tonight, are airlines conspiring to fix prices? the feds investigating whether carriers are illegally working together to limit seats and keep prices high even at a time of record profit. holiday terror threat. heightened anxiety of an isis-inspired attack. the fbi increasing arrests. cities adding more security to guard against a nightmare scenario on america's birthday. shark frenzy. yet another attack. the seventh in three weeks in north carolina. that's far more than normal. right before one of the biggest beach weekends of the year. and head to head. team usa one victory away from winning the world cup. but a violent collision on the field has fans kicking up a firestorm against soccer officials. "nightly news" begins now.

>> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news with lester holt." good evening. when is the last time you took a flight with an empty seat next to you? that unoccupied seat is of course a rare sight these days, and we learned today the u.s. justice department has taken notice of all those full airplanes and is starting to get suspicious. the question they're asking is in a shrinking airline industry are some airline competitors actually quietly working together to make sure we all pay higher ticket prices? nbc's tom costello covers aviation. he has more on the government's investigation. >> reporter: tonight the justice department is looking into whether some airlines have been colluding, agreeing among themselves to limit their seat capacity in order to maintain ticket prices and profits. the doj telling nbc news, "we are investigating possible unlawful coordination by some airlines." investigative sources say they're looking at how often airline

executives have publicly used the word "discipline." veteran fare watcher rick seaney says he often hears airline ceos and wall street analysts talking about capacity discipline, which is really a code word. >> which is basically saying don't grow your airline, don't add seats, get rid of routes where you don't have your flights completely full. >> reporter: fuller planes equals bigger profits, and me all do it passengers have fewer choices. the investigation comes as the airlines have finally begun to turn record profits after struggling for years. today fewer available seats, higher ticket prices, up 13% over five years. and extra charges for checked bags, ticket changes, even extra leg room. >> i think the extras they add on make it very difficult to travel. >> if you don't call six months in advance you don't get a seat. at a reasonable price. that's how i see it. >> reporter: since 2007 through a series of mergers nine airlines have shrunk to just four controlling 80% of the u.s. market. the question is whether the airlines have worked together

to maintain discipline as a group. in a statement the airline industry trade group said today, "we are confident that the justice department will find what we know to be true. our members compete vigorously every day, and the traveling public has been the beneficiary." the airline industry also says there are more seats available this summer, not fewer. united airlines and delta both say they are being investigated. american isn't commenting. southwest says it will cooperate if asked. lester? >> thank you. there is some high anxiety in some very high places right now over the potential for terror attacks in this country over the july 4th holiday weekend. police and security agencies are watching a confluence of key dates, observances, and the growing reach of isis that they fear make for the climate that's especially worrisome. nbc news justice correspondent pete williams takes a closer look at the risk. >> reporter: new york's getting fireworks ready for america's birthday. washington, d.c. is preparing for the huge celebration on the national mall. all of it amid

heightened fears of homegrown terrorism inspired by relentless calls for attacks from isis social media focusing on the 4th of july holiday period and the muslim holy days of hamadan which this year coincide. >> that is not driven by any particular information or threat as much as it's driven by the unfolding world events. >> reporter: just last week an isis leader abu mohammed al adnani said jihadists should make ramadan "a month of calamity for the infidels." in the past six months u.s. intelligence says isis has focused on recruiting young westerners, especially those under 21 and even younger. here in washington security will be more visible on the 4th and bulletins warn police nationwide that isis has called for attacks on law enforcement, government employees, sporting events, and other big public gatherings. >> you can rest assured that we have concentric circles of security. it will be well patrolled and well monitored. >> reporter: savannah guthrie got a behind-the-scenes look today at security

preparations in new york from james waters, nypd's chief of counterterrorism. >> what's your message to somebody who wants to come out in new york and watch the fireworks? >> we want to assure them that they can come and enjoy the fireworks and celebrate the country and be secure and confident in the police department. >> reporter: elsewhere police are urging fireworks dealers to report unusually large purchases that could signal plans to build a bomb. and the fbi is stepping up arrests of people who've been under surveillance for months suspected of plotting attacks here. ten picked up in the past two weeks. from nearly every government agency tonight the same message. come to the parties, enjoy yourselves, but be alert, and if you see something say something. lester? >> pete williams, thanks. as millions of americans plan to celebrate this weekend with a day at the beach, another shark has attacked someone in north carolina. it's the seventh shark attack along that state's coastline since mid june. it's happening far more often than average this year. we get more from nbc's

