breaking overnight, a day-long manhunt for a suspected cop killer comes to end in ohio. details on the tense standoff with the suspect. the star witness ready to take the stand at donald trump's

former fixer michael cohen expected to testify in just hours in the former president's hush money trial. we're live with how it impacts the case. an explosive update in the baltimore bridge collapse. how crews will blast apart pieces of the bridge today to free that trapped cargo ship as the city races to reopen the port. and the nuggets look golden. denver bounces back to tie up the series against minnesota. plus, we'll hear from the wnba commissioner as the women's league tips off for one of its most exciting seasons ever. primed for the future. deion sanders gives one colorado football player a life changing surprise. it's monday, may 13th. "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm frances rivera. we have breaking news this morning. the manhunt for the suspect in the fatal shooting of an ohio police officer has come to an end. authorities say that 24-year-old

deshawn anthony vaughn was found dead inside an apartment in the cleveland suburb of shaker heights after an hours' long standoff with law enforcement. the manhunt began after an officer was shot in euclid, ohio on saturday. jacob derbin died at the hospital. after the shooting, vaughn posted a video to instagram saying he could not go back to jail. police have not said how vaughn died, but our cleveland affiliate reports hearing gunshots right before the standoff ended. there can be a lot more drama in the hush money trial of donald trump this week. key witness michael cohen is expected to take the stand. prosecutors accused mr. trump of falsifying business records, and they believe cohen could be the one to connect those dots. here is nbc's dasha burns. >> reporter: just hours from now, former president trump set to face off in the courtroom with his fixer turned foe michael cohen. cohen paid adult film actress

stormy daniels $130,000 as part of an alleged catch and kill plot to prevent her story of sex with mr. trump before getting out before the 2016 election. and he is the key witness who can potentially tie the alleged scheme to former president. mr. trump denies the relationship and plead not guilty. his team now looking to undermine cohen's credibility using his own criminal past and history of lying under oath. nbc news has learned that prosecutors have been working with cohen and preparing for his testimony for an entire year, and his time on the stand is expected to last several days. cohen unleashing on his old boss in his book and on social media, spotted online this week wearing a t-shirt depicting mr. trump behind bars. >> this case a sham. >> the former president railed against the trial at a jersey sore rally. >> al capone was so mean that if you went to dinner with him and he didn't like you, you'd be dead the next morning.

and i got indicted more than him on bull [ bleep ]. >> reporter: his attacks getting personal. >> the gloves are off. >> reporter: mocking the weight of the district attorney who brought the case and escalating his attacks on president biden. >> he's a moron. i would have never talked with that kind of disrespect for a president. >> reporter: this weekend, biden and trump both on the trail with president biden slamming mr. trump in a closed-door fund-raiser, saying he's obsessed with losing in 2020 and calling him clearly unhinged. >> our thanks to dasha for that report. new high profile trial will begin in manhattan today. the criminal corruption trial of senator bob menendez is set to begin. the new jersey democrat is facing 16 felony charges, including bribery and acting as a foreign agent. menendez has pleaded not guilty and says he is looking forward to proving his innocence. after peace talks between israel and hamas collapsed without an agreement, israel launched a series of attacks

across the gaza strip over the weekend, killing dozens of palestinians, including young children. the u.n. says 300,000 people have now evacuated paragraph faa ahead of a promised israeli invasion. on nbc's "meet the press," secretary of state antony blinken told kristen welker that civilians are still at risk. >> there has to be a credible plan for the civilians. >> have you seen a credible plan? >> we have not. >> for the latest, let's go to claudio lavanga. but first we should warn you, the images coming out of gaza are disturbing. claudio, good morning. >> good morning, frances. well, according to the palestinians, there has been heavy israeli bombardment on sunday in the north of gaza. in the idf, it has said it killed dozens of militants which proves hamas has managed to return and regroup in areas that were previously declared clear by israel since the start of the war. but a lot of focus and attention

is still on the south of in the town of rafah where many of the one million palestinians who are still finding shelter there, many of whom had been displaced from other parts of gaza are still panicking while they wait for that imminent invasion by israel, despite the calls by many, or most of the allies, including the united states to hold fire there. well, among those calling for a ceasefire now are also relevant voices from within israel. one of them is the former prime minister ehud olmert who is a former member of netanyahu's party who wrote an opinion piece in the haaretz. i'll read the part for you. "anyone who thinks that it's possible to return the hostages without a clear and total cessation of the war is deluding himself and the israeli public public,." he wrote prime minister benjamin netanyahu is deliberately spoiling a chance of any such a deal."

saying the ceasefire is the only way to get the remaining hostages home. frances? >> claudio, thank you. baltimore will take a major step toward reopening the city's port today after that deadly bridge disaster in march. the bridge collapsed after a cargo ship slammed into it, killing six men and trapping the ship underneath. this animation shows how officials plan to use explosives to destroy key sections of the wreckage and free the ship so it can finally get back to shore. maryland's governor will hold a press conference later this morning to talk about efforts to reopen the port. turning to pennsylvania, where a powerful tornado tore through the western part of the state, pummelling buildings in its path. and the terrifying moment it hit a church during saturday's services caught on camera. watch as the lights put out as the pastor's wife sang to around 100 worshipers. >> i thought i heard the windows start to shatter. and then the sound was like a train coming through. >> the congregation huddled in

the church's basement for safety, while outside the building's steeple flew off the building and damaged several cars. the pastor says amazingly no one was seriously hurt. according to preliminary reports from the national weather service, the twister was an ef-2 with wind speeds of 118 miles per hour. and the troubling trend of severe weather continues though morning. nbc meteorologist michelle grossman joins us with what the threat could land and where it could land next. hi, michelle. >> good morning, frances. great to see you. we're looking at that threat across the south today from texas all across the gulf coast states. we're looking at a chance for strong storms. could bring some tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, and a lot of rain. we're looking at a chance of flooding conditions. we're seeing that rain falling right now. lots of lightning too with some of the storms. heavy heavy rainfall. we do have storms throughout the central plains into the midwest as well. we're going see a wet start to the week for many of us. 13 million people impacted by flood alerts from texas all across the gulf coast states. we could see 3 to 5 inches of

rain in some spots, even over 6 inches in some spots. as a result of, that we do have some flash flooding risks where you see the slight risks that is the darker blue. moderate in the pink. right near new orleans, portions of louisiana into across the south. so we're looking at rainfall totals mostly along the gulf coast states that would be the highest amounts. but you can see a lot of rain. this is through wednesday from the midwest, the central plains into the great lakes and northeast. over the next several days we will see some rain across the area. 23 m o the south, it's a hot one. also looking the chance for flooding rains and pretty gusty thunderstorms that could bring tornadoes. all right. that's your monday forecast. >> okay, thank you so much, michelle. >> sure. it may have been mother's

day, but the pacers were the knicks' daddies on sunday. >> from three-point range, back up top. nesmith to halliburton, another wide open three-pointer. alley-oop to tappen! >> new york suffered its worst loss of the post failing to counter a master class from indiana. the pacers led by as much as 43 points tie up the best of 7 series which returns to msg on tuesday. in the west, the nuggets even things out with the timberwolves. denver's offense regained its championship form with jamal murray, and nikolai crowned mvp nikolai jokic. they return for a game five on tuesday. the wnba's slam-dunk year bringing in more fans than ever before. and live from new york, 50 years. how "saturday night live" is planning to mark the major milestone. after waiting years for it to grow?

meet new pantene pro-v miracles. with our highest concentration of pro-vitamins yet, infused with ingredients like biotin & collagen. strengthens hair bonds and repairs as well as the leading luxury brand without the $60 price tag. for stronger, healthier hair. ♪♪ if you know, you know it's pantene. ♪♪ feeling sluggish or weighed down? could be a sign that your digestive system isn't at its best. but a little metamucil everyday can help. metamucil's psyllium fiber gels to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down... so you can lighten every day the metamucil way. when you smell the amazing scent of gain flings... time stops. (♪♪) and you realize you're in love... steve? with a laundry detergent. (♪♪) gain flings. seriously good scent.

women's basketball is in the midst of a renaissance right now withsuperstars like caitlin clark aiming to take the wnba to the next level. our hallie jackson spoke with the league's commissioner, who has been planning for this moment for years and is ready to capitalize on the moment. >> history! >> reporter: caitlin clark's historic college run. >> let's it fly! >> reporter: the most watched women's college hoops game ever. >> south carolina has won! >> reporter: a record number of wnba draft viewers. >> caitlin clark. >> reporter: for women's basketball -- >> did you ever think this sport would be where it is today? >> never. >> indiana comes up with the winning streak. >> reporter: a winning streak the wnba commissioner committed to keeping alive. >> so much of this seems to be about momentum. >> yeah, the momentum around followership, around the generational players coming into our league. it is taking that momentum,

capitalizing and marketing around it. >> reporter: this year a far cry from when cathy engelbert took over in 2019. >> there is no doubt when i came into the league, a lot of people did view it. someone asked me if i was a charity. >> reporter: was that offensive to you? >> well, it was -- it was not shocking to me. >> taylor the rebound and the stickback. that will take us into halftime. >> reporter: no one thinks the w is a charity now. their commissioner likes to say in sports you need big games, big names and big rivalries. and this season -- >> now reese comes up with the steal. >> reporter: he'll have caitlin clark and angel reese, who battled the college play-offs set to play off again now as professionals. >> i'm a big studier of history, and i look like to the byrd/magic moment in the nba in 1979. >> the classic showdown, the celtics and the lakers. byrd against magic. >> reporter: it really put the nba on the map. >> reporter: another nba comparison, one engelbert argues is unfair. >> she is officially a member of the indiana fever.

>> reporter: the salary. like when last month, a firestorm erupted over clark, the top draft pick, only making $76,000 a year in base pay, not counting what's likely to be millions more in endorsement deals. the minimum pay for any nba player, a million bucks. >> you've called that a false narrative. why? >> i appreciate the conversation around it, but as i joined the league when we weren't even in our 25th season and the men's leagues in their 75th and 105th and 110th seasons, i know for any start-up business, any business in its infancy -- maybe now we're an adolescent or a teenager -- you need to build a revenue model that funds all the things like higher pay, better travel, and that's what i was hired to come in and do. we're growing the league so in our next media rights negotiation, all of our corporate partners stepping up and paying us more. >> reporter: her pitch to partners now backed up with record ticket sales. and with more revenue, she hopes, more investment in salaries and in travel, with teams this year flying on chartered jets instead of mostly

commercial planes like they used to. and the league set to get even bigger. engelbert's hoping to expand from 12 teams to 16 in the next four years. at this scrimmage between the washington mystics and minnesota lynx, players are feeling the energy. >> i think the moment we're having with this league right now is special. >> i think it's about time. for women in sports. let's get the ball rolling. >> i'm happy that they're a little late to the party, but i'm really happy that everybody is coming along and enjoying the ride. >> reporter: these days, it's all about the long game. >> this is a decades-long process that you see. >> well, and i definitely think we have this moment and this momentum to turn it into setting this league up for decades. >> and our thanks to hallie jackson for that. still to come, the countdown is on for "snl's" 50th anniversary celebration. find out how the biggest names in entertainment and jon lovitz will mark half a century of

sketch comedy. it only takes a minute. look at that! the heavy duty cloths are extra thick for amazing trap and lock. even for his hair. wow! and for dust i love my heavy duty duster. the fluffy fibers trap dust on contact up high and all around without having to lift a thing. i'm so hooked! you'll love swiffer or your money back! ♪♪ my doctor recommends all free clear for my laundry. it's free of dyes and perfumes. and doesn't leave behind irritating residue. for a clean that's gentle on skin, all you need is all free clear. wanna know a secret? more than just my armpits stink. that's why i use secret whole body deodorant... everywhere. 4 out of 5 gynecologists would recommend whole body deodorant, which gives you 72 hour odor protection from your pits to your- (sfx: deoderant being sprayed) secret whole body deodorant. head & shoulders bare clinically proven dandruff

