40 minutes through your drive through concord off of highway 4. we're back at 7:25 with a live local news update. also keeping tabs on all the fires. >> a look at the cache fire that burned so fast and was so devastating. join us at 11:00. . the good morning roll 'em up. the biden administration makes it official to begin vaccine booflter shots in a matter of >> the level of antibody elevated by the third shot is extraordinary. >> the white house ordering workers at all nursing homes to be vaccinated while threatening legal actions to stop governors while banning masks in schools we are covering it all we go one-on-one with the

director of the cdc, dr. rochelle walensky. the u.s. military carrying out new emergency evacuations from afghanistan president biden vowing to keep troops there until the job is completed. >> if there is american citizens left, we'll stay to get them all out. >> why he believes the crisis is unavoidable. the pushback from his critics. here at home the impact of it all on veterans who served in afghanistan and their families >> my husband spent seven tours there. it is going to be a triggering event. >> savannah's powerful conversation with hidden heroes. wicked weather tornado warnings in new york city overnight in the south, a flood emergency in its way dozens missing in north carolina and an entire town is under water. >> we have everything, our fire department

our police department. >> we are live with the latest on fred. the increasing threat from henri facing new england this weekend. across the west, the unprecedented wildfires forcing new evacuations. all that and plus, wheel problem. the critical shortage of bus drivers impacting schools and families from coast to coast as kids head back to school and, maine event a bizarre mystery. a massive 25-foot tall rubber duck found floating in a maine harbor >> who would expect to see a duck here? >> no one seems to know where it came from or why it is there today is thursday, august 19th, 2021 announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kobt, from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza welcome, today is a thursday

morning, so happy you are joining us, savannah is doing the work from home boy, do we have a lot to get to this morning, sg. >> we do including the storms you just mentioned, hitting much of the u.s. 6 million people under flash flood watches this morning as fred's remnants make their way up the east coast. dozens are missing this morning and al will have our full forecast in afghanistan, still as many as 15,000 americans in that country along with another 65,000 afghans who helped the u.s. and their families all looking to get out we are in kabul and at the white house, where president biden spoke out about the unfolding crisis we begin with the news that a booster vaccine is on the way. government officials supporting another shot eight months after your second dose >> dr. fauci says that booster could raise up antibody level 20 times higher

ahead we'll talk to the doctor rochelle walensky, director of the cdc. first, sam brock is here to get you caught up with the latest. good morning >> reporter: hoda, savannah, good morning the rumors are a reality president biden says starting september 20th, all adults will have access to a third shot, assuming eight months he's taking on governors trying to ban mask mandates in schools like in miami-dade, the latest school district to require them. >> reporter: president biden and his top health officials now throwing their full force behind a third covid-19 vaccine booster shot >> the threat of the virus remains real we are prepared. we have the tools. we can do this >> reporter: the booster blueprint is still pending official approval from agencies like the fda and cdc, but all american adults would have access at once, assuming eight

months have passed since their second dose. dr. anthony fauci telling lester the booster may not be needed on a regular basis. >> the level of antibody elevated by the third shot goes up at least tens or 20 times fold >> reporter: fauci says recipients of the j&j vaccine will need a booster too. president biden is mandating vaccinations at nursing homes and bringing down the hammer on governors blocking mandates in schools threatening legal actions for states like texas and florida. >> we are not going to sit by as governors try to intimidate our educator from protecting children >> no more masks >> reporter: new orleans dad taylor beary is filled with frustration. his 9-year-old son walker was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago and is currently being

treated in alabama the family is afraid to return home fearing covid is overwhelmed new orleans' emergency services >> we have seen specific examples of people who have empathy for our situation who love our family, that they have not made that connection tha a decision not getting vaccinated could cause walker and so many people they love who need this urgent care. >> reporter: and a piece of good news, walker's dad tells me news of their story prompted people in the community to get a vaccine, it is worth noting right now u.s. population, 51% of the people are fully vaccinated, a number that has to rise if we're going to stop the surge. >> thank you very much let's bring in dr. rochelle walensky good morning to you. >> good morning savannah >> the big question this morning, if the two-vaccine

dosage is still working to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death, why is this third booster not necessary? >> right, so we have seen evidence that we have been looking at just the last week or so that has demonstrated that the vaccine is starting to wain in its effectiveness against infection. it is still holding up well against severe disease and hospitalizations but we have seen that we need more protection against the delta virus, and we are starting to see in other countries that they're starting to see waning infection against more severe outcomes we are anticipating that may come and we're planning for it so we can be ahead of this virus. >> what i think you just said is there was concern over time that the protection would wane against severe illness and death and that some ways the two doses would not be good enough anymore? >> that's exactly right. we are starting to see waning in infection, we think that'll result soon and waning in

disease and outcome, we certainly don't want to see it here is that's why we're planning now to get ahead of it before it happens. >> one of the biggest problem of delta variant is for even vaccinated people, you could get a breakthrough infection and could be spreading it even if you don't feel safe and you have symptoms, one reason we've had this explosive growth in covid cases this summer. here is my question, is there hope or data getting the third booster shot could actually prevent transmission >> so there's actually hope, we don't have data yet. we do know the higher levels of protection in the alpha variant resulted in less transmission, and we have not seen the data. but we are hopeful that the booster will not only protect you, give you a higher level of protection not just against the delta variant but against a broad range of variants, but it may decrease the level of virus you have and make it less

transmissible. if you happen to be a breakthrough >> if the protection of the first two shots fades, presumably the third shot's protection fades, too. it's the exact same shot do you anticipate this to be regular boosters >> i don't think we know that right now. what i will say is there are numerous vaccines where we have two primes of a series and later a booster and we don't need a booster after that the hepatitis b vaccine is one example. we still need to follow the science and we need to see what happens with further variants and whether we have further variants here. right now we are taking this one step at a time we know we need a boost now and we will continue to follow the science. i don't think it is a given that we'll be doing this continuously >> i know you know there has been criticism abroad and by some doctors here in the u.s. who say getting a third booster shot is unnecessary and something of a luxury item when you look around the world and

