Record gold. And a dive leaving so many divided. And americas golden girls back in action. Nightly news from rio begins right now. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt reporting tonight from the olympic summer games in rio. Good evening. Another big night of competition getting under way here in rio soon. Well be getting to that shortly. But once again, the unprecedented flood catastrophe in louisiana. Despite a Welcome Break in the rain, new areas are under water tonight as floodwaters move downstream. While in already hard hit places, displaced residents are returning home to see what is left. 40,000 homes are damaged, where in some areas only one in eight have flood insurance. Today the number of water rescues climbed to 30,000, while the death toll for the disaster reached at least 11. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez leads our coverage for us again tonight. Gabe, good evening. Reporter lester, another eight parishes have been added to the federal disaster declaration and we have seen rescue boats hurrying in and out of this neighborhood all afternoon, this as more communities downstream are preparing for the worst. Today in ascension parish, a frantic scramble, residents rushing to get out with whatever they could. Went from no water, it was where you could still see grass at 5 00 this morning and now you see it, three foot right up there by the house. Reporter more louisiana communities battling new flooding, Donna Richardson hoisted to safety from the neighborhood she grew up in. She had just undergone cancer treatment, now this. This was my life. I grew up here. Reporter the toll is rising and so are the river, powerful, before and after images of neighborhoods are emer emerging. More than 4 trillion gallons of torrential rain. All this water has nowhere else to go, so its flowing south, down these rivers and bayous, devastating more communities in its path. No time for us to relax and put our guards down. Reporter this baton rouge movie studio has now become a massive makeshift emergency shelter. Everybody helping us out, giving us things that we need. It wont be replaced, but its okay. Reporter brice diego had been rescuing others with his boat for days, now he hopes that the rising water in sor sorentos spares his home and his family. We work every day to pay for what we got. If we lose it, we lose it. Reporter scattered storms are expected to bring more light rain tomorrow, but its the water already here that seems impossible to escape. Gabe gutierrez nbc news, sorento, louisiana. Reporter this is joe friar in baton rouge, where bob gately is pushing away the washing machine that blocks his door so he can see inside his house for the First Time Since the flood. Within seconds, his worst fears are confirmed. Pictures of my daughters. Well never get things like that back. Up on the sidewalk now. Yes, it is. Reporter his family had only minutes to escape saturday before five feet of floodwater rushed in suffocating his home of 15 years. I dont know what were going to do. I dont know where were going to live. Reporter many here remember a great flood in 1983, but the wave of destruction that washed through this past week crested far higher. I dont even know where to start. Reporter gately feels somewhat grateful because he was required to have flood insurance, while some neighbors sitting a bit higher were not. Database in louisianas high risk areas 42 of structures are covered for floods, in lower risk areas, just 12 . Gately who is a retired firefight firefighter, who spent 90 days helping victims recover from katrina wonders how he will recover. I know we will recover but i dont know how. Reporter one of thousands of communities and one of thousands of homes, grappling with the loss. Its all right. Reporter while embracing what could not be washed away. Its going to be okay. And a stunning turn of events in another disaster playing out on the other side of the country to tell you about. Investigators now say a rapidly spreading wildfire thats destroyed over 175 homes and structures was no accident. Now a suspect is in custody facing arson charges. We get the latest from nbcs lower lake, california. Reporter a new revelation in the blaze that destroyed hundreds of homes, the cause may be arson. 