out of control. huge wildfires in arizona force hundreds to evacuate. as much of the country sweats through record breaking heat. high water. the struggle against flooding in the midwest. just when will it end? flash point. a deadly day as israeli troops fire across the border with syria. while in yemen jubilation of the departure of the president. and, sign of the times. why this gleaming new school still has no students, when bright ideas run into budget realities. captions paid for by nbc-universal television from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this

is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. the spring of our discontent which has already brought us the worst tornado season in recent memory is now adding fire, heat and still more flooding to the mix. in arizona, a wildfire already the state's third biggest ever has burned over 200 square miles and continues to grow. in the upper midwest it's water that has ten of thousands of people on the move. a flood emergency affecting more than a half dozen states tonight. and then there is the record heat. 90s, even triple digit temperatures baking spring flowers and breaking records in at least 25 cities today. we've got it all covered tonight. we begin with nbc's janet shamlian. >> reporter: a major wildfire in arizona. fueled by high temperatures and gusty winds is sending smoke as far as new mexico and southern colorado. some 1,300 firefighters from across the country are battling the blaze, which has ravaged

more than 140,000 acres. >> the column that's up in the air the last few days has been in excess of 30,000 feet. when you have something that large with that much heat, it kind of generates its own weather. >> reporter: the heat is on. across much of the nation's south and midsection. >> you are not looking cute right now. you are looking so hot. >> reporter: temperatures running 15 degrees above normal. >> definitely struggling. >> reporter: feeling more like deep summer than late spring. a number of new records this weekend. 100 degrees in tyler, texas. 100 in new orleans. 100 in jackson, mississippi. 102 in pensacola. >> temperatures right now feel more like the mid to latter part of july with temperatures even in the north rising into the mid and upper 90s. this is catching a lot of folks off guard. >> reporter: in chicago a half marathon was stopped mid-race as heat and humidity sent a dozen runners to the emergency room. one man who claollapsed later

died. in houston a blistering 102 degrees today, shattering a record set more than 30 years ago. >> ridiculous. why does the other part of the country have all this rain, too much water and we don't have any? >> reporter: with texas stuck in one of the worst droughts on record, public fountains have become neighborhood pools. an early plunge into a summerlike heat wave. in what has been a season of extremes. forecasters say the heat and humidity could now spawn violent thunderstorms in a season that's already shown us so much severe weather. and, lester, tonight it's not just the nation's midsection and south. northern california is dealing with unusually heavy and perhaps record setting amounts of rain. back to you, lester. >> janet, thank you. in the upper midwest folks are dealing with the remnants of a tough wenter. the army corps of engineers are opening flood gates along the missouri river because of record rain and snowfall. it could mean severe flooding

for thousands. nbc's miguel almaguer is watching the drama unfold in pierre, south dakota. he joins us with the latest from there. miguel? >> reporter: lester, good evening. tonight with the missouri river swollen it's a battle for feet and in some communities a fight for inches. here along the river in north dakota, hundreds of homes sit along the water's edge. it may not be enough, these sandbags, to keep the water back. as the missouri river rises, so does the concern. for more than a week, many have tried to fortify their homes. but tonight thousands have been ordered to leave. mass evacuations across the upper midwest as the river threatens to topple levees and burst banks. in south dakota, eric nordstrom has lived along the river with his family for more than a decade. tonight he's ready to walk away. >> it's just a house. it's not a home anymore. it's just a house. we moved out about a week ago and went elsewhere. >> reporter: with the missouri river running nearly 2,400 miles

long, seven midwest states are under a flood emergency. the massive flow of water controlled by six dams. every release adding more pressure to communities down river. but the reservoirs are nearly full. there's too much water to hold back. the army corps of engineers, blamed for waiting too long to release the excess flow. >> mother nature really put a significant event to us. there's no way you can really plan for a rainfall of that magnitude. >> reporter: with the river rising every day, 180 miles of the missouri is shut down. the water too dangerous to navigate. the national guard is being called in. >> what we're doing is securing the city infrastructure, building up levees where needed. >> reporter: but the river may not crest for weeks and evacuations could last months. for eric nordstrom, a slow motion disaster moving closer and closer to his home. >> we've shed our tears and said

good-bye to the house. if there's nothing there when we come back, we'll just build somewhere else. >> reporter: tomorrow and tuesday will be critical days here along the missouri. the army corps of engineers say they'll increase the flow coming from local dams. it's a move they say they have to make. many people here along the river, lester, just hope the levees hold. >> miguel almaguer tonight, thank you. overseas arabs mark this day as the setback. their defeat by israel in the 1967 middle east war. and to mark the occasion, palestinian activists tried to breakthrough the border today between syria and the israeli controlled golan heights. israel ended up firing across the border, killing at least 14 people. we have more tonight from john ray of our british partner, itn. >> reporter: israel had promised to defend its disputed border with determination and restraint. it soon became clear that meant firing on apparently unarmed

