"jimmy fallon" happening right [ cheers and applause ] good morning on "early today." almost home. 33 miners trapped for months in chile may now be just hours away from their freedom. hot button issue, which topic is dominating political debates across the nation ahead of election day? and the big one, chilling predictions on a long overdue and the big one, chilling predictions on a long overdue earthquake in california. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hi, everybody. good morning. great to have you with us. i'm thomas roberts. today, we begin with the final hours before freedom after enduring more than two months

underground, chile's 33 trapped miners are now less than 24 hours away from being brought to the surface. tonight, rescuers are expected to begin hoisting the men up to no doubt what will be a celebrati. kerry sanders filed this report for usesterday from chile. >> reporter: teams here conducted a test. the escape capsule traveled 20 feet inside the steal pipe without a problem. so they went a step further and sent it down the shaft within feet of the trapped miners. >> we didn't send it down because we could risk that somebody could jump in. >> reporter: some of the equipment is still being anchored into a concrete slab. soon, the lift will be hooked up to a heavy duty wench. the capsule travels down the shaft for the first 183 feet side that steal reinforcing

pipe. past that, driven simply by gravity, it sides down theock walls 157 feet through slight s turns. the trip up is expected to take no more than 15 minutes. >> who comes up first? the list remains secret tonit. what we know is that the men down below were all fighting for positions. each wanted to be last, a sign of their brotherhood developed over the last two pus months. kerry sanders, nbc news, chile. back here in the states, the clock is ticking for canada. it's counting down to midterm election day now just three weeks away. last night, several issued were sparred over. health care was hand down the topic of the night. tracie potts is in washington, d.c. with all the details on that. >> reporter: good morning. that and fixing the economy, republicans saying stop the spending, docrats saying we need to invest in the future.

this election is becoming a referendum on the first two years of the obama administration. nowhere wa thatore evident than in kentucky last night where paul tried to make it the topic in the election. his democratic opponent came out in their debate and said this election is not about president obama. now, the president has not campaigned there, but he has been in wisconsin where democrat russ feingold is in a veryough race with the republican there, ron johnson, who as of now has a big lead. the big issue in their debate last night was funding for political ads and advertisements. president obama's focus, speaking of funding, is raising money for the democrats they can get more ads on the air so they n get their message out. he was in miami last night doing just that. thomas. >> three weeks left for the hard core race to the finish.

tracie, thanks so much. >> now here's a look at other stories making news early today in america. producers a crew on the film set of "transformers 3" got some unscripted action when the bumblebee got side swiped by a police vehicle. some thought it was a scene from th movie. the wreck temporary halted production, b the filming will continue all week. a florida woman is going to get some help from a problem that's been buzzing over her. a company will remove a huge 30 foot high beehive in her tree after several others said they couldn't help. even the city refused because it was on private property. she warns neighbors to stay inside. at a competition in california, a gorgeous guard tipped the scales at 1,435

pounds, measuring 10 1/2 inches across the top. the winner's secret, you wonder? pukin seeds donated by a previous win perpendicular. back in florida, ten little crocodiles cracked through their eggs one after another after another. but may be small now, but with a 1200 pound down nax maximo, they won't be strong for very long. now for a look at your national and regional weather, here is nbc meteorologist bill karins with the weather channel forecast. hey, bill, good morning. >> good morning, thomas. thomas, a lot of weather people, we like to go storm chasing. >> sure. >> i don't have to do that. the storm me to me last night. take a look at this hail video from brooklyn. listen to the sounds. almost looks like snow out there. this is out my front window. ne york city got hit pretty hard by this storm and this is three weeks after getting hit by a tornado. who knows, maybe new york city is the new oklahoma city.

