Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 21, 2025

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

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.

Breaking tonight, don't go in the water that warning to millions of Americans as Hurricane Aaron barrels up the East Coast, monster waves pounding the eastern seaboard, aerial video of neighborhoods flooded out as storm surge rushes in, dangerous rip currents at beaches stretching from North Carolina to Maine. The major risk at high tide tonight are Bill Karin standing by. Also breaking campus shooting scare, students running at Villanova University after false reports of an active shooter, what we're learning tonight. President Trump's major legal victory at divided appeals court throwing out the $500 million fine in his civil fraud case, plus the new crackdown on the 55 million visa holders in this country. The closely watched parole

hearing for Eric Menendez, his brother Lyle facing the board tomorrow, 36 years after murdering their parents, do they have a chance of walking free? An advisor of New York Mayor Eric Adams suspended, after handing a reporter a potato chip bag stuffed with cash. That reporter joins Top Story Live to explain what went down. One of the world's greatest athletes with a big reveal to NBC News, why tennis star Serena Williams says she's taking weight loss drugs. An extreme dorm room makeover, parents shelling out tens of thousands of dollars to decorate the tiny space, the transformations going viral

and begging the question, is it over the top? Plus, betting on the Little League World Series, the warning from officials about the growing pool of gamblers trying to profit off kids playing baseball. Top story starts right now. And good evening. Tonight, Hurricane Aaron's Fury pounding the coastline with dangerous surf and tropical storm winds. Right now, the worst of the flooding making its way on shore. Take a live look at the extremely rough surf in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Carolina. Video from Virginia showing these monster waves as well, barreling into the boardwalk.

This man doing what officials are strongly advising against going in those life-threatening waters. Hours, excuse me, houses along North Carolina's outer banks feeling Aaron's wrath as that storm surges, and it charges inland. Aerials showing ocean water and piles of sand pushed into neighborhoods. At this hour, similar scenes all up and down the coast, from North Carolina to Ocean City, Maryland to seaside heights. millions warned to stay off the beaches until the danger subsides. But some surfers are not hitting those warnings, instead embracing those massive swells. This hurricane is still on its trek north. Bill Cairns, you know, he's standing by for us to time out, including when we could finally see some calm.

But we want to start with NBC's Aaron Gilchrest, who's live in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, as Aaron's intensity is being felt. Aaron, walk us through what you're feeling there. Well, Tom, the wind has died down a little bit, but I'll tell you, the wave action here. really hasn't let up much. We were standing on the beach for much of the day here, and then the waves just got stronger, started coming farther and farther up the beach.

So we had to move our team into the dunes here to be in a safe spot from these intense waves that have been much closer and in some moments tonight, more intense than what we saw earlier in the day. And that really is reinforcing the message from officials here that the water is still not safe. On North Carolina's outer banks,

the impacts of Hurricane Aaron, seen in these storm surges bringing floodwaters onto hard-hit Hatteras Island. Waves crashing high onto the stilts propping up homes right on the shoreline. Water flooding in as neighborhood streets are washed out, even as crews are already out by the beaches to repair flattened sand dunes. Video from the now closed off Hatteras Islands showing a rising ocean punching right through sand dunes. Steve Nelson owns a hotel on the island, now a safe haven for residents who didn't follow evacuation

orders. It has withstood Category 3s. We built it and engineered it to a standard Category 4. May we never test that? We can last about six weeks without anything from the outside. Victoria Murray did evacuate Hatteras with her kids, moving their vacation to kill Devil Hills. We are avoiding the beach. We are avoiding the water. We've been thankful that we haven't experienced any power out it is, but we were prepared for that just in case. I'm worried about losing my beach houses, yes. Ninety-year-old Carol White Dillon, who we met yesterday inside the evacuation area wrote out the worst of the storm. We spoke again tonight. And how are you feeling today? I'm tired, emotional, but it could have been worse. I could have

lost those two buildings that the water was hitting. Double red flags still posted all along the outer banks, a warning to stay out of the water. The Category 2 hurricane with a windfield larger than Hurricane Katrina remains hundreds of miles from the coast. Its winds tonight impacting the northeast from the Jersey shore to southern New England. Streets flooded on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, where the governor today declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Aaron's wrath. Lifeguards patrolling the beaches to make sure there are no swimmers.

They're bummed that they can't be out on the beach. All right, Aaron joins us again live. Aaron, you know, we've seen your live shots. There are people that are still out there walking the beach or hanging out. This happens in every storm. What are officials saying there is the biggest risk and people obviously not listening to them? It's really strange to see, Tom. I've got to tell you, there is one guy on a surfboard in the ocean right now.

We've been watching him for the last 15 or 20 minutes. Yeah, he's still out there on that surfboard. I haven't seen him stand up yet. There are also people over here sort of playing a game of chicken with the waves as they're coming in, standing on the beach, walking right up to the edge of the water, and then running back when the waves come in, pushing them essentially right up against the dunes. here. Officials have told everybody that they should stay out of the water. That is the message that's come from officials here in Dare County. But as you noted, there are some people

who are going to come to the edge of the dunes, take some pictures, go to their balconies here at the hotel, take some pictures, and others who are just being a little more risky. It's not a game I'd want to play, Tom. It always happens. All right, Aaron Gilcrest, we thank you for being there for us. Let's get back here in the studio, NBC meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, walk us through. It's sort of interesting, right? The hurricane's move. moving away from the U.S., but we're now feeling all the effects of it. Yeah, it's been this way all along. We were expecting the worst coastal flooding now this evening as the storm was exiting.

