on our broadcast tonight, we're in ferguson, missouri, as the national guard now moves in to position following some of the worst violence here so far. and new revelations about the shooting that started it all, specifically how michael brown died. tonight, fears here in ferguson about what nightfall will bring once again. also, a critical mission today in iraq. u.s. air strikes drive back isis. there's been a major development in the fight. and health news, the images a lot of people were talking about today having to do with your skin versus the sun and the damage we can't always see. "nightly news" from ferguson, missouri, tonight begins now.

a special good evening to our viewers in the western u.s. tonight. it's been ten days now since a young man died in the street after being shot by a police officer in a residential neighborhood not all that far from here. last night here the violence was the most intense it's been so far. in some of the worst urban violence in this country in recent years, both sides went at each other. police eventually got the upper hand by firing smoke canisters, teargas, rubber bullets. we are coming to you tonight from the parking lot of a target store because this is where the national guard will be setting up. it's where they are able to guarantee our safety. that was the big development here today. the governor has called out the national guard to help restore order, yes, but mostly to take

up residence here and free up local police. the whole world is, indeed, watching ferguson, missouri. population about 20,000. part of the st. louis, metropolitan area. it's changed from majority white toer majority african-american in recent years. there are problems like poverty, like a 50% unemployment rate among young males and now this in the heat of august in missouri. we begin our coverage tonight with nbc's ron allen who's been here throughout. >> good to see you, brian. they have been trying to find the balance between allowing peaceful protest and at the same time maintaining public order. there is no curfew but there is a lot of firepower if there is a hint things may be getting out of control. missouri national guard troops deployed to ferguson today where emotions are still raw. michael brown's family released graphic details of his death

from an autopsy they commissioned. high profile pathologist michael baden performed the forensics examination finding brown was shot at least six times, two wounds to the head. >> six bullets struck and two may have re-entered. and three bullets were recovered at the first autopsy. >> reporter: the family insists their son was killed while trying to surrender to police. police have said brown assaulted the officer who shot him. video of the shooting scene shows brown's body in the street with an officer standing nearby. under mounting pressure from many, including the governor, to speed up the investigation, prosecutors told nbc news they're trying to begin getting evidence to a grand jury this week. >> police-involved shootings are different. and they're different because the officers by their nature and by law are authorized to use force. the real issue is whether that force was appropriate in that situation. >> reporter: last night ferguson saw its most violent

demonstrations yet. the police have warned the protesters to clear this area, but the protesters say they're not going anywhere. and you can see the police are starting to move in. police chronicled a relentless barrage, 8:25 p.m. first reports of gunfire. then 8:28 p.m. reports of eight armed men. 8:56 p.m. hundreds trying to attack the police command center throwing molotov cocktails. several businesses were looted. police made at least six arrests. now as another night approaches families are frightened. malonda white has three children. school is still closed. >> we are always in dangerer because we cannot go anywhere. we can't get on the bus. we can't even go home and lay our heads down and just be peaceful. >> reporter: prosecutors say it could take months for them to decide whether to file charges and arrest officer darren wilson in this case. meanwhile attorney general eric

holderer is expected here later this week. he's called for a third autopsy, sent here by president obama to keep a close eye on what's going on. >> thanks, ron allen, starting us off tonight. because of what happened in ferguson, missouri, more people around our nation are now talking about the so-called militarization of local police forces. vehicles in some cases right off the battlefields in iraq and afghanistan. officers with assault weapons wearing desert camo on the streets of this town again last night. now the national guard moves in, but not in the capacity you might think. we get our report on that from nbc's mark potter. >> reporter: after the worst night of violence yet, the missouri national guard rolled out with a mission very clearly and narrowly defined. they will not be out on the streets tonight. they will only guard the police command post and will answer to the missouri highway patrol still in charge of overall security.

in a written statement today, governor jay nixon said the guardsmen are to provide protection and ensure the safety of our unified command center, which was the target last night of a coordinated attack. >> that will free up law enforcement resources to protect the peaceful protesters, the citizens of ferguson and their property. >> reporter: the command center is set up in a shopping center about a half-mile from the main protest zone. last night police wearing gas masks ran through the parking lot to form security lines after hearing reports of nearby gunfire, molotov cocktails and an angry crowd heading their way. it took more than an hour to bring the threats under control. >> they love their child. >> reporter: the events last night were in stark contrast to an emotional church service yesterday in support of the brown family in which highway patrol captain ronald johnson, the man in charge of security, offered a heartfelt message. >> i wear this uniform, and i should stand up here and say that i'm sorry. [ applause ]

