much cooler on tuesday and wednesday. >> all right. rob, thank you. thank you for watching. "nbc nightly news" is next. more at 6:00. hope to see you then. on this sunday night, fighting back. u.s. air power helps seal a victory over isis militants in one key iraqi town. as president obama faces growing pressure from congress to do more. plus the american city that's become a fertile recruiting ground for islamic extremeists. out of bounds? an nfl player arrested o charges of domestic violence just days after the league announced much tougher measures to combat the problem. banning plastic bags. many towns already do it. but now california is poised to become the first state to phase them out of grocery stores. and kids and gun, after a deadly accident, can guns ever be safe in the hands of kids. why some say an early start is key.

>> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening. today on the back of punishing u.s. air strikes, iraqi security forces and shiite militias took back a besieged town from islamic state fighters. it came as the debate in washington reignited over whether the obama administration is doing enough to defeat isis. the u.s. is currently spending an average of $7.5 million a day on operations in iraq. but it is syria where isis is based. and the president's cautious approach over whether to carry the fight there is raising some eyebrows even within his own party. nbc's kristen welker is at the white house to explain. hi, kristen. >> good evening, lester. some democrats are leaning on president obama after he says he doesn't have a strategy yet for

dealing with isis in syria. the president now facing a test of his foreign policy. another air drop of food and water by the u.s. and its allies today, for shias living in northern iraq. the siege for six weeks by isis militants. over the weekend the iraqi military, shiite militia and kurdish forces broke that siege with the help of u.s. air strikes. so far the obama administration has launched 120 strikes throughout iraq since early august. meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the president to implement a policy against isis in syria. >> this is a vicious, vicious movement, and it has to be confronted. >> reporter: senator diane feinstein on "meet the press" today. >> i've learned one thing about this president, and that is he's very cautious. maybe in this instance too cautious. >> reporter: feinstein even said she agreed with her republican colleagues, senators john mccain and lindsay graham. in a "new york times" op-ed, the

senators call on the president to take action against isis in syria, writing, continuing to confront isis in iraq, but not in syria, would be fighting with one hand tied behind our back. but the president had his defenders of the deliberative approach he's taking. >> you just don't rush in. because the media is talking about it. >> reporter: and there are fresh concerns today about westerners signing up to join isis, after a 16-year-old girl suspected of trying to reach syria to fight with the terrorist group was arrested in france. hundreds of americans are involved with the group, according to congressman mike rogers. >> it's in the hundreds. that we believe have at least one time traveled and participated and trained with them. >> reporter: as the president prepares to travel to a nato summit in wales, the dual crisis in syria and iraq and russia's incursions into ukraine are likely to cast long shadows over what may be the most important allied conclave in decades. >> it's important for him to assure nato that the united

states will provide the leadership necessary in both ukraine as well as in syria. >> out of libya today, there are reports that militiamen have overrun a residential an next there in tripoli. this youtube video which nbc news has not yet authenticated showing the men holding a pool party. u.s. personnel were evacuated from the embassy last month due to increased violence in that country. >> kristen, thank you. as you had noted, there is growing concern about the recruitment of americans and other westerners by the isis militants. here in this country, perhaps nowhere is that concern greater than in minneapolis. we hear now why now from nbc's ron allen. >> reporter: for years minneapolis has been a target for terrorist recruiters. federal authorities say as many as two dozen militants from minnesota are linked to terror groups. now a handful have joined isis.

mccain was killed last year in syria. a friend of his was killed fighting with another militant group in somalia several years ago. >> just shocked. and disbelief that he -- not only that he's dead, but everything behind it. you know, like the syria stuff. it's not even believable. >> reporter: but in a neighborhood where tens of thousands of people from somalia live, it's an all too familiar story you lost your nephew. >> yeah. >> reporter: what happened? >> he was brainwashed. >> reporter: after his nephew was 17, when he was lured back to so mal yo in 2008. and died a year later by the militant group blamed for the nairobi mall attack last year. he said the recruiters' strongest tools are like these all over the internet, promising glory as a fighter, twisting the meaning of islam. because of the poverty and isolation, he said young people

