From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with Brian Williams. Good evening. The flaming wreckage of a failed rocket launch on the virginia coast might just be a metaphor for the current state of the u. S. Space program. The rocket that exploded last night stood 14 stories tall. It was en route to the International Space station to supply the u. S. Astronauts on board. Americans who remember the race to the moon against the soviets may be surprised to learn that these days american rocket launches are contracted out. Luckily this one was unmanned, but nasa has no way of getting nasa astronauts into space. We rely on the russians for that too. This may now all get more attention after last night. A whole lot of people on the east coast planned to watch the laun launch. It was going to be visible from Cape Hatteras north to cape cod. Instead they along with the rest of the world saw a catastrophic failure on television. Its where we begin tonight with nbcs tom costello whos outside that launch facility on Wallops Island in virginia, tom, good evening. Reporter hi, brian. Good evening. The facts, they tell me for the most part the debris field is relatively contained because launch controllers hit the selfdestruct button when they saw that the rocket was coming apart seconds into the liftoff. Five, four, three, two, one. Reporter it was supposed to be a spectacular nighttime launch along the eastern seaboard. Within seconds it turned into a spectacular failure. The explosion was enormous, ricochetted across eastern virginia and captured on dozens of cameras in the air and on the ground. Oh, my god reporter photographer ken kramer captured incredibly detailed images as the antares rocket came apart. It was like the sky was on fire. And i was stunned, actually, because i never expected to see anything like this. Reporter today, the search began for pieces of the wreckage on land and in the water. Orbital sciences built the rocket and has had two successful previous missions. But it was the first loss of a spacecraft since nasa stopped flying the Space Shuttle three years ago. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this and we had a lot riding on it. Reporter on board 5,000 pounds of experiment, equipment, clothing and food destined for the space station, orbiting 200 miles above the earth the space station crew insisted theyre not running low. We plan for four to six months ahead. So weve got plenty of food to keep us. All varieties. Reporter in some ways the antares rocket was a throwback to the cold war using two engines built for the soviet Space Program but recently refurbished. A competitor spacex founder e lon musk called them a joke. But others insisted the engines have a good track record. Theyre fuel efficient and tend to be simple and cleverly designed to do the job. That said, they have been on in storage for many, many years, for decades. Reporter yeah. We should mention that one of these sovietbuilt engines just exploded a few months ago at a u. S. Test facility. This was a resupply mission but hardly the only one. Just today a russianbuilt progress resupply craft docked with the space station and another vehicle lifted off from kazakhstan. There are lots of vehicles faring cargo to the space station. Brian. Tom costello on the virginia coast tonight. Tom, thanks for that report. The World Health Organization said today the number of ebola cases in west africa is now near 14,000. When american doctors and nurses who have saved lives over there want to return to their lives back here, there is no consensus now on how to handle them. Tonight, the battle over mandatory quarantines is moving into the courts. And the nurse whos become the public face of this debate could risk jail time if she steps outside her house. Our report on all of it tonight from nbcs kate snow. Reporter in far northern maine this afternoon an armed trooper escorted a Health Department worker inside the home where kaci hickox is staying. Her boyfriend showing briefly. Im doing great. Hows kaci . Shes doing great too. Reporter but this morning, hickox, a nurse recently returned from liberia and in a tent for three days was defiant, she wont stay home for 21 days. You know, i truly believe that this policy is not scientifically nor constitutionally just. And so i am not going to sit around and be bullied by politicians and force today stay in my home when i am not a risk to the american public. Im here today to give you an update reporter so late this afternoon Health Officials in maine took the fight to the next level saying theyre in the process of filing a court order to force hickox to stay quarantined. I do not understand why this common sense approach to ask someone to stay in their home for 21 days during the incubation period, why that is not a reasonable request. Reporter Many Americans agreed. On facebook people called hickox a disgrace to the health field, disgrace. Some say shes putting her selfinterest ahead of everybody else. No, kaci was not a part of this. Reporter the president met with others just back from the region today. And again said hes worried quarantine rules will discourage volunteering. They make huge sacrifices to protect this country that we love. And when they come home, they deserve to be treated properly. They deserve to be treated like the heroes they are. Reporter despite the president s concern about mandatory quarantines, the u. S. Military is doing just that. The president s explaining the rules are different for military personnel because their movements are already restricted. More than 40 soldiers are confined on a base in italy for 21 days. 1,100 troops are on the ground in west africa. Internal pentagon moemos say th quarantine was issued after concern from military families. California became the first kind of state to enact some kind of quarantine. The attorney for kaci hickox says he thinks her case will set precedent across the board and help determine if all those will stand in various