>> i love you. i stand tall with you. and i'll see you out there. >> reporter: but when the streets raged out of control again last night, the guard was called up to free more police officers for street duty. the missouri national guard was most recently deployed in the spring of 2013 working around the clock to help control flooding along the mississippi river. now in ferguson it's here to keep the peace as national guard troops were most recently in new orleans in 2006 after six murders there. in 1992, the guard restored order in the wake of the verdict in the rodney king beating trial. and in 1968 they were activated in four cities to control riots after dr. martin luther king jr. was assassinated. and right behind us is that police command post where the national guard will be providing security so that more of these officers out here now, brian, if they are needed. >> mark potter with us tonight. thanks, mark. president obama returning to the white house for two days

from his more or less working vacation on martha's vineyard. he was briefed by the attorney general eric holder and other advisers on the situation here in ferguson. then late today speaking from the briefing room the president said the attorney general will travel to ferguson on wednesday to meet with federal law enforcement officials investigating the shooting of michael brown that started it all. more than 40 fbi agents. we saw some of them today going door to door interviewing potential witnesses here in ferguson. we spoke with the democratic governor of the state, jay nixon in spring, missouri, 30 miles from here. i started by asking him about the militarized look of law enforcement. only added to by the arrival tonight of the national guard and specifically what he intends to do about it. >> when we saw that look and the reaction from the folks that night, we called the patrol in.

captain johnson and his team got involved and that was peaceful. unfortunately the next morning there was that report in the videotape. all of us have seen it lighting up the tinder box here. we have been making sure we calibrate to make sure we get peace and justice, protect the property and give people the right to continue to voice their first amendment rights. >> governor, let's talk about ferguson. long after the news media leave, and we will, and long after the streets are calm, and they will be some day, ferguson exists with the problems we are seeing today. specifically this near 50% unemployment rate among the very young males we see in the streets, a police force of 53 officers, only three of whom african-american. missouri's a great state. i used to live here. these have been however some of

the worst days in the state's modern history. what about ferguson and parts of missouri like it going forward? >> well, first of all, it's a challenge faced all across the country. and that's what's happened. this has scratched an old wound in many ways. and that sometimes hurts as much as the first time. so what we're asking folks to do is to have their first amendment rights but understand that we need to use this horrific loss and death of michael brown as a way to try to find a way to bridge towards the future, to bridge to bring people together. i know that's hard, but we got to get justice and we got to get peace. and when those two come into contrast, it makes it impossible to get either. >> governor jay nixon on whose order the national guard will be arriving right here behind us later this evening. governor, thank you very much, during your busy day for being with us here tonight. that conversation again from the east coast version of "nbc nightly news" earlier this evening. earlier today we went to the neighborhood where michael brown lived and died.

it's basically two right turns away from here. it's a neighborhood of single-family modest houses and garden apartments. it's jarring when you come across the memorial where he died in the middle of the street. while we were there we talked to the reverend jesse jackson about how this town will heal. he then introduced us to a woman who lives there, like most of the people there, she is looking for some positive change to come from this. for the people watching the news tonight, what should they know about this neighborhood? during happy times. >> during happy times it's a great neighborhood. but people are afraid. >> is there anything good that's going to come out of this? maybe get some attention? >> i believe so. >> what might that be? >> i think the whole incident with mike brown is just going to change the way we've been treated by the police. and i think a good change is going to come.

>> while we are talking, by the way, military police, national guard humvee, a veteran of either the iraq or afghanistan war has arrived here on scene. also there is a gathering not far from here but so far tonight it's been peaceful. we are keeping an eye on it. that conversation, by the way, was from the neighborhood we encountered today. it's very important we tell you it is a peaceful neighborhood though sad, having suffered a loss. loot of the people there took pains to point out they have stayed away from the area where the violence might be welling up during the evening. we have a lot more news to pass along to you. we must shift our focus overseas now to iraq. and a critical mission and progress to report as u.s. air strikes continue to bombard isis. the president called the recapturing of the mosul dam by iraqi and kurdish forces with help from a u.s. air power a

major step forward in the fight. the dam provides power to millions of iraqis. it is in delicate shape on a good day. we get the report from bill nealy in iraq. >> reporter: american war planes overhead, kurdish rockets on the ground. the militants of isis are being pounded, driven from villages they laced with mines and ieds. this is a battle around mosul dam. it's house to house. the kurds say they have now retaken the dam from isis. it is critical for iraq supplying water and power to millions. the islamists are on the run. their vehicles litter the roads. this is the first time that the seemingly unstoppable advance of isis has not only been halted but been reversed. there were 15 u.s. air strikes today hitting dug-in positions.

but the isis bullets still flew overhead. kurds are appealing to the west for better weapons. they say they're outgunned by isis. and they acknowledge american firepower has made all the difference. [ gunfire ] they are firing these rockets at isis positions about six miles from here, south towards the city of mosul, which isis still controls. away from the battlefield refugees from a religious minority the militants want to wipe out. isis killed this girl's sister. without american air strikes, says her father, we could never have driven isis away. they've lost so much, but today their enemies lost ground and a crucial battle. bill neely, nbc news, near mosul dam, iraq. >> thanks to an armored national guard humvee that's taken up residence behind us, we'll have

to put up with engine noise for the remainderer of the broadcast tonight. we'll take a break in ferguson. a lot more news ahead as we continue including health news. new images revealing what you can't see about the damage the sun is doing. we have all heard the warnings. tonight some startling new evidence. and later a remarkable making a difference update. a young girl with a bucket list and how so many of our viewers stepped forward to help out.

