this morning on "early today," digging deeper. republican senators press supreme court nominee sonia sotomayor for her views on abortion rights. fearing stand still. a massive tanker explodes and shuts down a major interstate near detroit. and the sixth time's the charm after a month of delays, the space shuttle "endeavour" charm after a month of delays, the space shuttle "endeavour" finally lifts off. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning, everyone. i'm dan kloeffler. and today we begin with taking no chances. her confirmation to the supreme court is all but assured and yet

judge sonia sotomayor largely side stepped a barrage of questioning yesterday on some of the nation's most controversial topics. nbc's steve handelsman reports. >> judge, it's good to see you back. >> reporter: as her senate hearing turned to the explosive issue of abortion, sonia sotomayor would not reveal her views, but told senators it is clear what the law is now. >> that a woman has a constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy in certain circumstances. >> reporter: did president obama make sure sotomayor's pro abortion rights before he nominated her to the supreme court? the white house says no. >> that is absolutely correct. i was asked no question by anyone, including the president, about my views on my specific legal issue. >> reporter: oklahoma republican tomko burn, a doctor who opposes abortion rights, pressed sotomayor. if doctors develop ways for babies to survive outside the womb at an earlier stage than is

now possible, should abortion restrictions be tightened? sotomayor refused to answer. >> i probably couldn't apply because i'm sure that situation might well arise before the court. >> reporter: democrats are showering sotomayor with praise. >> you have done nothing but to vindicate and reenforce the pride that so many people feel in you. >> reporter: some republicans are calling the nominee evasive. >> mottled, confusing, backtracking on issue after issue. >> reporter: but after three days of hears, other republicans admit sotomayor looks sure to be confirmed. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, capitol hill. after five delays, wednesday night was a go for the space shuttle "endeavour," finally launching into orbit. but the long-awaited launch didn't come without a hitch. minutes after liftoff, several pieces of foam knocked off and that collided with the orbiter.

meanwhile, nasa is now reviewing footage of that liftoff. cameras monitor the fuel tank show scuff marks left by the debris. so far officials say there is no need for heightened concern because of that. new concern of the cia now canceled programs to develop hit squads. cashed with killing al qaeda leaders overseas. associated press is report the secret program was terminated in 2004 by then cia director george tenet. it was reinstated a year looking by goss. resu ultimately, it was closed by leon panetta. he became aware of that program last month and entered a, quote, somewhat more operational phase. defending his decision,

dennis blair raised questions about the plan's, quote, effectiveness, maturity, and level of control. now here's a look at some other stories making news "early today" in america. a massive accident ungulfed a michigan highway in flames but spared the lives of the driver. unbelievable when you see this video. the cause of the crash unclear. it involved a gasoline tanker, a semi and a car. flames shot 200 feet in the air, collapsing the overpass. remarkably, all three drivers went to the hospital but with minor injuries. a high-speed pursuit in los angeles ended in a foot race there after pulling into oncoming traffic, the suspect crashed into the curve of an exit ramp and then ditched the car. he then continued to evade cops on foot, but eventually he ran out of options. . in maine, a roaring fire tore through a historic textile mill there. flames quickly swept through this old structure which was built in 1850. police are looking for two

teenagers, at least two teens, seen running from the building shortly after the fire started. for one unlucky oregon driver it was kind of some shades of back to the future. that movie. overturned on a bridge dumping its load onto the car next to it. finally, in los angeles, hot weather whether or not to stop a summer snow ball fight. a charity hosted christmas in july for 200 needy kids and imported 20 tons of snow. santa got a warm welcome. the givrinch, though, straight the dunk tank. here's nbc meteorologist bill karins with the weather channel forecast. good morning to you. >> who knew santa had good legs, dan? >> out in california it's all about keeping up with appearances. even though you can pack it on the rest of the year. >> let's talk a little bit about the forecast today on this

