get online payroll and put hours back in your day suntrust. live solid. bank solid. good morning. breaking news. iran tests more missiles overnight, including one capable of reaching israel. as tensions mount over the discovery of that secret nuclear site, and this morning, officials say there may be more secret facilities. why now? a lawyer for filmmaker roman polanski calls his client's arrest 32 years after he pled guilty to having sex with a

13-year-old girl indefensible. but will polanski fight extradition? and nbc news exclusive. just days before the international olympic committee chooses a host city for the 2016 games, we have exclusive information about a big final push to bring those games to chicago "today," monday, push to bring those games to chicago "today," monday, september 28th, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and good morning, welcome to "today" on a monday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm meredith vieira. we'll get to that major news tied to the windy city's olympic bid in just a moment. as pressure builds for iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions, that country's defiance once again on full display. >> overnight iran's powerfu revolutionary guard fired at least three missiles, including one missile said to have the

longest range in that country's arsenal. it is now the third round of missile tests since president obama announced on friday the discovery of that once-secret nuclear site. and it all comes just days before a rare face-to-face meeting between iran and u.s. officials. we'll have the latest on what's becoming an increasingly tense situation in a couple of minutes. also ahead, important information for parents of teenaged drivers. two new studies are out this morning that highlight what adults need to do to keep those young drivers safe. one step researchers say, don't buy your teen his or her own car. we'll have more on that coming up. also ahead, is it a medical miracle or something else? a couple in arkansas is expecting two babies. that is not unusual. but here's what is. she believes the children were conceived weeks apart. her doctor may agree. she'll join us along with her husband to talk about that a little later in the program. strange. but let us begin with those new missile tests in iran. nbc's chief foreign affairs

correspondent andrea mitchell is in washington with more on this story. andrea, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. iran is defiant today, test firing three more missiles, including at least one with a range long enough to reach israel and u.s. bases in the gulf. this follows a missile test sunday, all this in advance of this week's diplomatic showdown with the u.s. and european allies in geneva. thumbing its nose at the u.s. and europe, iran test-fired medium-range missiles. when mahmoud ahmadinejad's nuclear negotiator shows up in geneva thursday, diplomats representing the u.s., britain, france and germany will demand rapid u.n. inspections to begin within weeks. the president has worked hard to bring iran's traditional supporter, russia, on-board. >> the russians have come out with a strong statement saying that the burden has now shifted. it has shifted to iran. >> reporter: even china, another ally of iran's, may endorse the allied position. why the united front?

the president says, because the evidence that iran is cheating is now clear. >> what has changed is that the international community i think has spoken. it is now up to iran to respond. >> reporter: the suspect plant is tunnelled into a mountain on a military base 100 miles southwest of iran's holy city. iran says it is for peaceful nuclear energy. allied intelligence says that's impossible. it is far too small to produce anything but fuel for nuclear weapons. what if iran refuses to negotiate? the pentagon has told congress military strikes alone would not eliminate iran's nuclear clet. only slow it down. >> the facility are in several different places. some are hardened, underground, in tunnels. you'd have to have a ground operation as well as a military operation, and that's very difficult to do. >> reporter: instead, the u.s. is proposing tough economic sanctions. by t end of the year. hoping to cut off the money iran

needs to finance its nuclear operations. >> their economic problems are difficult enough that i think severe sanctions would have the potential of bringing them to change their policies. i think you ask me how long do i think we have? i would say, somewhere between one to three years. >> reporter: intelligence experts believe that iran may have other secret underground facilities that have yet to be disclosed. one reason the u.s. and allies want to get u.n. inspectors into that country right away. >> andrea, thanks very much. andrea mitchell in washington. it's now 7:05. now to the nbc news exclusive involving chicago's hopes of landing the 2016 olympic games. nbc's savannah guthrie is at the white house. savannah, good morning. what can you tell us? >> reporter: good morning, meredith. senior aides tell me the president will make a personal trip to copenhagen to make that personal pitch for chicago to get the 2016 games. international olympic committee

is meeting on friday to make the final decision between four finalist cities. originally the president didn't think he was going to be able to go georgia. he was concern the health care debate would be if full swing. but he has now decided to make this trip. aides tell me it was a game-time decision and his decision alone. the first lady is still planning to attend. she'll leave a little bit earlier, be in place wednesday to lobby ioc officials. president will depart thursday evening, fly all night, be there in time to make a pitch, be part of chicago's presentation friday morning, then back in time for dinner. this is said to be really close particularly between chicago and rio de janeiro. aides hope the president going there will really make the difference. this is a first for the u.s. president. chicago and copenhagen officials both being notified this morning, meredith. >> you would tnk they'd have already made their decision. this last-minute lobbying. >> i know. you think that would have come weeks and months ago. and what happens if the president fleiies to koeppecop

and they choose rio. >> i almost feel like somebody's tipped him off. go ahead. >> i had to count to three for a second. now to the latest on the surprising arrest over the weekend of famed and some would say notorious director roman polanski. will t 76-year-old finally return to the u.s. to face sentencing for a 1977 sex crime involving a 13-year-old girl? nbc's dawna friesen is in zurich, switzerland, where polanski was arrested. good morning, dawna. >> reporter: good morning, matt. polanski came here to receive a lifetime achievement award at the zurich filmfestival. instead he was taken into custody as soon as he landed, arrested on a 32-year-old warrant for having sex with an underaged girl. for years he's lived as one of the film world's most celebrated fugitives. roman polanski, now 76 has directed movie classics from

"chinatown," to "rosemary's baby," but a dark episode in his own past has long plagued him. >> never dreamt of finding myself on the other side of the law. >> reporter: in 1977, polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor. his victim was just 13. it took place at jack nicholson's l.a. home while the actor was away. plansky was said to be photographing the girl for a modeling shoot. she, long ago, went public about the ordeal. >> it was so traumatic starting that night when my mom called the police and the police come over and they take you to the hospital, then they take you to the police station. >> reporter: polanski spent 42 days in prison undergoing psychiatric tests but fled the u.s. before being sentenced. for more than three decades he's lived in france where is he a citizen and has never returned to the u.s., even when his film "the pianist" won an oscar in 2002. now 30 years later the law has caught up to him. >> until you're ultimately sentenced by a court of law,

there is no justice. >> reporter: but many question, why now? >> this is for me a shock and i'm ashamed of the swiss. >> i think most people in the movie business are stunned and puzzled. >> reporter: the french culture minister says he was dumbfounded by polanski's arrest and worries a new ordeal is being inflicted on him, polanski lost his mother in auchwitz and he was married to susan tate. some think polanski has to face the music. >> time doesn't make the crime go away. if you do the crime, you should do the time. >> reporter: his victim though doesn't want to see him put in jail, she's forgiven him. polanski now faces possible extradition to the united states. this morning, polanski's french lawyer said not only that he plans to fight the arrest but

also any extradition proceedings. for now, polanski remains in custody here in zurich. we're told it's possible under swiss law he could apply for bail if he agrees to stay here in switzerland. we're also told it is extremely rare for anyone to be granted that under these circumstances. matt? >> dawna, thank you ver much. dan abrams is nbc's chief legal analyst. roman polanski has been in switzerland on numerous occasions in the past. he's skied there. reports are he even had a house there. why is he arrested now? >> i think it is because they had the will and the opportunity. >> they had the opportunity in the past though. >> well, it is a combination of the two. they also had to have the will to do it. i think it became clear that the u.s. officials said here's the flight that he's coming in on. we know he's going to be there. we have renewed this effort to execute this warrant. we now are asking you again to do this. >> what's behind that renewed effort then if you're correct on the part of the l.a. district

attorney? is this politics or something else? is he get being pressure from e family? what? >> almost all decisions made by prosecutors are discretionary ones, meaning the prosecutor here clearly made a decision where they said, we've decided we're not giving up on this case. this is a valid warrant. he left the country before he was sentenced. we want to finish this case. remember, this is also become active again as of late. he tried to get this thrown out last year. a judge said, tho, that's being appealed. >> begs the question, why would roman polanski accept this honor from the zurich film festival if it's tipped his hand. >> because he's been there many times before. he was saying to himself, i've been to switzerland before, i've been staying there for long periods of time, i haven't had a problem in the past. why would i have a problem now? >> what happens if he's returned to the united states? >> they would then start where they left off, which is to effectively have that sentencing. there are all sorts of interesting legal questions as to do you apply all of the rules that were in place back then?

because remember, the sentencing is much tougher now than it was back then. >> real quickly, samantha giimer, the then-13-year-old, now in her mid-40s, just wants to drop it and move on with her life. does that have any impact? >> a little. the original prosecutor said there was misconduct. the victim says she wants this to go away. that all works in polanski's favor but that doesn't change the fact that he still fled. interesting legal questions to come. >> dan abrams, as always, thanks very much. now, meredith. let's head over to the news desk where ann curry has the latest headlines. >> good morning. also in the news this morning, the government of the philippines has declared a state of calamity following the nation's worst flooding there in more than 40 years. more than 140 people have been killed and the toll is expected to rise. u.s. troops are helping in the relief effort. german chancellor angela mer kael won a second term in sunday's election, a key u.s.

ally and president obama has called to congratulate her. overseas markets are mostly down this morning following dropping sharply in asia. cnbc's melissa francis is at new york stock exchange. also dropping overseas, the dollar. >> that's right. we've seen a lot of this lately. the dollar, oil and gold all falling at the same time. it is unusual because normally the dollar and commodities move in opposite directions. it is definitely something to watch. but meanwhile, take a look at stocks so far this week, this month, this quarter. we've seen the dow rise 47% since its low back in march. the third quarter coming to an end. it's on track to be the best third quarter for the dow since 1939. a big jobs number out on friday. watch that as well. ann, back to you. >> melissa francis, thank you. on a very sad note, award-winning "new york times" columnist william sapphire died sunday of pancreatic cancer. the author of more than a dozen books, articles on language, and speech writer for former president nixon, william sapphire was 79 years old.

police in southern california are still baffled by the disappearance of mitrice richardson who disappeared after being released from a l.a. county sheriff's office. search teams with rescue dogs and on horseback combed the rugged terrain near malibu. >> we are searching about a 60 to 80-square-mile area and we're searching basically from the malibu sheriff's station onward to malibu itself. >> reporter: that malibu sheriff's station is the last place richardson was seen and where her parents are laying the blame for her disappearance. >> it was nothing protecting her when they allowed her to walk out that door based on policy and procedure. >> reporter: richardson was arrested after she reportedly refused to pay an $89 bill at this exclusive malibu restaurant. management says she looked soaper but also described her

behavior as unusual. police found a small amount of marijuana in her c and took her into custody. she was booked, then released at about 1:30 a.m. after making a few phone calls, the 24-year-old, who her mother says was atrade of the dark and lacked street savvy, left the station with no car, no purse, or even a cell phone. the sheriff's department says it could not force her to stay. meanwhile, mitrice richardson's parents hold out hope through their frustration. >> it is hard to put into words what i feel as a mother. i can tell you with absolute certainty, it feels like i have stepped into a might nar. >> if you have any information about mitrice richardson, call 1-877-lapd-24-7. more than 180 sky divers from 31 countries set a woman's formation sky diving world

record over the weekend in the skies over california. they were raising money for breast cancer research and cancer survivors were among those who participated. beautiful. 7:15. back to matt, meredith and al. nice, huh? >> very nice. ann, thanks very much. how was your weekend? >> it was pretty nice. here we are and we're talking about changeable weather coming in here especially into the northeast and new england. we've got low pressure over new england, bringing rain there. also low pressure up over the great lakes. that's pinwheeling showers and thunderstorms across the ohio river valley, on into the northeast. as we look at rainfall amounts, generally one inch or so to a half-inch of rain but winds will be a big problem from international falls all the way into maine. looking at wind gusts of 10 to ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç good morning. sun rise over the potomac. there is a glitter path of sunlight on the potomac river. sun's up, clear sky, fresh and

cool, low and mid 50s. right downtown and near the bay, near 60. afternoon highs, climbing into the mid 70s before a front arrives. there is a small chance of a passing shower. the big story will be blustery winds after the front goes by. >> that's your latest weather. >> you tired from carrying all of hollywood on your back, once again? your movie? >> "cloudy with a chance of meatballs." >> $60 million, we're hearing? is there what's your cut on that in. >> zero. >> we can't expect a free lunch today? >> oh, sure you can! i'll see you as mickey d's. i'll just wipe the floor with bruce willis. >> very good stuff. now to the swine flu and the rapidly increasing number of patients showing flu-like symptoms. so many in fact that unusual steps are now being taken in

hospitals across the country. nbc's janet schamlian is outside of a children's hospital in memphis, tennessee to explain. janet, good morning to you. >> reporter: meredith, good morning. unusual indeed. this is something we're not used to seeing outside a hospital. emergency triage tents staffed with doctors and nurses. they're set up here in the parking lot of the children's medical center because inside the emergency room is often at capacity. overflowing with young patients. a surge of sick kid. >> pull up by one of these white spaces that says "flu screen parking." go in the entrance to the tent there. >> reporter: so many arriving here with flu symptoms, they've opened a new emergency room outside the hospital, inside a large tent. >> he just hasn't been herself all day. she's had a really high fever that tylenol is not seeming to get rid of. i'd rather be safe than sorry. >> reporter: 14,000 kids in just two months, double what a normal flu season brings.

>> has she been saying that her throat hurts? >> yeah. >> reporter: for this hospital, and others across the country, it is a prescription for overload. >> well, physically we just don't have the space to handle that, plus we needed the pace to take care of the more sicker patients. >> reporter: families like the trotters, so worried they drove an hour to get their 12-year-old son check out. >> he's had a headache, dizzy, and coughing and sore throat and all that. he's in the feeling real good at all. >> reporter: only the most serious cases are admitted. about 100 kids so far. mike the was sent home with doctor's orders to take it easy and take a few days off of school. what was your level of concern? how worried were you? >> me? i started balling because it's so many kids that was in the school that have been sick. i don't know. >> reporter: the hospital doesn't know how long this will continue, how bad it will get.

but for most coming through here, doctors and nurses are offering families something stronger than medication -- peace of mind. two children have died at this hospital this month from the h is n 1 virus. but for the thousands of kids who have come through here since august 1st, it is important to note that only 100 have been sicknough to admit to the hospital. meredith, back to you. >> janet schamlian, thank you very much. it is 7:19. once again, here's matt. now to a $529 million taxpayer loan to help finance the cars of tomorrow. the recipient -- a small car company backed by former vice president al gore. nbc's miguel almaguer has details. >> reporter: it's gone from concept car to near reality, thanks in part to a half billion dollars in federal money. the department of energy has green-lighted a $529 million loan for fisker automotive, impressed by ts plug-in hybrid car, it's also impressed al gore, the former vice president

who not only preordered his own, he invested in the company. >> al gore's involvement is completely irrelevant to this loan. the intent of the fiskar loan is to give them the opportunity to design a new vehicle in pontiac, michigan and manufacture a new vehicle here in the united states. >> reporter: but at an estimated $90,000, critics say these exotic cars aren't affordable. >> it is not for the average american. >> reporter: and they argue companies like fiskar and tesla motors whose electric car costs over $100,000 don't need additional money. >> they have plenty of money and the product they're going to create is something that's going to be for very wealthy people. >> reporter: green cars have drawn super sized endorsements. california governor arnold schwarzenegger is a fan of the tesla. >> this car, let me tell you something, is a very sexy looking car. >> reporter: but the department of energy says these expensive versions are just the beginning. in order to loans under it the $25 billion program approved by congress, the plug-in hybrids must be moderately priced and

built in the u.s. developed overseas now, the karma will soon be required to roll off american assembly lines. for "today," miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. just ahead on a monday morning, the final witness has taken the stand at the murder trial of american college student amanda knox. so how is knox feeling as that lengthy trial winds down? her father will speak out in a

just ahead, new research to recommends you don't buy your teen that car he or she wants. the woman who claims she got pregnant twice in two weeks. after your local news.

good morning, everyone. welcome. i'm barbara harrison. the time right now, 7:26. in the news, dozens of people were forced out of a rockville apartment by a fire. it happened in the 10,000 block of grosvenor place on the second floor. firefighters gathered some of the residents to tell them when they would be allowed to head back into their apartments. no word on what caused the fire or anyone was hurt.

several stores at a prince george's county strip mall will remain closed while fire officials investigated a gas leak. it was discovered yesterday at the pen marmar shopping center. we'll take a break and be back with weather and traffic in

good morning. sun is up and a clear sky. live view, national cathedral. clouds will build as a front approaches. it may trigger an isolated

shower by early to mid afternoon. before that arrives, temperatures, mid 70s and much cooler tomorrow through thursday. how is the traffic, ashley. outer loop of the beltway, headlights coming at us. slow from college park toward georgia avenue. slow through manassas and off and on through 50 headed to the beltway. tomorrow morning, something you won't want to miss, 60-inch

ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, please do not panic. sounds like we're just going to glide right on in. >> at about 700 miles per hour.

back now at 7:30 on this monday morning, the 28th day of september, 2009. that is megan fox on the season premier of saturday night live playing a flight attendant who keeps her cool to a fault in the face of trouble. i'm meredith vieira inside matt lauer. i watched, you didn't. >> it's hard for me to stay up that late, even on a saturday night. can you do that. >> yeah, i can stay up late, matt! i can stay up until 1:00! wow! >> but you're always cranky the next day. what did you think? >> it was -- well, that was okay. but the skit with the new member of the cast? they have several new members. she dropped the "f" bomb. her face went -- she realized right away. >> that's why they call it saturday night live. >> see, if you could stay up, see what you'd see? >> i can't. i'm like my 3-year-old. coming up, both the prosecution and defense ha wrapped up their cases at the murder trial ofmerican college student amanda knox. the verdict could be just weeks away. her father is in it lay.

we wi italy. i'm sure if you have a teenager, he or she has asked for his or her own car. we have a very serious reason why can you tell them no this morning. coming up. and what some are calling a rare double pregnancy. we'll meet a woman who was already carrying one child, then apparently -- stress "apparently" -- got pregnant with a second child just weeks later. her incredible story coming up. we'll begin with the latest developments at the murder trial of amanda knox. nbc's keith mailer is in italy. good morning. >> reporter: the prosecution defense teams wrapped up their case over the weekend but there's been so much contradictory evidence delivered by the forensic scientist, they're talking about bringing a crime scene investigator back to the stand. the murder trial has already dragged on for nine months. 22-year-old amanda knox from seattle, along with her former

boyfriend, are being tried for the murder and sexual assault of knox's roommate, an exchange student from england. some 40 hearings have been held in the fortress-like courtroom. the prosecution has attempted to paint knox as a wild child, high on drugs when she stabbed her roommate in the throat after she refused to take part in a sex game. knox took to the stand earlier in the proceedings to proclaim her innocence, speaking in fluent italian, she testified that she and her boyfriend were at his apartment watching a video at the time of the murder. more than 80 witnesses have been called to the stand. the last two for the defense took pting shots at what they called sloppy police work. a forensic scientist explained that the victim's dna on the knife allegedly used in the killing contained just one cell -- and questioned the validity of the science used to

obtain it. one of amanda attorneys says the validity of the fran second science has been contradicted. not unusual, says an american-trained lawyer. >> in fact, many times cases boil down to a battle of the experts. it seems to me that this is what's happening in this particular case because of the lack of direct evidence, eyewitnesss, or the proverbial smoking gun. >> reporter: there has been so much conflicting testimony from forensic experts, that the defense is expected to call for an independent forensic scientist to review all the evidence. the prosecutor says enough evidence has already been presented to convict knox and her former boyfriend. another man has already been convicted of the crime in a separate trial and is serving a 30-year prison sentence. the trial continues to dominate the italian media with knox the center of attention.

the angelic-looking american accused of committing a brutal murder. the prosecutor has said he's okay in fact with some sort of judicial review on the part of a forensic scientist, but it will all be up to the judge. he's postponed closing arguments for a week to allow the defense to bring a petition for a special investigator. if that petition is granted, meredith, the trial could go on for two more months. >> all right, keith miller thank you very much. the trial is expected to resume on october 9th with the court taking up procedural matters before closing arguments begin. amanda knox's father kurt knox is also in perugia and he joins usnow. good morning. when you hear that the trial could drag on for months to come and that both sides could consider bringing in independent experts because the forensics have been so contradictory, is that frustrating to you or do you understand why it might be necessary? >> first of all, i think that the defense has put up a very

good argent against all of the charges that have been brought up. but, if it takes an additional two months to get the right answer the first time here, then it's something that we'll have to live through in order to bring amanda home. >> you think in the end it would work to your daughter's benefit actually if these experts were brought in? >> i think it would continue to show that the prosecution's case is extremely weak and that amanda is completely innocent of these charges and if that's the choice that has to be made, then i'm in favor of it. >> you said that you're satisfied with the job the defense has done. do you believe that they have proven to the jury that your daughter could not be involved in this crime? >> well, first of all, i would like to believe that you're innocent until proven guilty, but i believe that the defense has done a phenomenal job in showing the fact that what they have as evidence against her really does not exist and she

had no part of this crime. >> what is the rliest, curt, that you understand this trial could come to an end, that there could be some decision? >> it really depends on this october 9th and 10th set of hearings. but if they allow the special investigators to come in, it could last potentially two months. then you go through closing arguments. that could put us very close to christmas and potentially the new year. >> amanda has been in prison since november of 2007. how is she doing? >> well, she's trying to stay positive. she's obviously seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and hoping that it will be here soon. she's anxious to hear the decision and that she's innocent and that she can come home with us. >> when is the last time that you had the opportunity to talk with her, see her? >> well, i actually got to see her after saturday's hearing and

it was just for a couple of minutes and got to hug her and tell her i love her. then i'll be visiting her again tomorrow actually. >> curt, i have to say, you've been incredibly strong through all this. you seem to have gotten stronger as the months have gone by. talk to me about that. >> well, part of it has to do with the fact that everything up to the beginning of the defense was all character assassination essentially. i think whethe defense has begun its case and shown how off base the prosecution is in this particular trial, it gives me hope that will get the right answer and that she's innocent and that we will get to bring her home. >> have you prepared yourself for the possibility that you might not get the answer that you hoped for? >> you know, it's in the back of our minds but based on how the defense has presented their side of the case, i'm believing that

the judge will come to the correct conclusion which she is innocent and had no part in this. >> curt knox, as always, thank you so much for your time. >> thank you for having me. now let's get a check of the weather from al. >> thanks a lot, meredith. the ladies -- what college you guys from? they say it in unison. very impressive. >> let's check your weather. for today, hey, big sinkhole! this is in gwinnett county in georgia. look at this. not only -- here's insult to injury. somebody stole the radio out of this car just before it went into the hole. now it's in the hole. he's got a car in the hole and no radio! that stinks! man. let's look at the rest of your weather. the heat continues out west. 107 in phoenix. 80 in los angeles. albuquerque, 75. rest of the country we got that heat through texas, gulf coast, on into florida.

60s and 50s into the plain states and great lakes, really chilly there. 70s here along the eastern seaboard. we've got a dead ringer for executive producer jim bell. what's your name. >> jeff. >> where you from? >> melbourne, new jersey. >> wow. you could be ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#o sunny and cool on this monday morning. good morning. live picture from our city camera showing the lincoln memorial on the banks of the potomac river basking in this late september sun. we have a few showers coming into western maryland and southwestern pennsylvania. that's ahead of a front that will be moving our way later on today. right now, 50s around the region. 59 in washington. highs, low to mid 70s before the >> it's kathy's birthday! happy birthday, kathy. if you want your weather any

time of the day or night, go to the weather channel on cable or go to weather.com online. meredith? >> thank you, al. still to come -- near-death experiences. why some doctors say they not only exist, they could one day help save your life. but up next, what could be the key to keeping teen drivers safe? what every parent needs to hear right after this.

now to important information aimed at teen drivers at their parents. nbc's lisa myers is in bethesda, maryland with details on this. lisa, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. car accidents remain the number one killer of teenagers in this country. the new studies out today have two important messages. that parents can have a tremendous influence over their teenager's driving, and that they should think twice before giving the kid his own car. like most teens, 17-year-old jenny beaner loves blasting music and chatting with friends. but when she gets in her car -- that all stops. >> i focus on driving safely.

