>>> TONIGHT, THE DEATH TOLL SOARING TO MORE THAN 100 IN HAWAII AS QUESTIONS GROW ABOUT WHAT STARTED THE CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES. THE NEW IMAGES, OUR CLOSEST LOOK YET INSIDE THE BURN ZONE FEMA GRANTING US RARE ACCESS TO THE SEARCH FOR VICTIMS IN THE ASH AND RUBBLE THE TASK FORCE LEADER TELLING US IT'S THE WORST THING HE'S EVER SEEN ALSO, THE QUESTIONS, WHAT SPARKED THE INFERNO? CAUGHT ON CAMERA, DOWNED POWER LINES, WAS THAT THE CAUSE WE'RE LEARNING MORE NAMES TONIGHT OF THE VICTIMS. OUR TEAM IN HAWAII. >>> ALSO TONIGHT THE FULTON COUNTY D.A. PROPOSING A MARCH 2024 DATE FOR DONALD TRUMP'S TRIAL IN GEORGIA. WILL THE JUDGE AGREE >>> THE POLICE RAID ON A SMALL KANSAS PAPER THAT DREW NATIONAL OUTRAGE. WHY THE PROSECUTOR NOW SAYS HE'S WITHDRAWING THE WARRANT AND TELLING POLICE TO GIVE EVERYTHING BACK. >>> COULD CHARGES BE REFILED AGAINST ALEC BALDWIN FOR THE DEADLY "RUST" SHOOTING? WHAT THE PROSECUTOR SAID TODAY >>> THE BATTLE OVER "THE BLIND SIDE," THE FAMILY FIRING BACK AFTER THE FOOTBALL STAR AT THE CENTER OF THE MOVIE SAID THEY DIDN'T REALLY ADOPT HIM. >>> NBC NEWS INVESTIGATES THE DANGER OF ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS, AND COULD THEY BE CONNECTED TO THAT PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE EXPLOSION? >>> AND BASEBALL PLAYERS WANTED THE MLB'S SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF STARS. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME, EVERYONE. THE DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS GROWING LOUDER ON THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND OF MAUI TONIGHT AMID THE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING TO EXPLAIN HOW SO MANY, HOW SO MUCH COULD BE TAKEN SO QUICKLY. NO CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS BEEN DETERMINED, BUT THE LOCAL POWER COMPANY, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, IS COMING UNDER INCREASED SCRUTINY TONIGHT OVER HOW IT RESPONDED AS LIVE POWER LINES TOPPLED UNDER 80-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS SPEWING SHOWERS OF SPARKS, POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR IGNITION OF THE INCREDIBLY FAST-MOVING FIRES. THE UTILITY ACKNOWLEDGING SHUTTING OFF POWER AS CONDITIONS WORSENED WAS NOT A SIMPLE SOLUTION, BUT NO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS IN ALL OF THIS IS MORE URGENT THAN ACCOUNTING FOR THE MISSING. OVER 100 HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD, AND THERE IS STILL SO MUCH GROUND TO BE SEARCHED. TOM LLAMAS ONCE AGAIN LEADS OUR COVERAGE FROM MAUI. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, SEARCH TEAMS IN LAHAINA CONTINUE THEIR HEARTBREAKING WORK ALREADY MORE THAN 100 BODIES FOUND, AND THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE LOST WHAT WAS ONCE A PARADISE IS NOW A MASS GRAVE. >> THE TEARS ARE JUST CONSTANTLY COMING FO THE FAMILIES HAVE LOST A LOT. >> Reporter: THE FLAMES DESTROYED TY BURNETT'S SCUBA BUSINESS >> IS IT YOUR BELIEF THE POWER LINES STARTED THIS >> ABSOLUTELY. THE AMOUNT OF POWER LINES UP IN THAT AREA ARE HORRENDOUS THERE SHOULD BE A LOT MORE UPGRADING. >> HEADS-UP, THE LINE IS LIVE ON THE GROUND RIGHT THERE. >> Reporter: WHILE THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED, THERE'S INCREASING SCRUTINY ON HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC. DATA FROM WHISKER LABS, A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT MONITORS THE GRID THROUGH A