Its august 8th. This is today. Pummelled. Hundreds of thousands without power. Many of the nations airport brought to a standstill. The south hit especially hard. Al is tracking it all. And what you can expect today. Firing back. Donald trump lashing out at the special counsel over his push to limit what the former president can say while under indictment. It is an outrageous criminalization of political speech the judge now ordering both sides back to court. Well have the latest. Breaking overnight, shark scare. A woman attacked at a popular new york beach lace ration of the legs this morning, new details on the victims condition and the heroes who raced in to help. Heartbreaking support pouring in for Sandra Bullock after her longtime partner dies following a private battle with als. Just ahead the emotional messages from his family and hers. Those stories, plus massive jackpot. The Mega Millions prize soars to more than 1. 5 billion, the largest in the games history. The drawing now just houours aw. And ready or not even with the heat of summer still raging, the flavor of fall already here first one of the season lets try it out. Inside the earlier than ever arrival of Pumpkin Spice season. Thats dividing the nation. Shes asking me for pumpkin its august. Today, tuesday, august 8th, 2023 reporter from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb. From studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good news morning. Welcome to today. Thanks for waking up with us savannah and hoda off today. Sheinelle jones is in a bit early. Good morning. Weather again. Weather again that Pumpkin Spice latte clip, that was just from mr. Roker. I feel like were rushing it a bit. We will talk about that in a moment, how some people are trying to bring fall in sooner but that wicked weather the top story this morning the south, up and down the east coast, hit hard overnight. In fact, several people were killed one by lightening in alabama another by a falling tree in South Carolina in fact, at one point, more than a Million People lost power. And take a look at this. The moment nearly 30 electrical poles came crashing down in maryland, trapping dozens of people in their cars those storms are still causing major travel issues after canceling 1,700 flights and delaying some 8,000 more heres a look at what we call the misery map. And where things stand with flights this morning we have it all covered for you. Including al who is tracking more severe storms we will start with nbcs kathy park she is at new Yorks Laguardia airport. Kathy, good morning. Reporter hey, craig. Good morning to you. Yeah we cant seem to catch a break from all this extreme weather. Those powerful storms cut a path of destruction hundreds of thousands of customers still without power. Meanwhile, here at laguardia, last night, there were hundreds of delays and cancellations. This morning, were still feeling the impacts. Reporter overnight, an outbreak of violent storms on the east coast unleashing destructive winds, torrential downpours and damaging hail. Aaron reporter in westminster, maryland, dozens of people, including children, were stuck in their cars after nearly 30 power poles came crashing down everyone was safely rescued. I have never seen anything like this before in my entire life. Reporter the stormy conditions continuing up and down the east coast, bringing dangerous winds and reports of tornadoes. And roads flooding as drivers struggled to get home. In washington, d. C. Suburbs wind gusts up to 80 Miles Per Hour at the height of rush hour. Slamming trees into homes and on to power lines ahead of the bad weather, federal workers in the nations capitol urged to leave work early monday this is the most ominous shot of the day. Reporter the same system hammering parts of east tennessee and South Carolina going to be a tree on the garage child entrapped in the garage. Reporter Officials Say a falling tree killed a 15yearold. While in alabama, lightening struck and killed a 28yearold man. As the wild weather closed in, thousands of flight delays on the east coast meant some travelers had to find another way home. At this point, we are going to try to rent a car and just drive. Reporter now some of the busiest airports are still playing catchup this morning, but nothing like we saw last night. Meanwhile, here in laguardia, i just checked fewer than two dozen delays and cancellations. Slowly things are starting to improve. Craig . Some good news. Kathy park kathy, thank you good morning to al roker for some answers good morning to you. Good morning, guys. Good morning to you. Over 600 storm reports yesterday. Second most so far this year 9 Million People impacted right now. The heaviest rain is moving up into new england so they have flood watches there. That will still dump about 4 inches of rain more in parts of new england, especially up into maine. Now, for today, seven Million People, stretching from the southeast and Atlantic Coast all the way into the plains for damaging hail, wind gusts of 60 Miles Per Hour and we cant rule out a tornado or two then wednesday, st. Louis, kansas city, nashville, starkville, 15 Million People, wind gusts up to 60 Miles Per Hour tornadoes possible damaging hail. As this system comes out of the central rockies, producing strong winds, hail and tornadoes today. Then tomorrow, that low pressure moves into Northern Arkansas bringing a flash flood increase for the midwest. What were looking at generally is about four to five inches possibly in some isolated sections from st. Louis, little rock on up into indianapolis well be watching that very closely. Coming up in the next half