tv Early Today NBC January 31, 2014 4:00am-4:31am PST
4:00 am
and good friday morning. coming up on "early today," super weekend. the most watched sporting event in america is just two days away. but arrests for prostitution and drugs are in the news this morning. school lunch outrage. elementary students have their lunches pulled out from under them and tossed out by school officials. parents are furious. murder trial. the court reinstates amanda knox's guilt verdict. will the u.s. extradite her to italy to serve a 28-year sentence? plus, close call. a tow truck driver narrowly misses certain injury or worse. and a police officer gets a little too aggressive with this florida woman. it's friday, january 31st. "early today" starts right now.
4:01 am
and good morning. i'm richard lui. we begin with a major prostitution and cocaine crackdown ahead of the super bowl. police say the ring was selling party packs of drugs and sex in new york city. they're accused of advertising on public access cable tv and taking credit cards and using texts to market their services. police say they have been watching the ring for 11 months but decided to act now just in case anything was brewing for the super bowl. >> we have identified in the last year more than $3 million in credit card charges related to this enterprise. and keep in mind that most johns pay cash. so that's a staggering number. >> 18 people are charged and more than half have already been arrested. now that the super bowl weekend is here, the crowds and the excitement is building as the performers and players prepare for kickoff.
4:02 am
nbc's sarah dahloff is in times square right now. a lot of fun happening no doubt, but i have to wonder about the traffic too as they block off those streets. >> reporter: well, good morning, richard. they just don't really have a choice. nobody wants to mess with football fans this week, let alone the seahawks and broncos fans who have been arriving steadily throughout the week. still, 13 blocks of times square transformed into this super bowl boulevard. you can do everything from visit the vince lombardi trophy to try your hand at taking a field goal. you're expecting thousands and thousands of fans to continue arriving throughout the week, leading up, of course, to the big game on sunday. this is the first open air cold weather stadium game in history. and this is a job that security forces are taking seriously. you've got local, state and federal agencies, about 100 of them, making sure this is not only a fun game for fans, but
4:03 am
also a safe game for fans. they are, as i said, taking unprecedented security measures including infrared detection, bomb sniffing dogs, everything like that and asking fans to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and any potential threats. meanwhile, tickets selling well so far, but a little under average, amazing considering they're priced at $2800 on average. back to you. >> $128, doable for some. not for others. there is always one major risk when it comes to football, though. concussions and our new nbc news/wall street journal poll finding the hazard driving opinion days before the super bowl. 40% would steer their kids away from football and toward a different sport because of concussion concerns. 57% say they would have no problem if their child played the game. this comes amid an ongoing
4:04 am
lawsuit if the nfl did enough to prevent former players' concussions. a judge denied a settlement approval, arguing that it might not be enough money to cover all the claims. here's a story that will get you talking, especially if you're about to send a child off to school this morning. in a salt lake city school district, officials are refusing to serve lunch to students who do not have enough money in their account. in fact, one fifth grader saying, an administrator threw away her food in front of the entire lunch room. >> she took the lunch and she's, like, go get a milk. i'm, like, okay. i come back up and i'm like what's going on? she's like you don't have any money. >> the district says it is reviewing the way parents are notified of negative balances and says they're hoping to implement a grace period. there are new questions this morning on whether amanda knox, the former exchange student, will be forced to return to italy. late thursday an italian court once again found knox and her
4:05 am
former boyfriend guilty of murder in the 2007 killing of her then roommate. it is just the latest twist in the case that captured international attention. in 2011, an appellate court overturned the pair's original conviction. but ordered a new trial last year. well, knox can appeal and only then will extradition be on the table if that appeal fails. in a statement, she said in part, quote, i am frightened and saddened by this unjust verdict. having been found innocent before, i expected better from the italian justice system, end quote. new this morning, her ex-boyfriend, raffaele sollecito were picked up by police near the border of austria and slovenia. they stamped his passport and i.d. so he cannot leave the country. coming up today, an exclusive interview with raffaele sollecito. the hazard us driving conditions across the country led to dramatic accidents and close calls all caught on video.
4:06 am
in mobile, alabama, a flatbed truck driver, watch this, was removing a damaged vehicle when, as you saw there, he just got missed by a vehicle that hit his flatbed truck there. he got out of the way, good thing, and was not hurt. a traffic camera in minnesota recorded dozens of trucks and cars sliding on snow and ice, and crashing into each other. luckily there were no serious injuries there. taking you west, there is a deepening drought crisis in california. it has been so dry for so long, california's governor is calling on the state to converve water. a severe water shortage in some communities is looming. miguel almaguer has more for us. >> reporter: this is what the sierra looked like a year ago. this winter, what a difference. the state now in extreme drought. fourth generation farmer andy dam d damonag one feels the pain. >> reporter: without rain, he'll lose this year's wheat harvest.
