Top Story with Tom Llamas - Sept. 12 | NBC News NOW

Introduction APPRECIATE IT. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS HOUR. I WILL SEE YOU ON SUNDAY ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS AND HERE AGAIN ON MONDAY ON NBC NEWS NOW WE HAVE MORE COVERAGE PICKING UP RIGHT NOW. >> TONIGHT TROPICAL STORM FRANCINE CONTINUING TO SLAM THE U.S. WITH HEAVY WIND AND RAIN AS MUCH OF THE GULF COAST IS UNDERWATER. FRANCINE MAKING LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE LASHING LOUISIANA WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. RESIDENTS WAKING UP TO A FLOOD DISASTER. THIS OWNERS CLEANING UP WHAT IS LEFT OF THEIR DECIMATED STORES. WE WILL TALK TO A WOMAN WHOSE HOME WAS FLOODED AFTER RENOVATING FROM ANOTHER HURRICANE. THE STORM WREAKING HAVOC WITH 11 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER FLOODWATERS. TONIGHT INFERNO EMERGENCY. THREE MAJOR FIRES RAGING ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITH CREWS GRAPPLING WITH THE FLAMES AMID THE STIFLING HEAT WAVE AS INVESTIGATORS HIT THE SUSPECTED ARSONIST WITH NINE CHARGES. THE LONG SENTENCE HE COULD BE FACING. >>> THE POLICE COMMISSIONER RESIGNS STEPPING DOWN AMID A BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION INVOLVING TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ALLEGATIONS DETAILING HOW THE SCHEME WORKED AND PUTTING TIES TO THE TWIN BROTHER AND THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. >>> PROTESTS ERUPTING. VIDEO SHOWING THE MOMENTS THE PROTESTERS IN MEXICO STORMED THE SENATE BUILDING. WHY A NEW LAW IS BRINGING CHAOS TO THE COUNTRY. THE MAYOR'S PARTY ACCESS. THE SELF-PROCLAIMED SUPER MAYOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON ANOTHER LAVISH PARTY AND LIVE STREAMING IT. WHAT SHE SAYS ABOUT ALL THIS TONIGHT. >>> A DAREDEVIL BIKER SHOWING A MAN RACING ACROSS THE SEA ON WHEELS HOW THE THRILLSEEKER WAS ABLE TO GLIDE MORE THAN 20 MILES AN OPEN WATER. Francine flood disaster in the south >>> BREAKING NEWS COMING IN TONIGHT DETAILS ON BOMB THREATS IN SPRINGFIELD OHIO. THE TOWN AT THE CENTER OF A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. TOP STORY STARTS NOW. >> GOOD EVENING I'M IN FOR TOM LLAMAS. THE GULF COAST REELING FROM FRANCINE'S WRATH AS THE STORM CONTINUES TO DRENCH THE SOUTHERN U.S. A LOOK AT THE MAJOR STORM SURGE THAT HIT LOUISIANA, AN ENTIRE HIGHWAY BLOCKED BY RUSHING WATERS. SOME PEOPLE HAVING TO JUMP INTO KAYAKS TO EVACUATE THE FLOODED HOMES AND HERE IS WHAT THE RESIDENTS WERE FACING, DRONE VIDEO SHOWING ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS COMPLETELY UNDERWATER. LOUISIANA MAY BE IN THE CLEAR BUT MANY STATES ARE BRACING FOR HEAVY RAINFALL. WE ARE TRACKING OUT WHERE THE STORM IS HEADED. >> TOWNS ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA ARE PICKING UP THE PIECES AFTER A DAMAGING BLOW FROM HURRICANE FRANCINE OVERNIGHT THE POWERFUL SYSTEM SLAMMED INTO LOUISIANA'S GULF COAST WITH DAMAGING WIND AND DRENCHING RAIN. POWER KNOCKING OUT THOUSANDS. TAKING THE HOME OF THE CATEGORY TWO STORM. >> A LOT OF RAIN AND HIGH WIND WHICH ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN SEVEN DIFFERENT RESCUES DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM. >> IT WEEKEND TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION. >> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO REPORTS OF ANY STORM RELATED FATALITIES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THIS WAY. >> DAN STEVENS SAYS THE STORM SURVIVED IN 2021 AND WELL FRANCINE WAS A WEAKER STORM THEY TOOK A BIGGER HIT. >> WHAT WAS THE REACTION WHEN YOU CAME OUT HERE? >> YOU THINK A SMALL STORM LIKE THAT COULD NOT DO THIS. >> A POWER LINE BEHIND HIS HOME. >> I SUSPECTED IT WAS ONE OF THE TREES. >> THE STORM NEARLY TOOK HIS LIFE . >> WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT BUT WE WERE PREPARED FOR THIS. >> THE EXTREME WENT KNOCKING DOWN TREES CUTTING INTO HIS HOME . >> FRANCINE PACKING A POWERFUL PUNCH AND ON THE MOVE AGAIN . >> KATHY JOINING US , LOOKING AROUND YOU YOU'RE IN THE THRIFT STORE, A VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OVER WHAT BUSINESS DEALERS ARE DEALING WITH. HOW ARE THEY COPING AND THE THREAT ISN'T OVER YET, RIGHT? >> GOOD EVENING YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE'S A BIG CLEANUP AHEAD YOU CAN HEAR THAT BANGING BEHIND ME. TO MY LEFT THAT WAS A BRICK WALL AT SOME POINT BUT THIS MORNING IT WAS COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF FROM FRANCINE BUT AS YOU COULD SEE THE CREWS MOVED IN QUICKLY AND THEY HAD TO PUT UP A TEMPORARY WALL SO THE CREWS ARE MOBILIZING QUICKLY TO GET EVERYONE ONLINE BUT THE BIG HEADLINE TONIGHT IS THE POWER OUTAGES WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER TONIGHT AND COULD BE DAYS BEFORE EVERYONE IS ONLINE AGAIN. >> IT'S DIJ@ VU FOR MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS. >> FOR MORE ON THE HUMAN IMPACT SPEAKING ABOUT HURRICANE FRANCINE WE ARE JOINED BY KEITH AND DESIREE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA IN NEW ORLEANS WHICH HAD MAJOR FLOODING FROM HURRICANE FRANCINE YESTERDAY AND ARE NO STRANGERS TO THE SITUATION. IN 2021 HURRICANE IDA CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THEIR HOME AFTER A TREE FELL ON THE ROOF. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SORRY -- HOW BADLY WE FEEL ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO COPE WITH ALL OF THIS? >> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE ARE BEYOND FRUSTRATED. FEELING OVERWHELMED AND STRESSED HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE COMPLETED TOTALLY RENOVATING THE HOUSE FROM HURRICANE IDA. THERE WAS A LOT OF FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS AND DRAINAGE EFFORTS SO TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN IS OVERWHELMING AND IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL. >> I COULD ONLY IMAGINE IT WAS PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT RENOVATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. AS YOU HAVE SEEN THE FLOODWATERS COME AND WHAT WERE YOU EXPERIENCING IN THOSE MOMENTS AND IT FEEL LIKE A RETIREMENT IS ACE INTO A DEGREE? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WE HAVE PTSD, HONESTLY . THE WATER WAS COMING IN AND STARTED TO SEEP IN THROUGH THE DOOR. WE GOT TOWELS AND WE PUT TOWELS OUT AND WERE RINGING THEM OUT IN BUCKETS. MY HUSBAND TURNS AROUND AND WALKS TOWARD THE KITCHEN. HE DISCOVERED THE WATER HAD STARTED COMING UP THROUGH THE FLOORS IT WAS UNDERNEATH THE STEPS AND HAVE A POINT OUR ENTIRE DOWNSTAIRS WHICH IS A LIVING AREA, MY HUSBAND'S OFFICE IN THE BATHROOM IT WAS INUNDATED WITH WATER. >> 7 INCHES. 7 INCHES CAME IN. DEFINITELY PTSD. THIS HAPPENED QUICKLY. MONITORING THE SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE STORM THE WIND REALLY STARTED TO PICK UP WHEN WE LOST THE ELECTRICITY AND WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER ON THE STREET AND WITHIN MINUTES IT WAS COMING IN LIKE A RIVER. >> YOU COULDN'T SEE ACROSS THE STREET. IT WAS LIKE A WATERFALL. THE REASON THIS HAPPENED THE POST SYSTEM, THE PUMP SYSTEM WENT DOWN. THEY SEEMED TO WORK LESS THAN THEY WERE. WE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A POWER FAILURE AT THE PUMPING STATION AND NO ONE HAD A BACKUP PLAN SO ONCE AGAIN HERE WE GO. >> INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES . HAVING COVERED ALL THE STORMS ALONG THE GULF, ALL THE STATES WERE THERE'S BEEN THIS ISSUE WITH THE HIGH INTENSITY OF STORMS IT'S HARD TO GET INSURANCE FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH TRAGEDY EVERY SINGLE YEAR OR A FEAR OF IT. COULD THIS INFLUENCE YOUR OPINION ABOUT STAYING WHERE YOU ARE VERSUS PERHAPS AM ULTIMATELY MOVING TO ANOTHER PLACE? >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, IT'S PROBABLY THE FOURTH TIME THEY FLOODED NOT JUST FROM HURRICANES BUT ALSO FROM TROPICAL STORMS. IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR INSURANCE RATE INCREASES EVERY YEAR. PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE. YOU CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS INDEFINITELY. IT PUTS TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL STRAIN ON THE FAMILY. >> EVEN OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE EARLY TO MID 20s. THEY TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS, THEY WANT TO BE HERE AND WOULD LOVE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE AND SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES HERE BUT THEY ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO. WILL THE CITY EVEN BE HERE FOR THEM? THIS IS AN AWFUL SITUATION. >> IT'S A REGIONAL CRISIS AND THE CRISIS THAT NO ONE HAS ANY GOOD ANSWERS FOR GOING FORWARD BUT CERTAINLY CLIMATE CHANGE AND OTHER REINFORCEMENT OF HOW BAD THINGS ARE GETTING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS. WE APPRECIATE THIS. >> THANK YOU ALL. >> FOR MORE ON FRANCINE'S LINGERING THREAT AS THE STORM MOVES NORTH JOINED LIVE OUR NEWS METEOROLOGIST. THE STORM IS POST-TROPICAL AND IT'S IMPACTING MILLIONS. >> JUST BECAUSE IT'S LOST ITS TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS IT'S NOT NOT GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS . THERE IS A SHIELD OF RAIN THAT WE'VE PICKED UP AROUND 3 INCHES OF RAIN WITH ISOLATED POCKETS, MOSTLY URBAN AREAS COLLECTING AND WE HAVE THIS AREA DOWN HERE IN ALABAMA. THE SUN WAS OUT NOW ONE OF THESE BANDS IS COMING THROUGH WITH WHAT IS LEFT OF FRANCINE CAUSING A THREAT OF TORNADOES. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS LINE AND IT WAS LOOKING INTENSE BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD TORNADOES. THE WORST OF THE STORMS IS TOWARD THE WEST. ANOTHER ONE OUT BY TUSCALOOSA SO WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THESE POSSIBLE TORNADOES. WE ARE DROPPING FLOOD WATCHES. PANAMA CITY DROPPED DOWN WITH THIS. FROM MEMPHIS TO CENTRAL ALABAMA, ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN THE PERSISTENT DORMS STORMS. TOMORROW IS NOT AS BAD AS TODAY BUT WE HAVE MINOR TRAVEL ISSUES. >> IT WILL CERTAINLY REEK A LITTLE BIT OF HAVOC. WIDENING THE SCOPE DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY OTHER STORMS COMING IN? >> THE ONLY AREA OF CONCERN WOULD BE OFF TOWARD THE SOUTH AND NORTH CAROLINA COAST. A STORM COULD DEVELOP. ALL THIS OTHER STUFF OUT HERE WILL REMAIN IN THE ATLANTIC. YOU'LL HAVE SOME SQUALLY WEATHER FOR THIS TROPICAL WEEK. IT WON'T CAUSE ANY DAMAGE BUT THE AREA ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST, RIP CURRENTS AND LARGE WAVES. Wildfires tear through Southern California NOT GOOD FOR THE BEACH WEEKEND UNFORTUNATELY. >> CERTAINLY NOT, BILL KARINS THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATES. >>> TO