Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 14, 2024

Episode Date: June 15, 2024

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight breaking news, Princess Kate says she's not out of the woods yet as she battles cancer out of the public eye. The Princess of Wales posting a new photo and message on Instagram, revealing she will receive chemotherapy for a few more months for an unspecified type of cancer. What Kate is saying about how she handles her, quote, good days and bad days, and where she will make her first public appearance of the year this weekend. Back here at home, the severe storms up and down the East Coast. Some Miami residents still track. wrapped in their homes after the county was pounded with nearly two feet of water. Now the northeast in the bullseye, Bill Karen's here to time out the threat heading into the Father's Day weekend. Also tonight, the major reversal from the Supreme Court striking down a ban on bump stocks, a modification that turns semi-automatic rifles into weapons

that can fire hundreds of shots per minute. While the conservative majority said the Trump-era ban was unconstitutional, missing in Greece, a retired L.A. County deputy disappearing from an island off the coast after going on a hike alone, why his family tells top story tonight they're joining the search themselves. Tourists to the rescue, a man visiting New York City, risking his life to save a New Yorker who fell onto the subway tracks. Why the professional rock climber said he felt no fear jumping into action and how close he actually came to getting hurt himself. Plus, divine wine will introduce you to the American nuns living in France, working the vineyards in service of God

while serving up a taste of heaven to the world. And the warning about a dual mutant strain of the flu that is resistant to drugs, what you need to know during this flu season that just won't end. Top story starts right now. And good evening. We begin top story tonight

with the major news from Princess Kate, sharing an update on her very private battle with cancer, revealing she is still receiving chemotherapy and will for a few more months, but also announcing her first official appearance of 2024. Writing this on Instagram, that she's looking forward to attending the King's birthday parade this weekend, but equally knowing, I am not out of the woods just yet. So much attention on and concerns about Princess Kate, and that's why this announcement is such a big deal. You may remember, it was all the way back on Christmas Day, December 25th. That's the last time

we saw Princess Kate out at an official event. Then on January 17th, that stunning announcement from Kensington Palace, revealing Kate had undergone a, quote, successful abdominal surgery the day before, Prince William seemed leaving the hospital the same day. Then on January 29th, Princess Kate is released. But at this point, we still don't know exactly what brought her to the hospital in the first place.

And then on Mother's Day in the UK, March 10th, this seemingly innocuous family photo triggers what will become weeks and months of speculation about what is going on with Kate's health. Shortly after it's posted, this has happened, fans started noticing several places where the image had been Photoshop, leading some to question whether the photo itself was real and when it was taken. A day later, the princess issued a formal apology saying she was experimenting with editing like so many do. But that one post leading many to ask, what was really up with Kate? And was her condition worse than the palace was letting on, which brings us to March 3rd?

22nd, and this somber announcement. In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment. And now today, here we are, and this source,

social media posts that we showed you at the top of the broadcast. The Princess of Wales making it clear her battle with her unspecified type of cancer, it's not over yet, saying she has good days and bad days, but is beginning to work from home. Positive signs, but as Kate said, she's not out of the woods just yet. And the palace, you've got to remember, still dealing with critics for their handling of this announcement, not just with Kate, but with King Charles, who's also dealing with an undisclosed type of cancer. NBC's Valerie Castro leads us off tonight with more. a long-awaited health update from the Princess of Wales after revealing a cancer diagnosis

earlier this year. Princess Kate writing in a statement released by the palace, I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, adding she is, quote, not out of the woods yet, and that her treatment will continue for at least a few more months. I saw her statement earlier. I thought it was brave. I thought it was honest, and I'm sure it will bring an enormous amount of comfort to so many other people who are grappling with similar health challenges. The news comes nearly three months after Kate shared a video message where she announced plans to undergo preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. The princess also announcing she will attend this weekend's trooping the color, a military ceremony celebrating the official birthday of King Charles. This will be her first official royal appearance since Christmas. I've got to say, I think it's going to be quite an emotional day.

We've not seen the Princess of Wales since Christmas Day. Actually, to be at a really important moment like trooping feels like the most positive of updates that we could have hoped for. I hope you're doing well. King Charles, also announcing his own battle with an undisclosed cancer earlier this year, delighted that the princess will attend this weekend's festivities. You're seeing a united family, you're seeing two key members of the rural family, going through their own personal cancer battles. The 42-year-old mother of three has largely remained out of the public eye,

though this photo released by the Palace for Mother's Day, causing a commotion when it was found to have been digitally altered. Various news agencies later withdrew the image, and the princess apologized saying in a statement, like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. The photo that many will be anxious to see, the one likely to be captured tomorrow

on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. That picture that will be taken of the family on the balcony is hugely significant, because that is the image of the monarchy that's projected out to the rest of the world. The fact that she's going to be there with the future of the monarchy, with the dynasty, with the Wales children is really wonderful.

