good morning. make or break. president obama back home this morning after his overseas trip, desperately trying to get congress to approve a strike on syria this week. some calling the next few days the most crucial of his presidency. buckingham breach. one accused of scaling a fence to get inside the queen's palace after hours. how did he get past all that security? we are live in london. almost perfect. a pitcher for san francisco giants one stretch away from a perfect game. then, we'll show you the nail biter that had fans on the edge of their seat today, saturday, september 7, 2013.

announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with lester holt and erica hill. live from rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on this saturday morning, i'm erica hill. >> i'm craig melvin. lester is enjoying the morning off. many of you noticed, no dylan dreyer. >> no dylan dreyer. >> there she is. taking a boat ride. she's touring manhattan. wow! >> nice, very nice. >> she's going to show us some of the great sights of this city throughout the course of the morning. we are going to check in with her in a moment. >> also ahead, people in texas and across the country, urged to get the whooping cough vaccine after an outbreak doctors are saying are meeting health

concer concerns. questions tied to the safety of the metal helicopters that kids play with after a 19-year-old man was killed trying to do tricks with one of those things. >> we want to begin with the latest on the president's attempt to get congress to approve a strike in syria. peter alexander has more on that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. president obama didn't waste time jump sboog the debate over whether the u.s. should have military action in syria even as he was flying back from russia last night. the president called both republican and democratic leaders in congress trying to persuade them, return from the summit of world leaders he was unable to build international help. he now has a national address the president will deliver on

tuesday. we have been told about speeches and briefings, classified briefings as well as phone calls leading toup that. this morning, we are getting preview of what we might hear tuesday night. >> failing to respond to this outrageous attack would increase the risk that chemical weapons could be used again. they would fall into the hands of terrorist that is might use them against us and send a horrible signal that there would be consequences. >> they say the president is in a box right now. liberal democrats don't want intervention. hawkish republicans don't believe or trust the president's policy, his plan for syria is perhaps the right one. it puts him in a tough position before the first days before the vote takes place that could happen as early as wednesday in the senate. erica? >> peter alexander at the white house this morning, thanks. many americans are worried

about striking syria for fear it could expand into a wider conflict. now, word that the pentagon could be increasing the target if it's given the go ahead for a strike. jim picks up that part of the story. >> reporter: as president obama prepares this weekend to try to win support from congress and the american people for missile strikes against syria, he ordered the military to come up with other options, to hit harder than originally planned. they want to use long range bombers. b-2 stealth bombers flown all the way from missouri. b-52s from louisiana and b-1 bombers. all able to launch cruise missiles or gps guided bombs from long range, well outside syria's antiaircraft defenses. the u.s. military has been ordered to come up with a longer list of targets.

sending a tougher message to president bashir al assad, sitting on more than 1,000 tons of chemical weapons. >> though he used more chemical weapons on august 21 than before, he's barely put a dent in his stockpile. >> reporter: the u.s. navy has four guided missile destroyers in the mediterranean armed with 150 cruise missiles aimed at 50 military targets inside syria. t one on stand by in the red sea. they announced strategy for a limited attack that would diminish their chemical weapons capabilities would have no lasting impact and only draw the u.s. into a larger war. >> this is probably not the last time the regime is going to use chemical warfare, no matter what we do. >> reporter: the president's attempt at a harder line against

syria has come under fire. military officials say it looks more like a political strategy than military one. for "today," nbc news, pentagon. >> the washington bureau chief joins us this morning. good morning to you. the president, as we have heard laying out messages international and now domestically. yesterday, in his press conference to sreporters he sai look, sometimes you have to go against your constituents and do what you think is right for the country. many americans say we don't want to see strikes in syria. is there a sense in washington of which way lawmakers will go, voting as their constituents want or making tough decision and voting with the president? >> i think if the vote were held today, the president would lose and it would be a serious loss for him.

it's fine to talk about urging legislatures to vote against the interest of their constituents or views of their constituents. it's a hard thing to do. one thing we will see is an effort to change the attitude of enough americans, of public opinion so members of congress feel free to vote his way. >> we are getting a sense of what part of that address based on the president's weekly address and him making the case to americans that this will be long term in terms of impact, but a very short, limited event. is that getting through? is that message getting through, do you think? >> here is the problem the president has. what americans -- the debate is iraq and afghanistan. for iraq, the idea was we wouldn't be there for a long time, a limited military operation. this is different than the situation in iraq. americans know we got engaged to our surprise in extended wars in

both places. the president says he knows americans are weary. he is war weary, but it's hard to persuade americans they can count on this being a very short military operation. >> the president really avoided, refused to answer the question yesterday, if congress does vote this down, will you still go ahead with this strike? if congress does vote it down, is he looking at essentially becoming a lame duck president earlier than expected? >> yes. he says he would have the authority to go ahead, but it's hard to imagine to go ahead with a strike in the absence of congressional okay. it pushes him on the path from being a second term president to a lame duck president who can be defined by members of his own party on an issue he described as crucial. >> is there a sense in washington he grossly miscalculated the response?

>> there's surprise he chos to take this route. he announced he would seek congress approval. it sets up the situation he faces where he's frantically lobbying over the next few days in hopes of winning. >> everyone was waiting to hear when the strikes would happen, not if. susan, nice to have you with us this morning. >> thanks, erica. >> what do you think about syria. #takingsides to weigh in. >> if you are awake last night, if you are awake around midnight, you may have seen a giant light streak through the sky. what is that? >> i can guarantee none of us were up last night. >> we didn't see it. >> if you were, you might know what it is. if not, you saw red lines.

an unmanned rocket to the moon. it's not expected to reach the destination until october 8th. it's designed to move around the moon, gathering information about the atmosphere there. a security review is under way at buckingham palace after a man scaled a fence to get inside the queen's home. they arrested a man in an area normally open to public during the day. no members of the family were home at the time. it was one of the most serious breaches at the pal lance since 1982. an arizona mom is free. she was released on bond from a phoenix prison but may face a retrial. she was convicted in the 1989 murder of her 4-year-old son. a judge overturned the conviction in march saying she received an unfair trial. the fda says the arsenic levels in rice are too low to have any effect.

