NBC Nightly News Full Episode - July 17

>>> NEW MEDICAL. DIAGNOSIS. THE PRESIDENT. EXPERIENCING SWELLING. IN HIS LEGS, NOW. DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC. VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY. THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO. EXPLAINING THIS. BRUISING ON HIS HAND. APPEARING TO BE. COVERED IN MAKEUP. TONIGHT WE'LL SHOW YOU. THE LETTER FROM HIS. DOCTOR ASSURING THE. COUNTRY THE PRESIDENT. REMAINS IN EXCELLENT. HEALTH. >>> FLASH FLOODING IN. THE MIDWEST AS A. MONTHS' WORTH OF RAIN.

HITS KANSAS CITY IN. UNDER 24 HOURS. IN NEW JERSEY, WE HEAR. FROM A MAN WHO. SURVIVED AFTER GETTING. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. >>> TENS OF MILLIONS. UNDER HEAT ALERTS AS. THAT TROPICAL. DISTURBANCE CLOSES IN. ON LOUISIANA. >>> AN ISRAELI STRIKE. ON THE ONLY CATHOLIC. CHURCH IN GAZA. THE PARISH PRIEST, A. CLOSE FRIEND OF THE. LATE POPE FRANCIS. INJURED. WHY ISRAEL SAYS IT WAS. A STUNNING MISTAKE. >>> THE ARREST OF THE. KILLER OF THE PADDLE.

BORDER KILLED IN. MAINE. WHAT THE MEDICAL. EXAMINER SAYS IS THE. CAUSE OF HER DEATH. >>> IN OUR SERIES THE. COST OF DENIAL, A. NORTH CAROLINA COUPLE. DENIED OVER AND OVER. BY THEIR INSURANCE FOR. MEDICATIONS TO MANAGE. SIDE EFFECTS FROM. CANCER TREATMENT. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN. THEY USED AI TO WRITE. THEIR LAST APPEAL. LETTER. >>> AND ONE MAN'S. ODYSSEY TO GET AS MANY. FREE MEALS, COFFEE AND. ICE CREAM AS HE COULD. ON HIS BIRTHDAY. TONIGHT THE INDIANA. JONES OF FREEBIES. SHARES HIS SECRETS. "NIGHTLY NEWS" STARTS. RIGHT NOW.

>> Announcer: THIS IS. "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS". WITH LESTER HOLT WITH. TOM LLAMAS. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. WITH SO MUCH SCRUTINY. ON THE HEALTH OF THE. AMERICAN PRESIDENT. LATELY, IT CAME AS A. SURPRISE WHEN THE. WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD. BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A. MEDICAL CONDITION. IMPACTING BLOOD FLOW, KNOWN AS CHRONIC. VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY. IT CAN CREATE SWELLING. IN THE LEGS, WHICH. SOME HAVE OBSERVED IN. HIS RECENT PUBLIC. APPEARANCES. IT'S A COMMON. DIAGNOSIS FOR OLDER.

ADULTS, AND THE. PRESIDENT'S DOCTOR. SAID OVERALL HE IS IN. EXCELLENT HEALTH. AND THEN THERE ARE HIS. HANDS, WHICH SOME HAVE. NOTED APPEAR TO BE. COVERED IN MAKEUP IN. RECENT WEEKS. THE WHITE HOUSE. SECRETARY SAYS IT. STEMS FROM GREETING SO. MANY PEOPLE WITH A. HANDSHAKE. GARRETT HAAKE LEADS US. OFF TONIGHT FROM THE. WHITE HOUSE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. WITH RECENT PHOTOS. SHOWING WHAT APPEAR TO. BE SWELLING IN. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. ANKLES AND BRUISES ON. HIS HANDS, THIS. ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE. WHITE HOUSE. >> IN THE EFFORT OF. TRANSPARENCY, THE. PRESIDENT WANTED ME TO. SHARE A NOTE FROM HIS. PHYSICIAN WITH ALL OF. YOU TODAY. >> Reporter: PRESS.

