>> that's your with nightly news. breaking news tonight, dorian now a major category 3 hurricane, the extremely dangerous monster storm gaining strength, the new track as we come on the air. florida bracing for a potential direct hit, dorian threatening to become an even more powerful cat 4. millions under states of emergency. officials warning residents to get ready, tourists scrambling to get out big havoc for holiday travel when and where will it hit al roker standing by breaking right now, the cause of death for a star pitcher revealed, the tragedy stunning major league baseball tonight the link to a growing nationwide crisis. the isis terror arrest, wha the 19-year-old suspect, the popular tourist attraction he allegedly plotted to target in a

violent attack another shocking arrest, the brother of olympic super star simone biles charged with a triple murder, the victims he's accused of killing on new year's eve. dale earnhardt jr. speaking out for the first time since he and his family survived the fiery plane crash, breaking his silence about the extremely close call on the runway and how he feels about getting back in the nascar driver's seat >> and coco mania, all eyes on this weekend's show down >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, i'm peter alexander in for lester. tonight hurricane dorian is gaining strength as it barrels towards florida. now a major storm, a category 3 that could begin battering the coast as early as monday forecasters warn it could make land fall as a cat 4 with winds reaching 140-miles-an-hour as a cat 4 with winds reaching tonight a state of emergency has abeen declared for the entire state of florida

heading into this busy labor day weekend, authorities are urging residents to stock pile a week's worth of food and supply our team is on the ground in florida tonight, but we begin with al roker who is tracking this monster storm al >> reporter: peter a dangerous category three storm four, 115-mile-per-hour winds, slowing down a bit west northwest at 9-miles-per-hour track of the storm, it becomes a category 4 storm on sunday and then by tuesday afternoon, it's on shore as a category 4 now, as we look at the compare between the american and european model, the european model keeps it off the coast while the american model mimics the national hurricane center model. catastrophic winds for the bahamas, tropical storm gusts late monday.l we're talking about the southeast looking at upwards of a foot of rain with isolated area of 18 inches, peter, and that's not even considering the storm surge.

>> al roker, thank you very much for that the rush is on tonight in florida where millions of residents are bracing for dorian's punch the storm wreaking havoc on holiday travel heading into this labor day weekend. kathy park is in indian harbor beach, florida what are you seeing there?bor b florida. what are you seeing there? >> reporter: peter, the water is still relatively calm. >> reporter: peter, the water is still relatively calm. preparations are intensifying along the coast. storm shutters are starting to go up as residents remain on high alert hurricane dorian nearly as wide as ohio. nearly as wide as ohio. the threat has customers in south florida jamming stores, buying supplies to keep them safe and sound >> a fan to help cool in case we lose power we can run off the generator >> reporter: the uncertainty has people on edge >> it's all the not knowing going to come, how bad it's going to hit. >> reporter: the where it's going to come, how bad it's going to hit. >> reporter: the entire state in the danger zone as a category 3 storm spins closer

>> this is a major event to be it's much better to be prepared and not have to face it than to go into one of these things unprepared back in south florida at the docks, boats secured. >> reporter: the bahamas bracing too. back in south florida at the docks, boats secured as business owners board up. >> better just to be prepared and get it done. >> reporter: preparing for flooding, a priority too here in melbourne, people waited at least four hours for ten sandbags and more than 20,000 were distributed over two days >> i would rather wait the 4 1/2 hours. my life is more important. >> reporter: at the florida hea of power and light. teams are preparing quarters of power and light. teams are preparing for outages. >> we're trying to identify more resources for what we expect to be a dangerous storm >> reporter: also dangerous for the state's most vulnerable. near coco near coco beach, rock ledge emergency medical center is putting its emergency plan into action >> it involves making sure we've got staffing in place, making sure we've got physicians ready to go, making sure that we've

go, making sure that we've got plenty of got plenty of food and supplies to really last at least 96 hours. on alert activated for >> reporter: and as the storm closes in, florida's national guard has 2,000 troops on alert activated for any emergencies ahead. kathy park, nbc news, florida. >> reporter: i'm morgan chesky in miami where dorian's already wreaking havoc by land, sea, and air on a busy holiday weekend. >> we're leaving today we're going to be gone before it thinks about hitting >> reporter: flights filling up statewide as many cut their trip short or cancel them altogether. >> how excited are you to get back home to tennessee altogether. >> how excited are you to get back home to tennessee? >> man, words can't explain. >> reporter: no mandatory evacuations yet, but drivers getting ready. >> man, words can't explain. >> reporter: no mandatory evacuations yet, but drivers getting ready. still finding fuel in short supply florida's governor saying half of miami stations have run em >> we're constantly having trucks being refuelled at the ports and then going to fill up

