Nightly News Full Broadcast - Aug. 28

Intro >>> TONIGHT, WE'LL SHOW YOU THE NEW PHOTOS FROM THE FBI INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE FBI RELEASED NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE SHOOTER AND THESE IMAGES OF THE RIFLE HE USED SHOWING HOW IT WAS LIKELY BROKEN DOWN AND HIDDEN IN HIS BACKPACK. PLUS, IMAGES OF THE POTENTIAL BOMBS FOUND IN HIS CAR AND THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT HE CLIMBED TO GET TO THE ROOF AND OPEN FIRE. WHAT THE FBI NOW SAYING ABOUT HIS MOTIVE AFTER CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS. >>> ISRAEL LAUNCHING A MAJOR NEW OPERATION IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. MILITARY VEHICLES ROLLING IN. BULLDOZERS LOOKING FOR EXPLOSIVES TEARING UP ROADS. PALESTINIANS SAYING AT LEAST TEN HAVE BEEN KILLED. >>> THE MASS CASUALTY CRASH IN TEXAS. MULTIPLE PEOPLE EJECTED. A PASSENGER VAN ROLLING OVER. FOUR NOW DEAD. POLICE SAY ONLY ONE PERSON WAS WEARING THEIR SEAT BELT. >>> JUST IN, THE SEVERE TURBULENCE DIVERTING A UNITED AIRLINES PLANE. THE PASSENGERS INJURED. >>> THE VERDICT IN THE TRIAL OF A FORMER NEVADA POLITICIAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST OVER UNFLATTERING ARTICLES. THE DISGUISE HE USED, THE CLUES FOUND BY POLICE. >>> THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. HARRIS AND WALZ RETURNING TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN BATTLEGROUND GEORGIA SA STAR WATCH IN PARIS. >> Announcer: THIS IS FBI releases new photos from Trump shooting "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR LESTER. TONIGHT THE FBI IS PROVIDING A MUCH MORE DETAILED PICTURE OF THE SHOOTER AND THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. HERE'S SOME OF THE NEW PHOTOS THEY'VE JUST RELEASED SHOWING THE WEAPONS AND GEAR HE BROUGHT TO THAT EVENT INCLUDING THE SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE AND THE BACKPACK HE LIKELY USED TO STORE IT. ALSO WE'RE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT THESE, THE HOMEMADE BOMBS THAT WERE NEVER DETONATED. WHILE A MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING IS STILL NOT CLEAR, THE FBI SAYS THOMAS CROOKS LOOKED NOT JUST AT THIS RALLY, BUT MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TARGETS INCLUDING BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN CAMPAIGN EVENTS. IT'S WHERE WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NBC'S JULIA AINSLEY AND THOSE NEW EVIDENCE PHOTOS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THESE PHOTOS JUST RELEASED BY THE FBI SHOWING THE WEAPONS AND GEAR USED BY THE MAN WHO ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE DONALD TRUMP AND THE WAY HE GOT UP ON THAT ROOF. THIS IS THE SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE HE USED. THE FBI SAYS HE LIKELY BROKE IT DOWN AND STORED IT IN THIS BACKPACK AS HE WALKED AROUND THE RALLY IN BUTLER LAST MONTH, AND THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE TWO UNDETONATED HOMEMADE BOMBS FOUND IN THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR. THE FBI NOW SAYS HE USED THIS AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT TO CLIMB UP ON THE ROOF WHERE HE OPENED FIRE, BUT AFTER NEARLY A THOUSAND INTERVIEWS, THE FBI SAYS THE MOTIVE OF THE 20-YEAR-OLD THOMAS CROOKS STILL REMAINS UNCLEAR. >> THE FBI IS NOT IDENTIFIED A MOTIVE NOR ANY CO-CONSPIRATORS OR ASSOCIATES OF CROOKS WITH ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ATTACK, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATION TO SUGGEST CROOKS WAS DIRECTED BY A FOREIGN ENTITY TO CONDUCT THE ATTACK. >> Reporter: BEFORE THE