SECRETARY KAROLINE. LEAVITT LEADING A. LETTER FROM THE. PRESIDENT'S DOCTOR, NOTING HE HAS BEEN. DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC. VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY, A COMMON SWELLING OF. THE LEGS CAUSED BY. BLOOD POOLING IN THE. VEINS. >> IN RECENT WEEKS. PRESIDENT TRUMP NOTED. MILD SWELLING IN HIS. LOWER LEGISLATION. BILATERAL LOWER. EXTREMITIES THAT. VENOUS DOPPLER. ULTRASOUNDED WERE. PERFORMED AND REVEALED. CHRONIC VENOUS. INSUFFICIENCY, A. BENIGN AND COMMON. CONDITION, PARTICULARLY IN. INDIVIDUALS OVER THE. AGE OF 70.

IMPORTANTLY, THERE WAS. NO EVIDENCE OF DEEP. VEIN THROMBOSIS OR. ARTERIAL DISEASE. >> Reporter: THAT. LETTER WHICH THE WHITE. HOUSE RELEASED NOTED. AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM WAS. ALSO PERFORMED. NO SIGNS OF HEART. FAILURE, RENAL. IMPAIRMENT WERE. IDENTIFIED. ADDING THE PRESIDENT. REMAINS IN EXCELLENT. HEALTH. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS. THE PRESIDENT, WHO IS. 79, IS NOT. EXPERIENCING PAIN OR. DISCOMFORT. >> CHRONIC VENOUS. INSUFFICIENCY, IT'S. ACTUALLY QUITE COMMON.

IT OCCURS IN ABOUT 40. TO 50% OF ADULTS OVER. THE AGE OF 70. >> Reporter: WE SPOKE. TO VASCULAR SURGEON. DR. LEE KIRKSEY AT THE. CLEVELAND CLINIC. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS. TYPICALLY? >> THOSE PATIENTS WITH. MILD SYMPTOMS MAY HAVE. OCCASIONAL LEG. SWELLING. IN THE MOST SEVERE. INSTANCES, PATIENTS. MAY EXPERIENCE. DISCOLORATION OR EVEN. SKIN ULCERATION. >> Reporter: AS FOR. THE BRUISING ON HIS. HANDS SEEN HERE DURING. A MEETING WITH FRENCH. PRESIDENT MACRON IN. FEBRUARY AND APPEARING. TO BE COVERED BY. MAKEUP EARLIER THIS.

WEEK. THE WHITE HOUSE. PHYSICIAN SAYING IT'S. CONSISTENT WITH MINOR. SOFT TISSUE IRRITATION. FROM HANDSHAKING AND. TAKING ASPIRIN. THE PRESIDENT HAS. JOKED ABOUT THE AMOUNT. OF HAND-SHAKING HIS. ROLE REQUIRES. INCLUDING AFTER THIS. LENGTHY RECEIVING LINE. AFTER HIS TRIP TO THE. MIDDLE EAST. >> I SHOOK MORE HANDS. THAN ANY HUMAN BEING. IS CAPABLE OF DOING. THAT WAS A LONG DEAL. AND THEY WERE BIG. PEOPLE. >> GARRETT JOINS US. TONIGHT FROM THE WHITE. HOUSE. GARRETT, HOW IS THIS. DIAGNOSIS EXPECTED TO.

AFFECT THE PRESIDENT. GOING FORWARD? >> Reporter: WELL, TOM, THE WHITE HOUSE. INSISTS THAT IT WON'T. A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL. TELLS ME THE PRESIDENT. DOESN'T INTEND TO MAKE. ANY CHANGES TO HIS. SCHEDULE OR TO HIS. LIFESTYLE. THEY SAY TODAY'S. DISCLOSURE IS MORE. ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. THAN ANY KIND OF. MEDICAL CONCERN. >> GARRETT HAAKE. LEADING US OFF, THANK. YOU. >>> NOW TO THE SOUTH. WHERE FOUR MILLION ARE. UNDER FLOOD WATCHES IN. LOUISIANA AND. MISSISSIPPI AS A. TROPICAL DOWNPOUR IS. EXPECTED TO SOAK THE. CENTRAL GULF COAST. IN THE STORM ZONE.

TONIGHT. >> Reporter: HEAVY. RAIN AND GUSTING WINDS. SLAMMING SOUTHWEST. IN MISSOURI, DRAMATIC. FLASH FLOODING. THIS ROADWAY. COMPLETELY WASHED OUT. AND THE CITY SEEING A. MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN. IN JUST 24 HOURS. IN NEW JERSEY, OFFICIALS SAY A DEADLY. LIGHTNING STRIKE AT. THIS ARCHERY CLUB. INJURED MORE THAN A. DOZEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING A. 7-YEAR-OLD. BUT THOMAS, THE CLUB'S. TREASURER, SURVIVING. AND IS NOW RECOVERING. FROM FIRST-DEGREE. BURNS ON HIS BODY. HOW LUCKY DO YOU FEEL. TO BE ALIVE?