(. as crowds swarm the new star wars galaxy's edge attraction. on the water, cruiselines aren't taking any chances carnival cancelling and rerouting trips to the bahamas along with royal caribbean nerves on edge for anyone getting out of town before dorian blows in. >> what are you thinking what are you doing thinking? what are you doing? >> i'm prepared and just have >> i'm prepared and just have to be safe, pray, and hope that when it pass by it don't harm many houses, many people, and we can get through it tonight that travel ripple effect from dorian already being felt. >> reporter: and tonight that travel ripple effect from dorian already being felt orlando airport announcing they'll be ceasing operations on monday meanwhile a lot of the majorori carriers are offering ticket waivers for flights in florida to make sure passengers have an option to change penalty free. peter. >> morgan, thank you ohurricane close eye on the

ann thompson has a look back at her life and her legacy. >> get out of my apartment. >> she was america's favorite neighbor in the 1970s. creating a character so indelible, valerie harper were nearly synonymous. >> if you're always connected with rhoda, will you be happy about that sgla yeah. she has been the wind in the sales of my career. >> reporter: it earned her a place in place in history. >> and i'm mary richards. >> and then in her own show. rhoda's wedding earning 52f bei ballerina. fighting cancer brought harper

back to the nation's attention for lung cancer and then diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013. given three months to leave, six months later she was on the small screen again. >> i just want to live every moment to the fullest. >> tonight america says good bye to one of tv's great side kicks, a star on her own. new developments in the death of a major league baseball star. the medical examiner revealing late today los angeles angels pitcher ior s. ron mott has more details. ron, what are or >> reporter: texas authorities say los angeles angels pitcher had alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system when he died the 27-year-old was found fully clothed on his bed at a texas hotel back on july 1st texas hotel back on ju the medical examiner said he choked to death and ruled it a accident

in a statement, the skaggs family said we are heart broken to learn that it was a result o combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol. this is completely out of character. they've hired an attorney to investigate how he got the drug quote, may involve an employee of the los angeles ange and say they've learned it, quote, may involve an employee of the los angeles angels. nbc news reached out to the club today for a response about that, but we have not heard back back. skaggs' sudden skaggs' sudden death stunned the world, playered honored him, and hundreds showed up to his memorial last month. >> ron, thank you. skaggs' family one of so many across this country suffering from the opioid crisisc news exclusive we go to the front lines of the war on illegal opioids. tonight in an nbc news exclusive we go to the front lines of the war on illegal opioids the dea giving nbc rare access inside unprecedented raids in florida. florida pharmacy, customers rout here's katie beck. >> reporter: at this florida pharmacy, customers routinely pick up medleys meds, but our cameras were there when the dea picked up the store's pharmacist for practicing without a license, already picked up once

for illegally selling opioids. the dea says she's been selling again even after being stripped of her license searches, seizures, and shutdowns. florida this week, the miami dea team sniffing out the illegal distribution of opioids.a team sniffing out the illegal distribution of opioids. in three days, 290 arrests, 3.3 million in assets, and more than 600 po in three days, 290 arrests, 3.3 million in assets, and more than 600 pounds of illicit drugs. >> we're trying to get ahead of this problem and we're trying to reduce fatalities in our communities. reduce fatalities in our communities. >> reporter: a manager at this convenience store arrested for >> reporter: a manager at this convenience store arrested for selling heroin and cocaine tied to multiple overdose deaths. agents hitting stores and also the streets. dea agents have initiated a traffic stop after their surveillance captured a hand to hand drug sell they believe it's most likely heroin or fentanyl because that's what's most often sold here ntanyl because street fentanyl now america's most deadly drug we got a close up look at what's been taken into evidenceing.

it's a terrible trend that we're seeing for sure. >> reporter: agents >> people are dying. it's a terrible trend that we're seeing for sure. >> reporter: agents wear protective suits to avoid all contact with the dangerous chemicals. the drug with others like cocaine to make dealers now combining the drug with others like cocaine to make products more potent and more addictive. >> we know that someone died because of this drug and we don't know what it is. >> the front lines of the opioid epidemic still a brutal battle >> every time i go home and look in the mirror and i say what else can i do? >> reporter: the dea says now a more critical mission than ever. katie beck, nbc news, fort katie beck, nbc lauderdale, florida. a u.s. service member was killed in afghanistan yesterday marking the 15th american combat casualty there this year casual year. more american troops have now died in combat in afghanistan so far thi more american troops have now died in combat in afghanistan so far this year than in all of 2018 chilling new details plled new york.lleged terror authorities saying late today the

