it's thursday, july 30th. coming up on "early today," mystery debris discovered on an island in the indian ocean. could it be wreckage from malaysia flight. and officer charged in murder in a fatal traffic stop. >> this is the most assinine act i've ever seen a police officer make. totally unwarranted. plus tom brady fights back against the nfl. and a man falls 17 stories from a balcony and lives. and water full of sewage at the site of next year's olympic summer games. "early today" starts right now. and a very good morning to you. more than 1300 boeing triple 7s, there is only one missing right now.

and yesterday, a likely fragment of one washed ashore on a tiny remote island. is it a piece of malaysia airline's flight 370? what is the latest this morning? >> well malaysian investigators say they're almost certain this piece of debris came from a bowing 777, and they sudden be able to determine whether or not this is from the missing flight mh 370 over the next couple of days. the piece was find on the island of reunion, about six to eight feet long. it's called a flaperon, it's part of the wing. investigators have found a number on the fragment which could be a maintenance number and may help them identify it more quickly. mh 370 disappeared in march of 2014, not a trace of it has been seen since. it's believed to have gone down

in the southern indian ocean and computer model predicted debris would begin to wash up in this same area, around this time. one oceanographer said if this is from mh 370 you can expect more debris to wash up in the coming days and weeks. australia is leading the search for the main wreckage and has already searched 19,000 square miles of sea floor. >> thank you for the update on this story. a university of cincinnati police officer is headed to court after being indicted for murder. charges filed against officer ray tensing for the shooting death of am jewel dubose an african-american man, during a traffic stop. and several black lives matter protesters started marching through the streets after the indictment. our first look at video showing the encounter between officer tensing and dubose. some may find the video hard to watch. here's ann thompson with more.

>> reporter: the final moments of 43-year-old sam dubose's life captured on the body camera of the officer now accused of his murder. university of cincinnati officer stopped him for not having a front license plate. he said it's in the glove box. >> you don't have to reach for it, it's okay. do you have a license on you? >> he doesn't produce his license. >> the bottle says gin, but dubose insists it holds no liquor. and then something happens. >> go ahead and take your seatbelt off. stop. >> less than two minutes after tensing approached, he fires a single shot, hitting him in the head and killing dubose as the car starts to move.

he chases after the car and another officer arrives. >> he purposely killed him. >> in the bluntest of terms, hamilton county prosecutor called his death senseless. >> this is the most assinine act i've ever seen a police officer make. he wasn't dealing with someone wanted for murder. he was dealing with someone for a front license plate. >> the video appears to contradict tensing's story, that he was being drag ed by the car and had to fire his weapon. >> he felt like his life was in danger. >> tensing is 25. he's been an officer for four years, full time with the university of cincinnati since last year. the stop was made off campus but allowed under a mutual agreement with the city. for the dubose family -- >> seeing that video let me know that my son did absolutely nothing. >> both the family and city officials are calling for calm,

to avoid a repeat of the riots of 2001 after an officer shot and killed an unarmed black man. a videotape and swift indictment to keep the focus on justice in the death of sam dubose. ann thompson, nbc news. more controversy for rolling stone, after they posted and then retracted the rape. article at the university of virginia. three uva members filed a lawsuit against the article and its author. they say they were humiliated and mocked after being listed in the alleged sexual assault. akoshding to "the new york times," the magazine's editor will step down after the firestorm. when asked if his departure was linked to the controversy. it said, many factors go into a decision like this. growing anger over the u.s. dentist who

killed a well known and beloved lion, which led him to close his practice. >> cecil's death continues to spark global outrage. and the office of the minneapolis dentist accused of luring the lion from a game preserve and killing him has become a focal point of protest. >> it's a barbaric hobby. >> killing cecil was not right. >> walter palmer, reportedly paid more than $50,000 for the hunt in early july. he claims he paid his guides to obtain proper permits. in zimbabwe, they appeared in court, one charged with poaching. cecil's killing triggered a hewitt outcry on social media. palmer sent a letter to his patients, saying he would have to close his practice. cecil was 13, fit would a tracking collar, studied by researchers. >> cecil was a simply magnificent lion.

