Right now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. We begin with an nbc news exclusive about election day, just five days away, and the deep concern that has the nations Intelligence Services on edge tonight. With all of us transfixed on the tight race between Hillary Clinton and donald trump, weve learned the government has been quietly, but urgently, taking unprecedented steps to deal with the possibility of cyber attacks, designed to sew confusion and throw the American Election into chaos. And wouldbe attackers may have already offered a disturbing preview. Nbc news Senior Investigative correspondent Cynthia Mcfadden has details. Reporter officials in the department of homeland security, the military, and the Intelligence Community tell nbc news the u. S. Government is gearing up for an unprecedented effort according to multiple intelligence sources, u. S. Officials are deeply concerned about and preparing for some sort of cyber chaos next week. Current and former Officials Say an attack on critical infrastructure, including the u. S. Power grid is one of three worstcase concerns. One highly placed intelligence source told nbc news, your vote is safe, you just might not have any lights. Also on the worry list, a of the internet goes down. Or a cyber attack, to disable communications and transportation in swing states. But intelligence sources and a senior Obama National security official tell nbc news, they believe a more likely scenario is that hackers from russia or elsewhere, will try to manipulate twitter, facebook, and other social media platforms, to sew confusion and chaos. An 11th hour release of fake documents, implicating one of the candidates in an explosive way without time for it to be factchecked. And it isnt just the russians. Multiple intelligence and Law Enforcement officials tell nbc news the concern is just as much about nonstate actors, hackers, political activists, and criminal mischief makers. While multiple intelligence officials tell nbc, they have no specific warning about an election day attack, they also s massive and sophisticated internet disruption last month a rehearsal or an inspiration for the real thing. The activity that occurred on the 21st of october, has been seen by many in Cyber Security field as potentially a drill, associated with a real event. It had all the signs of what you would consider a drill to be. Reporter intelligence sources tell nbc news that the through diplomatic and back channels regarding just how seriously any cyber attack would be viewed by the u. S. The president has been briefed about his options, if there is some sort of cyber attack, and i should say, lester, all the experts we talked to say the public should be comforted by these preparations, including the ones they hope never to have to use. Well, these are disturbing scenarios, but lets get down to brass tacks, my vote, your vote. Is with . So the intelligence sources we talked to said they believe it is highly unlikely that the tallies can be tampered with. All right, cynthia, thank you very much. Meantime, as the feds brace for election day, the candidates are bracing as well. Crisscrossing battleground states, at this point and its all about turnout. On the trump side, a rare appearance today by Melania Trump, raising eyebrows with her message. And on the clinton, once again getting a turn out for clinton in five days. We have it all covered starting with Andrea Mitchell in battleground North Carolina. Good evening, lester. Aides say Hillary Clinton is not going to be talking anymore about the fbi and those emails. But here in North Carolina, there are problems. Some African Americans say theyre not inspired by her. Others say when they try to vote, they cant. Tonight hillary carolina, going hard after donald trump. Imagine having a president who demeans women, mocks the disabled, insults African Americans and latinos. Reporter all part of a coordinated final sprint to turn out the base. President obama in florida. Anybody who is upset about a saturday night live skit, you dont want in charge of nuclear weapons. This isnt a joke. This isnt survivor. This is isnt the bachelorette. This counts. Reporter tim kaine making a pitch entirely in spanish in arizona. [ speaking spanish ]. Reporter but top clinton aides telling nbc news North Carolina is key. If clintons ground game can beat trump here, they say hell have no path to the white house. But to win here, she needs a higher african americtu Appeals Court ruled in july has voting restrictions that target African Americans with surgical precision. The other sides strategy is it to scare people and intimidate people from going to the polls. They couldnt find you on the rolls . At all. And you had just voted . In the primary. Reporter 18yearold federica smith went to vote with her mom, but says she was taken off the rolls for the general me to vote. Reporter 100yearold grace hardson said it happened to her too. I didnt feel good. Reporter the president calling it discrimination. This 100yearold woman wasnt alone in the list of people the republicans trying to banish. Reporter theyre now saying thousands of African Americans were removed from voter rolls by republican challenges. More than 40 states have similar challenge judge hearing the case on wednesday, who has yet to rule, was sharply critical. The judge said it was an insane process. That may be something the General Assembly wants to look at. But county boards of elections are just carrying out their roles in their duty. Reporter president obama here returns tomorrow, he won here in 2008 by just 14,000 votes. Andrea mitchell, nbc tur. Five days out and for the First Time Since her rocky convention speech, Melania Trump was on the stump, giving the softer side of donald trump. He certainly knows how to shake things up. Reporter raising the curtain on what she would focus on as first lady. Bullying, notably on social media. Our culture has gotten too many and too rough. We have to find a better way to talk to o other, to respect each other. Reporter her words, a contrast, as her husband has built a Campaign Around personal insults, often lobbed on twitter. Little marco rubio. Hes a sleaze, in my book. Reporter melania was trying to convince women in the crucial philadelphia suburbs, her husband, who watched from his plane, deserved their