many have not had their first shot i was struck by a w.h.o. official who said it's akin to handing out life jackets when they already have life jackets while leaving others without a single life jacket >> i don't think it is a choice in terms of we have to choose one or the other we are going to do both. we have been doing both. over the last two months, we have delivered 50 million vaccines here in the united states and over 100 million vaccines across the world to 60 countries. before the end of this year, we anticipate that we'll be giving 100 million boosters here in the united states and over 200 million vaccines around the world. this is not a choice, we plan to do both. >> as you know, half of the u.s. is not vaccinated at all are you worried this complicates your effort to send a message to them that the vaccines works now you are telling people that

you need a third, does that undermine the messaging? >> first i want to say it is critically important while we are talking about boosters to the nearly 170 million americans who are fully vaccinated, we are still speaking with the 100 million americans who are not vaccinated and asking them to get the information they need tr get vaccinated they remain at risk of severe disease, illness and death when you are vaccinated with your first two doses of vaccine, you remained protected for up to six or eight or perhaps longer months. what this booster is going to do is to optimize that protection and extend that protection longer >> dr. walensky, good to have you with us on this important morning. >> thanks so much. now let's move to the crisis in afghanistan and the ongoing race to get americans and afghans who helped during the war out of that country.

to finish the evacuations, president biden is now saying troops could remain there past his august 31st withdrawal deadline we'll get a live report from the white house. first, richard engel is right on the ground in kabul, good morning. >> reporter: good morning hoda. this is the military side of kabul international airport. this is where the evacuations are taking place on transport jets like these behind here. the situation here is ramping up they're getting out 2,000 people a day and they hope it will continue the biggest problem is getting onto this base this basis controlled by the u.s. military and other nato partners outside the perimeter, the taliban are in charge, and to keep crowds away from here, they have been whipping people and firing into the air and 12 people have been killed trying to get here over the last

several days the taliban now promises they'll give safe passage. that'll be a major relief and it will speed up the process tremendously and change the psychology when afghans do get here, they go through this horrible gauntlet of having whipped that causes problems for the americans because the americans have to process these people i have seen it myself where afghans and have to go through different holding areas and security checks and sometimes they get worried that they're not going to get on and make it and they start to rush the doors. i have seen afghans passing their babies from one person to the next because they think they're not going to get on these flight and that causes a lot of difficulties for the soldiers and marines who are here to calm them down once they're on this base, they're getting on >> richard, the desperation was

never more apparent when we saw those people doing anything to get out of there clinging on to the planes. we never knew what really happened after that scene unfolded do you know anything more about that >> reporter: yes, i have learned new details. it helps to be here. we see it. we keep on talking about the military side at the airport and the civilian side. over there in the distance, you can see the aircraft, that's the civilian side. that was the part that was overrun, and about 3,000 or 4,000 afghans burst from the civilian side and came over to military side controlled by american troops. the marines here saw them and didn't know who they were, kabul was falling and they thought some of them might be taliban and they rushed out to dry to disperse the crowd there were some shouting and shoving and firing in air, but they did not disperse and quite a number of them grabbed onto a

c-17 or tried to grab onto a c-17, and according to witnesses the plane took off and at least two people were still clinging deaths onto it and fell to their deaths >> richard engel for us in kabul with all the reporting from kabul to washington, the president coming under new fire for saying the chaos in afghanistan was unavoidable. our peter alexander is on that story for us, good morning >> reporter: savannah, good morning. in a new interview president biden promises the u.s. will do everything in its power to get all americans and afghan allies out, that he's willing to keep u.s. troops there past his self-imposed end of the month deadline if needed but not making that same commitment for the tens of thousands of afghans who helped the u.s after promising the withdrawal would be safe and orderly, the president says a u.s. exit without chaos was never going to be possible. inside the airport, evacuations by the u.s. military

accelerates. president biden vowing no american will be left behind even if u.s. troops must remain his august 31st withdrawal deadline >> if there are american citizens there, we'll get them out. >> reporter: the u.s. is relying on the taliban to allow americans scatter throughout afghanistan to get to kabul airport without being attacked or arrested. the state department saying -- the u.s. government cannot ensure safe passage. and lloyd austin acknowledging the u.s. can't rescue those who can't get to the airport themselves >> we don't have the capability to go out and collect large numbers of people. >> reporter: president biden was asked whether the administration could have handled the withdrawal better. >> the idea to get out without chaos ensuing, i don't know how that happens >> reporter: that's not what he said in april.

>> we won't conduct a hasty rush to the exit. we'll do it responsibly, deliberately and safely. >> reporter: the president also bristled about unforgettable images including hundreds of people packed on to a c-17 >> that was four or five days ago. >> reporter: in fact, it was two days earlier the biden administration says u.s. intelligence consistently identify the risk of a rapid collapse, but joint chief general milley revealed those assessments for weeks and months >> there was nothing that i or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days. >> reporter: right now they are believed to be shy of 15,000 americans still in afghanistan the evacuations picking up in the last 24 hours. the defense secretary says still nowhere near they want to be powerful pictures from this massive air lift operation this touching shot, an afghan

child covered in an airman's camouflage coat. amid so much heartbreak, some images of hope savannah >> peter alexander, thank you. another story we are following, the extreme weather on both coasts tom is in for craig. >> good morning to you remnants of fred pushing north and delivering heavy rain. dozens of people are unaccounted for in north carolina. out west, dangerous new wildfires are exploding. we'll get to al's forecast in a moment first catie beck joins us where north carolina where there is a state of emergency good morning >> reporter: good morning tom, that's right wildfires are growing danger by nnt, evacuating thousands in the west, and on the east coast, here in north carolina, recovery after catastrophic flooding. now this morning 35 people remain missing, authorities desperately trying to locate

them the search is on for dozens missing in flooded carolina. >> it happened in a matter of about 45 minutes the water went from a normal flood where it was four feet on the side of the house. >> reporter: the town devastated by the raging water. historic floods knocking out cell service and damaging roads and bridges. >> in canton, we have everything from businesses lost and our town hall, police department, fire department. >> reporter: remnants of fred wreaking havoc across the east coast as heavy rains and flashflooding slammed the northeast and tornadoes leave a mess of debris in south carolina and georgia. >> came straight down, twisted up a bunch of trees, went straight back up and left. >> out west, wildfires are still raging >> getting people out of the way of these fires is the best way for us to be able to protect your communities

