   ESCALATING 
   BATTLE OVER THE U.S. 
   POST 
   OFFICE.
   46 STATES NOW HAVE 
   BEEN WARNED 
   THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS 
   MAY BE 
   DELIVERED TOO LATE TO 
   BE COUNTED 
   IN THE NOVEMBER 
   ELECTION.
   PRESIDENT TRUMP EVEN 
   AS HE 
   ATTACKS MAIL-IN VOTING
   REQUESTING HIS OWN 
   ABSENTEE 
   BALLOT.
   THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
   HE 
   APPOINTED UNDER FIRE 
   AND BARACK 
   OBAMA WEIGHING IN, 
   ACCUSING 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP OF 
   TRYING TO 
   KNEECAP THE POST 
   OFFICE.
   >>> ALSO, THE 
   PRESIDENT ADDING 
   FUEL TO A BASELESS 
   BIRTHER 
   CONSPIRACY THEORY 
   ABOUT KAMALA 
   HARRIS, A U.S. CITIZEN
   BORN IN 
   AMERICA.
   THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN 
   FIRING BACK. 
   >>> THE STRUGGLE TO 
   REOPEN 
   SCHOOLS.
   THE ONE COUNTY WHERE 
   80 STUDENTS 
   AND STAFF TESTED 
   POSITIVE FOR 
   COVID JUST THIS WEEK. 
   >>> THE GRIM 
   MILESTONE, CALIFORNIA,
   THE FIRST STATE TO 
   SURGE PASSED 600,000 
   CASES.
   AND THE NEW WARNING 
   AND COVID 
   AND HEART DAMAGE. 
   >>> THE WILD FIRE 
   EMERGENCY IN 
   CALIFORNIA.
   HUNDREDS EVACUATED.
   MULTIPLE HOMES 
   DESTROYED.
   THOUSANDS MORE AT 
   RISK.
   THE SHOCKING VIDEO.
   A TEEN RESTRAINED BY 
   SIX 
   STAFFERS AT A YOUTH 
   HOME LATER 
   DYING.
   WHAT OUR NBC NEWS 
   INVESTIGATION 
   HAS FOUND.
   >>> THE IVY LEAGUE 
   COLLEGE 
   ACCUSED OF ADMISSIONS 
   DISCRIMINATION.
   WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR
   THE 
   FUTURE OF AFFIRMATIVE 
   ACTION. 
   >>> AND THE SPECIAL 
   DELIVERY 
   THAT'S INSPIRING 
   AMERICA.
   >>> THIS IS NBC 
   "NIGHTLY NEWS" 
   WITH LESTER HOLT.
   >>> GOOD EVENING.
   THERE IS SOMETHING 
   TERRIBLY 
   WRONG TONIGHT.
   THE U.S. POSTAL 
   SERVICE WARNING 
   DOZENS OF STATES THAT 
   IT CAN'T 
   GUARANTEE MAIL-IN 
   BALLOTS OR THE 
   PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 
   WILL BE 
   PROCESSED IN TIME TO 
   BE COUNTED.
   WE'RE TALKING 
   POTENTIALLY YOUR 
   VOTE AT RISK AS THE 
   PANDEMIC 
   DRIVES INTEREST IN 
   MAIL-IN 
   VOTING, PRESIDENT 
   TRUMP 
   CONTINUES TO RESIST 
   EMERGENCY 
   FUNDING.
   THE CRASH STRAPPED 
   AGENCY WHILE 
   UNDERMINING THE 
   PROCESS.
   TONIGHT FORMER 
   PRESIDENT OBAMA 
   ACCUSING TRUMP OF 
   KNEECAPPING 
   THE POSTAL SERVICE.
   KRISTEN WELKER HAS THE
   STORY. 
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   THE U.S. 
   POSTAL SERVICE SENDING
   OUT AN 
   URGENT WARNING, 
   WRITING LETTERS 
   TO DOZENS OF STATES IN
   THE 
   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
   SAYING IT 
   CANNOT GUARANTEE ALL 
   BALLOTS 
   CAST BY MAIL WILL 
   ARRIVE IN TIME 
   TO BE COUNTED, WITH 
   SOME STATES 
   ANTICIPATING TEN TIMES
   THE NORMAL VOLUME OF 
   ELECTION MAIL BECAUSE 
   OF THE PANDEMIC.
   IN CRITICAL STATES 
   LIKE 
   PENNSYLVANIA, THE 
   SECRETARY OF 
   STATE IS WORKING TO 
   ENSURE 
   COUNTIES SEND OUT 
   BALLOTS EARLY.
   IN NEW JERSEY, 
   ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE
   SENDING OUT BALLOTS TO
   EVERY VOTER.
   OTHER KEY STATES ARE 
   ALSO 
   WORKING TO ADJUST, 
   FROM 
   MICHIGAN, FLORIDA AND 
   MINNESOTA. 
