Wednesday, October 14, 2026
00:03 Tonight, we're live from Detroit in Battleground, Michigan, on the ground for this make-or-break Senate race with the election just weeks away. Control of the Senate could all come down to this all-out brawl in the Great Lake State. Polls as close as they can be. I go one-on-one with progressive Abdul Al-Sayed and his Republican challenger. And we talk to voters about the issues they're grappling with in one of the most critical races this year. Also breaking tonight, Temple Targeting. Police arresting this man accusing of, accused of planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago. He opened fire, but apparently his gun jammed.
00:40 The powerful funnel cloud tearing across Texas, the video just coming in. Growing questions in Houston after an ICE officer hit a man with his car. The DA investigating the case says it was intentional when we could see the body cam footage. The race to save a 65-year-old man trapped in a burning SUV, the people who teamed up to save his life. And there's no town like Motown. Our look inside the Motown Museum's $75 million makeover, bringing a fresh take to the sound that's defined Detroit for generations.
01:11 Plus the surveillance video from Kelly Clarkson's toy shop feud just released what it reveals. Top Story starts right now. This is a special edition of Top Story on the road to the midterms. Reporting tonight from Michigan, here is Tom Yamas. And good evening. We thank you for joining us on this special edition of Top Story. We are live tonight from Detroit as the sun has set on the spectacular city. We're here because of Battleground, Michigan. The skyline behind me, and it shows a city that has fueled the American auto industry and shaped American culture. And tonight it remains the heart and soul of a state that could determine the political future of this country. Michigan gripped by an all-out down-to-the-wire fight for the Senate. The voters here could decide which party takes control of the chamber.
02:03 And that's why we're on the ground here, speaking to everyday Americans about what's impacting their vote, from the rising cost of groceries and gas to mounting disapproval of the war with Iran and the growing division over U.S. relations with Israel. And here's why Michigan is so critical. National Democrats need to hold on to all of their Senate seats and flip for others to take the majority, which would give them control over the bills that come to the floor and the laws that get passed. Democrats are performing surprisingly well in deep red states like Texas, and Iowa and even Kansas. But here in Michigan, they are on defense, fighting to keep an open seat that was once considered a sure bet.
02:40 Now it's as close as it can be. A recent poll shows only a one-point difference well within the margin of error. So what's changed? A contentious primary unfolded where the more progressive candidate, Abdul Al-Sayed, emerged victorious. He's electrified young voters,
02:54 but has also lost some support among Jewish voters. Today I pressed Al-Sayyad about why this race is as close as it is. And I go one-on-one. with his opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, who Democrats accused of being a rubber stamp to President Trump. Tonight, both candidates on a mission to prove they are most fit to represent the state of Michigan, and the stakes for all Americans could not be higher.
03:17 Tonight, the bitter Senate showdown in Battleground, Michigan, Democrat Abdul Al-Zayyad, taking on Republican, Mike Rogers. Mike, listen, man, if you can't say the name, it's Abder Rahman, keep the name out your damn mouth. He wants to represent Palestine. I want to represent Michigan. A Republican has not won a Senate seat here since 1994. But now, polls are showing a very tight Senate race, and you can see it in neighborhoods.
03:43 This home with an Abdul for Senate sign, and just next door, you see it in the front lawn, Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate. Tonight, we spoke with Al-S. Ayat. Why do you think it's so tight? I think it's not because it's Michigan, right? At the end of the day, people are trying to figure out who actually is going to stand up for them. And I think when you look at Mike Rogers and the fact that he's rubber-stamped a president, who's got historically low disapproval, you can see why we consistently lead.
04:07 We also met up with Rogers. I just spoke with Dr. Abdul Al-Sayed. He tells me that you are basically a rubber stamp to President Trump. What do you say to that? Nonsense. I mean, I've called an end to the Iran war. I've called for an end to wrap up these Canadian tariffs. So I'm going to do what's right for Michigan, Michigan first.
04:28 Rogers now accusing Al-Sahed of lying in this interview. when NBC's Kristen Welker asked about ties to the Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood. You don't have any ties? No. And your family doesn't. No. But newly revealed past tweets from Al-Said's half-sister appearing to call his answer into question. These tweets have emerged now.
04:48 Had an amazing talk with my mom about her activism in the Muslim Brotherhood during the early 70s while she was in college. Hashtag respect. My family has long been in M.B. Let me finish. Praying for all my family that supports the M.B. in Egypt. Can you just explain it? Yeah, Tom. It's funny to me. I was born in 1984, down the street in Rochester Hills.
05:06 I was raised here in Michigan, went to the University of Michigan, rebuilt the health department in this city, led the health department in this county. And you want to ask me about what was happening in Egypt in 1970? Are you serious? I get it, but you were asked a question. And you gave an answer. This is kind of like the same. Yeah, I'm telling you, like, I have no ties. We have no ties. So your mother had no ties? I have never had these conversations with my mother.
05:25 I wasn't raised by my mother. So you were unaware? But I'm just telling you that like you're using hearsay evidence from a tweet. This is not serious. Correct. But you've also gone after the president for truthfulness. You've also gone after the president for truthfulness. So when people ask you a question, they all do expect the truth.
