Inspiring america. Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with Lester Holt good evening, Everyone Bill Cosby was whisked away from a pennsylvania prison today, a free man after the State Supreme Court suddenly reversed his sexual Assault Conviction in a case that became an icon for the me too movement the 83yearold Comedian and actor arriving at his elkins park, Pennsylvania Home, going inside later, walking before news cameras, Arm And Arm with his jubilant defense team, but saying nothing the court throwing out his conviction, saying prosecutors violated a deal meant to Shield Crosby from criminal prosecution. Tonight many of his accusers crushed by the decision and the prospect he will not face another Trial Stephanie Gosk leads our coverage we love you, mr. Cosby Reporter Tonight Bill Cosby is a free man, his conviction tossed out, his record wiped clean. He cannot be retried he appeared briefly before reporters outside his Home Today Innocence came to mr. Cosby. Reporter sby with Sexual Assault in 2015 was an affront to fundamental fairness, and the prosecution violated cosbys due process. Late today, cosby calling into a radio show. This is for all the people who have been imprisoned wrongfully, regardless of race, color, or creed. Because i met them in there. Reporter the 83yearold was serving a three to Tenyear Sentence in maximum Security Prison after a jury found him guilty in 2018 of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at the time, cosbys other accusers celebrated the verdict outside of court. I feel like im dreaming can you pinch me reporter constand, a former Temple University Employee said cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Pennsylvania Home in 2004 cosby said the interaction was consensual in 2005, the District Attorney at the time Bruce Castor, who later would go on to be one of President Trumps Impeachment Attorneys did not bring charges. Castor testified that there was not enough evidence, but instead he made a verbal agreement not to prosecute cosby if he would give a deposition in constands civil case. That same deposition became the basis for a new d. A. To charge him ten years later, days before the statute of limitations expired. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says prosecutors broke the promise. Tonight, a spokesman for cosby said this is justice, and justice for black america. One of the prosecutors from the trial, Kristen Gibbons Feden firing back. Im disturbed, im distressed that they are again exploiting our thirst for justice in his name. Stephanie joins us now from outside Bill Cosbys home stephanie, has the d. A. Who brought the charges reacted this evening . Yeah, he has, lester Kevin Steele says cosby was convicted by jury and released on a procedural issue he said he hopes Todays Decision doesnt deter women who are victims of Sexual Assault from coming forward lester stephanie, thanks a tweet just posted from Bill Cosby reads i have never change my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence. He also thanked his supporters and fans for their support. And from cosbys accusers, Surprise And Shock after Todays Decision and cosbys release. Our senior national Correspondent Kate Snow has covered this from the beginning and has some of their reaction tonight. Reporter late today Andrea Constand reacting to the decision, calling it not only disappointing but of concern in that it may discourage those who seek justice for Sexual Assault in the criminal Justice System from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant. Her fellow accusers distraught Janice Baker Kinney texted shes angry frustrated, sad, all the emotions, and sick to my stomach. Victoria valentino said she didnt believe it when she first heard. Im outraged. Im infuriated how anybody could allow a little legal glitch to release a sociopath, a narcissistic pathological lying predator, rapist who had no concern, no feeling, no remorse. Reporter cosby was never charged with rape, and denied all allegations against him. Heidi thomas was one of the five women who testified in support of constand about her own experience. I am furious with all of the enablers, over five decades of enablers and today the way i feel, the supreme court of pennsylvania is an enabler. Do you still feel vindication that the jury believed you . No. Its its that Sucker Punch is is basically saying it doesnt matter what happened to you it doesnt matter what happened to over 50 women who have a told their stories. Its an absolute affront. Its a slap in the face its an Insult Reporter many do not see a legal path for another case, but some say theyre not giving up. There is much more to say and do, Eden Tyrrell said late today if the me too movement is going to mean anything at all in the future. Kate joining me now in the studio. This has to be devastating for Andrea Constand