with the pause on student loan interest ending this week some borrowers, like this single mom, say they may not pay. what could happen? and they're not only wnba superstars, they're also working moms how they're finding balance on and off the court. good evening and welcome. as we come on the air tonight, hurricane idalia has strengthened to a category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour and right now, picking up forward speed, as it remains locked on a track expected to bring it ashore along florida's northwest coast tomorrow morning. likely as a major category 3 hurricane the storm stretching more than 300 miles across as it spins across warm open waters in the eastern gulf churning tropical storm-force winds at its outer reaches. the national hurricane center warning of life-threatening storm surges of up to 15 feet torrential rains, high tornado risk, 1 125-mile-an-hour winds expected when idalia makes landfall along what's known as the big bend region, that literal bend or curve on the map between the florida peninsula and the panhandle. tonight, there are mandatory evacuation orders in place in more than a dozen florida counties we'll get to our team on the ground in a moment, but first, al roker, what are you seeing in terms of the storm track right now? >> lester, idalia starting to rapidly intensify right now 300 miles south of tallahassee. 1 100-mile-per-hour winds moving north now, quicker at 16 miles per hour 15 million people under hurricane warnings, watches, and tropical storm watches and warnings, as well, from florida all the way into the southeast. by tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.m., a category 3 storm coming onshore. the good news is, this is going to be a rapid mover, but not before leaving some significant impacts. for example, storm surge up to 15 feet, especially right around cedar key, with surge accompanied by large waves, which cause beach erosion. wind gusts from 5 0 to 95 miles per hour. dangerous, with trees falling, possible power outages. from wilmington to sarasota, a risk of tornadoes wrapped in rain, hard to see. rainfall amounts, 12 inches or more in the florida big bend, and that's going to lead to significant flooding from cross city, all the way to wilmington lester >> all right, al we've been talking about just how dangerous that storm surge could be, as idalia slams ashore. our tom llamas is in kcrystal river, florida, about 80 miles north of tampa, where they could see 12 to 15 feet of surge. tom, good evening. >> reporter: lester, good evening to you. as you mentioned, this stretch of florida's known as the big bend, and they're getting ready here for something they have never, ever seen before a likely category 3 hurricane that will be getting stronger and stronger up until the time it crashes right into this coast. tonight, this destructive hurricane powering ashore, fueled by the warm waters of the gulf of mexico the eye of the storm trained directly on florida's western coast. >> i don't have a really great feeling about it i'm hopeful, but i just think that we're about due. >> reporter: with hurricane idalia's torrential rains and forecasted gusts of up to 125 miles per hour bearing down, last-minute preps are at a fever pitch. florida's governor mobilizing 40,000 linemen to try to keep the lights on. >> and that's the ultimate goal, rapid restoration of power. this is a major hurricane. >> reporter: the keys and fort mooi everyone myers beach already seeing flooding crystal river is now in the crosshairs is this somewhat new territory for you guys, right? a major hurricane hasn't come through this area, i've been told ever. >> correct we haven't seen anything like this in a very long time >> reporter: idalia threatens to wash away parts of the florida coast with record-setting storm surge. that's a hurricane's deadliest threat the initial rush of water comes suddenly three feet is considered life threatening. at six feet, waves cause significant damage, breaking through doors and windows. at nine feet, the floods move farther inland a 12 to 15-foot storm surge would be catastrophic for low-lying communities here in florida. that roof line, that's about 15 feet right there. and look where the water already is at high tide. inches from the backyard now, a double threat from mother nature a king tide expected wednesday. that's when the sun, moon, and earth align to produce tides one to two feet higher than normal. the view from the space station shows idalia's monstrous size but its destructive power needs to be seen up close. look at these villages in western cuba, submerged by rains just yesterday >> very few people can survive being in the path of major storm surge, and this storm will be deadly >> reporter: first responders from missouri, virginia, and new jersey already mobilized to the sunshine state >> take it seriously and be prepared. >> reporter: in tampa, all flights are grounded, and several hospitals have already been