I'll explain why in a second, but I'm trying to get a sense of like, you know, is it underachieving, overachieving? How is our flooding going? And Aaron just hit high tide, and you can see the water needs to make it to the dunes. So that's great news for the Outer Banks. I've also been watching other gauges up the coast. Atlantic City, you just hit high tide and your water levels were a foot below predicted. Fantastic.

areas in like northern New Jersey, Sandy Hook, you're at predictions. So it's kind of a mixed bag out there so far. Early results, this high tide will continue probably till about 9, 930, and then the water will all start going down. And this will be the highest water levels you're going to see with Aaron. So once we get through this evening, each high tide cycle after this will be lower. And so if you don't do a lot of damage tonight, you're pretty much in the clear. So the storm is racing away. That's the good news. But the northeast wind has been battering us all day, and that doesn't allow the water to escape. So you got this northeast wind hitting into the Chesapeake, the Potomac, the Outer Banks, and the water just piles up, you know, as we go throughout the day. It's a huge storm. Hurricane Center, by the way, said it's 90th percentile. So it's one of the bigger hurricanes you'll ever see. And though the wind gusts are still gusty, even though the storm is now racing 400 miles off the coast. And that's helping with this high tide to keep it a little higher than normal. Plus, with this astronomical high tides. And it was supposed to be high anyways. So we have a storm surge of about two to three feet. We add that to the high tide that was expected, and that's why we're expecting significant coastal flooding. We're waiting to see just how

bad this develops in the next two hours or so, but this was the predictions. And so obviously as we go throughout the next hour or two, if we don't start seeing pictures of anything too bad, it means maybe we got more lucky than anything else. Regardless, it's going to be sunny tomorrow. A lot of people are going to want to go in the water. These waves are still huge. Rip currents are still a big risk. It's going to be very dangerous, Tom, throughout the next couple of days up and down the East Coast. It's a good reminder. All right, Bill. We thank you for that. We want to Turnout of politics and the major legal victory for President Trump, an appeals court overturning roughly that roughly $500 billion civil judgment against him in the state of New York. Gabe Gutierrez is going to break it all down for us.

Law enforcement he's deployed to the streets of D.C. touting progress in his crackdown on crime. We've had some incredible results. It's like a different place. It's like a different city. It's the capital. All of it is the president is celebrating a massive. major legal victory with a New York appeals court throwing out a roughly half-billion-dollar civil judgment against him. I had a victory today, you know, they stole $550 million from me with a fake case and it was overturned. They said this was a fake case. It's a terrible thing. But that's a nice victory, you know. I mean, it's not bad. The five-judge appeals court was deeply divided. Two said Trump was correctly found guilty of fraud. Two said he should receive a new trial,

and the fifth judge said the case against Trump should be dismissed. All five concluded the penalty against Trump was excessive and violated the Eighth Amendment. One judge writing, while harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half-billion-dollar award to the state. It was a witch hunt, and I've had more witch-hunts than any human being, I think, in history. The ruling's a huge blow for New York Attorney General Lettisha James. James, a Democrat, who brought the case in 2022, accusing Trump and his family real estate business of inflating his net worth to get better terms on loans. James plans to appeal, and she highlights the ruling that Trump committed fraud still stands, writing yet another court has ruled

that the president violated the law and that our case has merit. It all comes as the Trump Justice Department investigates James, both for bringing this case and for new allegations. She committed mortgage fraud. An attorney for James has called the investigation. political retribution. All right, Gabe Gutierrez joins us tonight. Gabe, I know you have some more reporting on another headline coming out of the White House. The 55 million people, roughly, that have visas in the U.S., there's news about them tonight? Yeah, that's right, Tom.

According to a State Department official, all U.S. visa holders are subject to continuous vetting, even after being admitted to the United States. Now, as you mentioned, right now, there are more than 55 million foreigners would valid U.S. visas here. And those visas could be revoked at any time for potential ineligibility, including indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, also engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization. That's according to that State Department official. Now, the Trump administration has already revoked twice as many visas as the Biden administration did for the same period last year. Tom? All right, Gabe Gutierrez.

We thank you for that. We were following a bit of breaking news at a Villanova University. You may have heard about this. Reports of an active shooter sparking panic, but the school tonight says the incident was a, quote, cruel hoax. Video shows the chaotic moments people ran to take cover during an outdoor welcome mask for new students on the campus near Philadelphia. Students told to lock and barricade their doors for more than an hour. Now the university's president writing in a letter to students, there was no active shooter and no injuries. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro tweeting, the incident was a.

result of a cruel swatting incident when someone calls in a fake threat to induce panic, adding state police are working to find the person responsible. Okay, we're going to turn now to California, and officials there will soon decide whether to grant the Menendez brothers parole. It's the first time they're eligible since they were convicted of murdering their parents more than three decades ago. NBC's Liz Croix is watching those developments closely tonight for us. Tonight, the Menendez brothers waiting to learn their fate. Eric Menendez sitting before the California parole board ahead of his older brother, Lyle's hearing tomorrow. I just know that on a day like today, that redemption is possible.

