breaking overnight, president trump's white house promises to train teachers, background checks and a lot more. >> also, five passengers aboard a helicopter that crashed into new york city's east river. >> massive power grab. china's leader now has the option to stay in a tough job for life, prompting feeshs of a strong man for life mentality. >> and a unique avalanche rescue team. >> are you serious? are you serious? >> and tiger woods comes roaring

back to the delight of golf fans everywhere. "early today" starts now. >> good evening. >> good to be with you. breaking overnight, the trump administration is taking its first step at arming teachers. the white house releasing president trump's policy proposals for school safety. the proposals include d.o.j. assistance for firearms training of school personnel. strengthening background checks. adoption of extreme risk to text orders which allow firearms to be removed. and also expanding mental health programs. >> the president establish as federal commission on school safety headed by education secretary betsy devos. in an interview, she spoke about arming teachers. >> do you think teachers should have guns in the classroom? >> that should be an option for states and communities to consider. but no one size fits all.

every state and every community is going to address this issue in a different way. >> her commission will recommend policy and funding proposals for school violence prevention including whether new age restrictions for gun purchases should be considered, a proposal noticeably absent. it comes about a month after a mass shooting at a florida high school that killed 17 people. the national school walkout plan in the wake of the shooting is planned for wednesday. breaking developments overnight. five people are dead after a helicopter crash in the east river in new york city. a bystander captured these images, showing a red helicopter crashing into the river before tipping over on its side. six people were on board. the coast guard i know what new york city police and fire quickly arrived at the scene. the pilot, the only survivor, was available to free sxhifl pulled ashore by a tugboat. however, five others had to be cut from their harnesses.

>> the pilot freed himself. the other five did not. so police and fire divers entered the water and removed the other five. >> witnesses report the helicopter filling one water almost as soon as it hit the water. >> it left like it was supposed the land for a second. like it was making an emergency water landing. within a minute it was completely submerged. >> the aircraft is owned by liberty helicopter tours and was hired for a private photo shoot. according to audio posted online, the helicopter reported an engine failure during a may day call to air traffic control. the national transportation safety board says the helicopter has been secured in the water and will be towed to a nearby heliport. authorities have not yet identified the victims. turning now to the potential meeting between president trump and north korean leader kim

jong-un, administration officials defending the decision over the weekend and insisting deno denuclearization is a priority some of the lawmakers concerned that north korea's dictator could try to take advantage of the president. >> reporter: good morning, frances. the craft director says that u.s. intelligence now assess that's north korea could reach the united states with one of its weapons within a period of about three to four months. that adds urgency to the conversations the president says he is willing to have with kim jong-un if north korea keeps its promises. selling his diplomatic skills in a campaign rally, president trump amped up expectations after agreeing to meet with kim jong-un. >> i think they want to make peace. i think it's time. >> reporter: travel go in the middle east, defense secretary mattis said his military planning rule takes a back seat.

>> for those who questioned me about whether it was diplomatally led, i now rest my case. >> democrats now raise concerns about the president as lead diplomat. >> i think the questions we have are about whether he is equipped to succeed in that diplomacy. and thus far, you know, he is declaring victory and nothing has happened yet. >> while in rally mode, the president suggested north korea is already saying it is ready to end its nuclear program. it has not. now they say they want to stop the missiles, to denuclearize. and all of these people, they can't believe it. it is unbelievable. >> officials say north korea agreed to cease missile testing. >> denuclearization, complete, verifiable. it is a topic for discussion. >> chair secretary mnuchin says this plan face to face would

enhance kim's stature. >> this isn't about elevating anybody. this is about the president has been very clear that he wants to do everything possible to protect america and its allies. >> reporter: the craft director said that his agency will help prepare for this negotiation in part by outlining to the president ways that north korea has been deceptive in the past. so far, plans to make the actually happen are still in the works no time or date set. >> all right. thank you. president xi jinping is poised to rule china indefinitely after sweeping changes to the nation's constitution. china's largely risch stamped parliament almost unanimously voted to scrap it. after the end of a second term in 2023. out of 2964 ballots, just two delegates voted no and three abstained. the amendments included other

clause that's would further strengthen his grip, elevating him to a level of power not seen in decades. janice, good morning. >> good morning. it was an historic vote where chinese lawmakers removed the presidential term limits clearing the way for xi jinping to rule indefinitely. the amendment there's allow xi jinping to be a leader for life if he so chooses and it has stirred worries and concerns that perhaps china is going to slide back and return to an era of autocratic rule that this country has not seen since the chaos of mao tse-tung. when the party described these changes to scrap the term limits in february, they said it was being done to maintain stability and continuity as china navigates its economic and political rise. one key meeting that xi jinping

will have today is with envoys from south korea. they've arrived in beijing to brief the chinese leader on the proposed talks with north korea. china has long pushed negotiations between all sides. but they have been side lined in these latest developments. so they'll be selling the talks to the allies. >> certainly a difficult relationship to navigate. >> some dramatic foot an shows peta protesters. they ran on to the center stage of the dog show in birmingham, england. just as the best in show was being announced on live tv of the they were holding up posters to draw attention to the kennel club's breed standards which the animal rights group believes are harmful to the dogs. the winner was a whippet female dog.

>> pretty chaos. storms turning deadly in the u.s. strong winds ripping across eastern texas, killing at least two people. one person died when that weather system hate camp ground. in another one, a tree came crashing down a mobile home. wow. some unrest there weatherwise. good morning. >> we're about to have our third northeaster in two weeks. incredible. this has been a very active march and it will continue. snow this morning through kentucky into west virginia. snow is about to begin in nashville. this is middle of march. and then eventually this stlorm head off the coast and become our nor'easter. as we go through the day, snow will be moving through north carolina and virginia. it is during the daylight hours so not too much accumulation on the roads. by the time we get through this evening, the snow blossoms over areas of new england. a rough morning commute.

then it is a full-out almost blils like storm. pretty richmond. a lot of accumulations will be on the grass. this is one of those how low can you go stories? a sacramento animal shelter is asking for help finding a gumball bandit. they posted this individual on facebook of a man attempting to steal their phrasing gumball machines. at first the gumballs spilled everywhere and he didn't seem to notice the machine full of cash. he then throws it over the bashed wire fence. >> did you see him getting back in? that's a lot of effort for

gumballs. >> so mean too. a sweet little animal shelter raising money. how could you? >> a chemical attack. bye grandpa. and if you have heart failure, entrusting your heart to entresto may help. entresto is a heart failure medicine that helps improve your heart's ability to pump blood to the body. in the largest heart failure study ever, entresto was proven superior at helping people stay alive and out of the hospital compared to a leading heart failure medicine. don't take entresto if pregnant. it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren. if you've had angioedema while taking an ace or arb medicine, don't take entresto. the most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure, kidney problems, or high blood potassium. ask your doctor about entresto.

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questions than anxiouses surrounding a nerve agent attack on a former russian spy in the uk. and this morning, there are new warnings where the unlikely attack unfolded. lucy cavanagh has the latest. >> reporter: the investigation into the attempted murder of former russian spy sergei skripal and his daughter is widening. more than 240 witnesses. at least 200 pieces of evidence. police combing through five crime scenes. the sleeping city is an unlikely setting for a spy mystery. >> this is a complete shock. >> i've never seen anything like it in all my born days. >> traces of the nerve agent were found at the pub. the surveillance picture capturing the last moments before falling ill. that security video was taken and then they were found

unconscious. they remained in critical condition but are now listed as stable. the poison, a nerve agent. where was it administered and how, unclear. skripal was a double agent for the british. convicted in russia in 2006 but released in a spy swap. >> they would come to where they would blend in. >> chemical weapons expert said the use of a nerve agent suggests a state operation. russia, the prime suspect. >> we know that mr. putin has his elections next week. he is always very keen to act as a world statesman. you could say this is a statement on say anybody who opposes us, wherever you are, we'll get you. >> the kremlin rejects any suggestion it was involved. on state television, a thinly

veiled warning. >> a traitor is the worst thing. don't choose britain where to live. nbc news, salisbury, england. >> unbelievable that that still goes on. >> so fascinating. >> how did oprah winfrey do at the box office? and "black panther." these the movies we'll be talking about. you're watching "early today." it naturally traps and removes the waste that weighs me down. so i feel...lighter. try metamucil and begin to feel what lighter feels like. take the 2-week challenge and see the difference metamucil can make. begin to feel what lighter feels like. available at walmart and walmart.com

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panther. i'm trying to be honest with you and tell you that i can't commit to collusion right now. but you indicted 13 russians and like everything that happened in the seychelles, that means nothing. >> no, no, the seychelles were amazing. it is definitely something. it's just like the more time that goes by, the more that i keep thinking about obstruction. >> it's a little hysterical to have that bachelor parallel. >> and the seychelles. >> it was a big night at the i heart radio music awards. the rapper took the award. taylor swift awarded the award

for female artist of the year before debuting her new video delegate. highlighting the rapper's musical achievements and his charitable gifts to his home town of chicago. and ed sheeran accepted for male artist of the year. >> try getting that shape of you out of your head for the next year. >> a big weekend for disney as "a wrinkle in time," starring oprah winfrey, and reese witherspoon, opened at just over $33 million. but it was not able to top marvel's mega hit "black panther." and the album which earned with two of its singles, all the stars and pray for me, in the

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victory the last five years but ultimately, he didn't get it on 18. he finish in the second. finishing at 9 under par. he was looking pretty solid. >> i wasn't as sharp as i would liked to have had it. i had a pretty good shot. a couple putts here and there. it could have been a different story. >> so close. the ultimate winner was paul casey who was 10 under at 6 under for the day. woods heads to the arnold palmer invitational which he's won eight times. the most important thing is he's looking healthy. we're looking at winter weather alerts popping up now. winter storm warnings for kentucky and down toward roanoke. we're getting advisories in the northeast. we'll get our new updates through day. the winter storm watches will be converted as another nor'easter is heading our way. stay tuned. what? i switched to geico and got more.

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- this is what america's about. - sometimes it's nice to see all the good that's out there. bringing folks out, we have seen it in community after community. this month marks the height of avalanche season. almost 100 skiers and snow snow riders have been killed. >> tammy headed into the rock business a unique rescue team. >> the continental divide is breath taking. the snow capped peaks have a danger all their own. avalanche that's can bury anything and anyone in the way. for those who get trapped in a mountain of snow -- this first responder may be their best hope. hunter mortenson rescued tally

nine years ago and now the border collie mix and others have been trained. >> one dog can do the same as 30 trained rescuers in half the time. >> the dogs go through two seasons of intense zpratraining get a refresher course every year. avalanches are almost unheard of at breakin ridge. but just beyond that rope, out of bounds, you're at the mercy of mother nature. >> they must be unburied in 20 minutes. >> you'll be about five feet under. >> in a demonstration, i get a sense of the urgency. >> hopefully she comes soon. >> tammy got lost. are you ready? let's go. search! >> to find me, tally uses her

nose of the it is thousands of times more powerful than a human's. >> yay! good job! >> but it is not all work. play time has purpose. it is a reward and strengthens the bond between these partners. >> the amazing thing that we ask is a complete trust. we're team them into situation that people don't usually go through. >> when man's best friend become as trapped skier's best hope. breckenridge, colorado. >> so pretty but so dangerous. >> thanks for watching. we leave with you images from the crashed ice cross ice championship. they navigated on an urban downhill track. scout day.

a deadly helicopter crash in new york's east river. all five passengers aboard have died. only the pilot managed to escape. a head of a planned student walkout on wednesday, one group of high schoolers are taught what to do in the event of an active shouldn'ter comes in their classroom. a legalight to keep a stormy daniels entire from ever airing on tv. and meet a former navy s.e.a.l. that will make you very proud to be an american. early "today" starts right now. >> i'm gigi stone woods. in for phillip mena. >> i'm frances rivera. we have breaking news from nepal at this hour. a passenger jet reportedly