   >>> BREAKING NEWS, NEW
   HOT SPOTS, PARTIES ON 
   CAMPUSES SPARK FEARS 
   OF COLLEGE OUTBREAKS 
   WHILE AT ONE HIGH 
   SCHOOL A STUDENT 
   SHOWED UP AFTER 
   TESTING POSITIVE.
   DOZENS NOW 
   QUARANTINED. 
   >>> IN SPORTS BIG TEN 
   FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND 
   FAMILIES DEMAND THE 
   SEASON BE REINSTATED 
   AS NCAA'S TOP DOCTOR 
   WARNS THERE MIGHT BE 
   NO SPORTS AT ALL THIS 
   YEAR. 
   >>> DEMANDING ANSWERS,
   DEMOCRATS CALL FOR THE
   POSTMASTER GENERAL TO 
   TESTIFY BEFORE 
   CONGRESS IN AN 
   EMERGENCY HEARING.
   WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE 
   NOW SAYS THEY ARE 
   WILLING TO DO TO HELP 
   THE POST OFFICE.
   >>> BREAKING 
   CONVENTION.
   KAMALA HARRIS FIRES 
   BACK AT THE PRESIDENT.
   >> THEY ARE GOING TO 
   ENGAGE IN LIES. 
   >> AS THE DEMOCRATIC 
   CONVENTION KICKS OFF 
   IN JUST 24 HOURS, TOM 
   BROKAW ON THE 
   UNPRECEDENTED VIRTUAL 
   EVENT. 
   >>> EXTREME WEATHER IN
   THE WEST OUT OF 
   CONTROL.
   WILDFIRES, A RECORD 
   BREAKING HEAT WAVE, 
   AND NOW A RARE 
   FIRENADO.
   >>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT 
   CRUISES ARE BACK.
   FIRST MEDITERRANEAN 
   CRUISE SET SAIL.
   PASSENGERS GETTING 
   TEMPERATURE CHECKS AS 
   THEY BOARD BUT IS IT 
   SAFE. 
   >>> THE ULTIMATE 
   RENTAL.
   THE BLOCKBUSTER STORE 
   YOU CAN RENT YOURSELF 
   TO SLEEP IN FOR THE 
   NIGHT. 
   >> Announcer: THIS IS 
   "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" 
   WITH KATE SNOW.
   >> GOOD EVENING, IT IS
   MID 
   AUGUST.
   BY ONE COUNT MORE THAN
   A THIRD 
   OF ALL FOUR-YEAR 
   COLLEGES AND 
   UNIVERSITIES ARE 
   REOPENING THEIR 
   CAMPUSES FOR SOME FORM
   OF 
   IN-PERSON LEARNING 
   WITH VERY 
   SPECIFIC RULES AROUND 
   WEARING 
   MASKS AND KEEPING 
   DISTANCE.
   WE'RE ALSO SEEING WHAT
   HAPPENS 
   WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE 
   BREAK THOSE 
   RULES.
   NEW OUTBREAKS OF COVID
   ARE FUELING FEARS 
   AMONG PARENTS.
   AT THE SAME TIME A 
   GROUP OF 
   COLLEGE ATHLETES THIS 
   WEEKEND 
   COMPLAINED ABOUT 
   CANCELED 
   SEASONS.
   WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT 
   WITH BLAYNE 
   ALEXANDER. 
   >> Reporter: NEAR THE 
   UNIVERSITY 
   OF NORTH GEORGIA, THIS
   IS HOW 
   STUDENTS CELEBRATED 
   THE FIRST 
   WEEKEND BACK, A 
   DIFFERENT PARTY 
   IN STILLWATER, 
   OKLAHOMA, AS 
   OFFICIALS AT OKLAHOMA 
   STATE 
   UNIVERSITY REVEALS 23 
   COVID 
   CASES AT AN OFF-CAMPUS
   SORORITY 
   HOUSE.
   ALL OF IT A TROUBLING 
   REMINDER, 
   WHILE SCHOOLS CAN PUT 
   RULES IN 
   PLACE, THEY CAN'T 
   FORCE THEM TO 
   COMPLY.
   A HARSH REALITY 
   HITTING ALL LEVELS OF 
   EDUCATION.
   IN MOORE, OKLAHOMA, A 
   STUDENT KNOWINGLY 
   ATTENDED CLASS AFTER 
   TESTING POSITIVE FOR 
   COVID-19.
   NEARLY TWO DOZEN 
   FELLOW STUDENTS 
   NOW QUARANTINED.
   ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
   GROWING 
   FEARS AMONG TEACHERS. 
   >> AS A TEACHER, TO 
   YOU FEEL 
   SAFE GOING BACK RIGHT 
   NOW?
   >> I DO NOT FEEL SAFE 
   GOING BACK 
   INTO SCHOOLS, NO, 
   ABSOLUTELY 
   NOT. 
   >> THE TEACHER SAYS 
   ADDING TO 
   THE BURDEN, CONCERNS 
   OVER PPE.