after a blisteringly hot august day this story is timely during the summer of 2014. new video that contains dramatic proof of the importance of wearing sunscreen. one in five americans will develop skin cancer over their lifetime. it's a warning we have all heard but prior to this we haven't seen the evidence presented quite this way. we get the report tonight from

nbc's rehema ellis. >> reporter: in the video, people stopped on the street were asked to look at themselves through the unforgiving lens of ultraviolet light. in person their skin appears healthy, but under the uv light, the difference is dramatic and eye-opening. >> i do see some sun damage here and here. >> reporter: it's the same uv light used in a dermatologist's office. taking it to the street has a real impact. what do you think about this video being out there? is this useful video for the public to have? >> it's fantastic. i'm excited it's out there. i have never seen more interest in sunscreen and sun damage. >> reporter: every year there are more than three and a half million cases of skin cancer. half of all adults report at least one sun burn in the past 12 months, increasing the risk of skin cancer. the film maker offers a stunning reminder that people can protect themselves. again, using the uv light you see what happens when sunscreen is used.

it darkens the skin like a protective shield against the sun. when we showed people the video -- they were stunned to see the effect of sunscreen. >> wow. how much protection do you need? doctors say use at least an ounce, at least about a shot glass full, applying every one to two hours, especially after swimming. make sure it's water resistant and offers broad spectrum protection. >> just putting on a cream changes everything, right? >> reporter: it's a message we have all heard before. now the evidence is in black and white. rehema ellis, nbc news, new york. we're back in a moment with the news today about money and some very big cost centers in american life.

phil simms, long time broadcaster for cbs sports says he probably won't use the word

redskins when he's in the booth for the giants-redskins game on september 25th. he says because of the sensitivity over the topic, he will likely just call the squad washington. looks like the former head coach turned nbc sports broadcaster tony dung erkdungy feels the sa. none of this bodes well for the redskins and its ability to hang onto its name. startling new numbers out today about money and how many americans specifically are unable or somehow unwilling to save more for retirement. more than a third, 36% of all americans, say they have nothing in the form of retirement savings. for those under age 30, 70% say they have nothing saved for later in life. for millions of americans a big chunk of that money is spent on our children. and new numbers out today from the government reveal a child born last year, for example,

will cost a middle-income american family an average of $245,000 until he or she reaches the age of 18. that does not include the cost of college tuition. when we come back tonight how our own viewers are making a difference.

back here in ferguson, missouri, tonight. this has been the scene of so much heartache we figured we had a few minutes to dedicate to good news. specifically for thanking our viewers to step up to help a young woman about the gradual loss of her sight and the places she still wants to see. we get an update tonight from nbc's peter alexander. >> reporter: a few weeks ago this was a view lily could only dream of, san francisco's famed golden gate bridge. >> my mom talked about it for a long time. and she was like, oh, it was really pretty. and i wanted to see it before i may or may not go blind. >> reporter: just 12 years old lily has a rare genetic disorder called usher syndrome that's left her hearing impaired and doctors say will likely cause her to lose her vision completely. we first met lily earlier this summer at her home in michigan

where she celebrated for raising more than $100,000 for the foundation fighting blindness. while lily's trying to make a difference for others, "nightly news" viewers wanted to make a difference for her sending her and her family to places she's always wanted to see. >> there were some anonymous donors that said, well, we have to make this happen. and i felt like the happiest person in the world because there are people that want to help me with what i'm going through. >> reporter: their first trip a whirlwind tour of the city by the bay, from alcatraz to fisherman's wharf and of course that bridge. >> when i first saw the bridge i was like this is really pretty. and i was like why is this red? it's the golden gate bridge. >> reporter: and thanks to your generosity her family is making plans to visit hawaii, the eiffel tower, the leaning tower of pisa and stonehenge. >> she has so many things she wants to see before her vision

were to get worse. it's pretty cool. >> reporter: peter alexander, nbc news, washington. a good note to end on tonight as we start off a new week. thanks for being wit enbhs bay area news starts now. a south bay day care worker, and today he faced his accuser in court. one by one, young girls took the stand and recounted for the jury what they say he did to them. >> this is new at 6:00. they were describing an unspeakable act. young girls taking the stand today to testify about what a ymca child care worker did to them at a center in morgan hill. he is accused of sexually assaulting four girls.

the youngest, just three years old. marianne, this must have been very difficult for the girls and their parents. >> reporter: it absolutely was, raj. our cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom. but i was there as two young girls offered gut-wrenching testimony about the horrible things that happened to them. he is accused of sexually assaulting four girls, ages 3, 5, 6, and 7, as he worked as a teacher's aide at this center in morgan hill. the 20 year old was arrested last summer. today during a preliminary hearing, two of his alleged victims testified. a 7-year-old girl testified that he told her she had something green stuck on her tongue, took her into a bathroom, told her to close her eyes and assaulted her. a 6-year-old girl if