rehema ellis. >> reporter: it's happened again. beachgoers in north carolina stunned after the third shark attack in a week in the outer banks. this time on ocracoke island. >> lifeguards spent a lot of time with the victim. >> reporter: officials say a 67-year-old man was swimming in waist-deep water with his son when a lifeguard said a shark took him under the water, biting him several times in his leg, hip, and both hands. on twitter hyde county officials said the man was able to swim to shore, where lifeguards helped him out of the water. lynette holman was there with her family. >> news spread quickly on the beach that there was a shark attack or a shark bite. and so you know, obviously everybody got out of the water. >> reporter: another witness posting "pray for the victim. great first responders." in north carolina this is the seventh confirmed shark attack in three weeks.

among the victims an 18-year-old who nearly died in june. a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old each lost an arm. an 8-year-old survived with minor injuries. tonight officials say there are no plans to close the beaches, but emergency medical crews will be on standby for the holiday weekend. rehema ellis, nbc news. donald trump's business empire took another hit today over controversial comments he made while he was announcing his run for the white house. the latest poll numbers showed trump second behind jeb bush in the republican race. yet one of america's best-known department stores says it no longer wants anything to do with him. nbc's katy tur tells us more. >> reporter: just days from the 4th of july donald trump is now going at it with an iconic american brand. macy's today becoming the third company behind univision and nbc to fire the outspoken mogul and presidential candidate. officially taking the donald's menswear line off its shelves. saying that macy's

stands for diversity and inclusion and it won't tolerate discrimination. after trump said this about mexican immigrants. >> they're bringing drugs. they're bringing crime. they're rapists. and some i assume are good people. >> reporter: today trump brushed off yet another blow to his business stating both macy's and nbc totally caved at the first sign of potential difficulty with special interest groups who are nothing more than professional agitators. in new hampshire on tuesday trump stuck to his guns. >> i understand everybody loves what i'm doing in terms of the border because we have to stop the il [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: what makes donald trump appealing to you as a presidential candidate? >> i think out of all the candidates he's probably the strongest in terms of taking control of things. he's not going to lay down like the others. >> reporter: what does the end game look like for him if he doesn't end up getting the nomination or getting the presidency? >> that's the big problem here. because i don't think he's thinking along those lines. he can't be on "celebrity apprentice"

again. he can't be in business with macy's again. and that part of his life was so important, such a big part of his brand and who he is. >> reporter: july 4th is saturday. but the political fireworks have already begun. and late word tonight from here. mayor bill de blasio says that he will be reviewing trump's contracts with new york city in light of the controversial comments. trump has a big imprint in new york. numerous skyscrapers, hotels, apartment buildings, also two skating rinks and a $260 million golf course that just opened in april, to name a few. trump's spokesman just told me that they have a great relationship with new york and they fully expect it to continue for many years. lester? >> katy, thank you. a historic announcement today from the white house. president obama making it official after more than half a century at odds, the u.s. and cuba will reopen their embassies in havana and washington within weeks. the biggest step yet in normalizing relations between the two countries. >> this is a historic

step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the cuban government and people and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the americas. progress that we mark today is yet another demonstration that we don't have to be imprisoned by the past. when something isn't working, we can and will change. >> that change is bringing cheers and some strong opposition including from many republicans in congress, but beyond the politics the biggest change will be in people's lives. nbc's gabe gutierrez has more. >> reporter: havana welcomed the news. >> after all these years it seems that it's happening. >> reporter: and prepared for something not seen in more than half a century. the american flag will fly here. this building will be the u.s. embassy in cuba for the first time since it closed back in 1961. "i think it will improve our economy," this woman said. since president obama opened the door to normalized relations in december, cuba's tourism industry has surged, pulling in $1.7 billion.

