we want to get it back to where it was we want big, big stadiums loaded with people. we don't want to have 15,000 people watching alabama/lsu as an example and we want to have when you have the masses. we want to have big crowds right now that's not what they're planning, but you never know what happens. things can happen very quickly >> president trump speaking to nbc's mike tirico on sunday's skins charity golf match also, nascar racing is back with a vengeance both live events missing fans, but hey, it's a start.

to a divided white house top economic advisers pull the finger of blame as the senate prepares to pass a $3 trillion aid bill and we're keeping an eye on the season's first named tropical storm it is monday, may 18th, and "early today" starts right now >> good morning. welcome in i'm cori coffin. >> and i'm phillip dorseip mayna more steps are taking steps towards reopening amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus we're approaching 1.5 million confirmed cases. >> during an interview with "60 minutes," the chairman of the federal reserve said the u.s. economy may not fully recover without a vaccine for covid-19 >> assume iing of the coronavir i think you'll see the economy recover steadily through the second half of this year

we can't fully recover, though, until people feel confident that they're safe >> jerome powell added that industries like airlines and sporting events will face some big challenges, but he also says you wouldn't want to bet against the american economy one business that is ramping up business, apple customers will be required to wear a mask and have their temperature checked. the same requirements in place at disney in florida as shopping and dining resumes on wednesday. disney issued a blunt warning that all visitors are aconsuming all risks related to exposure to covid-19 meanwhile, one person who will not be out in public soon is martin scarelli he asked to be freed from prison to work on a coronavirus treatment, but a judge ruled against him calling that request delusional from coast-to-coast, sports fans are rejoicing because live competition is slowly making a comeback, with some new covid-19

safety measures. nascar has become the first of major u.s. spores leagues to restart since the coronavirus pandemic began and professional golf made a soft return with a charity event. can baseball be far behind here is nbc's morgan chesky. >> green flag, nascar is back! >> reporter: the return came with a roar. the nascar race a turning point for all sports their seasons cut off by covid-19 at darlington raceway, a glimpse of the new normal. grandstands empty to keep fans safe on a typical race day, tammy rokz makes vacation money turning her front yard into a parking lot. today it's empty. >> our town is a race town we love the fans well love the sound of the noise in the background. >> reporter: now everyone is having to adjust for those at the track, that means temperature checks skeleton pit crews to limit exposure, and drivers masking up if they're not behind the wheel.

>> i think anybody that comes back first is going to be under a microscope i do, however, i'm very confident in all the things nascar has done. >> reporter: in florida, drivers of a different kind. pro golf back in action with a charity match. the sport's biggest names carrying their own bags and keeping their distance to raise money for health care workers. the president himself calling in to emphasize the importance of bringing sports back. >> we're getting it back, and it's going to be fast. we'll start off with small crowds, if any >> reporter: other pro leagues racing to adapt, after facing billions in losses in baseball, nbc news confirmed a draft proposal for coronavirus rules. the mlb would test all player, coaches and umpires. and for social distancing even in the dugout. and forget about sunflower seeds or tobacco spitting would be strictly prohibited the nfl not far behind commissioner roger goodell announcing practice facilities will reopen tuesday as long as state and local governments allow it

back in darlington, the familiar sounds a small victory for those who depend on it >> i know this is still far from normal, but does the race give you at least a little hope >> yes it does. it makes me feel like if we can all look at life a little differently maybe and not take for granted what was our normal before, and maybe take time to enjoy the moments more >> reporter: and this morning nascar making it very clear that these are not recommendations but very much rules. in fact, should any driver or member of their crew break them, they could be facing up to a $50,000 fine cori we'll send it back to you. >> all right, morgan, thank you. as two-thirds of the company reopens, tensions escalate between the white house and the cdc after one of the president's top advisers criticize the agency for its handling of the pandemic here is jennifer johnson with the latest from washington

>> reporter: a divided white house as one of the president's top economic advisers is now blaming the cdc for its initial response to covid-19 >> really let the country down with the testing, because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy, they had a bad test and that did set us back. >> reporter: but the white house health secretary disagrees. >> i don't believe the cdc let this country down. what was always critical was to get the private sector to the table. >> reporter: only about 3% of the population has been tested for covid-19, while almost every state has almost partially reopened a new nbc survey shows states have lost hundreds of billions of dollars from the shutdowns. health officials still predicting the death rate will hit 110,000 by june. >> it's possible for us to do better than models and also worse depending what people decide to do >> reporter: churches in georgia allowed to have indoor services after a federal court ruled

against the governor's order to limit gatherings to ten people. >> he will negotiate with nascar he will negotiate with other people but vaccine. >> tremendous progress is being made. >> reporter: meanwhile, a $3 trillion economic aid bill passed by the house heads to the senate this week republicans say the bill giving taxpayers another $1200 is dead on arrival jennifer johnson, nbc news, washington the hot weather is right around the corner, and the coronavirus pandemic could put a damper on summer travel, especially internationally but as cases and deaths decline in most of europe, some countries are lifting some restrictions and reopening borders for that all important summer vacation season here is nbc's carl nasmin. >> reporter: many countries in europe are hoping to reopen for tourism in time for the all important summer vacation season we're already seeing some of the first steps in terms of getting borders back open.