NETWORK OF SENSORS, SHOWS 34 MAJOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS ON THE POWER LINES AROUND LAHAINA >> LITERALLY DOZENS AND DOZENS OF FAULTS OCCURRING OVER THAT SEVERAL-HOUR PERIOD OVERNIGHT, ANY ONE OF WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ARC FAULT THAT WOULD CAUSE AND SPARK A WILDFIRE >> Reporter: HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT DATA OR THE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS BUT SAID IN PART, WE KNOW THERE IS SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THE CAUSES HAVEN'T BEEN DETERMINED >> THIS WAS A PREVENTABLE CIRCUMSTANCE >> Reporter: GRAHAM LIPSMITH IS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO FILED SUIT AGAINST THE UTILITY. >> THE ULTRA HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY WAS KEEPING THE POWER RUNNING DURING THIS VERY SERIOUS WIND EVENT. >> Reporter: BUT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC'S CEO TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM FOR SHUTTING OFF POWER >> IT CAN BE SEEN AS CREATING A HARDSHIP FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS IN LAHAINA. THE ELECTRICITY POWERS THE PUMPS THAT PROVIDE THE WATER, AND SO THAT WAS ALSO A CRITICAL NEED DURING THAT TIME. >> SHUTTING OFF THE POWER WASN'T AN OPTION JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING >> THERE ARE CHOICES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, AND ALL OF THOSE FACTORS PLAY INTO IT >> Reporter: WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN SET TO VISIT MAUI ON MONDAY, THE ROAD TO LAHAINA IS NOW OPEN >> DO YOU NEED FOOD OR ANYTHING >> Reporter: WE WERE WITH THE CAJUN NAVY, AN AID GROUP THAT FORMED DURING HURRICANE KATRINA, AS IT DELIVERED FOOD AND SUPPLIES OUTSIDE OF LAHAINA. >> IT'S BEEN A BIG HELP FOR ALL OF US HERE. >> Reporter: BUT THESE SIGNS OF HOPE OVERSHADOWED BY THE NAMES OF THE DEAD LIKE BUDDY JANTOC, A 79-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN AND BELOVED GRANDFATHER. IT'S A FATE THIS FAMILY OF 16 NARROWLY AVOIDED. THEIR ESCAPE ROUTE UNDER SIEGE BY FLAMES AND SMOKE. FIVE OF THE FAMILY'S HOMES WERE LOST, BUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS SAFE >> THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL NOT TOGETHER, AND SO WE'LL TAKE WHAT WE HAVE. WE'RE BLESSED. >> TOM, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING? WHERE DOES THAT STAND RIGHT NOW? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, THE NUMBER IS HARD TO COMPREHEND FEMA SAYS IT COULD BE UP TO 1,300 PEOPLE, AND WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT LAHAINA, IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY, AND YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THAT NUMBER IS SO HIGH. I SPOKE TO ONE LAHAINA RESIDENT, WHO IS GETTING A WATER DELIVERY SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS MISSING SOME RELATIVES. I ASKED HOW MANY LESTER, SHE TOLD ME NINE PEOPLE ARE MISSING IN HER FAMILY. >> JUST AWFUL. JUST AWFUL ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, TOM. >>> AND ON THE GROUND IN LAHAINA, THE MASSIVE AND GRIM SEARCH IS PICKING UP SPEED. FEMA NOW BRINGING IN MORE CADAVER DOGS. MIGUEL ALMAGUER WAS GIVEN RARE ACCESS TO THIS HEARTBREAKING EFFORT >> Reporter: IN THE MIDST OF SO MUCH RUIN, THIS IS WHERE THE SEARCH FOR CLOSURE BEGINS TONIGHT FEMA SLOWLY SCOURING THE BURN ZONE, A DEBRIS FIELD THAT'S ALSO HALLOWED GROUND >> RESPECTFUL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THESE ARE SOMEBODY'S FAMILY. >> Reporter: HAVING SEARCHED ONLY A FRACTION OF THE FIRE'S FOOTPRINT. >> THERE'S AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF DEBRIS TO GO THROUGH. IT'S INCREDIBLE. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS WAS GIVEN RARE ACCESS TO WHERE CADAVER DOGS AND RECOVERY TEAMS ARE WORKING TO COLLECT THE REMAINS OF THE VICTIMS. FROM EVERY DIRECTION AND EVERY ANGLE, YOU CAN SEE THE TRUE SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE. THIS IS WHAT AUTHORITIES ARE SIFTING THROUGH EVERY DAY. THE FIRE CAME THROUGH HERE AT 80 MILES AN HOUR THEY NEED TO SEARCH EVERY BUILDING AND EVERY HOME BEFORE THEY CAN SAY THEIR JOB HERE IS COMPLETE. SO FAR, MORE THAN 100 BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. SOME FEAR HUNDREDS MORE COULD STILL BE HERE >> THIS IS APOCALYPTIC. IT'S JUST TERRIBLE, AND IT MOVED SO FAST PEOPLE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY >> Reporter: THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE, IT INCINERATED VEHICLES AND HOMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THIS AREA HAS BEEN DEEMED SAFE, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS AUTHORITIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS THEY SEARCH FOR THE MISSING. AMONG THE COUNTLESS STORIES OF THE MISSING, THE SEARCH FOR 98-YEAR-OLD LOUISE ABIHAI, HER GRANDSON CLIFFORD WAITING FOR WORD. >> SORRY, GRANDMA. HOPE I SEE YOU AGAIN >> Reporter: THAT HEARTBREAK IS WHY THE SEARCH HERE IS SO IMPORTANT. SO MANY FAMILIES ARE WAITING FOR ANSWERS FROM THE ASHES MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS, LAHAINA, MAUI. >>> IN GEORGIA, THE D.A. PROSECUTING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ON ELECTION-RELATED RACKETEERING CHARGES IS PROPOSING HIS TRIAL START MARCH 4th. THAT WOULD PUT IT IN THE HEAT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY SEASON, ONE DAY BEFORE SUPER TUESDAY, BUT MANY LEGAL EXPERTS SAY A TRIAL IN THIS CASE IS UNLIKELY BEFORE THE 2024 ELECTION. >>> IN KANSAS, A STUNNING REVERSAL TODAY INVOLVING THAT SMALL TOWN NEWSPAPER RAIDED BY POLICE, WHICH RAISED ALARMS AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM. STEPHANIE GOSK HAS LATE DETAILS >> Reporter: MISSING CELL PHONES AND HARD DRIVES, PUBLISHER ERIC MEYER SAYS HE BARELY GOT THE WEEKLY EDITION OF "THE MARION COUNTY RECORD" PRINTED IN MORNING >> THERE WAS A NOT SO MINOR MIRACLE THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. WE WERE HERE UNTIL AFTER 5:00 A.M. >> Reporter: THEN LATE TODAY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THIS SMALL KANSAS TOWN SAID THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY LAST WEEK'S POLICE RAID OF THE PAPER AND WITHDREW THE SEARCH WARRANT. ALL OF THE ITEMS SEIZED NOW BEING RETURNED THE KANSAS BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS SAYS IT WILL KEEP INVESTIGATING. >> DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SEARCH VIOLATED YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS >> YES, ABSOLUTELY IT WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE A CHILLING EFFECT ON OUR PUBLICATION. >> Reporter: NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NBC NEWS, CALLED THE RAID, A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. >> THE RESPONSE WAS >> THE RESPONSE WAS LIKE THAT OF -- TO THE MEDELLIN DRUG CARTEL WITH THIS MASSIVE RAID THAT OCCUPIED ALL THE POLICE IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. >> Reporter: THE SEARCH WARRANT ACCUSED REPORTERS AT THE PAPER OF IDENTITY THEFT AND COMPUTER CRIMES WHILE INVESTIGATING A LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER, KARI NEWELL NEWELL SAID THE PAPER ILLEGALLY OBTAINED HER DRIVING RECORD, WHICH INCLUDED A DUI MEYER DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS. HE SAYS THE RAID WAS A BULLYING TACTIC AN SAYS THE STRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATH OF HIS 98-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, WHO CO-OWNED THE PAPER. >> IF SHE HAD KNOWN THAT HER DEATH WOULD HAVE CAUSED SOME PEOPLE TO NOTICE THIS ISSUE, I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE FELT VERY PROUD ABOUT THAT. >> Reporter: IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS, MEYER SAYS HE'S RECEIVED 2,000 NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS, MOST NEW READERS WHO DON'T LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR MARION, KANSAS STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS >>> FAR FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER, MANY AMERICAN CITIES ARE STRUGGLING TONIGHT TO HANDLE THE HIGH NUMBER OF MIGRANTS. NEW YORK'S MAYOR SAYS THE CITY IS AT A BREAKING POINT BUT IS NOW FACING SHARP CRITICISM FROM THE STATE'S GOVERNOR GABE GUTIERREZ HAS MORE FOR US ON THAT TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A NEW BATTLE IS BREWING OVER HOW NEW YORK CITY IS HANDLING THE RECORD-BREAKING INFLUX OF MIGRANTS MAYOR ERIC ADAMS PUSHING BACK AFTER THE STATE'S GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, A FELLOW DEMOCRAT, ACCUSED HIM OF NOT DOING ENOUGH. >> IF HER OBSERVATION IS THAT, HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO DIFFERENTLY, WE'RE ALL IN ONE THING NO ONE IS STATING THAT WE DIDN'T DO, HOUSE 100,000 PEOPLE, UNLIKE ANY OTHER CITY >> Reporter: IT COMES AFTER A LAWYER FOR THE GOVERNOR TODAY SENT A SCATHING LETTER SAYING THE CITY FACES A SERIOUS CRISIS AND HAS FAILED TO ACCEPT THE STATE'S OFFER OF ASSISTANCE AND SHOULD DO MORE TO ACT IN A PROACTIVE MANNER THE MAYOR OPENING TWO NEW SHELTERS, AND HE'S REPEATEDLY SLAMMED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP THE CITY. TODAY, WE SPOKE WITH CARLA FROM ECUADOR WITH HER 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OUTSIDE THE ICONIC ROOSEVELT HOTEL IN MANHATTAN, WHICH HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A MIGRANT HOUSING FACILITY "GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY," SHE SAYS "MANY OF US JUST WANT TO WORK. ACROSS THE COUNTRY OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE ALSO STRUGGLING WITH THE INFLUX, AND THE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR JUST DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY >> IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE. >> Reporter: IN NEW YORK SINCE LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 100,000 ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE ARRIVED. MORE THAN 58,000 ARE NOW IN SHELTERS, AND OFFICIALS ESTIMATE HOUSING AND CARING FOR MIGRANTS WILL COST CITY TAXPAYERS $12 BILLION BY 2025. BUSINESS OWNER JOE GERMINATA SAYS ONE OF THOSE SHELTERS IS IMPACTING HIS NEIGHBORHOOD >> THEY'RE HANGING OUT ON THE SIDEWALKS THERE'S TRASH. YOU KNOW, WE FOUND HYPODERMIC NEEDLES IT'S BECOME A NUISANCE. >> Reporter: MAYOR ADAMS ARGUES, A MAJOR STEP TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS WOULD BE ALLOWING