>> reporter: and her parents are the reason why. in this house, driving privileges come with strict rules. >> no making any phone calls. no taking any phone calls. no texting. no using the radio. >> no more than one other person in the car and normally she would have to ask even that. >> reporter: now a new study finds this kind of parenting is the key to keeping teens safe on the road. >> this study is great news for america's parents. it absolutely says what you do does matter. >> reporter: dr. kenneth ginsburg is an adolescent specialist in philadelphia. in his study of nearly 6,000 teen drivers, he found teens with supportive parents who set clear rules about driving were half as likely to be in a crash, compared to those whose parents were less involved. they also were twice as likely to wear seatbelts. 70% less likely to drink and drive, and 30% less likely to use cell phones while driving.

ginsburg says teens actually crave boundaries, but how parents present the rules is critical. >> parents need to make it really clear to the young person that this is not about control, this is about safety. they need to honor teenager's need for independence. >> reporter: but independence does not mean teens should have their own cars. in fact, ginsburg says that may encourage risky behavior. his study found that when teens were given their own cars, their risk of a crash doubled compared to teens who had to share a car with family. >> we think that the safety benefit comes because adolescents are going to have to say to their parents, "hey, mom or dad, can i have the keys?" this creates the opportuni for conversationed and creates the opportunity for the monitoring we know saves lives. >> reporter: jenny's parents require check-ins before and after she takes the car. a rule experts recommend for all teens during their first year of driving. but steve and francis know

communication is a two-way street. last month when jenny toll them she became distracted and nearly crashed her car, they listened more than preached. >> first of all, they didn't get mad as i thought they would. >> my response when she was upset about this close call was to comfort her, to tell her this happens to everybody. so let's talk about what could be done next time. >> reporter: jenny's dad uses another effective strategy. scheduling regular driving dates so he can monitor her skills. for now, the radio stays off. but jenny hopes not for long. >> i'm a good driver and if i continue to be safe, then rewards will come. >> we're hoping by taking this approach that when she's off on her own, much of this stuff will be internalized. she'll be a very safe driver even when she's not checking in with mom and dad every day. >> reporter: experts also have some advice on how to help your teen deal with peer pressure to

break the rules. they say to tell your teen to blame you, to say their strict parents will take away the car forever if they do anythg wrong. it gives them an out, helps them save face with friend and keeps them safe, matt. >> lisa, jenns dealing with a lot of rules. is there one experts say is the most important of what her parents are implementing? >> experts say that there are a few absolutes for any parent. no speeding, no texting or using the cell phone while driving. if you're tired or you've been drinking, don't drive. call me, i'll come pick you up. and imrtantl they say do these in a supportive way. tell your kid "i love you, i want you to be independent, but i want to keep you safe." >> good advice. lisa, thank you very much for that. we appreciate it. still ahead -- one woman carrying two babies. guess what? her doctor doesn't think that they are twins. we'll talk to her and her husband. but first, these messages.

s

s. now to an overwhelming response to shine a light, an online contest by nbc universal and american express to find one of the country's most inspirational small business stories. >> the field is now dn to three finalists. here with more, hosts of msnbc's "your business." how tough is it narrowing this down? >> it was incredibly hard. i could probably list five businesses that i care about. we had to take it from thousands and get it down one.

this company is so neat. this company is bringing phone service and internet service to thousands of people who never had access they have mothers who teach them the importance of child and nutrition. they're also involved with

school giving treats. >> it was a great story for great businesses. two from new york, one from mexico. get to the website. todayshow.com and vote. >>ou he until october 16th to vote. >> thanks, folks.

beautiful morning here in the nation's capital. clear skies, 58 falllike degrees. the time, 7:56. welcome, everyone. i'm barbara harrison. in the news, the search continues for three men suspected in a deadly home invasion. it happened early yesterday morning at a home on marley drive and buey. three masked men stormed inside and killed the homeowner and tied up his wife and three children. at this point, police believe this is an isolated incident and richardson was targeted.

several stores at a prince george's county strip mall remain closed. it was discovered yesterday at the pen march shopping center in forestville. you may remember a similar gas leak back in may which caused a massive explosion that injured nine firefighters. we will take a break and be back with weather and traffic for you.

good morning. sunny and cool on this monday morning. on radar, we have a few light sprinkles out in western maryland. temperatures around the region in the low to mid 50s. in the suburbs and rural areas,

upper 50s in washington and near the bay. high should reach low and mid 70s by early and mid afternoon. a front will arrive. a passing shower. some clouds rapidly rolling through. much cooler after the front goes by. blustery winds tonight and tomorrow. highs in the 60s after morning lows in the 40s. how is the traffic, ashley? traveling on the outer loop in the beltway slowing. daly city to lorton, you are on the brakes. slow from the beltway to seminary road. expect to find delays after penn street towards third street tunnel. barbara, back to you. >> tomorrow on news 4, 60-inch tvs for $400. many other products selling for 50% off. we will tell you where to find some of the best shopping deals

♪ so let's sing a song of cheer again ♪ ♪ happy days are here again notes ♪ she sings, she dances, she acts, she directs. that is the extraordinary barbra

streisand, about to release her first studio album since 2005. take a look at all the smiling faces in our crowd listening to that one of a kind sound. and guess what? meredith got to sit down with babbs -- >> get out! >> the release date of her new album. >> that's not even the coolest thing. gout to go to a real intimate private concert. >> where she performed for her fans. that's where she started back in 1961. she actually auditioned at vanguard. she's be there -- she did not get the gig. "love is the answer" is the name of her new album. she performed in front of her fans who won a lottery to get in there. later we talked about her album. it is an album of jazz greats and also about her notorious stage fright. it took a lot for her to do that. she doesn't do very many live

performances. >> we'll hear that tomorrow morning? >> tomorrow morning on "today." >> that's very cool stuff. is it a medical miracle or is it something else? an arkansas woman pregnant with two babies. you know what? she's not so sure and her doctor's not so sure that these are twins. these could be babies conceived two weeks apart. we'll talk to the woman and her husband, as you can see right there, in an interview in just a couple of minutes. >> she looks great. >> do you guys believe in near-death experiences? >> i do. absolutely. >> every morning. >> why do you have to? why? why? >> well, we're going to talk to a doctor who's actually studying them to find out if they can be used to save lives. we'll have much more on that just ahead. first, let's gin side. ann has a look at all the headlines. good morning. good morning, everybody. in the news this morning, just days before iran is set to hold talks with the u.s. and its allies, new defiance this morning. overnight iran test fired at least two missiles, including one that's capable of reaching

israel. in geneva later this week the u.s. is set to demand that iran allow inspections at its newly revealed nuclear site within weeks. intelligence experts believe iran may have other secret underground nuclear facilities. the death toll is expected to rise in the philippines this morning after a weekend storm th dumped more than a month's worth of rain in about 12 hours and at least 140 people have been killed. senior aides tell nbc news president obama will travel to copenhagen this week to make a personal push for his hometown of chicago to get the 2016 olympic games. international olympic committee is set to make a decision on friday. this morning, some 50,000 people turned out for a mass with pope benedict who is on his first papal visit to the czech republic. new damaging evidence could be revealed today against two people who are accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from actor john travolta. nbc's michelle kosinski is in the bahamas this morning with more on this story.

michelle, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. john travolta will have to return to testify in this case of a former senator and paramedic accused of trying to sell him a medical document to keep it private. now a judge has admitted into evidence a secretly taped conversation allegedly showing an attempted deal going down. it has not been easy for john travolta and his wife kelly preston to relive the dayheir son jett died of a seizure at their vacation home here. now they have to deal with the alleged crime that happened next. former bahamian senator and a paramedic are accused of offering to sell travolta a routine medical waiver he signed which it turned out was irrelevant to his son's care for the price of $25 million. people.com claims to have seen a secretly taped conversation involving them and travolta's attorney in which supposedly the paramedic finally agrees to $15 million. "people" quotes him as saying i

can't do installments, i want to get this behind me. i don't want to see you anymore. i'm thinking how do i know if irgo to the states one day the feds don't pick me up. both of the accused say they're innocent. this is another black eye for the place with the pink courthouse and not long after the anna nicole smith case when photos emerged showing the bahamian immigration minister hugging anna nicole in bed. now the island supreme court awaits more evidence to see if that videotape really is a smoking gun and to hear once more from travolta himself. we're starting to see some defense strategy but no comment yet on that videotape and it hasn't yet been played in open court. ann? >> michelle kosinsk this morning, thanks, michelle. a 40-ton hump-back whale is now swimming freely after getting tangled in a shark net off the coast of australia on sunday. it took rescuers three hours to free it. but take a look. it is now 8:05. let's get a check of the weather from al. >> thanks, ann. got a good looking group of kids

here. where you from? >> connecticut. >> nice to see you. very nice. let's check your weather, see what's going on. we'll show you our pick city of the da boston, mass, nbc 7. clearing skies, temperature about 75 degrees today. going to be a little on the breezy side. as we look at your week ahead, we are looking at much below to below-normal temperatures out west. above-normal down through texas. normal in the southeast. below-normal in the northeast, into the ohio river valley. down in the gulf, there will be heavy rain showers, dry from we texas on into t southwest. that'sç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#

>> that's your latest weather. al, thank you. up next -- a rare medical marvel. an arkansas woman apparently pregnant with two babies who are not twins. they'll talk with that woman and her husband right after this. under the same sun. and now for the first time, in new sun crystals ® . the only 100% natural sweetener made with pure cane sugar and stevia. finally, all the sweetness of nature and just 5 calories a packet. nature gave us the recipe; we just gave it a name. new sun crystals ® all natural sweetener. two natural wonders. one sweet taste™. ocean spray craisins, sweetened dried cranberries, are sweet.

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we're back now at ten after 8:00. now to a most unusual pregnancy that has some in the medical community very surprised. an arkansas woman carrying two babies, apparently conceived at two different times. we'll talk to her and her husband in a moment, but first, nbc's janet schamlian has their incredible story. >> reporter: it's a moment of pure shock any parent of multiples can relate to. but when julia and todd grovenburg got the news they were expecting two babies, what came next was almost beyond belief. >> we were ecstatic to have two babies. she said everything looks great for their ages. we were like, ages? she said, 11 weeks and one day and 8 weeks and 4 days. that's what nef's measured and they've continuously been 2 1/2 weeks apart. >> reporter: ultrasound pictures tell the tale.

julia's 28 weeks pregnant with a daughter and 25 weeks pregnant with a son. how? the arkansas woman may have conceived a second baby while already pregnant with the first. an extremely rare condition known as superfetation. >> that's just an amazement. it is something that you still don't believe. it's like -- it's so rare. >> reporter: the couple has chosen not to have amnio sen tee tis which would confirm the medical miracle. >> the most likely explanation is this is a normal twin pregnancy with a significant discrepancy in the sizes of the two fetuses because they're developing at different rates. >> reporter: is there any thought in your mind that -- or any belief that one of the babies is just developing slower than the other? >> at this point, no. there was always that possibility early on. i have hope and faith and always believed that they were both perfectly healthy and without a shadow of a doubt we believe it's superfetation and that there is no just slower development for the younger child. >> reporter: babies due in two

different years, one in december 2009, the second in january 2010. any benefit to having them both in december? >> i think it will be good on the taxes. >> reporter: expecting the best in what could be a rare double pregnancy. for "today," janet schamlian, nbc news, portsmouth, arkansas. >> julia and todd grovenburg are with us now. good morning to both of you. julia, start with you. kind of go back to the basics here. you and todd had had some trouble conceiving. had tried for a long time. tried some different ways. were y not on fertility drugs at the time you became pregnant? >> no, i was not. >> which would have raised the likelihood of multiples. so when you go for this ultrasound two months after you find out you're pregnant and you see two babies, and yet they are developing differently or at different stages or could be -- could have been conceived at different times, when was yr initial row action?

>> i gagged, was very, very shocking. very shocking for there to be two. but then for there to be -- appear to be at that point in time two different ages, the very first ultrasound, it was surreal. >> todd, had you ever even heard of that as a possibility? >> no, never. >> so this came as a huge shock to you as well. >> oh, yeah. yeah. we were both shocked. yeah. >> he laughed a lot. >> i did laugh. >> men usually do that when we're shocked. there are a lot of medical experts who are cynical about this, skeptical about this, who think, no, these are twins, they are developing at a different rate, and some even go a little further, i have to say this. they think that this whole discussion of these babies conceived at separate times is because you like the attention. how do you respond to that? >> that's just -- for us, it's

ridiculous. we waited over five months to let this story air. even with our local media until we got confirmation that e suspicion was real and that it was a possibility and not just something in our head, but that it was a possibility. now that it's -- they've said it is a possibility, that's when we decided to tell our story. because we -- go ahead. >> i understand there is a blood test that can be performed after the babies are born that will also clear this up. do you intend on getting that blood test? >> that's what we were told. yes. definitely if the test is available to be done after they arrive, that is definitely something that we would definitely do. definitely. >> most importantly, we are hoping for two healthy babies, that i think is probably the bottom line in this story. >> absolutely. >> exactly, yes. >> right now to date they have been cleared and are perfectly

healthy. >> that's the best news. julia and todd, thanks very much. congratulations. congratulations. >> thanks so much. >> dr. nancy snyderman here, our chief medical editor. what do you think? >> i don't know. superfetation, this idea that you can get pregnant, that you don't have these huge hormonal shifts yet and you get a boom, second egg and sperm hitting up. i can't even figure out how low the numbers are. what most doctors are saying is more likely that one twin really is so much more dominant than the other that they look like they're just different gestational age but twin age really sort of -- twin "a" robbing most of the nutrients. >> if this is conception at two different times does it increase risk of the pregnancy? >> the question will be when the bigger baby comes to term what do you do. i would suspect doctors will say, let's talk about a s cesarian. >> if women are out there thinking, wait a minute, i'm

pregnant, can i get pregnant again? >> no, you can generally have sex with wild abandon, the chances of getting pregnant even early on, infinitesimally small. >> the headline, is that dr. nancy recommends sex with wild abandon. >> only during a pregnancy. >> thanks very much. >> that's how you get pregnant. up next, unlocking the mystery of an out of body experience. fascinating new research and how it could one day save your life. but first, these messages. that sound? do yor they're popping! - really?! listen. - ( laughs ) ahhhhh... mmm. where'd the sound go? even when they've stopped popping, is it in your tummy? they haven't stopped working. now, every box of kellogg's® rice krispies® cereal... has antioxidants and nutrients... that help support your child's immune system. ( laughter continues ) edible arrangements' bouquets are gorgeous,