4:07 am
he sold livestock to keep the farm. he says what is happening here will affect americans across the country. >> i can't grow any crop. that doesn't go to market. and the country, it is a shortage. what happens with the shortage, prices go up. >> reporter: after declaring a state of emergency, governor jerry brown met with water leaders and asked all californians to reduce their water use by 20%. >> long-term, we don't know what it means because we don't know how long it will last. but we'll take every step we need to do. >> reporter: this is the first time exceptional drought has ever been declared in california. for communities in ten counties, water could run out in 60 days. now major cities are also feeling the pressure. most get their water from reservoirs. these before and after pictures show where water levels should be and where they are today. lakes, watersheds, are in serious trouble.
4:08 am
>> stark pictures there. nbc's miguel almaguer reporting for us. let's see if relief is on the way. bill karins joins us right now. so he was saying the first time we talk about exceptional drought. >> they have been doing the drought monitor since 2000, i don't want to be misleading with that. the first time in 14 years we had that category. 1977 drought was a benchmark, would have been exceptional back then too. let me so you the map and how it is looking here. 90% of the state. 78 extreme, and new number, 9% in exceptional. not just a california thing. the drought is spreading throughout the west. much of oregon has got noon the extreme category. 15% of the entire west is in extreme now. that 2%, little piece of nevada. how much rain did we finish with in the month of january? still today to go. from san francisco to vegas to phoenix to los angeles, we got little if anything. even the northwest is a little dryer than normal. today, showers and we actually could possibly end the dry streak in vegas today with a few
4:09 am
showers. but over the next ten days, the beginning of february does not look promising. still looking at half an inch or less in much of california. hopefully it will change toward the middle of the month of february, that is. that's a look a richard, doesn't look like much of a chance of rain over the weekend, but cooler temperatures will continue. >> bill karins, thank you so much for that. straight ahead for you, the incredible rescue of this baby girl buried in the rubble of a bombed out building. you're watching "early today." [ male announcer ] this is the age of knowing what you're made of.
4:10 am
why let erectile dysfunction get in your way? talk to your doctor about viagra. ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain; it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. side effects include headache, flushing, upset stomach, and abnormal vision. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. stop taking viagra and call your doctor right away if you experience a sudden decrease or loss in vision or hearing. this is the age of taking action. viagra. talk to your doctor.
4:11 am
still running in the morning? yeah. getting your vegetables every day? when i can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] could've had a v8. two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. two full servings of vegetables i cthis year aloneore places offi hit new york...ist. and texas! see, hotwire checks the competition's rates every day... so they can guarantee their low hotel prices. ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e ♪ hotwire.com wears off. [ female announcer ] stop searching and start repairing. eucerin professional repair moisturizes while actually repairing very dry skin. the end of trial and error has arrived. try a free sample at eucerinus.com. and welcome back. the justice department will seek the death penalty if dzhokhar tsarnaev is found guilty of the attacks of the boston marathon n
4:12 am
a statement thursday, attorney general eric holder saying, quote, the nature of the conduct at issue and the results and harm compel this decision. incredible video showing life found in the aftermath of an alleged air strike in syria. a 14-month-old girl frantically dug out of rubble and dust to the joy of those around her. new video showing a florida woman arrested for drug charges and being literally dragged as you see there off to jail after going, quote, deliberately limp. the woman who had been arrested over 40 times believed the officer should have been given more than just a written reprimand. a family in chile roke up to a puma ransacking their kitchen. they're not sure how the big cat ended up in the house. they believe it may have been someone's pet that escaped. you can now find that pet at the national zoo. and check out this hilarious police sketch released by a texas sheriff's department. not very helpful. the suspect in the armed robbery was found and arrested. now for business, we turn to cnbc's morgan brendan.
4:13 am
good morning, morgan. >> good morning. yahoo!'s e-mail service was recently hit by a cyberattack, affecting an undisclosed numbers of octobers. they're prompting users to reset passwords. user names and passwords were likely stole fn from a third pay database. nadella runs microsoft cloud business. reports say bill gates may step down as chairman. meanwhile, the state department is reportedly close to issuing an environmental review on the keystone xl pipeline, which may show the project won't raise carbon emissions. president obama delayed approving the pipeline which would carry oil from canada to nebraska. richard, back to you. >> all right, thank you so much, morgan. sports is next. we'll tell you how the broncos and seahawks are getting ready for the big day. plus, a rundown of sunday's predictions from the animal kingdom. and more super bowl antics from supermodel kate upton. ♪
4:14 am
♪ [ girl ] roses are red. violets are blue. splenda® is sweet. and so are you. [ female announcer ] just about anywhere you use sugar, you can use splenda® no calorie sweetener. ♪ splenda® lets you experience the joy of sugar without all the calories. it's a very good reason to enjoy something sweet with the ones you love. think sugar, say splenda™
4:15 am
her long day of pick ups and drop offs begins with arthritis pain... and a choice. take up to 6 tylenol in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. all aboard. ♪ mmm! this is delicious katie. it's not bad for canned soup, right? pfft! [ laughs ] you nearly had us there. canned soup. [ male announcer ] they just might think it's homemade. try campbell's homestyle soup.
