this morning, tens of millions under a severe weather threat as another storm system makes its way across the country. is the west coast already washed out. nbc meteorologist violeta yas here with what's next. cranes now starting to remove the twisted steel from that collapsed key bridge.

this as yet another bridge accident in oklahoma is raising questions about the country's aging infrastructure. more bloodshed in gaza. an israeli air strike hitting tents at one of the few hospitals still standing as the u.s. sends more weapons to israel. the latest in aa technology mimicking any human's voice. we'll tell you why even its own creators are concerned. and a proposal gone viral. meet the couple who persevered through cancer to get to this special moment, seen over a million times. it is not an april fools joke, but it is monday, april 1. and "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm jessica layton, and we begin this morning with the weekend washout on the west coast that is now marching east. in southern california, nearly 2 inches of rain falling in just over an hour. severe flooding shutting down highway 101 in both directions

in santa barbara county. some drivers were stranded, and officials say eight people had to be rescued, one treated for hypothermia. the deluge also washing out part of highway 1. further north, this is debris from a plane crash that left two people dead. the causehas not yet been determined, but it was snowing in the area. the ntsb is now investigating. and more than 2 feet of snow falling in parts of the sierra nevada. that system is barreling across the country this morning as millions now brace for more severe weather. let's bring in nbc meteorologist violeta yas, who is tracking all of this for us. violeta, what a mess out there. >> yeah, just as things improve in the west, that severe weather is going to start ramping up here across the middle of the country with nearly 38 million people at risk for severe weather. and we're talk all forms of severe weather. wind gusts to 60 miles per hour likely here in this corridor from around dallas, texas all the way up into st. louis. damaging hail possible as well. and a few strong tornadoes

possible, in particular in this area where nocturnal tornadoes are possible. those of course being particularly dangerous as folks are sleeping and sometimes folks don't have the means of getting the severe weather alerts. so right around eastern oklahoma, all the way up into parts of missouri, but really the general tornado threat extends up into the indianapolis area. so that system continues to the north and east. and we'll see that main risk today from oklahoma to illinois, with heavy rain and also a risk for some flooding. tomorrow that risk shifts east into parts of tennessee and the ohio river valley. overall a very active start to april in particular across the middle of the country. jessica, sending it back over to you. >> thanks. we'll check back with you shortly. police in indiana are investigating a shooting that left several minors injured. on saturday night, several people ages 12 to 17 were shot outside a mall in downtown indianapolis. one victim is still in catherine. the other six are now stable.

no arrests have been made, but we know detectives have begun an aggravated assault investigation. it is the city's third shooting in three weekends. more equipment has arrived in baltimore to help with the cleanup process there. work is going on to pull the wreckage out of the water after that deadly bridge disaster. meanwhile, another barge hit a different bridge. here is nbc's aaron gilchrist. >> reporter: the first view of a beam carried away by crane from the wreckage of the key bridge. coast guard video showing crews using cutting torches to slice through steel. officials confirming the first salvage issues were a success including a 200-ton piece of the northern part of the bridge, cut away and removed on saturday. still, it's just a small fraction of the work to be done. >> these are secondary pieces and we're hoping to open up secondary channels. >> reporter: what's your understanding that now a week later the probability of finding these four men that are missing and what will it take to do that? >> we owe it to these families

to bring a sense of closure. so as soon as it is safe for our divers to get back into the water those divers are going back in the water. >> reporter: even as the 24/7 effort on the water ramps up, political debate in washington with republicans criticizing president biden's quick promise to pay for a new bridge in baltimore. >> we could see republicans and democrats cooperate to get president biden's infrastructure package through, surely they can cooperate to help america and baltimore deal with this tragedy. >> holy! holy [ bleep ]. >> reporter: and in oklahoma on saturday, another bridge pillar hit, this time by a barge, temporarily closing the span over the arkansas river. >> it didn't knock the bridge down. i don't know. oh, my gosh. >> reporter: two bridge incidents less than a week apart, now fueling new concerns about america's aging infrastructure. >> certainly, this incident is going to give america's bridge builders and engineering community a lot to think about.