Earlier this year, a judge reduced Eric and Lyle's sentences, making them eligible for parole for the first time since they were convicted of killing their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills home 36 years ago. Defendance, please rise. Their story recently thrust back into the spotlight following the popular netball. series monsters. At today's hearing, Eric joining virtually from his prison outside San Diego, during which a panel of commissioners are expected to be questioning him about the crimes and his record in prison, and also looking at tens of thousands of pages of prison records, as well as a psychological risk assessment conducted about the brothers. According to the LA District Attorney, psychologists determine they have a moderate risk of violence,

finding Eric remains vulnerable to the influence of others, including his brother, Lyle, who they described as narcissistic. and antisocial. During their high-profile trials in the 90s, the brothers were viewed as entitled and greedy young men who killed their parents for money. But Eric and Lyle have long maintained they acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father. And a new generation of supporters, as well as their parents' own surviving siblings, have been pleading for their release. The whole world was not ready to believe boys could be raped or that young men could be victims of sexual violence. Today we know better. We know that abuse has long-lasting effects.

Tonight, the board expected to soon decide whether to grant Eric parole, a consequential decision that could pave the way for the brother's freedom. Okay, Liz Coit joins us outside the prison where Eric A is being held right now. So this hearing appears to be going on for hours. Any sense of when we might get a decision, Liz, or what's going on right now? Yeah, Tom, this hearing has been going on as far as we know now for more than seven hours. And for perspective, the average state parole hearing lasts about two to three hours. So this is several times longer than that. We do expect that part of this hearing may also include statements that will be given from the victim's family members, which, as you know, is unique to this case, the victims family members are also the relatives of the Menendez brothers who are then calling for their release.

We do expect, Tom, that a ruling will be made today. The parole board will make their decision by the end of the today, which means we'll likely know Eric's fate before Lyle's hearing tomorrow, Tom. Okay, Liz Kreutz. I know you'll be standing by for us. We appreciate that. For more as we wait on the fate of Eric Menendez. Let's bring in NBC News legal analyst, Danny Savalas once again. Danny, Liz broke it down there for us. It's usually two hours. We're going on seven hours. Can we read anything into that? Probably because this is a high profile case. And the general rule is you take the rule book, you take the standard application of the rules, and you throw them all out the window when you're talking. about a high-profile case. They're going to scrutinize the records more than I think they would in the ordinary parole case because they know the eyes of the world are watching. That may be why this is taking so long. Also, there are a lot of contested issues. The DA's office is opposing this bid for parole, and you have an unusual situation where family members, as Liz just pointed

out, the family members are both of the victims and the Menendez brothers, and some of them are supporting their release. Although I have to stress, that's probably the least. important category of information. The most important is how they've been in prison, are they rehabilitated, do they take responsibility? And then, of course, the DA's position is important. I do want to ask you this, because this is important, both brothers in an effort to get the parole were evaluated and deemed a moderate risk. What does that mean? You know, when it comes to classification, whether it's Bureau of Prisons or in the California Department of Corrections, they classify folks based on a structure or a formula. And it doesn't always yield. I mean,

to some degree, they're in prison for essentially life sentences now somewhat shortened. However, that's the kind of classification you could expect for a violent offender like that. You're not going to get a low-to-minimum security type classification for them just based on their crime of conviction. What's the most important thing that they're looking at? Is it that they've been rehabilitated or that they may kill again? With an asterisk, I would say, have they been rehabilitated? Because I say that most parole boards have to deal with people who are saying all. the right things. But are they being genuine? And that's something they have to try and

sift through by looking at the documents and really assessing their demeanor and figuring out who these people really are. Is it a perfect process? Absolutely not. Is the safer thing to just deny parole? Well, in about 70% of California parole cases, that's exactly what they do is deny it. So the odds are against them statistically walking into this year. Danny Saval is for us. Danny, always great to have you. We thank you. We're going to take a turn now. We're going to head overseas to the rare drone and missile attack on Western Ukraine. The latest Russian attack far from the front lines, injecting further uncertainty on the U.S. led effort to broker a peace deal. NBC's Richard Engel has the report from the ground.

Russia launched a ferocious barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles across Ukraine, the most intense assault in weeks. Many of the attacks were far from the front lines, setting huge fires around Odessa and burning homes in LeVib. has air defenses. They were active over Kiev. But when Russia fires so many drones over a wide area, they're difficult to stop. The Russian attacks are intensifying as President Trump pushes for peace, trying to set up a face-to-face meeting between Ukraine's President Zelensky and Russia's President Putin. In a small village near the front lines, Mark Antal, a retired American special operation soldier, is teaching first aid to the families of Ukrainian troops.

