the 2024 presidential race is heating up. but where will mr. trump be on the ballot that's the question as one of his competitors faces a day of damage control the fallout from nikki haley's answer when asked what caused the civil war. a major change in tone from israeli officials now admitting

serious mistakes in bombing civilians in gaza. they're also addressing the killing of three escaped hostages the latest from jerusalem as the war grinds on. a lonestar standoff. a major texas freeway shut down after a chase involving an s.w.a.t. team and the driver of a semi-truck that refused to pull over. the bulletproof vehicle finally used to get that suspect out the partnership between space force and spacex finally has liftoff. and it's been 50 years since the endangered species act how the revolutionary action saved the symbol of the country. we made it to friday, december 29, "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm jessica layton we begin this morning with breaking news in the 2024 race for the white house. former president donald trump has been removed from yet another primary ballot

maine now joining colorado in disqualifying mr. trump, citing his role in the january 6 attack on the capitol although maine's top election official does say her decision will not be enforced until the courts weigh in. the colorado decision has been appealed to the supreme court by the republican party in that state. the trump campaign called the decision in maine atrocious. saying they hwill file a legal objection immediately. several states have declined efforts to block trump from the ballot overnight, california's secretary of state certifica certified that state's ballot and trump was not removed. one candidate is under fire this morning for her comments about the civil war. nikki haley on the defensive for what she said or did not say about the civil war when asked about that war >> reporter: republican presidential candidate nikki haley in cleanup mode, after leaving out slavery as a root cause of the civil war during a

town hall in new hampshire on wednesday. >> what do you want pleme to sa about slavery? >> you've answered my question, thank you. >> next question >> reporter: haley spent thursday attempting to explain what she meant >> of course the civil war was about slavery. >> reporter: and made clear the role slavery played in american history. >> we know the civil war was about slavery. but it was also more than that it was about the freedoms of every individual >> reporter: her opponents seized on the comments president joe biden responding, quote, it was about slavery. and gop rival ron desantis arguing she isn't ready for the big stage. >> the minute that she faces any type of scrutiny, she tends to cave >> reporter: as governor of south carolina, haley pushed for the removae removal of the kcon flag after a mass shooting >> it's time to remove the flag

from the capital grounds >> reporter: she made that decision after intense pressure from african-american leaders in the wake of the massacre trump has routinely used divisive rhetoric and recently made racist comments about plooigs and minority groups. >> they're poisoning the blood of our country that's what they've done >> reporter: but trump's controversial words have done little to change the trajectory of the race. and these comments come at a make or break moment for the haley campaign with polls showing donald trump leading by more than double digits, and days to go before iowa and list than 30 days to go before new hampshire. and now to a nbc news exclusive. that chinese spy balloon that flew across the u.s. earlier this year used an american internet service provider to communicate while it was in the air. that's according to two current and one former u.s. official familiar with the intelligence the balloon used the connection to transmit and receive data

from china the transmissions were primarily righted to the balloon's navigation nbc news is not naming the provider to protect the identity of our sources israel has taken the rare step of expressing regret over an airstrike that has killed more civilians more than 70 people were killed hon christmas eve. the idf saying it regrets the harm to uninvolved civilians it is just a fraction of the many thousands killed in this war. jay gray has the latest from jerusalem. >> reporter: we know that fighting on the ground has intensified, specifically in central gaza where ground troops continue to work through some of the refugee camp areas there we know there has been a lot of panic, a lot of frustration on the ground from those that are being urged to leave the area by the idf. in the midst of intense fighting in the densely-populated area. airstrikes continuing to the north as well.

