happy birthday, america. across the country fire works light up the skies in honor of our nation's independence. waiting for a verdict. jurors begin deliberating in the casey anthony murder trial. and a not so great escape. a unique break-out attempt by a prisoner in mexico. something you'd have to see to believe. good morning, everybody. i'm lynn berry. those stories and more are straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. we begin this morninging with day to remember. from coast to coast american s

celebrated a traditional independence day this year from fourth of july picnics and parades to incredible pyrotechnics displays. >> reporter: dazzling fireworks light up the sky in the nation's capital. president obama and the first lady took time on our country's birthday to thank members of the u.s. military. >> together you are standing with all of those around the world who are reaching for the same freedoms and the same liberties that we celebrate today. >> reporter: it was a day of celebration from star-spangled parades in new hampshire to power boat racing in florida. 60,000 runners saw the dawn's early light in atlanta for a 10k race. thousands turned out at coney island, home of the hot dog-eating contest. and in california, would you believe snow skiing at lake tahoe on july 4th. >> snow, skis, bathing suits.

>> reporter: a day of fun and a celebration of freedom from sea to shining sea. curt gregory, nbc news. and while there were no fourth of july celebrations in an orlando courtroom yesterday as jurors in the first-degree murder trial of casey anthony began deliberating her fate. >> reporter: as the jury gathered dozens gathered at the spot where caylee anthony's remains were found. two signs of a very separate facet to this case, the public response and the now private deliberations. >> they are going to consider second degree murder, a manslaughter, third degree felony murder, and two types of first degree murder, by the way, premeditated and felony murder, and they don't even have to agree on which one it is, as long as 12 people think it's first degree murder, and there are six other counts. so it is complicated. >> members of the jury --

>> reporter: after wade ing through the judge's instructions and waiting for around six hours, the jury will get back to work today reviewing testimony of dozens of witnesses and almost 400 items entered as evidence, and with the emotional closing arguments likely still echoing in their minds. >> the key question as it relates to all manslaughter and child abuse and murder charges that you're going to be presented with is how did she die? what happened to her? what is proven beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt? not just some, but every single one. and those questions were never answered. that evidence was never presented to you. >> reporter: >> to say that there is no evidence to connect casey anthony to caylee's death ignores. all of this evidence. >> reporter: jay gray, nbc news, orlando. having scrapped their plans

to enjoy an expended fourth of july holiday, congress will be back this week to work to fix the nation's finances. tracie potts has more on that. good morning. >> good morning. the republicans have drawn a line saying no more borrowing until we cut spending ♪ by the dawn's early light >> you don't have to work the budget to take care of the debts. you've got to get your spending under control. >> reporter: they're dead set against raising taxes but some now say they'll consider closing loopholes. revenues raises, that's under design. >> i'm going to make sure that you have the support that you need in the field. >> reporter: democrats say spending cuts are not enough. >> we cannot achieve the kind of

deaf sigs reduction everyone agrees we need without a tax increase. >> reporter: they may not be able to pay its bills. who will give in? >> i think republicans have more to lose, so i think eventually the president will move close irto the republican position. the republicans signaled they may support a short-term deal. >> thanks so much. executives at exxonmobil have acknowledged that an oil still in the yellowstone river could have spread further than previously thought. exxonmobil's president vowed to do whatever is necessary to clean up tens of thousands of gallons of spilled crude. earlier the company had downplayed estimates the oil had spread over dozens of miles in the famed waterway, insisting only a ten-mile area had been contaminated. here's your first look at some other news going on around america today.

a pennsylvania collector displayed a rare copy of the declaration of independence that he bought at a flea market for $100. good find there, bud. a curator determined it is one of a group of 19th century copies, the making of which actually damaged the original document. its wooden frame was made from beams from independence hall. a group of california chefs think they've added some sizzle to the guinness world record books with their creation of a super-sized burger. this doesn't even look tasty. the ten-person crew cooked the sandwich on a mammoth grill, filming the patty over every hour, with the bun and all the fixings. the burger weighed 177 pounds, close to 200 pounds more than the current record holder. and finally in utah summer looked a lot like winter. a flood of bikini top and bathing suit-wearing skiers hit the slopes on independence day.

