we've got multiple breaking news stories this morning. in wisconsin a police involved shooting of a black man sparks protests and unrest. >> in california, the wildfires grow past a million acres as the deadly bzes continue to grow larger with wind unpredictable. a major shakeup at the white house as one of the most loyal advisors steps down. double trouble in the gulf as marco and laura, two major storms, threaten the gulf coast states with a one-two punch.

>> and dreaming big, the inspiring story of a man who was a security guard at the hospital now returning with a brand new job. "early today" starts right now >> good monday morning i'm phillip mena >> we begin with breaking news a state of emergency curfew has been declared for wisconsin. outraged people filling the streets after a 29-year-old black man was shot by blpolice video went viral online and it may be disturbing to watch >> a man identified as jacob blake can be seen moving to open a car door and that's when multiple shots were fired. he was air lifted to a hospital. our local affiliate spoke to his fiance >> two male officers instantly detained him like, you know, put your hands but like no questions or none of that and i'm just trying to get the kids out the car. i'm like wait a minute he didn't do nothing wrong like you know, just ask some

questions first before you pin this man up against the car. >> the police department says officers immediately began providing first aid. blake's father told nbc news his son is in stable condition after surgery. the department of justice is investigating the shooting a twin nightmare headed for the gulf coast two tropical storms targeting the louisiana area just 48 hours apart. marco has weakened but after wreaking havoc in the caribbean, tropical storm laura is gaining strength janessa webb is tracking both of those for us this morning. >> good morning. we do have a change in the track of tropical storm marco. the national hurricane center with their next update at 5:00 a.m. i think you're going to see more of a northwesterly track. right now it's going and headed toward the florida panhandle panama city to tallahassee

seeing these outer bands and i think the center of the circulation of this storm system goes over that area instead of more towards eastern locations of new orleans so dry right now across that area no alerts are in place for florida, so potentially for a little bit of storm surge and the flooding rain going to be possible across that area. that doesn't mean that we are in the clear. we're still watching tropical storm laura. those photos coming out of haiti, the dominican republic, very disturbing. the flooding threat and the storm surge in that area continues to happen even though this system is going over land it's starting to fall apart but it's going to go back into the gulf that is very warm it's going to sit there for at least 24 hours as it revs up tuesday evening into wednesday it does gain some steam and turns back into a cat 2. so we have gotten lucky with marco even though we're going to see minor impacts. i think laura really needs to be

watched for at least the next 48 hours. now to one of the most visible faces of the trump administration who's leave the white house. the long time advisor says she is stepping down at the end of august kellyanne conway is planning to spend more time with her children saying in part, as millions of parents nationwide know, kids doing school from home require a level of attention and vigilance that is as unusual these times this is completely my choice and my voice it will be less drama, more mama her husband announced he too is stepping away from the lincoln project to devote more time to family matters the seismic shift comes after a tweet storm from their 15-year-old daughter who says she's pushing for emancipation and that her mother's job ruined her life adding that it's all about money and fame the wildfires in california, the smoke is so thick the haze

is hitting states in the midwest and now members of the military are being called up to help. steve patterson is there on the front lines. >> reporter: the desperate battle to contain california's historic fires is now a race against time crews working around the clock to get a handle on some of the largest fires in state history with a new looming threat in the forecast fresh red flag warnings and another predicted bout of lightning storms the same conditions were in place one week ago thousands of lightning strikes and heavy winds spread flames across the state >> they could cause havoc on this fire and fires throughout the region 50 miles away >> reporter: another grim milestone, the fires now totaling more than 1.1 million acres in size. a fire footprint visible from space. the president releasing federal aid to help exhausted crews on the ground the national guard and military arriving in california to relieve the strain on

firefighters in northern california, where monster flames devoured homes, forced the evacuations of thousands and killed at least five people. will cook is resorting to filling buckets ofthe neighborhood, checking properties and stuff and looking for little spot fires that are flaring up >> reporter: but for some, it's already too late >> in shock. just total shock. >> reporter: bryan returned to his home to find ruins >> beautiful home. four-car garage, everything gone this fire just came so quick. >> reporter: and nearby, a haunting sight hundreds of ancient trees inside california's oldest state park decimated. a permanent scar serving as a painful reminder of the fire's terrifying power firefighters are bone tired. they've been battling these