   >> IT IS ABOUT 
   APPLYING FOR YOUR 
   VOTE FOR HOME BALLOT 
   EARLY AND 
   SENDING IT BACK AS 
   SOON AS 
   YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
   >> Reporter: IT COMES 
   AMID 
   SCRUTINY ON THE U.S. 
   POSTMASTER 
   GENERAL, WHO MET WITH 
   THE 
   PRESIDENT IN THE OVAL 
   OFFICE 
   LAST WEEK.
   DEJOY HAS FACED 
   BIPARTISAN 
   CRITICISM FOR 
   IMPLEMENTING 
   CHANGES, INCLUDING 
   ELIMINATING 
   OVERTIME FOR MANY 
   WORKERS AND 
   DEACTIVATING HUNDREDS 
   OF 
   MAIL SORTING MACHINES.
   IN AN INTERNAL MEMO, 
   DEJOY ACKNOWLEDGED 
   THERE HAS BEEN
   UNINTENDED 
   CONSEQUENCES TO 
   SERVICE BUT ALSO 
   INSISTING THE 
   CUTS WERE NECESSARY TO
   ADDRESS A 
   DIRE FINANCIAL 
   CONDITION.
   PRESIDENT TRUMP 
   PRESSED ON THE MATTER 
   BY NBC NEWS LATE 
   THURSDAY.
   >> COULD YOU DIRECT 
   THE POSTMASTER
   GENERAL TO REVERSE 
   SOME OF THE 
   POLICY CHANGES THAT 
   OCCURRED 
   THERE?
   >> NO.
   I WOULDN'T DO THAT AT 
   ALL.
   I WANT THE POST OFFICE
   TO RUN 
   PROPERLY. 
   >> Reporter: FOR HIS 
   PART, 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP ALONG 
   WITH THE 
   FIRST LADY REGISTERED 
   FOR 
   ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAS 
   RAILED AGAINST VOTE BY
   MAIL FOR WEEKS, 
   ARGUING
   WIDESPREAD FRAUD.
   THE DEMOCRAT HAS 
   REFUSED 
   DEMOCRATS DEMANDS FOR 
   BILLIONS 
   OF DOLLARS FOR THE 
   POST OFFICE 
   AND OTHER COVID RELIEF
   MEASURES 
   BUT TODAY SIGNALLED HE
   MAY BE 
   WILLING TO COMPROMISE.
   >> IT'S NOT WHAT I 
   WANT.
   IT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN
   PEOPLE WANT.
   >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS
   OUTRAGED.
   FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA
   ACCUSING 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP OF 
   VOTER 
   SUPPRESSION. 
   >> WHAT WE'VE NEVER 
   SEEN BEFORE 
   IS A PRESIDENT SAY, 
   I'M GOING TO 
   TRY TO ACTIVELY 
   KNEECAP THE 
   POSTAL SERVICE.
   AND I WILL BE EXPLICIT
   ABOUT THE 
   REASON I'M DOING IT.
   THAT'S SORT OF UNHEARD
   OF, 
   RIGHT?
   >> Reporter: VOTERS 
   ACROSS THE 
   COUNTRY ARE WATCHING 
   CLOSELY WITH WORRY.
   >> I'M REALLY 
   CONCERNED IF I 
   MAIL IT THAT IT WILL 
   GET LOST IN 
   THE SYSTEM. 
   AND NEVER GET THERE. 
   >> I LIKE THE OLD WAY 
   WITH THE MACHINES AND 
   THEY WERE NOTHING 
   CONNECTED TO THE 
   INTERNET.
   >> KRISTIN JOINS ME 
   NOW.
   WE'RE LEARNING THERE 
   IS A NEW 
   INVESTIGATION INTO THE
   POSTAL 
   SERVICE NOW. 
   >> Reporter: LESTER, 
   THAT'S 
   RIGHT.
   NBC NEWS HAS CONFIRMED
   THE 
   INTERNAL WATCHDOG AT 
   THE U.S. 
   POSTAL SERVICE IS 
   REVIEWING THOSE 
   CONTROVERSIAL POLICY
   CHANGES BY THE 
   POSTMASTER 
   GENERAL.
   IT COMES AFTER UNION 
   LEADERS AND 
   BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS 
   EXPRESSED 
   CONCERNS OVER THE 
   MOVE. 
   LESTER?
   >> ALL RIGHT.
   KRISTEN WELKER AT THE 
   WHITE HOUSE, THANKS.
   >>> NOW TO THE 
   FIRESTORM OVER 
   THE FALSE AND RACIST 
   CONSPIRACY 
   THEORY FUELED BY 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP 
   THAT SENATOR KAMALA 
   HARRIS IS 
   NOT ELIGIBLE TO RUN 
   FOR VICE 
   PRESIDENT.
   ANDREA MITCHELL 
   TONIGHT ON HOW 
   THE LIE EMERGED AND 
   HARRIS' 
   RESPONSE. 
