new misery, a deadly storm kills at least three people in north carolina. this as the death toll from friday's freak storm around the nation's capital climbs to 17. this morning millions sweating out the brutal heat wave without power and no relief in sight. how nasty will it get? tom cruise and katie holmes at odds just days after she filed for divorce. why did she do it in new york? is she worried she's being followed? did scientology play a role in the split? we'll have new details. elation and heartbreak, the u.s. olympic team rounding out its members with an exciting weekend of gymnastic, swimming and track and field trials. and there will be more drama for

a spot in london, an unprecedented runoff today, july a spot in london, an unprecedented runoff today, july 2nd, 2012. captions paid for byn >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. and welcome to "today" on this monday morning. i'm natalie morales. >> i'm willie geist in for matt. natalie, look at some of these weekend temperatures. 108 in memphis, 107 in birmingham, 113 in columbia, south carolina. it just keeps going. the commute is shaping up to be a trying one for millions of people in the storm battled mid-atlantic. >> a lot of people suffering. a lot saying it could take emergency crews to restore power for 2 people who have been in the dark since saturday. power outages have smashed records coast-to-coast.

we'll get the latest and a first look at your fourth of july forecast ahead. a graduate student from texas in a fight for his life. the 26-year-old mauled by chimpanzees in south africa and underwent six hours of surgery. coming up, live with more on his recovery. what led to the vicious attack. we'll hear from a man who was there on the scene. >> with the olympics just 25 days away, the torch is passing through a special location today. princess diana's childhood home. we'll take you there live. we'll begin with severe storms that battled the east coast. tom costello in an area of washington, d.c. where people there are still without power this morning. good morning to you, tom. >> reporter: hi, natalie, good morning. we could have picked almost any of many, many streets in virginia, maryland, washington, d.c. area to show awe scene like this. a massive tree down right on top of a car, power lines down. from the midwest to the

mid-atlantic we have got a lot of destruction. just last night more storms in north carolina, three people dead there. let's put this into perspective, at the height of the outages, more than 5 million people without electricity. now it's somewhere around 2 million but katrina wiped out power to 3 million. that tells you how many people here are struggling. we've now got repair crews coming from as far away as texas and canada to try to get power restored. sunrise over washington this morning, as 1 to 2 million people throughout the mid-atlantic face a third day of misery, triple digits and no electricity. >> another sizzling hot day, absolute misery. >> last night in a pitch plaque neighborhood, we found luis and lilly bracing for high temps and high humidity. >> staying really still and hope a little breeze cools you off. it seems to work. actually, we've been most confirmed about our dogs, pets. >> friday night's

91-mile-per-hour winds left a trail of destruction in their wake. over hundreds of miles, massive trees are down. with them an entire network of power lines. >> no one predicted that this storm would be of the magnitude it was or of the violence that it was or cause the number of power outages that it did. >> in hard hit maryland, crews have been working around the clock to restore power. it could be a long, hot independence week with no relief. >> july 6th, that will represent restoration for the vast majority of our customers. at least 90% of the customers will have their service restored by friday evening. >> that means some customers could spend five more days without power. with no air conditioning, no ice, no fans, communities opened cooling centers like this one in arlington, virginia for anyone seeking relief and a battery charge. >> there's wi-fi in the library for these guys, read some books

while trying to get work done. >> we have a lot of friends let us staying at their house and cool off, come to the library. >> reporter: in southeast washington, d.c., the storm left david with no electricity and no car. >> my car is right there. we have the company coming out doing an assessment. who knows what the damage will be in the end. >> reporter: and limited electricity means only a handful of gas stations are open in the d.c. area. >> i'm just praying i don't run out of gas. >> reporter: triple digit temperatures extend across a huge portion of the country, washington, d.c. and 23 states. in atlanta they have electricity but it's hot. >> we've been out here for probably about an hour and a half now. i can completely feel my body temperature up here and i have to cool down. >> reporter: already record breaking heat and no relief in sight. as you would expect the focus, priority has been getting power restored to nursing homes and hospitals and emergency operating centers. even here in the virginia,

maryland, d.c. area, 911 centers have not been operating at full capacity because they have also lost electricity and they don't have enough generator power to keep everything up and running. it is a very difficult situation, another hot and humid day and looks like a long week ahead. natalie, back to you. >> tom costello. so will the heat break any time soon? stephanie abrams in for al. >> reaching 100 degrees again, look at the advisory, stretching anywhere from the plains to the southeast. our temperatures will be well above average yet again today. look at these numbers, 10 to near 15 degrees above average. chicago 13 plus for you. 95 degrees. i feel like that's nothing compared to what you see in north platte, st. louis, factor that humidity in the southeast. you have the heat index above 100 degrees. we still have this high pressure, jet stream far to the north. willie, that means it's going to

stay hot early into mid next week. >> another day of triple digits. stephanie abrams, thanks. the weather not the only thing hot in washington. republicans and democrats taking shots at one another over landmark supreme court ruling that upheld president obama's health care law. chuck todd, nbc political director and white house correspondent. chuck, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, willie. still unclear how much health care will dominate the campaign in the presidential race. republicans made it clear they think it's a winning issue for them at least when it comes to congress. >> now a tax since the court said it was a tax. >> reporter: republicans trying to make lemonade out of the lemons handed to them. the court ruled the penalty for not buying health insurance is actually a tax. democrats insist it's a penalty. >> what's in the law is a penalty. >> we've said it was a tax all along. >> this is a penalty on free

riders. >> chief justice made it clear, it's a tax. >> last week they ruled the law is constitutional based on the law. >> reporter: republicans unhappy with the decision are nonetheless thrilled to say the obama administration is imposing a new tax and that the president is breaking a promise. >> president obama promised us his health care law -- >> absolutely not a tax increase. >> now we know that's not true. >> the president on your show said this is not a show. if this was brought to the public as a tax, there's no way this law would have passed in the law in the first place. >> democrats argue only a small minority of businesses that decide not to buy into the tax system. >> it's a penalty that comes under the tax code for the 1%, perhaps, of the population may decide they are going to be free riders. most people are not affected by this. >> it is a tax on the american people. >> no, no. it's not a tax on the american people. it's a penalty for free riders.

>> democrats point out mitt romney proposed an identical law in massachusetts and it put republicans on the defensive over whether romney raised taxes. >> this was an issue in massachusetts, one state. >> governor romney will have to speak for himself about what was done in massachusetts. >> mitt romney is in a total pickle here. he prescribed this. this was his bail. speaker boehner is saying it's a tax increase, they have ads saying it's a tax increase. are they going to say mitt romney had the biggest tax increase in massachusetts? forget about it. >> both the president and mitt romney taking today and tomorrow off, the president at camp david, romney at his farm in new hampshire. the president launches his first bus tour in ohio and pennsylvania. >> all right. chuck todd in washington this morning. chuck, thanks so much. now let's get a check of the morning's top stories. tamron hall at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. colorado homeowners were evacuated from a raging wildfire, got a chance to return to their property for the first

time this weekend. nbc's miguel almaguer is in hard hit colorado springs. good morning, miguel. >> good morning. after charring 18,000 acres, waldo cameron is the most destructive in colorado state history. in all 346 homes have been destroyed. in neighborhood after neighborhood, little is left standing. homes everywhere are decimated. >> it was just so sad. we were so sad. >> reporter: susan and her 16-year-old daughter hannah lost everything. >> my friends and i were talking. she just listened to me. she said, i want to go home. >> do you want to go home, too. >> i'm leaving my house for probably the last time. >> reporter: last tuesday thousands left the flames, a moving monster that swallowed home and home and took two years.

dr. bolen lost his wife to cancer two years ago, now lost the photos. >> no house, no place to call home. >> reporter: thousands able to return for a few hours, the lucky ones found their house standing while others sifted through rubble. for susan, the loss is overwhelming. two years ago her daughter and son-in-law passed away. this week she told her son marine logan pierce, his childhood home is gone. >> my son just sent me a text from afghanistan. he said, we still have our memories. my kids grew up there. >> reporter: as families begin to rebuild their lives in colorado springs, this blaze is roughly 55% contained. meantime last night in south dakota, a c-130, one of those heavy air tankers did crash. three people were injured. tamron. >> all right, miguel. so heartbreaking.

thank you so much. mexico projected a winner this morning in the presidential election. the country's latest political rock star. the popular 45-year-old is being cheered by adoring crowds despite his affiliation with the long-running party voted out of office 12 years ago amid allegations of corruption. now to wall street, cnbc's mary thompson at the stock exchange. good morning, mary. >> reporter: good morning, mary, on the first trading day of the third quarter, investors hoping to trade on the gain. keeping an eye owner the chairman of the british bank barclay stepping down after pig a fine leading to an ongoing rate fixing probe. at homes, buying pharmaceuticals for $5.3 to stand its portfolio of diabetes drugs. back to you. >> all right, mary. thank you. a narrow victory sunday for tiger woods at the at&t national.

the golf phenomenon jack nicholas second career victory. surges back to dominance with his third major win of the year so far. and just 25 days to go until the start of the summer olympics in london. you'll be seeing a lot of swimmers. michael phelps. he's competing in eight events meaning the best he can do is match the eight gold medals he won in beijing. i love it. we say the best he can do. all around champion nastia liukin -- oh, my goodness falling face down on the mat. she picked herself up, finished the event, did not make the team. there's just one more spot on the women's track and field team. after a finish a photograph could not call, the sprinters aren't leave their olympic destiny to fate. these women chose to compete in a runoff later today, turning down the option officials gave for the tiebreaker which would

have been a coin toss. 7:13. back to natalie, willie. i would have taken the -- >> it's going to be hot tonight. >> it is going to be a good one for sure. more olympic highlights. let's turn to stephanie abrams and take forecast. >> we have more severe weather to talk about, the chance of it into portions of north carolina, also into south carolina today and portions of virginia. look at the radar right now. nothing severe but we see storms firing up. otherwise, we have the threat for severe weather throughout portion of the p upper midwest, and it's a little bit cooler especially in new england, boston. only 83 today. here's a look at what's happening outside your door. we may see a few isolated, strong thunderstorms today but no severe thunderstorms through the area. look at the gorgeous morning sky. this was sent in from one of our weather watchers. gorgeous there. you see some of the sunshine breaking through the clouds. on radar, a few showers around

leesburg and montgomery county. after noontime today we could have a few more showers and thunderstorms. we're going to be hot, the high is 95 f >> natalie, over to you. >> thank you, stephanie. a graduate student from texas is showing signs of improvement after he was mauled by chimpanzees at a wildlife sanctuary in south africa. this morning we're learning more about what may have led to the brutal attack. here is the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. andrew's parents are due here at the hospital any morning now. they have traveled right around the world to be at his bedside to comfort him as he comes around from the long procedure to save his life. andrew oberle recovering well after six hours of surgery yesterday. he's stable and being sedated by a team of doctors. >> i think under the

circumstances of having multiple injuries like that, he is doing well. we really are hoping for a positive outcome. >> reporter: this is the chimp sanctuary still closed to visitors this morning. we were allowed inside to see some of the 33 animals here. each one rescued from poachers, all from a life of an entertainment act. a life that left some psychologically damaged and dangerously volatile. oberle was here on a study trip, an anthropology from the university of texas with a passion for chimps. just before the attack he was giving a presentation about their behavior to a group of tourists. then he was said to cross a fence into a no-go zone. eyewitness accounts said he stepped on a rock jammed into a fence to try to prevent one of the animals from passing by. that may have enraged some of the chimps nearby. >> i've seen chimpanzees in a

lot of different kinds of conditions. i've never seen chimpanzees angry in all my life. >> reporter: he helps manage the sanctuary. he was on the scene moments after the attack when the chimpanzees moved on him. >> when they turned on me, there was no other method of confrontation. it was a territorial dispute and i was another threat moving in. >> reporter: with oberle on the ground, eugene used his knowledge of their behavior to try to calm them down but it didn't work. >> i climbed out of the vehicle, charged them, fired warning rounds in order to get them to disperse. that usually would do the trick. but in this event, it did not work. >> reporter: eventually they became restrained. but andrew oberle was by then seriously injured and on his way to hospital. and every member of the sanctuary involved will now be interviewed but also offered trauma counseling to help them

come to terms with what they saw. interestingly enough none of them involved said what they witnessed will prevent them from working with chimpanzees in the future, natalie. >> a lot of prayers for his recovery, here. thank you very much. it is 7:18. here is willie. thank you. on a much lighter note, opening ceremony of london olympics 25 days away now. this morning the torch is making a special trip through princess diana's childhood home. nbc's michelle kosinski is there. michelle, good morning. >> reporter: hi, willie, this is the part of the olympic games, the running of the torch, unsung heroes who work self-less lis for communities. princess diana's procedure said this the sort of thing she loved to recognize. the flame burned a little in her memory here today. for the first time princess diana's childhood home hosted a feast. the torch ran through the proud place where she grew up and

where she's buried. a symbolic nod to her importance in british life and history 15 years after her tragic death. >> a hat's off to her memory. diana was about encouraging people to do their best for the community. i think it would fit very nicely with her. >> before she married charles age 19 and became the princess the world adored, this the magnificent estate lady diana spencer called home, the garden she ran and played in as a girl. also where the family has lived since 1508 before elizabeth i was born. >> my grandfather lived here. >> weren't you worried about breaking things that were valuable. >> reporter: today charles spencer takes care of it. still here are reminders and dresses. diana championed those who worked hard behind the certain and gave a voice to those who

spoke quietly. just this weekend, a recipient of the diana courageous citizen carried herself. just the kind of hero to bring the flame toward the game. it has been on horse back, zip line, bicycle, ice, steam train, hot air balloon, mountain top. injured war hero ben parkinson's hometown cheered him on. one torchbearer briefly handed it off for good reason. this is the olympics, for those who may never win medals but go that extra mile for their neighbor, the people gained today by the resting place of their princess. now, diana's sons william and harry will play special roles as olympic ambassadors dedicated to service as she was. willie.