MIGRANTS TO GET WORK PERMITS LESTER >> ALL RIGHT, GABE, THANK YOU. >>> TONIGHT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TELLS NBC NEWS CHARGES AGAINST ALEC BALDWIN ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE DEADLY SHOOTING ON THE "RUST" MOVIE SET IT COMES AFTER A SECOND ANALYSIS OF A GUN CONCLUDED THAT IT WORKED PROPERLY AND THAT THE TRIGGER WAS PULLED, WHICH BALDWIN DENIES THE TEST WAS INCLUDED IN A DEFENSE MOTION BY ARMORER, HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE CASE INITIAL CHARGES AGAINST BALDWIN WERE DROPPED IN APRIL. CINEMATOGRAPHER HALYNA HUTCHINS WAS KILLED IN THE INCIDENT >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE LATEST IN "THE BLIND SIDE" CONTROVERSY. THE FAMILY NOW FIRING BACK AFTER FORMER NFL PLAYER MICHAEL OHER ACCUSED THEM OF DUPING HIM OUT OF MILLIONS. HIM OUT OF MILLIONS. >>> THE FAMILY DEPICTED IN THE HIT MOVIE, "THE BLIND SIDE," IS FIRING BACK AFTER THE FOOTBALL STAR AT THE CENTER OF THE FILM CLAIMED THEY NEVER REALLY ADOPTED HIM. THEY NOW ACCUSE HIM OF A SHAKEDOWN. HERE'S KAYLEE HARTUNG. >> HEY, MY NAME IS LEIGH ANNE TUOHY MY KIDS GO T WINDGATE. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY MADE FAMOUS IN THE OSCAR-WINNING FILM BLINDSIDED BY A LUDICROUS LAWSUIT FILED BY MICHAEL OHER. >> THESE PEOPLE ARE TRULY DEVASTATED THIS WAS THEIR SON. >> Reporter: THE TUOHY FAMILY ATTORNEY SPEAKING OUT TONIGHT DISPUTING THE FORMER NFL PLAYER'S ACCUSATION THAT HE WAS TRICKED INTO MAKING THE TUOHYS HIS CONSERVATORS IN 2004 INSTEAD OF BEING ADOPTED. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FAMILY TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED THE TUOHYS DID NOT CONTROL ANY OF MR. OHER'S FINANCES. >> Reporter: THE ATTORNEYS ALSO HAMMERING OHER'S CLAIM THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE CONSERVATORSHIP UNTIL SIX MONTHS AGO CALLING OUT HIS 2011 BOOK WHERE HE WRITES, SEAN AND LEIGH ANNE WOULD BE NAMED MY LEGAL CONSERVATORS HONESTLY I DIDN'T CARE WHAT IT WAS CALLED WE WERE A FAMILY THE FAMILY INSISTING IT WAS TO SECURE OHER'S NCAA ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL. BECAUSE HE WAS OVER 18, THEY SAY LAWYERS ADVISED THEY COULDN'T ADOPT. AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF THIS IS MONEY THE TUOHYS ALLEGING OHER THREATENED THEM IN AN ATTEMPTED SHAKEDOWN FOR $15 MILLION BEFORE FILING SUIT CLAIMING HE WAS LIED TO AND EXPLOITED. >> ARE YOU GOING TO PROTECT THE FAMILY, MICHAEL? >> YES, MA'AM. >> Reporter: OHER SAYS THE TUOHYS GAVE AWAY THE RIGHTS TO HIS LIFE STORY FOR "THE BLIND SIDE" WHILE THEY PROFITED NOW HE WANTS THE MONEY HE BELIEVES HE'S OWED. >> THEY'VE NEVER NEEDED HIS MONEY MR. TUOHY SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $220 MILLION. >> Reporter: A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE FILM TELLS NBC NEWS THE TUOHYS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $700,000 TOTAL. >> MICHAEL GOT EVERY DIME, EVERY DIME HE HAD COMING >> Reporter: OHER WANTS AN END TO THE CONSERVATORSHIP, AND THE TUOHYS SAY, THEY WILL NEVER OPPOSE THAT LESTER >> KAYLEE, THANK YOU >>> COMING UP, THE POTENTIAL DANGERS LURKING NEAR MILLIONS OF HOMES >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO A HIDDEN DANGER IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S., ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS THAT CAN LEAK TOXINS INTO THE WATER AND EVEN CAUSE HOMES TO EXPLODE, AND AS CYNTHIA McFADDEN REPORTS, MILLIONS LIVE NEAR