Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, September 3, 2026

Episode Date: September 4, 2026

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, the new turn in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial is one juror holding up deliberations. Tensions boiling over inside the courtroom. The defense outraged, urging the judge to remove a juror who allegedly refuses to properly consider reasonable doubt. Are we closer to a mistrial or an acquittal? Severe storms pounding the Midwest, violent winds and rains plunging nearly half a million people into darkness. The powerful flash floods moving through right now. Stynum's final words just released as the nation remembers the women's rights trailblazer. The new Roblox warning, the family who can't seek justice after a predator on the gaming app exploited their nine-year-old daughter all because she clicked on the terms and conditions.

Sailors on the USS Lincoln back on solid ground after a record nine months at sea. Our team is there as this mother reunites with her daughter halfway around the world. The mystery animal terrorizing a New Hampshire town. What police are saying about this unusually aggressive creature. And are influencers out of line at the U.S. Open? The camera flashes and constant talking that some say are out of bounds. Plus, an ICE agent charged with lying about shooting a Venezuelan man. What prosecutors allege happen.

Top story starts right now. Hello, everyone, and good evening. I'm Ryan Noble's In for Tom. Tonight, tensions reaching a boiling point in the Lindsay Clancy trial as jury deliberations take a dramatic turn. The 36-year-old mother has admitted to killing her three young kids, but her lawyers argue she's not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Late today on day six of deliberations, a note from the jury throwing the courtroom into chaos. Clancy's lawyer blasting the judge, insisting one of the jurors, alone holdout, should be kicked off the case for not following instructions.

The court has an instruction from the foreperson of that juror that's been working for a week now, saying that there's one juror who refuses to listen to the law that you've given him or her on reasonable doubt. The judge then firing right back. I don't feel that it is proper for me to side with one side or the other of the judge. deliberations. I don't feel it's appropriate for me to say, I agree with one juror or the 11. Deliberations have gone on for roughly 36 hours at this point. The 12-person jury made up of nine women and three men have sat through roughly five weeks of testimony in this extremely sensitive case. And these are the options that they have in front of them on that jury slip.

If all 12 can't come to a unanimous decision, a mistrial will be declared. The closely watched case has divided the nation with some rallying in support of Clancy, saying her story of postpartum psychosis resonated with them. But critics arguing she should be convicted and she knew what she was doing at the time of the killings. We have a panel of experts standing by to break down these stunning developments, but we do want to start with our Emily Akata outside the courthouse as the nation waits for the jury's decision. Tonight, tensions flaring in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. As a new note from the jury appears to suggest one juror is at odds with the other 11. The court has an instruction from the foreperson of that juror that's been working

for a week now saying that there's one juror who refuses to listen to the law that you've given him or her on reasonable doubt. Lindsay Clancy's stoic and her defense attorney visibly exasperated after the judge refused his request to dismiss that juror. The judge called such a removal a sensitive undertaking and instead re-read an explanation about the meaning of proof beyond reasonable doubt. I don't feel that it is proper for me to side with one side or the other of the deliberations. I don't feel it's appropriate for me to say I agree with one juror or the 11. The prosecution agreed. Can we extrapolate how the jurors are leaning here?

Absolutely. Kevin Reddington is leading this charge. So that means that there is likely 11 not guilty votes and one guilty vote. And the juror that he's most concerned about is the guilty vote. The deadlock jury has already told the judge twice they can't agree on whether Clancy is criminally responsible for killing her three young children. As the group of nine women and three men are sent back to the jury room for what will be day seven of deliberations. I don't put the shit out of the case. I don't want to miss you.

Emily Akeda joins us from outside the courthouse. Emily, how difficult is it to remove a juror? So Ryan, legal experts say that the process itself isn't that difficult because there are six alternates who have been following the case. But the judge has to be very careful to not even appear to put his thumb on the scale. Now, Clancy's defense says that he's expecting, quote, further inquiry into the issue by the judge first thing tomorrow, Ryan. Emily, Akata, thank you. For more now, I want to bring in NBC News. legal analyst Misty Maris and jury consultant and body language expert Susan Constantine. Misty, let's start with you. It was really a shocking moment in court. You and I watched it together.

The judge once again defining what reasonable doubt could be for that one juror. What could that one juror be telling their peers that led the judge to reiterate that point? This was a shocking moment. And we learned so much more than we ever know about what is going on in that deliberation room, which is behind closed doors. and is generally secret. So according to the arguments that happened led by Kevin Reddington, the note said from the forewoman that there was a juror who was unable to follow the judge's instructions. Now, if that is the case, following the judge's instructions is the basis to take a juror out of that jury pool and replace them with an alternate.

However, when you're talking about reasonable doubt, the question becomes, is it really not following the instruction, or is it that their perception of whether or not reasonable doubt was established is different than the other 11? But we certainly learned this charge led by Kevin Reddington. He's confident those 11 are on the defense side. So Susan, have you ever seen something like this before? And what have we learned today about what's happening behind closed doors? Yes, so what we've learned, first of all, no, I have never seen anything like this before to this magnitude. And so I think that people don't really understand what really happens behind closed doors with deliberations. Keep in mind here's 12 jurors. They never met each other ever in their entire life.

