Stand in Donald Trumps hush money trial. The adult film actress describing her alleged sexual encounter with trump. What she had that had the defense calling for a mistrial. Israel seizes a critical crossing in southern gaza, cutting off a crucial entry point for aid, this as it sends a delegation to continue negotiating a ceasefire deal. Our team has the latest on where the talks stand. It is the latest battle in the culture wars. The growing movement to get fluoride out of Drinking Water. The impact it could have on the health of childrens teeth. And could you start seeing fewer selfcheckout stations in the Grocery Store . The new proposal that could place limits on them. Its wednesday, may 8. Early today starts right now. Good morning, im frances rivera. We begin with breaking news, as a Severe Weather outbreak plaguing the central u. S. Continues, this time taking aim at michigan. Several tornados tormented the state tuesday leaving a trail of destruction. Officials say there are multiple injuries, but so far, no reports of fatalities. The governor declaring a state of emergency for kalamazoo, st. Joseph and branch county. A twister tore the side off a fedex facility, trapping about 50 workers, as First Responders worked to clear electrical wires blocking their exit. All workers are now accounted for and there are no serious injuries. And nearby, a mobile Home Community sustained serious damage. For more on where that threat is headed next, lets bring in Michelle Grossman, whos tracking the dangerous weather. The dangerous weather continues this morning. Will continue throughout the day. And were looking at thursday as well. This is what radar looks like this morning. Where you see the pink boxes are tornado watches. Also we have severe thunderstorm warnings in the orange boxes. Also heavy, heavy rain along this front where you see the darker colors. Probably sighing hail where you see the purple. Thats going to continue throughout the day. The threat, 56 million americans under the threat of severe storms today. Were looking at damaging hail, two inches or greater. Strong tornados possible throughout the day. Winds gusting over 60 miles per hour. The likeliest chance for seeing really strong storms are from nashville to paducah, to springfield. Also the orange shading and yellow shading. Indianapolis all the way down to dallas. So really from the Southern Plains into the mississippi valley, the Tennessee Valley into the ohio valley. Were looking at the chance for severe storms today. Also looking at training storms, rain dropping one to two inches per hour. Its dropping on saturated grounds, memphis looking at the chance for flash flooding. Thats a look at the stormy weather. Well look at the preview in a few minutes. A federal judge in florida has handed donald trump the gift of time, indefinitely postponing his classified documents trial. The judge allowing more time for pretrial motions to be considered. With this latest delay, the hush money case in new york could be the only criminal trial mr. Trump faces before the election. Star witness Stormy Daniels took the stand tuesday delivering sometimes graphic testimony. Heres Vaughn Hilliard with the latest. Reporter a tense day inside this Lower Manhattan courthouse as Stormy Daniels herself testified with donald trump mere feet away from her, testifying about the sexual encounter she says took place in lake tahoe in 2006, following a celebrity Golf Tournament between her and donald trump. And also the fact that she said they talked on the phone repeatedly in those months that followed. She also saw him at an event in january of 2007 in hollywood. She said she was then invited by him and met with him at trump tower as he dangled the potential of her appearing on the apprentice. Her testimony included the weeks before the 2016 election, in which she testified that she was paid 130,000 to keep her story silent. This before the prosecution was a key part of their case as they made the case to the jury that donald trump, it was in his interest to keep her story silent from the american electorate before the 2016 election. She also faced questions under cross examination from Donald Trumps defense team. We expect those questions to continue when she returns to the courthouse on thursday. Back to you. Okay, vaughn, thank you. Overseas, israel tightens its grip on gaza, cutting off aid in the south and blocking the only way out into egypt. The israelis have signaled to the u. S. That this is a limited operation and not the largescale invasion the white house has warned against. The u. S. Says that an american mercenary company will ultimately secure the rafah Border Crossing to facilitate operations. What are the israelis trying to achieve . Reporter frances, good morning. To put simply, the israelis are looking to raise the pressure on hamas as ceasefire talks continue in cairo. The talks would potentially see the release of the remaining hostages they have in captivity. Now israeli officials are saying this is not the largescale ground assault that israel has been planning. The United States has been vocal in its opposition. Citing the many who have fled to the area for shelter. Ceasefire negotiations, meanwhile, in cairo, are ongoing, and cia director burns is there taking part in the effort. It calls for a phased release of all the hostages in exchange for palestinian prisoners chosen by hamas. It also calls for the full israeli withdrawal from gaza. Now Prime Minister netanyahu has signaled that this proposal does not suit israels security needs, but the defense minister has said the latest attacks on rafah are meant to increase pressure on hamas to free the hostages and that israel was prepared to make concessions to secure that result. Meanwhile, we are learning more about a u. S. Decision last week to halt certain types of weapons deliveries to israel. Amongthose weapons are bombs of various sizes, with particular focus on very large 2,000pound bombs. The official said given the effect the ordinance has on dense Population Centers like rafah, the white house is particularly focussed on ending their use. Matt bodner, thank you. At an annual holocaust remembrance