fever pitch. in the fight over health care reform. and tonight, the latest from the congressman who called the president a liar. desperate search for that missing yale student. amid growing fears of foul play. wleeling and dealing. general motors wants yr business. and wait until you hear what they'll do to get it. and over the line. a star athlete's tirade with the and over the line. a star athlete's tirade with the championship in the balance. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening. ying to close the deal. the obama administration entering what it hopes is the final phase as the president continues this week in campaign mode to push forward his overhaul of the health care system. remains unclear, though, what exactly the legislation will entail with ongoing debate from the halls of congress to america's town halls. nbc's mike viqueira is covering it all for us and joins us from the white house. good evening, mike. >> reporter: good evening. with passions running high on both sides of the health care reform debate, at least o white house aide is dismissing some of the anger we've seen at these protests, like the one we saw in washington yesterday, as misguided. senate democrats say they're going to push forward with a bill with or without republicans. >> and, you know -- >> reporter: at a town hall today in south carolina, more resistance to president obama and his plan to reform health care. >> there is nobody in this

country could withstand compete with the federal government when they get in your backyard. let me tell you -- territory comes on the heels of a summer of discontent. and the day after tens of thousands marched on the capitol. galvanized in opposition to the president's policies. white house officials were unfazed by the protests. >> i don't think we ought to be distracted by that. my message to them is, they're wrong. >> reporter: democrats have a new found confidence after the president's speech to congress last week. and now, after a series of false starts, plan to unveil a plan this week in the senate. >> we invite the republicans to join us for this historic opportunity. if they do not, we are still going to go forward. >> reporter: the president also sees momentum on his side with another big rally set for thursday. but the other side is emboldened, too. and senses a chance to do political damage to mr. obama. and the man whose outburst last week has become a rallying cry for some. >> our president is a liar. god bless joe wilson. >> reporter: faces a new challenge from democrats who,

after first brushing off calls for a reprimand of the congressman -- >> let's not spend time on that. >> reporter: are now demanding a formal apology from wils on on the floor of the house. today, wilson says h won't do it. >> i have apologized to the president. i believe that is sufficient. >> reporter: but as the controversy continues, both sides are seeing a benefit. since wednesday night's speech, wilson and his likely opponent, democrat rob miller, have both topped the $1 million mark in campaign contributis. and though emotions are running high on both sides, analysts say those moderate democrats in the middle, the same ones that the president needs to win this fight, could be swayed by the kind of conservative anger on display yesterday. >> there's no question who is winning on passion right now. it's the political right. that's where the energy is. that's where the anger is. th's where the passion is. and often passion translates into votes. >> reporter: natalie, the issue that has most divided democrat in the presidt's own party is the so-called public option.

today white house aides and the president himself in an interview said while they favor a public option, it should not be the make or break issue that determines the fate of reform. natalie? >> mike, tomorrow the president will deliver a speech on wall street on the one-year anniversary of the collapse of lehman brothers. can you give us a preview of his message? >> reporter: the president is going to walk a very fine line. first of all, he wants to tout all the reforms that have been put in place that he says will have brought the country back from the brink of a depression to now on the path of recovery. on the other hand, he does not want to appear too overconfident. there are those who say the stimulus package should not be fully spent. there's only about $300 billion of the $787 billion that's so far been obligated. he also wants to keep the pressure on congress for his financial reform package. that is now stalledn committee. natalie? >> mike viqueira at the white house, thanks. as we look back over the past year since the collapse of lehman, which marked the beginning of the worst recession since the great depression, the dig nificant numbers as they

stand today. the dow jones is down 12% from a year ago. unemployment is up 57%. and more than 90 banks have failed in the past 12 months. cnbc's maria bartiromo joins us with some perspective tonight. >> hi, natalie. thanks so much. >> what's been the lasting impact of lehman's collapse? >> one lasting impact has been the idea that too big to fail is too dangerous. so there are real efforts going on right now to put reform for the financial system on the table so that there is more oversight. so that one firm is not too big to fail and can actually impact all of wall street. because that was also one of the lasting impacts with the lehman collapse. lehman had relationships with so many of the firms on wall street. so if they were unable to pay their bills it was going to impact citigroup, jpmorgan and other major banks. so too big to fail was one issue and, of course, unemployment because as it touched the rest of wall street, we had job cuts. and that is also a lafth impact we continue to see that.

