tv Today NBC July 12, 2011 7:00am-9:00am EDT
7:00 am
summer sizzler. alert posted from texas all of the way to connecticut as that dangerous heat wave rose more than half of the nation. in some spots today could feel as hot as 109 degrees. new outrage, that scandal, more rupert murdoch's newspapers. and sergeant surprise. a marine serving in afghanistan takes a chance on youtube and asks a favorite actress, mila kunis, to a military ball. >> take a second to think about it, get back to me.
7:01 am
>> her response? yes! and now he's the envy of the corps. this is "today" on july 12th, corps. this is "today" on july 12th, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this tuesday morning. i'm ann curry. >> i'm matt lauer. nice to see you. >> nice to see you. welcome back. we really missed you. partner in crime. >> i had perfect weather on vacation. now that perfect sunny weather has turned perfect, sunny and brutally hot. if you're in the new york area today, hopefully your afternoon plans will be indoor. 103 today. >> we're not alone. heat advisories have been issued for at least 18 states, matt. and in illinois, the dangerous temperatures are blamed for at least one death.
7:02 am
we'll get details and al's forecast straight ahead. nbc news investigates a controversy involving gop presidential hopeful michele bachmann. she owns a christian counselingh center, it's raising questions about that clinic's treatment for homosexuals. we'll have details on that coming up. also this morning. an extradition hearing is being held in los angeles today for bruce beresford-redman. the outrage of some of his family members, the defense wants the couple's 6-year-old daughter to testify. we're going to have the latest on that story. and we are going to begin a special series today on how to live to be 100. this morning we'll have the answer, could be all in your mind. we'll explain that. >> very interesting. but let's begin this morning with that oppressive heat being felt across the east.
7:03 am
mara is in wisconsin. >> good morning, ann. the midwest is right smack in the middle of this heat wave with the humidity that will feel like 105 today in st. louis. now almost half the country is feeling the heat, advisories in place from texas to connecticut. it's the summer sizzler that just won't stop. >> it's been horrible. horrible. >> reporter: dallas facing its tenth straight day of 100-degree temperatures. >> look at the numbers. right up into the triple digits as we head into the afternoon. >> reporter: oklahoma city stuck on broil for almost two straight weeks. >> i carry a container of juice and a container of water frozen from the house every day when i leave so i can stay hydrated until i get back home. >> reporter: and now the east coast is bracing itself from georgia to connecticut. heat advisories have been issued for temperatures today that will feel as high as 105. leaving these kids in philadelphia to seek some cool in the pool. >> this is some oppressive and
7:04 am
dangerous heat affecting more than 20 states and more than 90 million people. >> reporter: the heat isn't just wide spread, it's deadly. the mobile home of a 51-year-old illinois man reached dangerously high temperatures when the air conditioner broke sunday, causing him to have a fatal heat stroke. in milwaukee, several runners are just getting out of the hospital after suffering heat-related illnesses during a half marathon sunday. >> people were falling down on that bridge. i had to stop in the middle of it to help someone who collapsed. >> reporter: in arkansas, it hit 102. moo lined up to a non-profit agency to apply for help with their electricity bill. a desperate effort to stay cool with no end to the heat in sight. now, emergency workers are asking people who don't have air-conditioning to leave their homes and go to a cool place. and they are reminding you, please don't forget your pets at home because they're vulnerable for heat stroke, too.
7:05 am
>> it's a good time to look after your neighbors. >> people are asking, how hot will it get where i live and how long will it last? al roker is up stairs with the answers. >> matt, half the country, 24 states are under heat advisories or heat warnings for at least the next 24 hours. stretching from texas all of the way into the northeast and parts of new england. in fact, in some areas you can see, look at these temperatures. 101 in oklahoma. air temperature, 100 in columbus. 99 in d.c. 96 in new york city. add the humidity, that's the problem. a lot of warm moist air coming in. 115 in huntsville. 107 in d.c. 103 here in new york city. here's why. big area of high pressure. there's a big strong upper ridge. this is just a heat pump that will continue. and the bad news is, this goes into at least thursday. in fact, jet stream guns up a little further into canada so that heat will be creeping up north as the ridge intensifies.
7:06 am
we don't see this breaking down at least until the weekend. so the mid section of the country is going to continue to bake the northeast gets a little bit of a break as we head on into the next 72 hours. ann? >> all right, al, thank you so much. we'll get the rest of your forecast in a bit. for now, to britain's deepening phone hacking scandal. this morning there are claims that journalists from other rupert murdoch's other papers were involve and the alleged target is former p.m. gordon brown. stephanie goss is in london with this. stephanie, good morning. >> good morning, ann. gordon brown does not mince his words when he spoke to the bbc this morning about rupert murdoch's papers me said those papers used people to gather information on known criminals. the allegations appearing in the british press over the last 24 hours claiming that brown's personal information has been relentlessly pursued for the last decade. a scandal that started with just
7:07 am
one of rupert murdoch's tabloids is spreading. now two more of the media mogae gu mogul's newspapers "the sun" and "the tusun times." an adviser to gordon brown said in 2006, the editor on "the sun" paper and "news of the world" contacted the browns saying that they knew their newborn son had cystic fibrosis and it was going to print the story. gordon brown spoke today with the bbc. >> in tears. your son is now going to be broadcast across the media. sarah and i were incredibly upset about it. we're thinking about his long-term future, thinking at our family. >> reporter: at the time only a small group of doctors knew the diagnosis and the browns themselves had only just been told. >> we didn't know how recca came across this information and
7:08 am
now that it's come to light, it was obtained by what appeared to be illegal matters. >> reporter: "the guardian" reports that brown's financially details was also obtained illegally by "the sunday times." a lawyer from brown's bank sent a memo to the paper in january 2,000. someone from the "sunday times" or acting on its behalf has masqueraded as mr. brown for the purpose of obtaining information. news international manages its british papers, says it is aware of the new allegations involving gordon brown and the company is asking for all relevant information so that they can conduct their own investigation. they did not comment on the latest allegations involving the news of the world and the royal family. the bbc reports that members of the royal family security team sold phone details to the paper. and that charles' and camilla's phone cells were among those hacked by reporters. "the sun" paper says it is
7:09 am
confident in the methods it used to obtain gordon brown's sons medical records. even so, scotland yard is investigating all of the accusations and is casting a wide net. pop singer george michael says he's being called in for questioning after a number of tweets he posted about rebecca brooks me said in one of them that she told him that almost all of their information comes directly from police. in a later tweet he said that police received, quote, a nice little wad of cash for the service. ann? >> this story just keeps on growing. thank you so much. 7:09. here's matt. >> ann, thanks very much. now to washington and the heat that president obama and congressional leaders are under to reach a deal on slashing the budget deficit. nbc's kristen welker is at the white house with the latest on this. good morning. good to see you. >> good morning. good to see you, too. president obama will meet with congressional leaders again today. the two sides still very much deadlocked. and the clock is ticking.