>> I GUESS I'M PRETTY. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. >> Reporter: THOMAS. AND OTHER WITNESSES AT. THE RANGE SAY THERE. WAS NO RAIN OR THUNDER. BEFORE THE BOLT. STRUCK, WHICH. AUTHORITIES SAY KILLED. 61-YEAR-OLD ROBERT. MONTGOMERY. >> HE WAS A REALLY. GOOD GUY. WHEN I REACHED OUT FOR. HELP, HE WAS THE FIRST. ONE THAT ANSWERED. >> Reporter: THIS. WEEK, A STRING OF. SUMMER WILD WEATHER. WREAKING HAVOC ACROSS. THE COUNTRY. >> HOLY-MOLY! >> Reporter: WISCONSIN. SLAMMED WITH AT LEAST.

SEVEN REPORTED. TORNADOES YESTERDAY. NOW SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. AND MISSISSIPPI BRACE. FOR A BOUT OF TROPICAL. TURBULENT WEATHER THAT. MAY DUMP AS MUCH AS 10. INCHES OF RAIN OVER. SEVERAL DAYS. GEORGE SOLIS, NBC. NEWS. >>> OKAY. WE WANT TO HEAD TO THE. MIDEAST NOW AND THE. DEADLY STRIKE ON THE. ONLY CATHOLIC CHURCH. IN GAZA, HIT BY AN. ISRAELI TANK SHELL, PROMPTING PRESIDENT. TRUMP TO CALL ISRAEL'S. PRIME MINISTER TO. CRITICIZE THAT STRIKE. MATT BRADLY IS IN. ISRAEL TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. TO GAZA'S ONLY. CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER. IT WAS STRUCK BY IDsLY.

ARTILLERY. THE BUILDING STILL. STANDING, BUT CHURCH. OFFICIALS SAY THREE. PEOPLE WERE KILLED, TWO OF THEM BURIED. TODAY, THEIR FUNERALS. AT THE NEIGHBORING. GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH. AS THEY WERE LEAVING. AFTER FINISHING THEIR. PRAYER, THEY WERE. TARGETED, SAID THIS. MAN, WHO WAS. SHELTERING IN THE. CHURCH. THESTRIKE PROMPTING A. CALL AND CRITICISM. FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. WHAT IS THE. PRESIDENT'S REACTION. TO THAT CHURCH COMING. UNDER FIRE? >> IT WAS NOT A. POSITIVE REACTION. HE CALLED PRIME. MINISTER NETANYAHU. THIS MORNING TO. ADDRESS THE STRIKES ON. THAT CHURCH IN GAZA.

>> Reporter: THE IDF. SAYS FRAGMENTS FROM A. TANK SHELL FIRED. NEARBY HIT THE CHURCH. MISTAKENLY. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. SAYING ISRAEL DEEPLY. REGRETS THAT A STRAY. AMMUNITION HIT GAZA'S. HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. EVERY INNOCENT LIFE. LOST IS A TRAGEDY. WE CHAIR THE GRIEF OF. THE FAMILIES AND THE. FAITHFUL. AMONG THE LATELY. INJURED WAS THE PARISH. PRIEST. IT WAS THE FATHER THAT. POPE FRANCIS CALLED. EVERY DAY BEFORE HE. DIED TO CHECK UP ON. THE CHURCH AND THE.

TINY CATHOLIC. COMMUNITY HERE AS THEY. KEPT ITS FAITH UNDER. FIRE. TONIGHT POPE LEO. CALLING IT A MILITARY. ATTACK ON THE CHURCH. AND SAYING HE WAS. DEEPLY SADDENED, AND. HE RENEWED HIS CALLS. FOR AN IMMEDIATE. CEASEFIRE. TOM? >> OKAY, MATT, WE. THANK YOU. >>> BACK HOME TO THAT. DEVASTATING DEATH IN. MAINE. POLICE TODAY ARRESTING. A TEENAGER IN. CONNECTION WITH THE. HOMICIDE OF A. 48-YEAR-OLD PADDLE. BORDER WHOSE BODY WAS. FOUND EARLIER THIS. MONTH. NBC'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN. HAS THE LATEST ON THE. INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT. IN THE KILLING OF. SUNSHINE STEWART.