Large crowds expected to turn out to what is already a popular event, perhaps even more so this year. Oh, it's completely wonderful. I mean, it's wonderful for all of us who've cared about her for so long. I'm glad that she's doing better, and I can't wait to see what she wears as well for her first time in the public eye. And, yeah, we just wish her all the best. All right, Valerie Castro joins us tonight from 30 Rock. And Valerie, do we know any more about Kate's diagnosis? The palace is obviously being tight-lipped about the specifics.

Yeah, Tom, that information was not revealed today. A royal expert says it's something we might never know. And the palace and the princess both seeming to indicate that that will remain private, at least for now. But Tom, her appearance tomorrow is a sign that she might be out more in the public later this year. If she's feeling up to it, the royal family does have a busy summer. Tom. Okay. Valerie, we appreciate that. For more in Princess Kate's health and return to public life, NBC News medical contributor, Dr. Kavita Patel joins us now in studio.

And, doctor, I want to put this sort of announcement in context and walk you through the timeline of what things that have happened recently and get your take. In January, the palace obviously announced Kate was undergoing planned abdominal surgery. Then in March, her cancer diagnosis announcement was that happens. She's still in preventative chemotherapy, but is expected to appear in public for the first time. Dr. Patel, what do you make of everything that we've heard about so far? And, I mean, you've got to give her a lot of credit for coming out there and being so public during such a tough time. Yeah, so what we know, since we don't know, the type or state, of cancer, but we know if she had this abdominal surgery, and then they thought that it

was not cancer when they initially did the surgery, and then, of course, the announcement subsequently that there was cancer. They immediately shifted into this preventive chemotherapy, and it's the same treatments we use for chemotherapy for cancer. So it's not any different. We just call it preventive because it's supposed to prevent either a recurrence or a worsening of that cancer. It can last anywhere from three to six months.

So from a timeline perspective, we're kind of smack in the middle of what we would kind normally see for that type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy really knocks you out, right? It really takes so much out of you. And she's still going to do these public events. She says she has still a few more this summer. Do you think she's overextending herself? I think that she's probably trying to, for the sake of her family, pace herself in a way

that someone with a public life that she has is trying to do. Just to viewers can know, even though we don't know the type or stage of cancer, it can take about for every month of chemotherapy, about two months of recovery. So when you think about that, the younger you are, the healthier you are, which Princess Kate is, it can make it easier, but it's not easy. You know, I know you can't get into the minds of Princess Kate or the palace, and it's obviously a very private battle, and she can do whatever she wants, right? It's her life.

They are being very tight-lipped about what she has. Do you have any theories? Why? I would assume it's because that they want to make sure that from anything to protect her family, as well as just wanting to have until she's finished with treatment. And, you know, anybody who has a diagnosis of cancer will tell you that they never feel like it's completely gone, right? There's always this possibility, and I suspect that for the sake of going through this complete chemotherapy treatment,

and then all the twists and turns that can happen, just having that be completed. I do hope she comes out with a little more clarity, though. At some point, it'll help millions. Right, right. Where you're thinking about her, and we know she has so many fans across the world that are rooting for her, too. Okay, thank you so much. Now to our other major headline for the fourth straight day, relentless rain pounding millions in South Florida. Those storms bringing more than 20 inches of rain to the region, leaving roads underwater,

cars submerged in hundreds of homes flooded. And flood watch is still in effect tonight. Sam Brock is in the storm zone. Tonight in Florida, it's round four. With a week's worth of rainwater still cascading through these neighborhoods, including this portion of Miami Day that's seen close to two feet of water. Fire crews this morning hoisting people from their homes. In North Miami, there's still three to four feet of water on the ground, even at this point.

And if you don't have a tow truck or an SUV like this to get out of here, some residents say they have been stuck without being able to live. for days. It's just unsanitary to see people walking through the water. I mean, we're living in 2024. A reminder of the times, serious trouble in the air. There have been several thousand flight delays across the U.S., with inclement weather proving incredibly disruptive.

From Boston, blasted by thunderstorms to Minnesota still recovering from earlier this week. Back in Florida, residents are trying to dry out. What are you doing with that? I'm sucking the water out because it's like about two inches. One man using a vacuum in his house. I haven't seen Miami like this. Like this, I see it more like during like hurricane time, but not like non-hurricane related, no. To this couple waiting for their car to be towed.

Governor DeSantis downplaying the urgency today. One month after signing a bill to reduce the footprint of climate change in the state's energy policy. The most recent briefing I found was it's more of a typical South Florida afternoon type shower. Do you think for folks who are in the middle of this, it's upsetting to hear the governor describe it as a normal thunderstorm? Yeah, of course they're going to get mad. It's not a normal storm. You can't get mad at money nature, but it's been happening over and over. Sam Brock joins us tonight from Miami. And Sam, all this bad weather, right? And this huge issue down in Florida and other states with homeowners insurance. How is this adding to the problems there for everyone that lives in the Sunshine State? Yeah, look, Tom, this has been total disruption in recent years, largely because of hurricanes and natural disasters. We're not talking about severe storms.

