racism is evil. and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the kkk, neo nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups. >> the president saying the word that so many had hoped he would have delivered two days earlier, as we learn more about the 20-year-old charged with murder. kim jong-un's military plans to attack guam, but what is his real strategy? with less than a week to go before the total eclipse in a century, xiexcitement and conces are arising. and the mooch hits late

night. "early today" starts right now. >> good tuesday morning. i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm phillip mena. this morning, the 20-year-old suspect in the car ramming attack in charlottesville that left one woman dead and 19 others injured, james alex fields, remains behind bars without bond. as new allegations of a troubling and at times violent past are revealed in police records. we will join nbc news' myra rodriguez who is live for us in charlottesville with the late breaking details. but first -- >> we're hearing from the family members of those injured and the grief stricken mother of the 32-year-old woman killed in the horrific attack, heather heyer. tom costello starts us off. >> reporter: arraigned in district court, james alex fields said he understood the charges against him, second degree murder and hit and run. police say fields used his car

to mow down a crowd on saturday, killing 32-year-old heather heyer. among the 19 people also injured, 20-year-old natalie romero, who suffered a fractured skull. her mother in texas. >> she's my hero. before this, she has always been my hero. >> reporter: heather heyer's family says they're heart broken. >> she was a strong, opinionated woman that was willing to stand up for what she believed in. >> i'm trying to honor my daughter the way i know she would want to be honored, with speaking up for what she believed in, and the way she believed in it without hate and anger, without fear. >> the nationalist community defended ourselves against thugs. >> reporter: outside the courthouse, two self-proclaimed white nationalists began screaming that the police, media and counter protesters were to blame for saturday's violence.

>> the nationalist community came to charlottesville to defend our heritage, to stand for what we believe. >> reporter: this photo of fields. mean while, police who lost two troopers in a helicopter crash saturday, responded to allegations they didn't do enough to keep the peace. >> absolutely i have regrets. we lost three lives this weekend. we certainly have regrets. it was a tragic, tragic weekend. >> reporter: when i asked the police chief whether one side was the instigator, he said this was an alt-right rally, and they had agreed in advance to enter the park from one side but came in from multiple sides and quickly everything deteriorated. alex fields, the 20-year-old charged with second degree murder, did not enter a plea. he's being held without bond. back to you. >> tom costello, thank you. >> for more, we go to myra

rodriguez in charlottesville. what else do we know about the attacker and how are things on the ground there? >> reporter: well, phillip, things are very quiet. no major incidents reported overnight. this comes one day after james alex fields appeared in court for the first time. we are learning more details about his troubled past. he had enlisted in the army a couple of years ago for basic training, but the army released him because he failed to meet training standards. there were no further details about that. we're learning more about some of his records as far as assaults on his mother. his mother has had to call police according to a report, several times. one time in 2011, she had to call police because he approached her while holding a 12-inch knife. he was arrested and put in juvenile detention. in 2010, his mother called police because he was beating her. his mother is disabled and in a wheelchair. now, he was in court, fields

told the judge he could not afford an attorney. however, the public defender's office said somebody in their office had been injured in saturday's protest, so they could not represent him. the judge had to hire a local attorney for him, and he is expected, fields that is, to be back in court on august 25th. phillip? >> myra rodriguez live for us, thank you. the community in charlottesville attends to recover after the weekend of violence, cities across the country saw their own share of unrest. protesters topped a confederate statue, proceeding to spit and stomp on it. hundreds marched through the streets of chishgs acago. perhaps the largest demonstration was here in new york. just blocks away at trump tower

as protesters rallied in front of the president's home that's what awaits him this morning as he wakes up. for the first time since taking office. >> he's facing mounting pressure today following his response to charlottesville. after three top ceos resigned from his advisory council, citing his handling of the charlottesville situation in their decision. for more now, we go to edward lawrence in washington. >> reporter: we're seeing a definite bubbling up of emotions due to the lack of condemnation of president donald trump initially. it took 45 hours, but the president direct corrected hims. >> we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides, on many sides. racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the kkk, neo nazis, white

supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as americans. >> reporter: many of the president's critics say that it took too long to hear those words. the specific criticism of the hate groups related or are responsible for the atmosphere that created that violence in charlottesville, virginia. because of the delay, three prominent ceos resigned from the president's manufacturing council. those ceos from intel, underarmor and merck. it was the merck ceo that gave critics some more ammunition against the president. hours after the merck ceo resigned, the president took to twitter. he had several tweets he put out criticizing that tweet, one saying he will have more time to lower rip-off drug prices. yet it took two days to specifically call out those hate groups. the president also going after the media after his revised comments saying on twitter that

the fake media will never be satisfied. the president's approval ratings at 34%. unclear if this all played a role in that. frances? >> thank you very much. north korea claims to be showing some restraint. the country's state media released these photos of kim jong-un reviewing his military plan to attack guam. he reportedly said he would not launch the attack, but rather watch the united states a bit longer. apparently maintaining his threat against the u.s. territory. and this morning, south korea's president gave a televised address, saying there can be no military action on the korean peninsula without his government's consent. and he also said his administration would block war by all means. nbc's bill neely has more on the tense situation. >> reporter: the chairman of the joint chiefs general joseph dunford has been here in seoul to reassure a very nervous ally,

south korea, anxious that it's being ignored by president trump, and being sidelined rather than being consulted. so joe receive dunford met with the defense minister and president and reassured them that diplomacy and economic pressure against north korea is taking center stage right now. >> that's what we're prepared for and what we're trying to have a diplomatic and economic pressurization campaign to preclude him from enhancing his capabilities. >> reporter: president moon of south korea has his own reinsurance. people here are very nervous. he called on the u.s. to stop any possible war, and that diplomacy should be at the forefront of everything. also saying that he's certain the u.s. will act calmly and responsibly. he also called on north korea once again to stop threatening and provoking, to stop worsening the situation. it wouldn't be a typical day if

north korea didn't make its own statement in state media. it's saying that any accidental event could lead to a nuclear war. and it said, don't take our warnings lightly. china, for its part today, began to tighten the screw on north korea. remember, china, north korea's main ally, main trading partner, china said from september the 5th it would begin to stop importing imports of coal, iron ore, and fish. that in line with u.n. sanctions will undoubtedly put pressure on the north korean economy. that is what joseph dunford, who was here today, would like. and he goes from here on to beijing. back to you. >> bill neely, thank you. girt is now a full-blown hurricane. let's bring in bill karins. >> only a couple hundred miles off the east coast, getting stronger by the minute.

this will miss bermuda and the outer banks. so 450 miles south-southwest of bermuda. it is expected to get a little stronger, then it makes that move to the northeast out in the open atlantic. here's the forecast for the wind path. all the blue, the low chance of a tropical storm force history is at west point as a new student takes command of the cadet corps.

she's the first black female to be named captain. she will oversee 4400 students serving as the liaison. she says she's humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead the corps. just ahead, taylor swift receives justice in denver. plus, a late night showdown between the mooch and steven colbert. details are next. you're watching "early today." they say glory awaits at the finish but what about the start? that moment you suck up all that doubt that fear all those reasons why not and decide to begin. get your game on with under armour. now at kohl's.

