Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Episode Date: January 25, 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 Donald Trump trying to get on a high-speed track towards the 2024 GOP nomination after securing another win in New Hampshire. But rival Nikki Haley seeming to say, not yet Donald, we're just getting started, refusing to back down, sending Trump into a rage, the former leader of the free world, spending much of his victory speech last night, trashing her, even her dress. We're in South Carolina tonight for the uphill battle Haley now faces, where every major Republican in that state has backed Trump. As Biden says, he's even ready for Trump to be the nominee. The reason he's itching for a rematch and the one moment from his speech last night showing this could be a long campaign.

Also tonight, airport shelter? Dozens of migrant families, including young children sleeping on the floor of Boston's Logan Airport. That city now joining other men. major urban areas in a growing cry for help over the migrant crisis, the governor of Massachusetts issuing an urgent plea for D.C. to act now. Deadly watch party, Kansas City chief fans gathered at a friend's house to cheer on their team. Two days later, three of them were found dead outside of the home. Tonight, we hear from loved ones about the unsettling discovery as a cause of death still remains a mystery. What they think happened and what we know about the police

investigation. Plus, the fiery explosion overseas, a truck carrying natural gas collides into a car at an intersection, sending a massive fireball into the sky, the startling video of the moment it all goes up in flames. And walk on All-Stars, TCU's women's basketball team started the year undefeated, but a slew of injuries forced them to forfeit several games. In a rare move, the team decided to hold mid-season tryouts, giving four players the chance to turn the season back around. The revamped roster giving the school an unexpected bounce back. Top story. Starts right now.

And good evening. Former President Donald Trump making history once again after picking up another win in last night's New Hampshire primary. Trump coming out on top in a second straight victory. on the path to the 2024 GOP nomination. With 97% reporting in of the vote, Trump beat out his only remaining rival, Nikki Haley, by 11 percentage points in the first in the nation primary.

Haley's efforts to garner support from independence with New Hampshire governor, Chris Sununu, by her side, was no match to Trump loyalists. But to the former president's dismay, Haley vowing that she won't back down and her campaign is full steam ahead. And Trump's numbers with those independents,

not good. We'll explain why the GOP may have cause for concern, and it's why Haley in part is making this argument. New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last in the nation. Trump was left irate over Haley's refusal to end her campaign, spending most of his speech attacking her. Meanwhile, a 2020 rematch is appearing increasingly likely. President Biden winning the New Hampshire primary as a ride-in candidate. And it comes as concerns grow over the president's age as he stumbles over his words in a speech last night. We'll have more on that in a moment.

But first, we want to shift to South Carolina. The next competitive battle, that's where we find NBC's Hallie Jackson, who starts us off tonight. The primary prolonged tonight, even after former President Trump's decisive double-digit win in New Hampshire. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Whoa.

He's making history as the only one. Republican in a competitive primary to ever win both Iowa and New Hampshire. Still, at his rally, not a celebration, but a condemnation after former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley pledged to stay in this race. We're the last one standing next to Donald Trump. This is not your typical victory speech, but let's not have somebody take a victory when she had a very bad night. Who the hell was the imposter that went up on the stage before and, like, claimed

a victory. Mr. Trump, letting loose a barrage of insults, a preview of attacks Haley's expected to face from her former boss. When I watched her in the fancy dress that probably wasn't so fancy, just a little note to Nikki. She's not going to win. Haley now focusing on her home state of South Carolina. This race is far from over. Her campaign already spending a million dollars on ads there with two new ones out today. Same old Biden and Trump, or new conservative leadership. The former South Carolina governor making the case she's better suited to take on President Biden

come November. The worst kept secret in politics is how badly the Democrats want to run against Donald Trump. Still, after clear losses in the first two primary contests, including in New Hampshire, where she was backed by independence,

Haley faces an uphill climb here in more conservative South Carolina. The state's governor and both senators have endorsed Mr. Trump, as Haley faces new pressure to step aside. Sooner we can get behind Trump, the better for the 20-24 cycle. What do you want to see in this race over the next month in South Carolina? I would like to see Nikki drop out and throw her support to Trump.

Haley's the only hope if we have any respect for the actual GOP for the Republican Party. And with that, Hally Jackson joins us tonight from the campaign trail in North Charleston, South Carolina at a Nikki Haley event. So, Halle, I guess my question to you is, what's the sense you get from voters there in South Carolina, right? Do they want a competitive race? Do they want this race to continue? Do they want their voices heard when you have the MAGA community? You have former President Trump. You even have the RNC saying, let's wrap this up.

