gop bill to replace obamacare is paidly met with outright opposition from republicans. before a swanky identical tower dinner, president trump defended his son meeting with a russian lawyer. >> my son is a wonderf young man. he took a meet with a russian lawyer, not a government lawyer, but a russian lawyer. >> the president also grabbing headlines with comments made in france's first lady. a confession and apology from the man at the center of four murders. a bizarre death from a jet blast that a popular tourist spot. and a

scene involving thousands of pounds of oozing eels across a highway. "early today" starts right now. happy friday morning to you. at this hour, president trump will be taking part in the bastille celebrations in paris. he's the special guest of france's president commemorating one of its most symbolic days of the year. trufr's arrival comes after a night of dining at the identical tower and a day of taking in it the sights alongside melania trump and meeting one-on-one with mac ron broadcasting this image of a unified france and united states. certainly a far cry from the white knuckled grip we saw between both men less than two months ago. moscow isn't too far away. questionsen surrounding his son's controversial sit-down with a russian lawyer. questions about a meeting some are calling a smoking

defends. >> as far as my son is concerned, my son is a wonderful young man. he took a a meet iing, not a government lawyer, but a a russian lawyer. most people would have taken that meet iing. it's called opposition research or research into your opponent. i have had many people, i have only been in politics for two years, but i have people call up and say we have information on this factor or this person or frankly hillary, that's very standard in politics. sow row happened from the meeting and the press made a very thing that it really post people would do. >> we're joined by kelly kobe ya ya in paris. i imagine lot of pomp and circumstance, but how is the president being received with all of that? >> reporter: this visit is on the front pages of most

french papers this bastille day morning. take a look at some of these here. showing a a picture of the president and first lady arriving yesterday calling this macron's diplomatic gamble. you have the two couples having dinner at the identical tower. they are calling this a meeting between friends and the hashest of the three, from the left leaning, a pariah in paris, referring to president trump and the efforts with isolationism with the united states. but no mention in any of the french media really of this interesting moment that lit up social media yesterday. the president talking about the french first lady's figure. >>

called this sexist and some called it a diplomatic gaffe, but there's been no comments on this from the palace or the white house. today it's all about the pomp and circumstance, that parade now underway. the president with a front row seat, the best seat in the house. two hours plus of military might shown off by the french. >> kelly, in paste, thank you. later today president trump will head become to the united states and his golf course. it's not unusual, many. are angered by the weekend plans because they are hosting the u.s. women's open golf championship. the biggest event in women's golf. it's expected to draw protesters after they declined to move the event following anti-trump backlash. in washington the prest'

fire after reports he attended that controversial meeting with the russian lawyer. and members of congress are questioning why he still has not just his job but the high level security clearance that goes along with it. peter alexander has more. >> reporter: the president's daughter and son-in-law attend ing an elite business in idaho amid-swirling questions back in washington about jared kushner, the russian connection and the e-mails. >> jared kushner should be fired or resign. >> he was potentially compromised inside the white house. if he doesn't get fired, there's a double standard. >> reporter: kushner now under scrutiny for sitting in the meeting with the lawyer. a form he's amended three times. adding more than 100 foreign contacts, all of them previously undies closed. including the russian ambassador and head of a state-owned bank. >> that's something that no o

>> reporter: the form was prematurely submitted with errors. the president is the only person who can revoke his security clearance or fire him. >> he's the president's seau son-in-law. as long as he has the trust of the president, nothing can touch him. >> reporter: kushner is the one individual if the russia investigation who helped run the campaign, the transition and now works direct ly for the president. >> that was peter alexander reporting. a a manhunt is underway on b a vegas strip after two security guards were shot at the miracle mile shops inside planet hollywood. the suspects robbed the sun glass hut and one of them fired atd the guards. one guard was hit in the hand and the other in the neck. both were hospital lieszed in stable condition. the suspects got away and police consider them armed and dangerous. new developments in the case of four missing

the person of interest in the case now confessing to their murders. >> what do you have to say to these families? >> i'm sorry. >> that's 20-year-old cosmo dinardo, who apologized as he was lelt out of a courthouse moments after his lawyer announced the confession. >> he admitted to being part of or actually committing the murder. >> of all four? >> yes. >> and he gave the locations for all four. >> authorities found the body. s of one of the teens in a 12-foot grave thursday on the property owned by cosmo dinardo's parents. other remains have not yet been identified. the source with firsthand knowledge of the confession says he killed the four men after selling them marijuana. his attorney says the client will plead guilty in exchange prosecutors will drop the death penalty. a new zealand woman was killed at a popular destination spot on saint martin. the airport draws thrill seekers

