going. it can't be something we drag on. >> king james speaks and a lot of people are listening. shifting to team buyers. some of the big names that want in on that action. then mayor rob ford taking a leave of absence. why he needs to take time for himself. and the new video that may have played a role in that decision. and from southwest florida flooding to baltimore city sinkholes, the punishing weather continues to hit the eastern seaboard. is there any relief in sight? this is "way too early." ♪ hey, hey, everybody. good morning. i am thomas roberts. it is thursday, may the 1st. welcome to "way too early," the show still trying to dry off after a nasty ride in new york city here. but april showers are supposed to bring may flowers. but first we start with this breaking news coming this morning out of pensacola, florida. there has been a lot of bad

weather down there. this is a story where it involves two inmates. they are dead. as many as 150 more injured including corrections officers after a gas line explosion at the escambia county jail. it happened around 11:00 last night with 600 people inside. according to an nbc news crew on site, there is extensive damage to the jail and part has collapsed. all of the inmates have been taken to another facility. also z i mentioned, this is just the latest in a severe round of stories coming out of the south because of the weather. the heavy rains have torn through several states leaving parts of the florida panhandle, parts of pensacola under two feet of water. residents and drivers trapped by what's being called the worst flooding in the state? 30 years. this is what's left of the scenic highway in pensacola yesterday. and this photo shows severe flooding in front of joe scarborough's old home. you can see a truck there buried

in the mud. joins us from pensacola, sarah daroff. i know we're talking about a lot of stories out of pensacola today. >> reporter: a lot of very dramatic stories out of pensacola. it's been a dangerous few days. let me show you what we're talking about. behind me is what used to be south cory field road. now it is just a jumble of asphalt, dirt, and cars. people had to be rescued from these cars. you can see the smashed windshields. no injuries reported. everybody is okay. and it's not that pensacola isn't used to rain. this is actually one of the rainiest cities in the country, but it is the amount. nearly two feet in 26 hours. i want you to compare that to los angeles. the airport there has received about 15 inches since 2012. put it in a little perspective for you there. now, here in pensacola, this historic storm has not only been

wet, it has been deadly. at least one person killed by rising flood waters when they were in their car. there's been a number of rescues including that of a mother and her young son who were trapped by the water in their home. firefighters had to use an ax to get them out. there is good news. it appears the worst of the storm is gone. we are expecting drizzles today, some gray weather. but it's going to give people a chance to start to clean up. and really dry out. back to you. >> nbc's sarah daloff reporting. multiple cars were swallowed up in baltimore city after a street caved in. a retaining wall gave in spilling down into the railroad tracks there. more than a dozen of the roads have been shut down because of the flooding. but just look that. so a lot of people are trying to dry out today, but we're heading to oklahoma where the governor is promising a probe after the botched execution of a death row inmate

and claims he died inrue mainly. clayton lockett wasn't going to die as planned. state officials say he was not unconscious during the execution and only later died of a heart attack. oklahoma had never before used the three-chemical cocktail that lockett received. the execution followed the fight with the state supreme court to make sure it went through. and the governor has ordered a review amid suggestions of cruel of unusual punishment. >> i believe the legal process worked. i believe the death penalty is an appropriate response and punishment to those who commit heinous crimes against their fellow men and women. however, i also believe the state needs to be certain of its protocols and its procedures for executions and that they work. >> we have a fundamental standard in this country that even when the death penalty is justified, it must be carried

out humanely. and i think everyone would recognize that this case fell short of that standard. >> so this case has widespread implications as other states face the same problem. shortages of the drugs traditionally used in executions. well, now that donald sterling has been banned from all clippers activities, the focus shifts to what happens to the ownership of that team. nba commissioner adam silver says he intends to remove sterling as owner. but he needs approval of 75% of the other owners. today the owners advisory and finance committee will meet today to discuss how to proceed with that. meanwhile, there is no shortage of high profile names expressing interest for the team. the list includes oprah winfrey. she's considering making a bid for the team with a group of investors including media mogul david geffen, larry ellison. other big names interested include magic johnson, oscar de

la hoya, and rick ross. there's even a campaign to sell it to fans tushing the team into a non-profit organization. but sterling reiterated the team is not for sale. saying he'd tie up the nba court for years if he decides to do so. the white house again facing questions about the 2012 attack in benghazi that left four americans dead. it centers on an e-mail by adviser ben rhodes to susan rice titled "prep call with susan." the e-mail was sent before rice went on talk shows and blamed an anti-islam video. one of the goals listed in the e-mail, quote, to underscore that these protests are rooted in an internet video and not a broader policy. republicans say the e-mail is a smoking gun and should have been released with the rest of the material. but the white house argued it