bad news coming on the hostage front. hostage front. one was shot during the attack along with her husband on the 7th. he was 73. we learned six days ago that he had passed away, and now it's been confirmed that judy weinstein has died as well at least six americans are still missing and presumed to be held in gaza. and finally, another hostage released is speaking out maya shem, 21 years old, a french israeli wounded and kidnapped during the october 7 attack at the music festival talking for the first time to israeli media and saying that, quote, what i went through was like the holocaust, continuing on, saying it's important to relay the truth about the nature of the people who live in gaza they are all complicit, and it's like one big hamas family. strong words from someone who

spent 54 days in captivity before being released during the pause in fighting. that's the latest here i'm jay gray, nbc news, jerusalem. the justice department says it will sue texas if it goes forward with a new state law that lets police arrest migrants who cross the border illegally that's according to a letter sent to republican governor greg abbott and obtained by nbc news. the doj says the law is unconstitutional, since immigration enforcement is the job of the federal government, not the individual states. texas now has until wednesday to comply, but the governor's office says the state is, quote, prepared to take this fight all the way to the u.s. supreme court. some hospitality workers in california are closing out the year with one last labor action. hotel employees in pasadena are planning to walk off the job on new year's eve the hospitality union says workers at the hilton and hyatt place have yet to reach an

agreement on a labor deal. it comes the day before pasadena is expected to host massive new year's crowds for both the rose bowl and the tournament of roses parade to the forecast now and some severe weather parts of southern california ordering evacuations this morning along the kohl'coast be of a dang ruerous storm surge. it is flooding entire neighborhoods. water rose so high in ventura county that a man was able to paddleboard through those streets. the high surf warnings continue through tomorrow night and now let's take a look at those maps the most impactful storm to close out 2023 will be the new system pushing into the west coast. it's bringing heavy rain to coastal portions of washington, oregon and northern california seattle, portland and san francisco can all expect wet and windy conditions that could lead to some more flight delays later today. strong winds could also fuel some coastal flood issues, especially for california.

and in the sierra mountains, one to two fight of fresh snow could blanket elevations above 8,000 feet by tomorrow night elsewhere, lingering showers will lead to a brotdreary end t month. snow and ice will impact cloudy. sunny and 55 in houston. "early today" is back in 60 seconds with the new clues in the murder after pregnant texas teenager and a tense standoff in the middle after busy houston highway. how this s.w.a.t. team finally arrested the driver of a 18 wheeler who led officers on a lengthy chase. o led officers on lengthy chase.

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leading the news this morning, san antonio police are asking for help identifying two personing of interest in a potential murder case. this comes as part of the investigation into the death of pregnant savannah soto and her boyfriend. both bodies were found on tuesday. the new video released thursday shows the persons of interest get out of their cars and appear to speak to each other before taking off one of the two figures is driving a silver kia optima. that's the same car that the bodies were found in earlier this week. now to a dramatic confrontation shutting down a major highway in houston for hours. the driver of a semi-truck led police on a slow-speed pursuit on i-10. once they dotgot him to stop th driver refused to get out. eventually a bulletproof vehicle with a battering ram was used to remove him two people are lucky to be alive this morning after their car slid down a steep embankment

in san francisco video shows officials descending 100 feet to get to the trapped car. the driver of that vehicle reportedly hit a curb, causing it to roll once before sliding down the hill. both passengers were taken to the hospital with thankfully only minor injuries. still to come on e"early today," remembering the tourg figures we lost in 2023 s w2023. jordan's sore nose let out a fiery sneeze, so dad grabbed puffs plus lotion to soothe her with ease. puffs plus lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and locks in moisture to provide soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. king c. gillette is an award winning lineup

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as we say good-bye to 2023, we want to pay tribute to the lives we lost over the past year they come from all walks of life, and they made an impact on all of ours. ♪ good times ♪ ♪ well, we're movin' on up ♪ ♪ this is it, this is it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ those were the days ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ you're a shining star ♪ ♪ no matter who you are ♪ ♪ shinin' bright to see ♪ ♪ who can you truly be ♪ >> my name is do ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you're shining star ♪ ♪ no matter who you are ♪ ♪ shinin' bright to see ♪ ♪ who you can truly be ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you want to marry me? ♪ ♪ i just close my eyes again ♪ ♪ climbed aboard the dream we'v

attained ♪ ♪ ooh dream weaver ♪ ♪ i believe you can get me through the night ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ dream weaver ♪ >> you know what a loser is? a real loser is somebody that's so afraid of not winning that they don't even try. ♪ you know you make me want to shout ♪ ♪ throw my hands up ♪ ♪ come on now ♪ ♪ don't forget to say you will ♪ ♪ don't forget to say yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yeah ♪ ♪ say you will ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey, hey, ♪ ♪ say you will ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey, ♪ ♪ say you will ♪ ♪ yeeee ♪ ♪ say that you love my ♪ ♪ say that you need me ♪

