day two of the trial in the death of george floyd saw witnesses delivering emotional testimony, as the defense attempted to portray bystanders as an angry mob that diverted the officer's attention. as the pandemic rages on is morning, we have new images from inside an overcrowded border facility, housing thousands of unaccompanied migrant children. matt gates says a doj probe into a possible relationship with a teenage girl is part of an extortion plot. we'll hear from the congressman thism

president biden, as new satellite imagerh activity as a key nuclear plant. baseball is back ballparks prepare for opening day with pandemic protocols and also plenty of smiles. "early today" starts right now good to be with you. i'm frances rivera. >> i'm phillip mena. witnesses took the stand in the trial of derek chauvin they told the jury not just what they saw that day, but why it was so disturbing and upsetting, and why they each felt they had to intervene our jay gray wraps up day two of the trial. >> reporter: day two begins with raw emotion. >> unresponsive. he wasn't resisting arrest for any of it. >> reporter: donald williams wiping away tears as he listens to his own voice during a 911 call the day george floyd died >> i did call the police on the

police. >> why did you do that >> because i believe i witnessed a murder >> it wasn't right he was -- he was suffering he was in pain >> reporter: that's the voice of the young woman whose cell phone video of derek chauvin, with his knee across floyd's neck, has been seen by millions around the world, and now is key evidence in the case. the judge ruling she would testimony off camera, shielding her face because she was a minor that day on this day, nothing could hide the emotion in her voice >> i stayed up apologizing and apologizing to george floyd for not doing more for not physically interacting and not saving his life. >> reporter: as testimony continues, so do the tears

>> you know, as i told you, we can take our time. >> reporter: this minneapolis firefighter and emt, seen in surveillance video happening upon the scene, telling jurors she was off duty but desperate to help, when she was told by police to stay out of the way. >> i would have been able to provide medical attention to the best of my abilities, and this human was denied that right. >> reporter: a right she believed may have saved floyd's life jay gray, nbc news, minneapolis. this morning, we're getting a first look at the cramped conditions inside the main detention facility in texas, where thousands of unaccompanied migrant children are being held. antonia hylton has more. >> reporter: after reporters asking for more transparency and access to facilities on the border, the biden administration granted media access to the donna facility in south texas.

this has been at the center of controversy, as people raised concerns around the overcrowding and conditions for migrants at the border, and the need to more humanely process people. take a listen to this. after facing backlash for keeping journalists out, the biden administration allowing a news crew inside this overcrowded border patrol detention facility in donna, texas. over 3,000 unaccompanied migrant children packed together in the middle of a pandemic, lying on the floor with a thin foil blanket. no covid tests are given unless a child shows symptoms they're allowed a brief phone call every 48 hours. the youngest kept separated in these playpens for their safety. they even sleep here >> these kids crossed by themselves. >> reporter: border patrol's acting executive officer says most came with smugglers parents often countingon authorities to reunite them with family members in the u.s. >> no one knows what happens to them coming in on the journey. nothing is guaranteeing the

safety and security of the child until they come into our custody. >> reporter: there are 5,100 unaccompanied children detained in facilities like this, which in this part of texas, are already at 800% capacity the surge happening after president biden reversed former president trump's policy and by began allowing unaccompanied children into the u.s. the official expects the number of migrants to grow. >> they know we're releasing them they know right now, nothing is stopping them. we're not deporting them back to their countries. >> reporter: officials are trying to tell migrants they shouldn't come now given the levels of violence and poverty in central america, most people don't expect them to heed those warnings. >> heartbreaking thank you. after a two-day manhunt, police in new york captured a suspect in a brutal attack on an asian woman in broad daylight. 38-year-old brandon elliott was arrested and charged with a hate crime.

the disturbing attack happened in midtown, manhattan, as the woman was on her way to church dan sheneman has the story. >> reporter: images, shocking. a 65-year-old woman attacked on a manhattan street police say the attacker uttered asian slurs. >> it's sad, you know? it could be one of us. it could be any of us any day tomorrow, you know >> reporter: two men, one a security guard, appeared to view the attack. >> we can't just stand back and watch a heinous act happening. >> reporter: it's not the only incident this one on a subway a young man appears to attack an asian passenger. these attacks are not isolated incidents. hate crimes against asian-americans up 150% last year >> hi, everyone. >> reporter: it's caught the attention of the white house >> the president announced doj launched an initiative on hate crimes and violence. >> reporter: the justice department will conduct an expedited review, prioritizing criminal prosecutions. >> what in the heck is going on with people in new york?