4:16 am
in a "today" exclusive interview, celebrity parents kristen bell and dax shepard take on the paparazzi over photos of celebrities' kids. what they're asking you to do about it this morning on "today." sports time is short for super bowl prep with just two days to go. thursday, the ground was so frozen, the broncos practice moved indoors.
4:17 am
denver's coach wanted to protect the players' legs from the hard ground. seattle stayed indoors. turnover thursday as they deemed it where the defense tries to strip the ball. as they have done all but one time this season, the defense won the practice with an interception yesterday. and the so-called experts, you know the vegas linemakers have the seahawks as two-point underdogs. let's go to the real experts, my friend. eli the ape from utah picking seattle. eli has correctly picked the winner six years straight. do not make fun of him. in california, tag the bear picking seattle. gobbling up a washington apple pie over a denver omelet. sweet. in florida, buffett the manatee, correctly picked six years straight, going with denver. he swam right into the broncos logo. that's how he does it. and kiano the rhino selected the ball with the denver logo as well. this is all very scientific. sunday, 6:00 p.m. eastern, will tell us who in the end got that
4:18 am
right. a site funny or die had fun with joe buck. he's apparently, well, not a fan favorite in new york city. >> some people think i have a bias against this city. not true. i got to say, i love it and it loves me. >> [ bleep ] you, joe buck. you ain't the yankees, you ain't the giants, we hate you! >> the site -- are you [ bleep ] kidding me? a whole pizza? and thin crust. behind the scenes video to show you of a vogue football scene photo shoot. that's kate upton, taking a snap from the jets center. who will the fans like more, geno smith or supermodel in heels. just ahead, your super bowl forecast. plus a busy jerry seinfeld on a reunion for the show about nothing. jay leno and yada, yada, yada, next. i need proof of insurance. that's my geico digital insurance id card -
4:19 am
gots all my pertinents on it and such. works for me. turn to the camera. ah, actually i think my eyes might ha... next! digital insurance id cards. just a tap away on the geico app. could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. everybody knows that. well, did you know that when a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, it does make a sound? ohhh...ugh. geico. little help here. with freshly bakedeve in whole grain bread.right then we add all-natural eggs... lean antibiotic-free ham... and vermont white cheddar. get 16 grams of protein and 23 grams of whole grain in the breakfast power sandwich. still running in the morning? yeah. getting your vegetables every day?
4:20 am
when can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] could've had a v8. two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. -hit the beach in florida.tables -and a reunion in seattle. we can afford to take more trips this year. [man] when hotels have unsold rooms, they use hotwire to fill them. [woman] so we got our 4-star hotels... for half price. ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e ♪ hotwire.com with an ultra-thin coating and fast absorbing advil ion core™ technology,
4:21 am
it stops pain before it gets worse. nothing works faster. new fast acting advil. look for it in the white box. of fast is good and faster is better. good thing walgreens gets you in and out in no time. so you get the relief you need with new fast acting advil. at the corner of happy and healthy. well, welcome back. the denver area and colorado as a whole saw heavy snow overnight. mountains got a good dose and even enough in denver made for a very slippery and treacherous morning commute. lots of reports of accidents on i-70 to wyoming. how does the super bowl look? a lot of people are worried about this outdoor football game. no worries at all. the people in seattle wanted worse weather, considering that denver offense. we're going to watch a temperature of 42 degrees, which is very warm considering how cold it has been in new york.