05:39 And do you think, are you insinuating that somehow I was lying? I don't know. That's why I'm asking you. And I'm telling you I was not. And Al-Said has faced scrutiny over this debate answer. Who do you think is a bigger threat to the United States? Israel or Iran? You have 60 seconds.
05:52 And again, Rick, I'm just going to say that that's a ridiculous hypothetical. So you do think Israel is as big as a threat. I just want to nail down this. When we look at, when we look at our situation in the world. You think they're equally a threat to the U. When we look at our situation in the world, there is actively more war in the world because of what Israel is pushing us into. We should never have fought a war with Iran, right? I agree that Iran is a dangerous threat.
06:14 That's not a question. But I also think that when you ostensibly have an ally that's pushing you into war with the country that is threatening you, that does not make you any safe. You think they're both a threat. Yes. Look, we pay, last month alone, we pay $2.8 billion for 2,000 pound bombs for a form. government. Do you think that makes us safer? Is that good for us? And El-Said going after Rogers over the economy and the Iran war, which now Rogers says should end after initially supporting it. This all goes back to the fact that we've got a tariff war with Canada who provides a whole lot of our diesel.
06:48 And then we've got this war in Iran. We never should have fought this war in the first place. My opponent backed it. I oppose it. We pressed Rogers. President Trump asked you to run in this race. He wanted you to be the senator from Michigan. If he asked you to do that, how are you going to stand up to him once you do get elected and make sure you put Michigan first and not MAGA? Well, I don't even understand the premise of your question. He said he wanted the best candidate to run who could win the state for Republicans. I'm the best candidate that could run that is actually going to win this state for Republicans. No one else has been able to go in and have these conversation with Jewish Democrats.
07:22 Same with African Americans in the city. Al-Sayette has attacked Rogers over his personal finances, alleging he and he and, and his wife cashed in off their government work. What do you say to those allegations? My money came from cybersecurity work after I left Congress. When you build a company and you sell a company, it's a great American part of this economy. And I'm blessed to have been a part of that. The challenge for Republicans like Rogers, voters' frustration with the economy and the high
07:50 cost of living. We went to the Royal Fresh Market in northwest Detroit. Delilah? Yes. Is this where I can get a joy cake? Yes, it is. At her bakery, Delilah Reynolds Fields sells joy cakes. That's very good.
08:02 Thank you. So this is why you're famous here. I don't know about the famous part. I don't know about that part. A combination of pound cake and sweet potato pie for $9.99. What did it start out as when you first started doing this? When I first started out, it was like $5.99. $5.99.
08:19 That was several years ago. She had to increase prices because of inflation and new fuel fees from her suppliers. She's voting for Al-Sayed. You think President Trump's policies, whether it be with the economy or the Warren-Iran has it made your life tougher? I think it's made it tougher for everybody, more specifically gas prices. But the Rogers campaign believes this tight race could come down to a critical voting demographic, Jewish Democrats like Sarah Bennett.
08:45 You're a Democrat and you're supporting Mike Rogers. Why? Correct. I'm a lifelong Democrat. I don't think I've ever voted Republican. But I am a mom, a Jewish mom, and I'm voting with my heart. And I think that Mike Rogers will keep our Jewish community safe. And I don't think the same about Abdul al-Sayed.
09:02 Earlier this year, a terrorist drove a car with explosives into a synagogue here that included a daycare packed with children and opened fire in what the FBI called a Hezbollah-inspired terror attack. Al-Said then saying this about the attacker. It was wrong and he never should have done it. Hurt people, hurt people. He later apologized after backlash. Bennett says he was making excuses. for a terrorist. She showed us the sign she placed in her yard. That sign says hurt people help people.
09:33 So explain that. Heart people should help people, make the world a better place. There is no justification for a terrorist attack. We showed a photo of her sign to Al-Sayed and asked how he would respond. Well, look, I wish it was true that hurt people always help people. I'd love to live in that world. I want us to understand pain for what it is and end the cycle of violence that we see anywhere against anyone. People really fixated on those four words, and I realized that it was not the right thing to have said at the time, and so I apologize for what I said. Here's the thing I want us to understand. It is important for us to understand that right now, we can either come together to save our democracy,
10:10 or we can allow folks who want to rubber-stamp the worst policies from Donald Trump and his agenda that is raising our prices for everything from gas to groceries, and the choice is ultimately ours. And we also had a lengthy conversation with Al-Sayed about health care, his expertise, which we're run a portion of in just a moment. I want to bring in our two of our Michigan political pros tonight to talk about our interviews and about this race. Here with me in Detroit live is Ty Steele from our local affiliate, WDIV, and joining us from Saginaw, Michigan Public Reporter, Stephen Camode. Stephen, thanks so much for joining us. Ty, I'm going to start with you. You heard what the candidates had to say, right? You heard their answers. Explain to our viewers here, why do you
10:52 think this race is so tight? And I was there for that Grand Rapids debate last week and two and just saw the absolute vitriol from each one of these candidates accusing others, not only a policy distinctions, but also personal attack after personal attack. We saw both candidates essentially calling the other one a liar. Both campaigns very well funded. And of course, we've got El Sayad, who is the Democrat replacing Gary Peters. But he is such an important candidate here because he is energizing that younger base. You know, I wasn't surprised because it's such a tight race, but all those sort of political signs that I saw across the yards. We were in Oakland County, when we saw a lot of those. And like we showed our viewers there, you know, one house is a Mike Rogers house.
