Getting tangled in a luxury car seat belt. Early today starts right now. Good friday morning. Im phillip mena im frances rivera. The pandemic is front and center in the race for the white house. Last night President Trump defended his Coronavirus Response after joe biden went on the attack in a town hall. And joe biden picking up an endorsement from a member of the Coronavirus Task force. Reporter the biden harris ticket picking up an endorsement from a former aide shes now blasting President Trumps leadership shfs shocking to see the president saying that the virus was a hoax, seeing that everything is okay when we know that its not. The truth is, he doesnt actually care about anyone else but himself. I have no idea who she is she doesnt know me and its just another person that leaves. Reporter the white house digging in against cdc director Robert Redfield whcoronavirus ve widely available for most americans until the middle of next year. While dr. Redfield may have a timeline in mind to my knowledge he hasnt had intimate discussions with those processes. Reporter chief of staff mark meadows suggesting the cdc has been on the sidelines as pharmaceutical Companies Race to develop a vaccine, echoing the president s surprising remarks about redfield, one of his own top officials. I think he made a mistake when he said that. Its just incorrect information. Reporter the Trump Administration insisting a vaccine could be announced as early as next month with 100 million doses distributed immediately to front line workers and 300 million ready to go in january. Joe biden and Kamala Harris accusing President Trump of politicizing the vaccine timeline in washington, alice barr, nbc news with just a month and a half now until election day both candidates are diving head first. Theyre olding duelling events today in the battleground state of florida and ads bought by the first chunk of the 100 million pledged by Michael Bloomberg try zi potts joining us on this friday the candidates are squaring off over the Coronavirus Response. Reporter specifically a lot of talk on the campaign trail about Wearing Masks and this vaccine that the president continues to say not only will be approved but delivered by the end of the year. Lots of skepticism about that. The three manufacturers who are working on the final phases of vaccine trials say they may have in a few months have approval or results from their trials but it will be sometime in march or may next spring before they expect to have a final analysis in wisconsin the president had thousands of supporters who werent Wearing Masks at all and the states guidance of not gathering more than pen peoptene at a response. This is the greatest economy in the history of the world. Then the virus came in t we closed it down, we saved millions and millions of lives. All the way back in march i was calling for the need for us to have masks, have the president stand and tell us whats going on. But he knew it he knew it and did nothing its close to criminal and if the president had done his job, had done his job from the beginning, all the people would still be alive reporter biden says if elected hell crack down and require people to wear masks on federal lands, in federal buildings or face a fine right now biden is ahead by a few points in minnesota where both candidates plan to campaign today, but its within the margin of error so the race still very tight there for those ten electoral votes. So crucial. Thank you. Lets turn now tow the west coast and the battle against the Deadly Wildfires a fire burning for weeks in los angeles has caused more setbacks for firefighters exploding in size and triggering new evacuation alerts. Its also threatened a well known landmark Miguel Almaguer has more. Reporter just as firefighters were making progress, the bob cat fire near los angeles exploding again, flames feeding on dry hills and hot temperatures with crews stretched dangerously thin new evacuations just triggered i dont think ive gotten maybe three or four hours of sleep each night. Reporter saving mount wilson observatory, the blaze coming within 500 feet of torching this historic landmark. Its still threatening the billion dollar telecommunication towers providing broadcasting and cell service to los angeles. Hundreds of air drops helping firefighters who are undermanned and overmatched. Thisone has extreme challenges of terrain, very active fire behavior. Reporter even with 17,000 firefighters on the front lines in california, theyre losing ground weve seen a few fires come and go, but this has been probably the scariest. Reporter just over the last month 5,400 structures have been destroid by the greater toll, the 25 lives lost. Authorities say amid the chaos, confusion costs one couple their lives. At this fire in Northern California they had pack their belongings b later decided not to evacuate based on erroneous information the fire was 51 contained. Reporter the golden state engulfed in red. That was Miguel Almaguer reporting. New updates this morning about Vladimir Putins rival who has been fighting for his life now traces of a russian nerve agent were found in the hotel room where the politician was staying. Were joined now by Helena Humphrey in london what more did his team say. Reporter very good morning to you, frances. According to a new video posted on his instagram account, as soon as members of his team heard that alexa had become seriously ill they rushed to the syberian hotel where he had been staying to collect evidence. What you can see in that video is members of his team donning plastic gloves, putting items from the hotel room into plastic bags and sending that off for analysis in a German Military lab and that lab finding that the military grave nerve agent was found on one of the water bottles. That is significant because previously, members of his team say they believe he may have been poisoned at the airport while he was waiting to board that flight to moscow. This establishes a chain of events earlier currently we dont know when this attack took place moscow denying any involvement whatsoever the kremlin saying it will not be launching an investigation. All the while hes continuing to recover in a berlin hospital seen in an Instagram Post sitting up in bed quite literally an Opposition Leader not taking things lying down he says he will return to russia once he is well again. Maybe he can fill in the blanks as he gets better thank you. Now to Community Leaders in chicago who are working to keep students returning to school safe they are handing out bullet proof backpacks that could