Answers. Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with Lester Holt good evening, everyone some of the fears and anxieties of returning to Classroom Learning coming back into sharp Focus Tonight as children make up a larger and growing share of new covid cases in this country. Also this evening, a stunning number of covid deaths among unvaccinated school workers, including teachers in one florida school district, sending a chill of its own and a sharp warning. While serious cases among kids continue to be rare, it becomes a different story if it is your child. And in a moment, well hear from family who has been there left to feel hopeless, their child too young to be eligible for vaccinations and amid the worry of transfer to children, the debate over School Mask mandates still drawing oxygen tonight. Kerry sanders is in miami with late details. Reporter tonight the return to the classroom potentially dangerous, with a quarter of all new covid cases now children, and with families at odds over how to keep their kids safe. My child, my Choice Reporter the battle over masks still raging, with a judge ruling florida must stop enforcing mask bans, a major blow to republican governor ron desantis. This is what hurts communities. We see dictatorlike behavior is what he is doing. Reporter also in miami, a stark warning from the School Superintendent after three teachers and ten other School Employees died from covid since school began, all of them unvaccinated. The narrative about mandatory Mask Policies or the elimination of those have been absolutely political in nature, and that quite frankly as an educator, as a father, it bothers me. Because children should not be political pawns in this political Chess Game and we need to get past that. Reporter in just a week, nationwide nearly 252,000 kids testing positive for covid, like 11yearold levi quartucci, four days in an austin, Texas Hospital there was some fear and some dark thoughts that crept in, but thankfully he started to get better pretty quickly once he was in the hospital. Reporter serious Illness And Death is rare among children, but parents joe and Katie Quartucci Felt Helpless as covid spiked Levis Temperature to 103 he was on Highflow Oxygen for a little bit, needed steroids and blood Thinners Reporter levi now home, too young to get vaccinated. Its past time for people to take the virus seriously. Its affecting our kids now and i have a lot of big feelings about it all. Reporter katie, who was vaccinated, now quarantined from the rest of her family with a Breakthrough Case Breakthrough infections happen. Theyre rare, but they happen and they are more likely to happen when you have an unvaccinated household member, in this case a child who cant be vaccinated reporter and kerry, the president about to lay out a new Covid Strategy what do we know . Thats right, Lester Tomorrow President biden is expected to detail a new sixpronged strategy to take on the delta variant. Its believed he will encourage mandates, including for those unvaccinated teachers. Lester all right, kerry sander, thank you. The fbi has released new videos, identifying a Mystery Suspect who planted two Pipe Bombs the night before the Capitol Riot Pete williams is here. Pete, whats the aim in putting out these Videos Reporter lester, Fbi Agents say they have no idea who planted the bombs, and they hope the videos will generate some valuable tips. One shows the suspect walking up and sitting on a Park Bench near the democratic national Party Headquarters one of the bombs was later planted in the same area. The suspect apparently uses a phone and then walks away the second video is a map of the route the fbi believes the suspect walked between 7 30 and 8 30 p. M. On January 5th to plant that bomb and another at the republican Party Headquarters neither bomb went off, but both were said to be fully functional. Investigators say they believe whoever did it was not from the area. Both videos are now posted on the fbis website. Lester all right Pete Williams in our washington newsroom, thank you. Were following yet another weather threat tomorrow. Tropical Storm Mindy has just formed in the Northeast Gulf of mexico, and a tropical Storm Warning has been issued for parts of the florida panhandle. Mindy is expected to make landfall tonight. And nearby in already stormravaged louisiana, officials announced 11 more deaths from Hurricane Ida in New Orleans, this as there is growing Shock And Bewilderment over the evacuation of Nursing Home residents to a warehouse where some died and tonight we keep watch on another new threat in the northeast. Here is sam brock. Reporter tonight New Orleans is inching towards full power for most of its residents as large portions of the northeast are bracing for another blow several inches of rain, possible severe weather from Northern Virginia to new england. This as another storm brews in louisiana that goes well beyond mother nature. Nearly 850 elderly seniors evacuated into a warehouse from seven Nursing Homes where they laid on mattresses and watched Filthy Floodwaters Seep in. Seven have already died now records show the previous tenant of that warehouse was a pest control company, which left in 2012 and had to register with the epa for possessing a certain amount of toxic Substances Carolyn Mcnulty says her 96yearold blind mother with dementia was housed there. Im horrified that my mom had to go through that im horrified. Reporter State Officials revoked the Nursing Homes licenses, all owned by one man, who has declined our request for an Interview Nbc News also uncovered more about the history of these Nursing Homes. Six of the seven received the lowest possible rating from the federal government, and in 2017, Medicare Documented Reports of roaches in one location what would it take to tip the scales for the state to bring criminal charges against the operator they would have to conclude that the operator willfully, wantonly recklessly, in Reckless Disregard for the safety of others allowed this to happen and that folks died. Reporter both the States Health Department and the attorney Generals Office are investigating what happened with the seven Nursing Homes that have not responded to our request for more information about the probe. Lester all right, sam, thank