11:30 The next house is Al-Sahed. We saw a lot of Al-Said signs, too. I should mention as well. Are people talking about this race a lot that you meet here? I think everybody's talking about it right now. And there's campaign ads all over the place. Both of these campaigns so well-funded. So this is in people's faces constantly. And yes, it's what people are talking about. Stephen, let's turn to your perspective outside the Detroit bubble. Your north in Saginaw, which flipped red in 2024. Talk about the voter breakdown there and what you're finding and your reporting. Well, I'm here in Saginaw County, which is a 50-50 county in the middle of a 50-50 congressional district in the middle of a 50-50 state. Just down the street from where I live here in Saginaw, I have go by house after house after house, which have signs for both campaigns.
12:17 But the thing that struck me most was there are many front lawns that have a sign for Mike Rogers, the Republican running for U.S. Senate, and in the same front long, there's a sign for Kristen McDonnell Rivett, who's the Democrat running for Congress in this district. So this is a very divided community, and I expect it will be very divided as we go through the election. Stephen, do you believe what Mike Rogers told me? He said, I think the number he quoted was 70,000 Jewish Democrats. He thinks they have at least half of those voters. If that were to be the case, does that make this election his? or does he still have other big voting groups to overcome?
12:59 That would be a major win for him. These are usually very reliable Democratic voters, who, because of the rhetoric that El Sajed has used involving about the Israeli government and about the U.S. support for its military, that has shaken a lot of usual, very reliable democratic votes. And if Mike Rogers is successful in wooing them to his side in a race this close, that could be essential.
13:25 Ty, I want to talk about the issues here. We had a chance to speak with some voters. Obviously, the issue of Israel and some of Al-Saiat's comments have struck Jewish voters, but we know in poll after poll, and I heard this from talking to voters, the economy is a number one issue. Inflation is still very high. It just went up in September. Is this something that you're hearing and you're reporting as well,
13:45 and how important of an issue do you think inflation and the cost of living is going to be in the Senate race? It is by far the top issue that voters are talking about, and that's because Michiganders, like many people across the country, are feeling the pinch of inflation right now. So they want a candidate that's going to be able to lower costs for them. Both candidates promising to be able to do that, but have very different ideas on how we can get there. All right. Al-Sayed is someone who has spent most of his public service life
14:09 in the health care industry. He's somebody who has a medical degree. This is part of our conversation when I asked him about some solutions for health care. Steve, I want to ask you about some of his answers on the flip side. How do you get Medicare for All and give people more health insurance? and not tax the system, so you lose quality of care. I just wonder how you get there. You know there's a doctor shortage.
14:31 You've worked on the front lines here. I'm just, I understand the math, your math. I'm just understanding how the system can put that together. Well, I actually think that guaranteeing every single person, health insurance, would actually increase the number of doctors who could provide different kinds of care. But the problem that we have right now is that every interaction between you and your insurance also has this
14:56 third piece to it, which is the provider. So you go see a doctor, right? And then the doctor pills your insurance. And the problem, though, is that the rates that they pay have been negotiated between the two of them. And those rates are always about trying to benefit either of the two. So what's happened is that we've had massive consolidation
15:11 among doctors. So if you're a doctor now, the ability to just put up your single and say, I'm going to provide this health care, that's a lot harder to do. If anything, you've got to go work for a health care system, and those health care systems are squeezing out those doctors. Stephen, as you know, Al-Say had worked in the health care system here in Wayne County. It's something he knows very well.
15:31 He can go on and on about it. It's something he has very strong beliefs on. Are his answers and his plans breaking through to voters? It depends on which demographic group you're talking to. I think this is one of those issues that appeals to voters under the age of 30. This is something that they're concerned about, and they see this as a positive. But if you look at union members in the state, people who have spent decades working on contracts to ensure their health care, there's some concern. I've talked to the few UAW members who are concerned that if we move in that direction, they could lose the health care that they and their predecessors have fought for for many years.
16:12 Ty, we also asked Mike Rogers about tariffs. The attack on him from Democrats is that he's going to be a rubber stamp for President Trump. He'll do whatever President Trump wants. I asked him about tariffs, and here's what he had to say to us. Is the president wrong with his fight with Canada? Well, there are some things that Canada does that is absolutely unfair to Michiganders in the rest of the country. I've been a targeted and temporary tariff guy to correct those things. I thought the broad sweep was too much, and I'd like to see it wrapped up. Talk to me about the quote-unquote war with Canada that President Trump has launched.