>> all right. michelle kosinski, 25 days away. thanks so much, michelle. just ahead this morning, tom, katie, and the split that has people talking. we'll have the latest including reports that holmes fears she's being followed. first, "today" on nbc. at u.s. g.

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who could forget that in 2005. tom cruise jumped for joy over his relationship with katie holmes. now after five years of marriage, holmes has filed for divorce. she's reportedly got some help from her father, who is an attorney. natalie morales, willie geist, new details on the tomkat split. giuliana rancic will join us to share the latest on her baby

news and other big stories making headlines in hollywood. u.s. women's gymnastic team in london now set after a thrilling night of london trials. we'll introduce you to the team and show you some of the drama that unfolded at the swimming trials as well. we begin this half hour with tom cruise katie holmes split. nbc's mike taibbi in los angeles. mike, good morning. >> they have been one of hollywood's top of the a list power couples in the six year they have been together, a union that now includes daughter suri, who has become a celebrity in their own right. there were always questions about tom crudes, one of the box office giants of her generation and kathy holmes, once the teen star of "dawson's creeks." questions they seem to bring on themselves. from the beginning an over the top almost exhibitist aspect. cruise famously proclaiming his love of holmes on her couch. >> we've never seen you behave

this way before. have you felt that way before? >> reporter: throughout the years, two of the most watched celebrities allowed cameras to capture one public display after another, a love affair launched bay marriage proposal in france and a wedding in an italian castle. >> there are cynics that said it was part of a campaign, image that is tom cruise. >> reporter: beyond the smiles there were constant questions. was mega star cruise too controlling offer his wife, 17 years his junior. she evolved as an actress. but during the marriage, those provocative roles ended. maggie got the next batman movie and speculation whether cruise's role as a staunch scientologist ruled his marriage and katie and daughter suri and eventually led holmes to decide it had to end. >> it is reasonable to ask did

scientology have a lot, if not everything, to do with this split. >> reporter: cruise was apparently blind-sided by holmes divorce filing. he said in may, what we have is very special. two weeks ago they were seen strolling hand in hand in reykjavik iceland, where he's shooting a movie. >> it's none other than the $35 million estate of tom cruise, katie holmes. who gets it in the divorce? is that what you're thinking. >> reporter: the a divorce, no laughing matter. the hardest question, custody of suri. holmes filed in new york. cruise reportedly will cross file in los angeles, the couple's primary home. >> custody issues will be very favorable to him here. california has a presumption of sole custody. it's been reported she's asking for sole custody. >> reporter: apparently not the hollywood ending cruise scripted. cruise turns 53, holmes 33.

he insists the home is in los angeles, holmes moved into a new manhattan apartment just she and suri. by the way, holmes reportedly helped with the decision by her father, who is also a divorce lawyer. >> mike taibbi in los angeles, thanks so much. j.d., good morning. we heard tom cruise was apparently blind-sided by this. >> yes. >> for somebody who has a career so carefully orchestrated seems hard to believe he was blind-sided. there are reports they have been living apart for a long time. >> they have always had a very busy extraordinary type of life. this is not a typical marriage. they were always traveling around the world. he had an incredible schedule, has one. they spent, and he told me this recently, a month ago, they made time in their schedule to see each other. he had been filming, she had been doing her projects. they had made time to see each other over the last many months. >> when you interviewed him, no

telltale signs. >> no, not at all. in fact, he was incredibly efusive about his wife and daughter, special times in his life with his wife. people close to him said he really didn't see this coming. people close to her say there are two people in a marriage and, you know, she certainly had been thinking about this. >> katie filed in new york citing irreconcilable differences asking for full custody of suri. there are reports scientology may have played a role in her decision. what do you know about that? >> i think this is going to be the most interesting thread in the story. tom cruise is an outspoken scientologist. he's absolutely clear about what he believes. that's no secret. the sources around katie certainly indicate she had an evolving view of that and that her daughter's upbringing and education were central to her. i think you're going to see a lot of discussion of the church. as you know, there have already been tabloid reports there were

scientologists outside her apartment. the scientologists themselves, the church, say that's not true and people close to tom say that's not true. people are naturally curious and there's going to be a lot of speculation. >> there have long been rumors about this being an arranged marriage or contract marriage under the church of scientology. anything you can elaborate on that? >> well, you know, this was a huge hollywood marriage. i think that people are prone to speculate about prominent marriages. those people who knew them knew they were certainly very much in love at the beginning of their marriage, that he was devoted to her, that she was very happy at the beginning of their marriage. things have obviously changed. i don't think this -- the popular perception this was an arrangement is true. obviously famous and wealthy people have arrange men's to protect their interests. these are both very wealthy people and i don't think it's about money. >> now reports tom is going to

counter-file suit in california. how significant would that be in terms of a child custody situation, child custody battle even? >> well, listen, i think the most sensational aspect is the reported claim for sole custody. tom cruise is a devoted father. everyone would agree to that. i think he would have something to say about that. i think right now both sides are figuring out their next moves. my understanding is they have not really decided where they are going to move venues or try to contest that. we'll see. >> thanks so much, from "people" magazine. appreciate it. a check of the weather from stephanie abrams in for al. >> from a breakup to newlyweds here on the plaza. janet and bob. what's the most romantic thing you've done in new york. >> a horse and carriage ride in central park and lunch at the boathouse. >> how about a kiss from th newlywe had couple. congratulations. in new york they are going home, but if you're continuing to

celebrate tomorrow here in new york city, it's going to be hot and warm. there's still a chance for severe weather in the south and also throughout portions of the plains. who is ready for fourth of july, people? it looks like you have to skip the grilling into the northeast if you do it later in the day. we could see storms. here's a look at what's happening outside your door. outside our door sizzling heat for later today. we have a beautiful sunrise right now, and look at the rays over the potomac right now. we're at 79 degrees so we just dropped a degree. that northeast wind at 5 miles per hour. hot, humid and hazy by noontime today. temperature is up around 90 by then. we'll max out at about 95 and could see a few strong thunderstorms later >> and for more specifics on your fourth of july forecast, all you have to do is go to weather.com 24 hours a day. natalie, over to you. >> all right. thank you, stephanie.

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back now at 7:41 with more on the extreme heat and storms gripping much of the country right now. millions of americans beginning the week without power. it could be a full week in some places before it's fully restored. what can you do to find a little relief and keep your family safe? host of "house smarts" and a "today" contributor. good morning. >> good morning. >> i noticed first of all you're dressed a little differently. >> i don't normally dress like this on the "today" show. but certainly with heat and humidity, light colored clothing, loser fitting is appropriate to cope with this thing. especially the folks without the power. those that really rely on central air conditioning or window units just don't have them so you want to be as comfortable as you possibly can be. >> some of the basics, temperatures again today in a lot of places over 100 degrees.

how do we stay cool. >> water is the most important thing. it's interesting, the vast majority on a regular day are walking around dehydrated. the recommendation is that a man should be drinking three liters of water a day. are you a water drinker? >> not three liters a day. >> a woman two. under this heat and humidity, make sure you're drinking lots of fluids, no alcohol, no caffeine. stay indoors. that's problematic. sometimes indoors on the high heat homes are hot. sometimes a shaded area outside can really be helpful. >> heat stroke is a big problem in weather like this. how do we look for it and how do we treat it. >> there are symptoms of that. you'll start to get headaches. you'll feel dizzy, lightheaded. all those things lead up to it. don't think you're fine. communicate with your loved ones, communicate with family members, neighbors. this is a time for neighbors to come together.

high body temperature, if you get to 103 you've got to seek attention. power is out until friday. how do we prepare. >> stores are busy but find some batteries, flashlights. these cranks are available. they don't need batteries. many have a usb port on the back. can you actually charge your cell phone. you can still stay in contact with loved ones by cranking it. this flashlight built in. nonperishable foods are important. >> we've got to talk about food. people's refrigerators are down, what do we do. >> keep it closed and locked, don't open it up, it can store the food about 12 hours like that. you want to pay attention to inside temperature. use a thermometer, food thermometer. any perishable foods 40 degrees or higher you've got to talk. if you can get coolers and ice

together to store some food, this is the basic nonperishable stuff you want. fruit bars and nuts and berries, first aid kit very important to have around there. get some ice, put it in coolers and store in a shaded area to prolong as much as possible. try to open up that frig. >> one of the big problems people won't think about, sewage treatments go down. that's a big problem if you're not getting clean water coming out. >> not only clean water coming in, your point sewage water going out. that system can get overtaxed. i'm a little nervous about giving people this tip but you can do this. water, you're really concerned about water, bottled water is not available. you can take water treatment tablets like these available at sporting goods stores, even do this with bleach, this is about a quart of water you pour through like a coffee filter, even a piece of cloth. for every quart take a tablet

and drop it in. you can't just drink this, you have to wait four hours. it will start to percolate and kill bacteria in the water, then it is safe to drink. have you to prep this to do it correctly. your best bet, find that bottled water, drink lots of it and keep it available. staying hydrated during this time is another thing. one other thing, people get nervous and start grabbing generators. plug in generators, buy one. never yit indoors, inside the garage. if you're going to use it outside, make sure it's 20 feet away from the home. another thing, make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector. if you point the exhaust toward the house and it blows in there we could have bigger problems. >> lou, thank you. up next a weekend of high drama in the pool and air for the men and women competing to represent the united states in london right after this. [ male announcer ] monica's decided to make a quick pit stop for gas.

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as we mentioned, the london olympics are 25 days away. it was an intense weekend of qualifying for the country's best athletes. >> among the highlights in the pool, michael phelps and ryan

lochte, individual medley. 0.009 seconds. >> looked impressive qualify for seven events. broke natalie's american record in the 100 meter backstroke. the 11-time medalist held on to make her third olympic and sixth place finish in freestyle. the 15-year-old led ecky, youngest member after winning the freestyle. >> a changing of the guard in gymnastics. nastia liukin came up short in her quest for olympics. she got a standing ovation. gabby douglas got an automatic ticket to london. jordyn wieber, mckayla maroney. exciting. spending the whole weekend indoors watching this. >> first thing that hits you,

the ages. they are 15 years old, 16, 17, playing on the world's biggest stage. >> the skill level is unbelievable. can you imagine the games if this is the trial. >> the exciting event is the runoff. you may recall -- >> photo finish. >> it was a photo finish, couldn't decide based on that photo who won third place to qualify for the olympics. instead of a coin toss they decided to do it the right way with a runoff. they are going to do doing that tonight. felix did win the 200 meter saturday night so it's her last chance. >> couldn't have it any other way. got to run it on the track. >> i could never imagine leaving my fate to a coin toss. i know in football that's how you start. this the one shot, these are olympians, you have to go for it. >> the rivalry here, they share the same coach, have nike deals. >> linked in history but only

one will win. >> only one will win. >> absolutely. >> a great event. >> phelps swim-off. >> more on the track runoff and more on the trials tonight on nbc starting 8:00, 7:00 central time. just ahead e! news host the inside scoop on adele's pregnancy and her own baby news. what makes hershey's s'mores special?