ceremony, President Biden forcefully condemned antisemitism amid a reported strike in antijewish animus in the u. S. The jewish community, i want you to know i see your fear, your hurt and your pain. Let me reassure you. As your president , youre not alone. You belong. You always have, and you always will. The bipartisan ceremony honored the 6 million jews murdered in world war ii by nazis than collaborates. Tiktok is pushing back on a potential ban in the u. S. , saying this would violate the First Amendment. Nbcs savannah sellers has this report. Reporter calling a ban so obviously unconstitutional, tiktok sued the u. S. Government, trying to undo the legislation signed into law last month that would force its Chinese Parent Company to sell within a year or see it banned. Tiktok and bytedance arguing the law disregards lessextreme alternatives and is simply not possible, not commercially, not technologically, not legally. Adding the law will force shutdown of tiktok by january 19th, 2025, silencing the 170 million americans who use the platform. Do you think theres a chance here that tiktok successfully challenges this . I think tiktok has a chance, and, if they can articulate that this First Amendment rights are being denied, then the government may have to show that the legislation was necessary to achieve a compelling interest. Reporter the department of justice declined to comment on the lawsuit, but, in a recent interview, fbi director Christopher Wray telling lester, tiktok is a National Security concern, because it is beholden to the chinese government. It has to do with the recommendation algorithm. It has to deal with the software. Were talking about the ability to control or collect data on millions and millions of users. Reporter tiktok arguing unspe unspecified National Security concerns are not enough of a reason to restrict free speech and has previously denied it provides american user data to china. Some of the apps users celebrating the lawsuit. They feel like they have a case. Reporter a case in which tiktok says it is being unfairly singled out and is ready to prove as much in court. Savannah sellers, nbc news. Now to baltimore, where crews are planning to use precision explosives to free the container ship from under the wreckage of the Francis Scott key bridge. The announcement comes a day after salvage teams recovered the sixth and final victim killed in the bridge collapse. Crews are expected to reopen a limited channel into the port in the coming days. Now lets check back in with nbc meteorologist Michelle Grossman whos tracking the spring heat wave. A little summer preview. Short, short sleeves because temperatures are into the 80s and 90s in many spot. Were looking at new york city today, 82 degrees, 14 degrees above what is typical this time of year. Near 90 in d. C. And were warm, too, in pittsburgh, detroit, cincinnati into the 80s. Nashville, 83. Charlotte, 91 degrees. The jet stream still letting the warm air in. Were looking at temperatures into the upper 80s, low 90s for many spots. Baton rouge, 93. Montgomery looking at temperatures near 90. And into the mid90s in jacksonville, 11 degrees above t. Could break records as well. Temperatures into the mid90s in Corpus Christi and brownsville. Thats your wednesday forecast. Coming up, panera ditches its controversial charged lemonade. And were back in a minute with a fight over fluoride. Why more towns are fighting to wash their hands of the water additive. Heir hands of the wate additive. Thing huge. The bare minimum. Antidandruff shampoo made with only nine ingredients no sulfates, silicones or dyes and packaged with 45 less plastic giving you outstanding dandruff protection and leaving hair beautiful and moisturized. Major dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. Job done. New head shoulders bare. A mystery jessie loves playing detective. But the real mystery was her irritated skin. So, we switched to tide free gentle. It cleans better, and doesnt leave behind irritating residues. And its gentle on her skin. Tide free and gentle liquid is epa safer choice certified. Its gotta be tide. Wanna know a secret . More than just my armpits stink. Thats why i use secret whole Body Deodorant. Everywhere. 4 out of 5 gynecologists would recommend whole Body Deodorant, which gives you 72 hour odor protection from your pits to your sfx deoderant being sprayed secret whole Body Deodorant. It has been around for nearly 80 years. Fluoride added to Drinking Water to prevent tooth decay. The cdc calls it one of the most important advances of the 20th century, but as Erin Mclaughlin reports, its the latest front in the culture wars. Reporter abby smith is extra careful about brushing her sons teeth. Now that her local tap water no longer contains fluoride. After Community Members in Union County North Carolina came forward to express concerns, the county Commission Voted 32, to remove it. I didnt even know that there was a fight against fluoride. Reporter shes now scrambling to figure out what to do next for her two small children. Were going to have to talk about possibly supplementing. Reporter the dentist is alarmed. She says fluoride, a naturallyoccurring mineral, should be added to public water to help develop strong teeth, especially for small children and those without access to a dentist. Toothpaste with fluoride, she says, is not enough, because the fluoride needs to be ingested. We know that fluoride works. All the Journal Articles have shown that. Theres a 25 reduction in children and adults decay. Reporter despite being the norm for decades and local debates, the nationwide fight over fluoride in water is reaching new heights in the wake of covid and the antivax movement. Pitting her against activists. How long can our society bear the cost of knowingly lowering our populations iq. Reporter in union county, the debate erupted when officials prepared to open a new Water Treatment plant. A local chair of moms for liberty pointed to a controversial 2019 canadian study that showed slightlylower iq scores in children whose mothers had higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy. Though the studys author acknowledges more