19-year-old suspect planned to tar authorities saying late today the 19-year-old suspect planned to target a popular tourist attraction in a violent knife or bomb attack. we get more from nbc's miguel almaguer >> reporter: arraigned in brooklyn federal court today, the fbi says awais chudhary wanted to carry out an attack i says awais chudhary the name of isis, the 19-year-old targeting the promenade in queens. he boasted about plans to carry promenade in out a violent attack with a bomb or a knife according to the criminal complaint, the teenager, a u.s. citizen born in pakistan said he needed to know how overnight federal agents raiding his home, neighbors shocked. >> just thinking about what could have happened here hurts me >> reporter: investigators say he was >> reporter: investigators say he was considering an considering an attack at 4:00 in the afternoon because this is when it's most crowded while exchanging messages chudhary unwittingly told agents

he ordered a tactical knife for the attack messages chudhary he was arrested when he went to pick it up authorities say he wanted to strike but wasn't an imminent threat in court the attorney called it threat. a fantasy, saying his client was the most terrified person in the courtroom. but the judge called him a the most terrified person in the courtroom. but the judge called him a danger ordering him detained as the case moves on. tonight an alleged terr danger ordering him detained as the case moves on. tonight an alleged terror plot foiled and now a teenager is behind bars. miguel almaguer, nbc news, new york and another shocking arrest to report tonight. medallist simone biles charged with the the biological brother of five-time olympic medallist simone biles charged with the murders of three people on new year's eve nbc's stephanie gosk has that story tonight. >> reporter: at nationals this month, simone bile undisput nobody >> reporter: today the super star's brother is in the headlines, murder in ohio.

according according to police, tevon thomas, a soldier in the u.s. army, shot and killed three young men when a fight broke out at a party he has not entered a plea. simone tweeting eating my feelings, don't talk to me it's not clear what she was referring to the five-time olympic medallist hasn't made any comments since the arrest simone's mother had four children because of her struggles with addiction, they ended up in foster care. that's when simone's grandparents stepped in.n, they up in foster care. that's when simone's >> it was scary. it was scary the fact that part of my family, my blood, was living with strangers. that troubled me >> reporter: ron and nelly biles took in 3-year-old simone and her baby sister raising them in texas while a different family member adopted tevon their childhoods were spent apart. these photos of the two taken in 2017 the news of his arrest adding to the channels of the super starns of the super star who

recently lashed out at who recently lashed out at usa gymnastics for its handling of convicted sex abuser larry nasser >> you had one job you literally had one job and you couldn't protect us.u could protect us. >> reporter: just days later she landed a flip in competition no other gymnast ever has. overcoming obstacles in this champion's trademark. >> reporter: just days later she landed a flip in competition no other gymnast ever has overcoming obstacles in this champion's trademark stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york much more ahead tonight including the disturbing mystery at a va hospital ten suspicious deaths under investigation. at least two ruled a homicide. one victim's family speaking out.eaking out. and coco gauff and coco gauff facing one of her toughest challenges yet. stay with us cing one of her toughest challenges yet. stay with us. your typical bank. capital one is anything but typical. that's why we designed capital one cafes. you can get savings and checking accounts with no fees or minimums. and one of america's best savings rates. to top it off, you can open one from anywhere in 5 minutes.

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>> reporter: kirk mcdermott survived combat in vietnam but died the in a v.a. hospital in west virginia where investigators say he was murdered by the v.a.? >> oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely. did you feel betrayed by the v.a. >> oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely. >> reporter: his daughters were first told his dad died in april of 2018 of natural causes until the fbi showed up six monthser. >> they had suspicions about that stuff and later. >> they had suspicions about that stuff and asked if he could exhume him to check this out >> reporter: the autopsy report ruled it a homicide from a massive dose of insulin injected into his stomach, though he was massive dose of insulin injected into his stomach, though he was not diabetic. >> they think he was murdered. it floored me also. not diabetic >> they think he was murdered. it floored me also >> reporter: the family filing a wrongful death suit which also alleges insulin was wrongfully veterans like geor injected into 10 veterans like george shaw. a family attorney told nbc news

exhumed and an autopsy his body was exhumed and an autopsy found he died from insulin injections in four places the day after mcdermott died in the same v.a. hospitalv.a. hospital. >> was it negligence? was it malpractice? was it intent? >> reporter: west >> was it negligence was it malpractice was it intent? >> reporter: west virginia senator joe manchin said investigators told him a year ago about the suspicious deaths and there was a person of interest suspicious deaths and there was a person >> what i can't figure out, one year of an investigation you can't tell me beyond a person of interest, nothing has been done? >> reporter: the va medical va medical center said center said in a statement it's cooperating with the investigation and that allegations of potential misconduct do not involve any current employees. employees. va va secretary robert willke is waiting for answers from his inspector general. >> this investigation needs to conclude we need to take care of those families and make sure that they have what they need in this very, very sad time. >> reporter: chris says it's like losing her dad all over again.

