good morning. soaker. a strong storm system brings heavy rain and high winds to florida before it moves up the east coast. al is following its path. the controversy that won't go away. opponents step up their fight against the planned islamic center near ground zero. if so many americans are against it, why are developers moving forward? we'll have the developer in a live interview. the host of australia's next top model announces the wrong

winner during that show's finale. >> i don't know what to say. this is a complete accident. i'm so sorry, it's amanda. >> but some suspect it's all a publicity stunt "today," >> but some suspect it's all a publicity stunt "today," september 29, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. >> the people in florida are going to be dealing with lots of rain and a lot of wind today. >> that state could get as much as ten inches of rain before that powerful system moves up the coast. al's got the track of the storm coming up just ahead. remember the brown family we met last week on "today"? cody brown is on a reality show

that features a big mist family. the self-proclaimed cheapest family in america is going to be here to reveal their secrets to slashing their grocery bills in half. you may not like all of their advice, but some of it will save you a lot of money and we'll get to that a little later in the show. but let's begin with that strong storm system that's causing a lot of problems down in florida this morning. jim cantore is in ft. lauderdale. jim, good morning to you. >> reporter: we're expecting about four to eight inches of rain here, you're thinking we're on the beach, the sand drains well, no. they're very concerned about flooding down through here. yesterday water management starting to lower the canals, so that water once it does start to fall heavy will be able to get out and it can't get trapped on

the roads. the schools and government offices are open today. we expect delays and problems through here with the flooding and we could even see winds gusting to 50 miles an hour as the storm pulls to the north. we'll keep you posted from south florida, matt, back to you. >> al roker is tracking the storm, and he's upstairs with more. >> right now it's 190 miles south/southwest of miami. 35-mile-per-hour winds, it's moving north/northeast at about 14 miles an hour. the path of this storm brings it right along the coast thursday morning around 2:00 a.m., then moves inland sometime thursday afternoon and makes its way into the northeast. but the rain is way ahead of this system. so look at this rain, already the system's still over cuba, but the rain spreads up into miami, the heavy rain and as we move up to the north, that moisture is all pulling up there and moving up along the carolina

coastline as well. we have also got flash flood watches in effect and flood warnings extending all the way up into vermont. rainfall amounts for today into tonight for parts of southern florida, five to eight inches of rain. charleston about 7 inches of rain. all the way sboup the delmarva peninsula, three to five inches of rain. on into tomorrow morning, look at these rainfall amounts, from washington to new york city, up into western massachusetts, three to five, some areas seven inches of rain. but you folks who are inland, you don't get away from this either, because as this system pulls up into pennsylvania from washington all the way up into burlington, we are talking three to five inches of rain, flooding is going to be a problem up into

the northeast. right now let's go over to the news desk, ann is standing by, she's got the headlines of the morning. >> good morning, matt and meredith, good morning, everybody. we begin with intelligence officials who describe what is a credible terror plot against britain and france. last night the eiffel tower was evacuated because of a bomb threat. . today the president speaks out on the economy in iowa and virginia while at the same time trying to reenergize his base. savannah guthrie is in washington with more on this. >> reporter: the president proved last night in wisconsin he can still pack tens of thousands of young people into an arena. the question is, can he get them to the polls? trying to fire up the old campaign magic, the president at the university of wisconsin at madison tuesday night.

>> we cannot sit this one out, we cannot let this country fall backwards because the rest of us didn't care to fight because the stakes are too high for your country and for your future and i'm going to get out there and fight as hard as i can and i know you are too. >> reporter: the democratic national committee is spending $50 million to get obama '08 voters to show up in 2010. the latest nbc news "wall street journal" poll shows the race for congress tightening, republicans know hold a three-point lead over democrats among likely voters, down from a nine-point lead last month. the president's approval rating still stuck at 36%. in a backyard conversation with voters, the president fielded questions on everything from the economy to his faith. >> you know, i'm a christian by choice. my mother was one of the most spiritual people i knew. but she didn't raise me in the church.

i think also understanding that you know that jesus christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings. >> reporter: meanwhile a shake-up looms here at the white house. the chief of staff rahm emanuel could be gone within days to run for mayor, the president hasn't decided on a successor, but it's presumed to be an insider. according to police, a 19-year-old fired shots into the air from an a.k.-47, then shot himself to death in a library. no one else was wounded. a desperate search is underway for 11 people missing in a huge mud slide.

initially the fear was the death toll could be in the hundreds. officials now say it is possible the miners could be rescued as early as the middle of october. and some scary moments tuesday when a sky west airlines plane made an emergency landing in milwaukee with only part of its landing gear down. passengers were warned to brace for impact and a similar type of bombardier commuter plane made a similar landing in new york also because of

>> things are pretty quiet right now. we don't expect any rain for the wednesday morning commute. as we head for the day, the chance for rain will increase. later this >> and that's your latest weather. matt? now the latest on that fight over a proposed islamic community center in lower manhattan, just a couple of blocks away from ground zero. in a moment we'll talk exclusively to the developer behind that project. but first, nbc's ron allen has the latest on it, ron, good morning.

>> good morning to you, matt, numerous public opinion polls from respective organizations continue to say the same thing, that most americans and most new yorkers are against the idea of an islamic community center and mosque here, some two blocks from ground zero. if the developers are determined to push forward and lately some of the opposition has gotten very personal. the fight to stop what opponents call the ground zero mosque is relentless, staging protests, filing lawsuits. now the republican candidate for governor in new york says hallowed ground from 9/11 extends wherever the dust cloud landed. he's vowed to take action if elected. >> if elected, i will use the power of imminent domain. >> reporter: the project's spiritual leader has trieded to dismiss the argument that the building is in a sacred place. >> first of all it's

disingenuous that that block is hallowed ground, there are strip joints around the corner. i pray for the souls of your loved lost ones. if 9/11 happens again, i want to be the first to die. muslims want to stand right there to say that we are here. >> reporter: the developers of the islamic center like to point out that hundreds of worshippers already gather every friday for prayers in the abandoned building two blocks from ground zero. and that when the community center is expanded to some 16 floors, only about 10% of it will be a prayer space. meanwhile opponents have been trying to focus attention on recent unplattering headlines about the imom.

