we are told nobody was seriously injured and that ridiculous spectacle. that's our broadcast for now. "nightly news" coming up next. >> have a good one. on the broadcast tonight, expecting risk. a warning tonight about who might be the most vulnerable as the swine flu starts to spread. no holiday, swine flu is also the reason some american kids are being held far from home. under suspicion. police search the home and office of michael jackson's doctor. what are they looking for? making waves. a shocker for michael phelps as he tries to defend his own record. what did the swimsuits have to do with it? a booming business in america's heartland. what works in the fight against the recession? what works in the fight against the recession? "nightly news" begins now.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. first came all those initial scares, mostly from the news media, you may remember. swine flu was going to get us all. then we learned how mild the h1/n1 virus was now quietly without a lot of attention or coverage, a million americans have come down with swine flu. countries like great britain are on something of a crisis footing. there is real concern about the next round during flu season. and tomorrow, the centers for disease control will take on the question of who gets the vaccine when it is ready. it is expected pregnant women will be at or near the top of that list because of the risk of complications to them. our own chief science correspondent, robert bazell, is at the cdc tonight in atlanta and starts off our reporting.

>> reporter: since the pandemic began in april, pregnant women have accounted for 6% of u.s. swine flu deaths. even though they make up just 1% of the u.s. population. these deaths at proportionately high rates have health officials worried. >> this is going to be a problem as we get into flu season. later this year. >> reporter: the cdc says swine flu has infected more than a million americans with at least 300 deaths. for pregnant women the concern is in the late stages of pregnancy when complications can occur because the expanded uterus lessens the lung capacity. >> additionally your immunity to some of the viruses like flu virus probably goes down during pregnancy. so those two things come together late in pregnancy to make you more vulnerable to pneumonia including flu pneumonia. >> reporter: one of those who died was kaitlin huber, her baby saved by c-section, her parents care for the child and older sibling. >> she couldn't get enough oxygen in her blood. she could not breathe enough. though she was strong, always

healthy and strong. this was just too much. >> who would expect a child at 20 to die of a -- of a flu? >> reporter: kelly tunsill and newborn daughter molly came close to death from complications of swine flu. >> we call her our little miracle baby. she is. really she shouldn't have surviv survived. >> reporter: when mom was 8 months pregnant her complications from swine flu became so severe doctors put her into an induced coma. the baby started showing signs of distress, so doctors performed a c-ction. >> i woke up to be told that i had missed 30 days of my life. i slept through it. i was no longer pregnant and had the baby delivered while i was in the coma. >> reporter: until a vaccine is available, medical experts say pregnant women especially in late stages should seek medical help immediately if they have fever or other signs of flu. so pregnancy will be a big subject when the experts convene here tomorrow at the cdc. we should point out, brian, there have been fewer than two dozen deaths in pregnant women. this is not a major health

crisis. doctors don't even know if swine flu is more dangerous to pregnant women than seasonal influenza. because this virus strikes mostly young people that is the big cause for concern. brian. >> bob bazell in atlanta tonight. we'll be covering there the gathering there tomorrow. bob, thanks. tonight, some american teag na chie h in china have run into big problems because of swine flu. and they're a long way from ho. their story tonight from nbc's adrienne mong in china. >> reporter: it was supposed to be the ultimate summer vacation. 64 students from saint mary's school in medford, oregon, touring china for three weeks. but from the moment they landed in the capital, beijing, july 14th it hasn't gone as planned. almost immediately one student tested positive for the swine flu or h1/n1 virus and the students found themselves under quarantine in a hotel. >> hi, mom, dad, grandma. >> reporter: after seven days

they were released with a clean bill of health. and they tried to make up for lost time taking in all of the sights. including the great wall, the bird's nest olympic stadium, even pandas at the beijing zoo. but when they headed south to visit the martial arts capital of china they found themselves quarantined once more. the virus appeared to have spread, six students have now been hospitalized. three of them confirmed cases of swine flu. >> disappointing, but, we have people in our group who have tested positive for h1/n1. that is a public health concern that has to be dealt with appropriately. >> china is taking a tough approach trying to contain the spread of the h1/n1 virus. e population of 1.3 billion th they need to be vigilant. as of last week they have confirmed around 1,800 cases of h1/n1 flu on the mainland with no reported deaths. but some infectious disease specialists say china's

overreacting. >> in this age of close globalization, no you can't keep a pandemic virus from your shores. >> reporter: mckenzie kreiser is a hospitalized student. >> she is an athlete. she's in great condition and always been healthy. so it's just a little fatigue and stress. i think she will be just fine. >> reporter: it is not clear how mckenzie and the five students will remain hospitalized. but everyone else has been cleared to fly home to oregon on friday. all coming back with quite a mmer vacation.w they spent their adrienne mong, nbc news, china. in this country, in washington, judge sonia sotomayor is one step closer to taking a seat on the u.s. supreme court. she cleared a big hurdle today, confirmed by the senate judiciary committee, mostly right along party lines. but there was one exception. our justice correspondent, pete williams at the court with more on the story tonight. pete, good evening. >> reporter: the judiciary