   SHE SAYS FELLOW 
   TEACHERS HAVE 
   ORGANIZED DRIVE 
   DESPERATE TO 
   SECURE ENOUGH MASK AND
   HAND 
   SANITIZER FOR THE 
   YEAR. 
   >> I WILL ALWAYS HELP 
   MY 
   STUDENTS.
   BUT TO GIVE MY LIFE 
   FOR THIS 
   JOB, I'M NOT SURE I'M 
   THERE.
   AND I DON'T THINK MOST
   TEACHERS 
   ARE THERE. 
   >> TOUGH DECISIONS IN 
   SCHOOLS 
   AND IN SPORTS.
   TONIGHT IN LETTERS TO 
   THE BIG 
   TEN COMMISSIONER, SOME
   PARENTS 
   ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS 
   AFTER THE 
   CONFERENCE CANCELED 
   FOOTBALL AND 
   THE PETITION FROM THE 
   OHIO STATE 
   UNIVERSITY QUARTERBACK
   JUSTIN 
   FIELDS TO RESTART THE 
   SEASON HAS 
   ALREADY TOPPED 100,000
   SIGNATURES.
   BUT THE NCAA'S CHIEF 
   MEDICAL 
   OFFICER SAYS THE KEY 
   TO SAVING 
   THE SEASON IS BETTER 
   TESTING. 
   >> RIGHT NOW IF 
   TESTING STAYS AS 
   IT IS, THERE'S NO WAY 
   WE COULD 
   GO FORWARD WITH 
   SPORTS. 
   >> A CNBC SURVEY FOUND
   NEARLY 
   40% OF TEST RESULTS 
   NATIONWIDE 
   COME BACK TOO LATE TO 
   BE 
   EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING 
   THE 
   SPREAD.
   NOW THE FDA HAS 
   AUTHORIZED THE 
   USE OF A SALIVA-BASED 
   TEST, 
   LOWER COST AND MORE 
   LABS ALREADY 
   EQUIPPED TO DO IT. 
   >> HOW MAJOR IS THIS?
   >> THIS IS ONE OF THE 
   MOST 
   SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES 
   IN THE SIX 
   MONTHS SINCE WE'VE 
   BEEN LIVING 
   WITH CORONAVIRUS IN MY
   OPINION.
   THIS MEANS THE TESTING
   PROCESS 
   WILL GET FASTER.
   IT'S GOING TO GET 
   CHEAPER.
   IT'S GOING TO GET MORE
   ACCESSIBLE.
   EQUALLY AS ACCURATE 
   AND PEOPLE 
   ARE GOING TO BE ABLE 
   TO TEST 
   MORE FREQUENTLY. 
   >> BLAYNE JOINS US 
   NOW.
   BLAYNE, THIS IS THE 
   SAME TESTING 
   USED BY NBA, WHICH 
   STARTS 
   PLAYOFF GAMES 
   TOMORROW. 
   >> Reporter: THAT'S 
   ABSOLUTELY 
   RIGHT, KATE.
   THEY HAVE BEEN 
   REPEATED BY 
   TESTING PLAYERS AND 
   STAFF INSIDE 
   OF THE BUBBLE.
   SO FAR NO POSITIVE 
   TESTS HAVE 
   BEEN REPORTED AND THEY
   ARE 
   MOVING AHEAD WITH 
   PLAYOFFS 
   TOMORROW.
   KATE. 
   >> ALL RIGHT.
   BLAYNE ALEXANDER, 
   THANK YOU.
   >>> THERE ARE CALLS 
   FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
   THIS WEEKEND TO HOLD 
   AN URGENT 
   CONGRESSIONAL HEARING 
   OVER POSTAL SERVICE 
   DELAYS, DEMANDING 
   ANSWERS FROM THE MAN 
   WHO HAS RUN THE AGENCY
   FOR JUST TWO MONTHS.
   KELLY O'DONNELL 
   REPORTS. 
   >> Reporter: THE 
   ELECTION SEASON 
   FIGHT OVER THE POSTAL 
   SERVICE IS 
   TAKING A NEW TURN 
   TONIGHT THAT 
   COULD BRING CONGRESS 
   BACK FROM 
   AUGUST RECESS AS EARLY
   AS NEXT 
   WEEK TO CONFRONT THE 
   CRISIS OVER 
   DELAYED MAIL.
   THE WHITE HOUSE 
   DELIVERING THIS 
   MESSAGE. 
   >> IF MY DEMOCRAT 
   FRIENDS ARE 
   ALL UPSET ABOUT THIS, 
   COME BACK 
   TO WASHINGTON, D.C., 
   WHERE THE 
   PRESIDENT AND I AM 
   RIGHT NOW, 
   WHY DON'T THEY COME 
   BACK. 
   >> DEMOCRATS URGING 
   SPEAKER 
   PELOSI TO GET BACK TO 
   NEGOTIATIONS FOR COVID
   RELIEF 
   THAT INCLUDES BILLIONS
   FOR THE 
   POST OFFICE. 
