new misery, a deadly storm kills at least three people in north carolina. this as the death toll from friday's freak storm around the nation's capital climbs to 17. this morning millions sweating out the brutal heat wave without power and no relief in sight. how nasty will it get? tom cruise and katie holmes at odds just days after she filed for divorce. why did she do it in new york? is she worried she's being followed? did scientology play a role in the split? we'll have new details. elation and heartbreak, the u.s. olympic team rounding out its members with an exciting weekend of gymnastic, swimming and track and field trials. and there will be more drama for

a spot in london, an unprecedented runoff today, july a spot in london, an unprecedented runoff today, july 2nd, 2012. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. and welcome to "today" on this monday morning. i'm natalie morales. >> i'm willie geist in for matt. natalie, look at some of these weekend temperatures. 108 in memphis, 107 in birmingham, 113 in columbia, south carolina. it just keeps going. the commute is shaping up to be a trying one for millions of people in the storm battled mid-atlantic. >> a lot of people suffering. a lot saying it could take emergency crews to restore power for 2 people who have been in the dark since saturday. power outages have smashed records coast-to-coast.

we'll get the latest and a first look at your fourth of july forecast ahead. a graduate student from texas in a fight for his life. the 26-year-old mauled by chimpanzees in south africa and underwent six hours of surgery. coming up, live with more on his recovery. what led to the vicious attack. we'll hear from a man who was there on the scene. >> with the olympics just 25 days away, the torch is passing through a special location today. princess diana's childhood home. we'll take you there live. we'll begin with severe storms that battled the east coast. tom costello in an area of washington, d.c. where people there are still without power this morning. good morning to you, tom. >> reporter: hi, natalie, good morning. we could have picked almost any of many, many streets in virginia, maryland, washington, d.c. area to show awe scene like this. a massive tree down right on top of a car, power lines down. from the midwest to the mid-atlantic we have got a lot

of destruction. just last night more storms in north carolina, three people dead there. let's put this into perspective, at the height of the outages, more than 5 million people without electricity. now it's somewhere around 2 million but katrina wiped out power to 3 million. that tells you how many people here are struggling. we've now got repair crews coming from as far away as texas and canada to try to get power restored. sunrise over washington this morning, as 1 to 2 million people throughout the mid-atlantic face a third day of misery, triple digits and no electricity. >> another sizzling hot day, absolute misery. >> last night in a pitch plaque neighborhood, we found luis and lilly bracing for high temps and high humidity. >> staying really still and hope a little breeze cools you off. it seems to work. actually, we've been most confirmed about our dogs, pets. >> friday night's

91-mile-per-hour winds left a trail of destruction in their wake. over hundreds of miles, massive trees are down. with them an entire network of power lines. >> no one predicted that this storm would be of the magnitude it was or of the violence that it was or cause the number of power outages that it did. >> in hard hit maryland, crews have been working around the clock to restore power. it could be a long, hot independence week with no relief. >> july 6th, that will represent restoration for the vast majority of our customers. at least 90% of the customers will have their service restored by friday evening. >> that means some customers could spend five more days without power. with no air conditioning, no ice, no fans, communities opened cooling centers like this one in arlington, virginia for anyone seeking relief and a battery charge. >> there's wi-fi in the library for these guys, read some books

while trying to get work done. >> we have a lot of friends let us staying at their house and cool off, come to the library. >> reporter: in southeast washington, d.c., the storm left david with no electricity and no car. >> my car is right there. we have the company coming out doing an assessment. who knows what the damage will be in the end. >> reporter: and limited electricity means only a handful of gas stations are open in the d.c. area. >> i'm just praying i don't run out of gas. >> reporter: triple digit temperatures extend across a huge portion of the country, washington, d.c. and 23 states. in atlanta they have electricity but it's hot. >> we've been out here for probably about an hour and a half now. i can completely feel my body temperature up here and i have to cool down. >> reporter: already record breaking heat and no relief in sight. as you would expect the focus, priority has been getting power restored to nursing homes and hospitals and emergency operating centers. even here in the virginia, maryland, d.c. area, 911 centers

have not been operating at full capacity because they have also lost electricity and they don't have enough generator power to keep everything up and running. it is a very difficult situation, another hot and humid day and looks like a long week ahead. natalie, back to you. >> tom costello. so will the heat break any time soon? stephanie abrams in for al. >> reaching 100 degrees again, look at the advisory, stretching anywhere from the plains to the southeast. our temperatures will be well above average yet again today. look at these numbers, 10 to near 15 degrees above average. chicago 13 plus for you. 95 degrees. i feel like that's nothing compared to what you see in north platte, st. louis, factor that humidity in the southeast. you have the heat index above 100 degrees. we still have this high pressure, jet stream far to the north. willie, that means it's going to

stay hot early into mid next week. >> another day of triple digits. stephanie abrams, thanks. the weather not the only thing hot in washington. republicans and democrats taking shots at one another over landmark supreme court ruling that upheld president obama's health care law. chuck todd, nbc political director and white house correspondent. chuck, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, willie. still unclear how much health care will dominate the campaign in the presidential race. republicans made it clear they think it's a winning issue for them at least when it comes to congress. >> now a tax since the court said it was a tax. >> reporter: republicans trying to make lemonade out of the lemons handed to them. the court ruled the penalty for not buying health insurance is actually a tax. democrats insist it's a penalty. >> what's in the law is a penalty. >> we've said it was a tax all along. >> this is a penalty on free

riders. >> chief justice made it clear, it's a tax. >> last week they ruled the law is constitutional based on the law. >> reporter: republicans unhappy with the decision are nonetheless thrilled to say the obama administration is imposing a new tax and that the president is breaking a promise. >> president obama promised us his health care law -- >> absolutely not a tax increase. >> now we know that's not true. >> the president on your show said this is not a show. if this was brought to the public as a tax, there's no way this law would have passed in the law in the first place. >> democrats argue only a small minority of businesses that decide not to buy into the tax system. >> it's a penalty that comes under the tax code for the 1%, perhaps, of the population may decide they are going to be free riders. most people are not affected by this. >> it is a tax on the american people. >> no, no. it's not a tax on the american people. it's a penalty for free riders.

