Transcripts For WCAU Today 20150402 : vimarsana.com

WCAU Today April 2, 2015

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 thursday morning. We got a breaking story at this hour. That deadly terrorist attack at a university in kenya. It is still going on right now. Nbc has the latest. Kelly, good morning to you. Reporter savannah good morning the students who escaped are describing a terrifying morning, awaking to gunfire in their college dormtories one telling the Associated Press the masked gunmen asked the students that they were christian or muslims, then shot christian students on the spot. All of this started at 5 00 a. M. Local time. Its still ongoing and there are reports, unconfirmed reports of hostages. Ambulances rushed out with the injured. More than 60 so far, while Police Rushed in. There were gunshots all around us. And they started jumping up and down running for their life. Reporter at least 52 sought out according to kenyan red cross. But an unknown number are still there, caught in a gun battle between militants and police. Garissa university in the northeast, a hundred miles from somalia. Local to al shabaab. Kenyan troops have made inroads against the terrorist group sense the attack on a mall in nairobi two years ago. Across africa the Terror Threat appears to be threat militants fighting in the north, boka haram in the west swearing allegiance to isis. In somalia, the Al Qaedalinked al shabaab. This morning they are in lockdown. Police say the militants are cornered. And just in the past few minutes, the official twitter accounts of the interior ministry for kenya, there are reports that one suspected terrorist was arrested trying to flee that college campus. Government officials are still trying to account for about 500 students and, savannah as i mentioned, this is still ongoing. Kelly, i know you will be watching. Thank you very much. Other news recovering overnight what could be progress that those ongoing talks of Irans Nuclear program. Leaders back at it this morning in switzerland after pulling an allnighter. Nbc chief correspondent Andrea Mitchell is there. Andrea good morning to you. Reporter good morning to you and here in switzerland, they went until 6 105 this morning, matt you know those hours, then took a couple hours off for sleep, they were back at it afterwards. The Iranian Foreign minster says there have been substantial progress still issues to be involved. He indicated there could be an official statement today. Officials at the white house and state house are saying thats possible. John kerry then went into meetings with all the other allies now they are deciding if its good enough. The other night, late tuesday night our time tuesday night, the president by Video Conference told kerry to blow past the march 31st self imposed american deadline if necessary and if necessary walk away from the deal if iran wont compromise. Matt. Andrea we have already gone past one deadline now working into today. What if by the end of today they decide theres still too much of a divide bridge. What are the ramifications of what you just said walking away completely . Reporter there are a lot. First of all, what they announced today, if they announced it its going to be less than they originally had hoped for, matt. There are now some constraints on the nuclear program, but they have a lot to do to hope for in the next couple of months to resolve the real details before an iron clad agreement. Now it appears that may not even happen that it might not be good enough and then listen to a lot of criticism, either way, critics in congress are poised to impose sanctions and to try to say this is a bad strategy, iran hasnt compromised enough and the u. S. Should walk away from this deal. So its going to be a real challenge. The president and kerry are being criticized for wanting it too much. Matt. All right, thanks, for the headline some progress still a lot to be done. Theres a lot riding on it for the administration. Meanwhile, back here at home whats happening in the midwest al . Thats right. It will be the second day of a threeday outbreak. We are just now entering the severe time of the year especially by tornadoes. This past march, we only had about ten tornadoes, thats the lowest since 19 skievenlt but as you can see, april, we by average jump up to 227 nation wide. May the peak at 270. So heres whats happening right now. Chicago is seeing severe storms. We are looking at heavy thunderstorms now from nebraska into parts of iowa. We got all this moist air funneling up colder air back behind it. So that convergence zone weve got a risk of Severe Weather right now, stretching anywhere from springfield, little rock memphis, but an enhanced risk from evansville into southern missouri. This is where we could be looking at Severe Weather, especially tornadoes. It lasts on into tomorrow the risk of severe stretching from eastern texas all the way up into nashville, huntsville again, this is the area we will be most concerned. Its thursday night into friday overnight is where we could see some of the strongest storms. Thats one of the postdangerous times. We will be watching this. There is a lot of rain as well flash flooding will be a real concern. Thank you very much. Some big news out of indiana when it comes to that states uproar or the uproar over that states controversial religious freedom law. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez is at the state house in indianapolis. Gabe what can you tell us . Matt good morning, state republican lawmakers have called a joint Youth Conference with Business Leaders outlying what they call a legislative fix to this controversial law. Now and they want to make it clear that it does not discriminate and now with arkansass governor resigning that states version of the bill this is quickly becoming a political hot potato as its headed to 2016. This morning, the battle between religious liberty and gay rights is already shaping up. The 2016 president ial race. Wednesday, just before Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson decided not to sign his states current version of the religious freedom bill. First lady of arkansas and likely white house hopeful Hillary Clinton encouraged him to veto pleading it would be unfair discrimination against americans. In 1993 it was her husband, president bill clinton who signed a federal version of the state law currently under fire. But as hutchinson noted, times have changed. And there is clearly a generational debt on this issue. My son, seth signed the petition asking me dad, the governor to veto this bill. Reporter the issue now putting two wings of the gop at odds. Social conservatives versus Business Leaders. Senator ted cruz as of now the only official candidate to announce saying today we are facing a concerted assault on the first amendment. Other potential contenders weighing in carefully. This is simply allowing people of con people of faith, ah space to be able to express their beliefs. I dont think americans want to discriminate against anyone. I understand the laws not unlike the one that president obama voted for. Many republican candidates have been trying to find a way to not sound like theyre antigay rights without alienated christians. A recent wall street journal poll found 59 of americans now support gay marriage up from 30 in 2004 but a pugh poll last year found americans slid on businesses denying services to same sex couples. If there is any good news for republicans on this issue right now is that its happening in 2015 and not 2016. Reporter ahead of the final four lawmakers here want to get it done quickly. Arkansas lawmakers want to do the same. Both could come as early as today, matt. Gabe thank you very much. In politics one of the most influential democrats in swaug gearing washington is gearing up for a fight. New jersey senator Robert Menendez says she outraged by thesing a sakess. Kelly, good morning. Reporter good morning, savannah new jersey senator bob menendez will be in federal court today. Hes at a rare kind of trouble when you think that only 12 times in our countrys long history has a u. S. Senator been indicted. Menendez faces 14 counts. Hes preparing a friendship defense. Calling himself angry and toured fight. This is not how my career is going to end. Reporter new jersey senator Robert Menendez denied federal corruption charges. His take no questions statement invokes english and spanish. He was off camera dressing a course of shouting supporters. The 61yearold democrat says federal prosecutors got it wrong. Im angry because prosecutors at the Justice Department dont know the difference between friendship and corruption. Reporter menendez pay call it corruption prosecutors say the senator crossed the line doing political favors in return for gifts from his longtime friends, wealthy florida eye doctor melgen. They say he sought and accepted from melgen lavish trouble, flights and nights in a luxury paris home use of the caribbean villa, expensive meals and golf outings. But melgen do nalted hundreds of nows to his campaign funds. In exchange the indictment claims he went to bat for melgen interviewing in a dispute over how much he was paid by medicare pressuring the state department over his multimillion dollar cargo contract in the Dominican Republic and influences immigration officials to grant visas to melgens quote foreign girlfriendss. They have to prove whatever the senator did, he did because of the money. Not because of the friendship. And the senators friend dr. Melgen was also charged in the same die. He had previously denied any wrongdoing. Menendez says he will not resign his seat but he has temporarily given up his high profile post on the Senate Foreign relations committee. Kelly odonnell, thank you very much. Now a landmark verdict in 21 of the largest cheating scandals if u. S. History. Nearly a dozen et indicators in atlanta accused of altering grades and test scores. Heres our education correspondent rehema ellis. We the jury find the defendant guilty. Reporter 11 out of 12 defendants convicted monday concluding a trial that lasted more than six months has featured over 160 witnesses, including some teachers. It was pressure thats unnecessary. Reporter nearly a dozen former teachers and administrators found guilty of manipulating test scores and grades of the Young Students they taught. In some cases, receiving bonuses and additional funding for the inflated high scores at the expense of the childrens education. We have been fighting for the children in our community, particularly those children who were implied by these teams. Reporter testimony from students themselves helped clinch the verdict, like this teenager whose test scores were altered. Im not in high school reading. Im still in middle school reading, i think its the 6th grade reading level. Reporter it was a culture of collusion so coordinated that some teachers even spoke of having socalled cheating parties. We met. Is that what you met with your colleagues . Reporter the conviction of racketeering typically applies to mobsters and organized crime, now identified with former educators, facing up to 20 years in prison. They have made their bed, theyre going to have to lie in it. It starts today. Reporter rehema ellis, nbc news new york. Thats discouraging. Think about teachers cheating. Meanwhile, lets turn to natalie. We have news on the overnight plane crash in the alps. They have interviewed the parents of the doomed flight that crashed in the alps. Katie is in cologne with the latest. Good morning. Reporter good morning, there was a News Conference from the traffic minister here saying they will look into the cockpit locking mechanism and decide whether or not they went a little too far with the safety precautions after 9 11. They will look into psychological testing, see where they can