on the see of the decision that could set amanda knox free. lester holt i perugia with the latest. more telling job applicants to kick the habit or take a hike. what's next? and making a difference, an nfl star going the extra yard and making a difference, an nfl star going the extra yard helping to change young lives. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening. no one expected it to be easy to find a candidate capable of beating barack obama. republicans knew going in the field would be crowded, attacks would be tough and with just months before the first gop primary it is awfully hard to tell who will end up on top. for the second weekend in a row, a candidate who was dismissed as a minor player is gaining ground. as a struggling front-runner is facing serious new questions. and president obama isn't keeping quiet either. following all of it, mike vic . vicara. good evening. >> reporter: more turmoil and this time over issues of race and minority rights. complete with unwelcome echos from a time that most people would rather forget. >> reporter: another win for a rising candidate. >> it was herman cane! >> reporter: coming off a

victory last week in florida today, herman cane did it again. cane's surge comes as rick perry's fight comes to regain favor with conservatives. this weekend in new hampshire, hitting back on charges he is soft. >> we have put legislation in place that said texas is going to do everything in its power to secure the border with mexico. >> reporter: after he spoke, some were willing to give perry a second look. >> i came in here saying no. i am going out now saying maybe. >> reporter: but now a controversy, a report this morning on the north texas ranch leased by perry's father and used by both men for hunting. for generations a large flat rock greeted visitors at the entrance baring the ranch's racially offensive name. perry says his father painted over the sign in 1983, but the report quotes anonymous visitors to the ranch stay they saw the sign more recently.

today, cane, a campaign rival was critical. >> the n word is probably one of the most vile, negative words in our culture. and i just found it insensitive that they allowed it, that he allowed it, his family allowed tight be there so long. >> the perry campaign responded quickly. mr. cane is wrong about the perry's family quick action to eliminate the word on the rock. but is right the word wrilt in by others long ago is sensitive an -- insensitive and offensive. >> reporter: chris christie, reviewing the new jersey national guard. but not answering questions about his presidential plans. and last night, president obama gave an impassion address to a major gay rights group. >> don't ask, don't tell is history. >> reporter: mr. obama was critical of gop candidates after they failed to defend a gay soldier booed during a recent debate. >> you ought to be

commander-in-chief, you should start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the united states, even when it is not politically convenient. >> reporter: still working hard to get support of the republican base. the next big event on the calendar, end of this week, a gathering, social conservatives. kate. thanks so much. let's take this all a step further with our political director, chuck todd. chuck, this news about rick perry is disturbing to a lot of americans, how big a deal is it politically does it raise doubts about his future as a candidate? >> it turned into a bigger deal than the campaign would have thought this morning. why? because this morning they thought they could just simply say, oh this is the liberal media trying to paint a southern politician as a racist. but then herman cain, lone african-american candidate in the race, made mention of it, took personal offense to it, and that took it to another level. it is a big problem for the campaign right now, kate. they know it. and they know that what hurts

them more than anything is this idea that they're, unelectable in a general election, that's where a story like this, painting them as sort of a stereotypical, old south politician isn't helping him right now. >> chuck, all weekend we have been waiting for some kind of signal or sign from new jersey governor chris christie is he in or what. what are he and his teams thinking abut as they waited? >> there is no white smoke or black smoke coming out of the governor's mansion. i can tell you this, donors are believing they're hearing what they want to hear. they're very excited what they hear from governor christie. they think he is some how leaning closer than ever to running. those close to governor christie mroint cal side, caution saying the donors maybe hearing what they want to hear. that said they're, saying, they can put together the campaign they believe can be competitive, a front running campaign, quickly if asked to do it. at this point it is all in governor christie's hand. he is not looking for any more guidance on this point. it is about whether he wants to

dupe this now or not. >> so we keep waiting. chuck todd, thank you so much. one of the issues looming large over the 2012 scam pain is president obama's signature health care law, a challenge to the law is likely to make it all the way to the supreme court which begins its new term tomorrow. the traditional first monday in october. nbc's justice correspondent, pete williams, takes a look now at health care and all right other issues the court may wade into this term. >> reporter: it is a defining part of the obama presidency, the federal law intended to reform the nation's health care system. >> we are closer than ever to bringing more security to lives of so many americans. >> reporter: one federal appeals court upheld it. another has declared unconstitutional its requirement that virtually all americans buy health insurance. it now appears likely the supreme court will take it up this term, with a decision by next june in the middle of the 2012 scam pcampaign. >> a new approach to regulating markets. and the justices will decide if

it is their responsibility to announce whether or not congress can do something like this. >> reporter: in an important test for privacy rights in the digital age, the court will decide if police need a search warrant to secretly attach a gps transmitter to a suspect's car so they can track its movements. police say there is nothing private about driving on the public streets. but a lawyer for a washington, d.c. man, antoine jones, says his movements were tracked for 28 days, transmitting his exact position every ten seconds. >> what is going to stop the police if they get the green light to do this from putting it on a briefcase and following you around there, putting it in the heel of your shoe. that would be next. >> reporter: the court will decide whether local jails can automatically require strip searches for security, even for those charged with the most minor of crimes. it happened, twice, to albert florence in new jersey. mistakenly arrested for failing to pay a fine. >> my sense that justice had gone out the window again i am

