Jet ski. Cars trapped in water, rising fast. Empty trailers floating away. This is the worst flooding ive ever seen in my career. Now a new threat. Another round of possibly dangerous tornados. At usc, the lapd clearing out protesters and a twist tonight. The threat of disruptions at Graduation Ceremonies. How schools are preparing. A major Border Crossing for humanitarian help into gaza, shut down today. Why israel did it. Former President Trumps search for a vp heating up. Top contenders, all in one place this weekend. New reporting on the hunt for a running mate. Three american and australian surfers missing in mexico, now presumed murdered. Why officials think they were targeted. Gold star families scammed after their loved ones died. How the army set them up with this man, who then stole millions. And a zebra on the loose finally captured, stripes and all. Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with hallie jackson. Dramatic rescues in the state of texas. Good evening. We are coming on the air with dramatic rescues in the state of texas. Deadly flooding, submerging entire neighborhoods. More than 560 people had to be rescued or evacuated by First Responders and you can see what it looks like from above, from the air. All of these houses underwater. You can see it here from the ground. Look at this. That is a street sign. The water is nearly to the top of it, just for some perspective, with some 15 million now bracing for more, from dallas to south dakota tomorrow. The risk, another round of devastating tornados with another serious storm system moving in fast. We have Team Coverage tonight starting with Priscilla Thompson in houston. Reporter tonight, at least one person is dead as dangerous floodwaters rage across texas. Body cam video show Houston Police rescuing this man and three dogs after being trapped in at least eight feet of water in a flooded trailer park. Oh, that was floating . In dallas, passengers struggling to escape Rushing Water on a roadway. And this empty horse trailer floating away in hamilton, texas. Since friday, hundreds of people and pets have been rescued across the state. Amid a dayslong deluge that has dumped more than 2 feet of water in some areas, including up to 2 inches, today alone. This is the worst flooding ive ever seen in my career. This river nearly swallowing an evaluated roadway. Then an explosion and electricity crackling along these power lines, likely caused by the wet weather. Thats crazy reporter the view from above Showing Homes underwater, sinking cars and submerged street signs, as 8 Million People remain under flood alerts, from texas to oklahoma and arkansas. Very little sleep. Just worrying about the water going in the house. Hopefully it didnt go in. This year was bad. Oh, my gosh. Reporter some, like erica and frank courier, returning home to find almost everything destroyed. This is wild to see like how much damage it does. Thats overwhelming. To think about just moving all of this stuff in 14 days ago. Like stuff is still in boxes. We had stuff over there and like the garage was full of stuff. And now its all everywhere. Reporter and for those in the flood zone, threat isnt over yet, with major River Flooding expected to last the next few days. Priscilla is joining us now. Priscilla, have more folks had a chance to get back home yet, have a look at the damage . Reporter not necessarily, hallie. Take this neighborhood, for example, the houses back there look virtually untouched, but this is what the roadway leading into this neighborhood looks like. You can see how high the water is on that sign. And officials worry that people will try to drive through this water to get to their homes, and that that could lead to more rescues. Hallie . Priscilla thompson, thank you. For more, lets bring in nbc news meteorologist bill karins. There are major issues coming up for millions of people. Hallie, we have a Dangerous Monday Afternoon evening smack in the middle of the country. Were in a level 4 out of 5 risk. We call this a moderate. This red bullseye is where we expect the best chance for not just tornados, but strong tornadoes that will be on the ground for a long time. We call them long track tornadoes. The areas at risk will be from Oklahoma City to witchta, heading up into northern kansas, and in the evening hours, heading towards tulsa, and eventually around kansas city and missouri. The timing, late afternoon, the storms form. Should be near witchta, Oklahoma City, about 7 00 p. M. And theyll try to travel towards kansas city, hopefully weakening by that time, about 11 00 p. M. In the evening. Wind damage, large hail. Its the tornadoes were very concerned with. This threat will continue into tuesday. 24 Million People at risk, as we take this storm system into the ohio valley and areas from nashville down to little rock. Hallie, this week looks just as dangerous as last week. Not what people there had hope to hear. Bill, thank you. Out west on college campus, more Police Action this weekend with the lapd clearing out one of the original protests at the university of california. Now these demonstrations are taking on a new front, Graduation Ceremonies themselves. Adrienne broaddus is there. Reporter tonight, colleges nationwide grappling with ongoing demonstrations. Before sunrise at the university of southern california, officers cleared this encampment. Protesters left willingly. No one was arrested. Free, free, free palestine reporter the propalestinian demonstrators calling for a ceasefire and for the school to divest from israel. University Officials Say they called in police about 12 hours after warning the