the death toll continues to climb in kentucky where relentless rain and flooding have caused devastating results with dozens still unaccounted for. abortion on the polls in kansas the first test on what americans want. the passing of two legends bill russell was a giant on and off the basketball court, earning 11 championship rings and was a leading voice for civil rights

and groundbreaking actress nichelle nichols, an actress from "star trek." a co-pilot either fell or jumped to his death before a plane made an emergency landing. our priscilla thompson reports. a tax fraud trial for shakira could land her behind bars for up to eight years "early today" starts right now good morning i'm phillip mena. >> i'm frances rivera. there's still flooding and watches in effect in kentucky with more rain expected. the state is vowing to pay for the funeral expenses four siblings are among the victims ranges from ages 8 to 2 years old. they were swept away as the family clung to a tree the death toll is expected to rise even more. >> we know there are bodies

we're still processing, and when you see the devastation of this flooding that have carried houses hundreds of yards if not more, we know we'll be finding bodies sadly in the days to come. >> fema says there are still bodies unaccounted for, but state officials are not confirming the number missing. the governor is urging people to donate clothes, money, and bottled water because gas and oil spills have contaminated the supply fema says it has sent 18 trailers filled with clean water. the flooding left animal shelters severely crowded. the muddy paws rescue brought about 50 dogs from kentucky to new york city, giving them a second chance to find new homes. now to the dangerous situation in california as crews race to contain the state's largest wildfire of the year the mckinney fire exploded over the weekend, having now burned

over 52,000 acres in northern california thousands of residents have been evacuated after the blaze jumped from one mile to 62 square miles in just over a day the sheriff's office said the fire was zero percent contained as of sunday night and the fires are threatening the west in california they're starting to turned the tide on the oak fire the blaze is 67% contained as of sunday night. we're just 99 days away from the critical 2022 midterm election, and tomorrow voters in five states will decide who will be on the ballot these primaries could give us the clearest picture yet on what to expect come november from abortion rights to the aftermath of the 2020 election brie jackson is in d.c. for us with a preview good morning

one name not on the ballot looming large, former president donald trump. >> reporter: that's right. as has been the case so far this year, the republican tickets will serve as a referendum of the 2020 election and the president's lies about voter fraud. now, arizona's house speaker rusty bauers is fighting for his political career tuesday after testifying at a january 6th hearing. in michigan gop goop na torial front-runner ryan kelly was arrested by the fbi for allegedly directing crowds at the capitol riot and in washington state, two house members who voted to impeach trump are facing primary candidates endorsed by him while abortion rights take center stage, voters will weigh in for the first time since the supreme court overturned roe v. wade this vote could hand that power over to the conservative state legislator

activists on both sides rallied throughout the weekend. >> i want to see a future where candidates are involved in the discussion, where unelected judges don't decide for the rest of us on the right kinds of limits to abortions in our state. >> we have a limited right, but this constitutional amendment will mandate government control over our primary decisions and really pave the way for a it toal bantotal ban on abortion. 43% plan to vote no and 47%, yes, undecided, 10%. it could show how much momentum voting right supporters have heading into the midterm elections. back to you. now to a mystery in the sky. investigators now trying to find out why a co-pilot fell to his death while the other pilot landed the plane safely.

nbc's priscilla thompson digs deeper. >> we've lost our weight. >> reporter: for the first time, audio inside the cockpit near an emergency landing in raleigh, north carolina. >> how do you plan to land >> get as low as we can, and i guess we're going to put it on the belly. >> reporter: it's seen barreling past emergency vehicles before skidding off the runway and skidding to a stop the plane took off with two pilots. >> we have two persons on board. >> reporter: but landed with only one inside. >> we do have one subject. >> soul number two jumped from the aircraft, unloan location, did not have a parachute. >> reporter: police say the 23-year-old co-pilot either jumped or fell from the plane mid flight and without a parachute. now a deepening mystery over what happened to him there's no mention of the pilot exiting the aircraft on the