EVENT, THE FBI SAYS THE GUNMAN CONDUCTED ONLINE SEARCHES OF CAMPAIGN EVENTS FOR BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN AND THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS. >> WHEN THIS EVENT WAS ANNOUNCED, THE TRUMP RALLY WAS ANNOUNCED EARLY IN JULY, HE BECAME HYPER FOCUSED ON THAT SPECIFIC EVENT AND LOOKED AT IT AS A TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY. >> IT SEEMS THIS ATTACK WASN'T VERY SOPHISTICATED. DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU? >> IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SECRET SERVICE AND ASSASSINATIONS AND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS, THEY'RE ALL RELATIVE UNSOPHISTICATED ACTIVITIES, THOUGH THEY HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. >> Reporter: THE SHOOTER RESEARCHED KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION SEARCHING HOW FAR WAS OSWALD FROM KENNEDY, THE FBI SAID. WHILE THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, THE FBI SAID CROOKS HAD NO DEFINITIVE IDEOLOGY, BUT THEY ARE DETERMINING IF HE WROTE ANTI-SEMITIC POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> ALL RIGHT. JULIA AINSLEY JOINS US LIVE. JULIA, DID THE FBI REVEAL ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE GUNMAN'S ACTIVITY ONLINE? >> Reporter: TOM, THE FBI SAYS THEY ANALYZED HIS ACTIVITY BACK TO 2019 WHEN HE WAS RESEARCHING HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BOMBS Israel launches deadly West Bank operation AND 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SHOOTING, HE MADE MORE THAN 60 SEARCHES RELATED TO BIDEN AND TRUMP, TOM. >> ALL RIGHT, JULIA AINSLEY LEADING US OFF, WE THANK YOU. >>> WE WANT TO TURN OVERSEAS TO ISRAEL'S MASSIVE NEW MILITARY OPERATION. THIS ONE IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. THE BIGGEST IN DECADES. HUNDREDS OF ISRAELI TROOPS HAVE CARRIED OUT RAIDS IN SEVERAL WEST BANK CITIES KILLING AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE. MATT BRADLEY HAS THE LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT ISRAELI TROOPS OPENING A FRESH NEW FRONT LAUNCHING A SPRAWLING RAID INTO THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. ONE OF THE LARGEST ASSAULTS ON THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORY IN OVER 20 YEARS. IT STARTED OVERNIGHT WITH ISRAELI AIR STRIKES. WE FELT LIKE SOMETHING CAME DOWN ON US FROM THE SKY, AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION SAID THIS FATHER OF THREE WHO WAS INJURED IN THE STRIKE. HE LOST TWO OF HIS SONS. ISRAELI ARMORED VEHICLES AND BULLDOZERS CLAWED UNDER ROADS SEARCHING FOR EXPLOSIVES. AROUND 2:00 A.M. THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER ON FOOT SAID THIS PARAMEDIC. ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER DECLARED THE WEST BANK A FULL-FLEDGED WAR AND EVEN CALLED FOR EVACUATING PALESTINIANS, A MOVE THAT IF IT HAPPENS COULD MIRROR ISRAEL'S OPERATIONS IN GAZA. HUNDREDS OF TROOPS PUSHED INTO SEVERAL AREAS OF THE NORTHERN WEST BANK, A PALESTINIAN ENCLAVE SEPARATE FROM THE GAZA STRIP. THEY FOCUSED ON JENIN, TULKAREM AND THE FAR OUT REFUGGEE CAMP OF TUBAS, AND PALESTINIAN HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAY TEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. FIGHTING IN THE WEST BANK ISN'T NEW. FOR YEARS PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK HAVE SUFFERED REGULAR SOMETIMES DEADLY HARASSMENT FROM ISRAELI SETTLERS, VIOLENCE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAYS HAS BEEN IGNORED AND IN SOME CASES ENCOURAGED BY ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT. MORE THAN 660 