16:52 It's not a real war. It's an economic war, but it's something that, Folks here in Detroit know better than anyone else maybe in the country. Oh, yeah, and people on both sides of the border here in Michigan and over on the other side of the border in Windsor are very passionate about this issue and feel very affected by this issue. So it's very top of mind for Michiganders, and it's something that they're definitely focusing on. Talk to me about that tariff issue. You know, we know that Mike Rogers had to come out with an ad and say that he does not want President Trump to have a battle with Canada. It was sort of a big flip-flop, at least when it comes to his campaign, because he had supported the tariffs initially. and he says targeted tariffs, you know, in his defense.
17:27 But, I mean, it's a big ad that smacks in the face of what President Trump is saying across the country. It's a conundrum for Mike Rogers. And that's because the support of President Donald Trump throughout this campaign has benefited him. And now that we're coming closer to the end here, and he's trying to grasp for those voters that may not be part of his base,
17:42 he has to appeal to those people as well. And so it's a challenge, and it's all about his messaging and what's getting across to voters. Stephen, there's three weeks left. Is there anything either candidate can say or do to win over any undecided voters? And are there undecided voters still left in Michigan?
18:00 Because as Ty pointed out, I know there's a lot of political ads on the air right now. There's a lot of political ads out there right now. We've already had more than a half million people cast their ballots in this state. And we still have millions more to go. But we're seeing a lot of interest in these races. And quite frankly, Michiganers enjoy a good fight. if you ever went to a hockey game anywhere in Michigan, you would see how the crowd reacts to that.
18:26 I think we're seeing that right now in this congressional or in this Senate race. And I think we're going to continue to see them drop the gloves for the next few weeks. That makes a lot of sense. Ty was asking to arm wrestle me. I was trying to tell him, no, not right now, at least not in the middle of the broadcast. Stephen, thank you so much, Ty. It's so great to have you here. We always appreciate all the help, of course, from WDIV.
18:46 We'll have much more to come tonight, including the teenager under arrest in Illinois for an alleged mass shooting plot at a Hindu temple. The details just coming in, plus a major update on Pope Leo now recovering after his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis while his road to recovery could take longer than expected. And millions under severe weather threats tonight with a tornado touching down in Texas. That's ahead on this special edition of Top Story, live tonight from Detroit. We're back now with breaking news out of Illinois. A 19-year-old is under arrest tonight after authorities say he tried but failed to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple. Shaq Brewster joins us tonight from Chicago.
19:28 Shaq, what are we learning about this alleged plot? Well, Tom, police say this is something that all took place on Sunday, this past Sunday. They say that's when this 19-year-old Alexandro Paparakis, he went to the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, which is a city in suburban Chicago. He tried to fire his weapon, they say, but then his weapon jammed. So they say he then fled. You're looking at that temple on your screen right now. They say he fled.
19:53 He searched how to fix a jammed gun. And then he sent a manifesto to a co-worker. In that manifesto, he referred to himself as the Aurora shooter. And prosecutors say he also referred to himself as, quote, a sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi filled with hatred. That co-worker, police, say, contacted the police. They found him very quickly outside of his home. And in a search of his home, they found that AR-style rifle.
20:19 They found a tactical vest. They found more than 300 rounds of ammunition and even a gas canister. and took him into custody. Now, new tonight, we just are hearing from his public defender, the public defender's office sending us a statement. We'll put that on screen right now where they say, this case is in the earliest stage of what will likely be a complicated and lengthy legal process.
20:41 They go on to say we would like to remind the public that statements made by police and prosecutors are only allegations in saying that they can change very quickly, Tom. They are not responding to the allegations that were laid out in any of those court documents. but we did see this suspect in court today. A judge ordered his detention until trial. We can expect to see him back in court later this month time.
21:06 All right, a frightening incident there. Shaq, we thank you. We're going to head overseas down to the Vatican where Pope Leo is recovering from lung surgery. Doctors say he's progressing as expected as prayers pouring from around the world. Ann Thompson report from just outside the Vatican. Pope Leo tonight on the mend recovering from lung cancer surgery,
21:25 up walking, eating, and even can celebrate Mass today. But from Peru, where Leo plans to visit next month, the first indication his health may impact his plans to return to the country where he served as a missionary and bishop. Peruvian president Kiko Fujimori telling reporters she understands the Pope's recovery will take several weeks longer than expected, and there could be changes in his trip, which also includes Uruguay and Argentina. No word tonight from the Vatican on her remarks.
21:57 In St. Peter's Basilica at the Mass the Pope was supposed to celebrate, Cardinal Louis Taglay, the new dean of the College of Cardinals, read Leo's homily. While outside the Pope's fellow Americans tried to process his cancer diagnosis. I thought it was sad because he seemed so young and so vibrant. We were very surprised. You know, we were concerned. We prayed for him. And he's got God behind him.
22:23 Pope's doctors indicate his recovery is going as expected. There's no indication whether his cancer will require more treatment. And in his hometown of Chicago, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students made the Pope a care package. The kids who met Leo last October sent handmade get-well cards and a white socks blanket, the Pope's baseball team. I want him to know that we're praying for him and that we want him to get better. And as he recovers, the Pope's sending a mess to the conference on marriage and families that wrapped up today, thanking attendees for their work and their prayers. Tom. And Thompson with a lot of updates there. And thank you. Still ahead tonight is SpaceX limiting Internet service in Ukraine. Elon Musk now pushing back as the war there wages on. We'll take a closer look. Plus, we'll tell you why millions of Americans could soon be getting an extra $75 each month.
