lester holt joins us in about one minute.ell the pandemic will not stop nasa from blasting off in to space. >> nasa said it's sending a rover to mars next week. >> and it's to prove that we can actually and efficiently fly craft on other planets. >> the rover is calls perseverance, and it's set to launch next thursday. if the launch is successful, it will collect rock and soil samples to bring back to earth. it could test new technologies that can be used for future mars explorations and the rover cannot pass coronavirus. so it's safe for sure. >> that will do it for us, we will be back at 6:00. lester holt is next. >>> tonight, new hope in the race for a vaccine, scientists say oxford's vaccine candidate has been shown to be safe and produce a strong immune response. in an early trial, the double defense it may offer and how soon you might be able to get it it comes as more records are shattered, los angeles on the brink of another stay at home order. in miami beach an 8:00 p.m. curfew. florida again reporting reporting over

lester holt is next with the "nightly news." >> we'll see you at 6:00. >>> recommending children return without masks or social distancing. can you be infected by the coronavirus? do antibodies protect you and how long do they last? >> this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> good evening everyone from los angeles it is looking a lot like march in the nation's largest state tonight. nearly four months after californians were first ordered to shelter in place closed signs are back up in places that had only recently reopened all in a desperate effort to slow the spread of covid. in those four months deaths in california alone rising from just 18 to over 7,000 rolling back restrictions one of the few options left for states as the head of the cdc today uttered a haunting prediction we've got it all covered. miguel almaguer starts us off >> reporter: with california crippled by covid tonight the first state to order a sweeping shutdown now becoming the largest to implement a massive roll back. the governor's new closures aren't just limited to indoor dining, bars, movie theaters, and

so check out bambi the bison as you are s >> lester holt is next. >>> tonight, the flash point over masks, arkansas and colorado joining the growing list requiring masks, targets, cvs will as well georgia's governor barring cities from requiring them as cases there surge. >>> tempers flaring, a maskless man pulling a gun in walmart. >>> d florida and texas hitting single day death toll records. >>> pending disaster on testing, some waiting two weeks for results. >>> the new interview of the new bombshell from president trump's niece, the racist and sbi semitic slur she personally heard him use. >>> alarming news in the race for a vaccine, russian hackers accused of trying to steal research. >>> the battle over schools in florida, a staggering one in three kids tested is positive and inside a school already open in new jersey, kids in so-called learning pods is it working? >>> the fbi investigating the massive twitter hack, who's behind it? >>> the experimental new covid test without the uncomfortable swab, results in just two minutes. >>> this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> goo

. >> thanks for joining us, lester holt is next. >>> tonight, the grim new milestone in the coronavirus crisis, the u.s. surpassing 4 million cases. california and florida, their deadliest days yet. >>> and the warning for nearly a dozen major cities, what dr. birx reportedly said they must immediately do. >>> president trump's surprise announcement late today, the republican convention inlorida cancelled over covid and his major reversal on reopening schools. >>> alarming new jobless numbers with that extra $600 in unemployment benefits days from running out. will congress reach a deal to extend it? >>> chaos in portland. federal agents tear gassing the crowd. among them, the mayor. >>> alexandria ocasio-cortez condemning a gop congressman after he denied attacking her with profanity >>> the victory for michael cohen, a judge finding he was locked up for planning a trump tell-all. >>> nbc news exclusive. two of the british isis terrorists dubbed the beetles, found that they murdered american hostages, what they now admit to doing as the families of those americans call for justice. >>>

. >> announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone, we are heading into a july 4th holiday weekend like we have never seen before. americans in retreat tonight from public gatherings, celebrations curb and had more businesses closed as new covid-19 infections rage out of control in several states in texas daily infections soaring and hospitals bursting at the seams, forced the governor's hand, dropping resistance and issuing a mandatory mask order is it too late tonight texas, florida and arizona, among nearly a dozen states falling woefully behind the accelerating virus we have several reports beginning with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: as our nation hit another staggering single-day record for confirmed covid cases tonight the summer spike in infections is accelerating in states like florida 10,000 in 24 hours in arizona, ventilators and icu beds are scarce as the number of people testing positive climbs to 30%. >> we don't have enough staff to staff our icus, we're about to completely max out our hospital capacity. >> reporter: with more than a d