they are look sboog whether there are long term risks. fda says babies are given rice based cereals. dennis rodman returned this morning from visiting his friend for life, kim jong-un. he came home without the imprisoned u.s. city. he has urged in the past to release him. wait until you see this. it was so close. giants right hander almost made history in last night's game against the diamondbacks. one strike short of throwing the 24th perfect game in major league baseball. he wound up celebrating with a 3-0 giants victory. >> it is a nice way to finish

it. so close. >> they had the camera on his family. they were excited for this. hunter penz is the one who missed. he said it felt like the dream where you can't run fast enough. everybody who watched that and looking at sports highlights were close to crying for the guy. so close, but yet so far. >> at least everybody feels more together. >> millions of americans are struggling to find work. the latest jobs report disappointed. 169,000 new jobs added last month. unemployment slid to 7.3%. that number fell because many have simply stopped looking for work. many of those who are finding jobs are working part time. john yang introduces us to one man who has three jobs and still trying to stay afloat. >> i would like to talk to you about the legal issues you are

having. >> reporter: he bills lots of hours, not all of them at a law firm. he's a ymca building supervisor and takes the odd tree trimming job when he can. all together, he hopes to make $15,000 this year. >> need one more plate. >> he still lives with his parents. when you went to law school is this what you invisioned? >> no. not at all. >> reporter: he says his job hunt after law school was bleak. >> if you got an interview, it was really good. usually that didn't pan out. it was nice to at least get an interview. >> reporter: he highlights how soft the recovery is. of the 848,000 jobs created, nearly two-thirds are part time. >> that tells us there's tentativeness among employers hiring people full time. >> reporter: he seeings growth

opportunity at the "y." how would that make you feel to give up the law? >> it would make me feel kind of sad that i spent three years in law school and the economy wasn't good enough for me to make it as an attorney. >> reporter: his parents helped pay for his law degree, they don't mind if he doesn't use it. >> as long as he's got a regular job, regular pay and regular benefits. it's what i hope for. >> reporter: despite his struggles, he is confident about his future. >> maybe it won't go the way i planned on, but i know i will be successful one day and make something of myself. >> reporter: no matter what it is he ends up doing. for "today," john lang, lake orion, michigan. thousands of cases of whooping cough are ported. doctors say it's reaching epidemic proportions. a dozen states are reporting an

increase. dr. nancy snyderman has more. >> 3 1/2-month-old's mom thought her baby had a cold. then things got worse. >> she would cough and start turning blue. her face would be gray. >> reporter: she had whooping cough. a highly infectious disease that begins with a runny nose, and slight fever. >> it becomes serious with cough and pneumonia and becomes a need for hospitalization. >> she's one of 2,000 people in texas with whooping cough so far this year. two babies died. the numbers so alarming, the state is under a health alert. here in blue, you can see where whooping cough cases increased compared to the same time last year. doctors say vaccination is key. pregnant women should get vaccinated in the third

trimester of pregnancy to antibodies in mom protect the baby at birth and the first few months of life. vaccinate family members and caregivers. make sure your child has all the doses of the advocate sooen add two, four and six months, another 15 through 18 months and one at four to 6 years. five in all. bailey is expected to recover. officials warn this vaccination rates don't increase, other babies may not be as lucky. dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, new york. want to get a check now of the weather from dylan dreyer. it is a beautiful morning here in new york city. a fine day for a boat ride. >> she's in a boat. she's on the famous tour around manhattan. that is postcard perfect. >> because of dylan, not the skyline. >> it's almost too perfect out here. we have the perfect shot and the

sunrise came over the building and the sun is in our shot. we are trying to maneuver around the absolute perfect weather. i am here on the circle line cruises. they take more than 1 million people around manhattan each year. today, we are going bring it to you, give you a tour and a loop around lower manhattan and look at the sights. we are starting with the magnificent empire state building. this took one year and 45 days to build. it took longer to decorate my apartment. it was completed in 1931 in the middle of the great depression. for awhile, it was called the empty building because they couldn't get renters to fill it up. now it's an icon of the city, 103 stories high. it's a perfect morning. because of the clear skies, it's chilly. we are seeing the warmest temperatures in the middle

good morn. waking up to mild conditions and 63 in san francisco and 65 in san jose and all of the mild air is a sign of what is to come. we are talking about triple digit heat in the north bay roy is going to be one of the warmest at 101. perfect beach day. santa cruz at 9, and the same in san francisco. again hot today and for monday, but cooler as we head to next week with a little fog by the end of the week. your latest forecast. of course we'll be back in a few minutes with another new spot here in lower manhattan. craig? >> thank you. when one california family's young son started playing with dolls and dressing in girl clothes, there were no guide books. his parents decided to take matters into their own hands. there was a book called "raising my rainbow." mike has the story. >> as we cook dinner, he sketched a girl with long red

hair, a blue dress, red shoes, a purple tiara, full pink lips. i don't have to ask who the girl in the picture is, i would recognize him anywhere. >> reporter: the california mom is talking about her son we'll call c.j., a 6-year-old with his older brother chase, enjoys all the usual kid stuff and also this. >> which one do you want to wear first? >> reporter: c.j. is genter nonconforming, choosing girl clothes and colors and toys ever since the day he discovered his first doll. >> there was a barbie in her closet. i found it and liked it. >> reporter: then it was life after barbie. a whole family's dynamic changed. >> it's a different thing when you realize your son is really into all things girls. >> reporter: what about the ongoing debate about nature

versus nurture? >> our boys, we are raising them with the same parents, the same environment and getting really, really different results. >> reporter: as parents, they said they follow c.j.s lead. knowing when showing his girl side is a risk and how to answer anyone who questions him. >> he will say i'm gender nonconforming or he'll say this is my style. not everyone in the world has the same style. >> reporter: what about critics who question whether his style is feminine because his mom cried when her second child was another son. >> i wanted a girl. i wanted the opportunity to mother a daughter, but not enough so that i would try to turn a son into a daughter. >> reporter: she started an anonymous blog about raising c.j., she was shocked. >> it was weird to realize this

is a global parenting issue. >> reporter: an issue for all parents looking for a way to love their children, no matter what. >> my children are not going to be bullied in their own house. it's not a choice for us. we are letting our child be who he was born to be. >> reporter: a child like c.j. who embraced his nature. >> some people can be different. some don't have to. >> reporter: safe and supportive as so many similar children are not. for "today," mike taibbi, mission vee yea hoe, california. >> what a lucky kid to be in a supportive family. >> it's good to reach out and create a dialogue. i don't know if you saw the latest facebook picture that went viral of a mom who saw her son come out on facebook. she wrote a note and said i don't care, i love you unconditionally and by the way, can you pick up the soda cans in

your room because it's going to get ants. love your mom. it's fantastic when they have reactions like that. >> it's helpful for kids to see that, too. no fear about anything. >> the nfl season gets under way. one former star faces a judge. new courtroom drama for aaron hernandez. first, this is "today." ♪ [ female announcer ] wherever morning brings you, bring the energy you need. new nature valley soft-baked oatmeal squares. softly baked. made with hearty oatmeal and a drizzle of cinnamon. they're nature valley's brand new take on a morning classic. because when you keep going, the morning can bring you to brand new places. ♪ nature valley. nature at its most delicious.