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top safety pick awards than toyota. so it's okay to be overprotective. we are. toyota has won more total quality awards - than any other automaker. - hey, ken. - hey, n. - hey, kenny. hey, ken. - kenny. - all: kenny. and we could all use a little more quality these days. what can out-of-body experiences tell doctors about the mystery of death? an international research

project is studying the near-death phenomenon trying to learn about saving lives from people who have literally come back from the dead. 20 years ago, don piper died on this texas bridge, the victim of a speeding 18-wheeler. >> i was killed instantly. i mean i was immediately struck, crushed by the roof of the car collapsing, steering wheel impaling me on the chest and dashboard collapsing on both of my legs. >> reporter: paramedics worked franticly and yet fond no sign of life. his body was covered with a tarp. an hour and a half later, the unbelievable. >> suddenly without any warning, there under the tarp in the dark i started moving and i was back. >> reporter: he talked about in t in his best seller "90 minutes fromheaven." for some, stories like don piper's suggest life goes on after the body has died. >> i think it happens. i think patients see things. >> reporter: karen tucker sees

it happen with patients in the cardiac care unit where she works. >> and later on, they said, "i remember you trying to shock me and i remember trying to say to you guys, i'm awake, i'm awake, don't shock me, i'm awake," even though their heart was not beating. >> reporter: two hospitals have joined the international project to study the phenomenon. the challenge is to prove that memories of death are more than what some guess is the brain shutting down at the end of life. the method is simple -- workers install small shelves above patient beds. a picture that can't be seen from floor level is placed on the shelf. the theory, some patients report floating above their body at death. if a patient that is pronounced dead, but later revived, can remember that image, it could be evidence that out-of-body stories may be fact, and not an artificial memory. in indianapolis, dr. mark farber enrolled his cardiac unit in the

study. his team uses a special monitor that measures the amount of oxygen in the brain during cardiac arrest on each patient in the research. >> we may find out, for instance, that some of the people don't survive could be because the way we're resuscitating them isot as effective in terms of cerebral oxygenation compared to the people who do survive. >> reporter: that alone, he says, is reason enough to scientifically try to explain the stories of those like don piper who say they've died and lived to tell about it. >> if we can show that people actually are aware of what's going on, can see things that we can't explain how they could possibly see them, i think it opens up a whole new enterprise in further investigation. to me, that's what science is all about. >> the doctor of the founder of the awareness during resuscitation study from cornell medical center is here, dr. parnell, good morning. this is fascinating. people believe for years when

you get that flat line, that means death but death is really a biological process. >> that's right. most people out there think of death as being a moment, you're either dead or you're alive. the reason is simple. because althoh we've always been fascinated by death, in the old days when we tried to revive the dead, we weren't very successful. we tried to tickle the throat, whip people. that was 100 years ago. now because of resuscitation science we are able to restart the heart after someone has died. we've found eslengsly there is no moment of death. death begins when your heart stops and goes on through a period of time as you have a lack of blood flow to your brain, your brain cells change a little bit and you begin to die. >> this study involving cardiac patients is two-fold. trying to determine if these folks do have near-death experiences, and, b, what the implications are in terms of the way you resiresuscitate patient

>> we've set up the world's largest study looking at what happens between the mind and brain during cardiac arrest when people die. we've recognized worry's not just dealing with brain cells, but with human beings. people who have died consistently at least 10% to 20% who are then brought back to life will tell us they are consciousness present, that their mind and consciousness was working and a portion of them will say they're able to see doctors and nurses working on them as if they're looking from above. >> you want to determine if that's a trick the brain plays on them or something that's really happening. how does oxygen in the brain play into this? >> as you saw from the clip from indianapolis, one thing we want it do is find out if these claims are actually real or just an illusion. most of us believe these are probably just trick of the mind but we don't understand the mind. it could be they're really seeing these things. the reason we use oxygen, simply we know from all our studies when people have died their brain goes into a flat line state. consciousness shouldn't be present. this is why this is a paradox.

but it could also be in that one individual or few individual cases maybe somehow we did something amazing to get blood into them. so we are setting up these machines in different hospitals. i'll show you how it works. >> only a few seconds. so very quickly. >> reporte . >> we attach this to the patient when they have cardiac arrest and get revived. we want to find out if we managed to get better oxygen into thatperson. that may indicate why they're hahaving consciousness and 8:26 is our time. 59 degrees in the nation's capital. a beautiful, fall day. we will get the forecast from meteorologist, tom kierein. i'm joe krebs on this monday, the 28th day of september, 2009. in the news, several stores at a prince george's county strip mall will remain closed today while fire officials investigate a gas leak there.

the leak was discovered yesterday in forestville. ten stores had to be evacuated. he may remember a similar gas leak back in may caused that massive explosion that injured nine firefighters.

good morning. sunny and cool. 50s in washington. highs today reaching low to mid 70s before clouds and blustery winds arrive. a small chance of a passing show early to mid afternoon. windy, partly cloudy tomorrow, windy and cooler. ashley, you who is the traffic?

traveling on the inner loop of the capital beltway, we have accident activity at 66. two left lanes blocked, slow out of springfield. top side of the beltway slows from college park to silver spring. we have a disabled vehicle at route 1 causing no delay. back to you. tomorrow morning, we will tell you where to find some of the best shopping deals on the internet,

no good unless he needs you ♪

♪ back now at 8:30 on this monday morning, september 28th, 2009. that of course, one of our favorites around the "today" show, harry connick jr. out with a new album of standards. just ahead, he'll play a tune for us live. but right now, harry, i believe is out on the plaza, meeting all the fine folks who are starting their week here in rockefeller plaza. this is harry's 25th album. we'll catch up with him in just a moment. not right now. also ahead, we're going to talk about the ten things that your child's teacher will not tell you, but that you need to know to have a successful school year. >> okay. also, if you are concerned about varicose voieins -- a lotf people are -- we've got dr.

nancy snyderman -- that woman works so hard to help us stay healthy. she sure does. then later, how to talk to your spouse about hot-button issues that could derail a relationship. how to get on the same page and have a stronger relationship. let's bring in actor in abc's new medical drama "trauma," the show is intense, action-packed, derek luke, nice to see you. you're known for your movies. what drew you to television? >> well, first thing that drew me to this particular show was pete byrd who directed me in "friday night lights." i just felt like it was camaraderie. but material draws me to this show. it is exciting. it is adrenalin. it is iv. car crashes. chases. it's fun. >> al and i were talking a second ago and i was reading

some of the reviews, they say that this show opens in a way that people will not forget. what do you think of the way the series gets under way? >> you know what? this show, every minute is something exciting. and we're having so much fun. like i said, it is explosion, it is medicine. we're on the field dealing with the people and personalities in san francisco. it is exciting. >> it's also acting that's the thing, too. we remember you from "antwone fisher." what a great job you did in that film. >> it is a balance of action but also focuses on the human side of heroes. >> best first opening segment of a show that i've seen since "lost." >> yes! >> thank you very much. >> good luck. >> "trauma" premiers tonight at 9:00, 8:00 central right here on nbc. looking forward to it.

al, talking about making a dramatic opening. >> it is kind of chilly out there. >> it is, but it is fall now. >> i'm not complaining. >> i wasn't saying you were. let's move on now. we've got some wet weather through the great lakes, moving in to the northeast. going to be kind of windy, rai also in the pacific northwest, record highs in the southwest. for tomorrow, that front clears the northeast. much cooler with more showers, cool around the greatlakes. rain in the pacific northwest. heat continues in the southwest. red flag goes up down through the southern partss ç#ç#ç#ç#ç#ç# good morning. it's a fresh and cool september there is a live picture from our city camera showing the jefferson memorial. on radar, no more precipitation in western maryland. we did have a few sprinkles in the last hour. there may be a few more coming in. right now, out ahead of that front, clear skies here around the washington region. temperatures in the 50s to near 60.

the front sweeping through may trigger >> that's your latest weather. for more weather information, you can always go to the weather channel any time day or night or weather.com online. >> you got calendars in front of you? 2010 winter olympic games, 137 days from today. one of the athletes who will undoubtedly be making a lot of headlines at those games, skier lindsey bond. she's won the women's all-around alpine title two years in a row. that is the first tim an american woman -- good morning. nice to see you. >> 137 days away. mentally trainingwise where are you right now? >> i'm right in the end stages of the preparation period. the world cup tour starts in about three weeks. it is not far off. then obviously the olympics are

in february. i'll have a couple months to go but it's creeping up fast. >> expectations are building that you are a clear front runner in all five alpine events. are you feeling that pressure? >> a little bit. it's been a little bit intense with all the media and stuff going on. but i'm just trying to stay focused on my own goal, try to win an olympic medal. i've never won an olympic medal. >> look at this, lindsey on a stk. how does that feel? >> you get one of these, lindsey. >> it's creeping me out a little bit. >> really. as you try to focus in on this, you try to not let all this kind of stuff ruffle you. how do you do that? i mean what is it? is it connecting with the wish, the love, for this possibility? >> you know, things like this,

how the vail community has supported me, it actually gives me a lot of confidence to know people are behind me. even if i don't succeed at the olympics, i think i'll still have support and just have to take it one day at a time, do the best that you can. >> we will be rooting you on. we'll be there watching you, lindsey vonn. >> you might make me nervous. >> we'll bring our little faces. lindsey, thank you so much. >> thank you. still ahead -- a live performance from harry connick jr.

"today's american story with bob dotson" focuses on three people looking for love, work and a connection to the past. they found it all thanks to a

little ferry. . >> reporter: sometimes the river of life sweeps away our dreams. he wants to fly airplanes but was set adrift when the airlines stopped hiring. he found a job piloting something unique. the last state-run ferry in america powered by a pole. it stitches across the james river south of scottsdale, virginia. this is how we first muscled across the country when water blocked our way, stringing barges to cables, and then cranki them into the current. >> the water will hit the side of the ferry, acting as a sail propelling it in the opposite direction.

>> reporter: just as life sometimes does. why do you still do this after eight years? >> look around you. i mean it's the best office in the world. >> reporter: with the kind of vi that makes us all homesick for places we have never been. the hatton ferry has hit a rough spot. virginia's department of transportation is abandoning this bit of our history. it only costs $21,000 to save the ferry. >> well, when we're looking at a $3.5 billion budget shortfall we have to find any bit o money we can. >> that's ridiculous. >> reporter: history is more precious to frank. nearing 90, he has more of it. >> this is my grandfather. >> reporter: he owned the ferry when frank was a boy. there were thousands across the

country back then. now -- >> it's the only one there. is there anything more important than that? >> reporter: before the ferry floated into that yellowing scrapbook of history, county officials found enough money to keep it afloat until october 1st, vowed it would be a one-time bailout because they didn't want to run it either. local historical society couldn't afford the liability insurance so the fate of this little ferry depends on folks who cherish the things that connect us. tom freeman and stephanie kellogg want to get married on that romantic relic. >> from our old life to our new life. on the little ferry. >> reporte even though tom, o just lost his job. his tailor understands. that's ashley. at his second job. >> are you a polka dot person? >> reporter: stephanie, a nurse, decided to tie the knot anyway.

she chose the weddingupcakes and set the date. in this world racing full-tilt toward tomorrow, they counted on thhatton ferry being there. just as it has been since the 1870s. why is the pas important to you? >> because that's what has made this future. it's in my heart. >> reporter: a bright day in a tight time. but, they are hopeful that dreams they spin will not be swept away. what could go wrong at that wedding on a ferry that's held by a cable in the middle of the river? >> well, if the cable snapped, i suppose we could end up in richmond for our honeymoon. >> reporter: that's where tom starts a new engineering job after the wedding. so, two things to celebrate this day.

hope, and one more. >> sir, you may kiss the bride. >> reporter: stephanie became the ferry's godmother. she asked their friends not to give wedding gifts but to donate to this tiny bit of what we once were. there is now enough to keep the hatton ferry afloat for a few moremonths. for "today," bob dotson, nbc news with "american story" on the james river. >> up next, harry connick jr. performs live in studio 1a. but first, this is "toda

>> announcer: the "toyota concert series" on "today," brought to i by -- toyota. toyota. moving forward.

back at 8:46 with one of our favorite performers, master of song, harry cnick jr. he told me to say that. his new album "your songs" features his unique take on some iconic standards. the very shy and retiring, harry. good morning to you. >> good morning to you. i can't believe you said that. >> because you asked me to. >> master of song. >> you travel nice and light. >> yes, this is my little personal traveling band. they go everywhere i tell them to. >> i was with the folks from sony over the weekend. they said they had been pushing you to do an album like this for years. you hadn't wanted to do an album of standards. what changed? >> i've done a lot of records. >> you have. >> i got together with clive davis and we picked some really great songs. songs like "just the way you are" by billy joel. and "i love her" by the beatles. i just wanted to have a good time in the studio and just sing. that's basically what we did. we made a cd of songs everybody knows and present them in a very accessible way. >> what's different about the

way you present them? >> normally i would do like more a jazz stuff with them. but this time i said let me just put them out there. let me just sing them straight. my dad sometimes says, how come you take these left turns with your arrangements all the time? this time i'm not, i'm just going to sing them straight because they're great, great songs on their own. >> you and your wife, jill, have you had a song that's always been your standard? >> we like the song "more." and we like that brazilian music. that's some romantic stuff. >> you are surrounded by women actually between your wife, your three gorgeous daughters who are there. has it hit you yet they're like reaching teenage age? >> it's freaking me out a little bit 37 it's freaking me out. but the great thing is that i love my wife and weo our best to raise our kids like i would think most parents try to do and we're proud of them. we hav three beautiful healthy daughters and we feel very blessed about that. >> what are you going to sing for sfus.