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this is a news 4 news break. 7:56 is your time now. good morning to you. there are hundreds of traffic lights out across the area. trees are down, power lines are down as well. let's check in with danella sealock. give yourself extra time, and traffic lights are out and debris is on the roadway. however, on i-66 live at the interstates that look really good. i-66 past fairfax county parkway ooe eastbound. not a bad travel speed. inside the belt way on i-66 hov restrictions are lifted and no delays at this time. >> thank you. we'll take a quick break

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temperatures will once again soar high into the 90s. we start at 79 degrees here before the 8:00 hour. we have a few clouds out there mixed with sunshine, so it's a nice day. rain and thunder came through during the overnight period. by noontime we're hot, humid and hazy with temperatures ranging between 89 and 91 degrees. feeling much high we are the humidity and by 5:00, 92 to 96 it's the perfect match for the perfect moment -- oreo the dunkin' way. introducing the new oreo coffee coolatta

and new oreo vanilla bean coolatta. taste the fun today. america runs on dunkin'. hurry in to dunkin' and try the new oreo coolatta and donuts today. the statue of liberty will take your breath away monday morning, the 2nd of july, 2012. that is a view from the top of the rock. a good day to go to the top of the rock. back here. we have a huge crowd hanging out with us on rockefeller plaza. everybody on vacation. i'm natalie morales along with willie geist. interview a legendary actress. >> very excited about that. sally field is here with us.

she made us laugh as flying none, cry as norma ray, now "the amazing spider-man." we'll catch up with two-time oscar winner sally field coming up. all right. then giuliana rancic, the e! news host knows she's going to be the mother of a bouncing baby boy. just announced that recently. so excited. we're going to talk about that. the latest scoop from alec baldwin's weekend wedding, baby news for adele and much more. the first from a box office. a record setting weekend in hollywood. we'll tell you why. >> magic mike. first inside, tamron hall at the news desk. good morning, tamron. >> good morning. as many as 2 million americans begin a blistering new week without electricity, fans and refrigerators. deadly storms this weekend

brought down power lines and trees from ohio to north carolina. officials say at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured. meantime heat warnings in effect from mid-atlantic region where temperatures could once again get triple digits. mexico appears to have a new president this morning. nbc's mark potter is in mexico city with more. good morning, mark. >> reporter: good morning to you, tamron. the results are not yet official but it appears enrique pena nieto will be president as more people, including women, see him as the rock star president. the new elected president of mexico, energy a pena nieto reaping rewards of a near perfect candidacy. he's married to a famous soap opera star. their fairy tale wedding two years ago was a national social

event. her home videos became stylishly produced videos. >> he has a connection with people, particularly with women in mexico who are throwing themselves at him like he was a rock star. >> reporter: wherever the couple went they drew huge crowds, especially women, despite the fact nieto was married couldn't get enough of him call him sweet thing or hottie. the fact he admitted cheating twice on his first lock and bearing two children out of wedlock before she died of epilepsy didn't faze the crowd. >> as soon as he entered the room, the room just stopped. everybody was captivated by him. he's an amazing figure. >> reporter: pena nieto even overcame concerns he was with the political party known as the pri, voted out 12 years ago after ruling mexico for 71 straight years amid allegations of widespread corruption. now, of course, as president he'll face mexico's toughest

problems, including a sluggish economy and the vicious drug war that cost an estimated 55,000 lives. those will currently test his current popularity. tamron. >> mark, thank you very much. a french olympic runner did not make any new friends this weekend. after his victory at the european athletic champion he walked over and shoved the mascot. but inside that costume, a 14-year-old girl. it is not clear why he did it. this is the same athlete that roughed up another mascot in barcelona two years ago. all right. well, now here is brian williams with what's coming up tonight on "nbc nightly news." brian. >> good morning. coming up on "nightly news," the mystery of amelia earhart endured for years, has it been solved? inside a new expedition that hopes to find out once and for all what happened to that aviator. that's tonight along with much more on "nightly news." tamron, back to you. for a look at what's

trending today, a roundup of what has you talking online. last night's bet awards, highlight was the tribute to her daughter whitney houston. ♪ ♪ >> and chris brown, who won for best male r&b artists, has blogs guessing what he meant when he said his new album is dropping this week is his last. the younger son of retired nba legend michael jordan has been released after his arrest early sunday outside an omaha, nebraska, hotel. police say it took several officers to handcuff 21-year-old marcus jordan having a drunken argument with two women. pippa middleton is reportedly reunited with her

former flame, although he did not join her at a friend's wedding this weekend. the couple split up shortly after pippa's rise to fame following her sister's marriage to prince william. it is now 8:05. back to natalie and willie. how about the guy pushing the mascot. >> trying to figure out what the mascot was. it looked like a spongebob in white tights. >> there's a visual. >> thank you, tamron. a check of the weather from stephanie abrams in for al. >> we have the family celebrating high school graduation. >> mississippi state. >> they want to give you guys a nice southern greeting this morning. >> hey y'all. >> hey y'all, let's have a look at the weather and take you to tampa, our pick city this morning. we are going to be hot and sunny, of course humid right there around all that water. the radar picture in the southeast, the way it is today,

the threat for severe weather. look at the forecast, also severe weather in the upper today, also we could see severe weather into the upper midwest, and the big story is yet again the hot temperatures. now here's a look at what's happening outside your door. >> pace yourself through the day. temperatures will once again rise very quickly. we've got sunshine outside right now, a few clouds and today is a partly sunny sky with temperatures into the mid-90s. 82 is where we are right now with that north wind at 5 miles per hour, 71 in rockville and 79 in annapolis, maryland and 82 in warring ton. lots of locations already in the low 80 willie, back to you in the middle of the plaza. >> all right. on the plaza. i'll tat relay, stephanie. when we come back, our friend giuliana rancic, hollywood's hottest stories and her own baby news right after this. hey. hey eddie. i brought your stuff. you don't have to do this. yes i do.

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i've been fortunate to win on golf's biggest stages. but when joint pain and stiffness from psoriatic arthritis hit, even the smallest things became difficult. i finally understood what serious joint pain is like. i talked to my rheumatologist and he prescribed enbrel. enbrel can help relieve pain, stiffness, and stop joint damage. because enbrel, etanercept, suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether you've been to a region where certain fungal infections are common.

don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. [ phil ] get back to the things that matter most. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biolog medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. back at 8:10 with what's hot in hollywood. the headlines filled with news and divorce and weddings. break it down with e! news host giuliana rancic, first the latest on her own good baby news. julianna and bill rancic have chronicled their marriage and efforts to have a baby on their style network reality show giuliana and bill. giuliana anchor of e! news and bill, winner of season one of

"the apprentice" found their struggles more difficult when they found giuliana was diagnosed with cancer, a setback she revealed. >> through my effort to get pregnant we found out i have early stages of breast cancer. >> giuliana underwent a lumpectomy and double mastectomy. they put their plans on hold. >> we need a good year. >> they had their own fertilized embryos in a surrogate mother. in april they returned to "today" to share the good news. >> we are finally having a baby. >> after months of secrecy, giuliana revealed the sex of their baby on twitter. tweeting beyond excited to bounce @billrancic and i are having a baby. the couple are moving forward ready for the next chapter of

their lives at parents. how exciting. giuliana rancic. good morning. >> good morning, natalie. >> congratulations. little boys are the best. what did bill say about the news. >> he was thrilled. he would have loved a girl. i told bill, you can't play ball with him for a while. i think he thinks in six months they are going to be playing catch. i'm like, honey, that doesn't happen for a while. he was like i was water-skiing at three. >> typical dad, buying new jerseyys. >> he's like i just want an nfl quarterback. you just wan an nfl quarterback. i'd like a ceo. we compromised. we'll take healthy. >> smart, amazing. you're headed to the olympics. are you worried at all when if the baby comes you may miss it at all? >> yes, because the baby is due the end of august. i wrap at the olympics on august 11th. we are going to be on stand by. we think it's going to be okay. the doctors assured us --

>> get there in time. >> even maybe early september. >> ryan and michael are great baby names. rivalry going. other exciting news, adele is expecting. she's had quite the year. >> she has. she won six grammys, her album is the best selling album of the year. now to announce this, 24 years old. so many fans adore her. in fact, when she announced the news the other day her website crashed. >> she did it on her blog. >> adele is a private person. i love that she takes control of her own press and messaging. she put it out there. she wanted that connection with her fans. actually with her long time boyfriend, 12 years older than adele. he seems like a really good guy, runs a charity. they seem very happy. >> good that she has good people in her life to help support her in this new role. >> what's funny, natalie, she said she wants three boys on the

age of 30. >> she's on her way. >> specifically wants boys. we don't know the gender of the baby yet. hopefully it's a boy. >> only her way. she's only 24. meanwhile alec baldwin tied the knot with his girlfriend. a few weeks ago he had the dust-up with the photographer. >> they got hitched without a hitch. it's funny, he easily could have snuck in from the back of the cathedral. he approached tourists and fans and said hello. he looked happy, golden highlights in his hair, a bit of a tan going. she's a yoga instructor. she's about 25 years his junior. so hopefully between the yoga and good energy he'll become a little more zen. >> he has lost a lot of weight, looks really good. >> he does. also let's talk about the award show, bet.

i understand there was a really cute moment between jay-z and beyonce. >> there was. it's so funny. jay-z and beyonce were nominated against each other in the same category. so here is jay-z and kanye on stage. he pretended to interrupt kanye like kanye did with taylor swift. when they were nominated, she faked punching him because he won in the category, beat out his own wife, which is funny. always fun. >> she's definitely happy for him. >> also an incredibly emotional night as well, a tribute to whitney houston. >> there was. cissy houston, her mother came out and sang "bridge over troubled water." it was the most beautiful moment of the night. there wasn't a dry eye in the entire house. she's a gospel singer. she actually has an album coming out soon. she was so close to whitney. you can see beyonce teerg up. it was really a beautiful moment. >> mariah as well, emotional,

too. >> mariah came out and said a few beautiful words about whitney. she didn't sing, just talked about how funny she was, what a good friend she was. a couple of times she got very emotional and choked up. you expect that. whitney was a huge forth in many people's lives. >> giuliana rancic, good to have you back. so excited. we can't wait. up next, oscar winner sally fields on the new movie, "the amazing spider-man" right after this. [ man ] ever year, sophia and i

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♪ look at that body ♪ i'm sexy and i know it by what's getting done. measure commitment the twenty billion dollars bp committed has helped fund economic and environmental recovery. long-term, bp's made a five hundred million dollar commitment to support scientists studying the environment. and the gulf is open for business - the beaches are beautiful, the seafood is delicious. last year, many areas even reported record tourism seasons. the progress continues... but that doesn't mean our job is done. we're still committed to seeing this through. we are back now at 8:19 with two-time oscar winner sally field whose career spanned four decades. in the new spider-man she plays peter parker aunt who becomes increasingly nervous about her nephew's life. >> please go to sleep.

>> i can't go to sleep. don't you understand, i can't sleep. >> listen to me. secrets have a cost. they are not for free. >> sally fields, good morning. >> hi. >> how are you this morning? i've got to tell you, when i think sally fields, the first thing that comes to mind is not summer action superhero action movie. >> what's wrong with you? >> norma ray, steel magnolia. how did you get involved in the project? >> the answer is one people don't expect. actually, i was asked to do it by my friend who was my first producing partner. we produced her first movie together. she's an amazing producer, did all the spider-man movies and a

bevy of other movies. she's a real hero. she started the whole stand up for cancer. she raised millions and millions of dollars, brought all of the absolute first class scientists together for cancer research, breast cancer. she had breast cancer. unfortunately she did not live to see her last efforts. but that's why i was there. so i got to be a part of her first movie and her last movie. the good news is i said yes to the project, hadn't even read it, didn't know who was a part of it. then there was the script and that fabulous cast. so you know, god was looking after me. >> she passed away sadly about a year ago. a great story, a good way into a film that's going to do big business this summer. you worked with some young stars. we just talked about andrew garfield, how impressed you were with him. >> oh, my god. i didn't get to work with emma. we didn't get any scenes together. but andrew is an amazing talent.

in new york i'm sure a lot of people just saw him on broadway. he has a long and varied career ahead of him. he is really extraordinary. >> but on that spidey suit, launch it into a different stratosphere. just saw a picture of you and martin sheen. i was surprised reading you had never worked with him before. >> that's not true. i reminded him we did work together. we did one of the early movies for tv. they used to do those things. it was somewhere in the 70s. it was really, really good. called mongo is back in town. >> how did we not dig up that footage. >> marty was in that. he was very young. >> surprised he blocked that out. >> i keep telling him four or five times. i keep telling him and he forget. >> we're going to find that foot

oon age for you. i was surprised to learn you didn't see the film. will you see the film? >> not for a while. mark webb, the director, did a spectacular job. i could see him doing the job on the set. i really don't think i want to see myself in 3d. after you reach a certain age, it's hard to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. 3d animation, i don't think so. >> a lot of us felt that when tv went hd. >> i thought that, too. i still think that. >> i've got to ask you about another project, highly anticipated steven spielberg lincoln movie coming out in which you play mary todd lincoln. can you give us any hints about what we'll see? >> no. >> that was a fine interview. >> there you have it. >> but what an amazing prong. steven spielberg, you, daniel day-lewis. give us a little sneak peek, if you can? >> i have no way to give awe

sneak peek. that will be one that is -- i don't know. it was a great adventure. >> where does that role rank for you over your career? >> who knows? you can't -- they are all your babies. you can't -- you know, ainunt m, i wouldn't be mean to her. she ranks in there somewhere. all of the rolls i've had. some of them i would like to forget about. still, they have had a relevance somewhere in the whole picture because they inform you after. >> we're going to put you on the spot. rapid-fire round. >> oh, no not that game. >> a word, just a thought, an idea, sally. >> thought, idea, there we go. haven't done this in a while. >> doing it again. >> a baby, me. >> the flying nun. >> oh, sweet jesus.

