good morning. trailblazer. tributes pouring in around the world for joan rivers. from her start in standup. >> i went into a store today and asked what do you have to go with this suit? she said a bottle of cheap wine. >> we'll talk to two of her dear friends about the quick wit and sharp tongue that made her a star. secretary of state john kerry announces a coalition with allies to battle isis militanmi. while the president talks about vladimir putin.

and back on american soil. the third infected ebola patient arrives in a special isolation unit. and we have usher live in concert today, friday, september 5th, 2014. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today." with matt lauer and savannah guthrie live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> and good morning. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer and long with natalie mor aales and willie geist.

>> we have amy van dyken-ruen was in an accident three months ago and now she made a remarkable recovery. she looks great. >> along with her husband tom. we will talk to them later on. let's start on a friday morning with the sad news. the death of joan rivers. the 81-year-old died thursday, a week after going into cardiac arrest and losing consciousness during a routine medical procedure. this morning, the new york state health department is launching an investigation into the clinic where that happened. this as fans of the legendary comedienne leave flowers and other mementos on rivers' star on the hollywood walk of fame. today's erica hill joins us now with more on all this. good morning, erica. >> hey, matt. good morning. good morning, everyone. joan rivers was brash, she was bold, she was a trailblazer. as the first female host of a late night talk show. that's after making history as permanent guest host of the tonight show. her fearless humor helped change the rules of comedy. >> we had her on our very first

tonight show. she came out and she came over to me and she started crying and gave me a kiss. it was really emotional and really nice. >> reporter: jimmy fallon choking up as he remembered joan rivers on the tonight show. >> suddenly i realized jello forgot the darling. >> reporter: the program where she first broke through in 1965. >> they finally on the seventh audition, they brought me in and that was because bill cosby said the guy last night bombed. take joan rivers. she couldn't be worse. >> reporter: for the next 20 years, the brash comedienne from brooklyn was a regular. even filling in for host johnny carson. her sharp tongue and groundbreaking voice in late night tv. >> can we talk? she was a tramp. >> reporter: rivers landed her own late night show in 1986. it was canceled after just one year. not long after, her husband committed suicide. rivers was forced to begin a new chapter. carving out a niche as a fashion host and commentator. >> rip it apart.

flower's gone. >> reporter: bringing that same brash humor to the red carpet. >> most awkward moment on the red carpet? >> where i asked anthony hopkins if this is your mother and it was his wife. >> reporter: a raw style she embraced despite her critics. >> grow up! >> comedy is truth and we should not apologize for it. you will get what i think is the truth and it's going to be raw. >> reporter: last thursday in new york city, she lost consciousness while undergoing an endoscopy and was admitted to the hospital where doctors put rivers in a medically induced coma. >> the only people who know what went wrong are the people who were in that room. >> reporter: on thursday, melissa rivers released a statement saying her mother had passed peacefully surrounded by family and close friends. from david letterman, the force of her comedy was overpowering. on their 2012 reality show, joan and melissa, joan talked openly to her daughter before heading

into surgery about what life would be like when she's gone. >> if it ended right now, amazing life. and you have been wonderful. we always had a great ride together. >> i know you're nervous and i felt awful about that, but you don't like to feel like people like you or care about you or want you around. >> it's not about me. it's about you and if something happens, things are fine and life is fine. and life is so much fun. it's one big movie. >> reporter: melissa said her mother's biggest joy in life was making people laugh. writing, i know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon. >> what do you want on your tombstone, joan? >> what do i want on my tombstone? she had a great time. >> funeral services for joan rivers will be held here in new york on sunday. matt. >> all right. erica, thank you very much. >> andy cohen, the host of bravo's "watch what happens

live" considered joan a friend, but also a mentor. andy, good morning. nice to see you. >> how are you? >> we've been talking -- i'm fine. how are you? we've been talking over the last half day about how much she made us laugh and for how long she has been making us laugh. >> yes. >> you were one of those little kids watching her on tv at home. >> grew up in st. louis. when she subbed for carson, that was like christmas for me every time. i had never seen -- she was electrifying. she was like one of the first kind of larger than life women that i connected to. i just couldn't believe like everybody in america the stuff that she said. she was shocking, but she was so funny. >> one of the great things about our jobs is we can grow up watching someone and we can idolize someone and we eventually get to meet them. what was the first time like that you met her? >> i produced her several times when i worked on another morning show and then i wound up getting cast on a pilot that bravo did in 2006 called "straight talk with joan rivers." the concept was a bunch of gay guys and joan and i was one of the guys. i'm sitting there next to her and the first thing she said to me when i went in to audition is

you've got to get botox. i have to get botox. i never did. i was thinking last night, maybe i should get a little in tribute to joan. it would be a nice tribute to her. she was incredible. she was generous. i'm this little pisher who grew up watching her and i'm sitting next to her on this pilot and she wanted me to succeed. she wanted everyone around her to succeed. and she was smart. she was shrewd. she was loyal. she then went on to come on to my show so many times. >> the loyalty. that's because in so many days, as you said this, in the early days of "watch what happens live" it's hard like all new shows to get guests. >> absolutely. >> and you called her one day and you said i need a guest and she was there. >> not only was she there, but the biggest snow storm i had ever seen. at that point we were on once a week at midnight and at 11:30 p.m. in the middle of the snow storm, we were holding her -- i thought she was going to blow away from the wind. she is a little spit of a thing. there she was in a fur wrap at midnight on my show. coming from a gig, by the way. and i think one of the things

that's so fascinating about the way everyone is talking about her passing is how shocked everyone was. you don't hear people talking about how shocked they are about an 81-year-old passing away, but that's how much of a relevant life force she was to so many generations. >> anybody who saw her in doing standup and concert over the last year or so realized she was a ball of energy on stage. she was anything but an 81-year-old. at some point in the concert, she gets on her back and kicks her feet in the air. >> absolutely. she was on my show, i think, exactly four weeks ago. when she would come on, she would bring a piece of paper and say look, if you could mention any of these topics, it would be great. i think her topics were kanye west, aging, dancing and plastic surgery. then there was no greater joy than to sit there and say, so joan, what do you think about kanye west and she just sinks it in. she came prepared. she wanted to kill. she always did. >> there you go.

andy, thanks for sharing your memories. i appreciate it. we will have more on joan rivers' life with kathy griffin coming up later. >> thanks, matt. the third american to contract ebola in africa has just returned to the u.s. this morning for the next phase in his treatment. he'll be held in isolation at a hospital in omaha, nebraska. nbc's ron allen is in omaha. ron, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, natalie. this is one of only four medical centers in the united states able to treat a patient like dr. rick sacra. we understand he has just arrived at a nearby military base and will be at the hospital this morning. they are planning to doing everything humanly possible to help this third american aid workers also make a miraculous recovery. facing the fight of his life against ebola, veteran missionary dr. rick sacra is on the way back to the u.s. for treatment. a journey that began late thursday as sacra and his medical team headed to the airport in liberia. sacra boarding the plane under

his own power. a relief to his wife debbie back in the u.s. >> i just had a call from the doctor who put my husband on the plane to come to the united states. he said that rick is clearly sick, but that he was in very good spirits and he walked on to the plane. >> reporter: the 51-year-old sacra contracted ebola at the liberia hospital. though he wasn't working directly with patients suffering from the disease. he was delivering babies in another part of the hospital. it's the same hospital where dr. kent brantly and nancy writebol were infected with the virus. all three missionaries are friends. sacra and writebol work for the charity s.i.m., while brantly works for samaritan's purse. one of the first groups to treat ebola in west africa. like the isolation unit at atlanta's emory hospital used to treat brantly and writebol after they returned from liberia, doctors at the nebraska medical center say their bio-containment unit is specially designed. but as sacra's treatment begins,

doctors say he won't have access to the zmapp experimental medicine given to both brantly and writebol because the supply has run out. doctors say they are looking at a number of other experimental treatments. they say he is in reasonable shape and expect him to be here a week if all goes well. back to you. >> ron allen in nebraska. thank you. a reminder you can see more of matt's interview with the ebola survivor dr. kent brantly during an nbc news special that is tonight at 10:00/9:00 central. meantime. president obama is wrapping up the key summit today. there are important elements coming from the battle with the isis militants and the crisis in ukraine. we have nbc's chris jansing traveling with us and has the latest. >> reporter: this morning, matt, secretary of state john kerry

announced a coalition of nato countries is coming together to fight isis. they hope to have that in place by the start of the united nations general assembly. then new sanctions against russia assuming a cease-fire with ukraine doesn't hold and at this point, it doesn't seem to be. the reports were circumstance with the flyover with 22 jets representing nine countries, but the key take away, the agreements with the nato summit. matt. >> chris jansing, thank you very much. >> we have chuck todd, the new moderator of "meet the press." good morning. >> good morning, natalie. >> you lined up a big interview. the president himself. you have a lot to talk about. let's talk about the latest developments and what we heard chris jansing say. secretary kerry with the

coalcoalition with nato to batt isis and the president and prime minister david cameron releasing a statement they will not be kowed by barbaric killers. is the president taking more action against the isis and especially the issues in syria? >> he said last week the aides said he didn't because he did not say we have a strategy yet. he did outline what they would do. build a coalition and get multiple countries involved and try to figure out how aggressive they would get if they had to go into syria. does that mean they have to go to congress to get extra authorization? when you look at what is coming on, and this is a key question for the president when i sit down with him, are we now about to go on a war footing and we are, and it looks like we are, do you bring in the american people and what that means is do you go to congress and ask for authorization?

>> and on the other side, you have the conflict with ukraine and russia and does it sound like nato members have more of an appetite to do more than sanctions at this point? >> you have eastern european nato members are anxious about what is going on with russia and ukraine. the announcement there would be some sort of small quick strike force ready to protect the nato allies close to the border. you will see another round of sanctions. this takes time. that's the problem that the administration is facing. is there enough patience in europe for the actions that putin is taking. >> and you are taking over the reins of the show that has been around since 1967. what are your priorities? >> not falling on my face. that is number one. >> that would be good. >> you sit here and you want the show to feel as if it is doing

what it is supposed to do and what it did when martha roundtree started it. get the most important newsmakers on the show. president obama. hold them accountable and have them explain and channel the questions the american public would like answered. it is a tall order. i'm humbled to be asked to do it. if i at least not fall on my face the first day, that is an accomplishment. >> you will do great. we wish you well. >> you deal with difficult topics every week. don't forget to have fun. >> all right. >> you can see chuck's interview with the president this sunday on "meet the press." willie is here now. he has more on a story we have been following for a while. >> good morning, guys. the georgia father accused of intentionally leaving his toddler in the car for seven hours in june has been indicted for murder. gabe gutierrez is in georgia with the latest.

gabe, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. harris's attorney says he is a broken man and lost everything. prosecutors are not backing off the theory that he killed his son on purpose. this morning, harris says a grand jury indictment of eight felony counts. >> emotional case. >> reporter: the district attorney says within the next three weeks, he will decide whether to seek the death penalty. >> i would strongly disagree. i would tell them the evidence speaks for itself. >> reporter: police say harris researched hot car deaths online before he intentionally left his 22 month old son cooper in the car to die. this indictment accuses harris of sexually explicit crimes. >> cooper's death was a horrible

gut-wrenching accident. >> reporter: harris's attorney said harris forgot to drop his son off at day care and prosecutors have too many theories. >> the truth doesn't need a flow chart to figure it out. >> reporter: not mentioned in the indictment is his wife, lee anne. >> a memorial service will be held today for american journalist steven sotloff. the public service expected to take place at a temple in sotloff's hometown of pinecrest, florida. a vigil was held at university of central florida where sotloff went to school. he went missing august 23rd while writing about the civil war. the dangerous albino cobra we told you on thursday has been captured. the snake bit a dog monday night and slithered out of sight.

it was found thursday afternoon not far where it attacked the dog. the snake evaluated at the los angeles zoo. the seahawks prove they still have it. they buried the green bay packers in the season opener here on nbc. some 70,000 fans cheered in the loudest stadium as the seahawks unfurled their banner before the game. and seahawks blowout the pack, 36-16. it looks like they have not missed a beat since we saw them in the super bowl. >> as my son would say, the beast. >> beast mode. nice, natalie. willie, let's get a check of the weather with dylan dreyer. she is in for al. >> we have hurricane norbert causing problems in the pacific. it is a fairly large storm, but not that powerful. it has winds of 90 miles per hour. a category one hurricane. it should weaken into a tropical storm as it makes its way to the north.

right now, it is still 100 miles to the west/southwest of the southern tip of baja, california. some moisture is going to stream off this. it will add to the monsoonal moisture in the southwest. we could see some flash flooding possible especially across eastern new mexico today. e heavy rain to the north and west of roswell. we3 c1 inches of rain in some areas. again. we will watch out for flash flooding into the day today. that is a look at the weather across the country. your local forecast coming up in just 30 seconds. ♪ ♪

good friday morning to you, i'm meteorologist christina loren. we have a good weather story to tell for today. those low clouds spanning all the way inland, all the way through the delta and into the sacramento valley giving them a little heat relief, even in sacramento and stockton for today. that fog will clear right around mid-morning, but rewill see some really comfortable temperatures because of that overcast start. 82 degrees in the south bay. 72 degrees room temperature in san francisco today, and more of the same as we get into that all important weekend. and that's your latest forecast. >> all right. thanks. our pal carson is here online with a lot of comments. >> social media just heavily impacted last night. as you can imagine. in the last 12 hour, 2 million tweets. one of the note worthy things about how joan rivers impacted people's lives.

not just comedian. ellen writing in, a pioneer. sad she's gone. and anna kendrick writing, joan rivers, being publicly told that my dress is hideous. you will be missed. 2 million tweets. people remembering joan rivers today. back to you. thank you, carson. it is becoming the year of the shark. we hit the waters to talk to the kayakers who were attacked. and what is next for amy van dyken-ruen.