protection with just 9 essential ingredients no sulfates, no silicones, no dyes. dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. job done. [♪♪] there's a way to cut your dishwashing time by 50%. try dawn powerwash dish spray. it removes 99% of grease and grime in half the time. it cleans so well, you can replace multiple cleaning products. try dawn powerwash. long after guests leave, viruses and bacteria linger. air fresheners add a scent. but only lysol air sanitizer helps erase the trace, eliminating odor and killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria in the air. scent can't sanitize. lysol can. try killing bugs the worry-free way. not the other way. zevo traps use light to attract and trap flying insects with no odor and no mess. they work continuously, so you don't have to. zevo. people-friendly. bug-deadly.

and i will conquer. >> pull! >> stars from the kingdom of the planet of the apes had plenty of reason to bang their chests this weekend. it climbed to the top of the box office, taking in $56.5 million in its debut. elsewhere, the fall guy dropping to number 2 with 13.7 while challengers stayed in third place with 4.6 million. a lot of people picking to take mom to the movies over the weekend. >> we went to the movies on saturday and saw kung fu panda with jeremy and his two little friends, but it was so much fun. a perfect movie weekend. the last thing any mother

wants to do on mother's day is good to work, but maya rudolph made sure that she worked too. >> i'm your mother. i'm your mother, children, i'm your mama. giving queen, giving drama. this place gave you coneheads. it's 11:30, go to bed. >> she so good. the beloved "snl" alum took inspiration from beyonce and madonna for her month league this weekend while be declared mother of the house of rockefeller. and there is no question maya rudolph will bring the same energy to the legendary sketch show's 50th anniversary celebration next year. the milestone will be marked on sunday, february 16th with a three-hour prime-time special. hard to believe 50 years. >> it's going to be an extravaganza. i can not wait to see all the cameos, the past cast members to do that. that's actually how i spent my mother's day yesterday was catching up on all the "snl"s because it was a rainy day in new york. we were horizontal on the couch

all day. >> we did not move. i think i got 100 steps in. when we come back, target changes to its private line. and this weekend's stunning celestial show. you may have another one, and another chance to catch the glimpse. rence. new herbal essences sulfate free is now packed with plant-based ingredients your hair will love. like pure aloe. and camellia flower oil. and none of the things it won't. hair feels deeply nourished, soft and lightweight. plant power you can feel. new herbal essences sulfate free. hey hon. hey dad...(sniffs) that smell could be 8,000,000 odor causing bacteria. good thing adding lysol laundry sanitizer kills 99.9% of bacteria that detergents leave behind. clean is good, sanitized is better. ♪ ♪ it ain't my dad's razor, dad. ay watch it! it's from gillettelabs. this green bar releases trapped hairs from my face...

gamechanga! ...while the flexdisc contours to it. so the five blades can get virtually every hair in one stroke. for the ultimate gillette shaving experience. the best a man can get is gillettelabs. with cascade platinum plus, i have upped my dish game auntie, in that dishwasher? watch me platinum plus gives you the highest standard of clean, even in your machine. clean enough for you? yeah! scrape. load. done. cascade platinum plus. [tense music] one aleve works all day so i can keep working my magic. just one aleve. 12 hours of uninterrupted pain relief. aleve. who do you take it for? ...and for fast topical pain relief,try alevex. i'm adding downy unstopables to my wash. now i'll be smelling fresh all day long. [sniff] still fresh. ♪♪ get 6x longer-lasting freshness, plus odor protection. try for under $5! hi. i use febreze fade defy plug. and i use this.