lester holt is next. we'll see you again at 6:00. >>> tonight, the sweeping knew mask orders, with the coronavirus spreading faster than ever, alabama, the latest state to order residents to cover up. walmart and kroger to require masks in all stores. >>> oklahoma's governor, after resisting a mask mandate, announcing he's the nation's first governor to test positive >>> and in florida, the grim new milestone. >>> the showdown over schools, houston, atlanta and philadelphia joining the list of big districts to find the trump administration's demand to tully open. >>> a race to make a vaccine, what we're now looking for. >>> president trump in the hot spot of georgia, distancing himself from his top adviser's broadside attack on dr. fauci. how fauci is firing back. >>> the massive hacking attack on twitter. the accounts of joe biden, barack obama, apple, elon musk and many more, compromised. >>> new body cam video of george floyd's deadly encounter with police, what it shows and the new lawsuit filed today

. >> thanks for joining us at 5:00, lester holt is next. >> see you at 6:00. bye. >>> tonight the new warning from president >>> tonight the new warning for president trump as we come on the air. the president holding his first coronavirus briefing in 90 days. his new message to americans, it will probably get worse before it gets better. and what he said about wearing masks. but notably not in attendance dr. fauci or any other health experts. also, president trum asked about jeffrey epstein's alleged accomplice ghislain maxwell. the president in his answer repeatedly saying, i wish her well >>> also the top vaccine makers on capitol hill their answer to the question everyone is asking, when could one be available >>> the outbreak surging, california topping 400,000 cases. and new from the cdc, why the true number of cases may be far higher than reported >>> the chinese hackers accused of trying to steal vaccine research the charges just announced. president trump threatening to send militarized federal agents to more cities after scenes like this in portland.

. >> announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone, the civil rights struggles of both history and today were the backdrop for a powerful sendoff for congressman and civil rights giant john lewis, four former presidents paying tribute, three of them in the room as family, friends and colleagues gathered in atlanta's historic ebenezer baptist church who praise the man who nearly lost his life in the fight for voting rights. barack obama whose presidency is a product of that legacy today offered a spirited eulogy and a rebuke of those who may threaten those rights inside the atlanta church where martin luther king jr. once preached. >> he loved america until america learned how to love him back, we celebrate john lewis. >> reporter: fighting for freedom. >> thank you, oh god, for this great man who lived among us, who now joins the great cloud of freedom fighters ♪ holy what you do fo christ will last ♪ >> reporter: john lewis born in tiny segregated troy, alabama, the son of sharecroppers, celebrated today by presidents, including the first black presid

i'm lester holt. thank you for watching please take care of yourself, and each other. ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's feel the e outside, so can the rays, and everybody just wants to get out of it. that's what we've been trying to do. they're still lots of people, coming out of lockdown, feeling softer around the edges. i'm a little less motivated, maybe it's just me. today, we are taking on the quarantine 15. we are kicking things off with a tune you might relate to, but trust me, by the end of this hour, you will be on your way to feeling great. here's one of my favorite songs, tlc's "unpretty." ♪ ♪ i wish i could tie you up in my shoes ♪ ♪ make you feel unpretty too ♪ i was told i was beautiful ♪ but what does that mean to you ♪ ♪ look into the mirror ♪ who's inside there ♪ the one with the long hair ♪ same old me again today ♪ my outsides look cool ♪ my

that is nightly news for this evening thank you for watching, everyone, i'm lester holt.e take care of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:00, backlash in oakland. alternative to online learning has school principals speaking out y. they think in-person pod learning could be divisive. >>> the news at 6:00 starts right now. good monday. thank you for joining us. >> the pandemic has local parents doing a different kind of back the school they prepare trying to create pods and are shopping for tutors but principals are worried that will widen the education gap. melissa colorado shows us the debate brewing in oakland. >> reporter: there's just two weeks left until the new school year begins for oakland's 50,000 public school students. 14 days until a return to online learning. one that the district promises will be more structured than the spring. bill is a transitional kindergarten teacher in the east oakland. >> i'm excited to meet my new class. you know? along with that excitement i think it's concerns over the year. >> reporter: some concerns are over the rising p

. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone, for places appearing to escape the worst of the covid-19 pandemic, this news tonight, it's coming, new states in the middle of the country seeing fresh hot spots. with that top infectious disease doc anthony fauci, warning that many others may be on the verge of outbreaks and that it will sneak up fast the number of states in the red zone is expanding as parents and teachers weigh critical questions about the coming school year. a lot to process tonight, miguel almaguer starts us off. >> reporter: the troubling signs of a new outbreak are emerging in states like ohio, indiana, kentucky and tennessee. the nation's top infectious disease doctor warning several american cities who have mostly avoided covid's crippling crush are now on the verge of being hit hard. >> if you're not getting your arms around and suppressing that surge that's coming up two to three weeks down the pike, you're in trouble. >> reporter: the need for more states to take serious precautions come amid a federal report showing 21 states

that is nightly news for this evening thank you for watching, everyone, i'm lester holt.take care of yourself and each other. ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up, y'all. my summer staycation is continuing in my backyard. let's kick things off with a talented song by lisa loeb. here is me with my band y'all singing "stay." ♪ ♪ you say ♪ i only hear what i want to ♪ and you say ♪ i talk so all the time, so ♪ and i thought what i felt was simple ♪ ♪ and i thought that i don't belong ♪ ♪ and now that i am leaving ♪ now i know that i did something wrong ♪ ♪ 'cause i missed you ♪ yeah i missed you

thank you for watching i'm lester holt, please take care of yourself and each other. good night ♪ ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up, y'all? it's another great day in our summer staycation. i have a fun way to kick off the hour. here i am with my band y'all doing th the cure song "just like heaven." ♪ ♪ show me, show me, show me how you do that trick ♪ ♪ the one that makes me scream she said ♪ ♪ the one that makes me laugh she said ♪ ♪ threw her arms around my neck ♪ ♪ show me how you do it and i'll promise you ♪ ♪ i'll promise that i'll run away with you, i'll run away with you ♪ ♪ spinning on that dizzy edge ♪ kissed her face and kissed her head ♪ ♪ dreamed of all the different ways, i had to make her glow ♪ ♪ why are you so far away she said ♪ ♪ why won't youve

that's "nightly news" for this tuesday i'm lester holt.or all of us at nbc news, take care of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:00 p.m., not a request you often hear from a coastal town mayor. think twice before coming to the beach. reason for the plea. the news at 6:00 p.m. starts right now. i'm jessica aguirre. >> and i'm janelle wang. we also have raj mathai with us. >> here's a huge frustration, especially for parents. will school be back in session? just a couple of hours ago, we got some guidance from santa clara county. we'll see you in just about three minutes with that. >> thanks, raj. >>> governor newsom is concerned that californians will spread more than cheer this fourth of july. the cases hitting an all-time high in the state. california had 8,086 new infections in 24 hours. he's worried because he says one of the biggest ways to spread the virus is at family gatherings. >> here comes uncle bob, two hours late. he gives everyone a hug. where's the mask? i don't believe in them. the whole thing starts to take shape.

. >> announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone there are an number of fresh signs this country's weak and uneven response to the covid pandemic is falling apart at the seams, daily infections up. hospital admissions, up and deaths up too. with officials across the country meeting the moment of national crisis in strikingly different ways florida where masks are not required seeing some of the worst days any state has seen in this pandemic here in california tonight also facing out of control infections, the governor has just reimposed statewide restrictions, on everything from gyms and salons to restaurants and churches a lot of moving parts to cover tonight let's start in epicenter florida with kerry sanders. >> reporter: in california tonight an about-face, what had reopened now closing again. the statewide mandate includes closing all bars and indoor establishments, like restaurants. after more than 60,000 new cases statewide in the past week. in 80% of the states gyms and hair salons also ordered to, again, shut down some business owners say a se

that's "nightly news" for this tuesday i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, take care of yourself and each other. ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up, everyone? it's another fantastic day in our summer staycation. i cannot wait to share quar-aoke. it is the classic '80s song, here is me and my band you're all performing "every breath you take" the police. ♪ ♪ every breath you take and every move you make ♪ ♪ every bond you break, every step you take, i'll be watching you ♪ ♪ every single day and every word you say ♪ ♪ every game you play, every night you stay, i'll be watching you ♪ ♪ oh, can't you see you belong to me ♪ ♪ how my poor heart aches with every step you take ♪

