Alarming incidents in florida under investigation this morning. A deadly shooting at one popular hot spot. On another beach, a fight quickly es canlating, a gun drawn with police launching a frantic chase. Drop the [ bleep ] gun were live with the latest. Campaign controversy, donald trump facing criticism after this warning at a weekend rally if he loses the election. It is going to be a blood bath. Just ahead, reaction from voters in washington. And how Trumps Campaign is defending those remarks. Rigged result . Vladimir putin wins reelection. The vote never in doubt despite a handful of demonstrations and protests at the polls. Nbc news questioning the russian leader overnight. Mr. President , is this what you call democracy . His response and what hes saying publicly for the first time about the death of his were live at buckingham palace. Those stories, plus remarkable rescue. A group of women race into action to save a friend as she was being mauled by a cougar. It was the epitome of true friendship and love and action. Their dramatic story in their own words. And let the madness begin. Cheers of joy on campuses coast to coast as the fields for the mens and Womens College basketball tournament are revealed, from the top seeds to those cinderella stories. Well have everything you need to know to fill out your brackets today, monday, march 18th, 2024. From nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb. From studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And a good monday morning to you. Thanks for starting your week off with us. Weve got Laura Jarrett with us while savannah and hoda enjoy time off with their families. I know youre excited about march madness. Im so happy to be with you this week. I will need a little help filling out my bracket. I got you. This is the best time of the year for College Football fans. The tournament excuse me, College Basketball fans. I was going to say, i dont know that much about march madness, but i do know it is about basketball. Yes. Not football. It is a monday morning, it is a monday morning. Well get to College Basketball, the tournament in just a few mes south, a 16yearold boy was arrested and charged as an adult after pulling a gun on spring breakers there. All this comes as authorities are taking extra precautions across the state. Miami beach now activating an emergency midnight curfew. Nbcs sam brock has been covering the spring break crackdown for weeks, he joins us with the very latest. Sam, good morning to you. Reporter craig, laura, good morning. No incidents, no major shootings, however chaos did erupt in other parts of florida, namely a trio of shootings overnight in jacksonville, beach florida, three people injured, one person killed, and an entire city shaken as Police Search for suspects. Overnight, terror at a spring break hot spot, a shooting in Jacksonville Beach, florida, leaving one dead and two three injured. 80 people were running down the street, watching you drop to his knees. Reporter the shooting there were multiple incidents, at least one involving a gang member, and warning i want you to come to Jacksonville Beach, i want you to live here, i want you to visit, but if you break the law, were going to put you in jail. Reporter its not the only town facing issues as spring break heats up. Weve got a fight over there. Reporter in new smyrna beach, florida, north of orlando, a fight escalating, and video clearly shows a beach goer taking out a firearm, prompting volusia sheriffs deputies to draw their weapons on a suspect thats only 16. He rushed through crowds of spring growing. There was a tension that was Building People were, in fact, intoxicated and we could see it. That causes friction. Reporter the city reenforcing its hardline against revelers, with measures and messaging. This isnt working anymore. Its not us, its you. Reporter paying dividends during a tricky time for all cities here. How effective would you say so far all of these measures have been . So far we are pleased. Weve had no acts of violence. Reporter back to Jacksonville Beach now, police said the Response Time was zero as there was a footprint already of officers there with spring break, of course, and st. Patricks day at the same time. Craig, back to you. Sam brock for us there in florida, sam, thank you. Turning now to the 2024 race, President Biden and donald trump are ramping up their campaigns, and over the weekend mr. Trump sparking controversy at a rally, saying there will be a, quote, blood bath, if he loses in november. Nbcs Garrett Haake covers the Trump Campaign for us, garrett, good morning. Reporter laura, good morning, that comment drawing a lot of attention as republicans and democrats debate both what the former president actually said, and what he may have meant by it and it comes as the Biden Campaign announces a record fundraising haul for what will clearly be a bitter and Expensive Campaign to come. Donald trump on the attack. What he claims are the criminal migrants crossing the southern border, and destroying the country. Theyre not people, in my opinion, but im not allowed to say that, because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say. These are animals. Okay . Reporter but it was his use of the word blood bath during a riff about chinese car make ers thats creating new headlines and lakes for his campaign. Putting a 100 tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and youre not going to be able to sell those cars. If i get elected now, if i dont get elected, its going to be a blood bath for