And even, as you heard in that piece, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Tim Scott, right? The two senators here from South Carolina who have endorsed former President Trump now. Listen, it's a mix. As you heard, I will say. this, the South Carolina primary is still a month away. It is one month from today, and you know, as well as anybody, that voters tend to start engaging

perhaps closer to the day when they actually have to go and cast their ballots. But you're hitting on an interesting and important point as it relates to the demographic makeup in South Carolina. Over the last couple of Republican primaries, we have seen self-described conservatives in this state far outnumber the self-described

independents who vote here. Now, remember, Nikki Haley, just yesterday in New Hampshire, did with independence. She won independence there, and she still lost that race by double digits. So it is less friendly territory for her, even though, of course, it's her home state. Her campaign's looking ahead to Super Tuesday and early March, Tom, but South Carolina comes first, and a loss here for her could be embarrassing, potentially devastating. Yeah, Hallie, before you go, though, I'm looking over your shoulder. It looks like there's a good

turnout there. What's the energy like in that room for the Nikki Haley event? I mean, listen, there's a crowd, right? I mean, it's North Charleston. There's people out here. We have seen, and I will tell you, haven't been in New Hampshire just recently, she had some packed events. We saw that even sort of towards the end

of the New Hampshire race. Full confession, it is just getting started, so it's still a little bit on the early side. But listen, she needs to see crowds here in South Carolina. She needs turnout here from her backers to be able to perform, Tom. All right, Hallie Jackson. and leading us off from South Carolina tonight.

As former President Trump ramps up his attacks on Nikki Haley, President Biden is also hitting the campaign trail, focusing on Trump saying he's the likely nominee. Biden's scoring a key endorsement today from the United Auto Workers Union. The president's still struggling with low approval ratings as protesters interrupt him at multiple events this week. Kelly O'Donnell at the White House tonight with the latest. Hitting the accelerator to the campaign's next phase,

general election season, after the Biden campaign declared that former President Trump has all but locked up the GOP nomination. Today, the United Auto Workers Convention welcomed President Biden. It's great to be home. Many of these blue-collar workers live in critical Midwest battlegrounds, a repeat test of Donald Trump's appeal to the working class and President Biden's history backing labor. He's been there for us. He's shown it.

The UAW praised Mr. Biden as the first sitting president to stand with workers on strike and endorsed his re-election. I want to pick a line. Donald Trump went to a non-union shop and attacked you. Amid chance of support. For a second straight day on the trail, the president was interrupted by protesters, waving a Palestinian flag and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. That tension over foreign policy. policy on top of some bleak polling. In our latest NBC news poll, President Biden's approval rating is just 40 percent, disapproval at 57 percent. Today, some union supporters who

fully backed the president also expressed worry. He does have a problem with younger voters, but those of us in labor, we pay attention. Okay, Kelly O'Donnell joins us live tonight from the White House. Kelly, great to see you tonight. I know you have some new reporting as well on the shake-up with the Biden campaign, and what this really means? What it really tells us, Tom, is that the pace of this campaign has really changed. And responding to that, the top advisors around the president, his inner circle here at the White House, is going to change a bit. Two key officials will go from the White House to Wilmington. They will then be augmenting the campaign staff.

We're told this is going to happen in the next couple of weeks. It was expected, but the when is what is notable. comes down to what one source said is the consolidation that Trump appears to be showing among the GOP. That race isn't over. It's barely started. So at the beginning of what is the primary season, they are shifting into a new mode. And it gives you a sense also of how the president and his team recognize the serious and kind of the threat of the Trump renewal that we've seen. At one point, people thought the robust GOP nominating process might have a prolonged effect. it has not so far, and so they are making those changes. So that will be coming up, not a change

of campaign manager, but taking the 2020 campaign manager, General Mellie Dillon, and putting her into the Wilmington team as they ramp up and put more focus on the campaign. Tom? Kelly O'Donnell for us, Kelly, thank you for that. For more on where the presidential race goes from here, let's dig a little deeper. I want to bring in our panel tonight, Amisha Cross. She's a former Obama campaign advisor and a Democratic strategist and a friend to top story. Joel Sawyer, a South Carolina political strategist who served as communications director to the state's former governor, Mark Sanford. All right, thank you for both being here. Joel, it's your first time on top story, so I'm going to start with you.

Let's put up a poll that shows the battle between Nikki Haley and former President Trump. As we head into South Carolina here, you can see it is a very big split, about 30 points in this average here. What does Nikki Haley have to do to sort of make up some ground, and can she win that primary? That's a great question. It's something that we've been asking of all of these Republican candidates since this race started. You know, now it's just down to two, but you run into this fundamental problem of, you know, you have an electorate that still really, really likes Trump. And so you have to say, well, you know, I'm running against that person that you really like. And you've got to figure out how to how to attack or contrast without attacking.

