on this saturday night, threat levels. new questions tonight about what kind of threat isis poses to the u.s. as the hunt for james foley's killer intensifies. going to extremes. a record breaking drought is literally changing the landscape in the west. this as triple digit temperatures grip much of e country. in plain sight, the mission to bring healthy food to tens of thousands in need and the creative way it's getting done. and making a difference, they're spinning a yarn and saving baby birds in the process.

from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening. american war planes once again today struck isis targets near the critical mosul dam in iraq. the latest strike comes a day after the obama administration acknowledged it is considering expanding attacks against the islamic state fighters into syria. and that has opened a vigorous discussion over just how serious a threat isis poses outside the middle east, more specifically the united states. the grisly execution murder of american journalist james foley this week underscored the brutal nature of the group. and just yesterday the white house said isis is more dangerous than it was six months ago, a telling admission from an administration that not long ago was downplaying the terror group's capabilities. let's begin our coverage tonight with kristen welker who is in martha's vineyard where the president remains on vacation. kristen, good evening. >> reporter: lester, good

evening. the pentagon is drawing up military options for syria, even identifying possible isis targets in that country. and while the president hasn't made a final decision, the white house says the threat is serious. a barrage of u.s. air strikes including another one today have blasted isis targets in iraq, this as the obama administration weighs taking the fight to syria where the group's leadersp is located. before taking action, u.s. intelligence officials are working behind the scenes to determine exactly how strong the terrorist group is given that relatively little is known about its structure and leadership. in january the president told "the new yorker" isis was like a jayvee team. but the day after a tape surfaced showing american journalist james foley being executed, dire warnings from the administration. >> there has to be a common effort to extract this cancer so that it does not spread. >> oh, this is beyond anything that we've seen. so we must prepare for

everything. >> reporter: u.s. officials tell nbc news though isis has gotten a lot stronger over the past six months, it's not believed the group is capable of pulling off a 9/11-size attack. but they could still do damage on american soil. >> even a small terrorist attack carried out by isis would have dramatic worldwide consequences. and that's exactly what they're seeking to do. >> reporter: and terrorism analysts say isis is starting to plan. >> there is already evidence that individuals were trained in syria, westerners who are coming back to western countries, are intending to carry out terrorist attacks here. >> reporter: the white house has said they are taking the threats seriously. and in a "the washington post" op-ed today, the vice president warned the global community is at risk writing, the threat of course is not confined to iraq. addressing it will also require continued support from our partners in jordan, lebanon, the syrian opposition and others. >> we're going to have to start building an international coalition to think through how we're going to deal with this

threat. >> reporter: and an administration official says several allies including the uk, france, australia and canada want to be more engaged in supporting efforts against isis. the white house will also consult with congress. lester. >> kristen, thanks. now to the manhunt to the man who killed american journalist james foley. they're searching for clues as to where he might be as they learn more about the network he's a part of. nbc's keir simmons has our report. >> reporter: western intelligence is close to identifying the masked jihadist who appears to be james foley's killer, according to british security sources. but the crucial question, where is he now? >> it's not enough to know who he is in order to hold him accountable. the american authorities also need to know where he is. >> reporter: there are clues. he is left-handed and has a british accent. >> an american citizen of your country. >> reporter: and investigators are analyzing his voice. >> the security services have

databases of voices of people who they believe to be working in this sort of area. >> reporter: one british newspaper claims to know who he might be. another says police raids a plan in the uk on individuals suspected of linked to isis, the group led by baghdadi. >> he's a psychopath. this particular trait of his he has pushed through his organization. >> reporter: in baghdad this summer we visited the dangerous district where he once lived. that's the mosque. ten years ago baghdadi was preaching there. now isis has forced its way across syria and northern iraq, claiming to establish a new country, a caliphate, an islam it state, attracting thousands of europeans and more than 500 british citizens. >> this is the land of jihad. >> reporter: many as bloodthirsty as baghdadi himself. here, one former british rapper

holds up a severed head, recruitment that has caused soul searching in the uk. the vast majority of europe's muslims oppose isis, a message repeated at friday prayers. james foley's killing has raised fears that the jihadist with a european passport could one day travel to the u.s. with dark intent. keir simmons, nbc news, london. president obama has ordered a review of federal programs that fund military equipment for state and local law enforcement agencies. it comes in the wake of what many felt was a heavy-handed police response in ferguson, missouri. but tonight it appears that tensions are finally easing there after nearly two weeks of violent protests. here's nbc's ron allen. >> reporter: normandy high school's vikings took the field with heavy hearts, a moment of

