Free this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. With the country awaiting a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, in Georgia Another closely watched case took center stage today as the man who shot Ahmaud Arbery made a Surprise Appearance on the Witness Stand Testifying in his own defense. Travis mcmichael and his father and a neighbor are on trial accused of Cornering Arbery with their vehicles as he jogged down the street, confronting and killing him. The case with its strong racial overtones focussing on why the men who were white were suspicious of arbery who was black. Mcmichael claiming on the witness stand, he had my gun he struck me the prosecution contends the men had no reason to stop arbery that day. Ron allen is covering the trial for us and has the latest. I want to give my side of the story. I want to explain what happened. Reporter stunning the courtroom, travis mcmichael, the man accused of firing a fatal Shotgun Blast that killed Ahmaud Arbery taking the stand in his own defense. He grabs the shotgun, and i believe i was struck on that first incident that we made contact. Reporter mcmichael the First Defense witness along with his father gregory and neighbor William Bryan facing nine counts including murder, aggravated assault and false imprisonment prosecutors say the three men hunted arbery down and murdered him today mcmichael explaining why he opened fire. Three blasts two wounding arbery. I shot him. Why he had my gun it is a life or death situation, and im going to have to stop him from doing it, so i shot. Did he stop when you shot he did not. Reporter through the trial, the defense highlighting Home Security videos that they say show arbery at least four times at night in a Neighborhood House under construction and that mcmichael had encountered arbery near that house 12 days before the fatal encounter. And goes to reach in his pocket or waistband area. Reporter mcmichael insisting he had every reason to suspect arbery committed a crime that night in question that final shot he disengaged and at that point he let go. He turned and continued to run down down scintilla. And at that point i was in Shock Reporter prosecutors arguing there is no evidence arbery had ever stolen anything in the neighborhood, nor that the defendant ever tried to make a citizens arrest prosecutors say the defendants deliberately and intentionally murdered arbery. You didnt tell your dad this is a really bad idea and we should just stay here and call 911. You didnt say that, did you . I didnt. Ron allen joining us now ron, whats been the reaction from the family of arbery to this unexpected testimony today . I just spoke to his mother who says she hopes that all three defendants testify she wants to hear in their own words what they were thinking that day she said that based on the testimony today, she thinks the men made all the wrong and worst possible assumptions about her son and they had no reason to shoot and kill him ron allen leading us off tonight thank you. Tense hours in that courthouse in kenosha, wisconsin where the jury finished a second day of deliberating the fate of Kyle Rittenhouse as his lawyers made a new demand for a mistrial this time over some Video Evidence Gabe Gutierrez is there. Reporter tonight the jurors in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial are apparently wrestling with Video Evidence. Their first question do we view videos in private or in the courtroom . So my nightmare has come reporter attorneys sparred over how best to replay videos for the jury showing the incident last august when rittenhouse shot and killed two men and wounded a third during unrest following the Police Shooting of jacob blake. How crucial are the videos to this case . They are vital. The prosecution put their whole case on a drone video that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, out of thin air. Reporter the defense filing a motion accusing the prosecution of intentional misconduct and withholding evidence the defense argues prosecutors did not share a High Resolution copy of this drone video until two days before closing arguments. The prosecution says it didnt realize it was a lower quality copy. Whenever you request a mistrial, you are setting up for an appeal. Reporter judge Bruce Schroeder also addressing questions about why he allowed the defendant to pick the six alternate jurors instead of a court clerk, an uncommon practice, but one the judge says has been his policy for 20 years. I think people feel better when they have control. Reporter the judge also taking on public criticism of the attorneys in this case. I am going to think long and hard about Live Television in trial again next time. Gabe, folks tend to read a lot into what the jury is asking for. How many questions do they have today . Reporter lester, they asked three questions today and spent about 45 minutes looking at various videos just a short time ago, the judge dismissed the jury for the night and they are expected back here to resume deliberations tomorrow morning. Lester all right gabe, thank you. With covid cases increasing again today, moderna today asked the fda to authorize Booster Shots of its vaccine for all adults pfizer has asked for similar emergency authorization, which is expected to come as early as this week separately, dr. Fauci noted today that 62 million eligible americans remain unvaccinated the pandemic just one concern as tens of millions get ready to travel for thanksgiving another as gas prices at a sevenyear high President Biden asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Oil Companies are illegally driving prices up. Stephanie gosk has more on what travelers may face reporter travel this thanksgiving wont look like it did at the height of the pandemic but that doesnt mean its back to normal. More than 53 million americans are on the move for the holiday Flight Bookings are up over 100 from last year is the system thats out there ready to handle all these people actually, no, its not. Im afraid that this year it is going to be a lot more difficult to travel than it has prior to covid period. Reporter airlines are understaffed and many airports are, too. There arent as many rental cars and they cost more, averaging nearly 100 a day. Gas prices are up over 60 in the last year adding to the headaches, a storm is developing that forecasters say could cause disruption from the midwest to the east coast rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, Lake Effect Snow and heavy, cold windchills moving sunday, monday into tuesday morning. Reporter here are some important tips. Buy travel insurance show up at the airport two hours early for domestic flights the tsa says it has enough staff, but lines will be long. Everybody wants to travel everybody wants to have a good experience i think patience will be key to that. Reporter there will be lines after security not all the stores and restaurants and terminals have reopened drink that coffee at home before heading to the airport. There is still a Staffing Shortage that has affected the entire travel industry. Reporter and then there are Covid Concerns case numbers have started to tick up again especially in the midwest and northeast. Masks are still mandated in all modes of Public Transportation the cdc recommends unvaccinated people consider delaying their travel plans altogether anyone expecting a hassle free journey next week might want to do the same stephanie gosk, nbc news. Tonight, there is developing news in southlake, texas following the in depth reporting nbc news has done there on the issue of race and education. A new federal investigation is now underway Antonia Hylton has details. Reporter in southlake, texas, the u. S. Department of the education has launched three civil rights investigations over unspecified allegations of discrimination based on race, nationality and gender southlake, which is just 2 black, was thrust into the National Spotlight in 2018 after a video of students chanting the n word went viral. My son has been told his skin is too dark, that his nose is too big, that our family does not belong in the neighborhood. Reporter for almost a year nbc news covered the clash over race and education in this wealthy dallas suburb. They dont know what its like to walk in the shoes of a student of color at carol. They never will. Reporter volunteers spent almost two years developing a School Diversity plan but some parents pushed back launching a lawsuit that effectively killed the plan. There will be no home for this toxic ideology here in southlake. Reporter experts say only 5 to 10 of these type of Discrimination Complaints become official federal investigations. That usually signals that they consider something potentially to be amiss. Theyre going to look into it more deeply and try to figure out if there have been violations of various federal laws. Im hopeful with the federal government intervening that its a wakeup call for everyone. Reporter robin who we first met a year ago had five children graduate from carol. It was bad. It was bad and it made them, you know, have issues with their selfesteem, selfdoubt. Reporter has this school been responsive to parents like you . I think that they could have done way better and we wouldnt be where we are if they had done better marginalized students are not protected in this School District. Reporter the School District told nbc news that it is fully cooperating with its process and diligently pulling all documents requested. The investigations could take well over a year, and if a federal government finds violations, the School District could be forced to make Policy Changes and could be monitored by the Department Of Education for years to come lester Antonia Hylton, thank you. You can hear more about this on our nbc news Podcast Southlake available now. In just 60 seconds, freedom after nearly 58 years for a man sentenced as a teenager for murder. My followup after i first met him at angola prison. The house voted mostly along party lines today to censure Arizona Republican paul gosar and strip him of his committees for posting an animated video of him killing alexandria ocasiocortez. In remarks on the house floor, a Defiant Gosar denied espousing violence. Hes now the first congressman to be censured in more than a decade and the arizona man known as the qanon shaman has been sentenced for his role in the capitol riot. Jacob chansley who stormed the capitol wearing a Horned Headress received 41 months in prison he apologized in court today saying his behavior was, quote, indefensible. Tonight in our continuing reporting, justice for all. Freedom in louisiana for a man imprisoned as a juvenile for murder nearly six decades ago. His Landmark Case had given hope to thousands of juvenile offenders who were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Today it was montgomerys turn before a parole board. Today Henry Montgomery emerging a free man from behind prison gates for the first time in nearly 58 years. The 75yearold granted parole today here at the Louisiana State penitentiary, also known as Angola Montgomery was just 17 when he was convicted of murdering sheriffs Deputy Charles hurt in 1963 hurt was married, a father of three children montgomery was a juvenile yet, sentenced to Life Without Parole I First Met montgomery in 2019 while i was imbedded in angola for a dateline special. You were 17 years old when you were sentenced. Do you remember what it was like being 17 yeah. Young, wild and stupid until today, montgomery was one of about 2,000 socalled Juvenile Lifers in u. S. Prisons, people who committed murders before they were adults and given sentences of Life Without Parole in 2016, montgomery took his case to the u. S. Supreme court the resulting landmark ruling montgomery versus louisiana gives all Juvenile Lifers a chance but as montgomery would learn, no guarantee for Parole Inmates across the country who have gotten out of prison because of you, because of your case and, yet, you are still here uhhuh. How does that make you feel disgusted, but im satisfied that i somebodys reaped the benefits and i hope a lot of other guys can make it out. We were there in 2019 as montgomery prepared for his last parole hearing, packing his bags thinking he was going home but he wasnt. His parole rejected. Unfortunately, mr. Montgomery, im going to vote to deny your parole. Youre holding together. Long as i got life, im going to keep my mind on trying to get out. At todays hearing, the family of victim charles hurt strongly opposed his release. Hurts daughter linda spoke. I dont believe hes sorry he made a decision at 17 years old you know right from wrong at 17 years old. Watching along today, a group of former Juvenile Lifers freed from the same prison, including convicted murderer andrew hunley, who was the first Juvenile Lifer to be paroled in louisiana. We are the fruits of Henry Montgomerys advocacy and hopefully we are an example that people do not have to be incarcerated for 50 years before they get a second chance. And today montgomery got that second chance. Youre going to do great. All right. Youre going to do great. Montgomery starting his reentry at a halfway house. Also tonight, two of the three men convicted of the assassination of Civil Rights Activist malcolm x 56 years ago are expected to be exonerated Muhammad Aziz and khalil islam always maintained their innocence. Now after a 22month long investigation found evidence was withheld at a trial. The manhattan da says he will move to vacate their convictions. Islam died in 2009 aziz was paroled in 1985 next, after the american withdrawal, Richard Engel in afghanistan with an inside look at the dire conditions. Now to afghanistan where nearly three months after the chaotic u. S. Withdrawal the economy has crashed, creating a heartbreaking humanitarian disaster. Richard engel is there. Reporter a nurse at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders measures her arm. If the band goes red, shes severely malnourished she is nearly at the end of the scale, weighing six and a half pounds. At eight months old. As u. S. Troops pulled out, the taliban took over, and aid money stopped. Now the people are starving occupancy here is up 70 compared to last year alis mother was herself malnourished, so the baby was born too weak to suckle. Things have gotten worse since the taliban came what little we had went to zero. Reporter the babies here are given a fortified blend of formula. In this ancient city, there is plenty of food only the poorest people cant afford it like in this neighborhood, where the elders say work has disappeared since the taliban took over. Then a day worker made a shocking admission look. Look behind you. You see her . Come here. Come here, he says i swear to god, is she old enough to marry . No but i sold her his daughter is eight years old. She was sold to another family to marry one of their sons when she reaches puberty. Reporter do you know what were talking about . She doesnt answer, but seems to want to disappear. The buyers havent paid for her yet the agreed price, her dowry is 2,000. As soon as they pay it, they will come to collect it they survived by begging. They burn trash to bake bread because they cant afford wood she and her best friend go to fetch water. The local mosque is kind enough to let them fill their pails. Together the two girls walk back home just in torn socks she has been sold too. Shes seven. Her father says he knows shes too young but he had a terrible choice to take take the dowry now or watch all the family starve i was forced to do this im choosing five alive. One has to be sacrificed. Reporter they sit alone by their homes the other girls, who like many here use henna to dye their hair red keep a little distance perhaps wary they too will become hunger brides. Relief organizations say more than half of afghans are at risk of starvation the taliban are not hoarding food or stopping Aid Distribution and they call on the United States and other governments to unblock funds frozen since their takeover. Lester all right. Richard, thank you i know a lot of that difficult to see and hear, but an important story to be told well take a break up next, how a High School Football team is inspiring america finally, the comeback for a High School Team thats inspiring america. Heres Erin Mclaughlin reporter its fair to say the Riverside Cubs had gotten used to losing. After seven straight crushing seasons but this year, the cubs havent lost a game the secret to their dramatic turnaround lies in what also makes them extraordinary. Dont ever underestimate a deaf person because they cant hear. Reporter the Riverside Cubs, players and coaches are all deaf we talk to them with the help of an interpreter. We felt that drive. We wanted more of that winning feeling, that big win. Reporter adams is the teams star quarterback. We wanted to dominate all those hearing teams. Reporter they signal each other at rapid speed. Its not easy. 21 rams. Reporter on this field being deaf is a competitive advantage. Hearing people use their eyes as much and theyre less aware visually than we are reporter theyre now the number one ranked eight player team in their division with big plans for the future Christian Jimenez is a team captain. With a message for the hearing world. Take a look at us as players were able to play football dont look at us as people who are deaf, that we cant hear and look down on us because of that. We can do anything the only thing we cant do is hear reporter Erin Mclaughlin, nbc news riverside, california. Go team thats nightly news. Thanks for watching. Im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night this is elodia. Shes a recording artist. 1 of 10 Million People that comcast has connected to affordable internet in the last 10 years. And this is emmanuel, a future recording artist, and one of the millions of students were connecting throughout the next 10. Through projectup, comcast is committing 1 billion so millions more students, past. And present, can continue to get the tools they need to build a future of unlimited possibilities. Next on nbc bay area news tonight a lot of shaking in the east bay, a quake and several after shocks near san ramon. Everything started shaking. High dogs were going crazy. They happened in an area thats seen a lot of seismic activity. So what does this mean Going Forward . Well get some answers. Also the future of the Oakland Colosseum complex. Big money is at stake. A group has plans to bring the wnba to town and affordable housing. Is this all talk or could it actually happen . And be warned airports are expecting huge crowds. We have some big tips if you run into delays or cancellations. Good evening. This is nbc bay area