I think, you know, some of the things that she kind of sharpened a little bit on and her. concession slash victory speech from New Hampshire, whatever you want to call it, you know, that might be the shape of things to come in South Carolina, but I think she's got to draw that stronger contrast that she's done than she has done thus far. The other thing you have to remember about Governor Haley is that she has not faced a Republican primary electorate in South Carolina in 14 years. I think it's very fair to say that there have been some seismic shifts in the Republican Party since not just demographically, but in terms of, I think, the total difference in the Republican Party between now and the last time she ran. She's got to

overcome that correct for it. Amisha, Joe Biden had to wait until South Carolina to really get started when he won in 2020. And yet yesterday, after New Hampshire, his campaign put out this statement, which reads in part, we'll put it up here for our viewers. Tonight's results confirmed Donald Trump has all but locked up the GOP nomination and the election denies. anti-freedom MAGA movement has completed its takeover of the Republican Party. Amisha, what's going on here, right? Biden told voters in 2020 to wait to wait until South Carolina, and now he's telling Republican voters this is all over.

I think Biden is reading the tea leaves, as many of us are. We know that the closest Nikki Haley was going to come to actually, what even eeked out or looked like it possibly could have been a win, was going to be in New Hampshire, and had more moderates, it had more undecided. in closed primaries where only Republicans can vote. We know that those Republicans are maga-centric. The party has not left Donald Trump.

They believe in Donald Trump. They will vote for Donald Trump no matter what. The 90-plus felonies don't matter. The four different jurisdictions he's charged in doesn't matter. The E.G. and Carroll case doesn't matter. None of this matters. January 6 doesn't matter. They have aligned around him.

And in South Carolina, Nikki Haley's own constituents, in addition to those who she actually helped get elected, have also endorsed Donald J. Trump. It is essentially over, barring there being a case that winds up in a felony charge, which I think the only reason she's still here. I totally respect everything you're saying, but there's also the elephant in the room, right? Which is Joe Biden, the Biden Harris reelect team, would much rather run a race against Donald Trump than Nikki Haley. I think you're absolutely right. And thankfully, the Republicans, the Republican voters are giving him that race. Joel, I want to roll a piece of video from last night.

This was Donald Trump during his victory speech. We heard a portion of it in Hallie Jackson's report. Here's more of what the president had to say about his fellow Republican that he's running against. Okay, I'm being told we don't have that right now. But, Joel, I do want to ask you about that speech yesterday. What exactly did you think about the way he sort of reacted to that? Instead of talking about his victory, he sort of just spent the whole speech. trashing her.

No one has ever accused Donald Trump of being gracious in either victory or in defeat. So, look, it's more of the same. It's what we've come to expect. And it's something that, for whatever reason, Republican voters tend to really enjoy watching.

So look, he knows his audience, and he's playing to his audience, and there continue to eat it up, which gets back to the difficulty I stated earlier of like, you know, if you're Nikki Haley, how do you break through that? And I think that you've kind of really got to, you know, continue to make that electability argument, but you've really, really got to sharpen it, you know, in some of the ways that, you know, that the Biden campaign, you know, is already attacking Donald Trump in terms of

verbal gaffs and different things like that. You know, if you're Nikki Haley, you have to say, like, you know, as decrepit as you think Joe Biden might be, you know, listen to Donald Trump? And do you really think that he's the guy who needs to be on that debate stage making that case for our party in the fall? Abisha, I do want to play another piece of video that I think we do have this one. And it's about the speech last night that the president delivered on women's reproductive rights. But there was a moment there that many people are pointing out, and I want to play it for a viewers and get your take on it.

We'll teach Donald Trump a valuable lesson. Don't mess with the minimum of America unless you want to get the benefit. Some people are pointing this out in saying that, you know, he had sort of a major stumble, a moment there. This is going to be a long campaign. Do you think the president has what it takes to get to November? And how much of this sort of his age, we know, is a big concern for voters, but moments like this are going to worry the campaign? I think the age for both of what looks like front runners are is a problem for certain people across this country. However, Biden's record, I think, is more valuable.

We know that Joseph Robinette Biden has had a stutter problem previously in his life, so I don't really take this clip as something that is beyond the pale when it comes to someone who had a speech impediment at one point. I think that obviously age matters. People look towards that. Amisha, I understand that. And I don't think we were trying to point out a stuttering problem there. There have also been issues where it appears. He does not know where he's going, how to exit stages, where exactly, you know, and we're not the first ones to point this out either. I mean, there's a clear issue there. The question to you is, how do they deal with this when they have a campaign they have to run until November?

They run the best campaign that this nation has ever seen. They talk to the core groups of Democrats. They get out black voters, younger voters. They talk about the way Joe Biden brought us back from the COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about infrastructure and development. They talk about job creation. strong economy. They talk about reducing health care costs. Joel, does the Republican Party and Trump and the MAGA wing of the party, do they put

enough pressure on Nikki Haley that she doesn't even make it over the next month and she drops out before South Carolina? You know, if Nikki Haley drops out, it's not going to be because of any pressure applied to her. I mean, look, she relishes this whole like underdog fighting the establishment fighting for mind. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're saying that if she drops out, it has nothing to do with the pressure campaign? I mean, why else would you drop out? You're saying if she just runs out of money? No, if her numbers don't move. I mean, you put up a poll a little bit earlier. I mean, you know, if she runs for two weeks and she's still

