pete williams broke the news back in january that the securities were considering this change and starts us off with late developments. pete, good evening. >> reporter: good evening. this is a big change forn organization that has fought for decas to preserve the strict ban on admitting gay scouts and scouting officials say tonight it passed with 60% of the vote of its national council. this means the long standing policy will be lifted that had banned gay scout but remains in effect for banning gay scout leader the vote ends a wrenching process that started four months ago when boy scout leaders revealed they were considering a change. >> this issue is a defining issue in our country and our state and our society. >> reporter: the decision came today at this conference center near dallas meeting of scouting's 1400 member national council. after the boy scouts propose in january to let local troops decide the issue for themselves generating a storm of petition

from some parents who thought went too far and others 0 who thght it didn't go far enough. today they voted to end the ban on gay scouts. church groups represent 70% of all scouting units. many fought to keep the ban. >> not turning it into a sexual agenda item of a special interest organization. >> reporter: the mormon church sponsors one quarter of the scout ug knits said they wouldn't oppose admission of gay scouts. other churches supported the change. >> it's about life skills and building character and it's not about sexual orientation. it never has been. >> reporter: a survey conducted for the boy scouts found 48% of boys of current scouts support the ban down from 57% three years ago. a majority of boy scouts themselves 67% oppose the ban on admitting gay scouts, 42% opposing it strongly.

chuck and rhonda of denver are among parents in favor of a change. they have two sons in the cub scouts. >> we look at this issue 50 years in the future. it will be like civil rights. >> reporter: the scouts say the new policy take effect of january 1, 2014. it will give local units time to adjust. as for considering a change in the ban on gay scout leaders, the organization says this was a lengthy process and it has no plans for further review. pete williams, thanks so much. there's word tonight of new arrests after that vicious act of terrorism on the streets of london. again fair warning these images are difficult to take. a british soldier was attacked and killed in the streets as we now know he was a youngusband and father. we're also hearing from the brave woman who stared down the man with the knife. we get the latest now from london. >> reporter: mothers and children on their way to school this morning carried flowers, a

day long procession, tributes and raw emotion. the victim, viciously hacked to death on the street has now been identified. 25-year-old british soldier lee rigby served in afghanistan, the father of a 2-year-old son. his family said lee was lovely. he would do anything for anybody. all he wanted to do from when he was a little boy was be in the army. that's why one of the two suspects they targeted him. >> we must fight them. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. >> reporter: this suspect has been identified and born in britain of nigerian dissent. a devout muslim. here he is in a demonstration in 2007. both suspects were known to british security services prior to now. but sources say there was no indication they were planning

any attack. terror analysts say lone wolf style operations are the new face of al qaeda inspired attacks. >> no longer the large scale sophisticated plots fm overseas but instead very unsophisticated and simple attacks which can still very much affect the psyche of cities. >> reporter: police raided six homes around london today and made two more arrests. one extraordinary citizen who was unafraid seen her trying to talk down one of the suspects is ingrid. >> keeping him calm. that was the thing. he had something to say. ignore him would make him more upset. >> reporter: other women guarded the body of the young soldier who survived war falling to terror at home. now to that major address by president obama on counterterrorism and our use of force overseas. the president today issued new

guidelines for drone strikes against suspected terrorists while making an impassioned defense of his policies. our white house correspondent peter alexander joins us from the north lawn. peter, good evening. >> reporter: ann, good evening to you. today the president refined his idea that the so-called war on terror launched by the bush administration is no longer relevant instead presenting a much narrow definition of american counterterrorism. president obama today reframed the fight against terrorism and evolving threat now facing the u.s. >> we must define our effort not as a boundless global war on terror but rathers a series of persistent targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that tart america. our nation is still threatened by terrorists from benghazi to boston we have been tragically reminded of that truth. >> reporter: in defense of america's secret war the

president laid out clear and narrow guidelines for drone strikes arguing they are legal and carefully considered. >> before any strike is taken there must be near certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured. the highest standard we can set. >> reporter: but there's a check on the president's power. >> it's briefed on every strike that america takes. every strike. >> reporter: and that they work. >> simply put these strikes have saved lives. >> reporter: to make his policies more transparent the president is transferring more control of the drone program from the cia to the pentagon. he renewed his pledge tohut downhe camp at guantanamo bay. ending the ban on sending detainees to yemen. calling for some to be moved to civilian prisons. the move would save the u.s. $1 million a year. 103 inmates stage an extended hunger strike. >> the president after months of

being uncomfortable where he was in the national debate wanted to take control of the narrative and consolidate these issues over guantanamo and drones and put himself where he wants to be. >> i know the politics are hard. but history will cast a harsh judgment on this aspect of our fight against terrorism and those of us who fail to end it. >> reporter: that judgment voiced by an anti-war activist who disrupted the president. >> why was he killed. >> reporter: at one point rendering the commander-in-chief speechless for 30 second. >> the voice of that woman is worth paying attention to. these are tough issues. and the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong. >> reporter: also today on the topic of national security leaks the president said he's asked attorney general eric holder to conduct a 45 day review of the justice department guidelines for investigations that involve

journalists. ann? >> all right. peter alexander. in moore, oklahoma, darkened skies again today as the first funerals were held for the 24 victims of monday's tornado. ten of them children. for the survivors this is also a day to reconnect and start moving forward again. we go moore now. >> reporter: good evening. just what they didn't need. thunderstorms and flooding putting this community on edge and shutting down clean up efforts for several hours and came on a day when students and parents are taking their first steps towards something resembling normal. the children of moore, oklahoma headed back to school today. days after the tornado ripped through two of their buildings, killing seven of their classmates. >> we talk to each other. >> reporter: students from the two devastated schools were sent to other schools for the final assembly, a chance for closure, to see friends, to say good-bye.