   >> Reporter: KAMALA 
   HARRIS BORN 
   IN OAKLAND, 
   CALIFORNIA, IN 1964.
   THE DAUGHTER OF 
   IMMIGRANTS AND 
   LEGALLY QUALIFIED TO 
   RUN FOR PRESIDENT OR 
   VICE PRESIDENT.
   BUT NOW HER RIGHT TO 
   RUN WITH 
   JOE BIDEN IS BEING 
   CHALLENGED BY 
   A RACIST BIRTHER 
   CONSPIRACY.
   STARTING WITH A FLURRY
   OF MEMES IN FRINGE 
   WEBSITES,
   AMPLIFIED BY A NEWS 
   WEEK COLUMN 
   FROM A CONSERVATIVE 
   LAWYER WHO 
   HAS LONG ARGUED ABOUT 
   THE 
   CONSTITUTIONAL 
   GUARANTEE OF 
   BIRTHRIGHT 
   CITIZENSHIP.
   WHEN ASKED LAST NIGHT,
   PRESIDENT 
   TRUMP PRAISED THE 
   COLUMN INSTEAD 
   OF KNOCKING DOWN THE 
   FALSE 
   THEORY. 
   >> I HEARD IT TODAY 
   THAT SHE
   DOESN'T MEET THE 
   REQUIREMENTS.
   AND BY THE WAY, THE 
   LAWYER THAT 
   WROTE THAT PIECE IS A 
   VERY 
   HIGHLY QUALIFIED, VERY
   TALENTED 
   LAWYER.
   I HAVE NO IDEA IF 
   THAT'S RIGHT.
   I WOULD HAVE ASSUMED 
   THE 
   DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE 
   CHECKED 
   THAT OUT BEFORE SHE 
   GETS CHOSEN 
   TO RUN FOR VICE 
   PRESIDENT. 
   >> Reporter: FOR YEARS
   DONALD 
   TRUMP QUESTIONED 
   BARACK OBAMA'S 
   BIRTHRIGHTS.
   EVEN DEMANDING A BIRTH
   CERTIFICATE, SEEN AS A
   RACIST ATTEMPT TO 
   UNDERMINE OBAMA'S 
   CREDIBILITY.
   TODAY HARRIS SIGNING 
   DOCUMENTS 
   WITH BIDEN FOR THE 
   DEMOCRATIC 
   CONVENTION DEFLECTED 
   WHEN ASKED 
   ABOUT A TEXT FROM A 
   PRESIDENT 
   WHO HAS CALLED HER 
   ANGRY, OFTEN 
   USED AS A RACIST TROPE
   TO 
   DIMINISH BLACK WOMEN. 
   >> I'M SIGNING THIS 
   BECAUSE I AM 
   IN THIS RACE TO WIN 
   AND WITH 
   THAT GUY RIGHT THERE. 
   >> Reporter: LATER SHE
   PRIZED BIDEN FOR WHAT 
   SHE CALLED THE 
   AUDACITY TO CHOOSE A
   BLACK WOMAN. 
   >> BY JOE ASKING ME TO
   BE HIS 
   RUNNING MATE, HE HAS 
   PUSHED 
   FORWARD SOMETHING THAT
   MIGHT 
   HAVE OTHERWISE TAKEN 
   DECADES. 
   >> Reporter: THE 
   CAMPAIGN IS 
   CALLED BIRTHERISM 
   ABHORRENT.
   BIDEN SAYS THEY WILL 
   ARE HARRIS' BACK AND
   AIDS PROMISED THEY 
   WILL RESPOND 
   AGGRESSIVELY TO RACIST
   AND 
   SEXIST ATTACKS AGAINST
   THE FIRST 
   WOMAN OF COLOR ON A 
   NATIONAL 
   TICKET. 
   LET'SER?
   >> ANDREA MITCHELL 
   TONIGHT, 
   THANK YOU. 
   >>> LET'S TURN TO THE 
   COVID 
   PANDEMIC AND WRENCHING
   DECISIONS 
   BEING MADE ABOUT 
   OPENING SCHOOLS 
   OR NOT.
   FOR THE NATION'S 
   LARGEST DISTRICT,
   IT IS BACK TO IN 
   PERSON CLASSES 
   IN A FEW WEEKS.
   BUT AROUND THE 
   COUNTRY, THE 
   DEBATE RAGES ON.
   HERE'S GABE GUTIERREZ.
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   AS ITS 
   DEADLINE EXPIRES, NEW 
   YORK STATE 
   IS REVIEWING NEWLY 
   SUBMITTED SCHOOL 
   REOPENING PLANS.
   >> I WOULD SAY THE 
   REGRESSION 
   HAS BEEN AT LEAST 
   DEFINITELY A 
   YEAR OF WORK. 
   >> Reporter: DONNA HAS
   A SON 
   WITH AUTISM.
   SHE WANTS HIM TO GO 
   BACK TO 
   CLASS THIS FALL IN 
   PERSON.
