Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, January 2, 2023

Episode Date: January 3, 2023

22 million under alert for severe weather across the South, Idaho murder suspect awaiting extradition, Jeremy Renner in critical condition after snowplowing accident, thousands pay homage as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state, and the uproar after one Pomeranian's owner dyed him like a Pikachu.

Tonight, dangerous storms brewing across the country as California braces for round two. Dozens of stranded drivers plucked from the roofs of their cars as roads turned into rivers, residents using kayaks and surfboards to navigate flooded streets in Sacramento. And another system now brewing off the coast, plus 22 million under alert into south. Tornado watches in effect into the night, Bill Karen standing by to time it all out. Mind of a killer? The man accused of murdering four college students in Idaho now preparing for extradition. What his lawyer just said moments ago, the suspect identified as a Ph.D. candidate studying criminology. How experts say that background could factor into his criminal trial.

And tonight, the new interview, how one of the victim's father says he's preparing to face his daughter's killer in court. Time Square Jihad. New video showing the moment a horrified crowd rushed to take cover as a man allegedly attacked for. three NYPD officers with a machete on New Year's Eve, what authorities say they found in the 19-year-old's journal, and why they're investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism. Secret texts revealed newly released messages showing the panic in Trump's inner circle on January 6th. Hope Hicks writing, quote, we all look like domestic terrorists now, the top aide who replied, I've been crying for hours. Plus, Jeremy Renner, in critical condition, injured, in a snow plowing accident in Nevada.

Video obtained by TMZ showing the actor airlifted from his home near Lake Tahoe what we're learning about the Hawkeye Stars condition. And too close for comfort, a drone, spotting a massive shark at a popular beach, the people in the water completely unaware of the danger lurking below. Top story starts right now.

And good evening. We begin top story tonight. deadly storm out west, northern California inundated with dangerous flash floods as a second system threatens to do even more damage later this week. The powerful system drenched in Sacramento County causing a critical levee to breach. Look at these images here. Major highways now just a sea of brown dotted with cars submerged up to their roofs. Drivers stranded in the flash floods climbing on top of their cars as first responders scrambled to get to them. Dozens of people safely rescued by boat. At least one fatality reported.

with fears that number could grow as the water recedes. Some residents getting in their kayaks to cross impassable streets, others using surfboards and paddle boards. This same area now bracing for the possibility of another eight inches of rain later this week. And in the south, a separate system spawning possible tornadoes that we're watching tonight, this high school in Jesseville, Arkansas, damaged by a reported twister. 22 million people under severe weather alerts at this hour, and that is why right there, More tornadoes are possible as we head into the night.

Bill Cairns here to walk us through it all in moments, but we begin first in California where NBC News National Correspondent, Miguel Almagir, leads us off tonight. Oh, my God, this is so bad, oh. The daring and dramatic rescues unfolded all weekend across California and continued today, a devastating deluge, triggering a flurry of emergency calls, as the suddenly stranded were plucked from submerged cars,

flooded roads, and homes that took on water. This woman who tried to cross a swamp street this morning, thanking rescue teams who likely saved her life. If it wasn't for you guys, we'd be in a lot of trouble, and don't do nothing stupid like I did. After days of relentless rain, Northern California was pummeled with the brunt of a powerful atmospheric river, a band of moisture pouring on to the coast.

In San Francisco, where the city nearly broke its single-day rainfall record, Pedestrians floated down busy streets. Others use kayaks or surfboards. Statewide, as roads remain impassable, some are still under evacuation orders. It was like Mother Nature came alive and declared war on Sacramento. In Sacramento County, where there's been at least one death, authorities are bracing for more.

I've worked for the Kosumnis Fire Department, or previously the Elkro Fire Department for 21 years. This is the most significant flooding I've seen. seen in this area in those 21 years. With two more atmospheric rivers expected to hammer the region later this week, mudslides, rock slides, and flooding are a major concern, especially with the ground already saturated. Tom? A critical situation there in California.

For more on the forecast, NBC meteorologist Bill Karens joins Top Story right now. Bill, the West is not the only region getting hammered. We're going to get back to that in a moment. But let's start right now with what you're watching, and that looks like a lot of activity right there. Yeah, your eyes should be focusing on Louisiana with this area in here. You can see the lightning strikes, a little white, like this line of storms has a tremendous amount of rain with it, a ton of lightning, and over the last 45 minutes, we've had a confirmed tornado that's been on the ground, it's been rain-wrapped, and it's nighttime now.

So you can't see it, storm chakers can't chase it. We just know by radar that it's there and confirmation of some of the damage that's been done. And that was just west of Monroe, Louisiana, went through a small town called Jonesboro. Jonesboro, Arkansas, Jonesboro, Louisiana, population roughly about four to five thousand. And we have other tornado warnings, one to the west of Little Rock. We now have two tornado warnings in eastern portions of Oklahoma. So all of this region is at risk through the evening of two things. One is going to be extreme flash flooding, and the other is going to be the tornado threat. So flash flooding, remember those same areas we were just talking about, that line

of storm with all the lightning? So not only did they just have a likely tornado go through, but now they're under a flash flood warning. So for first responders trying to get to that area to see that who needs help, you know, you're going to have roads with water on them, washed out, very dangerous situation for residents and first responders there in northern Louisiana. And I'm concerned from Little Rock to Badoca right before New Year's. You got hit by a tremendous amount of rain. The ground is saturated. All of this heavy rains will be over you through the night tonight, so we could have additional

problems with flash flooding there. So here's the big picture. 24 million people are in the severe weather risk tonight. This will continue overnight, then regenerate tomorrow. So from New Orleans to areas of Alabama, south of. Birmingham, including Montgomery. Tom, we're going to have another tornado outbreak likely tomorrow. Louisiana's seen a lot of tornado action over the last three weeks. I know we'll be monitoring this situation throughout the broadcast. I do want to get back to California there.