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you're watching "today in the bay." and good friday morning to you, it's 7:26 i'm zap brock. firefighters are keeping their distance in case a burned out building collapses. right now they're being told to stay 20 feet away from the mission building. the roof and part of the second floor of the so-called big house store on mission street and 22nd crumbled to the ground. nobody was seriously hurt. in yesterday's fire. investigators are looking though into the cause. meantime police in hayward for asking for anyone who witnessed a brutal attack to be come forward. sunday night police say a man punched an elderly person in the head, knocking the victim out. police say the victim is still unconscious and will likely have permanent brain damage. and richmond teen faces felony charges and expulsion from

school after she allegedly sold pot laced brownies to ka a classmate. five students got sick after eating the brownies. two were unconscious when paramedics arrived and were rushed to the hospital. police have arrested a 17-year-old senior in that case. 7:27 right now, of course the start of your weekend, let's kick that off nicely with christina loren. >> right, let's get that party started. 63 in oakland, after work, things are still going to be comfortable, we're at 59 in san jose. and the reason why its been so nice and why it'll continue to be nice is the cloud cover out there. taking a live look at the golden gate bring. we have plenty of clouds, marine layer at 2,000 feet this morning and can really see that here from san jose as well. the low clouds will make for a gorgeous afternoon. with comfortable temperatures and we're going to clear you out by around 10:00 a.m. this morning from most of your inland spots. temperatures today work like this, 72 in san francisco. let's check your drive, here's

mike. the bay bridge now seeing more of a party, more folks gathering because the two crashes at the golden gate field cleared from the roadway. look, you can tell it's the professional drivers. the jam now hitting berkeley, but really the biggest part is the upper east shore freeway. we have a new crash approaching hilltop drive. upper east shore is the worst. typical friday commute, back to you. >> good to know, we'll see you in another 25 minutes with an update on news, traffic, and weather. stay with us, until then enjoy your morning.

♪ ♪ 7:30 now on a friday morning, 5th of day september, 2014. a nice crowd on the plaza this morning. usher, the eighth time grammy winner is going to be performing on stage in our 8:30 after half hour. a look at what's making headlines. the third american infected with ebola arrived in america this morning. he will be treated at a hospital in omaha. celebrities and fans alike are remembering joan rivers, the pioneering figure died on thursday, a week after suffering cardiac arrest during a routine

medical procedure. we'll have more on her remarkable career. bob mcdonnell plans to appeal his client's conviction. they were found guilty on a range of charges tied to gifts and loans from a businessman. sentencing is set for january. an exclusive live interview with amy van dyken. she's fighting back with the same determination she used to win the six gold medals. amy and tom are joining us this morning. savannah is on maternity leave. familiar faces will be on hand. meredith vieria returns to the anchor chair. >> oh, dear. oh, no. >> she gets set to launch her

show. brian williams. tom brokaw thursday. kathie lee and hoda thursday and maria shriver on friday. >> we begin with a rash of shark sightings off the coast of massachusetts. two kayakers were attacked by a great white shark in plymouth. stephanie gosk is there. good morning, stephanie. >> reporter: you talk to people and they tell you, this is a popular point. it's scenic, good fishing and swimming, a nice place to kayak or at least it used to be. >> that is a huge white shark. that is a huge white shark. >> reporter: the boss ton globe dubbed it the year of the shark. so far, ida parker and kristin have the story of the year. >> i look over to talk to her and it came completely out of the water and got the bottom of

the boat and flipped her over. >> reporter: what came out of the water was a 14-foot great white. no worder she sounded terrified in the 911 call. >> we are stuck in the water and there's a shark. >> reporter: calling from the water, she had little patience for the 911 dispatcher. >> a seal? >> no, no, there's something in the water. there's a [ bleep ] great white. >> reporter: the kayakers were outside plymouth bay. he wants to find the shark, just to get a look at it. you had to come out here looking for the shark, why? >> curiosity. doesn't everybody want to see a great white? >> reporter: he took us to the point where the attack took place. >> right now. >> reporter: late in the day? >> 5:00. what time is it now? >> reporter: 5:15. look at that tail right there.

it was the only attack of the summer in massachusetts. there are daily sightings off this coast. >> i think the authorities in the area are going to have to put recommendations on when and where people swim based on what we are learning about where they are spending their time. >> he's outside my door. >> reporter: two weeks ago, a beach was closed. fishermen chased down this great white in june. a female roughly 18 feet long. compare that to the average kayak. this is basically where the attack took place. marine biologists blame it on gray seals in the area. the seals attract the sharks, the sharks scare the people out of the water. now the master is saying kayaking here is not a good idea. no kidding. advice that comes little late for parker and orr. >> someone will fish it out. i'm sure there's great footage of us screaming.

>> reporter: so, i didn't see anyone grab a snorkle and mask to find the go pro. people are going to have to get used to the sharks. they aren't going anywhere. >> we tried to get you on a kayak this morning. i guess that didn't happen? >> i was under strict instructions not to get into a kayak. >> that was natalie's suggestion. >> not. >> thanks. >> stephanie gosk. let's get a check of the weather from dylan? >> we have storms across the eastern great lakes today and eventually across the southeast. we could see pockets of stronger storms. it's in this area in red from the ohio river valley up to parts of the eastern great lakes. the biggest threat is hail and damaging wind gusts. torrential downpours and flooding across the upper peninsula of michigan. we have heavier rain

7:35, happy friday to you, you made it to the weekend, and it's going to be nice around here all across the board. the reason why is because the low clouds span through the delta, they'll be singing the praise as that delta breeze in sacramento and stockton today. it's going to help you keep cool. it's going to keep us cool all weekend long. more of the same, 83 degrees for the south bay, 78 degrees on the peninsula. you'll hit the low 70s on the east shore and in san francisco. and we're looking at about 86 degrees in the north bay this weekend, temperatures stay nice and level. >> and you know what sunday is, right? it is football night in america. and could this be the game of the year so early in the season? fantasy owners will be happy, a lot of points i'm sure. the indianapolis colts heading out to the denver broncos. it will be a warm one. partly cloudy and 81. >> thanks, dylan. appreciate it.

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>> reporter: amy van dyken-rouen loves a challenge. >> hit me. that wasn't so bad, actually. >> reporter: from taking on an ice bucket for als to catching a college football game in denver. to surprising us all by leaving the hospital early. and just a week later, walking in an experimental exoskeleton. amy worked hard for three months to get here. she spent eight hours a day in therapy. all along she has publicly shared her good days as well as the bad ones. >> this is not easy and i don't want to portray the fact that because i have a smile on my face that it's easy. it's really not. >> reporter: and in these moments the spirit of the champion with six gold medals. now a new kind of champion, bringing awareness to spinal

cord injuries as she finds herself in a life with big plans and even bigger spirit. amy and tom are with us now. so happy to see you guys. >> it's good to be here. thanks for having us. >> bring me up to date. i saw you almost two months ago. what's going on? >> we been living with tom's mom. the dreaded mother-in-law, she's fabulous. after this we get to go home. >> you're going to go from here back to your home in arizona for the first time since before the accident. and you're going to have to adapt to a different kind of life there. have you been preparing for it? >> i think the whole time i was in rehab i've been preparing for it. i know some of tom's buddies who are builders have been in the house and have been modifying it so it will be easy for me. >> when i was visiting with you, tom and amy, i came back, we heard that story and i can't tell you the response. i know you heard from people also. they were so inspired by your attitude, by her attitude.

tom, let me is t emotional times? >> she's been very, very positive. there's been, obviously, a couple of down days, but it was usually from pain. that was usually it. she never was like why me or anything like that. it's just if she was really, really sore from doing too much and not keeping up with her pain meds. >> let's remember your background. you are a fierce competitor. we got to know that when we watched you in those olympic games. do you think that part of your life helped prepare you for this challenge in your life many. >> absolutely. without a doubt. after the surgery there's that 72-hour period where the doctors said you could go or you could stay. my brother challenged me to a marathon. that fierce competitor said i've got to live so i can beat him in that marathon. >> there was a time at the time

of the accident where you stopped breathing. and you said that you actually had an unusual experience during that time, that you saw something. >> yeah. and i don't know what it was, but it was almost like i was very confined. like very confined and it was like a whitish-green hue around me and i felt very, very at peace. i remember just kind of going through it and all of a sudden i woke up and i'm in the hospital. i don't know what it was. was it the tunnel? i don't know. >> are you a spiritual person? >> i am, yes. >> more so now? >> more so now, of course. you know, there's something bigger and better than me. focus on it a little bit because i'd like to meet that person later rather than sooner. >> goals? have you set big goals for yourself? you told me when i saw you in rehab you want to walk again. >> yes. >> think you can reach that goal? >> i think so, yeah. tom has been setting me up with a guy who does muscle activation.

and he helped me get back to the olympics after two shoulder surgeries. why can't he get me back up on my feet now? we'll see what happens. >> i challenged you last time to fly to new york and join us. i learned never to challenge you because you can do it. i say come back any time. we love to see you. and tom, a pleasure to see you. >> you too. coming up, we're going to talk about the remarkable life of joan rivers with her dear friend kathy griffin. and carson is going to have a special guest in the orange room. that's after t ( telephone rings ) hi, honey. how's the camping trip? well, kids had fun, but i think i slept on a rock. what are you doing? having coffee. ah, sounds good! i thought you'd say that. ah. ♪ the best part of wakin' up... ♪ you're the best! wake up to the mountain grown aroma of folgers.

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tell your doctor about your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. put the odds on your side. visit botoxchronicmigraine.com to learn how to save on your treatment. talk to a headache specialist today about botox®. welllllllll, not when your travel rewards card makes it so hard to get a seat using your miles. that's their game. the flights you want are blacked out. or they ask for some ridiculous number of miles.

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thank you so much. it's a week-long celebration of hispanic culture, viva "today." jorge bernal. >> you got that right. >> it's the orange room in honor of our hispanic counterpart. we have so much in common. you host "the voice" for kids. >> which is the counterpart of "the voice" which you proudly do. it's kids 7 to 15 years old. there's a couple of differences. we have a handsome host. i'm kidding. and we have three coaches as opposed to four in "the voice." >> you work with the kids. such great talent. the show is incredible. in over 160 countries now. let's bring in a voice judge alumni, ladies and gentlemen, usher in the house on the plaza today.

>> how are you? >> read this if you wouldn't mind, sir? >> where did usher make his television debut? >> we'll have the answer to this. how are you, man? >> i cannot complain, actually. it's early. if i were to complain about anything. but hey, we're up having a good time. i'm not suited, but i fit right in. >> you're usher. you don't have to be. usher, guys, on the plaza. a huge concert. we'll have that. jorge, good to have you. stick around. we'll have that concert coming up on the plaza. but first your local news and weather. lowe's presents how to install

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you're watching "today in the bay." and good morning, 7:56 on your friday, i'm sam brock. pg&e has not paid its landmark $1.4 billion fine for the san bruno explosion. that is not stopping a lawmaker from allocating that money anyway. jerry hill is expected to announce legislation to earmark a majority of the money for pipeline improvements and safety measures. it would also prevent pg&e from passing some of the costs related to pipeline modernization on to its customers. it'll create an independent monitor to oversee pg&e and fund a pipeline safety trust. the 2010 explosion destroyed san bru bruno's neighborhood. pg&e is appealing that fine. 7:56 on your friday. let's find out right now what's going on on the weather front as we prepare. >> it's a beautiful weekend to be in the bay area, sam, good

morning to you, temperatures right now, mostly in the 60s. basically going to get a repeat performance of yesterday, today, more of the same tomorrow and sunday. all the way into tuesday, temperatures right around average or just a little bit below and this is the reason why. so thick low clouds, set national league over the golden gate bridge. we're going to check on that with mike in a moment. overall, your temperatures will be comfortable today as those low clouds clear by mid-morning. these are the in your opinions we're working with. 73 degrees on the east shore and 72 in san francisco, 83 for the south bay. here's mike and your drive. it was slow, the crash south 101 at lucky drive may have cleared. that's why we saw a burst of traffic. we have a jam north 280 approaching wolf where a crash looked like it's jammed from downtown san jose up through cupertino. that is for the south bay, typical down south 880 in towards fremont. we see more traffic flowing as folks over there in berkeley cleared at the earlier crash.

there he is. >> all right. drivers jamming, we're not talking about parting, we'll see in 25 minutes.

♪ it's 8:00 on "today" and coming up -- >> can we talk? >> we'll talk about the life and legacy of joan rivers with her good friend and colleague kathy griffin. ♪ >> then kicking off with carrie. we pick up with busy mom-to-be carrie underwood as she helps start the nfl season in style ♪ >> and we are all caught up with usher. the r & b superstar is ready to rock the plaza with a special live concert today, friday, september 5, 2014.