evacuated, while tampa general rolls out this aqua fence to repel the stormwater outside greg thompson's big bend bar, they're boarding up and inside, it's last call >> some people want to ride it out. we're leaving. >> reporter: what do you think about the people that ride it out? >> i wouldn't do it. >> reporter: too big of a storm >> too big of a storm. nobody can come help you. >> reporter: tonight, the clock is ticking time is running out to get out. and a stretch of florida readies for a hurricane the strength of which they've never seen before. tom llamas, nbc news, crystal river, florida. and our gabe gutierrez is further up the coast, where mandatory evacuations have been ordered. gabe, what's happening there? >> reporter: lester, good evening. the mayor here of cedar key says that this is the worst forecast that he's ever seen for this area many businesses here have already boarded up, and some businesses have actually emptied out their lobbies, because they expect this entire area to be under water. now, cedar key is a series of islands in the gulf of mexico, and officials here expect there to be a potential 10 to 15-foot storm surge. now, mandatory evacuation order is in effect here. the deadline to leave was 4:00 p.m. today. but the mayor says about 100 people have decided to stay and ride out the storm the national weather service and hurricane center say that this entire area could be cut off because of the rising water, so the major here, in a last-minute warning, is urging people to get out. lester >> all right, gabe, thank you. we'll turn to the deadly shooting now that has rocked the university of north carolina at chapel hill the suspect making his first court appearance today, a ph.d student charged with killing his academic adviser but what was the motive here's julia ainsley >> reporter: tonight, new video showing the desperation at the university of north carolina chapel hill students climbing out of windows monday, following an alert of an active shooter. the suspect, tailei qi, a 34-year-old graduate student from china, making his first court appearance today on charges including first degree murder in the shooting death of zijie yan, an associate professor in the applied sciences department, who is the father of two young children >> we have determined that the victim and suspect knew each other, and the suspect went directly to the victim and then left the labs. >> reporter: the shooting triggering a campus lockdown carter scott took a class with the suspect last year. >> my heart just kind of just sunk to the bottom of my chest, because -- you don't ever think you're ever going to be in an active shooting situation, let alone have any sort of connection to someone who could do something like that. >> reporter: he told us he never noticed any red flags. at qi's apartment, fbi investigators combed through his belongings bashar al hassan is visiting his son, who shared an apartment wall with the suspect. he says armed agents stormed the complex during the manhunt. >> it's like, god, is this real? and i stepped again outside, and there was an officer with heavy gear >> reporter: classes here remain canceled until thursday, while the district attorney says he won't be taking the death penalty. and police are still looking for the gun the suspect used, and the motive lester >> all right, julia, thank you. a big announcement today that may impact anyone who gets prescription drugs through medicare the white house revealing the first ten medications that under a new law will be subject to deep price cut negotiations with drug companies tom costello explains. >> reporter: the ten meds are among the most widely prescribed for those on medicare. as drug company profits have surged, seniors are now averaging $6,500 out of pocket expenses and more, forcing many to choose between their meds or groceries. retired teacher robin gildon has already spent $4,500 this year on eight prescriptions, including jardiance for diabetes >> i have to get these drugs. i have to get them to stay healthy i just close my eyes and i pick them up >> reporter: jardiance on the list for price cut negotiations, along with januvia, fiasp, and novolog for diabetes eliquis and xarelto, both blood thinners. enbrel for arthritis farxiga for diabetes and kidney disease. entresto for heart failure and stelara for psoriasis and crohn's disease >> today is the start of a new deal for patients, where big pharma doesn't just get a blank check. >> reporter: in 2003, the republican congress banned medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. the new law empowers medicare to do just that -- negotiate. if drug companies don't participate, they face tax penalties. the pharma industry is suing to block the law, claiming it will mean less money for new drugs, and politics should not deck state which treatments and cures are worth developing, and who should get access to them but after capping insulin at $35, polls show broad support for more price caps. >> this is fundamentally about putting prescriptions back in the reach of people, by making them more affordable. >> reporter: pending legal challenges, the new prices on these ten meds should take effect in 2026, then more drug price cuts in '27, '28. 