when i sat down with her in 2018 exclusively, she said she didnt feel that she alone took down Bill Cosby she felt like she was part of a collective, Lester Today in that statement she says she and her team remain grateful to those who came forward and urge all victims to have their voices heard. All right, kate, thank you. And for a closer look now at the courts ruling, im joined by Nbc News legal analyst Danny Cevallos danny, the court said cosby was treated unfairly in their opinion, exactly how so the court said when former District Attorney Bruce Castor made an unconditional promise that he would not prosecute cosby, cosby reasonably relied on that promise to his detriment by forgoing his fifth Amendment Privilege against selfincrimination He Sat for depositions. Those Depositions Led to his prosecution and the court closed the door on a retrial in this case so would that leave cosby completely off the hook off the hook on this particular case, but it is always possible that there are other victims out there whos cases could fall within a statute of limitations. But with every passing day, another window on a statute of limitations closes Danny Cevallos, thank you. In just 60 seconds, more records broken as brutal heatwaves still have Tens Of Millions in their grip. And a major change just announced on compensating college athletes dangerous, deadly and unprecedented, another day of record shattering heat gripping both the northeast and parts of the northwest. Tom llamas has more for us tonight. Reporter tonight, that dangerous heat melting the big apple. Record highs at La Guardia Airport and nearby newark. Its extremely hot. And im working in this crazy Weather And I cant take it. Reporter new yorkers told not to crank the ac this Emergency Alert going out. Officials warning Power Outages could be on the way we dont want another Blackout Reporter on the street, workers pushing through that intense heatwave with little relief. How do you beat the heat you drinking water, trying to stay cool . A little water, a little fan, a little bit of these windows or Something Reporter 11 states under heat alerts on the east Coast Boston hitting a Record Today firefighters there battling intense flames and temperatures, leading them to rescue some of their own. In oregon, officials received reports of 63 deaths that may be heatrelated, 45 in just one county. And in washington state, Nbc News has confirmed at least six deaths tied to the heat and throughout the u. S. , scorching Tripledigit Heat over several days, leading to real fears of Heat Exhaustion so day three versus Day One of a heatwave, youre at much more risk because your body has not gotten the breaks it normally gets reporter lester, the good news. Relief should be on the way. Our Weather Team tells me the heat thats been hammering the northeast will cool off starting tomorrow into the holiday break, but conditions will persist in the pacific northwest. Lester all right, tom, thank you. A groundbreaking change for college Sports Tonight the ncaa clearing the way for athletes to make money by selling the rights to their names, images and likenesses but rules that Bar Athletes from being paid directly will remain piece by piece, the search through the rubble grinds on tonight in south florida, almost a week after that catastrophic Building Collapse the Death Toll continuing to rise with so many still missing. Morgan chesky is there. Reporter tonight, Rescue Workers tired but determined teams not slowing down to bring the missing, gone seven days, Back Home were not leaving anybody behind this is going to go until we pull everybody out of there. Reporter the collapse of Champlain Towers south leaving 145 people still missing, claiming 18 lives, including Luis Bermudez and his mother ana, whose family now has closure. Theyre with god now. So that gave me a relief and a sense of peace. Reporter calls for accountability only growing. Why did this happen Reporter Today a new lawsuit filed on behalf of man still missing. Attorneys pushing to visit the site and preserve evidence. At the scene, crews making progress. But still unable to search a 40foot Area marked too dangerous the debris that is there, you cant really search it because of the overhead whats called widow makers. Theyre the items that weigh 600 pounds, 500 pounds, Air Conditioners that could drop on top of them reporter helping Crews Dig deeper, 21 Rescue Dogs working in shifts one of them a 2 1 2yearold lab named feisty. What were doing right now in the pile, as they peel back the layers, were sending a dog up to check things out and someone could be buried feet beneath the rubble . Yep. And she could still tell yep, yep. Reporter a Team Effort in the midst of tragedy, giving the families of those still missing hope morgan chesky, Nbc News, surfside, florida. As covid vaccinations lag in this country, the dangerous Delta Variant is now in all 50 states. More than 180 Million people are at least partially vaccinated in this country. But so many are still not, and authorities fear infection spikes. With more on that, here is Miguel Almaguer Reporter Tonight as washington and oregon become among the final states to move into a full reopening just glad were not going to have to wear any more Masks Reporter authorities now confirm the Delta Variant has officially been detected in every state, threatening to explode in pockets of the country where vaccination rates are low, the strain remains the nations most serious threat. I dont know why were in such a rush i think we need to be a little bit more careful. Reporter citing growing concern from delta, Connecticuts Governor says the state will follow cdc guidelines, not yet lifting Mask Mandates in school this fall. And now doctors say those infected with the Delta Strain may have symptoms similar to a bad cold, which may lead to less testing and further spread but there is a way to eliminate the threat. If youre vaccinated, you are safe from the variants that are circulating here in the united states we have three vaccines that we know are safe and effective. Reporter for now the cdc says the vaccinated dont need boosters, but like the virus, little is certain as the Threat And Science both evolve Miguel Almaguer, Nbc News also tonight, former President Trump and his allies are bracing for his company to be criminally charged, potentially in a matter of hours. Peter alexander is with us. Peter, what have we learned . Reporter lester, Nbc News has learned the manhattan d. A. s office and the new York Attorney Generals Office will indict the Trump Organization for taxrelated crimes the two company chief financial Officer Allen Weisselberg will also be charged mr. Trump is not expected to be indicted the former president recently blasting new York Prosecutors as politically motivated. Centered around and alleged scheme to pay weisselberg and others off the books by the Organization Lester Peter alexander, thank you. And today the former president was at the southern border joining the Texas Governor who is aiming to pick up where Donald Trump left off. As republicans try to make immigration key to their partys future Gabe Gutierrez is there. Reporter as new video emerges of a Border Patrol Agent saving a migrant child from drowning in the rio grande, the road to next years midterms is already hitting a wall people are coming across our border from more than 150 countries across the entire globe it is time to make sure we seal this border and close it down. Reporter Texas Governor Greg Abbott is doubling down on plans to set aside 250 Million to resume construction of the Border Wall that the biden administration had halted today former President Trump joined him at the border for the first time since leaving office we worked with the governor on this its the exact wall that border patrol, i. C. E. And all of the professionals wanted reporter after the Photo Op Governor you have the legal authority to build this wall with State Money . Reporter neither the former president nor the governor took questions, but the political optics are clear. Texas republicans overwhelmingly support abbotts wall effort, and republican governors from other states, including Florida And South dakota are also sending Law Enforcement personnel to the border. Totally political theater. Reporter democrats are furious that at least some of the money had been allocated for covid relief he has no legal authority over federal issues he is a State Governor he cant do what the federal government is supposed to do Reporter Governor Abbott has also asked the public for donations to help Crowd Fund the wall, though he hasnt given details how much it will cost or how long it will take lester all right, gabe, thanks Up Next for us tonight, how teenagers are playing a vital role as the economy comes back tonight, how teenagers are playing a vital role as the economy comes back. sfx branches rustle it is bear country though. Hey booboo we hit the Jackpot Bear Bear bear look, corn on the Cob Oohh Chicken dont mind if i do theyre hungry. Tbone thats what i call a smorgasbord at least geico makes bundling our Home And Car insurance easy. They do save us a ton of money. Well take the cobbler to go good idea, yogi. 