So when a severe storm or series of them has this kind of impact, you have to imagine what the ripple effect will be, because we're talking about three things, really. Car insurance, home insurance, and then commercial property insurance. Let's start with commercial property insurance. It's been up in Florida over the last five years, about 125 percent, 5X the rest of the country. What does that mean? places like nursing homes ultimately will end up having to close. Home insurance, you've had two major players and about half dozen pretty big players from farmers to AAA. Just leave the state in the last year because of this wave of hurricanes, Hurricane Ian being the costiest one that we've

seen in the entire state. And car insurance also has skyrocketed the last couple of years when relatively more minor events like this one are creating this level of damage. You would have to think it's going to be just another situation spiking things ahead of an active hurricane season. Tom. Sam Brock and his team who have been going hard in this storm that has crippled parts of South Florida. Sam, we appreciate it. The threat not over yet, as you heard from Sam there, so let's get right over to NBC News meteorologist, Bill Karan, who joins me live in studio. Bill, walk us through what else we can expect in the days ahead. Yeah, we have active weather all across the country. It will start in South Florida, because we were fearful once again today that we could have thunderstorms in the areas that we still have standing water, and it'd be easy to get new areas of flooding, too. but we've eliminated some of our flood watches. Fort Myers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, you're still in it.

We only are worried about isolated thunderstorms, and we have one over homestead heading up here towards Miami, and that may cause some minor additional problems. Obviously, it's so saturated. It doesn't take much to get some new flooding going on. We're also tracking severe weather at this hour. And in the northeast, we saw storms earlier today in Boston. And over the last hour, we've been watching these storms rolling through New York City. All of the airports are on a ground stop right now. So that's going to have that old ripple effect through the evening flood. all along the east coast. We also have some isolated severe storms at Ohio. But let's focus in on these storms that are just rolled through New York City. Not a lot of lightning with it, but a brief heavy downpour, a very gusty wind. It's headed through Brooklyn and Queens

currently heading out on the Long Island. Should weaken after this. Airports should get back up and running about another half hour or so. So here's New York City right there. Manhattan has finally cleared out. And then Tom, isolated severe storms in Colorado. And as we've been teasing and mentioning, the heat that is in the west, it is coming east and a beautiful. big, huge way. We were going to talk about not just record highs next week, but maybe some all-time June record highs, which are rare to set. Okay, Bill, before you go, I know on Father's Day, you're going to be in bed, getting that breakfast in bed, maybe some homemade waffles. What do you have lined up for the forecast for Father's Day? Yeah, the Father's Day problem is going to be in the Ohio Valley

and in areas of the Great Lakes. This is kind of rare. So with this extreme heat and the humidity, we're talking, we're mostly concerned with Missouri and areas of Illinois. We've got about 55 million people with that in what we call the extreme risk of heat. That's for heat illness and for heat sickness and possibly even heat fatalities because we're going to be in such high, hot conditions. This starts Father's Day and continues into Monday, Tuesday. The East Coast, much of it looks fine, Tom. So everyone that, you know, we know the heat's coming. This is your weekend to get out there and enjoy it because next week it looks like an indoor time. Okay, Bill, we appreciate that and happy Father's Day to you. Now to that major ruling today from the nation's highest court, the Supreme Court

overturning a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic guns to shoot much faster. The ban put in place in the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas Massacre. NBC's Laura Jarrett has this one. It was the deadliest mass shooting in American history, unleashed near the Vegas Strip. A gunman killing 60 people at a concert, injuring hundreds more. His arsenal of weapons outfitted with bumpstocks, prompting former president. Trump to classify them as machine guns and banned them. We've taken important steps, but much work remains to be done.

Today, the Supreme Court's conservative majority saying that ban went too far. Bump stocks allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more quickly, hundreds of rounds per minute, harnessing a gun's natural recoil to allow a user to bump the trigger faster. The justices wrestled with whether the devices fit the technical definition of a gun's natural recoil to allow a user to bump the trigger faster. The justices wrestled with whether the devices fit the technical definition of a machine gun, something long banned under federal law, finding they do not in a divided 6-3 ruling today. With Justice Thomas writing, even with a bumpstock, a semi-automatic rifle will fire only one shot for every function of the trigger. But Justice Sotomayor in dissent finding bumpstocks functionally equivalent to a machine gun,

writing, when I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. Some lawful gun owners like Jeremiah Cottle, who invented the bumpstock, had argued the prior administration simply overstepped its authority. The president doesn't get to make law that Congress does. Tonight, the White House calling on Congress to ban the device. What the court did today is really rolling back what otherwise is important progress to be made to prevent gun violence in America.

