t, folks. on this monday night, warning signs. a bombshell twist as investigators reveal the co-pilot who crashed that plane had been treated for suicidal tendencies. and new information tonight about the terrifying final minutes onboard. deadly confrontation at the nsa. a crash and shooting outside the heavily fortified spy agency. firestorm over a controversial new law that critics including the ceo of apple says gives businesses a license to discriminate while supporters say it's really about religious freedom. line of duty, frantic efforts to save a firefighter, 25-year veteran, plunging from the roof of a burning home. and family time. surprising new findings about the amount of time you spend with your kids.

does more time really add up to their success later in life? "nightly news" begins now. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news." reporting tonight lester holt. good evening. we begin here with several new developments from last week's deadly jet crash in the french alps including this bombshell from the officials. they say the co-pilot who had purposely crashed the plane one time was treated for suicidal tendencies. as a troubling picture of his mental history comes into sharper focus. also tonight we're getting much more detail on what was reportedly happening inside the passenger cabin as that co-pilot was allegedly sending himself and 149 others to their deaths. once again tonight, bill neely leads our coverage from southern france. >> reporter: inside the head of andreas lubitz was a troubled mind. he'd always dreamed of flying, but it's clear he also considered killing himself. years before he

qualified, he'd been receiving therapy. on his mind, suicide. >> treatment of a psychotherapist because of what is documented as being suicidal. >> reporter: he'd seen doctors just before the crash and in recent years, said the prosecutor. but there was no record of any more suicidal tendencies or aggression. evidence from his apartment show he tried to hide his medical condition from the airline. investigators are now examining reports that condition was bipolar disorder, or manic depression. his employers at lufthansa now face more questions. did they know about his suicidal thoughts? and if they did, why did they believe they were all in the past? because this is what his boss said of lubitz last week. he was 100% fit to fly, he says, without any restrictions. the pain of the bereaved families is already immense. an apparent leak of the cockpit voice recording to a german

tabloid newspaper suggests that minutes after the plane begins to descend, the captain locked out of the cockpit, bangs on the door yelling "for god sake open the door." passengers begin screaming. 10:37 and the plane has lost half its altitude. the captain yells, "open the damn door." 10:40, more screams and a loud scraping sound like a wing hitting the mountain. then silence. a seventh day of searching, but no rest here. they're building a fast road to a crash site that still holds secrets. they've still not found the flight data recorder. the airline said today it might be damaged. they're still finding human remains. and they've extracted the dna of around 80 victims. there is so much more to find, not just from the site but from the medical records and mental history of a troubled man who became a mass murderer. and there is now

pressure in germany to look again at exactly what pilots can keep confidential, their right to privacy about their medical and mental history against the public's right to know if lives could be endangered. new guidelines may well follow in germany, but this is a hot issue for the airline industry worldwide. lester. >> bill neely tonight, thank you. now to a bizarre and deadly incident today at headquarters of the national security agency. guards opened fire at an suv as it came rushing towards the security gate at ft. meade, maryland. one of the two men inside that vehicle was killed. nbc's pentagon correspondent jim miklaszewski takes us through it moment by moment. >> reporter: the first emergency dispatch calls sounded as if the national security agency was under attack. >> reported gunshot wounds. possible traumatic arrest. >> reporter: helicopter video revealed a chaotic scene and a white

sheet covering a body. shortly after 9:00 a.m., two men dressed in womens clothing and wearing womens wigs attempted to drive the suv into the nsa. ignoring police warnings, they drove toward a security gate. nsa police raised barriers to block the entrance. the vehicle turned and raced toward a police vehicle blocking the road. police officers opened fire on the fast approaching suv, which then crashed into the police vehicle. one suspect was killed, the other remains in critical condition. a handgun and cocaine were found in their vehicle. one police officer suffered minor injuries. any attack on the nsa puts everyone on high alert. it's america's top spy agency. eavesdropping on potential enemies around the world. tonight, the fbi reports that two suspects had no apparent plans to attack the nsa. instead, the two had reportedly stolen the suv from a friend for a joyride with a violent end. jim miklaszewski, nbc news, the pentagon.