   >> THIS IS A CRISIS 
   FOR AMERICAN 
   DEMOCRACY.
   WE'VE GOT TO ACT AND 
   ACT NOW. 
   >> ELECTIONS OFFICIALS
   WORRIED 
   ABOUT THE RISK OF 
   DELAYED MAIL 
   AND HIGHER DEMAND. 
   >> IT'S OUT OF THEIR 
   CONTROL.
   THE VOTER CAN DO 
   EVERYTHING 
   RIGHT AND NOT HAVE 
   THEIR BALLOT 
   COUNTED BECAUSE OF A 
   SLOW 
   DELIVERY.
   THAT'S A PROBLEM. 
   >> Reporter: ADD MORE 
   STRESS TO 
   ELECTION SYSTEMS 
   FACING SOARING 
   REQUESTS FOR MAIL-IN 
   BALLOTS. 
   >> IT'S GOING TO BE A 
   LITTLE BIT 
   BUMPY FOR SOME STATES 
   WHO ARE 
   TRYING TO RAMP UP FROM
   2 OR 3% 
   TO 50 OR 75% RETURNS 
   BY MAIL. 
   >> SCRAMBLING FOR A 
   SOLUTION, 
   THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS 
   THE 
   PRESIDENT WOULD AGREE 
   TO MORE 
   POSTAL SERVICE FUNDING
   IN A 
   PACKAGE WITH CASH 
   RELIEF FOR AMERICAN 
   FAMILIES.
   >> IF WE CAN AGREE ON 
   POSTAL, 
   LET'S DO IT.
   IF WE CAN AGREE ON 
   STIMULUS 
   CHECKS, LET'S DO IT. 
   >> WHILE DEMOCRATS ARE
   DEMANDING 
   ANSWERS FROM THE 
   PRESIDENT'S NEW 
   POSTMASTER GENERAL, 
   LOUIS DEJOY 
   OVER STAFFING CUTS AND
   OPERATIONAL CHANGES 
   THAT SLOWED 
   MAIL DELIVERY PUTTING 
   BALLOTS AT 
   RISK. 
   >> HE SHOULDN'T BE 
   ALLOWED TO BE 
   THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
   IF AFTER 
   ALL THIS DESTRUCTION 
   HE CAN'T 
   ANSWER TO THE AMERICAN
   PEOPLE 
   WHAT HE IS DOING. 
   >> AND KELLY IS WITH 
   US NOW.
   KELLY, JUST MOMENTS 
   AGO WORD 
   OFFICIALLY THE HOUSE 
   IS COMING 
   BACK EARLY. 
   >> Reporter: YES, 
   HOUSE SPEAKER 
   NANCY PELOSI HAS SENT 
   A LETTER 
   TO HER COLLEAGUES 
   SAYING SHE 
   WILL CALL THEM BACK 
   LATER THIS 
   WEEK TO VOTE ON 
   LEGISLATION THAT 
   WOULD STOP THE POSTAL 
   SERVICE 
   FROM MAKING ANY 
   CHANGES TO ITS 
   SERVICE SINCE THE 
   BEGINNING OF 
   THIS YEAR.
   SHE'S ALSO CALLING FOR
   A DAY OF 
   ACTION ON TUESDAY 
   ASKING HER 
   MEMBERS TO APPEAR AT 
   POST 
   OFFICES IN THEIR HOME 
   DISTRICTS 
   TO HOLD PRESS EVENTS 
   AND TO KEEP 
   ATTENTION ON THIS 
   ISSUE.
   THE PRESIDENT WILL BE 
   TRAVELING 
   THIS WEEK, AS 
   EXPECTED, GOING TO 
   THREE STATES THAT ARE 
   CONSIDERED 
   ELECTION BATTLE 
   GROUNDS.
   KATE. 
   >> KELLY O'DONNELL 
   TRAVELING 
   WITH THE PRESIDENT.
   KELLY, THANK YOU.
   >>> THE DEMOCRATIC 
   NATIONAL 
   CONVENTION KICKS OFF 
   TOMORROW IN 
   AN ELECTION SEASON 
   UNLIKE ANY 
   OTHER.
   THE VIRTUAL FOUR-DAY 
   EVENT 
   JAM-PACKED WITH BIG 
   NAMES AND A 
   VICE PRESIDENTIAL 
   NOMINEE FIRING 
   BACK AT PRESIDENT 
   TRUMP SAYING 
   SHE'S READY TO FIGHT.
   KRISTEN WELKER WITH A 
   PREVIEW. 
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   AS 
   DEMOCRATS GEAR UP FOR 
   THIS WEEKS 
   UNPRECEDENTED VIRTUAL 
   DEMOCRATIC 
   CONVENTION ALL EYES ON
   THE 
   HISTORY MAKING TICKET.
   SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS,
   FIRST 
   BLACK AND 
   ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN 
   TO RUN AS VICE 
   PRESIDENTIAL 
   NOMINEE.
