>>> TONIGHT, THE HEALTH EMERGENCY ON THE BASKETBALL COURT FOR THE SON OF NBA SUPERSTAR LEBRON JAMES. LeBRON'S SON BRONNY JUST 18 YEARS OLD, COLLAPSING FROM A CARDIAC ARREST DURING PRACTICE AT USC AND RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE LATEST ON HIS CONDITION AND THE MESSAGE TONIGHT FROM THE JAMES FAMILY. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE SURPRISE DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING TREVOR REED, THE AMERICAN FREED LAST YEAR IN A PRISONER SWAP WITH RUSSIA. WE'RE NOW LEARNING HE HAS BEEN INJURED FIGHTING IN UKRAINE. WHERE HE IS NOW, AND WHAT U.S. OFFICIALS ARE SAYING. COULD THIS DISRUPT U.S. EFFORTS TO GET OTHER AMERICAN DETAINEES HOME? >>> THE TENTATIVE DEAL ANNOUNCED TO AVERT A STRIKE AT UPS THAT COULD SNARL DELIVERIES NATIONWIDE. >>> THE IMAGES. A TENSE ENCOUNTER OVER SYRIA INVOLVING A U.S. DRONE AND A RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET. >>> THE NEW TWIST IN THE IDAHO COLLEGE MURDERS. THE DEFENSE SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER HAS AN ALIBI. >>> 82 MILLION UNDER ALERTS. OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA, WATER TEMPERATURES HITTING MORE THAN 100 DEGREES. THE URGENT RESCUE MISSION UNDER THE SEA. OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. A RARE INSIDE LOOK AT U.S. MISSIONS TO TRAIN TROOPS FIGHTING ON THE NEW FRONT LINE OF TERROR. >>> AND NEARLY 70 YEARS AFTER THE LYNCHING THAT GALVANIZED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT IN HONOR OF EMMETT TILL. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. A LIFE-AND-DEATH SCARE INVOLVING THE 18-YEAR-OLD SON OF NBA SUPERSTAR LEBRON JAMES HAS SHAKEN THE SPORTS WORLD TONIGHT AFTER THE USC STANDOUT SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST DURING A TEAM PRACTICE. A FAMILY SPOKESPERSON SAYS BRONNY JAMES IS NOW IN STABLE CONDITION AND NO LONGER IN ICU. PARAMEDICS RACED HIM TO A LOS ANGELES HOSPITAL FOLLOWING HIS COLLAPSE YESTERDAY. CARDIAC ARREST IN WHICH THE HEART CAN ACTUALLY STOP BEATING IS MORE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH OLDER ADULTS, BUT THE CASE OF BRONNY JAMES HIGHLIGHTING A RISK TO YOUNG ATHLETES TOO. KAYLEE HARTUNG HAS THE STORY. >> BRONNY JAMES TO THE BASKET, BASKET BOMBARDMENT! >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE SON OF A BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR FACING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. >> BRONNY JAMES, BULLS-EYE! >> Reporter: BRONNY JAMES RUSHED TO THE ER DURING A PRACTICE MONDAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. A FAMILY SPOKESPERSON SAYING WHILE PRACTICING, BRONNY JAMES SUFFERED A CARDIAC ARREST. MEDICAL STAFF WAS ABLE TO TREAT BRONNY AND TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. HE IS NOW IN STABLE CONDITION AND NO LONGER IN ICU. THE 18-YEAR-OLD IS THE SON OF NBA LEGEND LEBRON JAMES AND ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY TOUTED INCOMING COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS. HE WAS PREPARING FOR HIS FIRST SEASON ON THE USC BASKETBALL TEAM WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 9:26 A.M. >> ENGINE RESCUE 15, VICTIM UNCONSCIOUS, 3400 SOUTH FIGUEROA. >> Reporter: EARLIER BRONNY JAMES STARRING IN THE ALL AMERICAN GAME. HIS DAD CHEERING HIM ON HI, SEE PROUD, MY >> HE IS PROUD, MY DAD. >> Reporter: LeBRON NOT SHY ABOUT HIS WISH TO ONE DAY SHARE THE COURT WITH HIS SON. >> BEING WITH HIM, SPENDING A