sweep the roadway. east 92 should be clear in all lanes. getting into hayward should be easier. >> that's what's happening for "today in the bay." we'll be back with you. good morning. breaking news. on edge. overnight, chaos in times square. moments of terror after a panicked crowd hears what they thought was gunfire. a similar scare inside a crowded sz mall in utah. just ahead, what's caused those false alarms. on the ground. president trump heads to dayton and el paso today but faces criticism and protests. >> he's made this bed. he's got to lie in it. >> this morning, what the president will find as he arrives in two communities in grief and shock. inside the investigations. the fbi joining the hunt for

clues behind a motive in ohio. the shooter's family breaking their silence. in texas, the officials complete the grim task of identifying the 22 victims overnight. plus, epidemic of abuse. the explosive new accusation against the boy scouts after hundreds come forward with their stories. beloved. the tributes pour in overnight for legendary author toni morrison. and summer soaker. the new round of powerful storms that will strike from the plains to the northeast. behind them, another heat wave. al's got the latest forecast today. wednesday, august 7th, 2019. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> morning, everybody. welcome to "today." thank you for being with us on a wednesday morning. unfortunately, it is a sign of the times, people hear a certain sound in a crowded area, and they fear the worst.

>> clearly a country on edge. let's get right to the breaking news, as savannah mentioned. disturbing times after the mass shootings in dayton, ohio, and el paso. >> overnight a false alarm of a shooter on the loose ses ot off panic in new york's crowded times square. anne thompson is there with the latest. >> reporter: good morning, savannah and craig. times square is always crowded, but last night, when people heard a motorcycle backfire and they thought it was gunfire, pandemonium ensued. 12 to 20 people were injured in the stampede. police say fewer than six of those went to the hospital. it is something that these people won't soon forget. >> everyone thought there was a shooter coming down the street. i thought i was going to watch my daughter get shot down in front of me. >> reporter: terrifying moments in times square tuesday night. after a motorcycle backfiring

caused panic, sending tourists and new yorkers alike running for their lives, mistakenly thinking someone was firing a gun. >> we were coming out of the theater, and there was a big stampede. people were screaming, crying, and climbing over each other. my daughter was pushed against the door, and i was on a pile of people inside the door. i couldn't reach her. >> reporter: this bird's eye view of the scene from times square earth cam shows people running in all directions. witnesses capturing the famed crossroads of the world in chaos. >> you're trying to get as far away from the noise as you possibly can. you have the mentality of, oh, it is never going to happen to you, and all of a sudden, you're stuck right in the middle of it. your adrenaline kicks in, and it's scary. >> reporter: police trying to calm a crowd after those two mass shootings last weekend. tweeting, there is no active shooter in times square. please don't panic. the times square area is very safe. meanwhile, across the country at

a mall in west valley city, utah, another chaotic scene, after a loud noise there caused shoppers to think shots were fired. turns out, it was a sign that fell to the ground. >> as you can imagine, there's a heightened sense of fear right now with things that have gone on around our country, and people were in a full on panic. >> reporter: frightening moments showing a country on edge. >> i definitely think that we shouldn't be living in a world where we think one little noise, you know, is a gunshot, but it's sad because that is the world that we're living in now. >> reporter: new york's mayor bill de blasio also reacted on twitter following the incident, saying the panic and fear people felt tonight was all too real. nobody should have to live in constant fear of gun violence. nobody. a disturbing sign of our times, savannah and craig. >> it is. when you see the panic, people could easily get hurt just in the stampede. thank you very much. now to president trump's visits to dayton and el paso

today, while the push for changing gun laws in this country gains momentum with some members of congress. we have live reports from both cities scarred by the latest mass shootings. we'll start with nbc's white house correspondent peter alexander. peter, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. just moments ago the president trump left for ohio this morning and texas this afternoon despite fierce pushback from some lawmakers who say the president and his rhetoric are not welcome. new overnight, president trump, just hours before he's expected to honor the victims in el paso, took to twitter to mock beto o'rourke for his hispanic nickname. president trump speaking out just moments ago before heading to el paso and dayton. >> i think we have toned it down. >> reporter: fighting back over criticism to his visits to the cities devastated on those mass shootings. >> my critics are political people trying to make points and

in many cases running for president. they are very low in the polls. >> reporter: he slammed the candidate calling beto a phony name to indicate hispanic heritage. beto o'rourke hitting back saying 22 people in my hometown are deadpired your racism. el paso will not be quiet and neither will i. >> reporter: nan whaley said she'll welcome the president. >> he made his bed. he has to lie in it. hit rhetoric is painful and i think the people should stand up and say they're not happy if they are not happy he's coming. >> one nice conversation with the mayor of dayton. could not have been nicer. then she says i tried to call him. i spoke to her. i didn't receive any call. they are trying to make political points. i don't think it works. >> reporter: the president is already getting a cool reception in both communities.

el paso's republican mayor dee margo. >> this is the office of the mayor of el paso in an official capacity welcoming the office of the president of the united states which i consider is my formal duty. >> reporter: and veronica escobar, who said the president is not welcome in her hometown, declining to participate. speaking out last night on msnbc. >> the other thing i heard, chris, totally unsolicited from victims still in the hospital, they'd grab my arm and tell me, tell him not to come here. >> reporter: in washington many democrats are unhappy demanding mitch mcconnell call lawmakers back from summer break to vote to expand background checks to internet and gun show purchases. a bill already passed by the house, now on mcconnell's desk. >> mitch mcconnell needs to get off his [ bleep ] and do something. >> reporter: several republican congressional aides tell nbc

news they have no expectation mcconnell will bring lawmakers back indicating there is little appetite among senate republicans to address background checks. republicans instead appear to be considering expanding red flag laws en fodorsed by the preside that would empower law enforcement to take guns from those who pose an immediate threat. and the el paso times posted an op-ed addressed to president trump saying in part we all want the same thing. we want our country to prosper. that's not different from your goal for america. for many of us our parents were born in mexico. we are proud of that. we are also proud americans. america is our country, it reads, we are home. the author takes issue with the president's claim during this year's state of the union that el paso was one of the nation's most dangerous cities before a border wall was built writing, mr. president, that's not el paso. on the south lawn moments ago

the president said he thinks his rhetoric brings people together. >> we turn now to the investigations in dayton. the fbi has joined the search for a motive focusing on the gunman's apparent interest in, quote, violent ideology. gabe gutierrez is tracking that. good morning >> reporter: investigators are digging into whether the gunman had any help planning this attack, this as a former girlfriend shares he once told her that he heard voices, urging him to hurt others this morning, the fbi has launched a federal investigation into the massacre in dayton. >> we have uncovered evidence throughout the course of our investigation that the shooter was exploring violent ideologies. >> reporter: for the first time, the gunman's family released a written statement, read by police >> the betts family is shocked and devastated by the events

sunday m district. they offer their heartfelt prayers and condolences to all the victims, their families, and friends. >> reporter: lindsey doll says she dated the gunman in high school. >> he would confide in me a lot about the dark things he experienced himself. >> reporter: some of those dark things, she says, included hearing voices. >> the voices told him to harm others. he was afraid he would end up harming others, which is absolutely haunting now. >> reporter: should people have paid attention to the red flags? >> yes, absolutely. >> reporter: another ex-girlfriend previously told nbc news the gunman had shown her video of a mass shooting on their first date and performed with an extreme heavy metal band, known for sexually violent lyrics. a lot of people watching will think, why didn't someone say something? >> teenagers, as kids, we feel pressured, i think, sometimes we think, oh, this is our friend. oh, this is someone who, yeah, is terrifying, but that's just how he is. >> reporter: she wants to

remember the nine people who died, including thomas mcnichols, a forther after four and lois oglesby, a mother of two, who called her partner after she'd been shot and said, i need to get to my kids. both of them are damon davenport's cousins. he is devastated. >> it just hurts. it's a pain that will never go away. it is like i'm living in a dream. i want to wake up from it, but i can't. >> it's a nightmare. gabe, the fbi is in this case now, saying the gunman was exploring violent ideologies. what exactly are they talking about? >> reporter: savannah, they didn't elaborate. police only saying he expressed an interest in committing mass murder, and that he was not influenced by the rampage in el paso just hours earlier. however, investigators did say at this point, there is no evidence that this attack was race related. savannah? >> gabe gutierrez, thank you very much. from dayton to el paso, as that city prepares for president trump's visit, some new stories

have emerged of just remarkable heroism and survival during saturday's rampage inside that walmart. nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer joins us with those stories this morning. miguel, good morning to you. >> reporter: craig, good morning. 22 lives were lost here, and dozens more were injured, after authorities say a white supremacist driven by hate unloaded on a crowd. today we are learning more about the victims and those who survived the bloodshed. as investigators search for new evidence at the scene of this terrifying rampage -- >> right here! >> reporter: -- we're learning the identities of all 22 people who lost their lives. the oldest, 90-year-old luis suarez who leaves behind more than 50 grandchildren and great grandchildren. the youngest, 15-year-old javier rodriguez, a high school sophomore. now, we're learning incredible new stories of survival. >> i threw myself to the floor because i thought i was next.