hour, were going to talk about 52 Million People still under heat advisories and heat warnings from miami all the way to texas guys all right a lot happening in the weather well come back to you in a few minutes. Meanwhile, new developments this morning tied to Donald Trumps on going legal troubles. His lawyers responding late yesterday to a court request by federal prosecutors aimed at toning down rhetoric over the 2020 election probe and keeping shared evidence secret until a trial. Nbcs Kelly Odonnell is down in washington for us with the very latest on this. Kelly o, good morning to you reporter good morning, craig. The former president was up late and on fire on social media. Posting about his indictments until 1 00 in the morning. The special counsel worked after normal business hours, too, and filed a new response that directly accused mr. Trump of wanting to try this latest case in the media and not the courtroom. This morning, donald trump versus the special counsel playing out in the courts and in public we have a sham indictment. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Reporter the most recent battle over a protective order requested by the special counsel, intended to protect evidence that will be shared with the trump legal team. That mr. Trump could make public those concerns prompted by the former president s own megaphone. From Campaign Rallies and it is an outrageous criminalization of political speech. Reporter to his social media blast. No, i shouldnt have a protective order placed on me because it would impinge on my right to free speech jack smith, the special counsel, is now frequently the focus of the former president s fury. Jack smith, take a look at his face hes a deranged human being. You say that guy is a sick man. Reporter smiths team noting mr. Trumps history of speaking openly about witnesses, lawyers, judges and others involved in his cases. Worried that if he were to expose evidence, like grand jury transcripts in public, that could have a harmful, Chilling Effect on witnesses. Trumps lawyers argued his rights are at risk President Trump being attacked for his First Amendment rights. Reporter but the former president s lawyers say he would accept some rules on the most sensitive government evidence, urging a more limited order. The former president s 2024 rival, chris christie, once a federal prosecutor, argues there are limits on free speech. Is this the conduct the the Republican Party or American People want from someone who is going to be president . Reporter also new this morning, the judge overseeing the washington case on electio charges is setting new and notably short deadlines to resolve this dispute about the protective order she wants both sides to agree to a hearing time by the end of this week. Craig . Kelly odonnell for us there in washington. Kelly, thank you now to growing tensions between the u. S. , russia and china after ships from those two nations carried out a joint military exercise off the coast of alaska. It comes as an alleged informant for russia has been arrested in connection with what Officials Say was a foiled plot to assassinate ukraines president. Nbcs chief Foreign Correspondent richle engel has all the details. Richard, good morning. Reporter good morning. Ukrainian intelligence says this suspect, an alleged informant for russia, worked in a shop selling military supplies to ukrainian soldiers and that she was gathering information about president zelenskyys movements and passing along targeting information about ukraines defenses to Moscow Russia overnight carried out whats known as a double tap, a sinister kind of attack, firing a missile at an Apartment Building full of civilians in Eastern Ukraine and then striking it again to kill First Responders at least seven people were killed, including rescue workers. Russia was busy last night the military releasing more footage of its troops pounding ukraines defenses president zelenskyy denounced the new attacks. He hasnt stopped giving his usual nightly addresses and is staying highprofile even after ukraines Main Intelligence Service announced just yesterday that it had thwarted a plot to kill him ukraine, arrested this woman, claiming to have caught her red handed collecting information about zelenskyys movements during this trip to mykolaiv late last month, the goal ukraine says was to target zelenskyy with a russian air strike the kremlin hasnt commented, but its yet another sign that this war is entering uncharted territory, as it escalates out of the region and away from the trenches drone attacks russia blames on ukraine are increasing in moscow and a sea drone last week, along with russian strikes, on the coastal city of odessa have turned the black sea into a hostile front. And president Vladimir Putin and his main ally, president xi, are projecting their power far beyond the region, sending a message to the united states, ukraines primary backer a patrol of 11 chinese and russian warships cruised together near alaska, only leaving recently the pentagon saying there was no direct threat but sending four destroyers and a reconnaissance plane as a warning. China also took nart ukraine peace talks that ended in saudi arabia this weekend without an agreement. U. S. Officials describe chinas participation as productive, and negotiators agreed to meet for another round. Richard, thank you. Also breaking overnight, a popular beach here in new york temporarily shut down after a woman was attacked by a shark. She was rescued by life guards but this morning that woman is in the hospital in critical condition. Nbcs Anne Thompson is covering this one for us. Anne, good