>> what has led to the turnaround we've been seeing in the last couple of months? >> first off, the federal reserve has put very important programs in place, stimulus programs, making it easier for the major banks to lend money. that has certainly put more credit into the system. some would say not enough because there are some smaller and mid cap companies that do not have access to credit. so we need to see more of that. but that was certainly one major thing the federal reserve stimulus plans. secondly, the stock market has been rising because investors are viewing the situation as we pass the panic mode. we are out of that moment in time, one year ago when lehman failed, when all bets were on the table. anybody could have gone down. we didn't really know what was going to happen next. we got through it. and so, as a result, money has come back into the stock market. and a rising stock market certainly does positive things for sentiment. >> this is going to be a big week on wall street. despite watching what the president has to say tomorrow, what else will they be watching? >> retail sales as well as

inflation data. those are going to be closely watched to give us one more window into exactly where we are in this recovery. re rycoa osplveeo pre a expecting to be really slow and muted at best. >> cnbc's maria bartiromo, thanks so much. and this program note. maria will be talking to some of the key players in the financial crisis on a special report ne year later: reflections from the street" premiering at 10:00 p.m. tonight on cnbc. today was supposed to be a day a yale graduate student was to be married. the massive search continues for annie le as evidence uncovered points to foul play. jeff rossen is in new haven, conkorngs with the latest. >> reporter: good evening, natalie. adding to the mystery here. there are more than 70 surveillance cameras in and around this research lab in new haven on the medical xampus of yale university watching this building, inside and outside. they don't even exactly know where the crime happened because there's no sign of annie le on

it. after she walked in at least. no sign of foul play. no sign of her walking out. so today the fbi took the search off campus. annie le and her fiance planned this day for a year. their wedding at this reception hall on long island. there was no wedding today. the bride, this 24-year-old yale medical student is still missing. today, fbi agents searched a landfill in hartford, connecticut. this is where yale's garbage goes. so is the fbi put it today, they followed the trash looking for clues. >> it's just unimaginable. i can't even think about what he's going through having your bride disappear. it's just a reallycary situation that she might not be found. >> reporter: it's been five days since le's disappearance. she was last caught on a surveillance camera arriving at her lab at ya, but there's no sign she ever left. >> that building is a crime scene potentially, and it's still ground zero. until you can show somehow that she left, you have to go with

the assumption that she may still be in there. >> reporter: in fact, this weekend, police sources tell nbc news they recovered bloody clothing from the ceiling. late today, we learned it wasn't the same clothing annie le was last seen wearing. so it's now being tested. >> we have conducted numerous interviews, and i can assure you no lead is going uncovered. >> reporter: over the welcome, yale sent this e-mail to students. this remains the most perplexing mystery, the school official wrote. we still do not know where annie is or what has happened to her. i think investigators in their own minds have started to rule out the possibility of the runaway bride scenario. and are moving all their resources into investigating a possible assault, kidnapping or even worse. >> reporter: very sad. before annie disappeared, she wrote this on her facebook page. "lucky i'm in love with my best friend." tonight, natalie, her best friend, her fiance is up here at yale searching for his bride.

