summer storms slam the east

and the south. more severe weather on the way spells trouble for summer travel our weather team is tracking exactly where the potentially dangerous system is heading. plus nbc's exclusive interview donald trump's biggest competitor in the gop primary. governor ron desantis slams the republican frontrunner, saying a trump candidacy would give democrats the upper hand and potentially the white house. a thrown punch leads to all-out brawl on an alabama riverfront witnesses calling it an attack on a man just doing his job. hear what led to the violence and how city officials are responding wayne brady opens up about his sexuality. he announces he's pansexual. we've got the tiktok post celebrating his coming out a dallas doctor brings the power of music to her own cancer treatment. see the viral social media post bringing her final western to millions it's tuesday, august 8 "early today" starts right now

hi there, i'm frs rive >> gmornin good tve y with us i'm jessica layton we begin this morning as the south and east coast are reeling from severe storms that killed at least two people. a 28-year-old died after being struck by lightning in alabama and a 15-year-old was let by a tree in south carolina close to a million people lost power and hundreds of thousands are still in the dark this morning after severe thunderstorms hit from georgia to new york. many states dealt with wind damage, hail, heavy rainfall and flooding nbc's vaughn hilliard begins our coverage >> reporter: the summer of severe weather from coast-to-coast is raging on. wild weather closing in, forecast to bring the strongest storms in a decade to the nation's capital including damaging winds, tornados, heavy rain and hail. forcing government buildings around washington, d.c. to shut down, sending all federal

employees home ground stops at airports across the eastern seaboard, from atlanta to d.c. to new york, as the faa reroutes flights to avoid the storms with more than 6,000 delays and 1300 cancellations nationwid it's very, strating if it such a big girl, i'd actuallyry >> repr: it come 84 ion fromennessee to ne york are under the threat of up to 75 miles per hour winds heavy rains are also being looked at as a potential cause as a deadly charter bus collision outside harrisburg, pennsylvania where three people were killed and dozens more injured, including several children >> it had flipped and everyone was flung out to the side t was intense. >> reporter: the same storm system moving east, hammered the midwest over the weekend a irmed ef-2ornado with nd ss as 135 milr hourreducing e

coy is bracing for more. vaughn hilliard, nbc news, washington and coming up, nbc meteorologist angie lassman will join us with yet another look on another storm system that could bring more dangerous weather the fulton county courthouse in downtown atlanta is stepping up security this morning ahead of possible charges against donald trump they are expected to present the case to a grand jury soon. it comes as trump's top rival in the race for the republican nomination, florida governor ron desantis talks about his view on the 2020 election. dasha burns has the nbc exclusive interview. >> reporter: florida governor ron desantis predicting success. trump's lead has only grown since you began campaigning in earnest. is it possible that you're

potentially out of step with what gop voters are looking for right now? >> so, if i had a nickel for every nay sayer i've had in my life i'd be a very, very wealthy man. >> reporter: arguing that donald trump brings distractions that helps democrats. >> if it is a referendum on joe biden's policies and the failures that we're seeing and we're present ago positive vision for the future, we will win. if it's not on january 2025, or what document left by the toilet at mar-a-lago, we are going to lose >> reporter: can we put this to bed. yes or no, did donald trump lose the 2020 election. >> whoever puts their hand on the bible on january 20 every four years is the winner >> reporter: respectfully, you did not clearly answer that question and if you can't give a yes or no on whether or not trump lost,

then how can -- >> of course he lost >> reporter: trump lost the 2020 election okay >> joe biden is the president. >> reporter: we pressed desantis on his new border proposal to allow deadly force against drug traffickers. you've said if cartels are trying to run product n products country into this country they're going to end up stone-cold dead. >> you have rules of engagement. you would engage with lethal force. >> reporter: you yourself was an advisor to navy s.e.a.l.s. you know how hard it is sometimes when it comes to rules of engagement. how do you discern if it's a child, mother, or a cartel member >> obviously f , if it's a chil. >> reporter: but a pregnant mom

with a cap and backpack -- how do you know you're using deadly force against the right people >> the same way a police officer would know same way somebody operating in iraq would know. these people in iraq at the time they all looked the same you didn't know who had a bomb strapped to them these guys had to make judgments. >> reporter: desantis often out on the trail with his wife casey, a former news anchor. >> i saw him standing up to people in washington, d.c. telling him you're doing it wrong. you have to shut down the beaches, lock kids out of school so when you see that first hand and understand the fight he was taking, like why would i not be in this fight? why would i not want to be out there singing from the rooftop that this is a good dude >> reporter: and their three young kids also along for the ride casey describing how he supported them when she was diagnosed with breast cancer >> he was there to pick up my kid when is i couldn't and he did it with humility. and he did it with love, and

