the east bay. no major problems for the roadways. >> we'll have a local news update at 7:25 and every half hour after that. >> don't forget to join us for nbc bay area news at 11:00. thanks for joining us on this friday eve. joy your thursday. this is an nbc news special report. here's craig melvin. >> it is 10:00 a.m. on the west coast. 10:00 a.m. on the east coast, 7:00 a.m. out west. we have some breaking news. it is sad news for millions of music fans. publicist for aretha franklin telling the associated press the 76-year-old queen of soul has died. lester holt with a look at her life and career. >> there has never been a voice like hers. and there may never again be anyone like her.

aretha franklin, the queen of soul. an icon of american music. no other female singer was as celebrated or as honored as aretha franklin. 18 grammys, 20 number one billboard singles. 45 songs in the top 40. >> our nation honors ms. aretha franklin. >> in 2005, she received a presidential medal of freedom, a deeply emotional moment for the singer who had been honored previously by president clinton with a national medal of hearts, and by the kennedy center. franklin was a diva, and she made no bones about it. but she was also a trailblazer for women and an african-american artist who achieved success against the backdrop of the civil rights movement.

her list of firsts goes on forever. like being the first woman to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. she used her voice to crash through barriers. ♪ my country >> rolling stone once ranked aretha franklin the number one greatest singer of all time. she had an almost maternal attitude toward her own songs. >> i love them all. there are some that i like a little more than others. respect, certainly jump to it. natural woman. >> millions of americans know her music by heart. all we need to hear is the first few notes. we know the rest. all because she showed the way and set the standard. >> aretha louise franklin was

born in memphis, tennessee. her father, reverend cl franklin, was a well known baptist minister. her mother was a singer and pianist. it wasn't always a happy or stable home. and so music played a big role in aretha franklin's life. she was a child prodigy. she was performing in church and playing piano by the age of 10. >> they put a small box in front of the pulpit so i could be seen over the pulpit, and that's where i would stand and sing. ♪ hold my hand >> by 14, she recorded her first album. teenage motherhood derailed her career for a spell, but by her early 20s, she hit the top ten with her song "i never loved a man." ♪ the way that i love you ♪ what you want >> one year later, she won her first two grammys for "respect"

and as they say, a star was born. >> something very electric like a neon sign lights up inside of lady soul, ms. aretha. what do you feel like? >> i feel good. does it happen, i light up? >> yes, ma'am. >> it didn't take long for her to be dubbed the queen of soul. and there was no argument. after hitting a rough spot with dismal record sales in the mid-'70s, franklin found a way to break through again, in the cult classic "the blues brothers." ♪ freedom freedom freedom >> she was signed to arista records soon after and couldn't be stopped after that. countless hits and honors followed. memorable collaborations with the greats of our time, including the late luther vandross and her huge hit with

george michael. her life was not without its struggles and demons. in her later years, she preferred a life of privacy and stayed home in detroit for long stretches of time. aretha franklin is survived by her four sons and millions of fans around the world. >> i love what i do. and i just wouldn't be doing anything else. in fact, what else would i have done? ♪ you make me feel you make me feel like a natural woman ♪ >> lester holt, nbc news. >> we will miss everything about her. again, aretha franklin's publicist revealing the superstar died at her home in detroit. she had been battling advanced pancreatic cancer and was reported to be gravely ill earlier this week. franklin's family just moments ago releasing a statement that reads in part, in one of the

darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. we have lost a matriarch and rock of our family. our thoughts and prayers are with them and more right now on msnbc and nbc news.com. we'll return most of you to more of "today." i'm craig melvin in new york. this has been an n bnbc news special report. headlines. omarosa accusing him of being in mental decline and using the n-word. and his former campaign chair facing the possibility of life in prison on trial. >> thank you kristen welker. and now a colorado man who reported his wife and two daughters missing has now been arrested and charged with their murders. it happened overnight. me miguel almaguer has the latest. >> take a look. the suspect's mug shot just

released moments ago to us. days ago that father reporting his pregnant wife and young daughters missing even asking police and the public to help find them. but now according to a law enforcement source and the victim's family, he has confessed to killing them. a shocking revelation that's rattling even veteran cops. >> the quiet suburban where this woman and her two daughters were last seen alive becoming a crime scene overnight. a law enforcement source telling our denver affiliate, kusa the husband confessed to killing his wife and their two little girls. a confession apparently coming just days after they were first reported missing monday afternoon. watts doing media interviews, playing the victim. >> there seems like i'm living in a nightmare, and i can't get out of it. i want them home so bad. >> reporter: he spoke to kusa

hours after he claimed his wife and children vanished. >> i have no idea, like, where they went, and it doesn't -- it's earth shattering. i don't feel like this is real right now. >> reporter: three days after asking for the public's help, the alleged stunning confession. according to local media, watts also reportedly telling invest day or the or the -- investigators he would lead them to the bodies. we have not confirmed this. >> reporter: hours later police circulating the photos. >> there's a lot at stake here. we're exploring all avenues. >> reporter: questioned by friends and family, watts stuck to this story. he said his pregnant wife came home from a business trip at 2 a.m. monday. the couple having an emotional conversation before he left for work at 5:00 a.m.

watts says his wife wasn't responding to text messages and never answered the front door for a friend who stopped by. early clues say loved ones, something was wrong. >> she left her phone at home, her purse, her wallet. all of her money, her i.d. >> i just want them people to know i want my family back. i want them safe, and i want them here. >> reporter: overnight the wife's brother writing on facebook i just want to know why. my precious family. i just want 30 seconds alone with that heartless psychopath. >> my husband and i had two beautiful girls. >> reporter: this morning a pregnant mother and her two baby girls gone. her husband, a young father, soon to be charged with their murders. >> so, miguel, where is chris watts now? what's next? >> reporter: he's in police custody and he's been charged with three counts of murder and

obstructing justice. police have not yet said with the bodies of the little girl and his wife had been recovered. a news conference with more information is scheduled for later today. >> thank you very much. also this morning all eyes on the pope on the wake of the grand jury report on the sexual abuse of children. ann thompson has been following this story closely for us. >> good morning. there is still no comment this morning from the vatican about that devastating report that identified more than 1,000 child victims of predator priests over seven decades. for many, the pope's silence is deafening. at wednesday's appearance, a noticeable omission. the pope not saying one word about the shocking grand jury revelations in pennsylvania. horrific allegations that 300 predator priests violated more than 1,000 children.

enticing them with alcohol or pornography and with molestation or rape. he prayed for the victims of the bridge chaollapse but offered n comfort for the abuse victims. raising the question for many catholics, where's the signature compassion this pope is known for. from sharing his birthday meal with the homeless to spending time with the sick and disabled and even bringing syrian refugees on the papal plane. >> we know how frustrated he is about it. >> reporter: a cardinal says the omission should not be misinterpreted. >> she was somewhat defensive of the libishops in chile, and he found out it was a mistake. he's learned the hard way like we have. >> reporter: so far little action by the u.s. bishops. especially about the church leaders the grand jury said covered it up by moving abusive

priests around. again, all eyes turned to rome. >> if only the pope is someone who can discipline or take action then the people and the pews are calling for the pope. cuerpo regulador para que >> i don't know what is more shocking or more odd than this report, so if this doesn't do it, we're in real trouble as a society i think. >> reporter: whenever a story like this is in the news more people come forward and that's what's happening in pennsylvania. the attorney general office reports its hotline has gotten more than 150 phone calls and emails since that grand jury report was released on tuesday. >> i'm sure so many people are waiting for pope francis and probably wondering why nothing was said recently and wondering

when he'll speak. >> right. we know he's going to ireland a week from saturday, that's another country that's been ravaged by abuse and he's expected to address the overall issue of abuse there and then he will have one of his famous in flight news conferences on the way home and you know a lot of questions about this very subject will be asked. >> all right. ann, thank you for keeping on this story. also, busy thursday morning, a swimmer recovering from serious injuries after being attacked by a shark and it happened at a popular cape cod beach. we say good morning to craig who brings us that story, good morning. >> good morning to you. the 61-year-old man was flown to a trauma hospital in boston after becoming the first shark attack victim on cape cod in six years. the area is a feeding ground for seals, which draw sharks and witnesses say, at least ten seals were seen in the area before the attack. >> reporter: this morning a 61-year-old man is recovering from a terrifying shark attack

