good morning. high-stakes push. despite growing opposition from both republicans and democrats, president obama gets set to make his case for health care reform in a prime-time appearance. is this the issue that will make or break his presidency? more questions. investigators ask for another interview with the doctor who was with michael jackson when he died. this morning, the response from dr. conrad murray's attorney, amid new reports of the pop star's bizarre behavior and demands in the weeks before his death. and daring to dream. singing sensation susan boyle speaks for the first time about her sudden rise to fame, and how it led to five days in a mental health clinic. >> some people are exhausted. >> meredith's exclusive interview today, wednesday, july >> meredith's exclusive interview today, wednesday, july 22nd, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

and good morning. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> you really are. how are you? >> good to see you. how was your weekend? >> very nice. very nice. nice to have you back. >> good to be back. >> when you left the president was talking health care reform. he is still talking reform. it's becoming a real test for his administration. >> everywhere he goes this is the subject he's talking about. for the better part of a week now, of course he focused on this with your interview with him there at the white house earlier in the week. tonight he's going to address the nation again on this subject, as more and more people are saying that his deadline, the one that he set for passing reform is probably unattainable. we'll have more on that in a moment and talk with the republican senator who suggests that defeat on health care could break this presidency. >> also ahead, the latest on the accident and rescue in milwaukee that has everyone talking.

the drama captured on home video as a mother and her two children were pulled from a burning suv. we're going to hear the emotional thank you from the father of those children to the heroes of that day. >> plus, on a much, much lighter note we're going to talk about skinny jeans. they make a lot of people look good, but are they also raising health concerns? what every wearer or potential wearer needs to know. and then, meredith we've got your exclusive interview with susan boyle. >> yeah. i had a great time with her. we talked about everything to what made her audition for "britain's got talent" to her skyrocketing success in the new album she's been working on and also some of the problems she encountered along the way. >> is she in a good place, mentally? >> she seems to me to be in a great place. >> a lot of people concerned about her. let's begin with president obama's push for health care reform. one that is proving to be kind of a tough sell. nbc's savannah guthrie is at the white house. savannah, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. in the fight of his presidency, mr. obama is pulling out every tool in the presidential

arsenal, interviews, a town hall tomorrow, and tonight a prime-time news conference here at the white house. >> good afternoon, everybody. >> reporter: from the rose garden, the president accentuated the positive. >> make no mistake, we are closer than ever before to the reform that the american people need, and we're going to get the job done. >> reporter: but on capitol hill, a day of intense negotiations behind closed doors. congress consumed with the key questions. how to pay for reform. the president summoned house democrats to the white house tuesday, including conservative so-called blue dog members, who've been pushing back on their party's plans for new taxes on the wealthy. >> there's a number of potential cost-cutting measures which i think the american people expect before we consider any kind of new revenue. >> reporter: the senate has reported some progress on a bipartisan health care deal. but key democrats see the president's august deadline to pass a bill slipping. >> i know you all are very eager

to have a deadline. i think it's not useful way to proceed. >> reporter: with the president's poll numbers sliding, republicans sense an opportunity. >> we are at a crossroads. this administration, this president has no one else to blame. >> mr. president, it's time to scrap this bill. >> reporter: the president has been on a public relations blitz. tonight, a presidential news conference. his fifth since taking office. but the white house press secretary laughed off any concerns the president is overexposed. >> i think it's important that the president continues to remind the american people what's at stake, what's in it for them. that the status quo is unacceptable. i don't think he can probably say that enough. >> thank you, everybody. >> reporter: white house aides acknowledge that congress probably won't meet the august deadline, but the president says he wants to keep the pressure on. matt? >> all right, savannah, thanks very much.

nbc news will have president obama's news conference tonight eight 8:00 p.m., 7:00 central time right here on nbc. republican senator jim demint of south carolina has been an outspoken critic of president obama's health care reform plans. he'd also the author of "saving freedom: we can stop america's slide into socialism." senator demint, good to have you with us. >> good to be with you. >> there are real differences of opinion in terms of how to achieve health care reform in this country and how to get insurance to the some 50 million people who don't have it. but over the past couple of days, i don't have to tell you, you've ignited a firestorm, and people are saying that are playing pure politics with this issue. how do you respond? >> well, it has nothing to do with politics or certainly not personal. but the president's policies have not matched up to his promises so far. we saw that in this giant stimulus, his trillion dollar stimulus that has stimulated the government, but really cost american jobs, and loaded lots of debt on top of future

generations. >> but sticking to health care reform, let me give you your own words here, you were addressing the group conservatives for patients rights about the health care debate and you said quote, if we're able to stop obama on this, it will be his waterloo, it will break him. now are you rallying conservatives to the cause of health care reform? or are you rallying conservatives to the cause of breaking a president? >> oh, we need to put the brakes on this president. he's been on a spending spree since he took office. and we need health care reform. unfortunately, when the president was in the senate, i probably offered more health care reform proposals than anyone in the senate. and the president voted against every proposal that would have made health insurance more available and more affordable to people. his goal seems to be a government takeover, not making insurance more available. so i do think we need to stop the president on this. we need to stop his policy, because if we allow him to continue to ram things through congress before we again eat a chance to read them, matt, i

just brought one of the bills this morning. i mean, if you look at this bill, it's one of the three bills that we're going to have to look at. >> it's a complicated issue. there are a lot of details in that bill. >> well why do we need to pass it in two weeks before we go home? >> that's a good question. and i'm going to get to that in a second. but the words you chose were very specific. it could be his waterloo, it could break this president. i guess the obvious question is, it wouldn't break your heart if you break this president, would it? >> well, again, it's not personal. but we've got to stop his policies, matt. the policies are not matching up to the promises. they're loading trillions of dollars of debt onto the american people. and the thing is we need real health care reform. i've introduced proposals that would help individuals own their own health insurance policies if they don't get it at work. >> right. >> a lot of ways to do this without a government takeover. >> and i read some of your plan. you wrote it in an op-ed, and i did read that, and would encourage people to go see that. is the deadline dead, senator? >> it appears to be. and i hope it is. and that's what i mean, the

senate is supposed to be the body that deliberates and debates and actually reads bills. you know, i hear that more than anything else, as i go around the country. why don't you guys read the bills before you pass them? there are a lot of things in these bills that are going to alarm the american people. i'm affray the president knows that. he wants to push it through before we're able to take a look at what's really in it. and that shouldn't happen in congress. this doesn't take effect for four years, matt. we don't need to pass it in two weeks. it's 20% of the american economy. it's one of the most personal issues that we deal with as americans. the government shouldn't take it over. and we shouldn't pass a bill in two weeks. >> senator jim deminute, thanks for joining us this morning. we appreciate your time. >> now let's get a check of the rest of the top stories from ann curry at the news desk. good morning, ann. >> good morning, meredith and matt. good morning, everybody. also in the news this morning, secretary of state hillary clinton is sending what she hopes is a clear message to iran. speaking in thailand this morning she said iran should think carefully about its nuclear ambitions, and she said,

if iran develops a nuclear weapon, the u.s. has a plan to prevent iranian domination in the middle east. president obama meets with iraq's prime minister nuri al maliki today to talk about the road ahead for iraq. at the same time more violence rocked iraq on tuesday. at least three bombings there killed more than 20 people. prominent harvard scholar henry louis gates jr. says that he wants an apology from a white police officer who arrested him last week, after gates, an african-american, forced his way into his own home after having trouble with the lock in cambridge, massachusetts. police arrested him after they say gates yelled at an officer and accused him of racial bias. prosecutors later dropped the charges against the professor and the city of cambridge calls the incident regrettable and unfortunate. today, fed chairman ben bernanke returns for more testimony on capitol hill after saying on tuesday that the u.s. economy is stabilizing, but that the recovery will be slow. he also said the fed needs to

keep interest rates down. his comments helped send the dow higher on tuesday. cnbc's melissa lee is at the new york stock exchange meantime today. and melissa, what should investors be watching today? >> good morning to you, ann. all eyes are on apple computer today. apple posting quarterly earnings yesterday, topping analyst's expectations. posting its best non-holiday quarter ever, selling 5.2 million iphones. still investors are cautious because of all the earnings ahead. about a third of the s&p 500 will report this week. and that will really hold the key as to whether the markets can continue to go higher. the dow is on its longest winning streak in two years. the nasdaq on its longest streak in 12. ann? >> all right, melissa lee this morning, thanks. take a look at this, a rare, total, solar eclipse turned the sky dark over parts of asia today. lasting more than six minutes, it is the longest solar eclipse that will occur in this century. the next one won't happen until 2132. it is now 7:10. let's go back to matt, meredith

and al. >> cool stuff. >> all right. >> do you know what the weather is in africa today? >> i don't. >> in our neck of the woods, we have a chance of seeing showers and storms pop up later this afternoon. temperatures are warmer today, and to the mid-80's. a lot stickier out there.