>> democrats point out mitt romney proposed an identical law in massachusetts and it put republicans on the defensive over whether romney raised taxes. >> this was an issue in massachusetts, one state. >> governor romney will have to speak for himself about what was done in massachusetts. >> mitt romney is in a total pickle here. he prescribed this. this was his bail. speaker boehner is saying it's a tax increase, they have ads saying it's a tax increase. are they going to say mitt romney had the biggest tax increase in massachusetts? forget about it. >> both the president and mitt romney taking today and tomorrow off, the president at camp david, romney at his farm in new hampshire. the president launches his first bus tour in ohio and pennsylvania. >> all right. chuck todd in washington this morning. chuck, thanks so much. now let's get a check of the morning's top stories. tamron hall at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. colorado homeowners were evacuated from a raging wildfire, got a chance to return to their property for the first time this weekend.

nbc's miguel almaguer is in hard hit colorado springs. good morning, miguel. >> good morning. after charring 18,000 acres, waldo cameron is the most destructive in colorado state history. in all 346 homes have been destroyed. in neighborhood after neighborhood, little is left standing. homes everywhere are decimated. >> it was just so sad. we were so sad. >> reporter: susan and her 16-year-old daughter hannah lost everything. >> my friends and i were talking. she just listened to me. she said, i want to go home. >> do you want to go home, too. >> i'm leaving my house for probably the last time. >> reporter: last tuesday thousands left the flames, a moving monster that swallowed home and home and took two years. dr. bolen lost his wife to

cancer two years ago, now lost the photos. >> no house, no place to call home. >> reporter: thousands able to return for a few hours, the lucky ones found their house standing while others sifted through rubble. for susan, the loss is overwhelming. two years ago her daughter and son-in-law passed away. this week she told her son marine logan pierce, his childhood home is gone. >> my son just sent me a text from afghanistan. he said, we still have our memories. my kids grew up there. >> reporter: as families begin to rebuild their lives in colorado springs, this blaze is roughly 55% contained. meantime last night in south dakota, a c-130, one of those heavy air tankers did crash. three people were injured. tamron. >> all right, miguel. so heartbreaking.

thank you so much. mexico projected a winner this morning in the presidential election. the country's latest political rock star. the popular 45-year-old is being cheered by adoring crowds despite his affiliation with the long-running party voted out of office 12 years ago amid allegations of corruption. now to wall street, cnbc's mary thompson at the stock exchange. good morning, mary. >> reporter: good morning, mary, on the first trading day of the third quarter, investors hoping to trade on the gain. keeping an eye owner the chairman of the british bank barclay stepping down after pig a fine leading to an ongoing rate fixing probe. at homes, buying pharmaceuticals for $5.3 to stand its portfolio of diabetes drugs. back to you. >> all right, mary. thank you. a narrow victory sunday for tiger woods at the at&t national.

the golf phenomenon jack nicholas second career victory. surges back to dominance with his third major win of the year so far. and just 25 days to go until the start of the summer olympics in london. you'll be seeing a lot of swimmers. michael phelps. he's competing in eight events meaning the best he can do is match the eight gold medals he won in beijing. i love it. we say the best he can do. all around champion nastia liukin -- oh, my goodness falling face down on the mat. she picked herself up, finished the event, did not make the team. there's just one more spot on the women's track and field team. after a finish a photograph could not call, the sprinters aren't leave their olympic destiny to fate. these women chose to compete in a runoff later today, turning down the option officials gave for the tiebreaker which would

have been a coin toss. 7:13. back to natalie, willie. i would have taken the -- >> it's going to be hot tonight. >> it is going to be a good one for sure. more olympic highlights. let's turn to stephanie abrams and take a look at our forecast. >> unfortunately we have more severe weather to talk about it or the chance in portions of north carolina and also south carolina and portions of virginia. let's have a look at our radar. nothing severe but we do see storms firing up. otherwise we do have threat for severe weather in portions of the upper midwest. a little bit cooler, especially >> good morning.ew england, ew we had some rain last night. there could be some rain lingering this morning. a mixture of sun and clouds.

>> natalie, over to you. >> thank you, stephanie. a graduate student from texas is showing signs of improvement after he was mauled by chimpanzees at a wildlife sanctuary in south africa. this morning we're learning more about what may have led to the brutal attack. here is the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. andrew's parents are due here at the hospital any morning now. they have traveled right around the world to be at his bedside to comfort him as he comes around from the long procedure to save his life. andrew oberle recovering well after six hours of surgery yesterday. he's stable and being sedated by a team of doctors. >> i think under the

circumstances of having multiple injuries like that, he is doing well. we really are hoping for a positive outcome. >> reporter: this is the chimp sanctuary still closed to visitors this morning. we were allowed inside to see some of the 33 animals here. each one rescued from poachers, all from a life of an entertainment act. a life that left some psychologically damaged and dangerously volatile. oberle was here on a study trip, an anthropology from the university of texas with a passion for chimps. just before the attack he was giving a presentation about their behavior to a group of tourists. then he was said to cross a fence into a no-go zone. eyewitness accounts said he stepped on a rock jammed into a fence to try to prevent one of the animals from passing by. that may have enraged some of the chimps nearby. >> i've seen chimpanzees in a

lot of different kinds of conditions. i've never seen chimpanzees angry in all my life. >> reporter: he helps manage the sanctuary. he was on the scene moments after the attack when the chimpanzees moved on him. >> when they turned on me, there was no other method of confrontation. it was a territorial dispute and i was another threat moving in. >> reporter: with oberle on the ground, eugene used his knowledge of their behavior to try to calm them down but it didn't work. >> i climbed out of the vehicle, charged them, fired warning rounds in order to get them to disperse. that usually would do the trick. but in this event, it did not work. >> reporter: eventually they became restrained. but andrew oberle was by then seriously injured and on his way to hospital. and every member of the sanctuary involved will now be interviewed but also offered trauma counseling to help them come to terms with what they

saw. interestingly enough none of them involved said what they witnessed will prevent them from working with chimpanzees in the future, natalie. >> a lot of prayers for his recovery, here. thank you very much. it is 7:18. here is willie. thank you. on a much lighter note, opening ceremony of london olympics 25 days away now. this morning the torch is making a special trip through princess diana's childhood home. nbc's michelle kosinski is there. michelle, good morning. >> reporter: hi, willie, this is the part of the olympic games, the running of the torch, unsung heroes who work self-less lis for communities. princess diana's procedure said this the sort of thing she loved to recognize. the flame burned a little in her memory here today. for the first time princess diana's childhood home hosted a feast. the torch ran through the proud place where she grew up and where she's buried.

a symbolic nod to her importance in british life and history 15 years after her tragic death. >> a hat's off to her memory. diana was about encouraging people to do their best for the community. i think it would fit very nicely with her. >> before she married charles age 19 and became the princess the world adored, this the magnificent estate lady diana spencer called home, the garden she ran and played in as a girl. also where the family has lived since 1508 before elizabeth i was born. >> my grandfather lived here. >> weren't you worried about breaking things that were valuable. >> reporter: today charles spencer takes care of it. still here are reminders and dresses. diana championed those who worked hard behind the certain and gave a voice to those who

spoke quietly. just this weekend, a recipient of the diana courageous citizen carried herself. just the kind of hero to bring the flame toward the game. it has been on horse back, zip line, bicycle, ice, steam train, hot air balloon, mountain top. injured war hero ben parkinson's hometown cheered him on. one torchbearer briefly handed it off for good reason. this is the olympics, for those who may never win medals but go that extra mile for their neighbor, the people gained today by the resting place of their princess. now, diana's sons william and harry will play special roles as olympic ambassadors dedicated to service as she was. willie. >> all right. michelle kosinski, 25 days away.

thanks so much, michelle. just ahead this morning, tom, katie, and the split that has people talking. we'll have the latest including reports that holmes fears she's being followed. first, "today" on nbc. at u.s. g.