23:20 But first, Top Story's top moment and a major milestone for music icon Joni Mitchell. The Canadian-born singer-songwriter sharing today, she is officially an American citizen. Take a look. Johnny Mitchell, Canada. Posting to social media, it was, quote, a journey that began 62 years ago. Congrats to Joni. Stay with us more top story right after this. We're back now with billionaire Elon Musk pushing back on allegations from Ukraine that his company, SpaceX, is limiting Internet.
24:03 services in the war-torn country, putting Ukraine's defenses at risk. Gabe Gutierrez is at the White House. In Ukraine, first the warning sirens, then another sound. This man surviving the Russian strike in Harkev as the war enters a bloody and increasingly volatile phase. Ukraine now accusing Elon Musk's SpaceX of hurting its ability to defend itself by limiting the military-grade Internet service called Starshield, a Ukrainian member of parliament with this message tonight from Musk.
24:38 Stop playing the bull-gain games. It costs hundreds and thousands of Ukrainian lives. Musk saying, quote, Star Shield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president of the United States. It all comes as four Ukrainian and European officials tell NBC News the lack of advance warning by the U.S. ahead of two Russian missile strikes on Kiev this week has sparked confusion over the status of U.S. intelligence sharing.
25:09 Ukraine's President Zelensky today saying he feels betrayed, slamming President Trump's deal to buy Russian diesel. It's a pity that we are losing, we are a losing strong partner. President Trump, meanwhile, has denied the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. We are helping them and we are sharing intel. We want the war to end. Gabe Gutierrez joins us now live from the White House. Gabe, which part of Ukraine's defense technology do we know were allegedly interrupted by these internet issues? Well, Tom, Ukrainian officials say that it is their aerial defenses, their drone technology that's been affected by these internet connectivity issues,
25:49 that it's been very difficult for their drones, they say, to execute these longer-range missions. Now, at issue here is the Star Shield system, that is the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite news. network. And there are a lot of questions tonight about what role of any the U.S. played. You heard Elon Musk pushing back that it wasn't his call that it would be up to the president of the United States. So far tonight, we have not heard any comment from the White House about those allegations and those internet connectivity issues, Tom. Gabe Gutierrez for us, Gabe, thank you. None of the latest on the investigation to that violent ice encounter in Houston, an officer
26:29 captured on video hitting a man with his car. And tonight a Texas district attorney tells NBC news, it appeared to be intentional. ICE has refuted that allegation. Priscilla Thompson has been following this one for us. Priscilla, the DA also says there could be an assault charge. Yeah, Tom, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is what the district attorney here in Harris County tells us he is potentially looking at. He says that he and multiple investigators have reviewed the video, looked at the scene, and that they do not believe that this was accidental, but that strike by that vehicle may have been intentional. He also says he believes that there may be evidence from that vehicle that ICE was driving, including crash data that would show the speed
27:10 that car was traveling and if any braking happened and that he asked ICE to download that information but that ICE refused. And he says now he worries that that evidence may be erased. Tom? And then Priscilla, do we know if or when we could see that body cam footage she is talking about? Yeah, so no word on if that video will be released publicly. But DHS has said that there were multiple ICE officers who were wearing body cam. cameras and that they are reviewing those videos as part of an internal investigation.
27:41 Meanwhile, today, we are getting our first photos of the man who was hit by that car, Miguel Pada Hernandez, from his hospital room speaking with his attorney. Those photos came from advocacy group, Fielel, Houston. They have said that he has had to undergo surgery for his broken leg and that it may be weeks before he's able to walk again. Priscilla Thompson for us tonight, Priscilla, we thank you for that. We're going to turn out of the severe weather threat, around 5 million under flood alerts stretching from the south to the Midwest, the heavy rain slamming parts of Oklahoma quickly turning these roads into rivers. Look at that.
28:16 And in West Texas, new video of a massive tornado touching down this afternoon, a massive twister there. I want to get right to our good friend meteorologist Bill Karens, who has been tracking it all for us, Bill. We just got word of an active tornado threat now in Texas. Yeah, we've had a couple tornado warnings. That one you showed they're on screen, did have a minor damage with it with some trees. We had been tracking active tornado.
28:37 We had two tornado warnings near Guthrie, Texas. Those just expired in the last 30 seconds. So that's great news, but we still could see some wind damage with these storms as they race northwards. Severe thunderstorm watch is going to go out through 11 p.m. Central Daylight time. It extends all the way from Long Oklahoma southwards down to Fort Stockton. And the problem is all of this heavy rain is going where we had significant rainfall earlier today, even historic rainfall. So Oklahoma City got nailed this morning. They had almost five inches of rain.
