more news now is on the way. s n. breaking overnight, the

president of columbia university suddenly steps down, handing in her resignation after months of criticism over the school's handling of campus protests against the war in gaza. hope for your wallet. inflation slows to its lowest post-pandemic level, fueling chances for an interest rate cut. the news jolting the race for the white house as the candidates battle over the economy. hurricane ernesto continues to gain power as it makes its way towa way to bermuda. the doj investigating alleged discrimination of people taking certain medications to ep had them overcome opioid investigations. and the cutting-edge brain implant that could help people living with als. it's thursday, august 15. "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm frances rivera. and we begin with breaking news this morning.

the president of columbia university in new york has resigned, months after protests over the gaza war royailed camp. she was criticized by activists and congress for her handling of the protests. she called nypd to clear sit-ins, outraging many students. lawmakers accused her of failing to act on reports of anti anti-semitism on campus. now to a welcome relief for ever american. for the first time in three years, inflation has dropped below 3%, paving the way for a potential interest rate cut next month. consumer prices rose 2.9% in july compared to last year. inflation retreating from the peak of just over 9% two years ago, with prices for airfares, used cars and apparel falling.

but cooling inflation doesn't translate to savings. grocery prices are still up more than 20% over four years. housing up 22%, home insurance up 15% and auto insurance rates up 50%. a showdown is in the works between the nominees for vp. governor tim walz has accepted an invitation for a debate. senator jd vance suspects that he will be there, too, but the trump campaign wants more information about the terms. this as the campaigns battle over the economy. here's garrett haake. >> reporter: former president trump in background north carolina, taking aim atvice president harris' record on the economy. >> kamala has declared that tackling inflation will be a day-one priority. think of it. for her, but day one for kamala was three and a half years ago. why hasn't she done it? >> reporter: blasting harris for

a nearly 20% rise in prices over the last four years. >> does anyone here feel richer under kamala harris and crooked joe than you were during the trump administration? is anything less expensive under kamala harris and crooked joe? >> reporter: trump accusing harris of stealing his proposal to end taxes on tips, which he announced months ago and she adopted over the weekend. >> and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers. >> remember, couple days ago, and we had have no tax on tips. i said, that was my mplan. >> reporter: and making this new pledge. >> and to help seniors on fixed income on suffering the ravages on inflation, there will be no tax on social security. we're going to stop it. >> reporter: but in a speech as an addressed billed on the economy, he constantly veered off message. >> that's the laugh of a crazy person. >> reporter: back to his playbook of insulting harris.

>> you know why she hasn't done an interview? because she's not smart. >> reporter: democrats gain momentum. former trump rival turned supporter nikki haley. >> the campaign is not going to win talking about crowd sizes. it's not going to win talking about what race kamala harris is. it's not going to win talking about whether she's dumb. >> reporter: meanwhile, harris will appear with president biden at an economic event and will speak on the economy on friday. also in this critical background state. garrett haake, nbc news, asheville, north carolina. there is disturbing footage out of texas of a possible attempted kidnapping. one video shows a man trying to lure a child into his car. valerie castro spoke to two of the boys and their mother about the close call. >> there he is right there. >> reporter: jonathan and zachary were playing outside with friends when two cars pulled up to them in their north dallas neighborhood. >> there's these two random cars, they were just there.

and when i saw, like, my, zachary and his friends running, i was trying to figure out what was going on. >> get your mom, get your mom! >> i overhear the driver telling my friend to get in the back of the car. so i hear this, and i start running. and i make it to the door. >> someone's trying to kidnap jay! >> all of a sudden, i hear, mom, jonathan's being kidnapped! jonathan's being kidnapped! and i didn't know if they were joking or if he was being put in a car. >> reporter: the terrifying ordeal confirmed by police and captured on cameras surrounding the home. >> get in the car. i said no, i don't talk to strangers. and whenever i tried to like walk away, they backed up the car. >> reporter: ring video shows a white suv backing up and a suspect chasing after jonathan before turning back, giving their mom just enough time to snap a photo of the license plate. >> i just, thought, if the boys

are joking i have them on video joking. if they're not joking, i have a picture of the license plate that might have jonathan, we'll be able to find him. the police are not -- >> reporter: just hours later, another encounter, a teen hiding in shanebu berg's driveway. >> she initially hid behind our car. here he came really slow. >> reporter: the girl told him she was walking to a local high school when she noticed a stranger driving by several times. burg's home surveillance cameras captured him staring sglfrmts shestaring. >> she said she didn't know him. this was serious. you know, this was a close call. >> reporter: police are still searching for suspects in the two incidents that they do not believe are connected. >> i worried for so honglong ab

