good morning. breaking news. the health care fixes bill headed back to the house after senate republicans find minor glitches. as some democrats face threats, former vice presidential candidate sarah palin tells conservatives to reload. how did it all get so ugly? this morng a live interview with arizona republican senator john mccain. she kept texting. the 15-year-old charged in the text rage beating of eighth-grader josie ratley apparently sent more messages to friends after the attack.

>> he's in my office area. in my front office. >> put your phone down. put your phone down now. >> this morning, the dramatic 911 call and an exclusive live interview with the family of a 13-year-old girl also accused in the case. and fire and ice. an active volcano erupts sending residents scrambling for safety as scientists race in for a dangerously close look. the incredible images "today," thursday, march 25th, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> in for matt, i'm ann curry. good morning. senate republicans vow to fight the bill tooth and nail. >> senators worked well past 2:00 a.m. with democrats voting

down a series of fixes to the bill. problems with two minor provisions were identified requiring another house vote. is it a setback for democrats? we'll talk about that with arizona republican senator john mccain. we're also going to ask him about threats some lawmakers who supported health care have been receiving. also this morning, a big debate over whether the public should be allowed to watch that surveillance video of that deadly killer whale attack at seaworld orlando. a judge in florida is considering a request to make that tape available to the media. coming up an emotional plea by the victim's husband to stop that from happening. and family dating. making friends with your kids' friends. how to negotiate that social mine field. the overnight wrangling on capitol hill will now send the health care fixes bill back to congress. nbc's kelly o'donnell has the latest on that. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. this was some drama overnight. senate republicans scored a small victory when they objected to something house democrats had written into this latest

legislation. the referee on rules the parliamentarian agreed, taking that out which means another vote. the senate worked until about 3:00 in the morning. they'll be back again today talking about proposed changes taking lots of votes. that's one kind of drama. but on the house side there's been something else even more troubling. there are reports of threats and vandalism against some members. there are at least ten who have come forward with complaints that they or their families have been threatened. the u.s. capitol police on alert. democratic leaders say they believe members of congress are at real risk. >> any member who feels themself at risk is getting attention from the proper authorities. >> reporter: michigan democrat bart stupak turned over phone message filled with threats. >> there are millions of people across the country who wish you ill. >> reporter: stupak, who opposes abortion rights, switched his health care vote from no to yes

sunday night drawing an angry cry of "baby killer!" on the house floor. some of the calls are ugly. >> hi, yes. congressman stupak, you baby-killing mother [ bleep ]. i hope you die. >> you're a cowardly punk, stupak. you ought to fill your pockets with lead and jump into the potomac. >> reporter: from vitriol to vandalism. at democrats' district offices in arizona and upstate new york. >> in niagara falls we have the fbi, the local police and the sheriff all in there working together on it. >> reporter: one congressman says law enforcement is investigating a cut propane line at his brother's virginia home after the address was circulated on the web. a measured reaction from capitol hill security officials. >> i think the tenor of what's going on is a bit disappointing. but there's no reason to panic.

we wi we'll get through this. >> reporter: health care reform is politically charged. from demonstrations that get heated to provocative comments that get attention. sarah palin posted this on twitter -- commonsense conservatives and lovers of america don't retreat. instead, reload. >> to remain silent in the face of such activity gives impression of either condoning or sanctioning such actions. >> reporter: top republicans said they condemned political violence long before these incidents. house leader john boehner spoke to fox news. >> there are a lot of angry americans and they're angry over this health care bill. they're angry about the fact that the democrats here in washington aren't listening to them. but i've got to tell you that violence and threats are unacceptable. that is not the american way. >> reporter: republicans say it's wrong to confuse angry threats with principled

opposition. >> this bill is fundamentally flawed. it needs to be repealed and it needs to be replaced. >> reporter: and even though republicans say they know that democrats have the advantage when it comes to the legislation we've been talking about, they say their voters want them to press on some of these points, real defining differences on how the two parties look at this health care legislation. so there will be another vote, not a lot will change. it is expected the house will be able to get it through, but today there will be more debate and more votes trying to make additional changes. meredith? >> kelly o'donnell, thank you very much. president obama heads to iowa this morning to sell the health care reform package. chuck todd is nbc's chief white house correspondent. chuck, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. >> start with this overnight news about the bill of fixes now heading back to the house. kelly seemed to imply it is not going to be a major problem for the democrats. is that right? >> that's right, because it didn't have to do with health care. what got changed had to do with an education provision regarding

student loans. so none of the tough votes that -- over health care that the house was pushing democrats to do, that's not going to be there. in many ways, this "fixes bill" was easier for speaker pelosi to get votes for. she actually got one more vote for it an the original health care bill itself. >> when could this reach the president's desk then, this bill? >> we're looking at some point probably monday now, perhaps sunday. but again, it's that fixes bill which is in many ways strips out some things, including that special deal in nebraska and a special deal in florida. >> i want to remind viewers that the health care bill already passed and was signed by the president. he's now going to iowa to basically sell it. what about the task in front of him? what kind of a task does he have in front of him in terms of that? >> it's interesting. he's picking iowa because this is where he unveiled his original health care plan back in 2007. it was of course during that whole primary process with hillary clinton and john edwards. he was trying to differentialate himself.

this health care bill that he signed into law in many ways is much different than the one he proposed at the time, but it is meant to be a victory lap of sorts and he's picking iowa for a couple of reasons, not just that symbolism. but iowa is a state with a bunch of seniors. seniors more than any other part of the electorate have been the ones most skeptical of this health care. part of it has to do with the rhetoric about medicare and part of it has to do with the fact that they like their health care. they're not the ones concerned about the -- about not having health care at this point. they have it with medicare so change really has them upset. this is why president obama's picking iowa more than any other place to try to make seniors more comfortable with what they've done. >> chuck todd, thank you very much. 7:08. with more, here's ann. arizona republican senator john mccain has been a vocal opponent of health care reform and snoerlt mccain, good morning. >> good morning. >> sir, this week you said you will not cooperate with democrats for the rest of this year unless there is a national

emergency. because of the way they passed this health care reform bill. this seems to contradict some comments that you made almost two years ago when you said we have many challenges before our nation, both at home and abroad. challenges such as an intitlement reform, energy security, health care, that require strict attention to our responsibilities as public servants and our recognition that we cannot discharge these responsibilities to the satisfaction of the people we serve unless we work cooperatively across party lines. senator, what has changed? >> well, i have worked and continue to work with the democrats on issues that are important to this country senator levin and i are working on a defense authorization bill right now. but the fact is i didn't anticipate at that time that the democrats would jam through legislation such as they have from the beginning on a totally partisan basis. so it's not that we won't cooperate. they have not done one single -- made one single effort to act in a bipartisan fashion. i know bipartisanship because

i've done it. this administration had 60 votes and an overwhelming majority in the house, so they jammed legislation through hoping to pick up a democrat or so. so there is no bipartisanship. but i'll continue to work with anybody to help secure this nation and its future. >> what is your response then to the white house press secretary robert gibbs when he came pretty close to comparing your behavior to that of his 6-year-old child when he doesn't get what he wants? >> oh, i've been working until 3:00 in the morning last night. we're working hard on behalf of the citizens of arizona who are outraged at this process and the sleaze that's been going on. i haven't got the time, nor the inclination to respond to the white house flack. >> let me see if i can get you to respond to the concerns about the violence -- the threats of violence against democratic lawmakers that kelly o'donnell just reported about. while republicans have condemned this violence, you see a connection between the statements that have been made, the angry statements that we've

heard from republicans on the hill, the angry rhetoric, and even the statement that you made that i just quoted. do you see any connection between that as encouraging the violence that we've seen, those who desperately oppose this health care reform law? >> ann, i've been involved in heated discussions and debates on the floor on a broad variety of issues. any threats of violence or anything along those lines is totally unacceptable and we condemn it all. but compared to debate on the floor of the senate, what -- i'll tell you one thing that has people enraged, and that's the sleazy back-room deals, sausage making that's gone out. they took out some of the sleazy deals that were cut, they left in the louisiana purchase and $100 million for a hospital in connecticut and the sleazy deals behind closed doors with the phrma and special interests. everybody was there but the american people. they don't feel their voice was

heard. >> it sounds like you're rejecting any connection that there is any fanning of the flames as we heard from representative slaughter. if that is true, what is your message this morning to anyone who participated in that violence and who may be contemplating more violence, sir? >> of course i condemn it. of course we need to -- it is unacceptable in america but what we need to do, we who oppose this legislation and worry about the future of our children being mortgaged, we should be translating that in to voter registration and preparing for the next election and working towards repeal and replace this terrible piece of legislation which has been passed in the most unethical way that the american people soundly reject. >> republicans are not talking about repealing the law. you said you will challenge it in the courts, towns, cities, farms all over america. how exactly are you going to do this, senator? are you going to do this after november in one fell chunk or take it down piece by piece before then? >> well, right now the attorneys

general of several states are preparing cases to take to court immediately. obviously we will again expose how fraudulent and how much budget gimmickry is associated with it. again with the sleazy deals that have been cut by an administration that said they'd have everything done on c-span. working people by large majorities reject this proposal and we reject the sleazy way it was done and we reject the use of "reconciliation" in a way that's unprecedented in history. >> you're also working, senator, for re-election. i understand that sarah palin will be joining you in arizona as you campaign tomorrow. as we just saw from kelly o'donnell's report, she has used pretty incendiary language. she tweeted commonsense, conservative lovers of america don't retreat, instead reload. on her facebook page she posted a map highlighting weak democratic districts that conservatives should target with a crosshair symbol.

considering these threats, these concerns we've heard about regarding violence, do you think -- do you now recommend that your party useless incendiary language and will you say that to her tomorrow? >> ann, i have seen the rhetoric of targeted districts as long as i've been in politics. please. this is -- any threat of violence is terrible. but to say that there is a targeted district or that we reload or go back in to the fight again, please. >> those are not my words. those are her words. >> those are fine. they're used all the time. those words have been used throughout my political career. >> but should they be perhaps used less -- sorry for interrupting, senator. >> there are target districts and areas we call battleground states. so, please. that rhetoric and kind of language is just part of the political lexicon. there is no place for threats or violence or anything else. but to say someone is a battle

ground state has not originated today. >> senator, with all due respect -- >> with all due respect. sure. >> the question is, given even if what you're say something accepted by everyone that this is a language of campaigning, this is the language of politics, given the sensitivity regarding this particular bill, should this still be the language of this day given how much we are hearing about hundreds of calls regarding threats, about vandalism, about the gas line of a congressman's brother's home being cut. sir, these are very dangerous times. is this the language that we should be hearing today? >> the language that we should be using today is the language that we are using. we condemn violence. we condemn threats of violence. if anyone does that, and violates the law, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and there is no place for it. but to somehow say that someone's in a battleground state is somehow offensive simply, i'm sorry.

>> i think it is the "reload" and crosshairs that's caused a lot of people to be concerned, senator. >> maybe it has and we condemn any violence, any threats of violence. but i've heard all of that language throughout my political career. but we have to do everything we can to make sure the american people know that there's no place for that in america but what has just been done against the overwhelming opposition of the american people, sleazy deals done in an unprecedented fashion. of course has people angry. that anger should be channeled into voter registration and go continue the struggle that we're in to regain america and stop mortgaging our children's futures. >> senator john mccain, thank you so much for joining us. i know you guys worked pretty late last night so thank you so much. >> a pleasure. >> tuesday on today, matt has an exclusive interview with president obama, his first one on one since signing his

historic health care reform law. if you have any questions for the president, send them to todayshow.com. natalie morales is sitting in again for me at the news desk. good morning, everyone. a new report is suggesting the vatican was washrned in the 199 about a wisconsin priest who may have molested some boys. the paper says disciplinary proceedings against the priest were halted after the priest said he repented. that priest died in 1998. today the pentagon announces an easing in the way of the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy is enforced. defense secretary robert gates says he wants the policy on gays in the military implemented more humanely. discharges would have to be approved by a one-star general or above. actor robert cult died wednesday of an apparent heart attack after collapsing outside

his california home. culp is perhaps best remembered for his role in "eye spy wts in the 1960s. he was 79. overseas markets are mostly high they are morning. cnbc's trish regan is at the new york stock exchange watching action again for us. >> good morning, natalie. we'll be watching capitol hill. ben bernanke, the fed chairman, is testifying before the house financial services committee and lawmakers are looking for some answers as is wall street as to what the exit strategy from all these stimulus programs that the fed has implemented ever since the crisis began over a year and a half ago. the other big thing going on is that it's getting more and more expensive for the u.s. government to borrow money. we saw evidence of that in a bond auction yesterday. there's another major bond auction today. and the question here is, as deficits keep increasing, will we have to start seeing higher interest rates? we saw yesterday with debt auctions maybe again today. >> trish regan at the new york

stock exchange, thank you. it was a frustrating commute home wednesday for people in pomona, california after a small plane made an emergency landing on a freeway. the pilot had reported engine problems. no one was hurt. take a look at this incredible video. spectacular sight in southern iceland where a volcano is erupting near a glacier. scientists used snowmobiles wednesday to get a closer look. it is creating rivers of lava more than five football fields long and sending smoke more than two miles high. nearby residents have been evacuated. fantastic pictures though. but i wouldn't want to be the guy in that helicopter circling above. >> i would watch it that close. >> you would? >> it is amazing to be that close in a helicopter.

>> that's your latest weather. there is relief in sight for some troubled homeowners. the nation's largest mortgage company has announced a program to help so-called underwater borrowers. but not everyone is keen on it. cnbc's dianaolick is in washington with more. >> reporter: a new report from the panel policing the government's bank bailout says the treasury's mortgage modification program simply isn't working and won't help as many borrowers as it originally promised because it doesn't address the issue of underwater borrowers or folks who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. but one bank is hoping to change that with a new pilot program. it's an idea that the banks have been fighting for years, but now as the foreclosure crisis deepens, they're giving in. starting with the biggest -- bank of america. >> we're starting with this program, we'll test it here and hope to expand it in the future.

>> reporter: in fact, the program could be the model for a change in the treasury's modification plan. >> we have been talking to treasury about programs similar to this for quite some time. i think the treasury's close to deciding whether they want to go forward with a program like this. >> reporter: here's how it works. say you owe $100,000 on your home. under the plan, bank of america will forgive, temporarily, up to 30%, or in this case $30,000. lowering your monthly payment and hopefully bringing the equity you have in your home closer to its market value. but there are conditions. your loan balance must be at least 20% more than your home's value. your payments must be on time for five years, and in exchange for paying on time, bank of america will make one-fifth of that temporary 30% reduction permanent each year. >> it is a big deal because for three years the banks have been resisting any kind of principle writedown. >> reporter: resisting it because it is expensive and

many, like this california homeowner say it sends the wrong message. >> why do we reward people with bad habits who don't try? >> it is tricky if the federal government gets involved because the homeowner who pays their mortgage on time will look at the neighbor who is getting a cut in their mortgage and be upset about that. >> reporter: now this is a very small targeted program. it is only going to help about 45,000 borrowers. to put that in perspective, bank of america has over 1 million troubled loans. but if other banks and the government do follow, it could finally help to stabilize home prices. meredith? >> cnbc's diana olick, thank you very much. just ahead, did a 13-year-old girl contribute to the alleged text rage beating of 15-year-old josie ratley just because she pointed her out? the family speaks out in an exclusive live interview. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

just ahead, should you make friends with the paints of your kid's friends and what should you do if you don't like them? are your kids' school lunches about to be dramatically changed? after your local news and weather. >> we will give you live drive

times per you can see the outer loop between 95 and 83. we are looking at 80 minutes. 21 minutes on the west -- 18 minutes on the west side. we will give you a live look at some delays. we have the west side of the beltway at liberty road is crawling. 795 down to edmonton ave. in the white marsh area, we're looking at delays southbound. it is slow down to the harbor tunnel. the cloud cover is thickening of but we should stay dry until late this evening. the temperatures started out in the 30's. we are in the mid to upper 40's. we will climb into the 60's this afternoon. 50 degrees downtown.

it forecast for today calls for a mixture of clouds and sunshine and a chance for rain showers by late this afternoon and this evening. we are shooting for a high- temperature near 64 per there's a good chance for rain on friday morning and clearing up and chilly in the afternoon. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic.

morning, the 25th of march, 2010. rockefeller plaza packed to the gills with happy folks waving to loved ones back home. always nice to have them stop by. i'm meredith vieira alongside ann curry filling in for matt this morning. did the best friend of eighth-grader josie ratley contribute to her savage beating because thee pointed ratley out to her accused attacker? also ahead, are radical

changes coming to the meals served to your children at their school and the menus at your favorite restaurants in two new efforts aimed at fighting obesity. a rare and risky procedure to remove half of a young girl's brain. amazingly that girl is now excelling at school. we'll meet her and her parents just ahead. but let's begin with the latest on that vicious attack on 15-year-old josie ratley, allegedly over a text messaging dispute. in a moment we'll talk to the family of ratley's 13-year-old friend who faces charges in the case. but first, here's nbc's michelle kosinski. >> reporter: don't let the handcuffs, jail jump suits or felony charges fool you. they look like children because they are children. accused in a vicious beating of eighth-grader josie ratley last week. now hanging on to life in a medically induced coma after two brain surgeries. >> 911. what is your emergency?

>> my friend is unconscious from another student on -- through a battery. >> reporter: it happened right outside deerfield beach middle while josie waited for her bus after school. >> he's in my office area. in the front office. >> put your phone down. put your phone down know. >> reporter: that caller is describing 15-year-old wayne treacy, accused of attempted pre-med kated murder of the girl police say he had never met. it all seemed to come out of nowhere for the boy who had never been in trouble before. they say he had texted josie trying to reach her 13-year-old friend, kayla, who doesn't have a cell phone. police say yocy texted back disapproving of wayne's relationship with the girl and after a back-and-forth made some reference to the recent suicide of wayne's brother. investigators say he snapped. texted his friends telling them he was going to kill josie, break her next. then rode his bike three miles to find her. but having never even seen her before, police say he asked

13-year-old kayla for help. >> she knew that he was coming over there to inflict harm on josie. she did nothing to stop it. when he got there, he didn't even know who yocy was. he went after a separate person and she told him, no, no, that's not her. that's the wrong person. >> reporter: the sheriff says treacy punched josie down, slammed her head into the sidewalk, then kicked and stomped her until a teacher finally pulled him off. kayla is now behind bars accused as an accessory. it's left this oceanside town stunned by two severe cases of teenage violence in six months after a 15-year-old was set on fire by other kids in october, a crime that horrified the country. this week miky quietly visited josie in the hospital. his grandmother said they're friends. so many questions now. the so-called text rage a new risk for kids? >> parents need to be asking

their children, are you giving and getting texts like this? go in to their phones, let them know you're going to go into their phones before you give them this technology, set up those parameters and rules. >> both wayne and kayla are in juvenile detention as prosecutors wait to see if josie pulls through and decide whether these two children will be charged as adults for what started with a text message between strangers. for "today," michelle kosinski, nbc news, miami. >> we reached out to wayne treacy and his public defender gave us this statement -- wayne remains on suicide watch at the juvenile detention center. his family is in a state of complete shock and disbelief. they are praying for josie every day. we are now joined exclusively by 13-year-old kayla manson's grandmother and legal guardian lori wiggins and her aunt, as well as kayla's attorney. good morning to all of you. >> good morning, meredith. >> kayla lives with you,

christine. after josie was brutally beaten, the police showed up at your house. can you tell me what happened? >> they came and just wanted to know what was going on, what happened at school today. that was it. they weren't there for very long. they just visited shortly. they poke spoke to kayla, then left. >> the next day they arrested kayla. is that correct? >> correct. >> what has she told you about what happened that day to her friend and what, if any, role she played in this terrible tragedy? >> meredith, good morning. attorney jonathan marne here. respectfully, the family wants to come forward and have a good interview this morning and discuss their sympathies for the victim, but regretfully, we are somewhat limited in the content that we can give out to the media at this time as there is a pending investigation and

charges have actually not been formally filed against the juveniles. so discussing the facts of the case is going to be somewhat limited. >> all right. let me ask you this way then, jonathan. the sheriff's office claims that kayla knew that wayne treacy was coming after josie and that she led him to her and watched him begin to beat her before she turned away. can you confirm any of that? dispute any of that? >> we don't believe that version to be fully accurate. without going into the facts of the case, it's our understand ing that, first off, that kayla was not instrumental in what happen happened. we believe that information will come out that mr. treacy actually knew who josie was

through pictures, through communications and such, and we want to discuss the family and how they're praying for the victim, not necessarily the details of the juveniles' involvement. but we believe that she had absolutely no idea that this was actually going to happen, even if she had heard or read text threats that a 13-year-old does not interpret threats the same way we do as adults and that she had no idea that anything was going to happen other than possibly somebody yelling at another student. >> tristine, kayla lives with you. how would you describe her? >> she is a very helpful girl. she's a very mothering girl. she helps take care of my handicapped child and knows him better than most people, knows

me better than most people. and a good girl overall. really good girl. >> never been in trouble with the law? >> no, absolutely. >> i know we have you -- you let us take some images of her myspace where she shows pictures of josie. what is her relationship with josie? >> as far as i know, they're friends and i know they're classmates in school. >> has she -- i know you've talked to her twice since she's been taken to juvenile detention. has she asked about josie? >> absolutely. and she was worried about her friend and she asked me what was going on. of course i don't want to tell her too much but she's like, well, i'm praying for her. i'm like, we are praying for her also and we want her to get better as quickly as she can. kayla expressed her concern for her immediately, was worried about her friend. >> lori, you are kayla's guardian here and she's been accused of some pretty awful things. you're also her grandmother. when you hear this thing that she's accused of, principle to

premeditated murder, could be charged as an adult felon, what goes through your mind? >> it's just, all of it, the whole situation is unbelievable for both girls. for the whole total situation of the matters. you don't see these girls having any concept of what's going on or that there's any danger. you just don't see these girls having this understanding of the situation at all. >> jonathan, i know that kayla will be in court tomorrow. from a legal standpoint, what is next? for her. >> well, what's next is really up to the broward county state attorney's office. she's going to appear in front

of judge williams on friday for a procedural hearing. she's been bound over for 21 days in secure detention. from here, we are eagerly awaiting the filing decision of the broward county state attorney's office and we are hopeful that kayla will be treated as a juvenile. >> all right, lori wiggins, tristine stott, jonathan, thank you for joining us. >> pretty tough story. much. >> now let's get a check of the weather with al. as we look at the temperatures across the country, it's nice and warm. temperatures warming up anywhere from 5 to 12 degrees above normal along the mid-atlantic northeast coast but awfully cold from the great plains down into texas, teens and 20s into the northern plains, 70s and 80s through the gulf coast on into

florida. >> good morning, but clouds will be thickening up as we head toward the day but there will be a chance for renters this evening but it will be dry during the day. we will make it into >> you can keep track of your weather all day long on the weather channel on cable or weather.com. can they make school lunches healthier? big changes that could be coming to your kid's cafeteria right after this.

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because this is what they normally get for lunch. pizza, coke and candy bar. here's the other option. >> the goal is to have healthier choices for kids. hopefully they'll make them. if their families raised them to eat things like a turkey sandwich, that will be healthy and that's a good thing. many kids will have the go-to, low-nutrient, high-calorie foods like pizza, soda and a candy bar. you have to downsize and eliminate some of the high-calorie foods because given the competition what are kids going to pick? the pizza and soda, most times. >> dave, sounds like a good idea on paper. what's wrong with this idea? madelyn is a little bit of a nay sayer here. >> that's understandable. the fact is that we need better nutritional standards and with this current administration, they're lickly to be strictly enforced. nobody wants to mess with michelle obama so it is a great starting part. the fact is to madelyn's point, we're eating too much beige food. kids are going into the schools

and they're getting the chicken fingers and the fries, and hearing something totally different from the school nurse or gym teacher. so it is really important for us to start somewhere, see if we can make a difference -- >> but do you agree that there is a problem here that kids will probably not choose the healthier option so it doesn't really work? >> well, yeah. what -- i mean their taste buds are trained for pizza. but at the same time, we've seen studies where you can make changes for healthier options with kids. they work fast, they work well. in philadelphia, pennsylvania, my home state, there were five schools that changed up their vending machines. they got rid of the high-fat, high-sugar options and they replaced them with juice, water, milk and healthy snacks. two years later the obesity race was cut in half compared to the surrounding schools. >> older kids, middle school and older and high school kids are going to be very resistant to change. we have to start younger and younger.

a study just came out that said you have to start with babies and toddlers. by the time children get to school you'll have less impact because -- because when people are paying for their own food, kids make choices that will be tastier. starting younger in preschool and elementary school, yes, a turkey sandwich is great, colorful food will have the greatest impact. >> bottom line, it would be terrific if this kind of idea would start at home. >> it is a great concept. >> let's talk about what's already signed into the law, the current health care bill which would also require restaurants chains with 20 or more outlets disclose calories. >> it is a fabulous idea. it does something for people who want to validate what they're getting, you have the group that goes i want something better but it is too hard, i want information. so at the point of purchase when you order, you see the calorie and calorie difference. something that sounds very healthy like a green tea frappacino which should be good for you is double the calories

of a regular latte. at least you can know that. for people that say i don't care about the calorie count, fine, they don't have to look at it but you need to have that there because it will affect a large group of people. >> david, what do you think? >> i think it is a really important first step. look, the fact is, we need this informati information. in the $940 billion health care bill, this is free. this tells people what they're eating. we've found obviously that -- we all need access to health care but our actions, not our insurance cards, are what's going to make the difference and have the greatest influence. here the problem is you can go in, as we see all the time, and eat a 2,000-calorie appetizer and it totally throws off your diet because that's what you should eat in a day. >> last point, david, very quickly. >> we just need to realize that what we're eating. because a lot of the times it is not food.

>> okay, david and madelyn, we could talk for hours about this but we're out of time. thank you both for weighing in on both theses of legislation. ahead, a remarkable young girl thriving in school even though doctors removed half of girl thriving in school even though doctors removed half of her brain. ffee, or tea. i've got it. ♪ [ female announcer ] introducing crest 3d white toothpaste. the remarkable new toothpaste that removes up to 80% of surface stains in just two weeks. good advice. what did i tell ya. [ female announcer ] for a noticeably whiter smile in just two weeks. new crest 3d white toothpaste. and try crest 3d white rinse.

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x live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news. >> i am stan stovall for the time is the 7:56. let's get an update on traffic emma we picked up a few more incidents on the road to talk about her it would have an accident eastbound in windsor mill. in anne arundel county, there is an accident at rock ridge road and dorsey braun wrote. the outer loop on the top, we're

looking at 18 minutes. 20 minutes on the outer loop, west side. 95 southbound from barber tunnel, seven minutes. we will give you a live look at the west side as lays at liberty brokerage it looks like it is cleared up a bed. 95 in the white marsh area, we are seeing delays down to 895. that is the latest on traffic. >> good morning, the weather is pretty quiet now but you notice a little bit of cloud cover in that northern suburbs. most of you will have a dry commute. the temperatures are still in the 40's it is 51 downtown. we will continue to see a mix of sun and clouds and the best chance for rain will be this evening, late this afternoon into tonight pretty high

temperature will be 64. a good chance for rain friday morning but clearing up in the afternoon. it will be breezy and chilly. we will get sunshine back by the beginning of the weekend on saturday. >> be sure and check the bottom of your screen for updated news in traffic throughout the morning.

how about over here? n-- let's go back to the left. waffling is back at dunkin' donuts. for a short time only, enjoy the return of the delicious oven-toasted waffle breakfast sandwich. america runs on dunkin'.

8:00 now on this thursday morning, march 25th, 2010. ann and i have stepped outside to say hello to the sea of smiling faces who are starting their day in rockefeller plaza. take a look at this crowd. it is a beautiful day in new york city. i'm meredith vieira, along with ann curry, as i said, and al roker. matt has the morning off. just ahead, when our kids make new friends, we end up

forming relationships very often with the parents. what happens if you don't like them? the inevitable bumps that arise in these family relationships. >> that seems like important advice. also we have a remarkable story you talked about earlier, about this young girl who suffered violence seizures for years. doctors decided to treat her by removing half her brain. incredibly, she's exceeded all expectations. we'll meet this young girl and her parents in just a moment. she's doing very well in school. >> that's amazing. wow. then we're going to take you inside the wizarding world of harry potter and reveal -- at universal orlando resorts -- we will reveal when the grand opening will be held. it is going to be big. >> the wizarding world. we're going to be there. absolutely. first i want to look at one of the funniest youtube videos we have ever come across. take a look at this.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> okay. i think we've seen enough of that. ♪ al roker al roker al roker face ♪ ♪ al roker al roker al roker face ♪ >> last time i was this embarrassed is when bill cosby came out with "fat albert."

>> impersonating lady gaga. but lady gaga may change the song now. >> i bet she will. >> if she's as smart as i think she is, she will. that was very cute. >> thank you, nadia. now for something a little more serious, natalie morales has the news. >> i can't stop laughing at that one. good morning, everyone. a delay this morning for the senate fixes bill that makes changes in the newly signed health care law. during an overnight session republicans successfully challenged two provisions in the bill that deal with student grants. those two items must be removed and the measure sent back to the house for final approval. the fbi is investigating, meanwhile, threats and vandalism against at least ten democratic members of congress who voted for health care reform. house republican leader john boehner called such actions unacceptable. the school board in affluent wake county, north carolina voted this week to kill a

controversial bussing program designed to create school diversity. good morning, ton. >> reporter: in a narrow 5-4 vote, the wake county school board approved a directive that will have students go to schools in their neighborhoods. it sounds simple enough but racial diversity advocates here are furious. police had to be called in to the scene of tuesday's contentious vote. protesters staged a sit-in. authorities arrested three people and, in the end, the protesters lost. the board voted to move towards a community-based school system where students will go to schools near their homes. >> going back and changing the diversity policy at this stage is basically taking a step back. >> reporter: the decision ends an enormously controversial policy in place since 1999 when north carolina's largest school district began an unusual desegregation policy, bussing children from wealthy neighborhoods to schools in

poorer ones, and visa versa. the goal was to create diversity. >> we need to have an honest conversation about what's really going on within the wake county public school system and admit that we are failing many of our students. >> reporter: the policy angered many affluent parents who wanted their kids in the best suburban schools, not bussed to an urban school in poor neighborhoods. >> we need to build our communities better. we need to have the kids go to the same schools with their neighborhoods to build that community, and by bussing we're not achieving anything. >> reporter: they elected a new conservative school board determined to reverse the bussing program. >> bussing is wrong, always has been wrong. >> reporter: but as the board moves to end the bussing, the program's many supporters came out in full force arguing that poorer students, many of whom are african-american, will be resegregated. >> you can't dismantle social economic diversity, which it's proven legally, it's proven by

research and it's morally right. >> reporter: nearly 50 years after the civil rights movement desegregated schools across the south, this southern community is still divided over issues of race, money and education. for years, the diversity program and its bussing program here has been a model of sorts for other school districts across the country. we'll have to see if that changes. for now the school district here will spend the next 9 to 15 months trying to figure out how to put the new plan in place. >> thank you, thanh. the u.s. and russia are expected to sign an agreement to reduce their nuclear arsenals. the wild west came to southern california on wednesday. a dozen run-away horses stampeded through the u.s. olympic training center. a cowboy from a local ranch was finally able to lasso the lead horse and the others followed. good thing there was a cowboy

nearby. 8:06. let's go back outside to meredith and ann. >> we have more of the "al roker face." where is it? >> oh, good. thankfully. that was close. what's school you guys from? >> we're here for an orchestra competition. >> like you're fighting against other orchestras? >> yes. >> you're the son of ricky black? >> yeah. i'm lewis rick black iii. >> he went out with my sister. i ought to beat him up, too. tell your daddy said hi. let's check your weather, see what's going on. we'll show you, bay city, michigan. the bay city rollers, nbc 25. partly sunny, cold, 42 degrees. jet stream today, we got that subtropical jet that's bringing the risk of some strong storms through the southeast. lot of wet weather in the

pacific northwest. we put the map in motion, bring it on into saturday. you can see we got a little bit of a dip in the midsection of the country bringing rai>> gooda quiet start and we will see the clouds thickening up throughout the day. a chance for rain showers will hold up until this evening with a high tempera >> i have a group here. up next, a medical marvel. you'll meet a miraculous young girl who had half of her brain removed right after this. bacon? gotta get that bacon!

smokey bacon, crispy bacon, tasty bacon! (child laughing) where is it? where is the bacon? tv anchor: bacon popular, story at 11. yummy. crunchy. bacon. bacon. there, in that bag! mom: who wants a beggin' strip? me! i'd get it myself but i don't have thumbs! yum, yum, yum, yum, yum... it's beggin'! hm...i love you! i love bacon! beggin' strips! there's no time like beggin' time! toss 'em, fling 'em, zing 'em. have fun, with beggin' canadian cuts. [clucking]

look for delicious cadbury's, reese's and hershey's products in the easter candy aisle. 'cause no bunny knows easter better than hershey's. my old contacts would sometimes move and blur my vision. then my eye doctor told me about acuvue oasys for astigmatism. they work with the way my eyes move and blink, which helps them stay in place. so now, i'm seeing more clearly. [ male announcer ] for a free trial pair certificate, go to getacuvue.com. hmm...what's going on with dad? he seems different. ♪ are you ready? he's not talking about work. ♪ i don't want to work he's not tucking in his shirt. ♪ i want to bang on the drum all day ♪ he's not checking messages every 9 seconds. ♪ i just want to bang on the drum all day ♪ and now this? ♪ i don't want to play ♪ i just want to bang on the drum all day ♪ [ fog horn blows ] ♪ [ sniffs ] morning. you got in pretty late last night.

dad, i'm not sixteen anymore. still, it was late. well... you're not gonna have to worry about that anymore. yeah, why's that? ♪ todd's a lucky man. ♪ the best part of wakin' up... ♪ that's what i told him when we talked last week. ♪ ...is folgers in your cup this morning on "today's health," the daring choice to save a young girl with a debilitating brain disorder. nbc's chief medical editor dr.

nancy snyderman is here with her amazing story. >> good morning, ann. it is an amazing story. cameron was born a happy, healthy baby but at the age of 3 things changed, very quickly, putting her life on the line. the only hope, an extraordinary procedure for an extraordinary little girl removing half of her brain. the mott family started their days like most other families. however, within an hour of awakening, their days were abruptly turned upside down. at the age of 3, their daughter cameron started to have seizures, up to ten a day. >> within 20 minutes or so she would have her first seizure. then they would just continue throughout the day. it was not any quality of life for her. >> reporter: after almost three years of seizures, multiple medications and no answers, cameron's cognitive intelligence was declining and she was barely talking. >> she wore a helmet all the time because her seizures were just so aggressive and violent

and she would just get hurt so often. >> reporter: cameron was finally diagnosed with a rare condition called rasmussen syndrome. hope came at johns hopkins university medical center where neurologists concluded cameron was a candidate for a daring and complicated surgery. a hemispherectomy, a removal of up to one-half of the brain. >> we like to do children because of their ability or their plasticity, that's their ability of the other side of the brain that we haven't removed to take over and control the function of the diseased half that we are removing. >> reporter: after a long, but successful, surgery, cameron was left with only the right half of her brain. and awakened completely paralyzed on the left side of her body. the real challenge was just beginning. >> after surgery, she needs immediate therapy. the more therapy she gets, the faster that she's going to recover that side that's become

paralyzed. >> reporter: with intense therapy, the remaining side of the brain was able to relearn and compensate for the hemisphere that was removed. cameron exceeded expectations and walked out of the rehabilitation center four weeks later. >> cameron's actually doing very well. she's able to walk and run around the office and certainly around the playground. and most importantly, she's able to do well in school. >> and she hasn't had a seizure in two years. >> we were just asking for some sort of normality. we didn't know we were going to get the full deal. we truly -- i tell cameron's story as a miracle. i truly do believe that miracles happen and my daughter cameron is a walking example of that. >> reporter: walking, yes. but she treems of dancing. >> i want to be a ballerina because they twirl and dance. >> dr. nancy is joining us, along with cameron this morning,

along with her parents, shelly and casey, as well as her little sister carolyn. good morning to all of you. i want to ask you, first, cameron, how do you feel? and when you watched that, do you have any memory of it? >> no. >> you don't remember any of it? >> no. >> no? >> not at all. >> how are you doing today? >> good. >> yeah? are you doing well in school? do you enjoy it? >> um-hmm. i enjoy it. >> how did you decide that this was the right choice? now obviously you feel that it was? >> it was absolutely the right choice. really, for us when we knew what she had, and we knew that this was our only option to help her, the risk was something that we were willing to deal with because her quality of life was so poor. >> a very heart-wrenching decision for you. for any parent. >> it was. very scary. you just can't imagine what your child will be like after such a dramatic brain surgery. it just doesn't seem like they could be the same child really. >> is she the same child, casey?

>> oh, yeah. she's always been a real bubbly little girl ever since she was born. blonde, curly hair as a baby. and we more or less lost our daughter and got her back with surgery. >> nancy, do we know what causes this rasmussen syndrome? is. >> it is an electrical storm that just sends the wrong kind of electricity. if you think very, very simply, that the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body, it was the right side of her brain that was having all these misfirings and that was causing her seizures. if you look at this model, except for the lower parts of the brain that control breathing, it really means taking out one half of the brain. if you take out the right brain, you know that patient's going to wake up paralyzed and that's exactly what happened to cameron. but because the pediatric brain is so elastic, the left side of her brain took over for the right side and look at her now. it is extraordinary. >> how long did that take, that relearning period? >> it was pretty intense. when we got home, it was ten

hours a week of very intense therapy. she started right back to school and has just come a very long way. we've just -- therapy has really just tapered off recently. >> cameron, you want to be a ballerina? >> yes, i want to be a ballerina. we will just celebrate that day when you're a ballerina. so keep twirling, darling. okay? deal? >> um-hmm. >> give it to me. awesome. thank you all so much for bringing us this story. we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. hold on a second... come on up here where your brothers sit. [ birds chirping ] wow! did i ever tell you what it was like growing up with four sisters? that sounds fun. yeah...fun for them! [ male announcer ] chevy traverse. a consumers digest best buy. with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. it seats eight comfortably -- not that it always has to.

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vo:but at walmart? the same 10 a nidollars can buy so much more.l drug store. more easter. plus great new rollbacks. that's worth hopping in for. save money. live better. walmart. now to a rather unexpected group of video gamers who call themselves the big fish babes. as "today" west coast contributor shows us, they are helping breathe new life into the world of gaming. >> reporter: at 62, gina has a serious addiction. >> when you get to be a certain age you need something to keep your mind stimulated. that's my excuse anyway. >> reporter: gina's hooked. on gaming. when you hear of video games,

you think of 13-year-old boys. what do you think when people say, you're a middle-aged woman, you're playing video games? >> there are teenage boy shoot- 'em-up games. but these are just nice games. >> reporter: gina's 1 of 9 so-called big fish babes. the women who range from 50 to 65 years old met online two years ago while playing madame fate where you hunt for hidden objects. initially, the nine women started talking about the game in a public forum, but soon the topics grew. >> jodi is calling on the other line. >> some of them started talking about personal issues like men, and marriage, and things like that. i thought, wow, these are really cool women. >> reporter: you might call it a sign of the times. forget all about age and geography. nowadays you don't need to live close to be close. and these self-titled babes are

proving just that. >> they were there for me every single day and they were calling and they were praying for me. >> reporter: the babes are spread all around the country, and even though they've never met in person, lisa from florida credits the others for helping her successfully battle a deadly lung infection. >> i really, truly believe i wouldn't be here if it were not for them. >> reporter: so, after e-mailing and talking on the phone almost every day for over a year, the babes decided to finally meet for the first time in seattle where gina lives. what was it like the first moment you were actually seeing them for the first time? >> it was a massive group hug. it was just magical. there's no other way to put it. >> it was surreal and it felt as though i had known them all my life. it sounds, i know, really crazy, but it really was a just

phenomenal experience. >> reporter: the women have made such a splash, the company big fish uses them as consultants to test out new games. >> we're very excited about our ideas but we always kind of check those ideas with each other, with the team and with sort of our audience, that being the big fish babes because they're sort of our alpha partners. >> reporter: the babes help the company, but more importantly, they continue helping one another every single day. >> friends with no physical contact. it was built upon words. and i think that that has strengthened our bond. >> if you had a big secret, would you confide in the babes or your other friends? first? >> the babes.first? >> the babes. definitely. >> reporter: for "today," nbc news, burbank, california.

>> wow! >> that's so great that people can come together and find that warmth with each other. i'm inspired. >> i've never been a big internet person but i see now, that's one reason -- >> live, local, and late-her you breaking, this is tv11 news in baltimore. lax i am mindy basera, is a the clock 26. let's check in with traffic. >> things are not looking terrible on the roads this morning. there are a few incidents like an accident on 270 eastbound. -- on 70 eastbound. there was a pedestrian that was struck. there is an accident in essex.

we have live drive times with delays to report. . the outer loop from 95 to 83, 18 minutes per the outlook on the west side, 17 minutes and five minutes on i-95 south. we will give you a live look at the north side of the beltway. the elder loop is a little slow. -- the outer loop is a little slow. the average speed is about 21 miles per hour. 95 and the white marsh area, we are seeing worst delays earlier but right now, 95 in the white marsh is looking better. you might have to tap your breaks a little. that the latest on traffic. >> good morning, things are pretty quiet in the weather department. there have been a few sprinkles in southern pennsylvania but we will have a smooth thursday morning commute as far as weather. we started in the 30's and it

is 52 in westminster. the forecast for today calls for a mix of clout and sunshine and the best place for rain will be this evening. high temperatures will be in the low to mid 60's. it will be a chilly day on friday with rain in the past -- morning but that will clear up in the afternoon. >> thank you for joining us. we will have another update at 8:55. hi! welcome to progressive.com. come on in, and i'll give you a free quote. quote and compare in about 8 minutes. now, that's progressive. call or click today.

