Author of to kill a mockingbird. Nightly news begins right now. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt, reporting tonight from columbia, South Carolina. Good evening on the eve of two big votes on the road to the white house. The republicans in a primary showdown here in South Carolina where the headline tonight is donald trump losing ground. In a new nbc news wall street journal marist poll trump now leads ted cruz by just five points, down from a 16point lead just a month ago. Rubio virtually unchanged at 15. The next seven days may provide some clarity in these races in addition to the republicans voting in South Carolina, democratic voters will caucus in nevada tomorrow, followed by republicans there on tuesday. Then its back to South Carolina next saturday, the 27th, for the democratic primary. A timeline that is ratcheting up the urgency in both races. Weve got both races covered. Lets start tonight with nbcs katy tur. Shes in North Charleston for us. Reporter donald trump has just taken the stage. Its now less than 24 hours before this state votes and there are indications as you said that this race could be a lot tighter than many had previously suspected. Donald trump losing his commanding lead as ted cruz tries to replicate his win in iowa. Donald trump sounding confident to a boisterous crowd in myrtle beach, but the billionaire is still on the defensive. Now for a 2002 howard stern radio interview where he said he supported the iraq invasion. Are you for invading iraq . Yeah, i guess so. Trump has repeat repeatedly claimed on the trial. I was against going into iraq. I didnt want to go into iraq. This morning on today, he explained the flipflop. The first time the question was ever asked to me. That was long before the war started. By the time the war started, i was against it. Alrea. Also a new poll out today slowing his lead slashed. Every time they do a poll, i have a lousy poll. Trumps accusation that george w. Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction. Sources within the campaign told nbc news trump has been warned to ease off both by advisers and even phone Bank Volunteers who were hearing negative reactions from voters about his attacks on george w. Bush. Cruz, in second, punching up and down, mocking trump with his own words. Its easy to say lets make America Great again. You can even print that on a baseball cap. But the question to ask is do you understand what made America Great in the first place . Reporter and again linking marco rubio to president obama in a new ad. Marco rubio burned us once. Reporter the battle for one, two, three getting tense. All while john kasich and jeb bush struggle to gain traction. Bush bringing out his mother again today, trying to bookend a bad week. One bright spot for trump, the vatican clarified the popes comments today about the frontrunner, saying in no way was this a personal attack, nor an indication of how to vote. Katy tur, nbc news, North Charleston, South Carolina. Reporter this is Andrea Mitchell in nevada, where Bernie Sanders is pulling even with hillary clinton. And as time runs out, the contest is getting nasty. Im not just promising free this and free that and free everything. Reporter sanders dialing up his criticism of bill clinton at the msnbc telemundo town hall. Bill clinton did a pretty good job as president , but lets be clear. I happen to think that our trade agreements from nafta through tpp have been a disaster. Reporter the clintons firing back. I just dont know where all this comes from because maybe its that senator sanders wasnt really a democrat until he decided to run for president. Hillarys opponent jumped all over me last night. That campaign has been remarkably factfree. Thank you. Reporter the key to winning here, union workers, 55 latino. So both candidates hit a picket line. Thank you so much. Reporter and Clinton Donald trumping up Union Support in the casinos where caucuses are held. Gives us the opportunity to express ourselves. Im looking for a person that will stand behind us. What do you care about . Immigration. Im mexican, you know. Thats important. Its important, very important. I think its going to be a real problem if she loses here not because her lead disappears but because her whole argument is about electionability. Reporter both campaigns already hitting the airwaves in the next state, South Carolina. Morgan freeman in a new ad today. She understands our country cant reach its potential until we all do together. Reporter with a theme, pulling together, that seems to imtame a recent sanders ad. Our job is to bring people together. Reporter clinton garnered an endorsement, veteran congressman jim clyburn. My heart has always been with hillary clinton. Reporter but before clinton gets to South Carolina, she has to get out of nevada. A loss here to sanders after barely winning iowa and that huge loss in New Hampshire would damage her argument that she is more electable. Lester. Andrea mitchell, thanks. Were joined now by our political director, the modera moderator