they see something, say something. my motto is, if you see something, do something. >> reporter: dan sheneman, nbc news. new satellite images are sparking concerns about north korea's nuclear program this morning. andrea mitchell has the latest >> reporter: kim jong-un taking another step toward building more nuclear bombs according to experts studying a satellite picture, the picture showing smoke rising from north korea's main nuclear processing plant. experts say it appears that north korea is about t has how concerning is it >> i think it is certainly concerning when you add this on top of the speech that jong-un gave in january, talking about augmenting the nuclear weapons, icbms, and submarine launch ballistic missiles. >> reporter: last week, north korea tested two short-range ballistic missiles president biden said the u.s. would respond accordingly if they escalated the u.n. security council met on that

the president said he is prepared for some diplomacy. right now, kim jong-un seems more intent on seeing how far he can had advance his nuclear pro. >> andrea, thank you. president biden is ready to lay the groundwork for his ambitious infrastructure proposal he'll unveil the build back better plan in pittsburgh today. for a preview, let's get to tracie potts in washington, d.c. good morning what are we expecting to hear from the president today >> reporter: well, we're expecting to hear him lay out his vision for, first of all, why he wants to do this infrastructure plan, why it is necessary to help lift america's economy. the big ideas and the big priorities in what he's calling the american jobs plan take a look. the president expected to explain why he wants to invest in infrastructure, transportation, climate change, clean energy jobs is a big part of this, and education

but the big question, particularly for some of his critics, is around the cost. it's expected to cost around $2 trillion >> let me just say that the speech tomorrow is about making an investment in america not just modernizing our roads, our railways, our bridges, but building an infrastructure of the future so some of it is infrastructure, shovel-ready projects. some is, how do we expand broadband access how of it is ensuring that we are addressing the needs in people's homes and communities. >> i think this new democratic government is heading in the wrong direction. the economy is getting better on its own. people are moving around you're seeing it >> reporter: republican critics have one big question, who will pay higher taxes as a result the president hinted about raising taxes back during the campaign, before he took office. now, with the size of this on top of the american rescue plan,

lots of questions about how it is going to be paid for. >> tracie potts for us with the latest there thank you. turn to nbc meteorologist janessa webb, tracking dangerous weather. janessa, good morning. >> hey, good morning good morning, everyone we are seeing severe weather right now making its way across mississippi. we've already had two reports of tornadoes in southern mississippi. so i'm watching right now the northern half. we're seeing all tornado warnings they have expired, but this is a major squall line that continues across the lower tennessee valley so tennessee, kentucky, you're on our radar this morning, with the flooding and also the severe weather that will continue for that area. now, we are expecting on top of the rain, an additional 3 to 4 inches in this area, wits this

cold front makes its way through. for the northeast, rain headed our way later this evening and then we have freeze warnings we'll talk about that coming up. >> so odd. you've been warning us about this coming. just sounds so weird though. janessa, thanks. are you ready for some more football starting this year, the nfl got you covered. for the first time since 1978, the nfl season is expanding. league owners approved the addition of a 17th game to the schedule for the 2021 season tampa bay bucs head coach commemorated the super bowl victory with a tattoo. the bucs logo, the final score, and the coveted lombardi trophy. if brady did that, he'd look like lil wayne. one of the real housewives in real trouble this morning. nd> one giant leap for rover

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leading the news republican florida congressman and trump supporter matt gates is denying an explosive report in "the new york times." it says the justice department is investigating him over, quote, whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, and paid for her to travel with him. the article goes on to say that the investigation was opened in the final months of the trump administration under attorney general william barr last night, during an interview with tucker carlson, gaetz denied the accusations while leveling some of his own >> it is a horrible allegation, and it is a lie. "the new york times" is running a story that i have traveled with a 17-year-old woman, and that is verifiably false people can look at my travel records and see that is not the case what is happening is an extortion of me and my family involving a former department of

justice official the fbi and the department of justice were so concerned about this extortion of a member of congress, they asked my dad to wear a wire, which he did, with the former department of justice official tonight, i am demanding that the department of justice and the fbi release the audio recordings that were made under their supervision and at their direction, which will prove my innocence. >> no charges have been brought against congressman gaetz. the justice department denied to comment. when it comes to pay equity, dolly parton was right on the money. ♪ w0 to 5:00 what a way to make a living barely getting by taking and no giving ♪ >> yup, when it comes to taking and no giving, women in the united states will not see equal pay for another 60 years that's according to a report by the world economic forum the u.s. has closed 76% of the gap so far