i'll tell you what, you can't ask for a better husband than that >> our thanks to dasha for that report voters in ohio go to the polls for a controversial special election the gop-led legislature wants to make it harder to change the state constitution, raising the requirement from a simple majority to 60% of the vote. it is widely seen as a republican event to sabotage the election in november with a higher threshold for amendments in place, the ballot measure is more likely to fail ukraine says it thwarted an assassination attempt against president zelenskyy. a woman is in custody suspected of tracking the president's movements to have him killed in an airstrike >> reporter: ukraine intelligence says this unidentify woman is a russian

spy captured while carrying out a plot to assassinate president zelenskyy. she was allegedly tracking his movements so he could be targeted with a russian airstrike. the kremlin not commenting on the accusations. ukraine is pushing the war beyond its borders there was a sea drone attack last week near a russian port. but russian president t russiand h putin and his ally, prent xi are sending a warning. a patrol of 11 chinese and russian warships cruised near alaska the pentagon saying there was no direct threat but sending four destroyers and a reconnaissance plane as a warning lester talking to the top-ranking u.s. military officer there last month >> how do you see the chinese

threat, the north korean threat? >> i see the chinese threat ever increasing in the pacific. i watch their cooperation with the russians i look at the russian access in the arctic >> reporter: china says the patrol was not hostile china also took part in ukraine peace talks in saudi arabia over the weekend. negotiators only agreed to pleat again. richard engel, nbc news. > and backe in the u.s., in queens new york, rockaway beach confirms its first shark attack in decades. lifeguards pulled a 50-year-old swimmer from the water yesterday after a shark apparently bit her left leg she was given first aid and taken to the hospital in critical condition the nypd and fire officials will increase surveillance at the beach today, after a delayed opening. sharks were also seen at rockaway beach last summer, prompting the beach to temporarily close. during his visit in arizona today, president biden is expected to announce a new

national monument to preserve nearly a million acres of land around grand canyon national park the area is sacred to native-american tribes and will be protected from uranium mining native tribes and environmental groups have been trying t for decades to protect the land. angie lassman is tracking when and where the next round of storm also hit >> we've got showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, but waking up to unsettled weather across new england light to moderate rain in burlington, berlin, portland stretching down to boston. that's on the way out as the system that wreaked havoc yesterday starts to move away, too. but we're not quite done with it just yet

we'll still see the rain be an issue today. especially in northern new england. we could see flooding concerns with additional rainfall in that already-saturated area by tomorrow, much better news. we'll really start to dry out. meanwhile, in part of the center of the country we see showers and thunderstorms ramping up this is what's going on from oklahoma city to texarkana we're still seeing strong thunderstorms that have prompted thunderstorm watches and even warnings already this morning. and that severe threat h severed continue thrwill continue through the afternoon into the evening hours we could see large hail an tempe there for san antonio to houston

into the triple digits little rock, 83 today with thunderstorms this afternoon that's a look at your forecast, ladies, back over to you recent high temperatures haven't been just affecting people but a bear at a zoo in knoxville took a much-needed plungena a bubble bath to beat the heat finn is a whopping 450 pounds. and according to the zoo, bubble baths are his favorite and some onlookers got to take in all the cuteness too. it's just as fun to watch the kids watch the bear. >> he is loving it, though, look at that. nice and refreshing. wayne brady takes to tiktok for a major personal announcemement but first, a a river froront ererupts in viviolence t,t, a rit erupts in n violence ugh. well, i i switched to swiffer wetjet, and d it's awesosome. it's a an all-in-o-one, that a absorbs dirirt and grime e deep insidide. and it helelps preventnt ststreaks and d haze. that a absorbs dirirt and grime e deep insidide. wetjetet is so wororth it. that a absorbs dirirt and grime e deep insidide. love it,t, or your money b . my most t importantt kikitchen toolol? my brarain.

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of white boaters attacking a black dockworker priscilla thompson has the details. >> reporter: outrage is growing across the country over these now-viral videos appearing to show more than a dozenpeople i an all-out brawl on the downtown montgomery river front no arrests have been made, the mayor says, but investigators have issued four arrest warrants and say they're reviewing videos of the incident and more could be coming. >> it's something that shouldn't have happened and something we're investigating right now. trr unfolded saturday night after a worker asked a group multiple times to move their pontoon so a commercial riverboat could dock chris at that owens says she filmed this video from on board the riverboat. >> they're mad this guy who came off our boat is touching their boat and untieing it but it needed to be moved. witnessing our poor crewman being attacked by these guys and

we couldn't do anything about it >> these white folksks -- >> reporteter: after the riverbt docks fighting erupts again. police on the ground struggling to contain the chaos but eventually getting some in handcuffs. the mayor placing the blame on several reckless individual whoss attacking a man doing his job. they added that the investigation is ongoing >> priscilla, thank you. still to come here on "early today. we could be hours away from tony lanez' sentencing. how long he is facing for shootiting megegan thee ststalln > and d when w wayne bradyds out ababout his sesexuality. out t about his s sexuality.y. no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh... everytything. no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh... [glass shahatters] no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh... [chahandelier crcrashes] no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh... whatat if... no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh... justst file a clclaim on thehe. no worrieses. your agegenn walk y you throughgh...