They're now in a high-profile trial, and they're having to eat and literally almost do everything together. And then they have some sort of discord that happens in that jury. deliberations. And I said from the very beginning is that this is a highly charged case. And so you may find some people or a person that's going to dig their heels in, believe that they're right, abandon everything the judges told them because they're going to stand their ground. And that's exactly what happened today. And we found out, and for what, a couple of three, four days, I was saying we have a ghost jury. We have no idea what they're thinking or feeling because we never got any questions back except for the first day. Today was quite revealing now we know what's been

happening behind closed doors. And Misty, there was a very unusual moment in court that the cameras actually didn't capture where Clancy herself actually took part in the sidebar with the judge. Normally, the defendant does not take part in these sidebars, but she was just feet from the jury at this point. Talk to us about why this is so rare and what could have happened there. Very rare and very unusual. And when it was how. happening. We did not know why. But it turns out the reason that Lindsay was brought up to that sidebar was because this was an issue regarding her fundamental rights as a defendant, the right and her presumption of innocence. The fact that the prosecutors have to prove all of the

charges against her beyond a reasonable doubt. So because of that, she was actually brought up involved in that process as each juror came one by one and was sworn in again by the judge. So it was truly astounding. And as Susan said, we learned so much from these arguments about that split and about what has been going on and why we were in this deadlock. Susan, it was obviously an important moment. We'd gone days without any kind of real activity in that courtroom, at least specifically related to the case. But today it was so tense. And I want to play some of that moment where the judge read out the definition of a reasonable doubt. And you can see the defense lawyer here. What does his body language tell us about what's happening?

Boy, I tell you what, you had to be in that room because wow, where the sparks flying. And, you know, we're looking at just one little piece here. But when he was up there, right at the front of the judge, I mean, this slicing and the batonning and then throwing the papers up there and the grimace on his face and has just his whole body language demeanor, he's, was ticked off. But I didn't know, and neither did, I'm sure, our colleague to try to figure why he was angry. We didn't really understand. So all of us were perplexed. We were all rubbernecking and we're trying to figure out what the heck is going on. But I tell you what, now I understand why he was so angry. Because we may have one that was a holdout juror that

was more pro-prosecution. He wanted that person gone. So I'm speculating, but we're going to find out tomorrow morning and we're, you know, we may have a verdict or probably a mistrial. Yeah, and Misty, to that end, if there were to be a mistrial, especially when it appears that perhaps they were so close to an acquittal or maybe a conviction on a lesser charge. If they go to a mistrial, that will mean another case. There's been so much attention paid to this Lindsay Clancy case. Misty, is it possible for her to get a fair retrial given how much attention this case has gotten? It is going to be so difficult to seat a jury in a second trial. And keep in mind, it will be de novo if there is, in fact, a new trial. So it could be slightly different charges. Will it be first degree or second degree murder? The defense will be able to make all of those pretrial motions that they made this time around and may be successful, like for a change of venue or to bifurcate the case. So at the end of the day, if this case were to go to trial again, it could look completely different in the courtroom. But seating, that jury change of venue is nothing that's going to prevent finding jurors who don't know about

the case and haven't already made their determinations. That's going to be a feat because getting out of the county, who cares? Everybody knows about this case across the country and in fact, across the world. Yeah, absolutely right. All right. Thank you to both of you for your terrific analysis. We appreciate it. We have more breaking news tonight. Former NFL quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez planning to plead guilty over a stabbing attack. that also left him injured last year. NBC's Stephanie Gossk has this update. Tonight, former NFL quarterback and sports analyst Mark Sanchez striking a deal, agreeing to plead guilty in connection with a 2025 stabbing incident in downtown Indianapolis, according to a court

document, which does not specify what charge Sanchez has agreed to plead guilty to. His trial was set to begin later this month. Sanchez's attorney writing, we are finalizing an agreement with the prosecutor's office that provides a path toward resolving the state's case. Sanchez was facing multiple criminal charges, including felony battery, after allegedly attacking 69-year-old delivery man Perry Toll. The former New York Jets quarterback had been in town to call the Indianapolis Colts game. Video showed Sanchez in the early morning hours bloody in appearing to stumble moments after the alleged fight. This was the county prosecutor describing the incident in 2025. We are literally talking about people

fighting over a parking space. According to the police, the driver told officers Sanchez smelled like alcohol and that he feared he was trying to kill him. Both men ended up in the hospital. Sanchez was treated for stab wounds and Toll was slashed in the face and left with a deep gash. Road victory. Sanchez had become a familiar face on Fox Sports after his career in the NFL ended. A month after he was arrested, Fox Sports confirmed he was no longer with the network. And Stephanie Goss joins us now. Stephanie, what happens to Sanchez now? So, Ryan, he has a sentencing hearing in November,

