This day, thursday, may 8th, 2014. From nbc news, this is today with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning, everyone, its 7 00 a. M. On the west coast, we are starting with disturbing news just in. A lot of people are wondering how it will relate to those young girls. A terrorist group has already generated International Outrage for kidnapping hundreds of young giers. Bill neely, international correspondent, he has the latest. Good morning. Reporter good morning, the deadly violence in nigeria is growing, growing to a campaign to free the girls. There is outrage just about everywhere. As for the group thats taken them him first they boasted about it. Now theyve stepped up their violent campaign. Theyve already kidnapped hundred, now theyve escalated their violence. In a brazen daylight attack the group behind the kidnapping of the school girls have killed as many as 300 shoppers in an outdoor mall in northeast nigeria. Nigeria has the worlds attention, but for all the wrong reasons. Its president this morning welcoming World Leaders to an economic summit in a country where hundreds of his people, teenage girls, languish in the hands of extremist gunmen. I believe that this is not of girls, this will not be the beginning of the end of terror in nigeria. Hundreds of parents are losing hope after three weeks of hearing nothing from their children. Nigerias government is being accused of incompetence and delays. You also have to be prepared to confront this level of finality with strong actions. Reporter pure evil. Politicians and parents around the world are horrified by the mass kidnapping. Michelle obama tweeting, our prayers are with the missing nigerian girls and their families. Its time to hashtag bring back our girls. Joining the campaign, an icon of girls education. I met malala the 16yearold pakistani girl, shot to years ago for fighting for a girls right to be educated. She calls the kidnapped nigerian girls my sisters. I would like to tell my sisters that never lose hope, because we are with you. Reporter the u. S. Will likely extend under Surveillance Drones out in intelligence help. The burden one so far, 250 girls suffer a third week in captivity. And another dozen girls were kidnapped just a few days ago by the same group. Nothing has been heard from them. So silence from nigeria. But the clamour growing across the world to do something to help these girls. Matt. Savannah. Bill 83 neely, thank you very much. There is a scandal that rocked the nba and los angeles clippers. Dona Donald Sterlings wife says she is going to fight. Shelly sterling is positions per self as a separate center of power within that organization. On the court last night, a loss for the clippers in oklahoma city. Off the court, more drama. Shelly sterling telling the Los Angeles Times she intends to keep the clippers and sanctions against her husband, Donald Sterling, a lifetime ban and 2. 5 million fine do not reply to me or my family. No response from her comments. The team is held in a family trust. Just last week, commissioner adam silver said no decisions have been made regarding members of the Sterling Family other than donald. This ruling applies specifically to Donald Sterling and Donald Sterlings conduct only. Reporter purchased if 1981 for 12 million, the clippers are now worth well over half a billion. Some big name celebrities have come forward to express interest if buying the team. Apong them, boxer oscar de la hoya and Floyd Merryweather and Oprah Winfrey teamed with david giveen and billionaire larry elliotson to buy it outright and magic johnson, with the group that bought the dodgers. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Donald Sterling isnt going away. Richard sherman the outspoken quarterback, who went on that now infamous postgame tirade earlier this year. Michael crab tree, thats the result you will get. Is making headlines again after saying the nfl would not have reacted the same way to sterling if he owned an nfl team, telling time magazine, because we have an nfl team called the redskins, i dont think the nfl really is as concerned as they show. Nba officials met to discuss the bid to strip Donald Sterling of the team again on wednesday. So far, they have not settled on a time line. This team is owned by a family trust that includes shirley sterling. We get the impression the nba would like to strip the name from the sterlings. We have developments in ukraine this morning. Good morning, russian president putin said russia has pulled its troops away from the ukrainian border, but there is no sign yet his word is bringing any changes there. Nbcs kerr simmons is in ukraine with the latest. Good morning. Once again, president putin has stunned the world and left so many wondering what he is up to. U. S. Officials say there is no sign of Russian Troops moving away from the ukrainian border. Meanwhile, president putin has called upon local activists here, delays on possible independence. We have seen those ballots. They talk about independence, but now the activists here have said they want to have the vote anyway on sunday against president putins wishes, raising the question whether putin has lost control of events in ukraine or this all passes. Kerr simmons in ukraine, thank you. A huge explosion caught on camera this morning. It leveled a hotel in the syrian city of aleppo. Syrian troops were based at that hotel. Huh pan rights observers say at least 14 soldiers were killed. Rebels who claimed responsibility for the blasts put the death toll at 50. House democrats are considering a boycott of select Committee Republicans that are expected to investigate the 2012 benghazi attack. A vote is expected this afternoon to formally approve the investigation. Intooek Speaker Boehner vows it will be about