>> reporter: jessica garcia and her husband giellermo were at the walmart with their kids for a soccer team fundraiser. as the gunman approached, their children hit. both parents shot in the legs, then played dead. >> i remember closing my eyes because i didn't want to see. i was shaking. when i opened my eyes, i saw him shoot a lady in the head. >> reporter: did you hear him say anything? >> nothing. it was like a game to him. >> reporter: her husband critically injured is in a coma. jessica credits him for saving her life. >> he took one for me, and he would have done it for anybody. >> reporter: hero gilbert serna may have saved dozens of lives. the walmart employee leading 100 people through a fire exit and hiding them in shipping containers. >> i'll never forget the recognition i'm getting from the customers reaching out to me and saying, you saved my aunt, saved my mom, you saved my dad. >> reporter: this community coming together like never

before. 11-year-old ruben martinez creating the el paso challenge, asking people to complete 22 good deeds. one in honor of each victim. >> i just kind of wanted to honor everyone who was killed, and also i wanted to make the world a better place. >> amen to that, miguel. that 11-year-old is so inspiring. you mentioned the touching ways that that community is coming together. what else are they doing to support each other? >> reporter: this community is coming together in a show of support for all of the victims. local funeral homes are donating their services so that the 22 families who had someone who lost their lives don't have to pay for it. there will be a benefit concert later this month. craig? >> miguel almaguer for us there in el paso. thank you. we've got breaking news this morning out of tennessee. a woman convicted of murder when she was 16 years old, granted clemency, and released from prison after spending nearly half of her life behind bars. a group of celebrities, including kim kardashian-west, helped shine a light on this

case. nbc's ron allen is outside the prison in nashville this morning. ron, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. it is an extraordinary second chance for a woman who is 31 years old and was serving life in prison until tennessee's former governor commuted her sentence during his final days in office. she was driven away from the tennessee women's prison earlier this morning after serving 15 years. now free to start her life all over again. >> great things can happen. >> reporter: cyntoia brown's release from prison a private matter. for now just releasing a statement, i look forward to using my experiences to help other women and girls suffering abuse and exploitation. and a special thanks to former tennessee governor bill haslam who commuted her sentence. haslam explaining his 11th hour decision to set brown free. >> cyntoia had done what we hope happens when people are incarcerated.

in the end we decided the right thing that society was better off with her out of prison. >> reporter: brown's case so shocking, it inspired a documentary. >> i just grabbed a gun and i shot him. >> reporter: she admits killing a man who solicited her for sex in 2004, claiming she had been forced into prostitution. prosecutors called her a cold-blooded killer. >> guilty, first degree murder. >> reporter: her sentence, life in prison, parole possible in 50 years. on social media, a-list celebrities like kim kardashian-west, rihanna, and alyssa milano demanded justice. >> i'm not saying i deserve anything. i'm asking for mercy. >> reporter: tennessee's parole board divided over whether her sentence should be reduced. >> one of the first things she said when we walked in to see her in prison was, i won't let you down. i'm assured she has her life pointed in the right direction. >> reporter: in prison, brown earned a high school diploma and college degree, and mentored other young offenders. >> are you confident she'll be successful?

>> i'm confident. >> reporter: dr. kate watkins taught brown. >> i've seen it with our students. i've seen our students be released and work in juvenile justice settings using their narrative and education to help other people. >> reporter: that's exactly what brown says she will do, along with advocating for criminal justice reform. there are literally thousands of inmates in prisons across the country like her. teenagers convicted of crimes and serving life sentences. this morning, cyntoia brown is no longer one of them. craig, savannah? >> her whole life is starting all over again. a real second chance for her. ron, thank you very much. >> look forward to hearing from her, as well. let us turn now to mr. roker. these strong storms are facing millions of folks today, al. what do we know? >> let's take a look. thank you for getting your first national weather from us. we're looking at strong storms firing up from new york to west virginia, also back through the central plains. we're going to be watching that. in fact, we have seven states with 5 million people at risk

from wisconsin all the way down to kansas. 11 states in the northeast, mid-atlantic, and new england. 53 million people at risk from charlotte all the way to albany. we have two frontal systems pushing their way to the east. one making its way into the northeast and mid-atlantic. a second one coming up through the great lakes. as this moves through, a severe threat tomorrow for the ohio valley. a flood threat in the central plains. rainfall amounts shape up like this. here in the northeast, mid-atlantic, and new england today, 1 to 2 inch rainfall rates per hour. there are going to be airport delays from boston, d.c., new york, back to pittsburgh, and buffalo. as we move to the west, you'll be looking at really torrential downpours. locally, upwards of 5 inches or more from kansas, missouri, all the way into northern arkansas. we'll be watching that very closely, as well. we're going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds.

good wednesday morning. i'm kari hall. it's a foggy start across the golden gate bridge in san francisco this morning. we're all going to enjoy cooler temperatures today. in san jose, we're up to 80 degrees. antioch warms up to 87. in napa today and santa rosa, a high of 81. we will have a few more days of cooler than normal weather then heating up by the end of the weekend to the 90s. it will be a hot start early next week. >> that's your latest weather. craig? >> mr. roker, thank you.

new allegations against the boy scouts of america as hundreds of former members come forward with previously unreported sex abuse claims. we're going to hear from some of the accusers. plus, the outpouring of love and appreciation for toni morrison this morning. how the world is honoring her life and her legacy, the nobel-winning author first, this is "today" on nbc. nobel-winning author first, thi.s compare comcast business to your current provider. my current service provider does not provide half of what you provide. and to know that i could save money? i'd be thrilled. this sounds like a whole business package, which would be incredible. so what are you guys waiting for? let's do it. (laughs) comcast business gives you a full suite of products with great performance and value. get fast, reliable internet on the nation's largest gig-speed network for less than at&t. that's 120 dollars less a year.

better, faster. i mean sign me up. comcast business. beyond fast.

just ahead, the outrage over these images of police on horseback, leading a suspect with a rope. what the city's african-american police chief is saying about that. one year later, we're going to revisit the site where a teenager was hurt in a bridge push that went viral are people really still jumping from that bridge after your local news. what about him? let's do it. [ sniffing ]

come on. this summer, add a new member to the family. hurry into the mercedes-benz summer event today for exceptional offers. lease the glc 300 suv for just $419 a month at the mercedes-benz summer event. going on now. we're pretty different. somos muy diferentes. muy diferentes. (vo) everyone in your family is different. that's why verizon now offers more plans to mix and match so everyone gets what they need without paying for things they don't. new plans start at just $35. the network more people rely on gives you more. before she puts them in the dishwasher.

so what does the dishwasher do? (vo) cascade platinum does the work for you. prewashing and removing stuck-on foods, the first time. (mom) wow! that's clean! (vo) cascade platinum. [upbeat music ♪] you got this. you got this. you got this. you got this.

♪you're searching for a simple snack♪ ♪no gluten, dairy, soy ♪with only dates and cashews ♪that's our recipe for joy.♪ ♪lärabar♪ ♪food made from food seventh generation gets the laundry detergent from plants, not petroleum. and this stuff beets stains. its kind of a big dill. it squashes sixty of your toughest stains. seventh generation. powered by plants so josh, you going for our drive safe and save discount? ♪ yup, using the app. driving safe. you wanna go bro? do not mess with my discount. woooo! (sighs) get a discount up to 30% with drive safe and save™.

good morning. this is new video within the last hour of president trump and the first lady boarding marine one at the white house on the first leg of their planned visits to dayton, ohio an el paso, texas. those are the two cities where mass shootings happened over the weekend. not everyone in those cities is happy about the president's visit. el paso has been at the center of the president's anti-imgrandparenanti-i anti-immigrant agenda. the suspected gunman there admits to having been driven by whiteideologies. the weather forecast looks

nice and sunny today. >> it will be a beautiful afternoon. we begin the day with cooler temperatures and breezy winds over san jose. the high will reach 80 degrees, upper 80s for the inland east bay. in clear lake, 92. oakland sees a high of 69. 60s for san francisco. going through the forecast, our inland areas will continue to stay cool through the end of the work week. then this weekend it starts to crank up with a chance of showers just to our north. we'll be watching out for that with more updates to come. let's see how the roads are moving with mike. >> much better than most of the morning. we had no traffic alerts as of right now. the san mateo bridge, eastbound, all lanes cleared, all speeds recovering from the earlier traffic alert. westbound, the commute there and the dumbarton bridge, tiypicaty.

but we had a stall on the san mateo bridge that has recovered. it's clearing at the flat section. more local news coming up in a half hour.