off the coast of cape cod, massachusetts. he suffered puncture wounds to his hip and torso. he was standing about 30 yards off shore on the beach when it happened. >> call it long nook beach for a subject possibly bitten by a shark in the side. >> reporter: two recent graduates of the nursing school at boston college were among a group of beach goers who raced to his rescue. >> a bunch of people helped, we carried him down the beach and gave him towels, wrapped his leg up because there was clearly a shark bite there. we sent him off with great people who seemed like they really knew what they were doing. >> reporter: he was later flown by helicopter to the hospital reportedly telling rescuers he was in shallow water when the attack happened. this attack coming just one week and three miles away from where a great white shark was spotted in nearby wellesley. the dramatic video capturing the great white leaping out of the

water with its jaws open right next to a research boat and just last month, a boy and a girl were bitten by sharks in two separate attacks on the same day, about four and a half miles apart off the shore of long island. back on cape cod, the recent sights leaving beach goers anxious about going back in the water. as real life plays out like a classic movie. >> it's like "jaws." it was filmed here in martha's vineyard. >> they need to confirm what type of shark actually bit the man. there was a group of researchers that have been studying the great white shark population. it has been rising dramatically over the decade thanks in part to an abundance of seals. >> scary. >> you're going to stick around with us all morning. >> you're safe with us. >> we'll head over to mr. roker. could be a rough day for a lot of people out there? >> we're going to need a bigger desk. >> i like it. >> we're looking at a lot of wet weather from iowa stretching

down to memphis and all the way up to cleveland, all part of a slowing moving system that's got abundant tropical moisture out in front of it. rounds of storms with heavy rains today. then friday, this reaches the east coast, bringing showers into the first half of the weekend but because we've had so much rain its not going to take a lot to cause the possibility of flash flooding with the flash flood risk increasing from nashville all the way up into pittsburgh and parts of western new york. rainfall amounts as you can see fairly light but we could see a few local areas with three inches or more of rain between now and friday. we'll get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. . and it's also a story about people. . people who rely on us every day to deliver their dreams they're handing us more than mail they're handing us their business and while we make more e-commerce deliveries to homes than anyone else in the country, we never forget...

that your business is our business the united states postal service. priority: you ♪ cool temperatures on this thursday morning to kick start your day. south bay, 62 right now. nice and cool in the peninsula. the tri-valley also in the low 60s. we have some cloud cover but not as much fog for san francisco. east bay, 60 degree. as we head to the afternoon, we're tracking the start of a warmup as we head in towards friday and saturday. temperatures will be in the 80s for the south bay. further inland, concord area, about 90s degrees. along the coast, breezy and 60s. and that's your latest weather. coming up our new interview with the washington state teen who was shoved off that 640 foot tall bridge. her powerful message to the friend who pushed her. >> plus a rare up close look at some of the world's most beautiful and dangerous animals.

keir simmons is taking us on an african safari live. he's right there, and we will be too. first, this is "today" on nbc.

tistill ahead what pete davidson is 'vealing about his son's engage. . . >> plus one of well, here's to first dates! you look amazing. and you look amazingly comfortable. when your v-neck looks more like a u-neck... that's when you know, it's half-washed. add downy to keep your collars from stretching. unlike detergent alone, downy conditions to smooth and strengthen fibers. so, next time don't half-wash it. downy and it's done.

your to-do list is crazy. which is why the online finance application at carmax.com is so convenient. get some of that finance stuff done from wherever you are, like at the doctor, karate or... back at the doctor. ha ha ha, yay kids! essential for the cactus, but maybe not for people with rheumatoid arthritis. because there are options. like an "unjection™". xeljanz xr. a once-daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well enough. xeljanz xr can reduce pain, swelling and further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines,

low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz xr, and monitor certain liver tests. tell you doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. needles. fine for some things. but for you, one pill a day may provide symptom relief. ask your doctor about xeljanz xr. an "unjection™". ask your doctor about xeljanz xr. ♪ ♪ something important. it's not going to be easy. quicksilver earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere. actually, that's super easy. my bad.

bask sherwin-williams auguste four17th through the 20th le. and get 35% off paints and stains. visit your neighborhood sherwin-williams store today. ♪ ♪ introducing 1850 coffee. inspired by the year the folger coffee company began. with a bold yet smooth taste. new 1850 coffee. begin boldly. somebody burned down my she shed.. your she shed was struck by lightning. is my she shed covered by state farm? your she shed's covered, cheryl. that's wonderful news. go with the one that's here to help life go right. state farm.

(sharon) smoking caused my throat cancer. but, walking every day makes me feel like myself again. well, well, almost. (announcer) you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit-now. you know doc how can i get whiter, brighter teeth..

and the dentist really has to say let's take a step back and talk about protecting your enamel. it's important to look after your enamel because it's the foundation for white teeth. i believe dentists will recommend pronamel strong and bright because it's two fold. it strengthens your enamel, but then also it polishes away stains for whiter teeth. so it's really something that's a win-win for the patient and the dentist. a hilton getaway means you get more because... you get another day in paradise. get a sunset on a sunday. get more stories to share. get more from your summer getaway with exclusive hilton offers. book yours, only at hilton.com ♪you're hungry to the max, but you aint got no snacks.♪

♪here comes a 90, 10, 1 crew with a protein one bar for you.♪ ♪protein one ♪for all your snack emergencies.♪ ♪protein one 90 calories 10 grams of protein in case you missed nbc )s breaking news at the top of the good morning. 7:26 for you right now. i'm marcus washington. in case you missed the breaking news at the top of the hour. music legend queen of soul aretha franklin has died. we first brought you that breaking news. >> a sacramento area man accused of striking and killing a chp officer is expected in court today. officer kirk groois died friday in a traffic stop. investigators say a pickup truck driven by a 36-year-old struck the chp motorcycle and the driver's car on the shoulder of interstate 80. walker is accused of speeding and being distracted by his phone. we want to get a check of your

weather before you head out. kari, i mean vianey. >> right now, the temperature is 62 degrees in san jose. not really wind a factor this morning but we're expected to get breezier along the coast as we head into the afternoon. current wind speeds in san francisco about 12 miles per hour. a little cooler in san francisco at 58 degrees. you might feel a little chilly out there. livermore, 60 degrees right now, and expecting our temperatures to warm up nicely into the afternoon. once we get rid of some of the cloud cover, that sunshine will come out and it will warm us up into the 80. to the south bay, valleys will hit the 90s for today's forecast. >> all right. b.a.r.t. still talking about delays. the track repair work has been done at the bayfair station and both directions are running. that's the good news. we don't see major problems on the roadways but a new crash at southbound 880 does leave a motorcycle rider in the center divide, standing there. sounds like everything is okay, but a big distraction.

and northbound, 101, we see a recovery from an earlier crash. >> thanks. we'll have another local update for you in 30 minutes.

7:30 now on a thursday morning, august 16th, 2018,. there are no rains to bless down in africa right now. it's perfect weather for keir simmons. and he's getting ready to take us inside a spectacular safari. >> this is a live shot. it's happening right this moment. >> can't wait for that. >> be there in a few minutes. first, a check on the headlines. a colorado man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of his wife and their two daughters. chris watts is charged with three counts of homicide after reportedly confessing to the

crimes. his wife who was 15 weeks pregnant and their two young daughters were reported missing monday afternoon. a news conference is scheduled for later today. >> andrew cuomo is taking heat for a comment he made at a bill signing event in new york city. take a listen. >> we're not going to make america great again. it was never that great. we -- >> that comment was a dig at the president's 2016 campaign slogan. cuomo a potential democratic candidate in 2020 went onto say we'll reach greatness when discrimination and stereo typing is gone. the president reacted to the comment on twitter saying cuomo, was, quote, having a total meltdown. travelers left in the dark after a power outage at reagan airport in washington d.c. airport officials say a problem with the local power company was

to blame. several flights were delayed. full power was restored about an hour later. and while officials consider charges against a teenager. the victim is sharing her feelings in an interview. >> at home surrounded by friends, doing what teenage girls do, jordan is recovering from the fall that almost killed her. >> ready? >> i'm in a lot of pain in the mornings are the worst. it hurts to breathe. my side hurts. my shoulder hurts. i can't even get up. >> i'm injured. >> battered and bruised, she was pushed off the bridge by her close friend, an system-year-old. the two for in washington state at a popular recreation area with several of their friends. >> i was, like, i want to jump off the bridge. so i went up there. but i kind of got scared because

