good evening. we begin tonight with an unholy fury of tornadoes. at least 16 of them, 1 after the other, tearing through midwestern towns today. imagine you're looking out your window and you see this. a giant funnel cloud in the middle of nebraska. and the highway in branson, missouri, that country music mecca, here it is before. and then, look after. and a mall in harrisburg, illinois. and here, after the tornado hit. when it was all over, at least 9 people were killed, more than 150 injured across this country. and abc's chris bury has been touring the devastation in harrisburg. chris? >> reporter: good evening, diane. you can see how powerful this tornado was. this home, among hundreds destroyed in this town of only 9,000 people. the mayor told us he heard the sirens go off. and then, he knew in his gut that something awful was going to happen. the twisters tore through the night, leaving behind a terrible toll in five states. at least one deadly tornado slammed into harrisburg, just before 5:00 a.m. shredding homes into toothpicks. flattening this strip mall like a pancake. lifting entire buildings off their foundations. this car had been parked in its garage. >> it's unbelievable. i can't believe the measure of damage it did to the building. >> reporter: this afternoon, mayor eric gregg, showed us the terrible and random root of the destruction. give us a sense of how powerful this was. >> this storm was absolutely a monster. this was a horrific event, second to none we've ever had. >> reporter: hurricane-force winds, 175 miles per hour, carving a two-mile path, two football fields wide, leaving six dead where these homes used to be. >> it didn't hit instantly. people did have a chance to take cover. but unfortunately when it hit, at the time it did, four minutes till 5:00, people are asleep. they don't have their radios on. >> reporter: tonight, the baptist church, preparing to house the homeless. the storms moved from nebraska, across kansas and missouri, into illinois and kentucky. tornadoes touching down in branson, missouri, that country music mecca, destroying this hotel and theaters. now, this rash of tornadoes all caused by a powerful collision of opposing forces. a big cold front, smacking into warm, humid air. >> we think of severe weather occurring in the springtime. but severe weather does and will occur anytime, any place, anywhere, as long as the ingredients are available. >> reporter: in harrisburg, the mayor already determined to rebuild. >> it's not something that's going to put us down. we're going to get back up. and we're going to keep moving forward, chris. this is going to make us stronger and better. >> reporter: the mayor told us he is heartbroken by what happened. the damage that took only moments to inflict may take many, many months to rebuild. diane? >> well, chris, as you said, the damage and destruction spread all the way from you in harrisburg, across to harveyville, kansas. population 200 in that town gathered. and every, single one of them felt this destruction from tornadoes. abc's clayton sandell tell us the story that feels straight out of "the wizard of oz." >> reporter: debbie roberts and her husband were home with their 8-year-old grandson, michael, when the twister hit. >> the patio door here came in on me. and i'm knocked back to here. and grab ahold of this. >> reporter: all of a sudden, the windows blew out. and the tornado started to suck her grandson outside. >> when he got up here, he went airborne. >> reporter: and came all the way -- >> and came all the way over here. and hit the coffee table and screamed. and rich reached out to the scream and caught him. >> reporter: michael's grandfather barely saved him. the family dog went flying out the window but survived. >> none of this matters. mike's okay. we didn't lose our grandson. all this can be replaced. >> what a story, clayton. how is michael tonight? >> reporter: michael, we are told, is fine. he is with his parents. and his grandmother says he had no idea the kind of danger he was in. just how close a call he had. his grandparents' house, like nearly half the homes here in harveyville, is completely destroyed. but the people here are very thankful, beyond thankful, that even though about a dozen people were injured, no one was killed, diane. >> all right. clayton sandell reporting. and for everyone still looking out the window across this country, here are the places across the nation where tornado watches are still in effect right now. so many people still wondering what this night will bring. and now, we turn to the political map and a whole new day for mitt romney, who seemed to have a new approach. even talking about his mormon religion today. last night, he won the arizona primary handily. and his home state of michigan in a much closer race. but as "your voice, your vote" proceeds to super tuesday, he seems to be looking to show another side. and abc's david muir is with him in ohio. david? >> reporter: good evening, diane. hard to believe less than a week, now, to super