. this morning, two senate democrats stand in the way of sweeping voting rights legislation bills that will be debated in just hours. an urgenrning, a day before companiesg say they could cause catastrophic landings. case continue to press hospitals to their limit but there could be good news on the horizon.

a major development monday from the 5th circuit court of appeals to texas apportion laws. lester holt pace tribute to legendary americans who flew into history and no our hearts "early today "starts right now good morning, i'm frances mena. >> i'mfrances rivera. >> i'm phillip mena. we have details, good morning, thiswill be an uphill battle for democrats. >> reporter: that's right, today the senate will begin debating two bills, the john lewis voting advancement act and the freedom to vote act. the base could be as far as it goes the legislation faces full republican opposition. while democratic senators, joe manchin and kyrsten sinema back the bills but neater support the

filibuster to change lawsuit yesterday thousands called for action on martin luther king day. president biden passed the two bills while pop republicans pushed back. >> it's no longer just about who gets to vote it's about who gets to count the vote and whether your vote counts at all. it's about two insidious things, voter suppression and election subversion it's time for every elected official in america to make it clear where they stand. >> the founders didn't have that vision in mind they didn't want an autocrat to pull a lever in one place and change all the election laws >> if passed, the bills would expand voter registration, allow universal add-in voting and force certain cities and states to pre-clear voting law changes with the justice department. now, the debate will likely stretch into wednesday before we see a final vote

that's where the republican filibuster could come. in and we could end up seeing that lead to debate and changes to the filibuster there. >> all right bree jackson, leading us off from d.c., thank you the u.s. surpassed 66 million covid cases since the start of the pandemic. among the chaos, there are small gymers of hope here's nbc news' miguel almaguer. >> reporter: with more than 130,000 americans hospitalized with covid, there are signs of progress even among setbacks, while cases are still rising in every state, in some regions first hard hit by omicron, states like new jersey, rhode island and connecticut causes appear to have peaked. in new york, a drop of nearly 47% from earlier this month. the most encouraging seen in weeks. though not widespread enough

>> we're in no way in decline. the numbers are still going up. >> reporter: hospitals canceled thousands surgeries per week, the surgeon general says the u.s. may still be weeks away from the national peak >> we dell have seen an increase in our critical care patients. >> reporter: some hospitals turning book to the past this one in virginia using its parking garage as a field hospital across california, patients are waiting hours just to be un unloaded from an ambulance >> the ambulance is waiting in the er to transfer a patient there are still 911 calls coming in, vehicle accidents, fires these crews are fought able to respond. >> reporter: the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general mark milley isolated at home with minor symptoms, this week, americans can go online and

start to order forefree at-home covid-19 tests per household with delivery seven-to-12 days later, they may arrive at the end of omicron's surge. >> my help is yes, omicron is the beginning of the end but i am ready i'm ready to continue fighting, if we have to. >> reporter: our nation facing the promise of a better future while still battling a grim reality. miguel almaguer, nbc news. >> this week is massive under sea eruption cut off the island of tonga new zealand is trying to deliver aid, planes have been unable land because the airport runway is covered in ash and communication is down because of an under water cable that provides internet access was damaged. one british woman has been identified as angela glover. her brother says she was swept away trying to save her dogs

tonga's flag bearer says he has been unable reach his family while he is training in australia. a rabbi at a texas synagogue is speaking out. he said when the gunman seemed to grow more desperate he cozy to act to save himself and the two remaining other hostages, take a listen. >> the exit wasn't too far away p. i told him to go. i took a chair with the gunman and i headed for the door. >> reporter: local news captures the escape on camera the rescue them then stormed the building and shot the hostage taker ending the nearly 12-hour siege. he was a bridge citizen. the country's most restrictive abortion law if texas is staying in place for

now after a federal appeals court rejected it to send it back they instead sent it to the supreme court, which means it could be weeks or months be every the case goes to a judge last month a federal judge ruled to keep the ban in place restricting access to abortions if texas after about six weeks into a pregnancy new mexico is digging into delivering electors to donald trump in 2020. they have asked federal law enforcement to review the document they say they were submitted, in case they would later recognize. michigan has asked federal prosecutors to investigate similar allegations. tampa bay buccaneers quarterback tom brady went above and beyond for a young cancer survivor who happens to be a big fan. ten-year-old nola reed held up

this sign in 2021 that read to him brady helped me beat brain cancer here is tom brady's response. >> the nfl and the bucs look forward to sending deck fans to the superbowl each year and ones that have incredible stories leak you have. i worked with the bucks and nfl to get your family superbowl tickets in l.a we certainly hope to be there. i know you will be there it will be really cool for all of us. >> really cool he thanked brady and said, let's go bucs! in honor of martin luther ding i king day, meghan markle and harry decided to give away at the king's center it was held to gather do nations for unsheltered and homeless people in atlanta and a an education drive. this year's african-american

