thursday, friday and saturday of next week. keep our fingers crossed. >> sounds good. "nbc nightly news" is next. more local news at 6:00. on this saturday night, city on edge. a state of emergency declared and curfew imposed in ferguson, missouri, as a piece of video becomes a new flashpoint over the shooting of an unarmed man. vowing to fight, texas governor rick perry says his federal indictment for abuse of power is outrageous and an abuse of power itself. packing heat at a growing number of restaurants nationwide. we take you inside where both diners and servers are armed. and who's that girl? this 13-year-old is making history on the little league field with a pitch-perfect performance on the mound. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with

lester holt. good evening. late today the governor of missouri declared a state of emergency in the embattled st. louis suburb of ferguson after a brief calm was shattered by more unrest overnight. in its latest flare-up, an unruly crowd looted a store that has become a sudden flashpoint over a police shooting of an unarmed man that occurred a week ago today. police responded with tear gas but largely held their distance. tensions in ferguson were re-inflamed yesterday when police released video of michael brown appearing to rob a store minutes before his fatal run-in with an officer. again tonight, ron allen leads off our coverage from ferguson. ron, good evening. >> reporter: good evening to you, lester. ferguson hoped to turn a corner, but tonight this police commander centerhas a lot of energy and a lot of activity. as governor jay nixon put it today, this is a town racked by fear and unrest, a town

demanding that its leaders do more to stop the violence. last night on the streets of this already embattled town, anger and rage returned. heavily armed police were back. tear gas, bottles in the air. [ bleep ]. >> reporter: dozens of protesters held their grounds. and while the standoff endured, some seized the moment to take everything they could, looting and ransacking several businesses including ferguson market and liquor. the same place michael brown was seen on the security video allegedly stealing cigars some ten minutes before he was shot and killed about half a mile away. as the crowd swelled into the night, many warned the tape might cause trouble. >> i was outraged the way the whole thing was presented. >> reporter: protesters accuse police of denigrating brown and trying to give the officer an excuse. >> they attempted to assassinate

michael brown's character after they had so brutally assassinated him in broad daylight. >> reporter: police claim they made the tape public because of media requests, but there may be another reason. >> this video may come to corroborate officer wilson's allegations that mr. brown was the aggressor. >> reporter: missouri's governor declared a state of emergency. >> but if we're going to achieve justice, we must first have and maintain peace. >> reporter: frustrated residents interrupted. >> we need to charge that police with murder. [ bleep ]. >> reporter: police will enforce a curfew in ferguson from midnight to 5:00 a.m. this morning picking up the pieces after yet another night of destruction, many pitching in were disgusted with the looters. >> this ain't what you do to get things right. it's not. >> reporter: and critical of police as well. >> i live across the street. and i stopped and i saw you guys

all over and almost just attack me. >> we won't be here today! >> reporter: a community deeply disturbed by unrelenting episodes of violence searching for a way to finally make it stop. police blamed a small band of criminals for the violence saying the protesters have been peaceful. tonight the curfew goes in effect at midnight, the question is how much force will police use to keep people off the streets. lester. >> ron, that question of police force has been raised throughout the week in ferguson. police there have walked a fine line on how to respond to looting and protests following the shooting. and the controversy over how they draw that line is growing tonight. nbc's mark potter has more. >> reporter: after a peaceful night thursday, police had hoped for the same yesterday. and that's exactly how the day started. hundreds of protesters back on

the streets were loud but peaceful. the missouri highway patrol in charge of security decided to back off, telling us it was letting the crowd vent its frustrations freely. >> we're here not as a show of force or anything. we're here as a show of compassion and trying -- and community and try to bring everybody together. >> reporter: the crowd seemed to appreciate it. >> y'all are doing a terrific job. >> thank you, sir. >> and i told them. >> reporter: it was a far cry from what the city had seen earlier in the week when officers in riot gear clashed with demonstrators firing tear gas and rubber bullets, drawing national outrage that inspired a change in police tactics. >> our officers aren't going to be out in force unless something happens and we have to match that force with that force. >> reporter: and something did happen, but critics say when looters showed up around midnight and broke into several businesses, police failed to protect the shop owners. >> this is the police. >> reporter: after only a brief confrontation protesters say, police pull back leaving it to