The ground is so wet, and you were just telling me two more big storms on the way? It looks like Wednesday, Thursday is the main one. Then there'll be one has to be head towards next weekend. But we already have winter storm watches up. Mammoth Mountain had 54 inches of snow in just the last two days. And now there's another huge events coming in. And they're going to a ton of snow. So here's the timing on us. Here's as we go through Tuesday. This is all kind of week. But then as we fast forward and we go into Wednesday and Thursday, you can see this plume of moisture just rolling in on shore. One of the forecasters in the San Francisco area was saying this looks like potentially the set of one of the worst events he's seen in the area. They're

talking about roads being washed out, sides of mountains collapsing because of all the water and all the heavy rainfall. And on top of all that, some of the mountainous areas are going to pick up feet of snow, Tom. I think we could see some areas. picking up up to eight feet, and additionally, to what they already have. All right, we'll be talking about California all week. Okay, Bill, we thank you for that. Now to just release texts from inside the Trump White House. They offered an inside look into the White House during the January 6th insurrection.

The text released by the January 6th committee show, Top Trump aide, Hope Hicks, texting Ivanka Trump's chief of staff, Julie Radford, quote, All of us that didn't have jobs lined up will be perpetually unemployed. I'm so mad and upset. we all look like domestic terrorists now. To that, Julie responded, oh, yes, I've been crying for an hour. The message is revealing how some in the West Wing

fume behind the scenes while appearing loyal to the president. I want to bring an NBC news correspondent, Von Hillier, and Von Hope Hicks is very loyal to the Trump family. We've known her since 2016 when we covered that campaign. At first, we were just reading a portion of these texts, and there's still more to go. All of this is happening at the backdrop that the January 6th committee up on Capitol Hill

will be disbanded tomorrow. The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives takes over tomorrow. Meaningless Cheney, that entire crew that conducted this investigation, these public hearings, will be no longer. That is where you're seeing these raw materials, these text messages. This is not testimony. These are text messages from January 6th. And you see Hope Hicks texting with Ivanka Trump's chief of staff referencing not only her potential employment and how they are all doomed, but even Julie Radford, that chief of staff, saying that that very day on January 6th,

She received a message from Visa about a job opportunity, and her words, she was blown off. Then there is another text exchange in which it's referencing Carly Klaus, who, of course, is the entrepreneur and model, but also the sister of Jared Kushner's sister-in-law, of the brother. And in that message, she writes in a tweet during that January 6th attack, quote, accepting the results of a legitimate Democratic election as patriotic, refusing to do so in inciting violence as anti-American, in which you see Ivanka Trump's chief of staff. right to Hope Hicks, saying, unreal, she just called me about it, referring to Ivanka Trump, to which Hope Hicks referred and said, I am so done, does she get how royally expletive they all are now? In real time, Trump's top aides, realizing what this moment meant to the Trump family in its future. So we know the January 6th committee has finished their work, their referred criminal charges to DOJ.

What happens next? This is the question here as to when the DOJ, if it were to try to issue an indictment of Donald Trump, related to either the January 6th in efforts to overturn the 2020 election or the documents case pertaining to the Mar-a-Lago documents that he brought from the White House. There is a time element to this year. Of course, Donald Trump is running for president again, and we're just a year away from whether maybe the Iowa caucus that we're talking about here. And so that is where time is of the essence, but this could come any day, weeks,

it could be potentially months, though, when the Department of Justice. Yeah, and you wonder how the DOJ, you mentioned the campaign, if they want to interfere in that or what happens there. Okay, Vaughn Hilliard for us, Fawn. we thank you for that. Turning now to Idaho, tonight's new details emerging about the suspect arrested in Pennsylvania for the murders of four Idaho college students. Now the alleged killer is preparing to appear in court for an extradition hearing. NBC's Gotti Schwartz spoke with the father of one of those victims who told him about the prospect facing the accused killer in court.

Tonight, 28-year-old Brian Coburger sits in a Pennsylvania jail hours away from an extradition hearing that could send him back to Idaho, where police say he killed four calls. college students. Family members of the victims, Madison Mogan, Zana Kurnodal, Ethan Chapin, and Kaley Gonzalez, now bracing for the moment, they may come face to face with a prime suspect in court. Tonight we spoke with Kaylee's father, Steve. Do you want to see this suspect with your own eyes? Yes, definitely. I want this guy to get, whoever this person that was responsible for this, I want him to be sick of seeing us and sick of knowing that these people won't let it go. Steve Gonzalez says the family had never heard of Koberger until the arrest and says he's

He's relieved to see the progress in the case, but that he's waiting to see all the evidence police have. I feel a sense that we're on the right track to where I can say I can let my guard down a little bit, but we definitely still have a lot of work to do. And tonight we're learning more about the suspect. Austin Morrison says Coburger was a teaching assistant in a criminal justice class he took at Washington State. Just rather quiet, very off to the side, standoffish.

