How could I get a copy of the story about the boy that died from abcessed tooth??? A similiar incident is happening with my grandchild... except they have insurance! We are in a court process not to get custody of the children back to the father. I would love for the Judge to read this story! The attitude of the mother is that, "Oh, well.... it is just a baby tooth.... just pull it and the other cavities!" This should be a real HEADS UP!!!!!

Dear Mr. Williams,

Just a note to let you know, you are finally growing on me. First my allegiance was forever to Mr. Tom Brokaw, and nobody cried more then me his last night on the air. I was not gonna like you, and went as far as changing the channel your first night, referred to you as the pretty boy. Stole that from Letterman, sorry. But in all honesty, I came back to NBC and you Mr. Williams. I think your a brilliant news man and very handsome. And at 5:30 pacific time, you are the one thing I will stop everything in the house for. You have truly and finally won me over, your alright man.

Your Number #1 fan in San Jose California!

in regards to the toothache death...it is great that this debate is being brought to the forefront for millions of people who cannot afford dental care. medicaid would be a great option if all dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons accepted it. one thing that should be mentioned are the thousands of individuals and families who make too much $ to qualify for medicaid but still cannot afford dental care and/or the dental insurance. most companies do not offer a dental plan and the ones who do are less than good. dentists are not reasonably priced for the population of people who are middle classed.
melissa, jacksonville, florida

Dear Brian,
After reading some of these comments, I see I am not the only American who was outraged to see the stories this week concerning health care. What a country! We can spend billions on war but our citizens, including Vets, are left to suffer and die because our government has its priorities mixed up. I guess oil is more important than anything else. Bush the second, seems to have a one track mind, and it runs on oil. An innocent Iraqi girl, who would never have needed care if it wasn't for OUR war, can get the best of care but a 12 year old American boy is left to die. The President expects the troops to do anything he asks of them, but when they come home their concerns are pushed aside and they are left to live in squaller. What a world!

Not only does not having dental insurance affect children, it affects adults, too. I am 25 years old, and I have not seen a dentist in two years-no dental insurance. A dentist would have to do a lot of work on me if I ever see one. I can relate very well to the young man who died of his infected teeth. It shows how misplaced the government's priorities are when an Iraqi girl can get the best care money can buy, and an American boy dies because he could not see a dentist.

Very excited to hear Nightly News is now available in India. I am a loyal viewer and I am moving to India and Nightly News was one of the things that I was going to miss. So thankyou.

If you wish to believe as the financial pundits wish you to believe , then a computer glitch was behind the unusual market plunge of 416 points. However, if you wish to believe in real world issues, then that market plunge was associated with China's efforts to derail the bUsh administration's plans to invade Iran. And why not as Iran is China's energy source. China, as the major holder of US debt, attempted to point out to this stupid Bush cabal that by attempting to be bellicose with Iran, China will not just stand by and allow this Bush administartion to do as it did with Iraq. China's use of performing a knockdown missile attack upon one of its sattelites was a minor display of its capabilities which the Bush administration merely scoffed at. However, the financial aspect of China's display of raw power over world markets to disrupt future financial aspects is far more daunting. China can simply take that debt and do as it would like to make the fragile markets of the US stock markets all that more fragile. And the financial pundits want to keep the real issue at bay so as to not allow further declines of confidence, kind of like hiding this under the rug. The issue came from China which is undeniable but the reasons why China did this must be denied or again unconfidence in the markets are at issue. I would say that this matter finally got the attention of this White House crew but who knows, Bush may simply push right on over the cliff.

I'm glad people in India can watch your broadcast now, too. I've been watching it on CNBC Europe for years now, and it's really become a part of my daily routine to watch Nightly News (they're broadcasting it at 12.30am) just before going to bed.
It would be a nice addition, though, if it were possible for people like me (who don't live in the U.S.) to watch the weekend editions, as well. They're not on CNBC Europe, and they're not on the website as a netcast.

