we start with a new week with a sprint to the november elections, just 29 days away the controversies and strategies which party will command the majority breaking overnight, new explosions in kyiv as tensions rise after a key bridge used by russia to deliver supplies is blown up, and president putin now calling it an act of terrorism. today harvey weinstein faces a new rape trial set to get under way this morning and our jake ward introduces us to one of those infamous overseas scammers who has ripped

off americans. find out how they do it. a wild week five in the nfl with surprising new winners. plus, the league's new concussion protocol already impacting the game "early today" starts right now good morning i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm frances rivera. we begin with breaking news out of ukraine chaos erupting in kyiv as missiles rain down on busy sections of the city the mayor there says the city is under russian attack for more on this, we bring in cal perry who is on the ground cal, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, frances, this is a coordinated attack, and it is still ongoing. it was about 2 hours and 15 minutes ago when we heard the first of a series of explosions here in the capitol. we understand now at least eight people are dead, another 24 have been wounded just in kyiv alone. those are initial numbers. you can expect that those casualty numbers will likely rise to the east of where i am in kharkiv, at least five separate explosions, including

on the ground in the central city at least five dead in a series of rocket attacks there and all the way to the western part of the country in the city of lviv which has not been hit in about four months infrastructure there has been hit. the power is out this was a coordinated and concerted attack by russia you're seeing from our team on the ground here in kyiv. these explosions really rocking our hotel, rocking the downtown area a number of people sort of expected this to happen, guys. this comes on the heels of course of that explosion on that bridge to crimea that is so important to russia's efforts to resupply their troops in the south. so we had heard these comments coming from moscow people sort of expecting the attacks. obviously this is now a city that feels like it is under constant air raid sirens the subways have been shut down there. are a number of people taking shelter across the city. >> we'll continue to follow it here along with cal. thank you. we are less than a month away now from the midterm

elections, and the polls are tighter than ever this morning in the house, momentum has shifted to favor republicans regaining control. that's according to the latest politico report forecast nbc's brie jackson is in d.c. with the latest. good morning so the republicans are also gaining ground in key senate races too? >> good morning, fellphilip that's right the senate will be a toss-up the party in power typically does take a hit in the midterms, and that could be the case again this year as president biden's approval ratings hover in the low to mid-40s inflation and fears of a recession are at the top of voters' minds, but abortion rights are also a major factor in the most hotly contested races. the issue is at the forefront in georgia after the latest scandal for republican candidate herschel walker. he is trailing raphael warnock by 3% in the latest local poll, which is within the margin of error. in the pennsylvania race, gop

hopeful dr. oz has pulled within six points of democrat favorite john fetterman and j.d. vance has narrowed in ohio against tim ryan. in arizona, astronaut turned senator mark kelly is three points up on republican blake masters, while the democratic incumbent trails in nevada former president trump stumped in both of those states this weekend. while his name is not on the ballots, mr. trump and his various investigations loom large over the midterms. this week the supreme court could decide whether to intervene in the justice department's case involving classified records seized from mar-a-lago and on thursday, the january 6th committee will hold its next and possibly final public hearing. members say they the hear willing underscore the threat to our democracy. now the committee will release its final report on the capitol riot before the end of this year back to you, phillip >> will it come before the elections and will it matter

thanks some republican leaders will be going down to florida throwing their support behind herschel walker. >> how you guys doing? >> reporter: republican leaders doubling down on their support for senate candidate herschel wal walker rick scott and tom cotton announcing they'll campaign for him this week. this just days after reports a former girlfriend paid for one abortion and urging a second walker has denied the allegations which have not been independently confirmed by nbc news they picked the wrong georgian to pick on, said scott i'm proud to stand with herschel walker. >> he is going to win this thing. >> reporter: the race quickly becoming a party priority. nbc news has learned the national senatorial committee will be redirecting money to the race and sending in more staff to help. to many republicans, the race is

too important to lose. are you sending a message that republicans are willing to win at all costs >> i think people make mistakes. if people acknowledge them and ask for forgiveness, none of us are perfect. >> reporter: in a 50-50 senate, every race critical. in pennsylvania, dr. mehmet oz now closing a once massive gap with democrat john fetterman and polls are practically tied in battleground nevada where at a rally headlined by former president trump, tommy tuberville ignited a firestorm with these remarks, they want reparation because they think the people that do the crime are owed debt. they are no owed debt. >> reporter: back in the peach state, many voters unfazed 30 days out from the election. >> i feel like in georgia a lot of people already have their minds made up of what they're going to do, leading up to election day >> and our thanks to ali for