jet blast as the aircraft take off. the woman died after she was sent barrelling back from the fence hitting a concrete wall. getting so close to the fence is extremely dangerous. but that it doesn't deter some tourists who recognize the risk. >> i have been do that airport at least a half a dozen times. holding on to the fence is a very dangerous thing to do because there are very high curves and cement right there had. it's a really hot gust of air. it kind of feels like a hurricane mixed with a blow-dryer. you can smell the fuel coming from the fuel. it's pretty intense. >> now to the department of justice that took an important step to combat the opioid epidemic. it just announce d a major crackdown on medical fraud. 412 people in 30 states charged with cheating the government. 120 of them accused of illegally distributing opioid painkillers. >> this week

medical professionals who were corrupt ed by greed. these people inflicted a special kind of damage. >> officials say 59,000 people died from drug overdoses last year. it's the leading cause of death for americans under 50 with opioids responsible for two-thirds of those deaths. now to the weather, where floding is the name of the game in many parts of the country. they were slammed with flash floods and heavy rain stranded drivers that had to be rescued.d and then there's illinois where saturated earth caused this sink hole along a major highway. let's turn to bonnie schneider who joins us with a look ahead. >> on this friday, we are looking a at a threat for severe weather pushing eastward across the mid-atlantic. washington and richmond facing that threat for severe weather. how about the heat. there are some big changes on the way. we're going to get

midwest. we'll feel more comfortable in milwaukee and chicago but still stormy and steamy. that's a look at the big weather story of the day. now here's a closer look at the day ahead. temperatures are still warm in columbus, ohio. look at the 90s in richmond. it's hot across the krrls and charlotte and wilmington and we'll see stormy conditions towards florida as well as louisiana. so as we have a a little bit of good news. temperatures will stay cool for the weekend. a little bit of a warm-up as we approach next week. >> we got it. thank you. also consider the internet broken because of this that happened overnight. beyonce and jay-z revealed the first image of their twins. she's in a flowing robe holding the twins with the caption, sir carter and rumi one

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fun during the occasion even snapping this pick hiding between 41 and 43. >> leading the news, airport security will be adding facial recognition to scanners. some international airports are testing new scanners that check a passenger's face against photos already on file from passports and other sources. it's meant to be a final security check to keep track of who is leaving the country. to protect photos, u.s. citizens must be deleted within two weeks. the scanner will be tested in four major cities before being rolled out nationwide. this may just be the stuff of nightmares. it's really unbelievable. see this truck? it was carrying about 7500 pounds of live slime eels. it overturned on an oregon highway blanketing the road right there with those creatures still alive. all that nasty foam that went along with it. these are called hag fish and that s

distressed making for a messy scene and clean up. the fish were being transported to korea where they are considered a a delicacy. i'm sure there's a a lot of boo. hooing in korea knowing this happened. for us, not so much. last chance, senate republicans reveal their health care bill with changes made. but already there's doubt over whether it has the votes to pass. , like what? ♪ you're gonna have dizziness, ♪ nausea, and sweaty eyelids. ♪ and in certain cases chronic flatulence. ♪ no. ♪ sooooo gassy girl. ♪ so gassy. if you're boyz ii men, you make anything sound good. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. it's what you do. next! ♪ next! so find a venus smooth that contours to curves, the smoother the skin, the more comfortable you are in it.

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rapper dmx is set to be arranged on suspicion of tax e evasion and other charges. he concealed millions from the irs. a lawyer says he plans to plead not guilty. organizers of the women's march on washington are planning a 17-mile trek to the justice department in washington, d.c. it protest the acquittal of the police officer involved in the shooting death of cast see ya. jeff sessions confirmation hearing is scheduled to be sentenced. he could face up to a year in prison. senate republicans face a crucial battle for votes in their own party after coming out with their next health care bill. this could be the next chance to get reform passed. caseyen hunt reports. >> reporter: senate republicans with no room for error hours after unveiling a new health care bill two senators said they won't vote for

>> it doesn't repeal obamacare. >> i have been very vocal about my concerns. >> reporter: mitch mcconnell has to convince every one of the 50 remaining republicans to vote yes or the bill fails. >> what's your bet on whether mitch mcconnell can pull this off? >> he's good. he's pulled more than one rabbit out of the hat. >> reporter: to try to win over moderates on the fence, it includes $45 billion to fight the opioid epidemic. $70 billion to stabilize. and keeps some of obamacare's taxes on wealthy americans. >> everybody is looking for an idea that is more republican and does not run into the concept you're taking money from poor people to give it to rich people. >> reporter: the new bill doesn't restore medicaid cuts and includes a proposal allowing people to buy cheap insurance without required obamacare benefits like maternity and mental health services. sglif alwaysed believe cob assumer freedom amendment is the

with hold outs trying to convince them they can't walk away because of americans like loretta thompson who owns a business outside seattle. insurance deductibles for her 19 employees have quadrupled under obamacare. >> there's got to be a better way to provide insurance for everybody, but to also level the playing field so small businesses aren't at a disadvantage. >> that was casey hunt reporting. still ahead, where to find the best freebies for a friday. plus royal treatment at a waffle house. ♪

