keir simmons starting us off in brazil tonight. thanks. >>> in washington this evening, here's something we haven't been able to say in a long time. there is new hope for a broad bipartisan agreement, this time on the issue of immigration reform. after republicans took a historic shellacking among hispanic voters in the november election, what has been one of the most divisive issues in recent politics, suddenly has lawmakers on both sides ready to make some sort of a deal. kelly o'donnell following it all for us on capitol hill tonight. kelly, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. there really is new political urgency driving this. republicans say immigration reform is one way they could better connect with the fast-growing block of hispanic voters. democrats would like to help the president get an early second term success. so all that makes an agreement hammered out this weekend look like it's got a shot to deal with the 11 million people believed to be here illegally. today, in places like this vegetable field in vent

nbc's keir simmons has more tonight. >> reporter: malala walking from the hospital today. a strong woman, her doctors say, making excellent progress. in pictures released by the hospital, the affection of her nurses is evident. >> i think it's fantastic news she has come out of the hospital. and it's actually particularly a relief to her family. >> reporter: family members in the uk have visited regularly but doctors decided living with them would help her recovery. >> they were finding it difficult to properly educate her in the hospital. so they wanted her to be even more with the family, because only father and mother were allowed every day. >> reporter: just three months ago in pakistan, malala was near death, shot in the head by the taliban. they were angered by her campaign for women's education. >> if you can help us, please help. >> reporter: instead of killing her, they made this teenage girl a household name and inspired support for her cause around the world. in pakistan, malala's school is now under armed guards. i really want her to come home, says her friend.

keir simmons, nbc news, london. >>> when beyonce sang the national anthem after the president was sworn in, everyone thought she crushed it. she sounded spectacular. though in fairness, a few savvy viewers watching the coverage at home thought they saw something unusual. then today came the crushing word from a spokeswoman for the u.s. marine corps band that she was singing to a prerecording in effect lip-syncing. it's the same thing yo-yo ma did four years ago. there's still some official confusion as to what we heard and what went on. and even though it was her voice either way, the story was tough for a lot of people to take today. >>> when we come back tonight, what went on behind the scenes at yesterday's inauguration in washington, including what went on at the white house until the early morning hours. ♪ let me be the one >>> the big celebration may be over, the balloons swept up, party dresses put away. but tonight we wanted to take a last look at inauguration day, not necessarily the image we're all expecting to see, but the images we'll all remember and the ones that have si

nbc's keir simmons has more tonight. >> reporter: malala walking from the hospital today. a strong woman, her doctors say, making excellent progress. in pictures released by the hospital, the affection of her nurses is evident. >> i think it's fantastic news she has come out of the hospital. and it's actually particularly a relief to her family. >> reporter: family members in the uk have visited regularly but doctors decided living with them would help her recovery. >> they were finding it difficult to properly educate her in the hospital. so they wanted her to be even more with the family, because only father and mother were allowed every day. >> reporter: just three months ago in pakistan, malala was near death, shot in the head by the taliban. they were angered by her campaign for women's education. >> if you can help us, please help. >> reporter: instead of killing her, they made this teenage girl a household name and inspired support for her cause around the world. in pakistan, malala's school is now under armed guards. i really wanted to come home, says her friend. b

keir simmons, nbc news, london. >>> the los angeles police department is investigating claims that two officers lured four women into unmarked cars and forced them to have sex over a five-year period. according to court records, the na narcotics officers would threaten the women with jail time to get them in the car, then drive them to secluded areas where the officers would demand sex. one of the alleged victims has filed a lawsuit. >>> back here in the bay area, we're learning that that oil fire at chevron's oil refinery over the summer may have accidentally been ignited by firefighter. chevron firefighters responded to reports of a small leak in a 40-year-old pipe and photos from that investigation now showing something unexpected here where the pipe had failed. that line appears to have have been punctured and punctured from the outside. investigators say the damage could have happened accidentally as firefighters tore away the insulation. >>> a san francisco lawmaker is making some bold moves. he's proposing a new bill to protect the homeless. democratic assemblyman tom ammiano wa

keir simmons is there. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. you can see where rescuers smashed the walls of the nightclub to save lives. but they're now asking, why was this the only exit. vigils held overnight for the more than 230 dead. >> i don't wish for anybody the same. >> reporter: survivors say the band set off pyrotechnics, igniting a fire in the ceiling. audrey lost two friends, one she was with in the club that night. >> he goes to the bathroom and 30 seconds later, the smoke, the fire starts. and i don't see him again. >> reporter: she fell to the floor, trampled, but escaped. >> i am very happy i'm here. >> reporter: outside the nightclub, panic. desperate rescues and now questions. >> reporter: are you angry? >> a little bit. i don't know how i feel about thi this, about everything. >> reporter: today, she will talk to the police. four people have been arrested, reportedly including the club's owners. the country's president declaring it must never happen again. and overnight the number of flowers here has doubled. there are pict

nbc's keir simmons has more from london. >> this morning, two of the dead hostage takers are canadian nationals. the report from algerian officials is not confirmed but if true, then this is a wider al qaeda threat. the bloody aftermath of a siege ended by the algerian army. at least 23 hostages killed and over 20 bodies found overnight. this video apparently shows survivors escaping into the desert with terrifying stories. >> you could hear gunfire and machine gunfire. >> reporter: not just machine guns. the extremists had rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, like a small army, a still unknown number of americans among the victims. >> we cannot accept attacks against our citizens in our interests abroad. >> reporter: recorded, issuing demands for the release of prisoners, the leader of the hostage takers, believed killed. groups aligned to al qaeda, a new threat say western politicians. >> this is a global threat and it will require a global response. it will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather, than months. >> reporter: britain paul morgan fought back when th

keir simmons reports a miraculous recovery. targeted by the taliban because she spoke up for the rights of women. doctors say the bullet grazed her brain but described her as a strong young woman. she will recover her recoveries with her family in britain. her father, mother and younger brothers are all here. she's to undergo reconstructive surgery in late january or early february. the pakistani government is paying for her treatment, and her father has been given a job, appointed education attache. >>> an american eagle pilot was arrested just before takeoff this morning at the minneapolis/st. paul international airport. the pilot smelled of alcohol before he boarded the plane. dural preflight checks, the pilot was given a breathalyzer test and he was arrested. the flight was delayed. >>> a battery-powered toothbrush and luggage caused travel backups today. workers at air trance hear a the terminal reopened about an hour later. >>> more than two months as soon as superstorm sandy devastated parts of new york and new jersey. t

keir simmons in london for us this morning. >> good, i don't have to worry about bidding against you now. >>> a behind-the-scenes look at a new reality tv program that takes viewers inside what many of us see a solemn occasion, funerals. kerry sanders is in dallas. a lot of people wondering, kerry, if maybe the reality producers have run out of ideas at this point. >> reporter: you know, erica, i've wondered the same thing. if you've been to a tradition funeral you know it's hush tones and some sobs. there exists in this country funerals that are more than a celebration of life. they're a party. it's all captured on tlc's new reality show "best funeral ever." for many, funerals are a moment for the living to grieve. but for some, funerals are a reason to have a party. yes, that's a pig. and this is not called a funeral. rather it's called a homegoing, put together like a theatrical production. >> we as a race of people, we have always celebrated our homegoing services. being absent with the body we are present with the lord. >> reporter: willie koelt mccoy's funeral was a tribute to

. >> keir simmons is here. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. prince harry was as candid as i have ever heard him before. and he said his scandal in las vegas let people down and looking forward to being an uncle and it really got people talking here. for four months, prince harry has been a helicopter gunner, flying an apache over afghanistan. >> this has been my office. >> reporter: based at camp b.a.s.s.ion, often supporting u.s. forces, he has seen action, firing at taliban fighters. >> save a life. we'll take them on again, i suppose. >> reporter: in interviews he is disarmingly honest about his true feelings. of those pictures in vegas, i let people down. >> i let my family down and others down. >> reporter: he is described by the media as quote unacceptable. >> it was an area there should be a certain amount of privacy. >> reporter: harry yearns for provides. i his captain says he is fearless but outside, armed with cameras. >> everything has an mobile phone on it now and can't move an inch. >> reporter: on the pregnancy. >> and and publi