the beloved star buried just hours after his deat the torch of july. temperatures set to soar into triple digits from memphis to minneapolis today. extreme heat that caused one road to buckle sending an suv flying, while a new round of storms hits the mid-atlantic region still reeling from massive power outages for a fifth great day. new danger, new help. crews knock down a wildfire just north of los angeles overnight as tanker planes grounded following a deadly crash returned to duty to help out some of the worst wildfire in decades out west. this morning officials fear holiday fireworks could spark even more. remembering andy griffith.

the beloved star of the andy griffith show and mat lock buried hours after his death at 86. we'll look back at his career and hear from his tv son ron howard today, tuesday, july 4th, and hear from his tv son ron howard today, tuesday, july 4th, 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 fourth of july morning. i'm natalie morales. >> i'm willie geist in for matt. happy independence day to all of you. most americans enjoying this holiday off. it will be another day of work for utility crews. >> temperature isn't cooperating with them. high temperatures remain in the 90s, the fourth of july celebration at the capital had to be cut short when storms

rolled through. the forecast to help you plan your holiday straight ahead. also this morning new details on a strange scene that played out in an arizona courtroom. a man and to take something after he was convicted of arson. he then collapsed and later died. this morning we'll hear from that man's attorney and someone who was in the court when it all happened. and later a roll reversal in the workforce. coming up, why more women are rolling up their sleeves to get jobs in construction and auto repair while more men are also becoming nurses and teachers. we do begin right now with that extreme holiday heat and the ongoing fight to get power flowing in parts of the mid-atlantic again. tom costello on the story in washington, d.c. tom, good morning. >> hi, natalie, good morning. a happy 4th. the latest estimates, we're getting about 850,000 people still without power. that's a significant improvement from a couple of days ago and even from yesterday. but this is the kind of scene we have throughout the metro washington, d.c., virginia,

maryland area. massive trees down, cars crushed, power lines down, telephone lines down, cable lines down. as if that's not enough, last night we had more lightning and more severe weather in washington. >> severe weather is approaching the capital. you are instructed to leave the area. >> reporter: late tuesday night, another proceed from mother nature. at the u.s. capital, a strong thunderstorm forced the evacuation of a dress rehearsal for tonight's capital 4th concert. >> a garage, safe on the other side. >> reporter: one more gut punch for the capital region on its heels buried under downed trees, dodging precarious power lines and swelter in triple digit heat without air conditioning. canadian crews brought in to restore power given a hero's welcome in gentlewoman and maryland. this family has retreated to

their basement with their grandkids. >> much cooler. >> they drove to pennsylvania to buy an affordable generator. with reports of generators stolen, they have their locked up. down the street sandra brown moved to the basement. the thermostat upstairs reaches 89 degrees and she's afraid to open the frig. >> i have not opened them. i was under the theory if you kept them closed for three to four days, your food would save, but i'm not sure. >> reporter: health experience say don't chance it, throw it away. five days after the storm the electric grid is so damaged it could take until the weekend before everyone gets power. >> can you wait until friday 11:00 p.m. for power? >> no, but you have to. >> reporter: even before the storm the biggest power company in washington pepco was under intense scrutiny. this week mayors and governors have demanded change. >> nobody will have their boot

further up pepco's back side than i will to make sure we get there. >> reporter: but pepco insists the disaster was an act of god. >> we are making the effort. >> reporter: extends well beyond, triple digits from plains to atlantic, gulf coast to great lakes. in wisconsin it caused highway 29 to buckle sending this suv flying. extreme temps on this july 4th and the massive cleanup still well under way. amazingly two people were able to walk away from the flying suv although they did have neck and back pain. health experts say check on residents that are sick and elderly, especially vulnerable with heat and no air conditioning. natalie, another hot, sticky day for people across the mid-atlantic. back to you. >> tom costello in washington, d.c. thanks so much. >> just how hot will it get at

your barbecue? weather channel stephanie abrams in for al with a first check of the weather. good morning. >> good morning. unfortunately heat advisories stretching across a big chunk of the country today. we're talking about that heat index above 100 degrees again for some of you. how hot will it get and will we break records? look at chicago, triple digits, our record 102. minneapolis we'll be right near that record if not breaking it as we take you into the northeast. it's going to be hot, not as hot. you will get relief in the thunderstorm of thundershowers. they are pulling through right now. just how long will this last, willie and natalie? i'll have a look at that coming up. >> all right, stephanie, thank you. >> we'll get to the rest of your forecast in a moment. first send it to the news desk, thomas roberts. >> good morning, everybody. new brazen attack on troops in afghanistan, as a man in an afghan army uniform led fire on

u.s. nato coalition. this attack took place tuesday in the eastern wardak province. five soldiers wounded. reopen vital nato areas after strikes last year. the move could mark a major step toward forwarding u.s.-pakistani relations. the jetblue pilot whose made air meltdown forced to make an emergency landing was found not guilty due to insanity. he had to be forcibly restrained in march when he tried to interfere with controls then exited the cockpit and began ranting about al qaeda. the judge sent him to a correctional facility to be examined over the upcoming weeks. several passengers filed suit saying the company should have known he was unfit to fly as a pilot. an attempt to attack the

deadly wildfire in the western part of the nation. seven c-130s grounded when one crashed killing four crew members on board. researchers in switzerland say they have observed the particle consistent with the god particle. scientists have long been seeking this as it holds the key to understanding the size and shape of the universe. an australian member of parm is facing a firestorm of criticism after a fellow panelist on a live tv show collapsed due to a case of the flu, collapsing right on the desk next to her social media lit up saying she did nothing but jerk away and didn't help. her representative said she was too shocked to react at the time but since contacted the panelist to wish him a speedy recovery. a dog celebrating a personal independence day, had police

chasing their tails. brought traffic to a standstill. the pooch flying down the highway. he fakes right, fakes left, down the milling, out of there. when a professional dog rescuer heard the story he caught up with the pup who he found to be dog tired. the mix is treated for dehydration. vets trying to find him a home or the rightful owners of that pup. it is now 7:09. send it back. the poodle who knew they had wheels. that thing was jetting, faking left and right, down the middle. >> bringing him bow to wow. >> you offering, natalie. >> all right. well, stephanie abrams is back with us as you see. got a rest of the look at the forecast. >> i do. good news in the northeast. we are going to see those storms start to wane as we head into the afternoon hours. i know that's a huge concern for many of you. you're better off if you're grilling later in the day. the heat is still going to be a big story from the midwest to northeast and down to the south.

