Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 29, 2024

Episode Date: August 30, 2024

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

Tonight, former President Trump speaking exclusively to NBC as Vice President Harris sits down for her first major TV interview. Trump's speaking for the first time on the fallout over his visit to Arlington National Cemetery, what he had to say after one of his aides pushed an employee on the burial grounds. And his new remarks on reproductive rights as the Harris Walls ticket makes their case to voters in their first interview with CNN's Dana Bash. What the vice president is saying about appointing a Republican to her cabinet. Also tonight, a former Massachusetts detective accused of killing a pregnant woman and staging her death to look like a suicide. The startling indictment alleging the ex-officer was trying to cover up a relationship he'd had with the woman since she was 15 years old, but we're learning about the disturbing case.

The major crime ring bust, ringleaders accused of facilitating $35 million in thefts, stealing luxury goods, and breaking into homes. The scheme stretching across the country, targeting people in 80 cities, how the suspects allegedly recruited people to come to the US as tourists and help carry out the crimes. Deadly typhoon strikes.

Millions told to evacuate as a historic and powerful storm lashes southern Japan, torrential rainfall, triggering landslides, collapsing roofs, and knocking out power where the dangerous situation stands. Crackdown on journalists in Venezuela, startling video as a reporter is arrested and charged with terrorism, how journalists are turning to AI to protect their identities and their stories as reporting on the country's disputed presidential

election grows increasingly dangerous. Plus blast on board, the fiery boat explosion at a New Jersey marina launching a man into the water. The wall of fire as oil leaking into the river is engulfed in flames. And the competitive swimmer now going for gold at the Paralympics, just one year after a shark took part of her leg. Her incredible journey back into the pool. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Valerie Castro in for Tom Yamas. Breaking tonight, former President Trump going one-on-one with our own Dasha Burns. It comes as Vice President Kamala Harris sits down for her first major TV interview as the Democratic nominee. Former President Trump

speaking exclusively with NBC in his first interview since the controversy swirling over his visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The Army saying his aide pushed aside a cemetery employee. Trump also making a shocking announcement about in vitro fertilization treatments will explain. Meantime, VP Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walls, speaking out in their first joint television interview with CNN's Dana Bash. Harris defending her position when asked about how she's changed her stance on policy, including the border. I spent two terms as the Attorney General of California, prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, violations of American laws regarding the passage, illegal passage of guns, drugs,

and human beings across our border. My values have not changed. Both candidates hosting dueling events in key battleground states, Trump blasting through the Midwest, making a stop in Michigan, while Harris wraps up her two-day bus tour through Georgia, holding a rally in Savannah. The state of the race still very close, but a new national poll has Vice President Harris up five points against former President Trump in a same poll that had Trump ahead of President Biden back in June. With just 68 days to go until the election, both candidates are in a mad dash to make their case to voters. NBC's Dasha Burns starts us off with her interview with former President Trump.

Tonight, former President Donald Trump back in the battleground state of Michigan, making his first public comments about the controversy over his visit to Arlington National Cemetery earlier this week. I was asked to go there by people who lost their child because of Biden and Harris, because their pullout was so bad of Afghanistan, they lost their child. And all of a sudden I hear that somebody that I have no idea who it is got into an argument with somebody else at the cemetery. about pictures being taken, I took them at the request of the families, and I'm very happy I did. In a statement today, an Army spokesperson said that Defense Department regulations, quote, clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds, and that a cemetery employee was, quote, abruptly pushed aside when trying to ensure adherence to those rules. We lost 13 great, great people.

The campaign on Tuesday posting this TikTok, highlighting video of Trump's visit, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, than posing among grave sites with family of service members killed in the attack at Abbey Gate and Afghanistan. Should your campaign have put out those videos and photos? Well, we have a lot of people. We have people, TikTok people. You know, we're leading the internet. Put on that hallowed ground, should they have put out the images of those?

I don't know what the rules and regulations are. I don't know who did it. And it could have been them. It could have been the parents. It could have been somebody. It was your campaign's TikTok, though, that put out the name. I really don't know anything about it. All I do is I stood there and I said, if you'd like to have a picture, we can have a picture.