and that felony battery charge carries a sentence of one to six years in prison. So you have to imagine that this plea deal, and we don't know what charge he's going to plead guilty to, that it involves some conversation about prison time. Interestingly, on top of that, he faces a lawsuit by that truck driver against him, and according to the lawyer of foreman, the driver tonight, they have made, in his words, positive. They're on a positive path,

he says, to an agreement. And those are his words. So you have to imagine that maybe this is a conversation that's going around both of these issues. Okay. Stephanie Goss, thank you for that report. We appreciate it. Turning out to another breaking headline, severe storms wreaking havoc on the Midwest. Right now, more than half a million people without electricity as powerful storms move through. It all comes just as the Labor Day weekend travel rush takes off. Valerie Castro has the new video just coming in. Tonight, severe storms on the move. Tens of millions now in the crosshairs. Multiple tornado warnings already, including for the city of Detroit. We have the tornado warning for Wayne County. We have the tornado warning actively for Washington County and for Oakland County.

Flooding rains, submerging streets in Milwaukee. Trees snapping, limbs crashing into homes in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, residents say they believe lightning caused this early morning apartment fire. Officials are still investigating. This, after extreme weather on Wednesday, wreaked havoc on Rogers Stadium in Toronto. Entire seating sections destroyed. Strong winds and rain pummeling this neighborhood. Police helping stranded drivers to dry land.

The brutal wind tearing apart scaffolding. These workers scrambling to safety. And here scaffolding smashing through a high-rise window. Two guys were on it screaming. Then I heard this big smashing glass. The weather already impacting holiday travel. Travelers at New York's LaGuardia airport telling us they're frustrated. Flight has been delayed three times today.

Whether it's air traffic or it's weather, let's just figure it out and get us down there. And at this airport alone, more than 80 flights canceled, more than 500 flights. flights delayed. And Valerie Castro joins us now from LaGuardia Airport in New York. So Valerie, are we already starting to see delays pile up at major airports due to those severe storms? Yeah, Ryan, tonight there are already more than 8,000 flights delayed across the country. Some of those you can see on this flight board.

The TSA says more than 17 million people are expected to fly over the next several days across the country. Ryan? Okay, Valerie Castro at LaGuardia Airport. It's now turned to meteorologist Bill Karens. So, Bill, this dangerous storm system is on the move right now. Time it all out for us. Yeah, it's been a rough evening, especially through the Great Lakes.

Detroit got hit hard. Cleveland, just about a half hour, 45 minutes ago. And now this line of storms is continuing to plow through Pennsylvania. Areas around Pittsburgh, there's a lot of power outages and a bunch of trees down. So we've got two clusters of storms. We have the one that just rolled through Cleveland, now heading through Youngstown, all severe thunderstorms from warnings with this. And then we have this line out ahead of it.

We have two active tornado warnings with this. This is in a pretty rural area just north of Interstate 70 here in Pennsylvania. So the Johnstown area looks like damaging winds are heading your way. There's a radar indicated tornado. So we don't know we have tornadoes on the ground, but just something to watch. Later on tonight, all of those storms will be sliding down into the D.C. area, possibly even areas like Baltimore, Philadelphia, too. Tomorrow, our severe threat goes from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., all the way down the Richmond and Raleigh.

Once again, we're going to be seeing gusty winds, brief lightning and heavy rain, just enough to make the airports miserable in the afternoon. And of course, we're on the verge of a pretty big travel weekend here, Bill. What should travelers expect heading into Labor Day? Yeah, we're going to have a lot of great and a couple spots that are less than ideal. So we'll start with the Great. Once we get into Saturday, the Great Lakes and the Northeast, the humidity breaks, everything is just about as perfect as it could be. but we're still dealing with like Fourth of July type weather in the middle of the country. Areas of Kansas City, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, through Memphis.

It was near 100 today. Humidity was like, you feel like 105. That continues even into Sunday here. So you're just going to bake. You've got to find water to cool off to get some shade. The Pacific Northwest, kind of cool, feeling like fallish. We're not going to see, you know, like a total washout out at the beaches, but you will be dodging storms in Florida and along the Southeast Coast. And by the time we actually get the Labor Day itself, I mean, from North

from about Virginia northwards, about just a perfect ideal weather. At night, you'll love it. It'll feel cool. Open the windows up, but no relief, and that heat continues. That'll be a story well into next week as the calendar starts to get to the middle of September next week. Usually the temperatures fall, not this time around. All right, Bill Cairns, with the official meteorological term of less than ideal. We'll take it, Bill. Thank you so much.

