guilty on all counts, r&b legend r. kelly is now facing decades behind bars. this is far from the end of his legal troubles. >> america's top military brass will face fire over the u.s. pullout of afghanistan we got a preview >> nbc exclusive our tom costello gets an inside story on ford's 11 billion plant that will create thousands of skwobs in america. america's team grounding the eagles on monday night fall.

let's get started. "early today" starts now. >> thanks for joining us i'm frances rivera. >> i'm philip mena r. kelly, the singer's guilty verdict. he was once charted with consecutive hits could face the latest >> reporter: hey there this was a trial delayed a year-and-a-half because of the pandemic it lasted five weeks with dozens of witnesses but it only took the jury nine hours to come one a verdict. their verdict, he's guilty it's a verdict prosecutors say was nearly 30 years in the making r. kelly guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking the man who wrote the grammy winning '90s anthem now facing life behind

bars >> today's verdict brands r. kelly as a predator, used his fame and for commune to prey on the young and voiceless and vulnerable. >> reporter: victims describe being locked in rooms for days for not following kelly's rules, like not asking for per mission to go to the bathroom or making eye contact with other men jeronda pace was ask you 16-years-old when she says sheshe was abused by the pop star. >> the breaking point for me was when rob slapped me and took me into a blackdown >> allowing the government to introduce sexual abuse allegation outside the statute of limitations at the center of the case, pop star alleyia who died tragically in a plane crash one witness says she walked in on the kelly and the then 13 or 14-year-old alleyia engage ft. lauderdale a sex act the a majority of the victims

young black boys and girlsuse. the former assistant district attorney who tried bill crosby believes this can be a turning point. >> these were decades years of abuse and now they have an opportunity to testify and be credibly believed. >> reporter: one in four black girls are sexually abused before age 18 few go to the authorities. the defence portray the accusers as opportunists who wanted money and fame. >> we saw witness after witness giving three or five different versions as to what they said happened here. >> reporter: the jury wasn't suede, deliberating less than nine hours total guilty on all counts >> to the victims in this case, your voice were heard and justice was finally served >> reporter: r. kelly's sanction will be on may 4th he faces 10 years to life if prison that's not it.

he has multiple upcoming trials on both state and federal charges. >> thank you time is running out for congress to avoid a government shut skwoun, the proses is his another road block senate republicans refusing to extend the debt limit. chris pollone joins us from camille. is there any progress before the friday deadline? >> hi there, frances, senate democrats have a few option between now and thursday night they're trying to pass a temporary spending pill that will kd extend the debt ceiling. the ceiling the democrats could separate the two measures and deal with them separately or keep them together and push it closer to the deadline on thursday to see if a debt default would spur republicans to go along.

>> there is no chance republicans will help lift democrat a credit limit so they can immediately steamroll through a socialist binge that will hurt families >> the republican party has now become the party of default, the party that says america doesn't pay its debts. >> i know my work ethic and the basic where i came with. i know the people that i repr represent. >> and west virginia senator democrat joe manchin there talking about some of the other priorities happening on the hill this week as democrats also try to pass two huge suspending bills that are favored by president biden. the democrats trying to keep their entire caucus together to get those priorities passed. the deadline to fund the government is thursday night the deadline to pass a debt

limit increase comes in the next couple of weeks or so frances. >> a crucialing in few hours and get ready for fireworks on military leaders who oversaw america's exit from afghanistan joint chiefs chairman mark milley and defense secretary lloyd austin are set to testify alongside u.s. central command republicans have sharply criticized the withdrawal from afghanistan. democrats say it was doomed from the start because of former president trump's exit plan with the taliban. the u.s. released hundreds and the taliban quickly consolidated control of the country both parties have questions about failures, like the august 29th drone strike that killed seven people and an afghan working for a non-profit company. more friction fwbetween

governor abbott and president biden. mr. biden condemned the action of border patrol acts saying they will pay. meanwhile, governor abbott said they were maneuvering the horses using political reigns, not whips. dhs ditionals are investigating the incident there are new developments in the new york city battle over vaccine mandates a panel of judges ruling late yesterday that a mandate for all school employees can be enforced mayor bill debl blasio says the workers in the nation's largest school district have until this friday to get at least one shot or they'll be out of a job on monday >> president biden got his booster shot onday made it clear the first priority is to get the initial shot into more americans the latest on the fight to stop the spread good morning. >> reporter: good morning, new covid cases have dropped about 18% across the country over the