THE RAGING WILDFIRES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. FIREFIGHTERS CAN YOU TO BATTLE FLAMES AS AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO TWO COUNTIES. THE MAN SUSPECTED OF STARTING ONE OF THOSE FIRES IS FACING NINE COUNTS OF ARSON. OUR REPORTER TALKS WITH A SURVIVOR ON THE GROUND. >>> FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE WEST. >> YOU HOPE THE WIND DOESN'T SHIFT AND WE ARE STILL WORRIED. >> 5 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER A RED FLAG WARNING IS HUMIDITY AND WIND THREATENS TO SPREAD THE EXISTING FIRE. >> THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE DISRUPTED . >> FIREFIGHTERS PUSHING BACK IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES. THE GOVERNOR EXTENDING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AFTER TOURING THE FIRE ZONE AND AFTER THE STORM SIX VOTED OVER TUESDAY, HARROWING TALES OF SURVIVAL AS THE BRIDGE FIRE CHEWED THROUGH REDWOOD CALIFORNIA. >> THE SOUTH SIDE WAS FULLY ENGULFED AND HAD TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CALL 911 BUT COULDN'T GET THROUGH. >> HE DROVE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> I SHOWED PICTURES OF WHERE THIS WAS IN THE IMMEDIATELY SAID OKAY WE WILL GET RIGHT ON THIS. >> THE SMOKE LEAVING THE AIR UNHEALTHY TO BREATHE. THE MUSIC FESTIVAL NOW CANCELED. INVESTIGATORS HIT THE SUSPECTED ARSONIST WITH NINE CHARGES ACCUSING HIM OF STARTING THE LINE FIRE. >> I CAN ASSURE THE PUBLIC WE WILL GO HARD ON THE CASE. >> IS CONVICT THAT HE COULD GO AWAY FOR LIFE HIS FAMILY HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT. >> JOINING US FROM RIVERSIDE COUNTY. YOU HAVE NEW REPORTING ABOUT THE AIRPORT FIRE STARTED. >> Reporter: IT WAS ACTUALLY AN ACCIDENT. SOME OF THE DEVASTATION YOU'RE ONE OF THESE HOMES, AND INVERTER TABLE HERE, A SHOWER, THE CHIMNEYS ARE USUALLY THE ONLY THINGS LEFT IN THE FIRES AND YOU HAVE BURNED-OUT CARS BURNED DOWN TO THEIR FRAMES. IT WAS A CREW OF ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKERS USING HEAVY EQUIPMENT MOVING BOULDERS WHICH SPARKED A FIRE AND IN THIS CLIMATE IS A BIG NO-NO, HEAVY EQUIPMENT DURING TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES SO THOUGH NOW THEY NYPD commissioner out amid corruption implications HAVE TO REVIEW THE POLICY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> TURNING TO THE BOMBSHELL RESIGNATION FROM THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER STEPPING DOWN AMID AN ONGOING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE NYPD'S NIGHT CLUB ENFORCEMENT HOW ONE BROOKLYN BAR OWNER SAYS HE WAS TOLD HIS PROBLEMS WITH THE NYPD COULD GO AWAY IF YOU PAID EDWARD CABAN'S BROTHER, A WORKER AND MAYOR ADAMS OFFICE TRYING TO ARRANGE THE DEAL TOLD HIM. OUR CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOLLOWS THE TRAIL FOR THE EXCLUSIVE REPORT. >> I FELT LIKE I HAD AN ULTIMATUM EITHER YOU DO THIS OR YOU WILL BE SHUT DOWN AND WE WILL BE SURE TO SHUT YOU DOWN. >> HE SAID IT WAS THIS MAN, THE MAY ORAL STAFFER , RAY MARTIN, WHO SAID HE COULD PAY THE POLICE COMMISSIONER'S BROTHER TO GET BETTER TREATMENT FROM THE NYPD. >> HE SAID HE WAS AN ASSISTANT TO ERIC ADAMS AND HE KNEW PEOPLE AND THEY DROPPED EDWARD CABAN'S NAME BECAUSE HE'S THE NYPD COMMISSIONER AND I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NYPD. >> THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS OTHER JAMES CABAN SAID HE COULD HELP WITH HIS PROBLEMS IF HE PAID HIM $2500 UPFRONT. THE STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY SAYS HIS BAR WASN'T FACING ANY CHARGES OF WRONGDOING BUT THERE WERE DOZENS OF NOISE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOUD MUSIC. KELLY SAYS HE FELT TOO MANY POLICE FROM THE PRECINCT THERE CONTINUED SHOWING UP HURTING HIS NEW BUSINESS ALONG MERMAID AVENUE. HE SAID HIS PLEAS FOR HELP FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BOARD WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HE SAID HE DIDN'T EXPECT RAY MARTIN FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WOULD GIVE HIM THIS ADVICE. >> HE WENT ON ABOUT HOW HE THINKS I SHOULD CLOSE THE BAR AND IF I DON'T CLOSE THE BAR THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO GET THE POLICE TO STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHICH IS TO SPEAK TO ONE OF HIS FRIENDS. >> JAMES CABAN EX-COP IS THE BROTHER OF EDWARD CABAN. TEXT MESSAGES FROM 2023 WHERE MARTIN FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ENCOURAGED KELLY TO CONTACT JAMES CABAN. >> REMINDER TO CALL JAMES. >> THESE PHONE RECORDS AND TEXT SHOW HE AND THE COMMISSIONERS BROTHER DISCUSSING THESE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE BUSINESS WHICH WAS A JUICE BAR DURING THE DAY AND LICENSED TO SERVE ALCOHOL ON WEEKENDS NIGHTS HE SPOKE TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT FROM THE COMMUNITY BOARD IS THAT THEY ARE REGISTERED AS A JUICE BAR AND DOING PARTIES THERE WITH LOTS OF NOISE COMPLAINTS. >> YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO SERVE ALCOHOL THE COMMUNITY BOARD NEW IT WAS SUMMER TIME SO THEY KNEW WE WERE GOING TO DO THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT EVENTS. >> RECORD SUGGESTS THEY SPOKE BY PHONE WHEN KELLY SAYS JAMES CABAN ASKED HIM FOR THE INITIAL $2500. >> HE SAID HE WILL MEDIATE MY ISSUES WITH WILL THE NYPD AND BRING THEM