The former president also reflecting on the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania. I wonder, having come so close, do you feel safe these days? It was incredible that that happened, that I was turned at that particular point where something, the shooters would say it was like almost 100%, that bad things would have happened. So I view it as, you know, a very positive event. Maybe it's positive because somebody wants me to take care of our country, which is failing. so badly. The former president also suggesting first to NBC News, if he were reelected, fertility treatments would be covered without giving specifics on how. Under the Trump administration,

we are going to be paying for that treatment. So we are paying for that treatment. All Americans who want it? All Americans that get it. All Americans that need it. And Dasha joins us now from Michigan. Dasha, a lot in that interview. Let's get back to that IVF proposal. Do we have any idea how much that would cost the government. So, Valerie, we actually did the math, and it would cost around $7.8 billion annually based on the amount of IVF procedures that were done in 2022. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign is responding to this in a statement telling us tonight, because Mr. Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, IVF is already under attack.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump looking to make inroads and headlines on a big night for Harris, Valerie. And, Dasha, what else stood out to you in your interview with him today? Well, look, as we know, Vice President Harris is sitting down for her first interview since she has become the nominee tonight. And Mr. Trump wanted to come out ahead of that. And he criticized her for taking so long to do an interview. He's been out on the campaign trail, taking questions and doing interviews, sort of a show, a force out on the trail, and is challenging Harris to do more with the media. Valerie. All right, Dasha Burns. Thank you. Now to our other major headline in the race for the White House. As we've mentioned, for the first time in this unprecedented campaign, we are hearing from Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walls, unscripted as they sit down for an in-depth interview. Peter Alexander has that story.

tonight after growing pressure to take questions and detail specific policy positions vice president harris and a running mate tim walls are sitting down for their first interview since harris entered the race nearly six weeks ago pressed by cnn why her positions on some key issues have changed i think the the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed and saying she would want a republican in her cabinet it's important have people at the table and when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences. It comes as Harris is going where no Democratic presidential nominee has gone in three decades. Oh, it's good to be back in Savannah.

Wrapping up a two-day bus tour here in southeast Georgia, a blue county in a largely red region where the campaign is hoping to tighten former President Trump's margins and to repeat Joe Biden's 2020 victory in this critical battleground state. The latest polls show, competitive race with Harris narrowly leading Mr. Trump in Georgia, as well as Arizona and Nevada, all still within the margin of error. Same story in North Carolina, but Mr. Trump has a slight lead there. Clinton Edminster owns an art supply shop in Savannah. He had reservations about President Biden's age, but is eager to vote for Harris. What is it about Kamala Harris that gives you confidence that Democrats can win back the White House this fall? It's absolutely her confidence

and her enthusiasm, and you need that in order to run a campaign. Tyler Merritt, of nine-line apparel, a clothing manufacturer is supporting Mr. Trump. Policy number five on his agenda is to bring manufacturing back to the United States, to stop outsourcing, and to allow us to bring the living wages that we need to support our families here in the United States. Maria Cato is a floral designer for weddings, most concerned about her business that's been hard hit by inflation. You haven't decided who to vote for her?

No, because I'm waiting to see policies. That's going to help us small business, because small businesses are really hurting. And Valerie, tonight, we're learning new information about how Vice President Harris is preparing for next month's presidential debate with a series of prep sessions between campaign stops and her official duties. Multiple sources telling NBC news that they're trying to best figure out how to needle Mr. Trump to get him to appear in their words unhinged. And as this source said, to get him to go full Donald Trump. Valerie, back to you. All right, Peter, thank you. For more on the state of the presidential race and what candidates are saying on the campaign trail.

Let's bring in Jasmine Wright, reporter for notice, the Washington publication from the All-Briton Journalism Institute. She has covered Vice President Harris extensively since her 2020 presidential campaign. Jasmine, thanks for joining us tonight. Vice President Harris told CNN she would appoint a Republican to her candidate if elected president. How significant is this move by the Democratic presidential candidate? Yeah, well, I actually think that there's something that both Democrats and Republicans who are running for president say all the time, they would, in the spirit of bipartisanship, in the spirit of forming a consensus, bring somebody from the other party into their cabinet. Now, I'm actually in the minority here where I don't think that she actually pledged to, but I do think that it shows a willingness

to take a step forward towards bipartisanship. I think something that the vice president was hit on a lot when she ran in 2019 is that her policies were so far left that it didn't really create an ability for her to form a consensus down the line, down the middle, both of those Republicans, and Democrats. Now, after studying for under President Biden for three years, she is moving more towards a center, moving more towards the consensus part. And so I think that that's what we can really take away from that answer. This interview has been highly anticipated. What do Vice President Harris and Governor Walts need to accomplish in this interview to make it effective for the campaign? Yeah, well, I was talking to a Harris advisor

earlier today, and they said that their goal for this interview is really to show the American public more of the vice president's values and how that can connect to policies that she may want to put in place come November, excuse me, January if she actually wins. And also not necessarily be tied to this idea of the first 100 days in office, but be tied generally to the idea of what does Harris want to do in office. And so that was their goal here. And I think if we're talking about that values question that she said to Dana asking, you know, basically can you explain the changing positions from 2019 to now, right? That's a major question on a lot of Americans in mind who didn't necessarily understand that shift in that difference. And so I think that that was a question she was

always going to get. And her answer there was really illuminating, showing just how much she has changed from 2019, in part and parcel I've heard from her allies because she studied under Biden as somebody known to be more pragmatic. What is the significance of where this interview is physically taking place? Does the road to the White House run through Georgia? Well, it certainly did in 2020, and I think that the White House is hoping that it, or the Harris's campaign, is hoping that it does, again, obviously, I think the vice president said that this was her 17th trip to Georgia in all three years. She had been to Georgia previously before Governor Walsh was on the ticket.