A 17-YEAR-OLD MALE IS. NOW IN CUSTODY WITH. HER HOMICIDE. THE MUCH-0ED LOCAL WAS. FOUND DEAD NEAR A. CAMPSITE IN THE QUIET. TOWN OF UNION, MAINE. POLICE ALSO CONFIRMING. THE 48-YEAR-OLD WAS. KILLED BY. STRANGULATION AND. BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. THE NEWS LEAVING CLOSE. FRIEND CHLOE KELLER. STUNNED. >> THAT'S. INCONCEIVABLE. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING. THAT AGE AND MAKING. THAT CHOICE TO HARM. ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. >> Reporter: POLICE. SAY THE 17-YEAR-OLD. WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT. INCIDENT IN UNION LATE. LAST NIGHT. THEY'VE YET TO RELEASE. HIS IDENTITY, POINTING.

TO HIS STATUS AS A. MINOR, SAYING IN A. STATEMENT THAT THE. TEEN HAS BEEN. TRANSPORTED TO A YOUTH. DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN. SOUTH PORTLAND. >> VERY EXPERIENCED ON. WATER ON PADDLE BOARD. >> Reporter: ACCORDING. TO POLICE, THE BODY. WAS LOCATED DURING A. SEARCH OF CRAWFORD. POND ON JULY 3rd. A LOCAL OFFICIAL SAID. STEWART'S PADDLE BOARD. WAS FOUND BY DRONE ON. AN ISLAND CALLED 100. ACRE. HER BODY WAS NEXT TO. IT WHERE THE WATER MET.

THE SHORE. >> WHERE A COMMUNITY. THAT HAS BEEN SAFE FOR. TIME IMMEMORIAL HAS. ITS INNOCENCE ROBBED. OF IT, IT DOES SHAKE. THE FOUNDATION OF. COMFORT AND SAFETY. >> Reporter: WHAT DO. YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN. NEXT? >> I THINK EVERYONE, ALL OF US WHO KNEW AND. LOVED HER NEED TO. GATHER AND BE TOGETHER. AND CELEBRATE HER. SHE WAS BELOVED, PROFOUNDLY BELOVED BY. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO. KNEW HER. >> Reporter: ERIN. McLAUGHLIN, NBC NEWS. >>> ON THE HEALTH. FRONT TONIGHT, AN. ALARMING NEW REPORT. SHOWS GASTROINTESTINAL.

CANCERS ARE ON THE. RISE IN PEOPLE UNDER. 50, INCREASING FASTER. THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF. ONSET CANCER. HERE IS ANNE THOMPSON. WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO. KNOW. >> CHEMOTHERAPY ROUND. 5 STARTS TODAY. >> Reporter: THIS IS. NOT THE TREND MARK. SEBALANO JUNIOR WANTS. TO SET. >> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD. OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER? >> Reporter: AT 40, HE. WAS DIAGNOSED WITH. STAGE 2 ESOPHAGEAL. CANCER. >> I WAS -- LET'S PUT. IT THIS WAY. I'M STILL PROCESSING. IT TODAY. >> Reporter: IT IS A.

GASTROINTESTINAL, OR. GI CANCER. THE FASTEST RISING. TYPE OF CANCER IN. PEOPLE UNDER 50 IN THE. U.S. AND AROUND THE. WORLD. THEY INCLUDE. COLORECTAL, GASTRIC, PANCREATIC AND. ESOPHAGEAL CANCERS, INCREASING 2% A YEAR. THE FINDINGS PUBLISHED. TODAY IN JAMA. DANA-FARBER'S DR. KIMMIE NG. >> WHAT IS DRIVING THE. INCREASE? >> THAT IS THE. QUESTION OF THE. CENTURY.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT. THE DRIVING THE RATES. >> Reporter: THEY DO. KNOW 1/3 HAVE A. HEREDITARY FACTOR. AMONG OTHER RISK. FACTORS, OBESITY, POOR. DIET, INCLUDING ULTRA. PROCESSED FOODS, AND. SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE. >> WE ALSO NEED TO. START LOOKING AT OTHER. NOVEL ENVIRONMENTAL. EXPOSURES SUCH AS. THINGS IN THE AIR, SUCH AS CHEMICALS IN. OUR FOOD AND THINGS. LIKE MICROPLASTICS. >> Reporter: NOW. CANCER-FREE, MARK IS. URGING HIS FOLLOWERS. TO BE AWARE. >> CANCER COULD HAPPEN. TO ANYBODY AT ANY AGE. AT ANY TIME.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE. SOMETHING IS WRONG, PLEASE GO GET CHECKED. >> Reporter: BECAUSE. ARLY DETECTION CAN. SAVE LIVES. ANNE THOMPSON, NBC. NEWS. >>> WE'RE FOLLOWING. SOME BREAKING NEWS. RIGHT NOW. LET'S GET THIS LATE. UPDATE. >> THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. JUST MOMENTS AGO, A. MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT. FROM CBS SAYING THE. NETWORK IS CANCELING. "THE LATE SHOW" WITH. STEPHEN COLBERT AFTER. MORE THAN THREE. DECADES ON THE AIR. STEPHEN COLBERT MAKING. THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. HIMSELF IN A SOCIAL. MEDIA POST. HE SAID THE NETWORK.

MADE THE CALL TO END. NOT ONLY HIS RUN AS. HOST, BUT TO CANCEL. "THE LATE SHOW" ALL. TOGETHER IN JUST TEN. MONTHS IN MAY OF NEXT. YEAR. COLBERT APPEARED TO. MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT. DURING A RECORDING OF. TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. YOU CAN HEAR THE. AUDIENCE REACTING IN. REALTIME. >> BEFORE WE START THE. SHOW, I WANT TO LET. YOU KNOW SOMETHING. THAT I FOUND OUT JUST. LAST NIGHT. NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR. LAST SEASON. THE NETWORK WILL BE. ENDING "THE LATE SHOW". IN MAY. >> NO! >> AND --. [ BOOING ].

>> YEAH, I SHARE YOUR. FEELINGS. IT'S NOT JUST THE END. OF OUR SHOW, BUT IT'S. THE END OF THE LATE. SHOW ON CBS. I'M NOT BEING. REPLACED. THIS IS ALL JUST GOING. AWAY. >> COLBERT TOOK OVER. AS HOST AND EXECUTIVE. PRODUCER OF THE LATE. SHOW BACK IN 2015. CBS AND PARAMOUNT. RELEASING A STATEMENT. LATE TODAY SAYING IN. PART, "THIS IS PURELY. A FINANCIAL DECISION. AGAINST A CHALLENGING. BACKDROP IN LATE. NIGHT. IT IS NOT RELATED IN. ANY WAY TO THE SHOW'S.

PERFORMANCE, CONTENT. OR ANY OTHER MATTERS. HAPPENING AT. PARAMOUNT.". THIS COMES AMID A. SHIFTING LANDSCAPE AND. PARAMOUNT ITSELF IS IN. THE MIDDLE OF A. HISTORIC MERGER. "THE LATE SHOW". LAUNCHED IN 1993 WITH. DAVID LETTERMAN AS. ARIZONA THE HOST. BEFOREHANDING THE. REINS TO COLBERT. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE SIDE EFFECTS OF. CANCER. LEFT IN EXCRUCIATING. PAIN, BUT THREE TIMES. HER INSURANCE DENIED.

THE MEDICATION HER. OFFICIALS SAID. >>> NOW TO OUR SERIES THE COST. OF DENIAL, AND THE TECHNIQUE. MORE PEOPLE ARE USING TO FIGHT. BACK AGAINST THE INSURANCE. COMPANIES THAT DENY COVERAGE OR. CLAIMS. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SO. SIMPLE OUR BRIAN CHEUNG FOUND. OUT JUST ABOUT ANYONE CAN DO IT. >> I BASICALLY AVOIDED STAIRS. >> YEAH. >> IF I COULD. >> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE. EVERY STEP WAS GRUELING FOR. STEPHANIE NIXDORF. IN DAVIDSON, NORTH CAROLINA, HER.

