something staring you down. nice, warm inland. cool at the coast. >> we're back at 6:00. hope you can join us. >> see you then. >> > tonight -- e world watches as rescuers in thailand risk their lives to save that young soccer team trapped for more than two weeks in a flooded cave. a race against time. some already pulled out alive and rushed to the hospital where their families are waiting. what are the health concerns? and as desperate hours tick by, how long will it take bring out all the rest? rescue operations under way right now. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow. >> good evening. as sunday dawns, people across the world got the news they had been waiting to hear. four of the young soccer players trapped in the cave in thailand are out, rescued after more than two weeks. all safely in the hospital now, but eight more players and

a coach remain trapped deep in a cavern under a mountain. as the monsoon rains began falling again today, thai officials announced they would need to take a break from the rescue to prepare for the next phase. it is now monday morning in thailand. we have team coverage there. we begin with bill neely. he has been up all night tracking all the developments for us. bill? >> reporter: good evening, kate. "we have to act now." those were the words that launched this operation, and it has started well. the commander calling it a masterpiece. but it was triggered by an emergency. falling oxygen levels in the boys' cave and by thunderous rain. right now divers are preparing to do it all again, nine lives still to be saved. for one small boy, the end of a nightmare, carried on a gurney to a waiting helicopter, then off to the hospital.

it is a moment many feared would never come. another helicopter poised for a second boy. they have battled through this swirling water, narrow passageways, a route that has already proved a death trap. the boys clinging to ropes, guided by elite divers for more than two miles. commanders chose the strongest boys first. they told divers they were ready. this is d-day said the commander. we have to act now. the rescue began at 10:00 local time this morning. ten divers reaching the cave and attaching two boys, each one to two divers. less than eight hours after it started, the boys emerged. two hours later, a second pair. four were free. one diver told nbc news the boys were totally calm. their escape route widened just hours before as rescuers drilled through cave walls. but it was a rescue

made urgent by falling oxygen levels in the caves and falling rain outside. the monsoon rains have begun with a vengeance, and this is why the commander says it's d-day because these rains will flood the caves very quickly. the rescue, he said, was a masterpiece of planning. it's been paused overnight to resupply the 90 divers with air tanks and will restart in the coming hours. so eight boys and their coach remain trapped, their lives still hanging in the balance. this isn't over, but the boys' long journey home has begun. bill neely, nbc news, northern thailand. i'm janice jackie friar at the hospitalinhiang r the four boys, starved and exhausted are now safe. the entire eighth floor reserved to care exclusively for the team. hospital officials won't say how they are doing, but the condition of one of the first two to come out is said to be

causing concern. pictures show one of the boys on a stretcher after the incredible rescue. these four went first because they were deemed the healthiest. the mission commander said they are ready for this. they are ready to come out. just days ago, the boys had sent letters to their families about what they wanted when they were freed, favorite foods like pork barbecue and fried chicken. one boy joked, teacher, don't give us lots of homework. another wrote, i miss everyone. i want to go back now. 13 full medical teams have been doing evacuation drills for days. they first check for breathing and signs of hypothermia before the boys are sent by airlift and ambulance to begin their journey home. a medical doctor was inside the cave today to examine the boys before the mission to make sure they were up for it. that will happen again s nethe next phase to to make the journey

out. kate? >> janice m our nbc news medical contributor is with us here now. so many questions. what will they be doing on the ground, when they first come out, and what will they be doing at the hospital? >> what they will do initially is just assess them, assess their stability. they can glean a lot by vital signs, heart rate and respiratory rate and temperature. from that they can already figure out or analyze two of the most urgent medical concerns. that is a low blood oxygen level as well as hypothermia. and after that, once they are transferred to the hospital, they can get a much closer look inside. they are looking at the liver and kidney function. they are obviously looking for infection. we talked about this before, the concern about being in a cave environment. >> there are infections that you can catch in there. >> exactly. >> also mental health concerns. there has to be. >> these boys are absolutely at risk for post-traumatic stress

disorder. typically symptoms can occur within a few months of the trauma but can occur within years. they will need to be monitored closely for some time to come from this. >> dr. natalie azar, thanks for being with us. back in the u.s., president trump is on the verge of nominating his second supreme court justice of his presidency, a move that will tilt the balance of the court to the right. the announcement scheduled for tomorrow night. as white house correspondent kelly o'donnell tells us, the president talked about his decision tonight. >> reporter: a casual sunday drive in michigan for supreme court contender raymond kethledge. in suburban washington brett kavanagh stepped out on the eve of the president's announcement, and cameras spotted amy coney barrett on her way to church. also, thomas hardiman of pennsylvania. as the president headed back to washington late today, he said his search is almost complete. >> let's say it is the four people, and they are excellent.

you can't go wrong. but i'm getting very close to making a final decision. >> reporter: the road to confirmation is paved with political pressure. >> i hope every republican will rally behind these picks because they are all outstanding. >> reporter: already on cable this conservative group's ad. >> extremists will lie and attack the nominee. don't be fooled. >> reporter: behind the scenes, mitch mcconnell urging the president to make a tactical choice. a priority echoed today by republican roy blount. >> i think the president has to think about who is the easiest to get confirmed here. >> reporter: hardiman's last vote was unanimous. that included democrats. for kavanagh, confirmation could take extra time for senators to review his lengthy record as a judge and when he managed all presidential documents for george w. bush. while barrett's views as social conservative could risk needed republican votes from two senators who support abortion rights. but for three red

state democrats who backed the president's first supreme court pick, their jobs are on the line in november. >> they understand it's an historic decision. it's about more than the next election. >> reporter: keeping up the suspense, the president said he would finalize his decision no later than noon tomorrow. remember, three of the judges under consideration live outside d.c. and would need to get to the white house in time for the 9:00 p.m. televised announcement. then senate republicans have a goal of getting the next justice seated on the high court in time for the next session, october 1st. kate? >> klly o'donnell, thanks. let's turn to our justice correspondent pete williams. he covers the high court for us. given the four finalists we heard about, how much could the composition of the court shift and on what issues might that have the most impact? >> this could be the biggest change to the supreme court in 50 years. last year's nomination of neil gorsuch brought in a conservative to fill the vacancy. as a

conservative replacing a conservative. any nominee that president trump chooses to succeed anthony kennedy is to be more conservative because kennedy sometimes voted on liberals with social issues. it's a long shot the court would overturn roe v. wade, but it would be more likely to uphold state laws that make abortion harder to get, laws that kennedy joined with liberals in striking down. the court is likely not to go back to banning gay marriage but may approve of businesses that cite religious objections in refusing to serve gay customers and may be willing to uphold reristctions on voting and affirmative action on school admissions. it is possible the supreme court will start taking up more cases on gun rights such as having a gun outside the home. that is an issue the court has consistently ducked for the past ten years. >> pete williams following all of it for us. thank you. and we hope you will join us tomorrow night. nbc news' live coverage of president trump's supreme court nomination. that is tomorrow 9:00

p.m. eastern, 6:00 pacific time. breaking news tonight from england, the 44-year-old woman who was recently exposed to the nerve agent novichuk has died. that was the same substance used to poison a former russian spy and his daughter back in march. the british woman, dawn sturgis along with charlie rowley became gravely ill last week. rowley's condition is still critical. police suspect the two were exposed to a contaminated item leftover from the attack on the russians. puerto rico is under a state of emergency tonight. residents concerned about the wind and rain former tropical storm beryl will bring. many there are still dealing with the damage caused last year by hurricane maria including entire communities without power still. nbc's gabe gutierrez is in puerto rico tonight and tells us how some people are coping with the help of solar power. >> reporter: in southeastern puerto rico, areas hit hardest by hurricane maria are now preparing for the remnants of beryl. >> we are ready.