THEM. >> THE FACT THAT THE TWO OF YOU GOT OUT IS SUCH A MIRACLE >> YEAH, WE WERE LUCKY. WE HAD SOMEBODY WATCHING OVER US. THAT'S FOR SURE. >> Reporter: IT WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AFTER CHURCH 13 YEARS AGO, BEVERLY BUTLER AND HER HUSBAND BOB LIT A FIRE SHE SAYS MOMENTS LATER, THEIR HOME EXPLODED >> THIS BALL OF FIRE HIT ME IN THE FACE, AND THE NEXT THING, HE HOLLERED, WE GOT TO GET OUT, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE. >> Reporter: LIKE THE HOUSE THAT BLEW UP OVER THE WEEKEND IN PLUM, PENNSYLVANIA, THE BUTLERS' HOME THREE HOURS NORTH IN BRADFORD IS SURROUNDED BY OLD ABANDONED AND UNPLUGGED OIL AND GAS WELLS. THE BUTLERS' FIRE WAS SO INTENSE, INVESTIGATORS SAID THEY COULD PROVIDE NO CONCLUSIVE EXPLANATION FOR THE GAS EXPLOSION, AND THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IN PLUM IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, THOUGH PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS TOLD NBC NEWS ABANDONED WELLS ARE BEING LOOKED AT AS ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE THE DANGEROUS REMNANTS OF 100 YEARS OF SEARCHING FOR OIL AND GAS, OFTEN DUG BY COMPANIES NOW LONG OUT OF BUSINESS, LEAVING OPEN HOLES, WHICH CAN CAUSE TOXINS AND DANGEROUS GREENHOUSE GASES TO LEAK INTO WATER SUPPLIES AND, IN SOME EXTREME CASES, CAUSE EXPLOSIONS NEARLY 5 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIVE WITHIN A HALF MILE OF ONE >> TAP THE WELLS >> YEAH. >> I MEAN, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A PIPE. >> Reporter: LIKE THIS LEAKING METHANE. SAM SHAHEEN IS STUDYING THE SECONDARY EFFECTS OF METHANE RELEASED BY LEAKING WELLS HERE IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST. >> THE UPSTREAM LOOKS PRISTINE. >> AND THEN SUDDENLY IT TURNS ORANGE. >> YES. >> Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE METHANE LEADS TO THE RELEASE OF ARSENIC. >> THE ARSENIC CONCENTRATION I MEASURED IN HERE WAS ALMOST TWICE THE EPA LIMIT FOR DRINKING WATER. >> Reporter: HOW LONG HAS THIS WELL BEEN HERE >> OH, PROBABLY 150 YEARS. >> Reporter: ED ATWOOD'S WELL WATER WAS CONTAMINATED BY LONG ABANDONED OIL WELLS ON HIS PROPERTY. HIS ONLY OPTION WAS TO CONNECT TO THE TOWN'S WATER SYSTEM HE SAYS IT COST HIM $20,000. >> DID YOU HAVE TO SELL STUFF TO DO IT? >> YEAH, OH, YEAH, WE HAD A UTILITY PICKUP, WE SOLD THAT MOTHER CASHED IN HER I.R.A. >> Reporter: WE TRACKED THE FRACKING COMPANY THAT CAUSED THE CONTAMINATION TO A POST OFFICE BOX, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED REQUESTS FOR COMMENT. >> I WASTED 40 YEARS TRYING TO GET A WELL PLUGGED. >> Reporter: PENNSYLVANIA'S PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE BECAUSE OF THE OIL BOOM HERE IN THE 1800s. >> WE HAD TAKEN AN AGGRESSIVE POSTURE. >> Reporter: THE STATE'S NEW GOVERNOR, JOSH SHAPIRO, HAS MADE PLUGGING THE WELLS A PRIORITY OFTEN HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS. >> AND THAT'S TERRIBLY UNFORTUNATE, AND I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER GENERATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE CORPORATIONS WERE GIVEN A FREE PASS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT CAME TO CORPORATE POLLUTERS. >> Reporter: BUT IT'S SLOW GOING >> WE'VE ALREADY CAPPED 70. WE'LL HAVE 100 DONE BY LABOR DAY. >> Reporter: THOUGH THERE ARE AT LEAST 350,000 WELLS IN PENNSYLVANIA, SOME THINK MORE THAN TWICE THAT NUMBER TO CAP AT A COST ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $17 