some extreme weather warning with tropical storm cindy could bring life threatening flash flooding. gop beats the democrats in georgia's high priced special election. why is the republican health care plan are so secret even some senators writing it doesn't know what's in it. >> uber's ceo is forced to resign. "early today" starts right now. good wednesday morning to you. i'm francis rivera. extreme weather with life threatening implications. bill karins has details for us this morning. good morning. cindy strengthened a little bit

winds. rain coming on shore that will create flash flood situation as we go throughout the next 24 hours. high-risk of flash flooding. mobile of greatest concern. tomorrow the actual land fall will be tomorrow morning for houston. slight risk of significant flash flooding. rainfall totals will be highest with bands training over this area. landfall from houston to lake charles could cause some flash flooding issues. by the time we get friday watch out in tennessee and kentucky. rain will cause all tissues as we watch our tropical storm approaching the coast in the next 24 hours. also breaking overnight democrats get shut out as republicans avoid a major upset in georgia's 6th congressional district. handle beat the newcomern

referendum on president trump. tonight i stand before you extraordinarily humbled and honored at the high responsibility that you and the people across the 6 donald trump district have given me to represent you in the united states house of representatives. conceding last night, ossoff should democrats how to win in 2018. >> you picked this campaign up and picked me up and picked alicia up and carried us on your shoulders and we showed the world that in places where no one thought it was even possible to fight we could fight. now this morning democrats have lost each and every chance to claim a special election seat. also lowe'sing in republican raffle norman defeating his democratic opponent by three percentage points a fact

tweeted overnight quote, the special elections are over and those that want to make america great again are 5-0. back in washington special counsel robert mueller will be heading to capitol hill for a second straight day meeting with top judiciary committee senators as he oversees the ever growing russian investigation. last night he sat down with tleerds of t the leerts environment tell committee. today jeh johnson finds himself in the hot seat testifying on the russia probe for the first time. james comey before him johnson has already released excerpts of his news making testimony and it's clear he's not mincing words. he said in 2016 the russian government organized cyber attacks on our nation. cyber attacks are going get worse before they get better. jo

hours after this puzzling moment at the white house when press secretary sean spicer could not give an answer on the president's take on russian's election meddling. >> does president trump believe that the russian government interfered in the 2016 elections? >> i think i have not sat down and talked with him about that specifically. obviously we're dealing with a lot of other issues. >> the house is busy with johnson's testimony the senate will be in a frenzy. republican leaders are expected to unveil their obamacare repeal and replace bill. it's a piece of legislation being crafted so secretly even some republicans have no idea what's in it. used to complain like hell when the democrats with the affordable care act. >> not just republicans like mccain are at a lost, listen

he's one of the 13 republicans selected to help craft the bill. >> i haven't seen the bill and it has become increasingly apparent in the last two days even though we thought we would be in charge of writing a bill within this working group it's not written by us, it's being written by a small handful of staffers for members of the republican leadership in senate. so if you're frustrated by the lack of transparency in this process, i share your frustration. >> so what exactly did gop senators expect to see today and what are the chances it will get passed within the ten day deadline? tracie potts joins us live from washington with more on that. >> reporter: republican leader mitch mcconnell say this will be a different approach, key questions are how much is this bill going cost because unlike the house the senate has to get that congressional budget number before they vote. they want to know what will happen to americans premiums, will they go up? a

lots of states expanded that insurance for for. lawmakers want to scale it back but how quickly will states be able to pick up the tab. that's a key question as they get this first look at the details of the bill. will it pass? it's going to be a slim margin. republicans can only afford to lose two votes and there are already some republicans who are skeptical number one because they haven't seen the details, number two a lot of people are on medicaid and because some object to giving to planned parenthood. the devils are in the details. officials say security remains high at brussels rail facilities this morning after a man blew up a small explosive device in the city's central station. the man was shot by soldiers and

later died. it was the third attack in a european city in as many days. belgium has been on high alert. now the outrage over the deft an american college student released from north korea in a coma. the coroner's office in ohio now says no autopsy will be conducted on the body of otto -- otto warmbier at the family's request. nbc chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell has more. >> reporter: growing outrage over the death of american student otto warmbier just days after he was carried off that plane from north korea in a coma. president trump denouncing north korea. >> what happened to otto is a disaccuracy. >> reporter: john mccain calling it murder. >> what would you