we had that storm system kick through areas of the aeft last night. we still have a little bit of rain. the storms rolled right over the jets and minnesota vikings game. two storm systems, one up in new englandnd theother one down here in louisiana. new york city looks okay, just like rain. but philadelphia is going to have a wet morning pipt goes back here into central p.a. and it's goingo go straight through philly. we're talking rain early today. we had strong storms going through areas of louisiana. they're weaker now. but it looks like new orleans has rain heading your way in all of extreme southern louisiana. as far as the forecast for today goes, we're going to continueo watch showery type weather and rainey weather, cooler weather, too. d.c. looks like you're going to avoid much of this wet weather. and the res of the country looks rather dry and rather warm with the exemption there of denver. that's your tuesday forecast. now here is a look at the weather outside your window. partly cloudy skies in many

locations, but still mild. we won't see record highs like we did yesterday through the southeast and mid-atlantic. but 80s and still above average in many spots. so what do you think, thomas, were you impressed by the hail video? >> i was. i think you're itching to get back out on the street there. and that was pretty steady work on your part. >> a little chasing. >> that was ptty impresd. bill, thanks. wall street is ready to ring in record play. who thinks playing with the boss will get you a promotion? your early morning business hdlines are straight ahead. plus, courtney cox and david arquette, they're making some news and it has something to do with their marriage. are they going to remain friends? the giants try to finish off bobby cox and the braves. plus, could brett farve put aside all of the disactions and help the vikings beat the jets? you're watching "early today."

>> good morning, and welcome back to "early today." i'm thomas roberts. here are some of your top headlines this morng. president obama is promising an investigation into failed rescue attempts by u.s. special forces that ended in the death of british aid worker held captive in afghanistan after reviewing surveillance footage. nato said yesterday it was possible that an american grenade mstakenly killed 36-year-old linda norgrove, not her taliban kidnappers. doctors are treating an unnamed patient in atlanta with a spinal cord injury is now helping scientists determine the safety of the procedure. oprah winfrey says she's disapoiptd wi the acquittal of a woman accused of abusing students at her girl's school.

researchers are warning that a major earthquake known as the big one could strike southern california at any time. new research shows the san andreas fault is now overdue for a major shift, meaning it could trigger a quake between monterrey county and the sultan sea. now here is an early look at one of your tophealth headlines on msnbc.com. yet another health problem is being linked to hormones taken by women. those tain taking hormones were 20% more likely to develop kidney stones. women who are thinking about using hormone therapy to easy menopause symptoms,check your medications, they could be linked to more hea attacks and health and kidney stones.

and we turn now to market news and an early look at how wall street kicks off the day. the dow opens at 11,010. both the s&p and the nasdaq were up by a fraction. taking a look at overseas trading this morningn tokyo, the nikkei fell 200 points while in hong kong, the hang seng dropped 85. bond markets were closed for columbus day and stocks barrelly budgeted, but it wasn't quiet everywhere on wall street. corn futured soared higher marking the biggest two-day move in 20 years. usda slashed itsrop outlook, driving fears of food and biofuel price hikes. ibm was on the rise yesterday. big blue closed just shy of$140 apiece. a little acquisition on the street, children's clothing region he tailor gymboree agreed

to purchase bybane capital. goldman sachs is joining the ranks of several banks to put the akes on foreclosures. meanwhile, mercedes is recalling some 85,000 vehicles in the us. over potential power steering problems in some 2010 and 2011 c and e class models. microsoft ueiled a lineup of power phones. the updated system displays tiles instead of i cons on the home screen and boasts aamera button that works even when the phone is locked. "the wall street journal" is reporting that despite the struggling economy, paychecks on wall street are on track to break a record high for the second straid straight year. nearly three financial firms are set to pay 4% more in compensation and benefits over last year. finally, it sooed seems a large number of american workers favor mixing business with pleasure. a recent so-called best boss

survey found that 17% of those questioned think sleeping with the boss will help you get ahea and 7%? well, they were speaking from experience. bobby cox takes its curtain call with the braves. plus, they say everything is birth in texas. that includes trick shots that you don't want to mess with. your early morning sports headlines are just ahead. well, the weather pattern in the northeast is only going to get rougher as it goes towards the end of this week. your regional forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

hi, everybody. good morning. if you're just waking up, this is "early today." in ports, the atlanta braves manager bobby cox made his final farewell last night after 20 years in the dugout. here's nbc's fred roggin with an early look at all your sports headlines. good morning. we start with the baseball playoffs where it was the end of an era in atlanta. in a thrilling back and forth game, bobby cox's braves could not avoid elimination against the giants. picking it up in the sixth, the braves lead, 1-0. this pitch to cody ross, deep andgone. ross's solo shod shot tide the game for one. in the seventh, ross came through. a base hit to johnny venters.