improve on that. As you say, german prosecutors say they have interviewed Andreas Lubitzs parents. They are not sure if they have enough information before the Easter Holiday break t. Ceo of lufthansa went to the incredible state of mourning up there. They say they feel angry they cannot go back to their every day life. Meanwhile, in the alps recovery workers are trying to gather what they can of personal effects to give them back to family members, but, obviously, that is very slow going up there. As for Andreas Lubitz they are reporting the leading theory has to do with his fear of losing his eyesight and 16tally his pilots license. Not very many details here now. Not confirmed by prosecutors as everybody is wrapping up for the easter break. Natalie, back to you. Katy tur in cologne, thank you. The first ever water restriction is issued in california by the governor. The one on the left was taken in july 2011 t. One on the right was taken in august of 2014. You see the difference there. Mountain snow is crucial to californias water supply have reached record lows. On wednesday, governor jerry brown ordered residents and commercial users to cut their water use by 25 . Four people were killed when a huge ball of flames engulfed in the oil platform in the gulf of mexico. The fire sent some 300 terrified workers fleeing into the sea. Mexico run oil company says 16 workers were injured. Two seriously. They say the cause of the fire is still being investigate. And you just never know when you might need to take a call make a text take a selfie. Itis even good in the middle of a boxing match. Look carefully, you can see a cell phone there fall out of marvin jones shorts. The referee had to stop the fight to get the phone and hand it to jones corner t. Fight went on to resume. Jones went on to lose but by a knockout. He will probably not post that on instagram. Fogout. How about that style. That would be so uncomfortable. A cartoon character. Natalie, thank you. Where was he keeping that exactly . In the pocket. Right. There you go. Either way, lets look at whats going on around the rest of the country. We got a nice day in the pacific northwest. A few showers inland. We got gorgeous weather, down in the gulf coast, temperatures in the 80s there. Windy conditions down through the southwest on into southern california. We will g and do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband . To have and to hold. For better or worse, in sickness and in health. I cant what . Lisa wait ahh god taxes are your year, only much simpler. You can handle simpler. Intuit turbotax. Its amazing what youre pable of. Good morning, im meteorologist bill henley. Dont forget your sunglasses. Bright nine and gusty winds will combine to warm things up nicely today. Well be in the 60s this afternoon. And a milder day tomorrow. 70 after morning low of 56. But we will see occasional showers possibly even a thunderstorm on friday. And a few showers still around saturday morning. Then gusty winds saturday afternoon. A cold Easter Egg Hunt on sunday. But sunny skies and 60 degrees. Turning warmer next week. Have a great day. And thats your latest weather. Thank you, al. That video we showed you on wednesday of a new York Police Officer berating an uber driver. Willie has been following this story for us. It sounds like the troubles may be just beginning for that officer. Yes, savannah new yorks Police Commissioner is calling the actions of that officer unacceptable. He is now losing his position in one of the departments most elite units. Do you understand me . I dont know what [ bleep ] planet you think you are on right now. Reporter a new york detective assigned to the joint Terrorism Task force with top secret security clearance has been placed on modified duty and transferred after an incident with an uber driver on monday captured on video. Who do you think you are talking to . Reporter the threeminute video was posted by one of the passengers in the uber car. He honked at the detective. He says the officer was trying to park without using blinkers or hazard lights. Stop interrupting me. Reporter the detective tells the driver he has committed three traffic and law violations and then becomes irate using exletives towards the drive. New york Police Commissioner William Bratton on wednesday said the detective was on duty at the time and issued an apology to the driver and passengers. It was with caution that the officer made his job a little bit harder. And that kind of anger like that is unacceptable. That officers behavior reflected poorly on everyone who wears a uniform. Reporter the president of the Detective Union issued a statement saying he should not be judged by one isolated incident. Im not trying to minimize the significance of what occurred. Cops are just like everyone else. They have family friends, other things going on in their lives too, that may affect their behavior at times. Rereached out to the officer and the driver they declined to comment. Uber said the behavior in the video is wrong and unacceptable and we appreciate the nypd investigating the incident. We are in touch with our driverpartner who was subjected to this terrible incident. Guys, another case where social media and an iphone shined a light on something. Has this officer apologized for the driver yet . Not that weve heard of on a personal level, he has not. Coming up, robert durst heads back to court. And an exclusive look inside the hotel room where he spent the last days before his arrest. The dispute that has one family headed to a very different court. Carson. Also coming up the photos of chris rock being stopped by Police Posted online by the comedian himself, that are raising eyebrows. First, this is who is ordering the pope to cut back on the pasta neighborhood and on rossen reports, deal or no deal the startling truth about with walmarts low prices you can t

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