FULL YEAR WITH HIM IN THE SAME UNIFORM, THAT WOULD BE THE ICING ON THE CAKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT DAMAR HAMLIN, WHO SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD EARLIER THIS YEAR TWEETING PRAYERS TO BRONNY AND THE JAMES FAMILY AS WELL. HERE FOR YOU GUYS, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN FOR ME MY ENTIRE PROCESS. CARDIAC ARREST HAS BEEN A LEADING CAUSE OF YOUNG ATHLETES. AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYERS LIKE JAMES ARE THE POPULATION AT THE HIGHEST RISK, ACCORDING TO A STUDY IN THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION JOURNAL. WHAT COULD HAVE LED TO THIS? >> THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT CAUSE CARDIAC ARREST, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THEY'VE HAD, LIKE A DISEASE IN THE HEART, SO IT'S CONGENITAL OR SOMETHING DEVELOPED AFTER HAVING AN INFECTION. >> Reporter: DOCTORS WITH THIS ADVICE FOR PARENTS OF ATHLETES OF ANY AGE. >> ANY STUDENT THAT'S GOING TO START ANY SPORT SHOULD DO A PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL. AND THAT INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF THEIR MEDICAL HISTORY, AND ALSO ASKS THE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS. >> KAYLEE, THIS HAS SPURRED A LOT OF CONVERSATION. I KNOW THERE IS ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT EXPERTS SAY IS REALLY CRITICAL TO HAVE ON HAND. >> YES, LESTER, A DEFIBRILLATOR OR AEB THAT SHOCKS A HEART BACK INTO RHYTHM CAN BE A LIFE-SAVER. DOCTORS ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO ASK THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL OR ATHLETIC FACILITY IF THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN IN WRITING THAT INCLUDES A DEFIBRILLATOR. LESTER? >> KAYLEE HARTUNG, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO DEVELOPING TONIGHT, TREVOR REED, THE FORMER U.S. MARINE HELD BY RUSSIA FOR THREE YEARS AND RELEASED IN A PRISONER SWAP HAS BEEN WOUNDED WHILE FIGHTING IN UKRAINE. PETER ALEXANDER FOLLOWING THIS STORY FOR US. PETER, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? >> Reporter: LESTER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT TONIGHT SAYS THAT TREVOR REED WAS RECENTLY INJURED WHILE FIGHTING IN UKRAINE, AS YOU NOTE. HE HAS SINCE BEEN TAKEN BY AN NGO, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT GROUP TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN GERMANY. BUT HIS INJURIES REMAIN UNCLEAR. REED SPENT NEARLY THREE YEARS DETAINED IN RUSSIA BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED AS PART OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE LAST YEAR. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS REED WAS NOT IN UKRAINE ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY WARNED AMERICANS NOT TO TRAVEL THERE AND TONIGHT A U.S. OFFICIAL TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT REED'S ACTIONS COULD HAVE ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO BRING HOME AMERICAN JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH AND FORMER MARINE PAUL WHELAN, BOTH STILL DETAINED IN RUSSIA. REED WAS SWAPPED OUT LAST YEAR FOR A RUSSIAN PILOT CONVICTED OF SMUGGLING COCAINE INTO THE U.S. LESTER, HIS FAMILY HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT TONIGHT. >> PETER ALEXANDER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANK YOU, PETER. >>> THE PENTAGON SAID TODAY THAT A RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET DAMAGED AN UNMANNED AMERICAN DRONE FLYING OVER SYRIA. IT HAPPENED SUNDAY WHEN THE RUSSIAN JET FIRED FLARES AT THE DRONE, DAMAGING A PROPELLER. THE MILITARY SAYS IT'S THE LATEST INSTANCE OF RUSSIAN FIGHTER JETS HARASSING U.S. DRONES FLYING ON ANTI-ISIS MISSIONS OVER SYRIA. >>> TONIGHT A POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING STRIKE BY UPS WORKERS HAS BEEN AVERTED AFTER THE COMPANY AND THE TEAMSTERS UNION ANNOUNCED A TENTATIVE DEAL. STEVE PATTERSON WITH THE LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN THE DEAD HEAT OF A SUMMER OF EMERGING STRIKES, UPS REACHING A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ITS TEAMSTERS UNION, AVOIDING A ECONOMY RATTLING LABOR ACTION. STILL NEEDING TO SECURE THE DEAL SAYING IT SECURED A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT BOOSTING WAGES AND SECURING SOLIDIFYING SAFETY ISSUES. >> I THINK IT'S A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN GENERAL. WE ACTUALLY TOOK ON CORPORATE AMERICA AND WON TODAY. >> Reporter: IN THE STATEMENT, UPS SAYS IT PROVIDES INDUSTRY-LEADING PAY AND BENEFITS WHILE RETAINING THE FLEXIBILITY WE NEED TO STAY COMPETITIVE. BUT IN WHAT IS BEING DUBBED A HOT LABOR SUMMER, SO MUCH REMAINS ON THE LINE. >> AND USED WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION. >> Reporter: IN NEW YORK CITY'S TIMES SQUARE TODAY, A DAY OF ACTION HIGHLIGHTING THE ONGOING WRITERS AND ACTORS STRIKE. >> YOU WILL NOT HAVE YOU TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHT TO WORK AND EARN A DECENT LIVING. >> Reporter: THOSE PICKET LINES WITH POTENTIAL TO EXPAND. 150,000 AUTO WORKERS BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW CONTRACT WITH U.S. AUTOMAKERS THIS MONTH. MORE THAN 26,000 AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PREPARING TO VOTE ON STRIKE AUTHORIZATION. AND LOCAL ACTIONS LIKE AN ONGOING LOS ANGELES HOTEL WORKERS STRIKE DRAGS ON FOR WEEKS. >> WORKERS, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE LOGISTICS, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THEY'RE FEELING ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND ECONOMIC INSECURITY. >> Reporter: AND WHILE SEVERAL OF THE DISPUTES ARE FUELED BY TRADITIONAL WAGE DISAGREEMENTS, THERE ARE HUGE FEARS OVER NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE AI. >> THERE IS TREMENDOUS INSECURITY AMONG WORKERS ABOUT BEING DISPLACED BY NEW TECHNOLOGY. >> Reporter: AND BACK IN L.A., WRITERS AND ACTORS CONTINUE TO PICKET IN THE HEAT IN A LABOR ACTION FORECAST TO STRETCH ON FOR WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, STEVE PATTERSON TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> IN NEW YORK, AUTHORITIES HAVE ENDED THE SEARCH AT THE HOME OF THE SUSPECTED GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER AFTER NEARLY TWO WEEKS. THEY SAY THEY'VE COLLECTED A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE FROM REX HEUERMANN'S CLUTTERED HOME. HEUERMANN IS CHARGED WITH MURDERING THREE WOMEN, AND IS SUSPECTED OF KILLING A FOURTH. HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. >>> AND A NEW DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT INVOLVING BRYAN KOHBERGER, THE MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING THOSE FOUR UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS. IN A COURT FILING, HIS LAWYER INDICATES THAT KOHBERGER MAY PRESENT AN ALIBI, THAT HE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE AT THE TIME OF THE KILLINGS LAST NOVEMBER. A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY HAS BEEN ENTERED ON HIS BEHALF. >>> WE'LL TURN TO THAT DANGEROUS HEAT NOW, EXPANDING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE CENTRAL U.S., AND HEADING FOR THE EAST COAST. 