. he became ronald reagan's white house chief of staff and in guiding him through the iran-contra scandal might have saved his second term. those who didn't love him respected him. he was both minority leader and majority leader in the senate. a republican so moderate it might make him a democrat today. when all the senators lined up to pay tribute to howard baker, along with bob dole just a year

ago, it felt like a good-bye. and it turns out it was. like so many american men of his generation, howard baker was a veteran. he served in the pacific and world war ii. he switched from engineering to law school and engineered many a compromise in public life. howard baker was 88 years old. we'll take a break. still ahead for us on this thursday evening, spectacular views, seeing the world like we've never quite seen it before. tonight, the game-changing technology coming of age today. and later, taking flight, a woman with a very personal connection to amelia earhart attempting to retrace her final journey around the world.

the company gopro went public today on wall street with a $3 billion ipo and investors quickly sent shares soaring 30%. a whole lot of people want a piece of the wearable camera maker that's changed the way we are able to see the world, capturing life in a way that until recently just was not possible. we get our report tonight from nbc's stephanie gosk. >> reporter: the small, waterproof, seemingly indestructible gopro poses a simple question, what's your angle? and everyone who uses one has a different answer, from the irresistibly cute to the stunningly beautiful, to the simply heart-stopping. a high-definition camera that can be strapped anywhere, only limited by someone's creativity and the laws of nature. today, founder and now billionaire nick woodman took the company public. he spoke with cnbc. >> we make it easy for

passionate people around the world to capture and share incredible life experiences in the form of compelling content. >> reporter: woodman, an avid surfer, came up with the idea over a decade ago, when he wanted pictures of himself catching the perfect wave. here he is on qvc in 2005 at 29 years old. >> wouldn't this be great for the whole family on a family vacation? >> reporter: by the time daredevil felix baumgartner decided to skydive from the stratosphere, there was little doubt which camera would make the jump with him. last march, base jumpers leapt off of one world trade. the video was good, even if they wound up getting arrested. the gopro is a really good way to show off secret skills. here we go. impressive, huh? unless, of course, it was gymnast darren who did that flip. >> i just got it on a pole. gives you cool angles. >> reporter: for this freelance

cameraman, the camera has radically changed his options. you can mount it anywhere, can't you? >> that's the best part about the gopro. you can virtually mount it anywhere. it really gives you a unique perspective on capturing shots. >> reporter: but in the end, the gopro was made for the amateurs, what woodman calls a life camera, no matter what your point of view. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. we're back in a moment with a major ruling tonight and a big fight over big drinks.

it is once again perfectly legal to brandish a large sugary beverage on the streets of new york city. the court of appeals in new york has ruled the city board of health overstepped its bounds and tried to make law with the big soda ban on drinks over 16 ounces which was first famously pushed by former mayor bloomberg. there's no arguing about the huge amounts of sugar in big drinks and its effect on the

american diet. but in making a point about where to draw the line, one judge wondered if a ban on triple-decker burgers could be next. one writer called this the humbling political stat of the day. a new pew research study showing four in ten americans can correctly identify which party controls the majority in the house or senate. for the record, republicans in the house, democrats in the senate. with the july 4th holiday weekend now within striking range, a bit of a mixed bag as we approach what is always the biggest travel time of the summer. aaa is projecting 41 million of us on the roads driving 50 miles or more. an improving economy means more people on the road. but what we pay for gas is now at a six-year high. and if you've raised kids who are teething, this may be familiar to you. the soccer player who's become known as the guy who bites, luis suarez who plays for uruguay, has been suspended for nine

matches by the governing body fifa for the bite he put on his italian opponent a few days back during the world cup. he has been disciplined for biting twice before. when we come back, a young woman hoping to make history in the air, retracing the flight of her famous namesake.

finally here tonight, a 31-year-old pilot took off from oakland, california, today flying a single-engine plane and hoping to make history along the way. her name just happens to be amelia earhart. we get her story tonight from nbc's joe fryer. >> reporter: it's almost destiny that the sky would become a second home for someone with the name amelia earhart. >> i did to a certain extent feel like i had to become a pilot. >> reporter: her family thought they were distant relatives of the legendary aviatrix. so ten years ago, this adventurous modern-day amelia earhart started flying and before long became a traffic reporter in a helicopter. >> there are no problems to worry about today. >> reporter: she made plans to recreate her namesake's around-the-world flight, the one that ended with earhart disappearing in the pacific ocean in 1937. then came news the two amelias

were not related. >> if you believe anything for 30 years and you're told it's not true, it's tough to take. >> reporter: but she decided to fly on. at 31 years old, this earhart also hopes to make history, becoming the youngest woman to ever circle the globe in a single-engine plane. the trip is expected to last nearly three weeks with 17 stops in 14 different countries. she'll fly 28,000 miles, 80% of it over ocean. this is home for the next few weeks? >> it is. >> reporter: earhart will share the cockpit with an experienced co-pilot. >> this is clearly her dream. and now it's come to fruition. >> that looks awesome. >> reporter: their journey begins today in oakland at a hangar dripping with earhart history, the place where the original amelia started her voyage. >> when i think about the feelings of opening up the hangar door on the morning of the flight and seeing the same view that amelia saw, it's really special to me. we're taking off -- >> reporter: she gets a farewell

call from her dad. >> happy tears, right? >> reporter: then it's time to take off. >> just goes to show that i think there are still adventures to be had and things for people to get excited about. >> reporter: a journey inspired by a name, empowered by something deeper. joe fryer, nbc news, broomfield, colorado. >> by the way, unlike the original flight path of amelia earhart, we are able to track this flight all the way via gps. tonight it shows the aircraft and pilot resting for the night in colorado. you can track it via our website, nbcnews.com. that is our broadcast on a thursday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

right now at 6:00, sworn to serve and protect. a federal agent is on the wrong side of the law accuse of stealing personal items from the very mail he was charged with keeping safe. good evening. thanks for joining us. >> only on nbc stunning news out of the south bay, a well respected postal inspector is accuse of some very serious federal crimes tonight. prosecutors say they have captured him on camera, of all things, stealing mail. nbc bay area is live at the post

office on st. john's street in an jose. there are a list of valuables, everything from jewelry to cash, that this postal inspector is accused of taking, mailian. >> that's right. this is the ten-page criminal affidavit. they are stunned by the allegations inside this report. they say he used to help senior citizens prevent identity and mail theft. this is a picture of quaun howard receiving an award for being federal agent of the year in 201. the picture is from the financial industry mail security initiative newsletter. tonight howard is charged with stealing and destroying mail, mail theft, and possession of stolen mail. prosecutors say they have him on video stealing items like gift cards, prescription pills, $5,000 cash, two silver bars, passports, even marijuana. he