humidity will stay with us all weekend long. >> in the next half hour, forecast for meredith's other two children. >> i hate you. anyway. i'm going to proceed. now to the unprecedented deal in california to close the state's $26 billion budget gap. a plan that will cut billions from education spending and health care, and give early release to thousands of prison inmates. could it be a sign of things to come in your own state? we're going to hear from california governor arnold schwarzenegger in a moment. first here's nbc's miguel almaguer. good morning to you. >> reporter: meredith, good morning.

if the budget compromise holds, and many expect it to, we could have a vote here at the state capitol has early as tomorrow. it would end a stalemate that began months ago. a done deal. that's what california's top legislators say about the state budget. >> it's like a suspense movie. >> reporter: it played out more like a long drama, complete with midnight negotiations and an ending long overdue. facing a $26 billion budget deficit, california was so broke, it began issuing ious. there were also worries the state would go insolvent. massive cuts were needed to stop california's fiscal bleeding. on twitter the government used his own brand of humor to solicit ideas to raise money. >> just want to say thanks very much for all the ideas you're giving me. why not just sign the cards, and sell it for more money. that's exactly what we're going to do. >> our governor has really been exhibiting a tin ear. there still is a difference, although very blurry, between

show biz, and government. and he may have crossed it with that twitter video. >> reporter: the plan to pull california out of the red includes cuts across the board. $1.3 billion from health care. more than half a billion from welfare. another $1.2 billion from corrections, which could allow inmates out early. the biggest cut comes from education. and it's not just the young, but also the old. san diego's hope adult day-care center will eliminate meals and health care service two days per week. the state will also withhold much-needed money earmarked for counties and cities whose leaders vow to fight back. >> we will see if legally feasible. >> reporter: and to generate more cash, plans call to expand oil drilling near santa barbara's coastline. a clear view of california's desperate economic times. as lawmakers meet behind closed

doors today, an interesting footnote, some key republican leaders say they could torpedo this budget plan. they're unhappy with cuts that could release some 27,000 inmates out of prison early. expect some serious political wrangling over the next 24 hours. >> i bet. miguel almaguer, thank you very much. nbc's lester holt spoke with governor schwarzenegger on tuesday. >> good morning to you. along with those big cuts, california is actually going to be borrowing money from cities and towns which critics say only drops the crisis squarely into the laps of local governments. the governor admits the choices were hard but says the new deal gives california a chance to move forward. >> well i think that everyone will recognize that it was a very difficult budget, and a lot of decisions to be made in this budget we're not excited about, because whenever you have a shortfall of $26 billion you have to make some severe cuts, and no one wants to make cuts to some of the programs, especially

when it comes to education. but at the same time, we've also got some great reforms because of the difficult times. so i think it is a great victory for everybody in california to really streamline government. >> but los angeles, among others, are contemplating legal action. because again they're say you're taking money that was going to go their way. so if we see cities eventually have to raise taxes, aren't we really in the same place? >> well, not really. braus i think that we have taken care of that. we believe very strongly that the city has been taken care of. yes, we are borrowing money from them and taking money from transportation and redevelopment money, but they can again borrow against that because they know they're going to get the money back to them. this is an emergency. we are in a fiscal crisis, in an economic crisis. and we did things that needed to be done to be responsible. >> i want to ask you about quality of life in california. it's not just me asking, companies will be asking, do we

want to move to a state that's just taken $6 billion from k through 12 education. $3 billion from universities. $1.2 billion from its corrections, its prisons. how do you make the case that california is a good place to do business when you have those kinds of cuts? >> there's no other state that people from around the world and also from around this country want to come to rather than california. i think that people know that it's not just california. you go to neighboring states, like arizona or oregon or you go up to washington state, or any other state, everyone is struggling right now. so we just have to go and be fiscally responsible rather than just kicking the can down the road. >> you mention the devil's in the details. one of the details that's been talked about a lot over the last several weeks is what's going to happen to the present system? the proposed cuts, $1.2 billion in the prison system. it has not been explained how those cuts are going to be made. law enforcement groups think to reach that, as many as 19,000

convicted prisoners are going to have to be released. is that an accurate figure? >> well, it could be. we don't know exactly the number. but i mean, there will be some released. and we will have also other reforms. but let me tell you one thing, i think that the people of california know me well enough that public safety is our number one priority, and no matter what we do, we always will make sure that the neighborhoods are safe and that the kids are safe and that everyone is safe out there. because safety is a top priority for all of us. >> governor you've mentioned several times here that california is not alone. in fact other states are having their own budget crises right now. but what do you say to those who say what's happening in california is a harbinger to what the country, the federal government may face at some point? >> well, you know, the bottom line is i think that we here in california will be addressing the situation. we reduced spending because there's revenues coming in. and i think that's very important, also, on the federal level. so many times we hear stories about, you know, the federal

government maybe has to bail out california. but the fact of the matter is, maybe california has to bail out the federal government the way things are going. >> governor schwarzenegger, the real culprit in this is the economy. until it starts to turn around he says californians are still not out of the woods. much like the rest of the nation. >> lester, thank you very much. now to the latest on a story we first brought you on monday morning. a mother and two children trapped inside a burning suv. happened in milwaukee, wisconsin, as bystanders raced to save them, it was an intense, graphic scene that was caught on camera. nbc's kevin tibbles has more. >> reporter: the grateful father of young d.j. harper wanted to thank those who saved his son's life. >> first, i want to take a minute to thank the firefighters and all the brave citizens that helped get my son out of the vehicle. >> reporter: it was an horrific inferno, the suv carrying 4-year-old d.j., his mother and 2-year-old sister flipped and

burned on the streets of milwaukee sunday night. >> did someone call 911? >> reporter: neighbors and two offduty milwaukee firefighters who were brothers rushed to the scene. the mother and little girl were pulled free. 4-year-old d.j., strapped in his booster seat, was trapped. until the brothers, risking their own lives, cut him loose. >> five, ten seconds made a difference between this boy living and this boy dying. >> reporter: the brothers then doused the boy's flaming clothes with a neighbor's garden hose but d.j. suffered burns to 20% of his body and remains in serious condition in a milwaukee hospital. >> one of the main states of early burn resuscitation is to stop the byrning. and so they put him on the ground and smothered out the burns, which was very appropriate. >> reporter: monday on "today," the brothers john and joel described the fiery scene that faced them. >> it was horrific. you know, he had the car was engulfed in flames. and the child was just, you know, inside there screaming. and all you could -- i mean all i could see was that child's face.

