this morning on "early today," health care hiccup. the white house gets swamped with criticism over its plan to overhaul health care. plus, lives are lost and homes and roads get whipped away by flooding and mud slides across asia. in a jam. a baby elephant manages to wedge itself into a manhole in thland. captions paid for by nbc-universal television this is "early today" for august 11 kfth 2009. hello and good morning, i'm christina brown. today we begin with emergency attention. faced with growing criticism

over its plan to reform health care, the white house is launching a new effort to counter attack. this comes as president obama launches a series of town hall meetings on the issue, beginning with one today in portsmith, new hampshire. steve handlesman reports. >> reporter: even on his trip to mexico, president obama focused on health care. but back in washington, the white house went on the web to debunk health care attacks from the right. >> the notion that the government will interfere with what you have, it really is laughable. >> greg: nothing funny to democratic lawmakers. their meetings are still being disrupted. >> this is not health emplrefor. this is control, control over our lives. >> i'm here to tell the government they are overstepping their bounds. we don't want them involved in our health care decisions.

>> reporter: some even claim euthenasia is involved in the plan. the new website explains that patients would get counseling for end of life decisions like organ donation. >> there is nothing mandatory about this. >> reporter: the aarp fears reform is in jeopardy. >> i fear that the public may be misled, particularly seniors. i also fear this may get in the way of doing something urgently needed. >> reporter: president obama claim he's not worried. >> more sensible and reasonable argumnts will emerge. we'll get this passed. >> reporter: will weet a reasoned debate? i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. >> an update on the ongoing search for victims of saturday's tragic mid-air collision in new york city that killed nine people. on monday, divers continued to pull debris from the murky waters of the hudson river.

despite poor visibility and treacherous currents, authorities were able to locate a man's body in the plane's wreckage, burie60 feet below the surface. they were not able to dislodge it from the plane. so far, bodies have been recovered for seven of the nine passengers of the small plane and sight-seeing helicopter, which collided in the narrow air space. there e reports out of taiwan this morning that 260 victims from this weekend's typhoon have been rescued from villages buried by mud slides. hundreds still remain unaccounted for in the worst flooding in a half century. as much as 80 inches of rain swamped the area, washing out roads and bridges and severing contact between remote villages and cities. the devastation carried into eastern china, where a massive landslide buried an unknown number of victims. entire apartment buildings were reduced to rubble. now here's a look at some other stories making news early

today in america. 24 people in california were strandeded when a roller coaster broke down. there were no injuries. it took four and a half hours to rescue everyone. dangling between three to seven sries in the air, amazing. the riders were removed one s c. officials say a broken chain caused the coaster to stop. a 13-vehicle accident in ohio killed two people and sent ten others it a hospital. multiple cars collided at an intersection. two of the vehicles involved did not stop moving and triggered another pile-up five blocks rsesnv investigators believe that medical conditions may have prevented those two drivers from stopping. surveillance cameras at a store in georgia captured a frightening robbery on take. police are looking for the suspect seen wearing a stocking mask and pointing a gun at the

two employees. the bandit is still at large. a high-speed police chase in philadelphia took an unexpecd tur when the trooper realized that the car was actually racing to a hospital. a passenger was in labor and officers had to deliver the baby on the side of the road. it turned out to be a healthy baby girl. guess what? her parents were spared the speeding ticket. now for a look at your national and regional weather, here's nbc morning bill karins with the weather channel forecast. good morning, bill. i suppose if there's ever a reason to get out of the speeding ticket, it would be for that reason, right? >> can you imagine the conversation in the front seat? honey, the cops are pulling me over. she's like, go, go! let's talk a little bit about your forecast today. good morning to everyone. yesterday was a hot day up and down the eastern seaboard. didn't get to 90 in boston. new york city had its first official 90-degree day of the summer. 96 in washington, d.c.

that was one of the hotter spots. that raleigh ea back up to d.c., you hit 99 yesterday. norfolk, 94. charlotte, 95. you get the picture here. one of the hot spots was tallahassee at 97. this morning it is still warm. the air mass hasn't changed. it's still rather humid out there too. we had showers and storms that popped up from the ohio valley through western new york and pennsylvania. a few strong storms out there near westchester county and over long island last night. that hot weather will remain with us through the day today. the showers and storms will cool us off in most areas this afternoon. the forecast, another 90-degree day from new york, philadelphia, and boston. there will be more clouds this afternoon. a chance of showers and storms, including there in boston. should be a beautiful day in chicago, 82 and sun pef that's the a look at your national forecast. here's a look at the weather outside your window. chance of showers and storms today, many hours, including

concord, new hampshire. a chance of showers around d.c., baltimore, new york city. carry that umbrella today in case you get caught in one of the heavy downpours late this afternoon. this is the last big day of heat for the eastern seaboard. >> retailers are left reeling. mcdonald's customers are still loving it. an ice cream treat with a kick. your early morning business headlines straight ahead. plus, michael jackson's autopsy results are in. why does the mystery remain in the pop star's death? amazing return to the diamond just five months after open heart surgery. we'll tell you why tiger woods is beingtiined f by the pga. you're watching "early today."

