NBC Nightly News Full Episode - April 24

PEACE. THINGS FALL APART AS. HOPE FOR A PEACE DEAL. HITS SERIOUS SNAGS. RUSSIA'S DEADLY. STRIKES ON UKRAINE'S. CAPITAL OVERNIGHT. KILLING 12 AND. INJURING DOZENS MORE. ONE OF THE WORST IN. NEARLY A YEAR. PRESIDENT TRUMP. SPEAKING OUT AGAINST. RUSSIA, CALLING ON. PRESIDENT PUTIN TO. STOP. WHILE TRYING TO. SALVAGE A DEAL. WHAT HE SAID IN THE. WHITE HOUSE AS. UKRAINE RESISTS. AMERICAN PRESSURE TO.

MAKE MAJOR. CONCESSIONS. >> NEARLY 100,000. MOURNERS COME TO PAY. FINAL TRIBUTE TO THE. POPE. INSIDE THE FUNERAL. PREPARATIONS AND. PLANS FOR THE. CONCLAVE TO REPLACE. HIM. TOM LLAMAS LIVE FROM. THE VATICAN. >> OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW. POLL, NEARLY 100 DAYS. INTO THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION, WHY. GEN Z SAYS THEY'RE. STRUGGLING TO MAKE. ENDS MEET IN THE. TRUMP ECONOMY. AND INSIDE THEIR. STARTLING DIVIDES. WHY ONE OF THE. BIGGEST WILDFIRES IN. THE NORTHEAST EVER IS. NOW BEING. INVESTIGATED AS. ARSON.

>> AND ABOVE THE FIRE. LINES, JACOB. SOBOROFF'S EXCLUSIVE. REPORTING ABOUT THE. HIGH-TECH RESEARCH ON. WILDFIRES BEING DONE. FROM THE SKY BY NASA. BUT IS THE PROGRAM IN. JEOPARDY? >> WHY ARE DOLPHINS. DYING? WE GO TO THE. CALIFORNIA COAST TO. SEE WHAT'S KILLING. THESE SPECTACULAR. MARINE MAMMALS. >> AND THE TWO. BROTHERS WHOSE NFL. ASPIRATIONS WERE. BLIND SIDED BY. UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY. IS ONE OF THEM SET TO. FULFILL THEIR DREAMS. TONIGHT AT THE DRAFT. IN GREEN BAY?

>>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. WE START TONIGHT WITH. A DRAMATIC IMAGES. FROM UKRAINE. RUSSIAN MISSILES. RAINING DOWN OVER. KYIV AND STRIKING. DEEP AT THE HEART OF. FRAGILE AMERICAN-LED. PEACE EFFORTS. THE DEADLY ATTACK ONE. OF THE MOST. DEVASTATING STRIKES. ON THE LARGE. UKRAINIAN CITY SINCE. THE START OF THE WAR, KILLING AT LEAST 12. AND INJURING 90. OTHERS. SOME WERE PULLED FROM. THE RUBBLE. THE UKRAINIAN AIR. FORCE SAYING A. COMBINATION OF OVER.

200 RUSSIAN MISSILES. AND DRONES TARGETED. THE UKRAINIAN. CAPITAL. ROUGHLY HALF, THEY. SAY, WERE SHOT DOWN. THE OVERNIGHT. BOMBARDMENT TAKING. PLACE HOURS AFTER. PRESIDENT TRUMP. ACCUSED UKRAINE'S. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. OF DERAILING PEACE. NEGOTIATIONS, SAYING. PEACE WAS VERY CLOSE. THE PRESIDENT WHO. CAMPAIGNED ON A. PROMISE TO END THE. WAR IN UKRAINE ON DAY. ONE TODAY ISSUING A. RARE REBUKE OF. RUSSIA. HERE'S KEIR SIMMONS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP. ADDRESSING PRESIDENT.