60 drugs over four years. lester >> tom costello, thank you. this week marks two years since the deadly attack during the chaotic withdrawal from afghanistan and today, gold star families who lost loved ones say they are still demanding answers. we get more from ryan nobles >> reporter: two years ago, herman and alicia lopez lost their son, hunter >> it's something that no one thinks will ever happen to their family >> reporter: he was one of 13 u.s. service members killed during the isis bombing near the abbey gate at kabul's airport in afghanistan. he planned to join his hometown sheriff's office >> he didn't get that chance, and we just would like people to give us the truth of what happened and -- and be honest with us. >> reporter: the lopezes, one of several gold star families today demanding accountability >> i don't want to hear lies. i don't want to hear excuses from joe biden. >> reporter: many blaming president biden. >> several presidents preceded mr. biden in this 20-year war. but none of them are to be held accountable for the withdrawal that is he and he alone. >> reporter: the chaotic u.s. withdrawal began as the taliban quickly took over the country. president biden has argued leaving afghanistan was the right choice >> i was not going to extend this forever war. and it was not extending a forever exit >> reporter: tonight, the pentagon defending its response >> u.s. military commanders on the ground in afghanistan made decisions that they could with the information that they had at the time. >> reporter: and tonight, the joint chiefs chair mark milley saying that the briefers have given the families, quote, every piece of information that they could, but saying that they do owe them accountability lester >> all right, ryan, thank you. in just 60 seconds, the pause on student loan interest accrual ends in a matter of days what happens to borrowers who can't or won't pay? back now with a ticking clockfor student loan borrowers. payments are set to resume in october. but as brian cheung reports, some say they can't afford to pay, and others say they won't >> reporter: josie bridges is a single mom living paycheck to paycheck it's hard enough dealing with rising prices at the store. s. >> my student payments are sitting right now at about $400, is what they're expecting each month. so, i mean, that's my food budget right there >> reporter: the pandemic freeze on student loan payments allowed josie to open up her own salon in portland, oregon, but with $4,000 in outstanding debt from her community college degree, she says she simply won't be able to make the monthly payments once they resume in october. >> now i realize that it's kind of out of my hands at this point. if i can't make it, i can't make it. >> it's a game-changer >> reporter: the biden administration's plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student debt would have wiped josie's slate clean. instead, a challenge from six republican states resulted in a supreme court decision in june striking down the plan, after josie had already put thousands of dollars in investments into her salon. >> i'm disappointed, and i'm confused it's too inconsistent. i don't know what's going to happen in the future, and that's kind of scary. >> reporter: if the administration was able to cancel all the debt, what would that have done for you? >> given me financial freedom. >> reporter: the median student borrower has between $20,000 to $25,000 in outstanding debt, and for those over 40 million borrowers, they're going to b facing interest accrual beginning in september, with the first payments in over three years due in october >> it is officially time for a student loan repayment boycott. >> reporter: some taking to social media, calling on borrowers not to pay >> does the u.s. government just think we're going to go back to paying student loan payments, like, what it's going to ruin my credit score >> reporter: education secretary miguel cardona says it's a risk people shouldn't take. >> the loans are still there, and the repayment is still needed >> reporter: failing to pay comes with serious consequences those in default face wage garnishing and big credit score hits but for now, the government says borrowers won't face those penalties if they miss payments >> we know many of our borrowers are going to struggle to make payments, but we want to make sure we're not sending their name to credit agencies, so, we're going to hold them harmless for a year, as they're getting back up. >> reporter: among longer term options for relief, see if your employer offers repayment assi assistant programs, and consider the save program, which adjusts monthly bills based on borrowers' income. josie