it's thursday, may 12th p.m. coming up on "early today," capitol hill showdown for the leaders of the republican party and donald trump who says he likely will not release his tax returns before election day. then three years later, police say this massive explosion that killed 15 and injured 200 was no accident. new details ahead. one step closer to human traveling and something similar to a pneumatic tube at the speed of sound. also one step closer to civil unions in italy. an elephant with a bad tooth. a pitching gem with payback. "early today" starts right now. good morning, everybody. thanks for joining us today. i'm betty nguyen. a crucial face-to-face. house speaker paul ryan

have their highly anticipated meeting with donald trump today. after announcing the endorsement of house chairman on the eve of today's sit-down trump brushed off his gop critics altogether saying, quote, if we make a deal, that will be great. wi if we don't, we will be winning all the time. jackson asked speaker ryan yesterday if there was a situation he would not endorse trump. >> this is a big tent party. there is plenty of room for different policy disputes in this party. we come from different wings of the party. the goal here is to unify the various wings of the party around common principles so we can go forward unified. >> trump has softened his stance on a host of issues in the past 24 hours, calling his muslim ban, quote, just a suggestion. planning fund-raisers instead of self-funding and reversing course on his own tax returns and says he will not release them if an irs audit is not finished by november.

here is an exchange he had with fox on the issue. >> you said that you don't intend to release your tax returns and -- >> no, i didn't say that. i said i'm being audited. >> what about the returns not audit audited? how far back are you audited? >> i don't know. i'll have to ask. long enough that it would matter. the answer is hopefully before the election i'll release them. >> former massachusetts governor and 2012 presidential nominee mitt romney came out with a strongly worded facebook post against trump saying it is disqualifying for a modern day presidential nominee to not release tax returns to a voter. there is only one logical explanation for mr. trump's refusal to release his returns. there is a bombshell in them. as for the irs, it says there is nothing preventing individuals from sharing their own taxes. now to the democratic

the sander staff stumbled before the california's primary. the sander camp has since replaced that aide but not before widespread speculation the campaign may be in free-fall. >> if we do really well and, again, i know it's an uphill fight, but we have been fighting an uphill fight from the day i got into this campaign. but if we did do really, really well like in west virginia last night, we have a chance to go into the convention with more pledged in other words, real delegates, delegates voted by the people than hillary clinton. >> as for hillary clinton, fbi director james comey now feels pressured to complete the federal investigation into her private e-mail server, quote, competently and quickly. he said the pressure is similar to other high profile cases and told a round table of reporters, quote, we want to do it well and we want to do it promptly. i feel pressure to do both of these things. he indicated the upcoming

impacting the speed of the investigation saying i don't tether to any external deadline. three years after a catastrophic explosion at a fertilizer plant in north texas and levelled homes and businesses there is stunning news it was a criminal act caused by a fire that was intentionally set officials have concluded. now investigators are trying to figure out who did it. janet shamlian has more. >> reporter: this video shows the moment of the explosion. >> are you okay? >> i can't hear! >> reporter: in the small town of west texas, a massive blast at the city's fertilizer plant. 15 people were killed, including a dozen first responders. 200 were hurt. hundreds of buildings ripped apart, including

nursing home. more than three years later, officials now say the fire ahead of that blast was intentionally set, a preventible criminal act. >> we came to the conclusion, after we rule out all reasonable accidental and natural causes. >> reporter: one of the largest investigation in atf history. three years and 400 injures and cost more than $2 million. and it's ongoing. a 50,000 dollar reward authorities hope will lead to an arrest. initial findings by the u.s. chemical safety board failed the company for failing to prevent a fire and groups for not preventing a hazard. the town was almost unrecognizable. piles of rubble and a crater 12 feet deep and it was no accident, heartbreak for those trying to rebuild their lives. janet shamlian, nbc news, houston. picture a passenger traveling at a pneumatic tube at nearly the speed of sound.

tested their system. the test in a sled down 200 rail track using magnetic levitation went down a track using speed stunning in 1.1 second. the goal is get to 750 miles per hour at the top speed. the company's founder says the test shows the technology already in use by high-speed killed 93 people in baghdad oo wednesday. isis claimed responsibility for all three tacks attacks. this marks the deadliest day for the iraqi capital this year. the largest attack came in a crowded outdoor market where 63 people

multiple brides to be who appeared to be getting ready for their weddings. iraq's interior ministry blamed the attacks on, quote, political bickering and comes a month after reporters of a shiite cleric occupied iraq's parliamently building. fbi chief james comey says fewer americans are joining isis and that the power of the extremist group's brand has diminished in the u.s. a new twist in the case involving that deadly attack on a planned parenthood facility in colorado that killed three and injured nine. the killer may never face trial. robert dear has had several outbursts in a courtroom referring to himself as a warrior to the babies and declaring that he was guilty. a judge has ruled that dear is not mentally competent enough to stand trial. in court documents, attorneys reveal that psychiatric evaluation for dear showed he was incompetent and delusional. charged with 179 counts, dear will now the be sent to a mental institution for treatment and the case will b p