look at memphis, 101 degrees. here is our firework forecast as we head to the evening hours. everything is scattered in nature. now here is >> good morning. we have a little rain and some neighborhoods to start the day today but skies will be clearing from north to south as we go into the morning and afternoon. this afternoon is to b >> natalie, over to you. >> thank you, stephanie. now to presidential politics and the general election just four months away, president obama and mitt romney will attend some holiday events today as they gear up for the campaign's homestretch. john harwood is cnbc's chief washington correspondent.

john, good morning. >> happy 4th, natalie. >> thanks. to you as well. a relatively quiet week for both campaigns. looking ahead, what is the state of play right now? >> we've got a race that's remarkably stable, natalie. president obama is a few points ahead of mitt romney. that's been the case for several months despite all of the very large events including a supreme court decision, including the president's new stance on gay marriage, shifts in the economy. we're going to see it brought out in the 10 or 12 battleground states in place for the rest of the general election. >> john, if you're looking for the broad outlines of the attacks right now, for president obama is it all about focusing on romney's time at bain capital. on the other hand for romney is it all about the economy? >> absolutely it is. mitt romney has got stagnant economic conditions working in his favor for attacking the incumbent, blaming them on president obama. but democrats think that just as washington is unpopular, just as people are sour about the state of the economy, they are also

unhappy with wall street, with big business. if you can tag a rival candidate as somebody who has been in favor or has actually participated in cutting jobs, off shoring american jobs, that's something you can really hurt that candidate among swing voters with, that's what democrats did in 2010 against carly fiorina, they think they can do it to mt romney. >> interesting story, prominent republicans calling for changes to romney's staff if he has a chance to beat president obama. do you think there's something to that in romney is standing by his team. >> i'm not surprised romney standing by his team. rupert murdoch is good at many things but i'm not sure strategy is the thing. they have run a cautious campaign but have a cautious candidate. there's not a lot to complain

about. they got him nominated in a party manifestly to his right, after implementing in massachusetts a health care plan like the one president obama implemented nationally. yet they have unified the conservative base, they are close to this president. they have a shot. they know where to fight and they are raising money in a very robust way so they can be competitive all the way through election day. >> let's talk about jobs. on friday the all important june jobs report numbers will come out. forecasters are saying there could be about 100,000 jobs created, although those forecasts have been somewhat overestimated in the past. if that number does stand, is that a win for president obama? is it enough? >> no, it's better than the last couple of months, which have been under 100,000. these numbers are sort of variable and sometimes reestimated later, revised up or down depending on circumstances. but no, 100,000 jobs is not enough to bring the unemployment rate down, which is something

romney is going to hammer. the positive news for the president is the economy is growing, the private sector is adding jobs. the question is going to be what's the balance between voters making a judgment that, yes, we're headed in the right direction versus it's not that great right now. >> cnbc's john harwood again, thanks for working on the 4th. we appreciate it. >> you bet, natalie. >> here is willie. >> what if you needed a potentially lifesaving medicine only to be told it wasn't available. it's become a serious problem for health care providers across the country. now congressional investigators say they found one possible reason, fake pharmacies. nbc's senior investigative correspondent lisa meyers has the story. >> reporter: jake has stage four cancer. last summer as he was about to receive chemotherapy, he was suddenly informed the drug he needed wasn't available. >> my nurse told me the drug wasn't available and i wouldn't be able to do my chemo today, i was shocked. how could this be happening in

the united states of america. >> reporter: around the same time records show a pharmacy in this building in north carolina, ltc was buying the same drug supposedly to fill prescriptions. when north carolina regulators did an inspection, they found on this. no records, no equipment. >> did you find a pharmacist? >> no, did not. >> how can you have a pharmacy with no pharmacist. >> good question. >> congressman and his investigators say it's a fake pharmacy set up to explore the drug shortage. >> this is about greed, simply about greed, people wanting to make a quick buck at the expense of sick american people. >> reporter: records show the pharmacy was buying the drugs and the same day selling them to a wholesaler owned by the same person, international pharmaceuticals, which was then reselling the drugs again at higher prices. >> congressman and investigators

called this operation a fake pharmacy. do you agree with that assessment? >> we didn't see any evidence of them filling any prescriptions. >> there's a for lease sign. when we visited the company's office in durham, nobody was home. >> the place is empty. no one in there. facing the prospect of having its north carolina license revoked, the company surrendered it instead. congressional investigators say what happened here in north carolina isn't an isolated case. they say they found what and to be fake pharmacies around the country buying up medicines in short supply. these pharmacies didn't cause the shortages, but investigators say by diverting drugs into the gray market, they are creating delays and added costs for patients. >> it's definitely making the shortage worse and also driving up the prices. >> reporter: but the lawyer for the owner of the north carolina pharmacy says she's a smart businesswoman, who is actually helping, not hurting, by enabling medical facilities to

get the drugs patients need more quickly. jake got his chemo a week lay but worries those exploiting drug shortages may delay vital treatment for other cancer patients fighting to survive. >> that was nbc's lisa meyers reporting. it is 7:17. once again, here is natalie. >> willie, thank you. tributes are pouring in for beloved actor andy griffith. the 86-year-old was laid to rest just hours after his death on tuesday. mike taibbi has more on the legacy of the man who put mayberry on the map. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, natalie. in a half century long career it was the fictional sheriff that won america's hot, exemplar of common sense in an idealized world that never existed. at its peak, 35 million visitors tuned in every week to visit. he planned to be a preacher or opera singer. as anyone who ever heard that

opening theme goes, it was as andy of mayberry that andy griffith made his indelible mark. >> aunt bee is a sportsman. she's trying to give the fish every chance. >> reporter: he played andy taylor, the wise authority figure everyone respected for his sense of tolerance and fair play. the straight man was bumbling barney played by don knots. >> i've got some thinking to do. >> the thing about andy griffith show, while not autobiographical, it was a real genuine reflection of his sensibility. >> it was a sensibility that turned the show into what hit in the raucous '60s as a comfortable serving of smalltown america where common sense ruled and the distinction between right and wrong is clear. >> i've still got a duty to protected the folks in mayberry. >> still the man on "today" said

mayberry had to be invented. >> it had a feeling of the '30s. it was when we were doing it the time gone by. >> reporter: the show ended in 1968 still on top. griffith had one more hit years later playing "matlock" a southern lawyer with home spun morals. >> i could murder like this. >> his subsequent run, andy, might have been too successful. it was hard of him to break out of that pigeonhole. the show never went away, constantly rerun and much loved. >> reporter: fans visiting the griftity museum in his hometown never needed him to breakaway from mayberry. >> wholesome, i think more than anything else. it was a different time period. you think to embody that more

than anybody. >> reporter: an unforgettable character insisting on the rules with compassion and caring. >> don't you reckon? >> i reckon. >> reporter: can always win the day. >> reporter: makes you smile. he reportedly died in his sleep and he was laid to rest hours later on his beloved farm on roanoke island. that according to the family's wishes. mike taibbi, thank you so much. if only we had a little more of that on television today. how great was that. president obama put out a statement yesterday saying he was a performer of extraordinary talent, andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps. >> talk about his influence. jerry seinfeld sent out a tweet everyone was talking about. the reason every seinfeld character greeted with hey was secret tribute to "the andy griffith show". true. that's something he never said

publicly before but speaks to the influence of the generations of the man. >> we could all learn from that strength of character. back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