He sat in the class, didn't do a whole lot. Koberger's public defender saying his client was shocked by his arrest. and will not fight extradition to Idaho. He believes he will be exonerated. He says Coburger traveled by car from Washington to Pennsylvania with his father who said his son was acting normally. Police seizing a white Hyundai Alantra

at Coburger's parents' home in Pennsylvania, the same model they say was seen near the crime scene around the time of the attack. Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell NBC news that DNA evidence played a role in leading investigators to the suspect. Meanwhile, Steve Gonzalez is still reeling from the loss of his 21-year-old.

daughter. Our next mission is really to find justice and make sure that we have a closing chapter that meets the expectations of all the families. All right, Gotti Schwarz joins us now live from Moscow, Idaho tonight, right in front of that crime scene there. So, Gotti, I want to get back to your interview there with the father of one of those victims, but I first have to ask you about that breaking news we had moments ago. We know the public defender spoke earlier tonight, I should say, and he gave some new information about the suspect and what's going to happen in the days ahead. Yeah, Tom, this is kind of odd. First of all, he said that he went to go visit his client in jail, and his client was engaged in outdoor recreation at the jail. He says

that tomorrow there's going to be this extradition hearing. He's expecting it to last about 15 minutes, and then he expects his client to be extradited back to Idaho, possibly tomorrow night. So it's unclear when he's going to be in front of a judge here in Idaho, but something very important happens when he comes back to Idaho. Authorities tell us that under Idaho law, right now, they haven't been able to reveal very much in terms of what's in the probable cause statement, what gave them probable cause to make this arrest. Once he comes back to Idaho and appears in front of a judge,

they will be able to unseal that probable cause statement. And inside, for the first time, we're going to see some of the evidence that was seized, that was used against him, potentially DNA. Yeah, we could potentially get that information as early as Tuesday, night of Wednesday at the latest. You know, you spoke with the father of Kaylee Gonzalez is there, and we heard a portion of it. What more did he have to say as the families await this extradition? Well, they're awaiting this extradition, and they're also just preparing themselves for what comes next.

You might remember. This was a family that was terrified that the killer was going to come to one of the memorials or a public gathering and kind of relish in the pain that they caused. Well, this family said that they had been through. the first chapter, which was pain and uncertainty. They say that they still fear that the killer is going to relish in the attention that this case has brought, but right now they are focused on making sure there are no mistakes made. They want to make sure everything is locked airtight, and they want to help police make any connections they possibly can to whatever this killer may

have done here in Idaho before leaving. And they also say that they are presuming that everybody is innocent until proven guilty, innocent until the evidence proves them guilty. And so they are very much looking forward to seeing some of them evidence themselves. Tom? All right, Gotti Schwarz with a lot of new reporting for us there. Godd and we do appreciate it. For more on the suspect in the Idaho murder case and what is next. I want to bring in retired FBI assistant director Frank Figglusey. Frank, thanks so much for joining Top Story tonight. There's so much I want to ask you. First, though, the suspect, we know he studied criminology extensively, right? He was still even taking classes after he committed these alleged murders. What type of advantage, if any, do you think

this gave him up until now and possibly heading into the trial? There's no question. Someone at an advanced level, and he was certainly beyond the master's degree at this point, would know better than the average person, how to cover their tracks, how law enforcement would respond and necessarily look at a crime scene. So he could have staged things to make it more difficult for law enforcement to find him. But they have found him, and now we're going to see whether or not

that background in criminology actually factored into what he did. When the chief of police and the prosecutor there in that county explained what was going on right after they made the arrest, they were very clear

and they were very, you know, forthcoming on what the public can expect in the media from the affidavit once he's extradited. But I know they're going to be very careful because they don't want to mess up anything in this case.

We heard Gotti talking to the family about that. What do you think the public and will learn from that probable cause statement? We may learn a whole lot tomorrow. Now, remember, law enforcement does not need to put everything they have. They don't need to show all their cards in a probable cause statement for an arrest affidavit or for a search warrant. But they need to put enough to convince a judge or magistrate to make it happen. So we're going to learn tomorrow what beyond DNA evidence they had, how the white Hyundai

car played into this. And then we, I'm fascinated by the rapidly advancing field of genetic genealogy, which apparently was used here. So we, we want to learn whether, in fact, it was the suspect's DNA or a, that was at the scene. And then they found through public source information a relative's DNA. And then how did they narrow that down to this particular suspect? Was he spotted? Was he seen on cameras in the neighborhood, in the city? Some of that could come out as early as tomorrow. Frank, do you think that's why it took seven weeks? Do you think part of that process was getting through the DNA information? We know it's not like the movies. It's not like law and order. It doesn't happen within a day or two. Do you think this was taking

time to track him down through DNA? Or do you think it was DNA plus locating the white Hyundai Alantra? I think it was the totality of the circumstances here. I think we started off with a small, relatively small police department, not well versed in homicide investigations. Then we saw layered on top of that the state police, and then the FBI. And then, yes, the laboratory results for DNA, they take time not so much to establish that there's DNA at the scene, but rather this new process of genetic genealogy where you've got to go to the public source databases and see if anybody's even close to matching this DNA. And then, even when you do that, you've got to figure out.

well, why are they close? Is it an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, a grandparent? And then you've got to, that's not enough. You've got to show that it's your guy. And that's where the surveillance, the protracted FBI surveillance, across the country, then days at his home. And imagine the tense scenario where the agents are told, hey, don't lose this guy. He could hurt somebody else, but don't let him see you.