>> we came to the "today" show for his first concert. >> we came to see usher at the "today" show. >> whoo! ♪ >> we're back now. 8:00 on a friday morning. the fifth day of september, 2014. we have a nice crowd, as you can see. lining up for an 8:30 half hour concert from are the one and only usher who just happens to be the one and only guy right over here standing with us. >> hey. >> you worked up a sweat this morning. >> yeah. super early. you do this every day? >> it's not better when you do it every day. >> where did usher get his u.s. tv debut?

mickey mouse club, kids incorporated or star search. >> everybody knows it was mickey mouse club, right? >> no. >> kids incorporated? >> my real fans know isearch. >> just 13 at the time. >> yeah. i hold record for the longest note before they stopped. >> you held the record. >> i held onto it. before i had a hit record, that's all i had. >> too bad it didn't work out for you. >> we are looking forward to the concert. you can tell, by the way, he's glowing here. >> i'm sweating. >> even in rehearsals which is cool. we're looking forward to the show. >> you guys ready? [ cheers and applause ] >> let's go inside. we have a look at the hmm headl. >> good morning, everyone. a third american missionary who contracted ebola in africa arrived in the united states this morning for treatment. 51-year-old dr. rick sacro was

taken to the nebraska medical center. he was delivering babies at the same hospital in liberia where his friends dr. kent brantly and nancy writebol were infecteded. they have recovered. he won't have treatment with the experimental drug because the supply has run out for now. ukrainian forces exchanged fire with pro russian rebels as cease-fire talks got under way. keir simmons is in maripol with the latest. >> reporter: good morning. we are close to the front line between the ukrainian forces and the pro russians. all morning there's been fighting, explosions, thunderous explosions echoing across the countryside. we have been hearing from both sides, skeptical about this peace deal. this morning ukrainian forces prepared to defend their city.

shell fire from the pro russians who are just past this checkpoint. there it is again. the ukrainians are dug in here at this checkpoint, ready for a fight. their commander has no doubt who the enemy is. >> russian army. >> reporter: you think it is the russian army? >> of course. we can see that it's russians. >> reporter: we crossed the front lines to meet the pro russian forces. they are well armed and their commander, hiding his face, says he wants to keep fighting. do you believe there is a cease-fire now? >> in two, three months. >> reporter: the talk is of peace but here the language of war is winning. president putin is calling the shots. since the peace deal was announced we haven't heard artillery fire, just small arms fire. the question, can it hold?

>> keir simmons on the ground. thank you very much. back in the states former virginia governor bob mcdonnell plans to appeal his charges on corruption charges. once a rising star in the republican party and his wife maureen each face up to 30 years in prison when they are sentenced in january. experts say they are unlikely to be locked up that long. they were convicted of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans tr a business executive in exchange for political favors when mcdonnell was governor. an internet prank artist having terrifying fun by dressing up a dog to look like a giant spider. he staged a fake spider dog attack in an elevator. he waited for the doors to open and watched people scream and runaway. later, he strung up a fake web, took the scare to an entirely new level. this you-tube video has more than 3 million views at the moment. the creator's facebook page declares insane people are the best. he's proving it again this morning. >> it is 8:05. let's send it back outside to

the gang. hey, guys. >> we're trying to take a selfie with a flip phone. we're going to figure this out. you're celebrating your first anniversary. you and him. where are you from? >> indiana. >> thanks for being here. we'll figure out the phone thing in a second. we want to give you the forecast for our pick city of the day. it is raleigh, north carolina. it's going to be hot and very humid. we're going to see no storms today but they are going to redevelop as we go into saturday and sunday. but sunday temperatures should cool back down to about 80 degrees. look at where the cold front is. we are only in the 60s for high temperatures today. in parts of the plains and 90s 8:06. good selfie there. looking good, dylan. 61 in concord. 62 in livermore, and 59 degrees on a friday morning in san martin. it's going to be nice out there. the reason why, this onshore flow, really strong. as a result, temperatures are going to be comfortable.

those low clouds. we'll clear your inland valley spots by about 9:00, 10:00 a.m. this morning. you'll have to wait until about noon in the city. and we'll see a lot of those low clouds clinging to the coast all day. 72, san francisco. 73 on the east shore today. and that's your latest forecast. >> all right. thank you very much. coming up we get you ready for the nfl season. josh elliot is in denver with a great group of fans. also we'll catch up with carrie underwood. boy, she's had a big week. we're going to tell you about it. >> a big music superstar. one of our own bep hind us goes by one name. it is usher, live in concert on the plaza. that's happening. next. za. that's next after these messages. ecome salaries. an oven heats up a community la cocina, a small kitchen that kick-starts the careers of 41 entrepreneurs. they bring the talent. we help fund the tools.

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my son is going to wash the family prius. he insisted on using the rain to save water. fourteen years ago, i insisted on buying our first prius. because like toyota, we both know there's a way to do things, and a way to do things even better. the prius. toyota, let's go places. we're back now. 8:12 with what's trending today. let's start guys with a deal that's angering residents of a picturesque community. imagine walking around your town

and wonder why they paint the streets blue and the light poles are painted blue, too. you turn the corner, there are blue shop windows and doors and a giant blue gorilla. that's what happened to the folks in crested butte, colorado. it became part of a secret deal the town struck with anheiser-bus anheiser-busch. the beer company paying half a million dollars to turn the town into a living advertisement. beginning today, a thousand revelers will descend upon the town for a weekend-long party. despite the money they paid the town, a lot of residents are not at all happy. >> did they take a vote or anything? >> no. >> this was a back room deal. >> that's not nice. >> did they get any beer out of the deal? >> i don't know if they are invited to the party. >> it's just a weekend. >> it's for a commercial. >> three days to shoot the commercial. >> are they going to paint it back? >> i don't know. >> free beers. they'll forget the whole thing. >> all right. you ever try to get your home to look as perfect as it always does it seems in the ikea

catalog? pretty hard. right? there's a reason for that. ikea is revealing that 75% of the pictures that you see in the catalog are actually created by computers. 75% we're talking about. it's not real. >> the company's i.t. manager telling the computer graphics society that using 3-d models saves time, heightens appeal. this morning some ikea shoppers hoping the company would try to find a way to simplify assembly. >> anybody care to -- >> if you want the nightstand, they have a fee by it and i can buy just the nightstand for 199 bucks. >> this is what it's supposed to look like. look at that. 32 pages to assemble one piece of furniture. >> i don't understand a single page of those instructions. >> you get to the end and you're missing that one little thing. >> always! >> not good. >> guys, there was an unwelcome guest during a big game at the u.s. open. a huge plastic bag. the elusive invader threatening to disrupt the quarter final

match between caroline wozniacki and irani. that's when a ball girl flies in. >> wow. >> her name is jamil grady. the crowd was so impressed with her quick moves, they gave her a standing ovation. there it is. >> wow. >> it doesn't even hit the court. >> nice catch. >> never stood a chance. that's what's trending today. up next -- kathy griffin remembers her dear friend joan rivers. we're back in 15 seconds. n rive. 3 f2 estamos de regreso con más her career spanned seven decades, from her start as a

young stand-up comic to her biting comments on celebrity fashion in recent years. she was also an author of several books and in 2012's "i hate everyone starting with me" joan shared how she wanted her life to be celebrated in her well-known comedic style. >> when i die, and yes melissa, the day will come and yes, melissa, everything is still in your name, i want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, and cameras and action. i want craft services, i want paparazzi, i want publicists making a scene. i want it to be hollywood all the way. don't give me some rabbi rambling on. i want meryl streep crying in five different accents. i don't want a eulogy. i want bobby vinton to go over that casket and pick up my head and look directly into my lifeless eyes and sing "mr. lonely." i want to look gorgeous, better dead than i do alive. i want to be buried in a

valentino gown. i want harry winston to make me a toe tag. i want a wind machine so strong that even in the casket my hair will be blowing more than beyonce's on stage. >> kathy griffin worked with joan rivers and called her a dear friend. kathy, it's nice to see you. good morning. my condolences. >> thank you. i am devastated because i will miss her forever. but also, i am so dazzled and impressed by her that, even the night before she went into her coma, she did a book q and a for her latest book, "diary of a mad diva" and did a full hour set here in new york. so that's hardcore love of the game, professionalism and she also had so many platforms to do her comedy and sell stuff on qvc and found time to be a friend. >> i love what you said about her. you said she was the one that you looked at and realized women could take center stage and be funny. >> yes.

but i also was aware of her struggles and true trials and tribulations. often in our conversations i would be complaining about, you know, sexism or something about being a girl comic, which is very different than a comedic actress or whatever. she would just say, it's just different for girls. it's just different. and sometimes i would tell her something that i thought was revealing about, did you know that this still happens to women in the industry? i got -- i had a very high-level agent recently on a conference call, call me all kinds of names and scream at me. i had to have dinner with joan and say, did this ever happen to you? [ as joan rivers ] of course. guys still talk to women in the industry this way? well, you know, on to the next. she was very good at always being on to the next thing. >> you said when you came in this morning and you flew overnight to be here, i appreciate that, one of the things you said to me was said i think it's important we draw a distinction between comedic actresses as you just mentioned and someone who can take the

microphone alone on stage and command the room. >> yeah. and one thing in the great documentary about her called "a piece of work." she talks about how there is nothing they can do to me anymore. i've been fired and insulted. she was really never fired. one thing she would say is, remember, no disrespect to your industry or this wonderful company, but she would often say, remember when it comes to networks and studios or conglomerates, she used to call them replaceable heads. all these executives that go through phases, for two years they love you and you're the hottest thing in the world and the new executive comes in and maybe doesn't get joan. she would say she was fired. you can't fire her because she was always going to go back to stand-up. she just had such a burning desire to hit the mic and she would do qvc and her shows, but that live experience, she did up until her last night before coma.

>> new york comedy has always reminded me of hers and i hope you take that as a compliment. >> absolutely. >> neither one of you -- and joan in particular -- vowed never to go the political correct route. >> or apologize. it's a strict, no apology rule. i think that she understood that that's really what comedy is. and that's our job. so when people get offended or celebrities would get mad at her, she was very good at kind of letting it roll off her back. her whole thing is who gets it and who doesn't. we're talking about a celebrity upset with her and she would say, they don't get it. what dazzled me is she was able to win over so many of the people that were in her act. by the way, kathie lee gifford is one of them. she would really mention kathie lee quite a bit in her act. then one day, she said i'm going to kathie lee's birthday party. i said what? how did you score that invite?

she absolutely paved the way for me and really kind of all the girls. >> she said in her funeral, she wants the toe tag to be from harry winston and wants a fan hidden in her casket so her hair blows like beyonce's. >> she did so many amazing things. the first time i went to her apartment i thought i was in versailles. and i was like joan, maybe a little much? she said this is how marie antoinette would have lived if she was a comic. she was so many people but one was making you laugh no matter what it took and a big part of her also was -- did enjoy the finer things and in fact, she's very, very close with the royals and she actually took me four years ago to windsor castle and buckingham palace and we had two amazing nights with charles and camilla, her buds and would go painting with prince charles in balmoral and he adores her. >> wow. >> i was very impressed by that. because people maybe would say

joan's humor wasn't classy. i'm like, well, she's in buckingham palace right now. something's working. >> in pretty good company. >> she's in good company. also, she would -- charles said something wonderful to me when she was introducing us and he pulled me in and he said, without comedians and newspapers who would keep us honest. he's in the "gets it" column. >> you'll be returning next hour and sharing more memories. thank you for flying in for this morning. i appreciate it. >> thank you. let's take a turn now. the nfl season is starting. natalie has more on that. >> this morning we're kicking it off with a special season-long series called together we make football. nbc sports' josh elliott made his way to sports authority field at mile high in denver to get things started for us. josh, good to see you again. >> reporter: thanks, natalie. great to be with you. again, as you mentioned, the football season is upon us. we'll know that again sunday night in denver which means thrills will be fired, being,

coach couches will be ridden. national productivity will plummet. what might get lost, though, is the impact that the game has in the lives of so many of us here in this country. we wanted to tell those stories with this news series we're doing. we want to start in denver with a story of one high school football team just north of the city that starts its season in very particular fashion. >> you got a paint scraper. couple of paint scrapers. you guys need paint scrapers. did you see it written on there? >> head coach doug johnson has a very different playbook. >> paint brushes are provided. but you need scrapers. >> he also has a pretty good team. his long mont high trojans made the playoffs a year ago and entered this season ranked fourth this the state of colorado. >> football can teach you about how to live your life and be accountable, be responsible and finish what you start.

>> finish it. >> finish it. >> i believe it's the best game in the world. but giving to other people is way beyond that. >> each year, the team devotes one day of its training camp to community service. this day of service is as important as any game they'll play all year. >> our first game is tomorrow. we get a chance to open up the season 1-0. if we finish the projects we said we're going to do, we're 1-0. >> we're going to be weeding this whole area, we're also going to be moving all the debris and rocks. >> the team has seven different jobs to complete, including several projects at homes damaged by the terrible floods of a year ago. >> this will get a wonderful woman back in her home where she wants to be. >> you guys, thanks so much. >> no problem. >> today we'll be helping farmer roy stack all this hay that's busted out.