>> i don't feel like singing. >> actually, i do, harry. can i have the mike? i can take this for you. it's fine. >> you got it? can you count the band off for me? >> how do i do that? >> all you do is say one, two, three, four. >> what are you going to sing? >> i'm going to sing "all the way." >> this is "all the way." one, two, three, four. >> that was perfect. that was like better than i do. ♪ when somebody loves you ♪ it's no good unless he loves you all the way ♪ ♪ happy to be near you ♪ when you need someone to cheer you all the way ♪ ♪ taller than the tallest tree

is ♪ ♪ though that's how it's got to feel ♪ ♪ deeper than the deep blue sea is that's how deep it goes if it's real ♪ ♪ when somebody needs you ♪ it's no good unless he needs you ♪ ♪ all the way ♪ through the good or lean years ♪ ♪ and for all the in-between years ♪ ♪ come what may ♪ who knows where the road will lead us ♪ ♪ only a fool would say ♪ but if you let me love you ♪ it's for sure i'm gonna love

you ♪ ♪ all the way ♪ all the way ♪ ♪ ♪ >> that's jerry weldon.

♪ when somebody needs you ♪ it's no good unless he needs you ♪ ♪ all the way ♪ even through the lean years ♪ and for all the in-between years ♪ ♪ come what may ♪ who knows where the road will lead us ♪ ♪ only a fool would say ♪ but if you let me love you ♪ it's for sure i'm gonna love you ♪ ♪ all the way ♪ all the way

>> the new album is called "your songs." harry connick jr., thank you so much. we'll be right back. this is "today" on nbc.

harry's just announced he's taking -- >> i'm matt lauer.

ian so do this. this is so my gig! >> it's the new "today" family. the best part is he comes with on orchestra. >> that's right. that's right. whatever you need. >> thanks so much. wonderl. >> aren't they fantastic? >> they are fantastic. they deserve a raise. >> be back in a moment. still to come -- what's coming up? how to talk to your spouse about those hot-button issues.

our time right now is 8:56 as we take a live look outside. 60 degrees. lovely day here in the nation's capital. good morning. i'm joe krebs. it is monday, the 28th day of september. in the news, a rude awakening in rockville. an early morning fire forced dozens of people out of their apartment building in the 10,000 block of grosvenor place. the fire began on the second floor. firefighters got it under control quickly. no word on what caused the fire. police are looking for three suspects that killed a man and tearized his family.

it happened early yesterday morning. three masked men stormed inside. killed the homeowner, 38-year-old tyrone richard sond an then tied up his wife and three children at gunpoint. police say they think that richardson was targeted. we'll take a break now and come back to look at our wea

good morning. a cool, late september monday morning with sunshine. temperatures climbing to near 60. low and mid 70s by early and mid afternoon. clouds on the increase after a sunny start. front coming through might triggen an isolated shower. turning blustery and cooler tomorrow. ashley, how is the traffic? on the inner loop of the capital beltway, 66 and virginia, two left lanes blocked. here, we are looking at the outer loop slowing through college park into silver spring. it is just volume. joe, back to you. thanks, ashley. tomorrow morning on "news 4 today," we will tell where to find some of the best shopping deals on the internet. 60-inch tvs for $400. many other

good morning, everybody. back on a monday morning, 28th day of september, 2009. we have got a huge monday morning crowd. lot of schools closed in observance of the jewish high holy day, yom kippur. we are happy to see so many smiling faces. we are on our plaza. i'm al roker, along with natalie

morales. ann curry inside at the new desk. matt had to leave a little bit early today. we have a health issue that affects a lot of women. >> varicose veins, spider veins. men and women actually, women more so than men but they can be a real problem. more than just a cosmetic problem. varicose veins can actually cause pain and discomfort. we'll talk to dr. nancy about what you can do about them. they can be unsightly as well. >> now we're both married. not to each other, though. you folks some married couples? do you avoid hot-button issues that you know cause problems if. >> i think so, yes. >> is there a duck call going on? >> over there. would that and problem in your marriage? >> maybe duck calls during our discussions always a problem. do you discuss them or avoid them? >> i think you avoid them -- i mean sometimes, you know, when

the timing is right you get them out there, clear the air. >> any married couple will tell you. >> i'm going to get the duck call. can you do that to al right there? we're going to tell you how to deal with all the problems from different parenting to not enough sex. that's the problem. >> that's the problem. >> what else do we have? >> also coming up -- let's check in with ann curry and get a check of the headlines. thanks a lot. we've got some news to get to. today russia's urging the international community to react with restraint to iran's latest act of defiance. iran said it test fired several missiles overnight including one which defense experts say is capable of reaching israel and u.s. military bes in the middle east. president obama's set to impopre new sanctions against iran when it was discovered last week the country's secretly building a

second nuclear fuel plant. talks are set to take place this week between four other countries. in the philippines, weekend landslides claimed more than 140 lives, more than a foot of rain was dumped on manila requiring the government to declare it a state of ka it of catastrophe. the average gas of regular glass lean a $2.50, down $1.15 a year ago. pulitzer prize winning columnist bill safire died. he wrote about politics and the proper use of the english language. william safire was 79 years old. film director roman polanski plans to resist efforts to return him to the united states. he was arrested in switzerland over the weekend on a fugitive warrant for a crime three decades ago.

nbc's dawna friesen joins us from zurich with more. >> reporter: roman polanski came here to receive a lifetime achievement award at the zurich film festival. instead he was taken into custody as soon as he landed, arrested on a 32-year-old warrant for ving sex with an underaged girl. for years he's lived as one of the film world's most celebrated fugitives. roman polanski, now 76 has directed movie classics from "chinatown," to "rosemary's baby," but a dark episode in his own past has long plagued him. >> never dreamt of finding myself on the other side of the law. >> reporr: in 1977, polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with a min. his victim was just 13. it took place at jack nicholson's l.a. home while the actor was away. polanski was said to be photographing the girl for a modeling shoot. she, long ago, went public about the ordeal.

>> it was so traumatic starting that night when my mom called the police and the police come over and they take you to the hospital, then they take you to the police station. >> reporter: polanski spent 42 days in prison undergoing psychiatric tests but fled the u.s. before being sentenced. for more than three decades he's lived in france where he is a citizen and has never returned to the u.s., even when his film "the pianist" won an oscar in 2002. now 32 years later the law has caught up with him. >> until you're ultimately sentenced by a court of law, there is no justice. there will be some form of justice, maybe not perfect justice. >> reporter: but many question, why now? >> i think most people in the movie business are stunned and puzzled by this. >> reporter: but some think polanski has to face the music. >> crime doesn't make the crime go away. you do the crime, you should do the time. >> reporter: his victim now says she doesn't want to see him put in jail, that she's forgiven him. but polanski now faces possible extradition to the united states.

this morning his french lawyer said the arrest was indefensible, he said he'll fight that and any attempts at extradition. but for now, roman polanski remains in custody here in switzerland. there is a chance under swiss law he could apply for bail but we're told that's very rare in these circumstances. >> dawna freeze thn morning, thanks. on a much lighter note, "cloudy with a chance of meatballs" held on the top spot at the weekend box office taking in more than $4 million according to early estimates. "surrogates" was second and "fame" was third. six minutes past the hour. let's get a check of the weather from al. >> we got some nice folks here from chili's. >> donating 100% of our profits to st. jude's for children's research. if you come in, dine with us today, all the profits go to take care of the kids. >> what's your name? >> jason. >> you're the duck guy. a survivor. more than a survivor.

he's thriving. how old are you? >> 7. >> all right. there you go. good man. all right. let's show you what's going on as far as your weather's concerned. we got an upper low spinning around the great lakes bringing a lot of wind and rain to the great lakes. also some moisture moving on through new england. out west, we got plenty of sunshine. hot weather, unfortunately, going to cause more problems for firefighters. record highs through the southwest. some rain in the pacific northwest. look for more rain around the great lakes. breezy conditions through texas and the plains. and we got sunshine through the southeast. that's what's going on around the country. why don't you say "now here's what's happening in your next of the woods?" you don't want to say it? >> actually, can i --ç#ç#ç#ç#ç## good morning. we have bright sunshine in washington. live picture from the city camera showing the monument lit up in the september sun. temperature now 63 in washington.

near 60 in the nearby suburbs. rural areas in the upper 50s. highs reaching low and mid 70s before a cool front arrives with clouds and blustery winds. small chance of a passing shower this afternoon. morning lows, 40s. afternoon highs, in the >> who do you want to say hi to? >> jeremy and daddy. >> give them a duck. that's what i'm talking about. thanks, bud. natalie? thank you, al. time now for "today's health." this morning we're talking about varicose and spider veins. they're unsightly but they can be more than just a cmetic problem. dr. nancy snyderman is here with the causes and a few solutions. good morning.

talk about the differences first. what's the difference between spider veins and varicose veins? >> spider veins are the really little superficial veins right underneath the skin. they looked like spied dwer webs. they're really teeny. varicose veins are what you see here, more torchous, bigger, unsightly veins that go really into the lower leg. spider veins can be found all over your body but varicose veins are in the lower legs. that's what a really engorged varicose vein looks like. >> they can be more than a cosmetic problem. >> they hurt. because that blueish that you see in that vein, that's stagnated blood. when our heart pumps blood down to our legs, our muscles work to push that blood back up to our heart. but veins are funny. they don't have that muscular wall that arteries do so they have little valves, sort of like docks. those valves have to close, squish, close, squish, close,

squish, close. that's how you get the blood back up. when it doesn't work so well, the blood pools. that's achiness. people on their feet all the time say my legs are just killing me because it really does hurt. >> w mention women tend to be more prone to getting varicose and spider veins but men can get them, too. we know what causes it but what about genetics and other contributing factors that can lead to it? you mentioned standing on your feet a lot. >> the biggest cause is age. we're all going to get them when we get older, some to a bigger severity than others. women get them more than men because of hormonal changes. obesity a huge reason why people get them. if your mother or great aunt had them, you may get them. genetics plays a role. being on your feet. nurses, bank tellers, people who really pound their feet will tell you -- >> i know women during pregnancy tend to get them a lot. >> that's not only because of extra weight gain and also the change in hormones, but where do

you carry a fetus down in your pelvis, cutting off blood supply to your lower legs. >> and you have more blood coursing through your veins. >> spoken as a true woman who's been pregnant! >> you learn a couple of things, sadly, about spider veins. talk about treatment. there are a lot of options these days. the first thing, schlero therapy. that's the golden standard. >> pie der veins is for cosmetic. pz it is really injecting the vein with a little bit of a solution that just shrivels it up. spider veins you don't need -- you don't need any of these voins. you can have them removed. there's enough collateral circulation that you don't need it. this does not hurt. you're seeing this here probably just a little bit of overkill. most doctors just do this in their office. >> you leave that day and you're fine. >> boom, you're done. every once in a while you may need a second injection. no, usually just dries them up and it is over.

>> lasers have also been really incredible. >> in just my lifetime laser light, absorbed by pigment in the skin. new lasers meant just for this are absorbed by the red in the blood. if you get the right laser, the blood will absorb that laser light and it basically destroys the inside of the vein. again, doesn't hurt. takes care of it. very, very easy. >> out-patient procedure. >> out-patient. most people say they sometimes feel like a little snap, but rarely, rarely any discomfort. works really well for spiders. may take more than one for a big varicose vein. >> if you're not going the surgical route or choosing for any of these more expensive treatments, what are some things you can do to help control the appearance? >> make up, make up, make up. i'm going to pull out something that's considered most unattractive for most people. this is a support stocking. why is it important? well, if you really have lousy looking legs and you hate them,

it will cover it up. most important, this is like trying to punch out of a rubber ball. it's really tight. if you look at medical professionals, they'll sometimes wear these because it keeps the blood from pooling in your lower leg, pushes it back up to your heart, and frankly, makes your legs feel better. either dressing them up or regular old makeup for the mild ones. >> if you're one of the people who's constantly standing on the job, that's probably something to think about. also another thing, crossing our legs, is it true? >> no. urban myth. >> is it? really? >> you can sit on something cold, you can cross your legs. any of those legs. the laundry list we showed earlier -- it's not going to change anything. if none of those things works, there's always surgery but surgery, like anything else, is a last resort. surgery is usually removing the vein, something we call vein stripping or removing the more torchuous veins. >> sounds uncomfortable. >> then you do have to live in

these things until the blood recirculates itself. you have to know your options. from the minimal cosmetic or doing nothing, all the way up to surgery, whether it is a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, vascular surgeon, there are a lot of great places where people can go right now and for the men out there who think this is just a woman's disease, no. men should know that they can get help, too. >> dr. nancy snyderman, thank you so much. coming up next, the right way to talk with your spouse about what's really bothering you. > then later, what your child's teachers are really thinking and how knowing can cause your kids to do better in school. cause your kids to do better in school. but first, these messages. t. and now for the first time, in new sun crystals ® . the only 100% natural sweetener made with pure cane sugar and stevia. finally, all the sweetness of nature and just 5 calories a packet. nature gave us the recipe; we just gave it a name. new sun crystals ® all natural sweetener.