That is a tense scenario when you're dealing with a killer. Frank, give me three things that have stood out to you. I know we don't have everything yet, but three things that have stood out to you about this suspect so far. Well, I am fascinated by the fact that his academic background is in criminology and whether we're going to see evidence put forth that this was part of his own bizarre research project that triggered something in his mind. We're going to see a fierce battle in court over that, by the way, because is it prejudicial to a jury to say, look at this young man's research projects, and therefore he must be guilty because his research

projects are about committing crimes and a mindset of a criminal. That's going to be an interesting court battle. Number two, the DNA alone doesn't solve this case. So I'm eager to see what the defense says about, hey, yeah, just because he lives 10 miles in a 10 mile radius, and he's a fellow student, hangs out in that town, albeit at a different university, doesn't mean that he wasn't in the house or had contact with them. And by the way, even if he did, prove that he's the killer and not somebody else that night. So lots to factor in here. And then finally, my own bias, as a former FBI agent, I'd like to know what the FBI contributed here, profile-wise, DNA-wise. All right, Frank Figuzy, fascinating conversation. We thank you so much for joining

the show tonight. We also have new details on a potential terror attack in Manhattan that happened on New Year's Eve. You may have heard about this, a 19-year-old now facing multiple charges after striking police officers with a machete near Times Square iconic ball drop. Authorities saying the suspect was already on their radar because his own family member contacted them. Kathy Park has the latest. Tonight, the suspect in the New Year's Eve machete attack in Times Square facing attempted murder and assault charges as federal and local authorities investigate the violent crime as a possible act of terror.

It happened just hours before the countdown near a crime. crowded checkpoint where New York City police officers were standing guard for the celebrations. Authorities say 19-year-old Trevor Bickford allegedly used this large knife, striking two officers in the head before he was shot in the shoulder. They shot right in front of us. Yeah, it was crazy. It was madness. Exclusive surveillance video obtained by NBC, New York, show revelers running into a bustling Italian restaurant as gunshots rang out. Because people are crying, people like screaming. This time, I was in action, so I had to do what I have to do to get the people in a safe place and do my part at New York.

Three officers have been released from the hospital, including Paul Casalino, a recent Police Academy grad on his first assignment. It just goes to show you if it's not the first day or it could be your last day. The actions that police officers must take every day are life-threatening, serious. situations. Law enforcement officials tell NBC News, Bigford doesn't have a criminal history but was already on their radar after a relative contacted them weeks ago, claiming he was expressing pro-jihadist views, which officials say he shared again this weekend at the hospital. Investigators also got a hold of his backpack, which they say held a pocket knife, $200 in cash, and terrorist propaganda. In his diary, authorities say Bickford wrote about where he wanted to be buried, suggesting he was

prepared to die in the attack. Authorities tell us that Bickford traveled to the New York City area on Thursday via Amtrak and that he acted alone. Tom? All right, Kathy Park, for us. Now to the deadly attack in one of Mexico's most dangerous prisons. 17 people killed over the weekend after armored vehicles ambushed the prison located just miles from El Paso.

Authorities now saying at least 25 inmates are on the loose, including one leader of a notorious cartel. Morgan Chesky has this story. Clouds of smoke billowing from a prison in Juarez, Mexico, as police hunt for at least 25 inmates who escaped. We need a solution, for the least, that we're doing a por minor, of how they're in there. According to officials early Sunday, several armored vehicles run by the Sinaloa cartel arrived at the jail

and gunmen opened fire on the guards just over eight miles from the Opaso border. A vehicle that here, you see in the photographia, a vehicle Hummer H2, color black, The gunfire sparking a riot and chaos that lasted nearly three hours until Mexican soldiers in state police were able to regain control of the jail. But the violence didn't stop there. What is Mayor Cruz Perez-Queyar said later police had a shootout with other suspects in connection to the prison break several miles away.

Muriaron, some delinquents, three delinquents, there five detenios, but the deformation detailed among those that escaped members of notorious cartels between those that escaped are Ernesto Alfredo Pinyon this is the leader of this group criminal

known as El Netto including one leader known as El Netto serving 224 years in prison for multiple kidnappings and murders the prison is infamous as one of the most dangerous in Mexico the same place Pope Francis visited in 2016 calling for an end to the, quote, cycle of violence and crime.

But the violence has not ended. The state attorney's office said its staff is now investigating the incident. Okay, Morgan Chesky joins us now live from Dallas, Texas. It's incredible, Morgan, right? It sounds like the jail officials there were outgunned by the cartels. And you mentioned this in your piece, but this is a prison notorious for violence and housing rival cartel members. This wasn't the first time we've seen chaos starting at this prison, spilling out into the city as well. well.

