all eyes on idalia, as florida braces for what could be the first major hurricane. season, potentially packing 115 miles per hour winds and life-threatening storm surge terrifying moments caught on camera north of miami. a rescue helicopter slams into an apartment trump's trial for 2020

election interference charges colliding with the 2024 election season a courtroom showdown is set, and it's just ahead of super tuesday. retired marine turns whistle-blower, leading to a historic fraud settlement with one of the country's biggest government contractors >> a taxpayer, it made me very upset as a marine officer. >> how her good deed netted her and her family, $40 million. mazel tov to adam sandler. it's tuesday, and "early today" starts right now good morning, i'm jessica layton >> glad you're with us, i'm frances rivera florida is on edge this morning with all eyes on tropical storm idalia it is expect expected to expecty

into a category 3 hurricane. >> reporter: how bad do you think the storm is going to be >> it looks like he's going to be a big one even some of the old locals are pretty concerned at this point >> we've been extremely lucky here in tampa and have been bypassed by bad ones and i'm just afraid our luck is going to run out >> overnight, idalia lashed the western part of cuba and has moved into the gulf of mexico where it's expected to intensify quickly. let's get an update from angie lassman. >> today is going to be the day that folks want to finish those preparations ahead of the system moving closer and eventually strengthening before landfall as we get into wednesday morning. tropical storm idalia, a strong tropical storm with winds at 70 miles per hour

impacting western cuba you can see the rain bands starting to work a chill closer little close to the state of florida. we've got watch thes and warnin. that's where we're expecting the system to come on shore as a category 3 we've got a lot of fuel in the gulf of mexico for the storm to strengthen, coming onshore as a category 3 on the eastern side is where we're expecting life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall and wind impacts those are all things we'll have to deal with in the next day or so, ladies we'll talk more about the impacts in just a bit. a shooting at the university of north carolina chapel hill left one faculty member dead and sent the entire campus into lockdown monday. as heavily-armed police swarmed

the area, students described scenes of terror and confusion >> so immediately we all stayed heightened in the stalls, on the toilets, just scared we didn't know what was happening. >> you see on your phone, and you think it's just one of those things >> police put out this photo what have they call a person of interest, and later an arrest was made live on station wral. the all-clear given around 4:00 p.m. local time the suspect nor victims have been named by authorities yet. the police chief says the investigation will take weeks. classes at unc are canceled for today. in south florida, a deadly helicopter crash was caught on camera the rescue chopper was seen spinning out of control before crashing into an apartment building a fire broke out on board and the crew did their best to put it out a woman was killed and two others hurt on the ground. the pilot and paramedic were

also injured but expected to be okay fire captain and paramedic terryson jackson was killed in the crash, a 19 year veteran of the force, one of the best and brightest. judges in washington and georgia are setting the stage for two separate trials for the former president, with one expected to bump up right next to a major primary this comes as some defendants in georgia are already making moves to change where they will be tried. for more on this, we go to nbc's brie jackson in washington could you talk about the decisions made by these judges on monday? >> good morning, jessica the wheels are in motion in both the federal and state trials that former president trump faces on charges related to efforts to overturn 2020 election rults in the courtroom in the nation's capitol, u.s. district judge tanya chutkan set a date of march 4 in the case set by jack

smith. that's one day before super tuesday. while federal prosecutors had proposed a january start date, trump's legal team last week proposed a trial date of 2026, arguing that they would not have time to prepare for an earlier trial. chutkan rebuffed this idea during monday's hearing and said that the trump team's proposal was not reasonable meanwhile, in georgia, fulton county judge scott mcafee said monday that trump will be arraigned in the georgia election case at 9:30 a.m. on september 6. nearly all of his 18 co-defendants will also be arraigned that day trump face as total of 17 charges between these two cases. 13 in georgia, and 4 on the ferlt fed federal level. trump accuses special counsel of bringing the federal case

against h against him during the 2024 campaign and he will be appealing the judge's decision >> what more are you learning about the co-defendants being arraigned? >> reporter: smith represented the trump campaign in the 2020 election cases and was charged in the indictment with 12 counts, including violating georgia's rico laws. smith pleaded not guilty, and also waived his september 6 arraignment. this all comes the same day as smith's fellow defendant, former trump chief of staff mark meadows took the stand in an attempt to move his case from state to federal court the judge did not issue a ruling saying that proceedings in state court could continue for the time being jessica? >> all right, brie, we will wait and see what happens thank you. the man known to america as joe the plummer has died