PUTIN BY HIS FIRST. NAME, WRITING, VLADIMIR, STOP. AFTER 12 WERE KILLED. BY A RUSSIAN. ONSLAUGHT ON. UKRAINE'S CAPITAL. A MASSIVE STRIKE AND. ONE MISSILE MAY HAVE. BEEN NORTH KOREAN, UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT. ZELENSKYY SAYS. HOW MUCH MORE, THIS. UKRAINIAN WOMAN. PLEADS. >> I DIDN'T LIKE LAST. NIGHT. I WASN'T HAPPY WITH. IT. AND WE'RE IN THE. MIDST OF TALKING. PEACE AND MISSILES. WERE FIRED. >> Reporter: THE. IMAGES FROM KYIV OF. FAMILIES CARRYING IN. SHELTERS NOTHING LIKE.

THE PEACE DEAL THE. PRESIDENT STILL. PROMISES. VERY BAD TIMING, TRUMP WROTE IN HIS. MESSAGE TO PUTIN. INSISTING TODAY, A. DEAL IS STILL CLOSE. >> WE'RE PUTTING A. LOT OF PRESSURE ON. RUSSIA. I THINK THEY BOTH. WANT PEACE RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE READY TO DO. SOMETHING. >> Reporter: THOUGH. TRUMP WRONGLY CALLING. PUTIN'S FAILURE TO. TAKE MORE UKRAINIAN. TERRITORY A. CONCESSION. >> STOPPING THE WAR, STOPPING, TAKING THE. WHOLE COUNTRY, PRETTY. BIG CONCESSION. >> Reporter: AND JUST. 24 HOURS EARLIER, HIS. RIFT WITH PRESIDENT.

ZELENSKYY MAGNIFIED. AFTER THE UKRAINIAN. LEADER REFUSED TO. ACCEPT THE U.S. PROPOSED TO RECOGNIZE. RUSSIA'S ANNEXATION. OF CRIMEA, SAYING. IT'S AGAINST. UKRAINE'S. CONSTITUTION. >> I THOUGHT IT MIGHT. BE EASIER TO DEAL. WITH ZELENSKYY. >> Reporter: ZELENSKYY CUTTING. SHORT A FOREIGN TRIP. SAYING IT'S RUSSIA. THAT HAS REFUSED AN. UNCONDITIONAL. CEASE-FIRE. THE KREMLIN INSISTING. TONIGHT PUTIN STANDS. FOR A PEACE THAT. RESPECTS RUSSIA'S. INTERESTS. ON THE STREETS OF. MOSCOW THIS WEEK, THIS RUSSIAN WOMAN. TELLING NBC NEWS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A.

TRUCE. BUT THIS MAN URGING. RUSSIA TO KEEP. FIGHTING AND IN KYIV, THIS WOMAN SAYING, WE. DO NOT NEED PEACE AT. ANY PRICE. BATTLE HARDENED VIEWS. MAKING COMPROMISE. HARDER. >> KEIR, WHAT MORE DO. WE KNOW ABOUT THE. PEACE TALKS? IS A DEAL IN FACT. CLOSE? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S ENVOY WHO WAS. AT THE PEACE TALKS IN. LONDON THIS WEEK, GENERAL KELLOGG, TOLD. ME TODAY THEY WERE, QUOTE, CANDID, CONSTRUCTIVE, AND. PRODUCTIVE. BUT THE TALKS ARE.

EXPOSING RED LINES ON. ALL SIDES THAT MAKE. ACHIEVING A DEAL. REALLY DIFFICULT. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYING TODAY, WE WANT. IT DONE. WE HAVE A DEADLINE. LESTER. >> KEIR SIMMONS, THANK YOU. >>> TURNING NOW TO. THE VATICAN WHERE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF. MOURNERS FLOWED. THROUGH ST. PETER'S. BASILICA AGAIN TODAY. TO HONOR THE LIFE OF. POPE FRANCIS. TOM LLAMAS IS THERE, AND THERE'S BEEN A. FLURRY OF ACTIVITY. TODAY. >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT, LESTER. WE CAN STILL SEE THE. LINES MOVING HERE IN. ST. PETER'S SQUARE. THEY HAVE BLOWN PAST.