vote. Pennsylvania still proving to be a hurdle for trump. The latest poll shows him down four. Both states, mustwins. Staying on message and on prompter at rallies. Last night, admitting that he can be his own worst enemy. Stay on point, donald, stay on point. No side tracks, donald. Nice and easy. Reporter today in jacksonville, falsely alleging clinton is under criminal investigation. The fbi is the office of secretary of state up for sale in violation of federal law. Reporter a senior Law Enforcement official tells nbc news after an initial look, the case has not moved an inch in months. Tonight a worstcase scenario is being discussed in some republican circles, talk of a special prosecutor or impeachment if Hillary Clinton does get elected. Lester . Katy tur in North Carolina tonight, thank you. Lets bring in nbc news political analyst five days from the election. Right. Youve only got so much money, so much time. You want to be certain places. What do we read into what happens now . So heres where we are right now. The window is closing for both campaigns to introduce any new arguments. And they have both settled on closing messages that have been effective. Hillary clinton and her super surrogates, including the president and mrs. Obama, are prosecuting a case against trumps temperament, his character, calling unfit to serve. But trump has also landed on a closing message that was successful for him in the primaries, that obamacare is not working out for people, that its time for something different, that its time for an outsider. He finds himself on offense. The problem as we talked about last night is the map and the math. And the path for him is dem graphically and structurally very difficult. All right, nicole, thank you very much. Thank you. A program note, our Election Night coverage begins at 7 00 eastern time, 4 00 pacific. We turn now to a tragic day for u. S. Forces overseas. Two American Service members were killed, four others injured, while supporting a night raid against a taliban target in afghanistan, according to do senior u. S. Military officials. Soon after their choppers landed in kunduz, they came under gunfire. The u. S. Responded with air strikes, which the afghans as 30 people. The longsuffering cubs broke their 108year world series championship drought in extra innings last night against the cleveland indians, and it was a nailbiter until the very last out. Our Kevin Tibbles was in chicago where history has just been made. Reporter 11 47 p. M. Central time, the exact moment pigs flew, and hell froze all reporter and the chicago cubs won the world series. 108 years in the making. It took extra innings, but the oftcalled loveable losers did finally win. Delirious diehards, like actor bill murray, danced. While tens of thousands took to the streets outside wrigley field. The champs and their world series trophy got back to town just before dawn. And tom johnson opened a beer anticipation of this day. It smells like hell. Reporter for more than a century, fans of this team have had to make do with the phrase next year. Well, next years now. There will be a contender next year and the year after and it wont be about breaking the curse. It will be about being one of baseballs best teams. Go, cubs, go reporter the wave of cubby blue hasnt stopped. Pilgrims pinching it was even predicted 23 years ago by a Young California student in his year book. You heard it here first, michael lee wrote. Today, a new generation will never know what its been like around here since 1908. You will never know the anxiety and the angst of all the years. Reporter tomorrow a tickertape parade. The chicago cubs, 2016 world series champs, its got an unfamiliar ring to it. Kevin tibbles, nbc news, in chicago. And a late night for a lot of us watching on the east coast. Still ahead, a disturbing twist on a scam thousands have fallen for. Thieves tricking you into believing your child has been kidnapped for ransom. Well explain how they pick their victims. Well explain how they pick their victims. When i was diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia, it was huge for everybody. She just started to decline rapidly. I was rushed to the hospital. If youd waited two more days, you wouldve died. Pneumococcal pneumonia almost took me from them. If i had known that a vaccine could have helped prevent this, i would have asked my doctor about it. Liberty mutual stood with me when i was too busy with the kids to get a repair estimate. Liberty did what . Yeah, with Liberty Mutual all i needed to do to get an estimate was snap a photo of the damage and voila d that. Wait hold it. Hold it boys. Theres supposed to be three of you. Wheres your brother . Wheres your brother . Hey, wheres charlie . Charlie . you can leave worry behind when liberty stands with you. Liberty stands with you . Your path to retirement may not always be clear. But at t. Rowe price, we can help guide your retirement savings. So wherever your Retirement Journey takes you, we can help you reach your goals. Call us or your advisor t. Rowe price. Were back with a new scam that the fbi says is growg. Terrifying details of how theyve kidnapped a loved one. The fbi calls it virtual kidnapping. Heres nbcs tom costello. The call from mexico came while Wendy Mueller was working in the kitchen. It sounded like her daughter away at college crying frantically. Mom, im scared. I dont know where i am. Reporter then a mans voice. We have your daughter. We snatched her off the street. If you do everything we say, youll see her of terror. I became pretty hysterical, started crying and please dont hurt her. Reporter the caller warned her not to hang up or call the police, to withdraw 10,000 from her bank, then start driving. He was saying things like, take your next right, and there will be a Western Union on the righthand side. He was tracking you on google maps . Yes. Reporter directing her to locations across virgini accounts in mexico. Youre thinking, im just trying to keep my daughter alive. Yes. Ill do anything you ask me to do. Reporter terrified she was being watched and tracked, she did as she was told. The fbi says its a growing scam. The con artists, usually in mexico, find family names on social media to target their victims. They are really getting more and more skilled at creating the level of anxiety really