This is a place where she not only connects with black voters there, obviously a huge block, but also AAPI voters there, young voters were in Georgia, women voters are in Georgia, particularly those suburban women, voters that both the Harris campaign and Trump campaign are trying to attract. And so I think this is an important place for the vice president to make a stand. And of course, I think timing-wise, it happens to be where that interview takes place after we know that she said that she wanted to make sure that an interview was done before the end of the month.

And Jasmine, switching gears, we heard in Dasha's interview with the former president that despite calling for more abortion bans, he wants IVF treatments paid for by government or insurance, what does this signal to you about how much of an issue reproductive rights will play in this election? I think it's an acknowledgement that reproductive rights are looming extremely large over this administration. I mean, I think if you just look at the totalness of the former president's stances on abortion, I think during the primary, you saw him really trying to tack more to the center away from more restrictive abortion ideals, understanding just what an impact they had in the 2022 race, trying to get Republicans to kind of move off of these really strict

ordinances being passed across the country. And then with when he selected J.D. Vance as his vice president, I think it was a doubling down of the Republican base who's not necessarily pro-abortion or pro having any type of wiggle room. And now you're seeing after the vice president has taken the mantle at the top of the Democratic ticket, kind of a regression back to trying to move things to the center. I think that the IVF claim that he just made, I mean, that's an insane shift from where the Republican Party is, not just on the issue of IVF. Obviously, that's been a back and forth with the Republican Party, but just also the issue of mandating things for health care. Obviously, that's not something that conservatives always gravitate

towards. So I think that it's a pretty big shift for the Trump campaign. I think that he's going to have to answer exactly why he's making that type of proclamation. All right. And looking ahead to the presidential debate, our Peter Alexander reported about how the Harris campaign is prepping. We also know the campaign is pushing back after ABC said the microphones will not be muted when candidates are speaking. What more do you know about that pushback from the Harris camp? Yeah, well, I've talked to a couple of Harris Day today. And what they're saying is that it's still under discussion, no matter what the Trump campaign says, when it comes to the unmuting of mics. And for their part, right, they want America to see.

Donald Trump for who they believe that he is, which is somebody who feels triggered by the vice president, somebody who could potentially be pushed to say something personal and maybe inappropriate about the vice president on stage. And so that is the impetus behind trying to push for open mics. And obviously, I think that there is a recognition from the Trump campaign, even if they're not seeing it implicitly, that opening the mics opens them up to that potential outcome. And that's something that, of course, as his, as his advisors that they want to avoid. Now, I think the vice president is somebody who, if you know her, you know how deeply and how hard she prepped. Sometimes she even overprepairs her moments like this. So I think that it's

right that she's going to be prepping any moment that she can for the debate. Obviously, she actually started getting in prep mode for the debate months ago when President Biden was still on the ticket and she was still expected to debate whoever Trump's running mate would be at that time with J.D. Vance. And so she has been kind of pulling through these debate sessions. They've been happening at Howard University, her alma mater here in D.C. And so I think you're going to continue to see her, even if she's on the trail, trying to figure out getting these points, getting these one-liners that she's kind of famous for potentially. And I'm speaking moment if the mics, if the mics do happen to be open come September 10, really trying to make sure that the American

voters, not just see her for who she is, but also see Trump for who they believe he is. All right. Reporter Jasmine Wright with notice. Thank you so much for your time. Now to another major headline tonight and the latest on the severe cases of mosquito-borne illness. Now a Missouri teen paralyzed from the neck down after contracting West Nile virus from a mosquito bite. This as cases of West Nile are confirmed in more than 30 states. Maggie Vespa has the details. Tonight, more American families in agony. It's hard to see him like this. In St. Louis, John Proctor's once healthy 18-year-old son lies paralyzed on a ventilator at Barnes Jewish Hospital after John says BB got West Nile virus from a mosquito bite earlier this month. How does that hit you? That this was in all likelihood, doctors say, a mosquito bite, and here's where we are.

It's hard to fathom how such a small, insignificant creature can take a perfectly 100% healthy human being and make it so that they can't even move or something. support their head. They can't regulate their body temperature. And it just causing havoc on his body that fast. The Proctor family's nightmare marking another alarming, severe case of mosquito-borne viruses. Today, Wisconsin public health officials revealing two people there died this month from West Nile. The deaths in Wisconsin come as West Nile cases hit 33 states across the country. Experts point to a hotter, more humid summer. Conditions just right for mosquitoes to thrive, spreading West Nile and a deadly virus called Triple E. Health officials in Massachusetts today announcing a second human case of eastern equine encephalitis in a woman in her 30s, five states total

now reporting cases, as the effects of mosquito-borne illnesses hit home for a growing number of families. I just keep tall. Look at my face. Is dad scared? And he goes, And that's how we get through. Are you scared? I'm scared. I'm scared. Bebe's family is inside that hospital praying for a full recovery. They've been told it's possible, but it could take a year or more.

