>> that's going to do it for us. join us back here at 6:00. on our broadcast tonight, gridlock in the sky. thousands of flights delayed or canceled because of a disruption on the ground. and investigators think the incident was no accident. striking isis. a new u.s.-led air assault on terrorist targets and our close-up view of isis fighters on the front lines that we haven't seen until now. safer streets and good news tonight from an american city where not so long ago families were afraid to step outside their homes. tonight, we're going to show you the turnaround that's underway. and what a night. derek jeter, captain clutch, gives baseball fans one last thrill at home. tonight, what he told me about his last stop before cooperstown. "nightly news" begins now. this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams, reporting

tonight from camden, new jersey. good evening. we're coming to you from just across the delaware river from philadelphia tonight. more on where we are a bit later on in the broadcast. but first here on a friday evening, the mayhem that unfolded in the skies over this country today and the passengers who were affected. they were headed to meetings and weddings and vacation and college. a lot of folks simply trying to get home on a friday, when air travel across this country was disrupted by what appears to be sabotage at an faa facility that just happens to handle the critical routing in the air space above and around chicago o'hare. by the time the damage was done, thousands of flights had been canceled, delayed or rerouted. you can see it on flight tracker software. the air gap in the air traffic space over chicago showing a hole in the sky that is normally full of aircraft at this hour. and right up to air time tonight the disruptions continue.

it's where we begin tonight with nbc's tom costello. >> all of the runways completely empty at this point. >> reporter: at midway in chicago o'hare, the world's busiest airport, a day of endless lines and a massive backup. at both airports thousands of flights canceled or delayed. >> they just stopped all departures for some reason. we don't know what's going on out there. >> reporter: and tens of thousands of travelers going nowhere fast. >> i'm going to have an extremely upset wife and i don't know how to deal with that just yet. >> tomorrow's my birthday. we're supposed to be at disney world. and now we're driving to indianapolis to fly out of there tomorrow. >> reporter: it started at 5:40 a.m. central time with the fire in the basement of chicago center, a critical air traffic control facility that handles high altitude traffic through the region. inside firefighters found a 36-year-old contract employee who police say had stabbed himself after sabotaging critical communication systems and setting multiple fires. >> there are no indications of

terrorists. there is no reason to believe that anyone else is involved at this time. >> reporter: with chicago center out of action, both o'hare and midway airports stopped all traffic. >> the issue is the center out at chicago lost all their frequencies. >> reporter: within minutes the air space above and around chicago emptied out. an ominous looking gap as neighboring centers rerouted traffic. eventually some flights were allowed to leave if they flew low, below 10,000 feet. >> finally, we seem to be getting altitude now. >> reporter: but within hours they were feeling the impact nationwide. from minneapolis -- >> i'm really tired. i want to go home. i want to sleep. >> reporter: to denver where janet harris was stuck after trying to fly from california to iowa. >> i may just rent a car so at least i feel like i'm getting closer to my family. >> reporter: tonight, that critical air traffic control system is still not at 100%. in fact, we're told of the damage to that system may be quite extensive.

it could take days, perhaps even weeks to get it fully operational again. law enforcement sources say the suspect appears to have had a grudge against his employer. we don't know why, brian. >> what a mess. a lot of plans ruined. tom costello starting us off tonight. tom, thanks. in news from overseas this evening, this u.s.-led coalition against isis has picked up three new member nations. the uk, belgium and denmark. they've committed to joining in the air strikes in iraq though not in syria. and the head of our joint chiefs is now saying as many as 15,000 syrian rebels are going to be needed on the ground to take their own country back. also tonight, we have a view of this conflict unlike any we have seen before. we get it from nbc's bill neely in northern iraq. >> reporter: under their black flag, behind their front line, the faces of a ruthless enemy. isis fighters, one dressed in black, armed and ready to kill.