research needed. Fluoride is actually the one substance that we add to our water thats not meant to address the quality of the water. Reporter county commissioner brian ho brian holmes voted to remove fluoride. For putting it into the water as a medical benefit, it brings up a significant question. Reporter major health organizations, including the cdc, the American Dental Association and American Academy of pediatrics support fluoride in Drinking Water, but its been rejected by dozens of communities throughout the u. S. In recent years. With activists determined to press further. The public is starting to become more aware and less blindly trusting of authorities. Reporter so your goal to remove fluoride from public watersources nationwide. Absolutely. Yes. Reporter leaving parents like abby smith increasingly worried about the longterm impact of her tap water. It definitely will mean more avid teeth brushing and just keeping up on dentist appointments. Reporter Erin Mclaughlin, union county, north carolina. Still to come. Were one step closer to the theme of the next met gala next year being a. I. Thousands online are duped for picks. Duped for picks. 80 of women are struggling with hair damage . S. Z could be damaged hair that cant retain moisture. New pantene miracle rescue deep conditioner, with firstofitskind melting prov pearls. Locks in moisture to repair 6 months of damage in one wash, without weigh down. Guaranteed or your money back for resilient, healthylooking hair. If you know, you know its pantene. Always dry scoop before you run. 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Over the last day, many on social media got duped by what appears to be an a. I. Generated pic of katy perry walking down the green carpet. Perry was actually in the Recording Studio and posted the pic on her instagram. Along with a text from her mother who believed she was in attendance. Similar pics of noshows made the rounds. You feel like this is getting more and more common. But there were giveaways. The carpet didnt look right. It was a green carpet. And look at the warped photographers. I get duped easily, though. I think i would fall for it. Thisone looks really great, though. Kudos for that one. Panera is set to remove a controversial drink from its menu. And summer comes early at starbucks. D summer comes early starbucks. Thank you agent state farm. Like a good neighbaaa, state farm is there. Cut hey arnold, im hearing neighbaaa its neighbor. thats what i said. Neighbaaa. Lets go again like a good neighbaaa, state farm is there. Cut neighbaaa. Still no. Neighbor. Neighbaaa. 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Well be right back. Well be ri. Did you know. 80 of women are struggling with hair damage . Just like i was. Dryness and frizz could be damaged hair that cant retain moisture. New pantene miracle rescue deep conditioner, with firstofitskind melting prov pearls. Locks in moisture to repair 6 months of damage in one wash, without weigh down. Guaranteed or your money back for resilient, healthylooking hair. If you know, you know its pantene. Wanna know a secret . More than just my armpits stink. Facts. Thats why i use secret whole Body Deodorant for clinically proven odor protection everywhere. So i smell great all day, all hike, and all night. Secret whole Body Deodorant. When you smell the amazing scent of gain flings. Time stops. and you realize youre in love. Steve . With a laundry detergent. gain flings. Seriously good scent. A New California bill would bag selfcheckouts for good. It come as major retailers place new limits on the lanes. Some are removing the kiosks all together to curb theft. Kri kristine romans checked out the plan for us. Reporter this morning, california lawmakers considering a new bill forcing retailers to limit selfcheckout lanes in an effort to curb theft and protect jobs. When worker safety is at risk and people lose their jobs, we in the state Legislature Must act, and we must act now. Reporter according to the bill, grocery and Retail Stores would be required to provide at least one cashierrun station. Selfcheckouts would be limited to ten items or less, and a human worker would be required to monitor, no more than two lanes each. Stores using a. I. At checkout would need a full assessment before deploying that technology. Lawmakers at retailers say curbing theft is a priority, with one recent survey estimating more than 20 million americans have stolen from a selfcheckout kiosk, and more than 8 million planning to do it again. 69 of consumers also say its easier to steal from a selfcheckout kiosk than a cashier. This come as major retailers have already been rethinking how to use selfcheckout in stores. Most recently, target is limiting selfcheckout to ten item or less. The line goes quicker, but also i feel like its not very convenient for some people that are buying a lot of stuff. Reporter while other major retailers like walmart and costco, experimenting with limited selfcheckout and Dollar General removing it from its stores. The question is forcing people to a certain kind of checkout, whether that resolves the issue, and i dont think its going to be a global solution. Reporter retail theft aside, many shoppers are taking notice of the changes. Can we just talk about the selfcheckout epidemic . We are officially entering the downfall of selfcheckout. Reporter as for inflationweary shoppers in california, experts also say buyer beware over a potential down side to the bill. Im very worried that this will raise the cost for the businesses, which will then have to really try to resolve that issue, either through raising prices or exiting the market. And consumers, we know, are already fed up with high prices. Now to a california family, a wildcat, a wild one that took over a back yard pool. A mama bear and her cubs visited this home. The mom took a refreshing swim in the pool. But her cubs were not ready to dive in. The bears played in the yard and climbed a tree before wandering away. Thanks for kicking off your morning with early today. Im frances rivera. Have a great wednesday. A great. W thus we have freed hostages already and will not rest until we bring themom