it's 7:30 now. it's wednesday morning, 7th of it's 7:30 now. it's wednesday morning, 7th of august, 2019 great crowd out there. good summer crowd. we're happy to get out there in just a few and say hello in person >> yeah, we sure will. first, let's get to a check of today's headlines on this wednesday. we start with the chaos in times square last night. new yorkers and tourists running for their lives after hearing what they thought was gunfire. officials say that panic was actually caused by a motorcycle backfiring while passing through the area the crowds still obviously on edge after mass shootings in el so and dayton over the

weekend. at a mall in west valley city, utah, another chaotic scene after a loud noise caused shoppers to panic. turns out, it was a sign that fell to the ground. president trump and the republican national committee filed a lawsuit against the state of california over a law there that requires presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to appear on the primary ballot california's governor signed the bill last month. candidates have to submit tax returns from the most recent five years the filing will be posted online for the public to view the law does not apply to the general election ballot. one man's trash may also be his treasure an oregon man says his wife was cleaning up around the house when she mistakenly put a shoe box containing nearly $23,000 in cash in recycling bins when he found out what happened, he immediately caused the waste management company but, turns out, the box traveled more than 200 miles to a recycling plant in california. amazingly, an employee was able to find the money.

managers say it was like finding a needle in a haystack all but $60 was recovered and returned to its grateful owner. now disturbing allegations that surfaced against the boy scouts this morning. the organization is faced with hundreds of new sex abuse claims stephanie gosk is following the story. good morning. >> good morning, guys. boy scouts of america has been plagued by accusations of child sex abuse by scout leaders for years. the latest lawsuit alleges the problem is much bigger than we knew going back decades and involving hundreds of alleged victims who are now coming forward for the first time >> reporter: the accusations range from taking lewd photos to groping to rape. scout leaders allegedly abusing children, often on trips away from home without their parents. the problem is much greater than originally thought described as a pedophilia epidemic in a new lawsuit filed on behalf of one anonymous accuser in philadelphia. >> you cannot trust the boy

scouts of america to weed out the bad apples because they haven't. >> reporter: attorneys now say 350 new victims have come forward since march. responding to a public call to share their stories. the complaint accuses boy scouts of america of hiding the scope of the problem to protect its reputation and the abusers, including a former mayor and a local doctor i sat down with two of the alleged victims this summer. >> said come to my room. i want to show you something at that point, he told me to take my pants down he touched me down there >> reporter: both accuse their scout leaders, who were in their 30s and 40s at the time, of sexually abusing them decades ago. james says after the abuse, he wanted to take his own life. >> i was actually sitting in the middle of the highway, the big road, waiting.

i can remember just thinking, it'll just be okay if a big truck comes by it'll be over. i don't have to deal with this anymore. >> reporter: nbc has not independently verified the two men's accounts but did speak to friends and family they told at the time in a statement, the boy scouts of america says in part, we believe victims and sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed during their time in scouting adding, the bsa has taken significant steps over many years to ensure that we respond aggressively and effectively to reports of sexual abuse. >> stephanie, the timing of this lawsuit is not coincidental at all. >> i think the numbers surprised people, but the attorney for the victims actually says he came out of retirement because he heard the boy scouts of america was going to declare bankruptcy, which essentially put a hold on new lawsuits he made this public call for new victims to come forward.

the boy scouts, in response to calls for bankruptcy, say they're working with financial experts to make sure, quote, victims are fairly compensated, who suffered abuse as scouts. >> 350, you have to wonder how many folks haven't come forward, if that's the number that have come forward. >> sure. you look at the pain on the men's faces. this happened decades ago to them you saw it you can see why it is still tough to talk about. >> of course this abuse stays with people for a lifetime stephanie, thank you there's a lot more to get to on this wednesday morning, including outrage in texas over an arrest there that was captured these images sparking the outrage. images showing two officers on horseback using a rope to lead a handcuffed man down the street nbc's ron mott joins us with the latest on this one good morning. >> reporter: craig, good morning. these images touched a nerve with many who say they're reminiscent of slavery times the police chief in galveston, texas, who is african-american, apologized, adding the technique

which is often used by mounted officers will no longer be used. the lawyer for the family says, that is not enough this morning, mounting disbelief over these photos and cell phone video. they show a pair of white police officers on horseback in galveston, texas, walking a handcuffed black man they just arrested to a staging area using a rope. >> there's no excuse by the way they treated my brother. there is no excuse. >> reporter: the family of neely says he suffers from mental illness, is homeless, and had multiple encounters with police over the years he was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing. >> what they did was real inhumane it was real degrading. they treated my brother as he was a dog. >> reporter: at a rally last night, the community urged police for more than just an apology. >> when they dragged donald neely down that road by horses and rope, it was like they were dragging our entire community down the road. >> reporter: galveston's african-american police chief

apologized to neely in a statement, calling the arrest an unnecessary embarrassment. adding, while the officers followed a trained technique, the department is immediately banning its use. >> i have to learn from it my agency has to learn from it i commit we will do better. >> reporter: no disciplinary action has been taken against the two officers neely's family wants them fired. >> the picture that it paints for anybody who has studied or seen any references to slavery, i think that's why it is appalling to everyone. >> reporter: online, seething comments about the images. not a lick of common sense or human decency, tweeted one user. this man is not your slave or your boy, wrote another. anti-defamation league says it is appalled by these images and is calling for an investigation, saying swift action is needed to, quote, remedy these deeply concerning and denigrating policies the two officers involved have

not commented. >> you have to wonder, how in the world in 2019 is this a policy in galveston, texas. >> why is it still on the books? >> impossible to understand. >> thank you let us switch gears. al, you have a busy day. >> maybe a little palate cleanser hard to believe you can see that in 2019. we are looking at 26 million people impacted, six states, heat advisories into tomorrow. in fact, temperatures are going to be anywhere from 5 to 10 degrees above average. you factor in the heat indices it is going to feel like it is 108 in dallas, 106 in san antonio, 107 in shreveport mobile looking at a heat index of 105 air temperatures tomorrow, norfolk is going to be 5 degrees above average at 90. 91 in atlanta. 93 in new orleans. the good news is tha by the time we get to the weekend, cool front comes in, and it brings in less humid, more refreshing air. saturday it is 79 in minneapolis. 81 in detroit. 86 in d.c. boston will be 79 all weekend long that's what's going on around the country. here's what'

good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. as we look outside in dublin, looking hazy but our skies will be clearing out throughout the rest of the day with some breezy wins and cool temperatures. the tri valley will reach the low 80s. upper 60s in san francisco. low 80s for napa and santa rosa. we will have cooler than normal weather through the end of the week. by sunday we're heating up to 92 degrees. >> that's your latest weather. craig? >> mr. roker, thank you. coming up, another tourist falls at yosemite. this morning, the new warning to the millions who visit that iconic park every year. also ahead, all in or nothing at all what you can learn from two sets of parents, very different approaches to raising kids in our tech-heavy world. nfl superstar tom brady getting candid what he's revealing about his

adjustment to fatherhood and a valuable lesson he's learned from his children. first, the new tributes overnight to the life and legacy of famed author toni morrison, right after this morrison, right after right after t this is a surface laptop 2. and this is a real person named mackenzie book. hi, i'm mac book. so mac, which laptop lasts longer? surface laptop lasts longer. hmm, interesting. and which one's faster? this one's faster. really? amazing. which one has a better touchscreen? the surface has a better touchscreen. because it actually has a touchscreen. oh, right. macs don't have touchscreens. you should get a surface. trust me, i'm mac book. well, there you have it. mac book says, "get a surface." liberty mutual customizes your car insurance, hmm. exactly. so you only pay for what you need. nice. but, uh... what's up with your... partner? not again. limu that's your reflection. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty ♪

auto better than olay? olay regenerist faced 131 premium products, from 12 countries, over 10 years. olay's hydration was unbeaten every time. olay, face anything. managingaudrey's on it.s? eating right and staying active? on it! test test test test test test test test jardiance can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults who also have known heart disease. so it could help save your life from a heart attack or stroke. and it lowers a1c. jardiance can cause serious side effects including dehydration, genital yeast or urinary tract infections, and sudden kidney problems. ketoacidosis is a serious side effect that may be fatal. a rare, but life-threatening bacterial infection... ...in the skin of the perineum could occur.

stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this bacterial infection,... ...ketoacidosis, or an allergic reaction. do not take jardiance if you are on dialysis or have severe kidney problems. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. lower a1c and lower risk of a fatal heart attack? on it with jardiance. ask your doctor about jardiance. ♪ ♪ walgreens save your skin today all sun care products are now buy one get one 50% off. imagine if we we would be such good friends. best friends.

advantage ii, kills fleas through contact all month long. i mean he's a wreck without me. advantage ii, fight the misery of biting fleas. (nathan) secondhand smoke caused measthma attacks, infections and lung damage. and i never smoked. (announcer) you can quit. call 1-800-quit-now for help getting free medication. so, every day, we put our latest technology and unrivaled network to work. the united states postal service makes more e-commerce deliveries to homes than anyone else in the country. e-commerce deliveries to homes you may have gingivitis. when you brush, and the clock could be ticking towards bad breath, receding gums, and possibly... tooth loss. help turn back the clock on gingivitis with parodontax. leave bleeding gums behind. parodontax. why is this not- okay- oh. yeah. it should fit!