7:10 am
>> thank you very much. >> reporter: with the deadline looming, president obama and congressional leaders met monday for a third time but they're still struggling to find common ground on the debt ceiling. >> this is the same shot you had yesterday except we're wearing ties today. >> reporter: those familiar with monday's talk, republicans and democrats, seemed to be gaining no ground, agreeing to only about $1.5 trillion in cuts to things like defense spending, medicare, medicaid. but that's far short of the estimated $2.4 trillion needed to get a deal done past 20 12, and the president says he won't go for anything less. >> i will not sign a 30-day or a 60-day or a 90-day extension. >> reporter: and mr. obama ramped up pressure on republicans to agree to the largest deal possible. speaker boehner said he wants that, too. >> i want to do what i think is in the right -- the best interest of the country. but it takes two to tango. >> reporter: the president called on democrats to take on
7:11 am
their so-called sacred cows, namely entitlements like social security. and he called on republicans to agree to an increase in tax revenues, which mr. obama insisted would only impact the wealthiest americans and would not take effect until 2013. >> i'm prepared to take on significant heat from my party to get something done. and i expect the other side should be willing to do the same thing. >> reporter: but speaker boehner made it clear, he won't budge on taxes. >> the american people will not accept and the house cannot pass a bill that raises taxes on job creators. >> reporter: and earlier in the day on the laura ingram radio show the speaker alluded to the elephant in the room. >> the president is in re-election mode, and as a result, that's where a lot of this rest or rick comes from. i told the president and i asked him, mr. president, let's forget about the next election, you forget about yours and i'll forget about mine and let's get serious about doing the right
7:12 am
thing for the country. >> it's not going to get easier, it's going get harder. so we might as well do it now. pull off the band-aid. eat our peas. >> reporter: sources close to negotiation say the goal today is for congressional leaders to identify at least a trillion dollars more of debt reduction over the next decade. that meeting will take place late this afternoon. matt? >> kristen welker at the white house. laura ingram is a conservative talk show host and fox news contributor. her latest book is called "of thee i zing." nice to see you. this is the immovable object and the unstoppable force. when it comes to taxes, this issue of revenues, is there any way this deal gets done without the republicans compromising somewhat on tax snes. >> i certainly hope not because the one thing we do know, matt, and look at the whole landscape, if the republicans hadn't taken
7:13 am
the house of representatives last november, we wouldn't even be having a discussion on any spending cuts. the democrats would have already voted to increase the debt ceiling. spending cuts would not be part of the equation. the only reason we're talking about shrinking the size of government, beyond all of these other details, is because the republicans are listening to the people out there in this country and you're angry. these people are angry. >> shared sacrifice. where is the shared sacrifice going to come from on the republican side? >> the shared sacrifice the fact that he canceled his montana vacation? >> he's doing thing he just said he's going to take heat from the democrats on. >> the president was dancing around using the word tax increases. the numbers don't add up. taxing the upper 1% or 2% income earners in this country does not get us to the mat. we have to shrink government. putting more burden on people who create jobs. hey, like nbc. we don't need to do that.
7:14 am
>> everybody we agrees there's got to be changes. >> when washington -- matt, when washington starts sacrifices instead of actually increasing the salaries of individuals within the executive offices of the presidency, when they start sacrifices, we can talk about the real meaning of sacrificing the american people. >> poll says 20% of americans think that spending cuts are the only thing that should be on a tibl when they're talking about be this they're talking about increasing revenue, they're talking about raising taxes on the 1%, on corpses, even the corporate which is a few mill dollars. >> that was a scam and a lie. the fact that media allowed him to get away with that is absurd. the american people watching this today, they can't control. we -- what happens in washington, obama is going to come out and, you know, do his rhetoric and boehner is going to do the same thing. in the end the two parties have different visions. growing this economy is not -- has not been done, matt, stimulus bill or health care. >> with this deal, absolutely
7:15 am
not, will there be no compromise on taxes on the republican side, in your opinion? >> will there be compromise on the other side on the issue of freeing up business to create jobs. that's where we are. that's the divide. >> this is going to be remembered in 2012 in the campaign. >> i hope so. >> which side has the most to lose if this deal goes south. >> who has been the adult in the room? obama comes out, we've got to eat our peas yesterday. excuse me, isn't it your budget that was voted down 97-0 by your own party. we know what he wants to do with our economy. >> he'll take the hit on this. >> the democrats are in big droubl. >> while we're on the subject of 2012, recent iowa poll has michele bachmann pulling ahead of romney by 4 percentage points. is she the candidate to beat right now on the republican side and, more importantly, why? >> i think she's resonating because she's a little different from the other candidates. congresswoman but she's a mom, she talks about issues beyond the economy, talks about the culture and not to say to my
7:16 am
book rudely but i'm talking about other issues, too. i'm a mother. okay? all of this political stuff it happens every four years. we vote for the presidency. we go to the voting booth. we can really affect the culture that's going on around us. a lot more so than we can affect the ceiling debate in washington or whether bachman is going to take out paul lentity. >> you have serious concerns about the culture and you use humor in the book to pinpoint some of these things. >> it's a cultural takedown. >> everything from muffin tops. am i the only man in america or person in this room that doesn't know what a muffin top was? >> apparently. everybody in the green room did. it's a cultural intervention. in this summer i think as tim said yesterday, it's going to be a long, painful time for america. put that on bumper sticker. we've got to laugh. i think when we look around us, as i was on the train, may i tell you since you have three small children as i have, on the train two weeks ago my daughter and i coming up to new york, a
7:17 am
man was watching full-blown porn. two rows up from us, we go to the snack car. my mom and my daughter says, mommy, why are those people swimming with no clothes on on that screen? and i'm like, how did he go to a situation where that's acceptable? snakes on a plane, porn on a train, lunatic. >> you're not optimistic? >> i am because i'm in mom groups and i'm -- mom stuff all the time. and women across political lines are saying, we've got to do better. we have to do better. i -- >> men, too. >> but, matt, did you really watch rihanna and brittney together on stage in that lip lock? this is an intervention with you. 11 times? did you say that on the "today" show on may 22nd? >> it was a joke. >> okay. it was a joke. >> similar to what you write in your book, some of this is humor. >> do you know what cee lo
7:18 am
green's number one hit? >> i know the song. >> blank you. >> is that the way you want to end this by saying blank you? is that the way we're going to do this? >> no. if i lit up a cigarette right now, what wopd happen if i did this? >> the alarms would go up and throw a a bucket of water on you. >> but we've agreed that this is not good. we've agreed that on television probably not a good thing to show that to the kids. all i'm saying is, love you guys, all i'm saying is, we can bring it up. tony bennett, love it. awesome. you have some great people booked. but we can do better than enrique englis sass. tonight i'm not trucking you, tonight i'm blanking you. >> i'm not going to say that on this show. >> august 19th. >> first of all, thank you for going to the website and checking out our summer concert series. we've got a great app for our ipad. >> do you? i'm sad i missed snl. may 22nd i watched pit. >> the book is called "of thee i
7:19 am
zing." >> on ours. absolutely. next, the top stories from natalie morales. >> good morning to you, matt. good morning, everyone. afghan president hamid karzai is moirning his brother after he was assassinated by one of his body guards at his kandahar home today. nbc joins us now from kabul. atia,good day to you. >> reporter: good day, natalie. he referred to as awk was the younger half brother of president karzai. he was an infamous and influential power broker down south, sometimes accused of being a part of the narcotics industry, but what was widely known was how the u.s. and nato forces relied upon him to talk to tribal leaders as well as the local taliban to bring them to the negotiating table. but in the end it was the taliban who have claimed responsibility for his death. natalie? >> thanks so much, atia. u.s. relations with pakistan are getting icier as drone attacks are intensifying
7:20 am
following this suspension of one-third of u.s. military aide to pakistan. u.s. slammed pakistan's reluctance to fight afghan militants along its border. a government accountability report released today finds the system for detecting medicaid and medicare fraud are inadequate and underused. billion of dollars and claims are paid out each year, according to the report. final spacewalk of the nasa era is conducted today. two space station residents will execute the walk to retrieve a broken pump. meantime, the landing plan for the "atlantis" has changed. it will now touchdown in the predawn houring of july 21st at the kennedy space center. meantime, all eyes are going to be on sergeant scott moore at the marine corps ball this november when he shows up with movie star mila kunis on his arm. he asked her to the ball on youtube. take a look. >> hey, mila. sergeant moore. you can call me scott. i just want to take a moment out
7:21 am
of my day to ask you to the marine corps ball in november in north carolina. yours truly. take a second. think about it. get back to me. all right. bye now. >> well, with a little convincing from fellow star justin timberlake, kunis decided to serve her country and she said yes. i mean, how could you reresist? he's so smooth, ann and matt. take the sunglasses down. hey, mila, took a little time out of my day. perfect. >> how can you say no? >> in afghanistan serving our country. there you go. >> that's going to be a
7:22 am
>> good morning. we are off to a quiet start this tuesday morning. the thunderstorms we had last night have dissipated. a few more could develop this afternoon. hot and humid, highs in the mid- >> and that's your latest weather. ann? >> al, thank you so much. just ahead, should the 6-year-old daughter of reali television producer bruce beresford-redman be allowed to testify to a key hearing tied to
7:23 am
7:24 am
7:25 am
7:26 am
>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's get a check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> thankfully, j.f.x. has been reopened in the north and direction at st. paul's st.. little bit of what residual delay traveling northbound.
