a memorial day marked by devastation. severe storms and tornados tear across the south, killing at least two dozen people. and the plains are bracing for

another round today. our meteorologist angie lassman is tracking the threat. donald trump's fate nearly in the hands of the jury. closing arguments in the former president's historic hush money trial set to begin in just hours. we're live with when we could hear a verdict. a hollywood tragedy. a general hospital star shot and killed during a suspected robbery. the search for the gunman heating up this morning. and remembering a nba hall-of-famer, bill walton. the legendary player turned belo beloved broadcaster has died at the age of 71. we'll look back at his leitch. and walton's former team brought out the brooms last night. the celtics sweep the pacers in a thrilling game four. we'll have the highlights. and's national burger day. get your buns in gear for sizzling deals. it's tuesday, may 28. "early today" starts right now. good morning. glad you're with me.

i'm frances rivera. closing arguments will begin in just a few hours in the criminal hush money trial. do of donald trump. brie jackson joins us with what to expect. what should we be watching out for this week? >> reporter: good morning, frances. today the prosecution and defense will get their last chance to try to sway the jury. for the prosecution, the case really centers in large part on their star witness, michael cohen, mr. trump's former fixer and attorney who allegedly reimbursed for payment, he allegedly reimbursed for payments to stormy daniels to keep her quiet. now mr. trump faces 34 felony counts. and each count concerns a specific business record, including checks and invoices involving michael cohen. the jury must decide whether or not each record was falsified by trump or not. the meaning he could be convicted on some counts and acquitted of others. the 34 counts carry a maximum

sentence of four years each. if there is a conviction, there are many reasons judge juan merchan may choose a lesser punishment, like a fine or probation. including mr. trump's age, his lack of previous convictions and the historic nature of this case. mr. trump has denied any wrongdoing. now overnight, the former president also complained that the prosecution gets to make the final argument, saying, why can't the defense go last, calling this a very unfair witch hunt. now after closing arguments today, the judge is expected to give the jury their instructions tomorrow and then we will be on verdict watch. the verdict could come within hours or days. now, if there is a c convictions al conviction,it's almost certain mr. trump will file an appeal. north korea failed to put a spy satellite into orbit.

the launch made japan issue a brief shelter in place order in okinawa. north korea had informed japan of the launch beforehand and insist on the right to fire test missiles and shoot satellites into orbit. analysts speculate the launch was timed to coincide with a tri lateral meeting between japan, south korea and china. there is international outrage this morning after israel bombed a refugee tent encampment in gaza, killing at least 45 in an inferno that raged throughout sunday night. the local health ministry also reported dozens of serious injuries. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu acknowledged the mass killing, calling it, quote, a tragic incident that will be investigated. for the latest, let's go to claudio lavanga. what has the reaction been from world leaders? >> reporter: good morning, frances. well, it started with the undersecretary-general for

humanitarian affairs at the united nations. he issued a statement in which he said we have warned that military operation in rafah would lead to a slaughter and called the attack an abomination. let's stay with the united nations with secretary-general antonio guterres who said this horror must stop. the same outrage was felt across europe, world leaders in europe, with the foreign minister in germany saying the images of charred bodies, including children, are unbearable. and the french president, emmanuel macron saying he's outraged and called for immediate cease-fire. now the most careful reaction, if you can call it that, came from the united states. with the national security council issuing a statement saying that the images of the aftermath of that attack were heartbreaking, but, sta at the time, it understands israel has the right to go after hamas but should do its best to protect civilians while it does so. while, in the end, israel says

two hamas commanders were killed while they say 45 civilians were killed alongside them. now, as we know, that area where the attack took place was deemed safe by israel for palestinians to find shelter after they were displaced from other places in gaza. now they have to move again. those who survived the attack, knowing very well there is no safe place in gaza to go to. frances? >> claudio, thank you. officials in papua, new guinea say 2,000 were buried alive in a landslide. it triples the original toll cited by authorities. it's unclear how they reached the new figure. an official speaking to the a.p. acknowledged the number would remain fluid. authorities fear a second landslide in the area and the spread of epidemic.

police in los angeles are searching for a gunman who shot a star. >> reporter: police say they're searching for three suspects after the 37 johnny wactor was shot early saturday as he encountered thieves trying to steal his car's catalytic converter. wactor's family tells nbc news he was leaving a job at a downtown bar later than usual, walking with a co-worker, when he noticed a man near his car. wactor's mother said her son asked if he was about to be towed. but when a man looked up wearing a mask, wactor shielded his coworker with his body, and that suspect shot him. >> it's just such a senseless thing. >> reporter: scarlett wactor spoke to us by phone. >> i hope that they had catch whoever did. i hope that there will be some kind of justice for johnny.