it should fit! whatever your way, that's the way car buying should be. we're back at 7:44 we have an in-depth look at the remarkable life of toni morrison. >> 88-year-old nobel and pulitzer prize-winning author died late monday this morning, her profound reach is on full display, with praise and tributes coming in from around the world nbc's rehema ellis is here with more on that good to see you. >> good to see you, as well. she was remarkable beyond novels like "beloved," and "the bluest eye, toni morrison spoke every day with power and confidence, illuminating the life of black americans for readers of all races, and giving a voice to generations who had historically been silenced. this morning, an outpouring of appreciation and love for toni morrison, one of america's most

accomplished writers ava duvernay saying, your life was our gift tv producer shonda rhimes writing, she made me understand. i wanted to be her morrison delivering an extraordinary speech after becoming the first black woman to win the nobel prize for literature. >> we die. that may be the meaning of life. but we do language that may be the measure of our lives. >> reporter: the ohio native reached around the world with her words. her works published in 40 different languages, winning the highest honor in france, as well as the presidential medal of freedom in 2012. >> toni morrison's prose brings us the moral and emotional intensity that few writers ever attempt. >> reporter: tuesday, he called her a national treasure, sharing this oval office photo, adding, what a gift to breathe the same air as her

if only for a while. tributes poured in from hollywood, the music and sports industries, and many of the 2020 presidential candidates. they and countless others pulling from morrison's seemingly inexhaustible catalog of quotes. >> love is or it isn't >> love ain't no love at all >> reporter: oprah winfrey, who helped bring morrison's work to a large audience, and even starred in a movie based on her novel "beloved," she was our conscience, our seer, our truth teller those truths, as well as morrison's unwavering strength, is in a new film, "i am. it's a new film documenting her life and legacy. >> navigating a white male world wasn't frightening or interesting. i was more interesting than they were i wasn't afraid to show it >> sick of being labeled a black writer. >> i prefer it. >> i thought you'd be tired of

it. >> i'm tired of people asking it. >> sure. >> reporter: for decades, her prolific work telling stories about the black experience. >> this is not the book you'd pick up in the airport running to catch a plane it is not pop. >> it's not fast food. >> it isn't. >> it's a meal that you should relish >> reporter: her words, a gift for generations to come. >> she was amazing morrison's works are already surging back to the best seller list a documentary on her life is still playing in theaters. she was wonderful, bold and brilliant, generous with her words. >> favorite quote from her >> i do. i think it is pertinent for today, if i can read it. it says, oppressive language does more than represent violence it is violence it does more than represent the limits of knowledge. it limits knowledge. it must be rejected, altered, and exposed. toni morrison can only say that. >> so many gems.

happily, we can still turn to them and hear her wisdom. >> indeed. she was extremely generous with her words and her writings it is all out there for all of us. >> none of the words wasted. >> none of them. yeah, she was a master she was a master at words. >> thank you we're back with much more on a wednesday morning. first, these messages. well it finally happened, zachary. somebody burned down my she shed. nobody burned down your she shed, cheryl. well my she shed's on fire. your she shed was struck by lightning. zachary, is my she shed covered by state farm? your she shed's covered, cheryl. you hear that victor? i'm getting a new she shi-er she shed. she shi-er? mhhm. that's wonderful news. home insurance trusted by more people than any other. state farm.

home insurance trusted by more people than any other. if your mouth is made to amaze, let philips sonicare give its care a raise. get healthier gums in just 2 weeks. give it philips sonicare. next level clean, next level care. there's always a way to make life better. philips sonicare don't eat them for the 100 percent whole grain oats. don't eat them because the oats can help lower cholesterol. eat them for her. ♪ 35% off paint and stainsyes.ght? well you know what they say. the early bird gets the best paint. get 35% off paints and stains

with sale prices starting at $25.02, august 2 through 12th. only at your sherwin-williams store. alright, here's another tough one. keep or toss? ♪ ♪ sometimes, humans are boring. long-lasting,rawhide free gnawbones are not. new from milk-bone. colon cancer screening for people 50 and older at average risk. honey, have you seen my glasses? i've always had a knack for finding things... ...colon cancer,to be exact. and i find it noninvasively... no need for time off or special prep. it all starts here... you collect your sample, and cologuard uses the dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers. you can always count on me to know where to look. oh, i found them! i can do this test now! ask your doctor if cologuard is right for you. covered by medicare and most major insurers tlet's go mets! go time daddy! [ giggling ] ohhhh man. took my hat off.

[ "to love somebody" by bee gees playing ] that's crazy! [ crowd cheering ] [ screaming ] let's go mets! ♪ [ cheering ] (momespecially these days. it's easy to shrink into your own little world. (dad) i think it's here. (mom vo) especially at this age. (big sister) where are we going? (mom vo) it's a big, beautiful world out there. (little sister) woah... (big sister) wow. see that? (mom vo) sometimes you just need a little help seeing it. (avo) the three-row subaru ascent. love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru.

get zero percent during the subaru a lot to love event. and take 25% off our best active brands! plus - everyone gets kohl's cash! save on girl's nike shorts... and shoes for the family... young men's adidas tees are just $17.99... and save on under armour backpacks. plus - free amazon returns now at all kohl's stores! kohl's. ahead, the new technology that parents take different approaches with their kids >> first, your local news. (mom) so you have 10 years experience.

(woman) i do. (mom) but no phd. (avo) first kid. (mom) here's all the numbers, food's in the fridge, oh and lucas likes to pull on jewelry, so you might want to lose the nose ring. (avo) by their second kid, parents are more likely to choose luvs. live, learn and get luvs. as a cement mason, i use a dove bar because i work with a lot of dust and dirt. it's not just about getting clean, it's about feeling moisturized. check out the glow. you see the glow? that's a dove bar. dove cleans and cares beautifully. go to the pharmacy counter for powerful... ycongestion and pressure? that's a dove bar. claritin-d. while the leading allergy spray is indicated for 6 symptoms... claritin-d is indicated for 8... including sinus congestion and pressure. claritin-d. get more.

some bad news. >>to whom it may concern, due to budget shortfalls, the panther's baseball program >>ballard softball >>vikings basketball >>woodlawn soccer the tigers basketball program ...is indefinitely suspended. ♪ to whom it may concern to whom it may concern to whom it may concern every kid deserves a chance to play ♪ every kid deserves a chance to play ♪simple pure delicious ♪is our food philosophy. ♪now with 11 grams ♪of plant protein ♪tasty as can be. ♪lärabar♪ ♪food made from food we're pretty different. somos muy diferentes. muy diferentes. (vo) everyone in your family is different. that's why verizon now offers more plans to mix and match so everyone gets what they need without paying for things they don't. new plans start at just $35. the network more people rely on gives you more.

liberty mutual customizes your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. i wish i could shake your hand. granted. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ but family can only tell you sot much... about your history. i found some incredible records about samuel silberman... passenger manifests, census information, even wwi draft registration cards. the records exist... they're there, they're facts. that made it so real for me, it wasn't just a story anymore. bring your family history to life like never before. get started for free at ancestry.com

good wednesday morning right now. it's 7:56. we're still foggy along the coast. i think this fog will linger throughout much of today while the inland areas will steer clear, looking live over the south bay right now. our high temperatures will be lower than yesterday. reaching 80 degrees in san jose. 83 in livermore. in antioch, up to 87. we see some low 80s for much of the north bay. we will still have a wide range in temperatures, but we will see a significant cooldown through the end of the week. by the weekend we'll be watching out for a chance of showers to the north of the bay area with a high of 84. those temperatures ranking up by the end of the week and reaching the low 90s. mid to upper 90s for early next week. san francisco, mostly staying in

the 60s. let's get an update on the commute from mike. >> we have the south bay, northbound 101 through san jose, good amount of traffic. slowing because of that volume. no major problems through most of san jose and in towards the rest of silicon valley. south 101 very slow towards wood side where there's a crash in the middle of the freeway. south 101 around highway 84 moving much more slowly out of san mateo. the rest of the bay, a nice drive. fog advisory at the golden gate bridge. happening now, president trump and the first lady lifted off from the white house and they are on their way to dayton, ohio and el paso, texas, the cities hit by mass shootings. if events call for it, nbc news may cut into our regular the "today" show programming. you can watch our twitter feeds for updates. we're keeping a close eye on the markets. stocks are on the down side but starting to inch back to recovery one day after erasing some of monday's steep losses.

right now the dow is down 273 points.

it's it's 8:00 on "nbc nightly news." "today." coming up -- cross country chaos. >> hurry up. >> overnight, mass panic in times square after visitors there thought they heard gunshots. >> there was a big stampede, and people were screaming and crying and climbing over each other >> in utah, shoppers run for cover during a similar incident at a mall. >> people were in a full on panic. >> a nation on edge just days after back-to-back mass shootings. we're live with the latest plus, back at the bridge one year after this viral video of the push that landed a young woman in the hospital.