getting to the truth of the attack. Democrats have likened it to a quote kangaroo court, expressing concern over the scope and composition of the select committee. Veterans are calling for the Veterans Administration the head of the Veterans Administration that the va left some vets wait so long to see a doctor they died. Jim miklazewski has more. Reporter the latest scandal comes out of the va hospital in phoenix, where as many as 40 veterans reportedly died while waiting for medical treatment. I am angry. Reporter the secretary, a veteran, himself, told nbc news he was surprised by the allegation but promises a full investigation. Are you willing as a secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept full responsibility . I am. I asked the Inspector General, independent Inspector General of the philipines to conduct a detailed, complete, thorough investigation. Reporter the american region and some in Congress Demand he resign, but he brushed it off. Will you resign . I would say i serve with the pleasure the president. Reporter its alleged that in an effort to improve their performance, hospital administrators buried the veterans medical appointments in a secret list. Then as investigators closed in, oermded the files destroyed. The veterans of america claims the va today lacks leadership, accountability and courage. And it really cuts to the core of our countrys confidence in the va. The entire public has lost confidence in the va. It seems things can happen in the u. S. , take a look at two journalists on a show between opposing opinions. They were discussing the syrian war when one accused the other of supporting the revolution. Well, he then responded by saying the other journalist was paid to support the syrian regime. Thats when things get out of control as you see here. Both men trying to use the desk as a weapon. The production staff had to jump in there and break up the fight. The host abruptly ended the Program Shortly after that. It was played out so many times on our show. Did it work . Its like the house wives of new jersey. Thanks so much. We were talking about the heat yesterday in oklahoma. Then we had the severe storms. Look at some of this hail video coming out of oklahoma. We have reports of quartersized, even eggsize and baseballsize hail. Can you see that quarter right there. Its actually just falling from the skies with these severe storms. These were not tornadic storms. I dont know if that crack in the windshield came from this storm or not. It certainly is making a huge noise and created damage out that way. Today we are still going to look at the setup for the possibility of strong storms, anywhere from texas on up into wisconsin. Its right through southern minnesota into iowa, where we could see our stronger storms today. Possible tornadoes are likely in this region. Thats cheque we will be keeping an eye on. In the northwest, we still have more rain. You see this yellow and orange, those are your heavier bands off the pacific. We will see more heavy rain across seattle into portland, too. Right now, its cloudy. We will see the showers fill in. Temperatures chilly, toping out in the upper 50s. We are looking at warmer temps down across the southwest. Certainly, much cooler than it down across the southwest. Ca day at the spa is essential for rejuvenating your spirit. You owe me this cause i clean your tushy. But ill settle for a toddler yogurt facial any day. All done, mommy. Hey, love that yogurt. Its good stuff. You uh, you got a Little Something. Hmm, it happens. Yogurt is number 14 of my 20. The new amex everyday credit card with no annual fee. Still good. Make 20 or more purchases in a Monthly Billing period, and earn 20 more rewards. Its membership that rewards you for the things you already buy, everyday. Whats your 20 . 7 12. Youll be able to tell right when you walk out your front door we have a weather system moving in. Clouds are increasing here, as well, in the south bay. Meanwhile, look at all this cloud cover in San Francisco and the wind is increasing here, actually expecting some showers today. Areas to the north of the Golden Gate Bridge as we head throughout the second half of the day. That activity will ramp up. 65 degrees for San Francisco and 70 today in the south bay. And thats your latest forecast. Thank you very much. Investigators in florida are trying to get to the fire. Four people renting the home died. Police now say that fire was intentionally set. Nbcs mark potter is at the scene for us this morning. Mark, good morning. Reporter good morning, savannah. The fire broke out behind the wall of this community. Police have not yet said how or why the victims were killed. They learned about all this from only other dramatic and frantic 911 calls. Yes, maam, the fire is in the house. I was walking my dogs and as i walked by, the house exploded. Reporter the explosions came from the Million Dollar mansion owned by former tennis star james blame after flames broke out early wednesday. But it wasnt the famous athlete who lived there. For the last two years, darren and Kimberly Campbell and their teenage children colin and megan rented the home from blake. Neighbors saw the fire and called 911. Its probably a husband and a wife and two or three kids. Hurry. Reporter investigators say fireworks were discovered throughout the 6,000 square foot home and are believed to have caused the explosions throughout the exclusive gated community. The area is known for its sprawling mansion and the executives and athletes who own them, including retired new york yank 83 mariano rivera. They say it was intentionally set and they are looking into a possibly of a murder suicide. We cant come to a conclusion. We are early in our investigation. We are considering that as a possibility. Reporter the community is warning. Darren campbell was a trustee at a day school where both his children were students. Its sadness, that is pervasive around the school and out further. I think that will continue to be the tone of the school. Reporter last week, people were speaking out saying, words cannot describe my feelings right now. Hard to believe this could happen to people youre so close to. Praying for the campbells and rest in peace, campbell family. We are going to win states for you, colon. A spokesman for james blake says he wasnt even in florida at the time of the incident. Meantime, detectives are continuing their investigation trying to solve the mystery of what happened there. Matt, savannah. Mark potter, thank you. Let us turn to texas now where an extreme drought is forcing one town to take pretty forecastic action. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez is in wichita falls. Good morning to you. Reporter matt, good morning. We are here pence the citys Water Treatment plant. Officials insist this process is not only safe but but necessary because of the drought. Some residents say its just plain broke. In bone dry texas, desperate times can calling for desperate measures. It makes me nervous. Im concerned about my kids health. Reporter in wichita falls, problemlation 100,000, years of drought have prompted strict car wash restrictions. The city fears it will run out of water in two years. So it is fishing for answers down the toilet. We dont have any other options. Just the very thought you might be drinking your own waste water is never comforting. Reporter that waste comes not just from toilets, sinks, bathtubs and dish washers. Instead of decon tam nateing that water and relooreleasing i downvifr river, the city is connecting its waste Treatment Plant wage to a second facility that purifies the water. The water has already been treated once at the waste water plan. Its not raw untreated sewage. Reporter the drought is changing the way we think about water. Another smaller town in texas. Even orange county, california, have added treated waste water to some of their drinking supplies. But in wichita falls, the percentage will be the highest in the country, making up about half of the citys tap water. It will meet or exceed all state and federal drinking standards. Reporter still, some residents arent so sure, calming it toilets past and already are switching to bottled water. Its terrible, groechls i think it will come to that or else this town will not be here any longer. Yeah. Im holding some of that treated waste water right here. I had wanted to drink it live on the air. City officials asked us not to. The Texas Department of Environmental Quality is finishing up tests and hasnt signed off on it yet. That is expected to happen in the next 30 days or so. He will write a thank you note to the department of Environmental Quality. I think the good rule of thumb is you wait for those results to come in. I bet a lot of communities have to turn to this. In florida, they have been doing this for years. I used to live in florida. You are fine. Carson returned to the orange room. Good morning. We have an nbc newswall street journal poll that says newspaper ink is out, body ink is in. More on that, who has tattoos . You have a one . I do. What is it . Its a turtle, a sentimental turtle. My grandfather named me a turtle. Come on in, this is basically the full set. That is now 40 of americans are now living with someone that has a tattoo. This has double from 1999, fully main stream, adam levine has his sleeve. The back tattoo. Heres a little more bold approach from mike tyson. You got the wedding couple here with matching tattoos. Heres what were asking our face book today survey, what is your impression of someone with a tattoo . Negative impression . It depends where and how many. Thats where it is. I have a couple tattoos. Oh. This is my grandfather. A green ber rate. I got my niece, my dad, all family stuff thats important. My son, my father passed away. What is the one to your father . This one is james daily. He sold corvettes. Its like an insignia from his 77 corvette. I have one down here . It doesnt end at the arms, does it, carson . Piercings today . This is an exgirlfriend who i went in to get it done. You got to block out her name, he said, let me do this. I said what is it . He says its a crab claw coming out of a pocket knife. Cool, perfect. Which part is attributed to her, the crab part or the pocket knife . Im not going to answer that. Let us know. Take the survey. Well have the results later. Carson, did you go sleeveless under your suit every day . Of course. Who doesnt . Matt, you do . Yeah, no, this is a dickey. [ laughter ]. All right. Carson, thank you. Coming up, new excerpts from Monica Lewinskys vanity fair essays and some are asking, did the clintons have a hand in the timing of the release neighborhood, we go to south africa, talk about the surprise witness called to the stand this morning at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius. First on a thursday morning, lets get you a check of your local news and weather. Coming up on trending the woman behind the emotional speech what can your fidelity greenline do for you . Just take a closer look. It works how you want to work. With a Fidelity Investment professional. Or managing your investments on your own. Helping you find new ways to plan for retirement. And save on taxes where you can. So you can invest in the life that you want today. Tap into the full power of your fidelity greenline. Call or come in today for a free oneonone review. To you. Theyre more than just a pet so protect them, with k9 advantix ll its Broad Spectrum protection kills fleas, ticks and mosquitoes too. 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