The wars I fought don't exist anymore. Untal has been coming to Ukraine nearly every month since Russia invaded. He says Russia's war now is driven by drones. What's that like? The difference between fighting people versus a robot flying in the sky that you can't see. I think that is where you're seeing a lot of psychological damage here in the country. The constant fear of always looking around because you don't know what, you don't know what

directions it's going to come from. Russian troops have been making slow but steady advances in Ukraine over the last two months, even as President Trump pushes to end the conflict, leading many Ukrainians to suspect Vladimir Putin isn't interested in a deal at all. Richard Engel, NBC News, Harkiv, Ukraine. Okay, next night at passing note back here at home of prominent conservative religious leader, James Dobson, who died today. An advisor to five presidents, Dobson, reached millions daily through his group focus on the family, championing traditional values through decades of societal change. He was 89 years old. We're back in a moment with tennis great Serena Williams

serving up some major news today. Why she turned to weight loss drugs to slim down her deeply personal interview ahead? Rapper Lil Nas X, uh-oh, arrested and hospitalized after he wandered the streets in his underwear. His encounter with police caught on camera. The details coming up. And betting on the Little League, World Series, are you serious? The illegal bets that are happening, not right in the U.S., but overseas, they're exploding in popularity. What's behind the alarming trend that's next? We're back now with a deeply personal story from one of the world's greatest athletes, tennis legend Serena Williams, opening up about her latest fitness journey and acknowledging that like many others, she took an injectable weight loss. drug to slim down. NBC's Ann Thompson has more on Serena's exclusive conversation on today.

On the tennis court, Serena Williams obliterated opponents with sheer power, discipline, and mental toughness. But after two children and in retirement, this phenomenal athlete says even she couldn't defeat stubborn weight gain on her own. I literally, tried everything. I mean, running, walking, biking, stair climber, like, you name it, I did it. Williams revealing this morning on the Today Show that, like millions of American, she is taking one of those popular weight loss drugs. I thought it was really important just to come out and say it, so I'm on a GLP1 through Roe. Roe is a telehealth company selling weight loss drugs and other things directly to consumers, and Williams is now a paid spokesperson. For me, the answer was

GOP wants. Her husband, Alexis O'Hanian, is an investor and on the board of Roe. Weight has long been an issue for Williams as seen in this 2018 documentary. The problem is you're too heavy. You are stocking a lot of fat. Now joining the list of celebrities on these drugs, Williams hopes to erase any stigma. I just feel like everybody is, a lot of people are on it. And don't talk about it. And don't talk about it. And so I'm like, well, why are we like, We should just talk about it and be totally open. What she hopes is a message as powerful as her serve.

Ann Thompson joins us now in studio, and people are going to watch this and say Serena Williams, right? The incredible athlete, like, it just shows that at how hard it is for everyone, right, to deal with these kinds of issues. What did she say like she finally came to that point where she decided to do it? Well, I think, you know, I'm just stunned. Somebody who won 23 Grand Slam titles and is determined and disciplined, found it hard to lose. found it hard to lose weight after she had her second child. And what got her, she said, is she would plateau. She could lose weight to a certain point, and then she couldn't get beyond that.

And she didn't feel healthy. She didn't feel like herself. And she said, look, I've done everything. I was a professional athlete, and even that wasn't enough. And that's what made her turn to this. For people that are considering these types of drugs, but they want to maintain their fitness, they want to maintain working out because they like spores or they like lifting weights. Can you do both? I mean, because she is somebody who is so fit.

All you have to do is look at the pictures of Serena working out now on these drugs. And you can see she is absolutely ripped. But it is a problem with losing muscle mass when you take these drugs. And that can be managed, doctors, say, by strength training or by adding more protein to your diet. So there is a way to manage it. But she's really done a phenomenal job of doing that, at least when you look at these pictures. All right, Ann Thompson, we thank you for that when Top Story returns tonight, remembering the man known as the nicest judge in the world.

His courtroom compassion propelling him into a social media sensation. We spoke to his son about his legacy. And the NFL quarterback overcome with emotion. He didn't have much growing up, but now his life is forever changed. You're going to love that story. But first, Top Story's top moment and a powerful moment between father and daughter. Ava Cooper was born with multiple heart defects. needing four heart surgeries, by the time she turned five.

In 2024, when Ava was 11, doctors decided a heart transplant was the best option. After waiting 215 days, young Ava learned a donor heart was available, and doctors wanted her to tell her dad over video chat. Take a look. Daddy. What? I'm getting a heart. What?

I'm getting a heart. Are you serious? Oh, my goodness. Hi, my goodness. Bye. Ava was treated at Cleveland Clinic Children, where that heart transplant was successful. She has returned home and is looking forward to returning to school in the coming weeks, and we will be praying for her and her family on that recovery.