>> reporter: 31,000 californians are now under evacuation orders. >> we appreciate all the help. >> reporter: dangerous weather from coast to coast bringing out the best in communities. now because so many roads and bridges and cell towers have been wiped away by floodwaters, authorities say those hard hit areas still are difficult to reach. they're going to be resuming search efforts this morning by boat and air to try to locate the 35 missing people. they are worried their search efforts will be harder with rain in the forecast. tom. >> still a very active scene catie beck in north carolina, thank you. that brings us to al, we got a full plate, lots to track, and another tropical system causing concerns al is in washington this morning. >> good morning. we'll get to your forecast in a second we've got hurricane grace that's moving across the yucatan

peninsula and tropical storm henri, we'll talk about that in a second right now fred, 6 million people under flash flood watches and the rain is going to be intense at times upwards of 2 inches per hour for parts of new england and 1 to 4 inches of rain in accumulation right now we got the latest on tropical storm henri 525 miles southeast of cape hatteras it is moving west at 9 miles per hour the european model brings its up and it stays some where over new england and nantucket and heaviest rain in cape cod. the american model brings the storm closer to the coast, stronger rain and wind further to the west. we'll have to watch this a lot of uncertainty with this system until it gets it together until we continue to track it. we'll get to your forecast in the next 30 seconds. ing raspbers for 85 years, what would you think? (humming) well, at first you'd be like, "that has gotta be some scrumptious jam!" (humming)

and then you'd think, "he looks fantastic! i must know his skin care routine." geico. saving people money for 85 years. beg your pardon. good morning. it's 7:22. another day of hazy skies and a air quality advisory remains in effect due to the drifting smoke from the nearby wildfires, and expect to see air quality conditions worsen especially in the north bay, and should get better by the weekend. 80s for san jose, and oakland, 73. 60s in san francisco. that's your latest weather still ahead, a critical shortage, cities from coast to

coast struggling to find enough school drivers the problems rhea created for millions of families and what some districts are offering to lure in help >> then a bit later on, an eye opening conversation with the wives of u.s. veterans served in afghanistan, how the chaos is impacting their families here at home and they are worried about their husbands' mental wealth and what they wish what people knew about the rule of being knew about the rule of being military caregivers.

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destroyed in the fire, and 1,600 folks evacuated and another 800 on are standby. we are not hearing of any injuries right now but you can see a lot of property damage here in clearlake. we will now talk to vianey who is giving us insight on the smoke. >> we are seeing another air quality advisory day. we saw the smoke drifting down into the northerly winds, bringing smoke into the bay area. we could see changes into the weekend. however, for today and tomorrow, the smoke is expected to stay, especially for portions of the santa rosa, napa area, and we are seeing worsening air quality through there. san jose, 82. oakland, 73. palo alto, 79. again, keep those windows shut and limit outdoor activities for sure. kris?

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hi, everybody. happy thursday a look at rockefeller plaza. it is 7:30 right now august 19th, 2021. the final weeks of summer quickly going by >> oh. >> it is not over. summer is not over >> i like that >> we have been talking a lot about the issues facing families as this new school year begins, and covid concerns of course are the backdrop of all that, the difficulty finding the right supplies, and now you can add something else to that list which is a shortage of bus drivers.

>> it is happening in communities all across the country right now. >> exactly we got kerry sanders in orlando with more on that. good morning >> reporter: good morning, it used to be easy to find drivers who wanted to sit in this seat but not so much anymore. nationwide, some school districts are offering $5,000 signing bonuses to get drivers right now with fewer drivers, that means there are fewer buses running. more kids are packed inside and all of that comes at a time when social distancing is more important than ever. with the start of the school year underway in many areas, the wheels on the bus going round and round again. in many districts, those familiar yellow buses are carrying more kids, traveling further, and taking longer rides than ever. >> we would have to combine bus runs you can imagine a child may be

on a bus run that used to be 30 minutes, now may be 50 minutes >> reporter: the shortage of qualified drivers forcing some schools to scramble and hitting the relief valve asking parents to carpool >> asking parents to be the solution to this problem really isn't the solution >> reporter: some school districts are now offering lucrative bonuses to lure in drivers, but even that's not doing the trick. >> looking to fill 100 driver positions now. >> how many people showed up >> 16. >> reporter: 16? in some cases, school bus drivers who tend to be older says they are shying away from the job because they're worried being close to kids will expose them to covid, especially if students are not required to wear masks >> they end up being hospitalized because of covid from one of the students >> reporter: even at $19 an hour with set hours and no weekends, administrators say drivers

remained scarce. >> accept an interview, no one comes. they ghost us pretty much. >> reporter: bus companies are now actively recruiting new drivers. >> you have the opportunity to earn a $1,500 bonus if you want to become a bus driver >> reporter: the process of becoming a certified bus driver could take months. leaving schools with yet another bump in the road last year here in orange county, florida, they had covid protocols only 24 kids on a bus. now with the driver shortage, there are as many as 77 kids on a bus. guys, you don't have to be a great student to do that math. >> kerry sanders for us there. kerry, thank you coming up next, their husbands fought in afghanistan, and now these women are struggling to keep them safe here at home don't miss this, it is a powerful conversations with a group of hidden heroes, military caregivers on the situation in afghanistan and the toll that's having with their families right

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who is served there. >> no question about it. it's a weight that's being carried by their families too. i shared an eye opening and important conversation with hidden heroes. it provides resources to veterans' caregivers we want to see how the events overseas are affecting their life at home raise your hand if you are worried about the mental health of your husbands this week in light of this news >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> and not just my husband but all the veterans to be honest. >> reporter: the images coming out of kabul are shocking and heartbreaking for many and many military veterans and caregivers, the impact runs deep veterans struggling with invisible wounds such as ptsd are now grappling with conflicting emotions as those wounds reopen. betsy, shaun, and corinne are witnessing this firsthand as they care for their husbands,

who served on the front lines of afghanistan. brian mooar served in the u.s. army for 23 years, completing seven tours in afghanistan how has your husband been handling it? >> he has been angry that's what's hardest to hit with >> reporter: tyrone was hit with a grenade resulting in a traumatic brain injury >> for him, the withdrawal and coincides with him associating memories of his alive day from being blown up the forthcoming anniversary of 9/11, and so all of these timelines colliding together makes it very difficult. >> reporter: david eves retired in 2016 due to combat related ptsd >> my first instinct as his caregiver was, is he okay? is this going to trigger him in to a downfall where we end up with him in the emergency room again because of another suicide attempt.

i was on high alert making sure he's okay. >> the suicidal ideation is huge in our world too my husband spent seven tours there. it is going to be a triggering event and i am just kind of waiting for that -- >> reporter: are your husbands watching the news closely? >> oh, yes he's watching the news all day long i think that's because he was so invested for so long in his life in this war, that is the only way he can still feel invested >> that's what's tough i think we walk on pins and needles wondering if, okay, when is too much? >> reporter: the question many veterans say they're asking themselves, was it all worth it? >> did i matter? did what we did matter that's the conversation that we have been trying to have, that even if he does not feel it mattered at this sort of larger scale, that to his family and

friends and the marines he brought home to their families, it certainly mattered. for him, the marine association with courage, it feels like we are running away what matters to my husband was the value he gave to the fight. that seems >> it does not necessarily matter that we won or last the war there. what matters to my husband was the value he gave to the fight that seems to help reframe it from being so overwhelming and refocusing his efforts of the goodness and sacrifice he did and his service members made while he was in afghanistan. >> reporter: these strong women are fellows of the hidden heroes campaign, the elizabeth dole foundation, an initiative providing resources and a community for military caregivers want to ask all of you how you are doing because we know that caregivers are truly on the front lines. it is not easy to be in your position and be on the receiving end of some of these hard emotions betsy, how are you handling

this >> it is hard, but we don't know any other way to support our husbands and our service members except for being the rock they need us to be. >> when i look around home, what really gets me is my 10-year-old and how she's feeding off his anxiety and that hurts my heart more than anything >> reporter: i have heard that so many times over the years working with caregivers, that when i say what do you need or what helps, the number one thing caregivers have shared with me is just belonging to this community. what does this community mean to you? >> the world i would not be in a good mental health place without the caregivers that i know around me >> it just immediately brings my mood to a place where, all right, i got this and we are in this together and we are experiencing this together and we'll get through it supporting

one another. >> reporter: we have not talked about the politics whether it was right or wrong that we withdrew, whether it was handled well we're setting that aside for the purposes of this conversation. but what would you like to hear from our leaders specifically to our veterans and to you, the caregivers who are helping them through this difficult time? >> i would appreciate some kind of acknowledgment that they are suffering and they are committed to their mental health and well-being >> that it is important to reaffirm with a genuine sense of compassion and understanding that our veterans matter, their experiences mattered their service matters. >> that's not only on a national level. we need to hear it in our communities as well. they have got to make a point to

say, your time and service in afghanistan mattered, not only to the veterans but to the family members and the caregivers, we see you too >> this is a time and moment we can put our arms around our veterans and caregivers and say what do you need and we do see you. >> just you asking how are you doing, i was wondering how many times they are asked that question from people outside of their little circle, and you can tell how meaningful it was to them >> this story about caregivers is so important because we think about our veterans and we want to care for them well. we have to care for the people who care for them. that's what this is all about. this is a difficult conversation they all said they worry about their husbands and suicidal thoughts i did want to mention the national prevention lifeline is always available 1-800-273-8255 the community of caregivers

helps so much. hidden heroes is hosting a virtual event focusing on mental health for veterans and the people caring for them it is part of the elizabeth dole foundation, i am proud to be an ambassador for this organization if you want to see more conversations with these remarkable military wives, you can find it on today.com >> beautiful piece, thank you. let's head down to mr. roker in washington for another check of the weather >> good morning, and we are looking at more dangerous fire conditions in central california, gusts to 40 miles per hour we are talking about low humidity, the dixie fire burned over 662,000 acres, the caldor fire 62,000, and that wind is shifting and coming out of the north. that's blowing that wind down to san francisco, los angeles, san diego. smoke from these areas will be a big problem and bad air quality. cool conditions in the western

plains warming than usual for marquette, minneapolis des moines into chicago, 6 degrees above average. duluth, all warmer than average. cooler than average from montana to telluride temperatures cool in boston looking at the recommend manhandles of henri keeping things cool there. d.c. to raleigh and atlanta and cleveland, all in the upper 80s. hot time another warm and hazy day today across the bay area. a live look right now over walnut creek. once again we are dealing with the air quality advisory that was extended until tomorrow, so keep that in mind. limit outdoor activities and keep the windows closed, and the temperatures will be in the 80s in the south bay, and low 90s in the interior valleys and upper 60s for san francisco. as we head in towards the workweek, a little bit of

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good morning. it's 7:56. i am kris sanchez. here's what is happening now. good morning, i am cierra johnson in lake county. that's about two hours north of san francisco. right now i am in the community that clearlake, that's where the cache fire swept through quite quickly destroying a total of 50 homes right now. i am standing at a mobile home park, and as you can see, nothing is standing, just the outline of bikes and metal pieces. 1,600 have been evacuated and 800 on standby. 80 acres have been burned by this fire. that adds to the caldor fire and dixie fire, and vianey, this is affecting our air quality. >> indeed. we have been seeing the hazy skies. you can smell the smoke in the

air and the air quality advisory remains in effect through tomorrow, it was actually extended. your forecast for this afternoon in the 80s, and upper 80s for areas like concord. san francisco at 69. the smoke will linger through tomorrow and then by saturday and sunday, we have a little shift that will increase the breezy conditions, that's going to push away some of the smoke further inland, clearing out just a little bit by saturday evening. not just for san francisco but also inland areas. kris? we have more local news for you in half an hour. we hope your morning is off to a good start. be safe out there with all that smoke.

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it is 8:00 on "today." coming up, extra boost, the white house reveals a third vaccine, a booster shot, will be available to all americans at the end of september >> we are hopeful that the booster will give you a higher level of protection not just against the delta variant but against the broader variants >> what you need to know we are live with the latest. then wishing and waiting -- our closer look at how families with loved ones in afghanistan are doing everything they can to

be together. >> it is hard for me not to be able to give the definitive date when they'll come to the u.s >> and the struggle facing families looking to adopt babies from the region. plus, against all odds >> we found a baby girl for your adoption but there is something you need to know >> our conversation with the paralympic swimmer and her mom >> we just knew she was for us >> now jessica long's determination has led her to 23 medals >> i live for the racing the moment during the race, everything slows down. and hitting great heights with hugh. we go one-on-one with hugh jackman to talk about his latest project. >> people don't just vanish. >> what it's like being one of hollywood's biggest stars. >> i do remember a good solid ten years of not being noticed getting turned down at every

corner it is weird that i am all of a sudden that guy. >> that guy. >> i think it helps having some rejection and real-life experience >> today is thursday, august 19th, 2021 >> good morning "today" show from the hack family >> today si my tenth birthday. >> happy birthday, owen. >> we are celebrating our 31st anniversary on the "today" show. >> happy 50th anniversary! >> we love you >> we love you, too! welcome back, it is a thursday morning, savannah likes to call it friday eve. a lot going on >> friyay eve. >> too many things to remember tom is in for craig this morning. good morning, everybody. >> he calls it thursyay. >> savannah keeps making these things up. >> she's trying to make them stick. we'll see.

>> i know. thursday by any name, here we are. let's get to the news at 8:00. president biden is doubling down on face masks and booster shots to try to slow the spread of delta variant. sam brock is joining us with the latest, good morning >> reporter: savannah, good morning. almost exactly one month from today on september 20th, the federal government is going to begin its roll out, a third shot assuming you are at least eight months from your second dose anthony fauci says it is so potent that it may not be necessary eight months from now. he talked about generating potentially between 10 and 20 fold the amount of antibodies. this comes as half the country remains unvaccinated and the battle over mandatory mask mandates continues to rage in miami as president biden is threatening legal action against states like florida and texas, who he says are standing in the way.

here is cdc director rochelle walensky this morning on the importance of boosters >> i think you said there is concern over time that the protection would wane against severe illness and death even, that essentially in some ways the two doses wouldn't be good enough anymore >> that's exactly right. we are starting the see waning infection, we think it may results soon in waning severe diseases and outcome we certainly don't want to see that here. that's why we are planning now to get ahead before it happens >> reporter: president biden is mandating nursing home staff get vaccinated here is why it is so important 1.3 million people work in nursing home facilities that participate with medicare and medicaid 40% of them are unvaccinated savannah, back to you. >> sam brock, thank you very much now to the situation in afghanistan where thousands of u.s. and afghan allies safely evacuated from kabul airport overnight.

a lot of people are struggling to get out have family ties to the u.s. nbc's anne thompson is here with some of their stories. >> good morning. these are days of anguish for families of loved ones who want out. this morning the stories of three families, a man trying to adopt, a wife and a mother, all trying to secure exit in chaos desperation, a baby passed forward as afghan of all ages trying to escape the taliban in florida, this bedroom waits for a 10-year-old. >> we're feeling the anxiety because we've been let down so many times >> reporter: the room is the culmination of his five-year odyssey to adopt his distant relative from afghanistan. >> we are hoping during the next

few days to the next week we can get some sort of visa for him to come to the united states. >> reporter: it is difficult the state department says only 41 afghan children were adopted by u.s. families over a 20-year period what makes it so difficult for americans to adopt afghan arent originally from afghanistan so who are practicin children >> it is a combination of the fact adopting children from pakistan who are practicing muslims. >> reporter: his paper work is in order and he's anxious to bring home noma who loves music and soccer and wants to be an engineer or doctor >> he's very excited he's looking forward to it it is heartwrenching not to be able to give a definitive date in terms of when he'll come to the u.s. >> reporter: zora's husband is trying to get out. she says he spent the past few days going back and forth to the airport but going nowhere yet. >> there is no guidance, he told

me he's hopping over cars trying to get to the plane and an american to help him >> reporter: for her husband and child, success >> i just arrived to america >> reporter: she made bracelets in afghanistan sold by taps, an american organization that supports families of fallen service members. her husband worked for the u.s. government taps with help from the state department got the family on a commercial flight out of thean country. >> i want to take this moment to thank the american people and afghan people who have lost their lives and i want to honor both of them >> reporter: he hopes the son she wants to adopt will know the same relief very soon. but fears that a the taliban government could change the rules and the work of the last five years could all be for naught >> i hope it ends well for him >> the first family, have they been able to contact the child >> they have he tried to get to the airport

with another family. there is so much congestion and gunfire, they had to go back it is frightening. >> anne, thank you newly named "jeopardy" host, mike richards, made an apology he made sexist remark he made on a podcast several years ago. he hosted a show from 2013 to 2014 the episodes were reported to be laden with comments about women's bodies and clothing and even worse in a statement richards says looking back now there is no excuse for the comments i made on this podcast and i am deeply sorry. even with the passage of time, it is more than clear that my attempt to be funny and provacative were not acceptable and i have removed the episodes. i have substantial and obligations as a role model and i intend to live up to them. we got the news covered but we are ready for your boost. >> i've got one for you. here we go a mysterious visitor is making a big splash in a small town in

maine. a 25-foot tall rubber duck with the word "joy," no one seems to know where it came from and why it is there. one thing almost everyone agrees on, they hope that duck hangs around longer, saying it's making things a little more interesting around here. i love it. it says "joy," what else do you want >> somebody is laughing very hard right now whoever's behind it >> toddlers start running towards the lake for no reason >> exactly ernie too. >> yeah. coming up next, the story we have been talking about all morning, this inspiring ad maybe you have seen it a u.s. paralympian's remarkable journey from a russian orphanage to become one of the most dominating athletes. >> jenna catches up with her and her mom to learn about their incredible story coming up right after this and one that's forever wild but freedom

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>> she was born in siberia, she was placed into an orphanage the ad shows jessica's mom receiving the call to adopt against all the odds jessica went onto become one of the world's most decorated paralympics athletes jenna is here. you got to chat with jessica and her family wow. >> i told jessica i cry every time i see that ad we wanted to learn more about her inspiring story so just days before the 13 times gold medal winner headed to tokyo to compete in her fifth paralympic games i sat down with jessica and her incredible mom, beth >> i sit down in a chair and i crawl on my knees to the edge of the pool and take off my prosthetic legs and i just jumped in. i just instantly loved it. >> reporter: for 23 times paralympic medal winner jessica long, swimming is so much more >> the water is a place of freedom and safety and also feeling really strong and capable.