lester holt is next. >>> tonight, the sweeping new shutdown, california, the first state to order a lockdown, now ordering all bars, indoor dining, gyms, churches and more to close again. the state one of 41 seeing rising cases. in florida soaring numbers again, over 12,000 new cases deaths now climbing as hospitals hit the breaking point. >>the massive lines for testing, why are some waiting a week for results when pro athletes are tested so frequently the white house targeting dr. fauci, why the nation's top infectious disease expert is being sidelined, and his dire new warning today. >>> the nation's second largest school district, los angeles, defying president trump's demands to reopen in-person schools. >>> in arizona, three teachers who shared a classroom to remote teach, all infected. one tragically dying >>> washington's nfl team, and its controversial name, the major change announced. >>> the siearch for th missing glee star, the tragic discovery in the water. >>> hollywood actress kelly preston, her husband revealing her secret health battle. >>> after 140 days apart due to covid,

lester holt now on more of this tremendous life. >> when you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. >> john lewis devoted his life to the fight for justice and equality. >> something deep down within me, moving me, that i could no longer be satisfied or go along with an evil system. >> reporter: the son of rural alabama sharecroppers lewis was inspired as a teenager by the activism of rosa parks and martin luther king jr he joined the civil rights movement in its early days, the sit-ins and freedom rides, often facing arrest and violent opposition. >> segregation was the order of the day that was a tremendous amount of fear and i wanted to do something about it we wanted to redeem the soul of america. and move toward a more perfect union. >> reporter: he became the leader of the student non-violent coordinating committee and helped organize the historic march on washington. >> i have a dream today. >> reporter: lewis spoke that day too he was 23. >> we do not want our freedom gradually. but we want to be free

. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening, it wasn't that long ago the rest of the nation watched in horror as new york became the epicenter of the covid crisis at one point losing hundreds of lives a day. well tonight health officials say some of the country's biggest states are becoming the next new yorks simply overwhelmed by the virus. while there are positive signs in some of those hot spots officials are doubling down on efforts to get americans to change their behavior to slow the spread we have the latest, starting with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: setting daily records for the number of americans who lose their lives, require hospitalization, and who are testing positive for the coronavirus. tonight states like california, florida, texas and arizona are now becoming the next new york according to white house officials. >> we have to change our behavior now before this virus completely moves back up through the north this first wave that we see now across florida, texas, california and arizona began with under 30-year-olds. >> reporter: whil

thank you for watching i'm lester holt, please take care of yourself and each other. good night >>> right now at 6:00, passing new york as the state with the most coronavirus cases. new numbers on california's surge including a new record one day total. the news at 6:00 starts right now. >> late today some conflicting news from president trump about kids and teachers returning to the classroom. the question now, who shall we believe? >> it has been a discouraging and record setting day for california in dealing with the coronavirus. it showed in a pop-up place to get tested for coronavirus. they conducted 127,000 cases yesterday with a record 12,807 cases. the numbers pushes california ahead of new york. >> with that new number yesterday it just proves the point how deadly this disease can be. >> california has more cases than new york, but we are a bigger state and more

. >>> this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening, everyone we begin with the question on virtually every parents' mind, when can my child safely return to school? if it were up to the president, the answer is this fall, despite the health calamity unfolding across the country president trump rejecting the cdc's cautious guidance on school's reopenings, pressuring the agency to come up with something less restrictive. taking place as the country recording nearly 50,000 new covid cases just today. we have full coverage tonight beginning with peter alexander at the white house. >> reporter: president trump tonight is escalating his push for schools to reopen. >> learning by computer is not as good as learning in the classroom. our schools, we want them open in the fall. >> reporter: earlier complaining on twitter about the cdc's voluntary guidelines for reopening schools, blasting them as very tough and expensive. while they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things hours later, the white house announced the cdc will issue new recommendations n

thank you for watching, everyone, i'm lester holt, please take care of yourself and each other. ♪ >>ly: hey, what's up, y'all? it's our summer staycation celebration. let's keep this party going. we are kicking things off with a song i love by nelly furtado. our not-so-subtle nod to the peacock tv streaming service launching today. you should check it out. not only this show is on it but a lot of other content as well. here is me and my band y'all with "fly like a bird." ♪ ♪ you're beautiful and that's for sure ♪ ♪ you'll never ever fade ♪ you're lovely, but it's not for sure ♪ ♪ and i won't ever change ♪ and though my love is rare ♪ and though my love is true ♪ i'm like a bird ♪ i'll only fly away