back at 8:30 now on this thursday morning, march 25th, 2010 with some big news. that is a first-ever look inside the wizarding world of harry potter at universal orlando

resort. >> that's cool. >> that kind of looks like your desk. now we can tell you now the grand opening celebration will be held june 18th, two days left for your kid's class to enter to be there. find details at our website, todayshow.com. >> very exciting news. also, just ahead in this half-hour, what you should do when you don't like the parents of your kid's friends. we have some advice. also just ahead, basically we'll be talking about the season is spring. we'll talk about fashion and gardening. we have advice on both. p. allen smith is here with some plants you may not know about. >> he has an automatic sprayer. he can't stop. his trigger's stuck. plus speaking of fashion, we'll show you one of the

hottest shades of the season. actually it is pale. >> that's pretty. weather. yes! let's take a look, see what's happening. for saturday, sunny and cool in the northeast, mid-atlantic states. nice and warm in the southeast. rain in the mid mississippi river valley. out west, gorgeous, plenty of sunshine and mild. clouds in the pacific northwest. then sunday -- sunday -- more rain moves in to the mid-atlantic states, on into the ohio river valley. western half of the country looks fabulous with the >> good morning, but clouds will be thickening up as we head toward the day but there will be a chance for renters this evening but it will be dry during the day. we will make it into

>> and that's your latest weather. any time you want to check your weather, go to the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. you can catch an all-new episode of "the marriage ref" tonight on nbc. three couples face off to settle their marital disputes, including a husband to wants to be the next eminem. and another who keeps insisting on leaving the motorcycle in the living room. tonight's panel, jerry seinfeld, alec baldwin, kelly ripa. oh, that's not right! i don't know what that was but that's not right. that's tonight at 10:00, 9:00 central right here on nbc. just the facts, ma'am. what was that? >> the couple who actually has the motorcycle in the living room they also trained their cat to pee in the toilet.

>> in it on on it? >> in it. >> okay. i think they got a few more problems. >> i love that. >> that's right. by the way, we were so captivated, uncle willie, by the cat on the toilet seat that i almost forgot you. uncle willie? >> i'm waking up with al, my favorite show. very sweet. happy birthday from smucker's. what a good group we have. orville, ohio. joe shelley, excel, alabama. 101. that's the second time he's tried to get on. loves doing cross word puzzles. enjoys visits from family and friends. nell roots, panama city,

florida. started a food drive for haiti, the earthquake victims. attributes her longevity to beginning each day with a smile. positive attitude will chase away the blues. johnny carson. here's johnny! from godfrey, illinois. 100 years old today. drove cancer patients to the hospital for treatment for over 14 years and believes the key to being 100 is flirting. with his wife. you old devil you! lester, beautiful lester scherfenburg. a world war ii veteran. 100 years old. nominated by the minnesota local news association for his volunteer work in habitat for humanity. a man who still keeps busy. beautiful anna mahramas. canonsburg, pennsylvania. went on to her first date -- the

first date she ever had was with perry como. grace beckett, carlsbad, california. 00 years o 100 years old. retired math teacher. that's all. now we toast ann. >> hey, dear, always toasting you, willard. thank you so much. by the way, there is a story we forgot to tell you about. paul proposed to sherry last night at the top of the rock and she said yes! how exciting is that? also coming up, the options when you don't like the parents of your kids' friends. but first, there is "today" on nbc.

how about over here? hmm... let's go back to the left. uh... waffling is back at dunkin' donuts with the return of the waffle breakfast sandwich. two oven-toasted waffles with a hint of maple, complete with fluffy egg, a slice of melted cheese, and now with delicious sausage. so hurry in today because it's only around for a short time. america runs on dunkin'. try our oven-toasted waffle breakfast sandwich today, only at dunkin' donuts. "today's moms" is brought to you by walmart. save money, live better.

walmart. this morning on "today's moms," how to make friends with new families. the pitfalls for parents and kids that can come along with those new relationships. >> when you're trying to date another family, you've got four, five, six personalities that all have to gel. >> we had a friend in common who sort of set us up on a blind date and the blind date was a picnic in the park. >> i saw her and i thought she looked cool. we sort of hit it off. we had a lot in common. it was a very easy connection. >> we would run into them a lot. they lived across the street from us. so we would get together, just by happenstance a lot of times, meet at the playground. then of course the boys were in school together and the moms would hang out. >> i've gone to many a play date where i sit there and i think, the two hours can't go by fast enough because i have nothing to talk about with this mom. >> everything seems to be going so well, then all of a sudden

there's that screech from the other room and one child is blaming the other child for some injustice. >> if the boys like each other, then i can have a play date without me being there, or if the parents like each other, i can go out with them without the kids. >> we all went to park city, utah at the same time. the boys were in ski school together. often a weekend doesn't go by where we say, what are you doing this weekend? >> we help each other out, we are each other's support system. >> so how do you navigate these family relationships? michelle callahan is a psychologist and author of "ms. type." first, why are these family friendships so appealing? >> it's great because when you do things you want to be able to include your family. if if your kids like each other, it is great if you can go along and bring your spouse so everybody can be together as opposed to splitting off and having to do things separately. >> what's the most common way families hook up with each other? >> through their kids. you want to do the play date so you start to meet the other

parents. next thing you know you guys are going to dinner or the park or things like that. >> but it is a little bit like the dating scene. you see somebody across the park and size them up, are we going to get along. the whole thing. >> you're courting them, you get to know them, you get excited to talk to them on the phone. you hope that you can click so you can build these friendships. it is harder for adults to build friends the older they get. >> you're talking about six, eight people, whatever, that increases the likelihood of problems down the line. >> it is so hard to meet everybody's needs. kids are special. then you are talking about two women, two men. six, eight, ten people perhaps. >> i know in my situation -- i think somebody alluded to this, we had made friends with a family and one of my kids and the other child got along, then they suddenly didn't like each other. and that happens a lot. what do you do in a case like that? i wanted to hold everybody together and eventually we couldn't do it. >> it is totally normal. it is hard enough to hold blood relatives together. imagine trying to keep friends together. i think you have to think about

what's that main relationship. if that's not clicking, you may have to get together separately with the parents. kids may not always grow together. >> or the kids may get together and parents except the fact, we don't work. >> exactly. >> what tips do you have for people trying to navigate their way through this is. >> manage your expectations, it is not going to be easy to do, it takes time to get to know people. if it doesn't click right away, that's not a bad thing. you have to really work on -- working towards getting the kids together, but understanding that if that doesn't click, it may be just whoever met the first time around. if it is the kids that met the first time around, protect that relationship. don't allow the adults and their not clicking to get in the way of that primary relationship. >> you say talk it through. what do you mean by talk it through? >> a lot of this is about parenting. adults have very different feelings with that. if you don't parent the same way, talk ba about that. don't let the kids fussing stop you from getting along with the other adults. talk about the things that aren't working so you can figure out a way to keep everyone together. >> you also say don't force it.

if it ain't there, it ain't there. >> if it's not there, don't force it. work it out if it makes sense, but if it doesn't, everybody can't get along. six to eight people? it is hard enough getting two to get along. if it doesn't work out, move on, separate the two relationships, let them hang out. >> the most critical one you say is the one to establish. >> yes. if it started with the kids, protect that. if the adults are having cat fights, please don't break the kids up because the adults couldn't get along. let whoever started that protect that relationship, say, look, all these other people are extra. if we can make everyone get along, great. but if not, let's not mess up this initial relationship. >> michelle callahan, thank you very much. up next, a new plant that can add new color to your spring garden. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:45. this morning on "today's garden," colorful blooms,

showing shrubs and tasty treats. gardening expert p. allen smith is the author of "bringing the garden indoors" with new ideas for us for spring planting. >> good morning. happy spring. >> thank you so much. your eye caught some color. >> yes, absolutely. always. these plants, ann, are new on the market and they're really created for their flower power like this bubble gum super petunia. just blooms all summer long. this little angel face angelonia will bloom all summer long. and this has so much flower power you cannot imagine. all of these are very good for full sun. for a little bit of shade, you combine this key lime pie with this wonderful little impatien. >> would you plant these now? >> you would wait until after

frost has passed. the danger of frost. in shrubs, you can't believe what's going on in shrubs. for instance, what they're doing now, this forever and ever series of azalia will flower in the spring and summer. the industry's saying we'll produce color for you. >> as a result we can get -- >> hiydrangeas. the knock-out rose is just so hard to beat. these will bloom all summer long. >> i'm going to quibble with you for a second. i have had roses. you really have to tend to them, you have to cut them back, and worry over them. they don't always work. >> but these have the again knicks -- they're so disease-resistant, they're incredible. i want you to take those home and try them. these are yours. >> that's a lot of roses.

you're saying they won't be as much trouble? >> i can tell you, they will not. edibles, you can grow them from seed. or can you start with the plants. edibles are beautiful as well. just look at this swiss chard. isn't it gorgeous? >> it is. people are getting with the program. okay. normally we clip that, but -- >> i like it raw. >> really? but people are -- usually you wash it, too. >> i did watch it beforehand. swiss chard here. look at this bibb lettuce. look at these roma tomatoes. growing a beautiful roma tomato in a container like this, you can produce beautiful fruit. strawberries are so easy to grow. one of the things that i think people really get excited about are blueberries. they their are a lot of antioxidants. >> wait a minute. you're saying we can grow blueberries? >> yes. in containers. they have beautiful fall color. the flowers are gorgeous and look at this delicious fruit. >> these are washed?

>> organically grown. >> more an more people -- those are really sweet -- are thinking about organic food or they want to have more control over their food. >> they want to know where their food is coming from. this whole edible series is so important. we need to think about where our food comes from and get kids involved. now that's a roma tomato, started already in this biodegradable pot. this will probably produce seven to eight pounds of tomatoes. >> all right. strawberries are also pretty hearty. >> they're very hearty. some of them are now producing more berries an larger berries. though i like the old-fashioned one that a sweet berries. >> thanks, you really inspired us this morning. coming up on "today's style," we have spring's unexpected new color which is pale. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

this morning on "today's tile," pretty in pale. yes, pale. it is a big trend this spring. our resident style expert stacy london, crow host of tlc's "what not to wear" will show us how to pull it off. good morning. >> good morning, meredith. you look lovely in pale.

>> thank you very much. but you know what? pale is a hard thing to pull off. >> yeah, it is hard. the big thing about it is that we saw it everywhere on the red carpet, oscars, golden globes. it is really coming back as a big spring trend but it is wearable if you do it the right way. you're doing one of the ways it is perfect. you do pale and anchor it with a darker neutral. >> i didn't even know i was doing something the right way. very good. >> absolutely. t me just show you, the first thing that's most important when it comes to pale -- this is the biggest problem. women think that lighter colors emphasize darker color camouflages. that is true, but cut takes precedence. the cut of a garment will always determine whether or not you look bigger or smaller in it. >> angela looks beautiful in it. >> this dress, look at the way it is seamed. we emphasize an hour glass shape. you can do gorgeous lavender, great for blue eyes and dark hair but it still works because you're seeing the shape before you see the color. >> you go k go solid as long as

the shape is right. >> absolutely. you can go pale as long as the shape is right without looking bigger. >> angela, thank you so much. our next look is a pale metallic. sidney, come on out. >> we've seen a lot of metallic over the winter. even last spring. but what's new here is this paler metallic, this brushed metallic. it looks great on her skin tone in particular. this sweater actually has a gold base with gold flecks in it. now a really bold way to do this is mix it. like the pewter, and the sweater. this is all from ann taylor. this is great because it can take you from day to evening. like you, anchor it with a darker neutral. add a heel to this and you can go straight from work to cocktail. >> very lovely. thank you, sidney. another way we're seeing pale is in a pale print? our next model is shawna. >> yes. people who are concerned with trend, print, especially a pale

print, is a really easy way to nail the trend without getting washed out. that's the thing, people really worry about getting washed out, their skin tone. look for something that's got a little bit of that kind of great visual interest to it. that's what a print does for an outfit. you'll notice there is a lot of pale colors, florals and tie-dyes in this loosey-goosey fabric. be careful that you never go too far away from the body. you won't be able to eat soup and you'll lose your body shape all together. make sure it is still cut close enough to the body. >> our next pale look, nude with a pop of color. wendy, come on out. >> this is very important to me. i want people of pale skin to understand -- >> you've got it with a redhead here. >> you can even do this with a blonde. you can do nude, which is the pale neutral -- i mean it is the trend for spring. you can do it even if you're pale by popping it with some

color, either on the cheek or lips or even the accessories. here we've done the metallic accessory. with the red lip. you can do it with any hair color, any skin color as long as you pay attention to the nude itself. never do a yellow undertone. do something with a blue or pink undertone. >> why never do a yellow? >> it will make you look sickly. you always look for that sort of pink hue or a real blue undertone hue, even in a nude. and with pale pink, it will create enough of a contrast. even with freckles? that's awesome. >> i would have never thought to pair with a redhead. it looks gorgeous. >> one last look. and one last question -- how does this become a trend? why is it that pale becomes a tren for spring versus something else? >> it's funny. you'll see it gain momentum season after season. basically what we diesigners do is catch on to something and make it bigger the next spring, or the next spring. this has been going on a little

while, and now it is more popular than ever. >> stacy london, thank you so much. we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. x live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 deusen baltimore. >> i am mindy basera, it is a the clock 55. no city department or agency is spare from a budget act and the mayor's current proposal. they're calling for 600 layoffs and over 100 in the fire department. there will be a permanent closure of seven fire departments. the mayor says there is no money for fireworks at the inner harbor for the fourth of july. trash collection and the passing of street lights would be cut. an alternative plan will be presented and will include ways to raise revenue for the city. the mayor promises>> for the mos

should be quiet today. there were a spew sprinkles earlier but the bulk of the rain will hold up until we get into the afternoon and evening hours. it will be a mix of sun and clouds today and will make it into the low 60's this afternoon. wing -- rain will be likely friday morning and will clear up in the afternoon. it will be a breezy and chilly day. sunshine will be back on saturday with a high near 54. >> thank you for joining us, we will have another update at 8:25.