About her stepfathers Bruce Jenners transition. I think when you are finally ready to be your true self, then youre prepared for anything. And viva today. Romeo santos one of the biggest superstars in latin music kicks off a special week with a live concert on our plaz today, april 27, 2015. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with matt lauer and Savannah Guthrie live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning everyone. Welcome to today on a monday morning. Matt has the morning off. The crowd is here because Kathie Lee Gifford joins me. My gosh. You dont look familiar but you do today. Yes. So great to have you here. Thank you. We have a big story at the top. A devastating earthquake in nepal with almost every passing hour the death toll is rising. Its now more than 3,700. A u. S. Military plane may arrive with search and rescue teams. On mt. Everest helicopters used to transport dozens off of the mountains. This is chilling video of the moment that avalanche swept through base camp. People are running for cover as they are overcome by a wall of snow and ice. In a moment were going to talk to a man who was there. First, to nbcs chief Foreign CorrespondentRichard Engel in kathmandu for us. Good did morning to you. Reporter officials tell us that any death toll at this stage is really an estimate. They are still coming to terms with the scale of this disaster. In the aftershocks are continuing. The entire city of kathmandu seems to have moved outside. Families live on curbs, trying to keep their children fed, clean and most of all, away from buildings. The Historic Center of kathmandu is the most popular attraction by far with an shent temples and palaces. Where a 9story tower had been over 150 years old, now just a stump. A temple compound even older, reduced to a pile. Volunteers today were digging with their hands. They dont expect to find survivors, just bodies. Police have already found around 150 of them in this area. One woman used to come to this spot. Why are you helping . Ive been here every day. Used to come and hang out. We used to sit along here with friends. Its my country, my people. Reporter this is also the height of tourist season. American visitor captured this video of guests huddled in front of their hotel during saturdays earthquake and aftershocks. There was a huge crowd and we had a couple of big aftershocks after which everybody was saying get down, get down. Reporter kathmandu is on edge, but whats happening to the east on the slopes of mt. Everest is less clear. There were more avalanches sunday. Trails and camps swept away. At least three americans have died on the mountain. A few dozen survivors have been rescued. Its unknown how many people are trappeden effortest. A military official told us here that teams are heading out to remote parts of nepal which are difficult to access even under normal circumstances. And which now may be completely inaccessible. Richard engel, thank you very much. As we mentioned crews are slowly beginning to rescue climbers who have been trapped for two days by the avalanche. As we see dramatic video of part of that disaster. Nbcs Miguel Almaguer is in nepal with more. Good morning. Reporter good morning. Saturdays earthquake spread waves of terror from kathmandu to the slopes of mountt. Everest. Waves of snow cascaded off the mountain, at least 18 are dead there, dozens injured, for so many there was simply no time to run. This new video from mt. Everest show climbers trying to outrun a wall of snow and ice. Clinging to tents as the avalanche heads straight towards them. Among the dead, three americans. Marisa eve girawong from new jersey who served as a doctor at a base camp posting on facebook hours before. Day 28, snow is falling and my food cravings are at an alltime high. Dan fredinburg, a Google Engineer based in california, was on a threeweek expedition to everest. Here is where all of the things we have are. Boots to gloves to booze. Reporter he shot this video in his tent just a week ago. His exgirlfriend actress sophia bush posting on instagram. He was one of my favorite human beings on earth. One of the greatest loves of my life. Tom taplin also from california died on the mountain while filming a documentary. His wife says this was never supposed to be a dangerous expedition. An earthquake was unfathomable to me. Just so shocking. Bringing him down now. Reporter saturdays earthquake a year after an avalanche claimed the lives of 16 sherpas and ss and ending the climbing season. A new route has been mutt in place by local authorityings, avoiding areas that have a high risk of avalanche. Dozens of injured climbers returned here to kathmandu, all too familiar scene of horror and terror on the worldest tallest mountain. Thank you so much. Garrett was one of the climbers on mt. Everest during that avalanche, joining us by phone. Good morning to you. Good morning. First and foremost we like to say how sorry we are to hear about your base campp doctor, marisa eve girawong. She lost her life. Highway are you guys doing . The climbers are doing okay. We came down from camp, the last two nights, thats when the earthquake occurred. Avalanche all over the mountain. Today we descended and then went back to the helicopter and base camp. Take us back if you wouldnt mind when that 7. 