Stay with us. We're back in just a moment. We're back in just a moment. We are back down with a bizarre situation in Los Angeles. in Los Angeles, hip-hop star Lil Nas X, arrested and taken to the hospital after he was found wandering down Ventura Boulevard without close early this morning, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. TMZ obtained exclusive video of the rapper before he was detained by police. Uh-oh, somebody's going to have to pay for that. Duck, duck, duck, da, da, da, da, da.

been following this for us. So, Chloe, what more do we know about this arrest? So this happened a little bit before 4 a.m. And this was in Studio City, California. Like you saw, Little Nazex walking down the street in his underwear and a pair of white cowboy boots. And it alarmed a lot of people that were driving by in their car, Tom. And they were calling the police reporting a naked man. He wasn't naked, but clearly not in a good mental state. Police arrived on the scene. And NBC News is confirmed from a law enforcement source. He punched a police officer twice in the face while a resisting arrest. And they subsequently took him to the hospital to get him checked out first. And now currently he is behind bars and he has been charged with a

misdemeanor for battery of a police officer. And his reps, they haven't commented right now. But this is a very sad situation. You've interviewed him before. Has he ever dealt with something like this? I mean, a lot of people known for his music. He had so many hit songs, including the one it sounded like he was humming there before he was arrested. Sure. I mean, I mean, first of all, just in the last couple of days, he posted some sort of erratic posts on social media, pictures of perhaps unreleased music from his apartment or his home and things written on what looked to be a mirror. And then he deleted a bunch of posts. You know, he's talked about struggles he had in April.

He was hospitalized with facial paralysis due to Bell's palsy. But, you know, this is somebody that rose to fame very quickly was discovered sort of by Billy Ray Cyrus. And, you know, he was nominated for a Grammy. And when I interviewed him, you know, he was a. really young guy, and he was getting a lot of attention. And he has talked publicly about self-medicating with weed and that he had gone through a lot of things in his life and a lot of depression. But again, no one expected for this to happen. And so we're waiting to hear from him once he's out and to see what will the consequences be for resisting arrest and punching

that police officer. Yeah. Okay, Chloe Malas, a lot of new details there. We didn't know. Chloe, we thank you for that. Time now for Top Stories News Feed, a federal judge today ruling that Alina Haba, President Trump's former personal lawyer and the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, has been serving without legal authority for more than a month. Havas, a Trump loyalist, was elevated in a complicated series of legal maneuvers. Today's decision laying the groundwork for a potential review of the Trump administration's method for installing some top prosecutors around the country. And authorities say the father of Boston Celtic star Jaylon Brown is accused of stabbing someone

in Las Vegas yesterday evening. Police saying the victim was transported to the hospital and is in critical condition. 57-year-old Quentin M. Brown was arrested and booked in the Clark County Detention Center. He is there in suspicion for a suspicious of attempted murder. And another terrifying moment caught on camera when a mass robber attacks a woman in a California, Costco parking lot. Look at this. The woman loading her groceries into the trunk.

When a man comes up behind her, look how violent this is, grabbing her and throwing her to the ground. The man then runs away with her purse. You see the woman chased after him. two minors were arrested after robbing someone else an hour later. And days before the college football season begins, the University of Notre Dame unveiling a new logo for one of the most successful programs in sports history. The school revealing the logo today showing its iconic Irishman with its fist down

and a football up putting the focus on the game in the school's first logo change in 61 years. The fighting Irishman is synonymous with Notre Dame. A spokesperson saying the new logo is mirror. a secondary option. Even though they have a new logo, many University of Miami fans like myself still say they're going to lose when they play the canes coming up in a couple weeks. All right, that is some breaking news in that redistricting battle brewing across the country, Democrats in California moving to pass new maps to increase their numbers in Congress after Texas Republicans took a dramatic step to boost the GOP. Here's Ryan Chandler.

Tonight, California Democrats counterpunch. The State Assembly passing a new voting map, designed to add five more Democratic members of Congress from the state. But right now, with all due respect, we're walking down a damn different path. We're fighting fire with fire. The move of response to Republicans in Texas, the redistricted congressional seats there, hoping to add five more Republican seats. California Republicans blasting the Democrats move. Well, the problem when you fight fire with fire is you burn it all down.

Texas took the unusual step to change its congressional districts in the middle of a decade, with the encouragement of President Trump aimed at keeping GOP control of Congress. I think there's tremendous support for it. And, you know, we've watched the Democrats destroy our country in four years. It's a gerrymandering power play carried out by both parties, moving states even farther out of proportion from where their voters are. In Red Texas, 42 percent of voters chose Kamala Harris in 2024. But just about a third of the state's members of Congress, are Democrats. We pressed a Republican lawmaker. That's fair representation. No question it is. You look at California and Illinois and Massachusetts, not a lot of squealing about fairness there

where they're vastly overrepresented. In Blue California, President Trump won nearly 40% of the vote, but Republicans hold just 17% of the state's seats in Congress. Ryan Chandler joins us tonight from Austin. Ryan, so that legislation has now been signed by Governor Newsom. What's next? So we saw a defiant press conference from Governor Newsom just in the last few minutes where he made clear that this was retaliation, not unilateral action. Here in Texas, we're still waiting on the Texas Senate to pass these maps. That's going to be a rubber stamp, Tom. There's no question about what they do. They could do it as soon as tonight.

The governor trying to sign this as soon as he can could be as the end of this week, Tom. All right, Ryan Chandler, for us again tonight in Texas. Ryan, we thank you. That was story making headlines right here in New York City, and it is bizarre. A reporter handed a potato chip bag, stuffed with cash, from a close advisor to embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams. The incident first reported out by independent local news site, the city. The outlet publishing this photo on their website from reporter Katie Honan. You see the open bag of hers sour cream and onion potato chips right there, and you see what's inside.