>> this will bring more impact to what happened because you're t going to see some of your friends. >> we didn't get to say good-bye to our classes. it was good to see them. >> reporter: also an opportunity 0 recheck and in some cases express thanks to teachers regarding what every parent cherishes the most. >> i'll never have anything, any words, you know, to repay her for what she did. you know she threw herself on my daughter to protect her. >> reporter: the gatherings came as moore buried the first of its 24 victims. this 9-year-old was laid to rest among seven children who died when the tornado flattened plaza towers elementary. experts say surviving students are victim traumized by what they saw on monday who they didn't see today. >> parents need to speak honestly with their children but

reassure them that there are people work, that they don't evenee to make sure they are safe. >> reporter: thunderstorms and flooding in the region made clean up almost impossible. utility crews and trash haulers were able to get out this afternoon. for a community that suffered a lifetimefeartache a child's words may have affected them. >> i was able to see my friend and they were alive and i'm alive and i'm okay. so that's all. >> reporter: like today officials have dstically revised downward the number of homes damaged. it's 1,200 not 1300. bad weather is making news elsewhere tonight as well a lot of unsettled weather in the northeast in particular have made a very hectic holiday avel weekend ahead. chris warren joins us now.

good evening to you. >> reporter: good evening. severe weather has already thrown a real wrench into travel and we have seen some long delays heading in to the northeast at the airports. newark and laguardia have full on ground stops. let's look where that threat does continue for severe weather. tonight in the northeast, it's going to be heavy rain, flash flooding with the threat. also damaging winds you'll have to watch out for. in texas and the southern plains, tornadoes are a possibility also large hail that could be bigger than baseball. now for travel if you're planning to head out of town tomorrow along with about 35 million holiday travellers look for cool and rainy weather in the northeast. if you're heading to the roads like more than 31 million people will be watch out for the rain in the northeast. also in the middle part of the country chance for more storms. chris thanks for your

reporting. one more note about the weather. the people at noaa who track hurricanes for a living said today they expect another busy season in the atlantic. 13 to 20 named storms. seven to 11 hurricanes. three to six of those hurricanes are expected to be major. last year was the third busiest season on record with 19 named storms, one of which of course was hurricane sandy which caused $50 billion in damage. still ahead tonight on the rebound as millions of families plan their vacations what they will be seeing a lot more of on the road this summer. and later an amazing accomplishment at 30,000 feet at an age when a lot of people rather be on a nice flat golf course. hey kevin...still eating chalk for heartburn?

ye... try new alka seltzer fruit chews. they work fast on heartburn and taste awesome. these are good. told ya! i'm feeling better already. [ male announcer ] new alka seltzer fruits chews. enjoy the relief!

where over seventy-five percent of store management started as. i'm the next american success story. working for a company hourly associates. there's opportunity here. i can use walmart's education benefits to get a degree, maybe work in it, or be an engineer, helping walmart conserve energy. even today, when our store does well, i earn quarterly bonuses. when people look at me, i hope they see someone working their way up. vo: opportunity, that's the real walmart. are proven to be effective pain relievers tylenol works by blocking pain signals to your brain bayer back & body's dual action formula includes aspirin, which blocks pain at the site. try the power of bayer back & body. o memorial day weekend means a lot of people hitting the road and it's likely you'll see a lot more rvs out there. they are making a big come back after a big slump during the recession and that's good news for the people in indiana where

many of them are made. >> reporter: for paul and his family going on vacation means loading up their 30-foot rv and heading out on the open road. >> it does allow you to vacation in the style that you want at a price you can afford. >> reporter: more and more people agree. at dealerships like this one outside of los angeles business is booming. a welcome change from just a few years ago. >> it's something i've been thinking about for four or five years and finally decided now perhaps might be the time. >> reporter: from 2006 to 2009 rv sales plunged 58% as the recession deepened and banks stopped lending. as the economy bounces back so have sales. shooting up 72%. good news for keystone rv in elkhart, indiana. the county's unemployment rate was once t highest in the

nation above 20% four years ago now it's more than half that. in 2009 when the recession was at its worst keystone cutback to 1900 employees. now just four years later they employ 3,200 people, a record for the company and they are still hiring. more jobs at higher wages. >> i think you'll see that throughout the county. the labor pool is getting tighter. >> reporter: matthew miller is a recent hire. as a high school student he saw his father get laid off from an rv plant. now he's a husband and father himself. >> very comforting knowing i can work in a place like this, not necessarily be worried about my job and i know can provide for my family. >> reporter: as accelerating rv sales set a once struggling midwestern county on the road to recovery. we're back in a moment with a photo session before the senior prom that's getting a lot