7:27 am
crude 30 at the business route 30 circle, overturned tractor trailer being cleared. not a whole lot in the way of delays on the major roadways. 13-minute ride on the west side from top to bottom on the outer loop. 8 minutes on the inner loop from 795 to 83's. west side looks like it is cooperating so far heading towards edmondson. in white marsh, going away from us, southbound traffic at 95. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. tony, over to you. >> we had thunderstorms last night. most of the activity is gone and now. as the sun shine with a few high, thin clouds. 83 degrees already downtown at the maryland science center. forecast for today, hazy, hot and humid. high temperature in the mid- 90's.
7:28 am
heat index around 100 and later on today. it will plot the next few days -- it will cool off the next few days. beautiful weather this time of year thursday and friday. it will heat up again over the weekend. it looks like it will stay dry all the way through the beginning of next week. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information. back in 25 minutes with another live update.
7:29 am
[ female announcer ] have you ever seen a glacier while sunbathing? why not? have you ever climbed a rock wall in the middle of the ocean? or tried something really wild? why not? it's all possible in the nation of why not. royal caribbean's floating nation. where you are free to do anything you want. which may be nothing at all. royal caribbean international. why not cruise from baltimore? visit royalcaribbean.com today.
7:30 am
morning, 12th of july, 2011. these folks up early in rockefeller plaza. and if they stay out there a couple more hours they will be poached. we're going to get up to be 103 heat index here in new york today. by the way, stick around, friday will be poached. they will also get some great music as we have a summer concert from pop superstar chris brown out on the plaza. that should be huge. meanwhile, inside a much cooler studio, i'm matt lauer along with ann curry. just aid head, did the clinic owned by gop presidential
7:31 am
hopeful michele bachmann and her husband try to treat homosexuality. the controversy being generated by an undercover video. we'll get to that and the backlash over a recent kickboxing match. two girls, one 8, one 7, recently faced off in front of paying audience. one of those girls admitted that she was scared and even cried during the fight. why did her father allow his daughters to take part in such a violent sport? we're going to find out. and also, how about this for a story? one beauty queen's incredible transformation. at 17 she weighed more than 230 pounds. now just a few years later she is the reining miss south carolina. she's got her eyes on the miss america title. she will be here to tell us exactly how she did it. >> a lot to smile about. but let's begin this morning this half hour with new details about a hollywood producer accused of killing his wife in mexico. extradition hearing is scheduled for today. we've got nbc in los angeles
7:32 am
with this story. miguel, good morning. >> good morning. bruce beresford-redman has been in jail since november awaiting whether or not he will be extradited back to mexico on charges he murdered his wife there. now his lawyers believe his 6-year-old daughter could help clear the hollywood producer's name. on april 8th, 2010, police in cancun, mexico, found monica's naked body floating in the hotel sewer. she was strangled to death, murdered by her husband of 11 years, bruce beresford-redman. the hollywood producer was questioned in mexico but wasn't charged with murder until after he returned home to los angeles. >> it is a rush to judgment. >> reporter: his lawyer says beresford-redman is independent and at today's extradition hearing wants to call the couple's 6-year-old daughter to testify. the couple and their two children stayed in one hotel room during their vacation where
7:33 am
prosecutors say the murder took place. according to court documents filed by the attorney for beresford-redman the 6-year-old says she never saw her father hit her mother. she also states that her father got cuts and scratches on his face and body from a trip to a rocky river and that loud yelling coming from their hotel room the night of the murder was a family playing a game, not a homicide. >> the daughter was there. she did not report anything like that happening. that certainly would have been something a child would have known. >> reporter: but the mexican government and u.s. prosecutors call their evidence overwhelming. they say a cheetding husband had the motive to kill his wife when she threatened to leave him. investigators say the couple fought publicly in front of witnesses including hotel workers, that yelling from the room was, in fact, screams for help and key card records showed someone went in and out of their room several times over night when police discovered monica's body was dumped in the sewer.
7:34 am
>> it's traumatic. it's tragic. it's really tragic. >> reporter: in a statement the victim's sister called the attempt to have their 6-year-old niece testify, quote, shameless. one legal analyst predicts the judge will reject the testimony. >> i think the chances of her testifying are slim to none because this is a hearing that is going to be conducted for the purposes of extradition and not a mini-trial. >> reporter: a murder in mexico, a husband charged with killing his wife, and now the suspect and victim's 6-year-old daughter asked to testify. the defense also argues that mexico is plagued by corruption, that their client could never get a fair trial there and the prosecution has put together a sloppy circumstantial case. the judge could make her decision on extradition as early as this afternoon. ann? >> all right, miguel this morning, thanks. star jones is a former prosecutor and veteran legal commentator. savannah guthrie is "today's" legal correspondent. good morning. >> good morning. >> it's hard to imagine a
7:35 am
6-year-old child being called to testify. can it happen? >> actually i have called children to testify. i had a murder case in brooklyn when i was in the homicide division and all of my witnesses were kids under 12 years old. one of them was a 7-year-old, as a matter of fact. the only question is to whether or not the child is swearable, meaning understands the difference between the truth and a lie and the ramification. how far, in an extradition hearing, the defense -- the fugitive, if you will, does not have a right to call witnesses. so we don't even know if she'll get to the stand. >> so the real question then is what will the point be that the judge will make his decision on? >> yes. >> and but how much does how crucial the defense sees her testimony because clearly as we just saw, the defense said it's crucial. how much does that play in his decision? >> it's not a trial. it's not meant to be a mini-trial other wise that would
7:36 am
defeat the whole purpose of having a treaty with mexico saying if a crime happens there we send the defendant there. actually the defendant is not entitled to call witnesses. there's no legal impediment to this child testifying but there may be an issue of relevance. the only issue for this judge to decide is whether there's probable cause and actually you can't even really offer evidence, the defendant has no right to offer evidence at this kind of hearing. the only thing he can offer is explanatory evidence. he may think that the child can explain away some of this testimony, some of the evidence that the mexican prosecutor sent. but the judge could ultimately decide this proceeding is too narrow. >> is it too much to hope the judge would take into the account the psychological implications on this child given she's the child of these two people? >> actually the investigators have never spoken to the child, only the child's therapist in dealing with the impact of the child's mother's death on the baby. so if you think about it, we don't even know what she would say. most judges would say if they're
7:37 am
going to allow this it would be an in-camera interview. they would not want to put her in court. >> if the child is permitted to testify it will not be in open court but back in the judge's chambers. the prosecutors argued there's no need to call this child. we're take on faith the declarations, the legal papers that have been nild that describe what the child's testimony would be. prosecutors have said don't call her. we can just argue about -- we'll assume it's true and argue about whether it's relevant. >> almost a stipulation for all practical purposes saying, okay, even if she says what she says, this is absolutely nothing to do on the ultimate issue of extradition. we don't want to be in the position as the united states of not giving back someone who is accuse of murder in mexico because guarantee, you next week, there will be somebody over in mexico that we're going to want to get back. >> who has the burden of proof there? does this play in this kind of a case, in an extradition case? does the defense or the
7:38 am
prosecution that has a greater burden? >> the prosecution has the burden to show probable cause the crime committed in mexico and the defendant committed it if possible caution is a lower, easier standard. >> so to that end, how much evidence is going to be presented in this extradition hearing? >> i think that the extradition hearing from the federal prosecutor is simply going to be these are the basic facts. if you look over the documents that have already been presented, they had an argument, there are some witnesses that indicate that it was loud and/or some sort of violence. the woman had not been seen at a certain -- for a certain amount of time. the do not disturb sign was on the door for a long period of time. it's definitely a circumstantial case. but you know a circumstantial case can get into court. >> we're going to see what happens, star and savannah. thank you so much for your perspective this morning.
7:39 am
let's get a check of the weather from al. >> nice friends here. mom and grandma. 92? >> yes. >> what's your name? >> georgena. from minneapolis? when did you get here? >> sunday night. >> you had a lot of rain. take a look. we've got some tape. this is from this that moved through. strong thunderstorms moved through. some areas picking up five inches of rain in the minneapolis area. they had some localized flooding there as well. as we look at the rest of the country show you what's going on, temperaturewise, we've been telling you we've got the heat in the southeast. temperatures well over the 90s and the 100s. factor in the humidity, it's even worse. 60s and 70s as you get out in the pacific northwest. gorgeous there. 80s and 70s in the northern plains. >> it is going to be hot and humid as we head through this tuesday. into the act in come mid- nineties, heat index around 100.