what is breathtaking here is that the isis fighters are less than 200 yards from me here. we're watching them. they're watching us. and yet there seems to be a truce here, at least for now. another fighter appears through sandbags across a canal are the kurdish fighters america is arming. both sides are dug in for miles. we move along the front line to more isis fighters holding ground they took in a murderous advance. american air strikes nearby haven't moved them. we call out to them. they call back. peace be with you. chilling from a group that has beheaded two american journalists. we will beat them, says the commander, even if it takes ten years. for now, there is no end in sight to this bizarre standoff with the masked murderers of isis. bill neely, nbc news, near

kirkuk, iraq. the fbi is investigating an awful attack in the community of moore, oklahoma. police say a man who was fired yesterday from a food processing plant went on a rampage there beheading a co-worker, then repeatedly stabbing another before a company executive, who the area, shot and subdued him. the suspect is expected to survive his wounds and face multiple charges. a day after eric holder announced he is stepping down as the u.s. attorney general, he completed his goal while in office of visiting all 93 u.s. attorneys offices around the country. he saved scranton, pennsylvania, for last because it was the first place he won a trial as a young lawyer. eric holder talked about his decision to resign in an exclusive interview with our justice correspondent, pete williams. >> reporter: beginning his long good-bye after six years as attorney general, eric holder

says he's especially proud of shoring up enforcement of the nation's civil rights laws. he led the administration's response to last month's police shooting in ferguson, missouri. and says in many cities tensions simmer just under the surface. >> i think part of it has to do with the lack of knowledge on the part of certain communities, communities of color, to understand fear that police officers have in just being on the streets. when it comes to police officer the whole notion of implicit bias. looking at people and having stereotypical reactions to them. >> reporter: holder had a particularly tough time with congress, republicans accused him of putting politics ahead of the law. >> i think in some ways i'm a stand-in, a surrogate for the president. >> reporter: but you also said at one time you don't think another -- a different attorney general would have been treated the same way. >> well, i think the level of vehemence directed my way perhaps different than other attorneys general have to deal with. >> reporter: but soon he'll

leave that behind, as well as the friendship he says he developed with president obama. >> there's a special bond that the two of us have. i don't like the idea that i'm necessarily leaving before the end of his term, but it's the right time for me to go. >> reporter: on gay rights holder says the justice department will soon ask the supreme court to uphold same-sex marriage. he says the country is ready for it. pete williams, nbc news, scranton, pennsylvania. there was an angry new protest in ferguson, missouri, last night. it came right after the local police chief apologized on video to the family of michael brown, the teenager shot to death by a police officer back in august. at one point the chief himself joined the protesters even though some were calling on him to resign. but the show of unity didn't last long. a fight broke out. the chief was whisked away from the crowd. at least four arrests were made. now to what's being held up as an example of more positive policing. and this story brings us back here to where we are tonight,

the city across the river from the gleaming philadelphia skyline, camden, new jersey. a very different place. over the years it's been called the poorest city in america. and among the most dangerous, 95% of residents are black or hispanic, close to half living below the poverty line. it reached a crisis when the murder rate spiked in 2012. and something had to be done, starting with the police themselves. and on this trip back here to camden, we are starting to see results. >> platoon, attention! >> reporter: this is the new police force in camden. the old department was dismissed. the county took it over. the chief, scott thompson, is from here, and so it's personal for him. and they've pretty much tried to deputize an entire city of 77,000 people. >> the city's got the most resilient people you'll ever meet. all they needed was something they could hold onto. something they could trust.

>> reporter: the chief has instituted cameras, bikes, foot patrols, free ice cream, kids versus cops in basketball and friendliness. but mostly lots of cops, over 200 new hires. introducing themselves to people, ordered to use a light touch and not be heavy handed. how does camden feel different to you? >> the greater sense of safety on our streets is visceral. >> nice to meet you. >> reporter: when we last drove through these streets with this chief a year and a half ago, we watched drug buyers and sellers operate brazenly out in the open. i know this corner. i remember this corner. you and i stood out here, you showed me where there were three shootings within a hundred yards. >> last summer we had three people shot two blocks that way. just last week we had a person shot right in front of this store. >> reporter: that corner was across the street from where chrissy rodriguez lived with her mother. chief thompson met chrissy after the father of her two boys was killed in a drug-related