protect students from gun violence in the city they cost around 200 apiece and several people many the community are looking for investors to help pay for about 4,000 backpacks. The goal is to also distribute bullet proof hats for kids in chicago. Dee snider is not happy and he doesnt want them playing the groups music. In his tweet snider called the group selfish adding they do not have permission or busting to use my song for their moronic costs. A very grim and extreme punishment for people who violate the Face Covering mandate. Violators are ordered to dig graves for those who have died from coronavirus eight people have been sentenced with that punishment violators did not participate in the actual burials theyve also had to sit in a haers containing a casket and asked to reflect on their actions. Its been quite a weekend for weather out there. Lets check in now with janessa webb on this friday. Good morning good morning, you two good morning, everyone we have sally is finally starting to exit, but just a few rain bands that are still impacting North Carolina into west virginia. Virginia as well and this will push offshore by this afternoon. Then we transition to tropical depression 22 that formed yesterday. I do think this becomes a Tropical Storm by this afternoon into your evening. Right now sustained winds, 35 Miles Per Hour but look at this movement out of the northeast at 3 Miles Per Hour so another slow go of things and right now the National HurricaneCenter Putting out its latest track, this time. It will meander across the western gulf, start to gain some more steam so were going to be watching this storm system for a while. But what you can count on is that tropical moisture impacting texas all the wa still building across the southwest. Heat across phoenix, 105 its been a tough week but i have a wonderful looking forward. Stay tuned for that. Makes us all smile. Cant wait to hear it. Now to a major loss for the literary world Winston Groom has died at the age of 77 in southern alabama. His novel was the basis of the 1994 movie that won six oscars including best actor award for tom hanks. A friend says the novel is a lot darker and richer than the movie. Groom was a talented journalist and a notable author in american history. An important warning about kids and seat belt setafy. And a creative way to hand out halloween candy while staying six feet apart superior to humira®t, trn in providing significantly clearer skin. Tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremfya®. Uncover clearer skin that can last. 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Exactly depending on where you live there a young boy is recovering after a harrowing experience in the family car he got caught in a seat belt and couldnt breathe Gabe Gutierrez has the important lesson for every family. Reporter it was a freak accident in this mothers backseat that prompted a frantic 911 call hi, we need help right now. Reporter she was desperate at this intersection in bedford, massachusetts. He just said mom, i cant breathe. Im stuck. Her 8yearold son brayden was trapped. She told nbc 10 boston that he was in the backseat of her acura tangled in a seat belt next to him connected to the ceiling this particular latch did not have a Quick Release like a normal seat belt. Reporter the harder he pulled the tighter it got. He was basically hanging from the ceiling just unconscious, blue as can be there was blood coming out from the pressure. Reporter thats where she stopped at a nearby salon where elizabeth costa was working. All i can think about is my fouryearold screaming for me she brought scissors and his mother cut him free. Acura says its looking into it but that seat belt entanglement is a potential danger in nearly all vehicles Authorities Say its a good idea to include scissors in your car safety kit reporter seat belt cutters are also available for Purchase Online i dont want another parent to ever see their kid go through that i dont want anybody to i dont want anybody to experience that. Reporter one mothers warning of an unexpected danger on t, nbc news just terrifying that something that could save your life could be deadly still ahead, saturday night live breaks new ground. And Walmart Announces pay increases for more than 156,000 of its employees well have the details next. Cesn thousands of bestselling home products. Shop bedroom furniture from 90, rugs up to 80 off, and major appliances from 199 plus, score surprise flash deals. And Free Shipping on everything yep, everything. 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In todays quick hits disney has found the studio cast in the lead for the upcoming disney plusem and was nominated for a golden globe johnson is making history as saturday night lives first black openly cast writer nissan showing off their new prototype sports car the company is hoping to bring the car to dealerships next year likely retailing at over 30 million. Some good news for homeowners were joined now with all those details. Good morning reporter lets take off with whats happening in the home market the National Median price of a home jumped 11 in august to just over 328,000 thats the largest annual increase that weve seen since february 2014. Part of whats driving that is Strong Demand for houses given the low Interest Rate environment. At the same time we are seeing a restrained supply to the supply of available homes for sale has fallen to another new low. As a result, median home prices then have increased in every single one of the 85 largest metro areas. Thats according to data overall home sales were up nearly 10 from a year ago and walmart is raising pay for approximately 165,000 hourly workers across u. S. Stores they are doing that by introducing new leadership roles and cross training opportunities. The pay increases will start in october and take the place of the annual increases in place typically have to wait until february or april to receive could use the cash. Thank you so much. When we come back more on weekend weather from janessa ancrksasd oo ch in on the pandemic the new unemployment scam plaguing the country plus the power of oxi. Cascade platinum oxi penetrates and breaks down food soils some detergents can leave behind, washing away even the smallest food residue, so it doesnt redeposit on your dishes. And oxi is cascades formulated without any chlorine bleach, for a deep hygienic clean you can see and feel. Cascade the power of oxi. The 1 recommended brand in north america. Try new natures bounty stress comfort. 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