7:40 am
>> that's your latest weather. coming up next, did a clinic owned by michele bachmann and her husband try to convert gay men? nbc news investigates right after this. ♪ [ gertrude ] you do look good. [ maude ] well...if you insist. [ norma ] how can i say "no" to you? [ betsy ] you know my weakness. [ gertrude ] real good. [ norma ] you're so sweet. [ maude ] you're so salty. [ betsy ] irresistible. [ female announcer ] giving in to snacks? there's a better way to satisfy your cravings, twice a day with special k. enjoy something sweet... and something salty and still stay on track. ♪ so go ahead and embrace snacking with special k.
7:41 am
new revlon age defying with dna advantage makeup. its powerful skincare ingredients and spf 20 help protect skin's dna and reduce the visible signs of aging. 96% of women saw flawless, younger-looking skin in just 2 weeks. age. defy it! with less chronic low back pain. imagine living your life with less chronic osteoarthritis pain. imagine you, with less pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is a non-narcotic treatment that's fda-approved
7:42 am
to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. cymbalta is not approved for children under 18. people taking maois or thioridazine or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin or eyes. talk with your doctor about your medicines, including those for migraine, or if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles, to address a possible life-threatening condition. tell your doctor about alcohol use, liver disease, and before you reduce or stop taking cymbalta. dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. side effects include nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor about cymbalta. imagine you, with less pain. cymbalta can help. go to cymbalta.com to learn about a free trial offer.
7:43 am
really? 25 grams of protein. what do we have? all four of us, together? 24. he's low fat, too, and has 5 grams of sugars. i'll believe it when i--- [ both ] oooooh... what's shakin'? [ female announcer ] as you get older, protein is an important part of staying active and strong. new ensure high protein... fifty percent of your daily value of protein. low fat and five grams of sugars. see? he's a good egg. [ major nutrition ] new ensure high protein. ensure! nutrition in charge! we're back now at 7:43. republican presidential candidate michele bachmann has made nighting same-sex marriage one of the defining issues a
7:44 am
point of her career. now the approach she and her husband take with home weks sells at a clinic they own together. we have more on this story. michael, good morning. >> good morning, matt. in a recent fund-raising, michele bachmann touted her role helping to run a family counseling center. a secret videotape about how they treat people who might be gay is creating new controversy for bachmann. 26-year-old john becker said he sought help last month with the therapist at bachmanm and associates, owned by congresswoman michele bachmann and her psychologist husband marcus bachmann. >> i told them that i wanted to be rid of my same-sex attractions, to be rid of he home sexuality. >> reporter: in five one-hour sessions, becker said the clinic therapist advised him on on how to obama straight, through counseling, prayer and skrept chur. >> when i felt the temptation to
7:45 am
act out homosexually, to pray about it, take it to the bible. >> reporter: he wanted to prove that the bachmann clinic used reparative therapy, to cure gays and lesbians of their homosexuality. >> the truth is god, god has designed our eyes to be attracted to the woman's body. >> sure. >> to be attracted to, you know, everything. you know? to be attracted to her breasts. >> reporter: the gay cure therapy has been repudiated by the american psychological association. in the past, marcus bachmann denied his clinic uses such practices. but the becker video could raise new questions about the clinic and candidate michele bachmann's views on home sexuality. from her first days as a state senator in minnesota bachmann led the charge for a ban on same-sex marriage. >> if this actually goes on the ballot it will pass overwhelmingly. >> reporter: the controversial 2004 speech she compare ed what she called the gay lifestyle to
7:46 am
slavery. >> if you're involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage. it is personal bondage, personal despair, and personal enslavement. and that's why this is so dangerous. >> reporter: comments such as these have alarmed some gop strategists and many gay republicans. >> congresswoman bachmann's view points are actually on the fringe, more and more americans believe and accept that their gay neighbors, family, friends, colleagues, are just who they are. >> reporter: but analysts say her uncompromising views on homosexuality are also one of the big reasons she's gaining traction in iowa. just last week she re-enforced her message by becoming the first gop presidential candidate to sign a controversial marriage vow that pledges vigorous opposition to same-sex marriage. she also vowed to push for a federal marriage amendment to the u.s. constitution. we asked the bachmann campaign for comment.
7:47 am
the spokes pan said that bachmann and associates is a christian counseling center that has a variety of counseling and mental health issues. she are you fused to discuss it, citing patient confidentiality. shu she did say the clinic honors for all people for why a what they come in for. >> michael, thank you very much. coming up next, would you let your 8-year-old girl step into the ring and do some kickboxing? the heated backlash to one father's decision. we'll talk about that right after this.
7:48 am
finally, there's a choice for my patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or afib, that's not caused by a heart valve problem. today we have pradaxa to reduce the risk of a stroke caused by a clot. in a clinical trial, pradaxa 150 mg reduced stroke risk 35% more than warfarin. and with pradaxa, there's no need for those regular blood tests. pradaxa is progress. pradaxa can cause serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. don't take pradaxa if you have abnormal bleeding, and seek immediate medical care for unexpected signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. pradaxa may increase your bleeding risk if you're 75 or older, have kidney problems or a bleeding condition, like stomach ulcers. or if you take aspirin products, nsaids, or blood thinners. tell your doctor about all medicines you take, any planned medical or dental procedures, and don't stop taking pradaxa without your doctor's approval,
7:49 am
as stopping may increase your stroke risk. other side effects include indigestion, stomach pain, upset, or burning. if you have afib not caused by a heart valve problem, ask your doctor if pradaxa can reduce your risk of a stroke. with aveeno nourish plus moisturize. active naturals wheat formulas target and help repair damage in just 3 washes. for softer, stronger... ... hair with life.
7:50 am
[ female announcer ] nourish plus. only from aveeno. aflac! oh, i've just got major medical... major medical. ...but it helps pay the doctors. pays the doctors, boyyy! [ quack ] oh yeah? what about your family? ♪ we added aflac, so we get cash! it's like our safety net... ♪ to help with the mortgage or whatever we need! so my family doesn't feel the pain too. ha! [ male announcer ] help protect your family at aflac.com. [ pigeons ] heyyy! hooo!!! what does your little girl want to be when she grows up? a controversy is xwruing for a father allowing his 8-year-old daughter to compete as a kickboxer. we have details now. >> reporter: what happened? from ballerina to boxer. >> when i grow up i want to be like my mom and dad. >> reporter: when dad is
7:51 am
kickboxing champion. >> get harder and harder every day. >> reporter: and, boy, can this girl kick. jasmine parr is 8 years old. what she wants most, she says, is a trophy. >> a dancing trophy, but it's little and if i -- if i do boxing, i will get a big one. >> reporter: the next step to the scannedalized australia, her father john wayne parr put jasmine into the ring with another little girl aged 7. three rounds of three minutes before a paying audience. jasmine was knocked down. down but not out. after round one, jasmine cried for 30 seconds. her father urged her on. she came out fighting, so did her opponent. the result, a draw. and an avalanche of criticism. >> we had a girl aged 9 who was hospitalized due to a significant concussion as a result of boxing.
7:52 am
>> reporter: some people called him crazy, abusive, stupid. >> a major backlash that i wasn't expecting. i'm not a bad dad. i'm a good guy. i wouldn't put my own flesh and blood in the ring unless i thought it was 100% safe. >> reporter: kickboxing has many defenders, though. in london amanda kelly is british's natural champion. >> great way of teaching them confidence, coordination, balance. >> reporter: so i thought i would give it a try. let's go. time to rumble. come on. lila thai, 5 years old, 3'6", 50 pounds. a mean fighting machine. she's also the daughter of a trainer. so it isn't only in australia. there, jasmine's father loves his sport and jasmine loves her father. >> i think that my dad and my mom are good parents.
7:53 am
and i think they would never push me into something. >> reporter: however, ask 8-year-old jasmine when she wants to fight again and she says, when i'm 10. for "today," martin savidge, nbc news, london. >> i wouldn't do it. >> in the ring with a little 7-year-old. i don't think i could do that. to teach his own. just ahead, a young woman who lost 112 pounds to become miss south carolina. >> she will open up about her remarkable transformation. a living, breathing intelligence that's helping people rethink how they live. in here, the planned combination of at&t and t-mobile would deliver our next generation mobile broadband experience to 55 million more americans, many in small towns and rural communities, giving them a new choice. ♪ we'll deliver better service, with thousands of new cell sites... for greater access to all the things you want, whenever you want them.
7:54 am
it's a network of connections and ideas... open and collaborative... extending far beyond the mobile phone. connecting you to a world of intelligent new devices and technologies. from today's best innovators... and tomorrow's. ♪ it's the at&t network... a network of possibilities... and what's possible in here is almost impossible to say. ♪ make that first step easier, with the nicoderm cq patch. nicoderm steps you down from nicotine gradually. doubling your chance for success. nicoderm cq. three steps, ten weeks and you're free.
7:56 am
>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. here is the sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> accident on hampstead blocking the lane in each direction. business through 30 at the traffic circle, watch for a lane closure in each direction on route 30 and delays in that area. if you're heading out in the city, we are getting word of a new accident. closures remain in effect through the weekend for artscape, mount royal between
7:57 am
charles, other roads in the area. 22 miles per hour on southbound 95. north and west side delays on the outer loop. we will start with old court. going away from mrs. outer loop traffic on the west side. so far so good in this area. live view of traffic in white marsh, sat down traffic, but if i back up to developing from white marsh to the 895 split. tony has a check on the forecast. >> we had a big thunderstorms from last night. now we will have a smoother commute. no rain expected. it will be a hot and steamy one grade 80 at b.w.i., 84 downtown. 74 in parkton. the heat index will be 100. in the heat and humidity, we could see a few showers and thunderstorms pop up. cold front will go through late tonight. it will be one tomorrow but feel
7:58 am
8:00 am
morning. july 12th, 2011. muggy, hot start to the day here at rockefeller center. that song you hear is our way of letting you know that we're going to really crank up the heat coming up on friday here on "today" because superstar chris brown will be here live in concert. we're excited about that. i'm ann curry along with matt lauer and al roker. coming up, a lot of young girls dream about becoming a beauty queen. and you can imagine, however, if you're a plus size teen, that that might be a little far
8:01 am
fetched. feel as though it will be far fetched. don't tell that to the reigning miss south carolina. a few short years ago, 234 pounds. now look at her. how did she do it? she's going to tell us coming up. >> interesting. also, do you want to live to be 100? >> yes. over 100. yes. >> would you like that? >> a lot of people say good genes. healthy lifestyle. also, what about a positive mental attitude? this morning we're going to have a new series called how to live to 100. we're going to talk about the impact that positive attitude can have on your longevity. >> speaking of that, right over there is a young lady, 96 years old. >> welcome! >> 96. >> i bet she has a good attitude. >> she does. i was just talking to her. also, for a lot of you ladies who are expecting during the dog days of summer, you don't have to give up your sense of style. in fact, we're going to show you some great ways to stay
8:02 am
fashionable through the heat of summer if you are expecting. >> all right. thanks a lot, al. let's get inside for a check of the top stories. natalie at the news desk. >> good morning again, matt, ann, and al. extreme heat and triple digit temperatures are gripping much of the nation again today with heat advisories from texas and connecticut. some cities could see temperatures as high as 109 degrees. president obama is asking lawmakers for fresh ideas when they brain storm yet again at the white house today over the budget stalemate. he says he won't accept short-term measures from defaulting on financial obligations. the next court appearance for dominique strauss-kahn has been postponed until august until they decide whether to drop the sexual assault charges against them. first lady michelle obama is among the many dignitaries attending today's funeral in palm desert, california, for former first lady betty ford who died friday at the age of 93.
8:03 am
she will be buried thursday in michigan next to her husband. and now let's head to wall street. nbc mandy drury is at the new york stock exchange. >> we have a very weak lead from overseas market such as asia and europe. once again on fears that the european debt crisis is spreading to italy and spain. one thing that is necessary tive overseas news is doing is making our u.s. dollar stronger. elsewhere, rupert murdoch's news corp continues to be under pressure amid allegations that former prime minister gordon brown was the target of illegal data hacking. it's going to be a very interesting day in the market. back to you. >> we'll be watching that. thank you. here's brian williams with a look at what's coming up tonight on nbc "nightly news." >> coming up tonight, a lot of talk about. we'll talk about the gathering in southern california to remember betty ford and by the time we see you tonight the nation will have a new recipient of the medal of honor. so that and more when we see you for "nightly news."
8:04 am
back to you. >> thanks, brian. now, what's trending today. quick round-up of what has you talking on like. america's 51st state is the hot topic. california county supervisor wants 13 mostly conservative counties to succeed to conform south california. los angeles is purposely excluded. they say living well is the best revenge. that's how playboy found eer hu hefner is responding to the internet sayings that he died. he said, i'm lying in bed with a big smile on my face reading twits about my unexpected demise. mila kunis could not turn down this youtube invitation from a marine corporation sergeant in afghanistan. >> hey, mila. scott moore. you can call me scott. i want to invite you to the marine corps ball in north carolina. so take a second.
8:05 am
think about it. get back to me. all right. bye now. >> kunis said yes after a nudge from co-star justin timberlake. good for him. he is a smooth talker, i tell you. it's 8:05. let's go back out to al with the check of the weather. we love that story. >> we sure do. we love our audience. where are you guys from? >> florida. >> what's your name? >> ann. >> jean. >> good to see you guys. 96 years old. >> 96. >> god bless. that's fantastic. all right. four years until she's on that smuckers jar. let's check your weather and see what's going on. niagara falls! slowly, i turn, step by step. news 2 with wgrz in buffalo. as we look at the rest of the country today, strong storms push their way in the wet plains. wet weather in the carolinas. showers in the pacific northwest. those will give way later on. plenty of southern shine in the
8:06 am
lower tier states. does anything say summer more than ann curry's skirt? yeah! that's it. that's what's going on around the country, h >> another hot and steamy day. as we head into the heat and humidity, scattered showers and thunderstorms develop. heat index near 100. and this that's your latest weather. a young woman who went from this to this. a beauty queen, amazing transformation. how did she do it? we'll ask her right after this. mine was earned over the south pacific in 1943.
8:07 am
vietnam, 1967. i got mine in iraq, 2003. u.s.a.a. auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation, because it offers a superior level of protection and because u.s.a.a.'s commitment to serve the military, veterans, and their families is without equal. begin your legacy. get an auto insurance quote. u.s.a.a. we know what it means to serve. ♪ jif to go goes anywhere ♪ jif to go goes here, goes there ♪ ♪ jif to go goes everywhere ♪ goes here, goes there ♪ jif to go, wherever you go [ male announcer ] every day thousands of people are switching from tylenol to advil. to learn more and get your special offer, go to takeadvil.com. take action. take advil. [ male announcer ] it has an hd webcam
8:08 am
for flattering video chats, awesome audio, and lids that switch to match your mood. but mostly it helps me keep an eye on my boyfriend. even though he doesn't know he's my boyfriend. yet. [ laughs ] ♪ [ male announcer ] get this inspiron 15r today, powered by the 2nd gen intel core processor family. not just smart. visibly smart. order yours now at dell.com.
8:09 am
you get so hooked on feeling fresh, you'll want to pass it on to a friend. ♪ visit getfreshwithafriend.com. ♪ tell a friend about fresh and you'll both get a cottonelle fresh reward. so fresh is always at your fingertips. ♪ so go on, get fresh with a friend. if you have painful, swollen joints, i've been in your shoes. one day i'm on p of the world... the next i'm saying... i have this thing called psoriatic arthritis. i had some intense pain. it progressively got worse. my rheumatologist told me about enbrel. i'm surprised how quickly my symptoms have been managed. [ male announcer ] because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel,
8:10 am
your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether you've been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. get back to the things that matter most. good job girls. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. back now at 8:10 with a dramatic personal transformation. in a moment we'll meet bree boy boyce, the recently crowned miss south carolina who will xheet in this year's miss america a jept. but how she looks today is a far cry from just a few short years ago. >> reporter: strutting in the swimsuit competition during the miss south carolina pageant, 22-year-old bree boyce had to shed a light of nervousness.
8:11 am
but what so many didn't know, she also shed a lot of weight. >> at age 17 i was at my highest, which was 234 pounds. >> reporter: as a teen nanlger bree got hooked on fatty foods. >> i confessed to my moth her when i got my license i would run around to fast food places and get food and sit in he car and eat it. whenever my parents went out to a movie or dinner i would get a pizza and eat it by myself. >> reporter: looking back she can't believe the belly she developed, the jeans she once wore. >> these are my size 18 pair of jeans that i wore when i was 17 years old. >> reporter: she couldn't stand how being so big shunk her confidence. that's her in the blue bathing suit running from the camera. no sign of shyness in these photos. >> looking at some of those pictures, you do look pretty ripped. >> yeah. >> do you consider yourself ripped at this point? >> i'd like to think of myself ripped. >> reporter: how did she go from 234 pounds to this? it started as a warning from her
8:12 am
doctor. >> at that moment i decided to change my life. i lost 64 pounds very quickly. >> reporter: then came a hard koer commitment to exercising and eating healthy every day. it took three years and a lot of hard work. bree says no surgeries, tummy tucks or lifts. she dropped 112 pounds. >> bree boyce! >> reporter: when she won the miss south carolina title that crown carried a little more weight for this winner. considering the pounds she's lost. bree is making healthy living her platform. >> that's really what i want to focus on is it's not about a number on the scale or the size on your pants. it's about being a size healthy and loving yourself and having that self worth. >> reporter: from chubby teen to beauty queen, bree's journey may seem unlikely, but don't tell her that. she's hungry to become the next miss america. for "today," nbc news, florence, south carolina. >> miss south carolina, bree boyce, is now joining us. bree, good morning. >> good morning.
8:13 am
>> the moment you heard that you had won after having lost 112 pounds, knowing your past at that moment, what was the emotion for you? >> i have no words. i just thought to myself, i did it. i did it all on my own. i did it for myself. and i'm just so thankful to have this platform and to share my success story with everyone across the world. >> you don't have to choose a platform like other beauty queens. >> i like to tell people that i did not choose it, it chose me. a lot of people ask me if i would take the past back, but i definitely wouldn't because i wouldn't have this amazing story to share with others. >> part of that story is what turned the knob? what made you change into what you have become, a healthy, focused woman? what was the thought? >> i had so many dreams and aspirations for myself. and i knew that being so unhealthy i would not be able to accomplish any of those dreams. so by changing my lifestyle completely, i did a 180, and it has been completely amazing.
8:14 am
i'm just so excited. >> you workout -- >> i work out -- >> how many hours a week? >> two to three hours to prepare for a competition. >> a day? >> yes, a day. and 30 minutes to an hour to keep it a lifestyle. >> okay. and your eating has changed from fatty foods -- >> fatty foods to healthy, nutritious, whole grains, fruits, vegetable, lean meats. i really educated myself on what i was eating and how it was fueling my body. >> you went from a woman who ran away from the camera to a woman -- and we've got these pictures of you in the swimsuit competition. >> i know. i love looking at those. >> that's the thing. how did you start to think, okay, i can go out there in front of all of those people with pretty much a little piece of spandex around me. how did you convince yourself? >> i didn't think about anybody else. i thought about myself and how hardy had worked and what i was working for and all the people that i would inspire. so that was definitely the motivation. and i am a confident and successful woman.
8:15 am
and to strut myself on that stage was the proudest moment of my life. >> your mom is very proud. we saw her watching. she happens to be, by the way, in our studio. i want to point out mom. sorry, mom. there you are. but now on facebook, you've been hearing from people? >> yes. >> what is your effort, what is the most important thing you would like to say to people to inspire them to be healthier? >> whatever in life you want to do, it takes hard work. there's no secret. it's hard work and determination and perseverance, all of these things. i want to be that inspiration for people to know that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and keep it up every day. i know there are days that i want to give up, but i can't because i look toward the future. and i look for making my dreams come true and getting on that miss america stage and hopefully winning the swimsuit title there. >> high five to you. good luck at the miss america what pa gent. coming up next, the secret to a long life. what it takes to live to be 100. that's right after this.
8:16 am
every day you live with the pain of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis could be another day you're living with joint damage. help stop the damage before it stops you by asking your rheumatologist about humira. for many adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis humira has been proven to help relieve pain and stop joint damage.
8:17 am
humira's use in patients with ra has been evaluated in multiple studies during the past 14 years. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events can occur such as, infections, lymphoma or other types of cancer, blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. make today the day you talk to your rheumatologist. and ask how you can defend against and help stop further joint damage with humira.
8:18 am
it's real fruit juice; crisp, sparkling water; and no added sugar. and they come in these really cool cans. you want one? i'll wait a bit. all right. mm. refreshing. naturals from delicious, real ingredients with no artificial flavors or preservatives. naturals from purina cat chow. share a better life. chicken, chicken chicken. there are thousands of ways to prepare it. [ chickens clucking ] you know only two of them. time to mix it up. time for new philly cooking creme. it'll take your chicken to places it's never been before. somewhere creamier, dreamier, with lots of flavor. look at you all chef-like. spread the love around in four fabulous flavors. spoon in a little new philly cooking creme.
8:19 am
discover aveeno positively radiant tinted moisturizers with scientifically proven soy complex and natural minerals. give you sheer coverage instantly, then go on to even skin tone in four weeks. aveeno tinted moisturizers. we're back now at 8:19. we'll kick off a special series now called "how to live to 100." the life expectancy of an average american is 77 years. by 2050, it's estimated 800,000 of us will live past 100. what is the secret to a long life? it turns out it may be less about genes than you think. ♪ >> middle age and all this old age business. what is it? is there a law somewhere because you're 30 or 35 or 45 or 50 or 60 or 70 that you have to get in a rocking chair and die? >> reporter: getting old,
8:20 am
americans have being a little bit obsessed. even if you eat right and exercise more, there's no golden ticket to your golden years. >> people of our age, when we wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, we know we're dead. >> reporter: writer turned 100 this past may. she still goes dancing every week. >> i am too busy to grow old. >> reporter: ann believes the key to her longevity is simple. >> curiosity about the outside world and love for my children, for the people close to me. love is very important. i can't imagine people living without loving someone. >> reporter: it turns out her outlook may be what's keeping her alive. it's estimated as little as 30% of aging is genetically based. the world's longest living person lived to 122. she was known as much for her age as her joy of life.
8:21 am
>> images that a lot of us carry about aging are unduly negative and harmful to us. they actually found that the type of belief system that a person has about aging has more impact on their health as they get older. >> reporter: that's not to say a healthy lifestyle srnt important. the japanese of okinawa have some of the lowest mortality rates in the world, and their success is largely attributed to a nutrient rich diet and physical activity. still, mindset seems to play an important role. researchers from the longevity project, the longest running age study, recently concluded that stable relationships and clear-sighted goals are two of the most important factors. filmmaker mark wexler became interested in aging after his mother passed away. >> is this it? am i passed my prime? >> reporter: he spent three years traveling the world for his documentary "how to live forever," interviewing characters like buster martin,
8:22 am
he ran marathons and claimed to be 101. >> i'm not like you people, normal. i've seen that. >> reporter: as for bell, the next dance is just one step toward immortality. >> you've got the stay alive if it kills you. >> what does it really take to live to 100? mark wexler joins us now along with leslie martin. good morning to both of you. nice to see you. we're going to deal the physical on this tomorrow so we'll stick with the psychological this morning. is there any real hard evidence that a positive attitude makes us live longer? >> well, there's really not from the longevity project. we studied 1500 plus people over most of their lifespans. 80 plus years. and oftentimes being happy does go along with living a long life but it's not that thinking happy thoughts or being happy is what makes it happen. it's the great thanks you do with your life.
8:23 am
>> when you look at the study, what is really jumping out at you? >> one thing is to be persistent. i mean, find what you want in life and really go for it. work hard at your goals. some of the longest life people worked hard, some were stressed out by their jobs. but they cared about what they did. they felt it was important. >> they worked hard so they were mentally engaged. they stayed active. >> absolutely. >> when you went around the world meeting all these people was there a common denominator? >> humorous, very comfortable in their own skin. they were kind of serene and also i went to okinawa and in okinawa they have a thing which is a reason to get up in the morning, a purpose. i think everyone across the border, all around the world, should have a purpose. i think we kind of lose that sometimes. here people retire in america and other places. they lose their purpose. in japan there's not even a word for retirement. >> right. when you go back, leslie, to this clear-sighted goals, in other words, if you've always got something else you want to
8:24 am
accomplish, in some ways if you have no goals you become stagnant. >> absolutely. and people who lived a long time in the longevity project they really did have things that they cared about. and oftentimes this was their work, they had hobbies and activities that they loved to do. they had strong social connections. to friends and family and colleagues and co-workers, and austin was very involved in helping other people. >> you talk about worry and stress. one of the things that comes out of the are search is worry in moderation makes you live longer. and what you're trying to say is not worry to excess. >> absolutely not. you don't want to worry herself and go crazy. but some amount of worrying actually good. you think ahead. you've got a plan b. it shows that you're really engaged in your own life and your own outcome. >> when i heard that, from your study, i was pleased. i'm a huge worrier. >> me, too. >> i worry that i'm worried too much. when i heard that, all is good. >> but it's worry in moderation.
8:25 am
>> yeah. >> everybody worries about something. what about personal relationships? when you went around and talked to these people, did they all have very strong interpersonal relationships? >> they did. >> even the guy who says he's not normal? >> they have personal relationships but also a lot of their spouses had passed away because they outlived them and that was a sad point. but just a zest for life, i think, basically. >> sense of humor, how big a role? >> i think it's hoounlg. >> well, i think it makes you enjoy your life. what we found in the longevity project is a sense of humor and being optimistic wasn't helpful. it seemed to shave the way people few risks. they took more risks, more likely to be smokers and drinkers and have more risky hobbies. again, you can have too much of a good thing. >> did you meet any really grumpy old people? we highlight all the happy old people. there's got to be some grumps out there. >> i think buster, marathon
8:26 am
runner. >> i hope he doesn't watch this show. thank you both. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> we have breaking news surrounding the amber alert issued on an 8-year-old boy. police have found darrick charles brown, jr. he was found unharmed inside a vacant house at lynhurst avenue. now let's get a check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> good news there. let's see what is going on around the roads. delays lingering around the area. rte. 30 and business route 30, right at the traffic circle,
8:27 am
everything has been reopened. overturned tractor-trailer cleared. biddle st. ann charles street, a crash, another one at pulaski highway and monument street. not moral, between notes and charles, those closures artscape all the way through the weekend. we are still looking at delays on the north side. let's give you a live view in the area. going away from us is outer loop traffic, and it is backed up from dollar towards dulaney valley. live view of i-70. like heading towards the beltway. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> we are off to a quiet start. the storms we had last night have dissipated. hazy sunshine to start the date. humidity in the uncomfortable range. 78 in parkton. high temperatures in the mid- 90's. the heat index will be in 100 and the air quality will be in
8:28 am
8:30 am
8:31 am
90s. makes you feel like it's over 100. >> yeah. >> a little closer around here today. >> i'm matt lauer along with ann curry. >> shall i step aside? >> no. al roker and natalie morales. coming up, we have a performance in our studio from a very talented young lady, colby caillet. >> her music makes you happy. talk about the heat a moment ago, that brings us to a segment everybody is talking about this morning which is what to do when you're pregnant and how to dress for this heat. there's one of them right there. how people can look great, feel good while they're growing a baby. we have ideas, for example, sometimes when you're pregnant you get asked to go to a fancy event, what do you wear. >> oh, yeah. >> while the ladies may be looking for outfits we guys are looking about looking for a new
8:32 am
grill. >> oh, yeah. can i get a uh, uh, uh. >> talk about the late nest grill technology. 27% of grillers are now women. so there you go. >> i do a lot of the grilling. >> there you go. we're going to show you the best of the best for the right price. a man who likes to grill, jim bell, ladies and gentlemen. jim bell, king of the grill right there. executive producer. look at him. >> check it out. >> i don't know if he grills as much as he likes to eat what comes off the grill. >> i'm with him there. >> exactly. coming up for all of our "today" show viewers, exclusive steals and deals. items that you don't want to miss. jill is back with our popular segment every week. stick around for that as well. >> thanks, natalie. >> but first -- >> but first. >> you. >> me, the weather. >> hot. >> it's all about you. >> yes. >> it's all about you. >> showering often today and make sure you moisturize. risk of strong storm from the mid atlantic to southeastern atlantic states back into the
8:33 am
plains. we've got a lot of heat and humidity. it's going to continue tomorrow. much of the country. half of the country right now is under heat advisories or heat warnings. riff of strong storms tomorrow from the rockies into the western plains. sizzling in the southwest into california. there is no relief. at least for the next 72 hours. >> it is going to be hot and humid as we head through this tuesday. into the act in come mid- nineties, heat index around 100. and that's your latest weather. now, let's head down to washington, d.c. and say hello to big willie scott.
8:34 am
>> hey, boys and girls. it's birthday time in the music hall. always a pleasure to talk about smuckers and our friends. take a look, if you will, as the old jar spins. we have james rogers from st. louis, missouri. 0 102. poud www2rks ii. watches sports with the women. ignatiua, great name, dugale, from venice, florida. the circus is down there. 100 years old. he likes to play card games, avid baseball fan. a lot of spring training parks down there. and warren patrick. how we love our warren. from townshend, vermont. 100 years old today. and loves to write editorials. i guess he does that for the
8:35 am
local paper he bakes his own banana bread and they love it. and evelyn yee from washington, d.c. that's us, here in washington. 100. and credits her longevity, long walks and eating lots of veggies. she is a veggie monster. love it. thomas rotondo, and he is from lockport, new york. 100. and he reads a book every single week. longevity is remaining busy. i guess i should do more of that. and number six birthday, we have neita cochran from west branch, iowa. 105. how about that? loves to dance. very active in her church. and shares the same birthday with her sister, who is edna
8:36 am
hirte. 103 years old. loves to cook and sew and credits her longevity to healthy eating and she loves to face shot. that's it. back to new york. >> thank you very much. when we come back we're going have the coolest summer fashions for moms to be. but first, this is "today" on nbc. the kincaids live here. across the street, the padillas. ben and his family live here, too. ben's a re/max agent, and he's a big part of this community. there are lots of reasons why re/max agents average more sales than other agents. experience, certainly.
8:37 am
8:38 am
>> narrator: today's woman is brought to you by aveeno, discover the power of active naturals. >> "today" on today's woman, what to wear in this summer heat but add a baby bump into the mix and it's nearly impossible to be stylishly comfortable. so rosy pope is the founder of rosy pope maternity and mom craft and she just finished the first season of the bravo
8:39 am
docudrama "pregnant in heels." you come with experience because you have your own personal story about having been pregnant in the heat. >> i did. it's tough. i think we're very tired anyway when you're pregnant. in addition, everyone has a certain expectancy we're going to look good when you're pregnant. >> you're going to show us examples of how to look good and feel good. desiree is wearing a casual look. she's coming in, i think, right now. what made this particular look perfect for the summer. the color is perfect. >> color is great. it's a casual look from target. and it's great. this is the massimo brand. anything bright is beautiful. this is a great thing you can dress up. she's wear aggregate pair of flats right now from gap.com and lauren conrad cool sunglasses on sale right now. it's just a great look. chic. feels like a t-shirt but looks smarter than that. >> it looks incredibly
8:40 am
comfortable but really embracing the shape. it's not hiding the shape. it's like, yes, uh-huh. >> i'm pregnant. exactly. >> thank you so much, desiree. we also have laura. now, here's the thing. a lot of people don't want to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes but sometimes you get invitations and it's tough to not spend money. >> and a lot of weddings that people have to go to in the summer. that can be tough. >> you've got your own personal line. you've got this evening chic look. this is the full maxie mini. it's a splurge at $160. if you're going to splurge make sure you can wear it to a lot of events. baby shower, wedding, cardigan, wear it to church. you can wear this one afterwards because when the bump doesn't quite go back to size, you can use it. >> terrific. you can wear it after. and then you've gott espadrille are high.
8:41 am
>> i would recommend flats. but if you're doing to splurge on a dress, save on the accessories. >> laura, thanks so much. you're a pretty model. we've got adrianne. she's got a weekend suggestion. is that right? >> we. this is a great dress. this is from kcalypso from target. it's also full of spandex. you get that point in the summer where you don't want to be wearing another stretchy type fabric. >> you have a little undershirt here. >> and crochet. the crochet will expand with you and come right back again. it's a great option. >> all right. >> these leggings are maternity leggings. a lot of my maternity women think you can get away with nonmaternity leggings. but if you buy one thing, buy maternity leggings. >> thank you so much. now, we're going to look at our lastly, our mommy and me look. she is with her son.
8:42 am
looks like they're going to go off on vacation. >> they are. it's all about print and it's cute. a moms want to match their kids. what i would suggest is get a match, doing the stripes, don't be identically matched. this is from gap.com. and this is a great long dress from obey h baby. it's brilliant again. if you have a toddler, you can play on the floor. >> beautiful. coming up next, finding the grill of your dreams. the latest and greatest barbecuing machines. but first, this is "today" on nbc.
8:45 am
adam rapport, the editor in chief with "bon appetit" is here. >> this is good enough. >> good stuff. >> is it all about budget? do you really need to assess your needs? >> how often do you grill, how many people are you grilling for? >> grilling for two people or are you the neighborhood barbecue center. >> are you the man? >> this is $200 at home depot. >> budget grill, turn it on, flick the switch, get the job done. >> four burners. >> very simple. easy to use. week night grill. >> the 00 bucks. not a lot of money for a grill. how many seasons should i expect to get out? >> depends on how long you use it. 3 1/2 years maybe. once a week or five times a week? >> just for simple hot dogs and burgers? >> you can get more but this is a basic grill to start off with. >> let's move up a little bit in the price ranges. $799. who makes this? >> the big difference here is
8:46 am
it's cast iron grill. if you ever used a cast iron skillet, durable, sturdy, it will last a long time. >> cast iron and porcelain coated grates. >> that gives it so you don't just get the cast iron. this helps it get off the grill easier. >> for $500 more, what is extra? >> more durable. last longer. seven or eight years out of this guy. >> it can do all the fancy stuff? >> exactly. >> i like this one? >> yes. if you want to make more of an investment, make it last longer. this is the big trend right now. i saw your producer is a fan. this is wood pellets. the deal, is matt, if you want to make ribs, brisket, slow cooking, that's not grilling, that's barbecuing group need indirect heat. low temperature. 230 degrees. shut it. it's got a little auger. it's taking these wood pellets down. lighting them on fire. so the meat never comes in
8:47 am
contact. >> right. >> you can go to bed and 12 hours later, wake up your brisket, your ribs are ready. fall off the bone tender. >> can i do ordinary grilling? >> yes. crank up the heat. this is more for the guy who wants the slow. cooked smoked brisket, ribs, chicken. >> $799. lasts a long time? >> exactly. super easy to use. this is your basic -- i don't want to say basic. this is a webber grill on steroids. >> this is the biggest webber kettle i've ever seen. >> literally the biggest one you can buy. 800 bucks. the kettle grill is the design. all the heat is contained. it's intense fiery heat. great steakhouse quality charre steak, you want charcoal. >> if you reach across for that corn you get charred on your arm. >> exactly. you get hardwood charcoal. don't buy the briquettes. >> you want to get adam going, you show him this. $3,000. >> and up. ferrari of grills.
8:48 am
it's a rotisserie. it's dripping. go into a grooves, collect here, brush it. raise this up higher and lower. >> $3,000? >> matt, you can buy fancy cars, you can buy cheap cars. >> does it chew your food also? >> exactly. this will last a lifetime, guarantee it. >> you sound like -- do you have stock in this stuff? >> i want to, yeah. >> all right. this is for the ultimate. this is if you are the man. >> if you're a pro, yeah, especially. >> always fun. nice to have you here. we're going to have much more ahead on a tuesday morning. but first, you have to say it louder -- oh, we have colby caillat. but first, this is "today" on nbc. stanley! somebody help! my hero! anyone can be a hero with the new captain america cherry coolatta from dunkin'.
8:49 am
8:50 am
15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. ♪ >> narrator: the toyota concert series on "today" brought to you by toyota. >> she was a social media sensation who went on to win two grammy awards and at 26 years old there is no slowing down. colby caillat. her third album is called "all of you." colbie, good morning. this is happy music. you really send out and specifically with this new album, love. >> yes. >> why? >> because i'm in love. i've been experiencing it. it's such a fun thing to write about. it just -- it flows out of you.
8:51 am
and so every song that i right write is either about what i've been going through, the ups and downs of relationships or what my best friend is going through. >> i know one particular guitarist is smiling hearing you saying that because justin over there is the lucky guy we're talking about. but the point though is that you sort of seem to always want to send out happy music anywhere. this seems to be why you do it. >> i like to be optimistic about things. there's a song on this record called "think good thoughts." when i was writing it i wasn't anying good thoughts. i was writing something kind of mean but i don't want to do that. i want to send out positive messages. >> you're not thinking about can i vent, you're thinking about what can i do positively. >> i start out venting and change it halfway through the song where i want it to be or where it should be or the better way. >> what are you going to sing for us right now? >> we're going to sing "brighter than the sun." >> the album is called "all of
8:52 am
you." colbie caillat. ♪ ♪ stop me on the corner ♪ i swear you hit me like a vision ♪ ♪ i i i wasn't expecting but who am i to tell fate where it's supposed to go with it ♪ ♪ don't you blink you might miss it ♪ ♪ see we got a right to just love it or leaf it ♪ ♪ you find it and keep it because it ain't every day you get the chance to say ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts ♪ lightning strikes the heart ♪ it goes off like a gun brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh it could be the stars falling from the sky ♪ ♪ shining how we want brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ i never seen it but i found this love i'm undefeated ♪
8:53 am
♪ you better leave i'm better than anything i've ever had because you're so damn beautiful ♪ ♪ read it it's time and deliver it let's seal it ♪ ♪ boy we go together like peanuts and paydays, molly and reggae and every day gets a chance to say ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning strikes the heart ♪ ♪ it goes off like a gun brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh it could be the stars falling from the sky ♪ ♪ shining how we want brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ everything is like a way out because we shine down ♪ ♪ even when the light's out but i can see you glow ♪ ♪ got my head up in the rafters ♪ ♪ got me happy ever after ♪ never felt this way before
8:54 am
♪ ain't love just beautiful ♪ you mitt me like a vision ♪ i i i wasn't expecting ♪ but who am i to tell fate where it's supposed to go ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning strikes the heart ♪ ♪ but it goes off like a gun brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh we could be the stars falling from the sky ♪ ♪ shining how we want brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts ♪ this is how it starts ♪ lightning strikes the heart ♪ it goes off like a gun brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning from the sky ♪ ♪ shining how we want ♪ brighter than the sun ♪ brighter than the sun ♪ brighter than the sun ♪ brighter than the sun
8:55 am
♪ oh oh oh yeah ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning strikes the heart ♪ ♪ it goes off like a gun brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning strikes the heart ♪ ♪ it goes off like a gun ♪ brighter than the sun ♪ oh this is how it starts lightning strikes the heart ♪ ♪ it goes off like a gun ♪ oh this is how it starts ♪ lightning strikes the heart brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ brighter than the sun >> music to make you feel loved. colbie caillat, thank you so
8:56 am
much for that. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. breaking news this morning surrounding the amber alert issued on a 8-year-old boy. police have found darrick charles brown, jr. on hard i -- unharmed at lynhurst avenue. police have a person in custody.
8:57 am
8:58 am
temperatures will make it into the mid-to-upper-nineties. heat index near 100. record high for today is 97. in the heat and humidity, there could be a few scattered showers and thunderstorms. a cold front is going to go through late tonight and early tomorrow morning. it is going to get rid of the humidity. warm day on wednesday. it will feel better. all the way down to the mid-80's on wednesday. we will stay dry all the way through the beginning of next week. is at the low 90s on saturday and sunday. >> we will see you back here at 9:25.
620 Views
IN COLLECTIONS
WBAL (NBC)Uploaded by TV Archive on