high hopes but many obstacles remain. when we visited havana recently we spoke with restaurant owner miguel morales. he told us he can't get supplies in cuba, things like spoons and condiments, and has to buy them when he visits family in the u.s. halia bustamante told us internet access is a problem, frustrating to cubans and a barrier to investment. >> we don't have access to the information. >> reporter: critics say the obama administration is rewarding the castro regime despite its human rights violations. >> they're never going to change. the only change will happen when cuba changes, and that's not happening anytime soon. >> reporter: but even in miami's little havana, an anti-castro stronghold, today's announcement was met with hope by some. >> i think it's good for the people. it's time. >> reporter: for dagoberto izquierdo it's been a long wait. he left cuba 30 years ago. today he and his wife anxiously waited at miami's airport while the son he hadn't seen in three decades cleared customs with a

new visa. >> i think it is about time that there be a change. >> reporter: tonight their family is together and the u.s. and havana seem a lot closer. the american and cuban embassies are now set to open later this month. and secretary of state john kerry is planning a visit to cuba. a thaw in relations accelerated by a handshake between president obama and raul castro at nelson mandela's funeral, followed by a push from pope francis himself. lester? >> gabe gutierrez from miami tonight. thanks. in south carolina authorities are investigating yet another fire at another black church. it's the seventh since the massacre inside a black church in charleston. well, some of these fires have been ruled accidental. others are still a mystery. that's causing some to worry and wonder whether they might be hate crimes. nbc's ron allen is on the story. >> reporter: 8:30 p.m. the mount zion a.m.e. church erupts in flames along a remote road after a violent thunderstorm.

after early concerns it might have been arson, late today the governor said the cause was lightning. >> i'm just grateful that no lives were lost here. this is manmade. and that can be rebuilt. >> reporter: pastor john taylor remembers 20 years ago this church was torched by the ku klux klan. president clinton attending its high-profile reopening a year later. mount zion is the seventh fire at a black church in the south since the massacre at mother emanuel in charleston and widespread criticism of the confederate flag. some wonder if it's more than a coincidence. five fires still under investigation. two determined to be accidents. no evidence of a hate crime, authorities say. nationally, 34 fires of various causes are reported at religious institutions each week. most frequently involving synagogues and mosques. the naacp is warning churches to take necessary precautions. and on social media the hashtag who is burning black churches. >> the concern is the fact that fees fires have happened in the context of enormous

anger in response especially to the criticism of the confederate battle flag. >> we're going to grow back and grow back stronger than we were before. >> reporter: in warrenville, south carolina dean anglus williams' baptist church burned last friday 3:30 a.m. >> if somebody did it on purpose it's real cruel. >> reporter: he points out the cross is still standing and vows his church will rise up again. here at mount zion the cross is also still intact there on the church wall. the interior is completely gutted. the roof fell into the sanctuary. investigators say that all these fires, each of them is separate, there's nothing that connects them and they found no evidence of hate crime anywhere like racist graffiti or claim of responsibility. lester? >> ron, thank you. a lot more still ahead tonight including the great american celebration amid controversy at the world cup. violent hits, fans up in arms, and officials now under fire. we're going to talk about some serious concerns about safety on that field. also, get ready for an avalanche of selfies

at 1600 pennsylvania avenue. new rules tonight at the white house.

tonight the u.s. women's soccer team is one win away from its first world cup title since 1999 after a thrilling victory over top-ranked germany in the semifinals. and while much of the focus is on the celebration there is also controversy over some violent hits and questionable rules by

fifa about letting injured players stay on the field. we get more on this from our national correspondent kate snow. >> team usa's going to the final! >> reporter: the team was euphoric. >> it's a dream come true. this is what we train for. this is the blood, sweat, the tears, everything. >> reporter: but as they shook hands with germany, blood ran down a player's face. 28 minutes into the game american morgan brian collided mid-air with german alexandra popp. >> two players are down. >> reporter: it was a brutal head-to-head hit. last summer after a german player staggered off the field with a head injury in the men's world cup, fifa changed its rules. so last night team doctors checked the injured players. >> and we need a proper decision as to whether or not these players should be able to continue to play. >> reporter: four minutes later both were sent back in. >> coaches have to make a tactical decision. if they want to pull that player off, do they use up one of their three substitutions for the rest of the match or do they just play with one fewer player? >> and those players never come back? >> not if you substitute for them they can't go back out. >> reporter: on

