on this friday night, violent outbreak. tornados tearing off roofs, ripping homes from their foundations. neighborhoods buried under four feet of hail. a police suv swallowed by a sinkhole, and new tornado warnings as millions face a dangerous weekend ahead. a dark secre kept hidden for decades. now a woman says dennis hastert sexually abused her brother. and a friend what the alleged victim told him years ago. fears in colorado that someone is randomly shooting people. and dashed dreams. an american pair olympic hopeful blazing fast and about to compete for a

national championship only to have his running blades stolen. nightly news begins right now. from nbc news world headquarters in new york. this is nbc nightly news. reporting tonight, lester holt. good evening. as we head into the weekend, millions will need to keep a close eye on the weather after a violent outbreak destroyed homes and left neighborhoods under feet of hail in could co. this afternoon, new tornado warnings were posted in the west. at least one tornado already spotted today near denver. and the threat from these dangerous storms continues. our national correspondent, miguel almaguer starts us off tonight with the latest. >> we have touchdown, people. >> reporter: rumbling across colorado, this vie limit storm is packing it all, from danging twisters to pounding golf ball sized hail. the sheriff outside

denver says it's a miracle nobody was killed. >> it's been unlike anything we've ever seen. we saw the tornado from our front porch. >> reporter: the small town took a direct and violent hit, one neighborhood on lit rated. at least 25 homes damaged. brandon scott's house little rally flew away. >> it ripped the roof off my house and threw a bunch of insulation shingles down to the bottom of the stairs. >> reporter: in some areas, hail up to 4 feet deep had to be shoveled away. the wild weather even buckled roads. a police car swallowed by a sinkhole. >> lightning and thunder and everything continued for hours and hours. >> reporter: now it's rain doing the most damage. eight inches in parts of colorado. and states like wyoming, missouri and arkansas face their own severe flooding. along the red river, expected to reach its highest level in 70 years, evacuations are now under way. >> these storms have been going off and on

now for about 72 hours. soils are saturated. tornado warnings continue to be issued. >> reporter: dangerous storms backing a powerful punch. tonight they're on the move. miguel almaguer nbc news. tonight in the ever-disturbing case surrounding former house speaker dennis hastert, a voice we haven't heard from before has emerged, telling nbc news about his conversation decades ago with a friend who told him about sexual encounters with hastert when his friend was a teenager. the man we spoke to is the second person to come forward in the past 24 hours with the story of steven reinboldt, a now deceased student of the illinois high school where hastert coached wrestling. dave gutierrez is on the story. >> reporter: steve reinboldt was the student equipment manager for the yorkville high wrestling team dennis hastert coached. his sister jolene says years after he graduated her brother

told her he had a sexual relationship with hastert. >> i asked him, when was your first same-section experience. he just looked at me and said it was with dennis hastert. and i just i, you know i was stunned. i said why didn't you ever tell anybody, stevie? he was your teacher. why didn't you tell anybody? he just looked at me and he says who is ever going to believe me? >> reporter: her brother died of aids in 1995. another friend and classmate of reinboldts who asked us to conceal his identity tells nbc news reinboldt confided in him back in 1974. >> started to talk about his relationship with denny and told me that they had been sexual and was flabbergasted. >> reporter: he says he believed there was more than one sexual encounter. >> i said what do you mean? and he said well we would do things sexually and it would sometimes start with a massage, and we didn't go much further into

that. >> reporter: reinboldt's friend says he does not know who individual a is the person cited in the indictment against hastert. it alleged that hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to conceal past misconduct. nbc is told that the misconduct was sexual misconduct with a student. former state wrestling champion gary matlock, coached by hastert says he barely remembers reinboldt but has a hard time believing that hastert would sexually abuse a student. >> he was a good teacher, good coach, great motivator. >> reporter: barney frank says the allegations are stunning. >> it's a reminder of the hypocrisy among my republican colleagues. he was over the hearing of bill clinton. he went to put before

the house twice, constitutional amendments that would have banned same-section marriage. >> reporter: hastert has not commented, neither has his attorney. he's scheduled to make his first court appearance next week. authorities in minnesota announced charges against the arch diocese. a strong condemnation by the prosecutor who said today quote, we are alleging a disturbing institutional and systematic pattern of behavior committed by the highest levels of leadership of the archdiocese of st. paul and minneapolis over the course of decades. the archdiocese says it regrets the abuse suffered by the victims and will continue to cooperate with prosecutors. communities in colorado are on edge over fears that a serial sniper may be targeting people at random. at least three people have been shot under

mysterious circumstances so far. police are racing to connect the dots and arrest whoever's pulling the trigger. >> reporter: they are questions worrying many. who is this so-called serial shooter? and where and when will he or she strike next? >> it's happening all over and they can't seem to figure out, find the guy. i know it's tough, but it's scary. >> reporter: investigators admit, they don't have the answers, only saying that two shootings are definitely linked and a third is likely. >> 911, what's the address of your emergency? >> i'm on my way right now, and somebody just hit me and i'm bleeding from my neck and i'm scared. >> reporter: the first victim 20 year old cori romero was shot in the neck while merging on the interstate. john jacoby was gunned down while riding his