reviewed again in august. massachusetts state police are investigating an officer involved beating caught on camera. it happened after a high-speed chase that started in massachusetts and ended in new hampshire. the pickup truck stops after blowing two tires. the driver gets out, drops to his hand and knees. that is when officers began punching him. state police say the 50-year-old man was wanted on assault and larceny charges. they will now try to determine whether the level of force used during the arrest was appropriate. switching gears now to the weather. hail and strong winds are the big weather threat of the day as another round of severe thunderstorms is pounding parts of the midwest and south. last night, hail and heavy rain fell in marion, illinois, flooding roadways. this was the ominous scene in troy, missouri, lightning and severe weather struck for a fifth straight day. a strong thunderstorm in st. louis knocked down trees and wrecked homes and cars. this video streamed by the st. louis

scope as they expected debris. . nebraska a front loader was needed to clear a path for vehicles on this street. look at all of that! >> the kid want to play in that too. >> hail, though? >> why not? >> i don't know. that could get rough. it's not like snowballs. those will hurt! >> icy snowballs, right? today, we are seeing more of the same. pictures of tornadoes yesterday. i don't expect hardly any during the day today. we will watch storms with large hail and damaging wind. we have some of those near ft. smith and mcallister and dallas had some last night and dancing around abilene this morning and near tulsa. wet weather out there. this front is slowly marching to the east during the day today. areas from indiana indianapolis to cincinnati and detroit and columbus and louisville and nashville and memphis and northern portions of mississippi and alabama and could see scattered strong storms and not everybody will get hit and hit

areas of the carolinas from charlotte north wards to roanoke and richmond is where we could see isolated storms today. we will have to see if the streak continues for washington, d.c. now at 15 days in a row, with at least some wet weather, very gloomy beginning to may. today 74 with breaks of sun and maybe showers late in the day and southeast is good and everyone out west, toasty! that is your national weather. here is a closer look at your day ahead. florida looks dry today but the showers and storms that are in areas of arkansas and missouri will be heading into the kentucky and also tennessee today. all through ohio you have a good chance of see ago shower or a storm. new england looking perfect. some very nice weather out there. this front will be on the doorstep for the east coast come friday. >> headed this way. thank you, bill. the government redefining food. what is really healthy and what is not. plus, italy is the last to do it. we have those details next. we have those details next. ♪

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welcome back, everybody. it's official, the so-called affluenza teen is supposed to spend two years behind bars. a texas judge upheld an order on ethan couch in april. he is sentenced in 180 days to jail for the people he killed in a drunk driving accident. ever since he was deported from mexico, he had fled there with his mother but later captured by mexican authorities. cheers erupted across rome yesterday after italy's parliament proofed a bill to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples. it grants some of the couples same rights given to married couples, including the ability to share the same last nate and inheritance rights but falls short of authorizing gay marriage. an asian elephant in england was recently cured after mammoth toothache. a dentist and team of vets placed the

removed one of its giant molars. look at that thing! 33 yered 33-year-old is eating well now. now to the business of eating. the fda is redefining what healthy eating is really all about. tom costello reports. >> reporter: how is it possible a sugary cereal could be considered healthy but not almonds and avocado and salmon is in the science of healthy eating was changed since the government rewrote the guidelines and healthy foods had to meet criteria on fat, saturated fat and sodium and cholesterol and nutrients and now they are redefining what healthy means. some fats they say are good for you and transfats are now bad. despite what the old guidelines say, we now know that almond, salmon and avocados are healthy but the glass of orange

thought was healthy could be loaded with sugar and turkey deli sandwich likely coming with lots of assault and muffins, lots of sugar. for years, the fda has been under pressure to define what a natural food is but, in fact, there is no standard. now defining what is natural and what is healthy is getting a 21st century makeover. tom costello, nbc news, washington. just ahead, vice president joe biden meets up with prince harry. a 20 strikeout beauty against his former team. ouch. sports is next. ♪ one day a rider made a decision. the decision to ride on and save money. he decided to save money by switching his motorcycle insurance to geico. there's no shame in saving money. ride on, ride proud.