as? >> reporter: otto warmbier's family blasting north korea's tortious treatment. how will the u.s. respond? one option travel ban. the company that took otto warmbier was still taking groups 11 tase ago. now telling nbc news it will no longer take u.s. citizens there. another option tougher sanctions. while the president is blaming his predecessor. >> frankly, if he were brought home sooner i think the result would have been a lot different. he should have been brought home that same day. the result would have been different. >> reporter: his press secretary asked to explain. >> the president believes had it happened sooner and quicker there would have been additional medical resources that could have been provided. >> to suggest others didn't do what they did is route rageous. >> reporter: there's just sadness. sadness over the loss

a promising high school graduate. >> as a group we're stronger than anything right now. we've made it through the good times and the bad. a confrontation in the sky between u.s. and russia with tensions escalating. u.s. officials say a russian fighter jet intercepted an american spy plane over international waters. as nbc pentecost correspondent explains the aircraft came within just five feet of each other. >> reporter: the dramatic incident happening between a u.s. spy plane and an armed russian jet over the baltic sea. the russian fighter jet approaching at high-speed tracking along the american reconnaissance right-wing at close distance and passing under it. at one point coming within five feet of the american aircraft. these kind of moves known as intercepts can be uncommon but

two weeks weighing the russians intercepted this b-52 training over the baltic and they buzzed american destroyers in the black sea. >> sounds to me like a hot doggone russian pilot. this doesn't make any sense. it's dangerous maneuvers. >> reporter: the latest intercept coming on the same day that russian's defense ministry warned that any would be considered targets if they flew west of the euprates river. there was a drone heading towards a u.s. special training base. within minutes and without warning the russians -- the american pilot shot it down. now back to our weather with dangerous heat across many parts of the country in phoenix paramedics were called to save overheated residents where the temperature in the shade reached 120 dries.

flights were cancelled. sidewalks and roads buckled under the extreme heat. consumers asked to conserve power with little relief in sight. bill karins is back with us. we're watching the extreme heat out west and then tropical storm cindy. >> 127 yesterday in death valley. we did set our all-time record high and tied it in las vegas at 117. phoenix was short of that. do it again today. yesterday was the peak. we still have 40 million people impacted. the heat continues to build over the desert southwest. hottest temperatures in the same spots. palm springs 120. phoenix 118. here's a closer look at your day ahead. as far as the southeast goes and also florida we'll have to watch out where weekend those training bands from phoenix toby locks injuries pensacola and mobile, extreme heat continues in

we'll let you know where that moisture is going to head from cindy. now this reminder from the animal kingdom. keep an eye on your kids when they are in the pool. a zoo in south korea, this baby elephant falling right there in the deep end. watch the adult elephant. they came to the rescue. two jumping in and successfully pulling the scary calf from the water. got to watch those little ones. new details on when o.j. simpson may be released from prison and breaking news overnight for anyone who uses uber. >> what are the top travel destinations around the world? we got that list for you coming up.

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reproclamation deputy premier and interior minister. no reason was given for the abrupt change. the prince was just in the united states meeting with president trump in march. he's set to be devoted to building saudi arabia's economy beyond it's oil rich industry. parents of michael brown have reached a settlement with ferguson, missouri for an undisclosed amount. brown's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the police chief after their son was shot by police officer darren wilson during a confrontsation in 2014. a grand jury declined to indict wilson and he later resigned from the force. when o.j. simp could be granted release from prison. a parole hearing is set for july 20th. he was acquitted of a double murder in the trial of the

century. if parole is approved he could be freed in fall. just ahead, the founder of uber forced to resign under massive pressure. breaking details next. [sound of wrench] [intricate guitar riff] [engine starts] [guitar continues] nit's softer than ever.