   IS ONLINE LEARNING 
   POSSIBLE WITH 
   HIM?
   >> IT'S NOT REALLY.
   I CAN'T IMAGINE.
   I MEAN, HE DOESN'T 
   EVEN SIT FOR 
   15 MINUTES. 
   >> Reporter: WITH 
   1,800 SCHOOLS, 
   NEW YORK CITY'S 
   RE-OPENING PLAN 
   IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS 
   IN THE 
   COUNTRY.
   RANDOM TEMPERATURE 
   CHECKS, A 
   NURSE IN EVERY 
   BUILDING AND 
   14 DAY QUARANTINES FOR
   ANYONE WHO TESTS 
   POSITIVE.
   BUT THE TEACHERS SAY 
   THERE IS 
   NOT ENOUGH 
   VENTILATION. 
   >> IT WILL TAKE A LOT 
   OF TIME, 
   WHICH IS WHY WE SHOULD
   OPEN UP 
   IN PHASES INSTEAD OF 
   JUST ALL 
   OPENING UP IN 
   SEPTEMBER. 
   >> Reporter: IN 
   GEORGIA, PERHAPS 
   A CAUTIONARY TALE.
   TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY 
   OPENED 
   SCHOOL.
   THIS WEEK IT REPORTED 
   80 
   CONFIRMED COVID CASES 
   AND MORE 
   THAN 1,100 STUDENTS 
   AND STAFF 
   QUARANTINED.
   FROM COAST TO COAST, 
   MOUNTING 
   ANXIETY. 
   >> IT IS PRETTY 
   DIFFICULT TO 
   ENGAGE STUDENTS 
   BECAUSE IN 
   ONLINE THEY JUST DON'T
   HAVE THE 
   SAME LEVEL OF 
   ENGAGEMENT. 
   >> I AM OVERWHELMED 
   WITH ALL THE 
   UNKNOWN VARIABLES. 
   >> Reporter: IN 
   CHICAGO, 
   KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
   CHARLOTTE OWEN IS 
   WONDERING HOW 
   REMOTE LEARNING WILL 
   WORK 
   LONG-TERM. 
   >> THE THINGS THAT WE 
   LEARN ARE 
   LIKE HOW TO HOLD A 
   PENCIL AND 
   HOW TO WRITE YOUR 
   NAME.
   HOW TO WASH OUR HANDS.
   AND, SO, THERE IS A 
   LOT OF THAT 
   THAT JUST WON'T BE THE
   SAME, 
   DOING IT OVER VIDEO 
   CHAT. 
   >> Reporter: TODAY IN 
   A VIRTUAL 
   COURTROOM, A FLORIDA 
   JUDGE 
   DENIED THE STATE'S 
   REQUEST TO 
   DISMISS A TEACHER 
   UNION LAWSUIT 
   OVER REOPENING.
   IN HILLSBORO COUNTY,
   THE SUPERINTENDENT 
   JUST 
   ANNOUNCED IN PERSON 
   CLASSES 
   WOULD START SOONER 
   FOLLOWING 
   PRESSURE FROM STATE 
   OFFICIALS. 
   >> WE'RE GOING TO RIP 
   OPEN THE 
   DOORS AND PUT MASKS ON
   KIDS AND 
   HOPE FOR THE BEST.
   DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S
   GOING TO 
   WORK OUT. 
   >> Reporter: HERE IN 
   NEW YORK, 
   THE PERCENTAGE OF 
   POSITIVE COVID 
   TESTS HAS DROPPED 
   BELOW 1% FOR A 
   WEEK NOW, A KEY FACTOR
   IN THE 
   PUSH TO REOPEN 
   SCHOOLS.
   LESTER?
   >> GABE GUTIERREZ 
   TONIGHT, 
   THANKS. 
   >>> FOR CALIFORNIA, AN
   ASTONISHING MILESTONE.
   THE NATION'S MOST 
   POPULUS STATE
   SURPASSING 600,000 
   CASE.
   DESPITE SIGNS OF 
   PROGRESS THERE 
   IS CONTINUING CONCERN 
   ABOUT 
   LARGE GATHERINGS AS WE
   HEAD INTO 
   ANOTHER WARM SUMMER 
   WEEKEND.
   HERE'S MIGUEL 
   ALMAGUER. 
   >> Reporter: AS 
   CALIFORNIA 
   BECOMES THE FIRST 
   STATE IN THE 
   NATION TO SURPASS 
   600,000 
   CONFIRMED COVID CASES,
   LIKE 
   EVERY OTHER STATE, THE
   TRUE 
   NUMBER OF INFECTIONS 
   IS WITHOUT 
   A DOUBT MUCH HIGHER.
   FOR MONTHS LINES AT 
   TESTING 
   SITES ACROSS THE 
   NATION HAVE 
   STRETCHED FOR BLOCKS, 
   ONLY 
   ECLIPSED BY THE LONGER
   WAIT FOR 
   RESULTS. 
