♪ on this sunday night between good and evil, president trump in saudi arabia attempts to change his tone and reframe the fight against terrorism, calming on muslim leaders to combat what he now calls a crisis of islamic extremism. border battle, a texas town at the center of the immigration debate suing the state over a new law that bans so-called sanctuary cities. fight of his life. a boxer takes to the ring, not just to win the match but a much bigger prize, the right to remain in the united states with his family. and final act. after almost a century and a half, the greatest show on earth folds its tent. a sad day for some, while others say it is about time. "nightly news" begins now. ♪

from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow. >> good evening. on his first overseas trip, president trump today called on the muslim world to confront extremism, framing the fight against terrorists not in religious terms but as a battle between good and evil. in a glittering summit room in riyadh, saudi arabia, filled with 55 muslim leaders from around the world, mr. trump struck a different tone than he has in the past. it is the first stop on a multi-city foreign tour this week that to some extent is drawing attention away from his troubles back in washington. we begin with kelly o'donnell, traveling with the president. >> reporter: for a president known for his own luxurious trappings, hospitality displayed by saudi arabia's king has been resplend ent and regal. >> i would like to thank all. >> reporter: the president left behind ale

his administration, and made no mention of his proposed travel ban aimed at six muslim majority countries. the center piece of this first stop, president trump's new message to the muslim world. >> we are not here to lecture. >> reporter: his aim, to contrast president obama and to contrast himself, discarding his well-worn phrase radical islamic terrorism for a more subtle approach. >> that means honestly confronting the crisis of islamic extremism and the islamists and islamic terror of all kinds. >> words adjusted, but his forceful tone was not, promising america's backing but urging arab leaders to do more to stop terrorists. >> drive them out of your places of worship. drive them out of your communities. drive them out of your holy land and drive them out of this

earth. >> reporter: and president trump delivered a dire, spiritual warning to terrorists and those who finance and recruit them. >> if you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be fully condemned. >> you are here at the command and control center. >> reporter: one tangible step, a futuristic and visually spectacular event where the king and the president inaugurated a riyadh base center to combat and counter extremist ideology, especially online. beyond diplomacy, the trump administration says this is also about business. with $400 billion of investment in u.s. companies, that includes the saudis buying $100 billion in u.s. military equipment. this is all being watched by muslim-americans back home and the group cair says while it appreciates the president acknowledging islam, one

does not wipe out years of anti-islamic sentiments. kate. >> kelly o'donnell overseas for us. thanks. for a closer look at the president's ambition agenda, we are joined by nbc's chief white house correspondent hallie jackson. the president is leaving saudi arabia a few hours from now. where is he saided next? >> it may be sensitive diplomatic territory. the president has long had a warn relationship with benjamin netanyahu, but he is heading there at a time that could be critical, trying to reassure this ally after sharing sensitive intel in an oval office meeting with the russians. he intends to product them to a path of peace. after that off to rome for maybe a potentially awkward meeting with the pope. flashback to the campaign. remember then candidate trump blasted the pope after pope francis only building walls and not bridges too isn't christian. >> hallie,

religions, the president headed to brussels to meet with nato leaders, an organization he once famously called obsolete. what is on the agenda there? >> reporter: he almost certainly will be pushed at this nato summit to declare his commitment to the alliance, reaffirm that even after he flip-flopped and said nato was not now obsolete last month. after that, sis silly for the g-7 summit. he will face more questions on his tough talk on trade and whether he will stay in the paris climate agreement. should be a big week. >> it is a big week. kellie jackson covering it for us. we will have extensive coverage all week long with lesser holt anchoring nightly news from jerusalem tomorrow. the president took a hard line on iran as that country reelect its incumbent president in a sweep victory. as reported from teheran, the iranian president's continued

whether he can deliver economic and social reforms. >> reporter: in a bitter election campaign, the iranian people chose moderation over conservatism. moderate ruani beat hard liner by nearly eight million votes. in his victory peach, rouhani said. they have chosen the path that the different from extremism and violence. the president rouhani have poured into the streets to celebrate his victory. their man got another four years and the sense of excitement and relief is palpable. but in iran euphoria can quickly turn into disappointment and dissolution. if he cannot translate campaign promises into reality such as creating jobs to boost the economy, as well as freeing political prisoners, loosening

rid of nuclear and non-nuclear sanctions. >> people don't forget what he promised. so if things don't work out at the end of the four years, that's going to be the end of the reformist camp. >> reporter: besides domestic expectations, mr. rouhani continues to face hostile neighbors, an untrusting west made clear today during president trump's speech before saudi arabia's king. >> all nations and countries must work together to isolate iran, deny it. funding for terrorism cannot do it. pray for the day when the iranian people have the just and righteous government they so richly deserve. >> reporter: but such challenges may simply be out of the question for the islamic republic, potentially putting iran and america on a collision course again. ali arouzi, nbc news, teheran. >> in this country the latest battle over illegal ira

that's where a small border town with funding from an advocacy group is suing the state over a new law. that law bans so-called sanctuary cities but critics call it unconstitutional and will trigger racial profiling. gabe gutierrez reports from the mexico border. >> reporter: on the rio grande that's there's an american town on edge. el sinso with 3800 rest enident about 20% here illegally. >> the whole notion of the problems we have illegal, is not true. >> reporter: the maying is suing to block a so-called sanctuary city ban. >> it hinders relationships between the police department and the community. that's dangerous. >> reporter: president trump signed an executive order in january threatening to withhold fede

the new texas law is first since then. it would fine local governments up to $20,000 a day, potentially send police chiefs to jail and remove elected officials if they refuse federal requests to help with immigration enforcement. governor greg abbott who signed senate 4 on facebook live say it is about public safety, not racial profiling. >> no one can be pulled over and stopped just for no reason or because of what their race may be. there has to be that probable cause. >> reporter: this woman who didn't want us to show her face is undocumented. she crossed the border 15 years ago to be with her husband's family. immigrants are looking over their shoulders like never before, she said. >> doing the right thing is fighting for those who have no voice and who live in fear. >> reporter: if the law takes effect september

reyes says fines could wipe out this towns entire $250,000 annual budget in two weeks. gabe gutierrez, nbc news, texas. >> in pennsylvania this week jury selection begins in the criminal trial of bill cosby, who is charged with sexually assaulting a woman at his home near philadelphia, charges the entertainer denies. nbc's ron allen has those details. >> reporter: while bill cosby said in a radio interview last week he wants to be back on stage -- >> i want to get back to the laughter. >> reporter: -- he is facing the start of a criminal trial this week that could make that dream impossible. cosby has pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent assault during a 2004 encounter at his home with an employee at temple university where cosby was a trustee, who claims cosby drugged and molested her. >> reporter: in the jury selection process it

who haven't heard about these allegations. >> reporter: national headlines starting in 2014 as more women accused cosby of conduct to rape. >> how many of you believe you were drugged by bill cosby? how many of you believe bill cosby raped you. >> reporter: cosby insists any sexual contact was consensual. only two accusers will testify at trial. >> reporter: what difficulty is the defense going to face? >> they're going to have to go pretty hard on these two women making accusations. this is not something juries like to see. >> reporter: and the jury is expected the hear cosby's own words about the incident. in statements from a civil case he settled with her in 2006. he admitted to giving her three pills before touchinger. and so i continue and i go into that area that is somewhere between permission and rejection. i am not stopped,

testified. following defense complaints about negative media, jurors will be selected here in pittsburgh and sequestered for trial back in suburban philadelphia where the alleged crime happened. >> reporter: regardless of what the jury decides, even cosby, once one of the most respected people in america, admitted i may never win back the public's trust. >> not far from where we are the ringling brothers and barnum bailey circus is giving its find performance at 147 146 years. the greatest show on earth is closing because the family that runs it says it is no longer profitable. nbc's carrie sanders has more. >> reporter: animal rights activists, long protesting the ringling brothers and barnum bailey circus keeping the pressure on until the last show. >> couldn't come soon enough. >> reporter: while the circus goes out of business, it says

court of public opinion it did not lose in court. the pca paid more than $20 million for repeatedly claiming the circus systematically mistreated its elephant. >> did the animal rights activists put the circus out of business? >> i think animal rights propaganda definitely played a tremendous role in it. >> reporter: you would say that was misinformation? >> i don't need to say it. you can -- you can talk to federal judge who called the case against us frivolous, vexatious and groundless. >> reporter: there was a time the circus coming to town was the most spectacular event of a community's year. at its height, ringling traveled to 140 cities and towns. 10 million people a year buying tickets to watch the greatest show on earth. gone as of tonight, not only the circus but a way of life. >> i never thought i would run away with the circus, but

>> reporter: did you think it was ever going to end? >> i never thought it would end, never. not in a million years. >> reporter: the elephants retired to a sanctuary in florida. the other animals ringling says will go to other sanctuaries or to circuses in europe. meantime, those who wanted to see the circus one last time, the final performance streamed on facebook live. kate. >> thank you. still ahead tonight, on the trail of key evidence. how dogs are being trained to sniff out tiny electronic devices that may help police solve crimes. also, the scary moment when a sea lion jumped up, time's up, insufficient we're on prenatal care.es. and administrative paperwork... your days of drowning people are numbered. same goes for you, budget overruns. and rising costs, wipe that smile off your face. we're coming for you, too.