Dear Brain-
I am the Clinical Director for a small program in Pittsburgh that operates a free, walk-in medical clinic in the city. Most of our patients are uninsured and come from all walks of life, so myself, my staff and wonderful volunteer physicians and pharmacists know all too well the complexities and struggles of being uninsured. Regardless of how long I have been doing my work, I continue to be saddened and angry when I see stories such as the one last night about the young boy who died as a result of an infection from an abcessed tooth. You commented at the end of the segment how many in our country ask how something like this can happen in America. To me, that question remains a significant part of the problem. When stories like this come to the forefront (and thank you to you and NBC News for making it a priority to be told!), it seems that is always the question raised. We are shocked and suprised. We need to STOP asking that question in the U.S. and start acknowleding that this IS happening - every day, in every city - and yes, in one of the richest and developed countries on the globe, because health care is not a right for all of us. I think it's safer to pretend that a story like this is the rare exception. Every day I see the effects of lack of health care access and insurance on individuals, our communities and our country. We need to stop acting as though we are suprised and admit that we are failing so many of our citizens and have the ability and strength as a nation to make it better.

Brian,
Welcome to India. Sure did miss the first live telecast- was completely unaware- usually watch BBC/CNN in the mornings. I am sure you will have a huge audience here-people love to watch American News-and above all, most household will have someone working in The US or atleast know someone living there - therefore would be keen to know whats going on...People here love the work culture of The US and therefore have lot of respect for your country.
Will be watching Nightly News in the Mornings!

Brian: please do not feel bad about short entries. You give your readers and viewers so much----your recollections of New Orleans alone make you stellar in my book! You are the only person not from the Bu lf who brings back to me how a visit in August, 2006, showed me that, although we had mor deaths here, we did not lose our CITY, and they did.

Thanks for all you do and for sharing yourself with us.

This is insane! This little girl would not have been put in this situation if our contry hadn't invaded theirs. She's not the only little 5 year old going through this. Has anyone thought about all the other children going through this war? How many little innocent children are going to die because Bush wants some $$$$. That precious little girl would never have been hurt in the first place if we didn't invade her country. She was just running around being a little girl until someone blew her up. THANKS GWB!

Brian: Your doing a good job with the news lately. It's balanced and interesting with the pieces that you have on the show.

This series about the wounded from the war zones is a real public service. Please keep that up so that we don't loose the focus.

Dear Brian, On this evening's news cast you told a story about a young Iraqi girl who was badly injured in a rocket attack. She was offered the best of medical care,two teams of surgeons,a trip to America for special treatment and recovery. Now I think that is all well and good to save the life of someone in need,but in the same broadcast is a story of a young African American,and I stress the American part of this story,who was unable to get dental care for abscessed teeth; the abscess spread to his brain and he died.First of all I can't believe that its all right for us to go all out for a non-American and spend unlimited amounts of money,but we couldn't come up with a few hundred dollars to save the life of an American child,not news worthy enough I guess. Americans suffer and die every day due to lack of medical care,the same people paying for this war, who go to work everyday and are broke the day after payday,it's time you focused in on the real America instead of ignoring it. But yeah then that would be reporting the truth. Chuck Tomaselli Viet Nam veteran

dear mr. williams u had a story on the news tonite regarding a boy who died because of inability to see adentist this almost and still could happen to afamily member of mine he has diabetes and is disabled and has no dental insurance in july he was taken to hosp. with blood poisoning because of teeth they refused to have a oral surgeon take the teethout instead he was put on antibotics he spent awk. in the hosp. only to return in oct. 4 the same thing he is still on antibiotics he has been home 4 mos. he had 3 teeth removed in dec only because he took money needed 4heating to pay a dentist why does this happen because the nation never concerns it self until something happens to someone with a high status all people according to the constitution are created equal but not in the real world it upsets me greatly write back if u can ican tell u some more sad stories i know many people who are suffering like this .

Mr. Williams, I really enjoy reading your Daily Nightly blog every evening. I started participating in January 2007. I have learned alot about how stories are gathered, meetings with leaders, conversations with colleagues and much more. I like being part of a group of people from all over the country and world commenting on news reports. I feel like I met new friends. Thank you for your Daily Nightly blog and for your Nightly News broadcasts. I will always be a loyal blogger and continue to be a loyal viewer.

Although Ms. Chapman asks a question about where we could "get such varied items" in refernece to something specific, I wonder if there ever will be a U.S. commercial news company that will show the kinds of news items that are aired on LinkTV. Sadly LinkTV is limited in its coverage.
There is so much more going on in this world besides the Iraq war, the Middle East conflict, and arguments over where a media personality will be buried.
I hope that NBC's expansion into the India broadcast market will encourage NBC and others to find and report on more events throughout the world, those events rarely broadcast on American television.