>> our thanks to aaron for that report. there is more bloodshed in gaza this morning after israeli bombs hit tents outside a major hospital, killing several people, including journalists. the israeli military says it instruction an operational islamic jihad command center in that area. meanwhile, two senior officials tell nbc news that the biden administration is sending more bombs to israel, disregarding an international consensus on a ceasefire and growing dissent within the democratic party. the bombs are part of a weapons package that was approved years ago, but is only now being fulfilled. it includes nearly 2,000 one-ton bombs and 500 quarter-ton bombs. disgraced south carolina attorney alec murdaugh will face another sentencing today. murdaugh, who is already serving two life sentences for the murder of his wife and son is to be sentenced for federal crimes

later. he pleaded guilty to 22 charges including bank fraud and moneylaundering. he already got a 27-year sentence for similar state charges. the senseless murder of a nursing student at the university of georgia campus has ignited a fiery debate over immigration in the state and beyond. nbc's steven romo has that story. >> reporter: at the georgia state capitol -- >> is this body the house of the people legally entitled to amend, circumvent, or repeal federal law? >> i don't know about that, but we're getting ready to do it, if that's what you think. >> reporter: that was the question seconds before state lawmakers voted to push a controversial immigration bill to republican governor brian kemp's desk. >> the house bill on 1105. >> reporter: the measure passing on the last day of the legislative session amid ongoing fallout from the death of 22-year-old lakin riley. the university of georgia nursing student who was found dead after going for a jog near her campus in athens.

undocumented immigrant jose antonio ibarra from venezuela is charged with her murder. he had previously been arrested in 2022 for entering the u.s. without authorization, but was released on parole, according to immigration and customs enforcement. he is currently being held without bond. house bill 1105 would require local law enforcement agencies to check the immigration status of people in their custody and cooperate with federal immigration authorities with added penalties of losing state or federal funding for failing to comply. >> this bill simply ensures that when individuals have committed crimes in georgia, when we determine they are illegally in this country, that we fully work with federal immigration authorities. >> reporter: the bull getting pushback on the floor right before the vote. >> a lot of concerns have been raised by law enforcement that this bill will undermine their ability to keep their communities safe by requiring them to essentially act as if they were immigration law enforcement officers.

>> reporter: immigration advocates say the bill would make some communities less willing to report crime and work with local law enforcement. what was a personal tragedy for a family -- >> i wish i could have been there to protect her. >> reporter: -- is now a political flash point. >> my vision for every senator in this chamber is that you protect citizens from this illegal invasion. >> reporter: riley's father even visiting the state senate earlier this month, asking them to pass the bill. president biden responding on the fly during the state of the union earlier this month to representative marjorie taylor greene's outburst on riley's death. "say her name" becoming a rallying cry for republicans hoping to get tighter immigration laws passed, reinforcing long-held fears many on the right have that immigration leads to an increase in crime. fears that might not hold up to the data. studies show no meaningful impact on homicide or robbery rates associated with sanctuary city policies.

>> our thanks to steven for that report. the annual white house easter egg roll is today. president biden and the first lady are both expected to be there. it follows a series of easter sunday events across the country. st. patrick's cathedral in new york city saw a solemn easter mass service, while others took to the streets of manhattan for an easter parade and bonnet festival. and for those on the west coast, the snow did not stop people from coming out to an easter egg hunt in california. well, the storms we talked about this morning not the only concern for some parts of the country. the southeast right now is bracing for a blast of heat. nbc meteorologist violeta yas is tracking that and so much more. hi again, violeta. >> good morning, jessica. yes, the calendar says spring, but these temperatures say summer. you can see where the core of the heat is across the south central u.s. and starting to sort of slide into the southeast as well. of course, much cooler here across the high plains into the great lakes. but let's take a look at some of

the temperatures, into the 80s and well into the 80s in parts of texas and parts of the southeast where with temperatures from 10 to 15 degrees above average. by tomorrow, you can see some of that warmth start to shift into the east with temperatures into the 80s all the way from parts of florida and south carolina, all the way up into parts of norfolk as well. there out through parts of virginia. meanwhile, temperatures inland will be well into the 40s. that's a look at the weather in your region. sending it back to you. >> thank you. coming up, the road to the final four is paved with busted brackets. the huge upsets from the big dance. but first, giving a voice to

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enjoy the go with charmin. an astonishing new voice imitation program is so realistic, even its own creators are concerned about how it could be used. and you've really got to hear it to believe it. nbc's marissa parra has that story. >> reporter: open ai helped kick start the new era of artificial intelligence with its text generating tool chatgpt. it stunned us with its ai-generated visuals through d dali, and amazed us. now it's unveiling voice engine, a new text to audio generator, that can turn this real human voice sample -- >> force is a push or pull that can make an object move. >> this to this ai generated one. >> have you ever wondered why a soccer ball soars through the air? >> open ai says it needs only a 15-second sample to generate a

synthetic voice. >> it's going to get a lot of companies really rushing to perfect and to update a lot of their platforms. >> reporter: opening ai is not the first company to demonstrate the ability to clone voices. the risks of the technology already clear. >> does it impress you or does it concern you? >> i have to admit it's impressive. but i'm very concerned about the possibilities for these kinds of powerful technologies. there are no regulations so far. >> reporter: other voice generating programs have already been used to create fake ransom messages and even this robocall intended to sound like president biden. >> it's important you save your votes for the november election. >> reporter: open ai acknowledging the risks of this emerging technology, saying in the blog it's working on the tool with a limited number of partners, and that, quote, we are taking a cautious and informed approach to the broad release due to the potential for synthetic voice abuse. but the company also demonstrating potential, showing what it can do across languages. >> friendship is a universal

