New barrier at the border right on the river and the lawsuit to stop it what do we know about ufos top senators tonight calling on the government to finally come clean and its messi mania here in miami days before a new kickoff for the soccer superstar. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt and good evening im tom llamas in for lester reporting tonight from one of the hottest places in the country, miami, where brutal heat has gripped the city for weeks. The feels like here today, 102 its a type of heat so Many Americans are experiencing this week as youll see later in the broadcast, but we want to begin right now with that breaking news out of new york the arrest of a suspected serial killer thought to have murdered at least three women on long island more than a decade ago they came to be known as the gilgo beach murders, and tonight were learning how Authorities Say they were able to track down the suspect, a 59yearold architect who is also a husband and a Father Police say they found him by looking at his phone that he allegedly was googling the victims, their family members, and updates on the investigation. Police saying they even took dna from a discarded pizza crust. The suspect pleading not guilty late today to murder charges, and its where we begin tonight with emilie ikeda. Rex, did you do it . Reporter handcuffed and flanked by authorities, Max Heuermann taken to a long island courthouse in a case that has confounded officers for decades. Max heuermann is a demon that walks among us, a predator that ruined families. Reporter victims families tearful as authorities announced the 59yearold father and husband was charged with first and seconddegree murder of three women, melissa barthelemy, megan waterman, and Amber Costello their remains discovered within a quartermile stretch near gilgo beach back in 2010. In all 11 bodies were recovered in that area during sweeping search efforts sending a wave of fear over long island residents. I know theres a community out there that as the facts unfold will be sleeping a lot easier tonight. Reporter after following him through the city last night, captured on this surveillance video, today investigators searching heuermanns manhattan Architecture Firm and home in massapequa park, new york key evidence accumulating this year including the recent discovery of his chevrolet avalanche towed from his property today a witness to one of the victims disappearance had described that vehicle according to court documents. Police say heuermann was also tied to burner phones seen here loading more minutes onto the device, and authorities pulled his dna from pizza crust tossed in a manhattan trash can. Neighbors on long island stunned to learn of the suspected serial killer living next door. The guys been quiet, never really bothers anybody. Were kind of shocked, to tell you the truth. Reporter but tonight Authorities Say the investigation is not over. The work is not done here, but this is a major, major step forward. Reporter Jessica Taylors remains were discovered in 2011 heuermann is not charged with her murder today, but her cousin hopes this arrest will bring answers. Im hopeful for the future, and im hopeful that a connection is made all right, emilie ikeda joins us tonight live from long island, and, emilie, is the suspect commenting tonight . Reporter well, tom, his lawyer says that heuermann broke down in tears and insisted on his innocence. Hes now being held without bail behind me on those murder charges, and, tom, investigators say that he is the prime suspect in another death too. The District Attorney calling this a watershed moment, tom. All right, emilie ikeda leading us off tonight with some new reporting right there. Emilie, we appreciate it. Also tonight, a possible First Sighting on video of that escaped murder suspect out of Pennsylvania State Police Believe this video from a home surveillance system, you see it right here, shows Michael Burham heading towards the woods. They also found supplies that may have been his he escaped from jail by lowering himself with bed sheets tied into a rope. Now, here to miami, one of so many cities suffering through this lifethreatening, coasttocoast heat wave temperatures right here in the triple digits showing no sign of ending. We saw for ourselves today just how intense it really is tonight, no relief from this summer of scorching temps. Day after day, record after record shattered as heat blankets the country. It is really crazy. You cant even go outside really without feeling like youre going to pass out. Reporter 85 million under heat alerts very, very hot. I could not expect it to be so hot, to be honest reporter here in sweltering miami, its day 34 in a row with a heat index over 100 degrees, and the sand is so hot here on miami beach, you can only really be barefoot in the surf you try to walk on that dry sand, youre going to burn your toes, and when you try to cool off in the ocean, good luck the water is the hottest its been in years. Have you ever seen anything like this heat no, the continuation of the heat as long as its been, we havent seen it in a long, long time. Reporter Jason Casanova is a division chief with miami beach ocean rescue, keeping an eye on swimmers and especially now sunbathers when youre scanning the beach for heat exhaustion, what are you looking for . Were looking for people acting not normal, people like kind of stumbling, you know, a little woozy, stuff like that. Reporter miamidade fire rescue say theres an uptick of 911 calls were used to the heat, but lately its just been unprecedented. Reporter the heat making their jobs even more challenging with that suit on, what does it feel like . Oh, easily add another 40, 50, 60 another 40 or 50 degrees hotter yes, easily, yes. Reporter the brutal heat stretching from south florida all the way to the