>> oh! >> we return to the scene to see what's changed >> the adrenaline rush jumping f the bridge, so much fun. >> if anything being done to prevent another injury she ready. actress tiffany haddish will be stopping by to talk about her dramatic new turn. ♪ don't believe me, just watch >> the star of the "kitchen" heads to our kitchen for a barbecue on the plaza with a special guest. today, wednesday, august 7th, 2019 >> here with my beautiful wife for our 13th anniversary >> hi to my dad. >> leesburg, florida >> today is sandra's -- >> -- 60th birthday. ♪ you need to calm down ♪ you're being too loud >> i'm here with my bff. >> from south carolina >> hello, iowa. >> i brought my boys to new york >> we miss you, mom! ♪ you need to calm down welcome back to "today." nice to have you with us bright and early on a sunshine morning.

>> good looking crowd out there. we'll get outside in a little bit. you don't have to feel left out. you can always share your mytodayplaza messages with us by posting them on twitter, put it on instagram, using #mytodayplaza. let's get to your news at 8:00 the nation on edge since the latest mass shooting loud noises mistaken for gunfire caused panic in new york cit and also a shopping mall in utah last night anne thompson has the latest on what happened. good morning >> reporter: good morning, savannah you know, times square bills itself as the crossroads of the world. last night it was the crossroads of chaos when people thought they heard gunshots and panicked tourists and new yorkers alike running for their lives, or so they thought people ran over each other, witnesses say, pushed their way into buildings in a desperate search for safety. thankfully, what they were running from was a motorcycle backfiring after this weekend's mass

shootings, no one was taking any chances. police say a dozen to 20 people were injured in the stampede, but fewer than six went to the hospital a similar scene happened at a mall in west valley city, utah the loud noise there was a sign falling, but it was still enough to cause panic again here in times square, there were no gunshots it was just a noisy motorcycle, but enough to set off people on edge in a time when mass shootings are all too frequent savannah >> understandable. anne, thank you so much. president trump is expected to meet with first responders and survivors as he visits the cities where back-to-back shootings happened over the weekend killing 31 people. dozens of others were hurt the white house says the president will take a message of unity and healing to dayton, ohio, and el paso, texas dayton mayor nan whaley says she'll welcome both the president and those who want to protest his visit. the fbi says the gunman there had apparently been exploring

violent ideologies some local leaders in el paso say the president is not welcome in their city where a gunman is believed to have targeted hispanic shoppers at a walmart store. the national park service is urging visitors to use caution after another tragedy at yosemite officials say a tourist fell to his death while hiking there last week. kerry sanders now with the story. >> reporter: the beauty of yosemite national park draws more than 4 million people a year this morning rangers say the lure of the picturesqu views and cascading waters on a hot day likely led to yet one more visitor's death authorities believe the 21-year-old, a tourist from romania ignored the posted warning signs that advised the granite, wet or dry, can be slippery another sign showing x-rays of injuries to try to detour tourists she climbed fr

he climbed from the bottom of the waterfall when halfway up the 600-foot-tall iff, he lost his footing on a slippery rock when rescue teams reached him, he was still alive, but his head injuries too much. he died at the hospital. he is the third park visitor to dangerously slip at yosemite's majestic waterfalls in the last week in a statement, the park service says, we provide safety information, but ultimately, it is up to the park visitor to make good decisions. the park is huge, and it is impossible for park rangers to patrol everywhere. investigators don't yet know if he was trying to take a photo, but increasingly, tourists, driven by the so-called instagram effect, have fallen to their deaths in just the last 12 months at yosemite, six sight-seers have fallen to their deaths some, it's believed, trying to get the perfect selfie this morning, a warning to the 800,000 tourists who will visi yosemite this month alone. your attempt at that compelling photo could be the next death by

selfie kerry sanders, nbc news. >> hopefully people are going to heed that warning. >> yeah. i have a boost for you. >> we could use one. >> cleveland browns quarterback baker mayfield was in no hurry to head to the locker room after training camp yesterday. >> biggest fan in oklahoma i'll send it to him today. >> that was mayfield refusing to leave the field until he had signed autographs for every last member of the military who had been invited to watch the team practice stuck around for selfies, too. wanted to give his love to the troops good guy, right? >> you know what the browns look pretty good. >> oh, good. >> pretty good season. >> we hope so. much more ahead, including an adjustment to fatherhood that nfl star tom brady says he has struggled with. also, an update on a story that caught this country's attention. >> it has been one year since a young woman was injured when she was pushed off that bridge we came back here to see if people are still jumping and what officials are doing to keep folks safe

what we found may surprise you that's coming up 448,134 to be exact. they answered 410 questions in 8 categories about vehicle quality. and when they were done, chevy earned more j.d. power quality awards across cars, trucks and suvs than any other brand over the last four years. so on behalf of chevrolet, i want to say "thank you, real people." you're welcome. we're gonna need a bigger room. and these new high-rise slim straights are it. take that jane fineberg. take what? jane! i see you're still a weirdo. made a whole career of it babe. shop up to fifty percent off jeans. that's up to fifty percent off. now, at old navy. help protect your pet, home, and yard. ah, it ended to soon. with the advantage fleaction plan. just look at him! he's a wreck without me, ha... owww. fight the misery of infesting fleas.

1850 coffee. ♪ ♪ inspired by the year the folger coffee company began. with a bold yet smooth taste. ♪ ♪ 1850 coffee. begin boldly. did you know you can save money by using dish soap to clean grease on more than dishes? try dawn ultra. dawn is for more than just dishes. with 3x more grease cleaning power per drop, it tackles tough grease on a variety of surfaces. try dawn ultra. stimulant laxatives forcefully stimulate i switched to miralax for my constipation.

the nerves in your colon. miralax works with the water in your body to unblock your system naturally. and it doesn't cause bloating, cramping, gas, or sudden urgency. miralax. look for the pink cap. where does your almondmilk almond breeze starts here with our almond trees in our blue diamond orchard in california. my parents' job is to look after them. and it's my job to test the product. the best almonds make the best almondmilk. blue diamond almond breeze. what might seem like a small cough can be a big bad problem for your grandchildren. babies too young to be vaccinated against whooping cough are the most at risk for severe illness. help prevent this! talk to your doctor or pharmacist today about getting vaccinated against whooping cough. talk to your doctor or pharmacist today [upbeat music ♪] you got this. you got this. you got this.

you got this. so kim, you going for our big drive safe & save discount? yup! using the app. i've been quite vigilant. ahh! easy, easy! but you're in labour... don't mess with my discount! (clearing throat) get a discount up to 30% with drive safe & save. get a discount up to 30% - ok who... - iall of us.old navy? his stripes, her dots, my spots, it's all old navy honey. - really? - we cool? - yea. we're cool. styles at two, four, six and eight bucks! all kids and baby on sale up to sixty percent off. - now at old navy. - what just happened? this this morning on today's talker, an update to a story that captured a lot of attention. >> indeed. today is one year since a washington state teenager

suffered serious injuries when she was pushed off a bridge. the moment was caught on camera. it quickly went viral. 12 months later, has anything changed? nbc's joe fryer went back to that bridge to find out. joe, what'd you find >> reporter: good morning, guys. jordan holgorsen, now 17 years old, is still recovering you would think this startling video would be a wake-up call, discouraging people from jumping off this high bridge but what we found when we went back to the moulton falls bridge last week may surprise you >> jordan, you have to go. >> stop, wait. stop >> reporter: it's the video that caught the nation's attention. >> so scared right now >> reporter: then 16-year-old jordan holgorsen pushed off this bridge she slammed into the water, breaking six ribs and puncturing both lungs >> i could have died easily. but i didn't >> reporter: in the past year, things haven't changed much around this picturesque bridge the scenery is similar

so are the stunts. it remains a popular place to take the leap. >> the adrenaline rush jumping off the bridge is so much fun. >> reporter: within an hour of arriving on site, we saw these men getting ready to jump, as onlookers watched in disbelief seconds later, they plunged about 60 feet down they weren't the only daredevils we witnessed watch as this man climbs on to the ledge of the bridge. his friend following seconds later, before they both swooped six stories down here on the moulton falls bridge, new signs are posted that say no jumping or diving. as we've seen, those warnings are sometimes ignored, and not just by one or two people. we saw person after person jump off into the water below this guy even jumped twice take a look at this teen he hesitates to jump. >> you better be down by the time i get up there. >> reporter: his friends