encampment was a violation of, quote, policies and the law, and that protesters could face arrests. And when the students were cleared by lapd from the center of campus, they shut down this main street, and they also chanted, they do not care, they will be back. Reporter at the university of virginia, in charlottesville, Police Clashed with demonstrators as they tried to take down an encampment. The school says at least 25 were arrested for trespassing. Its not just schools. At the Art Institute of chicago, 68 were arrested and charged with trespassing. Now School Administrators coasttocoast trying to determine whether or not to change Graduation Plans in ann arbor yesterday, nearly. We will not, we will not rest reporter in ann arbor yesterday, nearly 75 protesters interrupted the beginning of commencement at the university of michigan. Demonstrators chanting before being moved. They have the right to protest. Reporter a lot of these people, you know, their senior year of high school, their graduation was during covid. So they already had that ruined. And now youve got this going on. Reporter some universities like usc, have canceled their main graduation ceremony, while others have increased their security measures. Adrienne joins us now from usc. Adrienne, campus is just starting to open back up . Hallie, it is opening to students and faculty, with valid i. D. Ahead of final exams here this week. Meanwhile, across the country, as graduations continue, some volunteer staff are getting trained on how to best deescalate potential disruptions. Hallie . Adrienne broaddus, thank you. A new escalation in the middle east tonight. Israel closing the main Border Crossing used to bring food and medicine into gaza, after that key border area was attacked by hamas. It comes as the head of a major aid group tells nbc news parts of gaza are now in fullblown famine. Megan fitzgerald has the latest. Reporter tonight, another massive blow to the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in gaza. Israel shutting down fired rockets towards the border. Hamas says they targeted idf the Kerem Shalom Crossing after they say hamas fired rockets towards the border. Hamas says they targeted idf headquarters. The closure a significant setback. In an exclusive interview on Meet The Press this morning, the head of the World Food Program saying parts of the enclave already gripped by famine. So what i can explain to you is that there is famine, fullblown famine in the north. And its moving its way south. Reporter this as the latest round of negotiations on the ceasefire ended today. Hamas calling for an end to the war, a complete withdrawal of idf troops, and for people to be able to return to their communities. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning doubling down, saying ending the war in gaza would keep hamas in power. And tonight, a source with knowledge of the matter told nbc news, cia director William Burns is in doha and will travel to israel this week. Meanwhile, the Israel Cabinet voting to shut down broadcast company al jazeera from operating in the company. Country. Al jazeera releasing a stadium saying in part, we will make sure we report both sides, despite the fact that we have lost the coverage from inside israel. Megan fitzgerald, nbc news. With just six months to the day now until the president ial election, many of the top contenders to round out the trump tick, as the former president s running mate descended on maralago for a donor retreat. You can see some of them here. Dasha burns has more on whos in and out of the veepstakes mix. Reporter tonight, former President Donald Trump appearing at the formula one race in miami. And with six months to go in the race for president , theres another race heating up to become his running mate. Possible veepstakes contenders converging this weekend at a donors conference in maralago. At least seven contenders on the short list, according to trump world sources, senator marco rubio and governor doug burgum seeing their stock rising, governor kristi noem seeing her falling, and trump praising them and the other prospects in his speech on saturday. Will you accept the Election Results of 2024 . I i look forward to President Trump being the 47th president. Kristen, you can ask it multiple times senator, just a yes or no people. The American People will make the decision. Reporter newly installed Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley addressing that issue in a socalled litmus test for rnc employees in his First Network interview. The rnc has been accused of creating a sort of litmus test for employees or potential hires around denying the results of the 2024 election. Is there any truth to that . The only litmus test i have is whether or not you support our republican candidates. Reporter the rnc says its recruiting 100,000 lawyers and volunteers to monitor voting and has filed more than 80 lawsuits as part of what they call their Election Integrity program. What do you say to critics who argue these lawsuits are just sort of paving the way for former President Trump to claim the election was stolen in 2024, if President Biden wins . Theyre absolutely not. Look, what were trying to do through these lawsuits is get states to implement common sense Election Integrity programs, that has nothing to do with voter suppression. Reporter another priority for whatley, uniting the party, after a bitter primary and a push to oust house speaker, mike johnson. We need make sure that all of the republicans understand the gravity of this Election Cycle and they do, and we need to make sure that we are on the same page as were moving