this morning on "early today," world stage. president obama prepares to address global issues at the opening of the u.n. general assembly. parents' worst nightmare, millions of cans of infant formula are recalled over concerns they contain bug parts. and south florida's spinout, a dramatic ending to a high speed chase through the streets a dramatic ending to a high speed chase through the streets of miami. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello and good morning. i'm amara sohn.

today we begin with global warming. president obama will address the united nations general assembly today where he'll talk up steps this nation has taken to strengthen its global ties. he will urge the partnership to work towards goals such as economic crisis and peace in the middle east. michelle franzen is live for us in new york. >> reporter: good morning, amara. certainly the president's speech will focus on what he talked about last year and rebuilding a lot of the international relations following the bush administration's foreign policy. but many of the same issues are still -- president is still facing with foreign policy agenda, including much in the middle east. of course, combat units in iraq left there at the end of awl august, but still, about 50,000 troops remain in iraq, training security forces there and in afghanistan, troops, of course, have been increased along with the attacks by insurgents.

and certainly talks, peace talks for the middle east twin israeli and palestinian leaders got a jump start earlier this month, but so far, still no direct talks planned in the meantime. of course, iran and north korea's defiance over international sanctions and pressure to stop their nuclear program will take the stage, as well. president obama is expected to speak early this morning and following iran's president this afternoon, act mood ma dean jah will be speaking in new york. >> thank you. for many today, additional health benefits go in effect on this, the six-month anniversary of the passage of the landmark health care joe haul law. yesterday, that legislation was back in the spotlight with president obama looking to clear things up while republicans unleashed plans to repeal and replace the health care overhaul

with their own ideas. for more, tracie potts in washington. >> reporter: good morning. president obama says he blamed himself for not doing a better sales job with this new health care plow, health reform and republicans are now trying to repeal it. but major provisions of that reform kick in today. for example, no more lifetime limits on insurance coverage and children can no longer be denied for prexifth conditions. the adult portion of that will kick in about four years from now. preventive care, checkups now has to be covered. and adults can stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26. for some people, that kick necessary this week. for others, when their insurance columbus rolls over in january, the president, again, on a sales pitch trying to get u.s. support and public support for this plan. republicans have insisted that they want it repealed, that it's a $2.5 trillion mistake

according to the chair of the republican national committee. today, they're unveiling what they call a 21-page pledge to america. in addition to repealing healthry form, it includes tax cuts for everyone including millionai millionaires, ending bailouts, ending government control of fannie mae and freddie mac. they want to cut government spending back to 2008 levels. this is a plan they're hoping will help them in november. in new york last night after barely completing one sentence, president obama has heckled for gay rights and aids funding. it forced the president to go off script many times insisting his administration has increased aids funding and is working to overturn the law on gays serving in the military. he then sold the hecklers to go

bother republicans after they didn't low the don't ask, don't tell policy to be repealed. officers clipped what they believed was a stolen car. one suspect jumped out and attempted to run away from officers, but was quickly grounded with a stun gun. the other suspects are dragged from the vehicle and taken into custody. in new mexico, an amateur astronomer captured a rare sight traveling across the sky. a bright meteor moving north, traveling right past the moon. the amazing footage was captured with an experimental all sky optical video camera specifically sensitive to the near infrared flashes that meteors create. state wildlife officials captured a nearly 12-foot long alligator, a rare find, especially in west texas. the animal was recovered from a

local ranch where it's thought to have survived on wild pigs and duck. the gator will be moved to a new home on a 15 acre alligator farm. and in louisiana, patrons lined up to get a piece of the 5,300 feet long and more than 8,600 pound king cake. that, according to the bakers, could wrap around the superdome twice. guinness is expected to determine soon whether that qualifies as the largest king cake. now here is bill karins with the weather channel forecast. >> good morning, amara. have you ever had that before? >> i haven't. but it looks like a great breakfast for me. i love sweets in the morning. >> i'll have to look that up. as far as yesterday went in the south, incredibly hot. huntsville, alabama region had

their 100th 90-degree day of the calendar year. philadelphia, you broke your record yesterday for the most 90-degree days in one year. the heat this summer has been incredible and it's going to continue as we go throughout the day today. as far as the forecast goes, it looks like we're going to see the cooler air coming down from the north. billings at 44 there. that's a sign of things to come. as of now, we have the cooler air and warmer air hitting it and that's where we're getting the heavy rain. there's a lot of it outside of denver and into colorado. this area of low pressure is going to be an area of possible flooding rains, especially up there in minnesota and wisconsin. that's where this morning we're watching these thunderstorms south of rochester and eventually they'll work there way into the green bay area. so the forecast for today, warm in the southeast, so watch out for those storms from kansas city up into wisconsin. that's a look at your thursday forecast. now here is a look at the wlr outside your window. sunshine and hot conditions.

look at memphis, tennessee. what a summer you've had. now it continues even into fall. 98 degrees this afternoon. oklahoma city, 84. phoenix, 95. we'll talk about friday later in the show. building up bonds and who is tops when it comes to the richest americans? your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. joaquin phoenix was a whole new man last night with david letterman. one of the best double plays you'll ever see, you're watching "early today."