taunting him >> whoo! >> reporter: and this girl climbs over the ledge, crashing into the water at a potentially dangerous angle. >> that hurt. >> reporter: in all, we witnessed 12 jumps in just two days it all conjures up memories of this viral video from last august >> wait. stop >> reporter: holgorsen appeared to have second thoughts. >> you promised you'd do it. >> i'm so scared. >> reporter: her friend, taylor smith, heard here. >> go. >> reporter: then pushed her off without warning. >> oh! >> reporter: a year later, her family says jordan still deals with pain around her rib cage and shoulders. six months ago, she started having panic attacks smith pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and apologized in court earlier this year. >> i sincerely apologize to jordan holgorsen and her family

and friends for the pain and humiliation i caused by my mindless action that occurred last summer. >> reporter: prosecutors recommended no jail time in a surprise move, the judge sentenced smith to two days behind bars plus 38 days on a county work crew back at the bridge one year later, adults and teens are still jumping. clark county oversees the park where the bridge is located. we asked the county manager if more could be done to stop the jumpers beyond the new warnings. do you think the signs are enough >> you know, i had lots of people with other suggestions, putting up fences, posting guards if i put a fence up, what happens if anybody crawls over the fence? then they get tangled in the fence. >> reporter: is there anything you can do to get people to stop >> it is not a question of whether or not you could if you had enormous amounts of resources. if i posted guards out there literally 24 hours a day or something, i'd be diverting resources from elsewhere >> reporter: back at the bridge, no one was injured while we were

there. local ems officials say paramedics typically respond to two to three injury calls a year at the bridge. some worry it is only a matter of time before something similar to this happens again. >> it's actually very simple you're not immune to the laws of physics. in the end, gravity always wins. >> reporter: the signs say no jumping. there is actually no county ordinance that bans jumping from that bridge, we're told. that means there's no penalty if you do the county could consider changing the rules, but officials note they'd still need someone there to enforce the rule back to you guys >> joe, thank you very much. let's get a check of the weather. >> let's show you what we have going on right now we are looking at some strong storms today into the mid-atlantic states, on into the northeast and new england. heat advisories in texas and the southwest, monsoonal moisture coming in. plenty of sunshine in the pacific northwest. that's what's going on a

good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. here's a live look outside at walnut creek with a sunny start and a cool morning. we are going to see those temperatures warming up, but not as warm as it has been. so in oakland, we're going to see a high of 69 degrees and 80 in downtown vsan jose. in concord expect 86 while concord reaches 88 degrees. it heats up on saturday with a chance of showers to our north. . >> dylan. >> that was nice thanks, guys let's start pop start. begin this morning with monica lewinsky with the news the next season of ryan murphy's american crime story will tackle the clinton impeachment lewinsky said she's

boarded the project as a producer she said, i was scared to sign on, but after a dinner meeting with ryan, i came to understand more clearly how dedicated he is to giving a voice to the marginalized in all of his brilliant work i'm privileged to work with him and the other talented people on the team, and i'm privileged to have this opportunity. lewinsky will be played by actress amy feldstein and sarah paulson will take on the role of linda tripp. up next, ariana grande and barbra streisand had a surprise for fans in chicago when grande joined babs for a disco duet take a listen. ♪ enough is enough is enough is enough ♪ ♪ i can't go on, i can't go on no more ♪ ♪ enough is enough is enough >> who would have thought the two would make such a good with

duo? ariana posting this sweet photo to instagram writing, cherishing this moment forever. who knows? maybe they'll perform on an album together one day >> i'd like it. now to tom brady. >> of course >> the super bowl champ is covering "men's health," september issue, opening up about being a dad, specifically what it was like the moment he learned his youngest son, ben, may not be into sports like his brother. brady saying, quote, when benny came along i thought he would be just like jack gisele said, understand he is different. i thought he's a boy, he should do all the things that i do. the reality is benny likes different things it is great because now i have to go do what he wants to do later on in the interview, brady said of his kids, they're going to be their own selves not who you want them to be. what do you think? have you seen that with your kids totally different personalities between them >> definitely. you have to let them be who they are. you can't be like, they're going to like what i like.

you have to let them be who they are. >> i'm nervous about it. calvin is a good eater everybody is like, your next kid isn't going to eat that well >> or even more. >> true. >> good sleeper, too, which i'm jealous of >> they learn from the best. finally, bh 90210 with a rebooted show premiering tonight. we have a first look at the opening credits. it is a blast from the past. if you need a refresher, here's the original ♪ now that you know that, let's take a look at the update. ♪ al, they're similar.

>> yeah. >> it looks the same >> does that make it better? >> it is very much the same. the funny thing about the new credits is it really shows off the castretty ch looks the same. >> they look good. >> held up well. >> i'm glad they didn't change the theme song. >> would have made all the difference. >> were you dying of joy this week when you got to interview tori spelling and jennie garth. >> you don't understand how much i love "90210. i had every episode recorded on vhs. i still have the tapes no vcr, but i still have the tapes. >> thank you, dylan. a dilemma for every parent with children. >> when it comes to technology, tablets, phones, computers, do we let our kids embrace or exclude devices from their everyday lives or find the elusive middle ground? nbc's tech correspondent jacob ward joins us with that. good morning the tale of two families. >> that's right. i had the chance to meet two young families who are taking very different approaches to raising their kids in this era of rapidly changing technology it's no easy task, but it is

likely one you can relate to ♪ >> reporter: it's morning at the martin house getting this family's day started is a very modern wake-up call [ alarm >> alexa, stop. >> reporter: abby and zach's parents don't help them decide what to wear >> alexa, what's the weather >> reporter: in san diego, it is 56 degrees fahrenheit with clear skies. >> reporter: or come up with answers to pre-dawn trivia questions. >> alexa, what is paul mccartney's net worth? >> reporter: like many parents matt and katie are trying to figure out how to fit technology into their family. >> it'll be a part of their world whether we like it or not. >> our approach has really been to teach them responsibility instead of limit access. >> reporter: rather than saying, okay, blanket prohibition on this, we want you to take some responsibility for using it right. how is it going? well, we went straight to the sources.

okay, so list for me the number of devices you have again. >> computer, phone, phone, alexa, alexa, alexa, alexa, alexa. >> reporter: right, okay do any of the devices belong to you guys >> i have a computer and alexa those are my devices. >> reporter: your devices. what about you >> me, too, computer and alexa. >> now that we live in 2019, i'm sure everybody has devices >> reporter: it turns out, she's right. according to one study, from 2011 to 2017, the number of families with kids 8 and under with smartphones in their homes more than doubled. that same study found that 42% of those young children have their own tablets. but there are some families who are trying to buck the trend do you guys have phones? >> no. >> reporter: just a few hours from the martins, the rules for sisters leah and samantha are simple, according to their mom. >> i'm just sticking to exactly

how i was raised as a kid, and that is without all the extra distractions >> reporter: just take it out. >> eliminate it. take it out of the equation. >> reporter: so is there a balance between a house with no tech and one that's fully connected? the martins say their kids are learning things online they can't teach them. >> i learned how to bake by youtube. >> reporter: what kind of stuff can you bake >> cake, cupcakes. >> reporter: the sisters are learning important lessons, too. do you think you'd learn more stuff if you had a phone or are books good enough for learning >> books >> books. >> reporter: why do you think that >> because -- >> books would maybe have more information than the phone >> because the phone might have fake information >> reporter: even a kid who doesn't have a phone knows when mom is distracted by hers. >> texting or -- >> like looking. >> reporter: not paying attention to you >> yes >> we're like, mommy, mommy, mommy. >> hi, grandpa. >> how are you >> good. >> reporter: it is not all black

and white. both of these homes make exceptions to the rules. the martin kids are not allowed on social media, and the girls sometimes make movies on mom's ipad as a treat. >> there are good things on the internet and bad things. you have to be careful. >> people have their own expectations in the way they operate. we're all trying to figure this out. >> reporter: maybe tech is moving too fast to predict how it'll change our kids. right now, focusing on each other rather than the technology might be the best we can do. >> there is a national study under way following 12,000 kids born around the time the first iphone was released. researchers are tracking them for ten years and monitoring them, running brain scans, studying whether screen time is connected to how they turn out i'm looking forward to seeing the results. >> yeah. >> meantime, the thing is, we have to wing it. >> i know. i think good old common sense, you know, everything in moderation less is more when it comes to technology >> it's hard because right now,

there's so much, you know -- there's advertising that's trying to normalize the idea that everybody should have a device all the time. >> yup. >> there's no real good scientific evidence about what the right choice is. the lesson is don't take your cues from commercials or movies. you have to kind of figure out your own rules at home. >> each kid is different. >> that's right. >> on a plane, an ipad works great. >> the rules go out the window when you're stuck in a traveling box. >> anything goes. >> that's right. i feel that way, too >> thank you so much, jacob. meantime, look who is here. >> who >> oh, just ms. haddish. tiffany, you have a special guest here >> yes. >> who is this >> my uncle d. >> yes. >> are those ribs? >> we're taste testing >> cooking up. looks good. >> the shrimp, baby. >> can't wait, after your local news

good morning. let's take you out to dayton, ohio. the president has arrived in ohio. this is the first stop of two of the shootings that happened over the weekend. not everybody happy that the president is visiting. protesters on hand at the airport in dayton. racism has been the agenda of the president. you see him on his way to ohio. he is now there. the suspected gunman in texas admits to having been driven by white supremacist idealogies. let's check your traffic this

morning with mike. >> scott, we're looking at your bay area commute. not so bad this morning after the earlier alerts did clear, but the peninsula has seen in the last half hour some pretty tough weather held up in this little backup, which is now starting to recover. south 101 in woodside. that has cleared. while that was backed up, we had another one on 292 as you're coming down through that same perimeter in san mateo. the rest of the approach is getting to the bay bridge. a little slow on the oakland, but not too bad. >> we'll have more local news coming up in half an hour. california phones offers free specialized phones... like cordless phones,

- (phone ringing) - big button, and volume-enhanced phones. get details on this state program. call or visit

and accessoriesphones for your mobile phone. like this device to increase volume on your cell phone. - ( phone ringing ) - get details on this state program

call or visit it is 8:30 now on a fantastic wednesday morning, august 7th, 2019 great day to be on the plaza crowd is fired up. we have birthdays, anniversaries. >> sticky one out here >> a little crowd moment >> yes. >> you know, people travel from all over to get here, but we're going to find some of the people that traveled the farthest let's head over to the philippines. hi, guys. >> hi. >> when did you get here

>> we got here last -- july 29th >> you've been here for a little while. awesome. what does this say >> it means hello in filipino. >> how do you say good morning [ speaking in a foreign language ] [ speaking filipino ] >> i'm not going to try that one, but it is nice to have you here now, japan. >> a double. >> we have folks here from japan. when did you get here? >> monday. >> monday, yeah. >> awesome big plans for new york is this your first time here >> no, second time actually. >> awesome how long was that flight >> about 15 hours. >> we are so happy you made the trip thank you so much. >> thank you >> so fun. that's a long flight the ipad, right? coming up, guys, the one and only is here, tiffany haddish. >> there she is. i love her so much she'll tell us about the movie plus, she's eating that is her uncle, chef dee. >> world famous. >> real popular in la. they're going to give us a

treat, a special barbecue after we talk to tiffany. coming up on the third hour, we have a story you won't want to miss, love and family rolled into one we'll introduce you to a couple who gave six brothers and sisters a chance at a better life coming up in the fourth hour, dakota johnson stops by with the breakout star of her new film "the peanut butter falcon." before all that, mr. roker, how about another check of the weather? >> today, strong storms firing up in the mid-atlantic into the northeast and new england. heat advisories through the southwest and into the central plains strong storms through the western great lakes. tomorrow, we have more moisture moving into the southwest. a flood threat in the midsection of the country with severe storms through the eastern great lakes. sunshine up and down the west coast, showers down through southern florida that's what's going on around the coun good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we are seeing some dense fog right now at the golden gate bridge, and it will be slow to clear or at least retreat just a little bit farther away from the

bridge as we go throughout the day. looking at our inland temperatures reaching into the low to mid-80s, it will be a nice cooldown for the rest of the week with some of our warmest temperatures in the low 80s, but it will get hot inland and some upper 90s possible early next week. channel 108. you can carry us all day long. oh, mr. melvin. >> oh, mr. roker we love the roker run. thank you so much. just ahead, tiffany haddish. we've been waiting all morning to talk to you. >> really? most men do wait to talk to me >> much more with tiffany. we may switch to a seven-second delay. >> okay. >> but first, this is "today" on

we are here to discuss jessie's online time. and out of respect, we will let you make the first offer. thirty minutes. thirty minutes? objection! overruled. one hour. sweeten the deal by doing the dishes and i'll consider it. i wouldn't do it. i hate the dishes. one hour with the tablet, you walk the dog and do the dishes. if you insist. congratulations. only xfinity xfi lets you take control of your family's online time. that's simple, easy, awesome. xfinity xfi gives you the speed, coverage and control you need. manage your wifi network from anywhere when you download the xfi app today.

we are back with one of our we are back with one of our

absolute favorites here at the show tiffany haddish. >> i love her so much. >> we kept the ribs, too. >> we did. i told her it smelled so good, i don't know if i can concentrate throughout the interview tiffany has taken on a new role in the movie, "the kitchen," starring as the wife of an irish mobster, who helps take over the business after their husbands go to jail. not everybody is going along with the plan. take a look. >> we need to talk you're over, jackie. >> i'm going to pretend i didn't hear that. >> say it louder >> told you he wasn't going to do nothing >> tiffany, good morning tiffany, mob wife. i love it. >> you know. >> this is a whole dramatic turn for you. there are funny things, but this is a whole different mode for you. >> i'll just say, there are no funny things.

>> no, no, exactly >> i didn't feel like it was funny. >> maybe one or two little ha-ha. >> that's just to relieve the tension. it's a lot of tension. >> it is what made you want to do this? >> when i read the script, i was like, oh, this is something i could get with i could see it in my mind. i'm like, oh, i've dated gangsters in the past. why not go ahead and pull from real reality that's in my heart. >> won't be a stretch. >> not too much of a stretch. >> is it true when you were in character, playing ruby, you couldn't look in the mirror because ruby resembled your mom so much? >> it was really difficult for me to look in the mirror most actors are like, my makeup is good. >> yeah. >> when i would look, i'd be like, i can't. i got mommy issues still i need to have some conversations with my mom. yeah, it was hard. when i first saw the movie, it was hard for me to watch it. i felt i was watching my mom. >> you took your mom to the premiere, right? >> yeah, took her to the premiere i came out of the theater

crying my mom was behind me, and she was crying i'm like, why are you crying she's like, you stole my look. we need to have a conversation we going to counseling now, getting it together. we're working on our relationship. >> last time you were here, i think you just won the emmy. by the way, where do you keep the emmy >> i was keeping it in the bed all the time. >> oh. >> now, i have it over the fireplace. she poked me a few times, stabbed me. >> gets a little lumpy in there. >> yeah. >> everything great has happened for you. you posted a picture on instagram recently from back in the day when you were wanting to be a comedy star you were on the stand-up circuit, living in your car. >> i was hungry as hell. >> i mean, like when you look at that picture, what do you think now? >> now, i'm just so grateful that that young person did not give up. like there were so many days i wanted to quit and just give up. it felt like, oh, i should just marry some rich guy, get a baby

daddy or something i'm like, no, i believe in myself more than that. i can like, you know -- i'll make it. i'll make it sometimes you'd be so hungry, you have to be like -- >> you have to grab a rib. >> can i get some ribs, please >> is it true tiffany haddish has trouble finding good men >> well, yeah. >> how can that be >> well, i don't know where they are. there's not like a good man club or like where you can just go and find, these are the good men. >> what are you looking for? >> good credit, number one that shows you're responsible. okay his own career and/or job. something that's nice to look at i don't want to roll over like, oh, what is this i don't want to roll over on some ugly. >> good looking, good credit, and employed that's it? >> a career. >> have you been dating? have you had some bad experiences? >> girl, mostly eating and

working. >> you've been posting workout videos, too. >> because i've been eating a lot. mm-hmm it is what it is it's lonely out here it's lonely at the top i got ribs. >> tell me about the workout videos i do enjoy you posting them. it is very inspiring. >> make me put down the ribs >> there you are >> getting after it. >> that's good. >> yeah, that's a hiit machine you do it for 20 minutes and it's supposed to be the equivalent of an hour of cardio. i do it once every other week. >> that'll work off rips. >> you know what i read about you and i was shocked? you post things on instagram but you read the comments. >> yeah. >> which is like a very dangerous thing to do. sometimes people are not nice. >> you know what i like to -- look, i look at all criticism as constructive. >> okay. >> until it gets really out of control. then i go to my fake account, and i go stalk them and talk

about them >> i don't think you're joking either i think you actually do it. >> i'm dead serious. >> do you use the criticism as inspiration? >> i use it as, you know, not necessarily inspiration, but as a way to improve on myself sometimes people are saying valid things sometimes people are saying not valid things i like to go and dig in their life and see how messed up they are. i'm sorry. if you're talking mess, you probably not happy it depends how you're giving the criticism, too if it is constructive, yo, i like what you're doing, but maybe you can try this, this, this, that's cool. when you're like, i hope you get hit by an ice cream truck and die tomorrow, i'm like, let me dig in this person got some hurt. >> hurt people hurt people. >> hurt people hurt people and want to hurt others. i look and -- >> do you comment? oh, hey -- >> you know, i use my fake account. you know, it is a little gospel account. >> gospel account. >> i pray for them i go into their thing, and i pray for them. i put a prayer

in that prayer is a lot of mean things >> we want to show folks how these ribs are made. you brought in your uncle d. >> yeah, brought my uncle d, show you how the ribs are made also, fellas, in case you were wondering, i can cook. he taught me i can make these ribs, too. >> if men who are watching are interested, should they reach out to you on instagram? >> yeah, you can fly to my dms i might not see it if i don't follow you if you're interested in dating tiffany haddish, i'd suggest making a video. >> hashtag >> #i got good credit. >> i think you'll have a lot of takers will you come back and report on how the dating is going? >> definitely. i can't start dating until the end of november because i'm busy. >> projects. >> i'm busy. >> we should mention, her latest project "the kitchen" hits theaters on friday. >> i'll grab the ribs.