A lot of mullah. Inside a red envelope full of cash, the outlet says, included at least one $100 bill and several $20 bills. For more on this, the reporter who has handed that bag of chips and the cash, a good friend of mine, we worked together many years ago. Katie Honan, so great to see you. So, Katie, just walk us through this story. This is so wild. A close advisor to Eric Adams sends you a text and take it from there. So Winnie Greco is someone who I've reported on, me and my outlook, we've reported on extensively.

She worked for the mayor, and last fall, she left. Her homes had been raided by the FBI. We believe she's still under some sort of investigation. So I've written a lot about her, and I know her through that. And when I see her at Eric Adams' campaign events, which I've seen at every event, I talk to her because you understand it as a reporter. I just want to talk to her. So I saw her at this event yesterday in Harlem. She sees me again.

She tells me to call her. I see her from across the street, and I meet her. And then we walk into Whole Foods, and that is where the potato chip bag was put in my hands by her. So is she eating potato chips or she just hands you the potato chips? She just hands me an open bag and the tops kind of crumpled closed. And I just took it as hospitality, and I refused it multiple times. And I said, no, I don't want the chips. But at a certain point, she really insisted.

We spoke for a few minutes inside the supermarket. We parted. I tried again to give her the chips. She refused. Did you know there was something in the chips? I mean, it seems like you really wanted to get rid of these chips. I just didn't want any. I didn't want the chips.

I had no idea. I got to the top of the 125th Street subway station, and I looked in, and that's when I saw that red envelope. I hoped there was a note with information in it, but instead it was money. Because sometimes that happens with reporters. Sometimes things are sort of given to you that way. When you see the cash, what do you think? I panicked because I did not want anything to do with this money.

I called my editor. I called her to see if she was still in the Whole Foods to give it back. And then my editors decided, let's just come meet us in the newsroom and I'll figure it out from there. And we reported the money. And I was too afraid to count it in the street or in the subway. And then I was too afraid to touch it after that. So we didn't even get an exact accounting. Because look, so people know, Katie, because maybe our viewers may not be familiar with your reporting.

You've been reporting for a long time. You've been out of the streets. You've broken a lot of stories. But this is the first time something like this has happened. So it's weird. It is the first time. It felt like cinematic that someone would try to hand me money in a potato chip bag. There were chips in the bag.

You can kind of see it in the photo. So she didn't eat them all. And then you didn't do anything with the chips or the money. What did you do with the bag? Where is it now? Do we know? We brought everything to my newsroom and we contacted a citywide investigative agency, the Department of Investigation, which we believe was still looking into things

that Winnie allegedly did when she was a city employee. They've referred it to further authorities. So they have all of that. Did we get back to you? Has she said anything? Has she put out a statement about why she gave you a potato chip bag full of cash? She and her lawyer told us, my colleagues, who wrote the story, that this was in her culture, Chinese culture, a sign of friendship, and she just wanted to be my friend.

And I understand in Chinese culture for Lunar New Year, for mid-autum festivals, for weddings, sometimes there's an exchange of a red envelope. But these were none of those things. And it was concealed, right? It was in a potato chip bag, which is not part of the culture. I'm not an expert. It's not. It's not. And this, again, I think her naivete with it, I don't know if it's real or if it's sort of masked in terms of what she was intended, which I still don't know what she was intending to do. Here's maybe the tougher question. I know this is weird because you're a reporter, but I'm going to ask you the tough question. Do you know why she may have tried to bribe you?

I don't know. I don't know what her intent was, whether it was a short-term intent or a long-term intent. She said she wanted to be friends. I just wanted to talk to her and it did not require any money. Got it. So that's why it was so surprising to you. like, hey, don't report this out, or don't, there were no instructions, it was just here. Yeah, and I know through the course of our reporting on Winnie, we've heard some anecdotes of money being exchanged in similar ways. So in a weird way to have it confirmed to me that way, was odd. On that point, this is not the only person, as you know, in Adams orbit. And this may be sort of new to our viewers. That is under scrutiny. Adams' former chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis Martin, I know we have video of this, now accused by the Manhattan DA of taking $75,000 in bribes. That's a

a potato chip bags, while serving in the Adams administration, with scandal after scandal, what will voters do you think make of all that? I mean, because this is going to be a tough race to begin with for him. Like, how does this affect the election, you think? It's already, as you said, an incredibly tough race for Mayor Adams. He's an incumbent. For him, there's no power of the incumbency. And he has a lot to deal with, especially these people who have been very, very close to him. Ingrid and Winnie were very good friends. He called Ingrid and Winnie's sisters of his. Ingrid was indicted in December for something separate. And in the indictment today also included someone who's currently a staffer who

just today resigned. So there's a lot of things that voters can look at that can question Mayor Adams' ethics. Katie, while I have you here, tell us real quickly about the city, because you mentioned it briefly. So our viewers can go check it out online if they want to get interested in the city. So the city is a nonprofit newsroom. We've been around since 2019. We are small but mighty. We do a lot of investigative stories, and we've really covered the Adams administration very aggressively. But we are a nonprofit, so I joke that, you know, we are looking for donations, just not in potato chip gas. I get it. Katie Honing, you've been doing a great job. Congratulations.

on all your reporting, and thanks for being here tonight. Really appreciate it. Great to see you. Yeah. Friends, family, and fans of the man known as the world's nicest judge tonight. Morning his passing, Frank Caprio was known for his kindness. He brought to the courtroom with clips of his show shared millions of times online. NBC's Valerie Castro spoke to Caprio's son tonight about the legacy his dad leaves behind. From his courtroom bench, Rhode Island TV judge Frank Caprio rarely imposed punishment. That is dismissed.

rather offered up compassion. I'm sure you have the strength in the covers to rise above them. The one thing you don't have to worry about are these tickets. Thank you. Delivered respect. We appreciate your service in Vietnam. And could make a courtroom full of nervous defendants and sometimes their families smile. How about five days in jail?