Laura Jarrett joins us now and said, Laura, you know, I just have to take a minute because I remember the Las Vegas shooting. That's how you start your story. Sixty people were killed. So the question I have, you know, they decided that the president couldn't do this. Is there any legislation in Congress right now

to stop these bump stocks? Not right now. And of course, it's going to be hard with the divided Congress that doesn't appear to be the votes or the will to get anything like that done. But you saw Justice Alito and his concurrent saying Congress can act right now,

so there is nothing to stop lawmakers from taking action. Okay, and then we know that the court also has another major gun decision in front of them. It does. A major one having to do with disarming people who have orders of protection or restraining orders against them. A man has challenged that saying that violates his rights to own a gun. We'll see what the court does with that. They only have two weeks left in the term. Okay, Laura Jefferson, Laura, thank you. Just ahead of a busy travel weekend, the FAA investigating two scary mid-air events,

a plane nearly slamming into the ocean off of Hawaii. and another going into an uncontrolled rolling event. NBC News senior correspondent Tom Costello has the details. It was a very close call off Kauai in April. The FAA confirming its investigating a Southwest flight that came within 400 feet of slamming into the ocean while attempting to land in bad weather. A Southwest memo to pilots says a less experienced first officer

inadvertently pushed the control column forward, then cut the speed, causing cockpit alarms to go off before the captain ordered an aggressive climb, no injuries. Southwest tells NBC News nothing is more important than safety. The event was addressed appropriately, as we always strive for continuous improvement. Meanwhile, the NTSB is investigating another incident that happened in May on a Southwest flight from Phoenix to Oakland. At 34,000 feet, the 737 Max 8 suddenly went into what pilots call a Dutch roll, oscillating

and rocking from side to side. Pilots regained control and landed safely. A post-flight inspection revealed damage to the standby power control unit that provides backup power to the rudder. The FAA says it has no reports of similar problems involving other 737 maxes. I don't think we have a fleet problem here. There's something unique to this airplane, and that's what the investigators are going to concentrate on. And another concern, the FAA looking at whether potentially counterfeit titanium from China made its way into. to the Boeing and Airbus supply chains with forged documents.

Boeing flagged the concern to the FAA. Both Boeing and Airbus say there's no sign that any aircraft was made with suspect titanium. Does the FAA have enough inspectors right now to truly keep an eye on Boeing? We feel like we have enough inspectors, but we continue to hire and train more inspectors. The saw comes, as the TSA predicts, it could screen a record number of passengers next week. Three million and a single day. Tom? Okay, Tom.

that next night to the growing fallout from President Biden's immigration crackdown. As the ACLU told us right here on Top Story last week, the organization suing the administration for halting asylum claims as migrant crossings hit record highs. Our Moira Barrett spoke to a second advocacy group joining that suit and got a firsthand look at how they're helping the migrants that have been able to apply for asylum move through this process. Tonight, more backlash over President Biden's executive action tightening asylum restrictions at the border. The humanitarian element of this problem is just completely been lost.

This new rule is just, like, adding one more, like, log onto an already smoldering fire that these folks have to combat. The continued criticism after a group of immigrant advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, sued the Biden administration, saying the new restrictions go too far. Will this actually work? Is this feasible? So, I don't think it will work in the sense that people won't still come to the border because they're so desperate. The border is not a political issue to be weaponized. The order temporarily barring many migrants who cross the border illegally from requesting asylum when illegal crossings are over 2,500 per day, like they have been for the past

three years. The National Immigrant Justice Center is co-counsel on the suit. My biggest fear is that people who are, people are going to be removed from this country to persecution and torture and death. In certain respects, what President Biden has done is actually even worse than what President Trump did. Here in Chicago, one of several cities grappling with the surge of migrants, the group hosts workshops for viable asylum claims, pairing asylum seekers with pro bono attorneys to help

them apply for work permits. All of our participants here are seeking asylum because they are fleeing their home countries, right? And they have real evidence of real past persecution in home country. It is a really difficult process that can be confusing. Liseanne Rodriguez is a senior attorney who has a senior attorney who has. leads the center's recent arrivals project. The goal, she says, is to make sure this step of their application is not a prolonged process, like the rest of seeking asylum can be.