protesters. they were pinned down, trying to breach israeli razor wire and a deep trench. the injured hauled back up steep slopes into syria. an angry and bloody standoff that continued as casualties on the arab side mounted. all afternoon this narrow valley has echoed to the sound of sporadic gunfire. coming from israeli forces in the direction of protesters on the hillside. it's not clear whether these shots are in warning or whether they're targeted at people. this is the golan heights. territory annexed by israel in the six-day war. this attempted mass incursion was meant to mark the conflict's 44th anniversary. despite the death toll, israel's military insists its response was measured. >> we verbally warned them. we shot warning shots into the air. when this failed, we had to direct some fire to their feet in order to try and protect our fence. this is the border fence between

israel and syria. >> reporter: there were more clashes across the occupied west bank. palestinian organizers build this as a day of rage against land lost to israel. they'd said the demonstrations would be peaceful. what we're seeing from the palestinians today is a real effort to employ the tactics of the arab spring, a mass marching in peace to try to win over world opinion as they try to make their case for a palestinian state. lester? >> john ray in the golan heights for us, thanks. we're also following the developing situation in yemen, whose embattled president underwent surgery today in saudi arabia for injuries suffered in a rocket attk on his compound. nbc's stephanie gosk has our report from there. >> reporter: thousands of yemenis celebrated president ali

abdullah saleh's sudden and unexpected departure. despite the obvious joy many of the protesters are aware victory is still not entirely theirs. this is not the end of the revolution. we will continue our struggle until we achieve all our goals, says a spokesman for the demonstrators. officials say saleh was flown to saudi arabia to receive specialized medical care after being injured by a rocket attack on friday. the president and some of his top advisers were praying in this mosque when it was hit. this is the aftermath of what the government calls a brazen attempt at a due data. there were reports the leader underwent surgery today to remove shrapnel from his chest. but there's still no official word on his condition. many hope the president who's ruled yemen as a dictator for 33 years will not come back, stepping aside for a peaceful transition. but they also fear what might happen if he does return. >> i think if saleh returns,

there's a strong chance that civil war will take place in yemen. and yemen will see a war that will last for many, many, many years. >> reporter: for the moment, a rival tribe has accepted a cease-fire in the capital. but in yemen's second largest city, taiz, the violence continues. unconfirmed reports say anti-government forces attacked the presidential compound. despite the threat of a bloody civil war, a spokesman for the government said that saleh, when he's healthy, is going to return to yemen as president. it was a message that people celebrating the streets today chose to ignore. lester? >> john harwood is cnbc's chief washington correspondent. he's at the white house tonight. john, the u.s. has a big interest in yemen and what's going on there. how is all this being read in washington? >> reporter: lester, the focus of american policy in yemen has been counterterrorism. white house officials are glad that president saleh is gone. don't expect him to come back.

because he had become a liability in that fight. but one official i spoke with this evening was candid in saying, we don't know what comes next and when. institutions in the country are weak. and there is some urgency about helping a new governing coalition take shape before al qaeda is strengthened because, as one former ambassador to yemen put it recently, time is our adversary, not our ally, lester. >> thanks. one more item from the region. an update tonight on the libyan woman who gained worldwide attention after claiming she was raped by moammar gadhafi's troops. when the woman boast in a hotel in tripoli to tell reporters her story, government handlers dragged her away. she went to tunisia, then qatar and wound up back in libya last week. tonight nbc's andrea mitchell reports that the u.s. state department helped her leave libya today on a united nation's flight for malta. she will stay in nurp feurope f. the u.s. state department will provide whatever help she needs. an up diet on the e. coli

outbreak in europe. an official says bean sprouts and other sprout varieties grown in northern germany are the likely cause for the outbreak that's killed 22 people and made more than 2,000 sick. last night we led our broadcast with an important development in treating breast cancer. tonight more promising news to report. researchers said two new drugs can extend survival in patients with advanced melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. the lead investigator for one of the drugs said it made an unprecedented level of difference for those who received it. the findings were presented at a meeting of the american society of clinical oncology in chicago. in paris today, one of the classic rivalries in tennis played out once again at the french open. it was rafael nadal against rogr federer. nadal ultimately prepared as he has so many times on clay.

boosting his own records to ten grand slams overall, improand pg once again why he's ranked number one in the world. when "nbc nightly news" continues on this sunday, it seemed like a solution to overcrowded classrooms. a brand-new $100 million school. so now that it's built, why can't it open? later, making a difference in the fight against childhood obesity. finally, there's a choice for my patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or afib, that's not caused by a heart valve problem. today we have pradaxa to reduce the risk of a stroke caused by a clot. in a clinical trial, pradaxa 150 mg reduced stroke risk 35% more than warfarin. and with pradaxa, there's no need for those regular blood tests. pradaxa is progress. pradaxa can cause serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. don't take pradaxa if you have abnormal bleeding, and seek immediate medical care for unexpected signs

of bleeding, like unusual bruising. pradaxa may increase your bleeding risk if you're 75 or older, have kidney problems or a bleeding condition, like stomach ulcers. or if you take aspirin products, nsaids, or blood thinners. tell your doctor about all medicines you take, any planned medical or dental procedures, and don't stop taking pradaxa without your doctor's approval, as stopping may increase your stroke risk. other side effects include indigestion, stomach pain, upset, or burning. if you have afib not caused by a heart valve problem, ask your doctor if pradaxa can reduce your risk of a stroke. so i wasn't playing much of a role in my own life. but with advair, i'm breathing better. so now, i've got the leading part. advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory

and a long-acting bronchodilator, working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, take the lead. ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd.com. new weekend houses dozen people were sent to the hospital.

one girl said she was almost strangled when a rope caught her neck. for some kids, this is going to be a tough summer as cities and states struggle with painful budget cuts that may close parks and pools. and come fall will keep a brand-new school in california from opening. the story tonight from nbc's tom llamas. >> reporter: at the foot of the lake hills in southern california sits a new school and a new problem. there's enough money to build hillcrest high, but not enough to staff it or run it. >> just on the other side of this building is a six-classroom building that is designed for flex technology labs. >> reporter: four years ago, voters approved construction. then came the recession which crippled education funding. now this $100 million state of the art school in a district with overcrowded classrooms could stay empty for two years. >> it's not a case of a mistake. it's not a case of somebody to blame. if you want to blame something, then you look to the economy. >> reporter: the school district says they're going to save $3

million by not opening the school. but it's still going to cost them $1 million to maintain the facilities like this football field. >> when you drive by this school, it's a reminder, it's a visual picture of what's going wrong in california today and our inability to fund our public schools and our services and serve our students. >> reporter: all over the country, local and state governments are showing the lag between recovery and reality. increased tax collection takes time. and 80% of cities say it will be tougher to meet needs in 2011 than in 2010. >> state and local governments across this country kept spending in a recession as if there were economic growth taking place. they're finally beginning to look down now and realize there's nothing beneath them. >> reporter: several cities like prattville, alabama, are closing pools before summer even starts. >> i would like to urge them to look at other areas to cut. >> reporter: finding the right job on the web or getting lost in a good book will be harder in cities taking money from nonessential services like libraries. >> it's a travesty to cut the

hours and have those people not have anywhere to go. >> reporter: in california, state parks are struggling to stay open. others will close in definitely. economists say encouraging economic signs in the manufacturing and service sectors will take one to two years to reach local government. at hillcrest high, they crunch the numbers every month, hoping soon to ring that morning bell for the first time. >> what we tell students is, you see the things that are happening to you and your family in the local economy right now. that's the same thing that's occurring to the school district and that's why we are in this situation. >> reporter: teaching a lesson in patience and economics. tom llamas, nbc news, riverside, california. we have an update now on prom night in shelton, connecticut. when all was said and done, james tate got to attend the prom last night with his date, sanali rodriguez. you'll recall the school barred him from the prom after he placed his invitation in big letters on the school wall. after widespread attention, the

headmaster reversed that decision. in fact, tate and his date were prom king and queen. up next, 30 years ago today the start of an epidemic. oh. see that? great job. ok, now let's get ready for the ball... here it comes... here you go. good catch. perfect! alright now for the best part. let's see your pour. ohhh...let's get those in the bowl. these are way too good to waste, right? oh, yea. let's go for it... around the bowl and... [ male announcer ] share what you love... with who you love. mmmmm. kellogg's frosted flakes... they're g-r-r-reat! good catch dad. [ laughs ]

they're g-r-r-reat! and when it does,t can turn romantic anytime. men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day so you can be ready anytime the moment's right. tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications, and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache, or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. ask your doctor if cialis for daily use

is right for you. for a 30-tablet free trial offer, go to cialis.com.

