And the Soccer Sisters Making History on team usa. This is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening as we try to take back our lives and put covid in the rearview mirror, Health Officials are looking over their shoulders tonight, watching the delta covid variant gain ground. The head of the cdc telling me today that Vaccinated Americans appear to be protected from the highly aggressive strain of the virus while warning the unvaccinated that they should no longer put off the shots, calling recent covid deaths in this country avoidable. Over 177 million or at least partially vaccinated in this country but a cdc panel tonight is offering rare insight into a rare heartrelated issue that has occurred among some Vaccine Recipients well have some of my conversation with the cdc director about the Delta Variant and whether Booster Shots are necessary, but first, heres Morgan Chesky reporter tonight, a cdc panel saying there is a likely association between a rare Heart Condition and vaccinated young adults more than 1,200 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis are being investigated, about 500 of them in people under 30 who received the pfizer or moderna vaccine. The condition primarily coming after the second dose seen mostly in young men. For both vaccines the cdc reports fewer than 13 heart inflammation cases per million doses. The majority of cases appear to be mild. Its an extremely rare side effect and likely that the level of myocarditis from the vaccine is far lower than the level of myocarditis if you get covid19 the bottom line is the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Reporter medical experts focusing on Vaccine Benefits as covids Delta Variant spreads worldwide with u. S. Cases of the strain doubling in just the last two weeks. You would expect just the doubling time in several weeks to a month or so, its going to be quite dominant. Reporter deltas rise comes as the vaccination rates plateau with man states lagging when it comes to doses administered per capita in mesa county, colorado, officials report 88 of those hospitalized for covid had no vaccination record. Of our probably last hundred admissions that we had i think only two were vaccinated for covid. Reporter meanwhile in texas a mandatory Vaccine Policy Led to more than 150 nurses and staff either resigning or being terminated at houston methodist. Nurse manager sarah pica filed a religious and medical exemption, but she says both were denied as a nurse i would never force my own beliefs on to somebody else saying you should do this, you shouldnt do this. Morgan, is the hospital saying anything about those terminations reporter yeah, lester, tonight they are standing behind this policy. The ceo recently telling me this all comes down to safety of the community and the patients adding more than 24,000 employees had no problem following a policy and getting vaccinated lester okay, morgan. Thank you. I spoke to cdc director dr. Rochelle walensky earlier today about why the delt variant is so concerning this is a variant weve been following closely around the world and now here in the united states. What we know about when viruses mutate and create these variants they tend t do so with some advantage to the virus and in this case were seeing that advantage manifest in a way that it is more transmissible. Now what were finding is this Delta Variant is even more transmissible than the uk variant not only is it more transmissible, but there is some concern that it actually may lead to more severe illness so were watching that very carefully. What does this mean for people who are fully vaccinated the data that we have so far demonstrates that th mrna vaccines, if you received both doses they should work really work very well against the Delta Variant. There are early data now from the uk that if you only received one dose it may not be as protective. So we really are encouraging everybody to not only get the first dose of that vaccine, but also, get the second dose of that vaccine the astrazeneca vaccine in the uk also looks like its protective against severe and deadly disease. We are looking at and examining the data for the j j vaccine here given how similar it is to the astrazeneca vaccine, we are anticipating it will also be working well for severe and deadly disease. What worries me most is we have pockets of this country that are less vaccinated than others. As far as talk of possible Booster Shots for those who are fully vaccinated, today a cdc Advisory Panel said there is not enough data to recommend Booster Doses at this time, but they will continue to closely monitor this dr. Walensky notes most of the data they have so far are out to six months. That doesnt mean that it ends at six months or that your immune protection ends at six months. Its just that thats the data that we have so far and so were looking for a longer horizon to help make those decisions. But the idea of a booster seems real in your viewpoint yeah. I guess the question would be six months, a year, two years, how long will that be . Its possible that it will be on the shorter end. I dont think well have the data today to make that decision. So projecting forward a couple of months, what can you say about how schools will look like will kids be able to be in classrooms again . That is my goal i fully believe that our children should be back at school they should be back there full time and the expectation is they can have inperson learning. Ive said all along school should be the last place to close and the first place to open. We are planning for that for the fall. Will it look identical to what it looked like two or three years ago. It may not weve learned a lot. Dr. Walensky in our conversation earlier you can make a plan for when you and where you get vaccinated visit plan your vaccine. Com for more in los angeles, in a courtroom today singer Britney Spears made a passionate plea to regain control of her life and her money. The details are stunning and Erin Mclachlan has late information. Reporter tonight, after years of speculation, Britney Spears is speaking out in court appearing remotely asking the judge to end her conservatorship saying i just want my life back and its been 13 years and its enough. Speaking quickly, her voice shaking at times her anger apparent, saying ive been in denial ive been in shock i am traumatized the pop singer was emotional recalling a previous tour. When she wanted to take a break she said she was put on lithium telling the judge i felt drunk i told them i was scared for 13 years britneys father, jamie spears has been at the helm of a courtordered conservatorship for his daughter and her 60 million fortune. The conservatorship currently controls the 39yearold pop stars career, finances and personal life. Britney wants her father out telling a judge today, he loved the control to hurt his own daughter, 100,000 , he loved it. According to Court Documents from 2016 obtained by the New York Times though not reviewed by nbc news, britney told the Court Investigator the conservatorship had become an oppressive and controlling tool against her. Restricting everything from whom she dated to the color of her Kitchen Cabinets earlier this year the documentary framing Britney Spears reignited a movement to free her. Fans believing shes sends them cryptic messages to through her instagram videos im having fun right now and in transition in my life. Reporter the Court Ordered a conservatorship in 2008 after the pop star was placed in two involuntary psychiatric holds following a public breakdown. The conservatorship remained in place. Though her fathers role has recently been diminished an attorney for jamie spears said in court hes sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr. Spears loves his daughter and misses her very much. Erin, the details of her account were really quite stunning even disclosing private medical information. Thats right, lester, and she fought to have her account heard publicly, even describing how the people running her conservatorship wont let her remove her contraception blocking her ability to have another baby we have yet to her from her conservatorship on that. Lester Erin Mclachlan in los angeles, thank you. In just 60 seconds, the harrowing scene in washington, d. C. As a Pedestrian Bridge collapses on a highway. Terrifying moments on a highway in washington, d. C. Today as a Pedestrian Bridge came crashing down Garrett Haake is on the scene. Reporter tonight, a curtain of concrete and steel falling across a washington, d. C. Highway, with five people injured and lucky to be alive after a Pedestrian Bridge collapsed oh, man reporter officials believe this large truck struck the bridge just before noon, pulling it down on top of three lanene the districts border with maryland. Debris smashing windshields, trapping the truck and forcing following drivers like Freddy Cuello to react instantly. What was going through your head . Did you have time to think at all or just slammed on the brakes . I was just thinking im about to die you thought you were going to die . Yes reporter d. C. Police say none of the injuries were lifethreatening and no pedestrians on the bridge when it came down. We dont have any structural concerns about the bridge when it was last inspected last february. Reporter the incident reminiscent of a Fatal Pedestria Bridge Collapse in South Florida in 2018. Oh, my god. Reporter in that case the ntsb said Design Flaws Led to the collapse of a span that killed six people Near Florida International University Officials Say it may take until late tomorrow night to clear all of this debris and reopen the highway. Crews are working their way back up the highway to make sure theres no damage to any other bridges. Lester amazing more people werent hurt garrett, thank you. President biden laid out his plan to tackle americas crime wave as the country deals with growing gun violence, many of the victims children we begin with nbcs kelly odonnell. Reporter a disturbing picture of violence across american cities. Detroit sunday this brazen spray of bullets wounded an 11yearold boy and two men. A knifewielding cyclist stabbed a delivery man in new york incidents that make vivid, alarming crime data portland, homicides up a staggering 530 this year philadelphia on track to see a new record for murder atlanta, homicides jumped 41 over last year today, President Biden outlined steps to hold socalled Rogue Gun Dealers Accountable with five new Firearms Trafficking Strike forces well make sure you cant sell death and mayhem on our streets. Its an outrage. It has to end. Reporter also in the plan, help for local departments to hire more Police Officers and directing Community Violence intervention programs to 15 cities across the country, but some in Law Enforcement warn that political pressures on the criminal Justice System are making their jobs tougher. There is a level of violence out on the street there and politicians are not helping matters because their rhetoric has risen to the level that people think it is okay to confront and challenge Law Enforcement. Reporter crime already surging before the heat of summer kelly odonnell, nbc news, the white house. Reporter this is Gabe Gutierrez while so many adults are becoming victims of violent crime, an increasing number of children are now in the line of fire, too. We have a number of evil predators, evil predators in our community that are focusing on our children, that are indiscriminately Firing Weapons and enough is enough. Reporter in an apparent case of mistaken Identity Police say a gunma opened fire on a truck on a detroit Freeway Killing 2yearold Brison Christian and wounding his 9yearold brother its crazy. Senseless. Like, they had no intentions on any of us surviving that. Reporter the family had been driving home from basketball practice. He was only here two years, but the mark he left in my heart will be with me until the day i die. Reporter so far this year, gun violence has killed more than 700 children and teenagers nationwide, more than 1,800 have been injured. In new york, a brazen attack in broad daylight one man opening fire on another in the bronx. The bullets missing two Young Children by inches their father says theyre traumatized. Today he urged the president and congress to do what they could to stop the violence the community is on edge scary because i want him to go outside, but safety first. Reporter tonight police here are looking for a person of interest, but so far no arrests, lester. Gabe, thank you a victory for Free Speech Rights today by the Supreme Court which ruled a school went too far for punishing a cheerleader for a social media post. Pete williams explains reporter the ruling is a big boost for the Free Speech Rights of the nations public schoolchildren and a Victory Fo Brandy Levy of pennsylvania when she was a ninth grader she lashed out one weekend after finding out she didnt make varsity and would remain a Junior Varsity cheerleader. On snapchat she wrote, f school, f softball, f cheer, f everything. I was upset and i just wanted to blo off steam and express my feelings. Reporter when her coaches saw the message they suspended her from cheerleading, and by a vote of 81 the Supreme Court said she should not have been punished because her expression wasnt that disruptive, but going further justic Stephen Breyers Majority Opinion said schools have far les authority when not on campus he called Schools Nurseries of democracy that should encourage free expression. This is a huge victory for student free speech because so much of what students do and that schools are concerned about happens off campus on social media reporter Clarence Thomas was the only dissenter. He said schools have historically had authority over students both in and out of school. This ruling still leaves the door open for punishing students amounting to threats, bullying, cheating on tests or violating the rules on Extracurricular Activities lester Pete Williams tonight, thank you john mcaffe, the pioneering Antivirus Software developer was found dead in a spanish prison where he was being held on tax evasion charges. Authorities say he apparently took his own life hours after Spains High Court ruled he could be extradited to the u. S. To face similar charges. Up next for us tonight, our exclusive first interview with doug emhoff, husband of Vice President harris featuring fresh artisan bread, layered with tender seasoned steak, sauteed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and smothered with melty american cheese. The new cheese steak melt, now at togos. How far would you go for a togo . The white house announced Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the Southern Border on friday it comes after our interview in guatemala earlier this month when we asked her about criticism that she had not gone yet her trip was announced after former President Trump said he would travel to the border next week and also comes amid word Border Patrol chief rodney scott who assumed the role in the trump era is leaving. In an nbc news exclusive harris husband is opening up in his first tv interview as Second Gentleman. Doug emhoff speaking out to our Peter Alexander about the criticism the Vice President has faced on the border issue President Trump today said the reason shes going this week is because hes going next week. What do you make of that Kamala Harris is not driven by any political issues or political pressure shes really just doing what the right thing is to do for this very important job that the president entrusted her with. When you see the attacks, when you see the criticism, what do you think . Look, no one wants to see anyone they love attacked or criticized, but thats part of what she signed up for in this life of public service. If you could see what i see behind the scenes, shes just focused on the work, working hard and getting it done for the American People and thats it. Do you guys talk this stuff out do you hash it out or leave work at work im here in chicago today working on voting so its so much going on each and every day that you cant just take the time to, you know, talk about gossip or politics its just not worth it you have to stay focused, disciplined on these important things that were working on you can see more of peters exclusive interview with the Second Gentleman tomorrow on today and here on nightly news tomorrow night also this evening the secretary of defense backing a dramatic shift in the way military Sexual Assault cases are handled. Heres Courtney Kube reporter Historic Change could be coming to the pentagon. Defense secretary lloyd austin is backing a proposal that would be a major shift in how Sexual Harassment and assault cases are handled in the military the cases would be referred and prosecuted outside of the Chain Of Command reporter right now military commanders decide whether to charge someone Secretary Austins proposal, create a Special Prosecutor to assess Sexual Assault, harassment and related crimes like Domestic Violence changes supporters say that are long overdue. The message and culture in the military has been clear. Shut up, suck it up and dont rock the boat reporter despite resisting this change in the past, some military leaders now support it why are we doing it because the data shows we havent moved the needle to solve that problem. Reporter too late for Vanessa Guillen who was murdered by a fellow soldier. If the legislation that were advocating for was established before what occurred to vanessa, yes, i think it could have been prevented reporter Secretary Austin will recommend the changes to the president in the next few days, but changing the law could take longer lester all right, courtney, thank you. Up next for us tonight the sisters heading to tokyo for team usa and inspiring america. Two american sisters secured their tickets to the Tokyo Olympics today earning a big distinction even before the games begin. Kristie and sam mewis are at the top of their game the pair making History Today as the first sisters ever named to the u. S. Olympic soccer team. Whats a bigger deal, being in the olympics or playing with your kid sister i think just both i just cant believe that im going to the olympics with my sister its just surreal. Just 18 players were named to the team, including megan rapinoe, carli lloyd and alex morgan. It will be the first trip to the olympics for both mewis sisters. It seems like its, like, too good to have even dreamt up, but i definitely have memories of kristie and i watching the National Team play and us saying to each other were going to do that some day the sisters born just 20 months apart grew up outside boston theyve come a long way from playing ball in their backyard. Both midfielders in the National Womens soccer league. They say friendly Sibling Rivalry has improved their game. I grew up trying to be as good as kristie and learning from her, pushing myself to play up to her level, like, helped me improve so much. I feel like i had the best childhood and now im living my dream with my sister and i dont think i would be anywhere if i didnt have her. Part of a powerhouse team. Thats nightly news for this wednesday thank you for watching im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Im raj mathai. Next, Silicon Valley pioneer john mcafee has died. Were digs into his impact on The Tech World and his infamous lifestyle, including several criminal accusations against him. Is this the story of a successful entrepreneur who went crazy and surrounded hymn with guns and became a murder or is this the greatest mind of all [ bleep ] time. Also a New Discovery in covid. Were talking about it with one of our local covid doctors. Plus, she lost a husband in the vt