To Washington now. And that headline from Vice President Vance saying he would not call the ongoing conflict in Iran a, quote, war. Plus, our Gabe Gutierrez pressed the vice president about those sky-high gas prices. Tonight, despite Iran targeting American bases in the Middle East and those U.S. retaliatory strikes in Iran's air defenses, Vice President Vance says the U.S. is not at war. I wouldn't call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting. I recognize there have been places where this is flared up. Major combat operations, again, major combat operations last for about six weeks. The administration says the U.S. is now escorting 30 to 40 commercial oil ships

at day through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid Iranian attacks and drive down the price of oil. But we press the vice president about this prediction from Treasury Secretary Scott Besson about gas prices back in July. I think we can get back to $3, hopefully. When? Maybe by Labor Day. The U.S. national average for gas now at $4.14 a gallon. Do you have a new timetable for Americans on when they could expect lower gas prices, and should they not expect to see $3 gas again until at least 2027? Well, in defense of Scott, he said maybe by Labor Day, because we're talking about things that are inherently unpredictable.

The fundamental reality is that the reason gas prices are so high right now is because the Iranians are shooting at commercial shipping. But I'm not going to make a promise about when it's going to return to $3. And Gabe Gutierrez joins us now. Gabe, the vice president was also asked about the threat of cyber attacks. Talk to us about that. Yes, Ryan. Well, the vice president actually downplayed the threat of Iranian cyber attacks, saying that they have a limited ability to disrupt the lives of normal Americans. Now, Ryan, that comment comes in just a short time after there were about a dozen states that were targeted by cyberattacks. law enforcement sources said that they were potentially linked to Iranian-backed groups, and so there are a lot of questions about how they could disrupt the lives of Americans, those attacks targeted water systems.

But again, the Vice President downplaying that, saying that the government is, while it is focused on any type of cyber attack, at the same time, the government does not feel that the Iranians have the ability to disrupt the lives of Americans and that the home line is safe, Ryan. All right, Gabe Gutierrez on the White House North Law Enforce tonight. Thank you, Gabe. And we are remembering an American icon tonight. Gloria Steinem carved her own place in U.S. history, fighting for equality for all women, a fight that ended at the age of 92. Anne Thompson has more on her life and legacy. Gloria Steinem was the face of women's rights for more than half a century.

It took 100 years for us to become human beings and to vote. Not surprising that it will take a century to get equality. Using the power of words, spoken... I think that what feminism is about really is telling us that we ourselves can do it and not getting us to imitate other people. Written and put into action. Stand here not only for the Equal Rights Amendment, but in the names of all the women in this country

who struggle with two jobs when men have won. Born in Toledo, Ohio, she initially wanted to be a Rockett. Instead, Steinem became a journalist, exposing the working conditions of Playboy bunnies by going undercover and becoming one herself, writing columns for New York Magazine, and finding her voice as an activist, helping to establish the National Women's Political Caucus. We are the women that our parents warned us about, and we are proud. Then co-founding Ms. Magazine, tackling once taboo subjects like sexual harassment, domestic violence, and abortion. We've changed consciousness. We just now have to change structures. Her efforts recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Married just once to businessman and activist David Bale, Steinem's life dramatized on stage and in film. Tonight in a new Netflix special, Steinem herself, saying how she wants to be remembered. There was this person who tried to make the world a little more equal, compassionate, joyful, funny than it was when I showed up. An entrepreneur of social change. Anne Thompson joins us now. And Anne, the tributes are coming in tonight from so many people. Oprah among them? Yes.

Oprah Winfrey wrote about a meeting she had with Gloria Steinem and some college women here in New York City. And what she said, I think a lot of people are feeling today, that women owe a debt of gratitude to Gloria Steinem, and said that Steinem realized that real change happens when one woman finds her voice and then uses that voice to help another woman find her voice. And, you know, Steinem talked about it. She was often asked, you know, who would have been? is she going to pass the torch to? And she said, my torch is my torch. What my torch is going to do is light other torches along the way. And that's what she did over many of her 92 years, Ryan. Ann Thompson, thank you so much. We're back in a moment with a woman who shot and killed a man during an argument over a Walmart parking space, why she won't face any charges. Plus,

should pro athletes be allowed to play on college teams? That legal battle is heating up. And the couple waiting through hell and high water just to get married inside this church. Look at that video. We'll explain what's going on ahead on Top Story. We're back with an update on a deadly fight over a parking spot at a Florida Walmart.

Prosecutors say the woman who shot and killed a veteran during the dispute will not face charges. Dash camera video. shows the moments leading up to that deadly confrontation in June. You see the veteran approached the woman and follow her around the vehicle. She tells him to walk away before firing a shot. That moment also captured from a second angle. NBC's Liz Quartz has been following this case.

She joins us now with an update. So, Liz, this is all coming down to Florida's stand-your-ground law? Yeah, that's right, Ryan. So prosecutors essentially said that old, They made their decision that they're not going to press charges against that woman based on looking at the video. And that that was key here because they say it shows the man who was killed. This is a 62-year-old veteran Bart Degugli Elmo. In their words, it says it shows him continuing to aggressively approach the woman, Melissa Payne.