past two weeks and there have been big improvements in places like florida, louisiana and especially los angeles but in other parts of the country, especially alaska, west virginia and here in kentucky, hospitalizations are still high. >> i'm going to get my booster shot and right here -- >> at the white house, president biden rolling up his sleeve, getting a covid-19 vaccine booster eight months after getting his first two doses. 23% of americans still haven't gone any shots >> that distinction is already causing an awful lot of us damage for the rest of the country. >> reporter: now contradiction say his administration's booster rollout have been confusing. for months, limiting boosters to those 65 and older west virginia urging 18 and older. >> they're dancing around g

gobblety gook language >> reporter: vaccine mandates for new york health workers, the governor says they'llco call in the national guard if they don't show up for work >>this an 8% jump in all covid cases from two weeks before. across the country, new cases are down but in places with low vaccination rates like kentucky, hospitalizations are high. regional meth medical center in moorehead is struggling to find space. some of the staff are making house calls to try to prevent people from ending up here >> we're not used to this. this is not anything we've ever witnessed before. >> reporter: in its parking lot, they set up this at the present time for monoclonal treatments >> they get four injections,

prep time, 15 minutes. >> reporter: she has vaccinated and has a breakthrough case. >> it's just bad, so i don't want to end up there i'm going to take all the ones i can. >> reporter: adding to the booster confusion, it depends on where you live, many states are handling the rollout gively. here in kentucky, this vaccine clinic is offering boosters only to those immunal compromised so be sure to call ahead, but you probably won't be the only one, so be patient frances. >> thank you, gabe week three in the nfl capped off with the eagles flying south to dallas on monday night football the cowboys would strike first with zeke elliot running in on the game's first drive he did tie it up then the cowboys rolled out three unanswered scores. that blew it open. dak prescott passed for 238

yards. the cowboys win their home opener 41-21 >> let's take a look at the day ahead with janessa webb. how are we looking >> you know, we have been dealing with a ton of sunshine across the mid-east, leflg conditions, things are headed for a change now we will see severe weather unfortunately for the northeast today. some of those bands of rain are already impacting southern ohio. that will continue to make its way north and east this afternoon from d.c. to new york city that's why the stomp prediction center has 11 million peopa warg

raleigh-durham area. mid-west, the plains, the heat wave continues to build. temperatures in the 90s for certain sections of the country. we'll talk about that coming up. >> it's crazy to see especially in north dakota, thanks. what is driving up oil prices >> first, ford goes electric the auto maker's big plans to hire thousands for a greener future its food-seeking enzymes break down food into particles so small they can flow right down the drain. plus, it's powerful enough for the quick-wash cycle. cascade platinum with 50% more cleaning power! [whispered] air wick. do you want more control of your fragrance? the air wick scented oil warmer has five settings, not three, for better frangrance control than febreze plug. take control of your fragrance with air wick. well, we made it through another halloween without getting eaten.

this year was a close one. yeah, tell me about it. ooh, feel that chill? i don't feel anything. uhh, this can't be good. is olay better than your clean beauty? olay has 99% pure niacinamide. it's derm-tested. and now, it's cleanest formula with hydration that beats the $400 cream. tried. tested. never bested. shop at olay.com an nbc news exclusive. ford's big announcement. ford is spending billions on new plants and hiring thousands of new work,. here's tom costello. >> reporter: in a brand-new plant in michigan, the future of ford is already rolling out. the all electric version of the f-150. the best selling vehicle in

america with 150,000 orders. now ford tells nbc news exclusively, it is going all in on electric. pledging within fin years 40% of its fleet will be battery powered. 100 years after the model t hit the road. >> they will love it >> his great grandson chairman bill ford says this is ford's new level t moment. >> everything is changing. our grandfather saw the industry five years ago, it would be very recognizable to him. now we're on the cusp of a revolution >> ford is spending another $11 billion to build new pla wants in tennessee and kentucky and hiring learn,000 new workers outside memphis an all newrecyc. 94 local, kentucvestments in existing plants.