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relationships," marriage hotspots. wedded bliss can require some heavy lifting particularly whether it comes to issues like parenting and sex. how do you tackle those tricky topics without killing the romance? stacy morrison the editor in chief of "redbook" magazine, jeff is a clinical psychologist. good to see both of you. stacy, what do you think are the toughest issues we deal with when we talk about marriage? >> well, patienting, sex, and how you communicate. that pretty much wraps it all up in one big pile. money, too. >> they all relate to one of those issues. >> absolutely. >> men and women see these issues a lot differently. don't they? >> i think they do. i think women are a lot more relaxed because they know what

it is that they need to do. they stay on-mission. many guys feel they're not getting the support of their wives. i think a particular example of that is when we look at this whole issue of communication. the biggee. stacy, you talk about the issue of having the heart-to-heart tas. guys hate that. maybe five, ten minutes, hit it and quit it. that's it. whereas women want to talk much, much more. >> keep going around and around. >> once we've agreed there was a problem, and we were wrong, but you keep going. >> the big thing is effective communication. instead of talking and talking again an again, which i agree women do like to do, it's to have a shared space where you say today we're going to talk about how we connect or we're going to talk about parenting and kids. find that way that to bring it down to a contained moment. then communicate the rest of the time about who you are, what you saw today that made you laugh. make sure you connect about the small stuff in life. >> the woman sets the tone. she tells us what we're going to talk about and we go with it.

>> as the way it should be. talk about some of the tips. first, we all try it but i think we're all guilty of lefting it fall by the wayside, always set aside one date night. >> right. date night at "redbook" is sort of the holy grail. we kind of all laugh and roll our eyes. but the truth is if you don't make that space on the calendar to connect, then you don't connect in a way you just remember who you were as individuals before you started raising a family and had a long-term relationship. >> should you be talking about parenting things -- >> don't talk at all about the tasks of life. if it only is ten minutes across the kitchen table holding hands, that's date night, too. it doesn't have to be dinner and a movie. >> you don't have to spend money and so on. guys are like, wait a minute, i don't want to spend a whole hour, two hours doing this. just spending that ten minutes you're talking about holding hands is fine. >> play scrabble -- i'm a scrabble addict. you ow me. >> that can also lead to some problems. >> don't fight about it. >> jeff, you also say set ground rules about parenting. >> it is very important.

parenting is an extension of who we are. our culture, what we want for our kids. i think sometimes we have to agree to disagree but we have to be on the same page as to what we tell our kid. whatever we do, hash it out and make sure that we are unified team so those kids don't conquer and divide. >> we recommend that you make ground rules about bed times, about another hot button issue, screen time, how much tv and video games, that you make rules about, where they are allowed to go alone as they get older, when they call or not to tell you they're changing venue. >> have you been eavesdropping? >> curfews and all those things. >> you have to make those ground rules when you aren't irritate irritated. >> find intimacy every day. >> absolutely. you pass each other in the hallway, reach out -- >> rub the shoulder, hold hands. >> hold hands when you walk out to the car. make that moment before someone leaves for work. just grab your partner's face and plant a big kiss. you have to keep reconnecting in

that intimate place that's just what you share with no one else. >> that's really important for women. we guys need to know that. a lot of times we think, it is just a home run that we score in the bedroom but in fact it takes a lot longer to be able to be in that space with a woman and it begins with those little intimacies day by day. >> jeff, you also say -- this might be one of the me important ones -- don't skip alone time. >> alone time is so important, because there are so many things that we do throughout the day and we become exasperated and angry at everyone else that we have to do whatever they want. it's important to look at what it is that we need in order to relax, destress and so on and it will make us a much more happy and efficient partner and parent. >> okay. because if you're not feeling good inhere, you can't be good for your partner. >> absolutely. >> you make everybody else crazy. trust me. >> stacy and jeff, thank you so much. still to come, we'll take a look at the changing face of our nation. but first, these messages.

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still to come, what it's like to live as a mixed race american. plus, ten things you should know before you have your parent-teacherfe fall. later the queen of the burger.

the contest winner shares the secret of her success after your local news and weather. ( hairdryer whirring ) - ( shop bell rings ) - ( pants ) queso! i need queso! please. announcer: it doesn't matter why you need queso. it just matters how you make it. all you need is velveeta - and spicy ro-tel tomatoes and green chilies. - ( timer dings ) and before you know it, you've got smooth creamy queso.

thank you! ro-tel and velveeta. together they make queso. 9:26 is the time right now on this monday, september 28th, 2009. good morning. i'm barbara harrison. in the news at this hour -- may day, may day, may day. you may remember this. it happened last spring. it was an explosion that rocked a popular shopping center in prince george's county.

that explosion injured nine firefighters and was caused by a gas leak. four months later, a second gas leak is detected at that same strip mall in forrestville. it was discovered near the marshalls at the pen-mar shopping center. crews are now working to isolate that leak. well take a break and come back with weather and traffic

good morning. sunny. temperatures near 60 in washington. far to our west and north, we have clouds an some showers moving into the mountains ahead of a cool frant that will be sweeping through later on this afternoon. we will see temperatures climb into the low and mid 70s. between noon and 4:00 p.m., passing showers possible. blustery winds and cooler tomorrow. steve, how is the traffic? >> pretty slow. heavy an slow on eastbound 66, tom, passing an incident near

the fairfax county parkway in the westbound lanes. over to maryland, the beltway looks pretty good at silver spring. springfield, so far, so good, north and southbound as you leave the beltway heading up towards springfield. barbara? thanks, steve. tomorrow morning, we will tell you where to find some of the best shopping deals on the internet, 60-inch tvs for $400. many other products sell for 50%

♪ to see what's down another road beyond a hill ♪ ♪ well, she needs no introduction. of course that's legendary barbra streisand. for one of the biggest music selling artists in history, she's actually notorious for having stage fright. >> really? >> yes. that says a lot about overcoming your fears to greatness as she

certainly has. she was performing in this video over the weekend at the village vanguard here in new york city and tomorrow here on "today," meredith will sit down with the song bird to talk about her extraordinarcareer and also her new album called "love is the answer." we'll look for that. still to come this morning, the changing face of america. a new book out has portraits and essays and interviews that examine what it is like to be multi-racial in this nation. we'll talk to the authors just ahead. i just fair disclosure, i actually contributed a forward to this book because i'm multi-racial. >> and multi-talented. >> well, one would hope. plus, the dreaded parent-teacher conference right around the corner. how truthful is your child's teacher when it comes to telling you what he or she is really thinking not only about your child, but guess what? about you. we'll get advice on understanding what teachers are up against and how you can help your child and your teacher do better in school. >> very delicate conversation. >> it is.

also later on, if your food budget means filling up your family with burgers, we'll show you how to turn that boring beef patty into a gourmet treat with the winner of a build a better burger contest. speaking of contests, we should mention we're still looking for "today's" kid reporter. >> this is a great opportunity for a young child. between the ages of 8 and 12, if you know someone who fits the bill, have him or her report on any story that he or she may choose to showcase interviewing and story telling skills. send us the videotape. we'll take entried up through october 7th. that's right. in fact, young matt lauer is going to try to submit it but he is not allowed because he works here. >> the submissions should be no longer than a minute. officials rules ar posted on todayshow.com. >> that person may be sitting next to us on the sofa pretty soon. let's get a check of the weather. >> as far as today's concerned, for the week ahead, below-normal

conditions in the northeast and great lakes, much below normal out in the western plains, above normal down south. rain all the way up into the it's a cool autumn morning. we are already seeing a little tinge of color. peak color still a month away. our temperatures are in the cool low 60s. on radar, we have a few showers out in western maryland and southern pennsylvania. those are ahead of a cool front that will be arriving later on today. we wl sethese temperatures are in the low 60s, now >> and that's your latest weather. when we woman back, inside the mind of a teacher. what parents need to know after these messages. ( gasps ) do you hear that sound?

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♪ ♪ i promise to think of myself as a beautiful person. [ applause ] ♪

school today," the ten things you should know before back-to-school night. knowing how your child's teacher thinks will help you out before you ask your laundry list of questions. donna banks, features editor for "reader's digest" which covers this topic and "today" contributor ruth peters is a clinical psychologist. donna, in in other words this is an idea, you need to know what the teacher is thinking before you start planning your questions because they may help you. >> what happened when we asked teachers across the country in elementary and middle schools what was on their mind, boying with were they eager to tell us. they wanted us to remember we're professionals and not baby-sitters. we're in this because it is calling, it is a passion, not really in this for the money. no teacher's in it for the

money. >> given the average teacher spends $500 for supplies for their own classrooms. a shame really. elementary school classrooms, if we teach small children don't tell us that our jobs are so cute and that you wish you could glue and color all day long. we tend to think of the lower grades as cute. it's not really school. >> it's not about gluing and coloring. you have kids who cannot sit on the circle line. their attention spans are sport. they're having meltdowns. there are a lot of immaturities. then there are lights over who is going to be line leader. then there are the academics. it is not that easy. >> parents of ceos of their own companies come in and tell me how to run my own classroom. i'd never think of going into their office and tell them how to do their jobs. >> this is about boundaries. it may look chaotic to you, different little work stations and all, but there's real experience and science behind it. they're in charge of that classroom and managing. you have to respect that. >> i love this next one. i'm not a marriage counselor.

at parent/teacher conferences, let's stick to dakota's progress not how your husband won't help around the house. the key is that we're talking about your child, not about you. >> it's so true. >> it really is. that's what it really is child centered because teachers only have a lotted a certain amount of time for this and they have to stick to it. stick to the academics and stick to the behavior. >> we also have to remember that our kids aare sponges and whatever they hear at home they'll repeat. kids dish on your secrets all time. money, religion. politics. even dad's vasectomy. >> you know, it's what happens in vegas stays in vegas. i think you have to have a discussion with the kid about privacy, boundaries and intimacy. if you don't want your child to announce it over the p.a. system, don't tell the child. >> this next one is very important. guilty as charged. your child may be the center of

your universe but i have to share mine with 25 others. >> you do. you have to respect that. when you go for a parent-teacher conference, you can't hog up that time. that's your time to really focus on your child. and what's going on with your child. >> the next one is very important. we take on the role of mother, father, psychologist, friend and advisor every day. plus we're watching for learning disabilities, issues at home, peer pressure, drug abuse, and bullying. we have to remember that these are teachers, they're not therapists or psychologists, although in a sense we ask them to be all these different roles. >> i think teachers can be message senders. they can tell you i think johnny has a problem with this. but then need to take it to the school guidance counselor, pediatrician or even your own private therapist if there's something significant going on. >> this is kind of interesting, we can tell the difference between a parent helping their child with homework and doing it for them especially when they're clueless in class the next day. the message is, we as parents

have already gone to school. it is our kid's turn. >> parents have to remember homework is not something that has to be aced. this is really about recapping what happened, what they went over in class to see if the child gets it or not, what don't they understand, what do they need additional help on. so the teacher can't figure that out if you're doing the homework for them. >> teachers are saying we wish parents would make their kids own up to their actions instead of pressuring us to bend the rules. basically, have your kids take responsibility. >> i think parents should monitor, they shall supervise, make sure the kid does the homework and -- but that's where they need to step back and make sure the kid is on-task but the child does the homework. >> the truth is very simple -- your kid will lie to get out of trouble. >> absolutely. if it doesn't sound right, check with the school. the lies are usually "i did the homework in can class" or "there was none." if in doubt, check it out. >> finally, we are not the enemy. patients and teachers are really

on the same side. doa, teachers are saying this work is important and they're not here to fight you, they're here to help. >> absolutely. teachers really do welcome a supportive, involved parent. they don't want that helicopter syndrome going on. but together the two of you know that child best and you can best work to raise a child who is smart and has confidence and is responsible. as one of my friends put it, we're preparing our children so they can drive in a world we can't even imagine today. >> thanks so much. number 11, nice present doesn't hurt either. what is it like to live as a mixed race american? we'll find out right after these messages. with ragu, you can give your kids veggies they'll actually eat. ragu has more than a full serving of veggies in every half-cup. so give them a good start with all natural ragu.

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♪ activia! the topic of race has defined america through centuries through a series of powerful essays and photographs. a new book called "blend nation, portraits and interviews of mixed-race america."

its authors are pamela singh and mike tauber. the timing of this, released after the election of america's first multi-racial president. why this topic for the two of you? you're a photographer, you're an interview writer. why this topic? >> when we started this project seven years ago, at the time we weren't even married and i think back then because pamela's mixed and this is an issue she's dealt with before and she's been faced with the "what are you?" question, she brought up the topic. i thought it was a really powerful photography project that really needed photographs to be explored and to have interviews along with the photographs was really the best way to explore this because we really wanted to dig into what it's like to exist between the perceived racial categories on the u.s. census. >> pamela, you are mixed-race yourself. >> yes, i am. >> you are east asian and -- >> and black.

