on this sunday night, fighting ebola. the new u.s. military rapid response team and an apology by the hospital in texas. and the tense hours on a cruise ship as thousands waited for one passenger's test results. out of control. how a new england pumpkin festival turned to mayhem, leavingozens injured and arrested. step by step, the devices that millions now wear in hopes of staying fit. for some they have become a fashion statement. and the hug lady. for those who serve, the power of her simple embrace at a time when they made need it most.

good evening. word came today that the u.s. is beefing up the response to the ebola threat here at home with the formation of a military rapid response medical team. the announcement comes amidst an increased agitated political environment over the handling of the disease and harsh questions over whether the administration is doing enough to prevent an ebola outbreak. so far there are two known cases of people contracted ebola in this country. but today we saw a growing anxiety of those who have potentially been exposed to the virus and the fear management that comes with it. our coverage begins in dallas. janet is there. janet shamlian. >> reporter: the new cdc protocol for health care workers will cover for all skin be

covered. and here in dallas, hospital administrators and the mayor are meeting. the carnival cruise ship magic back in port in galveston. and first off a nurse who isolated herself in a cabin and a test delivered by helicopter came back negative. the passengers were handed a bullet that the lady had not tested positive. >> when we got that this morning, it was -- >> relieving. >> the hospital apologized for mistakes in the handling of the crisis. >> there were mistakes. there is no question that there were mistakes. but i feel somehow this will make the hospital and dallas stronger. >> on md, the free aunsee of

thomas eric duncan is one of the group coming out of the 21 day monitored period. she issued a statement saying in part, we are so happy this is coming to an end and we so grateful that none of us show any sign of illness. and now they are focusing on integring the family back into the community. >> i understand the public fear about ebola. it is new to america. but louise and those three young man are deserving of dignity and compassion and respect. they've been through a great ordeal through no fault of their own. >> those who con tracked ebola are still hospitaled. ashoka muckpo is doing well. nurse amber vinson is in stable condition at emory hospital in atlanta. and nina pham at the national institute of health. on "meet the press" this morning, dr. anthony fauci said he spoke to pham yesterday.

>> my intention at some time in the future is to walk out of the hospital with her. >> at pham's place of worship, optimism partnered with hope that nina will be back soon. >> we'll all keep her in our prayers and the church will be praying for her. >> more than dozen of the health care workers that have been monitored have been asking to sleep here, worried they could hurt others if they become symptomatic. and now to add a military response to the ebola, after drastic measures, all before the mid-term elections. kristen welker has that part of the investigation. >> the obama administration hopes to stop viewings like

this. as doctors and disease experts could be dispatched on short notice in the u.s. but some continue to insist the president hasn't done enough and should impose a ban on travel from the effected countries. >> the biggest mistake that continues to be made is we continue to allow open commercial air flights. >> reporter: the obama administration counters that a travel ban will only make matters worse. >> it would be difficult if you lost control of tracking people. >> reporter: with public fears spreading faster than the disease itself, some eyeing wins in the upcoming mid election are stoking fears. >> every outbreak novel or zombie movie starts with somebody in the government sitting in front of a table like this and saying there is nothing to talk about. >> roy blunt acknowledged some of the party's red orric is over the top on "meet the press" but said the president shares the

blame. >> this is more real than it would be if there wasn't a sense that the government is just not being managed in a way people want it to be managed. >> the president admitted there were mistakes and on friday appointed ron klain to coordinate the response. and he canceled two campaign trips this week but back on the trail can't for guber nat oriole campaigns. >> they just want to tell you everything isn't working right. that is their plan. to make you feel government can't work. >> reporter: a challenge as democrats try to keep the senate. >> a sense that things aren't going well in the country. maybe that the president isn't in charge. that is a bad environment for democrats running. >> some claim the point person has begun meetings at the white