of how high it was. >> reporter: from here on the bridge you can see there is a sign that says no jumping or diving. in all from top to bottom, jumpers plunge about 60 feet. the goal, they say, is to enter the water feet first, but if they hit the water wrong, doctors say it can be like landing on concrete. which is exactly what happened to jordan. >> i had five broken ribs and we had just found out i have another broken rib, and i had two punctured lungs. >> reporter: police finished their investigation and passed their case along to the prosecutor's office to decide if charges will be filed against taylor something until recently jordan had mixed feeling about. >> i've thought about it more. i'm kind of wanting her to sit in jail and think about at least what she did. >> reporter: taylor has apologized to jordan and expressed that she did not intend to hurt her, something

jordan accepts. but for jordan the apology does not fix what happened. >> i kind of got mad, because the rest of my summer's gone, and i'm probably going to be recovering for the rest of the school year. >> reporter: for "today," joe fryer, nbc news, washington. it's amazing she wasn't more seriously injured. >> it's a miracle. >> and over time how she's thinking about it, changing. it's a lot to take in. >> they need to make changes to the bridge. >> there are signs but maybe there needs to be more. >> enforcement. mr. roker, you have a check on the weather. >> i do. who likes hot, humid weather. >> i do. >> not too many hands went up. >> mine did. >> a big bermuda high building. the clock wise flow around it brings up hot, humid air, and there's a huge area stretching from texas to the northeast. we have heat indexes in the mid to upper 90s into the triple digits. into tomorrow, it's worse. triple digits for houston.

close to it in mobile. orlando feels like 101. same in charleston and washington d.c. the cold front bringing rain will help drop the temperatures. by sunday the mid 80s in chicago. 79 in new york city. that will feel pretty good. mid to upper 80s in raleigh and pensacola. warm, not unusually warm for them with temperatures we've still got a couple clouds hanging out, especially along the coast, making it gloomy, but have now fear. partly clear skies are expected into thursday afternoon, along with temperatures in the 80s and 90s for interior valleys. martinez expecting a high of 84. we'll see a warmup as we head to the south bay and 80s. along the coastline, temperatures will remain into the 60s. over the next seven days the warming trend is expected to get hotter. as we head to the weekend with 70s in the city. and that's your latest

weather. >> al, thank you. now to an exclusive interview with twitter's co-founder and ceo jack dorsey. he sat down with lester holt to talk about a wide range of topics from election interference to the president's twitter habits. and lester joins us now. lots to talk about with jack dorsey, and he doesn't talk often. >> he doesn't talk a lot. our interview with jack dorsey was not long after twitter suspended alex jones from using his twitter account for a week. >> alex jones on twitter posted this week -- >> people need to have their battle rifles, everything ready at their bed sides and you got to be ready. >> sent a chill up my spine. how about yours? >> it did. there's a number of actions that we believe help a call to incitement to violence. these are the things we need to make sure that we are taking action on. >> you've taken action against him in this instance. >> we have. >> can you tell us what it is?

>> i believe we put him in a time-out, removing his ability to tweet for a time period. >> the 7-day suspension after apple, facebook, youtube, and spotify banned jones from their platforms. >> mainstream corporate media is fake news. they're the enemy of the people and now they're coming after everybody. >> reporter: do you think they were overreacting or late to the game? >> i think some of the actions have been in my own personal view, a little bit inconsistent. >> reporter: the experience that you've been in from not only incidences of hate speech but the russian boots, have you lost control of this conversation in some sense? >> we're a very smart company and have had outside impact. a lot of that impact has been quite positive. we've also seen a lot of costs. we've seen people have to put up with a lot of harassment with a lot of abuse. we do sometimes feel like we're behind the circumstances that are pushing us.

>> do you make exceptions for high profile individuals in terms of your rules of service? >> no. we hold every account to the same standard, same rules. >> reporter: president of the united states yesterday called a woman omarosa that dog. would you violate your terms of service? >> we have a clause within our terms of service around public interest and around newsworthiness. we believe it's important for the world to hear directly from global leaders, how they think, and how they treat the people around them. >> reporter: dorsey had more to say including that twitter is trying to fight back against the so-called bots behind phony social media accounts. he says they challenge about 10 million accounts each week to determine if they're fake. this dates back to 20 16 and some of the fake bots artificially swayed opinions. >> time-out. >> it's something we think of for children, but in this case

it's a temporary suspension. >> did you get the sense if people continue to violate the rules they'll be permanently banned? >> the rules are becoming tougher. he would anticipate that if there are further violations they'll have more teeth to go after them. he's all about consistency with applying the rules. >> an important conversation. lester, thank you. we'll see you tonight with more on the interview. coming up, change for the better. why some of the world's most popular magazines are saying no to teenage models. then is your family in the market for a mini van? a new crash test results raising safety concerns about one of this country's most popular vehicles. plus, are you really paying takes? the urgent warning for parents to put down your phones at the pool. >> first, we'll join keir simmons live in south africa. simmons live in south africa. the important reason b

hey, what do you guys wanna listen to? ooh, hip-hop! reggaeton. edm. what about bubble trance? bubble what? bubble trance. it's a thing. (man) oh. my point is, everyone's got different taste. that's why verizon lets you mix and match your family unlimited plan so everyone gets the plan they want, without paying for things they don't. and right now, the whole family can get six months of free apple music on verizon. oh. so let's play that reggaeton. old school reggaeton, not the new stuff. (vo) get 45 million songs with six months free apple music on us. only on verizon. switch now and get $300 off our latest phones. starttake an extra 20% off! friends & family sale save on vans shoes - starting at $55.99 reversible comforters are just $31.99 and a power air fryer is $127.99. plus, get kohl's cash! starting thursday - at kohl's. wow, that's an pretty great, huh?low. if you're a banana. i find it very...appealing. new kellogg's raisin bran with bananas. two scoops meet real banana slices. i've done a great job of raisin ya.

us. it's what this country is made of. but right now, our bond is fraying. how do we get back to "us"? the y fills the gaps. and bridges our divides. donate to your local y today. because where there's a y, there's an us. hi there.me! so, what do you look for in a vehicle? sleek designs. performance. dependability is top on my list. well then, here's some vehicles that deliver on that. woah! wow. oh jeez! that's our truck! it's our truck! and they're our cars! that's my chevy! chevy's the only brand to earn j.d. power dependability awards across cars, trucks and suvs three years in a row. awesome. i'm proud. it's like a dynasty. it's impressive. ♪ ♪

the best way to get together is with a treat you make together. ♪ ♪ feeclaritin and relief fromwsy symptoms caused by over 200 allergens. like those from buddy. because stuffed animals are clearly no substitute for real ones. feel the clarity. and live claritin clear. ♪ ♪

what's the #1 new skincare product in 2018? olay whips. absorbs faster than the $100, $200, and even $400 cream. feels amazing. i really really love this. i will 100% swap up my moisturizer. can i have it? olay whips. starttake an extra 20% off! friends & family sale save on lc lauren conrad denim - $29.59 new balance shoes are $55.99 and bath towels are just $7.19. plus, get kohl's cash! starting thursday - at kohl's. we're back on this thursday morning with something that we are really excited about here at "today." our special series, today in the wild. >> it is very cool. keir simmons has had the good fortune of tracking big cats of africa. he's taking a close look at how humans and climate change have impacted their world. >> we'll have reports over the next nine months.