silence for michael brown, a recent grad. the team raced to an early lead. then dominated and won 21-8. >> he was a great kid. he was a graduate. he was in this program. and every day and every time we come to school here, we go to practice, we go to a game, we take him with us. >> reporter: ferguson also feels good today about four straight peaceful nights, as authorities move quickly through the protests to suspend two officers accusing them of offensive comments. dan page for remarks in 2012 seen on youtube including this apparent reference to his military service. >> i've killed a lot. and if i need to, i'll kill a whole bunch more. >> reporter: in nearby glendale officer pappert said i'm sick of these protesters, you are a burden on society and a blight on the community. >> it was very concerning, very

shocking to us. >> reporter: also today supporters of officer darren wilson who shot and killed michael brown making their voices heard. >> we have no desire to engage in a negative -- which would paralyze officer wilson's abilities to pursue justice. >> reporter: with a grand jury hearing evidence and a civil rights probe underway, ferguson now hopes the violence is gone. but on the city's battered streets, merchants say business has not yet come back. >> well, business has been really slow. i've had a lot of cancellations in people rescheduling and rescheduling again. >> reporter: there's still worry here that many challenging and emotional days lie ahead. that's especially true of monday, michael brown's funeral. thousands expected to pay their respects and demand justice. lester. >> ron allen tonight, thank you. in this city thousands of demonstrators marched to protest the death of eric garner who died after being held in a choke hold by a new york city police officer. nbc's kristen dahlgren has more

on that. >> reporter: the march started where eric garner died. his wife in tears as crowds grew into the thousands. led by activists and msnbc host reverend al sharpton, many chanted the last words of eric garner. >> i can't breathe! >> reporter: garner died in july after being put in a chokehold by police. for his family, today's march was personal. >> he wasn't an aggressive guy. he wasn't evil. he wasn't disrespectful. >> reporter: marchers went past the district attorney's office asking that officers involved in garner's death be held accountable. but today's message seemed to stretch far beyond staten island. >> every time you see police always shooting us down for no reason -- >> reporter: the nypd bought in extra officers who were told to bring riot gear, but the crowd stayed peaceful. >> as you can see when we do things together it works out well. >> we don't want no violence because let's remember it's not

all the police officers that's bad. >> reporter: for many it was a teaching moment. he explained to his daughter this morning that eric garner was a father just like him. what do you want her to learn? >> well, i want her to know that human beings, their rights should be respected. >> reporter: in the midst of what some say is a national cris crisis, today was about a community coming together in support. >> my father is very proud right now. i know he's looking down. >> reporter: kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. we turn now to the record breaking drought in the west. not only is it drying out the region, it's gotten so severe that it's literally changing the landscape. here's nbc's joe fryer. >> reporter: it's easy to see the drought's impact on the surface. at la jolla farming in california, 80% of this year's grapes are rotting. but there's also an impact you can't see below the surface. >> groundwater levels in many

areas of the state are well below their historical lows of record already. >> reporter: during drought years up to 60% of the water used by californians comes from the ground. now wells are running dry, which means robert nick's company is busier than ever, digging deeper wells and drilling new ones. >> this is the most repairs we've ever done in one season since i've been in business in 37 years. >> reporter: he's working 14-hour days, and he's booked into next june. >> and it's a seven-day-a-week operation. we can't slow down and stop. >> reporter: counting groundwater and surface water, the western u.s. has lost 62 trillion gallons of water in all since the beginning of last year. that's enough to cover everything west of the rocky mountains with four inches of water. so what happens when that much h2o vanishes, the earth rises. >> the effect we're looking at is if you take weight off the

spring, the spring goes up. >> reporter: researchers at uc san diego placed -- across the region. they were studying earthquakes but ended up measuring subtle changing in the earth which lifted about half an inch in spots. >> what we're measuring is too small to see. >> reporter: even if you can't see it, the impact of this drought is something almost everyone here can feel. joe fryer, nbc news, los angeles. >> while the west is reeling from that drought, other sections of this country right now are battling brutal temperatures. for more on that we're joined by the weather channel's kim cunningham. hi, kim. >> hey, lester. yes, this big ridge over the u.s. has really taken hold. and we're looking at temperatures well over 100 degrees for some folks in the south, but also here in the midwest. at least a dozen records broken today. so it's not only the temperatures but you can factor in the humidity. and so while we have temperatures tomorrow in the forecast of 101 in oklahoma city, 106 in st. louis, you

factor in the humidity and then we're talking about close to maybe 110 degrees in st. louis. so very dangerous situation. the southeast as well, 97 atlanta, 106 in jackson. but also we want to make sure folks are aware about the tropics. tropical depression 4 has formed. we are monitoring this. it is forecast to track northwest. and then make a turn to the north-northeast. but everybody on the southeast coast should watch closely. the good news is we have a little bit of time to watch at least the next couple days. back to you, lester. >> kim, thanks very much. when "nbc nightly news" continues, helping those in need eat healthy. and another campaign that saving baby birds in a way you might not expect. best friends for years. one of our favorite things to do is going to the dog park together. sometimes my copd makes it hard to breathe. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function starting within five minutes.

symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better. come on, boy! [ female annncer ] symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ man ] now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. and that makes a difference in my breathing. today, i'm hanging out with my best friend. talk to your doctor about symbicort. i got my first prescription free. call or go online to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. without a prescription for frequent heartburn. get complete protection. becae the best moments in life aren't experienced from the sidelines. now there's nothing holding you back.

this is nexium level protection™. the #1 prescribed acid-blocking brand now without a prescription for frequent heartburn. get complete protection. nexium level protection™, now available at walgreens.

for many one of the joys of summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, but the expense of fresh produce is often a hurdle, especially for the more than 46 million americans living on food assistance. a program in michigan is looking to change that. it's the latest in our series of reports on poverty in this nation in plain sight. our chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman has the story. >> reporter: detroit, a modern day desert of abandoned homes and seeping poverty, a place where fresh produce is hard to come by. >> within about a mile of where we are right now there are about 110,000 people living, and there's not a full service

grocery store. but there is eastern market. >> reporter: on a summer saturday it's one place where the city is bustling and bountiful. >> community garden, small farm plots. >> reporter: as i look at the people walking by today, what percentage of these people are on food assistance? >> we know that in the state of michigan it's about 17%, for the city of detroit it's close to double that amount. >> reporter: orrin is the founder of the fair food network and has created an innovative way to bring locally grown fruits and vegetables to michigan residents living on food stamps. the program is called double up food bucks. >> if you bring your snap card here to eastern market and spend $20, you will get an additional $20 of double up food bucks to spend on michigan grown fruits and vegetables. >> reporter: it's one way to make ends meet for this mother of three. >> groceries are expensive. >> reporter: she heard about the

program two years ago. >> the kids go through the fruit faster than i can keep it in the refrigerator or the table, which isn't a bad thing. it replaces all the candy, all the chips, all the pop. >> reporter: at farmers markets, 93% of double up participants say they're eating more fruits and vegetables. 83% report buying fewer high fat low nutrition snacks. >> we take a s.n.a.p. program initially turned into an antihunger and now turned it into a antihunger and health program. >> reporter: healthy benefits for michigan's most vulnerable families as well as its struggling farmers. >> we're in it for the money. and that's all about the money. >> reporter: double up food bucks can be found at over 150 sites across michigan, in farmers markets, mobile food trucks and now grocery stores. what does the next five years

hold? >> my hope is that partners and others stay, will be able to take this model and expand it. it's the win-win-win, it's working for families and farmers. >> reporter: dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, detroit. when we come back, a different type of campaign for a potent (vo) if you have type 2 diabetes, you may know what it's like to deal with high... and low blood sugar. januvia (sitagliptin) is a once-daily pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar. januvia works when your blood sugar is high and works less when your blood sugar is low, because it works by enhancing your body's own ability to lower blood sugar. plus januvia, by itself, is not likely to cause weight gain or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). januvia should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. tell your doctor if you have a history of pancreatitis. serious side effects can happen, including pancreatitis which may be severe and lead to death. stop taking januvia and call your doctor right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area which may be

pancreatitis. tell your doctor right away and stop taking januvia if you have an allergic reaction that causes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or affects your breathing or causes rash or hives. kidney problems sometimes requiring dialysis have been reported. using januvia and a sulfonylurea or insulin together may cause low blood sugar. to reduce the risk, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin. your doctor may perform blood tests before and during treatment to check your kidneys. if you have kidney problems a lower dose may be prescribed. side effects may include upper respiratory tract infection, stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, and adache. for help lowering your blood sugar talk to your doctor about januvia today. so ally bank really has no hidden fethat's right. accounts? it's just that i'm worried about you know "hidden things..." ok, why's that? no hidden fees, from the bank where no branches equals great rates.