Valerie? All right, Maggie, thank you. Now to the Middle East, the Israel Defense Forces raids in the West Bank entering their second day, sparking concerns the region could become an extension of the war. in Gaza. For more on the crisis, I want to bring in Danielle Hamamgen, who's in Jerusalem tonight. Danielle, what's the latest? Well, Valerie, the raids have been going on for about 48 hours now in the West Bank. And one name that's been circulating today is that of Mohamed Jaber, a local Islamic jihad commander, killed by the IDF along with four gunmen.

The IDF also releasing a drone video showing the inside of a mosque it claims was used as a militant base. They also showed tools that they say were used to make weapons and explosives. Why now? Well, they say that this is in the wake of an attempted suicide bombing in Tel Aviv last week. The bomber was from a city called Nablus in the West Bank. But the attack itself, or the attempted attack, was directed, coordinated, organized by a network based in the city of Tulkarim, which also has a camp, which is currently still sealed off by the IDF. Now, Islamic Jihad, of course, backed by Iran, but many of these men who have taken up the weapons

will tell you that this is not about supporting enough country. This is about resisting the Israeli occupation. Khaled Mashal, a senior Hamas official in the political branch of Hamas, in the past 24 hours, calling on Palestinians and their supporters to resume suicide bombings. in the occupied West Bank. The reaction by the UN Secretary General urging de-escalation saying that this is fueling an already explosive situation.

Over to Gaza, in the past few hours, the WHO, the World Health Organization, has announced that Israel has agreed to humanitarian pauses in specific areas of the Gaza Strip to allow for a massive vaccination campaign against polio. 640,000 children need two doses of the polio vaccine. It'll start in central Gaza, move to the southern part of the strip,

and then to the north, all that's starting on September 1st. Valerie? All right, Danielle, thank you. Staying overseas to the deadly typhoon that has battered southern Japan, the storm killing at least four people, and forcing millions more to flee their homes. NBC foreign correspondent Josh Letterman has more on the scale of the destruction. Tonight, southern Japan recovering from a historic and deadly typhoon. The storm peaking at the equivalent of a category four hurricane, packing winds over 150 miles per hour as it barreled toward the coast, leaving at least four dead and dozens more injured. Typhoon Shanshan, now the most powerful storm to hit the island nation in decades.

Officials ordering more than five million residents to evacuate. Tarrantial rains causing rivers to surge, sending floodwaters rushing through the streets and submerging vehicles. Power lines mangled across roads, buildings ripped apart. In the central Japanese city of Gamagori, this landslide burying a home, killing three people inside. Emergency crews pulling two others from the wreckage. The storm also causing massive travel delays, with hundreds of flights canceled.

This plane forced to abort a landing on its final approach. Some American tourists now left stranded. If the power failures really continue to go on for the next couple of days, then we're going to be screwed. Japanese carmaker Toyota closing down all 14 of its plants across the country. Shan Shan Shan now downgraded to a severe tropical storm as it climbs north. Japan's prime minister briefed on the disaster, warning the effects of the storm's wrath will be long lasting. as the nation grapples with a once-in-a-generation storm whose destruction is not yet over. Josh Letterman, NBC News.

All right, still ahead tonight. The ex-officer accused of killing a pregnant woman. The FBI arresting the former Massachusetts detective alleging he covered up her death by staging it as a suicide, what we're learning about their relationship. And the crackdown on a crime tourism ring, several arrested for orchestrating a scheme to steal millions, how they used tourist visas to carry out the crimes. And it could be a bumpy ride for those flying United this busy Labor Day weekend, the flight attendant strike, and how the airline is responding.

We're back now with a disturbing case out of Massachusetts. A former detective charged with killing a pregnant woman and staging her death to look like a suicide. The ex-officer facing allegations that he killed, Sandra Birchmore to cover up an inappropriate relationship that started when she was just 15 years old. Tremaine Lee reports and a warning some of the details are disturbing. This is the moment an FBI SWAT team swarmed and handcuffed former detective Matthew Farwell. Three years after authorities allege he killed 23-year-old Sandra Bershmore. He allegedly attempted to cover his tracks to literally try and get away with murder.