we're working with "national geographic". their top film makers and guides theiring their knowledge and access to some of the most beautiful and dangerous animals in the world. this morning we start. we find keir in a jeep in kenya, the middle of safari. good morning. tell whaus we have to look forward to. >> reporter: hey there, guys. how awesome is this? we'll surrounded by wildebeest and zebra on this amazing landscaping driven around by the guys at safari life. we have had an epic journey across africa. come face to face with lions. we've taken a canoe on the african river, and we're going to bring you up close and personal with some of the wildest animals in the world. welcome to a world of untame, unparalleled nature. above and below water. a world of struggles, triumphs,

and lessons for us all. >> this is a living planet. it's not a machine. >> reporter: here in kenya, one of the earth's extraordinary spectacles is late this year. >> it's become unpredictable. >> reporter: hundreds of thousands of animals risk their lives in a great migration. now their very way of life is at risk. we spent ten days traveling across the african wilderness with "national geographic" film makers who endanger themselves. >> it gives me a different sense of what being human about. >> we traveled 1200 miles to look at the african water. >> we must protect the life blood. >> a river bank. >> reporter: looking right at

us. it'll only be a few hours before my heart returns to normal. >> mine's going. we were really close there. >> reporter: another close encounter, a fierce fight between wild dogs and a hyena. film maker brad has a tattoo for every close call. your tattoos are a lion, crocodile. you were almost killed by a crocodile. >> with him we camp outdoors surrounded by predators. >> they don't really want to eat us. >> reporter: that's good to know. later we meet a husband and wife team who have dedicated themselves to protecting these lions. >> we've known her for nearly four years. first saw her when she was about that big. >> reporter: and beverly reveals her brush with death by a buffalo last year and how derek saved her life. >> i think derek and i have gone

beyond. we've probably got it to 18 already. we're more determined to be effective. we realize that life can be taken in an instant. >> reporter: over the next nine months, we'll bring you these stories as national geographic broadcasts a series of stunning documentaries about some of the most beautiful, dangerous, and endangered animals on earth. isn't that amazing? we are live, again, in kenya. as the "today" show team, we've had so much fun making these special reports with exclusive material from specials, and they paid for some of the travel and production costs, but we have also learned so much. i didn't know this, but 73% of wilderness like this has been decimated since humans have been on the planet. 10% of that has been got rid of has been devastated since 1990, and, you know, one of the reasons why it's worth trying to

change that is because we can learn so much from these animals. that man you saw in my report who has lived in kenya all his life told me these animals are patient. they know to live in the moment. and they are not greedy. he said to me, humans could learn a lot from that, guys. >> that's for sure. >> he's the guy that told you they didn't really want to eat you. keir, what's been the most exciting experience so far? >> reporter: you know, i have to tell you, there was one moment when we were filming when a lion came right up to the side of the vehicle like that. so close that it could have just reached out and grabbed me and hurt me. i simply had to trust that it wouldn't do that. i was assured by the folks i was with that it wouldn't, enand it didn't. that was a special moment. >> extraordinary. heart in your throat. >> keir, thank you so much. >> that's incredible. >> assignment of a lifetime. >> i know.

coming up, candid new comments from serena williams on mother hood, tennis, and what a mother hood, tennis, and what a male coach i'm emma. and i'm claire. and we're the salmon sisters. we run our business from the boat. it's a really small space. this new surface go is the perfect size. ♪ i love having something that i can hold in my hand. we're proud of this way of life. we're proud of the work we're doing. behr presents: ordinary versus overachiever. behr premium plus, "behr" through it all with a top-rated paint at a great price. find it exclusively at the home depot. the first survivor of alzis out there.ase

and the alzheimer's association is going to make it happen. but we won't get there without you. join the fight with the alzheimer's association. olay regenerist wipes out the competition; hydrating better than $100, $200 even $400 creams. with our b3 complex, beautiful skin doesn't have to cost a fortune. olay. and something amazing happens. that's our inspiration for fancy feast medleys. wild salmon primavera. tastes amazing. also in pate. fancy feast medleys. plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, little things can be a big deal. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. and for psoriatic arthritis,

otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. otezla may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. tell your doctor if these occur. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. other side effects include upper respiratory tract infection and headache. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and if you're pregnant or planning to be. otezla. show more of you. it's the ford summer sales event and now is the best time to buy. you ready for this, junior? yeah, i think i can handle it. no pressure... ...that's just my favorite boat. boom. (laughs) make summer go right with ford, america's best-selling brand. and get our best deal of the summer: zero percent financing

for sixty months on f-150. get zero percent financing for 60 months- plus $2,800 bonus cash on a 2018 f-150 xlt equipped with 2.7l ecoboost. you got it from your parents. and they got it from theirs. it's your skin, and it can protect you from millions of things. so we're here to help you protect your skin. walgreens pharmacists and beauty consultants are specially trained to know what works for the health of your unique skin. walgreens. trusted since 1901. now all sun care products are buy one get one 50% off. coming up -- yeah, we love that sign. the eye-opening results of new crash tests from some of the most popular minnie vans in the country. >> jessica beal will be here live in our studio after a check of your local news.

(vo) it's being there when you're needed most. he's the one. (vo love is knowing... it was meant to be. and love always keeps you safe. (vo) love is why we built a car you can trust for a long time. the all-new subaru impreza sedan and five-door. a car you can love no matter what road you're on. the subaru impreza. more than a car, it's a subaru. right now, get 0% apr financing on the 2018 subaru impreza. what's the #1 new skincare product in 2018? olay whips. absorbs faster than the $100, $200, and even $400 cream. feels amazing. i really really love this. i will 100% swap up my moisturizer. can i have it? olay whips. ♪ (phone message chime) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (nathan) secondhand smoke caused measthma attacks,

infections and lung damage. and i never smoked. (announcer) if you or someone you know wants free help to quit smoking, call 1-800-quit-now. when you make a pb&j with smucker's, that's the difference between ordinary everyday and exquisitely delicious in an everyday sort of way. because with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. something important. it's not going to be easy. quicksilver earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere. actually, that's super easy. my bad. that's super easy. a 50% chance isn't good enough when it comes to your kid's nutrition. 1 out of 2 kids don't get enough calcium, vitamin d, and potassium. make sure your kid isn't one of them. one simple way? 3 servings of real milk a day. serve real milk at mealtime.

wow, that's an pretty great, huh?low. if you're a banana. i find it very...appealing. new kellogg's raisin bran with bananas. two scoops meet real banana slices. i've done a great job of raisin ya. bask sherwin-williams auguste four17th through the 20th le. and get 35% off paints and stains. visit your neighborhood sherwin-williams store today. [stomach gurgles] ♪when you have nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea... girl, pepto ultra coating will treat your stomach right. nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea.♪ try new pepto with ultra coating.

it is 7:55. it is a little groomy in some spots. we have cloud cover out there. this is a nice shot of healdsburg. we're expecting the clouds to burn off by the afternoon, but we might still see a couple clouds left behind. part lly skeer clies expected. it's cool along the coast. 59 for san francisco. further inland in the 60s. 63 for san jose. 63 for hayward. and up to the north bay, temperatures in the upper 50s. now as far as your coastal fog, like i said, we're still seeing some of the fogs hugging the coastline. you can see through half moon bay, even some clouds through hayward and some areas near san jose as well. as we head in towards the afternoon, the temperature trend does show a nice climb into those 80s, with plenty of sunshine. and today is just going to set us up for an even hotter weekend ahead. we'll top out into the 80s for the south bay.

some 90s further into the inland areas. aside from that, expecting a very pleasant and warm summer day across the bay area. mike. >> overall, the roadways getting more crowded, a lot more crowded in the last half hour. a couple problems for the south bay. west 237, a motorcycle crash. chp has been tied up. there was activity across all lanes. the speed sensors are starting to improve. they may have moved into the solder. and northbound 101 through mountain view, looking at a crash there blocking at least one lane. back to you. >> happening now, music legend aretha franklin is dead at the age of 76. the queen of soul won 18 grammy awards and the first woman inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. go to our twitter feed for a look back at her career. >> authorities on the peninsula are searching for a man they say posed as an uber driver and sexually assaulted a woman. the police have issued this sketch to try to track down that attacker. you can go to our home page for

that story including easy ways authorities recommend to make sure that driver is legit. more local news in 30 minutes. rm tomorrow. the reason the deadly ghost ship warehouse case is far from over. .and meteorologist kari hall is breaking down the forecasts for the biggest weekend events. tomorrow from 4:30 to 7.

welcome to the xfinity store. thanks, janet. it's my happy place. you can learn how to switch to xfinity mobile, a new wireless network that saves you cash. and you can get 5 lines of talk and text included with your internet. and over here i'm having my birthday party. dj fluffernutter, hit it! ♪ dj fluffernutter simple. easy. awesome. ask how to get $300 back when you sign up for xfinity mobile, and purchase a new samsung phone. visit your local xfinity store today.