tuesday. and for mitt romney, after that close call last night, in his home state of michigan, a nagging challenge. how to better relate, better connect with voters across the republican base. and today here, an extraordinary moment when a supporter stood up and asked the governor, how are you going to show your heart? at a town hall in columbus late today, greg davis, a supporter so frustrated at the portrayal of romney as out of touch, said this -- >> you're a man with a vast business knowledge. but i know you have a heart. >> thank you. thank you. i think, like the rest of you in this room, by far, the most important thing in my life is my wife. ann and i fell in love young. >> reporter: he went on to talk about his sons, his grandchildren, as he often does. and in a rare moment, romney, a mormon, brought up his religion this way. >> my religion is an unusual religion in a number of respects. but one in particular, we don't have a paid ministry in our church. >> reporter: he then explained how the church asked him to be a pastor and how he spent 30 to 40 hours a week counseling people, some who had lost their jobs. >> people become depressed. some lose their marriages. lose their faith in cases. >> reporter: it's that kind of moment that many political observers say romney needs, to better relate to voters. especially after such a narrow win in his own home state. >> we didn't win by a lot. but we one by enough. that's all that counts. >> reporter: romney's unfavorable rating in our newest poll going up, 46%, instead of going down. >> i'm mitt romney. and it's an honor. >> reporter: after 32 hours of debates. >> if i'm president, i will -- >> mitt romney doesn't need a plan. he needs a personality. and the problem that he has is the people just don't connect to him. what we know is that when voters go to cast a ballot for president, they do a gut-check. they say, do i like this guy? do i trust this guy? >> reporter: a key romney adviser has told me that he often connects like this, at town hall meetings like these. but political observers say he needs more moments like these. and that particular reporter would seem to agree, diane. he told me at the town hall that he purposely wore that shirt with the flag draped across the front of it to try to get the governor's attention to ask that question. how are you going to show your heart? how are you going to get more of an emotional response out here on the trail? >> we'll see if there's a new message to come. thank you, daid. and from the race to the white house to something happening inside the white house, right now at this hour. something that has never happened before. for the first time in history, an american president is marking the return of troops from a war with a very special dinner. abc's bob woodruff is the only journalist invited to the dinner for returning iraqi war veterans. and he spoke exclusively with president obama just moments ago. >> reporter: tonight, in this elegant room, 78 proud iraq veterans in their dress uniforms, are sitting down with their guests to receive the thanks of the president, over steak and chocolate creme brulee. it's thrilling for me, mr. president, and an honor to be here. is this dinner tonight, is this a celebration of victory in iraq? >> you know, what i think what it is, it's a celebration of men and women, who carried out an extraordinarily difficult mission. >> reporter: these few honored men and women represent more than 1 million who served in iraq. and the 4,488 who never came back. many at tonight's dinner are heading over to that other war. we asked the president about his confidence in our afghan allies in the wake of the murder of two american officers, killed by an afghan in uniform. those murders were triggered when u.s. soldiers mistakenly burned some korans, something the president has apologized for. >> the overwhelming majority of afghan troops have welcomed and benefited from the training and partnering that we're doing. that doesn't mean there aren't going to be some tragic incidents. that doesn't mean there aren't going to be bumps in the road. >> reporter: a very personal thing for our troops, in terms of the burning of korans. and you did apologize. >> the reason that it was important is the same reason that the commander on the ground, general allen, apologized. and that is to save lives. and to make sure our troops who are there right now are not placed in further danger. >> reporter: it's hard to tell. do you think it has improved it, with that apology? >> it calmed things down. we're not out of the woods yet. >> reporter: now, i did have the chance, also, to ask the president tonight, why he's doing this white house dinner for these veterans, these active soldiers right now. and instead of having a parade down the street. and he said, well, the war in iraq is over. but he's not going to have a parade until the war in afghanistan is over, as well. diane? >> all right. thank you, bob. and what a night it is in rainy washington. thank you so much. and now, we turn to a big announcement about north korea today and nuclear weapons. the u.s. struck a deal with the brand-new leader, kim jong-un, who rose to power late last year after his father's death. today, he agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons. and said inspectors will be allowed back in. in exchange, the u.s. will give north korea a massive amount of food, 240,000 tons. and still on "world news," the leader of the star-studded church of scientology, under fire. explosive allegations from a former church insider. an abc news exclusive. and the monkees' davy jones, remembering him. ♪ daydream believer and a homecoming queen ♪ >> his life, his music, coming up. 