And he almost did. The former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer is accused of strangling Birchmore in February of 2021 while she was three months pregnant, then staging her apartment to look like she took her own life. He used his knowledge and experience as a law enforcement officer to stage her death to look like a suicide. Court documents allege Farwell had an ongoing illegal sexual relationship with Birchmore that started when she was just 15 years old and enrolled in a youth program for kids interested in law enforcement. Phone records show the two exchanged more than 32,000 text messages in the year before she died. Some indicating the two met up for sex while Farwell was on duty. Matthew Farwell's gun and badge did not grant him authority to violate the Constitution. And it certainly didn't entitle him to sexually exploit, abuse, and rape a child

before killing her and her unborn baby in an attempt to cover up his alleged crimes. Before she was killed, police say Birchmore told a friend, she was, quote, excited about the baby. But Farwell did not share the sentiment, allegedly telling her, that's not my child. I don't want anything really to do with you. And then, pushing Birchmore to the ground, according to the indictment. In the hours leading up to Sandra's death, she reached out to a photographer to inquire about booking a newborn photo shoot. She also reached out to a friend about obtaining baby clothes.

Farwell's attorneys have not responded to NBC's request for comment. Birchmore's family and supporters have been outraged for years, questioning the handling of the case. Police audio, obtained by NBC Boston, suggests the family was skeptical from the start. Her death was ruled a suicide. I regret, ma'am, but I have to tell you that Sandra is deceased. Oh, my God. I'm very sorry for your loss. She would have committed suicide.

She was so happy to be pregnant. The Stoughton Police Department opened an internal investigation after Bersmore's death, concluding in addition to Farwell's inappropriate relationship with Birchmore as a minor, two other Stoughton officers, including Farwell's brother and a fourth officer who is now at a different department, had inappropriate relations with her in their capacity as police officers, though they did not specify her age at the time. The things that they did to her are disgusting. She admired the police.

She wanted to be a police officer. They took advantage of her. All three Stoughton officers have resigned, and the fourth former officer has not been named. So far, Farwell is the only one that's been charged. The other officers have denied the allegations made against them in a civil suit brought by Birchmore's estate. Stoughton's chief, Donna McNamara, has called for the men to be decertified as police officers so they can never serve again.

I said this three years, three years ago, when it happened, I said it two years ago in a news conference. This is a horrific situation. Tremaine Lee joins us now in studio. Tremaine, these allegations are very. serious? What kind of time could this officer be facing and could there be any more charges filed? Very serious indeed. If this officer is convicted, he's facing a minimum of life in prison and state charges could be warranted. Information has already been passed on to the state police and the Norfolk County DA. All right, Tremaine, thank you. Next tonight to the crime tourism

crackdown, federal authorities charging suspects allegedly responsible for over a hundred burglaries and thefts across the country employing thieves visiting from South America on short-term visas. How authorities say they used a rental car business to facilitate those crimes and steal millions of dollars. NBC's Steve Patterson explains. Tonight, the alleged masterminds behind a multi-million dollar crime tourism ring that targeted cities across the country charged by federal authorities. This group essentially acted as a linchpin for South American crime tourists who wanted to come to our country, take advantage of our liberties to steal from the American people. say Juan Carlos Thola Duran and his girlfriend Anna Maria Ariagata operated a sort of criminal

concierge service out of their Los Angeles rental car business. Tola has been running, in essence, the hurts rental car business for thieves. The couple and four alleged conspirators accused of providing nice cars to thieves from South America who were in the U.S. on short-term tourist visas, allowing them to blend in as they targeted high-end homes and businesses from New Jersey to Kansas to Kansas to California. California, according to the indictment. Even stealing victims bank cards, which officials say they would then max out at nearby super stores. They purchased gift cards, electronics, and luxury goods to sell back at a fraction of the value to Thola Duran, who then resold the goods for profit, bringing in over $5 million across six years. The defendants acted essentially as quarterbacks for a massive team of eager thieves. This is Thola Duran and Ariagata's home, according to the indictment. One neighbor recalls police searching the property. I just pulled up to a lot of commotion and a lot of vehicles and vehicles on trailers. That's really scary. Really scary. No wonder there was so much

activity. The stolen funds secured from at least 120 burglaries and thefts in 80 different cities according to the indictment would go towards buying real estate and even horses. Since 2019, I'm proud to say that we have arrested over 130 suspects response for perpetrating these crimes with a vast majority using vehicles from driver power network. Crime tourism is proven to be a serious issue in the U.S., especially in Southern California. Last year, officials sounding the alarm over Chilean criminal gangs who took advantage of a 90-day visa program that allowed them to enter the country with no criminal background check. Those gangs connected to a string of burglaries across Southern California.

Those thinking they can come to our country, take advantage of our liberties, and steal from the American people, should think again. And Steve Patterson joins us now from Los Angeles. Steve, this appears to have been a pretty complex operation. What specific charges are these suspects facing? Ballard, they're looking at wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, a conspiracy to transport stolen goods with a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count of just the wire fraud in all. it totals decades behind bars and investigators are now calling this the blueprint of all future crime tourism cases. Back to you.