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layered on top of beautyrest pocketed coils to promote proper sleeping posture all night long. the revolutionary recharge sleep system... from beautyrest. it's you, fully charged. >> good morning, everybody and happy fourth of july. i'm stan stovall. here is a look at a couple of the top stories. the search will continue later this morning for the missing operator of a personal watercraft. we were over the scene around 5:00 p.m. yesterday as the baltimore fire department's search of land and water for the rider of the vessel right there discovered floating. crews were forced to call off the search last night due to

darkness and the threat of an approaching storm. tsa workers at bwi, the state a hidden weapon from a woman who tried to get it through security to the morning. investigators say a knife was hidden inside the neon green comb. the unusual image was called on the monitor. the knife was confiscated and the woman issued a citation. let us check the all important for the july forecast from tony. them a little bit of light rain in some neighborhoods. nothing real consequence the reason dying thunderstorms the mentoring -- they will stick around and clear up as we head to the afternoon. 77 at the airport and 70 in westminster. chance of a few showers this morning and then a mixture of a few clouds and sunshine going into the afternoon. it will be hot with high temperatures in the midnight depositary -- midnight --

midnight the's. warm and humid and temperatures will still be in the 80's at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. when most of the fireworks go off. the next couple of days we will turn up the heat. thursday and friday, up 90's to around 100 but the heat index possible over 100 both days and then looking forward to relief at the tail end of the weekend. scattered showers and thunderstorms sunday with a cold fron w

7:30 this wednesday morning july 4th, 2012. a beautiful shot of the statue of liberty as americans celebrating their 236th birthday. happy birthday. in rockefeller plaza, couple of drizzles, hopefully they will dry out soon, nice to see the fireworks we hope. i'm natalie morales with willie geist in for matt. just ahead a reality show that catches car thieves in the act ends up turning the tables on a police detective. instead we'll show you what that officer apparently forgot to do

that got him suspended from the force. also ahead this morning, a woman who could be darling of gop. media love, running for the first black republican member in commerce. but she says race does not define who ho she is. we'll hear from her. >> later not in the mood for hot dogs and hamburgers? spicing up fourth of july celebration. the latest on a bizarre death that played out in an arizona courtroom last week. thomas roberts with details. >> good morning. leaving a lot of people scratching their heads trying to figure this out. michael marin convicted of arson when he and to swallow something. he collapsed and died a short time later. now his attorney is speaking out. he clearly seemed to have his fist closed. then as he's putting his hands in his face, there's that motion that looks like he's swallowing something. >> last week 54-year-old michael marin found guilty of arson and

minutes later pronounced dead. >> i heard a noise and looked over, thought he was sobbing. starts convulsing, goes down. >> reporter: he was in the courtroom covering the verdict. >> first a gasp, then loud, loud snoring sound that he continued intermittently. i don't think anyone knew what to do. they kept saying he a pulse, he was breathing. we were cleared from the courtroom for a bit and then they wheeled him out and we went back in. maybe 20 minutes later, we got word that he had died. >> reporter: heavily in death with an overdue tax bill and $2.3 million mortgage payment looming, prosecutors a little marin torched his phoenix, arizona mansion. he faced up to 21 years in prison. but his lawyer said he seemed determined to keep fighting. >> mr. marin maintained his innocence from the out set and never wavered from that position.

>> reporter: he was the father of four, wall street trader, pilot, author, lawyer with a degree from yale university and avid climber who had scaled mt. everest. he was most famous to use scuba gear to escape from his burning arizona mansion in 2009. his attorney said there was no indication he was considering suicide. >> my expectation would have been that he would have continued to fight his case on appeal. he was, as i described, kind of a fighter. >> reporter: detectives are hoping toxicology tests will provide an answer to the question of suicide surrounding self-proclaimed adventurer michael marin. >> i do find this bizarre. we're waiting for the medical examiner to determine what the cause of death was, then we can go from there. >> as the sheriff pointed out toxicology results expected next week. it really is odd. when you see that video, it does look like he's trying to put something in his mouth. that's obviously been lending to the mystery.

>> something that worked very quickly, obviously. took just minutes, to leave four children behind. thank you very much. let's turn now and get a check of the weather from stephanie abrams. she's in for al. hey, stef pry. >> we're going to head to the maps and talk about the storms we are seeing throughout portions of the northeast today. they are rolling through, more in the afternoon hours of the good news is they will be waning as we head into the evening hours. otherwise the huge story continues to be the heat gripping the nation from the gulf coast all the >> we may start up with a little rain this holiday but it will clear up having this afternoon. shower of this possible this

>> let's find out where mimi is celebrating 100 years? >> columbia,, south carolina. >> they brought the heat and humidity. blame them for it. if it's your birthday, go to weather.com 24 hours a day for your forecast. natalie. >> thank you, stephanie. there's a reality show on trutv called bait car, which is supposed to catch thieves in the act. during one sting in los angeles, it was a very unlikely figure who ended up having to answer tough questions instead. the story from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> the team deployed to south l.a. and puts their new weapon into play. >> the formula for the tv show "bait car" usually goes something like this. >> undercover deputies act out a theme and abandon the bait with the keys in it. >> reporter: they wait for a would be car thief who inevitably gets in the vehicle equipped with hidden cameras and drives off.

for sheriff's deputies, it's an easy bust. >> making a u-turn southbound central. >> reporter: 28-year-old keenan took the bait last july when he found this cadillac too good to resist. the tape eventually turned over to the public defender's office shows los angeles county sheriff's detective anthony shapiro making the arrest. but it's what he didn't say. >> you know you're rights, right? you know all that stuff? you watch tv and know your rights? >> yes. >> i'm going to ask you some questions. >> no problem. no problem purchase the detective is never seen or heard reading miranda rights even though he repeatedly assured his fellow officers he had. >> i already mirandaized him. it's cool. when you get there, go to whatever you want. >> beautiful. >> in court and under oath detective shapiro continued to insist he had read the suspect his miranda rights. >> i read it from a card in my wallet, he testified.

his attorney had the tape that showed otherwise. >> i reviewed the footage. it showed he was not read his miranda rights. the prosecutor agreed with me and dismissed the case. >> reporter: the show trapped to catch a thief trapped a detective instead. the judge agreed this time the cameras right add wrong. critics worry mixing entertainment with real crime is fraught with problems. >> if a police officer is essentially being paid to be a reality star, then he or she could be incentivized to make great television. that's not what you want your police officers to be doing. you want them to focus on being good police officers, good detectives. >> reporter: while the producers of "bait car" pay for law enforcement's overtime hours, the sheriff's department disagree. >> once they film it, it expands the fact this scenario does, indeed, exist. and then hopefully if people think it does, acts as

deterrent. we have no financial incentive to do this. >> reporter: detective shapiro has no comment but he has been suspended with pay while investigating the incident. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, los angeles. >> up next, a rising star in the political world, the utah mayor who could become a real trail blazer right after this. stay in the moment sanya focus lolo, focus let's do this i am from baltimore south carolina... bloomington, california... austin, texas... we are all here to represent the country we love this is for everyone back home it's go time. across america, we're all committed to team usa.

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running, gunning -- >> how is it going? >> reporter: glad handing mayor of saratoga springs, a town outside of utah. >> you love this place, don't you? >> life is just great how the here. >> in april the 36-year-old became the republican nominee for congress. now the run of her life. if she wins in november, she'll make history, the first black republican woman ever elected to congress. she's not focused on historical significance. >> you don't talk about race a lot. >> i don't. it doesn't define who i am. i'm perfectly comfortable in my skin. i know who i am. it's not lost on me that i'm female and black. those are things that aren't lost on me. i don't shy away from them. >> in a town more than 90% white, her constituents don't seem to care. she won her last election with

roughly 60% of the vote. >> i think it's wonderful she brings some culture and diversity. >> her race is a nonissue to me. >> the mother of three would rather be known for politics, a brand of conservatism rooted in her faith. she became a mormon when she met her husband. >> i support marriage between a man and a woman. >> and her upbringing. her parents are haitian immigrants. >> my dad said to me when i was going through college, that's what made me decide i was going to run. he said, mia, my mother and i have done everything we could to get you here. we have worked hard. you will not be a burden to society. you will give back. >> love said she'd love to shrink programs to cut poverty, shrink spending, overhaul the tax code, overhaul programs like social security. for 12 years congressman jim matheson has represented the most republican district held by a democrat. he's the son of a former governor and a sixth generation

utahan. he admits love's story is compelling but not her politics. >> i don't think utah families counting on social security to be there wants to support somebody that says we should save on social security. i don't think utah families who want a college education want someone who says we should stop doing student loan. >> another worry, the small time mayor might not be ready for prime time. >> my concerns about mayor love, she may be a little bit green or new and she doesn't maybe have as much of a track record as other politicians. >> utah isn't sure how much this will matter. to utah, wants to send a message. >> she's symbolically a stereotype buster. there's a sense by mormon republican voters that electing a black republican woman will demonstrate whatever people say about mormons and history aren't true. >> with outside money pouring in

a lot of help for party superstars hungry for different. mitt romney at the top of the ticket. political experts put love's chances at 50-50 but think will be be tough. mia love enjoys an uphill slog. >> 50-50 shot with 12-year incumbent, i think it's going to be more than a 50/50 shot by november. i think we're going to win it. >> the gop has big plans for mia lover. she'll be a headliner at republican national convention in tampa next month. despite her rookie status, love could become one of the new darlings of the gop. >> you heard tlit. she you heard it there. she's confident. six-time republican incumbent. where does she stand in the poll? >> one poll came out, question about reliable, 12 points. our guys in d.c., political brain trust put her chances better than 50/50. >> we will see. great story. craig, thanks so much. happy 4th again.

still ahead from construction to fixing your car, why more women are being drawn to male dominated careers. first these messages.

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millions of years now in a fight for survival. here is nbc's ian williams. >> it was like a journey back in time to a lost world, a world that's become second home to them. >> my life is here. >> we joined the conservationist studying one of the rarest reptiles, the komodo dragon, dinosaur-like lizards that can grow up to 10-feet long. >> the teeth on these are very, very -- >> very sharp, like a blade. >> reporter: he's grown to respect the dragons, tracking them across the park, one of the only places on earth they are found. trapping komodos requires the skills of a professional wrestler. subduing the giants and measuring them. >> 37 kilograms. >> reporter: keeping track of the population. >> it's an indication this

animal have -- >> reporter: this island has the highest density of dragons, about 1300 by the last count. here at least the population is stable. the dragon is classified as vulnerable, just 5,000 left in the wild, threatened by declining prey and habitat loss. and from wildlife smugglers. three babies were stolen in the last year from the world's most successful breeding facility at the zoo. they are worth thousands of dollars on the black mark. the campaign for a natural wonder listing has captured the imagination of visitors in the national park. >> these are kind of living fossil, and that's very special about them, i think. >> if more attention to the komodo national park and then komodo dragon will be fine. >> reporter: for centuries the prehistoric looking dragons have been the stuff of myth and fairy

tale but it's the next few years that will be critical for its survival. for today, nbc news in the komodo islands, indonesia. >> they are such fascinating creatures, so prehistoric. >> dinosaurs living among us. >> absolutely. got to keep them alive, though, as ian williams talked about. still ahead on a different note, we'll take you along the tour on jenna bush's america the beautiful tour. this is a fantastic spot in georgia. there's a fascinating history there. >> she's been having fun out there. >> she has. >> can't wait to see this one. >> first local news and weather. twinkle twinkle little pie you squashed my willpower like a fly. you looked so innocent and so sweet.

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so that it's not brushed away. pronamel protects your teeth from the effects of acid erosion. i don't have to cut out the things that i love in my diet. i can have the best of both worlds with pronamel. a deep, throbbing, persistent ache. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia, thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. and for some people, it can work in as early as the first week of treatment. so now i can do more of the things that i enjoy. lyrica is not for everyone. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior, or any swelling or affected breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight, including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain, and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know

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>> good morning. i'm lisa robinson. here is a look at some of the holiday events going on in your area today. disseminate aids area -- annual dundalk . sets often about 20 minutes. towson are parade -- then 3:00 -- than a parade and bellaire starts at 6:00 tonight. other community events scheduled for today. chesapeake celebration starting at 4:00 and inner harbor and the

theater and as for some of the many fireworks displays, you can see them at the inner harbor, columbia lakefront, catonsville high, and grange elementary. now a check of your 11 is the weather forecast. >> good morning, everyone. starting out with a few sprinkles in the neighborhood this morning. a few thunderstorms a little while ago dropping out from pennsylvania. that are falling apart now. if you get a sprinkle or light shower, don't worry about it. it will not last very long. skies will begin clearing the next couple of hours. this afternoon, partly cloudy skies. 75 in randallstown, dew point in the mid 60's so it feels a little thick out there to start the day. a chance for a shot with this morning and then a mixture of clouds and sunshine in the afternoon. high temperatures in the midnight deposit. cannot rule out the possibility of a thunderstorm developing later on this afternoon or evening. 30% chance of fireworks displays. not thinking anything would be

canceled. temperatures should be and 80's between 9:00 and 10:00 so be prepared for the heat. we will turn it up thursday, friday, and saturday,

♪ 8:00 now on this wednesday

morning july 4th, 2012. we're celebrating independence day with the help from the united states air force ceremonial brass. great job. wonderful there, under the direction of their new commander, conductor, colonel lang. great way to kick off the holiday. you know, willie, this is their fourth year doing this with us. they have become a fourth of july tradition for the "today" show. >> wouldn't be the fourth of july without them. great guys. thank you so much. a busy day getting down to washington to play. thank you so much. >> applause. they deserve it. we'll hear more from them throughout the morning. >> meanwhile a lot going on. women's work takes on a whole new meaning. if your car needs repair, your frig, don't be surprised if women show up for the job. why women are flocking to male dominated trades. >> jenna bush wrapping up her series, america the beautiful, taking us to a large barrier

island, a place steeped in history, beautiful views. beautiful beaches, wow. >> look forward to that. first back inside with thomas roberts at the news desk with a look at today's stories. >> good morning, everybody. happy fourth of july, where high heat blanketing much of the country on this holiday. some people marking this holiday like it's 1776 without electricity or air conditioning. about 1 million utility customers from the midwest to the mid-atlantic still have no power after friday's deadly storms. the presidential candidates will be out today celebrating the nation's 236th birthday. president obama will speak at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members. he and the first lady will host a fourth of july celebration for military heroes and their families on the south lawn at the white house. meanwhile republican mitt romney will march in a town parade near his estate in new hampshire where he's been vacationing with his family. andy griffith, used to say the character was the best part

of himself. the beloved star of the andy griffith show died in his home in north carolina. he was 86 years old. griffith never won an emmy for his iconic portrayal of rural life but awarded one of the nation's highest civilian honors, presidential medal of freedom in 2005. a florida judge expected to decide on thursday whether to release the neighborhood watchman who shot 17-year-old trayvon martin on bond. george zimmerman's original bond revoked last month after the judge ruled he and his wife were not honest about finances. meanwhile a newly realized medical report confirms zimmerman had a broken nose after his encounter with martin whom he said he shot in self-defense but he never saw a specialist. a roundup of what you like online. may be a tough week for tom cruise but at least one ray of sunshine. cruise is now the highest paid actor in hollywood according to "forbes" magazine. he earns $75 million in the last

year, double that of many other akers. he did spend his 50th birthday this week without katie holmes who filed for divorce last week. a very pregnant snooki still has a few months to go before her due date. she's finding other uses for the baby buggy. she's pushing a stroller of bud lite to her cath members. snooki says she's not drinking these days hoping to have a healthy baby. recently widowed woman facing her 30th anniversary alone today so she sent a tweet to chad ochocinco asking for his prayers. ochocinco replied asking if she had a passport before inviting her to cheer her up to spend the milestone with him at his wedding in st. martin. told her, all she needs to do is bring her smile and dancing shoes as well as an appetite. all right, so it's now 8:04, send it back out to the plaza

natalie and willie. >> we're loving ochocinco now even more. >> he gets a lot of heat. one thing to get a response from somebody you worship. >> invite them to the wedding. >> great job. all right. >> still to come. >> what do you say, do a little weather here? >> let's get to stephanie. >> there you are. nice spot, you guys. we have mass -- macy is here to see the macy's fireworks. did you name her after the fireworks. >> no, i didn't but she is a firework. nbc or hudson, going off over the hudson. a look to see toledo. it's going to be hot, 101 degrees. i don't know what is worse, storms or heat like that. showers into the southwest and southern california. in southern california is where we'll see cooler temp

>> good morning. we have a little rain and some neighborhoods to start the day today but skies will be clearing from north to south as we go into the morning and afternoon. this afternoon is to b willie, back to you. i'm the meteorologist with the umbrella, making me look bad. >> couldn't juggle everything. from car repair to electrician. more women finding their life's calling in male dominated fields. that's right after this. also, get a free flight. you know that comes with a private island? really? no. it comes with a hat. see, airline credit cards promise flights for 25,000 miles, but... [ man ] there's never any seats for 25,000 miles. frustrating, isn't it? but that won't happen with the capital one venture card.

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>> "today's" working woman brought to you by mcdonald's. i'm lovin' it. back at 8:09 this morning on "today's" working woman, breaking down barriers. these days when you call a plumber or electrician, there's a greater chance a woman will be making the house call. as the economy rebounds opportunities for women in nontraditional fields will only grow. here is nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: talk about a jill of all trades. after her first career laying

tile, she became a mr. appliance woman and was recently voted technician of the year. what can mrs. mr. appliance fix? >> refrigerators, washer, dryers, trash compacters, garbage disposal. any major appliance you put in your home. >> reporter: trina left a job in finance 15 years ago to do something a little more hands on with a lot more elbow grease. >> i was always curious as a kid and took things apart and put them bach together. >> reporter: these days many like trina are pursuing jobs traditionally thought to be for men. >> you could tear this apart and put it back together. >> i could if i needed to. >> reporter: now with women making up to 60% of the workforce, it's no surprise more of them are out there getting their hands dirty. >> women are called upon to leave their homes and take jobs.

>> reporter: it wasn't that long ago during the second world war that rosie the riveter inspired many to enter the trades. today 10 million making their mark in trades, construction, maintenance. many receive their training here, chicago women in trades. >> i like the hands on. i can't wait to see the end results, so i can be like wow. >> experts say with the economy on the rebound, opportunities for women in the trades will only grow for women like tana and trina, getting dirty is all in a day's work. >> it's not graceful. it's not a female's field. i think we need to change that. >> reporter: as women break through the glass ceiling, they are also breaking barriers in a traditional man's world. one broken car or refrigerator at a time. for today, kevin tibbles, nbc news, evanston, illinois.

>> a founder of a website supporting young women in their careers. good morning. >> good morning. >> good to have you here. women entering construction, repair work, technology. is this due to the recession or is this due to the fact there really is a need for a change in the stereotype? >> i think it's a bit of both. you're definitely seeing more women opening up to the possibility of doing work that's traditionally being thought of as men's work. i do think it's the economy as well in terms of we're all vying for whatever opportunity is out there. one of the things we're seeing is women are quite differentiated in male industries because it's just sort of a delight to see a woman showing up at your door. there's a surprise factor in that, so you really get to stand out in a crowd as a woman working in a job traditionally in a male industry. >> there's certain advantages women have in these typically male dominated fields. we have different problem solving skills, more patient, more able to relate to women themselves in whatever that role

is. how much when you're trying to break into that field, though, are there still barriers for women who want to pursue careers. >> there is typical stereotypes and resistance. i think what i love about what you said is, women should bring the fact that they are a woman to male industries. we're not necessarily asking women to be just like men. these problem solving abilities, ability to empathize and communicate can work to your advantage in these industries. it's not all about being a man's man. it's the thinking and all that goes into being a great talent in this particular industry. >> on the flip side, seeing things happening with men, men typically more female stur i don't type roles. nursing, teaching. is that something we'll see more of and, again, is it related to the economy? >> it's related to both. it's a breakdown of stereotypes. absolutely, when the economy is

tight like this, looking for every opportunity. as far as trades are concerned, i think there is, you know a need for people, men and women to take on these kinds of trades and businesses. there's enormous opportunity there. >> how do you counsel as you do in your job, counsel people to pursue and explore opportunities they may think is outside the box for them. >> i really love, find a mentor. find someone working within this industry and strike up a conversation. learn about what it is to get into this industry. find a community of women or men, you know, who are doing this untraditional work. find out how they succeeded. >> goes without saying you've got to be passionate about it no matter what it is. >> at the end of the day it's that passion and perseverance that makes it work. >> nicole williams, thanks so much. i love that. coming up next, jenna bush hager, explore the beauty of the country's most spectacular natural habitats. that's right after this. ladies first. mmm.

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back with more of our special series, america the beautiful, cumberland island off the coast of georgia. jenna bush hager with a southern gem. >> this place has southern charm. used to be home to the steel family carnegie. as i learned on my visit there i've been pronouncing it wrong my entire life. according to the irish descent, it's carnegie. they left their mark everywhere. setting foot on cumberland island is like stepping back in time. on this barrier island in gorge you'll find 17 miles of windswept white beaches, soaring oaks with spanish moss and

abundance of wildlife, steeped in history. >> it's a magical place, a mosaic of history, incredible nature. you can come and have this experience to see what a barrier island would have looked like on the atlantic coast 2, 300 years ago. >> the original inhabitants of the island were native american who opened it for over 3,000 years. the most famous residents were the carnegie family who bought the land in the 1880s. the remains of their wealth visible today. in 1982, the carnegies turned over 80% of their land to the national park service. today about 300 people a day come here by ferry to take in its unique natural beauty and relish in its tranquility. >> for us it's been a fantastic way to unwind. the landscape amazing, the beach is pristine. >> since there are no cars on the island, visitors must either bike or hike to get around.

where are you taking me down? during my visit i hit the trails with park spinned mark boyle, first stop, retreat. tell me about these ruins. obviously it burned down. >> believed to be an act of arson. it was a tragic loss of a tremendous sculptural resource. >> why do you think people are still fascinated with this place? >> it's an important part of our history. of course, we wouldn't have skyscrapers and all of the things we know of today in our society if it wasn't for the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the carnegie family. it's a beautiful mansion. >> the carnegies have several homes on the island. plum orchard was one of them. >> wow. this isn't really a campground that i was expecting. >> no. it's a beautiful mansion built in 1898 as a wedding present for

one of the carnegie children. >> a wedding present. all i got was a blender. this is amazing. but it was another wedding that really put cumberland island on the map. the wedding of john f. kennedy, jr., and carolyn bessette. >> lifelong resident helped make their treasured day a private one. >> it was very touching, because he looked everywhere for a place he could have his privacy and he said would like to get married on cumberland and we made it happen. >> what do you think it says about him he found this place so manual cal. >> he loved kayaking, being on the beach, clamming, oystering. it was everything he could do and just have the freedom of being on this island. >> it is that kind of freedom that makes her childhood

perfect. >> i had a wonderful grandmother. we watched sea turtles come in and lay their eggs. as children we were shoved out the door and we made it our playground. i think all of us are so creative from that. >> that creativity inspired go-go to start her own business. >> i went to art school and decided i was going to start a business designing jewelry from nature. so it's all rattlesnake ribs. anything i find hiking around. i'm always looking down because that's what she told us to do. you can't walk along the tide line without looking at something special. >> and special it is, like the wild horses that run freely on this island, this is the place full of mystique and unbridled beauty, a unique oasis that's become an inspiration to generations of residents and

visitors alike. >> accommodations are scarce. only one hotel, so most people camp out. >> carnegie. >> are you going to make fun of me? >> i'm still calling it carnegie hall. >> it's the fourth of july. let's be nice to each other. >> fair enough. happy 4th. >> here's natalie. >> to a new exhibit in washington, d.c. featuring an iconic look at faces we're used to seeing in black and white. photographs from the '40s. >> reporter: the subject poses, the camera snaps and the moment frozen in time. the photographs in this show gently tug is back to simpler times. it's the color used in these images that gives us new insight from an era when color photography was a rarity. >> seeing a black and white photograph doesn't necessarily give you the sense that you've had a one to one experience with

the person. seeing them in color sort of brings them into your world and perhaps you into theirs. >> this 1944 pose of lucille ball, her red hair contrasted against a feathery pink hat, her gaze focused beyond the lens. long before she became lucy ricardo. laurel and hardy were known for their legion of black and white film comedies, even in color hapless laurel can't escape the sar do nottic side long glance of oliver hardy. >> well, darling. >> movie star irene dunn, known in part for her films with convertry grant, black gloves and a veil, a bygone era.

people only knew dwight eisenhower from black and white footage. this post photo in 1945 shows a lighter side, a beaming ike in his khaki uniform set against the stars and stripes. >> good night, folks. >> in front of a teal background, jimmy durante and his famous schnozz. >> louis armstrong, almost makes us hear the notes pouring out of his trumpet. >> color does bring them right into the present day. right here with us now. the color as fresh as the day it was made. >> the color of a generation now taking all of us back in time. for "today," tom costello, nbc news, washington. >> beautiful photographs. runs until september 9th at the national photograph gallery. a patriotic picnic after news and weather.

>> good morning, everyone. i'm lisa robinson. here is a look at some of our top stories. as if businesses need more headaches, around 3:30 a.m. this morning a major war may break and york road and beaver run in cockeysville and york run shot down in both directions. the state's newest casino hitting the jackpot when it comes to revenue. maryland live! took in more than $20 million the first 24 days of operations and pay $90

million in state taxes. lottery officials consider it a huge boost for the slots program even if the new gaming facility may have taking -- taken business away from cecil county 's hollywood casino. now for the forecast. >> looking at little bit better. started off early this morning with rain and the northern suburbs as thunderstorms dropped from pennsylvania. could be a couple of springs and some areas but that is about it. the bulk of the daytime will be dry today. once we get into the heat of the afternoon, 30% chance for a thunderstorm later today and high temperatures and the midnight deposit. forecasts for the fireworks, 30% chance for a thunderstorm -- 70% chance that will not rain where you are. speaking of the heat, tomorrow and friday, high temperatures in the upper 90's to around 100.

looking for relief, cold front coming through sunday with thunderstorms that will drop the temperatures into the 80's monday and tuesday. >> thank you for joining us. we will see you back here at 8:56.

♪ ♪ ♪

8:30 now on this wednesday morning the fourth of july, 2012. getting our plaza crowd in the holiday spirit with patriotic music from u.s. air force ceremonial brass. this marks the 14th year in a row they graced us with their presence on the 4th. colonel lang, the new commander. nice to have you back here. >> we're so glad to be here. >> we're here celebrating the 4th, it's great to see how military bands have such a huge role. what is the role you see for them, all of our troops. >> our first and most important role, taking care of our troops, playing music at ceremonies. these guys, their normal mission is to play for final honors at arlington cemetery. they play over 1,000 funerals a

year and do such a great job for military troops and families. >> where kat american public come out if not the fourth of july, because it's good bands. >> all over the country, go to our website and find out about all of our performances tonight. tonight we have a great performance at the air force memorial at 8:00. throughout the summer playing all over washington, d.c. throughout the year we tour across the nation on behalf of the air force, just represent all the airmen serving so proudly. >> colonel lang and u.s. air force ceremonial brass. thank you so much for honoring us with your presence today. >> happy fourth of july. thank you, guys. of course, the fourth of july is a day for two things, celebrating patriotism and, of course, celebrating with friends and family as well. coming up, some great ideas for last-minute recipes if you really want a memorable holiday bash. >> absolutely. also ahead a moving story of a priest to changed the lives of an entire generation of college students at one massachusetts school. his mission, to integrate his

college campus. in the process he recruited everyone from a future supreme court justice to super bowl champion. then if you are on a little bit of a budget this summer, which most of us are, have you ever wanted to travel the world but not pay a dime for it? >> i prefer traveling on an expense account. >> yes. i'm more of pauper in prince. a tip for how they were able to travel the world but not spending a lot doing it. >> doing a lot of odd-jobs. >> a lot of odd-jobs. first a check of the weather once again from stephanie abrams in for al this week. >> okay. not only celebrating independence but also birthdays. we have twins here sam and sarah. are you riding anything under that hat? nothing. what's it feel like to be double digits now. do you feel old? >> weird. >> weird. double digits. just wait until you hit your 30s. let's have a look at the forecast across the country and who you that is going to be hot.

we could see storms but storms will wane throughout the day. here is a look at the forecast as we to the evening hours. all of the storms will be scattered and >> we may start up with a little rain this holiday but it will clear up having this afternoon. shower of this possible this >> this couple getting married at central park, congratulations give them love. if you're getting married today or any other day, weather.com is where you can find your wedding forecast. willie, did it rain on your wedding day? >> no, it did not but i didn't

get married on the fourth of july. good choice, guys. coming up next, a priest who made it his personal mission to change the culture at one college. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

back now at 8:37. our nation's colleges are filled with students of every race, creed and color. in the book "fraternity" author diane brady reminds us things were different. craig melvin, good morning. >> good morning to you, natalie. the book traces the story of a priest and his revolutionary recruitment of a stellar class of black men to a small new england college. a group that included several attorneys, a super bowl champ, pulitzer prize winner and supreme court justice. we sat down with father brooks for what turned out to be his last television interview. he died monday at the age of 88.

in many ways this book turns out to be a testament to his life's work. father john brooks vividly remembered what many are saying about his idea to integrate the prestigious college of the holy cross. >> i thought it was absolutely ridiculous at first. why are you bringing them in? they are not offering you anything. they are not going to help the school at all. they were reflective of the racial attitudes that were fairly consistent in the united states. >> that we as a people will get to the promise land. >> in 1968, just months after dr. martin luther king, jr., was killed and riots erupted around the country, the 44-year-old dean of students hopped in his white pontiac gto and headed to america's inner cities with full scholarships in hand. he was intent on fulfilling his mission at the nearly all white catholic university in wooster, massachusetts. >> it was a moral obligation.

a needy saw for african-american students who if they didn't get this opportunity could be badly deprived. >> in detroit he found a star basketball player. in washington, d.c., a self-described studious mama's boy named ted wells. in new york city eddie jenkins, football standout who saw the cross as an opportunity and obligation. >> there was a war going on and there was a war in the streets. we felt that it was time for us to stake our claim. we didn't just want to come in and get a degree and join middle class america, we wanted to basically build a new nation. >> reporter: at first some of the young men were skeptical about brooks idea. >> historically black colleges gave great education to our young people. great schools to go to. you don't have to go to this ivy league white school in boston. >> reporter: they knew full well what was ahead of them. >> there were a number that had no interest in getting to know us. >> reporter: nonetheless they accepted scholarships and

started working on gaining acceptance. >> we did not want to be treated like minorities. we wanted to have an equal presence, a presence where we did not have to give up our identity. >> they started by forming one of the country's first black student unions. >> a group of brothers who wanted to be with each other, come together with a strategy of the bible. >> reporter: they lobbied for more black students and professors with diverse curriculum and for solidarity's sake. >> ted wells and myself, we were a few rooms past the bathroom. >> they pushed for all black hall in the white dorms. many saw it as self-segregation. it also surprised father brooks. >> i thought it was a stupid idea. the more i listened, it became clearer and clearer to me, they simply needed this kind of time together. >> reporter: the men would get together weekly at black student union meetings. >> holy cross has been good to me and for me.

>> reporter: supreme court justice clarence thomas also attended holy cross during that time. >> it is i who owe the debt of eternal gratitude. >> reporter: during bse, they would argue passionately about everything from race to history's most brilliant black intellectuals, philosophical differences that exist today. >> the arguments we had at 18, we continue to have at 60. i see the world very differently than he sees the world. with that said, there's a bond between everybody who went to holy cross during that period and father brooks is a big part of that. >> for many of the 20 men he recruited and the greater holy cross community brooks, who was there for life's marquis moments, the vatican trained priest served as president emeritus where women are 53% of the former all male student body and minority students are a quarter of the freshman class. father brooks continued to push for change into his 80s.

>> we should continually be searching for academically strong black students to come here and to engage in a strong curricul curriculum. >> like that trailblazing class of 1972. eddie jenkins went on to play for the undefeated miami dolphins. stan grayson became a wall street executive, former deputy mayor of new york city. ted wells is one of america's most prominent trial lawyers. >> we developed our sense of confidence and our sense of leadership. and the things we learned at holy cross really resulted in our being successful. >> father brooks was teaching a seminar at holy cross as recently as this past school year. he will be buried next monday, of course, on the campus of holy cross where he spent so many decades working on behalf of the students. the men he recruited said they were sattened by his death but grateful for the impact he had

and in their lives. natalie. >> what a great honor for you to have the opportunity to probably get one of his last interviews. >> such a remarkable man. what's just as remarkable is the strength of the bond that he managed to maintain with all those students for all these years. >> such an impact on them. craig melvin, great story. thank you so much. to see more of our interview with father brooks and read an excerpt from the book, head to today.com. still ahead how to travel the word for free. we're going to meet a man who said he did and you can, too. first, ts is "today" on nbc. oreo and dunkin' are the perfect match for the perfect moment. enjoy the new oreo coolatta

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geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. today's american story with bob dotson comes from a little town with a big fourth of july parade. today we'll pass by something special, a huge thank you to

neighbors who helped save a life. >> reporter: bussey, iowa, may make you homesick for a place you've probably never been. just 422 people live here. but this small town has made a big difference in don's life. >> the whole community helped me raise my kids because i had my hands full being a single dad. >> he was in in a terrible accident when his car flipped off and he lay hidden in the under brush for 16 hours. he could not call out or call for help. he had broken his back, neck, and most of the bones in his face. >> i thought if all i could do was stand up, i could live with that. >> reporter: doctors said he would never walk.

>> reporter: his dad remembers. >> if i can't get relief, i'm going to kill myself. you remember that, don't you? >> reporter: the town offered to look after todd, while he tried to prove the doctors wrong. >> they believed in me. that means a lot to me. >> reporter: he decided to take art classes with some of the money towns people donated to help him design a new life. >> you have to kind of reinvent yourself and go along with what capabilities you have and do the best you can. >> reporter: the man who struggled to stand for 18 years now dangles from a cherry picker two stories tall. he's painting a picture of all those people who pitched in when he needed them most.

>> looks like me. >> reporter: his father frank, of course, and son luke. luke just graduated from college with the town's help. that's why todd has no problem depicting neighbors not just as they are but as they would like to be. >> my hair looks gray. you have to do something about this. >> say hello to aunt pauline. life has taken todd to such a dark place, perhaps it is easier for him to see beauty. >> why do you suppose something so beautiful grew out of the worst day of your life. >> that's what everything looks like to me now. everything is beautiful. >> reporter: the fellow with nine steel plates in his body and a fractured fifth vertebra has been painting this gift for 10 painful months. >> the more pain you have, the

greater the pleasures are in life. they are sweeter. >> but he started having second thoughts when his body began to feel like a wasps nest. >> todd, are you done? >> oh, almost. we still have little things to finish up. clean up drips, pick up your paint, grab a brush. >> reporter: he is now, like tom sawyer, he talked these kids into helping him finish. >> never knew how to until he took time to show me. >> everybody is worried they are not an artist, but most of the time i just make it up as i go. >> reporter: as he did with one last touch-up after elmer bussey stopped by to show him the color of a dead soldier's hat. elmer's brother james died in combat during world war ii. >> this kid has done more to

bring the memory of my brother to history than i ever did. >> that's a pretty good feeling. i feel like he deserved that. >> reporter: the power of a picture is in the mind of the beholder. >> i tried to join the national guard when i was younger. but since i had had a broken neck, they wouldn't accept me. i felt it was my duty to serve. >> reporter: the best he could. >> i'm never satisfied. >> reporter: in todd's mural, you see america that was, and in this place still is. for "today," bob dotson, nbc news, with an american story in bussey, iowa. >> a great american story on this fourth of july. we are back in a moment with "today" on nbc.

>> announcer: "today's" kitchen is brought to you by jif. jif, number one choice of choosy moms. >> back now at 8:52. this morning on "today's" kitchen, what's on the menu, creative last-minute gift ideas for fourth of july celebration. executive director of food for martha stewart and host of "mad

hungry" on the hallmark channel. good morning. >> good morning. happy 4th to you. >> happy 4th as well. a lot of people looking in their refrigerator saying, what am i going to do. got a plan. >> within an hour at any grocery store. along with shrimp prls. >> i love the idea of shrimp rolls. >> did you know shrimp is america's favorite seafood. you won't believe this when i tell you we eat twice as much shrimp as tuna. factoid. >> perfect. >> a little mayonnaise. lemon juice. important to give mayonnaise zest, zest of two lemons and tarragon. do you want to put in scallion. a little punch without being too oniony. that's as easy as it gets. >> no time. >> a pound and a half of shrimp. >> cooked or boiled? >> cooked. here is the scoop.

most fish are frozen, don't worry about getting it in the back, defrost and there's your salad. >> cheaper, too. >> like a lobster roll but just a little bit not so fancy. >> make sure the mayonnaise, put in an area where it's cool. >> especially now. we're doing it last minute so we'll be fine. here we have rolls we toasted a little bit. all we do, if you want to put a little bit -- let's get it on here. i know you want to dig in natalie. >> that's delicious. you know me, i do. >> over here. all you do is get a little bit of celery. >> potato salads, finger lings, cut them in half. while they are warm add olive oil and vinegar. that way the potato soaks up tanni tangy flavor. in this water crest, celery,

bacon. >> no mayo. >> no mayo. >> just olive oil. >> nice to mix-up flavors. >> mayo in the shrimp salad there. >> dump it in there. i love the watercress, kind of like the green salad part of the potato salad. mix that up. >> you want it chunky. >> you like it chunky. that's the way i like it. it's a new take on potato salad. a little bit of salt. >> i'm making it here. >> here is the spread. if you want to go beyond your beautiful shrimp rolls and potato salad. this is a cape coder with cucumber. >> now we're talking. >> without the alcohol for kids. >> cade coder. >> there you go. >> thank you. >> happy 4th. this is cranberry juice. >> lemonade. >> a little vodka if you want and cucumber juice we've infused with sugar.

this is cake. >> do you want some? >> before the shrimp roll? >> thanks so much. happy 4th. >> happy fourth of july. just ahead, steals and deals. exclusive discounts. after your local news. >> good morning. i'm lisa robinson. here is a look at one of our top stories. baltimore's cal the crews are resuming their search for a missing jets fear. we were over the scene while the baltimore county fire department served the river after a jet ski was found.

" we searched for several hours before suspending the search until this morning

>> good morning, everyone. a slight chance we could see a couple of light showers and sprinkles, dying thunderstorms coming out of pennsylvania. in mixture of clouds and sunshine and the high temperatures and a 90's. 30% chance for a