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good morning. waking up in san francisco, this is what you might see in your window, and if only my neck last would not get tangled. hate for that to happen. what can you tell us about the forecast, rob sh. >> it is going to be ridiculously hot. i'm talking about temperatures in the triple digits in places like livermore and santa rosa and gilroy, and you will top out at 100 degrees. it is going to be a scorcher. temperatures are going to be 63 already in san jose and it is going to be warm as you step out. and 63 in santa rosa perfect beach day close to 93 so highway 17 will be packed.

get a jump start on that early. 94 in san jose and 100 in livermore and so if the heat is too much for you, hang on, because we have three days to get through it. once we hit tuesday and wednesday and thursday, it will calm down, and then return to seasonal a.verages, but lots of water and plenty of subpoepf. police are canvassing a quiet neighborhood in the border of san jose where police say a man was shot to death near gilchrist avenue. his body was found on a walkway between two homes. it is unclear if the shooting is gang-related, but vipeople who knew the victim say he was a family man, and will miss seeing him out here everyday.

>> we saw him everyday with the kids and grand kids and the dogs. nice to talk. to we are going to miss him. >> police say they are talking to at least one person of interest and the shooting is the city's 35th homicide of the year. there were 46 in all of last year. more developing news in san jose where crews are on the fire keeping an eye on hot spots. the fire started at 11:00 last night in between two buildings on north king and mayberry road. the extent of the damage is unclear this morning and the cause is still under investigation. this morning a san jose family is making an emotional plea to the woman who stole their new puppy. the neighbor's surveillance camera caught this woman carrying the woman named grizzy to her suv. marissa says that her door was unlocked when the stranger walked in and out with the dog. she belongs the her 13-year-old

son juan and he says all he wants is to have the puppy back safe. >> so, please, can you bring back my dog. i really love him. he is my dream dog. >> he is a pit bull/german shepherd mix and the family had him for a few weeks. coming up today on today in the bay, the parks worker accused of striking and killing a woman in the park is out of jail this morning. that and all of the day's story in 30. we were like, "sure. no problem!" and you were like, "thanks, but what about thick & creamy and whips!" and we were like, "done and done! now it's out of everything yoplait makes." and you were all, "yum!" and we're like, "is it just us, or has this been a really good conversation?" and you were like, "i would talk, but my mouth is full of yogurt." yoplait. it is so good!

♪ ♪ start spreading the news >> i love this. ♪ i'm leaving today >> we're not leaving. dylan is leaving. we're back on this september 7th, 2013. it's a gorgeous day here in midtown manhattan. you are looking at the iconic skyline. dylan is on board. we never want to see her go, but she's going to take us all along for the ride around the city throughout the morning. more of these beautiful views from dylan on board that boat. also ahead in this half hour, a 19-year-old's untimely death raising a lot of questions about the safety of one of his hobbies. he was killed playing with a metal helicopter. we look at how dangerous those models may be.

there's a story sure to warm your heart. we're going to share that with you this morning. it's about a group of young women not letting their disabilities stop them from showing the world what they are made of. they are participating in a beauty pageant with a showcase. pretty awesome talent. >> i love that story. later this morning, you could call it cricket. thousands and thousands of crickets taking over oklahoma. it might make you squirm. keep watching. we'll have more on the crickets. i don't like bugs. we do begin this half hour -- oh, stop it. thanks so much. >> you're welcome. we want to begin with the latest on the aaron hernandez murder case. this is the first weekend of the nfl season. while the new england patriots are scheduled to face-off to the buffalo bills, a teammate was facing a judge with a murder

charge. >> reporter: in a blazer and handcuffs, aaron hernandez stood in front of a massachusetts judge pleading not guilty six times. not guilty to the murder of his friend, 27-year-old odim lloyd just a few feet away on friday, his mother looked on at his son's accused killer in tears. prosecutors say the 23-year-old former patriots tight end shot lloyd five times in an industrial park a half mile from his home after an argument. lloyd's girlfriend recalled the moment a boston state trooper told her they found his body. >> i couldn't really talk. i was pacing around my apartment, crying and screaming. >> reporter: the district attorney said the state has ballistics and forensic evidence, text messages, video surveillance and cell phone pings all linking hernandez to the murder.

>> over 500 pages of documents have been released to the press and the public. i think that evidence speaks for itself. >> reporter: hernandez's attorney asks the public not to rush to judgment. >> this is the opening kick off. we have a long way to go before the trial. >> doing the time line and where he was when is going to be given much weight by the jurors. >> reporter: authorities in boston are investigating if hernandez was involved in the drive by killings of two men last year. the former nfl star will remain behind bars without bail with his next hearing set for early october. for "today," katy tur, nbc news. >> we want to get a check on the weather. >> dylan dreyer is on the cruise around manhattan. where are you now? >> we are in the same location as before but we turned the boat around. now you can see a magnificent view of lower manhattan and the one world trade center tower.

it's majestic with the sun coming over it. it takes your breath away and to see it on such a beautiful morning. it's beautiful on its own, but the enhancement of a perfect sunrise here. the building is the tallest in the western hemisphere. it stands 1,776 feet high, obviously a nod to our declaration of independence. the weather here is fantastic. in the southwest, we are starting off with a chance of a lot of rain. the moisture is coming in from a tropical system in the pacific that is going to continue to pump in the moisture to produce heavier downpours. flooding, one to three inches of rainfall in the southwest over the course of the day today and tomorrow. elsewhere, you might see late day showers. right now, it is perfect here in new york city. that's a look at the weather across the country. we are wake up to mild conditions. 63 in san francisco and

livermore. cooler in the north bay, but lit change quickly. once we get to noon the temperatures in the 80s and the 90s and this afternoon, 100 in santa rosa, and 93 in oakland and the hottest in gilroy topping out at 101. the heat sticks with us for a couple of days and 101 inland and 80s at the beach cooling as we head to next week. that is your latest forecast. we are going to fire up the boat, keep touring around and be at another spot in a few minutes. craig? >> thank you. an incredible story of survival. in twaig 2008, 27-year-old amanda traveled to somalia with her friend, a photographer, hoping to make her name as a journalist. then disaster. they were taken captive. amanda held for 15 1/2 months by a group and subjected to unspeakable horrors. now she's speaking out and how she managed to stay alive in a book "a house in the sky."

i sat down with her friday. i started by asking her what the title meant. >> well, after spending 15 1/2 months in captivity, i had to come up with ways to survive. one thing i did to escape the often brutal conditions i was living, was to go to a place in my mind, a safe and beautiful place where i could remember the life that i had lived and dream about the life that i hoped i could have for myself if i survived the experience in captivity. >> it's been five years since you were released. why now? why write the book now? >> i have been working on the book for about 3 1/2 years. it took that long. as you can imagine, it wasn't an easy process. the experience in captivity was difficult. i needed to give myself the grace to step back from the process of writing when i needed to.