♪ say that you want my ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ ♪ come on, now ♪ >> the way i see it? if something makes you sad when it nds, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ headin' out to san francisco ♪ ♪ for the labor day weekend show ♪ ♪ and honey, i didn't know ♪ ♪ that i'd be missin' you so ♪ ♪ come monday ♪ ♪ it will be all right ♪ ♪ come monday, i'll be holdin' you tight ♪ ♪ i spent four lonely days in a

brown l.a. haze ♪ ♪ and i just want you back by m ♪ and i just want you back by m ♪ and i just want you back by m ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i meant to do that. ♪ come and knock on our door ♪ ♪ come onand knock on our door ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ♪ ♪ ♪ >> bob barker! >> jerry, jerry! jerry! ♪ ♪ >> i want to say, it has been a

pleasure to have worked alongside all of you these have been the best years of my career >> he actually was some guy. ♪ ♪ oh, yes it's lady's night ♪ >> never forget a martini. ♪ oh, yes it's lady's night ♪ ♪ and the feelin's right ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you're simply the best ♪ ♪ better than all the rest ♪ ♪ better than anyone ♪ ♪ and anyone i've ever met ♪

♪ ♪ i'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places ♪ ♪ that this heart of mine embraces ♪ ♪ all day through ♪ >> i just hope people think i did the best i could that i worked hard and i did the best i could ♪ i'll be looking at the moon ♪ ♪ but i'll be seeing you ♪ ♪ ♪

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you have parkinson's. if you have questions, the parkinson's foundation has answers. to learn more, please go to parkinson.org or call 1-800-4pd-info. we're back with what you need to know "early today. boeing is issuing a safety warning to airlines over potentially loose hardware on its 737 max jet.

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so much whiter! crest. ♪♪ vicks vapostick provides soothing, non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family. vicks vapostick. and try vicks vaposhower for steamy vicks vapors. we're back now with the iftss to conserve our nation's most iconic bird it's been 50 years since congress passed the endangered species act and the effort has helped va h helped save the bald eagle >> reporter: whether up choice and personal or from a distance

dancing across the sun rise, a glimpse of bald eagles never ceases to amaze, especially this presidential pair with an irresistible love story. >> it's amazing to see bald eagles flying over the nation's capital almost avenu ev every dy they hunt together and fly together >> reporter: decades ago, sightings like this were nearly impossible in the 1960s, there were less than 1,000 bald eagles in the lower 4. since then, the population lhas soared to 300,000. they are no longer considered endangered maryland, home to the largest breeding population of bald

eagles on the east coast, north of florida does it ever get old >> no, i've been working here 13 years and you always have to stop what you're doing and watch. >> reporter: just like we did. >> you can't forget how successful the bald eagle recovery was, and we can do that with a lot of other species, too. >> reporter: many attribute the return of the symbol to the banning of an insecticide that contaminated eagles' food and the passing of the endangered species act 50 years ago it provides framework for protecting animals and their h habitat. >> i think it's the preventive work we can shift toward >> reporter: there have been clashes in congress. but the u.s. fish and wildlife director believes everyone can agree on the overall mission and says the growth of american alligator, peregrine falcon and grizzly populations is a sign of

hope >> when we give nature a chance, it has the ability to heal itself >> reporter: and as luck would have it -- >> there it is >> reporter: wow two bald eagles even graced our interview. how lucky are we so lucky emilie ikeda, nbc news >> and we're lucky to have you watching "early today. i'm jessica layton have a great weekend and a happy new year a happy new year.

right now at 5:00, high surf slams the bay area coast, leaving damage behind. meteorologist kari hall is also tracking another storm rolling in. donald trump removed from a second state ballot, and a big decision from california this morning. plus, today is expected