Jose, who fled from Colombia and has been in Chicago for 15 months, tells us the help with the application ensures he doesn't have to work illegally or under the table, which could further jeopardize his ability to stay in the U.S. Another asylum seeker who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution told me he would have felt alone without the support. The fact, one gets with much disinformation to this country. Of the real, we're really, we're

re-spalded. And, all to do it, I would say it would have done in a manner inadequate. Advocates like Rodriguez already worry about the density of paperwork and timeline to approve asylum as it stands. What's a better way to streamline this from your perspective? Processing times and wait times for EADs could

be shortened. The backlogs in asylum court and at the asylum office that really create a need for even more legal rep and legal services like these. An already lengthy process. Now, the group says, facing even more challenges and uncertainty. Maura Barrett joins us tonight live from Chicago. Somo, obviously there's a crisis at the border and now the Biden administration is coming under a lot of pressure. What are they saying? Well, Tom, the White House is holding firm on their decision, responding to the suit saying that border encounters remain too high, writing in part those without a legal basis to remain in the United States will be removed. Meanwhile, immigrant advocates point out from their experience, punitive border policies don't deter people who are fleeing

violence or trying to reunite with their families. And in the first week, since the order went to effect, crossings are down about 25 percent, but some illegal border crossers are still being released inside the U.S., and that's according to DHS officials. Tom? Okay, Mara Barrett, with a lot new reporting there for us. Mora, thank you. Still ahead tonight. An American tourists missing in Greece, a retired sheriff's deputy, vanishing after going on a solo hike just weeks after a prominent doctor went missing on a nearby island. What's going on? What his family told us tonight about the desperate search efforts. Plus, a massive blackout plunging Puerto Rico into darkness during this brutal heat wave, while lawmakers are now urging the governor to declare a state

of emergency. And tourists to the rescue, a man visiting New York City, jumping onto the the subway tracks to save a man who had passed out. Having no idea, he was just inches away from being electrocuted himself. We'll explain why. You'll hear from that hero as well. That's next. We are back now with the search for a retired L.A. Sheriff's Deputy who disappeared while vacationing in Greece. He went for a hike days ago and never returned. Are Steve Patterson speaking with his loved ones who say they are worried and need all the help they can get? tonight a desperate search for a retired L.A. County Deputy Sheriff who went missing over three days ago in Greece. They're searching high. They're searching low. Every minute, every hour that passes. It just, it gets harder and it, and it gets more sad.

58-year-old Albert Calabit disappeared on Tuesday after setting out for a typical morning trek on the Greek island of Amorgos. A vacation destination his loved ones say he's repeatedly visited since 2009. He knows this path. He knows this island. The mayor knows him. Every cafe knows. People know Albert on that island. They love him. But when Calabit never showed up to meet a friend after the hike, it raised concerns. And eventually, a missing person's report was filed. There's no towns lighting up the sky. There's nothing. It's just so remote. And our man's missing. Yeah. Loved ones, now anxiously waiting for updates, saying that so far limited search efforts by Greek authorities have been unsuccessful. Officials have been using a drone to search the northern part of the island and are trying to trace Calibate's two phones, according to Greek public broadcaster, ERT News.

Let's light up that island, let's bring them home. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department saying efforts to locate Deputy Calibate have extended internationally through U.S. authorities within the State Department. The search for Calibate coming just days after Greek officials found the body of British TV presenter Michael Mosley on the island of Simi. Mosley had vanished after setting up for a walk. Investigators concluded that he died of natural causes. As for Calibate, his brother traveling to Greece to join the search. He will not stop until he finds his brother. He won't. His friends and families say they can feel that he's still with them.

Albert's tough as nails. He's the strongest man we know. He's not going down without a fight. Steve Patterson joins us live tonight. So, Steve, what more do we know about the search efforts on the island for Calabit? You know, Tom, we've heard statements from multiple officials saying that the search is extensive. Everything from helicopters to drones, search crews to local shepherds who know the land all important because this is rugged, hilly, jagged terrain that is going to be more than 100 degrees in heat in a search that is fast becoming more and more desperate by the hour. Tom. All right, Steve Patterson, on that international search tonight.

Back here to New York City and a tourist leaping into danger, saving a man who collapsed and fell onto the subway tracks. Cell phone video capturing the tourist just inches away from the dangerous, electrified rail. NBC New York's Gabby Acevedo caught up with the man who says he wouldn't hesitate to help him again. Quickly. A race to rescue a man who collapsed at a Brooklyn subway station. Quickly, quickly. Too much time was going by. We don't want to see somebody. die on the subway in front of all these people.

Jordan Cannon is a 30-year-old professional rock climber from Las Vegas. He was visited in New York City when he saw a man collapse on a train platform and fall onto the tracks. Bleeding from the head, very limp. I mean, felt like lifting up a dead body, and I was definitely concerned. Obviously, it's risky to jump down onto the subway tracks. You're told not to do that. Jordan felt he had to do something.

A friend was recording the action. There was an urgency. You know, you guys are ticking time bombs. He was like, Lindsay, should I jump in there? I encounter that and rock climbing all the time. You can come close to death. Notice how close Jordan came to touching the third rail. But Jordan was unaware about the dangers of the third rail

in the New York City subway system, which carries up to 625 volts of electricity. So I wasn't thinking about it at all, to be honest. And then somebody informed me about it later on that day, and I felt really stupid. Good, Jordan. Thanks. Oh, my God. Jordan, I feel like you could have gotten electrocuted.

And then we did learn later, like, how that works. That freaks me out. My heart is, like, beating. Jordan says he would not hesitate to help once again, even knowing what he knows now. I guess most New Yorkers know about that at this point. And, I mean, now I know, and hopefully other people can learn from this as well. Gabby Acevedo News 4, New York. All those people incredibly lucky to be alive.

All right, Gabby, we thank him for that report from NBC, New York. I do want to mention the victim in that story was rushed to the hospital. We learned that he is doing okay tonight. Okay, when we come back the warning about a dual mutant flu, the CDC tracking a strain of the virus that is resistant to drugs where those cases were detected next. All right, we are back now with Top Stories News Feed, and demolition began at Marjorie Stormon Douglas High School six years after that horrific mass shooting. Excavators tearing down the building where 17 students and teachers died. Families of the victims invited to watch. The three-story building had been preserved as evidence in the shooter's trial.

Textbooks and Valentine's Day decoration still littering the halls. No word yet on new plans for the site. Power has been restored to most of Puerto Rico following widespread blackouts this week. More than 340,000 customers in the capital city of San Juan lost power amid a crippling heat wave. Several Puerto Rican lawmakers calling on the governor to declare, a state of emergency so that FEMA can be brought into help. It's the latest blackout, just one of several utility failures, including other power outages and water disruptions.

The CDC warning of a dual mutant flu strain that is resistant to drugs like Tamiflu. The study finding that at least two cases have been confirmed in humans in the U.S., in Michigan and in Connecticut, the strain circulating since last May has been detected in 15 countries. Researchers also concerned that the flu still seems active, even though flu season should have ended back in March. And an update to a story we first brought you on Monday, Martha's Vineyard's marijuana outage averted, in case you were worried, the state's Cannabis Control Commission issuing an administrative order

allowing marijuana to be transported to the island over the ocean. As we reported last week, dispensaries on Martha's Vineyard had feared they would need to shut down after the only grower on the island stopped its operation. Okay, turning down to the world of health care and a shocking indictment out of the Department of Justice. Executives at a popular telehealth company arrested in connection to the distribution of Adderall. Federal prosecutors accusing the startup of running a multi-million dollar business scheme aimed at a nationwide shortage of the critical ADHD medication. Maggie Vespa has this one. You are not your ADHD and we are done. Tonight, Dunn Global, a telehealth provider

promising hope to millions under a federal microscope with the Justice Department announcing the arrests of top executives Ruthie AHA and David Brody. Prosecutors charging them with carrying out a $100 million fraud scheme distributing more than 40 million pills of Adderall and other prescription stimulants, whether or not patients qualified. Attorney General Merrick Garland alleging the California-based startup exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and its loosened regulations around online prescriptions. The DOJ alleges done targeted drug seekers and exacerbated a nationwide shortage of Adderall first declared in 2022. That shortage still plaguing people like 10-year-old Linus Howell, whose parents struggle monthly to fill his prescription, once calling 22 pharmacies and driving

nearly two hours. How mind-blowing is that? I mean, it's frustrating for me as a parent. The Chicago family now hearing about the alleged fraud. It furthers a narrative that Adderall is more of a recreational drug. I feel like it's just extremely unfortunate for people who actually need it. The CDC estimates up to 50,000 patients could now have their access to medication impacted. I think we already have a crisis of health care providers in our country. Now we're going to add 50,000 people who need new providers. Coming up, Divine Wine, our Megan Fitzgerald travels to the French countryside to visit a winery run entirely by nuns.

How they're tending to the vines, making the wine, all. all while keeping the fate. It's a great story. Stay with us. Back now with one story of how one winery tucked away in a small village in France is run entirely by nuns. They're serving God and serving some of the best wines in the French countryside. NBC's international correspondent, Megan Fitzgerald, has an exclusive look and taste of this divine wine. The beautiful countryside of Exxon-Provance, France, is home to some of the world's greatest wines, but tucked away in the village of Jouk are the sisters

of the Notre Dame de Fidelity Abbey. Bonjour. Bonjour. Welcome to the Abbey. These nuns are giving us an exclusive look into their private lives. Why did you become nuns? Entering religious life is really a calling. When I was young, I always felt called to live for God without really knowing who God was.

A calling for American sisters Mary Dolores and Mary Christen, who arrived here in France more than four decades ago for a life dedicated to God and prayer. But these sisters also work hard to maintain their way of life. We don't sit down and take life easy while the other people are working hard. It's our way of working with God and with the world. Nuns in the heart of Provence. making wine, carefully tending to the soil and meticulously maintaining their vines. This is hard work.