   >> I GOT MY TEST ON 
   JULY 1st AND 
   I DIDN'T GET THE 
   RESULTS UNTIL 
   JULY 24th. 
   >> Reporter: EXPERTS 
   SAY TESTING 
   DELAYS IN AT LEAST 34 
   STATES 
   LEAD TO MORE 
   INFECTIONS AS THE 
   SICK UNKNOWINGLY 
   SPREAD THE 
   VIRUS AWAITING THEIR 
   RESULTS. 
   >> SIX, SEVEN MONTHS 
   INTO A 
   PANDEMIC, THE FACT 
   THAT WE CAN'T 
   TEST PEOPLE RELIABLY 
   IS SHAMEFUL.
   >> Reporter: ALARMED 
   BY THE TREND, TONIGHT 
   THE AMERICAN MEDICAL 
   ASSOCIATION IS PUSHING
   FOR FEDERAL
   GUIDELINES TO FAST 
   TRACK 
   TESTING.
   THE MOVE TO PRIORITIZE
   THOSE 
   WITH SYMPTOMS AND 
   KNOWN EXPOSURE 
   COULD LIMIT THE VIRUS'
   SPREAD.
   TONIGHT THE AMERICAN 
   HEART 
   ASSOCIATION SOUNDING 
   THE ALARM, 
   WARNING THAT THE VIRUS
   COMMONLY 
   CAUSES HEART 
   INFLAMMATION AND 
   DAMAGE AND IS A 
   CONTRIBUTING 
   FACTOR TO 40% OF THOSE
   WHO DIED.
   AMID THE RACE TO FIND 
   A VACCINE, 
   GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS 
   ARE NOW 
   WORKING TO ENGINEER A 
   STRAIN OF 
   THE VIRUS TO BE USED 
   ON 
   VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO 
   KNOWINGLY 
   BE INFECTED.
   A RARE STEP NOT YET 
   TAKEN AS 
   PRESSURE BUILDS TO 
   PROTECT THE 
   PUBLIC.
   TONIGHT WITH SIGNS OF 
   PROGRESS 
   IN SOME STATES, THERE 
   ARE 
   LIMITED PLANS TO 
   SAFELY REOPEN 
   MOVIE THEATERS, 
   BOWLING ALLEYS 
   AND MUSEUMS.
   BUT IT COMES AMID A 
   WARNING.
   FOR EVERY STEP 
   FORWARD, THE 
   VIRUS THREATENS TO 
   TAKE THE 
   COUNTRY TWO STEPS 
   BACK.
   MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC 
   NEWS.
   >>> ALSO IN 
   CALIFORNIA, ANOTHER 
   EMERGENCY.
   THE BATTLE AGAINST TWO
   INTENSE 
   WILD FIRES OUTSIDE LOS
   ANGELES 
   AMID A HEAT WAVE THAT 
   COULD MAKE 
   THINGS EVEN WORSE.
   STEVE PATTERSON 
   TONIGHT ON THE 
   FRONT LINES.
   >> Reporter: 
   FIREFIGHTERS RACING TO
   CONTAIN A 
   FEROCIOUS WHIRLWIND OF
   FLAMES.
   WHIPPING INTO A FIRE 
   TORNADO BARRELLING 
   TOWARDS HOMES.
   FAST MOVING LAKE FIRE 
   EXPLODING 
   TO MORE 11,000 ACRES, 
   DEVOURING 
   FIVE STRUCTURES, 
   THREATENING 
   5,400 MORE.
   TOWERING FLAMES 
   SHOOTING INTO 
   THE AIR, THE FIRE 
   FUELED BY LOW 
   HUMIDITY AND A CENTURY
   OF 
   OVERGROWN VEGETATION 
   IS PRIMED 
   LIKE A BLAST FURNACE 
   FOR HIGH 
   TEMPERATURES. 
   AT THE BEGINNING OF A 
   SCORCHING WEEKEND.
   >> THE SUN BEATING 
   DOWN ON THE 
   BRUSH MAKES IT MORE 
   FLAMMABLE. 
   IT IGNITES MORE 
   QUICKLY.
   >> Reporter: CREWS 
   HAVE MADE 
   PROGRESS, BUT THAT MAY
   CHANGE AS 
   THESE TEMPERATURES 
   KEEP RISING 
   AND RESOURCES ARE 
   PULLED TO 
   BATTLE OTHER FIRES.
   LESS THAN 50 MILES 
   AWAY,
   THE SMALLER BUT 
   POWERFUL RANCH 
   FIRE BURNED CLOSE TO 
   HOMES, 
   TRIGGERING MORE 
   EVACUATIONS.
   FIREFIGHTERS SETTING 
   BACKFIRES, 
   CREATING A LINE, 
   PUSHING THE 
   FIRE BACK.