bike. >> he's bleeding uncontrollably on the side of the road. >> reporter: and this week there was a third roadside shooting 65-year-old grandfather, bill connolly shot while walking near his home. ray martinez says many serial shooters seem to be sociopaths who crave attention. so the search is desperate. >> it has to be desperate for the public's safety. it has to be. >> reporter: investigators are keeping some details about the shooting to themselves but if and when they find a definitive link, they will likely share that information with the public immediately. lester? >> jacob rascon thank you. the damage still being assessed from perhaps the largest hacking attack in american history. many of the employees had access to sensitive information. and as andrea mitchell reports, fingers are still being pointed in

china's direction. >> reporter: you've been hacked. that's warning that will be sent to 4 million federal workers, roughly half civilians, the other half retire eyes or contractors. unwilling victims in an escalating cyber war. >> the fact that somebody let this happen tells me that somebody isn't paying attention. >> my clearance and everything they already know everything about me but i don't want that stuff getting out. >> reporter: many targeted have security clearance. but the hackers wouldn't know who had the highest clearances. who did it? the fbi is zeroing in on china, despite china's denial. >> we hope the united states side could discard this kind of suspicion and stop groundless accusation. >> reporter: still, u.s. officials and outside experts say the attack had china's cyber fingerprints. >> we don't see enormous numbers of attacks like this against u.s. government institutions coming from chi government-sponsored. >> reporter: there's been plenty of warning. in april, the

government accountability office reported 24 separate agencies including treasury the state department homeland security and defense had increase risk of compromise from cyber-based attacks and other threats. and in marshes the gao reported that the faa has significant security control weaknesses threatening the agency's ability to ensure the safe and uninterrupted operation of the national airspace sis femme. why would another country like china want so much information? >> personal information is extremely valuable and it's extremely sensitive. it effectively becomes a map to help an adversary target the individuals of greatest interest. >> reporter: officials say that many of the government's computers are so ain't kwated it won't be easy to figure out what was stolen. and if china proves to be the culprit, deciding how to retaliate against such an economic powerhouse presents a huge challenge, lester. there's good news for the american economy after a sluggish few months.

news today that employers added a healthy 280,000 jobs last month. the unemployment rate toiked up only slightly to 5 pchbts.5%, but that's for a good reason. more people are seeking work as the economy improves. it's been 37 years since we've seen a champion claim one of the most elusive crowns in all of sports but all of that could change tomorrow at belmont park where excitement is building for american pharaoh. josh elliot is there. >> reporter: he won the kentucky derby against a field many called one of the most talented in decades and overcame a veritable monsoon to win the preakness. but saturday's belmont stakes the third and final leg of the triple crown, known at test of the champions will be the longest race of this young horse's life. over the only mile and a half race track in the country. the one they call big

sandy. >> hopefully we'll see a triple crown. >> if anyone can do it i hope he can. >> reporter: as the only horse to run in both the derby and preakness, he will face a field of well-rested contenders. >> he's a sweetheart of a horse. when he getting on the track he's all business. >> reporter: he's the fourth trainer ever to have a chance. >> you're here on the cusp of history, for the fourth time. more than any other trainer. >> that's incredible. i mean to me i look back and i still can't believe it's happening. >> reporter: victor espinosa will become the first jockey with the thirdchance.e. american pharaoh, runs his race doesn't

matter who's out there. >> there's a lot of good horses but this horse is going to win the triple crown. he's going to have to earn it the hard way. >> reporter: he earned position five. a position that's won races for seattle sloou. a triple crown winner himself. now just a mile and a half stands between american pharaoh and history. that history is daunting since 1978 when affirm won. 13 horses have won the kentucky derby and the preakness. none have left here with horse racing's greatest prize. that history perhaps all ends about 24 hours from now, lester? >> all right, josh. we'll look for your live coverage of the belmont starting tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 eastern right here on nbc. still ahead for us what do you do when the only thing that can save your child is against the

law? parents fighting for their children and fighting to change the law. and later, 27 valedictorians at one school? isn't there supposed to be just one? why it's suddenly so crowded at the top. at meeting your daily protein needs actually helps to support your muscle health? boost® high protein nutritional drink can help you get the protein you need. each serving has 15 grams of protein to help maintain muscle, plus 26 vitamins and minerals including calcium and vitamin d to support strong bones. boost® high protein is the #1 selling high protein complete nutritional drink and it has a great taste-guaranteed! help get the nutrition you need everyday with boost® high protein. join the club at brandpower.com. meet the world's newest energy superpower. surprised? in fact, america is now the world's number one natural gas producer... and we could soon become number one in oil. because hydraulic fracturing technology is safely recovering lots more oil and natural gas. supporting millions of new jobs. billions in tax revenue...