>> you have children also. so i would imagine you want like so many people who are -- have children, who are children, you want to have some kind of dialogue about something that is really not talked about in this country or really in the world. there's something like 7 million people who have said that they were multi-racial in 2000. it is expected that in the 2010 census that number will go up by 33%. what do you hope this book will tell people about the experience of being multi-racial? >> as mike said, we really wanted to capture this group -- this expanding demographic. i mean i think children under the age of 18, mixed-race children, this is the fastest growing demographic right now in the u.s. and we wanted to really capture in words and images what it's like to exist in no-man's land. you know, there are a lot of segments in the u.s. society that feel the need to categorize people in a specific box and there's waning relevance of these types of categories going

forward. >> on the 2000 census, it was the first year people weren't forced to choose one race. if you're black and you're white or asian and you're white, you didn't have to choose one of those to indicate on the census. you were allowed to check more than one box for the first time in history. >> you mentioned the "what are you?" question. i got that question so many times. what the request are you anyway?" if i had a dime for every time, i could have a huge bank account. but you were asked that question a lot? >> absolutely. many, many times. i don't know if there is a better way to ask that question. maybe the way to phrase it might be, "where are you from?" but then that's also very br i've always experienced not being able to check a particular racial box, and so i guess our key question for this book is really why are these boxes even relevant? maybe in 20 years we might not even have the need for these boxes. >> you discovered in terms of how people decide what box to pick or who they think they are, there is a difference in terms

of how people identify themselves, like you can look really asian and say -- think that you're asian even though you're mixed race, or you can look really asian and not say that you're asian based on your own experience, who raised you. >> right. i think that's one of the major things that came out. we found that how somebody self-identifies doesn't necessarily match up with how society might see them. for instance, we photographed a girl named cindy who to anybody looking at her might see that she looks black but she was raised by her white grandparents in a white community for all intents and purposes she feels white. she doesn't necessarily as she say -- as she says, has a connection with black america. so what's it like to look black but not feel black? because you were raised in a white community. that's really kind of what we did. same thing goes for asian and white mixes. if you don't look asian but you have a strong connection to the asian culture, but nobody sees you as being asian, what's it

like to exist in that disparity? >> there's definitely a mismatch or gap between how society views an individual and how they view themselves. when it comes down to is that race is such a visual thing based on skin color and hair texture that an individual can very much feel as you said like one way, and completely look another. >> you have -- you have some photographs of your own children who are mixed race. you want to sort of have them then gain a clarity or an understanding about -- you have a beautiful family. >> thank you. >> about this. this book -- what do you hope that they and other kids will feel at the end of this, at the end of all this? i'm thinking what we want is to feel less disparity, less intolerance. just have a sense that it doesn't matter what we are, we're all human. >> well, i think our kids will have much larger community of mixed-race americans going forward as i said, it is a very rapidly growing demographic in

the u.s. we would -- they're very young -- too young to understand this at this point but we will obviously give them this book, hope they use it as a good i had and hopefully embrace their mixed-race heritage as an advantage. >> thanks so much. the book is "ble

we are joined, kathie lee gifford, welcome back. >> i left hoda in very good hands. everything went well. right? >> we missed you. what's going on? >> show's still on. >> we are going to talk about

9 cloon 9:56 is our time. 26 degrees on this 28th day of september. a body has been found at a church playground. this is happening at the ascension lutheran church in landover hills. we do not know how the person died. we will bring you any more information as we get it and more news coming up on "news 4 midday." a heads up to anyone that uses fairfax connector bus 380. that route will be rerouted. the temporary route will start at the gam breaux road park and

ride lot and travel to the back leg road parking lot and straight to the pentagon. this will not serve the fran conus metro station. this is in place so construction can begin at the metro station. a no-fun monday in redskins nation. the skins lost 19-14 in detroit. yes, that means they lost to the ons, a team that did not win a single game in all of last year. the team hadn't won a year since december of 2007. we will tell you what the skins fans are saying coming up on "news 4 midday." let's go to tom. sunshine now. clouds will be rolling in this afternoon with a small chance of a passing shower. by tomorrow morning, the 40s. windy and cooler on tuesday. partly cloudy. highs in the 60

captions paid for by nbc-universal television hi, everybody. it is monday, september 28th, i have been gone a little bit. >> can i just say, welcome back. >> you may say that, hoda. >> that was quite a long week.

we had the boys in. they brought a lot of gifts. >> i noticed. >> when they come, they come bearing gifts. >> we will talk about that at a later date. are we allowed to keep those? >> personal gifts from friends. >> well. >> how was your time? >> we want to wish everyone a blessed yawn. we hope you have a blessed holiday. my daughter and i were in california shooting an episode of a huge disney show called "the sweet life on deck." there is a picture of cass. >> this used to be called "the sweet life of zach and cody." >> then they moved it from the hotel to a cruise ship. it was fun, we had a ball. i play, i play a super model. a former super model whose best

days were about 40 years ago. so, you know, obviously, it was straight out of central casting, but the woman's a little bitter, but not much. she went from being a face model to a hand model. that used to be kindf sad. but it was funny because cass started acting when she was 11. she did "that's so raven" episode and she knew then that's what she wanted to do. >> the shot is crazy good. how old is she? >> she's 16. she's 16. and, you know what, i was working the whole week with her but at the same time, so nervous. that's lindsay on the right and i can't remember the beautiful girl on the left. those were extras in the show and cass had a small role, but that's how it starts. >> i like it, she's taking off. she's got a long runway. you can picture it. >> i don't have mixed emotions

at all. frank does. why can't she wait until she's out of school. i started working when i was 12 years old doing what i love to do. >> once you find the thing that rings the bell and makes your heart beat and you're home -- >> george clooney. if you find the thing you love and george clooney. >> we're going to ask you five questions to determine if you are happy. here are two of them. think about these. the first ones, how often do you do things you really like to do? >> every day. >> every day. >> that's a question. how often do you do things you really like to do? some things i do things out of obligation. sometimes it's imbalanced. >> that's the problem with the world how often. every day do something that makes you happy and brings you joy. >> this is a good one. how often do you get so involved in something that you lose track oftime. like when you're so into a

project or for some people it's gardening and some people whatever that thing is, how often do you get lost? >> totally happened to cass all last week. this is a child that must eat regularly like on the hour and, you know, all of a sudden she'd go it's lunchtime, it's 4:00. also not a mango or papaya left in southern california. >> she chowed. >> i was enjoying it so much because i was with her watching her grow, but the thing that did it for me was writing. when all of a sudden i started to get involved in writing and i realized i hadn't eaten lunch and it was way past happy hour and wasn't holding anything. >> we are becoming less happy. especially women, women less so than men. we're doing this whole segment on happiness. you have to believe the premise. they have to take care of the kids, work, do everything, when

you do everything you can't do everything all the way. >> or truly well. yeah. >> you just can't. plus, if we're less happy, than probly our husbands, boyfriends are less happy. >> think about it, what you do for a living, you spend eight hours, most people at least eight hours a day. one-third of your day is miserable, you know, how can it not have a huge effect on the rest of your day, the rest of your life and the people around you? >> i think the more, the economy, i think, is really taking its toll on marriages and on relationships and stuff like that, but do you think, do you believe the premise that women seem less happy now than they used to be? >> i think in some ways life is easier for women. we have more options, we are closing the gap in terms of financial, you know, it was not always an equal world and still not quite. >> at all. >> it's getting there. along with options and

opportunity comes responsility and all of a sudden we have more diseases, more like men, more heart disease, more ulcers, more all kind of stuff. >> we have a lot of stress. >> you can have it all at different times. >> vanty fair asked women if they could change places with somebody, who would they change places with. >> make you happier. >> i think it would make you happier, yes. the women picked number one, michelle obama. number two, hillary clinton. number three, they picked angelina jolie. and number four was beyonce. so, two superstars. >> nobody wants to be us? not one person. >> not even 1%. 0%. beyonce. there's this cute video. beyonce did the "single ladies"

dance. ♪ >> that is the cutest. >> come on. >> that is crazy. >> oh, that is the cutest. >> oh, my gosh. >> that is insane. >> that is hilarious. >> oh, my gosh. >> 22-month-old cory elliot. >> is that a little girl or a little boy? >> it doesn't matter. >> hysterial. >> all the way through. not stopping. >> oh, come on. >> they're from new zealand, by the way. >> i like the one leg.

>> down on her knees. >> right on beat. >> okay, that's hilarious. >> that shot wants to be beyonce. >> that is so hilarious and adorable. >> that is darling. >> so, barack obama -- >> see i wouldn't want to be barack obama. i don't sleep as it is. i can't imagine going, trying to sleep at night knowing you have to deal with everything. >> did you see the spoof on "snl"? >> no. >> it was funny. >> i think it's so funny that he couldn't pitch his tent. you can't make up this stuff. >> i was reading the papers out there and i just couldn't believe it. >> i wonder if he's thinking he doesn't want someone spying on him. away from where people are listening. >> they wouldn't let him be in

englewood. does he always have to sleep in a tent? i think it's fun when you're a little kid. >> i think it's about people listening. he doesn't want people listening in on his business. >> he doesn't make any sense anyway. come on. i tried to watch the speech because it was three hours earlier there. >> on and on and on. >> reminds me of our notes some mornings. only tim he addressed the u.n. and that was ill prepared. >> maybe that's how he does it. >> the people who the men want to be george clooney. hello. and barack obama was second. boy, so, even with all the issues going on. so, george clooney is first and barack obama is second. >> i would not want to be mrs. clinton. >> no. >> i think she's doing very important work, but, oh, my gosh, the schedule and the problems in the world -- you think you have problems, hoda. >> we have to talk about chloe

kardashian. she got married. >> is this a real marriage, i'm confused. >> her mom, chris, called me a week earlier and said we're not saying it, we're not telling anybody yet but we want you to come to chloe's wedding and she said, who are yis she marrying? i was with chris the month before and that is when he met her. >> about a month ago. >> obviously, you wish everybody all the best in the world, but that's a tough way to start, i think. >> to sprint into it. >> yeah. they only met a month ago. and i guess started this relationship, aelationship and that's all i can say is that i wish her all the best in the world. we couldn't make the wedding because i had to get back here to work and cass had school. >> who's pregnant? >> cory's pregnant. >> chloe got married. it must be so weird to have every single thing in your life

all out there. i mean, yesterday tmz is like here's people walking in the wedding and pictures and this and that. i wonder if it gets to be, jon and kate, the ratings on their show is the lowest they have ever been. keep in mind, kate has been everywhere. she was on larry king, yet, the numbers still continue to drop. i wonder if there is a point that people say, we're over the whole thing. >> i think they reached it. >> you think so? >> oh, yeah. >> remember, i told you what happened with that when i did the larry king thing, cassidy, my daughter was in the green room and kate did her thing first. first time i met her and there were ton of paparazzi as we walked in, not for me and cass, but for her. i'm glad my days are over. as kate is leaving larry and larry says coming up kathie lee with advice for kate.

i do? i thought i was here to sell. she comes back and when i come on she stays there to see what i have to say. she knows cass is my daughter and larry says off the bat, how do you think she's doing? i said in light of everything that is going on, as great as you can do. he said, you went through tough times in life, too, what did you do? i got out of it. i left a very successful show, went home and tk care of my family, took care of my marriage and tried to heal some things that were hurting and i guess kate, cassidy heard kate say to her press person it's called a paycheck. i remember cass was thinking, well, my mom got paid really well for that show, too. it was, i thought it was -- anyway, i wish them well. if you really want to save your family, turn the cameras off. >> and hang out with your

family. >> good morning, sara. >> i missed you. >> i missed you. we're talking about the poll of happiness. becky wrote in i feel so caught up in obligation i lost the passion in life. katy said we put so much pressure on our selves to do everything and do everything well, as women. >> and y really can't. i think if you think about the question. when were you your happiest? when was the happiest time in your life so far? for some people it was before it got complicated. you know, when things were simple and easy. >> that's usually what people who made it say. that's the best time. >> magic johnson and his wife, cookie, when we could afford one pizza. >> sat on the floor and ate it. thank you, sara. next up, derek luke. we love him. >> brand-new show on nbc called

"trauma." then we have antwan fisher. what a doll. we'll see him after these messages.

new jersey native derek luke got his first break starring antwone fisher which happened to be denzel washington's directal debut. >> now many roles later he stars in medical drama called "trauma." an action-packed look on what goes on outside the e.r. in one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world, paramedics. >> we are big fans of yours. >> wow. >> i was looking in the "washington post" and saw a nice big kiss for the show. you got a nice review out of the gate. >> that's a blessing. >> so much of that, there's so much to choose from these days. people see a great review, i'll at least give that a shot. tonight the premiere night?