of tension tonight. what makes a sleep number store different? what makes a sleep number you walk into a conventional mattress store, it's really not about you. they say, "well, if you wanted a firm bed you can lie on one of those. we provide the exact individualization that your body needs. oh, yeah! once you experience it there's no going back. now save on the closeout of our classic special edition bed set just $1,299, a savings of $600 plus 36 month financing on all beds through memorial day only at the sleep number store sleep number, comfort individualized

bjorn earns unlimited rewards for his small business. take these bags to room 12 please. [ garth ] bjorn's small business earns double miles on every purchase every day. produce delivery. [ bjorn ] just put it on my spark card. [ garth ] why settle for less? ahh, oh! [ garth ] great businesses deserve unlimited rewards. here's your wake up call. [ male announcer ] get the spark business card from capital one and earn unlimited rewards. choose double miles or 2% cash back on every purchase every day. what's in your wallet? [ crows ] now where's the snooze button? [ clang ] my house is where plants came to die. but, it turns out all i was missing was miracle-gro potting mix. it's got what a plant needs like miracle-gro plant food that feeds them for up to six months. you get bigger, healthier plants, guaranteed. who's got two green thumbs thanks to miracle-gro? ah, this gal.

boom! with the right soil, everyone grows with miracle-gro. as your life changes, fidelity is there for your personal economy, helping you readjust along the way, refocus as careers change and kids head off to college, and revisit your investments as retirement gets closer. wherever you are today, fidelity's guidance can help you fine-tune your personal economy. start today with a free one-on-one review of your retirement plan.

got a gorgeous view of a volcano erupting in alaska and a picture taken from the international space station. the volcano in the aleu the ian islands began spewing out ash on may 13th. this was taken on may 18th. it rises almost fouriles into the atmospher and stretches across hundreds of miles. an 80-year-old japanese climber made to it the top of the world today. he broke the record for the oldest person to climb mount everest when he reached the summit. he has climbged everest twice before. he set the record for the oldest person to climb the summit ten years ago. he posted on his facebook page today this is the best feeling in the world. preparations for memorial

day are under way at arlington cemetery. they placed flags on grave sites of each service member buried at arlington. 267,000 in all in the annual tradition known as flags in. the year was 1979, the hair was big, the clothes were possible polyester and that's the future president at his prom. barack obama was escorted by his best friend. she included a note he wrote in her yearbook he observed she was extremely sweet and foxy. obama's date was megan hughes a student at a nearby all girls school. up next an incredible survival story we haven't heard about until now. a woman in labor as the tornado closed in. the nurses who stayed by her

side when suddenly the walls started to giveaway around them. . ...and no cigarette advertising around here. them. eaway around them. away ar them.

in the three days since that devastating tornado in moore, oklahoma we've seen so much

destruction, loss of life and misery. tonight we'll leave you with a story of some people who come together to help. whether it's cleaning up, cooking a meal or even helping with a very special delivery. ron mott has our report. >> reporter: shayla taylor embraced her son. >> that's the wall off. furs thing, of course, was asked if all the nurses were still there and if they were okay. >> reporter: this morning, she is reunited with nurses who moved her to another hospital when theirs took a direct hit. >> my nurse gave me a shot to slow down the contractions. to kind of keep me from going into transition. and actually having a baby in the midst of a tornado. >> reporter: she later delivered 8 pounds 3 ounce braden emmanuel. the talk of the town.

>> love the name. god is with us because god definitely was with us. >> rorter: perfect sangers are with the community too coming from near and far, some toting brooms and rakes other carrying trace of steam pulled pork. all in the spirit of loving thy neighbor. >> this is oklahoma. that's the way it is here. we all rally together when there's a need. >> you're able to mobilize a team quickly how does that happen? >> being barbecue cooks doing competitions we learn how to cook mobile. >> reporter: operation mobile started up two years ago. >> they need comfort. barbecue is comfort food. >> reporter: while the going is tough today for many, hope and gratitude are in ample supply. >> these women were, they were god send. they did their best to take care of me. >> reporter: and the little guy already nicknamed twister.

ron mott nbc news, moore, oklahoma. and that is our broadcast for this thursday evening. i'm ann curry in tonight for brian. for all of us here at nbc news, thank you and good night.

prom king. just found, president obama on his prom night. exclusive. the woman he called foxy. >> the evening was sort of a blur. >> then he asked kate upton to the prom. >> will you go to prom with me?

>> she said no but check out his new prom date. plus uproar over the cleaver attack shocking the world. >> eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. >> there is a prince harry connection? >> and moment of impact. >> as the killer tornado rips through the school. >> oh, my god. oh, my god. >> then a dog bit off her nose. >> the whole side of her nose is gone. >> can the doctor put her nose back together? jennifer aniston tripper mom? plus, art school freakout. hello, everybody and thank you for joining us. it's the horrific murder that's shocking the entire world. there continues to be strong reaction to the news that