are vulnerable. >> no jobs. >> jobs are little. >> recruiting women? >> yes. >> reporter: the idea is to get young people away from all negative influences. >> reporter: muhammad said his nonprofit has reached some 10,000 children in recent years, starting with kindergarteners, trying to keep them in school and on the right track. a constant uphill fight he says against the militants. >> they're recruiting by the day, by the hour, by the minute. >> reporter: meanwhile, federal authorities are investigating whether another militant who was killed while fighting with isis is from minnesota. ron allen, nbc news, minneapolis. the nfl's new and tougher policy on players involved with domestic violence may get its first test. after defensive end ray mcdonald of the san francisco 49ers was arrested early today. we get the details from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> reporter: for 49ers fans, ray mcdonald has been a fixture on the field. but this was the defensive end this morning, in a police mug

shot, facing felony domestic violence charges. mcdonald was arrested just before 3:00 a.m. responding officers with the san jose police substantiated domestic violence allegations. after posting $25,000 bail, mcdonald said only this -- >> crazy situation. >> reporter: in a statement, the 49ers said we take such matters seriously. as we continue to gather the facts, we will reserve further comment. the nfl tells us they are looking into it. the charges come just days after the league pledged tougher penalties for domestic violence, after criticism for ray rice's two-game suspension for this february incident when rice was caught on tape dragging his then fiancee. >> there was a public explosion of sentiment, especially from female fans, that without a doubt, pressed the nfl to do something about this. and they have. >> reporter: under the new

policy, players face a six-game suspension for a first offense. a second will get them ban issued. but in thursday's memo, nfl commissioner roger goodell promised more severe circumstances, against a pregnant woman or in front of a child. the nfl will conduct a mandatory evaluation of the charges. >> they'll look at the facts of each case individually standing alone. which is another way of saying we'll come up with the best situation we can, and one may not look like the other. >> reporter: in what could already be the first test of its tough new stance. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. all eyes on the racing world tonight around atlanta, where nascar champion tony stewart returned to the track three weeks after he was involved in an accident that killed another driver. our report tonight from nbc's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: in practice this weekend, tony stewart racked up

solid finishes. but tonight his fans hope the nascar legend will score a personal victory. >> i can only imagine what he's going through. but you know what, he's a driver. he needs to do what he wants to do. and we're just glad he's back. >> reporter: on friday stewart spoke publicly for the first time. >> this has been one of the toughest tragedies i've ever had to deal with, both professionally and personally. and this is something that will definitely affect my life forever. >> reporter: he struck and killed a fellow driver, kevin ward jr. who had climbed out of his car at a dirt track in upstate new york three weeks allege. a fan captured the horrifying collision on camera and posted it on youtube. no charges have been filed. and the sheriff said the crash investigation will take at least another two weeks. >> i think it's definitely an accident. and i think he paid his dues. he'll pay them the rest of his life. >> reporter: in the u.s. nascar has the most spectators per event and the second most

watched sport on television hinted the nfl. the industry attracts more than $3 billion a year from corporate sponsors. bass pro shops said saturday it was proud to stand by stewart. >> every one of the sponsors is monitoring social media to gauge how people are reacting to this. >> reporter: online critics bashed him for returning so quickly. one person tweeting, can't believe tony is being allowed to drive. rest in peace kevin ward. but here the three-time nascar champion has overwhelming support. george brooks was thrilled to get stewart's autograph. >> it's a nascar family. any driver goes through something like that in each sport. >> reporter: stewart would need to win either tonight or next week in richmond, virginia, to have a shot at the championship. tonight's race is still under way, lester. >> gabe, thank you. we're keeping a close watch on the weather tonight, especially some powerful storms in the middle of the country. and in the northeast.