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>> he was displeased about how i was answering the question. it wasn't what he wanted to hear. >> reporter: in repeated letters to abc news, scientology officials deny this charge. but cook also testified that in june of 2007 she was forcibly taken to a place known as, "the hole." a pair of double-wide trailers located on scientology's international base in southern california. >> and when i was there, it had bars on the windows and security guards posted at the one door, for entering and exiting. and this is where a number of scientology executives from management level were held for varying lengths of time. >> reporter: and when you are in there, can you leave? >> no, you cannot. >> reporter: cook claims she was in the hole for seven weeks, during which time she was repeatedly made to confess her sins. >> people are screaming at you. sometimes slapping you. in some cases, sometimes you're made to stand in a trash can and water is poured over you. >> reporter: that happened to you? >> yes. >> reporter: the church tells abc news, the hole does not exist and never did. the church says cook voluntarily participated in their program of religious discipline. but that she was not held against her will. and that her account of what went on is inaccurate. essentially, they're saying that you and your husband are bitter, defrocked apostates. that's their term. >> i have never lost my passion or love for the church. >> reporter: debbie cook insists her complaint is with church leadership, not with the faith that she says she still loves. dan harris, abc news, bulverde, texas. >> and there will be a lot more of dan's report tonight on "nightline." and coming up, watch this. why this astronaut's fainting spell may hold the key to helping hundreds of thousands of others with a deadly heart condition. in the first place. and why you still feel the same. but your erectile dysfunction -- that could be a question of blood flow. cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. one chance to hunt down the right insurance at the right price. the "name your price" tool, only from progressive. ready, aim, save! grrr! ooh, i forgot my phone! the "name your price" tool. now available on your phone. get a free quote today. you wouldn't want your doctor doing your job. so why are you doing hers? only your doctor can determine if your persistent heartburn is actually something more serious... like acid reflux disease. over time, stomach acid can damage the lining of your esophagus. for many, prescription nexium not only provides 24-hour heartburn relief, but can also help heal acid related erosions in the lining of your esophagus. talk to your doctor about the risk for osteoporosis-related bone fractures and low magnesium levels with long-term use of nexium. possible side effects include headache, diarrhea and abdominal pain. other serious stomach conditions may still exist. let your doctor do her job, and you do yours. ask if nexium is right for you. if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. and now, an unusual medical detective story and breakthrough. last night, we told you about a national campaign launched by doctors to raise awareness of the dangers of fainting. how fainting could be a sign of problems with your heart. tonight, what happened after astronauts kept fainting, what doctors learned that is helping other patients in new ways. abc's andrea canning explains. >> reporter: this "price is right" contestant collapsed when she thought she might win a car. this groomsman lost consciousness at a wedding. but wherever it happens, it can be bewildering, even terrifying. >> my heart started racing very fast. >> reporter: kathy chandler is a chronic fainter. and her doctors says it is startling scenes like this that may hold clues to keeping her healthy. watch as astronaut heidemarie stefanyshyn collapses after returning from her first space mission. >> astronauts are very prone to fainting, dizziness. if you are in space you are not using all of your muscles, including your heart because you don't have gravity to fight against. and so, their heart size was decreasing. >> reporter: these symptoms can be shared by patients like kathy, who have an underdiagnosed heart condition called p.o.t.s. syndrome. it affects up to 1 million people, mostly women. now, nasa researchers have come up with a tailored exercise program that's being used not only on astronauts, but on p.o.t.s. patients like kathy. >> it involves exercises that avoid gravity. and so, for the first time ever, we actually have a way to turn around the person's symptoms, and actually cure them. >> reporter: the hope is that it will help the heart grow in some patients. and in others, condition the heart muscle and prevent fainting. kathy also eats salty food to keep her blood pressure up, tilts her bed when she sleeps to keep her blood flowing. but the key for her -- >> i've worked -- i'm exercising more. i feel i want to be at my best. >> reporter: we spoke to a nasa scientist who says they are constantly trying to bring what they learn in space back to the clinic here on earth. and while these exercises won't be the answer for everyone with p.o.t.s. syndrome, they can certainly make a big difference in the quality of life. we're talking anti-gravity exercises like swimming and rowing and things that keep you closer to the ground. >> you never know how the dots will be connected sometimes in life. thank you, andrea. and coming up, he was the heartthrob for a generation. ♪ now i'm a believer >> remembering davy jones, the music, the legacy. she needs help from me. and her medication. the exelon patch -- it releases medication continuously for twenty-four hours. she uses one exelon patch daily for the treatment of mild to moderate alzheimer's symptoms. 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[ female announcer ] s.c. johnson. a family company. we can't let this day pass without a note that it's february 29th. happy leap day to you. and we wanted to tell you about michelle bernbaum and her daughter in new jersey. they're going to be celebrating their birthdays this evening. today is both their birthdays. the odds of a mother and daughter both being born on february 29th, about 1 in 2 million. and strangely enough, they say, no one ever forgets their birthdays. and on this rare day, a startling bulletin came across in the newsroom that davy jones had died of a heart attack at the age of 66. apparently, he had been experiencing some breathing problems. but his death was sudden. he is still that forever young and sunny singer from the monkees, who made more than one generation want to sing along. and here's abc's david wright. ♪ here we come >> reporter: they were the first ever real boy band. ♪ hey, hey, we're the monkees >> reporter: the pre-fab four, created by american tv producers, looking to cash in on the beatles. ♪ take the last train to clarksville ♪ >> reporter: davy jones was the heartthrob. the littlest one, who fell in love every episode. and always got the girl. >> we don't have another job. so -- >> oh, thank you, davy. >> reporter: including marcia, marcia, marcia. that episode of "the brady bunch," where she asks him to sing at the prom. >> when is your prom? >> friday night. >> okay. friday night it is. >> reporter: is the single-most rerun episode of television. ever. when "star trek" introduced a new character in its second season -- >> um, mr. chekhov. >> what can i do, captain? >> reporter: mr. chekhov was styled like davy jones to appeal to younger viewers. davy jones had that same effect on generations of women. >> a girl came up to me in a hotel and said, i'm coming to the show with my mother tonight. i thought, well, that's great. and my grandmother. i went, whoa. ♪ cheer up, sleepy jean >> reporter: something about those starry eyes and that mop top simply made 'em swoon. ♪ to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen ♪ >> reporter: david wright, abc news, los angeles. and we thank you for watching. we're always there at abcnews.com. and another reminder that dan harris will have a full report on the new allegations by a former scientology insider, tonight on "nightline." and we hope to see you right back here again with us tomorrow winter arrived in the high sierra tonight. we're live where it's been tough traveling to tahoe. >> and snow is still falling in the sierra. more showers coming our way. details coming up. >> and sheriff ross mirkarimi's wife claims attorney-client privilege in trying to get evidence thrown out. >> a woman using a bus stop as a personal rest room. the i team looks into why no one can stop it. >> this is livermore middle school now. dozens of police officers responded to a report of someone with a gun on campus. this is east avenue middle school. >> kids were there for after school programs and locked down now and police conduct their search. this started about an hour ago. a parent called 911 and reported seeing a man with a rifle in a hallway. >> police are searching every classroom, hallway and office, so far they've not found anyone. the majority of the students and staff have gone home for the day but there are some staying after hours for extended care there. chp closed off streets neert school. >> and east avenue middle school remains under lock down, officers search for possible gunmen on campus.