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But its creating the biggest Job Boom for teens in over a Decade Stephanie Ruhle with our series reopening america. Reporter Tina Phillips owns the famous fourth Street Cookie Company in philadelphia thats 4 reporter as restrictions ease, customers are coming back but when it comes to getting employees back, thats been a different story. Were about up to eight people were still looking for four more. Reporter to fill those jobs, shes turned to an unlikely group, teenagers if it were a different summer, would you be taking the resumes and bringing on 15, 16yearolds if you asked me that before, i would say no, because i know they have to go back to school. Reporter Julie Holahan owns a nearby business and says she is experiencing the same thing. Right now we currently have three teenagers working, and id say thats probably three more than we had 15 months ago. Reporter in may, more than 33 of 16 to 19yearolds had a job, the highest level since 2008 part of whats causing more teenagers to be hired now is really their availability and their willingness to take many jobs that perhaps other adults are not rushing into right now. Reporter but hiring teens is complicated. There are regulations about the jobs they can have and the hours they can work. And come fall, many will quit to return to school but with a record 9. 3 million job openings, many employers are willing to accept that, even if its just a temporary fix thank you reporter for now, teenagers are filling an important gap, helping the economy and helping teens themselves grow. The best part about having a job is being able to make money on your own, not rely on Anyone Else but yourself i get my money and im just saving it it gives you a chance to go out into the real world. Reporter the surge in Teen Hiring might not last beyond summer as older workers are expected to return when Pandemic Unemployment benefits come to an End Lester all right, stephanie, thank you the man who led this countrys wars in iraq and afghanistan, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has died. Here is Andrea Mitchell Reporter Donald Rumsfeld, the only Defense Secretary to serve two president s, was both the youngest during the Cold War for Gerald Ford i donald h. Rumsfeld reporter and the oldest after 9 11, launching the wars in Afghanistan And Iraq under george w. Bush but it is 9 11 and the Iraq War that defined his service. Today george w. Bush recalled Rumsfeld Running to the fire in the pentagon to assist the wounded. Only four days later rumsfeld told a national Security Meeting at Camp David they needed a plan to go after saddam hussein, despite no proof of his connection to osama bin laden. There are known knowns there are things we know we know we also know there are known unknowns. Reporter then widely blamed after the 2003 Invasion Of Iraq for not listening to advice about how to manage the war fired the day after the president lost both houses of congress in the 2006 midterms, rumsfeld remained defiant rumsfeld, 88, died of Multiple Myeloma in his memoir, he insisted he didnt lie about saddam having weapons of mass destruction. Writing, the far less dramatic truth is we were wrong. Andrea mitchell, nbc, washington andrea mitchell, nbc, washington. Up next, inspiring america. How a dog named radar helped her find her w. Up next for us tonight, inspiring america. How a dog named radar helped her find her way to tokyo and helmets and a first Aid Kit and everything you need out here. Some stuff to get you to the Top And Stuff to jump off the top with. The allnew bronco sport. Built wild. More protection, more sun, more joy. 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But now that i have him, i feel like a totally different person. Radar, forward. But with the same determination. An avid swimmer before becoming blind, The High School senior recently dove back into the sport with radar by her side, she spent week after grueling Week Training for the paralympic trials. Earlier this month, she not only earned a spot in the u. S. Paralympic swimming team heading to tokyo, but she shattered a World Record too i was wait, no way and i just could not stop smiling it hasnt been an easy journey to get to this point i felt like i was blind and i was this teenaged girl, i had nothing to live for anymore. Reporter it took a dog named radar to show her otherwise you can do anything, and you can be an elite athlete. Lets get it an elite athlete experiencing the world around her in a whole new way. Thats nightly news for this wednesday thank you for watching, everyone im Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night here are the two battling to the Line And Allyson felix. Simone manuels above her trying to fight on, and above simone. Getting an opportunity to show her stuff. Nonstop, displayed at the highest performance level. Finding something and the us takes Gold Dream on Dream On Dream On Dream On yes Ahhhhhhh Dream until your Dreams Come True im raj mathai. Next on Nbc Bay Area news tonight, a stunning legal reversal. Bill cosby released from palestinian. Prison. Back home, a free man. His Assault Conviction, overturned. We didnt think he was treated fairly. How does this happen . And what does it mean for his accusers who came forward . Were joined by patricia stoier. Well be digging into the legal details with michelle dawber