>> that will suffice. do you get sick of seeing that image. >> i really do. thank you, willie, i'm enjoying every minute of this interview. >> leave it up. now about norma ray. >> once in a lifetime roles. >> mrs. doubtfire. >> robin. such an amazing role. >> forrest gump. >> my boy. tommy. oh, god he's good. that man is going to have a career. >> he's an up and comer. >> mongo is back in town.

>> wish you had a clip from that. those are the little pieces you don't see that add up to who you are that actually add up to being who you are today. >> sally field, a joy to see you. congratulations on the film. the amazing spider-man opens tomorrow. back after your local news irnlg. this is a news 4 news break. it's aaron gilchrest and we start with the forecast and meteorologist veronica johnson. >> pace yourself today, aaron. you folks out there, it's going to be another hot one for us today. temperatures will rise quickly. we've got a lot of sunshine currently after the showers and storms we had overnight. we're at 82 degrees right now, and a little wind out of the north at 5 miles per hour. 77 in leesburg, dulles at 78, 77 in resten and 79 currently in annapolis, maryland. by noontime we're up it to

ginchtsd morning. traveling in our area, you have to be careful. a lot of downed trees still affecting your commute. southbound connecticut avenue is closed right now at decatur due to a downed tree at that area.

interstates look a lot better if you travel 395 and not bad to the 14th street bridge. 14 minutes to make the drive out in the belt [ female announcer ] the son of a single mom. proud father of two daughters. president obama knows that women being paid 77 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as men isn't just unfair... it hurts families. so the first law he signed was the lilly ledbetter fair pay act to help ensure that women are paid the same as men

for doing the exact same work. because president obama knows that fairness for women means a stronger middle class for america. [ obama ] i'm barack obama and i approve this message. 8:30 now on this monday morning july 2nd, 2012. we have a huge crowd out here on rockefeller plaza. many in town for the fourth of july fireworks coming up on wednesday. good weather. just ahead, up close look at some of the breathtaking places in the country. america the beautiful. >> jenna bush hager back from

her tour of the country, america the beautiful. first stop denali national park, mt. mckinley. look at that. >> a place i've always wanted to go. green juice craze. you've heard of people doing green juice cleanses to rebalance their system. i haven't had breakfast yet. that's perfect. just how healthy, the best veges. how to make one if you don't have a juicer. >> i have a six-year-old. otherwise i may not make that happen. something to think about as you prepare for summer vacation. coming up, the results of a new study to pinpoint, get this, the germiest areas and items in your hotel room. the germs are not limited, by the way, to the bed. there are other places in that hotel room. >> why would you want to do that? >> you need to know.

armed with information you can spray down the whole place and get a hazmat suit. >> i'm an ignorance is bliss guy. >> i am, too. all right. first, though, let's head to universal orlando. they are celebrating the grand opening of the newest attraction based on the animated movie. jenna is there. good morning. >> good morning to you, natalie. i had a chance to ride this ride. i'm more of a thrill seeking devilish kind of girl. this, this wasn't speed or height, this was an incredibly fun ride. we'll show you all about it behind the scenes in a half hour. first i want to brow you to three of the voices in the movie. girls, come in. you know these girls as the adorable daughters in the film. miranda miranda cosgrieve. you played three little girls, ran around like crazy.

was it as fun making the movie as it was to watch and enjoy it. >> it was fun. still kind of surprised me to finally get to see the finished product. it was really funny. >> have you had had a chance to ride the ride at universal. you loved it. >> yes, it was amazing. >> what did you like about it? >> it's fun, fun for everyone, the entire family, hilarious and heartwarming in the end and very nice. >> you'll make a good pr girl. >> did you get a chance to go on the ride? >> yeah. i think it might have been the best ride ever. >> wow, you can all be in pr. that's fantastic. miranda, how cool was it to be part of such a successful film and also click on the theme ride. you did the voices for the theme ride as well. >> we did. we just went on the ride a few minutes ago. it was cool to see our voices. never not i'd be on a ride. >> was it cool to sit in the audience, be on the ride and hear the voices and know it was you. >> it was weird for the movie

but weirder for the ride. people will go on the ride all the tile now. >> you're part of the sequel coming out. we're very much looking forward to that. maybe a second ride. who knows. thank you guys so much for being here. we'll have more behind the scenes of the actual ride in a little bit. but first back to you guys in new york. >> thank you, jenna. i see a trip to universal in my near future again. >> i'll go with you. >> best ride ever, she said. that's the testimony. >> did you hear that? we're going. first a check of the weather. stephanie abrams here for al. >> how about hawaii. you guys have traveled the farthest to get here. would you trade the beaches for the city? >> maybe not. i love living in paradise, but the shopping here is great. >> travel back and forth. traveling to the city, northeast, filled with sunshine.

we do have the threat for severe weather, however in the southeast and also into the northern plains. for our fourth of july, who is excited for the fourth? you guys are excited for the fourth of july. we have a threat for storms. that might put ayou guys are ex fourth of july. we have that threat for some storms, so that might put a damper on the grillingful. here's a look at what's happening outside your door. >> any severe storms stay well to the south of the area through the carolinas. we see temperatures rise very quickly today. i think by the noon hour at 90 degrees, we'll max out at 95 and with high humidity it's going to be another oppressive afternoon for us. showers and storms for today, for details on your fourth of july forecast, go to weather.com 24 hours a day. natalie, back over to you. >> all right. thank you, stephanie.

coming up next, jenna bush hager enjoys the national beauty of alaska at our nation's most remote park. her adventure. first, this is "today" on nbc.

. and we're back now at 8:38 as we kick off our special series, america the beautiful, where we celebrate the wonder of our national parks. today contributing correspondent jenna bush hager back from her exploration. jenna, where are you taking us first. >> i love this series, love the national parks. this year i started off in a state i had never been to before but always dreamed of going, alaska. i'm here to report, it was well worth the trip. it's our country's most remote national park, a place shaped by centuries of extremes, denali. its crown jewel, mt. mckinley, north america's highest peak.

we started our alaskan adventure in the shadows of the majestic mountain scouting for legendary wild animals. soon we were surrounded by a far more ferocious creature. denali is the only national park that utilizes sled dogs to patrol its 2 million acres of wilderness. >> you can imagine these are your co-workers every day. you walk into the office. it's impossible to be in a bad move. >> park visitors help train the pups. >> this is an important part of puppy training, they realize how much fun it is to hang out with all the kids. >> these three puppies will join 33 other denali huskies and be on sleds by christmas. >> ready? >> they are always happy. they love what they do. >> reporter: in fact, it's hard not to love anything you do in alaska. >> you had him. >> that was a rock.

>> even if it's catching the elusive alaskan rock fish. >> is it a real fish? i think so. >> no. >> yes, it is. >> yes, it is. >> you got a rock fish. >> so embarrassing. sorry, steve. >> steve has been a fishing guy in the river for over 40 years. luckily he knows the power of patience. >> do i have something? >> yes. >> i have something. >> yes. >> you've got him. >> yea. >> the holy grail. >> can we please free him. let's free him. although he would taste good with a little dill sauce. we may not have been able to keep our catch. >> can i kiss him. >> there you go. free him. one thing we could take with us was the tranquility. >> there's something very peaceful about being on the river. >> i agree. very close to nature. very close to the way the earth has been for a long time.

>> reporter: floating down rivers to soaring to incredible heights, we were on our way to the pinnacle of denali, mt. mckinley. >> doug, should i be nervous? >> no, don't be nervous, be excited. >> i'm adventurously excited in alaska. >> mckinley peak pierces clouds nearly four miles in the sky. hundreds of glaciers, valleys. >> look how close. >> no creature would dare to linger here except one. >> we made it. to the glacier. >> 1100 climbers attempt summit mckinleyly a year, less than half make it. at base camp we talked to brave hearted adventurers. >> tell me about it. >> the most beautiful and brutal. >> what's the most spectacular thing you've seen.

>> walking through the night. the sun doesn't really set here. it's gorgeous. >> as we watch an avalanche, it's clear to see mckinley like alaska is a place of contrast. heartbreaking beauty amid danger, a peak to climb, worth the trip. alaska in a word is spectacular. denali national park was unlike anything i've ever experienced. tomorrow, another new experience. i'm going on a road trip with my sister. yes, i roped her into this. into bryce canyon, utah. we did crazy, incredible things. >> that looked like fun. the pictures of alaska are gorgeous. >> so spectacular. unbelievable. >> i like how you changed catch and release to catch, kiss, and release. >> or humiliate myself on national television. all one thing. >> you got one. might be time to shut down your fishing career. >> i retired.

>> we'll look forward to the next one. thank you, jenna. up next, the green juice craze is popular. it's the perfect match for the perfect moment -- oreo the dunkin' way. introducing the new oreo coffee coolatta and new oreo vanilla bean coolatta. taste the fun today. america runs on dunkin'. hurry in to dunkin' and try the new oreo coolatta and donuts today.

back at 8:45. this morning's health, the skinny on green juices. we heard they help shed weight and boost energy. just how healthy are they? joy bauer. this is the latest thing, cleansing. do the payoffs live up to the hype. >> there's definitely a lot of pros. it's a glass filled with produce, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. i love the fact there's no gunnigunk, no added sugar or fat. all of that is great. there's definitely some cons when you do these things full on as a liquid diet, then you get

into problems because there's down sides. >> you're not getting a lot of daily nutrition you should be getting? >> right. i looked at a lot of commercial plans on the market and it's pretty alarming. when you just exclusively do this juicing, you're very, very deficient in protein. so as a whole, on average, they only had 14 grams of protein at the end of the day. we need at least 50. fourteen grams of protein is only equivalent of a cup of chick peas or two ounces of fish, again, in the entire day. protein helps to he rev our metabolism and helps your hair stay gorgeous and controls hunger. the other part, it's all carbohydrates, without protein. i looked at them. even though 45 grams of sugar, 45 teaspoons of sugar if you're juicing. ironically you think it's a lot of fiber. because they are not adding pulp

back in to commercial plans, same quarter cup of black beans. >> missing out on key nutrients. a lot of people report dizziness and hair loss. >> liquid calories don't fill you up like solid calories do. you're cranky and hungry. i love it as one meal replacement or hardy snack. you don't want to do it as a cleanse. >> reality, you'll probably gain that back, whatever water weight you lose. >> you're also degrading muscle mass. it's not a good idea. for people who do want to juice, there are all sorts of great ways to do it. as a meal preplacement or occasional drink. >> let's talk about the vegetables you recommend for juicing. >> best vegetables and most popular are spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, parsley, carrots and beets. the key is heavy on vegetables,

lighter on fruits. they are high in calories and sugar. >> they are flavor brighteners. what's the ratio. >> you have to experiment around. these froos work well to brighten the flavor. pineapple, green apple, oranges, pears, grapes and mangoes. i'm going to show awe concoction. >> whip me up breakfast. >> greens in a glass, 220 calories. >> i'll wait to try it until you make it. >> a large handful of baby spinach. half a cup of cucumber with the skin on and one celery stalk. >> i notice you don't have a real juicer, you have a blender. a lot of people don't have juicers. >> anybody can make it at home. >> fiber, half a cup of water. >> yogurt to keep it a protein.

