today, president biden will visit storm-ravaged new york and new jersey after having toured the south where ida spread a path of death and destruction. will the federal government do anything different for this disaster he's known as the architect of the 9/11 rror attack. and today khalid sheikh mohammed's trial will resume from gaunt an moe. and we've got a preview. michael k. williams was found dead in his apartment with drug paraphernalia nearby. police are investigating now that millions of americans will no longer receive

pandemic unemployment benefits, will the nation's 10 million open jobs be filled? why did the banker quit his job? >> why >> he lost interest. >> a third grader's sense of humor generating smiles behind those masks. "early today" starts right now thanks for starting your short work week with us. i'm frances rivera >> and i'm phillip mena. millions of americans spent their day working on storm cleanup. from the gulf coast to the northeast, tropical storm ida caused at least 69 deaths. and many people are still desperate for help nbc's vaughn hillyard is in louisiana. >> reporter: eight days after ida, half a million in louisiana are still without power. some communities surrounded by standing water, homes gone

>> there's not a person on this bayou that's not suffering >> reporter: katie's home overtaken by floodwaters furniture tossed to the mud. >> you're drowning and you're reaching up and saying help me and no one's coming. >> reporter: officials say the total number of destroyed power poles higher than hurricanes katrina, ike, delta and zeta combined these waters and mud with nowhere to go. >> the mud just keeps coming and coming and coming. >> reporter: concerns also rising about the most vulnerable >> no lights, no water, no hot meals, no nothing. >> reporter: over the weekend 600 residents evacuated from eight senior centers after the health department deemed them unfit for ongoing occupancy. >> nobody showed up. not one person showed up to come check on us. >> reporter: the city says five

are dead >> what we found was unacceptable >> reporter: meanwhile, seven now dead, and the state attorney general demanding answers after more than 800 nursing home residents were evacuated to this warehouse and left on cots in flooedwaters >> people shouldn't be treated like that. you should be held accountable >> reporter: but also small miracles animal rescuers found this pup who survived for four days, like many here, looking for a new home vaughn hillyard, nbc news, lafitte, louisiana president biden spent part of his labor day meeting with labor leaders. he met with members of the international brotherhood of electrical workers he also brought the group lunch from a local deli. but today the president's attention turns back to storm recovery we're joined now by nbc correspondent tracie potts the president is headed to some

areas today that need a lot of help >> reporter: he's going to be in new jersey and new york today touring neighborhoods in both areas that were hard hit by this storm. he'll start out in manville, new jersey, doing a neighborhood tour there and talking with some of the emergency worker ws who finally are getting a chance to help they couldn't even begin till friday to complete the cleanup process. and the president goes to queens, which was the hardest-hit borough in the city of new york. he was down south on friday where the federal emergency management agency has said people affected can apply for chainsaws and generators hundreds of dollars in the

pockets of those folks could end up being a big help because half a million people are still without power. and the power company is working with the government down there saying it could be until the end of september until some of those folks are out of the dark. meantime, the president is likely to continue his message today about climate change as he makes remarks up north and talks about the federal assistance that's going both to the northeast and to the south frances? >> i'm sure the message will be reiterated again and again tracie, thanks evacuation orders have been downgraded and some warnings lifted for parts of el dorado county in california fire officials are citing a massive accomplishment against the caldor fire. thousands of residents were able to return to the south lake tahoe area bears have been wandering neighborhoods searching for food and spreading trash. and as one fire calms, another

grows. new evacuation orders have been issued for trinity county as the monument fire spreads to over 184,000 acres. more than 2,000 firefighters are working to contain that blaze, which is 41% contained the world is mourning the loss of prolific actor michael k. williams. >> i tell you something. i like that ring, too. >> boy, you got me confused with a man who repeats himself. >> he starred as omar little on "the wire" as well as on "boardwalk empire. he was found dead in his brooklyn apartment monday afternoon. the city's medical examiner is investigating the cause of death. wendell pierce called williams an immensely talented man. michael k. williams was 54 years old. days away from the 20th

anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, the alleged mastermind is set to appear in court. the prosecution for khalid sheikh mohammed and four other co-defendants will restart today after a 17-month halt due to the pandemic known by his initials ksm has been locked up in guantanamo bay. defense teams are trying to get his confessions tossed because they were made while he was being tortured he was reportedly waterboarded 183 times and would count the seconds during pours in order to endure the interrogation a judge must rule on now whether they will be admissible in court. the state of virginia is set to say good-bye to the robert e. lee statue it will be removed on wednesday. it comes more than a year after governor ralph northam announced to take it down ten days after george floyd's death the removal of the lee statue is