is weighing her options, but says it's going to be tough either way. >> at this moment, it's either come up with money to pay for these now student loans that i'm having to pay, or make it so where my business doesn't function as it needs to >> reporter: one of millions bracing for the debt cliff this fall brian cheung, nbc news, portland, oregon there's much more to tell you about. up next, why a top soccer official is now facing an investigation after his team won the world cup. we're back with growing controversy in women's soccer the head of spain's federation now under criminal investigation, after kissing a player on the lips during a world cup victory celebration. meagan fitzgerald has more. >> reporter: tonight, outrage growing inside spain >> if we cannot express our joy as women without having some man interrupt it and spoil it >> reporter: as pressure intensifies for the head of the spanish football federation, luis rubiales, to resign. it comes more than a week after he grabbed the head of star player jenni hermoso, kissing her on the lips as the team celebrated their world cup win. prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into whether it was sexual assault. fifa suspended rubiales for 90 days, and in the last 24 hours, leading so officials from the spanish football federation held an urgent meeting, demanding rubiales resign immediately it was an about-face for the federation days earlier, members applauded rubiales when he repeatedly said, "i will not resign." rubiales saying he was the victim of false feminism, and the kiss was consensual hermoso firing back in a statement, saying, "at no time did i consent to the kiss he gave me. >> this has now really turned into a me too moment for us here in spain, and not just as it relates to spanish football and the women that are playing the sport, but also just in a wider scope of society altogether >> reporter: meanwhile, the spanish government has begun the process to try and force rubiales out megan fets gerd, nbc news. when we come back in a moment, we'll show you how one basketball all-star is balancing life while playing one of her best seasons yet finally tonight, we'll take you inside the wnba blayne alexander reports on the game-changing way these pro athletes are balancing sports and motherhood >> and parker -- hits at the buzzer >> reporter: wnba player cheyenne parker just made her very first all-star team the 31-year-old is also balancing another first -- motherhood you're still nursing >> i'm still nursing >> reporter: something that's even harder when she's constantly on the road her mom and fiance are often along for the ride to help with daughter naomi, through countless flights and away games. like that time she was playing overseas in italy. >> i had to literally go out to the stands and grab her, like, come on. >> reporter: you got her from the stands to nurse? and this is right before you hit the court? >> yes this was right before the game >> reporter: working moms are no stranger to making it work, but for professional athletes, the load can be even heavier. cheyenne delivered naomi by c-section. less than four months later, she was back at training camp, determined >> it was a very emotional time for me, because i did have those doubts >> reporter: but this season was one of her best. did you ever picture yourself being a ballplayer and a mom? >> no, never. >> reporter: the wnba has expanded benefits for mothers. players now receive their full salary while on maternity leave, up from just 50% three years ago. the league also provides a $5,000 child care stipend. a major step forward, but many say it doesn't go far enough >> i think what's really important to know is that the wnba is trying the sports industry in general is slow to move. >> reporter: at the dream, it's a team effort. naomi comes to practices, and every player is an honorary auntie do you feel like it made you a stronger athlete, being a mom? >> oh, yeah. it definitely -- it made me tougher. it made me stronger. it shows the strength and resilience of women in general. we are so powerful in fact, i use that as my fuel. >> reporter: doing it all, with her own personal cheerleader right by her side. blayne alexander, nbc news, atlanta. that's "nightly news" for this tuesday thank you for watching i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other good night i'm raj mathai. next on "nbc bay area news tonight," it's been a while, but here it comes. fire danger, smoke, and wind. we'll tell you what to expect in the next 24 hours. also, an east bay elementary school getting racially-motivated threats after holding an event for students of color. >> i'm at the point where i don't feel safe with my son being here. >> the fbi now getting involved after the bomb threat. plus, it's convention season in san francisco, but will it be a bust next year? the stage is set for beyonée before she takes the stage mo

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