>>> TONIGHT, THE STUNNING TURN OF EVENTS IN RUSSIA. THE MERCENARY CHIEF WHO LED AB ABORTED MUTINY AGAINST VLADIMIR PUTIN'S MILITARY POTENTIALLY KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH. THE DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWING A PLANE PLUNGING OUT OF THE SKY NORTHWEST OF MOSCOW. IMAGES OF WRECKAGE BURNING ON THE GROUND. RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA REPORTING WAGNER CHIEF YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN WAS ON THE PASSENGER LIST. WAS THE FORMER PUTIN ALLY TARGETED AFTER A FAILED REBELLION? OUR RICHARD ENGEL IS HERE. >>> ALSO JUST IN TONIGHT, RUDY GIULIANI'S MUG SHOT AS HE AND SEVERAL OTHER ALLIES OF DONALD TRUMP SURRENDER IN THE ELECTION PROBE IN GEORGIA. WHAT GIULIANI SAID OUTSIDE THE JAIL. >>> NEW DETAILS ON MR. TRUMP'S PLAN TO SURRENDER TOMORROW. >>> THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS FACING OFF TONIGHT IN THEIR FIRST DEBATE. THE FRONT-RUNNER RUNNER DONALD TRUMP WON'T BE THERE. CAN ANY STEAL HIS SPOTLIGHT? >>> THE HOURS'LONG STANDOFF IN PITTSBURGH. A MAN FIRING HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS. WHAT POLICE REVEALED. >>> DANGEROUS HEAT STRETCHING FROM TEXAS TO OHIO. MORE THAN 100 MILLION ON ALERT. DOZENS OF RECORDS COULD BE BROKEN. >>> AFTER OUR REPORT ON INFANT DEATHS LINKED TO NURSING PILLOWS, THE ACTION FEDERAL REGULATORS ARE NOW TAKING. >>> AND BETTING ON CHARITY. THE GROWING CRAZE THAT'S EVEN INSPIRED THE ROCK TO GET IN ON THE FUN. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME. THE FATE OF THE RUSSIAN MERCENARY LEADER WHO CHALLENGED VLADIMIR PUTIN IN AN ABORTED COUP ATTEMPT IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE WORTHY OF A PAGE-TURNING SPY NOVEL. ACCORDING TO RUSSIA, YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN, HEAD OF THE WAGNER GROUP, IS LISTED AMONG THE TEN PEOPLE WHO WERE ABOARD A PRIVATE JET THAT CRASHED NORTH OF MOSCOW TODAY KILLING ALL ON BOARD. PRIGOZHIN, ONCE KNOWN AS PUTIN'S CHEF, LED A BRIEF MUTINY AGAINST MR. PUTIN IN JUNE MARCHING HIS ARMY ON MOSCOW. HIS ACT OF REBELLION GAVE WAY TO WIDESPREAD SPECULATION THAT PRIGOZHIN COULD BE MARKED FOR ASSASSINATION. AS TO WHAT OR WHO MAY HAVE BEEN BEHIND TODAY'S CRASH, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT HAPPENS IN RUSSIA THAT PUTIN IS NOT BEHIND. BUT THE PRESIDENT ADDING, HE DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE. RICHARD ENGEL, WHO HAS COVERED PRIGOZHIN EXTENSIVELY, HAS OUR REPORT. >> Reporter: IT SEEMS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN MAY HAVE GOTTEN HIS REVENGE. THIS VIDEO POSTED ONLINE SHOWING A CORPORATE JET PLUMMETING FROM THE SKY AND SLAMMING INTO A FIELD OUTSIDE MOSCOW. THE PLANE'S REGISTRATION NUMBER MATCHES AN AIRCRAFT LINKED TO YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN AND RUSSIAN AVIATION AUTHORITIES SAY PRIGOZHIN, A MAN PUTIN BLASTED AS A TRAITOR, WAS LISTED AS A PASSENGER ON THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH DISAPPEARED FROM FLIGHT RADAR. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING HE WAS NOT SURPRISED BUT CANNOT CONFIRM PRIGOZHIN'S DEATH. >> THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT HAPPENS IN RUSSIA THAT PUTIN'S NOT BEHIND. BUT I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THE ANSWER. >> Reporter: THE CRASH IS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS. THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY DROPPED LIKE A STONE, A POSSIBLE INDICATION IT WAS SHOT DOWN OR THAT A BOMB EXPLODED ON BOARD. THE TIMING IS SUSPICIOUS TOO COMING TWO MONTHS TO THE DAY AFTER PRIGOZHIN, THE LEADER OF THE MERCENARY WAGNER GROUP, LAUNCHED A MUTINY AGAINST THE KREMLIN LEAVING A COLUMN OF HIS FIGHTERS TO MOSCOW AND THREATENING PUTIN'S GRIP ON POWER. MAKING MATTERS WORSE FOR PUTIN, PRIGOZHIN WAS SHOWN SURROUNDED BY CHEERING RUSSIANS. PRIGOZHIN HAD BEEN DRIVEN BY RAGE. BEFORE THE MUTINY HE ACCUSED RUSSIA'S TOP GENERALS OF DENYING HIS MERCENARY'S AMMUNITION THEY NEEDED TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE. HE SAID THE GENERALS WERE JEALOUS OF WAGNER'S MILITARY SUCCESSES. PRIGOZHIN WAS LAST SEEN JUST DAYS AGO APPARENTLY IN AFRICA. WAGNER HAS A BASE IN THE POOR CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, AND AS WE REPORTED, PROPS UP THE GOVERNMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR DIAMONDS AND GOLD. AFTER THE UPRISING, PUTIN PARDONED PRIGOZHIN OFFERING HIM A DEAL TO LIVE IN EXILE IN BELARUS, BUT MANY SUSPECTED IT WAS NOT A GENUINE OFFER AND THAT PUTIN WAS WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO SETTLE THE SCORE. >> AND, RICHARD, TONIGHT THERE'S STILL SOME MYSTERY, EVEN DEBATE, ABOUT WHETHER PRIGOZHIN IS DEAD. >> Reporter: SOME OF PRIGOZHIN'S SUPPORTERS DO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS KILLED, BUT OTHERS SAY ONLINE THAT HE WAS FAKING HIS OWN DEATH OR THAT HE MAY HAVE SURVIVED ON A SECOND AIRCRAFT, BUT THE RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COUNT IS QUITE CONSISTENT THAT THE PLANE CRASHED, THAT PRIGOZHIN WAS ON IT, AND THAT IT WAS UNSURVIVABLE. >> ALL RIGHT, RICHARD ENGEL, THANK YOU. >>> IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, RUDY GIULIANI WAS AMONG FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATORS WHO SURRENDERED TODAY IN THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE THERE. MR. TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE TOMORROW. BLAYNE ALEXANDER HAS LATE DETAILS. >> RUDY, ANY REGRETS? >> Reporter: MOMENTS AFTER BEING BOOKED AND RELEASED FROM THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL, TONIGHT, RUDY GIULIANI, THE FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, TURNED GEORGIA DEFENDANT, REMAINED DEFIANT. >> IF THEY CAN DO THIS TO ME, THEY CAN DO THIS TO YOU. >> Reporter: GIULIANI SAYS HE WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES OF ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO OVERTURN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN GEORGIA INDICTED ALONGSIDE 18 OTHERS INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. >> I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT TODAY. I WISHED HIM WELL. I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN HIM. >> Reporter: IT'S THE LATEST IN A CHAOTIC DAY OF NEGOTIATIONS AND SURRENDERS. GIULIANI'S ATTORNEYS AND OTHER DEFENSE LAWYERS MEETING WITH FULTON COUNTY D.A. FANI WILLIS' TEAM TO HAMMER OUT THE TERMS OF SURRENDER. >> SIR, CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR CONVERSATIONS IN THE D.A.'S OFFICE? I CANNOT. >> Reporter: GIULIANI LATER SEEN LEAVING A BAIL BOND AGENCY IS NOW ONE OF AT LEAST NINE CO-DEFENDANTS TO TURNED THEMSELVES IN BOND SET AT $150,000. MOST OTHERS NOW HAVE BOND AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. ALL OF IT SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO BE BOOKED AT THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL. TODAY, HE WROTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I WILL PROUDLY BE ARRESTED TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN GEORGIA. ALL OF IT COMES AMID A NEW DEVELOPMENT ON A DIFFERENT LEGAL FRONT. ACCORDING TO A NEW COURT FILING, A KEY WITNESS IN THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE RECANTED HIS PREVIOUS FALSE TESTIMONY LEADING TO THOSE ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR MR. TRUMP AND TWO OTHERS. THE CHANGE CAME AFTER A CHANGE IN LEGAL COUNSEL FROM AN ATTORNEY PAID BY TRUMP'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO A PUBLIC DEFENDER. >> AND, BLAYNE, CAN YOU LAY OUT FOR US THE TIMING FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SURRENDER TOMORROW? >> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY, LESTER. ACCORDING TO A SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH HIS PLANS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL TRAVEL TO ATLANTA TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND SURRENDER AT THE JAIL TOMORROW NIGHT. NOW, THE AREA AROUND THE JAIL WILL BE LOCKED DOWN FOR MUCH OF THE DAY, NOBODY IN OR OUT. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, BLAYNE. THANKS. >>> A FIELD OF >>> AND AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, A FIELD OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES TAKING THE STAGE TONIGHT IN THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE. EVEN THOUGH MR. TRUMP WON'T BE AMONG THEM, HE IS STILL EXPECTED TO PLAY A FEATURED ROLE. GARRETT HAAKE IS IN MILWAUKEE FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE BIGGEST MOMENT YET IN THE 2024 CAMPAIGN KICKING OFF WITHOUT THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SKIPPING TONIGHT'S FIRST GOP DEBATE. >> SHOULD WE NOT DO THE DEBATE? [ CHEERS ] >> Reporter: BUT IT'S A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR THE EIGHT TOP POLLING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE THERE INCLUDING TRUMP'S TOP RIVAL, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS. >> I THINK THAT WITH DONALD TRUMP NOT BEING THERE, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY SECRET THAT I'M GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE GUY THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME AFTER. >> Reporter: AND THE RISING BUT STILL RELATIVELY UNKNOWN ENTREPRENEUR, VIVEK RAMASWAMY. >> WHAT DOES A WIN LOOK LIKE FROM THAT STAGE? A GOOD NIGHT? >> A GOOD NIGHT IS INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE WHO MAYBE, JUST MAYBE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PRONOUNCE MY NAME. >> Reporter: PLANNING TO RELEASE A PRERECORDED INTERVIEW. HIS ALLIES DEFENDING HIS DECISION NOT TO ATTEND. >> WHY SHOULD HE NOT BE HERE MAKING HIS CASE ON THE STAGE? >> HE DOESN'T NEED TO. HE DID IT FOR FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT. >> Reporter: A CRITICAL THING TO WATCH IS HOW THESE CANDIDATES TRY TO MAKE THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, WHICH MOST OF THEM HAVE STRUGGLED TO DO WITHOUT OFFENDING HIS SUPPORTERS. LESTER. >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT A DAY LONG STANDOFF HAS ENDED IN PITTSBURGH WITH A SHOOTING SUSPECT KILLED BY POLICE. AUTHORITIES SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO SERVE AN EVICTION NOTICE ON THE MAN REPORTEDLY A SQUATTER WHEN HE BEGAN SHOOTING FROM A HOME. WITNESSES SAID HUNDREDS OF SHOTS WERE