committee has 12 democrats, judge sotomayor got 13 votes with one republican saying her nomination is good news for the country. democrats today praised sonia sotomayor's 17 years of federal court rulings. >> there is not one example, let alone a pattern, of her ruling based on bias or prejudice or sympathy. >> reporter: republicans said her speeches suggest she might put a thumb on the judicial scale. >> judge sotomayor set forth a fully formed, i believe, judicial philosophy that conflicts with the great american tradition of blind justice and fidelity to the law as written. >> the clerk will call the roll. >> reporter: south carolina's lindsay graham the one republican to vote for her. >> aye. >> reporter: he pressed her hard at the confirmation hearing on her wise latina remark. >> you got to watch what you say. >> reporter: today he said the nomination of an hispanic woman to the u.s. supreme court is an

important first. >> and if she, by being on the court, will inspire young women, particularly latina women, to seek a career in the law that would be a good thing. wish her well.she will. america has changed for the better with her selection. >> reporter: the full senate votes on the nomination as early as next week. she'll undoubtedly be confirmed with probably a handful of republicans supporting her, he.an.avteamli tilatous c onwe g> >>o teamamthilli ws the cot ise ess erewom n hiconpr s ewon hnie prices tonight. a closely watched price index out today, shows existing home prices ticked up half a percentage point from april to may. the first increase since 2006. year afterall. but there are some caveats here. the uptick doesn't take seasonal factors into account and prices fell more than 17% from last year afterall. some analysts are encouraged after months of record declines prices have been falling more

slowly at least for the past four months. california's governor arnold schwarzenegger signed a new state budget into law today after making a half billion dollars in last minute cuts. a big chunk of which came from health care, child welfare programs, budgets for state parks. the budget closed most of the state's $26 billion deficit. but analysts warn the state still has to borrow money in order to stop paying bills with i.o.u.s. in southern california new developments tonight in the michael jackson death vestigation. today, federal agents and local police were in las vegas looking for evidence and answers at the home and office of jackson's personal physician, dr. conrad murray. he is the focus of a criminal night.o a itical phase s to be we get more from nbc's jeff rossen in los angeles.

this is the residence of dr. conrad murray. >> reporter: michael jackson's personal physician was home today in las vegas when federal drug agents and local police showed up at his door armed with a warrant. authorities searched dr. conrad murray's house for documents and computers. >> how many officers are in there? can you tell me what you are doing? >> quite a few. >> reporter: at the very same time, agents were searching his a manslaughter investigation. law enforcement sources tell nbc news, dr. murray administered the anesthetic propofol to jackson the day he died. a drug so powerfult normally used in hospitals. but the sources say, dr. murray gave it to jackson at home to help him sleep. >> they want to know was this an exception? a situation that occurred just once, one time? or is it something that dr. murray prescribed on a regular basis? in the months since michael jackson's death, the investigation has grown. police are now looking into several doctors who wrote him prescriptions. court papers reveal they're focusing on dr. murray.

>> if i am the prosecutor in this case i want to paint a picture of dr. murray that number one he was highly reckless because he was not administering a drug that was medically reasonable. number two, he had a financial motive. >> reporter: there are reports he was making $150,000 a month, to be jackson's doctor. dr. murray's lawyer insists his omient did nothing wrong writing in a statement -- >> reporter: the toxicology report is due out this week. and may tell us what killed michael jackson. jeff rossen, nbc news, los angeles. when we continue along the way this tuesday night, what happened to swimming sensation michael phelps today? and how it could end up changing the sport. and later, how a company in america's heartland is thriving. >> a later,ow h a company in america's heartland is thriving. i'm a little irregular today. don't you eat activia?

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saw it with our own eyes in beijing. michael phelps the man to beat at last summer's olympic games with his record eight gold medals. he turns out to be human. today he was not the fastest swimmer in the pool. and phps' loss is bringing attention to the swimsuit that the winner was wearing. more on this controversy tonight from nbc's peter alexander. >> on your marks. >> reporter: at the world championships today in rome, another stunning finish. >> paul biedermann of germany. 1:42 flat. >> reporter: the 200 meter freestyle race and world record

going not to reigning champion michael phelps but to paul biedermann a swimmer virtually unknown outside his home country. the defeat, phelps' first loss in an international meet in four years. in rome, swimmers have been rewriting the record books, 15 world records set in just three days. fueling new controversy over the suits the swimmers are wearing. biedermann sports the arena x-glide, a poly urethane suit, considered faster than speedo's lzr racer, last summer, critics claimed phelps got an edge from the lzr. biedermann in lane four putting pressure on. biedermann who set a world record early this week. >> just got it by .01. >> reporter: spoke today about whether the suit made a difference in his upset win? >> i do think the suits have an effect, they make you faster. there is nothing around. i really hope to get better next