blazes spread across this state for more than a week and weather conditions are starting to worsen the worry that lightning strikes combined with red flag winds will make these fires a lot worse. >> no break for them thank you. a new medical treatment to fight coronavirus has been given emergency authorization. president trump approved the the treatment of convalescent plasma some medical experts are still questioning the treatment's effectiveness. >> reporter: president trump announcing what he says is a major therapeutic break through. >> the fda has issued an emergency use authorization and that's such a powerful term, emergency use authorization for a treatment known as convalescent plasma. >> reporter: it comes after the white house suggested the food and drug administration has

delayed approval of a vaccine and therapeutics >> this is a powerfultherapy that transfuses very, very strong anti bodies from the blood of recovered patients to help treat patients battling a current infection. >> patients who recovered from covid-19 have been donating plasma as part of ongoing studies. >> i believe that this is one of the most noble things we can do for other people >> there is data the treatment can't aid in the recovery of some patients. >> there was a 35% improvement in survival which is a significant clinical benefit. >> reporter: critics say it's too soon to determine the treatment's effectiveness. although the administration cites examples of how it's helped some patients we are waiting on clinical trials to prove effectiveness. a treatment that shows promise nbc news >> president trump is facing a new controversy from within his

own family in a secret recording the president's sister, mary ann trump berry is heard saying among other things that he has no principles. the audio was first obtained by the "washington post" and has since been obtained by nbc news. jennifer johnson has the story. >> reporter: the white house is defending president trump after secret recordings of the president's sister were made public a retired federal judge recorded by the president's niece saying the president has no principles and can't be trusted >> the change of stories, the lack of preparation, the lying, the [ bleep ], he's appealing to the base >> she has not commented on the recordings the white house released a statement in the president's name that said every day it's something else who cares. >> the number of accusations that's been made i've been able to witness up close and personal and they're not true >> reporter: ahead of the republican national convention the president announced

emergency administration of convalescent plasma to treat covid-19 >> this is a powerful therapy that transfuses very, very strong anti bodies from the blood of recovered patient to help treat patients battling a current infection. >> democrats and republicans are still clashing over changes made to the u.s. postal service under postmaster general dejoy the house approved $25 billion for the usps and banned the removal of mail collection boxes and sorting machines ahead of the november election. >> the public is demanding action on this now. >> reporter: but the republican controlled senate has no plans to act on the bill dejoy will face a grilling on his actions monday on a house oversight committee. >> let's turn back to the gulf with those two storms barrelling towards us here's janessa webb once again

>> good to see you both. good morning, everyone even though we're starting to see marco be a little bit more disorganized waiting for the national hurricane center next update we'll going to see the inundation of water across gulf coast communities. these are locations that get easi easily flooded and we're going to forecast new orleans to panama city, to southern locations up to 6 to 8 inches. some isolated areas, higher amounts. we still have a hurricane warning that's in place for new orleans that extends into baton rouge has well and no alerts for the florida panhane, butdl tampa today, 93. a few strong storms this afternoon and we're also

watching the severe weather threat for the st. louis area to chicago. 93 also severe weather for the midwest. we'll talk about that coming up. >> there is a whole lot to watch out there. thanks for that. >> we've got our hands full today. a deputy had to think fast when a pregnant woman went into labor in a 7-11 parking lot. >> he's crying great job. congratulations. it is a boy. >> her water broke and deputy richard allen jr. jumped into action medics arrived seconds too late. the deputy helped deliver that happy baby boy and the new mother jokes saying you're my hero i guess i owe you a big gulp >> hop over to that wendy's next door and grab some fries and chil chi chili. and the race for 2020 hits

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gloves are coming off in the race for 2020. in his first interview since the dnc, joe biden laughed off attacks from president trump about his mental acuity. >> watch me. mr. president, watch me. look at us both, what we say, what we do, what we control, what we know, what kind of shape we're in come on. >> you have said yourself that you are a transition candidate does that mean a one-term president? what does that mean? >> no, it doesn't mean >> so you keer leaving open the possibility you'll serve eight years. >> absolutely. >> the republican convention kicks off tonight. and voters will be watching too. we're in the state of

pennsylvania with more cori, good morning >> reporter: pennsylvania isn't the same state it was in 2016. voters are concerned abouts, but they're orcreaed about the pandemic a to moderats and democrats and narrowly take the lead in pennsylvania he's trying to hold on to that narrow lead by holding events here locally he in fact held an event just last week near biden's birthplace of scranton >> they do know a lot of people who will suffer four more years under a trump administration and that is terrifying >> we're allowing a president who's supposed to be our country's leader to fix it, but we're seeing that it's not being fixed. >> is there anything that trump could do to still earn your vote for 2020 >> coming around socially would be a huge step