of meet the press, chuck todd. Lets take a look at whats online for tomorrow. Depending on the outcomes, whats at stake here moving forward in the campaigns . Its fair to call tomorrow shakeup saturday because in many ways, this case is going to get shaken up depending on the results tomorrow. Marco rubio has a ton on the line in South Carolina. Hes got every endorsement you want in South Carolina. He has spent more money than anybody else. He appears to be the man with some momentum. Third place is not a victory this time. He has got to get in first or second. Donald trump, he obviously cant anytime hes losing is not a good day for a guy who doesnt believe in losing, so hes got a lot on the line. And ted cruz cant afford third. As abouts about victory in nevada is a bigger deal to him than a clinton victory would be there, lester. Shakeup saturday, bottom line. Well be here to cover it all. Author harper lee, a literary icon who wrote one of the most defining novels in American Culture has died at 89. Her 1960 book to kill a mockingbird, about Racial Injustice in the deep south, is treasured by generations of readers and is still taught in classrooms around the country. Tributes poured in today for the beloved author, and nbcs harry smith looks back at her enormous impact. Reporter in harper lees hometown of monroeville, alabama, today, folks put up black ribbons in remembrance of the great author. Tourists by the thousands still come to the old courthouse to see the place so perfectly detailed in the film. The place where the hero, atticus finch, defends an innocent black man. In our courts, all men are created equal. Everybody wants to be atticus. Everybody wants to be the defender of the weaker, and i think thats one of the reasons why it will live on forever. Reporter perhaps the most important story in american literature, to kill a mockingbird captured the injustice and humiliation of racism. Profound and difficult truths made palatable by the narrator, young scout. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Harper lee, to kill a mockingbird. Truths made evident in english classes across america for more than 60 years. Theres an Important Message to be learned from harper lees book, being true to ones self and making the right choices. Reporter while america loved her book, harper lee was no fan of celebrity. Not even oprah could persuade her to do an interview. Ms. Lee did not accomplish another book until last year. Go set a watchman was an early draft of her bestseller, which disappointed fans for its less flattering portrayal of atticus. But a broadway version of to kill a mockingbird is in the works. In an america where race matters and has always mattered, her words have never rung more true. Harry smith, nbc news, new york. The battle pitting apple versus the feds has ratcheted up to another level tonight with the Justice Department slamming the tech giant for refusing to help unlock the San Bernardino killers iphone, saying the company is only worried about its reputation. Tonight, apple is firing back, and on top of all that, donald trump is now calling for a boycott. Nbcs joe fryer has the latest from california. Reporter with apple publicly vowing to fight a court order to create software that would unlock syed farooks iphone, today federal prosecutors filed a motion arguing a judge should force the tech giant to comply. The government says apples refusal appears to be based on its concern for its Business Model and public marketing strategy, something the company denies. Earlier this week, apple ceo tim cook posted an open letter saying, the u. S. Government has asked us for something we do not have and we consider too dangerous to create. Prosecutors responded to that today, arguing the court order does not require apple to provide a back door to every iphone or hack its own users. Prosecutors contend apple could maintain custody of whatever software it builds. The white house also weighing in. We dont want to allow terrorists to establish a safe haven in cyberspace. Reporter but senior apple executives feel todays filing is frivolous as the company hasnt even responded to the court order yet. Many Tech Companies are now defending apple. I think the governments interest in surveilling people, while its an important interest, shouldnt trump all of our interest in being secure. Reporter donald trump, who sends many tweets from an iphone, is calling for an apple boycott until the Company Unlocks the shooters phone. Apple ought to give the security for that phone. Reporter the tech giant now has a week to respond to the judges order. Joe fryer, nbc news, los angeles. Powerful wind gusts, near 70 miles an hour, swept through chicago today. Winds so strong, some on the street like this woman needed help to keep from being blown over. It knocked down street lamps, threatened to blow bikes off their racks, and a construction collapse that crushed a car. The willis tower sky deck was forced to close. Well over 100 flights were kanszled or delayed, and more than 100,000 were left