She is there on one hand, it appears she's holding a cell phone. And the other hand, it appears she is holding a gun. But they also say that specifically they're not pressing charges because of this day. stand your ground law. And they said in this statement, the video does not demonstrate that Melissa Payne was in the right. Rather, it demonstrates that the state of Florida cannot overcome her claim that she was in reasonable fear of great bodily harm. It went on to say that pain did not have to wait to be attacked before resorting to deadly force because of this stand your ground law. And she did, according to police, tell authorities when they arrived at the scene. She stayed there

and she told them that she was acting in self-defense, Ryan. And have we heard from the family of the veteran? So tonight we are hearing from the veteran's daughter through her attorney. We're not hearing much, but there is a short statement that that attorney gave to some local media outlets in Florida, saying that she is very disappointed by the prosecutor's decision not to press charges and that they continue to maintain that this was not a case that should warrant stand your ground immunity, Ryan. Okay, Liz Kreutz. Thank you for that report. Still to come on Top Story, the ICE officer facing charges for allegedly lying about the shooting of an immigrant, our new reporting tonight.

Plus, the mysterious animal terrorizing one town, attacking multiple people. You'll see it for yourself. But first, Top Story's top moment and the routine air traffic control call that turned into a sweet surprise encounter. One pilot spotting her father, who also happens to be a pilot on the runway leading to this heartwarming exchange. Take a listen. Pops? Hello. Where are you at? This is part one right, safe travels. Both bye. That's your daughter? Apparently. Yeah, computer 4977. Your daughter's a pilot. Aren't you proud, Papa?

Sort of. She's still living in your house? Oh no, but she is on my cell phone plan. Hey, hey, they can't, she's not allowed that all that all that. cell phone plan until she gets married. Thanks. I was on my mama's cell phone until I got married. Thanks.

I am single. Oh, well, so you got to tell daddy's cell phone plan. I'm pretty sure my kids will be on my cell phone plan forever. It's not every day that you run into your dad at work. Stay with us. More top story, taking off after this. We're back with the Trump administration's

immigration crackdown and an ICE officer now facing charges for allegedly lying to federal investigator. It's all related to the shooting of a Venezuelan man in January during an operation in Minneapolis. Our Julia Ainsley is following it all, and she joins us now. So, Julia, walk our viewers through these allegations and explain why the charges are just coming out now. So this is involving that big chaos that we saw in Minneapolis in January with the crackdown by ice. And on January 14, this man, Christian Castro, claimed he was assaulted by two immigrants,

one with a snow shovel. But turns out surveillance videos showed he actually approached. them, chase them. There was no snow shovel involved, and he shot a man in the leg inside his door frame to his apartment. And so he's been charged with lying to federal investigators, but at this point he has not been charged with the shooting that could come later. And there's some allegations here that Trump's Justice Department is actually going to keep that charge from coming. And we're also learning that a federal prosecutor working on the case was just fired? That's right. So this is Matthew Evans, and he was the assistant U.S. attorney, the lead prosecutor in

this case, he sent an email that was later leaked to the, to the lawyers of the victims saying that there was an indictment coming, that they planned to indict him, but that they wouldn't be indicting him on that shooting charge. Basically, he was saying that Maine Justice, people in Washington, were keeping him from bringing that charge. Now Maine Justice has fired him and launched an investigation into whether or not he should have sent that email, and if it would have actually triggered this man, Castro, to go on the run so he couldn't be arrested. Okay, Julia Ainsley, thank you for that. Turning overseas now to Thailand, where U.S. sailors and Marines are enjoying dry land after nine months aboard the USS Lincoln.

Our Courtney Cubey was there as they disembarked. It's day two of leave for the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The ship with more than 5,000 sailors and Marines arrived in Thailand Wednesday after more than nine months underway without a break. The crew making up for lost time here in Pataya, Thailand, shopping, testing out local restaurants, and enjoying the city's vibrant nightlife. Pataya's nickname is Sin City. The ship's commanding officer calling this an exciting time for the crew. You got to remember a lot of them are 18 to 24 years old. They just joined the Navy.

This is their first deployment. Like, I'm one of the older guys. But for them, it's the first time they've done any of this. The Lincoln deployed in November 2025, headed for their. Pacific, but it was rerouted to the Middle East to support the war in Iran. The grueling pace and dangerous conditions made resupply at sea too difficult or simply impossible at times, leaving the crew without mail and fresh fruits and vegetables for long stretches, which also strained morale on the ship.

Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth responded that the crew had everything the Pentagon could provide them at every single moment. After four days in Thailand, the ship will continue its journey back to San Diego and the crew back to their loved ones. Where's your stuff? But one family already had their emotional reunion. Yesterday we introduced you to Shakira Fairfax. She traveled from Newark to Thailand to see her daughter Jada, a sailor on the Lincoln.

Pretty Faye! Today NBC News was there as Shakira reunited with Jada. I don't have red lipstick. I don't have red lipstick to leave on your nose. Enjoying these moments before Jada and the Lincoln head back to see. And Courtney Kubi joins us now from Patya, Thailand. Courtney, officials estimate that some $3 million will pour into the local economy during their four-day visit. What have you seen the sailors spending their money on?