expected to draw large crowds. daily covid infections are at record highs compared to labor day last year. new infections are up 316%, which is more than four times higher than a year ago meanwhile, u.s. health and human services data shows hospitalizations are up 158% from a year ago. and marking the end of unemployment benefits for more than 10 million americans. >> reporter: unemployment benefits are over for 7.5 million americans. another 3 million will see their weekly checks cut by $300. it comes as hiring slowed in august likely due to the surge of the delta variant brook delivered groceries when the pandemic started she scaled back her hours over covid concerns and a drop in wages. she's been on unemployment since april of last year >> knowing that this date was coming up, what's that been like

for you? >> stressful it's the one word i can say. stressful, put me in kind of a slump, kind of a depression. >> reporter: she says she's applied for over 150 jobs in the last few months but so far no offers >> i don't meet the criteria or they've already hired somebody >> reporter: for every eight people who lost their unemployment benefits in june, only one found a new job reasons include the lack of childcare and the growing mismatch between the jobs available and people looking for work >> we've never cut off benefits for this many people all in one fell swoop finding a job can often take a lot of time. >> reporter: but with a record 10 million jobs now available, many business owners like this person hopes the end of benefits brings in more workers >>we did see an uptick in people that were interested. >> reporter: nearly $800 billion

was spent on federal pandemic unemployment people use that money for rent, medication, and food now what we're watching for is how long will it take for people to get jobs. how long will they get by without that money, and how will that impact consumer spending? eyewitness in new a family reunited after an incredible rescue out of australia. a 3-year-old boy who is nonverbal was spotted sitting by a creek drinking water more than 130 people helped in the rescue, which a.j.'s father called a miracle let's turn now to weather. out west they've got some severe conditions with fires. >> good morning. yes, this heat, it just will not back off i know people are thinking the end of summer, but it just doesn't feel that way across california into the desert

southwest. these heat advisories, warnings, they're going to stay in place all week long as another heat wave starts to build across this area 14 million people are impacted with daytime highs, about 15 to 20 degrees above average so, excessive heat will continue salt lake, 93 degrees. it continues to be in the hundreds, but this is dry heat that will spark up that fire danger across las vegas into the plains as well for boise tomorrow, 94 degrees but most of these places are near 15 and 20 degrees above average, and ihs are consistent in the mid-# 90s.

a slight disturbance in the gulf that we're also watching we'll talk about that coming up. >> janessa, thank you. mama mia, here we go again after a 40, had year wait, abba is returning for a new concert experience in london called "involvage." tickets for the concert go on sale today >> "early today" is back in two with the olympian who traded their silver medal for a gold cause. some of the final soldiers to serve in ghisafantan are reunited with their families back home. ♪ ♪ just two pills for all day pain relief. aleve it, and see what's possible. does your vitamin c last twenty-four hours? only nature's bounty does. immune twenty-four hour plus has longer lasting vitamin c.

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republicans insist this new law will secure texas elections, while the democrats say it'll suppress the vote. the bill bans drive-through and overnight voting and grants protection for partisan pollwatchers, and it will require a voter i.d. for casting a ballot by mail attorney general merrick garland made the announcement yesterday also vowing to support women seeking abortions in the state. that would be enforced under a decades-old federal law that makes it a crime to injure or intimidate abortion work clinics and employees. last week the supreme court allowed it to take effect but has not yet ruled on the constitutionality. an amusement park in colorado is now closed after a 6-year-old girl was killed on a ride that fatal incident happened on the haunted mine drop ride at

glenwood caverns adventure park. park employees began first aid until paramedics arrived to determine that the child had died the park's general manager said in a statement, quote, we are deeply saddened and ask that you keep the family of the deceased in your thoughts and prayers authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the girl's death a polish silver medalist has a heart of gold. this olympian jafban thrower auctioned off her olympic silver medal for $125,000 to a polish convenience store chain. the a bone cancer survivor said that the silver can save lives instead of collecting dust in a closet the store donated the funds in her name to the boy and told her to keep the medal. some of the last soldiers from afghanistan are back home after spending nine months there, the tenth mountain division arrived at fort drum yesterday. they were one of the most