treasure. >> here is that same phrase in spanish. [ speaking in spanish ] again in japanese. [ speaking japanese ] >> and it's not just voices. open ai is partnering to try out creating short movies like this one. >> i am literally filled with hot air. >> reporter: open ai demonstrating its capabilities in part to push a site to prepare for technology that is no longer a matter of if but when. marissa parra, nbc news. still to corp., nc state fans are saying that's my dj. we break down thwopa'lfck upset. and a preview of the final four. it's coming up right after this. [car door shuts] [paparazzi taking pictures] introducing, ned's plaque psoriasis. ned, ned, who are you wearing? he thinks his flaky red patches are all people see otezla is the #1 prescribed pill to treat plaque psoriasis. ned? otezla can help you get clearer skin,

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they have 5 of 23 in the second half. burns left open. nice and easy. burns, burns, another for dj burns!

>> that's dj burns jr. turning it up on sunday, dropping 29 points in 11th seed nc state's elite 8 matchup against fourth seeded duke. the underdog wolfpack scoring the upset against their inner state rifles to make their first final four since 1983. they'll take on zach edey and purdue next saturday who really took care of business against tennessee earlier. alabama taking on the seemingly unstoppable uconn huskies. nothing less than a spot in the national championship game on the line. even though it's on that other network, i have been looking these games this year. >> i was trying really hard to stay up for that nc state game. it was very, very good. >> a little tired today. >> i couldn't do it. early bedtime. well, it may surprise you that a seat at the final four may not break the bank if you're okay with just watching the men. according to resale company vivid seats, ticket prices for the women's final four are 47%

more expensive than those for the men's tournament. the vendor lists the cheapest ticket for the women's games at $343, while the lowest priced seats for the men clock in at $233. the women's final four tips off friday in cleveland. the last two spots will go to the victors of tonight's games between uconn and usc and lsu versus iowa. i'm definitely looking forward to the lsu versus iowa. the women's tournament has been phenomenal. >> that is the caitlin clark effect right there. >> absolutely. >> girls all over the country getting so into it this year. well, it is plan b for the oakland a's. espn reporting on saturday that the city of oakland will present the mlb's athletics with an offer to extend the team's lease at the oak aluminum coliseum for the next five years. it was intended their last at the home of 50 plus years. while the mlb approved the move to las vegas last fall, that new stadium is not expected to be finished until 2028, potentially leaving the team in limbo until then.

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tell you over the phone? >> reporter: a doctor from novant health calling to give her the good news. >> and i said you can just tell me over the phone, because at the time, it's no way it's cancer. >> reporter: after finding a lump in her breast in july, may was diagnosed with an aggressive type of stage 2 breast cancer. two months later -- >> i still wasn't processing that the fact that i have breast cancer. like my life is literally about to change. >> reporter: she called her long-time boyfriend, imeke watkins, to tell him the news. >> the whole car ride home i was just like at the end of the day, we're going get through the process. >> reporter: it was that way may started an intense chemotherapy treatment with watkins by her said. she can't help but break down when she describes it. >> chemo is hard. and you're sick all the time. you're tired. you can't do what you used to do. so it's just -- >> it's tough. >> it's a lot.

and i cry every time i talk about it because nobody understands what it does to your body. >> reporter: but she had watkins every step of the way. and after 16 intense rounds of chemo, may finally rang the bell, marking her victory over breast cancer. [ cheering ] from bell ringing to ring wearing. watkins had another surprise in store. >> you know you're going to ring the bell. did you even think that another surprise was waiting for you after? >> oh, no. oh, no. my mind was strictly on ringing that bell and getting out of that hospital. i had no clue he was going to propose. >> reporter: the approximately now viewed more than one million times on tiktok. may says she hopes those who watch the video are inspired to overcome their own battles, just as she overcame hers. >> i'm thankful for going through it, because now he is

blessing us every day, like every day. i'm really grateful. >> reporter: and ready for the next chapter of life with her love by her side. >> thanks to eva brindgord for that report. the easter bunny really hid eggs everywhere. even off the coast of the florida keys, divers and snorkelers, following the bunny, hoping to find the lucky golden egg which comes with a gold ndant from ape

i think there's a great deal of confusion within the restaurant industry on who is covered and who is not. >> right now at 5:00, going up. minimum wage increase for california fast food workers starts today. a live report on the impact it could have on the price you pay. plus, a devastating break-in on easter morning in the wake of another store t