without power in northern illinois. Thousands paid their last respects today to Justice Antonin Scalia as he lay in repose in the Supreme Courts great hall. Among the mourners, president obama and the first lady. As for who might replace scalia on the court, nbcs Pete Williams reports on new hints tonight about who the president may be considering for the seat. Reporter Antonin Scalia returned to the court for the last time, his casket carried past 100 of his former law clerks. Inside, the eight remaining justices gathered with the scalia family for a prayer from his son paul, a catholic priest. Blessed are those who have died in the lord. Reporter another son, christopher writes in the wa post about once getting out of mowing the lawn to attend a track meet. Quote, so he did it himself after reminding me that a Supreme Court justice probably had Better Things to do. President and mrs. Obama came to pay their respects as did more than 4,000 people who waited in long lines. Also here, washington, d. C. Appeals court judges, including two, Sri Srinivasan and patricia millett, mentioned as possible successors. Vice President Biden says the nominee could be a previously confirmed judge. There are plenty of judges who have who are on high courts already who have had unanimous support of the republicans. Reporter one obvious possibility, judge jane kelly of iowa, unanimously confirmed in 2013 with the support of the Judiciary Committee chairman, republican charles grassley, who just happens to be from iowa. Im pleased to support her confirmation. Reporter tomorrow Justice Scalias funeral at the basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with his son paul celebrating mass. There is a lot more ahead for us tonight. The crackdown on hoverboards. Theyre the hottest fad of the past year in more ways than one. Now the feds say none on the market is safe. What to do if you have one in your home. Also the man who is now tasting freedom after four decades in solitary confinement. Big news tonight involving those socalled hoverboards that were some of the biggest sellers over the holidays. Theyve also been involved in dozens of fires across the country, some having burned homes to the ground. Today the Consumer ProductsSafety Commission is taking dramatic action, announcing none of the hoverboards currently on the market is safe, and it could soon confiscate or recall every one of them. Nbcs tom costello has details. Reporter it was a very close call for a family of six in nashville. The fox familys home destroyed by fire. Two of their children trapped inside managed to escape by jumping out of secondstory windows. When the door opened, the smoke and the flames, it was so hot, that the smoke was so black i couldnt get in the house. Reporter the cause of the fire, a hoverboard. We almost lost two of our children. Two of our children almost died because of a christmas gift. Reporter its just one of at least 52 hoverboardrelated fires in 24 states. Its on fire reporter destroying at least two homes and a car. In december, the nations airlines banned them. For months, the Consumer ProductsSafety Commission has been testing all makes and models, diagnosing why the lithium ion batteries can suddenly overheat and catch fire. Today the agency notified hoverboard manufacturers, importers, and retailers that all hoverboards must comply with new u. L. Safety standards and threatened to confiscate or recall any of them that dont. Elliott kay runs the agency. Is there any hoverboard on the market that you think is safe right now . Im not aware of any that meet the current standard. Zero . Zero. Reporter in december alone, customs and Border Patrol seized more than 1,300 counterfeit hoverboards with potentially dangerous batteries at jfk airport. Now any hoverboard that rievs at a u. S. Port can be confiscated if it doesnt meet the new standard. Meanwhile, with dozens of reports of Users Falling and suffering broken bones, safety regulators remained concern that hoverboards are inherently unstable. If you own one, tonight the Consumer ProductsSafety Commission recommends putting it away and demanding proof from the retailer that it meets the new safety standards. Tom kos ticostello, nbc news, washington. Were back in a moment with something the cdc warns americans are not getting nearly enough of. News tonight that will not come as a shock to the millions in this country who constantly find themselves tired and dragging. The cdc says a third of americans arent getting enough sleep. That raises their risk of obesity and heart disease. Among other issues, only 65 are sleeping seven hours or more. The researchers suggest more of us need to get to bed at a regular time and turn off the tv and electronic devices. As youre probably saying to yourself right now, thats easier said than done. The last of the prisoners known as the angola three is a free man tonight. Albert woodfox has been released as part of a plea deal. As nbc jacob rascon tells us, its been a hard fought battle to gain his freedom. Reporter few may ever understand