Yeah, and that's a welcome injection of cash here in the local economy, especially when you consider that during the war in Iran, Thailand has suffered from fuel shortages and skyrocketing gas prices. Here in Pataya, we actually arrived the day before the ship pulled into port. And we were seeing signs before the sailors and Marines were even here, welcoming them in, recommending specific restaurants and locations that they should visit. And now we've been seeing them around town since they arrived here on Wednesday afternoon. And every time you see a sailor, they are buying something.

They're shopping in the mall. They're shopping at the local stores. They're in the restaurants buying food. We've overheard them as they're eating, talking about how great the food is. And you've got to imagine, Ryan, after more than nine months underway, it's pretty welcome. to have some of the delicious restaurants here in Thailand. Another thing, though, frankly, we have seen. We were down on the popular and pretty vibrant nightlife area last night, known as Walking Street.

It's a lot of different bars and clubs, and we saw sailors everywhere we looked. They were having fun. They were spending time with their colleagues. We were also there when the first sailors set foot here in Thailand on Wednesday afternoon. And we could overhear the PA system. and one of the senior sailors on the ship was talking to the first men and women as they sit foot on land and telling them, look, guys, the police are your friends, they are your buddies, and you've got to be on your best behaviors. All the sailors and Marines were also briefed about the local laws, the local customs, and what they were and were not allowed to do.

Ryan? So much-needed relief for those men and women who have been serving their country so capably over the past year. Courtney Qeeby, thank you for that terrific report. We appreciate it. Turning now to Top Story's newsfeed, starting with severe flooding in southeast China. Video capturing the moment a home collapses into those raging waters that happened after the area got hit with heavy rain. You can see it from a closer angle. Government officials telling Chinese state media that no one was seriously hurt and that people were evacuated in advance.

A new video out of a very wet wedding in the Philippines. Look at this. This is the bride walking down the up. aisle of a completely flooded out church. The flood water was waist deep after heavy monsoon rains, but that didn't stop the couple from tying the knot. Vaniliwood said it wasn't the wedding they imagined, but it's definitely a day they won't forget. Back here at home, a neighborhood in New Hampshire is on alert after being terrorized by a mysterious animal. Take a look. That small creature scurrying up and just attacking people in the parking lot. So far, police have reported three separate attacks, all of them involving what appears to be the same unusually

aggressive animal. Witnesses say it could either be a gray fox or a fisher. Nothing confirmed. I just hope it's not my dog. And remember those new one dollar coins with President Trump's face on them? Well, they've officially gone on sale as of yesterday, but apparently they're already sold out. According to the U.S. mint, the gold finished coins are on back order. It says more being made, but no word on when they'll be back in stock. A roll of just 25 coins cost just over 60 bucks. They're designed to help celebrate America's 250th birthday. And we have an update tonight on those former NFL players trying to go back to school to play for LSU. Tonight, one conference is fighting back, pushing the debate into court. Jesse Kirsch has the latest.

With the college football season kicking off, tonight a growing legal showdown. Should pro athletes allowed to play the college game. Dequan Wright, Zavian Harris, and Blake Codden all briefly joined NFL team training camps this summer. But now the former pros want to return to college football, reportedly at Louisiana State University. LSU's head football coach defending the idea. If it makes your team better and it's legal to do and your players want it, I'll take

the hit publicly for it because that's my job. But LSU's critics calling for a flag on the play. Blowback coming from other powerhouse programs, including the Texas Longhorns coach. The fact that somebody out there is going to take a player off of an NFL roster and tell somebody who's been doing it for nine months go kick rocks, that morally is wrong. And the coach of LSU's opponent this weekend, Clemson. I don't blame the kids and people trying to take advantage of the system. I just think it's embarrassing where we're all with college football. The athletes are asking a bad en ruse judge to have.

help them take advantage of new NCAA rules, generally extending athlete eligibility to five years. But tonight, the SEC filing suit against LSU in federal court, arguing athletes who go pro should not be allowed back in college competition. Well, Jesse, this is a hot topic, especially with the big college football kickoff weekend. LSU's season opener is this Saturday. When does their roster need to be locked in? You need to lock it all in Ryan by tomorrow because you need to do it the day before your first competition in the season, effectively. The NCAA telling me that if you are not at the 105 max players on your roster, you can add more down the line.