recordings after an hours-long search friday, his body found in a backyard roughly 30 miles from where the plane landed. >> we had officers that were responding in the area for the search and were flagged down by a resident they had heard something in their backyard. >> reporter: the family reeling from their loss. >> we are totally devastated. >> charlie was born to fly from the time he was a little kid it just lit him up it was always his passion. >> reporter: the other pilot whose identity is still unknown was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries the faa and national transportation safety board are still investigating. >> do you feel like you need answers in order to have closure? >> no. i mean as a family, the only thing that matters unfortunately is that he's gone. he was the best. >> reporter: priscilla thompson, nbc news

this morning we're remembering a trailblazing actress best remembered for her pivotal role in the original "star trek" series and for that kiss that broke barriers >> reporter: relatives say nischelle nichols, the former "star trek" icon, has passed away of natural causes in a statement his son kyle said her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time will remain for us and future generations. she was in the original "star trek" series. >> mr. spock, we will be able to retrieve the captain at that time, won't we >> reporter: the first black woman on television starring at

lieutenant knonyotaa ukura. one of the many groundbreaking moments, the first interracial kiss on tv with co-star william shatner. in 1967 she almost didn't return for a second season and then met martin luther king jr. as a "star trek" fan himself at a civil rights gathering. >> he said, don't you understand that for the first time we're s seen as we should be seen. you don't have a black role. you have an equal role. >> reporter: calling that moment a lightning bolt in her life but offscreen pushing other frontiers. she served as a nasa recruiter inspiring generations of women and minorities encouraging them to join the astronaut core nichols was 89 years old molly hunter, nbc news. we're kicking off august

with floods, fire, and more heat nbc meteorologist michelle grossman is with us. coming off july, will august be any better that's the big question. good morning >> good morning. we're off to a busy start for the first day of august, watching the extreme weather that's going to move into the northern plains. watching the flood watch once again in eastern kentucky. we're seeing some storms early this morning they're very scattered we're going to start to see relief morning we're still concerned with the heavy downpours, the yellows, reds, oranges. 97, oklahoma city. and we're warm this is going to be the last day of really high heat in the pacific northwest. 103 in boise it's monday, first day of

august we're looking ahead at the workweek forecast in just a bit. >> michelle, thank you "early today" is back in 60 seconds with the calls for mass evacuations in ukraine as russia steps up its siege. and remembering one of the greatest basketball players ever to live, whose legacy stretched off the court. the tributes pouring in to legend bill russell. and 3 moisturizers to leave your skin feeling fresh and healthy. nothing cleans like dial. ready to shine from the inside out? say “yes” to nature's bounty advanced gummies and jelly beans. the number one brand for hair, skin and nails. with two times more biotin to bring out more of your inner beauty. get more with nature's bounty. don't let inflation win! score big deals on the best active brands at kohl's. save 20% on nike shoes... 25% on the latest from champion and adidas... and 25% off under armour active gear... plus, get free store pickup...

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>> there's a difference between being proud and having pride. >> reporter: it wasn't jus because of his height that bill russell towered over everyone else he was a force to be reckoned with both on -- >> the only really important thing was to try to win every game. >> reporter: -- and off the court. >> i was here when martin luther king made his speech. >> reporter: after retiring he still dominates the record books with more championships than any other player two championships, one gold medal, and 11 national titn cel. he led the last two as a black coach, the first black coach in any major u.s. sport he used the stature to fight for change in 1961 boycotting a game after he and his black teammates were denied service at a restaurant

he also participated on the march in washington in 1963. in the audience is dr. dr. mart luther king delivered his "i have a dream" speech he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom. >> i hope one day the children in the streets of boston will look up to a statue ott not only bill russell the player, but bill russell the man >> reporter: two years later that would come true magic johnson saying he is heartbroken over the passing of the greatest winner of the game of basketball has ever seen and friend and mentor for the last 30 years his family said he passed away peacefully, his wife at his side bill russell was 88 years old. george solis, nbc news for the first time in months, an export shipment of