>> good morning, and welcome back to "early today." i'm amara sohn. here are some of your top headlines this morning. abbott labtory sess recalling as many as 5 million

containers of its best selling similac infant formula due to concerns it may be contaminated with insect parts. florida governor chartly crist says his state will stop a ban on gay adoption. eight current and former officials of a los angeles suburb of bell, california, had their first day in court yesterday over after alleged involvement in a pay scandal. the city manager paid himself almost $800,000, almost double the yearly salary of the nation's president. the eight did not enter a plea. their arraignment b will be held next month. scientist he say they've discovered fossils of two new dinosaur species in the desert. and it may not have been the ideal celebration, but what about 33 miners trapped underground in chile celebrated

his 32nd birthday yesterday. the men estimated will be rescued around christmas. here is an early look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 10,739 after loogz 21 points yesterday. the s&p lost 12 points and the nasdaq dropped 14. taking a look at overseas trading this morning, in tokyo, the nikkei sank 35 points, but in hong kong, the hang seng added 45. investors put faith in the fed yesterday and placed their betts on the bond market. traders took the central bank's boost that it could step up its bond purchasing program down the road. meanwhile, gold prices hit yet another report high. elsewhere in metals, alcoa surchblged 5% helping the dow jau set the day's losses. tech stocks took a beating after

adobe systems plunged 19% in the wake of a weak revenue forecast. microsoft shares took a hit after the company said it would up its quarterly dividend for the first time in two years, but apparently not as much as some had expected. this morning's "wall street journal" warns blockbuster video could warrant protection in a deal to keep some stores open. a month after starbuck's said it would absorb the high cost of coffee, up to a 13-year high, it says it will raise the priet price of larger and more expensive drinks. facebook ceo mark zuckerberg is donated $100 million to help improve new york, new jers newa jersey schools. he comes in at number 35 on the

list this year of the 400 richest americans. numbers one and two are the same as last year, billionaire buddies bill gates and warren buffett. the rays save faith, the bills sweep the braves. plus, three is the magic number for jose lopez. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. on this first one day of fall, we're tracking heavy rain in the middle of the country. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, the baseball season winds down and the pennant races heat up. one team already knows which pitcher will start their postseason. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. >> the morning. the minnesota twins were the first team to clench their division. even though the playoffs are two weeks away, francisco lariano will be the first starter. reached behind his back, snared the comebacker with his glove. there was a two-hour rain delays. rays won it, 7-2, they're 1 1/2

back in the a.l. east. how about one from the twins' nick blackburn. no glove needed. knocked the ball down with his leg. playoffs can't start soon enough for the twins. jose lopez had quite a game against the blue jays, his three home runs, bringing his total to 10. the mariners have been waiting for this all season. lop lopez capped off the trifecta with a two-run bomber in the eighth. mariners won it, 6-3. funny moments in the game, ray oswalt hit martin prado. it was about the only contact the braves had all night. in the eighth, ibanez ripped this into the corner. phils won. johnny peralta bare handed the toss and threw it to first.

one more time, when you've got a speedster like jared dyson running down the line, you've got to pull off something special to turn two and that's exactly what they did. tigers won it, 4-2. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. which artist has been banned from sesame street before her show even aired? your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus, the ultimate example of one man's trash being another boy's treasure. you're watching "early today."

welcome back on this thursday. forecast looks very warm from d.c. down through the carolinas into the southeast. all the way back into texas. we have rainfall moving up through kansas city. thunderstorms likely in kansas city and a lot of heavy rain from minneapolis into wisconsin. by tomorrow, some of that wet weather is going to move through chicago and eventually in areas of the east coast, it will be cooler. one hot day again on friday. look at d.c. at 94 tomorrow. if you're watching us in chicago, illinois, india is calling. experience indian culture and music with yoga classes and much more at the annual world music festival at the chicago cultural center.

>> bill, thank you. now here is an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. a slimmed down slim cut joaquin phoenix made his return to late night to late night with david letterman. he apologized to the host for his bizarre appearance a year ago. both made an effort to stress letterman was not in on the joke at the time, despite one of the show's writers having recently insisted that letterman did know. as for what's next for phoenix, new york magazine reports he's in talks to appear with leonardo dicaprio in a film about j. edgar hoover and his lover. when it comes to levi johns ton, was he glued to the tv this week watching former flame bristol palin on "dancing with the stars"? tmz was told he was too busy reading up on local politics for his run for mayor in alaska. finally, a sesame street show can waty perry appearing

with elmo, the show has been canceled after per parents complained about perry's cleavage. i'm relieved now to know the full story with phoenix. >> i believed it. >> i do feel used, though. and this comes to us from care 11 in minneapolis, minnesota, where one 5-year-old boy's fascination with trash inspired a memorable birthday gift. it started with trash and then blossomed into an interest in garbage trucks. as a special birthday treat, mom and dad took eli on a trip to connecticut to see how his favorite truck res made. the 5-year-old, who could barely contain him, was particularly taken by the metal fabrication section of the tour. that is what i call passion. i'm amara sohn, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

>> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today in hd. >> good morning, everyone. after some big thunderstorms, things are quiet this morning. it should be dry for the thursday morning commute. temperatures are in the mid to upper 60's. it is a summer-like morning. we will see a mixture of sunshine and clouds. there will be a 30% chance for some showers. we'll check the forecast for the upcoming weekend.

>> thank you. 68 degrees on tv hill. here's a look ahead to 11 news today. >> the fight to bring slots to anne arundel county is taking a personal turn. we will explain. >> a pledge to america. the gop makes its pitch to voters. campaign promises. >> we are tracking several early-morning problems on the roads. roads. host: could switching to geico really save you 15% or more on car insurance?

did the little piggy cry wee wee wee all the way home? piggy: weeeeeee, weeeeeee, weeeeeee, weeeee weeeeeeee. mom: max. ...maxwell! piggy: yeah? mom: you're home. piggy: oh,cool, thanks mrs. a. anncr: geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more.

[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live, local, late-breaking, this is wbal-tv 11 news today in hd. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. >> and i am stan stovall. thank you for joining us this morning. >> tony pann has a quick look at today's forecast. in interesting storm last night. >> very summer-like on the last night of summer. it will be hot again today. we could see the same thing later this afternoon. not