myself and my team have watched him for hours. indeed, weeks, months and years. >> there is now concern for his cubs. without a father to protect them. each year, u.s. hunters import some 800 lions as trophies. that's about 2 1/2% of the world's population. kevin tibbles, nbc news, minneapolis. deflate-gate leaving the court of public opinion, heading to federal court now. the nfl players association asked a judge to delay or overturn tom brady's four-game suspension. earlier in the day, brady said on facebook, i did nothing wrong. to suggest that i destroyed a phone to avoid giving the nfl information they requested is completely wrong. patriots' owner robert kraft fired back at the league as well. >> i've come to the conclusion that this was never about doing what was fair and just. once again, i want to apologize to the fans of the new england patriots and tom brady.

i was wrong to put my faith in the league. >> new england starts training practice today. brady arriving at gillette stadium earlier this week. and olympians preparing for the 2016 winter games, are waking up to a horrifying report. in rio de janeiro. the water used for events is contaminated with human feces, so much of it that athletes could get violently ill. tests reveal ed and dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria. the games begin a year from next week. a dangerous heat wave is gripping both coast and with that, nbc meteorologist bill karins is here withinwith an update. >> some areas will be near record highs, if not crushing record highs in a few cases. a heat dome has been over the middle of the country. a cold front inched it to the south, almost split it in two.

but the heat continues through georgia, right up the eastern seaboard and in this area of the country it's also humid, too, that's why you get the temperatures that are warm in the 90s and the heat index on top of it that's why it will feel like 107 in new orleans. one of the worst in houston, it will feel like 109. not enjoyable in richmond with, 101. the heat is going to remain in this area, it's not going away. new york city, low 90s through the weekend, into little rock you should be in the mid 90s, also. in the west, the high pressure shifted a little bit. we watched a very hot day yesterday. i know sacramento was about 107 for a new record high. today we're going to be very close, if not busting record highs. portland, 103 today. this isn't the heat index. this is the actual temperature taken in the shade. 108 medford, redding, 114, it's like the new phoenix this summer and boise getting up to 102 by saturday. so today's forecast, we very hot on the east coast but they'll have afternoon storms to cool off. west coast, everyone is very

warm, the exception along the beaches and of days. spokane today, 96 degrees, pasco, 104. >> you have to wonder if it's going to end sooner or later. >> absolutely. too hot to sustain, right? >> you would think. >> a good day to go to the movies and sit in the air conditioning. >> see a double feature. the parents of colorado theater shooter james holmes pleads for his life. plus a terrifying fall from a balcony 17 stories up and the man lived to tell the tale. you're watching "early today." th was going to clean better than a manual. he said sure... but don't get just any one. get one inspired by dentists. with a round brush head. go pro with oral-b.

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save him from the death penalty in colorado, this after hearing months of witness testimony and the horrors of his shooting spree. here's nbc's jacob rascon. >> i still love my son -- >> the mother of movie theater gunman, james holmes is pleading for mercy. telling the jury she had no idea her son would carry out one of the worst mass shootings in america. >> i would have been crawling on all fours to get to him. he's never said that he wanted to kill people. >> family and friends who called the gunman jimmy described his upbringing in california as typical. >> he was happiest when he was playing soccer. prosecutors are asking the jury to sentence the shooter to death. defense is lobbying for life in prison. and mental health experts on both sides agree he is mentally ill. >> he didn't ask for that. skits fren ychizophrenia chose

didn't choose it. >> for 59 days they have sat feet from their son but a world away. finally breaking their silence, the holmes family hoping they'll save the life of a convicted mass murderer. nbc news, los angeles. and former governor now the 17th gop candidate running for president, jim gilmore. he signed the necessary paperwork yesterday. and only the top 10 candidate aa cording to national polls will be invited. a man miraculously survived after falling 17 stories from an apartment balcony. he fractured his pelvis and legs, but is expected to recover fully. the man said he had been drinking with friends and lost his balance. let's get down to business. with cnbc's bertha coombs.

the markets will try to extend their winning streak to three today, stocks rose on tuesday, boosted by rising oil prices. even as the fed signals that it's closer to a possible interest rate hike this year. in focus today, we'll get a report on gdp, the rate of economic growth, which is expected to show the economy rebounded this spring. thanks to higher consumer spending. tesla says refer friend, and get $1,000. the electric car maker is offering that incentive to any model s own another gets someone else to buy the vehicle. the buyer also gets a grand. and the offer runs through october 31st. cvs is teaming up with ibm to improve patients' health care. ibm will provide data from medical records, insurance claims and fitness devices to cvs clinics to help people track their health care goals. the program is designed for those with chronic conditions which make up the bulk of u.s. health care spending. in just ahead, the nba

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this morning on "today," police traffic stops turning dangerous across the country. nbc's jeff rossen tells you what you need when you pulled over and what rights you have.

now latest in sports with my friend richard lui. >> a day before the deadline, we have a first of its kind major league baseball trade. according to the "associated press," philadelphia ace cole hamels is headed to the texas rangers. in exchange for a package of prospects in return. this is the first time a pitcher is traded immediately after throwing a no-hitter. philadelphia took on the blue jays, toronto was introducing troy tulowitzki. just second at-bat as a blue jay, gone. he finished the night, 3 for 5, toronto wins it 8-2. got another trade to tell you about. not. flores heard reports he was traded midgame but then post game, just kidding, buddy. the mets gm say it fell through. "miracle on ice" goalie jim craig is selling a bunch of gear from the 1980 olympics.

you get game worn swag, his jersey, his mask, the famous u.s. flag, even his gold medal. i'd like it wrapped to go, please. and the nfl is back. defensive tackle devyn still reports for the bengals this morning. good stuff. and the harlem globe trotters have been around since 1926. but here's a first, 150 feet up boom, 150 feet up by globetrotters star sweet j. what do you give him, 22 points for that? dara, back to you. >> nothing but net. thanks, richard. just ahead, former boy bander zain malik goes solo. and jimmy fallon has a run-in with a razor. time to be a superhero at kohl's friends and family sale.

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left, it was for this moment. and amy sedaris offered to be a replacement for jimmy fallon's injured hand. she gave a replacement for of how it would work. changing diapers, preparing breakfast, everything going swimmingly until this --. >> i know men like to shave old school which is why we're going to use this. >> all right stop, stop, stop. >> i know how to do this. i know how to do this -- scrape -- whip. >> too close for comfort. i'm dara brown, this is "early today," we hope it's just your first stop of the day on nbc. shopping online is as easy as it gets. wouldn't it be great if hiring plumbers, carpenters and piano tuners were just as simple?

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leading the news from nbc russian news, a chechen girl swindles isis fighters for travel money. saying they managed to collect $3300 in wire transfers from isis militants before being caught by a chechen police unit and from nbc los angeles, more than 400 rescued from powerful rip tides in one day. it happened on tuesday. called a blitz, according to the los angeles county fire department. there were 66 rescues at one beach, 235 rescues in the south bay area. that's a lot of people. and 911 dispatcher who hung up on a caller that was trying to get help and help a gunshot victim has resigned. the victim, 17-year-old jaden

chavez silver died from his injuries. the dispatcher, matthew sanchez has been with the fire department for ten years and dispatcher for the last three. uber vehicles in mexico citiy viciously attacked one day. people threw eggs and smashed windows. it's unclear who was behind the attack. taxi drivers have been protesting at the ride-sharing company. but the taxi drivers denied involvement. this follows attacks on uber cars by taxi drivers around the world. a massive python was captured in the florida everglades, 18 feet long. >> that's in our country? >> pythons are not native to florida. official says they can be dangerous to the natural ecosystem. >> dangerous to me. >> people just set them free. have you heard of grumpy cat? today we're bringing you earl, the grumpy puppy. >> he could compete a little.

he could give the original angry feline a run for his money. earl's owner set up his facebook account to show off the grumpy expression. earl is known to be quite playful. he looks like a fun puppy. >> he's trying, i don't exactly predict we're going to have t-shirts and like -- >> i don't know. i think there's a whole line coming our way. time for a look ahead. next week marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the voting rights act. the landmark legislation legally protected everyone's right to vote by eliminating literacy tests and other tactics used to disenfranchise black voters. and the house and senate will join with members of their caucuses to mark the anniversary. happy birthday to hilary swank, 41, viveca fox, 51 and arnold schwarzenegger turns 68. i'm dara brown. along with bill karins, thanks for watching "early today." we hope you have a great thursday.

today. preparations for the thousands expecteo te a fallen officer laid to rest today. preparations for the thousands expected to a a tend the funeral of hayward slis sergeant scott lunger is can killed it in the line of duty. the 15-year-old suspected of killing madyson middleton will be tried as an adult. his first court appearance this morning. and three separate new fires overnight in lafayette leaving many to question could an arsonist be on the loose? >> announcer: from nbc bay area, this is "today in the bay." first let's check that forecast with meteorologist kari hall. good morning. >> good morning. yesterday was so hot across the bay and now we're feeling a li b