freedom like Albert Woodfox. Released tonight on his 69th birthday after his attorneys say he spent more time in solitary confinement than any other prisoner in american history. It started with a prison riot at Louisiana State penitentiary, or angola, in 1972. Prison guard brent miller was stabbed 32 times. Woodfox and fellow inmate Herman Wallace were convicted for the murder and sentenced to solitary confinement. Prisoner robert king got the same penalty for a different crime. They became known around the world as the angola three, spending decades in 9 by 6 foot cells even as woodfox and wallaces convictions were overturned twice for inadequate representation and charges of racial discrimination. King was released in 2001 after 29 years alone in a cell. Im free from angola. I dont feel free as long wallace was set free in 2013. He died of cancer days later. Today, Albert Woodfox pleaded no contest to the killing and was sentenced to 42 years. But he had already served 45 so was released. And in a statement, woodfox, who has always maintained his innocence, said, i hope the events of today will bring closure to many. After more than four decades, free. Jacob rascon, nbc news. When we come back, what voters here in South Carolina tell me about how much theyre being swayed by polls. Next at 6 were following breaking news in vallejo. J vo wee live the conditions on the victims caugh jess vo plus, pharmacyrobe some. The sign police say make stores easier tart next close the news is next. Those new poll numbers we talked about at the top of the newscast showing a tiengting of the gop president ial race here in South Carolina underscored just how fluid things appear to be here. I dropped in at a local barbecue place during the lunch hour today to take my own unscientific measure of whats driving peoples decisions. Want an iced tea . Just one day before the primary, its not hard to find South Carolina republicans who havent made up their minds. So youre not unusual in that . I dont think im the only one. I think a lot of people are starting to give another look to some of the candidates. Here at docs barbecue, many folks told us their vote may not go to the candidate they want, but rather the person they think can win. Do any of you believe in the polls . Yeah, i do. So what do the polls tell you right now . Well, theyre telling me that its probably going to be between trump and cruz. I was really liking ben carson, but pollwise, i dont really think hes going to do so well any longer. So youre influenced by the polls . You may not vote for him . Right. I think it may be a wasted vote, so i may go elsewhere. How about, you robert . I cant help it. Im looking at who has the best chance of winning. Are you watching the polls carefully . I would like to vote for the candidate who has the best chance of defeating hillary, but at some point you got to vote for the right person. Who is standing up for america . Were you captivated by trump at any point in this process . I really liked listening to him, but at the end of the day, you know, just his demeanor just doesnt speak leader of the free world to me. Is there anybody among the candidates you think could unite the country . I wish i could say yes, but all i can do is hope. Do you see a healer out there among this republican lineup . I wish i could say so, but honestly, no. I feel like trump is so polarizing. Cruz is so far right that i dont think hell be able to bring the democrats and republicans together. So, no, i dont really see someone who is going to be that middle of the road candidate. Just some of the things in the minds of South CarolinaRepublican Voters on this night before the primary. That will do it for us on a friday night. Im lester holt reporting tonight from columbia, South Carolina. For raj 2shot that breakn vallejo where 9 nbc bay area begins with breaking news. That breaking news is in vallejo where a 9yearold child is among four people who have been shot. Im raj mathai. And jessica aguirre. Bullets rang out near port street and mcclain avenue. At least one of the four people shot has died. Nbc bay area cheryl hurd joins us at the scene with the latest details. Cheryl. Reporter well, crime investigators are still on the scene of this qaudruple shooting. Crime tape is surrounding the area where it all happened in the 500 block of porter street. Now, this video was shot shortly after the shooting. A child was grazed with a bullet. We believe that he is between 5 and 9 years old. Caught in the crossfire. A man was taken away on a stretcher. A woman was shot in the hand. We believe that she is the boys grandmother. Neighbors telling me tonight that they heard a barrage of bullets right around 4 00 this evening. An unknown subjects came by and shot up the blackmon t mont carlo behind me multiple times. Two male adults were shot. And seriously injured. One who was declared dead at the scene here. Reporter now, police are looking for a maroon sedan that was seen fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. Family members arriving