>>> TONIGHT, THE TERRIFYING MOMENTS AT A SYNAGOGUE IN NEW YORK STATE A MAN FIRING A SHOTGUN OUTSIDE ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH. POLICE SAYING AT LEAST TWO SHOTGUN BLASTS WERE FIRED ON THE GROUNDS OF A SYNAGOGUE IN ALBANY. INSIDE, AN EARLY CHILD CARE CENTER WITH TWO DOZEN PRESCHOOLERS, BUT NO ONE INJURED THE SUSPECT IN CUSTODY. THE INCIDENT BEING INVESTIGATED AS A HATE CRIME. THE GOVERNOR ORDERING THE POLICE AND NATIONAL GUARD ON HIGH ALERT, WITH SAFETY CONCERNS NATIONWIDE AS HANUKKAH BEGINS. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE INVESTIGATION AFTER THE DEADLY MASS SHOOTING ON THE UNLV CAMPUS THE GUNMAN, A PROFESSOR WHO WAS REJECTED FOR A JOB BY THE UNIVERSITY AND WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE VICTIMS. >>> THE HISTORIC RULING IN TEXAS. A JUDGE GRANTING A WOMAN'S EMERGENCY TO BYPASS ON THE STATE'S TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION AFTER SHE LEARNS THE FETUS HAS A FATAL DISEASE. SHE JOINS US WITH HER EMOTIONAL REACTION, AND HOW THE STATE IS STILL TRYING TO STOP HER. >>> IN GAZA, THE FIGHTING RAGING AS THE WAR REACHES THE TWO-MONTH MARK RICHARD ENGEL WITH A FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE AS SHE FINALLY RETURNS HOME >>> AND TYPING OUT TUNES. THE ORCHESTRA MAKING MUSIC IN A WHOLE NEW KEY. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. JUST HOURS BEFORE THIS EVENING'S START OF THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF HANUKKAH, SHOTS WERE FIRED ONTO THE GROUNDS OF A SYNAGOGUE IN ALBANY, NEW YORK, FURTHER STOKING CONCERNS OVER THE HOLIDAY AND RISING ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN THIS COUNTRY. OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE WAS HURT, AND A 28-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THE SHOTS WERE FIRED OUTSIDE TEMPLE ISRAEL IN ALBANY, WHERE TWO DOZEN PRESCHOOLERS INSIDE WERE IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON LOCKDOWN THEY ARE NOW SAFELY REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES POLICE TONIGHT ARE QUOTING THE SHOOTER AS HAVING SAID "FREE PALESTINE. AUTHORITIES SAYING THE CASE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A HATE CRIME. NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TONIGHT HAS PUT STATE POLICE AND NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD ON ALERT, SAYING THE SAFETY OF JEWISH NEW YORKERS IS NONNEGOTIABLE. EMILIE IKEDA HAS LATE DETAILS. ♪ >> Reporter: ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH, POLICE ACROSS NEW YORK RAMPING UP PATROLS AT JEWISH SITES AFTER GUNFIRE CAUSED A MAJOR SCARE AT TEMPLE ISRAEL IN ALBANY THIS AFTERNOON. >> SHOTGUN AND A HOODIE IN THE PARKING LOT NEARBY A REPORT OF ONE SHOT HEARD. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS SAY THE SUSPECT IS A 28-YEAR-OLD LOCAL WHO WAS WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE AND ACTING VERY SUSPICIOUS >> ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, HE FIRED OFF A ROUND FROM A SHOTGUN WHILE MAKING THREATENING STATEMENTS >> Reporter: LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING AS A HATE CRIME. >> WE WERE TOLD BY RESPONDING OFFICERS THAT HE MADE A COMMENT, "FREE PALESTINE. >> Reporter: ON THE SYNAGOGUE'S PREMISES, TWO DOZEN PRESCHOOLERS IT WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER WHO FIRST HEARD THE SHOTS AND CALLED 911, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. THE SUSPECT, WHO HAS A RAP SHEET, WAS APPREHENDED IN A NEIGHBORING PARKING LOT. >> THANKFULLY, AT THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT BUT THE FEAR THAT IT HAS WREAKED AND THE FEAR AND THE ANXIETY THAT IT HAS CAUSED, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING REALLY SHAKEN RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: SECURITY HAD ALREADY BEEN ENHANCED AT SYNAGOGUES, YESHIVAS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR THE JEWISH HOLIDAY AMID RISING TENSION STEMMING FROM THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR JUST SINCE SEPTEMBER, THE SAME LOCATION OF TODAY'S GUNFIRE FACED A BOMB THREAT. >> EMILIE, WHAT ARE OFFICIALS SAYING ABOUT ANY ONGOING THREATS FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAYS THERE ARE NO ONGOING THREATS AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'RE LEARNING TONIGHT FROM HER OFFICE THAT HATE CRIMES ACROSS THE BOARD IN NEW YORK IN NOVEMBER WERE UP 90% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. LESTER >> EMILIE IKEDA STARTING US OFF TONIGHT, THANK YOU >>> NOW TO BREAKING NEWS INTO THE INVESTIGATION INTO HUNTER BIDEN, SON OF PRESIDENT BIDEN. LET'S GET RIGHT TO KEN DILANIAN IN WASHINGTON >> Reporter: LESTER, HUNTER BIDEN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONY TAX FRAUD IN LOS ANGELES. IN A 56-PAGE INDICTMENT, SPECIAL COUNSEL DAVID WEISS HAS CHARGED MR. BIDEN WITH THREE FELONIES AND SIX MISDEMEANORS, ALLEGES HE ENGAGED IN A SCHEME TO EVADE $1.4 MILLION IN TAXES FROM 2014 TO 2020 WHILE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FUND AND EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE. THIS IS THE SECOND FELONY INDICTMENT AGAINST BIDEN, WHO WAS CHARGED IN SEPTEMBER ABOUT LYING ON A FEDERAL FORM WHILE PURCHASING A HANDGUN BOTH CASES CAME AFTER A PLEA DEAL FELL APART IN AUGUST THAT CALLED FOR HIM TO AND MILT TO MISDEMEANORS AND SERVE NO JAIL TIME THE NEW INDICTMENT SAYS MR. BIDEN RECEIVED MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN INCOME FROM 2016 TO 2020, AND TOOK STEPS TO EVADE TAXES, INCLUDING BY USING FALSE BUSINESS DEDUCTIONS IT SAYS MR. BIDEN HAD THE MONEY TO PAY HIS TAXES, BUT CHOSE NOT TO PAY THEM. THE NEW CASE ADDS TO HUNTER BIDEN'S MOUNTING LEGAL WOES AND POSES A HUGE POLITICAL COMPLICATIO FOR HIS FATHER BECAUSE IF THE PROSECUTIONS GO FORWARD, HUNTER BIDEN COULD BE STANDING TRIAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN THE PLEA DEAL COLLAPSED BECAUSE PROSECUTORS WERE UNWILLING TO PROMISE NOT TO CHARGE HUNTER BIDEN FOR OTHER CONDUCT, INCLUDING RELATED TO WHAT THEY SAID WAS THEIR ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO VIOLATIONS OF FOREIGN LOBBYING LAWS. BUT MR. BIDEN LEGAL WOEPS HAVE NOW MULTIPLIED LESTER >> KEN DILANIAN, THANKS >>> IN LAS VEGAS, THERE ARE NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE GUNMAN AT UNLV'S CAMPUS. A COLLEGE PROFESSOR TURNED DOWN FOR A JOB. AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VICTIMS, ALL FACULTY, SLAIN AT THE SCHOOL STEVE PATTERSON WITH LATE DETAILS NOW. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, NEW DETAILS AFTER SHOTS RANG OUT ON ANOTHER AMERICAN COLLEGE CAMPUS >> EVERYBODY KEEP YOUR HANDS UP, YOU GUYS KEEP YOUR HANDS UP, PLEASE >> Reporter: THIS TIME INSIDE UNLV'S BUSINESS SCHOOL. >> GUNSHOT WAS SO CLOSE, I FELT LIKE HE WAS COMING IN. AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS PRAYING THAT HE DOESN'T PICK THIS ROOM >> Reporter: POLICE SAY 67-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY POLITO OPENED FIRE ON THE BUILDING'S FOURTH FLOOR JUST BEFORE NOON WEDNESDAY, SHOOTING AND KILLING THREE. 64-YEAR-OLD PROFESSOR JERRY CHANG, 39-YEAR-OLD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR PATRICIA NAVARRO VELEZ. THE THIRD VICTIM, ALSO FACULTY, HASN'T BEEN NAMED UNTIL THEIR FAMILY CAN BE NOTIFIED ONE GUNSHOT SURVIVOR IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL >> THE SUSPECT HAD A LIST OF PEOPLE HE WAS SEEKING ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, AS WELL AS FACULTY FROM THE EASTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY >> Reporter: HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, TOUTED A MEMBERSHIP IN MENSA, THE HIGH IQ SOCIETY, AND WAS PRONE TO POSTING CONSPIRACY THEORIES ON HIS PERSONAL WEBSITE, BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE STOPPING SHORT OF ASSIGNING MOTIVE >> WE KNOW HE APPLIED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A JOB WITH SEVERAL NEVADA HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND WAS DENIED EACH TIME >> Reporter: TODAY, POLICE SHARED VIDEO OF THE MOMENT POLITO WAS KILLED AS HE ENGAGED POLICE OUTSIDE. >> EVACUATE TO A SAFE AREA, RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. >> Reporter: BUSINESS LAW SCHOOL CALEB WAS IN CLASS JUST TWO FLOORS DOWN WHEN HE HEARD THE SHOTS RING OUT. WHAT DID IT SOUND LIKE >> IT SOUNDED LIKE BALLOONS POPPING WE WERE KIND OF OBLIVIOUS OF IT. WE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON AT FIRST. >> Reporter: INCREDIBLY, THIS ISN'T HIS FIRST MASS SHOOTING HE WAS AT THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE LAS VEGAS MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2017 THAT LEFT 58 PEOPLE DEAD >> HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE CRYING, BUT IT WAS LIKE OTHERS WERE DESENSITIZED TO IT >> Reporter: A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE LEAVING LAS VEGAS NUMB >> AND STEVE, WHAT MORE ARE OFFICIALS SAYING ABOUT THE SUSPECT'S OTHER POTENTIAL TARGETS? >> Reporter: LESTER, AUTHORITIES NOW SAY THEY BELIEVE IF THE SUSPECT WASN'T TAKEN DOWN WHEN HE WAS, THAT HE WAS HEADING RIGHT FOR THE STUDENT UNION. THEY ALSO SAY HE MAILED OUT 22 LETTERS TO OTHER TARGETS THE FIRST ONE THEY INTERCEPTED CONTAINED AN UNKNOWN WHITE SUBSTANCE. SO THEY'RE TELLING ANYONE IN EDUCATION, IF YOU RECEIVED AN UNMARKED LETTER, DON'T OPEN IT. LESTER >> STEVE PATTERSON, THANKS >>> IN TEXAS, WHERE MOST ABORTIONS ARE ILLEGAL, A JUDGE TODAY GRANTED A WOMAN'S REQUEST TO HAVE AN ABORTION THAT HER DOCTOR SAYS IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CASES SINCE ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED HERE IS LAURA JARRETT. >> Reporter: KATE COX WAS RUNNING OUT OF TIME AFTER LEARNING AT 20 WEEKS THAT THE BABY SHE IS EXPECTING HAS A FETAL ABNORMALITY, THE 31-YEAR-OLD MOM OF TWO FILED A LAWSUIT IN TEXAS SEEKING AN EMERGENCY ABORTION TODAY, A JUDGE AGREED. >> I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER NEED OR WANT AN ABORTION >> Reporter: IF COX CARRIED THE PREGNANCY TO TERM, DOCTORS WARNED SHE WOULD BE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS THAT COULD AFFECT HER ABILITY TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN >> THERE'S NO OUTCOME HERE THAT I TAKE HOME MY HEALTHY BABY GIRL >> Reporter: TEXAS BANS MOST ABORTIONS AS SOON AS THE BABY HAS A HEARTBEAT. THERE ARE MEDICAL EXCEPTIONS, BUT CRITICS SAY THE LANGUAGE IS VAGUE, LEAVING DOCTORS FEARFUL OF GETTING SUED FOR PERFORMING ONE WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. TODAY, THE JUDGE SIDING WITH COX, SAYING, "THE IDEA THAT MS. COX WANTS DESPERATELY TO BE A PARENT, AND THIS LAW MIGHT ACTUALLY CAUSE HER TO LOSE THAT ABILITY IS SHOCKING AND WOULD BE A GENUINE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. TONIGHT, THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL PUSHING BACK STRONGLY, ARGUING COX HAS FAILED TO SHOW SHE QUALIFIES FOR A MEDICAL EXCEPTION. THE A.G. IS SENDING A LETTER TO COX'S HOSPITAL, WARNING PROSECUTIONS ARE STILL POSSIBLE IF THEY ALLOW HER DOCTOR TO PERFORM AN UNLAWFUL ABORTION, DESPITE THE RULING >> THE RULE OF LAW DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS >> Reporter: TODAY'S DECISION APPLIES ONLY TO COX, BUT SEPARATE CHALLENGES TO THE LAWS IN TEXAS FILED BY OTHER WOMEN ARE STILL ONGOING. MEANWHILE, COX STILL DREAMS OF EXPANDING HER FAMILY ONE DAY >> I WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE HEALTH CARE I NEED AND HEAL, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRY AGAIN. >> Reporter: LAURA JARRETT, NBC NEWS. >>> TWO MONTHS AGO TODAY, HAMAS TERRORISTS UNLEASHED THEIR MURDEROUS RAMPAGE INSIDE ISRAEL. AND TONIGHT, SOME OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE ATTACK RETURN HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME, INCLUDING A RECENTLY RELEASED HOSTAGE WHO SPOKE WITH OUR RICHARD ENGEL. >> Reporter: TWO MONTHS AFTER HAMAS KILLED MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE IN ISRAEL, THE ISRAELI MILITARY IS ESCALATING ITS CAMPAIGN TO OVERTHROW THE GROUP IN GAZA. BUT FOR THE 2.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS IN GAZA WHO CAN'T LEAVE, THE WAR ISN'T THE ONLY DANGER. HUNGER IS SPREADING. MASSIVE CROWDS GATHERED TODAY OUTSIDE A FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER THE U.N. IS WARNING OF A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE. JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM GAZA, WE VISITED THE KIBBUTZ NIR OZ, WHERE ON OCTOBER 7th, HAMAS FIGHTERS KILLED AND KIDNAPPED EVERYONE THEY COULD FIND. DRIVEN BY HER NEIGHBOR, IRENA TATI RETURNED THIS MORNING. THE 73-YEAR-OLD WAS HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS IN GAZA AND FREED LAST WEEK SHE WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE DAMAGE HER DOOR IS STILL SMASHED IN HAMAS DRAGGED HER AWAY FROM HERE. IRENA CAME BACK TO COLLECT A PRAYER BOOK FOR HANUKKAH HER NEIGHBOR, RITA LIFSHITZ, TELLS HER HAMAS IS STILL FIRING ROCKETS, AND SHE SHOULD GO TO THE SAFE ROOM IF THERE'S INCOMING IRENA BADLY WANTED TO SEE IF HER CAT WAS STILL ALIVE. SHE THOUGHT ABOUT THE CAT WHILE STILL A HOSTAGE, AND WHEN SHE FOUND HIM, SHE SMILED. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO COME BACK HERE AFTER ALL THAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH? "HERE I FEEL BETTER, BUT NOT VERY WELL. I WANT THE WAR THE STOP," SHE SAYS. SHE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER WHILE SHE WAS A CAPTIVE. AND IRENA'S 28-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON IS STILL BEING HELD IN GAZA "HANUKKAH IS A HOLIDAY OF LIGHT PEOPLE CLOSE TO US IN GAZA MUST RETURN HOME," SHE SAYS. HAMAS WENT HOUSE TO HOUSE HERE FOR EIGHT AGONIZING HOURS BEFORE ANY RESCUE CAME. RESIDENTS LOCKED THEMSELVES IN THEIR SAFE ROOMS SO HAMAS SET HOUSES ON FIRE TO SMOKE THEM OUT. RITA SAYS MANY HERE ARE FURIOUS AT HAMAS AND THE GOVERNMENT HOW DID IT TAKE EIGHT HOURS TO HAVE A RESPONSE >> WHY IT TOOK EIGHT HOURS? BECAUSE THEY [ BLEEP ] DIDN'T CARE. 6:30, THEY COME IN HERE. >> Reporter: RITA TOOK ME TO THE LOCAL POST OFFICE, WHERE THE BOXES HAVE BEEN MARKED WITH STICKERS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING IMAGES THAT I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME, THIS POST OFFICE AND ON THE BOXES, RED, KILLED BLUE, RETURNED, BLACK, DEAD >> YES >> Reporter: AND TO BE HONEST, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF BLUE. NEXT DOOR IS THE CAFETERIA, WHERE THE TABLES ARE SET FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T COME, THE DEAD AND MISSING ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON THIS KIBBUTZ WAS EITHER MURDERED OR TAKEN HOSTAGE. >> NOW IT'S THE FIRST HOLIDAY OF THE KIBBUTZ THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, AND WE NEED TO BRING THEM BACK NOW. >> Reporter: AND TONIGHT, WE'RE LEARNING THAT ISRAEL HAS AGREED AT U.S. REQUEST TO OPEN ANOTHER BORDER CROSSING INTO GAZA FOR HUMANITARIAN AID LESTER >> RICHARD, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE PRESIDENTS OF ELITE UNIVERSITIES UNDER FIRE OVER WHAT THEY TOLD CONGRESS ABOUT FREE SPEECH, AS PROTESTS MOUNT ON CAMPUS THE GROWING CONTROVERSY RIGHT >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING CONTROVERSY. A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE PLANS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO ANTI-SEMITISM ON THE CAMPUSES OF THREE ELITE UNIVERSITIES AFTER THEIR PRESIDENTS DREW OUTRAGE AT A HEARING THIS WEEK. STEPHANIE GOSK NOW WITH THE BACKLASH. >> Reporter: THE HEARING TUESDAY LASTED FIVE HOURS, BUT IT WAS THIS QUESTIONING FROM NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK THAT HAS IGNITED A FIRESTORM. >> I AM ASKING SPECIFICALLY CALLING FOR THE GENOCIDE OF JEWS, DOES THAT CONSTITUTE BULLYING OR HARASSMENT >> IF IT IS DIRECTED AND SEVERE OR PERVASIVE, IT IS HARASSMENT IF THE SPEECH BECOMES CONDUCT, IT CAN BE HARASSMENT, YES. >> CONDUCT MEANING COMMITTING THE ACT OF GENOCIDE >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENTS OF HARVARD, THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND M.I.T. WERE ON CAPITOL HILL TO ADDRESS ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA ON THEIR CAMPUSES >> CALLING FOR THE GENOCIDE OF JEWS VIOLATES HARVARD'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CORRECT? >> AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE CONTEXT. >> IT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE CONTEXT THE ANSWER IS YES, AND THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD RESIGN >> Reporter: HARVARD AND PENN'S PRESIDENT TRIED TO CLARIFY THEIR ANSWERS TO THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION ON THE ISSUE OF CALLS FOR GENOCIDE >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR. A CALL FOR GENOCIDE OF JEWISH PEOPLE IS THREATENING, DEEPLY SO. >> Reporter: HARVARD'S PRESIDENT WRITING IN PART, "CALLS FOR VIOLENCE OR GENOCIDE AGAINST THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OR ANY RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC GROUP ARE VILE THEY HAVE NO PLACE AT HARVARD. AT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE HEARING, THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOLS CONDEMNED THE HATE ON CAMPUS WHILE ALSO CITING THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT CRITICISM CAME SWIFTLY, AND FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. >> IT SHOULD NOT BE HARD TO CONDEMN GENOCIDE GENOCIDE AGAINST JEWS, GENOCIDE AGAINST ANYONE ELSE. >> Reporter: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN ANDREW BATES WRITING, "IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THIS NEEDS TO BE SAID CALLS FOR GENOCIDE ARE MONSTROUS. STUDENTS RALLIED ON CAMPUS TODAY OUTSIDE MAGILL'S OFFICE. >> I'M A JEWISH STUDENT HERE AND I THINK THAT SHE NEEDS TO STEP DOWN >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PENN IS FACING POSSIBLE FINANCIAL FALLOUT. A WEALTHY DONOR IS THREATENING TO PULL A $100 MILLION DONATION, CALLING FOR THE PRESIDENT TO BE REPLACED THE SCHOOL TELLS US TONIGHT THERE IS NO PLAN TO CHANGE LEADERSHIP, LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT STEPHANIE, THANKS VERY MUCH >>> COMING UP, AS WE CONTINUE, A NEW RECORD IN THE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER, AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING ONE MAJOR AMERICAN CITY AS WINTER NEARS >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A CRISIS AT THE BORDER A RECORD 12,000 UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS STOPPED IN A SINGLE DAY BY BORDER PATROL THIS WEEK. AND AS JULIA AINSLEY REPORTS, IT'S ADDING UP TO MORE STRAIN ON SOME OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST CITIES >> Reporter: TONIGHT, DENVER JOINING THE GROWING LIST OF CITIES STRUGGLING TO HANDLE A RECORD SURGE OF MIGRANTS, WITH ENTIRE BLOCKS FULL OF MIGRANTS SLEEPING ON THE STREET >> OH, IT IS A CRISIS. >> Reporter: MIKE JOHNSTON IS ONE OF FIVE DEMOCRATIC MAYORS RECENTLY WRITING PRESIDENT BIDEN, SAYING ACTION IS NEEDED TO HELP CITIES ADDRESS THE CRISIS WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU WANT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW? >> WHEN YOU ADMIT SOMEONE FOR ASYLUM IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY SHOULD GET WORK AUTHORIZATION. WE SHOULD EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF APPROVING THAT APPLICATION SO IT DOESN'T TAKE FOUR YEARS, IT COULD TAKE 30 DAYS. >> Reporter: JOHNSTON IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF DENVER THAT ARE NOT TAKING IN MIGRANTS SUBURBAN DOUGLAS COUNTY PASSING A RESOLUTION DEMANDING DENVER DROP ITS STATUS AS A SANCTUARY CITY, A JURISDICTION WHERE OFFICIALS WON'T ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS CRITICS SAY THAT ATTRACTS MORE MIGRANTS, WITH ILLEGAL CROSSINGS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER THIS YEAR AT RECORD HIGHS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS CITY DO >> I'D LIKE THE CITY TO ACTIVELY