[chris] tit hugs you.s to your body. [jeffery] i don't have to think about how to get comfortable anymore. [evie] this zips off so i can wash it-yes, please. [robert]dude,tempur-pedic is killing it. [kevin] no more tossin' and turnin', trying to find a comfortable spot in bed. [christi] it's really cool to the touch. [chelsea] my tempur-pedic... cuddles better than my husband does. but,that's just between you and me. [announcer] visit your local retailer and feel the tempur-pedic difference for yourself. he is considered a key presidential contender for 2016, but during a recent trip to guatemala senator rand paul was

on a very different mission to restore eyesight to those in need. nbc's senior white house correspondent chris jansing accompanied him on the humanitarian mission with political ramifications. >> reporter: they lined up for hours, people with a dream to see again coming to a makeshift clinic in rural guatemala for free eye surgery. inside, a team of volunteers from the moran eye center from utah and senator rand paul who is also an opt mall gist. >> we just want to help people see better. >> reporter: his wife left him three years ago when he went blind, no longer able to support his family as a truck driver. dr. paul did dozens of surgeries over two and a half days. but reminders that he is considering a run for president for everywhere. his political advertising team came along. citizens united was shooting a

documentary. and in a series of interviews paul talks politics, immigration. >> so what you really need is a welcome sign with a control border. >> reporter: on the unrest in ferguson and congress funding the militarization of local police. >> homeland security gave $8 million to fargo to fight terrorism in fargo, north dakota. i say if the terrorists get to fargo, we might as well give up. >> reporter: and on a potential democratic opponent. >> if you want to see a transformational election in our country, let the democrats put forward a war hawk like hillary clinton and you'll see a transformation like you've never seen. >> reporter: he sounded like a candidate but performed like a doctor. and over the course of a week surgical teams restored the sight of more than 200 patients including hermanaldo lopez. >> i never thought i would see the sky again. >> reporter: people think rand paul is using a humanitarian mission for political gain. supporters argue paul has done

pro bono work in the u.s. for 15 years and there's no political downside to helping the blind see. you can watch much more of the rand paul interview tomorrow morning as i host "meet the press," lester. >> chris jansing, thank you. when we come back, the celebration ♪ ♪ start a team. join a team. walk to end alzheimer's. visit alz.org/walk today.

so i can reach ally bank 24/7, but there are24/7branches? it's just i'm a little reluctant to try new things. what's wrong with trying new things? feel that in your muscles? yeah... i do... try a new way to bank, where no branches equals great rates. if you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis like me, and you're talking to your rheumatologist about a biologic... this is humira. this is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. it's proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage in many adults.

humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. talk to your doctor and visit humira.com this is humira at work there was a big celebration at the national zoo today. bow bow, the giant panda cub,

turned 1 year old. a frozen fruit juice cake shaped of course like the number one. on the other side of the country a california wildlife hospital is on a mission to save orphaned baby birds, and it's doing it in a way you might not expect. it's in today's making a difference report. they look like cozy winter hats, knitted, crocheted from wool and cotton yarn, but they're actually bird nests handmade by volunteers for orphaned baby birds. >> i'm really glad that i made something and it's helping an animal live. >> reporter: 10-year-old adam mccoyer is just one of thousands of knitters this year who donated nests to wild care, a wildlife hospital just north of san francisco. care givers say these soft nests are the next best thing to natural bird nests. unlike the cardboard boxes they used in the past, these nests don't bruise the fragile birds.

the material also helps maintain their body temperature, giving these little guys the best possible chance of survival. >> really, really does make a significant difference for how these guys do in care and their eventual successes as adult wild birds. >> reporter: which is why the organization put out an all-call for knitted nests this april, over 3,000 poured in. some from as far away as melbour melbourne, australia, and kiev, ukraine. back in washington, d.c. adam has made nest making a family affair. >> i think it's special to have my whole family knitting with me. and to see what they think about my project. >> reporter: and adam's dad says the project gives his kids a real sense of accomplishment. >> the kids get to see a real impact of what they've done. they get to see a tangible thing that was here in my hands, i put it together and now it's somewhere else making a difference. that's cool. >> eventually you can take him back to where he came from and you can open the box and he can fly out.

and it is just the most heartwarming, wonderful, amazing thing. >> reporter: saving thousands of birds one stitch at a time. that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. we're going to leave you tonight with this, the little team that could rolls on. chicago's jackie robinson west won today's u.s. final at the little league world championships beating las vegas 7-5. congratulations. i'm coming up for the kickoff

edition, coaches show with jay gruden. tonight in baltimore, cut day looms. gr gruden will set the scene. chris coolie is on board. time for the coach's show with jay gruden. >> coach gruden, your first television show as head coach of the redskins, the first coaches show with jay gruden. can this be one of the first interviews we do? maybe you've done a lot of those. >> this could be. i'll put it in the archives with the rest. >> maybe one day, we'll make a documentation of the film we've done with you. tickoff is a half hour away. you will not be late for the