overnight overnight a colorado man arrested and charged with murdering his pregnant wife and two young daughters. just hours after speaking out about his missing family. >> it's like a nightmare i can't wake up from. i just want them home so bad. >> we're live with the latest. plus distractions and drownings. a new study showing a direct link between the number of children drowning and parents simply not paying attention. >> i see parents on their phone all the time. i think all of us do it. >> reporter: this morning life saving tips to keep your kids safe. and the art of the beil.

we'll catch up with jessica biel as she celebrates her first ever emmy nomination with us on "today," august 16th. ♪ >> skipping school is good. >> here with my grandma. hi to my other grandchildren in washington state. >> celebrating 48 years of friendship friendship and our 60th birthday. ♪ >> hi to our moms in pittsburgh. >> happy birthday to our brother. >> and hi mom and dad in virginia. hi right back. welcome back to "today." we appreciate you being with us on this beautiful thursday morning. a nice crowd outside. >> a nice summer day. >> and tomorrow a performance outside. if you're a country fan, come out for that. it will be a great concert.

a lot happening this morning. we'll get to your news at 8:00. we begin with the arrest overnight in the disappearance of the pregnant colorado mother and her two young daughters. the woman's husband who reported them missing is now charged with their murders. nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer joins us with details. >> good morning. days ago the suspect, a husband and father to the two little girls was pleading for the public's help in finding his missing family. police say his story never added up. now he faces three counts of murder. >> reporter: the quiet suburban home with this mother and her two daughters were last seen alive becoming a crime scene overnight. a law enforcement source telling our denver affiliate, kusa, chris watts has now confessed to killing his pregnant wife and their two little girls, one three, the other four. a confession apparently coming just days after they were first reported missing monday

afternoon. watts doing media interviews, playing the victim. >> it seems like i'm living in a nightmare and i can't get out of it. i want them home so bad. >> reporter: watts spoke to kusa hours after he claimed his wife and children vanished. >> i have no idea where they went. and it doesn't -- it's earth shattering informal i don't feel like this is even real. >> reporter: three days after asking for the public's health, the alleged stunning confession. according to local media, watts reportedly also telling investigators he would lead them to their bodies. nbc news has not yet confirmed that report. questioned by friends and family, watts stuck to this story. he said his pregnant wife came home from a business trip at 2:00 a.m. monday. the couple having an emotional conversation before he left for work at 5:00 a.m.

watts says his wife wasn't responding to text messages and never answered the front door for a friend who stopped by. >> i just want people to know i want my family back. i want them safe, and i want them here. >> reporter: overnight, her brother writing on facebook, i just want to know why. my precious family. bella, celeset and her unborn son, nico. i want 30 seconds alone with that heartless psychopath. >> reporter: this morning a mother and her two baby girls gone. her husband, a young father soon to be charged with their murders. watts is in police custody at this hour. police have not yet said if the bodies of his wife and two daughters have been recovered. hoda? >> thank you. the president is admitting there is a direct link between the russia investigation and his decision on wednesday to yank the security clearance of former

cia director john brennan. the president told "the wall street journal" brennan is one of the people responsible for starting the russia probe which he once again called a rigged witch hunt. he said revoking the clearance was something that, quote, had to be done. earlier speaking through his press secretary, the president accused brennan of putting classified information at risk, but offered no evidence of it. brennan has been a fierce trump critic calling him the most divisive president we've ever had. the queen of soul, aretha franklin, has died. her publicist says franklin passed away today at her home in detroit. she won 18 grammy awards, a string of 1960s hits including natural woman and respect cemented her stardom. she was 76 years old. an environmental group is claiming that traces of a weed killer linked to cancer have been found in popular breakfast foods including cheerios and quaker oats.

the environmental working group says testing detected the chemical, an ingredient in monsanto's roundup weed killer. last week a grounds keeper was awarded $289 million in damages after a jury found the chemical was a significant cause of his cancer. general mills and quaker oats say the levels of the chemical remain within regulatory limits set by the epa. okay. our news covered. i got a boost for you. a florida woman fighting ovarian cancer got an incredible surprise when she came home from her final chemo treatment. kristina asked her friend why they weren't taking the usual way home. she said she needed to get her car fixed. it was a fib. she drove her to a party in her honor. >> you don't even need a translator.

she said there was so much love her heart was going to burst. we wish her a long and happy life ahead. much more ahead including the new age restrictions about to change the fashion world and your favorite magazines, we'll talk about this with the bookings director of vogue magazine. >> first dangerous distractions. the new water safety warning this morning tied to your phone that every parent needs to hear. that's right after this. topic d, you never know how topic d, your skin will look. and it can feel like no matter what you do, you're itching all the time. but even though you see and feel your eczema on the surface of your skin, an overly sensitive immune system deep within your skin might actually be causing your eczema. so help heal your skin from within. with dupixent. dupixent is not a steroid, and it continuously treats your eczema even when you can't see it.

at 16 weeks, more than 1 in 3 patients saw clear or almost clear skin, and patients saw a significant reduction in itch. do not use if you are allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision. if you have asthma, and are taking asthma medicines do not change or stop your asthma medicine without talking to your doctor. help heal your skin from within. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent. starttake an extra 20% off! friends & family sale save on lc lauren conrad denim - $29.59 new balance shoes are $55.99 and bath towels are just $7.19. plus, get kohl's cash! starting thursday - at kohl's. so, you'll be here to i got you.need you? what about here? yup. here? yes, kyle. and here sir robert from state farm? if you invite me. go with the one that's here to help life go right. state farm.

♪ ♪ hey, i just want wbyceiydbo car. wbyceiydbo? we'll buy your car even if you don't buy ours it's an acronym, wbyceiydbo wbyceiydbo! oh, ok wbyceiydbo it's the right thing to do. starttake an extra 20% off! friends & family sale save on vans shoes - starting at $55.99 reversible comforters are just $31.99 and a power air fryer is $127.99. plus, get kohl's cash! starting thursday - at kohl's. no matter how much you clean, does your house still smell stuffy?

that's because your home is filled with soft surfaces that trap odors and release them back into the room. so, try febreze fabric refresher. febreze finds odors trapped in fabrics and cleans them away as it dries. use febreze every time you tidy up to keep your whole house smelling fresh air clean. fabric refresher even works for clothes you want to wear another day. make febreze part of your clean routine for whole home freshness. booel we're back now. 8:10 with an eye opening warning. >> it's a new study that resenior high schools a direct link between the number of children drowning and cell phone use by their parents. nbc's stephanie gosk is here. this is an eye opener. >> it is. most of us are too attached to the phones we use. we can hardly take our eyes off of them for a second. when you're at a pool, a lake, the ocean with your kids, that distraction can have dire

consequences. this morning an urgent new warning for parents. the world's largest life guard organization says some kids are drowning because parents are on their cell phones. and not paying attention. >> i do see parents on their phone all the time. i think all of us do it. >> safety experts say it's become a critical problem. >> a lot of parents don't realize that it only takes seconds for a child to submerge and potentially drown. >> drownings are the second leading causes of death for kids and distractions including talking and texting are at the heart of the tragedies. video of a drowning in china is difficult to watch. a mother is on her cell phone at a public pool. just behind her her four-year-old son begins to struggle. after only three minutes, he sinks. she never notices. >> it can take seconds and you're not necessarily looking for them and all the sudden they're at the bottom of the

pool. >> reporter: experts say since it's hard for one person to watch all the time, parents should designate one person to watch the pool. that person wears a card like this. a physical reminder of their responsibilities. >> so the water watcher program is analogous to the designated driver. >> i am on duty when i have the card on. >> we can do lots of fun things in the pool. >> i can't wait to have fun with my friends and family. >> reporter: experts say you don't have to ditch the phone entirely but make sure someone is watching all the time. >> if you need to answer a text or take a call, go to the pool with another parent and excuse yourself and say can you watch the kids? >> everybody has a cell phone. people are always calling and texts. it's too easy to get distracted. you want to know the right thing

to do. >> do experts think we should leave our phones somewhere else? >> the phones are important at the pool. you should have it, especially if there's an emergency, but the important thing is avoid distractions. and most importantly, make sure that at all times someone is watching your child. if you're there with someone else, pass off that responsibility if you have to check that phone. >> or maybe everyone who is at the pool regardless of whether they're a parent or not should maybe, you know, have their cell phone in the pocket. >> put it in the bag. >> the point is it takes seconds and makes no sound. you think for a second i'll briefly look. you look at your phone, you think it's three seconds. it could be 30. that's all it takes. >> you turn off your brain so much when you're looking at it. whether it's at a pool or walking down the sidewalk. it's just too dangerous. >> yeah. all right, steph. thank you. mr. roker, you got a check of the weather? >> we do. we're taking a look at what's going on. active wildfire season. we've seen 108 active wildfires going on right now. and you can -- this is actually

the smoke forecast. you can see plumes of smoke making their way into the great lakes. a lot going on as far as that smoke. and with all the rain, obviously no drought in the east. however, out west where it's been dry massive amounts of drought from kansas city, dallas, all the way to los angeles. but an el niño could bring more moisture and rain. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> we're a little cloudy right now, 63 degrees in san jose. wind speeds right now, nice and mild, about 7 miles per hour. it is a little breezier in san francisco. 13 to 15 mile per hour winds. about 58 degrees. if you notice, we've got a combination of sun and clouds. and that will linger into the afternoon. also, for a little more, look at the cloud cover out there. 61 degrees. humidity's high. we're expecting some warmer temperatures this afternoon. climbing nicely into the 80s and 90s.