samuel joseph roser bocker went viral during the 2008 campaign after asking then candidate obama about his tax policies he became synonymous with the every man. his name was invoked 25 times touring the final debate between obama and john mccain. he was diagnosed last year with stage three pancreatic cancer. he was 49 years old. when spain won its first-ever women's world cup a week ago, it was a fry triumph the team and the fans, but that victory has been overshadowed by controversy after an official kissed one of the players on the mouth without her consent. it has now given rise to a big movement against sexism in sports this really now has become a

full-blown national scan dal there. >> reporter: it's overshadowed this historic win for the women's team at the world cup and taken center stage spain's top criminal court now saying they are opening a preliminary investigation, citing the need to determine the legal significance of jennifer hermoso's public statements that this kiss was non-consensual, giving her 15 days to contact national prosecutors to make a formal complaint herself this after the regional presidents of spain's football association have called for the resignation of luis rubiales who has been suspended by fifa for 90 days, following this, this kiss that came after this world cup win. now there's been widespread support for jennifer hermoso,

amongst men's and women's players on and off the pitch around the world, across europe and into america also fans throwing their support behind her, and all the members of spain's world cup team have said they will not play until he resigns. and members of the coaching staff for this women's team have also quit in protest but there is support for rubiales amongst his family and his mother interestingly has now gone into a church and on hunger strike in what she says is the inhuman treatment of her son and we will see what happens with his decision to stay or gn go let's bring in angie lassman with the latest on tropical storm idalia >> this is what real le ly conc me the most.

on the eastern side or the right side of the storm, that's where we're going to see the worst wall of water working onshore. places like cedar key expecting 8 to 12 feet we're talking shallow water down the coast. tampa bay, 4 to 7 feet but this could all change here make sure you're heeding those evacuations if you do live in this air what. we'll additionally see storm surge impacts on the east coast for georgia and the carolinas. the winds will be the strongt near theesd thunderstorms in montgomery and charlotte and raleigh. temperatures in the low 90s in littl little rock with plenty of sunshine this afternoon. "early today" is back in a moment with a historic fraud

settlement for a government contractor >> how the retired marine who blew the whistle earned $40 million for her efforts. arned $ million for her efforts. like so, it supports 7 brain health indicators, including mental alertness from one serving. to help keep me sharp. try new neuriva ultra. think bigger. want luxury hair repair that doesn't cost $50? pantene's pro-vitamin formula repairs hair. as well as the leading luxury bonding treatment. for softness and resilience, without the price tag. if you know... you know it's pantene. oh stuffed up again? so congested! you need sinex saline from vicks. just sinex, breathe, ahhhh! [sniffs] what is — wow! baby: daddy. sinex. breathe. ahhhhhh!

it's a historic fraud settlement with one of the biggest government contractors in the country and only came to light after a marine veteran sounded the alarm, earning, get this, $40 million for the effort ken dilanian has the story >> reporter: much of sara fineburg's philosophy about life was shaped by her time as a captain as a u.s. marine serving in iraq. >> it helped me get a sense of right versus wrong and have a clear picture of the service that i wanted to perform for our country. >> reporter: in 2015 as a young mom she was rising up the ranks as a financial analyst >> it works almost exclusively with the u.s. government and they have a ton of contracts with department of defense >> reporter: she quickly realized the company's other contracts, some with foreign

governments like saudi arabia were bleeding cash from they were passing those costs onto the oust u.s. govern contracts. >> reporter: to cover losses they're taking money from the american taxpayer in. taxpayer >> that's right. they were overcharging the government by nearly $100 million a year >> reporter: she began a campaign to convince her bosses to put a stop to it. >> it made me very upset as a taxpayer and marine officer. >> reporter: after dozens of meetings she got her chance to present her findings to eight senior executives. they she was 31. >> i was definitely the youngest person in the room >> reporter: feinberg started by telling the group that fixing the issue would mean losing money. she was quickly cut off bit chief financial officer. >> we are not going to make it a

priority this year >> reporter: that must have been devastating for you. >> it was very devastating for me i called my husband right afterwards and told him i was quitting my job. >> reporter: fineburg got a lawyer who said she could sue on behalf of american taxpayers and claim a share of the settlement on a law that dates back to the civil war. seven years later they announced a $377 million settlement. se as much money as it was, fineburg says they should have faced more penalties her share landed in her family's bank account a short time ago. it noted that a criminal investigation was closed without charges. did they underestimate you in. >> i wish they would have taken me and the issue more seriously while i was there. >> reporter: today $40 million richer, feinberg plans to give much of it to her church