82 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER HEAT ALERTS, AND THOSE EXTREME TEMPERATURES ARE NOT ONLY BEING FELT ON LAND, BUT THIS THE WATER TOO. SAM BROCK WITH AN URGENT RESCUE MISSION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FLORIDA BURNING UP, BY AIR AND SEA. AN UNFATHOMABLE 101-DEGREE TEMPERATURE READING JUST NORTH OF THE FLORIDA KEYS, SOME OF THE WARMEST WATERS EVER RECORDED. >> YOU HAVE TO GO DEEPER TO FEEL A LITTLE COOLER WATER. AND DEFINITELY WARMER THAN USUAL. >> Reporter: THE SCORCHING OCEAN CAUSING A CRISIS FOR CORAL REEFS, BECOMING DISEASED, BLEACHED, AND WITHERED. >> WE ARE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK HERE, BECAUSE THESE WATERS ARE HOT. AND CORALS CANNOT SURVIVE IN REALLY HOT WATER. >> Reporter: AT THE KEYS MARINE LAB, NOAA PROVIDING FACILITIES TO SAVE THE ENDANGERED REEFS, EXPERTS CLEANING AND PREPPING THEM. >> THIS TANK COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESERVING THE CORAL REEF AND NOT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> Reporter: FOR NORM MONTOYA MAYA WITH THE CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION IS THE POINT PERSON FROM GETTING THESE REEFS FROM HERE IN THE KEYS TO A CORAL BUS. >> WE HAVE A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM THAT IS AT STAKE HERE. >> Reporter: AND ULTIMATELY MOVED TO A LAB TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM EXTINCTION. >> THIS REEF IS A NATIONAL TREASURE. IT'S LIKE YELLOWSTONE. >> Reporter: TODAY'S CONDITIONS FURTHER TESTAMENT TO THE ALARMING TRENDS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO FUEL. PHOENIX NOW EXPERIENCING ITS LONGEST HEATWAVE EVER, 26 STRAIGHT DAYS WITH TEMPERATURES AT 110 DEGREES OR HIGHER. IN CONNECTICUT, PARENTS JUST TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS. >> WE HAD NECK FANS. AND FOR THE GIRLS, WE PROVIDE COOLING TOWELS. >> Reporter: AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE GOING TO POOLS, COOLING CENTERS, AND BEACHES. NBC'S MAGGIE VESPA IS AT ONE TODAY. >> Reporter: IN MINNEAPOLIS, A PLACE KNOWN FOR BONE-CHILLING COLD, TODAY THE BEACHES ARE PACKED WITH PEOPLE DESPERATE TO STAY COOL. BUT THIS BRUTAL HEAT IS JUST ONE ISSUE. ON TOP OF THAT, THE CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE IS BACK, SPARKING AN AIR QUALITY ALERT. >> Reporter: AND BACK IN FLORIDA, THE CORAL SITUATION MIGHT LOOK BLEAK, BUT THIS NOAH'S ARK STYLE APPROACH COULD BE THE LIFELINE IT NEEDS. THESE CORAL REEFS ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO A GENE BANK WHERE THEY'LL STAY FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, BUT THEIR FRAGMENTS COULD END UP BACK IN THE OCEAN. LESTER? >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, NOT SEEN FOR WEEKS. WHAT HAPPENED TO A TOP CHINESE OFFICIAL. >>> PLUS, WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES WITH U.S. FORCES IN A NEW >>> WE TURN NOW TO MYSTERY INVOLVING A SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL, OUT OF SIGHT FOR A MONTH AND NOW REMOVED FROM HIS JOB AS FOREIGN MINISTER, ALL AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS. ANDREA MITCHELL HAS