Yeah, Tom, unfortunately, that is absolutely correct. In fact, there was another riot as recently as this past August that left 11 people dead. In that instance, authorities say two inmates were killed on the inside of the prison, which led to alleged gang members on the outside shooting up the city of Juarez. Nine others were killed, Tom, including four members of a local radio station who were holding an event at a nearby restaurant. Tom?

Okay. Morgan Chesky with an update there from near the border. Morgan, we appreciate it. Now to the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian army delivering a major blow to Russia with a strike that has killed dozens of Russian soldiers. Although military leaders in Ukraine say the number of fatalities are in the hundreds, Russia is saying something much different. Matt Bradley's in Kiev with how Russia is fighting back.

Tonight, Ukraine's single deadliest attack against Russia in months, using American-supplied Heimar's rockets to level this vocational college, that Russia had been using as a barracks for newly recruited troops in the east. Russia's Ministry of Defense saying 63 Russian soldiers died. Earlier today, Ukraine's military said as many as 400 newly recruited Russian soldiers were killed. Still, Russia is firing back, far from the front lines. Keeves Mayor said air defenses shot down 39 Russian drones that swarmed the capital overnight. At night I heard a very strong bump, said this man. The furniture even moved.

The attacks mostly targeted the power grid, leaving many Ukrainians without heat and electricity in the bitter cold. Russia has launched these attacks since the fall, usually around once a week. But now, they're daily. This was the fifth straight day of bombardments. Do you think that the Russians could run out of missiles, run out of drones? On the drones, it depends on how many Iran would be able to supply to Russia and how strong Western sanctions would be in reducing that supply. On missiles, now Russians are using their untouched spares.

He credits anti-air weapons provided by the U.S. and Europe for swatting down most of the missiles and drones, helping keep the lights on on the home front as this war stretches into the new year. And tonight, Ukraine's President Zelensky warned Ukrainians that Russia is planning another prolonged attack with those Iranian-made drones. Tom?

Matt Bradley for us. Still ahead tonight, actor Jeremy Renner, in critical condition The Marvel star airlifted to the hospital after his snowplow rolled over his leg, how he's doing tonight. Plus two clothes for comfort. Take a look at this the moment a tiger shark nearly swims right into a woman at a popular beach. And the Ferris wheel malfunction in Florida dozens evacuated. Look at that. After the ride began to spark, the investigation into that park at the same side of a deadly accident last year, now underway.

Stay with us. Top story, just getting started on this Monday night. All right. We're back now with that terrifying snowplow accident involving actor Jeremy Renner. The Avengers star had to be airlifted near his Lake Tahoe home after his snowplow rolled over his leg. Kristen Dalgren has been following this one for us. Video obtained by TMZ appears to show the chopper airlifting two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner after a snow plowing accident near his Lake Tahoe home. Get a plow going that direction.

The snow so deep, dispatchers didn't know if the emergency flight would be able to touch down. Air flight is en route, but unknown if they can land in feet of snow. Authorities say Renner was the only person involved in the accident. Renner's rep confirms Jeremy is in critical but stable condition, with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow. TMZ reporting Renner was trying to clear the road after the New Year's Eve storm when the snow cat accidentally rolled over his leg, causing severe blood loss. NBC News has not verified this. The 51-year-old often posted video from what he called his happy place, showing mountains of snow and even himself driving the giant snowplow.

The actor who shot to fame in 2008's The Hurt Locker. And went on to become an Avengers action hero is also well known for his love of machinery and home improvement. All right, here we go. He was set to star in a show helping communities around the world with renovations. But it's tonight in the hospital with his family at his side and what may be a difficult recovery ahead. Kristen Dahlgren, NBC News. And we have an update tonight on that ongoing chaos at airports nationwide. For many Americans, the holiday travel season is ending the way it began with flight delays and cancellations.

Tom Costello tonight on the battle to get home. On this big post-New Year's travel day, mounting delays and cancellations yet again. Fog in Denver and gridlock in Florida after an air traffic control computer failure cut traffic to a trickle. Stuck on the runway in Palm Beach, NBC news producer Jason Calabretta. says it's a problem of the entire state of Florida. We're still unsure when they'll take off. Today's delays come after Southwest Airlines' multi-day meltdowns stranded hundreds of thousands last week. Flying to Portugal on vacation, the Molaney family's southwest flight from Little Rock to New York was canceled, forcing them to spend $3,000 to buy tickets on American, fly to Philly, stay in a hotel, then rent a car to JFK to fly to Lisbon,

where Tom Mulaney, who flies 100 times a year on business, says he's already switching to other carriers. I spent a lot of time on Southwest Airlines, and the issue becomes now that I don't know that I can trust them. Southwest has promised to reimburse families like the Molanis for all related travel expenses, conceding the airline's scheduling system is antiquated. CEO Bob Jordan emailed employees this weekend. We have plans to invest in tools and technology and processes. but there will be immediate work to understand what happened. The president of the pilot's union told us today there is no time to waste. They're going to have to do it quickly, and we're going to have to see some real answers and a real, you know, map as to what's going to occur over the next week, over the next month, and really over the next three to four months, because it really can't be delayed longer than that.