29:07 That's the third highest total ever in their recorded city's history for October, and the 15th highest daily total they've ever had. And now we got more rain that's going to head for these same locations later on tonight. You can see how it extends to the south. And so this is going to be a dangerous overnight throughout areas of North Texas, and especially here in Oklahoma. Our computer models are hinting at the chance for an additional three, maybe even up to six inches of rainfall in this same area that got drenched earlier today.
29:34 They expect significant river and flash flooding right through the night into early tomorrow morning, Tom, for our friends there in Oklahoma. Bill, I'm going to throw you a little bit of a curveball here. As we were covering that hurricane, we talked so much about the different models we study right in meteorology and now the new AI models. Are those new AI models also working when you're covering storms like the one just behind you? They do, but the resolution of them is not to the point of our old models yet. So the AI models are yet really good at tracking big weather systems, like when we get snowstorms this winter or hurricanes. But for these smaller, you know, thunderstorms are small compared to those, you know, a huge hurricane. So the technology will get there, Tom. The resolution will increase, but not quite yet.
30:20 That's why AI can't beat Bill Karens. All right, Bill. We thank you for that explanation. We appreciate it. We're going to turn out of Top Story's news feed. We start in New Orleans where police are searching for this suspect to burst through a, drive-through window armed with a gun. It happened at Taco Bell. They say the man pulled out the weapon, a weapon, I should say, and demanded food. When employees refused, he climbed back out and took off.
30:42 Luckily, nobody was hurt. Wow. And a boost for the more than 75 million Americans who receive Social Security. Starting next year, retirement benefits are set to go up by 3.6%. That's good news. That translates to $75 extra each month. It's one of the largest cost of living adjustments this decade, but advocates argue it likely won't go far enough for many older people, struggling to keep up with rising prices and pay for high gas. And in New York City, new video tonight of a fiery roadside rescue. Here you can see officers and a good Samaritan racing towards his SUV with a man trapped inside the group working together to pull the 65-year-old to safety.
31:18 After a head-on collision, that man was taken to a hospital and is expected to be okay. Now to a major update on a Florida murder mystery and arrests made 15 years after a woman went missing on the same day she appeared with her ex-fiance on an episode of the People's Court. Here's George Solis. Tonight, they'll break in a case gone cold for nearly 15 years. Dale Smith. Michelle Parker and her ex-fiance, Dale Smith, Jr., appearing on the People's Court over a lost engagement ring on November 17, 2011.
31:48 Any of the problems that we've ever had, it's always been alcohol-related. That same day, she dropped their children off at his home and then went missing. Smith now arrested and facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with her disappearance. This case never stopped being a priority. Investigators say they reviewed evidence and found new clues. New evidence was found using advancements in technology, especially in our digital forensics. We were able to better interpret that evidence today than what we were able to do back in 2011. The case garnering national attention as investigators found her car and her phone.
32:23 I'm hoping that maybe there's a fingerprint that shouldn't be on there, meaning like not my sisters are the twins. Smith was the only named suspect in the case but was never criminally charged and denied having anything to do with her disappearance. Today, investigators say they also re-examined his testimony and found conflicting statements. And very specific questions were asked of him numerous times over the years where he gave different answers to those same questions. The state attorney says murder charges could be up with. as this case moves forward. Meanwhile, the search for Parker's remains is ongoing. Tom. George, thank you. Turning now to Iowa where the Senate race is heating up in a state that's been read for years, but recent polls show a tight contest. And in last night's debate, an unexpected
33:10 topic was front and center. Cancer. Julie Circon explains. We're going to begin with the topic of cancer. An issue once largely confined to scientific and environmental circles, is now one of the biggest topics on the campaign trail in Iowa, from candidate roundtables to the state capital and at last night's Senate debate. We need to obviously have the investments and the infrastructure to be able to clean our water. The first question to Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and her opponent, Democrat Josh Turek. We certainly have a cancer crisis that is being driven by a water quality crisis. In Iowa, roughly two in five people will develop cancer in their lifetimes. The state has the second highest cancer rate in the country and one of the few that's still rising.
33:59 Dan Voss, fifth generation farmer. Dan and his wife Susan prize-winning farmers are part of that club no one wants to join. Are you worried though continuing to farm given that you believe that it might have caused you to get cancer? I may be foolish, but no. Researchers have spent decades investigating environmental risks, including pesticides and and nitrates used in agriculture. The EPA's nitrate drinking water limit, 10 parts per million, dates back more than 50 years,
34:32 designed primarily to protect infants from a rare blood disorder. But studies have linked long-term exposure below that threshold to certain cancers. That's why on his farm, Voss is working to keep the chemicals out of the water. Cover crops, no-till farming. He's invested thousands in practices to reduce runoff. bioreactors, saturated buffer. Here in Iowa's farmlands, fertilizer helps grow the crops that feed Americans. But excess nitrogen is seeping into waterways, contaminating drinking water sources,
35:06 exposure to high levels of nitrates linked to certain cancers. In that Cedar River, independent analysis have recorded at times nitrate levels at almost double the federal drinking water limit. It's among the rivers at the center of a lawsuit over the Trump EPA's decision to remove a number of waterways from a polluted waters list. The EPA finalized that decision, saying the levels were below the limit. And Administrator Lee Zeldon this week says his agency will keep monitoring with the state. The EPA telling NBC News in part it reviews drinking water regulations every six years and that it determined in 2024 nitrate levels would not be revised.