polling in 20 percent, she's going to see the writing on the law. But it's not going to be because of any external pressure to get her out. It's going to be because whatever she's trying on the ground is or is not working. But we've seen what external pressure can do with every other establishment Republican in the party, right? People like Senator Tim Scott, people like Senator Rubio, you can call it pressure, you can call it politics, call it whatever you want, but you had all these candidates who actually had a personal connection to Nikki Haley, and yet they chose to endorse even before New Hampshire was done, before it was even started voting, right? And in Rubio's case, in Iowa. So my question to you is,

you know, I mean, you think the pressure campaign will work? You think she's just immune to this, or she's just maybe tougher than somebody's other politicians? I think Nikki's built a little bit different than some of the other people that you mentioned. All right, Joel and Amisha, we thank you so much for joining Top Story tonight. This is a great conversation. We hope to talk to you more in the future. We want to turn out of the ongoing migrant crisis and the latest images out of Boston. Dozens of families, some with small children seen sleeping on the floor of Logan Airport.

City officials now scrambling to find shelter for newly arrived migrants, including 600 families. The governor renewing calls for action from the federal government. Maura Barrett has the details. Tonight, dozens of migrants. migrants are sheltering inside Boston's Logan Airport. Families, many, with young kids, sleeping on blankets, pillows and benches in the airport's Terminal E. As Massachusetts becomes the latest pain point in the nation's ongoing migrant crisis,

struggling to find shelter for their growing migrant population. Now, more than 3,500 families. Now, I'm proud of the way Massachusetts stepped up with compassion and solutions for the influx of migrants that's testing states all around this country. Do you think that there's enough support in place to help newly arrived families kind of navigate the system as it exists? There's a shortage in immigration legal services and a shortage in people who are able to help, but, and, you know, more funding is needed.

With eight sanctuary cities across Massachusetts, it's put a strain on statewide resources. Governor Maura Healy calling on the federal government to step up. While Massachusetts did not create this problem, we're going to continue to demand that Congress take action, to fix the border, to get us funding. Alongside nine Democratic governors, she signed a letter to Congress demanding, quote, Washington to work together to solve what has become a humanitarian crisis. Adding, states and cities cannot indefinitely respond to the subsequent strain on state and local resources without congressional action. Chicago's O'Hare Airport facing a similar scene, over 200 migrants still sleeping there. as they await their housing placements. In Massachusetts, the existing shelter systems can house a maximum of 7,500 families,

a limit they reached in November. The resources that we have, we'll not longer have them, so it's been very close to impossible for us to continue to house them. According to the governor's office, 600 families are on the wait list for shelter. Instead, staying at the airport, local churches, or overflow temporary shelters. Massachusetts launched a clinic in the fall to help thousands of migrants staying in the Commonwealth apply for work authorization in the United States. You know, if people are working, we're going to have people exiting from shelter that much quicker.

The latest effort to ease the stress on what's become a persistent issue. Okay, Moore Barrett joins us now live in studio. I want to go back to those families in Boston. Do we know how they're doing tonight? Well, Tom, it's our understanding that until they can get into those emergency assistance shelters, they'll continue to sleep there, and there's that massive wait list. Now, I've reported on the migraine issue in Chicago, but the thing that's unique about Boston and Massachusetts, specifically is that they were already facing this massive housing crisis that came before the

migrant crisis. So that's just an additive issue. And it's such a big deal that the governor is asking to dip into their surplus funds, using $700 million of it to help with the shelter system. Yeah, it's just snowballing from there. Okay. Boy, we thank you for that report. We're also tracking severe weather across the country tonight. Millions in the southeast under flood alerts, heavy rain already causing widespread flooding in Texas, leaving motorist stranded and vehicles abandoned in waste-high flood waters. The storm system threatening the region with damaging wind, hail, and possible tornadoes. So let's get right to NBC meteorologist, Bill Cairns.

Bill, walk us through what you're watching. Yeah, I'm very concerned with areas north of the New Orleans and north of Lake Ponta Train. Covington area, we've had a flash flood emergency for the last couple hours. About six inches of rain has fallen that said water is now approaching homes and businesses. So, again, when you get to a flash flood emergency, that means lives are threatened, and you have to get to higher ground immediately. So this is the area of concern. We have a couple spots in areas of the Ohio Valley,

but it's mostly this area from East Texas all the way to southern Tennessee. And you notice all these flash flood warnings here. These are the areas where we've seen the heaviest rainfall, at least during the day today. That's just north of Lake Pontchartrain up here into areas of Mississippi. And you can notice the radar. I mean, typically you get like a heavy band of rain, and then it moves out, and then the sun comes out and it clears up. It has been one band of rain and then more moisture just streaming off the Gulf.