there were downpours and heavy flooding in the new york city area. this was the scene this afternoon in the garden state parkway in new jersey. let's bring in nbc news meteorologist dylan drier with the latest for us. >> lester, those storms fired up around 4:00 this afternoon. humidity is on the rise. we felt it across the eastern half of the country. that is setting the stage for the severe storms. we have tornado watches in red, we also have severe thunderstorm warnings and watches in yellow. that's where we had some of the strongest storms right now. wind gusts near 60 miles per hour. we've had golf ball-sized hail. in the northeast, it was around 4:00 that the storms raced through new york. we saw about two inches of rainfall in just a short period of time. that creates that flash flooding. we're going to see the storms fade away around 3:00 in the morning on monday in the midwest. then they'll get a break through the morning. then we'll see another round of storms fire up to the south and east around 7:00 or so in the evening. and because of that, we have a slight risk of severe storms for

michigan right back into missouri. 70-mile-per-hour wind gusts are possible. while we could see some tornadoes, it doesn't look like we'll see as many as were in the forecast for today. >> dylan, thank you. california has taken a big step toward becoming the first state to ban the use of plastic bags in grocery stores. it's up to governor jerry brown who has until the end of september to make a final decision. we get more on the story tonight. >> reporter: paper or plastic. soon californians may not have the choice since the state legislature just approved a ban on single-use plastic bags. >> i don't think it's that big of a deal to bring your own bag. it's a big waste if people don't recycle them necessarily. >> reporter: many cities in california already outlaw plastic bags. if governor jerry brown signs the bill into law, starting next summer shoppers who forget to bring a bag will have to pay at least 10 cents at the grocery store for the paper or reusable kind. >> i think it's a bunch of

baloney. we've got too many rules and regulations in california. >> reporter: massachusetts and washington are also looking at bills to ban single-use bags. along with five other states, are considering taxes or fees ranging from 1 cents to 15 cents per bag. >> the new scam would kill my job. >> and my job. >> reporter: but with ads like these, the plastic bag industry has fought hard against the bill. the bag alliance saying this has never been about the environment. calling it a dirty deal to scam consumers out of billions of dollars. >> the plastic bags are littering our streets. >> reporter: environmental advocates have been pushing for a broader plastic ban for years. it took a new compromise to build enough support. plastic bag manufacturers will now get $2 million for equipment and training to make reusable bags. >> hopefully the shift in the conversation away from producing products that we're only using for a matter of minutes. >> reporter: in a discussion of what's disposable, california

closer to a permanent plan. nbc news, los angeles. when "nightly news" continues on this sunday, the renewed debate over kids and guns. we'll hear one father's argument that all children should be taught to handle and respect them.

we're back with a closer look at questions raised by the accidental death of a shooting instructor last week by a 9-year-old girl at a gun range in arizona. it's an issue that generates passionate debate by those both in favor and opposed to exposing children to guns. we get more tonight from nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: at this suburban chicago firing range, the friend brothers take shooting very

seriously. james is 14 -- >> when you're holding your rifle. or else you'll wobble. and your aim will go off course. >> reporter: andrew 19. >> what do you think shooting teaches you? >> a lot of self-discipline, patience and just respect for other people. >> reporter: andrew competes nationally using an ar-15 rifle modified for target shooting. he is an eagle scout, volunteers at his church and like most teens loves playing video games. james follows in his big brother's footsteps. >> build your position. >> what do they say to you about that? >> that it's like not a toy. >> pretty darn good. >> reporter: their father, russell, introduced his boys to the sport so he could spend quality time mentoring them. >> gaining a maturity and building a character, sportsmanship. >> reporter: it is precisely because a gun can be a dangerous

tool, that russell friend believes all children should be taught how to handle and respect them. a sentiment echoed by usa shooting, which along with the national rifle association and others has increased funding to attract the next generation. the firearms industry spends millions of dollars annually to provide youths with shooting education programs, better coaches and improved ranges and equipment. >> everybody should at least have the opportunity, if they wish, to be exposed to that sport, participate in it and pursue it. >> reporter: but some child psychologists caution many kids, especially those under the age of 20, may not be mature enough to handle guns. >> putting guns in the hands of children is an immense responsibilities. and there's a lot of danger that can come by if it is not executed in the appropriate way. >> it's a real discipline. >> absolutely. takes a lifetime. >> reporter: russell friend is committed to teaching his children and other kids the

obligations of gun ownership and use. >> there's definitely respect for the power of the rifle. and then there's the respect for your fellow shooters. the other people who are trying to do what you're trying to do. >> reporter: life skills he wants to ensure they grow up with. >> good. >> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc, kerry, illinois. up next, we'll take you inside a sport that stars some really heavy hitters.