>> it's not a one man job. >> it's good for the entire team to come out and help. >> the team also helped to rebuild the center for at-risk children. >> we run on donations. this helps us to keep our costs down to provide services for children. >> before a game had even been played, the longmont trojans had already are done their best work. born of a camaraderie forged on the field that made so great a difference off of it. >> we opened up the season 1-0. i think it helps our football team. but you don't give to get. you get to give. >> a wonderful story and really some wonderful kids who are with us here today in denver. and natalie, we're going to have a big surprise for them coming up in our next half hour. for now, though, back to you. >> i can't wait for the surprise. it's a good one. josh elliott at mile high in denver. you can also catch the broncos taking on the colts sunday night on nbc.

it begins with football night in america 7:00 p.m. eastern. coming up, usher live in concert. but first, your local news and good morning. 8:26 on your friday. i'm sam brock. a bay area car dealer convicted of running a ponzi scheme will find out his fate today. he could face as many as 16 years in prison after pleaded no contest to nine felony counts. prosecutors say he ran an investment scheme through his car dealership, giving out fake pink slips to investors in exchange for cash. the nbc bay area investigative unit first revealed his fraud two years ago. he conned nearly two dozen people out of more than $1.3 million. let's see what's going on on your roadways. is it a busy friday? >> it's unusual. so an unusual spot for the south bay, sam. the 101 starting to show the jam up with, look at that big red

streak through the middle of your screen. north 280, just got the all-clear at wolf road, the jam all the way back into southbound san jose, and towards 101, where folks are using that as an excuse to take 101 north. that will cause a shift, but 280 should start recovering over the next 20 minutes. the rest of the bay, most of the focus is towards tupper east shore freeway where the jam continues. another crash in the backup towards highway 4. and slowing towards berkeley and a little bit easier at the bay bridge toll plaza, but we still have the backup. >> 280 and 80 both a little bit sticky this morning. we'll check back in with mike and christina as well in 25 minutes. see you then. [ mike ] our living local program

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♪ we're back on a friday morning, 8:30. august -- i mean september 5, 2014. it feels like august out here, though. it's a bit steamy on the plaza this morning. exactly, things are flipped over. but we've got a great concert coming up in just a couple of minutes when usher and the guys and ladies take our stage. >> all right. also a special note.

the stars are going to be aligning tonight on nbc and three other networks as well for the stand up to cancer fundraising event. >> and some very important people will be helping out, katie couric, jennifer aniston, gwyneth paltrow, steve carell and many more. the goal is to raise money for cancer research and to get new therapy toss patients quickly. that is stand up to cancer tonight at 8:00, 7:00 central. check that out. >> always a very cool event. let's go back to josh elliott in denver where he promised a special surprise for a great group out there at mile high. good morning. >> good morning, willie. we saw the story. the longmont high trojans, they take one day of their training camp every year and dedicate to the community. joining us now is their coach, doug johnson. coach, this is a wonderful thing that you've done. how did it all start? >> you know, this vision from 2007 and we just, i think everybody looked at me like i was crazy the first time we did

it. but everything from the ford dealership supporting us to these coaches, they put tennis shoes on the division. it didn't mean much, but these guys carried it out every year. what a blessing. it's awesome. >> i'm guessing the alarm clock for the kids was a bit of a surprise this morning. >> yes, sir. >> also, we have a legendary bronco here, terrell davis. you hear about this, this is really the essence of team. >> when you look at a group of selfless young men just giving to give, not giving to get, that embodies what sports are all about. i enjoyed that. coach, i want to present you with a hat and a jersey from the denver broncos, the official broncos hat and jersey for the work that you have done. we appreciate that. i want to personally thank you for that. >> thank you so much. >> thank you.

>> good luck. >> i wanted to ask you, what has it meant for your team coming together? >> i think any time you sacrifice, it makes you a better teammate. a better husband, a better father, a better community member. it's helped us be unselfish. >> all right. we also want to let you guys know -- terrell, i know you have another bit of a surprise for the team. >> i want to personally thank the team. i want you to personally be my guest this sunday night when the broncos take on the colts right here on this field. you guys will be here. the broncos teammates will be here. be my guest and sit on the broncos right here on this field. >> guys, guys, guys. so you're going to be terrell's special guest on sunday. the broncos wanted you to start the season right. let's go! let's go!

whoa! >> not bad. not bad, terrell. thanks for being here. natalie, we'll head back to you guys in new york. >> all right, josh. thank you very much. complete with pyrotechnics. >> that guy doesn't travel light. dylan, how about a check of the weather? >> well, it's feeling pretty warm out here today. tomorrow is going to be even hotter. we are looking for temperatures to top out in the 90s, especially late afternoon and good morning to you. i'm meteorologist christina loren. this is beautiful, downtown san jose. still seeing those low clouds. the longer they stay put, the cooler it will be later on today. and we'll get that cool westerly flow. and temperatures are going to reach levels right around average for this time of year. 73 on the east shore. 83 degrees for today up in wine country. and 83 degrees for us here in the south bay. not too hot out the there.

it will be a little bit warm out in the tri-valley, up to about 89 degrees. but the good news is, we're not going to bring the heat over the weekend. forecast. back to the orange room. carson? >> dylan, thanks so much. i'm here with jorge bernal. people have been telling us why they are proud of their hispanic heritage using the hashtag hashtag # viva today. jorge, have a swipe at the board? >> thank you. proud to be a hispanic. we got a tweet from luis. [ speaking spanish ] basically, our customs, our cuisine, our food, our fighting spirit and our freedom. we got another one from ricky. ricky says, family, love, support and latin music. couldn't have said it better myself. also, by the way, employees and also fans of telemundo have been using the #viva today about what makes them proud to be latino in the u.s.

go ahead and send yours using #vivatoday. >> very well done. jorge bernal. thank you so much. let's go to matt. matt? >> announcer: the toyota concert series on "today," brought to you by toyota. all right, carson, thank you very much. in the world of music, it doesn't get bigger than the man who is gracing our concert stage this morning. usher has been racking up the hits for two decades and winning over millions of fans all along the way. ♪ usher, singer, dancer, producer, songwriter, actor, international superstar. selling 50 million albums worldwide. winning eight grammy awards and nine number one hits. usher has been ranked by the

recording industry association of america as one of the best selling artists in music history. usher's live performances are epic. a clear fan favorite. he has over 50 million facebook friends and nearly 10 million twitter followers. he hasn't missed a beat in his 20-year career. the new album in the works, a brand new tour, it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down any time soon. let's not make you wait any longer. here he is performing his brand new song, she came to give it to you. ladies and gentlemen, usher! [ cheers and applause ] ♪

♪ she don't want nobody ♪ ♪ wouldn't that be weird ♪ i'm so confused if you only knew ♪ ♪ she came to give it to you ♪ there ain't no shortcuts in doing something right ♪ ♪ if you knew what i knew ♪ she'd be yours tonight ♪ so many benefits to being quiet ♪

♪ just be cool, enjoy the ride ♪ wouldn't it be weird ♪ ♪ i'm so confused ♪ new york ♪ if you only knew ♪ she came to give it to you ♪ she'll be yours tonight ♪ have a good time ♪

clap your hands. ♪ i'm so confused if you only knew ♪ new york, make some noise. ♪ there ain't no shortcuts to doing something right ♪ ♪ if you knew what i knew ♪ she'd be yours tonight ♪ have a good time [ applause ] >> we'll have more music from usher in a moment. but first on a friday morning, this is "today" on nbc. this is "today" on nbc.

usher is getting us dancing usher is getting us dancing on the stage. welcome back to "today." we saw usher never fails to impress. he worked matt up. >> he's giving me grief. >> he's giving him dance lessons. >> this is why he's one of the top selling artists in the generation. can you teach him moves? >> he don't move. that's the problem. >> that's his move, though. this is his move. >> somebody who finally understands it. there you go. >> down pretty well. >> you've had a busy summer. not like you took the summer off. >> no, not at all. in preparation for the u.r. experience. 27 cities across north america. really excited to kick it off here, the "today" show. man, hey, this is what -- it's been three years since i've performed on stage. went on "the voice." won it. >> congratulations. >> i miss you guys so much.

>> what you do, watching you on stage. are you excited about the tour? >> i'm ecstatic. i can't wait to get back to the stage and the unpredictability of what it is. you never know what's going to happen, city to city, it's a different show every night. >> people should get out and see you. we're getting a taste of that kind of performance right now. what are you going to sing right now? >> i'll just show you. i won't tell you. >> ladies and gentlemen, usher! >> thank you. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ new york, you with me? [ cheers and applause ] hey! hey, hey, hey! true player for real. ♪ ♪ situation in your life

♪ what you got to be smart about it ♪ i sacrifice ♪ because i knew you could not do without it ♪ ♪ i love you ♪ you are my girl you don't have to call ♪ ♪ it's okay, girl because i'm going to be all right tonight ♪ >> announcer: this is an nbc

news special report. here is brian williams. >> good day from new york as we approach the noon hour in the east. we are going to take you to wales where president obama, to mark the end of this nato conference, this summit is about to take reporter questions, we presume, after an opening statement. our correspondent chuck todd is about to take over as moderator of "meet the press" this weekend is watching and listening with us. chuck, this has been evocative of some of the cold war era meetings in that the agenda has been full and the world is such a serious place right now. >> it is. a few years ago people were wondering because russia was a cooperative nation with the rest of the western world that the point of nato which was about containing and dealing with the old soviet union, what was the new mission going to be. here we are at a nato summit a few years later and the number one issue is containing and dealing with russia and putin. that's what they have been dealing with. as you point out it's dual

issues. we'll hear about new sanctions against russia between european, nato allies and the united states. we are going to hear about an i attempt with the cease-fire that's apparently been signed between ukraine and russia to see if it deescalates things a little bit. there is the terror threat for the isis folks. we'll hear the president talk about it. every day he's rampeded things up a little bit more. seems to be pushing the idea that maybe the united states is close to declaring the type of war against isis that the united states declared against al qaeda a decade ago. >> chuck todd will be watching with us in the washington bureau. indeed it was just yesterday the obama administration at least opened the door to the idea that would have been revolutionary of u.s. boots on the ground in syria. as you look at the region, and there are hot spots all over. also among the agenda items, chuck mentioned russia, ukraine

and the isis threat. they have been talking about the ebola virus in africa. spreading faster than the efforts to slow it down or eradicate it. all these nations have a stake in the modern jet airplane world where air travel can lead to the spread of disease and public health officials have been justifiably worried about that. this meeting has been going on in wales for the better part of two, three days. as you might imagine. a heavily secured bit of countryside as all the leaders have gotten together, they have had several gatherings on actual warships that have been brought into the area. the united kingdom unveiled its newest, most gleaming warship that hosted at least one event. the president has been seen there with hollande of france. the president has spent a lot of time with david cameron of the uk, flanked there by cameron and

his defense secretary. chuck, what do we think we can expect of substance, of consequence? this is mostly a chance for the president to take questions. the white house is usually going into one of these things hoping to get questions on some of the copy points, as we see with the president's binder on the podium now. >> concrete actions we'll hear the president talk about is the idea that nato will have this small force eventually they will station in eastern europe. there are eastern european -- ukraine isn't part of nato but there are formerer soviet union satellite nations that are part of nato. they are the ones that are most concerned about the russian aggression in the region. i'm talking about poland, estonia. that's a ready strike force to sort of provide protection to the eastern european nations

most concerned about russian are aggression. you will hear about the new sanctions. i think it's rhetoric we hear on isis. what's he going to say? you brought up what the deputy national security adviser brett rhoads told chris jansing about not ruling out boots on the ground. we are seeing a preparation for a larger scale operation than we thought. >> here is the president. >> good afternoon. let me begin by thanking my great friends prime minister cameron and his team for hosting the this nato summit and making it such a success. i want to thank the people of newport, cardiff, wales for welcoming me and my delegation so warmly. it's a great honor to be the first sitting u.s. president to visit wales. we have met at a time of transition and a time of testing. after more than a decade, nato's come oh bat mission in

afghanistan is coming to an russia's aggression against ukraine threatens our vision of a europe that's whole, free and at peace. in the middle east, the terrorist threats from isis poses a growing danger. through this summit our alliance has summoned the will, resources and capability to meet these charges. we have reaffirmed the central mission of the alliance. article 5 enshrines our duty to each other. an armed attack against one shall be considered an attack against them all. this is a binding treaty obligation. it is nonnegotiable. here in wales we have left absolutely no doubt. we will defend every ally. second, we agree to be resolute in reassuring our allies in eastern europe. increased nato air patrols over the baltics will continue.

rotations of additional forces throughout eastern europe for training and exercises will continue. naval patrols th s in the black will continue. all 28 nato nations agree to contribute to all of these measures for as long as necessary. third, to ensure that nato remains prepared for any contingency we agree to a new readiness action plan. the appliance will update its defense planning. we'll create a new highly ready, rapid response force that can be deployed on very short notice. we'll increase nato's presence in central and eastern europe with additional equipment, training, exercises, and troop rotations and the $1 billion initiative i announced in warsaw will be a strong and ongoing u.s. contribution to this plan. fourth, all 28 nato nations have pledged to increase their investment in defense and to

move toward investing 2% of their gdp in our collective security. these resources will help nato invest in critical capabilities including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and missile defense. and this commitment makes clear that nato will not be complacent. our alliance will reverse the decline of defense spending and rise to meet the challenges we face in the 21st century. fifth, our alliance is fully united in support of ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and its right to defend itself. to back up this commitment all 28 nato allies will now provide security assistance to ukraine. this includes nonlethal support to the ukrainian military like body armor, fuel, and medical care for wounded ukrainian troops as well as assistance to modernize ukrainian forces includi

including logistics and command and control. we sent a strong message to russia that actions have consequences. today we are finalizing measures to deepen and broaden sanctions across russia's financial, energy and defense sectors. at the same time we strongly support president porochenko's efforts to pursue a peaceful resolution to conflict in his country. the cease-fire announced today can advance the goal but only if there is follow-through on the ground. pro russian separatists must keep their commitments and russia must stop violations of ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. beyond europe, we pay tribute to all those from our missions including more than 2,200 americans who have given their lives for our security in afghanistan. nato's combat mission ends in three months. we are prepared to transition to a new mission focused on training, advising and assisting

afghanistan security forces. both presidential candidates have pledged to sign the bilateral security agreement that would be the foundation of our continued cooperation. but, as we know the outcome of the recent election must be resolved. we continue to urge the two presidential candidates to make the compromises necessary so afghanist afghans can move forward together to form a democratic, sovereign nation. finally the door should remain open to nations that can meet our high standards. we agree to expand the partnership that makes nato the hub of global security. we are launching a new effort with our closest partners including many that served with us in afghanistan to make sure our oh forforces continue to op together. we'll create a new initiative to help countries build their defense capabilities, starting with georgia, maldova, jordan, and libya.

i also leave here confident that nato allies and partners are prepared to join in a broad international effort to combat the threat posed by isil. already allies have joined us in iraq where we have stopped isil's advances. we have equipped our iraqi partners and helped them go on offense. nato agreed to play a role in providing security and humanitarian assistance to those who are on the front lines. key nato allies stand ready to confront the threat through military intelligence and law enforcement as well as diplomatic efforts. secretary kerry will now travel to the region to continue building the broad-based coalition to enable us to degrade and ultimately destroy isil. taken together, i think the progress we have achieved in wales makes it clear that our alliance will continue to do what's necessary to ensure our collective defense and to protect our citizens.

so with that, let me take a few questions. i will start with julie pace of the associated press. >> thank you, mr. president. i want to go to the situation in ukraine. if the cease-fire takes effect and appears to be holding would you and your european counterparts back away from the sanctions you say you have prepared or do you feel it is important to levy sanctions regardless of the cease-fire agreement? and if i could go to the rapid response force. can you say what u.s. contributions will be in terms of troop numbers and equipment? is it beyond the proposal you announced the in w-- in warsaw? >> with respect to the cease-fire agreement we are hopeful. based on past experience, also skeptical. in fact, the separatists will follow through and the russians will stop violating ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. it has to be testedment i know the europeans are

discussing at this point the final shape of the sanctions measu measures. if you look at president poroch enko's plan it takes time to implement. for us to move forward based on what's happening on the ground with sanctions, while acknowledging that if, in fact, the elements of the plan that's been signed are implemented then those sanctions could be lifted is a more likely way for us to ensure that there is follow through. but that's something that obviously we'll consult closely with your european partners to determine. i do want to point out though that the only reason that we are seeing this cease-fire at this moment is because of both the sanctions that have already been applied and the threat of further sanctions which are

having a real impact on the russian economy and have isolated russia in a way that we have not seen in a very long time. the path for russia to rejoin the community of nations that respects international law is still there. and we encourage president putin to take it. but the unity and the firmness that we have seen in the trans-atlantic alliance in supporting ukraine and applying sanctions has been, i think, a testimony to how seriously people take the basic principle that big countries can just stomp on little countries or force them to change their policies and give up their sovereignty. so i'm very pleased with the kind of work that's been done throughout this crisis in ukraine.

i think u.s. leadership has been critical throughout that process. with respect to the rapid response forces and the readiness action plan we put forward. in warsaw i announced $1 billion in our initiative. a sizable portion of that will be devoted to implementing various aspect s of this readiness action plan. we have already increased obviously rotations of personnel in the baltic states, for example. we have the air policing. we have the activities that are taking place in the baltic, in the black sea. this allows us to supplement it, coordinate it, and integrate it further with additional contributions from other partners. and what it signifies is nato's

recognition that in light of recent russian actions as well as rhetoric we want to make it crystal clear. we mean what we say when we are talking about our article 5 commitments and an increased presence serves as the most effective deterrent to any additional russian aggression that we might see. ang aela king, bloomberg. >> thank you, mr. president. what are your specific expectations for what regional actors like saudi arabia, yemen and jordan can provide to a coalition against islamic state? is there a role there for iran as well? as you know secretary kerry today said he expects the allied countries to y s ties to coales specific plan by the end of september. do you agree with the timeline

and what concrete initiatives are you leaving with? >> let me start with a general point. there was unanimity over the last two days that isil poses a significant threat to nato members. and there was a recognition that we have to take action. i did not get any resistance for push-back to the basic notion that we have a critical role to play in rolling back the savage organization that's causing so much chaos in the region and is harming so many people and poses a long-term threat to the safety and security of nato members. so there is great conviction that we have to act as part of the international community to degrade and destroy isil. that was extremely encouraging.

beyond that, what we have already seen is significant support from a variety of member states for specific actions we have been taking in iraq. keep in mind we have taken already a hundred strikes in iraq that had a significant impact on degrading their capabilities and making sure that we are protecting u.s. citizens, critical infrastructure, providing the space for the iraqi government to form. our hope is the iraqedi governmt is formed and finalized next week. that allows us to work with them on a broader strategy. some of the assistance has been air lift and humanitarian. much has been providing

additional arms to the peshmerga and iraqi security forces. there's been logistical support, reconnaissance support, surveillance, intelligence. a variety of folks with different capabilities have already made a contribution. i'm confident we'll build on that strong foundation and the clear commitment and have the kind of coalition required for the sustained effort we need to push isil back. john kerry will be traveling the region to have further consultation with the regional actors and the regional players. i think it is critical that we have arab states and specifically sunni majority states that are rejecting the kind of extremist nihilism we

are seeing from isil that say that's not what islam is about and are prepared to join us actively in the fight. my expectation is that we will see friends and allies and partners of ours in the region prepared to take action as well as part of a coalition. one of our tasks is going to be to build capability. what we have learned in iraq is yes, isil has significant capabilities and they combine terrorist tactics with traditional military tactics to significant effect. part of the problem also is that we haven't seen as effective a fighting force on the part of the iraqi security forces as we need. and we have to focus on the capability units that are already there, bolster them,

bolster the work that the peshmerga has done. you can support them from the air, but ultimately we need a strong ground game and we are also going to need the sunni tribes in many of the areas to recognize that their future is not with the kind of fanaticism isil represents, so they start taking the fight to isil as well. and that's going to require the sort of regional partnerships that we are talking about. in terms of timetable, we are working deliberately. if you look at what we have done over the last several months, we have taken this in stages. the first stage is to make sure we are encouraging iraqi government formation. second stage was making sure that building on the intelligence assessments that we had done that we were in a position to conduct limited air strikes to protect our personnel, critical

infrastructure, and engage in humanitarian activities. the third phase will allow us to take the fight to isil, broaden the effort. and our goal is to act with urgency but also to make sure we are doing it right, that we have the right targets, that there is support on the ground if we take an air strike, that we have a strong political coalition, diplomatic effort that's matching it. a strong strategic communications effort so that we are discouraging people from thinking somehow that isil represents a state, much less a caliphate. so all those things are going to have to be combined and, as i said, it's not going to happen overnight. but we are steadily moving this the right direction and we are going to achieve our goal. we are going to degrade and

ultimately defeat isil, the same way that we have gone after al qaeda. the same way that we have gone after the al qaeda affiliate in somalia where we released today the fact that we had killed the leader of al shabaab in somalia and consistently worked to degrade their operations. we have been very systemic and methodical in going after these kinds of organizations that may threaten u.s. personnel and the homeland. and that deliberation allows us to do it right. but have no doubt we will will continue, and i will continue to do what's necessary to protect the american people. isil poses a real threat. i'm encouraged by the fact that our friends and allies recognize the same threat. julie davis. >> thank you, mr. president.

i want to follow up on what you were saying about isil and ask if you think that the objective here is to destroy and degrade them, are those the same things in your mind? is the goal to ultimately -- secretary kerry said there is no containing them. is the goal to annihilate them? also, you talked about the importance of expertise on the ground and building up capacity on the ground. do you think airstrikes are not going to do it here? if action is needed in syria can you expect the free syrian army to do what's needed on the ground to destroy and not just push back isil? >> you can't contain an organization running rough shod through that much territory, displacing that many people, causing that much havoc, killing

that many innocents, enslaving that many women. the goal has to be to dismantle them. if you look at what happened with al qaeda in the fattah where their primary base was, you initially push them back you systematically degrade their capabilities, narrow their scope of action. you slowly shrink the space, the territory that they may control. you take out their leadership. and over time, they are not able to conduct the same kinds of terrorist attacks as they once could. as i said, i think in my last press conference, given the nature of these organizations, are there potentially remnants

of an organization that's still running around and hiding and still potentially plotting? absolutely. and we will continue to hunt them down the same way we are doing with remnants of al qaeda or elements of al shabaab in somalia or terrorists who operate anywhere around the world. but what we can accomplish is to dismantle this network, this force that has claimed to control this much territory so that they can't do us harm. and that's going to be our objective. and as i said before, i'm pleased to see there is unanimity among our friends and allies that it is a worthy goal and they are prepared to work with us in accomplishing that goal. with respect to the situation on

the ground in syria, we will not be placing u.s. ground troops to try to control the areas that are part of the conflict inside of syria. i don't think that's necessary for us to accomplish our goal. we are going to have to find effective partners on the ground to push back against isil. the moderate coalition there is one that we can work with. we have experience working with many of them. they have been, to some degree, outgunned and outmanned. that's why it is important for us to work with our friends and allies to support them more effectively. keep in mind that when you have u.s. forces, other advanced nations going after isil and putting them on the defensive and putting them on the run, it's pretty remarkable what then

ground forces can do, even if initially they were on the defensive against isil. so that's a developing strategy that we are going be consulting with our friends, allies and regional partners. the bottom line is we will do what is necessary in order to make sure that isil does not threaten the united states or our friends and partners. okay? one last question. colleen nelson, wall street journal. >> thank you, mr. president. some senate democrats facing tough races in november asked you to delay action on immigration. have the concerns of democrats influenced your thinking and do you see a downside to delaying until after the election? >> i have to tell you this this week i have been pretty busy

focused on ukraine and focused on isil and making sure nato is boosting its commitments and following through on what's necessary to meet 21st century challenges. jay johnson and eric holder have begun to provide me some of their proposals and recommendations. i will be reviewing them. my expectation is fairly soon i will be considering what the next steps are. what i'm unequivocal about is that we need immigration reform, that my overriding preference is to see congress act. we had bipartisan action in the senate. the house republicans have sat on it for over a year. that has damaged the economy. it that has held america back. it is a mistake. and in the absence of

congressional action, i intend to take action to make sure that we are putting more resources on the border, that we are upgrading how we process these cases, and that we find a way to encourage legal immigration and get people some path so they can start paying taxes and pay a fine and learn english and be able to not look over their shoulder but be legal since they have been living here for quite some time. so, you know, i suspect on my flight back this will be part of my reading, taking a look at some of the specifics that we have looked at. i will be making an announcement soon. but i want to be very clear. my intention is in the absence of action by congress i'm going

to do what i can do within the legal constraints of my office because it is the right thing to do for the country. all right? thank you very much, people of wales. i had a wonderful time. >> the president wrapping up after taking a few questions from the news media following this nato conference in wales in the uk. to our long-time white house correspondent political director chuck todd watching and listening with us in the d.c. bureau. the headlines from where you sit, chuck. >> i think we told you what he was going to announce on nato and the specific forces and how to deal with putin. we knew going in those were tangible things he had to announce. what he talked about regarding isis, number one, it's not happening next week or the week after. the u.n. general assembly, the world leaders are all gathering in new york city in a couple of weeks. that appears to be the next most important step in terms of preparing a coalition to go after isis.

but his words have been parsed a lot lately when it comes to how he's viewed the isis stress. he said degrade and ultimately destroy. you didn't hear that extra phrase he put in, eventually manage them down. he's not saying that anymore. those were words he used to the describe al qaeda. we had a war for a decade against al qaeda. this is a president, a reluctant warrior trying to prepare the country for a new type of war and a new enemy named isis. >> the president described isis as a savage organization and described nato as unanimous. the president mentioned the flight back. he leaves straight away for andrews air force base in washington. when he comes back sunday morning the inaugural "meet the press" as moderated by chuck todd, he will sit down for an exclusive interview with chuck todd. he will be among the guests this sunday on "meet the press" on all of these nbc stations. we'll have a complete wrap-up of

all of this tonight, of course, on "nbc nightly news." for chuck todd and our washington burea brian williams, nbc news, new york. >> you were dancing just to warm up a little bit and performing. >> yeah. >> we have a secret we need to share. we experienced the cool-down of usher. >> yes. >> where are your team? are they here? >> cold. >> they ran in with little fans to cool you down. >> they take good care of me, cooled me off. you posted the picture on instagram are. >> we should explain. it couldn't be muggier outside. your hands stick together. he was working hard. >> i sweat -- i think about dancing and start sweating. >> you carry the towel just in case, right? >> i sweat watching you dance. that's how good a dancer you are. >> you should you tweet that. what do you do while usher is dancing? >> i lose weight while usher is

dancing. i get tired when usher is dancing. you're juggling this with acting. i love that you're playing sugar ray in a movie. >> we just returned from panama. man, it's going to be an incredible film. it is about him. but if you know the story with sugar ray leonard, it plays a great deal into who he became and how he became who he is. robert deniro is in it. >> amazing. >> and ellen burr kin. it's going to be incredible. >> usher, you're the kind of guy we root for. i can't believe you've been in business 20 years and still killing it, man. we appreciate it. >> it didn't feel like 20 years either. >> you were in diapers. >> another song coming up later. "good kisser." >> go ahead. sing. >> we were talking about -- i was saying under -- talking about star search. >> underrated usher song is hot

toddy. >> ooh kemosabe, your body -- it's my hobby. couple of verses to skip over. >> that's the real one. >> meet me in the lobby. >> right? >> we don't have to tell nobody. >> keep it going. >> find out what george clooney is up to when we get your ticket to hollywood after this. [ female announcer ] one minute. that's all it takes to help make a kid's wish come true. join straight talk wireless at our "give a minute. help make-a-wish" event, and help make more wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. this saturday from 10 to 4 at your local walmart, take a minute to learn more about straight talk wireless and great phones like the samsung galaxy ace style, and we'll donate a dollar toward our goal of $1 million to make-a-wish. straight talk wireless. same phones. same networks. half the cost. available only at walmart. same phones. same networks. half the cost. that new guy is like yeah but you'll regret it.