twitter some fans were appalled. that german forward's head was still bleeding at the end of the game. should have never played in the second half, wrote one. the german coach said last night, why would i take her out if the player says to our doctor that she's well and our doctor can verify that? but concussion experts say that's not enough and soccer should follow the nfl, having an independent neurotrauma specialist on the sidelines. the two colliding players also landed on artificial turf. unlike the grass field the men play on. midfielder carli lloyd told "the new york times" "the field in montreal last night was hard, with cement basically laid underneath it." a team spokesperson tells nbc news morgan brian is feeling fine tonight, the youngest fans ready to see her on the field with team usa for the championship. >> i want to say to the u.s. team good luck and i hope you win. >> it would make me feel amazing. >> go usa. >> reporter: kate snow, nbc news, new york. we're back in a

moment with a spectacular rendezvous in the stars that can't be seen again for almost another decade.

the very building i'm sitting in right now is in the news tonight. 30 rockefeller plaza. the iconic 70-story skyscraper also known as 30 rock and rock center and home to nbc's world headquarters here in new york. 30 rock will light up with a new name at the top of the rock starting tonight. after decades as the ge building and the rca building before that. it's now officially the comcast building with our parent company's name and the nbc peacock now a bright part of the manhattan skyline. a man who became a hero to so many on the eve of world war ii has died. sir nicholas winton is referred to by some as the british oscar schindler for arranging to carry 669 children, most of them jewish, out of nazi-occupied czechoslovakia by train in 1939. he was able to

convince the british government to let them into the country. for years he never spoke of it, until his wife uncovered a scrapbook in 1988. later in life winton reunited with many of those he saved. nicholas winton was 106 years old. the planets have aligned for an amazing and rare sight. overnight venus and jupiter appeared to meet in the sky even though they're really 416 million miles from each other. it's called a double star. it won't happen again until 2023. when we come back here tonight, what visitors can now do at the white house after the first lady ripped up a 40-year-old rule.

next at 6: ===take vo=== the mystery surrounding a car crash at san jose international, that killed one person and injured five others. ===janelle/take vo=== plus: only on nbc bay area, hear from the south bay mother whose children jumped two stories to escape an apartment fire. ===next close=== next. finally tonight, for 40 years visitors touring the white house could take home only their memories of what they saw inside. that all changed today with a rule switch that allows guests to snap photos. for the first time since the ford administration. here's nbc's peter alexander. >> reporter: they call it the people's house for a reason, and here's what happens when america starts clicking. photo-bombing in the red room. posing with sonny and beau. even hanging with george. before americans could only picture themselves in these halls. >> hi, everybody.

>> reporter: in the past tourists would have seen this sign. but today the first lady tore up those old rules. >> well, not anymore. >> you can take pictures now. >> reporter: for more than 40 years photography was banned during white house tours. back then they feared those old flashes would damage the artwork. but technology's changed. now in a building where history's depicted in oil paintings, the white house is finally catching up with the digital era. >> definitely exciting because you get to remember all that you saw and know how many people have walked through here and what history has been created here. it's awesome. >> reporter: the camera phone has transformed us into a nation of shutterbugs. from the east room to the blue room today, guests immediately posted their memories on instagram and twitter for the whole world to see. some things are still off limits like videocameras and tripods. but selfies without the stick, those are encouraged. it turns out the memorable moments here aren't just for the history books. peter alexander, nbc news, the white house. that will do it for us on this

wednesday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching. and good night. you might remember the story - an apartment on fire ... and the narrow escape. right now at 6:00 you might remember the story an apartment on fire and the narrow escape of two children who jumped to safety from a second story window. good evening. i'm janelle wanning. >> and i'm jessica aguirre. it's a story of survival. the mother of those two children is talking about those harrowing moments and the long recovery her children face. they escaped with their lives but both were badly burned. tonight, though a sliver of hope.

firefighters came out to rescue her again today, damian? >> reporter: amelia gomez told me she dropped off her oldest daughter at school when her apartment caught on fire with her two children inside. she recounted those traumatic moments. as soon as a neighbor kicked the door down she ran in hysterically looking for her children but they already made a courageous escape dropping from a second floor window. she says the trauma still haunts her children 12-year-old abigail and 10-year-old julio. julio remains in intensive care at valley medical now facing surgeries in the coming years after suffering second and third degree burns on his body. she is a single mom and lost everything in the