i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. >>> one day after florida overtakes new york with the second highest number of coronavirus cases behind california, now texas is forced to battle mother nature on one frd a virus getting ugly, as the campaigns face off on the street as the campaign opponent is beaten >> and the powerful moment john lewis was carried across the bridge in alabama. >> and life-saving tips making a big difference to some who are struggling it's monday, july 27th "early today" starts right now >>> good morning i'm philip mena. >> a record number of coronavirus cases are being reported california emerging as an eni sent we are 500,000 confirmed infections and florida has recorded more cases than new york as health officials race to contain the outbreaks, there's emphasis on boosting testing and getting results back quickly here's nbc's jennifer johnson with this report >> reporter: california and florida have now surpassed new york as the states with the highest number of covid-19 cas

. >>> and celebrating a country music legend >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening, everyone tonight, the country is bracing for what amounts to a covid hangover experts warning there will be a price to pay for the carefree holiday celebrations that drew crowds at parties like it was 2019 now officials fearing a bump in infections and hospitalizations in the days and weeks to follow. all, of course, on top of the record-breaking surge of new infections 250,000 in just five days the running tally of u.s. cases approaching 3 million, with no signs this is going to get better miguel almaguer sets the scene for us tonight. >> reporter: a recipe for disaster is what doctors call fourth of july parties like these, from michigan, to missouri, to new york large crowds, little social distancing and hardly a mask in sight. now new worries revelers could go from poolside to patient in a matter of days >> we're fighting two wars war number one is the covid virus. war number two is stupidity. >> reporter: in texas, where a record number of people are flooding er

our new episode is streaming rite now that is nightly news for this evening, i'm lester holt. thanks for watching, please take care of yourself and each other. ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up, everybody? it is june 19th. it's an important day in our country's history. let's be honest, it's a day that people did not know much about before george floyd's death and the tough conversations that are followed. june 19th or juneteenth is the longest black running holiday in america, and then consider it america's second independence day. i'm kicking off the show with a beautiful song by an incredible black artists that i love and definitely am inspired by, this is "i would rather go blind by etta james. ♪ ♪ something told me it was ove over ♪ ♪ when i saw you and that girl walk-in ♪ ♪ something deep down in my soul said "cry

. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone, sick and tired of closures, restrictions and a virus that won't go away americans are confronted tonight with deeply troubling signs of just how hard this country can being hit. the daily tally of new infections, break records in some states again tonight and hospitalizations on the rise too the west hit particularly hard. here in california the governor today turning back the clock on reopening with new restrictions put in place while neighboring arizona sees a staggering rate of positive covid tests. there's a lot to cover tonight. we begin with miguel almaguer >> reporter: emerging as one of the nation's most dangerous hot spots tonight arizona recording another staggering record, nearly 4,900 new covid cases in 24 hours. with hospitalizations hitting another historic high, perhaps most alarming, the positivity rate, nearly 30% of those just tested have the virus. today in the middle of arizona's crisis the vice president arrives in phoenix wearing a mask. >> i couldn't be more proud of our natio

that's "nightly news" for us on this thursday i'm lester holt.or all of us at nbc news, thanks for watching good night take care of yourself and each other ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up, y'all? it's another great day and our summer staycation and i have another great song to kick things off. here by the judds, me and my van y'all singing "why not me." ♪ ♪ you've been lookin' for love all around the world ♪ ♪ baby, don't you know this country girl's still free ♪ ♪ why not me ♪ well, you've finally come down to your old hometown ♪ ♪ well, you've finally come down ♪ your kentucky girl's been waiting patiently ♪ ♪ why not me ♪ why not me on a rainy day ♪ why not me to love your cares away ♪ ♪ why not me ♪ why not me when the nights get cold ♪ ♪ why not me when you're growin' old ♪

thank you for watching i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. >>> california makes a major change in its testing strategy. who it's now asking not to get tested for the coronavirus, and why that's leading to some confusion in the south bay. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good tuesday. thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang. >> i'm garvin thomas. as california continues to struggle with the surge in covid cases, the state is changing tactics when it comes to testing. state health leaders are no longer encouraging everyone who wants a test to get one. instead, they're reverting back to prioritizing testing based on need. the problem isn't the number of tests available, it's the length of time it's taking now to get results. but as nbc bay area's marianne favro shows us, santa clara public health doesn't seem to be following the new recommendations and that's causing some confusion. >> reporter: at this popup testing site in san jose today, more than 800 people showed up to get a covid-19 test. the

lester holt is next with the "nightly news." >> we'll see you at 6:00.

that's "nightly news" for us on this thursday i'm lester holt.or all of us at nbc news, thanks for watching good night take care of yourself and each other >>> right now at 6:00, reports released. after years of denials, presentation high school is taken to task over allegations of sex abugs by staff members against students. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good thursday. thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang. >> and i'm raj mathai. a 35-page report right here and the findings are a vindication for sexual abuse victims and their families. for decades they felt ignored by the prestigious catholic school in san jose. an independent investigation paid for by presentation high school confirms most of their allegations. this is a story that our investigative unit first uncovered three years ago. nbc bay area's sergio quintana is at presentation high school for us on this pivotal night. sergio? >> reporter: yeah, kately hein is a graduate of presentation high school and at one time she said she even hoped to become a teacher here. she is the first

i'm lester holt. care of yourself and each other. ♪ >> kelly: welcome to "the kelly clarkson show" as we continue our summer staycation celebration. as you can see, my whole yard is decked out because we are super classy here at the "the kelly clarkson show." we come up with a good one to do, "sweet dreams," this is our kellyoke for today, by the eurythmics. ♪ sweet dreams are made of this ♪ ♪ who am i to disagree? ♪ i traveled the world ♪ and the seven seas ♪ everybody's looking for something ♪ ♪ some of them want to use you ♪ some of them want to get used by you ♪ ♪ some of them want to abuse you ♪ ♪ some of them want to be

ball ball, and it all goes to local charities for good cause. >> thanks for joining us at 5:00, lester holts next. >> see you at 6:00. bye. >>> tonight the new warning from president >>> tonight the new warning for president trump as we come on the air. the president holding his first coronavirus briefing in 90 days. his new message to americans, it will probably get worse before it gets better. and what he said about wearing masks. but notably not in attendance dr. fauci or any other health experts. also, president trum asked about jeffrey epstein's alleged accomplice ghislain maxwell. the president in his answer repeatedly saying, i wish her well >>> also the top vaccine makers on capitol hill their answer to the question everyone is asking, when could one be available >>> the outbreak surging, california to

i'm lester holt.s at nbc news, thank you for watching please take care of yourself and each other. good night at least 200 employees have the virus. everybody agrees the key to slowing the spread, the state announced a plan to make an additional 8,000 inmates eligible for release at the end of august. james

lester holt is next.e'll see you again at 6:00. >>> tonight, the sweeping knew mask orders, with the coronavirus spreading faster than ever, alabama, the latest state to order residents to cover up. walmart and kroger to require masks in all stores. >>> oklahoma's governor, after resisting a mask mandate, announcing he's the nation's first governor to test positive >>> and in florida, the grim new milestone. >>> the showdown over schools, houston, atlanta and philadelphia joining the list of big districts to find the trump administration's demand to tully open. >>> a race to make a vaccine, what we're now looking for. >>> president trump in the hot spot of georgia, distancing himself from

i'm lester holt.s at nbc news, thank you for watching please take care of yourself and each other. good night ♪ ♪ >> kelly: hey there, what's up, y'all? i'm back from montana holding it down in l.a. it's a complicated time. it's a time to reflect, listen, and connect with each other, all right? sometimes we need to balance it and take time for ourselves. i am happy to say that my band y'all and i have continued to make some fun music. check out our latest quar-aoke tune "chain of fools" by the one, the only aretha franklin. ♪ ♪ chain, chain, chain ♪ chain, chain, chain ♪ chain of fools ♪ for five long years ♪ i thought you were my man ♪ but i found out ♪ i'm just a link in your chain ♪ ♪ you got me where you want me ♪ i ain't nothin' but your fool ♪ ♪ ya treated me mean

here's lester holt with dreams and nightmares, the meek mill story. >> we're here to demand justice.his plight sparked headlines around the world and protests in the streets. his cases defining a cause for millions, demanding reform. charging the criminal justice system is corrupt; that mass incarceration and a punitive probation system are unfairly insnaring minorities. >> we're sick of a system that over incarcerates black and brown people. >> also known as meek mill a philadelphia rapper who has sold millions of albums. in november 2017, he was thrown in prison for probation violations. but the free meek mill movement gave hope to many that justice is on the way. >> in 25 years in working in criminal justice reform, i can't remember a moment that has the potential to galvanize the public the way meek mill's horrible situation has done and is going to do. >> we're with meek mill as our cameras go behind the scenes to capture his journey to freedom. >> this is so crazy. >> how easy it is to get in the system is probably 100 times harder to get out, even if you're innocent. >> dreams

i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, goodnight.

. >> announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. >>> and a good friday evening. i'm craig melvin in for lester tonight the investigation into the death of elijah mcclain last year has taken another turn with authorities in aurora, colorado saying police officers reenacted the choke hold that was used on the 23-year-old. the interim police chief saying, quote, we are ashamed nbc's gabe gutierrez is there >> reporter: these are the photos aurora police now say were taken by their own officers in october, mocking the death of elijah mcclain. >> we are ashamed, we're sickened and we're angry. while the allegations of this internal affairs case are not criminal it is a crime against humanity and decency. >> reporter: late today the city's interim police chief announced these two officers would be fired for conduct unbecoming, a third would have been fired bu resigned first a fourth was also let go after getting the photos in a group text and responding ha ha that fourth officer, jason rosenblatt had also been involved in the initial encounter with mcclain. >> saying ha

lester holt takes a look back at lewis' life. >> when you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. to do something. >> reporter: john lewis devoted his life for the fight for justice and equality. >> something deep down within me moving me that i could no longer be satisfied. >> reporter: the son of rural alabama share croppers, lewis was inspired as a teenager by activism of rosa parks and dr. martin luther king jr. he joined the civil rights movement in the early days. sit-ins and movement rides. >> segregation was the order of the day. >> i wanted to do something about it. we wanted to redeem the soul of america and move toward a more perfect union. >> reporter: he was the leader of the student nonviolent coordinating committee and organized the march on washington. >> i have a dream. >> reporter: lewis spoke that day, too. he was 23. >> we do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now. >> reporter: and he was among the leaders who met that day with president john f. kennedy. >> i was not concerned about mak

lester holt asked the mayor of los angeles about the city's response to the pandemic >> over the last few weeks you have threatened to reimpose a stay at home order in los angeles. >> it's always a possibility but it feels much better today i think a lot of places are learning about covid-19. you should probably pause and wait three to four weeks to see what the impact is so far, things are stabilizing we're seeing hospitalization being able to be stable so if it doesn't shore up i don't think we will have to close further but it requires us all to do our pa success in the pandemic after the first to impose stay at home orders only to see a surge in cases over the last several weeks. >> a lot of should have could have what keeps you up at night i wish we would have done x, y and z? >> first to have masks the first to serve and focus on the african american community i will tell you this, what's confusing is this is the scientific method in real time somebody out there has the perfect answer to covid-19 and if you just stick to the plan the scientists will tell you what to do the scien

thank you for watching everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. ♪ >> kelly: hey, what's up y'all? it's another beautiful day and our summer a staycation celebration. let's get started with a song by the cranberries when music was awesome. here is me and my band y'all with "linger." ♪ ♪ if you, if you could return ♪ don't let it burn ♪ don't let it fade ♪ i'm sure i'm not being rude ♪ but it's just your attitude ♪ it's tearing me apart ♪ is y day me ♪ ♪ i swore i would be true ♪ and fellow, so did you ♪ so why were you holding her hand? ♪ ♪ is at

eastern, lester holt will anchor an nbc news special report remembering john lewis >>> wicked weathermultiple front. let's bring in janessa webb. good morning >> good morning, everyone. it has been a tough weekend with our first hurricane hitting south texas. we're watching that system make its way well to the south. also on our radar we have hurricane douglas. doesn't look like it will be a direct hit on honolulu but the outer bands will cause concern we're watching the tropics, 90% development of our unnamed storm that will make its way to the lesser antilles. poteial path intnt the mid-to-u. humidity is staying in place for the deep south all the way through the southeast. summer heat building >>> we have heat alerts that continue across the northeast. we'll talk more about that coming up. >> hope those acs are working and working well >>> in today's quick hits an elvis presley impersonator set a record for singi nonstop. it spanned 50 hours. the previous record was 43 hours. >> undefeated boxer got a knock out victory with the fast first guestkout on the michele obama podcast it p