THAT MIDNIGHT. DEADLINE A SECOND. NIGHT IN A ROW. CITY OFFICIALS ARE. NOW ESTIMATING MORE. THAN 100,000 PEOPLE. WILL SHOW UP HERE FOR. THE POPE'S FUNERAL ON. SATURDAY. THE AISLE INSIDE ST. PETER'S BASILICA HAS. BEEN PACKED LIKE THIS. FOR NEARLY TWO DAYS. NOW. MORE THAN 90,000. PEOPLE HAVE PAID. THEIR RESPECTS TO. POPE FRANCIS SO FAR. VATICAN CAMERAS. CAPTURING THIS MOMENT. SHOWING A NUN WHO WAS. A CLOSE FRIEND OF. POPE FRANCIS ALLOWED.

SPECIAL ACCESS NEAR. THE CASKET. SHE THEN BEGINS TO. CRY. >> HE WANTED PEACE. AND HE WAS A GOOD. MAN, AND HE WAS SO. KIND. I MEAN, I GOT REALLY. UPSET WHEN I HEARD HE. PASSED AWAY. >> Reporter: CARDINALS ARE MEETING. DAILY TO FINALIZE. PLANS FOR SATURDAY'S. FUNERAL IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE. WITH THE VATICAN. REVEALING NEW DETAILS. TODAY. INCLUDING THE. LIBRETTO, A PROGRAM. WITH THE PLANNED. READINGS, PRAYERS, AND PSALMS. THE VATICAN SAYS.

DELEGATIONS FROM 130. COUNTRIES WILL BE. THERE INCLUDING 50. HEADS OF STATE. THESE AMERICAN. COLLEGE STUDENTS TOLD. ME THEY WILL BE TOO. >> WHEN I HEARD THE. POPE DIED I JUST. INSTANTLY CAME TO THE. CONCLUSION I HAVE TO. GO TO THE FUNERAL. I VERY MUCH RESPECT. THE POPE AND REALLY. LIKED HIM. >> Reporter: FATHER. PATRICK BRISKO MET. POPE FRANCIS SEVERAL. TIMES. >> WHAT DO YOU EXPECT. FROM THE FUNERAL. MASS? >> I EXPECT THERE. WILL BE MUCH. CHEERING, MUCH. JUBILATION.

WE HAVE SEEN THESE. YOUNG CROWDS OF. PEOPLE WANTING TO PAY. RESPECTS FOR THE ONLY. POPE THEY HAVE KNOWN. >> Reporter: AFTER. THE MASS, POPE. FRANCIS' BODY WILL BE. TRANSPORTED THROUGH. THE STREETS OF ROME. THE ROUTE WHICH. POLICE SHARED WITH. NBC NEWS WILL PASS. NEAR THE FORUM AND. COLISEUM, ENDING UP. AT SANTA MARIA. BASILICA WHERE POPE. FRANCIS OFTEN PRAYED. WHERE HE'S CHOSEN TO. BE BURIED. TODAY, THE VATICAN. RELEASING THE IMAGES. OF HIS SIMPLE TOMB. ONE WORD, FRANCISCUS,

AND ANNOUNCING ON. SATURDAY THE STEPS OF. THE BASILICA WILL BE. LINED WITH A GROUP OF. POOR AND NEEDY. ALSO ATTENDING THE. FUNERAL, SYRIAN. REFUGEE, WHO TOLD ME. SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF. SHE WOULD BE ALIVE. WITHOUT POPE FRANCIS. IN 2016, THE PONTIFF. ALONG WITH A. HUMANITARIAN GROUP. HELPED RESCUE HER. FAMILY FROM A REFUGEE. CAMP, RESETTLING THEM. IN ROME. IF YOU COULD HAVE. SAID ONE LAST THING. TO HIM, WHAT WOULD. YOU SAY? I WOULD THANK HIM, SHE SAYS. BECAUSE HE CHANGED. THE FUTURE OF MY.

FAMILY. >> AND TOM, TOMORROW. IS THE LAST DAY POPE. FRANCIS WILL LAY IN. STATE. >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. THE VATICAN SAYS THE. PUBLIC VIEWING WILL. END AROUND 7:00 P.M. LOCAL AND THEN ABOUT. AN HOUR LATER, THE. ANCIENT RITUAL, THE. SEALING OF THE. COFFIN, WILL TAKE. PLACE. THE AMERICAN CARDINAL. KEVIN FERRELL WILL. OVERSEE THAT. HE'S THE CAMERLINGO, OF COURSE, AND IT'S. ONE OF THE LAST STEPS. BEFORE THE FUNERAL. >> THANKS. >>> NOW WE TURN TO A. TERRIFYING SCENE IN. MIAMI TODAY, AFTER A. GUNMAN OPENED FIRE AT.