>> and while each brother suffered burns, their bravery is now rewarded, with heartfelt thanks from d.j.'s family. >> there's no words, really, that can express how grateful i am. >> reporter: the boy's father told of his family's grief and gratitude. >> i tried to hold it together. it's my little boy. and i just want to thank everybody, everybody, the citizens of milwaukee, for helping us. it's just a wonderful -- angels all around us. >> reporter: angels who came together on a sunday evening in milwaukee to save a boy's life. for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> incredible, incredible story. still to come, meredith has an exclusive interview with susan boyle. she's speaking out for the first time about how overwhelming her sudden rise to fame has been. we'll hear from her. but first on a wednesday morning, this is "today" on nbc.

still ahead, the strange habits and demands from michael jackson in the weeks before he died. >> also ahead, are those skinny jeans putting your health at risk?

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. mayor sheila dixon is defending city police officers decision to arrest three children under the age of 12, although she says she thinks the situation could have been handled a different way. she says that the officers were only following protocol. parents said that the boys will take part in a diversionary program that will make sure their records stay clean. let's check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> a few delays developing, and an accident still in place at pulaski highway.

heads up on that. looking at normal delays on southbound 95. but of an ally on the north side of the above par for. 57 mi. as per hour at liberty. not doing all that bad this morning. dry times at 11 minutes and then northeast side. 10-minute ride on southbound 95. yes, we do have a bit of a lake, but not all that bad. live view of liberty, we are backing down pretty heavily. >> low-level clouds out there. invariably cloudy day. a little bite in the sun later on. 70 at b.w.i. marshall. we will search under more humid conditions. 86 degrees for the forecast high. slight chance of seeing some pop-up afternoon showers and

thunderstorms. here's a look at the seven-day forecast. best shot of showers tomorrow >> we will see you back here in 25 minutes.

7:30 now on this wednesday morning. 22nd of july, 2009. we've got a great group of folks up and out early in rockefeller plaza. going to hang out with our pals in just a few minutes. inside studio 1a, i'm meredith vieira, alongside matt lauer. and just ahead, the latest on the investigation into michael jackson's death. the coroner's office now wants to talk with jackson's personal doctor who was with him at the time of his death for a third time. we'll have more on that and reports of some unusual demands that the king of pop was reportedly making in his final days. >> also ahead, how to turn a cl clunker into cash. this week the government begins offering money for your old car if you're willing to buy a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. coming up, what it takes to qualify, how to profit from what they're calling the cash for clunkers program. and there are a lot of stipulations. we're going to run through a list of those. >> and later, are those skinny

jeans that so many people love actually bad for your health? the concern being raised by some doctors. >> but first let's begin with the latest on the michael jackson case. nbc's jeff rossen is in los angeles where he's been covering that story. jeff, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. this is a new turn in the case, and we have now confirmed it with his spokesperson. officials want to speak with dr. conrad murray again. this would be, as you mentioned, his third interview since michael jackson died. and that's not all. investigators also want more of his medical records. when michael jackson died inside his mansion, his cardiologist, dr. conrad murray, was with him. murray has already handed over medical records. but now his spokesperson confirms investigators are asking for more records. and they want to interview him again, too. police detectives have already interviewed him twice. in a statement overnight, his lawyer said the coroner wants to clear up the cause of death. we share that goal. we don't have access to the most important information in this

case, the toxicology report. we're still in the dark like everybody else. he should not be a target, he said, of criminal charges. dr. murray was the last doctor standing when michael jackson died, and it seems all the fury is directed toward him. there's continuing confusion over michael jackson's final resting place. by most media accounts, after the memorial service, his body was taken to forest lawn funeral home to be stored. but not buried. and there's a reason. several friends tell nbc news there's disagreement inside the family. jermaine just spoke about it on french television. >> i was against my brother being put in forest lawn is the place. i'm not sure if he's in mr. gordy's crypt or whatever it is. but i was totally against that. i fought to get him at neverland. it's his work. it's his imagination. >> this is a really large family, and they all have their own agendas.

some of them are superstars in their own right. and some of them really need the michael jackson name in order to be successful. and their financial success is what they're putting first. and that's why everything is taking so long to come out. >> reporter: we're also learning more about michael jackson's private moments. from a "rolling stone" cover story due out friday, we got an exclusive first look. the magazine reports jackson was excited about his comeback concert, but has bizarre demands. >> 50 shows, he had two requirements. the first one was that he would have an english manor in the countryside with horses and rolling hills where his kids could play. and the second one was that at the end of the tour, or the end of the show, he would be put in the guinness book of world records for some sort of accomplishment. and there would be a big ceremony. >> reporter: unclear what the guinness record would have been, rolling stone reports during that time, jackson's insomnia turned into a nearly obsessive overnight shopping habit on ebay. >> he apparently had all these

different accounts. and he would use his employees to help him acquire stuff. and he was just buying stuff. >> reporter: and then there's michael jackson's ego, trying to one-up another music legend. prince, who performed 21 shows at london's o-2 arena in 2007. not to be outdone, jackson ultimately booked 50 shows, just to beat him. >> i feel like, you know, one of the misunderstandings about michael jackson is that he was this sort of like, you know, feeble, frail creature that didn't really engage with his people. but he was, you know, very interested in being powerful, and being manipulative, and you know, he had his enemies. >> reporter: one other note about those overnight developments, doctor murray's lawyer now says his client's life has been turned upside down by these accusations. dr. murray, he says, has to walk around with a bodyguard 24/7 and he can't even go to work because he is harassed wherever he goes.

>> all right, jeff rossen in los angeles. jeff, thank you very much. and now let's head outside for another check of the weather from al. >> thanks so much, meredith. and we've got these lovely folks, and beautiful babibi

>> we are going to welcome back the humidity today. slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, the top of variety, this afternoon. a high of 86 in central maryland. not a bad it each day. for tomorrow, 86, and that's your latest weather. meredith? >> yeah. thanks, al. now to our exclusive interview with susan boyle. just a few months ago she was an

anonymous, simple woman who loved taking care of her cat pebbles and the elderly members of her church. but oh, how quickly things can change. ♪ i dreamed a dream in time gone by ♪ >> reporter: susan boyle. ♪ i dreamed of love that never dies ♪ >> reporter: from anonymity to superstardom. ♪ >> reporter: thanks to the internet and youtube, susan boyle's voice was heard around the world. within days her 90-second clip of "i dreamed a dream" had been viewed 20 million times. >> easily the hottest piece of video on the web, in the world. >> now susan boyle is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. >> there is no controversy when it comes to susan boyle and her golden voice. >> reporter: when susan boyle took the stage on the popular british talent show, the judges rolled their eyes. the audience laughed at her.

but no one was laughing when she began to sing. ♪ i dreamed that love would never die ♪ >> reporter: this unexpected, unlikely star, quite simply brought the house down, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the world. >> somebody very unlikely in the shape of susan, who by her own admission is, you know, never going to win a beauty pageant. she's not a size zero, age 19, singing some sweet pop song. she's a 48-year-old lady, from a tiny village in scotland. >> reporter: in an instant, the world fell in love with susan boyle. and her golden voice. i caught up with susan boyle in london, where she's been recording her first album. i'm one of those millions of people that fell in love with you in mid-april when i heard you sing "i dreamed a dream." you look gorgeous. >> thank you very much. >> i'm loving the hair.

it's a little bit different. a little bit of a slight makeover? >> a slight one. you know, i brush up quite well. >> you do brush up very, very well. the journey you have been on, everybody around the world suddenly saying who is this susan boyle? are you having a good time? >> it's just been unbelievable. it's indescribable. it's a bit like popping out of obscurity. >> reporter: obscurity is right. three months ago, susan boyle was living with her cat pebbles and performing in her church. but susan spent most of her adult life caring for her mother bridget who passed away two years ago. you spent a lot of your adult life taking care of mom. >> i did, uh-huh. >> reporter: if she was here now, what do you think she would say to you? >> keep going. >> reporter: keep going? >> keep going, you're doing really well. >> reporter: why do you think she has so much confidence in you? >> i was her little girl. >> reporter: you were the baby of the family? >> the baby, yeah. forget that. but i have to get up there and

prove to everybody that i could do it. so i applied for "britain's got talent." >> reporter: and the rest of the world knows, actually. so when you walked out on that stage and the audience responded the way that they did, it was, i guess, a little bit of snickering, is that fair to say? >> well, never judge a book by the cover. >> reporter: susan boyle has become somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon. with a book deal in the works and multiple movie offers and now there's even a susan boyle doll. you know how you know when you've really made it? when they have a doll in your likeness. i just so happened to have the susan boyle doll. here, take a look. >> ♪ isn't she lovely isn't she beautiful ♪ ♪ isn't she lovely isn't she wonderful ♪ >> reporter: for the first time, susan boyle describes just how overwhelming being thrust into the spotlight can be.