35:47 The agency says it has, quote, multiple funding programs in Iowa to protect water quality and public health. You have so many other problems you're dealing with. Yeah, tariffs. Yeah. I think public health is there. I mean, once it hits somebody you know, it even becomes more important. It's why both candidates in the governor's race are also talking about it.
36:12 There's been a number of big agricultural companies that have been lying to consumers and farmers about the safety of their products. If we're going to fix this, we've got to make sure there's not as much nitrate in the water. For cancer research and access to health care is another sticking point. There's medical deserts in Iowa. For some of those people, it could be three, four, five hours. Clara Cirque considers herself lucky. She has care close by.
36:36 I know how it feels to be in a rural community and the barriers that come with accessing care. Her cancer came at just 30 years old. So she moved back home to Iowa, where her parents, including her mom, who also has cancer, help care for her. So then I started a new chemo. Clara's mission now to raise awareness to help others living with the disease. I think that public health should be a nonpartisan issue and focusing on getting to the bottom
37:07 of these high rates of cancer in Iowa should be as much of a priority as any other issue. Getting to the bottom of Iowa's cancer rates and what's driving them, now motivating politicians and the people who elect them. Julie Serkin, NBC News. Still ahead on Top Story, it is one of the most talked-about celebrity controversies of the year. Kelly Clarks feuding with a Brooklyn store, what new surveillance video shows.
37:35 Plus our series Business in America, why the CEO of Chick-fil-A says they'll never open on Sundays. Stay with us. And we are back now with new surveillance video of an incident that's gripping the internet. Pop star Kelly Clarkson feuding with a novelty shop in Brooklyn, with neither side appearing ready to back down. Our Chloe Malas visited the store today.
37:59 New security footage showing singer Kelly Clarkson inside this Brooklyn shop called Art of Play. The moment has sparked a feud that's taken over social media. The video, which has no audio obtained by the podcast Pablo Torre, finds out, shows Clarkson wearing a baseball cap, browsing, interacting with a store employee, and gesturing and speaking before leaving the store. On Saturday, Clarkson posted that she tried to be able to. by this mechanical bird named Molly.
38:27 Writing she literally was looked at as if I couldn't afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Adding, y'all should go check out art of play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts' character and pretty woman. I was in here yesterday. You wouldn't wait on me?
38:43 Oh, you work on commission, right? Yes. Big mistake. Big. Huge. Later sharing a photo, she says, shows the $15,000 price tag. This is the animatronic bird at the center of the now viral dispute and its price tag now $15 million. The store's owner confirming the hefty new price tag. The shop says Clarkson was in the store for five minutes and they explained to the bird was permanently attached to the wall,
39:11 though there was a nearly identical automaton that the artist could sell her. They added there was another singing bird, but she did not stick around long enough to see it. I don't think anyways necessarily a bad guy here. I think it was just something. lost in translation. And I believe in forgiveness also. My cousin's actually visiting soon and she specifically said, can we please go to the store where the Kelly Clarkson conflict took place? The store owner Adam Rubin also the author of the popular children's book, Dragons Love Tacos, now speaking out, saying they've received thousands of phone calls and texts, including threats. We are afraid for the safety of our shopkeepers. Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger.
39:49 When Kelly came in, the shop was crowded. She was dressed like everybody else in the shop. We treated her like a normal person, but apparently that would not live up to her expectations. NBC has reached out to Clarkson for comment about Ruben's comments and this incident and is not heard back. Tom, I've been in front of the store for hours today and it has been packed with some people that live in the area who just wanted to come and support the owner, while others actually have been following the feud on social media. Some people even visiting from out of town who just wanted to sit beside the store and see the mechanical bird for the themselves. Tom? Chloe, our thanks to you. Now to our
40:26 Business in America series, and tonight we hear from the head of Chick-fil-A. Our Craig Melvin sat down with the CEO for an exclusive interview about how the company has exploded in popularity while facing controversy along the way. One chain rules the roost in the growing fast-food
40:44 chicken wars. Chick-fil-A is the third largest chain in America, just behind McDonald's in Starbucks. Their restaurants boast nearly 24 billion dollars in sales every year and consistently strong customer satisfaction scores thanks in part to a fanatical following how can something be this good the big thing is just focus on one customer at a time and that was one of the
41:10 things my grandfather did it all started in Georgia when Andrew Kathy's grandfather Truett Kathy and his brother opened a diner in 1946 my grandfather grew up in extreme poverty he actually lived in the first government housing in the state of Georgia and after the war, he decided to start a business with his brother Ben. A deal to buy chicken breasts too large for Delta Airlines' in-flight menu led Truit to develop the sandwich that would eventually become the signature item of the first Chick-fil-A in 1967.