>> there's a point in the book where you write in detail about the escape and how you and nigel managed to get free. you get to a mosque. your captors find their way to the mosque, but so does a woman. who is that? >> there was a woman in the mosque that day who risked her life trying to help me, trying to save me. a woman who literally threw her body on top of mine as i was being drug out of the mosque by my captors and that woman gave me so much hope for everything that i still had to endure for the remaining ten months. that woman gives me hope, still. >> i want to ask you about one part of the book. it caught my attention. you said when i got out, i would hug my father all the time. i'd take my mother to india, eat better food, look into going to a unit and find a man that really loved me. where are you on the list? >> i'm doing well on most of

those. i have been back to university. i have gone traveling with my mom. i certainly hug my family more than i ever did. after i was released, i found a global enrichment foundation that supports initiatives in somalia where i had lost my freedom, to provide education to women. so yeah. >> what has freedom been like? >> freedom is enjoying all the things that were taken away from me when i was a hostage. simple things like enjoying a blue sky over my head or a good meal with my family. it comes down to that, being grateful for the things i once took for granted. >> the author of "a house in the sky." just ahead, new questions this morning about the safety of the toy model helicopters following deadly accident with one. first, these messages. followin deadly accident with one. first, these messages. [ female announcer ] question -- do you enjoy going to the bathroom?

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a tragedy here in new york city, a young man killed by a model helicopter he was flying in a park. it happened when he lost control in the middle of a trick. today, there are new concerns about the safety of those gadgets. here is the latest from michelle franzen. >> reporter: he loved flying his large remote control helicopter. >> recording. >> reporter: the 19-year-old was a serious enthusiast honing his

hobby and posting videos on youtube. >> amazing pilot. >> reporter: thursday afternoon, he was killed while practicing maneuvers. his helicopter boomeranged and the blades struck him in the head. >> just a terrible, freak event. >> reporter: his death has stunned family and friends. >> disbelief is what's in my heart right now. i'll miss him. >> reporter: the tragedy raises questions about the dangers of this extreme hobby. >> this is not something you start out with. >> reporter: the store manager says the toy helicopters most of us are familiar with have plastic wings. the blades on this prohelicopter similar to his could be likened to a flying lawn mower. >> because of the danger factor and the skill level needed you have to master the other classes before you move up to this. >> reporter: enthusiasts say safety is always a factor at

this level of play. >> it's an adrenaline rush like any hobby, learn new things and push the envelope. >> reporter: the academy of model aeronautics is the lead in the u.s. with 150,000 members and assigned designating flying areas and parks. >> you have to be respectful of the equipment. >> reporter: organizers say this is the first known fatality since 2003. the latest accident is a reminder for anyone trying to master this craft. for "today," michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. up next, a very special pageant with special young women. and the stories will definitely make you smile. definitely make you smile. you think you take off all your make-up before bed.

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because it offers a superior level of protection and because usaa's commitment to serve military members, veterans, and their families is without equal. begin your legacy, get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. woah! what? it's called a smoky eye. [ female announcer ] you may not be the best at new trends but you know what's best for your kids. so we listened when you said gogurt should have only natural colors and flavors and no high fructose corn syrup. thanks, mom. when you think of a beauty pageant, you might not use the word inspiring, but it's the perfect word to describe the pageant you are about to see. >> they have all overcome tremendous adversity. watching them on stage is an incredible moment. the pageant is called miss

amazing. winners from across the country gather to perform and compete. ♪ >> at the miss amazing pageant, the hair, the dresses and the trophies are all big. but the hearts are bigger. ♪ you're amazing just the way you are ♪ >> every beauty queen at this pageant is physically or mentally challenged. >> people with disabilities have amazing abilities and can contribute so much to society. >> reporter: jordan summer is responsible for it all. she created a pageant in omaha when she was 13 years old. now seven years later, the pageants are held all over the country. >> we have participants with down syndrome, autism, high functioning, low functioning. we have participants that don't

use words to talk. >> reporter: this 11-year-old was born with a rare genetic disorder. her parents loved seeing their little girl shine on stage. >> to see how much happiness it brings her, her friends, just to see the smile on her face, i mean it melts my heart. >> reporter: the girls participate in several events designed to build confidence and self-esteem. there's the introduction. >> your junior queen. >> reporter: even wear. and talent. where gabby shows off her singing skills. at miss amazing, it's not about who has the best voice or prettiest dress. it's about each girl getting up on stage and giving it her all. [ cheers and applause ]

>> when i'm up on stage, part of me comes out that nobody sees. >> i like it because i'm not just a girl up there. ♪ isn't she lovely >> while the judges do pick winners, everyone is a queen. >> every girl receives a crown because every girl, in her own way is miss amazing by participating and pushing her limits. >> reporter: life changing experience for girls beautiful inside and out. >> after that miss amazing moment, she can go out into her every day life and feel better about herself because she can remember that moment that hey, i was accepted then and there's no reason i shouldn't be.

>> love that story. jordan doesn't want the girls to pay instead, she asks them donate cans of food to give back to the community. all the girls are fantastic. hats off to her to start at age 13. >> the reaction, the young girl's reactions, that's universal. >> yes, it is. yes, it is. >> really cool. thank you for sharing that one. just ahead, regular baseball player is making now to apologize to fans he disappointed. this is "today." ♪ [ female announcer ] wherever morning brings you,

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i like that energy on a saturday morning here on the plaza. still to come on "today," is barack obama's presidency at stake? the latest to get congress to

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everybody craves those crazy squares.® good morning, folks. looking live at a pretty start of the day in freemont with twinkling lights there, and the blue sky. enjoy it while you have it, but a it is not going to last. than you for joining us. i'm kris sanchez with anthony slaughter, and i don't mean to be negative, but i don't like the hot, hot weather, and we will get a lot of it. >> dangerously hot. we are talking about the temperatures 95-plus in many locations including the santa clara valley. we are starting at 63 in san jose and 63 in san francisco and cooler in livermore and not so bad in the north bay low to mid-50s, but a perfect beach day. take the kids out to the water park, but a it is a beautiful 89 degrees in santa cruz.

that where it is going to be more palpable. 100 in livermore and one of the hottest spots is gilroy at 101. the heat sticks around for the next couple of days. drink plenty of wawater. and the temperatures will bounce back later in the week, kris. hang in there. >> i will. an 18-year-old man is dead and two other teenagers are injured following an overnight shoot ing shooting in vallejo. witnesses say that a car drove by the victim's white hon dand opa 15-year-old passenger is in serious condition and a 16-year-old suffered nonlife threatening injuries and one person is dead. if you have any information, please call the vallejo, police. officers spent the night

canvassing a normally quiet neighborhood in the border of of east san jose. they say a man was shot near gilchrist avenue at around 9:45 last night. his body was found on a walkway in between two home, and it is unclear if the shooting is gang-related. but the victims say that he is a family man who they will miss seeing around town. >> i would see him around here everyday. i will miss seeing him and his kids, grandkids and dogs. he was very nice to talk to. i will miss him. >> police are talking with at least one person of interest. the shooting is the city's 35th homicide victim of the year. there were 46 in all of last year. new details the morning in the shooting death outside of the popular hobey's restaurant in sunnyvale. they say that the man who was shot in the parking lot, police believed that the man was reaching for a weapon.