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longer than a carton of milk. >> former white house communications director anthony scaramucci opening up about his short stint with president trump. >> it was entertaining. he did acknowledge there was infighting in the white house and he would have gotten rid of steve bannon, but we kind of already knew that. >> what's interesting is you're going to see where he shows up next. >> he's here to stay. leading the news, espn reports that tiger woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested for driving under the influence back in may according to espn. >> woods tested positive for these drugs. woods was breath-a-lyzed whtwic at the scene. last week, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and agreed to enter a diversion program. if he completes it, his criminal record will be wiped clean.

the verdict is in, in the taylor swift groping lawsuit, with a former radio deejay found responsible for grabbing her backside during a photo-op in 2013. mueller denied the allegations and sued the singer for $3 million. but swift countersued for sexual assault, asking $1 in damages. her attorney called the verdict immeasurable to others. >> it gives courage to women and all people to have the courage to draw lines, and to know where those lines are. the lines of mutual respect between people. >> swift says she plans on making donations to help other victims of sexual assault fight their claims in court. the solar eclipse is just six days away, but it's not what is happening in the sky that has authorities concerned. details next.

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it's not just the event of the summer, it may also be the event of the century. >> anticipation is growing as americans get ready to witness the first coast-to-coast total eclipse in 99 years. >> nbc's kerry sanders reports. >> reporter: the countdown is underway, less than a week to go. and in towns like hawkinsville,

kentucky, and mattress, oregon, a flood of spectators getting ready to see what happens when the moon blocks the sun. a ribbon of darkness will descend across the united states from northwestern, oregon, to charleston, south carolina. the shadow will race across the country at an average of 1700 miles per hour, two times faster than a super sonic jet. it will be a celestial show, but the total ellipse will last at most, 2 minutes, 38 seconds. >> the biggest thing is safety first. we never look at the sun with an unprotected eye. >> reporter: she says protective glasses are a must. nasa says just because something is labeled as solar viewing glasses online does not mean they're what you need. no matter where you are in the

continental united states, you'll get a glimpse. here in miami, it will be 80%. the glasses are a must, with a symbol inside iso. but because that can even be faked. when you look up, you shouldn't be able to see anything until the moon moves in front of the sun during the most watched eclipse ever. >> i'm absolutely giddy about the event and actually seeing something with my own eyes. >> reporter: miss it now, your next chance will be 2024. kerry kansanders, nbc news, mia. >> traffic, the 14 states that are going to be right in the middle there for that 2:28. they've been preparing, they're eliminating construction and the big trucks from being on the middle of the road. >> and people are driving, too, getting distracted, all the selfies. >> eclipse selfies, here we are.

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now dozens of people are forced out of o their homes. >> synagogue b vandalism a man is caught urinating on a jewish facility. and dispensary debate. a fight over the medical marijuana business. how you can vo your voice heard. good morning, this is nbc 10 news today. i'm tracy davidson. >> and we're tracking showers. let's get to bill henley. >> i'll include you in that we this morning. we all need to keep an eye on the sky. there's a chance we'll see

showers and thunderstorms. lots of clouds and sprinkles through delaware county and lower montgomery county. no heavy downpours, but there's more activity to the southwest that's coming a at us during the day. we're in for on and off showers and a chance of some thunderstorms. this morning the temperatures are starting in the 60s and low 70s. a limit warmer than yesterday. 71 in new jersey. 60s right now in the suburbs in the lehigh valley. 73 degrees in delaware. i'll break the day down to show you when showers and possibly some storms may pop up in your area. first, jessica boyington has your first alert traffic. >> we're watching construction in several areas. here's cameras at 422 and trooper road. you look at this project going on here. actually allowing one lane. cars are squeezing through to get by. typically these clear around the 5:00 hour. we shouldn't see any backups or huge delays.

the expressway, we are closed here for that construction project in between broad street and the expressway for at least another hour or so. and we're watching a crash in upper marion. rightaround east delaware kak pike. blaeking overnight, 50 people are forced out of their homes in an apartment complex. three people are hurt as crews rush to get the fire under control. matt delucia joins us live from the scene. it's early. >> reporter: they have the fire marshal here at the scene starting that investigation. this is the building behind me. sue yao see the fire trucks still there in the parking lot. we have seen some firefighters in and out of that building there. and much of that damage you might be able to see is over here on the left to the center side of this building. we're the at the corner near northeast phill