probably not for long. she needs money to pay off frer mortgage. after the sales -- if the sale goes through, she plans to move her husband into the space next to it, across from monroe's crypt. that's our broadcast for now. "nightly news" is next. h a question of torture. on the broadcast tonight -- a question of torture. the obama justice department will investigate charges of prisoner abuse during the bush administration. me staggering predictions from the government tonight about what could be a major swine flu outbreak. > swept away. a rogue wave along the storm-tossed coast of maine takes a terrible toll. and vineyard haven. the remarkable story behind the president's island getaway. also tonight, late word on the cause of death in the michael jackson case. "nightly news" begins now.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. r itattac tackp's been . and what followed was called the war on terror.pbeen re happened during the worst of the interrogations that followed, what happened to some suspected terrorists in american custody. they are cia documents and it's safe to say things won't be the same at the cia after this. the obama administration will investigate some of the practices of the bush administration. two of our best have been reading through the documents in the hours since their release. our justice correspondent pete williams, our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell, both in our washington newsroom. pete, we'll start with you. how big is this?

>> i think it's big in two ways. first, because a prosecutor will now look into how detainees were treated in the days after 9/11. and secondly, now the fbi will have the starring role in future interrogations under white house direction, brian. >> and andrea, part of this is going to be a change in the way they do business in washington and elsewhere a break from the past? >> it is. it is the clearest break yesterday from the bush white house, by putting the fbi in charge of detaining and interrogating terror suspects, as pete says, the obama administration is essentially removing the cia from its central role. this as a newly declassified cia report outlines a litany of abuses that crosses the line into illegal torture. for the first time, the cia report released today details threats against prisoners' family, sexual humiliation, mock executions, a litany abuses of cia interrogators at secret prisons overseas. example -- the suspect in the

bombing of the "uss cole," was stripped naked, hooded and handcuffed and threatened with a handgun and a power drill. he was also told, we can get your mother in here, implying sexual abuse against her. along with threats against other family members. the interrogator denied making those threats. the report says 9/11 mastermind khalid shaikh mohammed was waterboarded 183 times. beyond what had been approved by then attorney general john ashcroft. the cia said ashcroft subsequently approved the repetitions. the report says the 9/11 suspect was also told if anything else happens in the united states, we are going to kill your children. >> it's a violation of american law, and whoever did it should be prosecuted. whoever authorized it, should be prosecuted as well. if in fact that's what happened. >> reporter: civil liberties groups have been battling cia censorship in court for years to find out who ordered the program. >> was it the cia itself? who in the cia or was it somebody outside the cia?

was it political officials outside the cia who were the energy behind the programs? >> reporter: the strongest defender of the program, former vice president dick cheney, who said last may today's report would vindicate his decisions. >> i believe this information will confirm the value of interrogation of detainees, and i am not alone. >> reporter: on that point, this report is not that definitive. it says, there is no doubt the program has been effective, but adds, measuring the effectiveness of enhanced interrogation techniques is a more subjective process and not without some concern. but tonight the cia released these separate memos at cheney's request, indicating the interrogations did preventther attacks. still, the obama white house said the program violated laws against torture and cannot be tolerated. brian? >> andrea mitchell. and back to pete williams. pete, there's a lot in here but at the same time there's a lot we don't yet know. >> right. among the things we do know is what holder wants to look at. some of these allegations of abuse and a few others that are still classified that are said to be even worse, about ten in

al where interrogators appear to have gone well beyond the bounds of what the cia was authorized to do. we don't know what they are because 44 of the report's 109 pages are like this -- they're all or mostly blacked out. we don't know what those other cases are. it does seem clear that eric holder would not call for an investigation, though, in three other categories -- the cia operatives who did follow the rules, the bush administration officials who came up with this enhanced interrogation program, and then the justice department lawyers who approved it, brian. >> and, andrea, this is going to amount to another examination, more material out there representing the united states. let's talk about legacy, the legacy of this country, the legacy of the last administration from the former president on down. >> well, it affects legacy. it also affects the way that other countries view us, because this is going to be used by america's enemies against us no matter what the obama administration does. >> all right, andrea mitchell and pete williams in our washington newsroom to start us