thursday. things have changed a little bit. that low humidity is gone. the warm front raced up the eastern seaboard. you'll notice it's a warm morning in most places, a lot warmer than we've been actually. we're watching the next little cold front slide into the east. showers and storms in the mountainous areas, appalachians and northern new england. but i think the humidity is the thing you'll notice that's changed today. the morning temperature is 75 in d.c., 72 in new york. it's a lot warmer than we've been. out ahead of the front we are going to see the warmth and the humidity. behind the front and along it you will see showers and storms. the high terrain of north carolina, tennessee, smoky empty range, showers for you and also up there by johnson city. as that front goes through into the humid air mass that's now in place over the northeast and upstate new york, pennsylvania, we could see severe storms today. also strong storms in the

southeast this afternoon. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. charlotte, north carolina, good chance of afternoon storms today. 89 for your temperature. in pittsburgh, that front should clear out during the day. so hopefully you'll get dry weather and nice sunshine this afternoon. and, dan, if new york city, hits 85 today, which it should, it will be the warmest day of the summer. that's unbelievable. >> we're not going to complain. we really have been very lucky. if it continues, though, bill, be on the lookout. text stocks soar, optimism on the street. your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. plus, the new allegations, some from very close to home say her lover and best friend carried on an inappropriate relationship while she lay dying. also, pedro martinez puts on a new jersey unretirement

deadline and fenway park getting ready to host some hockey. you're watching "early today."

good morning and welcome back to "early today," everyone. i'm dan kloeffler. and here are some of your top headlines this thursday morning. a routine traffic stop quickly turned deadly. after being pulled over a driver tried to speed away from the situation, heading down the wrong way from a one-way street, striking two guards and crashing into a police cruiser. police shot the man to death when he got out of the car with a handgun and he refused to surrender. a retired astronaut is administrator now of nasa. bolden, who has flown into space four times, will be the agency's first african-american administrator. after special election in california, judy choou has

become the first chinese woman elected to congress. she actually defeated her own cousin, 62% of the vote. after more than three decades, the nation's tallest building, of course the chicago sears tower, will no longer be known by that name. starting tomorrow, the sky scraper once home to sears and roebuck will be known as the willis tower after the insurance company that purchased the rights for the 110-story building. now, here's an early look how wall street will kick off the day today. the dow opens 8,616 after zooming up to 256 points wednesday. the s&p jumped 26. the nasdaq shot up as well, 63 points. taking a look at overseas trading the the nikkei rose 74 points and the hang seng gained 103 points. one of those was better than expected earnings from intel.

for more on that and all your early business headlines we turn to louisa bojesen at the london headquarters of cnbc. good morning, louisa. >> reporter: good morning, dan. a broad rally. the best close in some nine months. we continue to watch tech with earnings expected from ibm and google. intel numbers stronger than expected in the second quarter and they expect an even better performance in the current quarter. hopes that banks will report better than expected quarterly reports. my colleague in the u.s. for cnbc has been reporting his source close to cit is saying they are including a bankruptcy filing as early as tomorrow. u.s. businesses could have widespread consequences if they do face bankruptcy. u.s. credit card companies, say me adults and delinquencies were

lower in june. the other side of the argument, of course, is it's just a seasonal trend. fed upgraded its expectations on the u.s. economy. a pace between 1% and 1.5%. at the same time, though, the number of foreclosures has risen in the u.s. by 15% in the first half of 2009. that means that 1 in every 380 u.s. homes received one foreclosure related notice during the month of june. filings rose 33% in june compared to june of last year. according to trip adviser, we were talking about this recently, paris is the most overrated city in europe, remains to be that because tourists say it's expensive and they say they're not that friendly. i beg to differ. they say smile when people walk by and have set up stands at very popular places with smile

