good evening. a very busy friday night here, we begin with donald trump's about face. he came out today, 53 days before the election, 10 days before the crucial first debate, and changed course. this morning, teasiing reporter, turning the announcement into a tv event. and the reaction has been swift. tom llamas leading us off. >> reporter: today, in less than 30 seconds, donald trump abandoned the conspiracy theory he spent more than five years pushing so hard. >> president barack obama was born in the united states. period. >> reporter: and trump, accusing >> hillary clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. i finished it. >> reporter: clinton and her campaign did no such thing. trump today refusing to take any questions from reporters. >> mr. trump, why did it take so long? >> reporter: he did not explain what finally convinced him. for years, the birther conspiracy was trump's signature issue. >> if he wasn't born in this country, which is a real possibility, then he has pulled one of the greatest cons in the history of politics. >> reporter: it propelled him to the forefront of american politics. >> i want him to show his birth certificate. >> reporter: in 2011, when the white house did release the birth certificate showing the president was born in hawaii, trump took a victory lap. trump tweeted, "an extremely credible source has called my office and told me that barack obama's birth certificate is a fraud." it was one of 67 trump tweets on the birther issue. again, in 2014, trump still refused to accept the conspiracy theory had been thoroughly debunked. >> but he is a citizen. he produced that longform birth certificate. >> well, a lot of people don't agree with you. and a lot of people feel it wasn't a proper certificate. >> reporter: and just this year -- >> was he a natural born citizen? >> who knows. and trump is trying to reach out to african-american voters. >> what the hell do you have to lose? >> reporter: in a hacked e-mail former secretary of state colin powell writes, trump "takes us for idiots." adding, "yup. the whole birther movement was racist." but just last night, the "washington post" posting a new interview. trump still refusing to say whether he believes the president was born in the u.s. then, within hours, an e-mail obama was born in the united states." but nothing from trump himself. this morning, a tweet. "i am going to the brand new trump international hotel d.c. for a major statement." even on an issue so deeply personal for the president, trump building up the drama for his next tv stunt. >> you watch my statement. suspense going, okay? >> reporter: finally, with the press corps assembled, trump bragged about his hotel, surrounded by a collection of veterans backing him. then he addressed the elephant in the room. >> president barack obama was born in the united states. period. now we all want to get back to making america strong and great again. thank you. thank you very much. didn't answer any of our questions, we're tracking him to a fund-raiser in virginia. >> hey, tom. >> hi, tom. >> reporter: are you going to now apologize to the president? mr. trump, are you going to now apologize to the president? >> after fiver years, many saying the timing couldn't be any better. >> reporter: trump says he wants just tonight, he was in miami, speaking to a predominantly black audience, and he didn't mention the birther issue once. >> thank you. and michelle obama came out and immediately took on the issue, defending her husband, and making the case for clinton. here's cecilia vega. >> how you guys doing? wow. >> reporter: the cheering was so loud, first lady michelle obama couldn't even get out what she four more years! >> reporter: but when she finally got going, she didn't hold back. >> there were those who questioned and continued to question for the past eight years up through this very day whether my husband was even born in this country. i think barack has answered those questions with the example he set by going high when they go low. >> reporter: her first solo campaign trip for hillary clinton. the first lady saying, i'm with her. but today she was talking about him. sounding like she couldn't wait to let donald trump have it. >> a candidate is not going to suddenly change once they get into office. just the opposite, in fact, because the minute that individual takes that oath, they are under the hottest, harshest light there is. and there is no way to hide who and at that point it's too late. >> reporter: today, clinton's campaign called trump's birther statement "a sickening display." >> his campaign was founded on this outrageous lie. there is no erasing it in history. >> reporter: it wasn't just clinton. members of the congressional black caucus, so outraged, one after another they lined up to denounce trump. >> donald trump is a disgusting fraud. >> this man cannot be elected. >> enough is enough. >> and cecilia, donald trump made it clear, the president was born here, period. the words he