this morning on "early today," the fbi stopped a would-be terrorist from blowing up the new york federal reserve. binders, jobs, and america's future. reaction to the presidential debate. >> i thought he did a good job last night. i thought we had a second debate where, you know, governor romney wouldn't even commit to tell us anything about the details of the budget. that ought to tell people all they need to know. >> this is a pivotal time in our country's history. we're at a crossroads, ladies and gentlemen. and dropped like a rock. lance armstrong was sacked by almost every company he represented. a devastating day for the once heralded athlete.

>> good morning, i'm lynn berry. well, a 21-year-old man from bangladesh is being held this morning on charges of plotting to blow up the new york city headquarters of the federal reserve. prosecutors say he was inspired by osama bin laden and that he tried to recruit others from across the country, not realizing those recruits were actually undercover agents. wnbc's jonathan dienst has details. >> reporter: this is the face of suspected bomber quazi mohammad nafis, and this was his alleged target, the federal reserve bank. he was arrested after he allegedly parked a van packed with what he thought was 1,000 pounds of explosives, trying to kill hundreds of innocent new yorkers during the morning rush. >> he clearly had the intent of creating mayhem here. >> reporter: it was a sting operation and nafis was under intense surveillance for months by the fbi, nypd, and homeland security agents.

the undercovers even provided some of the fake bomb parts. but they say it was nafis who picked his target, helped build the bomb, and they only got on to him after he approached an informant about wanting to carry out a major attack. "targeting america's economy is the most efficient way to draw the path of obliteration to america," he allegedly said. officials say his initial plot was supposed to be a suicide mission to bomb the new york stock exchange but tight security there had him change his target to the new york fed. last week, investigators say he bought ammonium nitrate and worked on building the device, not knowing he was being watched each step of the way. nafis was living in jamaica queens and the fbi raided his apartment, taking away evidence. he came to the u.s. in january from bangladesh. >> and wnbc's jonathan dienst reports the suspect was here on a student visa. and we have also learned that a man believed to be a co-conspirator was arrested in

san diego wednesday on unrelated charges. all right, to politics now, where the candidates and their running mates wasted no time firing back at some of the fiery rhetoric from tuesday night's debate. one of the hottest topics? women. >> when governor romney's asked a direct question about equal pay, he started talking about binders. oh, the idea that he had to go and ask where a qualified woman was. he just should have come to my house. he didn't need a binder. >> i've got to tell you, we don't have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented, driven young women. >> this president has failed america's women. they've suffered in terms of getting jobs p. >> 26 million women are trapped in poverty, that's the highest rate in 7 1/2 years. >> the president and governor romney also traded jabs on one another's future plans. >> governor romney says he has a plan to create 12 million new

jobs in the next four years. the "washington post" called it a bait and switch. >> i think it's interesting that the president still doesn't have an agenda for a second term. i mean, he's got to come up with that over this weekend because there's only one debate left on monday. as predicted, it looks like this will, in fact, be the first billion-dollar election. an nbc news analysis found that president obama's team has spent $352 million on ads so far, while romney and his supporters have shelled out $455 million. that's a total of $807 million spent on both television and radio ads by two campaigns with 19 days still left before the election. more than half of that money has been spent in the three battleground states of florida, ohio, and virginia. cycling legend lance armstrong has stepped down as chairman of his cancer-fighting charity live strong. the resignation comes after a week of the anti-doping agency releasing that overwhelming evidence of drug abuse by armstrong. he became an international hero

by overcoming cancer and winning seven tour de france titles. well, now a virtual cascade of companies that used armstrong as a pitchman severed ties with him in quick succession. we're going to have much more on armstrong coming up a little later in sports. but first, 40 years after it was first conceived, a memorial to the nation's 32nd president, franklin d. roosevelt, finally became a reality yesterday in new york city. former president bill clinton was on hand along with new york leaders and nbc's tom brokaw. the monument honors the four freedoms speech fdr gave prior to world war ii, words that would become part of the united nations' charter. >> we are close to the united nations, which he more than any other soul created, and which has contributed to avoiding that third world war. we are also close to ground zero, which reminds us that we

are not yet free from fear. and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. let's begin with an all-out brawl that cost five arizona prison guards their jobs. the correction officers punched and stomped on two patrons outside a bar last september. the men also attacked a father and his 17-year-old son who were trying to break up the fight. each former guard faces aggravated assault and other charges. there was widespread hysteria across northern california. did you see it? there were scores of people that witnessed a fireball streaking across the sky. the sightings caused phone lines at national weather service to light up. now, officials there believe the bright streaks of light were part of a meteor shower, which is becoming a normal occurrence in the area. pretty cool looking. all right, now to the rockies where colorado skiers kicked off ski season at arapahoe basin. the resort is traditionally one

of the first in the nation to open their slopes. colorado resorts are hoping to rebound from last season's drab winter. and finally, artistic undergarments are now being used to fight against breast cancer. that's because an elaborate array of unique bras are scheduled to hit the auction block in new york. these unique designs will be sold next month, all to raise money for breast cancer awareness. getting creative. and now for a look at your national and regional weather, here is nbc meteorologist bill karins, who is not getting creative about the weather out there. that will tell its own story. >> and speaking of trying to wear as little clothes as possible, l.a. yesterday, 97 degrees. >> they could have used those bras. >> yes. bikinis and bathing suits, if you can get away with it. yeah, it was a beach day yesterday in a few spots, and warm temperatures. i mean, pretty incredible stuff. it wasn't record highs. the record high in downtown l.a. yesterday actually was 102, so we got close at 97. and this looks like the peak of this recent little mini heat wave we've been dealing with.