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we may someday prevent outbreaks before they begin. like almost every other pt of modern life, committing crimes these days often involves an electronic device, and now police looking for evidence stored on even the tiniest memory chips have a new weapon, one with four legs and a tail. here is our justice correspondent pete williams. >> reporter: meet iris, a two-year-old labrador retriever with a remarkable talent. thousands of dogs are trained to sniff for bombs or illegal drugs, by eye ruiris has a nose digital computer chips. to work by her handler, jeff. >> the typical command for her would be seek and off she goes. >> reporter: we watched a training session as she found a hard drive taped to the back of

>> that's a hard drive. >> reporter: under the cushions of a couch. >> good girl. >> reporter: inside a mailbox. >> wow. >> reporter: and concealed in a pill low. to her they have a unique odor. >> there's a lot of electronic devices in this room but she knows the difference? >> it is amazing and she knows the difference. it is very minute. she is train to two micrograms of the odors. >> reporter: she can find tiny drafs, thumb drives inside electrical outlets and behind air events, even devices used in bombings. >> this was a cellphone used as remote de ton ator. >> reporter: it has been through an explosion. >> yes. >> reporter: it is charged but she can identify it in the box? >> yes. >> reporter: iris lives with the agent and plays with his children and other dogs when she's off duty. >> i don't want her always in work mode. she needs time to relax. >> reporter: when that nose is at work, she can detect minute traces of the chemicals

making storage media. a black lab named bear sniffed out a thumb drive at the home of jared fogel, the former subway spokesman who pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving underage girls. at a series of bombings in new jersey and new york last fall, iris helped search the apartment of a man charged with the attacks. she is veteran of a new canine force, dogs who know the distinctive aroma of stored data. >> go, iris. a boxer scores his biggesti meae care of my portfolio, but.. well, what are you doing tomorrow -10am? staff meeting. noon? eating. 3:45? uh, compliance training. 6:30? sam's baseball practice. 8:30? tai chi. yeah, so sounds relaxing. alright, 9:53? i usually make their lunches then, and i have a little vegan so wow, you are busy. wouldn't it be great if you had investments

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his opponent, he was fighting for the chance to remain in this country. nbc's morgan radford explained. >> reporter: a devastating second round knockout. mexican lightweight, sending his opponent to the ground. a victory lawyers say can all but guarantee his green card. a dream come true for a man who crossed the border illegally at 16. >> in mexico, just it wasn't hard. there was nothing. >> did you feel you had enough, did you have food? >> i had nothing, no electricity, no food. i got no memories. >> reporter: you're getting emotional thinking about where you come from. who are you fighting for in this fight? >> i'm fighting for my kids. >> reporter: all three of his children were born here, which is why he's hoping for an eb1 green card, granted to only

of residents who show extraordinary ability. he is literally boxing for his life. what we're requiring of immigrantes these days is the survival of the fittest. >> whoa, whoa, whoa. >> reporter: beltran is fighting for his future. >> reporter: what is it you love most about this country? >> i love that there is a lot of potential. whatever you want to do, you can make it here. there's a lot of hope here. >> reporter: hope in a place he already calls home. morgan radford, nbc news, new york. >> and from canada do night, a scary moment this weekend near vancouver, british columbia. a young girl was sitting on a dock when a large sea lion, jumps up, grabs her by the dress and pulls her under the water. it all took place in a matter of seconds. luckily everyone was okay, although shaken up. up next, a young actress becomes a broadway star and breaks barriers in the process.

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test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test finally tonight, it's been quite a run for a young actress named madison ferris, who has been starring on broadway with sally fields and winning plenty of praise for her performance in the play "the glass menagerie." there's more to it than just an actress excelling in a leading role. more tonight. >> i know so well -- >> reporter: sally fields gives

>> mother. >> yes? >> i'm crippled. >> nonsense. laura, i have told you never, never to use that word. >> reporter: but fields' own accolades go to her costar, madison ferris. >> she is so incredibly bold and brave. she puts her head down and just does it. >> reporter: ferris is breaking barriers as broadway's first lead actor in a wheelchair. >> i don't really talk about my disability that much. i just kind of live my life. >> reporter: ferris' muscular dystrophy has not held her back from her acting dream. a theater major in college, now 25, her broad way debut is generating all kinds of buzz. >> it enhanced the performance but in the end didn't take it away at all. >> no one could have played the part better than her. >> reporter: even though madison admits to a few butterflies before auditioning. >> she is just the lie

daughter they end dragging the wheelchair. >> i told maddie, if one day i say duck, it means the chair is coming flying at you and i've done the best i could, you know what i mean. >> reporter: to tell a story and send the message. >> the visual of what maddie brings is exquisite. >> reporter: at the end of the show, every around me said, does she really need that chair? >> really? >> reporter: yeah. >> wow. actually, i take it as a compliment they think i'm doing all of this through acting. they must think i'm a good actor. >> reporter: truth and illusion collide and shatter on stage and off. ann thompson, nbc news, new york. >> flag stick a remarkable performance. that is "nbc nightly news" this sunday night. lester holt will be reporting from jerusalem as the president visits israel tomorrow. i'm kate know in new york. for all of us here at nbc news, have a great night. ♪

>> my mom knew something was wrong. and she's like "what's going on?" and i'm like, "i just got the phone call that nicky's missing." my mom's like what? so i had to tell my mom her daughter's missing. >> nicole was a loving young mom. >> nicky was all about her kids. >> embarking on a new life, and a solo drive across the state. >> it is a very wide open, desolate place. >> i found out my sister hadn't come home. >> did she break down on the side of the road? did she get picked up by somebody? >> kidnapping? carjacking? >> everything was on the table. >> they found her car, along with a clue that maybe, nicole had romance on her mind. >> there was a calendar, and