>> very sad story. jeff rossen in new haven. > overseas now, this has been a brutal weekend in what has become the increasingly unpopular war in afghanistan. five americans were killed in two separate ambushes there set off a battle lasting more than six hours and reportedly leaving dozens of taliban militants dead. meanwhile, the obama administration has reportedly prepared to unveil new guidelines governing the treatment of the roughly 600 detainees held by u.s. forces in afghanistan, which would allow them more ability to challenge their detention. to iraqnow. it was nine months ago tomorrow that an iraqi journalist got worldwide attention for throwing his shoes at then president george bush. the journalist was sentenced to a year in prison, but he is now scheduled to be released tomorrow morning. in turkey, the heaviest rains in eight decades have triggered flash flooding and left at least 31 people dead and nine missing since monday. homes have been inundated. at least one bridge has collapsed and hundreds of

workers had to be evacuated by helicopter. back in this country, there's also been plenty of rain this weekend in texas. but in this case, it's more than welcome coming in the midst of one of the worst droughts that region has ever seen. nbc's ron mott reports from lake travis, texas. >> reporter: the drought gripping parts of texas is finally losing a bit of its hold after veral days of rain across the region. this weekend, flood warnings and watches were in effect as communities throughout the dry zone suddenly find themselves waterlogged. yet, cotton farmer alan stasney who blames the drought for drying up 35% of its earnings from a year ago, has mixed feelings. this rain, while needed, he says, could cost him. it's harvest time. >> as a cotton grower with cotton in the field it hurts me it.oc loving it. homeowners are loving it. >> reporter: many folks are tloefg break from hot and sunny with some areas soak up more than 14 inches since wednesday. the relief is far from evident

on parched lake travis outside austin. despite all the rain that's fallen, it's tough for people who wo and live in this cove to get excited considering lake travis is still more than 50 feet below full pool. >> this is the first time since the '50s it's ever been this low. if we don't get significant rain this off-season, next year, i think, everybody is really worried about. >> reporter: forecasters say drought conditions are likely to linger for quite some time. the situation here in texas has taken a while to get to this point. this one system was definitely a good news for the state of texas. but what w need is more systems like this to really help us out in the long run. >> reporter: back on the farm, rancher joe mast offered some perspective. >> we always say we're one day closer to a better rain and maybe we're one year closer to a better harvest. >> reporter: closer, albeit a long way to go. ron mott, lake travis, texas. when "nightly news" continues, wheeling and dealing. a new money-back guarantee from

general motors. will it work? later, what happened to trigger that ugly tburst from tennis superstar serena williams? and the kindness of strangers. generosity in the wake of disaster that making a difference. of strawberries.ell the smell of strawberries? tim and richard smucker grew up in a family... known for making extra-delicious jam. the secret? a way to capture the flavorful aroma... that used to escape when jam was made. hey! don't let it get away. okay, okay, don't worry. for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. the one deal in the neighborhood where you get the real food. featuring a half rack of our new double-glazed baby back ribs with your choice of sauces.

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until you know how lyrica affects you. could your pain be caused by fibromyalgia? ask your doctor about lyrica today. back now with some health news. and it's good news about the swine flu vaccine. health and human services secretary kathleen sebelius said today that some vaccine could be available by early october. that's several weeks sooner than expected. and in time to beat the expected peak of this fall's flu season. well, they say desperate times call for desperate measures. and things have never been more desperate for the u.s. auto industry. general motors alone now emerging from bankruptcy has received some $50 billion of federal bailout money. but now gm has unveiled a new marketing campaign that shows it means business. a money-back guarantee. more from nbc's mike taibi. >> reporter: it was a little busier than usual at roberts

chevrolet in hicksville, new york. >> any reason? >> that's a good policy. >> reporter: partly because of gm's unprecedented sales strategy. >> i'm ed whitaker, the new chairman of general motors. >> reporter: the new government approved chairman is putting his name and gm's immediate future on the line. because the language that's become familiar in this financial crisis, doing nothing is not an option. this option, a sales pitch more akin to a late-night commercial for the latest exercise equipment. >> buy a new chevy, buick, gmc or cadillac. if you're not 100% happy, return it. we'll take it back. that's our new 60-day satisfaction guarantee. >> reporter: gm say humble giant still in critical condition. its sales this year down nearly 35%. 10 points worse than the entire u.s. new vehicle market. and its domestic market share shrinking to 19.5% from nearly 22% a year ago. thus, a money-back guarantee virtually unheard of in the auto

