on "mad money." i'm jim cramer and i will see you tomorrow. this morning on today," closing in. all eyes are on isaac as the massive storm gains strength and heads for the gulf shore. back on track. candidate mitt romney joins his fellow republicans at the storm-delayed convention in florida. >> and climate change. the sweltering summer melts crucial ice in the arctic ocean the sweltering summer melts crucial ice in the arctic ocean to record lows. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. welcome to our viewers across the nation, including the pacific time zone. today we begin with the gathering storm. as isaac takes aim at new orleans, the next 24 hours will determine just as destructive this storm will be.

nbc's danielle lee joins us from new orleans. danielle, good morning. >> good morning, lynn. it's starting out as a relatively calm morning in new orleans. people are not letting that deceive them. many people have laid out sand bags and many other precautions ahead of the storm. >> the sound of drills and hammering could be heard throughout low lying areas of the gulf. people are bracing their homes for the heavy winds and rains being brought by isaac. >> we're just going to stick it out. now we have the sand bags. that may help. >> reporter: some in new orleans sticking it out and putting their trust into levies that failed following hurricane katrina seven years ago. isaac will be the first major test of the $14 billion makeover to new orleans' networks of pumps, canals, levies, and flood gates. >> but i want to assure you all that there is nothing that this storm is going to bring us that we do not believe that we are prepared to handle. >> reporter: despite assurance

from the mayor, there are people leaving hhaywood. >> i have faith in god not in the walls. >> reporter: the failure cost them their homes. lisa is leaving, and she's not alone. thousands are under mandatory evacuations in plaque can he man's and other coastal parishes. they're heading to higher ground. >> i think one time i'm gone. >> reporter: choosing not to chance it on isaac. we could begin feeling the rain from isaac in the next several hours. the governor is saying if you haven't left already, it's too late. it's time to go inside and wait out the storm. in new orleans, i'm danielle lee. lynn, back to you. thanks so much. nbc meteorologist bill karins has been tracking isaac for us. bill, what is the very latest? >> it didn't become a hurricane overnight. that was the big headline and surprise. you never give up on the storms until they're over land. they're over very warm waters. the last couple of frames right there is the eye of the storm. it's been fighting a lot of dry

air. it's trying to intensify. it's trying its hardest to wrap around all the thunderstorms and the warm, humid air. there's dry air to the north of the storm. not much a lopg the radar on the gulf coast. the strong side is the south side. still very windy in the northern portions of the storm. there are a couple of bands trying to fill in. the eye wall is trying to form. if that can form, there's still a chance this could become a strong category 1. not strong category 1, i should say, but on the high end of a category 1. right now the hurricane center saying winds 85 miles per hour, 90 to 95 is not out of the question. that wouldn't be too much of a devastating blow for new orleans wind wise. we're still mostly concerned with the storm surge. >> bill, you're keeping an eye on it. thanks so much. despite a delay caused by isaac, the republican national convention was able to technically get under way monday. but today, the convention and its main event begins in earnest. and nbc's tracie potts joins us with a preview.

tracie, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, >> the delegates will be in later today and so are the candidates. hours from now they'll be here for the delayed convention. ann romney speaks tonight. >> i like ann's speech. >> reporter: her role, boost her husband's likability. convince moms paying bills and raising children that romney gets it. >> this is somebody who lived that. >> reporter: this convention is about convincing swing voters that a super rich successful businessman can identify with the struggling middle class. >> we are so used to being entertained and wowed. do we have to be wowed for everything? can't we just vote for somebody that is imminently qualified?

>> reporter: marsha blackburn is scheduled to speak today. >> you'll hear me talk about the great opportunity party and about recommitting and revitalizing the american dream. >> reporter: and wrapping it up tonight, new jersey governor chris christie after denying reports that he privately predicted romney won't win. >> much of what was said wasn't true. and they never talked to me. >> reporter: delegates after a one-day delay are eager to get started. ? they will be filling up the chairs later this afternoon. when the session gets underway, one of the things we'll be looking for, the roll call vote for the nomination for president and vice president, that usually happens later in the process and in the week, but because of the delay, it is happening today. >> all right, tracie potts there for us in tampa. thanks so much. well, now for a look at some of the other stories making news early today in america, in oregon, surveillance video captured the dramatic end to an

attempted child abduction. the alleged kidnapper was cornered by neighbors after trying to snatch a 6-year-old little girl. at least one of those neighbors kicked the suspect and when the child's mother showed up, she whacked him with a 2x4. the suspect is now under arrest. in texas, state troopers have a new weapon to battle drug smugglers. they're hitting the wall with half a dozen gun boats. each comes with four to six fully automatic machine guns capable of firing 900 rounds a minute. while the boat can zoom across the water at more than 60 miles an hour. and finally in indiana, the feathers have been flying over a giant sign featuring a chicken put up by a restaurant who wanted to bring in more business, but some people thought the 28-foot monument wasn't not such a great idea and they took their case to the zoning board. last night the chicken won giving the rooster's owner something to crow about.