>> it was like a demolition ball. >> reporter: it felt like a demolition ball? >> the impact. like a demolition ball. >> reporter: it's been some roller coaster ride for susan. from the highs of superstardom to the lows of brutal headlines and public outbursts, to talk that she was backing out of the talent show. >> she was completely and utterly exhausted. she wasn't having some crack-up as people said, she wasn't boiling over. >> it was very hard. you've got an audience to please. you go on. you have to. >> reporter: the fast track to celebrity and the media frenzy that goes along with it began taking its toll on susan. she spent five days at the priory mental health clinic where she was treated for exhaustion. and though there was a little rough spot, a little bit draining obviously physically and emotionally. spent a few days in a clinic. was that good to get away from the craziness? >> oh, i think it was necessary at the time. i needed to get away.

>> reporter: i was there the night of the finale. it was very, very exciting. you looked beautiful. but you didn't win. diversity won that night, their night. was that a difficult experience for you, susan? >> not at all. because actually they're a very good act. a great bunch of guys. and the best people won. >> reporter: but it wasn't long before susan was back on track. doing the live tour of "britain's got talent." and now with the help of simon cowell, recording her first album, due out this fall. how's recording going? >> i don't think there are too many secrets. >> reporter: well i happen to know that it's not show tunes. >> something of a surprise. >> reporter: you're not going to tell me, are you? ♪ i dream >> she wouldn't let me know what's on that album. >> do you think she has the capacity to go long-term with this? i mean, because there are going

to be ups and downs in this career and critics are going to jump in. >> i think the initial leap into this has been hard for her. because, she did go from obscurity. but she also points out that she's been wanting this and working on this for 20-some years. she's recorded before and hasn't been successful. she had a demo tape or whatever with two songs and it never really went anywhere. this is not like, for her, an overnight effort. >> yeah. still it's a tough, tough business. >> it is tough. it is tough. but i think she can. i really do. i have a lot of confidence in her. >> i'm not trying to make you her shrink or anything. we do enough of that around here. >> what is with you today? anyhow, i didn't see the instability of susan boyle. i didn't see that at all. >> good. >> i think she's going to do great. you can see more of my interview tonight in "susan boyle: daring to dream" during a special edition of "america's got talent" 9:00 p.m., 8:00 central time. we will have more with susan boyle tomorrow on "today," as well. and up next, how to turn your clunker, not him, into cash. but is the new government

program worth it? we'll ask an expert right after this.

"today's money" is brought to you by lendingtree.com. when banks compete, you win. >> and we're back now at 7:47. this morning on "today's money," cash for clunkers, the new program kicks into gear this week and gives consumers who are trading in old gas guzzlers a credit of up to $4,500 when they buy a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. today's financial editor jean chatzky is here with more on this. good morning to up. >> hi, matt. >> it's called the cash allowance rebate system or c.a.r.s. is this about moving cars or about the environment? >> it's a little bit of both. but actually advocates for both sides saying don't think it will accomplish all that much. >> so let's make sure we understand who qualifies, what qualifies, and what dealers are participating. what are the major stipulations? >> you have to have a car that's

25 years old or younger than that. it has to get 18 miles to the gallon or less combined fuel economy when it was new. you can go to a website called fueleconomy.gov, type in your name of your car, the age, the make, the model and you can figure it out. >> and you trade it in but you must buy or lease a new vehicle. >> a new vehicle worth $45,000 or less. that's the cap on the price of the new vehicle. and that new vehicle has to get, if you're trading in a car, if you get four miles more per gallon you get a $3500 credit, if you get ten miles more per gallon you get a $4500 credit. if you're trading in an suv or light truck you only have to get two or five more miles per gallon. >> are all car dealerships involved in this? and how do you find out which ones are or aren't? >> they have to register. most are participating. you go to the website cars.gov which is the official website of the program. >> this is not without its critics. >> yeah.

>> some critics are saying the program is a bad idea and the expected result, which is to move about 250,000 cars off lots is too limited. an editorial in "the washington post" said the following, those paltry results will merely represent the shifting of future demand for cars to the present. they will also come at the expense of sales of other goods that people might have chosen to buy. >> so what we're seeing right now is that people have been waiting for this program to kick into gear in order to make their purchases, and the 250,000 cars that this is expected to move is a very small amount. so, this program is only available until the money runs out. there's a billion dollars on the table. it could be gone by labor day. >> real, real quickly. how do environmentalists feel about this? do they like it? >> they think it's a move in the right direction but it's not going to do all that much. >> and is there a potential downside for the consumer here? >> i don't really see one. if you've got a car sitting on your lot that you need to move, go ahead. >> all right, jean chatzky, thanks very much. the program is called c.a.r.s.

still to come, more financial advice. a panel of experts will answer your pressing questions.

still ahead, what you can learn from one family's food makeover. >> plus, are you putting your health at risk to look fashion forward in skinny jeans? meredith will talk about it after your local news and weather.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. let's check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> not too bad out there. one problem spot on the north side of the beltway approaching jet packs disabled vehicle off to the side. speed sensor at harford road. not too bad when you get on the northwest corner of the beltway. west side, 19 miles per hour. couple of outer loop delays. drive times, 12 minutes on it out of it northeast side. five minutes on southbound 95. 895 split down to fort mchenry.

delays southbound on gw parkway dutch west mr. road. -- down to west nursery road. >> low-level clouds around this morning. breaks of sunshine later on this day. partly sunny for the most part. 71 downtown, 70 at b.w.i. marshall. 65 in york, pennsylvania. two points are elevated today. -- dew point to elevated today. we have a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon not a great chance. we really need the rain. precipitation in the afternoon and evening. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic throughout the morning. we will have another update at 8:25.

wednesday morning. it's the 22nd day of july, 2009. and we've got a great crowd outside on the plaza. on what's shaping up to be a real pretty day. out on the plaza i'm matt lauer, along with meredith vieira and al roker. and have you noticed, -- >> i did. oh, my gosh. >> we're wearing the exact same suit. >> did you know you were going to do that? >> yours is a little bigger. >> we called each other up last night. you picked today to wear that suit. >> that's very girl-like. >> anyway coming up in this half hour, we're going to be talking about ways to feed your family better. mark bittman has been doing a family food makeover for the miller family. he told them to get some of the processed junk out of their cabinets, eat more fruits and vegetables. we're going to check in one last time with the millers and find out how they're doing, including

connally, who is one of the miller's children. he loves to cook. he keeps his pots and pans under his bed. >> that's kind of like your son. >> i don't think he keeps pots and pans under the bed. i'm not sure what he keeps under there. we're also going to talk about skinny jeans. they're all the rage. but when you put them on they can cause some serious health problems. >> what is the definition of skinny jeans? skin tight? >> and also tight all the way down to the ankle. so they can cut off circulation. you can have real issues. >> i liked the jeans the president was wearing. >> those were nice, yeah. >> more normal. >> exactly. >> and "today" takes a vacation. that's right. starting on monday, all week we're going to be teaming up to visit and spreading out to visit some of our country's most spectacular sites. it all begins on monday. kicking off with meredith and ann. >> that's right. in the adirondacks. >> should be great. speaking of ann, she's standing by at the news desk with a look at the headlines. >> good morning. good morning once again,