year. and i hope i can challenge michael phelps without the suits. >> reporter: the new suits have been called steroids on a hanger. >> we don't know whether these are records or records that will stand or records that will stand. nobody knows. >> reporter: phelps is committed to speedo, the company that paid nce he was a teenager.ents >> a swimsuit is a swimsuit. if you are ever going to compete at a high level and compete consistently it is going to be because of the work you do in training. >> reporter: today swimming's international governing body weighed in, announcing polyurethane suits will be banned next may. late today, bob bowman said the ban on polyurethane suits should be implemented immediately and warned if not international swimming will lose the guy who fills these seats. peter alexander, nbc news, new icquog> prk ram note. yocaown fo oprll, aitf e thfo s woswd aimmingmphallionships all this week on the universal sports channel. saturday and sunday at noon

eastern here on this nbc station. that meeting at the white house between president obama, harvard professor henry louis gates, and cambridge, massachusetts, police sergeant james crowley set for thursday two weeks after their confrontation between crowley and gates that led to an arrest ansuch a national discussion on race. well the three men are meeting as you may know for a beer. and regarding preferences, professor gates reported to be a red stripe man. crowley, said to be partial to blue moon. the white house isn't talking about the president's brand of choice. that might constitute, you see, a white house endorsement. when "nightly news" continues in just a moment -- what works. what happened when one company made a big investment in its own employees. from nice 'n easy. rich color, stunning high gloss, and flawless gray coverage all in just 10 minutes. a breakthrough so big, it won the most awards from beauty editors

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this risk may be increased when trilipix is used with a statin. if you cannot afford your medication, call 1-866-4-trilipix for more information. trilipix. there's more to cholesterol. get the picture. we're back. theco we're back. the economic downturn has been brutal in some large parts of the midwest. now unemployment has hit double digits in places. but there are some businesses figuring out how to cope including one that is investing in its own workers.

our own janet shamlian has a look at "what works." >> reporter: hard times in the heartland, peoria, illinois, losing jobs at a rate not seen in decades. most in the region's bread and butter, manufacturing. but a small foundry seems beyond recession's reach with not even one layoff. >> we look around and a lot of the very best manufacturers i know in this area have either filed chapter 11 or have had massive, massive layoffs. >> reporter: sales are up 7% at excel. so what is the secret? peoria is caterpillar country. the fortune 500 firm is based here and many smaller companies are suppliers. but not excel which diversified even before the downturn. half its sales are now exports. but the key, the ceo says, is in hiring versatile workers and sticking with them. >> our commitment to our employees, our employees are coitti to the organization

and step out of their traditional work roles and do whatever it takes to get the job ean-up.jeff sapp often works clean-up. >> usually a maintenance job. since we have slowed down some, we are able to do it take it on ourselves. >> reporter: workers are cross trained those who run machines es. some times designing new >> you can't one day say that your employees are your most valuable asset and then, the next day, slash 20% of them. if there are other ways around it. >> reporter: carson says there could be future layoffs. his crystal ball is no better than anyone else's. but his bottom line is. even amidst the heat of unprecedented challenges. janet shamlian, nbc news, houston. the woman who set the modern andard for style in the white house, jacqueline kennedy onassis would have been 80 years old today. mrs. onassis was 64 when she died of cancer back in 1994 here in new york. she was with her husband when he was assassinated in dallas.

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finally tonight, a story about a dream come true for a group of children who never experienced one of the pure joys of summertime that so many of us here in the u.s. seem to take for granted. nbc's martin fletcher reports tonight on the palestinian children who finally get down to the beach. >> reporter: so near yet so far, only 60 miles from the west bank villages to the sea, yet these palestinian children have never been, no permission from israel. it's 6:00 in the morning. for the first time, adai is going to the beach. >> translator: it's been my dream he says. he promises his father, nafez, daddy i will bring you a seashell. the beach is in israel and israel won't allow nafez in for security reasons.

he wouldn't sawhy. israeli peace activists arranged these permits for adai and 65 palestinian children and some parents, most of whom have never seen the ocean. it is 105 degrees while they wait for israel's okay to pass. but because israel recently lifted many of the west bank roadblocks there is only one barrier. they are through. next stop the beach. and an hour later. >> the sea, the sea they say. waiting 20 israeli volunteers. >> amazing. fantastic. yeah, i am thrilled. finally they got here. but first a warning. she says, these will help you not to dro. adai has his own priority, seashells for daddy. not so easy to find in the sand. and then, what so many take so for granted, for adai it is like a miracle.

at first it feels strange. he is worried he heard there is a whale in the water. but pretty soon the sea works its magic. former israeli soldiers and former palestinian militants help organize and pay for the day. ♪ >> reporter: building idges for peace. adai is tired when he gets home in the evening. >> his father asks did you see the whale? no, adai says. but i brought you a present. so nafez has the his seashells. and adai has his memories and a question -- can i go again? martin fletcher, nbc news, israel. that's our broadcast for this tuesday night. thank you for being with us. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. we hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com