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this morning, on "today," the ads seen on tv series continues as jeff rossen puts automobile products to test. are these gadgets the answer to your road trip woes or a headache on the highway? find out only on "today." max scherzer struck out 20 batters. threw 96 strikes and 23 balls on the least amount of pitches and balls in a 20 strikeout game. after the game, which the nats won 3-2, scherzer said, quote,

out 20 is sexy. i guess he likes the word sexy. to the nba. steph curry was award his mvp award before the game. in the fourth under 30 second to go and up two who do you think would get the ball? >> curry, behind the back. three-pointer is up. oh, stephen curry! >> ridiculous! later, nba great shaquille o'neal called curry the greatest shooter ever as the warriors eliminate the trailblazers. joe biden attended the invictus games yesterday and tim payne won a gold, silver and bronze medal. he lost both legs in battle and was cheered on by the man who saved his life, retired sergeant mike merritt. elizabeth marks won four gold medals on the day. here she accep

from prince harry. in a touching tribute she asked him to keep the medal as a sign of her appreciation for his work and creating the games. a beautiful gesture. just ahead, how lucas film is making it easier for you to keep up with "star wars" news. plus, anna kendrick and justin timberblake with a musical performance and tearing up the internet. up the internet.

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security, the cannes film festival kicked off wednesday in glittery fashion. hollywood stars graced the red carpet as the showcase opened and shared the spotlight with colorful characters like the angry birds and trolls. attendees were treated to trolls stars justin timberlake and anna kendrick. ♪ i see your true color true color i see your true color that's why i love you ♪ >> our sister network e reports prince's ex-wife held a memorial for him. director spike lee instagramed this picture saying the following. new "star wars" movies roll out, lucas films has

youtube show all about the space saga. weekly episodes will keep fans in the loop on "star wars" feature and will feature interviews on the interstellar epic from cross pop culture. jimmy fallon on "the tonight show" was a little confused about donald trump's wall proposal. >> sources claim the drug lord el chapo will be extradited from mexico to brooklyn next month. which raises the question if with we bring him here, who are we trying to keep out with the giant wall? el chapo? >> i'm betty nguyen. this is "early today." oday." i will change you. change your goals to get you home earlier every day.

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now at 4:26. developing news in the search for malaysian flight 370. the debris just found. tearful good-bye to the man some called tantank, others a h. tre friend and family pay their final set backs. and the latest order for med troh fr metro from the feds and how it could soon make it harder for you to get around. good morning. want to check our forecast once again. chuck bell, are we getting more rain? well, you know,

answer that question? it's not raining this very instant, but there will be chances for more rain of course coming back in later this afternoon. more likely into the evening and overnight hours. skies will brighten for a time today. but we're facing more chances for thunderstorms tomorrow and perhaps into saturday, as well. first thing you need to know though visibilities are down a mile or two across metro because of thick fog. current temperatures are in the mid upper to fifth right now. storm team 4 radar shows no rain inside the beltway just yet. just a couple of lingering sprinkles down towards fredericksburg and the northern neck. they're moving away from the metro area. rain chances come back probably after sundown tonight. central avenue at largo, report of a crash with all lanes blocked. this is eastbound central avenue right after 202

95 north at 17/falmouth, only the right lane is getting by the work zone. so you can see the delays. allow a little bit of extra time if you're coming through that area. 95 north through that section right now going about 17 miles per hour. inner loop after new hampshire, two right lanes blocked there. and take a look at 395. authori authority after duke and seminary, some lanes blocked. he died a hero in the maryland shopping center shootings. today the family of malcolm winffel will lay him to rest. the funeral will be at lima catholic church. they revved edreferred to him because of his size and strength. police say winffel died trying to prevent eulalio tordil carjacking a woman at the mall. >> he always helped everyone.

happ happy to see how much people love him. >> the 45-year-old leaves behind a wife and two children in high school. the victims rights foundation is helping the family. it's the same organization that helped families in the d.c. sunshine e sniper shootings. two more pieces of debris, the malaysian government says it is almost certain they belong to flight mh 370. and that would bring the total number of suspected pieces found to fire. all of which have baeen found around the indian oergcean. the aircraft had mysteriously disappeared and these pieces are the only signs of it so far. it is now 4:29. two teens missing. fairfax county detectives want your help to find them. take a look at your screen. 13-year-old lema on the left is

and 14-year-old rudy torzano is on the right, they're from the fairfax county area and were last seen tuesday night. police say the teens may have run off and it is possible they took a cab to jessup, maryland. and d.c. police say belachew was last seen at the ymca. he is 86. and here is the photo of him. he has gray hair, wears glasses. if you see him, call d.c. police. decision 2016 now. and donald trump's ability on unite the republicans could rest on meetings this morning on capitol hill. the presumptive presidential nominee will sit down with paul ryan and republican national committee chair reince priebus. ryan and priebus are on opposing sides whether to support trump right now. trump meets with congressional republicans later today. edward lawrence reports live on what to expect ahead at 4:45.