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apple is taking additional steps to keep hackers away from users' accounts following the photo leak scandal. ceo tim cook denies lack security let hackers have access to the photos. but they will alert users when someone tries to change their password or transfer icloud data to a new device. more than 200,000 children's sunglasses are being recalled because of surface paint on them containing excessive levels of lead. it recalls 20 styles of disney, marvel and sears k-mart brand sunglasses. they were sold at cvs, k-mart and walgreens and other retailser. for more information, go to cpsc.gov. who doesn't love to look at adorable pandas all day long, especially on a friday? panda lovers take a look for a pick me up. you can view this live streaming

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go power oats! go! go power! yayyyy! a very good morning to you. it is 9:26. i'm laura garcia-cannon. firefighters in san francisco keeping their distance in case a burned out building collapses. right now, they're being told to stay about 20 feet away. the roof and part of the second floor of the so-called big house store on mission street has already crumbled to the ground. no one was seriously hurt in yesterday's fire. investigators, though, looking for a cause. police in hayward are asking for anyone who witnessed a brutal attack to come forward. sunday night, police say a man punched an elderly man in the head, knocking him out. police say the victim is still unconscious and will likely have permanent brain damage. a richmond teen faces felony charges and expulsion from school after she allegedly sold pot-laced brownies to a group of classmates.

five students at de anza high school got sick after eating those brownies. two were unconscious after paramedics arrived and had to be rushed to the hospital. police have arrested a 17-year-old senior. a quick break and a look at weather and traffic right after this. [ mike ] our living local program is identifying farmers within a 50-mile radius of the stores within their community. capay valley puts some of the most beautiful heirloom tomatoes in the box and we get those to the store on the next day. it's a really great relationship when you can buy fresh, flavorful, outstanding products from your neighbor.

it's our passion for produce, combined with our strong sense of community. and we're able to deliver that experience by living local. ♪ welcome back. i'm meteorologist christina loren. now, we still have some low clouds out there, but they are clearing pretty rapidly. earlier this morning, though, they extended all the way through the delta. they've been talking about that delta breeze in sacramento for today, even stockton getting some of that cooling relief from our low clouds off the pacific ocean, still foggy here. over san jose, but we'll see a good amount of clearing as we head throughout the next couple of hours. and as a result, temperatures are going to be really, really nice today. look at these numbers. 83 for the south bay. 78 on the peninsula and 73 degrees on the east shore. we'll take a close look at your weekend in just a couple minutes, but first, want to check your drive. here's mike inouye. >> i see the camera trembled a bit and a breeze in the trees here in san jose. so there you go.

a little slower drive, though, just approaching that camera shot. a nice, easy drive up until tully road, where a crash has finally cleared farther north from our camera shot. slowing around airport. good recovery from 280 after that earlier crash tied things up. let's look at fremont, southbound 880 has a slower drive for 880, from the dumbarton bridge. highway 84 down towards mission boulevard. your last segment, even on a friday. and the bay bridge toll plaza, we have things calming down now, just about mid-parking lot, and a good recovery through berkeley, laura. >> thank you very much. thank you for joining us as well. another local news update coming up in about half an hour. have a great friday morning.

♪ welcome back to "today" on this friday morning, the 5th day of september, 2014. we still have folks outside waiting for usher to do one more song. i'm willie along with tamron and natalie. >> one of the songs of the summer. >> second most downloaded on itunes. she joined jimmy fallon perform this song. using nothing but classroom instruments. ♪ don't mean about it ♪ that booty ♪ and don't mean a thing as you

come by ♪ ♪ so we go ahead and move tonight ♪ ♪ because you know i'm all about that bass ♪ ♪ about that bass >> i love that bit. >> you really hear it. >> it makes it spectacular. the roots draping around that band and the little kid instruments. >> i was upstairs two days ago doing something for meredith's new show. jimmy's show is across the hall and they are recording. it is so great. >> let's have another check of the weekend forecast. usher concert or "all about the bass" with those

instruments? >> i could listen to both all day. we have a lot of rain through the midwest. take a look back to the eastern rockies and through the plains and iowa. that is where we have pockets of heavy rain and north kansas with torrential downpours. in colorado today, denver, thunderstorms that will happen and clear up this afternoon. we have a sunday night football game. we could see large hail and damaging wind gusts. late in the day moving from west to east on saturday. scattered showers and storms in the southeast as well. on sunday, we are going to start to see some improvements. high pressure builds in. temperatures are nice. 90s on the east coast on are saturday and into the 70s in the middle of the country. good morning to you. made it to friday.

this fog is a very welcome sight, because it's going to keep our temperatures down as we head throughout your afternoon. now, we are seeing that gradual clearing, but by around 10:00 a.m., just a half an hour from now, we're going to see mostly clear conditions in the south bay. that's already occurring. 83 for us today, the peninsula at 78 degrees. 73 on the east shore. a little warm out in the tri-valley, up to 89 degrees. but overall, we're going to get a beautiful weekend. we hit that sweet september stride. and that's your latest forecast. back to you. >> dylan, thank you. george clooney's directing big and meredith's return to daytime and two celebrities on a mexican vacation. >> we have the editor and chief of "show biz.com." good morning, jack. >> let's start with star power. george clooney is directing the phone hacking? >> he is getting together with

son sony pictures about the phone hacking issue. it is called "hack attack inside the story of how the truth caught up with rupert murdock." it will have a lot of star power in the film. it will whirlwind the festivals. >> a lot of big names? >> there is not a star cast, but already lining up good actors. >> speaking of star that is shining bright around here. meredith's new show. premieres monday. >> monday. it will be very heavy and light chatter and entertainment. it will have a lot of human interest stories. >> you see hoda popping out. >> we are wishing her a lot of fun and good vibes on monday. >> if you watch it, it brings out everything people love about meredith. she is funny and edgy and sweet

and generous. everyone will love it. >> she is spontaneous and she can sing like me. >> it has a late night touch to it. >> next for parents like me, loved "frozen." "frozen" has a new mini "frozen." >> it is frozen fever. the premise of the story line is elsa controlling her powers at a birthday party for her sister anna. it brings the original directors and cast like idina menzel. it will be attached to a new film coming out in 2015. you know, no word so far on a feature length sequel. >> you have to keep the "frozen" train rolling. the photo of the week. sofia vergara and her shirtless

man. >> hanging out with her new boyfriend. joe magnielo. you see the picture with joe with a cigar in his mouth with a sofia vergara without any makeup. they are relaxing and enjoying time. joe has magic mike xxl coming out. the third that is crazy. the stars melissa mccarthy and bill mcmurray. take a look. >> sure. >> this is my tree you wrecked. >> stay here. >> i'm calling the cops. >> that is a dynamic duo. >> yes. both of them. >> we're moving in. >> they are talking and perhaps some oscar buzz? >> mainly for bill murray. the story line feels more like

hugh grant's about a boy. a 12-year-old boy who moves into a neighborhood and has the unlikely relationship with murray's character who gambles and goes to strip joints. the performances are just power house. amazing. the toronto film festival has named bill murray day, september 5th. >> jack rico, thank you so much. coming up, how to make ice cream without an ice creammaker and short cuts you could use this weekend. y skin, basic moisturization isn't enough. you need healing. the only lotion with healing micro-droplets of vaseline jelly, new vaseline intensive care deeply moisturizes dry skin from the first application and keeps it healed for 3 weeks. ♪ healing that lasts for 3 weeks. that's the healing power of vaseline.

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♪ [ male announcer ] give extra. get extra. cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner, there are food hacks out there to get you in and out of the kitchen quicker. >> here with mad genius cooking tips, test kitchen senior editor at food and wine magazine. good morning. good to see you. >> i'm thrilled to be here. >> advice on how to make pancakes that are not messy. >> messless pancakes. >> we're going to do that with a favorite tool, a resealable plastic bag like here. >> we have our dry ingredients. add some of that. add the buttermilk. >> you prefer butt youer milk.

>> yes. you get that tang. the dry ingredients are the baking soda, baking powder and salt. what you're going to do, once you have the ingredients in, is mix it in the bag. >> i love that. >> these are mixed. what you're going to do is seal it. you're going to squish it around. >> check me on having store bought mix. nobody does that anymore. >> you have a pastry bag. >> all you do is take scissors and cut off just the tip. >> right. >> and then you can go right for your pre-heated griddle. >> perfect. >> just like that. >> love that. >> genius, right? >> you can do shapes with your kids, lot of fun. >> spring rolls. a refrigerator and finds extra wonton wrappers? that's probably rare. you find white sandwich bread like here. we've cut the crust off. here's your rolling pin. roll the bread nice and flat.

you end up with flat pieces of dough. you fill them like a spring roll wrapper. you can use chicken. give your kids extra vegetables. >> any kind of bread, whole wheat. >> it will get crispier. >> you want to get it a little wet like that. once you pinch the edges and get it to seal nice and tight. >> like a burrito. >> call it a spring roll burrito. >> hot oil. just like that, two minutes. >> you end up with really crispy things. >> making ice cream at home without an ice cream maker. >> you've had breakfast and lunch, now dessert. wh you use the food processor. you don't need an extra piece of equipment in the kitchen. you make your ice cream and pop it in the freezer and you want to get it nice and flat like here. go ahead and hold that. break it up, get it nice and

broken. put it in the food processor. >> justin chapel, thank you so much. we'll have more later. meanwhile, these will be on "today".com. usher rocks the plaza with one more song right after this. this one goes out to all the allergy muddlers... you know who you are... you've become deaf to the sound of your own sniffling. your purse is starting to look more like a tissue box... you can clear a table without lifting a finger... well muddlers, muddle no more. try zyrtec®. it gives you powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin. because zyrtec® starts working at hour 1 on the first day you take it. claritin doesn't start working until hour 3. zyrtec®. muddle no more™

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♪ ♪ >> usher has been bringing it all morning on the plaza with his amazing moves and incredible voice. his upcoming eighth studio album is in the works. >> taking his 13th number one single on r&b hip hop chart. this one is called good kisser. ladies and gentlemen, usher. ♪ ♪ ♪ i done been around the world ♪ ♪ i done kissed a lot of girls

♪ so i'm guessing that it's true ♪ ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you ♪ ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you ♪ ♪ bang bang ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you ♪ ♪ it's 5:00 in the morning ♪ at 5:00 in the morning ♪ we can only be about to do one thing ♪ ♪ blow my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ she could be a keeper ♪ ♪ because she's such a good

kisser ♪ ♪ new york! she's such a good ♪ ♪ oh, baby ♪ i'm staring at your barrel ♪ pull the trigger ♪ chitty, chitty bang bang ♪ you make me want to tap out and retire ♪ ♪ your pretty lips leave me inspired ♪ ♪ i think that she's a winner ♪ she could be a keeper ♪ she's such a good kisser ♪ oh, baby ♪ she's such a good kisser

♪ oh, ♪ the only thing i know ♪ you give it to me, baby ♪ ♪ oh, baby ♪ ♪ good kisser ♪ i done been around the world and i kissed a lot of girls so i'm guessing that it's true ♪ ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you ♪ ♪ don't nobody kiss it like

you ♪ ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you you ♪ ♪ bang bang bang ♪ don't nobody kiss it like you ♪ ♪ >> usher putting on another great show for us at the "today" show. usher, thank you. this is "today" on nbc.

erica hill is here with a preview of what's happening on the weekend. >> he's a tough act to follow. >> one of the nicest people when he's here. >> sure is. >> so cool to everybody. >> i heart usher. >> just to be clear here. coming up this weekend, we have a fantastic story. i'm really excited about it. two sisters, their dad was in the military, one of them was in the military. they wanted to keep everything in their family dedicated to the military. they decided to start a

business. the term i think is upcycling. used cargo goods, as you can see there from the army. they're making them into really cool bags. they're not only repurposing the material, but they also employ 38 veterans. they are determined to help this business give back. it's a really beautiful story. some of the bags will be onset. we'll tell you about the ladies. they'll share more of their story with us. >> really cool. >> erica, look forward to seeing you tomorrow. >> i'm going to find usher. >> i think he's here. screaming girls. >> thanks guys. >> remembering joan rivers after your local news.

well, good morning, everybody. 9:56. i'm scott mcgrew. pg&e has not yet paid its landmark $1.4 billion fine for the san bruno explosion, but that is not stopping one lawmaker from spending the money already. this morning, state senator

jerry hill expected to announce legislation to earmark a majority of that money for pipeline improvements and safety measures. it would also prevent pg&e from passing some of those costs related to the pipeline modernization on to customers. the bill will create an independent monitor to oversee the company and fund a pipeline safety trust for california. the 2010 explosion destroyed san bruno's crestborn neighborhood, destroying 38 homes, eight people killed, more than 50 others were hurt. pg&e is appealing that fine. well, let's check your weather this morning. >> thank you. beautiful weekend coming your way, starting today, 73 degrees on the east shore. 72 for san francisco, and about 86 degrees in the north bay. it is going to be warm out there, as we get into your weekend, but really, not too hot and not too cold. this is what you can expect. clearing late morning, each and every day through the weekend, temps are going to hover near average. we'll get a little bit of fog each morning, making way to a

beautiful sunny afternoon. and then things change next week. we will tell you what to expect for the following workweek, coming up today at 11:00. first, here's mike inouye and that drive. >> all right, christina. we're looking at the bay bridge toll plaza, which is seeing your typical pattern over here, as it lightens the load on the bridge, and the toll plaza right about 10:00, we see lanes off of that berkeley curve. those still with a good backup, back to the end of the parking lot. that will be a slower drive there. it will build up again in a couple of hours, as folks head towards midday traffic and shenanigans in san francisco. oakland shows a little slowing past the coliseum. and a little slowing around the san mateo bridge and the nimitz freeway. the nimitz continues with recovery for speeds. >> all right, thank you much. another local news update for you coming up in half an hour.