being strip searched again. >> reporter: the court may take up a texas case raising the controversial issue of using race as a factor in college admissions. eight years ago the court said colleges could consider race to make classes more diverse. but since then the court has become more conservative on the issue of affirmative action. and this term is unlikely bring any retirements, ruth bader ginsburg, at 78, oldest justice. only last month jumped down an inflatable slide during an airplane evacuation. pete williams, nbc news, supreme court. emotions running high in new york city after a tense confrontation between police and appropriate testers last night on the brooklyn bridge. a march organized by the group, occupy wall street, turned chaotic leading to the arrest of hundreds by the nypd. nbc's michelle franzen joins us from loper manhattan where protests continue tonight. michelle, set the scene for us? >> reporter: well, kate, protestors continue to gather at a park nearby wall street. hear them singing at this hour.

they say they will also camp out here indefinitely. their message, the economy and big corporations, still taking shape. but drawing attention with each day. protestors fed up with the economy and social inequality took to the streets again today. including this former marine who despite having a job worries about his future. >> i have two degrees, i barely make enough money to pay my ways. >> reporter: several hundred turned out in one day. after some 700 were arrest ford blocking traffic on new york's brooklyn bridge. growing tensions along with the movement that has taken off in the past few weeks, with protests spreading to other cities around the country. labor experts say overseas have empowered protestors to speak

out. >> those revolutions led by young people. i think they have been unemployed and wondering what to do. i think that is a nother say inspiration for why they're sitting in now. >> we are nowhere on the same near level and nowhere facing the same kind of opposition. but we can still be inspired by that. i think a lot of us are. >> reporter: even before the protests began, new york's mayor spoke out about those on his weekly radio show. >> you have a lot of kids, graduating college can't find jobs. that's what happened in cairo and madrid. you don't want those kinds of riots here. >> reporter: near wall street a park serves as base camp where the grassroots efforts of community organizing and traditional media have merged with savvy social networking. >> we become more and more organized each day, building the infrastructure. every day we get bigger and find out the infrastructure has been adequate. >> reporter: growing pains, but a message grabbing at tension of more people like donna neil who came with her family to show

support and voice her own dissatisfaction. and the crowds continue to grow here at the park tonight, kate, and will so later this week. they now have the back of some major unions and those members are expected to turn out and show their solidarity at a rally this coming week. >> michelle franzen reporting tonight. big news overseas concerning the on going debt crisis in greece which threatens to have a ripple e around the world. things are so bad that the greek cabinet approved a measure to fire 30,000 government workers by the end of the year. and even with those cuts the greek government now says it will not be able to manage its budget to levels demanded by international lenders. european officials are scrambling to avoid a debt default by greece which could sink european and world markets. in yemen, word tonight that al qaeda's chief bomb maker may not be dead after all as was widely reported.

a top yemenee official says that he did not die in a drone strike last week. the drone strike did kill american born cleric, anwar al-alwaki, one of the most terrorists in the wufrmenorld. after four years in an italian jail, exchange student, amanda knox may be a day away from a verdict that could set her free or send her back behind bars for at least two more decades. a case that has made headlines around the world and in some ways put the italian justice system itself on trial. lester holt joins us now live from perugia. good evening, lester. walk us through what happened in the courtroom tomorrow? >> well, tomorrow is the final day of the appeals trial itself in terms of testimony. her lawyers will make their final rebuttal and then amman do knox gets the final word here. she gets to address court to have her say. her father told me she has been working on the remark for three

months. as soon as she is done, a jury of six laymen and two judges will gather together and begin deliberations immediately. two years ago when is officially convicted for the murder of her roommate deliberations went into the evening. we had a verdict some time after midnight. expectations are, kate, we could have a verdict here by end of monday. >> her family is there. i know you have been speaking with them. they must be so anxious for a verdict. talk about emotions surrounding all this and are they hopeful this ends one way or another this week? >> they're on a fine edge here. i had a chance to speak to many members of the family, gathered here, a very difficult time. they're not allowed to visit her this weekend because of the visiting schedule. their expectation is they will be able to brung her home. things turned in the favor of the defense, amanda knox, the key dna testimony by independent experts that discredited the dna, said police forensic work was sloppy. that has given them some hope. they have made plans, not,

exactly what they plan to do, they do hope to bruning her hom tomorrow. lester holt in perugia, italy, his reporting continues tomorrow on "today" show. lester, thank you so much. when "nightly news" continues, job applicants being told to kick the habit or else. are the new policies an invasion of their privacy? later, a tough guy with a big heart "making a difference" in the lives of kids. tossing and turning have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks.