house and officially started this week. meantime the 30-person medical support team will start training in about a week. the administration is stressing there are no plansb for them be dispatched overseas. lester. >> kristin welker, thanks. charlottesville they are still awaiting the confirm that the body found yesterday was that of hannah graham after disappearing five weeks ago. gabe guiterrez is there for us. >> reporter: this was the largest missing person search effort in this state's history. on saturday remains were found off this road and now a death investigation is under way. today authorities continue to search the rural area a dozen miles outside of charlottesville where they made the discovery. >> just a devine intervention and that is what we did and kept going. >> now the human remains are being an allized to see if they

are the remains of hannah graham. >> thousands of hours have been spent by law enforcement and civilian volunteers and today we think today proved their worth. >> she vanished in the early hours of september 13th. the last time she was captured was at 1:08, with jesse matthew. he was arrested in texas and charged with graham's abduction and has not yet entered a plea. >> this is sadly a dem investigation. >> for weeks many have searched for graham and her parents have made pleas for help. >> please, please, please help end this nightmare for all of us. >> it is about five miles away from where morgan arrington disappeared in 2009. police say they are investigating a forensic link

between the harrington case and jesse matthew. >> i think now we'll see a slow methodical investigation, looking at the forensics, which take time, and looking for a crime time that will link the time lines. >> and today fellow students are in shock. >> it is sad to hear the recent development and we're heartbrok heartbroken. >> i think people have been waiting for news and i'm hopeful for the family they are getting closure. >> reporter: matthew is being held after the results of here. police in riot gear this weekend, dealing with violent clashes that broke out in keen, new hampshire. our report from ron mott. >> pepper sprayed the crowds on

a campus in saturday and starting in the evening and leading into early morning hours. >> they had maze and teargas. >> students and nonstudents around the region drove the disturbance, roukous house parkies, overshadowing the nearby pumpkin festival nearby. >> we are all seniors and the past four years have never been like this, this chaotic. >> reporter: fires were set, vehicles damaged. campus lights toppled and what officials describe as alcohol-fueled unrest. >> they had a bon fire and using pieces of the fence to fuel the fire and they were jumping off a pickup truck in front and finally riot police came. >> at day break, groups screened

out to clean up. in a statement the president said keene state college does not tolerate the outrageous behavior that occurred over the weekend and also understand it does not represent the students that attend this college. ron mott. a house caught fire in fresno, california. a by stander saw it from her car and got out and captured the scene on video as a woman revealed her father is still in the house. >> my dad. >> we have to get him out of there. >> we have to get the dad out therefore. >> moments later, a man comes running out of the householding the trapped man in his arms and tonight the man in the blue baseball hat who ran into the house, is being called a hero but his identity is unknown. a meeting at the veteran after pope francis and the roman

catholic bishops spent two weeks facing key issues facing the church. we have that story from and thompson. >> today there was a closing of the visit, with a shrine to matthew vi. he reformed the vatican in the last center and now -- century and now they are facing 21st century. >> they have took out the words gifts and qualities this can offer communities but saying gays and lesbians must be accepted with respect. and catholics can receive communion, there was no

movement. they need for study. >> it is a time for a change. it is time to see things in a totally different way. >> veteran watchers say francis got what he wanted from the senate, a spirited public debate and remarkable for its transparenc transparency, including the votes on each paragraph. >> there is some advantage to that. the people can see the catholic church is serious about being both a church of truth and mercy. >> and now begins a year-long discussion on the issues, wrm welcomed -- welcomed by the catholic busted radio show. >> it moves them to a place of being more open and accepting and welcoming of people in their lives that are struggling with the church's teaching. >> and francis continues to show with his deeds there is room for all. today welcoming pope am merrick us, as he considered the future.