pacific northwest. The more sunshine we get, the hotter its going to be reporter in texas, it is so hot, it hurts to touch the steering wheel. Officials there closely monitoring the vulnerable power grid with demand for power hitting a record for the second day in a row while oklahoma hitting its highest ever heat index on thursday, 126 degrees, and phoenix, clocking more than two weeks of temps above 110. In las vegas volunteers were out early going to homeless camps passing out muchneeded supplies in this kind of heat, people die, so we are out here trying to make sure that folks get water, they get support. Reporter the danger will continue through the weekend when sin city could hit its hottest temperature ever while crosscountry waterlogged vermont will also remain on alert through sunday with still more rain forecasted in a region thats only just begun to clean up from historic flooding. As this summer of weather extremes shows no signs of letting up, and the heat is here to stay, and the temperature is also rising out in hollywood where the actors strike has shut down film and tv production with the actors now joining writers on picket lines and casting uncertainty on so many films and tv programs. Dana griffin reports [ crowd chanting ] reporter tonight, massive picket lines from coast to coast as hollywood grinds to a screeching halt. We are here to protect every Single Member in every category i just think its a battle worth fighting. Reporter actors now united with writers striking after contract negotiations collapsed, demanding higher pay and a. I. Protection the amptp, which represents hollywood studios, including nbcuniversal saying, we are deeply disappointed that s. A. G. Aftra has decided to walk away from negotiations. This strike is really going to shut down every piece o of producuction in hollywood. Reporter actors wont be filming movies or hit shows like American Horror story. Theyre also prohibited from doing voice work or promoting any projects everyone who works on a movie or tv set, everyone who is involved in catering, makeup, and production, every one of t these peoplple is goining to be ouout of wowork right n now reporteter the broader Economic Impact estimated to be in the billions, all designed to put pressusure on hollllywood ststudios to c come back to the negegotiating table. You are not serious people. Reporter like his characteter on sucuccession, star briaian cox is d defiant its a situation which really could get very, very unpleasant. Theyll take us to the brink, and we will probably have to go to the brink. Reporter this hollywood dram playing out in real life could drag along for months and, dana, one of the Big Questions tonight, of course, how will this impact viewers . Should we expect to see more reruns . Reporter if a deal is not reached, this could impact fall tv youre likely to see more reality Tv Productions and stars not on the red carpet. In fact, Universal Pictures announcing they are canceling their red carpet for the u. S. Premiere of oppenheimer, tom dana griffin in los angeles for us dana, we appreciate that now to a new battle in the culture war playing out in washington and impacting the top leadership of the u. S. Military, so much so President Biden says its putting u. S. Security at risk Kristen Welker has this one. Reporter tonight the u. S. Military in limbo as air force general Charles Brown jr. , President Bidens nominee to be the next chair of the joint chiefs, remains blocked from a confirmation vote. Waiting along with him is general eric smith, nominee for commandant of the marine corps now working in an acting capacity. Theyre just 2 of the 265 key military nominations unconfirmed, unable to get a vote in the senate held up for months by alabama senator tommy tuberville, who is staging a oneman blockade over the pentagons policy on reproductive care. Im standing up for the constitution and the unborn. Reporter its a culture war with the u. S. Military caught in the crosshairs. Senator tuberville spoke with the defense secretary this week, but hasnt spoken with the president. He is jeopardizing u. S. Security is what hes doing i expect the Republican Party to stand up, stand up, and do something. Reporter and while gop leaders have pushed back on tuberville, today the republicanled house passing a critical annual defense bill by a slim margin and only after attaching amendments that would ban the pentagon from reimbursing troops who travel out of state for an abortion or for transgender surgeries and hormone treatments and prohibiting funds for diversity programs. A military cannot defend themselves if you train them in woke whether youre talking about women, whether youre talking about trans people, this bill says that were going to make it more difficult for you to get a fair shake in the military. Reporter tensions flared thursday when Arizona Republican congressman eli crane used racist language my amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or black people or anybody can serve, okay it has nothing to do with mr. Speaker reporter crane later saying he misspoke after a backlash including from his fellow republicans. Meanwhile, in tubervilles alabama, a disabled vet reacting to how the military is being used as a political pawn. Knowing this now, there is no way i would join the military. Reporter as for the defense bill, it stands no chance of passing in the Democraticled Senate setting up a potential showdown ahead of the september deadline, tom. Kristen, thank you for that in the battle for the republican president ial nomination, the first contest is just six months from tomorrow in iowa. Many of the candidates were campaigning there today, though, as dasha burns reports, there was one very notable exception. Reporter six months from the first in the nation iowa caucuses, republican president ial candidates