from here on out, it looks like we'll cool it off as we get more of an onshore flow, keeping the temperatures cooler, even in downtown l.a., and especially at the coast. and it was even warm yesterday in san francisco. hope you enjoyed that at 86 degrees. now, as far as this morning goes, it's another warm morning out there, temperatures in the 70s, the 60s. the cool spots all the way from about central nevada northwards, up through idaho and all areas, except coastal spots of oregon and washington state. now, things are going to change. we're clear as could be this morning with high pressure. that's why we got a good night of radiational cooling from all the warm air from the ground that escapes into the atmosphere, but the next storm is coming and ahead of that, winds will shift more or less from an ocean breeze. the next storm will move in with rain after about 11:00 a.m. in seattle today, especially tonight. it's going to put down an inch to two inches, especially further north into puget sound and the cascades, less towards portland, but the next little shot of rain will be the first of a series of damp days in the northwest. notice all the be right around

80 degrees. well, i think it's finally safe to say i think that's probably going to be the last really hot day in l.a. until next year. >> careful, bill. careful. >> i'm feeling pretty good about it. >> okay, all right. we'll check back later in the week and find out if you're right. >> okay. well, a cancer fighter that is probably already in your cabinet. the top tourist destination right here in america. have you been there yet? plus, the good news for the economy, stocks, and the housing market. things are looking up. you're watching "early today." >> announcer: brought to you by the makers of centrum men and women. have you taken the most complete multi-vitamin today?

i'm lynn berry. right now the search is on for whoever killed five people inside a bar in denver and then

set the bar on fire. among the victims, four women, including one of the bar's owners, a 63-year-old. police think the fire was set to try and destroy evidence. they have not identified a suspect. the family of george mcgovern says the former presidential candidate is, "no longer responsive in hospice care." earlier this week, mcgovern's daughter said the 90-year-old was nearing the end of his life. well, it's not exactly the perfect graduation gift. a new report finds two-thirds of the class of 2011 finished college already owing an average of $26,000 in student loans. that's about 5%. and pop quiz time. can you name the world's top tourist destination? no, it's not florence, italy. that came in third. cape town, south africa, did very well in that survey but still only reached number two. the winner? ah, right here at home. charleston, south carolina. it also earned bragging rights

for the second year in a row as the top city in the u.s. it is a spectacular city. well, a new study shows that taking a daily multivitamin might reduce a man's risk of getting cancer. middle-aged men who took multivitamins for a decade had cut their cancer rate by 8% up. the findings suggest that low doses of a wide range of vitamins might be better than loading up on just one. multivitamins appear to have no side effects while some high-dose supplements can be harmful. well, now here's an early look at how wall street's going to kick off the day. the dow closed at 13,557 after adding five points yesterday. the s&p was up six. the nasdaq gained almost three. in overseas trading on this thursday, in tokyo, the nikkei surged 176 points, while in hong kong, the hang seng climbed 102. wednesday's good news here at home had ripple effects overseas. asian shares hit a seven-month high after a slew of signs that china's economy is improving followed positive upbeat housing

data. september home construction soared 15% over august, driving up homebuilders and suppliers like home depot and lowe's. it wasn't all good, ibm's lackluster earnings were a drag on the dow. bank of america reported its profit plunged 95% but still managed to beat estimates. american express matched third quarter expectations as card spending growth slowed. it was a milestone for lockheed martin yesterday. the company's next-generation military fighter jet, the supersonic f-35, test dropped a 2,000-pound bomb over the mojave desert. a judge ruled d.c. comics can retain the rights to superman, saying the heirs of one of superman's co-creators signed their rights away 20 years ago. it's not even halloween yet, but some retailers like target are already ramping up holiday ads and deals like online

price-matching and digital in-store shopping. and finally, celebrity chef rachael ray is cashing in on the food truck craze for a good cause, animals. her new dog food truck will be handing out samples of her own delish brand of chicken mutt balls and chicken paw pie in new york city for the next few days. well, coming up, mother nature keeps the yanks alive, and lance armstrong's world comes crashing down. plus, the world's oldest profession helps out the world's most popular sport. sports is straight ahead. i'll have an update on that severe weather rolling through the deep south and the forecast doesn't look much better for the east coast. that's all coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. in sports, lance armstrong's financial empire has come crashing down. on the same day armstrong stepped down as chairman of his cancer-fighting foundation live strong, nike, along with several other companies, have terminated their endorsement deals with the cyclist. the list includes anheuser-busch, which used armstrong to pitch michelob, trek, 24-hour fitness, sports drink producer frs, energy food marketer honey stinger, radio shack and the maker of giro helmets. now those companies said they will continue to support the live strong foundation. there is one company, oakley, they have put armstrong's status under review. all right. let's head over to baseball's national league playoffs.