FIRED. PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORING HOMES WERE EVACUATED. >>> TONIGHT AS SO MANY ARE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL, CLASS HAS BEEN DISRUPTED IN THE MIDWEST BY OPPRESSIVE LATE SUMMER HEAT WITH MORE THAN 100 MILLION UNDER ALERTS WITH RECORD HIGHS EXPECTED. HERE'S MAGGIE VESPA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE MIDWEST IS ROASTING UNDER AN EXTREME HEAT WAVE BLANKETING THE REGION AND STRETCHING SOUTH. >> IT'S PRETTY HUMID. I'M POURING SWEAT. I PROBABLY ONLY RAN A MILE AND A HALF. >> Reporter: 102 MILLION AMERICANS ACROSS 22 STATES ARE UNDER HEAT ALERTS WITH 170 RECORD HIGHS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. THE TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES IMPACTING THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ACROSS THE MIDWEST. KANSAS CITY STUDENTS WILL BE RELEASED EARLY ALL WEEK WHILE ONE DISTRICT IN ILLINOIS PUSHING THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES FROM TODAY UNTIL FRIDAY. ATHLETES PRACTICING PREDAWN. >> THE COACH KNOWS SO WE GOT TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THEM AND KEEP THEM HYDRATED AND KEEP THEM SAFE. >> Reporter: IN CHICAGO, THE HEAT INDEX HIT 115. >> HOW GOOD DOES THE WATER FEEL? >> SO GOOD. >> YEP. >> Reporter: NO SUCH LUCK FOR THE WHITE SOX. THIS AFTERNOON'S HOME GAME WENT ON AS PLANNED. >> IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A MILLION DEGREES OUT HERE. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE IN OMAHA, A DEVASTATING REMINDER OF HOW DANGEROUS HEAT CAN BE. >> WHAT'S HER NAME? >> Reporter: PROTESTS FOR A FAMILY SHATTERED AFTER POLICE SAY THEIR 1-YEAR-OLD DIED IN A HOT VAN OUTSIDE A LOCAL DAY CARE MONDAY. THE HEAT INDEX, 113 DEGREES. THE DRIVER WHO LEFT HER THERE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES. >> HOW DID YOU FORGET MY BABY? >> Reporter: TRAGEDY AMID THIS LATEST ROUND OF RECORD-SMASHING HEAT, THE KIND BECOMING MORE COMMON AMID OUR CLIMATE CRISIS. THE HEAT IS SET TO BREAK BY THE WEEKEND BUT IN PARTS OF THE SOUTH IT WILL LAST WELL INTO NEXT WEEK. LESTER. >>> MAGGIE VESPA IN CHICAGO. THANK YOU. >>> BACK NOW TO THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PUSH TO RUN ON BIDENOMICS, BUT POLLS SHOW MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE THE ECONOMY IS GETTING WORSE. PETER ALEXANDER EVACUATE SPOKE TO VOTERS IN RENO. >> Reporter: IT'S MIDDAY AT RENO'S NEED FOR SPEED. AMONG THOSE TAKING TO THE TRACK, RETIREE AND REGISTERED INDEPENDENT BOB FORCE. >> YOU WERE FAST OUT THERE. >> I'VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES. >> Reporter: FORCE WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 20 YEARS AND STILL KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON WHAT WASHINGTON IS DOING. >> ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH HOW THE PRESIDENT'S DONE HIS JOB? >> I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS WORKED AS HARD AS HE CAN TO OVERCOME A LOT OF OBSTACLES AND I THINK SOME HIS POLICIES HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. >> Reporter: BUT FORCE WHO LIVES OFF HIS PENSION IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING PRICE OF GAS. >> GAS PRICES ARE HIGH AROUND HERE. I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE 4.80s, WHICH IS HARD WHEN YOU ARE ON A FIXED INCOME. >> Reporter: NATIONWIDE, A RECENT POLL FINDS JUST 36% OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY. THE PRESIDENT NOW PITCHING WHAT HE TOUTS AS ECONOMIC WINS BRANDING THEM AS BIDENONOMICS. >> FOLKS, THAT'S BIDENOMICS. >> Reporter: BUT HERE IN NEVADA'S WASHOE COUNTY, MANY VOTERS WE MET ARE NOT SEEING ANY IMPROVEMENT. WE CAUGHT UP WITH REPUBLICANS, CARA AND BEN HARRIS, RAISING FIVE KIDS RUSHING TO GET THEM OFF TO SCHOOL. >> BIDENOMICS, THEY CALL IT. ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THOSE GAINS? >> I WOULD SAY NO. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HITS, YOU KNOW, WITH INTEREST RATES, AND IT DEFINITELY AFFECTS ESPECIALLY LARGER FAMILIES. >> Reporter: AND RATES, THE HIGHEST THEY'VE BEEN IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, HAVE SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT ON ANY TALK OF THEM MOVING INTO A BIGGER HOME. >> HOUSES HAVE TICKED UP. THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE IN RENO HAS BEEN GOING UP RAPIDLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND NOW YOU COMBINE INTEREST RATES WITH THAT. >> Reporter: DEMOCRAT NICOLE COOLEY, WHO OPENED THIS FOOD TRUCK JUST 18 MONTHS AGO, ALSO HAS HER FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT BIDENOMICS. >> YOU'RE NOT FEELING THAT CHANGE? >> NO, I'M NOT. I'M NOT FEELING IT. I'M NOT SEEING IT. I DON'T WANT TO BE NEGATIVE BUT THOSE ARE JUST MY FACTS. >> Reporter: HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE, THE RISING COST OF INGREDIENTS LIKE HER SIGNATURE TRI TIP. >> IT COSTS ME CLOSE TO $7 A POUND NOW. >> YEAH, AND IT WAS? >> AND IT WAS ABOUT 3.50 WHEN I STARTED. >> IT'S DOUBLED. >> IT'S DOUBLED, YES. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S REALLY TOUGH. >> Reporter: BIDEN ADVISERS ARGUE THERE MAY BE A LAG BEFORE AMERICANS FEEL THE PROGRESS THE PRESIDENT CITES, HIGHLIGHTING $2.5 BILLION INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEVADA ALONE, BUT HERE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS HEADING INTO A RE-ELECTION YEAR, THE PRESIDENT IS FACING AN UPHILL CLIMB. LESTER. >> PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> WITH TENSIONS STILL HIGH BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA, A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES ARE SEEKING TO BAN CHINESE COMPANIES FROM BUYING AMERICAN LAND. BUT HOW BIG IS THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S. SECURITY? HERE'S RYAN NOBLES. >> Reporter: IN MONTANA, FEARS ABOUT THE SECURITY THREAT FROM CHINA HAVE BEEN GROWING EVER SINCE THAT CHINESE SPY BALLOON SOARED ACROSS ITS FAMOUS BIG SKY. >> THE CHINESE SPY BALLOON WAS RIGHT ABOVE US. THAT WOKE A LOT OF PEOPLE UP. >> Reporter: AND IT'S NOT JUST WORRIES ABOUT AMERICA'S VULNERABILITY FROM THE AIR, NOW ONE OF MONTANA'S SENATORS IS PUSHING TO KEEP THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FROM BUYING LAND NATIONWIDE. >> CHINA IS NOT OUR FRIEND RIGHT NOW, AND THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY WANTS TO DO BAD THINGS. >> Reporter: SENATOR JON TESTER IS PROPOSING A BAN ON ENTITIES WITH TIES TO CHINA AND THREE OTHER FOREIGN ADVERSARIES FROM BUYING AMERICAN FARMLAND AND WANTS TO BEEF UP AMONG RESTRICTIONS TO THE LAND TRANSACTIONS TO FOREIGN BUYERS. >> WE'RE NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION IT. >> Reporter: THE PUSH TO PROHIBIT IT HAS EXPLODED ACROSS AMERICA. 