however, no weapon was found. the victim was the long watched suspect of drug connections. they thought he was reaching for a weapon and that led to the opening fire. today, a city parks worker who is accused of running over a woman with his truck is out of jail. we will explain why. and we will have more local news in 30 minutes. ♪ [ female announcer ] hey ladies. you love it. you've got to have it. cinnamon toast crunch, 'cause that cinnamon and sugar is so irresistible. everybody craves those crazy squares.® made gluten-free cereals in a bunch of yummy flavors. like cinnamon chex, honey nut chex, and chocolate chex... we're in cereal heaven. so thanks. from the mcgregors,

'cause we love chex. good saturday morning, it is saturday september 7, 2013. make or break. president obama facing an up hill battle this morning as he prepares to make his case to congress and the nation about a strike on syria. breaking overnight, buckingham breach. two men urpd arrest. one made it inside the queen's home. we are live inside with an update on that investigation. almost perfect. a pitcher for the san francisco giants comes oh, so close to a perfect game. then, this. we have more on the game that has fans holding their breath, straight ahead. good morning, i'm erica hill. >> i'm craig melvin along with

tom roberts in for jenna this morning. dylan dreyer is taking a boat tour around manhattan. we are going to check in with her in a few moments. >> she's going to share some of that tour with us. the latest on a controversial rape sentence who wants to change a sentence after a public outcry. this morning, he's told not so fast. we'll have more on that. a softer side of sarah after the comedian known for her sometimes abrasive personality, shall we say. she wrote a touching tribute to her dog that died earlier this week. we'll share that with you. a public apology is one thing. there seems to be a lot of them these days. a personal apology is something else all to be the. coming up, the unique way ryan brawn is trying to say i'm sorry

to loyal fans after he was sentenced for using performance enhancing drugs. we begin with the latest on the push to congress to authorize a strike on syria. peter alexander is live outside the white house this morning. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. president obama didn't waste time jumping back into this debate as he was flying home from his meeting with world leaders in russia. the president made calls to members of congress, republicans and democrats, trying to persuade them on the need for military action in syria. returning to washington overnight, president obama faces what even he acknowledges is a hard sell with congress on syria. his weekly address this morning, the case he'll make to the nation tuesday night. >> failing to respond would increase the risk chemical strikes would happen again. it would send a horrible signal

to other nations there's no problem with them using it. >> reporter: the president's window is closing. nancy pelosi insisted president obama needs to make a stronger case to regain momentum, the white house is accelerating the lobbying blitz. sunday, vice president biden will host key republican senators. monday with congress back from summer recess, a classified briefing for all house members. tuesday, president obama's chief of staff pitch democrats with president obama's speech that night. >> he is out there on a bim and out there by himself. >> reporter: can congress be con vinlsed? >> how high does the child of children have to be before we say we are going to do something about it. >> am i willing to risk american lives to go in there? >> i think the only one that can pull it off is the president. >> the american people are not with the president on this one.

>> reporter: the president faces stiff opposition on both sides. liberal democrats are pushing for no intervention and hawkish republicans don't trust the president to carry out the policy they believe is most effective. >> he's dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't on syria at the moment. congress is against him. he's badly weakened. he's looking to the republicans for the yes vote. it's going to hurt him to get things done domestically. >> reporter: the european's blaming the syrian regime and calling on the u.n. to act saying no military action should come until after the u.n. finishes the inspector report that is not due out for a couple weeks. >> there is rumbling about expansion of military options. what are you hearing this morning? >> reporter: while no final decision has been made, the president ordered the military

to come up with a wider range of options to perhaps hit syria harder than originally planned. that could include the long range bombers, the b-2 stealth bomber that is fly from missouri, the b-52s based in louisiana and the b-1 bombers. this is significant for a variety of reasons. a, it would hit syria harder and allow the u.s. to fire off the cruise missiles from outside the area, outside the range of the syrian antidefense system. erica? >> peter alexander at the white house, thank you. a controversial judge in montana says he wanted to right a wrong when he tried to change a rape sentence. he hit a legal roadblock. we have more on the latest twist on a case drawing national attention. >> reporter: minutes before judge todd baugh tried to change a decision, the montana supreme

court stepped in and said no. >> not actually going to have a hearing today. >> reporter: the legal drama centers around the case of a former teacher who pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old back in 2007. morales killed herself before the case went to trial. the girl's grieving mother was outraged when he was sentenced to 15 years but suspended all but 31 days. >> i don't know what's going on with this judge. 31 days was obscene. >> reporter: that sparked protest. in court, the judge said the young victim was older than her chronological age and probably as much in control of the situation as the suspect. days later, baugh apologized. >> i'm not sure what i was attempting to say at that point, but it didn't come out correct. >> reporter: the judge tried to change his decision saying under montana law, the two-year sentence is the minimum time

required. >> that issue could have been avoided all together if i had been more alert or if the state pointed out to the court the correct mandatory minimum. >> reporter: he scheduled a rehearing until the state supreme kout said it's unlaurt. he can't say i want to change it. he has to go through the process. montana is forcing him to go through it. >> that process is an appeal. the victim's mother hopes it leads to more time behind bars. >> a reasonable sentence. >> reporter: for "today," joe friar, nbc news, los angeles. a major security breach at buckingham palace is under investigation. it's almost too much to believe with all the security around, we are live outside buckingham palace. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, erica. this is a most serious break in

for more than 30 years. a man climbed the wall of armed guards, security cameras and motion sensors and got inside the queen's home. buckingham palace, the jewel of london, the most recognizable home of the royal family. tourists and security are tight. new word of an uninvited guest. a man was found in one of the palace's grand state rooms after hours. he was arrested for burglary, trespass and damage. another man was arrested outside the palace. both released on bail. london's metropolitan police say a review of this is being carried out. the palace is protected by high walls, armed guards and security cameras. it does not stop repeated security scares. in 1982, the queen awoke to find a man inside her bedroom.