North thunderstorms are forming just south of Houston. So that's why we're under a moderate risk of flash flooding, and that's why we expect to continue right through the overnight hours. So here's New Orleans. New Orleans downtown actually been pretty dry. It's been fine. This area just in the north here, this little pink box, this is where the flash flood emergency continues. This is where water in Mandeville and Covington's located up here just north of there. Those are the areas that are having water issues, you know, extreme water issues. And they even call the threat catastrophic in that region. So we'll, well, we get those pictures and we'll show them to you. Hopefully that water will begin to recede and they'll get a break. but there's more heavy rain in the forecast all through this region. And eventually tonight and tomorrow, even watch out in the Atlanta area. And then we have another storm.

It's going to do something similar on Saturday. Then that storm comes north. And this one may have a little bit of surprise with it on Sunday night in areas of New England. Notice this blue shows you wear some snow could form. This will be a story to watch, Tom, as we go throughout the next two days, our European computer model thinks maybe moderate, even heavy snow. Southern New England, areas of northern New Jersey, Catskills, Poconos. our American model thinks it's just going to be a light, small event.

So we'll track that over the next couple of days. But if you have Sunday evening plans in the Northeast, you want to pay attention to that. All right, good to know, Bill. We appreciate that. Still ahead tonight, the deadly wash party. Five Kansas City fans watching a recent game together at home, but three of them were found dead in the backyard days later. What we know so far and what the men's families are saying tonight to us,

plus Oakland, California losing its only in-and-out burger, the iconic burger restaurant, why the fast food chain says rampant crime is forcing them to shut its doors, we'll explain. And Ford recalling nearly two million of its popular Ford Explorer SUVs, the concern tonight about a piece that could actually break off while the vehicle's in motion will tell you about it. Stay with us.

We're back with a shocking and mysterious case out of Missouri that you may have heard about. Three men who were reported missing. after watching a Kansas City Chiefs game at their friend's house, found dead two days later in that friend's backyard. Police saying there are no suspects and no cause of death has been released, leading to even more questions. NBC's Stephen Romo has more tonight.

Tonight, a mystery in Kansas City, Missouri, three Chiefs fans found dead after a gathering at a friend's home to watch the team's last regular season game. Police headed to the residents after loved ones couldn't find the deceased. Officers reported locating one of the men dead on the back porch and the two other bodies in the backyard. You're grieving, but you're all so mad because you don't know all the circumstances, but you've been hearing bits and pieces and what you're hearing isn't good. The trio Ricky Johnson, David Harrington, and Clayton McGenney missing for two full days

from Sunday, January 7th to the following Tuesday. and wasn't aware of their that they were missing until the police knocked on his door Tuesday night. Attorney John Picerno represents the homeowner. He spoke to our Kansas City affiliate saying his client had no idea the bodies of his friends were right outside his door. He said goodbye to the other three. And it was his belief at the time that they left outside through the front door. And that's the last time that he saw them. Kansas City Police telling NBC News the homeowner is cooperating and neither he nor anyone else.

has been arrested or charged with any wrongdoing. There were no obvious signs of foul play, and there is not believed to be any threats to the community, according to the investigators. They were left out the cold, and then they had to wait for their bodies to thaw out for them to do an autopsy. That's something that you don't ever want to hear. Loved ones, meanwhile, overwhelmed with loss and grief, but also confusion. Nobody really knows what happened on that night. It's just I don't have any answers. He has to know something.

The homeowner also facing backlash online. People posting on social media questioning how he didn't realize his friends' bodies were right outside his house. The medical examiner has yet to release a cause of death, which investigators say will determine how they move forward. Meanwhile, Peserno maintaining his client is shocked at the loss of his friends and is mourning them as well. This has hit him hard. If they were in distress, he certainly would have helped them. In lieu of answers, the families and community are leaning on each other. David Harrington's mother creating a go-fund me to help pay for the funeral costs,

writing, quote, I now have to put my son to rest. This was something we did not expect as no parent ever does. I am asking for help today. The account getting $10,000 from one donor alone. Friends and family members also gathering to celebrate the lives of their loved ones. We're just going to keep praying and keep going. Keep sharing our story. Stephen Romo joins us live on set. So, Stephen, this is such a bizarre situation. It's gotten a lot of national attention, which has led to TikTok detectives, social media sleuths, if you will. How are the families reacting to that and all the theories that are being put out there?

Yeah, not very well. We heard from Lori Cruz. She's David's girlfriend in this piece. She sent us quite a long statement. Obviously, a lot of strong feelings, particularly about these. online sluze in these theories. She said, quote, David didn't do drugs and was strong about not doing them, especially what's been spoken about on social media. And we also spoke to Adriana, Ricky's girlfriend for this piece. She told me that she just wishes people would be more respectful. She understands people have questions and they would like to know exactly what's gone on, but she wishes they would just wait until we get a cause of death. And then it would be, it would make more sense to her for them to have speculation. It seems like

some people treat this a bit like entertainment. And of course, that is offensive. One thing they all have in common, though, agreeing that there are just so many answers here, it's hard not to try to theorize. So many questions. Yeah, yeah. Sorry, questions. Exactly. It's hard not to theorize what exactly has gone on here. Yeah, and until police come out with some type of definitive statement of what happened or how they died, I think it's going to keep leading to speculation. Stephen, we thank you and your team for that one. Next tonight to a major announcement from the iconic West Coast burger joint in and out. The chain closing a location for the first time in its company's history.