that report. a new trial getsin' way for the man who sparked the me too movement today jury selection will begin in the sex crimes trial of harvey weinstein this will be the disgraced hollywood producer's second trial. weinstein has been charged with four counts of rape, seven counts of alleged sexual assault. he is already serving a 23-year sentence after being found guilty in a new york court two years ago. weinstein could face up to 140 years behind bars if found guilty in los angeles. he has always maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty in new york and l.a. in an effort to help keep players safe, new concussion rules went into effect in the nfl yesterday. a player won't be allowed back on the field if they show symptoms of ataxia, a brain disorder that can show unsteady balance or slurred speech. >> the rule change spark bade serious injury last month to dolphins starting quarterback tua tagovailoa he was taken to the sidelines, but controversially, he was put back into the game after doctors

there ruled he was not concussed. four days later, he suffered a concussion playing against the bengals and had to be taken to the hospital he is still out on concussion protocol the league and players union announcing that while the step-by-step process outlined in the concussion protocol was followed, the outcome in this case was not what was intended when the protocol was drafted, end quote. >> right now the action, the they bengals battle it out under the lights on an eventful sunday in the nfl >> burrow will be pushed in. that is in for the touchdown >> joe bury reled a late drive to give the bengals a lead only to run the ball down in crunch time that set up justin tucker's field goal as time expired for the win. baltimore 19-17. tua tagovailoa, quarterback for the dolphin, teddy bridgewater had to leave after a hard hit on the first place.

he was placed in concussion protocol four different jets would run for touchdowns and new york flew to the 40-17 win across the pond in london, the giants standing all the in the face of aaron rodgers and the packers. new york rushed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally for the win, 27-22. big blue is now 4-1 for the first time since 2009. a high-scoring struggle in the big easy the seahawks and the saints traded explosive plays all afternoon after seattle ran for the lead in the fourth hill, the backup tight end/quarterback would scramble for the go ahead 60--yard touchdown. that was enough for the saints to hold on, 39-32. josh allen and gabe davis would connect through the secondary for a pair of long touchdowns in buffalo. what a catch there allen threw for four of them on the day. pittsburgh didn't have any answer for the bills they get the easy win, 38-3.

>> and allen's 400-yard performance landed him on the list of top performers in cleveland, austin ekeler's big game lifted the chargers over the browns. >> it was win or go home the mets and the padres fought for the last spot in the nlds. the san diego bats woke up in new york with four different padres driving in runs in game three. juan soto's single to the left in the eighth would put the game out of reach san diego, musgrove throws a one-hitter, they advance 6-0 disappointing mets season comes to an end. san diego will set up a west coast game san diego padres play the los angeles dodgers at 9:37 eastern tomorrow the defending champion braves will also host the phillies tomorrow the mariners head to houston to play the astros. a and the yankees take on the cleveland guardians. an american woman has smashed a record in chicago. runner emily sisson game the first american woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours

and 19 minutes she came in second behind the runner from kenya finishing at 2 hours, 18 minutes and 29 seconds. this morning millions out there may have had to turn on the heat there is some pretty frigid temperatures michelle grossman joining us to talk about that. >> happy monday. the october chill across the northeast, portions of new england. temperatures in the 30s and 40s. so you need the sweater this morning, the jacket, you need to heat up the car a bit as you head out we'll keep it cool as we head throughout the day 10 million under a frost advisory you need to cover the sensitive plants because they may not survive that frost we're looking at temperatures in the 30s and 40s right now. temperatures in the 40s in pittsburgh, right around 40 degrees in cincinnati. roanoke 41 a 49 in norfolk. on the flip side, we have october warm throughout the northwest. the intermountain west, portions of the northern and central plains, well above normal for this time of year, from 5 to 20 degrees above normal

salt lake city today right near 80 degrees redding 95 degrees and that heat is going to move off to pretty picture-perfect day in portions of the northeast. 64 degrees in pittsburgh 68 in philly all right. looking ahead towards the weekday forecast in just a few minutes. >> okay, michelle, thank you a new iphone feature meant to help users during a car crash is having not so amusing side effects. the crash detector software meant to detect traffic collisions is accidentally dialing 911 on thrill-seekers on a roller coaster law enforcement have showed up to several amusement parks across the country after the software triggered false reports. a scam that almost everyone can email has seen before. next, we talk to one oam artists

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aleve - who do you take it for? all right. we have all received the texts and emails from criminals trying to rope us into some sort of scam a former scam artist from nigeria speaking out to our jacob ward about how and why he did it >> reporter: in this city in southwest nigeria, everyone seems to know someone who scams americans online >> many people >> reporter: they say it is simply because there are no other jobs >> when you've tried good, it doesn't work you, are to turn to evil. >> reporter: chris, that's the name he gave us, says that was his situation. >> i asked siblings, and none of them talk. >> reporter: for five years he approached american women online. >> mostly midnight sometimes i sleep by 5:00 a.m. >> so you would stay up all night doing this

>> yeah, all night and i have to go to class by 7:00 a.m >> reporter: finally, he convinced a woman from texas that they were in love >> i spend a lot of time talking to her she wants attention. people in america want attention. >> i don't consider myself stupid, but they got me. >> reporter: laura frances was 68 when another scammer, later traced to nigeria found her. >> he would send beautiful sayings every morning, good morning, sweetheart, so happy that i met you. >> reporter: but it was this question that did the trick. >> don't you think you're worthy of being loved you know that's kind of a question i hadn't thought about. >> reporter: then the scammer began inventing financial emergencies. how much did you end up losing $148,800 >> i am so sorry >> i'm going to survive. i'm just not going to be able to do what i had planned on doing >> reporter: for victims, the lesson is clear.