critics award were officially announced and movies "the harder they fall" and can the king ripped" also took home four wins, will smith recognized as best actor as the father of two of the greatest tennis players of all time venus and serena williams now that extreme weather that won't seem to let up. it's the biggest snowfall of the season so far. at least several states buried if double digit snow totals. this system is also brigg strong wind gusts, coastal flooding and plummeting temperatures to the area. on the heels of that wicked weather, is there any break from winter ahead let's ask meteorologist janessa webb good morning >> good morning. no break from winter but for the snowfall across the northeast, mid-atlantic, we are

over that ice storm that you guys have dealt with over the weekend and to start is week now, we're just dealing with lake enhancement i do promise you, if are you across the coast, you will see a ton more sunshine, do not be fooled, it's betterly cold out there. it's all due to the wind flow. you can see up to 20-to-30 miles per hour that will be consistent throughout the afternoon that allows our temperatures to take a tumble. we do have a fouad voirs currently in place for interior new york sunshine down towards the mid-atlantic into the carolinas to new york city day time highs in the 30s. bitter cool temperatures will be

the topic the next few days. we do have another major winter storm approaching. we'll take a look at that forecast coming up >> thank you so you are up right now. how about getting ba i'd to keep here's your chance the country's sleep junkie is looking for a self-confessed isomniac if you are watching, you will qualify. they will review apps and bedding. it pays 2 grand. it's $250 an hour. they are taking applications through february 14th. ahead the final piece to the divisional round is now in place. playoff highlights ahead ar> airlines are sounding the alm over sunday's 5g rollout which could impact landing taking align can help. align contains a quality probiotic to naturally help soothe digestive upsets 24/7. try align, the pros in digestive health. and join the align healthy gut team up

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near st. louis six people were killed, including austin mccune who has a wrongful death suit on monday. they say amazon ordered them to keep working when they should have been evacuating when a torn approached the facility was under four-years-old and complied with all building codes, so continuing to work was appropriate. there is more fallout in kentucky from that candle factory in mayfield, kentucky, where nine people were killed. they are shifting another 250 to another location five workers said they were warned they would be fired if they left the night of the tornado. several survivors have filed lawsuits the company has denied the allegations. the country's airlines are sounding the alarm on what they say could be a catastrophic destruction. warning a critical piece of

landing technology could be aced if the telecom industry flips the switch on 5g. >> reporter: just hours before verizon and at&t switched on their new faster 5g cell systems, the nation's airlines issued a stark warning an urgent request signed by every major airline and cargo ceo for the government to keep the 5g ground stations turned off if they're within 5 miles of major airports they write immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to passengers, supply chain and needed medical supplies delivery. the concern they could disrupt a plane's altimeter when piles land in poor visibility. as 5g goes live wednesday. the faa will prohibit pilots from nearly

80 airports, including hubs in dallas, new york, chicago and seattle. they warned the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded, facing cancellations, diversions or delays >> the faa issued a worthiness directive to impact our operations. >> reporter: they insist the technology is safe if europe it's delayed rollout twice and said it will turn down power at ground stations near some airports >> wireless carriers are impatient to deploy technology that plans to make a big impact on our technology, but the airlines have to make sure it's safe. >> reporter: mass cancellations could start wednesday. >> all right tom, thanks. still to come here on "early today," the rams demolish the cardinals to clear the way to the divisional round >> flashback to the show time

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it must be very difficult. the voice is in your head. >> it's chaos in here. >> embrace the chaos >> that's our first look at oscar isaac at moon knight, a marvel super hero a bit like batman with a serious identity

hero we are looking back at one of the last tuskeegee hero him our lester holt has more on his life and legacy. >> reporter: charles mcgee was a fighter pilot with a legend ary tuskeegee air men fighting for their country and tear country's respect. he amassed more than 400 career combat missions in world war ii and later in korea and vietnam >> my first flight, i was hooked i loved flying. >> reporter: mcgee died on sunday at 102-years-old, vice president kamala harris calling him an american hero, secretary of defense lloyd j. austin, iii, writing i am also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy and his character i spoke with mcgee in 2020 soon

after he was awarded the rank of brigadier general by president trump. >> general mcgee, our nation salutes you, thank you, sir. >> life changed a lot now you were general >> a lot to be thankful for because of that. >> what are your most vivid memories of being a tuskeegee airmen at war? >> although we didn't change segregation, we gave the air force the opportunity on the ground portion separately to bring about equal access and equal opportunity for all. >> reporter: his message to young americans. >> now they can achieve it if they believe nit themselves and don't let others tell them they can't do something >> there is an example of that and a fitting tribute to an american hero, our thanks to

lester for that report now to a festival in spain it is really blazing a trail this is the luminati festival,

right now at 4:30, a dose age mix-up. one bay area health care provider said it gave the wrong dose of the covid vaccine to thousands and thousands of people. the doover they're now offering. a boycott on campus, the reason some east bay students are taking a stand today, also the changes they want the district to make. and coming together, the memorial plans for this woman, an east bay native who lost her life in a shocking attack in new york. this is "today in the bay." we are broadcasting not only