she talked to him for around ten minutes until managing to raise alarm. any breach brings a rapid response. in 2004, a protester was able to reach a palace balcony. earlier this year, a man waving knives was tasered by the police. the queen was not home. she's still on summer vacation. this is still embarrassing for security officials here. erica? >> thank you. a bright streak of light, did you notice it last night? >> i was sleeping. >> if you saw it, it's part of natasha ghonetha nasa's program. >> it is great news for those who want to see something come from nasa. an unmanned rocket blasted off from virginia's eastern shore. it launched late last night and expected to reach the final

destination october 8th. during the six-month mission, it will move around the moon and gather information from there. the father of a 3-year-old girl filed his second appeal with the oklahoma supreme court. he's been fighting a south carolina couple for years over custody of his daughter, veronica. a judge said to hand over veronica to her adoptive parents. two medical stories we need to tell you about. the fda testing 1300 samples of rice and rice products revealing arsenic levels in rice are too low to have health effects. johnson and johnson is recalling 200,000 bottles of motrin saying they may contain tiny plastic particles. it affects three lots. berry flavor. call the company for more

information and possibly get a refund. giants right hander, almost made history in last night's game against the diamondbacks making his third start of the season. he made a strike. he wound up celebrating any way with a 3-0 giants victory. take a peek at this. finally, the dallas zoo is celebrating the arrival of two cheetah cubs, giving them a puppy. they got an 8 week old black lab. they will provide a calming influence for the cats. >> do they know that labs aren't -- i love labs but they are not the calmest dogs. >> not at all. >> what about the problem with adult cats and dogs? >> the cheetahs are going to get bigger. we have a dog and a cat. they love each other and get

along very well. >> they are going to grow up and the lab is going to -- >> the lab may go live with another family. i'm just guessing. probably not a family -- >> we have to take a check of the weather here. dylan dreyer is hanging out on the water. hello, dylan. where are you now? >> i am now at the statue of libber there. there's this version and that version. obviously one is more breathtaking. her full name. actually there are -- island itself was mostly submerged and created a lot of infrastructure damage, but none to the statue. it took until july before it reopened. it is now reopen good morning. at 6:12 and waking up to beautiful clear skies here. a little bit of traffic heading intop the city.

if you are are trying to head into the city today, it is going to be jam packed because of the temperatures. look at that. highway 17 is going to be jam packed so get an early start on that. you will see the triple digits in livermore and gilroy. the heat will stay with us for a couple of days, and burning is not advised. have a good weekend. >> it goes back here. i'm going to figure out out and get back to you. erica and craig. >> good luck. >> turning now to cricket invasion in oklahoma. it makes my skin crawl. huge swarms of bugs have taken over leaving many wondering how soon it will be before they go away. >> this might make you say eww. imagine how the people who are dealing with it every day feel.

>> it is so gross. >> ewww. >> reporter: in oklahoma towns, it happens every year and is a mess as thousands and thousands of crickets pile up and hang off walls and windows of homes and businesses. >> after awhile, they die. >> reporter: people may not like it, it's natural for all the crickets who this time of year have one thing to do. >> they are looking for a mate so there can be more crickets next year. >> reporter: the signal to gather and mate comes from the change of season and the weather, which this year, dry in the spring and wet in the summer was just right. >> it's fall, the nights are getting cooler. this year may be worse than others. it's nice and humid. it's good for crickets. >> it's good for business if you are an exterminator. calls for service are coming in. exterminators found enough crickets to fill a 30 pound bag.

while people aren't happy, the rest of the animal kingdom is having a feast. >> birds eat them, frogs, lizards, small mammals. they are protein packs for animals. >> reporter: better news, this plague won't last forever. when the weather gets colder, they will all be gone until the new generation comes to town next year. for "today," mark potter, nbc news. >> that's disgusting. >> i'm not a big bug fan. i try not to kill them. they have a perfect and i don't want to mess with the whole thing. >> you don't want to get e-mails as well. >> yes. still to come, sarah silverman's tribute to her best friend after these messages. ♪ [ female announcer ] wherever morning brings you, bring the energy you need. new nature valley soft-baked oatmeal squares. softly baked. made with hearty oatmeal and a drizzle of cinnamon. they're nature valley's brand new take on a morning classic.

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specified delivery dates, and free insurance up to $50 all for the same low rate. [ woman ] we are the united states postal service. [ man ] we are the united states postal service. [ male announcer ] and our priority is you. go to usps.com® and try it today. sarah is known for her jokes, but now her hear. >> we have the story. it's a different side to sarah silverman. >> she's sarcastic, to say the least. this week, her softer side is making headlines, specifically her touching tribute to the man she calls her perfect companion, her dog, duck. puppies, pooches, canine, call them whatever you will. sarah silverman calls hers duck. it's her love and loss of him

that has her singing a different tune. you know the type of comedian she is. >> she is rauncy and sarcastic. >> robert de niro, sean penn, julia roberts. these are the huge stars james worked with that didn't want to be here tonight. >> it's no wonder her recent heart felt tribute took the internet by surprise. posted on her who say account, she said this about her 19-year-old companion. he was a happy dog and he loved love. he became blind, deaf and arthritic. with good meds and me, he was comfortable. >> she was so earnest and loving and sensitive when she wrote it. it's a side of her you do not see.

>> she goes on adding this about her passing. 14 years, my longest relationship. my only experience of maternal love. mikan substantiate companion, my best friend, duck. any pet lover can relate to it. as you might imagine, there's been a lot of reaction to this one. silverman has taken to twitter to thank everything for the support. >> everyone who lost a dog. thank you so much. still ahead, the jersey shore's snooki defending her dramatic weight loss. also, a bit of celebrity wife swap. >> clint eastwood style. i haven't wrapped my head around this one yet. it's just ahead. first, this is "today" on nbc. [ female announcer ] when you asked us to remove

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♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ hey! must be the honey! good morning to you. looking live at the bay bridge that is now open. what a difference a week makes. have you had a chance the drive over it? kris sanchez an ad anthony slaughter. i know in the south bay work everyday. i want the do the bike ride. >> i want to do the bike ride, but maybe not today. >> no, go to the beach or the pool. if you don't have air conditioning, that what we want to stress, you want to get to a place where you can cool off for a few hours. once we get into the afternoon hours, its is going to be dangerously hot, and take a break from the heat and get in some water and air conditioning and cool towel if you can. right now 63 and san jose 63 as

well as san francisco. look at the numbers. hot 100 in santa rosa, and looking inland, that is where it is going to be hot and the air quality will suffer as well. take it easy out there. thank you, anthony. breaking news in east bay where an 18-year-old man is dead and two other teenagers are injured after an overnight shooting in vallejo. the victims were found shot inside of a car near sonoma boulevard at 11:30 last night. witnesses say that a brown car drove by the victim's white honda and someone opened fire. the 18-year-old driver die at the scene. a 15-year-old passenger is in serious condition and a 16-year-old suffered nonlife thre threatening injuries. right now the motive of the shooting is unknown, but if you have information, you ared is ask to call the vallejo police. this morning homicide investigators spent the night

canvassing a normally quiet neighborhood near border and east san jose boulevard. police say that is where a man's body was found on a walkway in between two homes. it is unclear if it is gang-related, but neighbors who knew the victim say he is a family man who will be missed around the neighborhood. >> i will miss seeing him out here everyday. seeing him with his kids and grand kids and his dog. he is nice to talk to. we are just going to miss him. >> police tell us that they are talking with at least one person of interest. this shooting is the city's 35th homicide of the year and in all of last year there were 46. another developing story in san jose where fire crews are on the scene of the overnight warehouse fire keeping an eye out for the hot spots this morning. the fire started at 11:00 last night in between two buildings of north king and may bury road.

firefighters say that the flames quickly spread to the buildings, awe be the cause but the cause of the fire is under investigation. and this morning a city worker who is accused of running over a woman with his truck is out of jail. find out what people are saying about this man. and also more on the heat streak we are expecting coming up in 30 minutes on "today in the bay." [ female announcer ] wherever morning brings you, bring the energy you need. new nature valley soft-baked oatmeal squares. softly baked. made with hearty oatmeal and a drizzle of cinnamon. they're nature valley's brand new take on a morning classic. because when you keep going, the morning can bring you to brand new places. ♪ nature valley. nature at its most delicious.