Now, we just checked on the FAA says it has now resolved the Florida air traffic control issues. We still do have lingering delays up to three hours at Palm Beach. The other trouble spots tonight are Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Denver, and San Francisco. Tom. Okay, Tom Costello for us, Tom. We appreciate that when we come back, the chase taking police to new heights. Take a look at this one. The moment officers found a robbery suspect, you can see him there, look closely,

about 30 feet off the ground in a tree, how they managed to track them through the woods. Stay with us. All right, we're back now with Top Stories News Feed, starting with the wild arrest of a robbery suspect in Massachusetts. New video from a police infrared camera showing the suspect. You have to look closer. You can see him there about 30 feet off the ground after he climbed into a tree to hide from police officers. Now, the cops say the 24-year-old led police on a chase after an alleged robbery at a shoe store in Worcester, a tracking dog eventually helping officers find him and take him into custody.

A national park off the coast of Florida has been temporarily closed after hundreds of migrants landed there over the holiday weekend. Authorities say multiple boats, and look the kind of boats they were, carrying 300 migrants in total arrived at Dry Tortugus National Park. It's about 70 miles west of Key West, a majority of the migrants are believed to be from Cuba. They will be transported to Key West and evaluated by Border Patrol. Ferry and seaplane services to the island are also temporarily suspended. And also in Florida, officials are investigating yet another ride failure at Orlando's Icon Park. Video shows sparks flying from the side of a Ferris wheel. You see them right there. This all happened after the Ferris wheel lost power. More than 60 people were trapped on the 400-foot-tall ride for three hours before they were rescued.

Luckily, no one was hurt and no word yet on the cause. You may remember the name Icon Park. It was a scene of that tragic accident last March when a 14-year-old fell to his death to an ill-fitted hardness on a free-frey. all right. Okay, we do want to turn overseas now with the outpouring of grief and remembrance after the death of former Pope Benedict. Today at the Vatican, tens of thousands lining up at St. Peter's Basilica where the body of the Pope Emeritus lay in state ahead of Thursday's funeral. Molly Hunter reports from the Vatican. Tonight, the body of Pope Benedict the 16th lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, an estimated In 69,000 people filed through today to say their final goodbyes.

Over the weekend, Pope Francis paid tribute to his predecessor, calling him so noble, so kind. The two men held wildly different worldviews and visions of the church. Born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927, he was the first German pope in more than a thousand years. A theologian, a strict conservative who put hot-button political issues at the center of his papacy. opposing same-sex marriage and women priests. Critics accuse him of not doing enough in the church's sex abuse scandal. But today, those waiting in line remembered him personally. He remains a fundamental person for my life and it's important for me to be here in Rome. It is like when a father dies, his sons go to him.

Felipe Otoso took an overnight train from Venice to Rome this morning to be one of the first. How was it? Amazing. It was not important to see, but to be here. Mountain Batoric and American Catholic living and working in Rome had the rare chance to visit Pope Benedict lying in rest at his monastery home on Sunday. I've been bringing people to Rome for 20 years. It was the highlight of all my time in Rome. History will remember Benedict as a traditionalist who bucked centuries of tradition retiring in 2013. a radical precedent that will define the future of the Vatican.

All right, Molly Hunter joins top story tonight from the Vatican. And Molly, people may remember the funeral for Pope John Paul II. The whole world was watching that. But this type of funeral for a retired pope is unprecedented in modern times. So what will we see over the next couple of days? Yeah, Tom, 2005, those were extraordinary scenes. And this is going to be very, very different. Now, according to the Vatican press office, though,

We did see huge numbers of people this first day to go pay their final respects to visit the former Pope, the late Pope Benedict, the 16th, who was lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, $65,000. And that's just on the first day. So he will be lying in state Tuesday and Wednesday. The funeral then, Tom, will take place on Thursday right here in St. Peter's Square. And the current Pope, Pope Francis, will preside over the funeral mass Thursday morning. That is the first time that has happened in more than 600 years, Tom. In your report that we just saw there, Pope Benedict had a complicated legacy. I think that's fair. What's been on the minds of the Catholic faithful that have gone there,

have traveled to the Vatican to pay their respects? Yeah, hugely fair. And controversial, complex. All of that is hugely top of mind. What was interesting, though, Tom, we got to the front of the line first thing this morning to meet the people who woke up early because they wanted to be first in line to get inside. And actually what was so interesting, we heard so many personal stories, so many people who had actually met Pope Benedict in their lives, who had taken communion from him, who had really personal stories. And so it was the personal, it was the gentle, it was the calm man that we heard about. Actually, one man who took a train from Venice to Rome overnight, just so he could be

first in line, said, this is what sons do when their fathers die. Tom? Okay, Molly, we appreciate that. While Catholics all around the world mourn the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict, many are reflecting on his legacy and the future of the church without him. Christopher Bolito, he's a professor at Kane University, and he's an expert on the Vatican. He joins Top Story tonight. Christopher, thank so much for joining the broadcast. We were just talking while we were watching Molly's report. You're saying something's happening right now that people haven't seen in 600 years,

and it's something they can actually visually see with their eyes. Correct. So it's the first time that a sitting pope is presiding over the funeral of his predecessor. Usually we don't have a new pope until the prior pope is buried. But since Benedict retired, we have this. That's correct. And the big thing that you could see, as Benedict is laid out in a wake, that's essentially what you're seeing, an elaborate wake, is that he's not wearing around his neck a white garment, a white circle of cloth with black crosses on it. That's the symbol of a sitting bishop's authority.

