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

angie lassman tells us what to expect and where today's threat is the greatest. israel now calling a strike that killed dozens of palestinian civilians a tragic incident that will be investigated as global outrage grows over the strike that came just days after the u.n.'s top court told israel to halt the invasion of rafah. the prosecution and defense making their final case in donald trump's case. how soon we can expect a verdict. and tragedy rocking the world of sports and entertainment. two-time nba champ bill walton died after a long battle with cancer. and actor johnny wactor is fatally shot while interrupting a theft. and one family gets a final salute to a pearl harbor hero. it's tuesday, may 28. "early today" starts right now.

good morning, i'm frances rivera. residents across the nation's heartland are reeling after a weekend of powerful storms devastated 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 homes, cars and businesses have been decimated. on monday, that same system bringing thunderstorms to parts of the east coast. in texas, a group of firefighters' homes were leveled after a storm tore through with wins winds up to 165 miles per hour. and one family had to be rescued by their neighbors. >> 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 angie lassman with what the region can expect. what a season this has been so far, angie. >> what a season. already we've had more than 400 tornado reports, and today we have another chance to add on to that tally. firstly, we are dealing with watches and warnings in oklahoma and texas. big picture look. most of that rain is going to start to exit and kick out here through the day for parts of new england. but we do have a couple other spots that we're going to watch. specifically parts of the plains. we'll see afternoon thunderstorms popping up for the great lakes. as we get into tomorrow the rain will spread into the midsouth. we'll see another round of thunderstorms firing up across parts of the plains. today there's 25 million people at risk. we we're talking destructive wind gusts and damaging hail. wichita falls to san antonio,

laredo, dallas, houston could see strong winds, maybe 60 miles per hour or higher. and on top of that we do have the flash flood risk as we get through the same region this afternoon. frances? >> so much to watch, angie, thank you. closing arguments will begin soon here in new york in the criminal hush money trial of donald trump. jury deliberations are expected to begin as soon as wednesday. this after a busy long weekend of campaigning for the former president. here's nbc's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: donald trump's lawyers are preparing for the final stretch of his hush money criminal trial in new york. closing arguments, some bystanders waiting in line for ko courtroom seats since saturday. coming after a busy weekend for the former president. on sunday, he flew over the charlotte motor speedway in battleground north carolina where nascar fans gave him a warm reception. unlike the libertarian national political convention on saturday, where mr. trump was releasedly booed.

>> whoa. that's nice. that's nice. only if you want to win. only if you want to win. maybe you don't want to win. >> reporter: the former president lashed out on social media against his legal troubles, happy memorial day to all, including the human scum that is working so hard to destroy our once-great country. while, at arlington national cemetery, president biden emphasized what has become a central theme of his campaign, defending democracy. >> our democracy is more than just a system of government. it's the very soul of america. >> reporter: meanwhile, biden campaign is trying out a more aggressive strategy to define mr. trump, following his trial. including a new ad voiced by actor robert de niro. >> a dictator, to terminate the constitution. >> our thanks to gabe for that report. there is international outrage after israel bombed the gaza refugee tent encampment,

killing at least 45. the strike sparking an inferno that raged throughout sunday night. many of the dead are women and children. the local health ministry reports 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 starts with the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs at the united nations. in a statement, he said we have warned that a military operation in rafah would lead to a slaughter and called the attack an abomination. the secretary-general, antonio g gutierres said this horror must stop. it was felt across europe with the foreign minister saying the images of charred bodies, including children, are

unbearable. emmanuel macron is outraged and has called for an immediate cease-fire. but perhaps the most careful, if you want to call it that, reaction, came from the united states from the national security council, issuing a statement saying that the images of the aftermath of that attack were heartbreaking, but, at the same time, it understands that israel has the right to go after hamas, but it should do its utmoist to protect civilians. israel says two hamas commanders were killed in that attack. 45 civilians, they say were also killed among them. that area where the attack took place, israel deemed it safe for palestinians to find shelter. well, they are now moving away, of course, from there, once again, in other parts of gaza, knowing very well that there is no safe place in gaza, frances. >> claudio lavanga, thank you. officials in papua, new guinea say more than 2,000

people were buried alive and now presumed dead after a landslide on friday. the catastrophe struck the mountainous interior of the country. the stunning new estimate triples the original toll cited by authorities in the oceanic nation. it's unclear how they reached the new figure. a local u.n. official acknowledged the number would remain fluid. authorities fear a second landslide in the area and the spread of epidemics. u.s. lawmakers made a high-stakes visit to taiwan, a delegation meeting with taiwan's new president, pledging to provide weapons to defend against threats from china. ryan nobles is traveling with the lawmakers. >> reporter: the message from washington to taipei is crystal clear. "we love taiwan", the first words from mike mccall to the island's new president newlai c.