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told will be unavailable from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 in the evening. -- will be available from in until 7:00 in the evening. call 311 before you head out. they are working on the roof in the station. >> things have eased up just a bit in the area. we have a report of the crash at caton avenue. another one at lafayette and poplar grove did another one at moravia park betw. downed wires in the intersection, could be closed at bonview in the city. middle river road, and in howard county, several situations related to this storm. downed pole at union chapel between men walk road. jennings chapel in florence, that remains closed for a downed tree.

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who could forget that in 2005. tom cruise jumped for joy over his relationship with katie holmes. now after five years of marriage, holmes has filed for divorce. she's reportedly got some help from her father, who is an attorney. natalie morales, willie geist, new details on the tomkat split. giuliana rancic will join us to share the latest on her baby

news and other big stories making headlines in hollywood. u.s. women's gymnastic team in london now set after a thrilling night of london trials. we'll introduce you to the team and show you some of the drama that unfolded at the swimming trials as well. we begin this half hour with tom cruise katie holmes split. nbc's mike taibbi in los angeles. mike, good morning. >> they have been one of hollywood's top of the a list power couples in the six year they have been togeer, a union that now includes daughter suri, who has become a celebrity in their own right. there were always questions about tom crudes, one of the box office giants of her generation and kathy holmes, once the teen star of "dawson's creeks." questions they seem to bring on themselves. from the beginning an over the top almost exhibitist aspect. cruise famously proclaiming his love of holmes on her couch. >> we've never seen you behave

this way before. have you felt that way before? >> reporter: throughout the years, two of the most watched celebrities allowed cameras to capture one public display after another, a love affair launched bay marriage proposal in france and a wedding in an italian castle. >> there are cynics that said it was part of a campaign, image that is tom cruise. >> reporter: beyond the smiles there were constant questions. was mega star cruise too controlling offer his wife, 17 years his junior. she evolved as an actress. but during the marriage, those provocative roles ended. maggie got the next batman movie and speculation whether cruise's role as a staunch scientologist ruled his marriage and katie and daughter suri and eventually led holmes to decide it had to end. >> it is reasonable to ask did

scientology have a lot, if not everything, to do with this split. >> reporter: cruise was apparently blind-sided by holmes divorce filing. he said in may, what we have is very special. two weeks ago they were seen strolling hand in hand in reykjavik iceland, where he's shooting a movie. >> it's none other than the $35 million estate of tom cruise, katie holmes. who gets it in the divorce? is that what you're thinking. >> reporter: the a divorce, no laughing matter. the hardest question, custody of suri. holmes filed in new york. cruise reportedly will cross file in los angeles, the couple's primary home. >> custody issues will be very favorable to him here. california has a presumption of sole custody. it's been reported she's asking for sole custody. >> reporter: apparently not the hollywood ending cruise scripted. cruise turns 53, holmes 33. he insists the home is in los

angeles, holmes moved into a new manhattan apartment just she and suri. by the way, holmes reportedly helped with the decision by her father, who is also a divorce lawyer. >> mike taibbi in los angeles, thanks so much. j.d., good morning. we heard tom cruise was apparently blind-sided by this. >> yes. >> for somebody who has a career so carefully orchestrated seems hard to believe he was blind-sided. there are reports they have been living apart for a long time. >> they have always had a very busy extraordinary type of life. this is not a typical marriage. they were always traveling around the world. he had an incredible schedule, has one. they spent, and he told me this recently, a month ago, they made time in their schedule to see each other. he had been filming, she had been doing her projects. they had made time to see each other over the last many months. >> when you interviewed him, no telltale signs. >> no, not at all.

in fact, he was incredibly efusive about his wife and daughter, special times in his life with his wife. people close to him said he really didn't see this coming. people close to her say there are two people in a marriage and, you know, she certainly had been thinking about this. >> katie filed in new york citing irreconcilable differences asking for full custody of suri. there are reports scientology may have played a role in her decision. what do you know about that? >> i think this is going to be the most interesting thread in the story. tom cruise is an outspoken scientologist. he's absolutely clear about what he believes. that's no secret. the sources around katie certainly indicate she had an evolving view of that and that her daughter's upbringing and education were central to her. i think you're going to see a lot of discussion of the church. as you know, there have already been tabloid reports there were

scientologists outside her apartment. the scientologists themselves, the church, say that's not true and people close to tom say that's not true. people are naturally curious and there's going to be a lot of speculation. >> there have long been rumors about this being an arranged marriage or contract marriage under the church of scientology. anything you can elaborate on that? >> well, you know, this was a huge hollywood marriage. i think that people are prone to speculate about prominent marriages. those people who knew them knew they were certainly very much in love at the beginning of their marriage, that he was devoted to her, that she was very happy at the beginning of their marriage. things have obviously changed. i don't think this -- the popular perception this was an arrangement is true. obviously famous and wealthy people have arrange men's to protect their interests. these are both very wealthy people and i don't think it's about money. >> now reports tom is going to counter-file suit in california.

how significant would that be in terms of a child custody situation, child custody battle even? >> well, listen, i think the most sensational aspect is the reported claim for sole custody. tom cruise is a devoted father. everyone would agree to that. i think he would have something to say about that. i think right now both sides are figuring out their next moves. my understanding is they have not really decided where they are going to move venues or try to contest that. we'll see. >> thanks so much, from "people" magazine. appreciate it. a check of the weather from stephanie abrams in for al. >> from a breakup to newlyweds here on the plaza. janet and bob. what's the most romantic thing you've done in new york. >> a horse and carriage ride in central park and lunch at the boathouse. >> how about a kiss from the newlyweds for the camera. congratulations to you guys. a look in new york. they are going home. if you're continuing to

celebrate tomorrow here in new york city it's going to be hot and warm. still a chance for severe weather in the south and also throughout portions of the plains. who is ready for fourth of july, people? well, it looks like maybe you're going to have to skip the grilling in the northeast if you do it later in thedo >> good morning. any rain shower activity will be tapering off. a mixture of sun and clouds. >> and for more specifics on your fourth of july forecast, all you have to do is go to weather.com 24 hours a day. natalie, over to you. >> all right. thank you, stephanie.

coming up next, how to cope if you're one of the millions of americans facing this brutal heat wave without power. we'll have that right after this. [ male announcer ] food you eat is a blt. food you love is a blt with hellmann's. it's made with real ingredients like cage-free eggs for the unmistakable taste that can only be hellmann's. bring out the best.