>> we love you. >> we have a cooking segment next let's see uncle d. >> am i coming >> all right >> uncle d is your uncle, helped raise you, right >> yeah, helped raise me he challenged me >> can we eat and walk >> yeah. >> all right >> these are good. >> thank your life i told you knows how to cook. >> where is uncle d from >> detroit >> uncle d from the big d. >> there he is >> when you're in the kitchen, what is your specialty, your go-to? >> i like making greens and baked chicken. >> collard greens, right >> mm-hmm. also, i make an awesome spaghetti. chicken and dumplings is off the chain. >> you'll get a lot of men sending videos now. >> especially if they like to eat. >> ladies and gentlemen, tiffany haddish. we're back with more from tiffany and chef d first, this is "today" on nbc. first, this is "today" on nbc.

we're back with "today" food tiffany stuck around because we're cooking barbecue with her uncle damon stallworth, also known as chef d. >> uncle d. >> owner and chef at d's original takeout grill in los angeles. good morning. >> good morning. >> i just followed you out here. i stalked you out. i'm going to get in on this segment. >> get in on this. >> first of all, you partly raised tiffany you've known her a long time. >> long time. >> did you always know she was going to be a superstar? >> i didn't know for sure, but she had enough energy to be a star for sure. yeah, i mean, look at her, you know. >> she's adorable. >> used to think i was going to be in jail >> ha! if it was the wrong neighborhood. >> he taught you to cook >> i was one of his very first sous chefs, you know, cutting up stuff. >> prepping. >> we need an apron to help here. >> i gotcha. >> what is your technique? tell us.

>> this is the baby back ribs. what i usually like to do, we wash them, rinse them in water, actually make sure this side is good, too. >> yup >> what i'll do is usually i'll cut between the bones. >> okay. >> that's so the flavor can get down deep when you start rubbing it, right? >> yeah. >> i have my marinade here >> is that a secret, what's in the marinade >> it is a secret to the people that know -- >> it is success i've been eating it for a while now. tah-dah! >> as you see. >> exactly it works. >> so this is what i saw shaky dust, but it is like an all-purpose seasoning that you could find this is my own product that i make here. >> you do both sides >> yes you have to do both sides. you have to tend to both sides you have to rub it you have to take it personal. >> yeah. >> okay. >> i'll tell you, that shaky dust is delicious. >> is it

>> yeah, i have a case for you >> good. >> i need my refill. >> you can be generous >> understand each other >> rub it in, you know what i mean >> uh-huh. >> okay. then this and that actually, we'll put this on the grill, as well >> might as well still got some takers. >> put it on the grill >> somebody can grab the sauce. >> what's like your grilling technique? >> well, i like to grill and glaze. >> okay. >> so let me get the tong, tiff. >> okay. >> thank you >> of course, for television, they've already started this for me. >> they're already eating. look at the guys over there. they're chowing down >> fantastic. >> give us a few of the ingredients in the marinade. >> white dress, ribs, not the best idea, but i'm loving it. >> vinegar, brown sugar. >> do you take the membrane off? >> no. >> keep it on? >> because of the way i marinade it, it tenders it up real nice.

>> oh, it does. >> i'm glad you like it, al. >> here, i'm giving you -- >> then i usually -- i'll baste and take these ribs off the direct heat, right >> yeah. >> so the sauce doesn't burn >> that smells so good >> yeah. >> you make your own sauce, i guess. >> my own sauce. d's. >> i know. >> big d's. >> he's not giving any secrets you know it is good. >> it is great. >> uses it in la. >> okay. >> now we have another, we have potato salad tell me about this recipe. >> this is my grandmother's recipe. >> pearl. >> grandmother pearl she's the one that gave me the cooking book passed my mother and auntie, here, it's you okay, okay i got potatoes boiling over there. they pre-did the potatoes. >> good. ready to rock.

we have about a minute, so let's make sure we get to it show what you do here. >> chop up the potatoes, real nice here. >> chunky. >> relish in it. >> yeah. >> is relish unusual for potato salad? >> no. >> really? >> i mean, depending on where u're from. >> okay. >> where i'm from -- >> you brought your potato salad to the house, girl, i probably wouldn't eat it. >> probably came from the grocery store. >> probably. >> i'm going to make the potato salad sauce now. >> yes >> add the relish, mustard, little vinegar >> yup. >> mix it in real nice >> how does it taste, guys >> fantastic >> tastes a lot like my mother's >> that's grandma pearl's recipe right there. >> salt and pepper. >> i like to hear that means i'm right in there. >> all right >> make the sauce, right after you got your sauce right, you taste, make sure it is good.

>> yup >> put the vegetables. >> red peppers, celery, onion. oh, my gosh, looks good. >> add the sauce to it >> salt and pepper and the secret sauce. >> she's sous cheffing again. >> i didn't. >> i dropped it in for you. >> thank you >> cooking. >> got you on a time schedule so you forget. >> i know. >> all right >> also, i mix this in first, right? >> yeah. >> last thing, they're wrapping me up. i don't want to miss the last thing. >> fold in the egg. >> fold. >> fold in the egg boom, bam. >> shrimp are great, too. >> yeah, the shrimp are delicious. >> thank you >> chef d., thank you so much. tiffany, thank you we love you. her movie is called "the kitchen. what is your restaurant in la? >> d's original takeout. >> tiffany is coming back for the third hour so the fun rolls on first, this is "today" on nbc. the third hour sor the fun roll on. isrst, this

we're back 8:53 now dylan dreyer, we saved some time for a daly click. >> no barbecue on your dress i'm impressed. >> i have a wet wipe, just in case before we get to today's video, i'll pose a question to you. if you'd let your kids pick out anything in the grocery store, what'd it be >> ice cream. >> cookies. >> what would they pick? >> what would you let them pick? >> anything, cookies. >> here is one little girl who knew exactly what she wants. >> oh. >> that's my baby photo. >> wow. >> that is actually footage of savannah she knows what she wants clearly, she had a rough week. should be a little more gentle with the bottle. >> so funny. >> should have gone for the box. >> right >> little chardonnay baby chardonnay. >> baby special juice. >> exactly >> mama's little helper.

>> birthdays >> that's right. here we go >> mommy's baba. game of scrabb. next happy 105th birthday to myrtle le vine, a swimmer from new jersey word on the street, she plays a mean game of scrabble. next up, mildred dewey of north carolina celebrating 100 years. met her husband of 53 years when she was 13 years old happy 106th birthday to harriette harley, enjoys making hand-stitched quilts and donated one to a local hospital, raising $4,000 everett gasper is from indiana says the secret to longevity, determination all along to make it to 100. salute you for your service. lillian melman, loves spending time with the family loves it more when shopping is involved happy 100th birthday to pauline. she's a wine lover from chicago, illinois, and is george clooney's pick love that. coming up on the trd hour

of "today," we have tiffany haddish back, plus our favorite back to school hacks. on the fourth hour, new ways to declutter your bathroom first, on a -- what is today? tuesday? >> wednesday. >> on your wednesday, a check of your local news, weather, and these messages you lose track sometimes. >> special juice >> no idea what day it was good morning, everyone. 8:56. i'm scott mcgrew. a lot of people may be headed to gilroy today for the first day of the rodeo. police are promising extra tight security and all perimeter fences will be closely watched. of course, this comes in the wake of the gilroy garlic festival shooting. it takes center stage. attendance is free.

on friday the main attractions begin with the bucking broncos and bulls. last year's rodeo was actually gilroy's first in 62 years and thousands attended. happening now we do have a crew at the rodeo arena. they're talking to police about extra security. president trump and the first lady a short while ago lifted off from the white house on their way to dayton, ohio and el paso, texas, the cities hit by the most recent shootings. if it calls for it, we may break into it for programming. the stocks fell sharply on the down side of one day after erasing some of monday's steep losses. the dow industrial down 313 points, and it's been pretty much that all day. we'll have more local weather coming up in an hour. we'll see you then.

live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza, this is the third hour of "today." >> good morning, everyone, and welcome to the third hour of "today." i'm sheinelle here with al, craig, and dylan. the gang is all here this morning. >> morning. >> there are times you wake up in the morning and say, here we go again. something happened overni this time, it was pretty interesting. it was a scary scene just a few blocks from where we're sitting right now. here's what happened. a loud sound set off a panic last night in times square. police say, here's the thing, it was actually a motorcycle backfiring. >> you can understand how people would react. >> days after two mass shootings, people,