everybody. in the news, tonight, as president obama goes prime-time, he will make his case to the american people for health care reform. his address will be broadcast nationwide. but even key members of his own party are saying there is not enough time to act on the measure before congress leaves for august recess, as the president is requesting. nbc news will cover the president's news conference live tonight at 8:00, 7:00 central iy with iraq's prime minister nuri alte how to bring together iraq's political factions to increase security there. there was a dramatic military plane crash in santiago, chile on tuesday. the pilot was practicing an aerial acrobatic routine when his plane suddenly turned and came crashing down. the pilot survived and is now recovering in a hospital. some of the nation's largest airports are considering using a new technology that could help prevent dangerous bird strikes. nbc's tom costello is at reagan national airport with more on

this story. >> reporter: good morning. airports around the country are trying to mitigate the bird threat. now some are turning to bird radar. >> the wisconsin 3743, 22. >> reporter: at boston's logan airport it's a constant balancing act. >> ground point nine. >> reporter: the 400,000 flight operation each year, and the birds who stage their own flight operations. >> all right 0-4 -- >> reporter: last year boston reported 61 bird strikes and many more close encounters. it was just six months ago that a flock of canada geese took out both engines on a us airways plane, forcing it into the hudson river. and two weeks ago, 40 birds forced an emergency landing in baltimore. now, boston is testing a new technology. >> this is a standard system that we build for the military. >> reporter: sitting between runways 27 and 33 left, merlin is scanning the skies for birds. gary andrews is the ceo of

detect technologies. >> we have a horizontal radar that's tracking four to six miles around the airport and a vertically scanning radar that's covering approach and departure corridor. >> reporter: the bird count has been superimposed over an airport layout. >> each of these green dots are birds moving on and around the air field. >> reporter: on this day the risk is low. but heavier bird patterns like this would trigger an alert in the tower where controllers could give pilots the warning they need. here at logan airport they've aided 50 species of birds and they're not only worried about canada geese, ducks and eagles, but also small european star links. a flock of them could inflict serious damage. sitting right on boston harbor, logan attracts large migratory flocks each year. >> it's a major issue. and i think that that's why we want to test the technology here. so that we can help mitigate that in every instance. >> reporter: most bird strikes occur within 500 feet of the

ground. when a plane is taking off. now, with the bird population soaring, the question is whether they deserve their own radar. boston isn't alone. several airports are testing this bird radar system. nasa and the air force ann, already use it. >> now here's brian williams with what's coming up tonight an "nbc nightly news." hey, brian. >> ann, thanks. when we join you tonight we're going to head back out across highway 50. we're going to stop in ohio, talk to the good folks there undergoing tough times. can they find strength, maybe even a silver lining in this economy? we'll see tonight. we'll look for you for "nbc nightly news." for now, ann, back to you. >> okay, brian, thanks. now let's go back outside with a check of the weather with al. >> thanks a lot, ann. and this young lady wanted to be like matt so much, she

>> not a whole lot as far as precipitation goes. there is a batch of showers and storms to our west. we have enhanced chance of seeing showers and storms tomorrow. a slight chance for hit and miss showers and storm

and that's your latest weather. mr. lauer? >> al, the folks at teleflora celebrating make someone smile week. as this young lady flipped her bike, we're going to make you smile. you feel better, all right? take care of yourself. when we come back, how to spend a little time to make it look like you spent a lot of money on your home. and up next, they're fashionable, but are they risking your health? we're talking about skinny jeans. we'll have the details. dinner with the girls tonight. mmm... mexican, or italian? i really want dessert tonight. i better skip breakfast. yep, this is all i need. ( stomach growls ) skipping breakfast to get ahead? research shows that women that eat breakfast, like the special k® breakfast, actually weigh less. the special k® breakfast, now in blueberry. so why skip? when you can eat all this... and still weigh less.

victory is... sweet. if your kids can go onward and upward, no matter what. if you get side-lined from work. insuring your family's ifs can be hard to figure out. so metlife removed the guesswork, by combining the most essential insurances, term life and disability, in one surprisingly affordable package. creating a personal safety net that's bursting with guarantees for the if in life. find out how much insurance you need and how affordable it can be at metlife.com of the world's most revered luxury sedan. this is a history of over 50,000 crash-tested cars... this is the world record for longevity and endurance. and one of the most technologically advanced automobiles on the planet. this is the 9th generation e-class. this is mercedes-benz.

wow, sweet minivan! ( revs engine ) ha ha! whoo! ( thunderclap ) that's a minivané to you! ♪ it's raining! with the great taste of a mcdonald's mccafé mocha, a better day is possible. freshly ground espresso, real steamed milk, and decadent chocolate. go ahead, mccafé your day.

♪ ba da ba ba ba the tree house i built with my dad. (girl) really? yeah. there you go. okay, i'm gonna work on the roof. dad, i'll be right back! (announcer) it's more than just that great peanut taste, choosing jif is a simple way to show someone how much you care. you made that for me? well you're making this for me. (announcer) choosey moms, and dads, choose jif. back now at 8:11. this morning on "today's health," could your clothes be bad for you? some women will do almost anything to look slimmer, but who would have thought that wearing jeans might be harmful to your health? from '70s flares, to boot cut to

boyfriends, jeans are an american original. and if you can find just the right pair, they can flatter any figure. >> you're a babe! >> reporter: even the president has his own favorite fit, which he got some slack for at the all-star game. >> those jeans, i'm sorry, i'm not the guy. >> no low riders? >> it just doesn't fit me. >> reporter: but for other folks at any age, skinny jeans have been one of the hottest cuts in denim, having hugged ankles for decades. >> skinny jeans started back in the '50s. marilyn monroe wore them. elvis wore them. then they had a moment in the '80s with heavy metal bands, we saw them on metallica. it was always a real rock 'n' roll look. >> reporter: and just about every pair has their favorite pair. >> they have a great, fresh, young look. they're the antithesis of mom jeans. >> reporter: today's skinny jeans aren't your mom's or your grandmother's either. they've evolved and some are

feeling the pinch. >> the thing that's changed about skinny jeans is that they've gotten skinnier. you see women now wearing things that are nine inches around the ankle. i mean that's a bracelet. >> reporter: and some doctors say clothing worn that tight does more than draw looks. it could be inviting nerve damage. >> what happens is the person starts to feel a nagging kind of burning or tingling sensation in their thigh that they can't really figure out. it's sometimes quite painful. >> reporter: and in extreme cases, the squeeze might cause g.i. issues, bladder and east infections and even serious blood clots in the legs. >> once you start having those symptoms, it's probably not a good idea for you to keep wearing the clothes. >> reporter: something to keep in mind the next time you wrestle on a pair. so, does beauty have no pain? a medical contributor to consumer reports, and dr. raj is the medical editor of health magazine. good morning to you both. you wrote about this in consumer reports in a blog. why? what provoked that? >> as a neurologist i often see problems with pinched nerves.

and this is one that comes from wearing tight garments that constrict a nerve in the thigh. >> where is the nerve? it's actually in the thigh? >> it's in the upper pelvis and extends through the thigh. >> how frequent is that? >> the condition occurs about three to four in 10,000 people. but as we start to wear garments that are tighter and more constructive, we may be seeing more. >> so you're seeing that in three, four, out of 10,000 people? >> correct. >> but there are other conditions, as we pointed out in the piece, that probably are more prevalent like infection. >> yeast infections are definitely more prevalent in women who wear very tight jeans. it creates a warm, moist environment which we know bacteria love and yeast love. it also can cause g.i. issues like abdominal pain. our intestines are made to expand and contract and when they're so tight in that area, they're not able to do that. it can be very painful. >> and also for men who are destroying to wear these jeans, they're popular with men, there can be other issues, as well.