breaking their spirit by telling them there's bad people in the world. but thank god we did. >> reporter: this is the first week of the school year in dallas, as it is for many other communities around the country. the national center for missing and exploited children says the greatest risk for child abduction is in the hours right before and right after the school day, as children walking and riding their bikes. as the kids in these videos did, some of the host helpful tips are to avoid strangers or run away or threaten to use a cell phone to call for call for hop a help. ernesto overflowing rivers and shutting down bridges and roads. this morning, nearly half a million customers remain in the dark. luma energy says they are working to re-establish service as fast as possible.

president biden has approved an emergency declaration making additional resources available. flower nece now, ernesto is expected to strengthen again as it heads toward bermuda. >> good morning, everyone. yes, ernesto is now to the north of puerto rico. the weather has been improving all night on the island. here's the storm. it is a hurricane now. winds of 85 miles per hour. it's moving across the open thae tha atlantic. it looks like it gets very, very close to bermuda by later this week. by friday, tomorrow night and saturday morning it's getting close to bermuda, a category 2 hurricane. looks like bermuda could get a direct hit from ernesto. the impact across the united states is going to be big waves and swells and rip currents. as ernesto strengthens out to sea. back in the lower 48 right now we have thunderstorms moving across the midwest. it's a stormy morning out there. there is a risk for severe

weather from chicago down to st. louis and kansas city. wind gusts up to 60 miles per d moines and chicago. highs in the 70s and 80s. and that's today's weather, frances, back over to you. >> thanks so much, ryan. hollywood is remembering the life of a screen legend this morning. >> tell me. don't be afraid to hurt my feelings. tell me what you want me to be. how do you want me to be? i can be that. i can be anything. you tell me. >> actress gena rowlands died at the age of 94, best known for oscar-nominated performances of

a woman under the influence and "gloria." both directed by her husband. she later introduced herself to a new generation in 2004 with "the notebook." he revealed that his mother was suffering from alzheimer's earlier this year. "early today" is back in a minute with a fight to overcome discrimination over addiction treatment. and finding his voice. the incredible tech that helped restore an als patient's ability to speak. als patient's ability to speak. it's in your nature to stand strong. supplement your bones with high-absorption magnesium. nature's bounty. it's in your nature. skincare can start in the laundry room. that's why i always recommend all free clear for sensitive skin. it's free of dyes and perfumes. it's a key part of my self care routine. it's a clean that's gentle on my skin. for an effective clean that's gentle on skin, all you need is all free clear™ air wick. how far would you go to set the ambience of your space?

try the air wick way with air wick essential mist. infused with natural essential oils to fill your moment with immersive fragrance for up to 45 days. now that's a breath of fresh air wick. (♪♪) when life spells heartburn... how do you spell relief? r-o-l-a-i-d-s rolaids' dual-active formula begins to neutralize acid on contact. r-o-l-a-i-d-s spells relief. we are back with our nbc news investigation into what the justice department calls discrimination against people taking certain medications. in this case, for the treatment of an opioid use disorder. here's kate snow. >> i call her ma. everyone calls her ma. >> reporter: derrick scott grew up in poverty, raised by his grandmother nellie in rural tennessee. did she tell people that she thought you were going to be a

lawyer one day? >> yes, she did. >> reporter: she was proud of you. >> yes, very proud. >> reporter: after his grandma died, derrick says his recreational use of painkillers snowballed into addiction. it wasn't until a doctor prescribed a medication that he says that his life began to change. >> not only did it take all the cravings and sickness away. i really got a sense in my mind that i can do, you know, i can do this now. >> reporter: buper nor fien is one of the medications approved by the fda to treat opioid use disorder. when used as prescribed, it doesn't result in a high and curbs withdrawal symptoms and cravings. that's called the gold standard. dr. steven lloyd is head of tennessee's opioid abatement council. >> you've got a 50% less chance of dying. >> reporter: but the medications carry a stigma. >> we're perfectly capable of

putting them on the drug tor the r for the rest of their life. >> reporter: he went to college and law school and passed the bar exam. but then came the e-mail. in his bar application, derrick had disclosed he'd been convicted of three misdemeanors and charged of other criminal charges that would be expunged. the tennessee bar examiners wanted a state program to evaluate him. >> i was asked a series of questions related to mental health. and one of those questions are everywas, are you currently prescribed any medications? >> reporter: and you told them? >> and i answered truthfully. from there, that's when all the problems started. >> reporter: problems, even though the u.s. justice department has argued since 2018 that discrimination based on a person's use of medication in recovery violates the americans with disabilities act. but tennessee monitors were concerned derrick's medication could affect his ability to

safely practice law. he underwent two evaluations. in both, specialists recommended he get off his medication and seek abstinence only treatment. >> no one knows better than knee a me and my doctor what's best for me. >> reporter: a state program gave lhim a stark choice. stop using the drug or not be a lawyer. the court declined our interview request. >> that's like someone trying to close the door shut on my career. >> reporter: you don't think the drug you've been on for years has affected your cognitive ability? >> absolutely not. >> reporter: the justice department has taken action in ten states on cases similar to derrick's, some already resulting in settlements. derrick ultimately reapplied for bar admission. at a hearing last december, the board examiners heard from his

doctor and colleagues. after near three years of battle, he received his law license with no conditions. the justice department is now investigating his case. this january, his 2-year-old son watched derrick take his oath. >> it was emotional that day. my grandma, knowing that she's watching over me. that's a big deal. >> reporter: now derrick wants to make his son proud and help people as a lawyer. kate snow, nbc news, clarksville, tennessee. still to come on early today. your neighbors could be saying "they're here." you could be making a bid for a special piece of history. the haunted house that's back on the market. d house that's back n the market. (♪♪) [baby crying] (♪♪) (♪♪) [cheerful screams] (♪♪) (♪♪) [giggling] (♪♪) (♪♪) [baby crying]

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♪ ♪ oh, this lovely spirit-free property could be yours if you want it. the california house with the 1982 horror classic "poltergeist" is on the market for the first time in 45 years. the four bedroom three bath is listed on zillow for $1 million. the house is clean. you saw some images of it there. you might need to do some upgrading. >> i think i'm all set. the pool did look nice out back. >> if you want the bragging rights, this is your place. >> it sure is. beyonce became the top nominee for the people's choice country awards. the lineup includes seven nods for "cowboy carter". beyonce received noms for female

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mars is acquiring s acquiri off. travelers in europe can take unlimited flights for an introductory fee of $550 a peer under an all-you-can fly subscription. passengers can book flights with no limits to any of its international destinations which include athens, madrid and iceland. mark zuckerberg revealed a ro roman sculpture he commissioned of his wife. pture he commission of his wife. urgh! i bet noah lyles doesn't get smoothie on his jersey. aw, come on. i bet carl lewis doesn't get tomato sauce on his jacket. dang it. urghh! ♪♪ stains happen to the best of us. when they do, tide's got you covered. pasta in paris? when in rome!

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system is restoring the power of speech for one man with als. a study in the new england journal of medicine has defined how it has changed one life in the process with the prospect of impacting many more. >> reporter: he lost his ability to speak. but now? >> it feels a lot like me. >> reporter: talking again through a revolutionary brain implant and a.i.-powered app. >> it makes people cry who have not heard me in a while. >> reporter: this video, provided by uc davis health where the technology was developed, shows how brain activity is translated into speech, and not just any speech, but a version of harold's own voice, cloned with machine learning, using previous recordings. >> we're putting rays into a speech motor cortex. we're listening to all these couple hundred neurons we can

detect and using machine learning algorithms to decipher what that pattern means. >> reporter: the technology is still in the early stages of testing, but already it's much faster than more traditional assistive devices like the one steven hawking famously used that track muscle, facial or eye movements to slowly type out words. >> if you walked in the room and said hey, how are you? i think you could get a response back in ten or 20 seconds. >> reporter: and researchers say in a new study that it's 97% accurate. which they tell us is on par with the listening abilities of standard voice assistants like siri. the technology life changing for both harrell and his family. >> not being able to communicate is so frustrating and demoralizing. it is like you are trapped. >> reporter: others working on unlocking the power of brain implant technology as well. elon musk's neuralink company

made headlines earlier this year after posting a video apparently showing a paralyzed man using implant technology to play chess on a computer. startups pushing ahead, too. >> there are a lot of new startups. they're making this whole system fully wireless. >> reporter: harrell hoping many more can benefit from this. >> i hope we're at a time when everyone like me has an opportunity like i do to have a device like this to help them communicate. >> when brainpower and tech combine. fascinating. our thanks to john torres for that. thanks for waking up with "early today" on this thursday. i'm frances rivera. have a great one. and tomorrow is friday. hope you join me

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