it was on this day 30 years ago that the centers for disease control reported on five otherwise healthy gay men who had developed a rare form of pneumonia. two of them had already died. it was the beginning of the aids crisis. today in this country alone, 56,000 people contract hiv each year. nbc's chief science correspondent robert bazell has covered the epidemic from the start and reports tonight on aids 30 years later. >> welcome to gay politics. >> reporter: nominated for five tonys, the normal heart is a broadway hit. it describes the early years of the aids epidemic. >> you can be gay. >> reporter: when there were a handful of cases and few people worried much about it. >> i'm trying to understand why nobody wants to hear that we're dying. >> reporter: the reading, of course, was on broadway. the play is an autobiographical

account by larry cramer, widely regarded as the most influential aids activist. >> letter from the author. >> reporter: he still hands out la leaflets outside the theater urging action by those moved by the play. >> it still makes me cry a lot. it represents a lot of people who died needlessly and continue to die need leasely. >> reporter: after the first five cases in 1981 the numbers grew steadily. within a year there were more than 200. the centers for disease control tracked the spread, allowing nbc to report. >> the scientists say this probably means they are dealing with some new deadly sexually transmitted disease. >> reporter: today according to the un, 60 million have been infected and 30 million have died. originally thought to be limited to the gay population, the disease clearly was spread heterosexually, widely in africa, but throughout the world. >> i will have to retire. >> reporter: celebrities including magic johnson announced they were hiv positive, hoping to remove the stigma and raise money for

research. the first good news came 15 years ago when the amazing results appeared. not a cure, but allowing many people to live long lives. what about a genuine cure or a vaccine? >> i can't tell you whether it's going to happen. but i can tell you that we're going to try. >> these are the medicines we are going to be taking. >> reporter: today millions around the world get the drugs. >> thank you. >> reporter: but still fewer than a third of those who could benefit receive them. a plague that once claimed dozens is still killing millions as researchers look for a cure. >> it was a real weeper, mama holding her son, and he's dead now. >> reporter: and activists keep the issue alive. robert bazell, nbc news, new york. we'll be back with our making a difference report right after this. too much... too little.. or i just forget. but look. this is doing fine. why? it's planted in miracle-gro moisture control potting mix. it holds 33% more water... than ordinary potting soil. releasing it as plants need it. not when i get around to it.

and there's miracle-gro plant food mixed in. so you get miracle-gro results... i like that. [ female announcer ] miracle-gro moisture control potting mix. success starts with the soil. he needs some gellin'. yeahhhhhhh. gellin' is like having a teeny tiny foot masseuse in your shoe. you like ? nice ! dr. scholl's massaging gel insoles. outrageous comfort, all-day long. host: could switching to geico did the little piggy cry wee wee wee all the way home? piggy: weeeeeee, weeeeeee, weeeeeee, weeeee weeeeeeee. mom: max. ...maxwell! piggy: yeah? mom: you're home. piggy: oh,cool, thanks mrs. a. anncr: geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more.

a fiber that dissolves completely, is clearly different. benefiber. it's the easy way to get more fiber everyday. that's the beauty of benefiber.

it's a well-documented, still growing problem. obesity young america's youngster. tonight from washington, nbc's craig melvin reports on how one woman is tackling the problem and making a difference. >> reporter: for this group of seventh graders at the washington school for girls, getting down the precision and rhythm for their first step show is about more than just nailing a routine. >> all right, you guys ready?

>> reporter: with every stomp, clap and chant there's the hope they'll start to reverse what's become a startling trend nationwide. >> good job, ladies. i like those smiles. >> reporter: the waistlines of america's childrens have been growing for decades. the centers for disease control says nearly 20% of kids between 6 and 11 are obese. >> i was like, okay. >> reporter: when she's not coaching, dr. hancock of children's national medical center is a pediatrician at a clinic specializing in obese children. >> diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, problems with joints. i have several patients that have presented with several of those issues as early as 7 years old. >> reporter: hancock was once an elementary schoolteacher. but when she started her step up to help program last year, she knew she could not use the classroom alone to change behaviors. drawing on her sorority days at ucla where she mentored, she decided to create a sisterhood of fitness of sorts.

in d.c., the need is great. 40% of people in washington, d.c. are overweight or obese. experts say one of the major reasons is a lack of access to healthy food options. like many low income areas there are not many places to get healthy food in the southeast washington neighborhood. there are just two grocery stores but lots of spots where food is cheaper, faster and not very good for you. >> if it's much easier to choose the high dense, high calorie foods because of economic reasons, then it makes sense that that's what they're going to do. >> reporter: stepping helps the girls burn about 300 calories per workout. >> i exercise a lot. i don't feel like pe is like a punishment. >> reporter: but she also uses the time after school to teach the girls what to eat. there's even some taste testing. >> she taught me that carrots are good with peanut butter. at first i did not eat carrots at all. >> reporter: making exercise and learning fun could be the crucial step in tackling