if you're heading out catch us on "today" show radio channel 108. >> you got it. dylan is over in the orange room for carson. good morning. what you got? >> good morning. this is a fun one. social media users, they're buzzing about a new line of fashion forward accessories that may be especially of interest to you, hoda. >> what is it? >> a japanese clothing brand combined with zip lock. there's a hat and a purse. there's a bag. there's an apron, a visor. that will keep you dry and eve an fanny pack. we all know hoda, you're away ahead of this trend before this happened. take a look at what happened at the time 100 gala last april. >> last thing you bought online, hoda? >> okay. online? let me think. you know what? hold on.

let me look at my -- >> wait. what? >> i can't. don't even. i tried to give her a purse. she doesn't want it. >> what's the bag? >> my purse. >> and the clutch by ziplock. >> and now they can. >> omg. this is awesome. >> quite the trend. >> do you think because of hoda and her trend setter nature. >> she's done this over and over. >> yeah. that wasn't the first time. hoda, we'll remind you also three years ago at you proudly displayed your ziplock clump. -- clutch. >> you can see what's in there. >> it's practical and water proof. if you want to try this, use a liplock bag for now. these aren't coming out for a little while. they can only be purchased in japan at this time. >> i like it. >> if you have to buy a ziplock purse, doesn't that defeat the purpose. you like it because it's cheap. >> and if you lose it, you've lost nothing. >> and it has many pouchs in that apron.

i'm excited. >> i think it needs the zipper. get in and out of it easily. >> i see the fanny pack on you. it would look good. >> no. >> the emmys are coming up. we're going. >> al, you're onto something. >> who wouldn't wear those? >> pop start, dill sylan? >> serena williams, she's gracing the latest cover of time". in an interview she opened up about the hardships of mother hood. she was asked about her decision to stop breast feeding after her coach told her it would help her game. she said it's hard to take from a guy. he's not a woman. he doesn't understand that the connection that the best time of the day is when i tried to feed her. i spent my whole life making everyone happy. this is something i wanted day. it's been a tough 11 months. if i can do it, you guys can do it too. serena is speaking to all the

moms out there. pick up the newest issue out tomorrow. up next, ariana grande was the latest artist to jump into the passenger seat alongside james corden. while they sang some of his biggest hits it was her rendition of "it's all coming back to me now" that had cordon shocked. ♪ ♪ >> oh, my god. it's like she's in the car. >> spot on impression. cordon also asked her about some of the rumors about her including whether she prefers to be carried everywhere she goes. let's see what she had to say. >> there was a picture of me being carried by my tour manager because i shot a video in point

shoes. i thought it was cute. >> that's not true. >> no, that's so stupid. >> hello. i must be carried. >> what do you want? >> can i please have a soy latte. >> what size? >> i'm going to get a grande. >> gets them every time. >> she's good. >> she is. so funny. one thing the singer didn't address was why her hand was bandaged. she showed on instagram she hurt her hand while filming the segment and teased all will be revealed at a later time. we'll have to wait and see. her singer's fiance opened up in a new interview with gq and talked about how he brought up the idea of marriage saying the day i met her i was like hey, i'll marry you tomorrow. she was calling my bluff.

i sent her a picture of rings. i was like do you like any of these? she was like those are my favorite ones. and i was like sick. the rest is history. >> totally. he confirmed their engagement with jimmy fallon. you can pick up gq when it hits the stands. >> i like his new haircut. thank you. the publisher of "vogue" declaring it will no longer use models under the age of 18. we'll talk to a top executive at "vogue" in a moment. first a look inside the fashion world. the 90s marked the rise of the super model. flawless faces and fierce physiques dominating the world of fashion. since then the everchanging industry has become a revolving

door. rookie models filling the increasing demand of those able to fit into super small sizes. the young adults forced to grow up quickly as they face the harsh realities of modelling from highly sexualized fashion shoots to inappropriate conduct and outright sexual assault. these all too common scenarios begging the question how young is too young. >> >> i was constantly on a daily basis sexually harassed, followed. i would go to castings where people would ask me to take my clothes off. i was often made to feel very uncomfortable. >> super model karen elsen began at 15 eventually becoming favorite for some of fashion's top photographers. >> it's an ugly side of a very beautiful business. >> she is now 39 and a mother of two and says the industry standard of having young teens model a women sample size zero adds to unrealistic expectations

women place on themselves. >> a 16-year-old walking down the runway is not a fair representation of what women in the world outside of fashion want to see. >> reporter: her experience mentioned in the upcoming issue of "vogue" as they look at the industry's often negative effects on young models. >> these are the things you don't see when you're looking at these beautiful girls. if you don't see the underbelly of models being worked until they burn out, not paid on time, not paid at all. made to feel like their bodies aren't beautiful, then getting eating disorders because of it. >> reporter: the article coming after vogue's publisher announced earlier this year it would no longer use models under 18. the company hoping this fashion forward move will set a new trend for the entire industry. we're joined now by the

bookings director at "vogue". >> thank you. >> talk about the problem. i think a lot of people might be surprised that the models that we're seeing are in many cases so very young. they don't look it. they're all dressed up and dolled up. they don't look like 14-year-old girls. >> absolutely. that's part of the problem. it's not only that they're working at the young age. we're presenting young women as adults and that really is one of the chief issues. >> and why get the young women? what was the point of getting 14 or 15 or 16-year-old girls to model? >> part of that is the problem. the modelling industry is large. there are a lot of fashion shows, and in order to fulfill all the looks for the fashion shows, younger models were scouted. it's kind of a wheel. they come in, do a few fashion show seasons move on and the next group comes in. >> in a way it was like they're kind of interchangeable. it's a far step away from the

super model era when there were women who designers would dress for them. and now it seems like the opposite is true. >> we shifted away from super models to disposable faces. it's really not good for anyone in the industry. it's not good for the kids who are cycling in and out, and it's not good for fashion. it's not good for the image we're putting out there. >> i was going to say, i don't think it's good for women who look at the magazines. the body of a 14-year-old is not the body of a 25-year-old, 30-year-old, 47-year-old. you know? it kind of adds to that unrealistic expectation. >> absolutely. the healthy appearance of models is something we've been concerned with for a long time, especially their body size. and age is very closely correlated. a girl who is 14 or 15 or 16 is not a developed woman. and we felt that by addressing age, we could also address body size which is closely linked. >> now, when "vogue" does something because you're so out

in front on these things, other publications sometimes follow. is that what we're expecting to see, a trend? >> what we're hoping to see is that designers follow. that model agencies follow and all the people in the modelling industry. this is a global and fragmented industry. there's no governoring body that dictates models or their age. we're hoping that as leaders in the industry others will look to us and take this and go from there. >> and even just bigger than -- even like a regular -- some women who are 20 or 30 or whatever, still don't have the bodies most of us have. sometimes we look up there and say i wish someone looked like me. >> right. absolutely. inclusivity in the industry is something that's also been changing quite a bit. not only are we generally addressing the age and health of models but body size diversity has been a conversation. there have been great strides made recently. >> thank you. we'll send it over to craig and a special guest. >> look who is here.