A BUSINESS, WOUNDING. SEVERAL PEOPLE. GEORGE SOLIS HAS LATE. DETAILS. >> Reporter: DRAMATIC. MOMENTS AT A SHOOT. OUT TODAY IN MIAMI. CAUGHT ON VIDEO AFTER. OFFICIALS SAY A. SUSPECT OPENED FIRE. >> WE'RE HAVING A. SHOOT OUT. THERE ARE SEVERAL. PEOPLE IN THE AREA, INCLUDING SMALL. CHILDREN. >> Reporter: VIDEO. ALSO SHOWING OFFICERS. WITH WEAPONS DRAWN. AND PEOPLE RUNNING. FOR COVER AMIDST A.

HAIL OF GUNFIRE. THE HARROWING SCENE. UNFOLDING AROUND THE. LUNCH HOUR AT A. WAREHOUSE IN. SOUTHWEST MIAMI. DEPUTIES WITH SHIELDS. SWARMED THE BUILDING. AS SEVERAL PEOPLE. WERE EVACUATED FROM. NEARBY BUSINESSES. SOME RUNNING OUT OF. BUILDINGS WITH THEIR. HANDS IN THE AIR. LYDIA WAS IN THE CAR. WITH HER DAUGHTER AND. HEADING TO A. CHEERLEADING CLASS. NEAR WHERE THE. GUNFIRE BEGAN. THE PAIR DUCKING DOWN. FOR COVER. >> SEEING MY DAUGHTER. SCREAM IN TERROR, THAT WAS REALLY HARD. BECAUSE AS A PARENT,

YOU'RE LIKE AT THAT. MOMENT, I FELT LIKE. WE NEED TO BE SAFE. >> Reporter: THE. SHERIFF SAYING THREE. WERE WOUNDED. INCLUDING THE. SHOOTER. HOSPITAL SAYING THEY. ARE TREATING THREE. PATIENTS NOW IN. CRITICAL CONDITION. >> WE WANT THE. COMMUNITY TO KNOW. THAT RIGHT NOW, THERE. IS NO IMMINENT. THREAT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, OFFICIALS SAY THE. INVESTIGATION IS. ONGOING AS THEY WORK. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT. THE SUSPECT. THEY'RE ALSO ASKING. FOR ANY INFORMATION. THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE. LESTER. >> GEORGE SOLIS, THANK YOU. >>> THE MAN WHO. CONFESSED TO A. HORRIFIC JULY 4th. MASSACRE WILL SPEND. THE REST OF HIS LIFE. IN PRISON. ROBERT CRIMO III WAS.

ABSENT FROM COURT AS. HE WAS HANDED SEVEN. LIFE SENTENCES BY A. CHICAGO AREA JUDGE. CRIMO KILLED SEVEN. PEOPLE AND WOUNDED. DOZENS MORE DURING AN. INDEPENDENCE DAY. PARADE IN 2022 THAT. STUNNED THE NATION. >>> WE TURN NOW TO. THAT MAJOR. ANNOUNCEMENT FROM. AUTHORITIES IN NEW. JERSEY SAYING A. MASSIVE WILDFIRE. THERE WAS. INTENTIONALLY SET, AND THEY HAVE NOW. MADE AN ARREST IN THE. CASE. SAM BROCK IS HERE. SAM, THE TEENAGE. SUSPECT WAS IN COURT. TODAY. >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. NOW WE'RE TALKING. ABOUT A WILDFIRE THAT.