business. >> for general motors, this is really a smart move. here's the reason why. gm needs to bring people into the show room. >> reporter: if you can get them to the dealership, the logic goes, and persuade them to make a side by side comparison to the competition, they'll buy. if they buy and change their mind within 60 days and with no more than 4,000 miles on the new vehicle, they can get their money back. a selling point for mike luciana, not sure he's not too old for the camaro he wants to buy. >> the chevy equinox or the chevy camaro. >> you have an option. >> now i just say okay, i'll take it. and if i don't like it, i'll get the equinox. >> reporter: some critics say a more positive campaign might have been better. >> i think some sort of confidence-building program that gave consumers kind of a guaranteed trade-in value would have been more effective than money-back guarantee in a 60-day program. >> reporter: but whitaker is doing what lee iacocca once did

for chrysler. >> if you can find a better car, buy it. going all in on a gamble to save a car company on the brink. mike taibi, new york. disin order the court. a star player's meltdown with a championship on the line. r athe. and high cholesterol is a major factor. but crestor can help slow the ildup of plaqu in arteries. go to arterytour.com and take an interactive tour to learn how plaque builds up. and then ask your doctor if crestor is right for you. along with diet, crestor does more than lower bad cholesterol and raise good. crestor is proven to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. crestor isn't for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. simple blood tests will check for liver problems. you should tell your doctor about other medicines you're taking or if you have muscle pain or weakness. that could be a sign of serious side effects.

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(announcer) 36-hour cialis. or cialis for daily use. ask your doctor about cialis today, so when the moment is right, you can be ready. it was more than a quarter century ago that john mcenroe put the words tennis and tantrum together in the same sentence. last night at the u.s. open, to the dismay of just about everybody, superstar serena williams did the same thing for women's tennis with an angry outburst that people are still trying to make sense of. the story from nbc's lee cowan. >> reporter: it was no way to win and certainly no way to lose. there it was. match point. serena williams with the serve

and -- >> fault. >> reporter: a penalty. and that's when williams unriched a tirade as furious as her 130-mile-an-hour serve. >> that's as angry as i've ever seen her. >> there ensued a string of expletives. and reportedly a few words involving a ball and the line judge's throat and that was it. match over. >> that was in the moment and everyone is fighting for every point. it was a really crucial point. >> reporter: her opponent, kim clijsters, had outplayed williams anyway, but still seemed stunned. she came to the open as a wild card and it's only her third tournament since coming out of retirement. >> i mean, i am still in shock, really. >> reporter: she was home to have a child. which now makes her the first mother in almost 20 years to reach a grand slam final. but it was the tirade that grabbed the headlines, not her talent. the theatrics of the losers are often just unflattering measures of intensity.

not that that's an excuse, but they do offer some teachable moments. john mcenroe was one of the sport's best. but the first thing that comes to mind isn't his tennis. it's his tantrum. >> you cannot be serious! that ball was on the line. >> reporter: jimmy connors revolutionized the sport in the '70s, but his arguments with umpires often overshadowed his play. >> reporter: the thing about tennis is it's not a team sport. so when players lose their cool, or in this case their head, literally, it's mighty noticeable. >> i didn't say i would kill you. are you serious? >> no one is sure if the call was right or wrong. doesn't matter. for serena williams, her almost flawless run through the u.s. open is now tainted by an outburst even if it was out of character. los owan, nbc news, angeles. up next, the anonymous gifts that are changing lives.

our "making a difference report." about smoking - is it dominates your life, and it dominated mine. and the sad thing about it is that you can always use an excuse if cigarettes don't kill me, oh well - something else will. but, you can't use that as an excuse. i honestly loved smoking, and i honestly didn't think i would ever quit. it was very interesting that you coulsmoke on the first week. chantix gave me that extra help that i needed to get through a tough time. (announcer) chantix is a non-nicotine pill. in studies, 44% of chantix users were quit during weeks 9 to 12 of treatment, compared to 18% on sugar pill. it is proven to reduce the urge to smoke. i did have an unopen pack of cigarettes in my purse and then i think i opened my purse and realized it was still there. and i said, "what the heck, i don't need these..." ...i said, you know, "bye, i don't need you anymore, you're not my crutch, i don't need a crutch."