But because you can't transfer players in the middle of the season, effectively, everyone you want on your team has to be at your school by tomorrow. And so it's going to be very interesting to see what happens in quarter. We're still waiting to hear from the judge in this case locally. If there's any further appeal out of this, right? If LSU moves forward and faces punishment later from the SEC, if the SEC faces punishment for trying to punish LSU, so many different ways this could play out. And, of course, this is not just about one conference,

not just one sport. This could wind up being something that is pointed to in other cases across the country as the fabric of college sports continues to change. And I think if you look back 20 years, 10 years, even five years, when you look at name image, like this, how players are able to profit off of, you know, playing now. Just the sports world has already changed so much. And this could potentially just take things in a whole other direction once again, Ryan. Yeah, it does feel like we're in the Wild West era of college sports. And we'll have to see if Congress is willing to do anything about it this fall or beyond. All right. Jesse Kirst, thank you so much for that. Coming up, order on the court, influencers flocking to the U.S.

open, taking pictures during points and disrupting matches. The top player now saying they're crossing the line. Plus, we'll hear from a mother who is suing Roblox, claiming a predator used the platform to target her nine-year-old daughter, why she says she's struggling to get justice. That's next. We're back now with one mother's fight for the right to sue Roblox after a predator targeted her daughter on a gaming platform. The lawyers for Roblox argue a clause in their turn. of use means the family cannot take legal action. NBC's Lord Jared explains. It's billed as a one-of-a-kind place to play, create, and have fun for every age.

It looks like it's a game marketed just for children. But for one Georgia mom, popular gaming platform, Roblox, led to a knock at her door that changed everything. When did you first figure out what was really going on? when I was contacted by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Federal agents informed her a 46-year-old man had been grooming her nine-year-old daughter, chatting on Roblox, forcing her to send sexually explicit images and threatening blackmail. And you thought, no, they've got the wrong person. Right. I was floored. I was devastated.

He was arrested and pled guilty to coercing a child to produce pornographic material. The mother has asked us not to name her or her daughter to protect her. their privacy. The family has now filed a civil lawsuit against Roblox. The sticking point, a clause in the site's terms of use. One, the company says, requires mandatory arbitration for these types of allegations that would keep the family's case out of court. When you first signed up for Roblox, there's a whole bunch of terms and conditions. Do you have any idea what was in all of that text? I had no idea, but I would have never given up my daughter's rights to seek justice for what this platform has done to her.

She says her daughter made multiple accounts agreeing to the terms on her own. Roblox now facing more than 150 lawsuits alleging it could have done more to protect children from predators online and fighting the arbitration clause. Pointing to a law, Congress passed in the wake of Me Too that bans forced arbitration in cases involving sexual assault or harassment. But Roblox says it's not bound by that. law, arguing that users of the platform agreed to arbitrate when they set up their accounts, and that it asks minors to get parental permission when signing up.

Alexandra Walsh represents many alleged victims in their families. The notion that a child, by clicking an I-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-Gree button, could give up their constitutional right to a jury trial, it's legally wrong, and it's morally unconscionable. Roblox did not respond to our requests for comment. Earlier this year, the company rolled out new safety features it says, will protect kids, like more robust age screening and more limited messaging functions. In court filings, the company denies any liability, saying the third-party predators bear sole responsibility for their heinous conduct. What's your response to that? Would that man

had access to my daughter if it wasn't for that platform? Her life has changed forever. Laura Jared joins us now. Laura, what happens next here? And is there any precedent for a social media or gaming company to use the terms of use in this way? Yeah, Ryan, so companies actually do this all the time. You just don't hear about it because so many of these cases settle outside of court before they ever reach a jury. But in this case, you have eight bellwether cases, if you will. They're kind of test cases to see whether, in fact, these arbitration clauses need to actually be enforced and move forward. And we expect that Roblox, the company here, will try to get those enforced later this month and file papers to

that effect, but it'll be up to a judge to decide. And at least one judge already in California has said it cannot be enforced. All right, Laura Jarrett, thank you. Yeah. We want to take a turn now to the U.S. Open and the influx of influencers packing the stands. Instagram and TikTok flooded with pictures and videos from the tennis tournament in New York City. But some tennis purists say these newfound fans are not following the rules. This viral video shows someone using a ring light to snap photos. They're back to the action in the middle of a point. And in some cases, their behavior even impeding play.

During Naomi Osaka's first round, the umpire pausing the game to chastise a group using bright lights for a photo shoot in their suite. But the U.S. Open itself has encouraged influencers to come to Arthur Ashe Stadium, credentialing content creators for the first time last year, and doubling the world. program this summer. A U.S. Open spokesperson tonight telling NBC News they're working to strike a

balance, writing, we want our fans and guests to have an incredible time, but we also need to ensure that does not interfere with the action. Joining us now, someone who covers tennis closely, Ellen Briggs, who's their reporter with front office sports. You know, Ellen, I know that the U.S. Open like, to pride itself as being kind of the working man's tennis tournament, maybe different from Wimbledon and others. But for those who don't follow tennis too closely, Explain what the typical atmosphere is like at a tennis match and how radically different this is from what we're seeing at the U.S. Open this year. Absolutely, Ryan. Great to be here with you. The typical atmosphere at a tennis match is not quite golf level in terms of subduedness, but it's certainly there's an etiquette to it. You're supposed to remain quiet. Certainly, well play is happening and really only mill about the stadium or the arena while changeovers in between sets or games are happening.

So here at the U.S. Open, that is certainly not the case this year. There's more people in the stands than ever making some noise, taking flash photography, as we had a saw there in the lead-in. So it's a lot different than what players are certainly used to at other tournaments. And there's a lot going on. Yeah, right. And it's one thing for other fans to be annoyed by this that are traditional tennis purists, but it's even the athletes that are starting to notice the change.