>> right. and it's actually a bit more common in men. and it's also common in people that are heavy and carry their weight up front. >> but can it cause infertility problems with men? >> that's a bit debatable. but there have been studies to show that it can. that the tight garments can contribute to that. >> so do you think that there are certain people who should never wear these jeans, should really stay away interest them >> >> well, we certainly recommend people who have irritable bowel syndrome or acid reflux, that's another condition that can be made worse by wearing tight garments around your waist. if you're prone to bladder or yeast infections, stay away. and if you feel very uncomfortable. if you're wearing any kind of garments, especially tight jeans, that's a sign your body is telling you this is not right, and you should not wear it at all or definitely do it in moderation. >> any other precautions with regard to jeans? >> i think just be sure that they're comfortable and you're not sacrificing your health for the sake of fashion. >> and wearing breathable underwear, at least. at least give that area some room to breathe if you're going to wear the tight jeans. >> in moderation. >> right.

>> thank you so much. always a pleasure to see you both. >> thanks. >> and up next, tips on creating a healthier diet the whole family is going to love. honestly, what thanks do we owe progress? we're up to our necks in landfill, and down to the wire in resources and climate change is out to get us. that's why progress plays no role inside post shredded wheat. here, we put the "no" in innovation. post original shredded wheat is still just the one simple, honest ingredient which naturally comes with vitamins, minerals and fiber. all we did was make it spoon size. did we go too far?

("whish, whish") here's the solution. (applause) is it a bandage you ask? no! it's famous, drug free breathe right. (squeaky noise) ingenious flexible strips that fit your nose to gently open your nasal passages... (free air/deep breath) ...for up to 31% more airflow. (female) wow! (announcer) you'll breathe better so you'll sleep better!

small strip. big relief. bright idea! breathe better. sleep better. breathe right. ♪ mmm... hot fudge sundae. ♪ ooh! frosted blueberry?!? ♪ over 25 flavors of kellogg's pop-tarts®. and they're all for fun and fun for all. pop-tarts®. made for fun.

this is america. we help each other out. and when you open a checking account, bank of america helps you with $100 when you use your new debit card and online bill pay. plus you get free services and products you can only get from bank of america. this offer's for a limited time so visit a banking center or log on soon. we'll give you a hand -- and $100. it all starts with a checking account at bank of america. this morning on "how to cook everything today," more of our special family food makeover. our very good friend mark bittman, "new york times" columnist and author of "food matters" is working with the

miller family to transform their eati ining habits, which were o so-so. today he does some cocking with the millers' 14-year-old son connally who happens to be a big mark bittman fan. ♪ >> so we're going to make guacamole. >> you don't need a recipe for that. you know how to make that. >> yeah, i actually kind of do. ♪ >> you have the pans, you got the ingredients? >> pans i keep under my bed. i don't keep my pans downstairs where they might be more convenient, because i feel protective of them. >> i've actually never met anyone who kept his pans under his bed. >> connally has so many pans. >> unfortunately, i end up cleaning up the mess. >> let's go. >> is the pan on? >> no. >> is the oil in?

>> no. >> let's go. >> i've never been cooking with somebody whose recipe book i just love. now, if we're doubling this recipe, should we double this one, too? >> yeah. >> now all of a sudden we're going to be cooking with hill. it's scary. >> don't be nervous. >> mark bittman's "how to cook everything" is con's quote/unquote bible when it comes to cooking. >> the tension in the room was beginning to mount. >> yeah. >> the secret about cooking which i should have told you before we started. when you walk in the kitchen, start some water. even if you don't know what it's for, because you'll wind up using it for something. >> if a recipe calls for canola oil. >> olive oil, usually. heavy on the onions, this meal. >> yeah. >> it'll be good. charlie, what's up? you smell food? >> oh. >> and don't panic.

i think it looks great. it's real cooking. that's all i care about. >> okay, let's eat. >> and we welcome back mark bittman and the miller family. scott, mark, connally, griffin and gilley. you know why he had such a good time with this segment? he finally found someone who read his book. you read the book! you're his biggest fan, which is great. >> my only fan. >> i like the fact that you keep the pans under the bed. i get protective because they get scratched otherwise, right? what do the rest of you keep under your bed. >> oh, you don't want to know that. >> first of all, what was it like cooking with him? >> he was great. completely enthusiastic. he was nervous. but he was enthusiastic. he had some experience. the important thing is he loves it. he loves to eat, but he gets that you need to cook well to eat well. >> how often do you cook for the whole family? >> like once a week. and i also bake a lot of like desserts. >> you are the luckiest parents in the world.

you really are. >> yeah. >> all right, you gave -- here's basically the way we started with this. the miller family when you first met them, they had lots of food in the house. cupboards were full, refrigerator was full, it was basically trash, though, right? >> you know what? it's a little extreme. >> well, a lot of processed things. >> they had ten sweetened breakfast cereals. a pantry full of snacks, yes. >> so before we get to specifics, miller family, scale of one to ten, how much improvement has there been, ten being a complete makeover? >> about eight. >> eight. >> yeah, maybe seven. >> okay. >> all right, so some up, some down. are you eating more fruits and vegetables now? >> absolutely. >> are you happy with that? >> talking with them before this spot, they completely like -- they eat fruit. >> yes. >> so one assignment he gave you early on, which i thought might be a little difficult for you to follow is he told you he wanted you to cook beans and grains, a pot of them every week. right? are you doing that? >> yep. >> we -- we made a pot of beans,

and they kind of just stayed on the stove. we weren't really sure -- we said these look really pretty. but we didn't know what to do with them. so we decided we did start making bean salad after. but the beans were the hardest. >> so have you given them enough creative recipes so that when they go about doing this it's desirable for them? >> no. i may need to give them a few more. some more books for them. >> thumbs up or thumbs down, you putting salad on the table every day? >> more often. >> more often. not every day. >> almost every night. almost every night. some kind of vegetable. not always salad. >> here was a big problem. we had these processed food snacks in your cupboards. okay. mark challenged you to eat one less processed food item every single day. are you doing it? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> you are? >> dad? >> yeah. >> you're doing it? >> yes. >> mom? >>connally? >> all of us, every one.

that was easy. >> so what did you give up? >> my pop tarts every day. >> you don't have to give them up for good. mark has a little treat for you doing so well. >> he's going to be in the corner in about five seconds. and finally you asked them to switch to whole grain bread, brown rice and whole wheat pasta. thumbs up or thumbs down on that one? >> thumbs down? >> talk about the bulgur first. >> we thought for us we really want the white pasta. that was really difficult. but we introduced bulgur wheat and polenta. so we added. and that was great. that was, we actually enjoyed that. >> so final question. thumbs up or thumbs down on actually working with mark bittman. >> oh, thumbs up. >> you did it again. >> and you? >> miller family. congratulations. stick with it. >> thank you.

thank you very much. >> connally, keep cooking. mark, you keep cooking, as well. when we come back, cheap ways to add style to your home. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning.

i am mindy basara. a late night motorcycle accident has left one person dead. it happened around 11 ipod 30 last night -- 11:30 last night. the man was pronounced dead at the scene. sky team 11 was over the scene at fayette and rose street just after 4:00 yesterday afternoon where an unmarked police car hit the man as he crossed the street. he suffered minor injuries, including a cut to the head. let's get a final check of the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> several accidents since last checked. ridge road and oakland road, police or on the scene with an ambulance. i knew accident at law call and lynch road in dundalk. another one involving a motor scooter in towson. perring and mcclean, watch for a disabled vehicle that is causing

heavy delays, both directions. downed wires at westminster. let's give you a live view of traffic southbound traffic, still dealing with delays from white marsh to the beltway northeast. looking a little bit better at the west side at liberty. >> temperatures are really mild already. it is pretty sticky outside as well. 73 downtown, 72 at the airport. brakes and the cloud cover letter on this afternoon. reaching a high in the mid-80's today. showers and storms of the popcorn variety. tomorrow, a better chance of widespread, scattered afternoon and evening shower activity. we will be hot for the weekend. >> we will have another update at 8:55.

because at safeway, there's always... freshly picked local produce at great prices. it's 100% guaranteed to be fresh and ripe, every time. so hurry in for delicious goodness, all right down the street.

that's ingredients for life. that's safeway. right now, get locally grown platinum sweet corn -- 8 ears for just $2 with your club card. safeway just lowered the price of summer.

8:30 now on this wednesday morning, july 22nd, 2009. a great crowd here in the plaza jamming to the music of katy perry. the pop star will be here live in concert this friday. if you're in the area, please stop by. we would love to see you. meanwhile, ahead in this half hour, diagnosis of breast cancer is pretty devastating. but in this climate you're also worried about how you're going to pay for the surgery and the drugs. you have a lot of financial fears. up ahead we're going to talk to one woman who's doing a lot to ease those fears for women all around the country. >> on a much, much lighter night. you walk into someone's house, you see a beautiful picture frame or candelabra and say i'd

love to have that. then you find out the price, you can't afford it. we've got three projects that we're going to cover inside that you can do yourself at home, they're stylish, and incredibly inexpensive. >> cool. >> absolutely. and then a little bit later on, some of the best beats on broadway are literally on broadway. we're going to tell you about that coming up in just a little bit. >> also susan boyle. it was so great to hear your interview this morning. we're going to rerun it in just a few minutes. very, very strong. she looks beautiful, and it was great to hear that she's now moving forward with a record, and a book even. right, meredith? >> i believe so, yes. >> and in the states come the fall, maybe here. >> anymore. more of her interview. >> let's not say rerun, because if you haven't seen it, it's new to you. >> speaking of new to you. how about a new forecast? >> brand-spanking

>> sort of a typical july day. you'll be seeing a mix of sunshine and clouds. slight chance of pop-up afternoon and evening showers. maybe a thunderstorm or two as well. tomorrow, mid-80's as well.

and that's your latest weather. now let's head down to d.c. and say hello to my willie scott. how are you, uncle willie? >> oh, you're fantastic. whenever i see you, i think of fashion place. you're just -- let's go to joseph a. banks and buy 100 suits for $1.40. i'd like to have the advertising budget. hi, there. it's time for our birthday salute. let's check them out. as the old jam jar slowly spins around. here is benny madigan from cheshire, mass. 110. honored of as a super centenarian in the chicago museum of centenarians. likes to play the piano and have the family, you know, give her a little critique of how she's doing. she's sensational. walter and violet welker of roseburg, oregon. 75 years they've been married. he's 98, she's 93. they attribute their marriage longevity to communication, and

giving in a little bit when it's necessary. even going, right? play the game fair. dorothy davis. pretty wild music in the background. clarkson, michigan, clarkston, michigan. 100 years old. avid reader who has lived in over 15 states during her lifetime. happy birthday, ma'am. and we have sadie reckseit from columbia, maryland. known for being a life long artist. makes jewelry by hand without using any machines and that's terrific. elizabeth dunbar, rumson, new jersey. 100 years old. attributes longevity to having a good disposition and loving everything from people to her westies. we've got another one? good. we have john bachmann. boise, idaho. 100 years old. world war ii vet.

exercises at the "y" all the time. believes singing with the barber shop quartet has kept him alive. that's it, that's all from washington, d.c. now here's meredith in little old new york. yeah, willard, i've got kyle her, he's 116. well, not the 100 part. he's 16. up next, adding stylish touches to your home while saving time and money. pa

"today's home" is brought to you by bank of america. get the most out of your everyday purchases today. and this morning on "today's home" we're talking about luxury for less. with a little know-how you can add upscale touches to your home without the upscale price tag. the editors at "country living" magazine have come up with three easy projects. sarah gray miller is the magazine's editor in chief. good morning. nice to see you. >> good to see you, matt. >> tough economy.

who doesn't want to save money, especially when it comes to decorating a home? >> of course. we're seeking comfort at home. we're entertaining at home. so the desire to feather the nest is there. but the money might not be. >> you say if you have extra money go out and buy things but if you have extra time try to make those things. the one thing you haven't mentioned, talent. how much talent do you need to create projects like these? >> these don't require much. i can do them myself which means just about anyone can. >> let's get to some of the projects. the first one is a wreath. first we have the store-bought version. >> exactly. >> this one would cost how much in a store? >> $125. i think it's worth it if you've got the money. it's not going to wilt. but you can also make one yourself. >> how easy is it? >> pretty easy. cut a ring out of foam core. >> which you've got to have lying around the house or you can use any kind of heavy cardboard. >> exactly. and make yourself a leaf template out of cardboard. both of these are on countryliving.com but they're pretty straightford.

you're going to trace the leafs onto craft paper or just a paper bag. >> if you have rolled craft paper you have to be careful as to which way you actually cut it? >> no. it's actually a little bit easier because you can roll it out straight. where these you've got two layers. but this is probably free. >> how many leaves do you have to cut? >> about 80. so this is going to take you some time. what you're going to do, you're going to take a leaf, fold it in half, use a bone folder, about three bucks in any craft store. >> if you don't have one of those you can also use something else. >> you can use your fingernail. and then you literally staple the leaves on so that each leaf covers the staple of the one above in a crisscross fashion. >> total time and money? >> it might take you two, might take you three, less than $15. >> let's move on to our next project. we're talking about picture holders. these are the store-bought version here. what would they cost? >> not a fortune. they're $30 for about five of them. >> basically it's a piece of

wood with a groove cut in the top. >> exactly. >> which brings the light bulb on and says you could make that at home. >> of course you could find a branch in your backyard. on a local hike. we used birch. saw that branch into segments. you can use a hand saw or a power tool. if you're scared to cut, and i do want to make this point, go to your lumber yard. a dollar a cut is all they'll charge. >> and how are you creating the top groove where the picture is going to go? >> score a line. take this hand saw. saw in there about a quarter inch and then you just take your picture, and you stick it right in there. >> okay. and you can actually add a little gloss if you want or smooth out the rough spots? >> yeah. if you're using a hand saw you're probably going to have some rough spots. use some sandpaper to sand it. if you want to paint it a color you could also do that. >> the next one is a little more unusual. this is the store-bought version, right? >> exactly. it cost $400. it's by umbra. >> that's a lot of money.

not that it's not pretty but that's a lot of money. >> it's a lot of money. >> the easier way to do this yourself at home? >> collect a bunch of mismatched candlesticks. you can find them at flea markets, thrift shops. a vintage tray, $7 to $8 tops and then you want to just arrange them on the tray. >> it's almost the less they match and the more haphazard the arrangement the better it looks. >> the better it's going to look. you don't even want like ones next to each other. the more different shapes you have the better. they're also cheaper because they're not matched sets. >> right, exactly. what would you expect to pay for some of these in a thrift store or some kind of boutique? >> anywhere from $1 to $5 or $6. and then you just glue them in place using epoxy. check the package to make sure it adheres metal to metal. hold it in place for five minutes. definitely work outside with this stuff. >> it does have some fumes. >> and gloves. you don't want your hands sticking together. >> and buying some inexpensive candles to place in this.