new job training in texas and beyond >> is this $11 billion investment you are making now, sit still a risky bet or do you feel better about this one >> of course, it's risky any time you bet on a future, it's ricky it's a bet i'd make every day of the week the battery industry is coming to america we just want to be at the forefront of it. >> reporter: with going green a corporate mandate, all auto makers are promising more electric vehicles, ford is putting the shovel in the di and driving innovation on the way. henry ford invented the assembly line, this is a prototype of a robot moves a vehicle along, if something goes wrong, they don't shut down the assembly line. the robot can simply make a detour. >> reporter: ford is pledging a made in america stamp on its evs. what would your grandfather say about the new model t for the 20th century >> i think he would say what

took you so long >> reporter: how long until every car is an electric vehicle? ford says it's up to the consumer and believe they get the same value for money general motors wants to get rid of all philip >> all right tom, thank you it makes me wonder if they will vanish like video stores >> and phone booths, too two of the biggest names at the fed step down. it's not 2035 yet. so get ready for more pain at the pump oil prices are surging led back? same state farm agent. texted the next day? same guy. is that even legal? and get this - he remembered my name. of course. hey, blink twice if you're in danger. whoa, guys. at state farm, we actually get to know you. it's called service.

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coming up on the "today" show, country music legend alan jackson will sit down and share personal news he has kept private the past ten years now to wall street, where a rarebit of controversy is coming into question.

two pivotal questions from the federal reserve. steve frederick on how this is important and why such high oil prices >> reporter: good morning, a lot of us didn't know the members of the federal reserve were allowed to trade various investments as well and two are stepping down over trading controversies the first news is the dallas fed president robert kaplan is going to retire early october 8th. he cited trading disclosure distractions as well, controversy had swirled around him, he had been executing long on the trade, big name companies, amazon, apple and delta air lines. this comes on the heels ought president also stepping down under similar scrutiny he announced earlier in the day he was retiring, also citing health issues as well. of course, the credentials of the federal reserve need to be impeccable i think a lot of people are concerned they're powerful in

the united states, the investments as well, this could potentially have affected some decision now, elsewhere moving on oil prices on the rise, brent crude hitting a three-year high, also u.s. benchmark wti trading above $76 a barrel this is continued concern about tight supply from the u.s., from the likes of opec, opec plus as well at a time when demand is picking up and there is an easing of covid-19 restrictions world wide as well the problem for that, frances and philip is a single later that will transpire to higher prices at the pump as well average prices $3.19 >> trickle down, thank you coming up, check your freezer for a popular frozen pizza. >> the greatest gymnast that ever lived simone biles says she should have quit before the olympics >> it's ready to go.

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e 2022 for john hinckley, jr. he is now 66-years-old was released from hospital in 2016 and allowed to live in virginia with miss mother who died in july. the judge said he could not have displayed active mental illness or violent behavior since 1983 ronald and nancy reagan's daughter pinned an op-ed voicing her thoughts on the matter she writes the memory of that day will never fade. i will always picture my father being shoved in a limousine after a shot struck his lung and nearly grazed his heart. she says i don't think john hinckley feels remorse most narcissists really do. simone biles says she shoon have been on the team. she pulled out due to twisties,

it causes gymnasts to lose their sense of space in midair the larry nassar scandal took an emotional toll on her. she went on to say, nasser's abuse will not stop her from continuing to pursue her olympic dreams, despite it being to her. we have an alarming study shedding light on the long-term effects of climate change. the average 6-year-old will live through three times as many climate disasters as someone born in noon 60. that includes twice as many wildfires, over three times more river floosd and two-and-a-half times as many crop failures and the average child will live threw seven times of heat waves than grandparents. the push to push global warming can dramatically improve this outlook. from the invasions, the

internal city is facing a new threat some wild boars, the beasts have overrun the italian areas because of trash they are allowing selective huntin

right now at 4:30, what started off as a fun night ended with one bay area sheriff deputy behind bars, the charges he's facing and the actions that led up to his arrest. and time is running out for the funding bill to avert a closure at the end of the week. confusion lingers on exactly who qualifies for a booster shot. this is "today in the bay." first, we begin with breaking news. a lockdown at a bay area university at