It's not because the burgers and shakes aren't selling, but because of an ongoing crime problem in a city we've covered a lot here in Top Story. The city of Oakland, NBC's Dana Griffin, has the details. Tonight, for the first time in its 75-year history, fast food chain in and out is shuddering one of its locations, and it's not because of sales, they say, but a troubling rise in crime. The iconic West Coast institution planning to close this Oakland location. in March, which has been open since the early 2000s, citing rampant theft, break-ins and property damage in the area. It sits just north of Oakland International Airport, which has seen excessive crime in the surrounding neighborhood. According to the tracking website crime mapping, which aggregates data from local police, 60 incidents of theft and armed robbery

were reported in the area in the last week alone, the location making travelers an easy target. first of all, and, you know, we welcome you. First thing we ask, are you a traveler? Do you have any luggage in the car? It's best to take it to your hotel first. In an out C-O saying in a statement Sunday, this location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and well-being of our customers and associates.

We cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment. The fast-food burger giant, not the only restaurant to move away because of crime concern. A subway shop permanently shutting down along 98th Avenue and a nearby raising canes taking safety precautions by closing their dining room, only taking drive-through orders. In August, Oakland business owners fed up with increased crime urged city leaders to take action. Maybe give us a business credit or exemption from paying city tax and county taxes and let us hire security because our businesses have to thrive. You can't come in here and rob me every day for $1,000 and think that I'm going to stay open. But some now challenging the true reason major companies are choosing to shut down stores. Target, which cited crime is the reason for nine store closures, now attracting skeptics who say the decision has more to do with financial performance than safety concerns.

A CNBC investigation found that areas where stores were closed saw fewer reported crimes than other nearby locations. In response, a target spokesperson telling CNBC that store level incidents vary widely in severity and police data won't show the full extent of what our team's experience on the ground. But Oakland law enforcement still amping up police presence, increasing patrols and adding more surveillance cameras, which has led to a 40% decrease in auto burglaries and theft, the department says. Still, robberies are slightly up. It's not enough. We need more and we need sustained support in this part of our city. Does it seem like there's... Former Oakland Police Chief Loran Armstrong voicing his concerns to R. Tom Yamis last September. Is it a free-for-all when it comes to crime in Oakland?

I think it's a combination of lack of enforcement, not enough resources, and then not strong enough prosecution. As the cost of doing business in Oakland forces more companies to consider drastic safety measures. Dana Griffin joins us tonight from Los Angeles. Dana, that one image in your report really stands out to me. It's where they close the dining room. It's a scene you usually see during natural disasters, and yet you're seeing it because of crime there in Oakland. It really stands out.

I know there's a lot of frustrations in Oakland. We've reported it a lot here on Top Story. There's a recall effort for Oakland's mayor. Where does that stand right now? Yeah, Tom, so the group leading that recall effort has listed several concerns under the mayor's leadership, including that the city remains without a permanent police chief. Armstrong was fired last year,

and the city dropped the ball on, a deadline to get a multi-million dollar state brand to help fight retail theft. Now, Mayor Sean Tau has been in office for about a year, and in a statement, her office tells NBC News and Park, making Oakland safer for children, families, businesses, and visitors is Mayor Tau's top priority. Now, to get a recall on the November ballot, Tom, it requires verified signatures from 10% of voters. Tom. Dana Griffin, for us, a lot of reporting there for us, new reporting. We appreciate it. Back, the urgent manhunt in Arkansas, capital murder suspect, and a homicide suspect escaping

from a jail outside of Little Rock, why they may have had a two-day head start on authorities. All right, now to Top Stories News Feeding, we begin with the manhunt for two escaped inmates in Arkansas, including one facing capital murder charges. Police say the two men were discovered missing from a jail about 40 miles southeast of Little Rock. It's unclear how they escape, but they may have been on the run for two days before anyone even noticed them. One is a homicide suspect,

the other arrested for murder. Authorities warning they should be considered dangerous. We have an update tonight on the investigation into Senator Bob Menendez. NBC News has learned lawyers for the New Jersey Senator are asking a judge to throw out evidence in the bribery case against him. Court documents reveal Menendez

is alleging the FBI ransacked his home and illegally seized items inside. The 70-year-old Democrat is now charged with accepting bribes, including gold bars, to carry out favors for three businessmen. He's pleaded, not guilty. A consumer alert, Ford is recalling nearly two million explorer SUVs over a potential safety hazard. Federal regulators say a part connected to the windshield could fall off while the car is in motion, potentially leading to a crash or creating a danger for other drivers.

