good morning. breaking news overnight. new details this morning involving the rescue of the abducted pennsylvania woman and arrest of her captor. after an election shellacking, president obama's biggest challenge, ending washington, d.c. gridlock. >> as president, i have a unique responsibility to try and make this town work. >> immigration and other issues. and an unwelcome surprise at a neighborhood restaurant. the first lady enlists some heavy hitters for a good cause. and he told officials he did use peds, now will a-rod collect a $61 million the yanks still owe him. it is thursday, november 6th. "early today" starts right now.

good morning. i'm dara brown. a dramatic kidnapping case out of pennsylvania has ended on a positive note. 22-year-old carlesha freeland gaither was snatched off the streets on sunday. she's been found alive and is now recovering in a maryland hospital. her alleged kidnapper is behind bars. nbc's jay gray is following the story live from maryland. good morning to you, jay. what is the latest there? >> reporter: good morning, dara. this is the parking lot where federal agents close cloze ed i their suspect and found the woman that was held captive for three days. alive and safe. >> carlesha freeland has been rescued. her abductor has been arrested. >> reporter: the best possible news for a family and community on edge for three days now. >> i was elated. i was just very happy they found my granddaughter alive. >> reporter: 22-year-old carlesha freeland gaither was kidnapped, grabbed off the

streets of philadelphia sunday night. captured on surveillance video, it was the video and surveillance cameras at a bank and grocery store that led police to the suspect, 37-year-old delven barnes. >> with the help of the media and many, many citizens who called in tips, we were able to identify this individual, identify his car, and track it into maryland. >> reporter: where atf agents acting on information from the fbi, u.s. marshals, state and local police found barnes' vehicle with both he and his victim inside. >> luck was in our favor and we were able to get here before they were able to leave the scene and that she's now some place safe with her family. >> reporter: barnes is in fbi custody this morning, held on a warrant out of virginia for attempted capital murder and other felonies. police expect to file charges related to this crime very soon. >> he's a vicious predator. he's off the streets and

hopefully he'll be in jail for the rest of his life. >> reporter: for her family, a chance for a reunion. >> we sat in my kitchen, in front of me, and he said i'm bringing your daughter home. he said i'm bringing your daughter home. and he brought my daughter home. >> reporter: prayers answered after three long agonizing days. now, gaither was reunited with her family at a local hospital overnight. we're told by a family spokesman this morning that she is resting comfortably at her mother's home in north philadelphia. that's the latest live here in maryland. i'm jay gray. dara, back to you. >> thanks so much for that update. now, new overnight, a man suspected of killing his girlfriend and posting pictures of her body online is now under arrest. david colic turned himself into oregon police wednesday knight. he's been charged with second degree murder in the death of amber copland. police believe he uploaded grisly photos online and anonymous postings saying her

son would find her body. at least one message written with the photo said, quote, i just wanted to share the pics before they find me. in missouri, a judge overturned the state's ban on same sex marriage ruling it unconstitutional. last month, another judge required missouri to recognize same sex marriages performed elsewhere. gay marriage is now legal in 32 states and the district of columbia. now to that seismic power shift in washington, the question can a whiskey summit be the solution in listen to the president last year compared to yesterday. >> why don't you get a drink with mitch mcconnell, they ask? really? why don't you get a drink with mitch mcconnell? i would enjoy having some kentucky bourbon with mitch mcconnell. >> nbc's tracie potts is live in washington. good morning to you, tracie. another republican speaking out today. can you tell us about that?

>> reporter: today we're going to hear from house speaker john boehner, his version of what this republican agenda is going to look like. jobs and energy, that's the focus. we get a sneak peek of what john boehner will say this afternoon in this wall street journal op-ed he wrote with incoming majority leader mitch mcconnell. >> we'll see whether we can work with the president. i hope so. >> my hope is that they have got some specific things they want to do that correspond with other things we want to get done. >> reporter: republicans will mack a big push to build the $8 billion keystone kxl oil pipeline. republicans say it will create jobs and lower energy costs. they want to lower corporate taxes, reform the tax code and build more charter schools. mcconnell insists there is no chance of a government shutdown, or default on the national debt. immigration is not on their

agenda, but president obama says he won't let that be forgotten. >> i am eager to see what they have to offer. but what i'm not going to do is just wait. >> i think the president choosing to do a lot of things unilaterally on immigration will be a big mistake. >> reporter: after more than 40 failed tries, republicans now insist with control of both the house and the senate they'll get rid of obama care. but this time instead of trying to repeal the whole thing, the approach seems to be pulling the money out of those health programs, dealing with the appropriates. president obama says he's going to fight for that. dara? >> looks like a big day ahead, tracie potts from washington. thank you, tracie. well, another election day decision makes way for a texas sized legal battle. it is a symbolic one. fracking is no longer allowed where it was pioneered. voters in denton, near dallas, passed a ban on the natural gas distracting technique. it is behind the so-called u.s. energy renaissance, but skeptics ask at what cost.