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a half a day. when the cleveland clinic said if marty wanted to work there she would have to quit. she chose the job over her habit. >> i an going to be working for this world class, world recognized organization, they want me to quit smoke, okay. where do i sign up. >> reporter: the clinic began no smoker employment policy four years ago in part because its mission is all about health care. but the ceo says it is also proven to be ale solid financial decision. >> the cleveland clinic has 40,000 employees and we know from past statistics that a smoker requires $3,000 a year in health care costs than a nonsmoker. >> reporter: and he says there are other costs, those quick smoke breaks americans take at work every day add up annually to two weeks. unproductive time while on the job. how do employers know if you smoke? much like standard drug tests potential employees are screened for tobacco use. among other companies adopting a no smokers employment policy,

georgia power, and come january, baylor health center in dallas. >> i think it will be a growing trend as come pans tpanies try e costs. >> reporter: but 29 states plus the district of columbia have laws specifically protecting smokers' rights. the head of florida's american civil liberties union fear it could be smoking tomorrow, fatty junk food tomorrow. >> at what point can we say that the employer has limits on regulating my private life? >> reporter: no smoking or no work. fast becoming a trend in an economy pinched by ever-rising costs. kerry sanders, nbc news, fort lauder day. when we come back, the ne newest living arrangement in some college dorms. it is actually an old school idea. [ woman ] my heart medication isn't some political game. [ man ] our retirement isn't a simple budget line item.

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face of the monument. there you see him there, before he swung back and landed on the south face. the good news he is fine. apparently he enjoyed the ride. now to an old school tradition making a come back on college campuses. among the many new faces moving into the dorms this fall, some you might not have expected to see. the story tonight from nbc's thanh truong. >> reporter: on the campus of clemson university among teenagers and 20-somethings notice this 40-year-old walking everywhere with his jack russell terrier, ema. they're meeting a lot of new people lately. >> can you hit three. >> do you live on the first floor? >> reporter: they're becoming fixtures around holmes hall. >> come on. >> reporter: they feel right at home because this is their home. they moved into the student dorm this semester. a far cry from the farmhouse they were renting. >> why were living, you know, rather isolated from the campus.

and i think we were kind of lonely. >> reporter: not anymore. as part of clemson's faculty and residence program, professor and two colleagues are living in dorms rent-free. >> you made a pretty secure judgment. >> reporter: when he isn't lecturing about philosophy, you can find him hanging out in the dorm lounge, talking movies. >> we ended up watching the netflix version down here. >> i think it is pretty cool, a philosophy professor has a big interest in movies i have always been huge into movies. >> reporter: the program is a first for clemson but a throw back to old college tradition when faculty and students living under one roof was common. >> the idea is that they live in the buildings, interact with students in the very relaxed sort of manner. to really provide that opportunity for students to connect with faculty. >> there is advantages like if i have questions i can go knock on his door, it's right down the -- right down the hall, ask questions.

>> reporter: at fir least didst know what to expect. now that he has got tine know his younger neighbors. >> it's relaxing and fun. >> reporter: a lesson this professor could only learn from his students. up next tonight, how an nfl superstar is inspiring the next generation.

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like him. and how heap is making a difference tonight from nbc's natalie morales. >> reporter: mark sanchez may be a competitor on the field, off it he is a real mama's boy and proud of it. his mother olga a constant in fluns at hin -- influence from the beginning. he credits success on the field from the foundation his family built under him. >> it is a family affair. it wouldn't beep possible without them. >> reporter: as a third generation mexican-american, sanchez has supported organizations important to his family's roots including the youth center in east l.a. where his mom grew up. >> before i can donate money i can donate time. >> reporter: what its it you try to teach them? >> more than anything just to stay positive. smile. have fun. and they can look back and tell these young kids that are thinking about college, 10, 12, 13 years old. it is the most important thing you can do.

a lot of them, hispanic origin like myself, they see my last name and my skin color. i hope it helps them. >> reporter: the hispanic community has shown a growing interest in the nfl with viewership by 40% since 2008 and games simulcast in spanish. >> you are seeing a lot of fans. and it used to be soccer, now because of you, they're on your side now. >> it's wonderful. i see, big sombreros at games. that is so cool for me. >> reporter: also a fixture at games mark's father, nick, a mem bifr the orange county california fire authority. >> hum being a fire captain. he has the this whole crew he is in charge of. he showed me how important it was to demand from his crew, demand from my team mates, so i am lucky that way. >> reporter: in return, mark gives to the families of other fire fighters, donating time and money to tuesday's children. helping kids who lost a parent when the twin towers fell. >> when you get to actually meet the people that are affected, you know it takes you away from

football for a second. and it gives you a chance to hopefully help them cope. >> reporter: as for all his success. >> i have made it to this point because of a lot of people who have helped me get here. this isn't a one-man deal. >> reporter: above all he thanks his family. natalie moralesn. news, new york. that is "nightly news" for this sunday night. coming up next, "football night in america" and sunday night football, sanchez and the jets take on the ravens. brian williams will be back here tomorrow. i'm kate snow reporting here from new york. for all of us here at nbc news, have a great night.