now for a look at your national and regional weather, chuckling over there. >> cucckling. >> very nice. you have that weather channel forecast. continuing to keep your eyes on isaac. >> isaac will be the story throughout tonight and tomorrow. all eyes will be on new orleans, if the leafy holds, how they do, if the pumps work. with this size of storm, they should be okay. in the west, dry forecast. yesterday we did see showers and a few storms pop up in areas of arizona and a few in portions of new mexico. what we're dealing with today is a little weak low off the west coast of seattle. for the most part it will keep clouds in the forecast. high there around 67. still very warm in the deserts today. temperatures easily from 100 to 110. here's a look at the weather outside your window.storms.

more miss than hit later on this afternoon. pretty seasonable in many areas of the west. have to wait until the fall to get bigger storms. >> thanks so much. coming up, apple shines, big blue buys, and america sells arms at a record rate. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the richest celebrity of all? coming up, a rocky debut for josh beckett, extras in the bronx and what in the world has gotten into adrian beltre. you're watching "early today."

well come back to "early today." i'm lynn berry. here are some of your top headlines this morning. a maryland student is in custody for allegedly shooting and critically wounding a classmate on the opening day of high school. teachers grabbed the student who

was wielding a shotgun and held him until police arrived. prosecutors in georgia say four u.s. soldiers who were also members of a militia group wanted to assassinate president obama and may be charged in the killings of two other people. the group allegedly spent at least $87,000 on assault weapons and bomb components for anti-government attacks. a study finds teenagers who smoke marijuana at least four times a week and use marijuana throughout their life saw an average i.q. drop of eight points. and scientists report sea ice in the arctic ocean has already melted to its smallest point ever and the summer is not even over yet. they say this shows the worst case forecasts on climate change may be coming true. well, now here's an early look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 13,124 after falling 33 points yesterday. the s&p was down a fraction, but the nasdaq added three. taking a look at overseas

trading this morning, in tokyo, the nikkei dropped 52 points. but in hong kong, the hang seng gained 13. wall street saw its lowest volume of the year monday as investors either enjoyed the last days of summer or waited for more clues on the next move by the fed. those not on the beach were on the sidelines monday waiting to hear fed chief ben bernanke's remarks to central bankers later this week in jackson hole, wyoming. expectations are the fed will take some kind of action to stimulate the economy next month. apple was monday's star hitting an all-time high of $680 a share following its billion dollar judgment. friday's verdict also pounded google because company's using google's android system now has to consider design changes. the dow was led down by ibm which agreed to buy kenexa for $1.3 billion and hudson city for $3.7 billion, the largest bank acquisition this year.

a government report shows the u.s. dominated armed sales last year making 78% of all weapon sales and over $66 billion a record high. saudi arabia bought the most arms of any country spending almost $34 billion on weapons with 99% of that going to the u.s. and finally, these days every the rich are cutting back. tiffany lowered its outlook for the year monday due to slow sales. coming up, the twins put up a goose egg, the o's notch up the pressure and the jays snap a seven-game skid. plus an unfriendly welcome to the national league for a former red sox pitcher. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. overnight, isaac has been struggling, but there's still 24 hours to go where it could strengthen. that forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." and in sports, the tampa bay rays escaped tropical storm isaac playing in texas, but they could not escape the hot hitting rangers. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. adrian beltre hit three home runs in a game, followed that up with a cycle, and yesterday he

was at it again. rangers and rays. rangers took david price deep in the second inning. nobody hitting better right now than adrian. next batter nelson cruz left the yard as well. back to back homers and the game was tied at two. fast forward to the fifth, two more for beltre, rbi single to left and the rangers took the lead. he's been playing out of his mind. texas won it 6-5. here we go to the bronx. rasmus three run shot into the upper deck. jays up 7-6. but the lead was short lived. bottom nine, jeter came to the rescue, tied with a home run of his own and we're off to extras. toronto won it in the 11th, a runner on third, slow roller, got the man at first but couldn't get mccoy at the plate. blue jays won it 8-7 in 11. it doesn't get any better for the yanks. mark teixeira left the game with a strained calf.