questions have been raised by the developer including reports of eviction proceedings and an arrest record. >> i am not against a mosque. i am against the location of the mosque. >> reporter: opponents of the project continue to insist the only solution is to move the center far from ground zero. but how far is far enough is not clear. >> and both the developer and the im oram i find to be radica incallous for the pain and grief they're causing. >> reporter: and that's one of the loudest arguments against the projects. developers have said it will help build bridges between muslims and members of other faith communities, but that's not happening. on the other side there are steadfast supporters of the project including mayor michael bloomberg who continue to insist the issue is religious freedom

and tolerance. >> ron allen, thank you very much. >> the developer behind the proposed islamic community center is here. nice to have you here. >> good morning, matt, nice to be here. >> i don't remember an issue that has generated so much talk, so much rhetoric, so much controversy. you have said your plans go forward, you will continue along this path. do you expect that in the near future, the opposition will simply melt away and fadeaway? >> this has been very unexpected. it's been an eye opener to see how my country, the united states views my religion, islam. it's been a very humbling moment. and it's been a very sad moment for me personally. >> you say unexpected. at no point during your plans when you were proposing this idea and thinking about it and buying that site did you say, wait a minute, you know, this could cause some controversy? i know a lot of people question that. >> you know, it's really been very unexpected.

what happened that day was a very horrific event that i do not feel that -- the people that were responsible for that event were people that hijacked my religion and my identity. just imagine if somebody went and stole your wallet and committed identity theft. that's what's happened to me and to my community. >> i mention and actually ron mentioned in his piece that some of the discussion has been well thought out, measured. a lot of it habs been bitter an very personal. are you fair game? as the developer of this project, do you think that goes with the turf? >> it's all been very unexpected. i mean there's been so many misperceptions about me personally that have been perpetrateded in the media and in all the forums and there's so

many inaccuracies that have been portrayed about us. >> had he known that all of this controversy been generated he probably wouldn't have gone through with his plans. now he says he cannot back away because he does not want to allow the radicals to cause the discourse. you know the polling numbers, a wide majority of americans say no, this should not be built at that location. what do you make of those numbers? >> well, i mean some of the facts that are not being accurately portrayed is that our community wants this. >> when you say our community, whose community? >> the residents of lower manhattan. we went through a voluntary process and we engaged our community, our constituents, the residents and neighbors and friends who reside in lower manhattan and on four separate occasions, two of them, they voted unanimously for this project.

on the other two occasions they voted overwhelmingly in favor, 29-1 and not a lot of people understand that we engaged our community, we got their approval and blessings prior to proceeding with these plans. >> obviously there are some people down there who do not want this. i think your background is interesting and i want to make sure people understand it. you're born in brooklyn, you're a new yorker. >> i am. >> you're an american. >> i am. >> your father was a catholic and your father was a nonpractice muslim. you are a practicing muslim? >> i am. >> when you view this project, do you view it as a business deal, or do you view this on a more personal level, on a more spiritual level? >> it's turned into both. it's turned into an opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much. as an american, as someone who

has prospered in this country, as someone who has gotten a lot from the city, this is an opportunity for us to give back. this is an opportunity for us to give back to a residential neighborhood that not a lot of people know that is the fastest growing district neighborhood in new york state. >> a couple of things real quickly. there is a report on one of the websites overnight that a deal may in fact be in the works to move this center to a location at 30 cliff street which is about seven blocks away. can you confirm or deny that there are still discussions underway about moving this project? >> there are no discussions about moving this project. >> absolutely not? >> there are no discussions about moving this project. >> who is ultimately going to call the shots here? are you the final decision maker or are other people going to make a decision, is the imam who's going to have a say? or are you calling the shots?

>> i am calling the shots. in a real estate transaction there are different elements that come into play, but ultimately as the managing member, we are calling the shots. >> and finally how has this changed your view of living as a muslim american in this country, how did it change from before this controversy erupted? >> this has been an eye opener. it's been truly an eye opener and there is so much work ahead of us, there's such a misperception about my faith and my belief system. and we are peace loving americans. we want the same things that everybody else wants. one of the things that in order to be a muslim, you have to be a good jew and a good christian at the same time. not a lot of people understand who we are. and that is part of the reason, you know, fear, fear makes people irrational. and our identity has been hijacked by the extremists.

>> i appreciate your joining me this morning. thank you very much for your time. >> thank you very much for having me. >> 7:18. now to the death of a chef who appeared on a popular reality television show. police say he took his own life. jeff, good morning to you. >> reporter: we're talking about the fox show and it's a pretty popular show as you mentioned called "kitchen nightmares." gordon ramsey uses tough loves to pick these restaurants up and get them back into shape. he came back in here to this restaurant and grilled the chef. last week that chef killed himself. celebrity chef gordon ramsey. he's known as a foul mouthed foodie. it's all part of the show on

fox's "kitchen nightmares" in 2007, he was all over the head chef and donor of com ar orks c restaurant. >> why did you go into business if you haven't got a clue how to run a business? >> last week he jumped off the george washington bridge to his death, his body pulled from the hudson river, deemed a suicide. his wife and three sons left behind. a headline in the "new york post" called it a "kitchen nightmare" but joe's family doesn't blame ramsey. >> gordon was tough on him. >> he likeded gordon. and it was good for business. >> my brother absolutely enjoyed spending the time with gordon ramsey. >> reporter: his family says he

welcomed it, after all joe needed the help. ramsey was there to save his troubled restaurant. >> i'm financially in trouble. the debt of the restaurant alone is overwhelming. >> reporter: his sister says blaming ramsey is unfair, she says her brother joe has bigger issues from three years ago. >> maybe he just saw something that would never end and just didn't know how else to manage that. >> reporter: joe's friends agree saying ramsey helped save the restaurant. >> you did see a big difference after gordon ramsey was there. >> reporter: so joe appreciated it? >> he absolutely appreciated him. >> reporter: that said, joe isn't the first gordon ramsey contestant to commit suicide. in 2006, rachel brown was on the fox show "hell's kitchen." brown shot herself to death a year after the taping of the reality show. why she did it is unclear. >> i don't know that we can blame gordon ramsey.

a lot of the contestants know very clearly what they're getting into. they have seen the show. >> good luck. >> reporter: as for joe, he was passionate about cooking and his wife melissa cherished him for it. >> i know he's giving it his all to try and succeed. >> but today she's left alone with the restaurant and her children. >> joe was one most of the beautiful people that i have ever known. just so loved. just so-so loved. >> reporter: the restaurant is doing better than when ramsey was here klthree years ago. gordon ramsey came back because he and joe stayed in touch. gordon ramsey released a statement saying that joe was a brilliant chef and that his thoughts go out to his family, friends and his staff. >> jeff rossen, thank you very much. and coming up the man and his four wives who are featured

in a new reality show is

still ahead, ann heads back to middle school. >> and the wrong winner is announced during a reality show's grand finale.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. your sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> still dealing of problems out there. on the outer loop topside at loch raven, we have an accident off to the left shoulder. delays stretch all the way back to approaching 95 at the harrisburg expressway. we have an accident at pulaski

highway and rosedale ave, and at the city and northern parkway and falls road. here is a look at drive times. 34 minutes on the outer loop northeast side. 18 minutes on the outer loop west side. let's give you a live view of traffic on the west side. a very slow going approaching 795 down to edmondson. live view of perring parkway, experiencing delays because of the earlier accident. over to you, tony. >> beautiful start for us. in little bit of sun and sticking to the high, thin clouds of there. temperatures a little bit on the cool side. down to 54 degrees at the airport. you might want to take a light jacket with you. clots will thicken up as we head into the afternoon. late this afternoon, more this evening, a chance for a few

rainshowers. we will probably get through lunchtime dry. rain is likely tonight and tomorrow some of the rain on thursday is going to be heavy, strong thunderstorms and flooding. it will clear up over the weekend. just a little bit on the cool side. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information back at 7:55 with another live update.