ambassadors. >> always smiling with you, louisa, thank you. a huge sports morning, including news from golf, cycling, football and hockey. plus, just because the major leaguers took the night off, doesn't mean we don't have a home run for you. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. heat wave out west and storms in the east. your regional forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning, everyone. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, one day after the major league all-star game, some minor leaguers took a rare turn in the spotlight trying to prove they are ready for the big show. here's nbc's mario see lease with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. tuesday night was all about the big leaguers. last night the future stars took center stage at the aaa all-star game in portland. the famous san diego chicken and his leg chicks crossing the road to watch the action. international league, pacific coast league, third inning, cincinnati reds stubbed unloading a two-run homer off the ivy-covered wall. to the sixth. watch this. charlie haeger on the mound. that knuckleball doesn't fool

eric. all the way to 18th street. two-run shot. even the pitcher shocked at that one. international league wins the aaa all-star game. more baseball, phillies introduced martinez yes, sir. signed a one-year, $1 million deal. pedestrian thrills and spills during the tour de france. a tumble. he'll be okay. as for lance armstrong, he's still in third place, eight seconds behind overall leader of italy. he's won four stages on this year's tour. football, ravens signed terrell sludge to a six-year $63 million deal, making him the highest paid linebacker in nfl history. and the brett favre saga will soon be over. he will decide by july 30th whether or not to return to football with the minnesota vikings. a strange sight on new year's

day as fenway park will freeze over. they will move into the historic ballpark. it will be the third annual winter classic. and in golf, first round of the british open under way in scotland. harrington is the two-time defending champion. that's your look at sports on "early today." i'm mario solis. thank you, mario. which chick flick character is returning to the big screen? your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus, ever stop and think at the gym, what am i getting out of this? well, this woman would tell you a longer life. you're watching early today. :ea.

welcome back on this thursday morning. severe weather possible today from new york city just north of philadelphia, scranton, albany, banton, syracuse, burlington, vermont. damaging winds likely with these storms. nashville, atlanta, tallahassee, charlotte. well, if you're watching us on weyi nbc 25, saginaw, michigan, see the world war i posters that galvanized men, women and resources around the war effort at the saginaw art museum exhibit, red, white, and you! >> thank you, bill. appreciate it. nous here's an early look at

this morning's headlines in entertainment. how appropriate that mid thit should ruf to be a magical hour for harry potter. it raked in $22 million from opening midnight screenings not only a top this year's biggest hit, the transformers, but broke the all-time midnight screening record set by the dark knight last summer. rest for ryan o'neal and a lana stewart strongly deny allegations, that's including those being made by his estranged son griffin, that the two began a love affair in the final months of farrah fawcett's wife. 72-year-old screen icon robert redford married his long-time companion last weekend in germany. bridge it jones is returning to the screen. renee zellweger signed up for a third film. and the economy is so bad that chicago o'hare cut $4 million

off the asking price for her malibu estate. now it's a steal at 41 million bucks. this comes to us from orlando, florida where in nearby seminole county, there's a woman who will put you shame this morning if you complain about getting your aching bones out of bed. aunt francis, as her friends and family call her, just turned 108 years old. but that doesn't stop her from being active. she hits the exercise room four times a week. this year for her birthday she got a free lifetime membership from the gym. 108. she gets up and goes to the gym four times a week. what is our excuse? >> three times more than me. >> on a good week. i'm dan kloeffler. this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. welcome back to cooking with delilah.

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[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- the morning. >> thank you for joining us for 11 news today. >> we have a big story in your travel reports in just a minute. we will get a check the forecast first. >> more humidity.

>> yes. it is going to be near 90 degrees. that is a contrast from what we have seen. we have the potential to see some spotty showers and storms this morning. we have a thin line of showers just to our west. the stronger storms are to our south. as in the that the current temperatures, is setting up degrees downtown. 73 degrees a b.w.i. there is at the slightest chance of some isolated storms. winds are out of the southwest. it does not have a lot of punch. it is not going to do much. >> traffic is up paper most of >> traffic is up paper most of the