used. >> reporter: they're calling him the birther in chief. and michelle obama, others, top donald trump is not fit to be president. and president obama weighing in on donald trump's birther campaign, and his concession today. there was this question from jonathan karl. >> reporter: donald trump now finally acknowledging yes, you were born in america. your reaction? >> i have no reaction, and i'm shocked that a question like that would come up at a time when we've g things to do. i'm not that shocked, actually. it's fairly typical. we have other business to attend to. i was pretty confident about where i was born. i think most people were as well. and my hope would be that the presidential election reflects more serious issues than that. >> the president on this latest in chicago. a police officer charged with civil rights violations for a situation nearly three years ago. the dash cam video showing him firing into a car, as it backed towards him with teenagers inside. here's pierre thomas. >> reporter: tonight, this former chicago police officer has been indicted on federal civil rights charges for what you are about to see unfold in this police dash cam video. a video the city sought to keep secret. officer marco proano wal gangster-style, as he pursues a suspected stolen car full of black teenagers. he starts firing, squeezing off 12 rounds even as the car is backing away. two teens are hit. the fraternal order of police initially said the officer fired his weapon to protect someone who was being dragged by the car. but there is no evidence of that on the tape. the city obtained a court order to block the video's release to the public. but the judge presiding over the saying "it showed a reckless and callous disregard for human life. my strong gut feeling is that these shots never would have been fired if the kids in the car were white." david, tonight, the judge who released the video tells us he is glad the justice department's case moved forward. and that he stands by his blistering words. >> pierre, thank you. and from here in new york city, new deta wielding a meat cleaver. seriously injuring an officer that tried to stop him. here's linsey davis. >> reporter: new york detective brian o'donnell, wounded but going home less than 24 hours after being slashed by a man wielding a meat cleaver. >> with a complete disregard to his own health and his safety, he engaged this guy. >> reporter: o'donnell was near bustling penn station, off duty, when he encountered 32-year-old this boot from a car he was apparently living in. >> as we were pursing him, he has the cleaver in his hand and you can clearly see it and he's waving it around. >> reporter: you can see the handle here. officers first trying a taser. then o'donnell makes his move. >> the detective was struck in the head by the cleaver, causing an approximate six-inch gash from his temple about down to his jaw. >> drop it! drop it! drop it! get down! >> reporter: police then firing 18 shots. you can hear them in this video from greekreporter.com. hitting joudeh at least twice. joudeh has a long rap sheet. 15 prior arrests, including larceny, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. o'donnell told a police official that he may have a little scar but that he's all right. but police say they do not yet know the extent of his injuries. but he is recovering at home tonight with his family. david? >> linzie, thank you. killer appeared in court today, his arrest after a chilling 911 call from a woman he held captive in his home. police rescued the woman, but found two bodies inside the home. a third in another location. here's ryan smith. >> reporter: tonight, suspect shawn grate, appearing subdued as the judge explained the charges -- double murder and kidnapping. >> do you understand the nature of the three offenses charged? >> yes, your honor. >> reporter: bond set at $1 million. >> any questions about the terms and conditions of the bond? >> no, sounds fair. >> reporter: the homeless man, not entering a plea. arrested after a woman made this chilling 911 call from an abandoned house. >> does he have a weapon? >> he has a taser. >> reporter: leading police to her rescue. >> where is he? >> that's him sleeping. elizabeth griffith. police say grate also led him to the remains of a third person. the carpenter's facebook page last year projecting a normal life. sharing news of a new job at a holiday inn. but prosecutors detailing a lengthy rap sheet, convictions for abduction, domestic violence and drug abuse. grate's next hearing is set for monday. and as the two women found dead here are being remembered with this memorial, prosecutors are reassuring a reeling community this is a safe place to live. >> and overseas this friday evening, a senior isis leader killed in a precision drone strike. he was the isis minister of information. last month, a u.s. air strike killed the group's top plotter of attacks around the world. we have a breaking headline at this hour. we've seen the fires allegedly