8 earthquake hit. Where were you and describe what was happening . A team in the valley between the camp and mt. Everest and we were fw two thirds of the way when we heard an awful noise and heard avalanches on either side of the valley. And we thought we were going to get taken out. Fortunately we had a snow cloud. Up to came two, on the radio, checked in with base camp and learned the awful destruction in base camp. There are Food Supplies obviously, things that you guys need. Tell us how critical it is that everyone get off that mountain as quickly as possible in terms of time. Well, its important because the route from base camp was totally destroyed by the earthquake, and the avalanches that came down. Tried to climb the route back down. It was impossible. And the aftershocks creating more danger. The only option was to fly by helicopter. We had a break in the weather today and were able to get us out of there. This had to be were talking earlier like the worst possible time for this type of a tragedy to happen because explain that this is actually the time where a lot of people try to climb that mountain. Absolutely. Yeah. The climbers were set up in base camp. Staff standing by. Unfortunately, they were hit the hardest. We were fortunate where we were we lucked out. A huge snow slide behind base camp. We wish you all the best. Thanks for speaking with us. Everyone talk ss about how people are helping people in the way they have never seen before. Its not turning into one of those sometimes there is rioting and looting. Everyone is helping. Seismologists were just there a week and a half earlier, all signs pointing to Something Big happening. What a terrible time for it. Meantime, youre following storms in the south. Really active weather the way we ended last week were starting this week. This is in stephenville, techt. Look at this. They have so much hail, 19 tornados but hail destroyed the windshield of this stormchaser. So much so they had to put goggles on to protect themselves. Now look at what was going on in rhea vista. This is unbelievable. You can see what happened. Tractortrailers turned over, flooding, massive problems. And its going to continue today. You can see the lightning going on in the background as we said, 19 tornados already. More on the way. Heres what weve got going on. You look at the flooding. Weve got the subtropical jet, a lot of gulf moisture, right now we have tornado watches in effect for eastern texas and its extending across a good portion of southern louisiana until 1 00 this afternoon. We also have tornado watches, were watching all of this through the afternoon so we have the risk of strong storms, stretching from houston up to shreveport, mobile, alabama, new orleans as well. And enhanced area, 13 Million People at risk for tornados from new orleans back to lake charles, tomorrow the risk continues from new orleans into tallahassee. About 2 Million People. Plus we have flood watches in effect because were looking at from 3 to 4 inches of rain as you can see, the rainfall going to be very heavy along southern louisiana on into the panhandle of florida. So flooding, tornados, damaging winds, hail, all a big possibility today. Houston the biggest city undidder the gun today. All right. Thanks. Turning to a trial that starts today. Opening statements begin in the longawaited trial of james holmes, the man accused of opening fire in a colorado Movie Theater killing 12 people and wounding 70. Jacob rascon is in colorado. Good morning. Reporter good morning. This is a rare case in which a mass shooter survived his attack and now nearly three years later a jury will decide whether he was sane at the time and if he was, whether or not he should be put to death. Hundreds of moviegoer were attacked in the theater in aurora, colorado when Authorities Say james holmes entered wearing tactical gear, armed and started shooting. He killed 12 people and injured 70, before his rifle jammed. Police arrested him but had to disarm his booby trapped apartment. The defense admits that holmes carried out the attack but alleging he was inthe sane at the time. The prosecution will try to convince the jury that holmes elaborate planning among other things proves he was sane. The trial is expected to last several months. The horror of that day to be relived in pain staking detail. Opening statements will be given this afternoon. Natalie. Jacob rascon, thank you. The defense begins its arguments to save the life of convicted Boston Marathon bomber dzhokhar tsarnaev. The 21yearold was convicted of 30 federal charges and 17 of those charges carry the possibility of the Death Penalty. The defense maintained that he was manipulated by his older brother who was killed in a shootout with police. Tsarnaevs defense is expected to take up to two weeks. Dramatic video after a huge ball of flames engulfed a tanker truck near los angeles hauling 8800 gallons of gas when it jackknifed and exploded on the freeway sunday. The driver was able to escape with minor bumps and bruises. Crews extinguished the flames but the accident shut down the freeway for hours. One of new yorks most wanted is finally off the streets this morning. A stlans camera recorded new york police capturing a coyote that has been roaming around the city, police cornered the animal at a cafe after an hourlong pursuit. Officers tranquilized the female and she was taken to the Animal Hospital for evaluation and will be released into the wild. Where she belongs. And a movie night that is out of this world. Scott kelly sent out this tweet which read in part movie night aboard iss. On the top of the photo they were watching the 2013 Sandra Bullock film gravity. Not the movie to watch when youre floating along in outer space. Its about a catastrophe that destroys the shuttle. Couldnt they watch titanic. Thats not good either. Blazing saddles. Documentaries. All right. Thank you so much. And mr. Roker. Al again. Again. What we have happening today. Were looking at more wet weather making its way through the gulf, also a Beautiful Day out west. Look at the temperatures in the Pacific Northwest well detail those coming up. Well get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. Good monday morning to you. Looking at pacifica where we have a clear start to start as a result of none of the cooling clouds at the immediate coast. Warm day. Starting out in the 50s. 54 in San Francisco. 