the whole thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a blood bath for the country. That will be the least of it. The Biden Campaign seizing on the remark, and rejecting the Trump Campaigns claim that it was about only cars. The idea that theyre going to be able to spin their way out of this today is ridiculous. Because every single day donald trump is promoting and endorsing and encouraging Political Violence on the stump reporter elected republicans largely shrugging off the comment, including mr. Trumps former vp turned rival mike pence who has said he will not endorse his former bosss reelection campaign. I see him departing from the mainstream conservative agenda. That has defined the Republican Party over the last 40 years. Reporter the Biden Campaign announcing a record fundraising haul of 53 million in february leaving the campaign flush with 155 million in the bank. On saturday night, the president attending washingtons gridiron dinner, joking about real and fictitious accomplishments, including rigging the super bowl for taylor swift. The 81yearold also cracking a joke that his 10 00 p. M. Speech came, quote, six hours past my bedtime. Now, former President Trump also drawing bipartisan condemnation this weekend for continuing to refer to people charged or convicted of january 6th related crimes as, quote, hostages, who he now says he would pardon if hes reelected. Those comments keeping january 6th in the headline at a time when most other republicans would simply like to move on. Laura . Garrett haake, getting ready for another busy week, my friend, thank you. You bet. Vladimir putin with a landslide victory after three days of voting that offered no real alternatives. While there were some protests, he used his victory speech to declare russia is united behind him. Nbcs chief International Correspondent keir simmons is in moscow for us once again. He was actually at that news conference. He questioned putin directly. Keir, good morning to you. Reporter craig, good morning to you. Late last night president putin responding to a question from nbc news describing the death of his opponent Alexei Navalny as, quote, an unfortunate incident. Speaking after russian Officials Say he won the election with 87 of the vote, a result criticized by western leaders as undemocratic. This morning, president putin beginning another six years in power, after an election that saw dye poured into ballot boxes arson attacks, and drone strikes russia blamed on ukraine. Putin won the biggest victory of his leadership, russian Officials Say, after years of crushing opposition leaders like Alexei Navalny, who told us he voted by writing initials on the ballot. Nbc news was the First InternationalNews Organization to question the russian leader after the election. Journalist Evan Gershkovich spent this election in prison. Boris, who opposes your war in ukraine, wasnt allowed to stand against you. And Alexei Navalny died in one of your prisons during your campaign. Mr. President , is this what you call democracy . Thats life, putin said, and in his answer suggested he had agreed to release navalny on the condition he never returned to russia. Days later, his outspoken critic was dead. Putin says. Hid widow yulia you know, those are people and theyre staying abroad. Her husband died in prison. The longer they stay abroad, the longer they stay abroad, the less connection they have with their own country. Reporter this morning president putin being congratulated by countries like iran, china and north korea. While spokesperson for the National Security council saying the elections are obviously not free or fair, given how mr. Putin has imprisoned opponents and prevents others from running against him. Craig . Good work, my friend. Thank you. Were also following breaking news in the middle east. Israel launching a new raid on gazas main hospital even as the push for a ceasefire takes a new step. Raf sanchez is in tel aviv for us. Good morning, raf. What is the latest on the ground in gaza . Reporter laura, this morning al shifa hospital, the largest medical facility in the gaza strip is once again a battlefield. Israeli forces stormed inside early this morning. They say theyre chasing senior hamas leaders and that an explosive was detonated towards their troops. Palestinian health Officials Say this is another example of israel targeting medical facilities, a potential war crime, and that there are multiple casualties at the hospital. Now, there are thousands of Palestinian Civilians sheltering there. They are hoping for safety, but they are also hoping for food. Over the weekend, the first of those aid ships carrying food arrived in gaza. Humanitarian organizations say it is a start. But to really fend off the potential famine in gaza, you need much more food coming in, and coming in by land, and guys, all of this bringing fresh urgency to those ceasefire talks under way in qatar, an israeli official tells me israels top spy chief is leading the delegation to those talks, based around a frame work of a sixweek ceasefire in exchange for the release of around 40 hostages. Laura . Raf, as those talks continue, meanwhile, israels Prime Minister is reacting to calls for a new election, what are you hearing from netanyahu . Reporter yeah. The Prime Minister making clear he is furious about this speech from Senate Majority leader chuck schumer. He calls it completely inappropriate. He said israel is not a Banana Republic that can be pushed around by the United States. He also said he is moving ahead with