here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight with the u.s. in overdrive and likely just days away from topping the national average of $5 a gallon, gas prices in several states are now spiking upwards of 10 cents a day. >> i think we're getting ripped off. >> reporter: with the west coast by far paying the most, the pinch at the pump is hitting families like hector alvarez's hard. >> it is starting to affect the budget. >> reporter: in los angeles, many are dishing out $7 a gallon, alvarez who supports a family of seven is juggling skyrocketing housing prices, staggering inflation, and now record fuel costs. >> we have to really think about how far we can travel or where we can go. >> reporter: with a recent poll showing americans cutting back on eating out, making impulse purchases, and driving, the u.s. is poised to officially hit $5 a gallon as early as thursday according to aaa, 75% of commuters say that's the benchmark where they'll put the brakes on driving. that's what happened in 2008 when the national average hit $4.11, or roughly $5

lester >> miguel almaguer, thank you. >>> up next, a promising new way to treat type 2 diabetes without drugs in our series "beyond the scale. >>> back now with our new series "beyond the scale. tonight, new hope for more than 30 million americans who suffer from type 2 diabetes a new kind of targeted dieting aimed at reversing the condition. let's get more from kate snow. >> reporter: kelaf sharp always thought he was in pretty good shape. he is a personal trainer and realtor in birmingham, alabama. but type 2 diabetes runs in his family. >> my grandmother had diabetes my mom my sister has it >> reporter: kelaf was so busy, he used to grab fast food, sweet tea, energy drinks. >> people see you and think, oh, you work out. you're healthy there's nothing wrong with you that's not the case. >> not if you're not eating right. >> exactly >> reporter: a few years ago he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and prescribed medicine. but kelaf wanted alternatives so he volunteered for a study at university of alabama at birmingham, looking at two diets. kelaf was put on a low carb diet for three

miguel almaguer fairfax, virginia >>> big changes coming to the white house involving interns and what they will earn in addition to experience >>> and 17 seasons, fitz-magic the nfl says good-bye to one of its favorite hired guns. emerge tremfyant®. with tremfya®, most people saw 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks. the majority of people saw 90% clearer skin even at 5 years. tremfya® is the first medication of its kind also approved for adults with active psoriatic arthritis... and it's 6 doses a year after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions may occur. 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. emerge tremfyant®. with tremfya®... ask your doctor about tremfya® today. if you haven't tried dawn powerwash dish spray, what are you waiting for? it's dawn's fastest and easiest way to clean everyday dishes. you just spray, wipe and rinse. it cleans five times faster to actually break down grease on contact. so spray your dishes clean... with dawn powerw

miguel almaguer, nbc news >> what a drama. so glad she's okay >>> that's "nightly news" for this thursday thank you for watching i am lester holt please take care of yourself and each other. good night (music throughout) >>> next on nbc bay area news, fire season is here in a big way. we are tracking several wildfires across the bay area at this hour. some threatening homes and one forcing evacuations in pleasanton. >>> also --. >> i look forward to a quick recovery. to get them out here swimming and running. four we speak to the friends of the surfer who was attacked by a shark. >>> new warnings about monkeypox after another cases reported. we are joined by one of our experts.>>> have you seen them? these billboards popping up in the east bay. they document some

here's miguel almaguer. >> reporter: it could permanently extinguish one of the largest e-cigarette companies in the nation. tonight the fda poised to order juul labs to take its products off the u.s. market. according to "the wall street journal" citing people familiar with the matter the potential decision which has not been officially confirmed comes after a nearly two-year review of data provided by juul who sought to keep its smoking products on store shelves. >> we certainly think juul has played a large role in the e-cigarette epidemic its aggressive advertising and marketing to youth using a lot of the throwbacks that big tobacco used. >> reporter: with uncertainty clouding juul for years the company came under fda scrutiny after it was accused of trying to hook kids on the fruity and sweet flavors. those choices ofte promoted by a marketing campaign is why max said he started smoking juul when he was 17 >> i think it was just irresponsible in the way that they develop flavors that were pretty much like candy. >> reporter: in 2019, juul stopped selling sweet and fruity e-cigarette car

shasta miguel almaguer tells us more about this >> reporter: several, including a toddler lucky to be alive after dramatic rescues in the west a miracle for 4-year-old riker he was last seen playing in his yard near bull lake, montana for two day, searchers combed the area on foot, with dogs, on atvs and by air. 53 people had joined the search. eventually, the team found ryker nearby in good spirits, but he was hungry, thirsty, cold and transported to a medical center. on monday, another desperate search on mt. shasta a popular tourist destination known for back country skiing. three rescue operations conducted by the siskiyou county sheriff during icy and dangerous conditions following a storm sunday >> try to locate them and potentially put one of the rescuers in next to her. >> reporter: the first incident just after 8:30 a.m. in the avalanche gulch area of the mountain among the group of three, one climber rescued with ae injuries and the third who did not survive. then, just hours later, another climber just after 12:30 in the same area. that climber in critical condition. and a

almaguer. >> reporter: tonight the brutal broil across much of the west, a heat wave so oppressive, forecasters say it could be dangerous or even deadly for some of the 51 million americans now trapped under a heat dome. >> i try not to go out because of the heat as well >> reporter: with states from texas to california sweltering in the sun, upwards of 50 daily high temperature records could be shattered through the weekend. >> every year we think it's very hot, but right now i think this weekend is supposed to be really hot. >> reporter: cities like austin, san antonio, dallas and houston not only cooking in the heat but melting in high humidity the first heat wave of the year also gripping cities like las vegas and phoenix where many will swelter through daytime highs around 110 degrees and overnight lows in the 80s. >> so nice, really, really hot. >> reporter: earlier than normal and prolonged heat waves will be an early test for our aging infrastructure. as average temperatures get hotter, it seems power grids fail more often. >> unless we fundamentally rethink the way we plan

miguel almaguer, nbc news >> you can see more of our interview with amber heard tomorrow on "today" and friday on a special edition of "dateline" at 8:00 p.m. eastern >>> one of the greatest tennis players of all time is making a comeback, serena williams announcing she'll play at wimbledon next month. the 23-time grand clam champ hasn't competed in nearly a year since exiting the first round at wimbledon with an injury she received a wild card invitation to make her much-anticipated return >>> up next for us, profiting from the pandemic how one small company got hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. was the money mismanaged >>> back now with new questions over covid relief money and how it was distributed congressional investigators saying one small company pocketed hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. here's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: this nondescript office building in virginia housed a company the feds hired to help distribute billions of dollars in loans to help struggling small businesses during the pandemic the firm, r.e.r. solutions, got a no-bid $750 million contract

but lawyers for amber heard who you're about to hear from say they'll appeal miguel almaguer has the latest. >> reporter: before the legions of cheering johnny depp fans that were cleared the courthouse the attorneys by amber heard's side decided to appeal saying today on "today" the actress doesn't have the cash to cover the defamation verdict >> is she able to pay a $10.4 million judgment? >> oh, no, absolutely not. >> reporter: her attorneys argue heard never had a fair chance in the courtroom because outside of it she faced an avalanche of social media backlash, one the jury, they argue, could never avoid. >> they went home every night. they have families the families are on social media it really, really was lopsided. >> reporter: while millions signed an online petition to remove heard from a starring role in "aquaman ii," depp received a red carpet-like welcome at court every day online many turned the actor into the hero and heard the villain. pro-depp hashtags received billions of views. the worldwide reach, influencing heard's claims of abuse if not in the courtroom in popu

miguel almaguer now with that story. >> they're getting arrested >> reporter: tonight authorities say all 31 members of a white supremacist group on their knees and zip tied before being charged with conspiracy to riot are now out on bail two days after this startling video of their arrest >> these guys stopped a u-haul full of dudes. >> reporter: it happened in coeur d'alene, idaho, after a 911 call from someone who saw the men pile into the back of a u-haul dressed like a small army and headed towards a gay pride event. >> i have no doubt in my mind that had that van stopped at the park or much near the park that we still would have ended up in a riot situation >> reporter: facing a misdemeanor charge police say the suspects called the patriot front had shields and shin guards while also recovering a smoke grenade and document outlining their operations plan. authorities say the pride in the park event they planned to riot at is where families gathered with children >> it's quite a scary sight. it was very intimidating for all of us. >> reporter: with no response yet from the group'

miguel almaguer, nbc news >> what a drama. so glad she's okay >>> that's "nightly news" for this thursday thank you for watching i am lester holt please take care of yourself and each other. good night >> ben: nice work. he's sound asleep. >> clyde: ah. i wish i could stick around till he wakes up, but grandpa has got to get to work. >> ben: you are really good with him, grandpa. >> clyde: pretty surprising, huh? yeah, i just stand back and watch you and ciara. learned from the best. but, you know, being around baby bo so much, seeing how much he needs both his parents makes me think of abigail dimera's children losing their mom. >> ben: those poor kids. >> clyde: yeah. i mean, it's a tragedy for the whole family, but for those kids. well, i gotta go. >> ben: i'll see you, pop. [soft dramatic music] ♪ ♪ >> lucas: oh, what the hell? what the hell did i do last night? >> brady: lus. >> lucas: hey, what's going on? >> brady: you got a minute to talk? >> lucas: about what? >>brady: about falling off the wagon. >> lucas: what a

miguel almaguer, nbc news. >>> we have more to tell you about. up next, richard engel with one family's daring escape in russian occupied ukraine. with the home and auto bundle from progressive, but there's no saving that casserole!" [ both laugh ] i just love that word "bundle." it's so fun. two things coming together like a force of nature, like it was really meant to be, y'know? yes, yes, i do. and i'm so glad you wanna save money. rodney, set up a bundle for jon hamm. mm! of course! jon, is it still cool if i catch a ride home with you? i never said it was. but technically you didn't say it wasn't. it's not. yet. (asaad) when i was little, it's not. my mom would take care of me. but since she got cancer from smoking, it's my turn to take care of her. [announcer] you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit now. ♪ ♪ aleve x. its revolutionary rollerball design delivers fast, powerful, long-lasting pain relief. aleve it, and see what's possible. i am robert strickler. i've been involved in communications in the media for 45 years. i've been

savannah >> miguel almaguer leading us off, thank you. the case was watched closely by those who have experienced domestic abuse and their advocates. what could today's verdict mean for the world? anne thompson with that part of the story. >> reporter: the world watched as the jury found johnny depp and amber heard were both defamed, but there is no question who the panel sided with >> amber heard was not a good witness and juries react to that. >> reporter: women's rights attorney nancy erika smith calls the verdict reasoned while a defeat for one woman she says it is not a defeat for all women. some say this verdict marks the end of the me too movement. do you agree >> not at all. i think me too is here to stay. i don't think women should be afraid we have to tolerate the harassment and abuse we tolerated for centuries. >> reporter: depp and heard are two privileged celebrities with high-powered legal and pr teams unlike most cases with accusations of domestic abuse is there anything typical about this case >> no, there's nothing typica

miguel almaguer is closely following it all. miguel, what are you learning >> reporter: well, lester, good evening this deadly accident happened at what's called an uncontrolled crossing that's where there's no arm that blocks cars when a train is coming and now the ntsb is en route. the very passengers riding the derailed amtrak train recorded their own harrowing escape through broken glass and twisted metal survivors climbed to safety any way they could. some stunned and without their shoes on made their way to the top of their toppled passenger cars 255 were aboard. there are dozens of injuries and at least three fatalities >> everyone is screaming. i, of course, am yelling. people are on top of one another. >> reporter: after first responders reached the wreckage in rural missouri, some of the injured were rushed to local hospitals. it was 12:42 p.m. when eight of the train's cars and two locomotives derailed after slamming into a dump truck at a public crossing horrified screams filled the train headed from los angeles to c

miguel almaguer, nbc news. >>> the national urban league along with several other organizations have written a letter to president biden urging the white house to strike a deal with russia to free wnba star brittney griner. the phoenix mercury center has been detained in russia since february they say she is essentially a political pawn we urge you to make a deal to get britney back home to america immediately and safely griner's wife spoke about the situation. >> right now the biden administration needs to do exactly that make a deal for bg because she wron wrongfully detained. >> she's been named an honorary starter in the all-star game >>> the heat dome is staying in place. a summer scorcher once again today. take a look at these numbers 200 million are supposed to be in the 90s so we're looking at temperatures in the 90s and 100s. it's going to feel hotter than that oncn fargo, 93 in minneapos 101 in montgomery. 102 in dallas. it's going to feel hotter than that with the humidity we'll have the weekend forecast in just a bit. >> we're excited to hear it, thank you, michelle. >>>

nbc news national correspondent miguel almaguer. give me a sense of what you're seeing on the ground and number two, the impact this is having. june, july, huge months for yellowstone, tons of people going to visit. last year, last july, the most visited month in the history of the park. this is a big deal for people there. >> absolutely, hallie. it's kind of a conflicting picture behind me, and it's the beautiful mountains that lead to yellow stone national park, you'll find no road because it's simply been washed out by torrential rain and we've had massive flooding and the nasty mud slides that were captured on video and it was a harrowing scene here over the last 24 to 48 hours. obviously issue the weather here has gotten better, but those roads have been completely wiped out, many of them leading into the park are simply impassable so the park is essentially closed. all roads leading into it, as they do damage assessment in this area. as you alluded to, june is a massively busy month here in the park. i think on average they ha

nbc news national correspondent miguel almaguer has more. >> reporter: with the u.s. in overdrive and likely just days away from topping a national average of $5 a gallon, gas prices in several states are now spiking upwards of 10 cents a day. >> i just think we're getting ripped off. >> reporter: with the west coast by far paying the most, the pinch at the pump is hitting families like hector alvarez hard. in los angeles, many are dishing out $7 a gallon, alvarez supports a family of seven is juggling skyrocketing housing prices, staggering inflation and now record fuel costs. >> we have to, you know, really think about how far we can travel or where we can go. >> reporter: with a recent poll showing americans cutting back on eating out, making impulse purchases and driving, the u.s. is poised to officially hit $5 a gallon as early as thursday, according to aaa, 75% of commuters say that's the benchmark where they'll put the brakes on driving. that's what happened in 2008 when the national average hit 4.11 or roughly 5.40 a gallon today with inflation. >> the consume

almaguer on the devastating ripple effect on families and businesses and the wild prices some are paying just to drive >> reporter: tonight as our nation accelerates past record prices at the pump -- >> gas prices are killing us. >> reporter: -- americans nationwide are suffering sticker shock as they empty their pockets to fill up the tank. >> it just took me $150 to fill up my tank. >> reporter: the u.s. today reaching another historic high for a gallon of gas, averaging $4.86, but that would be a bargain in california where drivers at one gas station are asked to shell out nearly $10 a gallon with the state average here of $6.34. >> we're spending roughly like maybe $500 every 2 weeks for gas. >> reporter: outside los angeles justin lira already used a full tank of gas today driving his pregnant wife to the hospital and says finances for their growing family are tight. >> trying to get a second job, especially with my wife being pregnant we just want to stay home and not drive as much. >> reporter: with ten states already averaging more than $5 a gallon, the constant drip of price inc

miguel almaguer is there for us tonight >> whoa. >> reporter: this was the harrowing escape out of yellowstone as boulders tumbled down mountains. and a home washed into a river, floating nearly five miles downstream >> we had no warning they were just, like, get in get in get in >> reporter: for nicole o'shea and nearly a hundred other people cut off by dangerous, fast-rising floodwaters, these helicopter rides were their only chance for rescue >> it landed and it was -- it was -- i'm getting goosebumps just talking about it. it was so emotional because none of us were expecting it. >> reporter: across large swaths of montana, historic flooding washed away roads and submerged them under feet of water. >> the water started rolling in the back, broke out a basement window, started filling up my basement and then i quit. >> holy! >> reporter: even bridges with their mangled trestles floated downstream, ripped apart by raging currents. >> it was frightening because in addition to all of this debris, you can hear the rocks in the creek these are giant boulders >> reporter: a state of emergency as

and well beyond. >> nbc's miguel almaguer with that report. >>> still ahead in sports, a long-awaited trip to the stanley cup finals a first in the women's college world series and an amazing night for a new york met and all pretty good this season. all next on "way too early." his grilling game? on point. and his a1c? ron is on it. with the once-daily pill, jardiance. jardiance not only lowers a1c... it goes beyond to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. and jardiance may help you lose some weight. jardiance may cause serious side effects, including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration that can lead to sudden worsening of kidney function, and genital yeast or urinary tract infections. a rare life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, ketoacidosis, or an allergic reaction, and don't take it if you're on dialysis. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. a onc

here's miguel almaguer >> reporter: tonight with 81 million americans broiling in record and deadly heat, states like kansas and ohio feel like an oven in the midwest, a double threat. excessive heat and damaging tornadoes carving through wisconsin. >> hey, boys, we got a tornado. let's go >> reporter: while extreme weather has moved out of montana, the disaster here is still far from over. there are literally bridges to nowhere and a multimillion if not billion dollar cleanup. new video of flooded roads into a washed out yellowstone show mass devastation >> this is a historic event, a thousand-year event. >> reporter: because some entrances into america's oldest national park could be impassable for months. today the only way we could reach the park's superintendent was by zoom >> there are a lot of things to do, not only in yellowstone, but also outside of yellowstone, our gateway communities but it is going to look a little different when it comes to figuring out how to manage visitation in only half of the park. >> reporter: hoping to re-open yellowstone's south entrance within weeks

here's miguel almaguer. >> what is at stake in this trial is a man's life. >> reporter: the trial and the verdict was all fair, that was the message from johnny depp's legal team after the actor's sweeping victory in his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife amber heard. >> he's got his life back. >> i think an overwhelming as soon as of relief. >> reporter: speaking on "today", depp's newly-famed attorney, camille vas kquez and ben chew >> my sense is it had a lot to do with accountability johnny owns his issues he was very candid about his alcohol and drug issue he was candid about unfortunate texts he wrote, and i think it was a sharp contrast to ms. heard. >> reporter: saying there $10.4 million was neff about the money and hinting that they may neff collect the cash, they said it was about clearing his name while also asked if it was a setback for the #metoo movement. >> no, we're here to talk about the case that we tried we encourage all victims to come forward and have their day in court. >> reporter: with the actor thanking fans on his newly-created tiktok account >> it is catego

further steaking the spectacle >> miguel almaguer thank you so much. let's bring in nbc correspondent jacob ward he's been looking into how easy it can be to manipulate opinions on line. how easy is it to move the needle >> when we looked into the ways in which in the past with people like let's say meghan markle or kamala harris who have been the subjects of big big moves online when it domes public opinion it turns out you really only need a handful of people creating fake accounts on twitter to move the national conversation when we spoke to the expert there, his firm has looked into past instances and found that essentially with less than 100 accounts you can move the needle there was a group of women who went after meghan markle in this way. the difference in this case is that this was a sustained attack is really the word over the coursest of the trial. >> they had a ten day break in the muddle of the trial. but when they walked into the courtroom every day, they were flanked by people with johnny depp signs they could have been influenced by a n

for the news, i'm miguel almaguer. >>> title ix turns 50 today. the law a landmark that prohibits gender-based discrimination in programs at schools and colleges that received federal funding and it opened the door for women to participate in school sports and changed the sport's landscape. now the biden administration is expanding title ix each further. the department of education announced new provisions, prohibiting sexual orientation, expanding definition of sexual assault and protections for pregnant people on campuses. the changes reverse a numbereve administration made two years ago the former president's education secretary announced there would be changes to the way colleges could respond to sexual assault cases critics say they favor the person being accused the trump administration withdrew title ix protections for trans jengender people and u they're back >>> in afghanistan, a powerful earthquake killed and injured thousands of people. the taliban military coordinating relief efforts in the hardest-hit area president issued how the u.s

as authorities piece together what went wrong. >> nbc's miguel almaguer with that report. and still ahead, nbc news has confirmed that a former top aide to mark meadows will testify during today's last-minute house select committee hearing. we'll have the very latest from capitol hill. >> plus, the supreme court's decision to overturn roe v. wade has sparked calls for expanding the court. one of our next guests explains why he believes life tenure on the nation's highest court has outlived its time. "morning joe" is coming right back. g right back those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks! (sighs wearily) here i'll take that! (excited yell) woo-hoo! ensure max protein. with thirty grams of protein, one gram of sugar, and nutrients to support immune health. ♪ i want to rock and roll all night ♪ ♪ and party every day. ♪ ♪ i want to rock and roll all night ♪ applebee's late night. because half off is just more fun. now that's eatin' good in the neighborhood. researchers believe the first person to live to 150 has already been born. it could be you! wow

nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer is there. good morning. >> reporter: the floodwaters are starting to recede. but not everywhere. still homes and cars under feet of floodwater. the damage is widespread in communities like this one. and also yellowstone national park, the country's oldest national park. these are the steep hillsides giving way to the force of water and the massive boulders narrowly missing cars on the road. flood swollen rivers even sweeping away buildings. this two story bunk house carried nearly five miles downstream. roads and bridges leading to yellowstone national park that weren't washed away have now been shut down indefinitely at the start of the peak summer season. >> safe to say it is going to be an extended period of time the northern end will be closed. >> reporter: officials say some 10,000 visitors were evacuated from yellowstone, even more from surrounding communities. some air lifted out of harm's way. >> and it landed. and it was -- i'm getting goose bumps just talking about it. it was so emoti

marine's aircraft in southern california miguel almaguer has the details. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this comes after another military accident in california two days ago, this time an osprey with five marines on board went down in a training exercise in the desert. >> we have a military aircraft down. >> reporter: emergency crews responding wednesday when a military aircraft carrying five u.s. marines crashed during a training flight. it happened in the california desert about 100 miles east of san diego. officially the status of the marines was not immediately available. but according to the l.a. times, citing a federal source, four people died when the mv-22b osprey based at san diego's camp pendleton went down. military officials say early reports of nuclear material onboard the aircraft were false. the $73 million osprey is a toltrotor aircraft that can takeoff and land like a helicopter but can also fly long range like a plane it's mainly used by the marines to transport troops and equipment but it has a troubled history over the two dec