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>> narrator: from nbc news, this is today can kathy lee gifford and hoe da cot be. from studio 1 a in rockefeller plaza. hay, everybody. it's friday, septe 5th. there's a sadness i think in the whole world today because a lot of the laughter has gone out of the world. hopefully temporarily. but our good friend joan rivers did pass yesterday. surrounded by family and friends, we're told. >> the hollywood walk of fame -- >> everyone wants to find a way to pay tribute, whether it's putting flowers at her home on the upper east side here in new york or playing flowers there. it's funny, when you think the

joan rivers -- you have known her many years. we were talking about old pictures when you hosted with regis. >> she was a constant guest. any time you could book her. >> you wanted her. >> you knew would be sparks. she never, ever, ever bored you. she electrified whatever show she was on. and everybody is talking about what a comic genius she was. nobody disputes that. the one thing that i love -- look how long ago that was. >> wow. >> yes, i've been every color, except my natural color, which is gray. >> joan would have appreciated that. she sure would have. >> she and i were friends -- colleagues early on. i met her when i first came out to los angeles. but we bonded as real good friends when she stood up for me when i was accusesed of all kinds of awful things. she said, are you crazy? do you know -- she stood up for he had. at times, it felt like she was

the only one who was. i always was so grateful to her. >> loyalty, because that seems to be the theme. she has the same people in her life over all those years. >> been there forever. >> if you think that your life is hard and when you fall down and have a terrible thing, what are you going to do -- she is the poster child for how you can get up and do it again and again and again. whether it's being on a late night talk show host, the show getting canceled, her husband committing suicide and joan bounced back. whether it was just kind of switching gears and changing direction and one day she ends up on the red carpet ask you, who are you waring? she used to be, who -- >> look at that. originally. there are few originals. joan rivers epitomizes that. >> she was known for her caustic

humor. but she in person treated everybody just with such, you know -- just everybody was equal. just warm. she would crack a joan with an electrician and crocking a joke with johnny carson. >> i remember she would always ask about -- when she came on our show, i remember she would say to me, who are you date sin? she wanted to know. she liked love. she liked people falling in love. >> i heard a story this morning i hadn't heard. i don't know if it's in one of her books. i hope it's true. i don't want to pass on something that isn't true. i read on the day that her husband actually killed himself, she and melissa went out to dinner that night. and they are looking at the menu and devastated. and joan looks at melissa and said, if daddy were here and he saw these prices, he would kill himself again. >> gosh. >> that's the way she dealt with stuff. >> that is. >> that's the way she dealt -- all of her humor at the

beginning was because she wasn't a classic hollywood beauty. so she would point out the obvious. i know i'm not. then the plastic surgery thing that she talked about. >> when you talk about -- she talked -- she joked about death a lot. she used to say, the next move might be to the casket. i could go at any moment. >> which i say about frank all the time. you know what? it's terrible. but we deal with it because -- >> it's the way to cope. she got very serious back in 2012. she was going into surgery, some sort of surgesurgery, a couple years ago. she had a conversation with melissa just before that surgery. it was part of their reality show. let's take a look at this conversation. >> so listen. all right. if anything happens, melissa -- i'm no chicken. i've had a great life. had an amazing life. if i died this morning, nobody would say, so young. you are a terrific person.

cooper is five. you are all fine. i've had an amazing life. if it ended right now, amazing life. and you've been wonderful. we've had a great ride together. if something happens, things are fine and life is fine and life is so much fun. it's one big movie. >> i know. i know. >> oh, my god. >> she enjoyed every moment of it. she just did. she was great to be around. you hated it when she walked out the door. >> how about melissa having that moment? certain things you wonder what your parent would say if they had a chance to say something. and she heard it. she said it. she has it captured forever. >> you know, you can hear it in her voice then. that's what she was going in to find out why she was just getting increasingly more hoarse. we want you to know the new york

state health department is investigating the circumstances that led to her death. there's no suspicion of wrongdoing. the investigation they say is routine. >> they have to check it out. we should talk -- we have had her on here a bunch. here are some of the fun moments we had with joan on our show. >> can we talk? >> can we talk? >> you want to get lucky with joan, it's not going to luck. >> you have to send me a pretty walker. you gave them fattening foods. sorry. >> i don't date that much, obviously, anymore. i have a great sex life, but i wish i had a partner. old rules are good rules. marry for money. you can always fake orgasm. you can't fake a rent check. that's it. done. melissa doesn't have to worry. she's adopting another child, maybe. from a click tribe in australia.

now we're going to have cooker and -- >> i sense there's tension with a couple of the neighbors. >> we have a mafioso who i really like. we have a couple -- we think we have a hooker. we really do. >> enough about you. >> we all came from fashion week. it has been amazing. >> a lot of good material? >> the whole place smells of vomit. angelina jolie told me this. she said, style is something you have. you cannot steal it from anybody like a husband. you either got it -- [ laughter ] >> i pierced my nipple, but i kept tripping. walked into that one. very nice. color sh good because of the if the wind blows up your legs, they will match -- if it blows up your skirt.

>> it has lace. it's sexy but classy. >> i like that. >> it's elegant. classy. it has nothing to do with you. >> are those tuxedo pants? >> yes. sold chanel, she sold toe me personally. >> look at her face. what did she say? >> joan asked if we were drinking ensure. >> she's a piece of work. >> yes. >> the only, miss joan rivers. >> what a great memory. >> beloved. jimmy fallon, he ware wears hit on his sleeve. he was paying tribute -- >> she was not on the tonight show for years after carson. >> their falling out. >> and leno kept it alive. >> and conan. it was jimmy fallon who decided it was time to break the ban, which was a big deal.

he talked about her last night. >> had her on our first show, when i took over. so i'm lucky to say that i got to work with her and have her on our show. at beginning of the show i said to my friend out there who said i couldn't host the tonight show, you owe me $100. i had a parade of celebrities throw $100 on the desk. it was great. joan rivers, we ask eed joan toe one of the people. she came over to me and she started crying and gave me a kiss. it was really emotional and really nice. we loved her. we will definitely miss her. gosh, joan rivers, one of the >> remember the time we went over to her apartment? >> oh, my god. >> she has -- she's old-time glamour. and we went over to her apartment. here it is. >> look what her -- we didn't know what her house would look like.

>> we were pretending we were going to buy it. we weren't. we got in bed with her. it was a weird thing. >> we're not the first who have done that. you know what i'm saying? >> it was really great. there we go. get in the sack. beautiful. >> we weren't alone. she got in with us. >> in honor of joan, i'm going to tell you some of her best one liners for today's friday funny, the ones we can tell. . i don't exercise. if got wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor. hey, friend, who was going through menopause, she came by for lunch. her hot flash steam cleaned my carpet. i wish i had a twin so i could know what i would look like without plastic surgery. my life is like a piece of swiss cheese, most of it's missing and what's there stinks. good times.

good times. apparently, there will be services held for her on sunday. >> private services. >> she wants a party. she wanted a spread out there. she wants it to be funny. she wants it to be wonderful. she wants everybody to go on with their lives and find joy. that's what we will try to do for this show. we are off to see the -- >> youtube sensation justin flob. illusions right after this. >> love you, joan. to tell you: you're doing okay, mom. i can call you "mom," right? i know we haven't known each other very long, but you seem like a real keeper. you're not perfect. but you're trying. anyway, i want you to know how much i appreciate you. you know, right? how much i love you. you're doing okay, mom. how much i love you.

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according to the college board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the past school year was $30,000 for private colleges. and about $9,000 for state residents at public colleges. >> with student debt topping $1 trillion, it has a lot of us asking is college really worth it? >> tom gimbal knows. he's president and ceo of lasalle networking and guess who else is here? >> naomi schafer reilly, the author of "the faculty lounges and other reasons why you won't get the college education you paid for." >> i like her already. by the way, we love the title. >> great to see you both. >> so there are hard stats that show basically that college kids earn more money than kids who don't go to college. how much? how big is the disparity? >> i think it depends on the industry.

the real issue is that the majority of the kids that are tracking the stats are on are financial grads or accounting grads. so there's so many different categories of college graduates and different industries they go into. there are college graduates working at starbucks. >> and some ceos can't get a job too. >> over lifetime, right. we're averaging out a lot of different kinds of careers from investment banking to working at starbucks. >> so the big question is is it worth it? with all the debt that comes with it, do you think -- is the overall theme that yes, it is worth it or no, it's not? >> i think this is so dependent on the person. so i think for kids who are doing well in school, have good grades, high s.a.t.s, can get into the top college, no question that it would be worth it to you over the long haul to go get a b.a. but i think 245 -- that the vast majority of kids are not in that situation. and they may be facing the choice of going into extraordinary amount of debt to

go to college. first of all, can you make it into the decent college? do you know what you want to do when you get there? >> right. >> right. >> i don't think -- as a kid, you know, maybe taking a year off and working and i think kids who do that and then go back to school, they understand why they're there. they're understanding that they don't want to be working at starbucks maybe for the rest of their life. >> i grew up in the early years in europe, and one thing i think they know instinctively and do very, very well, they watch the kids as they grow. some are academically minded. those are the ones that are steered towards university. other kids aren't, but they love to make stuff. they're going to be -- they're going to be a great electrician or plumber. when my plumbing is out, i don't want a ph.d. at the door. i want a guy who understands how to fix that. >> and more importantly who wants to be doing it. >> who loves it. there's nothing wrong with that. >> where's the passion? it's the passion.

right but it's the same thing asking should everybody get married and have kids? it depends on the individual. that's expensive too. you have to do what you want to do that makes you feel good. >> but steve jobs dropped out of college, i know a lot of -- >> peter jennings. >> peter jennings did. a lot of anchors did. they didn't go and they have big high powered jobs. >> but they never hired a college dropout to run their company. >> and they also had great high school educations to begin with. we have stopped talking about what kids are not getting in k-12. >> so true. >> i think what you need to focus on here is also that people were self-directed. they knew their fashion. but college used to be about helping people find that. >> yeah. >> there used to be an administration that acted. we think we're talking about getting kids in by curfew, but an administration said these are the important things you need to know. the requirements you have to

take. it's an important way to view it. >> we have to roll. we can keep going. >> we put so much pressure on our kids to become something they weren't meant to be. let them be who they want to be. >> give them confidence. >> there you go. >> give them confidence. >> thanks so much both of you. all right, conjuring up tricks to see who has the top act. >> we see eye popping illusions. >> and putting a new face on cosmetics. >> bobbi's buzz on cosmetics. now there is a tool made for you. introducing savings catcher from walmart. it compares prices to top stores in your area. no more driving all over town. if there's a lower advertised price, walmart will give you the difference on an e-gift card. oh! money! every penny counts! yep! try the savings catcher for yourself. go to walmart.com/savingscatcher and enter your receipt. save money. live better. walmart. not a halloween bag. box, rrrrr...a natural beauty. you're making me melt. shall we?

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buzz." we're looking at what's cool and new in the cosmetic world. >> our today style editor, bobbie thomas has break through beauty. >> yes. >> what have you got to make things easier? >> first are the cutting edge compacts. the first category is all about getting your makeup even. this is bounce by dr. jart. but the elastic mesh you see inside actually helps you -- >> oh. >> pick up the makeup more evenly so then you can just spread it on with the compact. >> right. >> this is a cool thing -- >> without getting too much on there. >> it's cream foundation. >> packaging is really helping formulas. foundation. so this is all about getting your color and putting it on insta instantly. so donna is going to help. >> let's say right off the bat, she's drop dead beautiful. >> she has perfect skin. but spray it on in circles. it is airless and microfine. >> oh. >> if you get a little extra on -- >> spread it out.