>> reporter: jessica first discovered her love for the water in her grandparents' pool as a young girl. >> i just had this strong determination to prove this i could do it. it stems from my adoption to prove i was worthy and enough. >> reporter: in the long family, she's all been more than enough. she was born with a condition where most of the bones in her feet were missing. fearful she could not care for her newborn's knees, jessica's birth mom placed her for adoption 5,000 miles away in baltimore, maryland, beth and steven long were looking to adopt. tell me about that day you got the call >> we had seen a picture of jessica ahead of time. when they called, we knew she was the one for us it did not matter what the disability was we just knew she was meant for us >> reporter: as a child, jessica under went 25 surgeries

including a double-leg amputation at just 18 months >> it was so hard, like, there were so much pain. every time i grew, i had to go back in for a surgery. i remember being really scared but knowing exactly what to do as a 3-year-old i knew to crawl on top of the operating table. >> reporter: you were suffering pain that no parent wants to see their child suffer from. beth, what was it like for you all? >> going through it was harder than you think the little feet that she had and you don't realize once she comes, you love every part of her. actually losing a piece of her, that was more difficult than i thought it would be. >> reporter: throughout the challenging times, jessica continued to swim, joining a local swim team by age 10 and surpassing goals many deemed impossible where does your grit comes from? >> it was not an option to quit. if i had quit and given up in

those moments, i don't know where i would have been. swimming was a way i felt that freedom from all the surgeries and the pain >> reporter: just two years after jessica first joined a swim team, she earned at spot at the athens games >> i remember showing up and thinking i didn't come here to get second i really wanted a gold medal i remember just wanted to jump in and race as hard as i could >> reporter: 23 medals later, you are going back to your fifth games. do you still get that kind of excitement, that kind of pinch me moment feeling when you are competing? >> that's what i live for. i really live for the racing and the moments in those races where everything slows down even though you are swimming as fast as possible. that's what i train for. >> reporter: more than 25 years after jessica first jumped into her grandparents' pool, she

is competing at the toke yes games. these days, she swims for the glory, no longer feeling she needs to prove her worth >> i love the gold obviously that's what i'm going for. if i never bring home another gold in my life, i am more than enough, maybe because i have won some gold. if you are not enough with without a gold medal, you will never be enough with one >> oh, jenna >> isn't she just remarkable she told me she went back to siberia and met her birth mom and her sister she took her sister with her and said it was just the -- the whole town came to see her and it was this really beautiful moment her mom beth is remarkable she knew that was her babe from the moment she got that call we'll have more. >> do we have a little more? >> we have more from jessica and her mom coming up in the fourth hour her inspiring story is told in a new book called "pure grit," you

can find more about it on today.com. >> it should be a movie, too >> definitely. make sure you cheer for jessica and other athletes the paralympics are going on now. the opening ceremony next tuesday, complete coverage of course on the nbc sports network. sure >> without a doubt time for another check from the weather from al who's down in the nation's capital. >> we are watching three things, we got grace moving into the yucatan peninsula and we got henri, see what that does this weekend, and of course the remnants of fred making their way through the northeast and on into new england with heavy rain we are watching temperatures way above average as you make your way out to the west, looking at temperatures in the 90s in the central plains into the gulf, 100s, triple digits, 90s in the southwest as well. fire risk continuing out west, strong storms making their way into the central plains. summerlike highs in the northern

plains and great lakes, heavy rain in the nort good morning. another hazy day across the bay area. we are under a micro climate weather alert because of the drifting smoke causing air quality advisories to be in effect at least through tomorrow. we will be seeing temperatures climb into the 80s in the south bay, upper 80s for areas like concord, liver march, martinez, upper 60s for san francisco. heading into the weekend, we get a breeze hanging on. saturday, cooling us off just a little bit. that's your latest weather savannah thank you, time to "popstart" and dylan is on carson's duty. >> good morning, everybody let's start with some baby news. scarlett johanson and colin jost officially announced they welcomed their first baby

together after pregnancy rumors made this week reportedly made in a stand-up show over the weekend. "people" confirmed the news yesterday. the star writing on instagram, okay, okay, we had a baby and we love him very much he went onto say privacy will be great for all in queries, please contact our publicist, che throwing michael shea under the bus with that one. johansson has a 7-year-old daughter rose. congrats to colin and scarlett on the happy news. i feel like during the pandemic people had so many secret babies yes didn't see them in person that much. up next, the west side story, rachel ziegler. our hearts melt with this sweet reaction from a gift she received from the musical legend herself, the one and only, miss barbra streisand. >> there is no way this is a

real thing that was sent to me and it has a card. no way, there is no way she -- there is no way, no, no, no, no no >> simply no way >> we love her >> barbra sending rachel a copy of her latest album, the card she's holding reads for r from b. >> she called her r. >> frame it. >> zegler is officially yet to make her acting debut as maria in "west side story. streisand just made her the first woman with a billboard of top 20 album in every decade from the 1960s until now >> wow finally, tom brady >> you are smiling >> you are blushing. >> the super bowl champ joined by a familiar face, his 13-year-old son, jack. the quarterback sharing on

instagram the buccaneers got a new ball boy this week he takes his summer job very seriously and reps just like his dad. turns out a spokesperson for the bucs clarified and told e! that jack is not employed by the team, he's a helpful guest at practice even still a good way, jack does not play football, he plays soccer >> he's probably better than all of us. coming up, he acts and dances and sings and he'll drop to give you some push-ups at a moment's notice. our fun adventure with hugh jackman. >> were you trying to keep up?

good morning. it is 8:26. i am kris sanchez. the san jose mayor going above and beyond guidelines requiring proof of vaccination at large events. starting next month, indoor events with more than a thousand people will require vaccination proof or negative covid test. that rule will cover venues like the sap center. the mayor is calling for the same at any indoor venue with 50 people or more, but without option of a negative covid test. his proposal will be heard next tuesday and it would go into effect immediately if it is passed. stay tuned for that.

also staying tuned for the forecast which is hazy this morning. >> it really is. this is a live look now over walnut creek. you can see how hazy it is. the smoke in the air is keeping the air quality advisory in effect. we have marine layer, so you're getting a mix of both. today's forecast, still warm, especially for interior valleys. talking upper 80s. 88 in concord, 85 for morgan hill, 73 in oakland. expect for smoke to stay through tomorrow, getting a little better by saturday. more local news for you in a half hour. see you then.