Yes. Tonight, America mourning the man who had an unwavering belief in the goodness of people. I don't wear a badge under my rope. I wear a heart under my rope. Caprio was known for the Emmy-nominated show caught in Providence, which ran for decades. If I get stuck again, will you come up and help me? Highlighting his empathy for defendants in his courtroom. I only drive one I have to. I was going to the blood work for my boy.

He's handicapped. You were taking your son to the doctor's office? Yeah. I take him for blood work every two weeks because he's got cancer. You are a good. man, you really are what America is all about. Your case is dismissed. Wholesome moments going viral on social media, generating millions of views and earning him the title, the nicest judge in the world. It really baffled my father why people sometimes chose not to be kind. What do you think

he would want to be remembered for the most? I think he'd want to be remembered as a good family man, kind of the every man's man, being kind to somebody can, in some instances, change their life. And it's not difficult to be kind. The son of an Italian immigrant and fruit peddler, Caprio was the first of his 40 cousins to go to college, crediting his parents with his path to justice. I did nothing different than what my father and mother taught me to do. Judge Caprio's family announcing his passing at the age of 88 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, just a day after he'd asked followers from a hospital bed for their prayers. So I ask you again, if it's not too much.

that you can remember me in your prayers. His son thanking fans for their outpouring of love and urging everyone to spread a little kindness. Justice should have compassion built in. He understood that there's real people behind decisions that are made. Something Caprio deeply believed in, even in his final moments.

Enjoy where you have. Be kind to people. Take care of your families. Valerie Castro and BC News. All right, we thank Valerie for that. Coming up, betting on child athletes, the gamblers, placing wagers on the Little League World Series, the coaches calling the practice foul.

And extreme dorm makeover, the parents spending tens of thousands of dollars to transform their child space, the divided reactions over the lavish transformations. That's next. We are back now with Top Stories Global Watch. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel will resume peace talks as military operations escalate in Gaza City. Netanyahu confirming plans to capture Gaza City, hoping to continue negotiations on releasing hostages and ending the war.

This while Israel launched strikes today intensifying its offensive. New Zealand convicting a soldier for espionage for the first time in the country's history. The soldier who was discharged from the army was sentenced to two years in military prison after pleading guilty. Court documents show the man communicated military and security information to a foreign agent in 2019. The soldier's name in the country he passed secrets to, though, are still concealed. And a soccer match near Buenos Aires, Argentina, erupting in violence with brutal clashes between fans. The wild footage from the game shows people being beaten with sticks, getting chased and throwing rocks into the bleachers. At least 90 people were arrested, and several fans hospitalized in the violence.

The game canceled as a result of this incident. It's unclear what caused the fighting. Okay, also in the world of sports, mounting controversy tonight about a growing trend. You're not going to believe this. If you thought there was a limit to what people would put their money on, think again. The Little League Baseball World Series bringing in millions in wagers to offshore gambling sites, despite a ban in the U.S. Now, league managers are calling the trend, quote, dirty. NBC Sam Brock explains.

That one is to right. Right before South Carolina's latest Little League World Series Stunner. South Carolina shocked South Dakota. Their manager facing a question about an emerging trend, gambling on Little League games. It's not appropriate. It feels dirty, quite honestly. A 2018 Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates for legalized sports gambling. But betting on kids sports is prohibited on U.S.-based platforms.

Apparently because they're minors, we can't gamble on them. I thought that this is America. For anyone betting on Little League World Series games, get some help. But at least two sites abroad do allow betting on those games, including Panama-based site, bet online. Brand manager Dave Mason says activity has doubled year over year on the Little League World Series, and while he won't say how much was bet, he does add that Little League wagers yesterday exceeded the WNBA, any tennis match, and all soccer games.

Watch it fly! For those focused on the health of youth sports, it's a major red flag. Gambling is the ultimate transactional relationship. That is in complete opposition to the ethos of youth sports. Tom Ferry runs the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Professional athletes are having a hard time handling the saturation of gambling in sports. How are kids supposed to take it? If people are betting on games and they know who's betting on them, it just raises the pressure on these kids.