giants, however, back in the lead, 3-2. to the ninth. braves down to their final out. two men aboard for carera. that did it, the giants beat the braves, 3-2. they win the series. and that is the final game of bobby cox's incredible career. he now hndz heads into the retirement. to the vikings and the jets. at least in this game, farve putting the distractions behind him. farve fumbled a handoff to adrian peterson. the ball is loose and the jets recover. that would lead to a ñijets' fid goal. later in the third, this time farve delivered to randy moss, farve's 500th career touchdown pass. ahead to the forth, jets leading, 22-20. farve tried toally the vikings. he was picked off by lowery who went 26 yards for the score. farve and the vikings lose it, 29-20. they're now 1-3. the jets are 4-1. with basketball season right

around the corner, we thought we would get you in the move by this incrediblerick shot. from the top deck of cowboys stadium, nailed it. one more look. if it's a fake, it's an incredible fake. it looks pretty rl to me. that's yo early look at sports on "early today." i'm fred roggin. and the sexiest woman alive title goes to -- you've got to wait for it your early morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. plus, a soldier's return home from iraq is one of several reasons to celebrate. your early morning entertainment you're watching "early today." you're watching "early today."

today." welcome back. the forecast is rather quiet today. we are watching some rain, though, moving through philadelphia this morning in areas of new jersey and new england will get some showery weather, especially southern new england. the rest of the nation looks pret knight nice today. rain will be existing areas of southern louisiana. we have pollen near south florida and the ke in the next couple of days. we'll keep an eye on that storm system. most of the country looks really nice on wednesy. watch out new england, rainey, win weather on thursday and friday. if you're watching us on wmaq 5 ichicago, experience the studio at one big art studio during chicago artists month. that's your "early today" event of the day, thas. >> it's a beautiful ty, piec of art. thanks, bill. now here's a look at this morning's headlines in entertainment.

he major marriage of popular hollywood couple is coming to an end. courtney cox and david arquette are calling it quit the two remain friends and coparents to their 6-year-old daughter, coco. esquire magazine has named its sexiest woman align. 36-year-old minka kelly stars on "parenthood." kelly's issue of esquire hits the stands november 19th. and be sure to set your vrs for thursday night. you never know what wi happen on a live show. in this week's episode of "30 rock" is doing just that, airing live. details for the script of the bc comedy are under wraps, but the cast is expected to get visits from guest starts like giant ham and matt damon. are you a fan of "30 rock inspect"

>> you know something? i didn't start in the very beginning so i need to go and catch up. . >> you do. it's really good stuff. but the live episode will be really, really good. >> i remember when "er" did it. >> teenie fey, how can you be wrong? a soldier's girlfriend got the surprise of a litime. army specialist steven cantarzi returned from iraq to the cheers of his family, friends and his girlfriend, kayla, who thought she would pride surprise him at the airport. well, the surprise was on her when he proposed with her grandmother's diamond ng. thankfully, she said yes and the two plan to marry before he heads to korea coming up in december. congratulations to the happy couple. i'm thomas roberts, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

4:28 is your time. 65 degrees. lovely morning in the nation's pital. clear skies out there. we're going to see what kind of weather we'll have in a moment. >> bring not more of the same. good rning. i'm pat lawson muse. >> i'm eun yang. in the news today -- >> a woman was hit by two vehicles on the interstate in montgomery county. this happened at midnight in

gathersburg. a metrobus and a regular vehicle hit the woman. police are not sure why she was on the highway. we'llring a live report coming up in a few minutes. four people were stand outside a bar early this morning. the quadruple stabbinging happened around the corner from the thirsty turtle. one person was stand in the back. another in the arm and face. they were all taken to the hospital. police do not know if the victims are students. they're trying to figure out what started the fight. no arrests have been made. >> let'sake a look at the weather. tom, is it going to be like it was yesterday? >> not quite as hot. yesterday was 88. a little touch of summer in october. today, a little bit cooler. weave a chance for an afternoon thunder shower around the