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♪ if it's meant to be, it will be ♪ >> it's 8:30 we wanted to say hello to these folks in our corner of rock feller plaza good morning the crowds >> these folks are brave because we weren't sure it was going to rain >> all the way from seattle, i think, these guys. >> we have a great half hour ahead and hoda we'll start with your day of fun with the famous and great hugh jackman >> we got to catch up and chat

about his rise to stardom and how it happened later in his life he's got a new movie out, broad caicedo, you name it he broke out a song at one point. >> i can't wait. >> i can't wait just looking at him. jill martin is here to get you organized for the fall we've got great products to help you start with the beginning of school and return to work, everything you got to do and what you can do to create a relaxing space to unwind >> we look forward to that speaking of back-to-school, we'll cover the hottest trends in back-to-school fashion, here is a hint, i love this, the '90s are back in a big way. i think it is the shoulder pads. >> was that your era >> lithium on xm radio tomorrow we are in for a treat. emmy and grammy winner cynthia erivo. she's joining us live. she'll treat us to a performance for the weekend. we are lining up more great music for you. we got jay balvin live here on

the plaza? >> huge! >> look at this guy! >> he's amazing. >> stop it >> that's friday, august 27th, if you want to join us and fully vaccinated, come on down, you can request our "today" pass now a check with al roker down in d.c. >> announcer: today's weather brought to you by target -- expect more and pay less >> i don't sing ring tones but i like rigatoni. tomorrow, rip currents along the eastern seaboard from henri. severe storms out of the plains. the fire danger continues out west, for saturday we are watching henri as it makes up the coast. hot and humid, texas into the midsection of the country. poor air quality in the west because of the wildfires sunday, sunday some coastal rain possible due to henri

we hazy conditions yet again, an air quality advisory remains in place, which is why we are under micro climate weather alert. that's today through tomorrow, getting better by saturday. temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 80s, so warmer inland. we've got 70s in oakland, san francisco, upper 60s over the next seven days. here's a closer look what to expect. lingering smoke by friday. saturday, increase in the breeze, cooling us off just a bit. and that's your latest weather, guys. >> all right, stick around, al, we have a special crowd moment just for you it involves our entire crowd gang, are we ready one, two, three. ♪ happy birthday to you ♪

♪ happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ happy birthday dear al ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ >> roker >> happy birthday, early, al his birthday is tomorrow >> thank you so much i can only wish as present that i had somebody look at me the way you look at hugh jackman >> right >> wait, roker, real quick someone else's birthday is tomorrow, same day what's your name >> alycia. >> she shares a birthday with you. >> happy birthday to you up next, hoda's adventure with hugh jackman. >> we took the star high above new york to chat about his return to broadway and the big screen and discovered that when

the latest movie welcome back hugh jackman is going dark the latest movie called "reminiscent." >> you got it. >> hoda, perhaps you know that more than us now that you had some time in person. >> you know some people you meet they just lift your spirit hugh jackman is that guy he's a true gentleman and he's a beloved fan. everything from marvell comics he's madly in love with his wife i was lucky enough to hang out with hugh, for more reasons than one, it was a total high >> how are you >> good. >> what's the best place to catch up with one of hollywood's and broadway's top actors? how about over 1,000 feet up hanging above one of the world's

highest observation decks, the edge at hudson's yards how are you with heights >> i love it i hated it as a kid. i had such a fear of heights i went to the diving board at school and i jumped off at lunchtime for like a week until i got over it. >> is that your philosophy in life, when there is something in the way, you have to look at it in the eyes? >> totally i just always, if i'm scared of something, if i have to bungee jump, which i now would love, i'll be straight off don't think about it, just go. >> reporter: go, go, go seems to be hugh's m.o. he's one of the busiest men in and out of hollywood a triple threat with an embarrassing collection of golden statues he's a devoted husband and father of two. he's got his own non-profit coffee company above all, a few moments with this aussie native and one thing is obvious we have a woman who works with me, when you sit and visit with

you, you will never think he's hollywood, you would think he's your friend. they are right that's a great trait >> ask someone else and they might give you the opposite view "x-men" was my first movie in america. at 30, you know who you are. if someone hands you, for example, "sexiest man alive, i only try to mention it once in every interview, hoda, i'm, like, well, i do remember a good solid ten years of literally not being noticed and getting turned down at every corner so it's weird that i'm all of a sudden that guy. >> that guy. >> i think it helps having had rejection and real-life experience >> the past year and a half has been a departure for a guy who's always on the go when the pandemic shut him down, he had to get creative luckily while hugh was honing his sourdough skills -

>> all you have to do is follow my voice >> reporter: editors were finishing up "reminiscence." it's a sci-fi action thriller. there's romance too. tell me about the movie. >> it grabbed me and at the beginning of this story, i feel like i am playing this bogart character and in a classic sort of film. then it goes off >> it borders on obsession his character's girlfriend suddenly disappears launching him on a twisted search to find her. it leads him to an underworld of crime and drugs. thankfully the film's plot is nothing like his real-life romance with wife of, wait for it, 25 years a fellow actor >> deb is the most lightest, most optimistic person i've ever met in my life play the game who's the happiest person in the room, deb wins just know deb, people often say,

oh, marriage is so much work and they're asking things you have to work by but it has not felt like that. >> eyes are the giveaway whenever you say her name, it's cool to see true love 25 years later. >> isn't that awesome? >> oh wait >> wow >> oh my gosh. >> is that incredible? >> new york. >> do you go here to sing when you look out of the city >> i do right now. ♪ there's a bright golden haze on the meadow ♪ there's no meadow. there's a haze ♪ the corn is as high as an elephant's eye ♪ sing with me ♪ and it looks like it's climbing here up to the sky ♪ there you go >> i am going to mouth it. >> oh my god >> look at this. >> where is broadway from here point to broadway. >> right here. >> and the revival of "the music man.

the show is set to open in december and, oh, has hugh been practicing >> a good way to lose 50 pounds in a day i'm so excited to be part of it, to be there as broadway opens up again and also to bring back a musical, which is the first musical i ever did, by the way >> is that right >> i was sales man number 2. i did not get the latest part. it is a goal particularly for a musical, that's the key >> we are going to try to do something. hanging out at the top is old hat for hugh and out here on the edge taking on a view that fear gives mere mortals the willies, fear is the last thing on his mind >> we do push-ups. >> oh. >> whoa. >> that's scary. >> that's super scary.