55 to kick off the new day. The new week on the peninsula. Up to 79 degrees later on today there. 88 for the trivalley. 81 draes forrous here in the south bay. Now, temperatures will cool off just as quickly as they climb for today and to tomorrow. Mild through wednesday. Tha r latest weather. Savannah . Thank you so much. Now to the talk of washington and the 2016 president ial race right now. Its the new book called clinton cash that raises questions about Hillary Clinton, her familys foundation and its foreign donors might have influenced policy during clintons time as secretary of state. Peter schweitzer is the author and he joins us this morning. Good morning. Lets put it bluntly. Are you hoping this book and the issues you raise in it torpedo her candidacy . This is not really motivated to her candidacy. Ive done two previous books that looked at corruption and looked at people in both political parties. What we have with the clintons is a unique arrangement where you have a powerful you know, public figure whos involved with all these foreign entities. If a person believes every word in yo book wouldnt that be disqualifying with everything youre saying. You say people donate and get favorable treatment by the state department run by Hillary Clinton. Certainly the evidence i think is pretty shocking and could have that implication. But really the motivation is consistent with my previous work to look at the whole issue of corruption. Do you have any specific instance in which Hillary Clinton directly intervenes on behalf of donors to the Clinton Foundation . Its a great question. What we have is a pattern of behavior. I was not in any of these meetings. I cant look into Hillary Clintons mind. I certainly cant look at her emails. So the question becomes what is this pattern . And this pattern consistently shows that donors give large sums of money to the foundation where they pay bill clinton a lot for a speech. Theres a policy action thats taken to the benefit of that donor. In some of those instances hillary cl reversing course on previous policy position. Thats why my recommendation is somebody with subpoena power, with investigative capabilities should look at this behavior. You think this is something that could be criminally investigated. I think it should be. I dont go in with the assumption it was criminal but i think it warrants further investigation. If everything in your book were put before jurors lets say, in a court of law and we were told to assume it is true have you proven a quid pro quo . Well i dont think a quid pro quo needs to be the standard. If you look at senator macdonalds, menendez those were not kwid pro quos. Its do people believe the events were connected and there was some sort of pay to play arrangement . And thats a question i cant answer but i think investigators should look into. You started off mentioning youve done bipartisan investigations. But a lot of your critics say you are conservative and this is a right wing hit job. Are you really claiming to be neutral here . Im not claiming to be neutral. But if you look at my work i have gone aggressively after republicans. I did a book on Insider Trading by members of congress and went after several republicans. You also did a book called makers and takers whose sub title said conservatives even hug their children more than liberals. I say read the conclusion to the book where what im arguing is on the left and right theres a misuse of science research. It was a humorous title. Thats the reason it was put that way. Got to go. Jeb bush is your next target. Yeah. Got a headline . Were looking at airport deals to land deals, but weve been on that investigation about four months. The book is called clinton cash. Thank you very much. Coming up the desperate race to find a group of missing sailors off the coast. A survivor opens up about his harrowing ordeal. Plus matts exclusive interview with Kim Kardashian west this morning. Good morning. And speaking of matt has he finally reached a truce in his prank war with ellen . Wow. What they just announced. You do not want to miss it. But first this when laquinta. Com sends craig wilson a ready for you alert the second his room is ready, ya know what he becomes . Great proposal letstalk more over golf. Great. How about over tennis . Even better. A game changer the ready for you alert, only at laquinta. Com. Coming up on trending, why this toddler that youre about to see cant stop giggling. I guarantee youll be laughing too. 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With claritin, you get powerful, nondrowsy relief 24 hours a day, day after day. Which is important because with fewer symptoms to distract you you can focus on the extraordinary things you do every single day. Live claritin clear. Every day. A very good monday morning. Im laura garciacannon. Neighbors are in shock after a stack death of 9yearold boy in Discovery Bay. 18yearold family friend killed almgren almgren. He is now under arrest. Investigators are looking into his Mental Health history. The suspects father kicked him out and he was staying at the home of the victim. Uc Berkeley Students are springing into action to help earthquake victims in nepal. Students with the nepali student ocean are getting clean water for them. They will have a vigil wednesday at 7 00 p. M. An jose mayor will join others in asking state lawmakers toive what restrictions preventing recycled purified waste water fro