TO ME TO HAVE A MEETING AND RESOLVE THESE ISSUES IS WHAT HE SPECIFICALLY SAID HE COULD DO BUT HE SAID I HAD TO PAY HIM FOR IT AND I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING EXTORTED AND I WAS LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOOD I'LL DEAL WITH IT HOW I DEAL WITH IT THEN IT GOT WORSE. >> KELLY SAYS THE RAY MARTIN AND THE JAMES CABAN CONNECTION BOTHERED HIM. >> I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU GOT TO PAY ME SOME MONEY IF YOU WANT THE PROBLEM TO GO AWAY. THAT DOESN'T FALL WITH ME. >> MARTIN DIDN'T RETURN OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT. >> HE UNEQUIVOCALLY DENIES ANY WRONGDOING. HIS WORK AS A CONSULTANT AND ACTING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND A PRIVATE COMPANY IS PERFECTLY LEGAL, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HIS PREVIOUS CAREER AS AN NYPD OFFICER. OUR CLIENT HAS COOPERATED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHEN THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE IT WILL BE CLEAR THE CLAIMS ARE UNFOUNDED AND LACK MERIT. THE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW YORK CONSULTANT. >> EVERYTHING WE HEARD FROM THE BAR OWNER IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE IT'S A MINIMAL UNETHICAL AND POSSIBLY CRIMINAL IN THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD BE DEALT WITH. >> I'VE BEEN REALLY HURT AND DISAPPOINTED AND STRESSED. >> KELLY ISN'T MAKING THE ALLEGATIONS ONLY NOW BUT POST HIS CONCERNS IN FEBRUARY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT AT THE TIME FEW NOTICED. KELLY CLOSED HIS BUSINESS IN FEBRUARY. >> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A THEME GOING ON IN NEW YORK CITY SPECIFICALLY. TO BE HONEST. >> CITY HALL TODAY ISSUING A STATEMENT, WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS ATTENTION AFTER RECEIVING THE INQUIRY WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN AN INTERNAL REVIEW AND FOUND MR. MARTIN VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HIS EMPLOYMENT. HE WAS TERMINATED FOR CAUSE YESTERDAY AND WE EXPECT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO ACT ETHICALLY AND IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST. HE HAS NOT RETURNED A REQUEST FOR COMMENT. WE SPOKE WITH THE BAR OWNER AGAIN AND HE SAYS THE FEDS AND DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION ARE WITH HIM INTERVIEWING HIM THIS AFTERNOON IN CONNECTION WITH THE ONGOING CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION INTO CITY HALL AND IN THE NYPD. >> IT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE THERE WAS A DOCUMENTATION TRAIL WITH TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE RECORDS IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THERE'S BEEN A DIRECT THREAT BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND ONE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS? >> IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE COME FORWARD PUBLICLY BY NAME AND FACE AND SAID THIS HAPPENED TO HIM AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS YOU POINTED OUT E SAVED THOSE MESSAGES AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE PHONE COMPANY WHO PROVIDED PHONE RECORDS MAY APPEAR TO SHOW THOSE CONVERSATION. >> THE IMPLICATIONS ARE HUGE SO YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A DIFFERENT POLICE COMMISSIONER WHERE'S THE NEXT STEP FOR THE NYPD? >> FOR THE NYPD THE FOCUS HAS GOT TO BE PUBLIC TRUST AND TRYING TO WORK TO KEEP THE CRIME DOWN. THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN SHOOTINGS BUT THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH ONGOING PROBLEMS IN THE NYPD IS UNDER PRESSURE ON THAT FRONT AND ON THE ALLEGED Bomb threats amid migrant controversy CORRUPTION FRONT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EYE-OPENING REPORTING THERE. >> MOVING TO SOME BREAKING NEWS OUT OF SPRINGFIELD OHIO. BOMB THREATS PROMPTING EVACUATIONS IN THE CITY AT THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSIAL CLAIMS THE PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES ABOUT HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS. >> THE TENSION HERE IN SPRINGFIELD OHIO WILL IS PALPABLE . PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THESE BASELESS CLAIMS ABOUT HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS WILL IMPACT LIFE HERE. THEY ARE VERY WORRIED AND SOME SAY THEY ARE SCARED TO WALK THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY WORRY THEY COULD BE TARGETED OR THAT PEOPLE COULD GET VIOLENT WITH THEM. THEY SAY THEY ARE FEELING INSECURITY HERE IN SPRINGFIELD SOME RESIDENTS BELIEVE THESE UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS AND SAY THEY ARE CREDIBLE THEY ALSO SAID THEY DON'T WANT THIS COMMUNITY TO BECOME A HAITIAN COMMUNITY BUT WANT TO KEEP IT IN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE STORY OF AMERICA IS THAT IT DOES CHANGE. YOU HAVE GERMANS AND POLISH PEOPLE AND IRISH PEOPLE, PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES COME HERE MAKING AMERICA THEIR HOME. THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION HERE. THERE WAS ALSO A BOMB THREAT AND THE NUMBER OF THREATS WHICH CAUSED THE EVACUATION OF CITY HALL INCLUDING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE FBI TO INVESTIGATE. THEY AREN'T SURE IF IT'S CONNECTED TO THE BASELESS CLAIMS. THE PRESS SECRETARY TALKED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. >> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DEBUNKED A VERY BIZARRE AND VERY HATEFUL SMEAR. WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO TEAR APART COMMUNITIES AND DISRESPECT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE COUNTRY DESERVES. >> JUST TODAY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS DOUBLING DOWN ON THESE COMMENTS . COMMENTS ABOUT HAITIANS ABUSING ANIMALS SAYING THAT THERE'S PEOPLE COMING HERE FROM PRISON BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THESE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS HAVE COME HERE LEGALLY BY THE THOUSANDS AND THEY ARE COMING HERE TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE BUT THE Trump says he won't debate Harris again STORY CONTINUES. BACK TO YOU. >> YES, WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. VICE PRESIDENT HARRISON FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP HOLDING THAT TO BE DEBATES. >> DOING RALLIES IN CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND STATES ON OPPOSITE SIDES. VICE PRESIDENT HARRISON NORTH CAROLINA . >> WHILE HE TRIES TO PULL THE NATION BACKWARD WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE. >> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN ARIZONA. >> KAMALA HARRIS SHOWED UP SPEWING EMPTY RHETORIC. >> THE DEBATES WILL BE THERE LAST. >> WE HAVE DONE TO DEBATES AND THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE. >> WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS TO HAVE ANOTHER DEBATE. >> THE CAMPAIGN IS ENTERING AN AGGRESSIVE PHASE TO FLIP NORTH CAROLINA WHICH DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT WON SINCE 2008. >> HE INTENDS TO END THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WITH NO PLAN TO REPLACE IT. HE SAID CONCEPTS OF A PLAN. >> THE TEAM RAMPING UP A PLAN FOR YOUNGER VOTERS. THIS GROUP SAYS ENTHUSIASM IS SURGING SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DROPPED OUT. >> SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU WITH THE SAME VALUES AS YOU ON THE TICKET IS SO ENCOURAGING. >> I THINK SHE'S DOING WHAT POLITICIANS DO, TO REPRESENT EVERYONE IN AMERICA. >> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN ARIZONA ESTATE HE NARROWLY LOST IN 2020, GOING AFTER HER RECORD ON THE ECONOMY. >> I'M ANGRY ABOUT RAMPANT INFLATION DESTROYING THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND AMERICAN PEOPLE. >> SUPPORTERS SAY HE DELIVERED AT THIS WEEK'S DEBATE . >> I THINK HE WON BECAUSE HE HIT THE MARKS AND TOUCHED ON ALL THE POINTS THAT I THINK AMERICANS WANT TO HEAR OF. >> SHE DIDN'T TELL US WHAT HER AGENDA WAS OR WHAT SHE COULD DO FOR US SHE JUST TALKED. >> WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND RECORD FUNDRAISING NUMBERS IN THE FUTURES PLAN? FOR AS WE MENTION THE CAMPAIGN IS ENTERING AN AGGRESSIVE PHASE IN OFFICIAL TELLING NBC NEWS IN THE 24 HOURS FOLLOWING THE DEBATES THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN RAISED $47 MILLION THE BIGGEST FUNDRAISING HALL SINCE SHE BECAME THE NOMINEE. >> 600,000 PEOPLE DONATED FROM TUESDAY UNTIL WEDNESDAY. THEY SAY NEXT WEEK SHE WILL BE RECEIVING HIGH-POWERED FUNDRAISING HELP. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL FUNDRAISERS LOS ANGELES. >> THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS HE IS NOT DOING ANOTHER DEBATE WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HE'S MADE THESE KINDS OF DECLARATIONS BEFORE DO WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THIS IS HIS FINAL DECISION? >> AS YOU KNOW IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS WHAT HE SAYS. THE VICE PRESIDENT IN HER SPEECH EARLIER TODAY AND CHARLOTTE SAID SHE WANTED ANOTHER DEBATE AND EXPECTED THE CAMPAIGN TO REALLY HAMMER THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE TERM CAMPAIGN SAYS THIS WAS THE FINAL ONE THOUGH WE HAVE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE COMING UP. >>> STILL AHEAD THE NEW INDICTMENTS FOR HARVEY WEINSTEIN, THE GRAND JURY ISSUING THE DISGRACED MOVIE MOGUL NEW CHARGES MONTHS AFTER HIS NEW YORK CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED. WHAT WE KNOW. >>> THE SUPER MAYOR WHOSE INVESTIGATION IS IN THE HOT SEAT ONCE AGAIN. ALLEGATIONS HE SHE IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND A LAVISH COMMUNITY EVENT. >>> CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY CHANGING ITS NAME AFTER FEET. IL 'supermayor' throws extravagant event >> THE ONLY VOICE THAT MATTERS ARE THE VOICES OF THE VOTERS. >> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW . >>> BACK NOW ON THE STORY THAT WE BROUGHT YOU IN MARCH. THE MAYOR OF DALTON ILLINOIS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR MISUSING PUBLIC FUNDS. THIS TIME SHE'S ACCUSED OF THROWING AN EXTRAVAGANT COMMUNITY PARTY WITH R&B SINGER'S WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED TAXPAYERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. >> THIS IS SUPER MAYOR. >> THE SELF-PROCLAIMED SUPER MAYOR IN THE HOT SEAT ONCE AGAIN. SHE IS THE MAYOR OF THE CHICAGO SUBURB OF DALTON AND THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR ACCUSED OF MISUSING PUBLIC FUNDS INCLUDING SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A ONE-DAY COMMUNITY EVENT WHICH INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY R&B SINGER'S. >> YOU HAD A COUPLE EVENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR SO WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT UNNECESSARILY. >> HENYARD PUSHING BACK CALLING THE ALLEGATIONS BASELESS. >> YOU THOUGHT I WAS DONE, DID KNOWN NOTHING. BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD START A SMEAR CAMPAIGN. >> THIS COMES AFTER THE CHICAGO MAYOR WHO WAS HIRED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO INVESTIGATE THE VILLAGES FINANCES REVEALED HER EARLY FINDINGS . THE VILLAGES GENERAL DAY-TO-DAY OPERATING FUND WAS $3.6 MILLION IN DEBT. CHECKS WORTH OVER $6 MILLION HAD BEEN APPROVED BUT NOT SENT TO VENDORS. MULTIPLE PURCHASES UNDER INVESTIGATION INCLUDING AN AMAZON BILL TOTALING MORE THAN $40,000 AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO ANNUAL REPORT OR AUDIT SINCE 2021 THE YEAR THAT HENYARD WAS ELECTED. >> I'M ANGRY , THAT TYPE OF MONEY COULD HAD BEEN USED AS A RESOURCE AND FOR OTHER THINGS. >> LIGHTFOOT SAID HENYARD'S ADNISTRATION DIDN'T COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION. HENYARD MEN HAVE LANDS HENYARD MADE HEADLINES PUTTING UP SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS WITH HER PICTURE ON THEM WITH ALLEGATIONS SHE PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO IS ACTUALLY HER MAKEUP ARTIST AND DENIED THESE CLAIMS. THE TRUSTEES EVENTUALLY VOTING TO OVERRIDE THE VETO SO THAT THE LIGHTFOOT INVESTIGATION COULD BEGIN. >> I HOPE HERE'S US BECAUSE THE VILLAGE OF DALTON AND THORTON TOWNSHIP IS IN A CRISIS NOW. >> ACCORDING TO NBC CHICAGO HENYARD IS AT THE CENTER OF A WIDE-RANGING FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS. WE REACHED OUT TO TIFFANY HENYARD AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. >> ANOTHER CHAPTER TO . >> TOP STORY WITH TOM LLAMAS STREAMING WEEKNIGHTS AT 7:00 ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> FOR THE LATEST ON THE 2024 ELECTION GET THE NBC NEWS AVENUE. YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS, ANALYSIS ON THE GROUND REPORTING AND INTERVIEWS, DOWNLOAD THE NBC NEWS AVENUE NOW. >>> BACK NOW WITH TOP STORIES NEWSFEED. THE NEW YORK CITY GRAND JURY ISSUED A NEW SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE AGAINST THE DISGRACED MOVIE MOGUL HARVEY WEINSTEIN MONTHS AFTER HIS INITIAL CONVICTION WHICH WAS OVERTURNED IN NEW YORK IN APRIL. THE DETAILS OF THE NEW CHARGES HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. HE'S CURRENTLY RECOVERING FROM EMERGENCY HEART SURGERY BUT COULD FACE ARRAIGNMENTS AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK. >>> AND HIV PREVENTION PROVING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ACCORDING TO ONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. CLINICAL TRIALS FOR THE COMPANY SHOWS TWICE A YEAR DRUG INJECTIONS REDUCED HIV RISK BY 96% IN PARTICIPANTS. WHICH OUTPERFORMED PILL FORM DRUGS TAKEN DAILY. THEY NOW AND TO SEEK FDA APPROVAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THE TIMELINE WITH THE PRICE FOR PATIENTS IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. >>> THE CAMPBELL'S SOUP COMPANY ANNOUNCING A CHANGE IN ITS CORPORATE NAME AFTER 150 YEARS. THEY ARE DROPPING SOUP FROM ITS NAME. IT WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS THE CAMPBELL'S COMPANY. THIS WILL HIGHLIGHT ITS EVOLVING PRODUCT LINE. SpaceX completes historic all-civilian spacewalk THIS IS PENDING SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL WITH AN ANNUAL MEETING SET FOR NOVEMBER. >>> COMMISSION MAKING HISTORY. THE FIRST-EVER PRIVATE ASTRONAUTS TO COMPLETE A SPACE WALK. THE MOMENT WAS CAPTURED 800 MILES ABOVE EARTH. TOM COSTELLO HAS THE DETAILS. >> THEIR OPENING THIS INTO SPACE. >> THIS HAPPENED SOMEWHERE OVER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, HE OPENED THE HATCH OF HIS SPACESHIP AND STEPPED INTO SPACE. THIS WAS THE RISKIEST PART OF A FIVE DAY MISSION ORBITING THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE SPACE STATION AND WITHOUT AN AIRLOCK, ALL OF THE ASTRONAUTS HAD TO SUIT UP BEFORE OPENING THEIR SHIP TO THE VACUUM OF SPACE. TODAY'S SPACE WALK WILL CREATE MORE OF A SPACE STRETCH. >> THESE ARE THE SUITABILITY CHECKS HE IS PERFORMING. >> AS THEY TESTED THEIR SPACE SUITS, ASTRONAUTS MIGHT ONE DAY WHERE ON THE MOON. ALREADY THEY'VE CLIMBED 870 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH. THE FURTHEST HUMANS HAVE TRAVELED SINCE THE APOLLO MISSION AND THE FIRST TIME WOMEN TRAVELED SO FAR CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND TESTING TECHNOLOGIES AND POSTING HELLO EARTH ON X USING LASER LIGHT COMMUNICATION. THE MASTER CHIEF SAID TODAY REPRESENT A GIANT LEAP FORWARD FOR THE COMMERCIAL SPACE INDUSTRY. THE SENATOR AND RETIRED ASTRONAUT MARK KELLY. >> THIS WILL EXPAND THE ABILITY FOR THE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. WE ARE MOVING TO COMMERCIALIZE MORE. >> THIS JUST MAY BE THE FINAL STEP. >> FROM WASHINGTON DC TONIGHT. THIS OPENS UP A NEW CHAPTER IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF SPACE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY ARE WORKING WITH SPACE ACTS. THEIR SHIP AND THEIR ENGINEERS. THERE SUITS THAT THE ASTRONAUTS ARE TESTING. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY TO MAYBE TAKE THIS NOW ONTO POTENTIALLY THE MOON BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN SPACE, SPACE X IS OWNING THIS SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY AND THEIR BIGGEST COMPETITION IS REALLY GOING TO BE CHINA. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> PROTESTERS TRYING TO SWARM THE SENATE IN MEXICO. CROWDS GATHERING AS LAWMAKERS Lawmakers in Mexico pass judicial overhaul bill TO >> THE CHAOS RIPPLING THROUGH MEXICO AS LAWMAKERS PASSED A CONTROVERSIAL BILL OVERHAULING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE 7000 JUDGES LEFT TO BE ELECTED RATHER THAN APPOINTED AS MEXICO BECOMES THE SECOND COUNTRY AFTER BOLIVIA TO PUT THE MAJORITY OF ITS JUDGES ON THE BENCH BY POPULAR VOTE. OUR ELLISON BARBER BREAKS THIS DOWN. >> Reporter: PROTESTERS STORMING THE MEXICAN SENATE HOPING TO STOP A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE COUNTRY'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM. >> THEY ARE BETRAYING THE PEOPLE, HE SAYS, SELLING THE VOTE SHAMEFULLY FOR THIS TO BE APPROVED. IT WILL LEAD US TO A DICTATORSHIP. >> THE VOTE TEMPORARILY DELAYED BUT NOT AVOIDED. A TOTAL OF 127 VOTES WITH 86 VOTES IN FAVOR, ONE SENATOR ANNOUNCING, THEREFORE WE HAVE A QUALIFIED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE REFORM. UNDER THE SYSTEM THE COUNTRIES NEARLY 7000 JUDGES WILL NOT BE APPOINTED TO THE BENCH BUT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE INCLUDING THOSE ON THE SUPREME COURT. THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS REPEATEDLY WARNED AGAINST THESE REFORMS ARGUING THAT THEY JEOPARDIZE THE IMPARTIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PUTS PRESSURE ON JURORS TO VOTE FOR WHAT IS POPULAR. >> ONE OF THESE KEY ISSUES FOR JUDGES IS THAT THEY FOCUS ON LONG-TERM INTERESTS. >> THE LAW PROFESSOR OF FORMER DEPUTY JUSTICE OF THE COLOMBIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AGREES. >> WHEN JUDGES BECOME POLITICIANS THEY WILL START THINKING LIKE POLITICIANS DO. IF THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE NEXT ELECTION. FOR MEXICO'S OUTGOING PRESIDENT HAS PUSHED BACK AGAINST CRITICISM. HE AND MEXICO'S INCOMING PRESIDENT SAY THAT THE OVERHAUL WILL HELP TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION. >> SUPPORTERS OF THESE CHANGES HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS AS WELL. SOME CARRYING BANNERS SAYING PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG DO NOT FEAR THE PEOPLE. >> WE BELIEVE MORE DEMOCRACY IS NEEDED IN THE JUDICIARY ONE SUPPORTER SAYS. THE JUDICIARY SHOULD BE ELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE PEOPLE REMOVE THOSE WHO DO BADLY SO THIS IS A CONTROL MECHANISM. BUT THE LAW PROFESSOR THAT WE SPOKE TO SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD FOLLOW THE MONEY. >> ELECTIONS REQUIRE FUNDING AND REQUIRE MONEY SO WHO WILL FUND THESE JUDGES? IS THIS THE CARTELS? PRIVATE INTEREST? IF SO, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME YOU'D EXPECT? >> DESPITE CONCERNS, A MAJORITY OF STATES RATIFIED THE PROPOSAL. PRESIDENT LOPEZ WILL SIGN AND PUBLISH THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES ON SUNDAY. >> WE MOVE TO TOP STORIES GLOBAL WATCH. THE UN AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES SAY SIX OF ITS STAFFERS WERE KILLED IN AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA, ONE STRIKE HITTING A SCHOOL IN THE SURROUNDING AREA SURROUNDING A REFUGEE CAMP. ISRAEL SAYS THEY WERE TARGETING THE HAMAS MILITANTS OPERATING INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL. ANTIWAR PROTESTS GROWING VIOLENT IN MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY ARMS CONVENTION. VIDEO SHOWS PROTESTERS THROWING ROCKS, SETTING FIRE, THROWING HORSE MANURE AT POLICE. 39 WERE ARRESTED. MELBOURNE POLICE SAYING IT'S THE LARGEST DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES. >>> A GEORGIAN DAREDEVIL ISN'T WALKING ON WATER BUT RIDING A BIKE ON IT AND APPEARS TO BREAK THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. VIDEO SHOWING THE MOTORBIKE ARRIVING, A MODIFIED BIKE, WRITING IT ON 20 MILES OF THE SURFACE OF THE BLACK SEA. IT WAS OUTFITTED WITH HANDMADE SKIS BUT HAD TO MAINTAIN A HIGH- SPEED TO PREVENT HIMSELF FROM SINKING AND IT TOOK MORE THAN SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING TO ACCOMPLISH. >>> COULD AI HELP US TO BETTER PREDICT HURRICANES? WE TALKED TO A STOP WHERE DEVELOPER USING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY Man saves life of driver live on TV AND BOUNDS. >>> WE ARE BACK NOW WITH THE DANGEROUS RESCUE THAT WAS CAPTURED ON LIVE TELEVISION DURING HURRICANE FRANCINE. A NURSE RACING TO SAVE A MAN'S LIFE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM AS HIS TRUCK WAS BEING SWALLOWED BY THE FLOODWATERS. FOR >> Reporter: WITH HURRICANE FRANCINE , THIS IS WHY. >> THE WATERS TO THE WINDOW OF THE PICKUP TRUCK. >> Reporter: AND NBC AFFILIATE WAS LIVE ON THE AIR AS THIS PICKUP TRUCK WOUND UP IN FEET DEEP FLOODWATERS FLOATING AND SPINNING WITH SOMEONE TRAPPED INSIDE. THE REPORTER, JONAH GILMORE, ALERTING THE POLICE. >> SOMEONE HAD DRIVEN INTO THE WATER. >> Reporter: MILES CRAWFORD LIVES CLOSE BY. THE NURSE GRABBED A HAMMER AND WALKED INTO THE WATER. >> HE'S CLIMBING OUT OF THE BACKSEAT. HE BROKE THE WINDOW. >> THE MAN ESCAPED WITH DIFFICULTY. >> HE FELL IN THE WATER. >> Reporter: AS THEY MOVED TO HIGHER GROUND, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WE LEARNED ABOUT MILES CRAWFORD AND HUGHES HUMILITY IS HUMILITY. >> THERE'S A REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE BEING BROUGHT TO YOU IN A HOSPITAL AND YOU PUTTING YOUR OWN LIFE AT RISK GOING INTO THE FLOODWATER TO SAVE A LIFE. >> HONESTLY IT WAS EASY COMPARED TO WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THESE DOORS HERE. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THIS SITUATION AT HAND. BE KIND TO OTHERS. WE JUST HELP THEM OUT. Self-driving tech may improve storm forecasts >> Reporter: KINDNESS, EXACTLY WHAT SO MANY IN LOUISIANA COULD USE TONIGHT. >> AS HURRICANES BECOME FREQUENT AND INTENSE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THEY WARN TO PREPARE. THE SAME KIND OF TECH USED IN DRIVERLESS KARST FORECAST HURRICANES UP TO AN AVERAGE OF THREE DAYS EARLIER THAN TRADITIONAL FORECASTS. JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THIS IS THE CHAIR TO DEVELOP THE TECHNOLOGY, A SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER, THE LARGEST PRIVATE WEATHER COMPANY IN THE WORLD. HE ALSO HAS A PHD IN METEOROLOGY. SAM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THE TECHNOLOGY YOU CREATED WILL PROJECT A POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF A TROPICAL STORM INTO A HURRICANE AND ITS INTENSITY IT LANDFALL. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THESE MODELS. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WALK ME THROUGH THIS. WHAT AM I LOOKING AT? HOW ARE THE MAPS INTERPRETED. >> ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE WE HAVE A TRADITIONAL MODEL LENS. THESE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL MODELS WHICH COULD BE DETERMINED IN DIFFERENT WAYS WITH DIFFERENT FRAMEWORKS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE ATMOSPHERE. HOW THE ATMOSPHERE COULD DIVERGE FROM VERY QUICKLY. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GET AN ACCURATE LOOK AT HOW THE ATMOSPHERE MIGHT DEVELOP. THE ISSUE HERE IS WHEN YOU BEGIN BLENDING THESE IN TOGETHER. WE WASH OUT THE AMPLITUDE OF SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS THAT YOU SEE IN THE EXTREME EVENTS LIKE HURRICANES AND WHEN YOU PLAN THESE ALTOGETHER IT COULD BE FINE FOR PARTLY CLOUDY AND 70 BUT FOR A CASE OF A HURRICANE YOU WANT TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE AMPLITUDE OF THESE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS LIKE OF THE RAINFALL AND THE STRONG WINDS. ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, WE HAVE OUR DTN MODEL. THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL THOSE SAME MODELS, THE 100 MODELS IN THE LEFT BUT WE USE SOMETHING CALLED SEMANTIC SUBLIMATION TO IDENTIFY THE TROPICAL CYCLONE IN EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL MODELS AND WE OPTIMIZE THE READING FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL MODEL AND STITCH THIS TOGETHER IN SUCH A WAY WHERE WE CAN RETAIN THE DETAIL AND RETAIN THE AMPLITUDE IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND IN CASES LIKE THIS WE ARE LOOKING AT LIKE HARVEY AND FLORENCE, HISTORIC FLOODING WHEN THEY MADE THE LANDFALL. LOOKING AT THE MODEL BLEND ON THE LEFT, YOU MAY NOT SEE THE SAME AMPLITUDE OF RAINFALL. OUR DTN MODEL IS ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT HOW EXTREME A STORM LIKE THAT COULD BE. >> IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY IT'S LESS ABOUT BLENDING THE VARIOUS MODELS BUT MOVING IN WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY ON THE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THEN CREATE A PORTRAIT BASED ON THIS. EXPLAIN WHAT AMPLITUDE MEANS FOR VIEWERS AND MYSELF INCLUDED. WHEN YOU'RE ZOOMING IN ON THESE CHARACTERISTICS LIKE WIND SPEEDS AND RAINFALL TOTALS THAT COULD BE DEVASTATING HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? >> YES, THE AMPLITUDE IS LOOKING AT THE LARGEST VALUES. WHEN WE BLEND THESE DIFFERENT FORECASTS TOGETHER YOU ARE DOING THIS IN A NOT -- YOU END UP WITH THE STORM HERE OR THERE. WHEN YOU BLEND THESE TWO TOGETHER YOU ARE AVERAGING A HIGH NUMBER WITH A LOW NUMBER. THIS ENDS UP SMOOTHING IT OUT AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE WE ARE REALIGNING THE PRECIPITATION FIELD AND YOU SEE THOSE HIGHER PRECIPITATION RATES NEAR THE CENTER OF THE STORM AND HIGHER RATES REPRESENTED REALLY WELL AND IT'S REALLY COMPACT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPACTS DIFFERENT RAINFALLS. >> I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY WHETHER IT'S THE AMERICAN MODEL OR EUROPEAN MODEL HOW DOES THIS DIFFER AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS COVERING THE HURRICANES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS? WE COULD'VE USED SOME OF THIS ADVICE. >> AI HAD EXPLODED IN INFORMATION AND METEOROLOGY. WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THROUGH THE USE OF AI. I SHOULD SAY, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER MODELS LIKE THAT. EXCELLENT MODELS WHICH ARE VERY USED FOR FORECASTS IN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND NATIONAL WEATHER SENTENCE. THERE'S A LOT OF FANTASTIC DATA OUT THERE. AN AMAZING PLETHORA TO BE HONEST. REALLY THE CHALLENGES HOW DO YOU OPTIMIZE THE USE OF ALL OF THAT DATA? ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AS WE MENTIONED THE DATA THAT CAME IN. STAY TUNED. MORE NEWS ON