Aggressive. Even those choppers overhead havent been able to beat back the flames. One of the reasons pushing the fire, theres been so little rain here. About half the normal rainfall. And when i say this fire has been erratic, take a look at the home in front of me, completely destroyed. Meantime, the home behind me, a fuel feet away. Still standing. The blaze has charred some 16,000 acres as firefighters work to beat bam the flames. Today on the front lines, the backbreaking push to contain the silver fire. This is how wild land fires are fought. Using little water, crews utilize backhoes and chainsaws to clear an eightfootwide fire break around the blaze. Weve got to get the Ground Troops on the ground to september fire from the fuel. The ground war is critical, but shifting winds today forced some teams to pull back. A firestorm could suddenly blow in their direction this is what happens when the fire is whipped by winds. At least 26 homes destroyed. Dave matthews lived here for ten years. In less than ten minutes, h house was gone. The house across from me right next door to me, that was fully engulfed, there was nothing they could do when they got here. Still threatening, 539 homes, the relentless blaze burning in banning has moved at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. It signinged my hair is got hot. Miles away from idyllewild where the wildfire skorjed 11,000 acres last month. With 100,000 acres charred across california this year, double the number for this time last year. Crews are battling an historic and deadly fire season out west. Back in banning, its too late for this neighborhood leveled by flames. But amid all the destruction rebecca and her fiance discovered tonight, her home is still standing. Last time the esperanza, fire, our house made it and thank god, our this time it made it, too. Behind me, rebeccas home, no doubt she is one of the lucky ones. This fire is burning about a mile away. It is 25 contained. Over the next several days, 1600 firefighters will be doing all they can working around the clock to fully contain this fire. Lester . Miguel, thank you. Appears tonight the american fugitive president obama once referred to as a 29yearold hacker has forced the president s hand into announcing a series of reviews and possible changes to the governments secret surveillance program. In an afternoon News Conference, the president made it clear he regards Edward Snowdens leaks as criminal acts. But he acknowledged that the leaks have undermined public trust and required a much more rapid response. Nbcs chuck todd asked the question that was on everyones mind. He joins us now from the white house. Chuck . Good evening, lester. Well is it a victory for edward snowden. It will depend on the high of the beholder. But clearly the president admitted his hand was forced when he announced a series of reforms for the controversial nsa surveillance programs. Trying to mitigate the damage done to him politically by nsa leaker, edward snowden, the president announced new steps to try to restore Public Confidence in the controversial nsa surveillance program. The president refused, though, to give any credit today to snowden. Is your mindset changed about him. Is he now more whistleblower than he is a hacker . Is he a patriot . I dont think mr. Snowden was a patriot, as i said in my opening remarks, i called for a thorough review of our surveillance operations. Before mr. Snowden made these leaks. I actually think we would have gotten to the same place. And we would have done so without putting at risk our national security. Among the reforms work with congress to change how the nsa collects massive amounts of phone records, mandate more transparency by the secret court that regularly approves the surveillance. And create a task force of private citizens to review the programs. All of these steps are designed to insure that the American People can trust that our efforts are in line with our interests and our values. As for his cancellation of a planned summit with russian president putin, triggered in part by snowden, the president tried to downplay their lack of personal chemistry. I dont have a bad personal relationship with putin. When we have conversations, theyre candid, theyre blunt. Oftentimes theyre constructive. I know the press likes to focus on body language and hes got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom. But the truth is, is that when were in conversations together, oftentimes its very productive. Now the president s most passionate response was in an answer on a question about health care. He said this about republicans threatening government shutdown. The idea that you would shut down the government unless you prevent 30 Million People from Getting Health Care is a bad idea. Of course for the record, les r lester, the number two republican in the house said theyre not going to pursue that strategy. But the president was pretty upset about it. Chuck todd at the white house, thanks. Our chief Foreign Affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell was watching with us today. Andrea as you heard the president talking about his relationship with russian president vladimir putin. So where do things stand . He canceled the summit meeting. Are they going to make up now and move forward . No, i dont think so. In fact the Russian Foreign minister was having a News Conference at the same time as the president. He tried to smooth it over. Frankly when the president said candid and blunt, those are code words in diplomacy. That means not good. Also putin sent a get well message to george w. Bush emphasizing that there is an american president he gets along with, its not barack obama. And the president also in describing the slouch, the bo boredlooking kid. Thats not the way you would expect the president to describe another head of state. He did emphasize hes not going to boycott the olympics. He said its really important for the athletes, theyve trained. And he said the best message, because of that ban in russia on homosexuality is for gay and lesbian athletes to come home with the gold. I know he talked a little bit about the terror threat. Weve been under overseas for the last several days. And i know theres late word now about those embassy and diplomatic closings. What have you heard . Indeed the state Department Says that on sunday, theyre going to reopen 18 of the 19 yemen, will remain closed, also closed will be lahore, the consulate in pakistan they closed last night overnight. So theres a reopening. Theyve obviously shored up the defenses of these diplomatic posts and they couldnt have kept them closed forever. Thank you. Now a tragic scene in a normally quiet connecticut town shattered when a small plane fell out of the sky and crashed into neighborhood, nbcs Michelle Franzen is in east haven, connecticut tonight with the latest. Michelle, good evening. Good evening, lester. A tragedy for two families tonight. A father and son on tour of colleges and two children in their house in this quiet neighborhood, all believed to be victims of a horrific plane crash in the homes just beyond me that you see here. The charred remains of the houses were set ablaze when a plane crashed into this east haven community. Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom and rushed to the scene. And a mother reported her two children, ages one and 13, were inside the home at the time. Fire crews locateded the bodies of two people. Authorities say the plane took off from new jerseys Teterboro Airport and was attempting a second landing at tweednew ven airport when the aircraft struck these homes. Tonight family members say the plane was registered to a seattle resident. And also a former microsoft executive, bill hennigsgaard, who was said to be flying with his son, to tour colleges here on the east coast. Lester . Michelle franzen tonight in connecticut, thanks. In the west, authorities think they may be closing in tonight on the murder suspect believed to be holding a teenaged girl missing since sunday. The ordeal, which began in san diego, sparked an intense search throughout the west. Nbcs joel friar is in san diego with the latest. Good evening, detectives here in san diego are en route to idaho after a Major Development thats giving them new hope. Tonight a National Manhunt is now focused on a heavily wooded part of idaho, six miles outside of cascade. In an area called Frank Church River of no return wilderness, investigators found suspect james dimaggios blue nissan, a car similar to this, with the license plates removed. They were spotted twice coming into the area and when they left. They had backpacks on. Authorities began focusing on that rugged terrain thursday, after a group of hoursback riders spotted a couple matching the description of dimaggio and 16yearold hannah anderson. From the account we received, they have both appeared to be in good health. It was unable for us to determine from the witness account, whether she was being held against her will. Dimaggio and hannah have been missing since this past weekend. When her mother and possibly her brother, were found murdered inside dimaggios burnedout home east of san diego. Authorities reveal today that dimaggio recently bought camping equipment. The information that weve been acting on is that we believe is that this was a planned event. That there was preparation involved. Friends and relatives say they fear dimaggio, a longtime family friend, lured the Anderson Family to his home by telling them it was about to be foreclosed. He said that he wanted them to go up there for one last time before he loses his house. Todays news gives investigators hope hannah can still be found. Im very confident and i think we should all be optimistic that she appeared to be in somewhat good health. Authorities in idaho are using a bomb squad to examine the car before collecting evidence. Thats because of concerns dimaggio might be armed with explosives. Lester . Joe friar, thanks. Still ahead, tonight, Nuclear Fallout after one of the worst disasters in decades. Tons of radioactive water leaking into the ocean. And fears about where its headed. Would you take it . Well, there is. [ male announcer ] its called ocuvite. A vitamin dedicated to your eyes, from bausch lomb. As you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. Ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. Ocuvite is uniquely formulated to help protect your eye health. Now thats a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. Help protect your eye health. And now theres ocuvite eye multi. An eye vitamin and multivitamin in one. And now theres ocuvite eye multi. If youve got it, you know how hard it can be to breathe and man, you know how that feels. Copd includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Spiriva is a oncedaily inhaled copd maintenance treatment that helps open my obstructed airways for a full 24 hours. You know, spiriva helps me breathe easier. Spiriva handihaler tiotropium bromide inhalation powder does not replace fastacting inhalers for sudden symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, or an enlarged prostate. These may worsen with spiriva. Discuss all medicines you take, even eye drops. Stop taking spiriva and seek immediate medical help if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells, you get hives, vision changes or eye pain, or problems passing urine. Other side effects include dry mouth and constipation. Nothing can reverse copd. Spiriva helps me breathe better. Does breathing with copd weigh you down . Dont wait to ask your doctor about spiriva. Icaused by acid reflux disease, relieving heartburn, relief is at hand. For many, nexium provides 24hour heartburn relief and may be available for just 18 a month. There is risk of bone fracture and low magnesium levels. Side effects may include headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you have persistent diarrhea, contact your doctor right away. Other serious stomach conditions may exist. Dont take nexium if you take clopidogrel. Relief is at hand for just 18 a month. Talk to your doctor about nexium. Were back tonight with the urgent situation developing in japan. Frightening New Discovery at the Fukushima Nuclear plant two and a half years after the disaster there. We learn this week that the plant continues to leak radioactive water and its going right into the sea. We asked our chief Environmental Affairs correspondent, ann thompson, to look at the risks. Today the owners of the crippled Fukushima Nuclear power plant started pumping contaminated water into temporary storage tanks, a desperate act that in the minds of many is a monument to mismanagement. Its leaking like a sieve and groundwater is flushing radioactive contaminants into the groundwater. Two and a half years after the earthquake and tsunami devastated northern japan, this plant is still an active danger to the environment. In part because water runs downhill. Runoff from the mountains goes into the plant and soaks up radiation from leaking storage pools and poison ground. Each day, for 882 days, nearly 72,000 gallons of polluted water has flowed into the pacific ocean. Enough to fill an olympicsized Swimming Pool every nine days. Set up with the Power Company this week the japanese government said its stepping in to help. Calling this an urgent situation. In this country, while we have seen all kinds of tsunami debris litter americas west coast, Scientists Say the leak poses little danger to the u. S. Because the radiation dissipates in water. And in the words of one, theres a massive ocean between us. The real risk is at fukushima. The meltdown of three Nuclear Reactors turned nearby towns into still lives. The threat now is offshore to japanese seafood. Fishing is a 14 billion industry. This doctor of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute says hes finding high levels of radiation in fish like flounder are high. They must be sustained by a small but continued reek from the reactor site. Today most of the fukushima fishery remains closed. Now there are reports the Power Company is considering freezing the ground around the plant. Essentially building a milelong ice wall underground. Something thats never been tried before to keep the water out. One scientist i spoke to dismissed this idea as grasping at straws, who evidence that the Power Company failed to anticipate this problem, lester and now cannot solve it. Disturbing is an understatement. Ann, thank you. Were back in a moment with word of a lifechanging discovery tonight in a garage. Hes agreed to give it up. Thats today . [ male announcer ] well be with him all day as he goes back to taking tylenol. I was okay, but after lunch my knee started to hurt again. And now ive got to take more pills. Yup. Another pill stop. Can i get my aleve back yet . For my pain, i want my aleve. [ male announcer ] look for the easyopen red arthritis cap. To fly home for the big family reunion. You must be garths father . Hello. Mother. Mother traveling is easy with the venture card because you can fly any airline anytime. Two words. Double miles this guy can act. Wanna play dodge rock . Oh, you guys and with double miles you can actually use, you never miss the fun. 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Thats why they could use a little bit of good news around here. They got it yesterday, when it was confirmed that a group of workers from the oan county workers Maintenance Department believe they purchased one of the three winning powerball tickets here in little egg. A group of men and women who worked around the clock during sandy. We dont know much about them, but what we do know, theyre moms and dads, and some worked two jobs and some were about to retire. When all is said and done, theyll get 3. 6 million. Not enough to quits their jobs for, but enough to lift the collective spirits. When we come back, American Hero who is have already sacrificed so much now making a difference at a new kind of mission, under the sea. Insurance together. Ill just press this, and youll save on both. Ding ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, llllets get ready to bundlllllle. [ holding final syllable ] oh, yeah, sorry lets get ready to bundle and save. Now, thats progressive. 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Finally tonight, our making a difference report is about a group of veterans who sacrificed so much, but found an unlikely new mission, in which they help the environment and regain their spirit at the same time. Nbcs mark potter tonight on a program that helps them improve their lives, by improving the world. In the water off the florida keys, a flotilla arrives to help save the dying reefs. And joining that mission are some of americas finest. Who already have given so much. Theyre all u. S. Military veterans who lost limb or suffered traumatic brain injuries. And who now are part of a support group called, the combat wounded veterans challenge. Their biggest challenge has been to come back whole, after suffering the physical and emotional wounds of war. Retired navy master chief james wilin, who lost a leg says the camaraderie of fellow vets heals his soul. It allows me the chance to be the master chief again. And that loss of identity . Its back. Its everything. On this day, the vets have joined scientists at a marine laboratory. When the coral grows big enough, its replanted on nearby reefs which have been decimated by disease, warming waters and other stress. The great thing about this is all military are missionoriented. They want a purpose. So in transplanting coral, that, they have a purpose. Another reason for this trip is to do research on how wounded vets and others can better use these prosthetic devices in water. For which there is very little study so far. Helping with that is Billy Costello of u. S. Army special forces. Who lost a leg in afghanistan. Just a year later, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro which really impressed the scuba nauns, a group of teens who drove with him at the coral farm. I wanted to say guys, look what he can do . He can climb mountains. Wounded vets healing themselves by helping and inspiring others. Mark potter, nbc news, florida keys. Thats our broadcast for this friday night, thank you for being with us. Im lester holt in for brian, we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. Good night and have a good weekend. Facebook killer. He killed his wife then posted the picture on faceok. The just uncovered video. Then, usher and his ex wife, showdown in court. Is he breathing . After her emotional courtroom testimony hugs from usher. And leah remini versus scientology. She filed a Police Report about the wife of the scientology leader. Now the church hits back. Plus, dont try this at work . The car salesman tased. On the job my screams and my pain being someone elses laughter. And pie anxiety. Then this happened. Leases god please dont be rolling then, beyonces controversial new hairdo. Parted on the side like shed. How you can get the look. Now inside edition in High Definition with deborah norville. Diane hello and thanks for joining us. Im Diane Mcinerney in for deborah norville. Its a Court Showdown for usher and his exwife. The r and b singer comes face to face with his exwife as she calls an emergency hearing to regain custody of their children after their son nearly drowned, and there was high drama in the court. Usher and his exwife tameka hug in open court after a bitter and emotional battle over custody of their children. Tameka asked for an emergency custody hearing after their fiveyearold son usher v nearly drown in the familys backyard pool. Usher testified he rushed home to find his son hysterical in an plans after being given cpr. He was hysterical. He didnt want to to to the hospital. He was very irate. And i did my best to calm him down. But while usher was calm, composed, and businesslike on the witness stand, tameka was an emotional wreck. My son basically expired. My son my sonde to be revived and brought back to life. My son basically had died on the scene. She said shes afraid the child may suffer longterm effects of the near drowning. I dont know if my son is going to have a brain defect. I dont know that his heart is operating correctly. I dont know that my son is going to be 100 the boy he was before this incident. She bowed her head and wept as she listened to a 911 call played in court where we heard little usher screaming. Usher appeared to be still wearing a hospital id bracelet after visiting his sons bedside. Tameka was wearing a similar bracelet. Tameka claims the accident happened because there was no cover on the pool drain, allowing little usher to trap his arm. This aerial video shot minutes after the accident appears to show that the drain