>> your alarm bells should be ringing when these new relationships, romantic or otherwise start asking you for your hard-earned dollars. >> reporter: chris got only $20,000 out of his victim, but that is ten years' salary in a country where more than half of the population lives in extreme poverty. chris says he was so remorseful, he confessed to his victim >>she cried for days, but to m surprise, she did not block me she adopted me like a son. >> reporter: and today he consults with an american company, social catfish to spot future scams for laura, the experience taught her about evil, she says, but also about poverty >> and they need to find jobs for these guys, and they ned to give them a better way of life >> reporter: until then, millions of young men like chris have no better option than to look for the lonely online jake ward, nbc news, san francisco. >> so fascinating to see the other side of it, right? when we get those texts and

emails. >> there is desperation on both sides. >> you feel for them all right. there is much more ahead on "early today," including a bright spot of hope found among the wreckage of hurricane ian. and bts may be headed to boot camp. the next tour for the k-pop superstars could be with the military entrust your heart to entresto, a medicine specifically made for heart failure. entresto is the #1 heart failure brand prescribed by cardiologists. it was proven superior at helping people stay alive and out of the hospital. heart failure can change the structure of your heart, so it may not work as well. entresto helps improve your heart's ability to pump blood to the body. and just imagine where a healthier heart could take you. don't take entresto if pregnant; it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren, or if you've had angioedema with an ace or arb.

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let's go ♪ >> k-pop boy band bts may have taken the world by storm, but soon they might have to put that pop stardom on pause you see, the band is facing mandatory military duty in south korea. despite calls for their exception, military reps have said the group could be called to complete 18 to 21 months of service under the country's conscription law it's going to be interesting to see how this one plays out elvis went, i think.

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enjoy the go with charmin. the largest celebration of italian american culture will take place in a few hours here in new york city over 35,000 participants are expected to march up 5th avenue for the columbus day parade for about one million spectators new york city is renamed today's holiday as italian heritage and indigenous people's day. president biden issued two proclamations formally marking today as both columbus day and indigenous people day. a towering texas legend is saying howdy to 70 years for the past seven decades, big tech has greeted crowds at the state far.

from our dallas-fort worth station, candace sweat celebrates the milestone. >> reporter: when you get a greating from big tex, it's proper southern hospitality to wave back. >> right on time. >> she was born and raised in dallas and doesn't leave the state fair without visiting her friend. >> come for a corn dog and tex. >> it's appropriate she is here with her daughter on the all the texan's 70th birthday. >> it's the first thing i do i walk into the entrance, i get a corn dog and take a picture with big tex. >> and like any modern-day celebration, selfies and group texts are a must he has seen a lot and changed a lot over the last 70 years a little history on the once $750 investment turned half a million dollars man. >> back then he was about 52 feet tall. i think the old big tex weighed around 8,000 pounds. >> reporter: since then, his measurements has adjusted.

he has a 95 gallon hat, size 96 boots. the average man may have a 16-inch collar his is 16 feet. >> reporter: like most, he has seen really bad days like in 2012 when this happened. >> i was at work and we stopped working it was live. the whole thing, remember it was live on tv the whole metroplex shut down. >> reporter: but resilience is part of his 70-year legacy, as is his smile big texas wave, and laid back cowboy demeanor. it's just who he is. >> he is somebody that you can sit down, have a cup of coffee with, and talk about and tell old stories. >> pointing to the fried oreos and corn dogs. thanks to candace for that report an animal rescue people in boston called to help a kitten wandering in the street. and that is what they found. >> oh, honey oh, honey. oh, geez that's not great >> even with that glass jar on her head, the kitten and her

siblings were trapped. using food, the rescue had given her the name buzz lightyear. buzz is getting the care she needs before she'll be ready for adoption i love it. a little kitty astronaut right there. >> you know she wanted it off, though thanks for kicking off you

breaking overnight more explosions as a violent and deadly escalation in the war between ukraine and russia over the weekend leads to further casualties as both sides raise the stakes and targets >> 29 days to the midterms and embattled candidate hershel walker is about to get a hit from two republican heavy hitters. and the new concussion protocol being used after week five in the league. hero bus drivers managed to saving a toddler