>> exactly. total time and cost for me? >> total time, even for you, i think you're looking at once you found the candlesticks, 30 minutes. total cost about 50 bucks. >> again in a tough economy we can all use ways to save money around the house. great, thank you very much. up next, one woman's fight to take the financial fear out of breast cancer. and the diagnosis of breast cancer. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

shh. shh! [ chattering ] authentic iced lattes from dunkin' donuts. made with real espresso, milk, and whipped cream, to help you take a break from reality. treat yourself for just $1.99 today. this year more than 192,000 women in the u.s. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. most will survive. but for many, the financial impact can be devastating. nbc's ann thompson is here with the story of one woman trying to help. ann, good morning. >> good morning, meredith. three years ago when i was diagnosed with breast cancer, my first reaction was the reaction of many. cancer patients, first of all, will i survive. and then the second is, how will i pay for it?

i found out that we have great health insurance, but all throughout my treatment i kept thinking about what choices i would have if i didn't have the insurance, and i couldn't afford treatment. it turns out, there's a doctor in raleigh, north carolina, who has done more than just think about it. she's helping women heal physically and financially. this is bucky's little slice of heaven. put it over the roast, nice and juicy. life with sons dustin and kyle, and husband steve. >> there you go, partner. >> reporter: but she endured hell to get it. >> you can't put a price on your family. you can't put a price on being able to survive for them. >> reporter: cancer would try. just 34, becky had a blocked milk duct removed from her breast. doctors told her not to worry, even though she continued to have pain. a mammogram at 36 revealed what becky feared, a highly aggressive form of cancer. >> i cried. because it was like, how -- how

can you tell me i've got two small kids? what am i going to tell them? what am i going to tell my husband? and it was hard. it was like being sucker punched. >> reporter: with a mass of five inches in one breast and a more than 50% chance of the cancer spreading to the other becky had a double mastectomy. even though she had health insurance there were $3500 in costs it didn't cover. and becky and steve couldn't pay. >> i'm like, how are we going to pay this and still make the rent payment? i knew i needed help at that point. >> reporter: becky turned to her surgeon dr. lisa, the founder of pretty in pink, a foundation that helps women who can't afford breast cancer treatment get it at reduced or no cost. >> i've seen women choose to have a mastectomy in order to avoid radiation. i've seen them choose not to have construction. we've had many patients flip to a less expensive drug. >> reporter: and a less effective drug?

>> in some cases. >> reporter: it is a choice she says no woman should have to make. but at a price of more than $200,000 for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, some women are forced to. >> i was just trying to fix it one little piece at a time. >> reporter: and there's no shortage of need. here in north carolina, 14% of women live below the federal poverty level. 20% have no health insurance. and nearly one-third of households are headed by single or divorced women with limited resources. when she started pretty in pink in 2004, the doctor wanted to help ten women in her county. today, pretty in pink is in 15 counties helping more than 300 women. with everything from getting wigs to financing a complete course of treatment. >> they're not on welfare. almost all of them are mothers. and almost all of them have some work, but not enough to have insurance. >> reporter: she relies on local fund-raisers like this golf

outing. and a network of doctors and clinics in the raleigh area that donate services. now, with the recession, pretty in pink has seen more women like nancy moody. >> i don't want my energy to be spent worrying. >> reporter: nancy lost her job last year and needed help with her monthly payment for c.o.b.r.a., the federal health insurance program. >> this right here is the financial assistance form. >> reporter: after reviewing nancy's financial history and treatment plan, pretty in pink stretched her limited resources so she can now pay her mortgage as she fights breast cancer that has spread to her bones. >> i can tell you when i wake up, that i feel grateful that i have a roof over me, that i'm laying on a bed, a real bed, and that i'm breathing. that i am opening my eyes. >> reporter: such comfort is what capital bank's ceo envisioned when his bank donated $100,000 to pretty in pink. >> can you imagine your mother or your sister or your daughter

having this disease, and not have being the financial ability to get the treatment that they need to live? report becky poole can remember the day pretty in pink agreed to pay what she and steve could not. >> i cried. i laughed and i cried and i laughed. so, it was a good day. >> reporter: becky is now healthy and back at work. she and steve can once again provide for their sons, and each other. counting on many more good days to come. the doctor hopes that pretty in pink can be duplicated across the country. her goal is to have chapters in every state in the next decade. meredith? >> i think it's realistic, too. it seems like it would be effective everywhere. >> she thinks it can be duplicated across the country without any trouble. >> thank you so much. and to learn more about pretty in pink, logon to our website, todayshow.com. up next, how to get the best seats on broadway. we'll explain.

this morning on "leonard's look" our mike leonard, usually one to stop and smell the flowers, has stopped in midtown manhattan for a completely different reason. >> reporter: in new york city's times square, a surprise summertime hit. has mesmerized people up and down broadway.

>> it's inspiring. >> reporter: causing some to search in vain for words to describe why this summertime sensation, the act of sitting in a chintzy lawn chair on a blocked-off city street is so, so -- >> i'm trying to come up with something really wise to say and i can't. >> reporter: nor can i. other than to say that this pilot project of diverting automobile traffic to create pedestrian plazas in certain sections of times square was a bold move. stronger, more durable furniture was ordered but couldn't be delivered until august. so just six days before the memorial day opening of the plaza's tim tom kins president of the times square alliance went into code one scramble mode. rummaging through a couple of local hardware stores for a quick fix order of cheapy lawn chairs. nearly 400 of them. >> they're all rag eddie. >> reporter: but at the same time, oddly cool in a strange, kitschy kind of way. >> who would have thought. >> reporter: that so many people could sit so deep in thought on an urban canyon floor, surrounded high and low by every

kind of distraction. under the sun. >> just taking it all in. >> reporter: it's funny how the mind blocks out extraneous thought, when focused on things of great significance. like the phenomenon of blending contrasting ingredients to come up with something incredibly tasteful. often by accident. as for this strange concoction, well, on paper this seems like a pretty stupid idea. but it works. because it taps into a powerful human need. >> people watching. yeah. >> it's like oh, my god you're sitting here people watching and you've got times square like right in front of you. it's like, you know, surreal. >> reporter: grab a chair and see for yourself. >> it's a beautiful lifetime. >> new york city and any big city is about rushing. you know, it's about looking at your blackberry, about doing ten things at once. and so it is radical to simply sit still and look. >> reporter: and when he says still, he means still. statue-like still. >> it's very peaceful. >> reporter: a welcome bit of calm for the city that never

sleeps. >> i just think this is the best idea ever. >> reporter: this theater of the absurd, where looking at people, looking at people, is a show in itself. for "today," mike leonard, nbc news, new york city. >> hmm. >> i like the idea. >> i love it. >> have you done it, gone over there and sat? >> no. that's what i was thinking, i think most of the people in those chairs are tourists. i don't really know that there are that many new yorkers, who won't stop looking at their blackberry. >> as a new yorker i do go to central park and just sit on a bench sometimes. and watch people go by. it's cool. >> in a raincoat you do that, don't you? >> no. >> and a baseball cap. >> why would you do that? >> oh, why would i pick on you? >> maybe put a tv studio. that wouldn't be bad. >> kind of forward thinking. >> hmm. >> they may have one over there. >> look at those seats out there. nobody's ever attempted to steal them. the cynic says people will grab them. but they don't. >> they're raggedy.

>> well, they take shopping carts. people are nice. >> they're nice. >> don't give them the idea, meredith. >> i'm not giving them ideas. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. the state education department has released its annual list of dangerous course. eight schools in baltimore city made the list, three of which have already been closed. the remaining include garrison and hamilton middle, homeland security high school, dunbar middle school were designated

persistently dangerous last term, meaning that a number of students were suspended or expelled for serious offenses, including arson, firearms charges, or sexual assault. students attending these schools will have the chance

>> let's take a look at the forecast with sandra shaw. >> high of 76 in the mountains in western maryland. at baltimore, 86 degrees. bricks and the sunshine this afternoon. southeast winds, tend to 15 miles per hour. scattered showers and storms. tomorrow, a better chance for the late-day showers and storms.

friday, 89 degrees. >> thank you for joining us. we will have another update at 9:25.