MORE. ANDREA, WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING? >> LESTER, FOREIGN MINISTER QIN GANG'S FIRING IS A HUGE EMBARRASSMENT TO PRESIDENT XI, ACCORDING TO FORMER OFFICIALS WHO SAY XI HAD PLUCKED HIM FROM RELATIVE OBSCURITY FOR THAT POST. HE WAS KNOWN AS A WOLF DIPLOMAT FOR BEING TOUGH AND ALSO IDEOLOGICAL. XI WAS PREVIOUSLY -- RATHER QIN WAS PREVIOUS AMBASSADOR AND PRIOR TO THAT TO THE UK. HE HASN'T BEEN SEEN FOR A MONTH. LAST TIME OFFICIALS MET WITH HIM WAS SECRETARY OF STATE TONY BLINKEN IN JUNE. MULTIPLE SOURCES AND CHINESE SOCIAL MEDIA SAY HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY A PERSONAL SCANDAL. REPORTS NOT CENSORED BY THE REGIME. MEANWHILE, CHINA IS NOT MAKING ANY BIG DECISIONS ON WHEN PRESIDENT XI WILL TALK TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, HOW BIDEN WILL HANDLE RUSSIA AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND CHINA'S SAGGING ECONOMY, DECISIONS NOT BEING MADE THAT COULD AFFECT OUR POCKETBOOKS HERE AT HOME, DEPENDING ON HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT. LESTER? >> OKAY, ANDREA MITCHELL, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. RARE ACCESS INSIDE THE U.S. MISSION TO TRAIN TROOPS FIGHTING ON THE NEWEST FRONT IN THE WAR ON TERROR IN WEST AFRICA. LET'S GET MORE FROM COURTNEY KUBE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES OF A GROWING TERROR THREAT. THESE SPECIAL OPS SOLDIERS IN THE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY NIGER TRAINED BY U.S. TROOPS, PRACTICING DOOR-TO-DOOR CLEARING OPERATIONS, PREPARING FOR A FIGHT AGAINST ISLAMIC EXTREMIST GROUPS. >> THEY FIGHT TOGETHER OVER THE SAME LAND. >> Reporter: LIEUTENANT COLONEL IAN McCONNELL IS THE SPECIAL OPS COMMANDER IN THE REGION. >> ONE OF THE KEY LESSONS WE'VE TAKEN FROM THE LAST 20 YEARS FROM THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE IS HOW CAN I PARTNER WITH SOURCES WHO ARE IN A FIGHT FOR THEIR EXISTENCE. >> Reporter: THESE NIGERIAN FORCES TRAINED BY U.S. MILITARY RANGERS AND GREEN BERET ON FINDING AND DISARMING ROAD-SIDE BOMBS, CLEARING HOUSES AND FIRING THEIR KALISHNAKOVS, AND PREPARING FOR CASUALTIES, LIKE THIS MEDEVAC EXERCISE. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATORS TRAIN THESE NIGERIAN TROOPS DURING THE DAY AND SUPPORT THEIR MISSIONS AT NIGHT, AGAINST TWO FIRST FIERCE ENEMIES, JNIM, AN AL QAEDA AFFILIATE, AND THE ISLAMIC STATE IN THE GREATER SAHARA, AN ARM OF ISIS. FIGHTERS WHO TARGET THE IMMENSE POVERTY HERE AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND IT IS A FIGHT THAT HAS HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR THE 1100 TROOPS NOW IN NIGER. IN 2017, FOUR U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS OUTNUMBERED AND OUTGUNNED WERE AMONG THOSE KILLED IN AN AMBUSH BY ISIS FIGHTERS. IT WAS THE DEADLIEST ATTACK AGAINST U.S. TROOPS IN AFRICA SINCE BLACKHAWK DOWN, SPARKING A BITTER DEBATE ABOUT THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE HERE. MEANWHILE, TONIGHT THE NIGERIAN TROOPS HAVE A TARGET, A TERRORIST OPERATING IN A REMOTE AREA IN RURAL NIGER. I CAN'T SHOW YOU BEHIND THIS DOOR, BUT INSIDE THEY'RE PLANNING FOR TONIGHT'S MISSION. THE U.S. MILITARY PUTTING A DRONE UP OVERHEAD TO WATCH THEIR NIGERIAN PARTNERS AS THEY GO HUNTING FOR TERRORISTS. AS THE MISSION GOES ON, THE U.S. MILITARY WATCHES FROM HERE IN THE OPERATION CENTER. >> THIS IS A PLACE WHERE ALL THE INFORMATION IS COMING IN ABOUT WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING, WHAT