>> yeah. they have me going back to work right after this. >> i bet. >> different thanet's say an "e.r." or some of the different medical shows we're used to? >> it takes place on the field. on the field spawn tenuity and you don't know what's going to happen. >> a lot of location shooting. >> we're dealing with the personality of the city where in the "e.r." it's control. >> the personality of the hospital. >> so, these guys, you know, usually when trouble happens we're running to it and people are usually running away. >> true heroes and, yet, flawed human beings. that is what makes it an interesting part to play. >> e writing in antwone fisher, my gosh, hard to find something good after that. >> the writing is crisp and peter burg who directed me in "friday night lights" and nbc is doing something amazing with the show. their message is action but the

human side, you know. that's what i'm attracted to. >> a lot of people remember you from antwone fisher and i love how you got it. you haven't done any major acting and somehow you land this incredible part that changed your whole career, didn't it? >> in school, i acted up. >> that's part of the same thing. >> that's the same thing. >> now you get paid for it. >> got slapped for it in school. you know, my heart desire to move from jersey to l.a. and, you know, i believe that dreams are your real reality, here i am. >> your dad had been an actor and now a pastor. >> reverend luke. >> where does he have his church? >> it was in jersey, but he kind of left that and went to miami and settling down. >> you have a wonderful, adorable wife who is sitting, where is she? ten years you have been married. >> people who meet you say you have such a terrific love story.

how do you sustain that kind of marriage especially in hollywood? >> hollywood is just a place i work and marriage is a place i live. you have to focus on your marriage. >> what is this picture we're looking at? what is happening there? >> is that your wedding? >> actually, no, this is the spirit award. >> you had been a waiter three years before and then you win that spirit award. that is so funny. what a great story. >> it was so timely because the spirit award was really about the achievement of how my wife has been a trailblazer and pushing my spirit to keep doing what i'm doing. >> a good woman. that is a perfect picture. and then you went back and got her and gave it to her. >> yes, it belonged to her because, many times you work and you're bringing home the money and a lot of times you come home discouraged because the system -- >> it's a hard business. >> i think marriage is more, people are discouraged, but true

family, true marriage can encourage you. >> wow, you're lucky. you're really lucky. >> i am totally in love with you. >> oh, man. >> in a good way. you are the real deal. >> you are sweet. we wish you great success. this show looks awesome. good luck tonight. >> knock it dead. >> you can catch derek in the series premiere of "trauma" at 8:00, 9:00 on nbc. why women are less happy than we were 30 years. i personally am miserable. what to do about it.

still to come, everything we want is out there. why are so many women still unhappy? weal rr find out what to do about that. plus, the winner of a build a better burger contest is in our kitchen to share her winning recipe. your local news and weather. she beat out of thousands of contestants.

a body found early this morning at a playground on a prince county church. good morning. i'm barbara harrison. a look at fedex fields. cruise are not setting up for the next redskins game but for a concert this week. we will have details. "news 4 midday" begins

we're back on this monday with more of today. we're talking about women and happiness. we may have come a long way, baby, but are we happy about it? they have studied the paradox of declining female happiness and marcus buckingham is the auther of "find your strongest life." welcome to all of our guests. well, this is a little bit of a downer that we're not happy. tell us what your study showed.

>> what we did was look at data from several surveys and tens of thousands of people and what we found is that women are less happy over the last 35 years and less satisfy would their lives. >> because of? >> well, that is the question. >> why? what did you come up with? >> is it happening to re types of people than otrs. >> financial situations. >> we looked at rich versus poor. we saw them in both. it's happening to the young and the old. >> so it's global. global female unhappiness. >> but did you check it during this economy? are these recent numbers? >> we looked at the recent numbers and the happiness is about men and women has really plummeted and economic recession turns out happiness. >> the only one growing is african-american women. they're growing a little bit in happiness. >> both african-american women and men got happy over the last several years.

>> is it because we're doing too, women are doing too many things. mothers and we have jobs and we have to take care of everything and just not enough of us to go around to do anything 100%. >> i think that is a great explanation and, fortunately, we don't have enough information to know for sure that's it, but we did find in a survey of teenage girls, seniors in high school that everything is becoming more important to them. contributing to their community and having successful jobs and careers and taking care of their families and what they're telling us, they've been less satisfied with, time for fun. >> we're overscheduling our kids like crazy. you guys had questions. these are the questions you're going to answer to find out if you are happy. how often do you do things that you really like to do? how often do you look forward to the coming day? how often do you get so involved in what you're doing you lose track of time? how oen do you feel

invigorated at the end of a long tired day? and how often do you feel an emotional high in your life? those are important questions and i would guess a lot of people probably aren't saying yes to a lot of those. >> two out of five on a good day, marcus. are you having a happy day? >> the focus is what if anything did the women have in common that are bucking that trend. we wanted to say let's look at those five questions and anybody who could say every day to four out of five we want to sit down and talk to them. >> you didn't call me, you didn't call hoda. >> what made thosewomen unique? >> two things they do differently. so much we have going on and the image of a woman that is happy is she is a juggler. the skill is throwing, not catching. if you spend your entire life as a juggler you never hold on to any moment long enough to feel it. first, they didn't focused on dreams and plans and they focus on moments. they seem to know that life

throws a lot of moments at you. some invigorate you and some don't. and, second, they didn't strive for balance. they strove for imbalance. >> that they love the most. >> then they deliberately tilted their life towards those moments and they strove for fullness rather than balance. balance is a precarious thing. >> say you're a mother and a wife and you have a job you love and you get so much fulfillment out of it, in a way, if you're really coming home as that person you're all talking about that had a great day and even though the child may not see you as much, they get a happy mommy when they come home. is that what you're saying? >> another piece of research where kids were asked, what would you want more from your working mom? and then the moms were asked the same thing. what would your kids say and 56% of the moms said the kids would want more time with me.

10% of the kids said that. 34% of the most common answer was the kids said i want my mom to feel less stressed and tired. that's another thing to worry about. >> it does impact them hugely. >> when you walk in like that. what effect is it having on men. if we're unhappy then our men probably aren't that happy either. >> well, what we see is that in the united states men have basically stayed about the same. they haven't had much of an increase in hainess or much of a decrease and in europe men are wildly happier. >> why? wildly happier? >> wildly happier. >> they have to do anything they want. let's be honest. come on. >> if you project the data forward, today, men say in 197735% of men said they experienced some kind of work/life conflict. today 60% of men are saying they're experiencing some kind of conflict.

if you fast forward the data plen will begin to experience the same sort of challenges that women face. >> good. i'm surprisingly happy now. thank you all, very, very much. up next, we'll do something that makes everybody happy. we'll gossip. >> no, sometimes it helps.

we're back with today's buzz filling you with all things hot around hollywood and beyond. >> it's very confusing. you're here, we're happy. we're happy women. >> yes, we are. the kardashians, we talked about them in our chat. which one got married? >> khloe. >> they have to do a lot of things so we can all distinguish them because there's so many of them. >> what is going on there? what are they doing? >> was this a real marriage?

i mean, a lot came out yesterday about the fact that it may be a nonbinding ceremony because they only announced the engagement two weeks ago. they couldn't get the prenup done. >> there is talk of a post-nup. i do, if -- but it doesn't count until -- >> the executive producers of their shows and beautiful, beautiful beverly hills estate is gorgeous, gorgeous. chris called me a week before and said we're not talking about it, it may happen. >> this is the mom? >> this is the mom. we have been friends for 30 years. >> where was your invitation? >> i have struggled with this because i worry about the kids and i'm godmother of the two littlest ones. >> you're worried about them in the spotlight. >> the reason for the wedding on sunday "e" wanted to film the wedding for the opening of the

show in december. >> right, right. >> it's a one-month relationship. >> i do worry. i have known these girls since they were little girls and you do worry about them. it's a fast, tough world out there. >> they're very much in the forefront, aren't they? >> jon and kate's show, i heard, got the lowest ratings ever. >> plummeted. >> is something going on with these reality? are we getting sick of them or are we just sick of jon and kate? >> the genre or the personal story? >> i think it's jon and kate. definitely not the genre. keeping up wi the kardashians is a sample. but it's the fact that this used to be a sweet little family that people tuned in to. >> not little. >> this big family and now the drama of the divorce. >> out the window now. >> a single mom and he's not around. >> what about kate getting this new show going with paula dean

and other -- >> i think you had the word there, paycheck. she's looking t for the family. >> somebody has to. a lot of mouths to feed. >> exactly. >> last week mackenzie phillips was on a lot of shows. she was on our show and went to other places and she talked about how she and her dad had sexual relations for ten years, over the course of ten years. i was confused about what family members thought were saying. some believed her and some didn't. how did it shake out? >> her stepmom doesn't believe her. >> two stepmoms doesn't believe her but her sisters have come forward for her. china phillips, of course o, went on the show on the oprah show and said that she supported her sister. she had known about it for a long time. she also knew. she was a little -- but what's interesting is that mama cass' daughter has come out and said she knew about it as did kenny

doherty. >> can you imagine you would say something like that. it doesn't make any sense what she dido sell books. >> close personal friend of hers just related that her group of friends, her close circle of intimates when she was a young woman knew there was something going on. they didn't know what and they felt strange about it. all she cared about was her father's approval. >> she's still saying, you like him. >> the kid who didn't have a chance. >> no. >> thank you, guys. now i'm unhappy. >> we're going to eat a burger. we're going to have the contest winner, her recipe won the build a better burger contest.

time for today's kitschen and we're getting saucy with the newly crowned winner of the build a better burger contest.

there she is, ladies and gentlemen. susanne banfield. >> from new jersey with passion for cooking and she beat out 9,000 other recipes wowing the judges with her burger. it's called the roman patty melt burger. >> we're drooling already, congratulations. >> thank you so much. >> how did you decide to enter this contest, by the way? >> one of those things. i was in the wine store. >> we like you already. >> $50,000 to build a better burger. >> you got $50,000 for this hunk of meat? >> i can build a burger and 10,000 people later there i was in nassau over the weekend. >> what are you going to do with your 50 grand? >> probably take a cooking course in ireland. >> ireland? >> out in the farm area. >> how fantastic. >> a lot of fun. >> let's start out with regular ground beef. lean or it doesn't matter?

>> this is regular. we'll dump in all the italian seasoning. >> what's in there? >> we have garlic. crushed fennel and paprika and fres oregano and parmesan. >> okay. >> we're going to mix that baby up. >> i would take my rings off and dive in at home -- >> i'll do it for you because i left my ring off. i was not married in the episode, so i took my ring off. if you find it, please let me know. >> we'll put them on the grill. about four minutes per side. >> let me flip that. that looks beautiful. >> that looks really good. >> okay. >> gorgeous. look at that. gorgeous. all right. that's all the seasoning coming out. >> so now what? >> we'll make one of the toppings which we have olive oil in the pan. we'll start with some of the peppers. some of the onions.

>> yes, i would love a little bit of salt. >> a tiny bit of pepper. >> you are just sauteing some onions and peppers. >> why is my work so hard. >> all right, then, what about this stuff? >> this is o of the secret ingredients. >> pay attention. >> come here, she's about to reveal the secret ingredient. >> balsamic glaze. what is balsamic glaze? >> reduced balsamic vinegar. >> we'll cook that dn. >> let's get to the eating part. >> now we're going to build them. first, we're going to take the mayonnaise spread with a little sun dried tomato and spread each side of our bread. >> okay. >> then we'll start the layers of flavor. the first layer on one side, put some fresh basil. >> basil.

>> are you italian? >> i am not. i am irish. but i love italian food. so -- >> i think we just eat. >> cheese, more cheese. >> peppers and onions. >> let's put that burger on. >> and then get that burger on. >> susanne, you ready? >> all right, here's a bite. you go for it, hoda. >> i'm doing it with a fork and knife. >> go for it. >> susanne, brilliant. so good. so good. no wonder why you won. >> take a bite. all right, coming up next, an olympic introduction. >> so good.

we're counting down to vancouver and preparing to hit the slopes. if you don't know yet, we

promise you one thing. >> come february you'll know her very, very well. lindsay vaughn, she is with us today. the first american female to win back-to-back world cup championships. unbelievable feat and welcome to you. you have a few months to get ready, but how are you feeling about everything? >> i'm feeling good. it has been a good summer and preparation period. time seems to be going by really fast and vancouver is coming up. >> you have won more awards in skiing than any woman in history. how do you train? how do you prepare for what's coming up? >> and look good. look good doing it. that's so important. >> that's what cathy wants to know. i'm in the gym six to eight hours six days a week on the bike about three hours a day. >> three hours, wow. >> i'm on the, you know, balance ball and running and doing pretty much everything there is to be doing in the gym.

>> so once you get on the skis you forget about it and just do your thing. >> you have to be really strong. you have to be strong in your entire body you have to be coordinated, agile, strong. >> you use every part of your body. >> exactly. >> do you still get butterflies? >> oh, yeah. oh, yeah. you still, definitely, get the adrenaline rush and i think that's what i love about it, too. >> now, you just saw build the burger over there, that's not part of your training. >> probably not. >> what is your husband doing? >> he's the grillmaster over there. >> you just recently got married. >> i'm working on the last place burger. >> tell us about your diet and how important that is to what you do, as well. >> eating healthy is such a huge part of training. you have to be eating healthy and have the energy in order to last in the gym for so long. so, i kind of -- >> we have like 30 seconds.

>> i just brought out some of no)@p&l