>> i just wanted more hugs so i was pretending feigning fear. anyway, he was so cool and he was just so cool with all of the people who were on that rooftop. he was friendly with every single person and hugging and taking pictures. i dug him. he was great >> he's is best? >> don't you think come on, sg. "reminiscence" opens this theaters and hbo max tomorrow. you can catch my interview today all day which i will be watching a special thanks to people there because they aloed us to film there. >> i was going to say i can keep on watching that interview, that was magic. i love it. >> a smart move, i am so scared. >> i am afraid >> hold me, hugh guys, coming up next, jill martin is going to help you turn over a

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with are back with our friend today jill martin. shop today with jill martin airing today on our streaming platform today. this episode is all about the new school year and the products that help you get back to your routine. congrats on your new show. >> thank you, i am so jazzed about it. it is on today.com. you will see a little television at noon. we have this we have this 360 experience and i was always want todd do this we have given the problems and solution and the product to fix the problem and one click how to get them home. it is an easy process. this, i am so jazzed about it. you know how i love a before and after. >> yes, you do >> i did your closet once. i feel like you have to take one drawer, one space at time. one thing at a time.

>> don't take on too much. >> we'll show you everything at noon i want to give you a sneak peek. this is what a wall in my house looks like, plane white wall now we are going back to ambush makeover day >> wait a minute. >> this is the after >> that looks really good. >> is that incredible? >> i did this. it is like making a celebrity closet everything is under $50. some of it is way under $50 because it is diy. i'll show you some of those products you can get this is a great place to start the purse organizer, this is so funny for you. sometimes you have flimsy purses and piling up and there is no structure. lack at these. they're lucite if you don't see it, you're not going to wear or use it. >> that's a good point >> look how pretty these are i put them on top of the plastic shoe bins in my area

this is $39.99 comes in a set of four yes, i can see them. the ones that i don't use, i donate or consign. jewelry. this is an issue that i can help you with you wear a lot of delicate necklaces but sometimes they get tangled. i suggest take a bulletin board and get really cool pins that fit your personality and everybody has a home and a place so they don't tangle and they look like a piece of art on the wall so in my room, i put it on the wall and all my delicate jewelry on there it does not tangle and you can see everything the layering trend is in >> that's beautiful. it looks like art. this is not pricey >> no, under 20 bucks. you can pick any bulletin board you have and pictures on it. they're all different push pins. >> now this one looks hard to me >> and it is not

this is wall pops. this is, i took the white wall, a lot of people think adding color will make the room looking smaller. adding the print will make the room look bigger they have designer wallpaper it is a sticker wallpaper. i did this myself. my wall took four rolls. >> it is different priceo cut i. you measure the walls and they >> you knew how to cut it. >> you don't have to cut it. you measure the walls and they have this beautiful designer's print. if you want to do and when you take it off, it is a sticker so it won't damage the wall >> peel it right off >> these are beautiful >> and inexpensive to do a transformation >> this is you are going to >> like. like >> i am going to love this this connects your smartphone and it is a free grit use diffuser for $44 >> it has high-end fragrances that you associate it with very pricey >> i can release the scent into the environment into your home as often as you want >> can i tell you how important this is? every time i walk to a hotel chain, there is a spael that i feel the western of the wyndham or

something. they told me it is in diffuser all over but you get a vibe. that's so true >> go onto see so many greayou . >> can i tell you how important this is? every time i walk to a hotel chain, there is a spael that i feel. the western of the wyndham or something. they told me it is in defuser all over but you get a vibe. sense. it is colorful and pretty glass bottle >> what are you putting in these? >> this is all the weight in your house starting at $6.99. we have a deal on a lot of these things i love qr codes. 25% off if you buy individual items. the bundle includes refillable colorful pretty glass bottles, diverse scents and great -- >> what are you putting in these? >> this is all the ways to clean your house ecofriendly in the black bottle it looks pretty.

everything is organized. if something looks pretty, when you get up, the whole vibe of this show, when you get up and see pretty, your day will be more organized and you'll feel better and better energy we try to recycle but let's be real, it is too much this is all cartons and glass. brilliant. >> and refillable. >> what is that guy? >> these are all for the laundry and each part of the room. everything is on today.com/beauty >> to shop these products, scan the qr code that's below head to today.com/shopallday and catch "shop today" with jill martin streaming today jill is back in the third hour with more favorite picks >> and first, more with hugh jackman. >> bring the popcorn

all right, welcome back. we got a welcome back we got a jump-start on al roker's birthday >> very nice for my birthday today. e let's spin those smucker's jars saying happy birthday to inez king, 103 years old, never leave home with her red lipstick staying in west palm beach, betty curran, a fashionable lady from the sunshine state, celebrating 101 years. betty says the secret to longevity, take the time to dress your best. happy 100th birthday charlie of north carolina, charlie earp he and his wife, dot, married for 76 years fantastic. and 100, spending her golden years as a tutor in the city school district. yolanda, 104, a retired banker

from cape maine, new jersey. always the last person to leave the dance floor. happy 100th birthday to bob johnson, a proud grandpa from kalamazoo, michigan. i knew a gal from kalamazoo. he's donated over 20 gallons of blood in his lifetime. that's amazing >> a lot of blood. >> happy early birthday to you, we love you. coming up on "hoda and jenna," chris young performs the latest single off his new album first, we got the third hour of "today" straight ahead. happy birthday mr. roker thank you so much, here is your local news and weather

good morning. it is. >> caller: -- 8:56. traffic brought to a stop. a camera captured a lot of smoke. >> that was a few minutes ago. most of the smoke blended out of the picture. let me show you the map.

hearing about car on fire in the roadway. crews are headed out of san francisco, wrong direction of the bay bridge. that's why traffic is stopped, approaching treasure island. do not try to use the bay bridge from oakland to san francisco. the upper deck is closed now. added to the problem is traffic at oakland at 29th. motorcycle down, both directions are jammed. alternate is richmond or bartlett. avoid the bay bridge because of fire we are tracking. more after this break. cool. so what are you waiting for? mckayla maroney to get your frisbee off the roof? i'll get it. ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ ♪ whoa. here you go. (in unison) thank you mckayla! dude, get it. i'm not getting it, you get it. you threw it. it's your frisbee. geico. switch today and see all the ways you could save.

san francisco taking steps on the unvaccinated. ahead of the weekend, we track how long the weather sticks around.

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rockefeller, this is the third hour of "today." welcome everybody, we got jill martin with me here today. good morning. >> i love the text i got from jill last night, she's like okay, i am really busy and i want to know what you are wearing in the middle of dinner with the kids. >> i was like this is all she's worried about. the print is really wild. >> it is wild.