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED THERE SINCE HAMAS' OCTOBER 7th ATTACKS FROM GAZA WHERE TODAY ISRAEL'S OPERATIONS CONTINUE. IDF TROOPS RECOVERED THE BODY OF A SOLDIER KILLED DURING LAST YEAR'S ATTACKS, AND THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM SAYING THIS VEHICLE WAS SHOT UP WHILE APPROACHING A CHECKPOINT. THE ORGANIZATION SAYING THEY'RE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING OPERATIONS IN GAZA. NOW AS VIOLENCE INTENSIFIES IN THE Deadly 'mass casualty' crash in Texas WEST BANK, THERE ARE CONCERNS IT COULD COME TO RESEMBLE A NEW THEATER OF WAR. MATT BRADLEY, NBC NEWS, TEL AVIV. >>> BACK HERE AT HOME TO THAT TRAGEDY IN NORTH TEXAS WHERE AUTHORITIES SAY FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 11 INJURED WHEN A VAN ROLLED OVER ON A HIGHWAY. KATHY PARK IS THERE FOR US TONIGHT, AND, KATHY, YOU'RE GETTING NEW REPORTING, I UNDERSTAND. ONE PERSON SOMEHOW WALKED AWAY FROM THIS? >> Reporter: TOM, THAT'S RIGHT. OFFICIALS SAY ONE PERSON IS DEAD AND ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS THERE WERE 14 PEOPLE IN THE VAN. ONLY ONE PERSON WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND MANAGED TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS HORRIFIC CRASH. TONIGHT TRAGEDY ON A TEXAS HIGHWAY AS A VAN LOSES CONTROL ROLLING MULTIPLE TIMES AND EJECTING SEVERAL PASSENGERS DURING THE CRASH. EMERGENCY RESPONDERS DESCRIBED ARRIVING TO THE GRIM SCENE. >> ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, ON THE GROUND, THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR COMPOSURE AND BE ABLE TO TREAT EVERY SINGLE ONE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. >> Reporter: FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE VAN'S DRIVER, CONFIRMED DEAD. NEARLY ALL PASSENGERS INJURED. THREE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. TONIGHT, THE VICTIMS HAVE YET TO BE IDENTIFIED. OFFICIALS SAY THE VAN DEPARTED FROM FLORIDA CRASHING AROUND 8 THIS MORNING JUST OUTSIDE FORT WORTH SENDING TRAFFIC ON THE TEXAS HIGHWAY TO A STANDSTILL. >> I SAW A BUNCH OF COP CARS AND THE FIRE TRUCK, THE AMBULANCE, THERE WAS A HELICOPTER THAT WAS LANDED, AND THEN I SAW THE CAR ACCIDENT. IT WAS PRETTY AWFUL. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS DESCRIBING THE MASS CASUALTY EVENT AS AVOIDABLE. >> EVERY VEHICLE HAS A SEAT BELT, AND IF YOU USE THAT SEAT BELT, IT'S GOING TO SAVE LIVES, AND IN THIS CASE THERE WAS ONE PERSON THAT WORE THEIR SEAT BELT AND WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY. >> Reporter: A CRITICAL REMINDER TO BUCKLE UP ON THE ROAD. Severe turbulence injures United passengers KATHY PARK, NBC NEWS, WEISS COUNTY, TEXAS. >>> AND THIS JUST IN TONIGHT, SOME SCARY MIDAIR MOMENTS ABOARD A UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM CANCUN TO CHICAGO. THE PLANE FORCED TO Ex-politician guilty of murdering journalist DIVERT TO MEMPHIS AFTER ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURBULENCE THAT FIRE OFFICIALS SAY INJURED SIX PASSENGERS. AFTER LANDING, ONE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE REST DECLINED TREATMENT. >>> IN NEVADA THE VERDICT IS IN TONIGHT FOR A FORMER POLITICIAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING A PROMINENT LAS VEGAS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST OVER UNFLATTERING ARTICLES. THE JURY TODAY FINDING HIM GUILTY OF MURDER. WE GET MORE TONIGHT FROM MORGAN CHESKY. >> Reporter: IN A NEVADA COURTROOM, 47-YEAR-OLD ROBERT TELLES COULD ONLY SHAKE HIS HEAD AS HE HEARD THE JURY'S VERDICT. >> GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. >> Reporter: THE FORMER COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR FOUND GUILTY IN THE MURDER OF "LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL" INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JEFF GERMAN NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE PROMINENT JOURNALIST WAS FOUND BRUTALLY STABBED TO DEATH OUTSIDE HIS HOME. PROSECUTORS PAINTING TELLES AS A MAN OUT FOR REVENGE AFTER A SERIES OF ARTICLES BY GERMAN, WHO UNCOVERED BULLYING AND FAVORITISM BY TELLES DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE. >> THE EVIDENCE IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR. THE DEFENDANT MURDERED JEFF GERMAN. >> Reporter: THE JURY SHOWN THIS SECURITY VIDEO OUTSIDE GERMAN'S HOME CAPTURING SOMEONE IN BRIGHT ORANGE CLOTHING AND A STRAW HAT ENTER THE YARD AND LIE IN WAIT. AUTHORITIES SAY WHEN THE 69-YEAR-OLD WALKED OUTSIDE, HE WAS ATTACKED AND STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES. INVESTIGATORS LATER FINDING PARTLY DESTROYED SHOES AND A CUTUP STRAW HAT INSIDE TELLES' HOME. TELLES CHOOSING TO TAKE THE STAND HIMSELF, ALLEGING DNA EVIDENCE WAS PLANTED BY POLITICAL ENEMIES. >> I AM NOT CRAZY. I AM NOT TRYING TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY. >> Reporter: THE TWO MEN FAR FROM STRANGERS. THE JOURNALIST INTERVIEWING TELLES JUST FOUR MONTHS BEFORE HIS MURDER. >> HE WANTED TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM JEFF, AND THAT WAS HIS LIFE. >> Reporter: AND TONIGHT THE PENALTY PHASE FOR ROBERT TELLES IS ONGOING WITH JURORS HEARING IMPACT STATEMENTS FROM THE VICTIM'S FAMILY. TELLES FACES 20 YEARS Harris and Walz campaign in Georgia TO UP TO LIFE IN PRISON. TOM. >> ALL RIGHT, MORGAN, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> WE WANT TO TURN NOW TO POLITICS. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ BEGAN A TWO-DAY ROAD TRIP IN BATTLEGROUND GEORGIA. SHE'S COURTING RURAL Trump campaign incident at Arlington ceremony AND SUBURBAN VOTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THAT STATE WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES RARELY GO. AIMING TO CHIP AWAY AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT. HARRIS HOLDS A RALLY TOMORROW IN SAVANNAH. >>> AND WE'RE LEARNING NEW DETAILS ABOUT A TENSE INCIDENT INVOLVING DONALD TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN STAFF WHEN THEY VISITED ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY THIS WEEKEND. GARRETT HAAKE WITH MORE ON THE ALTERCATION. >> PRESENT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS DEFENDING THE CANDIDATE'S MONDAY VISIT TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY NOW BEING CRITICIZED FOR POLITICIZING AMERICA'S WAR DEAD ON HALLOWED GROUND. >> WHAT A HORRIBLE DAY IT WAS. >> Reporter: THE CAMPAIGN ON TUESDAY POSTING THIS TIKTOK HIGHLIGHT VIDEO OF TRUMP'S TRIP SHOWING HIM LAYING A WREATH IN HONOR OF THE SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED AT ABBEY GATE IN AFGHANISTAN. AND POSING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AMONG THE GRAVESTONES. SEVERAL CAMPAIGN STAFF POSTING THEIR OWN CONTENT TOO. >> IT'S DISRESPECTFUL. IT'S NOT DISNEY WORLD. IT'S ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, AND IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED AS SUCH. >> Reporter: THE VISIT FIRST DRAWING SCRUTINY AFTER A REPORTED ALTERCATION BETWEEN CAMPAIGN AND CEMETERY STAFF OVER PHOTOGRAPHY. THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SAYING A STAFFER, QUOTE, DECIDED TO PHYSICALLY BLOCK MEMBERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TEAM DURING A VERY SOLEMN CEREMONY. A CEMETERY SPOKESPERSON WRITING, FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OR ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITHIN ARMY NATIONAL MILITARY CEMETERIES. ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY REINFORCED AND WIDELY SHARED THIS LAW AND ITS PROHIBITIONS WITH ALL PARTICIPANTS. THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN CALLING IT ALL A SAD EPISODE SAYING TRUMP HAS A, QUOTE, HISTORY OF DEMEANING AND DEGRADING MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS. THE VICE PRESIDENT HERSELF HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE INCIDENT. TRUMP RUNNING MATE J.D. VANCE RESPONDING LATE TODAY. >> SHE WANTS TO YELL AT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE SHOWED UP. SHE CAN -- SHE CAN GO TO HELL. >> Reporter: KELLY BARNETT INVITED THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO ARLINGTON. HER SON STAFF SERGEANT TAYLOR HOOVER DIED AT ABBEY GATE. >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE PRO-TRUMP, ANTI-TRUMP, WHATEVER THEIR POLITICS MAY BE WHO FEEL THAT'S NOT A PLACE FOR POLITICIANS OR FOR POLITICS? >> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY ARE YOU IN MY SHOES? I INVITED HIM. MY SON WAS MURDERED UNDER THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. >> Reporter: UTAH GOVERNOR SPENCER COX Dangerous heat and severe storms ATTENDING WITH TRUMP POSTING THESE PHOTOS. HE LATER APOLOGIZED FOR USING THEM IN A FUND-RAISING EMAIL. GARRETT HAAKE, NBC NEWS, WASHINGTON. >>> ALL RIGHT, WE TURN TO WEATHER NOW. THAT INTENSE LATE SUMMER HEAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS WEEK HAS STRETCHED INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC WITH 51 MILLION UNDER HEAT ALERTS. TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID-90s TO THE LOW 100s WITH NEW RECORDS POSSIBLE. 33 MILLION ARE AT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND FROM THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE NORTHEAST. >>> OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, AND IN 60 SECONDS, Deli meat-linked deaths rise to at least 9 >>> OKAY, WE ARE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM A LISTERIA OUTBREAK BEING TIED TO TAINTED >>> OKAY, WE ARE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM A LISTERIA OUTBREAK BEING TIED TO TAINTED BOAR'S HEAD DELI MEAT. AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE HAVE DIED. NBC'S ANNE THOMPSON HAS THE LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE WORST OUTBREAK OF LISTERIA IN 13 YEARS. 57 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED. NINE PEOPLE DEAD INCLUDING SIX SINCE THE LAST UPDATE EARLIER THIS MONTH. ONE FROM FLORIDA, TENNESSEE, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, AND TWO PEOPLE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. ORIGINALLY LINKED TO BOAR'S HEAD LIVERWURST, THE RECALL NOW INCLUDES 7 MILLION POUNDS OF MEAT WITH EITHER EST-12612 OR P-12612 INSIDE THE USDA MARK OF INSPECTION ON PRODUCT LABELS. IF YOU HAVE THESE MEATS, THE CDC SAYS THROW THEM AWAY. >> LISTERIA IS A SERIOUS INFECTION. IT'S THE MOST DEADLY FORM OF FOOD POISONING. >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT TODAY, BOAR'S HEAD SAID, IT REGRETS THE IMPACT OF THIS RECALL AND WE FEEL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED LOSSES OR ENDURED ILLNESSES. THE CDC SAYS LISTERIA IS A HARDY JOB THAT CAN LINGER ON MEAT SLICERS AND FOODS EVEN WHEN REFRIGERATED. SYMPTOMS CAN APPEAR THE SAME DAY OR UP TO TEN WEEKS LATER. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE HEADACHE, CONFUSION AND CONVULSIONS ALONG WITH FEVER AND MUSCLE ACHES. >> ALL RIGHT, ANNE JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO. SO, ANNE, WHO IS AT MOST RISK FOR LISTERIA INFECTIONS? >> TOM, THERE ARE THREE GROUP, FIRST OF ALL, PREGNANT WOMEN, ANYBODY OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND ANYONE WHO IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED. IF YOU ARE -- IF YOU FALL IN THOSE CATEGORIES, PLEASE DO NOT EAT MEAT THAT IS SLICED AT DELI COUNTERS UNLESS IT'S BEEN HEATED OR STEAMED BEFORE IT'S SERVED. >> ALL RIGHT. IMPORTANT INFORMATION. ANNE, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> AND UP NEXT, THE BATTLE FOR KIDS' Schools banning student cell phones >>> WITH THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR UNDER WAY, SCHOOLS ARE CRACKING DOWN ON SOMETHING THEY SAY IS A MAJOR WITH CELL PHONES. REHEMA ELLIS WITH MORE ON THE NEW RULES IN OUR SERIES, "KIDS UNDER PRESSURE." >> Reporter: EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK KIDS ARE ON THEIR CELL PHONES, BUT NOW THERE'S GROWING PRESSURE TO BAN PHONES IN SCHOOLS. >> IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS. >> Reporter: THIS PRINCIPAL IS GETTING A SHIPMENT OF 3,700 POUCHES, ONE FOR EACH OF HIS STUDENTS TO LOCK THEIR CELL PHONES IN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. >> WHY IS IT A GOOD IDEA FOR KIDS TO PUT THEIR CELL PHONES AWAY WHILE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL? >> WE CAN GET THE FOCUS BACK ON EDUCATION AS OPPOSED TO THE STUDENT'S SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS, TEXT MESSAGES FROM OTHER STUDENTS, MAYBE SOMETIMES THEIR PARENTS SAYING, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER? >> Reporter: AT LEAST SEVEN OF THE NATION'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE RULES AGAINST USING CELL PHONES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY INCLUDING BANS IN LOS ANGELES, CLEVELAND, AND ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA. FOUR STATES HAVE ENACTED STATEWIDE CELL PHONE RESTRICTIONS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, VIRGINIA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK STATE COULD SOON JOIN THAT LIST. WHILE NOT ALL PARENTS ARE ON BOARD, THE SHIFT COMES AS RESEARCH SHOWS PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS CAN REDUCE DISTRACTIONS AND CYBERBULLYING, ENHANCE FOCUS ON LEARNING, AND IMPROVE STUDENT WELL-BEING. TODAY THE SURGEON GENERAL WARNING PARENTS FACE ADDITIONAL STRESS MANAGING THEIR CHILDREN'S PHONE USE. >> MANY ARE STRUGGLING WITH TECH AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THOSE ARE THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO CAUSES OF STRESS THEY CITE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT PARENTING BEING HARDER NOW COMPARED TO A GENERATION AGO. >> Reporter: GRACE, AN EIGHTH GRADER IN FRAMINGHAM, WELCOMES HER SCHOOL'S RESTRICTIONS. >> YOU NEED TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE AND SEE HOW IT REALLY, LIKE, HOW IT HELPS YOU LEARN AND HOW IT HELPS THE SCHOOL. >> Reporter: HER MOTHER JENNIFER BELIEVES IT REDUCES ANXIETY AND ENCOURAGES SOCIALIZATION. >> THE STUDENTS ARE MORE ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER AT RECESS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY TALKING TO EACH OTHER. THEY'RE DOING ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN KIND OF GOING INTO THEIR OWN CIRCLE AND GOING ONTO THEIR PHONE. >> Reporter: SOME FAMILIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH THEIR CHILD DURING SCHOOL HOURS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH REASONS. ADMINISTRATORS, HOWEVER, ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE.