it is the culmination of the american dream. all wrapped up in individual slices. kraft singles. the american cheese. good morning. ang angryfire. more than 105,000 acres now burning out of control in southern california. five people trapped in a canyon after they refused to evacuate. the flames too intense for a rescue. al is live from the front lines with the latest. he's a monster, that's how phillip garrido's ex-wife describes him. we'll hear from her and the woman he kidnapped and raped more than 30 years ago. and a duggar doozy. all 20 members of the country's

biggest families gathering together right now. they have an exclusive anounment today tuesday, september 1, they have an exclusive anounment today tuesday, september 1, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this tuesday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm carl quintanilla in for matt. that los angeles wildfire has more than doubled in size in the past 24 hours alone. >> that so-called station fire has grown to more than 105,000 acres. that's the equivalent of 164 square miles. at least 74 homes and buildings have been destroyed. more than 12,000 others are still threatened. they say it could be more than a week before they get a real handle on the blaze. >> and that's just one of the at least eight wildfires burning right now. take a look at this remarkable picture taken by a nasa satellite. you can actually see the plumes

of thick smoke and scorched earth that surround los angeles right now. >> let's get right to al roker who has made his way to los angeles this morning. good morning to you. >> good morning, meredith and carl. it's been seven days since this one fire started. of course, you mentioned eight others burning around the state. and, unfortunately, firefighters say it's going to be a while before they even have an idea that they've got the upper hand on these fires. overnight the los angeles county fire spread so fast and grew so large, firefighters couldn't focus on containment. their priority, saving lives. >> this is a very difficult fire fight. this is a very angry fire. >> reporter: in fact, fire officials predict they won't have control over this fire for another two weeks. >> we cannot predict where it's going. >> reporter: the plumes of smoke over los angeles so thick, aircraft dropping water fly in blind, unable to see the flames they're trying to extinguish.

thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate. 12,000 homes on the fire line. governor schwarzenegger toured one of the fire zones on monday, lending an ear and a shoulder to residents hit hard. >> we've lost everything. >> the good news amongst the bad news is that you're okay. >> reporter: those who might not be okay, the people ignoring firefighter warnings to ee swak the way. five residents refused to leave. authorities say they haven't been able to reach them because of the intense flames and now are angry that the crews have to risk their own lives in the rescue effort. >> obviously, it's frustrating, no question about that. but more importantly, we need to have these resources in areas that are needed, the fire, the protection of the property. >> reporter: as this family can tell you while the fire didn't spare their home, evacuating saves their lives. >> it's tough. we built tradition. we've got to keep the traditions and not worry about the stuff. >> reporter: two firefighters on

sunday were not so lucky. ted hall and arne quinones were killed when their car crashed trying to secure the perimeter of a campsite. sunday, crews tried to save mt. wilson, the home to 20 television transmission towers and mt. wilson observatory. another concern, the upcoming labor day weekend and the possibility of campers ignoring warnings. >> we are literally begging the public to please honor these closures. >> reporter: and the weather doesn't plan on helping firefighters for the foreseeable future. >> that is not in the forecast that that i see for the next four to five days at this point. >> reporter: and this bitter sweet note, around any quinones is due to give birth to their first child in a couple weeks. a very sad note on top of that. now we go to miguel who's about five miles northeast of us. he's in a neighborhood that

found out it has been destroyed. and now they are trying to pick up the pieces as families return. what's the scene there like? >> reporter: well, al, as you mentioned, 53 structures have officially been destroyed but that number is likely going to be much higher. this neighborhood we're in big tejunga is completely wiped out. the scene is repeated block after block up and down this community. we were here yesterday when the driscoll family came back to their home. they did not find much. they were searching true their family, looking for family heirlooms they could recover. complete devastation is the scene they describe. they were here with their 5-year-old child. they said they were struggling to come with grips as to what happened. this scene will repeat as sun comes up and firefighters are able to get a picture of how large the devastation is. 53 structures have been destroyed. we know that count will be much higher in the days to come. al?

>> reporter: all right, thank you very much, miguel. and now back to you, meredith. >> al thank you very much. captain mark savage with the los angeles fire department is at the command post. captain savage, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> captain, yesterday we heard that this fire, station fire, had doubled in size. now we're hearing there is some indication that the spread of the fire is slowing. so what is the status of the fire right now, as you know it? >> well, the monster has been the entire week. we need a break from the weather and we might get that. we've been red flagged warning since the start of this fire, low humidities, high temperatures. we hope to get a break from the weather. that's the only benefit we could have at this time. we're throwing everything we have at this fire from the air and the ground. and if we can get a break from the weather, that would be the benefit to maybe turn the corner. however, the extremely dry fuel and rugged terrain is a factor we won't get a benefit from. >> one forest official said,

quote, it's all coming together in the next few days. i see progress. what does he mean when he says progress? >> well, the progress is we're still doing -- we're trying -- attempting to get a perimeter around this fire. you know, he was being optimistic. i hope we can all be optimistic. it's certainly a challenging fire and we certainly know we have a lot ahead of us. we only have 5% containment. right now this fire is doing what it wants to do, when it wants to do it. >> you sound far less optimistic than he does. what is your greatest concern? this will spread to more populated areas? >> well, the answer for us is a great resource, one of the best tourist attractions in southern california as far as forests goes. it's a great resource and we want to contain it within minimum limits in the forest. we're doing everything we possibly can. we just -- the greatest concern

is we're not going to draw a line in the sand to stop it. so we're just having a difficulty identifying where we're going to be able to stop this thing. >> captain, let's talk about those five people who were ordered to evacuate and chose not to. now they are trapped. and looking to be rescued. we understand the flames are so intense, firefighters can't get in there. so what is their status? what does it do to you all when you have a situation like that in terms of your own resources and ability to get this fire under control in other areas? if you're going in and rescuing people who didn't evacuate. >> well, we believe they're safe there now. there was some high intense moments in yesterday's fire fight when the fire did move through there. we believe they're safe now. however, they were in a mandatory evacuated area. we need people to comply with evacuation orders because it puts an impact on resources. we now have to go into a possible rescue mode when we wouldn't have to do that if the people would have complied with the evacuation order.

so it changes -- it can change immediately. life protection is our number one priority. and we want to certainly get people out of there so we don't have to turn resources we're using in other areas to do a rescue when that rescue shouldn't even have to take place in the first place if these people are cooperating with fire officials and getting out in the first place. >> we're talking two more weeks before this fire is under control. captain, thank you for your time this morning. >> you're welcome. and a programming note. brian williams will be reporting from the front lines of the los angeles wildfires tonight on "nbc nightly news." it is 7:09 and here's carl. >> thanks. now to the california couple accused of abducting that 11-year-old school girl and keeping her captive for 18 years. investigators have unearthed a potential piece of evidence. george lewis has the latest on that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, carl. yeah, police have been searching for any evidence that might tie

phillip garrido, the man accused of masterpind, the abduction, to a series of local unsolved murders. the latest piece of evidence, significance unknown, a fragment of bone. monday evening ka dogs sniffed the home of phillip garrido and the property next door as police announced the discovery of the bone fragment of that adjoining property. >> we're taking that bone back for further examination. we don't know if it's human or animal. >> reporter: as police broadened their investigation, they're trying to find out whether phillip garrido was tied to a string of unsolved murders. they're also looking at whether he had anything to do with other kidnappings. in 1988 9-year-old michaela was pulled off a street into a car just like jaycee dugard. they bear an uncanny resemblance to each other. for you police are talking to

michaela's parents. >> we have an inspector investigating michaela's case before this came up. he has been investigating possible connections between michaela's case and jaycee's case. >> reporter: phillip garrido and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges of abducting, raping and imprisoning jaycee, but garrido's first wife calls him a violent man. >> he's a monster. >> reporter: inspecting on "inside edition "she says he beat her at times. had she tried to get away in. >> he grabbed me, threw me in the car. >> reporter: in 1977, four years into the marriage, garrido was convicted of raping another woman, katherine callaway hall, who was on "larry king live" monday night. >> i try not to let it ruin my life but it's always there under the surface. >> reporter: she says garrido took her to a storage unit in reno, draped with carpets inside. >> it was like a maze. and in the back part of the mini

warehouse where he had me, he had it set up to keep someone for a while. >> reporter: sort of like the sheds behind his house where jaycee dugard lived with the two children she allegedly had by him. now, garrido's ex-wife in her tv interview said when another man flirted with her, garrido took out a safety pin, gouged her in her face and threatened to put out her eyes. we'll take a closer look at the relationship between phillip garrido and his wife nancy, including why and if she was a willing participant in the disturbing crimes they are accused of committing. right now let's get a check of the morning's top stories. ann off today so natalie morales is on duty at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. extremely dangerous hurricane jimena is moving closer to baja, california, peninsula. with winds 150 miles an hour it is expected to start pounding

the southern part of the peninsula late tonight. it's started kicking up high waves in the area. many tourists are rushing to get out. today president obama gets briefed on swine flu preparedness and government response plans. since may swine flu has killed 500 americans. the federal government has reached a deal to pay $9.5 million to acquire land in shanksville, pennsylvania for a flight 93 national memorial can be built. it is expected to be completed by the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. former illinois governor g blagojevich claims rahm emanuel wanted his seat. a spokesperson is declining comment on what blagojevich wrote in his book. new numbers should show how much cash for clunkers helped

wall street. wall street will be paying close attention. erin burnett is at the new york stock exchange. what else are you watching? >> we'll have a little pressure on stocks today but the numbers will be on the auto numbers. thanks to cash for clunkers, it's going to be a pretty solid august in terms of those auto sales. now, the sales rate we're looking at is about 12.9 million for the entire year. now, that's a far cry from where we were at the boone north of 17 million. what's most important above the number ford, gm and chrysler need for a profit. with all of the taxpayer money in those companies, it's something all americans should be rooting for. >> thank you. one of bernie madoff's home is going on the market as part of his effort to pay back frauded investors. federal officials think the house could bring upwards of $8 million. madoff was sentenced in june to 150 years in prison.

7:14 right now. you're up to date. looks like it has a nice view. back over to meredith and carl. right on the water. >> nicer than the views in prison. >> obviously. back out to southern california where al has more on today's weather forecast. hey, al. >> hey, good morning, meredith. we were hoping hurricane jimena might provide relief.

>> we are looking at mostly sunny skies, high, dry, and gorgeous. winds northeasterly at 10 to 15 miles per hour. we're up to the 80s but thursday and friday. that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you. a special election has now been set for january in massachusetts to fill ted kennedy's u.s. senate seat. this as state lawmakers agree to hold a hearing on whether the governor should be allowed to name an interim replacement. chuck todd, nbc's political director and chief white house correspondent has more from capitol hill. good morning. >> reporter: good morning.

she has the last name, the political savviness and even support from key u.s. senators but ted kennedy's widower vickie denies to want to run. >> showing support for my husband. >> reporter: for weeks and even months vickie kennedy has denied any interest in succeeding her late husband in the u.s. senate and yet those denials haven't stopped the speculation. it started sunday as two senators close personally to ted kennedy began talking up vickie. >> i think vickie ought to be considered. she's a very brilliant lawyer, a solid individual. she certainly -- she certainly made a difference in ted's life, let me tell you. >> whenever vickie wants to do it, i'm in her corner. she knows that. and she's stressed to me her own reluctance to do that but she could change her mind. if she did, i'm for it. >> reporter: senator dodd has been in constant consultation with vickie kennedy during the

health care debate. she served as a conduit to her husband. it's not uncommon for widowers to succeed their husbands in congress. there are four right now. the latest was jean carnahan, she replaced her husband mel after he died in a plane crash. for vickie kennedy, the door appears shut right now. duval patricked as much right now. >> mrs. kennedy is not interested in the position. >> reporter: someone close to vickie was shermanesque with me. she said, even if asked by the governor to do this she won't even reluctantly accept. if this law gets changed, that's still a big if, there will be pressure because there are some democrats on capitol hill who believe she would bring the best continuity to what democrats need in the fall when it comes to health care. for now, though, the only kennedy that appears to be interested is joe, robert kennedy's oldest son. >> chuck todd, thank you very much. it is 7:18.

once again, here's carl. >> thanks. to what could be major problem for the criminal case into michael jackson's death. jeff rosin is in los angeles this morning. good morning to you. >> hi, carl. good morning to you. law enforcement sources now tell nbc news prosecutors are worried about what they call sloppy police work. key evidence may have been tainted, key interviews may have been skipped. the da's office is deeply concerned a botched investigation could severely damage their case. >> reporter: just two days after michael jackson's death, relatives were allowed inside his rented mansion. that's michael mom's katherine pulling in and his sister. they even brought in moving trucks to haul out possessions. the lapd didn't secure the house as a crime scene. all belongings were out in the open. prosecutors fear that has compromised the investigation. robin zachs is a former l.a. prosecutor. she says tainted evidence is a

familiar problem in l.a. think o.j. simpson. >> whenever you have a crime scene open to family members or strange people coming through, it jeopardized evidence there and if you can tie the defendant to the crime. that's a problem. >> reporter: that's not the om problem here. three of jackson's employees now claim homicide detectives were in no rush to interview them. one is jackson's body guard who is inside the mansion when he died and called 911. >> he's not breathing. he's not breathing. we're trying to pump him but he's not -- he's not -- >> reporter: that's him, his lawyer tells nbc news he was anxious to tell police what happened but it took more than two months to schedule a meeting. >> i think that it is sloppy knowing anything having to do with michael jackson will be high profile and highly scrutinized. >> reporter: now that jackson's death has been ruled homicide, criminal charges could be filed against his personal physician, dr. conrad murray. >> i told the truth. and i have faith the truth will prevail. >> reporter: he's the focus of the manslaughter investigation.

police say he admitted to giving jackson propofol the morning he died. propofol has been declared the cause of jackson's death. >> his lawyer's position is going to be dr. murray innocent. even if he made a mistake with some treatment, it's certainly not criminal. >> reporter: criminal cases against doctors are so difficult, police rarely pursue them. there are about 940,000 doctors in the u.s. between 1889 and 2006 only 335 were prosecuted. harlan braun represents one doctor who treated michael jacks jackson. >> if he used the criminal system to discipline doctors, a lot of doctors will say, i don't even want to get near this prescription problem. i will not give patient the right amount of drugs because i'm afraid of getting prosecuted. >> reporter: we should mention dr. murray lawyer maintains his client did nothing wrong and says the police theory is just that, a theory. as for reports of tainted evidence at the jackson house,

we contacted the lapd several times, carl, but they wouldn't comment. >> jeff rosin in los angeles. thanks for that. still ahead, the duggar family, mom, dad, 18 kids, a daughter-in-law and a grandchild on the way. all standing by to break some on the way. all standing by to break some big

they have alzheimer's and arthritis, diabetes and cancer. they've heard that biomedical research offers hope, that it could control, maybe even cure, their disease. senator ben cardin understands the importance of innovative biomedical research, for patients, their families, and our economy in maryland. call senator cardin today. ask him to protect the 90,000 maryland jobs biomedical research provides and the hopes of patients everywhere.

it's not just the future, it's life. garrido and why did she and her husband hold jaycee dugard for 18 years.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i'm stan stovall. here is ellicott one of our top stories. a baltimore city police officer is in stable condition after a tragic car accident that killed his son and his son's girlfriend. thousands of classmates, friends, and some members gathered to remember michael jones, jr. -- and family

members gathered to remember michael jones, jr. and the girl. they got caught in a bad rainstorm and loss control of the vehicle. let's get a check on the morning commute with traffic pulse 11 and sarah caldwell. >> heavy delays, volume-related delays. 17 miles per hour on the northeast corner of the beltway. a lot of the due to an accident on the inner loop at perring parkway. that is off to the side, but many are slowing down to take a look. you also sing southbound 795 delays approaching the public. a lot of congestion here through september 7. accident at easton and clinton streets. there is a fuel spill there as well. a western town, 140 and glen

falls, repairs. we are dealing with delays, but the bulk of them down towards 40. on the north side, things are backing up there. >> plenty of sunshine. the 60's at best downtown. prevalence enchanter out today. -- prevalent at sunshine throughout today. it looks like we are in the 70's tomorrow. 80 by thursday and friday. partly cloudy and low 80s to rot the liberty weekend. >>

7:30 on this tuesday morning, september 1st, believe it or not, 2009 as we check out the scene at the duggar house this morning. mom and dad, 18 kids and the daughter-in-law who is expecting. in a moment, they are going to break some big news right here on "today." meanwhile, inside studio 1a i'm meredith vieira alongside carl quintanilla in for matt. >> something tells me it's not what's for dinner tonight. >> no, i think it's bigger than that. also ahead, much more on that shocking kidnapping ordeal in california.

>> a lot of the attention is focused on phillip garrido, the man accused of holding jaycee dugard captive for 1 years. but his wife nancy, also charged in the case, and police say it would have been impossible for things to go on for so long without her help. more on the role she allegedly played coming up. what could have been a family tragedy, a beloved pet falls down an abandoned well in his owner's yard. that's when some local heroes jumped into action to save kujo. we'll meet that lucky dog and the man who saved him just ahead. despite his name, is he a lover, not a fighter. >> you've already been over to say hello. >> i got kissed by kujo. i got kissed by the dog and i loved it. let's begin with nancy garrido's alleged role in that 18-year kidnapping case in california. amy robach has the latest on that. >> good morning. just like her husband phillip, nancy is facing a slew of charges and life in prison.

detectives say she might well hold the key as to unraveling what happened during jaycee lee dugard's captivity. 55-year-old nancy garrido has been called plain, modest as well as a robot under the control of her husband phillip. she's also been called a monster for her alleged role in the kidnapping of 11-year-old jaycee lee dugard. >> whatever her reason, whatever her rationale, she was still there all these years, almost two decades, and never once tried to help this little girl escape. >> reporter: nancy and phillip garrido met and married at a prison in leavenworth, kansas. she was there visiting her uncle. phillip was serving time for a series of sex crimes. >> they feel inconsequential, like nothing, so they seek out a man in prison, a combination of he's powerful, he's a big deal, he's exerted control over someone. >> reporter: one person who had limited contact with nancy garrido in the past few years

said she appeared normal, at least on the surface. >> nancy's a very -- a really very normal person. they -- i have never seen anything abnormal about nancy. phillip, i see some strange stuff. >> reporter: in a high row file kidnapping case in 2002 a woman was also accused of participating in the crime. wanda barzai and husband brian david mitchell was accused of abducting and holding captive elizabeth smart. they have yet to takes trial. in austria this girl was held in a dugon and sexually abused, bearing seven children while her mother rosemary lived upstairs. the mother claims she knew nothing of her daughter's imprisonment. in the coming weeks prosecutors will be looking into nancy garrido's background as to her role in this disturbing case.

is this a woman who was so fragile, perhaps because of previous trauma herself, that she easily became psychotic, you know, in the face of the psychotic husband? >> reporter: fiphillip garrido' father says he thinks she hatched this plot together. nancy faces 29 charges. carl, back to you. >> amy robach, thanks for that. geral dou aa geraldo rivera is the author of a new book. nancy faces a lot of the same charges that phillip does. >> sdefdeservedly so. >> how would you assess her role? >> she's a jailhouse groupie. she met garrido in leavenworth her uncle she was visiting.

she was a jehovah witness. perhaps she was doing missionary work. she fell in love with the guy, married him behind bars at leavenworth. now that relationship wouldn't happen, just like he wouldn't be released under current law. when i talked to carl probyn, the stepfather, he told me she was the one and he identified her spot on, who grabbed the child, who grabbed jaycee, the 11-year-old and stuffed her into that gray ford. >> do you see a lot of other parallels with wives or mates of those who are accused? i'm reminded of the '80s whose husband joel steinberg who murdered their 6-year-old. her defense was, i was already so beaten mentally and physically that i was scared to do anything. >> and the women's movement, i note for the record, really defended her at the time. i compare her more to patty hearst. i think she was brainwashed in a way she became controlled by garrido so that she would

abandon whatever her morals were and became a part and parcel with her sick husband. i believe they were a criminal couple who did this totally equally in many ways. she deserves the same punishment. >> back in '93 you conducted the first national television interview with carl probyn and jaycee's mother terry. did you have suspicions about him in the early days? >> yes. listen, it's almost always someone known to the child. stranger abductions are so rare. he was the stepfather, unusual in his physical and personality, his demeanor, kind of that surfer boy haircut. i've become friendly with carl over the years -- you know, since. and i really believed that he is one of the great heroes in this. he has been so measured. he has been so thorough, so constant, so consistent. now so loving to jaycee, so willing to allow terry, the

mother, he and terry are split, not divorced. but it was the stress of the kidnapping that did it. but it is an incredible story of how these people now rally. >> i was going to say, how have they been able to celebrate given the disappearance so long ago broke up their marriage? >> they have not physically been together since the reunion. they share a 19-year-old. shana was only 2 when jaycee went missing. that child has been raised in an extremely unusual circumstance. the father has been kind of the guard out of her, not letting her out of his sight. they had to deal with all the attention on jaycee, shana the younger child was being neglected and voiced some concern about that. now they have a lot of healing to do, and not to mention the fact you have two children by the monster, apparently. >> you make the point in your book that the country is on the cusp of a lot of change mostly because of the growing ranks of

hispanics. >> i make the remark in the book that barack obama wouldn't be president today except for the huge surge of latino voters. they were so turned off by the slanderous nature of debate that they abandoned the republican party, flocked to democrat by a 2 to 1 margin and gave barack obama the white house. now we hope there will be some comprehensive reform. more importantly, this book is a celebration of a community that has come of age. it's -- you know, the image of the latino as a wet back on the river or climbing the wall because some of these crazy cable shows but the reality is that doctors, lawyers, as you know better than most, teachers, professionals, supreme court judges now, we celebrate a community coming of age, 46 million strong, contributing $1.3 trillion a year to the u.s. economy. this is a celebration. it's not about the stereotype. it's about the achievement. >> always good to see you.

thanks for coming in. >> thank you. let's get a check of the weather from al reporting from the scene of those wildfires in los angeles. al? >> reporter: thanks, carl. and firefighters actually lined up along this road. they're actually sleeping in cots because there aren't enough rvs and trailers back here in this makeshift camp to house them all. that's how big this fire is. 3700 firefighters working these lines. let's take a look and show you what's going on. as far as your weather is >> absolutely beautiful morning

here. 61 downtown, a 57 at the airport, mid-forties around york, pennsylvania. high in the 70's and again today. 75 tomorrow. laet your latest weather. for the latest going on out here in southern california and across the country, you can check out weather channel on cable or weather.com 24/7. up next, the duggars. necessi they have 18 kids, their first grandchild on the way and big news to share. they'll do that live right after this.

back now. it's 7:43 with a big announce wa announcement from a big family. michelle and jim bob duggar, 18 kids. oh, yeah, that's a daughter-in-law and the family's first grandchild on the way next month. they are all with us now exclusively. guys, good morning to all of you. >> good morning. >> so, michelle, i know you have important news want to share with the world. i'm going to go out on a limb and i'm going to guess you're getting a puppy. am i right? >> well, not exactly. but we are thrilled to announce that we found out that we are

expecting our 19th child. >> oh, my gosh. who would have thunk it, michelle? how far along are you? congratulations, first off. >> thank you. thank you. we are almost three months along. >> how are you feeling? >> i'm feeling sick and tired, which is a good way to be feeling about right now. i always tell myself that's a good way to be because that means good things are happening. >> jim bob you're looking at your wife. i can't tell if that's a look of love or shock. what is your reaction? you're going to be a grandfather in a month and have your own baby next year that will be younger than your grandchild. >> yes. we are so excited about this new arrival. and also our grand baby coming. and first, michelle was a baby of seven and her mom was still having her and -- >> and my -- miami sister and

mother were having babies at the same time so i have nieces and nephews older than me. it was a great time because i really have close relationships with my nieces and nephews. >> your daughter-in-law anna is there. anna, i know you're going to have your baby next month, in october. october 18th is the due date. how are you feeling? >> i'm feeling good. i'm feeling really pregnant, really big. >> and does this -- having this big family surround you give you a family of confidence that you can do this? >> yeah, it's neat. it's exciting. i definitely have great role models. it's neat to watch mrs. duggar love her children. >> josh, how are you preparing? you've only got a month to go before you'll be holding your own baby in your arms? >> well, it's very exciting. i think it's -- children are a blessing, a gift. if you raise them right they will be. my parents have definitely shown that.

i hope with our children we'll train them and raise them to love god and to love others. >> you have a lot of catching up to do, josh and anna. i have to ask you, last time you were here you were trying to decide on a name for the baby. you know you're going to have a little girl. you know it's going to start with an "m". >> yes, meredith. >> i would be very happy. i'm just putting it out there. i know you've got a name. what's the name? >> mackenzie renee. mackenzie, we have a cousin named mackenzie. renee is after anna's middle name, renee. we're very excited. you know what, though, in a family, anna is number five of eight and i'm number one of 19 now. so there is hope for meredith still in our future. don't be disheartened. >> as long as hope stays alive, i'm a happy woman. congratulations on the babies, the two babies. best of luck to all of you. thank you for sharing this

important news with us this morning, michelle and jim bob. >> thank you. >> good to talk to you. >> josh and anna, good luck with that delivery. for more on the duggars, watch "18 kids and counting" tonight on ltc. the dog who fell into a well and his rescuer.

back at 7:50 with one very lucky dog.

last friday kujo fell some 30 feet into an abandoned well under his owner's deck. a frantic call to 911 was placed. after four hours of hard work, rescuers were able to pull a scared and wet kujo to safety. kujo is with us to safety, along with his owner daniel ellis and the man who rescued him, jerry lambert. talk to us about what happened, daniel. it was raining and he apparently went under a porch of some kind to escape the rain, right? >> yeah. my fee yaniance left at 12:00 to work. i come home at 1:00. i couldn't see him but hear him. i could hear him whining. looked for him. i went out on the deck and i could hear him. later he didn't come out. i looked under there and there was a hole. i got a jumpsuit, crawled up

under there with a flashlight, down in the well. >> he had fallen down in the well 30 feet. travis, you were called to rescue the dog, assigned to go down the well to get him. when you saw the dog did you have real concerns you would be able to save him? >> i didn't have any concerns. we had been trained to do a lot of this stuff. just the dog was a piece of that puzzle. >> were you worried the dog's name was kujo and he wasn't very happy? >> you didn't have an animal harness. had you to do this with rope? >> no, we didn't have one. we tried the harness in the beginning. it didn't work. it was too tight down there. >> were you scared going in? >> i was nervous. he's a big guy. >> he is a big guy. 140 pounds of wet dog. that well was filling with water because it had been raining and such. you did get him out. what was his reaction when he got out of the hole? >> look at the picture. he was happy. he was happy. happy to see a friendly face, you know. this is my guy, my buddy.

>> we're so glad he's doing well. a few little injuries but on the mend. >> yeah. he's still here. >> all right. >> the water was -- >> daniel, travis, thank you so much. thank you, kujo. he looks great. >> sure does. >> can i thank one more person? thank you, bill. >> thank you, bill.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i'm stan stovall. let's get a check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> definitely looking like rush hour. the normal delays are falling into place. also on the west side outer loop, yellow they're beginning from reisterstown road to

edmondson. koch for lane closures with an accident coming in there. also a crash at putty hill and belair. york road and timonium continue tough problems. congestion is the biggest issue with the maryland state fair. we of the gas and brake and related closures do that. 21-minute ride to the west side delay the outer loop. -- dulaney valley outer loop. this is generally the pace of things towards edmondson. heavier on the northeast corner. >> it is a beautiful morning out there, with plenty of sunshine, pretty chilly for us. 61 downtown. only 46 in york, pennsylvania.

beautiful sunshine out there. winds out of the north is that tend to 15 miles per hour. 80s on thursday and friday. >> we should check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information out next live update in 25 minutes

8:00 on this tuesday morning. the 1st day of september, 2009. labor day may not be until next monday but it sure feels like fall here in the big apple. look at those beautiful kids. nice to see you guys. outside on the plaza, i'm meredith vieira along with carl quintanilla in for matt lauer. nice having you here. >> great. >> greg having you here. coming up, roughly 1 in 5 americans have admitted abusing

prescription drugs, from michael jackson, heath ledger and now a notable deejay. we're shining a light on that problem. we'll talk to an expert about what to watch out for. we also talk a lot about health care in this country. how about getting health care at a retail outlet? it's a growing trend. dr. nancy will be here to weigh the pros and cons of seeing a doctor while you pick up a gallon of milk and some shampoo. dan browne fans, listen up the author of "the da vinci code" is set to launch a new book. >> matt was given special access to pivotal moments in that story and he's been traveling to some locations. starting a week from today we'll give you a clue a day to see if you can figure out where matt lauer is. don't worry, we won't worry anything for you. we're not going to reveal the answers until the day after the book is released.

>> is that because we don't know the answer? >> well, matt knows. we don't. we should mention on the 15th when "the lost symbol" comes out, matt will have an exclusive interview with dan himself. let's get a check of top stories with natalie morales at the news desk. >> good morning again. firefighters in southern california say it could take as long as two weeks to get control of a raging wildfire burning near los angeles. the station fire has now grown to more than 100,000 acres, destroyed at least 74 homes and buildings and threatening more than 12,000 others. earlier on "today," captain mark savage called the fire a monster. >> we're throwing everything we have at this fire from the air and the ground. if we can get a break from the weather, that would be a benefit to make turn a corner. however, the extremely dry fuel and rugged terrain is a factor we won't be able to get a benefit from. >> five people who did not evacuate are trapped in the canyon area, hoping to be rescued.

a programming note for you. brian williams will be reporting from the front lines of the los angeles wildfires tonight on nbc nicely news. police investigating phillip garrido, the california man accused of holding a girl hostage for 18 years say they have found a bone fragment at the property ned to garrido's. officials are running tests to determine if the bone is human or animal. garrido's first wife spoke out on "inside edition" saying garrido used to beat her when she would try to get away. in afghanistan a u.s. service member died from his wound after an attack. it comes on the heels of dead deadliest month, 4 americans killed in august. a disturbing new study find 1 in 10 binge drinkers drove the last time they drank heavily. the cdc which did the study says binge drinking is the main factor behind 11,000 motor vehicle fatalities a year. an unexpected visitor for residents in a new britain, connecticut, neighborhood.

take a look at this. this large black bear roaming past houses and next to a group of frightened school children waiting for a bus. animal control was called in. luckily the bear eventually wandered off back into the woods. that's a good thing. back where he belongs. it's 8:03. let's go back outside to meredith and carl. >> thank you, natalie. we'll get a check of

>> nice and dry. we are basically going to see clear conditions today, sunny skies and a temperature highs of

about 73 to 76 degrees. more sunshine tomorrow. up to 80 by thursday and friday. that's your latest weather. carl? >> al, thanks. when we come back, an artist who dabbles not in paints but in balloons. he's got a few surprises up his sleeves. up next, the warning flags be, raised about legal prescription drug abuse following some high-profile deaths. we'll get into that. we start with a fresh grade-a egg.

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with a full family of excellent nutrition... and helpful resources. ♪ purina cat chow. share a better life. and now the questions raised by the death of a popular celebrity deejay who dated some famous faces on the hollywood social scene. nbc's peerter alexander is here with more. >> reporter: dj am should have died a year ago, he walked away from a deadly plane crash. he may not have been able to escape his addiction to prescription drugs. we'll know more when text coming results are completed. in adam goldstein's apartment they found a crack pop and an anti-anxiety drug taken by

millions of american. he may not have been a household name but adam goldstein, the 36-year-old who shot to fame as dj am was a celebrity deejay to the stars. romantically linked to some of them as well, including nicole richie and mandy moore. a recovering drug addict who had been clean for more than ten years, goldstein was a true survivor. he and close friend travis barker from the band blink 182 escaped this fiery plane crash that killed four other people. >> the relighting of an addiction fire in someone who is sober is basically having them fall off the wagon. >> reporter: he reportedly started taking anti-anxiety drugs, xanax. they say his return to prescription drugs could have triggered a relapse into addiction. goldstein's not the only celebrity to die from what police suspect was an accidental

drug overdose. actor heath ledger, painkillers and a series of anti-anxiety drugs, including the generic form of xanax. anna nicole smith, a lethal combination of a powerful sedative and nine other prescription drugs, including valium. most recently, michael jackson, whose homicide was blamed on the anesthetic propofol, another sedative, including the anti-anxiety drug lorazapam. the national drug of drug abuse says 7 million americans abuse drugs, blamed for 20,000 deaths each year, having doubled in the last decade. >> prescription drug abuse is not just a problem. it is a huge epidemic. people need to be aware of it and open and lonnest with nemesis and their doctors. >> reporter: this summer goldstein spoke to the ap about his upcoming mtv reality show, helping teenagers overcome his

addiction. >> i'm a recovering addict. i have to remember what it was like and there's no better way to remember what it was like at my bottom than to see someone at their bottom. >> reporter: his own words are haunting but eerie reminder of the dangers of drug abuse. the numbers, meredith, are staggering. it's estimated 48 million people, roughly 1 in 5 americans, have abused prescription drugs at one point in their lives. >> peter alexander, thank you very much. dr. julie holland is a psychologist and her upcoming book "weekend at bellevue." >> thank you. >> it's not just adam goldstein, michael jackson, heath ledger, anna nicole smith, apparently all of them have drug-related deaths. what do you believe is going on here? >> it's more and more an ep

dickidick -- epidemic. they're getting it not just from their doctors, they're buying it on the streets, from their parents' medicine cabinet and it's a big problem. >> when you start mixing these drugs and combining them, that's when something dangerous or deadly can happen. what are the combinations people need to be on the lookout for? what are the drug combinations most likely to result in something disastrous? >> absolutely. it's a problem with people are taking medicines from multiple sources. this is really -- because people aren't going to one doctor to get their medicines anymore, there's no one overseeing what they're doing, not one doctor making sure there's not drug interaction and one pharmacist making sure there's not a problem because people are getting their medicines from the internet. >> what are the combinations -- >> there's no oversight. >> what are the combinations people need to be concerned about? >> right. well, the major combination that's dangerous is mixing alcohol with prescription drugs. that's really the biggest problem. and then mixing drugs from the same class. if you have multiple, say,

downers, multiple sedatives, painkillers, anti-anxiety medicine, sleeping medicine, mixing those is a real problem because a lot decrease respiratory drive. they make it less likely you'll take big, deep breaths and you basically suffocate. >> does it make a difference to use a generic brand verse a brand name in a drug? >> there's a lot of variability with generic medicines. what's good about a brand medicine is you know you're getting the same thing month after month. with generic there's multiple companies, multiple producers so there's variability month to month when you switch. there's also less oversight really with the government in terms of what you're getting with generic. >> what about people who say i'm taking over-the-counter medication so this isn't my problem. >> well, there is some overthe cou over-the-counter medicines that react badly with prescription drugs. decongestants don't mix well with blood pressure meds and some anti-depressants.

>> thank you very much. i guess a word of caution to people, if you're going to take these drugs, check with your doctors to make sure the medications do line up properly. thank you again. >> thanks. coming up, what must jaycee lee dugard and her family going through? we'll talk to sean hornbeck abducted and found alive four years later. oh, guys, i can see it! they're setting it up right now! is it true? are there really going to be cranberries? yep, i can see the boxes, and there's definitely yogurty clusters in there too! i think this is a 24-hour store. introducing kellogg's® raisin bran extra! with cranberries, almonds and yogurty clusters, it's raisin bran with so much extra. ♪ raisin bran extra! it's a mouthful of awesome! we speak car. sure, but do we speak hybrid? yes, we do. and we can say 700 miles on a single tank and epa estimated 41 mpg city and all the words stick because they're true.

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♪ green acres is the place to be ♪ today on this morning's "today goes green," nbc chief environmental affairs correspondent ann thompson. >> reporter: it is spectacular beauty in an unexpected place. the new york botanical garden, 250 acres of serenity in the city by 220 pint-sized

gardeners. they are part of a unique program teaching children to grow vegetables organic, from seed to plate. they need to plant in the kids an appreciation for the earth and healthier eating habit. city kids 3 to 12 years old leave their concrete and asphalt world for what this 11-year-old calls the freedom to get dirty. >> it's victorious feeling as you pull the vegetable out of the dirt and you know you did it and not anybody else. >> reporter: in the children's garden, work and science are disguised as fun. >> remember the first day we had the most wanted weeds and we put them in jail? >> yes. >> reporter: eden stewart loves digging in. >> learning about the plants, what they do and how they can affect us. i also like the harvesting because at home we get to cook them and make them. >> reporter: toby adams runs the organized chaos.

how hard is it to keep their attention in. >> that's surprisingly not that difficult. we have a two-acre site with discoveries around every single corner. so the garden takes care of that. >> reporter: yielding buried treasures like potatoes and tall grains in the breakfast bowl garden. >> this is an opportunity to share with children the plants they find floating in their cereal bowl. >> reporter: we have corn? >> sweet corn here. >> reporter: this is? >> barley. >> reporter: barley. and this -- >> in the middle we have rice. >> reporter: rain or shine in teams of two the older kids work 4 by 12 foot plots. the youngest called sprouts start with the basics of gardening. this summer eden and capri prepared soil, planted seeds, fertilized, watered and waited to see the results of their work. what is it you've eaten out of this garden? >> well, i love carrots. >> reporter: not exactly typical

kid fare. the program believes if kids grow it, they'll eat it. do vegetables taste better because you grow them yourselves? >> yeah. >> well, i think because they're more fresh than the ones you buy in the supermarket. at a factory you don't know if they sprayed some random chemical on it. here i know i did this to it and it's going to stay like that. >> that's good, right? >> reporter: each lesson comes with an opportunity to prepare and taste vegetables in new ways. there's even an iron chef competition. >> and the secret ingredient today are tomatoes. >> reporter: they chop, grate, saute and savor what they've grown. >> spring beans. >> reporter: farmer's market day te sell their wares to each other. they take home produce can and recipes to share with their family. there are some freshness can't help. >> i strongly have a distaste for squash or zucchini.

>> i'm alsoen the biggest fan of eggplant. >> reporter: victoria credits the program for making her a better eater. she's now back as a volunteer to share what she learned. >> everything doesn't come in a prepackaged container. it comes from somewhere. and it can come from their own hands, from sowing the seeds to harvesting. >> reporter: after all the vegetables have been eaten and the plants withered away, life lesson remains, teamwork and appreciation of nature and most of all, a sense of accomplishment. celebrated by capri's mom at the dinner table. >> every time i bring home a lot of greenery and stuff, she makes up a big salad and called it a capri salad. >> reporter: yielding an appreciation for a healthy life and nature's bounty. nbc news, the bronx. >> a great lesson for those

kids. >> can you imagine a nation of tiny barefoot con tessas running around? >> do you have a garden? >> no. i can barely order food at a fast food restaurant. >> we have one and i actually bond with the vegetables. there you go. let's check in with our good friend willard scott. >> and the days whittled down to a precious few, september. can you believe it, september 1st. here we are. happy birthday. and time flies. here's a nice birthday buddy. take a look, if you will, please, as we say hi, edna smith, 110. retired librarian for 35 years. loves reminiscing about being a librarian. beautiful people. they do such good things. james collier, like the old magazine, dallas, texas, 100, world war ii vet, keeps busy repairing television sets. you know, they don't need much

repairing. new tv sets are unbelievable. remember the old days? we have maidee seward, bloomington, indiana, 109. secret to longevity is learning about anything from the scott irish who settled into pennsylvania. i'm scott irish. george stone, englewood, colorado, 100 years old, worked as an insurance broker until he was 80. rides a stationary bike every day and that's why he looks so good. alberta addison, washington, d.c., 100 years old. volunteers for special services program. proud member of the local baptist church. good old baptist. teresa paonessa, annapolis, maryland, just down the road, just charming. 104 years old. sold her first oil painting at

95. isn't that something? grandma moses of annapolis. that's all. now back to the most exciting team in all of television in good old new york. >> thank you very much. . >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i'm jennifer franciotti. members of the baltimore county council will sit down this afternoon to hash out specifics of their proposal to install speed cameras in school zones. the work session is the first formal review of the bill, which would allow police to set up cameras within a half-mile radius of any school. it would also set a fine of $40 for any driver traveling at least 12 miles of the speed of it. if passed, the cameras could be installed next month. let's get a check of the morning commute with sarah caldwell.