>> i've got three kids and tell them doing the right thing is the right thing no matter what the outcome is there's very few times in this life where you'll actually be rewarded for doing the right thing, but this is one of those unique situations. >> reporter: ken dilanian, nbc news, washington still to come, bar mitzvah for adam sandler, his movie setting a milestone for his career i feel it coming the end of the road for a controversial hbo show d for a controversial hbo show. mr. marbles will receive recurring deliveries for all of his needs in perpetuity, thanks to autoship from chewy. - i always loved that old man. - what's it say about the summer house? - yeah, the beach house- - the summer residence goes to mr. marbles. (mr. marbles chuckles) - plot twist! - i'm sorry, what? - doesn't make logistical sense. - unbelievable. - pets aren't just pets. they're more. - you got a train set, todd. - [announcer] save more on what they love and never run out with autoship from chewy. book a work trip. earn onekeycash. shake some hands. do not forget to laugh.

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his best yet it scored 96% on rotten tomatoes the reason for the best score over his 30-year career, maybe casting his own daughters. my 13-year-old daughter devoured it up. and she's like i need to go to one bar or bat mitzvah >> hbo just called in some monday blues for the weekend and the controversial series officially canceling "the idol." the provocative series starring lily rose depp will not be returning for a second season. it premiered with five episodes of episodes this on rotten tomatoes only a

19 >> the misogynyist themes didn't help either. more parts of hollywood join the labor fight. they officially want to unionize if the vote goes through, disney would have to begin a whole other type of contract negotiations the latest union push comes on the heels of marvel visual effect workers still to m many could on "ecome on "early today," angie is tracking the sweltering heat. and the ultimate beatles tribute. d the ultimate beatles tribute.

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of advanced hair complex. conquer hair thinning... ...and fall in love with your hair all over again. only from nature's bounty. a group of long-time friends are paying homage to their favorite band. the high school students painted their own parking space to kick off the senior year. our dfw station has their story. >> reporter: the lake highlands wildcats are back in class for this group of long-time friends, senior year is the end of the road. >> i love it when a plan comes together >> reporter: the plan?

travel back in time to cross abbey road >> we're big beatles fans. >> reporter: instead of george, paul, ringo and john >> jackson, cooper, cooper, seth >> reporter: the lake highlands' high school fab four >> getting a bunch of my friends together to do some big project. >> he came up with the idea to do abbey road, the beatles album. i helped them design what they were planning on doing i love a big challenge it was a big challenge it's four parking spots, a pretty big space >> reporter: seniors here spent saturday personalizing their parking spots. >> we were out here the longest, but it went by relatively faster than we thought it would >> i got a pretty gnarly sunburn. >> reporter: it took the friends eight hours to paint >> it was worth it a lot of fun with my friends and pretty cool looking. >> reporter: and cool to imagine

walking in these shoes sfw >> i'm thinking they did this in the '60s how, they had that level of production and writing so long ago and it still lives up to this day and is still great music. >> reporter: and now a great place for friends to catch up. >> it's fun, because we don't all have class together all day. it's a fun little, see each other in the morning and sigh wh see what's up. >> we hope to pass it on we don't want to let it go >> the beatles rule. >> also that >> so many aspects so cool that they get their own parking space. you might call it a grizzly project. why teams are humanely capturing grizzly bears for a two-month survey and al roker has a look at what

else to watch for this morning >> this morning on the third hour of "today", get ready for easy recipes plus what does your home decor say about your personality and we will be serenaded in studio 1a. >> love that thanks for watching "early today. i'

emilie ikeda, nbc news ilie iked. \s a powerful storm barrels toward florida's big ben we're tracking the movement as the sunshine state brace for impact the former president's legal battles begin in georgia his competitors are looking at one primary in