china warned american leaders not to go to taiwan. but you came anywhiay, why? >> because we support democracy against dictatorships very close to the one where we're sitting right now. people's republic of china. >> reporter: china's posture has american leaders worried. the u.s. is investing billions of dollars to deter attack. but inside this flower market in taipei there are little signs of anxiety, most saying they are happy with the status quo. china had military exercises this week. does that ever worry you? >> not much. because that's almost become a part of our daily life. >> reporter: and the world's economy is reliant on taiwan. 90% of the world's advanced semi-conductors are produced here, a supply chain that would

be interrupted if china were to attack. north korea failed to put a second spy satellite into orbit after the rocket transporting it exploded shortly after launch. that's according to north korean state tv. the launch made japan issue a short shelter in place order in okinawa. they insist on the right to fire test missiles and shoot satellites into orbit. analysts speculate it was timed to coincide with a meeting between japan, south korea and china. a massive manhunt under way in louisiana for two escaped quinn inmates, including one charged in connection to a homicide. yesterday they captured two others. they were find hiding in a dumpster behind a dollar general about an hour and a half north of new orleans. the four inmates were able to climb over the fence of the jail during recreation time on sunday. all right, let's get back to angie lassman for a check on the

weather for the week ahead. good morning, angie. >> happy tuesday to everybody. we've got soggy conditions on tap for part of the great lakes and the interior northeast. notice all the sunshine we'll see for the southeast. but that severe threat will last for folks across the southern plains. summertime highs in place for tuesday. cooler conditions are going to settle in in the northern tier of the country. we'll see the flood threat lasting as the slow-moving system works across the southern tier of the country. and more rain in similar spots that have already picked up a good dosing so far this spring. but really it book ends the country quite nice. mild temperatures across the mid atlantic. ead to the low 80s for

washington, d.c. showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for detroit, cleveland and columbus today, and that's a look at you are whyr forecast. nba fans are remembering a legend. bill walton has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. on the court and on the mic, walton was a giant in the world of basketball. he won two national titles at ucla and two championships in portland and boston. he made headlines for an arrest while protesting the vietnam war. he was apparently bailed out by his coach. he was undeterred by a speech impediment, bringing colorful commentary to the court. coming up, a mid-air scare for boxing legend mike tyson. and the search intensifies for the gunman who shot and killed a soap opera star. d killed a soap opera star.

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"early today" is back now with a deadly shooting in downtown los angeles. police are searching for suspects after a former general hospital star who was shot on the street. his family telling nbc's morgan chesky he died protecting a co-worker. >> reporter: a stunning murder in downtown los angeles, of soap opera star johnny wactor. police say they're searching for three suspects after the 37-year-old was fatally 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 co-worker 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 will catch whoever did it. i hope that there will be some kind of justice for johnny. >> i want you to tell me. >> reporter: wactor was best flown known for his role as brando corbin on general hospital. 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. 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 driving the theft of these catalytic converters is the precious metals that are contained inside. thieves are trying to get their hands on. in fact, these thieves 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 mrarket. in the meantime, lapd says there are no suspect descriptions but their very much remains an active investigation. we'll send it back to you. still to come, it was a figurative and literal wasteland at the box office. feuer osa is the lowest in decades. r osa is the lowest in decades. 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,

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it took in $32 million over the long memorial day weekend, while garfield took runner-up with $31.1 million. and despite wink ning the weeke, fe "furiosa" was the lowest opening on memorial day since 1995. last year it was little mermaid, right? that took in $118 million. the year before that was a huge blockbuster, "top gun" at $160 million. so this has become just a little blip for the holiday. >> hmm, yeah. i got to say, i don't know about "furiosa," but i'd cigarsee gar once it comes out in the comfort of my own home. while it didn't take the sleuthing skills of leblanc, josh o'connor and kaylee spaeny

are set to join the new "knives out". further details are kept under wraps. it is set to hit netflix next year. it goes to show what we were talking about. streaming is making it hard for the box office. this is one that i definitely will mark my calendar for and watch. >> especially when they have like totally star-studded casts. the first one so fun. the second one even more so. let's see what they bring in for the third time around. still ahead. how icee is bringing back nostalgia. s bringing back nostalgia. listen to me, the hot dog diet got me shredded. it's time we listen to science. one a day is formulated with key nutrients to support whole body health. one a day. science that matters. want to get the most out of one sheet? grab bounty. (♪♪)

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we've never fully lived up to that, but we've ever, ever, ever walked away from it. av every generation our fallen heroes have brought us closer. >> president biden honoring our nation's fallen heroes this memorial day at arlington national cemetery. he took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier, alongside vice president harris and secretary of defense lloyd austin. throughout the day, families paid tribute to their loved ones at arlington national cemetery, including the family of a pearl harbor hero. >> reporter: growing up in california in the 1920s, starring winfield and his siblings were inten rabl. inseparable. this was his sister. she always bragged about her baby brother the war hero. he enlisted in the navy in 1940

and assigned to the uss oklahoma. on leave, he married his high school sweetheart before heading to pearl harbor. six weeks later, she would be a widow. during a surprise attack, japanese torpedos sunk the oklahoma, leaving 388 unaccounted for, including starring. two years later, the navy righted the ship an, and the remains of those who could not be identified were buried together. then in 2015, with new advances in identification, the military disinterred the remains to begin the effort to identify the fallen soldiers. >> we have an obligation to not leave them behind. this is the fulfillment of that promise. >> reporter: returning remains of 361 service members to their families. starring was one of them, he was

finally laid to rest at arlington national cemetery earlier this month. >> today is a celebration of him. he's finally getting this lasting monument and a place of just honor. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: a final salute for an american hero, a poignant farewell for his proud family. courtney kube, nbc news, arlington national cemetery. >> so many families making this memorial day meaningful. i'm frances rivera. have a great tuesday. we'll see you back here tomorrow morning. morrow morning.

five a shooting ends with a crash overnight in the east bay. a live report from the scene, with the latest from police