All right, Steve, thank you for your reporting. When we return, the boat explosion rocking a New Jersey marina, the blast tossing a man into the water as flames engulf parts of the river. The terrifying video next. back now with Top Stories News Feed. We begin with a DC police officer killed while retrieving a gun from a sewer. Police say they saw a man throw a gun down a storm drain before getting onto the back of a motorcycle and escaping. When investigators later went to retrieve the gun, it went off killing Officer Wayne David. Police offering a $50,000 reward for help locating the

suspect who dumped the gun and the person on the bike who helped him escape. an explosion at a New Jersey marina launching one man into the water and injuring another video shows fire from the boat igniting leaking oil sending flames across the river two people were hurt but are expected to survive the cause of the initial explosion still under investigation but no foul play is suspected a highly contagious bacteria killing three apes at the jacksonville zoo and gardens in florida the apes succumbing to shigalosis which has spread through feasts food or water and affects the digestive system. Two of the apes were brothers and had pre-existing heart conditions which made them more vulnerable. The zoo quarantining their other monkeys and saying that the apes showing symptoms are making progress towards recovery.

And United Airlines flight attendants voting to authorize a strike on the eve of Labor Day weekend just about all of the union voting in favor as they negotiate a contract to replace their temporary one. Flight attendants asking for pay while on the ground. as well as a base pay increase and other demands. While the vote comes right before a busy weekend, the airline says it is not likely to affect Labor Day travel. We turn out to the latest in the Idaho murder trial.

Brian Koberger, who's accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022, appearing in court today for a hearing about where the location of the trial will take place. For more on this, I want to bring in NBC's Dana Griffin. Dana, you have some news. Justin from the judge. Tell us what you've learned.

Yeah, so we were just listening to that hearing. The hearing has officially ended. We were waiting to see if the judge would rule whether or not he would move the case. He says that this is the most difficult decision he has ever had to make. He says he's got a lot of work to do. He wants to go back, review the law, and then he is going to issue his ruling in writing. He didn't say exactly when that'll be, but one of the last things he said was to take care as he left the bench. And I'm sure he's going to be digging into that as early as tomorrow.

case is about giving the suspect Brian Colberger a fair trial and an impartial jury. Now, the defense argues that he can't get that in Latow County because it is so small, about 40,000 residents and only about 25,000 would be eligible to sit on this jury. They also talked about a lot of data that they collected during their own survey where they found that an overwhelming majority of residents say that they believe he is guilty. Now, the state in this case says they do not support a change of venue. They say that this will present an unhardship on not only the court workers, but also the family members. And they say that over the last year and a half, the numbers between how many people have been watching media coverage and consuming that has been, if not the same, sometimes it dips and spikes, not only in Lata County, but also Ada County, where they want to move this case, some three.

hundred miles away. Instead, they issued, they suggested other things to the judge saying that they could seal certain parts of the hearing until the trial is complete. And they also said they could possibly pull jurors from other counties or possibly move the case to other counties that are a little bit closer than Ada County. Valerie? All right. And Dana, we know that this case has already been drawn out for quite some time. How are the parents of the victims responding tonight. You know, they spoke to our producer outside of court this afternoon. They're heartbroken. This has drawn out very long and listened to what they explained this feels like for them. It's torture. It's torture. Yeah, it's terrible. It's a nightmare. It's just,

I mean, it's just you wake up with, you know, a heaviness on your heart, you know, weight on your shoulders. That just gets heavier and heavier and heavier as the days go by. We can't count how many cases have started after ours and are already done. Obviously, very heartbreaking for not only this family, but the victim, the other victim's families. And the parents also added that, you know, this is where the murders occurred and they want the case to end in LATO County. Valerie? All right, Dana. Thank you for bringing us the latest. Now to a troubling new report from the Department of Justice accusing the FBI of mishandling

in cases of child sexual abuse. The department's internal watchdog, saying, of the hundreds of reported cases, many went overlooked. The report comes after years of sweeping criticism over the FBI's handling of the investigation into disgraced USA Gymnastics Dr. Larry Nassar. Ken Delanian joins us now from Washington. Ken, walk us through more of the DOJ's findings in this case. Hey, good evening, Valerie.

Look, three years after the FBI acknowledged botching the investigation into convicted sex predator Larry Nassar. This new audit finds that the Bureau is still failing to protect children who have been sexually abused. The report by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz reviewed a sample of 327 cases and found 42 that were so deficient that auditors felt compelled to contact the FBI and urge immediate attention. In one case, the audit found that a child continued to be sexually abused for 15 months and another child victim was abused by the same person while the FBI failed to investigate the case. In another example, For example, a two-year-old was being abused for 21 months while the FBI sat on the case and failed to take investigative steps.