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e-liter smartwater is two for four dollars or 2.39 each. dj, turn the music on. >> it's make iing it rain. floyd mayweather as he and conor mcgregor unleashed a new level of trash talking. >> reporter: on their press tour. they will trade the last insults in london ahead of their anticipated august 2th fight night. i can imagine there's going to be trash talking until then. how about some food freebies for friday? krispy kreme is secelebrating their 80th birthday giving exercises who buy a dozen donuts a a second dozen for 80

starbucks is having a free tea friday giving away their new ice tea from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and sunday is national ice cream day. and mcdonald's is giving away free vanilla cones. one guest will win free soft serve for life. if they rev this gold b arches cone. >> those are the best thing ever. if i get a meal, i get the ice cream first and gobble it down. speaking of meals and tips to go along with it, donny wallberg received the royal treatment at a waffle house and decided to return the favor. he went live on facebook saying he was giving tickets and backstage tickets to his show. he show ed a $2,000 tip he left on his $82 check. my mom waited tables. when i walk into waffle house, the staff treat mess like this, i treat them like queens. this is "early today." ean with a less intense taste. so it has the bad breath germ-killing power of this...

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. right now on "news4 today," weather alert again. hot temperatures already here at 4:26 a.m. hot high they'll climb in your friday forecast. plus, the president in paris. he's wrapping up his trip with celebratio celebrations. we'll show you what's been happening while you were sleeping. a protest expected to tie up traffic across the area. while thousands will be marching and the roads you want to avoid. that breaking news out of montgomery county this morning. hi everybody. i'm aaron gilchrist. i'm eun yang. we want to get to your forecast and first 4 traffic. but we have to begin with the breaking news where erika gonzalis

desk. >> montgomery county fire crews are on the scene of a house fire in damascus. at this point, we can tell you that the fire has spread very quickly. we've also been told that a police car is on fire. this is all happening on haney avenue near the end of that street. crews are battling the flames to get it out. justin finch is headed to the scene. we hope it have live pictures from chopper 4 shortly. when we do, we'll bring them to you from the live desk. back over to you. >> erika, thank you. and this morning, like we just mentioned, another weather alert day. not just for the heat but for strong to severe storms later on this afternoon. if you will be out and about, keep an eye to the sky. you can stay updated. look at these temperatures. starting out your morning 81 degrees. right now in washington, it's warm and muggy.

the radar for the area, mainly dry. but we are watching some storms. they'll be approaching frostburg soon. some of have the potential for small hail. there are indications there. they'll be staying north of the district. otherwise, here's a severe threat for today in yellow. that is a potential for strong to severe storms later on this afternoon. coming up, i'll show you the highest threat with this. what you can expect for your weekend. it is friday. hopefully the commute is not too bad. good morning melissa >> the work zone has been cleared out of the way. you don't have to worry about that one here. we had another one on the inner loop that you can ignore. northbound 95 express lanes at dale city. they're closed at dale city but open at prince william county that we're getting this morning. 270 northbound and southbound. no major issues. again, just on way to that fire in damascus on haney avenue. no

taking a look here, bottom of the beltway. through prince george's county. no problems here into town or out of town. back in a couple of minutes. thanks so much. president trump is also in paris this morning. >> wrapping up a visit there at the french national day parade. erika gonzalez at the live desk with things getting under way. >> president trump is attending the bastille day parade along with president macron today. you are looking at video from their visit there earlier. this is in paris where that parade is getting ready to begin down the dee lis a. >> it's one year since a deadly truck attack in nice. it was after a bastille day truck attack.

meeting. president trump suspended h-- erika, thank you. breaking news on president trump's travel ban. in hawaii, a judge loosened the rules on the ban. it expands the definition of close relatives, grandparents and other relatives of people in this country legally will now be allowed to visit. the supreme court is expected to take up the case later this year. coming up in a few minutes, tracie potts will break down the latest on the republican push for a new health care bill. you may want to find alternate routes today. >> the organizers behind january's women's marplan to march from fairfax county to d.c. today protesting the national rifle association. the protesters will gather at the nra headquarters at 9:00 this morning. they'll make their way to the justice department. that's 18 miles. one participant explains why she's marching. >> the purpose of the women's march frhe