you. It had towered over richmond, virginia for more than a century, but today the city brought down a statue of confederate general robert e. Lee that for many was a symbol of Inequality And Division nbcs Shaquille Brewster is there. Reporter Tonight A Sight not seen in more than a century the largest remaining confederate statue in america, Honoring Civil War general robert e. Lee taken down we were ecstatic, you know we all screamed at the top of our lungs. Reporter ten days after the murder of George Floyd last year and amid calls for racial justice across the country, Virginias Governor Ralph northam ordered the statue be removed. To have these statues that were really put up for the purpose of refighting the civil war. They shouldnt be there. Theyre divisive. Reporter but the action was stalled in Court Battles for more than a year. Last week, the Virginia Supreme Court unanimously cleared the way. So your view of the statue changed over time yes, absolutely. Reporter how come . First i thought well, this is richmond history, for whatever thats worth and then i felt like its time. It needs to go. Reporter the mayor calls today a defining moment it is a symbol. Its an inanimate object of bronze and granite. But symbols matter. Reporter but some say the statue was a tribute to history its still a part of our history whether good or bad. And it is sad to see them coming down after growing up with them always here. Reporter Tonight A Community Reckoning with a painful past, focusing on the future now crews will return tomorrow to remove a Time Capsule that historians believe is in the cornerstone of that pedestal, replacing it with artifacts from what they say is the current moment in time lester all right, shaq, thank you. Now to afghanistan, where the biden administration is still relying on the taliban to facilitate the exit of Stranded Americans a hardline taliban government emerging as a new Terror Threat to the u. S. Here is Andrea Mitchell Reporter a final Welcome Home in Cleveland Today for Navy Corpsman Max soviak and in st. Louis, crowds for u. S. Marine corporal jared schmitz, two of the 13 service members killed in the Kabul Suicide bombings meanwhile, in afghanistan, the talibans new allmale government takes over with holdovers from the regime that harbored Osama Bin Laden and wanted terrorists from the brutal Haqqani Network linked to Al Qaeda this following taliban assaults against Women Protesters again today. The events of the last few days indicate that we are we are dealing very much with the same old taliban what does that do to the president s rationale for withdrawing our u. S. Troops the mission of trying to prevent afghanistan from becoming a Safe Haven for terrorism has failed reporter at ramstein today, secretary of State Blinken saying the u. S. Relationship with the taliban will depend on their actions, but he was challenged by an afghan journalist. Journalists are beaten, Women Protesters on the streets are beaten what else do you want to see planning for another 9 11 we will see by its actions whether it corrects course. Reporter Michael Leiter directed the national Counterterrorism Center under president s bush and obama. We accomplished a lot under our Counterterrorism Mission and largely kept the american people safe. The question now is what comes next. The rise of the taliban will be a magnet for some. Reporter and there are other growing threats. Russias aggression, chinas militarism, north koreas nuclear weapons, cyber attacks. We are living at perhaps a time when we are facing more threats in the world than since the end of World War ii. Reporter and then there are the americans still trapped in afghanistan, still with no clear path to escape lester andrea mitchell, thanks in just 60 seconds, a onetime Silicon Valley Star goes on trial, charged with cheating investors out of millions with her promises of a revolutionary Blood Test were back now with the high Profile Trial beginning today for Elizabeth Holmes, the onetime Silicon Valley Star accused of defrauding investors and patients with her startup, once valued at billions. Erin mclaughlin is at the courthouse Reporter Tonight Elizabeth Holmes facing the test of her life the 37yearold arriving in court, her appearance a far cry from the Steve Jobs inspired Black Turtleneck she frequently wore as the founder of theranos, a 9 Billion Blood Testing the company is the prosecution alleges was a lie. This is a case about fraud, about lying and cheating to get money, the prosecutor said. Holmes has been charged with multiple counts of Fraud And Conspiracy to commit fraud. Wed like to see a world in which every person gets access to this type of basic testing. Reporter her promise to revolutionize the Way Blood is drawn captured popular imagination, her face splashed across magazines and celebrated as silicon valleys most successful selfmade female ceo. Ive been impressed by your dogged determination. Reporter convincing some of the worlds wealthiest and most powerful that thanks to her technology, only a pinprick would be required to conduct hundreds of diagnostic Blood Tests. Today the prosecution alleging she used the technology for only a fraction of the actual tests, defrauding not only her investors, but also doctors and patients theranos is producing dangerously inaccurate results, the prosecutor said, pointing to faulty tests, including those for Pregnancy And Cancer that gave patients the wrong information. Problems the prosecution says she was well aware of. The Defense Painting a very different picture. Ms. Holmes did not go to work every day intending to lie, cheat and steal. Arguing trying your hardest and coming up short is not a crime so is Elizabeth Holmes a Con Artist or simply a failed entrepreneur . What a jury decides will determine if she spends up to 20 years in prison. Lester all right, erin mclaughlin, thank you. And in another closely watched court battle, Pop Star Britney spears scoring a major victory in her fight to free herself from her fathers control. Joe fryer has that free britney now free britney now free britney now reporter the free Britney Movement could soon go from rallying cries to reality because of a petition filed tuesday by Britneys Father, jamie spears, for 13 years has been part of the pop stars conservatorship, put in place after several public breakdowns. The filing says if ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes she can handle her own life, mr. Spears believes she should get that chance, adding that britney has recently demonstrated a level of independence that calls the conservatorship into question. Jamie spears now says he wants the conservatorship to end, but that doesnt guarantee it will, does it . No. The judge has the final word but make no mistake, the decision by Britneys Father and conservator to insist she deserves her freedom is a milestone in the free Britney Movement. Reporter that movement picked up steam this year with britneys emotional testimony at a Court Hearing where she called her conservatorship abusive. Jamie spears insists he had nothing to do with his daughters alleged poor treatment. Now as jamie moves to end the conservatorship, Britneys Attorney is calling it another legal victory, a massive one as well as vindication. Joe fryer, nbc news. Up next we go inside the surprising search to identify 9 11 victims. This May Stun you to know, but 20 years after 9 11, two more victims were identified this week but medical examiners are still working to identify more than 1,100 others here is stephanie Gosk Reporter medical examiners are not first responders, but that Day Mark Desire went straight to Ground Zero. When the South Tower cracked, and i looked up, you were just under it. Reporter his team barely survived. It was the start of one of the most complex forensic challenges in human history. 20 years later, 40 of the victims are still unaccounted for. I think for a lot of people, its going to be surprising to hear that there are so many people who arent identified everything that destroys dna was present at Ground Zero so fire, water, sunlight, jet fuel, Diesel Reporter nearly collected in the years that followed. And while some families got the call, others, like the stacks, did not. Im waiting for that phone call, waiting. Hey, we got we identified a piece but it never happens. Reporter Larry Stack was a firefighter, 32 years on the job he rose up to the rank of battalion chief, and loved every part of his job. Reporter that love transferred to his sons, who are firefighters themselves in 2001, Larry Stack was considering retirement while they were looking at the first tower burning, the plane hit the second one. He put the binoculars down, he looked at his guys, and he said i think theyre going to need us now. Reporter stack was helping an injured man when the buildings came down. It was just typical of the kind of man he was. He would have never left. Reporter they held a funeral in 2016, burying a Blood Donation Larry made before his death. It was a sight to see. Reporter families like the stacks are at the heart of the medical examiners work. We had to evolve. We had to push the science out of that necessity to make more Ids Reporter just this week, they made two, dorothy morgan, an insurance broker, and another unidentified victim the technology has come a long way, especially with extracting dna from bone so this looks very different than it did in 2001. Yes there is no Mortar And Pestle here. Reporter using fake samples, the lab showed us the process. Being able to grind into that fine powder allows the chemicals to better act on to those, you know, cells to extract the dna. Reporter and now desire says new more sensitive technology will give them even better chance of making an id im very appreciative of the work that theyre doing. People trying to identify everybody, i think theyre no one is ever going to forget. Reporter your office has described it as a secret obligation. We made a commitment 20 years ago to identify everyone, and that commitment is as strong today as it was 20 years ago reporter his ripped jacket from 9 11 hangs in the lab, a reminder there is still work to be done stephanie gosk, nbc news, New York such incredibly important work up next for us tonight, well show you how one teacher is going the extra mile in inspiring america finally, a lesson in Dedication And Inspiration from a teacher in newark, New Jersey we first told you about earlier this year here is Rehema Ellis Reporter Joicki Floyd has been prepping her students for weeks for return to inperson learning. But this is yours too. Right. Reporter what is it about mrs. Floyd that keeps you engaged in school . She makes me feel good, and makes me want to come back to School Reporter after months of pandemic learning, students wanting to return to the classroom is music to this newest English Teachers ears with most of her students living in neighborhoods with spotty wifi, or homes where they fear turning on cameras, at times only three of her 15 students showed up for online class. It was a nationwide problem. Studies estimate overall students lost up to nine months of learning in math and a whole year for students of color. But at a time of loss, floyds made it her mission to make students feel found. When we spent a day with her in the spring, we watched her track down missing students, texting, calling, Paying Home visits why you doing that children are important first. If their wellbeing, their mindset isnt right, then were not going to have a society in the future, not on this side of town any way. I dont want you to give up. Reporter floyd succeeded in getting all but a few students back to her virtual classroom. This year she is determined to get them back to physical classrooms people tell me you cant save all of the children and i just disagree. I believe i can save 100 reporter a Cando Attitude to keep her young flock in school. Rehema ellis, nbc news, newark, New Jersey how great to have a teacher like that in your corner. Thats nightly news. Thank you for watching, everyone im Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good Night Tonight the covid im raj mathai. Next on Nbc Bay Area news tonight, Elizabeth Holmes swarmed by cameras in san jose. Well show you who walked into court with her, and now her Text Messages to her boyfriend may be used against her. Also Vice President harris back in the bay area. Good to be home. Shes here to support governor newsom, but will it be enough to keep his job. And larry elder, the confrontation that cut short one of his trips today. Ff