One of the top players in the world, Jessica Bagula, talked about it after her second round match. Let's take a listen. It's tough when you see videos like that when, you know, they're taking pictures and using the selfie lights. And, you know, it's like people are down there trying to perform and, like, it's their career and their job. And it seems like a bit disrespectful. Is it in any way starting to hurt the credibility of the U.S. Open? It's a great question. I think we're at an inflection point for the tournament.

It is such a storied. Obviously, it's a grand slam the last major of the year. And as you mentioned, the lead up there as well, they have encouraged content creators, celebrities, influencers, to come to the tournament. And we actually interviewed Jessica Pigoula, just less than a month ago and asked her about her opinion on influencers kind of swarming the sport in general.

And she had great things to say a month ago. She said that, like many others, she's happy with the additional eyeballs that influencers have brought to the sport, additional interest. But you can see there with that answer. It might be time for, there's a line. we might be crossing it or getting up really close to it. So certainly when you have top-ranked players like her voicing concern,

that will prompt the U.S. Tennis Association and perhaps other entities and tournaments to take a look at fan behavior and what they allow and don't allow. We talk about the attention on the sport, and we have noticed, especially in some of these matches that are late at night, there's been empty seats, which is out of the ordinary for the U.S. Open. It's normally so popular. Does the tournament actually need these influencers to fill the seats? seats? It's a good question. I think at the end of the day, it's hard to answer. The U.S. Open has become

such a cultural moment, is the phrase that everyone uses to describe it these days. I don't think they need influencers necessarily to attract fans to the stadium, but it doesn't help when you have people with hundreds of thousands, millions of followers posting content from your tournament, documenting the food, the social scene, the merchandise options. It definitely attracts the regular person, even if not a diehard tennis fan. So again, it's all, it's a fine line that you need to walk these days with influencers having the clout and kind of just the influence for lack of a better word that they do. They bring attention to different things, whether it's sporting events or clothing lines. And it is, you want to bring people in and generate revenue for your tournament,

but certainly you want the tournament and the players playing in it to feel respected as well. And the players are taking advantage of it too, right? I want to talk about another moment making headlines, and that's the number one player in the world, Ariana Savelanka. She was asked about attending parties and events with brands, posting them on her social media the week before the open. She had a pretty tense exchange with reporters on this topic. Let's listen. Obviously, last week it's lots of parties and fun and stuff like that. Are you not parties?

You guys are like a joke, parties fun. Like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about it? that like what kind of question is that like just because I posted like some activities with brands and you think that I've been fighting not training not suggesting that your party no like there's a little bit a question now that the tournament started do you find you're getting quite serious and combative oh yeah I wasn't serious before that next question so you talked about how tricky all of this is is it tricky for the players as well I would imagine so I'm not a professional tennis player, but the week prior to the U.S. Open has really become akin to Fashion Week in New York almost.

There are parties every night, multiple parties. I'm sure someone like Arena has to attend every day to fulfill sponsor obligations and anything else that might be on her schedule. So, you know, there is some reporting out there that I've read that players are saying, hey, we're a little bit tired, a little bit burnt out by the time the first, you know, match is played at the, as the tournament begins. But again, it's part of this cultural moment that the U.S. Open has become. Brands want to be involved, influencers want to be involved. Agents and athletes want to be involved and, you know, continue generating off-court revenues. So it's all a balance. And again, we might be approaching an inflection point here.

This 2026 U.S. Open might be some time for reflection and reevaluation as we look to next year. A long way from tennis peers getting fired up because Andreoges had orange shoes in the 90s. All right, Ellen Briggs. Thank you so much for that. We appreciate it. When we come back tonight, the emotional celebration for a young girl ringing the bell after years of cancer treatment. We'll hear from her and her parents right after this break. Finally tonight, the emotional show of support for a young girl fighting cancer. Students lining the halls of their Alabama elementary school to cheer on their classmate as she celebrates the end of her treatment.

Here's Tom. They're cheering for one of their own. Fourth grader Devin Coker surprised by her Pritchard prep classmates in Mobile, Alabama, on her wait to the hospital for a day she's been waiting for. Devin was diagnosed with leukemia at just seven years old. The last two-plus years have been filled with hospital stays and chemotherapy treatments. But today, that's coming to an end. I love you. We're gathered here for a very special thing.

occasion for a very special child. Devin ringing in a new chapter, celebrating the end of her cancer treatment. I was very proud of myself because I was like in my mind it was like, oh, Devin, you did it. You beat cancer. You're really proud. You get to be proud. Devin's parents, Duvonne and Brittany, moved by the show of support. That's what victory sounds like.

That's what victory looks like. We're grateful for her fight. strong, now she's a survivor. And we're cheering for Devon, too. Thank you so much for watching Top Story. I'm Ryan Nobles in Washington. Stay right here. More news is on the way.