>> one of the things i'm excited about, these might look like baby hair brushes but it's artiste. they have figured this out, they moved the handle out of your way. so when you're applying your eye shadow or blush, you can see where it's being applied. animal friendly. you have to read more about this. and last but not least -- >> this is big. >> this is. yves saint laurent has met google glass. they'll apply your makeup and videotape the process and send you the video so they can watch see how the makeup artist -- >> that's so smart! >> brilliant. >> you'll need to -- >> thank you. >> okay. got it. >> everything is online. >> okay. nothing lasts forever. >> not even stuff in your refrigerator. >> what to keep and what to toss and anything could happen when

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crumbled to the ground. no one seriously hurt. this is yesterday's fire. investigators certainly looking into the cause. police in hayward are asking anyone who witnessed the a brutal attack to come forward. sunday, police say a man punched an elderly man in the head, knocking the victim out. police say the victim is still unconscious and likely will have permanent brain damage. well, we'll take a look at weather and traffic coming up after the break.

welcome back now. i'm meteorologist christina

loren. some low clouds out there, but all of that fog is going to clear as we head throughout mid-morning. by late morning, completely clear conditions on the way, by about 11:00 a.m. for the bay area. and wait until you see your temperatures for today. these numbers are pretty impressive. looking really comfortable in san francisco at 72. we'll hit 83 degrees in the south bay. and 78 degrees for today on the peninsula. we do have some subtle changes coming your way for the weekend and big once for next week. we'll talk all about that today at 11:00. first, let's check your drive. here's mike inouye. >> we're looking at the bay bridge, which looks very light right here. almost no backup, just a few cars on that approach. that will start to build in about another hour and a half. we see that happening, as well as the golden gate bridge, southbound heading towards us. right now, a very easy drive throughout the north bay and coming into the city, it's not a problem. over in the dublin area, eastbound 580, start getting out of the tri-valley, heading into the central valley, we see the

getaway traffic starting early afternoon. >> we'll have more local news coming up in a half an hour at 11:00 in the big show. see you then. we are back with more of "today" on this try day friday. and magic -- >> if you love it, you'll love all the hocus-pocus on the wizard wars. >> this is headlined by penn and teller and they create the most awe inspiring illusions using a set of random objects. >> the winners take on the expert home team of world renowned wizards including justin flom. hi, justin. >> thank you so much for having me. >> what a fun show. so this is -- >> it's wild. >> how would you describe this show? >> it is about making magic out of every day objects. really it kind of pits up and coming creators. there's a whole underground of magic creators. below all of the -- all of the

performers that you see. we get to create magic from ordinary objects. we have taken like kind of around your set, a wine glass, we have got some of the stuff from craft services. a couple of books we use. we just see if we can create magic. >> this came naturally for your because your father was a magician. it was in your dna. >> i grew up around it. jumping in and out of boxes. i don't remember most of my childhood. can i have -- are you much of an artist, kathie lee? >> sort of, she is. out of the two of us, she's definitely the artist. >> perfect. really big. draw a little picture. a smiley face, christmas tree. >> this is going to take forever. >> oh, that's perfect. >> look at you showing off. >> i love this. now, there's no other card in the world that looks like this. with your little piece of artistry. >> that's right. yes. that's an original. >> if we were to destroy any -- >> it's upside down.

>> sorry. >> nobody cares. >> if the artist wants to preserve it the right way, here's what we'll do. >> hey -- >> okay. >> okay. >> it's going to be worth more in a minute because we'll try something. can i have you hold on right here. >> okay. this is going to be good. i can't wait. >> don't let go. from this point on, don't let go. >> don't let go. don't -- >> i'm going to start to rip like this. can you take that? >> don't let go. >> rip it off. perfect. >> watch this. >> there's nasty. >> it is nasty. >> i don't know. i think it's fascinating. he swallowed it. ew. >> this is disgusting. >> oh. >> turn it. turn it. >> i'm afraid. >> oh, my. >> i'm going to wipe it off.

but i want you to -- if that's not balanced on there. that's reattached. >> oh, it's wet. >> oh, my gosh. >> there's a piece of art. there's no way i could replicate that. >> put it on ebay and get a lot of money for charity. >> i agree. >> let's try something with a dollar bill here. this is -- this is a dollar bill you got from the producer before the show. i haven't touched it. but the important thing, hoda, sign your signature really big on that. the reason is now i can't switch it. i can't do anything funky with it. >> okay. >> i'm going to teach you something about money. do you see the 12 there? >> yeah. >> that 12 is for the "l" because the 12 is for the 12th letter of the alphabet. >> is that true? >> yeah. it's right there. this is your bill. hold right here. >> don't let go. >> we're going to try to move that seal, that "l," that insignia. do you see it moving? hold tight. don't let go.

move it. press right there. >> isn't that against the law? >> you can feel it. it's actually ink and paper. >> okay. >> and that is now fraud currency. hey, it has your name on it. you'll be in trouble, not me. >> do that thing with the glass. whatever it is. >> with the popcorn kernels we'll try to pop a popcorn kernel. >> no, we can't. >> i want them to be able to see. we better elevate it. i'll -- we'll put those here. so you don't think i'm trying to do anything funky we'll cover them one the wine glass. going to try to pop one of these popcorn kernels. come close. i want you to see this. watch this. >> oh. >> dear lord.

>> are you all right? >> that was shattered glass. >> that was unbelievable. >> i tried it too hard. >> my heart is pounding. >> it shatters every time i do that. i got you. >> oh, my. we'll get the shards out of our neck -- >> by the way, that was unbelievable the whole thing. amazing. >> isn't that crazy? >> you can catch "wizards wars" tuesday at 10/9 central on sci-fi. i can't believe that happened. education vacations are fun for your family. we'll talk about that after this. >> how did you do that? at the dannon creamery, we've put a fresh twist on classic desserts. making them all new, any day treats. starting with cheesecakes, reinvented using thick and creamy traditional greek yogurt. then delicately topped with delicious fruit sauces. the twist? less than 200 calories.

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get our exclusive volt nike flex shoes. only at famous footwear. victory is yours. from tv dinners to your mom's fabulous meatballs many of us think what we store in our freezers can last forever. well, not so fast. >> here with the 411 on what foods you should keep and what

you should toss is madeleine fernstrom. >> how are you? >> so you buy food you want to save money. i'm going to buy a bunch of stuff and shove it in the freezer forever. but the thing is things are not safe forever to eat. you can consume them, but we eat for taste and texture. >> and nutrients. >> if we keep them frozen for too long, they'll disappear. safety is not the issue, but freezer burn, ice crystals are a turnoff. we'll go through the freezer. see if we should keep or toss. >> okay. >> let's start off with some -- handy freezer. some chicken breast that are uncooked. this has been frozen for eight months. do we keep or toss? >> keep. >> and we keep this because these are good. chicken is good for nine months. for nine months. but not too much longer. >> does that say that on the packaging anywhere or supposed to know that? >> it doesn't say it, but we're

trying to inform people. and so kind of looks more like a light meat protein, you have to -- it. >> don't buy giant packages of chicken breasts if you think i'll get to it in a year or two. who doesn't have frozen tv dinners? this has been frozen for six months. keep or toss? >> toss it. >> why? >> after three or four months you'll have the changes in taste and texture and flavor. >> they don't taste good to begin with. >> everything is relative. >> that could be bad. >> next we have unopened regular pack of bacon. is this to keep or a toss? it's been frozen for two months. >> i would say keep. >> yeah. you know what, it would be a toss. higher fat foods the fat is going to change in texture. so you can use it again. it's safe. but when you open it up and cook it and the flavor and texture is different --

>> kind of a waste. >> be very smart to put on the packaging don't freeze for longer than -- which would be helpful. >> that would be great. a lot of the labels say best by. you can eat it, but the flavor goes down. who hasn't had vegetables from the garden? >> never frozen that. >> well, no, this has been frozen for three months. what do you think? >> toss it. >> well, you can keep it, but -- >> that's rude. >> you should get this only because these are safe to eat, but you can't eat them fresh if you have had them from the garden. you can put them in the sauce or the stew because they're really nutrient rich. >> not going to lose their nutrients? >> not for three months but longer than that you have to -- let's go to something that's always around. a container of ice cream. >> that's freezer burned. >> frozen for five months? >> scrape the top off and eat it. >> wipe off the freezer burn. >> i would say toss it.

>> this is a toss it. if you scrape off the ice and the gnarly stuff -- >> it's fine. >> it's fine to eat. >> i dream about it. okay. >> this is frozen -- >> so next we have -- who doesn't have something from their mom or grandma? your mom's meatballs, this has been frozen for two months. >> keep it? >> how long do you think you can keep it for? >> how much -- >> this is for two months. >> six. >> well, a little on the outside. >> five. >> about three months. >> three. >> leftovers. >> we have to roll. >> thank you so much. >> you're welcome. >> we learn so much. >> you're a real party guy. for more on what to clean out of your refrigerator go to our website. >> we have some no cook meals to make for supper time. >> tired of the same old trip, fun family vacations that are both educational and fun, that possible? yes. ahh!!

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today's family is brought to you by quaker. quaker up. >> it's time for "today's family." there are long weekends ahead when you might want to pack up the family for fall adventure. >> why not add learning to the trip? here is the travel and leisure magazine's international editor. so is this a new trend? >> learning is not limited to the classroom. you can get out and have a good time on vacation. while you're getting new experiences. >> prove it to us. >> well, i bet you tucson, arizona, is a good place. >> if you have a budding scientist in the family, two hours south of fphoenix. they have the largest glass enclosed laboratory. they have deserts in there and they have a million gallon ocean. and they're doing experiments that will help improve the planet's environment.

and great desert foothills hotel. lots of swimming pools. only 130 bucks a night. >> wow. >> terrific. i want to give a quick plug for the sonora desert museum. it's a natural history museum. kids are going to love that as well. >> that's great. >> also there? >> yeah. in tucson, yeah. even a zoo. >> colonial williamsburg. very historical spot. >> i took my family there ten years ago and we still talk about it. it's the perfect -- they have re-enactors there. all the cologne cal history. kids can do a scavenger hunt and parents can learn about -- >> make candles. >> you can do that. but you can have 18th century meals that are from the gardens there. >> i have great memories. >> packages start as low as $77 a night per person. that includes all your admission. a good deal. >> all right. glenn rose, texas. >> yeah. this is a great place. it's called fossil rim wildlife

center. it is committed to saving endangered species. you will find birds from the sahara. 50 species. you can do a self-drive tour in your own car. feed the animals like a giraffe comes up. >> are you kidding? >> you buy the special feed from there. spend overnight there. get a safari tent and watch the animals come down to the watering hole. you can stay in the bunk house for only $85 a night for up to five people. >> that's terrific. take a safari to africa. >> little cheaper. >> smokies of tennessee. >> in october, the foliage is at the finest. the sierra club is sponsoring the autumn glory. a six-day hiking adventure. >> so gorgeous. >> so beautiful. the smoke is the clouds. you know? you'll go on a different hike each day. all meals are included. this is more for adults because you'll be hiking five to ten

miles a day. up and down hills. but all your meals, your accommodations at the environmental center. >> don't need to go to the gym. >> you're getting a workout while there. $895. >> and costa rica is your last. >> it's really hot in the travel market. it's safe and stable. it's beautiful. marriott resorts has 1,700 acres of tropical rain forest. you will learn spanish right at the resort. you'll go on the iguana experience out into the rain forest. see iguana, macaws, and -- >> and giselle bundchen. >> i'll sign up for that one. all right. no cook meals to get you back in the kitchen now that summer is coming to an end. this is "today" on nbc. ko

it is time now for "today's kitchen." back to school can mean back to the kitchen and serving up dinner that doesn't include a burger or a hot dog.

>> here to ease you back into the busiest room into the house with some no cook meals is is -- >> you know with the hot and hectic time of the year, we can feed our families nourishing and fun meals without breaking a sweat. that's what we'll do today. so we'll make a seven layer mediterranean dinner dip. if you don't mind getting involved if you can put on the cucumbers and tomatoes. we'll do the seven layers, we have the hummus in the bowl. get that and plop them in. and -- >> i'm plopping. >> hoda, you do the next layers when she is done. the olives. feta cheese, pine nuts and parsley on top. >> do i -- >> tomatoes? >> tomatoes too. >> look at how she does everything perfectly. >> wait wait. we'll never get to the second dish. >> what we have is a dip for

dinner. so it's a kind of fun dinner we can eat with our hands. yet it has all of the calories and protein that we need to keep us satisfied. there we go. half of our daily fiber. beautiful. like this one. you can -- >> all right. >> zucchini pasta. so you can take a humble zucchini and transform it into spaghetti. >> i love that. >> you have this healthy pasta. kids actually love it. >> yeah. >> so there are several ways to do it. do it with a box grater on its side, with the mandolin. >> i have seen those on tv. >> i really like this spiral vegetable slicer. have you seen these? >> no. >> you take the zucchini and you twist out and comes -- >> oh, my gosh. >> the spaghetti. >> so actually what we'll do, what we'll do is toss it with the pesto. >> pesto. >> would you like to do that? >> you eat. and toss.

this will be fun. then as you can see, we top it with the tomatoes and you have -- and the pesto gives it the protein and the flavor that you need. >> i love it. >> what do we have at the end? >> over here, we have avocado stuffed with tuna salad. we have just tuna. you can use canned salmon and finely chopped bell peppers. we'll add a little bit of mayonnaise. >> i'm still eating. >> okay. scoop it out and put it in. >> exactly. so scoop it -- what's fun, you scoop it with the ice cream scoop. >> you can find all the recip recipes -- >> go to the website. >> guess who's here? kevin klein. anna lee ashford and -- >> one of the guys from "fashion police." >> you know george. have a great weekend.

good morning and thanks for joining us on this friday. i'm kris sanchez. >> and i'm scott mcgrew. new details on that massive fire in san francisco's mission district, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the air yesterday afternoon. now, the store was full of clothes and backpacks and home goods. in fact, an old google street view image of when it was still a store shows a bunch of these items overflowing on to the sidewalk. nbc bay area's christie smith live outside the burned out building now. christie, crews keeping their distance this morning. >> reporter: yeah, they are. and you talked about overflowing. i want to show you what it looked like out here. in fact, you can see the lanes