data from the u.s. geological survey shows a surge in earthquakes in states that use the procedure. caught on tape, diners at a houston restaurant running for their lives as an suv plows into a glass window. these two men seated right next to the window had had no time to react, scary moments. one of them even gets pinned under the buffet area. seconds later, you see the driver pull the suv into reverse. but then only to head back to the buffet area again. the driver says she was trying to park in the handicap space, but hit the gas instead of the brake. eight diners were taken to the hospital. mostly with minor injuries. you see there some good samaritans eventually helped free the man hit by the suv. miraculously he walked away with minor injuries too. remember, remember. the fifth of november. it is a classic phrase. and one used by thousands last night in london. anti-capitalist protesters stormed the city in the

trademark masks. at one point, an eruption. police dodged metal barricades and beat people with batons to hold the line. in front of parliament, russell brand joined demonstrators. one protester had this to say. >> it is not about money. it is all about power, control. the ones at the very top, they are -- >> it is time now for nbc meteorologist bill karins to share our thursday forecast. so, bill what is in the future here today? >> it is a little bit gloomy in a few spots. yesterday, 91 in san diego by the way, just very, very warm conditions. today not as warm there. let me show you where we deal with the rain yesterday. november rainfall totals, we got a little bit of rain on november 1st, in the northwest, continuing to be the damp spot. we have one more pretty good blow of rain coming in today with a strong front. we have high wind watches up along the coastlines of

washington state. even in portland we could see winds gusting in 30-mile-per-hour range as the cold front will move on shore as we go throughout the day today. the good news is after this storm, it kind of ends our parade of storms for a little bit, high pressure will build through the region as the eastern half of the country gets frigid and more stormy. thursday forecast, 89 in l.a. 85 in san diego. very mild and warm conditions for this time of year in the southern portions of the west. that's yourday. north bend, 63. clouds and winds north of there. i already hinted at a nice weekend forecast. specifics coming up. >> thank you so much, bill. new details in america's military role in fighting ebola. plus, the drama of rock bond ac/dc accused in a murder plot.

a huge first in the music industry that no one can shake off. you're watching "early today."

welcome back. these crates are filled with 90 tons of medical supplies and heading to a ebola hospital in liberia. ebola survivor dr. ken brantley worked with a group, samaritan's purse, to send the supplies. >> for a lot of physicians who are considering taking time out of their practice to go serve knowing that they're going to be incapacitated for another three weeks in addition to the amount of time they serve, this is a real deterrent. i think our sense of compassion needs to overcome our fear. >> some 4,000 u.s. military personnel have been setting up infrastructure to help stem the ebola epidemic in liberia. officials now say a 70 member team will be devoted to treating doctor and nurses who contract

the disease. later this month, a legendary rock band ac/dc will release the first album in five years. but today, phil rudd is fighting charges he tried to hire a hit man to killed two men. he was released after making an appearance in a new zealand court. for years, alex rodriguez has publicly denied ever using performance enhancing drugs. but now nbc news has confirmed a report that the slugger confessed to his drug use to officials back in january. no comment from the yankees or a-rod. i can't go with other people in the room. >> don't be like this me. >> a support group for shy bladder syndrome doesn't find this new directv ad starring rob lowe funny at all. they're calling it incensensiti and want it pulled. a spokesperson for directv says they're not taking down the ad. he added most of the viewers understand that the ads take place in a fantasy world and are not based in reality.

in business, stocks are back near record levels. taylor swift's new album, 1989, sold almost 1.3 million copies in first week. that breaks down to just over two albums sold per every single second of last week. it is also first album of 2014 to sell a million copies. intel is investing in a 13-year-old boy's design for a functioning braille printer made out of legos. it is called the brego. the goal is to create a cost effective tool forbe the visually impaired. the airline industry is bracing for the thanksgiving travelers, autopsyup a percent half over last year. a big night for some of sport's most exciting scorers. lebron james, and derrick rose. up next.