HAS ALREADY BURNED. 15,000 ACRES AND. TONIGHT, LESTER, PROSECUTORS HAVE. CHARGED A 19-YEAR-OLD. WHO LIVES IN OCEAN. COUNTY OF STARTING IT. WITH A BONFIRE. THEY SAY JOSEPH CLING. FACES TWO CHARGES, SECOND DEGREE. AGGRAVATED ARSON WITH. PURPOSELY DESTROYING. A FOREST AND A THIRD. DEGREE ARSON CHARGE. OFFICIALS SAY THEY. PINPOINTED THE ORIGIN. OF THE FIRE USING GPS. TECHNOLOGY AND LINKED. IT TO CLING WHO LIT. WOODEN PALETTES ON. FIRE AND LEAVING. WITHOUT PROPERLY. EXTINGUISHING THE. FLAMES. THE FIRE IS STILL.

ONLY 50% CONTAINED. AND EARLIER FORCED. 5,000 EVACUATIONS. >>> MEANWHILE. TONIGHT, WE'RE. GETTING AN EXCLUSIVE. LOOK INSIDE ONE NASA. MISSION THAT STUDIES. THE SCIENCE OF. WILDFIRES. IT'S AN EARTH SCIENCE. PROGRAM THAT COULD. POSSIBLY BE AT RISK. DUE TO BUDGET CUTS. WE GET DETAILS FROM. JACOB SOBOROFF. >> THIS IS WHAT A. CONTROLLED BURN LOOKS. LIKE. >> HANNAH BLINK IS. PART OF AN EFFORT LED. BY NASA STUDYING THE. SCIENCE OF WILDFIRES.

WHICH MEANS SHE GETS. TO SET ONE HERSELF. >> WE'LL PUT A LITTLE. STRIP LIKE THAT. IT BURNS HOT AND. FAST. >> Reporter: FROM THE. SKY, NASA'S FIRE. SENSE MISSION. MONITORS THE FIRES. FROM TECHNOLOGY. DEPLOYED INSIDE THREE. AIRPLANES THAT MAP. FIRE DETAILS. INCLUDING. TEMPERATURE, HOT. SPOTS, AND FUELS. AND IS ABLE TO. TRANSMIT REALTIME. DATA TO THE GROUND. >> NEVER WALKED. THROUGH A FIRE. BEFORE. >> Reporter: HARRISON. RAIN IS A FORMER. ELITE HOT SHOT. FIREFIGHTER AND NOW. PROJECT COORDINATOR.

FOR NASA. THIS IS A SCIENCE. EXPERIMENT. >> REALLY WHAT WE'RE. TRYING TO DO IS. UNDERSTAND THE. FIREFIGHTER. EXPERIENCE AND. COMBINE THAT WITH. SCIENCE TO CREATE. TOOLS THAT WORK UNDER. STRESS. >> Reporter: SO. BASICALLY, IT'S A. TRIANGULATION OF. SORTS. FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS. ON THE GROUND TO. BETTER FIGHT A FIRE. LIKE THIS. >> CORRECT. >> CREATING THE. INFERNO FROM WHICH. THE DATA IS COLLECTED. IS A SCIENCE IN AND. OF ITSELF. >> THE INTERIOR OF. THE BURN UNIT THEY'RE. LIGHTING OFF WITH THE. HELICOPTER. >> YOU SAY THE. HELICOPTER. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU SEE US DOWN. HERE? >> WE SEE YOU. >> HOW IMPORTANT IS. THE CHOPPER? >> IT'S EXTREMELY. IMPORTANT. IT HELPS US CARRY OUT. BIG ACREAGE IN A. SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> THIS IS WHAT THAT. CONTROLLED BURN LOOKS. LIKE FROM THE SKY. IT WILL GROW TO MORE. THAN 700 ACRES. BECAUSE OF IGNITION. EFFORTS LAUNCHED FROM. THIS HELICOPTER. THIS MACHINE SHOOTS. OUT PING-PONG SIZED. BALLS INTO THE FOREST. THAT COMBUST WHEN. THEY HIT THE FLOOR. >> DO YOU GET THE.