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disappointed >> what does it say about the american justice system? >> that it's flawed. >> coming up on "today," an nbc news exclusive kate snow sits down with andrea constand her allegations of sexual assault sent bill cosby to prison now more than two months after his conviction was overturned and he was set free, she's breaking her silence more of that interview coming up on "today. wall street is kicking off a holiday shortened week today with a little something different from starbucks but first here's cnbc's karen tso. hi, karen, good morning. >> good morning, frances the old fanfare of sitting down at a restaurant and being handed a physical menu may be over. it allows restaurants the flexibility to quickly change menu offerings if there's a shortage or if there are specials but also to adjust

pricing. let's just hope they don't adopt surge pricing on the back of demand meanwhile, you can trade out the usual latte at starbucks for the pumpkin spiced latte about half a billion units have been sold already over the past 18-year history. and if you don't want caffeine, you can also pick up a pumpkin cream cold brew, a pumpkin cream cheese muffin, or pumpkin scones plenty of pumpkin on the menu. back to you, frances >> thank you, karen. a lot of good news today about the extension of those grimy menus. never have to touch them again up next here, janessa is forecasting some much-needed relief on the way for louisiana. ar> and cardi b. might need to stt shopping for some bodak blue the rapper announces the birth of her little boy. promo for you. here's the deal parker, state farm offers everyone surprisingly great rates.

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secret. ♪ all strength. no sweat. ♪ my auntie called me. she said uncle's had a heart attack. i needed him to be here. your heart isn't just yours. protect it with bayer aspirin. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. good morning, everyone first, let's talk about the relief part for southeast louisiana. overnight lows wednesday, thursday, friday will be in the 60s. so, the humidity starts to go down and it's all due to a cold front. the next issue, though, we are watching a disturbance 91 l, this possible development going into next week and look at this the northern gulf coast really on our radar as this system has potential to go back into the gulf of mexico guys >> always troubling when you hear that. all right, thank you next on "early today," an 8-year-old spreading laughter

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febreze car. la, la, la, la, la cardi b. and her husband offset are officially parents of baby number two. ka roadi gave birth to a baby boy on september 4th, which she shared with her fans on social media yesterday. she first revealed the pregnancy news while performing with offset and migos at the bet awards back in june. so this means that their daughter is a big sister mask wearing is something we've all had to get used to over the last 19 months, especially kids. but one kansas city child is headed back to school this year with a mission to make others

smile. and he's using his masks and funny wit to spread joy to others >> how does the music teacher unlock her room? a piano key. >> reporter: this 8-year-old loves everything about a joke. >> what's the punch line >> because she got attached to it >> reporter: so when it was time for the aspiring comedian to go back to school in the age of covid, a light bulb went off >> i like to make people laugh and a lot of people like jokes so, i want to put them on my mask so people can read them >> reporter: the third grader comes up with them from tv and his own quick wit. why did the banker lose his job? >> why >> he lost interest. >> reporter: charlie shares his jokes with everyone at park

hills southeast elementary they're a hit with the cafeteria workers. >> one day i had to hold my doritos in my mouth mask on just so they could read my joke but they did like it >> reporter: charlie's mom hopes that in this simple act of spreading joy, there can be a lesson for other parents and children during these very tough times. >> it's just all about attitude. people tend to think that mask wearing has to be something horrible or traumatic or not fun for kids and, honest haechl, you can make it something fun it's not a big deal. >> brianne has started an instagram account documenting charlie's joke of the day. >> it's a great way just to put an instant smile on people's face if you're having a bad day. they're pretty corny jokes, but everyone laughs. >> reporter: and now more than ever, we all need a good laugh >> our thanks to andres

gutierrez for that reporting >> i know we are all ready for mask wearing to be over and done with, with everybody safe. but, hey, while we still have to do it, might as well get some laughs while we're at it >> thanks for watching "early today. i'm phillip mena >> and i'm frances rivera. ha a greatve california! during a flex alert, let's keep our power up and running. set ac cooler and use big appliances before 4pm. then from 4-9pm reduce use and take it easy on our energy. sign up today.

good tuesday morning. i'm marcus washington. >> i'm kris sanchez in for laura this week. we want to get to breaking news coming into our newsroom this morning out of antioch where crews are investigating two fires in a neighborhood south of highway 4. right now there is a vegetation fire so grass fire burning in the 3200 block of g street blocks away from sutter elementary school. there are several crews on the scene right there, but then about two miles from that scene, around 2:00 this morning of there a fire on buchanan road and lucena way. we