a big sports weekend here in this country from college football to baseball to golf. and with that in mind, we thought we'd share with you another competition that took place, a kind of big game, polo that's played in thailand. and where the pace is just a little slower. nbc's ian williams has the play by play. >> reporter: it began in regal style. but instead of horses, the stars of this competition are three-ton elephants.

then they lumbered into action. steered by their keeper. behind them perched the players. from teams that included heavyweight outfits, from citibank and mercedes. then a break for lunch. all are born working elephants. but many now big on the streets. >> we give them medical treatment. we're able to feed them well, look after them. >> reporter: he aims to highlight their plight and raise money for elephant charities, including a new therapy to help children with autism. one competitor and donor has a story. he wanted to show me the ropes. >> let's give it a go. >> reporter: rule number one, don't fall off. >> they go in reverse? >> reporter: then there's the tricky task of actually hitting the ball. >> lock your eyes on the ball. >> you make it look very easy. >> all right. >> they're such wonderful

creatures. >> reporter: this tournament is a glamorous place to be seen. though the rainy season can be a challenge. but not for a team of former new zealand rugby players. but they only scrape the 1-0 victory against the team from a popular cabaret. at the end of a soggy weekend, a trophy for the champions. but a hope the real winners will be thailand's elephants. ian williams, nbc news, bangkok. when we come back, making a difference. the school that found its own way to make sure its students weren't hungry.

finally tonight, with the country facing a growing hunger problem, a recent survey found that one in seven americans depends on food assistance, including 12 million children. as kids return to school this week, many teachers will find themselves dealing with the problem. tonight, chelsea clinton on how a school in new mexico is making a difference. >> we have ones, tens, hundreds. >> reporter: it's hard to learn on an empty stomach. >> they can't come in here and be at their best. >> reporter: marvin callahan has been an elementary schoolteacher for 20 years. and sees hunger in albuquerque classrooms getting worse. >> i ask every single child as they walk in, did you eat breakfast, did you eat breakfast. some of them will say yes, and some will say no.

>> reporter: like many educators across the country, callahan and karen medeana, the school counselor are filling the food gap. >> thank you for holding my hand. >> reporter: 60% of the students are given free or low-cost lunches. for many, it's their last real meal of the day. >> when these kids go home, do they find an empty pantry? >> empty pantry, empty refrigerator, empty stomach. there are kids at school that are hungry. >> reporter: callahan rallied his school to pitch in and stock a food pantry. >> we actually bought what they had available. >> reporter: with their own money. they're easing the burden for 25 families. >> they're nice enough to actually help us and give us food. because me and my sister have a little trouble. >> a single parent raising my

grabbed kids. this is awesome. >> reporter: callahan only wishes he could do more. >> children are hungry right here, today. and they're going to be hungry tomorrow. and they're going to be hungry the day after that. >> reporter: but for rebecca, good samaritans are helping her family get back on its feet. >> i was worried you wouldn't have enough for the summer. >> i can ask her for anything and she would get it done. >> reporter: which makes come man che so much more. >> your kids are my kids. whatever you need. >> reporter: chelsea clinton, nbc news, albuquerque, new mexico. that's "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. from all of us here at nbc news, new york. from all of us here at nbc news, good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com i'm brian williams --

police searching for a driver after he nearly hit a pedestrian in san francisco and then shoots him. who officers are looking for. still shaking. more aftershocks hit napa and the north bay. we're getting new numbers on the damage caused by last sunday's earthquake. and -- >> can't say too much right now. the truth will come out. everybody knows what kind of person i am. >> reporter: another 49er player in trouble with the law. defensive end ray mcdonald out of jail tonight. more on the charges he could be facing. nbc bay ar news starts right now. good