>> i want you to tell me. >> reporter: wactor was best moan known for his role as brando corbin on general hospital, appearing in 164 episodes of the popular daytime soap. wactor's colleagues remembering a dear friend. general hospital posting, he was truly one of a kind. his tv wife writing, my heart is so utterly broken. skb sk johnny was the absolute best. >> he lived life to the fullest. he always tried to be positive for everybody. he was a light in a dark room. and he will be very missed. >> reporter: now authorities say what's drive the theft of these catalytic converters is the precious metals that are contained inside. thieves are trying to get their hands on them. the thefts have become so prevalent, more than a dozen states have created laws to try to not only crack down on the theft but also sale, resale, on the black market. in the meantime, lapd says there are no suspect descriptionsing

but this very much remains an active investigation. we'll send it back to you. >> morgan, thank you. turning to the central u.s. where residents are reeling after a weekend of powerful storms devastating communities with heavy rain, hail, high winds and tornados. at least 24 people have died across six states. dozens more have been injured, and countless cars, hopes and businesses have been decimated. the same system brought thunderstorms to parts of the east coast. in texas, a group of firefighters' homes were leveled after a storm tore through with winds up to 165 miles per hour. one family had to be rescued by their neighbors. >> most of our guys usually respond to these emergencies. they are the emergency now. so, you know, we're responding to help them out. >> governors in kentucky and arkansas surveyed damage in hard-hit areas of their states monday. and another bout of severe weather has its sights set on the plains again today. here's nbc meteorologist angie lassman with what the region can

expect. good morning, angie. >> good morning, frances. already been quite an active may. and today we're going to add onto the potential tally of tornado reports topping 400. we've got a thunderstorm watch in effect for oklahoma and texas. that's going to last for a little while longer as those thunderstorms rumble to the east. we've got still a little bit of rain lingering across new england. thunderstorms across a sliver of the south. but it's the plains, specifically, that we're going to watch for it to really ramp up as we get into the afternoon hours today. there's the severe threat we're watching with this system. there will be a couple afternoon thunderstorms across the great lakes. tomorrow we'll see more of those thunderstorms lining up for the plains and some of the rain that we'll have to contend with across the mid ssouth. the greatest chance will be dallas, san angelo and austin, but notice it extends to louisiana, shreveport included in that. we're most concerned about the really strong wind gusts, over 70 miles per hour.

hurricane-force gusts are expected in some spots. but we can't rule out the hail and the low risk of tornados. but it mid-70s in indianapolis. plenty of sunshine today for louisville as we head to the high 70s. and that's a look at you are why foreyour forecast, frances. we'll be back with the latest burger deals. and remembering nba player turned commentator, bill walton. tributes pouring in from around the league. ouring in from aroun the league. ♪♪ [stomach noises] gas... or abdominal discomfort... help stop the frustration and start taking align every day.

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sizzling deals. but first, elon musk's artificial intelligence company is getting a big boost in the race against chatgpt. good morning charlotte. >> good morning, frances. elon musk announcing yesterday he raised $6 billion with the a.i. startup x-a.i. it is backed by a prince from saudi arabia among others. this makes x-a.i. one of the best-funded challengers to run against open a.i. some of the other players in the field include meta. elon musk co-founded open a.i. and is suing the company for allegedly breaching the founding agreement of the company, which was by, quote, pursuing private

success instead of working to benefit humanity. i guess i should say happy national burger day. burger king also celebrates its anniversary. they're giving away free burgers with the purchase. i should say bon appetit. >> will do. thank you so much, charlotte. appreciate it. nba fans mourning the loss of a legend. bill walton has died. nbc's jesse kirsch looks back on his legacy. >> reporter: on the court and on the mic, bill walton was a towering figure in the world of basketball. a 6'11" california kid, walton