the extended ski season is the result of record-breaking snowfall that's going to keep slopes open well into july. and now for a look at your national weather. we turn to meteorologist bill karins. good morning to you bill. >> that seems so wrong on so many levels. >> better to keep the shirt on sometimes. >> i would say it's wrong to have the snow, not the pictures or the video that we have. >> that's a lesson to live by sometimes. >> skiing and -- yeah, bathing suits. interesting. well, good morn, everyone. hope you had a wonderful holiday. it was a hot fourth of july weekend. it was a hot fourth of july. yesterday, most areas of the country were in the 90s. if not, you were in the upper 80s. the nation's capitol was 91. phoenix, 104. that's expected. even up to the north, minneapolis hit 90 degrees. look at our friends in denver, 99. that's hot stuff for colorado. today's going to be similar.

we're going to see showers and storms. even at this hour, temperatures are very warm. we're 78 to start your morning at minneapolis and d.c. when you start without the sunshine, you're going to get up to 80s, 90s. it's typical summer weather. it's not going to be too dramatic or too washed out. the best chance, northern iowa, nebraska, that's where our cold front is going to spark showers and storms all day today and continue tonight. as far as the hot weather goes that continues in texas up to oklahoma. high pressure along the gulf is going to continue to keep you dry and also on the steamy side. as far as the wet weather, we're seeing the worst of it from watertown and brookings. here in minneapolis it's dying auchlt i would take an umbrella, though, if you're leaving the door. as far as the forecast for

today, you notice the heat continues day after day. it's not record-breaking. it's typical to be in the hundreds in dallas. it's just that we haven't seen rain. it's going to be hot in places like boston and new york city. newark at 90, d.c. at 91. that's pretty steamy. tomorrow we'll do it all over again. new york will be one of the warmer areas at 92. the bottom line is, lynn, we're in what the weather people call the summer doldrums. it's kind of hot and steamy. if you're lucky, you'll get a downpour. >> thanks so much. back to work on wall street. the nextet possible distraction for traders. how is business going at the vatican? your "first look" headlines are straight ahead. the captain is back. two bizarre walk-off and you think you eight a lot of hot

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quick back to "first look" this morning. dominic strauss-kahn is looking at different charges. if she files charges, he plans to respond with a slander complaint. he's already facing a sexual assault case in new york, although that case has been jeopardized by questions about the accuser. in mexico officials are searching for seven missing american touristses who boat capsized during stormy weather. one american has been confirmed dead. 19 other tourists and 16 crew members were rescued. yesterday in canada, england's prince william and wife catherine took part in a dragon boat race while on their

first official overseas trip. the prince also piloted a helicopter during a military training exercise. and in mexico, police say a woman was caught trying to sneak her common-law husband out of a prison in a suitcase. we've got a picture of it. the unusual breakout attempt after a conjugal visit. she has since been arrested. now here's a look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 12,582. the s&p add 19 points the nasdaq rose 42. taking a look at overseas trading this morning, in tokyo the nikkei was up 7 points but in hong kong the hang seng lost 22. we can expect light mid summer volume this week on wall street where the markets will resume business on a five-day winning streak. many traders will be vacationing but working investors seeking

incentive need look no further than monday's market results around the rest of the world. ed on-on-the strength of last week's big rally. they lead the way lead by shanghai. the dollar was broadly steady against most major currency. crude has reduced the demand for bonds with yields on 10-year notes yielding their highest point in almost two months. after climbing to its highest point in nearly a month the euro tumbled after warning on monday from standard & poor's that greece would likely be in default if it followed a plan pushed by banks. many on wall street are starting to focus on debt ceiling negotiations in washington as a possible market distraction that could take the wind out of doesn't rally's

sails. the longer the stretch, the higher the uncertainty among traders and the higher the potential for vol a t-shirt. data for the week starts off later this morning with factory orders. >> and finally good and bad news for the pope. the vatican returned a profit last year after three years in the red, however, donations from the faithful fell by nearly $15 million or 18%. well, now in news this morning when it cop comes to chips and fries, if you can't eat just one, researchers know why. turns out fatty foods trigger the production of chemicals much like those found in mann. fats release those marijuana-like chemicals, all pushing the same message, eat, eat, and eat some more. for more information on this and other health stories you can check out the health page at msnbc.com. to losses in baseball that

no doubt kept their losing managers gritting their teeth all neat and derek jeter returns. plus, it's become the fourth of july athletic competition. the coney island hot dog-eating contest. something to make you sick to your stomach this morning. your first look at sports is straight ahead. you're watching "first look" on msnbc. le for dentists, the choice is clear. fact is, more dental professionals brush with an oral-b toothbrush than any other brush. trust the brush more dentists and hygienists use, oral-b.