good mning. welcome back to "early today." i'm christina brown.

here are some of the top headlines. a myanmar court has found a woman guilty of violating her house arrest after an uninvited american man spent two nights in her home in may. she's been sentenced to 18 months of house arrest while the american has been given a seven-year prison term. alaska's legislature voted to override sarah palin's veto of $28 million in federal stimulus. palin rejected the money for alaska, the state with the highest energy cost, saying, quote, strings could bind alaska to federal mandates. secretary of state hillary clinton apparently lost her cool yesterday while in kocongo when she thought a student asked her what her husband thought about a financial matter. secretary clinton snapped, my husband is not secretary of state, i am.

it turned out to be a translation error and the question was actually about president obama. afterwards, clinton and the student shook hands and made light of it. in thailand, a baby elfant got caught in a tight spot after falling in a manhole. after several hours, the elephant was freed unharmed. the dow opens at 9337 after falling 32 points on monday. the nasdaq was down three. looking at overseas trading, the nikkei rose 61 points while in ko hong kong, the hang seng jumped 31 points. global markets are cautious on the strength of a recovery. japan kept his key interest rate unchanged today. unemployment and weak spending

fueled its cautious attitude. on wall street, can the retail sector led monday's losses. shares of macy's fell 5% ahead of its earnings report due out tomorrow. best buy gave up more than 5% of its value as investors await this week's consumer spending reports. mcdonald's said budget conscious customers are eating and drink up the deals. the firefighter food chain credits its new line of coffee drinks with a global surge same-store sales which soared 2% ross the pod. 2.6 here at home. gm customers in california will be able to do haggling online. they have partnered with ebay in an eort to bst st coast sales. zillow.com is reporting despite a drop in home values topping 12%, the rate of decline

was down for the first time in two years. with the number of homeowners who owe more than their home is worth still on the rise, questions remain. a federal judge postponed approving a $33 million settlement between bank of america and the securities and change commission. the case stems from charges that boa misled investors about plans to pay merrill lynch bonuses. the court is requesting additional details. if you are tired of plain old vanilla, head to london for an ice cream cocktail that will cool you off. amen amenno acids make up this drink. the rockies roll over the cubs. and a terrifying wreck from nascar as one car goes spinni in circleand then gets slammed by another. your early morning sports

headlines straight ahead. that accident was a lot worse than any weather we'll see today. actually, very typical summer. your regional forecast is coming up. u're watching "early today." w

good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in sports, the colorado rockies are in celebration mode after

their shortstop achieved one of the rarest feats in baseball. here's bill suard. veery good morning to you. last season the rockies were nowhere near the playoffs. in denver, big day for troy tulle wits see. opens with a two-run homer. in the seventh, needs a triple for the cycle. chugging for third the whole way. doesn't look like he's going to make it but the cu boston the throw. tulle wi to the minors, aaron boon made an incredible comeback in corpus christi. he was back on the diamond less an five months after open heart surgery. goes 0 for 2. amazing return nonetheless. he hopes to join the astros next month. golf, tiger woods will be fined for criticizing an official after his win sunday.

tiger and paddy harrington, told to speed up play on the 16th. harrington hit into the water, blowing his chance. tiger told harrington, i'm sorry the official got in the waive a great battle. nascar at watkins glen new york. montoya runs into one of ragan's crew members. fortunately, not seriously injured. frightening collision on lap 62. kasey kahne clips sam hornish jr. somehow everyone was okay. but the race was over for gordon and jeff burton. tony stert takes the checkered fla his first win as team owner at watkins glen. that's your look at sports early today. >> like father, like son. tom cruise's kid follows in his dad's path. your early morning sbamt headlin straight ahead. plus, looking for a

luxurious stay at a ridiculously cheap pre.ic it's out there. but there's a catch. you're watching "early today."

welcome back. good tuesday morning. here's your forecast as you step out the door heading to work or anywhere else. we will see showers and storms. they'll be around today. not very wide coverage. it could rain anywhere from boston all the way down here to charlotte at some point during the day.

the southeast, another warm day around savannah, charleston and tallahassee. week, we cool off in new england. the heat and humidity will spark thunderstorms in the southeast. if you're watching us on nbc 33 in ft. wayne, indiana, you can experience dorothy's walk through the land of oz. click your heels together a couple of times. >> i wish i could. here's an early look at headlines in entertainment. the l.a. coroner's office now knows what caused the death of michael jackson, even if the public does not. officials are withholding autopsy results so police can continue the investigation into doctors who may have prescribed drugs to the late singer. meanwhile, a los angeles judge approved a major movie deal between jackson's estate, concert promoter aeg live and colombia pictures.