two governors, two different approaches. even in good times bob ehrlich did not make education a priority. he increased college tuition by 40%, cut school construction by $200 million, and ehrlich voted to eliminate the department of education while serving in congress. but martin o'malley, even in the toughest of times, has made record investments in public schools, new school construction, and o'malley froze college tuition four years in a row. with martin o'malley, our children always come first.

so the winner, and australia's next top model for 2010 is -- it's you, kelsey. >> 7:30 now on this wednesday morning, september 29, 2010. that was the scene during the live finale of australia's next top model as the winner was declared and celebration ensued. just one problem, the host said the wrong name. i'm meredith viera alongside matt lauer. we want to know what she was thinking when she made that mistake, if it was a mistake, but some are saying that was all

planned to generate publicity. >> we have all made mistakes on live tv, the moment feels like it's lasts an eternity. unfortunately, that one actually does last an eternity. that's a long one, but it's a terrible feeling. >> the young woman who thought she won was incredibly gracious. did you know that americans generate enough trash each year that it would cover the state of texas twice? what happens to it after it's picked up? and some money saving tips from america's cheapest family, they're going to join us to tell you how to cut your grocery bill, they say, in half. but we begin this half hour with the polygamist family from utah we first met here on "today" last week. "today" national correspondent amy robach has teet details.

>> the browns are featured in a new reality show "sister wives." their show's success may now come with a hefty price. when sister wives aired sunday on tlc, it was a big hit with viewers. the reality show about a family of polygamists was the most watched series premier on the cable network this year. >> 20 years ago i married mary and then 17 years ago, i married janell and then 16 years ago i married christine. >> reporter: and he recently added a fourth wife. but it wasn't just fans tuning in to see how cody brown was handling his four wives. it turns out the police department was watching too. they have launched an investigation into the polygamist marriage. >> of course the program brought a lot of it out into the open and so we're going to continue to investigate it. >> reporter: commenting on the police investigation, the browns

released this statement. we are disappointed in the announcement of an investigation, but when we decided to do this show, we knew there would be risks. but for the sake of our family and most important our kids, we felt it was a risk worth taking. last week on "today," brown and his wives told meredith why they were doing the show. >> i'm not trying to sell it to the world. when you're in a closed society, you feel kind of -- >> oppressed. >> oppressed, exactly. >> it's dangerous, we really -- we're hoping that we can create more transparency for those in our faith. >> there's a lot of bad media about polygamy and this way of life and we're hoping to kind of dispel some of that and say, hey, that's not us, that's not our family. >> they didn't go into this blindly, they knew what they were doing, but they felt so strongly that they wanted to help educate people that, hey, here's a family that's happy and they get along. so i admire them and respect them for that choice. >> reporter: under utah law,

polygamy is illegal, even though more than an estimated 25,000 people are currently practicing polygamy in the heavily mormon state. in the past, utah attorney general's office has declined to prosecute polygamy alone. the last prosecution was in 2001 when tom green married to five women was convicted on bigamy and child rape charges. he promoted his lifestyle on national television. >> and in green's case, he served six years in prison in ending in 2007. once the investigation is complete, it will be up to the utah attorney general's office decide if criminal charges will be filed. >> and you saw the friend of the brown family and co-founder of principal voices, a nonprofit polygamy organization. and the head of the special victims unit of the salt lake

city attorney's office. good morning to you both. if i can start with you, you are a friend of the brown family, you encouraged them to do this show, in fact you were the one that initially got them in touch with the producers of the show. you talked to cody brown last night. what does he say about how the family is coping right now in light of this investigation? >> well, he first of all said that he was very humbled and very sobered by the whole experience. but that he had found peace in his heart. and even though it has been a real shock to them to find out about the investigation, they are a strong family, when i talked to christine, she said she felt like she had been hit in the stomach, but they are a very prayerful family and they have a lot of family solidarity, so they'll be okay. >> he knew that polygamy is against the law in the state of utah and obviously by exposing his family she was possibly going to subject them to an investigation.

does he have any regrets about it now? >> he said he had absolutely no regrets, there's an important story he wants to tell and that's why he felt it was worth the risk and that's something that principal voices is trying to do too as well, is to educate people that this lifestyle is a viable lifestyle between contenting adults. it's a strongly held religious belief and we would like to be able to form our families like other alternative families. >> let's talk about this law in utah, because technically as i said, it is illegal, polygamy is illegal, you can be sentenced to up to five years in jail. but the prosecutor's office has said it will not prosecute these cases involving consenting adult unless there involves child abuse. why is this investigation going forward? >> ann, this is for greg, i apologize. greg? >> excuse me, i'm sorry. >> i would say that the only reason they would go forward in

a case like this is because, you're right, we don't prosecute polygamy in utah, we don't prosecute crimes between cons t consenticonsen consenting adults. but we have sort of gone over the line in this case because now they're doing it, they're flaunting this and it is a felony on national tv. we don't prosecute bingo parlors, we don't prosecute people who gamble in their homes. but if they want to do that type of thing on national tv, certainly if you're going to have the law, you've got to at least look into it. so the lehigh police department and ultimately the utah county attorney's office are going to have to make some decisions. the laws are on the books and if you're not going to prosecute when these people are doing it so blatantly then you're never going to prosecute the case. i don't know that they will necessarily. >> do you think prosecutors need to do anything more than watch the television show to build their case? >> i'm sure they'll subpoena the

tapes of the other segments that have been cut or whatnot. if i was prosecuting a case like this, you could show this segment, the series in front of a jury and i don't see that there would be any defense to the felony crime of bigamy that's been committed here. >> but, greg, he's technically only married legally to one woman, mary, the other marriages are common law, they're respected and honored by the church, but that's it, they're not legal marriages. so in that case, does that give them any protection under the law? >> no, because under the law, you could only get one marriage certificate. the utah county clerk's office would only be able to issue one certificate. so under that theory it would be impossible to commit the crime. the law says that if you cohabitate and live together as husband and wife knowing that you've got another spousal relationship going at the same time, you've committed the crime. >> many people when they think of multiple marriages they think of these high profile second