>> 20 grams of protein, a container of nonfat greek yogurt. half a banana and half a pineapple whether fresh or frozen. >> my hands are clean, i promise. >> i believe you. >> stir that up and tell me what you think. >> i love it. i love it. i'm a healthy kind of -- this is really good. if i could get my kids to drink something that bright green, that's another story. >> it's not a chocolate milkshake, 220 calories, five grams of fiber and 20 grams. >> as a meal replacement. >> or snack. >> joey bauer for my breakfast. up next, minion mayhem. orlando's newest attraction. but first today on nbc.

we're back now at 8:5 1, must see attraction opening at universal studio. jenna wolfe is there. jenna, good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, willie. in 2010 universal released a movie, a little something called ""despicable me." they hoped it would take off, it did, to $240 million. it wasn't a tough decision for

the creative team to turn the movie into an experience of a lifetime. on the heels of the 2010 blockbuster animated hit, "despicable me." >> hello, everybody. >> comes the next best thing to actually starring in the sequel. the all new 3d attraction ride at universal orlando. think minion mayhem, only bigger. yeah, slightly more in comprehensible. >> the "today" show is on seven days a week. your reaction. the movie, the tenth biggest animated film in history. >> that's what i'm talking about. >> reporter: inspired the simulated ride with its endearing story line and effervescent characters, most notably a minion. what is a minion. >> yellow. >> what is this?

>> adorable. >> any other words? we won't talk about what happened with mom right now. i'm embarrassed to ask you but i will. what is a minion. >> henchmen, tiny yellow guys he created. we're going to let the guests become that so they can experience what it's like themselves. >> he's the executive producer. this was basically his two-year homework project. >> we wanted to make sure it's our own story line. not the film but the same heart and character of the story line. >> here is what makes this ride different from anything else out there. >> we want to make gorgeous new animation. also shown in the latest high-tech state-of-the-art digital 3d technology. >> got to try this. >> absolutely. let's go. >> so this is where it starts when you first walk in. >> the living room. >> when i was a kid, my parents did not go for this at all.

i tried it a couple of times. didn't work. >> you do a really good imitation. go ahead and do it. >> not as good as steve carell. these guys really know how to party. >> i've been working on something very big. >> reporter: top of the line 3d. >> automatic doors that open. >> reporter: wow, do it. >> go, go, go. we're ready. >> wow. how do i look? don't do that. are you ready? i'll have what that kid is having. worried there may not be enough simulated elements? worry not. the ride comes with water sprayers, an anti-gravity room. >> where are we on gravity, thumbs-up or thumb's down? we like gravity.

>> boogie fever. >> reporter: new to the simulated ride experience, the end of it, a chance for kids and their families to dance like nobody is watching with minions who use words i still can't understand. i can talk politics? you want to talk politics? you just saw me dance, what's your reaction? thinking of becoming a minion, is it a nice lifestyle? your reaction. it was a lot of fun. it was a good time. i just have to say real quick, i got a lot of, is that matt lauer after seeing him. no offense to you, matt, this may or may not be my last live shot. a lot of pressure on universal. every time a ride comes out they have to make it bigger and better than the one before it. this had a lot of bells and whistles, definitely fun. the sequel coming out. the ride opens today at universal orlando. i'm taking these guys back with

me. >> i think technically i'm not allowed to laugh at the matt joke if i sit in this chair. >> not a good career move. >> universal orlando resorts. >> just ahead, the nastiest germs in your hotel room after your local news. good morning. for smuf us we have to pack our

patience today because with traffic lights still out in many areas and the heat today, it's not going to be fun in many areas. our temperatures already warming past the 80-degree mark. hitting 82 right now. the dew point temperature is 63, so plenty sticky already. mid to upper 70s throughout most neighborhoods, and 82 in d.c. and 81 in annapolis and towards packs river. today's high is 96

good morning. lots of debrew on local roadways slowing down. watch out at enterprise road at route 50. looking at delays on 50, not so bad inbound at landover road. it takes about nine minutes to get from the beltway to 295. no accidents on route 50, and

x xxxbraef back with more "today." beautiful morning on rockefeller plaza with a big crowd for this holiday week. i'm natalie morales along with willie geist. coming up, the holiday week, the weather nationwide. freak storms in the mid-atlantic, soaring temperatures hit this country this weekend. we'll be asking the question, is any relief in sight for the hardest-hit areas? an update on the situation. >> also as you're out there traveling this summer, a few things you may want to know before you check into your hotel room. the results of a new study pinpoint where bacteria and other germs may be lurking.

tell you how to protect your family when you're out on vacation. >> okay. first let's get a check of the morning's top story. inside with tamron hall at the news desk. >> hey, natalie, good morning, everyone. millions of americans begin a blistering week without fans, electricity or refrigerators. deadly storms brought down power lines and trees from ohio to north carolina. officials say at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 others injured. meantime heat warnings in effect this morning from the mid-atlantic region, temperatures once again hit triple digits. colorado homeowners who are evacuated from a raging wildfire got a chance to return to their property for the first time this weekend. the fire is now half contained but could still burned for several more weeks. 17,000 acres have been decimated in colorado springs as the most destructive wildfire in state history has leveled nearly 350

homes. a new study suggests extra time in the womb may increase brain development even in full term pregnancies. researchers looked at new york city third graders. they found kids born at 37 or 38 weeks did not perform as well on standardized tests as those born even a week or two later. just 25 days to go until the start of the summer olympics in london. you'll be seeing a lot of swimming champ michael phelps. he's competing in eight events meaning the best he can do is match the eight gold medals he won in beijing. meantime heartache for olympic athlete nastia liukin." she slipped on the uneven bars, falling face down on the mat. she picked herself up to finish the event. she did not make the team, though. one more spot on the track and field team. after a finish even a photo couldn't call, aspirinsers aren't leaving their olympic destiny to fate.

the women chose to compete in a runoff later on turning down the option the officials gave which would have been a coin toss. a raunchy teddy bear launched at the box office. $54 million, "magic mike," runner up followed by "brave," pixar animation disney fairy tale. this strange commercial featuring lookalikes of the duke and duchess of cambridge has the queen of england, an ad for a taxi company in china. check it out. >> completely on time. wow, that's what i call service. thanks, panda. spice it up. >> pretty good lookalikes. brits took to the web and said only they have the right to mock their machine ae

their monarchy. >> look at this sleepy alpaca fighting his case of the blahs on monday. getting lots of hits on youtube. capsed, where am i? who am i? if only that cute when you fall asleep on the job. four minutes past the hour. now back to stephanie with a check of the weather. >> we need a caption contest. we have the family with us, russia to arizona to pennsylvania. tell me about the weather difference from russia to arizona. >> it was 17 below and we adopted one of our sons from russia. we were living in arizona, it was 100 degrees. we moved to pennsylvania, now we're visiting here. which do you like the most, what temperatures? >> my husband likes pennsylvania, i like arizona. >> i don't know what to tell you. each take one kid and live in two separate places. let's have a look at temperatures across the country and forecast for the day today. it's going to be oppressively

hot. nothing for those living in arizona. come on, 100 degrees. 10 to 15 degrees above average across the country. here are some of our hottest spots, 11 states are going to break 100 degrees today. it is certainly dog days o and degrees above average across the country. here are the hottest spots. 11 states are going to break 100 degrees today, and it's certainly the diagnose days of summer thanks to the high pressure with the jet stream. very far to the north. here's what's happening outside your door. that big dome of heat will continue to influence our weather through the work week, and that including, of course, fourth of july. today's high temperature is 95 degrees. high heat, high humidity. so it's going to feel quite oppressive this afternoon. chance of storms only slight and not severe but maybe isolated tamron, back inside to you. >> thanks. this morning on "today's"

travel, hotel room germs. a university of houston study reveal where the nastiest germs are hiding. author of "what the yuck?" good to see you. such an interesting study. they looked at three different states. what type of germs are typically found? >> not only germs that cause the common cold and flu, also nasty germs coliform, gi. >> things that keep you stuck in the hotel room and not outside enjoying your vacation. >> that's right. >> we don't want to freak people out, but you do want to arm yourself with information. start off, for example, using anti-bacterial soaps and wipes. >> we don't want to make everyone a germ aphobe. good old-fashioned soap and

water. >> you don't have to worry about the three ounce rule. easy for the kids. first thing you see when you walk into the hotel room and the first place you flop is the bed. >> first place you flop or put your suitcase down on. >> a no no. >> other people have put their suitcase down. you want to take off the coverlet. if there's a quilt or coverlet, you want to remove it. not cleaned often between guests. decorative pillows, get rid of it, wash your hands. >> what about a blanket. >> usually sheets underneath. stick with that. the hotel will have a duvet cover they will wash. >> what about the headboard. >> the headboard not that germy. i wouldn't worry too much about that, pillows and coverlets. >> fold them up nicely and put them away. >> the lamp on the nightstand. this never crossed my mind. what's wrong with the lamp. >> light switches in general

germy. the nightstand lamp is the germiest. when you're touching this, you realize many other people have done it as well. use a wipe and give it a quick once over. >> the pen of all things, pen and pad. >> you know what, other people have used them. they don't actually replace them with each guest. if a person leaves it, you'll be the next one touching it. give it a wipedown or use your own. >> remote control, beyond the bed, straight for tv. >> everyone loves to watch tv in a hotel room. tv remote, one of the most germy items in the hotel. >> what kind of germs, regular ones. >> ones that cause the gi viruses as well. you want to be careful with that. you absolutely want to wipe down with anti-bacterial. one person told me they put it in a zip lock bag and use it through the bag. >> was that person matt? the hits keep coming here. wipe it down. that's crazy to put it in the

bag. >> this was one of the germiest ones. wiping it down. >> the door handles? >> the door handles, particularly the bathroom. as expected. not as bad as the tv remote. this is easy to wipe down. if you don't have a wipe, use a towel from the bathroom, soap and water, wipe it down. anything people are touching often with their hands, that's what you have to look out for. >> you need to come in right away and start wiping everything down. let's move back to, here you go, favorite place in the room, bathroom. i'll walk behind here. this is obvious. >> you would presume they are cleaning these things. >> sure. >> however, in the same study we're talking about we're talking about the mops and sponges of the cleaning service people, those have a lot of bacteria in them. >> they are using it over and over. >> from room to room. >> look, i'm not saying you have to clean your own toilet. if you have wipes, give the handle, cover a once over, faucet handle as well, inside of the sink. if you're really concerned about

this. >> what about the glasses they leave. some store it like this, some have the cap on top. >> even the cap, it's still exposed to the outside and to when people. >> when you flush the toilet, things go up. >> i prefer the cups in the sealed plastic bag or cup you know is disposable. then you're really safe. something like this, give it a rinse with soap and water. >> this is not on the list. i had a huge debate. i took a bath at a hotel. you took a bath, so nasty. you're feet are in the tub. no bath. >> i wouldn't recommend it. >> fine. >> i think the shower is probably a better bet because you're not touching as many surfaces there. save the bath for when you get home. >> all right, doctor. thank you so much. the first time i've stood behind a toilet. i feel like i'm on price is

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this morning on "today's" five facts, our july 4th edition, the holiday on

wednesday. brings us that, "travel & leisure" magazine writer. patriotic music. let's get right to it, first english language, what's the fun fact. >> this is kind of a big deal. i don't know if you knew this. america does not have an official language. english is not the official language of america. interesting? interested? >> fascinating. >> what's amazing, actually there are 28 states that have declared english their official language but not all states. our neighbors to the north have two official languages, english and french. some have four official languages. >> somewhat controversial english has not been made the official language. >> definitely something in the current debate but i like it. >> you guys are getting a little too heavy with the politics. >> lighten it up.

let's get down to roller coasters. >> i was going to say which is the tallest roller coaster in the world. would you guess new jersey? >> no. >> if you've been on it, you're braver than i am. this thing is the size of three statue of liberties stacked up on top. >> what is this killed? >> the ride lasts only 50 seconds. goes from 0 to 120 miles an hour in three seconds. you say only 50 seconds. do you know how long that feels? >> i can't even look at that. that makes me so nauseous. >> i love it. >> at the top of it, if you're not like me with your eyes closed you can see new york city and philadelphia at the same time. >> the line is much longer than the 50-second ride. my kids not allowed on that one. >> next fact, christmas in july. that sounds like texas.

>> so ready for fourth of july. you guys are well dressed for that. there are 82 places in the u.s. that are named after christmas. so there is the town of christmas, arizona, christmas valley in oregon, christmas island in florida. two places in maine, christmas tree mountain and christmas cove, maine, christmas, michigan, a christmas motel in case you want -- not bates motel but christmas motel. >> that sounds fun. >> santa claus not left out. a couple of places called santa claus. >> santa claus, indiana. >> have you been there. >> no, but been -- >> he googled it. >> always christmas in the u.s. >> a couple of countries that have christmas as well. >> have you been doing my research? >> i'm studying as i go. >> all right. let's move onto museums. love this fun fact. best museum for kids? >> this is an amazing museum, the largest attendance according to travel and leisure,

smithsonian national air and space museum, 8,300,000 visitors a year, admission is free. fantastic. the second? anyone? anyone? >> no. >> just in general with attendance the louvre. >> so mona lisa gets a lot of props but back in d.c. we are hometown heroes, the largest collection of airplanes and spacecraft in the world. >> a little known fact because d.c. is on a swamp and gets so hot, free ac. we would walk and go into the museum for the ac, not for the knowledge. >> that's nice. >> okay. we think big city, largest city, we think new york city, l.a., chicago, but you've got a different big city. >> the largest city in america by area is, drum roll, sitka, alaska. >> just telling me prosecute.

>> the largest city by area. not population. l.a. something like 15, new york city, 34. sitka. on the cruise, fishing. it's gorgeous. remember the movie "the proposal" with sandra bullock. that was actually supposedly based in sitka. >> they call it the parent of the pacific. >> back in the 1800s, it was kind of a groovy place to hang out. >> after seeing jenna bush hager in alaska -- >> it's very beautiful. you want to see whales, you want to see sea lions, get back to nature, go to sitka. >> a lot of land, not a lot of people. three people per square mile. >> 9,000 people total. >> good place to go hide. thanks. coming up, creative gifts for host and hostesses for your summer get together. first these messages. ♪

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pack up your family for a camping trip this summer. >> i was this close to embellishing but i thought i'd go with the truth. perfect gift for host or hostess for a summer party. we've done the work for you. a great assortment of gifts because you can't show up empty handed. tag advantage of fresh foods for summer after your news and local weather.

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this is a news 4 news break. irnlgts good morning. it's 9:26. i'm aaron gilchrest. let's go to veronica johnson for the forecast. >> not a dry heat but a steamy heat for the area. temperatures top out at 95 degrees today feeling like 97 to 98 degrees later on. could see a few showers and a strong thunderstorm come through the area, but i don't think we'll have any severe storms today. 94 for the high on tuesday. fourth of

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>> i wonder how far we have to go until there's no traffic. >> i don't know. there aren't many people out here in general right now. >> we own this road. >> that is "today's" jenna bush hager on utah's scenic highway 12 in some of the most rugged, remote and remarkable scenery in the country. we'll do the twin sister road trip tomorrow on "today." that's so fun. i'm natalie morales along with willie geist and tamron hall. is that vacation or work? >> vacation. >> a good gig. meanwhile if you're thinking about taking a family trip, how about camping with the kids,

enjoy the outdoors. even if you haven't done it, what you need to know to ensure everybody, including tamron, has a good time. >> i say include an exit plan but i could be persuaded with s'mores. weather, a casual picnic, weekend at the beach. what to bring a host. creative ideas, perfect gift for any occasion. look at that, that's great. play a new game. dominos. >> on another note, today nbc news is launching latino.com, english language news and lifestyle featuring hispanic perspectives on family, food. i'm proud to say i'm a contributor. be sure to check out nbclatino.com. we're excited about this. stephanie abrams here for al. >> i love camping. you know you can camp in central park. what do you guys say? >> legally? >> yes. they have on friday nights or something. do you know about this? maybe we should do a family

camping trip. central park, so you have an easy escape plan. >> i'm busy the next two weekends. >> if you're thinking about going camping, a lot of people do on the fourth of july holiday, it can get a little hot this time of year. but here is a look where we will see that nice weather. have you to go to new england or southern california to find cooler temperatures. otherwise in that plastic tent sometimes -- natalie, i'm sorry. then on your fourth of july for your fireworks. we could see storms in the northeast. that could obs cooler temperatures. otherwise, in na plastic tent sometimes just -- >> do they have central air? >> they don't, natalie. i'm soemprry. on your fourth of july we could see storms in the northeast, so that could obscure things, vmt otherwise it looks good in the west. here's a look at what's happening outside your door. we're warming up fast again. our temperatures are in the low 80s right now. low 80s across the area, 95 is our high temperature for today. high humidity, and so it's going

to be another sweltering day across the area. we'll see a high of 94 on so the question is what do i have to do in order to get this family camping trip going in central park. >> she's out. there's nothing you could say to get her. >> i'm game. >> i'll visit. >> she gets to go home. >> you're just like me. >> thank you, receive any. up next, fun gifts with a twist for your hosts that will make you their favorite guest. they won't ever want to you leave. start with all the fresh salad and warm breadsticks you want. choose 2 appetizers made for sharing. then 2 entrées from 6 of our favorites. classics like eggplant parmigiana and new favorites like smoked mozzarella chicken and spaghetti with four cheese meat sauce & meatballs. 3 courses, 2 people, just $25. but only for a limited time, at olive garden.

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whether you're invited to a casual dinner or guest for an entire weekend, the perfect gift for your host can go a long way to show a little appreciation. amy goodman is the

editor-at-large for coastal living magazine. good morning, amy. >> good morning. >> the rule is you can't show up empty handed. you get tired of bringing flowers or wine, mix it up. >> we have wonderful ideas, luxurious gifts for the home, attainable and affordable. truly a nice nod, something from the heart, going to dinner or staying for the weekend. >> let's launch in. first. >> these are from anthropology, made from recycled beach glass, which has a nice moment to it. they come in a variety of different colors. for $8 a piece, can you mix and match them giving to the hostess. it elevates the idea of a candle because she can use them time and again. pair this with matches. home art out of california. they do have some nice motifs on there. >> great conversation piece with the motifs on there. for our hostess who loves

coffee. >> they probably have a coffeemaker but don't have a french press. bed bath & beyond, $19.99, a nice pop of color with the kitchen. pairing it with something more to show you thought about the gift. these are gorgeous organic sugars made in the shape of sea shells. >> these are too pretty to use. they are great. >> for those at home, it has a little vanilla flavor. added sweetness, gourmet sugar company. >> pretty, aren't they? >> next up, i love this idea. a safe gift, something people can use. >> if you entertain a great deal, you can use more hand towels. >> sure. >> what i love, cabana stripes, fresh, crisp. look at the monograms for an additional $7. that personalizes. i love the maritime soap sets, made from oatmeal and vegetable oil. they are very natural but

modelled after 18th century packaging. kind of has that cool, classic sophistication to them. >> moving on, you can't go wrong with a bottle of wine. >> unlike a bolts of wine on the doorstep, vineyard vines, up to one bottle or four for storage. they have coastal designs, five different designs to choose. it has kind of a beachy if you please element. they are very sturdy. canvas on the outside, gingham on the inside. >> bringing wine to a new level. these pillows are fantastic. >> customizable canvas pillow colors. forty different designs. i love them all. i think the elephants are cool. obviously personalized, too. these start at $58. >> how long does it take? >> i would plan about a week in advance. add that to gift giving. >> that's when you know you're staying for the weekend. >> nice to give something more substantial.

>> next up these platters. i love the serving trays. >> they feature iconic prints. chain-link print, square do the. particularly nice with a fashionista with a contemporary home. at the same time i love the idea of giving trays as a gift. >> serving trays are one of the most popular gifts you can give. >> for a hostess, she can always use more. >> petrified platters, delicious hor doevres, sushi, these are 20 million years old. the most gorgeous history you've ever seen prf i like them because my cooking is terrible, it will distract. >> mexican dominos, classic bingo. the minute you get in the door, all have fun playing games. very affordable, luxurious items

that seem like so much more. >> are you a good domino player. >> bingo. you can wager on me with bingo. >> thank you so much. i love this bingo game. up next, taking the fear out of family's first camping trip. first these messages. bingo. [ man ] ever year, sophia and i use the points we earn with our citi thankyou card for a relaxing vacation. ♪ sometimes, we go for a ride in the park. maybe do a little sightseeing. or, get some fresh air. but this summer, we used our thank youpoints to just hang out with a few friends in london. [ male announcer ] the citi thankyou visa card. redeem the points you've earned to travel with no restrictions. rewarding you, every step of the way. redeem the points you've earned to travel with no restrictions. my system gets why out of sorts it? but that comes with age, right? just because we're in that over 50... what does that mean? are we done? activia helps regulate your digestive system

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why not enjoy the go with charmin ultra soft. >> announcer: brought to you by got milk? it's not breakfast without it. nourish every day. this morning on get started today, planning a family camping

trip. the editor of parent and child magazine has taken his family for a night under the stars and survived. we know you can do it, too. good morning, nick. >> good morning, natalie. glad to be here. >> this is something i definitely thought about. you say if you are thinking about camping, you've got to think in three different phase. what should you do. >> be prepared, stay safe and have fun. first be prepared. make the commitment to go. easy way to do that. go to a couple of websites, national park service or go camping america.com. plug in zip code, pick your dates and, bang, your off and camping. >> next you say it's important to get the right equipment. you can spend a lot of money if you don't really know what you're doing. >> that's right. >> what are the things you really need. >> gather your gear. on basic level, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and cooking stove. go onto the website i mentioned and you'll find a list there.

other essentials, basically a first aid kit, insect repellant and sunscreen. that's very important. >> being in the great outdoors. >> nobody wants to look like a cooked lobster on the first day and become a crab for the rest of the trip. there's some equipment to gather. you know what, you can either barrow it, rent it or buy it. if you buy it, go into any sporting goods store or go on ebay where you get things at a discount. that's when i've done with my son, camping to yosemite, big backpack on his back today. >> so important you say to make sure you really know what you need to get. you can save money by using other resources. you also say good for the kids to set some boundaries for them as well. what do you mean by that? >> that falls under stay safe part of this. the first thing you want to do, bring some expectations and behavioral boundaries you have from home into the campsite. that includes setting a limit,

how far your kids travel away from the campsite. you never want to let them get out of your sight but a limit. maybe a tree down there with a big t, that's how far you can travel away. you want to tell them never to go into the tents of other people around you. everybody is there. it's a big comunal experience, great. very friendly with camping. that's a big bonus. just like at home when you tell kids don't go into strangers houses, same with tents all around you. >> good to know. other things, pack a first aid kit. make sure you have any kind of unforeseen emergency planned for, right? >> absolutely. first aid kit is essential. also bring along medications your family takes. many people don't bring that into mind along the way. you don't want to be stuck without. >> absolutely. next you say a lot of kids, hard for them to go camping and say what can i do for fun here besides going and seeing nature.

how much nature can be fun after a while. my kids are gamers. they like their video games. do you make a limit on what they can bring and what they can do? >> first thing to do, when you're choosing your campsite, it's wise to select one that offers a lot of fun activities you can do together. there's canoeing or swimming, volleyball, horseshoes, so you have a lot of choices for them. the other thing, bring stuff you love, your family loves, soccer ball, whiffel ball, frisbee, a deck of cards. introduce them to games you love, go fish. video games, that's an interesting question. my own son when we went camping a few years ago, he said, dad, i miss my nintendo ds. i understood that. he's used to being on that. i said, hey, let's go for a walk. we walked down a trail, came to a stream, full of frogs. if you're familiar with video game frogger, there it was live

in action. >> last but not least, you say bring a camera. you want to capture those moments. >> one of the greatest things about camping as a family, it brings everybody together. it bonds you and also creates memories for a lifetime. so why not document them, share them with grandmas, send them, e-mail them to your friends when you get back from your trip? >> it's a good time with the whole family, if you can just survive and get through it. i love it, i do love it. thank you so much. coming up next, italian cooking fresh and easy. but first this is "today" on nbc.

this morning on "today's" kitchen on the lighter side, farm to table approach to italian food. the chef here in new york city.

good morning. >> thank you. nice to meet you. >> i'm glad to be here because you make things simple. that's what i love about your cooking. what's your philosophy if you had to pinpoint it. when i think of italian, i think chicken parm and heavy sauce. >> mine is farm to table, healthy impressed yents from locally sourced vendors. moderating portion size so you don't overeat and get good nutrients from the food we're eating. >> excellent. what are we making this morning snfr grilled salmon, move to saute's spinach and butter nut squash puree. to get this started, salt and pepper both sides of our salmon fillets. i like to use sea salt because it's obtained naturally and contains trace minerals our bodies need. >> this is all you're doing, basic here. >> salt, pepper he, a little olive oil. rub that in. put these on the grill. put them skin side down.