caused by smartphones. we're also tracking storms in the east, and wildfires in the west. and later, you have to stay tuned for this. the little girl adopted, brought to her new life in america. but she left behind her best friend at the this reunion here. you're not going to believe this. it's a tangle of multiple symptoms. ? ? trintellix (vortioxetine) is a prescription medicine for depression. trintellix may start to untangle or help improve the multiple symptoms of depression. for me, trintellix made a difference. or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. trintellix has not been studied in children. do not take with maois. tell your healthcare professional about your medications, including migraine, psychiatric and depression medications to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition. increased risk of bleeding or bruising may occur especially if taken with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners. manic episodes or vision problems may occur in some people. the most common side effects are nausea, constipation and vomiting. trintellix did not have significant impact on weight. ask your healthcare professional if trintellix could make a difference for you. fe's beautiful moments. flonase gives you more complete allergy relief. most allergy pills only control one inflammatory substance. flonase controls 6. and six is greater than one. flonase changes everything. . next here tonight, the new danger being reported in the air. we learned today of a smoking battery onboard a delta flight. concern growing amid the recall of 1 million samsung smartphones already. the question now, do those phones put others at risk, too? here's david kerley. delta jet like this billowed into the cabin as the plane was climbing this morning. the latest apparently overheating battery -- this one a spare, not in a phone. this heightens concerns with the recall of a million defective samsung phones. >> fire in an airplane is something that scares pilots, probably more than anything else. >> reporter: there are still 800,000 samsung note 7s in circulation in the u.s. tonight. neither the faa nor airlines have ordered an outright ban, but note 7 owners are being >> note 7s are not to be charged or powered on during this flight. >> if people start not complying, or if we suspect this, or if i as a pilot suspect it, then it is time to ban them completely. >> reporter: while samsung has agreed to an official recall with a refund or replacement next week, we found few customers switching phones. >> i was kind of worried. and i know my family was telling me to go and return it as soon as possible. >> reporter: as far as banning worry that might lead to flyers putting them in checked bag, which could prove even more dangerous if they overheated in the cargo hold. >> david, thank you. and when we come back on a friday, we're tracking severe storms that could hit the northeast this weekend. and the gas prices about to skyrocket. and the wildfire burning and the mother whose number keeps coming up. this is the third time. so, what's the secret? 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good night. you're watching kcrg, from your 24 hour news source, this is kcrg-tv9 news at 6. "so bob just pretty much said if emotions filled court today, as a primary witness took the stand in a dubuque man's 1st-degree murder trial. police say robert stern killed his daughter kimberly stern in june of last year. she was 27, and had autism. he's 63. today, prosecutors questioned a woman they say robert stern was infatuated with...april white -- she worked at a restaurant that stern often ate at. they argue he killed his daughter to get her out of the way so he could spend m with ms. white. today, she gave her side of the story. kcrg-tv nine's phil reed was in court today. "please remember i did love you and always will " april white struggles to fight back tears while reading a love letter written to her by robert stern just days before he allegedly killed his daughter kimberly. she was a server at the village inn where she says they would visit daily "and then when we got closer, he hundred, sometimes 2-300, sometimes even up to 500d dollars " she considered him a best friend, who was a shoulder to lean on when she was in a bad relationship and addicted to drugs, but says stern wanted more. a tattoo artist even testified that he wanted to tattoo her name on him, but canceled because of medical reasons. "it originally was a butterfly, and some flowers and a heart i believe, but then he wanted to change the butterfly to a bluebird, then add a name. " prosecutors say stern killed kimberly in part because of her disability. today on the stand, white said stern did not have the patience to deal with his daughter. " she was more like a burden to him then his own child" in dubuque phil reed, kcrg tv9 news dr. johnathan thompson performed the autopsy on kimberly stern. he testified today that she was shot 15 times. the trial will continue on monday