worldwide, it'll take 135 years to close it. more than two dozen current and past lgbtq students who attended christian colleges and universities have filed a class-action lawsuit against the department of education. 33 lgbtq students allege they faced discrimination at 25 federally-funded christian colleges and universities in 18 states the suit claims title 9 religious exception allows schools to discriminate against lgbtq students a spokesperson for the department of education says the biden administration is committed to equal education access to all students. a star of the reality tv show "real housewives of salt lake city," jen shah, was arrested over allegations of wire fraud and a telemarketing scheme between 2012 and this year, it is alleged shah and an assistant conspired to defraud older and computer-illiterate people by selling services that were

non-existent. one giant leap for nasa's mission on mars. nasa's jet propulsion lab tweeted the ingenuity helicopter, stored underneath the rover, is ready for a safe touchdown on the red planet. it'll be at least another week before ingenuity takes to the skies above mars nasa says its first flight, which would be the first of its mind on mars, will be no earlier than april 8th. in texas, the latest spacex prototype of the rocket was destroyed tuesday. it happened during a landing attempt after a clean launch t there was thick fog. the faa is overseeing an investigation. pet owners, listen up. the new food recall for dog and cat owners, next. and primed to iozeunni the landmark vote under way that could reshape the future of amazon world's strongest man martins licis to help you break down boxes? arrrggh! what am i gonna do to you box?

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we have a consumer alert to tell you about this morning. midwest pet foods is recalling nearly a dozen dog and cat food brands due to a salmonella risk. it includes canine x, holisitc, venture, unrefined, sport mix, wholesomes, and more the recalled foods were distributed to retail stores nationwide and sold online they have expiration dates from april of 2022 to september of

2022 to see the list of affected products, visit the fda's website at fda.gov. the count is officially under way this morning for the historic amazon union vote in alabama. if approved, it'd be the first ever labor union at an amazon warehouse in the united states our jacob ward is there with the latest. >> reporter: yesterday was the beginning of a historic vote count. if this vote creates a union of amazon workers, it'd be the first such union in the united states now, it is important to note, it will be several days before we actually know the result of this tally. it could, in fact, drag into next week. also important to note, the stakes here. when you think about the fact there are unions around the world of amazon workers, and what we've seen there, in italy, a strike against amazon took place last week. same thing is happening in germany this week. the stakes are very high this company has been considered the future of capitalism

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welcome back tomorrow, fans will be celebrating the return of major league baseball this year with a complete schedule but also new covid protocols. nbc's steve patterson has the latest from scottsdale >> reporter: the unmistakable symphony of late spring. the sounds of baseball ushering in renewed hope. >> it's great to be back it's therapeutic i think we've all needed it. >> reporter: the covid pandemic reshaped america's pastime in 2020 a shortened season with cardboard cut-outs instead of fans in the stands but this year, baseball's back with a new normal.

major league baseball issuing 108-page health and safety manual with protocols each team must follow to play ball. >> the manual is written in pencil we have to be adaptable. one of the things we learned last year is that if you can't be flexible, you can't play in this environment >> reporter: players are required to wear contact-tracing wristbands and face coverings in team facilities and in the dugout players are also restricted on where they can and can't go. >> guys are sticking to that and just trying to stay on our best behavior >> reporter: vaccinations aren't man mandated, but the league says if 85% of a team gets the shot, they may loosen restrictions this year, fans are returning to the stands to watch the games, but it is in a limited fashion here at chase field, home of the arizona diamondbacks, they hope to fill up the stands at some point during the season. meanwhile, occupancy is a state by state decision. >> we're at a critical time. major league baseball worked extremely hard to get us on the field. we want to take our responsibility seriously, and make sure we protect where we're at right now.

>> reporter: a long season ahead with so much at stake, on and off the field. steve patterson, nbc news, scottsdale, arizona. >> lots to get excited about you have baseball, extended nfl season all kind of good stuff. >> things looking up. >> yeah. now, the final four is set after elite eight drama. last-second shot didn't find the net, giving ucla a 49-51 win over michigan. gonzaga kept their historic run alive against usc. they're two wins away from college basketball's first undefeated season since 1976 in the women's elite eight, south carolina put on a defensive clinic against texas they held the long horns to zero points, absolutely nothing in the fourth quarter the 2017 champs are back in the final four they beat texas, 62-34

top seeded stanford overcame a slow start against louisville. the cardinals will return to the final four with a 78-63 win. looking forward to those games coming up on the weekend going for houston. >> there you go. >> i want to see them do it. >> we'll check i

now at 4:30, rolling into the orange tier. the bay area county reducing covid restrictions starting today and the others will have to wait a little longer to move forward with more reopenings. plus -- >> this whole pandemic, everything is so new, everything is like constantly changing, constantly like evolving. >> for months, experts were unsure if the vaccine would prevent you from spreading the virus to others. what the cdc is now saying that may encourage you to get vaccinated. also, from new york to san francisco, more arrests and violent hate crime attacks. shocking