almaguer has all the highlights, your team came out on top good morning to you. >> they looked good last night and all season these guys really was, it was an epic win for the warriors and their team's superstar steph curry. their dynasty was put on hold during two seasons, even posting the league's worst record in one of them, but last night, they showed once again the heart of a champion >> they return to a familiar place. on top of the nba world. >> for the golden state warriors, and superstar steph curry, a comeback for the ages, and a legacy cemented. and emotional curry finally and unanimously crowned finals mvp, taking in the win. the team fighting back from years of adversity, setback, and catastrophic injuries, to beat the boston celtics on their home floor. 103-90 clinching their fourth title in eight seasons. and their first since 2018 >> the dynasty is still very much alive. >> after a slow start, the warriors taking control, behind their sharp shooting superstar >> steph curry from downtown >> curry, draining three-pointers at the end of the third quarter. and finishing

her attorney is with us exclusively we'll sit with her in a moment but first miguel almaguer joins us from the courthouse. >> reporter: while the case appears to be headed towards appeal, johnny depp was given a sweeping verdict her in virginia, the jury saying he was defamed by his ex-wife. the jury delivering an overwhelming victory for johnny depp. depp, who was said to be watching from the uk awarded $15 million after the jury unanimously agreed he was defamed by ex-wife amber heard when she wrote a 2018 op-ed in "the washington post" saying she was a public figure representing domestic abuse without mentioning depp by name. >> today's verdict confirms what we have said from the beginning, the claims against johnny depp are defamatory and unsupported by any evidence. >> reporter: with depp's supporters celebrating outside the courthouse, inside the jury rendering a mixed verdict. agreeing heard was also defamed, awarding her $2 million. after the blistering defeat, heard saying in part, i'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. it is a setback. a sta

almaguer is there with the latest good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the floodwaters are finally starting to recede but over the last 24 hours we've been watching debris float on this river downstream the damage out here is widespread, including on the roads leading into yellowstone from the air the scope of the damage becomes clear chocolate brown water still flowing through homes, ranches, businesses and farmlands >> in the afternoon it started rising even more and we had to move everything to high ground. >> reporter: floodwaters reaching billings, montana's largest city after forcing the evacuation of thousands from yellowstone national park. as boulders tumbled down mountains, extreme flooding threatening to alter the spectacular scenery of yellowstone, a national treasure known for geysers, mountain meadows and animal species yellowstone officials hope wildlife has not been affected >> as of right now we don't think the animals are being largely affected except there's no visitors, at least currently, watching them. >> reporter: park supervisors

. >> miguel almaguer has got the details for us, good morning to you. >> park officials say the man who was attacked was with his family. video taken nearby capturing the tail end of the incident with a massive bison charging as the victim appears to be trying to protect a small child. even from a distance, witnesses could clearly see the agitated bison charging. the attack unfolding this week at yellowstone national park leaving a 34-year-old man with injuries to his arms after he was gored. the massive bull bison first closing in on two adults and a child when a third man rushes in to help. the bison, which could weigh up to 2,000 pounds briefly lifting him off the ground before the man and child could run to safety. >> if you saw bull on a ranch, you probably wouldn't walk right into the pen and take a photo, and you see a bull bison in a national park, you probably shouldn't walk up and take a photo. you want to give it deference and respect and the space it needs. >> reporter: the injured man who's from colorado springs was treated for his wounds at a local hospital. the dangerous

miguel almaguer has the details. >> reporter: with the u.s. in overdrive and likely just days away from topping a national average of $5 a gallon, gas prices in some states are spiking upwards of 10 cents a day. >> i just think we're getting ripped off. >> reporter: with the west coast by far paying the most, the pinch at the pump is hitting families like hector alvarez's hard. >> it's starting to affect the budget. >> reporter: in los angeles where many are dishing out $7 a gallon, alvarez, who supports a family of seven, is juggling skyrocketing housing prices, staggering inflation, and now record fuel costs. >> we have to, you know, really think about how far we can travel or where we can go. >> reporter: with a recent poll showing americans cutting back on eating out, making impulse purchases and driving, the u.s. is poised to officially hit $5 a gallon as early as thursday. according to aaa, 75% of commuters say that's the benchmark where they'll put the brakes on driving. that's what happened in 2008, when the national average hit $4.11