definitely >> so trump can't just appeal to the economic side of things. that will be his set of challenges biden's challenges will be engaging their base of democratic voters and increasing that turnout of 71% from 2016. that was a loss of a million votes back then. >> and the margin was razor thin there in pennsylvania. thank you. >> and a reminder, join our nbc team for complete coverage for the republican national convention beginning tonight at 10:00 eastern here on nbc. one town's dubious new honor. >> and the basketball world pays tribute to kobe bryant on what would have been his 42nd birthday in light scents you'll love. ah... new febreze light. ♪ la la la la la. hey allergy muddlers... achoo! ...do your sneezes turn heads? try zyrtec... ...it starts working hard at hour one... and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day.

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as part of their virtual fan convention dc revealed the look at justice league. snider revealed the four-hour film will be broken into hour chunks when it debuts. >> all right on what would have been his 42nd birthday the sports world remembered the life and legacy of kobe bryant vanessa bryant penned a heart wrenching tribute to her

husband. thank you for loving me enough to last several lifetimes and every lifetime i would choose you. in los angeles, the dodgers paid tribute by wearing kobe's jersey pregame and nike released a video tribute to kick off their week >> better winner, just be better >> do the simple stuff right >> today august 24th is kobe bryant day in orange county, california the day was chosen to represent his two jersey numbers with the laker, 8 and 24. >> the sports world is so very different now from that day that we lost kobe bryant in so many ways >> his legacy lives on it sure does an athletic director is not playing around when it comes to coronavirus safety rules >> students in section 5, move to section 5 >> so the high school football

game was put on hold until students went to their assigned seats and put their masks on and then the game could start. city officials in connecticut are getting back at comedian john oliver for his expletive filled rant about their city >> behind me you'll see the city's sewer plant we are going to rename it the john oliver sewer plant because it's full of [ bleep ] just like you, john. >> we'll be right back did you know that some aluminum- free deodorants only mask odor? secret aluminum free helps eliminate odor

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cascade platinum. we're back with a story about dreaming big and aiming high it's the inspiring tale of one man's triumphant return to the hospital where he used to be a security guard >> reporter: this is one of the most important moments of russell's life >> first day on the job. >> reporter: a pediatrics ro occasion at baton rouge general hospital >> i want to cry because it's kind of like, god, you've brought me so far.

he walked the halls of this hospital ten years before. he was a full time security guard for the hospital >> it's been an interesting year >> it's been a ride from being a security guard from baton rouge general to now being a rotating medical student. >> reporter: growing up in lake charles, russell never thought a career in medicine was possible. >> when i thought about smart people growing up i was like, they're usually wealthy, they don't usually look like me. >> reporter: but a chance encounter changed his life >> i was walking out and he offered to walk me to my car he asked me what i did and i said i was a surgeon and his eyes lit up. and he said, wow. >> reporter: the doctor did something unusual. he let russell follow him for months >> he didn't know me from a fly on the wall and he was like yeah, come to the o.r. with me.

>> reporter: that set him on a new and challenging path first graduating college and then a ph.d at nyu and now russell is returning to a place he knows so well >> tell me why you decided to go back >> i missed home if i'm going to be good to people i'm going to be good to people where i'm from. because they need me >> reporter: but it's not just his patient who is need him. it's those who may see something he never did >> if i didn't see very many black doctors growing up i need to make sure that doesn't happen for someone else. >> reporter: so he will walk these halls once again, this time with a white coat on his way to becoming a doctor >> tell me about what you would tell that kid 20 years ago that was dreaming. >> i think i'd tell him to keep going, man and just pursue your dreams with unapologetically >> that's the way to start off our week with a story like that one. russell is planning to specialize on child psychology

as well but while protecting people and keeping them safe in more ways than one in that span of time. >> sometimes all you need is a shot that's an amazing story and kudos to him he made the most out of that opportunity and he's going back to his community. >> and that doctor who

multiple break wisconsin, as hospitalized in serious condition following a police shooting that sparked protests in the region. whiplash for the weather two major storms bear down on the gulf coast residents brace for possible back-to-back hurricanes. white house in turmoil on the eve of the republican convention, the architect of the trump 2016 victory delivers an oval office message. i'm stepping down. and the president announces emergency use of a new treatment for covid and there are questions whether political

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