was about broader middle east policy. >> it was explicitly not about benghazi. it was about the overall situation in the region, the muslim world where you saw protests outside of embassy facilities across the region. including in cairo, tunis. >> republican senator lindsey graham says he's outraged and auc offended by the white house's response. >> nobody else was killed except in benghazi. so who are they trying to bring to justice if not the killers in benghazi in this line indicates they were worried about the deaths of four americans. and to suggest that this whole e-mail doesn't relate to the political problems associated with the failure in benghazi is an affront to my intelligence and a disrespect to those who died. >> the e-mail was released after judicial watch sued under the freedom of information act and

then it was released. toronto mayor rob ford is taking a leave of absence after another video of him reportedly showing him smoking crack. this video reportedly shot by a drug dealer in ford's sister's basement saturday morning. nbc news has not verified the authenticity of the video, but ford is now acknowledging only that he has a problem with alcohol and he will take a break from his role in office to seek help. ford, however, is not abandoning his campaign for re-election which receives widespread support. the minimum wage is deepening the wedge between congressional democrats and republicans. yesterday senate republicans filibustered a plan to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. democrats claim republicans are tone deaf to middle class americans.

>> by preventing a vote on this bill, they prevented a raise for 28 million hard working americans. they said no to helping millions work their way out of poverty. they told americans like the ones who are here today that you're on your own. without even looking them in the eye. >> they think that we are out of touch. we're out of touch with regular american families, people who are working hard to make ends meet, get the kids ready for school, and to live their version of the american dream. we all know what's happening here. so let's talk about the 800 pound gorilla here in the senate chamber. well, the truth is the president and majority leader reid, they don't expect this bill to pass. this is all about politics. this is about trying to make this side of the aisle look bad and hardhearted. >> just one republican joined democrats to vote for the bill, senator bob corker of tennessee.

shifting to business now where the markets responded positively to news the federal reserve would further reduce its monthly bond-buying program. the dow hit its first record close of the year. we see green arrows across the board there. here's more on what to expect today. >> sounds great, doesn't it? dow at a record level. but actually it's flat on the year. .03% higher for the year. so all the work they did to get in positive territory, that was on the back of lackluster earnings. the gdp figure up only .1% in the first quarter. that was weather related. stocks like ebay and twitter under a lot of pressure as well. elsewhere, interesting to see the fcc, federal communications commission, showing his teeth a bit to the industry. the internet industry. saying if you don't let more competition in, i may show my teeth and have federal laws which override state laws. what the concern is the start-ups is not getting to the consumer and bringing price

down. so the fcc getting a little bit more aggressive there. >> steve, that's a real dance. how is the industry responding to that? >> that's interesting because they want more competition and the industry might have less competition. you have mega deals going through. you have comcast looking at time warner. now looks like at&t could get a bid for directv. directv has an enormous describer base. and at&t has the internet and broadband offering. . they could combine those, maybe there could be a more compelling offer for the consumer. but you've got consolidation that might bring prices are, but concerns are it won't. >> steve sedgwick in london for us. thank you. there's trouble for heisman trophy winner jameis winston. he ord rd $33 of crawfish and crab legs and then walked out of

the store without paying. winston says he simply forgot to pay. so they give him a ticket to make him serve 20 hours of service. so it's become a meme with his crab legs. i want to know the strangest thing you've ever on purpose or by accident allegedly stole? maybe you had a mint but then your mom made you pay a nickel for it. and fs embarrassing. use the #waytooearly. that might have happened to me. still ahead on "way too early," the raptors running up the score on the nets. but brooklyn had a come back. the giveaway that had toronto fans liking the three. and he's carrying a small dog, but that doesn't mean he's lacking confidence. the daring question this man asked an l.a. reporter.

women like dogs and kids with men, right? it always works. that when "way too early" comes right back. ♪ jeff... hey, scott! this is no time for lollygaggin', lad. the chickweed and the dandelions are wreakin' mad havoc! now's the time to send in the scotts turf builder weed & feed, man!

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with three minutes left in the fourth. couple minutes later, kyle lowrie sinks the go-ahead three. they hang in for the 115-113 win and the series 3-2 lead. nets official account said this is what a playoff crowd sound like. the crowd may have been pumped up about the drake inspired lint rollers the raptors were giving away. >> that's useful. >> you know, you get a little white napkin on your black pants, you've got your lint napkin. to san antonio where tony parker is playing on no sleep hours after the birth of his first kid. san antonio never trails to a 109-103 victory over the mavericks. spurs lead the series 3-2. the playoffs continue tonight with game six matchups. the pacers hosting the hawks, the under hosting the griz lis, the clippers visiting the warriors.