forward. Dasha joins us now. Dasha, even against the backdrop of all this campaigning, we do expect the former president back in Court Tomorrow for his criminal trial. Reporter yeah, hallie, thats right. And chairman whatley tells me, while its hard to have less of mr. Trumps time, the former president has been able to capital on the Media Attention and rally voters from the courtroom. Hallie . Dasha for us there in palm beach. Thank you. A major highway in the northeast tonight reopening ahead of schedule, with both sides of the i95 in connecticut now good to go. Thats just days after this fiery crash that closed the highway thursday morning. Look at that. Crews have been working to demolish this bridge in norwalk after it was damaged during the crash when a car hit a fuel truck, which then hit a tractortrailer. I95, of course, is one of americas busiest highways. And out west, a zebras daring escape has come to an end after the last of four zebras that got away in Washington State has been captured. Sugar has been on the run for nearly a week, after she busted out of a Trailer Heading to montana. She was finally caught after her owner called in some help. You could say she earned her stripes for that one. Still ahead tonight, new details on a murder mystery in mexico, after three surfers went missing. Plus, the scam targeting gold star families after their loved ones were killed. Remember when i said we need to screen for colon cancer . Was that after i texted the age to screen was now 45 . [both] because i said cologuard® hey there where did he come from . Yup, with me you can screen at home. Just talk to your provider. [both] well screen with cologuard and do it my way. Cologuard is a oneofakind way to screen for colon cancer thats effective and noninvasive. Its for people 45 at average risk, not high risk. False positive and negative results may occur. Ask your provider for me, cologuard. Always dry scoop before you run. Listen to me, the hot dog diet got me shredded. 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A local Attorney General saying the three bodies discovered in a water well 50 feet deep are likely that of jack carried rhode, callum robinson, and his brother jake, saying this appears to be an attempted carjacking gone wrong, and there were signs the men tried to fight back and met a violent end. The medical Examiners Office in ensenada saying the cause of death for the bodies found, Gunshot Wounds to the head. Mexican investigators seen combing through evidence, finding blood, bullet casings, and drag marks near the mens campground and a white pickup truck badly burned. Police have arrested at least three people, including a woman who was found with what appears to be a cell phone belonging to one of the men, but Police Believe there may be others who were also involved. Its tragic. Very tragic. James knew callum robinson. Callum was a good guy. A surfer. I knew he played rugby, and he is from australia. Reporter callum and his brother jake, both from australia, loved to surf, bringing their friend american Jack Carter Rhoad to ensenada, a Known Mexican State within baja california. Tonight, as the families wait for more answers, local authorities vowing to bring swift justice. Marissa parra, nbc news. Were back in a moment with more on how millions of dollars were stolen from these military families and why some argue the army deserves some of the blame. During or after treatment. Entyvio may increase risk of infection, which can be serious. Pml, a rare, potentially fatal Brain Infection cannot be ruled out. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flulike symptoms, sores, or are prone to infections. Liver problems can occur. Entyvio. Relief. Remission. For real. Entyvio, entyvio, entyvio healthiers not something that happens all alone it takes greg and lydia, and josie on the phone. Its grammy getting checked on in her favorite chair. Or dolling herself up to go handle all of her care. With doctors to nurses and all the people in between healthier happens in more ways than rays ever seen. Healthier happens together. When my doctor gave me breztri for my copd things changed for me. Breztri gave me better breathing, symptom improvement, and reduced flareups. Breztri wont replace a Rescue Inhaler for sudden breathing problems. It is not for asthma. Tell your doctor if you have a Heart Condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. Dont take breztri more than prescribed. Breztri may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. Ask your doctor about breztri. Wow. Incredible, isnt it . Yeah. Vision changes, or eye pain occur. Well, with your home, auto, boat and rv all bundled with progressive youve got the Peace Of Mind to really wander. Yeah. Yeah, i just hope it stays this way. Once word gets out about these places they tend to are you done . Aaand there it is. Well, at least your vehicles are protected. Lets hit the road. Hey fam im just at this Beautiful Lake that i just discovered. Practicing gratitude, manifesting abundance. It can feel upsetting to hear about any scam where Vulnerable People are taken advantage of, but when it happens to go ken dilanian now on the scam artist who acknowledged stealing millions from military families when they were at their absolute lowest. You must have been so proud to see him in that uniform . Oh, my god, yeah. Reporter sharon hartz was not only deep in mourning over the sudden death of her 26yearold son, Sergeant Thomas anastasio while serving in the military. His birthday right before. Reporter she was also totally overwhelmed with all of the arrangements that come with the death of a loved