st. louis's matt carpenter hit a two-run homer while subbing for carlos beltran and the cards weathered a 3 1/2-hour rain delay to beat the giants 3-1 taking a one-game series lead. to detroit now, where the yanks and tigers were rained out. the tigers lead three games to none. game four will be played this afternoon. and, finally, come on, guys, you couldn't think of anything better than this? players on a cash-strapped greek soccer team are now wearing pink practice jerseys with the logos villa erotica and sula's house of history. these are two brothels that it recruited as sponsors after government spending cuts left the country's sporting clubs facing financial ruin. at least they're pink. but league organizers have banned the jerseys during games, saying the deal violates the sporting ideal and it's inappropriate for underaged supporters. >> announcer: early today sports is brought to you by new just for men auto stop. gray is over. just ahead, who knocked charlie sheen off his highest paid tv perch? and the latest bizarre celebrity

star baby name. this one is a mouthful. plus, decadence in dallas. if you're a chocolate lover, you're going to want to see this. you're watching "early today."

welcome back to "early today." on this thursday morning. not quite as hot today in areas of southern california. you go from mid-80s yesterday to 70s in san francisco, 89 in l.a.

instead of 97. the northwest, some rain will be moving in late were in the day, looks like after lunch hour specifically, then we'll keep damp conditions in many areas of the northwest for tomorrow, lynn. so looks like we're back to the rainy weather. all right, bill, thanks. now to entertainment news. flavor flav, the rapper, was arrested in las vegas yesterday for allegedly assaulting his fiance of eight years and her 17-year-old son. ashton kutcher tops forbes list of highest paid tv actors with an estimated $24 million, thanks to his "two and a half men" role. last year, the man that he replaced, charlie sheen, was in the top spot with $40 million. bet he's not laughing now. rounding out the top five, hugh laurie and ray romano with $18 million each. syndication, still makes a lot off of that. and alec baldwin and mark harmon with $15 million each. and finally, uma thurman has revealed her infant daughter's name, and it's a long one, so instead of butchering, we're

just going to show it to you. i'm just half doing my job. she had a baby girl in july, and they're going to call her luna, because calling her that is too complicated. >> there is no way. >> you're just shaking your head. >> there is -- why? >> taylor and william, keep it simple, kids. all right, this comes to us from kxas nbc 5 in dallas, texas, where chocolate lovers got a chance to sink their sweet tooth into a array of sweet treats. they're crowning the best chocolate dish at, where else, the texas state fair. judges had a tough time choosing, but the winner in the end was a mix between a chocolate and mexican dish, the chocolate taco. i love that! well, i'm lynn berry. this is "early today," just the first stop of your day today on your nbc station.

one zoo in mexico welcomed their newest little giant. a 2-month-old baby hippo this week made its appearance along with mama. zoo officials say he is's exploring new foods and while he's tiny now, he could get up to 2 tons. they were listed as a vulnerable series because of poaching with their ivory teeth. look at him having a hard time walking there. >> a little belly fat. a new exhibit shows the popemobile over the years, showing off golden carriages and white cars. it's an in-depth look at the pope's vehicles. the earliest carriages were pulled by six horses and looked more like mobile rooms. it was john paul ii's ride that earned the name popemobile, as it appeared at events around the world. finally, competitors in china did their best flying

squirrel impressions at the championship. b.a.s.e. jumpers and skydivers wore special suits to allow them to glide through the air. the competitors leapt from a cliff 4,600 feet in the air and flew across the valley below. this is just the first round of jumps with finals taking place today. they go really fast. did you see the jet stream going out behind them? >> i think the adrenaline rush must be intense, because you're so close. like, if you jump from a plane, you'reway from the ground, but there you're by a cliff. >> yeah, they have a parachute at the end, yes? >> yeah. >> i had to confirm that. >> no wheels. now time for an early look at the stories we're following throughout the day on nbc. most of us are already wondering what winter to expect. so the noaa will tell us. today the agency will announce predictions for u.s. temperature and precipitation this winter. well, there's going to be a whole lot of shaking going on this afternoon and all over the world. more than 14 million people, mostly in california, have registered to take part in the great shakeout, the world's largest ever earthquake drill. and happy birthday to rock

and roll hall of famer chuck berry. he turns 86 today. 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. in a "rock center" exclusive, an inside look at designer tory burch and how she balances a fashion empire and family time. and coach of "the voice" cee lo green talks about contestant standouts, season steals and his new feathery companion. now, here it here for weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one.