MORNING ROUTINE NEARLY. IMPOSSIBLE GET THROUGH WITHOUT. PAIN. SHE HAD TO ASK FOR HELP JUST TO. OPEN A JUICE CONTAINER. SO EVEN THAT WAS SOMETHING YOU. COULDN'T DO SIX MONTHS AGO. >> OH, YEAH, NO, NO. >> Reporter: IN 2022, STEPHANIE. WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE 4 SKIN. CANCER. LUCKILY SHE RESPONDED WELL TO. IMMUNOTHERAPY. >> BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS. THAT THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS. >> Reporter: FOR STEPHANIE, THAT. MEANT EXCRUCIATING JOINT PAIN. TWO DOCTORS RECOMMENDED THE. INFUSION MEDICATION INFLIXAMAT,

BUT HER INSURANCE DENIED. >> I'M GOING TO YELL AT THE. INSURANCE. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE'S HUSBAND. JASON FURIOUS WHEN HE SAW THE. DENIAL LETTER FROM PREMERA BLUE. CROSS WHICH HAD COVERED HER. CANCER CARE SAYING THE SERVICE. REQUESTED DON'T MEET GUIDELINES. COVERED. TWO APPEALS WERE ALSO DENIED. DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE BEING. TREATED AS HUMAN BEINGS? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. JUST A. IN. >> YEAH, NO NAME, NO FACE KIND. OF THING.

>> Reporter: DESPERATE, JASON. TURNED TO ARTIFICIAL. INTELLIGENCE. >> YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE, OKAY, THIS IS OUR LAST HOPE. >> Reporter: HE HAD COME ACROSS. A DOCTOR DEVELOPING AN AI TOOL. TO TAKE ON INSURANCE COMPANIES. THAT DOCTOR HELPED HIM TO USE AI. TO GENERATE AN APPEAL LETTER FOR. STEPHANIE MORE THAN 20 PAGES. LONG. WITHIN 48 HOURS OF SENDING IN. THAT VERSION, ALONG WITH COPIES. TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS --. >> RIGHT OFF THE TOP, YOUR. APPEAL WAS APPROVED. >> Reporter: STEPHANIE NOW TELLS. NBC NEWS THAT DENIAL CAME FROM A.

PROCESSING ERA INVOLVING A. MISAPPLICATION OF POLICY. THERE WAS NO INTENT TO DENY. CARE. THE ULTIMATE APPROVAL LEVEL FROM. PREMERA SAID I WANT TO APOLOGIZE. THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO. RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR NINE. MONTHS. NOW THERE ARE AI SERVICES. SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR. INSURANCE DENIALS. >> INTRODUCING CLAIMABLE. >> Reporter: ONE OF THEM, CLAIMABLE, SAYS IT CAN GENERATE. APPEAL LETTERS FOR 70. MEDICATIONS FOR A COST OF ABOUT. $40. >> CLIMBING STAIRS AND STUFF. LIKE THAT. >> CLIMBING STAIRS ARE HARD. >> Reporter: WE TESTED IT WITH.

JASON, PLUGGING IN INSURANCE. INFORMATION AND USING DROP-DOWN. MENUS TO EXPLAIN SYMPTOMS IN THE. DENIED CLAIM. >> SO I WILL HIT CONTINUE. >> Reporter: IN ABOUT 15. MINUTES, I HAD AN EXPANSIVE. APPEALS LETTER, COMPLETE WITH. SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES AND. PERSONAL STORIES. >> THESE ARE THINGS I WOULD. NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF. >> Reporter: THE NIXDORFS CREDIT. WITH STEPHANIE FINALLY GETTING. THE DRUG SHE NEEDED, BUT REGRET. SO MUCH TIME. IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE CEO OF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHAT. WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD SAY WHAT IF THIS WERE. YOUR WIFE AND THIS WAS HAPPENING. TO YOU. >> OR YOUR DAUGHTER OR YOUR. SISTER. >> Reporter: THAT MESSAGE FROM A. COUPLE THAT SAID THEY HAD TO USE. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO BE. TREATED LIKE REAL PEOPLE. AND BRIAN CHEUNG JOINS US NOW. LIVE IN THE STUDIO. BRIAN, FOR SOME USING AI MAY. SOUND INTIMIDATING. >> IT SOUNDS A LITTLE TECHIE AND. DIFFICULT, BUT I FOUND IT QUICK. TO USE. IT'S NOT JUST AI TOOLS BEING. USED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. THERE ARE TOOLS THAT HOMEOWNERS. CAN USE TO DISPUTE THEIR DENIED.

CLAIMS AS WELL. >> BRIAN CHEUNG FOR US. BR. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH AN. UPDATE IN THE BREONNA TAYLOR. CASE ASKING TO SENTENCE THE. OFFICER ONE DAY IN PRISON AFTER. HE WAS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING HER. CIVIL RIGHTS. HE WAS CONVICTED ON A SENTENCE.

THAT CARRIES A POTENTIAL MAX. LIFE SENTENCE IN PRISON. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, SOME BIG NEWS. FOR PEOPLE WHO VAPE. THE FDA SAYING THAT JUUL LAB CAN. CONTINUE SELLING CARTRIDGES. AFTER WRAPPING UP A MULTI-YEAR. REVIEW. BUT AN FDA SPOKESPERSON ALSO. SAID THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE. PRODUCTS ARE SAFE OR. FDA-APPROVED. IT JUST MEANS THAT JUUL MET THE. LEGAL STANDARD TO MARKET IN THE. U.S. >>> SAD NEWS IN THE SPORTS WORLD. TONIGHT.

FELIX BAUMGARTNER, THE EXTREME. SKYDIVER AND DAREDEVIL DIED IN. AN ACCIDENT IN ITALY. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HIM FROM THIS. MOMENT, HIS 2012 STUNT WHEN HE. JUMPRST SOLO WOMAN. TO TOP THE BILLBOARD 100. CONNIE FRANCIS WAS 87. >>> WHEN WE RETURN, A REMINDER. WHY THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE. FREE. ONE MAN'S ODYSSEY TO GET ERR. FREEBIE HE CAN FIND FROM COOKIES. >>> ALLY, THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

TONIGHT. WHO DOESN'T LOVE A FREEBIE ON. THEIR BIRTHDAY? WELL, ONE MAN IS MAKING IT HIS. MISSION TO SEE HOW MUCH FOOD, COFFEE AND ICE CREAM ONE. BIRTHDAY BOY CAN GET. HERE IS CAMILA BERNAL. >> LET ME SHOW I DON'T WHEREVER. I'M GETTING FREE FOOD TODAY ON. MY BIRTHDAY. >> Reporter: FULL PRICE IS FOR. QUITTERS. >> WETZEL'S PRETZEL. APPLE PIE FROM POPEYE'S. BLAST FREEZE AT TACO BELL. >> FREE ORANGE CHICKEN THIS.

YEAR. >> Reporter: THERE IS ALWAYS A. DEAL CLINT CAN HELP YOU FIND. >> $1 FOR THE $6 TACO. >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY ON YOUR. BIRTHDAY. >> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A. DEAL. I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO SAVE. MONEY. >> SIX LEMON PEPPER WINGS AT. BUFFALO WILD WINGS. >> Reporter: AS "THE WALL STREET. JOURNAL" REPORTED, THIS TREND IS. ON THE RISE. HE IS ONE OF MANY ON SOCIAL. MEDIA COMPETING FOR FREE TREATS. AND EVEN MEALS. >> THIS THING IS GINORMOUS. >> Reporter: THE PREPARATION. TAKES MONTHS, AND WHEN OTHERS. ARE MAKING WISH LISTS, CLINT IS.

MAKING SPREADSHEETS. >> THERE IS NO WAY I COULD GET. IT ALL DONE WITHOUT BEING. ORGANIZED. >> Reporter: FOR THIS YEAR'S. BIRTHDAY, MORE THAN 38 STOPS, 18,000 STEPS, AND LESS THAN $25. SPENT. BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ALONE. . >> I HAD TO CALL IN THE HELP FOR. THESE BIRTHDAY REWARDS. >> Reporter: IS IT FUN OR DOES. IT FEEL LIKE WORK? >> I THINK IT'S A LOT OF FUN. GETTING FREE GUACAMOLE IS. FANTASTIC. >> Reporter: CLINT'S GOAL FOR. NEXT YEAR IS MORE THAN 40. FREEBIES. BUT IN THE MEANTIME --. >> FREE COFFEE.

>> I'M SO EXCITED. >> Reporter: HE IS STILL CASHING. IN THE DEALS. IT'S BETTER WHEN IT'S FREE? >> OH, EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN. IT'S FREE. >> THANKS FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY. WISHES! >> Reporter: CAMILA BERNAL, NBC. NEWS, LOS ANGELES. >> IT IS BETTER WHEN IT'S FREE. SO TRUE. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR. THIS THURSDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. TONIGHT AND ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE. FOR YOU. GOOD NIGHT.