states. Kate snow, thank you as always. Just yesterday when he was told he could be sued by this nurse he ordered quarantined last weekend, new Jersey Governor Chris Christie said she can get in line. Then came today the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, which chewed up parts of the jersey shore, a protester at an event today spoke up and held up a sign, and then the governor went after him. We get our report tonight from nbcs kelly odonnell. Reporter governor Chris Christies impulse control, or lack of it, on full display today. If were going to get into a debate here today, its going to get very interesting and very fun. Reporter when a heck ler protested what was supposed to be a serious event. Ive been here when the cameras arent here, buddy, and done the work. So turn around, get your 15 minutes of fame and then maybe take your jacket off, roll up your sleeves and do something for the people of this state. Reporter marking two years since Superstorm Sandy ripped across the jersey shore. Somebody like you who doesnt know a damn thing about what theyre talking about. You want to have the conversation later, im happy to have it, buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up. Reporter building to another christiestyle public smackdown. Theres about a thousand things ill do tonight, going to dinner with you is about number 1, 001. Reporter saying sandy aide has been too slow. Wheres the money and why havent people been getting it . Reporter this week christies been defending his case against kaci hickox. Act to the internet and takeout food from the best restaurants in new york. Shes doing just fine. Reporter an asset or obstacle for bigger things. It shows a character that seems to a good many people to be slightly out of control when confronted. Reporter no reaction tonight from christies office. Telling me the governor said it himself. Kelly odonnell, nbc news, washington. Now all the way west to the slowmotion disaster unfolding in hawaii. The lava flowing into a town has moved about the length of a football field in a days time. And tonight we get an incredible view from the air from the source, the erupting kilauea vol cay now all the way to the town thats in its way. Hallie jackson has our report again tonight from high above the big island. Reporter this is the leading edge of the pahoa lava flow. Here in town about 40 to 50 homes are within potentially the direct path of this lava. This home looks to be one of the lucky ones. The flow path within just a few hundred yards of the house here. It doesnt look like the lava is moving at all, but it is. Anywhere from five yards an hour to 20 yards an hour. This is so slow moving that the lava on top is hardening and blackening. Theres still red hot lava underneath. Right now it feels like were in a furnace. Were close to the lava and you can see some of the breakouts. Ill tell you, you can feel it. You can barely breathe. Its smoky and its thick. This is what is feeding that lava flow thats heading right over the town of pahoa. Its basically a bathtub full of lava. Its crested over on top, but it acts as insulation keeping the lava underneath incredibly hot. Youre looking into lava tube. Reporter that crust is like ice on a lake. Underneath are these tubes, thats whats funneling the lava right towards civilization. Its been about 17 weeks, and this thing has traveled 12 miles. It shows no sign of stopping just yet. Its nature at its most powerful. Breathtakingly beautiful, dangerous and devastating. That report just sent in to us from nbcs Hallie Jackson in the air over the big island tonight. In the coming days in ferguson, missouri, we are expecting to learn whether the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown will be indicted for it. And police there who have faced much public scrutiny for the shooting and the handling of the aftermath, they are bracing for the possibility the city could erupt all over again. We get our report tonight from nbcs ron allen. Reporter with ferguson on edge and prosecutors set to soon announce whether officer Darren Wilson will face murder charges for shooting and killing Michael Brown, today attorney general eric holder condemned leaks of information from the investigation that he says are trying to shape public opinion. I said im exasperated, thats a nice way of saying im mad. Whoever the sources of the leaks are need to shut up. Reporter leaks about officer wilsons grand jury testimony when he reportedly said he feared for his life, that brown attacked him in his car and grabbed for his gun. The official autopsy which says brown was shot in the hand at close range. Forensic tests said to show browns blood on the gun, the officers uniform and inside the vehicle. And several unnamed black witness testimony. While other witnesses have said publicly brown had his hands up surrendering when he was killed. These leaks really just reinforce peoples belief that the system doesnt work for them. Reporter also today police chief tom jackson denied hes being forced to resign. State officials tell nbc news discussions are underway for st. Louis county police to take over the entire ferguson department. With a grand jury decision soon, School Officials in ferguson are warning some 20,000 students to be in danger. And emotional announcement to come separately on a sunday when students are home in case of more mayhem on the streets. Ron allen, nbc news, washington. And still ahead on a wednesday night, common complaints. The lesson plan that has a lot of parents frustrated because theyre unable to help their kids. Hard it can be. How. To breathe with copd . It can feel like this. Copd includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Spiriva is a oncedaily inhaled. Copd maintenance treatment. That helps open my airways for a full 24 hours. You know, spiriva helps me breathe easier. Spiriva handihaler tiotropium bromide inhalation powder does not replace rescue inhalers for sudden symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, or an enlarged prostate. These may worsen with spiriva. Discuss all medicines you take, even eye drops. Stop taking spiriva and seek immediate medical help if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells,. You can get hives, vision changes or eye pain, or problems passing urine. Other side effects include dry mouth and constipation. Nothing can reverse copd. Spiriva helps me breathe better. Sfx blowing sound. Does breathing with copd. Weigh you down . Dont wait ask your doctor about spiriva handihaler. Creeping up on you. Fight back with relief so smooth. Its fast. Tums smoothies starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue. And neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum, tum tum tum. Smoothies only from tums. This is charlie. His long day of doing it himself starts with back pain. And a choice. Take 4 advil in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. Honey, you did it baby laughs a gallup poll out this week shows most teachers in schools wear the common core standards are already being taught have come to like them. And while most states agree to them, there have been a lot of protests against them among those who see it as a giant federal government overreach in the effort to build better students. But far from all that in the evening hours right about now in fact at kitchen tables across this country theres a different complaint from parents about the homework their kids bring home. Our report tonight from our chief education correspondent rehema ellis. Reporter sue has been introducing math to students for 14 years. We do counting. Subtraction and addition. One, two, three, four, five. Reporter but now the first grade teacher has a new lesson plan following the new common core standards. Teaching is different, but it is still good basic teaching. Reporter what is two plus three . Easy, five. Reporter but for some common core is creating common confusion. Take 34 minus 9. Many would say thats relatively simple, carry the one, 14 minus nine is five, bring down the two, you get 25. Under common core second graders learn different methods and need to show all steps. One example, using a number line they can see nine as one away from ten, which is twenty away from thirty and four from thirtyfour. Add those together to get twentyfive. And nine of 24 equals 34, 34 minus nine equals there are lots of ways to figure out 34 minus 9. Whos to say what is the best way for any particular kid . Its my job to show them different ways to do it. Reporter stacy says helping her kids with school work has become difficult. The work sheet wanted it to be shown a certain way. And a very easy problem turned into an hourlong problem. Stop common core reporter common core standards adopted by more than 40 states and d. C. Have been met with fierce opposition. A High School Principal on new yorks long island used to support common core. As teachers complain, parents complain, principals complain. Were told, well, youre just not doing the common core right. Thats not correct. The common core is not working. Its falling apart. And its time that we take it off the road. We have a long way to go making sure that we are all speaking a common language in terms of standards. Once we get that together i think its going to be a really positive thing. Reporter changing how we teach our children, a hard lesson the nation is still learning. Rehema ellis, nbc news, brooklyn, ohio. And we are back in a moment with what could be a major break in the enduring mystery of aamelia earhart. Symptoms was all i was doing. And when i finally told my doctor, he said humira is for adults like me who have tried other medications but still experience the symptoms of moderate to severe crohns disease. And that in clinical studies, the majority of patients on humira saw significant symptom relief. And many achieved remission. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Ask your gastroenterologist about humira. With humira, remission is possible. Just take a closer look. It works how you want to work. With a Fidelity Investment professional. Or managing your investments on your own. Helping you find new ways to plan for retirement. And save on taxes where you can. So you can invest in the life that you want today. Tap into the full power of your fidelity greenline. Call or come in today for a free oneonone review. I have the worst cold with this runni better take something. Dayquill cold and flu doesnt treat your runny nose. Seriously . Alkaseltzer plus cold and cough fights your worst cold symptoms plus your runny nose. Oh, what a relief it is. Finally, the purple pill,hr the 1 prescribed acid blocking brand, comes without a prescription for frequent heartburn. Get complete protection. Nexium level protection™ you could be at the corner of im throwing away money and i had no idea. Well, walgreens has your back. Our expert pharmacists make it easy for you to save on your prescriptions. So you can keep your money where it belongs. Swing by walgreens. Where you could save even more with medicare prescription copays as low as zero dollars. At the corner of happy and healthy. Inside the National Cathedral in washington today it felt like a state funeral. The mourners included the Vice President , secretary of state, assorted senators and a Supreme Court justice. It was technically a memorial for a newspaper man, but then bradlee was much more than that. And one of his more noted accolades bob woodward said today felt more like the end of the 20th century. To that degree the one man dominated one paper, printed on paper that dominated an entire town while living one of the great lives of the last century, bob woodward may have been right, ben bradlee was 93 years old. Investigators now believe with a high degree of certainty that a section of aircraft recovered from a remote South Pacific location over 20 years ago belonged to Amelia Earharts plane, the lockheed aircraft disappeared along with its