shooting. >> how's everything going? >> reporter: and the chief has tried to become a friend to her son anthony, who was greatly impacted by the death of his dad. will it ever get better? or is that kind of a thing that has marked you forever? >> it's marked me. but as an adult i can get over it. but for my boys, my little one, my 4-year-old not so much, but my 6-year-old, he's really marked by it. >> reporter: the crime that haunted this entire city is dramatically down. since the record high violence of 2012, homicides are down by 53%. and overall violent crime is down 21%. as for chrissy, it turns out the new police force has become her salvation. she now works there full-time making enough to afford a better home for her boys. >> it definitely gives you the sense of exhale, of breathing. like now you can breathe. before you're holding your breath like, oh, my god, what's going to happen. >> reporter: can you see the end yet?

can you see a better day? >> it's always darkest before the dawn. that for us was 2012 and the beginning of 2013. i see light coming up over the horizon. and we still have a long way to go. >> reporter: there is a long way to g but the -- to go, but the poet walt windchillman left the city of comden a road map. it's his quote inscribed on city hall, in a dream i saw a city invincible. in camden these days they are hoping he's right. and because they take their news when they can get it around here, the police chief is celebrating the fact that a house for sale near the hospital here in camden just sold for $200,000. he sees that as a positive investment in camden and a very good sign. we'll take a break. still ahead on a friday night, the disturbing discoveries police have made in a fugitive's computer search history as the manhunt for him now stretches to two weeks.

and later, after last night's storybook ending, more of my exclusive farewell interview with the captain, derek jeter, including signs he may be softening for the long-time rival.

just across the river from us here in the state of pennsylvania, the manhunt for that suspected sniper and cop killer has now hit the two-week mark. tonight, eric frein remains on the loose, but police today said

they found new evidence left behind. we get a report tonight from nbc's ron allen. >> reporter: a very stark example today of how daunting this manhunt is. a huge tactical team scoured the massive buckhill inn, one of the largest resorts in the poconos. 900,000 square feet, 9,600 acres, abandoned some 20 years ago and now haunted by ghosts, according to local legend. police say they had information frein has spent some time at the site, but no sign of him. police have found evidence on a computer hard drive that frein planned his escape for years, researching topics such as how to avoid man hunts, police technology, survival skills. they also believe he experimented with explosives and may have set up booby-traps in the woods where he's been hiding for two weeks. >> you've not said you're closing in. do you believe you are? >> i believe we're close. i believe he's in the area. and i believe it's a matter of time before we apprehend him. >> reporter: police say they're still finding clues, items

hidden or discarded by frein. but there hasn't been a possible sighting in almost three days. they're convinced he's still in the area. are you concerned about going in there? >> yes. >> reporter: and residents around here hope this nightmare in their neighborhood soon ends. ron allen, nbc news, blooming grove, pennsylvania. and we are back in a moment with the history behind the wooden deck we are standing on.

we're back here with a word about where we are. that is philadelphia behind us. we are across the river in camden. and we're standing on the deck of a jewel, a piece of american military history. this is the battleship "new jersey." the most decorated battleship in u.s. history. the new jersey saw action starting in world war ii,

including guam and okinawa, and the flagship for admiral halsy, then korea and then vietnam. and for years after that bob hope performed on this deck. and before there were cruise missiles, there was the battleship "new jersey" and its 16-inch guns, nine of them. they could throw a shell 23 miles. each shell weighed about as much as a car, 2,700 pounds. this ship unleashed a world of hurt under the slogan, fire power for freedom. it's now a museum ship back in its home state. and with the u.s. navy engaged in combat once again in a far away land on this very night, we thought it was appropriate to be here. and our thanks to the folks here at the "new jersey" for allowing us on deck. of interest to our viewers out west, one of the most famous streets in america has been partially shut down. a water main break along sunset boulevard, spilling gallon after golon, assuring traffic in west hollywood tonight an even bigger

headache than it is on a friday night. crews are on the scene trying to fix it now. and tomorrow, the global citizen festival from new york central park. among the performers, jay-z, carrie underwrood, and alicia keys to was rehearsing today. the cause here is enormous. nothing short of the elimination of global poverty by 2030. >> it's about showing and telling first that there is ways that we can start changing and being the change that we want to see, and that we, as young people, are the most powerful voices that there will ever be and let's not sell ourselves short. alicia keys, just one of the performers. the concert will be seen here on nbc tomorrow night 9:00 eastern time. another break and when we come back, a night to remember, one final incredible moment to cap off a storied career.