leaders who are often sent to prison, people like tom green who was convicted of child rape and abuse. what do you want to get out in this case involving the browns? >> in most cases we're very average families just like the show portrays on "sister wives." we would eventually like to see the law changed, as greg mentioned, it is a felony, but we feel like that's a very high penalty and a high rating for our lifestyle when adultery is only a misdemeanor and we would certainly like to see it reduced and in order to do that someone has to come out publicly and explain to the public more about our lifestyle so they'll understand it. >> and i want you to quickly answer this, if there are no other crimes beyond polygamy, do you think they will face charges? >> i think that's a really tough case, meredith. i think the utah county attorney's office is in a no win

situation, he may just run it up the flag pole with a jury and let them decide because we really don't prosecute these crimes in utah. >> thank you so much for your perspectives this morning, we really appreciate it. >> thank you. >> thank you. and now let's switch gears and get a check of the weather from al. >> "today's" weather is brought to you by thermacare heat wraps, all day back pain without pills, no pain, just relief. we have got a nice looking group of folks out here, everybody's high and dry. you're here for your birthday? >> i am here for my birthday. >> i am here for my birthday. >> where are you from? >> billings, montana. >> next year, we want a sign in color, you're going to make it really nice and pretty. show us your marker. look at the size of that marker. let's show you what's going on, you see for today, we're

basically looking at strong storms right along the eastern seaboard. >> it looks like most of the date is going to be dry. we will see some rain catch up to us, though. high temperatures in los of high temperatures in los of unease. >> and don't forget you can check your weather any time of the day or night on the weather channel or weather.com. how can you get pain relief without taking pills around the clock? try thermacare heatwraps,

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we're back now at 7:44, you make it, you put it by the curb and it's taken away. it's become a $52 billion business. carl quint kn i'm -- >> what did i do wrong? >> america does produce 250 million tons of trash a year, and when you throw away the ople making money from them.f and it starts with the collectors right outside your door. >> reporter: michael has been on the job for 23 years, a competitive bodybuilder he makes picking up 150-pound bags and couches look easy. part of the 24,000 pounds of trash he and his partner lift every day.

the base salary for a new york city sanitation worker starts at nearly $70,000. and includes benefits and a pension plan. as a veteran, he pulls down six figures with overtime. >> they have to pay us, they have to pay for the upkeep of the trucks, they have to pay for gas, tolls. not one piece of trash you throw out costs the city millions of dollars. which a lot of people don't realize. they throw it to the curbs, they come home and it's gone. they don't care. like it was magic. >> it's not magic at all. you conducted like a lot of interviews for this. were you surprised -- did you realize what a big business garbage was? >> not really. the thing about garbage is it's familiar to all of us. we put our trash on the curb once or twice a week. we're going to create about four pounds of it a day each one of us, this year. but so much of it is foreign. where does it go when it's gone? how does it get there?

who pays for it to get there? >> there are 2,300 landfills in this country. i know you went to one in rural pennsylvania they are getting paid to take other people's trash, they have got community protests about it. how are communities walking the line or conducting the balancing act between money they need and possible risks to their community? >> you know for years, small towns have said we want no part of a dump-in our neighborhood, because of the not in my backyard problem. but the money that these landfills provide, the taxes the proceeds, they buy a lot of fire trucks and street lights. it's a bargain that maybe down the road it doesn't turn into a environmental disaster. >> you went to one outside of las vegas, 2,200 acres, profitable, let's take a look. >> this is a normal day at apex landfill, something that they do here 24 hours a day, seven days a week. >> reporter: what happens in vegas doesn't stay in vegas, it comes here? >> it comes here. >> reporter: and the trash

itself is kind of soft, right? it's kind of spongy. >> it is, it is. initially. this machine rolls over it and compacts it much like you do at home when you push down on the can, except that we're doing it with 120,000-pound machine. >> reporter: why is it so important to chop it up and compact it? >> from an environmental standpoin standpoint--the more waste i can get in that space, the more profitable these facilities are. >> there isn't enough curelle in the world. >> my next hour is going to be about taking a shower. >> for the entire hour. >> you can watch the entire documenta documentary, trash incorporateded, the secret life of garbage, that's at 9:00 p.m. eastern and pacific time on cnbc. up next a reality show host announces the wrong winner during a live finale?

was it a mistake or a publicity stunt. you decide after you see the tape. over. families were falling apart. you can't raise children in a community like that. people had been talking about things, but not doing anything. hi, mr. canada... how are you? i'm doing great, how 'bout you? right here on 119th street. if we could fix this block, then we could fix the next block, then we could fix the next block... we promised parents, if your child stays with us, i guarantee you that child is going to graduate from college. failure is simply not an option. the sixty...the seventy... the eighty... the ninety-seven blocks which ends up being 10,000 children. we start with children from birth, and stay with those children until they graduate. if you really want to have an impact that is large, you will get there going one step at a time. there is no act that is too small to make a difference. no matter what you want to do, members project from american express can help you take the first step. vote, volunteer or donate at membersproject.com.

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we've paid over $400 million in claims and set up a $20 billion independently-run claims fund to cover lost income until people impacted can get back to work. and our efforts aren't coming at tax-payer expense. i know people are wondering-- now that the well is capped, is bp gonna meet its commitments? i was born in new orleans. my family still lives here. i'm gonna be here until we make this right. at walgreens every day? because we're big on sharing. our pens... our snacks... everything... and one of the best ways to protect yourself and your coworkers is with a flu shot from walgreens. with the most pharmacists certified to immunize and walk-ins welcome every day, we're making it easier for everyone to get their flu shot. get yours at walgreens and take care clinics today. walgreens. there's a way to stay well.

as we are well aware, mistakes happen on live tv. take a look at what happened on the finale of australia's next top model. >> so the winner and australia's next top model for 2010 is -- it's you, kelsey. >> i want to thank the crew and the judges and sarah because without them, there would be no show. and -- oh, this is crazy. >> oh, my god. i don't know what to say right now. i'm feeling a bit sick about this. this is not -- this is a complete accident, i'm so sorry, it's amanda, i'm so sorry. it was fed to me wrong. this is ridiculous. >> it's fine.

it's an honest mistake, it's fine. >> whooo! >> i love her response, whooo! that was a close one. was it an honest mistake as kelsey said? >> i can't imagine why it would be a publicity stunt. why would you do that except that you goofed up and people might watch next year? >> if it was a mistake, you might have had a bigger reaction. >> it's the control room. and the director. [ man ] ♪ grab a pop-tart and you might just start ♪ ♪ to sing songs like a meadow lark ♪ ♪ stretch and yawn ♪ blow a kiss to mom ♪ cause pop-tarts mornings are the bomb ♪ ♪ so, rise and shiiiiine

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. time to get another check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> dealing with a normal, volume-related delays around the area and a couple accidents. ramp to owings mills boulevard, crash, and there with heavy delays on the west side. northern parkway at falls road, watch for crash. another one being cleared at the outer loop of loch raven on the left shoulder. 13 miles per hour, a delay approaching 95 on the out of was

the harrisburg expressway. pulaski highway and rosedale avenue, another crash. one in dollar to watch for. 31 minutes on the outer loop northeast side. 12-minute ride on the outer loop from 795 towards the 83's. traffic on old court, west side very jammed packed all the way down towards edmondson. we will switch to a live view at the bw parkway. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> so far, so good. things are going to change as we had through the day. for now we don't expect precipitation. it is cooler than yesterday. take a light jacket. it will sneak into the low seventies this afternoon. clouds will thicken up as we had through the day. accounts for rainshowers late this afternoon or evening. good chance for rain tonight. some of them will be heavy. flooding problems during the day others to. -- day on thursday.

>> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information to back at 8:25 with another live update. i need a home performance with energy star audit. this sensor will show why my living room gets too hot and

too cold! get up to $2,450 dollars in rebates and keep saving with home performance with energy star. get started at bgesmartenergy.com. bob ehrlich's real record on energy. lobbyists helped write utility regulations. we got stuck with a 72% rate hike. but martin o'malley got tough on bge, forcing them to pay back $2 billion to consumers. and what's bob ehrlich been doing the past four years? he got paid $2.5 million at a lobbying firm, a firm representing special interests and casinos right here in maryland.

that's bob ehrlich-- a 72% increase for us and $2.5 million from special interests for himself. nice work, bob. ♪ i can see clearly now the rain is gone ♪ go bobcats, that's pretty right there, that's lady liberty in the distance. we're looking live from the top of the rock here in new york city, on what is i guess the best day of the week, actually. >> yeah. >> beautiful, sunshine here in new york city. love the music, love the view, and let's take it down to street level now as we check out our little home here on rockefeller plaza and some of the nice people who have gathered on this wednesday morning, out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer along with

meredith viera and al roker. and coming up, we're going to be talking to the cheapest family in america. >> and they actually take that as a high complement, thank you very much. their secrets to living the so-called econo miser lifestyle. they're going to show you how to cut your grocery bill in half. and as part of our education nation "today," ann is going to take us to middle school. middle school is a very tough age period for a lot of students. and of course tomorrow, the nerves, the butterflies, the excitement. and that's just our producer. tomorrow, melissa and jeremy's big day here on the plaza. they're getting married. we're going to check in with them, reveal the wedding cake that you chose for them and we need your help for one final choice, the honeymoon. >> and we should mention that although there have been some reports of rain, you have now guaranteed a sunny day for tomorrow morning. >> not here, but i have

guaranteed a sunny day. >> we have a guarantee of a tent or something, right? we should head inside where ann is standing by with a look at the headlines. >> good morning once again, everybody. in the news, a tropical storm warning is extending halfway up florida's east coast this morning. there is a storm system in the caribbean that's picking up strength. up to ten inches of rain and strong winds are expected "toda today across much of south florida. a storm that caused a massive mud slide in mexico on tuesday, officials are backing off official estimates that hundreds of people are buried. soldiers who are arriving on the scene are reporting no confirmed deaths but 11 people are missing. news "today" from afghanistan where an air strike has killed a senior al qaeda commander along with an al qaeda explosives expert. also one service member was killed in an ambush on tuesday by taliban militants in southern

afghanistan. some of the fighting in that region were reported by a camera person embedded by the u.s. marines. flying boats that can carry out surveillance from the air and then land on water, iran's defense minister calls it a new wave in security. on wall street "today," investors are keeping an eye on the housing market. >> well, here's what's up, housing has a glimmer today. you can take this one to the bank in terms of mortgage applications in new homes actually rose for the first time in there weeks. refinancing of existing homes dropped. that's why i emphasize it's a glimmer but it's a start. the average rate is a record low 4.83%. incredible that rates that low aren't sparking real buying and investors are worried about the pace of the recovery overall. gold touching another record high this morning, silver at a

30-year high. investors putting money there instead of the stock market because they're nervous. and a grand old time last night in music city usa. superstars of country music celebrated the reopening of the grand old opry. flooding last may left the opry under four feet of water. let's get another check of the weather from al who's outside. >> hey, ann, we got mothers, sisters, daughters retreat. you don't pump gas? do you change oil? >> no. >> no vehicle maintenance? >> no. >> all right, there you go. let's check your weather and see what's happening, we have got tropical depression number 16, 230 miles south/southwest of miami. moving north/northeast at nine.

could become tropical storm nicole. you see the path of the system making its way up interior sections of pennsylvania by early friday morning. heavy rain moving into miami and parts of florida and we have also got moisture streaming up into the carolinas. and we have got flash flood watches, flash flood warnings, rainfall amount s today and tonight from key west, anywhere from two to six inches of rain, and then early thursday into friday morning we're talking about three to seven inches of >> nice, quiet start this wednesday. as we head into the afternoon, clouds will the and up and win will catch up to us from the

>> that's your latest weather. and meredith has stolen a visitor's telephone. >> we have to make the fans anywhere we can. hold on, terrance. america's cheapest family tells you how to cut your grocery bill in half. after this. yeah, sometimes i worry. sometimes i worry.

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i drove the '92 camry. i drive a 2007 camry. i was expecting the 2005 camry, and my sister got it. i was driving the '94 toyota camry, and my dad surprised me with a 2005 toyota camry. [ julie sighs ] i drove all of them, but i drive the 2009. [ interviewer ] why camry? reliability. yeah. affordability. [ male announcer ] share your toyota story on facebook.com/toyota. "today's" money is brought to you by fidelity investments. turn here. >> we're back now at 8:10 and this morning on "today's" money, how to slash your grocery bill in half with a little help from the cheapest family in america.

in this kitchen, thriftiness is a virtue. >> so we're making four meals. >> and america's cheapest family is a title worn with pride. >> we spend $350 for groceries and that includes paper goods. personal care items and of course all the food. >> with five children and a tight budget, being frugal is an enterprise for steve and annette and it all begins with careful planning. >> i write up 30 meals, 30 days worth of menus so i only have to go to the grocery store once a month. >> coupons are critical. >> peanut butter and jelly for $1.35 each. >> always shop with a calculator so we can figure out unit prices. >> they buy in bulk, stick to the list, but jump on a deal. >> this is less than a dollar a pound. >> unconventional shopping

strategies abound. >> these cuts of meat are going out of code which means they're going to expire in a couple of days. >> after store discounts and coupons, $194.83. i think i did great. >> after shopping, meat is ground and sliced at home. >> here's a pile of meat we just sliced and this will be used for about a week. >> for them eating well is as important as saving money. >> we eat good stuff like chicken parmesan. >> one of our favorite things to do is to go to an all you can eat chinese buffet and we stuff a container full of food, we bring it home and it will feed us for several meals. >> i think i can fit just a few green beans and that should fill it. >> $7 a person for lunch and you

can just stuff yourself. >> great meals for great prices. it's a way of life. >> being known as america's cheapest family means that we get the best quality for the least price. i actually think we're pretty smart. >> steve and annette are the authors of the new book cut your grocery bill in half, they're here with two of their children. this just in, because of you that chinese restaurant filed for bankruptcy. that is too much to stick in a styrofoam container, young lady. that's unbelievable. you really think you can cut everybody's bill in half? >> we can cut it more than in half. >> just a few of our principals in our book will start saving people money right away. >> it saves a lot of money, but it takes a lot of time. there's a lot of prep in this, the cutting of the coupons, and the planning, time is money. >> but i tell people if they are not taking any time to plan to feed their family, i guarantee you that they are spending more time than i am.