(announcer) talk to your doctor about chantix and a support plan that's right for you. changes in behavior,d hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actns while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice agitation, hostility, depression or changes in behavior, thinking or mood that are not typical for you, or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. talk to your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which can get worse while taking chantix. some people can have allergic or serious skin reactions to chantix, some of which can be life threatening. if you notice swelling of face, mouth, throat or a rash stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away. tell your doctor which medicines you are taking as they may work differently when you quit smoking. chantix dosing may be different if you have kidney problems. the most common side effect is nausea. patients also reported trouble sleeping and vivid, unusual or strange dreams. until you know how chantix may affect you, use caution when driving or operating machinery. chantix should not be taken with other quit smoking products.

pls n-ok 's nderful. er the best thing that ever happen. the best thing i have ever done besides my husband, and dogs, and family. with the chantix and with the support system, it worked. it worked for me. (announcer) talk to your doctor to find out if prescription chantix s right for you. finally tonight, helping neighbors in need is one of the things americans do best. but accepting that help face to face can sometimes be hard to do. well, now a new website lets donors offer anonymous aid and

lets them know exactly where it's going. nbc's chris jansing has tonight's "making a difference" report. >> reporter: life, it's been said, can change in an instant. it did for michael and lynn burke when hurricane ike destroyed 95% of everything they owned. >> we were eating off the salvation truck. the red cross truck. >> reporter: everything changed for jeff and carrie kerr when he was downsized out of a job with two children to support. >> it's terrifying. you wonder what's going to happen. how are we going to do this? >> reporter: what did happen was as uplifting as it was unexpect. what the kerrs and burkes couldn't know in their darkest hour was that help was coming. from thousand of miles away here in bellingham, washington, from people they'd never even met. misha thompson and 7-year-old luke almost died when luke was born. and for a year, lionel thompson stayed home to care for his family. when their bank account was empty, not enough even to buy

milk for the kids, neighbors came to the door with money and food. >> i remember standing there feeling -- feeng ashamed that they were having to bring us groceries, but also thinking, when we come through this season, i don't want another mom to feel like how i felt. >> reporter: from that desperation, came inspiration. >> what if we had something where we could set up that's online, you know, where people could come and they could just give to whoever they want and it would be totally anonymous. >> reporter: on his home computer, lionel thompson started the website givinganon.org. donate any amount to a friend or family member and every penny is forwarded to them without the awkwardness of taking from someone they know. then they leave a message for their secret donor. >> this is hard to leave this message. thank you. i don't know what else to say. it came at a time when we were praying for a miracle. so you are that miracle.

>> reporter: a gift of almost $1,700 was a lifeline for the burkes who have planted a tree to honor their anonymous angel. >> this is a reminder of us for where the money came from. something we'll appreciate forever. >> reporter: the ker's secret benefactor gave them $750 and hope. >> and it's really touching, you know. there is good out there still. there is good out there. >> reporter: it's been said before that americans are a generous people. >> i just want to say thank you very much for me and my family. may god be with you and thank you very much. >> reporter: and so they are. even when no one is looking. chris jansing, nbc news, bellingham, washington. and that's "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. coming up next, "football night in america" followed by nbc's sunday night football. chicago at green bay. and brian williams will be here tomorrow. i'm natalie morales reporting from new york. for all of us here at nbc news, from new york. for all of us here at nbc news, good night.

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