These cases mirror what happened in the Nassar case, even though FBI director Christopher Ray assured Congress and the public at the time that this would never happen again. Several Democratic lawmakers today are blasting the FBI. Ken, these findings are incredibly troubling. Has the FBI responded at all? Yeah, in a background call with reporters, a senior FBI official mentioned budget cuts, is one reason. in this mission is particularly difficult. And in a written statement, the FBI said, quote, ensuring the safety and security of children

is not just a priority for the FBI. It's a solemn duty that we're committed to fulfilling with the highest standards. And that of the FBI's efforts combating crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding undertakings we do. Now, the FBI also said in the audit itself

that some agents have been referred for potential discipline, Valerie. The DOJ also came back with a list of recommendations for the FBI. What more do we know about that? Yeah, the IG made 11 recommendations. Many of them were designed to ensure that child sex cases are investigated quickly and properly within 24 hours. Other recommendations that complaints be better documented and the victims be notified of their options. The report also recommended more training, Valerie.

All right, Ken, thank you. Coming up, crackdown on journalists, reporters covering Venezuela's disputed election facing persecution, how they're using artificial intelligence to avoid arrests while still getting their stories to the public. Back now with Top Story's Global Watch. In Thailand, a former Spanish cooking YouTuber sentenced to life in prison for a grisly murder. 30-year-old Daniel Sancho Bruncelo sentenced after he was found guilty of murdering a Colombian

plastic surgeon while both were on vacation in Thailand last year. Sancho, the son of a popular Spanish actor, was initially sentenced to death, but that was reduced due to his cooperation during the trial. A top Ukrainian fighter pilot was killed when the U.S. made F-16 he was flying crashed. Pilot Alexei Mess, known as Moonfish, was one of the faces of the campaign to get those fighter jets from the U.S. Ukraine says they do not believe pilot error caused the crash, which is now under investigation via a special commission. And in Hong Kong, two newspaper editors found guilty of sedition. Two editors of the now defunct Stan News face up to two years in prison for editing articles that were

critical of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The U.S. State Department has called the convictions a direct attack on media freedom. Now to the Americas and the renewed protests in Venezuela following that country's disputed election last month. Earlier protests lead to thousands of arrests, including some journalists. One news platform now turning to AI to spread reporting without fear of reprisal. NBC's Ellison Barber has this report. Political tension in Venezuela on display. in the country's capital city a month after the disputed presidential election.

Opposition leaders singing the national anthem, protesters holding signs thanking democracies for standing with them as they call for President Nicholas Maduro to step aside. In the decades since Maduro took office, Venezuela has fallen deeper into political and economic turmoil. But those who opposed him hoped last month's election would be a fresh start that they'd have a new Venezuela under the leadership of Edmundo Gonzalez. They published what appeared to be authentic tallies from 80% of polling machines showing Gonzalez winning by more than a 2 to 1 margin, according to an Associated Press analysis of those tally sheets.

Edmundo Gonzalez won by a landslide, 67% of the boats. Also, we were able to gather original tally sheets, we were able to digitalize them. We have them on a web page so that everybody in Venezuela and abroad can see the actual official results. Amid the internal and international concerns over election irregularities, Maduro, doubled down. Addressing a crowd of supporters from the presidential palace, he said, with the constitutional, institutional, bolivarian morale that we have, we demand the world not to stick their noses

in the internal affairs of Venezuela and to respect the sovereignty and the internal life of Venezuela. Maduro is also facing renewed allegations of punishing those who speak out. Carmelo Longo, a well-known Venezuelan journalist, was detained in Caracas on Sunday. She'd announced her departure from a pro-government newspaper after 20 years, and less than a week later, a local journalist union and local rights organization said police, police raided her home and took her into custody. She was released but is now charged with terrorism and inciting hatred. At least eight other journalists have been detained since the July 28th elections, according

to the Coalition for Women in Journalism. Venezuela is ranked 156 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index, with the country's freedom of information marked at a level considered very difficult. Without Borders describes Maduro's policies as a communication hegemony that threatens the existence of independent journalism. And now, an unlikely source is trying to shield independent journalists. Hello, Chamos, we're back with another episode of Operation Retweet. Artificial intelligence. The reporting is real, but the person you see on screen is not. It's AI. Recuerden that, although we are not real,

our content is so are. And proviening of media with information verificated. Connect us, a journalism platform based in Colombia, coordinated the initiative. The group's director, Carlos Eduardo Huerta told the Guardian the AI newsreaders are a necessary tool

for Venezuelan journalists, aimed at protecting their identities so they can freely report because in Huerta's words, being on camera is no longer sensible. Alison Barber joins us now on set. Alison, this is such a fascinating story, but tell us more about Carmela Longo. Have we heard from her since her release and are more protests expected in the coming weeks?