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a certain strain looks to be very effective in treating kids with severe seize your disorders. our harry smith brings us the story. >> reporter: 15-year-old jennifer collins. she certainly looks like any other teenager. but if you look closer you might see the flutter in her eyes. she's having a seizure. >> my oldest daughter said mom, you know when jennifer does that eye thing, she can't hear you. >> reporter: jennifer suffers from javaughn system a debilitating form of epilepsy. to treat it, they were advised to use very strong anti-help helpsy medications, but they were soon concerned about the side effects. >> she had one that made her rage so badly that we had to take all the doorknobs off of the doors because she had locked herself into the bathroom with a knife. so it was scary. it was really scary, and they didn't control her seizures.

>> reporter: did you feel like you were losing your daughter? >> absolutely. losing our whole family. >> reporter: the collinss heard reports about oils made from the cannabis plants. oils that don't get you high but reduce seizures. beth and patrick made the heart-wrenching decision to separate the family. beth and jennifer moved to colorado to see if the oil could help jen. patrick and their older daughter alex and doctor stayed in virginia. one oil, legal in colorado helped jennifer according to her parents. but there's little clinical research on this. and some doctors say more needs to be done. this family is convinced it works. >> reporter: what is it like for to you to be preof some of those side effects? >> it's awesome. i don't feel like a monster anymore. >> reporter: a monster? >> i had the rages. i felt like a monster afterwards. because i would just physically attack my

parents. and i didn't have any control over it. >> jennifer has a statement. but she's a little nervous. so i'm going to read it for her. >> reporter: the collinses are now fighting for laws that would make the oil legal in all 50 states. harry smith, nbc news fairfax, virginia. >> much more on his special, growing hope, sunday night at 7:00 6:00 central. we're back in a moment with the athlete whose dreams of glory were stolen by thieves. you two had been through everything together. two boyfriends. three jobs. you're like "nothing can replace brad!" then liberty mutual calls. and you break into your happy dance. if you sign up for better car replacement, we'll pay for a car that's a model year newer with 15,000 fewer miles than your old one. see car insurance in a whole new light. liberty mutual insurance. introducing the first ever gummy multivitamin

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it's a crime that will leave you shaking your head in disbelief. thieves stole expensive running blades from a para-athlete in north carolina. and with an al-important race just days away they may have robbed him of something that can't be given back his dreams of victory. stephanie gosk has the outrageous story. >> reporter: while peterson can run, one of the fastest in the

100-meter. he has his sites set on the paralympics in rio. >> it means a lot to my mom to see me. >> reporter: but on wednesday, the sprinter from charlotte, north carolina hit a hurdle off the track. someone broke into his house and stole almost everything including 20 competition medals and three of his custom-fit running blades. >> they just took it all from me. why take somebody's medals that can't be replaced. why take somebody's legs that they need to run on. >> reporter: even for thieves, this was pretty low. replacing the high-tech prosthetics could cost close to $50,000. a go fund my page only just kicked off. and nationals start in two weeks. >> i won't be training i don't have a leg to train on. >> reporter: peterson lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 15. >> it happened on thank give day 2007. it felt like it was happening to me too. >> having to go back to school without a

prosthetic at first it made me mentally tough. >> reporter: then three years ago he discovered the track and realized he was fast. suddenly the 22-year-old had a draebs in his life and a goal. that for now hangs in the balance. >> this is not going to stop me at all. >> reporter: for this pair olympic hopeful, gritty determination is nothing new. stephanie gosk nbc news. who says it's lonely at the top. the school with not one, not two, but 27 valedictorians. protect you from cancer? what if one push up could prevent heart disease? [man grunts] one wishful thinking, right? but there is one step you can take to help prevent another serious disease- pneumococcal pneumonia. one dose of the prevnar 13® vaccine can help protect you ... from pneumococcal pneumonia, an illness that can cause coughing, chest pain difficulty breathing and may even put you in the hospital. prevnar 13 ® is used in adults 50 and older to help prevent infections from 13 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia.

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finally, tonight, the title of valedictorian is traditionally reserved for a school's top-ranked student, or at least it used to be. some of this year's graduating classes literally have dozens of them. here's janet shamlian on the growing trend. >> 4.13. >> reporter: at this high school in oregon, all these students are this year's valedictorians. at vanguard high, in florida, 27 will share the title when they graduate tonight. >> i don't think of it as sharing. i just think of it as we all did this. >> reporter: but shouldn't there be only one honoree?

the dibsry defines val dick tor yan as the sfunts having the highest grade point average. >> you have 27 students who met the requirements so therefore they should be recognized and they should be honored. >> reporter: in general, schools give more weight to top placement. >> we have like a family unit of valedictorians. >> reporter: but critics say the practice gets a failing grade and is like some kid sports where everyone gets a trophy. >> when they get to the real world, they're going to have no way how to know how to handle that competition. >> reporter: with the competition fierce to get into college, every valedictorian can legitimately claim top of the class spat us. >> i am the valedictorian. >> i am hailey hughes. i am the valedictorian. >> reporter: crowded at the top, as the class of 2015 knows,

there can be more than one number one. janet shamlian. that is going to do it for us. for all of us at nbc news thank you

ask lights camera access. >> do you feel like the victim of a molestation? >> i can say this you know i was one of the victims. >> how much more are the duggar daughters ready to share about