febreze has a microchip to control scent release so it smells first-day fresh for 50 days. 50 days!? and its refill reminder light means i'll never miss a day of freshness. ♪ nature's bounty hair growth. clinically shown to help grow thicker, fuller hair with just one capsule a day of advanced hair complex. conquer hair thinning... ...and fall in love with your hair all over again. only from nature's bounty. this charmin ultra soft smooth tear is soooo soft and soo smooth. charmin ultra soft smooth tear has wavy perforations that tear so much better for a smooth more enjoyable go. charmin, enjoy the go. ♪♪ my doctor recommends all free clear for my laundry. it's free of dyes and perfumes. and doesn't leave behind irritating residue. for a clean that's gentle on skin, all you need is all free clear. new herbal essences is packed with naturally derived plant based ingredients

your hair will love and none of the stuff it won't. our sulfate free collections smell incredible and leave your hair touchably soft and smooth. new herbal essences. here's what's making headlines this morning. target says it will limit which stores sell its lgbtq-themed items after last year's backlash over its products designed for transgendered people. the pride merchandise will still be available online. the company spokesperson said in part that target is committed to supporting the lgbtq+ community during pride month and year round. workers at apple store in townsend, maryland have voted in favor of authorizing a strike. the union says issues at the forefront of the labor action include work-life balance concerns and wages failing to align with the cost of living. last month, new york passed a new law requiring paid time

off for pregnant women to receive prenatal care. advocates think this could lead to a national movement with other states like way the follow the empire state. if you missed the rare northern lights you may have another chance. some areas of the u.s., including the pacific northwest, upper midwest, and parts of the northeast may be age to catch a glimpse before dawn this morning. good luck catching it. we'll be right back. did you know... 80% of women are struggling with hair damage? just like i was. dryness and frizz could be damaged hair that can't retain moisture. new pantene miracle rescue deep conditioner, with first-of-its-kind melting pro-v pearls... locks in moisture to repair 6 months of damage in one wash, without weigh down. guaranteed or your money back! for resilient, healthy-looking hair... if you know, you know it's pantene. we all need fiber for our digestive health, but less than 10% of us get enough each day. good thing metamucil gummies are an easy way

to get prebiotic, plant-based fiber. with the same amount of fiber as 2 cups of broccoli. metamucil gummies. the easy way to get your daily fiber. a mystery! jessie loves playing detective. but the real mystery was her irritated skin. so, we switched to tide free & gentle. it cleans better, and doesn't leave behind irritating residues. and it's gentle on her skin. tide free and gentle liquid is epa safer choice certified. it's gotta be tide. from an unforgettable prom surprise, to a life-changing scholarship, our jose diaz-balart has a little good news to kick off your week. >> come over, john.

>> reporter: when sports legend deion sanders comes calling, you know that's something special. >> what scholarship! [ cheering ] >> the colorado buffaloes coach honoring junior running back charlie with a full athletic scholarship. charlie, also named the team's spring player celebrating with players, his parent, and according to coach prime. [ cheering ] and talk about a promposal. annie got a dozen friends who all decided to take her out on prom night. together they celebrated an evening full of fun, including ice cream and even ax throwing. for her and mom sue, that invite

and inclusion meant the world. >> i just always hoped that she'd have these types of experiences. and so as a parent, especially of a child with a disability, it just brought me so much joy. >> it was an incredible moment to me. >> and caps off to this new golden gate university graduate. this mom of two finally getting her associates degree in general education after years of hard work and putting family first. it wasn't just marieloas feeling pride. look at her 6-year-old son leo sitting with dad. >> oh, knno, what's wrong? >> happy tears, dad. >> oh my goodness, really? happy tears. >> it is. >> what was it like for you to see that? >> amazing. >> i was able to show my kids that hard work pays off. >> happy tears, dad. >> but seeing that leo got to

understand why i was sacrificing time away from them, it just makes the whole thing worth it. >> are you about to the peak of your american dream? >> yes, i think so. all of my dream involves doing the best i can for my kids and for my family. >> aw, happy tears. that is amazing. our thanks to jose diaz-balart for that story. thanks for kicking off your week with "early today." i'm frances rivera. have a great monday.

attacks were live this morning with a new blueprint meant to strengthen our country and the state, plus a race to escape rafa israel urgently warning palestinians to leave