40yearold damon pashilk, a local construction worker arrested, held on 5 million bail. We were able to arrest the suspect on 17 counts of arson. Pashilk has had multiple runins with the law. While in prison, he received firefighter training as an inmate. His neighbors are still shocked. That just blows my mind. Reporter homeowners forced evacuate, angry that a fellow town citizen would commit such a crime. Everything i ever owned, everything i ever loved, this man took away from me. Reporter cal fires dan berlin surveying the damage and now a crime scene. It only takes a simple spark, and once that spark occurs with these drought conditions, it burns very rapidly. Reporter today another fire erupts in southern california, more evacuations and strain on firefighters in the midst of a long aggressive fire season. Over 4,600 wildfires have burned 300,000 acres of california so far this year. Right now, 8,500 firefighters are out battling seven large wildfires. This is not a game that lasts 45 minutes or an hour like a sports match. This is weeks, upon months upon years. Absolutely is not a sprint. Reporter the National Weather service issuing new red flag warnings, extreme fire danger over the next 24 hours is expected and lester, that is both for northern and southern california. Thank you. Back here in rio, its a huge day for team usa on the beach, in the gym and on the track. We want to begin by telling you whats already been widely reported. The gold medal results in womens gymnastics floor exercise, as expected, americans simone biles and aly raisman have taken gold and silver respectively. It comes after another american lost gold on the track, winning silver in her dive in her race. Allyson felix talks about her race. Its at the center of some controversy tonight, the 400 meter race. Theres the gun, theyre on their way. Reporter the 400 meter dash was over in 49 seconds. Felix, alongside the challenger. Reporter a foot race that ended with a header. It will be tight, a dive by miller for the line. Reporter that dive in 0. 007 seconds, the difference between gold and silver for second place finisher Allyson Felix. It was a tough night, i hoped everything would have come together. But i left it all out there, i saw it, and i kind of felt like i gave as much as i could. Reporter it took a photo finish to reveal who won. It just kind of happened. I dove for it and i didnt know i won until i heard my mom screaming. Reporter but just as fast as the race, came the speed of blist eer tweets, most pathetic way to win, Allyson Felix was robbed i just tried to dive to the line and give it my all. Reporter felix has been on the short end of the dive before, perfectly legal fellow american jennifer fandini fell to the finish during trials in july. For felix, it was maybe 0. 001 too many. Reporter beating felix by 0. 001 beating her out of the 200 meter dash in rio. And when american sprinter David Neville dove to a medal in beijing, he was hailed a hero. David neville diving to the finish line to finish third for the bronze medal. Reporter ninetime Gold Medalist carl lewis. Honestly i think thats a part of the game. If john elway can dive into the end zone and get a touchdown, why cant a runner do that . Its about giving 110 . Reporter even with the loss, felix got the win. Silver makes her the most decorated track and field athlete in history. A champion never down and never out. Allyson felix is still in the running for gold, shell likely take part in one if not two upcoming relay races. As for yusain bolt and justin gatlin, it could be a rematch for gold. Miguel, thank you. Tonight were learning more about the fbis interview with Hillary Clinton and why the feds recommended against charging her. It comes after the fbi turned over neither of that interview to congress. The email controversy once again following her on the campaign trail. Plus, we have brand new numbers from our latest polls. Andrea mitchell with late details. Reporter tonight as Hillary Clinton was campaigning in philadelphia, the fbi was sending congress its notes from her fbi interview and some of her classified emails, answering republican complaints that she should have been prosecuted. This wasnt just an innocent mistake, this went on for years. Reporter in a letter today, the fbi repeated that while clinton was extremely careless in handling classified information, they did not find gross negligence, which is why they didnt charge her with a crime. Clintons running mate telling savannah guthrie, clinton wants the public to see the notes. Let the public see what the fbi decides to let congress see. Reporter the controversy is hurting. In our new nbc News Survey Monkey online poll, only 11 find clinton trustworthy. Even some democrats here having doubts. Who are you going to vote for . Im going to have to vote for hillary. Reporter a reluctant hillary voter . Exactly. Reporter the good news for clinton, her nine point leads over donald trump is Holding Steady and today she fired back at this trump suggestion. The only way we can lose, in my pin, i really mean this, pennsylvania, is if cheating goes on. Reporter what do you think of donald trump saying if he loses pennsylvania