   BACK AT THE LAKE FIRE,
   A SHOW OF 
   SPIRIT IN THE MIDDLE 
   OF A 
   FIRESTORM.
   CREWING MANAGING TO 
   SAVE THE STARS AND 
   STRIPES FROM SMOKE AND
   FLAMES, TENACITY THEY 
   WILL NEED WELL INTO 
   THE WEEKEND AS THIS 
   HEAT-DRIVEN
   BLAZE RAGES ON.
   STEVE PATTERSON, NBC 
   NEWS, 
   CALIFORNIA. 
   >>> IN 60 SECONDS, 
   SHOCKING 
   SCENES INSIDE A HOME 
   FOR AT RISK 
   KIDS.
   A TEEN PHYSICALLY 
   RESTRAINED AND 
   LATER DYING.
   CHARGES OF 
   MANSLAUGHTER AND 
   CHILD ABUSE.
   >>> WE'RE BACK WITH 
   OUR NBC NEWS 
   INVESTIGATION INTO THE
   SHOCKING 
   DEATH OF A 16-YEAR-OLD
   AT A 
   YOUTH FACILITY RUN BY 
   A COMPANY 
   WE HAVE INVESTIGATED 
   BEFORE FOR 
   PAST VIOLATIONS.
   WE WANT TO WARN YOU 
   SOME OF THE 
   VIDEO YOU ARE ABOUT TO
   SEE IS 
   DISTURBING.
   HERE'S KATE SNOW.
   >> Reporter: YOU'RE 
   LOOKING AT 
   VIDEO OF 16-YEAR-OLD 
   CORNELIUS 
   FREDERICK HAVING LUNCH
   AT LAKE 
   SIDE ACADEMY, A HOME 
   FOR AT RISK 
   YOUTH IN MICHIGAN.
   CORNELIUS IS SEEN 
   THROWING FOOD.
   TWO STAFF MEMBERS 
   INTERVENE.
   BUT WHEN CORNELIUS 
   THROWS 
   ANOTHER ITEM, HE'S 
   PUSHED DOWN.
   TWO MEN BECOME THREE 
   AND THEN 
   SIX ON TOP OF HIM.
   AFTER TEN MINUTES OF 
   RESTRAINT, 
   CORNELIUS IS LIFTED UP
   LIMP AND 
   THEN WATCH WHAT 
   HAPPENS.
   STAFF MEMBERS, 
   INCLUDING A NURSE 
   STAND AROUND FOR 
   ANOTHER 12 
   MINUTES.
   THEN THE NURSE CALLS 
   911.
   >> WE HAVE A STUDENT 
   AND HE WAS 
   IN A RESTRAINT AND NOW
   HE'S 
   UNRESPONSIVE.
   >> Reporter: TWO DAYS 
   LATER, HE 
   WAS DEAD. 
   >> THROWING A 
   SANDWICH?
   YOU DON'T SUFFOCATE 
   CHILDREN FOR 
   THROWING A SANDWICH.
   THAT'S MURDER. 
   >> Reporter: YOU 
   REVIEWED THE VIDEO.
   WHAT DO YOU SEE?
   >> I SEE THE KILLING 
   OF A CHILD 
   FOR NO REASON 
   WHATSOEVER. 
   >> Reporter: THIS 
   ATTORNEY IS 
   REPRESENTING 
   CORNELIUS'S FAMILY 
   SUING THE FOR PROFIT 
   COMPANY 
   THAT OPERATED LAKESIDE
   AND 
   DOZENS LIKE IT 
   NATIONWIDE CALLED 
   SEQUEL. 
   >> THIS WAS A REGULAR 
   OCCURRENCE. 
   THEY INSTILLED FEAR IN
   CHILDREN.
   >> CORNELIUS WANTED TO
   BE A 
   THERAPIST WHEN HE GREW
   UP. 
   BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT, 
   HE ASKED ME TO HELP.
   >> Reporter: WILL 
   WORKED AT 
   ANOTHER YOUTH FACILITY
   WHERE HE 
   GOT TO KNOW CORN, AS 
   THEY CALLED 
   HIM. 
   >> CORN, HE LOVED TO 
   PLAY CHESS.
   HE TRIED TO TEACH ME 
   MAYBE FOR A 
   WEEK STRAIGHT. 
   >> Reporter: BORN AND 
   RAISED IN 
   MICHIGAN, CORNELIUS' 
   MOM DIED 
   WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.
   HIS FATHER WAS IN 
   PRISON AND CORNELIUS 
   BECAME A WARD OF THE 
   STATE.
   >> HE WANTED TO BE 
   LOVED AND 
   ACCEPTED.
   AND, SO,
   HE DID IT BY ANY MEANS
   NECESSARY. 
   >> Reporter: SOMETIMES
   ACTING 
   OUT?
   >> YES. 
   >> Reporter: THE 
   POLICE REPORT SHOWS 
   CORNELIUS HAD BEEN
   PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED 
   AT 
   LAKESIDE TEN TIMES 
   BEFORE.
