the thing i tell people. remember, he is my brother and > kendrick was definitely one of the people who should have survived. he out of everybody there, he was really the best of us. >> new details on the colorado shooting as students gather together to honor the brave students who stopped the attack. heroes among us. three people and the dog are cky to be alive after first responders were able to rescue them from fast-mov floodwaters in texass severe storms are headed east. resident trump rallieshe faithful in florida withpr omises of a half billion in aid as son don junior is facing serious subpoenas from the senate. lunch-shaming kids. a school district with thousands of students under fire for a program to separate kids who

haven't paid their lunch tabs. plus the perennial sports illustrated swimsuit issue. s threearate covers but a whole lot of stories in between. our stories on "early today" stt right now. great being with you. i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm phillip mena. mill ans ofricans are recovering after several rounds of severe weather. some of the hardest hit areas are in texas. the austin police department s releasing thi dramatic helmet video that shows officers helping three people and their dog to safety after their car was caught in fast-moving floodwaters. unfortunately elsewhere in austin, one death was reported when a man was swe away in those dangerous conditions. >> let's check in now with nbc meteorologist bill karins. good morning. >> good morning. flash flooding is theoncern right now. life-threatening flash flooding going on in the shreveport area. numerous rounds of thunderstorms in the last couple days and torrential rain over that northwestern corner of louisiana and southern portions of kansas. the maroon colors show you where

we have flash flood warnings under way. 4 million people at risk. this number will expand because the heavy rain over the next two to three days is going to get really heavy, especially areas around houston all through southern louisiana and southern portions of mississippi. we could see isolated totals, another five to seven inches. these are in areas that have been soaked overpl the last cou days. we expect more pictures like we just showed you with dramatic rescues. as f asevere weather, not many tornadoes. only four yesterday. houston all the way backp u louisville kentucky. waves of grief are washing over the denver area this morning as the two suspects of carrying out a mass shooting made their first court appearance. formal charges for defben erickson are expected on friday. meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered to honor 18-year-old kendrick castillo. it was his bravery and selflessness that saved the lives of countless others.c' nb dan scheneman has more. ♪

>> reporter: highlands ranch gathered one day after a school shooting left one studentdead, eight wounded. the vigil a mix of sadness and frustration. >> one day when thousands ofs livere changed, but one day when the rest of the world hears >> another sad but expected event. eporter: just a few hours earlier, 18-year-old suspect devon erickson appeared in court. authorities say he and a younger student began i shootingide the charter school. while there is no word on a motive, classmates remember erickson making threats. >> he would whisper in my ear whl the pen hits the floor, i'm going to start shooting. then he's drop pencils randomly throughout the class. >> reporter: survivors n praising heroes like kendrick castillo who died fighting back. >> kendrick is an incredibly close friend of mine. >> reporter: brendan bialy charged the shooter with castillo and another student. >> kendrick was there. he was a footway from the shooter and instead of running the opposite direction, he ran towards it. >> kendrick's father says you

couldn't find a nicer kid. >> kendrick was a selfless individual, and he cared about people, you know. t'd that's -- tha how he lived his life. >> reporter: mourning a life lost while remembering lives saved. dan scheneman, nbc news. president trump is back at the white house this morning after viting orida. he toured areas damaged by hurricane michael before speaking at a campaign event. then he travele t back d.c. with senators rick scott and marco rubio, saying in a tweet that they discussed the crisis in venezuela. meanwhile back at the capitol, the fallout over theve mueller inigation is now impacting the president's son.ie tracotts joins us from d.c. this latest devopment is somewhat of a surprise. >> rg,orter: it's interestin frances, because this time the subpoena is notm coming fro democrats. it's comingrom a committee controlled by republicans. the senate judiciary committee, according to a source, has subpoenaed donald trump jr.ac rding to our source, they wa to talk to him about that trump tower meeting with a russian lawyer back in 2016 and

what the president may have known about that they als want to talk to him about how much he knew about the effort to build a trump tower id moscow those negotiations happening during the campaign. he has said h knew very little, cot the president's former lawyer, michael n, testified before he went to prisonhat he had briefed donald trump jr. ten times about that. meantime, we're also following the president's comments last night at a rally in florida, a campaign rally. he talked about aidri to flo after hurricane michael, saying that the federal government will pay for 90% of that. but he also said that puerto rico has no reason to complain about its hurricane cleanup. >> that's puerto rico, and they don' i have a great relationship with the people of puerto rico, but it hasn't been fair the way they've treated all of us from the standpoint of their leaders because they complained.or they want m money. they got $91 million. it's the largest amount of money