So on Carmela Longo, we have heard from her. She posted about 24 hours ago a photo. It appears to be her and her son and in Spanish. It simply said underneath it, we are healthy. We are fine. Thank you for your support. Thank God we're home. And then she went on to say in that post as well, I will slowly become active on my

network. on her Instagram story, again, just reiterating that she appreciates the support. In terms of her directly talking about this arrest and what's happened, I'm not sure if we're going to hear anything from her, at least in the immediate future, in part because after she was charged with terrorism and inciting hatred, one of the stipulations upon her release, and this is according to the National Union of Press Workers, was that she cannot leave Venezuela, she must make regular court appearances, and she cannot speak publicly. In fact, the language they use is forbidden about her case.

So we might not hear more from her for now, but we do expect to see protests across the board continuing tomorrow. The opposition party has said they plan to continue with these protests. The big question, of course, though, is what, if anything, it will mean for Maduro moving forward? I'll remind people, and this is something I reported on the ground at the time, Juan Guido. It was not that long ago. 2019, the U.S. and 57 other countries recognized him as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Maduro did not leave. So the question is, can these protests be the ones that finally make a change in Venezuela?

But for now, a Maduro seems to have the support of both the military and the police force within that country. All right, Alison, thank you. Up next tonight, from trauma to triumph, a Connecticut woman making her Paralympic debut after losing part of her leg in a shark attack, how her near-death experience is pushing her to achieve greatness at this year's games. Stay with us. We're back now, and day one of the Paralympic Games is complete. Team USA plunging into the pool, taking home three silver medals in Paris swimming. One Team USA swimmer, Connecticut's Allie Truitt, set to compete starting this Sunday.

She thought her competitive swimming career was over after a shark attack. But with the help of her community, she found a new way to stay in the sport she loves. NBC Connecticut's Gabrielle Lucero has the story. I think the tone is hope. There are the sad piano notes. You know, I started my recovery with the depth of sadness I'd never known before. I was 22 years old and had just in a flash become an amputee for the rest of my life. Allie Truitt thought her next chapter was written.

I had a job lined up and I was going to start in October after a summer of celebration travel with friends. Her D-1 swimming career at Yale behind her and a new job in New York City in front of her. Then I went on vacation and a shark attack me and my plans changed a lot. That's a plot twist no one would ever see coming. You know, it's everyone's worst nightmare and it came true. In fact, there's a lot of reasons true it shouldn't even be telling this story at all. Pretty quickly, it had my leg in its mouth and the next thing I knew it had bit my foot and part of my leg off. But there's even more reasons why she is.

So I just kept telling myself, stay conscious, stay together, get to the boat, just get to the boat. I relied on 15 years of competitive swimming to give me any advantage in a situation where I had enough. There's her years as a competitive swimmer and her Yale teammate Sophie in the water with her that day, on the trip with her that week, to celebrate her own medical school graduation. Immediately when I got on the boat, Sophie tied a tourniquet on my leg. And then when my leg didn't stop the bleeding enough, she tied it again a second time and saved my life. There's the doctors at the hospital in Miami. them another Yale swim alum. The nurses and therapists, her parents and siblings, and

Truitts fight to say her story, it's not over. So she facetimes me from a hospital bed. She says, remember all those years you were trying to get me to kick my feet? And I was like, yeah. She goes, I just swam 70 yards to a boat with no foot. Turns out that's where Truitt's next chapter would really begin. Goal number one was help Allie get better. And we used sport as a vehicle for her improvement. And it was really powerful to watch. I love the water, and I wanted to keep that love. But it was also really, really scary and hard.

You know, physically, I had a newly amputated leg, and so the nerve endings were extremely reactive to any sensation. And then mentally, hearing the sound of water contributed to flashbacks. With the help of her childhood swim coach, Jamie Barone, Truett, swam in her first meet three months after the attack and 10 months after that. Welcome to the show, Allie Truitt. She qualified for the United States Paralympic team. I'm so excited to wear the flag on my cap.

It's a way for me to thank the everyday heroes in my story who saved my life. All of this attention is coming to her, and she's just holding up a mirror being like, I'm going to send that right back out into the world. I hope that people gain that from my story for anyone going through traumatic experiences or unexpected life events. We're all still powerful, you know, even as we are changed. The water is still the place for me. It's still a place that shows me my power and my strength.

No, it's not the story Allie Truitt ever imagined she would be telling, but she'll share it for whoever needs to hear it. I'm getting to finish this on my terms, and in a way that I would have never imagined, at a level I would have never imagined. I mean, to think about the fact that I'm getting to represent my country is just so incredible. We all have more in us, and for me, that's such an exciting thought.

Now, that is a comeback. A reminder, you can stream the parallel. Olympics on NBC and Peacock. Thanks so much for watching Top Story. I'm Valerie Castro in for Tom Yamis. Stay right there.