the protesters to stop the looters. >> one of the businesses that was looted friday night is this one, sam's meat market and liquor. they also got hit sunday night. and the owner is really upset with the police. while looters tore apart his store, owner mike jacobs said officers never helped him. >> everything's gone. everything's gone. >> reporter: the police captain in charge of security says police last night were balancing public safety over business losses. >> we lost some meat from a store. we lost some alcohol from a store. things that can be replaced. but we didn't lose a life that we can't replace. >> reporter: and he hopes the new curfew will help ensure calm. and in talking about the curfew the captain says it will be imposed softly saying "we won't enforce it with trucks, we won't enforce it with tear gas. we will communicate." lester. >> mark potter tonight. thank you. more on this developing story tomorrow morning on "meet the press." missouri governor jay nixon will be among the guests. texas governor rick perry

came out swinging today saying a federal indictment charging him with an abuse of power is a political move, one he calls an abuse of power itself. perry vowed to fight the charges which involve a veto he made last year. nbc's kristen welker has more. >> this indictment amounts to nothing more than abuse of power. and i cannot and i will not allow that to happen. >> texas governor rick perry defiant in the face of a federal indictment alleging he abused his power contrary to the oath of office he took as a public servant. today, perry called the charges purely political. >> it is outrageous that some would use partisan political theatrics to rip away at the very fabric of our state's constitution. >> reporter: perry, a potential 2016 presidential contender, is facing two felony counts for allegedly using his veto

authority to try to force the resignation of democratic district attorney rose mary lendberg after she was arrested for drunk driving. prosecutors say perry threatened to use his power to withhold funds which investigates public corruption. she didn't step down and perry followed through with the veto. >> i wholeheartedly and unequivocally stand behind my veto. and i'll continue to defend this lawful action of my executive authority as governor. >> reporter: special prosecutor michael mccrumb. >> the grand jury spoke that at least there's probable cause to believe he committed two crimes, two felony crimes. >> reporter: perry visited iowa this week, possibly retooling for another presidential campaign after faltering in 2012. >> oops. >> reporter: but today largely bipartisan support for perry with former obama advisor david

with former obama advisor david axelrod saying the indictment seems sketchy and jeb bush saying they're politically motivated and ridiculous. >> as long as there's no conviction, he's going to certainly remain a contender in the race. >> reporter: the embattled governor is showing no signs of giving up. kristen welker, nbc news. overseas the u.s. military launched nine air strikes in iraq today to retake a critical dam from isis militants. we also learned more about an alleged massacre of members of a religious minority and the kidnapping of their wives and children after they refused to convert to islam. nbc's bill neely has our report tonight from iraq. >> reporter: this is what desperation looks like, refugees who fled islamist militants fighting over orange juice at their camp. the militants of isis wanted to kill these people because they're yazidis, a religious minority. they survived, but today they learned of a massacre of their people. in telephone calls survivors describe isis gunmen on a

killing spree. >> they kill everyone over there. everyone. >> they killed all the men and took all the woman and killed them. >> reporter: so many, many men were killed. dozens. the exact death toll isn't known. others speak of 80 killed. isis gunmen had offered their victims a stark choice, islam or death. convert to islam or die? >> yes. >> reporter: and people said no. >> yes. >> reporter: and they have been killed, many of them. >> yes. >> reporter: a few dozen miles from their camp u.s. war planes are striking back. fighter bombers and drones launching air strikes against the militants who captured this dam, the biggest in iraq. kurdish and iraqi troops are attacking them on the ground. today's u.s. air strikes are different from others this week, launched not for humanitarian reasons but in direct military support of fighters attacking isis.