one. Thats when the army told her that she had not only receive 500,000 in death benefits, but that she would be set up with an Army Financial counselor to help her with it. They insisted that we be educated on the finances, so they were properly handled. Reporter she drove to ft. Dix, Where She First Sat down with craffy, caz craffy, an Army Civilian who held a Civilian Job Offering Advice to army families. What was he like when you first met him . Very charismatic. That was a facade. Craffy was a con man. Ive lost a little over 200,000. Now i cant afford to retire. I feel taken advantage of. Im embarrassed. Reporter prosecutors say craffy was only supposed to be giving families generic guidance. Instead, he held a second job as an Investment Manager in violation of army rules. He convinced hartz and other gold star relatives to hand him their money, then racked up huge commissions, even as he made unwise investments that plummeted in value. Hes now pleaded guilty to bilking dozens of gold star families out of millions of dollars. Natasha bevard signed her money over to craffy after she lost her husband, an iraq combat veteran, to suicide. I saw in a short amount of time, i lost a lot of money. I had lost like 260,000 overall. Reporter Public Records Show Craffy bought this 2. 1 million house in 2022. Its now in foreclosure and hes facing ten years in prison, but many victims say others have questions to answer. I do believe that there is blood on the hands of the farmer army here. Reporter attorney Natalie Khawam specializes in suing the military. Shes representing hartz, bevard, and other victims, contemplating a lawsuit to hold the army accountable. They were at their lowest, and heres the only person they believed was going take care of them was the army, sends in a person that basically took advantage of them. Reporter in a statement to nbc news, the army says they conducted a thorough Criminal Investigation and found this to be an isolated case and that they remain dedicated to caring for families of fallen soldiers. For sharon, its not just about the money. I feel like i let my son down, because, you know, this was his way of taking care of me and my children. You know . So its its devastating. Reporter ken dilanian, nbc news, paramus, new jersey. When we come back, theres good news tonight about these graduates and the memorable ways theyre showing gratitude r their parents. Limu emu. And doug. bell ringing limu, someone needs to customize and save hundreds on Car Insurance with liberty mutual. Lets fly Inaudible Sounds chief doug. Inaudible Sounds ooooo ah. Elevator Doors OpeningInaudible Sounds i thought you were right behind me. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty. If you have moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis or crohns disease. 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It aint my dads razor, dad. Ay watch it its from gillettelabs. This green bar releases trapped hairs from my face. Gamechanga . While the flexdisc contours to it. So the five blades can get virtually every hair in one stroke. For the ultimate gillette shaving experience. The best a man can get is gillettelabs. Theres good news tonight about pomp and circumstance, but also gratitude and the special way the class of 2024 is saying thank you to the people who worked so hard to get them to where they are. Brenda bernese gonzalez rosario. Reporter the walk across the stage is usually the emotional moment for graduates, but for brenda gonzalez, it was this walk that meant the most. Yeah thats her, days before graduating, surprising her mother, ana lucia, in her break room at her job at a meat factory. Fa and putting that symbol of hard work and accomplishment, the cap and gown, on her. And im like, you did it, mom we did it she made my dreams come true. She paid my college. Oh, my god. A heartfelt thank you to the single mom of five from mexico who worked three jobs to keep the family afloat. She deserved it more than i do. Reporter so many First Generation College grads delivering the same powerful message to their parents. We did this together. Thats Ivan Hernandez graduating from graceland university, when he put the cap on his dad, who was overwhelmed with emotion. At azeus Pacifica UniversityIn CaliforniaLizzette Flores. At aduz za Azusa Pacific university In CaliforniaLizzette Flores. Reporter you see the parents of Lizzette Flores when she walked across the stage. Shes the first in her family to graduate college. Do you think you could have done it without your parents support . I definitely dont think so. When she had her official grad photos taken, she knew what she had to do. I definitely felt like i needed to include my parents, because they were such a big part of my educational journey. Reporter this graduation season, now a season of gratitude for students like celeste zamora. It wasnt just me who graduated. My parents also graduated with me. We did it, we did it remember brenda and her mother . Thats them after graduation, celebrating what they both accomplished. Because of her believing in me and her sacrificing a lot of stuff, to make sure my dreams come true, its like her dreams came true. Just a huge congratulations to those grads and to their families, including, by the way, brendas sister, whos set to Start College this fall. Thats nightly news for this sunday. Lester holt will be in tomorrow. For all of us at nbc, im hallie jackson. Well see you right back here next week. Is honoring mexican culture, plus kayaking for a cause. The protesters taking to the San Francisco bay and their message for the Chevron Refinery and campus encampments