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they have become the latest fashion symbol of our digital world. the bracelet-like fitness tracking devices are helping millions keep in step with the times and their body tz. tonight katy tur with a trend getting americans off the couch and on their feet. >> here come on. let's go out. >> even before the sunrises in statesboro, georgia, lee cheshire is moving. lately her days are measured in steps on her fit bit zip. she's a growing number of americans hooked on personal fitness trackers. the wearable motion sensor device like fit-bad, nike and

jaw bone, measure everything from heart rate and steps. they give a progress, for better or worse. >> thank you, fitness tracking devices for letting me know how long i sat on the couch today. >> you have the pendent and -- i tell everyone i know to get it. >> i think wearable is where it is going. >> jeffrey grant is head of human resources in statesboro. this year they bought trackers for 50 state workers who volunteered for the program. >> did you feel this town needed it? >> this is huge. this would keep groups moving. >> and since july they have logged 32 million steps. >> for these people, it is more

than personal. it is a game. dallas dropped 20 pounds. >> and what do you do? >> i move when i brush my teeth. >> it has gotten that way because you see everybody's progress. >> and that kind of accountable is the key. >> knowing can give you the understanding and response and can keep control. >> the knowledge that every step matters. katy tur, statesville, georgia. for retirement. but when we start worrying about tomorrow, we miss out on what matters today. ♪ at axa, we offer advice and help you break down your retirement goals into small, manageable steps. because when you plan for tomorrow, it helps you live for today.

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the scene this weekend in salt lake city where the fourth annual ginormous pumpkin regatta took place. the idea is to grow a huge pumpkin, up to 1200 pounds, and then row it 100 yards without sinking. the winner was a light weight, a 444 pound pumpkin that finished in 3:41. and this is what it looked like today as thousands ran the beijing marathon. a lot of runners wearing face masks as the air quality was described as severely polluted. one marathoners said on a normal day, no one would run in such conditions. and the new breaking bad action figures, now available at toys "r" us and other stores. models after a chemistry teacher turned drug figure.

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finally tonight, if you take for grants the simple act of getting a hug, consider one woman who has been for years giving them out in texas. a comforting act of kindness and thanks for military men and women. we get her story from nbc's joe fryer zblrvelgs at 82 years old, elizabeth laird is still working full time. to h customers she's the tax lady. but to the soldier at ft. hood, texas. >> thank you for being here. appreciate it. >> reporter: she's the hug lady. >> thank you. >> every time troops here deploy or return, laird's open arm assembly line is in full operation. >> they appreciate it, when i give them a hug they smile. >> we appreciate it. thank you so much. >> my family is not here per se, but it is like she fills in for them. >> born into a military family, she enlisted in the air force in 1950, on the day she turned 18.

>> i wanted to do my part for my country. >> long after her service, she continued to volunteer but didn't become the hug lady until 2003, before that she merely shook their hands. >> and then one day a soldier hugged me and another one that hugged me and that one needed a hug too and i gave him a hug and another one needed a hug. and now after hundreds of thousands of hugs, even if it is 2:00 in the morning. >> a weekend. >> i'm there. >> a holiday. >> i'm there. >> her dedication is unwavering. >> a few young men say my wife won't like this. and i say, i'm a grandmother, so it makes it all right to give you a hug. some have given her patches from around the world and her greatest honor came on friday when she received the yellow rose of texas awarded to women

that make a difference and signed by the governor. >> he knows the hug lady. >> recognition for a self-less gesture, you can't help but impress. joe fryer, nbc news. that is "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. brian williams will be here tomorrow. up next, football night in america, followed by the 49ers versus the broncos. i'm lester holt, and we leave you with the rockefeller skating center. people enjoying skating on this cool fall evening. good night, everyone.

have you seen the news about barbara comstock? first, the washington post reported, barbara comstock failed to report eighty-five thousand in income. now, we learn, barbara comstock pushed a client's issues in the virginia legislature and didn't disclose it. barbara comstock shepherded a trio of bills through the legislature and into law, but barbara comstock never officially disclosed that all the while she was being paid thousands of dollars. no wonder she hid it.

>> announcer: nbc sports, exclusive home of the nhl, premier league, primetime's number one show "sunday night football," and super bowl xlix. >>he skyline of denver, colorado, where tonight, "sunday night football" features the hometown broncos hosting the san francisco 49ers. colin kaepernick and the niners won two straight while the broncos are 4-1 with the quarterback on the cusp of nfl