Tonight Hurricane Helene gaining strength expected to slam Florida as a major category

for storm.

Helene rapidly intensified as it closes in on Florida's Gulf Coast and its capital, Tallahassee, set to become the most powerful

hurricane to hit the U.S. in two years.

Life-threatening storm surge up to 20 feet, states of emergency in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, mandatory

evacuations, miles of traffic as the race to get out is on.

Al Roker standing by with a new track.

Also breaking tonight the IED exploding at a California courthouse,

six injured, a suspect in custody,

deputies pinning him down as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

What was his motive?

The deadly bus hijacking in Los Angeles, a gunman leading police on a chase

for more than an hour. Police using flashbangs to enter that bus

how the driver escaped and the life-saving training police say he used to alert

authorities. Overseas Hezbollah fires a missile on Tel Aviv for the first time.

Is Israel preparing for a ground offensive in Lebanon?

The new troubles for the Secret Service, the agent, on leave tonight after law enforcement sources said he allegedly

sexually assaulted one of Kamala Harris's staffers.

Plus the candidates in two key battlegrounds as Vice President Harris tries to cut into Mr.

Trump's lead on the economy and the baseball mint master giving new life to old gloves from around the globe.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

And good evening from Miami.

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