its because people here cheat . I think you saw today, we have a lot of enthusiasm and energy, were also working hard to register a lot of new voters. Reporter but the Campaign Still has to persuade people they can trust her. Andrea mitchell, nbc news, philadelphia. The Trump Campaign is pushing back in a bombshell report that roger ailes, the former fox news chief, is now advising donald trump himself. Were also learning details on trumps first classified intelligence briefing. Nbcs katy tur has more. Reporter donald trump is in wisconsin today, a battleground state he wants to turn red. But down in the polls there and across the country, trump is running out of time. Todays campaign flatly denying the candidate is turning to an old friend and republican strategist roger ailes for help. After reports surfaced ailes would act as a debate advisor. Ousted by fox, ailes is currently facing a high profile lawsuit for sexual harassment, trump is facing a widening gender gap. A brandnew poll shows trump down 23 points among College Educated white women in wisconsin alone. He has a very narrow window in which to turn his campaign around, to turn his message around and convince the American People that he is worthy and ready to be president of the united states. Reporter tomorrow a major milestone, trump getting the first of his secret National Security briefings in new york. The objective ought to be for both candidates to understand the situation substanti substantially better than when they start. Some of this is very new. Reporter a senior Government Official telling nbc news the briefings are less detailed than the president s Daily Briefing and wont touch covert operations, Nuclear Weapons or espionage. Instead, hell get a broad overview. A separate Senior Intelligence source saying trump notified the director of National Intelligence he would be accompanied by his foreign intelligence advisor general mike flynn. Trump getting a taste of what it takes to be president and whats at stake. Nbc news, new york. Still ahead, americas dynamic volleyball duo, the moment they decided to stop being rivals and chase their dreams together. Also romance in rio, many athletes here exchanging very different kind of olympic ring. Back now from rio with a team of rivals on the beach. Kerry Walsh Jennings and april ross were on opposite sides during the 2012 olympics. In london. Seconds after it was over, a congratulatory embrace turned into an offer too good to refuse. Stephanie gosk explains. Misty and kerry, threepete olympic gold. Reporter before winning a third gold medal in london, the greatest Beach Volleyball partnership of all time announced that olympics would be their last. Misty may trainor was retiring. The thing is kerri Walsh Jennings wasnt done. She needed a new partner and right there across the net was fellow american april ross. I wanted to play with someone with all my heart with someone who wanted it with all my heart. April has that. Reporter an opponent turned recruiter. Listen closely. I hugged her and with all my heart i said, all right, now lets go win gold in rio. I remember her being like huh, and kind of just didnt i answer . I did say im in. You r no, did you . I did. I didnt hear that. Oh, no, i said that. Even better, sorry. Reporter like kerry, april is a california native, a born competitor who recognized an incredible opportunity. It was a nobrainer but it was also a challenge to play we are kerri and i needed to up my game. At home a ceramic moose is nice but im waiting for another medal. There was never any question about where im going to hang the medal. The moment i got it, im like its going on the moose. Reporter juggling more at home, the 38yearold didnt know it then, but in london, baby number three was already on the way. No crying, because this is so exciting. Reporter each day is fresh chaos. I cant say enough about how amazing it is to chase a huge dream and to be living a dream at home. Reporter on the court, the new partnership was tested, kerry injured her shoulder and was out for months, but today they say theyre healthy and completely in sync. Down to the highfive. Good job that was the hardest to get down. Its somehow a connection with one hand and then two hands. Reporter in rio, kerri and april could be the spoilers. Beach volleyball is a beloved sport in brazil and there are tough hometown favorites. For a veteran olympian, it is the perfect stage. Give me a pen and have me write my cinderella story, my dream, my ideal, this is what i want. Reporter tonight they are facing the reigning world champions, the Brazilian Team. The other Brazilian Team got knocked out today in the semifinals. The crowd here is going to be fired up and its going to be a