this ancient people who've lived in iraq's mountains throughout history have had enough. the latest massacre they've heard of near here has just added to their terror. they may have been here for thousands of years, but they are so traumatized by what's happened to them that they want to cut that historic link to get out and never come back. the massacres, fighting and air strikes almost certain to swell the tens of thousands who've already fled. bill neely, nbc news, iraq. now to a remarkable scene today in south korea where pope francis delivered mass to huge crowds in the capital of seoul. while the pontiff paid homage to south korea's past, it's a yellow ribbon he wore to honor victims of a recent ferry disaster that's leaving a lasting impression tonight. more from nbc's anne thompson. >> reporter: a public demonstration of faith, 1 million in seoul's historic center to see pope francis

celebrate mass, equivalent to one-fifth of the catholic population in korea. the most moving moment here in seoul had nothing to do with korea's past and everything to do with its present. yellow ribbons are everywhere in the country's capital. symbols of mourning and remembrance of the 304 people who died in april's ferry accident. many of them high school students. wearing a yellow ribbon pin for the second straight day, the pope stepped out of his pope mobile at the city square now occupied by some victims' families. they want a new investigation into the accident. the pope embraced a father on the 33rd day of a hunger strike. sitting on a mat where he rests, kim showed me pictures of his 17-year-old daughter he lost in the accident. today, he gave the pope a letter

explaining the family's position. i don't know why my daughter died, he tells me. and says it's his responsibility to find out why. the pope has not endorsed the family's demands, but they think the ribbon he wears speaks volumes. >> families and people believe that wearing this yellow ribbon means he really understands and shares the sorrow of the people. >> reporter: sorrows rooted in korea's present and past. anne thompson, nbc news, seoul. when "nbc nightly news" continues on this saturday, we'll show you a trend in some restaurants where things are heating up. and later, the 13-year-old girl who shutout the little league competition and made history.

we're back now with our continuing look at the debate over guns in america with a visit to a small town in colorado with an oddly appropriate name, rifle. waitresses at a local restaurant serve up meals with their guns strapped to their hips at a time when other businesses are banning them. nbc's janet shamlian has the story. >> reporter: it's a morning routine much like that of other working moms. >> i'll make your cereal in just a minute, all right? >> reporter: but lauren isn't ready for her job until she's clipped on a 9-millimeter pistol. the colorado woman owns shooters grill in the aptly named town of rifle. >> hi, how are you? good.

>> reporter: in her restaurant firearms aren't just welcome, they're encouraged. >> many of my waitresses already open carry, conceal/carry before the restaurant actually began. they approached me asking if they could carry while working. >> reporter: so every morning hot breakfasts are served by waitresses packing heat. >> i'm carrying a ruger .357 blackhawk. >> i'm carrying a smith and wesson .9 millimeter shield. >> reporter: and the regulars too, like bill with his .357 magnum. if they told you you couldn't bring your gun in. >> i wouldn't come in here. >> what about businesses that don't allow them? >> i don't go in there. >> reporter: shooters isn't alone. a number of small businesses are welcoming gun owners just as some national chains like chili's, starbucks and sonic are doing the opposite. the owner of this tennessee restaurant says a growing attitude against guns convinced her to allow them. >> as the owner, i wanted to stand my ground. i have that constitutional right. if you'd like it, that's great.

if you don't, i'm sorry for you. >> reporter: while businesses have the right to allow firearms, gun control supporters say it's irresponsible. >> this is a really dangerous situation and it's contributing to our culture of gun violence in america. and we are working very hard to get restaurants and retailers to say we are not okay with this. >> reporter: as for lauren she says the open carry policy isn't a given. >> this is a right that we have. this is a right that people are trying to take away from us. law-abiding citizens carrying a firearm having the right to protect themselves. and we need to stand and fight for that right. >> reporter: an oversized helping of the second amendment. amid a growing debate over guns. janet shamlian, nbc news, rifle, colorado. up next, the impact of a garbage pile floating in the pacific ocean. get this, twice the size of texas.

a california research team is just back from a voyage in the pacific ocean. they explored what's called the great pacific garbage patch. it's hundreds of miles long and growing. our miguel almaguer has more on what scientists are just now learning. >> reporter: the nearly two-month journey took the crew

aboard the research vessel algalita where few ever traveled. an exploration into what's called the great pacific garbage patch, 1,000 miles off the coast of california into the middle of the world's largest open ocean. >> less than one hour. >> reporter: this was captain charles moore's tenth trip. and he discovers something he didn't know existed, an island of trash big enough to stand on. >> these are one of the most common debris items that we find out here. >> reporter: stretching hundreds of miles long, the garbage patch is a vortex of plastic, junk and debris swept together by the ocean's currents. captain moore says it's double the size of texas and growing. >> it was utterly devastating to me to see the increase be that great. >> reporter: five garbage patches have been identified swirling in our oceans, all likely hundreds of years old. this one in the pacific getting

even larger because of tsunami debris from japan's 2011 quake. >> bottle caps. >> reporter: scientists are now studying how the debris is working its way into our food chain. >> every piece that we collect almost has some sort of nibble mark on it. so we believe a lot of these organisms, especially these fish, are eating this plastic. >> reporter: from the shores of alaska to the beaches of hawaii, nbc news has tracked tsunami debris and waste from the garbage patch washing ashore. the long-term environmental impact still unknown. >> huge swaths of the ocean are completely trash. because those areas are remote, they're not part of the conversation. we need to make them part of the conversation. >> reporter: with the crew of the algalita back on shore, tonight their research is just beginning. but what they have already discovered is just the first wave of troubling news. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. now to a follow-up on a story we brought you last weekend.

the first-ever auction at grace land to mark the 37th anniversary of elvis presley's death. among the top selling items, elvis's gold and diamond lion's head pendant. it sold for more than $82,000. the runner-up was elvis's 1977 cadillac seville selling for a cool $81,000. the king of rock and roll died august 17th, 1977, at the age of 42. when we come back here tonight, meet the 13-year-old girl dominating the little league baseball field and not just with a 70-mile-an-hour fastball.

finally tonight, you won't soon forget this 13-year-old powerhouse. her name is mo'ne davis. she threw a shutout against the

boys in the first round of the little league world series. now she's taking the country by storm. nbc's kristen dahlgren has her story. >> reporter: in her hometown philadelphia, mo'ne davis is a hero. the first girl to ever throw a shutout in a little league world series. t-shirts are flying off the shelves. >> we just got in like 400 more last night. and i probably have about 75 left. >> reporter: but it's not just philly, mo'ne is now a national sensation getting tweets from magic johnson, michelle obama, even major league baseball. sports illustrated says she put the boys on notice, buzz feed calls her the hero we all need. so how does a 13-year-old handle that kind of pressure? >> i know a lot of people are going to be watching. and a lot of people are going to be in the stands. but i can't like let that affect me. so i just got to go out and play my game. >> reporter: davis hasn't always played with the boys.

she started in softball, but found this more her speed. >> when she first started, i hear the players saying they got a girl on their team. but i think right now everybody knows mo'ne. >> reporter: who could forget her 70-mile-an-hour fastball? not the boys from south nashville. in yesterday's game she gave up just two hits. >> there's lots of kids who can throw hard, but she can throw a number of different pitches for strikes. which is what makes her a good pitcher. >> reporter: her coach says she's also a great teammate. after the game she tweeted, great team win. one of just 18 girls to ever play in a little league world series, she knows her place in history. >> being somebody's role model is really cool. hopefully more girls will join the league. >> reporter: but she doesn't want to stop here. >> either be the first female in the mlb or in the nba. >> reporter: fans say don't bet against it. the girl with the golden arm is already a game-changer. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york.

that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. i'll see you back here tomorrow morning on "today" and then right back here tomorrow evening. good night. count down to kick off. tomorrow's preseason game is the next big test for the new levi

stadium. thank you for joining us. more than 68,000 fans will pour into the new stadium for the preseason game. that means big changes at great america as well. marian is joining fr ining us f park. what should you do tomorrow? >> reporter: if you were planning to take your kids here tomorrow to enjoy the amusement park great america will be closed because it will be closed during all the 49er home games here at the new stadium. there will be other things to enjoy as well. the parking lot will be open and that's where more than 6,000 49 ticketholders will park. the event costs $85 and is open to the public. the building was