41:42 That recipe, it's still the same recipe? Yep, it's still the same recipe that we had since 1967. What's that? What's the recipe? It's a lot of good things. Can't tell you the detail. Even amid a recent global expansion, the company has remained a privately held family-owned business. Andrew Kathy became CEO in 2021, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps.
42:07 As Southern Baptists, their faith has long been a guiding force for how they operate. Since you started, you've never been open on Sunday. Yeah. Why? My grandfather and his brother Ben, when they started that little restaurant in Atlanta, It was very common back in the 1940s that a lot of places were closed on Sunday. And so they wanted to do that. They wanted to have a chance to take a break, go to church, and for others just to take some rest.
42:31 It's a company that was sort of built on God, if you will. That still also seems to be very much a part of the DNA of Chick-fil-A. It is our anchor in the sense of what our corporate purpose states, that we're in business to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that's entrusted to us, have a positive influence and a hollow common contact with Chick-fil-A. That corporate purpose came under fire in 2012 when Andrew's father, Dan, publicly stated the company was opposed to gay marriage. Public documents revealed Chick-fil-A had donated millions to conservative Christian organizations opposed to LGBTQ rights. Chicken's good, chicken's great, why we got it discriminated.
43:10 The comments and financial disclosures unleashed a culture war with protests, boycotts, and political pushback on both sides. Dan Kathy never changed his stance on gay marriage, but he did express regret for involving the company in the debate. There were folks who were protesting, they were boycotting Chick-fil-A. They sell it. Chick-fil-A, they don't stand with the LGBTQ-plus community. What would you say to those folks? Well, for anybody that hadn't tried us, we'd love for you to come try and have our great taste of food and the hospitality that we're known for. I think that everybody that will be willing to walk in the door, they'll see that they're welcome to come eat with We'd love to give them a great taste and sandwich and give them a great hospitality.
43:51 You don't want to talk about that chapter in Chick-fil-A's history. We're focused on serving everybody that come in and eat with us. The company's official position on equal rights is... We're focused on hospitality, serving great taste of food and great service. In 2019, Chick-fil-A announced it would focus its charitable giving on education, homelessness, and hunger. That new mission evident in their shared tables program. Since 2020, we've been able to donate enough food to contribute over 200 million meals for those in need.
44:25 Chick-fil-A wants to honor waste, not, want, not. We're hoping to put smiles on people's faces. Two million hunger-relief meals. Philanthropic work remains front and center, even as Chick-Fleigh navigates the challenges of the future. What would you say to consumers right now, especially who are price conscious? We're very, very cautious about pricing and look at it and know that even though our costs are going, up, we've got to be careful knowing that consumers are making that trade-off. What we want more than anything is if customers do choose to eat with us, if they feel like,
44:56 I've got a great value for what I pay for this experience. Shrinflation? Are you guys, have you guys participated in smaller portions, yeah? We're not going to do that. We're not going to shriek product and those sort of things. Why not? These are the portions and experiences that people are used to. We're going to continue to provide that great product.
45:12 What was your specialty in the kitchen? What would you invest in? I love behind the kitchen or behind the counter things. Consumers have more options than ever when it comes. comes to fast food, but Kathy doesn't seem too concerned. Do you take credit for chicken sandwiches becoming omnipresent at fast food restaurants? Well, I love the fact that chicken is in such demand. I love competition, so I love the fact it just makes us better.
45:40 Chick-fil-A has a very competitive process to operate one of its franchises. Kathy says for the 150 locations they open every year, they get 150,000 applications. Back to you. And to watch that extended interview and more exclusive NBC News content, scan the QR code on your screen and subscribe. When we come back, the signature sound of Motown, a look at the museum makeover keeping the history of those iconic tracks alive. That's next on this special edition of Top Story.
46:19 We're back here in Detroit with the music of Motown, the legendary record label with roots right here in the Motor City. I visited the Motown Museum preserving the history behind so many iconic hits. It's undergoing a massive expansion as big as the sound it helped create. It's a distinctly American sound, born right here in Detroit, the music of Motown. In 1959, Barry Gordy founded Motown Records, known as Hitsville, USA. It's a label that brought legendary songs into the world, classics from The Temptations, and the Supremes. To some of Marvin Gay's biggest hits.
47:29 The sound of the 60s and early 70s that still feels so relevant today. Now, this iconic studio is the Motown Museum dedicated to preserving the history of these iconic tracks. Motown is, it is an American story. Museum CEO Robin Terry is overseen its historic $75 million expansion. So we have this beautiful but little house. And now we have this incredible campus behind. What's it going to be? This is the little house that rocked the world.
48:04 That's a supreme temptation, four tops, on and on and on. They all got their start in this little house. Now we're building an entire campus right here in Detroit to celebrate that legacy. In the museum's archive, this red and silver suit worn by Otis Williams of the temptations. And a four-octive harmonica used by Stevie Wonder to record fingertips. Terry hopes the museum's new era will usher in a whole new generation of Motown fans. Like Motown revolutionized the music industry and it's still inspiring the industry today. We can't wait for it to open.
48:50 Thanks so much for watching this special edition of Top Story. I'm Tom Yamous in Detroit. Stay right there. More news on the way.
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