so we move to the ice now for game seven stanley cup playoff matchups that happened last night. >> intercepted by kopitar. and l.a. is going to join a select group of teams. >> played back in deep for the control there. score! >> the new york rangers move on for the first time in six years. >> two on one. and he scores! >> the wild, rangers, kings, they all advance to the second round. have you ever heard of a water hazard in baseball? if not, we've got it for you. look at this. >> it's off the end of the bat, flipped down the right side. it's foul and giving chase that time was perez. and somehow it set off a water geyser. >> uh-oh. that will cool you off on a hot

day. the ft. wayne tin caps. the game wound up being delayed for 18 minutes. that will cool you down, bill. or a little fan. you like this? >> i like the fan. >> yeah. i'm a little overdressed today, i think. >> going to start peeling the layers off? >> yeah, yeah. >> you and barnicle. >> as the show progresses, i will take it away. >> only if mike joins in. >> no mas. >> cinco de mayo is coming. >> it's true. we're starting early. let's go into this forecast. heavy rain is finally exiting this morning. some down pours and lightning strikes out there from providence to boston. this will be it in the end of our super soaker storm. we had a few showers around today. but it will be much warmer, more of a typical spring/summer afternoon. these rainfall amounts were incredible. anywhere from 4 to 7 inches from about southern connecticut up a

the way down . it's going to be 40s in chicago and iowa with rain. yesterday the west coast was 90 in san francisco. they still have high fire danger today, but hopefully won't be too bad. >> such a mixed bag. >> it is. we're getting back to normal. coming up at the top of the hour on "morning joe," what's next for donald sterling. will he fight the lifetime ban? will he be forced to sell his team? then when we come back here, we're going to huddle around the water cooler where i was on the view. his mom at the dog park. the kids get trail mix, and here's what you get after a full day of chasing that cute little poodle from down the street. mm hmm delicious milo's kitchen chicken meatballs. they look homemade, which he likes almost as much as making new friends

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all right. let's huddle around the water cooler and check in with our man louis. i got a tweet from somebody telling me my tie is hideous today. >> i like your tie today. >> don't hate on my co-host here. >> thank you, louis. >> let's start at california where the coverage of the wildfire has been impeccable. >> sir, do you live around here? >> yeah. wow. you're super pretty. you want to go on a date some time? >> we're live on the air right now on ktla actually. do you live in one of these houses? >> i live down the street. i was just checking out the fire. >> what do you think of it? >> pretty cool. >> that's ktla reporter

courtney. that is true professionalism there. no word if she got back to that young man about his date request there. >> it's not going to happen. she's married to an old colleague of mine. happily married. but that guy's got swag, doesn't he? >> he took a good shot. no shirt on either. good look. and clay aiken stopped by the colbert report last night. he wants you to know he's focusing on the issues. >> is there going to be any singing on that tour? >> i'm on sabbatical. >> at even our national anthem? >> i might sing that here or there. but i'm going to leave it to you. >> really? >> i'm going to leave it to you tonight. i feel like that was -- i've had a great 11 years singing. and this is the new chapter for me. i think it's more important than singing. so i've put that on the back burner. >> headliner clay aiken refuses to sing national anthem.

>> the people of north carolina are going to be lucky to have clay aiken running there. >> what if ruben studdard getting in the race? >> things get crazy then. now, our very own thomas roberts and let me make a correction, not by co-host but my colleague. >> i was willing to let it slide. >> i'm surprised. >> everybody here is in a panic. >> a slip of the tongue. he's making his return to "the view." things continue to heat up with jenny mccarthy right before they cool down. >> that is the engagement ring that george clooney supposedly gave to his fiance. >> beautiful! >> beautiful. >> i'm not wearing mine today, so i don't want to hear rumors. it's being sized. i didn't know whether to make it smaller or eat more cupcakes. >> you do that out of respect for me and our thing? it's all good. it's all fine.

>> last time you were here -- >> it's all right to flirt, right? >> flirting is healthy. >> i like her. >> i do too. >> i like her. >> she's a big crush of mine back in the day. >> she's a big crush of mine today. thank you so much, my co-host louis. earlier in the show we asked you for the strangest thing you've ever allegedly shoplifted. our producer has some of the best responses. we've got good ones on this. >> we got a lot of good ones. king size snickers bar. i'm not me when i'm hungry. >> that'll do it for you. >> and then coffee/doughnut from the lobby of the hotel i was staying at. >> that was probably meant to be. they put those things out for free, right? >> yeah. some good stuff. thanks, gang. coming up next on "way too early," a look at the stories you'll talk about the day ahead. and "morning joe" moments ahead. stick around. ♪ honestly, i'm pouring everything i have into this place. that's why i got a new windows 2 in 1.

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370 today. it's unlikely to contain any ground breaking news. thousands are marching through moscow's square. peace protests will be going on around the world today. nba owners having a meeting to discuss the next steps in removing donald sterling as owner of the los angeles clippers. tonight game six of their first round series. that's going to wrap it up. "morning joe" starts right now. ♪ we're learning more about the woman at the center of this scandal. a woman named v. stiviano. the media showed up at her apartment. look at this. she decided to do some roller skating there in the alley while everyone looked on.