jessica beil in the house. emmy nominated jessica beil. congratulations. >> thank you. >> well-deserved. we'll talk about "sinner "season one and more the sacramento are accuse good morning. it's 8:26. i'm marcus washington. the area man accused striking and killing a california highway patrolman is expected in court today. 46-year-old kurt grice died during a traffic stop. investigators say the pickup truck driven by 36-year-old shawn walker struck both the chp motorcycle and a car pulled over on the shoulder. this is interstate 80. the driver of that car also died. now walker is accused of speeding and being distracted by his phone at the time of that crash. he's facing manslaughter charges. right now, we want to get a check of your morning commute. >> we had the earlier crashes,

north 101, around old millfield and 237 around lafayette. we see good recovery and general slowing towards the rest of silicon valley. the peninsula, still slow. the approach out of redwood city and also the san mateo bridge slows as bewell. an earlier crash, 880, could cause congestion but should be over to the shoulder. looking across to the area, it's slower across the san mateo bridge. but the disabled vehicle sounds like it is being addressed on foster city side, so you should be okay. nice drive at the bay bridge, just a backup at the fast track. back to you. >> more news in 30 minutes.

while other burger places serve the same old stuff, i'm the only one that has the bowls to serve something different. i mean, just look at my teriyaki bowls. choose from steak or chicken, covered in teriyaki sauce, plus your choice of white or brown rice. what about these bowls jack? hey! you got some pretty nice bowls there. and so does dan! thanks jack! those are some nice bowls. everyone's gonna want to get their hands on jack's bowls. try my bowls! see that right there? you can't say that.

what? i was just saying i got great bowls... ooooh. now i hear it. yea. try my teriyaki bowls. only at jack in the box. designed to save you money. wireless network even when you've got serious binging to do. wherever your phone takes you, your wireless bill is about to cost a whole lot less. use less data with a network that has the most wifi hotspots where you need them and the best 4g lte everywhere else. saving you hundreds of dollars a year. and ask how you get xfinity mobile included with your internet. plus, get $300 back when you buy a new smartphone. xfinity mobile. it's simple. easy. awesome. click, call or visit a store today.

we are back. >> it's 8:30. good thursday morning. this is dodging cameras. we have a great crowd out here. >> nice smiling faces. it's beautiful. >> we want to say a happy birthday to kathie lee gifford. we'll celebrate. we have a big party on the 4 th

hour. >> kathie lee jubilee. >> i've heard of some of the things happening. i'm not giving away any secrets. >> don't you dare. >> do you have a crowd moment? >> i do. where's audrey? can't miss you guys. you're the brightest people this morning. you're all from louisiana? where's your shirt? >> i'm a bomb. i just joined the family. >> well, you picked a good family to be a part of. i hear you just retired as a teacher. >> yes. >> how many years were you a teacher? >> 33 years. >> 33 years. incredible. >> davis perish. >> and your hard work, i'm sure paid off for many. >> yes, ma'am. >> so pick her to be on tv? >> so we did. so the shirts worked. it's nice to meet you. nice to meet all of you. we're going to take pictures so back to you guys. >> cool. coming up. a lot of families buy mini vans for safety. how safe are they?

the surprising results of some brand new crash safety tests on the country's most popular models. >> and then the very busy jessica biel is here. she has a lot to celebrate. savannah is going to chat with her about work, her marriage and more. >> summer is coming near an end. we don't want to rush it, but we brought in a gardening guru to answer questions about how to preserve and protect everything you planted. >> good. al, a check on the weather. >> yes. i noticed there's sound. over here we have one of our vet dogs from our nbc station wbal channel 11. who is this? >> camden. >> camden named after camden yard. cool. how is camden doing? >> great. >> sunny, say hi to your sister. >> say hello. >> he has no interest. >> all right. she's so pretty. all right. >> i got to meet camden when i

was in baltimore earlier this summer. let's show you what's happening as far as your weather. the weekend outlook tomorrow. strong storms in the gulf. sunshine along the west coast. saturday heavy rain through the southeast. above average temperatures out west. sunshine around the great lakes. sunday, sunday, dries out in the northeast and great lakes. more wet weather through the southeast. below average temperatures with rainy c that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> it's still a bit cloudy as you look outside your window this morning. as you head out, temperatures are still cool, in the 50s and the 60s throughout the bay area. 56 degrees right now. and along the coast, we're still seeing those low clouds kind of hanging around san francisco. half-moon bay area as well, even some cloud cover through san jose. over the next couple of hours, you will notice, it's going to warm up quite nicely and we'll see mostly clear skies with temperatures in the 80s for san jose.

and that is your latest weather. mr. melvin. >> mr. roker, thank you. this morning on today's consumer, if your family owns a mini van or is considering buying one, listen up. >> new crash safety testing is raising concerns about one of the most popular models with families these days. nbc's tom costello has a look at the results. tom, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this is the honda odyssey. this is the top safety pick. for the latest test the insurance institute for highway safety wanted to see how well the front passenger compartment holds up in a 40 miles per hour crash. the so-called safety cage that cocoons the passenger, the bottom line, honda did pretty well. toyota, not so well. they're among the most popular mini vans on the road today. carrying families to school, soccer practice and summer vacations. the latest crash test focussed on front passenger crashes where

the van hits another car, tree, or pole. the stronger the safety cage surrounding the passenger, the better the protection. the biggest surprise? one of the most popular, the toyota sienna earned poor for structure. >> because of extensive intrusion into the passenger's survival space. >> the front passenger could suffer serious leg injuries and potentially head and chest injuries as well. and there's the possibility of injuries in the second row of seats. >> while you may be reasonably well protected as the driver, someone in the right front seat might not be well protected. >> the 2018 toyota got an average score, and the pacifica and odyssey got top designated. toyota says the test goes beyond federal vehicle safety regulations but toyota has taken

steps to improve in the test. for mini van moms in california, it's all about safety. >> it's the reason why i bought a manny van. i had three kids within 16 months. >> making sure it's highly rated and the safety features meet my expectations when i'm driving my kids around because i drive them everywhere. >> researchers also looked at how easily the child latch system works. that keeps a car seat in place and prevents it from tipping forward. again, the honda odyssey gets the top marks on that one. the dodge grand caravan, the kiasedona got acceptable ratings. chrysler says no single test can determine vehicle safety. back to you. >> all right. good information. all right. tom, thank you. coming up next, the sinner herself, jessica biel is with us. >> that's the name of the show. >> the sinner herself.

>> this is "today" on nbc.

jessica made her return to tv in "the sinner ". she's a young murder who murdered a man while on a family trip to the beach and spent the first season trying to figure out why she did it. "the sinner" is back for another season. there's a brand new mystery to keep you on the edge of your sofa. >> what happened to your parents? >> they died. >> how did they die? all we want to know is what you saw. moment by moment. that's it. >> they had to go back.

>> okay. hair is standing up. >> me too, actually. >> it really is. okay, there's so much to does. first of all you were nominated for an emmy for your role in "the sinner ". >> thank you so much. >> tell me how you found out. that has to be one of the highlights of life. >> it was truly one of those crazy moments that you didn't believe was real. i was actually driving in a car. . i had just gotten out of the amsterdam airport. i was driving to the hotel, and i got this call, and my kid was in the car, and we were playing games and reading stuff. he was looking at his ipad. there was all this stuff going on. i'm on the phone. it was a very mom moment. everything is happening at once. you're getting great news, and then where's the water and where's the snacks? you know? i'm like that's amazing. where are the snacks? >> you get 10 seconds. >> that's all you get. >> it's got to feel like not only for your role as an

actress, but you found this project. you're the executive producer of "the sinner". >> yes. it's so rewarding and so amazing to be recognized in this way. i have been at the bottom of this ground zero sort of experience with this project, and have been along with it every step of the way through the casting and the writing, and the post and everything. for me this is my baby. >> it is. >> and i share it with our entire cast and crew and our creative team and everything, but it feels so close to my heart that to be recognized and with the women that i'm recognized -- these people i look up to and that i'd want my careers to be like theirs and now i'm in the same category as them, it's unbelievable. >> it's special. your baby's not here to distract you. let's soak it in. >> it feels great. >> it's deserved. season one, you were in it.