♪ now that is a good crowd. we are back on a saturday morning. there is a little chill in the air. my mother texted me and said it's going to be cold on the plaza, wear a jacket. i listened to my mother. i will say, with all this energy and these lovely people, it warmed right up. it worked out well. i know, perfect for you. >> this is my kind of weather. >> we have a lot this half hour. coming up, ryan braun is taking his case to the people now. he was suspended for performance enhancing drugs and is going to sit out the rest of the season. he's taken a lot of heat.

now, he's trying to say i'm sorry in a way that may surprise you. >> perhaps more women than men may have an opinion on this one. the casting for the "fifty shades of gray" movie. a lot of people are not happy about it. they want to bring in different faces. we are going to take a look at that in our entertainment wrap up. also ahead, a lot of dogs love going for rides in a car. the rides these dogs are going on is special. they are given a new leash on life. i just got to meet the dog in the green room. >> you are going to adopt? >> we have two at home, but this dog reminds me of my riley. >> maybe you need a dog. >> later, check this out, it's a tricycle built for an adult. the creator is a high roller.

they have bells and streamers. here to show us what they are all about. so, of course, you know we are going to try them out. someone may have cheated by practicing earlier this morning, i don't know. >> i'm not taking it nearly as seriously as this guy. as this guy. >> they are going down. i'm going to need all of your help to take them down. >> it's coming up later. >> we want to start with a story of a personal apology coming from baseball star ryan braun. you have the story. >> braun is suspended for using performance enhancing drugs. when the news came out, he went ahead and wrote a letter of apology. now, he's taking it a step further taking his case directly to the milwaukee brewers fans. >> braun drives one down the left field. >> reporter: a novel way for a ballplayer to win back fans,

calling them personally to say sorry. >> he realizes the backlash is worse than he ever thought. what does he do? he reaches out to the brewers himself. he says i would like to talk to some of the people i have hurt most. >> reporter: for a year and a half, ryan braun denied allegations of doping. >> i did not do this. >> reporter: last month, he did an about face admitting he used banned substances. he issued a statement telling fans he's deeply sorry. now, he's taking it a step further phoning fans. >> i asked him, i said why a guy like you with all the talent in the world, would you do something like this? he said it was a mistake. >> reporter: the conversation lasted five minutes but not enough to win him over. >> i thought it took a lot on his part to call. did i believe it? no. he lied to them. i think it's going to take more

than a few phone calls. >> reporter: the calls came on losing an endorsement with nike and endorsements from restaurants and aaron rodgers. >> doesn't feel great being lied to like that. i'm disappointed about the way it went down. >> reporter: whether the phone calls are enough for fans to forgive remains to be seen. he's serving a lengthy suspension and can't be on the field until opening day next year. >> if he goes back to the field and performs like an all-star player, the fans will forget. if he goes out and stinks, fans will never forgive him, not in milwaukee or anywhere else. >> it's a unique approach. we reached out to the brewers. he said this was braun's initiative. the only thing they did was give him contact information from some of the season ticketholders to make the personal calls.

as you see from a fan like wes, it may not be -- >> he may not get the response he was hoping for. >> it's a push in the right direction. one thing i have been told -- >> i'm looking forward to this. >> i'm going to take a crack at weather. >> you have this. >> get ready for temperatures today from the rockies to the midwest with highs in the 90s. meantime, the northern rockies could see severe storms. from the northeast to the mid-atlantic states, a beautiful day. in the tropics, who doesn't like the tropics, people? everybody likes the tropics. still, not one hurricane so far this season. how did i do? >> yeah! >> we should give you . :35 and here we are looking at the clear skies and you can see the clear colors across the golden gate bridge. this is what you wake up for the

see the beautiful colors. temperatures will be warm. we are starting out in the 60s across all of the bay. 89 in santa cruz and 86 in downtown san francisco and one of the warmer spots santa rosa and livermore at 100, and so it is going to be hot and take it easy outside if you have to be outside. take breaks if you are out in the heat. have a good weekend. we are into september, you know what that means? >> nfl season. >> to the music. >> tomorrow night, the new york giants are taking on the dallas cowboys in cowboy's stadium. outside in the 90s. inside is in the 70s. that's the giants tomorrow night in prime time. right here on nbc. >> football night in america. >> i'm a comedian. >> he is not going to win. >> you have to stay tuned to see what it is.

>> up next, the new gig for actor alec introducing the most versatile oscillating tool system in the industry. the ridgid jobmax. all these different power tool heads lock into one power base. giving you the flexibility to get an amazing amount of work done. sanding, drilling, driving, fastening, cutting, and much more. like all ridgid power tools, the ridgid jobmax is covered for life. only at the home depot. this complete jobmax starter kit is now only $79, and this 12pc blade kit for just $49.88. ♪ now you can give yourself a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle. that's why there's a new duracell battery. duracell quantum.

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coping with asthma isn't controlling it. test your level of control at asthma.com, then talk to your doctor. there may be more you could do for your asthma. from "fifty shades of gray" to alec baldwin's new job, we have a lot to get to. >> always good to see you.

>> good to see you, too. cold morning, hot topics. >> this is -- >> i don't know where to go with this one. >> this is a different kind -- >> it's a bit confusing. let's break it down slowly. >> okay. >> clint eastwood and his estranged wife were together 17 years. they split over the summer. since then, dena has been dating a friend from high school. it's fine. scott fisher. he's a coach at the university of hawaii. clint eastwood has been spotted out with his ex-wife. it is a real life wife swap. >> there's an age difference, too, i would imagine. >> his new woman is in her early 40s. his soon-to-be ex-wife is 48. he likes them young. he does. >> the nickname dirty harry.