The Little League organization releasing a statement saying it's a trusted place for kids and that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any youth sports competition. Sam, this whole story is so crazy. So it's illegal here in the U.S., but are there ways people in the U.S. can still bet on the Little League World Series? 100%. So you can just change your VPN, right? You can make it look like you are anywhere in the world

and access sites that were ordinarily be blocked. And, Tom, gambling was a $13.7 billion industry in the United States in 2024. You can only imagine orders of magnitude what it means throughout. the rest of the world. And then are there any guardrails in place? This is the key question. So many athletes right now are complaining about the fact that they get harassed specifically about their individual performance, right? If you don't throw the right pitch or if you don't get

enough points or assist, a lot of professional leagues have looked to ban those micro bets or prop bets. The bet online folks that we spoke was that they don't allow that. It's a $500 limit versus like a $50,000 limit for an NFL game. And you can't do these individual performance bets for kids who could then, of course, be harassed on their own. This is so wild. We thank you for bringing this story to us because it's just, it's unbelievable. Thanks. And still to come here on Top Story, the emotional moment, Chicago Bears' backup quarterback, Tyson Baygent, was brought to tears.

It wasn't just the multi-million dollar contract he had just signed, but what the money means for the people he loves, his incredible story just ahead. We're back now with a back-to-school trend that might blow your budget, extreme dorm makeovers. They show the lengths some parents are going to decorate their cost. college kids dorms, some spending tens of thousands of dollars, while some call it over the top. Others say they just want to ensure their kids have the perfect space to grow. Dana Griffin has this story.

This is my favorite little area. It's back to school like you've never seen it before. I think the girls are going to be in love with it. Extreme dorm makeovers now all the rage at college campuses across the country. This doesn't look like a dorm room at all. Looks like the race girl thing. With some parents shelling out tens of thousands of. thousands of dollars even calling in professionals to help transform their kids humble abodes into the dorm room of their dreams.

They're away from home for the first time. They need their own little comfortable space. Shelly Gates is the owner of Mary Margaret designs, and she's gone viral for her elaborate room transformations. I enjoy being creative. I enjoy doing the unexpected. My end goal is not to be on TikTok. It's not to show off these designs, but my goal is always for the moms to be happy. and the girls to be happy. Oh my gosh. Sharing her makeovers and reactions on TikTok. Y'all are the cutest ever. And business is booming.

Shelly quit her job as a teacher to do these all out remodels full time. Do you ever get asked to do something that you're like, whoa, that's intense or that's outrageous? Yes, and I love it. The chandeliers, plush bedding, and monogrammed pillows,

a far cry from the beat up mini fridges and crooked posters. of the past. Old people like me grew up in dorms that literally were Cinderblock prison cells. And now our kids are of the age to go to college. And we don't want them to have that experience. And it's not just for girls. Some parents boosting boys' rooms into dapper dens. From storage solutions to the brick wallpaper, gaming chair, faux leather headboard, and much more. The dorm design industry taking off in recent years. These before and after picks from another company, dorm rooms and beyond show just how complex the job can get. Owner Tamara telling NBC News a room like this

costs between $12,000 and $15,000. While TikTok may have you believe everyone is participating in this over-the-top trend, you do not need all of these things to go to college. Many online are critiquing the lavish lifestyle. I guess we're just all from very different tax bracket. I just am like looking at these dorm rooms and I'm like, wow, like you guys would have dropped dead if you saw my dorm room freshman year. Maya Mendola graduated college last year, but says her dorm looked nothing like these extravagant TikToks. Everyone had like a funny, cool, interesting theme. Nobody was going for aesthetics. And when she heard what some people were paying for these makeovers, she was shocked. I can't imagine a world in which I would spend 20K. I think it's really nuts.

Saying the craze could be putting wealth disparity on full display. If you see someone in your school that has this room and you're trying to be the coolest version of yourself at this school, Well, maybe your room is going to be, I don't know, another $1,000. A polarizing trend dominating dorm rooms this fall. For college students looking to recreate these designs, but may not have thousands of dollars to splurge. Design experts say buy used furniture on resale sites. Check out antique stores or shops like T.J. Max Home goods and Ross where you can get designer items at a discount. To maximize space, use bed risers to elevate your bed several feet off the floor.

and that creates space for storage underneath. You can also hide those items using a bed skirt. And the most important tip is to just make it your own. Bring in some art or personal touches from home to help you feel a little less homesick. Tom? All right, Dana, thank you. And finally tonight, the emotional moment for Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bayesian, a life-changing contract bringing him to tears as he shared with reporters how the money will change his family's life.

When Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bayesian signed a $10 million contract extension Wednesday, it didn't just change his life. It changed everything for his family back in Martinsburg, West Virginia, too. Just listen to how he describes it. Yeah, I think that, you know, a lot of people don't know this, but, you know, my dad is my, he's my right-hand man, and he didn't have running long. until he was in high school. So there's definitely a lot of things that and people that I could that I think I could certainly help with this gift I've been blessed with. I don't really know

anybody back at home with any money. So yeah, it feels good. I mean, it's certainly a weight off my shoulders and my family shoulders. And there's one more reason that raise is going to come in handy. I got a little baby girl on the way. So I'm not really trying to buy nothing too crazy right now. Bejant often credits his parents for success. It can't hurt that strong arms run in the family. His dad is a world champion arm wrestler. Bejant played D2 college football 10 minutes from his home at Shepard University,

and he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the Bears as a fourth string quarterback in 2023. His coaches say what he's brought to the team. ever since is worth every penny of that new deal. To just put my head down and work and to get, you know, where I am now, I mean, it's, you know, too much to put in the words. What a moment. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.