4:22 am
windchill not a factor, 30 to 35. could be rain showers in the pregame, but look like the rain showers should move out, richard, by the time the game starts. looking pretty clear out there. i think bad weather, good weather, doesn't matter. seattle winning this. >> seattle? >> by ten. >> i got broncos by 7, 24-7. >> a little wager. >> how about a buck? a dollar. just because it is super bowl weekend here, bill, doesn't mean there are not any must movies at the box office. we won't see those, though. "that awkward moment" starring zac efron and michael b. jordan. and "labor day" is hoping to break the top five. in an interview thursday, jerry seinfeld announcing a seinfeld reunion of sorts is happening and will be released very, very soon. and in regards to the photo circling the web that shows seinfeld and jason alexander walking into the sitcom famous designer, he said he was in
4:23 am
character as george costanza. seinfeld has opened up about friend jay leno, saying he's very sensitive. if people call the show saying they were offended by the joke, he says leno calls them back and has done that dozens of times. but he may be giving that up. >> i don't care. i've got five shows left, so write -- yeah, send your little letter. by the time it gets here, i'll be gone. thank you. here is a college course i'm sure every parent wants their kid to take. politicizing beyonce. the three-credit rutgers university course will use the pop star to explore american race, gender and sexual politics and will cost just over a thousand dollars. beyonce is everywhere. dame helen mirren celebrated her harvard hasty pudding award with a little twerking. what do you think? all right. hands in the air. the 68-year-old oscar winner played queen elizabeth and now
4:24 am
can apparently star in a miley cyrus biopic, many years from now. and on the tonight show, miley cyrus gave advice to probably the only person who will take it from her. listen. >> speaking of -- i know you're friends with justin. any advice you would give him? >> i would just say, you know, you got a lot of money, pay people to make sure you don't get in trouble. and party at your house. buy a house and add a club to it. >> who knew? miley could have a talk show for giving advice, like dr. phil followed by miley. >> great stuff. bill karins, thank you so much. i'm richard lui. thank you for watching "early today." have a great weekend. [ female announcer ] we lowered her fever. you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain.
4:25 am
you make him rookie of the year. we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. [ male announcer ] when you feel good, no one is immune. emergen-c has more vitamin c than 10 oranges plus other antioxidants and electrolytes to help you come down with a serious case of healthy. emergen-c. making healthy contagious. [ video game sounds ] whoa! campbell's has super mario soup. m'm. gotcha! [ video game sound ] awww. m'm! m'm! good!
4:26 am
well, leading the news, washington's favorite snowy owl hit by the bus. the bird has become somewhat of a local celebrity and is being treated at the national zoo. this winter has seen an unprecedented migration of the owls from their arctic home. in the times of india, asia rings in year of the horse with fireworks and festivities. fireworks lit up the sky over beijing, despite concerns over smog. the city in northern china was transformed by l.e.d. lights as well. the london eye was lit up in red and gold. happy lunar new year to all you folks. now to stories you may have missed, tragedy in kentucky. an electrical heater sparking a house fire killing a mother and eight of her children. that happened early thursday. they were all found huddled together in a bedroom. the father and another child escaped the blaze and are in critical but stable condition.
4:27 am
the u.s. says syria is, quote, dragging its feet when it comes to remorphing chemical weapons arsenal. a u.n. resolution required them to be removed by one month ago. so far the syrian regime removed less than 5% for permanent removal. and house republicans unveil what they call standards for immigration reform. they include a proposed pathway to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants after they pay back taxes and fines but does not include the root to citizenship that president obama favors. we have some incredible footage of a winter phenomenon in japan to show you right now. don't worry. this is not an army of snow men preparing to bring wintry weather to a town near you. instead, they are snow monsters. the name may be a bit of a misnomer here because the pillars are hardly scary. they are caused when pine trees are caked in snow and ice at high altitudes. and, bill karins, i've never seen that before. >> it was interesting. if you watch it for the first time, you wonder what you're
4:28 am
looking at. pine trees, i said, oh, now it makes sense. >> the snow came down, the weather got so cold and it froze there. >> yeah. interesting process. >> definitely. time for a look ahead and a look back. . the chairman of the federal reserve steps down today after eight years. ben bernanke departs to be replaced tomorrow by janet yellen. she's the first woman fed chair in its 100 year history. on the same day 1940, the first social security bcheck wa issued. her monthly check was $22.54. happy birthday to grammy winning star justin timberlake, 33, carrie washington, 37, acarl channing, 93 and going strong. keep it here for more news, weather and sports. this time it is really good-bye. i'm richard lui with bill karins. this is "early today." you have a good weekend.
4:30 am
good morning everyone. it's 4:30. i'm scott mcgrew. >> i'm laura garcia-cannon. the breaking news we're following is in the south bay. fire crews on the scene of an overnight house fire in santa clara at a home near tazman drive and lafayette street. >> damian trujillo just got to the scene. neighbors were throwing rocks at the house trying to wake up the people inside. >> reporter: anything to make sure everybody got out safely. looks like crews are going to be here for a while. they were able to knock down the flames in no time. they are dousing some of the hot spots that may be here with this huge ladder truck. the call came in about 1:20 this morning. neighbors called 911 after they saw what was going on. the fire went
268 Views
IN COLLECTIONS
KNTV (NBC) Television Archive Television Archive News Search ServiceUploaded by TV Archive on