pilot in 1937. Its believed to be a patch of aluminum that replaced a window on her aircraft during an eightday stop in miami in that attempt to fly around the world. And theres this, what one writer today called a depressing sign of americas obesity problem, fatter crash test dummies. A company that makes them is developing a new obese version with a body weight of over 270 pounds. The ceo says obese people are more likely to die in a crash because theyre bodies react differently against restraints in the car. When we come back tonight, one way or another it all ends tonight. Well take you to kansas city for game seven. Nbc nightly news with Brian Williams brought to you by pacific life, for insurance, annuities and investments, choose pacific life. The power to help you succeed. They call it planning for retirement because getting there requires exactly that. A plan for what you want your future to look like. For more than 145 years, pacific life has been providing solutions to help individuals like you achieve longterm financial security. Bring your vision for the future to life with pacific life. Talk to a Financial Advisor to help build and protect your retirement income. Pacific life. The power to help you succeed. Ugh. Heartburn. Did someone say burn . Try alka seltzer reliefchews. They work just as fast and taste better than tums smoothies assorted fruit. Mmm. Amazing. Yeah, i get that a lot. Alka seltzer heartburn reliefchews. Enjoy the relief. That disease is for older people. Not me. I take good care of myself. Im active. I never saw it coming. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Pneumococcal pneumonia was horrible. The fatigue. The chest pains, difficulty breathing. It put me in the hospital. You dont want to go through what i did. If youre over 50, talk to your doctor. You may be able to prevent it. Creeping up on you. Fight back with relief so smooth. Its fast. Tums smoothies starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue. And neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum, tum tum tum. Smoothies only from tums. How can i ease this pain . man when i cant go, its like rocks piling up. I wish i could find some relief. announcer ask your doctor about linzess a oncedaily capsule for adults with ibs with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. Linzess is thought to help calm painsensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. It helps you proactively manage your symptoms. Do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. It may harm them. Dont take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. Get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools. The most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. If its severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. Other side effects include, gas, stomacharea pain and swelling. Bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. Were back here at sports center. The baseball season comes down to tonight. And for 29 years no ones been able to say the Kansas City Royals are on the verge of winning the world series. Of course so are the San Francisco giants because tonight its time for that hoped for autumn ritual game seven. Nbcs ron mott has our report tonight from kansas city. And its official, game seven reporter before the balls begin to bounce their way again, kansas citys baseball fortunes were anything but royal. Season after season of losses after losses making for the lockest postseason drought of any pro team in north america. But suddenly this summer winning with a flourish. Royals win game six 100. Awesome reporter its no surprise the place is draped in blue, the wait for success long overdue. Lets go royals reporter the town bursting at the seams with anticipation of one more w, San Francisco giants fans with slightly different plans. The giants are used to the spotlight going after their third world series crown in five years. If it doesnt work out, well wait another two years and be back in 2016. For the title reporter but the last time k. C. Won it all, president reagan was in power, gas, ready for this . About 1. 20, hair . Well, it was big. So was back to the future. I got a time machine. Reporter and george bret about the biggest sports star on the planet, at least around here. Been around the ball club for a long, long, time, over 40 years, this is probably the most fun ive had since i retired. Reporter younger royals fans have never really known a winner, with that in matter half the team hadnt been born. Hopefully the royals take it home. Reporter the novelty of it all is what excites, old becoming new. Growing up just a few miles from the ballpark here means of course im rooting for the home team, but we all wish giants luck as well tonight. Ron, you better get inside. Ron mott in kansas city. We wish the winner the best. Thats it for uz on a wednesday night. Im Brian Williams. Of course we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. Good night. Justin timberlake baby news . Breaking reports jessica is pregnant. Now on extra. Is she or isnt she expecting . The jessica biel baby headlines today. And the suspicious photos that first sparked the rumors. Sandra bullocks medical emergency on the set. Why she had to jump into action after an emergency call to 911. Hot new hookups. Stalker costars dylan mcder mat and maggie q secretly dating . Plus, couples palooza at the lakers game from adam and behati to gerard and his new girl. Then, charissa sitting down with nicole kidman. Her first words about the death of her father and having more kids with keith. I love having children. And why nicole is trying to fix charissas love life. Youre looking good. Youre getting love from somewhere. Plus, Bethenny Frankels first interview about her return to the real housewives of new york. And the news that made her scream. This is extra at universal studio hollywood, the entertainment capital of l. A. Hey, everyone. Welcome to extra. Im march row lopez. Coming up, new