>> important to keep the skin on when grilling this. >> yes. we have these here. they are going to do a nice sizzle. really, any way you do salmon, whether grill it, saute it, bake it, such great health benefits here. omega 3, b-12 and helps enhance our mood. >> anything in particular to ask for when buying salmon at the grocery store. >> make sure it's not smelly, fresh, portion size. stick to six ounces would be a good portion. >> excellent. what are we doing with it. >> we're going to let that cook and add in our baby spinach. here i have heated extra virgin olive oil and a little garlic. a great tip about garlic. make sure it sits at room temperature 15 minutes. >> why is that? >> triggers an enzyme reaction and helps boost healthy components found in garlic, antioxidant and increase blood flow. >> let me help you out. >> we're going to let it cook

down. now our butter nut squash. low in calories, also spinach low in calories. a healthy, balanced diet here. we have this boiled for 30 minutes so it's nice and tender. we're going to add this into our food processor. >> can you use a blender if you don't have a food processor. >> absolutely. a blender. both of them will work fine. >> farm to table, what does that mean to you? a lot of people hear that, i'm not sure they understand what that means. >> to me it means -- i'm sorry, add low sodium chicken broth. using local vendors, healthy ingredients. i recommend also visiting local farmers market, especially for produce. when produce is in season, such as now, we have great beets and everything. you'll find an abundance at a great bargain. >> my eaters are here. >> now we puree this. >> i love natalie coming in.

>> i love that. >> real quick. >> we've got our spinach, add to the middle, butter nut squash puree already done and grilled salmon on top. a great addition to this you like pasta, think about for italian food, a great substitute is spinach spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts. all fresh vegetables. >> beautiful. thank you so much. kathie lee and hoda next. >> after local news and weather. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

this is a news 4 news break. 9:57 is your time now on this monday, july 2nd, 2012. good morning. let's go to veronica johnson now for a look at the forecast. morning. >> teps heat up fast for the afternoon. temperatures are high with high humidity up rnd 98 to 99 degrees. a hot one for today with a

chance of passing showers and thunderstorms. could be storms, but not severe. could have some strong to severe storms i think on the fourth of july. slight chance right now. danella. >> downed trees as well as accidents slowing you down. in upper marlboro f-you travel along 382 all the lanes are blocked there because of the accident. d.c. crash shuts down the 2900 block of fourth street in northeast. however, traveling along i-95 in virginia, nice commute for you, nice and clear in both directions. directions. on news 4

captions paid for by nbc-universal television hey, everybody. hope you had a wonderful weekend. i know it was hot. it's now fun day monday. that's the trouble with weekends, they end. it's july 2nd. we have fun on fun day monday. >> it's a holiday week. >> a weird one. >> i wonder if they are celebrating before or after. some people are taking the whole week. >> i got into town awfully quickly this morning. i have a feeling said let's take

the whole week. there are certain days in your life you remember. i remember when i was 15 years old on july 2nd, i met a wonderful young man named spencer iii. i fell madly in love and we lost him. it's july 2nd to everybody else, but to people that love someone, it's a day they are sorry he's gone. i send my love to his family today. >> sweet. there is a lot of news that happened over the weekend. first and foremost, i guess, was the tom cruise and katie holmes split. >> when something like that happens, boom. >> i saw it on twitter first where is now where i'm getting all my news. i work at nbc news, but i'm getting all my news at twitter. >> is there a chance it could be wrong news? >> it could be. i look for confirmation from other sources like tmz and what

not. it was interesting. i guess they had been together six years. >> they had a child and got married, which is what everybody is doing, by the way, congratulations to adele. they've been married five years. you know what's fascinating about this? he was married two times before. each time he left those woman, i understand. that's what we hear and they were 33 years old. katie is 33, but she is the one this time who filed for divorce. >> he claims he was blind-sided. they have two residences. she figured filing in new york would be better for her and she hired a couple of high-profile attorneys. one is the christie brinkley one. >> it's going to be a big battle. i don't think it's about money. she has an iron-clad prenuptial. it will be about this little

girl suri. tom is very, very much a part of the whole scientology world and wants to raise his child inside scientology just like i want to raise my children in my faith. i understand that. i never bought and maybe others didn't, as well, even though she said she converted to scientology, you never sensed she was actually a real believer. i often say when somebody says i converted for my husband, i usually think to myself, then you didn't believe in anything to begin with really. nobody could get me to change my faith. i wouldn't convert it for everything in the world if somebody comes along and you so i'll change from this to that, did you believe in it to begin with? i don't know. i have scientology friends. they are lovely, lovely people, but there is a tie to it that is extremely strong. it's strong and it seems strange to an awful lot of people. >> some reports are saying, and

i don't know what to believe. this is from the new york "post" which the headline is "kat trap." he wanted to send his child suri off to a camp, called the sci-org where the top tier of people are. at 6 years old you go unsupervised, according to this paper. >> 6-year-olds unsupervised sounds wrong. >> rupert murdoch tweeted a few things. >> he doesn't care hoe offends. >> "scientology is back in the news. very weird cult, but big, big money involved with tom cruise or number three in hierarchy." watch katie holmes and scientology develop. something creepy about these impeachment later he was tweeting about backlash.

tweeting is dangerous, by the way. >> you can tweet anything at any time. >> when you think about what he's been through in the last year with the news of the world, he's been called tough stuff, too. the beautiful thing about this country, we have the right to an opinion. if you share it, we also have the right to let you know what they think of your opinion. that's democracy. >> tweeter is very knee-jerk. you can tweet something and wish you didn't. >> have you ever? >> i don't like when i misspell and i do. it's on the iphone. you look like a dummy. oh, how about some grammar? people are always judge judy. >> they spell grammar, g-r-a-m-m-e-r. >> people are so judgy. >> i tweet, but you know it's not me tweeting. i don't tweet. christine, would you tweet this for me? she goes, yes. and she tweets. i don't do that thing. >> your phone is so old, you

can't do it on your phone. it is. it's one of the old ones. there's nothing against it. it works. >> here is the thing about my phone. my phone, which by my own admission is a dinosaur phone, it's a little flip -- last week christine's blackberry completely crashed and guess whose phone she had to use? mine never fails me. these new iphones, it's always going dead. she uses it so much it's good for about an hour. >> i've got to get the double charger. i have this. >> no. i say dinosaur. >> dinosaurs rule. we just gave a quick congrats to adele. >> we love her. she is amazing. what a year she had. >> her boyfriend is simon kaneki. they are having a baby. "i'm delighted to announce simon and i are expecting our first child together. i wanted you to hear the news from me. we are obviously over the moon and excited, but please respect

our privacy." >> we will try. it's okay to send her love and appreciation, i'm sure and goodwill and all that good stuff. i was going to say something. i know what's going to happen. she's going to have this baby and those grammys are going to mean -- >> zero. >> yeah. a baby puts everything in perspective. i didn't even watch the emmys last weekend. forgot they were on. you think you want to watch, you want an emmy so badly. in all those years i never won be a emmy. 11 nominations and i never won. all of a sudden, i'm next to you and boom, boom, boom! >> three emmys. flee. >> my point being -- you know the funny part about that? >> you made your point. your point has been made. done, boom, boom, boom, done! >> i didn't remember we won the first year. there is a box sitting in my house the longest time.

more wine. i finally opened up the box and it was the emmy with my name engraved. i went, oh, my gosh, it's been sitting here all week. >> big news in the olympics. >> besides our mug? >> yes. let's talk about our mugs, for $17 -- what are they, $14? >> $14, unless they've gone up because of demand. >> you have to look again. >> very cute. >> this is one of those, now the olympic trials, it's that time where everyone is hoping and praying they get into the olympic games. there was a great athlete last week in china. nastia luken. we watched her in beijing, rooting for her. she was going for a comeback. she was 22 years old. that's not old in real life. >> in gymnastics, it is. >> she was competing on the uneven bars. watch what happened.

>> we should point out, as you can tell, she's okay. look what happens now. the crowd cheered her on. she gathered herself up. >> is that her father putting her back up? >> yes. her dad's the coach. look at this. >> wow. >> standing ovation. >> of course, what courage that takes. >> i got to tell you, that's her doing that makes her so much bigger to me than if she had just done it flawlessly. when you're down on your knees and you stand up. >> it's not the fall, it's who gets up. >> she didn't make the olympic team, we should say. >> she is a heroine. >> she is. mike phelps qualified to compete in eight events which means he could match his beijing. >> make it a nice sweet 16. >> remember that photo finish? two runners right there. >> vying for the third position in the track and field race.

we didn't know who won. >> always looked like number 1. >> i thought it was when your chest cut it. >> then it's the one with the bigger boobies. i would have won that race. i had a shot. >> they decided to have a run-off. they are not going to do the flip of the coin. >> that's what two real hero was do. >> olympics ceremonies are going to be july 27th, but we are not going to be there. >> we are going to be right here. >> no, we are no. >> yes, we are. >> then we're not on for a couple of weeks. >> okay. somebody hasn't been asked to go. >> i'm fine with it. >> they were concerned about international incidents, if you know what i mean. apparently, there wasn't enough wine in london for us. >> if you've been to the beach, you probably noticed this, there are popping up in addition to the umbrellas and stuff, huge tents. one person finds it very

offensive. >> one person we know is highly offended and she is taking photos of them and bringing them to work. >> she is nameless but it is joanne lamarka. she was at the beach. here is the thing. somebody else was at the beach in north carolina. they had the tents up but they were in the back. people set them up in the back. so they weren't obstructing everybody's view of the water. >> when people show up, they put two umbrellas and stake out a huge swath of beach for themselves, a shoe over here, a thing over there. i don't want someone sitting on top of me. i don't like the idea of spreading out like that. forget it. anyhoo, be nice at the beach. >> be nice everywhere we'll be nice to a couple of companies who picked our favorite things. this is called absolute green

multipurpose cleaner. aroma therapy scent. it's $6.99. it smells like if you went to -- what's the name? >> lavender. crabtree and evelyn. >> stop it! i can't remember. i'm going blank. she went to this wonderful spa in -- >> canyon ranch. >> thank you. >> crabtree and evelyn. >> wanted everything to be clean. this is a bug spray that smells as if you're in canyon ranch. she was thinking of me because she knows how much i cuddle bambino and it would not be harmful to him. >> why would you spray him? >> i would spray myself so i don't get bitten and love on him. i would nuzzle him to my bosom and he won't get hurt. >> if you want a great read,

this weekend, i picked the book. it's called "gone girl." if you buy this book or download it, be prepared to do nothing else but read it. it is juicy. it is almost "dateline," juicy, "gone girl." >> i love a good book recommendation. this is by john freida, the ocean wave texturizing spray. i think they discontinued this. i'm obsessed with this stuff. >> it's a simple thing, miss technology. >> maybe if you talk about it, they'll put it back on. do you love it, kathie? >> not really. not everything has to come back. >> you spray it, it moisturizes and gives it a tussled look. >> is she still talking?

>> love you, baby sara. >> up next, how to survive and thrive. challenges. >> i'm not going to cry. the latest hollywood gossip on today's buzz. guess who is in the house? ♪ [ instrumental ] [ girl ] when i started playing soccer, i wasn't so good. [ barks ] so me and sadie started practicing. we practiced a lot. now i've got some moves! [ crowd cheering ] spin kick! whoo-hoo! [ giggling ] [ announcer ] we know how important your dog is to your whole family. so help keep him strong and healthy... with the total care nutrition in purina dog chow. because you're not just a family. you're a dog family. fiber one. uh, forgot jack's cereal. [ jack ] what's for breakfast? um... try the number one! [ jack ] yeah, this is pretty good. [ male announcer ] half a day's worth of fiber. fiber one.

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passage for you and them. how do you survive the challenges of an empty nest after they all left home?

three moms are here to share words of wisdom. >> karen rubenstein is the author of "beyond the mommy years." karen casden is the blogger for the huffington post and christy miller is author of "fun without dick and jane." >> you write from personal experience, right? >> absolutely. >> when did this happen to you? >> a couple of years ago. i was so freaked out about it, i wrote a book on it. that's how upset i was. when you walk past the room and the door, there is nobody in that room. i couldn't put away the placemat on the kitchen table. >> you are pathetic. >> i was pathetic. on the other hand, that's the grief stage which i found in my research. you get over that grief stage. >> how long did it last for you? >> not very long. >> you relied on friends. that helped you through the tough stuff. >> i did. what i want to tell you to do with kathie, take her by the shoulders, ask her to visual

israel her looking into cassidy's eyes and ask her, is there anything on this earth, temperal or physical that can separate you from your daughter. you know she will be there forever. >> i'm going to write a song. >> after a week goes by and she can't get past it? slap her in the face and say, snap out of it. >> i've got a huge project this fall. it could not be better timing. i am going to be so involved in it, i couldn't be more grateful for it. she will be happy to be away from me. >> i was at college night with my oldest child. one of the mothers said i don't know what to do when he leaves home. i was thinking, i can think about 500 things. so i wrote a book. in doing a lot of research, i read a lot. there are a lot of empty nest moms support groups. i understand there's grieving and stuff, but i also feel like

maybe too much is being made now of the grieving and the loss. it's all this negativity. >> you raise them to let them leave, right? >> it's our job. >> there is something sick about not letting them go. >> the grief fast turns into relief, then there's finally joy. >> what do you do with marriage after that? >> about half of them actually get better. suddenly, you have time for yourself. there is nobody around distracting you and making you do stuff. men don't say the relationship changes when a child is born. >> it goes back to the good old days. we are all a little older and grayer. >> you don't want to do those things. >> you rediscover what made you fall in love with your spouse to begin. with. >> or you find out you have nothing in common. who is this guy that we decided to have babies and all we talked about the last 18 years are kids. >> you said you're going to have a longer relationship with your kid as an adult than you did as a child. you said that.

that is an important point, isn't that? >> you're always going to be a mother. you're not an intense full-time mother. you're a part-time mother. that is a good thing. >> problems come when you try to be and you're not letting them grow. >> there is nothing more rewarding than watching your grown child take what you taught him or her and pass it on to a grandchild. i have a 1-year-old grandchild. watching your child parent is a pleasure beyond words. >> if they're a great parent. >> exactly. >> but there are trends now. kids are going off to college. now i'm hearing a lot of, we are looking at investment property two blocks from the kid's dorm. hello, you people, no, let your child go. you go find some investment property somewhere else. >> wrong time to say i got a place in l.a.? it's just a little rental, all right? don't judge. >> not that close to cassidy. >> is it in walking distance?

>> sort of. >> do you have her on your gps. >> that's funny you think i have a gps. >> quick take-away advice for parents p. >> look at this as you've done a great job. pat yourself on the back for the success. be joyful for them because they'll be joyful. >> when you drop your last child off at college, make sure your sunglasses are as big as bread and butter plates. >> remember, the rest of your life is about to start. we have a whole new, now that we live so much longer, we have a whole extra chapter in life. >> i love in rediscovering your love you get pregnant and start all over again. >> thanks, ladies. >> thank you all so much. >> still ahead, what were the big stories in tinseltown this weekend? take a big swig of coffee. we have buzz with rob shuter. my cut hurt!

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that's 1.866.685.3467. fios. a network ahead. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800-974-6006 tty/v. we are back on this fun day monday with "today's buzz" and the celebrity news you might have missed while getting an early start on the patriotic celebration. >> from tom and kat's divorce to alec baldwin's wedding. rob shuter is here. we've been talking about this divorce. tell us what you know at the huffington post. >> it's a really interesting divorce. as it goes more on it's going to get more interesting. she filed for divorce on friday. what is shocking to many people, he did not leave his movie set in iceland to rush back and try to save his marriage, if he was in fact blind-sided, which is what they are saying.

many thought he would rush back to new york. it's not that hard for someone of tom's wealth to do that. she moved to a new apartment in chelsea. i passd there this morning. there are a ton of press outside. now there are reports, too, including the cover of the new york "post" that people from the scientology center are outside her building monitoring her. the scientology people say this is not true. that it isn't happening. several reporters said it seems suspicious. >> a vehicle was out there all day long, men got out to take pictures. when they asked what are you doing there? we are waiting for a bus. >> they could have been reporters from newspapers. there are many, many magazines following this girl. she is also, which is interesting, after seven years, she fired her pr people and returned to the people that made her famous before she met tom. looks like she is real why i trying to have a career surge. they weren't the same ones. when she started dating him she

left, she changed her appearance. she changed everything, changed her pr people. now she's gone back to the people she was working with well before tom. >> her announcement was worded in such a way that said she had gone back. katie and her family. >> it feels like she is going back to a time before she met tom cruise. what we will probably never know is what really happened. nicole kidman has never, ever really discussed this. >> the kids with nicole, is he raising those kids? >> he is with those kids a lot. the kids are with him. what we see next is this real ugly fight. i hope it doesn't get ugly, but i think it will get ugly about who gets suri. >> nothing will confuse her more than being raised in one faith in one parent's home and a different faith in another. >> catholic is what she was and she did convert. however, tom hasn't changed.

the person she married is the same person. it's not as if he suddenly changed. >> she knew what she was getting into, but how do you know what you're getting into. water looks wonderful until you're in it and it could be freezing or boiling hot. you don't know till you get in it. >> let's talk alec baldwin for a second. he got married. >> alec got married over the weekend. by all accounts, it was a beautiful, beautiful ceremony. he really, really enjoyed himself. there are photographs of him walking down the street, meeting fans. there was no problem with press, thank goodness. >> it was controlled. >> absolutely. >> how about the picture on the front page of the papers of him grabbing the photographer? >> this happened before the wedding. the actual day of the wedding was a beautiful day. he enjoyed it. little scoop here is that he has actually sold, given, we don't know, the pictures to "people" magazine so we will -- maybe. it's odd somebody who had so much trouble with the press.

his people would say alec had a very long career. in his entire career, he's only got in trouble twice, three times with photographers who they claim were very aggressive. >> unless you're there, who knows. i cannot believe how gorgeous his daughter is. when i first saw the picture i thought he's walking with kim. she is one of the most beautiful women i've seen. >> leaving the ceremony in tears like she is really happy for her dad. >> we have to run. number one at the box office? >> "ted." this little teddy bear with a filthy mouth. i went to see this lovely teddy bear. i loved "magic mike" too. >> of course you did. made in the good old usa. [ horn honks ] ♪

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as we get ready to celebrate independence day, we are kicking off a special five-part series we are calling "made in america." it's meant to help you find the products you need made and manufactured right here in the homeland. >> jody miller is a mom with i voice that attempted spending one week to purchase items only produced here in america. >> my kid's at school and my husband's at work. i'm on a mission. the mission is to buy nothing but american-made products for my house this week. do you think we can do it? bring it on. u.s. flag made in the usa. can never, ever go wrong with scotch tape. paper. a lot of those were made in the usa. igloo, you can't have a barbecue

without it. made in the usa. i'm here with my son boston. these were made in america. we are going to wear these this week, right? >> and you can smell the inside. >> does it get any better than this? find a local farmer. go flower shopping. grab a basket and shuck your own corn. fish at my local farm. home grown strawberry slushies. hello. now, this is what america is all about. if you'll excuse me, i need to go buy food for my family. >> jody is here to tell us more about her experience.

it does make you feel good when you do it. every time i buy my cringele candled made right there in massachusetts, it's wonderful. >> my dad was in the vietnam war, he was a green beret. we buy him work shirts, peanuts and socks for christmas. first thing he says, was that made in america? otherwise he would take it back. >> was it tough to find all the things you were looking for? >> i had a lot of fun. >> you did? >> less and less products, isn't it? >> it's really disheartening in the big box stores to find things needed. scotch tape and igloo is american made. i'm skimming through trying to find the right things i thought would fit. the hard part was the food. i was like i've got to find a farmer's market. there is nothing there. >> what advice do you have for people? they have a limited budget and can get things less expensive if they are not made here.

what is the advice to them? >> you've got to set your priorities straight. if you want to give back to the country, if you really want to have more jobs and see more things prosper, set your priorities. if you want that handbag from france or the handbag from the usa? figure it out. >> give the folks at home the statistic you gave hoda and i before? >> they say back in the '60s, 1 in 10 of the things we bought were from overseas. now it's 6 out of 10 things are imported. >> how many jobs would we create? >> if we spend $5 a month out of our own money, we could have over 200,000 more american jobs. >> that is unbelievable he when you think about those stats. >> it was an eye-opener for me. >> why did you do it? what turned it on for you? >> i did it before my radio show in chicago. i didn't have a family i was a single, fun, vibrant 20-year-old. now i have a family. >> you're not fun any more? >> no. not like i was.

i needed to figure out, how can i teach my child something? when i found a local farm, there are farms all over the country. >> a great thing to do. he's adorable. >> how cute is your son? >> it was worth the weight gain. >> thanks for coming to see us. >> thank you. >> thank you for reminding us to buy in the usa. >> find more on our special series on klg&hoda.com. tomorrow bobbie thomas is here with high-flying fashions made in the usa. >> how sweet it is. what if we could keep enough plastic waste to cover all of manhattan out of landfills each year? the equivalent of 140 million trash bags, gone. by using glad trash bags, designed with reinforcing bands to be stronger with less plastic waste, we can. it's a small change that can make a big difference. and try glad odor shield with febreze freshness...

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do you crave sugar daily? does it give you a rush of energy and leave leave you wanting more? can too much of a sweet tooth be a bad thing for you? >> this month's issue of "marie claire" magazine tackles that topic. with us is the editor and

nutritionist and author joy bauer. how much sugar should we be having? >> according to the american heart association, we should have about 6 teaspoons of added sugar. that's natural sugar found in fruit, plain dairy and fruit and yogurt. on average people are having 22 tea spoons. at the end of the year, they are taking in 75 pounds of sugar per person. can you imagine? >> yes. >> this is a real average, 75 pounds. one person per year. >> so we did a food diary, you and me, remember? s. >> what i did was i plucked out the things with added sugar. i'm going to show how kathie lee did. during that day you only had a granola bar with added sugar. >> a kashi bar. >> i'm going to hate this. >> two teaspoons.

let me do hoda's. hoda had five lifesavers, four donut holes, 1/2 a chocolate donut, a brownie, 5 mini least's cups, a popsicle. hoda had, one, two, three -- >> do you have to do it one by one? >> four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 -- >> hey! >> 15, 16, 18, 19 -- whoops, 19. we need to work on hoda. >> okay. let's talk about this. it's bad for your skin and it's bad for your memory or your brain? >> there is a recent ucla study -- >> that explain as lot. >> it explain was sugar does for your brain. it's bad for your skin, can add extra weight. the study saw that sugar was creating brain fog.

it was hindering your memory. it was making you slow to reactions. this kind of reaction can stick with you for up to five hours. if you have a big meeting or you're going into a decision-making process. >> you have an important job. >> not any more. >> used to be a big one, but not any more. does that count for fruit, too. >> it's added sugar. to give a sense how much sugar we are taking in, the blood stream has four tea spoons of sugar already. if you drink one can of soda, that's 10 extra teaspoons, your insulin spikes, your chemicals go haywire. >> it doesn't matter if you're overweight or thin. sugar within your system is bad. everybody has to work on that. >> tell her what she can do. >> stop eating reese's. >> instead of the chocolate

donut holes you could try mini chocolate rice cakes. instead of all those life savers, try a hotball. >> i like those. >> they take a while to eat that. maybe a tootsie pop. you could freeze a banana. >> there are a lot of good ideas. everybody is entitled to one tea spoon a day. >> a special recipe to celebrate the fourth. [ male announcer ] are you paying more

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now on "happy 4th of july today" we are grilling with baby back ribs. >> tanya is the chef and owner of brown sugar kitchen in oakland. nice to see you. >> thank you. >> welcome back after a ten-year absence. >> thank you. >> where have you been? >> been busy running a couple of restaurants. >> good for you. >> we serve this dish at both of our restaurants. >> what ribs? >> these are babybacks. brown sugar pineapple glaze. >> ignore that last segment we did. >> exactly. we start with the raw babyback. just so people know, it's called babyback, but it's not from a baby pig or anything. nothing to get, you know, concerned about. there is a membrane here you want to pull off. start with that. >> la, la, la, la. take a paring knife and make a little incision. it's easy to pull with a towel. >> i don't like the word "membrane."

>> you want to take it off because otherwise they won't fall off the bone. >> oh! >> tanya. >> that's the main reason. >> i have this spice mixture. jerk spice blend. it has pepper, paprika, warming spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, things we don't usually use as americans in meats. it's really a wonderful combination of spices. aromatic. >> what is happening here? >> our wet marinade. >> of course. >> first i rub the ribs with the dry. then we put a wet marinade with red onions and jalapeno. >> what about this stuff? >> i pour this over. that is for those who want to spice it up. h habanero before you go to the grill. baby backs are lean ribs. they cook fast on the grill and

they get tender pretty fast. it's not like a spare rib where you need hours and hours. while it's cooking, i glaze it. this is where the pine app rub sugar comes in. it's a reduction of pine app juice, brown sugar. >> sounds good. >> you use brown sugar in every recipe? >> not every recipe, but a lot. >> come down here. we have about a minute left. >> i have pineapple. i serve it with a pineapple salsa. i like to grill them to intensify the flavor. >> come back here. >> let's start eating. >> that's delicious. >> here is the final with the pineapple salsa on top. >> the crew is going to go crazy. >> potato salad with yukon gold potatoes and confetti corn bread. and reisling from oakland. a local winery.

>> you are a sweetheart. >> this is delicious. >> tomorrow, your friend, our friend, howie mandel is in the house. >> frozen treats and fun fourth of july games for the whole family. >> have a great day, everybody. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com