The recall includes all explorers made between 2011. and 2019. There's more information on our website, NBCNews.com. And a wheel fell off a Boeing plane as it was preparing for takeoff at Atlanta's International Airport. The FAA says the tire of the nose detached as it was taxing with 200 people on board. No one was heard, but passengers were transferred to another plane. Officials say it happened on a Delta Airlines flight heading to Colombia. According to online records, that plane has been in use since 1992. The incident there, Atlanta, just the latest headline involving Boeing. Late today, the FAA announcing its halting Boeing's production expansion of max planes,

including the 7379 max after a door plug flew off on an Alaska Airlines flight. The announcement coming just hours after the CEO of Boeing was grilled by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Ryan Nobles has the details from Washington. Tonight, David Calhoun, Boeing's top executive on Capitol Hill. Did you ask for these meetings, sir? Getting a grilling for members of Congress. Thank you. Calhoun making a promise to his customers. Mr. Calhoun, what's your message to passengers concerned about flying on your planes?

We fly safe planes. We don't put airplanes in the air that we don't have 100% confidence in. Calhoun's comment comes just one day after the CEO of Alaska Airlines told our Tom Costello that he was angry with Boeing and its leadership team. This after a door plug on a Boeing-built airplane operated by Alaska Airlines exploded out of the aircraft in mid-flight. A problem, Ben Minicucci, Alaska's CEO, placed directly on Boeing in our exclusive interview. There's no doubt that Alaska received an airplane off the production line with a faulty door. Lawmakers are demanding answers. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, who represents a state uniquely impacted by the airline, grounding 30% of their fleet, said Boeing is taking responsibility for the problem. He does personally and assured me that this is the most important issue, which I press on, safety.

Safety. Safety. Safety. Meanwhile, as Boeing works to solve this problem, senators are warning that they need to catch issues like these well before they happen. Aviation safety can't be reactive. It needs to be proactive. And tonight the FAA is announcing that it is grounding all future production expansion of the Max 9 plane. They also outlined the intense inspection and maintenance process that it will require to get these planes back in the air. The NTSB, meanwhile, plans to return to Boeing's manufacturing plant on Friday. They plan to recreate the timeline that led to this door plug explosion.

And the CEO of Boeing, who was up here on Capitol Hill today, he's expected to be back for a public hearing in the near future. Tom? Ryan, thank you for that. Now to the growing controversy surrounding the leader of the Republican Party in Arizona, Jeff DeWitt. Resonning today as Arizona GOP chairman after a piece of audio leaked in which he seems to try to bribe Carrie Lake not to run for Senate. What he's told NBC News tonight about that recording, Vaughan Hilliard has the late reporting.

Tonight, the leader of Arizona's Republican Party resigning, after a stunning new audio tape appeared to show him trying to convince a close Trump ally not to run for office. Don't tell you what I got off of you. The Arizona GOP's chairman Jeff DeWitt heard in this audio, urging Carrie Lake to not run for the U.S. Senate this year, after she lost her race for governor there in 2022. A very powerful people don't want to keep you out.

In exchange, DeWitt says he could hook her up with the lucrative job. So the ask I got today from back east was, is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll and give her to keep her out? Doit says the audio was selectively edited. Is there a number at which? I can be bought. That's what it's about.

You can take a pox for a couple years. Because Carrie Lake is not a public official, she is simply being asked to withdraw from politics. It doesn't fall under the language of the bribery statute. Lake, who often wears a mic, decided to run anyway. After the audio was made public on Tuesday, Lake calling on DeWitt to resign. We can't have somebody who's interrupt and compromise, running the Republican parliament. DeWitt says Lake's team threatened to release a new more damaging recording if he didn't resign. Reached by phone tonight, DeWitt told NBC News that he was blown away by her recording their private conversations.

Lake's campaign denies it blackmailed DeWitt. If Lake were to win the Republican primary, she would be expected to face independent Senator Kirsten Cinema in Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego in a three-person race. Bon Hilliard, NBC News. Coming up, the wild video showing a dangerous scene overseas. A truck catches fire and then explodes in a crowded neighborhood. We'll have the latest on the casualties and that cause next. Back now with Top Stories Global Watch and a check of what else is happening around the world. We start with a deadly gas explosion caught on camera in Mongolia's capital.

Video showing a truck engulfed in flames before you see it right there, it sets off a massive blast. Sparks flying onto nearby homes, at least six people killed and 14 others hurt, including three firefighters. Officials say the truck was carrying 60 tons of natural gas when it crashed into a car. Argentina's largest union striking for 12 hours today against tough economic reforms by new president, Javier Millet. The General Confederation of Labor coordinated the strike after the passing of two controversial bills aimed at privatizing and deregulating the economy. Hundreds of flights canceled due to the strike. It's the biggest opposition to Millet's economic policies since his inauguration. And Mexican activists outraged after they claim a new train caused irreparable damage to an ancient cave system.