off tonight, as we continue to go through these new documents. we turn now to a major health news story. a u.s. government prediction today about how bad the swine flu outbreak might still become. they say a big percentage of the u.s. population is at risk and in some cases, the disease is expected to pose a fatal threat. we get details now from our chief science correspondent robert bazell, who is tonight at the centers for disease control in atlanta. >> reporter: a committee of scientists that advises the president said that while the swine flu pandemic is impossible to predict, a plausible scenario with the infection of 30% to 50% of the u.s. population, as many as 1.8 million hospital admissions and 30,000 to 90,000 deaths concentrated among children and young adults. speaking today at the centers for disease control, aging age secretary sebelius said she's concerned about certain polls

showing americans are not terribly worried about swine flu. >> we know that right now that there's a lot of complacency. now the continuum of being paralyzed with fear and complacency, we've got to strike a balance. >> reporter: data gathered by the cdc shows that even now, way outside of normal flu season, people are continuing to get infected throughout the country. 37 children have died already omd as schools open, the director of the cdc said there is a good chance things will get far worse. >> the next few weeks and months will be a very challenging time. >> in about 52,000 doses -- >> reporter: hospitals, schools and colleges like emory university are preparing. >> having students living together on campus, they're sharing a lot of the same bedding and a lot of the same information and a lot of the same cups. and we're trying to get them to make sure that they are not spreading the germs any more than possible. >> reporter: but for students, the worry is not so great. >> priorities, first off, is definitely relationships and girlfriends because, you know,

we're in college. and then after that it's books, how to save money, what's the best place to eat on campus? and who's got the best dorm rooms? and i guess for swine flu, probably a little bit farther down the list because that's just not what's on our minds right now. >> reporter: but as the scenario laid out by the president's advisers is even close, it will be on everybody's mind very soon. as for a vaccine, if clinical trials continue to go well, there will be small amounts of vaccine available in october. but it could be thanksgiving or way beyond before there's enough vaccine for everybody in the country. brian? >> robert bazell at the cdc meeting in atlanta tonight. bob, thanks. we wanted to let you know bob will be back on this broadcast tomorrow night to try to answer some questions about swine flu. you can send us your questions by posting them on our website. that's nightly.msnbc.com. there is great sadness tonight along the coast of maine for a 7-year-old girl who was swept into the sea and drowned yesterday by a rogue wave.

part of the porful and dangerous surf that was kicked up all along the east coast, all the way toanada, by the remnants of hurricane bill. this happened in maine's acadia national park at bar harbor. our own michelle franzen is there tonight. michelle, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. this jagged, granite coastline can be both captivating and deceiving. it can turn deadly in an instant, as it did yesterday. >> i need everybody to start moving back to the road line please. >> reporter: rangers at acadia national park kept visitors at a safe distance a day after violent waves swept spectators off a ridge. >> you know, if we don't get the most spectacular view in the world, it's okay. we're safe. >> reporter: along maine's rugged outer coast, tourists and locals are drawn to the beauty of the ocean. >> there's hiking and there's the park, and i love it. >> reporter: especially at the thunder hole, named for the sound of the waves pounding against the steep granite

crevice and rocks. on sunday, thunder hole was closed because of unusually high swells fueled by hurricane bill, but the rest of the jagged coast was open to the public, including one ridge where a group of people had gathered to watch the surf. >> we're about 25 or 30 feet at least above water. >> reporter: chief park ranger stuart wett said a powerful rogue wave came crashing ove the ridge, sweeping seven people into the chilly waters. four made it to the shoreline on their own, but three others were carried out into the churning waters. >> yesterday was like driving a boat in a washing machine. >> reporter: a coast guard lifeboat located a missing 12-year-old first, and then 55-year-old peter axelrod of new york. but when they reached axelrod's 7-year-old daughter cleo, paramedic says she showed no vital signs. west said a full staff of seven rangers were responsible for the safety of an estimated 10,000 spectators who lined the rocky coast that day, a balancing act of public safety and personal responsibility.

>> all we can do is try to educate the public as much as we possibly can to let them know to stay away from the ocean's edge. >> reporter: and tonight, the father of the girl who died is reportedly still in the hospital. brian? >> michelle franzen up in bar harbor for us tonight. michelle, thanks. not far from here at ground zero here in new york, a relic, a monument to the 9/11 attacks has returned to the site. you may remember the dramatic pictures the day they carried away the final steel column from that wreckage and the pit. it was one of 47 columns that originally held up the south tower. it became a makeshift memorial to the police officers and firefighters who died. today it came back. they will build the 9/11 memorial museum around it in effect. at 58 tons, standing 36 feet high, it will be a very visible and dramatic reminder of the act of terror that took 2,751 lives on that very spot. when we continue on a summer monday night, the late ruling

from the west coast on what caused the death of michael jackson. and later, the history e farst mily and their b the first family and their choice of a summer vacation spot. they always ask me, grandma, take me here, grandma, take me there. but with my occasional irregularity i wasn't always up to it. until i discovered activia and everything started to change. announcer: activia is clinically proven to help regulate your digestive system in two weeks when eaten every day. now i enjoy every minute. my grandkids are happy, and so am i. ♪ activia gathering dust, as pollen floats through the air. but with the strength of zyrtec ® , the fastest, 24-hour allergy relief, i promise not to wait as long to go for our ride. with zyrtec ® i can love the air ™ . body ever asks me what i want to be when i grow up.

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while the shrimp are endless, this offer isn't. come in now for the best value of the year. at red lobster. we menoned earlier there's late word tonight the l.a. county coroner has ruled michael jackson's death a homicide, a the last person to see him alive, his doctor, may face manslaughter charges. court documents released today also reveal the cause of his death. our report tonight from nbc's chris jansing. >> reporter: two months after michael jackson's shocking death, a 32-page search warrant and affidavit confirms for the first time what killed the 50-year-old superstar. it reads, "toxicology analysis showed that michael jackson had lethal levels of propofol in his blood." propofol, also known as diprivan, is a powerful anesthetic intended for use in a hospital or doctor's office. but in jackson's case, he had reportedly been using it at home for years to battle insomnia.

his personal physician, dr. conrad murray, has repeatedly denied any responsibility. >> i told the truth, and i have faith the truth will prevail. >> reporter: but the documents say dr. murray admitted giving jackson four drugsn the morning of his death to help him sleep. at 1:30 a.m., murray said jackson took ten milligrams of valium. a half hour later, he gave him ativan. and then at 3:00 a.m., another anti-anxiety drug, midazolam and he gave jackson's both drugs again and when nothing else worked at 10:40, jackson was given diprivan inva venusly. after just two minutes later, in what was said to be a bathroom break, he found jackson not breathing. they confirmed to nbc news they believe jackson's death is a homicide. even though propofol is not a controlled substance, and it was legal for dr. murray to use. >> when we're talking about manslaughter, we're talking

about a departure from acceptable medical standards that's more than what we call ordinary negligence. it's criminal negligence. it's extreme negligence. >> reporter: late today the jackson family issued a statement commending investigators and saying they looked forward to the day justice can be served. chris jansing, nbc news, los angeles. me>atheio associnio is out with a new warning tonight on the amount of schucher waluml nscoe onns average every day.e most americans, they say, take in about 22 teaspoony. much of that comes from drinking soda, eating candy. but that is far more than what's more than six teaspoons of added sugar a day, nine for men. when "nightly news" continues in just a moment, billions in stimulus money, but will it stimulate education in this country? stick to my medication.l that i

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here we are starting a new week in august, and summer is almost over, painful to say. as more and more kids head back to school, we are starting a special series on education in this country, beginning tonight with the huge federal economic stimulus plan. $90 billion of it is earmarked to help just this nation's schools. n nbc's rehema ellis reports tonight on how one school district is spending its share, part of ourook on whether schools are "making the grade." >> reporter: for baltimore, maryland, an older city with inner city problems, its $95 million in federal education stimulus money will be more than a help to its school system of 193 schools, almost 6,000 teachers and 82,000 students. >> it's been a lifesaver.