>> and inner loop problem as you make a way to the have whispered expressway. you can see the delay behind it. from liberty to the harrisburg expressway. 12 as per our is the average speed. putty hill and bel air, watch for an accident there. if you are having sat down on the j.f.x., the ramp to northern parkway, we have an accident there as well. possible lane closures. lane closures eastbound on eastern due to a fuel spill. at greenspring, barely moving. watch for the delays to linger. this not a harford, but 95 and 395. >> a busy morning for you as far as the weather goes.

things are pretty quiet. the reason for the rising temperatures, plenty of sunshine out there. we will see that persist throughout the day. winds northeast of the at 10 to 15 mi. per hour. we continued the trend for the next several days. >> we will see you again in 25 minutes.

8:30 now on this tuesday morning, september 1, 2009. last unofficial week of summer. we have a great crowd on their last days of summer vacation right here in the big apple. coming up, check out this guy. he is a balloon artist. it's amazing what this guy can

do with a balloon or two. he'll show us in a bit. apparently, he has a surprise for us as well. we're not sure what that is. >> what is that? >> i don't know. sort of reich the moulike the m crocodile? >> i don't know. we'll head to the kitchen and get a twist on italian style. do you like linguini? >> oh, do i. on a more serious note, we'll have more on the california woman reunited with her loved ones after 18 years of being kidnapped. so what are jaycee lee dugard and her family now experiencing? we're going to talk with a family who lived through their own traumatic experience. you may recall the case of shawn hornbeck, found alive after being kidnapped and found alive after more than four years. we'll talk to them coming up. >> we'll

>> plenty of sunshine here, quite pleasant.

72 to 75, the temperature range of very nice. throughout the entire week, more throughout the entire week, more 70's don't forget, any time of the day or night you need weather information, go to weather channel on cable or weather.com online. >> thank you very much. up next, medical advice at the mall? dr. nancy explores the growing trend of retail health centers. first this is "today."

"today's" health is brought to you by garnier skin renew. tired of the puffy eyes? roll them away. this morning on how not to get sick, health care at a retail store. nbc's chief medical editor nancy snyderman is here. good morning to you. >> good morning, carl. this has to do with these retail clinics you see popping up all over the country. there are now 1,000 retail health clinics all over the united states. the question s are they bringing added value or adding to an already complicated system? >> reporter: imagine being able to pick up a gallon of milk, fill a prescription and get a flu shot in one place? you don't have to imagine anymore. this is reality. health clinics are opening their doors while you shop. >> all you need to do is sign your name and your birthday. >> reporter: meg milligan is one of 46 million uninsured americans. by happenstance, she found a retail clinic and headed off a

potentially serious illness. >> i was shopping in cvs one day, the medi clinic was offering free screenings. so i went into the hypertension screening and they were able to diagnose me as hypertense and reef me to a clinic. >> reporter: cvs is one of the many mini clinics popping up. in the last nine years they have logged over 3.4 million visits. >> in general, patients come because they often have a wait in their physician's office. they don't have the convenience. it costs more. for simple things, they want to be in and out. >> reporter: the average wait in an emergency room is about four hours. it can take weeks to get an appointment at a doctor's office. but retail clinics promise a short wait and don't require appointments. >> i just found out it was much easier than going to my pediatrician and waiting in line and, you know, sitting there. you could sit sometimes for an hour before they see you.

>> reporter: but this system is not without its critics. the american medical association warns these clinics should be closely monitored and should not take the place of primary care doctors. >> the problem for regular care is that simple symptoms don't always mean one has simple diseases. so something like a high fever could be just a strep throat, but it could be meningitis, could be pneumonia. >> reporter: most clinics stick to minor or acute illnesses, some are starting to broaden their scope to physicals and diabetes and cholesterol screenings. walmart's clinic in orlando, florida s run by doctors and equipped to x-ray broken bones and handle other emergency care. >> i can go in, get my medical needs taken care of for my children or myself and continue to go shopping, pick up some things i need for the house and it's a one-stop shop. it's terrific. >> reporter: terrific for advocates who want better health

care access and most likely a model for the future. >> it is very much a model for the future. i should point out cvs has a partnership with general electric to administer health care benefits and ge owns nbc. fill disclosure is out, carl. >> that's right. nancy, let's bring in jeffrey cluger, a senior editor at "time" magazine. he covered this in a recent issue. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> do these clinics work? >> they do work. we have a piece up on time.com just today that reports on a study in the internal -- the anals of internal medicine based on a rand survey that clinics -- 1,000 clinics throughout the state of minnesota and elsewhere looking into how well they treated three -- >> the quality of care? >> the quality of care. it was very competitive compared to doctor's offices, urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. >> how about price? >> it's stunning. if you walk into the clinic, see

the doctor, be evaluated -- or see the nurse practitioner and get treated it's about $110, like 160-some for a doctor's office, well over $500, maybe $550, $575 for an emergency room. so that pricing really makes a difference. now, i was saying to jeff before we started, as a practicing physician 15 years ago i found this quite painful. >> it's taking away your business. >> not only that but i really believed the quality of care wasn't as good. people would be passing out antibiotics for colds. frankly, there is, i think, a slippery slope here. come in, see me. by the way, here's the pharmacy. don't forget to get your band-aids out the door. there's an issue. however, the study in minnesota was pretty good. quality of care was the same. money was good. >> jeffrey, you point out that given all the problems we have with health care in this country, it would be nice if we could turn health care into an impulse purchase, right, the way you buy gum at the cash register. >> that's right. i hope people pick up "time" magazine at the cash register

and if you could pick up a blood pressure test or cholesterol test while you're in the clinic, that way you catch these things early. as we know, prevention is everything. >> i think what jeff says is very important. pick up your blood pressure and your cholesterol tests. do those things proceed actively. don't go in sick. my concern is, people use these as sick clinics and not as wellness clinics. that's how they're designed. >> dr. nancy snyderman, jeffrey, thank you. >> thank you both. >> it's a fabulous article. turning balloons into breathtaking art. first, this is "today" on nbc. this is america. and this is our cheese.

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diabetes and cancer. and they've heard that biomedical research offers hope, that it could control, maybe even cure, their disease. senator barbara mikulski understands the importance of innovative biomedical research, for patients, their families, and our economy here in maryland. call senator mikulski today. tell her, thanks for protecting the promise of biomedical research and the maryland jobs it provides. it's not just the future, it's life. ♪ 99 red balloons now to artists who deal in unexpected medium, balloons. >> good morning, meredith. i know what you're think bhpg i say balloon art you're picturing creepy clowns and interesting looking animals.

you would be amazed what balloon artists, who take their job very seriously, can do with a little latex and a lot of imagination. >> reporter: sin city. flashy neon, beautiful people and a lot of hot air. welcome to balloon camp, vegas-style. every summer 400 of the most talented balloon artists in the world converge upon las vegas. >> the general public, unfortunately, thinks of la boo balloons as a helium balloon on a string. >> reporter: how long did it take you -- >> the whole car? only about 25 hours. >> reporter: how did you learn how to do something like this? i mean -- >> i was in prison. no, i'm joking. >> reporter: no, i see a lot of those prison movies where those guys sit around after weight lifting and make balloon animals all day.