15 STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS REGULATING THE PRACTI. MUCH OF THE FOCUS COMING AFTER CONTROVERSIAL PURCHASES IN TEXAS AND NORTH DAKOTA WHERE CHINESE COMPANIES BOUGHT LAND AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE IT TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IN GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA CITY OFFICIALS RECENTLY BLOCKED CONSTRUCTION ON LAND PURCHASED BY A CHINESE COMPANY JUST 12 MILES FROM GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE. THE COMPANY SAID IT'S JUST A CORN MILL AND NOT AN ESPIONAGE RISK, BUT THE AIR FORCE HAD WARNED THAT THE PROJECT PRESENTED A, QUOTE, SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. OVERALL U.S. INTELLIGENCE RATES THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, OR CCP, AS THE TOP SECURITY THREAT. >> THE CCP REPRESENTS BOTH THE LEADING AND MOST CONSEQUENTIAL THREAT TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND LEADERSHIP GLOBALLY. >> Reporter: THOUGH AN NBC NEWS REVIEW TONIGHT FINDING NATIONWIDE THE AMOUNT OF AMERICAN LAND BEING PURCHASED BY CHINESE ENTITIES APPEARS TO BE SMALL. SINCE EARLY 2022, LESS THAN 1,400 ACRES SOLD TO BUSINESSES TIED TO CHINA HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE USDA SO FAR. IN TOTAL, IT APPEARS CHINA CONTROLS LESS THAN 400,000 ACRES OF AMERICAN LAND, WHICH IS LESS THAN 1% OF ALL THE LAND OWNED BY FOREIGN ENTITIES. HERE IN MONTANA, A STATE LAW BANNING CHINESE CITIZENS FROM BUYING LAND PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. BRAD VOLNER WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN TO VOTE NO. >> YOU CREATE THE DRAGON, THERE NEVER WAS A DRAGON. >> Reporter: HE SAID THE LAW IS AN OVERREACH AND WOULD PREVENT HIS WIFE, A CHINESE NATIONAL, FROM BEING ABLE TO INHERIT HIS LAND AFTER HE DIES. >> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE LAND ARE IN ANY WAY A THREAT TO AMERICAN SECURITY. IF THEY ARE, ARREST THEM AND REMOVER THEM. >> Reporter: TONIGHT TESTER TELLS US MORE ACTION IS NEEDED TO COUNTER THE SECURITY RISK FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. >> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH LAND CHINA HAS POTENTIALLY PURCHASED ALREADY? >> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW HOW MUCH LAND THEY BOUGHT. THIS IS PROSPECTIVE. THIS WILL STOP IT HAPPENING BEFORE IT BECOMES A SITUATION WHERE WE GO, OH, GEE, WE WISH WE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN 2023. >> Reporter: WHILE TESTER'S AMENDMENT DID PASS WITH WIDE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, IT'S PART OF A LARGER DEFENSE PACKAGE THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. LESTER. >> RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, MAKING NURSING PILLOWS SAFER AND REDUCING THE RISK >>> WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU AN INVESTIGATION EARLIER THIS MONTH INTO THE ALARMING NUMBER OF INFANT DEATHS, POTENTIALLY LINKED TO NURSING PILLOWS. NOW, AFTER OUR REPORTING, FEDERAL REGULATORS ARE TAKING ACTION. HERE'S VICKY NGUYEN. >> Reporter: MILLIONS OF PARENTS USE THESE NURSING PILLOWS. NEW FEDERAL DATA SHOWS THEY WERE LINKED TO DOZENS OF DEATHS, AND NEARLY ALL INVOLVED USE OF THE NURSING PILLOW FOR SLEEP. THIS FOLLOWS AN NBC NEWS ANALYSIS THAT FOUND MORE THAN 160 BABIES HAVE DIED IN INCIDENTS WITH THE PILLOWS SINCE 2007. TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME STAFF AT THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION ISSUING SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING IMPROVING VISIBILITY OF WARNING LABELS ALREADY ON THE PILLOWS, A FIRMNESS REQUIREMENT TO ADDRESS THE SUFFOCATION HAZARD AND ENSURING U-SHAPED PILLOWS HAVE OPENINGS WIDE ENOUGH TO AVOID RESTRICTING INFANT'S HEAD MOVEMENTS, WHICH COULD CUT OFF THEIR AIRFLOW. COMMISSIONER RICH TRUMKA TOLD US EARLIER THIS MONTH MANUFACTURERS SHOULD ENSURE BABY ITEMS ARE SAFE. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS AREN'T FOR SLEEP DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU CAN LAY YOUR BABY DOWN IN THEM. >> Reporter: TAYLOR WELCOMES THE NEWS. HER DAUGHTER AUTUMN DIED OF ASPHYXIA. SHE WAS FOUND FACE DOWN ON A NURSING PILLOW AT HER ALABAMA DAY CARE. >> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY HELP CHILDREN AND SAVE THEIR LIVES. >> Reporter: BOPPY AND LEACHCO, THE MAKERS OF TWO POPULAR NURSING PILLOWS PREVIOUSLY POINTED NBC NEWS TO AN INDUSTRY-FUNDED GROUP THAT SAID DRASTICALLY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF NURSING PILLOWS COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BREAST-FEEDING. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THE PILLOWS? >> YOU SHOULD 100% DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ONE OF THESE. >> Reporter: THE CPSC IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ADAPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT MONTH. VICKY NGUYEN, NBC NEWS. >>> AND COMING UP AS WE RETURN HERE TONIGHT, HOW ONE MAN INSPIRED OTHERS TO MAKE L >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, THEY'RE CALLED BIG-HEARTED BATTLES, GAMES OF CHANCE FOR CHARITY, AND SOME VERY BIG NAMES ARE PLAYING. KRISTEN DAHLGREN EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: IN MOST GAMES THERE IS A WINNER AND A LOSER, BUT WHEN IT'S A BIG-HEARTED BATTLE -- >> IT'S A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: MIKE ROTHMAN CAME UP WITH THE IDEA WHEN THE PANDEMIC FORCED HIS DART LEAGUE VIRTUAL. >> MAYBE WE CAN SPICE IT UP A LITTLE BIT. WHY DON'T WE DO IT THIS WAY, LOSER DONATES TO WINNER'S CHARITY OF CHOICE. >> Reporter: A SIMPLE CONCEPT THAT CAUGHT ON FROM THE BAR TO THE BOARD TO THE COURT. >> EVERYONE GETS TO LEAVE TODAY FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES. >> Reporter: NOTHING IS OFF-LIMITS. >> ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS. >> Reporter: EVEN ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS WITH THE ROCK. >> IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, I'LL STILL DONATE 100 AS WELL. >> AWW. >> SO WHAT CHARITY ARE WE DONATING TO. >> MAKE-A-WISH. >> PERFECT. >> WHEN YOU SAW THAT WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND? >> AFTER I FAINTED YOU MEAN? >> Reporter: ANY BET, THEN PAY THE CHARITY DIRECTLY. >> WE DON'T NEED MONEY. WE DON'T NEED CREDIT. WE JUST WANT THIS MOVEMENT TO KIND OF REALLY CHANGE THE NATURE OF COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND GAMES. >> OH. >> Reporter: I JOINED A GROUP OF BIG-HEARTED BATTLERS WITH ONE HOLE TO PLAY AND 25 BUCKS ON THE LINE. >> WHAT ARE EACH OF YOUR CHARITIES? >> FOR ME IT'S ALZHEIMER'S. >> ALZHEIMER'S. >> MINE IS SPIKE'S FUNDS. >> I JUST JUST GIVE YOU THE $25 NOW. >> SUDDENLY THE LOSER IS THINKING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN THEMSELVES. HOW REFRESHING. >> Reporter: A GROWING MOVEMENT MAKING SURE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY WIN THE DAY. KRISTEN DAHLGREN, NBC NEWS, NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS. >> THAT IS REFRESHING, AND 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.