today making their pitch to evangelical voters candidate after candidate sitting down with former fox news anchor Tucker Carlson except for the frontrunner [ crowd chanting, usa reporter former President Donald Trump skipping the event amid a feud with iowas popular governor, kim reynolds, who says shes staying neutral in the race. I hate to say it, without me, you know she was not going to win. You know that, right reporter trumps attack on reynolds not landing well in the hawkeye state. How worried should donald trump be about iowa i think he should be very concerned. Reporter evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats hosted todays senate. Hes not yet endorsed, but is known for backing winners in iowa from huckabee to santorum or cruz. While they didnt become the nominee, he says this time iowa is essential. If one of these other candidates prove they are the alternative to trump and theyre capturing the imagination and inspiration of iowans and americans, and they beat trump here, i think now you change the narrative. Reporter thats why Florida Governor ron desantis is doing all he can to assure nervous donors in a confidential memo obtained by nbc news laying out his path forward including a strong commitment to early states at a nondescript office park in west des moines, paid desantis canvassers from around the country are put through eight days of training hello hi there. Reporter part of a 100 million effort from a prodesantis super pac. How did the training here compare to what youve had before oh, my gosh this is on a different level for the training reporter meanwhile, Governor Reynolds signed the states new sixweek abortion ban to much fanfare here putting the issue front and center in the republican race, tom dasha burns, from the campaign trail tonight. Dasha, we appreciate it. In 60 seconds, the battle over a newly revealed border barrier across the rio grande is it too dangerous . S . Next welcome back now to texas where in an effort to stop illegal border crossings, the governor is turning to a controversial new barrier thats now sparking a court battle Priscilla Thompson is there. Reporter hundreds of bright orange buoys running right down the middle of the rio grande that divides mexico and eagle pass, texas. The barrier, part of Texas Governor greg abbotts multibillion dollar Border Security program. Abbott argues the federal government has not done enough to stop migrants. How exactly will the buoys work well, just like a border wall. Reporter the Texas Department of Public Safety telling us theyll be an effective deterrent against illegal border crossings, which are still high, though down recently from record levels. Migrant advocates worry the buoys could lead to more drownings. They rotate preventing anyone from climbing over them and extend at least a foot underwater its clearly visible from mexico, so for anyone to even think about crossing the river knowing that all that infrastructure is in place, well, theyre risking their lives. I was disgusted reporter but jesse fuentes, who leads canoeing and kayaking excursions on the river, tells us the buoys are a nightmare. Already he said parties have canceled and excursions put on hold because of the buoy installation. We look like a community under siege, you know, and it shouldnt be that way. Reporter now hes suing the governor and the state alleging imminent and irreparable harm to the business hes run since 2015 i feel like im stepping into a turf war because its federal Agency Versus the state agency. Reporter and eagle pass is caught in the middle. And were caught in the middle, and were sinking. Reporter Governor Greg Abbott responded to that lawsuit saying, this is going to the Supreme Court texas has a constitutional right to secure our border tom. Okay, priscilla, we thank you for that. Next inside the powerful push for the government to tell us what they really know about ufos we are back now with a push in congress tonight to force the government to tell you what it knows about ufos and any visitors from worlds beyond our own. Heres Gadi Schwartz reporter its a familiar ufo story, but this time with a very different twist congress is listening closely to other worldly claims about the u. S. Having recovered alien craft. When you recover something thats either landed or crashed, sometimes you encounter dead pilots, and, believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, its true reporter as former high ranking Intelligence Officer david grush telling newsnation hes blowing the whistle on a government coverup going back over a half a century but admitting he has not seen any craft or bodies, but all the ufo hype enough to prompt senator Chuck Schumer to propose new legislation that would set a 300day deadline for agencies to find any records and turn them over to a review board that could declassify them. Either theyre telling the truth, and that is something that obviously would be the biggest story in human history, or we have people in really important positions of government who are crazy. Reporter now, the government has denied those claims you heard, and grush has denied our request to interview him saying he wont talk until after he testifies in front of congress that could happen within the month all of this a very bizarre story but one that seems to be headed to capitol hill tom, back to you all right, if the truth is out there, gadi, we know you will find it. Up next, messi mania. A soccer superstar comemes to miamimi how w he could c change ththe city andnd the game. E. Well explplain. Finally tonight, the only thing hotter in miami right now than the weather is its newest resident, hes one of the most famous athletes in the world, but its what he can do with a soccer ball that many here believe will change this city and maybe even give america a new pastime. In miami, it seems everyone has a case of messi fever. Messi, miami. Cant wait to see him. Im just, you know, im a little excited if i see him, id be on the floor. Reporter soccer superstar lionel messi now just days away from making his debut with Major League Soccer team inter miami sending ticket sales and anticipation soaring. We cant wait for him to come here. Reporter one of the greatest to ever play the game. Last year messi and his goalmaking kicks led argentina to a world cup win. All welcome to miami. Reporter now hes quickly becoming the face of miami. Check out the wall of argentinian restaurant fiorito. How big of a moment is this huge. For us its like Michael Jordan is coming to town. Reporter messi specials are showing up on menus, and theres even a messi beer, which i tried with super fan bill barlow messi beer, not bad. Hes the type of athlete that could put soccer finally on the map in america. For sure. Theres just no words to describe what somebody like messi coming to mls, coming to america, coming to inter miami, theres just no words to describe how big that is reporter so many wanting a piece of this moment, its even boosting real estate its helped Business Reporter as for messi, hes quickly becoming a florida man spotted at Popular Grocery store publix thursday night ahead of an official introduction this weekend. If that was messi right now, what would you tell him thank you so much for everything, man. Messi in miami. Were so happy we could mark this moment thats nightly news for this friday. Im tom llamas reporting from miami tonight. Thanks so much for watching have a great weekend doesnt take much to make me happy and make me smile with glee never never will i feel discouraged cause our loves no mystery demonstrating love and affection that you give so openly i like the way you make me feel about you baby want the whole wide world to see whoa whoa you got the best of my love whoa whoa you got the best of my love goin in and out of changes the kind that come around each day my life has a better meaning love has kissed me in a beautiful way oh woah you got the best of my love oh whoa you got the best of my love demonstrating sweet love and affection that you give so openly the way i feel about you baby cant explain it want the whole wide world to see ohhhhh oh oh oh oh oh youve got the best of my love ohhhhh oh oh oh oh oh youve got the best of my love [cheers and applause] kelly welcome to the Kelly Clarkson show, give it up for my band that was of the best of my love from way back in 1977, that song won a grammy for best r b performance. Earth, wind fire wrote it i didnt know that, that was news to me. Lets bring out our first guest, you know her for many years on saturday night live as well as shows like purgatory, people of earth, and her latest show American Auto which you can see tuesdays on peacock. Please everybody welcome ana gasteyer. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] hello its nice to see you again. Its nice to see you. Kelly we are fans, we get excited when you come. And i am a fan of yours. Kelly i like this already. Your kids are older than mine im heard that you were close to being a full empty nester. I have a colleger, shes a junior. I hate it. [laughter] and i have a ninth grader that im holding on for dear life, trying to really delay him as much as possible so he never leaves. Kelly i freak out, i have friends that have older kids than mine and i cant imagine. You feel like youve done your best job but its the weirdest thing. Your entire job is to teach them to fly and then their actual flight is the most devastating possible thing that can happen to you. It feels very unfair, you are constantly against your own challenge. My one in college loves college which is such a blessing and is thriving and doing all the things she supposed to be doing. Kelly you did a great job. She doesnt know how to drive yet, its almost 21. Kelly its a generational thing. My niece and nephew, everybody is getting it way later in life, its not like it was when we were young, that was freedom. We know how to make like a thanksgiving seventh grade. It was a different time. Kelly it was different, we didnt have babysitters and all of it. She grew up in new york city, we moved here just last year for American Auto and new York City Kids do not ever learn how to drive, its obnoxious. [laughter] they are too used to it. Kelly what was that move like . Thats pretty different. Its huge, its a big difference. My girl really was taking the subway and going to tap class and doing all kinds of things by herself by eighth grade or so. The ninth grade boy was a little easier of an adjustment. He doesnt always remember his pants and stuff like that. [laughter] kelly i have a boy and a girl as well. Hes a great student he needs a hard worker but he needs a little more oversight. Its a little easier to have him in l. A. Have you been doing anything, ninth grade is only three more years. Have you been doing anything, family vacations, anything . Thats why we moved here, i did commute both of their lives for all of my work after saturday night live i stayed in new york and did a lot of tv and finally American Auto was here and its so much time, it was clear that i wasnt going to be able to fly home for the weekend. I have been to like every basketball game and i have been more of an active participant in a great way and we just went to spain, that was our first vacation since covid. Kelly im about to do my first one are you taking the little ones . Kelly no im not i always have the littles, this is one time im like what shall i do with my time . I will go to europe with my friends. Just doing irresponsible things because i can [cheers and applause] its nice. You are used to flying . Im so excited with my little cubicle, my area on the plane. With kids you have to make sure they are to