>> oh! oh! >> i didn't know what to say that wouldn't get me in trouble. >> let's talk about a new colleague alec baldwin is going to be at the real life 30 rock now. part politics part pop culture. how do you think people are going to react to this? >> i think he's going to do well. he's a great interviewer. he's very engaging, smart, funny and knowledgeable. i think it will be interesting toe see him play against types. "30 rock" fans know him as a staunch republican. he's a real liberal. >> he's very much a liberal. even that, if you listen to the interview shows, i listen to them in new york city where he has show and it's very different than what you would expect. it will be a lot of fun. >> as long as he keeps his temper in check, we should be good.

it might make for great television. >> a little energy goes a long way on tv. snooki is getting backlash. a girl can't win. >> no. >> everyone says she's too skin any. >> you can't win. when she was a drunk, chunky mess on "jersey shore" people have a problem with her. now after losing 50 pounds, she's working out five days a week with a trainer, eating right, cut down on the boos, being a responsible mother and they are giving her flak for being too skinny. she was 4'8", 140 pounds. now she's 4'8" and 96 pounds. it's a reasonable size. >> as long as she's healthy. always nice to see you. we have to leave it there. we had too much fun. >> all right. >> up next, hundreds of dogs, one at a time. first, this is "today" on nbc. unbelievable.

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shelter animals are euthanized. one group is trying to put a dent in the numbers. one carload at a time. jill rappaport went along for the ride. this is a cool one. >> this is unbelievable. it's a road trip i will never forget. countless animals in need on what i call the highway to heaven, hopefully getting a second chance for a new life. elmo, this homeless 10-year-old chihuahua is on a special road trip to pennsylvania. it's the next stop closer to home. his journey begins in north carolina along with cole, this 2-year-old boxer and the drivers are on a mission of their heart, car pooling countless canines

across the country in hopes of finding a permanent loving home. every year thousands of abandoned animals are unnecessarily euthanized because the shelters are full and nowhere else for them to go. >> it would be nice to wake up and not see them put down because they are unwanted. >> reporter: these are two of the volunteers that work around the clock for martha's mutt movers. it's based in akron, ohio. it's coordinated by martha. the drivers log hundreds of miles at a time during their free time so the pooches get the home they deserve, which is the ultimate reward for the volunteers. they really find this a true gift to them. >> they love it. their thoughts are the same as mine. by doing this, even if it's one dog, it is one dog that is given a new life. they didn't have a chance before.

it would have been dead two days ago if they weren't on this transport today. >> these volunteer drivers not only donate their time, but incur costly gas bills and rack up miles on their car. now crystal and justin hand off elmo and cole to the next volunteer, doug walker, who takes the run from here. >> the minute you get them in the car, they know it. somehow they know it. >> 12 1/2-year-old sofia is added to his group. >> she feels it. she knows. >> reporter: this german short haired pointer joins the journey in raleigh. they get handed off from volunteer to volunteer. >> o moment on the grass and there they go. >> reporter: in maryland they go their separate ways. they are safely transported to a

home. little cole logs the most miles from north carolina all the way to maine where he will meet his new family, thanks to the help of martha's extended family. >> and the drivers, they are road angels. absolutely. it's their passion. >> amazing to see them go from the shelter where they are unwanted to homes where they are going to be loved forever. >> there are aapproximapproxima million animals in shelters. half of them will never get out. >> we have one here. >> great work by them. this is yogi. this is nancy, a volunteer who transported many dogs for mutt movers. yogi belongs to you? >> yes, he does. he was my 45th dog to transfer and i just kept looking at him

as i was driving and i fell in love. >> as jill reported in the piece there, i would imagine you put a lot of miles on your car transporting these dogs. why do you do it? >> i love to have a million animals, but instead, i'm trying to help the other dogs get to safety. >> do you get updates on the dogs you drop off? >> sometimes we do get an e-mail saying the dog made it to their forever home. but, you know, most the time, we know they are at safety now. >> adoption obviously the goal, jill, ultimately for all these dogs. >> right. >> if there's someone watching who wants to help out without driving, what else can they do? >> if they can't adopt, you can volunteer. shelters need volunteers. even if you walk into your local shelter, walk the animals. they need socialized. this guy is chilled, happy and so in love with his owner.

>> jill, thank you so much. nancy thank you. yogi, thanks to you. nice hat. still to come, we are going to race. look at those things. erica hill has been practicing adult sized big wheels. first, these messages. we've completely redone the house. it's hard to find contractors with the passion and the skill, and that's why we use angie's list. online or on the phone, we help you hire right the first time with honest reviews on over 720 local services. i want it done right. i don't want to have to worry about it or have to come back and redo it. with angie's list, i was able to turn my home into the home of my dreams. for over 18 years, we've helped people take care of the things that matter most. join today. sthat is why i'm through thed moon to present our latest

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i didn't have one of these as a kid, but i liked to use other peoples. >> i didn't have one, either. >> an adult can get in the fun as well. supersized tricycle. it's adult size. good morning to you, sir. >> good morning. >> how did you come up with the idea? >> how did i come up with the idea? it all started when i was 4 years old. i founded the big wheel rally out in colorado to get the adults together, go downtown and we are racing. everyone is asking, where can i get a real one that fits me? nobody made them so i designed

it. you can pedal 10 to 12 miles an hour. downhill, 42. >> we are going to have a race. craig melvin, was practicing this morning before anyone was outside on the plaza. do you have tips for us, matt? >> brake on the right, axel on the left. >> built for speed. >> we're going to keep going. >> i can't believe we did this.

meanwhile, dylan missed out on the race. >> it's quieter where i am now. the brooklyn bridge -- amaze g amazing -- doing the weather for me. thank you for that. >> he says anytime but you can't have a big wheel, dylan. >> doing double duty. >> you are a cheater. >> no, i'm not. >> you are a cheater. superman does not cheat. >> tomorrow, we are going to have a rematch. have a great day. see you back here tomorrow.

good morning. i'm sanchez on today in the bay. a breaking story this the bay on a homicide that police are calling a deadly shooting. what the police are saying about a possible suspect this morning. plus -- a boy's emotional plea to woman who stole his new puppy right from inside of his own home. and we also hear from the children of the san francisco city park worker accused of running over a mother right in front of her 11-month-old daughter. "today in the bay" is next.

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"today in the bay." >> good morning to you. looking live from the camera over san francisco and a very nice place to start the day. you might want to end the day in the city by the bay as well, because it is going to be hot otherwise. i'm kris sanchez along with meteorologist anthony slaughter

who says it is a scorcher and dangerously so. >> yes, in livermore and santa rosa and gilmore and the sboor your valley is where the temperatures will be extreme and close to 100 if not ek seeding that and we are already waking up mild. san jose is 63 and once you step outside, you will feel the heat. if you are making plans to at&t park later this evening, the temperatures will be warm this afternoon, but tonight through the 70s and picture-perfect conditions there. and if you are head nod the beach in santa cruz, the temperatures there will be warm close to 90 and i will not be surprised if we get a few 90s in the santa cruz areas. it is close to record heat. 86 in san francisco and 94 in san jose and 100 in livermore and one of the hotter spots is gilroy at 101. we have a spare the air alert in effect today and urge folks to not do any outdoor burn, because we are s