These nuns are working hours a day, maintaining some 20 acres of vines, making sure that this place is ready for harvest. All of these grapes are processed in the next town over, where the wine is aged in here, with a little help from winemaker Christoph Cardona. So what wine do you enjoy the most that comes from the abbey? difficult. I would say each of them, you know, they're very beautiful. And the sisters are involved every step of the way. This is the nun's wine that's been aging in here for about three years.

Yes. Okay. Are you pleased with the progression? Yes. And you like it? Yes, I do like it. Some 25,000 bottles are produced here each year. Their rosé, the most popular of all. So, naturally, we decided to give it a try.

A good rosé of Provence is very very good. Provence is very, very clear, transparent. And this came from just here. Yes. Salue? This is lovely. The 50 nuns of this abbey, ranging in ages from 22 to 84, arrived here knowing nothing about making wine but learning from their neighbors, including how to taste for a good quality

product. So, I have the obvious question, do you drink your own wine? On feasting. On feast days. But that makes a feast day even more festival and joyful. But the true purpose of their work is to serve God. Even if we're a group together working, each one is working in silence and we can turn our attention to God. A centuries-old Catholic tradition carried on by these Benedictine nuns, bringing a taste of the divine,

to the world. Megan Fitzgerald, NBC News, Exxon-Provance, France. All right, we thank Megan for that story. Hopefully she'll bring us back some wine. Still ahead tonight and look back at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon, is back for its second season.

We'll show you a sneak peek. Plus, the new movie starring and directed by Dev Patel, and new music by L.L. Colje. You heard me right. Stay with us. All right, welcome back. It is Friday, which means it is time for binge-worthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend.

And tonight I'm joined by a good friend of Top Story, Kay Angroom. She's a reporter with our friends over at NBC, New York. Kay, thanks so much for being here today. Thanks for having me. I always have fun here. Okay, so we're going to start with House of the Dragon, season two. If you're a fan, you know all about this show. Here's a clip.

I find myself in an impossible position. All hail, King Egon! The enemy usurped my throne. We're going to King's Landing. Help. What are we going to do about it? We must play the board before us. Proceed cautious of .

Dignity. I want revenge. All right, the Game of Thrones spin-off on HBO Max. Max, season two, what can viewers expect? Yeah, so, well, one, buckle up, right? Because we're back in the Game of Thrones universe. So as you can tell from that trailer, there's a lot going on. Families are feuding. Homes are divided.

And all eyes are on that Iron Throne. And as you mentioned, it is season two. But you've got 48 hours. Because Tom, season two is dropping this weekend. All right. On Sunday. Yeah. So you've got 48 hours to catch up on the 10 episodes of season one.

How does it compare? How do fans say it compares to Game of Thrones? Well, I mean, it's a great comparison, the fact that like spin-offs, right? Typically, folks don't know. Will it do well? Can it, like, live up to the hype of the first season or the first, you know, OG show? And this one, if you're looking for, I don't know, 11 million reasons to watch, that's how many people tuned in to the finale of season one. So a lot of great reasons to tune in. It is. It's huge.

Next up, another very big show on streaming. I know you're a huge fan, so I'm going to actually give the floor to you. You can take it away, you can toss to the clip, do your thing. All right, friends, Bridgerton, season three is back, and there is a lot going on. Our girl. Colin Bridgeton, a trod to Penelope Featherington. Who needs fresh air when there is fresh gossip?

On every hour in the taunt, focus on our upcoming nuptials. I have always loved you, Colin. There is nothing that makes me happier than being with you. You have not told him. But you always will tell him. Louise, please do not tell him. He will find out. All right, so I know there's been some criticism.

So talk to me about what some people don't like about this new season. I mean, well, for one, the fact that it was split into two parts. Let's talk about that, right? People like to binge it. Yes, people like to binge it. But the genius that is Shonda Rhyme. She was like, you know what, it's worth the wait. But you don't have to anymore because it's out on Netflix.

You can watch all episodes. So folks were kind of like, I don't know, you're really going to split them up. But I heard people might want to wait, right? Because season four, I see this note here. It's going to be another two years before that comes out. Another two years. So you're a super fan. What are you going to do in the meantime?

Listen, I've already started rewatching from season one just to like get my fill and catch up. But this one's a great one. I mean, we are seeing Penelope. It's her time to shine. And so we're watching her a certain someone. I don't want to spoil it. Pop's the big question. But she's got a big secret that, I don't know, might ruin everything.

Maybe we'll just have to watch and see it. All right. I've never seen Bridgerson, but I love your energy. your energy. So I'd rather watch you watching Bridgersend. That'd be more fun. Next up, we have a show on Amazon Prime. It's called The Boys. Let's take a look.