a plan to attack the city of rafah in southern gaza. He says that is necessary to destroy hamas. The white house says it will be a disaster without a credible plan to evacuate the more than a million Palestinian Civilians sheltering in the city. Laura . Raf sanchez, thank you. A Washington State woman survived a terrifying cougar attack is sharing her incredible story this morning. Five women on a long bike ride. This is about 30 miles outside seattle when a cougar jumped out of the woods and attacked one of the women. Despite the best efforts to get the cougar to run away, the animal soon had her head clenched in its jaw. I knew every second what was going on. I was poking at it and trying to poke his eyeballs out and get up his nose and pry his mouth with my hand. About 15 minutes into the battle, the cougar loosened its jaws. Keri was able to get away. The group managed to get a bike on the animal and hold it down until help finally arrived. Trauma to her face and permanent nerve damage, but says shes just thankful to be alive. Can you imagine . Cougars are just out and loose now . I guess in washington. Glad shes okay. We have a lot more to get to this morning, including the best time of year for College Basketball fans. The fields are set for the mens and womens ncaa basketball tournaments. The madness is here. Jesse kirsch joins us with everything you need to know. How is your bracket looking . Reporter good morning, my bracket is not busted yet. I bet there are a lot of College Basketball fans out there booking flights and hotels today, we now know whos in and where every team will play, were talking about between women and men, 136 schools, now getting ready for their chance in the big dance. From first timers to tournament regulars. Can they win another National Championship . Reporter this Morning College campuses nationwide waking up with hoop dreams. Because the march madness brackets are set. Just want our side to win a basketball game. Reporter hats off to the mens squad from florida, making their first ever tournament appearance. What we did, it wasnt given. It was earned. Reporter its no surprise others, like the iowa hawkeyes women are back in the big dance. Led by superstar Caitlin Clark, who is not only having a recordbreaking season, but has been helping the womens game surge in popularity. If we want to reach our goals in march we have to find ways to win that arent always pretty. Reporter we dont know whos playing in the National Championships yet. But ticket resale site tickpick says as of last night its cheapest ticket for the womens title game was 419, more than double the minimum price to see the men play. Beyond star power, the brackets also have plenty of underdogs. The peacocks return to the ncaa tournament. Reporter including americas 2022 favorite, the st. Peters peacocks, who became the first mens 15 seed to reach the elite eight. The time winding down, he gets the bucket reporter even before the madness officially begins, marchs conference tournaments producing upsets and buzzer beaters. On sunday duquesne beat bcu, clinching a mens tournament spot for the first time in almost 50 years. My goodness reporter but the Party Started a little too early when confetti began falling mid game. Were going to have to stop playing. We cant see our nose. The players cant work on this court. Confetti is everywhere reporter now every team is back to square one. It is time to go dancing. Make sure you lock in your bracket picks before the first rounds. Thats thursday for the men and friday for the women. And the question here in cleveland is, will we be seeing Caitlin Clark flay for a National Title right there next month . Craig and laura, back to you. All right. Thanks, jesse. Who do you like . I dont know. Im asking you. I always pull for the lady gamecocks. Okay. I will take my lead from you. Mr. Roker, who do you like . I like that kyrie irving shot at the end of the mavs game. That was pretty amazing. I love that you have become an nba fan. Im telling you, you know, its better late than never. While the nbas hot, not so hot down to the southeast. 23 Million People under freeze warnings. They had a couple of freeze watches and advisories down through louisiana. This afternoon, temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees below average. Bristol 49. Atlanta 59 degrees. Thats seven degrees below average. Dallas at 61 for a high today. Tomorrow morning, you will be 27 in nashville. Macon 32. Raleigh 33. Washington, d. C. Not so bad for the Cherry Blossoms. A low of 35. Theyre at peak right now. It shouldnt be a big problem. The good news is there is a quick, quick freeze and a big rebound. Little rock, by wednesday youre at 74 degrees. Nashville, youre in the mid60s. Charlotte low 70s. Savannah, you are in the 70s as well. We will get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. I really like you. I dont even live near water. Whoa, these arrived so fast. I know, right . Youre about to get posterized. Im going to shatter that glass. Come on, lets go. Dicks dot good monday morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. We are seeing a clear and cool start as you get ready to head out. Temperatures in the mid40s in dublin, 46 in san jose, and low 50s for oakland as well as San Francisco. And after a cool start, its going to be a beautiful day. Our high temperatures in the mid70s, and were going to have a cooldown as we head throughout the week. As we officially begin spring, its going to feel more like winter this weekend, with some off and on r