SENSE OPERATIONALLY. THE TYPE OF. INFORMATION THEY'RE. COLLECTING COULD. CHANGE FIREFIGHTING. ON THE GROUND? >> ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE ADDING A COUPLE. MORE DIMENSIONS TO. IT. >> BATTLING FIRE IN. MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS. WITH SCIENTISTS. JOINING THE FIREFIGHT. OF THE FUTURE. JACOB SOBOROFF, NBC. NEWS, FT. STEWART, GEORGIA. >> NOW TO OUR NEW NBC. NEWS STAY TUNED POLL. WHICH GIVES A RARE. LOOK AT HOW GEN Z. VIEWS A RANGE OF. ISSUES, FROM DUE. PROCESS TO GENDER. ROLES AND THE.

ECONOMY. HERE'S SAVANNAH. SELLERS. >> Reporter: 25-YEAR-OLD CLAIRE. JOSEPH IS LIVING WITH. HER PARENTS TO MAKE. ENDS MEET. >> I CAN'T EVEN. AFFORD TO RENT A. PLACE IN THIS AREA. LET ALONE OWN. ANYTHING. >> Reporter: A NEW. NBC NEWS STAY TUNED. POLL POWERED BY. SURVEY MONKEY SHOWS. MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. SHARE HER STRUGGLES. AND 69% OF GEN Z POLL. PARTICIPANTS SAID. THEY DISAPPROVE OF. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. HANDLING OF INFLATION. AND THE COST OF. LIVING. >> I SEE MY FRIENDS. RUNNING THROUGH THEIR. SAVINGS. >> Reporter: ANOTHER.

AREA OF BROAD. AGREEMENT, DUE. PROCESS PROTECTIONS. FOR THOSE IN THE U.S. ON A STUDENT VISA OR. GREEN CARD, WITH 92%. OF GEN Z SAYING IT'S. IMPORTANT THEY'RE THE. SAME AS THOSE OF U.S. CITIZENS. THE HIGHEST OF ANY. GENERATION POLLED. 25-YEAR-OLD CORINNE. IS NOT SURPRISED BY. THAT NUMBER. >> I THINK THEY. SHOULD ABSOLUTELY. HAVE THE SAME DUE. PROCESS RIGHTS AS ANY. AMERICAN. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK. THE GROUNDS SHOULD BE. FOR REVOKING. SOMEONE'S STUDENT. VISA? >> GOSH, MURDER, ASSAULT, BUT NOT. SPEAKING YOUR MIND.

>> Reporter: 23-YEAR-OLD JALEN. HURTS SAYS HE ALSO. SUPPORTS DUE PROCESS. PROTECTIONS BUT. THINKS SOME. DEPORTATIONS ARE. JUSTIFIED. >> I BELIEVE IF. SOMEONE IS OPENLY. EXPRESSING HATE AND. VIOLENCE AGAINST THE. ADMINISTRATION OR. AGAINST THE COUNTRY. THEY'RE IN, I FEEL. LIKE THAT SHOULD. REVOKE THE VISA. >> Reporter: ONE OF. THE BIGGEST. TAKEAWAYS, THE DIVIDE. BETWEEN GENDERS. ASKED IF AMERICA. WOULD BE STRONGER IF. MORE WOMEN HELD. TRADITIONAL GENDER. ROLES, JUST 26% OF. YOUNG WOMEN AGREED.

COMPARED WITH 41% OF. GEN Z MEN. >> I DON'T WANT TO BE. PERCEIVED AS A. HOMEMAKER. I'M CORINNE. >> DO YOU THINK THAT. AMERICA WOULD BE. STRONGER IF MORE. WOMEN HELD. TRADITIONAL GENDER. ROLES? >> OH, 100%. I BELIEVE TRADITIONAL. GENDER ROLES. STRENGTHEN THE. FAMILY. >> Reporter: THERE. WAS ALSO A STARK. DIVIDE BETWEEN. GENDERS ON THE. QUESTION OF WHETHER. THEY'RE PROUD TO BE. AMERICAN. 41% OF GEN Z WOMEN.