PROCLAIM THAT IT NOT A SANCTUARY CITY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE NOT BRINGING PEOPLE TO A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE. >> Reporter: THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,600 MIGRANTS IN DENVER'S SHELTER SYSTEMS, AND NOW NEARLY 30,000 WHO HAVE COME THROUGH DENVER IN THE LAST YEAR, COSTING TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $32 MILLION SO FAR DENVER SHELTERS ARE FULL, WITH SOME MIGRANTS NOW SLEEPING IN TENT ENCAMPMENTS LIKE THESE, WHERE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING AT NIGHT. >> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE PRETTY INCONVENIENT FOR THEM AND FOR US. REALLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX ARE CONCERNED. >> Reporter: FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ARE GIVEN PRIORITY IN DENVER SHELTERS. WE MEET A GROUP OF ADULTS WHO JUST ARRIVED. GENESIS, FROM VENEZUELA, SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO NEXT "WE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE, DIRECTION, LOCATION," SHE TELLS US JAN SAYING, "WE HAD TO GO THROUGH SEVEN COUNTRIES ON FOOT, THROUGH THE JUNGLE WE CAME FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, FOR THE WORK PERMIT." >> Reporter: MAYOR JOHNSTON SAYS DENVER EXPECTS TO SPEND AS MUCH AS $100 MILLION >>> FINALLY, THE ORCHESTRA THAT DRAWS ITS NOTES FROM THE PAST AND PERFORMS IN THE KEYS OF A TO Z ANNE THOMPSON EXPLAINS >> Reporter: IT IS A CACOPHONY OF CLICKS AND CLACKS, THE MUSIC OF THE BOSTON TYPEWRITER ORCHESTRA >> THIS IS "STOMP" MEETS "THE OFFICE. >> Reporter: BRENDAN QUIGLEY AND CHRIS CAIN LEAD THE UNDERWOODS, ROYALS, AND SMITH CORONAS, REHEARSING AT CHRIS'S DINING ROOM TABLE. WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS? >> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A SONG ON THE RADIO AND GO, YOU KNOW, THIS SONG IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT I THINK IT WOULD SOUND BETTER ON NOT ONE TYPEWRITER, BUT EIGHT? >> Reporter: I'VE NEVER THOUGHT THAT. >> WELL, WE HAVE >> THAT'S OUR ORIGIN >> WE HEARD "LAST CHRISTMAS" BY WHAM AND THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD SOUND A LOT BETTER ON TYPEWRITER SO WE DID IT. >> Reporter: IF MUSIC IS NOISE THAT MAKES SENSE, THIS IS IT. WHAT DOES YOUR SHEET MUSIC LOOK LIKE? >> IT'S A MESS >> Reporter: THE GOAL NOT WORDS PER MINUTE, BUT BEATS AND HOOKS. >> IT'S A SONG WITHOUT ANY MELODY OR LYRICS, AND YET SOMEHOW IT'S STILL CATCHY >> Reporter: "THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW" THOUGHT SO WHAT'S THE NEXT HOLY GRAIL FOR YOU? >> I DON'T KNOW. THE MGM SPHERE IN VEGAS? >> SURE, YEAH, YOU KNOW DOES U2 NEED AN OPENING ACT? >> Reporter: BUT FIRST, RALPH STEINER IN WORCESTER -- >> GO! ♪ >> Reporter: BY DAY, CHRIS IS A SOFTWARE CHRIS IS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER BRENDAN CONSTRUCTS CROSSWORD PUZZLES. >> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF A ROCK BAND AT HEART. >> SORT OF PLANTED THE FLAG, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS TO CATCH UP >> Reporter: ONE CARRIAGE RETURN AT A TIME ♪ ANNE THOMPSON, NBC NEWS, BOSTON >> THEY DESERVE A RIBBON FOR THAT PERFORMANCE. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS THURSDAY THANKS FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT