the storm is dangerous and if you don't follow warning from officials, this storm could kill you. >> satellite images of hurricane michael as it spins toward the florida coast line, packing wind gusts of 155 miles per hour and a massive storm surge. >> and that storm surge could send walls ofater inland, causing catastrophic flooding and billions in damage. >> breaking overnight, "the new york times" reports turkish security officials say a missing journalist was assassinated and dismembered on the orders of top saudi leadership. >> ambassador's exit strategy, one of few trump administration officials to resign in a positive light, nikki haley plots her next move.

♪ ♪ >> and taylor swift cleans up at the american music awards. but that's not all. "early today" starts right now. >> good morning. i'm marlie hall. >> and i'm phillip mena. it's being called massive, monstrous, and with just hours until hurricane michael makes landfall, the storm has now intensified to a potentially devastating category 4. preparations are underway as residents in the southeast brace for flooding rains, 155 mile per hour wind gusts and a life-threatening storm surge of up to 12 feet in some areas. >> the national hurricane center now says michael could be the strongest hurricane to hit the florida panhandle in over a century. the agency warns that locations hit hardest may be uninhabitable for weeks or even months. meteorologist bonnie schneider is tracking the storm for us from here. what's the latest? >> well, marlie and phillip, right now this hurricane michael is a major storm.

a category 4 intensified overnight. that's what happens when it goes over the gulf of mexico with those warm deep water. unfortunately this storm is just barrelling right towards the florida panhandle. the distance at this hour, 180 miles to the south, southwest of panama city. look at the winds, 130 miles per hour, a category 4. looking at the forecast track making on shore landfall later on this afternoon, but those rain bands start today come in as early as this morning. then the storm zips out quickly. that is one difference from florence where the storm lingered and moved slower. something to keep in mind the tropical storm force winds are coming in and we're likely to see power outages by the tens of thousands because we're still looking at some populated areas that will be impacted. unfortunately those winds will hit the carolinas. and obviously dealing still with florence, they're going to have to deal with more wind and rain in that area, too. >> just relentless all summer. bonnie, thank you. one of the most life-threatening aspects hurricane michael will bring that that potentially

devastating 8 to 12 foot storm surge. officials are warning coastal residents to get out while there is still time and say the effects of the storm would start well before landfall. the u.s. gs warns hurricane michael could erode 75% of the florida panhandle's beaches. nbc's kerry sanders is in panama city beach with the latest on this looming danger. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: from panama city beach. >> evacuation, leave. >> reporter: they are preparing to face down a stunning storm surge of 8 to 12 feet. >> there is no way to hide from storm surge. it is impossible. how prepared do you feel the city is? >> the city is ready. >> reporter: we've seen the storm surge before. >> it's a flash moving fast flood with the power of the atlantic ocean behind it. >> reporter: a 3 foot storm surge would knock me off my feet. at 6 feet it's near the top of the sand dunes. once it overtops them, it can cause those dand do you knows to breach allowing flood waters to

rush inland submerging homes, buildings and streets. 23 years ago, hurricane opal's storm surge was devastating. the beach disappeared and that was a problem. so the city piped in sand from deep offshore, extending the beach line from the dunes out to the high tide mark going from an average of 10 feet wide to 12 feet. it raised 7 feet. even the size of the grains of sand carefully selected to reduce the severe impacts of the storm surge. building codes have also been strengthened. >> it's coming. there's nothing ug do to stop it. you just prepare the best you can. >> reporter: the structures here in bay county are built to withstand 140 mile per hour winds, and those cranes that you see on this construction project, well, they're now free flowing. they'll spin in the wind and they're designed to hold in winds up to 120 miles per hour. after that, it's unclear if they'll come crashing down,

phillip. >> all right, kerry, thank you. >> drug prices at the pharmacy are about to get a bit more transparent. president trump is expected to sign two bills today that would lift so-called gag orders on pharmacists. the new laws will allow pharmacists to tell customers if it would be cheaper for them to buy a drug at the cash price rather than use their insurance. the new legislation will apply to both medicare and private insurance. >> president trump is pounding the campaign trail ahead of next month's midterm elections and his latest stop, iowa where he stumped for republicans locked in a trio of tight house races. the president flaunted his successes, including the confirmation of supreme court justice brett kavanaugh. even joked about attempts to impeach him. >> the democrats are even talking about doing really bad things now to justice kavanaugh. last week they're saying, we'll impeach him. impeach him for what?

for what? besides that, i have to go first, right? don't i have to go? >> president trump is speaking in erie, pennsylvania tonight. that will be the first time he's been there since the 2016 campaign. >> a surprise shake up in the trump administration. as a rising republican star announces her departure, nikki haley is leaving her post as ambassador to the united nations at the end of the year. while she laughed off a possible 2020 bid, republican strategists and polsters told the washington post, haley could still pose a threat to the president even if she doesn't run. in part, because of her elevated profile within the party. nbc's peter alexander has more on the cabinet shuffle. >> reporter: nikki haley's abrupt resignation costing president trump one of his marquee stars, his u.n. ambassador and one of a few women cabinet. >> it was a blessing to go in with armor everyday and defend america. i'll always do that.

but i think it's time. >> reporter: the president praising haley, the is south carolina governor who during the campaign was a frequent trump critic. >> she's done a fantastic job, she's done a good job. >> reporter: some grumbling she should have waited until after the midterms. her resignation letter obtained by nbc news is dated last wednesday, the same day a highwayly met privately with the president. the daughter of immigrants dismissing political a pragss of her own. a for those of you with questions about 2020, no, i'm not running in 2020. what i can tell you is i'm be campaigning for this one. >> reporter: and going outs of her way to compliment the president's daughter and son-in-law. >> i can't say enough good things about jared and ivanka. jared is such a hidden genius that no one understands. >> reporter: so why now? that's unclear. late last month before president trump mocked christine blasey ford's testimony of her alleged sexual assault by brett kavanaugh, an accusation kavanaugh denies, haley argued

accusers should be heard. >> it's not something that we want to do to blame the accuse error to try and second guess the accuser. >> reporter: and weeks earlier haley shot down speculation that she's the anonymous senior official who authored that explosive op-ed claiming to be part of the trump resistance. insisting, when i challenge the president, i do it directly. ambassador haley says she will stay until the end of the year, then who replaces her? the president says his daughter ivanka would be incredible, but acknowledges he'd be accused of nepotism. late tuesday, ivanka trump tweeted, it won't be hurt. marlie? >> peter, thank you. >> breaking overnight, two people are dead and two others injured in ft. myers, florida, after a shooting in a shopping center. officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots at the bell tower shopping center and quickly closed down that area to traffic. >> we will need at least two buses, at least two buses, we have three victims. one is critical. >> deputies say two people died

on scene. two others were taken to the hospital. their condition is unknown. they say the shooting appears to be isolated. >> it appears to not be a random act of violence. we're going to be working through the night. please give us that time. and again, it does not appear to be a random act of violence. >> one witness tells our affiliate wbbh she was celebrating her birthday at a restaurant when someone shot her husband in the chest and then shot and killed her son as he ran away. we will bring you the latest as it develops. >> now to new questions about the limo involved in the crash that killed 20 people in upstate new york, there were somber moments tuesday as hearstes carried victims to a funeral home. investigators are now asking if the 2001 ford excursion was legally modified to stretch limo size. it failed an inspection last month. the company says it had fixed any defects. >> after getting absolutely blown out on monday night, the new york yankees were looking force a game five against the boston red sox, but it was

another quick start for boston, going up 3-0 in the third, and then a solo home run by christian vasquez the next inning. that would make it 4-0. but in this rivalry as yogi berra wrote say, it ain't over till it's over. let's go to the bottom of the 9th. 4-1, sox closer hits with the bases loaded that. would walk in a run 4-2. sack fly by gary sanchez would make the score 4-3, getting closer here. all hope now on rookie torres who knocks a ground ball to third. dard owe nunez throws to first. they say he's out. the ump says he's out. with that replay, the yankees' season is over. boston wins. they will face the houston astros in the world league championship series. >> bonnie is back with michael. storm surge is a huge concern. >> it is a concern, especially when you look at the topography of this area. you'll see major storm surge because of this category 4

storm. michael maximum winds at 130 miles per hour. and you can see the track is taking it on shore ler thisat northeast. overcast skies and definitely warm. there has not been a category 4 storm ever to hit this part of the country. so this will be a first. we had two category 3s in the past, but not this strong. >> wow, bonnie, thank you so much. people across the country are hoping their numbers will be drawn as they wake up this morning to find out there were no winners for last night's mega millions jackpot. and as tonight's powerball drawing gets closer, tonight you have a chance at winning the $282 million powerball or you could bring home friday's massive $548 million mega

millions. together that's a combined $830 million. i could do a lot with that. >> that's real money, man. just ahead, it's no trick why some towns are putting an age limit on a holiday tradition. with soft surfaces that trap odors and release them back into the room. so, try febreze fabric refresher. febreze finds odors trapped in fabrics and cleans them away as it dries. use febreze every time you tidy up to keep your whole house smelling fresh air clean. fabric refresher even works for clothes you want to wear another day. make febreze part of your clean routine for whole home freshness.

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breaking news in the search for a saudi journalist who mysteriously vanished at the country's consulate in istanbul. "the new york times" is reporting the top turkish security officials have concluded jamal khashoggi was assassinated on the orders of top saudi leadership. a senior official reportedly telling the times he was killed and dismembered by a team of saudi agents. the journalist and washington post columnist has been a critic of crown prince muhammad bin salman. saudi has denied the allegations. lu lucy kafanov is joining us. >> reporter: they employed a 15-man hit squad to lay in wait

for the journalist inside the istanbul consulate. among this team reportedly a forensic expert who bought a bone saw to dismember khashoggi's body. the times alleging that he was killed within two hours of arriving at the consulate and that this 15-person team left turkey a few hours later. now, a senior official who described this plot to "the new york times" described it as being like something out of the film pulp fiction. the saudis have denied any involvement in this incident. they have called the claims outrageous. they have expressed some concern for the missing journalist. we do know turkish security forces were hunting for a black van that may have carried khashoggi's body as well as two saudi chartered jets that left istanbul airport. the british foreign secretary has told the saudi ambassador to the u.k. they need to provide answers, but a somewhat muted response from the u.s. so far. secretary of state mike pompeo has called on the saudis to support a thorough

investigation. president trump said yesterday he does not know anything about khashoggi's disappearance, but that he would potentially speak with saudi officials at some point about the situation. phillip? >> we are all hoping, especially his family, to get to the bottom of this. lucy, thank you. >> just ahead, mr. west wing. kanye prepares to meet the president and from the courtroom to the octagon, why lawyer michael avenatti is challenging don junior to an mma fight. i can't believe it. that everything sticks to stefon diggs's hands? no, i can't believe how easy it was to save hundreds of dollars on my car insurance with geico. cool, huh? yeah. he plays football, huh? yeah. believe it. geico could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. ayep, and my teeth are yellow.?

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ka we just wanted to tell you that we will miss you. we'll be speaking over time, but we will miss you nevertheless. you have done a fantastic job and i want to thank you very much. >> thank you, thank you very much. thank you. >> mostly thank you in advance for not writing a book about me. the book, by the way, is called haley's vomit. my time -- >> clever, real money in writing books if you've been in that trump administration. >> haley's vomit, i like that. >> nine towns in virginia are cracking down on trick or treating. it is an effort to make the night safer for kids so they put in some guidelines to enforce it, the laws will make trick or treating hours from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and kids 12 and under are allowed to participate here. teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 have to have their parents with them if they want to get some candy. anyone found guilty will get a small fine, no more than 100 bucks, but they could spend even if it's a small time, they could

get some time in jail for that. you like the idea? >> well, the teernagers having their parents with them, that's not cool. >> that's why they want less people out there. i think they should be out there. >> definitely. could the next hot fight ticket be these two? nbc reporter dylan buyer said on twitter he was having lunch with michael avenatti who said he would have a fight with don junior. he said he'd give half the proceeds to rebuilding puerto rico and the other half to the anti-sexual violence group rain. so far no word from don junior. i would pay to see that. >> i have never purchased a ufc fight in my life, but i would absolutely pay whatever necessary for them. >> that would be the first one. >> full blown suits, too. all right, kanye west is going to visit the white house tomorrow. i have to repeat that. kanye west is going to visit the white house tomorrow. look at those two together.

"the new york times" reporting that kanye will meet with president trump and his son-in-law jared kushner. they are going to have lunch and reportedly going to talk about job opportunities for former convicts. the hip-hop icon received some mixed reviews for his support of president trump most recently after that appearance on saturday night live where he wore that make america great again hat. well, his wife, you may remember, kim kardashian, made news earlier this year, when she also met with president trump at the white house. here we are. taylor swift, a former country star, going against the republicans and kanye and president trump. our boys. >> well, still ahead on "early today," we'll take you to the american music awards with last night's biggest and best moments. of course i have- ever since i started renting from national. because national lets me lose the wait at the counter... ...and choose any car in the aisle. and i don't wait when i return, thanks to drop & go.

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febreze eliminates even the toughest odors from the air. and it uses an all-natural propellant to leave behind a pleasant scent you'll love. use anywhere odors can spread. freshen up, don't cover up. febreze air effects. hurricane michael, a powerful category 4 storm bearing down on the florida coast line at this hour with maximum winds of 130 miles per hour. one of the biggest problems with this storm will be storm surge, up to 12 feet in some areas, particularly here in and around the big bend of florida. so a dangerous situation as wind will pile up the water as we watch for landfall to occur later this afternoon. so, phillip and marlie, we're going to be seeing landfall sometime in the early afternoon hours. >> bonnie, thanks. just ahead, an alabama institution. we'll have a behind the scenes look at alabama state's marching band. toms

this year's biggest hits and brightest stars were celebrated last night at the american music awards. taylor swift lit up the stage first with a fiery performance of her hit "i did something bad." warming the audience up for this year's host tracee ellis ross who would only turn up the mercury with a hot dance tribute to some of her favorite artists while promoting female empowerment and diversity in the mainstream media. >> the performances kept rolling from there. cardi b sing her number one hit "i like it like that" followed by sean mendez who certificate maded the crowds with his silky vocals. the big winner of the night was taylor swift who broke the all-time ama record with her artist the year win promoting

the importance of voting in the midterm elections. bringing the show to a close was gladys night with a touching musical tribute to the queen herself miss aretha franklin. taylor swift was definitely the stand out star of the night. she has 22 amas a. >> and she's getting everybody to vote. she's on fire. it is a musical institution in alabama, the marching band from alabama state university. the mighty marching horn hornets are one of the best and competitive college marching bands you're ever going to hear. they gave nbc's lester holt a peek at all of the their hard work. ♪ ♪ >> in a state where football takes scenter stage at alabama state university, it's the band that steals the show. this high-energy group is the most popular in town. movies, reality tv. >> step it up. >> and this summer -- >> what do you think? >> performance with oz ee

osbourne put together in two day's notice. under the direction of asu alum james oliver, that kind of turn around is nothing new. >> we do not repeat shows. i like to give the audience something fresh every weekend. >> that means practice. a lot of it. four hours a night, five days a week. >> the hard work is going to payoff. >> awry a berkeley puts in that time on top of her studies in forensic biology. in fact, 70% of the band are not music majors. their dedication on full display every saturday. >> basketball and football, they love the sports, but we're the entertainment. when our team doesn't win, the band does. >> but winning the 5th quarter is not enough for dr. oliver. >> i want to do a super bowl because we have something to

give to that audience. >> fans don't get up at halftime over there. >> looks exciting. thanks for waking up with us this morning. i'm marlie hall. hiad lib live picture of

transamerica pyramid. good morning and thank you for joining us. i )m marcus washington. and i )m laura garcia. toss to weather. letting the live pictures talk...