germany partially reopening with some of its neighbors this weekend. the goal within the eu to get most of those internal borders back up and running as soon as mid-june in the meantime, we're seeing some creative solutions for getting travelers moving between countries. one of those solutions is called a travel bubble. this is already in effect in the baltic states, lit yan withhuana and estonia, three countries where the virus is mostly under control. one another creative proposal would be a traffic light system for regions within country, labeling them as green as safe for travel and red for unsafe. according to the authors of that study, that could be one way to get americans in some cities or some states where the virus is under control over to europe for that well-deserved summer vacation of course, the biggest challenge is to get those infection rates under control. in the meantime in the united states carl nasman, nbc news, dresden,

germany. nearly a dozen los angeles firefighters are recovering this morning after being injured while responding to a massive explosion. officials say it happened at a commercial building in the city's toy district that housed highly flammable butane. now authorities have opened up a criminal investigation into the incident nbc's dan schenamen has the latest >> reporter: firefighters initially called it routine. a single story building in l.a.'s toy district on fire early saturday evening >> as firefighters were cutting open the doors to get inside, and other firefighters were going on the roof, you started to hear this high-pitched rumbling sound >> we've got a massive explosion. we've got multiple buildings on fire >> reporter: inside the building butane, i is highly flammable. >> after that initial explosion, things actually got worse. as the butane ignited, it blew out of the front of that commercial building like a blowtorch, right in the path of

egress that our firefighters had to come down the ladder. >> mayday, mayday, mayday! >> reporter: 11 firefighters are hospitalized eight are still there. four were taken to a burn unit and two placed on ventilators. >> the good news is everybody is going to make it >> reporter: a fire department spokesman said the building was a warehouse for a company that makes butane honey oil it's an oil used in vape pens and other products the cause of the fire is under investigation, and authorities have opened a criminal probe dan sheneman, nbc news i want to turn now to some extreme weather that's on the move this morning. a possible tornado touched do unin southern louisiana. at least six people were hurt and families have been displaced from their homes officials are working to evaluate the damage there. meanwhile, a warning was issued for major flash flooding in chicago overnight. roads have been closed and people are asked not to travel if possible. flood warnings will be in effect until this afternoon

>> tracking it all including the season's first tropical storm. hey, general n jenessa, good mog >> we have our first trouble system of the season it's quite early impacting the north carolina coast that's why we currently have some watches and warnings that are going to stay in place throughout the afternoon all the way to the evening right now we're seeing sustainedsustaine up to 45 miles per hour. the storm system will stay well offshore, but it's that coastal areas across south carolina even into north carolina that we'll continue to watch with 90s, even across the deep south. the cloud coverage will be in place with severe weather.

quite early before this tropical system, but we're also watching the storms for the ohio valley guys >> latter, janessa, thank you so much all of this with storms in the stormy season under way, coming up. >> two weeks early all right. we've got a fun story for you this morning nick the siberian husky is celebrating a big win after taking home the title of best in show at thefourth annual beverly hills dog show he beat out over 165 other breeds recognized by the american kennel club this was nick's first time competing in the show, and his owner said he celebrated with a nice dinner and a long nap in a cold room. sounds perfect >> that looks like a fast dog. hat tip to the late fred willard there. a ski lodge is reopening its doors with strict new guidelines and with the u.s. postal service's in doubt, we'll take you to ral azourrina where it's a vital lifeline to millions of americans.

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leading the news, the postal could look very different soon the agency is struggling to stay afloat as a new postmaster general prepares to take over early next month this as reliance on letter carriers has only risen with the pandemic, especially in rural towns. here is nbc political reporter vaughn hilliard. >> hello >> how you >> reporter: while much of america went quiet this spring, the little williams arizona post office, one of thousands across the country, di not. >> it's a daily routine for me to come in the post office we're a small community of 3100 people the post office is right up there with number one or two for kind of a place you run into everybody you know >> reporter: as seeing people became more difficult, this constant kept on >> some of the older generation depends on the postal service like i do. i send bills through the mail. >> reporter: anita pettitte has

been delivering mail in her jeep across this vast grand canyon region for 33 years. >> i'm a mail gal. i can't do much anything else. i'm eligible to retire, but that word isn't in my vocabulary? >> reporter: why do you keep doing? >> i just have good customers and i love my job. >> reporter: so you go 80 miles round trip >> a lot of it is highway miles. >> we may not be the brains or the heart of the community, but we're definitely the lifeblood of the community >> have i people that wait for me every day they make my day a lot this homemade salsa today yummy! >> reporter: for so many in williams, it isn't just about what ends up in their mailbox, but who makes sure it gets there. how long have you worked for the post office? >> 40 years, going on 41 >> reporter: describe robin to me. >> she is kind of like our mother figure. she is a friend to everyone in