   SPEAKING OUT TO THE 
   GRIO IN AN INTERVIEW 
   TODAY.
   >> THERE IS SO MUCH AT
   STAKE IN 
   THIS ELECTION.
   I'M PREPARED TO FIGHT.
   >> AND HARRIS 
   ADDRESSING 
   PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER 
   HE FUELED 
   THE FALSE CONSPIRACY 
   THEORY THAT 
   HARRIS IS NOT ELIGIBLE
   TO HOLD 
   OFFICE BECAUSE HER 
   PARENTS WERE 
   IMMIGRANTS.
   HARRIS IS ELIGIBLE.
   SHE WAS BORN IN 
   OAKLAND, 
   CALIFORNIA, IN 1964. 
   >> LET'S BE VERY 
   CANDID AND 
   STRAIGHTFORWARD.
   THEY ARE GOING TO 
   ENGAGE IN 
   LIES.
   THEY ARE GOING TO 
   ENGAGE IN 
   DECEPTION. 
   >> ON SATURDAY THE 
   PRESIDENT 
   AGAIN REFUSED TO 
   ACKNOWLEDGE 
   HARRIS IS ELIGIBLE 
   WHEN PRESSED 
   BY NBC'S KELLY 
   O'DONNELL. 
   >> I READ SOMETHING 
   ABOUT IT BUT 
   IT'S NOT SOMETHING 
   THAT BOTHERS 
   ME. 
   >> TODAY HIS CHIEF OF 
   STAFF 
   TRIED TO TURN THE 
   PAGE. 
   >> YES, YOU ACCEPT 
   SHE'S 
   ELIGIBLE TO BE VICE 
   PRESIDENT. 
   >> YES, YES, YES, YES.
   SURE, THIS IS NOT 
   SOMETHING 
   WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE.
   >> NOW A NEW SNAPSHOT 
   OF THE 
   RACE.
   OUR LATEST NBC NEWS 
   "WALL STREET 
   JOURNAL" POLL SHOWS 
   JOE BIDEN 
   LEADING PRESIDENT 
   TRUMP BY NINE 
   POINTS, 50-41%.
   DELEGATES WILL BE 
   WATCHING AND 
   PARTICIPATING 
   REMOTELY.
   WHILE SOME OF THE 
   SPEECHES WILL 
   BE TAPED, MOST OF THE 
   BIGGEST 
   ONES WILL BE LIVE 
   INCLUDING BY 
   FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA
   WHO WILL 
   SPEAK TO A VIRTUAL 
   AUDIENCE 
   WEDNESDAY NIGHT 
   FOLLOWED BY 
   SENATOR HARRIS, WHO 
   WILL SPEAK 
   FROM A LARGELY EMPTY 
   CHASE 
   CENTER IN WILMINGTON, 
   DELAWARE.
   NO CROWDS ALLOWED 
   BECAUSE OF 
   COVID.
   JOE BIDEN DELIVERS 
   CAPSTONE 
   ADDRESS ON THURSDAY 
   FROM THE 
   SAME CONVENTION 
   CENTER.
   THE ACTION STARTS ON 
   MONDAY WHEN 
   FORMER FIRST LADY 
   MICHELLE OBAMA 
   DELIVERS A TAPED 
   SPEECH, BUT 
   SHE'LL STILL TRY TO 
   ENERGIZE THE 
   PARTY AS SHE DID IN 
   2016. 
   >> OUR MOTTO IS WHEN 
   THEY GO 
   LOW, WE GO HIGH. 
   >> KRISTEN, YOU HAVE 
   NEW DETAILS 
   ON THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
   ON 
   TUESDAY. 
   >> Reporter: KATE, 
   THAT'S RIGHT.
   ON TUESDAY THE GOAL 
   WILL BE TO 
   HIGHLIGHT THE NEXT 
   GENERATION OF 
   DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.
   SEVENTEEN SPEAKERS 
   FROM ALL 
   ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
   INCLUDING 
   GEORGIA'S STACEY 
   ABRAMS AND 
   PENNSYLVANIA 
   CONGRESSMAN CONNER LAM
   ALL SETTING THE STAGE 
   FOR A CONVENTION LIKE 
   WE HAVE NEVER SEEN 
   BEFORE.
   KATE. 
   >> THAT IS FOR SURE.
   KRISTEN, THANK YOU.
   YOU CAN WATCH OUR 
   COVERAGE OF 
   ALL OF IT STARTING 
   MONDAY AT 
   10:00 P.M. EASTERN 
   RIGHT HERE ON 
   NBC. 
   >>> WE'RE GETTING A 
   CLOSER LOOK 
   TONIGHT AT JUST HOW 
   INTENSE AND 
   DANGEROUS THOSE 
   WESTERN 
   WILDFIRES ARE AFTER A 
   RARE 
   FIRENADO WAS SPOTTED 
   IN 
   CALIFORNIA.
   WIND AND LIGHTNING NOW
   ANOTHER 
   CHALLENGE AS THE 
   REGION IS 
   ALREADY STRUGGLING 
   WITH A 
   BLISTERING HEAT WAVE.
   ERIN McLAUGHLIN HAS 
   DETAILS. 
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   IN 
   CALIFORNIA FIRES 
   BURNING AT BOTH 
   ENDS OF THE STATE.
   BLAZING TEMPERATURES 
   AND STRONG 
   WINDS GIVING BIRTH TO 
   THIS, A 
   MASSIVE FIRENADO, 
   TOUCHED TOWN 
   SATURDAY NEAR THE 
   NEVADA BORDER. 
   >> IT IS INCREDIBLY 
   DANGEROUS 
   BECAUSE OF HOW ERRATIC
   THE FIRE 
   DANGER IS.
   THINK ABOUT IT.
   YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A 
   WHIRLING COLUMN OF AIR
   WITH WIND SPEEDS 
   POSSIBLY EXCEEDING 60,
   70, 80, MAYBE EVEN 100
   MILES AN HOUR ON FIRE.
   >> THE FIRENADO 
   WARNING CAME IN 
   THE AFTERNOON.
   RESIDENTS IN THE AREA 
   TOLD TO 
   TAKE COVER.
   IN THE END NO INJURIES
   WERE 
   REPORTED.
   METEOROLOGISTS STILL 
   CONCERNED. 
   >> SO THE FIRE WAS 
   BURNING 
   INCREDIBLY INTENSE 
   YESTERDAY.
   EVEN LOOKING OUT OUR 
   WINDOW IT'S 
   DOING IT AGAIN TODAY. 
   >> NOT SEEN IN 
   CALIFORNIA SINCE 
   2018 WHEN THE 
   STRONGEST TORNADO 
   IN STATE HISTORY 
   EMERGED OUT OF 
   THE CAR FIRE.
   AN EF-3 WITH OVER 
   136-MILE-PER-HOUR 
   WINDS.
   THE SIZE OF THE LATEST
   FIRENADO 
   IS UNCLEAR, PART OF 
   THE LOYALTON 
   WILDFIRE, WHICH BEGAN 
   TO BURN TWO DAYS AGO, 
   SPANNING 5 ACRES, 5% 
   CONTAINED.
   AT ONE POINT THE FIRE 
   JUMPED A 
   HIGHWAY TRAPPING 
   VEHICLES.
   EVERYONE IS NOW OUT OF
   HARM'S 
   WAY. 
   >> NEVER GOING TO GET 
   THIS CLOSE 
   TO A FIRE LIKE THIS 
   AGAIN. 
   >> THE FIRE SPARKED, 
   METEOROLOGISTS 
   BELIEVED, BY 
   LIGHTNING.
   ALSO A CONCERN OUTSIDE
   OF LOS 
   ANGELES WHERE THE 
   AERIAL ASSAULT 
   ON THE LAKE FIRE 
   CONTINUES.
   IT'S ONLY 12% 
   CONTAINED.
   1500 FIREFIGHTERS 
   BATTLING THE 
   BLAZE.
   MEANWHILE THE BAY AREA
   IS 
   RECOVERING FROM WHAT 
   CLIMATE 
   SCIENTISTS CALLED A 
   WILD NIGHT WITH 
   UNUSUAL LIGHTNING AND 
   THUNDERSTORMS, RAISING
   THE REGION'S FIRE 
   RISK.
   SMALL FIRES REPORTED 
   IN SMALL 
   AREAS. 
   >> ERIN, CALIFORNIA 
   HAD TWO PLANNED 
   ROLLING POWER OUTAGES 
   THIS WEEKEND.
   WILL THERE BE ANY MORE
   OF THOSE?
   >> KATE, THE STATE'S 
   POWER GRID 
   IS URGING CALIFORNIANS
   TO 
   PREPARE FOR THE 
   POSSIBILITY OF 
   MORE POWER OUTAGES, 
   ASKING THAT 
   THEY CONSERVE ENERGY 
   UNTIL AT 
   LEAST WEDNESDAY.
   MEANWHILE AUTHORITIES 
   ARE 
   TELLING EVERYONE TO 
   BRACE FOR 
   THE POSSIBILITY OF 
   MORE 
   WILDFIRES.
   KATE. 
   >> ALL RIGHT, ERIN, 
   THANK YOU. 
   >>> IN THE MIDWEST 
   TONIGHT 
   HUNDREDS ARE HOMELESS 
   AND 
   THOUSANDS MORE LIVING 
   IN UNSAFE 
   CONDITIONS FOLLOWING 
   LAST WEEK'S 
   VIOLENT AND DEADLY 
   STORM.
   IT'S UPENDED LIVES AND
   LIVELY 
   -- LIVELIHOODS IN THE 
   COUNTRY'S CORN BELT.
   KATHY PARK HAS THE 
   LATEST. 
   >> Reporter: AT LEAST 
   100,000 IN 
   THE MIDWEST GOING 
   ALMOST A WEEK 
   WITHOUT POWER.
   AFTER AN INTENSE LINE 
   OF STORMS 
   WITH HURRICANE 
   STRENGTH WINDS 
   RIPPED THROUGH 
   NEIGHBORHOODS AND 
   FARMLAND.
   WITH NO PLACE TO GO, 
   RESIDENTS IN CEDAR 
   RAPIDS, IOWA, ARE 
   TURNING TO SHELTERS, 
   EVEN PITCHING TENTS 
   INCLUDING THIS REFUGEE
   COMMUNITY.
   >> WE LEFT AFRICA 
   SEEKING REFUGE 
   HERE AND NOW REFUGEES 
   AGAIN. 
   >> Reporter: THE 
   DAMAGE SO 
   WIDESPREAD, IN IOWA A 
   THIRD OF 
   THE STATE'S CROPS 
   FLATTENED. 
   >> HOW BAD IS IT RIGHT
   NOW?
   >> EVERY SINGLE SQUARE
   INCH WAS 
   HIT.
   WE HAVE TREES PILED UP
   6 TO 10 
   FEET HIGH, DOWNED 
   STREETS. 
   >> THE CORONAVIRUS WAS
   HARD 
   ENOUGH BUT NOW THE 
   COMMUNITY IS 
   BEING PUSHED TO THE 
   LIMIT WITH 
   ANOTHER CRISIS. 
   >> WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED
   TO DEAL 
   WITH THE DISASTER OF 
   THIS SIZE. 
   >> TONIGHT, GROWING 
   HEARTACHE IN 
   AMERICA'S HEARTLAND AS
   THE 
   CLEANUP STRETCHES 
   ANOTHER WEEK.
   KATHY PARK, NBC NEWS. 
   >>> STILL AHEAD 
   TONIGHT, CREWS 
   COME BACK.>>> IN ITALY TODAY 
   SURPRISING SIGHT, THE 
   FIRST CRUISE SHIP TO 
   TOUR THE MEDITERRANEAN
   SINCE THE PANDEMIC 
   BEGAN.
   IT'S GOT MANY 
   WONDERING, IS IT SAFE 
   TO SAIL.
   MATT BRADLEY REPORTS. 
   >> Reporter: TONIGHT 
   THE MEDITERRANEAN 
   CRUISE INDUSTRY 
   SETTING SAIL ONCE 
   AGAIN.
   IT'S MADE THE VOYAGE 
   LAUNCHING TODAY.
   THE CRUISE DEPARTED 
   GENOA TO FOUR 
   DESTINATIONS IN ITALY 
   ALL UNDER SHIPSHAPE 
   PROCEDURES.
   IT STARTS WITH 
   BOARDING QUESTIONNAIRE
   AND SEVERAL TESTS.
   FIRST THE FEVER CHECKS
   RUN BY THE DOCTOR.
   IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY,
   YOU COME HERE AND 
   UNDERGO THE SWAB TEST.
   THE SHIP DEPLOYING 
   ELEVATED SOCIAL 
   DISTANCING, MASK 
   WEARING AND MORE 
   MEDICAL STAFF.
   FOR THESE PASSENGERS, 
   ALL EUROPEAN, THIS 
   TRIP IS WORTH THE 
   RISK.
   CORONAVIRUS IS HERE, 
   THERE, EVERYWHERE SAID
   THIS PASSENGERS.
   EVEN THE TIGHTEST 
   TESTING CAN LEAVE 
   GAPS.
   TWO WEEKS AGO 21 
   PASSENGERS AND 
   41 CREW MEMBERS TESTED
   POSITIVE 
   ABOARD NORWAY'S FIRST 
   CRUISE 
   SHIPS TO RETURN TO 
   SERVICE.
   HUNDREDS MORE HAD TO 
   QUARANTINE 
   FOR TWO WEEKS BUT 
   AMERICAN 
   CRUISERS WILL HAVE TO 
   WAIT. 
   >> IT'S REALLY A TALE 
   OF TWO 
   CRUISES NOW.
   WE'RE SEEING IT STEP 
   UP IN 
   EUROPE, GETTING A LOT 
   OF 
   CRUISERS EXCITED, BUT 
   IT COULD 
   BE MANY, MANY MONTHS 
   BEFORE 
   AMERICANS COULD 
   ACTUALLY GET 
   BACK ON SHIPS. 
   >> LAST WEEK THE 
   CRUISE INDUSTRY 
   VOLUNTARILY EXTENDED 
   U.S. 
   GOVERNMENT'S NO SAIL 
   ORDER UNTIL 
   AT LEAST THE END OF 
   OCTOBER.
   IN A STATEMENT SAYING 
   IT WAS IN 
   THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC
   HEALTH 
   AND SAFETY.
   MORE THAN 12,000 CREW 
   MEMBERS 
   ARE STILL ON CRUISE 
   SHIPS IN 
   U.S. WATERS FIVE 
   MONTHS AFTER 
   THE INDUSTRY SHUT 
   DOWN.
   BOTH ROYAL CARIBBEAN 
   AND 
   NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
   REPORTED 
   2021 BOOKINGS ARE AT 
   HISTORIC 
   RANGES DESPITE PRICES 
   REMAINING 
   RELATIVELY THE SAME.
   THAT MAY BE ENOUGH TO 
   KEEP THIS 
   MASSIVE INDUSTRY 
   AFLOAT.
   MATT BRADLEY, NBC 
   NEWS. 
   >>> UP NEXT, TOM 
   BROKAW 
   >>> AS WE HEAD INTO 
   THIS BIG 
   POLITICAL WEEK WITH 
   THE DEMOCRATIC 
   CONVENTION STARTING, 
   WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM
   A COLLEAGUE WHO HAS 
   SEEN MORE CONVENTIONS 
   THAN MOST OF US.
   TOM BROKAW HAS 
   REPORTED ON 26 IN ALL,
   SOME OF THE MOST 
   STUNNING 
   POLITICAL MOMENTS IN 
   RECENT 
   MEMORY.
   WE ASKED TOM TO REMIND
   US HOW 
   SIGNIFICANT THOSE 
   MOMENTS CAN 
   REALLY BE. 
   >> COVID IS AFFECTING 
   EVERYTHING 
   IN AMERICA, INCLUDING 
   THE 
   TRADITION THAT EVERY 
   FOUR YEARS 
   POLITICAL ENTHUSIASTS 
   FROM BOTH PARTIES WILL
   GATHER AT A BIG 
   CONVENTION TO CHOOSE 
   THE CANDIDATE FOR THE 
   PRESIDENT OF THE 
   UNITED STATES.
   NOT THIS YEAR.
   FOR DECADES, POLITICAL
   CONVENTIONS WERE A 
   FORUM FOR BIG 
   HISTORY MEETING 
   SURPRISES.
   1968, CHICAGO, OUTSIDE
   THE 
   CONVENTION HALL, RAGE 
   AGAINST 
   THE DEMOCRATIC 
   MACHINE, A WAR 
   AGAINST THE WAR.
   PITCH BATTLES BETWEEN 
   COPS AND 
   YOUNG PROTESTERS.
   INSIDE THE DEMOCRATS 
   WENT AFTER 
   EACH OTHER. 
   >> WITH GEORGE 
   McGOVERN AS 
   PRESIDENT OF THE 
   UNITED STATES, 
   WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO 
   HAVE GESTAPO 
   TACTICS IN THE STREETS
   OF 
   CHICAGO.
   >> MR. DALY IS NOT 
   PLEASED. 
   >> THE PARTY WAS 
   DEEPLY WOUNDED.
   1980, DEMOCRATS 
   DIVIDED AGAIN.
   JIMMY CARTER WAS THE 
   INCUMBENT, 
   BUT TED KENNEDY TRIED 
   TO UNSEAT 
   HIM.
   KENNEDY LOST THE 
   NOMINATION BUT 
   WON THE NIGHT. 
   >> AND THE DREAM SHALL
   NEVER 
   DIE. 
   >> THE CROWD 
   ELECTROFIED, 
   CHANTED FOR HIM NOT TO
   LEAVE THE 
   STAGE. 
   CARTER, HOWEVER, WAS 
   DETERMINED TO PROJECT 
   A UNITED FRONT.
   KENNEDY DID LEAVE THE 
   STAGE BUT 
   NOT BEFORE STOPPING TO
   SHAKE 
   HANDS WITH A YOUNG 
   BILL CLINTON.
   CARTER LOST THE 
   ELECTION TO 
   RONALD REAGAN, THE GOP
   CHOICE.
   REAGAN KEPT HIS PARTY 
   GUESSING. 
   >> WE MAY HAVE A 
   TICKET.
   RONALD REAGAN AND 
   GERALD FORD 
   REPORTED OUT OF THIS 
   1980 
   REPUBLICAN NATIONAL 
   CONVENTION.
   >> A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE
   AND THEN 
   COOLER HEADS 
   PREVAILED.
   REAGAN CHOSE GEORGE 
   H.W. BUSH AS 
   HIS RUNNING MATE. 
   >> I AM RECOMMENDING 
   TO THIS 
   CONVENTION THAT 
   TOMORROW WHEN 
   THE SESSION RECONVENES
   THAT 
   GEORGE BUSH BE 
   NOMINATED. 
   >> WHEN HIS TURN CAME 
   IN 1988, 
   HE MADE A FATAL ERROR 
   IN HIS 
   ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. 
   >> READ MY LIPS, NO 
   NEW TAXES. 
   >> WHOOPS, AS 
   PRESIDENT HE HAD 
   TO RAISE TAXES AND 
   DEAL WITH A 
   THIRD PARTY MAVERICK, 
   ROSS 
   PEROT.
   JUST WHEN BOTH PARTIES
   SUCCEEDED 
   IN MAKING THE 
   CONVENTION AS 
   PREDICTABLE AS 
   POSSIBLE, ALONG 
   CAME COVID AND OUR NEW
   VIRTUAL 
   REALITY.
   STAND BY AND STAY 
   TUNED. 
   >> I'VE SAID IT IN THE
   PAST AND 
   I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, 
   IT'S THE BEST 
   JOB IN AMERICAN 
   BROADCASTING TO 
   BE A FLOOR 
   CORRESPONDENT AT A 
   NATIONAL CONVENTION. 
   >> TOM BROKAW, NBC 
   NEWS. 
   >>> WHEN WE COME BACK,
   ONE OF THE
   >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, 
   ANYBODY REMEMBER GOING
   TO AN ACTUAL STORE TO 
   RENT A VIDEO FOR THE 
   VCR?
   SHOW OF HANDS.
   NOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY 
   SLEEP OVER AT THE 
   WORLD'S VERY LAST 
   BLOCKBUSTER.
   JOE FRYER HAS THE 
   STORY. 
   >> Reporter: IN BEND, 
   OREGON, A RARE CHANCE 
   TO UNWIND AND REWIND.
   AT THE LAST 
   BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO IN 
   THE WORLD.
   INSTEAD OF RENTING 
   VIDEOS, CUSTOMERS CAN 
   NOW RENT THE WHOLE 
   STORE FOR A NIGHT 
   THROUGH AIRBNB. 
   >> HEY, SANDY, WOULD 
   YOU LIKE ME TO PIERCE 
   YOUR EARS FOR YOU?
   >> Reporter: A SLUMBER
   PARTY. 
   >> DO YOU LOVE HIM?
   >> DUH. 
   >> KIND OF LIKE THE 
   ONES IN THE VERY 
   MOVIES THAT MADE 
   BLOCKBUSTER A 
   DESTINATION YEARS AGO.
   >> THROW BACK TO THE 
   '90s.
   WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 
   PIZZA, CANDY, POPCORN.
   WE HAVE A LITTLE 
   CLOSET SET UP IN THE 
   CORNER WITH ALL KINDS 
   OF '90s CLOTHING IN 
   IT. 
   >> PLUS A BIG CLUNKY 
   TV AND VCR.
   STARTING MONDAY 
   CUSTOMERS CAN REGISTER
   TO BOOK ONE OF THREE 
   ONE-NIGHT RESERVATIONS
   TAKING PLACE IN MID 
   SEPTEMBER.
   THE COST, $4, A MERE 
   PENNY MORE THAN THE 
   PRICE OF A MOVIE 
   RENTAL.
   BECAUSE OF COVID, 
   GUESTS MUST BE LOCAL 
   FROM THE COUNTY AND 
   FROM THE SAME 
   HOUSEHOLD UP TO FOUR 
   PEOPLE. 
   >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE 
   SOMETHING LIKE THAT 
   WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM
   YOU WISH YOU COULD DO,
   SPEND THE NIGHT IN A 
   BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO. 
   >> YEAH.
   YOU GET ACCESS TO 
   EVERY MOVIE ON THE 
   SHELF.
   YOU CAN PICK WHATEVER 
   YOU WANT. 
   >> CALL IT THE NEWEST 
   RELEASE IN THE 
   BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISE,
   A CHAIN THAT ONCE 
   POSTED 9,000 STORES 
   WITH THAT CATCHY 
   JINGLE. 
   áá
   >> WE FIRST VISITED 
   THE STORE IN 2018 WHEN
   IT BECAME THE LAST 
   BLOCKBUSTER IN 
   AMERICA. 
   >> WE'RE IN BEND AND 
   MY FRIEND SAID THEY 
   HAVE THE LAST 
   BLOCKBUSTER, YOU HAVE 
   TO GO GET A PICTURE. 
   >> THERE'S SOMETHING 
   NO, SIR TOLLINGIC 
   ABOUT THIS. 
   >> WE HAVE PEOPLE 
   COMING IN, 
   BLOCKBUSTER, HOW ARE 
   YOU STILL HERE. 
   >> EVEN DURING 
   PANDEMIC WITH THE 
   SOCIAL LIFE ON PAUSE 
   WISTFUL CUSTOMERS 
   KEEPING BUSY.
   NOW THIS BB WILL 
   BECOME AN AIRBNB.
   THE TRUTH.
   MAKE IT A BLOCKBUSTER 
   NIGHT.
   JOE FRYER, NBC'S NEWS.
   >>> YOU GET TO WALK 
   AROUND LOOKING FOR 
   JUST THE RIGHT MOVIE, 
   RIGHT?
   THAT IS "NBC NIGHTLY 
   NEWS" THIS SUNDAY.
   LESTER HOLT WILL BE 
   BACK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
   I'M KATE SNOW.
   FROM ALL OF US AT NBC 
   FROM ALL OF US AT NBC 
   NEWS, STAY SAFE AND 
   HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