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time now to break down the biggest headlines in pop culture this morning

emotional statements were heard in a los angeles courtroom as sentencing was delayed in tory lanez's trial. megan thee stallion said she suffered every day after she was n shot into the foot statements were given by lanez' father in his behalf prosecutors are seeking a 13-year sentence while his defense team pushes for probation and an appeal. sentencing is expected to resume today. he will n who will not be there is megan thee stallion. super model bella hadid may be taking team away from the runway, but she's opening up about her health journeys. she was diagnosed with lyme disease in 2013. she thanked family and supporters saying she will be back on the fashion scene when she's ready and encouraged

others stru others struggling with health issues not to give up. if you have any inkling that you may have lyme, you need to see your doctor if you are any concerns >> her mom and brother all suffered from t. wayne brady is sharing his personal journey with fans the actor and comedian opening up about being pansexual he told the story with pe"peopl" magazine, revealing he been repressing his sexuality from a young age because his upbringing he made an announcement on tiktok, lip synching to celine dion's "it's all coming back to me now." and he wants to be free to love whom ever he wants and have the freedom m is so liberating for him. >> who doesn't love that song. the brutal heat is back. angie is tracking it after this. . angie is tracking it after this. e like normal people?

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and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. keytruda c can cause your immunune system and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. to attack k healthy paparts of y your body and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. during o or after trtreatme. and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. ththis may be e severe anand lead to o death. and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. see doctor riright away if havave h, and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. severe stotomachn,n, severe n nausea or v vomiti, and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. headadache, lighght sensitiv, eye proboblems, and you u do not havave an abnormalal “egfrfr” or r “al”. irregular r heartbeat,t, extrtreme tiredndness, constipapation, irregular r heartbeat,t, dizzinesess or faintnting, chchanges in a appetite, thirst, oror urine, dizzinesess or faintnting, confususion, memorory proble, muscscle pain oror weakn, fever,r, rash, itchining, or flusushing. muscscle pain oror weakn, there mamay be otheher side effffects. muscscle pain oror weakn, tell your r doctor abobout all yoyour medicalal conditi, includining immune system proroblems, tell your r doctor abobout all yoyour medicalal conditi, ifif you've had or r plan to h have an orgrgan oror stem cellll transplana, receivived chest r radiati, or have a a nervous system proroblem. oror stem cellll transplana, receivived chest r radiati, it feelsls good to be e here for t them. liviving longer r is possi. it's tru. liviving longer r is possi. keytruda f from merck.k. ask your d doctor abouout key.

welcome ba 47 million people under heat alerts as weigh get up anthe streng to places like charleston, tallahassee. new orleans could see intense heat through the day severe storms from the southeast into parts of the plains we keep the heat and humidity and potential recordighs at least threw today and into tomorrow the west coast looks great bright skies out there, guys >> gadood for them >> lucky them d for them >> lucky them

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cancer and it's all thanks to one of her former students,s, her husbd and a wave of support on social media. jajay gray brings us the story ♪ ♪ >> reporter: there is many say a rhythm to life >> i've always loved music we love live music >> reporter: for years music has quite literally filled the home of dr. michelle nicholls and her family, hoersting living room concerts with some of their favorite art tests, evolving into fundraisers for non-profits. it all started when one of her med students asked to join michelle during a chemotherapy session when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2010 he brought his guitar and remembered one of the songs she requested. the music shifting to the anthem of a fighter >> never slowed down worked full time through

chemotherapy ran triaiathlons amazing. >> reporter: but seven years after her initial diagnosis, michelle knew something wasn't right. >> thahat's when the stage four diagnosis came >> reporter: michelle deciding she wanted to britt cong the cot back sharing with her friend. overwhelmed he turned to social media for help >> they have two kids who are also beautiful people and who are going to miss their mommy a lot and they want these final amazing memories together. they said nothing amazing will ever happen if you don't ask them so >> reporter: the family emotional as the plea went viral with more than 2 million views in just a week and bands and artists lining up to play. >> this is a really special thing. and i'm just so glad that we're able to do it. >> reporter: even

singer-songwriter ben folds holding a concert for the family over the weekend >> i feel so much love, to go through what we're going through. you get demoralized for sure but it gives me so much hope >> reporter: her hope, faith and determination. >> still fighting for a miracle. >> reporteter: a light she refus to allow her illness to dim. >> that's what i hope to do with all this is to shine light in dark places. >> reporter: because, she says, no matter what the future holds, there will always be another there will always be another song to sing

you go by lots of titles veteran, s son, dad. you go by lots of titles -it't's timeme to get upup. -no. hair stylilist and cheheerlea. so addining a “student” title might feelel overwhelmlmin. what if f a school coululd be therere for all o o? so addining a “student” title might feelel overwhelmlmin. cacareer, famimily, financns and mental h health. it's coming a along. wellll, it can.. natitional univeversity. supportiting the whohole yo. story. stay right there more news on the way more news oy deadly