One of those activists sharing this video with NBC News, they say it shows one of 12 iron and concrete pillars for the so-called Maya train, jutting through the sensitive limestone caves. The caves in underground lake provide the region's only freshwater source and also hold some of the oldest human remains in North America. Mexico's president had promised the $20 billion tourist train project, would not have environmental impacts, and the caves would be protected. We want to stay overseas now into the horror of war and a remarkable story of survival involving two sisters in Gaza. We've been following their story for months.

Richard Engel tonight on the chance meeting that allowed them to find a way out of the war zone. Moments after an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in southern Gaza, our camera crew first saw 14-year-old Miral Nijim trapped under a building. It was late October, and the Israeli military was bombing heavily in its reprisal campaign for Hamas' massacre in Israel. First responders and bystanders managed to pry morale free, alive. But with the celebration came heartbreaking news. Moral's mother, Mayada, and siblings Maria and Ahmed, had been killed.

We reported as Maral was treated at a nearby hospital. along with her nine-year-old sister, Mira. Her leg was snapped in two, and Mira's surgery was a failure. Soon, she was dying from infection. Then the Nijims believe a miracle happened. In a chance encounter, a visiting Turkish delegation approved Mira

for travel to Turkey for treatment. Very few Gazans are allowed out, and foreign journalists aren't allowed in. So we traveled to Turkey as well. And I was finally, able to meet the Nijim's at a pastry shop. Turkey also allowed in Mira's father, Mahdi, and Mirol. They were all dazzled by the choices after nearly starving in Gaza.

Could we order some cakes? This one here? This one here. One of that. One of these, please. In a quiet place in the back, they told me how to escape the war. They moved seven times in Gaza. and there's nothing left to go back to.

I want to return to school. Of course, all the schools in Gaza are closed. They were all destroyed, she says. They kept moving until on October 26th at 11 a.m., the fourth floor apartment where they were sheltering with 12 other people, suddenly turned to smoke and crumbled. It was like I was in an elevator going down, Mural says. The whole house fell on me, and I couldn't move.

Mira may need more surgeries. Her leg still hasn't healed, and there's a lot she wants to do. I want to go to school, to study, to write. I have a lot of things I want to write, she says. After a few bites of cake, she's had enough. Mahdi was stressed. His family photos have become his most treasured possessions. When he tries to talk about his late wife and children,

He can't. What did these kids do to deserve this? he asks. The Nijims don't know how long they can stay here in Turkey. The Turkish government plans to bring in thousands of wounded Palestinians and says it won't turn its back on them. But the family's hope is to get to the U.S. We thank Richard for that report. And coming up, a basketball Cinderella story way before the final four. The team ravaged by injuries looking to walk-ons to make a comeback and save their season.

Their story is next. And finally tonight, a college basketball team's emotional rebound, highly ranked TCU, sideline by injury, the team taking the unprecedented move of holding open tryouts in the middle of of the season. Now they're bouncing back, all thanks to students who never thought they'd get the chance to play. Kathy Park with their story tonight. Showtime on three, one, two, three. Halfway through the season, TCU was on a roll. The horn frogs started off 14 and O, a school record. Raped by the AP as one of the top 25 teams in the country. But all that momentum, quickly grounding to a hall.

Coach Mark Campbell says injuries hit hard. In my career, I've never had an injury situation like this over a rough two-week stretch. And it just shows how quickly a season can turn. Among the injured, Star Center and TikTok sensation Sedona Prince out during a key matchup against Baylor. I kid you not, seven seconds into the game. I didn't see a pass coming towards me. It hit my finger and shattered my ring finger on my right hand. seven seconds into the game. Boom. Just like that, starting center is out for seven weeks.

The injuries got so bad. The frogs were forced to forfeit two games last week. We ended up only having six players ready to play and suit up against K-State. So they said, nope, that's dangerous. Canceled. Forfeit. In desperate need of healthy athletes, TCU took the unprecedented move of holding open tryouts in the middle of the season. The turnout was incredible. You know, they just came from class and put on their sneakers. I mean, there was one young lady. I remember she said she got her hoop shoes overnight delivered. The four players selected never thought they'd play college hoops.

The last time I played was two years ago in high school, so it's definitely been a long time since I've been up and down on a court. Among them, six foot three Sarah Sylvester originally recruited to play volleyball, now playing in TCU's Tuesday night matchup against conference opponent, UCF. kind of an unreal feeling it's just such a special moment for me to hold on to for the rest of my career in life the horned frogs taking down UCF in a hard-fought match-up they will enter the postseason with a winning record for the first time in four seasons this is like a dream come true to have an opportunity to be a part of a college basketball team TCU's roller coaster ride now a teachable moment and you're going to have adversity and curveballs that you didn't see coming in life.

And so this is great for young people to see you still show up, you roll your sleeves up, and you get to work. We thank Kathy Park for that story and wish a lot of luck to the horn frogs this season. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yomis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.