orioles had a chance to make up ground in the east. this two run bomb gave baltimore the lead and they beat the white sox 4-3. denver, josh beckett. the rockies wasted no time welcoming him back for the national lead. a lead off homer was the beginning of the end. rockies won 10-0. and we've saved the best for last. felix hernandez won his last nine decisions which included a perfect game. struck out five and gave up just five hits. eric canes provided all the offense seattle needed. a homer in the eighth. hernandez making a late run for the cy young. he won 1-0 in minnesota. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. coming up, detectives appear to be determined to nail lindsay lohan in yet another jewelry theft. your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus a college kid saves one of the biggest companies some big embarrassment, if not worse. you're watching early "today."

welcome back to "early today." we're still watching a tropical storm going to new orleans. not a hurricane yet. landfall sometime this evening. this time tomorrow, pretty heavy rain and strong winds. forecasts in the west, another very warm day. possible record highs in a few spots. salt lake city to denver. could approach 100.

very warm in the desert southwest and new mexico. cooler in the northwest. 87 and sunny in southern california. if you're watching us on knse 7, san diego, california. from farms to battle fields. see how horses have helped shape human history. high ho silver. that's your pacific event of the day, lynn. >> bill, thanks so much. now here's a look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. who is america's highest paid celebrity? forbes is out with a new list. it is oprah winfrey who earned $165 million from may of last year to may 2012. this is despite winfrey's much publicized tv network problems. her syndicated shows plus her magazine and satellite radio station earned her the top spot. >> sin did i case, big thumbs up. >> way to go. >> cable network. >> keep your mouth shut, bill. >> down. tmz reporting lindsay lohan is now formally a suspect in a theft of $100,000 worth of

watches and sunglasses. >> she didn't do it. i don't know why you're doing the story. >> because the police think otherwise. despite the fact the owner of the hollywood hills home where the theft allegedly took place has suddenly recanted his story and told authorities nothing was stolen. police aren't closing the investigation despite trying over and over again because they have witnesses who can finger lindsay lohan and her assistant in this case. >> i'd like to get on that jury. >> so unfair. you're unbiased, you're supposed to. and finally the daily beast reports in the wake of his new photo scandal, prince harry has closed down his facebook page. he not so secretly maintained under the alias spike wells. although i had no idea about it. >> you didn't know it? >> i didn't have any idea. did you? >> of course i did. i know everything. >> totally cyber stalk him. i would have no problem with that. >> you're a big fan of harry? >> yeah. you know. he's prince.

who isn't? and this comes to us from wzit connecticut news where a college student single handedly uncovered an apple security glitch. mark a computer science major who learned to check his own computer's privacy. sure enough, he found a breach in the secure connection between his laptop and the desktop. mark's big discovery brought him job offers from other companies, but apple, the world's most valuable company, gave him credit. no reward for spotting the problem which they have fixed. i bet they did. i'm lynn berry, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

competitors came out of the woodwork for the 30th world logging championship. top choppers from around the world tested their tree cutting skills. events included making a tree fall in an exact location and direction and cutting logs as fast and accurate as possible. spectators had a chance to take home souvenirs and watch them craft wood sculptures. and extreme athletes cut some mega air. some of the word's best bmx riders competed at a ramp championship in rio. while the competition showcased athletes of all age, most impressive was one 11-year-old who caught serious air there. riders did tricks off a 9-story ramp and some even caught midair sliding across a grind rail.

>> terminology. >> i had to look that up. and finally in us a tree, a folks are looking to make their sentiment permanent. at the fifth international tattoo convention, more than 100 artists are on hand showing their various designs ready to make their mark on all who are willing. from star patterns to even celebrities, organizers are advising against bad decisions. they promote a slogan think before you ink. and bill karins, america wants to know, tattoo or no tattoo? >> no. never did it. never could find something that i really wanted to have forever. >> i think everyone will be shocked. you so look like the edgy kind of -- >> i had a good friend who did a calvin and hobbs on their ankle and they still regret it. time now for an early look at some of the stories we'll follow throughout the day here on nbc. the family of the victims of the colorado shooting will read a statement and answer questions from the media. it will be the first time the families have appeared together. james holmes is currently

charged with murder in that shooting. in sweden, paul simon and yo yo ma will both receive the 2012 polar music prize. one of the music industry's prestigious. and on this day in 1963, dr. martin luther king jr. delivered his "i have a dream" speech during a civil rights rally in washington, d.c. all day long, you can stay on top of the very latest developments in those stories and others as they break on msnbc. and tonight be sure to watch brian williams with nbc "nightly news." and, finally, here's a look at what's coming up later this morning on the "today" show. details on a new wedding ritual that turned tragic for one bride in canada. and "american idol" winner phillip phillips performs live. now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com