finally here tonight, it's perfectly safe to watch the following if you're not a fan of the new york yankees. in fact, if you admire sportsmanship, athleticism, durability and storybook endings, it's downright recommended viewing. derek jeter woke up today to

headlines calling him captain clutch, the yankee captain played his last game at yankee stadium last night on his way to the hall of fame. and he did more than that. he won the game. perhaps we should have known the rainbow over the stadium was an omen. the crowd was electric. it was derek jeter's last home game after all. the all-time yankee hit leader, consensus hall-of-famer and crowd favorite, ready to take his place alongside gehrig and mantel and dimaggio. but not so fast. >> now batting for the yankees, number 2, derek jeter. >> reporter: he started early with a double his first time at-bat. the yankees led until late in the game but blew the lead. and by now you no doubt know the rest. bottom of the ninth, runner on second, jeter at the plate and michael kay has the call for the yes network.

>> base hit to right field! here comes richardson! here comes the throw! richardson is safe! derek jeter ends his final game with a walk-off single! >> reporter: the stadium erupted. the post-game featured his past teammates and a final thanks to the fans from the departing captain. >> everybody chanting thank you, derek, and thinking to myself, for what? you know, i'm just trying to do my job. so thank you, guys. >> reporter: later he led on that he'd been in a fog all night and sounded like a little leaguer when he admitted he was hoping the action wasn't coming to him. >> first inning i was saying please don't hit it to me. last inning i almost lost it. same thing. i don't know how many times in my career i've said, please don't hit it to me. >> reporter: we then got to watch number 2 head into the tunnel for the last time. but there remains a series in

boston. and it was during our exclusive farewell interview with the captain a few days back that we first detected a change in his attitude toward his arch rivals, both the players and fans in boston. sounds like you've softened on the city of boston. sounds like you've come to know them as individuals. >> maybe they've come to know me as an individual. i've always enjoyed boston. i love playing there. i love competing against them because the electricity in the stadium. the city. i love the city. they didn't like me necessarily very much. like i said, early on, but i think they at least some of them they have some sort of respect for me now. >> perhaps he's just softening with age. as for last night no one who watched will forget what they saw. certainly no one lucky enough to be at that game. that's our broadcast on a friday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams, reporting tonight from camden, new jersey. have a good weekend. goodnight.

nbc bay area news starts now. >> right now at 6:00, storms rolling through the bay area. a severe thunderstorm warning just issued. good evening. thanks for joining us. i'm jessica aguirre. >> i'm janelle wang sitting in for raj mathai. unusual weather across the bay area, everything from hail, lightning, even some flooding. chief meteorologist jeff ranieri is tracking this thunderstorm activity. >> very dangerous weather in the north bay, primarily in napa county where a severe thunderstorm warning has just been extended into the 6:00 hour. if you are in napa county, you do want to watch out for what has been multiple lightning

strikes, hail, also flooding. you can see the doppler radar back here behind me on the west side of downtown napa. that's where the worst of it is now. that's where those lightning strikes are being detected by did our computer and heavy rainfall. the other thing that you're looking at right here is actually a computer picking up on the hail that could be embedded within this thunderstorm. that different color right there, it's a variation of how thick or how large that hail is. and you can see it's unreal right now. our computer is picking up on what could potentially be .5 to 1 inch in diameter hail near brown's valley road, brown's valley elementary. if you're in this neighborhood, you need to seek shelter immediately. head inside. it's not the time to be outside taking pictures of this storm system. if you see lightning, you hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by light making. the second area of concern is fairfield. we've also had hail, lightning, and heavy rain. it's calming down a little bit. flooding is the primary it there here in fairfield at the current moment. we'll talk moreut