The whole world is about to burn. We need someone like you, Billy, before the soups start rounding us up and dumping us off in camps. I have found the answer to all our prayers. The virus that kill soups. This is insane and desperate, even

for you. Well, insanely desperate's where we Don't you think about it? Let's go. Season four, if you love superheroes, you love the boys. Tell us more. Well, if you love superheroes, you might be a little sad. Because in this show, the superheroes aren't actually the good guy. Right.

So we're seeing a team of super humans, as they try to figure out a way to put in a final end to these superheroes. I always find that that's the through line in some of these, right? They want to kill the superheroes. Why? Well, because, I mean, I would love to fly, but we can't. You can't. Next up, on the mothership, Peacock, we got an Academy Award nominee Dev Patel's directorial debut. It's called The Monkey Man. It's an action flick, and there's some drama about this even being made.

Let's take a look. When I was a boy, my mother used to tell me a story of a demon king and his army. They brought fire and terror to the land. until they face the protector of the people. The white monkey. Def Patel, the street fighter, underground in India. The show almost didn't get made, right? Netflix backed out, and then someone had to come and save it, right?

That's exactly right. Oh, my gosh. So, yeah, so that's what happened. But luckily, someone did come and save it. Because it's an awesome story about a son who's looking to find vengeance on his corrupt leaders who have killed his mother. It did come out in theaters earlier this year. didn't get to see that release, you can now watch it on Peacock.

Jordan Peel was the one who came and saved this, and he must have seen something in it. And the action is supposed to be incredible, right? Yep. It is phenomenal. The action's incredible. It's also a little bit of a thriller. So if that's your vibe. And if you like to see a good guy, take on bad guys, then... And apparently, Death Fethel broke his hand and his toes during the fighting, so I don't know. No, I don't know. No, I'm joking. Next up, one that I'm looking forward to. It's called Brats. This one is on Hulu, and it's about the rat, the brat pack, I should say, from the 80s. Let's take a look.

I love your stuff, Bob. Hey, thank you. I hated the Bradpack for decades. What a fucking disaster. If you could have the Bradpack name not exist, would you? Hmm. It really irritated me. They said, what's more important to you, the movie or your life? And I said, the movie.

So many good movies, so many great actors. You go back in time to the 80s. Talk to me about this documentary. Well, I loved hearing that you're excited for it, too, right? I'm looking forward to this one. So many big names, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore. I mean, folks that are household names at this point, they grew up together as teenagers. And the movies were so good.

So good. And they got that name, The Brat Pack, because they were often together. And now we're seeing them. Out clubbing, get in trouble, having fun, yeah. And all those stories we'll get to hear more of. And an hour and a half long documentary that's going to be out, or is out, actually, on Hulu's. All right, well, let's talk about music now. We have a Florida House music duo.

So Sophie Tucker with their single Spiral and a music video starring actually Heidi Klum, which is kind of cool. Let's take a look. Okay, so I'm getting a little old. I don't know Sophie Tucker. The song is great. Talk to me about who Sophie Tucker is. Yeah, so Sophie is the one who you saw dancing along with Heidi Klum. If you've ever wanted to see Heidi Kloom in a tub with a guitar, then this is the music video for you.

And then Tucker, that's his last name. He's the DJ who actually ends up playing a pizza delivery guy in the music video toward the end, who they invite in to join in on the fun. I saw you jamming out. It's a great song. It's a nice bob. I feel like it's going to be great for the weekend, like, going into weekend fun. And yeah, it's supposed to be a good summer. Okay.

Last up, L.O. CoolJ. He's back. He's back. I'm going to knock you out. Was that the last day yet? I don't remember. I remember that song. I loved it.

He's teamed up with Q-Tip and Rick Ross and Fat Joe. I haven't heard this song yet. Let's hear it now. Then there's the boss player. He got a shrewd intellect. He's thinking big picture. He's patient with disrespect. He always keep his word with his pressure when he collect.

He keep the blicky close. He's smart when he invests. Oh, cool. He back at it. He does not give up. Yeah. I mean, first of all, we have not heard from El O'Couche in this way. I mean, actor, of course, he's been acting like crazy.

Right, totally. But like, El O'Coujay, don't forget, I bring the bars. So he's back, and he's got Rick Ross, he's got Fat Joe on this new song. He's got an album dropping later this year. So this is giving us a little bit of a taste of what we can expect. And I don't know about you, but it's really cool to see because, like you mentioned, we see him in movies. But he's like, excuse me, the legacy also includes writing press. And people love Locoge.

It's funny. We just had Eminem drop new music as well, so people coming back into the game. Okay, anyways, great to see you. Thank you as always. We always appreciate it. And we thank you for watching Top Story all week. I'm Tom Yamison, New York. Stay right there. There's more news on the way. Thank you.