U.S. FORCES ARE DOING, WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, AND REPORTS OF INTELLIGENCE RELATED TO MISSIONS THAT ARE ONGOING. >> Reporter: THIS NEVER BEFORE SEEN VIDEO SHOWS JUST HOW CLOSELY THE U.S. MONITORS NIGERIAN MILITARY MISSIONS. ARE U.S. TROOPS IN DANGER? >> THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DANGER IN AN UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENT, BUT WITH THE WAY IN WHY WE'RE OPERATING WITH A REMOTE ASSIST REALLY DOES REMOVE U.S. FORCES FROM BEING ON THE OBJECTIVE, WHICH DECREASES THE IMMINENT RISK WHERE ENEMY ACTIONS ARE HAPPENING AT THE POINT OF CAPTURE. >> Reporter: THIS MISSION, SMALL ELITE TEAMS OF U.S. TROOPS TRAINING LOCAL FORCES TO FIGHT TERROR GROUPS IS BECOMING MORE COMMON. BUT LIKE MANY SPECIAL OPERATIONS DEPLOYMENTS, MOST AMERICANS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW IT'S HAPPENING. LESTER? >> COURTNEY KUBE, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, WITH BRUTAL HEAT AND FIRES LEAVING AMERICANS ON NIGHTMARE VACATIONS, WE LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN DO >>> AS MUCH OF THE WORLD SUFFERS THROUGH EXTREME HEAT AND FIRE, MANY AMERICANS ARE BEING FORCED TO ABANDON THEIR SUMMER VACATIONS, AS TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS CONFRONT THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. HERE IS TOM COSTELLO ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. >> Reporter: FROM THE AMERICAN WEST TO SOUTHERN EUROPE, MUCH OF THE WORLD'S VACATION DESTINATIONS ARE UNBEARABLY HOT, EVEN ON FIRE. THE AIRPORT IN PALERMO, ITALY SHUT DOWN THIS MORNING AS FIRE REACHED THE PERIMETER. IN GREECE, A WATER DROP PLANE CRASHED, KILLING TWO PILOTS AS FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED WIND-DRIVEN FLAMES ACROSS THE ISLANDS. ALREADY 2500 HAVE FLED CORFU. NBC'S JOSH LEDERMAN IS ON THE ISLAND OF RHODES. >> Reporter: THE BEACHSIDE RESORTS ARE NORMALLY PACKED THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT TOURISTS ARE FLEEING BY THE THOUSANDS. PACKAGE HOLIDAY COMPANIES NOW CANCELING TRIPS WHILE AIRLINES BRING IN MORE AIRPLANES TO FERRY PEOPLE HOME. >> Reporter: JIM ARRIVED FRIDAY FROM MICHIGAN, THEN ESCAPED ON SATURDAY. >> WE WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE BY CAR RATHER THAN HEAD DOWN TO THE BEACH LIKE A LOT OF THE TOURISTS. AND BE EVACUATED VIA BOAT. >> Reporter: 104 TEMPS HAVE FORCED THE ACROPOLIS TO CLOSE EARLY, WHILE A DELTA PLANE FLYING FROM MILAN TO NEW YORK HIT TURBULENCE OVER ITALY WITH SOFTBALL-SIZED HAIL, CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE. HIGH TEMPS WHETHER IN GREECE OR ARIZONA CAN AFFECT AIRLINE DEPARTURES. >> IN EXTREME HEAT, IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO TAKE OFF, AND SOME AIRLINES MAY HAVE TO CUT WEIGHT WITH LESS PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE. >> Reporter: BEFORE LEAVING FOR VACATION, TRAVEL PROS ADVISE CHECKING THE EXTENDED FORECAST. MONITOR NEWS OF POTENTIAL STRIKES OR POLITICAL INSTABILITY, AND CONSIDER CANCEL FOR ANY REASON TRIP INSURANCE. >> IF YOU INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IN A TRIP AND YOUR MONEY IS NONREFUNDABLE, IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE. >> Reporter: BUT BE WARNED. YOU CAN'T BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE AFTER EXTREME WEATHER IS ALREADY PREDICTED TO AFFECT YOUR VACATION. LESTER? >> TOM COSTELLO TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, CAN