do you have a favorite balloon from a movie in. >> you'll see balloons a lot. there's a movie out there called "wedding crashers". >> whatever, make me a bicycle, clown. >> reporter: make me a bicycle, clown. >> yeah. some of the new by twisters get that line and they say, ha, ha, i can't do that. the old ones say, sure, what color? >> reporter: oh, oh. >> relax. it's called pop art for a reason. >> reporter: what's the first thing i need to do, the first step? >> the first step is to find something that inspires you. that's what art's about. ♪ you're the inspiration ♪ you bring feeling to my life ♪ you're the inspiration >> reporter: can i see? matt lauer. i mean, i look at this and i think, matt lauer.

or richard nixon, but mainly matt lauer. ♪ it's your thing ♪ do what you want to do >> reporter: but if you think this is all fun and games, think again. special seminars are held, notes are taken, moves memorized, something new for beginners and experts alike. but mainly beginners. >> okay. just want to make sure. >> reporter: the owners of party creations in connecticut -- >> aastounded of the classes we go to and you say, wow, that's such a simple basic thing but we never thought to do it. >> reporter: what happens at balloon camp definitely does not stay at balloon camp. and the three-day intensive course culminates with a little balloon. you think this is going to get on me? >> absolutely. that mannequin is set up right for you perfectly. take a look in the back. twirl her around.

>> reporter: really? i don't want to pop her. designer debbie stevens has created the perfect dress. now i have to learn how to walk a runway in three minutes or less. and at this point, whatever i know, i know. >> all the way from new york nbc "today" show, miss jenna wolfe. >> reporter: that was crazy. adrenaline. i think next stop is like new york city fashion week. yeah, right. >> ask me if i sat down? just ask me. there is no sitting down at that fashion show. >> it sounds interesting. >> you've had balloons before. >> larry is the wonderful creator that made that awesome matt lauer/richard nixon face for us. >> and wanted to have some more

fun. we have -- >> twins! >> oh, look at that, carl. >> and meredith. >> oh, you made me a blonde. i like that. >> and pigtails, like on the weekend. >> i'm not a real blond. that's very nice. >> interestingly enough, it doesn't take you a long time to do this. >> no. it took longer to design it than the actual creation of it. it was about ten minutes for each of these. >> what got you involved in this? >> i started as a street magician in new york. around central park, used to do magic show, the balloons were a way to draw attention to the crowd. >> some of these you don't even have to inflate. this is a -- it's balloons with wire inside holding the petals open. there are a lot of different materials and techniques used. most of what i do is just twisted. these are twisted and tied together. you could add glue and wire to get the effects.

>> give these guys an idea of how serious everyone takes this. it's not like you go there and everyone's drinking in vegas, blowing up balloons. >> they're very serious about it. i've been on both sides, attending classes and teaching classes. people take notes, pictures, they go try things as soon as class is over and they don't want to forget. people remember so much, later as a teacher irget called from people that have attended. >> is there something you're planning now, something you'd love to create you haven't done now? >> al, al would be fun. i'm also working on a series of masterpieces. i've been recreating some famous masterpieces. i've done the mona lisa, i'm working on botachelli's venus. >> wow. >> how did you take off that dress? >> we don't want to talk about that. >> i'm not afraid. bring it. >> can i have my face? >> thank you very much. >> there you go. >> that's jenna in her little

outfit. >> i still have that. that's beautiful. thank you very much. >> larry, thank you very much. up next we'll step into the kitchen to put a new spin on an old world favorite. first this is "today" on nbc.

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this morning on "today's kitchen" back to basics, linguini and clam with david burke, who has put his own spin on an old world favorite. nice to see you. >> how are you doing? >> good, good. >> we're going to make something very simple. this is clam sauce. clams are abundant now. they aren't expensive. this can be done with mussels as well. >> linguini with clams? >> yes. >> you added something special? >> this is boiled instead of sauteed. it's almost like making a broth and we'll add the pasta. >> you started with peppers and grilled them. >> we roast peppers or you can use pimento. we'll start with chicken stock or clam juice. the pot is heated up a little bit. >> whoa. facial. >> and a little white wine. you can use straight stock. then we basically, everything --

it's a one-pot -- >> you put your onion, your peppers. >> peppers, red and yellow. >> why did you roast the peppers in. >> for a little more sweetness. >> okay. >> tomatoes. >> and peppers in linguini with clams is not traditional, right? >> usually a clam sauce is very simple, gar lack, shallot and parsley. parsley goes in. >> how much? >> that's plenty. garlic. >> this gets boiled? >> boiled with the clams. this takes about three minutes. that's it. we'll move over to here. >> we're doing the pasta. we're doing linguini but -- >> this is three minutes later. lemon zest and parsley, which you add. >> but we've also then prepared the linguini prior to this, right? >> it's boiling behind us. we'll finish this with a little butter. optional. olive oil is traditional but butter helps thicken it up. this all all the traditional

ingredient. we'll put the lid back on. at this stage you could use it as a soup or cook the pasta in there. >> are the clams ready -- >> those clams we can eat right for you. pasta's cooking. >> all right. >> how do you make sure the pasta doesn't get too soft? >> pasta should hit the water before the clams. it takes about the same time. so this pasta's a little precooked. a little el dente. >> the same sauce can be used with grilled sword fish, use use other vegetables from the garden. >> you put the pasta in the sauce? >> yeah. the pasta goes right into the sauce. very simple. >> this is already cooked. >> this takes six, seven minute. this is cooked. now, this gets mixed together. >> oh, yum. >> this is simple. >> a little juice all over me. >> we've got a facial. >> exactly.

>> total preparation time for the dish overall? >> once you do the chopping, you've got about 15, 20 minutes. >> nice. everybody loves this dish, too. throw it on the plate there. >> then you throw some clams in. try to get some juice. >> what are you doing? you're standing there. >> i'm getting ready to eat. i didn't realize clams were inexpensive. >> mussels are even less expensive. you always need toast. this is pesto, pureed basil. this is fisherman with sea weed. >> thank you. how to shop discount and still look like a million bucks. >> first your local news and >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in

baltimore. >> good morning. i am jennifer franciotti. prosecutors are rejecting claims they abused the grand jury process in the indictment of mayor sheila dixon. maryland state prosecutor has filed a response to a motion that seeks information about subpoenas issued after the mayor was invited back in january. her lawyers claimed that he improperly issued them as evidence of child for a trial. dixon is accused of stealing gift cards intended for needy families and lying to buy gifts from a developer she was dating. back in a minute

>> and now for a look at our fall-like forecast with sandra shaw. >> typically at september 1st we are into the low 80s. today we will only be into the lower-to-mid-70's. gorgeous conditions. winds at of the northeast that tend to 15 miles per hour.

it looks it northeast winds and 20 miles per hour possible about ocean city. tomorrow, more of the same. 75 for tomorrow. low 80s throughout the entire labor day weekend. >> thanks for joining us. we will have another update in 25 minutes.