make them believe that their family members, their loved one is being held against their will. Reporter the fbis advice, limit your personal information posted online. If a virtual kidnapper calls, demand your loved one is being held by asking something only they would know. He knew the buttons to push on any mom. Absolutely. Whats your precious than your child . Reporter it wasnt until her daughter texted during the scam what her daughter was safe. But her money, gone. And Police Believe its unlikely, the suspect will ever be found. Were back in a moment with what science just revealed about why some songs get so stuck in your head. . . Look, the wolf was huffing and puffing. Like you do sometimes, grandpa . Well, when you have copd, it can be hard to breathe. It can be hard to get air out, she said. Symbicort could help you breathe better, starting within 5 minutes. Symbicort doesnt replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. Symbicort helps provide significant improvement of your lung function. Symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It should not be taken more than twice a day. Symbicort contains formoterol. Medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. Symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. Or high Blood Pressure before taking it. Symbicort could mean a day with better breathing. Watch out, piggies children giggle symbicort. Breathe better starting within 5 minutes. Call or go online to learn more about a free trial offer. If you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. Why do people count on Sunsweet Amazin prune juice to stay fit on the inside . Its made only from prunes, nothing else. Its a natural source of fiber and five essential vitamins. Our eyes. They have a 200degree range of sight. Which is good for me hey . And bad for the barkley twins. Take care of all your most important parts with centrum. With our most vitamin d three ever. [burke] hot dog. Seen it. Covered it. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. Its the Little Things in life that make me smile. Spending the day with my niece. I dont use super poligrip for hold, because my dentures fit well. Just a few dabs of super poligrip free is clinically proven to seal out more food particles so youre more comfortable and confident while you eat. So its not about keeping my dentures in, its about keeping the food particles out. A horrifying discovery in south carolina, where police say kala brown, a woman missing for two months has been found alive, chained inside a storage container on property owned by a register sex offender. That man is now under arrest, and police are digging up his property after brown revealed there may be four bodies brown disappeared in august with her boyfriend, he remains missing tonight. A new warning from doctors this evening about your kids and all the salt theyre consuming. Cdc researchers say nearly 90 of children surveyed are consuming too much sodium in their diets. It could lead to health be prs down the road. High levels of salt are consumed mostly during dinner, hidden in food like pizza, burgers, bread, and stuck in your head . Keeps going round and round . Now science has an explanation as to why some tunes are contagiously catchy. A new study claims its a combination of fast tempo, easy to remember lyrics and repetition. Bad romance by lady gaga is at number one, followed appropriately by Kylie Minogues cant get you out of my head and journeys dont stop it. When we come back, a woman fighting to pull her neighborhood out of ruin and winning. Nbc nightly news is brought to you by pacific life, helping . Fifty years ago, humpback whales were nearly extinct. They rebounded because a decision was made to protect them. And preserve your legacy. Ask a Financial Advisor how retirement and Life Insurance solutions from pacific life can help you plan for your future. Folks out there whose diabetic nerve pain. Shoots and burns its way into your day, i hear you. To everyone with this pain that makes ordinary tasks extraordinarily painful, i hear you. Make sure your doctor hears you too i hear you because i was there when my dad suffered with diabetic nerve pain. If you have diabetes and burning, shooting pain in your feet or hands, dont suffer in silence step on up and ask your doctor about diabetic nerve pain. Finally tonight, we visit a small city that once had big things going for it way back when ford opened a model t plant there. Then, like the surrounding city of detroit, it fell on tough times. But our rehaima ellis introduces us to one woman on a mission to bring her city back to life in her latest the sound of hope in highland park, michigan. A city being reinvented one broken building at a time. Reporter mama shoe is leading the way. Somebody had to do it. And this block was totally abandoned. One of my most favorite things. Reporter her Mission Began after the tragic loss of her 2yearold son jacoby, killed by a hit and run driver in 2007. It was the worst day. It was the worst transformed her grief into a constructive force in her neighborhood. This once prosperous city, now plagued by drugs and crime. Fire chief kevin kony says shes turning it around. She came around here and spruced this whole neighborhood up. So are you independently wealthy, mama shoe . I wish. I sold fish sandwiches for 5 and saved up money in a cigar box. Reporter she bought an old house it does. Reporter when words spread of her effort, donations poured in. Even Ellen Degeneres noticed. I mean, what youre doing is so incredible. Reporter the difference is startling. This lot before and now. A park in jacobys name. Plans also include ball courts, a garden, library, and a cafe. Energy efficiency is part of her mission too. Luma solar donated the a safe place for kids like chloe wilder to go after school. I feel really special. Hit it reporter mama shoe turning blight into beauty, healing herself and her neighborhood. Rehema ellis, nbc news, highland park, michigan. One woman getting it done. Thats going to do it for us on this thursday night. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and an arrest andrun. Coming up on 8 at 7 00, how investigators found him and what hes saying happened that night. Plus too many animals in this house, but this case has a right now on news channel 8 at 7 00. Good evening