He is no longer the bishop of Rome. He's retired, so he's not wearing that. And so what do you think we're going to see on Thursday as far as the pomp and circumstance and the traditions of the Catholic Church? Well, it's going to be a funeral in the same way that Catholics have funerals. every day to mourn the death of a loved one. And yet, it will be, they'll sing every verse of everything. It will be longer. It will be more elaborate.

But the real thing that's surprising that historians like me are looking at is the fact that you have the current Pope Francis, who's going to be presiding. Whether he'll be actually celebrating the mass, whether he'll physically be able to do that we have yet to see. Certainly he will be preaching. But I think he's also going to be thinking the sitting pope, Francis, is going to be thinking about losing a friend. What a great thing it was to have somebody nearby

that he could ask. You've been through this, he could say to Benedict, how do we do this? Yeah, that's one way to look at it. Some people would look at it in a different way. And we sort of saw that dynamic in that great film, the two popes that Anthony Hopkins played Benedict. That didn't happen.

But, yeah, yeah, obviously. But people got a sense that there was some drama there because, as you mentioned, you had a retired pope, and you had the sitting pope, and Benedict wasn't necessarily quiet. He didn't sort of go away and just retire and pray. He sometimes came into the public eye. Right, and that's the lesson that we have to draw coming forward

is probably papal resignations will no longer be rare. Last one was 600 years ago. Francis has said Benedict's move. Now, Benedict, a very traditional conservative man, is legitimating this very surprising activity. So Francis has said the resignation in the post-papacy will now be an institution. And he's already indicated, just as Paul the 6th, John Paul II, Benedict, had written letters

that said, in the event, I become incapacitated, then, therefore, I resign. So what will that look like? We got a minute, and I want to do ask you about that. What do you think is going to happen? We know that the current Pope, Pope Francis, is 86 years old. He has had trouble with his health before. He was traveling a lot before. Obviously, the pandemic has changed things a bit.

What do you think happens with Pope Francis? I think that Francis will resign at a time when he thinks. he can no longer do the job. But I think he will retire in a different way. He's already said that he would take the title Bishop of Rome Emeritus. It's likely he wouldn't wear white because that was confusing. It's likely he wouldn't use his papal name because that was confusing. And he'll stop writing and giving interviews.

Christopher Bolito, professor at Kane University, we thank you so much for joining Top Story. Thank you for having me. Okay. We turned out of Top Stories Global Watch and the desperate effort to save a 10-year-old boy trapped in a concrete pile in Vietnam. The boy falling into a narrow shaft in the concrete at a construction site Saturday. Rescue crews lowering a camera into the 115-foot shaft to look for him. They say they haven't seen or heard from him today and don't know how he fell into the shaft, which is only 10 inches across.

And terrifying video shows the moment a tiger shark came dangerously close to a swimmer off the coast of Australia. Take a look. The shark captured in this drone footage coming within feet of a woman before abruptly turning around. It happened at a popular breach in Perth. The person filming says he ran down to the shore once he spotted the shark in the video. All swimmers were quickly evacuated from the water, and luckily, no one was hurt. And thousands gathered in Brazil to pay their respects to the late soccer legend Pele. Video shows mourners lining up to Passus coffin, which was placed you can see there in the middle of the field at a stadium outside of Sao Paulo.

The stadium near his hometown is where he spent most of his career and scored some of his most iconic goals. His body will remain there for 24 hours before his funeral tomorrow. Pele died at the age of 82 last Thursday after a cancer battle. Coming up, Harry's latest message to his family, the new interviews making headlines, what the Prince said about the possibility of making amends with his father, King Charles, and his brother. That's next. We're back with Prince Harry speaking out in his first U.S. television interview before the release of his upcoming autobiography.

Prince Harry is sitting down with... 60 minutes. The interview is set to air on Sunday, but in a clip released today, second son of King Charles explains why. For someone who wanted to leave the royal family and all that attention that comes with being a prince, he seems to be all over the media. The criticisms that you've received is that, well, okay, fine, you want to move to California, you want to step back from the institutional role, why be so public? You say you tried to do this privately. And every single time I've tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife.

You know, the family motto is never complain, never explain, but it's just a motto. All right, I want to bring in Vanity Fair staff writer and co-host of Vanity Fair's Dynasty podcast, Aaron Vanderhoof. Aaron, thanks so much for joining us. I think this has been a question many people have had about Harry and Megan, why they keep seeking attention after leaving the royal family. Is it simply them feeling the need to clear the name? That's the sense you get from the Netflix documentary.

Well, I think from the very beginning, when they first announced their exit almost about three years ago, this Sunday, not a coincidence that they're choosing this day for the interviews. They wanted to just have a little bit more control over who the journalists that they're talking to are. So their biggest problem was that there were, you know, stories coming from people who were associated with the palace, palace employees about them, that then their own communication staff wouldn't allow them to or, you know, encourage them not to respond to. I think that in understanding that it's not necessarily that they didn't want to be in the public eye, it's that they were very specifically upset about the agreement between the palace and the media. I think it helps you explain why it is that they have like continued to be in the public eye despite the fact that they had this very public exit. You're a royal watcher.