morning good morning, craig it seems like every week this summer we hear about another shark sighting, encounter, or even an attack last night off the coast of new york where shark attacks are incredibly rare, it happened again. Reporter a beach goer is in serious but stable condition this morning after an apparent shark attack in the waters off new york city. Laceration of her legs. Reporter the Citys Department of parks and recreation telling nbc news a woman was bitten monday evening and removed from the water by life guards, who administered first aid to the 65yearold before she was rushed to the hospital the incident happening along Rockaway Beach in queens, a popular summer spot. The life guards were on duty, so they werent doing anything wrong. They were just trying to have a nice day. Reporter afterwards, the nypd using a drone to scan the ocean. And help keep swimmers out of harms way mondays apparent attack the latest in a busy summer of shark sightings and encounters along new yorks coast. Shark attack as the life guard station. Rescues are notified. Reporter including several around the 4th of july with two attacks occurring just miles apart. There has been a lot of shark attacks happening on the beaches. Been a lot of warnings. Reporter elsewhere along the east coast, swimmers have been on alert for months and for good reason in june, paddle borders getting a surprise visit from a hammer head lurking in the water off florida shore. Last month a man was bitten in the leg off Anna Maria Island in the gulf of mexico, near sarasota they do call it shark alley for a reason. Reporter and a 12yearold girl suffered a bite to her le while swimming off cocoa beach. It was really, really painful. Reporter those recent encounters and many more giving beach goers pause as they try to soak up the last weeks of summeb safely. Its one thing to be scared, but to be bitten by a shark is another thing. As far that attack here in new york, the citys Parks Department is working with the nypd and fdny on enhanced surveillance of rock away beach. It is expected to open later today. Craig . Anne thompson in the studio thank you. We have more to get to as we mentioned earlier, they might have to change Mega Millions to mega billions if it keeps going like this. The jackpot for tonights drawing has reached an estimated 1. 5 billion that would be the largest in Mega Millions history. If there is a winner and they take the cash option, they would get just over 757 million the game has now gone more than three months without a grand prize winner 757 million if you win. Gerard is collecting for the office pool. Still a chance. Still a chance. Mr. Roker would still be here, though if he won. Have you put in i got my cash. You got your cash all right whoa look at that i know. Its unusual. Craigs little t. Rex arms reached all the way into that pocket the forecast, please. Well, we are looking into heavy rain into new england. Record highs continuing down through florida. Severe storms down through the gulf well be watching that very hot and humid, just the broken record or melted record at this point. Afternoon storms coming out of the rockies and sunshine along the west coast we will get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. H schohool supplieies studentsts. Wewe call it the subabaru e promisee and wewe are proudud to be thee largesest corporatate supportef adoptataclassroom. M. Org. Its just onene of the rereass forbes r ranked subabaru the numbmber one aututomotive bd for r social impmpact. Subaru. More than n a car com. Good tuesday morning. We are in for much cooler temperatures, especially for the inland valleys. Were only going to reach into the upper 70s and low 80s today. Big changes ahead as we get a stronger ocean breeze, the fog returning to the coastline. In San Francisco, expect it to reach 64 degrees today, 71 in oakland, and upper 70s in martinez. In fairfield today, reaching 86 degrees. Tomorrow will be about the same. We settle into a nice and mild pattern for the next few and thats your latest weather. Guys thank you. Coming up, heart break for beloved actress Sandra Bullock after death of her partner after a private battle with als. Stephanie gosk has that story. Yeah, craig Brian Randall and Sandra Bullock were private about their relationship and private about his health struggle. Coming up, we will tell you more and reflect on their relationship and share a statement from his family about his death. All right thank you, stephanie. Plus, a major back to school concern. The nationwide shortage of t teachers some students returning to empty classrooms an inside look at why so many educators have quit and how districts all right. Still ahead this morning, you are going to love this august j just starteted, folks so why is s it already startingo smell and taste like fall . Well, ready or not, al, Pumpkin Spice season is arriving earlier than ever. Unless it comes with a side of doughnuts, i dont care. Thats fair well calm him down and ask that annual question, how soon is too soon apparently right now. Stop it stop it. This is ridiculous. Vrvraylar helplped give e it a. Adadding vraylylar to an antitidepressantnt. Is clinicically provevn toto help relilieve ovoverall deprpression symympt. B. Better thanan an anantidepressasant alone. And in vraraylar clclinical stutudi, mostst saw no susubstantl impactct on weight. Elderly dedementia patatients have increreased risk o of death oror stroke. Rereport unususual changesesn bebehavior or r suicidal t tho. Antidedepressantss can n increase t these in c children anand young adad. 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