ukrainian grain has left port, according to officials there the country's minister of infrastructure tweeted out this picture of the ship, which is headed for tripoli, lebanon. the russian invasion has disrupted the global food supply nbc's josh lederman is there good morning how important is it that the grain exports from ukraine have now resumed? >> reporter: well, this is the first crack in the russian block aide that for months has kept ukraine from exporting its grain overseas, raising fears in the middle east and north africa about a food shortage. this ship carrying about 26,000 tons of food stuffs, it's going to be headed to lebanon, a country that relies on ukraine for well over 50% of its grain imports. now, this is just a drop in the bucket when you think about the 20 million tons of ukrainian grain that is still trapped in this country, but there are about 16 ships, according to

ukraine's infrastructure ministry, that are loaded up, ready to go. they hope this will be the first to open the floodgates for the rest of the grain to start going out to sea and then on to the countries that need it but we also got news over the weekend that a major grain mogul here in ukraine was killed in shelling in the town of mykolaiv that is the latest indication that even as ukraine is starting to export its grain, there are other challenges to its grain industry that are really create ing other problems as well. >> josh, thank you. up next on "early today," the popular sunscreen under a recall after a cancer-causing chemic walas detected. and the feds fighting inflation pours cold water on the red-hot housing market just like that breakfast burrito. so, can i get chorizo? uh, yeah, uh, metaphorically, yeah. carnitas! just chicken — just give me a bunch of chicken. or bacon? oh wait, there isn't too much hot sauce, is there? i have a — sensitive palate.

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netflix. a big gain going up 12.4%. it's also another week of earnings another excitement could be on the cuspid mortgage prices going up quite substantially, and inflation has meant that affording houses hat certainly not been the same. will that continue we'll certainly see. >> thank you so much. michelle's got your monday forecast coming up nt. > a heed to u.p.s. workers demanding better working cond conditions that's next. to more wellness solutions every day. get more with nature's bounty. don't let inflation win! to more wellness solutions every day. score big deals on the best active brands at kohl's. save 20% on nike shoes... 25% on the latest from champion and adidas... and 25% off under armour active gear... plus, get free store pickup...

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more style. more savings. kohl's. in today's "top stories," just days after testing negative for covid, president biden has tested positive again. his doctor called it a rebound case, likely due to his taking a recommended treatment, but says he feels well. the president tested negative for four days in a row before testing positive on saturday morning. mr. gooden will isolate for the next five days to protect those around him. the first rioter is expected to go to trial guy reffitt was found guilty back in march on all five counts

including on strecz of an official proceeding and transporting a firearm amid civil disorder prosecutors say reffitt instigated a specifically violent attack on the police on the west side of the building that day he faces up to 15 years in prison. cleveland browns quarterback deshaun watson could find out his nfl future as early as today. the judge, a disciplinary officer appointed by the nfl, is expected to rule on whether or not watson should be suspended from football. watson was sued by 24 women who accused him of sexua misconduct in a joint statement watson and the nfl players association says they'll accept the ruling regardless of the outcome and encourage them to follow suit. u.p.s. workers seem to be hospitalized for heat illness more than ever before. last week in new york city the local teamsters union held a rally after four u.p.s.

employees in the area went to the emergency room in two days for heat illness in a statement they say u.p.s. should immediately implement workers' safety. u.p.s. released a statement saying in part its drivers are trained to work outdoors and that water and ice are provided. shakira's hips don't lie and she says neither do her tax records as the spanish prosecutors accuse her of fraud. the 45-year-old faces up to eight years in prison finance convicted of the six charges against her, alleging she failed to pay the spanish government of almost $15 million between 2012 and 2014 the prosecutors originally charged her back in 2018 and they're seeking a nearly $25 million fine shakira's pr firm says she trusts her innocence and has paid what she owes the spanish government no trial date has been set. no better time to celebrate than with a bit of an electric

slide. that's exactly what angel lean angelina jolie did with her daughter she was being taught theelectric

i am ill and nothing else. >> right now at 4:30, a state of emergency for northern california city is a massive oil fire burns out of control. the steps that one bay area resident took to save his home. help is on the way to san francisco continues to grapple with monkeypox. more vaccines are on the way to my but will there be enough? this is today in the bay streaming live on amazon, roku, apple tv, go