>> it's a horrible feeling. >> reporter: and now >> it's a horrible feeling >> reporter: and now grieving families left wondering was a serial killer stalking the cour news, charleston, west virginia. up nex hospital where veterans had gone for help courtney kube, nbc news, charleston, west virginia. up next dale earnhardt jr. speaks out after he and his family survive a fiery plane crash. what the race car legend has learned from that terrifying scare. and you look amazingly comfortable. when your v-neck looks more like a u-neck... that's when you know, it's half-washed. try downy fabric conditioner. unlike detergent alone, downy helps prevent stretching by conditioning and smoothing fibers, so clothes look newer, longer. downy and it's done.

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nascar champion dale earnhardt jr. is breaking his silence about that terrifying plane crash his family survived two weeks ago. he suffered minor injuries, but earnhardt jr. says that will not stop him from racing this weekend to honor his legendary father here's tom costello. >> reporter: two weeks after the terrifying crash landing in tennessee, dale earnhardt saysls he's grateful he, his family, and two pilots all escaped with their lives. >> a lot of things you go through help you order your priorities, remind you sometimes of what's important, what's not so importantlapsnhardt's on board earnhardt's wife amy, daughter isla, and their dog gus. still recovering from a badly bruised back, earnhardt says br earnhardt says he'll fly again. he'll fly again. >> we get to carry on, and, you

know, there's no point in wasting any time, you know, being upset about it >> reporter: this weekend racing in the xfinity series in south carolina and driving number 8 in honor of his father dale sr. who died in the 2001 race.ied in the 2001 race. >> it was such a special time in my life. >> it was such a special time in my life. and with isla growing up and my wife and just are being around my family, so i'm just trying to enjoy all those things things. >> rep >> reporter: after a close call, focusing on family tom costello nbc news. washington here she is the youngest player in the u.s. open and she is ready for her close up. opene well it finally happened, zachary. somebody burned down my she shed. nobody burned down your she shed, cheryl. well my she shed's on fire. your she shed was struck by lightning. zachary, is my she shed covered by state farm? your she shed's covered, cheryl. you that ctor? i'm gettini-ernehe shed. she shi-er? mhhm.

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here, you can make it anywhere at age 15, tennis prodigy coco gauff is taking new york by storm at this year's u.s. open and she's already proving more than ready for her turn in the spotlight. here's blaine alexander. >> reporter: from the court to the crowd, it's clear coco mania is taking over, dominating in alexander. >> r doubles and holding her own. >> she's great for the next generation of american tennis. >> reporter: coco gauff, theten bringing the same heat that made her 15-year-old tennis sensation is bringing the same heat that made her a break out star at wimbledon, now taking the u.s. open by storm. >> we are all in love with here with her. >> reporter: and coco feels it. >> i'm so gratef >> reporter: and coco feels it >> i'm so grateful ila believe in me. this iju promise, and i promise to always fight for you guys >> reporter: the youngest player to reach the third round since 1996, coco is set to face naomi

osaka, the number one player in the world and defending u.s. open champ after upsetting serena williams last year. toge open two years ago. the two have met before practicing together at the miami open two years ago >> i've been trying to talk to her recently because i feel like she's a little bit like me >> she shows us how to compete and the way to be off the court too. >> reporter: with the two going head to head, one fan summed it up well. don't make me choose a tennis takeover from the next generation of stars. blaine alexander, nbc news >> she just keeps getting better that is "nightly news" for this friday we'll have the latest on dorian's track tomorrow on "today." i'm peter alexander. for all of us at nbc news, we thank you for watching, and have a good night

it's happened again. burglars caught on an iphone camera robbing an apple store. how much they stole and how many apple stores have been targeted. drivers have killed more than three dozen pedestrians in san francisco this year alone. what the mayor is proposing to do to stop it. she's getting ordse inting homeland security to leave the country in 30 days. the news at 6:00 starts now. good evening and thanks for being with us on this friday. >> hurricane dorian just upgraded to a category 4 storm. that means extremely dangerous

with maximum sustained winds near 130 miles an hour. >> this hurricane on a straight path to florida. it could make landfall as soon as monday. millions of people stocking up on supplies. they are evacuating their communities. we'll have much more coverage on this hurricane and its path and timeline later in this newscast. now to our other top story. a death sentence. that's how a contra costa woman is describing the deportation or orders against her. he she's been in the u.s. since she was seven. >> the 24-year-old has orders to leave the country in 30 days. jodi hernandez has the story of health care and