   ONCE IN JANUARY FOR 36
   MINUTES.
   AND NBC NEWS FOUND 
   RECORDS 
   SHOWING SINCE 2018, 
   MICHIGAN 
   SUBSTANTIATED 56 
   VIOLATIONS AT 
   LAKESIDE, INCLUDING 
   MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF
   INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL
   RESTRAINT.
   THREE FORMER EMPLOYEES
   HAVE BEEN 
   CHARGED WITH 
   MANSLAUGHTER AND 
   CHILD ABUSE IN 
   CORNELIUS'S DEATH 
   ALL PLEADING NOT 
   GUILTY.
   DOES YOUR CLIENT THINK
   THAT WHAT 
   THEY DID IN THAT ROOM 
   WAS WHAT 
   THEY WERE TRAINED TO 
   DO, THAT 
   THEY DID IT PROPERLY?
   >> MY CLIENT THINKS 
   WHAT HE DID 
   WAS ABSOLUTELY PROPER.
   >> Reporter: THE 
   DEFENSE 
   ATTORNEY FOR ZACHARY 
   SAYS HIS 
   CLIENT WAS GIVEN JUST 
   TWO HOURS 
   OF TRAINING ON USING 
   RESTRAINTS. 
   >> THERE WERE SEVERAL 
   SUPERIOR 
   AND RANKED EMPLOYEES 
   STANDING 
   AROUND, AND NOBODY 
   SAID ANYTHING 
   TO ANY OF THE 
   EMPLOYEES THAT MY 
   CLIENT HEARD AS FAR 
   AS, MOVE 
   DOWN, MOVE UP, GET OFF
   HIS 
   CHEST. 
   >> Reporter: IN A 
   STATEMENT ON THIS 
   INCIDENT, SEQUEL SAYS,
   IN PART, CORNELIUS' 
   DEATH IS
   HEART-BREAKING, ADDING
   IT FIRED 
   THOSE INVOLVED QUICKLY
   AND IS COOPERATING 
   WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
   >> TONIGHT WE REPORT 
   ON A SCHOOL 
   IN IOWA. 
   >> Reporter: BUT IT IS
   NOT THE 
   FIRST TIME NBC NEWS 
   FOUND THE 
   EVIDENCE OF IMPROPER 
   RESTRAINT 
   USED AT A SEQUEL 
   FACILITY.
   IN TWO REPORTS LAST 
   YEAR,
   FORMER RESIDENTS AND 
   STAFF 
   DESCRIBED WHAT 
   HAPPENED AT 
   CLARINDA ACADEMY IN 
   IOWA. 
   >> THEY JUST KEPT 
   SLAMMING MY 
   BUTT AGAINST THE FLOOR
   AND MY 
   HEAD WAS HITTING THE 
   FLOOR. 
   >> IT'S ROUTINE 
   PRACTICE TO DO 
   RESTRAINTS THAT ARE 
   MORE PAINFUL 
   THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD 
   BE. 
   >> Reporter: AFTER WE 
   ASKED 
   QUESTIONS MORE THAN A 
   YEAR AGO, 
   SEQUEL ANNOUNCED A NEW
   RESTRAINT-FREE 
   BEHAVIOR 
   MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, 
   BUT A FULL 
   YEAR LATER IT'S ONLY 
   BEEN 
   IMPLEMENTED AT 10 OF 
   THE MORE 
   THAN 40 FACILITIES.
   AT LAKESIDE, SEQUEL 
   SAID
   EMPLOYEES COMPLETED 
   THE TRAINING 
   BY MARCH.
   YET, ONE MONTH LATER, 
   THIS IS 
   HOW THEY WERE TREATING
   CORNELIUS.
   SEQUEL TELLS NBC NEWS 
   WE HAVE 
   ACCELERATED THE WORK 
   ALREADY 
   UNDERWAY TO MOVE TO A 
   RESTRAINT 
   FREE MODEL OF CARE. 
   >> WHY ISN'T ANYBODY 
   PROTECTING 
   HIM?
   WHY ISN'T ANYBODY 
   TRYING TO SAVE 
   HIM?
   HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN 
   IN A 
   CIVILIZED ENVIRONMENT?
   >> Reporter: MICHIGAN 
   SHUT DOWN 
   LAKESIDE ACADEMY, BUT 
   SEQUEL 
   CONTINUES TO OPERATE 
   DOZENS OF 
   FACILITIES ACROSS THE 
   U.S.
   LESTER?
   >> ALL RIGHT.
   KATE KNOW TONIGHT.
   THANK YOU. 
   >>> WE'LL TAKE A 
   >>> YALE UNIVERSITY IS
   UNDER 
   FIRE.
   THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
   ACCUSE ING
   THE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL 
   OF 
   DISCRIMINATION.
   HERE'S KRISTEN 
   DAHLGREN. 