the story centered around you. you were the sinner, i presume. because you murdered someone. i'm not going to give anything away. it's not about who did it. it more about why. >> we're looking at a psychological onion peel of a human brain and a past. and what happened to this woman that created who she is in this moment and why she does this extreme act, this terrible, terrible crime. and we tell you right away. you see it. you as the audience see it right away first episode that this character commits this crime. >> season two follows that in the sense of you see the crime, but now there's a new set of actors, and your character is not this n this season. >> that's correct. >> but there is a common thread. the detective is still in it. >> yes. he's our foundation of this show, and he's going to take us

into a new location, into a new town that has a lot of connection for himself privately which we will learn a little more as the show and series goes on, and he's going to investigate a new case and we're going to meet a bunch of new interesting characters. a lot of female characters. it's exciting to create amazing roles for women, something my company is really -- we take very seriously. >> we know you to be multitalented. i have to say i saw your instagram post the other day where you were talking about your desire to be a sirk deso lay performer. you have skills. >> that's called being bored in a hotel and watching daddy play with silas and going i want to play too. can you make me go upside down. >> you have been on tour with justin? >> we have. >> it's a lot of hotel rooms but it must be fun. >> it is. you feel kind of like a wild

group of gypsies and you're all in it together, and you see so many new places. it's amazing for our son. he's hearing new languages. we're talking about different countries and names of dirchffet countries. what he likes and has seen. we knows the eiffel tower. that's something he loves. he would never have these experiences if we weren't able to get out there and go for it. >> it's like the greatest preschool experience you could have. >> kind of. you're getting a massive education if you can just get out there and not be nervous and just go for it and let him experience cool things. >> i always laugh because they'll have a question that says justin and you, how do you keep your marriage exciting. i'm like you're jessica beil and justin timberlake. that's exciting. >> our work, we're lucky enough to go and stay in different places and live in different places while we work. that's definitely part of it.

but honestly, i just really feel like you have to work hard. that doesn't change if you have -- if you work at home or in an office or you're on a tour. it doesn't change. the work doesn't change, and the being devoted to the relationship is our biggest priority. >> and what you put in is what you get out. >> i agree with that. >> jessica, thank you so much. emmy nominated. congratulations. >> thank you so much. >> you can catch new episodes "of the sinner" on usa. >> just ahead, did you spend the garden getting your summer just right. we'll show you how to protect the hard work with fall fast approaching. first this is "today" on nbc.

summer is almost over, and if you have a garden, now is the

time to start thinking about protecting your plants from the cooler weather to come. here to show us how, emily murphy, the author of "grow who you love". >> thank you for having me. it's a pleasure to be here. >> let's start here and tell me what we've got and what we're trying to do. >> this is a diy food house. it's like a mini greenhouse. it's simple to make and it's a real game changer, especially when you want to get the most out of your garden from summer to fall. >> is it super simple? >> it is. >> all you need are hoops like these. you can make your own out of another flexible material. pop it into your planting area. make sure it's anchored and then you need row cover. >> this is called row cover. >> or garden fabric or fleece. it comes in different weights. the trick is to make sure the fabric is firmly anchored to the soil. you want to create a seal. this is what holds the warm air in and allows you to garden into

fall. it's amazing. >> yeah. you're so passionate about it. >> because when you grow what you love, wonderful things happen, and this is -- this is where real food and healthy living begins. >> this is something i could do with my fall children at home. >> they would love it. my daughter says mom, you made me entrinto a salad eater. >> let's look down here and see what comes after. >> now, you've grown a fabulous herb garden. if you're going to grow one thing, let it be herbs. they elevate everyday cooking. >> can i grow herbs year around. >> you can. some of them like this one, this is a cuban oregano. it's not a true oregano, but it tastes like it. it's a little bit succulent.

you can grow it as a house plant. what to do with the plants now that you've grown them. we're going to take a sprig. this is where if you clip it just above there branching point, you will get more growth and more plants. >> all right. bring it here? >> yep. so what to do with your herbs. there are many ways to preserve herbs. today we're talking about drying them. and what i like to do is harvest and wash herbs. i wash them in cold water, and then i use a salad spin tore dry them. here we have beautiful opal basil. bundle them up into beautiful bundles like these. look for a spot in your home that is warm, but is out of direct sun, has plenty of air circulation. >> how long will it take to dry? >> about one to three weeks but

you can speed up the process by putting them through a food dehid dehydrator. >> what's this? >> how to continue the love fest. these are fabulous plants. these make a difference in your life. of course, when winter approaches, we'll bring our plants indoors. you can grow herbs in small containers if you have a sunny south-facing window or you can make mason jar herb gardens. >> you make it look so easy. >> this has a layer of stones. it has a little bit of charcoal and then potting soil. stones. there you into. >> what's this white stuff? >> pearlite. >> you're doing a great job. >> thank you. >> about an inch. >> i want to show folks the end. >> here we go.

>> that's beautiful. >> if we put a plant in it, it looks like this. it's gorgeous. >> yeah. i love it. >> it's beautiful. >> emily, thank you. thank you for coming by. the book is called "grow what you love". we're back in a moment. first, this is "today" on nbc.

i'm a small business, but i have... big dreams... and big plans. so how do i make the efforts of 8 employees... feel like 50? how can i share new plans virtually? how can i download an e-file? virtual tours? zip-file? really big files? in seconds, not minutes... just like that. like everything... the answer is simple. i'll do what i've always done... dream more, dream faster, and above all... now, i'll dream gig. now more businesses, in more places, can afford to dream gig. comcast, building america's largest gig-speed network. ♪ ♪ can world-renowned artist red hong yi use the chase mobile app® to pay practically anyone, at any bank? all while creating a masterpiece made of tea leaves? ♪ ♪ yes. but this isn't for just anyone.

♪ ♪ hong yi! it's for the strongest man in her life. ♪ ♪ life. lived red's way. chase. make more of what's yours. >> i know that song. it's al's birthday song. >> time to break out the smucker's jars and celebrate sweet people. first up, let's say hello to ancil shepard. celebrating 100 years. he served his country during world war ii. marjorie grassy 100 years old. she enjoys spending time with her grand kids and great grand kids.

joe jarrett loves saying active by going for a daily life. bob schwimmer loves sailing the high seas on a good windy day. stella is 102. recognized as one of the official rosy the riveters for her work during world war ii. we salute you. and happy 100th birthday to frank griffin married to the love of his life for over 70 years. you know somebody celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, let us know. >> we know someone -- >> far from a smucker's jar. >> not even close, but we're celebrating kathie lee. we have a bunch of surprising for her. also wine steals and splurges. we have a good show today.

>> all drunk by the end. >> that's different because? it's just like every day.i )m the entertainment good morning. it's 8:56. i'm marcus washington. the entertainment world is mourning, remembering music icon aretha franklin. the queen of soul died this morning at the age of 76. she won 18 grammy awarded during her storied career. she was the first female artist inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. franklin may be best known for

her song "respect" but she had numerous hits including "you make me feel like a natural woman,," "think," and "chain of fools." she died of pancreatic cancer. happening now, our bob riddell is getting reaction. he's at one bay area location where franklin recorded one of her best-known albums. link to more right now on our twitter feed. authorities on the peninsula are searching for a man they say posed as an uber driver, then sexually assaulted a female who got into his car. you can go to our homepage for that full story, including the way authorities recommend you make sure that the driver is legit. also on our homepage, warriors want to start a new dance team and there's one catch, you must be at least 55 years old. we'll see more stories for you coming up in an hour. >> nbc bay area news, winner of an edward r. murrow award in social media. i mean, just look at my teriyaki bowls.

choose from steak or chicken, covered in teriyaki sauce, plus your choice of white or brown rice. what about these bowls jack? hey! you got some pretty nice bowls there. and so does dan! thanks jack! those are some nice bowls. everyone's gonna want to get their hands on jack's bowls. try my bowls! see that right there? you can't say that. what? i was just saying i got great bowls... ooooh. now i hear it. yea. try my teriyaki bowls. only at jack in the box. tomorrow. the reason the deadly ghost ship warehouse case is far from over. .and meteorologist kari hall is breaking down the forecasts for the biggest weekend events. tomorrow from 4:30 to 7.

good morning, everyone. wac to the show. i'm megyn kelly. we have much to discuss. joining me now to break down what's making the rounds today, dylan dreyer and craig melvin along with amy holmes the host of "in principle". okay. we begin today with a shocking story out of suburban colorado on the "today" show earlier. everyone in my dressing room looking at the screen speechless. have you heard about this story? monday a man reported his pregnant wife and two young daughters missing. he w