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we got breaking business news. major shakeup for

>> reporter: good morning. so we're operating somewhat on a bit of hearsay with regards to what led up to the official resignation but we have confirmation from the company which came out lay it on tuesday that travis kalanick resign. five of the major shareholders wrote a letter demanding he step down immediately. now this comes in the wake after bill time for the company which was found in 2009 and now set to be valued around $70 billion. company has come one significant firing for toxic culture and significant discrimination, rumors aboundsing. travis kalanick has had a difficult time recently given the death of his mother and he's on a leave of absence. turning to what's happening in the market, it's a sea of european equities taking the lead from asia. oil prices down around two-thirds of a percent in today's

back to you. thank you very much. still to come on "early today" daniel dave lewis is calling it quits on acting. plus the investigation in this awkward hug and how ivanka trump and senator rubio are responding to it next over those trending stories.

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rome, italy came out on top followed by sidney australia and port jobs portugal. >> have you been to any of those three? >> no. if you're looking to stay in the country, the best u.s. destinations are new york city, philadelphia, honolulu, oahu. if you can't make it -- >> more patriotic. >> if you can't travel at all, fake it. survey finds 56% of millennials post fake travel photos on travel media to make their trip seem more extravagant. bow wow posted a picture of these jets and somebody else posted a picture of him on a plane, commercial plane saying bow wow is flying private. >> i never thought about

that. >> ivanka trump and marco rubio's meet up on capitol hill some people thought it got weird. it started with this photo, twitter is calling an awkward hug. rubio respond, investigation into the matter, even sharing his own unclassified photographing evidence. concluding that covfefe of alleged hug is false. something about hugs there's good hugs and bad hugs. >> it's weird because somebody can come in like this with a shake hand and you don't know what to do. >> also if you're shorter. >> daniel day-lewis calling it quits on his acting career. the 60-year-old performer is the only person to win three academy awards. i'm hoping he comes back. this is "early today". that might help.

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molette green. the call to action hours before friends and family prepare to say good-bye. dangerous heat wave continues to the west coast. its impact can be felt in our area. why certain travelers need to check flights. a mural mystery no more. a first look at the finished painting. check that out for ourselves, chris. first, take a live look outside where summer is under way. the summer solstice officially took place about four hours ago at

>> look forward to a lot of sunshine. >> immune e am eun yang. >> i am chris lawrence. look who is back from a trip to south korea. >> wonderful experience to go to a country as important to me, i have the roots and connection. can't wait to show the stories. >> you used the word exhausting. >> it was a lot of work, let me tell you, go nonstop. my trusty photojournalist photographer worked his butt off to bring back wonderful stories we hope to share now until the winter games in february. look forward to sharing. it is the first day of summer. >> let's see what's in store with sheena. >> welcome back. >> thank you so much. loved your pictures on social media. they were az

of summer. summer technically started 12:24 this morning if counting. this is the longest day of the year. almost 15 hours of daylight. if you think that's a lot. northern alaska doesn't get any. sun is still down, hasn't risen. 72 degrees in the district, 65 in men as is. big picture shows a storm spinning in the gulf of mexico. let's check the roads. good morning, melissa. >> good morning. ramp to connecticut avenue, had a crash on the right side of the road. don't have to worry about that. before dallas toll road, two right lanes getting by.

and westbound to 66 after glebe, left lane getting by. we'll look at 270. welcome back. >> thanks so much. it is 4:29. today as people across the country call for justice for a teen killed in our area, her family gathered for a traditional muslim prayer service for nabra hassanen. it will take place in sterling. her violent murder stirring strong response from those who knew her and those that did not. look at messages of solidarity posted and using #justice for nabra. vigils have been happening in cities across the country from los angeles to orlando to boston. more are expected

this vigil was held last night at dupont circle. not all people who gathered are convinced this was not a hate crime. right now, fairfax county police call it a case of road rage. investigators say the suspect argued with the person nabra was walking with near her mask. the i ma'am helped her father express himself last night. >> he is saying he wants to have the community to express love always to one another, regardless of religion, ethnicity or race. >> online petition gaining steam since her death. calling or authorities to investigate the death as a hate crime. that petition has already gained more than 11,000 signatures. later today, we are expecting to find out what the united states will do about otto warmbier's death. he was visiting north korea when he was arrested and detained for a year and a