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   THE CLOCK 
   IS TICKING FOR YALE 
   UNIVERSITY 
   AFTER THE JUSTICE 
   DEPARTMENT 
   GAVE IT UNTIL AUGUST 
   27th TO 
   STOP USING RACE IN ITS
   UNDERGRADUATE 
   ADMISSION, 
   ACCUSING THE IVY 
   LEAGUE SCHOOL OF 
   DISCRIMINATING AGAINST
   ASIAN AMERICAN AND 
   WHITE APPLICANTS.
   THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY
   GENERAL 
   FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 
   WRITING THERE 
   IS NO SUCH THING AS A 
   NICE FORM 
   OF RACE 
   DISCRIMINATION.
   THE UNIVERSITY 
   FIGHTING BACK 
   SAYING IT LOOKS AT THE
   WHOLE 
   PERSON WHEN SELECTING 
   WHO TO 
   ADMIT.
   CRITICS SAY THE 
   JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S 
   FOUR PAGE LETTER 
   OFFERED
   FEW DETAILS OF ITS 
   TWO-YEAR 
   INVESTIGATION. 
   >> IF YOU ARE GOING TO
   COME OUT 
   WITH A DECISION THAT'S
   GOING TO 
   HAVE SOME FORCE, THEN 
   SHOW ME 
   THE FACTS, AS THEY 
   SAY.
   AND THOSE ARE CLEARLY 
   MISSING 
   HERE. 
   >> Reporter: SWAN LEE,
   CO-FOUNDER OF THE 
   ASIAN AMERICAN FOR 
   EDUCATION WHO FILE ED
   THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT
   AGAINST 
   YALE SAYS RACE 
   SHOULDN'T PLAY 
   INTO ADMISSIONS. 
   >> DIVERSITY IS MUCH 
   BETTER 
   ACHIEVED WITH --
   >> Reporter: THE 
   SUPREME COURT 
   RULED SEVERAL TIMES 
   THAT RACE 
   CAN BE NARROWLY USED 
   AS ONE OF 
   THE MANY FACTORS IN 
   COLLEGE 
   ADMISSIONS.
   BUT THE DOJ SAYS YALE 
   IS 
   WEIGHING RACE TOO 
   HEAVILY.
   NEXT MONTH THE 
   DEPARTMENT IS SET 
   TO BACK ASIAN AMERICAN
   STUDENTS 
   APPEALING A RULING IN 
   FAVOR OF HARVARD'S 
   ADMISSION PROCESS.
   TWO SCHOOLS NOW IN THE
   SPOTLIGHT
   AMID ACCUSATIONS THAT 
   COULD 
   IMPACT THE FUTURE OF 
   AFFIRMATIVE
   ACTION IN HIGHER 
   EDUCATION. 
   >>> FINALLY, THE 
   UNLIKELY 
   FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A 
   LITTLE BOY 
   AND AN EVERY DAY HERO 
   IN THIS 
   PANDEMIC.
   HERE'S KATIE BECK. 
   >> Reporter: IN ONE 
   CHARLOTTE, 
   NORTH CAROLINA 
   NEIGHBORHOOD, 
   THESE TWO OFTEN ARISE 
   AS A 
   PACKAGE DEAL. 
   >> HE LIKES GOING 
   AROUND AROUND 
   PLAYING DELIVERY MAN 
   WITH THE 
   NEIGHBORS AND BRINGING
   PACKAGES.
   IT'S BECOME SOMETHING 
   THAT EVERYONE ON THE 
   STREET KIND OF 
   ENJOYING.
   >> Reporter: 
   THREE-YEAR-OLD ASHER 
   FOUND 
   SOMETHING TO LOOK 
   FORWARD TO AND 
   SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO 
   DURING THE 
   HOME BOUND DAYS OF THE
   PANDEMIC.
   DARRELL, HIS UPS 
   DRIVER. 
   >> IT'S BECOME PART OF
   OUR DAILY 
   ROUTINE. 
   >> Reporter: IT 
   INCLUDES HIS OWN UPS 
   UNIFORM,
   COMPLETE WITH SOCKS 
   GIFTED FROM 
   DARRELL AND A MODIFIED
   DELIVERY 
   TRUCK. 
   >> Reporter: HAVE YOU 
   GUYS HEARD 
   ANYTHING FROM UPS IN 
   TERMS OF 
   THEY'RE OFFERING HIM A
   JOB YET?
   >> I THINK WE'RE 
   MAKING A STRONG CASE.
   >> Reporter: EVEN 
   BEFORE THE 
   MASK MANDATE THERE WAS
   NO MASK 
   THEIR BOND. 
   >> HE'S BECOME JUST A 
   ROLE MODEL FOR HIM.
   JUST THE WAY HE SMILES
   AND SAYS HIS NAME AND 
   LOOKS HIM IN THE EYE 
   AND TREATS HIM JUST 