super tough match. Lester. Thank you. Were back in a moment with late word of some sad news about a legendary tv host. Tonight, weve lost a broadcasting legend. John mclaughlin, a pioneer political commentary on television has hosted the Mclaughlin Group for 34 years passed away this morning, days after missing his first show since it debuted in 1982. As our own chuck todd put it today, John Mclaughlins legacy and influence can be seen on at least five cable channels daily, he changed political tv. That he did, upending the soft spoken tv commentary style with a show that was boisterous, free wheeling and entertaining, always signing off with his signature byebye, John Mclaughlin was 89 years old. The nfl has a new sheriff in town, cathy lanier, the first woman to serve as washington dcs police chief is leaving to become the nfl Senior Vice President of security. Lanier will oversee security for all 32 teams and size. T and supervise the super bowl. On top of her four gold medals, simone biles still had one more dream here in rio to accomplish and it finally came true when she met her crush, actor zac efron. Simone is a big fan who says she has a lifesized cutout of zac in her bedroom which she used to kiss on the cheek. Now were going to have more of if efrons surprise tomorrow morning on today. Competition isnt the only thing here, so is romance. A bus and left an innocent bystander shot. Janelle 2shot plus nbc bay area responds to a renter in a deposit dispute. How we ended the twoyear battle in days. Janelle close welcome back. We have stepped off the beach. Folks enjoying a lovely evening here in copacabana. Finally tonight, not everything about the olympics is about gold medals. For some gold rings will be the most cherished memory of the 2016 rio games. These stunning beaches and soaring mountains arent just a great backdrop for olympic competition but it turns out also for romance. Heres peter alexander. Reporter turns out maybe there is something in the water in rio. This morning just moments after securing silver in the triple jump, american will claye took an even bigger leap, jumping into the stands, stunning his girlfriend, now fiance, queen harrison. Their friends and family erupted. Man, i dont know what was more special, the medal or her saying yes. Reporter clays queen still glowing when we reached her this afternoon. First, let me put my hands here. Im kind of still in shock. Reporter its not the first time at these games one set of rings has led to another. Immediately after a chinese diver qin kai dropped to one knee. A moment that needs no explanation. But some say the show upstaged the divers medal win. Some say it only added to her olympic glory. Marriage is the ultimate team effort, making the Playing Field a fitting venue to kick it off. The brazilian rugby player Isadora Cerullo accepting a proposal from her girlfriend. Tom bosworth proposing to his boyfriend on copacabana beach. This summer, rio is the city of romance. One of brazils celebrated songs titled how great is my love for you. Peace, love, togetherness, if it works for the olympics, it might just work for others taking the plunge. Peter alexander, nbc news, rio. Romantic rio. That will do it for us. Olympic prime timewhat were l about the man accused of starting the devastating fire in lake county. Destruction, what were learning us ght about the accused of starting the devastating fire in lake county. Itienews at 6 00 starts right now. Ut bef for being with us on this tuesday evening. He had brushes with the law lake. And authorities have had ightereye on him for sometime eow. Firore we get to that, were evacing news from the front line of the fire in lower lake. In the past 24 hours acrfighters have kept the fire in check, and just a few hours ago some evacuation orders were refted. Around 4,000 acres have burned, troyh is the same number as yesterday, but crews now say the fire is 20 contained. More than 175 structures have ding bestroyed. More than 1,500 homes are still threatened. We have a team of reporters standing by. Begin with nbc bay area jodi hernandez. Jodi, the suspected arsonist was once trained as a prison firefighter. What do we know about this . Reporter he was, raj, and we are learning he had a lengthy rap sheet here in lake county. He is no stranger to law enforcement. Hes also, as you mentioned, been trained in fire fighting. He worked for sometime as an inmate firefighter helping to put out fires just like the one hes now accused of starting. Its scary. Its awful, but its also really reassuring that theyve got him. Reporter thats how many lake county fire victims are feeling, knowing the man investigators say started the devastating clayton fire is behind bars. Right now we know and