SAID THEY'RE NOT. PROUD, COMPARED TO. 22% OF YOUNG MEN. >> ARE YOU PROUD TO. BE AN AMERICAN? >> I AM. >> BUT OUR POLL. REVEALED OVERALL, PRIDE IS STRONGEST. AMONG THE OLDEST. AMERICANS. AND GROWS WEAKER WITH. EACH YOUNGER. GENERATION. >> ARE YOU PROUD TO. BE AN AMERICAN? >> I THINK THAT'S A. COMPLICATED ANSWER. I AM NOT PROUD OF. WHAT THE COUNTRY IS. DOING RIGHT NOW. OR THE DIRECTION. WE'RE GOING. I'M PROUD OF THE. PEOPLE WHO ARE. STANDING UP FOR IT. >> SAVANNAH SELLERS, NBC NEWS.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT. BACK IN 60 SECONDS. MYSTERY AT THE BEACH. WHAT'S BEHIND A RASH. OF NEW DE. ABOUT AN URGENT. CRISIS UNFOLDING. ALONG THE SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA COAST, WHERE DOLPHINS AND. OTHER MARINE MAMMALS. ARE DYING. SOME RESEARCHERS SAY. AT LEVELS WE HAVEN'T. SEEN BEFORE. LIZ KREUTZ HAS MOR. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, ACROSS THE SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA COAST, THOUSANDS OF MARINE. ANIMALS WASHING UP. SICK OR EVEN DEAD.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL. WEEKS. INCLUDING WHALES, SEA. LIONS AND MOST. NOTABLY, AN. UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER. OF DOLPHINS. >> WE HAVE NEVER SEEN. THIS MANY DOLPHINS. STRANDED EVER THAT. I'M AWARE OF IN. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND IT'S. HEARTBREAKING. >> Reporter: THIS. WEEK, 16 DOLPHINS. FOUND DEAD AT ONE. BEACH IN SAN DIEGO. MORE THAN 50 FOUND. ALONG THE L.A. COUNTY. COAST AND TONIGHT, THIS HUMPBACK WHALE. WASHING UP IN. VENTURA. HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE. THIS YEAR TO PAST. YEARS? >> WORSE, BAD,

HORRIBLE, SCARY, CONCERNING. ALL THOSE WORDS AND. MORE. >> Reporter: SCIENTISTS SAY THE. CAUSE BELIEVED TO BE. POISONING FROM TOXIC. ALGAE BLOOMS THAT. PRODUCE A NEUROTOXIN. THAT GETS INTO THE. ANIMALS' FOOD CHAIN. >> HAD NINE YESTERDAY. ALONE. >> Reporter: THE. MARINE MAMMAL CARE. CENTER IN LOS ANGELES. SAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE TAKEN IN. 375 ANIMALS. THEIR TYPICAL BUDGET. FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, 300. >> WE'RE HAVING TO. PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH. ANIMALS WE RESPOND. TO, WHICH ANIMALS CAN. COME IN FOR CARE. >> Reporter: SCIENTISTS SAY. THEY'RE NOW LOOKING.

INTO WHETHER DEBRIS. RUN-OFF AFTER THE. L.A. FIRES IS PLAYING. A ROLE IN THE. OUTBREAK. >> IT HAS TO HAVE A. CRITTING FACTOR. FIRE RETARDANT IS. REALLY FERTILIZER. IT'S SORT OF A. LOGICAL ASSUMPTION. THAT'S GOING TO FEED. THE ALGAE BLOOM. >> THERE'S A SEA LION. BEHIND ME STRANDED ON. THE BEACH IN SANTA. MONICA. IF YOU SEE AN ANIMAL. LIKE THIS, DO NOT. APPROACH IT AND CALL. ANIMAL CONTROL. >> THANK YOU. >>> FLOOD WATER. RISING, WHEN WE. RETURN, LOUISIANA. UNDER WATER. THE DRAMATIC PICTURES.

JUST IN. PLUS, THE FORMER NFL. STAR AND CABLE HOST. >>> PRO FOOTBALL HALL. OF FAMER SHANNON. SHARPE SAYS HE'S. STEPPING AWAY FROM. HIS ROLE AT ESPN FOR. NOW, IT COMES AFTER A. WOMAN ACCUSED HIM OF. SEXUAL ASSAULT AND. BATTERY IN A $50. MILLION LAWSUIT. SHARPE SAYS THE. RELATIONSHIP IN. QUESTION WAS 100%. CONSENSUAL, AND HE. DENIES THE. ALLEGATIONS. >>> PARTS OF THE.