>> reporter: school's ceo dr. andreas alonzo said it's filling a $30 million budget gap, and saved programs le summer school classes for 20,000 students. >> it's allowed us to save hundreds of jobs that we would have lost if the money had not been available. >> reporter: the federal government's $100 billion stimulus for schools is its largest one-time investment in education ever. some of the money intended to make up shortfalls in state's education budgets. >> every dollars states spend much help to improve the learning of our children here and around the country. >> reporter: the challenge for baltimore and school systems nationwide is that the stimulus money is just a mporary boost. the federal government wants school administrators to spend the money on things that lead to long-term improvements in student performance, but don disappear when the money does. in baltimore, that means investments for the future, such as $8 million for 37 new

classrooms this year, to expand pre-k to include 800 more children. >> we have never been able to encompass all of the eligible low-income kids in pre-k classes. we're going to be able to do that now. >> reporter: school budget officials say the vast majority of school systems report the stimulus money hasn't even prevented all of the cuts. in california, which has expended $3 billion in stimulus money, almost 10% of the state's schools are still at risk of bankruptcy. since the spring, third grade teacher lazette has been laid off and rehired twice. >> there are some teachers who just were never called back at home, not given that opportunity. >> reporter: by octobestates have to report how they spent their school stimulus, how many jobs and programs saved, how many smart, new investments made, and show how much the stimulus money is a band-aid and how much is part of a real recovery for the nation's schools. rehema ellis, nbc news,

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eric bruntlett stabbed a line watch closely. you won't see one of these very often. mets/phillies game yesterday. an unassisted triple play. eric bruntle stabbed a line shot right to him. 'caught the ball, stepped on second, tagged the runner. one-man team, three outs. just like that. that ended the game. that's only the second time in the storied history of baseball that that has happened. by the way, phillies beat the mets 9-7. the obama family vacation is under way. it already featured golf and tennis. and today we also learned the president's reading list. the white house says he brought along the following books to read on vacation -- tom friedman's "hot, flat and crowded."de david mccullough's "great jo amad" "lush life" by richard price. last two books are "plainsong" and "the way home." when you add it all up, that's 2,300 pages of reading.

but then again, he does have ten days of vacation. they are vacationing on martha's vineyard. an island off massachusetts that is also a collection of neighborhoods and towns and harbors and hamlets, including one spot that represents a good deal of african-american history. our report tonight from nbc's ron allen. >> hi, president obama! >> hi to you, man. >> reporter: when president obama played golf today, he chose a course on the island in a town called oak bluffs. a community that's especially proud, and not surprised the first family chose to vacation here. >> we see him as one of us, and it's nice to know that he sees us as part of him. >> reporter: this is the polar bear club, mostly african-americans, who swim and exercise every summer morning at a beach called the ink well, a ritual dating back more than 60 years. ink well is so named in part because famous black writers

like langston hughes and dorothy west found inspiration here. professor deloris elaine good of wesley university is a fourth generation islander. >> 1899 my great grandmother was a chamber maid in the wesley hotel. >> reporter: many blacks who came here as servants later bought property in one of the few places they legally could. now many of those colorful, ornate cottages line oak bluffs' streets. >> why we come is because of the camaraderie and the feeling of closeness to people. >> reporter: given its history and popularity now with middle class african-american families, people who spend a lot of time here will tell you there's no place quite like oak bluffs anywhere else in the country. every monday after a brisk workout, there's a pot luck breakfast on the beach. today rumors spread the obamas just might join in. >> this year i turned 80, and the president's coming to the vineyard. that's great.

that's really, really great. >> reporter: the president did not come by the beach, but they still see his time on the island as part of a long, proud tradition. ron allen, nbc news, oak bluffs. and that's our broadcast for this monday evening. good to be back. and thank you for being with us. my thanks to lester holt and ann curry for filling in while i took a little time off. i'm brian williams. we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. am