What's been the verdict on the Netflix documentary? It seems like Megan was able sort of to wrestle back the narrative, at least in my opinion. I'm not a super royal watcher, but I did sit down because I thought it was very, very, very, very, compelling. What has been the verdict, though, from people who would watch in the royal family. What was the take on the Netflix documentary? I mean, I think the hardest part here, and I think it says a lot about why they've had to do it in the first place, is that there are a lot of people in the UK that are never going to like Megan. They, Megan and Harry have kind of written off. The people who do, you know, go online to just spread crazy attacks, the people who do write,

you know, the column saying that she should, you know, be pelted with excrement. I think, think that they have really decided that, okay, we want to tell a story that for the people who don't already have a side, they'll at least understand why we are interesting. And I think they did a really good job of at least, you know, presenting something that, you know, merited six hours of television watching. Now it's up for Teherry to, you know, put his side out there with the book and see what's going to happen if they can move on after that. Because me, I think, they... Prince Harry also sat down with the UK's ITV and in a new trailer for the interview. Prince Harry has a direct message for his family.

Let's listen. It never needed to be this way. The leaking and the planting, I want a family, not an institution. They feel as though it's better to keep us somehow as the villains. They've shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile. I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back. Okay, that's just one part of the interview.

So you have the ITV interview, you have the 60 Minutes interview. You know, people will watch over several minutes, but then his book is 400 pages. and you have to think he's going to want to sell books. So my next question is, do you think there's any chance of reconciliation here, or do you think there'll be too much damage with these interviews and the autobiography? Honestly, I think that we always, we have to look back to 2016 when we figure out what is going on here. I think that they have been, Harry and William specifically have been feuding for more than six years now.

And I think that, you know, any chance of reconciliation, if it was going to happen after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh or after the queen, We might have seen that, and I really don't think there's a chance for that. But I think that if nothing else, like Harry's book, is going to be a chance for everything we know about how he's felt over the last 40 years has come from friends of his. It's come from staffers. And I think that just that chance to actually know what's really true, I think, will be more than interesting enough. It's also going to be in his voice, right? And it's his autobiography. Do you think it's going to build sympathy for him and Megan, sort of like the Netflix documentary has in?

some ways? In early releases, they've said that the book is going to start with that moment right after Princess Diana died where Harry was walking behind the coffin. And I don't know anybody who can look at that footage and not feel a lot of sympathy. And I think that in making the decision to start with that, you know, it is starting with one of his most dramatic moments in life. But it also is a reminder to say, like, oh, this is a person who has gone through a lot of some of the most public, really upsetting things, and that, you know, everything we know about him has to flow from that. So I think that it's him kind of giving us what we want, obviously, but at the same time, you know, he really has gone through a lot. And I think that when we focus too much in those

little minutes, sometimes we forget it. All right, Aaron Vanderhoof, we thank you so much from Vanity Fair. Coming up, the uproar over the Pikachu pup. He turned his dog into a cartoon character and got into some trouble. We'll show you what he says. And it's not that big, of a deal, according to him, he also shows us something kind of weird. It's a very strange story, but it's pretty funny. Stay with us. Welcome back. We got a wild one for you. Video of a South Florida Pomeranian. It went viral after the dog's owner brought it to a Miami heat game with a painted coat that made it look just like, that's right, the Pokemon character, Pikachu. He got into some trouble,

but now he's speaking out and trying to prove his point. WTVJ's Alina Machado has more. The South Florida Pomeranian went viral after showing up courtside at a heat game Monday. It made NBA history because nobody's ever seen a Pikachu dog sitting next to an NBA player before. But it's Pikachu's fur color that is now making headlines. The dog had already gotten the attention of Miami-Dade Animal Services during an inspection at his owner's Dural Puppy Store on December 21st. Pikachu was in the store. There was a staff member holding the dog on her lap, and we obtained a photograph at that time. Kathleen Labrata, Assistant Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services, says there's a county ordinance saying it is unlawful for any person to possess, sell, or otherwise transfer within the county, any dyed or artificially colored rabbit or other animal. So on December 28th, a few days after the initial inspection at World Famous Puppies, the county told Eric Torres, the dogs,

owner, they would be issuing a citation. No animal should be died, regardless of whether there's an ordinance prohibiting that or not. You don't really have any guarantee or any assurance that the chemicals they're putting onto your pet are safe. Miami-Dade Animal Services says they have issued 16 citations against world famous puppies since they were licensed in March of last year, with many of those citations stemming from complaints alleging the sale of sick dogs. Eric says he does what he can't to keep the dogs healthy and disputes the allegations. Puppies are very delicate. They do tend to have very low and weak immune systems as they develop.

So it is the nature of the business that dogs do get sick. Pikachu, Eric says, is his family dog and is not for sale. Here it is. It's a diet. You can eat it. He tells us he bought a bottle of the dye and maintains it is safe enough for him to eat. He plans to appeal the citation. Because at the end of the day, I had no idea that this ordinance even existed.

He also says he is staying outside of Miami-Dade County for now. You're not allowed to have possession of it, so it's been kind of freaking me out. Can't believe he actually tasted that dye. We want to thank Aralina Machado from our South Florida station, WTVJ, for that report. And we thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.

Thank you.