this morning on "today," amber vinson speaks out. the dallas nurse who boarded a flight after being exposed to ebola defends her actions and talks about battling the deadly virus. the exclusive interview later on "today." now to the latest in sports from my friend betty nguyen. good morning. >> good morning, dara. king james and the cavs looking for their second win of the season. lebron coming off a dismal 11-point performance before, but last night he racked up 31

points. he shoots 12 for 12 at the line to tie things up with three seconds left on the clock. then this. >> fires it off to hayward. a dribble, a setback, the jumper. yes! >> jazz win it 102-100 at the buzzer. cavs fall to 1-3. james no longer in miami, the hornets snap a 16-game losing streak against the heat with a 96-89 win. and derrick rose returned to the court last night, after missing two games with ankle sprains. rose with 13 points and 95-86 win over the bucks. lionel messy tied for most career goals scored. messy ties that record at 71 goals after scoring twice in barcelona's 2-0 victory against ajax. marcus lattimore is retiring from the nfl after never playing a single down. drafted by san francisco and 2013, the 23-year-old was placed

on the injured list for a knee injury he suffered in college. he plans to return to south carolina to complete his degree. golfer mcdowell leads. and wheaties honors lauren hill by putting her face on the iconic cereal box. she was given months left to live and made her dream come true on sunday playing in a college basketball game. "early today" brought to you by just for men mustache and beard, just you and the look you want. >> dara, back to you. >> thanks so much, betty. just ahead, the big winners at last night's cma awards. first, check out first lady michelle obama enlisting the help of the penguins of madagascar for operation got your six. it is a campaign to spread awareness about america's returning veterans. >> excuse me, mrs. obama, we're a little tired of the seals

getting all the good mission. what about us penguins? >> as a matter of fact, i have a top secret mission perfect for the penguins. >> good news, boys. looks like operation got your six is a go.

welcome back. starting your morning in the northwest, grab the umbrella one more time. maybe grab the sturdy one. wind will be howling on the coast. friday's forecast as we start to

drift into the weekend looks very similar to today, but we're going to give you a dry day in the northwest. saturday looks great too. we have friday night, saturday night, but then by sunday, that's when we could introduce a little more rain there into the pacific northwest. but it doesn't look like we have any big storms for a while. >> sunday is still far away. thank you very much, bill. entertainment news, the stars had baby fever this week. first, "ironman" robert downey jr. announced the arrival of his daughter, avery rule downey. over at the country music awards brad paisley revealed that carrie underwood is going to be having a baby boy with her husband mike fisher. that wasn't the only highlight of the night. luke bryant was named the entertainer of the year. country's power couple miranda lambert and blake shelton, together they took home four awards. even though the host claimed there would be no limits to the night, this is what happened. >> in times like these we need to laugh. i mean nothing is off limits tonight. though we refuse to joke about renee zellweger. >> yeah, that was -- first of

all, she could be here. >> i mean, how would we know? >> she's a master of disguise. kevin spacey has been cast as president richard nixon in an upcoming film about a historic meeting between nixon and elvis presley. guess what, bill, it's appropriately titled elvis and nixon. minnie driver is going to neverland, that's right. driver is joining allison williams in "peter pan" live playing the part of the older wendy. >> i did not know what the older wendy meant. >> i'm dara brown. this is "early today." we hope it is your first stop of the day on nbc.

leading the news from nbc denver affiliate 9 news, rape suspect delivered to authorities by mother. 19-year-old elijah jordan jackson was arrested last thursday after his mom drove him to the county jail. he's accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in february. and on nj.com, bamboozled what happens when a 3750 bottle of wine really costs $3750. yes, it happened at a casino in atlantic city. joe lentini asked the waitress to recommend a bottle. of course she pointed to screaming eagle oakville 2011 saying it cost thirty-seven fifty. he ordered it not knowing she meant 3700. after some complaining, the price was reduced to 2200 bucks.

the borgata stands by its policy saying proper practices were followed. some of the stories we're following for you, two new york city police officers are facing assault charges. surveillance video shows the officers punching and hitting a 16-year-old drug suspect in brooklyn. in happened in august. the lawyer for the teens say the officers had no reason to stop him. president obama is firing back after nba legend michael jordan dissed his golf game during a radio interview. the president said this, there is no doubt that michael is a better golfer than i am. of course, if i was playing twice a day for the last 15 years, then that might not be the case. touche. and an 85 foot 26,000 pound spruce tree is making its way from pennsylvania to rockefeller center. it will be the center piece of "30 rock's" christmas decorations. the annual lighting ceremony will take place december 3rd. these baby animals are sure to brighten up your day. in china, the world's only surviving set of giant panda triplets turned 100 days old on wednesday.

there must have been some wild celebrating because these little guys look all tuckered out. check out this abandoned baby sea otter now being cared for at a chicago aquarium. cutest little thing. staffers are teaching him how to swim, groom and feed herself. you want to take him home. >> we do a lot of baby animal stories. that's the first time i've seen a baby otter. how do you teach him how to groom himself, though? >> i don't know. i'm not a trainer. now a look ahead. president obama will award the medal of honor posthumously to a civil war officer for conspicuous gallantry. first lieutenant alonzo h. cushing stood his ground during the battle of gettysburg even after being mortally wounded by a confederate bullet. happy birthday to actress emma stone, 26. ethan hawke, 44. academy award winning actress sally field turns 68. i'm dara brown. thanks for watching "early today." we hope you have a terrific thursday.