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back now at 7:41 with more on the extreme heat and storms gripping much of the country right now. millions of americans beginning the week without power. it could be a full week in some places before it's fully restored. what can you do to find a little relief and keep your family safe? host of "house smarts" and a "today" contributor. good morning. >> good morning. >> i noticed first of all you're dressed a little differently. >> i don't normally dress like this on the "today" show. but certainly with heat and humidity, light colored clothing, loser fitting is appropriate to cope with this thing. especially the folks without the power. those that really rely on central air conditioning or window units just don't have them so you want to be as comfortable as you possibly can be. >> some of the basics, temperatures again today in a lot of places over 100 degrees.

how do we stay cool. >> water is the most important thing. it's interesting, the vast majority on a regular day are walking around dehydrated. the recommendation is that a man should be drinking three liters of water a day. are you a water drinker? >> not three liters a day. >> a woman two. under this heat and humidity, make sure you're drinking lots of fluids, no alcohol, no caffeine. stay indoors. that's problematic. sometimes indoors on the high heat homes are hot. sometimes a shaded area outside can really be helpful. >> heat stroke is a big problem in weather like this. how do we look for it and how do we treat it. >> there are symptoms of that. you'll start to get headaches. you'll feel dizzy, lightheaded. all those things lead up to it. don't think you're fine. communicate with your loved ones, communicate with family members, neighbors. this is a time for neighbors to come together. high body temperature, if you

get to 103 you've got to seek attention. power is out until friday. how do we prepare. >> stores are busy but find some batteries, flashlights. these cranks are available. they don't need batteries. many have a usb port on the back. can you actually charge your cell phone. you can still stay in contact with loved ones by cranking it. this flashlight built in. nonperishable foods are important. >> we've got to talk about food. people's refrigerators are down, what do we do. >> keep it closed and locked, don't open it up, it can store the food about 12 hours like that. you want to pay attention to inside temperature. use a thermometer, food thermometer. any perishable foods 40 degrees or higher you've got to talk. if you can get coolers and ice together to store some food,

this is the basic nonperishable stuff you want. fruit bars and nuts and berries, first aid kit very important to have around there. get some ice, put it in coolers and store in a shaded area to prolong as much as possible. try to open up that frig. >> one of the big problems people won't think about, sewage treatments go down. that's a big problem if you're not getting clean water coming out. >> not only clean water coming in, your point sewage water going out. that system can get overtaxed. i'm a little nervous about giving people this tip but you can do this. water, you're really concerned about water, bottled water is not available. you can take water treatment tablets like these available at sporting goods stores, even do this with bleach, this is about a quart of water you pour through like a coffee filter, even a piece of cloth. for every quart take a tablet and drop it in.

you can't just drink this, you have to wait four hours. it will start to percolate and kill bacteria in the water, then it is safe to drink. have you to prep this to do it correctly. your best bet, find that bottled water, drink lots of it and keep it available. staying hydrated during this time is another thing. one other thing, people get nervous and start grabbing generators. plug in generators, buy one. never yit indoors, inside the garage. if you're going to use it outside, make sure it's 20 feet away from the home. another thing, make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector. if you point the exhaust toward the house and it blows in there we could have bigger problems. >> lou, thank you. up next a weekend of high drama in the pool and air for the men and women competing to represent the united states in london right after this. [ male announcer ] monica's decided to make a quick pit stop for gas. [ engine turns over ]

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as we mentioned, the london olympics are 25 days away. it was an intense weekend of qualifying for the country's best athletes. >> among the highlights in the pool, michael phelps and ryan

lochte, individual medley. 0.009 seconds. >> looked impressive qualify for seven events. broke natalie's american record in the 100 meter backstroke. the 11-time medalist held on to make her third olympic and sixth place finish in freestyle. the 15-year-old led ecky, youngest member after winning the freestyle. >> a changing of the guard in gymnastics. nastia liukin came up short in her quest for olympics. she got a standing ovation. gabby douglas got an automatic ticket to london. jordyn wieber, mckayla maroney. exciting. spending the whole weekend indoors watching this. >> first thing that hits you, the ages.

they are 15 years old, 16, 17, playing on the world's biggest stage. >> the skill level is unbelievable. can you imagine the games if this is the trial. >> the exciting event is the runoff. you may recall -- >> photo finish. >> it was a photo finish, couldn't decide based on that photo who won third place to qualify for the olympics. instead of a coin toss they decided to do it the right way with a runoff. they are going to do doing that tonight. felix did win the 200 meter saturday night so it's her last chance. >> couldn't have it any other way. got to run it on the track. >> i could never imagine leaving my fate to a coin toss. i know in football that's how you start. this the one shot, these are olympians, you have to go for it. >> the rivalry here, they share the same coach, have nike deals. >> linked in history but only

one will win. >> only one will win. >> absolutely. >> a great event. >> phelps swim-off. >> more on the track runoff and more on the trials tonight on nbc starting 8:00, 7:00 central time. just ahead e! news host the inside scoop on adele's pregnancy and her own baby news. what makes hershey's s'mores special?

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>> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. time for a check of that morning commute with kim dacey and traffic pulse 11. >> we have a couple problem spots we want to talk about. lafayette, public grove, crash there. the intersection could be blocked at this month and bonview. marriottsville, a downed tree blocking both directions there bid downed pole between mcneal and maddow walker road. downed tree it at jennings

couple -- at jennings chapel. also want to mention a lot of traffic lights are out around the area. we will give you a live look outside the major roadways. this is the west side of the beltway at baltimore national pike. the slight but directions northbound and southbound are moving find -- looks like both directions northbound and southbound are moving fine. >> we had thunderstorms go through last night, but now they are pushing off the coast. couple of sprinkles left in your neighborhood, they should be coming to an end shortly. believe it or not, the humidity is coming down. it will feel better in that respect. still hot, but a touch less humid.

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the statue of liberty will take your breath away monday morning, the 2nd of july, 2012. that is a view from the top of the rock. a good day to go to the top of the rock. back here. we have a huge crowd hanging out with us on rockefeller plaza. everybody on vacation. i'm natalie morales along with willie geist. interview a legendary actress. >> very excited about that. sally field is here with us.

she made us laugh as flying none, cry as norma ray, now "the amazing spider-man." we'll catch up with two-time oscar winner sally field coming up. all right. then giuliana rancic, the e! news host knows she's going to be the mother of a bouncing baby boy. just announced that recently. so excited. we're going to talk about that. the latest scoop from alec baldwin's weekend wedding, baby news for adele and much more. the first from a box office. a record setting weekend in hollywood. we'll tell you why. >> magic mike. first inside, tamron hall at the news desk. good morning, tamron. >> good morning. as many as 2 million americans begin a blistering new week without electricity, fans and refrigerators. deadly storms this weekend

brought down power lines and trees from ohio to north carolina. officials say at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured. meantime heat warnings in effect from mid-atlantic region where temperatures could once again get triple digits. mexico appears to have a new president this morning. nbc's mark potter is in mexico city with more. good morning, mark. >> reporter: good morning to you, tamron. the results are not yet official but it appears enrique pena nieto will be president as more people, including women, see him as the rock star president. the new elected president of mexico, energy a pena nieto reaping rewards of a near perfect candidacy. he's married to a famous soap opera star. their fairy tale wedding two years ago was a national social event. her home videos became stylishly

produced videos. >> he has a connection with people, particularly with women in mexico who are throwing themselves at him like he was a rock star. >> reporter: wherever the couple went they drew huge crowds, especially women, despite the fact nieto was married couldn't get enough of him call him sweet thing or hottie. the fact he admitted cheating twice on his first lock and bearing two children out of wedlock before she died of epilepsy didn't faze the crowd. >> as soon as he entered the room, the room just stopped. everybody was captivated by him. he's an amazing figure. >> reporter: pena nieto even overcame concerns he was with the political party known as the pri, voted out 12 years ago after ruling mexico for 71 straight years amid allegations of widespread corruption. now, of course, as president he'll face mexico's toughest problems, including a sluggish

economy and the vicious drug war that cost an estimated 55,000 lives. those will currently test his current popularity. tamron. >> mark, thank you very much. a french olympic runner did not make any new friends this weekend. after his victory at the european athletic champion he walked over and shoved the mascot. but inside that costume, a 14-year-old girl. it is not clear why he did it. this is the same athlete that roughed up another mascot in barcelona two years ago. all right. well, now here is brian williams with what's coming up tonight on "nbc nightly news." brian. >> good morning. coming up on "nightly news," the mystery of amelia earhart endured for years, has it been solved? inside a new expedition that hopes to find out once and for all what happened to that aviator. that's tonight along with much more on "nightly news." tamron, back to you. for a look at what's

trending today, a roundup of what has you talking online. last night's bet awards, highlight was the tribute to her daughter whitney houston. ♪ ♪ >> and chris brown, who won for best male r&b artists, has blogs guessing what he meant when he said his new album is dropping this week is his last. the younger son of retired nba legend michael jordan has been released after his arrest early sunday outside an omaha, nebraska, hotel. police say it took several officers to handcuff 21-year-old marcus jordan having a drunken argument with two women. pippa middleton is reportedly reunited with her

former flame, although he did not join her at a friend's wedding this weekend. the couple split up shortly after pippa's rise to fame following her sister's marriage to prince william. it is now 8:05. back to natalie and willie. how about the guy pushing the mascot. >> trying to figure out what the mascot was. it looked like a spongebob in white tights. >> there's a visual. >> thank you, tamron. a check of the weather from stephanie abrams in for al. >> we have the family celebrating high school graduation. >> mississippi state. >> they want to give you guys a nice southern greeting this morning. >> hey y'all. >> hey y'all, let's have a look at the weather and take you to tampa, our pick city this morning. we are going to be hot and sunny, of course humid right there around all that water. the radar picture in the southeast, the way it is today,

the threat for severe weather. look at the forecast, also severe weather in the upper midwest. >> good morning.ll w we had some rain last night. there could be some rain lingering this morning. a mixture of sun and clouds. willie, back to you in the middle of the plaza. >> all right. on the plaza. i'll tat relay, stephanie. when we come back, our friend giuliana rancic, hollywood's hottest stories and her own baby news right after this. hey. hey eddie. i brought your stuff. you don't have to do this. yes i do.

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i've been fortunate to win on golf's biggest stages. but when joint pain and stiffness from psoriatic arthritis hit, even the smallest things became difficult. i finally understood what serious joint pain is like. i talked to my rheumatologist and he prescribed enbrel. enbrel can help relieve pain, stiffness, and stop joint damage. because enbrel, etanercept, 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, 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. [ phil ] get back to the things that matter most. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biolog medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. back at 8:10 with what's hot in hollywood. the headlines filled with news and divorce and weddings. break it down with e! news host giuliana rancic, first the latest on her own good baby news. julianna and bill rancic have chronicled their marriage and efforts to have a baby on their style network reality show giuliana and bill. giuliana anchor of e! news and bill, winner of season one of

"the apprentice" found their struggles more difficult when they found giuliana was diagnosed with cancer, a setback she revealed. >> through my effort to get pregnant we found out i have early stages of breast cancer. >> giuliana underwent a lumpectomy and double mastectomy. they put their plans on hold. >> we need a good year. >> they had their own fertilized embryos in a surrogate mother. in april they returned to "today" to share the good news. >> we are finally having a baby. >> after months of secrecy, giuliana revealed the sex of their baby on twitter. tweeting beyond excited to bounce @billrancic and i are having a baby. the couple are moving forward ready for the next chapter of their lives at parents.

how exciting. giuliana rancic. good morning. >> good morning, natalie. >> congratulations. little boys are the best. what did bill say about the news. >> he was thrilled. he would have loved a girl. i told bill, you can't play ball with him for a while. i think he thinks in six months they are going to be playing catch. i'm like, honey, that doesn't happen for a while. he was like i was water-skiing at three. >> typical dad, buying new jerseyys. >> he's like i just want an nfl quarterback. you just want an nfl quarterback. i'd like a ceo. we compromised. we'll take healthy. >> smart, amazing. you're headed to the olympics. are you worried at all when if the baby comes you may miss it at all? >> yes, because the baby is due the end of august. i wrap at the olympics on august 11th. we are going to be on stand by. we think it's going to be okay. the doctors assured us --

>> get there in time. >> even maybe early september. >> ryan and michael are great baby names. rivalry going. other exciting news, adele is expecting. she's had quite the year. >> she has. she won six grammys, her album is the best selling album of the year. now to announce this, 24 years old. so many fans adore her. in fact, when she announced the news the other day her website crashed. >> she did it on her blog. >> adele is a private person. i love that she takes control of her own press and messaging. she put it out there. she wanted that connection with her fans. actually with her long time boyfriend, 12 years older than adele. he seems like a really good guy, runs a charity. they seem very happy. >> good that she has good people in her life to help support her in this new role. >> what's funny, natalie, she said she wants three boys on the

age of 30. >> she's on her way. >> specifically wants boys. we don't know the gender of the baby yet. hopefully it's a boy. >> only her way. she's only 24. meanwhile alec baldwin tied the knot with his girlfriend. a few weeks ago he had the dust-up with the photographer. >> they got hitched without a hitch. it's funny, he easily could have snuck in from the back of the cathedral. he approached tourists and fans and said hello. he looked happy, golden highlights in his hair, a bit of a tan going. she's a yoga instructor. she's about 25 years his junior. so hopefully between the yoga and good energy he'll become a little more zen. >> he has lost a lot of weight, looks really good. >> he does. also let's talk about the award show, bet.

i understand there was a really cute moment between jay-z and beyonce. >> there was. it's so funny. jay-z and beyonce were nominated against each other in the same category. so here is jay-z and kanye on stage. he pretended to interrupt kanye like kanye did with taylor swift. when they were nominated, she faked punching him because he won in the category, beat out his own wife, which is funny. always fun. >> she's definitely happy for him. >> also an incredibly emotional night as well, a tribute to whitney houston. >> there was. cissy houston, her mother came out and sang "bridge over troubled water." it was the most beautiful moment of the night. there wasn't a dry eye in the entire house. she's a gospel singer. she actually has an album coming out soon. she was so close to whitney. you can see beyonce teerg up. it was really a beautiful moment. >> mariah as well, emotional,

too. >> mariah came out and said a few beautiful words about whitney. she didn't sing, just talked about how funny she was, what a good friend she was. a couple of times she got very emotional and choked up. you expect that. whitney was a huge forth in many people's lives. >> giuliana rancic, good to have you back. so excited. we can't wait. up next, oscar winner sally fields on the new movie, "the amazing spider-man" right after this. [ man ] ever year, sophia and i

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♪ i'm sexy and i know it by what's getting done. measure commitment the twenty billion dollars bp committed has helped fund economic and environmental recovery. long-term, bp's made a five hundred million dollar commitment to support scientists studying the environment. and the gulf is open for business - the beaches are beautiful, the seafood is delicious. last year, many areas even reported record tourism seasons. the progress continues... but that doesn't mean our job is done. we're still committed to seeing this through. we are back now at 8:19 with two-time oscar winner sally field whose career spanned four decades. in the new spider-man she plays peter parker aunt who becomes increasingly nervous about her nephew's life. >> please go to sleep. >> i can't go to sleep.

don't you understand, i can't sleep. >> listen to me. secrets have a cost. they are not for free. >> sally fields, good morning. >> hi. >> how are you this morning? i've got to tell you, when i think sally fields, the first thing that comes to mind is not summer action superhero action movie. >> what's wrong with you? >> norma ray, steel magnolia. how did you get involved in the project? >> the answer is one people don't expect. actually, i was asked to do it by my friend who was my first producing partner. we produced her first movie together. she's an amazing producer, did all the spider-man movies and a bevy of other movies.

she's a real hero. she started the whole stand up for cancer. she raised millions and millions of dollars, brought all of the absolute first class scientists together for cancer research, breast cancer. she had breast cancer. unfortunately she did not live to see her last efforts. but that's why i was there. so i got to be a part of her first movie and her last movie. the good news is i said yes to the project, hadn't even read it, didn't know who was a part of it. then there was the script and that fabulous cast. so you know, god was looking after me. >> she passed away sadly about a year ago. a great story, a good way into a film that's going to do big business this summer. you worked with some young stars. we just talked about andrew garfield, how impressed you were with him. >> oh, my god. i didn't get to work with emma. we didn't get any scenes together. but andrew is an amazing talent. in new york i'm sure a lot of

people just saw him on broadway. he has a long and varied career ahead of him. he is really extraordinary. >> but on that spidey suit, launch it into a different stratosphere. just saw a picture of you and martin sheen. i was surprised reading you had never worked with him before. >> that's not true. i reminded him we did work together. we did one of the early movies for tv. they used to do those things. it was somewhere in the 70s. it was really, really good. called mongo is back in town. >> how did we not dig up that footage. >> marty was in that. he was very young. >> surprised he blocked that out. >> i keep telling him four or five times. i keep telling him and he forget. >> we're going to find that foot oon age for you.

i was surprised to learn you didn't see the film. will you see the film? >> not for a while. mark webb, the director, did a spectacular job. i could see him doing the job on the set. i really don't think i want to see myself in 3d. after you reach a certain age, it's hard to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. 3d animation, i don't think so. >> a lot of us felt that when tv went hd. >> i thought that, too. i still think that. >> i've got to ask you about another project, highly anticipated steven spielberg lincoln movie coming out in which you play mary todd lincoln. can you give us any hints about what we'll see? >> no. >> that was a fine interview. >> there you have it. >> but what an amazing prong. steven spielberg, you, daniel day-lewis. give us a little sneak peek, if you can? >> i have no way to give awe sneak peek.

that will be one that is -- i don't know. it was a great adventure. >> where does that role rank for you over your career? >> who knows? you can't -- they are all your babies. you can't -- you know, ainunt m, i wouldn't be mean to her. she ranks in there somewhere. all of the rolls i've had. some of them i would like to forget about. still, they have had a relevance somewhere in the whole picture because they inform you after. >> we're going to put you on the spot. rapid-fire round. >> oh, no not that game. >> a word, just a thought, an idea, sally. >> thought, idea, there we go. haven't done this in a while. >> doing it again. >> a baby, me. >> the flying nun. >> oh, sweet jesus.

>> that will suffice. do you get sick of seeing that image. >> i really do. thank you, willie, i'm enjoying every minute of this interview. >> leave it up. now about norma ray. >> once in a lifetime roles. >> mrs. doubtfire. >> robin. such an amazing role. >> forrest gump. >> my boy. tommy. oh, god he's good. that man is going to have a career. >> he's an up and comer. >> mongo is back in town.

>> wish you had a clip from that. those are the little pieces you don't see that add up to who you are today. >> sally fields, a joy >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. let's check on the morning commute with kim dacey. >> we have a big problem on 895 northbound approaching the steel bridge. all lanes are shut down on 805 and 22 crashed there. another crash in the city at greenmount and north ave. and other accidents in the area -- northern and greenspring avenue, crashed there. old court and a job but wrote.

-- and joppa road. another one on in jennings chapel between florence and that jones wrote. monticello road, downed wires there. west side of the beltway at baltimore national pike, outer loop going away from us. nothing major as far as the lace. 895 and potee street, just sitting at there. avoid that area if you can. tony, over to you. >> police to the weather has cleared up a little bit. -- at least the weather has set up a little bit. i suspect it will be dry for many of you. humidity has come down a little bit. dew points are running in the 60's. less humid compared to yesterday. the same kind of day tomorrow.

high near 90. >> we will have another update at 8:56.

8:30 now on this monday morning july 2nd, 2012. we have a huge crowd out here on rockefeller plaza. many in town for the fourth of july fireworks coming up on wednesday. good weather. just ahead, up close look at some of the breathtaking places in the country. america the beautiful. >> jenna bush hager back from her tour of the country, america

the beautiful. first stop denali national park, mt. mckinley. look at that. >> a place i've always wanted to go. green juice craze. you've heard of people doing green juice cleanses to rebalance their system. i haven't had breakfast yet. that's perfect. just how healthy, the best veges. how to make one if you don't have a juicer. >> i have a six-year-old. otherwise i may not make that happen. something to think about as you prepare for summer vacation. coming up, the results of a new study to pinpoint, get this, the germiest areas and items in your hotel room. the germs are not limited, by the way, to the bed. there are other places in that hotel room. >> why would you want to do that? >> you need to know. armed with information you can

spray down the whole place and get a hazmat suit. >> i'm an ignorance is bliss guy. >> i am, too. all right. first, though, let's head to universal orlando. they are celebrating the grand opening of the newest attraction based on the animated movie. jenna is there. good morning. >> good morning to you, natalie. i had a chance to ride this ride. i'm more of a thrill seeking devilish kind of girl. this, this wasn't speed or height, this was an incredibly fun ride. we'll show you all about it behind the scenes in a half hour. first i want to brow you to three of the voices in the movie. girls, come in. you know these girls as the adorable daughters in the film. miranda miranda cosgrieve. you played three little girls, ran around like crazy. was it as fun making the movie

as it was to watch and enjoy it. >> it was fun. still kind of surprised me to finally get to see the finished product. it was really funny. >> have you had had a chance to ride the ride at universal. you loved it. >> yes, it was amazing. >> what did you like about it? >> it's fun, fun for everyone, the entire family, hilarious and heartwarming in the end and very nice. >> you'll make a good pr girl. >> did you get a chance to go on the ride? >> yeah. i think it might have been the best ride ever. >> wow, you can all be in pr. that's fantastic. miranda, how cool was it to be part of such a successful film and also click on the theme ride. you did the voices for the theme ride as well. >> we did. we just went on the ride a few minutes ago. it was cool to see our voices. never not i'd be on a ride. >> was it cool to sit in the audience, be on the ride and hear the voices and know it was you. >> it was weird for the movie

but weirder for the ride. people will go on the ride all the tile now. >> you're part of the sequel coming out. we're very much looking forward to that. maybe a second ride. who knows. thank you guys so much for being here. we'll have more behind the scenes of the actual ride in a little bit. but first back to you guys in new york. >> thank you, jenna. i see a trip to universal in my near future again. >> i'll go with you. >> best ride ever, she said. that's the testimony. >> did you hear that? we're going. first a check of the weather. stephanie abrams here for al. >> how about hawaii. you guys have traveled the farthest to get here. would you trade the beaches for the city? >> maybe not. i love living in paradise, but the shopping here is great. >> travel back and forth. traveling to the city, northeast, filled with sunshine. we do have the threat for severe

weather, however in the southeast and also into the northern plains. for our fourth of july, who is excited for the fourth? you guys are excited for the fourth of july. we have a threat for storms. that might put a damper. look atmp >> good morning. any rain shower activity will be tapering off. a mixture of sun and clouds. for details on your fourth of july forecast, go to weather.com 24 hours a day. natalie, back over to you. >> all right. thank you, stephanie. coming up next, jenna bush

hager enjoys the national beauty of alaska at our nation's most remote park. her adventure. first, this is "today" on nbc. o it's the perfect match for the perfect moment -- oreo the dunkin' way. introducing the new oreo coffee coolatta and new oreo vanilla bean coolatta. taste the fun today.

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. and we're back now at 8:38 as we kick off our special series, america the beautiful, where we celebrate the wonder of our national parks. today contributing correspondent jenna bush hager back from her exploration. jenna, where are you taking us first. >> i love this series, love the national parks. this year i started off in a state i had never been to before but always dreamed of going, alaska. i'm here to report, it was well worth the trip. it's our country's most remote national park, a place shaped by centuries of extremes, denali. its crown jewel, mt. mckinley, north america's highest peak. we started our alaskan adventure

in the shadows of the majestic mountain scouting for legendary wild animals. soon we were surrounded by a far more ferocious creature. denali is the only national park that utilizes sled dogs to patrol its 2 million acres of wilderness. >> you can imagine these are your co-workers every day. you walk into the office. it's impossible to be in a bad move. >> park visitors help train the pups. >> this is an important part of puppy training, they realize how much fun it is to hang out with all the kids. >> these three puppies will join 33 other denali huskies and be on sleds by christmas. >> ready? >> they are always happy. they love what they do. >> reporter: in fact, it's hard not to love anything you do in alaska. >> you had him. >> that was a rock. >> even if it's catching the

elusive alaskan rock fish. >> is it a real fish? i think so. >> no. >> yes, it is. >> yes, it is. >> you got a rock fish. >> so embarrassing. sorry, steve. >> steve has been a fishing guy in the river for over 40 years. luckily he knows the power of patience. >> do i have something? >> yes. >> i have something. >> yes. >> you've got him. >> yea. >> the holy grail. >> can we please free him. let's free him. although he would taste good with a little dill sauce. we may not have been able to keep our catch. >> can i kiss him. >> there you go. free him. one thing we could take with us was the tranquility. >> there's something very peaceful about being on the river. >> i agree. very close to nature. very close to the way the earth has been for a long time.

>> reporter: floating down rivers to soaring to incredible heights, we were on our way to the pinnacle of denali, mt. mckinley. >> doug, should i be nervous? >> no, don't be nervous, be excited. >> i'm adventurously excited in alaska. >> mckinley peak pierces clouds nearly four miles in the sky. hundreds of glaciers, valleys. >> look how close. >> no creature would dare to linger here except one. >> we made it. to the glacier. >> 1100 climbers attempt summit mckinleyly a year, less than half make it. at base camp we talked to brave hearted adventurers. >> tell me about it. >> the most beautiful and brutal. >> what's the most spectacular thing you've seen. >> walking through the night.

the sun doesn't really set here. it's gorgeous. >> as we watch an avalanche, it's clear to see mckinley like alaska is a place of contrast. heartbreaking beauty amid danger, a peak to climb, worth the trip. alaska in a word is spectacular. denali national park was unlike anything i've ever experienced. tomorrow, another new experience. i'm going on a road trip with my sister. yes, i roped her into this. into bryce canyon, utah. we did crazy, incredible things. >> that looked like fun. the pictures of alaska are gorgeous. >> so spectacular. unbelievable. >> i like how you changed catch and release to catch, kiss, and release. >> or humiliate myself on national television. all one thing. >> you got one. might be time to shut down your fishing career. >> i retired. >> we'll look forward to the

next one. thank you, jenna. up next, the green juice craze is popular. up next, the green juice craze is popular. jurs but they can be really well thexpensive.ted a puppy, so to save money i just found them a possum. dad, i think he's dead. probably just playin' possum.

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back at 8:45. this morning's health, the skinny on green juices. we heard they help shed weight and boost energy. just how healthy are they? joy bauer. this is the latest thing, cleansing. do the payoffs live up to the hype. >> there's definitely a lot of pros. it's a glass filled with produce, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. i love the fact there's no gunnigunk, no added sugar or fat. all of that is great. there's definitely some cons when you do these things full on as a liquid diet, then you get

into problems because there's down sides. >> you're not getting a lot of daily nutrition you should be getting? >> right. i looked at a lot of commercial plans on the market and it's pretty alarming. when you just exclusively do this juicing, you're very, very deficient in protein. so as a whole, on average, they only had 14 grams of protein at the end of the day. we need at least 50. fourteen grams of protein is only equivalent of a cup of chick peas or two ounces of fish, again, in the entire day. protein helps to he rev our metabolism and helps your hair stay gorgeous and controls hunger. the other part, it's all carbohydrates, without protein. i looked at them. even though 45 grams of sugar, 45 teaspoons of sugar if you're juicing. ironically you think it's a lot of fiber. because they are not adding pulp

back in to commercial plans, same quarter cup of black beans. >> missing out on key nutrients. a lot of people report dizziness and hair loss. >> liquid calories don't fill you up like solid calories do. you're cranky and hungry. i love it as one meal replacement or hardy snack. you don't want to do it as a cleanse. >> reality, you'll probably gain that back, whatever water weight you lose. >> you're also degrading muscle mass. it's not a good idea. for people who do want to juice, there are all sorts of great ways to do it. as a meal preplacement or occasional drink. >> let's talk about the vegetables you recommend for juicing. >> best vegetables and most popular are spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, parsley, carrots and beets. the key is heavy on vegetables,

lighter on fruits. they are high in calories and sugar. >> they are flavor brighteners. what's the ratio. >> you have to experiment around. these froos work well to brighten the flavor. pineapple, green apple, oranges, pears, grapes and mangoes. i'm going to show awe concoction. >> whip me up breakfast. >> greens in a glass, 220 calories. >> i'll wait to try it until you make it. >> a large handful of baby spinach. half a cup of cucumber with the skin on and one celery stalk. >> i notice you don't have a real juicer, you have a blender. a lot of people don't have juicers. >> anybody can make it at home. >> fiber, half a cup of water. >> yogurt to keep it a protein.

>> 20 grams of protein, a container of nonfat greek yogurt. half a banana and half a pineapple whether fresh or frozen. >> my hands are clean, i promise. >> i believe you. >> stir that up and tell me what you think. >> i love it. i love it. i'm a healthy kind of -- this is really good. if i could get my kids to drink something that bright green, that's another story. >> it's not a chocolate milkshake, 220 calories, five grams of fiber and 20 grams. >> as a meal replacement. >> or snack. >> joey bauer for my breakfast. up next, minion mayhem. orlando's newest attraction. but first today on nbc.

we're back now at 8:5 1, must see attraction opening at universal studio. jenna wolfe is there. jenna, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, willie. in 2010 universal released a movie, a little something called ""despicable me." they hoped it would take off, it did, to $240 million. it wasn't a tough decision for the creative team to turn the

movie into an experience of a lifetime. on the heels of the 2010 blockbuster animated hit, "despicable me." >> hello, everybody. >> comes the next best thing to actually starring in the sequel. the all new 3d attraction ride at universal orlando. think minion mayhem, only bigger. yeah, slightly more in comprehensible. >> the "today" show is on seven days a week. your reaction. the movie, the tenth biggest animated film in history. >> that's what i'm talking about. >> reporter: inspired the simulated ride with its endearing story line and effervescent characters, most notably a minion. what is a minion. >> yellow. >> what is this?

>> adorable. >> any other words? we won't talk about what happened with mom right now. i'm embarrassed to ask you but i will. what is a minion. >> henchmen, tiny yellow guys he created. we're going to let the guests become that so they can experience what it's like themselves. >> he's the executive producer. this was basically his two-year homework project. >> we wanted to make sure it's our own story line. not the film but the same heart and character of the story line. >> here is what makes this ride different from anything else out there. >> we want to make gorgeous new animation. also shown in the latest high-tech state-of-the-art digital 3d technology. >> got to try this. >> absolutely. let's go. >> so this is where it starts when you first walk in. >> the living room. >> when i was a kid, my parents did not go for this at all. i tried it a couple of times.

didn't work. >> you do a really good imitation. go ahead and do it. >> not as good as steve carell. these guys really know how to party. >> i've been working on something very big. >> reporter: top of the line 3d. >> automatic doors that open. >> reporter: wow, do it. >> go, go, go. we're ready. >> wow. how do i look? don't do that. are you ready? i'll have what that kid is having. worried there may not be enough simulated elements? worry not. the ride comes with water sprayers, an anti-gravity room. >> where are we on gravity, thumbs-up or thumb's down? we like gravity. >> boogie fever.

>> reporter: new to the simulated ride experience, the end of it, a chance for kids and their families to dance like nobody is watching with minions who use words i still can't understand. i can talk politics? you want to talk politics? you just saw me dance, what's your reaction? thinking of becoming a minion, is it a nice lifestyle? your reaction. it was a lot of fun. it was a good time. i just have to say real quick, i got a lot of, is that matt lauer after seeing him. no offense to you, matt, this may or may not be my last live shot. a lot of pressure on universal. every time a ride comes out they have to make it bigger and better than the one before it. this had a lot of bells and whistles, definitely fun. the sequel coming out. the ride opens today at universal orlando. i'm taking these guys back with

me. >> i think technically i'm not allowed to laugh at the matt joke if i sit in this chair. >> not a good career move. >> universal orlando resorts. >> just ahead, the nastiest germs in your hotel room after your local news. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. baltimore city police are investigating a deadly shooting involving one of their own officers. police say they saw man beating a woman at a gas station at liberty heights saturday before he fled on foot.

a fight ensued, leading to the officer firing his weapon with the suspect, michael w

>> humidity has come down a little bit. it will be a little more comfortable. as we head through the rest of the day, high temperatures in the low 90s. a few scattered thunderstorms on the fourth of july.