welcome back to "first look." i'm lynn berry. in sports it's only appropriate the baseball's yankees welcome

back their captain from injury on fourth of adjustment here's nbc's bill seward. >> good morning to you. the yankees' derek jeter resumed his pursuit toward 3,000 hits. a slow rooter. jeter safe at first but it was ruled an error. he was 0 for 4. austin kearns, he was slumping all season. a three-run shot. indians went on to win, 6-3. to our nation's capital. c cubs tied it. jason wirth comes home on a wild pitch. from a wild pitch to game-ending balk, royals and white sox tied it in fourth. aaron crow steps off the hill. that's balk. hate to lose like that. chicago won with a 5-4 balk-off. how about some defense, the

reds' jay bruce with a shot. you'll get nothing and like it. rob bruce with a sure homer. cardinals go on to win it, 1-0. to florida, vance worley, off his glorchlt gets worley at first. mr. average 6'4" out. >> and finally, get ready for some rapid forced eating. the 96th national hot dog-eating contest. after ten minutes of inhaling dogs, joey chestnut is the wien wiener. he's the top dog. i'm sure he'll relish the moment for life. that's a look at sports. for another look at the weather, here's nbc's meteorologist bill karins, who's

always good with a hot dog pun. >> it's always difficult to add something with sauerkraut. let's take a look at this forecast. good morning, everyone. temperatures very warm. joining us in the washington area, down in virginia we had a lot of thunderstorms. this morning, everything is clearing out. you can see all the clouds, the white pushing off the coast. that means the front is-off shore. so it's less hue mitt, but it hasn't dropped the temperatures. with full sunshine, it's going to be a hot day in the sun. in the shade it will probably feel oklahoma. in d.c. and maryland, mostly clouds. in new england, sunny and bright. probably a gorge is day in the cape cod, connecticut. it should be very enjoyable. i know you saw thunderstorms yesterday. albany looks good. pittsburgh at 84. d.c. and philly, 91. that's a little steamy. you definitely want to get to the pool with the kids. tomorrow, very similar, but we

start to add a little more touch of humidity to the forecast. areas like buffalo and pittsburgh and d.c. tomorrow we're throwing in a 20 to 30% chance of afternoon storms but most areas will be dry but there's a slight chance. around the rest of the country, the wet areas today, if you're going to be flying or traveling, typical southeast thunderstorms. they're called pulse storms. they pop up and die. they usually last 20 to 30 minutes. alabama and up through areas of georgia and new orleans. florida doesn't look too bad today but you've got heavy rain going as you go throughout the middle of the week. minneapolis with 85 and thunderstorms early. there's nothing too extreme out there. just stay in the shade. >> thanks so much. well, a stunning dees dwors settlement, and which harry potter star has given up alcohol. and why in the wake of the break-up of her marriage, maria shriver may be looking at a world record payday. your first look at entertainment is straight ahead. you're watching "first look" on msnbc.

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welcome back to "first look." i'm lynn berry and it's time for your first look at entertainment news. mel gibson hasn't done anything subtle for the last few years, so why should his divorce be any different? gibson settled with wife robin for a staggering $450 million. 21-year-old harry potter star daniel radcliffe tells gk thanks to drinking his life went off the rails so he's given up drinking completely. he says he's lucky the pop rah

city never caught him at his worst. david beckham and his wife may not be american, but the fourth of july is very important for to them. they got married on the 4th and a spokesman announced they will be waiting a bit longer to have their daughter. >> and finally radaronline reports publishers are prepared to offer arnold schwarzenegger's soon-to-be ex, maria shriver, a record advance for a tell-all memoir. for a look into her life both as a kennedy and with the terminator, sources say shriver could earn more than the all-time record advance, bill clinton's $15 million. she's a kennedy. kennedy don't thinking to talk in those terms. what if arnold came out with his first. maybe she won't want to beat him to the punch. >> she's a classy lady. i don't think she'll want to air her dirty laundry. that's amazing. >> you wouldn't think the next president wouldn't do it either. >> that's true.

that's true. i don't know what kind of deal she would get. this is "first look" with msnbc. i'm lynn berry. stay with us. those aspiring to do his job during the fourth of july parade scene over the long weekend. some smiling and waving to voters in iowa, others doing it in new hampshire. the question is will the pup ported new cuts to medicare fly with his democratic friends in congress. meanwhile world markets will are down this morningings as standard & poor's warns even with the tough new plan to tackle the debt and with all the writing in the streets greece could still default. the question is what options are left for europe. and the only option left for joey chetnut is to take a long nap. after he sucked down 62 hot dogs in ten minutes to hold only his title as the world's most prolific hot dog eater. the question