the community pretty much. >> don't be a coward over there! >> she knows everybody by name. >> here comes tad. >> reporter: tad, what are you coming in for today? >> my mail. >> what would we do without a post office? you have to have one >> reporter: what do you think about the folks inside here that work here? >> they're awesome they're really awesome they're very helpful, and they're also very aware of what's going on. >> reporter: they're members of this community >> very. >> reporter: they know what's happening? >> yes. >> we need these people as much as they need us. >> a lot of people count on me for medicine. >> we get dog medicine, we get horse medicine in, you know. well get birds, in chickens. >> it's necessary for everyday essentials >> reporter: and perhaps essential this fall, its role in the november election. >> a lot of people in this community vote by mail that's becoming more popular every year i'm seeing more and more ballots. >> reporter: about 3/4 of voters in this county in 2018 cast

their vote by mail. >> it makes it a lot simpler for them to vote from their home, put it in the mailbox, put the flag up and have the mail carrier come by and pick it up. >> reporter: what should washington understand about the mail carrier service >> what washington has missed is the need. >> we're over 200 years old. we're a part of the nation, an integral part of the nation. and we are essential, especially to the rural outlying areas. >> reporter: at a time of unknowns for american towns, the folks of williams have at least one known for tomorrow they'll be en route not long after sunrise. vaughn hilliard, williams, arizona. all right. up next, gas prices are on the move again, but the direction may surprise you and these church goers got a blessing in a very different way. st wh ayitus d out what it actually was. dust mite droppings! eeeeeww! dead skin cells! gross! so now, i grab my swiffer sweeper and heavy-duty dusters. duster extends to three feet to get all that gross stuff

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in today's quick hits, the average price of a gallon of gas rose 5 cents over the past three weeks, up to $1.97 the uptick comes after gas prices crashed for nine weeks straight during the pandemic roman catholic priest in detroit found a unique way the stay connected with parishioners while social distancing. reverend tim pelt used a squirt gun to shoot holy water as a drive-by blessing. a ski resort in oregon officially reopened. the timber line ski launch has new guidelines still to come, 40 weddings

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a new hampshire postal worker wanted to celebrate the class of 2020 by leaving thoughtful gifts in their mailboxes. joshua purchased dunkin' donuts gift cards to give seniors who lived a along his route. he has already given out 25 gift cards, and students sent thank you cards back to him. he even keeps extras with him in case he encounters a new senior on a different route >> that's dedication, to keep extras too >> postal workers do not make a lot of money so you know this man has a lot of generosity in his heart >> that's wonderful. all right. with wedding venues and marriage licenses set to expire soon, dozens of couples in florida decided they weren't going to wait any long for a fancy wedding. instead, they found joy at the drive-through. here is nbc's kate snow.

>> i will share my life with you. >> reporter: maybe it wasn't the wing they imagined. >> through the best and the worst. >> through the best and the worst. >> for as lon as we both shall live. >> for as listening as we both shall live. >> reporter: but it was day they'll never forget >> i'm happy to pronounce that you are husband and wife >> reporter: with wedding venues closed and wedding licenses set to expire, couples from across florida thought their special day would never come. >> they were calling up, wondering what do to do. how can we help them. >> reporter: moved by their plea, gainesville court clerk had the idea to reopen their courthouse drive-through window after 20 years >> a lot of people thought it was joke they didn't think it was for real i said i'm dead serious. we're going to do this. >> reporter: the response -- >> you ready to get married? >> reporter: overwhelming. 46 couples lining up for a socially distant drive-through wedding. >> we plan on getting married in a few months from now. but because of the pandemic we weren't sure when we could have

the wedding. >> reporter: justin and joe waters mao married at the courthouse where they met. >> we started talking to each other in and out of work and we ended up. >> reporter: for erin and jonathan, their dream wedding in charleston now on hold until next year. >> i don't want to wait to marry him until next year. >> reporter: couples of all ages >> i sit here in a convert at a drive-through wedding in the middle of a global pandemic and can't help but how smile this fitting scenario is to our relationship >> reporter: promising to love in sickness and in health might never have meant so much >> wasn't going to let no pandemic or anything stop this day. and i am so happy. >> and our thanks to kate for that report. what a fun story and it might not have been the original thought, but it's exactly perfect for right now. >> and i think they should keep that theme going and go right thug drive-through to

get their wedding reception meals right after. why not. you're floor the car thanks for waking up with us o this mondan

we want the get sports back. we miss sports we need sports in terms of the psyche, the psyche of our country. and that's what we're doing. >> the president promoting the return of sports as sunday delivered some we haven't seen in a long time, new live televised sporting events. >> today all 50 states will experience some form of reopening, including many beaches and parks, but not everyone is keeping their distance as advised. new national data is showing that almost 19% of u.s. latinos are now unemployed, more than anhn group a numb