there is new fallout tonight over a law signed by the governor of indiana that critics say is worded in such a way that allows businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. supporters argue that's not the case at all. they say it's about protecting religious freedom. in the meantime some of those against it are prepared to put their money where their mouth is. nbc's gabe gutierrez has details. >> reporter: after relentless backlash, today, indiana republicans rushed to defend the state's new religious freedom restoration act. does this law allow businesses to deny services based on religious beliefs? >> no, it does not. >> reporter: the house speaker says lawmakers are trying to add language to clarify the law's intent. >> it is to set a standard, a high standard, of when government attempts to impact negatively or burden someone's religious liberty. >> reporter: democrats want to repeal the law. critics say it's anti-gay. 19 other states have similar laws, but indiana is different in part because

there's no statewide non-discrimination law here protecting sexual orientation. >> the controversy here is not about the text of this law. the controversy is about the context in which this law has been enacted. it's not a coincidence that in the last several months same-sex marriage has become legal in the state of indiana. >> reporter: the firestorm has spread on social media. #boycottindiana. late tonight connecticut became the first state to ban state-funded travel to indiana by its employees. indiana's based angie's list put its $40 million expansion plans on hold. >> this is devastating to companies like us. >> reporter: in "the washington post," apple's openly gay ceo tim cook called the law dangerous. >> it's a great concern. >> reporter: the president of the ncaa mark emmert, wants the law to be clarified ahead of the final four here this weekend. >> this bill is fundamentally at odds with some of the core principles of higher education and of intercollegiate

athletics. so it's very disappointing. >> reporter: what was once a political fight over a state law has now exploded into a battle between religious freedom and gay rights. some small businesses are putting up signs in their windows saying this business serves everyone. meanwhile, lawmakers here hope to clarify the language in this law by the end of the week. but more protesters are expected at the city council meeting tonight. lester. >> all right, gabe, thank you. an emotional day in the trial of the alleged boston marathon bomber. the prosecution rested its case concluding with some of its most heart wrenching evidence to date before the defense began making its case. nbc's justice correspondent pete williams was in the courtroom. >> reporter: the government ended its case on the human toll of the second marathon bomb blast. an emotional finish on the youngest bombing victim, 8-year-old martin richard. several jurors wept as the medical examiner explained how the bomb ripped through his 69-pound body. he'd been watching the race with his family leaning on the railing

along the marathon route. the fbi says dzhokhar tsarnaev placed a pressure cooker bomb loaded with nails and bbs just a few feet away from where martin richard was standing. the medical examiner said the blast drove six nails, 20 bbs and other pieces of the bomb into the boy's body. his mother and father were in court as photos of their son's fatal injuries were shown to the jury. earlier, a doctor detailed how the same blast killed chinese graduate student lingzi lu with one piece of the bomb driven clear through her body. and the fbi gave new details of dzhokhar tsarnaev's movements that day. referring to surveillance video that shows him seen here at the top of the screen walking away from the bomb he planted a mere ten seconds before it went off. still unclear is whether tsarnaev himself will testify in his own defense. many legal experts say that's doubtful. too risky. putting the focus of the entire defense on his courtroom demeanor. >> a guy like tsarnaev, he gets on the stand, if he smirks, looks the wrong way, it's done.

>> reporter: defense lawyers say all the major steps in preparing for the bombing, including buying components, were taken care of by his older brother tamerlan. it appears the defense will only take a few days. so the jury could start deliberating later this week. if the verdict is guilty, as it almost certainly would be, then the same jury will sit through a second trial on the penalty. life without parole or death, lester. >> pete williams in boston, thank you. there's a reason we call them the bravest. lifesavers who face enormous risk every time they answer the call, as we witnessed this weekend in fresno, california. frightening moment caught on tape. a firefighter clinging to life after taking a horrific fall on the job responding to a house fire, he was walking on the roof when it gave way plunging him into the inferno below. more now from our national correspondent miguel almaguer. >> reporter: it began as a routine garage fire threatening to explode out of control. fresno fire captain pete durn, a 25-year veteran, climbs on to the roof following

standard procedure to vent the blaze. then the collapse. >> oh, my god! >> reporter: firefighters, even onlookers, joined to scramble to save the firefighter as the inferno intensified. it took three terrifying minutes to reach the captain. he was rushed to the hospital with second and third-degree burns covering 75% of his body. >> this is a very serious, certainly a life-threateningburg. >> reporter: tonight, the veteran firefighter who is also a husband and father, is sedated and breathing on a respirator after surviving the unimaginable. >> this is a very traumatic time for the fire service and for the fresno fire department. >> reporter: a garage fire a reminder that the dangers faced by firefighters are anything but routine. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. and here in new york authorities have

identified one of the two bodies pulled from the rubble at the scene where an explosion and fire leveled three buildings. his name is nicholas figueroa. he is 23 years old. he was on a date when the blast ripped through. the other body has not been publicly identified. an awful tragedy earlier this morning on a rural stretch of highway in florida. authorities say eight people were killed and ten others injured when the driver of a church van that was loaded with people -- overloaded apparently, apparently ran through a stop sign crossing four lanes of traffic before crashing into a canal. church members said they were returning home after attending a weekend convention. overseas we're less than 24 hours now from a major deadline for negotiators to reach an initial agreement on iran's nuclear program. and despite near round-the-clock diplomacy to try to hammer out a deal, there's word of a possible last-minute stumbling block. our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell is at the talks in switzerland. >> reporter: the skies

over lausanne were as ominous as those talks inside, trapped by their own deadline. six major world powers and iran. in a luxurious 19th century palace. legend says once inhabited by lord byron and coco chanel. the challenge, to stop iran from converting nuclear technology into a nuclear weapon. and if iran cheats, to give the world a warning before iran could build a bomb. one idea have iran send its atomic fuel out of the country. now at the last minute iran has firmly ruled that out. the new secretary of defense, ashton carter in his first tv interview, was asked by savannah guthrie if iran can be trusted. >> they've cheated in the past. what's to say they wouldn't in the future? >> like any agreement it can't be based on trust. it has to be based on verification and tough measures. >> reporter: john kerry still thinks a deal is possible. >> we're working very hard. very hard. >> you have been working hard for days, sir, how much longer do you think?

>> reporter: but he knows time is running out. even if they get a deal, secretary kerry then has to sell it to a really skeptical congress. the talks stretched well into the night tonight. they will start again possibly for the last time at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, lester. >> all right, andrea mitchell in lausanne. andrea, thanks. ann curry is also part of our team there with the latest on a tough situation facing iranian negotiators having to convince hardliners in that country to go along with any deal. >> reporter: lester, good evening. on this critical night in these talks with the iranian negotiators say they really need to say yes to a deal is the ability to sell it back home. as the u.s., iran has conservatives who don't trust the other side. and they are ready to pounce if they believe negotiators give up too much. so the biggest price of the iranians is to be able to announce some relief from crippling sanctions and most importantly u.n. sanctions, as they see it some immediate relief from u.n. sanctions would mean that for the

first time in more than 30 years iran would no longer be an outlier in the international community, lester. >> ann curry, thanks. a lot more news still ahead tonight including this one you may be talking about over the dinner table tonight or wherever you're watching. surprising new findings about the balancing act so many parents struggle with every day. what is the amount of time you spend with your kids mean for their future success as adults? also, a big change in late-night. who is the young comedian just named to take over for jon stewart on "the daily show"?

now to that surprising new study out tonight that challenges what many might consider conventional wisdom about parenting. it claims that the amount of time we spend with our kids may not actually have much to do at all with the people they become later in life. nbc's stephanie gosk takes a closer look. >> reporter: tapping into the angst of working mothers isn't difficult. just get a group of them together. what is the single biggest challenge you face as a working mom? >> just time management. >> dropping off my daughter, picking her up, spending time with her. >> i want to spend time with my children. i have so much to do at work. >> reporter: all that pressure to get home early and stay home longer may be unnecessary says a new study in the journal of marriage and family. the research shows no real relationship between the quantity of time spent with children from 3 to 11 years old and their success. success is evaluated on three levels, academic, behavioral

and emotional. >> i'm very relieved. that lets me know i can maybe have somewhat of a personal life and know she's going to be okay. >> reporter: the results upend what has become conventional wisdom. >> right now we're living in the age of what i call intensive parenting. so we are seeing so much pressure on moms no matter what their work situation to just constantly be with their children. >> reporter: moms today are actually spending more time with their children than they did in the 1970s. even with more mothers in the workforce. the researchers warn that a stressed out mom can actually have a negative impact on her child. >> when you feel like you can't give your all to each thing, then you feel like you're failing yourself and you feel like you're failing your kids. >> reporter: how many of you have met moms like i got it figured out? >> never. >> zero. >> reporter: the study doesn't offer a secret to success. only a challenge to the idea that there aren't enough hours in the day. stephanie gosk, nbc

news, new york. we are back in a moment with a gathering today to honor a towering figure in american politics.

a major gathering today in boston to honor the late senator ted kennedy. president obama and vice president biden joined senator john mccain and other prominent politicians and members of the kennedy family at the opening of the senator edward kennedy institute which, features a full-size replica of the senate chamber where students will be able to role play as senators. what began with 68 teams is now down to the final four. and while it's been an exciting ride, the matchups are hardly a complete surprise. on saturday the kentucky wildcats will face the wisconsin badgers. while the michigan state spartans will take on the duke blue devils. the winners will meet at the ncaa basketball championship a week from tonight. and meet the newest attraction at the san diego zoo. a newborn jaguar cub made its public debut there yesterday.

just 18 days old. the cub is already a huge hit with visitors. and mom was never far away when the public finally got a look. the zoo has not yet revealed if the cub is male or female. when we come back, who's the virtual unknown about to fill some big shoes in late-night tv?

it's going to be a tough act to follow, but comedy central has found its man to replace jon stewart of "the daily show." he's a standup comedian named trevor noah. if you're not familiar with him, you're not alone. but that's all about to change. nbc's kevin tibbles has more on the shifting late-night landscape. >> reporter: the next host of "the daily show" is a 31-year-old south african comedian by the name of trevor noah. passing yet another late-night television torch to new young talent with a new edge. >> you know what, jon, does america really need to be the best at everything? i mean, you already dominate the world in economics, military power, obesity. >> reporter: from carson to leno to conan to leno to fallon, from letterman to colbert, the tv times they are achanging.

>> when you get these you get a fresh perspective. when you get that the hope is you get a new audience and bigger audience. >> that guy is so excited. >> reporter: and with james corden, an englishmen, taking over the reigns of the "late-late show" replacing scotsman craig ferguson, and another brit, john oliver, with his own show on hbo. is a british invasion underway, like the one that introduced us to these guys? do we columnists have to brush up on the queen's english? >> i want you to say the rain in spain stays mainly in the plain fifty times. >> reporter: comedy central says there's no firm date for noah's takeover of "the daily show" desk, which may give this newcomer time to arm himself for america's late-night wars. >> trevor noah, everybody! >> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. as they say, check your local listings. that's going to do it

for us on this monday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. nbc bay area news starts now. >> he always had a way of making you laugh. and he brought energy to the room every time he was with us. >> right now at 6:00 heartbreak on the uc berkeley campus as students and coaches struggle to come to terms with the death of a teammate. good evening and thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang in forejessica aguirre. >> and i'm raj mathai. he was a rising star at cal, but tonight his family and friends are heartbroken. eloy vasquez was killed on a

freeway. the freshman was a member of the cal soccer team. he vanished saturday morning after attending a party at a usc fraternity house. we learned he died early saturday morning after being hit by a car on a freeway near the usc campus down in l.a. jodi hernandez is with the late developing details. jodi? >> reporter: raj, it certainly is the news folks here at cal have been dreading. eloy vasquez's coach and teammates shared their thoughts and their grief with us late today. >> we're grieving pretty hard right now. we're in deep shock. and we're just looking to get through it. >> reporter: eloy vasquez's coaches, teammates and friends at uc berkeley are grief stricken. nearly three days after the cal soccer player disappeared, los angeles police confirmed late today the 19-year-old was hit and killed on a southern california freeway early saturday morning.