the movie will include footage of jackson's rehearsals for his london tour. jessica simpson got another jolt to the system. it had nothing to do with tony romo. the singer was greeted in japan with a 7.2 earthquake. tori spelling and her husband are responding to criticism from tori's mom, candy, that the couple uses their children as reality show props to generate conflict. dean said dryly, everyone is entitled to their opinion. finally, tom cruise's son is following in dad's famous footsteps with plans to embark on his own acting career. the 14-year-old has a rolen the upcoming film "red dawn." you might remember it's a remake of a 1984 action flick. my goodness, has it been that long? >> it has. can you believe his son is 14? >> i know. i bet we will be seeing a lot of him in the years to come. >> good-looking young man. >> this comes to us from knsd in

san diego where in rancho bernardo, a hotel lets you drop in to drop the room. a room goes for $219. but you can lower that price by bringing your own sheets. if you're willing to foregoat a bed and electricity, you'll pay $19. it comes with a tent, making for the perfect upscale camp site. i suppose the other thing you could do is go to another hotel that's cheaper. >> i don't get it. >> i don't know. >> is this a promotion or -- >> any way to get someone in their hotel, right? 19 bucks, who needs ac. i'm christina brown. this is "early today," just your first stop of the day, today on your nbc station.

good morning to you. welcome to "news 4 today" on this tuesday. 4:56 is our time rig now. 75 degrees. good morning. i'm joe krebs. >> i'm barbara harrison. we're glad you're up with us this morning. we want to start things off as we always do with a look at weather and traffic. we begin with weather. tom kierein right here next to me to tell us about our forecast today. >> not a bita coolery.dato westill mil exceed 90y b lat er ouaris afternoo the the s pleanast pan in in gtinsh.on anlendard touheen h aroud theas e a thou m s rernanasrear of southern m shore in thestean. s 70e erwas well. he rthrathe rat steamy. whenever they're over 70 that'sh nthigh. wagh inri 73 in shington. regional temperatures on the eastern orsh theor low to

mid-70s, out in the t mountains noe ast lixrs sover t hou lix s coming through with a few assing thundershowers. those have now dissipated. we're off to a partly cloud . start now. for the rest of the y,ldou c get some afternoonou thunderstorms, highs near 90, maybe some evening showers a .we off and on wednesday. a look at the weekend in five minutes, coming up at 5:01. >> thank you, tom. >> thanks very much. let's go to jerry edwards now and the news 4 traffic network. good morning to you. >> hi, jerry. >> good morning. as we get under way, very quiet so far this morning. good news. live pictures of 395 northbound. no worries. had a bunch of overnight road work as you travel between woodbridge and lohr do you know, that should be wrapped up at the 14th street bridge. smooth sailing heading for downtown. back to you. >> thank you. here's a look at four big stories happening today. president obama flies to new hampshire to hold another town hall meeting about health care reform. the president has been busy trying to refute myths and

misconceptions about his plan. to that end, white house has launched a website to help people better understand the issue. www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck. >> today, divers will return to the waters of the murky hudson river searching for victims. yesterday, divers found the wreckage of the plane involved in the crash. the plane hit a helicopter on saturday, killing nine people in the two aircraft. so far, the bodies of seven of the nine victims have been recovered. >> philip markoff's case returns to a massachusetts courtroom for another pretrial hearing. the so-called craigslist killer faces several charges connected to the murder of one woman and the armed robbery of another in boston hotels. both women had reportedly advertised erotic services on the website craigslist. >> today, general motors launches a trial program to sell cars and trucks on ebay. the partnership is part of the struggling automaker's plan to re-invent itself.

automobile buyers can go to gm.ebay.com to place bids on vehicles and negotiate prices directly with dealers. >> stay with us, everyone. "news 4 today" continues at 5:00 a.m. good morning, everyone. welcome. i'm barbara harrison. >> good morning to you. i'm joe krebs. and right now we're going to go to tom kierein to take a look at our forecast. >> he's right here. tom, good morning. >> good a few passing overnight thundershowers. those have dissipaor m nisngoont or m nngoo t bad. pleasant. tempater ipleant. te-7 m0s 0sar m arou heit is still d. itmi niti humid.ergiir va ou sndnouarheergiirnia nd aroundhe he tli roarca anas. li this moinou mrnnsainshig in-6 m0ids. mid-60s. eastern shore and around the beaches and the bay temperatures s. the low and mid0 we've lvee' w se