BILLION >> YES, IT WILL BE COSTLY, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP US COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. >> Reporter: AS FOR BEVERLY BUTLER, SHE WANTS ANSWERS. >> THE KIDS KEPT TELLING ME, MOM, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE HE'S GOT IN STORE FOR YOU, SOMETHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO DO, AND I KIND OF FIGURE, MAYBE THIS IS IT, WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO >> TO SEE THIS THROUGH. >> TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE. >> Reporter: CYNTHIA McFADDEN, NBC NEWS, BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA >>> AND UP NEXT FOR US TONIGHT, THE NEW PUSH TO BRING MORE AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYERS ONTO THE FIELD. >>> FINALLY, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS SEARCHING FOR ITS NEXT GENERATION OF STARS AS IT LOOKS TO BRING MORE DIVERSITY TO THE DIAMOND. HERE'S SAM BROCK >> Reporter: FOR A SPORT THAT PUTS AS MUCH REVERENCE INTO NUMBERS AS BASEBALL, THESE ELITE UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS CARE MOST DEEPLY ABOUT TWO, THE 44 ON THEIR BACKS FOR THE LEGENDARY HAMMERIN' HANK AARON AND 42, JACKIE ROBINSON. >> PLAYING ON THE SAME FIELDS THAT JACKIE ROBINSON PLAYED ON, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, YOU KNOW. IT MAKES ME WANT TO PLAY THE GAME EVEN HARDER. >> Reporter: THESE ATHLETES ARE PART OF THE HANK AARON INVITATIONAL, ONE OF MANY MLB EVENTS AIMED AT REACHING NEW TALENT FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE GONE ARE THE DAYS OF GRIFFEY, GWYNN AND HENDERSON WHEN ABOUT ONE IN FIVE PLAYERS WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT NUMBER HAS NOW DROPPED TO 6.2%, THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE THE EARLY '90s, THOUGH BASEBALL DOES BOAST INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY. FOR SAM RICHARDSON FROM MISSISSIPPI, IT WAS BASEBALL FROM THE BEGINNING. >> MY DAD PUT THE BAT IN MY HAND, AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. >> Reporter: BUT FOR SOME OTHERS SPORTS ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE OR LESS COSTLY. >> BASEBALL TAKES A LOT OF MONEY >> Reporter: THE PLAYERS DON'T HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO ATTEND THESE CAMPS ALL PART OF EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE GAME. >> WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU >> CONSISTENCY WE'RE NOT THERE, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE. I CAN SEE IT I CAN TASTE IT >> Reporter: TONY RIGGANS, THE LEAGUE'S CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, SAYS THE EFFORTS ARE STARTING TO BEAR FRUIT. FOUR OF THE TOP FIVE PICKS IN THE 2022 DRAFT WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYERS ALL OF THEM PARTICIPATED IN MLB HOSTED CAMPS FOR BASEBALL'S FUTURE STARS, IT'S A START. >> WE'RE PUTTING IN THE WORK EVERY DAY, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO BE THOSE KIDS THAT THE YOUNGER KIDS LOOK UP TO IT'S THE END ALL BE ALL. >> Reporter: THEY'RE ALSO A LIVING TESTAMENT TO WHERE BASEBALL IS GOING. >> JACKIE'S INTEGRATION INTO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CHANGED THE WORLD. DIDN'T CHANGE THE GAME IT CHANGED THE WORLD >> Reporter: YES >> AND THESE KIDS GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT FIRSTHAND. >> Reporter: SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT