on this saturday night, crossing the line. donald trump declaring john mccain was not a war hero. terror in tennessee. memorials for the victims as another service member dies. plus new details on the background of the shooter. out of control. the destruction in california a as fires burned thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of campers to evacuate. protecting your family from the disease spread by a tiny predator. why we are seeing more and more infection. and second act. some of the biggest stars making las vegas hot again, and the fans are following. "nightly news" begins now. from nbc news world

headquarters in new york this is "nbc nightly news". reporting tonight, thomas roberts. good evening. we start tonight with donald trump. gop presidential contenders latest remarks in iowa about senator john mccain's military record landed trump in the political crosshairs. he said mccain is not a war hero. so far trump operates with a no apology, no guts no glory approach. that one style has the billionaire business polls the front-runner. will insulting john mccain's vietnam record help or hurt trump? kelly o'donnell and chuck todd in washington, d.c. we begin in mes, iowa. >> reporter: this is a day-long event of about 3,000

conservatives who are hearing from 10 of the presidential candidates. then something unexpected and outrageous flew out of the mouth of donald trump. now the whole gop race is feeling the turmoil. >> thank you. >> reporter: on stage in ames, iowa. >> look at that. >> reporter: donald trump speak first, think later bravado was on full speed. >> he's not a war hero. he's a war hero because he was captured. >> reporter: it followed a simple question who asked if trump's frequent criticism of mccain made him appear less than presidential. >> he's a war hero because he was captured. and i can't believe perhaps he's a war hero >> reporter: twitter lit up as other candidates deannounced trump. jeb bunch, enough with the slanderous attacks. rick perry declared trump unfit to be commander in chief. while scott walker ignored trump

but called mccain an american hero. mike huckabee today. >> donald trump will need to determine whether that's a statement he would walk back on. >> reporter: trump facing off with reporters would like to soften his remarks. >> i'm not blaming john mccain for being captured. >> reporter: 69-year-old trump, who did not serve in the military said student deferment and a foot problem kept him out of serving. today's outburst began after trump lit a fuse over illegal immigration. in his home state of arizona, the senator accused him of bringing out the "crazy". >> called them a bunch of crazies. that was an amazing crowd of people. those were great americans at the event. >> reporter: tonight senator john mccain is not commenting publicly. his daughter megan said she was

horrified and disgusted by trump's remarks. and up until today said that both trump and mccain are friends, so he tried to stay out of it. and trump is of course a enjoying the attention. >> kelly, thank you. and for more on all of this, we're joined by chuck todd moderator of "meet the press". chuck, are trump's comments crossing the line of no return here? >> it was never a matter of if but when he would alienate the entire republican party. he did that today. going after maliciously and personally as trump did is probably going to backfire and might turn off some of the same voters he was attracting with his bombbastic style.

there are a number of issues that confront the gop. and many of the candidates going forward. do they start boycotting events where trump is invited? i've already talked to campaigns before today that have been expressing trepidation about being on stage with trump for fear just his presence would make barnum & bailey plush. he has no qualms about scorch politics. he will smear anyone or anything if they criticize him. he was upset over that criticism by john mccain. look thomas i think he may have passed the point of no return. the only risk by the republican party by pushing him away is the fact that trump could take his ball and say i will run as an inspect and truly muck up the process. >> i know chuck, you will have much more on the trump factor tomorrow on "meet the press". we will see you then. now the other story we're following. today a navy petty officer died

of wounds suffered in one of the attacks, bringing the number to five service members killed. miguel almaguer has more tonight from chattanooga >> reporter: two separate military facilities is exactly what worries the fbi. investigators have not yet ruled this as an act of terror. they are following 200 leads, poring over the suspect's life. as the fbi combs through more physical evidence today gnat far from the bullet-riddled window more flags and flowers, heartbreak and tears. >> no words can express the devastation that we feel for not only our community but our nation. >> reporter: the fifth service officer, randall smith, died from his wounds today. he was married with three small children. >> it's heartbreaking to know that this has happened in our

hometown. >> reporter: the shock here has now turned to sadness. tributes line the streets in chattanooga, honoring smith, the four marines killed thursday and the police sergeant who is recovering tonight. but some worry among all this pain there could still be more violence. >> he represents the ideology that is an enemy of ours. >> reporter: dr. ali feels backlash against the muslim community. >> i feel the most vulnerable individuals may be targeted. >> reporter: mohammad youssuf abdulazeez we're learning more about a troubling period in his home life. in 2009 his mother filed for divorce, saying she was repeatedly beaten by the gunman's father a that her children were occasionally struck and berated without proof vacation or justification. it's unclear whether he disputed the allegation but the couple

remained married. his life under the microscope. >> they're looking at credit card receipts phone records, travel documentation. they're interviewing all of his co-workers family friends, neighbors >> reporter: tonight there are still no answers, no official motive. now with five service members dead the bloodshed is over, but the heartbreak here is just beginning. >> in the wake of the tragedy here many are asking why military officials who work at recruitment centers like this one are not allowed to be armed. late today several governors in different states ordered emergency orders saying the national guard should in fact be armed when they are working facilities just like this one. thomas? >> miguel thank you. overseas in iraq isis claimed responsibility for a huge bomb attack northeast of baghdad. officials say as many as 130 people were killed and 20 missing after a suicide bomber drove a truck into a crowded

market. most of the victims were shiites celebrating the end of ramadan. the white house issued a statement condemning the attack. a brutal 24 hours in southern california as firefighters battle several wildfires, including one that jumped onto a busy freeway last night that forced drivers from their cars and destroyed dozens of vehicles. we have that story from nbc's gadi schwartz >> reporter: there is fibers heavy fire. a freeway firestorm. >> we were really scared. people crying kids crying. >> reporter: traffic at a stand still. flames devouring car after car from l.a. to las vegas. >> the flames were already in the truck. >> the car parked on the outside edge when the fire hit it. it burnt all the side, the back, cooler >> reporter: dozens of people running for their lives. >> it was just scary because the

fire was surrounding. we found a woman and she helped us. >> reporter: 11 structured burned. families are checking tow yards for the cars they abandoned. many saved by the air drops overhead. but others weren't so lucky. today fire crews are frustrated saying they should have been there sooner but hobby drones kept away. >> how many were there? >> there were five. >> five drones? >> right. >> reporter: the small drones are extremely dangerous to everyone involved. >> two of the drones pursued our lead plane. one underneath one actually flying over the top. we're talking about a situation where dozens of people could have been killed. >> reporter: last night another fire about 20 miles away flared up forcing hundreds to evacuate

including a camp for children who were hearing impaired. no major injuries reported so far at either fire. but terrifying moment ones and a vivid reminder of how fast a fire can move. some tense moments today in columbia south carolina where passions are still running high after the removal of the confederate flag from the statehouse grounds eight days ago. supporters and a opponents took to the streets today for separate rallies that got heated at times. more tonight from nbc's charles hadlock. >> reporter: the grounds of the south carolina statehouse today divided once again. north and south, black and white. on the north steps, a small rally by the black educators for justice, a radicaloff shoot of the black panther party.

&ku klux klan their first march in 26 years. >> i'm hear for my poor fathers who died under this flag. >> reporter: demanding the flag be returned to statehouse grounds. enraged that south carolina lawmakers voted last week to remove the flag following the massacre of the emanuel nine the pro dominantly black church allegedly gunned down by dylann roof. he posed with confederate flags. >> kkk, domestic terrorism! >> reporter: if the plan was hoping for support from the majority of the crowd, they got none. >> go back home. >> reporter: the klan has a few thousand members nationwide. >> -- this whole united states is going to be flooded. >> reporter: but the southern poverty law center say the klan is a shadow of its former self. >> it is fractured, small, poorly led, and really very

weak. >> reporter: it is estimated there were 5 million members at its peak in 1925. 42,000 in 1965 and fewer than 4,000 in 23 fractured groups. real or not, the emotions divided the state house grounds once again today. state police say there were only about 35 can klansman. they were well out numbered by the hundreds who heckled them until they left the state house grounds. charles, thank you. when "nightly news" continues this saturday the new warning about lyme disease as the illness continues to spread what's old is new again. why vegas is the place where put your hand over your heart. is it beating? good! then my nutrition heart health mix is for you. it's a wholesome blend of peanuts, pecans and other delicious nuts specially mixed for people with hearts. i said people with hearts. because hearts health is important. that's why i've researched optimized

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really can love their laxative. especially when it's miralax. it hydrates, eases and softens to unblock your system naturally so you have peace of mind from start to finish. love your laxative. miralax. we're back with health news tonight. new concern about the spread of lyme disease, a frustrating and debilitating problem. the cdc came out with new numbers on how the disease is affecting more and more people and where. we get details tonight from nbc's anne thompson. >> reporter: 16-year-old christina is in many ways a typical teenager. two years ago faced a i not so typical problem. >> i was getting sore muscles, sore joints. it would be tough to get down my stairs from my bed in the morning. >> reporter: suddenly a field

hockey goalie was sidelined. >> how frustrating was it when you didn't know what was wrong with it? >> it was aggravating because everybody kept saying you're a teenager. you're tired. you're not getting enough sleep >> reporter: it wasn't chronic fatigue or lack of sleep but lyme disease, an increasing problem in the northeast and north central u.s. according to a new study by the centers for disease control. it says the number of counties in the northeast with the high incidence of hraoeupl increased between 1993 and 2012. 250% in the north central states. and the problem is moving further north and west. why? kirsten kirsten, the lead author says there are numerous answers. >> there is dispersal of infected ticks by animals that carry them there. >> reporter: deer, mice and birds can-can carry the infected ticks that spread the disease.

>> your brain is working pretty well? >> reporter: pretty well. just occasional headaches >> reporter: as a lyme disease specialist in new york. have you noticed an increase? >> i see the same, steady increase over the last two decade at the center for disease control control is seeing. >> reporter: the cdc suggests using an insect repellant with deet. perform tick checks on yourself and your pets. use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it. put your clothes in the dryer on high heat. and look for the bullseye rash. >> we want people to be cognizant of what they can do to protect themselves and their family. >> reporter: so like christina, they can stay in the game. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. coming up we're going to take you on unbelievable! toenail fungus? seriously? smash it with jublia!

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deep. the ship may have sunk around the time of the american revelation. a new way of looking at some of the world's greatest landmarks, from the eiffel tower and el capitan, the vertical rock formation that's one of the hardest in the world to climb. thanks to google you don't have to be a climber to get an epic view. here with more is nbc's hallie jackson. >> reporter: climbing el capitan looks impossible. so tommy caldwell and kevin jorgeson captured it the world watched as they finished the historic climb. >> this is the most that has been so many years in the making. >> whoo! >> reporter: to get to the top, it took them nearly three weeks and a good grip. but with google's new street view it will take you three seconds with good wi-fi. now you can click through the climb as google hits to new

heights. >> to see that world through my eyes. >> reporter: caldwell and climbing partners snapped these stunning 360-degree shots. >> i think you can actually wrap it. >> reporter: photographing one of the biggest attractions at yosemite. the scenery as spectacular at night as it is during the day. the newest addition to a street view from the galapagos to the grand canyon. >> i want to inspire people to find the sense of adventure themselves. >> reporter: to find your inner explorer just use a map. sure it's not the real thing. but here it is no less epic. hallie jackson, nbc news. epic indeed. when we come back vegas. why the famed deft admission is getting a second wind. ♪ my constipation and belly pain feel like a raging storm. i've tried laxatives but my symptoms keep returning.

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what's in your wallet? finally don't, it may not be the place where stars are born but las vegas has become the place for many of them are reborn. and the fans can't seem to get enough of it. nbc's joe fryer spent time on the strip, and you can see for yourself. >> reporter: it's not the sounds of slot machines that are luring tourists to las vegas. >> i am a huge mariah carey fan. >> if mariah was not performing i would not be here. >> reporter: mariah carey is

taking up residency here. and thousands of loyal fans from across the country are paying her a visit. >> i was like okay. i called him up. i said we need to go to vegas. >> reporter: it's not just mariah. all sorts of big-name entertainers lighting up the strip that started with celine dion. >> is vegas human for you now? >> absolutely. >> reporter: 12 years ago, caesars palace built a coliseum with 4,300 seats. to many that was a gamble. did people think you were crazy? >> a lot of people especially in the industry they thought it was a very, very high risk. >> reporter: but this was not "titanic". in fact, celine sailed on with $500 million in ticket sales. >> you take chances and you go for it. >> reporter: she paved the way for more a listers. elton john britney spears rhee about mcentire and rod stewart.

>> it has become the new business model in las vegas. >> reporter: in 1989 59% of the strip's revenue came from gaming. last year 63% came from nongaming, including shows and merchandise, giving a profitable encore. elton john almost $200 million after two stints. britney, $50 million. and mariah $4.5 million and counting. people are planning their trips to las vegas to see the show first. then they're deciding how they're going to get here and where they're going to stay. >> we paid about $5,000 to be here. >> reporter: they're buying everything from mariah socks, brooks and dunn wine elton boas. next up jennifer lopez. she is bringing a show to planet hollywood. >> do you feel like you started the trend? >> i don't want to feel responsible for any of those wonderful things. but i'm very happy. >> reporter: in fact celine

herself is returning here next month. so what's happening here in vegas is definitely staying here in vegas. joe fryer, nbc news las vegas las vegas goes on. that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm thomas roberts reporting from new york. i'll see you right back here tomorrow night. for all of iran keeps their nuclear facilities. military sites can go uninspected. restrictions end after 10 years. then iran could build a nuclear weapon in two months. iran has violated 20 international agreements and is the leading state sponsor of terrorism.

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