we don't leave the island. we stay here. >> reporter: the system is expected to drench puerto rico with several inches of rain through tomorrow night. >> truth of the matter is puerto rico is still in a very vulnerable state, particularly in housing, in potential flooding. >> reporter: ten months after hurricane maria, the island's power grid is still fragile. this is the path maria took. the category 4 hurricane slammed the coast with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. we rode along with an international nonprofit to remote areas still without power. >> where no one else wants to come because it's too far. >> reporter: once on the ground they go house to house with a solar solution. >> not only is it solar re self-contained phone charger. lighting unit and cell >> reporter: a lifeline for people like vanessa labron. her son has never known a life with electricity. she says the hardest

part of all this has been taking care of her baby. she gave birth four months after the storm. tonight, she is among the many who hope the new storm steers clear. gabe gutierrez, nbc news, puerto rico. another former college wrestler stepped forward today saying republican congressman jim jordan knew about sexual abuse by a team doctor when he was an assistant coach at ohio state. as the university is investigating those allegations of abuse against that doctor, jordan is denying any role in the growing scandal. blake mccoy has more on today's developments. >> reporter: tonight another former wrestler at ohio state straus in the late '80s. david range tells the "washington post" he just fondled you a little too long while he gave you a hernia check and then he stayed in the showers for like an hour until everyone was done. he says the assistant wrestling coach at the time conservative

congressman jim jordan had to know. >> conversations in a locker room is a lot different. no one reported abuse to me. if they had, i would have dealt with it. >> reporter: since nbc news first broke the story last week, seven former wrestlers say jordan turned a blind eye. >> it's public knowledge. everyone knew within the athletic department that doc was a serial groper at best. >> reporter: the accusations come with national political implications as jordan is rumored to be in the running to replace paul ryan as speaker of the house. tonight, some former wrestlers have come to the congressman's defense as he questions the accusers' motivations. blake mccoy, nbc news, new york. now to the difficult question before the highest court in massachusetts. should someone out on probation be jailed e medical community considers substance abuse a disease, the woman at the center of the case argues she should not have been punished for a relapse. as nbc's ron allen reports in our series

"one nation overdosed," it's a case that could affect millions of others. >> reporter: what is fair and just for people like julie eldred? two years ago convicted of stealing jewelry to pay for her fentanyl habit? given probation and a chance for rehabilitation, until she failed a mandatory drug test and the judge ordered her imprisoned she says with no treatment. >> i got ripped out of the beginning of my treatment. that is the most important part of recovery. being taken out and thrown into jail is, in my eyes, it does no one good. >> commonwealth v. julie eldred. >> reporter: her case has gone all the way to massachusetts' highest court. she claimed she was powerless because she suffers from severe substance abuse disorder, a chronic brain disease that relapses a symptom. and sending her to prison was cruel and unusual punishment. leading medical associations back her position. a group backing prosecutors and law

enforcement doesn't see addiction that way. >> i don't believe like some other disorders that we see and treat that it's totally beyond the control of an individual. >> reporter: the attorney general insists drug testing and punishment must be options for judges. >> for some people having that sanction over them may be the only way they get into recovery. >> reporter: in court the justices question both sides aggressively. >> this is a really challenging issue, and each side needs to come to grips with it because judges have to do this each and every day. >> reporter: the court here could decide the case any day now. with america's opioid epidemic still out of control and hundreds of thousands ending up in court for drug-related crimes, the nation watches closely. after years of addiction, months in prison, eldred says she has been sober for a ye motivating factor at all? >> when you are in the

throws of addiction, i do it takes long-term treatment and sometimes you will relapse. >> reporter: she hopes the court clears her record in a case with national implications about addiction. ron allen, nbc news, boston. still ahead -- african-americans in the mormon church celebrating a major anniversary even as their push for inclusion continues.

change in big institutions, especially religious ones, often come slowly. that is the case for the mormon church and

its african-american members. once shunned, black mormons are honoring an acceptance into leadership roles, but as steve patterson reports, many say there is still progress to be made. ♪ ♪ there's a time for us ♪ >> reporter: in the church of latter-day saints, some say this has been a long time coming. a celebration of black mormons led by the most recognizable member gladys knight and heralded by the leaders of the church. >> it was something i never thought i would live to see. >> reporter: this year the lds church is observing a monumental day in history. 40 years ago, a ban was lifted and black mormons could be ordained as priests. >> i wept for joy. >> reporter: it is a long way from the church's early roots planted by lds leader brigham young who supported slavery and believed black skin

was cursed. then in 1978 when the ban was banished, joseph freedman became the first black mormon to be ordained, a moment still fresh in his mind. >> i felt like angels were all around us. >> reporter: today, of the more than 6 million mormons in the united states, less than 2% are black. >> i grew up in the mormon church. >> reporter: deshone williams says blacks have yet to break through to the highest ranks of leadership. inclusion and racial insensitivity still a struggle. >> have i thought about leaving? sure. absolutely. but my relationship with god is what has me staying. >> reporter: the mormon church is set on a course of unprecedented expansion, denouncing white supremacy and forging an alliance with the naacp. >> most in the church, including its senior leadership, have concentrated on the opportunities of the future rather than the disappointments ofhe

redemption from its racist past, this be a turning point for the mormon church. steve patterson, nbc news, salt lake city. coming up, justin bieber back in the headlines tonight. the announcement that is leaving some fans sorry.

a family celebration at a home in connecticut turned frightening last night. several babies and small children were rushed to the hospital after a second floor deck collapsed. 15 family members gathered on the deck were injured, none seriously, thankfully. the group was welcoming home two infants born in the last two weeks.

on a happier note,eson to 21-year-old actress and model haley baldwin, the daughter of actor steven baldwin and niece of alec. tmz says eyewitnesses saw bieber propose at a resort in the bahamas. the couple have dated on and off most recently for the past month. when we come back, inspiring moments from the daring cave rescue in thailand.

finally tonight -- it's not often these days that people all over are watching the same thing all together united for one cause. but this weekend it seemed like everyone in the world was

pulling for those young soccer players trapped in a cave in thailand. we can all imagine the fear and the relief for those parents who finally have their kids back. ays ew the world's attention would be focused on soccer this summer, but no one could have anticipated that brand name athletes at the world cup in russia would share the spotlight with those young players trapped in a remote cave in thailand. >> how many of you are there? >> 13. >> 13? >> since that first moment of contact, prayers have followed rescue workers into the cave and then smiles and relief when the first of the boys the daring r possible in part by saman guman, the former thai navy s.e.a.l. who died while delivering air tanks to the team. today new tributes popped up on line. hashtag, on inhim a true hero. and at the cave, a truly international effort. divers from thailand but also the uk,

australia, china all risking their own lives to save others. a poignant reminder amid so much global division and strife of what can be accomplished when the world locks hands. we are still pulling for them and will have all the latest on "today" in the morning. that is "nbc nightly news" on a sunday night. lester holt will be back tomorrow. i'm kate snow. for all of us here at nbc news, have a great night. right now at six.

we )re following 2 developing stories in the south bay. right now at 6:00, we are following two developing stories in the south bay. a vta light rail crash kills two people. way and highway 101 partially shut down following a big rig accident. the news at 6:00 starts now, good evening, everyone, thank you for joining us. i'm terry mcsweeney. >> i'm vicky nguyen. a dangerous day on the roads. we start at 6:00, with a fire that forced all lanes of north and southbound 101 to shut down in gilroy just south of highway 25. a major traffic backup right now. you're looking at images from the scene now. here's what we know. a big rig caught fire just after 3:30 this afternoon. the flames quickly spread. and vegetation on the side of the road caught fire. that fire jumped to the nort