A NEW MONUMENT TO EMMETT TILL BRING MORE UNDERSTANDING TO A CASE THAT >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, IT'S BEEN ALMOST 70 YEARS SINCE THE LYNCHING OF EMMETT TILL, WHOSE MURDER BECAME A CATALYST FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. NOW TILL'S MEMORY IS BEING HONORED WITH A NATIONAL MONUMENT. HERE IS BLAYNE ALEXANDER. >> Reporter: EMMETT TILL WOULD HAVE TURNED 82 YEARS OLD TODAY. INSTEAD, IN 1955, THE 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS ABDUCTED, BEATEN, AND LYNCHED AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF WHISTLING AT A WHITE WOMAN IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI. AND TODAY PRESIDENT BIDEN CREATED THE FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT NAMED FOR EMMETT TILL AND HIS MOTHER MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY. >> WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. WE SHOULD KNOW EVERYTHING, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE TRUTH, WHO WE ARE AS A NATION. >> Reporter: THE MONUMENT WILL HAVE THREE SITES, THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER BANK WHERE TILL'S MUTILATED BODY WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER, THE COURTHOUSE IN SUMNER, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HIS KILLERS WERE TRIED AND ACQUITTED BY AN ALL-WHITE JURY. AND ROBERTS TEMPLE CHURCH IN CHICAGO, THE SITE OF TILL'S OPEN CASKET FUNERAL, A DECISION BY HIS MOTHER, WHO ALLOWED JET MAGAZINE TO PHOTOGRAPH AND PUBLISH IMAGES OF HER SON'S BODY, BRINGING THE WORLD FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE BRUTAL REALITY OF RACISM. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT THAT DAY? >> I REMEMBER -- I JUST REMEMBER BEING KIND OF NUMB. >> Reporter: REVEREND WHEELER PARKER WAS TILL'S COUSIN, HIS BEST FRIEND, AND THE LAST LIVING WITNESS TO TILL'S ABDUCTION. HE WAS IN THE VERY NEXT ROOM WHEN A GROUP OF WHITE MEN TOOK TILL FROM HIS FAMILY'S HOUSE. >> STRETCHING MY EYES, SHAKING AND TALKING TO GOD INWARDLY, AND IN THEY WALK WITH A PISTOL IN ONE HAND AND A FLASHLIGHT IN THE OTHER. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE THERE IN THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT AFTER HE WAS TAKEN AWAY? >> NOBODY TALKED TO ANYBODY. IT WAS JUST DARK FOREVER. I MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE, TALK TO ANYONE TODAY THAT I CAN. >> Reporter: PARKER STILL REMEMBERS EXACTLY WHERE HE SAT DURING TILL'S FUNERAL. NOW THAT CHURCH IS BEING RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL 1955 APPEARANCE. BRENT LEGGS IS HELPING LEAD THAT EFFORT. >> THIS WILL BE THE FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT THAT MEMORIALIZES EXAMPLES OF RACIAL VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL INJUSTICE. >> Reporter: HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT? >> IT'S EXCEPTIONALLY SIGNIFICANT SO THAT OUR NATION NEVER FORGETS. >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED AT TIMES STILL BRINGS PARKER TO TEARS. BUT HE SAYS TODAY'S NEWS BRINGS SOME MEASURE OF HEALING, FINALLY. >> THIS PLACE HERE IS GOING TO BE A BEACON. IT'S GOING TO CHANGE SOME HEARTS OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE THE STORY. >> Reporter: A STORY NOW A MONUMENT FOR THE NATION. BLAYNE ALEXANDER, NBC NEWS, CHICAGO. >>> AND THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS TUESDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.