>> what's with the calculator? why is that a great tool for you? >> it's a way to make sure we're getting the best price. >> i think you may have lost a lot of people when you started to talk about buying meat that's about to be outdated. i'm sure that probably got a little bit -- people got squeamish over that. >> talk about being smart, if you look at the meat, the color is right, there's no juice around it, it looks fine, it's perfectly safe to buy. the usda does not require it to be dated, the manufacturers date it. but what's aged beef? it sits, it matures, it's controlled, it's more tender. >> aged beef is different than old beef, isn't it? >> no, there's no difference. >> this 30-day plan you came up with, you plan out meals 30 days in advance. do you really stick to that list? >> i do stick to the list.

you can switch meals around, i have a plan of what meals on what day. it doesn't always work out, but at least i have all the meals and all the ingredients in the freezer. >> young ladies, this is great being called the cheapest family in america, but you're also called the cheaper family in america. how does this go over with friends in your social life and things like that? >> i have got a lot of people that i work with, that are like, are you related to that -- yes, that would be me. >> you're completely supportive of this lifestyle? >> yes. >> and what about in other areas of your life, other than food, clothing, entertainment, vacations, things like that? >> those rock. it's the way we were raised so it's not odd to us. what's odd to us is seeing my friends go out to the mall and purchase jeans for i don't even know how much jeans retail for where i can get them for less than $10 at a thrift store, perfectly good. >> and you think you eat well at home, this is not skimping and eating garbage, right?

>> i'm an athlete, so you have to eat well to maintain the schedule that i make for myself. >> matt i just want to share one thing, we are the hope and change for america. with the economy where it is "today," i believe our books can allow families not have to live on two incomes. >> you're going to come back tomorrow and friday, right? >> yes. >> tomorrow you're going to help another family save money and on friday they're going to take your questions, so submit them now on our website, "today" s w todayshow.c todayshow.com. up next, ann goes back to middle school. track. what is... that's the guidance you get from fidelity. thanks. stay on the line!

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education nation "today" is brought to you by university of phoenix, an educated world is a better world.

>> back at 8:20 with more of our special series education nation today. this morning it is ann's turn. >> i visiteded a middle school that's really working because it's got a strong leader who turned a failing school into a winner. caroline bloxon, not your average principal. oversees not your average middle school miracle. in rural maryland, where 61% of her students live in poverty, a number that's rising in the recession. and yet, her school's math and reading scores have jumped 30% in just seven years. how did you do it? >> it really happens in the classroom and my job as the principal is to take the passion that i have for these children succeeding and pass that on to the teachers.

>> reporter: her strategies, teaching respect and responsibility. >> we signed a contract so we can do better in school. >> reporter: while focusing on the whole child. >> they have to have their basic needs met before they're ready to learn. >> reporter: so a social worker helps the kids and their families. >> i assist parents in getting assistance with their rent, the utilities, the mortgage. >> reporter: while also providing emotional support. >> you did a good job. >> reporter: kayla cole once struggled in school after her parents divorce. >> at first i didn't want to do anything. now i actually want to be a teacher. i want to work here. >> reporter: at this school? >> i am lucky to be here with people who care about me who want me to do better. >> reporter: it's a safe, welcoming environment. >> and i don't know another school that's got a fish pond.

>> reporter: which at the same time maintains rigorous standards. >> all eighth graders take algebra one, that's phenomenal. >> reporter: after school programs are so popular, 86% of the students participate. and perhaps most significant of all, the principal hires teachers not just for their skills, but for their capacity to love. >> i don't just look at can they teach, because i know they can learn the material. i look for do they love kids. >> reporter: teacher edna wright's love spills over. >> i have a passion about what i do. i love this school, i love these children. and i love what we accomplish. >> reporter: in sixth grade, dustin harmon dreams of becoming a teacher, and eight grader ian

smith a lawyer. >> if the kids don't come out successful, that it's not their fault because they're doing it well. >> reporter: and this year was awarded for this windmill engineering project. and you were on the team that won the state championship award? >> yep. >> for mesa, which stands for math -- >> engineering science achievement. >> reporter: amber hall was the team's only girl. >> before i liked to get dressed up but then i realized i like building stuff. >> reporter: so you're saying the girlie girl realized that she was actually an engineer? >> if you can do it in tennis shoes, i think i can do it in wedges. >> reporter: now she vows to someday engineer a building and name it after the building that inspired her, mr. gooding. >> i have hired 82% of the teachers at this school and i take that very seriously.

>> can you get rid of them? >> yes, i have. >> reporter: how do you get rid of teachers that have tenure? >> you have to give that person opportunity to improve. but in the end, if they don't, and you have that documentation and you've been willing to put in that time and that work, then they will go. >> reporter: you don't want to make do with a teacher who does not meet your standards? >> no. >> reporter: you will work to get rid of them if they don't? >> i will and i have. >> reporter: a tough stance putting children first to contribute to a better future. >> i want them to be happy, successful people. i am very patriotic, i love the united states of america, i want them to feel a sense of pride in country, pride in their family, pride in their school. i want them to be happy. >> you know, the one thing that really affected me talkingt&háhc her and seeing the school was that the most important criteria

to her is not whether a teacher, when she hires somebody whether a person can teach, it's whether that person has the capacity to love. if you don't have that, she doesn't want you there. and i think that's what we're seeing in these kids. >> i want >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's get a final check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> new accident, unfortunately, as we try to prop up the morning commute. it is on 395 as you travel in town. watch for that accident and delays. let's look at how things are moving on the west side. we will switch over to crush northbound 795 on the ramp to win smalls boulevard.

-- to owings mills boulevard. another one at bel air and church boulevard and cedar lane. another one at stepney road and union road. 20 on the west side and 795, he was alive you outside. -- here is a live view outside. we will go to tony with more on the forecast. >> a beautiful wednesday morning. things will change by the time we get to it tonight. for now we will not get rain in the morning commute. you might want to take a light jacket with you. clouds will pick up as we head into the afternoon. there will be a chance for rain showers late this afternoon and into the evening. we should get for about 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon before that happens. high temperatures and the upper 60s and low 70's. the big storm we talking about will roll through maryland. flooding is a possibility. severe weather and high

temperatures in the mid-70's and it should clear up over the weekend to draw on friday and saturday and sunday but a lot cooler. >> we will have another update at 8:55. today these factories are full of dot com businesses. and now my job is helping maryland create new economy jobs. training new math and science teachers investing in our institutions of excellence pioneering new cyber security jobs

and giving an old gm plant a jump start building electric motors. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message so you'll know i'm fighting for you. my dad is the supervisor of a train station and my mom's a teacher. my dad's an auto technician. my mom's a receptionist. i'm not sure i would have been able to afford college without the tuition freeze. while tuition in other states is rising out of reach... governor o'malley made the tough choice to freeze tuition. he made my dream of going to college into a reality. i'm the first in my family to go to college.

my brother and i never would have been able to afford college. even though times were tough... governor o'malley kept his promise. there's never a doubt... there's never a doubt whose side he's on. martin o'malley... moving maryland forward. 8:30 now on this wednesday morning, 29th of september, 2010. it's really quite a lovely morning here in new york city, which is a nice change, we have had some rain, we got a great crowd kicking off the day with us. hopefully it won't be too wet tomorrow when the wedding couple gets hitched here on the plaza. it won't be too wet, will it,

al? >> oh, no. >> if it rains anymore tomorrow, they're going to have to name this thing. >> the good news is all the guests are going to be lined up two by two. it will be very nice. >> it's going to work out no matter what. >> before we can hold that wedding tomorrow morning, a couple of details to get to. for example, this morning we'll find out which cake you have selected for jeremy and melissa. and i think my favorite part, we are going to hear about the amazing honeymoon options you'll get to vote on in the next 24 hours. also ahead, if you're considering ordering out for dinner tonight, martha stewart says don't, you don't have to do that. she's going to have take out inspired meals that take less time than making a call for takeout chinese food. we also have got miranda lambert, she has earned nine country music award nominations,

she's going to be performing for us this morning. >> you know what happens before the wedding tomorrow? the premiere of law and order los angeles. and we welcome alfred molena. welcome. >> so good to see you. >> welcome to nbc. >> hello. >> i have never been outside before. last time i was here, we were inside. >> you play a deputy district attorney. >> yeah. >> so he thinks practicing law is great. but he's a gritty realist too. he steps into a court of law, he thinks it's a street fight and he gets ready for it. >> and he plays that middle ground between the law and justice. he's a political animal and he understands that, you know, sort of certain rules have to be massaged every now and again. >> there's a gray area.

>> that's right. >> you have guest starred in s.u.v., right? >> i have gone from playing a rapist to a lawyer. it's a stretch. >> you got the acting jobs. >> this show, l.a., it's a little more l.a., it's not as gritty, at least, as the new york based show? >> in the same way that the city of new york became such an incredible element in the show originally, i think l.a. will do the same thing, but you're right, the weather's different, the color's different, just the heat itself i think will make a difference. but i think it's -- we're very excited. i think we're going to make a -- it's going to be a very exciting new show. >> a heck of a cast. we want to welcome you again and we want to tell people that law and order los angeles premiers tonight at 10:00, 9:00 central time, right here on nbc.

. >> mr. roker? >> any chance we get to play the chung chung, we like it like that. let's check it out and see what's happening, for today, we have tropical depression 16 making its way up the coast, record highs continuing out west. for tomorrow, that heavy rain moves into the northeast and new england, we have got the heat continuing from texas into interior sections of california and nevada. >> it looks like most of the date is going to be dry. we will see some rain catch up to us, though. high temperatures in los of unease.

>> and don't forget, you can check your weather any time of the day or night, go to weather channel on cable or weather.com online. we told you monday about our friends at the american express with the call for education challenge, part of our ongoing education nation. american express will donate up to $1 million for donors choose.org, an organization that's dedicated to help improve country schools. however we need 100,000 people to pledge to help schools in their local communities. to get involved, all you have to do is log on to members project.com/pledge to promise to do something good for your local school and american express will donate $1 million. >> that's a lot of cash.

>> it is. when we come back, martha stewart's here, she's going to look at some of your favorite takeout meals and how to make look at some of your favorite takeout meals and how to make the same meal

i'm frank kratovil and i approve this message. the real andy harris. buried in his website - a promise to replace the tax code with a 23% sales tax and eliminate the mortgage interest deduction. a bush tax panel said families would pay $6,000 more a year. a reagan tax advisor calls it a very dumb idea. but that's not his only bad idea.

harris was the only senator to vote against expanding the child care tax credit and against the state's cancer treatment program. andy harris' extreme ideas will cost us. this morning on martha on "today," sure ordering in is simple, and martha stewart says you can make a cheaper, tastier meal in the same time it takes for the pizza guy to show up. martha, good morning to you. so the theory is you can come up with these recipes, they're easy to do and by the time the pizza guy would show up, you've already made it. >> have you ever ordered pizza? >> yes. >> i have never ordered a pizza. because i can make a pizza quicker. i love tomato soup and

mozzarella cheese and basil and if you have a mozzarella cheese. >> this is in place of pizza? >> yes, here's your beautiful little mozzarella toast, here's some bread and topped with mozzarella and basil. a 20 ounce can of good tomatoes in their juice. and just just blend that up. and then add that to -- oh, i love tomatoes. i love tomatoes don't you? >> i do. >> and add that to a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, two cloves of garlic just sliced, one cup of onion and add that to some red pepper flakes, thin it with some chicken broth which you can have home made or out of the can. but do the low sodium kind. cook that for about five minutes, season with salt and

pepper, and you have a very rich beautiful soup. give it a taste. it is a healthy, and that could be kind of lunch or just a light supper. >> it's spicy too. it's good, i don't know if it replaces pizza for me. >> another nice dinner for me is the tortilla -- >> a beef burrito really. >> home made burritos, i have drained one can and i have sauteed here onions, olive oil and bell peppers and that's a lovely mix. >> can you see in there? no, no, this. no, this. >> this is something so that i never have to read a recipe. that's my secret. i show that on my show. so i drained one can. and i'm adding the other can in with the juice, you don't even have to drain it.

oh, there's wire tops still in there. so cook that for five or ten minutes, so there you have a very nice, healthy bean stu aew and then you can make a salsa out of tomatoes. >> this is cheese? >> you can get a mexican cheese. you can use feta cheese, and stir that up and then your tortil tortillas, a warm tortilla. you can have some brown rice cooked. >> this looks like it could take a while. >> cutting up a few things, really i can do this by the time the pizza man -- but i live about 100 miles from a pizza place. do you know how to get the pit of an avocado? you just bang it with a knife and turn it and it comes right out. you put a little salsa on here and a little hot sauce.

>> and you're not going to get to the last thing. >> okay chicken technders. why buy those chicken tenders, you don't know where the chicken comes from. we have some beautiful chicken. we have some butter, mustard, salt and pepper, and you have seasoned bread crumbs, and bake it, don't fry it. >> frying bad, baking good. >> make your sauce with yogurt and butter milk and chives and a little blue cheese and you have -- look how pretty. >> it's very pretty, it's lovely, martha. you did a great job. >> and you don't have it in a box, you haven't fed your kids things you don't know and it's healthy and good and organic. >> martha stewart, as always, thank you.

"today's" wedding, modern love is brought to you by chevy. every model is backed by a 100,000 mile, five-year limited power train warranty. we're back at 8:44 with our special series "today's" wedding modern love. tomorrow is the big day but there's still some details to get to. jeremy and melissa, how are you feeling? >> we're feeling great. >> does he have a choice? are you nervous or are you feeling great? >> you can speak for yourself. >> i'm feeling great. >> we can't have a wedding until we take care of some business. last time around we looked at some amazing cake options and so let's see what the viewers decided you should eat on your wedding day, this is classic roman by anna's custom cakes.

how are you? do you love this one. >> we love it. we love the little personal touch. >> four tiers, different flavors, is that right? >> yes. >> how long did it take to make a cake like this? >> really it was seven days compressing to four, between doing another cake for my other clients, but it was an honor, so i was very happy to do it. >> and you're all ready to go for tomorrow? >> yes. >> all right, fantastic. it's beautiful and thank you so much, congratulations to you, and congratulations to you guys. let's move over here. now talk about what's my favorite part of this whole process and that's looking at the honeymoon options. tell me. >> we are superexcited about your honeymoon and i can't believe you're getting married tomorrow. we worked with virtuoso. it's really going to be hard for people to pick. >> let's get started, what's

number one? >> number one is brazil. brazil means sexy, it means sultry, it means beach. the best place to start is on the emerald coast of brazil. so you're going to be going there. one of the most romantic properties in the world a couple of years ago, and you fast forward to one of the most beautiful natural wonders in brazil and you're going to be staying at a property call. you're going to be two minutes from these incredible falls, 275 of them, 300 feet drop. >> so number one, brazil. just digest all of this. number two, we're going to the heart of southeast asia. >> beer going to thailand, and where is thailand, right there. thailand is called the island of smiles. you're going to be stay agent

the ritz carlton property, it's a brand-new kind of briritz carlton. business or first class. i have to tell you this property you're going to be staying in is larger than my apartment in new york city. and you're going to be getting ten hours of spa treatments while you're there and you're going to be riding an elephant. >> oh, my god. >> there's the elephant. they're really pulling out all the stops. >> let's move on to number three, turks and kay koesz. turks and caicos. >> that's one of my stop destinations in the caribbean, i love it. and you're going to be staying at parrot key, which is a little bit of asia right in the heart of the caribbean, you're going to be getting tons of time snorkeling and swimming, lots of beautiful spa treatments, your room is going to be right on the water. >> oh, my goodness. >> and moving on to number four, two for the price of one, two locations in portugal.

>> portugal is one of those places that people don't realize is as great as all the other wonderful european capitals, but a little bit more affordable. and accessible. now you're going to be staying at a no shabby four seasons ritz when you're in portugal. you're going to be flying there on luftansia. you like warm, you're going to be getting subtropical climates, it's going to feel a little bit like hawaii but in europe. you're going to hiking, there's going to be dance lessons, there's going to be private dinners, honestly, i don't know how they're going to pick. >> so we have got a lot to get to, tomorrow's the big day, we're looking forward to it. congratulations in advance, let me tell people how they can choose your honeymoon destination, go to

todayshow.com, facebook.com/todayshow. one for brazil, 2 for thailand, three for turks and caicos.

miranda lambert is the hottest thing in country music, she has nine country music awards. miranda, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> and has it even sunk in? >> not really, i haven't stopped so i haven't had time to process the whole thing. history making which is awesome. >> then you're heading out on tour, is that something that you enjoy? >> i love it. we start our tour tonight, it's the cmt tour and so we're excited to kick off a new tour. feels like we just got off of our summer tour, but we love it. >> also engaged in may to blake shelton. we do weddings here, in case you want to know how to do it. >> i was looking at the honeymoon options. >> this one's called only

prettier. "toda today's the one-year anniversary of it. ♪ well i been saved by the grace of southern charm ♪ ♪ i got a mouth like a sailor ♪ well i'm going to have to say good night ♪ ♪ and i don't have to behave ♪ i can just -- ♪ doesn't mean we don't get together and try to make amends ♪ ♪ we don't have to like each

other but it sure ♪ ♪ let's shake hands and reach across the party lines ♪ ♪ we think a little differently ♪ ♪ but we got a lot in common you will see ♪ ♪ even if the only way is -- ♪ you can always get your way ♪ it's a universal plan that will get you where you can ♪ ♪ let's shake hands and reach across those party lines ♪ ♪ we think a little

differently ♪ ♪ but we got a lot in common you will see ♪ ♪ we're just like you only prettier ♪ ♪ ♪ let's shake hands and reach across those party lines ♪ ♪ you've got your friends just like i've got mine ♪ ♪ we might think a little differently ♪ ♪ but we got a lot in common you will see ♪ ♪ we're just like you ♪ only prettier ♪ well i'll keep drinking ♪ and you'll keep getting

skinnier ♪ ♪ i'm just like you >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. there is a look at one of our top stories. a baltimore judge sentenced a convicted gang leader to life in prison without parole. 24-year-old timothy rawlings was convicted of ordering the murder of a fellow gang member in 2008. prosecutors say he ordered the murder because he believed the man was dead. it is the first time a man has been convicted of a hate crime -- believed the manold gibbs ca. today these factories are full of dot com businesses. and now my job is helping maryland create

new economy jobs. training new math and science teachers investing in our institutions of excellence pioneering new cyber security jobs and giving an old gm plant a jump start building electric motors. i'm barbara mikulski. i approve this message so you'll know i'm fighting for you. two governors, two different approaches. even in good times bob ehrlich did not make education a priority. he increased college tuition by 40%, cut school construction by $200 million, and ehrlich voted to eliminate the department of education while serving in congress. but martin o'malley, even in the toughest of times, has made record investments in public schools, new school construction, and o'malley froze college tuition four years in a row. with martin o'malley, our children always come first. >> now let's look at the forecast with tony pann. >> so far so good.

most of the day to day will be fine. once we get into the late afternoon or evening hours, there is a possibility we will see rainshowers deval. thickening clouds, high temperatures expected in the low 70's. tomorrow, heavy rain and possible. there might even be severe weather during the day on thursday. high temperatures and the mid- 70's. it will clear up over the weekend. kind of chilly, with highs in the 60's and overnight lows in the 40's. >> we will have another weather update at 9:25.