played center for ucla coaching legend john wooden. the dynamic big man helped the bruins win back-to-back national championships in 1972 and 1973. both teams were undefeated. while in college, he also made headlines for an arrest while protesting the vietnam war. reportedly, he was bailed out of jail by his coach. >> walton on the line! >> reporter: later in the nba, walton won championships for portland and boston. undeterred by a speech impediment, the hall-of-famer kept the highlights coming as a broadcaster. >> bill is taking his shirt off. >> reporter: his best moments ar arguably had nothing to do with the game. >> take a bite out of it while it's lit. >> while it's lit? >> reporter: the nba says the basketball legend died surrounded by family, following a prolonged cancer battle. >> takes talent to get to the top. takes character to stay there. >> reporter: bill walton was 71. jesse kirsch, nbc news.

still to come, as bill walton knows, it's easy being green. the celtics bring out the brooms against the pacers and punch their ticket to the nba finals. all that, plus tonight's nhl action right after this. ht's nh action right after this. ut looking newer, longer... you get to take them for a spin. again... ...and again... ...and again. (♪♪) the unique formula of persil laundry detergent cleans and helps keep clothes looking newer, longer so you can wear them on repeat. get that new clothes feeling. wash with persil. wanna know a secret? with new secret outlast, you can almost miss the bus... but smell like you didn't. secret fights 99% of odor-causing bacteria. smell fresh for up to 72 hours. secret works! it's a crime to smell that good. ♪♪

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goes. timberwolves really a tough one to go, to turn it around for them. we'll see if that happens. >> i have a feeling it will be the mavs in the end. the celtics weren't the only team wearing green to dominate the playoffs today. on the ice, the edmonton oilers put the stars in a 2-0 deficit. undeterred, dallas opened up the scoring in the second thanks to a hat trick by jason robinson. they tacked on two more goals after edmonton tied the match back up. the stars break the series with their 5-3 victory and have won back-to-back games in the finals. it will be exciting, lots to keep track of. >> especially if you're a dallas fan, cheering on both sides. he is out. on monday, long-time mlb umpire, angel hernandez announced he would be retiring immediately from the game. the cuban american who served as an ump since 1991 said in a statement he wants to spend more

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roles paying at least $250,000 a year plummeted by a whopping 95% and 60% respectively. congratulations are in order for ayesha and steph curry. they announced the birth of their little boy over the weekend. it is the couple's fourth child. and three falcon chicks have hatched in new york city. they sat in a nessing box. we'll be right back. we'll be ri. camilla tried the new scent of gain relax flings and it changed everything. (♪♪) (silence) (♪♪) (♪♪) hey dave, don't knock it till you smell it. try the new luxurious scent of gain relax flings. try new gain relax scent beads too... for twice the vibes . when your gut is out of balance, your body gives you signs.

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>> reporter: in this small french village just outside normandy and thousands of miles from the u.s., proof you don't have to be an american to be grateful for our fallen heroes. ♪ ♪ every year, people here and across france honor the sacrifice the u.s. military made in world war ii. but this celebration is different from 94-year-old marie bastion, who briefly left the hospital to be here. [speaking in a global language] it was the 13th of august, she says. marie was just 14 years old in 1944, two months after d-day, when american troops were pushing deeper into france to liberate the country from nazi germany. u.s. army air forcy air force p sh sh chaufty was flying above her village with his plane was struck by enemy fire. chaufty managed to bail out of

the aircraft, but his parachute didn't work. marie's father found his body in a field not far from her home. she remembers it like it was yesterday. paul chaufty, giving his life on the same day marie's village was liberated. now, 80 years later, marie and her daughter welcome chaufty's family for the very first time. >> i think it's amazing that marie wanted to have this ceremony. she wanted, i think she didn't want to pass on without having it happen that paul was memorialized here. >> reporter: saunders and her family getting the chance to see for themselves where her great uncle died. back in the center of town, the entire village come out to show their gratitude and teaching saunders and her family about their own history.

>> well, what i knew growing up was simply that he was a pilot in the united states army air force and that he was shot down over france in 1944. >> reporter: covered in a parachute and unveiled for the first time, chaufty's name etched into a plaque. >> to be able to have come here and feel like we have family on the other side of the world. because they, because they cared for my great uncle a long time ago. >> reporter: megan fitzgerald, nbc news. your tuesday wityou for kicking

the death toll in the latest round of severe storms rises to at least 24 as more wild weather bears down