Thank-you so much for not feeling the burning need to repart anything on Anna Nicole Smith. Entertainment Night is killing us with full coverage so much so that I change the channel!

Brian, i just finished watching tonights broadcast. I am a call Firefighter/EMT outside of Worcester Mass. I was glad to finally see the PASS issue brought to the publics eyes. This is a major issue for us as you know. I hope Nightly News follows up on this subject as it will surely go into costs, how much will come from the feds and who will be making money on the eventual "new" PASS device.

Thank you again for broadcasting this story and I will continue to watch Nightly News.

I was hoping that while you discussed firefighting safety with the Pass alarm segment that I might also be able to add a few other potential lifesavers. Firefighting equipment can be quite amazing. There is now a proposal for a full-face helmet that not only integrates a breathing facemask with the helmet but can also incorporate thermal cameras that ‘beam’ a clear image (regardless of smoke) onto the inner face screen of the helmet, thus allowing them to see like a pilot would through a heads-up display. I found more information about this at:

http://www.pacifichelmets.co.nz/helmets/concept_helmets.html

Another interesting item I found on MSNBC was a reference to a hovering VTOL flying platform that could be used to save people in high-rise fires by actually holding position right up against the side of the burning buildings.

http://www.membrana.ru/images/articles/1083780792-3.jpeg

It can alternately take firefighters up to the floors they need to access within seconds, not hours! Another Israeli project is the AeroSafe Eagle, which is specifically designed for high-rise fires and is much larger than the X-Hawk:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1025/csmimg/1025p14.jpg

Something like these platforms would also be awesome for Katrina or Hurricane Floyd-style rooftop rescues, instead of trying to hover and hoist people up one at a time! The mere fact that we don't have such rescue devices - to me - points to a very serious neglect in our planning, if not outright negligence! Why would we build skyscrapers so tall without having first invented such rescue equipment?

Brian,
Apologies are never needed! Though referring to me is always a good way to suck up. LOL

Your blog and all of its entries as varied as they may be truly make this so very interesting, informative and at times downright funny. All are very much appreciated, at least by me.

Try and relax this evening after the hectic day.

Along with Stephanie's comments up top on the Bob Woodward piece on ABC last night, I know you cannot really comment on it during Nightly News on NBC but I was wondering what your thoguhts were on the piece. It was very moving and the piece with Secretary Nicholson was just idiotic. That man is completely lost with reality, "dental work". I watched it and had the same thoughts and then on Imus this morning, Imus completely went off on the guy as well as everyone should. Great documentary and I just wanted to know your thoughts.

Brian - I'm sure that you must be as pleased as everyone @ ABC that Bob Woodruff is back to work. Being a news junkie, I've been following his progress, and I'm glad to see that he's chosen to highlight the needs of our wounded soliders that are being maimed on the battlefield. (Nothing against NBC... but the more people who talk about our veterans and get them help, the better!)

Joan - I too had a computer problem - a Microsoft problem - at work and had to call tech support. I was actually happy that the lovely lady who answered the phone and had a heavily accented English was easy to understand & she understood me!

Thanks to Robert Bazell for the series on treating the wounded from Iraq.. this is excellent work! I keep wondering if an AF nurse I knew several years back is still out there with them; she was thinking of leaving at the time because there was so little work (this was prior to 9/11).

I'm wondering if you will cover the report that part of the reason for the stock market down day yesterday was a software glitch? It would be ironic if investors could legitimately claim that the computer ate their profits!

My sympathies on the meetings .. rotten way to spend a day :)

I will let my friends in India know that they should tune in... thanks for the announcement!

C'mon Brian -

Some of us look forward to those music reviews and contemporary non-fiction - even the firehouse and NASCAR stories. Where else could we get such varied items???

Now for me, I'm on my second year of no Mets TV coverage due to lack of carriage agreements between METS/SNY/and Cox Cable. ESPN and Fox Sports also black out the game, foolishly thinking that everyone in CT gets SNY, which is not true. I have to multi-task with the Yankees on YES muted and the Mets on WFAN, because I absolutely must see or hear every inning of every game.

We all have our causes and interests.

India? Last week when I had a computer problem the techie on the phone was - guess where.