SOUTH ARE UNDER WATER. TONIGHT AFTER FLASH. FLOODING AND. THUNDERSTORMS. DRENCHED CITIES IN. SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. AND TEXAS. THE GROUND IN MANY OF. THESE COMMUNITIES IS. ALREADY SOAKED FROM. OTHER RECENT STORMS, AND THE MISSISSIPPI. RIVER NEAR BATON. ROUGE IS FLOODED AND. EXPECTED TO STAY THAT. WAY THROUGH NEXT. WEEK. >>> IN ARIZONA, A KID. SELLING DRINKS AND. SNACKS FOR CHARITY. WERE IN FOR A BIG. SURPRISE WHEN NBA. STAR DEVIN BOOKER. SWUNG BY. CHECK OUT THE MOMENT. THEY REALIZED IT WAS.

HIM. >> ARE YOU DEVIN. BOOKER? >> I AM. >> I'M LIKE YOUR. BIGGEST FAN. >> MY MAN, GIVE ME. SOME. >> NICE TO MEET YOU. >> I LOVE THAT. THE ANIMAL RESCUE. CHARITY SAYS BOOKER. MADE A GENEROUS. DONATION. >>> WHEN WE COME. BACK, THE FOOTBALL. PLAYER HONORING HIS. LATE BROTHER AS HE. ENTERS THE NFL DRAFT. HOW HE'S CARRYING ON. THEI. >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, FOOTBALL FANS ARE. ANXIOUSLY AWAITING. THE NFL DRAFT AS IT.

KICKS OFF IN GREEN. BAY. AND FOR ONE COLLEGE. FOOTBALL STAND-OUT. FROM LOUISIANA, GOING. PRO MEANS FULFILLING. HIS OWN DREAM AND HIS. BROTHER'S TOO. HERE'S JESSE KIRSCH. >> Reporter: JACK. BESH HOPES THIS. WEEKEND HE'LL GET THE. CALL AND THE NFL. DRAFT. >> THIS WEEKEND IS. GOING TO BE A ROLLER. COASTER OF EMOTIONS. >> THE 22-YEAR-OLD. WIDE RECEIVER WILL BE. WATCHING AND WAITING. IN HIS HOMETOWN. LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY. AND FRIENDS. BUT HIS BIGGEST FAN. WILL BE MISSING.

>> YOU STILL REMEMBER. WHAT HE DID ON THE. FIELD. >> JACK SHARED A LOVE. FOR FOOTBALL WITH HIS. BIG BROTHER TIGER, A. FORMER PRINCETON. STANDOUT. THEY DREAMED TOGETHER. ABOUT JACK GOING PRO. THEIR PARENTS SAY THE. BROTHER WERE. INSEPARABLE. >> THEY MEANT. EVERYTHING TO EACH. OTHER. >> THEN ANEW YEAR'S. DAY, A TERRORIST. BARRELED DOWN BOURBON. STREET IN NEW ORLEANS. KILLING 14 PEOPLE, INCLUDING TIGER. NOW, JACK SAYS. WHICHEVER TEAM PICKS. HIM IS GETTING A. BARGAIN. >> NOT JUST YOU GOING. TO THE NFL.

>> YOU'RE NOT ONLY. GETTING ME, YOU'RE. GETTING TIGER TOO. I HAVE ANOTHER PERSON. IN ME PUSHING ME. >> TIGER WAS ALWAYS. KNOWN FOR HIS. FEARLESSNESS, AND I. BELIEVE THAT JACK HAS. NOW FULLY EMBRACED. THAT IDEA OF. FEARLESSNESS. >> IN SPITE OF. EVERYTHING THAT'S. HAPPENED IS THIS. WEEKEND ABOUT JOY FOR. YOUR FAMILY? >> DEFINITELY MIXED. EMOTIONS. OVERRIDING JOY, THOUGH. YEAH, FOR SURE. >> Reporter: BECAUSE.

IF JACK'S CHILDHOOD. DREAM COMES TRUE, HE. SAYS HIS BROTHER WILL. STILL BE THERE. JESSE KIRSCH, NBC. NEWS, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA. >> AND THAT IS. "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR. THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.