ever given for a hurricane. >> reporr: now, for florida's hurricane cleanup, the presisant the federal government will pay, but they'll have to get some cooperation from democrats to get that through congress. frances? >> tracie, thank you. the battle between the white house and house democrats just hit a major turning point. the president asserting executive privilege using his presidential power to block lawmakers fhem seeing t full mueller report. nbc's blayne alexander has the latest on this intensifying power struggle. >> reporter: in an explosive new step, president trump asserting executive privilege over special cosel robert mueller's unredacted russia report, marking a dramatic escalation in the white house fight with house democrats. >> the president now seeks to take a wrecking ball to the onstitution. >> reporter: theesident's decision giving new fuel to democrats on the house judiciary committee,in vot to hold attorney general william barr in contempt for not complying with a subpoena for the unredact

report. that measure now going to the house floor. >> we've talked for a long time about approaching a constitutional crisis. we are now in it. >> are now in a constitutional crisis. eporter: from the committee's top republican -- >> what a cynical, mean spirit the, counterproductive, irre onsible step itis. >> reporter: a justice department official told committee chairman jerry nadler his decision to move forward with a contempt hearing terminated good faith talks between the two parties. it was barr who urged the president to invoke executive privile in a letter citing millions of pages of documents classified and unclassified, noting the committee's abrupt resort to a contempt vote does not give enough time to fully consider the matter. >> chairman nadler is asking the attorney general of the united states to break the law and commit a crime by releasing information that he knows he has no legal authority to have. >> reporter: all of it fueling more impeachment talk, including this fro house speaker nancy pelosi. >> every single day the president is making a case --

he's becoming self-impeachable. >> rorter: and likely setting up a long legal battle over mueller's report. ayne alexander, nbc news, washington. this morning a school district with thousands of students is under fire accused by o parents lunch-shaming kiol. nbc's mly hunter has more on the controversy. >> reporter: sgdents linin up for lunch next week at wauric public schools in rhode island won't all be served equally.ng startimonday, any student with unpaid lunch debt will be given a sun butter and jelly sandwich instead of a hot meal. the change comes after the school district says they're $78,000 in debt. but critics argue it's fair. kids have no control over their parents paying their lunch tab on time. afterhe announcement on the school's facebook page, the response was overwhelming. children should not be punished for being poor, leaving them open to further bullying. iting, way person to single kids out.

>> basically kids are knowing ocis kid can't afford lunch. >> reporter: a l restaurant owner tried to help, offering up thousands of dollars. >> everything that i said got shot down. every idea i had got shot done. >> reporter: the school district is meeti to figure out how to accept donations so they don't prioritize one student's debt over another. >>e have to take care of our kids. our kids are our future. >> reporter: a gofundme page has been set up hoping to raise enough so all kids get hot meals on nday. molly hunter, nbc news. become er is poised to the first u.s. city to decriminalize magic mushrooms after initially trailing in the polls, the voter initiative passed with jus 51% of the votes, making personal use and possession of psychedelic mushrooms to people ovenv 21 's lowest law enforcement priority. before anyone can start tripping, they still have to wait for a final a tally, that will happen on may 16th. >> just when you thought howard stern had nothing left to hide, details of previously d undiscloancer scare broke

wednesday in the hollywood reporter. stern says heen underw secret surgery in 2017 to remove a growth on his kidney. it turned out to be benign. the kin of all media promised to share more in his new book, howard stern comes again, to be releasedt week. >> he said he woulde revealing something that he'd be lying to the audience about for a long time. t>> bill karins, good morning. >> let's talk abouhe airport impacts. we're watching areas from houston to new orleans, memphis could have strong storms going rough it. some delays definitely, maybe some cancellati s. not bad ichicago. some of that bad weather will be heading through the ohio valley. interstateom 70 will have rain by the stormiest will definitely be on 10 from san antonio to new orleans.oo that's a l at the weaver story of t. an see all the showers and thunderstorms across the south. plenty of humidity and plenty of heavy rain is possible along with flash flooding from this

morning in areas of arkansaso later today in areas of southeast texas right through louisiana. mother's day forecast still to come. >> big day. >> looking forward to that one. fingers crossed. it is that time of year for of the most iconic publications in print. we're talking about the 2019 sports illustrated swim suit issue. it is here. three stunning covers featuring model and girlfriend of rob gronkowski, camille kos tech. soccer star ax morgan, and tyra banks. orts illustrated's editor says represent the en brand in the most powerful way possible. still ahead, the inside story of how president trump lost more money than anyone over a few years. and a new powerhouse emerging in the nba, and they're the real deal. and sometimes ineffective. for better value, tackle grease with dawn ultra.re

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to fire up a crowd. that's him at the bucks game. wisconsin knows how to party. one win needed this here to be the first team to make it into the eastern conference tfinals, andhey relied on their best player. the greek freak, look at thisy. gu leading the charge. there's nothing the celtics could do to stop this guy. it's tim to start fearing the deer again. the bucks take game five in the series. leading the news, president trump is firing back at "the new york times." the newspaper claims to have gotten a hold of his secret tax information showing that he lost mo than aillion dollars in the '80s and the 90s. for latest, we go to hallie jackson. >> reporter: the bombshell reporter in "the nsu york times" ests even as then real estate mogul donald trump was plugs his brand-new memoir the art of the deal on the "today" show. >> it's worked out well for me. >> reporter: the "times"

reporting in his core businesses, largely casinos, hotels and retl space, he lost more than a b dlionlars wen 1985 and 1994 saying year after year, mr. trumpo appears t have lost more money than nearly any other individual american taxpayer. the paper adds he didn'taxay income tes for eight of those ten years. the president h boasted about his wealth on the apprentice and called it a major selling point during his campaign. >> i'm using my own money. i'm not using the lobbyists. >> reporter: he's blasting the "times" report as highly inaccurate, tweeting it was a common tax shelter tactic. quote, you always wanted to show losses for tax purposes. almost all real estate developers did, adding, it was sport. president trump has consistently itfused to release his tax returns wh treasury secretaryev st mnuchin rejecting democrats' demands to turn them over. >> i got elect the same exact issue with the same intensity

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this is it, your dressing ros. >> goodnesme. is it always like this? >> yes. i didn't do anythin to it with my own money certainly, not

because you're my hero and i want you to feel comfortable. >> what's that? >> an antique record player. if it breaks, those are thes jona brothers. they'll sing whatever you want. >> not everything. >> yeah, it's impossible to know every song. >> but we do know all the bangers and o all of songs. >> emma thompson i b going to hosting this weekend's snl. as you saw, musical guest the jonas brothers. they are back and will be on snl this saturday. moms, this is for you. t this mother's day, kraft, the company behin boxed mac and cheese wants you to take a break from mothering. the comffny is oing to pay up to $100 to cover your babysitting bills on mother's day. so they announced it on this video. kraft called it time for moms to enjoy a day without interruptions. all you have to do is make aip recet showing you paid your babysitter, then upload a picture of it on kraer moth day away.com. kraft says it should take six to eight weeks to get your refund. i'm sure once all of this is

done, they're hopinghat your babysitter will make some kraft mac and cheese too. >> it's an excellent area. their mting department, they went out on a limb there. 100 bucks, that's a lot to dish out there. >> huge these days. marvel studios is taking steps towards lgbtq representation with plans to reveal a gay superhero. viring an inter on entertainment weekly live, filmmakers joe and anthony russo said that the character will be in an upcoming film. but it's not a new character. it's going to be someone fans already know. according to joe russo, the president of marvel udstios, will make that announcement very soon. until then, we're left to wonder which character will it be? first gay superhero out there on film. >> i like that. i like the speculation leading up to itit going to get everybody talking. mcdond's is bringing its international menu to the united states. the fast food chain announced

they will bent iducing four new dishes from different parts of the world to participating restaurants nationwide. the new dishes include a troop waffle mcflurry, a grand mcextreme bacon burger from en in, a tom mozzarella chi sandwich from canada and cheesy bacon fries fromaustralia. the new menu items will be available starting june 5th. not all mcdonalds will rticipate. >> they needed the flags on top of there.e >> we'd hav no idea. >> looks good. still ahead on "early today," the baby has arrived but the royal baby fever, that's just getting started. we will go live to london for new details next.

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and get $10 kohl's cash... or - a new fitbit... or a diamond pendant - and you'll get $20 kohl's cash! plus - take $10 off your $50 or more ther's day gift purchase thursday through sunday... at kohl's. >> welcome back. so fortoday's forecast, the worst of the weather is now in arkansas. later today from san antonio to anuston, more storms right through louisi mississippi, and even in florida is going to be dodging the storms too. fast forward to mother's day a forecast, we are going to deal with a soaking rain as we go throughout mother's day, especially anywhere over the appalachians going from north georgia right through areas of west virginia. could even deal withla id flooding and some of that rain later in the day, especially the second half of the day. washington, d.c., philadelphia, bid new york too. >> ll, thank you. when we come back, the rare hall of famer signed basebsl that i expected to fetch a massive sum.tt mopping? anything! at the end of a long day, ito the last thing i want t do.

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breaking overnight, 2.5we ks after an easter terror attack in sri lanka, a second person from the d.c. region has died. this morning, who she was and what government office she

worked for. we've talked for a long time about approaching a constitutional crisis. we are now in it. >> tempers flare on capitol hill afeeer a house committ votes to hold the attory general in contempt. all this while president trump -- while donald trump jr. n faces a subpoena of his own. and could the trick to losing weight hide in yourdna? we're showing you the new way people are dropping the pounds. there's only so much that can help, right? if you're eating chocolate cake night and day, no matter what your genetics, it's not good for you. >> fingers crossed. i'm hoping. every day. >> good morning, everyone.y i'm eun g. >> i'm aaron gilchrest. it's 4:00 a.m. we're going to start with a look at the forecast and the commute, of course. melissa mollet right there standing by with first 4 traffic. >> we begin with storm team 4 meteorologist chubell. did you say you were entertaining the